N'Kari

N'Kari in Total War Warhammer III

N'Kari, also known as the Herald of Dismay and the Lord of a Thousand Songs, is a Keeper of Secrets, a Greater Daemon of Slaanesh. His doom was to fight the lineage of Aenarion. ^[1a][1b][6a]

Appearance

A great mass of solid muscle standing half again as tall as a Elf, it has two mighty arms tipped with huge pincers and below these two smaller arms and hands.^[1b]

History

Great Cataclysm

N'Kari and Aenarion fighting

N'Kari led a daemonic horde across Ulthuan, storming and burning cities, sacrificing thousands of elf-children, creating thrones made from the fused bodies of still living elf-women. ^[3b] Phoenix King Aenarion the Defender first slew the Daemon at Korumel in what is now Ellyrion, banishing it from the mortal world. ^[1a][3a][7]

In -4419 IC the High Elf Mages attempted to create the Great Vortex to stop the daemonic invasions. In Battle of the Isle of the Dead Aenarion defended the creation of the magical Vortex and N'Kari was one of the four Greater Daemons, each representing one of the four Powers of Chaos, sent to slay him. Again he was defeated, the Phoenix King crushing his heart with his own hand after the Sword of Khaine had sliced open the daemons chest. N'Kari, much weakened and reduced was then trapped within the vortex for thousands of years. ^[3a]

Over the millennia of his imprisonment he reclaimed some of his power, finding gaps, holes in its construction, places where he could break out when the time was right. ^[3b]

Freedom

In 2173 IC N'Kari broke free from the Vortex and began a killing spree across Ulthuan, targeting the descendants of Aenarion. ^[2a] Entering mortal world in Mount Antorec, he first destroyed Tor Annan and then initiated a month of hit and run attacks from the Annulii Mountains. He gathered an army of Beastmen, shipwrecked humans and elvish cultists, growing strong enough to attack Tor Yvresse itself. After they had breached the walls and began a bloody rampage, he abandoned them to seek two more descendants of his ancient foe. ^{[3c] [7]}

Discovering that the remaning descendants had been moved to the Shrine of Asuryan, he summoned additional help including a Lord of Change with whom he made a pact. ^[3d] He attacked the Shrine of Asuryan and made his way to the twins Tyrion and Teclis, but was defeated by them and the Fire of Asuryan. ^{[2a] [7]}

A century later Malekith himself summoned the Daemon in a cavern beneath his winter citadel. Intrigued, N'Kari answered the call, bargained with the Witch King but was bound directly to his will through magical bracelet and chains. ^[4a]

Great Chaos Incursion

In 2302 IC, N'Kari was unleashed by the Witch King to hunt down the current Everqueen Alarielle and Tyrion who were on the run in the from Dark Elf Assassins in the forests of Avelorn. N'Kari found the pair but Tyrion was able to hold the Greater Daemon at bay until his brother Teclis arrived and banished it to the Realm of Chaos with words of thunder. ^[1b][1c][2b]

Many years later an army led by Tyrion confronted N'Kari and his Dark Elf allies on the Plain of Bones, at the Altar of Khaine. After almost being defeated by the daemon and his spells, the Prince slew it once more with Sunfang.^[1b]

End Times

As the End Times began, N'Kari emerged from the mists and rampaged across its lands.^[5a] When Tyrion led the Wars of Reclamation he confronted N'Kari at the Siege of the White Tower and if not for Korhil Lionmane and the Phoenix Guard, the Greater Daemon's nemesis would have been finally slain. Instead it was N'Kari who was forced to flee.^[6a]

Summoning

To summon N'kari requires a specific sacrifice of virgins in a correct ritual manner but even then, it often allows itself to be called only to destroy the impudent mortal. ^[4a]

Gallery

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  Concept art of N'Kari in Total War Warhammer III

Quotes

Arrogant mortal, I let you live once so I might experience the sensation of defeat. Now I am gorged on ten thousand souls and I am invincible. Be honoured! Your soul will learn agony and ecstasy under the lash of the Dark Prince of Pleasure once I send it to meet him. ~ N'Kari to Aenarion.[3a]

See Also

• N'Kari in Warhammer 40K

Sources

• 1: Warhammer Armies: High Elves (5th Edition)
  • 1a: The Chronicle of The Phoenix Kings, pg. 15
  • 1b: Tyrion, pgs. 58-61
  • 1c: Tyrion & Teclis, pg. 96
• 2: Warhammer Armies: High Elves (7th Edition)
  • 2a: The Book of Days, pg. 41
  • 2b: The Darkest Hour, pgs. 30-31
• 3: Blood of Aenarion (Novel)
  • 3a: Prologue, pg. 31
  • 3b: Chapter Three, pg. 82-83
  • 3c: Chapter Twenty, pg. 302-304
  • 3d: Chapter Twenty Six, pg. 364-365
• 4: Sword of Caledor (Novel)
  • 4a: Prologue, pg. 19-28
• 5: Warhammer: Nagash
  • 5a: Book 1, The Beginning of the End, pg. 13
• 6: Warhammer: Khaine
  • 6a: Chapter I: The Widowmaker, pg. 11
• 7: Warhammer Armies: Daemons of Chaos (8th Edition): N'Kari's Revenge, pgs 20-21