Runefang

The Runefang swords are the weapons and badges of office of the Elector Counts of the Empire, the ten supreme rulers of the Empire's constituent provinces: Averland, Hochland, Middenland, Nordland, Ostland, Ostermark, Reikland, Stirland, Talabecland,and Wissenland. The swords were originally commissioned by Sigmar himself as badges of office for the chieftains of the twelve tribes that followed him in his campaign of liberation against the orcs and goblins, forged by the legendary Dwarven runesmith Alaric the Mad. The swords were not finished before the twelve original Elector Counts had died (owing to Dwarven perfectionism), and were presented to their successors.

While there are twelve Runefangs, there are now (IC 2522) only ten Elector Counts and provinces that remain. The realm of Drakwald (located in the Drakwald Forest) was destroyed at a currently unknown point in Imperial history, and Solland, the southernmost province, was sacked and destroyed in the early 1700s by the Waagh! (orcish/goblinoid army) of Gorbad Ironclaw, the greatest orc leader to ever walk the Old World. The Elector Count of Solland was killed, and Gorbad took his Runefang as a trophy. It was recovered at another unknown point in the World's Edge Moutains and returned to the Imperial capital in Altdorf, where it remains in the Imperial Armory along with the Drakwald Runefang.

Each of the Runefangs has a name, listed below with their associated province:

"Mothers Ruin" (Averland), "Goblin Bane" (Hochland), "Legbiter" (Middenland), "Crow Feeder" (Nordland), "Brain Wounder" (Ostland), "Troll Cleaver" (Ostermark), "Dragon Tooth" (Reikland), "Orc Hewer" (Stirland), "Stone Breaker" (Talabecland), "Blood Bringer" (Wissenland), "Grudge Settler" (Solland), "Beast Slayer" (Drakwald)