Difference between revisions of "War Hydra"

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[[File:A_Hydra-_2016-12-12_16-11.jpeg|thumbnail|A Hydra.]]
 
[[File:A_Hydra-_2016-12-12_16-11.jpeg|thumbnail|A Hydra.]]
'''War Hydras''' are beasts selectively bred by the Dark Elves. They are absolutely huge, possessing many long necks and covered in thick scales. They can easily tear warriors apart with fangs or even crush them with the lethal coil of their many necks. Not only that, but they're near impervious to harm, with scales thick enough to deflect the blow. Even if it does get through, many enemies have witnessed the tough flesh re-growing within a minute.{{Fn|1}}
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'''War Hydras''' are beasts selectively bred by the Dark Elves, naturally found in the [[Blackspine Mountains]] and the [[Iron Mountains]]. {{Fn|3a}} {{Fn|4a}}
  
Unsurprisingly, not many enemies are able to brave such a monster, with many seeking solace in running. To counter that, the Hydras are able to move with surprising speed, easily outrunning foot soldiers. Even if the enemy manages to get out of the immediate range of its teeth, they are by no means safe. Each head is able to belch great gouts of flame, incinerating great swathes of infantry.{{Fn|1}}
+
==Appearance==
 +
They are absolutely huge, possessing many long necks and covered in thick scales. They can easily tear warriors apart with fangs or even crush them with the lethal coil of their many necks. Not only that, but they're near impervious to harm, with scales thick enough to deflect the blow. Even if it does get through, many enemies have witnessed the tough flesh re-growing within a minute.{{Fn|1}} Their scales are said to be harder than Dragon scales and hence sought out to make armour from. {{Fn|2a}}
  
Only creatures as twisted as the [[Dark Elves]] would look upon the Hydra's vicious glory and deem it insufficient for the task at hand. But ever since the Witch King's Beastmasters first tamed the creatures, the [[Naggaroth]]i have continually experimented with breeding techniques and dark enchantments to raise the raw ferocity and power of successive generations. The War Hydras of Naggaroth's armies are therefore a far more daunting foe than those the Dark Elves first encountered many long centuries ago in the Annulii Mountains.
+
The [[Beastmaster]]s of [[Karond Kar]] continually experiment with cross breeding and magic to create more powerful and ferocious creatures. {{Fn|3a}}
  
War Hydras are notoriously difficult for their handlers to control, and a Beastmaster must be quick with his lash lest he be devoured in the enemy's stead. They are even more difficult to slay, for not only are their scaly bodies incredibly well-armored, they also regenerate damage at a frightening rate. A foe's only chance is to sever all the monster's heads in quick succession -- if even a single one remains, the remainder will swiftly grow back and devour the impudent attacker for his troubles. The aggressive Hydra dosen't distinguish between friends and enemies. To prevent it from turning on Druchii troops, it is always accompanied by a pair of Beasmasters, their whips keeping Hydra on right track.{{Fn|1}}
+
==Origin==
 +
It is thought they are the result of the warping effects of the Winds of Magic, but they were found in the [[Annulii Mountains]] of [[Ulthuan]] and became part of the armies of the Naggarothi. {{Fn|4a}}
  
There are many ways to be slain by a Hydra: torn apart, swallowed whole, crushed underfoot, immolated or even skewered by arrows as they ricochet off its scaled hide. Generals often see even their finest troops pulverized by just a single War Hydra and are then left to watch with horror as the beast emerges unscathed from the carnage, vents for an ear-splitting roar, and then charges forward with thundering strides to trample another regiment into ruin. Even worse, some are capable of breathing streams of fire from their many mouths.
+
==Training==
 +
Only creatures as twisted as the [[Dark Elves]] would look upon the Hydra's vicious glory and deem it insufficient for the task at hand. But ever since the [[Witch King]]'s Beastmasters first tamed the creatures, the [[Naggaroth]]i have continually experimented with breeding techniques and dark enchantments to raise the raw ferocity and power of successive generations. The War Hydras of Naggaroth's armies are therefore a far more daunting foe than those the Dark Elves first encountered many long centuries ago in the [[Annulii Mountains]].
  
Curiously, Hydras are almost exclusively used by Dark Elves, with little or no use by other races. This may be as a result of the Hydra being fairly common to [[Naggaroth]], and fairly rare everywhere else, or the Dark Elves' laid back attitude to the substantial risks involved in using such creatures, but the true reason remains to be seen.
+
War Hydras are notoriously difficult for their handlers to control, and a Beastmaster must be quick with his lash lest he be devoured in the enemy's stead. They are even more difficult to slay, for not only are their scaly bodies incredibly well-armoured, they also regenerate damage at a frightening rate. A foe's only chance is to sever all the monster's heads in quick succession -- if even a single one remains, the remainder will swiftly grow back and devour the impudent attacker for his troubles. The aggressive Hydra doesn't distinguish between friends and enemies. To prevent it from turning on Druchii troops, it is always accompanied by a pair of Beasmasters, their whips keeping Hydra on right track.{{Fn|1}}
 +
 
 +
There are many ways to be slain by a Hydra: torn apart, swallowed whole, crushed underfoot, immolated or even skewered by arrows as they ricochet off its scaled hide. Generals often see even their finest troops pulverized by just a single War Hydra and are then left to watch with horror as the beast emerges unscathed from the carnage, vents for an ear-splitting roar, and then charges forward with thundering strides to trample another regiment into ruin. Even worse, some are capable of breathing streams of fire from their many mouths.{{Fn|5a}}
 +
 
 +
Curiously, Hydras are almost exclusively used by Dark Elves, with little or no use by other races. This may be as a result of the Hydra being fairly common to [[Naggaroth]], and fairly rare everywhere else, or the Dark Elves' laid back attitude to the substantial risks involved in using such creatures, but the true reason remains to be seen.{{Fn|5a}}
 +
 
 +
==Weapons and Equipment==
 +
Unsurprisingly, not many enemies are able to brave such a monster, with many seeking solace in running. To counter that, the Hydras are able to move with surprising speed, easily outrunning foot soldiers. Even if the enemy manages to get out of the immediate range of its teeth, they are by no means safe. Each head is able to belch great gouts of flame, incinerating great swathes of infantry.{{Fn|1}}{{Fn|2a}}
 +
 
 +
Their sacels give them the equivalent of heavy armour. {{Fn|2a}}
 +
 
 +
They are driven into battle by a pair of Beastmaster Apprentices who control and direct it with long lashes and goads, but also are skileld enough to use the creatures bulk to shield themselves from enemies. {{Fn|3a}}  They are each armed with a pair of Hand Weapons. {{Fn|3b}}
 +
 
 +
==Gallery==
 +
<center><gallery>
 +
File:War Hydra WFB7.jpg|A War Hydra
 +
File:Hydra AOWO.jpg|A Hydra
 +
</gallery></center>
 +
 
 +
==Miniatures==
 +
<center><gallery>
 +
File:War Hydra M01.jpg|A War Hydra
 +
File:War Hydra M02.jpg|A War Hydra
 +
File:War Hydra M03.jpg|A War Hydra
 +
File:War Hydra M04.jpg|A War Hydra
 +
</gallery></center>
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==
 
*{{Endn|1}}: [http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?prodId=prod1380000 Games Workshop Official Site]
 
*{{Endn|1}}: [http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?prodId=prod1380000 Games Workshop Official Site]
*[[Warhammer Armies: Dark Elves (8th Edition)]]
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*{{Endn|2}}: [[Warhammer Armies: Dark Elves (4th Edition)]]
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**{{Endn|2a}}:  Dark Elf Bestiary, pg. 42
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*{{Endn|3}}: [[Warhammer Armies: Dark Elves (6th Edition)]]
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**{{Endn|3a}}: Beasts of Karond Kar, pg. 13
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**{{Endn|3b}}: Armies of Naggaroth, pg. 31
 +
*{{Endn|4}}: [[Warhammer Armies: Dark Elves (7th Edition)]]
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**{{Endn|4a}}: Dark Elf Bestiary, pg. 58
 +
*{{Endn|5}}: [[Warhammer Armies: Dark Elves (8th Edition)]]
 +
**{{Endn|5a}}: War Hydras, pg. 49
 +
 
 
[[Category: Dark Elves]]
 
[[Category: Dark Elves]]
 
[[Category: Dark Elves units]]
 
[[Category: Dark Elves units]]
 
[[Category: Creatures]]
 
[[Category: Creatures]]
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 +
{{Creatures}}
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{{Dark Elves}}

Revision as of 21:02, 18 October 2020

A Hydra.

War Hydras are beasts selectively bred by the Dark Elves, naturally found in the Blackspine Mountains and the Iron Mountains. [3a] [4a]

Appearance

They are absolutely huge, possessing many long necks and covered in thick scales. They can easily tear warriors apart with fangs or even crush them with the lethal coil of their many necks. Not only that, but they're near impervious to harm, with scales thick enough to deflect the blow. Even if it does get through, many enemies have witnessed the tough flesh re-growing within a minute.[1] Their scales are said to be harder than Dragon scales and hence sought out to make armour from. [2a]

The Beastmasters of Karond Kar continually experiment with cross breeding and magic to create more powerful and ferocious creatures. [3a]

Origin

It is thought they are the result of the warping effects of the Winds of Magic, but they were found in the Annulii Mountains of Ulthuan and became part of the armies of the Naggarothi. [4a]

Training

Only creatures as twisted as the Dark Elves would look upon the Hydra's vicious glory and deem it insufficient for the task at hand. But ever since the Witch King's Beastmasters first tamed the creatures, the Naggarothi have continually experimented with breeding techniques and dark enchantments to raise the raw ferocity and power of successive generations. The War Hydras of Naggaroth's armies are therefore a far more daunting foe than those the Dark Elves first encountered many long centuries ago in the Annulii Mountains.

War Hydras are notoriously difficult for their handlers to control, and a Beastmaster must be quick with his lash lest he be devoured in the enemy's stead. They are even more difficult to slay, for not only are their scaly bodies incredibly well-armoured, they also regenerate damage at a frightening rate. A foe's only chance is to sever all the monster's heads in quick succession -- if even a single one remains, the remainder will swiftly grow back and devour the impudent attacker for his troubles. The aggressive Hydra doesn't distinguish between friends and enemies. To prevent it from turning on Druchii troops, it is always accompanied by a pair of Beasmasters, their whips keeping Hydra on right track.[1]

There are many ways to be slain by a Hydra: torn apart, swallowed whole, crushed underfoot, immolated or even skewered by arrows as they ricochet off its scaled hide. Generals often see even their finest troops pulverized by just a single War Hydra and are then left to watch with horror as the beast emerges unscathed from the carnage, vents for an ear-splitting roar, and then charges forward with thundering strides to trample another regiment into ruin. Even worse, some are capable of breathing streams of fire from their many mouths.[5a]

Curiously, Hydras are almost exclusively used by Dark Elves, with little or no use by other races. This may be as a result of the Hydra being fairly common to Naggaroth, and fairly rare everywhere else, or the Dark Elves' laid back attitude to the substantial risks involved in using such creatures, but the true reason remains to be seen.[5a]

Weapons and Equipment

Unsurprisingly, not many enemies are able to brave such a monster, with many seeking solace in running. To counter that, the Hydras are able to move with surprising speed, easily outrunning foot soldiers. Even if the enemy manages to get out of the immediate range of its teeth, they are by no means safe. Each head is able to belch great gouts of flame, incinerating great swathes of infantry.[1][2a]

Their sacels give them the equivalent of heavy armour. [2a]

They are driven into battle by a pair of Beastmaster Apprentices who control and direct it with long lashes and goads, but also are skileld enough to use the creatures bulk to shield themselves from enemies. [3a] They are each armed with a pair of Hand Weapons. [3b]

Gallery

Miniatures

Sources

Creatures
Creatures Abyssal Terror - Amphisbaena - Amaxon Swamp Python - Amoeba - Arachnarok Spider - Arcanadon - Basilisk - Bastiladon - Bat Swarm - Bear - Behemoth - Black Leviathan - Bloodwasp - Boar - Boar Centaur - Bog Octopus - Brood Horror - Carmine Dragon - Carnosaur - Carrion - Celestial Lion - Chameleoleech - Chasm Leech - Chasm Spawn - Chaos Steed - Chimera - Coatl - Cockatrice - Cold One - Colossal Squig - Culchan - Daggerfish - Dark Pegasus - Dark Steed - Demigryph - Dog - Doppelganger - Dracoleech - Dragon - Dragon Turtle - Dread Abyssal - Dread Maw - Dread Saurian - Elven Steed - Familiar - Fell Bat - Fen Worm - Fox - Frog - Frost Wyrm - Giant Bat - Giant Beetle - Giant Frog - Giant Owl - Giant Rat - Giant Scorpion - Giant Spider - Gigantic Spider - Gorger - Great Cave Squig - Great Eagle - Great Moon Bird - Great Pox Rat - Great Sabre-toothed Snow Leopard - Great Stag - Great Taurus - Great Wolf - Griffon - Gymmcrab - Helldrake - Hellsteed - Heomreth - Hippogriff - Hippogryph - Hixa - Horse - Hydra - Incarnate Elemental of Beasts - Incarnate Elemental of Death - Incarnate Elemental of Fire - Itxi Grub - Jabberslythe - Jabberwock - Jaguar - Jungle Swarm - Kharibdyss - Ki-rin - Kraken - Lammasu - Lashworm - Latch-Eel - Leviathan - Lion - Lurkerfish - Magma Dragon - Mammoth - Mangler Squig - Manticore - Megaladon - Monstrous Leech - Mourngul - Nightmare - Nightraven - Orb Leviathan - Otter - Pangolin - Pegasus - Phoenix - Pliodon - Preyton - Promethean - Rabbit - Rat Ogre - Raven - Razorbill - Razordon - Razorgor - Reik Eel - Rhinoxen - Ripperdactyl - Roc - Sabre-Toothed Tiger - Sabretusk - Salamander - Sand Clam - Scalemane Reptilion - Sea Dragon - Sea Elemental - Shard Dragon - Siren - Skeletal Steed - Slaughterbrute - Sphinx - Squig - Stegadon - Stirpike - Stoat - Stonehorn - Sunworm - Terradon - Terrorgheist - Theralind's Brood - Thunder Lizard - Tiguana - Toad Dragon - Thundertusk - Tregara - Troglodon - Unicorn - Varghulf - Warhawk - War Hydra - Warp Bat - Warpfire Dragon - Wild Cat - Wolf - Wolf-Rat - Wyvern
Notable Creatures Akholrak - Amanar - Angranir - Araugnir - Argaer - Ashtari - Balorith - Baudros - Big Red 'Un - Blackfang - Boneripper - Bracchus - Bruwor - Bubebolos - Caledair - Ceithin-Har - Cinderbreath - Crimson Scourge - Deathclaw - Deathfang - Draukhain - Drogo Le Mal - Frigustrex - Galrauch - Gargantuan - Ghoritch - Gobbla - Gordinar - Graug - Gribbleback - Grymloq - Hagdar - Indraugnir - Ithragar - Kalandrithir - Kalgalanos the Black - Lamoureux - Maedrethnir - Malgrimace - Mauldekorr - Mergaste - Minaithnir - Mordrak - Mournfang - Oblast Beast - Oriel - Seraphon - Silak - Silverhorn - Silver Wind - Skaladrak Incarnadine - Skoll - Sleenrippa - Spite - Stormwing - Theralind - Vranesh- Warghan - Wizzbang - Wulfag - Xltzhpctli - Ymwrath - Zlaaq - Zwup
Images - Miniatures -
Dark Elves
Units Assassin - Beastmaster - Black Ark Fleetmaster - Black Guard - Bleaksword - Bloodwrack Medusa - Bloodwrack Shrine - Cauldron of Blood - Cold One Chariot - Cold One Knight - Corsair - Dark Elf War Altar - Dark Elf City Guard - Dark Elf Slave Warrior - Dark Rider - Darkshard - Death Hag - Doomfire Warlock - Doomsteed - Dreadlord - Dreadspear - Executioner - Harpy - High Beastmaster - Kharibdyss - Master - Reaper Bolt Thrower - Scourgerunner Chariot - Shade - Sisters of Slaughter - Sorceress - Supreme Sorceress - War Hydra - Witch Elves
Characters Akholrak - Alandrian - Alexandra - Amara - Anethra Helbane - Ashniel - Balial - Bracchus - Caldath - Cassandra - Dijin Katal - Dorian Silverblade - Drutheira - Duriath Helbane - Ebnir Soulflayer - Felicion Heartkeeper - Furion - Gloreir - Hellebron - Hotek - Kaldor - Khalion - Kharbana - Kharlissa - Khelthrai - Kouran - Laithikir Fellheart - Lokhir Fellheart - Malchior -Malekith - Malida - Malus Darkblade - Maranith - Megara - Mengil Manhide - Morathi - Mordrin Kain - Mortharor - Rakarth - Ruerl - Seraphon - Sevekai - Shadowblade - Spite - Sulekh - Syrillia - Tullaris - Urathion - Urian Poisonblade - Vidor - Yeurl
Cities and outposts Clar Karond - Ghrond - Har Ganeth - Har Kaldra - Hag Graef - Karond Kar - Naggarond
Black Arks Ark of Naggor - Blessed Dread - Bringer of Joyous Oblivion - Citadel of Damnation - Citadel of Desolation - Citadel of Spite - Claw of Dominion - Cleaver of Souls - Ecstasy of Pain - Fortress of Eternal Terror - Harbinger of Pain - Immortal Agony - Intolerable Delight - Jade Palace of Pain - Palace of Joyous Oblivion - Ravager of Souls - Shadow of Despair - Talon of Agony - Temple of Spite - Tower of Blessed Dread - Tower of Infinite Pleasures - Tower of Oblivion - Ultimate Oblivion
Images - Magic Items - Miniatures - Vehicles