War Hydra

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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

Hydras are absolutely huge, possessing many long necks and covered in thick scales.[1] Their heads resemble those of Dragons, although with birdlike beaks. Most have five heads, although the number can vary between individuals.[7a]

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 most blows. Even if an attack 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]

Ecology and Habitat

Hydras are highly aggressive beings. They spend most of their time seeking out prey, and will attack anything that confronts them. In battle, they bite at foes with their multiple heads, constrict large prey with their serpentine necks, and attempt to crush their targets with their bulk. Hydras are known for their powerful regeneration, which quickly repairs wounds and replaces lost heads with new ones that burst forth from severed stumps. [6a]

Imperial scholars believe that the brains of Hydras are located at the base of their necks, while the individual heads only have rudimentary minds. The organ that allows the creatures to breathe fire is also located in this area. As such, their torsos are armored with particularly thick scales.[7a]

No Hydra has ever been know to die of old age. As such, they are believed to be either ageless or extremely long-lived.[7a]

Hydras lair in dark caves and pits. They are found in the Dark Lands as well as the World's Edge Mountains, and are particularly numerous in the Blackspine Mountains and Iron Mountains of Naggaroth. [6a] They are very rare in the Old World, and only one or two are believed to exist within the borders of the Empire.[7a]

Notable

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 whilst [1][2a][3b] Their scales 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 skilled enough to use the creatures bulk to shield themselves from enemies. [3a] They are each armed with a pair of Hand Weapons. [3b]

  • 6th Edition: Apprentices: Hand Weapons. [3b]

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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
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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
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