Ghrond
Ghrond ("North Tower") is the Druchii dark tower of magic built in the Chaos Wastes in the north of Naggaroth.
Ghrond is home to Malekith, the Witch King's mother Morathi and the Dark Convent, the city is completely the domain of Morathi and she suffers no-one, not even her son to interfere with it. [3a]
Contents
Description
More of a fortress than a city, it is a single massive tower rising from a mountain spar, resembling a vast black spear. [2d]
History
In -2600 IC[2c] Morathi founded the city to personally observe the ever changing nature of Chaos in the north, and to attempt to define the future by studying the ever-changing Realm of Chaos.[2a]
Rumour states that the tower of Ghrond is so far inland because the Witch King had his fortress flown inland by sorcerers and the magicians of Ghrond decided to out-do him by flying theirs much further in. Malekith then banned male sorcerers stating very heavily that he was the ruler of Naggaroth.
As the anniversary of a thousand years of the rule of the Witch King approached in - 1666 IC[2c], a great host of Chaos tainted humans and monsters invaded from the north, falling upon Ghrond despite the defenders slaying huge numbers. Three weeks of siege followed, before Malekith arrived and attacked the besiegers, slaughtering every single one of them but losing half of his own army. He then imprisoned the sorceresses that had failed to foretell of the invasion.[2b]
End Times
In 2524 IC Naggaroth was invaded by the Bloodied Horde led by Valkia the Bloody. Morathi did not warn the other Druchii, but instead surrounded Ghrond with a vast forest of gigantic thorns killing any that came near. Witch King fought his way across Naggaroth to see his mother and after stating he would abandon his lands to invade Ulthuan, he left her alive in her tower, to rot he said.[5]
Culture
Males are not permitted into the inner sanctums of the city, unless at the explicit decree of Morathi herself. [3a]
Those few Cauldrons of Blood that still exist are held by the cult in the city. [1a]
Dark Convent
Malekith often plans his wars and raids depending on what his mother and his Sorceresses observe at Ghrond. Morathi also founded a Convent of Sorceresses in Ghrond which still reside there to this day. As well as this the tower itself has become an outpost and protect the lands of the Dark Elves against unwanted invaders from the Chaos Wastes.
Military
Ghrond is supported in its job by a line of fortress like Watch Towers of Naggaroth all along the northern edge of Naggaroth.[2a] Dark Riders are constantly being dispatched from the city to Naggarond to report to the Witch King.[2c] The city is often attacked by Daemons and followers of Chaos, drawn by its aura of sorcery and decadence but luckily the warriors who man the walls are devoted to Morathi and the pleasures she provides.[3a]
Mines
Below the city are found vast quantities of jewels, gold and silver which enables the city to easily pay the tithes set upon it.[3a]
Notable
- Morathi the Hag Queen
- Khalak: A lord of the city who wielded Crimson Death, a magical Halberd that increases the bearers strength. [1b]
Symbols
The all-seeing eye is often used as an emblem of the city. [4]
See Also
- Tower of Hoeth, the High Elf tower of Loremasters and Mages.
| The cities of the Dark Elves | |
| Naggarond - Hag Graef - Clar Karond - Ghrond - Har Ganeth - Karond Kar | |
Sources
- 1: Warhammer Armies: Dark Elves (6th Edition)
- 2:Warhammer Armies: Dark Elves (7th Edition)
- 3:Warhammer Armies: Dark Elves (8th Edition)
- 3a: Dark Elves, pg. 10
- 4: White Dwarf October 2013: Reading the Runes: Dark Elf transfer sheet, pg. 147
- 5: Warhammer: Khaine, Book I: Chapter I: The Widowmaker, pg. 14-17
