Warhammer world

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A map showing the seas, shores and lands of the Warhammer world.

The Warhammer world is a planet upon which several races and civilizations struggle for survival.

After its eventual destruction it would be remembered by the denizens of the Mortal Realms as the World-that-was.

Geography

The Warhammer world is geographically divided by large oceans and huge mountain ranges. The following is a description along an Old World-perspective. You can follow all details in the map above.

North

  • The northern Chaos Wastes surrounds the North Pole and its borken [{Warp Gate]]. A largely frozen land, it is covered with ice in the far north which gradually gives way to tundra and large plains. It is the homeland of countless barbarian human tribes who eye their softer southern neighbours with greed, malice and hatred.

Situated between the Old World and the Northern Chaos Wastes are the following regions:

  • The Troll Country, located between Kislev and the Chaos Wastes.
  • Norsca, a peninsula situated in the north of the Old World. Its inhabitants, the Norse are culturally closer to their northern neighbours, and while some of the tribes trade with the civilised southern neighbours, they will also carry out countless seaborne raids and, more rarely, even full-fledged invasions against the nations of the Old World.
  • Albion, an island lying to the west of Norsca.

Centre

  • Kislev, a proud realm located on the northern edge of the Old World, allied with the Empire.

The Old World, home of several civilised human nations.

  • The Empire, the most powerful nation of the Old World. A bastion of civilisation it has several outside threats but also hidden internal foes such as Chaos Cults and the Skaven.
  • The Grey Mountains separates the Empire on the east from Bretonnia on the west. They belong to no nation in particular, and are a haven for bandits, Dwarfs, and some tribes of Orcs and Goblins.
  • The Wasteland is located north of the Grey Mountains, between the Empire and Bretonnia, creating a natural buffer-state, the sole city Marienburg is the greatest mercantile power of the Old World.
  • Bretonnia, a land of chivalry and honour, it is the second most powerful nation of the Old World.
  • In the south of Bretonnia and technically a part of this kingdom, the Forest of Loren is de facto an independent nation and the homeland of the Wood Elves.
  • Tilea, land of several competing city-states, trade and mercenaries.
  • Estalia, west of Tilea and south of Bretonnia, it is also divided in several city-states.
  • The Vaults, an inhospitable highland located between The Empire, Bretonnia, Tilea and the Border Princes belonging to none of them.

South

At the southern border of the Old World are:

  • The Black Mountains form the southern border of the Empire.
  • South of the Black Mountains are the Border Princes, disputed between human colonists and the Greenskin hordes.
  • Further south are the Badlands, where the Orcs and the Goblins rule supreme and battled amongst themselves. It is located south of the Old World:
  • Araby, located south, south-west of the Old World, this land is largely a huge desert. Several oases harbour city-states and nomadic tribes.
  • Nehekhara, or the Land of the Dead; east of Araby, south of the Badlands.
  • South of Araby and of the Land of the Dead lies the Southlands, it is largely covered in impenetrable jungles, which hides the city of Zlatlan.

West

West of the Old World is the Great Ocean

Located beyond the Great Ocean is the New World:

East

The Worlds Edge Mountains forms a clear eastern border of the Old World and is the ancient homeland of the Dwarfs. East of these mountains are:

Far East

East of the Mountains of Mourn are:

Far South

At the extreme south, surrounding the South Pole, are the Southern Wastes. Harbouring countless tribes of Beastmen, it was thankfully separated from all other continents by the sea.

History

By order of the Old Ones the Slann changed the original orbit of the Warhammer world, bringing it closer to the sun. This created a more temperate climate, more suitable for the development and survival of complex life.

Obeying their masters the Slann also built two stellar gateways: one is confirmed to be on the North Pole and the other one is reportedly located on the South Pole. These gates eventually malfunctioned and the forces of Chaos erupted through them.[4]

Eventually, Chaos managed to bring an end to the Warhammer World in the End Times, hurling the world's metallic core through the cosmos. Sigmar clung to it until he was caught by Dracothion and it was set in the Firmament, naming it Mallus. The God-King befriended this creature and was taught of the ways of the Mortal Realms.[1][2]

Orbit

The world takes 400 days to orbit the sun. [3]

Star Sytem

The world is part of a star system composed of 10 planets [1] which orbits a single star. Only a handful of their names and respective positions are known.

Lokratia and Obscuria are the names of two other planets but their former positions are unclear. The names of the remaining 3 planets and their respective positions are unknown.

Notes & sources

  1. The Burning Shore (novel) p.223 & 224
  • Warhammer Rulebook (6th edition), 2000, p 161