Heinrich Kemmler

"You and your masters are desiccated relics of a dead age. And what greater prospect do I have in Nagash's service, a future of mindless servitutde in an unchanging world. The Great Necromancer is a selfish child. Though assured of his power, he remains forever terrified that another will take it from him. He will not be satisfied until his is the only will in existence, for only then can he be safe."

- Henrinch Kemmler, talking to his nemesis Arkhan the Black



Heinrich Kemmler, the self-styled Lichmaster is great and powerful Necromancer who burns for the need to gather more power and arcane knowledge in the Dark arts of Necromancy. Having recognized the limits that mortality placed upon him in his early years, Kemmler made it his life's work to escape them. He plunged into the world of Necromancy as a young man, and by the time he had reached his fortieth year, he was able to raise entire graveyards of corpses to do his bidding. Beneath Kemmler's robes, his body is covered with scars, cuts and abrasions from his years of madness. He is shrouded in a large dark cloak that can carry its wearer across the veil between worlds.

Over the years of his travel, Heinrich had aquired or plundered many great artifacts of power that had granted him the power he needed to achieve his goals. Such artifacts he wields into battle includes the ancient Chaos Tomb Blade, an evil weapon that not only fills its wielder with unholy energy but also entraps the souls of those it cleaves, binding their fleshless remains in servitude to the Lichmaster. He also wears a magical shroud that covers much of his body, and wields in his left hand the Skull Staff, a potent magical artifact that chatters and gibbers constantly, whispering warnings to Heinrich of any potential Wizards that would dare to convey a spell against him.

With these magical artifacts and the knowledge that he has gathered throughout his journey, Heinrich has made it his lifes purpose to evade the clutches of mortality and ascend himself into immortality. Alongside him stands a mighty warrior that Heinrich had raised from a long-ago tomb. Under the Lichmasters command, the fell-warrior known only as Krell, Lord of Undeath has served towards Heinrich's goal of immortailty, never truly realizing that both he and Krell are simple pawns in the schemes of Nagash, the one true Lord of the Undeath.

History
During his unnaturally prolonged lifespan, Heinrich has assembled a dark library, the greatest trove of necromantic lore, second only to the ancient magical lore that lies within the Fortress of Nagashizzar and those libraies buried within the sands of ancient Nehekhara. Henrich had been advisor and counselor to kings and princes across the Old World. In the hills beyond Quenelles in Bretonnia his army had smashed the zombie legions of the Council of Nine, an alliance of nine powerful necromancers. In the dark woods beyond the town of Bogenhafen in the western Empire, he had overcome the three Vampire Wizards of Blutwald and all of their combined armies of the walking dead. In the crypts beneath Castle Vermisace he had overcome the ancient Liche Lord and all his acolytes and was since known as The Lichemaster. But his ambitious rivals eventually succeeded in defeating the Lichemaster, driving him to the edge of death. His body was broken and his mind blasted.

He fled and wandered the Grey Mountains and Border Princes for many years as a half sane beggar. He eventually fled into the Vaults where he sought a weapon of great power rumoured to be hidden in the multiple tombs dotted in the mountains, some dating from the time before the Dwarfs and the Elves had walked those lands. Some quirk of fate eventually led him to the tomb of the long dead Krell.

Krell in life was a great lord of Chaos, slain many millenia ago. When Nagash came north to find the Crown of Sorcery and went to war with the man-god Sigmar he raised this great warlord and made him one of the Nine Lords of Nagash, his favoured generals, acolytes and lieutenants. When Nagash was defeated by Sigmar and his armies thrown back Krell took his legion and continued to plague the land for many years before finally being defeated and entombed. It is rumoured that Kemmler was guided by the hands of Nagash to raise Krell and join forces with him. Here Kemmler struck a pact with the Chaos Gods who restored him to his former power and in return he swore to sow destruction in their name.

The tales of these two monsters are many. In 2491 IC they attacked Brettonian abbey at la Maisontaal which contained a powerful artifact stolen from the Skaven. Meek Gnadoom's spell made ​​the Kemmler and his undead army arrived there as allies Skaven, but during the battle trying to kill the necromancer, but they failed. It was only thanks to the skill and heroism of Duke Tancred of Quenelles that the Abbey wasn't destroyed utterly. Kemmler escaped and fled back in the Grey Mountains while the Skaven returned to Skavenblight with their prize. Tancred returned with much honour and spent the rest of his life chasing the Lichemaster. The Duke was eventually killed at the Battle of Montfort Bridge, smashing Kemmler's forces.

The Wood Elves remember Kemmler for the 'Winter of Woes', a season when Kemmler raised a huge army from the many cairns in the forest, ancient human burial mounds long forgotten that were site of great mystical energy closely linked with the health of the Elves woodland home. By attacking in winter the Elves were at their weakest and it was only thanks to the great and venerable treeman Durthu who roused the native wood spirits that the necromancer was defeated, and not before he caused great swathes of devestaion to the forest.

Source

 * Warhammer Armies: Vampire Counts (8th Edition) -- pg. 58