"I have slaughtered armies of Elves! I have broken the backs of Dragons, and eaten the hearts of sea-leviathans!"
Arbaal in his full panoply of war and mounted upon the great Daemonic Flesh Hound known as the Hound of Khorne, as depicted in Total War: Warhammer III.[8]
Arbaal the Undefeated, also known as the "Destroyer of Khorne" and the "Champion of the Blood God," was an ancient and powerful Champion of Khorne who wrought many woes upon the mortal world during the time of the Great War Against Chaos, and it is said that he still lives to this very day, a Chaos Champion who has remained undefeated for millennia.[1a][2a][8]
Countless thousands have fallen beneath the crimson arc of his axe and now their bleached-white skulls lie at the feet of Khorne's throne in the Brass Citadel. And yet, though high in the esteem of his bloody god, the title of the Destroyer of Khorne is both a blessing and a curse, for while it blesses Khorne's chosen Champion with great might and unrelenting energy, should the warrior ever fail or falter in his duty, it would cause him his ultimate demise, for only the strong may bear the title of the Destroyer![1a][2a][9]
Quick Answers
What are some of the great victories of Arbaal the Undefeated?
Who is the Destroyer of Khorne?
What role did Arbaal the Undefeated play in the Great War Against Chaos?
Is Arbaal the Undefeated still alive?
Why is Arbaal known as the undefeated champion?
History
"Fill the moat with the corpses of your comrades. Trample on their broken carcasses to reach the ramparts. Bring down the walls with the weight of the dead."
- —Arbaal the Undefeated at the Siege of Praag during the Great War Against Chaos.[6]
Origins
Arbaal the Undefeated, as rendered for Total War: Warhammer III.
In the year -830 IC, the Norscan known as Arbaal the Undefeated[7a], the Destroyer of Khorne, was tired of finding no foes worthy to face him in the mortal world. It is said that he rode into the Plain of Skulls to challenge Khorne himself...[4a]
The Destroyer would not be seen again until many centuries later, when he fought in the Great War Against Chaos. At the Kislevite city of Praag, Arbaal led a hundred Daemons in the assault on its boundaries. It was Arbaal who finally broke the gates of the city with his powerful axe, beginning the slaughter. He would go on to slay a thousand of its unlucky defenders.[1]
Concept art for Arbaal the Undefeated created for Total War: Warhammer III.
The Champion of Khorne survived the defeat of the forces of Chaos in the Great War, which saw the deaths of many of the Dark Gods' most favoured followers, such as Valnir the Reaper and even the mighty twelfth Everchosen himself, Asavar Kul, the high zar of the Kurgans.[1]
Arbaal is the favourite of his master the Blood God and his most devoted mortal servant. Khorne has gifted him with the power of the Destroyer, a reward that belongs to Khorne's greatest Chaos Champion alone. A relentless fury of destruction and blood-letting descends on Arbaal whenever he wades through his foes in battle -- no one has ever been able to withstand his attacks. He is ever aware of the eyes of Khorne upon him, knowing that should he ever flee a battle, or face the humiliating sting of defeat, the terrible wrath of his patron deity would descend upon him and turn him into a Chaos Spawn. Such is the punishment for failure...[1a][2a]
End Times
"And like as not, he could have carried the day by himself..."
Arbaal the Undefeated mounted upon the Hound of Khorne, a great Flesh Hound.
During the End Times, Arbaal acted as the mightiest of the thirteenth Everchosen Archaon's mortal followers. He spent much of his time fighting in Ind alongside the Champion of Slaanesh, Dechala the Denied One, bringing the wrath of the Chaos Gods down on that far land, until he and his rival had been scooped up by whatever dark forces were responsible for such things and brought to Middenheim.[3b]
Amongst Archaon's other lieutenants, Arbaal held particular disdain for Azazel, and was ready and willing to slay the Daemon Prince of Slaanesh at the slightest provocation.[3a]
When Arbaal was instructed to defeat the High Elven armies commanded by Caradryan, the captain of the elite Ulthuani Phoenix Guard, all believed that he would stand triumphant, even against the Incarnate of Aqshy, the power of the magical Lore of Fire personified and avatar of the Elven creator god Asuryan himself. In the ensuing battle, Arbaal's mighty axe reeked of hot blood, leaving trails of crimson smoke behind as he slaughtered his way through rank upon rank of Ulthuan's finest.[3a]
Arbaal in his full panoply of war and mounted upon the great Daemonic Flesh Hound known as the Hound of Khorne, as depicted in Total War: Warhammer III.[8]
Khorne's greatest mortal champion was finally defeated, however, when he was beheaded by Caradryan after a fierce and brutal duel, with a move that the struggling Incarnate believed he only had one chance to execute. Indeed, Arbaal's wounded and exhausted opponent would later admit that, were he not host to the Wind of Aqshy itself, he could never have stood against the Chaos Champion. Caradryan even believed that the Destroyer of Khorne could have defeated his entire High Elven army single-handedly.[3a]
Arbaal's Flesh Hound mount, the Hound of Khorne, was also slain during the fight by Ashtari, the Phoenix mount of Caradryan.[3a]
Total War: Warhammer III
"Driven to prove himself and retain Khorne's favour, Arbaal relentlessly seeks out battles that test his strength -- not only against famed champions but in any clash that promises glory. To him, facing monstrous beasts or thousands of enemies is as fulfilling as duelling a single powerful warrior, for each is a chance to honour the Blood God through carnage on a grand scale."
- —Description of Arbaal the Undefeated in Total War: Warhammer III.[11]
The heraldry of Arbaal the Undefeated's Khornate Challengers of Khorne army as depicted in Total War: Warhammer III.
In Total War: Warhammer III, beyond the Worlds Edge Mountains to the north, Arbaal traversed the Skull Road at the head of a fierce army known as the "Challengers of Khorne," forever seeking the next worthy battle to wage in Khorne's name. With every challenge overcome, Arbaal earned more of Khorne's favour to increase his power via the Blood God's boons.[8]
The fate of Arbaal, if he ultimately fails his divine lord, would not be to become a Chaos Spawn, as he had first feared. Instead it is something much worse; he would become a mere Human. If this occurs, he may accept his defeat or rage against the Dark Gods in futile defiance, suffering the wrath of all others who serve Khorne.[8]
Wargear
"He rides upon the Hound of Khorne. He wields the Blood God's Destroyer. Never has he suffered defeat, and his followers call his name after every glorious feat! Arbaal! Arbaal! ARBAAL!"
Arbaal the Undefeated, Destroyer of Khorne, riding atop the Hound of Khorne.
Arbaal was considered the ultimate warrior and the most ferocious of Khorne's many death-dealing mortal servants. As such, he was one of the mightiest beings to walk the world of Mallus. Indeed, over three thousand years of overwhelming battlefield dominance made the prospect of Arbaal being defeated seem unthinkable, both for him and his enemies, whose wits literally failed them in searching for a way to bring him down.[3][8][10]
Though not a wizard himself, as the use of magic is anathema to the Blood God, such was Arbaal's strength of will that hordes of Khornate Daemons were bound to him, with his presence alone anchoring them to the mortal realm.[3][8][10]
Arbaal the Undefeated facing down the ranks of the High Elven Phoenix Guard as depicted in Total War: Warhammer III.
- Hound of Khorne - The Hound of Khorne is the Blood God's own Flesh Hound, a Daemon of huge proportions combining the attributes of a Flesh Hound with massive size and power. Only Khorne's chosen Chaos Champion is rewarded with the Hound of Khorne, which the Champion rides in the fashion of a monstrous beast. This fearsome Daemon also wears the magically protective Collar of Khorne which dispels instantly any spell used against either itself or Arbaal.[1a][5b][9]
- Destroyer of Khorne - Taking the form of a massive axe, the Destroyer of Khorne is the arcane gift that Khorne, the god of war, bestows upon his most favoured of all Chaos Champions. It turns Arbaal into a tireless warrior; a hurricane of fury and destruction upon the battlefield, allowing him to cut down all who dare to challenge his might.[1a][5b][9]
- Chaos Armour - Arbaal wears a suit of ancient crimson, black and brass Chaos Armour that was created in Khorne's very own forges in the Blood God's Domain of the Realm of Chaos. This suit of hellish, skull-encrusted plate armour is further empowered by the Mark of Khorne.[3][8][9]
Miniatures
Canon Conflict
There is some confusion as to whether or not the Destroyer of Khorne is an ability that Arbaal has been blessed with or the magical axe that he wields. The 5th Edition armybook Warhammer Armies: Champions of Chaos describes the Destroyer of Khorne as a "power" and lists Arbaal's axe as a separate entity entirely.
However, Arbaal's updated rulesheet in Citadel Journal 50 lists the Destroyer of Khorne as a distinct weapon that he wields. Furthermore, a quote from Total War: Warhammer III states that Arbaal "wields the Blood God's Destroyer," implying once again that it is a weapon.
Sources
- 1: Warhammer Armies: Champions of Chaos (5th Edition)
- 2: Warhammer Armies: Hordes of Chaos (6th Edition)
- 2a: pg. 97
- 3: The End Times: The Lord of the End Times (Novel) by Josh Reynolds
- 4: Warhammer Armies: Warriors of Chaos (8th Edition)
- 4a: pg. 14
- 5: Citadel Journal 50, "Champions of Chaos"
- 6: Total War: Warhammer (PC Game)
- 7: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Sea of Claws (RPG)
- 7a: pg. 56
- 8: Total War: Warhammer III (PC Game)
- 9: White Dwarf 188 (UK), pp 20, 21
- 10: Warhammer Citadel Miniatures Catalog 1996 (US), pg. 76
- 11: Total War: Warhammer III - Omens of Destruction: Introducing Arbaal the Undefeated (Creative Assembly Blog)
Gallery
