"The End Times these are, and it's right that both of my axes should be borne together again by my heir.' Gotrek examined the weapon and shook his head sternly. 'I'm no thief. This is the axe of Thorgrim Grudgebearer, the weapon of my High King.' 'It is Morgrim's axe, the weapon of my son, and it is mine to give.' 'How did it get here?' Felix chimed in, his voice sounding terribly light and obtrusive after the rumbling discourse of the two Dwarfs. He cleared his throat and unconsciously dropped an octave.'Is it an illusion like the one of Middenheim?' 'That was no illusion, manling, and neither is this.' Gotrek nodded his understanding, his voice when it came as hard and sharp as a flint. 'Then the High King has fallen. Azamar, the ever-rune, has been broken and the kingdom of the Dwarfs is no more."
- —Exchange between the Ancestor God Grimnir and Gotrek and Felix during the End Times.[3a]
The Axes of Grimnir are two extremely powerful, enchanted Dwarf rune axes that formerly belonged to the Ancestor God Grimnir, the god of war. They were forged from gromril at the dawn of recorded time by Grungni, god of smiths.[1a][6b][7a]
One axe, Az-Dreugidum ("Waraxe of Doom"), also known as Gotrek's Axe, bears two Runes of Cleaving, the Rune of Cutting, the Rune of Unbinding, and an unknown rune that inflicts damage on large targets.[3a][4a][5a][6b]
The other axe, Onkegruni ("Widow-Maker"), also known as the Axe of Grimnir, bears the Giantbane Master Rune, the Master Rune of Alaric the Mad, and the Master Rune of Skalf Blackhammer. Its edges never blunt.[1a][5a][6a][7a][8a]
History[]
Origins[]
Before Grimnir departed for the Chaos Wastes, he gave one axe to his son, Morgrim. This axe, Onkegruni, has been passed down through his noble line ever since, and it is possession of this artefact that identifies a High King of the Dwarfs. It is currently held by Thorgrim Grudgebearer.[1a][4a][6a]
There is much debate as to the location of Grimnir's second axe, a topic that keeps Dwarf scholars very busy indeed.[2a]
End Times[]
During the events of the End Times, Gotrek Gurnisson's axe, taken from the ruins of Karag Dum, was revealed to be one of the legendary Axes of Grimnir. It was the Ancestor God Grimnir who gifted him the other twin axe held by High King Thorgrim Grudgebearer after his death. With an Axe of Grimnir in each hand, the famed Slayer became an unstoppable force, an avatar of bloody-minded vengeance, as Grimnir had once predicted he would be.[3a]
Sources[]
- 1: Warhammer Fantasy Battle: The Nemesis Crown (7th Edition)
- 1a: pg. 13
- 2: White Dwarf Weekly 2
- 2a: pp. 13-14
- 3: Slayer (Novel) by David Guymer
- 3a: Ch. 18
- 4: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 1st Edition: Dwarfs - Stone and Steel (RPG)
- 4a: pg. 72
- 5: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Dwarf Player's Guide (RPG)
- 5a: pg. 137
- 6: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Lords of Stone and Steel (RPG)
- 7: White Dwarf 160
- 7a: pg. 6
- 8: Warhammer Armies: Dwarfs (8th Edition)
- 8a: pg. 52