Azhag the Slaughterer

"Wyvern's is good fer one thing, eatin', smashin', smellin' and flyin.' They're also good fer lettin' the other boyz know who's boss!"

—Azhag the Slaughterer^[2a]

The Orc Warlord Azhag the Slaughterer atop his mighty Wyvern Skullmuncha.

Azhag the Slaughterer was one of the most infamous Orc warlords in recent history. He brought a trail of ruin and destruction to the northern lands of the Old World, laying waste to cities, fortresses and mountain strongholds wherever he went. Atop his head lay the key to his power and uncommon intelligence in tactics and warfare -- an ominous iron crown which emanated an ancient evil long thought forgotten from history. It is this crown, a relic of olden days, which granted Azhag sorcerous powers and gave him the vision he needed to command a Waaagh! of epic proportions.^[1b]

In time, rivals were beaten and whole tribes were soon conquered as Azhag's notoriety grew with each passing conquest. The ominous crown, known in ancient times as the Crown of Sorcery, would constantly whisper into the primitive mind of the Orc warlord, telling him of a grand conquest that lay to the south, of a great plan that needed to be fulfilled. Victory once more followed victory, and after much notoriety, the deeds of Azhag had travelled far and wide, luring Greenskin tribes by the dozens into joining him on his Waaagh!.^[1b]

Azhag is unlike any Orc warlord that had lived and died before him. With the crown controlling his mind, Azhag began to use un-Orcish words and often tried to explain orders to his subordinates instead of simply cracking skulls and bellowing them. However, a Greenskin's personal will is far too strong to simply erase, and at times the Crown of Sorcery and Azhag's willpower often struggled for control. Such events left the warlord in a trance-like state or made him move slowly, as if sleepwalking. On several occasions, his subordinates saw the warlord argue with himself constantly or with an invisible adversary.^[1b]

Yet none could hope to outright defy the warlord, for even in this addled state, he was still immensely powerful beyond reckoning. Once battle has been joined, Azhag was a comet of destruction, descending from the sky to wreak havoc amongst the enemy army, his eyes and his crown ablaze with sorcerous light. The Greenskins under his command knew he was not quite right in the head any more, but still, his victories gave them a good fight and the spoils of war, which was incentive enough for his troops to follow Azhag to the ends of the earth.^[1b]

What is the source of Azhag the Slaughterer's uncommon intelligence in tactics and warfare? toggle section

The source of Azhag the Slaughterer's tactical acumen and warfare intelligence is an ancient iron crown. This artifact bestows upon Azhag sorcerous abilities and the strategic insight required to lead a massive Waaagh! The crown, radiating an old evil, empowers Azhag to devise and execute intricate strategies, surpassing the usual Greenskin tactic of brute force and numerical superiority.

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What was the impact of Azhag the Slaughterer on the northern lands of the Old World? toggle section

Azhag the Slaughterer, a notorious Orc warlord, wreaked havoc on the northern regions of the Old World, decimating cities and fortresses. Utilizing his Wyvern Skullmuncha and dark magic, he crushed his adversaries. His strategic use of Goblins and Snotlings at Butcher's Hill, combined with a barrage of destructive spells, earned him the title 'the Slaughterer' and a reputation as a feared enemy of Mankind.

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What are some of the most notable cities or fortresses destroyed by Azhag the Slaughterer? toggle section

Azhag the Slaughterer, a notorious Orc Warlord, wreaked havoc across the Old World's northern territories. His strategic and destructive assaults resulted in the downfall of countless towns, forts, and castles. His infamous title, 'the Slaughterer', was earned at Butcher's Hill. Here, he trapped his human adversaries using Goblins and Snotlings, then annihilated them using dark magic.

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Who were some of the most formidable opponents faced by Azhag the Slaughterer? toggle section

Azhag the Slaughterer, a feared Orc warlord, encountered numerous formidable adversaries. He used Goblins and Snotlings to ensnare Human opponents at Butcher's Hill, decimating the survivors with dark magic. His pivotal confrontation occurred at Osterwald, where he perished during a distraction while repelling an attack by the Knights Panther.

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What is the significance of the wyvern in relation to Azhag the Slaughterer's power and status? toggle section

Azhag the Slaughterer's power and status are symbolized by his wyvern, Skullmuncha. Azhag tamed the fierce creature with a single glance, reflecting his immense force of will. The wyvern's size and ferocity, combined with Azhag's control over it, underscore his authority as a prominent Orc warlord.

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History[]

Origins[]

AzhagBonerattlaz — The icon of Azhag the Slaughterer and his Bonerattlaz Greenskin army in *Total War: Warhammer III*.

The legend of Azhag the Slaughterer truly began within the Chaos-corrupted lands of Troll Country, located to the uttermost north of the Old World. Monsters and packs of Trolls stalk that deadly land, while Chaos warbands raid from the north. There is no safety amongst Orckind, as the different Greenskin tribes of Troll Country are bitter rivals, eager to destroy each other whenever they meet. All of that changed the day a lesser and little-known Orc chieftain by the name of Azhag found a mysterious magical crown.^[1a]

When attacked by heavily armoured Chaos Warriors, Azhag and his mob were forced underground into the labyrinthine ruins of what had long ago been the city of Todtheim. After fighting off the Daemonic monstrosities that lived in the cursed city, Azhag wandered into the den of a multi-headed Chaos Troll. Azhag slew the beast and amidst its bone-strewn den found an ancient crown, which unknown to him was the Crown of Sorcery, an ancient artefact that had belonged to the Great Necromancer and Liche Nagash. Unsuspecting of its true nature, Azhag placed the iron band upon his head. Instantly, strange thoughts flooded his mind. He was able to lead the survivors of his mob out of the serpentine under-passages of Todtheim. Indeed, it was almost as if Azhag knew the way.^[1a]

From then on Azhag was changed. The crown soon became a permanent fixture atop his scarred, green head. He took to muttering to himself and often spoke in a decidedly un-Orcish voice. Unknown to his mob, the crown was working its arcane control on their leader, for it was an ancient and terrible device that had once belonged to the Liche Lord Nagash, and a fraction of the Great Necromancer's dread power still clung to the iron band. As the immeasurable will of Nagash weighed upon him, Azhag was not entirely Azhag anymore. However, though the Orc psyche is a simple one, Azhag's mind had its own singularly determined strength. Despite the crown's exertions, it could not fully possess Azhag.^[1a]

Rise of Waaagh! Azhag[]

Warhammer Waaagh! Azhag — The armies of Waaagh! Azhag

With whispered advice or sudden jolts of arcane power, the crown aided Azhag. Orcish brutality augmented by ancient guile and dark sorcery made for an unbeatable combination. During that year Azhag rose to become not a chieftain of a down-beaten, wandering mob, but a mighty warboss of a bold and swaggering Waaagh! Through cunning, force or foul magic, Azhag outmanoeuvred all rivals. The northern Orc tribes were united as never before.^[1a]

Word of Azhag's great victories spread far and his forces were swollen by hordes of Night Goblins from Red Eye Mountain. They brought, as favour to their chosen leader, an enormous and exceptionally fierce Wyvern. Without being hand-reared from an egg, few Wyverns can be broken to serve as a steed. Yet such was his force of will that Azhag subdued the beast with but a single glance. "Skullmuncha," as the Wyvern was named, was vicious and temperamental, yet acted almost docile with its new master.^[1a]

Ruling over rabble could never sate the Crown of Sorcery, for it wished to return far southwards, to reunite with its rightful master. Compelled by a will not his own, Azhag led his Waaagh! into Kislev and stormed into the northern provinces of the Empire. With brain and brawn so closely aligned, nothing could stop the Greenskins.^[1a]

Total War Azhag Render 1 — Rendering of Azhag the Slaughterer from *Total War: Warhammer*

Time and again Azhag proved that he was no ordinary warboss, not relying on tired old "outnumber and charge" tactics so ingrained in most Greenskin leaders. Here, instead, was a deft military commander capable of creating and implementing complex strategies. When superior tactics could not crush the enemy, Azhag himself would take to the fray. Few foes could stand the hurtling charge of Skullmuncha, but if they did, Azhag broke them using foul magics and dark sorceries.^[1a]

At Butcher's Hill, Azhag earned his infamous moniker "the Slaughterer." After ingeniously using hordes of Goblins and Snotlings to trap his Human enemies in a pincer movement, Azhag utterly destroyed the remaining defenders, bodily and mentally, with a barrage of fell spells. The massacre earned Azhag a place amongst the most hated of Mankind's foes.^[1a]

Death of Azhag[]

Total War Azhag Concept Art 1 — Concept art of Azhag the Slaughterer from *Total War: Warhammer*

It was at the Battle of Osterwald that Azhag met his doom. Countering a charge by the Knights Panther, Azhag ordered Skullmuncha into the thick of the fighting. The crown, angered at the invasion's circuitous route, sought greater control over Azhag. The mental duelling left the Orc Warboss distracted and in his moment of weakness Azhag was slain by the Grand Master of the Knights Panther, Werner von Kriegstadt.^[1a]

Without the evil genius to guide them, the Greenskins of Waaagh! Azhag were soon routed. As for the crown, the Empire's Grand Theogonist recognised its foul nature. Refusing to touch it with bare flesh, he took it back to Altdorf, where it was placed in the deepest vault of the Holy Temple of Sigmar. There its ancient evil could be guarded for eternity by powerful warding spells.^[1a]

Wargear[]

Azhag's 'Ard Armour - Many magical charms boost the protective power of Azhag's armour.^[1b]

Crown of Sorcery - This magical crown speaks to Azhag with a voice as dry as the grave and as old as the southern deserts.^[1b]

Slagga's Slashas - Azhag always fights with two crude but magical weapons known as Slagga's Slashas, a powerful dual-wielding paired weapons.^[1b]

Miniatures[]

Trivia[]

Azhag the Slaughterer has a similar name to the Orc chieftain Azog the Defiler in the works of J.R.R Tolkein, and shares that character's sheer physical power and unusually potent military skills for an Orc.