Barrier Idols

The barrier idols of the Greenskins as seen in Total War: Warhammer III.

The barrier idols are great idols of dressed stone that stand along the Land of the Dead's northern and southern borders, each in the likeness of one of the gods of ancient Nehekhara. Whether these monoliths are intended to contain the restless spirits of the Land of the Dead, or to deter invaders, none can say.^[1]

Strange rituals are also performed by the local Savage Orcs of the Badlands on the borders of the Land of the Dead beneath large but crude dung-smeared totems dedicated to their gods Gork and Mork. A leader of the Shrunken Headz tribe once attempted to pile up enough skulls here to challenge the Greenskin deity Gork himself to a headbutting contest.^[2]

Nehekharan Barrier Idol Locations

Nehekharan barrier idols in 2276 IC as mapped in Warhammer: The Old World.

• Northern monoliths from west to east:
  • Obelisk of Ualatp
  • Djaf's Column
  • Obelisk of Phakth
  • Sokth's Needle

• Southern monoliths from west to east:
  • Obelisk of Geheb
  • Monument of Basth
  • Idol of Shapesh

• Western monoliths from north to south
  • Monument of Qu'aph
  • Sekhmet's Needle
  • Khsar's Column
  • Idol of Ptra

Greenskin Barrier Idolz

"Those idols of Gork 'n' Mork that appear around Greenskin camps? Someone 'as to carve 'em! "

—Description of Greenskin Idol Carva in Total War: Warhammer.^[3b]

Greenskins love their gods, so will quickly carve effigies of Gork and Mork out of stone or other materials when they settle. These "idolz" are a constant reminder that Gork's gaze or Mork's feet are ever-present.^[3a]

Orcs will come and headbut the idolz in respect; Goblins tend to throw mutilated limbs of former mates or enemies at them for the same reasons; shamans will dance round them uttering nonsense -- nonsense that the gods seem to like nevertheless.^[3a]

Canon Conflict

The barrier idols are depicted as Nehekharan in origin in Warhammer: The Old World, however on earlier maps, as well as in Total War: Warhammer, the barrier idols are depicted as Greenskin in origin.

Either this is a discrepancy on the part of the writers, or since Warhammer: The Old World takes place at an earlier time in 2276 IC, the Greenskin Barrier Idolz haven't been made yet -- possibly being carved out of Nehekhara's own monuments as Greenskins are ought to do.

Sources

• 1: Explore the Old World - Interactive Map (Warhammer: The Old World website)
• 2: Total War: Warhammer III (PC Game)
• 3: Total War: Warhammer (PC Game)
  • 3a: Idolz (Building description)
  • 3b: Idol Carva (Follower description)