Black Guard

Not to be confused with the Knights of Morr, who are also known as the Black Guard.

"If you are called upon to fight directly for the lordly Malekith, he may deign to send you a contingent of his personal guard. These are the Black Guard, the soldiery of our capital Naggarond, and they are the fiercest fighters in all of the Land of Chill. Wondrously ruthless and efficient on the attack, and immovable in defence, the Black Guard are the terror of our enemies. However, do not misuse their abilities, for they owe loyalty only to the mighty Witch King himself, and should they judge you to be at fault, you will answer to their deadly captain, Kouran. Such unpleasantness is to be avoided if you value your life and soul."

—Furion of Clar Karond^[2a]

Black Guard concept art — A Dark Elf warrior of the elite Black Guard of Naggarond as depicted in concept art for *Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning*.

The Black Guard, formally the Black Guard of Naggarond, are the elite personal honour guard of the Witch King Malekith, ruler of Naggaroth, based in the Dark Elves' capital city of Naggarond and answerable to no other save he.

Role

"The Witch King is defended, at halberd-point, from those who would do him harm. Imagine such a thing!"

—Description of the Black Guard from Total War: Warhammer II.^[4]

Cf90296becfb7e46484251517b4632c4 — The Black Guards of Naggarond in combat.

The Black Guards are recruited from the offspring of families high in the Witch King's favour, taken at birth from mothers who are soon thereafter put to the sword. With no family ties to distract them, these children are raised within the barracks of the Black Guard and taught the myriad skills of death and destruction that are required of Malekith's foremost elite. As soon as they are able, these young warriors are pitched against each other in murderous fights to the death, so that only the strongest, quickest-witted and most merciless survive. This violence is not restricted to the training fields and arenas. An intake of recruits can lose up to half number as the incautious, injured and unpopular are disposed of by their fellows.^[1a]

As they mature, these fledgling fighters are regularly visited by the Witch King, who lavishly rewards those who show great cunning and bloodlust. When the aspirants finally come of age and their training is completed, Malekith pledges each of them great wealth and lands, which will be theirs if they serve him well for two hundred years. Those Black Guard that survive their arduous tour of duty go on to become rulers of cities, leaders of armies and favoured members of the Witch King's court. However, this promised generosity seldom requires fulfilment, for there are many ways to perish in Malekith's service — not least as a scapegoat for his frustrations. Yet if the risks are great, then the rewards are greater still, and so every member of the Black Guard serves without faltering until death claims him.^[1a]

They are a bulwark of grim steel on the battlefield, holding their ground where all others have fled, fighting with a determination fit to transform defeat into victory, and victory into a glorious massacre. The barracks of the Black Guard are divided into twenty Towers, which compete against each other in contests of war and torture. The Witch King grimly encourages competition between the Towers, and each year, at the beginning of the Season of Blood, a tournament is held to determine which Tower will hold dominance over the others for the coming year. The leaders of these factions are the Tower Masters, veterans of the Black Guard so inculcated with death and battle that they choose to continue in Malekith's service after their two centuries of duty have been completed. These hardened warriors rule their underlings with a will of iron, determined that their Tower shall not be shamed by a lack of discipline — or worse, a glimmer of mercy — on the part of their charges.^[1a]

Combat Masteries

"The Black Guard of Naggarond are the favoured warriors of the Witch King Malekith, and are given the sacred task of not only serving as his personal bodyguard, but as his heartless enforcers on the field of battle. Those who would become the Black Guard are taken from birth from their mothers. A Black Guard has no family ties to distract them, they are children of hatred and war and are raised from infancy steeped in battle and blood. Each Black Guard has personally sworn an oath of undying devotion at the feet of the Witch King, it is this oath that lights the fires of hatred and scorn deep in their hearts, for no warrior can be greater then the one chosen by Malekith himself."

—The fearsome Black Guard of the Witch King.^[5]

BlackGuardSword — A rare, sword-wielding Black Guard who has mastered the Path of Loathing.

Amongst the Black Guard of Naggarond, many of their number will choose to master a certain style of combat.^[5]

Path of Malice - Following the Path of Malice means mastering one's rage and moulding it into a powerful weapon. The Black Guard who embrace Malice are capable of unleashing powerful attacks fuelled by their Hatred. Frequently seen on the front lines, these Black Guard traditionally wield powerful halberds which allow them to cleave through steel and flesh alike.^[5]

Path of Loathing - The Path of Loathing is one of disdain for others, and embracing the belief that none can defeat you on the field of battle. As such, Black Guard of this mastery become unconquerable obstacles that even the most potent of offense will break against. Those who embrace Loathing prefer to work with a tall shield and a strong sword so they can relish in the ringing sound of futile blows falling on hardened steel.^[5]

Path of Anguish - Those who master the Path of Anguish master pain itself. This allows the Black Guard to shrug off even the most potent of magical attacks that would normally pierce their finely crafted armour. Masters of Anguish are traditionally chosen to serve as the Witch King's personal executioners seeking out and destroying the arcane powers that would wish to strike their liege down.^[5]

Notable Black Guards

Khalak of Ghrond - First Captain of the Black Guard. His halberd, Crimson Death, has been passed down from captain to captain as a badge of office.^[3a]

Kouran Darkhand - The current Captain of the Black Guard.

Lords of Oblivion - An elite regiment of Black Guards mounted on Black Dragons. They were active at the End Times and fought at the Battle of the Blighted Isle.