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| + | {{Quote|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.{{Fn|2a}}}} |
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| ā | The '''Black Guard''' are the personal regiments of the Witch King [[Malekith]]. As well as being Malekith's personal guard they form the elite forces of [[Naggrond]]'s garrison. Their primary weapons are [[Halberds]] and are equipped with heavier armour than the [[Dark Elf Warriors|civilian forces]]. They are the [[Dark Elves]]' greatest infantry unit, feared for their discipline and great hatred. [[Kouran]] is their captain. |
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| + | [[File:Black_Guard_concept_art.jpg|thumb|280px|The elite Guard of Naggaroth's military.]] |
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| ā | === Towers === |
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| ā | The Black Guard are recruited at birth from families in the Witch King's favour. These children are then educated at one of twenty Tower barracks. The would-be guards are routinely visited by the Witch King himself. |
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| + | The '''Black Guard of Naggarond''', or simply the '''Black Guard''' are [[Malekith|Malekith's]] personal army, answerable to no other save he. |
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| ā | At graduation each aspirant swears fealty to the Witch King for a period of 200 years. Those that survive this tour are rewarded with lands and wealth, many then becoming rulers, generals and members of Malekith's court. Some Dark Elves choose to remain as Black Guard beyond the 200 years, of these the twenty greatest are the Tower Masters. |
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| + | ==Overiew== |
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| ā | A status of rivalry exists between the twenty towers; annually, during the Season of Blood, the tower masters host a tournament, the winning Tower dominates the force for that year. Life at these institutions is brutal and it is not unheard of that half of a given round of recruits perishes before their graduation. |
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| + | 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.{{Fn|1a}} |
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| + | 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 ā not least as 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.{{Fn|1a}} |
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| ā | ==List of Regiments== |
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| ā | [[File:Lord of Oblivion.png|thumb|220x220px]] |
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| + | 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 ā or worse, a glimmer of mercy ā on the part of their charges.{{Fn|1a}} |
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| ā | * ''Warhammer: Khaine, Book I'' (The End Times: Book III) -- p. 61 |
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| + | ==Infamous Black Guards== |
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| + | * '''[[Khalak of Ghrond]]''' - First Captain of the Blackguard. His halberd, [[Crimson Death]], has been passed down from captain to captain as a badge of office.{{Fn|3a}} |
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| + | |||
| + | * '''[[Kouran Darkhand]]''' - The current Captain of the Black Guard. |
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| + | |||
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| + | |||
| + | ==Gallery== |
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| + | <gallery type="slideshow" widths="500" position="center"> |
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| + | wh2_main_def_black_guard.png|Portrait of a Black Guard |
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| + | </gallery> |
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| + | |||
| + | ==Miniatures== |
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| + | <gallery type="slideshow" widths="500" position="center"> |
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| + | Black Guard Dark Elves 8th Edition Miniatures.jpg|8th Edition. |
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| + | Dark Elf - Black Guard 2.jpg|8th Edition. |
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| + | Dark Elf - Black Guard 3.jpg|8th Edition. (Unit) |
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| + | Dark Elf - Black Guard 4 (Unit).jpg|8th Edition. (Command) |
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| + | Dark Elf - Black Guard of Naggarond (5).jpg|8th Edition. (Close Up) |
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| + | Dark Elf - Black Guard of Naggarond (6).jpg|8th Edition. (Close Up) |
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| + | Dark Elf - Black Guard of Naggarond (7).jpg|6th Edition. (Black Guard of Naggarond - Regiment) |
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| + | Black Guard command group Dark Elves 6th Edition Miniatures.jpg|6th Edition. (Command Group) |
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| + | Black Guard Dark Elves 6th Edition Miniatures.jpg|6th Edition. (Troop Group) |
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| + | Black Guard Dark Elves 4th Edition Miniatures.jpg|4th Edition. |
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| + | cf90296becfb7e46484251517b4632c4.png |
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| + | </gallery> |
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| + | |||
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| + | ** {{Endn|1a}}: pg. 43 |
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| + | ** {{Endn|2a}}: pg. 7 |
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| + | ** {{Endn|3a}}: pg. 101 |
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| + | [[es:Guardia Negra]] |
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| + | [[Category:Dark Elf Military]] |
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| + | [[Category:Dark Elf Organisation]] |
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| + | [[Category:Naggarond]] |
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[[Category:B]] |
[[Category:B]] |
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| + | [[Category:G]] |
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Revision as of 22:57, 29 December 2019
"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]
The elite Guard of Naggaroth's military.
The Black Guard of Naggarond, or simply the Black Guard are Malekith's personal army, answerable to no other save he.
Overiew
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 ā not least as 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 ā or worse, a glimmer of mercy ā on the part of their charges.[1a]
Infamous Black Guards
- Khalak of Ghrond - First Captain of the Blackguard. 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.
