Clar Karond, which means the "Tower of Doom" in the Dark Elven dialect of Druhir, also known as the "City of Ships,"[2a] serves as the Witch King Malekith's chief shipyard in Naggaroth, for it is here that the keels are laid for many thousands of Dark Elven raiding vessels. The City of Ships is also a major centre for the Druchii's Beastmasters.
History[]
Clar Karond is a more sprawling city than others in Naggaroth, stretching from the banks of the Redvenom River up into the trackless pine forests of the Duskridge. It is from these ancient woodlands that the Dark Elves harvest the black timber from which they build their sleek-hulled warships. The Naggarothi do not perform this work themselves, of course, for such labours are considered well beneath them, but instead set thousands of slaves to the task.[1a]
As the woodlands receded, their hearts torn out by hooked chains or consumed by dark fire, the ever-expanding streets of Clar Karond have spilled into the gap. Year by year, the city swells further, having grown fat on the labours of its slaves and despoliation of the surrounding land.[1a]
Once, there was but one great tower looking over the Redvenom River; now the Duskridge bristles with the jagged minarets of the Druchii. With each wave of expansion, new ramparts have been raised not only to protect the city as a whole, but also to defend each tower from its neighbours. As a result, Clar Karond's streets are tangled and mazelike, marred by half-collapsed buildings, severed concourses, and entire districts buried forever as newer and more impressive fortifications are raised.[1a]
Geography[]
The location of Clar Karond in Naggaroth.
Clar Karond is built into a valley, with the eastern side dominated by dry docks, slave quarters and the city proper. The portion of the city on the west bank of the Redvenom River is reserved for the nobility, who maintain their own private docks, which are rented out to enterprising captains for considerable fees.[2a]
Three bridges of stone and dark iron connect the two halves of Clar Karond, each patrolled by gangs of thugs hired by individual Dark Elf noble houses that extort tolls from travellers crossing in either direction.[2a]
Like all of the Great Cities of Naggaroth, Clar Karond is constructed as a death trap, with each home being a citadel against its neighbouring families as well as trespassers. Many alleyways and streets lead to nowhere, coming to an end in cul-de-sacs riddled with murder-holes or leading into the toxic sewers beneath the city.[2a]
The "Slavers' Road" is a major traffic way that connects to the Skull Gate, which opens onto the road to Hag Graef.[2a]
Culture[]
The war banner of Clar Karond
As a major Dark Elf maritime base, Clar Karond houses around two-thirds of the Naggarothi fleet during the winter months when storms and frost make the Sea of Chill unpassable.[2a]
Clar Karond is also famed for its Beastmasters. It was here, many long centuries ago, that the knights of Hag Graef brought the first of the reptilian Cold Ones to be broken, and much later, that the ferocious Kharibdyss of the deeps were bent to the Dark Elves' will. Now, Manticore pens, Harpy cages and other enclosures are as common in Clar Karond as the temples of Khaine.[1a]
Both are outnumbered by the pelt-draped shrines of Anath Raema, for the goddess of the savage hunt has ever been the patron of the Dark Elves' Beastmasters. Thus, when the armies of Clar Karond go to war, they do so in Anath Raema's name, driving her savage children before them to break the enemy lines with tooth and claw.[1a]
The cities of Clar Karond and Karond Kar share not only a similar name but also a bitter rivalry. Since both deemed themselves the domains of the greatest Beastmasters in the Known World, a yearly competition known as the Contest of Claws is undertaken to decide who may hold the title of the greatest Beastmaster for that one year.
Canon Conflict[]
In the Malus Darkblade novels, the river upon whose banks Clar Karond is built is called the Darkwine River.[2a] It is unknown if that is an alternate name for the Redvenom River.
Sources[]
- 1 Warhammer Armies: Dark Elves (8th Edition)
- 1a: pg. 13
- 2: The Daemon's Curse (Novel) by Dan Abnett and Mike Lee
- 2a: Ch. 2
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