A Crow-man perched near a Kislevite city.
Crow-men, also called Onyx Crowmen, are living, magical constructs made of onyx -- neither entirely raven nor Human in shape but in the form of humanoid birds -- that fight in the armies of Grand Cathay, similar to Terracotta Sentinels or Terracotta Automatons.[1a][2]
Crow-men are the agents of the Moon Empress who she uses in particular to spy upon the servants of the Chaos God Chi'an Chi, known as Tzeentch in the west, who represent a constant threat to the people of the Celestial Empire. Crow-men attack their enemies by flying and drawing them bellowing and helpless into the air, and then gutting them with their glittering talons.[1a][2]
Onyx Crowmen were among the defenders of the Tower of Ashshair when it was attacked by the Champion of Tzeentch Sayl the Faithless in 2510 IC under the orders of the Chaos Lord and Champion of Nurgle Tamurkhan during the start of his invasion of the Old World.[1a][2]
History
Origins
An Onyx Crowman as depicted in Total War: Warhammer III.[4]
The Onyx Crowmen are a form of Fe Shing Bo, a type of spirit used as a familiar when conjured by the wizards of the Celestial Court from the Elemental Winds of Yin. Magical creatures by nature, the Crow-men are imbued with witchsight attuned to the four Winds of Yin: Amber, Iron, Amethyst, and Darkness.[3][4]
This allows them to be especially capable of hunting down Chaos Sorcerers. This magical ability seems to also make them hard to detect. Humans are inclined to look away from Crow-men as they move or are suddenly afflicted by drowsiness as they pass over.[3][4]
Role
"They were drawn to evil sorcerers like magpies to silver."
- —Anonymous
The Onyx Crowmen are barely half the height of a normal man. They possess backward-jointed legs like the avians they are modelled upon and wear what seem to be black pantaloons. Their belts hold their weapons, usually knives and other assassination tools. The upper part of their bodies is covered with black feathers, and their beak is durable and extended.[3]
The Crow-men are the agents of the Moon Empress of Grand Cathay, which she uses to spy on the Chaos Cults of Chi'an Chi, the Chaos God of change and intrigue known as Tzeentch in the west.[2] They are vicious creatures refashioned in the shape of men to spy for the Celestial Court, reporting on the state of the empire to the Moon Empress who in turn informs the Dragon Emperor.[4]
When required, murders of Crowmen may be called to war, their speed and sharp beaks affording them a secondary role as combat-ready scouts that can discern the enemy's actions from afar.[4]
Notable Onyx Crowmen
- Empress Crowmen - The personal eyes and ears of the Moon Empress, these Onyx Crowmen carry devastating Nan-Gau grenades to annihilate their enemies. Feared across the Celestial Empire, the Moon Empress' personal murder of Crowmen is devastating in combat.[4]
Trivia
Crow-men may be based off the mythological Japanese tengu, legendary creatures or supernatural spirit beings traditionally depicted with both human and avian characteristics. The earliest tengu were pictured with beaks, but this feature has often been humanised as an unnaturally long nose, which today is widely considered the tengu's defining characteristic in the popular imagination.
Buddhism long held that the tengu were disruptive demons and harbingers of war. Their image gradually softened, however, into one of protective, if still dangerous, spirits of the mountains and forests. Tengu are associated with the ascetic practice known as Shugendō, and they are usually depicted in the distinctive garb of its followers, the yamabushi.
Alternatively, the Crow-men possibly draw their inspiration from the Chinese deity known as Lei-Gong ("Thunder Duke"). The physical appearance of Lei-Gong is largely similar to early depictions of the tengu, with avian feature such as beaks and talons, and has changed very little over time. One of the noticeable difference lies in the wings, for whereas tengu have feathered wings, Lei-Gong has leather wings much like those of a bat.
In addition, the new Cathayan lore created for Total War: Warhammer III provided in the interview between writer Andy Hall and the YouTube streamer Loremaster of Sotek (12 Oct 2021)[2] highlights the Crow-men's role as the agents of the Moon Empress, which closely mimicks Lei-Gong's role as an agent of justice for the Celestial Court in traditional Chinese folk religion.
Sources
- 1: Tamurkhan: The Throne of Chaos (8th Edition)
- 1a: pg. 25
- 2: The Secrets of Grand Cathay - a Roundtable with Andy Hall - Ben Barrett, Total War Blog, Oct 14, 2021
- 3: Master of the Meteor Wind (Short Story) by David Guymer
- 4: Total War: Warhammer (PC Game)