(Above) Sketch by an unnamed artist, found among the surviving working papers of the murdered scholar Anders Emmerich. Although it is unknown whether the tower shown above truly exists or is simply an artistic fancy, I was moved to include it here by a tantalising notation found written by the side of the sketch in Emmerich's hand. Enigmatically, the notation reads, "Kavzar is Tylos", a phrase the true meaning of which is at present unclear. (The Emmerich Papers: Pencil on parchment)[1a]
The Doom of Kavzar, also called the Curse of Thirteen or the Thirteen Tolls of the Bell, is a legend that talks about the fall of the legendary Human city of Tylos or Kavzar, located in the Tilean territory of the Blighted Marshes. All the known versions of the story share many similiarities, the only relevant difference between them is the role of the Dwarfs in the last stand the people of the city made against the Skaven.[1][2]
A treatise, translated from the Tilean tale "The Doom of Kavzar", was redacted by Andreas Cameras, Emeritus Professor of Imperial History, from the Royal Academy of Altdorf before dying of Yellow Skull Fever.[3a][4a]
Tilean Version[]
Introduction[]
This article is written by the Imperial scholar Wilhelm Leiber in his tome named "The Loathsome Ratmen and all their vile kin." This particular excerpt deals with the fall of the city of Tylos, also known as Kavzar.[1a]
(Above) Illustration of the Tarot card known variously as Falls the Tower, The Tower Struck Down, or simp{y The Tower. An elaborate form of divination popular in Tilea, the designs of the various cards of the Major Arcana of the Tarot are said to date back a thousand years or more. Though given that the motifs used on the card above would seem to owe their inspiration to the same events recorded in The Doom of Kavzar, it may be the design of the card in question is of greater antiquity than has been realised. (Author's collection: Block printing on pasteboard)[1a]
We begin with what may well be the first recorded instance of Skaven activity, preserved in the thirteen stanzas of the ancient epic Tilean poem, The Doom of Kavzar. Though dismissed by most scholars as an example of the darkly poetical whimsy of a bygone age, when viewed in the light of the evidences we have already seen, it would seem to me the events recorded in The Doom of Kavzar have something of the ring of truth about them. Put simply, many of the events described would seem to accord with what we know of the ways of the ratmen, indicating the poem's unknown author certainly had knowledge of them at the very least.[1a]
As to the broader questions of where on the Tilean peninsula the city spoken of in the poem may have been located, or whether the people of the city were the ancestors of the modern Tileans, these are matters for another time (1). For the moment, I simply present a broad prose translation of the substance of the poem, following that of Erich Toller and arranged in accord with its thirteen stanzas (2), thereby allowing the reader to form his own opinion as to whether or not the Ratmen played some part in the horrors depicted therein.[1a]
Notes[]
(1) Nor are these the only perplexing mysteries associated with the poem. Not least there is the fact that, though the poem is called The Doom of Kavzar, the city is never referred to by that name in the text.[1a]
(2) Erich Toller, The Doom of Kavzar: A New Translation, Wolfram Press, 2309 IC. The reader should be aware, for all its brevity, Toller's translation is characterised by a slightly dry prose style.[1a]
Poem[]
1. Once there was a great city; a city where Man and Dwarf lived in harmony. In keeping with the natures of its people the city was built both above and below the earth, with Man ruling those places above and the Dwarfs ruling those places below. It was a time of plenty, and all were content.
2. Then, one day, it was decided amongst the men of the city that they must give praise to their gods for all their good fortune. Accordingly, they made plans to build a great temple. A temple greater than any the world had seen, topped by a single tower as tall as the sky. And so, having sought the advice and counsel of the Dwarfs in their halls below, the men of the city set about their work, knowing that when the temple was complete the gods would send them even greater fortune as reward for their endeavours.
3. Weeks became months, months became years, and still the men of the city built. Growing old and grey, so long had their labours lasted, that they passed their task in time to their sons. And their sons grew old and passed the work to their sons, who likewise grew old and passed it on to theirs. Until, at last, after many generations of ceaseless labours, the foundations and first structures of the temple lay complete and they could begin to build the tower. Further years passed, as generation after generation of men lived and worked and died to raise the tower. And with each generation, the work grew harder. For, as the tower grew, so it became more and more difficult to bring stone to the top. And, finding their progress becoming ever slower and their work still incomplete, the people of the city began to despair.
4. It was then the stranger came among them, a hooded man in cloak of grey. A man who claimed great power, who told them he would finish their tower in a single night if they would gram him but a single boon. When asked what this boon was to be, he told them he wished simply to add his own dedication to the gods to the structure of the tower. And, thinking this a small price, the people of the city made bargain with the stranger.
5. Dusk came. And, as the last redness of the descended sun faded from the sky, the stranger entered the unfinished temple, bading the people of the city to leave him and return at midnight. Darkness fell, and clouds covered the moons, while in their homes the people of the city waited to see if the stranger could complete his task. Until, with midnight approaching, they went once more to the temple square. Went and saw a great wonder. For, up above them, the tower of the temple now stood complete, rising like a great lance stabbing at the heavens, pure and white. And, at the tower's very peak, a great rune-inscribed bell hung gleaming in the moonlight. Rejoicing then that the work of so many generations of their fathers was done, the people of the city turned in search of the stranger, seeking to praise him. But of the stranger there was no sign.
6. Then, with the coming of midnight, the bell struck unbidden. Once ... twice ... thrice that great bell tolled, its heavy and doom-laden tones carrying far acro~s the city. Four .. .five ... six times, its beats slow· and even like the pulse of a bronze giant. Seven ... eight ... nine, and with each ring the bell grew ever louder, sending the people of the city staggering back from the temple, clutching their ears. Ten ... eleven ... twelve, and above in the sky, Mannslieb seemed to grow dimmer while the glow of Morrslieb grew ever more bright. Thirteen. And at the thirteenth stroke of that infernal bell, lightning split the skies and thunder answered it. Then, all grew dark and silent.
7. frightened by the things they had seen, but relieved the bell had at last stopped ringing, the people of the city retreated to their beds, thinking that come the dawn they would try to enter the temple once more. But dawn never came. Next morning, they arose to find the sky shrouded in brooding storm clouds that blotted out the sun. And with those clouds came rain. Rain that was black like ash, and fell in great heavy downpours, puddling the streets with darkly iridescent colours.
8. Day after day, still the rains continued. And each night, the entrances to the temple below it sealed shut against the best efforts of Man, the bell tolled thirteen times at midnight. And so, as days became weeks and weeks became months and still the rains were unceasing, the people of the city grew fearful and sought counsel from the Dwarfs. But safe and dry in their underground fastness, the Dwarfs turned them away.
9. Their crops long ago failed, the people of the city huddled in their dwellings with fear gnawing at their hearts. Messengers were sent to faraway places in search of aid and sacrifices were made to the gods in the hope of succour. But no help was forthcoming: the messengers never returned and the gods were silent. Day after day now, the rains grew heavier, becoming at last great dark hailstones capable of killing any man caught out in the open. And still, night after night, the bell tolled its booming death-knell over the city. Soon, dark meteors fell from the heavens and, everywhere, the people of the city began to sicken and die while their newborn babes were born as loathsome twisted things. And with the meteors came the rats; skulking packs of vermin who devoured the city's last reserves of corn and brought famine to its people.
10. The elders of the city went to see the Dwarfs once more, this time to demand their aid. They told the Dwarfs they must share their food and allow the people of the city to come live under the ground with them. But the Dwarfs met these demands with anger, telling the elders their tunnels were flooded and their foodstocks had been devoured by rats. And so, with barely enough shelter and food left for them and their kinsmen, the Dwarfs cast the elders out of their halls, closing their doors behind them.
11. In the ruins of the city above, each day became worse. And driven to despair, the people began to rail against the gods they had once cherished, saying they had forsaken them. Some turned to the worship of dark powers, calling on all the princes of evil to aid them in their time of need. But no answer came. Instead, the rats grew bolder. Worse, they had grown now in both size and number. Lords now of the broken city, they roamed at will, feeding on the dead and dragging down those too weak to fight them. Men lived as hunted creatures in their own city. And with every midnight the great bell atop the tower struck thirteen, the sound seemingly ever more brazen and triumphant.
12. At last, in desperation, the remaining people of the city took what weapons they had and began to pound upon the door that led to the Dwarf halls beneath them, demanding entrance. Hearing no answer, they took up fallen beams and battered their way within, to find the tunnds below were dark and empty. Descending, they found the Dwarfs' ancient halls of kingship deserted, with but a few piles of gnawed bones and scraps of torn cloth to give testament to the fate of those who had once lived there. And then, glittering in the darkness by the dying light of their torches, the people of the city saw they were surrounded by a thousand times a thousand pairs of red and malevolent eyes.
13. Like a vast swarm shaped of liquid midnight, the rats attacked. And, standing back-to-back, outnumbered in the darkness, the shattered remnants of the once-proud people of the city fought for their lives. But to no avail; their hour was passed, and that of the Rat had come. And so it was, screaming and shrieking for mercy, that the people of the city finally passed from this world. While, above them, as though in mocking answer to their screams, the great bell struck thirteen once more.
Dwarf Version[]
Probably the most persistent Skaven myth is the story of the Doom of Kavzar, or the Thirteen Tolls of the Bell. The version most commonly referenced by scholars is an ancient epic poem of 13 stanzas, in either the original Tilean or a translation. However, questions have always been raised about the origins of this tale, especially since, despite the poem's name, it never mentions Kavzar in the text, and Kavzar is hardly a Tilean name to begin with. In my research I discovered an even older version of the tale that the Dwarfs have held for millennia, and which is clearly a precursor to the Tilean work. The description of events is almost identical between the two, although the Dwarf poem paints the Dwarfs in a far more favourable light than the Human version, where the Dwarfs are slanderously depicted as uncaring of any Human suffering. The poem is of course originally in Khazalid. In presenting it here in Reikspiel, I am much indebted to the great Dwarf scholar Svenrik Blackhammer, whose translation, unlike all others of this or the Tilean poem, preserves both the rhyme and rhythm of the original. As with the Tilean legend, however, the author of the original remains unknown.[2a]
The Doom That Came To Kavzar[]
Once a tall and ancient city
Stood atop an ancient hill.
There within both Dwarf and Manlings
Built that city to their will.
'Pon the surface lived the Manlings
Dwarfs lived in the earth below.
And none that dwelt in all of Kavzar
Knew of want or knew of woe.
All around that fabled city
Rich and lush the fields did grow.
And 'neath the hills that offered shelter
The richest veins of ore did flow.
And the streets were paved with silver
And the buildings made of gold.
And wise and true were those of Kavzar
Hearts of giving, spirits bold.
And seeing all the gods had given
The Men of Kavzar fell to praise.
The Men of Kavzar dreamed a temple
For their greater gods to raise.
And on this great and godly temple
Raise a great and godly tower.
So all who came to know of Kavzar
Would know their gods' almighty power.[2a]
The Men of Kavzar were not builders:
Dwarf counsel first they sought.
They summoned all their greatest craftsmen
And the finest stone they bought.
Carefully they planned their tower
To touch the very skies above.
So the gods could see the works of Kavzar
And look upon them with their love.
Days to weeks and weeks to months
The men of Kavzar laboured still.
Soon did spring turn into summer
And summer turned to winter chill.
Weeks to months and months to years
Still the building was not done.
And so the great craftsmen of Kavzar
Passed their task on to their sons.
A hundred years soon came and went
At last the mighty temple stood.
Made of gromril, jade and marble
And all agreed that it was good.
And up above it stretched the tower
Reaching an unearthly height.
And all of those who dwelt in Kavzar
Stood in awe at such a sight.
But now the craftsmen tasted failure
For their tower was so tall.
No pulley could be raised atop it
And a climber sure to fall.
No way was there to reach the vertex
No way to fit the crowning spire.
And all of those who dwelt in Kavzar
Wept to see their dreams expire.
Then came unto that town of sorrow
A stranger in a hood and cowl.
And as he came the sky grew darker
As he came the wind did howl.
But he promised them his magic
Promised them the spire raised.
And all of those who dwelt in Kavzar
Begged for him to lend his ways.
But the stranger first did bargain
Bargained for but one demand.
That upon the temple's tower
A totem of his god might stand.
The folk of Kavzar saw no danger
The folk of Kavzar trusted well.
And all of those who dwelt in Kavzar
Gave him leave to work his spells.
All and one went to their houses
And at midnight back they crept.
Was the stranger's magic greater?
Was the stranger's promise kept?[2a]
They looked and saw atop that steeple
There did swing a screaming bell.
And all of those who dwelt in Kavzar
Knew it rang their own death knell.
Once and twice and thrice it rang
Four and five, and six and seven
Eight, nine, ten, and then eleven.
Twelve dark rings that shook the heavens
Then at last it rang thirteen.
And with it fell a rain like stones
And all of those who dwelt in Kavzar
Ran in fear back to their homes.
They rose to find the day in darkness
An endless storm above their town.
Lightning struck their mighty tower
Thunder shook the very ground.
And through the storm there came a ringing:
Thirteen tolls of that dread bell
And all of those who dwelt in Kavzar
Watched their city turn to hell.
Days to weeks and weeks to months
The rain poured down and brought the flood.
The fields so rich and lush were poisoned
The hills sent down great slides of mud.
And the streets no more were silver
And the buildings lost their gold.
Pity those who dwelt in Kavzar:
Hearts despairing, spirits cold.
The folk of Kavzar sent out riders
Seeking help from far and wide.
But if any breached the tempest's shadow
None returned from that dread ride.
The men of Kavzar prayed to heaven
That their gods might end their pain.
But all the folk who dwelt in Kavzar
Had no reply but endless rain.
Down to the underearth they went
Dwarfen help they came to sue.
Dwarfen help they were not given
For the Dwarfs did suffer too.
Rats had eaten through their food-stores
Floods ran through their halls of stone.
And so the Men who dwelt in Kavzar
Were left to face their doom alone.
Plague and fever came upon them
Tainting what was left to eat.
Men lay dying in their hundreds
Men lay dying in the street.
Then the storm sent stones of fire
Burning what they did not smash.
The Manlings wept as all of Kavzar
Fell to rubble, and to ash.
With Chaos Gods the Men now pleaded
And newborn babes were twisted freaks.
And old and young as one were blighted
And the strong fell with the weak.
And all the while up on the tower
Thirteen times that bell did peal.
Thirteen rings 'cross all of Kavzar
Thirteen rings their doom to seal.
Then came the twisted, evil Skaven
Rats as like as Men in size.
Claws as sharp as twice-forged axes
Bloody hunger in their eyes.
The Skaven came on in their thousands
The Skaven rushed through all the town.
What few who still did live in Kavzar
Ran for safety underground.
Ran into that Dwarf stronghold
And saw their ending, all too late.
The Dwarfs had met the Skaven also
And had shared the Manlings' fate.
Back to back they stood together
Dwarf and Man fought to the last.
But none of those who dwelt in Kavzar
Would live to see that battle past.
Tearing, biting, all devouring!
The Skaven chewed on flesh and bone
And Man and Dwarf did fall together
Their blood spilled o'er the ancient stone.
Thirteen tolls rang from the tower
To celebrate that city seized.
Now all of those who dwelt in Kavzar
Were our greatest enemies.[2a]
Heed ye well this tale's lessons:
Dwarf and Man must stand as one!
And never trust a stranger's bargain
Or all we build may come undone!
Drive out Chaos, never resting!
Drive out Chaos, large or small!
For the doom that came to Kavzar
May one day come to claim us all![2a]
Trivia[]
The Doom of Kavzar appears to share many similarities to the Tower of Babel from the Hebrew Bible. According to that story, the Babylonians within the city of Shinar built a grand city from which a single tower was built so high that it claimed to reach the heavens. In punishment for the hubris and pride of Man, God cursed the city so that its people began to speak many different languages. No longer able to comprehend one another, they split off into different groups, no longer able to finish their work.
Sources[]
- 1:The Loathsome Ratmen and All Their Vile Kin (Lore Book)
- 1a: pp. 71-73
- 2: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd Edition: Children of the Horned Rat - A Guide to Skaven (RPG)
- 2a: pp. 25-26
- 3: Warhammer Armies: Skaven (7th Edition)
- 3a: pp. 16-17
- 4: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 3rd Edition: The Player's Guide (RPG)
- 4a: pg. 134