Icon of the Baersonling tribe of Norsca as depicted in Total War: Warhammer.
Einarr Sigdansson, also called Einarr Steelfist, was a fierce Norscan Reaver and Champion of Tzeentch. After the murder of his tribe at the hands of a Bloodbeast summoned by their rivals, the Aeslings, Einarr, son of Sigdan, of the Baersonling tribe,[1b] found himself the sole survivor. Seeking revenge for his people and respite from his survivor's guilt, he set off on a perilous quest deep into the Chaos Wastes, intent on stealing an arcane treasure of Nurgle, the Chaos God of disease and decay, from the Nurglite Chaos Sorcerer Skoroth in the hopes of earning a second chance at life for his lost tribe.[1a]
History[]
A fierce Baersonling of the fallen village of Vinnskor and a mighty Champion of Tzeentch, Einarr Steelfist was marked by the Raven God when he slew a mighty Bloodbeast unleashed upon his people by their traditional foes; the vicious Khorne-worshipping Aeslings of Skraevold. Unfortunately, the creature slew every man, woman and child in his village.[1a]
The Baersonling, who wanted nothing more than vengeance against his tribe's murderers, was then met by a travelling Kurgan raider, Vallac of the Khazags, who spoke of how Tchar had marked him for glory, and thus pledged his life to the Chaos Champion's service. Einarr, on the other hand, desired only the chance to tear a bloody swathe through the Aeslings. But a god does not ask, he takes, and thus Einarr was set upon the road his god had willed, enticed onto a perilous quest to retake a relic of Tzeentch stolen by Nurgle and given to the Chaos Sorcerer Skoroth in the Chaos Wastes by the Plague God. In return, Tzeentch promised Einarr that he would restore the Norscan's people.[1a]
Einarr overcame many obstacles, slew countless foes, including Greater Daemons of Nurgle, and drew followers to his banner from all the tribes of Chaos; Norscan and Kurgan alike, eventually bringing together a disparate band of diverse followers, including a Chaos Dwarf. Einarr eventually fought his way into the decaying halls of Skoroth's Palace and defeated him in a duel of magic, using a dark incantation that bathed the sorcerer in the changing fires of Chaos, thus burning him alive.[1a]
Appearance[]
Einarr is described as an immense, bear-like man, a giant, who stands a full head above other warriors, with massive shoulders and a deep barrel chest straining against the hauberk that covers his torso. Thick ropes of muscle bulge beneath the furs wrapped about his powerful limbs, and he wields a broad-bladed sword in paw-like hands.[1b]
From his massively corded neck rises a head almost lost within shaggy pale hair, with bone charms and talismans braided into his blond mane, swaying with every motion. His face is leathery, with the grey scar of an old wound running across the broad, low brow. Pale eyes shine from the recesses of his face, colder than the frozen world he travels.[1b]
The war leader had honed his reflexes over many years of raiding the northern coasts of the Empire,[1b] and even pillaged the domed temples and fortified palaces of the Kislevite city of Erengrad.[1c]
Wargear[]
When Einarr left the ruins of the Baersonlings' village of Vinnskor, he did so bedecked with the great breastplate of steel Tulkir had torn from the corpse of a southlander prince. Over his legs he wore the heavy fur leggings that had been the specialty of Hilga the tanner, a layer of small river-stones sewn between the layers of leather beneath the fur to thwart fang and blade. Across his back he wore the monstrous bearskin cloak Raskulf had claimed in a raid against the Vargs, its fur even paler than the snow, the horned skull of the bear covering Einarr's head like a helm. About his hands were the iron gloves of Valbrandr, upon his feet the iron-shod boots of Sorkvir.
From his belt hung Rafn's axe, its haft pitted where the sizzling blood of the Aeslings' Chaos Spawn had struck it. Beside it rested the splintered length of Fangwyrm, Tulkir's renowned blade. Across his shoulder he carried the ox-hide bag with Spjall's herbs and potions. And around his neck he wore the silverband he'd given Asta, the metal stained almost black by her blood, the image of the jumble of torn meat scattered through his home burned forever into Einarr's mind.[1c]
One last thing did Einarr take with him: the crude dagger of ithilmar he had fashioned from the Seer Alfkaell's staff, having slain the Aesling during captivity in Skraevold.[1c]