"I serve vermin. I revere Khorne!"
- —Ghoritch, on his allegiances.[2]
Ghoritch, also called the Castellan of Hell Pit, is the greatest success of Master Mutator Throt the Unclean in the field of translocation of the brain, and altogether greatest creation. A hulking Rat Ogre with the mind of a Human, Ghoritch is an aberration of not only incredible strength and speed, but also intelligence, a former Norscan leader who now heads the armies of the Skaven Clan Moulder.[1a][2][3]
History[]
Like many who are devoted to the Blood God, Ghoritch was once a frenzied Northmen berserker who loved the thrill of battle and the tang of fresh blood upon his tongue. He once served as one of Archaon's generals during the Storm of Chaos, but the creed of his bloodthirsty god -- his true master -- ran strong in his veins, and so Ghoritch led a foolhardy attack on an Empire artillery train despite express orders to the contrary. Though he slew a score of men that day and lived to tell the tale, Ghoritch's tribe were cut down almost to a man, and Archaon's punishment was swift and inventive. For his insubordination and failure, Archaon gave Ghoritch, as he did to many who failed him, to the Master Mutators of Clan Moulder for their unholy experiments.[1a][2][3]
Even shackled and bound with thorn-ropes, Throt could see Ghoritch was of exceptional stock, and singled him out for the climax of a series of experiments. The experiment was an unparalleled success, transplanting Ghoritch's mind into the body of a heavily modified Rat Ogre without driving him mad in the process. But Ghoritch escaped from Throt's laboratory, and scrambled his way up to the arena at the heart of Hell Pit, where he fought off the tide of Throt's creations sent after him. His skills did not go unnoticed by the Master Mutators, who recognised his combination of intellect and strength as perfect for controlling the more rebellious of their troops.[1a][2]
It was not long before Ghoritch had worked his way up to the rank of Chieftain, and was soon entrusted with the command of Clan Moulder's unique standing army. Naturally, Throt is less than pleased at the meteoric rise of his creation. He works hard on clandestine schemes, and hopes one day to create something better than Ghoritch, all to bring about his dangerously-ambitious Chieftain's downfall. Nonetheless, the Lord of Hell Pit and his Castellan share a flimsy alliance, and though Throt is Ghoritch's rival, he still serves as a trusted Chieftain.[1a][2]
Abilities[]
Ghoritch facing the Wood Elves in battle
It it his unique combination of shrewd military intellect and raw brute strength that has ascended Ghoritch to Clan Moulder’s most exalted military rank. As it turns out, leading a Norscan clan and commanding a pack of monsters are not that different from one another. Only he has the strength of will to keep the creatures of the lower barracks of Hell Pit -- a horde of ravenous monsters that drove back even Grimgor Ironhide -- in order. Without his iron rule, the standing armies of Clan Moulder would be little more than an anarchic collectión of ravening beasts. The berserker's intact mind may only have a tad more cognitive ability than a Rat Ogre, but the mind of the former at least allows one to be a semi-competent quartermaster. Ghoritch has always dominated Hell Pit's blood-soaked arenas and now oversees his successors, keeping the other monsters fresh for war.[1a][2]
Yet, it would seem that while the former Northman has left the ranks of Chaos, Chaos has not left the Northman. Despite his transition to Moulder's service, Ghoritch remains dedicated to Khorne. The Lord of Murder's bellows of rage echo throughout the multiverse, and for his loyal followers create a shield that strengthen them against cowardly sorceries, a protection that extends even to the Skaven and other allies the Castellan finds himself surrounded with. The Dark Gods influence extends to the ferocity of their servants' attacks, increasing their power and reach manyfold, and consumed by all the rage of the Dark Gods themselves, Ghoritch turns himself into a whirling juggernaut of eviscerating death.[2]
For indeed, it is his monstrous mutant brawn coupled with his warrior's instinct that make Ghoritch one of the greatest creations to ever emerge from Hell Pit. Ghoritch still has the mind of a berserker and lapses into a blood-maddened rage in the heat of battle. This Norscan fury is coupled with warp frenzy; when Ghoritch fires up his claws, everyone within his extensive reach witnesses the true meaning of violence. It is violence bordering on absolute delirium, a frenzied assault for which the term 'berserk' doesn't even come close. That he enters this state of mindless destructiveness is preferable to the alternative, for should it end in the midst of combat, Ghoritch -- a man turned monstrosity for his foolhardiness -- merely behaves stupidly.[1a][2]
Wargear[]
- Piston-Driven Claws - Ghoritch's heavily modified host body has had its claws replaced by great snipping blades. Driven by pistons powered by Warpstone, no normal armour can defend against them.[1a][2]
Gallery[]
Miniature[]
Sources[]
- 1: White Dwarf UK (Issue #311)
- 1a: pg. 110-111, 113
- 2: Total War: Warhammer II
- 3: Total War: WARHAMMER II - The Twisted & The Twilight Steam DLC Page