"Load up the meat... we've got a new job ... mwahahaha!"
The infamous Ogre mercenary captain Golgfag Maneater.
Golgfag Maneater is an infamous Ogre mercenary captain, whose fame has led all other Ogre mercenaries to adopt the name of "Maneaters."[3a] Possibly one of the most successful Ogre mercenaries of all time, Golgfag Maneater forged a reputation for the Ogres as fearsome killers for hire long before they became a relatively common sight in the mercenary armies of the Old World.[2a]
From the jungles of Lustria to the pirate-infested shanties of Fu-Chow in Grand Cathay, there are few places in the world of Mallus he hasn't crossed. For fame and fortune. A mercenary without equal. A living legend. No job is too perilous, no deed too violent. Every contract has its price, but to feast on his enemies -- that he does for free. For Golgfag Maneater, his fame is surpassed only by his appetite and thirst for flesh, ale and plunder. In fact he's less interested in gold and medals than good eating and he will often side with the force facing the tastier opponents.[7a][10a]
Although he could be mistaken for a mere Bruiser, Golgfag has been in active service for over sixty years, and has considerable tactical acumen to go with his lattice-like network of scar tissue. Golgfag's reputation and wealth have grown so considerable that in recent years he has begun to hire his own mercenary armies, including more and more Ogres as the great migration gathers speed.[2a]
The term "Maneater" was first coined when, after a drunken argument, Golgfag ate his paymaster whole and left carrying his coffers. He insists to this day that his name is misleading for, just like the faithful band of violent thugs that travel with him, Golgfag really isn't that fussy about what or who he eats.[2a]
The only Ogre to ever beat Golgfag in an eating contest is Hrothyogg, captain of the Ogre mercenaries called the Payswords, who is not unlike a distorted mirror image of his rival. Where Golgfag is loud and boastful, Hrothyogg is quiet and taciturn. Where Golgfag is forever restless, impatient, and full of fury, Hrothyogg is calm, cold, and near-endlessly patient.[6a]
Quick Answers
Who is Golgfag Maneater in the Warhammer universe?
What is the significance of the term 'Maneater' in Warhammer?
How did Golgfag Maneater influence other Ogre mercenaries?
What is the reputation of Golgfag Maneater among the mercenary armies of the Old World?
What is the meaning of 'Maneater' in slang context?
History[]
Origins[]
"Who could forget the Ogres? Not anyone with a sense of smell, that's for sure. Worse manners than Trolls, and that's saying something, but there are few troops you'd rather have on your side in the heat of battle."
- —Elodhir Seamane, Elven gentleman adventurer[1a]
Golgfag Maneater as rendered for Total War: Warhammer III.
Golgfag is the biggest, ugliest and quite definitely the loudest Ogre to shamble out of the eastern wastes in living memory. Born from the Sabreskins Tribe,[4a] Golgfag soon found himself leading a bunch of almost equally brutal Ogre warriors. He quickly developed a taste for man-flesh and joined forces with his first paymaster,[10a] the Orc Warboss called Gnashrak Badtooth. Gnashrak was busy fighting against the Dwarfs of Karak Kadrin high up in the Worlds Edge Mountains. Golgfag wasn't sure he liked the taste of Dwarf, but was more than happy to find out.[1a][3a]
Gnashrak thought the Ogres would prove just the kind of troops he needed to sort out the Dwarfs. However, he soon grew tired of the Ogres' appetite for Goblins, booze and raucous singing. After one particularly loud drinking session Golgfag and Gnashrak got into a huge fight. Soon all the Ogres and Orcs were scrapping. Golgfag tore off the Orc's arm and used it to bash his way out of the encampment before leading his lads to safety. Gnashrak was completely enraged.[1a][3a]
Soldier of Fortune[]
"We're da first Maneaters, and still da best!"
- —Golgfag Maneater[5a]
Location of Golgfag's Monument in the northern mountains on the edge of the Chaos Wastes.
Golgfag promptly offered his services to the Dwarf King Ungrim Ironfist. He showed Gnashrak's arm to Ungrim as proof of his sincerity. In the face of such a convincing offer Ironfist was hardly able to refuse. Golgfag led his Ogres and a party of Dwarfs along a secret track to the Orcs' encampment in Broken Leg Gully - so called because of its impossibly steep and treacherous sides. The Orcs were trapped and horribly slaughtered. Gnashrak was captured and subsequently bound in chains and delivered to Ungrim Ironfist.[1a][3a]
Although handsomely paid, Golgfag looted the king's treasury during the ensuing celebrations, and then headed west into the Empire. There he took employment in the ranks of the Imperial army, and it was here that he discovered Halflings were by far his favourite food. Shortly afterwards he turned up in the lands of Tilea in the employ of one Lorenzo Lupo.[1a]
Lorenzo found the Ogres to be excellent troops, but a considerable nuisance. The citizens of Luccini were forever complaining of being beaten, robbed or bullied by the rowdy Ogres.[1a]
After he managed to offend most of the locals one way or another, Golgfag awoke one night to find a horse's severed head upon his pillow, and instead of being threatened as was the intent, he merely remarked that it was the best horse's head he had ever eaten. Several subsequent attempts on his life resulted in a dramatic reduction in the number of professional killers in Luccini. At one point there were so few murderers, assassins and poisoners remaining in his city that Lorenzo Lupo was concerned law and order would break down altogether.[1c]
Then one night Golgfag decided to take rather more than his fair share of wine, directly from Lorenzo's warehouses. When the Ogres fell into a drunken stupor Lorenzo sent a company of pikemen to arrest them and throw them into his dungeons.[1a]
The icon of the Ogre Kingdoms army commanded by Golgfag Maneater known as Golgfag's Maneaters in Total War: Warhammer III.
Fortunately for Lorenzo, an opportunity to be rid of the Ogres altogether arrived in the form of a messenger from one of the Border Princes. The messenger was hiring mercenaries on behalf of his master, Count Einhard a border prince of Reiklander origins. Lorenzo cheerfully fitted him up with the Ogres, took his fee, and released Golgfag and his crew from captivity. Golgfag was understandably annoyed, but faced with a new offer of employment, a complimentary baggage train of food and a firing squad of Tilean crossbowmen, the Ogre decided to let matters lie for the moment.[1a]
Golgfag's stay in the Border Princes proved a successful and profitable one. The Ogres grew fat and wealthy. They were kept busy by one side or another and were given every chance to indulge their appetite for fresh meat. Golgfag's only regret was the scarcity of Halflings thereabouts. Around this time he is known to have made a stint on the high seas.[3a] When he heard that trouble was brewing between the Orcs and Dwarfs he headed northwards once more. He fell in with a bunch of Orcs and Goblins and was soon feasting upon Dwarf again.[1a][3a]
Battle of Broken Leg Gully[]
"Though he exaggerates with wild abandon, Golgfag is still the most successful and well-travelled of all Ogres."
- —Description of Golgfag Maneater in Total War: Warhammer III.
A map of the Ogre Kingdoms, showing the location of Golgfag's tribe.[2b]
It was after a foray against the Dwarfs that Golgfag was ambushed by none other than Ungrim Ironfist, his former employer. The canny Slayer King led the Orc army into a trap using a supply convoy as bait. The convoy consisted entirely of wagons full of cheap ale which the Greenskins duly captured and drained. Golgfag and the Ogres courageously drank themselves into oblivion along with the rest. When they awoke, the Ogres found themselves in the dungeons deep below Karak Kadrin, along with the remnants of the Orc army.[1a][3a]
The Dwarfs no doubt expected Golgfag to die in this cramped and crowded dungeon, and probably thought this would be easier and safer than trying to kill the Ogre in some other fashion. When the Dwarfs finally opened the dungeon some months later, they were startled to find Golgfag still alive. He had eaten every other inmate of the dungeon, including the rest of the Ogres, apart from Skaff. Out of respect for his oldest drinking buddy, Golgfag had only, so far, eaten one of Skaff's legs. A great pile of Orc, Goblin and Ogre bones lay in one corner. When he heard of this, Ungrim Ironfist was so impressed that he ordered Golgfag to be taken a long way away and released.[1a][3a][10a]
Golgfag soon gathered together some of his old lads and other keen young Ogres flocked to join him. Skaff decided to stick with Golgfag despite everything, and gratefully accepted the position of standard bearer as this gave him something to lean on. Before the summer was out, Golgfag headed south over the Grey Mountains in company with an Orc raiding party. It was there that he fought his first battles against Bretonnians, and where he first sampled "tinned food," which became Ogre slang for armoured knights.[1a]
From that day to this, Golgfag has never looked back. His reputation has, if anything, grown and grown. So has his girth. But he still has a few scores to settle, not least with the Dwarfs of Karak Kadrin and with the treacherous Lorenzo Lupo. However, Ogres are straightforward folk and such things take second place to a good fight and a full belly![1a]
Slugfest at the Stirpoint[]
Still a young mercenary captain, Golgfag was hired by the Rockeaters Tribe to raid the territories of Stirland in the Empire.[3c]
After an initial success, the Ogre tribe was surrounded by the Imperial forces. Strengthened by their superior numbers, the soldiers awaited reinforcements and the light of day to launch the decisive attack to wipe out the foreign menace.[3c]
The end of the Rockeaters seemed inevitable, but fortune gave the opportunistic Ogres an opening. A contingent of the Stir River Patrol, a ship-borne branch of especially tough Imperial soldiers, was meant to land north of the Ogre position to strengthen their lines for the final assault on the morrow. Yet somehow they got their orders confused and failed to land to the north, instead dropping anchor at the ferry docks. In the dark they did not notice they had landed in the midst of an Ogre camp.[3c]
Led by a unit of mercenaries and their young captain, Golgfag, the Ogres stormed across the docks. Before the Stir River Patrol could disgorge their own troops, they found themselves attacked and their ships boarded. All the Ogres were soon aboard, and some even had seafaring experience, having plied the high seas as pirates. Although the Ogres had to abandon their remaining Ironblasters and entire herds of confiscated sheep, they captured enough ships to escape. The remains of the Rockeaters Tribe sailed safely downstream, taking with them what remained of their ill-gotten gains and all of the pride of the Stirlander forces.[3c]
Battle of Whitestone[]
Brazak Ubudd was a Human soldier, once Golgfag's battle-brother.[9a] But during the Battle of Whitestone, they fought as enemies.[9c]
During a vicious settling of accounts with the man, who had since been turned into an Undead, Golgfag barely had the strength to parry Brazak's blows. The black sword of Brazak sliced through Dwarf steel as if it were butter. Seizing the first opportunity he had, Golgfag struck a desperate blow with the first weapon he found at hand -- a blade hidden in his boot-top. There was no time for precision, so Golgfag hurled it with all the strength he could muster. A blinding flash of light and a low moan followed.[9b]
Brazak's death was horrible. He dissolved into putrid black slime as a storm of raging, mad souls swirled around him. With his death, the magic dissipated, returning the corpses to lifeless lumps of meat. The thought of eating him made Golgfag shiver -- he liked his meat alive or dead, not something in between.
After the fight, Golgfag was hungry. It had been a long night of killing. Golgfag wanted to eat and hoped to find good Human wine, but he had no luck in that.[9c]
At Present[]
"Once there wassa this paymaster fellow who says to da general, 'Look, we 'as forgotten to pay this Golgfag who issa captain of them big fine Ogres what done so well inna big bash last week.' Anna before the general can say a word this paymaster he takes uppa bag a gold an he rides off to where these Ogres are layin' around breakin' and throwin' things lika they do. He was in sucha rush to give this Golgfag hissa gold that be didn't stop to listen to da general. Now da general, of course, he coulda told him that this Ogre fellow he doesn't want gold. What use issa gold to da Ogre? You canna notta eat it, now can you? These Ogres, they wants paying inna meat...anna real fresh meat too if you takes my meaning. So, whadya think happens to this paymaster? I'll tellya whadda happens. He is never seen again! Just this li'll pila bones outside of Golgfag's tent is all that's left of him, anna this funny li'll hat with da feather in it that even da Ogres wouldn't touch. Anna next time Golgfag sees da general he says, "Hey general, me anna da lads didn't think much of da supper lassa night...alla skin and bones it was lika some Elf...and if things don't improve we shall have to be moving on an' no messin'.' An dat was dat...anna next paymaster...well dat was me an, as you know, well I'm mucha too smarta fellow to end up inna Ogre's belly."
- —Giovanni Marmalodi, A Treatise upon the Art of Generalship[1b]
Golgfag Maneater, the mercenary captain of the Maneaters
More tales are told about Golgfag than any other Ogre alive, and Golgfag himself spins a great many of them. Though he exaggerates with wild abandon, Golgfag is still the most successful of all Ogre mercenary captains. He has won countless battles, looted the sacred island of Ulthuan, set eyes upon ruinous Skavenblight and survived, guzzled more kegs of Bugman's XXXXXX than most Dwarfs have even seen, and been personally decorated by Emperor Karl Franz. Golgfag has travelled the Known World and his cronies, known unimaginatively as Golgfag's Maneaters, have gained wide notoriety as being battle-toughened killers.[3a]
Over the course of his adventures, Golgfag has won and lost more fortunes than there are Gnoblars in the hills. His wanderlust prevents him from becoming a great leader, but earns him plenty of loot and renown. His title of "Maneater" was coined when he ate his Human paymaster whole and set off with his pay-chests -- although the moniker is misleading, for he is not picky at all about whom or what he eats. Yet such is his fame that Maneater is now a general term for any Ogre who travels the lands as a sellsword. At last sighting, Golgfag had returned to the Ogre Kingdoms to recruit more Ogres into his famed regiment. Where he'll head next is anyone's guess.[3a]
End Times[]
Waaagh! Grimgor[]
"Got no problems, boss, happy to bash whoever, wherever, whenever."
- —Golgfag to Grimgor Ironhide.[11a]
During the End Times, Golgfag and his Ogres joined the Waaagh! of the Black Orc Warlord Grimgor Ironhide as it crossed the Worlds Edge Mountains, and the Black Orc come close to killing the mercenary Ogre more than once. But every time, Gork had whispered to him and quelled his anger.[11a]
The Waaagh! had laid waste to the empire of the Chaos Dwarfs in their passage and in this conflict Golgfag had proven more useful than most of his greedy kin -- he was as smart as any runt, and dead sneaky when he needed to be. It had been Golgfag who had got the gates of the Chaos Dwarf capital city of Zharr-Naggrund open, so Grimgor's Boyz could barrel in.[11a]
The Ogre had held the great iron gates open, despite having half a dozen Chaos Dwarf crossbow bolts in him. He and Grimgor had fought side-by-side and back-to-back up the steps of the black ziggurat of the Tower of Zharr and had toppled the massive statue of the Chaos Dwarf bull-god Hashut alongside Borgut Facebeater and Wurrzag Ud Ura Zahubu.[11a]
Theft of the Crown of Karak Eight Peaks[]
"I reckon we're done here. Fulfilled our side of the contract. We're never going to see that Dwarf king's gold if we stick around for the end of this mess. It don't matter whose side we're on. Besides, I got a healthy down payment."
Golgfag Maneater during the End Times
With the Ogre Kingdoms breaking apart from volcanic eruptions and war sweeping the Old World, Golgfag headed west. He had gathered an Ogre army about him and planned on selling his brutal services to the highest bidder.[12a]
While crossing Death Pass in a blinding snowstorm, Golgfag was made an offer he could not refuse. To the most successful Ogre mercenary captain ever, the epic battle of Karak Eight Peaks was nothing more than an enormous opportunity.[12a]
When in the vicinity of Uzkul Kadrin he and his Ogres were hired by King Belegar Ironhammer to fight the Goblins of Skarsnik and the Skaven of Queek Headtaker.[8a] It had taken an immense sum of gold and a staggering amount of ale to hire Golgfag Maneater and his mercenary army of Ogres. Luckily for Belegar, he had both.[12b]
Roaring out the name of their leader, Golgfag Maneater's mercenaries marched to join the Dwarfs. During a critical battle, the Dwarf line near Durggan Stoutbelly's position opened, and the Ogres barged their way into the fight, with Mournfang Cavalry and sabretusks going before them, driving Wolf Rats away from the artillery batteries. Skaven were flung high into the air by the force of the Ogres' impact, and the Ogre mercenaries penetrated many yards into the seething sea of mangy ratmen fur before they were slowed.[8b]
The Ogres were untroubled by the Skaven's weaponry and killed the creatures easily, their cannon-wielding warriors slaughtering whole units with each blast. Golgfag's disciplined force turned to the left and began fighting their way down the front of the Dwarf line, their cavalry pushing deep into the Skaven horde. The pressure came off Durggan's position, and the Dwarf artillery intensified its fire, blasting, spearing, roasting, and squashing hundreds of clanrats.[8b]
After the battle, Golgfag betrayed the Dwarfs once again. Even though, from his point of view, he had fulfilled his part of the contract, he took the crown of Vala-Azrilungol as payment, killed Durggan personally, but left Borrik Norrgrimsson alive, lying in the shattered remnants of his dead clan. The Dwarf thought that if he ever got out of that situation alive, he would donate his entire treasury to the priesthood of Valaya, and then he would take the Slayer Oath.[8c]
Golgfag patted his pocket, feeling the weight of the brilliantly bejewelled crown of Karak Eight Peaks that Skarsnik had given him as a down payment. He felt like they'd already earned their pay, so perhaps it was time to begin looking for an exit.[12c]
Nobody knew where Golgfag was when King Belegar ordered the horn signal to be blown. Small explosions, expertly placed by Dwarf Engineers, rocked a dozen support columns. Immense teetering pylons of stone toppled over, crushing hundreds trapped beneath. Dust and debris filled the hall, and warriors from all of the armies engaged were momentarily staggered.[12c]
What followed was a desperate race to the exits for those that still could. Whole formations were trapped -- surrounded on all sides by crevices too large to leap, or hemmed in by fallen pillars. Others remained locked in combat -- Skaven versus Goblin versus Dwarf -- fighting to the end, even as the Hall of Skalfdon collapsed upon them.[12c]
Notable Events[]
- 2500 to 2510 IC - Golgfag's rise to fame occurs during this period. At different times, Golgfag Maneater fights both for and against Orc Warboss Gnashrak Badtooth. Golgfag's many deeds during these battles, namely victory at the Battle of Broken Leg Gully and his decision to loot the Dwarf Lord Ungrim Ironfist's treasury, led to the Ogre's growing infamy and his rising reputation as a daring and unbeatable mercenary captain.[3b][1a]
- 2518 IC - Golgfag Maneater's reputation grows to such an extent that all Ogre mercenaries take the name of "Maneaters," finding that it leads to more frequent employ. Many fake "Golgfags" spring up across the Known World as a result.[3b]
Appearance[]
Golgfag is an immense hulk of bulging muscle, his massive belly protected by a gut-plate of battered steel. Beneath his horned helmet are fierce eyes and jagged tusks.[10a]
Wargear[]
Golgfag carries an array of weapons stolen from the corpses of enemy commanders and champions he has killed during his career.[10a] Over the years, Golgfag has owned and lost countless magic items.[3d]
When Golgfag don't relies on a magic weapon he carries a massive cleaver in one fist (fer splitting 'eds) and an even larger spiked club in the other (fer crumpin' 'eds). He wears a heavily armoured coat made of scavenged bits from battlefields across the Old World. Golgfag's Ogres each carry similar weapons to their leader and wear an armoured coat in the same style.[1a]
Miniatures[]
Game History[]
Golgfag Maneater was among the honorable mentions of those individuals who weren't selected as one of the 25 most influential characters of Warhammer according to a poll published in White Dwarf 340.[13a]
Canon Conflict[]
Golgfag and the Ogres of the Rutdrogg tribe as depicted in Warhammer Fantasy Battle 1st Edition.[14a]
Forces of Fantasy - Fighting Fantasy Battles (1st Edition) claimed that Golgfag Maneater was from a different tribe called the Rutdrogg.[14a]
The wars between the Goblins and Dwarfs had just begun when Golgfag and his Ogre band emerged out of the northern darkness. Golgfag was the chief of the Rutdrogg clan, and he saw the impending war as a good opportunity to gather loot and fresh meat.[14a]
The Rutdroggs shambled out of their mountain homes and straight into the employ of Bogdan Legbreak, the chief of the Goblins of the northern Misty Mountains.[14a]
After a limited period of service, Golgfag had taken part in several early actions of the war. The Rutdroggs proved themselves to be excellent troops, if somewhat undisciplined. One night, after an especially long and intense drinking bout, Golgfag and Bogdan Legbreak -- who had never liked each other anyway -- fell to arguing. Within moments, the whole regiment was up and blood was flowing freely. By morning, Golgfag's regiment had fought its way out of the Goblin compound and taken to the woods.[14a]
Yet Golgfag and the Rutdroggs soon found employ again, this time fighting for the Dwarfs against his former allies among the Goblins. In this capacity the Ogre chief led a Dwarf party into the Goblins' stronghold and slew Bogdan Legbreak in a bitter fight. Golgfag later established himself as one of the most adventurous leaders of the war and collected a great deal of gold, loot, and slaves before returning to the frozen north.[14a]
The Rutdroggs wore long tunics down to the knee, with heavy breeches and boots. Over their tunics they wore mail armour, and long furry cloaks down their broad backs. Their skin was swarthy, with longish black or grey hair.[14a]
Each Ogre among the Rutdroggs carried a a two-handed mace and a large, round shield. This was strapped to each Ogre's back in combat to enable him to swing the mighty war mace.[14a]
Grumbarth, the Ogre tongue, is bestial in the extreme, and not easily translated. A phonetic transcription of the Rutdroggs' battlecry would thus be something like, "Gruugh aghhhhh aghhhh waaaaaa." Experts claim to recognise some elements and offer the following broken translation: "Remove yourselves from your current physical location. Failure to comply with our request could result in severe physical discomfort of a kind which could seriously curtail your social life."[14a]
Trivia[]
The episode that describes the finding of the horse's head in Golgfag's bed is a clear reference to the infamous scene from the film The Godfather, directed by Francis Ford Coppola.
See Also[]
Sources[]
- 1: Warhammer Armies: Dogs of War (5th Edition)
- 2: Warhammer Armies: Ogre Kingdoms (6th Edition)
- 3: Warhammer Armies: Ogre Kingdoms (8th Edition)
- 4: Golgfag's Revenge (Short Story) by Justin D. Hill
- 4a: Ch. 1
- 5: Triumph and Treachery (8th Edition)
- 5a: pg. 9
- 6: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Archives of the Empire Vol. II (RPG)
- 6a: pg. 13
- 7: Total War: Warhammer III (PC Game)
- 7a: Opening cinematic of the Maneaters faction
- 8: The End Times: The Rise of the Horned Rat (Novel) by Guy Haley
- 9: The Battle of Whitestone (Short Story) by Justin D. Hill
- 10: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 3rd Edition: Hero's Call (RPG)
- 10a: pg. 49
- 11: The End Times: The Lord of the End Times (Novel) by Josh Reynolds
- 11a: Ch. 15
- 12: The End of Times - Warhammer Thanquol Book 1 (8th Edition)
- 13: White Dwarf 340
- 13a: pg. 68
- 14: Forces of Fantasy - Fighting Fantasy Battles (1st Edition)
- 14a: pg. 34