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Harald Hammerstorm

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"Famed amongst his brethren and fuelled by the gods’ favour, the Hammer returns to stake his rightful claim as THE paragon amongst Men."

—Description of Harald Hammerstorm in Total War: Warhammer III.[6a]
Harry the Hammer John Blanche 2008 7th Edition illustration

Harald Hammerstorm, Chaos Champion and slayer of the Undead

Harald Hammerstorm, known fondly to his followers as "Harry the Hammer," was a legendary Chaos Champion in the tales of the Norscans and the Kurgan. He was the central figure in legends that concern one of the greatest feats of arms ever seen in the northlands.

These tales claim that while plundering an ancient tomb-city in the Chaos Wastes Harald's Warriors of Chaos warband found themselves face-to-face with a vast Undead army, roused from their slumber with rusted blades and eyes aglow with witchfire. With no escape and against seemingly insurmountable odds, Harald formed the point of a wedge driving through the skeletal warriors, his followers pressing in behind him as his warhammer rose and fell in monotonous destruction. After a day and a night, nothing remained but a hill of broken bones. Such odds had truly never been overcome by a mortal of the north.[6a]

Tirelessly roaming the Chaos Wastes, always on the lookout for a fresh enemy to fight, Harald Hammerstorm now exists as an eternal avatar of Chaos and the bane of the Undead.[1a]

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What is Harald Hammerstorm's nickname amongst his followers? toggle section
The legendary Chaos Champion, Harald Hammerstorm, is affectionately known by his followers as 'Harry the Hammer'. His tales of valor and victory are celebrated amongst the Norscans and the Kurgan, and his character features prominently in Total War: Warhammer III.
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What is Harald Hammerstorm's role in Total War: Warhammer III? toggle section
In Total War: Warhammer III, Harald Hammerstorm, often referred to as 'Harry the Hammer', is a revered Chaos Champion. He is a key figure in Norscan and Kurgan lore, recognized for his combat skills and his role as an Undead slayer. His notable victory over the Daemon Prince Mathrag Brainmangler at the Battle of Khorsvo is widely celebrated. Hammerstorm is an enduring symbol of Chaos, perpetually in search of new adversaries.
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What are some of the legendary feats of Harald Hammerstorm? toggle section
Known as 'Harry the Hammer', Harald Hammerstorm is a revered Chaos Champion in Norscan and Kurgan lore. His legendary feats include slaying Daemon Prince Mathrag Brainmangler at the Battle of Khorsvo. He is renowned for his relentless assault on the Undead, leading to a mound of shattered bones. Despite his formidable reputation, he was defeated by Vampire Lord Vlad von Carstein during the End Times.
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Who are the Norscans and the Kurgan in relation to Harald Hammerstorm? toggle section
Harald Hammerstorm, also known as 'Harry the Hammer', is a legendary Chaos Champion revered in the tales of the Norscans and the Kurgan. The Norscans, descendants of the Norsii, are known for their brutal warfare and longstanding enmity with the followers of Sigmar Heldenhammer. They have a history of worshiping the Chaos Gods. Similarly, the Kurgan tribes hold Harald Hammerstorm in high regard in their legends.
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History

Origins

"I'll hammer all over this land!"

—Harald Hammerstorm in Total War: Warhammer III
HarakdhammerstormTWWIII

Harald Hammerstorm as depicted in Total War: Warhammer III.[6a]

Harald was famed for killing the Daemon Prince Mathrag Brainmangler during the Battle of Khorsvold, having smashed the Daemon's head from his body with a single blow of his warhammer. On a cold midwinter day, as he led his warband across the Chaos Wastes, Harry came across the outcrop of an old ruin jutting from beneath the snows. Upon investigation, he located an ancient gateway leading into a dark tunnel. Thinking that there might be treasure within, Harald and his warriors descended into the crumbling vaults.[1a]

Their intrusion awoke something long-dead in the darkness beneath the snow. Ancient warriors sworn to protect the secrets of the tomb-city were roused from their eternal slumber; with rusted blades, bony fingers and eyes aglow with witchfires, they fell upon the Northmen.[1a]

Stumbling out of the depths, Harald and his warriors were horrified to see the skeletons pursuing them still. The tumbledown ruins now glowed with power and the melting snow revealed forbidding stones burning with magical energy. The Chaos warband found themselves in the middle of a great settlement from the dawn of time. Knowing that he had to fight his way free, Harald turned and faced the advancing legion, in what was known as the Battle of Vorshgar.[1a]

The favour of the Chaos Gods fuelled Harry as he fought; his warhammer rose and fell with monotonous destruction, smashing skulls and ribcages to powder. Harald's followers pressed in behind their leader and Harry formed the point of a wedge driving through the skeletal warriors. After a day and a night of fighting, as dawn rose the next day, the Undead were destroyed, piles of bones a story high left in the wake of the Chaos Warriors' rampage.[1a]

Since that day, Harald has held a special loathing for the Undead. So efficient is Harry at slaying the Undead that even their mindless spirits regard him with horror -- he is an elemental force who hurls back the Undead with his steely will. The dead do not rest easy in the Chaos Wastes, and Harald has no shortage of foes upon which to vent his anger.[1a]

End Times

During the End Times, Harald finally met an Undead enemy that he could not best. The Vampire Lord, Vlad von Carstein, was able to slay the infamous Chaos Champion after a fearsome duel.[4a]

Wargear

HarrytheHammerTotalWarWarhammerIII

Harald Hammerstorm as rendered for Total War: Warhammer III.[6a]

Harald is the Bane of the Dead -- so strong is the aura of Chaos energy that surrounds him that even the Undead dread to face him! Somewhere in the vestigial remains of their souls, a spark of awareness flickers to life upon seeing Harald -- a memory of their deaths...[1a]

  • Hammer of Harry - Harald's warhammer is blessed by the Chaos Gods to banish the souls of those he strikes, and is powerful enough to send back the raised spirits of the Undead to the realm of Morr, the god of the dead.[1a]
  • Armour of Damnation - This highly ornate suit of Chaos Armour shimmers with unnatural energies that distort the position of the wearer so that the enemy's blows miss their mark.[5a]
  • Bane Shield - The Bane Shield discharges a magic blast every time it is struck, rebounding the enemy's blows back at them.[5a]

Miniatures

Game History

Harald Hammerstorm was one of the very first characters ever created by Games Workshop for the Warhammer universe in its 1st Edition. He was considered the original embodiment of the Warhammer name before the creation of Sigmar Heldenhammer and that character's iconic warhammer Ghal Maraz.

In fact, according to a blog post by PC Gamer, Graeme Davis, one of the original designers of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 1st Edition, stated in a forum post that "He was known within Citadel as Harry the Hammer -- a completely unofficial name -- and when WFRP1 was written, Sigmar was consciously based on him."[7]

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