"The chieftain's chosen Warriors and Huscarls sit apart from the rest of the tribe..."
- —Description of Huscarls in Total War: Warhammer.[2]
A Huscarl, also spelled Huskarl, is one of the elite household troops of the Norscan jarls, kings and Chaos Lords. Their ranks are comprised of Chaos Warriors and/or Marauder Champions. They are maintained and well-equipped by their masters, and are fiercely loyal and frenzied fighters.
Role[]
When a Norscan Chaos Lord or Chaos Champion takes to the sea, his Huscarls will go with him. They fight alongside him and share his fortune, be it good or bad. Huscarls are the defenders of their household banners, and will fight with grim determination to repulse any who boards their lord's ship, giving no thought to their own lives in their efforts to destroy their adversaries.[1a]
As the bodyguards and retainers of Norscan lords, Huscarls are said to be closest to the Chaos Gods and the most likely to receive their gifts. They can range from being elite Marauder Champions to god-touched Chaos Warriors. Huscarls are set apart from the rest of the tribe, their high status guaranteeing them the best plunder and their own camp area, often located near the prized Warhound kennels.[2]
Some Huscarls, such as those who followed Jarl Egil Styrbjorn, are mighty Chaos Champions in their own right. Each is a battle-scarred veteran that has proven himself time and time again before his peers, his lord and the Dark Gods themselves. They are giants among Men, fierce, proud and volatile, each one marked in some way by the Ruinous Powers. They are an intimidating sight to their lord's foes, marching into battle clad in black Chaos Armour festooned with unholy fetishes and icons of Chaos.[3]
Notable Huscarls[]
- Mirror Guard - A brotherhood of elite Chaos Warriors who serve as the personal bodyguard and Huscarls of the Champion of Slaanesh Sigvald the Magnificent.