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Attention, Empire Citizens!
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"I have a gift for you, best not to refuse and repeat the tragedy of McDeath."
A map of McDeath's kingdom on Albion.
McDeath was one of the many kings of the misty isle of Albion whose story became emblematic of the perils of ambition in the Old World.[1a]
History[]
After being celebrated as a hero after a great victory against an army of rebels and Norscans, McDeath met three witches who predicted that he would become thane of Cawdor and then King of Albion. McDeath steadfastly refused to believe this prophecy, until he received news that the current thane of Cawdor had thrown in his lot with the rebels. After the rebellion was put down, the thane was executed and King Dunco of Albion gave the title to McDeath out of gratitude for his part in the victory. McDeath told his ambitious wife of the witches' prophesy, and she persuaded him to kill Dunco and seize the throne. McDeath allowed himself to be persuaded to assassinate the king and decided to act when Dunco's entourage stopped for a break in Glen Givett, a valley in the mountains to the west of McDeath's fortress at Runsinane Castle.[1a]
Unbeknown to them, the king and his party had walked into a trap. McDeath had recruited a gang of brutal murderers and a tribe of Orc mercenaries. McDeath split them into three divisions, and during the night they moved into positions which blocked the only exits from the glen.[1a]
McDeath's plan was simple. One division would deploy across each of the roads; the murderers would then creep into the settlement where they would find and slay King Dunco. Any of the king's retainers who attempted to flee would run straight into the swords of the waiting Orcs. McDeath's own troops were then sent in to root out anyone who remained in the valley. It was vitally important to McDeath that there be no survivors so that he could cleanly usurp the throne.[1a]
Canon Conflict[]
The map of Albion has changed several times as the concept of the island has altered over the course of the development of Warhammer. The story of McDeath originally belonged to one of these versions of Albion that is no longer canon, though the story itself lives on as a legend told in the Old World.
Trivia[]
MacDeath is likely based off of the character of Macbeth from the Shakespearean play of the same name. Three witches tell the Scottish general Macbeth that he will become King of Scotland. Encouraged by his wife and her own ambitions, Macbeth kills his lord, King Duncan, becomes the new king, and murders many others as his paranoia that he will be overthrown in turn grows. His tyranny ultimately results in the eruption of a civil war intended to overthrow Macbeth, resulting in more death before Macbeth is slain by Lord Macduff.
Sources[]
- 1: White Dwarf 76
- 1a: pg. 20
- 2: Total War: Warhammer (PC Game)
- 2a: Vampire's Counts Diplomacy Screen