Satyrs

Satyrs are mythological creatures from Classical mythology, typically depicted as half-Human and half-goat. They are commonly associated with wild, carefree behavior, fertility, and the pursuit of pleasure. Known for their mischievous nature, Satyrs are often seen indulging in music, wine and dancing, frequently accompanied by Nymphs and gods. They are particularly known for their fondness for revelry in nature.^[1a][5a]

According to various legends, Satyrs are believed to inhabit hidden realms within the forests of the world of Mallus, fey realms shrouded in mist, alongside other faerie creatures such as Gnomes, Sylphs, and Centaurs.^[6a]

History

Fey Woodlands

There are realms within the forests of the Old World that even the most learned Wood Elf Spellsingers remain oblivious to. These places, shrouded in ancient magics, are not just protected by the arcane but are themselves an intrinsic part of the magic that flows through the land. These are the realms of Faery, glades of breathtaking beauty, streams that sparkle with clarity, and sylvan woodlands where thoughts and actions are inseparable. In these places, the inhabitants have nearly entirely cut themselves off from the outside world.^[1a]

Beastmen Origins

A grimacing Ungor; it is unknown what relationship these creatures have to Satyrs.

It is not known what the connection is between Satyrs and the Beastmen breed known as Ungors who greatly resemble their supposed appearance. The origin of the Beastmen of the Old World is uncertain, though there is an ancient legend, believed to be of Dwarf origin, that places the genesis of the Old World's Beastmen in the collapse of the northern Polar Gate at the start of the Great Catastrophe.^[4a]

The legend tells of a time over five thousand years before the birth of Sigmar, when the earliest ancestors of Humanity still resided in the south-eastern region of the Southlands beyond the borders of Tilea. In this time, or so the legend tells, there was another race of heavy-set and passably intelligent humanoids to whom the gods (or perhaps the godlike Old Ones who raised the Polar Gates) had first taught the skills of animal husbandry.^[4a]

These nomadic peoples travelled across the north-eastern steppes of the Old World, taming dogs to help them herd wild boar, as well as the long-horned ancestors of modern-day cattle, and flocks of hardy goats. Then the northern Polar Gate collapsed, and the corrosive energies of Chaos saturated this simple people, merging them with the only partially tamed animals that they herded, warping them into the first of the goatlike and bovine Beastmen known to plague the mortal world today. It is from this reality that the myth of the Satyrs may have first sprung, though Satyrs are said to be far more benevolent creatures if they exist.^[4a]

Appearance

Satyrs, like the Centaurs, is a hybrid creature, combining elements of both Humans and beasts. They are characterised by small, sharp horns, goat-like legs, and Human torsos. With their supposedly amorous nature, Satyrs are often seen pursuing the affections of Nymphs, typically using seduction through the play of pipes or athletic contests, although they often find themselves in an endless chase in their attempts to win their hearts.^[1a]

Satyr in Art

In Tilea, Nymphs are a common theme in art, especially in frescoes depicting them alongside Satyrs in bucolic settings. This style, which enjoyed great popularity, began to decline over a century ago, but representations of Nymphs in more lewd forms still appear in paintings, particularly in the Empire. This has caused discomfort among devout followers of Sigmar.^[2]

A famous example of this can be seen in the work of the renowned artist Grottio, who, in 2236 IC, painted 2000 naked Nymphs on the ceiling of the Palazzo Verezzo instead of the expected battle scene. This scandalous artwork led to his exile to the island of Nocucci.^[3a]

The Palace of Nuln houses more examples of Satyr imagery, including a series of sculptures from a time when the Empire was fascinated with creating statues of immense power. The ground floor of the Imperial Gallery contains these works, one of which portrays a naked man in despair, while another depicts a Nymph gazing upwards, her hands bound. Yet another sculpture shows a Satyr abducting a woman. Though the historical or mythical identities of these figures are unknown to many, the sculptures' power remains undiminished. The underlying theme in these works is a recurring one: desire and suffering.^[5a]

Possible Satyrs

The Fiend of Castle Drachenfels^[9a]

• Fiend - The Fiend of Castle Drachenfels is a spirit of pure evil, drawn from the Warp, where all possibilities exist, by the terrible necromancer Constant Drachenfels himself. This entity is imprisoned in the weather-vane of the castle as part of the magic that sustains its physical form. The Fiend is stronger than a Lesser Daemon but weaker than a Greater Daemon. It is depicted with the upper torso of a Human, a goat-like head with large curved horns, and a Satyr-like lower body with cloven hooves. Though it can adopt any Human form, the Fiend often appears in this guise to strike fear into those who witness it.^[9a]

Game History

Satyrs feature prominently in the lore of Warhammer. In the early drafts of the war game's rules, written by Rick Priestley and Richard Halliwell, there were many peculiar and archaic elements, some of which never made it into final publication. One such rule involved rolling to determine if a forest was inhabited by Satyrs. If a unit entered such a forest, it could go missing for several turns as they were "entertained" by the local Satyr population.^[11a]

Satyrs also appeared as part of the roster for the Blood Bowl team known as the Forest Folk, alongside Gnomes, Centaurs, and Treemen. Although they never had official miniatures, players could convert other models to represent them.^[1a]

Miniatures

For a Seattle Warhammer tournament, Marc Robson created an impressive army that was featured in White Dwarf 259. Robson's converted Wood Elf army represented mystical fey creatures from the elusive island of Albion. He used converted Ungors as Satyrs, Daemonette Familiars as Pixies, and even transformed a High Elf Dragon from Warmaster into a Forest Dragon with butterfly wings.^[7a]

Satyrs and Centaurs (Warmaster conversion)^[7a]

Satyrs (Blood Bowl conversion)^[1a]

Sources

• 1: Citadel Journal 17
  • 1a: pp. 13-15
• 2: Portrait of My Undying Lady (Short Story) by Gordon Rennie
• 3: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Up in Arms (RPG)
  • 3a: pg. 59
• 4: Liber Chaotica (Background Book)
  • 4a: pg. 252
• 5: Inferno 41
  • 5a: pg. 58
• 6: Citadel Journal 32
  • 6a: pg. 49
• 7: White Dwarf 259
  • 7a: pg. 76
• 8: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd Edition: Tome of Corruption (RPG)
  • 8a: pg. 101
• 9: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 1st Edition: Castle Drachenfels (RPG)
  • 9a: pg. 97
• 10: Blood for the Blood God (Novel) by C.L. Werner
  • 10a: Ch. 9
• 11: White Dwarf 340
  • 11a: pg. 50