Archaon

Template:Infobox Warhammer Character Archaon is a fictional character in Games Workshop's Warhammer Fantasy Battle wargame. He was the main character of the forces of Chaos and a central character in the summer 2004 campaign known as Storm of Chaos. Archaon is the most powerful Chaos Lord in the world of Warhammer Fantasy Battle. He rides the demonic steed Dorghar and wields a sword called the 'Slayer of Kings'.

In White Dwarf magazine issue 221, there was an elimination tournament using various special characters from the Warhammer world known as the Arena of Death, to decide who was the most powerful of these champions (it is worth noting however that the characters had widly varying points costs, so perhaps was not a 100% fair test). Archaon faced the Dwarf High King Thorgrim Grudgebearer in Round 1, Azazel Prince of Damnation in Round 2, and faced the Bloodthirster of Khorne in the semi final, but was defeated (the Bloodthirster would go on to win the tournament). At the time the Eye of Sheerian had a randomly generated effect, which by astonishing luck was the one most appropriate for his opponent in each round (against Thorgrim it made him immune to magical weapons, rendering his axe of Grimnir useless; against Azazel he was immune to harmful spells; and against the Bloodthirster was able to take his impressive 1+ armour save on 2D6). It is also worth noting that against both Thorgrim and the Bloodthirster, Archaon was wounded by his own weapon the Slayer of Kings, which against the Bloodthirster took his final wound and eliminated him from the tournament.

Fictional Biography

Archaon was once a great witch hunter, or Templar of Sigmar, devoted to defeating the forces of Chaos. He read ancient manuscripts written by the prophet Necrodomo the Insane. The prophecy is also thought to have described, in detail, how the warhammer world will end at the hands of the Chaos gods. Enraged by what he read, he destroyed the book, razed the temple, murdered his family and abandonded Sigmar. Then, he traveled north to the Chaos Wastes, he offered himself to the Chaos Gods. Archaon spent years gathering the six treasures of Chaos and after collecting the treasures, he was crowned 'Lord of the End Times'. Leading a vast army, Archaon marched on The Empire from the North while his herald, Crom the Conqueror, marched from the east over the World's Edge Mountains.

During the Storm of Chaos

During the Storm of Chaos campaign, Archaon sought to storm the city of Middenheim, enter the Temple of Ulric and corrupt its Eternal Flame with his own essence, causing an apocalypse. After his forces ruined two provinces of the Empire and ravaged a third, Archaon laid siege to Middenheim. However, the Empire's defenders had slowed the chaos horde, giving the Middenheimers time to prepare their defences. Attacked by the armies of Bretonnia, Kislev and the Orcs, the Chaos horde began to break and, when news came that the armies of Karl Franz and Valten were closing, Archaon was forced to lift the siege. He attacked Valten's army and in the heat of battle came face to face with him. Archaon summoning the power of his sword overcame Valten and carved open his armour, but he was shocked by the comet-shaped birthmark on Valten's chest. Suddenly he was attacked by Luthor Huss and then by the Orc warlord, Grimgor Ironhide. In the melee he was defeated by Grimgor, but not killed. Following this Archaon quit the battlefield with the few survivors of his army.

The six treasures of Chaos

The six treasures of Chaos are magical artifacts possessed by Archaon. The background fiction for the Archaon explains how he searched the Warhammer World for the six artifacts prior to the events of the Storm of Chaos worldwide campaign.

The Mark of the Chosen One

This mark was burned into Archaon's forehead when he visited a place known only as the "Altar of Ultimate Darkness" in Naggaroth. The Mark represents a blessing from each of the four Chaos Gods.

The Armour of Morkar

This suit of immensely ancient black Chaos armour once belonged to the first Everchosen of Chaos, Morkar the Uniter, who was slain by Sigmar. How exactly Archaon acquired the Armour of Morkar is unknown; the story says that he traveled across the seas on a ship made of black metal, and returned with the suit of armour. The armour is enchanted with strong protective magic (Note: in the original Champions of Chaos book, it was stated that Morkar was slain by Aenarion, first Phoenix King of the High Elves, which was erroneous as the invasion of Ulthuan was entirely composed of daemonic entities).

The Eye of Sheerian

This mysterious gemstone is supposedly named after a powerful Tzeentchian sorcerer. The gemstone was located by Archaon amongst the treasure-hoard of a Chaos dragon. Archaon wore the gem around his neck as a talisman until he received the Crown of Domination. The Eye has unspecified prophetic powers which can be used by its bearer when it is set into the Crown of Domination. It is an immensely powerful protective artifact which shields Archaon from physical and magical attack.

Dorghar, the Daemon Steed

Archaon's demonic steed is referred to as W'Soraych in the 1998 Champions of Chaos supplement, but called Dorghar in the 2001 Hordes of Chaos book. In order to acquire this creature, Archaon traveled deep to the Gates of Chaos and stole the monstrous animal from the stables of a daemon-lord known as Agrammon.

During the events of the Storm of Chaos it is stated that Valten destroyed Dorghar with the Hammer of Sigmar, forcing Archaon to fight him on foot.

The Slayer of Kings

This huge magical sword is inhabited by the spiritual essence of a greater daemon known as U'zuhl. The daemon was bound to the sword by the second great champion of Chaos, Vangel. Archaon discovered the sword in the Chimera Plateau, a remote location apparently occupied by the oldest living Dragon Ogre. The story of Archaon's recovery of the sword says that he wrested it from the creature's grasp while the creature was asleep. The weapon can be used in one of two ways in game; it can either be used in its 'dormant' state where it simply ignores armour saves, or Archaon can unleash U'zuhl's fury and boost his stats to amazing levels, at the cost of the weapon attacking him or an ally in base contact if he rolls a 1 to hit with his attacks.

The Crown of Domination

After years of searching, Archaon's warband, the Swords of Chaos, located a hidden shrine in the World's Edge Mountains. Within the shrine, Archaon faced challenges set by all four of the Chaos gods, including daemonic attacks and confusing illusions. The final challenge took place in the chamber containing the Crown, where Archaon fought and killed a Bloodthirster Greater Daemon of Khorne. Archaon seized the Crown, despite the efforts of the enraged and jealous Daemon Prince Be'lakor. The capture of the Crown resulted in Archaon's coronation as the Lord of the End Times and signified the beginning of his crusade to fulfil the prophecy of Necrodomo, which resulted in the third End of Times war - the conflict represented by the Storm of Chaos worldwide campaign.

Model

Archaon was first released by Games Workshop in 1998 for their Champions of Chaos range. The model was updated in 2001 with the new rules for the Chaos army.

See also

Storm of Chaos Online Campaign