The Odor:
Here is the start of the fluff for my Chaos Dwarf Army, The Ironwalker Expedition Force. C&C very welcome. Especially if you find anything odd with the background fluff…
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Lhahak Chaoseye rode forth on a large brass chariot pulled by four clockwork bulls. Around him four dozen of his most loyal bodyguards, all carrying his private banners and flags marched with countless slaves swarming behind them as they journeyed out from Zharr Naggrund meeting the pillars of grey smoke coming across the lava planes.
For over a decade he had calmly waited and planned for a chance like this…
For many centuries the clan Ironwalker had held a seat in the conclave, retaining it even when the last Sorcerer-Prophet Marrthak Ironwalker had taken most of the clans warriors and journeyed north into the depths of the chaos wastes because of the age and wealth attached to the name. This was 100 years ago�?�
Every year large caravans of steam trains arrived carrying word of the Ironwalkers heroics and bringing with them slaves and treasure. But for those vying for the Ironwalkers seat in the conclave the caravans also always brought disappointment for another year.
Before Marrthak left he had said that each time a caravan returned wrapped in black smoke he still lived and fought, but the day a caravan came with grey smoke he had been claimed by the Sorcerers Curse. Two weeks ago Lhahaks Hobgoblin raiders had brought news of Steam trains wrapped in a cloak of grey smoke descending from the north. And this morning he had seen the same from his window in the citadel.
Now Lhahak saw his chance to get one of his allies into the conclave�?�
As the two travelling parties closed to a distance of ten meters both pulled to a stop and Lhahak called over four of his oldest Goblin slaves to form steps to allow him to dismount his chariot. From the steam trains a Dawi Zharr with a tall back banner strode forth, flanked by a pair of Blunderbuss armed warriors. Lhahak called over two of his own halberd men and met the other dwarf halfway.
�?oHail Hashut! Long live Clan Chaoseye!�?� Lhahak called.
�?oHail Hashut! Long live Clan Ironwalker!�?� The other dwarf replied.
�?oWhat news do you bring from Marrthak Ironwalkers glorious expedition?�?�
Lhahak asked, barely able to contain his grin.
�?oLord Marrthak Ironwalker is lost. Long live the Ironwalker!�?�
�?oWhen will the rest of the expedition return?�?� Lhahak asked, already throwing his mind into the future�?� How long before the Ironwalkers would be back to an acceptable military force? They still had a handful of young sorcerers who might make a bid for their fallen elders seat�?�
�?oThe expedition is not returning.�?� The other dwarf said, with a voice fully devoid of emotion.
Lhahak mind froze. �?oWhy not?�?�
�?oThe expeditions master ordered it.�?�
�?oMarrthak ordered you not to return?�?� That was too good to be true�?� With the diminished force still present in Zharr Naggrund the Ironwalkers could never rise�?�
�?oNot Master Marrthak. The expeditions new master.�?�
Lhahak fumed all the way back to Zharr Naggrund. The other dwarf had refused to tell him anything more of the �?onew�?� master of the expedition, saying only that he brought news to the conclave.
He was now being clad in the ceremonial robes by his Acolytes in his antechamber to the main conclave-chamber�?� Less than two hours after the Ironwalker trains had arrived to the city the conclave had called for an extra meeting. He grabbed his hat from a shelf and put it on his head before striding out into the larger chamber.
In the large amphitheater many of the Sorcerer Prophets of the Conclave had already gathered, their variedly petrified forms sat, quietly waiting, all studying their opponents in this arena of political duels. Lhahak calmly moved up the steps to his seat, making sure not to let any of his emotional turmoil show on his face. He had barely had time to seat himself before the meeting was called to order and the heavy doors at the bottom of the amphitheater opened and the dwarf from before stepped in.
�?oHail Hashut, hail the Dawi�?TZharr!�?� He proclaimed as he took a knee.
Astragoth showed him to rise with a movement of a mechanically reinforced hand.
�?oSpeak.�?� The highpriest said.
�?oI am Tharhak Ironwalker, Overlord of the Ironwalker forces attached to Marrthak Ironwalkers brave expedition and I bring word from the expedition of Marrthak Ironwalker.�?� The dwarf said. �?oWith me I also bear the frozen form of Marrthak himself.�?�
�?oWe will arrange for your master to be added to his forbearers on the Sorcerers road.�?� Astragoth said. �?oWhen can we expect the remaining forces of Marrthaks expedition to return?�?�
Lhahak leaned forward slightly�?� What would this fool say now�?�
�?oNot for a long time if Hashut favors the expedition my liege.�?� The other sorcerers now also froze as if the Curse had claimed them at once and studied the son of fire in front of them more closely. The dwarf waited until every eye was upon him before continuing. �?oI bring word from Marrthaks heir, Thazharr Ironwalker, named so by the sorcerer-prophet himself.�?�
For a second the chamber fell silent before a cacophony of questions was launched. Lhahak believed he was the only one who remained silent until he noticed two more�?� Astragoth who had a content smile and Ghorth the Cruel whose face showed nothing.
�?oMarrthak had no son!�?� one of the elder sorcerer-prophet managed to break through the turmoil.
�?oI am afraid our long exodus has made communication a bit too sparse. Marrthaks woman was with child when the expedition left Zharr-Naggrund so many a moon ago, and the child has been raised and trained in the rites of Hashut since birth.�?� Lhahak grinded his teeth�?� The sneaky bastard�?� Hiding a son away�?� It was bordering on treason�?�
�?oHow was he trained!�?� Another of his colleagues blurted forth.
�?oMarrthak brought enough Acolytes, sages and tools for teaching at the start of our clans journey and Thazharrs training has been more than ample.�?�
Next followed a series of questions about lineage and who the mother was, until Lhahak felt the need to ask the most vital question becoming unbearable.
�?oDoes he make claim for Marrthaks seat?�?� He said, silencing the others.
Tharhak looked him right in the eye and spoke.
�?oHe makes claim to the seat that has belonged to the Ironwalkers for generation, Sorcerer-Prophet Lhahak.�?�
�?oWe cannot let someone who has never even set foot inside Zharr Naggrund in his life into the conclave!�?� A sorcerer whom was petrified from the waist down proclaimed. �?oNo matter his heritage.�?o
�?oOh but Thazharr has set foot within the city many times. He often journeyed with the caravans here.�?�
Lhahak knew what was happening and the rage he felt of being powerless to stop it made dark magic bolt between his fingers.
�?oWill you accept Thazharrs claim?�?� Tharhak asked.
8 months later
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Thazharr Ironwalker strode out of the small keep as the hissing steam train came to a stop. He grinned as his friend Tharhak jumped off and the surrounding human and greenskin slaves moved in to remove the supplies that came from Zharr-Naggrund.
�?oSo I presume they agreed?�?�
�?oThe same arrangement that your father had now applies to you my liege.�?� The other man said as he kneeled in the snow. �?oYou are a Sorcerer-Prophet of Hashut and the Clan Ironwalker stands strong!�?�
Thazharrs grin widened.