[Archive] The Marshalling of Uzkulak

Dînadan:

Just some fluff I’ve been writing for my planned army.  Currently just some short fluff pieces on my planned characters.  Will probably add in pictures of them when I’ve converted/painted up the corresponding minis so you can put names to faces :wink:

The Marshalling of Uzkulak

Zarkôrn, High Prophet of Uzkulak

The oldest priest at Uzkulak, Zarkôrn rules the fortress with an iron fist and his word is law.  Though his sorcery is not as strong as that of High Priest Astragoth or the ruthless Ghorth the Cruel, Zarkôrn is a powerful sorcerer and of late has bent his will to improving upon the failed Black Orc experiment of his forbearers.  Thus far he has had some success in breeding minotaurs with the head of a Lammasu.  

As Lord of Uzkulak, Zarkôrn oversees a moderate portion of the northern slave trade for the Dawi Zharr.  Sitting astride the Road of Skulls Uzkulak is the first stop for slaving parties coming down from the High Pass into the Dark Lands on their way to Zharr-Naggrund, and is also the Chaos Dwarfs main port.  The taxation on the slavers passing through his fortress has given Zarkôrn significant political clout with his kind, and it is almost certain that this power is the sole reason none of his rivals in the capitol or other fortresses have made a direct move to oppose the cabal he leads - The Sebitti.

Gibil-Nûzkû, Keeper of the Flame

Zarkôrn�?Ts deputy and a moderate sorcerer in his own right, Gibil-Nûzkû has been bestowed with the title of �?~Keeper of the Flame�?T marking him symbolically as Uzkulak�?Ts cultural guardian.  It is he who oversees the tri-monthly gladiatorial games and it is he who controls the fortress�?Ts secret police, a cult of clanless dawi oathsworn to him and him alone dedicated to seeking out sedition among the fortresses dwarfs and crushing slave rebellions before they begin.

As the Keeper of the Flame it is he who Uzkulak�?Ts compliment of Immortals guard in battle, not Zarkôrn and like them when he marches forth from Uzkulak he does so wearing an elaborate mask, symbolically setting aside his self an adopting a stoic aspect war aspect of Hashut.

Izdubar, Guardian of the Skull

General of Uzkulak�?Ts army, Izdubar is one of the fortress�?Ts best warriors and is charged with protecting the city from those who would seek to destroy it.  Under this purview he has set about building watchtowers and forts along the Road of Skulls, pushing the sphere of Uzkulak�?Ts influence westward to the edge of the High Pass and subjugating the barbarian tribes in the Wastes to the North East binding them with oaths of loyalty to march beneath Uzkulaks banner in times of crisis in exchange for magical weapons and hellcannons.

Taking a cue from the Black Fortress, Izdubar has implemented a training regime for Uzkulak�?Ts elite warriors, aping that of the Infernal Guard, and the best of these he has granted ensorcelled weapons to serve as his personal guard.

Zûrziir, Grand Admiral of the Fleet

The son of a humble stevedore, Zûrziir has had to claw his way up the ranks to his position as Uzkulak�?Ts fleetmaster, a fact many of the captains from wealthier families resent.  Proud of his common origins, the Grand Admiral has instituted a policy of promoting officers based on skill and aptitude rather than selling commissions to the highest bidder.  Under his guidance, the Iron Fleet has expanded and is now gearing up from a band of raider ships to a full fledged navy, soon to be unleashed on the nations of the Old World in full force.

Nin-Egâl, Master of the Forge

A highranking Daemonsmith in the hierarchy of Uzkulak, Nin-Egâl is one of the fortress�?T premier daemon binders and oversees the foundries which churn out the wargear which allows the Overlords and Prophets to pursue there warplans.  He takes pride in his work and often accompanies armies who loan from the fortress�?Ts arsenal to oversee the deployment of his prized warmachines.

Ubrias, The Stormseer

A mid-ranking Daemonsmith, Ubrias has been charged by Zûrziir with aiding his armament of Uzkulak�?Ts fleet.  Having spent some time as Nin-Egâl�?Ts assistant in the daemonforges, he is well suited to overseeing the construction of the new ironclads and often voyages with Zûrziir aboard his flagship, lending the Admiral magical might on his seaborne forays.

Hendûrzaga, Herald of the Skull

Coming from an old noble family who claim to be able to trace their ancestry back to the coming of Hashut, Hendûrzaga is a warrior devoted to Uzkulak, and it is due to this fervent loyalty that the honour of bearing the city�?Ts battle standard into battle has been bestowed upon him.

�>kûr, Intendant of the Pyre

Leader of Uzkulak�?Ts funerary cult, �>kûr is responsible for overseeing the disposal of dead slaves and of attending to deceased Dwari Zharr in the appropriate manner.  It falls to him and his servants to tend to those sorcerer�?Ts that have fallen afoul of the curse, and under his guidance, the masons and sculptors of Uzkulak have crafted fine marble robes for many a petrified Prophet and Daemonsmith.

Utu, Justicar of the Skull

Gibil-Nûzkû�?Ts right hand dwarf, Utu is a grim and stoic dwarf who carries out his duty of executing those dwarfs found guilty of sedition with icy detachment.  In battle, his role of Justicar is served by seeking out enemy champions and slaying them for the glory of Hashut.

The Zharr-Naggrund Outlying Fortress Oversight Committee

Mân�?Tdnû, Grand Auditor of the Obsidian Tower

A middle-class despot, Mân�?Tdnû is a strict adherent to the tenets laid down by his superiors in the Zharr-Naggrund Outlying Fortress Oversight Committee, and is possessing of a dull, no nonsense personality.  He is dedicated to his work, and oddly for one of the Dawi Zharr, totally impartial and just in his judgments of those he is sent to assess.

Q�?Tîngu, Attendant of Hashut

A young dwarf at only 50 years of age, Q�?Tîngu has only recently risen from the ranks of the Acolytes of Hashut and many of the order deem that this has been a step above his station.  Due to the intricacies of the cult degrading him back to the Acolytes is not an option, especially as that would leave his sorcerous powers to grow more untamed.  To strike a compromise he has been foisted on the Oversight Committee where his duties will keep him far from the seats of power, leaving the more prestigious assignments open to those more deserving.