Nagash Belongs in Warhammer II
Why do people expect Nagash to appear in Warhammer III when he lived in the world of Warhammer II (Mortal Empires map).
I’m working from the novels, the Warhammer Chronicles. When some talk about the lore of Warhammer, they are talking about the tabletop boardgame rulebooks, but I don’t have them. I have read book 1 (The Legend of Sigmar), book 3 (The Rise of Nagash) and several others (the Skaven are the most fun -- particularly the story of Headtaker in Warlords of Karak Eight Peaks.
Who was Nagash
Nearly 2000 years before the coronation of Sigmar, which year zero in the Imperial Calendar, Nagash lived in the desert lands of Nekehara. He was the most immortal, the human who came closest to being a god, and destroyed his land in pursuit of immortality. Born the first son of the king, dedicated to the priesthood in a land where the second sons inherited, Nagash studied death, seized the throne, and built and lost an empire of the undead.
He is the favorite of many, including Wargamer Dad.
Lost in the desert, he then learned the secrets of Skaven magic, the warpstone that resembles nuclear pollution more than anything else.
Where Nagash was
Nagash’s principal monument, of course, is the Black Pyramid, which is guarded by Sentinels. Everyone hates them. Why? Perhaps because they want to bring back Nagash. People also hate the Followers of Nagash led by Arkhan the Black, a former vizier of Nagash. Arkhan wants to reclaim the Tower of Arkhan, which lies to the southwest of the Black Pyramid.
Several other places on the map have Nagash’s name. Nagashizzar means the greatness of Nagash. It features in the book The Rise of Nagash. Nagash fought the Skaven there. It is currently occupied by the Silver Host whose corpse cart appears to use a Skaven bell. Near it is the Desolation of Nagash.
And there’s the Brass Keep, which features in the Legend of Sigmar.
The Silver Pinnacle features in the history of Neferata but I do not know all of her story except for what appear in Books 2 and 3.
But keep in mind that the minor factions vampires are where they are for a reason. The Strigos have a story too.
The Empire of Undeath Eternal
Nagash could appear at any of these places. He would be best implemented as a disaster on the level of the Chaos Invasion. He could show up in any of several places.
He is immortal and forever. As long as there is a speck of burnt dust containing his flesh, as long as his artifacts exist, he has influene (see also Book 3: Vampire Wars (The Von Carstein Trilogy). His artifacts may have the power to transform all but a legendary lord into Nagash himself.
Nagash can be delayed, but as long as the Black Pyramid exists, he cannot be destroyed.
Arkhan’s faction would be much more fun if he could bring back Nagash and become the Nagash faction as long as he holds his tower, the Black Pyramid, and perhaps all of the Books. Since only Arkhan has the Ninth Book, he is the only Tomb King faction that could Raise Nagash, were all nine books required.
Several factions in Warhammer II are brutally difficult. Those that have to migrate (Skarsnik, Belegar, and Arkhan) have a slow start. Permitting Arkhan to raise Nagash would be a nice touch to a weak faction. CA recently boosted Lohkir who is now much more fun to play.
Of course, everyone in the world would declare war on Nagash on sight, except perhaps the Tomb Kings, Vampires, and maybe Vampire Coast. Greenskins, Druchii, and Skaven might sign peace treaties but prepare for war. So even if you could become Nagash (as Arkhan), your power would be nicely balanced by the enmity of all living things.
