Sword of Khaine
|
The Sword of Khaine, sometimes referred to as the Widowmaker, is the most powerful weapon in the Warhammer World. Even more powerful than the twin Axes of the Dwarf God Grimnir, Sigmar Heldenhammer's Ghal Maraz, or any of the items forged by Nagash. The weapon is considered so powerful that if drawn again it could change the entire course of Elven history.
Overview
The weapon can be seen thrust into the Altar of Khaine on The Blighted Isle in Ulthuan. According to Elven myths, the sword was forged by Vaul (The Elven Smith-God) at the Anvil of Vaul; expressly for the use of Khaine, the Elven God of war and murder. This would mean that the sword was never intended to be used by mortals, as such awesome power is beyond their control. Though traditionally referred to as a sword, the Sword of Khaine appears as a different weapon to each individual who looks upon it, always dripping with blood oozing from the very blade of the weapon itself. The Sword is said hunger for destruction and the blood of others, exerting it's influence and calling out to the minds of all Elves, particularly those with a violent nature such as soldiers, Tyrion has claimed the sword calls him strongly, tempting him to draw it.
The first Phoenix King, Aenarion, drew the sword in grief and anger after the death of his wife Astarielle and (he thought) his two children Yvrainne and Morellion; using it to defeat the second Chaos host. While Aenarion thought his offspring had perished, they were in fact saved and this when he drew the weapon, it cursed his bloodline with a degree of madness that Tyrion and Teclis share today. The sword exerted it's insidious bloodthirsty influence on Aenarion, changing him to become cruel and proud when he held court in Nagarythe. After the final battle against Chaos, Aenarion realized the corrupting influence of the sword and plunged the weapon back into the altar just before he died.
The 6th Pheonix King Tethlis the Slayer traveled to The Blighted Isle in chase of a Dark Elf fleet and was slain in mysterious circumstances around the Altar of Khaine. Some claim he was slain by a Druchii assassin while others say he attempted to draw the Sword and was slain by his own bodyguard, who felt safeguarding the Sword to be more important than the life of his, decidedly bloodthirsty King.
The Sword in the Age of Reckoning
During the Age of Reckoning in WAR, as the conflict between the Druchii and the Asur rages, the High Elves are trying to prevent the Dark Elves from gaining control of the Altar and the powerful weapon. During the Dark Elf invasions of Ulthuan, the battle to gain control of the Sword of Khaine is often one of the most critical.