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"‘Heed my words, human,’ the dark elf lord spoke, his voice like burning coals stirred in a grate. ‘For you are not worthy to hear them twice.’
‘I am Rakarth,’ the dark elf announced, his hateful voice boastful and haughty, ‘Called Beastlord.’
"

—Rakarth addresses Duke Corentin of Brionne, 1974 IC[4]
Rakarth CA

The Dark Elven Beastlord Rakarth of Karond Kar

Rakarth of Karond Kar[1a], called the "Beastlord," is the most accomplished Dark Elf Beastmaster in the whole of Naggaroth.[2a] He is known as having an almost "magical" compulsion over any and all beasts he seeks to command across the Known World.

History[]

Origins[]

Beastlord Rakarth Dark Elves Total War Warhammer 2

Beastlord Rakarth of Karond Kar as depicted in Total War: Warhammer II.

The Dark Elves have always made great use of enslaved monsters, both for their fleets and for their land armies, but although there have been many famous Beastmasters in the past, none have approached Rakarth's consummate skill or expertise. It is said that the dungeons of Karond Kar are filled with creatures that Rakarth has tamed, and that amongst them can be found one or more of all of the creatures known in the Known World.[1a]

Even as a child Rakarth had an almost supernatural ability to subdue wild creatures. When Rakarth was only eight years old his father had been gifted with a particularly fine Dark Steed. The beast was called Bracchus and was faster and stronger than any other in the Rakarth stables, but it had a vicious temperament and would buck and rear uncontrollably if anyone tried to ride it.[8]

Rakarth's father attempted to break Bracchus, and was quickly hurled to the ground and almost trampled to death under the creature's hooves. Wild with fury, Rakarth's father ordered Bracchus destroyed, but Rakarth strode forward and asked if he might have one attempt to ride the creature, and that if he succeeded he might keep Bracchus for himself. Rakarth's father readily agreed, for Dark Elves love all forms of gambling, even above the safety of their own children.[8]

Rakarth slowly walked towards Bracchus, fixing the steed with his steely gaze. Bracchus was visibly shaken at the young child's ice-cold stare, recognising instinctively that here was a being that out-matched it in sheer cruelty and ability to inflict pain. Lowering his head, Bracchus allowed Rakarth to jump easily on to his back, and meekly obeyed Rakarth's every command. From that day on Bracchus was Rakarth's faithful mount, serving him well until he was slain at the battle of Finuval Plain some 30 years later.[8]

The Black Dragon that Rakarth rides into battle now is named Bracchus in honour of the steed that he rode as a youth.[8]

Assault on the Old World[]

ThousandMawsIcon

Icon of Beastlord Rakarth's Dark Elven army, the Thousand Maws, as depicted in Total War: Warhammer III.

In 1974 IC, Beastlord Rakarth ravaged the coasts and interior of the Old World at the head of a host of War Hydras and Black Dragons, razing ports and cities and taking the survivors as slaves for Naggaroth. This onslaught culminated with the invasion of Bretonnia, which climaxed during the siege of Castle Brionne, whose defence was led by the old Duke Corentin, known as the "Paladin of Maelys," the "Marcher-Lord of the Silver Plain," the "Defender of Fort Adeline" and the "Champion of Gaelle's Virtue."[4]

Rakarth demanded to be given a fifth of the city's population, but Corentin, wishing to face a final foe in one last glorious charge before falling prey to old age, refused. The Duke's knights desperately tried to keep him away from the frontlines to avoid his sacrifice. Alas, once they were all annihilated by the Druchii army and its monsters, Corentin had his attendants arm him and he charged in alone as well. The exact outcome of this battle is unknown.[4]

Malekith's Dragon[]

Rakarth Total War Warhammer II Concept Art by Tony Sart

Concept art of Rakarth as created for Total War: Warhammer II.

Over a thousand years ago, Witch King Malekith's Black Dragon, Kaliphon, fell with its black heart pierced by a lance. Hundreds died to slake the rage he felt upon losing his mount. Since then, Malekith was unable to ride a Dragon again, despite many nobles offering him their own mounts as gifts. Instead of accepting them, Malekith had a terrible chariot constructed, to be pulled by Cold Ones and outfitted with scythes in its wheels. In his rage, he decreed that only he would be allowed to ride a chariot in battle, and so had all the others destroyed.[6a]

Centuries later, however, a group of Shades located an un protected nest of Dragon eggs in the deepest parts of the Spiteful Peaks, and it was Rakarth, Malekith's most accomplished beast tamer, who reported to him this incredible find. This news caused a strange pleasure in the Witch King, who started to weave a twisted plan to use these creatures against the High Elves of Ulthuan. The dozen eggs were taken to Naggarond and ritually attended by Khainite Witch Elves until they cracked open a hundred years later. The first one to break out, Seraphon, immediately turned against the other eggs, destroying several of them before it could be stopped. Impressed by its vicious character, and conscious that the firstborn of the litter would be the strongest, Malekith claimed his right to ride it.[6a]

The Black Dragons would take long to reach their maturity, but their training started at once, and Malekith put Beastlord Rakarth in charge, demanding the strictest level of training for Seraphon. To the rest of the future Dragon riders, handpicked from among his favourite generals, he ordered them to stay with their beasts while they were trained. All of them spent many decades training these monstrous creatures until the Dragons understood their masters, and the masters could control them. This provided Malekith with a full flock of highly trained Dragons ready to raze the coasts of Ulthuan and the Old World by surprise.[6a]

Rakarth's Vendetta[]

Beastmaster Rakarth once fought a particularly bitter battle against the traitorous High Elves of Ulthuan. He led an army in which he had amassed the largest force of War Hydras in Druchii history. With nine of the mighty beasts at his command, he predicted a swift victory. The wizards Liandus, Ellyunnor and Aliana, however, accompanied the enemy. Within minutes, their combined magical barrage had whittled the Hydras' number down to three; two of which broke and fled the field.[3a]

Rakarth vowed never to be defeated by High Magic again, and forged a pact with Morathi. She spun her spells over the surviving Hydra, known as Daerlythe, or "Burning Fury", to turn it into the first of the Spellthirster Hydras. Dark Magic mutated the creature tremendously. Daerlythe's skin began to glow with burning blue-black energy, and great rents opened in his flesh where Morathi had ritually carved dread runes. During his next appearance on the battlefield, it was found that he was physically weakened, but had also developed a strong resistance to magic, especially High Magic. A breeding program was soon established, and Daerlythe was retired from battle. To this day only one in every ten of his offspring shares his abilities.[3a]

Wargear[]

"Mounted in a saddle lined with human skin, the duke and his men saw a warrior-lord clad from head to toe in jet-black armour worked into the most cruelly delicate forms by the hand of a master far superior to any mortal artificer. The dark elf lord’s tall helm covered his features, but none could miss the balefire light shining from the eyes like coals in the night. In one hand, the lord bore a long, coiling whip, which snaked and writhed as if possessed of some terrible inner vitality, while in his other hand he bore a shield adorned with the fell runes of forbidden magics."

—The Beastlord arrives to siege the city of Brionne.[4]

Rakarth is armed with a hand weapon, lance, and the Whip of Agony. He wears the Beast Armour of Karond Kar, an Enchanted Shield, and rides the Black Dragon Bracchus.[1a][5a][8]

Canon Conflicts[]

In Warhammer Armies: Dark Elves (6th Edition), Bracchus was a Black Dragon from the outset, that Rakarth tamed when he was only eight years old, with the Dark Steed never having existed.[2a][5a]

In Warhammer Armies: Dark Elves (4th Edition), Rakarth wore a generic Armour of Fortune, but in Warhammer Chronicles 2003 it was replaced by the Beast Armour of Karond Kar as a unique magic item.[1a][5a]

Videos[]

Rakarth_Voice_Actor_Tease_-_Total_War-_WARHAMMER_II

Rakarth Voice Actor Tease - Total War- WARHAMMER II

Rakarth's Voice

Miniatures[]

Sources[]

Gallery[]

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