"The Skulltaker's claws crunched against the bony shale as he descended from the high ground. There was no hesitancy in his march, no doubt or question, only the grim resolve of a man who had long ago accepted his fate. "No gods," the Skulltaker's grinding voice spoke. "No witches. Just warriors." He paused in his descent, lifting his wailing sword in a sombre salute. "Just warriors and steel..."
- —The Daemonic Skulltaker, facing the last living Tsavag warrior.[3]
U'Zhul standing upon the skulls of his enemies.
U'Zhul the Skulltaker, also known simply as U'Zhul, "The Skulltaker," "Khorne's Champion," the "Blooded Wanderer" and the "Slayer of Kings" is a mighty Daemonic servant of Khorne. Some claim he is the greatest of the Blood God's Exalted Bloodletters[1a][2b][4a] and a Herald of Khorne, while others say he was once a mortal Human named Vrkas who became a powerful Daemon Prince.[3]
History[]
Origins[]
In ancient times, Vrkas was a mighty Kurgan warlord and zar of the Dolgan tribe. Forging disparate warbands into a mighty army, he led them into battle against the forces of the Tong's Tsavag empire. A hundred warlords fell to the Dolgan's axe, but with each victory the warriors of the defeated chieftains swore fealty to Vrkas and his army swelled.[3]
Vrkas then led his army into the Tong's homeland and slaughtered all in his path. It was during the last and greatest battle that he finally met a worthy foe, for Teiyogtei Khagan was the mightiest Tong warlord to have ever lived. Wielding the Daemon Sword Bloodeater, the Khagan was able to best Vrkas with his superior weapon.[3]
The Kurgan warlord was captured and spitted atop a spike, and days went by as his body was slowly and painfully impaled. Whilst any other warrior would have begged for death, Vrkas was consumed by hatred. The Khagan had denied him a warrior's death and so, with great strength, he pulled himself from the spike and crawled across the Northern Wastes, his entrails following behind.[3]
Vrkas soon came across a great forge. It was here that Teiyogtei had forged the mighty Daemon Sword that he had used to best the Kurgan zar. As the dying Vrkas approached, a voice called out to him from the forge itself. A mighty Bloodthirster's soul had been enslaved to power the forge. Defeated and destroyed long ago by the Khagan, the Daemon had guided Vrkas to him as an instrument of vengeance. He empowered the dying Kurgan with the forge's might, gifting him near-impenetrable Chaos Armour, monstrous strength, physical regeneration and a sword as black as midnight. Thus, Vrkas was reborn as the Skulltaker.[3]
Over the coming years, the name of the Skulltaker was made legend, a tireless Chaos Champion of Khorne who challenged and slew any warlord he encountered, offering their skulls to the Blood God. Tales abounded of how he had killed the Chaos Dragon Shaneeth and placed its bleeding heads at the foot of the Skull Throne; how he rode against the Ogres of the Marrowchewer tribe, and alone scoured them from the land; how he dared face the Sin Stealer of the decadent Ulvags and vanquished the Daemon from the realm of mortals for a thousand years; how he visited destruction upon the blasphemous city of Po and left not one of Lashor's children alive within its accursed walls.[3]
Eventually, the Skulltaker ventured into the lands of the Tong and their subjugated allies. None could stand against him, not the craftiest Hung, the strongest Kurgan or the most monstrous Gor. All who did battle with him were cut down, their bodies left heaped in great carrion mounds. No tribe or nation had been able to defy the armies of Teiyogtei Khagan, but the Skulltaker cut a path through them as though they were feeble children. This devastation continued until the great Teiyogtei himself rode forth to personally deal with this threat.[3]
Facing the Khagan in his mighty kingdom, the Skulltaker became engaged in a duel of epic proportions. The two Chaos Champions clashed with Daemon blade and fought for days. Eventually, the Skulltaker was able to mortally wound his enemy, but not before Teiyogtei drove Bloodeater into his stomach. Vengeance should have been fulfilled and the Skulltaker should have died that day, but he could only be banished, not destroyed. Such was Khorne's blessing upon the vengeful Chaos Warrior.[3]
Indeed, the Skulltaker would return centuries later to destroy the Tsavags' homeland. Slaughtering each of Teiyogtei's successors, he offered their skulls to his ancient forge and thus destroyed their entire realm, drawing it into the lands of Khorne in the Realm of Chaos and erasing it from existence in the mortal world. The Skulltaker was rewarded for this with ascension to Daemonhood, taking on a form resembling a mighty Bloodletter and wearing a cloak of skulls. The man once known as Vrkas had become one of Khorne's mightiest followers.[3]
Daemonhood[]
When not campaigning with his master's armies, Skulltaker roams the Realm of Chaos atop his mighty Juggernaut, Kuhl'tyran. He appears before fortress and stronghold, bellowing challenge after challenge to the greatest warriors within until one of their number is foolish enough to meet him in single combat. When a foe emerges, Skulltaker dismounts from his loyal Daemonic steed, salutes the enemy with upturned blade and charges forward to claim another skull in the Blood God's name.[1a][2b][4a]
Such duels are brief and bloody, for Skulltaker is swifter than the last beat of a shattered heart and knows every weakness of every enemy. Skulltaker does not slay his foes outright, but shatters their limbs, leaving them helpless. Skulltaker's clawed grasp settles upon his fallen opponent's head, magical fire gouts from his fingertips, searing away skin and sinew until pale bone is laid bare for all to see.[1a][2b][4a]
With a single perfect twist borne of long practice, Skulltaker breaks the naked skull free of its spine and tosses it into a coarse woven sack filled with similar trophies from previous victims. He then bellows his challenges at the fortress once more, striking down any further champions that emerge until no others present themselves or boredom sets in. Mounting Kuhl'tyran once more, Skulltaker departs in search of fresh foes.[1a][2b][4a]
U'Zhul is just as feared in the mortal realms as he is in the courts of the Dark Gods. He is drawn by tales of martial prowess and rumour of mighty combatants who might offer some small challenge. History is littered with accounts of his appearance before the gates of Bretonnian castles, Ogre feasthalls, Elf mansions, Nehekharan necropolises and Dwarf holds, each time demanding that an accomplished warrior be sent forth to face him.[1a][2b][4a]
Such encounters never end well for mortals. Indeed, in all the legends surrounding the Skulltaker there is but one account that tells of anything other than his victory. In the legends of the Empire, he battled Sigmar in the Worlds Edge Mountains for three days without pause, but ultimately earned naught for his defeat.[1a][2b][4a]
Skulltaker still bears the scar he earned that day[1a][2b][4a], and he takes great pleasure in repaying the debt on Sigmar's inheritors at every opportunity -- Daemons have long memories, and little desire to grant forgiveness. Over the millennia, the Skulltaker's collection of trophies has become so massive as to be beyond counting. Whilst U'Zhul collects skulls from all his victims, it is only those of mighty individuals he truly cherishes, for with the taking of the skull he inherits a portion of that enemy's strength.[1a][2b]
The Skulltaker hooks his most prized skulls, mementos of close-fought and satisfactory battles all, onto his cloak. All others he sets upon the parapet of Khorne's Brass Citadel to watch the approaches to the Blood God's lair. So it is that a Daemon that began existence as a Bloodletter has become something to command the respect of the Dark Gods themselves.[1a][2b][4a]
It is known that in 1001 IC, U'Zhul began the so-called "Skull Harvest," descending upon the mortal plane to claim the skulls of all the Northlanders who worshipped any god other than Khorne.[2a]
Wargear[]
- Cloak of Skulls - Forged from the claimed crania of favoured victims and heavy with dark enchantments, the Cloak of Skulls offers formidable protection against the enemy's blows and spells.[2b] It is made of heavy leather.[4a]
- The Slayer Sword - Crafted from a single shard of Khorne's boundless wrath, this blade blazes with unholy energy and has an uncanny ability to find the foe's weak spot.[2b]
Canon Conflict[]
All the references to the Skulltaker in Warhammer Armies: Daemons of Chaos in both 7th and 8th Editions, and in Warhammer Fantast Roleplay 3rd Edition's Liber Carnagia -- The Book of Blood describe him as a powerful Bloodletter.[1a][2b][4a] However, in the novel Warhammer: Blood For the Blood God, C.L. Werner presents him as a Daemon Prince who merely takes on the appearance of a Lesser Daemon.[4]
It is unclear if the sword used by Archaon, also known as U'zhul, the Slayer of Kings, has any connection with the infamous Skulltaker. The entity within the sword is described as a Greater Daemon,[5a][6a] while U'zhul is either a Bloodletter, which is a Lesser Daemon, or a Daemon Prince.
Miniatures[]
Sources[]
- 1: Warhammer Armies: Daemons of Chaos (7th Edition)
- 1a: pg. 54
- 2: Warhammer Armies: Daemons of Chaos (8th Edition)
- 3: Warhammer: Blood For the Blood God, by C.L. Werner
- 4: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 3rd Ed.: Liber Carnagia
- 4a: pg. 20
- 5: Warhammer Armies: Warriors of Chaos (7th Edition)
- 5a: pg. 69
- 6: Warhammer Armies: Warriors of Chaos (8th Edition)
- 6a: pg. 48