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Twin-Tailed Comet

Depiction of the Twin-Tailed Comet used as the holy icon of Sigmar.

The Twin Tailed Comet is a comet with two tails which has been sighted on multiple occasions throughout history from the surface of the Known World. The Twin Tailed Comet always heralds great or tumultuous events. It is unclear whether the comet is a single object whose orbit passes close to the world on a regular cycle, or whether the comet(s) are separate objects which have been seen consecutively.

The appearance of the Twin Tailed Comet is usually considered a sign for the growing power of Chaos,[6b] although it has also been associated with the heroism of those that stand against it. Professor Frederich Weirde of Altdorf theorised that the comet symbolizes the rise of a heroic figure in times of strife -- the "Champion of Light" who is destined to face the servants of darkness.[6b]

Appearances[]

-1200 IC[]

On this date, the Nehekharan Priest-King Alcadizaar saw the twin-tailed comet in the sky before he caught one of Neferata's Vampires, thus sealing the doom of the corrupt city-state of Lahmia and the end of the curse of its Temple of Blood.[1a]

-30 IC[]

On the night Sigmar was born in the Old World lands of Mankind that would become the Empire, the Twin Tailed Comet could be seen in the sky.[2a]

1 IC[]

The Twin-Tailed Comet reappeared over the New World's southern continent of Lustria as the herald of Sotek. The Skink prophet Tehenhauin preached that the arrival of the comet had been foretold in the plaques of Chaqua.[3a] Incidentally, this is also the date of Sigmar's coronation as the first emperor of the newly-founded Empire of Man by the hand of the Ar-Ulric.

1999 IC[]

The comet was predicted to return in this year by the prophet Macadamnus of Greill. The Sisters of Sigmar were the first to observe it in the skies over the capital of Ostermark, Mordheim.[4a] People flocked en masse to the city to witness Sigmar's return. However, the masses eventually forgot all sense of decency and turned the city into an orgy of depravity.[4a] The city was destroyed, but whether by the Twin Tailed Comet itself or the strike of another celestial body, is uncertain.

2300 IC[]

The comet appeared over the besieged city of Kislev during the Great War Against Chaos. In the Empire, the future Emperor Magnus the Pious saw the comet as a sign of the coming of Sigmar that spurred him into uniting the provinces of the Empire under his leaderahip and marching north to face Chaos.[8a]

2519 IC[]

The Twin Tailed Comet appeared in the sky when Archaon received the Crown of Domination from Be'lakor, becoming the thirteenth and final Everchosen of Chaos and heralding the beginning of the End Times.[5a] The Lizardmen initially greeted the return of the comet as a good omen, until Lord Mazdamundi received a vision of fire and death and proclaimed that the Great Plan had failed.[6a]

Names and Interpretations[]

Every one of the mortal races that has seen the Twin Tailed Comet soar across the sky of the world has attributed to it different meanings and given it different names, often associated with events that transpired while the comet was in the sky.

Empire of Man[]

In the Sigmarite theology of the Empire, the Twin Tailed Comet represents destiny, fate, and the hand of Sigmar acting upon the mortal world -- especially Sigmar's wrath manifesting against the city of Mordheim. Hence, the Twin Tailed Comet is a very popular symbol for religious Sigmarites, and is found on buildings, in religious mosaics and relics, on weapons and medals, and so forth.

Interestingly, the Saga of Sigmar calls the comet a "dragon with two tails," similar to the term used for the comet by the Elves.[9a]

Nehekhara[]

The people of ancient Nehekhara described the comet's tail as "forked as the tongue of an asp."[1b] This might imply ties to their god Asaph.

Elves[]

The Dragon With Two Tails

The Elves call the Twin Tailed Comet the "Dragon With Two Tails."

Both the High Elves and Dark Elves know the comet by the same name in the Elven tongue, which translates into Reikspiel as the "Dragon With Two Tails." The Elves often see its coming as an omen of things to come.[7] It's unknown by what name, if any, the Wood Elves know the Dragon as, and if they have a meaning for it.

Skaven[]

The Skaven don't seem to know the Twin Tailed Comet by any particular name. Nevertheless, they too see it as an omen of things to come. [7]

Lizardmen[]

The Lizardmen know the Twin Tailed Comet as the "Forked Tongue of Sotek."[7] Its appearance means more for the children of the Old Ones than perhaps any other people of the mortal world save for the Men of the Empire. Its coming marks the rise of Sotek and the victory of the Lizardmen over the vile Skaven of Clan Pestilens in the Forgotten War over Lustria, which had been fought for centuries with a costly toll for the Lizardmen.

Chaos[]

According to the cultist Morzanna, the Twin-Tailed Comet is an ancient symbol heralding the Daemon Prince Be'lakor.[10]

Sources[]

  • 1: Nagash Immortal (Time of Legends)
    • 1a Ch. 18: "Portents of Doom"
    • 1b Ch. 17: "Preparations of War"
  • 2: Life of Sigmar (Background Book)
    • 2a pp. 9-14
  • 3: Mordheim (Rulebook)
  • 4: Warhammer Armies: Lizardmen (8th Edition)
  • 5: Warhammer Armies: Warriors of Chaos (8th Edition)
  • 6: Warhammer End Times Book I: Nagash (8th Edition)
  • 7: Total War: Warhammer II (PC Game)
  • 8: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd Edition -- Realms of Sorcery (RPG)
  • 9: Darkness Rising: A Complete History of the Storm of Chaos (Background Book)
  • 10: Gotrek and Felix - City of the Damned (Novel) by David Guymer
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