The son of the God-Emperor in Warhammer Fantasy

The Dark Lands lie to the east of the World's Edge Mountains, south of the Ogre Kingdoms, and east of the Badlands. This vast plain, desolate and reeking with corruption, has been tainted by Chaos for thousands of years.

Many of the humans in the Empire's provinces were once tribes from the Dark Lands. During the Chaos invasions, these primitive tribes, unable to resist the Chaos demons, were either annihilated or forced into submission. Some chose to flee westward, guided by the divine prophecies of Ulric, the Wolf God, and Taal, the King of the Old World gods. They crossed the World's Edge Mountains and settled in what is now the Empire. Notably, the people of Talabecland and Middenland are descendants of these Dark Lands tribes. Ulric used his giant axe to carve out a plateau in the mountains for his followers to build their main temple, known as the Grand Temple of Ulric in Middenheim. Similarly, Taal selected Talabheim as the home for these humans.

These humans endured great hardships during their migration, and it was during this time that the dwarfs first encountered humans. The High King of Karaz-a-Karak was displeased, feeling that these inferior races should pay proper respect to the dwarfs and recorded their transgressions in the Book of Grudges. Nevertheless, the dwarfs allowed the fleeing human tribes to cross the mountains, shielding them from pursuers, including Beastmen, Greenskins, and Ogres.

The birth of the Chaos Dwarfs predates the migration of the Dark Lands human tribes by a millennium. Previously discussed, a group of stubborn dwarf pioneers refused to leave the Dark Lands. Trapped in this corrupted land by the tectonic shifts caused by the Slann, they lost contact with the dwarfs of the World's Edge Mountains.

Dwarfs are known for their strong resistance to Chaos corruption. Faced with the severe corruption of the Dark Lands, they endured, and as the corruption continued for over a thousand years, they doubled their efforts, praying for redemption from the three main Dwarf gods. But there was a limit to their endurance. Over the long years, the three Dwarf gods gave no more signs to these desperate dwarfs. In their agony, a new deity appeared before them—a giant blood-red bull claiming to be "The Father of Darkness," Hashut, a minor Chaos god.

Thus, through unknown processes, the dwarfs of the Dark Lands became the Chaos Dwarfs.

Over millennia, as a reward for their sacrifices, faith, and offerings, Hashut bestowed upon the Chaos Dwarfs the secrets of Chaos power.

Now, Tamu Khan and his Chaos army had reached the vicinity of the Blackwater River. Just across it lay the realm of the Chaos Dwarfs.

By this time, Tamu Khan's forces, starting from the Kurgan steppes, had dwindled to less than eighty thousand. However, numerous Beastmen, giants, and Ogres had continuously joined along the way. Despite their grotesque and indescribable forms, his forces still numbered over a hundred thousand.

Amid the foul stench of Chaos, the Maggot King's army camped along the river, foraging for food in the wilderness. The starving Chaos marauders and Plague Ogres began devouring Chaos spawn eggs, and Tamu Khan was helpless to stop them. As a champion of Nurgle, he only commanded those blessed by Nurgle—champions and warriors of Nurgle.

The only one capable of commanding the entire Chaos army was a Chaos Everchosen blessed by all four Chaos gods.

Thus, as the army faced supply and river-crossing issues, forced to camp for the winter, allowing marauders, Beastmen, Ogres, and trolls to forage freely, chaos reigned. Tamu Khan had to promise a quick river crossing and loudly declared he had received a divine oracle from Father Nurgle. He announced a grand sacrificial ceremony to appease the Chaos army, temporarily quelling the unrest. The Kurgan warriors, displeased at not spreading Nurgle's glory across the land, balanced their discontent with the honor to come.

After a massive sacrifice, Tamu Khan underwent further changes. Now resembling a festering mass of pus, emitting a foul stench, hundreds of mosquitoes and maggots swarmed his rotting body. His organs exposed and oozing grease, his followers had to tie his body with ropes and armor plates to prevent disintegration. A crown of pus-covered sores adorned his head, crowned by a twisted horn.

The Chaos leader gazed at the black fortress in the distance. The Chaos Dwarf stronghold, a fortress of obsidian, stabbed into the smoke-filled sky. Located in the southeast of the Chaos Dwarf realm, the Black Fortress was a magnificent sight. Built on a highland of black volcanic rock, the jagged castle seemed to welcome the approaching Chaos army.

At this moment, the Chaos Dwarf warlord, Sorcerer-Prophet Drazhoath the Ashen, had his Chaos Dwarf army ready for battle.

For a thousand years, the Black Fortress had stood as a prominent landmark and vital defensive point in the eastern Chaos Dwarf realm. Centuries of rule under the powerful spellcaster Drazhoath the Ashen saw him rise from exile to fortress master and Chaos Dwarf leader through cunning and ambition.

A fearsome warrior and sorcerer, he rode a terrifying Bale Taurus named Cinderbreath, leading his troops with death and fire. Hearing of the approaching Chaos army, Drazhoath prepared for war. Along the riverbank where the Chaos army would cross, his Chaos Dwarf army stood ready. The elite Infernal Guard formed the core.

These Infernal Guards were the strongest Chaos Dwarf warriors, comprised of those who had suffered dishonor or defeat. Such shame was unbearable for the proud Chaos Dwarfs, who severed ties with their past by donning searing iron or bronze masks. They fought countless monsters in the wastelands, becoming Infernal Guards, wielding Infernal Axes and Fireglaives.

Slightly weaker Ironsworn and Fireglaive units guarded Drazhoath's front, rows of dark gun barrels aimed at the approaching Chaos army. The Chaos Dwarf line also bristled with nameless war machines, dozens of Magma Cannons and Dreadquake Mortars, with several Hellcannons pointed skyward.

Moreover, there were a vast number of slave auxiliaries.

Facing Tamu Khan's army, Drazhoath understood he was up against over a hundred thousand Chaos troops while his forces, excluding slave auxiliaries, barely numbered over ten thousand. Winning seemed a remote possibility, heralding an unprecedented brutal battle with no forewarning.

Nonetheless, Drazhoath had no intention of surrendering or negotiating. Whether Dwarfs or Chaos Dwarfs, their stubborn nature would not allow retreat or surrender. Against Tamu Khan's overwhelming force, the Chaos Dwarfs' morale soared. They would fight to the death to defend their fortress and the land of the Father of Darkness, Hashut!

Though sacrifice and destruction were inevitable, and the fortress might fall, Drazhoath resolved to fight, for the glory and gifts of Hashut must not be defiled.

Thus, a fierce battle erupted on the banks of the Blackwater River between the Chaos Dwarfs and Tamu Khan's Chaos army.

At the outset, Tamu Khan ordered an all-out attack. The yellow-green Chaos army waded across the river's shallow banks, charging the forces of Hashut. The Chaos Dwarfs retaliated with arrows and cannon fire, a hail of projectiles pelting the attackers. Strange ammunition flew from the Chaos Dwarfs into the enemy lines, exploding with thunderous roars, turning warriors and beasts into burning shreds.

The Chaos army turned into a sea of fire. Thousands of Chaos Dwarf firearms and cannons nearly reversed the river's flow with their power. Thousands of Chaos troops fell in the initial charge. The Chaos Dwarfs' demonic firepower contained explosive energy. As tough as their mountain kin, the Chaos Dwarfs repelled the Chaos vanguard with ease.

However, after twenty or thirty minutes, the Chaos Dwarfs' pressure grew. Outnumbered, they were soon engulfed by the Chaos horde. Tamu Khan's calm order to press the attack led to numerical dominance. After several volleys, the Chaos Dwarfs faced close combat.

Nurgle's Chaos warriors excelled, their slow speed countered by their resilience. Mortal wounds did not stop them, blessed by Father Nurgle. They charged the enemy lines, engaging in fierce melee, forcing the Chaos Dwarf gunners into close combat.

Meanwhile, Chaos Dragon Knight Ochbar-Guts led an aerial force and Chaos Knights to flank the Chaos Dwarf lines, cutting off their supply routes. Tamu Khan accurately predicted the Chaos Dwarfs' slow movement and their inability to protect their logistics under frontal pressure.

Ochbar-Guts intercepted the Chaos Dwarf supply units, charging and pursuing fleeing enemies, successfully disrupting their supply lines. The mighty war machines, cannons, and firearms of the Chaos Dwarfs could no longer be resupplied.

Chaos Dwarf firepower weakened. Worse, they had expended much ammunition against Chaos Spawn, Chaos Trolls, and Chaos Ogres.

The Blackwater River's banks turned into a slaughterhouse. Though Tamu Khan's forces had a clear advantage, the Chaos Dwarfs had no intention of retreating. Shouting the name of Hashut, they fought on, filling gaps in their lines.

Amidst the black smoke and blood, Chaos warriors cried out for Nurgle and glory, joining the fray. Thousands of Kurgan falling didn't stop them, using their blood to

 carve a path to glory for Tamu Khan and Father Nurgle.

The battle raged from morning to noon.

Amid the chaos, Tamu Khan signaled to Sai the Faithless, issuing an order through his rotting, pus-filled throat, "Sai, deploy them."

Sai gripped his staff, frowning, "Are you sure?"

"I said deploy them immediately!" Tamu Khan shouted, "Now!"

Sai glared at the Maggot King, a mass of decay, "You…"

"Now! Or you go." Tamu Khan was firm.

Sai was furious, reluctant to deploy his trump card, but the situation was dire. The High Sorcerer of the Dawrkan tribe finally agreed.

"Deploy the War Mammoth Brigade!"

"Deploy the War Mammoth Brigade!"

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