Beards coiled, tusks jutting, eyes glowing like cinders – the Helsmiths of Hashut are coming to a Mortal Realm near you.
These twisted duardin, known as the Zharrdron, are not your typical grizzled mountain folk. Fueled by a burning hatred of the Mortal Realms and the daemons that plague them, they wield the essence of Chaos itself in service of the Bullfather. Dressed in rich fabrics and gilded metals, weapons crackling with daemonfire, they are as much artisans as they are instruments of war. If you thought duardin were steadfast and honorable, think again – Hashut’s followers have warped every virtue into something dangerous and obsessive.
The Zharrdron: Duardin Corrupted by Fire and Hatred
The Helsmiths take everything virtuous about the duardin – their stoicism, their willpower, and their skill at crafting – and twist it through a lens of magma and Chaos. The courage of Fyreslayers turns to contempt, Kharadron pride becomes obsessive perfectionism and bottomless greed, and respect for tradition hardens into chains of debts and a hierarchy of tyrants. Their god, Hashut, appeared during the Age of Chaos, offering salvation through power over daemons, a terrifying alternative to the desperate Runesmith experiments of old. He promised mastery over their endless enemies and cemented his followers’ loyalty, shaping the Zharrdron into the infernal craftsmen and warlords they are today.
Daemon-Binding and the Zharralid
Central to the Helsmiths’ power is the Zharralid, a complex cuneiform of binding granted by Hashut. Only duardin possess the patience and resilience to carve the scripts correctly, with each error potentially catastrophic. The skill required elevates the Helsmiths’ ambition, and their mastery of daemonkind has allowed their mountain holds to swell with power. They rebuild their homes into baleful ziggurats, forging meticulous plans of conquest and raising armies to dominate the Mortal Realms. They focus primarily on unaligned daemons, whose lack of allegiance makes them easier to shackle and wield in battle.
Society Forged in Fire and Debt
Zharrdron society reflects this hunger for control. Their rigid hierarchies are based on oaths and obligations, known as the Wage of Toil. Apprentices labor endlessly under cruel masters for scraps of knowledge, while despots extract power from their subordinates. Rival clans trade, plot, and scheme endlessly, all seeking to climb the hierarchy. Power is extracted as thoroughly as daemons are harvested, and every level of society is intertwined in chains of debt and obligation. Their armies are composed of proud, richly adorned warriors, while disposable hobgrot mobs fight in their shadows. Daemonsmiths maintain the engines of war, crafting helforged weapons and machines that echo the bull form of Hashut. These sorceries are both a symbol of status and a reflection of their corrupt power.
Bull Centaurs, Dark Rituals, and War Engines
At the top of the Zharrdron hierarchy are the Bull Centaurs, the true children of Hashut, born amid ritual sacrifices. Whispered rumors tell of sorcerous beasts and duardin elders transformed into monstrous forms, lurking in the shadows of their ziggurats. The Helsmiths maintain trade ties with Archaon’s Everchosen, exchanging daemon-bound constructs for arcane weapons and helforged armor. Recent events, including the chaos sown by the Great Horned Rat, have accelerated their long-term plans for domination, bringing the Zharrdron into greater conflict with the wider Mortal Realms.
Final Thoughts
The Helsmiths of Hashut are an intoxicating mix of duardin skill, Chaos corruption, and daemonic power. Their obsession with control, mastery over daemons, and intricate, centuries-spanning hierarchies make them terrifying foes and fascinating characters to field in battle. The upcoming Battletome: Helsmiths of Hashut promises to detail not just their society, but how these desires for domination manifest in battle. For hobbyists and players looking for a mix of narrative depth, dark fantasy, and strategic gameplay, the Zharrdron are shaping up to be one of the most compelling duardin factions yet.
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