Stormcast Eternals

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The Ultramarines vs the World Eaters-...ohh wait, wrong game.

"To punish the oppressors of humanity is clemency; to forgive them is cruelty."

– Maximilien Robespierre

"Much is demanded of those to who much is given."

– Stormcast Saying

The Stormcast Eternals (sometimes also referred to also as Stormcunt Eternals, Ground Marines, Sigmarines, Stormfront Eternals and Fantasy Marines) are the primary type of soldiers used by Sigmar in order to fight Chaos during the Age of Sigmar, and thus are the posterboys of the new line.

Fans of Warhammer consider them something akin to space marines given the similarities existing between their fluffs (An elite military force of engineered super-soldiers, personally designed by a god-ruler to be his warriors to combat unfathomably terrifying Lovecraftian horrors that normal men would simply despair at.) and model design (Namely thick/all-enclosing armor with huge pauldrons; Because any god ruler knows that the size of one's pauldrons is directly proportional to how awesome they are.), often using the term "Sigmarines" to refer to them. Additionally, given their non-spaceborne nature, they can also be hilariously referred to as "Ground Marines". Two more strikes for (or against, depending on your view) them are the fact that some of them have crossbows that resemble bolters and the winged ones resemble some of the Blood Angels models. Lovingly/ Despisingly referred to by some, as the Adeptus Sigmartes

What are the Stormcast Eternals?

We're back, bitches.

"THEY ARE THE GROUND FANTASY MARINES!!!!!!!!!" Also, lightning hammers and thunder axes - "precursors" to lightning claws and thunder hammers.

They are made from exceptional mortal heroes taken away at the time of their death or the height of their power by the God-King Sigmar and infused with his own Divine Essence and given fancy new weapons and armour made of Sigmarite. The universal trait to all the Eternals is that they opposed Chaos whenever it appeared, though certain chambers work on minor details like faith or vengeance.

Currently there is no evidence on whether or not there are non-human Stormcast Eternals, maybe the aelfs and duardin gods don't like Sigmar taking their people's souls, or perhaps Sigmar gives priority to humans, after all, he is in a way human too, it should also be noted that all Stormcast Eternals have the human keyword, The only named characters presented so far were originally male humans, for example, it turns out the one everyone thought was a skeleton was a Prince that came from the same place as Tarsus Bullheart, on the other hand, there is a story where Sigmar cries over the fact he couldn't save a warrior maiden from getting tortured and killed by the forces of Chaos as he still hadn't completed the teleporting device which allows him to take away potential candidates for Reforging.

UPDATE: in Godbeasts it is stated that the entire Household of the Royal Victrians were spirited away and turned into Stormcast eternals, quoting it: "Reforging every man and woman into Stormcast Eternals", there you go.

Hey Games Workshop, we know you read this wiki too, we want non-human (I mean, unless you wanna mess with keywords...) and/or non-male Stormcast Eternals too! Maybe we could use female Stormcast Eternals as Sisters of Battle proxies, or vice versa, whatever happens first... hold the phone, looks like they've actually given us one! Wait no it's two now!

Considering that the process of making a Stormcast is more mystical than any genetic modifications and that the person in question will still remember who they were before the Reforging, it is still possible that any non-Chaos mortal could become one, and there is even a former Chaos Champion of Nurgle that Sigmar smiled into becoming his own Champion. The only real specific that is considered is that the inhabitants of the Realm of Death tend to become Lord-Relictors, who are able to see the spirits and thus are able to anchor his kin to Sigmar's Realm of Azyr.

That said, however, the Eternal part of their name is rather relative: Their souls are constantly coveted by Nagash because he considers anything dead as his, and the supply of Sigmarite is technically limited as it's basically the core of the old Warhammer world. Of course this is still a lot, since Sigmar gets this mineral from the core of the World-That-Was and this was probably the same size as our own Earth, that means there is potentially up to 7 billion cubic kilometers of raw sigmarite and in all honestly Sigmar (and his benevolent benefactors Games Workshop) could probably find more if he had too. Still, each reforging takes supplies and more of the Stormcast's memories, feelings and general personality is lost (a time may come for Sigmar to have a nice little chat with Nagash about the issue).

Aside from stomping Chaos, their main goal is uncovering the Realmgates: Portals to other Realms. By securing them, they gain another route back to Azyr or to any of the other realms, so a small retinue of Stormcasts has to stay behind to guard it, until the Freeguilds (old Empire models, now a unified army) can secure land and begin to rebuild.

Angharad Brightshield. She may not have the same prodigious gut as her sword (hammer?) brothers but she's still bigger and more immortal than you are. Thank you, GW!

Aside from all that, Stormcasts aren't actually all that holy or magical when it comes down to it; they are about as powerful physically as a Chaos Warrior, aside from the "cannot completely die" thing and due being infused with the magic of Azyr they have considerable immunity to any corrupting magical force, but can still be zapped by normal Chaos magic if strong enough. Unlike Chaos Warriors, who are fanatically devoted to Chaos and often outright insane, Stormcasts are still very much human, or whatever race they were before. And while their main portrait is of honourable warriors they still need to eat, to sleep (although, like the space marines, they can endure far more than common mortals) and have desires as anyone else (and again, the function of their peepee or vagoo hasn't been expounded on, so perhaps they can still get it on). Unlike some Chaos Warriors their armour and faceplate can be removed, although they seem comfortable wearing them to not to need to remove them for weeks on. Another trait of the Stormcasts is that not all of them were warriors during their mortal lives, instead all of them chose to make a stand against Chaos, from a general or a king to a smith, a philosopher, a baker, a housewife, a farmer or even a beggar, they faced the forces of the Dark Gods in doomed fights and were found worthy by Sigmar. They are also able to have normal lives because they are allowed to not be on permanent service, so they can gain political and herarchy positions, as well as highly entrusted professions, and hang around with mortal friends and even their descendants.

Stormcasts see themselves as saviours first of all, trying to defend others successfully, when they had failed to do so in the past. That said, some have a tendency to get lost in revenge, seeing only the destruction of Chaos as a viable way of atoning for past transgressions. One Celestant (general) in a recent novel brooded over the fact that his entire tribe was wiped, because he didn't have the strength to beat the Chaos Sorceress who did it, thinking only manly unfeeling Batman-esque brooding would make up for it. His fellow Celestant wasn't convinced, thinking that the fear of losing, and the grieve and loss he feels should be his drive. Another Stormcast make a point to remember that most of the Chaos forces they fight only follow chaos because the Chaos Gods are all they have ever known and attempts to redeem them should be made. So at least they have different ways of thinking, which is cool. Hopefully, they won't become so /d/ivergent that Chaos can better manipulate them.

Apparently, if a Stormcast loses a piece of equipment, it isn't regenerated with them (Sigmar's teleportation magic is not absolutely infallible), so many Stormcast seeks out their old nemesis to get their things back. An Orruk Warboss cheerily mentioned taking the head of a Stormcast clean off and showing it on his back banner out of respect, knowing the 'Cast would get back at him to fight again.

TL;DR Stormcast Eternals are magical Necron bro-tier Space Marines with emotions. Better yet, they have a few similarities to Rubric Marines (you know? the whole possessed armor automaton shenanigan?) only with less grimdark and more free will and actual flesh.

Rank and Military

When each mortal is reforged, they are immediately put into a strenuous training ritual meant to hone them into superhuman hammer-swinging engines of holy war. Once the big man is satisfied, he then groups them into Stormhosts, the equivalents of Space Marine Legions, and there they train with each other in a massive coliseum that Malerion gifted him back when there was an alliance. These stormhosts are then broken into Chambers (Chapters) with each having several conclaves organized by specialty.

Each Host is lead by a Chamber Command, who governs each individual lesser Hosts, of which there are between 3 to 9 Retinues (squads), each with between 6 to 20 Stormcasts. For example, the Hammers of Sigmar Chamber has 301 Stormcasts of 7 Commanders, 36 Paladins, 180 Liberators, 18 Prosecutors (yep; half as many jumpies as elites) and 60 Judicators.

• Chamber Command:
  • Lords Celestant: The top dogs in the chambers, these are the mightiest of heroes among the Chambers, gifted a larger portion of Sigmar's power in order to become great leaders. Some opt to fun with hammers and swords, while other find Dracoths (Large wingless dragons that shoot lightning) to ride like horses or Stardrakes (Even larger dragons with wings that can also cause meteor showers).
  • Lords Relictor: These guys are priests, and are able to see the spiritual realm and all the spooky souls that swirl around in it. Their job is to use their skeletal relics to anchor the Stormcasts to Azyr so their souls don't accidentally end up as Daemon chow or part of Nagash's kingdom of skellingtons.
  • Lords Castellant: These guys are support-based, their tests involving conquering their fears. If successful, they get a pet Gryph-hound and a special warding lantern that illuminates his fellow Sigmarines and incinerates Chaos.
  • Knights Heraldor: These guys have giant horns that shoot lightning. Because STORMS. Their helmets are weirdly segmented around the mouths; assumed so the warrior inside can actually blow the fucking horn.
  • Knights Vexillor: Unlike the other jobs, these guys are actually chosen in a contest. A shitton of Stormcasts enter the Coliseum, smack each other to not-quite death (The Coliseum makes sure everyone leaves refreshed because... Malerion didn't have a mood swing when he made it. Or did he, recent lore states that he actully has treacherous intentions towards Sigmar and his Coliseum has a sinister purpose). The winner gets to hold an awesome standard, or a big plate with a glowing orb on it that can be used to throw around fuckin' comets.
  • Knights Azyros: The closets thing to Scout Leaders, these guys have lanterns to help illuminate the realms so Sigmar can see all the way from his palace. Also, the lanterns burn chaos.
  • Knights Venator: Shootier flying Sigmarines, these guys are master archers with magical arrows and own pet Star-Eagles Articunos. One of their Stormsurgeboltthunderblowsuperarrows can kill almost any regular leader character in one shot.

• Redeemer Conclave.
  • Liberators: The ground-floor. The goons. The average Liberator is a walking tank, capable of wielding either melee weapons or shields to protect his pals from anything deadlier. They use either swords or hammers, sometimes dual wielded, or Granhammers and Grandblades. ( Bigger versions of the usual Hammers and Swords ) They also like to fuck up big monsters and villains something fierce.

• Justicar Conclave.
  • Judicators: Warriors skilled with both sword and bow who put to use their uncanny shooting ability in the ranks of the Justicar conclave. They wield devastating long-range weaponry ( Skybolt Bows or Boltstorm Crossbows). Some even get luckier and get a mega-bow that fires thunderbolts. THE BOWS ARE MAGIC! YEEEEEEEEEEAH!!!! They also hit Chaos-stuff better, because fuck those guys amirite

• Angelos Conclave.
  • Prosecutors: They're like Liberators, but they got wings. They tend to spearhead the assault with their speed, throwing either magical reforging hammers or magical reforging spears. Or they could just smash with hammer and sword weapons. Like the Liberators, they can wield big-ass weapons like two-handed axes or war hammers.

• Paladin Conclave.
  • Retributors: Massive piles of Sigmarite who serve in the Paladin Chambers. These guys carry massive hammers to squash things, which has Rending +1 which can completely remove everything not a leader or monster in a turn. These guys love to pummel anything with more than one Wound, since they do two Damage standard, and can turn that into Mortal Wounds. There's really not something these motherfuckers can't do. Well okay, they don't stand up to high Rend or MW shooting, but then again that's an SE problem in general.
  • Protectors: Despite the name, these Paladins only wield glaives. Glaives that are actually capable of generating magical force fields, and cut down big-ass monsters, should they get close. They are also very, very long range, so put them behind a Liberator wall and skewer that Mawkrusha something fierce while the goons get slaughtered.
  • Decimators: Paladins with fuck huge axes, these things are made to make sweet murder out of hordes. These guys have a massive range on their axes, which is important - because they each get as many attacks as they have enemies within range - because fuck Reaver Hordes amirite. They are also very scary, so people take more heavy Battleshock casualties. Don't try to axe the knee of a Monster or Hero, though; with only one attack, their axes are laughably weak.

• Extremis Chamber
  • Drakesworn Templars: Usually a second-in-command for a Lord-Celestant, a Templar is one of those few fortunate Sigmarines to encounter a Stardrake. Their loadout is more versatile.
  • Fulminators: Paladin Protectors on Dracoths.
  • Concussors: Paladin Retributors on Dracoths.
  • Desolators: Paladin Decimators on Dracoths, same as the rest.
  • Tempestors: Paladins with crossbows riding Dracoths.

• Vanguard Chamber
  • Lords Aquilor: Paladins on Gryph-Chargers (giant wingless hippogryph-things)
  • Vanguard Hunters: Liberators with small crossbows.
  • Vanguard Raptors: Elite Sharpshooters with Longstirke Bows or Hurricane Crossbows (Elite Versions of Judicators). They also have aether-wings to bite and harass the enemies
  • Vanguard Palladors: Liberators on Gryph-Chargers.

Notable Stormhosts

• Hammers of Sigmar: The first Stormhost. They wield Blue and Gold and pride themselves on being the posterboys of AoS. They have no personality, as usual.
• Hallowed Knights: The fourth Stormhost. They wear silver and blue and are pretty zealous about killing Chaos. They're known for their DETERMINATION and incredible faith in Sigmar, making them the ideal choice for jobs like wading through Nurgle's horrifying and disgusting kingdoms despite all the filth and plagues that pollute the lands. This Stormhost is in general one of the more popular Hosts, with their metal armors and very faith-based culture. Also, have a cool battle cry.
• Celestial Vindicators: The Sixth Stormhost . They're vengeful motherfuckers who declared vengeance back as mortals and thus are united by their grudges. Their armour is turquoise, so the blood reaaaaally stands out. They also tend to kick it with the duardin, so that's pretty cool. Also, they have a sword fetish.
• Celestial Knights: A Stormhost that is on a constant crusade to bring the light of Sigmar to all benighted lands. Pretty much these guys.
• Lions of Sigmar: Rocking the bronze gold and purple look there is little-known about this Stormhost save for their heraldry and thunderous roar in battle. Most people auto-assume "Dark Angels" from hearing the word Lion, though the connection is iffy. The Dangles weren't the only chapter to keep to themselves to that degree.
• Knights of the Aurora: This Stormhost are claimed to strike more quickly and are masters of rapid assault and sporting the white armour with green and gold trimmings and has the need for speed.
• Knights Excelsior: This Stormhost run around in white armour with gold trimmings, not unlike the Knights of the Aurora but without the green. These guys are said to have built up a fierce reputation for totally massacring their enemies so brutally that even other Stormhosts think its a bit excessive. Their claim to fame is that they stepped up to bail the Hallowed Knights out when a Lord of Plagues was about to capture Alarielle, with their Knight-Azyros, a pretty fly badass called Diomar, personally charging the powerful Nurgle lord. They have a massive hard-on for Order and see most attempts at individuality or freedom as dangerously Chaotic. Recently featured in the Malign Portents short story collection massacring unwell civilians in their attempt to instil uncompromising authority in the Realm of Life, despite the fact these civilians were loyal to Sigmar in the first place.
• Astral Templars: If you're tired of holy knights, go no further; these fuckers have taken to like it in the Realm of Ghur, and has become one with the beasts. Their color is purple, and their armor is adorned with pelts, bloody markings and other tribal stuff. The Space Wolves to the Hammer's Ultramarines, but with less wolfs and more barbarians.
• Tempest Lords: Donning the Ultramarine blue with an addition of white shields and shoulders are the Tempest Lords. They're described as the most regal and proud Stormhost, probably because every single one of these guys was a monarch, lord, or other such noble before being chosen by Sigmar. Despite this, they're actually pretty baller and down to earth guys, being perhaps the most selfless of all the Stormhosts, flat-out seeing it as their duty to protect those less fortunate than themselves (which is basically everyone,) often inspiring downtrodden mortal tribes to break their chains and fight Chaos alongside the Tempest Lords. They're also pretty literal it seems, because Sigmar once joked that the Stormcast were each worth twelve mortal men in a fight and since then the Tempest Lords have kept count of how many kills they score before dying, taking it as a massive personal disgrace if they don't reach twelve kills. That said, they do a pretty damn good job of reaching that score, leaving them as one of the hardest Stormhosts to kill simply due to their sheer pride refusing to let them die.
• Anvils of the Heldenhammer The Anvils of the Heldenhammer are a Stormhost of the Stormcast Eternals, wearing black armor. The warriors of the Anvils of the Heldenhammer are dark and brooding, as their Reforging came as the Broken World spun sinister under a magical gloom.

Notable Fan-created Stormhosts

Help us expand this list:

• Forgesworn Eternals: A Duardin Stormhost wearing silver and red.

• Wardens of the Ember: A Stormhost composed of mortals who died standing firm against the most insurmountable Chaos incursions. Former priests cut down mid-prayer, standard bearers who fought and died rather than abandon their colours, musicians who played songs of hope until their very last breath - stoutness of heart is often more important than strength of sword-arm in deciding whether a mortal is bound to this Stormhost. They wear grey armour with black and orange trim, and are notably more jovial than other Stormhosts; it is not uncommon to hear rousing speeches and booming laughter as these heroes urge their mortal comrades onwards.

Notable Stormcasts

• The Celestant-Prime: The alpha, the first Eternal ever forged by Sigmar. It's unknown just who he might be, but it's said he was a mighty king from the past (making people immediately guess either Settra, or Karl Franz). Despite how much power he put into it, the process was still incomplete, so Sigmar decided to put him in a chamber to preserve the project because he spent too much as it is. However, once he recovered Ghal Maraz, he was able to finish the process and get a giant golden angel to join the ranks.
• Vandus Hammerhand: The first named hero among the Eternals, a Lord-Celestant of the Hammers of Sigmar who rides a Dracoth. Apparently, he once fought off against a Khornate Lord known as Korghos Khul as a mortal and almost died before being forged, and instead became a giant gold-plated badass instead of just a human one. He's considered the hero of the Starter Set and is responsible for finding Ghal Maraz. Also, he was the first one to tame a Dracoth.

• Neave Blacktalon: The first female stormcast released for the setting. Neave Blacktalon is basically an eversor with tits, with the mentality of a vindicare.

• Gardus Steelsoul: The best (by fan-view, not author fiat) of the Lord Celestants. What makes Gardus great is that he was no great lord, but a common man. Born Garradan, he was a hospice worker (a doctor for young uns) in the port city of Demesnus. When the forces of chaos invaded the city, he worked tirelessly to heal the defenders, spending whole nights without sleep. As the forces of Khorne shattered the walls and attacked the hospital the tired hospice worker took a chandelier (showing brass balls in the process) and tried to save his patients with good old ultra violence. The rest... is history.

• Thostos Bladestorm: Footslogging Lord Celestant of the Celestial Vindicators. Impulsive jackass. Died a couple of times so now Nagash has part of his soul, he still wants to give Chaos a beating. During a recent battle with a Chaos Lord Varash, Thostos was hit with extremely powerful lighting bolt which triggered a powerful reforging and the results of it was the return of his memories, emotions and a name he once was - Prince Caeran of Wolf Keep (this happening is more proof of Nagash being made of much fail, seriously, how did this ever happen?). Apparently he is now the first Stormcast to be renewed, healed and with fresh purpose but not the last. In the final days of the Realmgate Wars he fought in the Battle for the All-Gates and crossed blades with Archaon, it went as well as you'd expect it to and Thostos is officially lost forever.

• Tarsus Bullheart: Footslogging Lord Celestant of the Hallowed Knights, leader of a warrior chamber named after him and protagonist of the Realmgate Wars audiobooks. Broody guy who's obsessed with duty and lets his hammer do the talking for him. (SPOILERS AHEAD): Once a human from the realm of Shyish called Tarsem, he lived in a place called Helstone. During the Age of Chaos he fought alongside Mannfred Von Carstein but, Manfred being Manfred, Manfred abandoned them to save his own skin and Tarsem was taken by Sigmar and reforged. Now the Stormcast Tarsus, Sigmar sends him and some of his warriors to the realm of Shyish to find Nagash and parley. Along the way they find Manfred, now a prisoner of the Khornates. They free him in exchange for his guidance and assistance in finding Nagash. After entering the underworld and an incident with the doorman, Arkhan, Nagash appears before them. This goes as well as you'd expect. After being flung across the chamber, Tarsus attacked Nagash to distract him in a successful last-ditch attempt to free the slain Stormcast Eternals' souls from Nagash's clutches. Tarsus was then killed by a VERY pissed off Nagash, who captured his soul and planned to torture as many of Sigmar's secrets from him as he could.

• Ramus of the Shadowed Soul: Lord-Relictor of the Bullhearts warrior chamber and protagonist of the second set of Realmgate Wars audio-dramas. Once voice of reason to Tarsus and completely trusting in Sigmar and his grand plan, after Tarsus was lost to Nagash Ramus has been pressing for a mission to rescue his soul, despite the fact that at the moment Nagash and Sigmar are allies. The other Hallowed Knights are trying to get him to leave it alone and trust in Sigmar, but he hasn't been able to thus far. With Malign Portents pretty much destroying any alliance between Sigmar and Nagash, Ramus might just get his chance to rescue Tarsus after all.

• Tornus the Redeemed: Once known as Torglug the Despised, servant of Nurgle and Lord of Plagues, his soul was redeemed by Sigmar at the height of the last battle at Blackstone Summit in the realm of Ghyran when killed by Ghal Maraz in the hands of the Celestant-Prime. During his brief life as a mortal, Tornus was a righteous believer in Sigmar and his faith was unmatched by those that fought with him during the Age of Chaos against the nurgle invaders. At some point he was captured and left in a pit of filth and due to his stubbornness, faith and pride lived for many weeks only to succumb to the lies that Nurgle spoke to him during those months of captivity. Even then his soul, although corrupted and twisted, held out a spark of hope that his faith in Sigmar was not a lie and was rewarded with a chance for redemption as a Knight-Venator in services of the Hallowed Knights, this is so far as we know the first comeback from Chaos ever done in any of GeeDubs franchises.

• Hamilcar Bear-Eater: Astral Templars' Lord Castellant turned Knight-Questor. Hamilcar is, to put it short, a lovely braggart, claiming even Sigmar was impressed the result of his stormcasting, also, it seems like he has an uncanny resemblance with the God-King. Currently he's on a hunt for Mannfred Von Carstein over backstabbing Tarsus. Got his own series by his creator David Guymer! Did we mention he beat a gatling-gun-armed skaven killakan while under sniper fire?

• Steelheart's Champions: A Liberator Prime and his two flatmates who went into Shadespire to get a cure for the Reforging issues that plague the Stormcasts, but never made it out. The Champions are Obryn the Bold, a massive dude who's into his third Reforging and has become silent and brooding as a result, and Angharad Brightshield, a female Liberator and former smith who took to smashing in faces with hammers instead of smashing swords and metal.

Gallery

• 

  Compare and contrast.

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  GROUND MARINES! CHARGE!

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  Only thing missing are pseudo-bolters and they're officially Sigmarines, then you remember that they do.

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  This looks oddly familiar.

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  Ground Marine Assault Squads.

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  In the grim darkness of the far past, there is only war.

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  Ground Marines vs Chaos Ground Marines.

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  Victory for the God Empero-..err, God-King of man!

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  A Ground Marine Lord Relictor.

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  The venerable Lord Celestant Boreale, giving one of his glorious speeches.

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  One of these is not like the others...

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  You can now have your canonical Stormcast waifu, drawn by one Kinmonon.

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  Isn't it great that unlike Emprah Sigmar has no problems allowing girls in his elite forces?

See Also

• Tactics/Stormcast Eternals
• Space Marines - Their 40K counterparts. Compare and contrast.
• A quick overview on the stormcast eternals
• Birth of the Stormcast Eternals