Abhorash
 This article is awesome. Do not fuck it up. |
Abhorash is fucking awesome. One of the most badass of Vampire Counts characters, if not the most badass; that title that either belongs to him, Ushoran or Vlad von Carstein. He is everything awesome about the faction distilled into one guy. When Khorne sees this guy and his exploits, he sheds a single, manly tear and yells; That is my son! and commands his Khornate followers to be like him. Read on, friends.
The Legend
Abhorash was once the champion warrior of Lahmia, and a man who held honor above all. Although he is not interested in eternal life, he serves king Lamashizzar regardless, as well as the kings' other conspirator (including the famous Ushoran and W'soran). When the cabal caught Neferata redhanded for conducting secret experiment with Arkhan, Neferata not only convinced most of the cabal with a show of her ability she obtained from her new elixir, she also grabbed hold of each member's weakness; their desires (which she was informed by Arkhan) through her charming word. Abhorash was however unwavering at Neferata's honey words, initially at least until she pointed out the champion warrior's greatest desire, which was perfection in martial prowess (one of the reason why Abhorash becomes the king's champion) and it angers him deeply.
At one point, Abhorash finished off Arkhan after he assassinated Lamashizzar with his own dragon staff (cathay gun). Being the noble warrior he is, Abhorash suggested cremation for Arkhan's cursed remain, which was of course fell on deaf ear, for Lord Ankhat had secretly arranged the corpse of Arkhan to be buried in a nameless grave on the outskirts of Lahmia.
Abhorash was also at the arena where Neferata and Khalida fought. He, being a fighting dork had suggested Nefertata to use a bronze sword over a metal sword due to its speed differences. Never the less, Neferata won with her surprised vampiric super strength and speed against her cousins.
Abhorash was noble to the point that he had to be tricked into drinking the Elixir of Damnation by Queen Neferata, and he initially refused to feed upon his own people - instead choosing to violently fight his own fury, until his thirst grew so great that he slaughtered a dozen people in a single-night orgy of violence. Upon regaining his composure, Abhorash fled out the city in shame as was never seen again. The Cabal member believe he had fled to dangerous places like the Southern Jungle where the Lizardmen as well dozens of dangerous poisons and beasts resides in order to seek death, and will return when he realized his invulnerability.
Abhorash shed manly tears for the fallen he had killed to save himself, and vowed only to prey upon bandits, raiders and other criminals - not the people of his homeland, nor the people of the homelands of Lahmia's neighbors. He attempted to convince his fellow vampires to do the same, since he worried that if they did not, it would turn the citizenry and the neighboring kingdoms against them.
Turned out, the man was fucking prophetic, because they didn't listen and guess what the fuck happened.
The evidence of Lahmia's vampiric corruption was found by Alcadizzar and a large coalition army was formed to seige Lahmia. Abhorash, despite his opposition to what the court had caused, arrived just in time to save the Vampire's asses. He remained at the forefront of Lahmia's defense, kicking massive amounts of ass, cutting down foes by the hundreds, and all the while wearing but ragged clothing and dual-wielding two giant Khopesh, not to mentioned that he PARRIED HUNDREDS OF ARROWS FLYING STRAIGHT AT HIM LIKE HE IS SOME KIND OF ULTIMATE BEING. But as powerful and peerless as he was, he was only one warrior against an endless tide of vengeful Rasetrans, Lybarans and Numasi, and Lahmia fell, burned to the ground. As the Vampires fled Lahmia, Abhorash cursed their arrogance, and set off on a self-imposed exile, bearing only his weapons and armour and accompanied only by his closest Vampire retainers. Like the other vampires, he was cursed by Nagash for the failure of the vampires to defend him to be weak to the sun, be unable to swim across running water, having no reflection, and whatever other random shit came to mind. He taught his followers that skill-at-arms and honor in combat were the only measures of greatness, and that they would feed, from this point on, only on the blood of skilled fighters, as only the unworthy fed upon the weak. They then traveled, seeking worthy foes to vanquish.
As he wandered, he gained a few followers such as Lutr, Walak and Varison the Blade. They were all turned to Vampire which they were also instructed to be a noble warrior like him, seeking great perfection in combat, being honorable as well as feeding only on the strong or the wicked.
At one point or another, Abhorash came upon the lair of a great dragon, and, against all advice, entered it, engaging the beast in battle by himself, as Abhorash was seeking a worthy foe. When the battle ended, Abhorash was triumphant, and drank deeply from the dragon's blood. To his surprise, it cured his constant thirst - he maintained his Vampiric form, and had no need to drink blood any further. At that point, Abhorash told his followers that his search had ended: He found his answer. He commanded his followers to go into the world and master the arts of combat, and seek the blood of the strongest of foes, so they too, might overcome their thirst. When they had all succeeded, then, and only then, would Abhorash call them back to him - and only then would their real war begin.
This gentlemen, is how you Lawful Evil, or possibly Lawful Neutral, as his exact goals beyond becoming the greatest warrior are left vague. The mere fact that he at least tried to be decent places him above pretty much every single Vampire except possibly Vlad and Ushoran. One has to wonder, how a fight between Abhorash and Gotrek Motherfucking Gurnisson would have ended.
GOOD NEWS EVERYONE, it seems that the end of the World could not stop the most Badass vampire that ever lived. In the novel "Neferata: Mortarch of Blood" Neferata manages to convince an old vampire in a mountain that goes by the name "Blood Dragon" to train her army, we all know who this person is and given the tendency of AoS to bring back characters from the old World is not surprising that he is back, also Nagash would be an absolute idiot to bring back Mannfred but not the most powerful vampire that ever lived.
On the Tabletop
It is notable that the Blood Dragons, who are Vampiric Knights, field-able as a Rare option for the Vampire Counts, are arguably the fucking strongest CQC unit in Warhammer Fantasy. This is a universe where Daemons exist. Be afraid. Be very fucking afraid. With high initiative, S7 on the charge standard, frenzy, 2+ armor and good weapon skill these guys are a big-ass hammer waiting to be used.
Sadly the very complex and badass Blood Knight models are $99 for a mere five models. Chances are good if you're using them, you're using as many as possible so you'll need 5+ models. Solution? Either nut up and slay the strongest motherfucker on your street to feast upon his blood so you can throw your food money at Games Workshop, or buy Bretonnian Knights at $35 for 8 and use up your leftover bitz from the rest of your Vampire Counts on them. A good compromise you can buy 5 Dragon Princes for $35, which look very similar to the Blood Knights.
With the recent anouncement of the Soulblight Gravelords, A.K.A Vampire Counts 2.0, it was revealed a new pack of Blood Knights, (giving further evidence that Abhorash is back in some form), with gorgeous new models IN PLASTIC, goodbye failcast.