The Towers of Kar Athrasi
Kar Athrasi (lit. ‘Midwinter Fortress’) is located in
the eastern side of the Black Forests of Naggaroth, overlooking the Sea of Chaos from
Forbidding Coast. Its origins are lost to antiquity, and few know of its existence
now.
The fortress is nestled in the dark, shadowy woods that form the
bulk of the Black Forests, dank mists curling and seeping around the outer walls.
The three main towers of Kar Athrasi sweep high into the air in the traditional elven
style, but where beauty and grace are the hallmarks of High Elven builders, overpowering
dread and a terrible majesty have been instilled to terrifying effect. In the left
tower resides the Aviary: a place where all manner of flying creatures may alight,
messenger birds, flocks of Harpies, even mighty Black Dragons and their sinister
riders. The tower also houses the armoury, stacked full of weapons to be used
against the Witch King’s enemies. The right tower holds the barracks and
general quarters for the defenders of Kar Athrasi. Some two hundred soldiers can be
stationed there.
It is the central tower that holds the most terrible secrets
however. Within this evil heart wars are planned, awful magics are worked and bloody
sacrifices are performed to insatiable gods. The master of the fortress resides in
the central tower as do any visiting nobles. Malekith himself often visits and sits
in the open-air sacrifice chamber at the top of the tower, staring out across the
sea. Perhaps he can see the glittering shores of Ulthuan, mocking his long exile
with their beauty. Or perhaps he dreams of flights of dragons and his distant kin
dying, bathed blood and flame…
Enormous, unyielding walls surround and protect the towers.
These massive structures are double-stepped with the rear wall twice as large as the
already imposing front. Entire regiments of troops can form up along these broad
expanses, up to five ranks deep in some places! Deadly Reaper Bolt Throwers can be
stationed at regular intervals, making any kind of assault a foolhardy venture. Made
of bronze and iron, the gate is a sublime work of art, fusing images of torture and horror
as only Drucci artisans can. It is also massive, with five fully armoured Cold One Knights
able to ride abreast through the gaping portal. It is unclear as to why such a
secret place is so heavily guarded, but it is a fact that only the stupid or the terminaly
brave would risk the wrath of the Midnight Fortress.
The current master of Kar Athrasi is General Gathgrayl, personal
agent and champion of the Witch King. Malekith gifted Gathgrayl with the fortress
when Gathgrayl pledged his soul to the King of Naggaroth. Kar Athrasi now serves as
the General’s base of operations, carrying out Malekith’s clandestine plots and
furthering his ambitions of reclaiming the former homeland. The fortress is
perfectly located: hidden away from prying eyes and with supreme vantage point to launch
the inevitable invasion of Ulthuan…
Kar Athrasi is a Work in Progress by Mr B and myself Smokephoenix. What began as a
daft conversation over the Siege rulebook has now turned into a monster! The walls
are made totally out of wood and the towers are a mixture of draining pipes.
Hopefully we will be able to recreate the style of the tower from the Dark Elf army
list…hopefully!
We’ll keep sending in pics and updates and once we find the paper with the actual
measurements on (doh!) you too can start your own elven fortress!
By Gareth (Smoke Phoenix) Higgins
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