The Stormcast of Harmonia
The Stormcast of Harmonia:
Many of the Stormcast Eternals that have ended up in the Interstice now rally themselves as being part of Harmonia. Their origins were not of one Stormhost, but an amalgamation of warbands, hunting parties, retinues and other groups that have ended up in the Interstice in one way or another. They form together in hopes of understanding this realm better and to survive its challenges.
Eternals Made Mortal:
Stormcast that emerged in the Interstice were brought here by random chance and was generally an unwanted outcome. The first war parties to arrive had no idea what their presence in the interstice meant and unfortunately for some, it wasn't until it was too late that they realized that they were unable to return to Azyr. The ravages of the land ate away at them and the first few to succumb died like any other mortal being, much to the surprise and consternation of their brethren. There was no thunder to summon their souls back to Azyr to be reforged. There was no redemption in bravely fighting off a shadow-beast or a chaos abomination. Only death. And to beings that have tasted something so close to immortality, the looming threat of death was unsettling.
"Arnaeus wept for days over his fallen brother. While they shared no blood relation, they had fought side-by-side for decades, reforged together many times over. They had bled for each other and died for each other time and time again. They were more family to each other than anything else in all their past lives. To suddenly lose his brother to a simple fever seemed surreal. He stopped eating in his grief and he too passed shortly thereafter."The Soul Burn and Harmonite: It wasn't enough the lands took their toll on the Stormcast, but their very soul seemed to drain away as time passed. Their spirit grew weak over time, wounds took longer to heal and their once demi-god like features faded into nothing but a weak glimmer of their former selves. They could feel a great burning within the depths of their mind and body that sapped away at their will and strength. Many questioned if a plague had been beset upon them and despair burned through the ranks like a wild fire. It wasn't until Devon Wyrdsmith came across a curious gemstone that a temporary solution could be found. While traversing across the Emerald Spine that borders the Beastlands and the Lush, he discovered a deposit of Cyclestone as well as Bones of Amber. Where the two veins met, they merged together to form a brittle crystal of light gold colour. From his scholarly pursuits, he had read multiple alchemical accounts of combining realm stone but never with such a reaction. He reached to collect a sample of it and as he did so, he could feel the effects of the Soul Burn dissipate and a sense of euphoria wash over him. While small in amount, he collected what he could and distributed it to those most grievously affected by the Burn and the effects of it were miraculous. As time passed on, it was noted that the same crystalline substance would be found where any pair of realmstone deposits interacted with each other. The resulting harmonious union created a new substance, one which could help sustain the Stormcast in their struggle: Harmonite. It cured and staved off the effects of the Soul Burn, but also healed their wounds and restored (and in some cases amplified) their strength and power. Most prominently in those with arcane predilections. A Search for Respite: The rallied bands of Stormcast lived like nomads for years, living off the land in a desperate bid for survival. They moved constantly as the inhospitable landscapes made settling difficult. The few times they met with other surviving groups of people, they were turned away as their very presence brought a sense of deep forboding and dread around them. Initially emerging in the Pyrelands, the raging fires and the alarming amount of chaos tribes present made it impossible to stay. They journeyed towards the Beastlands, only to find monstrous creatures hounding their every step. They found little solace in these hostile lands of constant threat. It was not until Mortred Magistar and his party discovered an abandoned settlement in the region of the Ghyran Lush that they could establish some semblance of civilization. An abandoned and haunting city that had its fair share of secrets within its empty shell. Magic coursed through the very stonework of its foundation and the walls were enchanted with eldritch sigils that kept prowling aetherbeasts at bay. It was a welcome reprieve from the long marches and makeshift camps that his forces had to endure since arriving on this plane. Finally they could establish a base of operations while they attempted to figure out the landscape. As time passed and the city was slowly rebuilt for purpose, others joined, seeking shelter from the ever dangerous and magically malign pseudo-realm. Harmonia rose as a bastion of hope amongst the lost in the Interstice. The Comet of Lasair: Obtaining the soul of a blink beast, they were able to infuse it's powers into an ancient comet buried deep within Harmonia's underground caverns. This comet was suffused with the power of Azyr and with months of hard work and cryptic runic etchings, they finally pulled it from the ground, sending it in a blaze of lightning across the sky. Though their eternal souls are not able to return to Azyr to be reforged upon the anvil of apotheosis, this comet would be able to at least recall them back to Harmonia so that they may be reconstructed and healed so that they may live to fight again once more. Though far from perfect, it serves their first step in establishing themselves in this realm. The Legions of Harmonia: The Crimson Aegis: The stormcast of the Crimson Aegis make up the defensive bulwark of Harmonia. With great crimson tower shields in hand, the liberators, executors and sequitors of the stormcast hold back the destructive forces of the interstice from consuming Harmonia. Under the command of Lord Celestant Mortred Magistar, they are tasked with expanding the immediate borders of Harmonia as well as pushing back against any enemy incursions. They are the thin red line that separates the civilization they've created and the powers of ruination beyond their borders. Of course, in times of trouble they are also called upon for campaigns across the realm, their stoic shield-walls pushing ever onwards to victory. Lord Celestant Kade Stormfury leads most of the offensive campaigns, ever eager to push back against the forces of chaos, death and destruction. He commands the Executors on long crusades to strike against those that have committed atrocities and need to be brought to justice. The Order of Holy Harmonia: Since the discovery of Harmonite and the founding of Harmonia, there has been a great reverence for the gemstones that sustain the stormcast. Some call it 'Sigmar's Blessing' or 'Storms' Vigour' for the powerful effects that it gives the user. Many report hallucinations or being granted visions through the use of Harmonite. Of these, most describe a feeling of unity, harmony and unification. However, such a substance needs to be cautiously managed, for some stormcast develop adverse reactions to it or even worse an addiction. With such a rare substance in high demand, it is rigidly controlled and sought after by the Order of Holy Harmonia. Ordained with the duty to obtain and secure the substance, the Order of Holy Harmonia march out into the vast expanse of the interstice to seek out 'Sigmar's Blessing' wherever it can be found. For they are charged with maintaining this valuable resource which sustains their brethren and they are steadfast and solemn in their duty. They also act as diplomats and envoys for Harmonia, hoping to bring together a larger alliance of powers in the interstice. Their hope is to create a powerful nation across the realm united under the flag of Harmonia so that all beings under their protection can live in peace even in the interstice. However, their retribution is swift against those that would seek to disrupt their holy quest. Lord Relictor Devon Wyrdsmyth leads the most devout of the Order in great crusades for Harmonite, while Lord Exorcist Mozgus the Apostle maintains the faith of Sigmar within Harmonia, only venturing out when his attention is needed. The Pathfinders of the Endless Night: Likely the most successful group of stormcast to survive the interstice so far, upon entering the sub-realm they were able to navigate their way through what is now known as the Risen Swamps as well as the Duskwoods before meeting up with scouting forces from Harmonia. Lead by Lady Aquilor Iota Dalling, the surviving members of her hunting party make up a large portion of this fighting force with some newer members joining later. They act as scouts and rangers for the city of Harmonia, exploring the wide reaches of the interstice for valuable artefacts, new settlements and contacts as well as espionage against opposing forces. Knight Zephyros Seras Shadowfax works closely with Lady Aquilor and the pathfinders, using her shadowy movements to strike against high priority targets while the pathfinders launch disruptive offensives as a deceptive guise. Arcane Artificers and Arcane Knights: With arcane sight and detection, the magically infused stormcast of Harmonia go on long journeys to seek out powerful relics to discover, study and harness. It is with these great artefacts that they hope to find the key to leading them back to the mortal realms proper. At the same time, their searches also grant them powerful weapons and tools with which to better their odds of surviving the interstice and fighting off the enemies of Harmonia. Their search takes them far into the reaches of the interstice and into dangerous territories. Josef Geostar leads the Arcane Artifiers on their neverending quest for magical artefacts while Lasair the Everburning leads the Arcane Knights against anything that would threaten the order that they've established here in this realm. The Stormcast of Harmonia have established themselves as a powerful force within the interstice. Over time, Harmonia has developed into a large city of Sigmar and a beacon of hope for the civilizations of order in an otherwise chaotic and unhospitable planescape.- Devon Wyrdsmith, The Long March
Type
Geopolitical, Settlement
Notable Members
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