I picked up the iPad version of Nagash, The End Times; Volume 1 this weekend and

chewed my way through most of its 500+pages, enjoying almost all of it. I notic
ed some efforts to summarize the storyline and game play on various forums, but
I never really saw an easily consumable version of it for the reader that just w
ants to skim things.
I've tried to accomplish that, but I am really only touching the surface, trying t
o give a picture, mostly of the storyline, for people that might only have an in
terest in 1-2 armies to skim over and see what the book might specifically hold
for them.
Hopefully some of you will find this worth reading, or pick up some major things
I might have missed. It was 500 pages after all.
SPOILER GAP
What Everybody Needs to Know:
The storyline goes back to the Archaon Everchosen plot line involving the unific
ation of the tribes of the North and forces of Chaos under Archaon for a great i
nvasion of the realms to the South. In an ironic twist, the Chaos Gods are bendi
ng their efforts to stop Arkhan the Black from bringing about the resurrection o
f Nagash because Nagash can become a force powerful enough to counter their inva
sion. This book focuses on the events before and after Nagash's resurrection.
Arkhan the Black succeeds in resurrecting Nagash, but the ritual that would turn
Nagash into a God to rival the Chaos Gods by binding all the power of the Wind
of Shyish (death magic) into his body fails. Instead Nagash is forced to bind th
e Wind of Shyish into the ground of Sylvania, thereby causing the dead everywher
e in the Old World to rise, granting access for all spellcasters to the Lore of
Undeath.
Nagash ultimately travels to the Underworld, where aided by Dieter Helsnicht he
overwhelms Usirian, God of the Dead, and supplants him as Lord of the Dead. This
effectively renders all undead under Nagash's control, and makes him a minor God,
though not to the level of the Chaos Gods.
Archaon himself has not taken the field, but his army has destroyed Kislev and O
stermark, en route towards Sylvania and the magic imprisoned there. In the Empir
e, as in the previous plot, Valten, the anointed of Sigmar, has risen to oppose
the forces of Chaos in the Empire.
The major plot points of note for each race/nation are below in no particular or
der, but obviously Vampire Counts lead the way:
Vampire Counts:
Nagash's resurrection is accomplished through cooperation of Arkhan the Black and
Mannfred von Carstein.
Together they assemble Nagash's staff, armor, and the Fellblade that slew him. The
se plots have them interact with the Empire, Bretonnia, and Skaven in major camp
aigns. Arkhan apparently destroys Heinrich Kemmler, but he will likely return on
the side of Chaos.
In resurrecting Nagash, the Fey Enchantress Morgiana, Grand Theogonist Volkmar,
and Everchild Aliathra were sacrificed, but Aliathra's blood was not pure, leading
to the failure of becoming a true God.
Nagash summoned Nine Dark Lords to become his Mortarch's. In doing so he is reject
ed by Zacharias the Ever-Living and Dietrich von Dohl, both of whom he slays by
force of will alone.
Mannfred von Carstein Current Vampire Lord of Sylvania
Arkhan the Black Nagash's first disciple
Krell A Chaos Lord resurrected and drawn into Nagash's service long ago.
The Nameless A fallen Enchanter who exists only in spirit
Walach Harkon Lord of the Blood Dragons. Is turned to Khorne during the plot lin
e, defeats Karl Franz in battle, but is destroyed himself by Vlad von Carstein
Neferata The first vampire Queen of Lhamia
Luthor Harkon Pirate King of the Vampire Coast
Dieter Helsnicht Doom Lord of Middenheim
Vlad von Carstein Resurrected by Nagash to serve in promise of returning his lov
e
Tomb Kings:
Prior to his conquest of Usirian in the Underworld, Nagash's forces are fighting a
losing effort against the Tomb Kings led by Settra.
Khalida confronts Neferata and is beating her in combat before she escapes.
Khatep, the exiled Grand Hierophant, attempts to get Settra to take up the Destr
oyer of Eternities to defeat Nagash. In thanks, Settra destroys him for breaking
his exile.
Settra cannot find the Destroyer of Eternities because the Skaven have already c
onvinced Apophas, the Cursed Scarab Lord of Numas, to take it up. Apophas succes
sfully strikes Nagash with the weapon, but only after he has taken Usirian's place
; so it has little effect and Nagash destroys Apophas.
Nagash ultimately defeats Settra and offers to let him serve Nagash, but Settra
rejects him. Nagash punishes him by letting him watch as Nagash levels the city
of Khemri entirely.
Settra is restored by the Chaos Gods to seek his vengeance against Nagash.
Empire:
Valten and Luthor Huss pair up as in the previous plot line and do all sorts of
cool things.
Balthazar Gelt is tricked into service by Vampires, allowing him to build a barr
ier against the forces of Chaos to the North. Ultimately he becomes a servant to
Vlad von Carstein. He is replaced as Supreme Patriarch by Gregor Martak of the
Amber College.
Karl Franz falls in battle to Walach Harkon, but escapes death.
By the end of the story, only 7 Elector Counts remain alive. (Maybe 6)
When the Wind of Death is bound by Nagash, the entire Amethyst College of magic
is destroyed, and all its wizards turned into shades; though still loyal to the
Empire.
Bretonnia:
Bretonnia features only briefly in the plot, tied to the recovery of one of Naga
sh's lost artifacts.
Dwarfs:
The God Ancestor Valaya is consumed by Nagash after the dwarfs fail to stop the
Undead from breaching her tomb. Thorek Ironbrow shatters the Anvil of Doom to tr
y and stop the Undead, apparently dying in the process.
Orcs and Goblins:
Grimgor Ironhide and Skarsnik are highlighted as the leaders of the Orcs and Gob
lins relevant to the plot line, but they feature minimally in one battle with th
e Dwarfs and Undead.
Warriors of Chaos:
While they feature prominently in the plot with Archaon, Vilich, and other chara
cters of note, only Crom the Conqueror is discussed in the immediate plot line a
s the leader of the Chaos vanguard. Crom is eventually slain by Valten and Lutho
r Huss.
Daemons of Chaos:
Apart from the appearance of the Changling and a greater daemon of Nurgle, the d
aemons are content to be destroying people all over the world from the backgroun
d.
Beastmen:
Much like the Daemons, they are mentioned, but not featured, in any of the major
conflicts.
Dark Elves:
Early in the book the Dark Elves repel a Chaos host that besieges Naggarond, but
they do not show prominently in the plot. Malus Darkblade is sent by the Witch
King to, I think, free his captured mother from the forces of Chaos. (not really
sure)
High Elves:
The Everchild is revealed as the daughter of Tyrion, not the Phoenix King, thus
leading to Nagash's failed effort to attain Godhood when first resurrected.
Tyrion did not seem to know this (not sure), but Teclis did. Teclis helped insur
e that she was not rescued, because he knew this would partially thwart Nagash.
He realizes that Nagash is needed to defeat the Chaos Gods, but that he could no
t do so alone, and so needed to be weakened in order to force him into alliance
with the mortal races.
The Everchild placed an unknown enchanted on Arkhan before her death.
Arkhan the Black slays Eltharion the Grim during the High Elf effort to rescue t
he Everchild before her sacrifice.
The Everqueen travels to Athel Loren to plead for help rescuing her daughter, an
d enters the Oak of Ages to save Ariel from her sickness.
Wood Elves:
In payment for the Everqueen's help, a host of Athel Loren travels to Sylvania to
try and stop the sacrifice of the Everchild.
In route, the army is contacted by a Goddess of the Wood Elves, and led into (I
kid you not) a magic portal from which they have yet to emerge.
Skaven:
The Horned Rat manifests to the Council of 13 and galvanizes the Skaven into uni
fied action for the first time. Only the battle for the Fellblade features in th
e plot of this book.
Lizardmen:
Lustria is hard pressed by Daemon armies, and Mazdamundi order the beginning of
the Exodus, which is otherwise not discussed.
Ogre Kingdoms
The Firemouth erupts, forcing the entire Ogre Nation into a new migration from t
he Mountains of Mourne into the populated areas of the old world.
That's it for plot. I might try to comment on game play issues later, if anyone go
t THIS far to start with.
If nothing else, I can field Tomb Kings that....can.....march.
MIND BLOWN
Charlie