Havoc Warriors
| Havoc Warriors | ||
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| Setting: | Age of Fantasy | |
| Games: | Age of Fantasy, Age of Fantasy: Skirmish, Age of Fantasy: Regiments, Age of Fantasy: Quest | |
| Species: | Human | |
The Havoc Warriors are fanatical followers of the Havoc Gods, and their numbers consist of everything from skilled warriors adorned in heavy armour, to berserkers with only their faith and fury to protect them, supported by hordes of mutants and daemons. Their strange and varied warbands strike fear into the hearts of their foes.
Many different people have been driven to embrace the worship of Havoc, often seeking salvation from death, whether by enemies, disease, or any number of other causes. Scattered and driven into hiding after their Gods were sealed, the Havoc Warriors have returned in the wake of the Great Rift.
Background Story
Human tribes were slow to settle the Northland. Their numbers were always few, and they relied more on hunting than farming. Gradually, the Human Empire began to expand northward, even into the previously remote tribal lands. Some northern tribes were conquered, but many others joined willingly as allies, seeking to benefit from peace, trade, and infrastructure.
The Northlands were seen as frontier territory by the Human Empire. Some roads were built, and a few soldiers were sent north, but in the end, little changed for Northerners as the soldiers were too few to prevent raids from neighbours, and few traders bothered to come north along the roads. Instead, outcasts and criminals would often flee north in order to hide from the law, making the Northlands more dangerous than they had ever been.
The arrival of the Havoc Gods in Tyria caused a great deal of instability, as many began to worship these new Gods. The Empire recalled many of their troops to defend their Capital and nearby regions, hoping to put down any rebellions there, abandoning the northern tribes, and leaving them to deal with the Daemons on their own.
By the time that the Havoc Wars had begun in full, most of the northern tribes had either united under Havoc or were wiped out by those who did. Some just hoped to be spared, others sought revenge against the Empire, some hoped that Havoc might offer them better lives. The warriors of these tribes crushed the northern Dwarves before turning south. The followers of Havoc, or Havoc Warriors, drove deep into the Empire, pillaging as they went.
When the Havoc Gods were sealed away, the Daemons and their mortal followers were soon routed, and the surviving Havoc Warriors fled north. Still weakened by war, the Empire and its allies were not able to fully occupy the Northlands. Instead, they built a series of forts along its border in order to defend their lands. Though scattered and weakened, the Havoc Warriors remained, fighting amongst themselves for what little food and wealth they could scavenge, as well as anyone foolish enough to venture into their land without military protection.
The opening of the Great Rift was greeted with celebration in the Northlands as the Havoc Warriors regained their magic and their gods. Now, the tribes are looking south with new energy, plundering their weakened neighbours, and waiting for the chance to strike into the heart of Tyria once more.
How will you bring glory to your god?
Havoc Disciples
The Havoc Disciples are those who have embraced a particular Havoc God. Each god bestows unique boons and powers onto their followers. As a result, their warbands are specialized, shaped to reflect the whims of their god.
Forsaken by the Empire, the northern tribes were approached by different gods who offered a chance at survival in exchange for worship. Each god empowered their respective followers, reforging them according to their will. After their defeat in the Havoc Wars, the Disciples were severed from their former patrons, but with the Rift’s opening, they are eager to renew their pacts after many years spent in bitter exile.
The arrival of the Havoc Gods in Tyria caused a great deal of instability, as some began to worship these new Gods. The Empire recalled many of their troops to defend their Capital and nearby regions, hoping to put down any rebellions there, whilst the northern tribes were abandoned and left to deal with any dangers on their own.
The Havoc Gods’ eyes soon turned to this forsaken province, seeking potential converts and champions. Each Havoc God sought to sway promising individuals and powerful tribes to their influence, granting their favourites various boons in exchange for worship.
The God of War offered strength, allowing its Disciples to triumph over their foes. Change granted knowledge and powerful magic. Plague offered renewed vitality to those taken by disease. While Lust offered redemption and power to those cast out by the Empire.
These gifts offered renewed hope and life amongst the desperate tribes whom the Empire had abandoned. Those who accepted the pact were granted powerful boons by their patrons, who reforged them in their image. These Havoc Disciples repaid their gifts with a fanatical loyalty, willing to devote their lives to the god who had chosen them. Each tribe defined themselves according to their worship, establishing themselves through their devotion and worship of their particular patron. By the time the Havoc Wars had begun in full, the remaining northern tribes had utterly changed, each one fully embracing one or more of the Havoc Gods.
When the Havoc Gods were captured, their most fanatical followers were suddenly severed from their life’s purpose. Some fought to their deaths, eager to give their lives to avenge their god. Others fled north, scattered and weakened, but persisting. They maintained a long vigil, inflicting what revenge they could while awaiting the return of their particular patron. Without direction or hope however, many fell into despair. Petty conflicts began to break out between bands dedicated to different gods, as they sought to lay blame for defeat upon each other.
Then, the Great Rift opened and liberated their Gods into Tyria. Havoc Disciples find themselves with renewed hope, eager to prove their loyalty to their old patrons. Yet, the bitterness of defeat and rivalries remain, as many remember their years in hiding, and they are no longer the unified force that once rampaged through the land.
How will your devotion guide you?
History
The Old North
Human tribes were slow to settle the Northlands. Their numbers were always few, and they relied more on hunting than farming.
The Empire
Gradually, an Empire formed in the south and began expanding. Some tribes were conquered, but many others joined willingly as allies, seeking to benefit from peace, trade, and infrastructure. This was true in the Northlands as well; many tribes willingly submitted to the Empire as vassals.
Frontier
The Northern tribes were seen as a frontier territory by the Human Empire. Some roads were built and a few soldiers were sent North, but in the end, little changed for Northerners as the soldiers were too few to really prevent raids and few traders bothered to come north. Instead, outcasts and criminals would often flee North in order to hide from the law, making the North more dangerous than it had been.
Havoc’s Arrival
When Havoc arrived, they sewed a great deal of corruption and confusion throughout Tyria. The Empire recalled many of its troops to defend the heartland and prevent rebellion. The Northlands were abandoned and left to deal with any Daemons on their own.
New Allegiance
Many of these tribes joined Havoc. Some just hoped to be spared, others sought revenge against the Empire and some even believed that Havoc might offer them better lives.
Havoc Wars
During the Havoc Wars, the Northern Human tribes united under Havoc or were wiped out by those who did. The warriors of these tribes crushed the Northern Dwarves, but turned south when they met fierce resistance from Halflings and Norn. The followers of Havoc, or Havoc Warriors, drove deep into the Empire, pillaging as they went.
The Scouring
When the Havoc Gods were captured, the Daemons were routed and their mortal followers were soundly defeated. The survivors fled north, but the Great Alliance hunted them and destroyed many tribes. Still, weakened by war, the Empire and its allies were not able to fully occupy the Northlands. Instead, they built a series of forts to defend their border.
The Long Wait
The remaining Havoc Warriors and their tribes survived in the North but they were mostly scattered and weak. They fought amongst themselves for what little food and wealth they could scavenge and hunted anyone foolish enough to venture into their land without an army behind them.
The Rift
The opening of the Rift was greeted with celebration as the Havoc Warriors regained their magic and their Gods. Now, the tribes are looking south with new energy, plundering their weakened neighbours and waiting for the chance to strike into the heart of Tyria once more.
Society
The Havoc Warriors do not have a centralised government, but are organised into tribes built around familial ties. A tribe pledges their loyalty to the head of the ruling family, an earned position which can be challenged by other pretenders. Because of this system, typically only competent leaders rise to the position of Havoc Lords. Yet, organising large alliances between tribes is often difficult as these rely heavily on personal relationships between Havoc Lords. Tribes rarely remain united for long unless a Havoc God demands their service. The Havoc Warrior’s relationship with their gods is based on pacts: the Lord obtains power and resources from the god, and in exchange, pledges to serve the God that grants them. The process of establishing a deal is a complex mix of negotiation and ceremonies. A Havoc Lord must strike a balance between securing the most advantageous deal and maintaining the tribe’s freedom.
Hidden Arts
Given the harsh and warlike confines they hail from, Havoc Warriors are often perceived as bloodthirsty brutes by the southern people, but this is far from the truth. For centuries, their high-born children were sent into the Empire as hostages and received an education there; many tribes also served as auxiliaries for the Empire. While they do not have the bountiful resources of the Empire or the advanced sciences of the Duchies of Vinci, they are literate and have many skilled craftsmen, smiths, carpenters and so on. They also have a very rich oral culture. Each tribe has a saga recounting its history over centuries that his elders can recite by heart. They value intelligence and hold contests of eloquence or mathematics along with games of strength and skill.
They are aware of how they are perceived by the people of the south and have built their image around this, adding spikes to their shoulders and other intimidating features. Most tribes people are indeed capable warriors, but their culture values completeness; a lot of them fight when they need to but enjoy other things, like playing music, raising horses or drawing maps.
Pact Makers
Among the Havoc Warriors, pacts are often transmitted from one leader to the next; some tribes have been joined with the same daemon and God for generations, with their deal being discussed and altered at each passing of the crown. Over the years, this relationship becomes more culturally entrenched and sometimes akin to sincere worship and loyalty. On the other hand, there are tribes that frequently switch gods and continue seeing them more as business partners than deities. A pact may bind someone for an entire lifetime or end after a single raid.
Greener Pastures
The resentment that the Havoc Warriors hold for the Empire is not pure hate; it has a tinge of envy and self-loathing. Many tribes want nothing more than to claim a fertile, sunny valley and live a life of refined luxury in the southern territories. Many a Havoc Lord would love to crown themselves the new emperor. Even between tribes, some deride others as being too uncivilised, or on the other hand denounce the more sophisticated as having lost their way.
The northern territories have always been harsh: life is possible there, but thriving is not. The northerners have always needed to raid the south for resources, or to go down there to trade and work when possible. Now that the Empire is weakened and Havoc is on the offensive, many tribes are hoping to acquire a permanent place in a more forgiving land. Some castles have fallen, some border territories have been seized. In the Empire, many believe that the Havoc tribes are too disunited to be an existential threat, albeit the most pessimistic point out that death from a thousand cuts is still death.
Play Style
More than any other army, the Havoc Warriors are incredibly spoiled for choice when building armies. Between the massive list of units available to the core army and the units available to the various disciples, you can easily build any sort of army you want. That said, your armies are going to be split between the disposable chaff and the costly but mighty warriors.
Similar To
Havoc Warriors
- Warhammer Fantasy: Warriors of Chaos
- Age of Sigmar: Slaves to Darkness
- Kings of War: Varangur, Northern Alliance
Disciples of War
- Warhammer Fantasy: Khorne
- Age of Sigmar: Blades of Khorne
Disciples of Change
- Warhammer Fantasy: Tzeentch
- Age of Sigmar: Disciples of Tzeentch
Disciples of Plague
- Warhammer Fantasy: Nurgle
- Age of Sigmar: Maggotkin of Nurgle
Disciples of Lust
- Warhammer Fantasy: Slaanesh
- Age of Sigmar: Hedonites of Slaanesh
Miniatures
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See Also: Havoc Warriors Miniatures
| Havoc Warriors |
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| Overview - Miniatures |
| Age of Fantasy factions |
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| Beastmen - Chivalrous Kingdoms - Dark Elves - Dragon Empire - Deep-Sea Elves - Duchies of Vinci - Dwarves - Eternal Wardens Ghostly Undead - Giant Tribes - Goblins - Guilds of the Nexus - Halflings - Havoc Dwarves - Havoc Warriors High Elves - Human Empire - Kingdom of Angels - Mummified Undead - Ogres - Orcs - Ossified Undead - Ratmen Rift Daemons - Saurians - Shadow Stalkers - Sky-City Dwarves - Vampiric Undead - Volcanic Dwarves - Wood Elves |
