COMMISSAR YARRICK AND WARLORD GHAZGHKULL MAG URUK THRAKA By Jervis Johnson GHAZGHKULL MAG URUK THRAKA, MIGHTY ORK WARLORD AND LEADER OF THE WAAAGH! “He was an avalanche from an unexpected quarter. He was a thunderbolt from a clear sky.” Commissar Yarriek, on Ghazghkull Thraka Ghazghkull Mag Uruk Thraka started his career as a common Ork trooper on the backwater planet of Urk. During the course of a raid a bolter shell pulped a large area of his cranium and he suffered extensive bi damage. An Ork painboy called Dok Grotsnik replaced part of his cerebellum with a bionic device. It may be that this device somehow triggered latent psychic powers or it may be that Ghazghkull simply suffered from delusions, but, for whatever reason, he claimed to be in contact with the Ork deities Gork and Mork. Some dark power certainly favoured him, for his rise 10 prominence among the Orks of Urk was meteoric. He swiftly fought his way through the ranks till he achieved the position of supreme planetary boss. Orks are simple, brutal creatures, respecting little apart from courage and battle prowess. It cannot be doubted that Ghazghkull possessed both these qualities in abundance. In addition he hhad something most Orks lack: he had vision. He stirred the Orks with impassioned speeches telling them that it ‘was their mission to conquer the galaxy, to force all others to bow before them and pay tribute. He gave them a ‘common purpose and an overwhelming sense of destiny All this might of come to nought had not Urk’s sun started to flicker and die. Ghazghkull told the Orks that this was a sign from the Gork that the time had come to launch the Waaagh! Those who wanted to join the great crusade would follow Ghazghkull. Those who wished to disobey their gods would die. To an Ork they chose to follow Ghazghkull, They would conquer the galaxy or die in the attempt! ‘The first Imperial planet to be attacked by Ghazghkull’s hordes was the hive world Armageddon. The full story of the cataclysmic conflict that ensued can be found in the Games Workshop game of the same name, but for the ‘moment suffice to say that Ghazghkull’s hordes were defeated and he was presumed killed. However, itis now known that he managed to escape, and is at large within the Imperium, He is rumoured fo have been spotted at over half a dozen battles fought in recent months, lending his support to local Ork Warbosses in return for pledges of their support for him in the future. The galaxy has not heard the last of Ghazghkull Thraka! In battle Ghazghkull is a masterly opportunist and a great tactician, ever ready to exploit any weakness an opponent ‘might present. His only real flaw as a commander is his respect for a particularly courageous or cunning opponent and he has often been known to spare their lives and offer them positions in his retinue. Once combat is joined Ghazghkull will always be found in the thick of the fighting, roaming the battlefield in his highly mobile battlewagon so that he can ensure that everything is going according to “da plan”, joining in the fighting at a critical ‘moment, and then moving on quickly to the next crisis point. In ci hazghkull is a truly awesome‘opponent, gunning down his enemies with his specially kustomised kombi-weapon and demonstrating the devastating effects of his stainless steel skull when the fighting gets ‘up close and personal RULES Ghazghkull may be included in any epic scale Ork army by using the new special card printed below (a card version of which is provided at the back of the book). He should be represented in the same way as a Warboss or Warlord stand (see page 40 of the Space Marine rules). The banners opposite are for Warhammer 40,000 miniatures, but a reduced size photocopy will provide you with an excellent epic scale banner for your Ghazghkuil stand, ‘Ghazghkull and his retinue are counted as a command unit and so never have to be given orders and never have to ccheck morale, even if broken. Ghazghkull and his retinue can give orders (o other Ork units that are within 10cm in the same way as any other Ork command unit, In addition, any Ork units within 25cm of Ghazghkull’s stand may add +1 to any morale rolls they have to make. ‘Once per game Ghazghkull may invoke the power of the Waaagh! As soon as this is declared any broken Ork units immediately rally, and for the remainder of the turn {Ghazghkull is immune to any damage and all Orks roll an cextra dice in close combat. However, the Orks are far (00 excited to aim very carefully and so suffer a -1 to hit modifier with any ranged weapons. The effect lasts for one turn, and then fades away and all of the Orks return to normal Ghazgbkull is very tough and is protected by an excellent suit of extra-special power armour. To represent this, TOP GHAZGHKULL'S BACK BANNER BOTTOM: GHAZGHKULL'S BOSSPOLE Ghazghkull has an armour saving throw of 4, $ or 6 on a D6. Furthermore, because of the special nature of his, ‘armour, as well asthe benefit of small size and agility, the save never drops below 4, 5 or 6, so even a hit from a volcano cannon, tempest laser or other powerful can be saved on 4 or more. aes SS Se ee nee ee Pa [Sac Tae | Santer COMMISSAR YARRICK, iow of what he Oks plane od an baie ino SNM OF MADRS RIVEAND —_ HacettveArteaned ou ais wovont othe ee wie HERO OF THE IMPERIUM “There will be no retreat from Hades Hive, We will fight to the end.” Commissar Yarrick was an old man when the siege of Hades hive began, He had a long career of distinguished service in the Planetary Defence Force behind him and was scheduled for retirement at the Feast of the Ascension. ‘Yarrick had a reputation for being utterly loyal to the Imperium and an inspiring leader of men. In his youth he had learned the language of the Orks from a captured Ork raider and he was an expert on the way the Ork mind ‘worked. A better leader than Herman von Strab - Imperial Overlord of Armageddon - would have paid more attention to what Commissar Yarrick said, but instead von Strab ‘grew angry with the old man for daring to contradict his ecisions that von Strab made during the campaign, ‘The Ork attack on Armageddon Secundus shattered the Imperial front line and destroyed most of the Imperial army, Everywhere Imperial forces were in retreat, and hive after hive fell. But then the Orks reached Hades hive, and here Commissar Yarrick supervised the defences. The siege of Hades hive began with a mammoth Ork assault led by Warlord Ugulhard of the Snakebites clan. Outnumbered three to one, the Imperial defenders were being beaten back, and everywhere ferocious hand-to-hand fights took place between Ork and Human, At this vital moment Ugulhard and Yastick met. With a ‘mighty roar the Ork Warboss threw himself at Yarrick, his battle claw snickered and snapped, and Yarriek’s right arm was torn off at the elbow. But Ugulhard’s bellow of ‘uiumph quickly turned to a Scream of horrorIgnoring pain so intense that any normal man would have passed out instantly, Yarrick swung his chainsword and ‘with one slice lopped off Ugulhard’s head. The Ork’s body. stood upright for a moment, fountaining green blood, and then crashed to the ground. Yarrick calmly bent down, pulled the power claw from the Ork’s body, and held it above his head in triumph, For a moment a hush fell over the battlefield. Then with a huge cheer the Imperial woops crashed into the stunned Orks and hurled them back. Only once he was sure that Hades had heen saved did Yarrick allow himself to pass out. ‘The events of that day gave Yarrick a terifying reputation among the Orks, and he was to become one of the very few Juans that ever inspired fear (or something like fear) in that warlike and brutal race. It was a commonly held Ork belief that Yarrick could not be killed, and that he had the “evil eye’ which could kill an Ork with a glance, Yarrick understood Ork psychology well, and played on these primitive fears. He kept Ugulhard’s battle claw and hhad it specially modified so that he could use it. Whenever hae entered battle he wore the battle claw, and it quickly became a symbol that inspired fear in the Ork attackers and steadfastness in the Imperial defenders. He even had his, own left eye modified with a special bionic implant that could fire a powerful pulse of laser energy. If the Orks thought he had the evil eye then, by the Emperor, an evil eye he would have! For six months the defenders of Hades hive held out, Who ‘knows what feats of heroism and horror took place in that place, ime? Those who survived do not talk much about it, save to praise the bravery of Yarrick. In those dark days he seemed to be everywhere, raising the people’s spirits with his own unguenchable belief in ultimate victory. Amazingly he welded together a ragtag army capable of standing off the invaders, The time they bought in blood and death allowed fresh Imperial forces, including three chapters of Space Marines, to arrive and turn the tide against the Orks. Even as the final assault on Hades began a relief force headed by the Salamanders, Blood Angels and Ultra-Marines raced in an cffort to relieve the hive. But tragically, just as the Space Marines broke through the Ork lines, Hades fell Commissar Yarrick was one of the few survivors, His {etribly wounded body was found in the rains, dozens of (Ork bodies heaped at his feet It took Yarrick many months (o recover from his wounds, and by the time he had done so the Battle For Armageddon was over. At last he was able to retire, and for a brief period he was able to find some peace tending the small zzarden that was the only luxury he allowed himself, Even so, le was deeply troubled by the memories of what had happened at Hades hive, and nearly every night he woke sereaming from nightmares spawned by those terrible times, ‘When the news of Ghazghkull’s survival reached him, said that the look of fury and hatred that crossed his face ‘was so terrible that the messenger cowered and grovelled before him, fearing for his own life. But Yarrick’s hatred ‘was reserved for one being, and one only: Ghazghkull. Spinning on his heel he ordered his valet to bring his amous black uniform and battle claw. Yarrick was coming out of retirement, and he would not rest until he had avenged the brave defenders of Hades hive by spilling the life blood of Ghazghkull Thraka... RULES Yartick may be included in any epic scale Imperial Guard army by using the new special card printed below, He should be represented in the same way as a Commissar stand (see page 57 of the Armies of the Imperium rules). ‘An example of the banner used for the Warhammer 40,000 Yarrick miniature is included, and a reduced size photocopy will provide you with an excellent epic scale banner for your Yarrick stand. Yarrick plus his attendant Rhino are counted as a command unit and so never have to be given orders and never have to check morale, even if broken. Yarrick ¢: give move to within Gem of any Imperial Guard unit and give them orders in the same way as any other Commissar. idition, any Imperial Guard units that can see Yarrick’s stand automatically pass any morale rolls that are called to take, including broken units that are on. fall back orders and that are attempting to rally Any Ork units that are attacked by Yartick in close combat ‘must take a morale test I the Orks fail the test then they go Conto fall back orders and suffer a -2 penalty to theie close assault factor. See the main Space Marine rulebook for details of the fall back rule. Yarrick is extremely tough, ignoring wounds that would have killed a lesser man, To represent thi armour saving throw of 3, 4, 5 or 6 on a D6, Furthermore, because of the special nature of this saving roll, as well as the benefit of small size and agility, the save never drops below 3, 4, 5 or 6, so even a hit from a voleano cannon, tempest laser or other such powerful weapon can be saved (on 3 o more. Commissat Yatich’s personal back baner ‘Troop Type Move | Saving | CAF | Weapons | Range | Attack | Rollto | Target’s | Notes Throw Dice | Hit | Save Mod. Commissar Yarick — | tem | 3+ | +8 | stormBoter | 25m | 2 | 44 0 | SceatoveSPECIAL CARD COMMISSAR YARRICK ‘Commissar Yanik some ofthe bravest heroes im he Irpertum. He mga by 9 ul comsig ofa POINTS VALUE 150 COMMISSAR YARRICK Yanick plas is anda Rhino acount a command ‘Any Of unis ht are tack by Yar in close coat Dee ving to BREAK POINT: Yarcks ual sooty ever broken Yarriek is ile: the unit cannot Be broken by the VICTORY POINTS 2 Your opponent pains 2 VPs when Yash il SPECIAL CARD GHAZGHKULL THRAKA tie: He nd hi eave ae represented by POINTS VALUE 350 ORK WARLORD GHAZGHKULL THRAKA ‘Once per gute Ghar may invoke the power f the oeagt Fe Wang es Chil mn 9 See incase combat, The Wana st coed st adc may onda he Oks ean nna Thanks oe sila ‘ving throw never pet [BREAK POINT: Gharghut's wits ony ever ban i VICTORY POINTS 4 ‘Your opponent ans 4 VP