40K: Lore – Ghazghkull Mag Uruk Thraka
Today, Loremasters, we talk about the Beast of Armaggedon, blessed of Gork and Mork, Ghazghkull Thraka…
Ghazghkull Mag Uruk Thraka, the self-proclaimed Prophet of the Waaagh!, known in the Imperium as The Beast of Armageddon, is the Ork Warlord of Waaagh! Ghazghkull and currently the most notorious Warboss of the 41st Millenium. He is infamous for his actions during both the Second and Third Armageddon Wars. Ghazghkull is a particularly megalomaniacal Ork, convinced he is blessed by the Ork gods Gork and Mork. He possesses a considerable measure of cunning, and in battle he tends to focus more on commanding his troops compared to other Warbosses, only engaging in combat himself at critical moments.
The earliest records of Ghazghkull were recorded nine years before the Second War for Armageddon. At this time, Ghazghkull was a lowly Ork Boy in the armies on the planet of Urk (possibly where part of his name came from). A Space Marine force of an unknown chapter raided the planet in the hopes of disrupting the Ork forces building up there. During the battle, a bolter round tore into Ghazghkull’s skull, destroying 30 percent of his skull and pulping a good portion of his brain. He was found by the notorious Painboy known as Mad Dok Grotsnik, who rebuilt his skull with adamantium. Somehow this enabled Ghazghkull’s latent psychic powers, convincing Ghazghkull that he had been somehow blessed by the Ork Gods and from here on in he claimed to be in communication with Gork and Mork. Convinced he was marked for great things, within six years he had risen to the rank of Warboss of his tribe. A year later two events occurred, giving Ghazghkull the opportunity to further his dominance and begin a great Waaagh!. Firstly, Urk’s sun had begun to die. Severe solar flares caused many deaths from radiation. Secondly, a massive space hulk appeared in orbit around the planet, offering escape from certain death. Ghazghkull managed to subjugate the other tribes on Urk, who combined to form the genesis of a Waaagh!
The hulk found its way to the Armageddon system. Once sighted by the Imperium, the hulk was code-named Alveus Alpha Alpha Sextus by Imperial Administrators. Its weapons demolished the defences of the Armageddon system, including obsolete orbital satellites and small attack craft. Desperate messages were sent in the hope of acquiring aid. Three Space Marine Chapters began to organise themselves but would not be able to get there before the Orks landed. A month later the Orks disembarked, beginning the Second War for Armageddon in earnest on the day of the Feast of the Emperor’s Ascension in 941.M41.
Ghazhkull’s attempted conquest of Armageddon would be foiled by his arch-rival Commissar Yarrick, but the Warboss would later capture his hated enemy during the Battle of Golgotha. After a few weeks of torture, Ghazghkull decided Yarrick was too much fun for the “new” fight he was already planning and released the Commissar.
Fifty-seven years to the day after launching the Second Armageddon war, Ghazghkull once more invaded Armageddon, this time with an even larger Waaagh! at his disposal. Though initially conquering half the planet’s surface in extremely bloody fighting, Ghazghkull became bored with the stalemate that was developing on Armageddon. Leaving the settlement of the conflict to his Nobz, Ghazghkull left Armageddon in search of a new more exciting fight. His old enemy, Commissar Yarrick, followed him and vowed to slay the Warboss at all cost.
However after the Battle of Haunted Gulf Ghazghkull escaped Yarrick yet again and instead moved through the Warp to the Octarius Sector. There, he launched his new Great Waaagh!. However Ghazghkull continues to psychically visit his comrades on Armageddon occasionally, checking the situation and giving them tactical advice.
Read more about Armageddon on Lexicanum
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!
