Comprehensive Guide to the Origin Question in the Warhammer and
Warhammer 40K Universe
[Introduction] [Part 1 - Chaos] [Part 2 - The Old World] [Part 3 - Sigmar] [Part 4 - The Tyranid]
The Origin of Sigmar
The Confession of Haakon Redeemed
Wondering through the history of the Old World sometimes feels like reading a Russian novel. Depression, depression, depression, interspersed with an occasional catastrophe. In the origins series I've presented to you so far, we've seen the fall of 3 races (Slann, Eldar, and Jokaero), the introduction of a plot against the entire universe, and the failure of every step taken against that plan so far. The rising tide of Chaos seems overwhelming, as we've so far seen only victories for them. This installment of the origin series is going to change that a little bit, and show one of the brighter moments of the Old World.
In the year 941 of the Imperial calendar, a small force of Chaos Knights advanced on the village Schwerin near the Imperial border. The village was small and poorly defended. The populace, for the most part, hid while trying desperately to throw together a defense. The Chaos Knights rode boldly to the small Church of Sigmar that was the village's center. The local priest feared his life was at an end, but resolved to spend it boldly protecting the altar to which he had sworn his faith. His shock could not have been greater when the Knights dismounted, knelt before him, and asked his forgiveness. They had found faith in Sigmar, and wished to convert.
The leader of the Chaos Knights had been named Haakon Grimfoe, but would later become known as Haakon Redeemed. His confession to the priest told the tale of his conversion, and copies can be found throughout the Empire. I am uncertain why the temple priests do not trumpet this writing at every opportunity, but I trust they have their reasons for it - perhaps they feel that even this is too much knowledge of Chaos for the common folk. Whatever their reasons, this confession is not a secret, you can learn of it too, you have but to ask.
Before beginning, I would like to say a few words to those who would doubt this confession. Did you truly think that conversions were all one way? That people could convert to Chaos, but none of Chaos would ever leave? It is true that more go to Chaos than ever leave it, to our sorrow, but that may be due more to the coercion applied to those in Chaos, and less to a desire on their part to leave. Haakon's conversion, I am convinced, was real, and was not the only one. After I reprint his confession, I will have a few words to say about my own researches into his life.
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The Confessions of Haakon Grimfoe, now called Haakon Redeemed
As recorded on this first day of the year 941
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Of my youth I say little. I grew up in the wastelands, and they are as barren as they sound. What little lives is hunted, and every scrap must be fought for. Once I thought it due to Lord Nu... No, not Lord, the demon Nurgle. Once I thought it due to the demon Nurgle that I survived to adulthood, but I see now it was despite he and his brothers that this happened. They kill what surrounds them, and it is due to them, not that I lived, but that so many others died. I too learned to kill while growing up, my own sister died beneath my blade, that I might have food to survive the winter night. This is what the demons drive us to.
We, the gathering, not even a tribe, I grew up with, were run down one day, destroyed by those who followed Khorne, who feasted on the flesh they killed, even as I had done. I and a few others survived, left for dead due to our wounds, but not eaten for they were already full. Our wounds festered, and we knew we had been claimed by Lor... the demon Nurgle. That we did not die soon after was due only to the season, for our band had been destroyed in late spring. We were able to survive on roots and grass.
I think we would have died that winter, but for some small fortune. We came, in late fall, to stumble upon some true Warriors - we would later learn they were dedicated to Slaanesh. That would have been the end of us, had they not just fought against some others - only a small handful were left standing, and they were badly wounded. The struggle was between starving mongrels and walking corpses, pathetic. But it was the only life we knew. We won, but only I and Tragor [one of the Knights who accompanied Haakon] were still alive. But we'd fought and destroyed a band dedicated to another God... demon. Nurgle made us warriors, gave us strength and weapons.
In time we joined with others of our cursed kind, and won a place with them by killing those we would replace. To my shame, we rode south, to fight against the Empire. I know not how many people I slew, directly or through the diseases my demon master had us carry. I wish it had not been so, but it was. Though we carried back treasure and slaves, food was always the most important - and our slaves often became that in time.
In many ways the wastelands were worse than the attacks on the Empire. There are no friends there. Those who worship the same master as you are as like to kill you as any other. No amount of sentries are enough to protect you against demons who may appear from nowhere, and choose to kill you for sport, and death is the kindest thing you can hope for from them. At least when we marched south, our own kind - who I now reject - would forego the pleasure of slaying you.
That I rose to my current status is a sign of the depravities I committed. The deaths lain at my feet are too great for me to count. I have eaten the flesh of both enemies and allies. I have killed those who trusted and followed me, that the plagues infecting their bodies could spread. Murder and betrayal were my life's own blood.
That changed when we marched last summer to attack the Empire again. Do you know, I do not even know where we attacked? So little did we care where we would cause carnage. I slew men again without care. I cannot say why, but one death struck me. A young man, who could not yet be counted an adult, carrying a mere sword, and seeming proud to be in uniform, alongside fellows he could trust. He fought well, even wounded me through my armor. In the end I killed him, but I never could forget the look in his eyes, the fierceness with which he fought, a fierceness that spoke not of hatred and despair, but of love and devotion. Why him and not those I have seen before I could not then say. I know now it is because of his faith; true, simple and pure, that I saw in his eyes the truth that is Sigmar.
For weeks after, his face haunted my dreams. I did not know why, until the night the dream changed, and it was not the boy, but the man-God Sigmar who came to speak with me. He told me many things that night, but the greatest among them was that I was wrong in what I did. And that I was wrong in thinking I could not leave. He told me that courage could be shown in an act as simple as walking away from the life I now lived, that it really was just that simple. If he had stopped there, I think I would have left the life I then led, but would not be here now. Instead, he told me far more.
He told me of a far off land, that can only be reached by travelling through the heavens themselves, where he once lived and lives even now. He told me of the Great Sacrifice he had made there, that the demons would not destroy all that lives. He told me that his Spirit still stands watch over his people there, for his Body no longer can. He told me that his Spirit entered our land to become Sigmar, and lead us up from the darkness.
He was willing to come here, to take on a body again, even knowing then that it meant he would once more live through death, in order to save mankind from the demons who lived here. He knew the suffering he would bear, and accepted it. No, more than that, he welcomed it, as he saw the cost being more than worth the gain. His death, here, allows his Spirit to watch us here, even as he does in his far off land. This was a nobility I had never seen, or even pictured, before then.
There was even more to come, for Sigmar told me why he did this, why we are here, and why he came to us. Here we are enclosed, all the mortal races forced to live together, and all the demons as well. But where the mortal races can come together and become stronger, the demons will tear each other apart in close contact. Here, we can win. We can defeat even the overwhelming might of the demon masters. It is not hopeless. The forces of Chaos, when pushed together, fight themselves as much as the enemy. One day even those forces that now fight together will only fight separately. Demons and men, men and beasts, will one day cease to cooperate.
Then, one day, should we drive back and destroy the demon forces, then will the walls to the far off land fall. We can become warriors in an even greater battle, to end forever any threat the demon forces may be. Our world, cleansed, can be a haven to those who have fought for longer than we can even imagine. As Sigmar has given so much to us, so we will have the chance to give something back to him.
There are brothers in that far off land who may join us out there. Brothers to elves and orcs who wait for us to show them how to carry the battle to the true enemy, and not to each other. Sigmar showed me that he has even carried dwarves from our world to his, that they too may fight by our side when we at last join him.
It is to pursue such a dream that I renounce those I once called master, and give my life entirely to Sigmar. I seek forgiveness, and will pay any penance that is asked of me, as shall those few of those I once led who also accept this Word. I say now that I shall even accept my own death if that is the only way I can find redemption, but would prefer to spend my life fighting the true foe.
This I swear, in the name of Sigmar, my only true Lord, now and forever.
Here ends the confession of Haakon Redeemed.
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Historical Notes
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Beyond his confession, the records about Haakon are sketchy, at best. The unnamed priest to whom he confessed apparently called for advice from his superiors. At least, there is a record that the High Priest of Nuln visited the village with his entourage two weeks later. The records of Church in Nuln are, sadly, not in great shape when you go back over 1500 years, and it is impossible to confirm or deny that this happened, let alone the decision of the High Priest.
However, I believe that some scant evidence does exist about this point. The poems of Hilfred of Nuln are from a period only 150 years removed from the Confession. Much of his poetry refers to events that were possibly well known in his day, but have since been forgotten, or are only remembered through his poems. There is a line in his 'Praise to those who Praise' that refers to 'those who send the Damned who are Saved to the Damned who are Damned,' [modern edition, spelling corrected] that I believe refers directly to Haakon Redeemed. I believe the High Priest accepted Haakon's offer, and that his penance was to spend his life against the dread forces of Chaos.
How did he do? Well, that's hard to answer for certain. Certainly, Chaos still exists. But hard information from the Chaos Wastes is not easy to get, even for me... But there are some signs. In the year 980, the Chaos Hosts that swept into the Empire were themselves attacked by 'a grete bande of thous Knightes of Chaos,' the reasons for which the chronicler does not explain. I like to think Haakon was at the head of that 'grete bande.'
Though often disregarded, there are reports over the centuries of Chaos bands who march into the Empire facing attack from their own kind. Perhaps they are simply the infighting that plagues Chaos, and on which Haakon pinned so many hopes. But perhaps they are also converts, and the Word of Sigmar may still live in the Chaos Wastes.
Oddly, two expeditions, one by Elves, one by Bretonnians, into the Chaos Wastes, report evidence of a 'Cult of the Redeemed.' These are people, and beastmen, and in one rumored case a demon prince, who once served Chaos, but now fight against their own brethren, and will not raise arms against elf or man. I say this is odd, because no such report has ever come from an Imperial expedition. I cannot explain this, for if the Cult of the Redeemed is, as I believe, the result of Haakon's conversion, they should be most eager to meet with the Imperial forces.
This, then, is the story of Haakon Redeemed, once known as Haakon Grimfoe. Whether you choose to believe it or not is, of course, your own affair.
Written by: Drew Garrett