Empress Deathclaw

Regal. Haughty. Inspiring. Brutal. Efficient.

Deathclaw in all honesty could of been born without the noble blood supposedly running through her veins. Though it was probably that same blood saved her before. Still the nation calls, and she will answer. Wielding the warhammer that had once founded her empire. She carves through waves of the monsters that threaten humanity for she is Princess and Empress. And nothing will hold her back from saving her people.

This is a dark age, a bloody age, an age of daemons and of sorcery. It is an age of battle and death, and of the world's ending.

At the heart of the Old World sprawls the Empire, the largest and most powerful of the human realms. Known for its engineers, sorcerers, traders and soldiers, it is a land of great mountains, mighty rivers, dark forests and vast cities. And from her throne in Altdorf reigns the Empress of man, sacred descendant of the founder of these lands, Sigmar, and wielder of his magical warhammer Ghal Maraz. The words Faith, Steel, And Gunpowder being the mantra of the empire. The ever proven way they defend their civilization from the coming apocalypse.

But these are far from civilized times. Across the length and breadth of the Old World, from the knightly palaces of Bretonnia to ice-bound Kislev in the far north, come rumblings of war. In the towering Worlds Edge Mountains, the Orc tribes are gathering for another assault. Bandits and renegades harry the wild southern lands of the Border Princes. From the northern wildernesses there is the ever-present threat of Chaos, of Daemons and Beastmen corrupted by the foul powers of the Dark Gods. This is a world of unceasing war and endless terrors, and a ever increasing fight for survival.

It was a time of great strife in the empire, Emperor Luitpold, having been overly stressed, had failed to create a heir for the state of Altdorf, beaten down by many orc and beastmen incursions. It was seen as a miracle when his wife became pregnant despite the couple's older age. That miracle however quickly turned into a nightmare, as while the pregnancy was healthy. On the day of the new heir's birth. The Luitpold's feeling of success turned into outright horror, as his daughter, was a Griffon beastman. This was not a single case in the old world. The chaos gods had often cruel jokes for humanity, and it was not unheard of that a commoner women would give birth to very unlucky creatures that had been afflicted at birth by chaos itself. Most of these creatures would meet the fate of the sword, typically by the father. Or if the family was feeling merciful to their sons and daughters affected by this curse. often they would be left in the wilderness. Either to die, or to be taken in by the beastman that lurked in the forests. Noble or not, Luitpold still attempted to follow his duty. Drawing his rune fang sword as he stared down at the feathery form of his cursed daughter. Yet he could not bring himself to do it. Despite the shame and embarrassment, after so long, he had the heir he was looking for, The bretonnians in the west themselves had a beastwoman queen. So despite his advisors recommendations. He let the girl live, hoping that since she was a Griffon, that it was the sign sigmar. Though he gave her a fitting name for a Griffon. He named her Deathclaw.

This turned out to be a wise decision. As on a trip. The royal family was attacked by beastmen which tore through the royal reiksguard. Before they were all killed. A group of wood elves came and slayed the beasts. Stating that the Griffon girl was to important to let die. Thus if he had killed his daughter, he would have lead his family to oblivion.

Deathclaw throughout her life was tutored by the best of Altdorf's military corps. The luck of being raised in the Empire of man's mighty capital having been the biggest blessing to her. Being taught to be the perfect general, something the beastwoman eagerly took too, starting many early campaigns against the marauders that attempted to break into reikland when she was ready for military service. Earning a infamous reputation of a mighty warrior on the battlefield. Cleaving through the orcs and feral beastmen with a intense fury. Something that would have made the old barbarian warriors of Sigmar's time proud. She had earned a friend in her tutor and the grand marshal, Kurt Helborg, who is in charge of her royal reiksguard.

She was also tutored by some of the best diplomatic minds. Becoming a skilled state woman in imperial laws. Though this side of her occupation has always been a bore to her. These things were not vital, at least not currently. But for her father, she listened and became quite a public speaker when it came to dealing with the imperial courts. Even when her talons itched to grab a sword and just go out to hunt the monsters that kept terrorizing the common people of the empire, or maybe go out and reclaim the elector states that had been lost, she held back not wanting to disgrace his name. Though it became apparent that she was probably going to hate dealing with the other elector counts. The leaders of the imperial states all of which would help decide on the new emperor when the time was right. Yet she very much dislikes most of them. All having their agendas. Preferring to play mind games, yet the empire suffered. Significantly because of it. Still she would listen and learn. Something that would actually prove helpful to what was coming.

Luitpold would pass in his sleep. Leading to the election of the new emperor. And in a close vote, thanks to the cult of Sigmar. Deathclaw won it. Being crowned the Empress of Man. Yet not all were happy with these results. Elector count, Boris Todbringer was very upset to have lost to a beastman, civilized or no. As he had lost his eye from one. A respected warrior, he had every chance to actually win, yet thanks to the cult of sigmar which was stronger then the cult of the war god ulric, which was the god of his own faith. Still despite his misgivings, he still followed suit for the betterment of the empire even with the insults. Deathclaw could at least respect his duty to the empire. The other largest voice that disliked the new empress was Hans Frankenwurter. A petty noble who quickly hired a force of deserters to try to stage a secessionist movement. Which was promptly crushed by Deathclaw, showing that all were allowed to insult her, yet none were allowed to try to weaken the empire with such a stupid move. She soon began to win battle after battle. From stopping norse raiders from invading from the north. To holding off waves of greenskins from the south. She even often challenged herself to prove to her soldiers she could be their leader time and time again. Even Slaaneshi daemons of chaos could not win against her.

Deathclaw's personality shows that of a dutiful regal empress. Though one shackled by imperial political bureaucracy. She is to lead the empire out of ruin. Yet many of the greedy nobles of the empire constantly slow her down with their petty schemes of power, or just out right laziness. Its no wonder why she came to like the dragon which lived in the imperial zoo. It was a mighty yet bored beast, trapped in a gilded cage and that speaks to her soul. Still no matter what gets in her way. The elector countess of Altdorf will keep the warhammer raised as she crushes the enemies of sigmar and mankind into dust. She is a barbarian in a royal's crown. Yet one should not think she is politically inept. No, she is actually quite smart when it comes to the politics of the empire. Being surrounded by electors that see you as a threat has taught her to always have a back up plan. All electors had dirt on them, all electors feared having their titles stripped away. She is fully capable of fighting back with political moves. She is quite friends with neighboring ruler queen beaquis of the human kingdom bretonnia who is also a beastwoman, but is the classic lion variant. Both have become close friends from fighting the forces of chaos and greenskins together. Being from the empire, She has a mix between german like, and a english like accent. She can also make raptor eagle screeches and tiger like sounds that can rumble through her throat. She is skilled in both two handed warhammers and swords, Her main sword being Dragontooth. The long dwarven rune blade of Altdorf, the badge of honor for the ruler.

When she isn't stressed, she can be rather friendly. Enjoying beer and often acting like a common soldier when off duty instead of a snob. She can often be found flying around the city of Altdorf when she is not on campaign. She humorsly is rather a animal geek, going often to the imperial zoo to see many of the mighty beasts they have to be seen. One of her favorites being the imperial dragon. A long-lived drake that has captivated the Empress since her youth.

Deathclaw's appearance is that of a anthro Griffon being a beastwoman. Her body is covered with deep brown feathers that cover her upper body and face and she is quite muscular nearly looking like amazonian to a degree having curves and a rather busty chest. Her mouth has a very strong raptor like beak. Her hands are boney talons all ending in 5 black nail like claws. And her back has two large powerful wings. Her lower half is a feline style of fur similar to a tiger that goes over her hips, thighs and legs, starting at her lower stomach. She commonly wears ordained plate armor. With a facial helm built for griffons that has a pointed spike at the top. Her main weapon is Ghal Maraz, a holy glowing mystical two handed warhammer that sunders evil creatures with viscous blows.