Buzzard’s Bluff

In the upper plains of the Hungering Steppe lies Buzzard Bluff, a canyon of jagged basalt mesas created long before the Age of Myth. These cliffs provide the perfect hunting ground for avian predators that stalk their prey from the sky-high tops and hidden alcoves created by the basalt. It is common for travelers and beasts alike to find the remains of fellow animals scattered across the ground, for the hungry predators of the bluff discard the bones of those they eat to the surface below. The remains of worthy kills are kept at the top to create the nesting ground for the avian hunters to mark their territories. It is a perilous journey for the civilizations of the Steppe to cross the Buzzard Bluff, and it was this notoriety that attracted Lord-Imperitant Garbaldis and the Astral Templars. The high terrain provides a great vantage point and a natural defense against enemy forces, and what better way to mark your stake on a new hunting ground than to claim the territory of a top predator?

Thanks to Lord-Aquilor Vatteros and his hunters, the Astral Templars found that creature: Zarkorn, the great corpse-rippa vulcha. 

The locals of the steppe claim Zarkorn grew tired of his killaboss handler and turned on the orruk as his Kruelboyz traveled through the bluff. The Vulcha then picked off the remaining host one by one and built its nest from their bones. Since then, Zarkorn’s nest grew with the bones of great kills and stretched across several peaks, marking Zarkorn as the top predator in the bluff. 

In their first attempt to take down Zarkorn, the Astral Templars lured the vulcha towards the earth with the fresh kill of a river creature. WIth only Lord-Aquilor Vatteros and a handful of his Vangaurd Hunters guarding the corpse, Zarkorn plunged down towards the paltry warband. Once close to the earth, Knight-Arcanum Larysa Seloriam unleashes a Lightning Storm, trapping the corpse-rippa vulcha near the earth. However, Zarkorn uses its hunting ground to its advantage and escapes into a cave within a low peak. The hunters soon become the hunted as Zarkorn attacks from another angle. The stormcasts hold their own, but a handful are slain and the vulcha escapes with the creature’s remains.

As Garbaldis and Vatteros discuss how to bring down the beast, Vanguard Raptor-Prime Sargustrian offers to personally bring them Zarkorn’s beak and feathers. The stormcast and two of his companions track the great vulcha to a series of mesas where it likely nests. The trip climb to the top of an opposite mesa and set up within an abandoned bone nest. For several hours they watch Zarkorn and wait for an opportunity. Finally, the buzzard returns with another beast to its lair. Two Vanguard Raptors unleash hell and pepper Zarkorn with azyr bolts. The enraged vulcha launches towards the volley, unaware of Sargustrian awaiting like a lurking beast. With Zarkorn meters away, Sargustrian pulls the trigger and sends two azyr bolts through the vulcha’s skull. Its corpse smashes into the bone nest and lies still. 

The next day, Sargustrian and his fellow Vanguard Raptors present Zarkorn’s remains to the Lord-Imperitant and Lord-Aquilor, including the vulcha’s beak. The Astral Templars cheer the first big kill of their hunt with a feast of Zarkorn’s remains. For his triumph, Sargustrian was promoted to a Knight-Judicator.

WIth Zarkorn disposed of, the Astral Templars set to work building their stronghold upon the peaks of the vulcha’s nest. After a month, the Overwatch at Buzzard’s Bluff is established and immediately tested by the predators of the bluff. While The Overwatch provides safety for travelers and locals, the Astral Templars welcome all challengers, for each fallen beast and foe adds to the stormhost’s trophy racks and a new song chanted in the feasting halls.

In time, the Ghurneth of Packhome, impressed by the prowess of the Astral Templars, invited the stormcasts to a great hunt to attend ed by Huntmaster Sylai. While honored, Garbaldis and his fellow leaders were focused on the invitation’s warning of chaos-tainted beasts lurking the steppes, for that is what brought Sigmar’s beastslayers to this region, and they would now retreat until chaos’ taint was purged.