Hammerhal, the legendary Twin-Tailed City, was established on both sides of the Stormrift Realmgate. This unique city is comprised of Hammerhal Aqsha on the Aqshy half and Hammerhal Ghyra on the Ghyran half — the symbiosis between the two represents the rich history and tight bond that exists between the folk of Sigmar and Alarielle. The Aqshy half lies upon The Great Parch and is the centre of Sigmar’s efforts in retaking the Mortal Realms from the forces of Chaos. The Ghyran half stands in the Jade Kingdom of Verdia. It is a city of wisdom and irrepressible greenery, which serves as a continual launching point for attacks on the forces of Nurgle that occupy large portions of the Realm of Life.
Hammerhal Aqsha is the beating heart of the Realm of Fire; its influence spreads uncontrolled, touching even the farflung corners of Aqshy. A traveller could wander between the wards of the city for months and still not have seen them all, for the city is constantly expanding. Thousands of transports, the majority airborne, flow into the city’s rift-docks every day, bringing goods and travellers from across the Mortal Realms. The various flying vessels — huge airborne beetles in the case of the Sylvaneth — carry many desirable riches: ingots of mystic metals with strange properties, gems of every hue, shards of shadeglass, logs of ivory, ironoak beams, megalofin teeth, beads of amber, salted meats, fyresteel blades, and so much more. The riftmarkets of Aqsha brim with the abundant natural produce that arrives daily through gates from Ghyra. In return, Aqshian magma is directed through the Stormrift Realmgate into Ghyran, where it is used to expand the city and to stem the voracious growth of plant life that threatens to consume the greener side of Hammerhal.
Sigmar’s cities are each led by a Grand Conclave that mirrors the original body that Sigmar assembled to rule Azyrheim. The Grand Conclave of Hammerhal meets in Hammerhal Aqsha and boasts a full council of 244 individuals representing Humans, Aelves, and Duardin, from every faction, and every significant city, of Order. Not only does the Grand Conclave govern the city, but they are directly responsible for directing the forces of Order throughout the Mortal Realms in their struggle against Chaos and, of late, Nagash. While the Grand Conclave nominally rules Hammerhal, the Twin-Tailed city is so vast, and the interrelations between its two halves so complex, that a specific group of lords direct the more practical affairs of the city proper. Called the Council of Twelve, the lords that make up the sub-body of the Grand Conclave were directly chosen by Azyr, and are capable of making decisions with far more rapidity than Hammerhal’s Grand Conclave. Its great importance and prosperity has made Hammerhal Aqsha many enemies. Chaos armies have continually attacked the city since its founding, with the most recent threat coming from a clamouring alliance of Chaos Marauders called the Crimson Horde. Nor are the forces of the Dark Gods the only threats. Undead hosts, of both physical and ethereal varieties, have assailed Hammerhal since the Necroquake.
Hammerhal Aqsha is a harsh and heavy fortified place with towering bastions and batteries. It’s many pendants and banners dance on hot, angry winds. It is protected by lighting shields while mobile forts seek to expand the city boundaries.
The cities defences are maintained by the genius of the Ironweld Arsenal, which have a strong presence in the city. The surrounding land is purified by the self-flagellating processions of Devoted of Sigmar.
In exchange for a steady supply of foodstuff from Ghyra, Aqsha provides a constant stream of molten rocks.
