History TabletopGame / WarhammerTheEndTimes

''Warhammer: The End Times'' is a campaign and range of products for the 8th edition of ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}''. This relates the final days of the world and the events that leads to said end. It was followed by ''TabletopGame/WarhammerAgeOfSigmar'', a [[ContinuityReboot semi-reboot]] of the ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'' setting.

** Taken [[UpToEleven Up to Eleven]] in classic Warhammer fashion, with entire ''civilizations'' being killed offscreen, the very first (but most certainly not the last) of which is Kislev, long established to be a significant bulwark against invasions from the north, revealed to have been destroyed before the beginning of the first book.

* {{Main/Avatar}}: The End Times introduces the concept of the "Incarnates", eight individuals who are the "Incarnates of the eight Winds of Magic". The "Winds Incarnate" were made by Teclis to create an opposing force to the Four Chaos Gods.

* DividedWeFall: A recurring theme. Archaon himself notes at the beginning of End Times: Glottkin that the Dark Gods only have a chance at succeeding as long as the races of Order don't unify. [[spoiler:Ultimately, the Dwarfs go full "every hold for himself" and coordinate little with either each other or external allies (allowing the dwarf city-states to be picked off piecemeal by the Skaven hordes), the Southern Realms do so as well as a continuation of their usual policy (to the same result), and the Bretonnians, High Elves, and Wood Elves flat-out expend most of their strengths in disastrous civil wars before they see a single Chaos Warrior. Only the Empire even tries to be a team player, and their ability to do so is limited by the fact that they're the ones getting slammed the hardest by Chaos's main offensives. It is worth noting that, even with all the boons given to Chaos and the Skaven in this campaign, Order ''still'' would have won if not for a last-second betrayal by Mannfred. Josh Reynolds also confirmed in ask.fm sessions that Chaos would've gotten beaten early had Order unified from the beginning.]]

** [[spoiler:Lileath's Haven is seemingly devoured by the Chaos Gods without her noticing once Be'lakor overhears Jerrod mentioning it.]]

[[caption-width-right:300:[[ZombieApocalypse Death rises.]] [[ThePlague Empires rot.]] [[TwilightOfTheGods Gods perish.]] [[SwarmOfRats Kingdoms fall.]] [[TheBadGuyWins Chaos reigns.]]]]

* '''Slayer''': The final book of the [[Literature/GotrekAndFelix Gotrek & Felix]] saga. The survivors of ''Kinslayer'' get involved in stopping Be'lakor's plans to usurp the Chaos gods, and the first Slayer himself has to step in. [[spoiler: Gotrek replaces the god Grimnir so the original can stand with his people in the final battle, everybody else dies.]]

* '''Warhammer: The Lord of the End Times''': Josh Reynolds returns for the GrandFinale. Archaon's forces descend upon Middenheim, and the remaining factions, both living and undead, are forced to unite in a final, desperate defense. [[spoiler: [[DownerEnding They fail]].]]

->''The Three-Eyed King has long awaited this moment, the hour of which his destiny is at last unveiled. He leads an army of madness and rage, against which no sane being would willingly stand. Perhaps I am not sane, as I will fight one last time. Not for victory, but for survival, for the hope that a spark can ensure. It is a slender hope, and the laughter of the Dark Gods rings loud in my ears.....These are the [[TitleDrop End Times]]...''
-->'''Lileath: Goddess of the Moon.''' Or Sigmar in the trailer.

* ArtifactOfDoom: Where do we even begin? From all the artifacts needed for the ritual of the return of Nagash (all of which were made by him and belonged to him once; one is actually his severed hand), to the [[InfinityMinusOneSword Fellblade]] that once killed him.
** A prime example is the [[InfinityPlusOneSword Sword of Khaine]], [[spoiler:which is drawn by Tyrion during the start of the second phase of the Elven Civil War]].

* BigBad: Again, a lot of them. Before the start of the arc, [[TheAntichrist Archaon]] was gathering his forces to unleash them on the south. Now, [[GodhoodSeeker Nagash]] has returned, supposedly, to stop him and claim the world for himself in the process.
** Though by the final book, it is ultimately Archaon who earns the title, as Nagash allies himself with the Incarnates and their forces in order to ensure his survival.

* EnemyMine: The Dark Elves, Wood Elves, and High Elves, previously separate and with a mutual dislike/hatred for one another that's lasted thousands of years, unite under Malekith after Ulthuan sinks.

* KilledOffScreen: Taken [[UpToEleven Up to Eleven]] in classic Warhammer fashion, with entire ''civilizations'' being killed offscreen, the very first (but most certainly not the last) of which is Kislev, long established to be a significant bulwark against invasions from the north, revealed to have been destroyed before the beginning of the first book.

* OhCrap: Vlad's magic sword automatically drains the blood from those it stabs. He realizes why that's not always a good idea just slightly too late after stabbing [[Plaguemaster Otto Glottkin]] in the back.

* OutOfFocus: The Knights of Blood Keep have a major part in the first book, but Abhorash and the rest of the Blood Dragons vampire bloodline has been completely absent. [[StealthPun In the same vein]], the Necrach vampire bloondline (mad-scientist/wizard vampires who worship Nagash as a god and seek his return and would've leapt at the opportunity to bring him back), have been completely absent except for a brief mention of Zacharias who was quickly killed off and the mention that the Master of Shadows in End Times:Glottkin was originally a Necrach. Yet it is implied that several Necrach's joined the Von Carsteins and assumed the identity of that bloodline. (Alternatively, they aren't mentioned because every named Nechrarch other than Zacharias was already canonically dead.)

* ShaggyDogStory: Lileath deliberately prolonged the elf civil war and manipulated Brettonia through its entire history (through her character The Lady) in order to create a hidden realm for her followers (both human and elf) and descendants to survive the end of the world. It's discovered by Chaos and presumably destroyed off-screen almost immediately.

* {{Crossover}}: In book 4 the Skaven discover an ancient Old One device that allows communication with the stars. They make brief contact with someone that apparently sounds [[Characters/Warhammer40000Eldar like an elf]], then wreck the device in fear.
** In book 3 elves adventuring in the Realm of Chaos link up with a mysterious human of giant stature [[Literature/GreyKnights wearing strange silver armor]] who wields magical blue lightning against Daemons.
*** It turns out that the mentioned silver armored human [[RedHerring is not what people claimed to be]] (probably because the author left and was replaced). It's a [[spoiler:[[TabletopGame/WarhammerAgeOfSigmar Stormcast Eternal of the Hallowed Knights]], who look an awful lot like the Grey Knights. Probably the skaven didn't contacted an Eldar, but an Aelf. This makes quite the {{Foreshadowing}}, but the above interpretations seemed much more likely at release than that it was a reference to a setting that wouldn't be announced for months.]] This may or may not be a retcon; the author left the company several months before the "reveal" was made.

* TheBusCameBack: After several years away from the setting, Drachenfels has returned and now serves as Mortarch of Nagash. Though he has lost his memory, and part of his reasons in serving the great necromancer is under the belief that he can restore his memories. [[spoiler:In End Times: Archaon he betrays Nagash, possesses Luthor Huss and turns to Chaos. Focusing his entire power into Luthor leaves him vulnerable, and after Vlad gives Luthor a moment of control back Luthor is able to channel divine power through himself and kill Drachenfels for good, although he's been killed off "for good" many times now so who knows if it'll stick]].

* BigBad: Again, a lot of them. Before the start of the arc, [[TheAntichrist Archaon]] was gathering his forces to unleash them on the south. Now, [[AGodAmI Nagash]] has returned, supposedly, to stop him and claim the world for himself in the process.

* {{Chickification}}: Neferata gets hit with this. Despite being [[CoDragons a Mortarch]] and being the first [[StrongerWithAge vampire]], Neferata does not accomplish anything major by herself unlike the other Mortarchs; she was rescued by, and forced to work with, Krell (also a Mortarch) and his forces when she went back to the secret cavern of the Dwarf gods and later was put in a stalemate by Khalida who thwarted her attempt to reclaim Lahmia. In addition, Neferata is the only female Mortarch.

* AbortedArc: In ''End Times: Archaon'', [[NobleDemon Vlad von Carstein]] takes Jerrod aside and tells him to go to Abhorash and Gilles le Breton, and tell the former "He was right." WordOfGod is that what Abhorash was right about was meant to be included in another book, but was unfortunately never implemented.

** The sheer volume of character deaths starts getting kind of silly after a while, [[TropesAreNotGood and one of the first criticisms of the entire run by fans]] was that characters were dropping so thick and fast that it swiftly ceased to have much effect.

** The sheer volume of character deaths starts getting kind of silly after a while, [[TropesAreNotGood and one of the first criticisms of the entire run by fans]] was that characters were dropping so thick and fast that they were losing track of them all, with shock value swiftly drying up.

** A prime example is the [[InfinityPlusOneSword Sword of Khaine]], [[spoiler:which is drawn by Tyrion during the final battle in the Elven civil war]].

* TheAtoner: Several characters, particularly Korhil, [[spoiler:[[BackFromTheDead Tyrion]]]] and [[DoomedHometown Duke Jerrod]].

* BackForTheDead: Characters that haven't been mentioned for decades and a number of one-book-wonders show up for a line or two just to establish that they were still around. This goes all the way back to Harold Hammerstorm, the guy from the front of the first boxed set who was never given a personality beyond the name and that he has a hammer.

* TheBadGuyWins: [[spoiler: Every standing faction conflict in the setting. It starts getting kind of ridiculous. Skaven versus every human kingdom west of the Empire? Skaven. Chaos and Orcs versus Ind and Cathay? Chaos and Orcs. Elf civil war? Dark Elves. Battle for Kharak Eight Peaks? Skaven, Goblins withdraw intact. Dwarfs versus Skaven and Goblins in general? Skaven. Nagash versus Tomb Kings? Nagash. Skaven versus Lizardmen? RocksFallEveryoneDies, but Skaven were winning up to that point. Sigmar versus Archaon? Tie, but only because Grimgor softened Archaon up first. Chaos versus everyone? [[DownerEnding Chaos]].]]
* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: A meta example. Fans had been clamoring for GW to "advance the storyline" for decades. And advance the storyline did.

*** It turns out that the mentioned silver armored human [[RedHerring is not what people claimed to be]](probably because the author). It's a [[spoiler:[[TabletopGame/WarhammerAgeOfSigmar Stormcast Eternal of the Hallowed Knights]], who look an awful lot like the Grey Knights. Probably the skaven didn't contacted an Eldar, but an Aelf. This makes quite the {{Foreshadowing}}, but the above interpretations seemed much more likely at release than that it was a reference to a setting that wouldn't be announced for months.]] This may or may not be a retcon; the author left the company several months before the "reveal" was made.

* EnemyMine: The Dark Elves, Wood Elves, and High Elves, previously separate and with a mutual dislike/hatred for one another that's lasted thousands of years, have united under Malekith after Ulthuan sank.

* GameChanger: The return of Nagash is viewed as serious threat in-universe by everyone, including the Chaos Gods. It also even the event that was used to introduce The End Times to the Warhammer fanbase and has been one of the End Times better received aspects. Nagash's return had many effects on/in the story including, but not limited to, the weakening of Bretonnia, [[spoiler:the destruction of Nehekhara]], exacerbating the elven civil war and inundating the entire world with death magic and undead (represented by all wizards from all factions being able to use the new [[NightOftheLivingMooks Lore of Undeath]] in the game).

** Neferata (killed; Thorek Ironbrow. This is debatable, as she dealt a lethal wound to Thorek Ironbrow but [[HeroicSacrifice he killed himself by detonating his Anvil of Doom in an attempt to destroy the undead army]]).

* OhCrap: Vlad's magic sword automatically drains the blood from those it stabs. He realizes why that's not always a good idea just slightly too late after stabbing Otto Glottkin in the back.

* {{Retcon}}: The End Times in there entirety are a retcon. Though no actual ''stories'' had been set later than 2522 IC (the 'present' of the setting at the point the End Times kick off) there were many references in previously published Warhammer fiction to much later dates with the FramingDevice of the ''Zavant'' stories explicitly having the Old World survive for at least another century, a paragraph in ''Beasts in Velvet'' suggesting a text would inspire revolutions for centuries to come and so on.

** The Slann have declared that the Great Plan of [[{{Precursors}} The Old Ones]] has failed and the Lizardmen are gone to places unknown. Also, the Ogres when the Mountains of Lament start erupting.

* WhenAllYouHaveIsAHammer: Eltharion taking on Arkhan to rescue Aliathra and stop the ritual to resurrect Nagashafter his sword was destroyed piercing the barrier. [[spoiler: It didn't work, with Arkhan killing Eltharion]].

* AnyoneCanDie: As it is the story of TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt, The End Times removed the long standing policy of StatusQuoIsGod, resulting in the deaths of a multitude of well-known and popular characters, many of whom had been in the game for decades.