To the west, in the distant lands of Naggaroth, the followers of Khorne descended southwards with black banners high, hell-bent on leaving nothing but ruin and destruction in their wake. In response, legions of Dark Elven warriors were roused to the warpath, holding out against the blood-crazed hordes that assailed their very gates. Yet for all their pride and glamour they inevitably failed, for their king, Malekith, abandoned them to enact one final gamble to reclaim his birthright as Phoenix King of Ulthuan.[1c]