The Dark Lands: Geography, Influences, and History - Warhammer Fantasy

An overview of the Dark Lands from Warhammer Fantasy.
This video covers the content and geography of the Dark Lands, as well as the basic history of the region. I also discuss the potential real world influences that the Dark Lands could be based on.
Not necessarily related to Total War, but that's where Warhammer Fantasy is most relevant these days.
Would appreciate any critique, it's my first first time making a video like this.
#Warhammer #Warhammerlore #Totalwar
Dark City by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license
Artist: audionautix.com/
Intrepid Kevin MacLeod ( incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Echoes of Time v2 Kevin MacLeod ( incompetech.com)
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Stormfront Kevin MacLeod ( incompetech.com)
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Crusade Kevin MacLeod ( incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Gloom Horizon Kevin MacLeod ( incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Oppressive Gloom Kevin MacLeod ( incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Evil March Kevin MacLeod ( incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Music from filmmusic.io
"Fólkvangr" by Alexander Nakarada (www.serpentsoundstudios.com/)
License: CC BY (creativecommons.org/licenses/b...)
Volatile Reaction Kevin MacLeod ( incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Additional sound effects from www.zapsplat.com

[@minotaur818]

The Dawi Zhar flaying rebels and hanging their skins on buildings was probably inspired by Ashurbanipal, an Assyrian king, doing something similar

[@username12120]

That was a nice overview of the region, I'd certainly like to see more like it.

[@mrhoon]

This is a really good video, especially since Darklands isnt something you can just ripoff from 1d4chan and make it into a video and call it a day. You actually brought your own theory and did a good amount of research about this.

[@unnamedshadow1866]

Considering how Old Chaos Dwarfs looked Mesopotamian, the area comparison is pretty accurate!

[@SloveneAnon]

Hey really cool vid. Most warhammer lore videos are sadly just people read wiki articles with some random images in the background. Nice to see someone actually put in serious effort.

[@Mrnatethegreat2002]

Holy crap this was one of the best put together warhammer lore video i have seen well done. Would love to see a full vid on the Chaos Dwarfs.

[@ezekyle3618]

This is one of the best WH lore videos I've ever seen, if not the best of all. Have you considered making more of this? Because this is perfect imo.

[@Pedro-rn6fx]

Finally someone who goes into detail about the Darklands, really enjoyed the video my dude.

[@jwallelelu5072]

Great vid. Can you do overview of lustria or Naggaroth next

[@The2ndOne]

Thanks, and I'll definitely consider it.

[@SHDW-nf2ki]

@@The2ndOne Please do more, this video is a year old and its still the best warhammer lore video I've ever seen

[@ic3125]

Tru

[@AA-vr8ez]

This was so good, wish you did it one on the chaos wastes and Norca

[@austinmonreal2331]

That was a fantastic overview! It’s so amazing to see how much lore can be pulled apart from across the editions to fill out the world. I can’t wait for WH3 it’s going to be a very fascinating delve into the dark lands if this video is anything to go off of. Awesome work on this and the map you made on reddit!

[@24framez_]

Please keep the "map-lore" of the old world coming ;)

[@ExpertExterminators]

I wish you come back, man. Estalia could use your geography overview. =)

[@SniperLumChannel]

26:28 In case you miss that, at the end of the video is quoted Luka Huarugoin's a Tilean explorer. If you look at his surname is a distortion of the English phrase "Where are you going?". That's GW English humor for you!

[@dropkickpiper3204]

When looking at real world inspiration for the Dark Lands, I think the bigger inspiration is actually from fiction. The Dark Lands are Mordor. It’s located around a mountain range that divides it from the human lands. It was rendered inhospitable because of a giant volcano exploding. The Dawi Zharr are corrupted forms of purer creatures who worship a god of domination and industry, much like how the orcs do with Sauron. The bigger and stronger black orcs also come from the Dark Lands.

[@Swindondruid2]

The shock event that made the Darklands was probably based on the real events of 536AD when the world went dark for 18 months. This caused a massive migration from the steppes into the Byzantine empire, much like the Orks fled west.

[@jacobschutz2592]

Zerkovich did not disappoint when he said your videos are well put together

[@andrewszemis9399]

What a fantastic vid, you obviously put a lot of work into it. I really hope we see this region fleshed out fully in Warhammer Total War 3!

[@JD-wm2rd]

I wish you would do more. Your lore work and understanding of anthropological geography make for an interesting and informative video

[@unnamedshadow1866]

Amazing video. I hope you make one for every region in the Warhammer Map. Even the ones we already have in-game. To give at least some speculation about potential future regions CA could add.

[@Tottisimo]

Holy moly, that was insanely informative, interesting and overall superb made video.

[@piercegalactic]

This is really good, please consider making more of these

[@lear7845]

Today reviewing this video again, glad to see the content of the chaos dwarf. Hope to see the chaos dwarf trailer come out soon!!

[@Meatshield108]

Great video! I'm happy you covered the Wheatlands and Farside Colonies, as I always liked the idea of them in the lore. Hopefully they show up in Warhammer 3!

[@Jordan-ob7nz]

Fantastic production values for a lore video! Thumbs up!

[@danman2524]

The Dark Lands really remind me that Warhammer: Fantasy is called fantasy for a reason! Amazing video

[@Guillimann]

Please do more of this, it’s amazing

[@Octomon]

This and your tilea video have inspired me to do a new wfrp campaign travelling to cathay through the dark lands.

[@dannyblack721]

Great Video, would love to see breakdowns of each region of the map like this.

[@NisGaarde]

These are really good. Why did you stop making them?

[@PowerPuffSoldier]

Very good presentation. Really eager to see more stuff from you!

[@mobiuscolors7459]

Fantastic research. Well done on this video

[@STEFAN9484]

I loved the video ! I hope those who make the warhammer 3 will think about to make the badlands so in depth . I want a strong chaos dwarf and ogre kingdom factions but also all the 4 chaos demons faction races + kislev .

[@GUN1GRAVE]

man i want this channel to come back. great vid

[@KS-PNW]

Really nice summary here. Thanks for doing this mate!

[@megasandwhich7016]

Can't believe this was your 1st video, very high quality!

[@jamrocks464]

A really good video of a lot of information, also you presented it interesting! I would definitely appreciate more of this stuff.

[@Bassmanfro]

Hey man, kinda late to the party here but this was the single best lore video I've ever seen. Absolutely amazing! I hope you make more :)

[@LordBartholomeus]

Found this video through your maps on reddit and must say; I am very impressed! This video made me subscribe instantly, very well thought out and great visuals to accompany the audio.

[@konrad2460]

Hi! How to find his maps on Reddit?

[@Archon379]

Amazing informative video. Thanks!

[@adam9248]

Amazing video! Please do more on other regions such as Naggaroth or Lustria.

[@Vomax343]

Fantastic. Please make more of these!

[@nathaniel4334]

What a brilliant video. This was illuminating. Thanks so much.

[@Kir_Geo]

Amazing video, detailed map reading. Could you do a series for rest of the regions.

[@JonathanEngblom]

It would be nice with more of these! 👍🤠

[@daltramontoallalbume]

Ngl you did a good job, this video is so underrated, i hope you will do more videos like this

[@charleswinters9567]

Amazing work! Please, do a video about the Badlands next.

[@gigachad5961]

What a great and detailed video. Would love to see more about other parts of the WH world.

[@Godzilla-bo4jj]

Really good and knowledgeable video, can't wait to get the chaos dwarfs in Warhammer 3

[@Iyanden1432]

That was really awesome, thanks, hope you do more

[@SoulessTwo]

Wow, what a Video. Glad i'am came here from the Zerkovich vid. Very intetessting, thank you.

[@jugadorcastriot7796]

Very well researched and presented video thanks

[@albafrezzze3385]

damm the qualitly is on point do more video man

[@nathaniel4334]

Just seen this is your only video. I hope you do more content soon! You've made me excited for WH3.

[@MoistDampRat]

Really great, dude!

[@JamesAce]

Amazing video how did i not find this earlier

[@daltramontoallalbume]

you also deserve a prize for the weathlands, it made me subscribe instantly

[@GG-ou7it]

You earned a new sub, great video i hope you continue with this when total warhammer 3 comes out.

[@alexshaw4182]

Hello! Just came over from Zerkovich's channel - good stuff!

[@Selakah]

This video was fantastic. Very well done. Have you thought about doing more overviews like this one?

[@The2ndOne]

Thanks! I am planning on more videos, I've been working on the next one on and off for awhile now, stuff just keeps getting in the way.

[@fabianmiron2782]

Holy fuck you have some slick editing Skills. When youre done making all the warhammer continents ( please ) Could you make RL geography? This shit needs to be in Schools

[@andrewszemis9399]

With the Twisted and Twilight release its great to see more and more of these locations making it into Warhammer Total War. Hopefully we get the whole thing in part 3!

[@funkpunk657]

Great video. Please do more.

[@SloveneAnon]

Also I feel like it would be worth talking about Nagashizzar since it's basically on the border. Really sad there isn't more lore about the south western corner like the Broken Teeth though, wasted potential if you ask me. Kudos for including the wheatlands btw.

[@The2ndOne]

I consider Nagashizzar to be part of the World's Edge Mountains, otherwise I would have loved to talk about it. But I had to draw the line somewhere, the video is already a lot longer than I planned for it to be. Thanks for the comment!

[@noscompusarme]

@@The2ndOne You should do the whole Warhammer world! This video was a-ma-zing. Why can't I give more than one like!?

[@RaytheonThunder]

7:59 Well now we know for sure that GW is fully canonizing Kislev's Eastern colonies.

[@wasaju]

Great video!

[@jms4359]

I need more of this pls!

[@ruddendave]

This is fantastic - really well-researched! Please do the lands to the far east next!

[@neckutter]

Great video. Subscribed

[@peanutwars]

really enjoyed this I would love to see some more man! I wanna know about any native animals or creatures lol

[@Cryoteer]

This is really good, just found it

[@cognitiveburp]

Can you create more of these please?

[@tcideh4929]

Subbed, what a good video.

[@Magmadoge]

Fantastic Videos

[@filipposcarponi9292]

Amazing video

[@bartezbayron3639]

Great vid, thanks.

[@videofan062]

Enjoying this more than real world geography lol

[@SHDW-nf2ki]

Please do more videos like this

[@tekaraethomas6617]

Do the Easter steps or the chaos waste next please

[@PrudiBR]

Can someone please link me that astounding illustration that appears at 11:19? Great video, by the way. The best I've seen so far regarding the Dark Lands.

[@The2ndOne]

Here you go buddy: www.artstation.com/artwork/aRyz9

[@PrudiBR]

@@The2ndOne Oh! Thank you! If I may suggest, I'd love to see a similar video about the Mountains of Mourn or the Northern Wastes.

[@hiukas.]

Still waiting for your return king😞😞😞!

[@someguy1026]

Good video but I'd say that the Darklords more closely resemble the area between the Zagros mountains in the west and the Tian Shan mountains in the east. They probably removed the Caspian Sea altogether and instead turned them into a mountain range, connecting the Urals with the Zagros through the Caucasus. The southern coast of the Dark Lands is also almost an exact copy of the southern coast of Iran. This would turn the Dark Lands into what in the ancient world was known as the heart of Iranian culture. The Chaos Dwarf capital of Zharr-Naggrund also kind of corresponds with the city of Samarkand(Zharr-Naggrund and Samarkand also sound kind of similar, especially with correct pronunciation), the heart of Iranian culture during the Middle Ages. The history of the Chaos Dwarfs is also very similar to that of the Persians. The Chaos Dwarfs were cut off from their cousins in the west, just like Persians are Indo-Europeans cut off from the wider Indo-European world by Turkic peoples. The way they dress is also more similar to that of the Persians than that of Mesopotamians(Persians were the only ones using square hats. The rest of the look is shared between Mesopotamians and Persians). The whole thing with being technologically advanced is also more similar to that of the Persians(Muhammad even remarked about Persians that even if knowledge lay in the highest star a Persian would be the one to attain it, which is a very poetical way of saying that Persians would attain knowledge no matter how hard it would be). The whole thing with moving into the Darklands from Zorn Uzkul(Sintashta Culture, earliest sign of Iranian peoples) through the Mountains of Mourn(Tian Shan Mountains) is exaclty the same path Iranian peoples took when migrating to the region. Culturally I would call the Chaos Dwarfs Assyrian, as the whole slavery and cruelty thing is what they were known for.

[@TKDxxxward]

Not going to lie man. This was pretty good. Shame you haven’t done anymore

[@thewallofguns550]

I hope you upload more videos soon

[@lutherabel2618]

Zerk sent me here, to the Dark Lands

[@ghazghkull133]

Great video. Please make more or I'll get the chaos dwarfs to force you to make more.

[@lord_alderaan9283]

Not a comment for this video but for your Warhammer 3 Theoretical Map post on reddit. I would like to see Grimgor Ironhide start position moved to the Blasted Wastes near the Gates of Zharr. 1. it would be a Lore friendly start position for Grimgor and allow him to strike northwards first like in lore. 2. It would separate him from all the other Greenskin Legendary Lords who are already in nearby locations like Ekrund (Wurrzag)or(Gorbad), Karak Eight Peaks (Skarsnik), Misty Mountains (Grom) and Black Crag (Gorfang), 3. Would allow for a fresh play-through for a character whose start position has been the same since Warhammer 1. + It'd give those Chaos Dwarfs a hard fight early game and stop them from expanding too quickly!

[@lord_alderaan9283]

Oh and for anyone curious here: www.reddit.com/r/totalwar/comments/dhu6vh/total_war_warhammer_3_theoretical_map_updated/

[@andreasericsson2228]

I would like to know more about mount gunbad aka lotr gundabad hehe

[@eruiluvatar6688]

I hope they will improve siege battles in the third game to make Dawi Zharr's fortresses seem more grand and intimidating.

[@heinkhel]

More please my Swedish friend

[@The2ndOne]

More soon, friend of unknown nationality.

[@evenlate]

Making brilliant lore and then checks out.

[@blakebailey22]

It looks like this is the only video on your channel, will you make more?

[@pearsonm1306]

Will the Great Maw have a physical location in TW3?

[@jesayt1470]

grade video 💖

[@fumarc4501]

This makes me wonder what Naggaroth was like before the Dark Elves colonized it?

[@jeambeam3173]

Fucking shame u didn't make any more videos

[@gabrielmontenegro9476]

I came here from Zerk's Tzeench video.

[@linpan2561]

Hi CA guy please show us more about Cathay

[@konrad2460]

Темноземье - чего же здесь только нет?

[@Tinyuvm]

This guy be like "You know what, I'm going to make one of the best lore videos on Warhammer and disappear!"