With the Vyrkos units of the Soulblight Gravelords going up for pre-order on Saturday, this is the ideal time to take one last look at the strangest bloodline of the bunch. The animalistic variants of this dynasty’s Soulblight curse make them unique among their kin – yes, we’re talking about the wolfy bits.
We’ve already looked at the Legion of Night, the Legion of Blood, and the warlike Kastelai, so you might have some ideas about which of the Cursed Bloodlines you’d like to play. The Vyrkos offer a distinct option, and they’re worth considering if you like magical dominance and strong support from Heroes.
But before we get a glimpse of their rules, let’s answer the question that’s on everybody’s mind.
What’s With the Paws?
Born of the freezing forests in Shyish, the origins of the Vyrkos Dynasty lay shrouded in carefully cultivated mystery. An ancient legend claims that Belladamma Volga, first of the bloodline, wasn’t sired by a vampire at all. Whispers tell of the undead godbeast Hrunspuul, the Hound of the Cairns, striking an infernal bargain with her.
In exchange for the ‘gifts’ of the Soulblight curse, Volga’s descendants would reflect the qualities of the totemic animal-spirits they venerated. The wolf was considered the most sacred of them all – hence the lupine paws seen on many of their line.
Though the Vyrkos strive to retain some balance between their human and animal natures, many succumb and are ultimately reduced to a degenerate state similar to abhorrants. No matter how in control they appear, their bestial core is never far from the surface.
Now that the mystery of the Vyrkos’ animalistic appendages is solved, let’s see how they perform on the tabletop.
Using the Vyrkos Dynasty in Your Games
On the battlefield, the pack-hunting nature of the Vyrkos is represented by a pair of battle traits.
When taken together, the army benefits from lots of supporting vampires – and they have many unique Heroes to choose from, each exhibiting a twist on the bestial curse.
Belladamma Volga, for example, is an ancient and powerful vampire, and her mastery of lupine magic is legendary. This cruel matriarch possesses the ability to transform her enemies into Dire Wolves in the midst of battle, commanding them to bite and claw at their former comrades.
The Rat Prince, Kritza, on the other hand, can cheat death…
… while the delicate appearance of the bat-like Lady Annika masks a thirst for blood that far surpasses most vampires. She all but drowns herself in gore to feed her unnatural metabolism.
If you really, really like wolves, or you want an aggressive vampire army with loads of tricks and a great selection of powerful Heroes, the Vyrkos Dynasty is for you. You can pre-order key units like Radukar the Beast and Belladamma Volga from tomorrow, and the Soulblight Gravelords battletome is up for pre-order right now!