Last week we had a look at how the Mortal Realms are shaping up towards the kickoff of the new edition of Warhammer Age of Sigmar, and in doing so, we mentioned something called the Dawnbringer Crusades. If this piqued your curiosity, then you’re possessed of an adventurous spirit – and Sigmar needs people just like you for the next stage in his grand plan.
Setting out from the established Cities of Sigmar, Dawnbringer Crusades are military expeditions of would-be pioneers. They seek to settle in new lands across the Mortal Realms and, in doing so, grow the domain of Order. While some number only a hundred individuals, many Crusades are thousands-strong and represent a vast mobilisation of Sigmar’s power.
With the procession led by columns of Stormcast Eternals, Fyreslayers, and Daughters of Khaine, the bold adventurers called Dawnbringers – or often simply Dawners – plunge into hostile lands. Their goal is to found a new settlement at a site of particular importance, be it a realmgate, ancient shrine, or node of geomantic power. Despite the horrendous danger involved, some of them actually succeed.
Speaking of danger, the Dawners are rarely left to expand Sigmar’s realm in peace, and many of the Crusades are set upon by all manner of daemons, beasts, and gheists. A few hosts never make it to their target destination, while others are barely able to lay down their prefabricated buildings before a marauding band of orruks or Chaos warriors tears through their defences.
The buildings themselves are a marvel of Sigmarite engineering, each constructed long before the Crusade has set out and loaded onto giant metaliths. These massive floating islands are towed above the Dawnbringers as they march and carry many of the resources needed for them to quickly establish their settlements on arrival.
The Dawnbringer Crusades defend their nascent homes until the surrounding areas are stabilised. An aqualith – typically imported from Ghyran at great cost – sits at the town’s centre cleansing corruption with its purifying water over a greater area every day.
The battles fought to defend the town are constant and hard-won, and few survive to see their work completed, but all hope that their settlement will become the next true City of Sigmar.
These settlements don’t just exist in the lore. A fresh set of scenery is coming alongside the new edition to represent many of the buildings cropping up all across the Mortal Realms, including arcane defensive statues and purifying engines. Some are new cities that rise up in glory on the remains of ancient empires lost in the Age of Chaos, while others may be little more than the tumbledown ruins that speak of the many failed Dawnbringer Crusades.
Are you thinking of taking up the Coin Malleus* and setting off on an expedition of your own? Before you go, you might want to brush up on what’s happening out there with a few words from the Warhammer Age of Sigmar Studio.
Join us tomorrow as we take a look at one of the huge beasts that might be lurking out there in the wilds, waiting to snack on a few unfortunate Dawners. You won’t want to miss any future articles about the new edition, such as our confirmation of Dominion’s launch date, so make sure you sign up for the newsletter now and get updates delivered right to your inbox.
* A special emblem that’s worn around the neck to signify membership in a Dawnbringer Crusade. Once taken, losing it is punishable by hanging, so try to keep it to hand.