Quick as a flash, Wednesday arrives once again with a flurry of Warhammer+ content. There’s a Citadel Colour Masterclass on painting true metallic gold* and the fourth episode of the gripping Angels of Death series. Plus, more White Dwarf issues and the Quest for Ghal Maraz are being added to the Warhammer Vault.
These additions are joined by a very special episode of Battle Report, which recreates the colossal clash between brothers Roboute Guilliman and Mortarion in a narrative play game.
You may recall that we teased this battle in the run-up to the launch of Warhammer+ when we took a peek behind the scenes to discover how the Garden of Iax battlefield was built. Well, now it’s time to see this custom gameboard in action – it’s truly a battleground fit for a duel between Primarchs.
The battle on Iax took place at the climax of the Plague Wars – Mortarion’s ambitious attempt to conquer and corrupt the Ultramar Sector by expanding Nurgle’s realm beyond the Scourge Stars. This campaign was Chaos’ revenge for the century-long Indomitus Crusade, which saw Guilliman lead the forces of the Imperium in an attempt to reclaim territory from the grasp of the four Dark Gods.
During the Plague Wars, the armies of Nurgle inflicted all manner of vile maladies on the Imperial worlds. In his wisdom, Guilliman decided that Iax should become a Hospital World, tending to the droves of sick and wounded.
But if there’s anything Nurgle hates more than Tzeentch, it’s people attempting to rid themselves of his gifts – so Iax’s hospitals were a huge insult.Led by Mortarion and the Greater Daemon Ku’Gath, the full force of the Death Guard and the Daemons of Nurgle descended upon Iax. They brought a diabolical pathogen known as the Godblight** with them, hoping to use this weapon to strike down Guilliman.
Righteous and unwavering, the Ultramarines' Primarch stepped up to the challenge of fighting back and eradicating the Daemons and the heretical Death Guard that were overrunning the planet.
The high stakes, the unique setup, and the fact that two Primarchs got to duke it out mano-a-daemono all make Iax the perfect setting for the first narrative play Battle Report on Warhammer+.
Our Battle Report presenters Nick and Patrick – pictured above – are taking charge of the two forces. Surprising no-one, Nick commands the valiant Ultramarines,*** while Patrick leads the daemons of Nurgle and the traitorous Death Guard legions. The scenario was written especially for this episode of Battle Report, and it’s deceptively simple – if Guilliman survives against innumerable odds, Nick wins. If he is cut down by Mortarion and his sons, Patrick wins and rewrites the history of the Imperium as we know it.
The twist? Nurgle’s hordes are nearly endless. Wave upon wave of Daemons crash against the Ultramarines as Mortarion’s Traitor Guard inexorably advance towards the heart of Guilliman’s hastily arranged defences.
Can Guilliman hold on? Or will Mortarion cut a bloody swathe through his defences? You’ll need to subscribe to Warhammer+ to find out. Signing up gives you access to an ever-expanding line-up of Warhammer goodness – including painting masterclasses, rare and out-of-print publications from the Warhammer Vault, and adrenaline-fuelled animations – as well as a gorgeous free miniature that’s exclusive to subscribers. Once you’ve been a Warhammer+ subscriber for 12 consecutive months, you'll get an email explaining how to claim your miniature
* Using metallic paints to effectively represent how gold reacts to light.
** Read all about Ku’Gath and Mortarion’s foolproof Primarch-killing scheme in Guy Haley’s Dark Imperium: Godblight.
*** Nick’s love of Ultramarines is famous – you can often see him painting them during Hang Out and Hobby sessions over on the Warhammer Twitch channel.