You’ve followed the path through the shadows with a steely heart. Today is your reward, as all is revealed. Behold Warhammer Underworlds: Nethermaze, the new boxed set for Warhammer Underworlds.
This boxed set contains two new warbands drawn to the nexus of the Nethermaze – the Shadeborn, whom Morathi has sent to cut out the heart of the traitorous Queen Kia’tan, and Skittershank’s Clawpack, who seek a new source of penumbral power for the Clans Eshin.
It also comes with everything you need to jump right into a game of Warhammer Underworlds, including two boards, dice, tokens, and a 52-page rulebook that includes all the lore about a labyrinth that seethes with malicious intent.
The Nethermaze – constructed by mysterious and ancient architects – is a powerful wellspring of dark energy and the perfect lure for the Clans Eshin. It has also drawn in aelven seditionists, whose transgressions did not go unnoticed by Morathi – she’s sent a crew of shadowy assassins to snuff out this nascent rebellion. Enter Skittershank’s Clawpack and The Shadeborn.
Led by the enterprising young assassin Slynk Skittershank, Skittershank’s Clawpack are fast and fragile, deadly assassins who all move a speedy five hexes. If they control the pace of the match they will run rings around an enemy warband. The act of killing the enemy leader is the Inspire condition for the whole warband, who then descend on their remaining foes with newfound confidence, looking stylish while doing so.
As a newborn god-queen hungering for yet more power, Morathi-Khaine covets the dark energies of the Liar’s Moon. Her operatives are the Shadeborn, adherents of the shadow arts. These fighters use the shade of cover to manoeuvre around their enemies, receiving buffs and ambushing unwary opponents.
Their leader, the Shroud Queen Slythael, is so attuned to the darkness that she can even flitter between cover unseen. The Shadeborn’s bloodlust brings them great pleasure in their task, and their fighters inspire if they attack an enemy fighter who is already wounded, taking delight in inflicting agony.
There are more new rules on the way – two new keywords, Map and Domain, arrive on cards included in the boxed set. One lets you gamble for glory, and the other lets you change the surroundings of this sunken maze to your advantage. We’ll be going into detail on these new rules and warbands in due course.
But what about the lore of Nethermaze? You may be as lost as the warbands entombed in this deepest of oubliettes. The Nethermaze rests below Harrowdeep, acting as a twisted inversion where reality bends to the whims of its shadowy masters. These mysterious entities were born from the Orb Duplicita – also known as the Liar’s Moon – a crucible of dark energies on the Outer Rim of Ulgu. This power is used to attract mighty warriors into the shifting labyrinth, so that its masters may feed off their fear… but there is a deeper, even more sinister purpose to this diabolic construction. Those who fight through to the end have the chance to escape through the Waking Gate, into Hysh, but the cost of leaving is higher than perhaps any of them might imagine…
Warhammer Underworlds: Nethermaze will be available to pre-order very soon. And if you're wondering where The Exiled Dead have shambled off to, don't fret – this necromantic warband are also right around the corner. Sign up for the Warhammer Community newsletter so you don’t miss out on your chance to head into the gloom and fight for glory.