After much time spent spying on the cannibal courts from afar, we can report that they have finally opened the rotten gates of their ruined keeps, and are surging out in full force across the Mortal Realms. Ushoran himself smashes his way into the realms alongside a royal court packed with noble courtiers and their loyal servants, alongside Dawnbringers: Book IV – The Mad King Rises. It’s good eating for the servants of Death.
Dawnbringers: Book IV: The Mad King Rises
Both halves of the Twin-Tailed Crusade are battered and bruised after their battles across the Dawnbringers series, but nevertheless, they continue their endless march through Aqshy and Ghyran in the fourth chapter of this epic story. Unfortunately for these beleaguered Sigmarites, the hungry forces of Death are prepared to welcome them with open arms.
The Mortarch of Delusion welcomes the Ghyranite prong of the Crusade into New Summercourt, where the Sekhar, the Fang of Nulahmia, is weaving a dizzying web of conspiracy that threatens the Dawnbringers. Alongside rules for Ushoran and Sekhar, there is a new Army of Renown with a heavy focus on powerful bloodsuckers, a regiment of renown for all six of Nagash’s mortarchs, the next chapter of the Cities of Sigmar Path to Glory Battlepack, and the return of Triumph and Treachery.
Pay tribute to Ushoran with the limited edition of Mad King Rises, which features soft-fouch full cover art with gold foil lettering, a purple ribbon marker, and gilt page edges. It is limited to just 300 individually numbered copies.*
Ushoran, Mortarch of Delusion
Going by many names – the Sombre Paladin, the Lord of Masques, the Summerking – Ushoran is the powerful epicentre of the Flesh-eater delusion. A complex character who masks his bestial nature behind a suffocating illusion of chivalry, the Mortarch of Delusion is a hulking brute who casually carves through his foes as he leads his rancid ghouls to victory against the enemies of Nagash. His rules are available in Mad King Rises, and also shortly as a free download on Warhammer Community.
Fangs of the Blood Queen
The Fang of Nulahmia is a loyal servant of Ushoran’s rival Neferata. Like her mistress, Sekhar is a duplicitous schemer, bending the will of enemies and allies alike through subtle suggestion and powerful hypnosis. The Fangs of the Blood Queen is the first place you can get Sekhar and her serpentine thrall Ouboroth, alongside 10 Dire Wolves and three Fell Bats.
Battletome: Flesh-eater Courts
Drink deep of the delusion with the standalone release of this battletome, which contains the blood-splattered background for the ghoulish horrors who truly believe they are chivalrous warriors. All the rules you need to bring this army to the battlefield are included, with 27 warscrolls and pitched battle profiles for all of your chivalric cannibals, a wealth of thematic enhancements, Path to Glory rules, and a gallery painted by the ’Eavy Metal team.
Give yourself fully over to the madness of Ushoran with a beautiful limited edition that definitely isn’t a mouldy grimoire plastered with old blood. This edition features a soft-touch cover with gold foil blocking, gilt page edges, and a red ribbon bookmark – a supremely decadent artefact. It is limited to just 300 numbered copies.
Grand Justice Gormayne
What use is a royal court without a paragon of sound mind to pass judgement upon those who transgress against the will of the Summerking? Grand Justice Gormayne delivers his sentences without a hint of clemency, whipping his minions into a frenzy with spit-flecked orations.
Abhorrant Cardinal
Blessed with arcane power after sipping from the Carrion King’s chalice, Abhorrant Cardinals are zealous clerics that spread the word of Ushoran across the Mortal Realms. Their stupefying sermons can erode the sense of even the most stoic warriors.
Royal Decapitator
The Royal Decapitators of the Carrion Court have one job, and they do it exceedingly well. Though pock-marked and rusted, their axes are more than up to lopping off heads for their vampiric lieges, a task which these grim executioners pursue with a demented vigour.
Varghulf Courtier
Varghulf Courtiers are the most forgone of all of Ushoran’s servants, vampires transfigured into loping, bestial forms. In their delusion, the Carrion Court views these vile creatures as blessed champions who emerge from their dank cloisters only when battle draws near – but the enemies of the Flesh-eaters see their true, chiropteran* nature, usually as they are being torn asunder by their elongated limbs.
Marrowscroll Herald
The realms of the Flesh-eater Courts engage in internal relations and diplomacy just like any other kingdom, and the Marrowscroll Heralds are their esteemed envoys. They spread the glorious news of their benevolent liege across the Mortal Realms, leaving a trail of madness and destruction in their wake.
Cryptguard
Cryptguards are the sworn bodyguards of the abhorrants, armed with the finest weapons from their armouries. In their minds, these are masterworks covered in filigree, but in reality they are rusted relics steeped in corpse-juices. Even the shallowest cut from one of these foul blades can turn a brave warrior into a gibbering wreck. This box builds 10 Cryptguard with a choice of weapons and heads, plus options for a champion, standard bearer, and musician.
Morbheg Knights
Morbheg Knights are a chivalric order whose shields and flags bear offal-strewn simulacra of traditional heraldry. Devoted to their abhorrant monarchs, they crash into enemy ranks, ear-piercing howls from their nightshrieker steeds sending foes into disarray as the carnage commences. This box builds three Morbheg Knights with a selection of interchangeable heads, two shields each, and options for a champion, standard bearer and musician.
Flesh-eater Courts Dice Set
Pair your army of emaciated ghouls and your dice with the Flesh-eater Courts dice set, which contains 16 sickly grey dice with red ink pips. These dice each feature the Flesh-eater Courts faction icon on the six face.
Ironhead Squat Prospectors: Champion with Mining Laser
The Ironhead Squat Prospectors welcome a new Champion to the fold, a Drill Master hefting a mining laser that’s nearly as big as he is. Designed to bore precious minerals out of the crust of Necromunda, these S9 tools make short work of armour and vehicles. This single-pose miniature is an Expert Kit made from Forge World Resin.
Two new miniatures will be on offer at Store Anniversaries this year. As always, you’ll want to ask your local store when their store birthday is so you can get a chance to buy your own.
Brakki of the Gilded Key
Armed with a blazing Latch-axe and wearing a finely crafted cloak of Magmadroth leather, Brakki of the Gilded Key is a stout exemplar of the Fyreslayers. Though unique in design, this miniature can be used to represent an Auric Runesmiter, a pious priest who can create tunnels that help his doughty allies strike at the heart of the enemy.
Invocation of the Elements
Ethereals are the spiritual leaders of the T’au Empire, and each embodies the wisdom and the unity of the Greater Good with every action they undertake. Clad in flowing robes and armed with an Honour Stave featuring the emblems of the four castes.
White Dwarf 497
The February issue of White Dwarf is 144 pages of excellent Warhammer articles and images. This month introduces rules for the Insidious Infiltrators – a new Combat Patrol for Tyranids in Warhammer 40,000 – Flesh-eater Courts in Cursed City, and Space Marine Scouts for Kill Team. On top of that, there’s gorgeous photography of the Lumineth Realm-lords and the first Battle Report for Warhammer: The Old World.**
Ork Choppa Bottle Opener
Boyz and cold ones – name a better combo. The Ork Choppa Bottle Opener is exactly what it sounds like, a very Warhammer 40,000 way of opening bottles filled with your favourite refreshment without having to resort to brute strength. This product will be available to buy next week, no pre-order necessary.
The teleportarium is warming up, and the terminators of the Deathwing Assault are getting ready to ship out. Warhammer+ has two videos this week to celebrate the incoming Dark Angels. Loremasters has a deep dive on Belial and the Deathwing, and Citadel Colour Masterclass puts on a tutorial for achieving their trademark bone armour colour.
Warhammer Age of Sigmar Arena of Death – Part 2 is on Battle Report as the final 16 heroes enter a rumble to decide who is the all-time greatest combatant in the Mortal Realms.
With Ushoran on his way, next week you can look forward to articles on painting this mouldering monarch and his attendants, as well as miniature reveals on Monday and Thursday, more coverage of the Dawnbringer Crusades, and the next Balance Dataslate for Warhammer 40,000.
* Meaning ‘batlike’...
** English-language copies of White Dwarf are delayed in Australia, New Zealand, and Japan.