Nagash has but one desire: to turn the Mortal Realms into a lifeless Necroptopia, a perfect expression of his self-given right to rule. Enacting this grand plan is proving tricky, however. Gods and monsters have their own claims to the realms and the people in them. These mortals cling to life, and even his own lieutenants and underlings are self-obsessed and backstabbing.
If only all of his servants could be as reliable and unchanging as those from the Barrow Kingdoms. These legions of lifeless skeletons are in thrall to the Supreme Lord of the Undead thanks to ancient kings who once pledged their subjects’ souls for immortality… at least of a sort.
Now in thrall to the Soulblight Gravelords, they rise in the forthcoming Deathrattle Army Set, which will be available for pre-order on Saturday. Much remains the same for this army of all-powerful vampires and the ranks of the dead they wield, but they have learned a few tricks despite Nagash’s love of stasis.
Cursed Sepulchres are the hottest new real estate in Warhammer Age of Sigmar, and any self-respecting Vampire Lord or Wight King wouldn’t be seen dead for a second time battling anywhere lacking such fonts of necromantic power. Luckily, Ancient Burial Sites are everywhere in the Mortal Realms and you can mark them with your Cursed Sepulchres. You set one up in the Deploy Faction Terrain step of the Deployment Phase, and can deploy up to two more after both armies are ranked up and ready to fight.
Once Per Battle (Army), Deployment Phase
ANCIENT BURIAL SITES
Across the Mortal Realms stand time-worn mausoleums and barrows, housing the remains of the long dead.
Effect: If there is a friendly Cursed Sepulchre on the battlefield, you can set up up to 2 additional Cursed Sepulchres on the battlefield. The first must be set up more than 3" from all units,objectives and other terrain features. The second must be set up wholly outside enemy territory and more than 3" from all units, objectives and other terrain features.
Designer’s Note: The original Cursed Sepulchre is set up inStep 1 of the deployment phase using the ‘Deploy Faction Terrain’ ability. This ability allows you to set up a second and third such terrain feature and is used in Step 3 of the deployment phase, after armies have been deployed.
They act as conduits for Manifestations and rallying points for the Rising Dead. Units which start the battle in the grave* can deploy within 6” (with the usual 9” from enemy units restriction). Not that such a restriction bothers the indefatigable Barrow Knights…
These Knights of the King are fated to ride with their liege long into their unending afterlife, their mere presence extending a Ward (5+) to nearby mounted heroes, while Barrow Guard provide the same for footsloggers. Even when shattered by foes, they are Cursed to Rise Once More, reforming their ranks. With Crit (Mortal) and Charge (+1 Damage) on their Barrow Lances, this extra resilience makes them an even greater threat.
BARROW KNIGHTS
Passive
KNIGHTS OF THE KING
Buried alongside their liege in ancient times, these deathly knights are still bound by arcane ward and ancient oath to ride into battle at their side.
Effect: While any friendly Deathrattle Cavalry Heroes are within this unit’s combat range, both this unit and those friendly units have Ward (5+).
End of Any Turn
CURSED TO RISE ONCE MORE
Necrotic flames wreathe the shattered remains of an undead knight, compelling them to rejoin the battle.
Effect: You can return 1 slain model to this unit.
The Wight King on Skeletal Steed is an ideal commander for these revenant riders, benefiting greatly from the improved ward save so he can get into the thick of combat. A single cut from his King’s Relic Blade inflicts an Ancient Barrow Curse upon its target, withering armour and flesh alike and subtracting 1 from their Save rolls for the rest of the battle.
WIGHT KINGON SKELETAL STEED
MELEE WEAPONS
King’s Relic Weapon
Charge (+1 Damage), Crit (Mortal)
Atk: 5
Hit: 4+
Wnd: 3+
Rnd: 1
Dmg: 2
Passive
ANCIENT BARROW CURSE
The weapons of the most powerful Wight Kings leave a scar onthe soul that causes the victim to slowly crumble to dust.
Effect: If an attack made with this unit’s King’s Relic Weapon scores a critical hit, the target unit becomes cursed for the rest of the battle. Subtract 1 from save rolls for cursed units.
Designer’s Note: Multiple enemy units can become cursed by this ability but the same enemy unit cannot become cursed more than once.
There’s plenty more to unearth in Battletome: Soulblight Gravelords, and we’ve got more articles coming up including an in-depth How to Play article from one of our contributors.
* Soulblight Gravelords armies can choose to put a number of their units in the grave ahead of battle, as long as the units on the battlefield outnumber those in the ground.
