Gargantuans Hordes Redux

7/28/2019 Gargantuans Hordes Redux

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TIER 1

H U M T [ ~ ~ G ~ I MHUNTING PARlYWARBEASTS: Trollbloodnon-character warbeasts

Requirements: The army can include only the modelslisted above.Benefit: Reduce the cast of Thumper Crew units by 1. Foreach non-Thumper Crew unit in the army, increase the FAof Thumper Crew units by +1.TIER2Requirements: The army includes one or more TrollkinScout units.Benefit: Trollkin Scout units gain Ambush. (You can choosenot to deploy a unit with Ambush at the start of the game .If it is not deployed normally, you can put it into play atthe en_of any of your Control Phases after y.our first turn.

UNITS: Pyg Bushwhackers, Thumper Crws, TrollkinHighwaymen, Trollkin Scouts, Trollkin SluggersSOLOS: Fell Caller solosWhen yo u do, choose any table edge except the back ofyour opponent's deployment zone. Place the models in theunit within 3" of the chosen table edge.)TIER3Requirements: The army includes three or more lightwarbeasts.Benefit: Light warbeasts gain Ad vance Deployment @.TIER4Requirements: Grim's battlegroup includes one or morePy g Bushwhacker units.Benefit: Your deployment zone is extended 2" forward.

~ - ~ ~ o r - - - .... ., -- , - - -MOROOffl\Ta THB ~ 1 ~ T ~ i l n Q WSEASONS OF a.F1\rffi f"'.l vv .. ,eJ-' . i f '

TIER 1

WARBEASTS: Circle non-characterwarbeasts

UNITS: Druids of Orboros, Tharn units

Requirements: The army can include only the modelslisted above.Benefit: You can redeploy models/units with Prey after

bath players have deployed bu t before the first player'sfirst turn. The redeployed models must be placed on thetable in a location they could have been deployed initially.TIER2Requirements: Morvahna's battlegroup includes tw o ormore living warbeasts.Benefit: You gain +1 on your starting roll for the game .

SOLOS: Druid Wilder, Gallows.Grave, Blackclad solos,Tharn solosBATILE ENGINE: Celestial Fulcrum

'fiER 3Requirements: The army includes a Druid Wilder.Benefit: Friendly models1units can begin the gameaffected by Morvahna's upkeep spells. These spells an dtheir targets must be declared before either player sets upmodels. Morvahna does not pay focus to upkeep thesespells during your first turn.TIER4Requirements: The ariny includes tw o or more Tharn units.Benefit: Reduce the point cast of Tharn unit attachmentsand weapon attachments by 1.


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~ ~ ~ ~ - - ~ - - ~ - , - - 11'. -ffiAEOA ll THE EHALTEO COUijTARM'AGEDDON

TIER 1

WARBEASTS: Skorne non-characterwarbeastsUNITS: Paingiver Beast Handlers,Cataphract units, small-based Praetorian units

Requirements: The army can include only the modelslisted above.Benefit: Makeda & the Exalted Court gain Advance Move .(Before th e start of the game but after bath players havedeployed, a madel with Advance Move can make a fulladvance.)TIER2Requirements: The army includes Aptimus Marketh.Benefit: Aptimus Marketh an d Ancestral Guardian soloseach begin the game with one soul token.

SOLOS: Ancestral Guardian solos, Aptimus MarkethBATILE ENGINE: Siege Animantarax

TIER3Requirements: Makeda's battlegroup includes three ormore warbeasts.Benefit: You gain +1 on your starting roll for the game.TIER4Requirements: The army includes one or more Mammothgargantuans .Benefit: Reduce the cast of huge-based models in thisarmy by 2.

3 t i h " " " ~ ~ - r - - - - -- , - , . - - -- .LYLYTH, RECKOflJflG OF EVERBLJGHT

TIER 1

SCOURGE OF GODWARBEASTS: Legion non-characterwarbeasts

UNITS: Legion units with ranged weapons

Requirements: The army can include only the modelslisted above.Benefit: For each Strider Deathstalker solo in the army,yo u can redeploy one madel/ unit after bath playershave deployed bu t before the first player's first turn.The redeployed models must be placed on the table in alocation they could have been deployed initially.TIER2Requirements: The army includes one or more units.Benefit: Units gain Stealth Ci) during the first round ofthe game.

SOLOS: Beast Mistress, Blighted Nyss Shepherd, Legionsolos with ranged weapons

TIER3Requirements: The army includes one or more BlightedNyss Shepherds.Benefit: For each Blighted Nyss Shepherd solo in thearmy, one wa.Tbeast in Lylyth's battlegroup canuse itsanimus during your first turn without being forced. Thesewarbeasts cannat also be forced to use their animi that turn.TIER 4Requirements: Lylyth's battlegroup includes one or moreArchange! gargantuans.Benefit: For each Archange! gargantuan in Lylyth'sbattlegroup, adda lesser warbeast to Lylyth's battlegroupfree of cast.


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BUTCHER'S BLOCK

TIER 1

WARBEASTS: Minion Farrownon-character warbeasts

Requirements: The army can include only the modelslisted above.Benefit: Farrow Bone Grinder units become FAU. Midas'battlegroup can include Boneswarm warbeasts.TIER2Requirements: This army includes one or more FarrowBone Grinder units.Benefit: For each Farrow Bone Grinder unit in the army,one warbeast in Midas' battlegroup gains Ad vance Move .(Before the start of the game bu t after both players havedeployed, a model with Ad vance Move can make a fulladvance.)

UNITS: Farrow unitsSOLOS: Farrow solos, Rorsh & Brine

TIER3Requirements: The army includes one or moreSlaughterhouser units.Benefit: For each Slaughterhouser unit in the army, oneBoneswarm warbeast begins the game with three corpsetokens .TIER4Requirements: Midas' battlegroup includes four or morewarbeasts.Benefit: Ad d one Farrow non-character warbeast to Midas'battlegroup. The warbeast begins the game destroyed.

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TIER 1

WATERY GRAVESWARBEASTS: Minion Gatormannon-character warbeasts

UNITS: Gatorman Bokor & Bog TrogSwamp Shamblers, Bog Trog units

Requirements: The army can include only the modelslisted above.Benefit: Gatorman Bokor & Bog Trog Swamp Shamblerunits become FA 2. Bog Trog Ambusher units becomeFA4.TIER2Requirements: The army includes Totem Hunter.Benefit: Solos in the army gain Advance Move. (Beforethe start of the game but after both players havedeployed, a model with Advance Move can make a f_ulladvance.)

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SOLOS: Thrullg, Mii-on solos with Amphibious,Totem Hunter

TIER3Requirements: The army includes two or more units.Benefit: For every two units in the army, ad d a CroakHunter solo to the army free of cost. These solos do notcount toward FA restrictions.TIER4Requirements: Rask's battlegroup includes three or morewarbeasts.Benefit: Your deployment zone is extended 2" fmward.


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T ~ 0 L L B L 0 0 D ~DEEP ENMI1Y AND COLD -BLOODHelmsteach, In the Wyrmwall Mountains

Grun Angus propped his rifle against his shoulder and se this eye against the scope. This high up, Headhunter gavehim a commanding view of the secluded mountain valleybelow. It was an idyllic place, untouched by the nations ofthe Iron Kingdoms or those serving them . A wide streamran the length of the valley floor, feeding into an d flowingou t of a small lake. Above the lake stood an imposingwall of granite, a flat-topped cliff nestled between themountainsides.What Grim saw in the valley was wholly unexpected:a daunting force of Tharn, warpborn skinwalkers,woldstalkers, an d dozens of blackclad druids, with anumber of mighty beasts and stone wold constructs. Hepanned Headhunter left and right, estimating troop countsas his lens passed over the force. Most were concentratednear the base of the granite cliff.Half a dozen woldwardens clustered around a massivewold that wa s easily thirty feet tall an d carved of such atremendous volume of wood and stone that its ability tomove defied all reason. Grim recognized it as a woldwrath,one of the greatest weapons in the druids' arsenal. It drewback one mighty fist and smashed it into the cliff side togouge a huge chunk of stone from the wall amid a shower ofdebris. Large pieces of stone were hauled away by groups ofTharn or other wolds. Elsewhere ranking blackclads stoodsurrounded by runes of power as they directed pieces ofstone to float across the air. He saw several of these gatherednear one of the cliff faces, an d by the power of their willalone an enormous fragment shivered free and drifted tojoin the others.Grim felt certain this wa s no t simply a quarry; woldwrathswere too valuable for that. He moved Headhunter upthe granite face of the cliff, his view through the scopeshaking slightly as the woldwrath continued to pound atthe rock. There, atop the mesa-li ke cliff, was what HoarlukDoomshaper had sent him to find.To the naked eye, the monolith appeared as nothing morethan a strangely situated column of crudely carved stone, bu t

it wa s much more. Through his augmented scope he coulddiscern shapes carved into its surface, edges weatheredfrom thousands of years of exposure to the elements. It wasas Doomshaper ha d described: two great eyes and a fangedma w below a stylized mountain. The mark of the mountainking. According to myth, below the granite mesa rested acreature ou t of legend. Grim wa s skeptical such a creaturecould even exist, bu t he ha d fulfilled his task by finding thelong-forgotten warning stone.What Doomshaper ha d not predicted was the CircleOrboros finding it first. It could be no co incidence . heblackclads were here. That they ha d brought a woldwrathwa s particularly disconcerting. So far as he knew, the greatconstructs were only used to protect vital druid holdings;this wa s the first time he ha d ever actually seen one.Hoarluk needed to know about this-now.Grim turned and clambered up the bare cliff face behindhim. The pine forest was dense enough to hide his small,mobile force of py g bushwhackers an d trollkin scouts. Histhree trolls-Thokk, Muk, an d Drogg-were farther back,as two impalers and a swamp troll were more difficultto conceal. Krump an d Muggs, his two py g companions,immediately moved from their hiding spots to meet him."Any problems?" Grim asked as the trio walked farther intothe woods. Krump coughed, causing the iron bear traps onhis belt to rattle, and raised his eyebrows at Muggs. "What?"Grim asked and stopped in his tracks. He felt the dread thatalways indicated a well-laid plan going off the cliff."We ha d sorne trouble," Muggs said.Grim sighed. "Were you spotted?""Not exactly," Krump replied reluctantly. "Easier if we justshow you."Krump an d Muggs led him deeper into the forest. Theysoon came upon the rest of his party in a small clearing.Several of the pygs were gathered around somethingon the ground, while the scouts stood guard around the


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outside. Grim pushed his wa y through an d looked downat the corpses of tw o scaly, fish-like humanoids. Each borewounds from the hand axes of trollkin scouts."Bog trogs," Grim said darkly. "Likely brought by thedruids to watch their perimeter. Were there others?"Krump shook his head. "Didn't see any.""Bog trogs always travel in groups," Grn said, frowning."There are more somewhere. We have to assume we'vebeen discovered. We need to get back. An d fast."

Rask opened his eyes and squinte d against the weakafternoon sun. He longed for the warm, comfortablegloom of the swamp, with its deep, murky watersand shielding canopy of cypress an d mangroves. Th eWyrmwall Mountains were dry an d freezing, an dhis makeshift camp near an icy mountain river onlyintensified his misery.He and his bog trogs ha d taken to basking in the su n athigh noon, trying to soak upas much heat as possible beforenight. Rask ha d claimed a large boulder in the shallows thatcaptured a little more heat than the sandy shore, thoughthe cold still left him sluggish an d slow-minded. His bogtrogs an d croak hunters lay nearby, many partially buriedin the sand . His beasts had taken the cold even harder. Raskglanced over at a pair of ironback spitters huddled togetherlike two great, green boulders.The sun ha d warmed Rask' s blood sufficiently to fuel hisrage at the creature responsible for bringing him to thi s place.The gatorman bokor Barnabas had commanded him to servethe wretched human blackclads. So far he and his bog trogshad done little more than endure the cold while the humanssmashed chunks from a cliff side in a nearby mountain valley.The druids ha d told him to guard the area around the valley,and he had complied, sending small groups of bog trogs andcroak hunters on patrol. So far they ha d encountered nothing,and Rask grew impatient an d irritable.He caught movement ou t of the corner of his eye an d sa tup on his boulder. The gatorman shaman Kymak beckonedhim with one taloned hand . Rask grimaced and slid fromhis perch to wade through the ankle-deep water. At hisapproach, the bog trogs on shore turned their heads awayan d flattened their crests against their skulls in deference.Only the e m i ~ s e n t i e n t shamblers-the reanimated corpsesof bog trog warriors-were standing; they lingered closeto Kymak, their creator and master. Rask repressed ashudder as he drew close to the animated corpses; thiswas yet another way the gatormen heaped indignity onhis people.

The bokor had made a fire, an d Rask shoved one of therotting bog trog shamblers aside and hunkered down nextto the warmth. "What is it, Kymak?" Rask said in Quor-Gar,the rumbling tangue of the gatormen.Kymak did not bare his throat as he would for a gatormanof higher rank and power. Rask wa s a powerful sorcereran d a skilled warrior, bu t the gatormen of the BlindwaterCongregation had long ago subjugated the bog trogs an dconsidered them cannon fodder at best an d food at worst.Even a bog trog as mighty as Rask barely earned their notice.As he ha d many times before, Rask imagined ho w satisfyingit would be to bury his sacral blade in Kymak's scaly chest.The arrogant, condescending gatorman was Barnabas' eyesan d ears, though, an d his de ath would make things extremelycomplicated for Rask when he returned to the Scarleforth."Two of your scouts have been killed," Kymak said. WhenRask asked for more information, the gatorman simplystared at him, volunteering nothing."Where?" Rask rose to his fe et.Kymak pointed a taloned finger at a pair of croak huntersfarther down the beach. The frog-like humanoids, calledanura in their ow n tongue, leaned on their spears . "1 toldthem to take you when you finished your . . . nap."Images of murder surged again through Rask' s mind.Shoving the thoughts from his head, he turned and madehis wa y down the beach.

AS HE HAD MANY TIMES BEFORE,RASK IMAGINED HOW SATISfYINGIT WOULD BE TO BURY HIS SACRALBLADE IN KYMAK'S SCALY CHEST.

"Show me," Rask said to the anura in their husky tonguewhen he reached them . They inclined their heads an d beganmoving toward the tree line sorne twenty yards from theriver. Rask followed.The croaks took Rask roughly a mile into the woods,ascending at a steep angle. Eventually they le d him toa small clearing where a pair of dead bog trogs ha d beenhidden. Rask hunkered down next to the corpses andbrushed away the leaves and debris. Both ha d been killedwith edged weapons-probably axes.He rose an d examined the area. The tracks leading fromthe bodies ha d been well disguised but were still visible toRask' s keen senses. There were boot tracks bu t also barefootmarks, aU familiar, including those of several larger an dheavier creatures. He ha d an immediate suspicion.


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"Come with me," Rask said to the two croaks. "Quietly."They moved swiftly through the forest, following the tracksuntil they heard the sounds of soft voices ahead.Rask an d the croaks moved toward the noise, their footstepswhisper-soft over the forest floor. They stopped as soon ashe could see both armed trollkin and pygs halted near astream. With them wa s a trio of full-blood trolls.Rask' s eyes went to the trollkin leader. The figure was attiredin a long leather cloak, goggles, an d a broad-brimmed hat,partially obscuring his face, but it was the strange, axe-fittedrifle that left little doubt as to his identity: Grim Angus.The bog trog pondered the situation, the spines in his crestquivering. He had worked with Grima handful of times; thetrollkin wa s a skilled r a c k e 1 ~ bu t they'd never gotten along.The trollkin were no w enemies of the blackclads, his currentemployer, which made this discovery both interesting andpotentially profitable.After gaining a sense of Grim's intended course, Rask signaledthe croak hunters to retreat, and the three of them movedslowly and silently away. The trollkin had a small force-ascouting party, then. This was an opportunity; Rask could feelit in his blood. The obvious response would be to kill Grimfor intruding on the blackclads' operation. That was what thedruids would expect. But that dea h would accomplishnothingmore than fulfilling his duty as the humans' watchdog.

A HUGE OCTOPOID NIGHTMAREWITH BULBOUS EYES AND A

BEAKED MAW OF SERRATED TEETHDRAGGED ITSELF FROM THE LAKE.

I f he ambushed the trollkin sorcerer, on the other hand,Grim would make a valuable prisoner. He could take thetrollkin to the druids, proving his skill and ensuring theytreated him with greater respect. But would they thankhim? Would they help him remove the shackles Barnabasha d placed around his neck?A third option leapt to mind. Grim wa s quite valuable tothe united kriels, an d they might offer something morevaluable than the druids for him. Either way, Rask couldreap the rewards.On e thing was certain: he would need more forces to takeon Grim. He knew Haltshire Lake was just to the west, inthe direction Grim was heading. There were several tribesof bog trogs there an d possibly other creatures he couldbend to his will. If he could reach Haltshire before Grim, thesite would serve perfectly for his ambush.

"Why' s it so quiet?" Krump asked.Grim glared at the pyg following him. He, Muggs, Krump,and the swamp troll Muk moved along the shore of LakeHaltshire, while his scouts, bushwhackers, and two of histrolls kept pace in the nearby pine forest. "I t wa s quiet," hewhispered irritably."Idiot," Muggs hissed and slapped the ha t off hisassocia e' s head. This be ga n a brief tussle that endedonly when Grim silently commanded Muk to separatethem . The swamp trolllassoed Muggs with its long, stickytongue an d dragged him perilously close to its gapingma w before releasing him."Enough," Grim said in a voice that clearly demonstratedhe wa s not amused. "Keep moving, and watch the lake."The abashed pygs obeyed.They' d come across the webbed tracks of bog trogs not longafter entering the area. Care ha d been taken to obscure thetracks, and Grim hadn't seen them untillong after he andhis trollkin ha d entered the area around the lake. What mostconcerned him were the other tracks interspersed amongthose of the bog trogs: taloned prints left by something verylarge an d very heavy.In order to reach Doomshaper an d the ar my of theunited kriels he had no choice but pass Haltshire. Theinformation about the mountain kings and the Circlecouldn't wait for him to take the longer route bypassingthe lake.Suddenly the tranquil surface of the water was ruptured bythe emergence of bog trogs and a large, bipedal turtle-likebeast. Grim immediately lifted Headhunter and sightedon the lead bog trog, a familiar large, muscular individualcarrying a spear gun with the triple-tined head of a tridentjutting from its barrel."It's been a long time, Grim," the big bog trog called out.The sound of his burbling voice confirmed his identity andmade Grim hesitate, his finger still on the trigger."Rask," he said with a grimace . He knew the bog trogwarlock from his old life, when he was a bounty hunter.The bog trog wa s cruel, self-serving, an d utterly lethal.Grim had even heard rumors that the warlock ha d soldhis tribe to the gatormen to save his ow n hide-in theprocess becoming little more than a slave to the leadingbokors of Blindwater. "You're far from home. Barnabasle t you off the leash?""l'rn my own a s t e 1 ~ " Rask hissed irritably. "If yo u want tolive, drop your weapon and surrender."


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Grim counted two dozen bo g trogs, including Rask, plusthe ironback spitter. No t an insurmountable force if hecould draw Rask to the beach, bu t knowing the bog trog, hehad kept sorne in reserve- bo g trogs preferred to surprisetheir prey. He saw Muk edging forward ou t of the cornerof his eye; the swamp troll' s rage was mo un ing, an d Grimpulled hi m back with sorne effort. "I've seen what happensto your prisoners, Rask.""You have no choice." Rask said. He and the rest ofhis amphibious force began wading toward the shore.

" S u r r e n d e 1 ~ or die."Grim had no time to signal his intentions to the rest of hispeople, who waited nearer the tree line. He would have totrust they would follow his lead. The bo g trogs were twentyfeet from the shore no w. "N o doser, Rask. I mean it.""Oh, l'rn doser than you think," Rask said with a fanged grin.Grim's finger tensed on the trigger bu t before he could firethe edge of the lake erupted in a geyser of water. A flurry ofgrey, rubbery tentacles as thick as a trollkin' s leg followed.One of them smashed into Grim, knocking him to theground. Krump an d Muggs ra n to his side to help hi m tohis feet, nimbly avoiding the waving tentacles."Back!" Grim shouted, scrambling away from the water. Hesent Mu k barreling forward, an d the swamp trolllumberedinto the water and reached up to grasp two of the largertentacles in its claws.A huge octopoid nightmare with bulbous eyes and a beakedma w of serrated teeth dragged itself from the lake. I t pulledits tentacles free and then lashed onto Mu k instead, provingto be stronger than the troll. Grim could feel its pain andrage escalate. "Hold on, Muk," Grim said and he silentlyused his will to hasten the troll's flesh to regenerate.He then sprang to his feet, shouldered Headhunter, and firedat the bog trog leader. Anticipating the shot, Rask duckedbeneath the water, only to resurface severa! yards doserand charge from the lake with the rest of his bog trogs. Thespitter launched a gob of acid over the advancing fish-men.The vile stuff missed Grim and the pygs and hissed angrilywhere it struck the ground.Grim reloaded and fired again three times as he, Krump,and Muggs moved steadily back toward the tree line. Twoof his bullets eut down bog trogs emerging from the w a t e 1 ~while the third struck the ironback spitter above the knee onits right leg, removing a chunk of its scaly hide an d elicitinga hiss of rage an d pain. Krump tossed traps in the path ofthe bog trogs, and the metal jaws closed brutally aroundthe ankles of three fish-men even as Muggs fired his snaregun. Another bog trog feil to the ground, thrashing beneatha weighted net.

Grn had twenty pyg bushwhackers and a dozen scoutsconcealed in the trees-and Rask and his bog trogswere walking right into their line of fire. Summoninghis most patent sorcery, Grim focused his magic on thepyg bushwhackers and trollkin scouts concealed amongthe trees. He sharpened their visual acuity an d soothedadrenaline -soaked nerves, allowing them to fire with muchgreater accuracy."Now!" Grim shouted and turned to ad d his own fire. Theforest behind him erupted with gunfire and thrown axes.Bolstered by his sorcery, nearly ail the missiles found theirmark, and the advancing bog trogs crumpled to the groundone after another. Two immense spears, hurled by hisimpalers Thokk an d Drogg, thudded into the armored torsoof the ironback spitter, knocking it from its feet.Following the murderous volley, the trollkin scouts an dboth impalers broke cover an d charged. A boit from Rask'sharpoon gu n thudded into the face of the first scout toreach the beach, taking him down. Grn spied the warlocknear the left flank of the remaining bog trogs, reloading hisharpoon gu n and backing toward the water.Predictably, Rask was fighting from the rear and !etting hisforces absorb the brunt of the enemy attacks. Grim broughtHeadhunter up , sighted on the bog trog warlock, an d fired.The bullet struck Rask in the shoulder an d pushed him backa few staggering steps. The wound wasn't mortal, and Grimknew Rask ha d likely shunted the injury to his spitter, but itwas a start. Rask dove away, disappearing from view.As Grim fired expertly past them, his scouts surged acrossthe beach with guttural howls and slammed into their foes,ripping a bloody swath through the bog trogs with theiraxes. The pyg bushwhackers ha d formed a gu n line an dwere picking off trogs unengaged with trollkin. Thokk andDrogg skewered bog trogs with each thrust of their spears.Grim an d his trollkin made short work of the outnumberedan d outmatched bog trogs. Over a dozen fishy corpses litteredthe beach, an d only the ironback spitter, the tentacled beast,and Rask remained. Grim felt satisfaction as he reloaded andwaited for his chance to deliver the killing shot.

Rask watched his bog trogs fall beneath the trollkin axes.Their deaths ha d served him: Grim's forces ha d advanceddown onto the beach within a stone's throw of the water.He leapt to his feet an d saw the enemy advancing towardhim, weapons ready. Grim and his pygs were farther back,behind the trollkin. Rask ducked behind the looming bulk ofthe ironback spitter to his right, placing twelve feet of scale,horn, an d muscle between himself an d Grim's rifle. Farther


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down the beach, his swamp horror was locked in combatwith the swamp troll. He urged the beast to attack with all itsrage an d enjoyed feeling it tear the swamp troll to pieces withits tentacles, spraying dripping remains across the beach."It's over, Rask!" Grim called ou t angrily. He punctuatedthis by sending another bullet into the spitter, open.inganother bleeding wound.Rask squatted down in the shallows near the lake shore,dangling both webbed hands in the cold water. He turnedhis focus inward, plumbing the murky depths of his power,an d let it flow into the lake. A dank and supernaturally thickfog rose from the surface of the water and moved inland,flowing over the trollkin on the shore.The fog made it impossible for Grim's forces to see anythingbeyond a dozen paces, while Rask's forces suffered nohindrance. This wa s the signal the rest of Rask's warriorsha d been awaiting. From the lake around him rose severaldozen additional bog trogs along with the gatorman shamanKymak and his undead shamblers.

RASK'S VOICE DRIITED THROUGHTHE FOG, ITS SOURCE IMPOSSIBLE

TO PINPOINT. urD LIKE TO TAKEYOU ALIVE, BUT YOUR CORPSE

WOULD SERVE ME NEARLY AS WELL."

Rask could see the trollkin an d pygmy trolls on the beachstumbling blindly through the unnatural mist. Shouts ofconfusion an d fear echoed through the fog until the loudvoice of Grim overrode them."Back to the trees!" Grim shouted. "Tome!"Rask knew he ha d to exploit his advantage. "Kymak," Raskcalled out. "Slay Grim Angus. The glory of his death shallbe yours."Kymak regarded Rask through slitted reptilian eyes. Hewa s suspicious and watchful bu t not very bright, an d thelure of such a kill was enough to persuade him. He clackedhis jaws an d rumbled, "Now yo u will see why your kind isonly fit to serve mine."Rask watched as the gatorman moved off. If Grim killedKymak in battle, Rask would be well rid of his watchfulpresence. He could truthfully tell Barnabas he ha d nothingto do with his death.Rask summoned the ironback spitte r and the swamp horroran d waved his sacral blade toward the beleaguered trollkin.The bog trogs moved swiftly and silently from the w a t e 1 ~and he fell in behind them, ready to secure his prize.

Grim took a ste p back and reversed his grip onHeadhunter, readying its axe blade. The mist Rask ha dconjured was so thick he couldn; t penetrate it even withhis mage sight. AU he could see was Muggs an d Krump,wh o ha d both drawn close as soon as the mist feil, onebehind Grim an d one in front."This stuff' s thicker than Borka's beer," Muggs grumbledas he slung his blunderbuss over his shoulder and took hishand axe from his belt.Grim was all bu t blind, bu t he could hear plenty. Thesounds of battle surrounded them, although he couldn't tellhow many enemies they faced or how many kin remainedalive. He looked through his impalers' eyes an d saw thesquirming form of the tentacled beast snapping its beakedjaws at Thokk, wh o was as ye t only lightly injured. Droggwa s unharmed, and Grimm goaded both of them, spikingtheir ferocity to near frenzy."'Ware!" Muggs suddenly yelled from behind . Grimwhirled, bringing Headhunter up an d across his body.Shambling figures were moving ou t of the mist, each arotting bog trog corpse.The thud of Muggs' snare gun sounded, followed by themetallic rattling of tw o of Krump's bear traps clampingon undead bog trog legs. Grim an d the two pygs quicklydispatched the felled shamblers, cleaving undead skullswith short blows. More appeared from the mist, and thethree repeated the scenario: snare gun, bear traps, axes."1 think we - " Krump closed his mouth wi th a snap asa huge, scaly shape came hurtling out of the fog. Thegatorman shaman charged Grn, smashed into him, an ddrove him to the ground . Grim' s arms remained free,an d he retained a grip on his weapon. As the attackerleaned close to seize th e trollkin's head in his jaws, Grimspun the axe blade of his rifle to hack into the side of thegatorman' s head, sending him toppled sideways, limbstwitching as he died .As Grim climbed to his feet he heard a small metallicsound at the edge of his awareness an d felt a vague senseof alarm before Rask' s bolt thudded into his shoulder witha spike of pain. Grim felt a terrible lethargy take hold ofhis limbs.The hulking shape of the ironback spitter loomed ou t ofthe mist. The paralytic magic of Rask' s bolt rooted Grim inplace, bu t he raised Headhunter."Your last chance." Rask's voice drifted through the fog, itssource impossible to pinpoint. "l 'd like to take you alive,bu t your corpse would serve me nearly as well."


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The sounds of desperate combat were all around. Grim'strollkin still battled for their lives. He answered Rask bysqueezing Headhunter's trigger. The slug struck the spittersquarely; an d it staggered back a few paces."Kill him!" Rask howled.Through a great effort of will, Grn fought off the paralysisand felt sensation returning to his limbs. He looked throughthe eyes of his two impalers again. Through Drogg he sawthe inert corpse of the tentacled monstrosity, its rubberyhide leaking black ichor from numerous gouges. Both trollswere injured, bu t not mortally, an d he summoned them torejoin him. He did no t see Muggs and Krump. He rappedhis knuckles on Headhunter's stock in a precise rhythm,laud enough to be heard from a distance .The wounded ironback spitter was baneling toward him,beaked jaws agape in rage. He shot it again, bu t it didn'tslow. Grim flipped Headhunter in his grip again, hoping hemight score a lucky strike with its axe blade before the spittertore him to pieces. It was nearly on top of him when Thokk' sand Drogg's hurled spears struck it and sentit to the ground.The two trolls converged on it in a flurry of stabbing thrusts .The mist ha d begun to disperse. With his beasts dead, Raskwas in a dangerous position. I f Grim could lure hi m intoclose combat, the bog trog warlock wouldn't be able toavoid death by shunting the wound off to a warbeast.A laud, metallic knocking suddenly sounded to Grim'sright, a signal from Krump. He went that direction an dalmost immediately heard another welcome sound-themuffled thump of Muggs' snare gun.A tangle of figures loomed ahead in the mist, two muchsmaller than the others. He saw Muggs and Krump lockedin combat with two bog trog warriors. What drew hisattention, however, was the bog trog on the ground trappedwithin Muggs' weighted net.Rask ha d drawn a dagger to eut himself free, but Grimcharged forward, covering the distance in three bounds.With a great cry he brought Headhunter's axe bladedawn on the back of Rask' s neck. The shock of theimpact travelled up his arm, bu t Rask was miraculouslyunharmed . Grim growled as the bog trog battling Muggstook the blow meant for its master. Its head toppled to theground in a geyser of blood, an d it collapsed at the feet ofthe stunned pyg.The taint of dark magic caused Grim to falter, providingRask all the time he needed. The bog trog' s dagger flashedas he sliced through the netting that held him an d leaptto his feet. Grim made a lunging swipe with Headhunter,bu t the fish-man jumped away and raced toward the lake,where he quickly plunged beneath the surface.

The abandoned bog trogs stepped back toward the water.Knowing they ha d no loyalty to Rask, Grim commandedhis trollkin to let them retreat. Saon only his own raggedforces remained. He glanced around at the steep casualties,including several scouts and pygs he ha d fought alongsidefor months. Hi s heart grew heavy, but his time with theThornwood kriels and their struggles ha d slightly inuredhi m to such losses. It was best not to become too attached,and at least half the pyg bushwhackers and trollkin scoutsha d survived."We'd better move quickly," Grim said to those wh oremained. "My hunch is Rask didn't tell the Circle about usyet, or we' d have seen them already. But since his ambushfailed, he'll tell them saon enough. We need to get back toDoomshaper before they try again.""Sarry, we couldn't get him," Muggs said at Grim's side."That Rask is slick, even for a fish-man."Grim looked dawn at the pyg and gave him a small nod."You did good back there."The pyg pushed his goggles back on his head and puffedou t his chest. "Hear that, Krump?" he asked, beaming.Krump snorted and pulled his ha t down over his eyes. "Just'cause you got lucky.""Bath of you did well," Grim added, to head off an argumentbetween the two . "Glad to see the time I've spent trainingyo u hasn' t gone to waste. But now we need to be on ou rway." Grn pu t a hand to his injured shoulder and testedits range of motion, glad to see the wound wa s already onthe mend. He spoke up so the others could hear. "Let's tryto make it back by nightfall."The survivors looked less than pleased that they wouldagain be se t to a grueling pace, bu t they knew when Grimwa s serious an d did not question or complain.As he and his troops moved off into the forest, Grim's mindwent back to the sight of the woldwrath an d all the Circleforces gathered in that valley. He ha d no doubt Doomshaperwould decide to march into the thick of it, regardless of hiswarnings. He ha d no t seen the last of carnage in this placenot by a long shot.


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H U M T [ ~ ~ G ~ I MTROLLBLOOD EPIC WARLOCK UNITLike I tell my boys, the key to the hunt is anticipa ting every movement of y our prey and staying onestep ahead. There's always one perfect moment to pull the trigger.

SPD STR MAT RAT DEF ARM CMD. 6 7 6 8 16 15HEADHUNTER

RNG ROF AOE POW13 1 13

GUN BLADEPOW P+S5 12

FURY 6DAMAGE 17FIELD ALLOWANCE CGRIM, MUGGS, & KRUMPWARBEAST POINTS +4

With a hunter's patience ,Grn holds back the fire of hiskin even as he stores up arcanepower ta release at the momentof his choosing. On his mark,the arms of his allies erupt in adeafening roar of unnaturallyhoned firepower.While in Grim's controlarea, friendly Factionmodels gain Mark Targetan d friendly Factionmodels' ranged weaponsgain Snipe. On My Marklasts for one turn. (Otherfriendly Faction modelsgain +2 to ranged attack

rolls against enemy models within 5" of a model with MarkTarget that are in its LOS.) (Ranged weapons wi th Snipegain +4 RNG) .GRIM@ Officer~ Pathfinder ,ToughTake Down- Models disabled by a melee attack made by thismodel cannat make a Tough roll. Model s boxed by a meleeattack made by this model are removed from play..Trollkin - This model is a trollkin.Warlock Unit- This mt is made up of Grim, Muggs, and Krump.HEADHUNTER@ Magical WeaponBlood Lure- Warbeasts in this model's battlegroup cancharge enemy models hi t by this weapon this turn withoutbeing forced.

Among the finest trackers to stalk the wilds of westernImmoren, Grim Angus an d his band of scouts comprise thefirst line of defense for the United Kriels . Ranging aheadof the fighting forces, Grim's band identifies foe s -andsometimes eliminates them-long before other warriorseven know they are there. This requires its leader to betremendously vigilant at all times an d to have the doggedpersistence to investigate any perceived threat, bringingback vital intelligence to ar m his allies for the fights ahead.By eliminating the scouts of their enemies, he blindstheir armies an d leaves them vulnerable. While once hewas more of a lone operative working for the kriels, hehas since grown into an invaluable leader of the irregularskirmishers fighting alongside the front-line warriors ofthe new United Kriels.

-GrimAngus

SPELLS COST RNG AOE POW UP Of fMAGESIGHT 2 CTRL s YES NOPlace a 5"AOE complete!y in thi s mode ' s control area. While a model iswithin the AOE, models in this model's battlegroup ignore forests andcloud effects when drawing LOS to it and ignore Stealth when attacking it.MIRAGE 3 6 YES NOTarget friendly Faction model / unit gains Appaiition. (During yourControl Phase, place models with Apparition anywher e completelywithin 2" of their current locations . If Mirage affects a tmit, only models information can be placed.)MORTALI'IY 3 10 NO YESTarget enemy mode! / m t suffers -2 DEF and ARMand cannot be healed.Mortality lasts for one round.PURSUIT 2 8 YES YESIf target enemy mode! / unit advances during its activation, immediate lyafter ending tls movement one mode! in tls model's battlegroup that isin its control area can make a full advance.

TACTICAL TIPSTAKE DoWN - Because a boxed model is removed from play beforebeing destroyed, it does not genera e a soul or corpse token.MIRAGE- Remember that troopers must be placed in formation.PuRSUIT- If an affected madel made a full advance, ran, or chargedduring its activation, a madel in this model's battlegroup gets tomake a full advan.ce.

When leaders like Madrak Ironhide and Grissel Bloodsongrequire the completion of missions in the most remote andinhospitable reaches, it is to Grim Angus they invariablyturn. They know he is a staunch-hearted kin who will stop atnothing to complete the task pu t before him, whether that istracking down and neutralizing a target or travelling throughhostile terri ory to deliver key orders. Grim's responsibilitiesexpanded as the leaders of what would become the UnitedKriels saw his true value, and he established a quick rapportwith both Madrak and Grissel in particular. His masteryof the wilds and his skill at coordinating armed forces instealthy ambushes have made his hand-picked team one ofthe greatest covert assets of the gathered kriels.Even as his role with the kriels has evolved, Grim remainsessentially an o u t s i d e 1 ~ a fact he embraces unapologetically.It is in part his outside perspective that makes him sovaluable to the leaders who rely upon his opinions. He hasno interest in spending his days surrounded by kin otherthan those few who know ho w to survive in the wildsskinners and hunters who know when to keep their stepslight and their mouths shut and who will obey his signaledorders without hesitation. He has found the company ofpygs to be particularly amenable, as they are less inclined toidle chatter and understand that survival in battle requirespaying attention and looking ou t for one another.


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Grim is ultimately a pragmatic individual, one wh oprefers to view the world in tangible terms. He has workedparticularly closely with Grissel Bloodsong in her effortsto protect the kriels while trying to carve ou t a new homefor them. He understands what it takes to get through adifficult winter on what scraps one can find in a barrenlandscape and has applied those skills to good ends. Histravels have brought him into touch with a wide varietyof kriels across western Immoren, an d he has learned agreat deal about their various difficulties an d challenges.Practical tasks he understands, whereas the ancient mythsunfolding an d coming to life around individuals likeIronhide an d Doomshaper seem inexplicable an d largelyirrelevant to him.With the kriels beset by enemies on all sides, the leadershave no t lacked for missions suited to the skills of Grn'sband, an d he accepts assignments one after the other. Hereturns to camp only long enough to feed his warriors an dfull-blood trolls food an d allow them sorne minimal restbefore setting back ou t to fight again.

In all his tasks Grn is assisted by a pair of pygs that havebecome the core of his team: Muggs an d Krump. Thesetwo came to prominence by proving themselves to be bothintelligent an d cunning as well as superlative huntersIn short orcier the pair learned to grasp Grim's complexsystem of gestured signais an d to fight smoothly alongsidehim even in silence, all three of them coordinating preciseambushes while tracking clown their enemies. Muggs an dKrump have passed along their expertise to other pygs inthe hunting band and often help keep them in line, freeingGrim to focus on the primary task at hand.Both of these pygs have proven to be tremendous assetsThey can be relied upon to see to many vital tasks, includinghunting an d skinning game, cooking meals, maintainingthe band's equipment, and even making simple repairs toweapons . Grn has taken the time to teach Muggs how touse his snare gu n an d has come to entrust the py g with it,while Krump has proven quite capable of devising an dimplementing cunning snares even in the midst of battleBoth are notable for a degree of stalwart courage under firethat is often lacking in pygs.


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TACTICAL TIPSTAKE DoWN- Because a boxed model is removed from play beforebeing destroyed, i t does not generate a soul or corpse token.

Both Muggs and Krump are so strongly devoted to Grnthat they occasionally emulate him, a habit particularlynotable with Muggs, a gregarious py g whose devotionsometimes overcomes his good sense. In trying toimpress his fellow pygs he sometimes apes the warlock' sexpressions an d mannerisms. Krump is inclined to be moredour and serious, adopting an attitude more akin to Grim'sow n quiet intensity.Together the team of the Hunters Grn have proven tobe more than the sum of their individual skills, workingseamlessly together on the battlefield to bring down themost difficult targets. Grim and thosehe leads have steadily become theeyes an d ears of the United Kriels,and its leaders know well justhow blind an d unready theywould be without his tirelessefforts on the fringes.

MUGGS MUGGS@ Pathfinder SPD STR MAT RAT DEF ARM CMD(%)Tough . 6 5 5 6 14 12

SNARE GUNranted: Reform- Whiletl


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MIGHT T ~ 0 L LTROLLBLOOD LIGHT WARBEASTWandering this country you see some strange sights, bu t a grown man stumbling senseless toward a, night troll's light is a hell of a thing.

NIGHT TROLLSPD STR MAT RAT DEF ARM CMD5 8 5 4 12 15

WICKEDCLAWPOW P+S4 12POW P+S4 12

FURY 3THRESHOLD 9FIELD ALLOWANCE U

NIGHTTROLL Eyeless Sight(j) StealthMan-Eater- This model cancharge living warrior modelswithout being forced.Regeneration [d3]- Thismodel can be forced to heald3 damage points onceper activation. This modelcam10t use Regenerationduring an activation it runs.WICKEDCLAWParalysis- A living modelhit by this weapon hasits base DEF reduced to 7and cannot run or charge.Paralysis lasts for one row1d.For those communitiesof the Iron Kingdomssituated near dark and

POINT COST 4 cave-riddled mountains,MEDIUM BASE the night troll is a rarely

seen bu t profoundof terror. The pr esence of these creatures is marked byeerie glow at the mouth of caves, luring animais andunwary to a gruesome end.This species ha s adapted superbly to life in the darkof Immoren's mountains and the subterranean l" h,",..;.-.Hbelow ancient ruins. As its eyes have atrophied, itssenses have sharpened. By day, the trolls sleep inrecesses of their lairs, awakening with the settingof the sun. With the fall of night, they lurk in themouths of their caverns, an d their quills beginto pulse with an otherworldly glow, catchingthe eye of animais or careless travelers.The mesmerizing patterns of luminescenceeventually overcome the instincts of theentranced victim, which approaches heedlessof instinct or judgment, only to be caughtan d consumed alive. This horrifie fateis almost certainly one of the truthsbehind cautionary folk tales thatstress the dangers of followingstrange lights in the .woods.Trollkin consider night trollsvaluable beasts of wa r despite the factthat their habits an d hunting preferencescan be problematic. Being nocturnal, these

ANIMUS COST RNG AOE POW UP O ffBEGUILE SELF NO NOThis model gains Allure for one round. (Living enemy nonwarlock, non-warcaster models that begin their activationwithin 5" of a model with Allure can advance only toward thenearest enemy model with Allure.)

trolls must be compelled to fight during the day and aretemperamental when roused . Still, their savage tempers an deffective hunting methods make them lethal and terrifyingallies for those warlocks willing to work with them. A foehypnotized on the battlefield is easily torn to shreds bythe troll' s venomous, paralyzing claws, and the sight of aravening night troll feasting on a screaming comrade is aterrible one for any soldier to behold.


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T ~ ~ L [ ~ I M V V ~ ~ D [ ~ ~TROLLBLOOD UNIT

Death in battle brings honor, bu t it is an even greater privilege to give your lifedefending kith and kin.

Those who would kill or enslave the trollkin would doweil to fear those called warders . Champions of the kriels,these staunch warriors are honored and dedicated insomber ritual to the defense of no t just their chieftains an dshamans, bu t also the old and infirm, the young and weak,the kith an d kin least able defend themselves. Wardersshare a bond of purpose an d willleave no comrade behind:to injure one of their number is to invoke the rage of theentire band.Craving valor as they do, not ali champions possess therestraint necessary to become warders. Those who seea greater honor in holding fast against a charging enemyembrace the role with enthusiasm and vehemence .Likeminded warriors band together in a great ceremony,swearing oaths both to those they would defend and to oneanother as they share their minds and souls in the ancientbond of kulgat.

LEADER &GRUNTS~ FearlessToughBattle-Driven- Whena model in this unit isdamaged by an enemyattack, after the attack isresolved models in thisunit gain +2 STR andARM and Pathfinder ~for one round.BATILEWEAPON@Reach@ Weapon Master

4 7 7 4 12 17.BATTLE WEAPON

POW P+S3 10

DAMAGE 8 EACHFIELD ALLOWANCE 2LEADER & 2 GRUNTS 5LEADER & 4 GRUNTS 8MEDIUM BASE

When warders take up defensive arms, they do so withzealous fervor. Shouting the words of their oath and thebattle cries of their kriels, they challenge an y who woulddare harm the more vulnerable kin, their honored patron,or their brothers in arms.


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5 6 5 4 12 14RUNE AXE

POW P+S4 10

FIELD ALLOWANCE 2POINT CO ST 1MEDIUM BASE

Qf)ToughSORCERERAdjunct [Trollkin unit] -Before the start of thegame, choose one friendlyTrollkin unit to be thismodel's client. This mo delcannot have the sameclient as another Adjunct.If this model's client unithas Advance Deployment,

this model gains Ad vance Deployment @.Battle Wizard- Once per turn, when this model destroys one ormore enemy models with a melee attack during its activation,immediate!y after the attack is resolved it can make one MagicAbility special attack or special action.Magic Ability [6] Arcane Antidote (*Action) - RNG 5. Target this

model or this model's client model / unit. Ifthe target is in range, enemy upkeep spellson the target immediately expire.

lee Boit (*Attack) - lee Bolt is a RNG 10magic attack. A model hit suffers aPOW 12 cold damage roll $ . Ona critical hit, the modellut becomesstationary for one round unless it hasImmunity: Cold8 .

Win er Storm (*Action) - Enemy models thatbegin their activation in this model's commandrange lose Eyeless Sight, Flight, and Pathfinderduring their activations. Winter Storm lasts forone round.

RUNEAXE~ Magical WeaponThe sorcerers of the trollkin are no t timidlore-masters bu t determined an d lethalcombatants as fearless as any warriors amongthe kin. Roused to battle, they assist theirbrothers by wielding their prodigious arcaneabilities with deadly skill. They march forthalongside many military bands, protectingthem from the curses of enemy arcanists andprepared to fight other occultists spell-forspell with their own elemental powers .Most trollkin sorcerers are recognized assuch at birth, born as they typically are with th ewhite skin and red eyes of albinos . Shamans ofthe kin believe Dhunia herself marks sorcererswith these traits that their people might raisethem with the strength of character necessary

TACTICAL TIPSADJUNCT - All models in the unit must be Trollkin models.MAGIC ABTLITY- Performing a Magic Ability special action orspecial attack cotmts as casting a spell.

to wield such fearsome power responsibly. Thoughmost trollkin sorcerers enjoy sorne instruction fromtheir eiders, th e powers at their command are ultimatelyderived from within an d are typically associated withelements prevalent in the region of their birth . Manyfind themselves commanding the cold winds of winter,a powerful weapon that can be used to attack or defend,just as the storms of winter may kill or confound .


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TROLLBLOOD TROLLKIN SOLOThere is no joy left fo1' me in battle, just the balance of lives lost and those ye t unavenged.

-Fennblade Ruri k Strongann

TACTICAL TIPTACTICIAN-This includes this model.

Veterans of countless battles, Fennblade kithkar are warriorsof renown. Each has led his brothers in arms time andagain against any who would infringe upon trollkin landsor harass their people. More than heroes or champions,these vaunted leaders are brilliant battlefield commanders

KITHKAR@commander KITHKARTough 6 8 7 4 12 15

BATTLE WEAPONSPOW P+S5 13

Hard - This model doesnot suffer damage or effectsfrom impact attacks orcollateral damage. DAMAGE 8Righteou s Vengeance - FIELD ALLOWANCE 2If one or more friendlyFaction warrior modelswere destroyed or removedfrom play by enemy

POINT COST 2MEDIUM BASE

attacks while within 5" ofthis model during your opponent's last turn, after resolvingcontinuous effects during your Maintenance Phase, this modelcan make a full advance followed by one normal melee attack.Tactician [Fennblade] - While in this mode 's command range,friendly Feru"lblade models ignore other friendly Fennblademodels when deternning LOS. Friendly Feru"lblade modelscan advance through other friendly Fennblade models in thismodel' s command range without effect if they have enoughmovement to move completely past them.Unyielding- While engaging an enemy model, tls modelgains +2 ARM.BATILE WEAPONS

capable of coordinating the maneuvers of theirfellow Fennblades with great precision. A band of

Fennblades commanded by such a kithkar fights with thediscipline and coordination of thoroughly trained soldiersan d with the heart and spirit of legendary warriors.Even with his remarkable leadership abilities, it is thekithkar' s bond with those he leads that is his mostpowerful weapon. Most veteran kithkar have fought withthe same warriors for many years . He knows each warriorof his band as well as he does his ow n family memberssometimes even better. After facing the elements an denemies together in skirmishes, battles, an d raids, th ekithkar can anticipate the actions of his warriors an dunderstands he can trust them with both his life an d hisreputation at arms. In turn, the Fennblades follow theirkithkar's commands without question, trusting him tolead them to victory without needlessly endangeringtheir lives. Moreover, they know that should one of theirnumber fall, nothing will stand between their kithkar an dbloody vengeance.


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M0UMTAIM nrnGAN EXCERPT FROM THE

FINAL SEGMENTS OF THETROLLBLOOD MYTH-CYCLEOF THE MOUNTAIN KINGS

When the last of the great marker stones was carved an dset, the time of destruction ended. No more would Tornfrom Peak shatter ou r villages. No more would ScarredEye Sees Straight devour the forest. No more would thefury of the mountain kings draw their brethren into itsrelentless maelstrom.From the Wurm himself they ha d risen, the beating heartof the mountain, with the fire of the earth burning in theirbellies. Too mucha part of the world to see the creatures init, the mountain kings did not recognize the trollkin as kin,for they were blinded to all but their hunger and the hunt.Ou r chiefs were proud and saw the kin indomitable withinthe forests and spreading across the land. We had prospered,multiplied, carved hollows into the mountains for our kriels.With each generation we ventured deeper into the once-forbidden places, ignoring the dangers the oldest among usha d heard sung of at village fires in our youth.The chiefs looked upon the ruins of their people an dknew their own folly. The mountain kings were not kithto the trollkin. The r Devourer's blood could no t becooled by the gentle breath of Dhunia. To venture intotheir territory had been madness.The shamans that ha d spent themselves to bind the walkinghunger prayed. They looked to the stones they had se tan d asked Dhunia to hold fast the kings that were not he rchildren, to soothe their slumber and strengthen the chainsthat bound them . The ground trembled still, even as thestomachs of the mountain kings shouted to be filled.Until the en d of days the mountain kings will hunger.They dream of the feasting they once di d an d will doagain. They would devour al l-even Caen, the flesh ofDhunia. Like their hunger, they will no t end.We must no t forget. To awaken them once more would bedisaster. Let our kriels settle far from their mountain bedsan d no more disturb their slumber. Le t them rest as theyca n in Dhunia's care, deep within the earth.


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M0UMTAIM ~ f M GTROLLBLOOD GARGANTUANOur legends hunger.

MOUNTAIN KINGSPD STR MAT RAT DEF ARM CMD5 15 5 5 9 19

DEATHLY ROARRNG RDF ADE PDW

SP 10 1 16BIG MEATY FIST

POW P+S4 19BIG MEATY FIST

POW P+S4 19

FURY 5THRESHOLD 6FIELD ALLOWANCE 2POINT COST 20HUGE BASE

MOUNTAIN KING~ TerrorKill Shot - Once peractivation, when a livingenemy model is destroyedor removed from play asa restt of a melee attackmade by this model duringits activation, immediatelyafter that attack is resolvedthis model can make onenormal ranged attackignoring ROF.Snacking- When thismodel boxes a living modelwith a melee attack, thismodel can heal d3 damagepoints. If this modelheals, the b oxed model isremoved from play.

Whelp Shedding- When this model suffers damage from anenemy attack anytime except during its activation, immediatelyafter the attack has been resolved you can place a Troll Whelpmodel into play B2B with this model if there is enough room forthe Whelp's base.BIG MEA1Y FIST(j:} Open Fist

To look upon a mountain king is to see the primaiessence of th e troll: hunger, rage, an d the strength ofnature. Set loose upon the world, these great beastsshake the ground with their tread an d su nder granitewith their roars. Mountain kings, which seek to sa tisfyan incomprehensible appetite, walk Caen again aftermillennia of quiescence.Trollkin legend describes mountain kings with fearfulreverence. Such tales, which originated long before the ageof the Molgur an d the mastery of runes, speak of a time of

-Hoarluk Ooomshape

ANIMUS COST RNG AOE POW UP OFFAMUCK 6 NO NOWhen target friendly warbeast makes a special attack, its attackroUs are boosted. Amuck lasts for one turn .

TACTICAL TIPSAMUCK- This includes power attackS . Amuck does not boostthe attack rolls of chain attacks that duplicate the effects ofspecial attacks.SNACKING - Because the boxed mod el is removed from play beforebeing destroyed, it does not generate a soul or corpse token.WHELP SHEDDING- You do not pay points for these Troll Whelps.

plenty for the trollkin throughout the forests and plains oCaen. Those trollkin respected an d feared their full-blootroll cousins an d kept their distance from the greatesamong them, the mountain kings, already ancient in thosnearly forgotten days.The stories say the destructive and terrible mountain kingwere the first trolls to emerge from the stony ground, givelife by the harsh joining of Dhunia and the Devourer WurmThey kept largely to the remote mountain ranges, far fromwhere the trollkin communities first appeared. In timehowever, trollkin populations began to spread and intrudupon the territory they ha d claimed.The encroaching trollkin enraged the mountain kingbeyond all consideration. The primai brutes incited onanother wi th ftuious howls that echoed across the mountaichains, and even those in remote regions came forth tslaughter. Like emissaries of the Wurm, the mountain kingsmashed and de voured all in their path, their blindinhunger overcoming any sense of kinship with othetrollblood species. Trollkin myth suggests the Gnarls an dthe Thornwood were part of a single, uninterrupted foresuntil mountain kings stripped the region between thembare of every animal, stone, an d tree.As the terror they had unwi ttingly provoked continuedthe trollkin saw that in time the great trolls would devouno t only their people bu t also the entirety of the worlitself. An ancient epie describes a gathering of greatrollkin chieftains, warriors, and shamans wh o sought tosubdue the mountain kings. They ultimately succeededthough the specifie means they employed are poorlyrecorded an d even less understood. What is known is thasomehow the shamans of the kin discovered a wa y to forgechains infused with spiritual energies that could restraithe great beasts, an d the trollkin entombed their enormou


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cousins within the mountain peaks from which they hadcome. Many trollkin died to bring the mountain kings tothose rage-filled barrows, which were marked with greatrune-inscribed stones warning against future disturbance.At first, the mountain kings stormed beneath the earth,consuming stones in their hunger and causing the earth toquake as they strove to snap the chains that bound them .They eventually fell into a restless t o r p o 1 ~ their turbulentdreams filled with images of hunting and feeding. Whenthey stirred in their sleep, avalanches and mudslidesplagued the slopes above them. For these ageless beings,sleep wa s the only escape from the gnawing emptiness oftheir hollow stomachs .As ages passed, the mountain kings slowly faded intothe mists of myth; few trollkin even dreamed theystill la y in chains underground. The existence of thegreat beasts wasn't proven until Madrak Ironhide an dHoarluk D o o m s h a p e 1 ~ pressed to desperation, se t ou tto harness their tremendous might. At no small cost,the two succeeded in their unbelievable-and perhaps

unthinkable-quest to bring the first reawakenedmountain kings clown from the Wyrmwall Mountains,eager to satisfy their undiminished hunger for the firsttime in thousands of years.While Doomshaper speaks of other mountain kings still tobe freed, the trollkin strive to control those they have alreadyawakened. The ravenous beasts make little distinctionbetween friend and foe, an d even the greatest shamansmust take care in their presence, using the enchanted chainsthat still dangle from their hulking bodies to forestall theirhunger between battles. They are truly primeval creatures,so closely connected to the essence of creation that theirvery tissue continually spawns small whelps, which theyignore until hunger calls.A mountain king evokes terror in all who behold it. I t lopesforward to fill its fathomless belly-an urge that growseven stronger when the creature becomes injured. Uneasytrollkin watching such staggering rampages must wonderat the priee paid to ensure the survival of their people.


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GIRGL-B ORBOROSDRAGON'S IMPERATIVEThe Thornwood, Near Deep Gulch

"The y will reach Deep Gulch within the hour," Kruegersaid after hearing from the wayfarers he ha d sent to findthe enemy. They ha d isolated the forward column of theforces of the Legion of Everblight that were advancingeven no w to intercept the Cryxians led by Lich LordVenethrax, hungry for the athanc he ha d recovered. Aspromised, Krueger ha d taken charge of the Circle armythey ha d rushed into the region, taking advantage of thenearest major node in the ley line network to bring as manyforces as they could muster. Those were only a fraction oftheir combined might, though, particularly with Kromacan d his Tharn absent.Krueger ha d gathered Morvahna, Grayle, and the leadersof his forces, including his blackclad overseers an d LordMorraig together with his wolf chieftains, to give them theirorders. Morvahna's skirovik mountain goat still seemedwary amid the numerous wolves, so she ha d situatedherself on the opposite side of the group. They were withinthe Thornwood, southeast of where the enemy advancedand some twenty miles north of the diminished Cryxiancolumn. "I will lead the main force from the south andattack first. Morvahna, your forces will converge on themfrom behind. Grayle, support Morvahna and prioritizeeliminating enemy leaders."Standing next to he r mount, the Dawnshadow listenedwith narrowed eyes. When the creature shook its headan d stepped to the left, she realized her mood hadaffected it and reached ou t to calm it. While she hadsworn to leave command to the Stormlord, she foundit difficult to restrain he r instinct to take charge. Theley lines in this region ha d been severely drained byBaldur's ritual to drive Cryx from their tunnels andcould not be used to send Krueger's entire army intothe region. Reinforcements would arrive as quickly asthe overworked stone keepers could expedite them. Shesaid, "The Legion forces are stretched out, but more willreinforce from the north. We should wait until we arestronger and attack doser to Lich Lord Venethrax."

"No," Krueger said vehemently. "We can't risk drawinCryx into the conflict. Besides, this is the only accessibpassage through this part of the forest. We can nullify thenumerical advantage utilizing the terrain."Morvahna retained apprehensions. "What will it serve uto expend ou r strength now if Legion reinforcements strikwhen we are depleted?"Krueger faced he r more squarely, his features stern . Shknew recent events were fresh in his mind. He said, "Wmust hi t this advance force hard and make them turn backThis will give us time to gather additional numbers . Theris no better time or place. You en listed me to this fight, no wheed me. Get your people ready."While she ha d to restrain herself from being goaded by hitone, Morvahna could see his point. It wa s true they had tprevent the Legion from reaching Venethrax; whatever thenumbers, they ha d to make the attempt. Strangely, thewere best served by protecting Cryx-for now. Perhaplater they would discover a way to deprive bath dragoarmies of the athanc.

The Circle ha d learned in their recent struggles how difficuit was to ambush the Legion of Everblight. The Nyss habeen superlative hunters even before the blighting, whicha d only augmented those abilities. The dragonspawn weran even greater problem. Though eyeless, they possesseunusual senses that enabled them to perceive living thingbehind trees and undergrowth. Accordingly, Morvahnhad her people move along the top of the gorge, carefuno t to betray their presence. On e of Grayle's griffons flewhigh overhead, giving them avantage from above, wherthe thick canopy of the Thornwood allowed. Her mounteTharn and Wolves were skilled at remaining unseen anunheard, communicating through gestured signais. ThTharn were capably led by Nuala the Huntress, with whomMorvahna had a longstanding alliance.


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They maintained their position above the gorge as a longline of Legion warriors stretched past below. The breezecarried no noise to betray either the hunted or their hunters,crea ing an eerie suspense, and Morvahna's group wastense. Grayle wa s alert beside her, his head lifted as hismind focused on the griffon above. He whispered, "Mostare past. Only the stragglers remain . Strike?""Not yet," Morvahna said . The wayfarers said the Legionforces were spread ou t as they travelled overland, whichwas consistent with what she ha d observed. Still therewas something peculiar about the composition of thisvanguard that made he r think she ha d no t yet seen theentire advance force.He r awareness extended into the forest around them,through the trees and other living things within thisancient forest. Communing with them wa s more difficultthan it ha d once been, as the Thornwood ha d seen muchbloodshed an d horror, scarring all living things here .The blight left a distinct imprint, an d those wh o ledEverblight' s Legion were be acons of malevolent energy.She sensed that one of these warlocks ha d gone by, butanother approached from the north.Grayle's posture stiffened as they heard the faint soundof battle. Just south of their position, Krueger's army ha dclearly me t the Legion forces at the head of the line. Theclash of weapons and the shouts of the embattled weremuffled an d barely disrupted the solitude where she andGrayle lay in wait. Long minutes passed.The Farstrider stared at Morvahna intensely, awaiting he rarder, bu t she did not speak. Few druids ha d senses likehers, so attuned to the forces of life an d death-trying toexplain would have been akin to describing sight to theblind. She saw him blink and look up again, as his griffonfinally spotted additional enemies."More are coming," she said to him, even as he opened hismouth to tell her. She smiled knowingly. Morvahna's pulsequickened with a familiar blend of excitement and dreadas conflict loomed. "After they move past, then we strike ."

Krueger's forces ha d been assigned the unenviable taskof feigning a frontal assault to distract the Legion fromMorvahna's ambush . He still intended to spend the lives ofhis soldiers as frugally as possible. This wa s a battle no t ofhis choosing and he ha d plans for this army. Above all else,he must en d this battle strong, still a power the omnipotentscould not ignore.He ha d spread his Wolves in staggered lines withinstructions to fall back toward the others after briefly

engaging the enemy. I f executed properly this wouldgive the appearance of a rout, an d if the Nyss pursued, itwould further stretch them out. The Legion ha d shawn apreference for reckless aggression .As saon as the Legion neared, the forward lines of Wolvessprang into action in scattered groups, engaging fiercelyan d then withdrawing. They suffered as expert swordsmenclosed with deadly strikes. Krueger watched Morraig on hiswolf shouting orders before engaging personally. The greatmount tore ou t a Nyss throat while Morraig's blade eutdawn those nearest him. Others closed and he leapt away asreeves fired crossbows into the midst of the Nyss before alsofalling back. It looked as though they were giving ground,yet it was all according to plan.The bottom of the gorge wa s Jess forested but wa schoked with undergrowth an d broken up by fallen rocksan d stones along a shallow stream . The Wolves usedthe terrain, forcing the blighted swordsmen to stumbleacross uneven ground as reeves behind them placed theirshots . There wa s a steady thrum as crossbows witheredthe enemy's advance.

EACH SWORDSMAN FOUGHTAS THOUGH EVERY SWING OFTHE BLADE WAS A PLEASURE HEWOULD NOT BE DENIED.

Krueger could see the blighted Nyss were masterful withtheir long blades. Each swordsman fought as though everyswing of the blade wa s a pleasure he would not be denied.When they closed, their blades eut straight through spearshafts, bronze a r m m ~ an d thick leathers to bite flesh an ddraw blood. The groans of the injured an d dying soundedall along the battle line. Those slain were left behind.At the vanguard of the Legion anny he caught sight of thewoman wh o led them. She wore nothing to signify rank, buta cordon of dragonspawn betrayed her importance. Ahead ofhe r wa s one of the hulking carniveans, bringing destructionby claw, fang, an d the blaze of incendiary breath. Flankingit were a number of nephilim, the nearest wielding heavyhalberds and adorned in plated metal armor. Others werearmed with great swords or bolt throwers. Small shreddersran amid the blighted Nyss, leaping upon enemies to tearthem apart with voracious jaws.The Stormlord took to th e air, th e winds sweeping hi mupward. He flew toward th e enemy with his weaponWurmtongue in hand, directing lightning to strikeamid the Nyss. Storm winds howled around hi m an dby his will electricity erupted to confound th e enemy,


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consuming them with thunderous eruptions before theycould charge his Wolves. Those of hi s wolds he ha dbeen willing to commit advanced. Subordinate druidsjust behind th e Wolves summoned their power. At theircommand, th e earth opened to swallow entire ranks ofswordsmen and chunks of stone rose from the groundto shatter skulls an d crush ribs . He let himself savor th edestruction of th e foe.Even as he joined the fray he could hear Morvahna's forceconverging on the enemy's rear so they were beset on bothsides. Krueger's blood froze as he felt a strange familiarsensation, a wavering in the natural flows of energythrough which he drew his power. I t was akin to ripplescaused by the proximity of Everblight's generais but camefrom behind. Thinking he was being flanked he turnedand peered in that direction an d at last noticed a familiarfigure atop the edge of the gorge, attired in flowing robes,his rotted hands clasping a long, slender staff of wood.It wa s Blighterghast's emissary. "Not now," he said. Heshould have known the dragon would choose the mostinconvenient time to interfere. Th e figure raised one handand pointed imperiously behind him.

HE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THEDRAGON WOULD CHOOSE THEMOST INCONVENIENT TIME TO

INTERFERE.

Krueger darted to th e left to evade an incoming bolt froma nephilim' s crossbow an d directed one of his wolds toengage the beast. When he looked back th e emissarywas gone. He snarled in frustration-he knew he couldno t ignore the summons, even to conclude this battle.Th e mind of th e dragon was impossible to predict, an dhe could no t afford to have Blighterghast think he wasreneging on their agreement . All the Stormlord' s planshinged on that pact .After unleashing one last blast of lightning to sear the hide ofthe nearest nephilim, he turned an d flew back from the mainbattle line. He summoned his senior officers, including theblood-drenched Morraig, an d gave them their orders. Theywould remain to continue the fight, answering to Morvahna.Krueger would return if he could, bu t they would likely needto conclude the battle without him. Their faces expresseddoubts, bu t none they were willing to risk voicing, an dKrueger had no intention of elaborating. He took to the aironce more, flying in the direction indicated by the emissary,wondering what his promises to the dragon would cost him.

Morvahna did not need the report from the wayfarer. Shha d watched from afar as the Stormlord joined battle. Shha d detected the blighted figure standing on the fringesand shortly thereafter Krueger ha d sped away. "H e left," shesaid. Rage simmered, bu t she did not betray it outwardly."H e bid me bring word that he has been called aw ay onan unavoidable matter," the cowled wayfarer said, hitone strained by relaying unwelcome news. "H e said thauthority over those wh o remain is passed to you . Before heleft, he identified the leader of the Legion vanguard. 1 canguide you to her."She called to Grayle, wh o had just finished off the nearesnephilim, and said, "Go with the wayfarer. Strike down theLegion warlock he reveals to you. 1 will deal with the onleading the rearguard. Move swiftly." She knew that withouEverblight' s leading agents, the remaining rank and filewould lack the conviction to press on and engage Cryx.Grayle nodded curtly and sprang into motion. Hiwarpwolves were as eager for battle as he, an d one growledin its throat as they followed hi m into the deeper trees alongthe side of the gorge. They would work their way aroundthe enemy column to strike at its head.Morvahna returned to the battle while she considered theenormity of Krueger abandoning her in the middle of thebattle . His timing was suspicious, departing just as sheha d committed her forces in full. Yet it seemed impossiblhe would have chosen to do this without sorne externacompulsion; he ha d too much to gain by leading them tovictory here and too much to lose by abandoning the fieldHis followers would see this as weakness. She consideredthe blighted figure that ha d precipitated his vanishingShe thought back to his trial, in which his loyalty ha d beenquestioned after he ha d disobeyed the omnipotents an dspoken with Blighterghast. lt could be no concidenceShe wa s forced to conclude that the figure she ha d seenwas sent by the dragon and Krueger pulled away to do itsbidding. Toward what end, she could no t imagine . Clearlythe Stormlord was at the creature's beek an d call. Ho w themighty had fallen.She unleashed her simmering rage on the enemy aroundher through her spells, causing tremendous eruptions orending power to blast apart several of the nearest archersan d grotesques. She turned to see several Tharn wolf ridersbrought down by concentrated arrow fire. The Legionrearguard included a dizzying array of flying creaturesboth dragonspawn an d grotesques, affording themtremendous mobility. She took a moment to summon a veiof fog to enshroud her nearest allies, making them difficul


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to see and providing obfuscation from the hail of arrows.Her mount pawed the ground impatiently, eager to chargeinto the fray, bu t she kept it restrained, having no intentionof risking herself prematurely.Her pureblood let loose an ear-rending howl and senta shockwave of unnatural energies to rend a number ofblighted archers and grotesques while others were piercedby hurled javelins. Morvahna closed he r eyes and let herpower flow outward. Great bleeding gashes appeared alongher body and she allowed the blood to flow, drawing on herown life energy to unsettle the scales of fate. J velins thatmight have gone astray found their mark, a spear strike thatmight have been a shallow wound became a killing thrust.Even as these wounds began to sap her strength, severa! ofher warriors feil to enemy arrows. She gathered the vitalityspilling from them to close her wounds. It was a cycle ofliving energy that was intuitive for her to direct, requiringlittle more thought than breathing.Morvahna extended her senses through the trees, trying togain a larger perspective on the ever-changing dispositionof both allied and enemy forces. Several of her gallows treesshifted at the limits of her mental rea ch to serve as extensionsfor her power. She observed the Legion moving as if of onemind and guided their reactions as though flowing outwardfrom a central point like ripples in a pond. At the center shespotted a female Nyss in dark leathers with a short daggerin each hand. Here was one of the two primary sources ofblighted energy. Across the distance their eyes locked. TheNyss reacted by directing a host of flying dragonspawn topeel off and fly toward Morvahna's position.

Even as Morvahna sent he r beasts and wolds to meet theincoming dragonspawn, Grayle wa s directed to his targetby the wayfarer. The Farstrider ha d made his way throughthe intervening trees to take his foe unaware. A numberof blighted swordsmen advanced alongside her, fightingweil despite being engaged from all sides. More corpsesof Wolves littered the leaves than those of the blighted. Agroup of more heavily armored legionnaires followed thewarlock, their long blades ready, expertly striking downany Wolves that closed.He ignored them to focus on the woman singled ou t by thewayfarer. He took in every motion of he r sword, knowingits edge would soon be directed at him. Grayle could tellshe was the sort who fought by fueling herself with bloodlust. Her skill was formidable, an d he felt his anger rise asshe eut through one Wolf after another. None who foughtunder Lord Morraig today were his immediate kinsmen,bu t they were his brothers an d sisters nonetheless.

Gray e and his warpwolves emerged from the trees and spedtoward the warlock. The ferais crashed into the warlock' snephilim protectors, tearing deep gashes through armor anddragon hide, while his stalkers hacked into the carniveanwith their long blades. Feeling the thrill of the hunt heslipped between several intervening Nyss swordsmen, hisblades a blur as he thrust and eut, stepping around them asthey feil . He drew on the preternatural senses of his griffonto give him the heightened reflexes to parry other strikesdirected at him as he went past. The Nyss warlock turnedto meet him when he was only a few yards away, just as heentertained the notion that he might dispatch her before shewa s aware of him. He called on the power of storm to fill hislimbs to lend himself both speed an d strength.Everblight did not choose his generais haphazardly.Against Grayle's hopes the Nyss warlock turned smoothlyto block his first strike, he r eyes calm and steady. Her facewas partially obscured behind a dark veil that covered bothher mouth and nose . She stepped to the side of his secondthrust and delivered a blindingly fast retaliation.Grayle narrowly evaded the strike and plunged inwardto stab at her exposed side. Once more she deflected hisblow, bu t his two blades gave him the advantage and hisoff-handed strike slashed forcing her to send the injuryto one of her nephilim. Both their strikes were so swifthe could only react instinctively, falling into a familiardance. Yet after that first brief exchange he felt a surge ofconfidence knowing he ha d the edge. He moved faster an dmanaged to stay inside her reach. His griffon flew downlike an avenging spirit to intercept a nephilim closing onhim from the rear.For the moment each of the combatants stood isolatedeven as the forces around them clashed. Grayle hadskillfully deployed the forces with hi m to tie up thenearest Legion beasts, an d the Wolves of Orboros left byKrueger sa w his attack an d raUied at Morraig's caU tolend him aid . The wolf lord charged alongside severalwar wolves to tie up the legionnaires who otherwisewould have surrounded Grayle.His foe vaulted backward from him, deftly evading histhrusts. As soon as she was ou t of his grasp he felt the hairsalong the back of his neck stand as runes surrounded he rform and blighted energies launched from her. He ha d seenno evidence of he r working magic, an d yet he staggeredand gasped as his lungs seized. His breathing was laboredan d it entirely threw off his fighting rhythm. He feU backshakily as he saw a gleam of triumph in he r eyes an d sheleapt toward him with renewed conviction.This time he moved too slowly to block the tremendousoverhead blow she delivered with her razor-sharpenedblade. Even as Gray e felt the shock of impact he desperately


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sent the wound to his nearest warpwolf stalker. The beasthowled in pain and staggered, collapsing as his torso wa srent in half to spill organs onto the forest floor. Gray e couldstill feel blood dripping from a painful slash across his chestand felt a momentary surge of awed amazement that theblow ha d been so strong. He could not afford tolet her hithim again, and he tumbled to the side, his lungs on fire fromwhatever blighted magic afflicted him .

Morvahna was kept occupied as he r forces were beset byflying menaces. The spearmen defending her were batteredback by the heavy grotesques that descended from above.With a shout she unleashed a surge of her power fueledby the creatures' ow n life forces to tear them limb fromlimb, albeit too late to save several spearmen. She sent he rgoraxes an d argus to intercept a closing swarm of harriersand directed her pureblood to neutralize a seraph whosebreath blazed amid the soldiers on he r left flank, lightingseveral of the nearest trees on fire.A roiling burst of blighted power exploded from the Nysswarlock as she unleashed her sorcery in several directions .Morvahna's eyes widened in admiration to see a harriersurrounded by Wolves of Orboros erupt with destructiveenergies before she ha d to look away, he r eyes burningfrom the warped energies. The six nearest Wolves shriekedin pain as their flesh was torn from their bodies. They fellto the forest floor, their exposed organs shriveling from theonslaught of unnatural radiance.Even more remarkable was the bond Morvahna sensedbetween the two Legion warlocks despite the distancebetween them. This nearest sorceress sent her power throughthe one fighting Grayle. The flow of energies remindedMorvahna of how she was able to evoke he r magic througha gallows grove. She remembered having seen somethingsimilar to this exchange of energies once before, in the battleat the Castle of the Keys when they ha d failed to prevent theLegion from destroyin g Pyromalfic. She recalled tw o femalewarlocks wh o ha d contributed to that battle an d realizedshe faced them again.The idea had come to he r then, an d she felt certain now,that the two possessed sorne occult sympathy. At thetime they ha d seemed to he r eyes almost the same persondivided into two bodies, and she realized that they mustbe sisters-but more, twins. l t wa s an intuitive leap, bu tone she felt certain wa s right. She ha d seen the wildingshared between twins before an d knew the strange bondsshared power created. As Morvahna watched, the nearestsorceress sent additional blighted energy through he rsis ter to afflict Gray e' s allies, evoking blighted explosions

around several nephilim . Morvahna could see she woulhave to separate the two if Grayle were to survive. Shbegan to consider ho w she could turn the battle .Morvahna signaled for Nuala to send her reserves tcommit to the fight. Several Tharn blood packs advanceat their leader's call and fired their great bows into thnearest dragonspawn. She ha d intended to preserve themto help cover their retreat. Morvahna knew they had lost thinitiative, with losses mounting and Grayle so far unable tfinish the Nyss swordswoman. She signaled the reserves tattack that sorceress, shouting, "Drive he r back!"The Tharn advanced while firing arrows an d flinginjavelins, together with bloodtrackers an d wolf riderFacing their sudden onslaught, the Nyss warlock waforced to retreat up the rocky gorge to a more defensiblposition . Her blighted archers followed, firing on the Tharthat harried them .Pleased she ha d forced them to take the defensiveMorvahna ignored them an d impelled he r mount to a fugallop toward the Farstrider. It raced across the forest soiand she wa s quickly able to get close enough to Graylfor he r magic to reach him-she held her sword aloft arunes circled her body and spiraled outward, unravelinthe blighted choking tendrils that filled Grayle's lungsHe took a deep an d ragged breath an d shot Morvahnagratefullook before his adversary was upon him. No longehindered by he r magic, he skillfully evaded her blows anretaliated in kind.Through a gallows grove Morvalma empowered one oGrayle's remaining stalkers. It had been injured, bu t no wits inherent regenerative powers were amplified with eacstrike it made, and it quickly healed. Morvahna's owwounds closed as she stole vitality from several Wolvewh o fell to dragonspawn an d blighted Nyss.She looked back to Grayle's battle an d sa w his advantagha d been restored now that his breathing wa s back tnormal. He had pushed back the Nyss woman with a flurrof blows. Thanks to Wolf Lord Morraig, who had focuseon taking clown her dragonspawn, she wa s running out oplaces to shunt he r wounds . The exchange ha d been bloodon both sides, though, an d few of Grayle's host remainedThe Circle ha d suffered badly, an d their numbers wergreatly reduced. The Legion still had untapped reservein those wh o ha d been stretched out along the gorge andhad yet to engage. If they joined the battle, he r failure wapractically guaranteed. She had to force the entire armyto retreat, yet she knew that even without a numericaadvantage the Legion would never flee du e to fear. Thefollowed their masters to the death. Breaking them hingedon defeating the twins.


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Morvahna knew the warlock hunkered down amid therocks could see the fight between Grayle and her sister andhow circumstances ha d reversed. The Nyss was clearly onthe defensive, falling back as Grayle hacked skillfully ather. As predicted, the sorceress came ou t from he r shelteredposition, fighting to get doser to he r twin. She risked enemyfire, relying on agility as she rolled forward and rushedahead, invoking her magic as she went to light severalnearby wolf riders afire with bursts akin to dragon flame.Those beasts that were left once more became fulcrums ofblighted energy, obliterating more of Morvahna's soldiers.As she got close enough, she was able to invoke he r magicthrough her sister once again, afflicting Grayle with a burstof fire that made hi m stagger back.As the woman charged into the open, Morvahna shoutedorders to he r remaining wolf riders to hunt he r down andmanipulated fate to guide the arrows of the blood packs,changing near-misses to direct hits. He r archers attacked thenearest dragonspawn to interfere with the Nyss warlock'sability to transfer he r injuries, sending several blightedhorrors falling from the sky. Despite the Nyss' agility,several blood pack arrows struck true, spilling he r blood.This distracted the swordswoman from he r clash withGrayle, as she saw her sister exposed and vulnerable. Bothwere threatened with destruction, and both instinctivelysought to protect the other.Suddenly the swordswoman sacrificed one of he r nearestspawn, a creature like a serpentine cat, sending it leapingonto Gray e to occupy him just long enough for he r to breakaway an d race toward her sister. She eut down several Tharnin her way, and those blighted swordsmen and archersthat were left closed ranks around the wounded twins toshield them from additional fire. Morvahna contemplatedintercepting on he r mount but knew it would be fruitless.A foolish charge would no t convince the twins they shouldretreat-but something else might.She braced herself and then drew on he r ow n life energy tosignificantly augment her power, unleashing a tremendoussurge of natural energies even as he r body erupted inwounds . She ignored the agonizing pain to manifest atorrent of vitality outward through the bloodied grassesto reinvigora te the fallen. Many Tharn an d Wolves wh ohad been bleeding ou t their last suddenly found thestrength to stand, their injuries knitted, weapons in handand ready to fight. Grayle ha d dispatched the barbedtailed dragonspawn that had beset him an d turned to facethe Nyss swordswoman once more. Here amid the treesclosest to the edge of the gorge, it suddenly appeared asthough the Circle army wa s restored an d fresh, readyfor battle once again. In part this was an illusion, as onlythose closest to Morvahna stood, yet amid the trees it wasdifficult to ascertain ho w many ha d seemingly arisen from

the dead. Morvahna sat regally astride her mount and le the r power flow outward from he r fingertips to obliteratemore blighted warriors.The two Nyss warlocks were clearly unnerved. Theyshared a look and then turned to flee north, sending theirremaining dragonspawn to cover their retreat. Many of theNyss soldiers were thrown into confusion. Sorne soughtto engage the arisen Circle warriors, bu t more turned tofollow their masters . It wa

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Gargantuans Hordes Redux