Difference between revisions of "Nighthaunt"
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==Captains of the Host== | ==Captains of the Host== | ||
These lead the attacks and direct the forces against the foe whilst some are used as bodyguards by the commanders of the hosts such as the Shroudguard. | These lead the attacks and direct the forces against the foe whilst some are used as bodyguards by the commanders of the hosts such as the Shroudguard. | ||
− | * Dreadblade Harrows, Spirit Torments, Cairn Wraiths, Lord Executioners, Tomb | + | * Dreadblade Harrows, Spirit Torments, Cairn Wraiths, Lord Executioners, Tomb Banshees, Guardians of Souls{{Fn|3e}} |
===Chainguard=== | ===Chainguard=== | ||
− | Controlled by a Guardian of Souls, these hosts of Chainrasp Hordes are | + | Controlled by a Guardian of Souls, these hosts of Chainrasp Hordes are frequently used to hold the centreline of a Nightaunt army, engaging larger and powerful enemy units, relying on the Guardian to constantly reform them.{{Fn|3e}} |
* Leader: Guardian of Souls, | * Leader: Guardian of Souls, | ||
** Units: Chainrasp Hordes.{{Fn|3e}} | ** Units: Chainrasp Hordes.{{Fn|3e}} | ||
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===Deathriders=== | ===Deathriders=== | ||
− | The cavalry of a Nightahunt Procession are often drawn together around one | + | The cavalry of a Nightahunt Procession are often drawn together around one or more Black Coaches, providing a powerful fast moving force.{{Fn|3e}} |
* Dreadblade Harrows, Hexwraiths, Black Coaches | * Dreadblade Harrows, Hexwraiths, Black Coaches | ||
Revision as of 12:34, 10 August 2018
Nighthaunts are tormented and bitter spirits that leave nothing but withered corpses in their wake.
Contents
Overview
Gateways to the underworld that lurk beneath the Realm of Shyish discharge malignant spirits that gather together in hatred and rage to form nighthaunt armies. Cairn Wraiths only joy comes from the souls they reap with their scythes, many being murderers or merciless executioners whereas Tomb Banshees are betrayed spirits and whose piercing scream can freeze the heart of a living warrior. Hexwraiths were once knights cruel and proud who once again bring terror and death to the living whilst Black Coaches contain a forsaken soulblight vampire that seeks to gather power to escape its prison. Clouds of spirit hosts are full of rage and hate, the souls of the damned that have lost all identity and seek to express their unending rage at the living. [1]
Nighthaunts come in hundreds of varieties but most can be categorised into a dozen broad groupings such as Chainrasp Hordes and Dreadscythe Harridans. [3a]
These spirits can be created in several ways, one is the necro-maledictus – a curse on a soul recently separated from its physical form, forcing it to remain and haunt the Mortal Realms for eternity. Drifting pockets of amethyst magic or deep deposits of grave sand can also bring them into existence. [3a]
Most are created by Nagash or his followers, using the necromantic magics he has perfected and which the Collegiate Arcane believe he created. All such spirits suffer an ironic punishment, as the god of the dead inflicts a penance for crimes either real or perceived. So a criminal seeking escape through death may find himself in undeath still bound by spiritual chains. [3a]
History
Age of Myth
Nighthaunts have haunted the Mortal Realms since the Age of Myth often seeking vengeance on the living themselves or serving more powerful entities such as Soulblight vampires. Occasional in this almost forgotten age, a host of Nighthaunts would arise and devour entire towns. [3b]
Age of Chaos
Nagash summons the spirits of the entire underworld of Nordyrie, part of Hallost following a defeat by a daemonic horder of Khorne at the Battle of Dirge Peak. These former herores rise up and destroy the daemons with only their leader, the Bloodthirster Khazkhan escaping their wrath. [3d]
Idoneth Deepkin raiders enter the Vale of Chains and accidently release a host of spectres cursed by Nagash to be held and tortured there for eternity. The wraiths seek revenge on both the lord of death and the living. [3d]
Following the defeat of Nagash by Archaon, most of the dead are subjugated, imprisoned or destroyed – but the Nighthaunts including such forces as the Glowing Host and the Grimguard remain effective. [3d]
Age of Sigmar
During the Necroquake there is a huge rise in nighthaunt attacks on the living, with hosts nearly overwhelming the Stormcast defending Phoenicium but grew distracted with tormenting the population of the city. Gnarlok, a Sylvaneth fortress was conquered but the ghiests ignored the magical woadstone that it guarded and beastmen were able to take control of it. [3c]
Nagash decided that in order to fully exploit their power, the nighthaunt hosts needed a commander to control and direct them. So it was that he created a new Mortarch to join the trio of lieutenants that served him and commanded his legions. Having once curse the lady Olynder now he sought her out again and gave her a sliver of his divinity. [3c]
Her first great act was to send out a siren call, a soulful lamentation that summoned them back to the Realm of Shyish and her service. From all across the Realms, they came and she formed them into mighty legions or Processions with a Knight of Shrouds to command each spectral host. [3c]
Then she unleashed them against the enemies of her lord, launching attacks first against those who sought to command the Underworld of Lyria. She defeated the hosts of the Chaos warlord Thur and Stormcast Eternals at the siege of Morlaix, her sub commanders reclaiming the Calcified Realmgate and the Mausoleum Mountains. [3c] On occasion, Processions form brief alliances with Flesh-eater Courts as the dead seek to reclaim Ossia but after each successful campaign, the spectres turn on and destroy the ghouls. [3d]
Processions
The legions or spectral hosts under the command of Lady Olynder are known as Processions, gathered initially by her siren call of lament and held together by her will or that of her chosen lieutenants. Some processions are constantly being changed or reformed as their Mortarch wills, others are the spirits of a given area or locale that have flocked together and remain in unison.[3e]
Notable
- The Blood Mavens: Dominated by red haired Dreadscythe Harridans.[3e]
- The Glowing Host: Led by many Tomb Banshees, these spirits glow like their home in the Glittering Marsh[3e]
Commanders
- Lady Olynder, Mortarch of Grief
- Kurdoss Valentian, the Craven King
- Reikenor the Grimhailer
- The Briar Queen of Shadespire. [3e]
- Morwyrt Blackheart and his trio of Lord Executioners. [3e]
Processions are often formed around the following formations.[3e]
The Shroudguard
Knights of the Shrounds are frequnetly guarded by a bodyguard of revenants who are bound to their master or mistress by magical oaths. [3e]
- Bladegheist Revenants
Captains of the Host
These lead the attacks and direct the forces against the foe whilst some are used as bodyguards by the commanders of the hosts such as the Shroudguard.
- Dreadblade Harrows, Spirit Torments, Cairn Wraiths, Lord Executioners, Tomb Banshees, Guardians of Souls[3e]
Chainguard
Controlled by a Guardian of Souls, these hosts of Chainrasp Hordes are frequently used to hold the centreline of a Nightaunt army, engaging larger and powerful enemy units, relying on the Guardian to constantly reform them.[3e]
- Leader: Guardian of Souls,
- Units: Chainrasp Hordes.[3e]
The Condemned
The Spirit torment that leads this host dirves the Chainghasts and Chainrasps into battle - rampaging through the ranks of the foe.[3e]
- Leader: Spirit Torment,
- Units: Chainghasts, Chainrasp Hordes
Deathriders
The cavalry of a Nightahunt Procession are often drawn together around one or more Black Coaches, providing a powerful fast moving force.[3e]
- Dreadblade Harrows, Hexwraiths, Black Coaches
Death Stalkers
Usually forces that are puit together to hunt out and dispatch specific enemies and foes.[3e]
- Cairn Wraiths, Grimghast Reapers, Glaivewraith Stalkers.[3e]
Execution Hordes
Led by an Lord Executioner, these smaller hosts are able to weave across th battlefield and strike powwerful blows at enemy formations.[3e]
- Leader: Lord Executioners,
- Units: Spirit Hosts
Shrieker Hosts
Protected from enemy magic by the Mymourn, the Tomb Banshee leads her sisters into battle, as she unleashes her wail of doom, her accomanying Dreadscythe's tear into the shaken ememy.
- Leader: Tomb Banshees,
- Units: Dreadscythe Harridans, Myrmourn Banshees
Characters
Name | Faction | Unit | Species | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
Anguished One | Nighthaunt | Myrmourn Banshee | Malignant | A member of Lady Harrow's Mournflight who hunted intruders in the cursed city of Shadespire before finding herself in Beastgrave. |
Briar Queen | Nighthaunt | Mirrorghast Banshee | Malignant | Once a powerful Deathmage, she is now a Banshee stalking the cursed city of Shadespire and the Mortal Realms. |
Lady Harrow | Nighthaunt | Myrmourn Banshee | Malignant | Leader of Lady Harrow's Mournflight who hunted intruders in the cursed city of Shadespire before finding herself in Beastgrave. |
Olynder | Nighthaunt | Mortarch of Grief | Malignant | The Mortarch of Grief. Joint-general of the Nighthaunt processions, alongside her husband Kurdoss. |
Celemnis | Nighthaunt | Tomb Banshee | Malignant | The Swordmaiden of the Argent Sisterhood and a renowned weaponsmith throughout Anvrok she helped the Stormcast during the Heldenhammer Crusade to get revenge on Ephryx. |
Keldrek | Nighthaunt | Knight of Shrouds | Malignant | The Knight of Shrouds, Emissary of the Prime Innerlands. Herald of Death. |
Omphalo Dohl | Nighthaunt | Guardian of Souls | Malignant | A Guardian of Souls in the service of Pharus Thaum at the siege of Glymmsforge |
Reikenor | Nighthaunt | Grimhailer | Malignant | The Grimhailer, he was once a powerful Sorcerer-king before his attempts to defeat mortality attracted the attention of Nagash. |
Entyr Rocha | Nighthaunt | Lord Executioner | Malignant | Once a Lady of the Fourth Circle and formerly High Executioner of Helstone. |
Sabrodt | Nighthaunt | Knight of Shrouds | Malignant | He turned to Nagash to give the power to betray his twin brother and take the kingdom of Kharza. |
Screaming Maiden | Nighthaunt | Myrmourn Banshee | Malignant | A member of Lady Harrow's Mournflight who hunted intruders in the cursed city of Shadespire before finding herself in Beastgrave. |
Kreth Soulvoid | Nighthaunt | Dreadwarden | Malignant | In life a solider who killed his commander, now he leads the cursed dead. |
Kurdoss Valentian | Nighthaunt | Craven King | Malignant | The Craven King. A man who in life longed to be King, and in Undeath wears a hollow crown. |
Varclav the Cruel | Nighthaunt | Chainrasp Majordomo | Malignant | Once the High Warden of the Nightvault of Shadespire, he now serves the Briar Queen |
White Witch | Nighthaunt | Tomb Banshee | Malignant | The dreaded White Witch of the Ulwhyr, taker of children. |
Widow Caitha | Nighthaunt | Myrmourn Banshee | Malignant | A member of Lady Harrow's Mournflight who hunted intruders in the cursed city of Shadespire before finding herself in Beastgrave. |
Units
Image | Unit | Faction | Grand Alliance |
Warscroll |
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See Also
Sources