Soulblight Gravelords

Soulblight Gravelords
A Vampire Lord and his army.
Grand alliance	Death
Associated factions	Beasts of the Grave Deathmages Deathrattle Deadwalkers Soulblight
Main grouping	Dynasties
Major characters	Belladamma Volga Lauka Vai Mannfred von Carstein Neferata Radukar Vhordrai
Allies	Flesh-Eater Courts Nighthaunt
Races	Skeleton Zombie Vampire Human Undead
Mounts	Dread Abyssal Nightmare Skeletal Steed
Vehicles	Corpse Cart
Creatures	Dire Wolves Terrorgheists Zombie Dragon
Spell lores	Lore of the Deathmages Lore of the Vampires
Archetypes	Necromancer Vampire Lord
Warbands	Crimson Court Sepulchral Guard

Soulblight Gravelords are legions of Undead servants commanded by vampiric Soulblight lords.^[1]

Organisation

The Soulblight Gravelords are led by Soulblight Vampires that descend from Neferata and Mannfred. While many have diverged into different dynasties developing many alterations few deny the primacy of Mannfred and Neferata. The two Mortarchs are amongst Nagash’s foremost generals and command vast undead armies known as legions filled with hordes of corpse-warriors and beasts of the grave. In the Mortarchs’ absence vampiric majordomos and lordlings who are often either sired directly by the legion’s overlord or hail from client dynasties that have proven their loyalty and capability are entrusted with carrying out out their masters’ agendas. Beneath the legions are innumerable dynasties each usually stemming from a single vampire patriarch or matriarch whose particular curse permeates their brood each possessing its own traditions, heraldry and rivalries. Many such dynasties are entirely supplicant to a singular legion and on occasion, a Mortarch may even take direct control of a dynasty’s forces either to exploit their skills in war or as a gesture of dominance but often allow the masters of a dynasty to retain nominal joint command. The greatest dynasties such as Vyrkos, Kastelai and Avengorii are held in almost as much dreadful awe as the legions themselves eventhough they tend to be largely disregarded by Nagash until their aims align with his own. While some dyanties conquer grave-empires, others follow their bloodlust like the infamous Wraith Fleet of Varkos Varactyr, whose army of drowned mariners and rotting titans of the deep sails across the Mordacious Sound to menace the southern coasts of the Great Parch.^[1b]

In addition to undead hordes summoned from scattered gravesites, vampires are also escorted by courts of attendants, warlords and sycophants. Wight Kings, the reanimated skeletal remnants of ancient chieftains and monarchs whose tactical prowess remains sharp act as frontline champions for the Gravelord armies, leading Deathrattle warriors summoned from ancient battlefields to serve their will. Weaker Wight Kings are vulnerable to a vampire’s sorcerous control but the greatest possess a will equal to any Vampire and rule their own empires, sending subordinates to treat with vampiric rulers of stature. Necromancers are Deathmages that ensure the undead armies remain filled with vigour and resurrect those who fall. Vampires offer patronage to as many promising Necromancers as they can as this lessens their burden on the field allowing them to concentrate on slaughtering the foe and sate their thirst.^[1b]

Cursed Bloodlines

• Avengorii Dynasty: the nightmare brood, led by Lauka Vai, the Mother of Nightmares.^[2]
• Kastelai Dynasty: led by Prince Vhordrai, the Fist of Nagash.^[2]
• Legion of Blood: led by Neferata, the Mortarch of Blood.^[2]
• Legion of Night: led by Mannfred von Carstein, the Mortarch of Night.^[2]
• Vyrkos Dynasty: the wolf pack, led by Belladamma Volga, the first of the Vyrkos.^[2]

Sources

• 1: Battletome: Soulblight Gravelords (2021)
  • 1a: The Midnight Aristocracy, pg.4-5
  • 1b: Lords of the Night, pg.16-17
• 2: All of the Vampiric Bloodlines Are Noble, But Only One Has Wolf Paws