Greetings Terrans, how goes it? I wanted to put out a quick post to elaborate on the four DoK Melusai I did for Fembruary – they are intended to grow the small DoK warband I started last year, very much with Warcry in mind. Collectively named ‘The Wrath’, these four outcasts have sought Seros out, as rumours of her status as prophetess have spread:
I’ve gone for a 50/50 split between hitty Bloodsisters, and shooty Bloodstalkers. I also built one as a Bloodstalker Krone in case I wanted her lead the warband some time instead of Seros herself (who will count as a Bloodsister Gorgai).
Speaking of Seros, I originally built her without a specific weapon loadout in mind, and she needed a big shitty spear to roll as a Gorgai. I didn’t want to mess with the model, so I had the idea of converting a male Dark Elf retainer to carry it for her, along with some yummy squeezy-heart drinks:
As he took shape, I decided that he represents Kaulgar from the background fiction that I wrote last year. (TL;DR, Kaulgar was Seros’ lover before Morathi found out about the couple & got all cursey and shit). Kaulgar won’t have an active role in-game, and is just there for fluff reasons.
I also used some spare bits from the Blood Cauldron to create some themed scenery – nothing fancy, just using up bits to make some themed scatter:
And here’s the whole warband as it stands, ready to make their way into the Bloodwind Spoil:
Finally, a bit of accompanying fluff – I want this warband to be really driven by the narrative, and for them to have a good reason for venturing into the Bloodwind Spoil. If you like, you can read more about Seros’ background here and here, before you get the latest instalment:
For many months, Seros continued to grow her strength during her exile in Chamon, the Realm of Metal. Increasing numbers of would-be followers sought her out, but most failed to survive the venomous ‘kiss’ she used to single out the worthy. Those that did undertake the ritual consistently displayed the blood-red flesh and ruined face that characterised her followers, but more extreme mutations also began to manifest themselves.
Seros intuitively knew that the mutating power of her venom would increase in potency as she grew in power, and with growing excitement, she observed that some Aelves undergoing the ritual began the painful transformation to forms that resembled the half-snake Melusai, or graceful winged Khinerai. However, they always succumbed to her increasingly potent venom, and her Chamonite lair became littered with the bones of such failed aspirants.
Fused femurs and ribs were mixed with twisted and elongated spines and the bones of vestigial bat wings, and the skeletal remains began to pile up in drifts. Seros made no attempt to hide these remains, and her reputation as a rising power ensured that new aspirants continued to arrive and subject themselves to the ritual in spite of the danger. Their mutated bones continued to join those of their predecessors, until eventually the day came when a quartet of Aelves proved strong enough to withstand the transformation to Melusai. These four became the first of Seros’ elite foot soldiers, and were thereafter known as The Wrath of Seros.
The creation of The Wrath was a pivotal point in the rise of Seros – for the first time in history, Melusai were created that did not originate from Morathi herself. Seros knew that her power had passed a crucial nexus, and that her former mistress would not bear another to share her ability to reshape Aelven souls to create new life. Seros began to get restless – she knew that she needed to move on from Chamon, but was unsure where to strike out. It was at this point that a lone Warlock found her lair – the first male Aelf to have done so.
Her followers immediately surrounded the Warlock and were about to execute the intruder out of hand, for Khainites have little tolerance for males within their society. Seros stayed their murderous instincts, for she recognised this Warlock as none other than her former lover Kaulgar, and her heart broke anew. Kaulgar also recognised Seros, and while his heart and soul were no longer capable of feeling love thanks to the Doomfire runes were burned into his flesh, he certainly remembered their time together, and he remembered the vengeance that they owed to Morathi.
This was why Kaulgar had sought Seros out after all this time – he had travelled widely since the fateful day that they were cursed, and had learned much. He spoke to Seros of a wild and dangerous place called the Eightpoints – a bastion of chaos, but one littered with items of vast power. He proposed that they venture to the Eightpoints via the Bloodwind Spoils, seeking such artefacts, looking to grow the power they would need to overthrow Morathi once and for all. We join Seros and Kaulgar as they leave Chamon and embark on their quest for revenge against a goddess.
So that’s it for now folks, I hope you’ve enjoyed this update to the narrative. I think I’ll be adding a few winged terrors to this warband over the coming weeks, and maybe a few surprises as well – we’ll see how March goes.
One thing for sure, I’ll be starting my prep for BOYL in April, so expect a pivot back to the Oldhammer scene between Easter and Summer 😊
That’s fun, those look great! The statue of Khaine was retconned into a unit since it’s release, wasn’t it?
Warcry bands are a fun way to pretend that you will only scratch the surface of a faction, before inevitably going overboard. I’m currently hiring myself in beastmen and ghouls for that reason.
Cheers mate – yeah, they sure are! Warbands are deffo a gateway drug :-) I do want to add a few more bits, but only to give me some warband options… Honest!!
I think you’re right about using the statue as a unit… but it’s so boring and static-looking – I can’t see it as anything other than a statue ;-)
You could make that statue into … say a Thousand Sons Daemon Prince. That’ll be cool. 😉
haha – what kind of mad man would attempt a conversion like that? ;-)
That’s one great looking warband! The red skin looks both right and off at the same time. Well done.
Cheers mate, I do enjoy working in red :-)
Looking slick mate! It’s all very Clash of the Titans!
Cheers bro – I hope they play like Titans!! Guess we’ll find out tomorrow 😡
Hum, that’s enjoyable! The effect on the Khaine statue is tremendously cool, I think you built quite an interesting warband!
Thanks dude! The statue was just a quick & messy job, so really nothing amazing, but I’m happy with the overall effect 😊
Individually and collectively that’s a great group of figures and I like the terrain pieces too. Looking forward to seeing what comes next. 😊
Cheers mate – more weird & wonderful creatures are on the bench 😁
Excellent!
All just fabulous mate; the snakes, the terrain, the story – all top notch! Looking forward to seeing you tackle the Khinerai, I think they’ll look amazing in that colour scheme. Two quick questions – did you do something to change the colour of the cracked earth (looks too light to be Martian Ironearth, is it Agrellan with a wash?)? Also how did you do the bronze metal of the statue, I’m struggling to create a similar effect as we speak (in fact I have one last trick to try and if that doesn’t work I think a proper childish tantrum is in order – some sage advice is definitely called for!)
Thanks mate, glad you like! Yeah, I’m looking forward to the flappy ones as well, the minis are bloody lovely!
You’re right about the bases – it’s plain old Agrellan with a Caroberg Crimson wash, & then drybrushed with Ushabti bone.
As for the statue, it’s just Brass Scorpion with a generous wash of earthshade, and a little camoshade in patches. I then roughly but lightly drybrushed the whole thing with Stormhost Silver, and dabbed some Niki-wiki Oxide in the recesses. Simples 😁
Cheers for the recipe, followed your words of wisdom and things are looking much better – tantrum averted! :-D
Good tip on the basing as well, I’ve been trying the Martian Ironcrust for my (very, very slowly progressing) Ad Mech but it’s very red, something a bit more muted might suit better I think.
Those look great to me.
Cheers,
Pete.
Thanks mate :-)
Coooooooool man. Love the models and the cauldron of blood is excellent. Most of all though I love the fluff. Please write a book some day, you have a gift there mate. The flow of it is excellent and the descriptions are just enough for me. I used to get a bit bored of authors like Wilbur Smith who went into far too much detail but you’ve got it just right in my opinion. I love the “little tolerance for males in their society” haha. Quite apt as I just finished reading about the sentencing of Weinstein haha. Keep up the great work man and please keep giving us fluff.
Cheers mate, on both counts! I do enjoy writing the fluff, but writing a book is unlikely I feel. Never say never, but I barely have enough time in the week as it is! :-)
Most of the details (rite names, social contexts, the role of males, etc.) are lifted directly from the army book, so I can’t take credit for those.
What IRO wrote, ditto.
Truly impressive Alex!
Thanks man :-)
These all look bloody great, Alex. I especially like how you’ve grounded the Cauldron of Blood and used the Avatar of Khaine here…
Cheers mate – just clearing out the sprue really dude, I had zero desire to paint the actual cauldron model… it’s a naff concept if you ask me 🙄
Much better as themed terrain 😁