Alright, Warhammer fans, get ready to dive deep into the lore and gameplay of the Idoneth Deepkin! These guys are the stuff of nightmares – shadowy sea-dwelling aelves who raid the land to steal souls. Here’s everything you need to know about these enigmatic warriors and their tragic backstory.
The Tragic Tale of the Idoneth Deepkin
In the Age of Myth, the Mage God Teclis and his brother Tyrion awoke as gods of the aelves. They had a bone to pick with Slaanesh, the Chaos God who devoured aelven souls. So, they trapped him and used the Ocarian Lantern to pull out countless aelven souls. Teclis tried to create perfect aelves from these souls, calling them Cythai, but they were flawed and ran off, hiding in the ocean depths.
Exposure to Slaanesh left the Cythai with degraded souls and short lifespans, afflicted by a madness called mallachi. To survive, they developed soul-transfusion methods, but they needed fresh souls to keep the madness at bay. Thus, the Idoneth Deepkin were born, living in extreme seclusion and desperate measures, constantly raiding the land for souls.
The Idoneth Enclaves and Society
Despite their reclusive nature, the Idoneth had to join the fight as Chaos spread through the realms. They are fierce but unreliable allies, always prioritizing their own survival.
Most Idoneth are born as Namarti, short-lived and sightless, needing soul transfusions to live. The lucky few with fully-formed souls become Akhelian warriors or join the Isharann sages. This caste system is as harsh as the ocean depths they inhabit, and it’s reflected in their combat style. Namarti follow their elite commanders and soul-guides with unyielding discipline.
The Ethersea and Combat Tactics
To raid for souls, the Idoneth travel through the ethersea, a magical oceanic layer conjured by the Isharann. This ethersea hampers their enemies’ movements and vision while giving the Idoneth an edge. Namarti strike from the shadows, while Akhelians on mighty sea beasts like Allopex sharks glide through the air, hitting hard and disappearing just as quickly.
Battle Traits
As Raiders of the Deep, the Idoneth are masters of hit-and-run tactics, thanks to their Ethersea Voyagers abilities. They can deploy entire regiments out of nowhere, striking with the devastating Tides of Death. These tides give them different abilities each battle round – from advancing under mist to a full-on assault during High Tide, and then retreating during Ebb Tide.
Battle Formations and Arcana
The Idoneth use various formations and tactics, like the Akhelian Beastmasters who excel at controlling their undersea mounts. Isharann sorcerers bolster their forces with powerful spells, and Namarti auxiliaries throw themselves into the fray to protect their leaders.
The Lore of the Deeps provides incredible mobility, allowing Isharann to summon a Steed of the Tides to reposition their forces swiftly.
Unit Highlights
When it’s time to bring out the big guns, the Idoneth summon an Eidolon of Mathalann, an avatar of the sea god. The Aspect of the Sea can calm allies and unleash devastating magical attacks.
Isharann Tidecasters are key to maintaining the ethersea’s effects, offering benefits like Creeping Mist to hinder enemy shooting, or Surging Stream to boost their own advance.
The Idoneth also harness vicious sea creatures like the Akhelian Allopex, ridden by sharpshooting Embailors who pin down foes with harpoons and nets. Meanwhile, the Akhelian Ishlaen Guard ride Fangmora Eels, neutralizing enemy units and providing strong defense with their Galv-shields.
Spearhead Spotlight
For more subtle operations, the Idoneth launch a Soulhunt Raid, led by an Isharann Soulscryer. With Namarti Thralls pinning enemies, an Allopex wreaking havoc, and Akhelian Morrsarr Guard delivering the final blow, these raids are swift and deadly.
The Tides of Death ability buffs even these smaller raids, allowing Namarti Thralls to shine in combat, with their lanmari blades tailored for different enemies.
The Idoneth Deepkin are all about striking fear and chaos with their eerie, sea-born magic and ruthless efficiency. Whether you’re collecting them for their hauntingly beautiful models or their unique playstyle, these aelves are a force to be reckoned with. Keep an eye out for the next Faction Focus on the relentless Maggotkin of Nurgle!
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