In the latest deep dive into Warhammer: The Old World, the spotlight is on the fearsome Warriors of Chaos. Yesterday, the tale began with a journey across the Wastes to glean insights from wizened seers, uncovering the malevolent plans of these dark forces. Today, that journey continues with the unveiling of the Arcane Journal: Warriors of Chaos.
Key Characters: Galrauch and Frydaal the Chainmaker
- Galrauch: The first named character in this Arcane Journal is the ancient dragon Galrauch, corrupted by a Greater Daemon of Tzeentch. His original incarnation, from the era of Karl Franz, remains mostly intact in this new iteration. Galrauch’s story is one of eternal conflict as his indomitable spirit battles the daemonic influence within. While his rules used to be notoriously chaotic, this new version is more reliable. He’s still a force to be reckoned with, being a powerful, Terror-causing Dragon, who also wields magic. His miniature will be returning in metal, albeit slightly delayed, and he is now classified as a Behemoth, making him well worth his 400 points or more.
- Frydaal the Chainmaker: The new character introduced is Frydaal, a Norscan warrior who embodies the journey of a mortal succumbing to the lure of Chaos. Unlike Galrauch, Frydaal is not aligned with any specific Chaos god, making her a champion of Chaos Undivided. In terms of gameplay, she is positioned between an Exalted Champion and a Chaos Lord, offering buffs to Marauders and Marauder Horsemen, and is the inspiration behind the Wolves of the Sea army.
Narrative and Campaign
Frydaal’s story unfolds with her raiding the northern coast of the Empire, specifically targeting Hollum in the Wasteland. Over the years, she carves out her territory near Marienberg, clashing with the forces of Empress Magritta, one of the major claimants to the throne. The rise of Chaos in the region leads to dark monuments being built and corruption spreading, which prompts the Empire to muster an army to counter the Norscan threat. However, Frydaal has anticipated this move, setting the stage for a pivotal battle.
The outcome of this first major conflict between Frydaal’s forces and the Empire is left open-ended, inviting players to recreate and determine the battle’s results on their own tabletops. This approach reflects a new direction for Warhammer, where smaller, ongoing narratives in the form of Arcane Journals allow for a more flexible and evolving storytelling process.
Future of Arcane Journals
The team behind Warhammer: The Old World is committed to producing more Arcane Journals, offering a fresh perspective on storytelling within the Warhammer universe. These journals allow for the exploration of smaller, intricate stories that can be revisited and expanded upon over time. The narrative is not confined to a single grand story but can include various threads, such as the war in the Border Princes or the reclamation of Kazad Vosk.
As for Frydaal, her journey is far from over. Having established a base in the ruins of Hollum, she’s poised to continue her campaign against the Empire, with more battles and chaos to unfold in the years to come.
Stay tuned as tomorrow’s focus shifts to a closer examination of the new Armies of Infamy and the rest of the rules for the Warriors of Chaos!
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