HorticulusTGA

We already have that in the Legion Of Chaos Ascendant allegiance in Wrath of the Everchosen. This faction even has a subfaction called Legion of the First prince, centered about Be'lakor himself. Will the new BR book expand on that ? I HOPE SO BTW did someone understood yesterday's article as (reading between the lines) : ???

Anyway, about the NEW MONDEL MONDAY thingy (very nice, but a stepping on the Rumor Engine's toe a bit uh ?)... I don't know why but today's silhouette makes me think of this dude (even if that clearly won't be him or Tzeentchian, more like something DEATH related) :

And in @LuminethMage defense, GW was misleading about Broken Realms and the Aelven Gods implication both in their marketing AND inside the fluff itself : Remember that before the Be'lakor announcement we already Morathi and Teclis confirmed, so 100% Aelven Gods. I still hope that Broken Realms : Alarielle is on its way (for Sylvaneth players' sake) and that the series itself isn't too long, i.e. that the new edition comes later this summer. That said, as an old time devotee of Be'lakor (Mordheim and Shadow over Albion 😍), and as a Daemonic Legions / Chaos Daemons player, I'm SO GLAD to see the Dark Master getting his own book !

Did someone else also heard March the 13th as a possible date for Warhammer Quest Cursed City release ? That'd be great. I wish we'll get expansions (MOAR Explorers, please !). And that the Silver Tower gang could be used as Heroes too. BTW why aren't the Beastgrave Season 3 warbands yet repackaged in Easy-to-build sets without the cards ??

I entirely agree with you, both timing and fluff redundancy. Maybe the (possible!!) attack on the Anvil could only push the Flaw past a certain breaking point, not making the SCE unreforgeable, but ushering the release of Flawed SCE in model form ?

That was my theory too. But even Death Grand Alliance is already shaky. We know one of the Ossiarch legions (the burning one) realizes that Nagash want to use them as Kamikaze and are not happy about that. FEC was always mostly anti-Nagash (they even helped Order defend Lethis against the Legion of Grief, and fight against the OBR in the last White Dwarf). Manfred is a treacherous being and a few Vampires can always follow him. Idoneth on the Order side often fight among themselves. Just like Morathi backstabber Sigmar and stole Anvilgard, Alarielle will rage quite against the Free cities soon-ish. Teclis does whatever he wants. Malerion tricked Sigmar already with the Gladiatorum. (Well, apparently Sigmar and Morathi.. Be'lakor and Archaon fought together against Katakros and Olynder but we know they hate each other, so there will be problems soon. And Chaos and Destruction on a wider scale are always about interstine wars so "Grand Alliance" yeah not so much

Just kidding. My friend @xking I am no rumormonger and I only posted what could be Belakor's plot in my mind. I think the Realmgate Wars and the esthablishement of Free cities were GREAT victories for Order (per the StD battletome they regained at least 10% of the realms). The many alliances and treaties made with Fyreslayers, Sylvaneth, Kharadron Overlords and even some Idoneth Deepkin enclaves were victories too. The Aelves gods (at least Teclis and Morathi) will keep the worst offensives of Nagash and Slaanesh in check. Even better if they find common cause with Stormcasts and the Free people. After Archaon lost almost half his Arcways, the Eightpoints got breached twice recently : Katakros build a stronghold there and Morathi stole the biggest Varanite gisement, preventing the Gaunt Summoners to breach the Azyr archway. Then Archaon lost trace of Slaanesh.... Can he handle Be'lakor's rebellion ? I think with the Lumineth making their play to counter the Soul Wars, and Destruction further weakening Death and Chaos, Order can hold his ground and even mount some counter offensives in many places ! If the Duardin stands united, if Malerion and Tyrion show off at some point, there are still a lot of hope for Order, even if some part of Azyr get attacked.

Well I just listed a few story arcs we know are ongoing or about to start (Siege of Excelsis, Alarielle's rebellion, Newborn vs Aelves, Duardrazhal and maybe Chorfs, etc.). And as I explained, the Be'lakor plot is just speculation, maybe Be'lakor's goal, but not what will happen. And still it would be pretty cool in regard with his rivalry with Archaon, and would look something like THAT : But I personally hope the SCE are not weakened any further. I also never said Azyr would be in ruins. Just that the Anvil on the Sigmarabulum could be destroyed or damaged. Anyway, all that would completely break the existing balance of power, leading to new opportunities. What if, for example, Excelsis is never attacked because Skargrott, Grodrak, Orscillion and Sigvald almost destroy each other's army before the walls of the city ? Well, unlikely, but there are lot of "What if" and good opportunities for new story arcs after the Soul Wars.

I agree with you. The SCE are already tragic and "distinct" enough with the Flaw in the Reforging, no need to weaken them further. BUT. Be'lakor attacking Azyr would be cool for three reasons : - We would at last be able to fight in Azyr (with Realm Of Battles rules or, dare I hope, A MAP OF AN AZYRITE REGION !!11!1! ). - Be'lakor would have a glorious revenge on Archaon if he gets to the Realm of Heaven first. - It could mean a redesign of the SCE range to make it more "grimdark" and battle damaged (as they are in John Blanche sketches and on the current Battletome cover). Or it could mean a new Eshin plastic range. Then Be'lakor could fail* and just retreat after the attempt, but that still would be cool and a moral victory to attack Sigmar's own power base

But we already know : - Destruction is in Ascendency and will attack Excelsis. - The Newborn and the rise in Hedonites number will end in more wars against the Aelves (the Newborn is in Ulgu). - The Duardin are trying to unite once more (the Duardrazahl blurb in the KO or Fyreselayer tome, the rumor about Grimnir forging something for this people, the ongoing Grombrindal narrative published in White Dwarf). And we know Chaos Duardin are also rumored or featured in the current fluff. - Alarielle will attack her allies (it was in the reveal article about Broken Realms, and several short stories refers to her treacherous nature). I only speculate about how Gardus and the Nighthaunt (confirmed Broken Realms releases) can be tied to BR : Alarielle. And the short story is IMO Be'lakor trying - via Eshin Agents (who have Gnawholes in Azyr already) - to destroy the Sigmarabulum (i.e. "the impossible") to make the Stormcast Eternals not "eternal" anymore. That's just speculation of course and I would like the SCE to remain "Reforgeable" but Flawed as they are right now, but that's what the "Dark offering" short story hinted at, so...

Honestly, that short story wasn't great, and was apparently written before the whole AOS cosmos was well established in Malign Portents and AOS2. The fact that Soulbound refers to old fluff is also worrying. The "Dark Prince" was always Slaanesh's name (in WFB and 40k too). Slaanesh loves mirror and we know the Hedonites are too going to Excelsis, so the prophecy probably refers to the Newborn escaping Uhl-Gysh. Be'lakor is another separate story arc IMO. We'll have to see if it was him at the end of BR : Morathi, and if so why he'd free a Stormcast. Then if his goal is Azyr.... Maybe he possessed him (if such thing is even possible for a SCE) ?

And what part of my (rather long) post sounds horrible to you ?

I was apparently on point with that whole Vyrkos new vampiric bloodline ! They are the creatures of Hrunspuul, the Hound of the Cairns (a Shyishian Godbeast). BTW @KingBrodd I still hope one of the expansion (If we get any) will feature a Golemkind or Cog-automaton of some sort as an Explorer (or even hostiles) 😍

Except ushering in the whole Age of Sigmar thingy, right ? 😛 retaking key Realmgates and foudning the Free Cities also seems to be a good deal IMO. Alternatively, if Be'lakor damage the Anvil, it could just worsen the Reforging Flaw we already know about.

So. Possible AOS releases schedule (everything is a bit delayed because COVID) : WHQ Cursed Cities, end of March, BR Teclis + Lumineth Battletome 2, April, BR Alarielle May/June : First part : we'll see Alarielle and Gardus protecting Ghyran from Nagash, more precisely a Nighthaunt invasion (NH are getting a new Hero and didn't get rules in BR : Morathi or BR : Teclis). Then Alarielle will snap and turn on her allies. After a bloody war and few Cities getting destroyed, Sigmar himself manifests in Ghyran to parlay. MEANWHILE IN AZYR : Be'lakor appears on the Sigmarabulum (the space station around Mallus) via Eshin Gnawholes (we know there are some already), and while Sigmar and the Sacrosancts Chambers are abroad, he wrecks the Anvil of the Apotheosis. The Stormcast becomes an endangered Species. End : Gordrakk and Skargrot talks to their horde as the walls of Excelsis are in sight. Then, AOS Third Edition (around August*) and new story arcs : Destruction in ascendency with Excelsis besieged / destroyed, the Slaanesh Newborn warring with the Aelves, the Duardin on their way to be united again (but CHAOS DWARFS happens), Archaon losing his grip on Chaos because of Be'lakor**, Azyr***being breached by Destruction or by Be'lakor & Co., the Sigmarabulum destroyed, and FINALLY the Stormcast no longer Eternals ! * Soulblight are "later this year" so maybe October ? **between him and the Great Horned Rat in the Pantheon, we indeed have Malal reborn *** BR : Alarielle or the 3rd ed. Core Book better feature a map of Azyr or else.....

I am glad we counted with @Chikout "only" on three videos for AOS in the preview because oh boy that Be'lakor one sure BLOWED MY MIND UP and the Lumineth, the NH Cruciator, Gardus and of course WHQ are all glorious : BEST preview ever IMO. So, three "educated" guesses based on the info we got : 1) Soulblight Gravelords is once again confirmed as a new faction coming later this year, as that Wight King is in there I guess in replacement of Legions of Nagash. 2) Apparently, the Nighthaunt tortuer and Gardus Steelsoul are paired together AND are related to the Broken Realms narrative. Maybe a dual box to go with Broken Realms : Alarielle ? (BTW, today's White Dwarf confirms Broken Realms in related to the "Aelven Pantheon"). And Gardus has great bond with Alarielle so it could fit for a book set in Ghyran. And Nighthaunt didn't get rules in BR : Morathi or BR : Teclis, so they could get some love in BR : Alarielle. 3) Speaking of BR, the Be'lakor blurb in the preview ties him too with Broken Realms, which basically confirms it was him at the end of BR : Morathi and in the last short story. I can't wait to get hiiiiiimmmmmmmmmm. I pray to the power above he fill infiltres Azyr and destroy the Sigmarabulum, that would be a great revenge on Archaon to break the Heavens first.

Good find, indeed confirms IMO the BR series is only about Aelves. I also don't think Malerion will come soonish. Very interesting either way, I encourage every one to read those WD articles about the three Ages, the Godbeasts and the nature of the Gods in the AOS universe. BTW I'm afraid too we won't see lumineth today... AOS : Gravelords partial reveals + anniversary model Gardus ? WHU : Savages Orruks + teaser ? WHQ : main set full reveal ? CAN'T WAIT

Great short story ! That shadowy being is probably the same we saw at the end of BR : Morathi IMO we are one step closer to see the Return Of Be'lakor : - Being called "Shadow-lord" or Dark "master", ruling over "living shadow" in a "cursed chamber" ? Check. - Tall and Winged ? Check. - Bestial features like claw and fangs and aura of dread power like Daemons ? Check. - Working with Chaos-aligned agents (and through proxy) ? Check. - Having Rumor Engines close to his old model ? Check. I think he wants the Eshin Skavens to sabotage the Sigmarbulum. In doing that, they will make the Stormcast not Eternals anymore. And "destroying the impossible" (aka a space station in Azyr) sounds more like sabotage than single target assassination.

Wait. What with that heavy-handed hatred of Forge World ? You know they have been reorganized into the first galactic emp.. into the Specialist Games Studio for a while, right ? They will "only" produce things for Horus Heresy (AT and AI), Necromunda, BloodBowl, Middle Earth (quasi separate team) and The Old World. The rules for the relatively few AOS (WFB) / 40k things they still produce are made by the Core Studio of those respective games (either as compendium or as Legends), so no need to rage against FW for that. As they are now Specialist Games, better treat everything not SG-related as already on Last Chance To Buy.

Great finds !!

Great day for previews and Rumor Engines solvers !! So we'll see (at least) Ulfenkarn's Wolf Lord ("Russian" fur hat & wolf pet), his werewolve/vampire underling (clingy one + sword), and the Azyrite Sorceress / Sister of Sigmar. Like others, I guess the Facebook teaser is some kind of Necromancer or Nighthaunt guys for WHQ (or a Necrarch equivalent for Gravelords ???). I initially hoped the flimsy hand holding that Plaguebearer-y skull would be Tzeentchian, but alas. The WHU Ossiarch Emmisary with the axe (its rune represents that "caste") looks cool, but the head looks a bit too small... or is just the crest ? Hope we get a Melee Heroes on foot, like a Liege Kavalos but for the Mortek Guard. Oh and that second Savage Orruk is great. Simple yet effective, better than the WHU Brutes at least IMO. ONE worry though : where is WARCRY ???

Wonderful Model !!! I love the Warhammer Quest aesthetic, it really nails down what AOS can and could be IMO, from the Knight Questor to the Barbarian Darkoath and that Kurnothi Ranger. I also am quite fond of her (relatively) toned down look compared to her Beastgrave counterparts ; they really could form a nice addition to the Sylvaneth and/or Cities of Sigmar ranges. I could see that for the 3rd Ed. Sylvaneth Battleome, as I don't think Broken Realms : Alarielle will have models (other than maybe 1-2 Heroes, like BR : Morathi)... Did I say I love the Warhammer Quest aesthetic ??? 😛

Yeah I am talking about the Broken Realms announcement : https://www.warhammer-community.com/2020/08/22/warhammer-preview-online-shadow-iron-broken-realms/ I can't see Morathi and Malerion in the same series (they don't get along well 😛 )

Could be. But so close to Broken Realms : Morathi and Daughters Of Khaine new Battletome ? And Lumineth Battletome and Broken Realms : Teclis ? And rumors of new Idoneth and Kurnothi ? I think he is far off. And what about Tyrion ? Also, I was specifically referring to that Broken Realms article which only mentioned Morathi (check), Teclis (check) and Alarielle (... 😛). BTW I like what they are doing with Broken Realms. I wouldn't mind having BR : Malerion, Tyrion, Kurnoth, etc. on top of the three books already rumored. I just don't think it's very likely !

Heretical thoughts (). The logo change probably means nothing, as for AOS1 to 2 it was GW nailing their definition of AOS, and for 40k 8th to 9th, it probably was GW looking to put 40k on line with AOS, TOW and Middle Earth (all new logos). There is a HUGE official hint a new edition is coming : the Broken Realms series. It has its own website and says "The Mortal Realms will never be the same again" which is the EXACT same catch phrase GW used with Malign Portents and Psychic Awakening (and not with things like Vigilus or Wrath of the Everchosen). Other "official" intel : Broken Realms Teclis is about the end of the "Soul Wars", AOS 2nd ed. narrative arc started with Malign Portents. Since Forbidden Power and Gordrakk stealing that Godbeast Skull, we have more and more hints and references of DESTRUCTION RISING, so the start of a new narrative arc, heralding a new edition. Last but not least, GW current releases cycles seems to be about three years an edition. And the Stormcast Battletome will also be three years old this summer......... Oh and the FAQ Fiasco. It could also be interpreted as a stopgap before a whole set of FAQs with point changes going up with a new edition this summer (exactly like 40k 9th !). It's been said many times already, but Broken Realms was said to "affect every factions" but only "some major factions", i.e. not ALL factions, would get rules. So it could mean that every factions would be affected at least in the lore, seeing the magnitude of the events in the series (even so if it heralds a new edition / narrative arc). And the first announcement talked about the Aelven Pantheon breaking things up and listed Morathi, Teclis and Alarielle. We now are at Morathi and Teclis confirmed. Finally, only three books (i.e. Alarielle coming before this summer, like around May) would lead us right to the perfect time for a New-edition-summer-big release (around August, taking into account COVID).