2nd Edition, beta version 2.0 - 24th December 2018 FAITHFUL ACOLYTES Grovel before the ruthless and dedicated followers of the Dark Gods who pledged their souls to this tome. We'd also like to thank all the community members and other staff who contributed with their suggestions, feedback and support. WRITERS PRODUCTION TEAM Lead Author & Exalted Herald, Feldraks Head of Rules Team Army Community Support Head of Playtesting Head of Background Chosen, Chosen Knights, Nathan Young Erik Aronson Ney, Arhain, Archeron, SirMC2015 Edward Murdoch Warrior Knights, Gustenpjevs, jirga, Forsaken One, Paths of Ascension, Rules Team tunasandwichify, Playtesting Team Barbarian Chief Barbarians & Flayers & sir_joker, Frederick Humcke, CogitoBandito, Fthunder, IoRi78, Red Blossoms of Itar Marauding Giant Drakkar Squirrelloid, Nicreap, John Wallis Alessandro Vivaldi msu117, Odoamar, Doomlord,Marko Lukić Fallen & arthain,Army slivek, Design Marko Team Lukić Head of Lectoring Aenarion43, ScumlordDodo, Wasteland Dragon Battleshrine & Background Team Erik Aronson, Björn Ericson, Dan DJWoodelf, Arhain, Llyr ap John Chimera Peter Orfanos, Rok Martinc, Jere Jukka zulu, Jomppexx, Callum Mellis QuantumCollider Lectoring Team Baldin, skipschnit, Chariots & Fallen Conceptual Design Support Orion, Vulgarsty, Lagoon, Palomita15, Charlie Lloyd skipschnit, ThereIsNoSpoon Swordthain, Raughri, umbranar, toddymac2012, Kisanis, Joel127, Just_Flo, Autumnus Herzogar, Shortbeard, ARTISTS Iamronchak, Liminal Head of Art Pg 31 Pg 61 Michele Bertilorenzi Johan Aronson Enrico Bertilorenzi Front & Back Pg 33 Pgs 51, 58, 82, Cover Artwork Alberto Bontempi 83, 84, 85, 115 Thomas Carlson Marcos Barragan Pg 35 Pgs 5, 30, 40, Corpuscle Studio Pgs 16, 17, 18, 22, 48, 65, 72 25, 27, 37, 43, 50, Pawel Jakub Gòrecki Pg 41 55, 56, 60, 74, Michele Bertilorenzi 78, 79, 81 Pgs 6, 34, 53, 73 Avatars of War Krys Rackham Pgs 45, 63 The Galapalo Art Assistance Pgs 9, 10, 11, Shane Brockway 12, 13, 14, 15 Pg 47 Lucas Svedberg B.R.U.T.A.L Document Design Kacper Bucki, Dave Way Pg 19 Pgs 49, 67, 71 Mikhail Shubin Davide Castelluccio Slim Document Design Manuel Berthet, Neaj Pgs 21, 23 Pg 57 Grégoire Veauléger Casp Pg 26 Pgs 59, 69, 77 Ollie Cuthbo John Lewenhagen CONTENTS BACKGROUND Tales from the Edge of the Wasteland .....8 Fallen ...................................................................... 44 Pride ............................................................................9 Wretched Beasts ............................................... 46 Lust ............................................................................10 Forsaken One ...................................................... 48 Gluttony ...................................................................11 Sorcerer ................................................................. 50 Envy ..........................................................................12 Battleshrine ......................................................... 52 Greed ........................................................................13 Barbarian Chief ................................................. 54 Wrath .......................................................................14 Barbarians ........................................................... 56 Sloth ..........................................................................15 Flayers .................................................................... 58 A Warrior’s Path ...............................................16 Warhounds ........................................................... 59 Paths of Ascension ...........................................18 Feldrak Ancestor .............................................. 60 Exalted Herald ...................................................20 Feldrak Elder and Feldraks ........................ 64 Chosen Lord .........................................................24 Chimera ................................................................. 66 Chosen ....................................................................28 Hell Maw ................................................................ 68 Chosen Knights ..................................................32 Marauding Giant ............................................... 70 Chariots ..................................................................34 War Dais and Scythed Skywheel .............. 72 Warriors ................................................................36 Wasteland Dragon ........................................... 74 Warrior Knights ................................................38 Red Blossoms of Itar ....................................... 78 Doomlord ..............................................................40 Banners of the Gods ........................................ 82 Forsworn ...............................................................42 Epilogue ...............................................................116 RULES Army Rules ................................................... 88 Core .............................................................. 100 Hereditary Spell ......................................... 90 Special ......................................................... 102 Special Equipment ..................................... 91 Legendary Beasts ..................................... 109 Characters .................................................... 92 Quick Reference ....................................... 112 Character Mounts ...................................... 96 Faithful Acolytes 6 Warriors of the Dark Gods TALES FROM THE EDGE PRIDE OF THE WASTELAND Letters from my friend, March Lord Ilarion Yanovich, and additional material At dawn, a single figure came forward, collected between 942 and 962 AS, by Archbishop Voytyek Bistricha in Aschau University, my heart never left Volskaya. followed by a bannerman, carrying a My allegiance to nation disgusted him, and the last I symbol I knew on sight. A whispered saw was the unconcerned back of the Lord, and the Your Excellency, much impact on their fortunes as our own beloved threat in the halls of civilisation – Savar: sneer of his lieutenant. I braced for the inevitable Mrozomor has on our winters. I settled for board- the Fallen Star, Dark God of Pride. Seeing one assault my rejection had surely provoked. First, let me express my gratitude for your sup- ing the place up, thinking it a temporary measure. chance to protect my people, I descended to stand port in achieving my new position. Your patronage before the town gates, barred at my command. has been invaluable to me since our days studying A day later, I understood the truth of their fears. A My jaw clenched; it was all I could do to nod to together in Sonnstahl. This new posting is not at all band approached the walls, numbering in the hun- the guards to open the doors and admit this what I expected. Thirty miles beyond our border, dreds. A small enough host were I anywhere but on Lord of Pride. near the coast of the Sea of Gods where the Makhar the fringes of the Makhar Steppe. The bells called Steppe is narrowest, the certainties of Volskaya the alarm, and the town guard raced to hold the I stepped forward to do my duty... and fade into a murky mix of law, custom, religion walls. The aggressors strode towards the town was promptly ignored as my would-be and superstition. This town I command with a languid yet inexorable pace, certain foe strode past, weapon still undrawn. may be claimed by our Motherland, that nothing would hold them back. Be- As he marched towards the shrine, his but at times I feel I have taken up hind them rolled wagons and beasts lieutenant stood before me, weighing my residence in an untamed wil- of burden, powerful beings worth like a prize mare. When he deigned derness populated by savages. hauling the supplies needed to to speak with me, it was in a manner rem- A relic of the settlement's his- sustain a life of reaving. iniscent of the most conceited nobleman tory no doubt, so long in the in the court of Volskagrad. Makhar Steppe, at the edg- I stared for long moments, "Only the Dark Gods offer a path to true es of the Wasteland. watching death approach. Finally, pushing despair glory, and a name worth remembering. Totváros' solid wooden aside, I girded myself for See here: this scrap, I tore it from an walls hold a thousand battle. I tried to evacuate Imperial banner-bearer who tried to people, the most easterly the townsfolk, but their block our return from Sonnstahl. A lord settlement of its size. With- bemused expressions were of a dozen towns. This scar I took in sin- in are craftsmen and traders, a reasonable response – they gle combat with Tubroki of Clan Copper- furriers and farriers, all the could not hope to outrun the maul, the Dragonseeker who once slew peoples needed to maintain advancing horde. Indeed, they the beast Paytheinth. I made my pact in an outpost of civilisation. Yet, a were markedly calmer than I, Destria, but the journey since has made mere day’s ride away live barbarians going about their daily chores as me, and it would make you too." who openly worship the Dark Gods and prey though this were a normal afternoon. As he spoke, images were painted in on the unsuspecting who stray too close. And worse my mind of what I could achieve were still, the followers of those vile deities possess a By the end of that day, our walls were entirely en- I to join with him. No longer cast to temple within the town walls. circled, beyond effective bow range. Simple camps were raised,