Prince Apophas is the Cursed Scarab Lord, a damned spectre who terrorises the battlefield in the form of swarming scarab beetles surrounding his sun-bleached skull. This remorseless killer still grips the very blade he used to slit the throats of his own family, a deed which saw him condemned by Usirian, the Nehekharan god of the underworld.
Tomb Kings are the ancient, long-dead rulers of the Great Land. They awaken from the sleep of death, possessing all the ambition and lust for power they had in life, and seeking to reclaim their plundered treasures and restore their ancient glory. Those who seek to get to grips with the enemy as quickly as possible ride into battle in a chariot pulled by skeletal steeds.
Gnomes frankly have a tough time winning a game of Blood Bowl – but bringing along a Treeman is a great way to close the height gap. And the strength gap. And the skill gap. These mighty arboreal players give the Gnomes half a shot against most serious teams.
Gnomes are something of an enigma in the world of Blood Bowl, with many fans having dismissed their existence almost entirely. While their tactics, and woodland creatures, are somewhat unorthodox, Gnomes are quite fond of the game. While individual players are hardly paragons of athleticism, their mastery of magical illusions and the befriending of forest beasts gives them certain advantages not enjoyed by less gloriously bearded teams.
Gnome teams play Blood Bowl on pitches deep within their mysterious forests, in clearings between the trees. These aren't just your regular run-of-the-mill forests, though – magic hangs in the air, and all manner of creatures, both fey and mundane, come out of hiding to watch their Gnome friends play Blood Bowl!
Even with their magical illusions, Gnome teams will need all the luck they can get in games of Blood Bowl, which is where these themed dice come in.
Deep in the dank heart of the old forests, mischievous woodland creatures frolic, prance, and beat each other to a pulp playing the age-old game of Blood Bowl. This issue's guest editor, Davide Mirrorfoot, reveals just a few of the secrets of Gnome teams.
Tomb Kings are the ancient, long-dead rulers of Nehekhara, reborn through the archaic rituals of their Liche Priests. Only the most prestigious rulers can harness the undying will of a fearsome Necrolith Bone Dragon, much less ride such a behemoth into battle. These reanimated wyrms descend upon the living, given unnatural flight by skeletal wings, before lashing out with wicked claws and jagged fangs. Those who survive must contend with clouds of seething dust and desiccating smog, for a dragon's breath is lethal even in death.
Skeleton Warriors and Archers make up the bulk of the mighty undead armies commanded by the Tomb Kings of Khemri. Rank after rank, regiment after regiment, these unflinching horrors are called forth from sand-swallowed burial sites by the incantations of the Liche Priests. Armed as they were in life, they march forth to fulfil ancient oaths of loyalty and heed the will of their monarch once more.
Skeleton Horsemen and Horse Archers are the tireless, clattering cavalry of Nehekhara's eternal legions, raised in terrifying numbers from the tomb pits of lost ages. Their deathless steeds gallop around the enemy flanks without need for rest, as the skeletal riders lower heavy spears or loose volleys of hissing arrows in perfect unison. It is a brave foe indeed that does not crumble under the advance of these unflinching warriors.
Skeleton Chariots are the pride of the Tomb Kings, gilded and lethal machines crewed even in death by Nehekhara's finest warriors. Often fielded en masse, their rattling advance is heralded by clouds of dust, thrown high into the air as they thunder across the sands. Crashing into the enemy with bone-shattering force, these vehicles crush living bodies beneath their heavy wheels as their undead crew lay about the disorientated foe.
The Tomb Kings are the true monarchs of the Undead. They ruled a vast and mighty civilisation at a time when other human nations were still barbarians, and now, thousands of years after their deaths, they have been awakened. Rising from their sarcophagi, the mummified Tomb Kings possess the same thirst for conquest that drove them in life. They march forth to reclaim their rightful dominion over the kingdoms of the living, and woe betide any that stand in their way.