For those of you who play with the Tomb Kings of Khemri, the following entry provides more background for the enigmatic Liche Priests as well as a new magic system for these masters of the rites of death.
In their desire to defy death, the mighty kings of Nehekhara commanded their priests to study the sorcerous arts of mummification and resurrection. To this end the priests studied sinister magic and learned many secrets from the mouths of dark and nameless creatures. Each generation of priests exceeded their tutors in power and in age, until they became sorcerers of considerable power.
Though the Liche Priests learned how to extend their own lives by hundreds of years, they did not become truly Undead until Nagash cast his great spell over the land of Nehekhara. As the spell took its effects, living things were slain and dead things returned to life. As many of the Liche Priests were more dead than alive they were turned into Undead!
Since then they have served their masters, the Tomb Kings, whose ancient tombs they and their kind had guarded for untold ages. The Priests of each necropolis watch over their King as he rests, performing the age-long rituals of preservation, and when the time is right they cast the spells of awakening that return him to the mortal world. When their King leads his Undead legions to war, the Liche Priests march too, ready to lend their sorcerous arts to the battle.
Liche Priests always use their own Scroll Magic as detailed below, instead of the Necromantic Magic which is used by Necromancers and Vampires. They still count as wizards in all other respects.
Scrolls of the Dead: The Liche Priests cannot cast spells in the manner of other wizards or sorcerers. Their magical powers, though considerable, are based on long, tedious rituals which are altogether impractical on the battlefiels. Instead, each Liche Priest can carry one or more Scrolls of the Dead.
As Lich Priests now have to pay separately for their magical powers, replace the points values presented in WD #227 with the following: Liche Priest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .
. . . . . 25 pts |
There are four different kinds of Scrolls of the Dead: Menkare's Scroll of Urgency (which affects movement), Horekhah's Scroll of Righteous Smiting (which increases a unit's Attacks), Neferre's Scroll of Might Incantations (which is used to cast spells), and Djedre's Summonation of the Vengeful Dead (which summons Undead reinforcements). As with all magical scrolls, a Scroll of the Dead may be used only once, as the moment it is read it crumbles to dust. However, a Liche Priest can carry an unlimited number of each of these scrolls in addition to any magic items he has, at the points cost shown.
A Liche Priest can read a Scroll of the Dead at any appropriate moment as described below: the magic inscribed upon it is unleashed immediately as he does so. A Liche Priest can read only one Scroll of the Dead during any single phase, except for Scrolls of Mighty Incantations, one of which may be read per magic level.
A Scroll of Urgency can be used during the player's movement phase. When the scroll is read, any one unit can move double distance that turn. The scroll's magic invigorates ancient limbs and drives old bones with fresh determination. Only the unit's normal move is affected: the scroll does not increase the unit's charge distance, pursuits, flees or any other unusual moves. A unit can only move a maximum of doublt distance, it may not move further, so it is not possible to use several scrolls from different Priests to move a unit vast distances across the tabletop.
A Scroll of Righteous Smiting can be used either in the player's own shooting phase or during any hand-to-hand combat round before a unit strikes its blows. The unit is suffused with magical energy which enables the troops to fight with supernatural vigor. If used in the shooting phase, the player selects one unit of troops ot a single war machine - the chosen unit or machine shoots twice that turn. If used in hand-to-hand combat, the player nominates a unit of troops that are fighting, and each model in that unit, including any characters fighting with the unit, make one extra Attack that turn. Only one Scroll of Righteous Smiting can be used on any single unit during a turn. Note that because the scroll can be used in any round of hand-to-hand combat, it can be used in the enemy's turn if you wish.
A Scroll of Mighty Incantations can be used in the player's own magic phase. When the scroll is read, the Liche Priest automatically casts one of the following spells. The player chooses which of the spells to cast once he decides to use the scroll. The spell may be countered like any other spell cast by a wizard of the Liche Priest's level. The spell requires no power to cast but power cards can be used to reinforce the spell in the usual way. Scrolls count as spells of power 2 for purposes of Rebounds, etc. The number of Scrolls of Mighty Incantations a Liche Priest can read in a single magic phase is one per level - so Liche Priests can read one scroll, Liche Priest Champions two, Master Liche Priests three, and Highe Liche Priests four. Thise is the only instance when a Liche Priest can read more than one scroll in a single phase.
1. Tomb Dust. This spell can be cast upon any enemy unit within 18". The unit is enveloped by choking dust and abrasive sand. The unit suffers D6 Strength 4 hits and no armor saves are allowed against any wounds caused. In addition, roll a D6 and subtract the number shown from the unit's total permitted move distance in its following turn. You might wish to leave the dice by the unit to remind you of this penalty.
2. Quaking Horror. This spell can be cast on any enemy unit within 24". The unit is beset by terrible, haunting visions of death and must take an immediate Fear test but with a -1 penalty (2D6 against Leadership -1). If this test is failed the unit flees immediately, and in addition, its Leadership value is reduced by -1 for the rest of the battle. Units which are immune to fear cannot be affected by this spell.
3. Serpent of Death. This spell can be cast on an enemy unit that the Liche Priest can see (i.e. to which he has 'line of sight') and which is within 24" of him. A ball of black energy bursts from his bony hand and strikes the foe. This causes 2D6 Strength 4 hits on the target with no armor saves allowed.
The Summonation of the Vengeful Dead Scroll can be read at the start of tghe player's own turn. Nominate any unit of Skeleton warriors, Skeleton bowmen, Skeleton cavalry, Tomb Guards, or Skeleton chariots. Roll a D6. If the nominated unit is Skeleton warriors, bowmen, or Tomb Guards, ass the number of models rolled to the unit. If the nominated unit is Skeleton chariots, add nothing on a roll of 1-2 and one model on a roll of 3-6. If the nominated unit is Skeleton cavalry subtract -1 from the dice score, so no models are added on a roll of 1, 1 on a 2, 2 on a 3, and so on. Several Summonation of the Vengeful Dead Scrolls (from different Liche Priests) can be used upon a unit during a turn, allowing a unit to the substantially reinforced if necessary.
If 5 or 6 Skeleton warriors, Skeleton archers, or Skeleton cavalry should be created by a Summonation of the Vengeful Dead Scroll, the models may be used to create a new unit instead of adding to the existing one. New units automatically have the same equipment as the original nominated unit, but no standards, musicians, or champions. Note that you cannot create new units of Tomb Guards or chariots. New units must be placed within 12" of the Liche Priest who has summoned them, and must be positioned so that they are at least 1" away from the enemy. A new unit can declare charges, move, and fight that turn.
Adding reinforcements to a unit does not increase its value when it comes to working out victory points at the end of the game. If you create a new unit it is automatically trated as worth 1 victory point.
Menkare's Scroll of Urgency................................................15 pts each Horekhah's Scroll of Righteous Smiting.............................25 pts each Neferre's Scroll of Mighty Incantations...............................25 pts each Djedre's Summonation of the Vengeful Dead Scroll...........20 pts each |