She was a blade given wings, a living decree of slaughter cast into the sky by Khorne. Valkia the Bloody soared above the warhost, her form clad in dark, rune-etched armour that clung like a second skin, her spear held low as though she might at any moment plunge from the heavens and skewer the unworthy. Her wings beat in slow, thunderous strokes, scattering the air with the stink of iron and old blood, while around her wheeled a shrieking flock of furies—daemonic wretches whose clawed limbs stretched hungrily toward the world below. Valkia’s gaze swept the marching host with cold disdain. She felt no pride, no warmth, only the measured anticipation of violence yet to come. These warriors were offerings, nothing more—coin to be spent in the great tally of skulls. If they died well, she might remember them. If not, they would vanish into the endless anonymity of the slain.
From her height, the army revealed its true shape: not a single force, but a writhing mass of rival hungers bound together by conquest. To the east marched a host marked by impossible colours and shifting forms, their armour shimmering with hues that hurt the eye—a warband sworn to Tzeentch, their ranks unnaturally ordered, their banners flickering as though caught between moments. Beyond them, vast and grim, advanced the core of the invasion—a great host pledged to no single god, its banners bearing the mark of Chaos Undivided, marching beneath the iron will of the warhost’s unseen master. Around and between these pillars drifted other cults and lesser warbands, flickers of movement and colour that even Valkia’s keen sight could not fully unravel. She cared little for them. Let them scheme, let them bargain and betray. In the end, all would feed the same red end.
Her attention sharpened as motion broke the rhythm below—a violent, surging force that even from the sky could not be ignored. There, a wedge of daemonic cavalry tore across the field, Juggernauts of Khorne pounding the earth with each thunderous stride. Brass hides gleamed like fresh-spilled blood in the sun, their maws belching fire, their horns carving furrows in the ground as they charged. Upon their backs rode heavily armoured warriors, chosen of the Blood God, their forms rigid with purpose as they drove onward without pause or mercy. An unfortunate band of undivided marauders strayed into their path—there was no slowing, no warning. The Juggernauts crashed through them, bodies breaking beneath iron-shod hooves, men crushed into the mud as though they had never been. Valkia watched, and for the briefest moment something like approval flickered across her features. Not for the dead, nor for the riders—but for the purity of it. The charge did not falter. It never would.
*****
The Lure of the Gods continues apace and a vaunted legend of the Chaos Wastes arrives in the army.
I have had this miniature since she was released in fine cast, way back around 2011-12(?).
She's been dug out and based, pulled off that base and rebased, and then most recently pulled off another round base and added to this 30mm square base, to use in The Old World.
Her Shield disappeared a long time ago, but I feel she looks better without it to be honest.
Her Spear and open hand are taken from an Elf kit, a Dark Eldar maybe, and that's about the extent of fixing her after years of languishing.
There is however, a metal pin sticking up through the base up to her bent knee to keep her together on the thin resin section.
Again I don't think that's bad for an almost 15 year old Finecast Miniature.
Painting followed the same scheme as.the Marauders from he last entry, and the flames from the Word Bearers Praetor I posted a bit back.
Her wings were an experiment with shades over a Pallid Wych Flesh basecoat.
Starting closest to her arms, I began with Seraphim Sepia, then wet blended it into Carroburg Crimson and ending with Druchii Violet, again wet blended on the wings.
A better photo of her spear and the colour mixing on her wings.
Tabletop wise, because she isn't in the game, I field her as the following:
Valkia the Bloody - 250 points.
Exalted Champion, Heavy Armour, Mark of Chaos, Daemonic Mount, Hellforged Axe, Spellshield and Enchanting Aura.
The Hellforged Axe gives her a bunch of extra attacks which are magical, flaming and have Armourbane. The Daemonic Mount gives her the flying ability and an extra couple of attacks.
The Spellshield gives her a ward save against magical attacks and spells, and the Enchanting Aura gives her Always Strikes First.
Everything is very fitting for her lorewise and fits the feel of the old character. She's just a little spendy at 250 points by herself, but such is life.
She's a hit hard and hit first character and if the enemy is still standing afterwards, then she can tank their attacks pretty reliably.
Currently I am working on a unit of Chaos Warriors, I may decide to work up a second unit of KHORNE Marauders as I have the models, or even one of Furies if I can get ahold of the models reasonably.
Out next Element Games meet up isn't until mid May, so I'm hoping to have a few more units finished before then.
The march of Chaos continues ever onwards.
Until next time, have nice day...
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