CHAMPIONS OF DEATH
THE BINDING
Few things are more precious to the Great Necromancer
than the Books of Nagash. There are nine in total and each
ancient tome is said to hold countless secret spells and
rituals accumulated by the Undying King throughout the
ages. Even Arkhan the Black, Nagash’s most loyal servant,
knows little of the contents of these necromantic tomes.
Yet rumours began to trickle into the Black Pyramid from
the realms’ edge, like gravesend tumbling into an open
tomb. They whispered of a great Deathrattle Kingdom,
risen overnight and borne atop the animated bony
carapace of a long-dead insectoid godbeast. Allegedly, this
errant kingdom is led by an ancient Wight Queen known
only as the ‘Queen of Scythes’. The kingdom roams where
it pleases, offering no fealty to the Great Necromancer,
and even clashing with his servants.
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Yet the most blasphemous rumours assert that the Queen
of Scythes carries with her a Book of Nagash, which she
uses to animate her followers, and ensure their freedom
from the Undying King’s influence.
Arkhan the Black refuses to endure such impossible
blasphemies. He swore to the Undying King that he would
see the Queen of Scythes brought low and her kingdom
ground to bonedust. Yet accomplishing such a task has
proved difficult. The kingdom of the Scythe Queen never
stops moving, and the realm’s edges are impossibly vast.
It would take centuries for Arkhan’s armies of mindless
servants to pinpoint the location of the kingdom. Thus,
he needed servants that could navigate the wastelands
of Shyish, locate the Queen of Scythes’ kingdom, and
eliminate her.
Thus, Arkhan the Black forged a Binding of Death.
A Human Necromancer, one who had travelled further
and knows more about Shyish than most undead.
A Soulblight Vampire, shamed and cast out from her
bloodline, who seeks a way to redeem herself and return
to Arkhan’s good graces.
A Knight of Shrouds, protector of the vampire’s house and
huntsman of unparalleled skill.
A Crypt Infernal Courtier, self-proclaimed valorous
knight and far-ranging scout capable of covering great
distances in the blink of an eye.
And finally, a Necropolis Stalker, an unwavering servant
with centuries of proven loyalty to ensure the Binding
succeeds, or meet their true death in the process.
They were brought to the Black Pyramid and bound
together by the skeletal hands of Arkhan himself. With
one command, he set them upon their task.
‘Find this so-called Scythe Queen. Take everything from her,
and bring her bones to me. Go now, Soulbound, in Nagash’s
name. Fail, and I will fashion for you such an end you will
beg for oblivion.’