Modelos de progresión tumoral y formación de metástasis

Only by faith and strength can this shattered world be remade.

—Pyrrhus

Pyrrhus is more than the epitome of a Flameguard; he represents a pinnacle of Menite devotion and service. With movements honed through years of training, he charges forward to decimate opponents, taking everything while giving nothing in return. His mastery of his weapons extends well beyond that of any of his peers, and his faith in the Creator gives him extraordinary confidence in himself as a conduit for the wrath of Menoth.

From the day the boy Pyrrhus decided his true purpose lay not in this life but in service to the Creator in the next, he dedicated himself to self-improvement. He needed to become the ultimate mortal soldier if he were to eventually bring triumph to Menoth in the eternal War of Souls in

SOUTHWESTERN THORNWOOD, COMBINED ARMY ENCAMPMENT

Orsus Zoktavir clapped a massive hand to the closer of the argus’ twin heads and smoothed its fur before cinching the next strap of its armor. As he let go, the argus gave a bite to his forearm and shook its head. This might have dislocated the shoulder of a lesser man, but the Butcher of Khardov only wrapped his free arm around the other head and applied pressure until the first relented.

While the rest of the camp bristled with preparations for the upcoming battle, the corner Orsus and his men occupied remained relatively quiet. Dozens of masked doom reavers stood scattered around him. Fenris stood nearest, obscured by the shadow of his nightmare steed. Orsus brooded, the lingering anger over the recent attempt on Empress Vanar’s life first in his thoughts. He could not entirely dispel the icy feeling of dread that had filled his veins when he heard the sounds of violence within the tent where she was meeting the Cygnaran king.

“Orsus Zoktavir,” said an authoritative feminine voice behind him. He turned to find Kommander Aleksandra Zerkova, flanked by a pair of reaver guards. The weapons they bore were clearly of Orgoth origin. His eye was drawn to an unknown warjack behind them, which emitted a low rumble as exhaust rolled from its smokestacks.

“Kommander Zerkova.” He’d had little interaction with the warcaster, but even among the secretive and manipulative Greylords, Zerkova carried a particularly sinister reputation.

The insignia on her tabard indicated a promotion to Obavnik, one of the highest ranks within the Covenant.

She took in the lay of the camp with her good eye, the other being scarred over by some past trauma. “I come bearing a gift from Khardov,” Zerkova said. Her gaze returned to him. Orsus felt as though she were mentally dissecting him. The argus behind him growled, and the other came alongside, sensing his unease. Zerkova merely indicated the warjack rumbling behind her. “The high obavnik arbiter has granted you use of this machine in the coming battle. It is one of a kind.”

Suspicious, Orsus frowned but stepped closer and looked the

’jack over. Its chassis resembled existing designs, but the relics

“Does your high obavnik often give gifts?” Orsus gave Zerkova a sideways glance.

After a pause she said, “Its name is Ruin. It has proven . . . difficult to control. It crushed its controller during a field test outside Khardov and would heed no commands. Several Greylords were likewise killed before it ran out of fuel.”

Zerkova nodded to the argus and then Fenris. “Given your affinity for the untamable, the Covenant has deemed you suitable to test its use in battle. Place your hand on the chassis.

I will relinquish my hold, though you must be quick to seize the cortex. Ruin will not remain idle if left to its own devices.”

Orsus ran a hand over the warjack. He felt a strange rapport with the machine and its seething anger. “Ruin,” he said. “A good name. Why not claim it for yourself?”

She gave him a tight smile. “Orders are orders.”

Orsus felt Zerkova surrender her bond to the cortex. Almost immediately the warjack hunkered and raised its arms to readiness. It pulled back its mace, but the arm froze as Orsus plunged his mind into its cortex, swiftly delivering the code images to seize control. He had done this countless times, but this felt very different. Whispers suddenly flooded his mind, as though he were surrounded by a legion of ghosts. For a moment it was as if his mind were not his own. Rage filled him and he felt a strong urge to seize the haft of his axe. He restrained himself with effort, gritting his teeth to force the voices to quiet.

“You see?” Zerkova asked softly. “Only the strongest warcasters can endure it.”

He asked, “You will fight alongside me in the assault?” It was clear she desired the machine. She hoped to see him perish so she could reclaim it. He intended to see her disappointed, to master this machine.

She frowned. “As much as I would enjoy joining you in seizing the necrofactorium and plumbing its depths, I have other duties. I am to stay at Empress Vanar’s side.”

Orsus flinched as if struck. Once again he saw the empress stumbling as a death-fueled construct lunged at her. That he hadn’t been chosen to oversee her safety opened an old wound in his mind. “What? Why?” The words sounded more hostile than he had intended.

UNTAMABLE

FEAT: ARCANE CONVERGENCE

Drawing upon a lifetime spent gathering forbidden knowledge, Aleksandra Zerkova summons a torrent of raw arcane power for her allies to seize upon and shape.

Each friendly Faction action, or performing a special attack.

ZERKOVA

Immunity: Cold

This model is a Greylord model.

Friendly Greylord models/units in this model’s command range never flee and immediately rally.

This model cannot be targeted by enemy spells.

If this model is disabled by an enemy attack, you can choose a non-disabled model in this unit within 3 of this model to be destroyed. If another model is destroyed as a result of Self-Sacrifice, this model heals 1 damage point.

This unit is made up of Zerkova and 2 Reaver Guards.

ORGOTH BLADE

When making an attack with this weapon, ignore spell effects that add to a model’s ARM or DEF.

a vault containing the frozen Iosan god Nyssor, a find of enormous significance. Her studies were cut short by Iosan strikes on two hidden Greylord facilities deep in Khador.

Desperate, Zerkova ultimately entered into an unsanctioned collaboration with the unliving elven warcaster Goreshade in a failed attempt to recover the frozen Nyss vault, which was secured by the Retribution of Scyrah and returned to Ios. Despite the outcome, Zerkova herself considers the endeavor well worth the risk, which demonstrates the lengths she is willing to go for knowledge—even to the point of provoking hostilities with foreign powers without regard for the plans of the empire or the desires of her superiors.

Even considering the significant autonomy Greylords are ordinarily allowed, Zerkova has gone well beyond her purview, taking advantage of hidden budgets and loopholes in the bureaucracy to maintain her operations.

Despite increased scrutiny from organizations responsible for internal security, such as the Greylords own Prikaz Chancellery, Zerkova has continued to consolidate her position, establishing undisclosed bases of operation throughout Khador and occupied Llael. While Prikaz agents have dogged her footsteps for years, on the trail of budgetary irregularities, Zerkova’s intricate and deeply rooted network of informants has kept her several paces ahead.

TACTICAL TIPS

DISSOLUTION BOLT – Channeling a spell includes casting a spell through a channeler as well as being the channeler.

SACRIFICIAL LAMB – A warjack cannot exceed normal focus allocation limits as a result of Sacrificial Lamb.

Enemy upkeep spells on target friendly model/unit expire. Affected models cannot be targeted by enemy spells or animi.

A model hit by Dissolution Bolt cannot channel spells for one round.

Hoarfrost causes cold damage . On a critical hit, models in the AOE become stationary for one round unless they have Immunity: Cold .

While in this model’s control area, friendly Faction models gain an additional die on their magic attack rolls this turn.

Remove one friendly living Faction model in this model’s control area from play to allocate 1 focus point to each warjack in this model’s battlegroup that is currently in its control area. Sacrificial Lamb can be cast only once per turn.

This model can channel spells through target friendly model as if it were a model in this model’s battlegroup with Arc Node .