The spectral cavalry is the most dreaded creation of Nagash, the Great Necromancer.
It is said that his most trusted lieutenant, Arkhan the Black, captured a unit of glade riders in a skirmish with a Wood Elf war host during one of his many raids accross the Empire. The elves and their mounts were taken alive to Nagashsizar and through dark rituals their bodies were drained of all life, left as empty husks while their spirits were trapped and perverted. The elvish blood reacted in a peculiar way to this dark magic and thus the first spectres were born, spirits whose only aim in life is to feed from the life substance of any living being, missing for all the eternity their lost bodies.
The spectral cavalry was first seen in battle when Nagash confronted Sigmar in the late spring of imperial year 15; the spectres spear-headed the attack by the Undead horde and row after row of the empire's finest calvary fell before them, their lances useless against the spectres' ethereal bodies, their armour offering no protection against their life draining touch. Many brave warriors were lost that day until Sigmar's hammer smashed the Great Necromancer's skull, at that precise momment the spectres vanished. Rumour says that the evil magic that created the spectral cavalry is recorded somewhere in one of Nagash's 9 tomes of Necromancy, and that they were the force that allowed Heinrich Kemmler to flee from Maisontaal Abbey, where his Horde suffered a bitter defeat; fact is that only a spectral cavalry unit could have broken through the massed ranks of Grail Knights surronding the Lichemaster... however few of the warriors that survived that day wish to speak about it, even during daylight.
0-1 UNIT OF SPECTRAL CAVALRY OF UP TO 6 MODELS
Cost: 75 points/model
| PROFILE | M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spectre | 4 | 3 | - | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
| S. Steed | 9 | 3 | - | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
Weapons/Armor: None.
Options: Spectral cavalry can carry a magic standard, and can be led by a Wraith champion riding a spectral steed (+3 points for the steed, no armour allowed for the champion).
Special Rules:
Spectres cause fear and are immune to psychology as most Undead.
Spectres are ethereal, and so can only be harmed by spells and magic weapons. It must be noted though that spectres that are defeated in combat and fail their break test are destroyed.
Draining Touch: Spectres feed in the heat of the living, due to this spectral attacks ignore armour saves completely, the mere touch of a spectre is enough to kill most men. Special saves from magic armour and wards can be taken as normal against wounds caused by spectres (all non magical equipment must be discounted before taking the save).
Spectral Steeds: All rules that apply to spectres apply also to the steeds, ie they cause fear, have a life draining touch and are ethereal. Due to this last characteristic spectral steeds ignore all penalties for moving over difficult or very difficult terrain, and can even charge through walls or other obstacles. The only undead characters that can ride spectral mounts are the Wraiths, and in order to do so they must dismiss all armour.
Strengths & Weaknesses:
My feeling is that this unit would be very effective against other calvary units, but could be defeated by an infantry unit formed in ranks and with a standard (prefereably a magic one such as the Banner of Defiance). It is also hideously expensive for the nš of models involved , and so would be a prime target for items like the Banner of Wrath and spells like Fireball. Units of White Lions, Dryads and Wardancers must also be avoided (because of their parrying attacks) as well as units of daemons and characters equipped with magic weapons for obvious reasons.
By Pepe Mus
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