The Great Hunger
The Great Hunger is not merely a disease, nor is it an army - it is a lingering wound upon the world, a festering malignancy left in the wake of Beelzebub’s war against Creation. It is a strain of the Black Grail Virus that is not wielded as a tool of conquest by the Order of the Fly, but rather as a means of ensuring that the corruption endures, even in defeat. Where the armies of the Grail seek to march upon the living, the Hunger seeks only to consume and multiply.
The forces of the Black Grail taint the land itself. Where their influence takes root, all organic matter becomes a vector for further corruption, twisting and reshaping itself into a form pleasing to Beelzebub. Unlike the immediate, aggressive infections seen in the frontlines of battle, The Great Hunger is subtle, taking hold in the ruined remains of abandoned towns, charnel grounds, and forgotten battlefields. It does not seek to conquer - instead it waits. It endures. Even if a region is reclaimed from the Grail’s influence, the Hunger can lurk beneath the surface for weeks, months, or even years, waiting for the moment when the corruption is no longer expected, no longer feared. It is then, when it is almost forgotten, that The Great Hunger will reemerge, consuming everything, even itself, until nothing is left - nothing but a dormant remnant waiting to rise and feast again.
Faction Rules
Some Cult of the Black Grail Weapons have the INFECTION MARKERS Keyword. These Weapons cause INFECTION MARKERS (instead of BLOOD MARKERS) to be placed next to the target.
An INFECTION MARKER works in a similar way to a BLOOD MARKER, except that they grow and multiply over time if left untreated.
INFECTION MARKERS are placed next to a model in the same way as a BLOOD MARKER. A model may have up to six INFECTION MARKERS and up to six BLOOD MARKERS at the same time. We recommend you use different coloured dice (the more disgusting the better!) to represent INFECTION MARKERS.
An INFECTION MARKER can be used in the same way as a BLOOD MARKER; for example, it can be spent to modify Success Rolls and Injury Rolls, and/ or to convert an Injury Roll to a Bloodbath Roll. Additionally, you can combine BLOOD MARKERS and INFECTION MARKERS to affect the same roll or to cause a Bloodbath.
Rules that allow a BLOOD MARKER to be removed from a model cannot be used to remove an INFECTION MARKER unless specifically noted otherwise.
If there are one or more INFECTION MARKERS next to a model when the model is Activated, place 1 more INFECTION MARKER next to the model before it carries out any Actions.
Grail and Fly Thralls in a Great Hunger Warband cost 35 ducats, and gain the Ravenous Infection Ability and the Blighted Claws equipment. They may be based on 25mm or 32mm bases, but all Thralls of the same type (Grail or Fly) must be on the same sized base.
In addition, Grail and Fly Thralls may have the Unending Starvation and Grasping Maw equipment.
The Great Hunger often forgoes weapons in order to rend and bite the foe with bare hands and teeth. They cannot be trusted with treasured relics that are Beelzebub’s pride. In addition to this, The Great Hunger functions more like a ravenous horde than a disciplined force, and they prioritize close range combat over long ranged weapons. They do not have access to the following:
Many of the creatures within the Great Hunger have access to the Arcana Putrescere – Powers and Spells which are fueled by the very existence of the Black Grail Virus. Beelzebub’s hatred of all things living manifests itself in weird and horrible ways, and the half-dead hordes have been taught of its use. Speaking the words of power in Corrupt Enochian, they invoke the unholy powers of Ekron and warp reality to their will. As these powers require Beelzebub’s infernal essence to work, the leaders of the warband need to send their followers forth to spread the putrid disease.
Arcana Putrescere spells are marked with the Keyword PUTRESCERE (X) where the number in brackets indicates how many INFECTION MARKERS will have to be spent to trigger the effect of the Arcana. If multiple numbers or a range of numbers are listed in the brackets, any one of those numbers can be chosen.
Not all of Beelzebub’s favoured are blessed with the arcana, but those who carry rank are often proficient in its use. A MATAGOT HAG may take 0-3 Arcana, a LORD OF TUMOURS may take 0-1 Arcana, and GREGORI GULAS may take 0-1 Arcana.
These INFECTION MARKERS can be taken from any models within 12” of the caster, be they friendly or enemy models. INFECTION MARKERS used this way are removed from the game and the described effect of the Arcana Putrescere then takes effect as described – no ACTION roll is needed, unless outlined in the Arcana. Despite not requiring an ACTION roll, Arcana being cast through the Arcana Putrescere are ACTIONS and, as with other ACTIONS, spells can only be used by the model once per Activation. Some Arcana Putrescere Powers are not marked with the Keyword PUTRESCRE (X). These powers are typically passive abilities.
Captains
Add -1 INJURY DICE to Injury Rolls for the model unless the attack has the FIRE Keyword.
Whenever a Melee Attack made by a Lord of Tumours causes any INFECTION MARKERS to be placed on the target, place 1 extra INFECTION MARKER next to the target model.
The model can make a Melee Attack even though it does not have a Melee Weapon. In addition, when it does so, it can attack twice.
The model may purchase up to one ARCANA PUTRESCERE Power or Spell.
A Lord of Tumours can have any Battlekit from the Cult of the Black Grail Armoury Tables.
A high-ranking noble officiant in the Cult of the Black Grail, the Lord of Tumours spreads filth and corruption amongst friend and foe alike. They commune with the Lord of the Flies through a trance-like ecstasy and can channel the very power of the Seventh Circle of Hell which Beelzebub rules.
Add -1 INJURY DICE to Injury Rolls for the model unless the attack has the FIRE Keyword.
Melee Attacks made by the Matagot Hag inflict INFECTION MARKERS instead of BLOOD MARKERS. When a Matagot Hag inflicts an INFECTION MARKER from a Melee Attack, inflict an additional INFECTION MARKER on the target.
All friendly models within 8” of the MATAGOT HAG gain +1 DICE when attempting to dash, except for herself. It requires all of the hag’s concentration to reign in the hungry fruit of her loins.
When a MATAGOT HAG is forced to roll on the Injury Table, any THRALL within 4” of her may have the result resolved against them instead. This includes any other effects being wounded may cause (such as FIRE, INFECTION, SHRAPNEL, etc). This ability cannot be used against BLAST weapons.
A Matagot Hag may purchase up to three ARCANA PUTRESCERE Powers or Spells.
A Matagot Hag is carried into battle by a writhing swarm of thralls who shield her with fanatical devotion. The Hag and the thrall swarm can never be separated and are treated as one model with a single profile. The Matagot Hag suffers no penalties to their combat ability for being unarmed. A Matagot hag cannot take any equipment except for Devouring Jaws, Grasping Maw, Grail Devotees, and Blighted Claws.
As a PUTRESCERE (1) arcana, this model can command any friendly Thrall model within 8” to do one of the following:
This arcana does not require Line of Sight.
The Matagot Hag is an undying vessel of The Great Hunger and the favoured child of Beelzebub, for in his heart he hates all things in Creation and the natural circle of life. This creature is a wretched husk of a once-human mother cursed to endlessly birth monstrosities. Her bloated and distended body is locked in an obscene cycle of constant regeneration and decay - her flesh splitting open in great, festering ruptures only to stitch itself back together, swollen with the next abomination writhing in her womb. Her skin, stretched thin and sickly pale, is mottled with blackened veins and pulsing sores, her eyes long rotted away, leaving only hollow sockets weeping thick, infectious ichor. The Grail Thralls she births carry her aloft, treating her as a living effigy of gluttony and suffering. Though mindless hunger drives her, the Hag is not without purpose - her whispered, guttural croons are hymns of devotion to Beelzebub, calling forth ever more horrors to devour the world.
Elite
Add -1 INJURY DICE to Injury Rolls for the model unless the attack has the FIRE Keyword.
Whenever a Melee Attack made by a Corpse Guard causes any INFECTION MARKERS to be placed on the target, you can remove up to 1 BLOOD MARKER from the attacking Corpse Guard model.
A Corpse Guard can have any Battlekit from the Cult of the Black Grail Armoury Tables.
Only the strongest human devotees can survive the compounding blessings of the Cult of the Black Grail. The ones that do are inducted into the ranks of the Corpse Guards, bodyguards to the nobility of the Cult of the Black Grail. If they serve with distinction, they may one day join the ranks of the Infernal nobility.
Add -1 INJURY DICE to Injury Rolls for the model unless the attack has the FIRE Keyword.
Some infected with The Great Hunger care only to proliferate their agonizing disease. A model with the Ravenous Infection Ability may make a RISKY ACTION to spread the virus. On a success, the model may place an INFECTION MARKER on any other model within 1”, as the Great Hunger virus burns through the battlefield. A model’s Activation ends immediately after using this Ability.
A Plague Knight can have any Battlekit from the Cult of the Black Grail Armoury Tables. It must have a suit of Armour. No restrictions apply to any other Types of Battlekit.
Ranking lowest in the nobility of the Black Grail, these great armoured warriors were once truly depraved worshippers of Beelzebub. When the Cult of the Black Grail came for them, they willingly submitted to the authority of the Lord of Flies. As a result they retain a semblance of sentience and the ability to wield weapons as they did in life. They aspire to win favour in the eyes of Beelzebub and one day be promoted in the hierarchy of the Order of the Fly.
Infantry
The model may purchase up to one ARCANA PUTRESCERE Power or Spell.
All injury rolls against a Gregori Gula are made with -2 DICE, unless the attack has the Keyword FIRE, in which case works normally. The model does not suffer additional BLOOD MARKERS from attacks with Keyword GAS.
Once per round, when a Gregori Gula would be taken Out of Action, it instead goes Dormant. Remove all INFECTION MARKERS (but not BLOOD MARKERS) from the Gregori Gula and replace its model with a suitable 60mm token to represent its dormant state, which also counts as dangerous terrain. If at any point a friendly Thrall is within 1” of the Token, you must remove that Thrall and replace the token with the Gregori Gula, at least 1” away from all enemy models, and the Gula is Down. A Gregori Gula replaced this way may activate this round as normal if it has not done so already. A Gregori Gula in a Dormant state does not contest objectives, nor can it take actions, be activated or be targeted by enemy abilities that interact with terrain. A Gregori Gula in a Dormant state counts as being Out of Action for the purposes of Morale and the Trauma Step of the Campaign Phase.
Melee Attack Actions made by a Gregori Gula add +1 DICE to Injury Rolls. In addition, in a round in which the Gregori Gula has also made a Charge Action, it may make a third Melee Attack.
A Gregori Gula never carries any type of weapons, armour or equipment, as it has no need for them. A Gregori Gula can make two attacks at no penalty, and suffers no penalties to their combat ability for being unarmed. A Gregori Gula can be equipped with a Grasping Maw.
The Gregori Gula are rare, winged predators - gaunt, angelic abominations draped in rotting flesh and hiding a myriad of waiting mouths. Unlike the mindless thralls, they stalk prey with patience, each kill chosen with eerie precision. When struck down, they do not die, but collapse into a dormant cocoon of necrotic tissue, seeping toxins and viral remnants into the battlefield. If a thrall ventures too close, it is consumed, and the Gula rises again, unfurling its wings in a storm of infectious gas that cripples all nearby. The only solution is fire and absolute destruction, for so long as even a trace remains, the Gregori Gula will endure.
Some infected with The Great Hunger care only to proliferate their agonizing disease. A model with the Ravenous Infection Ability may make a RISKY ACTION to spread the virus. On a success, the model may place an INFECTION MARKER on any other model within 1”, as the Great Hunger virus burns through the battlefield. A model’s Activation ends immediately after using this Ability.
A Grail Thrall or Fly Thrall can make a Melee Attack even though it does not have a Melee Weapon. In addition, add +1 DICE to the Success Roll for a Melee Attack made by a Grail Thrall or Fly Thrall for each other friendly model within 3" of the attacking model (not including the attacking model itself ).
Thralls cannot be equipped with any weapons, armour or equipment. They do not suffer penalties for fighting unarmed.
Blighted Claws
Add +1 DICE and the CRITICAL Keyword to Melee Attacks made by this model.
The boons of the Cult of the Black Grail lead slowly but surely down the path of utter corruption. Only very few of the chosen can withstand the blessings of the Lord of the Flies. Most are turned into Grail Thralls, destined to join the endless legions of empty, hollowed-out and diseased husks who must obey the whims of the Cult of the Black Grail nobles for all eternity, while suffering the torment of their countless supernatural infections.
Thralls come in two varieties: Grail Thralls, which have become almost impervious to pain, and Fly Thralls, controlled by the gargantuan hell-flies that have buried their proboscis deep into the central nervous system of their victims, allowing far greater mobility in exchange for less resistance to pain.
If the scenario you are playing allows INFILTRATORS to use their special deployment rules, after any INFILTRATORS have deployed, you can deploy these Cradle Thralls within 1” of any edge of the battlefield and more than 8” away from any enemy models.
Some infected with The Great Hunger care only to proliferate their agonizing disease. A model with the Ravenous Infection Ability may make a RISKY ACTION to spread the virus. On a success, the model may place an INFECTION MARKER on any other model within 1”, as the Great Hunger virus burns through the battlefield. A model’s Activation ends immediately after using this Ability.
A Grail Thrall or Fly Thrall can make a Melee Attack even though it does not have a Melee Weapon. In addition, add +1 DICE to the Success Roll for a Melee Attack made by a Grail Thrall or Fly Thrall for each other friendly model within 3" of the attacking model (not including the attacking model itself ).
Thralls cannot be equipped with any weapons, armour or equipment. They do not suffer penalties for fighting unarmed.
Blighted Claws
Add +1 DICE and the CRITICAL Keyword to Melee Attacks made by this model.
The boons of the Cult of the Black Grail lead slowly but surely down the path of utter corruption. Only very few of the chosen can withstand the blessings of the Lord of the Flies. Most are turned into Grail Thralls, destined to join the endless legions of empty, hollowed-out and diseased husks who must obey the whims of the Cult of the Black Grail nobles for all eternity, while suffering the torment of their countless supernatural infections.
Thralls come in two varieties: Grail Thralls, which have become almost impervious to pain, and Fly Thralls, controlled by the gargantuan hell-flies that have buried their proboscis deep into the central nervous system of their victims, allowing far greater mobility in exchange for less resistance to pain.
Add -1 INJURY DICE to Injury Rolls for the model unless the attack has the FIRE Keyword.
Some infected with The Great Hunger care only to proliferate their agonizing disease. A model with the Ravenous Infection Ability may make a RISKY ACTION to spread the virus. On a success, the model may place an INFECTION MARKER on any other model within 1”, as the Great Hunger virus burns through the battlefield. A model’s Activation ends immediately after using this Ability.
A Grail Thrall or Fly Thrall can make a Melee Attack even though it does not have a Melee Weapon. In addition, add +1 DICE to the Success Roll for a Melee Attack made by a Grail Thrall or Fly Thrall for each other friendly model within 3" of the attacking model (not including the attacking model itself ).
Thralls cannot be equipped with any weapons, armour or equipment. They do not suffer penalties for fighting unarmed.
Blighted Claws
Add +1 DICE and the CRITICAL Keyword to Melee Attacks made by this model.
The boons of the Cult of the Black Grail lead slowly but surely down the path of utter corruption. Only very few of the chosen can withstand the blessings of the Lord of the Flies. Most are turned into Grail Thralls, destined to join the endless legions of empty, hollowed-out and diseased husks who must obey the whims of the Cult of the Black Grail nobles for all eternity, while suffering the torment of their countless supernatural infections.
Thralls come in two varieties: Grail Thralls, which have become almost impervious to pain, and Fly Thralls, controlled by the gargantuan hell-flies that have buried their proboscis deep into the central nervous system of their victims, allowing far greater mobility in exchange for less resistance to pain.
Add -1 INJURY DICE to Injury Rolls for the model unless the attack has the FIRE Keyword.
If the scenario you are playing allows INFILTRATORS to use their special deployment rules, after any INFILTRATORS have deployed, you can deploy these Cradle Thralls within 1” of any edge of the battlefield and more than 8” away from any enemy models.
Some infected with The Great Hunger care only to proliferate their agonizing disease. A model with the Ravenous Infection Ability may make a RISKY ACTION to spread the virus. On a success, the model may place an INFECTION MARKER on any other model within 1”, as the Great Hunger virus burns through the battlefield. A model’s Activation ends immediately after using this Ability.
A Grail Thrall or Fly Thrall can make a Melee Attack even though it does not have a Melee Weapon. In addition, add +1 DICE to the Success Roll for a Melee Attack made by a Grail Thrall or Fly Thrall for each other friendly model within 3" of the attacking model (not including the attacking model itself ).
Thralls cannot be equipped with any weapons, armour or equipment. They do not suffer penalties for fighting unarmed.
Blighted Claws
Add +1 DICE and the CRITICAL Keyword to Melee Attacks made by this model.
The boons of the Cult of the Black Grail lead slowly but surely down the path of utter corruption. Only very few of the chosen can withstand the blessings of the Lord of the Flies. Most are turned into Grail Thralls, destined to join the endless legions of empty, hollowed-out and diseased husks who must obey the whims of the Cult of the Black Grail nobles for all eternity, while suffering the torment of their countless supernatural infections.
Thralls come in two varieties: Grail Thralls, which have become almost impervious to pain, and Fly Thralls, controlled by the gargantuan hell-flies that have buried their proboscis deep into the central nervous system of their victims, allowing far greater mobility in exchange for less resistance to pain.
Add -1 INJURY DICE to Injury Rolls for the model unless the attack has the FIRE Keyword.
The model can make a Melee Attack even though it doesn’t have a Melee Weapon.
Add +1 DICE to the Risky Success Roll for a Hound of the Cult of the Black Grail that is taking a Dash ACTION. In addition, do not halve the Movement Characteristic of a Hound of the Cult of the Black Grail when it stands up at the start of an Activation.
If an enemy model is Activated while it is within 1" of a Hound of the Cult of the Black Grail, place 1 INFECTION MARKER next to the enemy model before it carries out any Actions.
A Hound of the Cult of the Black Grail cannot have any Battlekit.
These are parasitic carcasses of canines infested with maggots and flies spawned from the body of Beelzebub himself. Their unholy mission is to prowl No Man’s Land and spread disease and pestilence in the name of their dark master.
Mercenaries
Treat a Scripture Guardian as having a Movement Characteristic of 3"/Infantry when it takes a Dash ACTION.
The Scripture Guardian reads words from the holy (or unholy) text it carries. A Scripture Guardian can take a Vengeful Scripture ACTION. If they do so, pick 1 enemy model within 18" of the Scripture Guardian and in its Line of Sight. Then take a Success Roll for the Scripture Guardian, with +2 DICE if the enemy model is within 9" of the Scripture Guardian and +1 DICE otherwise. If the roll is a Failure, nothing happens. If the roll is a Success, make an Injury Roll for the enemy model, with a +1 INJURY MODIFIER for each BLOOD MARKER the enemy model has (in addition to any benefits you receive if you then spend them to affect the Injury Roll). If the roll is a Critical Success, make an Injury Roll for the enemy model with +1 INJURY DICE and a +1 INJURY MODIFIER for each BLOOD MARKER the enemy model has.
Combat Helmet
NEGATE SHRAPNEL
The simple combat helmet has proven its value on the battlefield time and again.
Reinforced Armour
-2 INJURY MODIFIER
Reinforced armour is a master-crafted suit made individually for the most important and elite troops. Each one is richly decorated and often carries the personal device of the warrior who wears it.
Sin Eater can take a Devour the Guilty ACTION. If they do so, pick 1 model (friend or foe) that is within 1" of the Sin Eater and is mounted on a base that is 40mm or smaller. If the model is an enemy, take a Risky Success Roll for the Sin Eater. If the model is friendly, take a Success Roll for the Sin Eater with +1 DICE. If the roll is a Failure, the Sin Eater’s Activation ends, if it was a Risky Success Roll, and nothing happens if it was a normal Success Roll. If the roll is a Success or a Critical Success, the model you picked is devoured, and the following rules apply to it:
- Place the model to one side, along with any MARKERS it may have. It is inside the Sin Eater and cannot be affected in any way or carry out any ACTIONS except as described below. While it is in the Sin Eater it is considered to be Down for the purposes of Morale Checks. A Sin Eater can only have 1 devoured model at a time.
- When it is Activated, it can take a Fight ACTION and must target the Sin Eater. Add -3 DICE to the roll for the Melee Attack, and do not use any of the model’s abilities or any of the special rules for its weapons.
- If the Sin Eater is taken Out of Action, before removing them from the battlefield, deploy the devoured model within 1" of the Sin Eater and place it Down. If this is impossible, the model is taken Out of Action. In either case, the Sin Eater is then removed from the battlefield.
- If a devoured model is still inside a Sin Eater when the game ends, it is considered to have been taken Out of Action.
- Each time the Sin Eater is Activated, place 1 BLOOD MARKER next to the devoured model. As soon as a devoured model has 6 BLOOD MARKERS, it is immediately taken Out of Action and is no longer considered to be inside the Sin Eater.
- A Sin Eater that has a devoured model inside it can take a Purge ACTION.If it does so, take a Success Roll for the Sin Eater with +4 DICE. If the roll is a Failure, nothing happens. If the roll is a Success or Critical Success, deploy the devoured model within 1" of the Sin Eater and place it Down. If this is impossible, the devoured model remains inside the Sin Eater. Once released the model can be Activated normally.
Tenderizer Maul
| Range | Melee |
| Hands | 2 Hands (Melee) |
HEAVY, +1 INJURY MODIFIER
When a model armed with a Tenderiser Maul takes a Fight ACTION, instead of making only 1 Melee Attack, you can make 1 Melee Attack against each enemy model with 1" of the attacking model. Resolve each Melee Attack one at a time in the order of your choice.
Reinforced Armour
-2 INJURY MODIFIER
Reinforced armour is a master-crafted suit made individually for the most important and elite troops. Each one is richly decorated and often carries the personal device of the warrior who wears it.
Sin Eaters were once mortal men and women, but their overwhelming greed, combined with the corrupting influence of the Hellgate, turned them into an abominable form that matches their inner foulness. Sin Eaters are among the few creatures outside Beelzebub’s followers that he deems worthy as their boundless gluttony mirrors his essence.
Armoury
Base Faction
Promotions
