AoS: The Idoneth Deepkin & Nagash Are Going To War
Nagash collects souls. The Idoneth Deepkin ‘steal’ souls. This has been going on under the Lord of Death’s metaphorical nose for a LONG time. But thanks to some prying eyes and a few Malign Portents, the Deepkin have been exposed. Nagash is coming and he wants those souls back. With interest!
In case you’ve missed the last two Malign Portents stories, As Above, So Below and The Hunt, things are getting messy under the sea! Nagash has launched an offensive on the Idoneth Deepkin after years of being hidden. He has felt that something has been keeping him from what he thinks are rightfully his (the souls of the departed). And now that he’s been able to locate the source of this he’s going to war!
I’m here to collect on back rent. And I demand Interest!
The first story sets the stage. You can read it all here but it’s basically a letter from the Isharann council of Khaphtar to the King of Laebrea. If those names are strange to you all you need to know is that they are two Idoneth Deepkin city/states/realms. The Khaphtar have been besieged by the undead and are pleading with the King of Laebrea for aid. The letter goes into detail about the attack on their city and has a warning:
‘I SEE YOU, THIEVES. AND I WILL TAKE BACK WHAT YOU HAVE STOLEN FROM ME.’
Nagash is …not happy with them. And now it’s make-or-break time for the Deepkin. “Will you stand with us?” is the only thing they are asking. But there are lots of implications as the forces of the undead are seemingly endless. The Idoneth have to decide if it’s time to go deeper into hiding or to fight back.
The second story answers that question. You can read it all here as well but basically it’s an answer to the call. We see King Glorian lead his forces into battle against …the Greenskins?! “Wait a minute, I thought you said this story was an answer to the previous one?!” It is – but you’ve got to keep reading. The Idoneth Deepkin are stealing a play from the old Aeldari playbook. Why fight two enemies when you can make them fight each other!
It’s a classic switch-a-roo from the Deepkin as they are basically tempting the Greenskin horde into a battle at the gates of Nagashizzar. Once they seen the masses of undead (the King reasons) the greenskins will be thrilled to join fight of that magnitude. While I know he’s probably right, I wonder if this was a good move as it’s just giving the Undead more bodies to convert into soldiers. It might distract Nagash for now…but it’s creating more of a problem in the long run.
The battle over the souls of the living continues – Nagash is drawing everyone closer to his ultimate goal…but what is the Lord of Undeath planning!?
