Grave Guard
Overview
Summoned from their rest by the dark sorcery of vampires or necromancers, they are powerful warriors and upon the walls of Drakenhof Castle, and other Vampire haunted keeps of Sylvania, tireless warriors patrol clad in rust-gnawed armour. These dread sentries are drawn from their ancient tombs to act as guardians for the Vampire rulers of Sylvania. Although their bodies have decayed, leaving only bones and tattered flesh, Grave Guards are held together by evil magic so strong that it has endured for centuries. They wear ancient battle gear of primitive alloy, corroded by time and dusty with the years. These eerie, silent sentinels stand constant vigil on the crumbling battlements and at the iron-bound gates, never resting, eternally ready to defend their Vampire masters. When a Vampire marches forth, his Grave Guard advance at the head of the Undead host. They form a formidable corps of warriors, their enchanted blades cutting down the toughest of enemies with strike after pitiless strike. [2a]
The sheer resilience of the Grave Guard has become well known across the nations of Human, Elf and Dwarf. Their combination of stout shields, thick armour plates, and the natural resilience of the Undead means that a simple sword blow has little chance of stopping them. [3a]
History
At the Battle of the River Reik, Krell and his Grave Guard, the Doomed Legion were some of the few undead to continue fighting after Sigmar struck down Nagash. They fought their way clear and went on a rampage through the surrounding countryside. [3c]
When Lichemaster Kemmler broke the wards of Athel Loren and raised a legion of Grave Guard from the barrows hidden in its outskirts, the Wood Elves of that verdant realm found their usual tactic of pin-cushioning the intruders with arrows to be ineffective. These Undead warriors merely trudged on tirelessly into the forest, many with the slender shafts sticking out from eye sockets and empty rib cages. They were only defeated when the ancient tree-spirits of that realm arose and crushed the Grave Guard one by one under giant root-encrusted feet. Unfortunately for the defenders of Athel Loren, the Grave Guard attack was merely a diversion as Kemmler had escaped with the magical artefacts he had come for, hours before his plan was uncovered. Worse still, that same night, he raised up every last one of the Grave Guard to fight once more, and the forest was stained with Elven blood.[3a]
Weapons and Equipment
Grave Guard wield bronze and black iron Hand Weapons, Spears, Halbards or Great Weapons inlaid with gold and silver, runes glowing with power.[1a][1b] They wear Light [1b] or Heavy Armour [2b] [3b] and carry Shields. Some standard bearers of a regiment will carry magical banners. [2b] Barrow Guardians still retain their bronze or even flint weapons but in their hands are deadly and embued with magic. [5a]
- 5th Edition: Hand Weapon, Light Armour, Shield. May have Heavy Armour, Magic Standard, Shield, Spear. All weapons are Wight Weapons. [1b]
- 6th Edition: Hand Weapon, Heavy Armour. May have Halberd, Shield. May have Crypt Keeper, Musician, Standard Bearer. May have Magic Standard. [4a]
- 6th Edition: Barrow Guardian: Hand Weapon, Heavy Armour. May have Shield. May have Dread Guardian, Musician, Standard Bearer. May have Magic Standard. [5a]
- 8th Edition: Hand Weapon, Heavy Armour, Shield. May replace Shield with Great Weapon. May have Musician, Seneschal, Standard Bearer. May have Magic Standard. [3b]
- Wight Weapons: Ancient, enchanted weapons inlaid with gold, silver and glowing runes. [1a]
Gallery
Drakenhof Guard
Helmut's Own, bodyguard of Helmut von Carstein
Grave Guard
Grave Guard at the Battle of Hel Fenn
Grave Guard with Great Weapons
Miniatures
5th Edition Grave Guard with Halberds
A Grave Guard unit
Sources
- 1: Warhammer Armies: Vampire Counts (5th Edition)
- 2: Warhammer Armies: Vampire Counts (7th Edition)
- 3: Warhammer Armies: Vampire Counts (8th Edition)
- 4: Warhammer Armies: Vampire Counts (6th Edition)
- 4a: Armies of Darkness, pg. 66
- 5: White Dwarf #311
- 5a: Kemmler's Army of the Cairns, pg. 99