The 7th Cohort Rises

Welcome to a new series that I've been pondering doing for awhile now.  KoW is pretty famous for its fluff-light take on background, and while there are some amazing pieces in the story of a ratkin attack on a brotherhood fort (siege rules plz), I've always wanted to make a unique story for my own army. 

My old Ratkin army was based loosely on the idea of how warlocks can summon and "bind" a demon, creating the demonspawn. However the hapless rats summoned the great cthulu (who was mighty small 😉 )  and thus began the blight cult, combining elements of varangar fallen and king on chimera, representing the twisting of the world and bizarre experiments being done on unlucky prisoners.

This is all well and good, if I ever actually wrote that down and put it next to my display board to explain the whole premise.  As it were, that army just looked like a bizarre collection of random bones models and 60 plague monks, with some brutes and old metal command models thrown in, complete with an unexplained terrain decay I attempted for my first display board.  I got a 13 out of 20 in soft scores for this army at Keystone GT, 1 below average, and I think this is a classic case where head theme was there, but effect theme was not matching.  It also didn't help that I live in the swamp state called Virginia, where there might be 10 days good for priming through May-August, so I rushed through the last bit.

(the single dragon version, trading the king for shock troops)

For my Salamanders however I feel like I owe it to myself and just actually putting a good amount of effort forward to both write some fluff, and make sure that it is conveyed through the board, with placards or a handout of some sort.  This can really add a lot to the army, especially if you're a novice at terrain and basing like me. 

So without further ado

The 7th Cohort of Haelthorn - Named in homage to one of the 14 Cohorts that fought against Winter at Haelthorn, this cohort is most famous for its generalship.  Established only a few hundred years ago, to protect and aggressively defend the newly colonized trio of islands Janden, Corvale, and Eriton.  These active volcano islands, while smaller than the Three Kings, are closer to the lands of Basilea, and the cohort has often marched through these lands to purge outlets of Abyssals.  This is not always received well, Dwarves and Basileans alike have often harried or outright fought the cohort regardless of the attempts at diplomacy. 

Janden, Corvale, and Eriton - These three active volcanoes were found early after the passage of the Time of Ice, and were targeted for colonization.  However the effects of the curse of Winter have left multiple failed attempts to colonize Salamanders outside of the Three Kings, and only recently has there been a successful string of colonies.  These clutch's are born with unique markers on their skin, as the fire's of each volcano leaves it's mark on the newly born Salamanders.  This manifests in a complete pigmentation of their skin in Yellow, Blue, and Purple for those born on Janden, Corvale, and Eriton respectively.  

The Three Great Generals - By far the most famous part of the 7th Cohort are it's trio of leaders, an exceedingly rare breed of Fire Drakes, they are well known for their leadership on the battlefield.  Their clashes with the forces of the Abyss are well documented, and they installed new regulations on unit formation intentionally mixing Salamander units from the 3 Isles. 

2nd United Salamander Century - The main fighting unit of the 7th Cohort, a combined force of the 3 oldest clutches native to the 3 Isles.  Their greatest accomplishment was the incredible tenacity shown in the face of the Rhordian Honor Guard, lasting for an hour after enduring multiple charges allowing the rest of the cohort to flank and rout the Rhordians.  The maniple commander is Rhotrazk, a steady and calm leader, although he has shown a reluctance to commit his fellow men early in battle.

2nd United Salamander Century

43rd Kaisenor Auxilia - These elite cavalry are well known for their brashness and aggression.  The main cause of the disastrous defeat to the Alcha Dwarves, their impetuousness is both a boon and a curse.  The Kaisenor mounts used in the 7th Cohort are infamous for their pallid colors, something mage priests have described as a sign that the 3 Isles were not meant for the Salamanders to inhabit.

43rd Kaisenor Auxilia

Yak the Brutal - A particularly cruel Lekelidon, he was bred by the esteemed Drolza clutch of Salamanders in the Three Kings.  Given to the 7th Cohort in recognition of the battle of Wildecourt against Abyssal Dwarves, Yak has proven a reliable support the 2nd Century can lean on.  Prone to fits of cruelty, he has developed a taste for melee, and can often be found beside Rhotrazk on the front lines. 

Yak the Brutal

Gask, 1st Signifer - The highest ranked standard bearer of the 7th Cohort, he battles astride the signature grey Kaisenor of the 3 Isles.  Wielding an ancient spear rumored to have been touched by Kthorlaq herself, he inspires his Salamander allies and bestows them with the strength to defeat even the greatest of foes. 

Gask, 1st Signifer

Bharsau the Great - One of the great generals of the 7th Cohort, and the only one that is wingless.  He is the elected representative of the isle of Corvale, and is particularly effective at rallying his nearby soldiers.  Often the most stubborn of the three generals, he brings a much needed sense of stability to the cohort. 

Bharsau the Great

To Paint -
30 Ghekkotah (GW Skinks)
2 Dragons - (Reaper Cinder and Deathsleet)
1 Lekelidon - (GW Troglodon)
6 Kaisenor Lancers - (GW saurus Knights)