Wight King

A fearsome Wight King.

Wight Kings were once ancient and immensely powerful human warlords, resurrected as powerful undead beings.

History

All across the Old World there can be found the tombs and cairns of the ancestors of men. Atop rocky hillocks, within forest groves and high in the mountains, those cultures that once lived in what is now the Empire entombed their greatest leaders in mighty barrows. Charms of protection were laid upon these tombs to ward away grave robbers and scavengers. Crude runes were carved into the lintels of the graves, and amulets and talismans were hung from the walls. Some of these still hang in place, a testament to the magic they contain, though many of them have been defaced, stolen or destroyed by the creeping minions that serve the Vampire Counts. Others are unaccountably changed by the dark energy that seeps through the earth, and now bear grim symbols and the face of death itself.^[1a]

Not all of these warded tombs lie silent. Some were built in areas where Dark Magic flows and gathers. In these accursed places, the incumbents rest uneasily, their souls flickering between the world of mortals and the realm of the afterlife. When the flow of Dark Magic grows strong enough, the ancient warlords rise from their crypts as Wight Kings, eyes glowing with unnatural life. Even for those prehistoric kings who lie in relatively safe tombs, there is not always the eternal rest for which they yearn. Determined Necromancers and Vampires endeavour to break open the seals of the ancient cairns and use their magical powers to direct baleful energies inside, resurrecting the dead within and enslaving the entombed lords to their will.^[1a]

The chieftains of the ancient tribes were buried in their full ceremonial panoply, with bronze breastplates protecting their ribs and winged helms framing their grinning skulls. The tribe's shamans placed the best swords, axes and spears in the dead grip of the ancient kings as they were laid on their slabs. The interior walls of the barrows were painted with scenes of the leader's life, so that should they awaken, they would be reminded of their greatest deeds and most heroic victories.^[1a]

In the mountain range known as the Vaults, savage tribes of men wage war upon the monsters that haunt the peaks. In caverns hidden from beast and storm, they bury their honoured dead in the fashion of the ancients. Every year, the tribesmen return to pay homage to the chieftains of the past, and every year, there are always a few who are no longer in place. These waking dead walk the lands once more, the tattered remnants of their majesty bound to the service of the lords of the night.^[1a]

Nature

Wight Kings are incredibly powerful Undead, almost as hard to destroy as Vampires. Suffused with Dark Magic, a Wight King's weapons shimmer with baleful energy. The merest touch of their spear tip or blade can drain the life from their foes, or slice through flesh and bone with an ease that is frightening to behold. Clad in ancient armour, their flesh all but withered away, there is little for an adversary to cut or stab. Even to stand before one of these skeletal warriors of antiquity takes an extreme effort of will. For these reasons, a Vampire will often charge a Wight King with carrying forth the Undead general's personal banner. Such a duty is often integral to the army's stability, and these indomitable Undead warriors are able to hold aloft the army standard whilst tirelessly striking down one foe after another.^[1a]

Particularly ancient and powerful Wight Kings are known as Barrow Kings.^[2]

Weapons and Equipment

• 4th Edition: Battle Standard Bearer: Sword. May have Additional Hand Weapon, Barding, Crossbow, Double Handed Weapon, Flail, Halberd, Heavy Armour, Lance, Light Armour, Shield and Spear. May have one Magic Item. May ride a Skeleton Steed, Undead Chariot or a Monster. ^[4a]
• 4th Edition: Wight: Sword. May have Additional Hand Weapon, Barding, Crossbow, Double Handed Weapon, Flail, Halberd, Heavy Armour, Lance, Light Armour, Shield and Spear. May have one Magic Item. May ride a Skeleton Steed, Undead Chariot or a Monster. ^[4a]
• 4th Edition: Wight Lord: Sword. May have Additional Hand Weapon, Barding, Crossbow, Double Handed Weapon, Flail, Halberd, Heavy Armour, Lance, Light Armour, Shield and Spear. May have two Magic Items. May ride a Skeleton Steed, Undead Chariot or a Monster. ^[4a]
• 5th Edition: Battle Standard Bearer: Battle Standard, Hand Weapon. May have Barding, Double Handed Weapon, Flail, Halberd, Heavy Armour, Lance, Light Armour, Shield and Spear. May ride a Nightmare or a Monster. ^[5b]
• 5th Edition: Wight Lord: Hand Weapon. May have Barding, Double Handed Weapon, Halberd, Heavy Armour, Lance, Light Armour, Shield and Spear. May have one Magic Items. May ride a Nightmare. All Weapons carried are Wight Weapons. ^[5b]
• 6th Edition: Wight Lord: May have Great Weapon, Halberd or Lance. Heavy Armour, Light Armour, Shield. May ride Nightmare with Barding. May have Magic Items. May be Battle Standard Bearer. ^[7a]
• 8th Edition: Hand Weapon, Heavy Armour. May have Additional Hand Weapon, Great Weapon, Lance, Light Armour, Shield. May ride Skeletal Steed with Barding. May have Magic Items. May be Battle Standard Bearer. ^[1b]

• Wight Weapons: Ancient, enchanted weapons inlaid with gold, silver and glowing runes. ^[5a]

Wightseer

The powdered corpses of Wights can be used to make a shield that grants the bearer the ability to see any Undead creature as they looked in life. ^[6a]

Quotes

Gallery

Miniatures

Sources

• 1: Warhammer Armies: Vampire Counts (8th Edition)
  • 1a:, pg. 29
  • 1a: Heroes, pg. 88
• 2: White Dwarf #311
• 3: Night's Dark Masters
  • 3a: Chapter Seven, Rules of the Night, pg. 127
• 4: Warhammer Armies: Undead (4th Edition)
  • 4a: Undead Army List, pg. 81-82
• 5: Warhammer Armies: Vampire Counts (5th Edition)
  • 5a: Liber Mortis, pg. 51
  • 5b: Army of the Vampire Counts, pg. 63
• 6: The Imperial Zoo (book)
  • 6a: Magical Items, pg. 116
• 7: Warhammer Armies: Vampire Counts (6th Edition)
  • 7a: Vampire Counts Army list, pg. 63