Soulblight Gravelords: The Klingenberg Legion

"Honor is a burden for the living. For us it is the chain that binds the soul to the blade." - Baron Valentin von Klingenberg during the Siege of the Verdant Gate.

Faction: Soulblight Gravelords (Kastelai Dynasty)

Realm: Ghyran the Realm of Life

Designation: The Klingenberg Legion

Origins and Chronicles of the Fallen Nobility

The northern region of Verdia within the Jade Kingdom of Ghyran is defined by floating islands and emerald waterfalls of pure life energy. Amidst this vibrant landscape the Klingenberg mountain stands as a defiant monument to decay. Travelers report that flora and fauna wither with every step toward the summit while the hum of nature falls silent. It appears as though the mountain itself denies the existence of life. This territory was once a bastion of chivalry and honor. The castle at the peak hosted grand tournaments that attracted warriors from across the mortal realms and served as a premier military academy where noble rulers sent their sons to master the arts of war.

The transition began when Valentin von Klingenberg the heir of the house returned from a campaign against the undead under the banner of Mannfred von Carstein. Although the campaign was successful Valentin returned transformed. He lacked compassion and grace leading to rumors of a dark pact made in the catacombs of Dol Avar. Upon the mysterious death of his father Valentin ascended the throne. The region subsequently underwent a total environmental shift. Frequent storms and virulent diseases became common while the population vanished into the shadows of the fortress. Valentin explicitly recognized that life and traditional order were inherent weaknesses.

He transformed his heritage into a center of necrosis and blood. His heart ceased to beat yet his will remains absolute. The castle is no longer a place of glory but the seat of a legion that corrupts the very essence of Ghyran. The mists surrounding the peak are an artificial veil designed to hide a new order of darkness. Valentin remains convinced that true dominion is only possible through death. He considers himself a ruler of a new era where the fragility of the living is replaced by the permanence of the grave.

The Blood Queen and the Court of Bone

Catherine von Klingenberg once the Jewel of Verdia is now the icy consort at the side of Valentin. She is a vampire of unquenchable hunger and cruel grace. While her beauty remains unaging her gaze is as empty as a grave. She is not merely a companion but the sharpest blade of the legion. She possesses a mastery of dark magic fueled by ancient curses discovered in the hidden crypts of Ghyran. Catherine operates through presence rather than force ensuring that even the most hardened generals tremble in her proximity.

The military structure is supported by the necromancers Zierotin Dornhofen and Darkin Seelstrang. They manipulate the winds of magic to ensure a constant supply of fresh soldiers for the legion. Zierotin specifically focuses on the degradation of the living to create the mindless thralls known as The Hungry. This court of bone ensures that the will of the Klingenbergs is enforced across the jade lands.

The Crimson Watch and the Shadow of Shame

The Crimson Watch was once the pride of House Klingenberg. This brotherhood of noble knights fought alongside Valentin during the great campaign against the undead. Their victory over the legions of the night sealed their fate in the dark heart of Dol Avar. After their transformation into vampires through a blood oath to Valentin they became his eternal bodyguard. They are clad in blood red tournament plates that have grown dull with dry blood and centuries of slaughter. They ride with silent banners and rusted blades.

Among these riders is Kaspar the Cruel also known as the Shadow of Shame. He was once a champion of the Blood Keep who fled in disgrace after the fortress fell to Sigmarite crusaders. He spent decades wandering the southern realms driven by thirst and the need for revenge. Valentin recognized the depth of his brutality and called him back to serve as a blood brother. The Crimson Watch does not represent a standard military advance but a final judgment. When the first rider appears it signifies that the final hour for the living has arrived.

The Klingenberg Butchers and the Hungry

The Grave Guard known as the Klingenberg Butchers are the elite infantry and personal bodyguard of Valentin. They are led by the Wight King Drakken von Tossenmark an ancient warrior spirit whose loyalty persists beyond death. Drakken was the original standard bearer of the house when Valentin was still a mortal prince. These soldiers wear ancient sealed armor with faded runes and bloodstained garments. They carry heavy rusted halberds and march with a silence that signals pure determination.

In stark contrast are The Hungry. Zierotin Dornhofen gathered the last mortal survivors of Klingenberg and subjected them to predatory madness. They were imprisoned without food or light and forced to consume carcasses and eventually each other. This process was accelerated by unholy rituals that replaced reason with pure instinct. They have evolved into a pack that knarls instead of speaking. This hierarchy of violence represents the absolute loss of humanity within the shadow of the mountain.

Gallery

Painting Guide and Color Palette

The visual identity of the Klingenberg Legion focuses on heavy weathering and a high contrast between aged metals and deep crimson fabrics. 

Metallic Components

• Steel Surfaces: Apply a silver base coat across all plate sections. Follow this with an irregular but generous application of Dirty Down Rust focusing primarily on the recesses.
• Bronze Elements: Use a bronze tone as the base. Apply Dirty Down Verdigris in an irregular fashion ensuring deep coverage within the recesses to simulate oxidation.
• Refinement: Seal the model with varnish before applying a brown black oil wash across the entire surface. After the oil wash has dried apply a matte varnish. Complete the process by adding sharp highlights with the original metallic colors to represent edges where the rust or oxidation has been rubbed away.

Clothing and Capes

The heraldry of House Klingenberg uses a triad of rich reds to maintain a regal yet bloody aesthetic. The application of these colors relies heavily on the stippling technique to achieve a textured and battle worn finish.

• Base Layer: Use Vallejo Game Color Gory Red for all fabric areas.
• Shading: Apply Vallejo Game Color Evil Red into the folds and lower sections to provide depth.
• Highlights: Finish with Vallejo Game Color Scarlet Blood on the raised edges and points where light naturally hits the fabric.

Weathering and Blood Effects

An oil wash is the primary tool for achieving consistent weathering across the entire miniature. Blood effects are layered to represent different stages of combat. Fresh blood is created with Tamiya Clear Red while dried old blood is simulated by mixing Tamiya Clear Red with Vallejo Black Ink.