The Umbral Veil is a cult hidden from the prying eyes of the world and shrouded in secrecy and dark ambitions, led by the notorious Dr. Horatio Ashcroft, a once-renowned alchemist whose brilliance is only matched by his madness. In his studies, Dr. Ashcroft discovered a way to fuse essence crystals into the bodies of humans, which could alter the very fabric of biology, granting immense strength, resilience, and monstrous forms to those subjected to the procedure. What began as a perverse curiosity quickly spiraled into an obsession, and now Dr. Ashcroft sees himself as a prophet of a new age.
As the mutated abominations grew in number and strength, Dr. Ashcroft’s influence spread and he formed a cult-like following of fellow alchemists and deranged people who worshiped his twisted genius and sought to gain his favor. This group, known as the Umbral Veil, adopted his dark teachings, viewing their mutations as a form of transcendence and the path to ultimate power.
Since it’s humble beginnings, the Umbral Veil has grown into a formidable faction. Their goal is nothing short of toppling the established government and creating a new order where they reign supreme. Operating from hidden laboratories and secretive hideouts, they continue to abduct individuals for their experiments, swelling their ranks with more grotesque mutations. The Umbral Veil strikes fear into the hearts of many, their presence whispered about in taverns and among the brave souls who have witnessed their terror firsthand.
Dr. Ashcroft’s ultimate vision is a world reshaped in his image, where the strong dominate the weak, and the alchemical sciences reign supreme. The Silver Line, aware of the growing threat, has begun to take action, but Ashcroft seems to be always one step ahead. As the world stands on the brink of chaos following the Rupture, the Umbral Veil watches from the shadows, ready to emerge and claim their dark destiny.
The Umbral Veil on the tabletop
Playing the Umbral Veil heavily revolves around the interaction between the ALCHEMIST units and their creations, the MONSTROSITIES. While all monstrosities are powerful on their own, they can only unfold their true potential when guided by one of their creators.
When a MONSTROSITY unit activates while within 2" of a friendly ALCHEMIST unit, it gains a passive ability called "Elixir". All monstrosities have access to three generic Elixirs, enhancing their performance on the battlefield. Additionally each monstrosities has access to a special Elixir that has been fine-tuned to its specific roll on the battlefield.
Players cleverly planning ahead for the positioning of these two types of units will be rewarded, while enemies who manage to disrupt this interaction will have an easier time fighting the Umbral Veil successfully.
Key Unit in Focus: Transmuted Fleshcrafters
The Transmuted Fleshcrafters did not stop with their experiments at their monstrosities, but also applied their dark knowledge to their very own bodies. Although their armour is on the low end, the alchemical elixirs running through their veins grants them the common passive ability "Regeneration", keeping them in the game longer than you would expect for a unit with an ARM value of 3. With their ability to heal friendly monstrosities with their beam weapon they form the very backbone of many Umbral Veil armies.
Key unit in Focus: Dr. Horatio Ashcroft, Architect of Anarchy
Dr. Ashcroft is the mastermind steering the Umbral Veil on their path to reshape society. He is a powerful telekinetic who can displace friendly and enemy models alike with his toolkit. His leadership represents his supreme intellect, planning always dozens of steps ahead, giving you the option to infuse rolls after the dice roll. With his disregard for all life, he willingly sacrifices friendly models to achieve his grand plans, taking down any enemies that oppose his grand scheme.
Within the next months, the number of Umbral Veil units will be expanded step by step to the current level of the Silver Line and the Chosen of the Spirit Tree. Also: Have a look at the new Faction Bundles, that not only include a selection of core models but also movement widgets as well as a set of 15 essence dice.