Loremachine – Dead Men Tell No Tales, and Aiakos Prefers It That Way
Hoist the black sails and keep your cutlass close! The Cryx Dread Armada FronTier is casting off soon, bringing a brand new prime army to Warmachine 3D on October 15. Soon, you’ll be able to print, paint, and play your own crew of cutthroats, monstrous warjacks, and restless dead, ready to make a splash on the tabletop.
This week, we’re sailing into the Pirate Fleet to meet a captain who never balks at the prospect of a fight, and certainly never leaves a treasure chest unopened.
Aiakos, Scourge of the Black Seas, has clawed his way up from the gangs of Blackwater to become one of Cryx’s most dangerous pirate warcasters. He’s got a killer crew, a terrifying helljack, and a ship that’s earned its place among the Dread Armada. But if you think he’s content with what he’s got, you clearly haven’t met Aiakos. Time to hand over to our resident Loremaster, Sherwin Matthews, and find out what makes this scourge of the seas so deadly…
A merciless cutthroat of the high seas, Aiakos has risen from humble beginnings among the gangs of Blackwater to become one of the fiercest captains in Cryx’s Pirate Fleet. He has assembled his crew one by one from inhabitants of the Scharde island chain, selecting only those pirates who exhibit exceptional ruthlessness and skill.
Aiakos and his crew live to prove themselves in combat. The warcaster rushes to the forefront of every engagement, bounding from ship to ship and hurtling over the planks to skewer his opponents with harpoon and blade. Helljacks follow in his wake, cutting down sailors on tightly packed decks or rising from the roiling tide to wreak havoc among coastal towns. Wherever the promise of a bloody battle arises, Aiakos and his crew are not far behind.
After earning his notoriety in the Cryxian pirate fleet and gaining the favor of its leader, Admiral Axiara Wraithblade, Aiakos set his sights on commanding his own ship. When the pirate king of Blackwater, Lord Craethan Morvaen, demanded a greater share of Aiakos’ earnings, the warcaster saw his opportunity to better his place in the hierarchy of the Scharde Islands.
Appearing to capitulate to Morvaen’s demands, Aiakos and his crew offered up a haul of riches recovered from the lost flagship of Lich Lord Daeamortus, a vessel last seen in the final days of the Scharde Invasions. Morvaen was tempted by the treasure trove of artifacts, coins, and ancient relics, certain the lich lords would reward him richly when he offered them a portion of the haul, and he granted Aiakos and his soldiers entry to his fortress without question. While the guards searched the pirate crew for weapons upon entry, both they and Morvaen were blinded by greed and overlooked the seemingly inert, barnacle-encrusted helljack known as Kharybdis, waiting amid the offerings.
During Morvaen’s inspection of the generous tribute, Kharybdis remained motionless—until the lord leaned in to take a closer look at the helljack. It was then that Kharybdis unleashed a spray of black ichor in Morvaen’s face. As Morvaen screamed in agony, Aiakos’ crew retrieved weapons stashed among the plunder, and the warcaster bid Kharybdis to rise. Together they slew any who stood against them, and Aiakos soon emerged with Morvaen’s head on his trident for all of Blackwater to see.
In addition to seizing Morvaen’s fortress and the treasure within, Aiakos claimed the lord’s formidable ship, Nocturnus. Though Aiakos maintains a measure of influence in Blackwater, he rarely stays in the Cryxian port. The warcaster leaves dockside affairs in the hands of the Quay Slayers, the street gang he ran with before his career as a raider and the manifestation of his warcaster talent. The gang now occupies Morvaen’s former fortress and has grown appreciably in power and influence.
What Aiakos has achieved may satisfy a lesser man, but the pirate’s burning lust for bloodshed and treasure does not permit him to rest. Until he has had his fill of spilled blood and plunder, Aiakos will continue his reign of terror, building his reputation one corpse at a time.
Where will you stand when the dead set sail?
The Dread Armada is gathering, and there’s no better time to get your crew shipshape. The Cryx Dread Armada launches October 15 in STL form, with the free rules in the Warmachine app. Follow the FronTier for the latest updates, and get ready to bring the black fleet to your tabletop.
Missed our previous lore dives? Take a look at Skarre Ravenmane, Queen of the Dread Armada and Wraith Captain Eydis Malroan, and meet more of the cutthroats sailing under Cryx’s black banners.
