Fane of Nyrro – First look at Death’s Whisper

With Fane of Nyrro’s Command set, Executioner’s Toll, releasing next week, it’s time we turn death’s whispering up to full volume. After a week of hints on the Warmachine channels, we’re finally unveiling the full rules for the Fane army box that’s following Executioner’s Toll: Death’s Whisper.

The pre-order for Death’s Whisper opens June 23 and the rules will land in the Warmachine app today. We’ve got Fraser here from the Warmachine dev team to help you get ready for Fane’s next onslaught.

Ashmael, Keeper of Whispers

Keep your wits about you. This eldritch warlock has eyes and ears in every court.

Ashmael is a master of espionage; a network he’s weaved for centuries and a craft he’s all but perfected. His very presence makes those around him uneasy, making opponents second guess themselves before he pivots into an advantageous position.

Make sure you take a close look at Corrupt. Then, check out his feat:

Individually, each rule is powerful, but together they create a web of predicaments for you to weave around opposing forces, and reap the rewards.

You may have noticed if Ashmael doesn’t secure the scenario elements he catches in his feat, the effect persists. Powerful, but with a noticeable downside; not scoring scenario points tends to lose you the game.

This is where Corrupt comes in to balance the scales, letting Ashmael time his scenario pushes to perfectly keep himself in the game, while whittling away at his enemies.

So, how does the opponent respond?

They could throw everything to contest the corrupted objective, preventing the double score, but leaving more models vulnerable to Ashmael’s feat. They could also leave their models outside of scenario range — minimising the feat’s impact, but leaving themselves vulnerable to falling behind on scenario.

Decisions decisions. Are we done? Not even close. Let’s take a look at Ashmael’s spell list.

Admonition, Mirage, and Pursuit are all potent spells, and can all force your opponents hand in ways they may not like.

Dissected Essence is new. A simple spell to read, but with intriguing tabletop application.

Those familiar with Hysene, the warlock from Executioner’s Toll, may already be familiar with her main strategy for dealing with hard-to-shift threats like super heavies, colossals, and gargantuans: apply Hysene herself.

For obvious reasons, Ashmael cannot apply Hysene. Instead, he plays around such threats. When a colossal plants themselves aggressively up the table, Ashmael can simply use Dissected Essence to prevent them from contesting or scoring without laying a glove on them.

The turn after, Ashmael has various tools to dampen their impact — Admonition to project a key model, Pursuit to project another, Misdirect to redirect gunfire — before going in for the kill when the armour reduction kicks in the following turn.

Once again, Ashmeal presents the opponent with a difficult choice. Do they stay in and take the empowered counter punch, or retreat and give up their aggressive positioning?

More tough decisions. Last but not least, let’s go over Ashmael’s potent statline and weaponry.

Dissected Essence notwithstanding, Fane warlocks do like to get their gloves dirty, and Ashmael’s no exception.

As befits a spymaster, Ashmael may well be the best model in Warmachine at targeting enemy support models. His range 9 (or 12, with snipe) Void Teeth can Ricochet 4” to catch models that might usually think they’re safe.

Pick away at these long enough, while adjusting Ashmael’s position with Swift Hunter and other effects, and your opponent’s mainline models will find themselves far less effective and ripe for the slaughter.

The Klyvenesh

The Klyvenesh strike from the shadows before melting back into the darkness. Incredibly versatile and mobile, capable of assassinating any target, they can Shadow Shift better than any of their Fane brethren.

Take care, though: this expensive unit can be left dangerously exposed when Shift targets run out.

Fane Stalkers

A powerful support tool for any Fane of Nyrro army. Send your feasting warbeasts deeper into enemy lines, torment opponents from afar, push them out of your territory…the Fane Stalkers do it all.

Blood Sirens

A unique unit, designed for disruption. The Blood Sirens can leverage their potent Ancient Shroud to force their way into enemy lines, then send those enemies wandering to their deaths.

Sythyss Overseer

Though little regard is given to the lower ranks of the Fane of Nyrro, they do serve their purpose.

Jylvana, the Tormented

Last, but by absolutely no means least, Jylvana can often be found accompanying Fane warlocks to the battlefield…4-6” behind them.

An often critical support model for her eldritch masters, Jylvahna can offer up those important few hunger points on a pivotal turn, dispel nasty enemy upkeeps (looking at you, Crippling Grasp), and grant the often crucial eyeless sight. And if none of this is required, she’s always a shift target.

The hour of Fane is well and truly nigh. This eldritch army’s first releases rise from the shadows next week on June 23, with Death’s Whisper following close behind. Update your app now to access the free rules.

Surrender to the call of the eldritch: start your Fane army and harness their deathly power…or prepare to sate their hunger.