From Kickstarter update 56 It has been a long time coming (and thanks for your patience!) but we are finally in a position to share some images of the models which fill out the Maelstrom's Edge box set which anyone who pledged at $90+ is getting.
The Kaddar Nova 
While the Kaddar Nova is a member of the Karist Enclave priesthood, they are often granted operational control on the battlefield due to their experience and their revered status amongst members of the Enclave. Kaddar Novae have been exposing themselves to na-cybel energy for significant periods of time, and their bodies are ravaged by it. Towards the end of their careers, they become able to tolerate much larger doses of all kinds of cybel energy, resistant after so much time seeking apotheosis and communion with the Maelstrom.
Kaddar Novae are seen as courageous seers by the Enclave, their intense na-cybel exposure sometimes granting visions, and they are fervent believers in becoming one with the Maelstrom. There is an odd juxtaposition of character for these priests. On the one hand, they believe in destroying themselves slowly for great reward later, yet most treat their fellow cultists with love and respect. They do not seek suffering for its own sake but believe in the sacrifice of their bodies for a better existence after ascension.
A Kaddar Nova carries a large and unwieldy back- mounted cybel reactor, a device their unusual tolerance level to cybel energy uniquely enables them to bear. This reactor pack allows a Kaddar Nova to function on the battlefield in a number of different roles dependent upon the needs of that particular battle. They can use their kinetic shield to protect nearby allies, suddenly leap forward with a kinetic boost and catch the enemy by surprise, or they can overcharge their Kinetic Gauntlet to destroy a powerful enemy unit or knock down whole swathes of enemy troops.
In the most desperate of times, a Kaddar Nova will even detonate their cybel reactor, immolating themselves in a conflagration of cybel energy and real matter to swing the course of a battle and inspire their forces. In the view of most Karists, complete destruction of one’s body all but guarantees that person cannot ascend. Yet a Kaddar Nova that chooses to obliterate themselves shows not only their utter dedication to the Karist way, but also a supreme belief that they are so prepared for ascension that not even the total loss of their body will prevent them from doing so.
Karist Shadow Walkers 
Shadow Walkers are a mysterious sub-sect, even inside the Karist Enclave itself. Seeming to be neither military nor priesthood, the Shadow Walkers answer only to the Heirarchs, and are a deadly mix of assassin and battlefield intelligence agent. Gifted with unique and terrifying abilities via their lightweight and highly advanced Veil-suits, a Shadow Walker has peerless mobility and infiltration capabilities. The rift technology in their suits is able to tear small tunnels into cybel space, allowing a form of teleportation colloquially referred to as ‘rifting’. Shorter jumps can be made with relative ease and rapidity, but attempting to rift over greater distances takes a toll on the Shadow Walker’s body, requiring them to spend precious moments to recover after re-emerging.
Shadow Walkers are deployed to target worlds by the Heirarchs decades in advance of the main Karist vanguard. Trained to blend into society, Shadow Walkers ascend to roles of responsibility within the enemy planet’s military and political structure, using their influence to hide the arrival of the Enclave’s missionaries and soldiers. During the infiltration phase of Karist operations, Shadow Walkers provide intelligence and resources to the hidden Karist forces, and even perform assassinations to eliminate suspicious or obstructive officials.
On the battlefield, Shadow Walkers use their unparallelled mobility to capture important objectives, but also to identify and attack vulnerable enemy units with close quarters fighting.
It is here the Shadow Walkers put their cybel-edged blades and deadly Nox Pistols to devastating use, ripping apart the enemy battle plan with careful executions of enemy leadership, before disappearing once more. Sometimes just the rumour of Shadow Walkers present on a planet can be enough to sow fear amongst the enemy lines.
Epirian Handlers 
Epirian Handlers are highly valued employees of the Foundation and the image of a Handler controlling a group of robots is one of the most iconic representations of the Epirian Foundation’s technological prowess. Whether it be piloting starships or making minute adjustments to a terraforming auto-processor by feel alone, Bot Handlers enhance the productivity of any technology they link to. A series of probes and sensors in their helmet directly tracks the Handler’s brainwaves and processes them through a cognitive buffer before sending code packets to the recipient robots. The level of control of the linked robot is largely related to the cognitive capacity and multi-tasking threshold of the individual Handler.
The title of Journeyman represents the second major rank of the Handler trade, signifying that the individual has moved beyond the rudimentary tactile interface of an Apprentice and onto the neural interface that Epirian Handlers are synonymous for. This neural interface allows them to control several bot units at once, potentially turning even a diminutive Epirian Force into a very real threat. Journeyman Handlers are therefore deployed either leading a force of their own, or given charge over a detachment of robotic units while under the command of a more senior Foundation associate, such as a Prospector or Master Handler.
Journeyman Handlers prefer to fulfil their role from the back of the battlefield, directing their robotic minions while also communicating with orbital and remote assets to call down targeted airstrikes at critical moments. Although not known for their combat prowess, Handlers are armed with a modified Maglock pistol, which utilises rudimentary micro drone ammunition, allowing the bullet to make minor course corrections during flight. This specialised ammunition vastly improves the pistol’s range and lethality over the standard Maglock Guardian pistol upon which it was originally based.
As a Handler’s skill improves, they invariably reinvest their earnings back into upgrading their technology suite, often in the form of expensive, personalised micro drones. These insect-sized robots come in a wide variety of dedicated forms: drones that aid the Handler’s visual assessment of the battlefield, those that improve the Handler’s aim, or even a swarm of personal attack drones capable of overwhelming a foe at close range with thousands of cuts from their bullet-like bodies.
The Completed Karist Forces Here's what comes in the Battle for Zycanthus box set. Our awesome backers get an entire extra mature Angel on top of this:
and a top view to show the size of the minnows a bit more effectively:
The Completed Epirian Forces Everything you see in each image below comes in one battle for zycanthus box set as well!
Thanks everyone! It has been very hard work getting to this point
