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Orks are looking really cool.

I thought the preview mentioning they have the strongest magic was really interesting as that's not necessarily a focus of Ork gameplay as they are often presented in wargames, powerful but unpredictable/unreliable yes, but the strongest? That's pretty different, look forward to seeing what that means,

From today's update, you will learn about the Priests of Sael, the fanatical warriors and one of the key strike forces in the Er'Sael army. Here it is: https://www.spellcrow.com/ersael-orcs-army-pm-52.html

Nice article - the story behind Ork magic is well done.

And the purple cloaks you painted for the minis are very nicely done.

Detail is great again, stone hammers, big important belt buckles and the colour scheme is really striking and very well applied. Great job.

It is time for a huge reveal of the beast that you will command in the Er'Sael Orcs army. These gargantuan creatures called Varanors are Mages' inseparable companions in battle. You will find the detailed description of Mages and Varanors in the next update, on Friday, July 25th.

Follow all pre-release updates for the Er'Sael Orcs army here: https://www.spellcrow.com/ersael-orcs-army-pm-52.html

That. Is very cool.

Loving the horns and the multiple fore-limbs.

It's awesome, a departure from the "traditional" wyvern in a way that's got its own unique appeal, but some of the same sinuous energy.

Hey! Today's update is another BIG one – because today, you can learn about the Orc Mages and the Varanors. Read their lore here (just below the premiere announcement): https://www.spellcrow.com/ersael-orcs-army-pm-52.html

This is also the place where you will find all the pre-release updates for the Er'Sael Orcs Army.

Some solid lore there.

In other news my two starters came, so now begins the longest pre-battle phase, cleaning, painting and assembly. Looking forward to trying it out.

Loving the background. Looking forward to seeing it all together in the Compendium.

https://youtu.be/n5PHWmNdQ-4?si=6_jQEkAGkaeabOYL

Nice preview of some of the Orc models. They are definitely chunky compared to the human minis.

Orc Assassins and Mages look great.

Hey! Another showcase and lore has shown up This time, you will learn more about the Black Orcs. You can read the latest update here: https://www.spellcrow.com/ersael-orcs-army-pm-52.html

Ooh, I love those black orcs! And due to the scale, I can mount them on 20mm bases for swarms in my dungeon crawl!

They have some skilled painters at Spellcrow!

Like the use of purple for black shading.

 schoon wrote:
They have some skilled painters at Spellcrow!

Like the use of purple for black shading.

Tatiana does most of the painting.She is a great painter when you consider the scale of these miniatures.

The models are great sculpts with a lot of detail, but its a great paint job maximizing their appeal. Look at the eyes for gods sake, that'd be impressive on a 28mm model.

From the yesterday's pre-release update, you will learn what the Knuroses (photo below) are doing among the Elite Units of the Er'Sael Orcs army. Read the update here: https://www.spellcrow.com/ersael-orcs-army-pm-52.html

Hi there! Today's pre-release update for the Er'Sael army features a terrain specific for the region of Ugruk-hor (the land of Orcs). You can read all the updates here – https://www.spellcrow.com/ersael-orcs-army-pm-52.html – but I have also pasted this one below for your convenience.



In the lands of Ugruk-hor, there are immense black rocks, seldom found in other parts of the world. Their peaks rise from the earth, resembling sharply pointed arrowheads. The largest among them may reach up to several dozen meters and can be seen from a great distance. The Orcs discovered that these rocks extend remarkably deep into the ground, and regions where they appear in dense clusters often abound in rich ores and valuable minerals.

It was the sheer majesty and vastness of these rocks that led the orcish race, intrigued by their unusual shapes, to begin excavating. Over time, this gave rise to a group of Orc diggers, who, as their experience grew, came to be called miners.

Black Stone is widely used in many Orc structures due to the ease with which it can be extracted and processed. Buildings made of it have a rather sombre look, which is very appealing to the orcish taste, and many of them feature additional details crafted from the bones of massive beasts, whose whiteness contrasts perfectly with the black of the stone.

(Such scenery may be crafted from polystyrene or foam, based on the terrain shown. To highlight the texture of the black rock, it's worth drybrushing with grey.)

That's a fabulous terrain piece - even better since there's a story connected to it.

Hey everyone! In today's pre-release update for the Er'Sael Orcs army – for the first time – you can get a sneak peek at the Orc Tower in a 10 mm scale. Full update with lore available here: https://www.spellcrow.com/ersael-orcs-army-pm-52.html

Minis are great but please, use thinner bases!

Tower looks awesome. The lore around it is nasty, the Orcs are not a happy go lucky bunch.

The tower horns call forth the Riders of Roh... I mean Daaran

In today's pre-release update for the Er'Sael army, we're giving you the story of Kluhnar. This is an introduction to another unit's preview scheduled for this Friday, August 8th. Read the story here – https://www.spellcrow.com/ersael-orcs-army-pm-52.html – or below!


Monk of the Shadow Temple

THE STORY OF KLUHNAR

In the period the Orcs call the Era of Devastation, there lived Kluhnar – a thinker and scholar, eternal servant to the great warlord Hneder. This often silent Orc is remembered to this day as one of the finest counsellors ever to advise the orcish lords. He believed that, for Ugruk-hor to grow in power, it was essential to possess warriors capable of stealing information and executing assassinations whilst remaining unseen. Such a notion defied orcish nature – something more befitting of Humans or Elves, but certainly not Orcs. Yet the more Kluhnar pondered, the more convinced he became that these were precisely the warriors Ugruk-hor required. Warriors whose very existence none would believe in.

To realise his plan, he needed the knowledge of someone who was expert in this field. Such an individual did exist – though he dwelt very far away and was known for his unmatched arrogance. Kluhnar laid out his plan before Lord Hneder, and after a year, he was granted the means necessary to undertake the great mission.

The journey to Tao-fu, land of the Ratmen, took almost two years. When the expedition reached the gates of the temple, Kluhnar informed the guards that he came bearing great gifts, which he wished to present to the grand master — and in return, he asked only for a single conversation. So immense were the offerings that he was granted audience. Kluhnar knew he would now need every ounce of his intellect and cunning to contend with the grand master — the Silver Whisker.

Indeed, the Silver Whisker was arrogant, but he also possessed a formidable intellect and great strength. This Ratman remained without peer in the art of swordplay and in wielding the strange weapon known as the nunchaku. Kluhnar steered the conversation with care, biding his time to utter a single sentence he had long held in his mind – hoping the Silver Whisker would contradict him. Sipping a cherry infusion, Kluhnar admitted he had never seen warriors as skilled as those in the Silver Whisker's temple, but added that even such a great master would likely fail to forge a true warrior from an average Orc. The Silver Whisker laughed and replied, with his characteristic arrogance, that greenskins held potential – one merely needed the eye to perceive it, and the skill to shape it.

Kluhnar humbly nodded and conceded that the Silver Whisker was probably right. Yet he made sure to appear unconvinced. He spoke of the orcish inclination toward aggression, of their clumsy physiques, and of many other flaws of his race. The master nodded, fingers trailing through his long whiskers. At length, he stood and said: “Give me one of your servants – not the dullest, but not too clever either, for the mind can at times hinder the hand. Return with gifts twice as grand in exactly three years. I shall gain the means my temple requires... and you shall gain that which you seek.” Kluhnar froze as he finished his tea. The master had seen through his plan, yet agreed to enact that which the Orc had dreamt of for years. Slowly, he set down his glass and rose in silence. He bowed deeply, ashamed, before the Silver Whisker, and said: “Indeed, you are a grand master.”

The servant left behind to begin his training was Sun-tin – once known as Brulin, later the famed master of the Shadow Temple in Ugruk-hor. Sun-tin would go on to found the school of assassins and to pen the laws of the monk-warriors, many of which were drawn from the teachings of the Ratmen of Tao-fu. Sun-tin remained a devoted disciple of the Silver Whisker until the end of his days.

That's a cool preview with a bonus sneak peek at the Ratmen.

Ratmen monk warriors!?

Swoon...

 schoon wrote:
Ratmen monk warriors!?

Swoon...

Splinter and four Frog disciples coming soon .

Hi everyone! Another pre-release update for the Er'Sael Orcs army is a preview & lore of the Monks of the Shadow Temple. You can check this and all previous updates here: https://www.spellcrow.com/ersael-orcs-army-pm-52.html

Great character on these!

Assassin style units are always quirky in rank and flank games. I wonder will they have Ambush or something even quirkier.

Lore is fun with them as an unaligned force that are importuned to join other armies.

If they get a hero or command group, different coloured underclothes are a fun modeling opportunity.