Starting your first army can be a daunting task. The array of options is bewildering, and the setting is hard to pin down for new players. A cast of named characters that influence their world is available to join your army, and getting to know them and building a force around their personality can be a great introduction to army building in Kings of War. To help you start I’ve interviewed some famous names and learned their tea-drinking habits…
Madriga, High Warden of the Seas
Possessed of wanderlust and nurtured on tales of ancient Elven heroes, Madriga rose through the ranks of the Sea Guard to the esteemed role of Fleet Captain. In the grip of a midlife crisis, the skilled warrior quit her commission, setting forth for adventure in Dolgarth where she joined brave adventurers in slaying a terrible necromancer.
Returned to the Sea Guard, Madriga now leads as High Warden. Being a loose ballista and general badass, she enjoys a cup of Genmaicha in between swinging on ropes and buckling swashes.
Jullius, Dragon of Heaven
First there was the Celestial Fotia, who split in half. Then there was the Shining One Fotia, who split in half. Now there is Jullius and his more narratively interesting half Samacris. Divine beings are presumably radioactive given their apparent Half-life.
Jullius embodies fire as cauterization, vengeance, war, and being a terrible houseguest. He enjoys a delicate blend of Earl Grey with Lemon because of his refined tastes — heaped with five spoons of sugar because he is also a thundering wazzock.
Orlaf Skull-Splitter
Leaving his home in the North to seek fame and fortune, Orlaf discovered his talent for punching people was highly prized down south, especially in Basilea where all the best punchers had discovered “ethics.” Unfortunately, he eventually strayed from a masculine power fantasy into the decadence of sliced bread and indoor plumbing.
Following a redemption arc of trudging through snow, he regained his six-pack, returned to a simple life of punching things, and decided to no longer wear a shirt. Orlaf enjoys a soothing Chamomile tea in the evening because he isn’t a barbarian.
Grokagamok
Possibly the most famous Ogre mercenary around, Grokagamok leads an elite band known as the Granite Fists. Allegedly this is also the name of his boyband. He is unusual in possessing a combination of getting Ogres to listen to instructions, issuing sensible instructions, and knowing to reject the first offer. This has led to a sizable fortune squirreled away somewhere for when he retires to his own private island.
A seasoned campaigner, Grokagamok takes his tea Nato Standard. Woe betides anyone who puts the milk in first.
Mau’ti-bu-su
A dread succubus from the depths of the Abyss, Mau’ti-bu-su (Sue to her friends) loves nothing more than torturing mortals and capturing luckless survivors of defeated armies to drag back to her lair, where they are subjected to her regular rants about woke society and cancel culture. Her luckiest victims are flayed instead.
Being a creature of pure malice and deception, Mau’ti-bu-su delights in requesting fruit tea, insisting her mortal target share a cup to spread the misery.
Lady Ilona
Ilona was tired of everyone’s nonsense and not shy about sharing that fact. Then she became a Vampire. The prospect of spending eternity dealing with the inane politics of her kin was unbearable, but fortunately, a two-handed silver sword solves many problems.
To quench her thirst following a long day of slaying mortals and vampires alike, Ilona settles down with a hot white nun. Coincidentally, this is also how she takes her tea.
Twitch Keenear
“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again” probably wasn’t intended to apply when summoning Abyssal Demons. Nobody thought to let Twitch know this. His first (accidental) summoning led to nearly losing an eye, and failing upward at an alarming pace led to Twitch being (literally) thrown a (magic) bone by a Demon Lord of the Sixth Circle. Honestly, the eye thing should have been enough warning.
Being of a curious nature means Twitch will give any tea a try. He just doesn’t like how the bags get stuck in his teeth and prefers them dry.
Dravak Dalken
He let his attention slip that one time and ended up with his life force bound to an Animated Obsidian Construct — a blessing in disguise as Dravak can control the construct as if it were his own body. No more having to get up to put the kettle on for him. Honestly, I think we’re all a little jealous.
Dravak prefers a Masala Chai to soothe the throat and treat the taste buds. Shouting at Ratkin and breathing in brimstone all day really neglects the palate.
Serakina, the Ice Queen
Some say Serakina is a lost child, empowered by the Shining Ones to survive and eventually master the chill winds of the North. Others say that she was formed from the very glaciers themselves to spread their might southward. There are even those that claim she inhabits a palace of ice on the summit of the North Mountain. What we know for certain, however, is her wrath is a terrible thing to behold, for she lets nothing go.
Legend has it Orlaf gained his love of warm hugs from the Ice Queen. Although their tea habits couldn’t be further apart. Serakina chain drinks builders brew in the same tanin-stained mug because it’s fluffing cold up north.
Ally McSween
Embodying the noble arts of deception, larceny, and mayhem, Ally is the kind of Halfling you are thankful happens to other people. On the battlefield, she infiltrates alongside her band of poachers to disrupt enemy plans. It is even said Ally can loot a slain foe before their body hits the ground.
Ally McSween likes her tea to be coffee. Preferably dark-roasted, whole beans covered in chocolate. She doesn’t sleep much.
