In the wake of Admiral Thorga Boomhowler’s murder, something terrible is moving beneath the jungles of Alchiere. Something is moving in the dark, settlements are falling silent, and the truth behind the invasion is more unsettling than anyone yet realises. As the danger spreads, Sgt. Haulder Craghorn and his squad are in pursuit. The stage is set for a conflict that could leave its mark on both Caen and Urcaen.
This is the opening glimpse of the Grand Narrative campaign for AdeptiCon 2026, where you will step into the Iron Kingdoms and help shape what happens next. Will you fight to defend the Southern Kriels, or help bring about the tragedy to come?
Trollpocalypse Now - Chapter One
By Orrin Grey and Sherwin Matthews
The line of thralls threading their way through the tunnel paused as the party reached the cave mouth, various armaments clicking and buzzing quietly in the dark. At their head, the skarlock leading them cast its glowing eyes about in the moonlight, surveying the valley stretching out before them.
A small village was nestled in the craw of the land below, a dozen domed huts clustered tight against a dark stand of trees. A large communal fire burned in the pit between the buildings, illuminating several figures at rest, eating their evening meal, and talking amongst themselves. Some of the smaller trollkin dozed, cradled in the arms of their parents.
The skarlock simply observed for a time, assessing the next course of action. The thralls numbered just over thirty in total, easily the match of the trollkin. It did not perceive any defenses at the settlement perimeter, nor the presence of armed warriors. The trollkin were an easy target, relaxed and unaware of the danger at hand.
Even so, the skarlock considered moving on.
The creature’s master had set it two missions. The first was acquisition of resources. The construction site required a constant influx of raw materials; necrotite, stone, machinery, and corpses to create new thralls. The second mission was scouting. Ancient cephalyx tunnels wove their way through the Alchiere subcontinent, passages dug so long ago that no living creature could recall where they emerged or how they connected. Mapping these trails was vital for establishing transportation of construction materials.
This village offered limited salvage opportunity. Trollkin tended to avoid old battle sites where necrotite had gathered when making their settlements, and the rustic folk rarely possessed much by way of machinery. With so small a population, the village would provide few bodies. Yet, the skarlock reasoned, with surprise on the Cryxian side it would also offer little resistance, and the small number of materials that were gathered would be unlikely to impair the raiding party’s speed. It had been days since the creature’s force had encountered any living thing except bats and insects. Turning back would entail countless hours of marching. At least if they raided the trollkin village, they would return with something more to show for their efforts than another report of a tunnel that went nowhere.
The decision was made. With a simple gesture, the skarlock motioned for the thralls under its command to begin their descent down the rocky slope, toward the settlement and unsuspecting trollkin. The mechanithralls were the swiftest, lighter on their feet than the lumbering brutes, that stomped through the undergrowth with a more measured gait.
The skarlock’s rictus grin widened as it joined the others, quickly reaching the front of the pack. At last it saw a sentry, a dozing trollkin lounging on a large rock, a spear leaned against his shoulder. The skarlock cast out one bony claw and chattered a command, and the guard was immolated by a burst of black flame.
The thralls were not stealthy, but nonetheless, their presence went undetected under cover of darkness until the raiding party swarmed through the village. Armed as they were with an array of claws, blades, and buzzsaws, the mechanithralls made short work of the villagers they encountered, and began to carve their way through the wattle and daub walls of the huts in search of the cowering figures within.
Your story begins at AdeptiCon
How will you leave your mark on the Iron Kingdoms? Join us at AdeptiCon 2026 and choose your side, stand in defence of the Southern Kriels or aid the forces driving the growing darkness. Players will need both a 50 and 75 point list to take part.
Major Abraham Stormcraw is this year’s show-exclusive variant for 2026, and will also be available online during the event for those who can’t attend in person. Keep an eye out to get yours when the store goes live.
