Paulie Wallis, who you may remember for his orange and black Drukhari pirates, the Sky Serpents, is more than just a fanatical corsair – he’s also an avowed servant of Lady Malys and her Kabal of the Poisoned Tongue. With this cunning Archon returning to prominence via a new miniature, Paulie was keen to create a themed bodyguard for the lady herself. Take it away, Paulie!
Paulie: My Warhammer 40,000 journey began way back in 1998 when the Dark Eldar, as Drukhari were then known, were first released. My first Dark Eldar Warriors were painted blue, which matched the original Codex cover and felt in vogue in Commorragh at the time. Many years later, the faction’s range was refreshed and a rogue’s gallery of special characters introduced. One of the most intriguing* was Lady Aurelia Malys, leader of the Kabal of the Poisoned Tongue.
With Lady Malys getting a miniature, I knew I would have to add her to my army… but I would then need to decide how to paint her. Would she sport the colours of my Sky Serpents or her own? With my original blue Dark Eldar Warrior peering down on me from a shelf, inspiration struck. I would paint her in the colours of her kabal… and add some of her warriors to accompany her as she joins a raid alongside Duke Sliscus and the Sky Serpents.
For her bodyguard, I chose the Hand of the Archon, who have their own datasheet in the new Codex, distinct from Kabalite Warriors, and with a panoply of cunning rules that synergise well with Lady Malys herself, and allow her to reach the fray quickly (and relatively safely). I love to reflect the lore in my games and these hand-picked Warriors who have impressed their Archon with their guile and deceitful spite would make the perfect Fangs of Malys.
I like to convert and kitbash my units, and I returned to a few Kill Team specialists who I had modelled when the Hand of the Archon kill team was first released, and fleshed the squad out with some new additions. Most of the models have subtle conversions with parts from across the Drukhari range, as well as some heads from my favourite kit, the Corsair Voidscarred.
The new Archon miniature is also fantastic, and I chose to paint her in the Kabal of the Poisoned Tongue scheme too, opting against any kitbashes as the multi-part kit has so many options already (although I have some piratical ideas in the future to add a new captain to my Sky Serpents).
Painting Drukhari in a colour other than orange was a strange challenge at first, but one I really relished and enjoyed. What has started as a small project may well flourish into a new army, as I’m planning to add some transports and a Ravager in Poisoned Tongue colours to create a motley raiding party to advance Lady Malys’ schemes.
Thanks, Paulie. We look forward to seeing the growing kabal in the future, and hearing about Lady Malys’ exploits on Paulie’s Realspace Raiders podcast. If you want to start your very own take on the Kabal of the Poisoned Tongue, Lady Malys goes on pre-order tomorrow, alongside Codex: Drukhari and a new battleforce and Combat Patrol.
* Albeit without a miniature of her own… until now.
