Everyone is used to see Age of Sigmar like a bright and funny gaming system, where it's OK to talk to miniatures or compare your beard with the opponent's one. However, these armies prove that Age of Sigmar can be really grimdark and brutal.
Chaos warriors of Malal from Ex Profundis studio are one of the most unusual and interesting recent releases. Great conversions and special painting style make it look dark and brutal - exactly, as it's supposed to.
There is a name whispered quietly and with fear even by the most depraved, the most evil, and the least sane of the worshippers of Chaos. That name is Malal, the Renegade God of Chaos. Any man who dares look within the unholy black pages of The Great Book of Despair, that foul tome held sacred by worshippers of Chaos, would find baleful words in regards to the Renegade God.
In aeons past Malal was cast out from the bosom of Chaos by the other Gods, or else abandoned them of his own volition, no one is sure which. In any case, Malal's relationship to the other Gods of Chaos is a strange one. All Gods of Chaos pursue purposes that are wholly their own, yet only Malal occupies a position so antithetical to the success of his own unfathomable creed. To be a follower of Malal is to be a Chaotic warrior bent upon shedding the blood of other Chaotic creatures. As such, Malal is both feared and hated by the other Chaos Gods. Malal's worshippers, too, are loathed by other Chaotics; they are outcasts beloved by neither the friends nor enemies of Chaos, dependent upon the least whim of their patron deity. Few men worship such a God; fewer still live long in his service. The bonds that tie master and servant ever drain upon the soul of the warrior, and it is a rare man that can loosen the bonds of Malal once forged.
Another rare and grimdark army - Nighthaunts. The authors of this one are Mengel Miniatures. There are not so many conversions, however, thr painting is really impressive and frightening. (in a good way, of course)
Each time, fresh armies of the unliving have been raised up and mustered to wage war against his foes, for Nagash claims lordship over Shyish and all that dwell there. Across kingdoms of endless night, seas of ice-cold blood and ancient tombs the size of continents, Nagash and his Deathlords rule. Their ultimate goal is to spread their dominion over all the realms. Once the living has been eradicated, the realms will be filled with tireless and obedient hordes of the undead, and Nagash will rule unopposed over them all.
