Your army may be led by Vlad von Carstein, the Vampire Lord of Sylvania. Vlad and his wife Isabella can be taken as a Lord choice, but they will use up three of your Hero choices as well. Taking Vlad and Isabella counts as taking a Lord and three Heroes. They must be fielded exactly as presented here and must always be taken as a pair; no extra equipment or magic items can be bought for them.

Vlad von Carstein was the first and greatest of the Vampire Counts of Sylvania. It was he who tainted the once human aristocracy of Sylvania with the curse of undeath and in so doing created an Undead kingdom at the very heart of the Empire. For years he gathered his strength until he felt confident enough to attempt the conquest of the whole Empire. Then Vlad fought a brilliant campaign against the warring Elector Counts and almost managed to claim total victory. He was halted at the very gates of Altdorf, the capital of the Empire.

Vlad was a towering figure of a man, with a mane of black hair and piercing eyes. Those who met him and survived the encounter describe him as having a feral charm and being extremely intelligent, but with an evil temper that could easily turn into berserk fury if he was thwarted in his endeavours. It was said that at such times only his wife Isabella could calm him without blood being spilt.

Vlad's wife, Isabella, was the daughter of the insane duke Otto von Drak. Vlad married Isabella and then inherited her father's estates when both Otto and his brother Leopold died soon after the marriage. Isabella was a quick-witted and darkly beautiful woman, and what started out as a marriage of convenience soon developed into unholy love. Vlad long resisted Isabella's requests to join him in undeath, but when she lay dying from a fatal wasting illness, Vlad realised that he could not carry on without her and reluctantly inducted her into the Undead.

Isabella was Vlad's most valued confidante, and the only person whose advice he trusted. When Vlad was killed by Grand Theogonist Wilhelm at the Siege of Altdorf, Isabella committed suicide rather than carry on through eternity without him…

Points: 975 (800 for Vlad and 175 for Isabella)

Weapons: Vlad is armed with the Wailing Blade and Isabella carries a sword. They fight on foot.

Armour: None

Spells: Vlad is a level 3 wizard and can use Necromantic spells or the lore of Death.

Special Rules

Bloodlines. Vlad has all the powers of the Carstein family. Vlad's Walking Death is a +2 combat resolution instead of the normal +1! Isabella has the following powers: Call Winds and the Transfix Lahmia power.

Undying Love. If Isabella is killed, Vlad will be overcome by grief and go into a berserk fury. For the rest of the battle he will be subject to both Hatred and Frenzy. If Vlad is killed then exactly the same special rules apply to Isabella: ie, she becomes frenzied and subject to hatred.

Magic Items

Vlad always carries the following magic items:

The Carstein Ring (see Vampire Counts army book, page 50

Wailing Blade. The blade of this evil sword is never satisfied with the amount of blood it drinks and constantly emits a piercing scream, demanding more.

The model wielding this screaming weapon causes Terror. In addition, no armour saves are allowed against wounds caused by the Wailing Blade.

Isabella carries the Unholy Chalice.

Unholy Chalice. Blood is constantly flowing from this infamous symbol of evil. Isabella can drink from it to heal her wounds.
The Unholy chalice confers a 4+ ward save against ranged attacks only (missiles and spells), it has no effect against close combat attacks.