So far in our look into the forthcoming Ruins of Lastwall set of prepainted plastic miniatures from our partners at WizKids, we've seen the agents of undeath working to tighten the Whispering Tyrant's grasp on the Inner Sea region and the noble defenders of Lastwall who dedicate their lives to keeping the lich and his forces at bay. Today we look at the forces of balance caught in the middle of the conflict between good and evil.
Just as angels and daemons are the embodiment of good and evil, respectively, so too are psychopomps the extraplanar manifestation of neutrality. Working out of the Boneyard, these macabre outsiders work to maintain balance in the universe, specifically around the journey of souls through life, death, and the Great Beyond.
Illustration by Jose Parodi
Back when the set was announced, we showed off the Morrigna Psychopomp, a Medium rare figure. Two other psychopomps make their Pathfinder Battles debuts in this set, presenting a range of challenge ratings for Game Masters. The tiny uncommon Nosoi Psychopomp can be taken as an advanced familiar or serve as a guide through the Boneyard, as it did for Valeros in the Spiral of Bones comic series. The masked, birdlike figure can also stand in for a myriad of small avians (if you can overlook its four wings and haunting funeral mask).
At CR 7, the Vanth Psychopomp serves as the Boneyard's foot soldiers, ensuring that nothing disturbs the natural cycle of souls—including an army of undeath attempting to spread their foulness across an entire world. Though they have no bias toward good or against evil, these Medium winged skeletons are likely to side with the forces of Lastwall in the conflict against the Whispering Tyrant. At an uncommon rarity, collectors are likely to get a handful of them to fill out their armies.
Similarly opposed to one another are the denizens of the Negative and Positive Energy Planes, the forces of which play a pivotal role in the creation and destruction of undead. From the Positive Energy Plane come the avian Jyoti, while the Sceaduinar hail from the Negative. Like psychopomps, the jyoti and sceaduinar have no moral bias toward good or evil, but they may serve either side in the conflict nonetheless due to their affinity for positive and negative energy. Both the Jyoti and Sceaduinar are Medium uncommon figures in this set.
But it's not just outsiders holding steadfastly to their neutrality! Among the strongest forces of balance on the Material Plane are the protectors of the natural world, and one of the most disturbing of these guardians are the equine fey known as Nuckelavees. A Large uncommon figure, this aquatic monstrosity exacts vengeance on those who despoil nature, especially wetlands.
Decidedly more amenable to discussion than their fey counterparts, the enigmatic sphinxes of the deserts of northern Garund often serve as wise arbiters in disputes or quizzical guardians of ancient treasures. Ruins of Lastwall features an Androsphinx to compliment the Gynopshinx released in Pathfinder Battles: Deadly Foes a few years back. A Large uncommon figure, this regal magical beast is sure to inspire awe and respect among players and GMs alike.
While we're talking about the deserts of Osirion and its former vassal states, it's the perfect time to show off two more pieces of dungeon dressing from the set. The Afterlife Scale and Funerary Bed are both taken from real-world Egyptian concepts, the former from the scale upon which Anubis weighs the heart of the deceased to judge its worth and the latter from the actual funerary bed found in the tomb of King Tutankhamun. Both make stunning set pieces in an ancient tomb and could have any number of magical properties to meet a GM's storytelling needs.
Ruins of Lastwall features more figures of Pathfinder deities than any previous set, and it would hardly be fair to include Iomedae and Urgathoa without someone to represent the neutral planes. As such, Pharasma, Goddess of Death makes her debut here, sitting regally upon her throne. The oldest god in the current iteration of reality, Pharasma judges all souls upon their deaths, including fellow deities, and she makes an imposing figure, worthy of her important role in the setting. A Large rare figure, Pharasma, Goddess of Death is probably my favorite figure in the entire set.
That's it for this week's previews! Next time, we'll look at the set's offering of creatures and people who aren't necessarily involved in the conflict between the Whispering Tyrant and the knights of Lastwall but have nevertheless embraced darkness in their own ways.
Mark Moreland
Franchise Manager
