Area Rex welcomes another fighter to the bloody sands in the form of Cato. As well as this new fighter he will also find himself mounting up atop a quick and agile mount!

Here is the model of Cato mounted atop his lizard steed, Ladon.

"At the edge of the known world, further from Rome than any citizen had dared to go, a  nomadic mercenary group was tasked with driving off a clutch of dragons that had begun preying on local inhabitants. The beasts were swift and massive, but ultimately cornered and unaccustomed to armoured men who would stand and fight.  Ladon, young enough to be a mere snack to the adult lizards, watched the butchering of his predators from the branches of a nearby tree.  

Seeing that the men had no interest in eating him, the curious juvenile began stalking them back through the jungle.  Periodically the snap of a branch or rustle of undergrowth would reveal their pursuer. Night after night the young dragon slept closer and closer to camp, eventually curling up next to the fire and begging for scraps. Amused and heartened, Cato began to feed and care for the beast.  As the dragon grew into his own, Cato incorporated Ladon into his fighting style and tactics and took on the name ‘Draconis’ by long association."

The model is awesome and very much plays into the idea of these old Greek/Roman monsters being based on the encounters that people had with real creatures.

Cato is also available, as mentioned above, as a solo fighter...

...and because its Arena Rex, you get loads of awesome additional background for the character.

"The legendary uncompromising will of his forbears is graven deeply in the soul of Marcus Porcius Cato.  As a young Legate, Cato was captured in Cappadocia after the loss of nearly three full legions, but his ransom was refused.  While political opponents at home pinned him with the title 'Serpent of the east' and had him exiled under suspicion of betraying Rome, his iron resolve to serve the Republic even in chains impressed his captors.  

Knowing the Roman was now homeless and had no resources to turn back upon him, the Shah released Cato to his fate.  Decades later, outfitted with exotic goods and known for strange customs, the exile stalks the areas bordering the Republic. He speaks loudly of a great rival in the east, urging all Roman citizens to prepare for the challenge of a mortal foe. Many mock him as a coward bowed under the shame of his youthful defeat, but he has proven himself a fierce and implacable warrior, and now claims the name 'Draconis' to mock those who once exiled him."

Some great new miniatures for this expanding world of Arena Rex. I will say that I have never played the game myself but it does look like it has been a sleeper hit, and it's nice to see that the model range continues to expand with new and interesting ideas.

What do you think of Cato and Ladon?