The Seal of Sigmund - Flame On campaigning in Vercuso again!

Von Kurst wrote:

I see you are dropping hints about the war in Araby, I've started a thread in the Fantasy Wargames to recruit

Arrrr! I'm glad you spotted that one!

OOOOOOOOOOOO, MORE PRETTY PICTURES! Once more I'm in stare, don't read mode, SO...this IS a perfect post for moi. Thanks, Saul!

No worried Alan!

I'm sorry to disapoint you with the next batch then:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

7th April, the year nine.
The Ogresun, at sea

Tentacles, Treasure and Treachery

The Ogresun wallowed in the irregular seas off the coast of Araby, just beyond range of the coastal fort’s huge guns. Kommodore Deffgit stood at the prow, looking out between the metal armour plates of the huge slab-sided ship’s leering-faced forecastle. Without removing the Spyglass from his one good eye he spoke to Barnacle Nog, his hulking first mate.

“We ain’t going to be able to reduce that blasted fort from the sea: the guns have a longer range and a greater weight-of-metal than ours, they can drop red-hot shot on us whenever they choose, the walls have been completely rebuilt and reinforced since we was last here and they can be resupplied from the town beyond indefinitely.” He said glumly. “Signal the Adm’rul. We’ll have to find another way to crack this nut… mayhap a land assault on the town to cut off their supply route…”

Nog brightened slightly as he set about kicking the signal grots into activity. When he was satisfied that the message had been relayed by the Rotmoon to the fleet, waiting just out of sight over the horizon, he returned to Deffgit’s side.

“Kind of reminds me of that time we headed down to Vercuso harbour at dawn to see what the spring tide had brought in and we met the zoggin’ Sisters of Sigmar. You know, when their leader was ate by Slippery Jack?” said Nog.

“Oh, I remembers that occasion” said the Kommodore, “For some reason they was keen as keen to get their hands on the flotsam and jetsam, maybe they knew something of a shipwreck that week or they had lost something precious overboard on a cruise. Who knows? Any road, they was eager to get the wreckage that washed in and their matriarch took a leap into the harbour waters.”







“Yeah, we was sneakin’ through the streets towards the waterfront when a great oaf of an Ogre came blunderin’ through an archway. Huge swarthy fella, so he was. A bellowin’ and a hollerin’ about the place.” Nog suddenly laughed “We’d told the Kabin Grots about the terrible things that Ogres do to Goblins and they was dead willing to get the brute!”

“They didn’t though, they bottled it at the last moment and got a hammering as a consequence” chuckled Deffgit, any Orc would find the suffering of a Goblin funny. “And even though the hands was peppering the Sisters with shot they didn’t seem to be in countenance that mornin’, they couldn’t hit a soul.”















“And the Sisters had a similar problem, when they got close they sent sling-stones skipping over the water but none came home,” said Nog “in the end though it was in close-action that the matter was decided: their hired swords got the drop on a couple of Boyz and floored them and even though the matriarch and another ranking Sister was both snatched by the tentacle beasty we still seemed to come off worse.”

“Hmmm. Hold on. What the zog about this fort reminds you of that particular fight?” snapped Deffgit.

I CAN relate with Barnacle on this; memories ARE often brought on by unrelated subjects: Old Guys tend to get at least a bit STRANGE. The healing properties of Coffee had gotten me in shape for a bit of reading, SO...EXCELLENT STORY!

AND NEXT TO DIE: Lucky Ludwig The Not Even Distantly Related But Brave Nonetheless. Andy, maybe you should raise [no pun intended...I guess ] an Undead/Living Impaired War Band & recruit ALL your previous Ludwigs & Friends.

I'm confounded. Does Jack emit the call of the sirens? Does he smell of ambrosia? I ask because I can't seem to figure out the reason why he has so many victims, one at a time, out in the harbor (game after game).

I'm guessing that there is some objective which draws players into his clutch? Or does he grab the unsuspecting from shore and then drag them out into the deeper waters? I would much appreciate an explanation to this, as I have been losing considerable sleep over this matter.


Oh, and great battle reports. Even though I don't comment, I'm a faithful reader (or I at least glance at the purty pictures).

Ha. You know, Alan, that isn't a bad idea. Oddly enough, of all the Ludwigs past and present, Ludwig the Not Even Really a Proper Ludwig Twice Removed, or whatever his name was, has been the first to officialy die.


And Identity: There is a treasure counter floating in the water where Jack lives which is worth quite a bit of exp and money. So many foolish warriors have braved the deep in order to grab it. Few have survived.

Plus there is the "interesting" injury chart for Slippery's victims - there are some results on there that are almost worth the risk alone!!

The Crew of The Old Ogresun

Boss: Kommodore Deffgit, 2x Club, Bow, Lucky Charm. 29xp, WS5, Sprint
Shaman: Wrydtoof Hogbreff II, Club. 11xp, S4
Big'Un: Barnacle Nog II, 2x Club. 16xp, Hardened
Big'Un: Salty Oggbad, 2x Club, Bow, Lucky Charm. 24xp, Pit Fighter, Strike to Injure, A2
Lad'z Got Talent: Dubloon Dreg II, 2x Club, Crossbow, Lucky Charm. 6xp, Sprint, Hardened, BS4, S4, T5

4 Orc Boyz: Fishgutz, Bad Hook, Blind Fug and Lubber Snag, 2x Club, Crossbow, 40xp (10xp each), WS4, BS4, S4
3 Orc Boyz: Briney Duff, Scupper Lug and Maroon Grub, 2x Club, Crossbow. 24xp (8xp each), WS4, BS4
2 Orc Boyz: Poxy Uzbad and Bilge Badlug, 2x Club. 0xp
2 Goblins: Dread Pirate RogUrtz and Stormy Trug, 2x Club, Shortbow. 18xp (9xp each), WS3, BS4, A2
2 Goblins: Walker Plank and Dirty Morrgun, 2x Club, Shortbow. 18xp (9xp each), BS4, S4, I4

Treasury of 1gc

Starting WBR: 130
Month 1 WBR: 158
Month 2 WBR: 255
Current WBR: 278

Andy wrote:

The Slippery Fishwife – Issue Five


There is nothing to report, dear readers. The invaders are still here, but they are hidden have not stirred. Not orc or man or halfling or necromancer have surfaced. All is quiet.

In other news, Frau Bitterwasser's cat got stuck up a tree a few days ago. The authorities were called and the feline was rescued. The animal was later described as 'doing fine'.

Also, little Gertrude Happylaugh celebrated her eighth birthday yesterday. There were cakes and candles and much revelry. Gertrude herself had a little too much food and was sick.

You see. There is no such thing as a slow news week.

It's all lies!

The Crew of The Old Ogresun

Boss: Kommodore Deffgit, 2x Club, Bow, Lucky Charm. 30xp, WS5, Sprint
Shaman: Wrydtoof Hogbreff III, Club. 10xp
Big'Un: Barnacle Nog II, 2x Club. 17xp, BS2, Hardened, Blind in One Eye
Big'Un: Salty Oggbad, 2x Club, Bow, Lucky Charm. 25xp, Pit Fighter, Strike to Injure, A2
Lad'z Got Talent: Dubloon Dreg II, 2x Club, Crossbow, Lucky Charm. 7xp, Sprint, Hardened, BS4, S4, T5

4 Orc Boyz: Fishgutz, Bad Hook, Blind Fug and Lubber Snag, 2x Club, Crossbow, 44xp (11xp each), WS4, BS4, S4
3 Orc Boyz: Briney Duff, Scupper Lug and Maroon Grub, 2x Club, Crossbow. 27xp (9xp each), WS4, BS4, I3
2 Orc Boyz: Poxy Uzbad and Bilge Badlug, 2x Club. 2xp (1xp each)
2 Goblins: Walker Plank and Dirty Morrgun, 2x Club, Shortbow. 20xp (10xp each), BS4, S4, I4

Treasury of 2gc

Starting WBR: 130
Month 1 WBR: 158
Month 2 WBR: 255
Current WBR: 252

NB: I retired Wrydtoof Hogbreff II as a Deep Wound meant he was not going to get to take part in the next three games, and an Old Battle Wound meant he probably wouldn't get to take part in many after that. He only had 2xp so I sent him the the Old Pirates Rest Home (a pub) and employed a new Shaman. The Ogresuns have made him change his name to avoid any confusion.

20th April, the year nine.
The north coast of Araby

Thorough Thrashings for Thirsty Thieves

The Ogresuns stank even more than usual. They dragged their feet are they trudged across the stony ground in blistering heat. Carrion birds circled overhead and squawked angrily as the pirates made their way overland towards the distant mountains.

“I hates this place.” said Barnacle Nog, somewhat unnecessarily.

“We won’t be ashore long mate” said Deffgit “We’ll just nip over to that fort, fill the barrels and get back to the ship.”

Nog shaded his eyes and stared at the distant mountains that shimmered in the heat. “Nip?” he said and licked his parched lips.

“Never mind that, remember last time we was this short of grog? Back in Vercuso that time when we found the last barrel in the basement of the Cod and Cutlass and we was ambushed by Dark Elfs on the way home to drink it?” said Deffgit, trying to change the subject slightly. Nog’s brow furrowed as his one good eye glazed over in a mixture of nostalgia and remembered anger.

















“Yeah, I remembers it” he grumbled “they seemed to be protected by some foul magiks, our cutlasses turned off of their very skins without so much as a nick. Our shot couldn’t even pierce their skimpy silk robes. We outnumbered ‘em, we out-shot ‘em and we outfought ‘em, but weWhat a rubbish fight that was. Why’d you make me remember that? I’m in a right bad temper now!”

Deffgit grinned slightly “Make them grotz move faster and the booze’l lighten your mood some!” he chuckled.

Nog roared out orders and the column of pirates broke into a trot, a cloud of sandy dust grew behind them as they force-marched up the steepening foot hills towards the far-off mountains.

The Crew of The Old Ogresun

Boss: Kommodore Deffgit, Club, Bow, Lucky Charm, Jeweled Dagger and Sword. 35xp, Sprint, WS6
Shaman: Wrydtoof Hogbreff III, Club. 15xp, Zzap (8+ to cast)
Big'Un: Barnacle Nog II, 2x Club. 20xp, Hardened, Blind in One Eye, Pit Fighter, BS2
Big'Un: Salty Oggbad, 2x Club, Bow, Lucky Charm. 28xp, Pit Fighter, Strike to Injure, Mighty Blow, A2
Lad'z Got Talent: Dubloon Dreg II, 2x Club, Crossbow, Lucky Charm. 12xp, Sprint, Hardened, Step Aside, BS4, S4, T5

4 Orc Boyz: Fishgutz, Bad Hook, Blind Fug and Lubber Snag, 2x Club, Crossbow, 56xp (14xp each), WS4, BS4, S4
3 Orc Boyz: Briney Duff, Scupper Lug and Maroon Grub, 2x Club, Crossbow. 36xp (12xp each), WS4, BS4, I3
2 Orc Boyz: Poxy Uzbad and Bilge Badlug, 2x Club. 8xp (4xp each)
2 Goblins: Dread Pirate RogUrtz and Stormy Trug, 2x Club. 0xp
1 Goblin: Walker Plank, 2x Club, Shortbow. 13xp, BS4, S4, I4

Treasury of 3gc, 1 piece of treasure.

Starting WBR: 130
Month 1 WBR: 158
Month 2 WBR: 255
Current WBR: 308

WOOHOO! Nice healthy increase in WBR. Truth, Justice, & the ORCY WAY win out in the end...seemingly.

The underdog bonus from facing Phil helped a lot! +3 xp each!!

I'll write up that battle soon!

HOORAY! A reason to get out of bed in the morning...sort of.

24th April, the year nine.
Bardouk Keep, Araby

Perfidious Pirates Pummel Petite Patissiers

In the cool darkness of a chamber deep within the ancient fort the Ogresuns lay sprawled across the stone floor. The Kommodore chuckled to himself as he leaned back against a barrel and put his feet up on hunk of fallen masonry. The memory of a battle from long ago floated to the surface of his sun-addled mind…

~ ~ ~


The Ogresuns caught wind that Cormorant Ram's Eye’s band of diminutive caterers were searching an area of the town in a very lax manner: spreading themselves out with no regard for their safety, their lookouts were posted but not really watching the horizon and many of their archers were far away from the main band.







The pirates massed in the shadow of the ruined buildings and pounced on a pair of straggling pigs, impaling them on cutlasses with vicious glee. Lubber Snag roared furiously and dashed forwards across a gang-plank, cornered a Halfling Scout and knocked him to the ground.





The Catering Corps’ reinforcements eventually turned up but found their cautious choice of vantage point left them far from the action: their bows out of range!





The Black Knight waited for the Pirates to get close, disdainfully turning his back on the advancing buccaneers.





Jolly Roger and Granny Faddock lumbered towards the Ogresuns, ready to impose their massive influence on the fight. The Pirates braced themselves for the impact.



With a shouted challenge the Black Knight charged Kommodore Deffgit so the cunning old Orc shoved a Goblin in front of him. The Knight impaled the unfortunate Kabin Grot but the Kommodore and the rest of his followers attacked the Knight unsaddled him and pushed his horse over! As the whinnying beast fell it landed on the prone Knight, thrashed about on it’s back for a few moments and crushed the unlucky hired sword to death!







The Ogres charged and sent the two newest crew sprawling across the cobbles, but the rest of the Ogresuns leveled their shoulder-arms and made ready to give a murderous fire. The Ogres paused realizing their terrible mistake…

But the Kommodore gave the order to hold-fire and fall back: The Privateers slipped away with the loss of a single, unimportant, Goblin.

A sneaky victory to the Privateers!

Well, I'm awake [more or less ], AND alive [checked my pulse & the Obituary Section just to be sure ], AND TWO Battle Reports made ALL that awakening & living stuff worthwhile...mostly.

Sounds like the Ogresuns laid a SERIOUS smack down on those Gluttonous Little Thieves, PLUS chasing off those [beautifully done up ] PANSY Ogres with the threat of Orcy FIRE POWER [probably didn't realize with your cursed dice from HELL they couldn't hit a Cathedral with a Gatling Gun ]. AND yet another episode of the Ludwig Saga; life IS good!

I always marvel at that water effect... It's really one of the best I have ever seen.

Congrats Skullbashas!

Thanks Tom!

Bad news Vercuso-fans: This week is the last of The Seal of Sigmund campaign.
The finale game has been set for Thursday evening (and, worst news of all, I can't make it ).
It will be a multi-player affair, with a special scenario created by Zelophahad, piles of pizza, gallons of tea, and the expected level of nautical nonsense.




But fear not, fine reader! Plans for the next two Flame On campaigns are on the boil already!