The Grudge of Sheer

Welcome to the Grudge of Sheer, a Mordheim narrative campaign. Sponsored by the Old Grey Beards:

The Grudge of Sheer campaign is an all encompassing affair revolving around the Grudge Cruise of Dwarven Thane Sheer Stonefist against the nefarious Orc Pirate Kaptain BlackSquig. Numerous players and foes will provide the opposition for the brave & foolhardy Captain Sheer as he journies across the green steaming madness of Lustria.

The backdrop of the campaign takes place in and around the continent of Lustria, during the Conquest of the New World timeline.

Quote :

"The year is 1492 by the Emperor’s reckoning, and a Tilean merchant-explorer by the name of Marco Colombo has return from his year long voyage of discovery to the land of Lustria. His tales of riches beyond imagining have spread far and wide and reached covetous ears the length and breadth of the Olde World."

"Marco Colombo has risen in fame and fortune in his homeland and now leads a second expedition to Lustria. He intends to open a southern sea route from which his family can monopolize trade with the so-called New World."

"However, covetous rivals have discovered Marko’s plans and are jealous of his achievements. These men now gather to contest his monopoly, and a race to plunder the riches of the New World is in the offing. Across the Olde World, armies are boarding vessels, and navigators are consulting crumbling charts and maps (often of dubious origin and purchased from inebriated old sea dogs). In other lands, some look to the approaching invasion with dread, for they know that the young races were never meant to tread the lands of the Old Ones. All the while, the denizens of the jungle stir their defenses, for they sense a new era dawning- a time of invasion and desecration- but they will not sit idly by and see the work of millennia cast down and ruined…"

The leader of the Grudge Cruise - is Dwarven Thane & Captain Sheer Stonefist. The Captain is utterly consumed with his desire to fulfill his grudge against the dreaded Orc Pirate IronGob BlackSquig, who sank the ship of his Lord & Admiral Snurri Hammerhand. Sheer never speaks of the details of the sinking. It is assumed that is where he lost his eye and it is known that that is where his burning hatred for the Orc Karibbean Pirates was born. Captain Sheer nurses his anger with a seething rage unusual even for Dwarfs. He was certain that the object of his wrath had fled across the World Pond somewhere towards the dark shores of Lustria and woe be to all who would stand between the furious Captain and the fulfillment of his sworn vengeance.

It is sometimes whispered among the crew that the hatred that lives behind the Captain's eyes boarders on madness . . . and it was madness that drove him to push his vessel, the Heart of Stone, through a powerful hurricane in pursuit of the fleeing Orc privateers. Damage to the Heart of Stone was extensive and by the time the shores of Lustria were visible through spyglass, the proud vessel could merely limp towards land. The greenskin fleet had not fared little better. Several of their ships had foundered during the storm and sank, while the remaining three had reach Lustria as derelicts, leaving their crews little choice but to make landfall on the debris choked shores.



And so a desperate Dwarven crew are affecting landing even now on Lustria, the Captains orders to pursue the Gobbos inland echoing in their ears. But Lustria isn’t so bad, as rumors of hordes of Slann gold just waiting to be taken, right? Um.......

OH this looks VERY PROMISING! FINE PROLOGUE! COOL looking Vertically Challenged grumpy Psychopaths.

Some mechanics for the campaign:

As is the case with OGB campaigns, this is not an ongoing competition between members but a narrative Game Mastered campaign geared to spin an entertaining yarn!

While the Dwarves are central to the story, all manner of ill intentioned opponents are on hand to see to it the good Captain suffers setback and woe while trying to complete his quest! And no good Hero is great without great villains to fight them and Kaptain BlackSquig and his crew are on hand to ensure they have that chance!

During the course of the campaign we will play many types of scenarios, with varied point values, resources and game mechanics. Scenarios will often present themselves during the course of a narrative campaign. The GM has bare bones plot ideas in place that are flexible based on game results and player ideas. Please don’t be afraid to suggest some sort of scenario based on actions in a previous game, especially if it will keep the plots flowing and provide us with more fun! I am open to any and all suggestions! From Mordheim-level skirmishes to full scale Warhammer games, the campaign will be challenging, rewarding and fun! The GM has quite a full plate of nasty surprises for all concerned!


We will also be using the P.A.T system. What the heck are P.A.T.? P.A.T. are simple abbreviations for Plot Advancement Tokens. These are tools the OGB use to ensure the plot is advanced. Basically, each player will have a pool of P.A.T that can be used at their discretion. It is sometimes impossible to make the dice work when you need ‘em too! So the P.A.T are here to help. They can be used to re-roll a miss, make an automatic break test, and re-roll a stupid upgrade roll, whatever. They are tools to use as needed, within the limit of the narrative of course. It will be possible to acquire more P.A.T during the game as well! But remember they are used to “advance the plot”, not to re-roll a miss that really has no bearing on the game as a whole. More likely uses are to re-roll a character recovery roll after a game, where a main protagonist or antagonist would die because of poor rolling, etc. The GM has the last word on whether a P.A.T. can be used.

Dwarfs start with 6 P.A.T.
Night Goblins start with 3 P.A.T.
Skaven start with 3 P.A.T.
Lizardme start with 6 P.A.T

I am hopeful you will enjoy following The Grudge of Sheer and that our intrepid Dwarven explorers return home weighed down by riches and full of hubris and tales of your times spent in the dark jungle realms. In the words of Marco Colombo himself “I only ever saw half of what I told!”




X Marks the initial Dwarven landing spot on Lustria.

We are going to be using the following game systems at various points of the campaign:
Warhammer
Mordheim
Warhammer Skirmish
Man O War
Warhammer Quest
Warhammer Lustria

From Warhammer: Lustria
"Waiting for the multitude of invaders are the perils of the Lustrian jungle. Few races have knowledge of this hostile environment, and many would-be plunderers will perish within days of arriving in the New World. There are insects whose bites carry poisons that can quickly reduce a man’s blood to pus, acidic algae that sear the skin on contact, brain fever and all manner of foul tropical diseases and infections. There are carnivorous plants capable of eviscerating the mightiest warrior, and such creatures as the brainfluke, bladder maggot, and lash wyrm, all of which have gruesome ways of killing and consuming their victims (not necessarily in that order) that would turn the stomach of even the hardiest seasoned campaigner."

"Then of course, there are the larger beasts that stalk the depths of the jungle. Mighty reptiles from prehistory can be heard as they issue roaring challenges to their rivals, the ground trembling and the canopy thrashing as they approach. These beasts are huge, and their taste for flesh is insatiable!"

"Other gruesome ways of perishing are to be found in the treasure filled ruins scattered throughout the New World. Though much declined since the coming of Chaos, the fallen empire of the Old Ones is much in evidence, in the form of crumbling temples, ziggurats, crypts, and all manner of arcane structures. Though most are unoccupied, none are undefended. Their creators knew full well that the day would come when the younger races would seek to uncover the secrets of the Old Ones and set all manner of fiendish traps to guard against intrusion."

"Finally, there are the dwellers in the jungle- the Lizardmen, the Children of the Gods. Though many of their temples and cities have fallen to ruin, the Lizardmen still command a mighty host and are expert in fighting in their own environment. The Lizardmen care little for the most extreme humidity, are all but immune to the most virulent of tropical diseases, and know well how to best avoid the attentions of the jungles many predators. And they are everywhere. Behind the dense growth of the rainforests. On the banks of the darkest streams and rivers. You have been warned…"

Lots of stuff in the coming weeks! See you in the underbrush.......



“Lord Roderick of Brionne stumbled through the underbrush, his clothes in tatters, his body aching from a tenday in the jungle, drenched in sweat. The food was gone, the water, too. The last of the bearers had fled hours ago, leaving him with nothing but his tunic on his back and his sword in his hand. Through the lush curtain of vines and broad-leafed plants surrounding Roderick came the ominous sound of Skabi war drums. He glanced up at the thick canopy high overhead. The sun was going down. The Goblins would be after him soon. The howling packs of greenskined cannibals would trail him like bloodhounds through the jungle until the sun drove them into hiding again.

Panic closed around his heart like a giant’s fist, crushing his dreams of escape. The Goblins had killed Kadir Foxworthy and Ryn the Axe as if they had been stripling warriors, not experienced sell swords. And if stout warriors like them were no match for the Skabi, what hope did a gentleman explorer like Roderick have?[/color]

In his haste, Roderick stumbled over a mound on the jungle floor beneath him. As he scrambled to find his dropped sword, he saw it was no mound! Dead blank eyes stared at him from the face of Miri, one of his retainers. The face was stone dead, the barbs of numerous poison darts riddling his body. Even now the jungle insects set about devouring the body. Grabbing his sword, Roderick turned and fled the small clearing.

Pushing through the tangle of saw-leafed vines, he stumbled deeper into the thicket.

The creature lurking there was huge, at least as tall as a two story building. Splashes of browns and greens covered the beast’s mossy body, perfectly masking its bulk against the jungle.

A dinosaur! Roderick noted in fear-numbed awe, just before the allosaurus snapped him in two with its powerful jaws, the jungle din being interrupted by the sickening crunch of bones…”

Meet the Crew!

As we are starting the campaign with a series of Mordheim games, Captain Sheer thought it would be appropriate to introduce the rest of his crew and landing party.

His First Mate - Venerable Eugen (pronounced Oy-gen) Elder Longbeard. He met Captain Sheer in Barak Varr while he was trying to put together a crew for his current grudge cruise. Eugen was impressed with Sheer's single-mindedness of avenging himself on this Goblin seadog. Knowing the grudge was nearly impossible to realize, however, Eugen went along to look after the lad. In truth, Eugen, while he would never admit it, is starting to feel his age. As he expects this will be his last cruise, it seemed fitting that it should be both potentially glorious and most likely hopeless. The crew calls him "Venerable One" or just "Venerable".

Sage Advisor - Longbeard Anton Verschiller - Anton has been Eugen's Axe Brother for years beyond counting. While Eugen does have several decades over Anton, Anton has never known Eugen to hold it against him. The two have seen many adventures together, both at sea and on land. Of late, the two of them have fallen on hard times and empty purses. It is the lure of refilling his fortune that has drawn Anton to join to possibly mad Captain Sheer on his wild adventure to Lustria as well as seeing through another adventure with his oldest (living) friend. Anton is certainly the only one who knows of Eugen's declining health. Of course, he would never mention this to his proud comrade, but this is the other reason for his coming. Unlike his companion, Anton is fairly congenial (for a Longbeard) and regularly hangs out with the crew telling them tales of Dwarf valor from ages past. They call him Father Anton.


Engineer - Krupp - Unusually taciturn, even for a Dwarf, Krupp rarely speaks much except to order his Thunderers to "Shoot straight this time, lads." or admonish them: "An Elf could reload faster!" In truth, Krupp only accompanied Captain Sheer for the opportunity it afforded him to indulge in his favorite obsession: firearms. Guns of all descriptions fascinate him to no end. Krupp will forever be tinkering with any black powder weapon that comes within reach (even those that don't belong to him). Pistols, long guns, cannon all thrill him with endless wonder and a desire to make adjustments. The crew calls him "Chief".

Slayer - Skrager - As with most of his kind, Skrager the Slayer will never speak of his past. He only desires to die gloriously in battle with as many enemies as possible. And Lustria seems the best place to realize this. It is probably no surprise that the only one who actually gets along with him is Eugen, possibly as both see this as their last adventure. The crew avoids Skrager at all costs.

Thunderers - The majority of the crew go ashore armed with handguns and supervised by Engineer Krupp. They are usually grouped in five dwarf squads when possible, but never smaller than three to a unit

Beardlings - There are a few Beardlings accompanying Captain Sheer to Lustria eager to prove their courage in this strange and foreign land. Unfortunately, life for a Bearding is usually pretty unpleasant as they are jeered and teased at every opportunity by the heroes and crew alike. It is a strong belief among sea-going Dwarfs that the young must be treated in this way in order to harden them to the unknown horrors that await them on distant shores or rising from the briny depths. Only the ever-friendly Anton Verschiller will intervene on their behalf and then only when he feels things have gone too far. They are called every insult imaginable, including but not limited to: Stubblechins, Nobrows, Greenies, Softfeet, Wideeyes, Squealers, Wheezers, Dirtbeards, Mewlers and others not fit to discuss in polite company.

The Ship - The Heart of Stone - This is Captain Sheer's faithful ship, which will see his Grudge Cruise fulfilled or sink beneath his boots. The vessel is a fairly small single turreted, ocean going monitor. She was built in Barak Varr many years ago and no one can quite figure out how Captain Sheer acquired her. In any case, she is a sturdy ship of war, constructed of hot rolled iron, bolted together and braced for strength using secrets know only to the Dwarf shipwrights of Barak Varr. Her single steam engine is coal fired but can take wood if necessary (although this will require much cleaning of the fire boxes and funnels). The coal is stored in bunkers along both beams. This allows more room for internal machinery along her centerline but also acts as something of a buffer against incoming fire. Like all Dwarf vessels she is broad of beam and fairly short overall. This gives her great stability even in heavy seas but does cause her to be rather slow. However, her draft is quite shallow, especially for an iron ship, enabling her to cruise in shallows or upriver without easily running aground. Her single cannon is housed in a fully enclosed, steam powered revolving turret up foreword. The gun can bear in any direction except to the stern and can be used in most weather unless the sea is so wild as to make accurate shooting impossible. Powder and shot for the cannon is stored in the safest of places, along the keel at the very bottom of the ship. Both sides of the upper casemate have firing points allowing the crew to fire their handguns at outside targets while safely behind the ships armored side. Atop the armored citadel is the open wheelhouse containing the ship's wheel, the main compass, cannon director as well as various gauges showing critical information on the ships overall health. It is here that Captain Sheer commands his vessel as it prowls the sea in search of the object of his ire.

One minor point in presentation: smaller font size & garish colors make reading your FINE prose difficult. Using the standard default color & size is recommended.

Loving the start to the narrative. Looking forward to the development.

WEEK ONE: ALL ASHORE WHAT'S GOING ASHORE

With heavy footfalls, Capt. Sheer marched from the surf and joined his lads on the white sand beaches of Lustria. Months aboard ship had really made the Dwarves appreciate the feel of solid ground beneath their feet once again and the landing party sucked it for all it was worth. Many of the Beardlings groaned and sweated to bring ashore provisions and ale from the landing boat, while Eugen goaded them to make haste before he got sunburned!



While the supplies were being readied, Anton kept a ready eye on the jungle line, an uneasy feeling churning in his gut. And it wasn’t from the lousy mutton the cook had fed the crew this morning. He ran a finger over the keen edge of his axe, aware of a shadow falling across his own.

"What’s eating you mate?"

Turning to the Slayer, Anton regarded the Dwarf warrior with shame and pride at the same time. For the many months he had been onboard, Skrager had managed to un-nerve all the Beardlings and a good portion of the mariners as well with his morbid tales of death and unfulfilled vows. He often compared his shame to the Captains, which had put him at odds with Eugen. On more than one occasion Eugen had offered to end his quest for a valiant death when Skrager had hinted that the Captain should shave his beard, and had to be physically restrained lest he complete it!

"Doesn’t much like the quite in them trees. A jungle like this, we should be hearing all sorts of animal noises. And I can’t put me finger on it but there is something in the air as well. Do you smell it lad?"



"After 6 months on an iron ship, only thing I can smell is ale, urine and sweat. Going to be a long time before me nostrils smell anything else."
The two Dwarves shared small talk for a few minutes more, while the rest of the landing party kept busy.


As the sun began to set, the Dwarves were set to make camp and uncrate the rations when a foul wind arose. The stench was unlike anything they had smelled before. It was a cloying musk of rot, decay and sickening sweetness. The Dwarves ran to gather their long guns while the Beardlings readied their axes and hefted shields.

"What is that hell-spawned awful smell?" bellowed Skrager

"Not sure lad but whatever it is, it aint natural! Steady ladz, something’s coming and at aint smelling too friendly" spoke Sheer.

No sooner had the Thunderers cocked the weapon and loaded shot then a swarm of monsters erupted from the dark jungle. Humanoid in appearance, like giant biped rats they came. Skaven!


Following the tide of rat vermin was a larger horde of greenskins, all dressed in heavy cloaks and tunics. Night Goblins! The diminutive greenskins struggled to shade their eyes from the glow of the setting sun, preceded by a swarm of Snotlings. The monsters were bull rushing the Dwarves, using their speed and numbers to overwhelm the Dwarves.

Reports of handguns echoed across the beach as the gunners found their mark, taking down several Skaven slaverats and blowing large holes in the swarm of Snotlings. A heavy shot richochetted off the hard skull of one of the greenskins, taking his mate in the ehad and dropping both of the greenskins to the sand! The Dwarves formed up into a battle line while Sheer signaled the Heart of Stone to ready her deckgun!


The Dwarven cannon fired its shot in a low trajectory, missing their target as a rouge wave bucked the ship, and dropping it right in front of Skrager, who had broken rank and was rushing towards the charging Skaven! Sand was thrown up in a deafening wall as the cannonball blew a large crater in the beach, throwing the Slayer to his knees and scattering Skaven in random directions.


Festering Skaven of Clan Pestilens surged towards the Slayer, scab covered slaves and several Plague Monks swinging weird censers. The Slayer had little chance to shake off the sand before he was swarmed by a sea of rodents, slashing and hacking at him and burying him under a sea of fur. Meanwhile a giant green cloud, in the shape of a giant thumb, descended from on high, smashing into one of the Thunderers and knocking him off his feet! The Dwarves were soon overwhelmed from all sides and close quarter fighting began!




"Crom's Beard! The damned greenskins are everywhere! Orders Captain?" bellowed Eugen.

"Keep fighting lads. These rodents and scum are not worth the effort it takes to heft an axe! You Beardlings watch that lousy rat swarm. They may be small but even the smallest bilge rat can take you down if you let him and his mates jump you!" intoned Sheer.

Another blast from the Heart of Stone sent several Gobbos pin wheeling through the air, and that shot seemed to take the fight out of the Gobbos. With much screaming and shouting, the greenskined monsters started running back to the safety of the jungle, leaving the Skaven to face the Dwarves!


Even as the Goblins broke and ran, soiling the beach with the fear, the Skaven overran the Thunderers and swept into the remaining Dwarves. Their foul leader jumped over the supply crates, swinging his deadly censer and caught the Captain unawares. Swinging the ball in frenzied arcs, he smashed the Captains pistol from his hand, and sent his axe flying into the surf with its backswing. His final swing took the Captain full in the chin and sent him pitching back into the bloodied surf!

"Retreat!" barked Eugen as he gathered the crumpled form of Skrager and dragged him into the surf, towards the fast approaching Monitor! While the Dwarves fell back into the sea towards the Heart of Stone, the remaining Skaven set about devouring the supplies and the cooling bodies of several Thunderers that had been ripped apart during the battle. The beach and the day belonged to the Skaven......


AFTERMATH:
So the Dwarven attempt to make a beach landing failed in the fading sun. Losses to the landing party included the deaths of two Thunderers and one Beardlings. Anton had been knocked unconscious during the battle and the Gobbos had stripped him of all his valuables, right down to his skivvies. And several Snotlings had tried to get those too! The remaining fallen dwarves all survived their wounds.

The Clan Pestilens Skaven, led by Plague Pontifex Splinter, had suffered only minor injuries, escaping the battle with their warband intact.

The Night Goblins, led by self named Stanley, had suffered the most. Dwarven shot riddled three of the Goblins and they would be coming back. Boss Stinky had been knocked out during the battle, being head butted in the nose by a Beardling. Upon waking, he discovered the Skaven had stripped him down to his skivvies as well, but he didn’t wear any!

Exploring the nearby ruined temple, the Gobbos and Skaven found numerous piles of gold and gems, which they quickly set about fighting over well into the night, while the Dwarves muttered curses over the ships gunwales and lamented their lost comrades. Night had fallen on Lustria.....

DeafNala wrote:

One minor point in presentation: smaller font size & garish colors make reading your FINE prose difficult. Using the standard default color & size is recommended.

Ah yes, the pitfalls of cutting & pasting! I need to keep a wary eye on that as I move the thread form its old forum to here! Thanks mate!

Da Kaptain

Ladz!
Here be some pics of the ruined pirate township of Montecello, site of the second landing attempt by Captain Sheer. Enjoy!


Ruins of an old Estalian monestary


Ruined Estalian Fort


The township of Montecello proper


More of the Fort


Peeking in from the bushes


That Git shouldnt be in the picture! Note to self, stay out of pictures in the future!


A copy of the campaign map. Montecello is located in Area#65. The failed landing in Week One was at Area#70


And here we see the Old Grey Beard himself, mysterious as always. His motives unknown, he has apparently taken an interest in the journey of Captain Sheer. What does this all mean?

Back soon with more!
Da Kaptain

EXCELLENT NARRATIVE & PHOTOS! This should supply me with hours of drooling time...drooling is a specialty at my age .

WEEK TWO: LUSTRIA CAN BE A BEACH!

The waves pounded the shore, churning the waters and heralding the approach of a nasty storm. Seasalt filled the breeze and the Dwarves took small pleasures in the salty air, preforming their tasks while singing juanty Dwarven ballads. The Heart of Stone anchored safely offshore while the landing party unloaded supplies from the "mule", a steam powered landing craft.

Surveying the ruins of Montecello, or at least thats what the Norse sailors had called it, Captain Sheer twisted his spyglass to his right to focus upon the thick jungle there. He would not be taken by surprise again, as they had foolishly done the previous fortnight. His pride and anger had clouded his thoughts and nearly cost the Dwarves their lives before the venture even began!

The Chief and his thunderers had taken up position to their right flank, where the open beach afforded a wide firing line. If the jungles wanted to vomit forth anymore vile creatures, they would be met by a wall of lead shot!



Satisfied that there were no immediate threats, he turned back to the Dwarves sweating to unload the "mule".

"Ladz! Spread out! I want skirmishers in the brush to the left and at the ready. You Beardlings scout the perimeters of that ruined monestary, Skrager, with me!"



While the Dwarves hurried to carry out their tasks, more waves broke upon the shore. Over by the lagoon, Chief and his ladz were a bit taken back when a blur of movement eriputed from the jungle to their fore, a wave of Night Goblins preceeded by a mob of crazed Squigs!



Bringing up their long guns, the Dwarves opened fire on the approaching Squigs. Several shots peppered their hides, dropping one into the sand, his mates advancing even more recklessly. The thunderers calmly reloaded their weapons and took aim again. A huge report from the deck cannon on the Heart of Stone screamed overhead, blasting apart a large part of the monestary and dropping an avalanche of rubble onto the head of Anton the Longbeard, knocking him out cold!

Meanwhile the sounds of gunfire distracted Sheer and his scouts, where they had been investigating the ruins in the treeline. Turning to see what the noise was, Sheer was surprised to see a monstrous Squig leap from the undergrowth, a crazed Goblin clinging to its back and trying to hold a too large helmet on its head!



Sensing the danger to his Thane, Skrager moved to intercept the beast, hefting both his mighty axes and roaring a Slayer battlecry!

"Yer not be hurting me Laird today beastie, but me axes have a glorious death in their edges fer ya!"



Meanwhile all around the jungle came the Night Goblins, with small hordes of viscious Snotlings and Squigs leading the way. Sheer and his Longbeards opened fire on the approaching greenskins, felling several and forcing back one flank of their attack. A lucky shot from Sheer bounced off the chestbone of one Goblin and hit his mate square in the face, dropping both!

A group of archers approached from the jungle to left, a lone Beardling moving to intercept them...



Skarger struggled to fight off the Squig, hitting it in the teeth several times and knocking out one. But the weight of the Squig forced him back and the pinned him beneath its bulk, enabling the Gobbo rider to spear him to the ground, piercing his chest below his left arm. Before the Gobbo had a chance to celebrate felling the Slayer, Sheer charged him in the flank and blew his helmet, and half its headl, clean off with a well placed shot!Eugen the Longbeard was trying to force his way through the wall of greenskins to help the Beardling when a Goblin took him in his flank with a spearthrust, driving the wind from his chest and bubbles of blood to burst from his lips as the spear found its mark. So forceful was the thrust that it carried both Dwarf and Gobbo away from the combat, where the Goblin planted his foot on the chest of the Dwarf to help remove the spear. Eugen hamered upwards with his fist, smashing the Gobbo's nose and shoving bone shards into its brain, where it fell like chopped wood onto the chest of the fallen Longbeard

All along the beach more Goblins roared towards the thunderers, hurling spears into the ranks, trying to break up their formation. But to no avail, as the Dwarves were not to be denied again!



Shot after shot plowed through the ranks of greenskins and Squigs, ending the lives of many of the creatures. The lagoon soon became red with blood, an orche surf beginning to collect at the feet of the thunderers.



Meanwhile the Gobbo known as "Bonz" worked his way around the combat and towards the rear of the Dwarf line, where any good Gobbo hoped to be!



All the while Captain Sheer, embolded by the demise of the Goblin leader at his hands, peppered the remaining greenskins with more shot and axe.

Grotsmack the Shaman took a leadball in his casting arm and was forced to retreat into the brush, an evil snarl escaping his lips as he clutched at his ruined arm.



On the left a brave Beardling struggled to hold the crumbling flank while Sheer reloaded his gun, a swarm of Gobbos stabbing at the Beardling with spears, rusty daggers and claws, unable to get past his armor and sweeping axe. The Beardling fought like a madman, downing several Goblins and holding their advance.



With the rereat of their Shaman and apparent demise of their leader, the Goblins finally decided that running away was the best tactic, and run they did. Bonz retreated with his kin, angry at having to leave the field of battle before having stuck someone in the back. But he did find an elegant greataxe near the stunned form of Anton the Longbeard. Faster than they appeared, the greenskins slunk back into the jungle, leaving the field of battle to the victorious Dwarves!



AFTERMATH:
The Dwarves have succeeded in making landfall on Lustria! Plans are underway to fortify and repair parts of Montecello to give themselves a safe base of operations from which to scout out the surrounding jungle. As the Dwarves bandaged wounds and recovered fallen companions, they found the bodies of two Beardlings that had fallen in battle, slashes and cuts to their fronts. At elast theyt had died with their enemies facing them. Sheer ordered their bodies to be burned, as was the custom of the mariners, and because he did not want the ants and other creatures of Lustria to feed on the remains! Anton awoke with a hurtful headache and again stripped down to his skivvies! Upon refocusing on what had happened, he proceeded to berate the cannon crew, having to wait his turn behind the Chief! The Dwarves found a fair amount of stashed gold and rum in the cellars of the Estalian fort, and toasted their fallen well into the night, the funeral fires burning high into the night sky. Elsewhere in the deep jungle, hungry eyes watched with the determination of a hunter....

The Goblins limped back to their crude camp, laden down with their wounded and several suits of Dwarven mail. Stanley had suffered a severe head wound that continued to pound into his ears. Grotsmack was forced to put his arm in a crude sling, all the while stalking back and worth, muttering curses to himself and promising the Dwarven Captain he would rue the day he shot him! Several Goblins were alive when the trek started but didnt seem to be once they had gotten to camp. Several other Goblins seemed to be sporting new weapons and smiles. Not usre about that.....and of course several swarms of Snotlings had to be rounded up to replace the ones the thunderers had blasted! New recruits had arrived in the kamp, Stanley boxing them behind the ears fer being late! The bickering of the Goblin Boss and the curses of their Shaman rang long into the Lustrian night......

And so the adventure continues...........

From the Chronicles of Dwarven Captain Sheer:

Hear and attend all who would listen. For what follows is the actual log as it was kept aboard the Heart of Stone in the cabin of its master, Captain Sheer Stonefist of Clan Stonefist. It dates from the time when he hunted far and wide for the Orc Pirate BlackSquig Irongob against whom he held the sternest of grudges. It tells also of life aboard a Dwarven warship, of the actions of his valiant crew, of the glorious victories and the glorious defeats. All these things as set down by the captain's own hand. Translated from the original Dwarven, I do now stake my honour that these are his very words and I do present them here without omision or falsification. Aye, this is how it was in those far off days . . .

Quote :

Captain's Log - Day 1

The ship is mine! All the months of waiting. All the days presenting my case before the clan elders. All the while stoking the white hot fires of vengeance which sizzle and pop in my belly. At long last, the old ship will carry me to my enemy and justice shall be done. I came upon her early this morning. The ship lay moored in a dank and forgotten birth, quite apart from the clan's other vessels all alone in the gloom of abandonment. True, the vessel is in sad shape, with a bit of a list to port and some corrosion here and there. This is to be expected. I have been told that this boat is the clan's forgotten child and she carries a reputation of ill fortune. While she is heavy with years, she has never won any battles but she has killed four of her captains and many of her crew. Her repute became so poor that not a Dwarf in all the clan would ship out in her.

As it would be considered irreverent to the ancestors to have her broken up, she was towed to this dour place, never to be spoken of again. It is all too clear to me know why the Shellback Elders gave her to me: an unwanted ship to an unknown captain. And yet, I care nothing for her unfortunate condition. I care even less for her luckless past. Perhaps she never had the right captain. In any case, it does not matter. I have placed my hands on her side and sworn my oath upon her. Now my grudge is hers. My outrage is hers. She will become my instrument of vengeance. We are of one purpose now, bound together in all things. Together we shall seek out my enemy and my rage shall be satisfied or we shall both sink into the briny depths. And to all who stand in our way, look to your lives!

Captain's Log - Day 2
Since there weren't even any proper lanterns in the berth, I had to make up some shoddy torches to see anything. After lighting up a few dozen of the things, I wished I had not. The ship looked much better in the dark! I had no idea her condition was so bad. Everywhere is rust and the greenish slime of algae. I could not even say what color the ship was painted. Her portside list was even more noticable and she had settled by the bow with her foredeck awash. A sorry sight indeed. Aboard she was no better. I pried open a hatch which was nearly rusted shut and it moaned like a spirit on its neglected hinges.

Below decks was a shambles. The dark spaces stank of rot and black mould. The feeble light from my torch revealed rusted bulkheads infested with fungus. Up forward, brackish water sloshed around my feet, becoming beard deep as I made my way. By and by I saw the cause. The hull had been stove in from the number 3 frame all the way to the forepeak. Whether this was done in battle or by running aground, I could not say. However, the resulting leaks had caused her bow to come to rest on the muddy bottom. Things did not improve as I made my way aft. The rot did not seem so bad on the starboard side, but it was bad enough. I was greeted with more rusty crevices and there was oil in the bilge. A look into the coal bunker turned up nothing good. The banks were nearly empty with only a few scattered lumps. I made my way through what was once the mess to the main machinery. The boilers were as neglected as everything else, with doors left open and heavily caked with soot. The engine was a horror. Now, I am no engineer, but I know a disaster when I see one. From the ventilators above to the main shaft, all was covered in a black oily slime. Numerous gauges and controls were missing. If this engine were to ever run again, it would take skills that were well beyond my own.

Deeply saddened by what I had beheld, I climbed the ladder out of the engine spaces to the upper deck. My heart sank into terrible hopelessness. How was I to keep my oath with my ship in such condition? She would not be ready for years or most likely never given the appearance of the engines alone. I paced the deck for a time fuming on my predicament. It was then that I noticed to my bottomless despair that the turret had no cannon! It had most likely been removed along with the coal and engine gauges.

Now, I was well and truly lost. My quest was finished. My Captain's death would remain unavenged. He and my kinsmen would be forever barred from entering the Great Hall of the Ancestors. The Thunderchild would remain on the bottom of the sea, rotting away until she was gone and forgotten. And all the while that vile greenskinned pirate whose name I never knew would continue to sail, murdering as he pleased, free from rightous retribution and cackling with joy over his own evil. I could bear it no more. I dropped to my knees and, there on my rusting, slimy, half sunken ship I did weep bitter tears

WEEK THREE: BLOOD SURF
Night had fallen on the Lustrian jungle. The parrots hushed, the cries of the monkeys had stilled. The silence was broken by the crash of surf and singing of the Dwarves. The beaches around Monticello were lit by roaring bonfires, driving off the night and the coolness of the air. The dwarves worked at a steady pace, unloading supplies, hacking away at the jungle encircling the ruins and constructing barricades. A steady stream of Dwarves and supplies were being ferried from the Heart of Stone to the beach by the "Mule" as the Dwarves had dubbed it. A wretched little wooden powered craft purchased from unscrupulous traders and fitted with a steam powered engine by the Chief, it served them well. In a moment of thought, the Chief had even fitted it with a swivel gun to defend the craft and its cargo. The "Mule" would be useful for journeys upriver as well, where the Heart of Stone could not venture.

Suddenly, deep in the undergrowth of the jungle, a reptilian creature bellows as it attacks something beyond the sight of the camp. The entire jungle erupts in noise as parrots and monkeys scream, birds fill the air and the branches and leaves rustle everywhere at once! A swarm of animals can be heard moving to and fro, upset by the sudden bellow and thrown into flight...

From the edge of the jungle, sinister eyes observe the Dwarven encampment. Hungry eyes, eyes filled with malice. The Skaven lurked in the brush, tails twitching in anticipation, while their Night Goblin allies seethed with hatred when viewing their age old enemies. The Goblins had been beaten back and scattered a mere three days past and were done licking their wounds. The vile stench of the Skaven carried on the wind, reaching the nostrils of the Troll Slayer Skrager....

"I know ye be there ratspawn. I can smell ye. Let’s have at it then", he muttered to himself. Removing his axes from their carriers, he ran a fat thumb over the blades, drawing a trickle of blood. He moved with simple purpose over to Anton the Longbeard.

"Der be ratspawn in the brush off to the left. Them Miners down the beach aint awares and is gonna get jumped!"

"Aye and I be thinking the Gobbos cannot be far behind. Get ready, I will warn the Captain", replied the Longbeard.

Before he was able to shout a warning, the Skaven made their move, bursting from the jungle and charging headlong towards the Miners. The jungle sprang to life as well, Night Goblins pouring out of the darkness and running towards the Dwarven lines.

As one the Thunderers raised their guns and let loose a volley of shot, felling several Gobbos and a rampaging Squig. The Skaven closed the gap with the Miners, their Rangers unleashing several crossbow bolts into the charging rat swarms, doing little damage.

And then the Gobbos got a taste of Dwarven weaponry as the turret of the Heart of Stone swung round and unleashed a heavy shot. Screaming through the night air, the ball landing deep into the dark underbrush, exploding above a group of charging Gobbos, blowing several to pieces and throwing even more to the ground!

The Goblin leader, Stanley, having recovered from his previous injuries, burst from the ruins at the head of a gaggle of greenskins, his Cave Squig Giggles bounding across the sands and bearing down on a Thunderer, as he sought to reload his gun. Skrager saw the threat and leapt forward to intercept the beast.

Meantime a veritable horde of Night Goblins and Squigs burst into the light of the fires.......

"So we meet again, vile Gobbo. And I see yer Squig is back after the boo boo I gave him? Now we settle this in blood!" roared the Slayer.

Even as he cut towards the flank of the Squig, Stanley lowered his spear and thrust deep into the Slayers left flank. The spear punched deep and the impact through the Slayer to the ground, where he struggled to get up.

All around the camp, the Dwarves were beset by Skaven and Night Goblins. As the Gobbos got closer to the roaring bonfires, they were forced to shield their eyes from the hurtful light. The Dwarves used this to their advantage, hacking the greenskins down with axe and hammer, their own hatred of the greenskins fueling their fires! The Skaven swarmed the Miners in a tide of rotten fur and oozing sores. The stench, claws and numbers soon overwhelmed the hapless Miners, several of them being stripped of their flesh by greedy plague rats, though the valiant Dwarves did see off several foes, including a hideous Plague Priest that seemed impervious to pain and injury, finally driving an axe blade into its vile chest, causing bubbles of noisome blood to burst forth from it foul jaws. The bile spray landed on several of the Dwarves, sickening them and making them easy prey for the rats and their foul Pontifex leader.

The Dwarves opposite the made a good accounting of themselves. Eugen moved to help Skrager as the swivel gun on the "Mule" was brought to bear. The gun roared with its shot, blowing a large hole in a stunned Gobbo, even as a second shot from the Hear of Stone screamed overhead, and landing amidst a small horde of Goblins assaulting the Beardlings. Goblin bodies were pitched into the air like ragdolls, cart wheeling through the air to fall back to the blood soaked beaches. The blast was enough to distract Stanley from finishing off the Slayer for a split second, this pause enabling Eugen to topple the Goblin leader from his mount with a crushing axe blow! Cheers erupted from the Beardlings upon seeing this, their courage bolstered as they began to force the Goblins back with a wall of shield and steel. The Goblins were being assailed on all sides, as their Squigs began to go wild, having been left alone, animosity striking several units of Goblins and the lack of support form the Skaven all started to take their toll...





The crew onboard the Heart of Stone continued to rain down shot upon the enemy,
turning their attentions to the Skaven horde approaching from the left. Raining shot after shot into the ratspawn, they finally broke the will (and several backs!) of the Skaven, who turned tail and fled into the jungle as fast as their furry paws would carry them. Even as the crew lined up a new shot at the Gobbos, slimy hands rose from the water, large fish-like creatures began pulling themselves over the gunwales with grasping claws.



The horrid looking beasts gathered on deck and looked up at the Dwarves on the bridge. With an Orcish cry, the creatures threw themselves towards the Dwarves on board, even as more of their kind scrambled out of the water. Soon a huge scrum was taking place on the decks of the Heart of Stone, the weird Orcs trading blows with the hearty Dwarf crew. The turret of the Heart ground slowly around, a canister of grapeshot loaded into the cannons barrel. A trigger was pulled, a blast of sound and shrapnel and several Orcs lay dying on the deck, several pitched overboard by the sheer blast of the weapon, others lolling to the side and falling back into the briny deep. The remaining Orcs dove headlong into the dark waters, leaving behind naught but a trail of bubbles....



While the FishGitz swarmed the deck of the Heart of Stone, more of them emerged from the dark surf on the left flank of the Thunderers. Dripping with water and seaweed, the Orcs clambered onto shore, Lummox the Troll leading the way.




Upon seeing the fires, the Troll began to drool and shy away. One of the Orcs bellowed at the Troll to "Git movin!” which in turn revealed the Orcs to the Dwarves. Seeing this ichthyoidal threat emerging from the surf, the Thunderers opened fire! Several shots tore into Lummox; creating several holes that grotesquely began to heal over. The FishGitz charged the gunners, a flurry of nets and spears flung towards their foes. Once combat was reached the Orcs drew forth rusty choppas and set upon the Dwarves with a new fury!

Weapons sparked as the Dwarves swung axes at the Orcs, only to be parried by the Orcs using nets and shields. Suddenly one of the FishGitz grabbed at his neck, a dark Goblin arrow protruding from it and dark blood running free. The Gobbos were giggling as they sent arrows flying into the combats, not caring who they hit, just shooting arrows for the fun of it!

Captain Sheer led a determined counter attack into the ranks of the Night Goblins, seeking out the one they called Bonz. The Chief, alerted to the flank attack, turned the swivel gun on Lummox and blew away half the Troll's face with a well placed shot. Grabbing its ruined face, the troll ran like a panzie back into the surf, disappearing as quickly as it came. The Chief then drew his pistols and ran to help the embattled Thunderers. Captain Sheer fought like a madman, felling Gobbos with axe and pistol, while a recovered Skrager finally put paid to several greenskins, weeks of frustration boiling over as he cut a wide swathe through the greenskins. This was enough for the greenskins; they broke off all combat and fled into the night!

The Chief reached his ladz, pistol shots taking one of the weird Orcs down.



But before he could reload, a shark-headed Black Orc bashed him in the back of the head with a heavy club, pummeling the Dwarf into the sand before netting the dazed Engineer. Signaling to his cronies, the Orc hoisted the fallen Dwarf, net and all, over his shoulder and retreated back into the waves, taking their captive with them.....

AFTERMATH:
We used the standard Morheim gaming, but added some riules for night fighting. You could not see or target models unless they came within 12" of a bonfire, but the trade off was the Night Goblins suffered a minus "1" to hit in close combat because of the brightness. Any Dwarves put "out of action" by a FishGit armed with a net was captured instead. We actually captured the Engineer when rolling on his recovery, so it was meant to be that he was captured! Where have the FishGitz taken the Chief? Tune in next time to find out!

The Skaven were seriously hurt in this battle, several of them suffering injuries that left them dazed, stupid or forced to miss upcoming battles. One PAT was spent to ensure one of the rats did not perish from his wounds. Several new skills were gained as well, the Pontifex earning the gift of a Cloud of Flies from their dark deity.
The Goblins lost several of their numbers, none of which were Heroes. Several Gobbos gained characteristic increased, including the henchmen groups, one of which received an extra attack, the archers gaining a +1 to their BS.

The Miner Cadre fared well enough, not losing any of their numbers and gaining a bit of battle experience and some much coveted gold!

Captain Sheer and his crew were the recipients of several increases as well, the Beardlings gaining a +1 to their S. The Longbeard received combat skill upgrades as well. Talk among the Dwarves were fast and forthwright. On the morrow they set to embark on the next phase of the campaign, rescue their lost companion from the slimey clutches of the FishGitz. And so the adventure continues....

WEEK FOUR: SHALLOW WATER, SHALLOW GRAVES

A brillant morning sun beat down on the coastline of Lustria, burning off the morning mists and revealing a new day. A great wrecked ship, listing to her side, was beached in the shoals, smashed amid the rocks. The tattered canvas sails lay sprawled across the once proud decks, rotten timber and rusty metal scrap littering the forecastle. In the clear waters surrounding the wreakage floated waterlogged barrels and crates, pitching to and fro at the whim of the waves that occasionally swept past the sandbars dotting the coastline here.

Emerging from the surging surf came the Dwarves from the Heart of Stone. Scouts had followed the fleeing FishGitz and their captive Engineer to the ruined vessle that served as their camp. Observing the activities during the night from the safety of the Heart, Captain Sheer had determined a dawn raid upon the Orcs offered the best opportunity to rescue their fallen comrade.

Each Dwarf set about removing their weapons from protective oilskins and waterproofed sacks, moving with practiced ease, strapping on belts, loading shot, ect. Laying on his belly, Sheer turned the ridges of his spyglass to bring into better focus the wreakage of the ship.


On her ruined decks were several of the wierd Orcs, still bedecked in their outlandish fish costumes.



Looking further along the deck, he spied the Orc boss, bellowing orders to his crew. Beyond the boss he spied the trussed form of the Chief, beat up and stripped of armor and weapons but otherwise appearing unharmed. However a vicious little Goblin, sporting a large feathered hat, was taunting the Chief, holding a water flask just out of reach, swatting him with a small cudgel and even rushing forward to pull hairs out of his beard before rushing back out of reach. Sheer could see murder in the eyes of Chief and he chuckled at his friends defiance.



At a signal from Sheer, the Dwarves began to move forward through the surf, the water running up to their chins at times, forcing them to hold their weapons above their heads.
The thunderers moved to a small sandbar to the left side of the ship, taking up firing positions while the remaining Dwarves moved towards the large throng of Orcs gathered around a campfire to the center. Meanwhile the Dwarven Miners, having thrown in their lot with Sheer and his crew, moved along the right flank, silently cursing at the wind and surf. Being above ground was one thing, but the water was a totally alien quality to the deep dwelling Dwarves.



The Dwarves approached, undetected and moving with the surging waves. Several rogues waves moved past the Dwarves, forcing them to dig into the sand beneath their feet lest they be swept towards the Orcs. The wave proved costly to the assualt as several Dwarves, unable to resist the surge, were swept towards the shore,failing to plant their feet in time! Riding these waves, they were slammed into the rocky outcroppings, metal sparking and grinding. The Orcs nearby looked up in total surprise to see seveal Dwarves sprawled out on the sands before them!

Snatching up weapons, the greenskins snapped into action, charging the Dwarves that were emerging from behind the sandbars. From their vantage point to the left, the handgunners opened fire on the approaching Orcs, felling one and causing the others to dive for cover.



All along the Orc front, the FishGitz rushed to join battle, leaping from the decks of the ruined ship and diving through the waves, using their strength and fish getups to aide in their speed, closing the distance with the Dwarves rapidly. Lummox the Troll, in a moment of clear thought, saw the Dwarves approach and lumbered off to intercept them.





Spying the leader of the Miners, Lummox let out a bellow, hefting his cannon club, and rushing the small demi human. Suddenly Skrager the slayer moved to intercept the Troll and a ferocious battle enrupted. Swinging the rusted cannon barrel in sweeping arcs, Lummox was set to smash the Dwarf into pulp. Sparks flew as the Slayer parried blow after blow with his twin axes, sweeping under the Trolls defenses and cutting large gashes in his blubbery flesh. Some of the slashes healed with sickening pops and gurgles while others spilled dark blood into the surf. Enraged, the Troll swung madly, smashing aside the whirling axes and landing a crushing blow into the ribs of the slayer. Skrager fell to the surf, several yards away and lay unmoving, his axes fallen into the waters around the sandbar.



All around battles raged on! Dwarf versus Orc, in a war as old as the seas. Baddun the Black Orc made a good accounting of himself, felling several Miners and Eugen the Longbeard as well. The pile of fallen Dwarves was soon causing him to lose footing, nearly costing him his life as a Beardling pick swpet by his head. One of his ladz blocked the pick with his choppa, reversing the strike across the Dwarfs throat, ending his life in an instant.



Captain Sheer saw the huge form of Lummox moving to engage the remaining Beardlings and drew his pistols, firing them in a fulsade of lead and dropping the Troll face down in the drink! Roaring with hatred of the greenskins he dropped his smoking guns and drew his axe, joining the melee involving the Miners.



Oddgit the Shaman moved from the shadows of the wrecked ship, casting greenish fire from his fingertips as he closed with the Beardlings.



One of the Dwarves erupted in flame, his waterlogged beard catching fire and forcing his from the combat with the Orcs.





Kaptain Brine finally joined the fray, sweeping into a unit of Miners, his rusty hook catching one of them in the gut, hurling him over the sandbar. Laying about with his club, the Kaptain felled several more Dwarves. Looking about him, the Kaptain saw many of his Orcs had fallen to the righteous fury of the Dwarves and decided to fight another day! Screetching a bone-chilling call, the Kaptain and the FishGitz fought a fighting withdrawl and dissappeared into the jungles beyond the ship. Realizing the day was lost, Niblet the Goblin swatted the Chief one more time across the nose for good measure and leapt overboard, joining the fleeing Orcs as they sought refuge beyond the maddened Dwarves.....

AFTERMATH:
The scenario yielded a great amount of captured gold and other treasures, the FishGitz having hoarded a large amount of ill gotten booty! The Beardlings continued to increase in fighting prowess, gaining an extra attack while Sheer gained the abilty of Quick Shot. One Beardling was killed during the fighting but was replaced from among the crew compliment. Skrager again was none the worst for the wear but the crew bagan to wonder about the slayer, and his ability to get taken out of action with out really doing anything. During the nights they began to do cruel little jokes, such as placing his hand in a bowl of warm water or tying his bootstraps together.....

The Miners were overjoyed to reap the profits of the hoarded gold, celebrating their success into the night! No Miners were slain and each had gained an extra attack to their profile!

And so with the rescue of the Chief, the Dwarves had secured their base of operations and now turned their attentions to the Lustrian jungle and all her secrets......

WEEK FIVE: TIMELESS BEAUTY, DEEPENING JUNGLE

After pouring over the captured maps and charts from the ruined FishGitz vessel for days, it became very clear to Captain Sheer that the wrecked ship was no doubt part of BlackSquig's ramshackled fleet! The crude greenskin language was difficult to translate and sift through but what clues could be garnered by the Dwarves was that the pirate greenskins had come to Lustria in search of something the writer described as "Da Waterhole of Yoof" While having no idea what Da Waterhole was, the Dwarves assumed it must be some sort of hidden pirate port, perhaps this Yoof being the leader. The log went on to describe how the crew of this vessel that had survived the shipwreck and journeyed into the jungles on foot, their Kaptain hoping to find a way inland to rendezvous with the rest of the fleet.

And so the Dwarves spent a day or two preparing themselves for the coming journey. Weapons were sharpened, provisions were packed and powder was stowed. Hefting packs, the landing party set out into the jungle and their destiny...

After being in the rain forests for over a fortnight now, the Dwarves were beginning to get a healthy respect for the jungle. Backs ached, boots were soaked through with primordial ooze from the forests floor and exposed flesh was ravenously set upon by myriad swarms of bloated bloodsucking mosquitoes! The vines and tangled undergrowth was trampled here and there, making passage a bit easier, until the next turn revealed the jungle reclaiming its own. The noises became very familiar to the Dwarves, the squawks, the chattering, the same silences. The canopy overhead was so thick that it became hard to determine if it was day or night. From time to time, birds such as a green conquer or spectacular quetzals would swarm by, forcing even the short demi humans to duck their heads! Hacking further into the jungle, one of the Beardlings yelled back to Sheer.

"Captain! Best be coming forward to see this."

Stomping forward through the oozing mud covered ground, Sheer parted the low lying thicket beyond the Beardling with his pistol barrel. Beyond the large ferns and cattails was a large jungle clearing, steeped in a thin mist. Towering over the clearing was a large pyramid-like structure, surrounded by overgrown ruins. The entire area was completely silent now, even as the sun above began burning off the morning mist. Glittering in the sunlight was the telltale flash of gold. Gold from an immense gong hanging atop the pyramid, gold from the crude rendering of serpents on the various faces of the pyramid. Gold for the taking!



The Miners burst past Sheer, their eyes firmly fixed on the gold they could see before them, throwing caution to the wind. And it cost them as several of them fell prey to a sheer sided pit on the southern edge of the clearing. Sheer could only shake his head at their foolishness, and ordered the Beardlings to lower some ropes to the Miners. While the Beardlings set about freeing the Miners from the pit, the rest of the group surveyed the ruins with a more cautious eye....





Once the Miners were patched up and ready to move on, Sheer ordered the group to advance, the Miners taking the left flank, the Thunderers taking the right and the rest moving up the middle.



Moving towards the glittering monument of the Old Ones, the Dwarves marveled at its construction and stonework. While gazing at the structure, the warband came under sudden attack! Rocks and arrows peppered the warband from the bushes beyond, a Beardling falling to a well place stone and a Miner falling to the ground, clutching his leg and trying to pull out the two black fletched arrows embedded there! The Dwarves were quick to react, the Thunderers putting shots into the bushes and the Miners rushing into the undergrowth in an attempt to outflank their ambushers.

The brush on the far side of clearing parted and an enormous white horse galloped into the clearing, an unnaturally beautiful woman in the saddle! A bone chilling shriek erupted from her lips as she spurred her steed towards the Dwarves, a glittering spear in one hand and an ornate staff in the other. Suddenly the jungle exploded with motion as more of the warrior woman appeared in places the Dwarves would swear were empty but a second ago!





The warrior women howled and shrieked as they charged, releasing arrows and stones at the Dwarves as they came. Sheer ordered the Thunderers to open fire and drive the she-demons back into the undergrowth! Fire and smoke spoke from the barrels of their handguns, mowing down several of the women and forcing the rest to take cover beyond the ruins, where they moved with feline grace to circle around the Dwarven flank. Right into the onrushing miners! Dwarf, human and horse all meant in a swirling melee to the left of the ruins, steel ringing out across the clearing, stirring up the silent jungle.



A strange priestess, in robes of snakeskin and feathers, chanted at the Dwarves, and the ground erupted in swarms of biting and stinging insects. These creatures crawled all over the fighting Miners, causing them to swat at their eyes, cover mouths and let down their guard against the mini onslaught. The woman fought like banshees, parrying clumsy Dwarven blows and striking down their enemies.

Rounding the ruins, Sheer was shocked to see that the Miners were falling to these woman like ripe wheat stalks! Pulling his pistols, Sheer, Skrager and Eugen roared forward to aid their brothers! As they fought their way towards the melee, they were set upon by more of the warrior woman, as they sprang out of the ground from concealed pits and struck the Dwarves hard. Sheer was forced back into Eugen, the two of them falling to the muddy ground, where the woman battered & clubbed them senseless. Skrager moved to save his Laid and caught an arrow in the throat for his troubles, joining them on the ground!

The tide of battle was surging in the warrior woman’s favor when The Miners struck back. A high swing at the leader of woman succeeded in unhorsing her, casting her into the brush where she did not rise again. Several more of their warriors were cut down by the newly fighty Miners!



Even as the nerve of the Dwarf Mariners broke, the Miners pressed home their attack and drove the remaining women from the clearing, taking their dead and wounded with them. The Miners had turned the tide of battle in an instant and the Dwarves gained possession of the Tower of Timelessness, as its marking proclaimed it to be....



AFTERMATH:
Well, the Dwarves managed to capture the Tower of Timlessness, despite the mariners routing off the field when they were forced to make their first Rout test!

The Beardlings are becoming a terror to be sure! They have increased to +1 S and +1 attack. All the fallen Dwarves were OK after the battle, Sheer gaining Quick Draw, letting him shoot twice per round so long as he had a brace of pistols.

The Miners found the motherload of gold! Searching the Tower revealed lots of gold and Lizardman treasures. Using the gold found there enabled the Miners to recuit more Miners to their cause as well as a much needed Sapper! They alos found a pouch of Crimson Shade amid the trampled ground of the melee with the lead warrior woman. This they gave to the Slayer, in hopes he would FINALLY do something helpful during coming combats! LOL!

The scenario itself used the rules for concealed Amazons, pit traps and Amazon magic, which atually worked a few times against the Dwarves, unlike the gobbo magic in earlier battles. Possession of the Tower gives the Dwarves +1 to their Scouting rolls for territories within 3 spaces of the Tower itself which is located in Area# 59. Since they can add +1, it is more likely the Scouts will return with accurate info and impossible for them to not return. Basically the golden gong can be seen above the canopy, acting as a becon for the returning scouts.
And so the adventure continues.......

*As a side note, I was forced to play this week because of folks with real life work stuff interfering! I was not able to get as many quality pics as I normally would and thus I apologize for the lack quality pics. And all the real "store" items in some of the pics. Gah! I will make it up to you next time out. Promise!

I'm stunned! This stuff is amazing

Such color, such detail, such great scenerio and a very good looking Lustria. This is simply awesome!

WEEK SIX: AMID ANCIENT RUINS
The jungle noises were deafening during the nights and maddeningly quite during the days. The occasional droning of a swarm of insects, the scream of an animal being pulled down by a predator, that was all the Dwarves heard during the daylight hours now. Having trekked into the godsforsaken jungles for many weeks now, they were growing used to the strange enviornment, No longer did they leave their boots on for more than a few hours at a time before removing them to wash and dry them lest the primordial mud that clung to the jungle floor burn its way through their soles and start work on the tender skins beneath. No longer did they wash their boots in the dark streams and rivers, but instead they boiled water and cleaned their belongings.

"Brave Kanar rest with the anscestors, worry not about those that remain behind, for we shall find your remians and slay the river beast that took you from us!" Kanar had gone to wash his clothes in a stream and disappeared when a slimy black tentacle emerged from the water, pulling him under in an instant. The explosion of bone and gore that followed stained the expeditions clothes and souls for days after.

Having driven off the strange Amazon women a fortnight ago, Captain Sheer had called up the Heart of Stone to sail upstream to the ruins they had secured. The ship had ploughed its way through the thick canopy obscured river nearby, her horns blarring as the pilot chased off alligators and other animals to make way for the iron vessel. The river proved deep here and the ship made the trek with relative ease. The ships crew began unloading supplies near the ship, setting upa forward base camp for the expedition.



Meantime, Captain Sheer and the Miner Expedition used their time to explore the ruins, finding priceless treasures of gold and silver, as well as strange tablets of gold covered in arcane runes. Consolidating their forward position, the good Captain and his clansmen set about making preperations to explore the jungle shrouded ruins to the north. The rangers had returned with tales of an immense collection of toppled stone pyramids and ziggerauts less than a days trek away. The thought of more treasure fired the bellies of the Miners, who set about packing up their treasures for storage on the Heart of Stone with redoubled effort!



Meanwhile, in the darkening jungle canopy, the Night Goblins were gathering again. A coming storm sent peels of thunder rolling across the ruins of The Tower of Timelessness, shaking the ground and driving the greenskins into a frenzy! Beady red eyes watched from the shadows....



At the same time, the scattered remnants of Pox's warband of Skaven also prepared to attack the Dwarves flank, seeking to drive them out of the ruins so they could pollute the pools and posion them to the native Lizardmen...



As the storm broke, the monsters attacked! The clearing around the Tower of Timelessness was riddled with black arrows that fell with the rain, piercing one of the Beardlings in the throat and dropping him into the growing mud. Stanley the Big Boss and his small pack of Squigs emerged from the foilage, and charged towards the Thunderers and Captain Sheer who were out away from the main group, investigating a fallen column.



Meanwhile the Heart of Stone's crew came under attack on the far side of the ruins as the Skaven poured out of the undergrowth like a foul torrent. Ghenar, the Long Gunner sighted his weapon at an approaching Plague Monk and fired!





The Skaven was thrown back into the mud, tail twitching and not moving even as Ghenar calmly reloeaded the weapon.



The fighting grew fierce as the Skaven used their speed and the jungle cover to close the gap between the themselves and the Dwarves, while the Goblins swarmed the isolated pockets of Dwarves.

Captain Sheer himself was set upon by Stanley and his new Cave Squig Gnarla, the beast ripping into the Captain with teeth and horns and flinging the good Captain into the dirt. Struggling to his knees, Sheer fired his pistols to no avail as the wildly bouncing Squig confounded his aim. Drawing his axe from its holder, he swuing at the Goblin, who parried the heavy blade with its own. Reversing his parry, the Goblin sliced across Sheer's midesction, drawing blood. The Captain stood dumbfounded for a split second, allowing Gnarla to bowel him over into the mud and begin jumping up and down him! Ribs cracked with sickening cruntches as the heavy beast sprang again and again.....

Skarger the Slayer and Eugen rushed to the aid of the fallen Captain, lest he end up in the belly of the beast! Axes cut a whirlwind through Goblin and Squig, forcing both into a defensive posture, teeth, horns and rusty choppa parrying heavy bladed axes. The Beardlings met the Squigs with hammer and shield, forcing the beasts back into the jungle while more arrows rained down on the Thunderers...





The Thunderers were finally able to see the Night Goblin horde through the growing downpour and let loose with several wicked volleys, throwing aside several Goblins, Squigs and even Big Boss Swordy himself!



Meanwhile, the crew of the Heart of Stone, led by Master Engineer Furnark "Gearbox" Stonehand, were being overwhelmed by the Skaven hordes. Despite the constant report of the long gun, there were simply too many of the accursed ratmen to stop. As the Skaven drew near, Gearbox ordered his boys to prepare for battle. Hammers were readied, shields were hefted and they met the Skaven menace with a wall of metal and sinew. The sounds of battle were loud and fierce all across the clearing as the rain continued to fall and the ground became more treacherous....





Eugen managed to fight off the monstous Squig being ridden by the Night Goblin leader, dragging it to the muddy ground and forcing Stanley to throw up his sword and fight off a furious rain of blows. At that moment, Skrager was grazed in the temple by a stray slingstone from the hidden Grotsmak and fell to the ground, right in front of a VERY hungry Squig!



As the Slayer was about to become a hot meal, the renewed fire from the Thunderers plowed into the orange monster, splitting it apart like a ripe melon as shot after shot tore into its tough hide. As the Squig fell next to the Slayer, one of its kind was set upon by the raging fury of the Beardlings, Led by Old One, all seeking to drive the creatures away once and for all.....



As the Goblins began to fall back in misery and shame, several of the little beasts decided to take out their frustrations on the Skaven! Volleys of arrows cut down several slaves, enraging Pox! Frothing at his foul jaws, the Plague Pontifax charged into Stanley! But as he was about to land a killing blow to the Big Boss, he was brought low by, in all the world, a nimbous of green light that looked alot like a giant green thumb! Somewhere in the bushes, Grotsamk the Shaman chuckled in his little throat before laying back down in the concealing brush.

Meantime a savage fight ensued between Stanley and a dazed Pox, the Goblin proving too much for the ancient Skaven, a spear thrust catching him in the loins and drawing forth putrid blood that ran in dark rivers across the muddy ground. Even as Gnarla prepared to finsish off the Skaven, Eugen struck from behind, embedding his massive axe in the flanks of Gnarla and forcing a blood chilling screetch to escape the beast!





Bounding away with a wildly flailing Stanley on its back, the remaining Goblins saw this as a chance to fall back too and played follow the leader! Grotsmak crawled on his belly through the mud, joining the retreat. He paused only once to see if the Dwarves were pursing. And to pick up a bloated, green/orange beetle, which he stuffed into his mouth and began crunching as he withdrew!

Even as it looked as if the crew of the Heart of Stone were going to be wiped out, the Skaven lost heart as well, with the apparent demise of the leader and slunk off into the gathering storm. The Dwarves had once agian proved to be the victor!

Quote :

AFTERMATH:
So the Dwarves were joined by the Heart of Stone crew this report, a new Warband we made to add some more flavor to the games. I will be posting complete armylists for those that are interested in my next update. This will incliude the Dwarf Mariners, Ironclad Crew, Night Goblins and Clan Pestilens lists, so stay tuned.....

After the battle, it was determined that only a pair of Beardlings had perished during the game. Sheer was fine, while Skrager somehow gained another skill! Must be nice not to do anything and get better!

The Heart of Stone crew survived in tact, with the Long Gunner gaining +1 to his BS. gee, that isnt really appropriate, is it? LOL! They lost only a single Beardling to the Skaven, though Kutter the Surgeon suffered a leg injury that cost him his speed. His crushed leg means he may not longer run, and will likely be forced to walk with a crutch for his remaining years....

The Skaven suffered the most, losing one of the Plague Monks to the Long Gunner, Drips the Plague Priest recieving a head injury that left him suffering from stupidity, three dead Slave Rats and Hiv the Plague Priest missing the next game with injury as well!

The Goblins survived nearly scott free, losing only the Snotling Swarm! But since there are always plenty more around, these were quickly replaced. Several of the Gobbo Henchmen units recieved characteristic increases and Stanley, who took down BOTH leaders he faced, gained +1S and the Sneaky Git ability. It gives him, in effect, a 5+ Ward Save. Very handy for a little bugger greenskin....

And so the adventure continues.........

WEEK SEVEN: THE SERPENT GOD'S DUE

"Captain! The foul Skaven have broken and are fleeing into the brush, shall we pursue them?"...yelled Yuri the Beardling.

"Of course we pursues them Lad! Da stinking Skaven are running back to their holes and we can root them out! After them Maties, run them to ground!" ordered Grang.

The Dwarves, being low to the ground, were able to make gains on the fleeing ratmen, bowling through the low hanging thickets like steam driven pistons and keeping the fleeing Skaven in sight. The cursed ratmen had led them off the trails and into deep jungle, and the Dwarves soon lost their bearings and had left the Tower of Timelessness far behind.

The members of the crew blew their whistles to keep in contact as they hacked their way throught the thickening underbrush. Grang himself squashed a diseased giant rat under his boot, coating them with putrid inards. Gagging on the stench, the Engineer stumbled and slipped on the gore soaked ground. As he pitched forward his hammer went flying amid his flailing limbs and he tumbled down a steep incline, tearing up vegetation as he rolled through the brush before coming to an end with a splash!

The Dwarf sat upright and took in his bearings. He had been on the lip of a ravine and fell a good one hundred feet in his roll before landing in a shallow stream that flowed along the floor of the ravine at a goodly pace. Placing his hand in the water he sampled it and found it to be quite refreshing and cold. Slaking his parched throat, Grang drank his fill while looking around to get his bearing. It was then that he saw he was sitting at the edge of an enormous ruined city, overgrown and retaken by the surrounding jungle.

"Grang! Grang!", echoed in the jungle above....

"Aye! Down here Lads! Best get some ropes down here and come on down. Mind yer step, its a long drop but I think we have found something, to be sure!"

Getting to his feet, Grang saw that his hammer had fallen nearby. While wiping the mud from the haft, Grang took in a further picture of the ruins. All throughout the over dozen structures could be seen the glint of gold and silver! Beams of sunlight that speared the jungle canopy reflected off the ancient structures, revelaing them in all their majesty. Many of the buildings were multi-level ziggerauts and pyramids, with toppled ruins and rubble strew alleyways in between the buildings.

Several ropes came flying down with a thud to land in the water nearby. Looking in that direction Grang saw a flurry of movement as another Skaven dashed across the stream and into the ruins of the city. So, this is where you vermin have been hiding is it........









Grang was joined over the next hour by the rest of the crew as they one by one descended the rope ladders once they had muddled through the jungle thicket. Each Dwarf checked their weapons and adjusted straps and buckles, freeing up their arms for fighting and hacking as needed.

Several of the Beardlings produced hatchets and began hacking their way through the vines screening the entryway leading into the ruins. Sweat soon beaded on arms and faces as the Beardlings continued to swing their hatchets. Soon the way was clear and Grang stepped forth through the archway and he and his crew got thier first good look at the ruins.....





As the Long Gun was brought up and put into firing position, the rest of the crew spread out in a skirmish line, Beardlings to the left with one of the Enineers while the rest spread to the right flank.



Signs of recent Skaven intrusion were visable in the muddy ground, as was the spore of some unknown animal. An evil silence seem to hang over the whole ruins and the chittering of unseen creatures could be heard. Wherever one looked out of the corner of their eye, they caught a glimpse of red eyes staring at them from behind the ruins or jungle brush. The Dwarves hefted their weapons and pushed on, meanwhile the hidden forces of the Skaven lay in ambush.....



Suddenly the jungle exploded! Swarms of Skaven led by a monstrous Rat Ogre thundered out of the brush, their speed once again closing the gap far to quickly for the Heart of Stone crew! The report of the Long Gun shattered the charge, blowing an enormous hole in the Rat Ogre and pitching it face down into the dirt, chest a bloody ruin! Enraged by the swift demise of the Rat Ogre, the Skaven charged into the Beardlings led by a swarm of infected Plaque Rats, most of which were crushed to foul bloody pulps under the blows of the Beardling hammers!





The skirmish continued with the inexperienced dwarfs being harrowed by vile mists and swarms of flies as they attempted to smash the ratkin with their hammers. The foul magic of the Skaven mage was sending forth the very jungle to kill the hated Dwarves! Noses and ears were soon swarming with bloated black flies, distracting the Dwarves from fighting effectively and hiding the fact that the Rat Ogre was struggling to its feet!



With rusty chains swinging, the fell Skaven monster struck the melee and sent several of the Dwarves fying in all directions as its claws and chains flailed about the demi humans with maddened fury!



The furious battle continued and the number of dwarfs still able to fight dwindled but their resolve kept them from leaving the field of battle. Grang himself strode forth at this point and drove the spike of his hammer into the brow of the Rat Ogre, the putrid monster falling without a sound to the ground in front of the Skaven leader! Seeing his beloved pet cut down was enough for the cowardly ratman and he ordered the withdrawl.

But before they could fall back away from the Dwarves, strange allies appeared from the ruins themselves! The creatures were clearly reptilian in nature and slithered forward on elongate swollen bodies, tongues tasting the air and clutching ancient wepaons in the scaled hands!





These new comers struck at the Skaven like a lightning bolt, spitting venom and hacking the ratmen down with razor sharp halberds and fangs! As the Skaven fled into the growing darkness, the Snakemen set aside thier weapons and knelt next to the steaming corpses. Whereupon they opened wide their jaws, seemingly beyond the abilty to do so and began to swallow the putrid carcasses whole! The bodies were slowly forced down into the gullets of the beasts, their throat muscles straining to swallow the Skaven dead whole! The entire sight was enough to turn even the stout stomaches of the Dwarves, Grang ordering his group to collect their wounded and fall back to the entranceway, leaving the field of the slain to the fearsome Snakemen.....the Snakemen however were not eager to let them escape and a full fledged rout insued as the Dwarves dispersed into the jungle as the clouds overhead grew dark and thick, fat raindrops began to fall in torrents....

AFTERMATH
Those still remaining mended to the injuries of their kin - Maurii suffered a deep wound and would need several weeks of rehabilitation before he could fight again. Oskari developed a debilitating nervous condition having had his back splintered by the force of the Rat Ogre. The Long Gunner Uri and Wolfgang recovered from their injuries without incident. Grang gave a field promotion to Salvatorii - one of the Beardlings - due to his bravery and tenacity on the battlefield. Not to mention stepping in to take a blow that had saved Grang himself!

As they fled the ruins, the Beardlings stumbled upon an open stone chest which held a suit of finely wrought mail. The coverings were worked out of glittering metal scales of gold and the suit came with matching grieves and leggings. A truly wonderful suit of armor the Engineer quickly packed in his rucksack for the journey back to camp. A rich prize indeed!
Grang and his throng were forced into the deeper jungle, unable to regroup while the Snakemen slithered after them through the dense underbursh...

And so the adventure continues............

Man, your way of writing, the scenery, the cool looking warbands......gotta say that I´m a bit jealous

Thanks for sharing and keep it coming, I´m curious about the Dwarven journey through the jungles of Lustria!

Marienburg, Empire. Year 1693….


To a gathering of seasoned sailors, this was but another dull tavern in some far away port, in some far flung corner of the Olde World. Having been drinking since well before the Bell of Marienburg sounded noon, the crewmen of the privateer vessel Queen Bess's Bounty was merely passing away the doldrums of existence, waiting for their Captain to set sell on yet another successful venture. The shore leave here in Marienburg was but another passage of time between the challenges of true adventuring. A chance to spend some of their hard earned gold coins and revel in the simple pleasures only sailors having been at sea for eight months could understand.

Outside the Barge Wright Inn, a fog had settled over the merchant city of Marienburg this chilly winter evening, draping everything in its clammy grasp. The damp cobbled streets shine as the light of swaying street lanterns dance across the slick stones. Far out on the Marienburg Sound, a muffled foghorn warns approaching vessels of the dangerous rocks jutting up from the Mananspoort Sea. The cold fog chills the bones and shivers the soul of anyone outside. The sea is rough this evening, rocking the docked vessels in the harbor to and fro.

Yet inside the tavern walls the food is hearty and the ale is warm and frothy. A fire blazes in the twin hearths and the taproom is alive with the clink of tankards and the tumbling voices of merchants and sailors alike. Nearby the hearth a heavily robed figure sits, on a worn stool, warming his hands and draining tankard after tankard of ale. A group of sailors is playing at bones near the fire as well, talking in somewhat hushed voices.

“So anyways, I aska da Captain where we be headed once the repairs are done, and he motions me to the map table. There he spreads out a bunch of charts and maps showing the eastern coastline of Lustria. The maps look old and I see a bunch of handwritten remarks in the margins in a language I don’t understand.”

A violent bout of coughing from the hooded figure interrupts the conversion. The barkeep, One Eyed Willy, yells out to the figure.

“You be alrighty there Greybeard? Cant hold yer ale, is it?”

The figure, still hunched over, motioned with his hand that he was not in trouble, all the while draining another tankard. Most of the bar patrons laughed at the chiding. The conversation continued….

“Anyways mates. So the maps show some sort of ruins inland from the Vampire Coast, with another series of runes I still can’t read. When I ask the captain what it all means, he tells me he doesn’t know either but the seadog he bought the map from tells him that these charts can lead an intrepid adventurer to something called the Font of Youth.”

“What is dat den? Ze Font of Youth, I ne’er heard of zat?”

“That’s whata I asked da Captain mate. And he tells me that legends say it is a lost treasure trove of Dwarven gold and weapons. Enough gold to make a man rich beyond his wildest dreams, and keep him in wine, women and luxury for the rest of his days! And another rumor says it’s a magical lake that iffin a man swims in it he will be restored in both youth and vitality”

“And da Captain thinks we should sail halfway across the Olde World based on some old charts and a drunken seadogs babbling? Has the captain gone soft in the head mate?”

“You know as well as I do da Captain doesn’t go into a venture without researching it first. Remember the horde of Tanner MacBride? Nobody believed the pirate had a fortune in Elven jewels buried near Hell's Teeth, but da Captain found one of his old crew and garnered the whereabouts of Tanner’s lost logbook what detailed the exact location to dig. And when the merchants of Tobaro laughed at the rumor of the Isla de la Morse, da Captain went to the scholars of the temple of Mannan and found an ancient text penned by a Tilean fryer that had been to the island. That turned out to be a lucrative venture, now didn’t it? Yes sir, when Captain Brummel McBride sets his mind to something, he is neither rash nor unprepared. He tells me he even knows of a fella here in Marienburg that has been to Lustria and seen the Font itself!”

The robed figure near the hearth started giggling to himself, his shoulders shaking as he laughed.

“Did I say something funny old man?”

The figure turned on his stool to face the sailors. He face was pocked mocked with age, his wispy grey beard running the full length of his face to fall to the floor. A look of wisdom and power shown from his eyes, making several of the sailors turn away from his fierce countenance. He moved his two tankards of ale to their table, removing his leather cap to reveal a bald pate which he dabbed with a cloth.

“Ye neednt have fear of me brave mariners. I am but a humble old man that enjoys hearing a good yarn. I couldn’t help but hear your tales and thought you might be interested in hearing a few of my own. But heed, these tales are both true and terrifying, courage found in the bottom of a tankard my not be enough to stave off the chills…”

“What are ye babbling about old man? We are talking of treasure, adventure and wealth.”

“Ye, I know this well sailor. And having been to see the wonders of Lustria in all her savage glory, the thought I might tell ye about the conflict of Dwarven Captain Sheer and his nemesis Orc Pirate Kaptain BlackSquig and their quest for the Font of Youth. Attend me if you will…”

Before he started to tell his tell, the Old Grey Beard shook his empty tankard towards the men of the Queen Bess's Bounty…..

........continuing Marienburg, Empire. Year 1693….

As the huddled sailors leaned in close to hear the old man, the door to the Barge Wright Inn blew open, letting in the gathering gale. The flames in the fireplace flickered in the wind, several table lamps blowing out and casting the room in a ruddy red glow. The door banged hard against the doorjamb, gouging great chunks of wood out before the inn keeper rushed over and secured the portal. An unearthly foghorn wailed outside in the gathering gloom, causing several of the patrons to jump from their seats. Sitting in the darkened room with the shadows of flickering flames behind him, the old man's face took on a most sinister look, his eyebrows elongating, his mouth lengthening and his eyes appearing to be set into a sunken skull........

“To understand the Quest for the Font of Youth, you must first understand the dramatis personae involved in this epic tale. The protagonists, BlackSquig and Sheer, were from races that shared a common eternal hatred of one another, the greenskins doing all they could to fester that hatred in the Dwarves by centuries of warfare. Too numerous to detail are the conflicts between these two races, best left for another time.”

“What’s dramatis? A pill for keeping down the seasickness?” inquired Spivey, one of the dimmer Tilean sailors.

The old man snorted into his ale mug, drenching his beard in frothy white brew. Angrily wiping it drink from his drooping mustache, the old man glared at the sailor, his terrible countenance magnified by the shadows in his face to the point where he appeared spawned from the pit itself! The sailor in question shrunk back in his chair, to the amusement of his comrades….

“Sigmar, no! It’s a word that means the players in a dramatic play, something you might understand if you wished to expand your horizons sometime. Now may I continue or must I suffer this dolt’s further interruption?”

“A thousand pardons greybeard. Spivey means no disrespect. He is a simple man from simple beginnings”….

“Yes, yes! See that he keeps his tongue from waggling lest I lose my place again. Now where was I? Oh yes, Captain Sheer…..”

……..”Captain Sheer was mate on the Heart of the Sea, a Dwarven patrol Monitor out of Barak Varr. Her duties kept her south of Barak Varr, watching for Chaos Dwarf incursions. It was on one of these ill fated patrol missions that Ulvaeus Sheer would come face to face with his destiny on a small island known as Spivey’s Point. Though at the time he didn’t was unaware of it……”

“Hey, datza me name! I gotz an island and I don’t even knows it…….” interjected Spivey. He quickly realized the error of his way as the old man again leaned forward, glaring at him down the length of his hooked nose. A sudden howling wind began to scream outside, blowing the surf rough against the pilings and shaking the glass in the window frames. Patrons huddled closer to one another, trying to take warmth from their fellows as the heat seamed to suck out of the room, leaving it dark and chilled.

“How about a round of hot spiced ale for the house then barkeep?” grumbled the old man. “Mugs for them one and all, their throats are obviously parched. Even for this lout here.”
Leaning back in his chair, the old man paused in the telling and waited patiently for the barkeep to bring his ale……

........continuing Marienburg, Empire. Year 1693….

After draining the warmed ale in a single gulp, the old man let out a satisfyingly loud belch, rubbing his ample belly.

"Now that hit the spot, didn’t it lads?" he inquired. The sailors all looked at him in surprise and awe as the old man raised his upside mug to the inn keeper.

"So, back to the tale then. The Heart of the Sea was a few miles out of Spivey Point that fateful day. Several of the ships crew were milling around in the wheelhouse, the ship churning its way through the waves, foam rolling over the gunwales and spraying the decks.

"Bad weather ahead lads." warned the first mate. Best let the beardlings know we are in for a mucking to be sure."

"What's a mucking skipper?" inquired one of the beardlings on deck. The mate reached into a stowage bin and pulled out a mop. He thrust the mop into the Beardlings hand and smiled.

"Dont worry none lad, you are gonna find out that soon enough!"

The old man paused and looked at the sailors.

"A mucking is a quaint little term used to describe the mess made when rough seas are combined with rich food and frothy ale, with a weak stomach thrown into the mix."
The inn keeper returned to the table with a tray of mulled ale, the old man quickly grabbing two mugs for himself.

"So yes, the weather outside had turned frightful. The rugged outline of Spivey Point was visible on the horizon now, even though it was quickly being devoured by the gathering storm clouds. And still the Heart of the Sea churned onwards."

"As the Heart of the Sea drew closer to the island, it became apparent that something was wrong. The crowds of human children that always gathered to welcome the Heart to port were nowhere to be seen. Smoke whirled across the Spivey Point roofs in the grip of the rising storm. A fire had started in the tinderbox shack near the wharfs and red tendrils of flame greedily consumed the roof. The dancing flames had spread, pushed on by the strengthening winds, to other nearby buildings, leaping from roof to roof, caving in fiery timbers on the dwellings beneath. The reddish light climbed high into the sky, the sea mirroring the flames and adding to the hellish glow. As the Heart cut back engines, her crew began to assemble on deck. Each crewman was grim faced as they each checked their handguns to make sure breaches were clear and shot loaded. A silence had fallen across the village, broken only by the noise of wood giving away beneath the fires and the thrashing of the waves against the hull of the Heart. Flocks of hungry gulls were gathering on pilings for a feast it seemed, even as the storm clouds moved hungrily towards the smoking ruins....."

A grim look came across the old mans face, leaving many of his audience to wonder if he had lost kin in the attack. Heaving a sigh, the old man continued....

"While landing parties were assembling on the deck of the Heart, a great rumbling came from the wharf to stern, and from there emerged a great black beast, a dark iron demon moving out of the burning wharf and slithering like a giant reptile from its den towards the harbor mouth and open sea. The propellers on the ship churned oily water, the boats aft deck and conning tower clearly visible to the Heart of the Sea crew. A vessel at least twice the size of the Heart, its cruel lines were formed of black iron, its gun ports sporting bronzed cannons. A jagged prow formed in the image of a great axe head perched on the front of monster, promising a swift end to any vessel it chose to ram. As the vessel turned towards the open sea, its iron form protesting, waves crashed across her decks, drenching the leering Hobgoblins with spray."

"By Vallaya's barnacles! Lads, it’s a Dwari ship! They be the ones that done plundered yon island! Ready the guns and start the engines. We aren’t gonna let yon iron demon get away!"

"The Dwari (Chaos Dwarf) vessel ground itself over a skiff, rammed broadside into a small sloop at anchor and cast it away. The sea was rushing in, filling the sloop's shattered port deck and causing it to list to the side. Lightning jabbed the sky, and the Dwarves watched the iron monster cross the harbor, veering away from the sandbars even as the Heart's engine fired to life. The Dwari boat gained the passage as the Heart surged forward, and began to move to open sea, sluggishly against the surge of white capped breakers. Several of the Dwarf Marines began firing at the ship, even though it was moving farther away. A few lucky shots hit home and pitched bloodied Hobgoblins to the deck or into the brine. Because of her angel and need to back away from the island proper, the Heart was not able to yet bring her turret to bear, though it rotated to port so a shot could be taken once the sandbars had been cleared. Meantime the Dwari vessel had now cleared the harbor as the sky grew pitch, the ocean thundering against her hull, and when the next sheet of lightning came it was gone, swept away into the gathering darkness........."

"What do you mean gone?” inquired Spivey, now clearly unable to stay his tongue. "Did the ship up and vanish like magic?"

"Not at all cretin. The ship and her dark hearted crew had apparently slipped away into the gathering storm, much like the rest of us should be doin. The hour be gettin late lads and I dont know if an old man can stay awake fer much longer."

The waves outside now were crashing over the pilings, and spray was hitting the windows as it began to rain in sheets. The howling winds shook the very foundations of the Inn and several patrons looked around with nervous glances. A young couple decided they had heard enough and moved towards the stairs, a look of mischief on their faces.

"Please grey beard, dont stop now. The tale is takin on izza own life now and you izza just gettin to the juicy parts."

"Oh, I suppose I shouldn't leave you all hanging then, twould'nt be right. You have been a most attentive audience so what say we press on? The storm is upon us anyway and it would be a cold walk home. And we've stories of iron monsters to tell, tis true...."

........continuing Marienburg, Empire. Year 1693

A sheet of lightning splits the clouds overhead, casting stark white light across the old man and revealing the angular muscles of his face. He has a look of power, a look of madness and a look of mischief all at once. Rumbling thunder pounds the Barge Wright, causing a maid to drop her platter of empty tankards. The harsh sound of shattering pottery causes more than a few patrons to look up. The old man chuckled to himself as he turned back to his audience......

"Ahead the sky was a mass of rolling clouds, red with swollen black underbellies as night began to fall. The sea thundered against the hull of the Heart, bursting across the bow and making the entire boat shudder."

"More speed Mister Mate!" bellowed Grimbeard. " We be in the midst of it now and I wont let yon beastie get away!"

"Captain! We be movin at top speed now, any more stress on the boliers and she is liable to blow her bearings!' came the reply from the engine room.

"Understood Mister Mate. Now get me more speed!"

The sea beyond the wheelhouse had become a boiling maelstrom of black. When the waters parted for an instant, Grimbeard could see breaks in the waves and he twisted the wheel to starboard, and as he did a wave struck the side, shaking loose all manner of items from the chartroom and throwing the crewmen not strapped down into the bulkheads. Grimbeard jerked the wheel back to port and began to zigzag through the waves that now lifted in all directions, swamping the foredeck and streaming through the scuppers. Something scraped noisily along the port side, just below the waterline. Through clenched teeth Grimbeard turned to his first mate and hissed...

"We be in the thick of it now Mister Mate. We be entering Cursed Drop Reef and the monster be here as well. She made a fatal error entering yon reef. Her size and poundage will work against her in these shallows, and in all likelihood she will flounder."

"Aye Captain! Shall I tell the chief to shut down engines?"

"Are you mad? I am not about to allow that devil to escape, not after what she done to the Point! I need a watcher on the bow to help guide us past the reef. Send out Mister Sheer with a stout chain. Secure him to the wheelhouse, make sure to keep the chain tuant between you both and tell the Boatswain to button us up!"

Mister Sheer accepted his mission with stoic resolve and secured a length of chain beneath his arms and around his chest. He stepped out into the gathering storm, a surge of spray slapping against, almost driving him back into the wheelhouse. He clentched his teeth against the cold carress of the water and began to move, hanging onto the starboard gunwale, creeping along inch by inch toward the prow. He hugged the smooth metal surface of the forward turret, seeking to grasp a small reprieve from the pounding rains. A wave plowed diagonally across the Heart, throwing Sheer into the capstan while the ship pitched beneath him.

Sheer strained to get to the prow, each step feeling like his boots were weighed down with lead, finally reaching the metal framework welded to the front bow of the craft, the clinking of metal restraints dangling in the wind. Sheer moved into postion, securing his feet in the restraints and pulling on a set of metal rimmed goggles. He glanced back at the wheelhouse and waved to Grimbeard, whom he could clearly see through the water streaked glass.Grimbeard returned the wave and pointed to starboard.

Sheer watched for the tell tale signs of coral swirls, a plateau of growth lay to port, Sheer motioned in a starboard direction, the Heart responding. Other reef tops were exposed beyond, as the dark sea rose away from them, Sheer waving his arms frantically. One of the jagged tops ground up under the hull with a long grating noise, but then the Heart was through and Sheer, straining his eyes against the salty spray, couldn't see any others. The Heart suddenly bucked upwards as a green veined wave crashed to starboard, throwing the craft towards a large outcropping of reef before another wave grasped the Heart high and threw her over the exposed coral. As the Heart began to descend once again, the foam crashing across the deck, Grimbeard fought with the wheel with all his might, the first mate rushing forward to grap the wheel as well, both Dwarves straining to right the Heart and keep her off the teeth of the coral.........

The old man drank deeply from his mug at this point, draining the contents in one long gulp and smacking his lips contently.

"Why in Mannan's name would tha Captian consider takin his vessel into a reef? Tis the point of madness! Did he care not fer his crew and ship?"

"That young Spivey is a question that indeed bears answering. At the time his crew was not aware of it but Grimbeard's kin lived on the Point and were later counted among the dead. That rage, that anquish, that final acceptance fired the blood of Grimbeard. He swore silent othes to his anscestors that the Dwari would not make it back to their home, not while he drew breath! And so he recklessly endangered both ship and crew for a grudge he would never let lie....."

........"Suddenly, from out of the blackness of the surging waves, crashing through the next wave that loomed overhead, a huge and monstrous shape appeared, foam sweeping off her decks, chasms of water opening beneath it! The night was lit by the flash of cannons, the broadsides of the Dawri vessel sighting the starboard of the Heart. Hot metal pierced the skin of the Heart, flaming debris bouncing around the inner hull like balls as the Chaos Dwarf weapons did their work. The more air the naplam drew, the hotter the fires raged. The evil weapon did its work, fire blossoming into raging infernos within the Heart......"

"Captain! We are taking on water in the engine room! Hull breached and number 3 boiler inactive!" shouted the Engineer into his voice tube."

"More speed Mister Engineer! I need to be able to manuver! Yon Dwari vessel is broadside and reloading! More speed!"

"I just cant do it Captain! The hull is buckling and the bearings are starting to go..."

"A violent explosion ripped through the engine room, incinerating crewmen in an instant, a fireball billowing towards the forward hatch. The Quartermaster could only watch helplessly as the fire spread towards him, forcing him to close his eyes and the hatch at the same time, screams of his mates echoing in his ears as he sealed them in to their fate."

"The Dwari boat passed to the port side only a few feet away, pushed towards her prey by the power of the incoming waves. Sheer could hear the runblings of her engines as the Heart listed to starboard and began to take on water. Another volley of cannon fire raked the deck of the Heart, a direct hit striking the fore turret and exploding it in a ball of flame and metal! Red hot shrapnel rained down on the deck, burning into the exposed skin on Sheer's face and arms, even penetrating the glass of his goggles. His eye was ruined in an instant even as he struggled to get the goggles off, as the red hot metal boiled his eyeball in its own liguid. Sheer howled in pain as the eyeball burst, throwing back his head to wail in pain before passing out in his metal harness, his body twisting to and fro in the pounding waves."

"In the wheelhouse, Grimbeard ground his teeth in rage! His vessel was a wreck, taking on water and running out of power. Many of the crew were trapped below deck, mangled from shot, burned from the naplam or crushed under collapsed bulkheads. Then and there he accepted his fate and that of his ship. Lashing his wrists to the wheel, he ordered his mate to brace for impact. Before his mate could do anything, Grimbeard jerked the wheel to starboard, straining against the power of the sea, rage consuming all thought save one. Coming to his feet, his mate saw it in an instant...."
"Ye mean to ram! Have ye gone daft Captain? Ye mean kill us all!"

"The mate rushed forward and began to fight Grimbeard for control of the wheel. But Grimbeard was possessed of the strength of the mad, and fought back with a ficious headbutt. His mate staggered back, grabbing the ruin of his nose, even as the Heart slammed home! Metal shrieked and buckled as the two ships collided, the Dwari captain having moved too close in his glee to sink the craft of his hated kinsmen. The tortured wails of the two ships sounded more like the screams of dying animals than ships of metal and wood. The Heart collided to the port side of the Dwari vessel, crushing her screws and grippling her rudder. The Heart pitched upwards as she hit the heavier vessel, water rushing in through the rents in her hull, flooding the halls and throwing Dwarves into the bulkhead, many of them dying to broken necks and internal wounds, many more drowning as the water puored in. The glass of the wheelhouse shattered, raining jagged chuncks of glass across the decks. The first mate was pitched forward through the shattered windwow, dissapearing into the dark waves. The sea continued to pitch, throwing the two ships together again and then throwing them apart once more. As the Heart foundered, the Dwari vessel was at the mercy of the waves, her screws a twisted mass of black iron, her rudder splintered and flapping in the water."

"Through the shattered glass, Grimbeard roared his hatred at the enemy vessel, salt spray blinding him, forcing him to duck his head to avoid the incoming waves. The cold water tightened the leather bindings he was lashed to the wheel with, pulling them tighter as they shrunk. He struggled to see against the howling storm and sighted the Dwari vessel listing to port. He could see the burning wrekage of the turret and he could see the lifeless form of Sheer......"

"Mister Sheer!" roared Grimbeard. "Wake up ye scurvy dog! The monster is here and now is the time fer dyin! We still have a chance to take the beast down with us! Wake ye self up!"

"Sheer, agony gripping his ruined face, heard the shouts above the roar of the sea and he gazed towards the ruined wheelhouse through his one good eye. He saw Grimbeard waving at him, encouraging him to return to this world of agony and pain. He was sorely tempted to curl up in a ball of misery and meet his ancestors, but someting kept him in the here and now. Something unfinished, something that he, as a Dwarf, needed to complete. With a groan of pain, he waved back to Grimbeard, even as he lossed himself from the metal restraints and fell to the glistening deck, bathed in the reddish light of the burning turret."

"The Dwari vessel was still spinning and listing off to port, her engines trying to drive her forward but the ocean swells sweeping her to and fro. Without a rudder and no screws, she was all but helpless. As the waves lifted her high into the air, the reef was again exposed. The sream of metal arose as the Dwari ship smashed down on an outcropping of coral, splintering it before the sea swept her across more. At this point, Grimbeard's face twisted into an maddened grin, his eyes aflame with an idea."

"Mister Sheer! I have a plan lad! A plan that will settle the score with that iron beastie and let us go forth to Vallaya's Hall with honor. Are ye game lad?"

"All Sheer could muster at that point was a feeble wave. He crawled along the deck, closer and closer towards the wheelhouse, the fire from the turret blistering his flesh and beard."

"Grab the mooring anchor lad! We are going to hook yon iron beastie and drag her across the reef! The Heart still has enough life in her to complete one final mission!"

A loud explosion shattered the silence in the taproom, a log popping in the fire, popping several more and showering the room in embers. One of the sailors actually screamed as the log burst into flame, his mates laughing at his terror.

"Nothing like goosebumps to keep one warm, ey lad?" said the old man. "Just the thing on a dark and stormy night, they are. Keeps one awake on the long walk home. And I really need to be gettin meself home, the hour is late and I've a long walk ahead of me."

"Wait greybeard! Ye can't leave us hanging here! Wezza got to know how da story, she end!"

"Well, that may be true lad but......" said the old man as he tilted his cup in front of his face and peered inside the empty mug.....

........continuing Marienburg, Empire. Year 1693

The serving wench hastened to refill the old man's tankard, her skirts rustling across the cold stone floor, her pitcher sloshing onto the floor. She had been taken in by the story the old man had been weaving and would hear the climax! Once the tankard was filled, the old man smiled at the young woman and patted her arm.

"Thank ye my dear, me throat grows so very parched from these long tales. So we have reached the final act lads, the point in our tale that ties all the ends into a neat bow as it were, the fial fateful act of the Heart of the Sea and her mad captain......"

......." The waves continued to pound both ships, the Dwari vessel taking the worst of it as her metal bulk continued to grind against coral and pitch into lazy circles as the waves were want. The fires continued to blaze across the deck of the Heart, the thick smoke billowing in all directions, blinding Sheer and causing his remaining eye to water. He could hear the diminishing poundings of trapped crewmen below deck, their hammers and wrenches beating out a death null as fire and water sealed their fate. The anchor chain lay sprawled across the deck, her wieght unable to keep the power of the sea from moving them. A wicked two pronged anchor was attached to one end, the other end welded to the deck cleats, a device normally used to moor the vessel to the coral reefs in the area, now a weapon to be used in a mad game of tug o war. Crawling the remaining yards to the anchor, Sheer used all his strength to prop himself up against the wheelhouse base and grasp the anchor as a wave washed the chain towards the port gunwale.

"Thats right Mister Sheer!" roared Grimbeard from above.

"Take that grapple and stike that beasie hard! Get me purchase with the hook and I will end this monster's life now and forever, hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!"

"The madness had clearly overcome Grimbeard at this point, the loss of his family, the cries of his doomed crew, the slow death of his beloved vessel, all served to drive a wedge between his sanity and madness. Sheer knew this in an instant but was overcome with his own fate. He would obey his captain to the end, he would not abandon his principles nor his anscestors by failing in his duties, his final act would ensure he was honored and the Shellback clan not brought to shame or disgrace. He grasp the heavy anchor in his arms, cradling it as if it were a babe to his breast and limped towards the port railing.

Wave after wave of salty water pounded his legs as he staggered through the storm, the laughing of the capatina echoing in his ears. Reaching the railing, he glanced out to port. Sporadic lightning lit the horizon once more, revealing the evil dark outline of the Dwari vessel. As the Heart drew near the ruined screws of the Chaos Dwarf ship, Sheer hefted the anchor above his head, wrapping his legs around the railing post to steady himself as another wave swept across the bow. The superstructure of the turret collapsed into the hull of the Heart at the instant Sheer threw the anchor with all his might, the wooden supports giving way to the fire and blossoming another series of fireballs! Even as the anchor smashed into the screws and became entangled as they turned and twisted in the waves, Sheer was thrown up and over the gunwale from the force of the blast, his back searing as metal fragments burned into his flesh and the salt water rushed in to cover him, a welcoming blanket of darkness that settle over him like a warm fire.........."

"Thats the spirit lad!" belowed Grimbeard. "We have them now, yer throw be true and their fate be sealed! Now me Heartie, lets end this game and drag that monster straight to the infernal regions!"

"The engines of the Heart sputtered as Grimbeard pushed forward on the engine lever, thick smoke starting to billow out of her ports as the engines strained within the flood of water and fires. With no crew left alive to stoke her fires or control the boilers, the engines were doomed. But like Sheer, they would not give up on their demented captain and went through their death throes like the loyal machines they were."

"Metal screeched once more as the heavy troller engines of the Heart began to win their battle with the heavy bulk of the Dwari ship. Grimbeard turned his vessel to port, once more straining with the wheel, a sick popping noise coming from him as his shoulder popped out of its socket! Grimbeard, in the dpeths of his madness, barely noticed even as him arm went limp. Lashed to the wheel, the left arm could only twist with the right as the Heart began to pull her captive towards a large outcropping on reef. As the Heart gained speed Grimbeard jerked the wheel to starboard and rushed in between another wave and into the middle of the reef, water pounding across her ruined deck and oushing the Heart forward. The Dwari vessel wrenched hard at the anchor chain between the starts and stops of the water, the deck cleats on the Heart straining not to pull free. Her cpatain ordered his Orc slaves all hands on deck, each Orc bearing a simple iron bar, swarming across the screws and trying to break the iron hold the Heart had on her. Waves washed over the screws, throwing many of the slaves overboard, where they were ground under by the mighty vessel or pulped against the reef. And still the Heart pulled it onward towards her date with destiny........"

Once more the old man paused in the telling, an expression of weariness coming across his weathered features as he leaned back towards the fire, his back cracking as he stretched forth his hands to warm them by the fire.

"Are ye alright mate?" inquired one of the sailors.

"Ya, no worries friend. Tis simply the ale catching up with me, perhaps I indulge too much. But fer now, where were we? Oh yes........"

..........." The storm had reached its crescendo at this point, the thunder pelting the vessels like a mighty hammer. An awful shrieking of metal broke through the thunder as the Dwari ship was raked across the huge outcroppings of reef, the Heart rushing forward as the Dwari vessel ground to a final halt, doomed and not knowing it. As the bulk of the reef pushed through the waterline and sides, the Chaos Dwarf vessel opened up like a guttef ish, metal, lumber, oil and sailors pouring out of the belly of the beast as the hole rent wider. The ocean began to fill with twisted lumber, foul oil and pulverized remains of greenskin slave and Chaos Dwarf master alike, as the monster writhed in its death throes, wailing like a dying beast as her belly continued to open."

"Grimbeard kept the throttle open even as the chains pulled taunt when the Dwari vessel ground to a dead stop. The chians jerked taunt, pulling the cleats out of their moors and freeing the Heart from her burden. Looking over his shoulder Grimbeard saw the Dwari ship come to halt and woofed loudly! He jerked the wheel around and brought the Heart back towards the doomed enemy, her hull low in the water as the ship continued to take on water, her engines going silent as the bearings burned out and the boilers shut down. The Heart drifted onwards, Grimbeard fully able to view the demise of his enemy even as it continued to bleed its guts into the ocean. Satisfied the Dwari ship was doomed, Grimbeard drew a straggled breath, the full measure of madness gone and clarity returning as he realized the price he paid for the death of the monster. He could only watch in agony as the adreneline wore off and his dislocated shoulder throbbed to life. Unable to remove the lashings he could only nod in satisfaction at the destruction he had wrought upon the enemy and his own vessel."

"The Heart drifted closer to the Dwari ship, parting wood and oil, crawling it seemed to embrace its enemy one final time. Watching from the pile of jagged rocks near the port of the Dwari vessel, Sheer wintnessed this final embrace, the salt water burning into his cuts, his arm broken, his good arm clinging helplessly to the rocks. Several of the enemy crew had abandoned ship and sought shelter on the reef proper, or clinging to makeshift rafts, as the Heart drifted closer to her fallen foe. Some scrambled onto the ruined deck of the Heart, making for the wheelhouse and her mad captain. Grimbeard could do nothing to defend himself as the Hobgoblins swarmed him in a flurry of knives and clubs, refusing to scream or cry out, his venegeance done. Sheer cried out to his captain, a gnarled green foot kicking him in the mouth from his side. Blood filled his mouth and his vision for an instant, then finding an Orc towering over him, its face split in an evil grin, a pistol in its hand. The Orc glared at Sheer for a moment longer than raised the pistol towards the Heart. What the Orc hoped to do was curious, until Sheer saw the creature lower its arm and aim towards the water, the water filled with oil and powder kegsl!"

"Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!" screamed Sheer as the flintlock hit striker, the shot flying into the night, the hot lead hitting the nearest keg."

"The night was lit by a vast sheet of flames as the oil, naplam and other flammiable materials in the water exploded into flame. The Heart of the Sea went up in a ball of flaming debris, raining down upon the reef and the wrekage of the Dwari ship. Secondary explosions erupted as the powder stores went up in fire, ripping apart the trapped ship, casting debris and seared corpses into the air. More and more powder and flammables exploded, bathing the reef in flame, lighting the sky a crimson and orange blanket that fell back to sea, extinquishing them mercifully beneath the cold dark waters. A whirlpool of water had opened beneath the wrecks, water parting, the jagged remains of both ships drawn down intot he depths with an explosion of bubbles. A final scream of tortured metal rang out from the ruined vessels as the sea claimed them in her cold embrace. The final act for the Heart of the Sea....."

"Sheer, his eye swollen from the Orc kick, struggled to remain afloat while grasping at the rocks, struggling to remain awake even as darkness overtook him. His last vision before the explosion was of the Orc that had destroyed his captain, his ship, his kin, his life. A beastly creature with a knot of scars, a vile rune tattoed on his left arm, a tattoo in the Dwari language, the mark of a slave, the Dwari words spelling out Numba 46......"

Silence reined in the taproom, each of the sailors unsure as to their feelings at this point. Some felt sadness, some anger, Some disbelief, some didnt know what they felt. The old man broke the akward silence.

"And so was the fate of the Heart of the Sea. Days later the mangled form of mate Sheer was found by a Dwarven Monitor, Hope of Vallaya, floating on the ruins of a deck board, broken, mangled and hovering on deaths door. Every fish in the ocean seemed to have taken a bite out of his bum during his sojourn and the healers worked for weeks to nurse him back from deaths door. His soul was beyond healing though and a burning hatred of the Orc with the tattoo smouldered in his heart.

"Years later he would see that Dwari rune again, incorporated in a flag being flown from a pirate vessel. This news fired his heart even more and he spent all his coin trying to find out the identity of this pirate ship and if it were a simple coincidence that this rune was being used by greenskins, or was it something else, something dark from his past, something that robbed him of a happy life of home and hearth."

"For you see mateys, this greenskin pirate WAS to prove to be the same Orc that Mate Sheer had sworn vengenace against, the Orc pirate Grimjaw BlackSquig...."

"You mangy Git!" cried Spivey. "You had me goin and now I find out its all lies? Dat would mean that BlackSquig is over 200 years old!"

"Tis ture grey beard! You hooked us good old man! I was believin yer tale till now." said another.

The inn keeper could conly chuckle to himself, having heard the old man spin his tales on more than one occasion, but it was always good for business and so he let him hook more than one sailor!

"Aw bugger! We thought you was sqaure with us, maybe even been to Lustria. But now we can see that you are just a charlton, preying on the weak minded and drunkards!"

The old man rose to his feet, dusting off his robes and finishing his tankard. He belched loudly and eyed the sailors with a stern gaze.

"Think what you want ladz, but tis all true what I said. BlackSquig and Sheer were both forged on that fateful day, their fates bound forever. And remember what we talked about at the start of this evening."

"Bah, off to your hovel old man! You aint never been to Lustria I wager, only adventure you have ever had was getting to the bottom of your tankard!"

The sailors, all laughing and hearty now, watched the old man leave, his form shuffling through the taproom towards the front door. Here he reached for the door and paused. He turned back towards the table of sailors.

"Believe what you like dolts, but never doubt me!"

He reached into his robes and drew forth something in his hand. He hurled it towards the table, a bright bundle of objects gleaming in the fire light, turning over and over again before coming to a clattering rest on the tabletop. Several of the coins, now visable, spun and shimmered for a moment before settling to a stop. Staring at the coins, the sailors could only gasp. For the large wheels of gold before them were of unusual make, larger than normal coin, thicker, more gold, stamped with symbols they had seen on the captains map, stamped in the forms of leering snake like faces, Lustrian gold!

The door opened and the wind came screaming in, a cold blast that shocked the taproom patrons, the sailors looking up in awe from the coins to the old man in the doorway. A flash of lightning and he was gone......

An epic tale of revenge and madness Kaptain! A belated welcome aboard sir, as well.

Von Kurst (aka Arrgberg, Al Muktar et al...)