Al-Haikk, the City of Thieves

Week 7--Public Drunkenness, Larceny, Blasphemy and Murder

The Usual Suspects
Bob--Savage Orcs
Chad--Witch Hunters
Chris--Araby Smugglers
Harganok--Skaven ( AKA The Sewer Slinkers)
playtable--Araby Slavers (AKA The Khalibon Manpower Exchange)
Rob--Skaven (AKA The Perkminkin)
Von Kurst--Arabyan Thieves (AKA Baba Ali's Gang of Nearly Twenty Thieves)

Last Orders
A confused brawl between the Khalibon Manpower Exchange, the Perkminkin and the Smugglers


Report of the Night Watch, 1st Month, 30th day, Year of the Leopard

The Third Patrol investigated reports of drunkenness, foul sorcery and brawling in the Thieves Quarter at the 18th hour.   The establishment known as the Blow Hole was found a shambles.  The landlord reports broken furniture, crockery and windows.  Damage was estimated at 300 dinars. Mutants, criminal gangs or chaos worshipers are suspected to have caused the damage, although the landlord could not or would not identify any culprits by name.  The body of an Arabyan male, aged twenty to twenty five years, was discovered in a nearby alley.  The man appeared to have died from blunt force trauma to the head, although cause of death is difficult to determine since vermin have been at the body.  The landlord contends the man must have passed out, hit his head and been devoured by stray dogs. The landlord could not identify the body, nor could any of the other witnesses.

As usual large rats were seen in the vicinity, although the landlord denies this could be possible.  Certain witnesses claim to have seen walking man-sized rodents, ogres and a witch "who threw fire from her finger tips, may the One strike me blind!"  In a troubling development the man-sized rodents were described as "the black and tan ones, not the green and golds from over by the docks."

The Landlord was fined 100 dinars for operating a disorderly house and 50 dinars for encouraging the spread of vermin.

playtable wrote:

Rob tried to smuggle daggers in with everyone and failed only 2 (one being his sorcerer).
My 5 slaves tried and failed 3 and an Old Battle Wound kept Khaldoon, a hero, out for 2nd game in a row. I think the guy is chicken!
So, Rob started 2 short and I started out 4 short.
Chris did not try.

Rob went 1st and most of his charges were againt Chris.
Rob only had 2 on ground floor and, between Chris' 4 and my 6, they didn't last long.
Chris routed with 1 still down there but I never fought her.
I eventually took all the ground floor.


Baghel, the ogre henchman charged up the stairs but never got past the 2 giant rats at the top.  He only took 1 OOA.

2nd floor:


skaven hero charged Chris' model and blocked the left door forever.
I had 1 slave and Fathi II, Caravan guard hero, on 2nd floor.  They got charged by 2 giant rats and a skaven (maybe Night runner?).
The slave went OOA early but Fathi II held on against all 3.  The giant rats had a hard time hitting him with his ws5.  They fought until the end.  Fathi II couldn't hit or wound all night.

Chris' girls left their lone cat/rat fight and climbed up into the attic.


My boss, Aaghaar, was stuck in the attic with  a wardog.
The wardog charged a giant rat, got charged by another giant rat, knocked one down, boss came to help and neither could do anything.
Rob's heroes charged Chris' girls in the back corner and stayed there many rounds. 3 skaven against 2 girls with 2 girls hemmed in.
Chris routed 1st with Rob a turn or 2 later.
Woo hoo, I win.

Post battle:
Chris lost 1 henchman but no one else died.
Aaghaar got his 3rd wound, and Asim went from slave to Caravan guard.
6 heroes now!  I added a 3rd warhound.
Lenny the Lazar has a 3" fright zone now.
219.5 warband rating, 1 hired sword + 14 members (including 4 slaves and 1 ogre).
4 wins, 3 losses

Robperk wrote:

My Assassin became Hardened.

[More to follow...]

CONGRATULATIONS, playtable! Skill & daring pay off!   

New Arrivals

After spending a few days in a cold US Mail lock box, Mir Sher and the Genie Binder have arrived from the land of Texas to adventure in Araby.  Many thanks to the incomparable Deafnala    



They were pressed into immediate service on a dark Arabyan night.  Mir Sher replaced the hero Mustafa, who has only been a shadowy presence in a few photos anyway.  Now that her true identity is revealed the Nearly Twenty Thieves can only wonder, is Mir Sher also the slave girl, Morgiana? A mystery from Baba Ali's past?

And what of the Djinn Binder...

Fancy Meetin' YOU 'ere!
A reprise of an earlier meeting between the Nearly Twenty Thieves (warband rating 326) and the Savage Orcs (warband rating 218)

Faisal al Hairytoe stared into the dark gloom of the Thieves Quarter.  Somewhere nearby someone or some thing was chanting a crude but incomprehensible rhyme.  The voices sounded familiar, but Faisal could not remember where he had heard them before.  The scout turned to ask the new warlock, known as the Djinn Binder, his opinion.

"Great Magus..." Faisal began.  The halfling stopped, frozen by the horror that met his gaze.  The Djinn Binder was lying face up in the moonlight, dead eyes starring into infinity.  From the Magus' chest sprouted a crude arrow fletched with buzzard feathers.  The Magus had been murdered as he stood just there not six feet from Faisal in this ruined house!  Faisal had heard nothing!  Nothing but the chanting!  Faisal started to sound the alarm, but his signal was cut short by another arrow out of the darkness.  

The chanting reached a crescendo!  With a shout dozens of bare feet slapped the ground as orcs rushed up the dusty street toward the Officer's Club and the unprepared Nearly Twenty Thieves...

The Savage Orcs clash with the Thieves.  Ghouls lurk in the orcs' flank.


Post Battle
The orcs killed two hench-thieves and the newly hired Djinn Binder, who was struck down by a lucky shot out of the night on the first turn!  Farid nearly suffered a similar fate on turn three, but gained Horrible Scars.  The Thieves fled with 6 or 7 out of action.  Once again a friendly guard had to be bribed to release a veteran thief to replace one who was killed.  The Djinn Binder miraculously reappeared after Baba Ali spent another thirty dinars.  The newly hired Thief, Sabadam, failed to steal anything and was instead chased from the Bazaar.

The orcs at least suffered several boyz and a hero out of action.  The orcs gained much experience (+3 underdogs) and gold.  The also found a jeweled sword and dagger in exploration.

Losing to the Mostly Grey Orcs could be blamed on the new minis...death & crushing defeat tend to be attracted to fresh paint. GREAT REPORT & PHOTOS nonetheless!   

Can you post more pictures of a Boat House, please?

There's a thread that deserves some looks here--
https://boringmordheimforum.forumieren.com/t1842-the-blow-hole-for-sartosa

Deafnala wrote:

Losing to the Mostly Grey Orcs could be blamed on the new minis...death & crushing defeat tend to be attracted to fresh paint.

   Na, its a familiar story to me, one week my warband will crush opponents unmercifully, the next I will lose to half my numbers. At this point the Thieves are so rich, the loss of three models is nothing.

Beautiful piece of terrain! Thanks for the link, it seems that I have missed the topic!

Harganok wrote:

VK:  Yep, I could be persuaded.  Heres a couple pics of the project so far.  I got the ideas from pics I saw in a different forum.  Its still very much in progress:










SerialMOM:  I think the cobblestone mat can be found on Amazon.  Check for a product made by a company called Department 56 or maybe Lemax

1. your dungeon is looking so awesome. aNother terrain i would love to play on.

2. Thank to you and vK for the Cobblestone info.

3. I just scimmed through the other pictures above again and i found a cart with oriental carpets. I really fell in love with that and all the other oriental market parts.

If you will sell it someday please contact me.

Note to self--SerialMoM gets the pile o' carpets.  That's it, you're in the will.   No fair trying to collect early.     
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Week 7--Sirrah, Ye Lie!
A battle between the Hunters of the Fallen and the Sewer Slinkers

Report of the Watch, 1st Month, 30th day, Year of the Leopard

The Sixth Patrol was requested to provide security or a group of Unbelievers touring the Grand Souk in the Arabyan Quarter at the sixth hour.  When the patrol arrived at the rendezvous point they discovered a scene of slaughter and larceny.  According to the survivors, the Unbelievers were set upon by mutants and chaos worshipers who committed assault and battery upon the persons of the Outlanders and did steal the property of one of them.  Another, said to be a priest of the false sect of Handrich, was murdered by the mutants.  The name of the victim is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

The leader of the Outlanders filed a complaint with the Emir charging the Captain of the Watch with dereliction of duty for failing to arrive before the appointed hour to meet the Outlanders and failing to secure the area of the Grand Souk.

The mutants were said to be hunched, rodent-like individuals accompanied by huge rat familiars who did their bidding like dogs.  One of the mutants was said to be a giant, who did fearsome execution among the Unbelievers.

Since the Unbelievers had badges of rank within the Occupiers and safe conducts from the Palace, they were not arrested despite their obvious intoxication and delusion.  A search of the area revealed only blood stains and curious drag marks.  No trace of the mutants remains.

A zealot is cornered by the hunting pack.


The Hunter's Captain attempts to take refuge from the Skaven horde.

Harganok wrote:

That guy on the stairs actually lived, but it was not such a great game for Chad. We played an ambush type scenario where groups came on the board in different turns. No watch showed up.  We had crowds of people, but they fled pretty early on when Chad started shooting at me, and the crowd only stuck around for 1 turn so they weren't really a factor. He had a few heroes go out of action: his warrior priest died, I think one got a deep wound , and another was robbed.

I lost one verminkin (died) to a crazed flagellant but that was it. Rats were everywhere, and my henchmen did most of the killing (as usual) before Chad chose to rout.

"When constabularies duties to be done, to be done, 
A Policeman's lot is not a happy one."     

Week 8--Low Crimes and Misdemeanors

The Usual Suspects
Bob--Savage Orcs (AKA The Mostly Grey Tribe)
Chris--Araby Smugglers
Harganok--Skaven ( AKA The Sewer Slinkers)
playtable--Araby Slavers (AKA The Khalibon Manpower Exchange)
Von Kurst--Arabyan Thieves (AKA Baba Ali's Gang of Nearly Twenty Thieves)

Sirrah, Ye Lie!
A short but eventful battle between the Smugglers and the Sewer Slinkers

Report of the Watch, 2nd Month, 13th day, Year of the Leopard

The 4th patrol of the Caliph's Cohort was summoned to the Grand Souk of the Arabyan Quarters. The complaint was a Disturbance of the Peace. The patrol was dispatched with all haste, but alas when they arrived the Souk was a shambles. Witnesses detained at the scene report the usual bipedal mutant rodents, blasphemy and sorcery.

The brawl apparently started when a Crimashin Assassin attacked one of the mutant rodents. The mutants then fell upon any bystanders who had not fled the area. The bodies of a male human assassin, a Janissary and a local thief known as Sal'ad bin Abid were discovered. Each had been stabbed and/or suffered blunt force trauma. Vermin had been at the bodies as well, despite the fact that the bodies were still warm when the patrol discovered them.

As usual no trace of bipedal mutant rodents was discovered although the witnesses claim that the mutants were the "gold and greens from over by the docks." Further questioning revealed that "gold and green" refers to the livery worn by these mutants not skin coloring as previously thought.

Arem Shah, a merchant of ill repute, claimed his stall was destroyed and a jeweled sword and dagger worth 12 dinars stolen. Assad bin Abin the bookseller claimed to have lost a rare Book of Knowledge to unknown thieves.

The Crimashin Assassin attacks a Skaven hero.


More Skaven heroes attempt to save their injured comrade (why?).


The panicked crowd trample the Rat Ogre.


Angry Skaven swarm the market place.


Many of the Smugglers were trampled by the crowd, then a group of Skaven appeared behind them...


Post Battle
The Smugglers fled at the earliest opportunity once the Skaven surrounded them. The watch never arrived. They were summoned on turn 2 but Harganok rolled a 6 for the number of turns it would take them to reach the scene... A Janissary and the hired thief were killed in the rout. The Smugglers gained a Book of Knowledge in exploration.

The Sewer Slinkers reported no casualties. They gained a jeweled sword and dagger in exploration.

Von Kurst wrote:

More Skaven heroes attempt to save their injured comrade (why?).

He probably owed them some $s...or the equivalent.
YET ANOTHER COOL REPORT! Congratulations to the Rat Guys!   

Week 8--Press Gang
Another encounter with the Khalibon Manpower Exchange

Report of the Night Watch, 2nd Month, 13th day, Year of the Leopard

Rumors of a massacre in the Thieves Quarter reached the headquarters of the Caliph's Cohort at the 18th hour.  A reinforced patrol was dispatched to the scene the following day.  Upon arrival the patrol discovered the bodies of seven males between the ages of 20 and 40 years.  The victims had mostly stab wounds although several had been bludgeoned to death.  One man was a Kushite slave, possibly a runaway as the Khalibon Manpower Exchange reported a slave stolen overnight.  The others were typical residents of the Thieves Quarter.  No motive for the murders has been discovered at this time.

All of the bodies and the corpse of one hound were discovered within sight of or on the premises of the notorious Angry Squig Tavern, a business of ill repute known to serve forbidden beverages.  The owner was fined 200 dinars for running a disreputable house.  

Witnesses claim the night was dark as pitch and nothing could be seen.  Although no one claims to have seen mutants, there are rumors of ogres and a flying magus.

Al Bobo and Karim subdue the fiesty drunk who stunned Mir Shah.


Another drunken peasant does for Baldo.


The Manpower Exchange tries not to damage the merchandise.




The Ogre fails miserably to even contact the peasant.


Time passes, the Ogre is wounded twice by the angry drunk.  A slave helps the beast dispatch the drunk, but then Abu and Hassan attack the slave.


Farid and Kasim the Knife join the Djinn Binder in threatening a drunk.


Karim tries to save Al Bobo, but is taken out of action himself.


Post Battle
The Manpower Exchange failed a rout test before they could murder Al Bobo.  The slavers captured 3 drunks but killed 2.  A hound and a slave were killed.  The slavers report nothing good from exploration, despite having 6 dice to roll. The Ogre finally becomes a hero!

The Nearly Twenty Thieves lost no one for the first time in a long time.  Karim did lose an eye, but that merely makes him a more effective Beggar.  The Thieves killed 3 drunks and captured 2.  However they were able to get a great return on selling the captives into slavery. (22 dinars!) A Hired Sword returns a favor and much money is earned in exploration.  The Thief steals the deed to a nice House in the Thieves Quarter.

Ahhh, this was a nice battle.

COOL report & WONDERFUL photos! The Thieves, like Congress, prove that crime does pay.   

Thanks for the kind words gents.
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Week 8--The Wizard's Mansion
The Mostly Grey Tribe versus the Sewer Slinkers and the Smugglers

Report of the Shore Patrol, Jahrdrung, 13th day, 2013

As per Order #A19859 a standard patrol of the 1st Cohort entered the Arabyan Quarters seeking evidence of chaos activity or rebellion among the native inhabitants. At approximately 1100 hrs the patrol heard the sounds of a skirmish and investigated.

The patrol encountered three armed groups. One who appeared to be made up of oddly shaped humanoids clad in green and gold was barricaded within what appeared to be a Temple of Mannan. The humanoids were being assaulted by the Mostly Grey Tribe of Savage Orcs from the east and an armed group of Arabyans from the west.

Because of suspected chaos activity the patrol advanced on the Temple. They encountered some resistance from the Mostly Grey Tribe which was easily brushed aside. The Savage Orcs fled from the scene. The Marines then fired a volley into the Temple. Sergeant Schultz ordered his men to charge through the smoke, but when the doors of the Temple were forced no sign of the chaotics could be discovered. The Temple was secured and the patrol returned to the Occupied Zone.

A patrol of Imperial Nordland Marines advances on the Temple.


The Mostly Grey Tribe assaults the east wall of the Alamo, er the Temple.


Post Battle
Aside from a lively discussion of whether Vermintide may be cast into a melee combat involving a friendly model, I have little knowledge of this fight. The Savage Orcs report being whupped, but no details of the whuppin' have survived. The game may have ended by Store Closing shortly after the orcs fled.

Sundayheim--The Eaters of the Dead

Alleged Perpetrators
Rob--Skaven (AKA The Perkminkin)
Von Kurst--Tomb Guardians (AKA Lord Impho-tep's Eternal Court)

Report of the Night Watch, 2nd Month, 16th day, Year of the Leopard

Top Secret
Prince Ahmed Shah was reported missing last evening about the 22nd hour.  Several reinforced patrols were dispatched to search for him.  Reports of a madman matching the Prince's description wandering the Maze were received and the 4th Patrol rushed to investigate.  Upon arrival the patrol discovered nothing except a few corpses of giant wharf rats and some blood stains.

Witnesses described a short skirmish between mutants and walking dead.  The alleged witnesses described animated statues, battles between rodents and huge Nehekaran scorpions.  The "Dead Prince" was referred to several times.  The mutants were described as the Black and Tans.  Supposedly the forces of the 'Dead Prince' took the madman from the Black and Tans.

Naturally all witnesses were taken to the Fortress of Sorrow for further interrogation.  No trace of the Prince or a 'Dead Prince' was found.  Prince Ahmed Shah is feared to have been kidnapped.

The forces of Prince Impho-tep advance upon the unsuspecting Mad Prince (played here by Al Bobo).


The Perkminkin mass on the other side of the square.


The forces meet!  The enraged Prince stumbles in the darkness, putting him at the skavens' mercy.


The skaven capture the Prince, however, they take heavy losses.


Post Battle
The skaven fled. One or more giant rats died.  The wounded hero becomes Hardened.  A Rat Ogre is purchased to bolster the ranks.

The Eternal Court suffered no losses.  A Tomb Guard is promoted to Hero. (Thank the gods, having only 4 heroes is tough!) The plots of Prince Impho-tep advance.  

COOL REPORT & PHOTOS! That started my Song of the Day: "He coulda won Grammy, buried in his jammies, King Tut."     

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgTPH5y1-ZI   
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Sundayheim--Press Gang!

Report of the Night Watch, 2nd Month, 16th day, Year of the Leopard

Several residents of the Thieves Quarter were reported missing.  After the third report a reinforced patrol was dispatched to investigate.  Upon arrival several complaints of a disturbance were registered as well.  All of the complaints centered upon the establishment known as the Old Camel Trough Tavern.  Further investigation resulted in the discovery of the corpse of an Arabyan male 25-35 years of age who had been stabbed to death along the Street of Alms Takers.

Witnesses complained of a skirmish between the Black and Tans (perhaps a local gang of mutants?) and the forces of the 'Dead Prince' (a new necromancy cult?).  It is assumed that the disappearances of the local men and the skirmish are connected, although in what way remains a mystery.  Further investigation of the victims reveals that all were of questionable moral fiber, they were residents of the Thieves Quarter after all.

In all five men were reported missing.  One, Abdul bin Habban, was the murder victim.  Of the others there is no trace, although with men of that type, anything could have happened to prevent their return to the hovels they called home.

One witness claims he was accosted by a dead noble still wearing the funeral garments of ancient Nehekara.  The man claims to have escaped by leaping from the roof he had been sleeping on and fleeing into the night.  Naturally the fellow could not identify the building when pressed. Unfortunately this individual died under questioning.

The owner of the Old Camel Trough was fined 250 dinars for operating a public nuisance.

An overview of the skirmish.  


A cute little monkey stole some throwing stars from a skaven hero and tried to deliver them to Khufu the Priest.  Giant rats try to prevent this.


Ahmoser the Mummy confronts a drunk.  Alas the game ended before Ahmoser could 'recruit' the fellow.


Post Battle
The Perkminkin lost 2 heroes and almost all the giant rats out of action.  As usual the skaven morale broke with the first test.  One hero fully recovered and the other survived against the odds.  Another giant rat died of its injuries.  On the other hand the swift skaven captured 4 drunks and killed one.  The skaven invest their income in an Unholy relic and a warhorn.

The Eternal Court lost a scorpion. They captured no drunks, but did get to roll 6 dice for exploration. Khufu gained a monkey and throwing stars.   The Mummy Huni purchased a skeletal steed.  (Huni has a broken leg that will not heal.)

Love the pictures, unfortunately the youtube link did not work for me.

Woof. It works for me, but that doesn't mean anything. Anyone else?
(Its the first entry of a Google search for Steve Martin singing King Tut.)

He died for tourism...it worked for me also.   

Von Kurst wrote:

Thanks for the kind words gents.
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Week 8--The Wizard's Mansion
The Mostly Grey Tribe versus the Sewer Slinkers and the Smugglers

Report of the Shore Patrol, Jahrdrung, 13th day, 2013

As per Order #A19859 a standard patrol of the 1st Cohort entered the Arabyan Quarters seeking evidence of chaos activity or rebellion among the native inhabitants.  At approximately 1100 hrs the patrol heard the sounds of a skirmish and investigated.

The patrol encountered three armed groups.  One who appeared to be made up of oddly shaped humanoids clad in green and gold was barricaded within what appeared to be a Temple of Mannan.  The humanoids were being assaulted by the Mostly Grey Tribe of Savage Orcs from the east and an armed group of Arabyans from the west.

Because of suspected chaos activity the patrol advanced on the Temple.  They encountered some resistance from the Mostly Grey Tribe which was easily brushed aside.  The Savage Orcs fled from the scene.  The Marines then fired a volley into the Temple.  Sergeant Schultz ordered his men to charge through the smoke, but when the doors of the Temple were forced no sign of the chaotics could be discovered.  The Temple was secured and the patrol returned to the Occupied Zone.

A patrol of Imperial Nordland Marines advances on the Temple.


The Mostly Grey Tribe assaults the east wall of the Alamo, er the Temple.


Post Battle
Aside from a lively discussion of whether Gnawdoom may be cast into a melee combat involving a friendly model, I have little knowledge of this fight. The Savage Orcs report being whupped, but no details of the whuppin' have survived.  The game may have ended by Store Closing shortly after the orcs fled.

You are correct, VK.  The orcs pulled out just before store closing to avoid the loss of their shaman and boss (I think).  That meant the Araby smugglers and I were left at store closing when the game ended.  As far as the battle goes, I took the orcs' Ogre out of action and maybe 1-2 other guys with some diving charges from the church I was defending in the middle. The smugglers didn't move out of their deployment zone too much and stayed out of combat, taking some shots at me from near his edge of the board the whole time (fearful of the rats, no doubt!). The shore patrol came in and took a few shots at just about everyone, but didn't affect the game too much.  I had a night runner, a giant rat, my elf assassin, and a verminkin go out as I was getting pelted from both sides.  The verminkin died but everyone else fully recovered.  

Very fun reports! I love the format of patrol notes and the perspective that that brings to the narrative (all those poor tavern owners must be broke by now with so many fines flying around!)