| Dear Arch-Preceptor Vandinius the White, My Lord, we have arrived at the Cursed City without trouble. However, our arrival was delayed by a minor skirmish with the Lord of Murder, may Sigmar curse his name. My brothers and I sent twenty-three cultists to the arms of our Lord for Judgement. My Lord, Mordheim is all that we feared. Here we must hide our holy raiment from the locals as we traverse through the streets of the mercenary town that has been erected outside of the city proper. As instructed, my Brothers and I began searching for the Chaos stone that we may destroy it and win Sigmar�s favor. It was upon a foraging trip that we came across our first taste of battle with the heathens. Pennywise, my faithful Squire, noted movement and strange sounds around us as we combed the west end of Lowertown. Grunting and shuffling, the occasional sound of rubble being crushed. Immediately we broke out into formation to prepare for the attack. At that point, a Squire spotted a shard of the �Wyrdstone� in the rubble before us. We began immediate movement in that direction. Out of the mist raced a horrible figure, heading straight for the shard that we had located in the ruins. My Lord, the rumors of Chaos present in the Empire are true for no mere humanoid was this... Nine feet tall it stood, on legs carved of stony, sooty skin. It moved faster than one could believe in such a massive beast. Two large horns curved forth from its brow and it wielded a heavy, silvery mace in each yard-long arm. It moved quickly towards the stone and grabbed it before we could reach it. The Squires spread out to cover its escape routes with their deadly arrows. Several shots were fired, but to no avail, the fog must have had some evil effect on the expert marksmanship of the Lord�s Men. The Ogre reared up and bellowed a horrible cry that echoed throughout the city. To our dismay, it was answered by another beast not far away. It became clear that the Ogre was planning on escaping with the artifact so we moved forward at great haste. I charged in, followed by Sir Dagog and his deadly halberd. As we moved closer to the retreating beast I challenged the beast to stand and fight. By Sigmar, it understood me!! It turned around and charged at me with murderous fury!! Its two maces moved faster than I can reflect upon and dashed downward onto my defenses. The Greatsword of my family could not hope to counter the speed of such weaponry. As the first blow defeated my defenses, a crackling white light intercepted the blow and I felt my Holy Talisman shatter beneath the Ogrish power. The second mace came in too quickly and knocked me to the ground, bloodied but very much alive. Sir Hrothfeld and a pair of the Squires moved on the right flank, covering me just as a second Ogre appeared from the mists. I heard bowshots but no answering hurt. My attention was mainly focussed on the murderous brute standing over me. I heard chanting to my left as Brother Mycah strode in and called upon the fury of Sigmar. It may be that Our Lord has truly deserted this city for no aid was granted His faithful follower. But the distraction allowed the Ogre�s attention to be diverted providing time for Brother Mycah and Pennywise to engage the beast. My Lord, the bravery of Pennywise was never so evident as it was that day. I beg of you to soon raise him to full knighthood for he is most worthy of the honor. Brother Mycah landed a blow upon the beast, however it was turned aside by the rough skin of the monster. Pennywise wielded his dagger with a holy fever but was unable to score a hit within the weaving arc of those maces. I saw the Ogre lash out and a flicker of white light enveloped our dear priest. Sigmar be praised! Our Lord was with us that day. On my right, Sir Hrothfeld had engaged the newcomer along with Sir Dagog. The mighty halberd of Dagog served to create a twisted furrow in the Ogre�s side. The rent sprayed black fetid blood over the pristine cloaks of my Brothers. Sir Hrothfeld moved forward and brandished the Glory of Our Lord, his Holy Blade. The white light seemed to move within the blade as he lashed out at the beast. However, the cunning Ogre smiled a toothy grin as he evaded the sword. His answering attack was met by the shield of Sir Hrothfeld. And the beast spoke to us. �Big Boss Chunk not afraid of puny man-things.� By the Lord! We were battling an Ogre Chieftain. Things were becoming grim. On my left, the other Ogre managed to score a hit on Brother Mycah but he was able to deflect it with his axe. Pennywise continued to occupy the Ogre granting me time to get to my feet. On the right, the Ogre lunged forward and attacked Sir Hrothfeld and Sir Dagog. The years of training in our armor paid off as both Templars managed to evade the blows of the Ogre Boss. Then good Sir Hrothfeld the Pure slashed forward, trusting in Sigmar. This trust was not denied for his blade captured the Ogre Boss in the abdomen spilling blood and entrails over the ruined cobblestones of the street. The Ogre�s deafening bellow shook the decrepit ruins of the night. He fell to the ground with thunderous crash and dropped a glowing shard of the Chaos rock. Immediately, his companion broke combat and ran to his aid. Heaving the comatose Ogre over his shoulder, the beast ran away into the Mordheim fog. By the time we began to chase, they were already gone. My Lord, we have captured one of the stones and have sent it by courier to the Citadel. Sir Hrothfeld, I have renamed as the OgreBane by the Light invested in me by Sigmar. At this time, we are resting but have word that a cruel, unjust group of Witchunters have been massing in the NorthEast quarter. They claim to represent Sigmar and yet they commit all sorts of atrocities. We will soon move upon them when our physical and spiritual needs are sated. Fear not, My Lord, this mission is of the gravest importance and we will not fail in removing the stench of evil from the streets of Mordheim. Yours Faithfully in the Light, Sir Mathius Brimstone Preceptor of the Undying Light In the Year of Our Lord, 2000 |