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| Click this link for more pictures from the battle |
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| Click this link for more pictures from the battle |
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| Click this link for more pictures from the battle |
Yesterday a bloody battle was fought in the south of Mordheim between the Order of the Templars of Sigmar and a clan of Ostlanders. Executioner's Square, where criminals used to be executed in front of eager crowds in the days before the disaster, was the scene of the carnage. The Templars of Sigmar, known colloquially as 'witch hunters', led by the brothers Grimm entered the square shortly after an extended family of Ostlanders had arrived, eager for the wyrdstone that lay scattered there. Naturally the righteous fury of the witch hunters was ignited when encountering these inbred followers of a false god. Their charge was almost cut short however when a rain of arrows from the mountainfolk came down upon them. Ducking into the ruins to avoid the missile fire, the brothers Grimm sent their infamous warhounds ahead to attack the flank. All was nearly lost when these encountered a huge ogre-kin who stood ready to destroy them with his sword and axe (and possibly his alcohol-laden breath as well). But then the god Sigmar himself intervened and shone his light into the eyes of the foul giant. Again and again it swung its weapons at the trustworthy hounds, but all his blows fell short. The infidel-priest of Taal tried to call upon his dark Lord for aid but Sigmar denied him access to his devilish powers. Soon the Ostlander pater familias was forced to sound the retreat, leaving two clansmen who were his sons, uncles or possibly both dead on the field and his priest badly wounded. Rumours that the witch hunters burned the mark of Sigmar into the priest's forehead with the headsman's tools found in a nearby shed remain unconfirmed. For the moment, the brothers Grimm and there witch hunters rule Executioner's Square, and it looks like they'll be staying a while.
Most Mordheim residents will remember the lone shepherd Roelof van 't Schaep often encountered in the moors to the southwest of our once fair city. This strange man, recognizable by his scraggly beard and accompanied by one or more sheep and a penetrating body odour was usually avoided by most decent travelers. Since last week, however, Van 't Schaep has become a part of the witch hunting group of the brothers Grimm that has made its way into our city to cleanse the evil from its streets. We were able to exchange a few words with the shepherd-turned-zealot while his band was resting after a skirmish in Executioner's Square (see elsewhere in this paper). "These people have changed my life," claims Van 't Schaep, "they introduced me to new concepts such as devotion to Sigmar, bathing and shaving." This is indeed illustrated by the fact that Roelof is now without his former beard and actually smells better than the sheep which is still a constant companion. "When I saw these folks in the woods I just thought I'd wander up to them and babble incoherently 'till they'd give me food, like I always did. But when I got closer, I saw they were busy burying a big dog. Later they told me this doggie had been chopped up by some nasty midgets on a bridge. Since I really love animals, and they had lots of other doggies, I decided to help them. Father Arnold gave me a firm sermon about our great Lord Sigmar and that's when I saw the light and joined them for real. Luckily they allowed me to bring my favourite sheep along with me." At this, Van 't Schaep goes into a long monologue on the merits of his sheep which is not suitable for publication. "Anyway," he concludes, "I thought the brothers Grimm only wanted me as a bodyguard, but when I got a piece of wyrdstone for 'em and had this vision from Sigmar that showed me that secret passage, they immediately promoted me. Now I'm in charge of the inventory and supplies for the whole warband. Like this cheese for example...". Some folks may miss the rustic charm shepherd Van 't Schaep brought to the southwestern moors, but we can all be heartened by the fact that he is now putting himself to good use for the Templars of Sigmar.
