Deeper into the Wilds of the Empire

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Chuikov had been stumbling around in the dark forest of hours now. He had found Alex first, then Georgy. As dawn broke, the remaining members of the warband had appeared, huddled tightly near a river bend, seeking refuge within an old Sigmarite ruin. 'His' warband, he mused to himself. What an odd turn of events. 

The men were strung out and tired. They had all marched south, following their new liege lord on a noble but ill-fated revenge quest into Ostermark, hunting for.. well, Chuikov had forgotten. 

Trudging on, the group entered a small clearing. Chuikov could hear the faint trickle of water and he led them slowly closer. They had no vodka, so water would be the next best thing. 

'Aye, keep your eyes peeled you lot, no telling what's out there. Alex, Vlad! Take watch while we fill the canteens. 

Taking a knee on a large rock, the two crossbowmen shouldered their weapons and scanned the opposing riverbank. 

'It's clear boss!', Vlad exclaimed. 'Should we make for that brid..', he trailed off, gurgling. Suddenly he fell limp, a short, black fletched arrow penetrating his throat. 

'Scatter! Take cover!', Chuikov bellowed as he darted behind a rocky outcrop. Arrows fell all around as he saw another of his men go down. Was it Oleg? He could not tell in the confusion.

'Ursun and Ulric!', he cursed to himself.

Chuikov risked a look. Their foes had begun to emerge from cover to press their advantage. At first glance, they looked like beastmen, but like none he had seen before. They were stunted, long tailed and rat-like. 

'Skaven', he muttered. He had heard whispers of these degenerate creatures in the taverns and opium dens, yet few believed in their existence. He would have to take a trophy or two.

Grinning, he broke cover, keeping low. 

'With me, lads! Make for the bridge! I need a drink and these rat-bastards won't be stopping me'.

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We are well and truly beyond the halfway point of our Mordheim campaign over in the Western Badlands now. Most of us have played atleast five games, including a multi-player and I think it has exceeded the expections of more than one player - me included!

First game of the night was against Skaven, in a breakthrough scenario. It did not go well for the Kislevites..

Our Skaven player had really tooled up his warband with missile weapons and I got cut-down pretty quick, those that survived got swarmed by giant rats as my guys raced for the bridge. I routed voluntarily and luckily, I fared okay in the post-match. 

Chuikov and his warband attempt to use the forest as cover as they rush the bridge.

The crossbowmen proved no problem for the Black Skaven.

Game two was a three-player encounter in which I fared somewhat better. Witch Hunters, Black Orcs and my Kislevites converged on a lonesome tavern at a cross-roads, somewhere in Ostermark. Waiting for the Orcs and Witch Hunters to thin out each others ranks, I pounced at the end for some cheap kills!

Kislevites skulk in the forest..

..While Witch Hunters & Black Orcs meet at the crossroads.

More of a photodump below of the last couple of rounds before we ran our finale, which I'll detail in my next post. We've actually already done it.. I'm just a bit behind!

Getting into position to face a Chaos Cult.

What is that!?

Going door to door.

That's it for now my friends. More Mordheim next time, but after that'll get into something different!

Looking forward to playing some Old World, Bolt Action, Necromunda and Old School 40k.

Cheers.