All of you grew up listening to stories of the Great War Against Chaos. The tale of Magnus the Pious and his victory over the armies of Chaos is well known. While there have been wars and threats in the 200 years since, there has been nothing on that scale. Until now. This year the Chaos Lord Archaon invaded the Empire with five mighty armies. They swept down from the Chaos Wastes, ranks filled with mutant warriors, nightmarish monsters, and power-mad sorcerers. Flagellants and other prophets of doom declared these the End Times. And as these armies pillaged and burned their way through the northern provinces of the Empire, it was easy to believe.
You've heard endless stories over the past few months. They say that Sigmar once again walked the earth. They say an army of wolves attacked the Kislevian city of Erengrad. They say the dead rose from their graves to defend the Empire. They say a mighty victory was won at Middenheim. They say a plague has choked the streets of Talabheim with bloated corpses.
You can only believe what is in front of your eyes. Your are in the town of Untergard in the Drakwald Forest. A nine-day battle took place here, as Beastmen tried to force their way across the town's great bridge. They were rebuffed but the price was high. The town is in ruins and its remaining citizens struggle to survive. The Imperial army has long since moved on from Untergard, leaving behind only its dead. You've heard tell of more battles up north but the war here seems over. Or so you hope.
You have been in Untergard for several days, as rainstorms of utmost savagery lashed the Drakwald. You find two things when you awaken: the rainstorm has broken and there is a commotion in the nearby Ackerplatz.
Most of the 75 survivors of Untergard have already gathered in the decrepit town square, and are muttering restlessly to one anotherl Many still nurse battle wounds; whilst others are clearly too old or young to have taken part in the fighting. All are ragged and pale, and some are clearly pinched by hunger.
Max Fire dresses in what were once brightly coloured clothes. The colours were of his favourite Blood Bowl team, the Halfling Chefs.
Max Fire carries a crossbow across his shoulder and is dressed in his mercenary armour. His unit sent repeated volleys into the beastman and now Max has several of his fingers wrapped from having blistered the skin repeatedly pulling back the string on the crossbow.
Still, like most mercenaries, a day that you are alive is a fresh reason to celebrate. It is hard to find a reason to be upset when you find yourself alive after thinking you were surly dead.
Max travels in good spirits towards the commotion to find out what is going on.
"Y'know, I hear that Tilean mercenary company lost a pay chest overboard into the river and it's just sitting there, waiting to make someone rich!" Max overhears from one of the local guards, sitting on a crate nursing a wounded leg. As one of said mercenaries, you find this hard to believe; surely you'd have heard about this if it was true!
Viktor is riding on a light brown horse. He is wearing a tabard colored in vivid green and yellow. He is wearing a mail shirt. When he is fighting, he puts on his mail coif. He is wearing a shield on his back, a sledge hammer fixed on his belt and he has a demilance in his hand.
He has been fighting for a few days. He's lucky, that he's still alive, but he isn't in a good mood. Though he is depressed inside, that will not stop him from protecting the villagers.
Viktor heads towards commotion. He tries to find out what's going on.
1d10
"Y'know, I hear that Tilean mercenary company lost a pay chest overboard into the river and it's just sitting there, waiting to make someone rich!" Max overhears from one of the local guards, sitting on a crate nursing a wounded leg. As one of said mercenaries, you find this hard to believe; surely you'd have heard about this if it was true!
Max flips a coin into the air and catches saying, 'Max Luck! This is my lucky day.'
Whilst mingling with the crowd, Viktor manages to uncover that Watch Captain Schiller received a message from Count Boris Todbringer of Middenheim and he's going to read it to the town.
Another of the guards, leaning languidly on his halberd, is idly chatting to a young woman who has lived through the battles around Untergard.
"I hear that Cap'n Schiller commanded his own mercenary company in years gone by," he says, clearly considering the Captain a man worthy of respect.
An older woman is gossiping to one of her friends, not far from the guard.
"Even with all them battles, Granny Moescher still ain't movin' inter town! Her and them orphans of hers are still livin' outside the walls o' the town! I hear her home weren't ever threatened by them Beastmen!"
Max is going to converse with people to try and find out how deep the river is around here.
As Yavandir sweeps through the grouped inhabitants of Untergard, he learns that Watch Captain Schiller has an important announcement to make.
"I hears that Count Todbringer is offerin' 10,000 crowns fer the head o' that beastman swine, Khazrak One-eye. 'pparently Khazrak and Todbringer been enemies fer years," he overhears two mercenaries speaking in hushed tones.
Yavandir is aware that Count Todbringer is the Elector Count of Middenland and the current Graf of Middenheim and as such, might not be readily available. More likely, he would have to take the head of Khazrak before being granted an audience, which might be more difficult than it sounds. Regardless, Watch Captain Schiller appears from a nearby building and begins to head towards the crowd.
Viktor tries to learn more about this Granny Moescher asking the locals. After then he rides on his horse somewhere away from the crowd, where he can oversee it.
'Ugh, that water's pretty gross right now. No self respecting halfling would dip their smallest toe in that foul soup. Course, that's Max Opportunity for me. No one else is going to be sticking their hands on my prize. A gaff pole and a bit, a small boat, and I'm a rich halfling. Max Success is here.'
Viktor's cursory questioning uncovers that Granny Moescher is a woman who has been around as long as anyone can remember and she's always looked after the orphans of the town, of which a few have grown into fine young citizens of Untergard with the rest heading for other destinations. Unfortunately due to the recent war the number of orphans has swelled somewhat as their parents were killed in the battles.
A ripple runs through the crowd as Captain Schiller appears. One of his watchmen sets up a box for him to stand on. He mounts it spryly for a man of his age. Though his uniform is torn and his armour dented, Captain Schiller still commands the respect of the crowd. He only needs to motion once before the crowd quiets down.
"People of Untergard," he begins, "this is a glorious day. I have received a letter from Count Todbringer of Middenheim. The old wolf still lives and the city of Middenheim also stands strong!"
The crowd cheers and once again Schiller must motion for silence.
"Count Todbringer sends his thanks to all of Untergard for the part we played in hampering the invaders. He said, and I quote, 'the battle for Untergard will go down as one of the most glorious battles in Middenland's history.' Be proud, people of Untergard, for our sacrifices have not been in vain!"
When the cheers die down, Schiller continues.
"To show his gratitude for our valour, the Count has sent us a token of his appreciation."
The captain reaches into a bag and pulls out a loaf of bread and a bottle of wine.
"We were honoured to receive thirty loaves of bread and a dozen bottles of win, straight from Middenheim."
The crowd goes wild at the sight of the Count's largesse, hungry eyes fixed on the fresh bread in the Captain's hands. They begin to chant, "Long live the Count!" Schiller holds bread and wine high in the air as the hardened survivors of Untergard shout themselves hoarse.
Suddenly, there is a loud crack and the bottle shatters, showering Schiller and the bread with glass and wine. Pandemonium erupts as the crowd scatters in panic.
Suddenly, the crowd scatters as they recognise the crack of a gunshot. They begin a mad dash for cover, as the Ackerplatz is wide open.
Max Fire wheels around looking for the source. At the same night he quickly shakes a bullet into his sling preparing to fire.
You see four hideous Mutants coming across the bridge. One has tentacles instead of arms, the second has horns and thick fur, the third has a pig-like snout, and the fourth has a third eye in the middle of his forehead. They are dressed in filthy rags and armed with clubs. As they get closer, you can see the hatred that burns in their eyes.
You fail to discern where the shot came from, but that little problem vanishes at the sight of four mutants charging across the 80 yard long bridge heading directly towards you.
'Ack! Not this again. Max no like this.'
When the captains speaks, Viktor stands somewhere aside the crowd so his horse is calm.
'Max hates Mutants!'
With a series of blood-curdling screams, the four mutants charge down the bridge towards the milling Ackerplatz, murderous intentions in their eyes.
Viktor shouts "Defend the villagers!". He draws his shield, turning his horse around, then he charges, hiding behind his shield.
With a series of blood-curdling screams, the four mutants charge down the bridge towards the milling Ackerplatz, murderous intentions in their eyes.
Max aiming at the lead Mutant lets fly a shot.
'Max Damage!'