Henghir's first exploration of the streets of Mordheim

Hengir Khund paused at the broken city wallsthat bordered the ghoulish city that harboured the dreams, and ultimately the ends, of those brave enough to penetrate its borders. Those who entered rarely returned, but Khund held a stoic hope that the riches in store were worth the risk. His brother, Hwafid, tended to his dwarven handgun idly as he waited for the orders to move out. Hwafid was a natural when it came to technology, although his true purpose was to temper his elder brothers fiery spirit. Only two troll slayers and two of Khund's bravest clansmen had been mad enough to accompany Hengir and Hwafid on their dangerous venture to set up shop in Mordheim. They stood silently, their ears tracking the wails and screams that emerged from the ghastly hallows ahead, it was enough to chill the bone of even a dwarf. Pulling out his ancestral axe, Hengir, turned to his companions and barked, "Onwards comrades, riches and spoils awaits our brave company herein!" Without a pause Hengir turned and plunged lithely into the shadows that was Mordheim.

Hengir's group had been prospecting for a few days, the air tasted bitter and foul like the dreg ends of a steel mine. Hwafid had eyed an area polluted with the valuable stones and Hengir had been too quick to snatch and grab. Far off in the distance other groups were already fighting for the precious mineral, his group were split into two as they converged on the beautiful material on the corner of the street. Then the skaven attacked, a hail of stones erupted from their left flank and Balor Gundwane yelled, losing his footing as blood erupted from his temple. Faldur Jannen and Dorn Bolst leapt ahead to protect him even as he fell, charging the two Skaven ballisters with a throated roar. The familiar crack of Hwafid's Handgun sounded as Hengir leapt for the Wyrdstone, Jan Galdur vaulting the wall the aide Balor Gundwane. Two filthy rats engaged Hengir as he tried to retreat in Hwafid's direction, a mace deftly knocked his dagger aside and he dropped to a knee as he parried the second assailant's blow. A giant, terrifying rat ogre charged out of an alcove and engaged Balor who screamed battle cries and engaged as any true troll sayer would. Hengir heard a yell of fury and witnessed his brother engaging one of the skaven attacking him, stepping back to his feet he brought his battle axe in a broad sweep into the mid riff of a clothed vermin who fell squealing in pain. As the second backed up slightly Hengir shouted at his brother, "Hwafid, get the minerals out of here!" A roar erupted once more from inside the building that his comrades were situated and Balor crashed out of the building, smashing over the low wall and slumping in the street. Screaming, Hengir pushed back his opponent desperately, calling for the other dwarfs to regroup on his position.

Hwafid wasn't ready for the incursion by the Skaven, he'd missed his hastily readied shot and had been forced to charge two Skaven to protect his headstrong brother. As he picked up the valuable wyrdstone Balor flew out of the ravaged building, the responsible rat ogre bellowing in satisfaction as he flung his prey out of the dank room. As Hwafid turned and fled around the corner he saw his remaining comrades desperately holding out against a much larger foe, parying the lesser Skaven while dodging the brutal attacks of the rat ogre. He dived into an empty building and huddled down out of site, clutching the cursed material that was worth dying for in the deep recesses of Mordheim. He silently prayed nothing would find him here...

Jan Galdur kicked a Skaven into its rat associates, ducking under a deadly swipe from a set of razor sharp claws. The remaining troll slayer, Faldur had engaged the enormous rat ogre in Balor's place leaving him to guard Dorn's unconsious body from three enraged Skaven. One pitch black, large rat leapt forwards and Jan desperately anticipated its attack. Stepping to one side he brought his axe down on the foul rat's leg, hewing into the thick black fur and cleaving into flesh. He saw Hengir throw a Skaven back outside and stood, panting, as the deadly Skaven retreated back into the shadows. Faldur shouted profanities as the lumbering rat ogre followed its master, before returning to aide Jan in picking up Dorn. Hengir was dragging off Balor who miraculously seemed to be alive after his duel with the rat ogre. Hwafid had escaped with the booty and they had all survived, just. Sheathing his weapon he limped back in the direction of 'home', a small and well defensible building not a days march from here. They had bit off more than they could chew today, it was a miracle that they had come out unscathed.

As Hengir led his troop of weary clansmen back to the safe zone, he pondered on how to deal with such a problem again. They had come out unprepared and rushed into a dangerous situation. Care, it seemed, would be a must to survive in the cursed city. He would also bring more clansfolk on the next excursion, other warbands clearly harboured many more than six in a party. Either way, they would not let themselves be caught in such a situation again. Next time might turn out quite differently.