#34 The Anvils of the Heldenhammer

I wanted to showcase some of the fantastic Stormcast Eternal models painted by my good friend and (if-it-wasn't-for-Covid regular) gaming opponent Owen (grave.walkers on Instagram). He kindly agreed to put their background stories and reputations in my hands... 

Gravewalkers Liberator

Lord Celestant Thaddeon ven Denst of the Gravewalkers growled to himself as he studied the papers before him. Where was this pox coming from? For months now, the mortals of Glymmsforge had been cowering in their homes, terrified by a deadly plague that was decimating the population. He was certain Chaos was responsible - it always was - but was this the work of Nurgle or the Horned Rat? Either way, he and his Stormcast could find no reliable evidence of what foul power lay behind it.

Lord-Celestant Thaddeon ven Denst on his Dracoth Voytragon

Sighing, he turned his attention to a report from Lord Relictor Baelus The Revered. He was concerned that the Raptured Court of flesh-eating ghouls was enjoying another surge of growth within Barfunweltz cemetery. However, there were no reports of significant incursions into the city, and Thaddeon believed Baelus was always a little paranoid about the various manifestations of the Sanguine Rose cult.

Lord Relictor Baelus The Revered

He was more concerned about the next paper he picked up, Lord Castellant Tarnos Greybound's report of a Daemon Prince on Barfun Moor. It seemed the foul spawn of Chaos was currently content merely to stir up the beastmen and kidnap a few local mortals to fight as gladiators. Unwelcome certainly, but not a great threat to wider security at this stage. Nonetheless, it ought to be investigated further, in case there was some link to the pox outbreak, or perhaps the possibility of the Beasts of Barfun Moor getting themselves organised into a realistic threat. The Lord Castellant had devised a plan to take advantage of the Khornish Despoilers' love of pit fighting by sending the Tenebrael Shard to infiltrate and spy upon the Chaos forces. It seemed a sensible plan. Thaddeon thought it was also worth noting that the ghoul kings of the Raptured Court would likely do their work for them should these Slaves to Darkness encroach on their territory in Barfunwletz. 

L to R: Commander Lord-Arcanum Gardius the Venerated; Lord-Relictor Baelus; Lord-Celestant Thaddeon ven Denst on Dracoth Voytragon; Lord-Arcanum Neras Aetherflare on Dracoline Blademane; Lord Castellant Tarnos Greybound with wolf Thorn

He was about to form his reply when there came a knock on his door. "My Lord, the Freeguild General requests an audience?"

Thaddeon raised his eyebrows. What did that old fool want? 

"Send him in," he said.

General Prumt was a brash and arrogant man with a large belly and an unhealthy complexion. Ven Denst found his self-importance childish and absurd, but there was no doubting his popularity among the Glymmsmen, even if many of the Freeguild civilians were appalled by him. Their politicians had recently tried to remove him from office but he had brazenly instructed his devoted soldiery to storm their assembly and shut it down before the votes could be counted. Thaddeon wondered vaguely whether the Gravewalkers should have intervened, but quickly dismissed his concerns. Let the mortals have their squabbles - it was all part of Sigmarite civilisation.

"Greetings General. What can I do for you?"

"As you know, I am the greatest general, probably ever, no other general is as good as me," drawled Prumt, “and my soldiers are the best.” Thaddeon tried to hide his irritation at the mortal's staggering arrogance and total lack of deference. "Probably the best soldiers in Shyish."

The General gesticulated with his diminutive hands, presumably expecting agreement from the Lord Celestant. Thaddeon marvelled briefly at the notion that anyone might consider the rag-tag cannon fodder of the Glymmsmen 'better soldiers' than the Stormcast Eternals of the Gravewalkers, but merely glared at the man.

General Prumt continued unabashed. "Yes, they're the best. But someone is stealing them! We've lost so many patrols, so many patrols just disappearing! They say it might be elites - you know - the leaders - the politicians stealing them away!"

Thaddeon watched the foolish little man's tirade impassively. It sounded ridiculous, but if there was civil unrest brewing between the Glymmsmen and the general populace that was concerning.

"What sort of numbers are we talking about General?"

"Oh many! Many, many great soldiers - veterans!"

"Give me numbers."

"Well, a dozen yesterday! And every day for over a week!"

Thaddeon blinked. "How many altogether?"

"Maybe as many as a hundred!"

This was too much even for the Lord Celestant's divinely-gifted self-control. "You've come to request the assistance of the Anvils of the Heldenhammer for fewer than a hundred Freeguild troopers?! Do you not think that's something you could handle? Do you not think we might have more important issues to concern us - like this plague for instance?!"

General Prumt was unbowed, "Ah, that plague will pass, but these are great soldiers..."

"Oh, shut up man," groaned the exasperated Thaddeon, "Sort it out yourself!"

Protector Prime Ionnos Aetherstar

A pair of Protectors unceremoniously ushered the blustering General out of the Lord Celestant's presence, who returned to his papers. Why should it concern him if a few Glymmsmen were going missing? They were probably choosing to desert rather than submit to their idiot general! As he retrieved Greybound's report, a crumpled pamphlet bearing a red rose icon slid onto the floor unnoticed...

#35 THE RULES OF FIGHT PIT