Axes and Alleys

“Gerhart, a word please.” Leopold gestured for his brother to join him and Tanthalia in the corner of the ruined tavern.  “Your elven friend has told me of a rumor she’s heard about a building in this area of town. It’s said that there’s a secret elven map that someone scrawled on an alley wall. It apparently points to a valuable artifact. I think, considering the state in which our Halfling friend left our company, we literally cannot afford to pass on this opportunity.”

Gerhart nodded in ascent, “I agree. Our funds are quite low and our standard income is not enough to sustain another loss at this rate.”

The Venture Company gathered their equipment and planned one final push into Mordheim. The company officers took up a position in a tower overlooking the alley that was rumored to have the elven scrawls on the wall. Himmel and Braam watched eagerly as Joep ordered the crew to scope out the alley. “Gentlemen, this is a golden opportunity. We need to determine whether the elven writing is actually there. Because of the density of the buildings here, it would be a trap to go in all together. There simply isn’t enough room. However, we can provide excellent cover for you from this tower. You just need to go in, find the writing, and get out. Sigmar will protect, as will we. Good luck.”

The crewmen exchanged glances, but shrugged and went along with it. It’s a dangerous job, and they knew it, but the chance for gold is just too strong to resist. One of the crewmen, Frederick, took the point position. He led the company of six crewmen through the alleys toward the building in question. Almost as soon as he got into the alley, he heard the whizzing of crossbow bolts and arrows overhead. The familiar smell in the air indicated that they were once again the target of the same undead mob that has been dogging their heels the last few days. But there was something else, a feeling of dread.

Behind him, he heard one of his companions shriek. He turned around just in time to see a horned beast descend from the air upon a man, and silver streaks of light erupt from the palm of something that looked like a cross between a man, a horse, and a goat and hit one of the crew. Time was short, and Frederick knew that he needed to find the writing.

The howling and snarling got louder as the familiar hounds of hell came around a corner and leapt at him. He brought his axe down upon its head and knocked the beast on its side. Caught in a trap, with the undead on one side and the vile beastmen on the other, Frederick shouted for the men to retreat back to the company. The writing was there, but he couldn’t read it and didn’t want to stick around to try.

Leopold watched both groups of beasts fall upon his men in the alley. He felt for them, but was glad that he wasn’t down there. He loosed bolt after bolt from his crossbow into the beastmen and into the hell hounds, but it was doing little to slow them down. He called for a full-scale retreat, and attempted to cover his crew as best he could. Ultimately, three of his crew perished in the fight. But, for his courage and valor, Leopold granted Frederick the rank of Sergeant and gave him a company uniform and a crossbow. Leopold could see that he was a valuable man to have around, and had the respect of the men.

In the retreat, they discovered the remains of a fletcher’s shop with a pair of bows, several arrows, and a jeweled sword. They decided that, despite their losses, they had enough Wyrdstone to return with and that this was a somewhat successful financial recovery for the Venture Company. They had found the man to be their sergeant, and placed him in charge of training the men.