Persona Dramatis: 1

I 2

II 4

III 5

Persona Dramatis:

Rudi - Mercenary

Eckhart - Sergeant at Arm of the Blades of Sorna

Korst - Corporal of the Blade of Sorna

Lady Philomena Von Stauer - Noble woman

I

In the heart of the Shadows Forest, a wooden palisade stood proudly in a man-made clearing just south of Marchestoll. Guarded by a formidable double gate, this structure marked the entrance and exit to Strassberg, a village that had weathered countless hardships throughout its history. Bearing the scars of past greenskin attacks, beastmen invasions, and mutant onslaughts, Strassberg was a testament to resilience since the days of Heldenhammer.

At the center of the village square rose the prominent temple to Ulric, a symbol of strength and faith amid the trials faced by the people of Strassberg. Despite their challenges, the villagers took pride in their heritage, producing a few noteworthy individuals who ascended to the ranks of Knight Templar. Rumors circulated about one such figure chosen to protect the Emperor, though the authenticity of such claims remained unverified.

Rudi, a native of Strassberg, reflected on his humble beginnings working in the mill, laboring strenuously to forge both a robust physique and a resilient mind under the stern guidance of his father. His childhood friend, Heidi, the mayor's daughter, evolved from a companion into something more as the years passed. However, their innocent connection faced a grim turn when Heidi revealed an arranged marriage, orchestrated by her father, sealing her fate with another suitor and condemning the child she carried, allegedly Rudi's, to an unfortunate end.

As the day of the winter wedding arrived, chaos unfolded in Strassberg. The groom met a gruesome demise in his own carriage, while Rudi, implicated in the heinous act, vanished from sight. The proud people of Strassberg, driven by their sense of justice, set out to hunt him down for the perceived crime of passion.

In a desperate bid for survival, Rudi fled through the forest, pursued by both the relentless villagers and the ominous creatures lurking in the shadows. As he ran under the eerie green glow of Morrsleib, the night echoed with the terrifying howls and agonized screams of those who dared to challenge fate. The once-proud people of Strassberg found themselves humbled by the unfolding tragedy, questioning their ability to handle the dark forces at play.

The people of Strassberg were not so proud.

II

The menacing growls of the warriors echoed around him, their jet-black full plates nearly matching his own towering stature. Each warrior's armor boasted a unique touch, adorned with trophies ranging from skulls and small blades to teeth, serving as grisly reminders of their conquests.

Standing defiantly before him were four devoted warriors, guardians of their gods, determined to block his path. Svein TuskHunter, accompanied by an eight-man marauder cohort, had joined forces with him after defeating their former master, Hjorangul the Beast Lord, in ritual combat. In the service of the demanding gods, strength was the currency they all traded in.

Among the trio of adversaries, one stood out as slightly larger, marked by symbols proclaiming allegiance to the Lord of Skulls on his chest. The other two lacked specific insignias, their allegiance to a particular god remaining undisclosed. Pointing his sword towards the larger warrior, he felt the dark whispers beckoning for souls, urging him to wield the weapon in the impending battle.

In the ominous tongue of the gods, he growled, "The winner takes all," a phrase often uttered by the devout servants of the divine entities. His marauder cohort resonated with the declaration, slamming their axes against shields to drum him onward. While only Svein comprehended the language of the gods, the Norscan warriors surrounding him understood all too well the impending outcome of the ominous challenge.

III

"To the battlement, the greenskin are coming!"

The bells began to sound in the city hall, shouts from soldiers running down the streets and children crying as anxious mothers brought them indoors to presumed safety.

There was commotion everywhere, except within the Horned Beast, just west off the main square.

The tavern, often filled to the brim with people, had a score of fifteen rough looking men sitting by the side tables as two sat by the bar talking to a well clad, upper class woman.

"You're seriously not going to help?"

Her voice was as filled with as much scorn as it was surprise, as her deep green eyes looked over the two men chugging a tankard each of ale before her.

Eckart, Sergeant of Arms of the Blades of Sarno, was a massive man with muscles formed from a life of war and killing. He sported a black painted armor that once had been a full plate but as years and decline had forced him to substitute and repair with various other pieces of equipment.

"Sure we'll help, if the gold is right" Eckhart muttered, beer dripping down his massive beard.

"Or lift that dress of yours, give the lads something to fight for." Crust the slightly smaller Corporal of the outfit hissed. Where Eckhart had some rugged good looks, Korst was more akin to a rodent in his looks, rat-like features and wily sinewy arms and legs. He was not a soldier, he was born a killer and loved it.

A laugh escaped Rudi's lips as he watched the noble woman slap Korst across his face, she packed quite a punch and broke the lip of the Corporal.

Eckhart reached over to place a hand on Korst chest, ensuring that the corporal did nothing stupid, but Korst simply licked the blood away and grinned widely,

"You know our price, Princess…." Eckart grunted and returned to his beer.

Outside the clamors of soldiers getting ready and villagers boarding up their houses could be heard still, as the Lady clapped her hands and a manservant made his way over and threw a large hefty sack upon the bar counter. The sound it's content made, ensured that all fifteen looked up from their dice games and beers.

Eckhart looked at the bag of coins, towards the woman and nodded his head. He saw the resentment in her eyes, but paid it no heed as the deal was struck and payment had been offered.

"Life of a sellsword." he muttered and then drained his tankard of ale.

"Men, we have a contract…You survive and you may take part of the spoils"

Fifteen voices, including Rudi, rose into a raucous cheer before one by one they picked up their weapons of choice and made their way towards the exit.

"The Blades of Sorna will drive them back." Korst brought his tankard upside down, as much ale .Come on you mongrel mutts, it's killing time."

As greenskins drove out of the surrounding woods towards the main gate, and with ramshackle ladders to storm the walls, the scene outside the tavern looked like a brutal nightmare. Because there was only one way into and out of the village, the defenders knew they had no choice but death or victory.

As a result of their high fee, the Blades of Sorna were tasked with holding the gate while the City Watch guarded the palisade.

Due to neglect and poor maintenance, the maingate was old and would easily fall over. There was a metal gate that could be lowered, but its bars were too large for it to be breached easily.

In response, Eckhart ordered his men to take position within the gatehouse, and the metal gate was lowered behind them.

They stood in practiced lines, seventeen strong. As Eckhart and Korst filled in any potential gaps or weaknesses, the rows were composed of five strong men, with shields in front, swords in the second line, and spears in the back.

There was mayhem, Rudi had never seen such a slaughter as he stood in the second line, hacking away with his sword as the man in front of him knelt to brace his shield and the man behind him struck with his spear.

Rudi's sword arm ached, sweat ran down his spine and his shoulders screamed from the weight of the armor he wore. Blood splattered, green ichor coated his blade and most of his clothing. Now and then an arrow or a jagged spear gets past the shields and cuts a minor wound along his arms. At first it was nothing to be concerned about, but as he became tired the cuts seemed to intensify. More and more got past the shields.

"For Heldenhammer, cut these foul beasts down!" Eckhart yelled from Rudi's left.

Then came the order he had waited for, he saw how the enemy forces were thinning out, he began to see reluctance in the red gleaming eyes of the beasts before him as a wall of their dead comrades piled up before the Blades.

"Blades. Five steps forth. Shields at the ready. Third row, protect the flanks!" A quick pause from the Sergeant of Arms. "On my word!

The sound of Eckhart's voice carried over the melee, and Rudi tensed up as he prepared his tired, weary body. His brothers in arms also tensed up.

"Mark!"

In near unison, the mercenaries reacted. The first row pushed with their shields as the second and third followed in the wake.

Out of the cover of the small gatehouse, the Blades of Sorna continued fighting, as the third line shifted to protect the flanks.

Rudi saw from the edge of the woods as arrows rained towards the palisade, meeting the defenders' arrows mid-flight.

Without warning, young Gerbert, the newest member in the outfit broke ranks either by choice or accident. He screamed 'Glory for Ulrik' and hacked his way forth.

Skillfully he blocked the attacks coming his way and just as skilled did he send his blade into their open defenses. It seemed the young buck would prove to earn his keep, make a name for himself.

A bellow, guttural and deep, rose over the clamor of combat.

Time seemed to pause as the biggest Orc Rudi had ever seen towered up before Gerbert. Its axe swished in a scythe like motions and Gerbert raised his shield.

Surprise showed on Gerberts face as the axe continued on it's path in a shower of blood and gore. Where his body had been attached to it's legs a sudden separation had occurred and the Orc continued on it's path without missing a beat as Gerbert landed on both sides of the charging beast.

With one of the Blades cut in half, the rest of the company reacted in kind. Swordsmen, Spearmen and Shield wall all drew their Nuln made pistols from their chest holsters. The Warboss was only a few yards away, bellowing it's challenge towards the awaiting mercenaries. Each shot often cost more than it's worth, but a dozen shots fired in unison created a deafening boom that filled the battlefield, and a wall of smoke shot out over the warboss and the greenskin around him.

It seemed as if the battle took a pause, the smoke cleared in the wind and everyone saw the warboss topple over with a surprised look on it's face.