7/31/2019 To Elfenmere

1/3

The Medieval town of Mordhiem was in flames. Sigmars comet had caused masses of fires.In the background there lurked evil, the Skaven, huge rat like creatures with elongated claws.Mutations of rats that had fed upon human waste for centuries. With the fires raging, their gene poolhad fully mutated to bring forth these terrible creatures, the size of a man but with rat features.

Wheres the town guard when we need them?" yelled Helena Jacks,the barmaid from the

Mordhiem arms as she stood and watched the looters.

"They got called to the troubles on the other side of town." Phillip Johnson, fireman replied.As hedesperately fought to contain a small fire. The only thing he had was one small pail,when he saw the

blaze spreading, he yelled, "Can we have more help please? Forget the houses on Armour street,theyre too much for us now, all we can do is try to stop new fires from flaring up."

Bill Jones the smithy called to Phillip. "We cant get the horses across from Trench Road; withoutthe horses were not even containing the smaller fires, Is there some way we could divert theriver, so we can use that water?"

"Not in the time we have with the shortage of manpower."

"I see the sisters have not wasted time claiming that Sigmar saved them from his wrath, when itmissed their convent," Bill yelled.

"Yes. To me it was more damned luck than a sign of good faith, I saw the tail go right through the belltower without even scorching it." Phillip said scornfully.

"I wish those bloody Flagellants would stop whipping and blaming themselves and help us poor folk fight these blazes." Bill called out.

"If they did that, it would give us at least twenty more." Phillip replied

Bill sighed as he looked around. "Not many, but every extra hand means a little less to worry about."

"Bet those rats are going to feed well tonight!" Bill said looking at the Skaven skulking in theshadows, with teeth drooling as they looked at the human and animal carnage. Flesh was flesh tothose scavengers, burnt or not it made no difference. It was food to those horrible things."I just saw James Morrtor and his gang heading out to the hills, Phil, we know what theyre up tonow."

"If Morrtor is involved, you can bet it involves gangs and stealing, his late dad John, was one of themost feared bandits around for many years."

"How did he die? There were so many tales of that day and every one different."

"Like many of his type, the more they could do, the more invincible they thought they became. Helived to the limit. That day he took on far more than his band could handle.The Guard had heard thathe was planning a raid on the Kerranmore road, their man had told them when and where. WhenMorrtor and his men attacked the wagons, they were in an ambush from the start. The real target had

been rerouted.The train was full of men of the town. As they struggled to hold ground, the guardleader ,picked his time, came charging in, just as the bandits were turning to run away. Hardly any of

them got out alive, those that did were taken to Kerranmore and flogged." Phillip breathed a sigh of relief and then said "Do you think the road is clear to Kerranmore?"

7/31/2019 To Elfenmere

2/3

"It was but I fear that is where Morrtor is heading now. To amass his bandits and storm Mordhiem,once we contain the fires better."

Heat from the fires was turning water to steam almost as quickly as they could get it out of the buckets. Men were falling like flies in the winters cold, they were so exhausted and had not eaten.The bakery had been one of the first things to burn down when the comet hit.

"Were losing the battle,we cant hold the flames. Everyone take to the roads and get out of here! " Bill yelled.

As people left, carrying only what they could in a bundle, they became a train of desperation; their faces blackened by fire, and streaming with tears of sorrows and exhaustion.

Phillip sighed, as he looked back at the blackened town, which had been home for so long. "We gaveit our best but Sigmars comet was far too much to contend with."

Heading out on the road to Kerranmore, what was left of the town guard was riding wide and wellahead of the train. The ground was so open and flat it was ideal for a small bandit group to go toground and await innocent travellers. Most of the guard were former soldiers, they knew silence wasthe word. Actions meant more and kept the enemy unaware of your intentionsuntil the last minute.

Jimmy Pookly, riding on the eastern side, spotted a movement. Raising a clenched fist, the wellknown halt signal. He circled slowly around to the back of where he thought he saw movements in thegully. Below him, he saw ten men gathered ready to ride out as the train was going past. The leaderswere Morrtor, and his friend Patraig Connor, both known as vagabonds and ruffians, no respect for law other than what they could enforce by fear. With a swift circling motion of his left hand, pointingto the back of the gully, Jimmy gave the guard a quick and efficient signal. Half of you circle to the

back, the rest with me. Flush them out and charge the gully. With the train of people well out of sightand the vagabonds none the wiser.

Jimmy yelled, "To me, guard!"

Startled by the shout, the vagabonds tried to turn tail. Seeing the guardsmen from both directions, thegully from which they were going to spring an attack had now become a death trap as swords, mace,and spears clashed. Clothes of the ordinary men were no protection from the vicious slashing of the

blades and barbs of the guard. Morrtor and a few got out of the fray suffering cuts and bleedingheavily, but the majority of the group had been left for dead.

Going around the dead, Pookly and his men picked the group clean of weapons and clothing."They wont be needing it." he said.

One young girl looked sadly at what he was doing. "The dead have no need of clothing, with the rainsdue soon you will be glad of some footwear. From a dead man or not." Jimmy told the young girl.

"Looks like you have a new friend there, Jimmy."said his longtime friend Josef Plumbly.

"Certainly does, Joe. Whats yer name, little one?"

"Polly Marring, sir."

"Well, Polly, I am Jimmy Pookly, and you can call me, Jimmy."

7/31/2019 To Elfenmere

3/3

"Where are you going, Jimmy?" Polly asked sheepishly.

"Nearest city is Marienberg or Farrowborne. Depending if we go by road or across the hills, there is alittle village we can stop at just before Farrowborne, called Elfenmere."

Looking back at what had been Mordhiem,all they saw was a blazing ruined city.