Mordheim

Orden the Collector
By Bill Strip

Had the rain ever stopped? Orden wondered this while small rivers cascaded down his weathered face. It seemed as though a constant drizzle wrapped the city in a pale mist. Just another favor that Sigmar had granted to this god cursed town.

Turning on one of the many nameless, gutted streets he passed by the remnants of a one prosperous Inn. Now it was just another hideout for the dregs of society. He made a note to stop back there. Surely there was some miscreant who made it his home and he was more certain that miscreant owed Ostermark the privilege to be there.

His nose twitched from the stench of wet ash and Sigmar knows what other foul odors. Life in Mordheim had certainly changed. However, for Orden, the job remained the same. Like it or not, and most didn't, taxes needed to be collected. Of course trying to extract taxes from armed bands was a bit more challenging than rubbing up the local peasants. However, that was Ordens talent, getting people to pay.

After a short walk he came to his destination, the Red Goat Inn. One of the few remaining establishments where you could get a decent pint of piss water ale. Still, it beat the piss water minus the ale. More important, there were always men available to work with here, many of them desperate enough to work with an Imperial tax collector.

With the battle for the Imperial Crown at its height, the Empire needed funds at an alarming rate. Each province pressed its populace for a few extra coins. Ostermark was no different, and even the hand of a god was not going to stop them from getting their due. It didn't help that several bands had made small fortunes wyrdstone. Nor, did it help that they openly defied authority. For that, Orden was sent and he hated them all for it.

Entering into the smoke filled Inn, he surveyed the crowd. Good there was enough material here to form a posse. He could work with men such as these, to extract taxes from the mercenaries and scum that populated this city. Of course, they could be excused from the burdens of tax while they were working for Ostermark... when that duty was finished, well that would be another story.

Orden Ghestallt, Imperial Tax Collector

Orden Ghestallt is an Imperial Tax Collector for Ostermark.With stories of riches being made and the battle for the crown in full swing, Ostermark has sent one of its best tax collectors to Mordheim to make sure they get their proper due.

Orden may be hired for 50gc. This represents the bands past tax assessment. He may be retained for free (see below). Orden adds 40 to a warbands rating and gains no experience.

Stats	M	WS	BS	S	T	W	I	A	LD
Orden	4	4	3	3	4	2	3	1	7

Equipment: Heavy Armor, Sword, Brace of Pistols, Dagger, Lucky Charm.

Skills: Combat Master (+1A if fighting more than one opponent, immune to all alone), Resilient (-1S to all HTH attacks that hit him)

Special Rules:
Causes Fear: Orden Ghestallt causes fear in all human opponents. Non human opponents do not recognize the special talents that men of Ordens ilk represent.

Really Resilient: After years of abuse, Orden is a very resilient individual. Treat all injury rolls for him as one less. So he is knocked down on a 1-3, stunned on a 4-5, and taken out on a 6.

Assessment: If Orden is not taken out of action in the battle, he will assess a tax against the loosing band. The tax is determined by the following roll.

D6:
1 - Slipped away. The band avoids the taxman, although if they meet again, he will try and collect 2x the next tax assessment.
2-3 Flat Tax. Orden only manages to catch a few henchmen and can only squeeze 10gc out of them.
4 - Sales Tax. Orden sees equipment that has never been taxed and assesses a 10% sales tax based on the total value of the warbands leaders equipment.
5 - Income Tax. Orden collects a tax of 10% of whatever the band sells for the income phase. If the band does not sell all of its wyrdstone, Orden will take 1 piece as well.
6 - Income Tax. Orden assesses a 10% tax on all gold and wyrdstone that the band possesses.

Driving Purpose: Orden will stay with the band as long as they keep winning. Once they loose, he will assess a tax against the group and move on. The group may not hire Orden out again unless they double his initial fee.