Mordheim

The Pirate's Tale

By Tim Huckelbery

I know not if this record will ever reach civilization or not, but it is my hope that somehow these words do make their way back to fair Talabheim one day. I myself may never set foot in my homeland again, but if this record should ever reach my compatriots there I pray it finds them well, and illuminates my occurrences since departing on what was to be a routine voyage. Our ship has been taken captive by a band of pirates. They attacked in the night, stealthily boarding the ship before the alarm could be raised. I had been off-watch and asleep, but still feel shame for not somehow doing more to stop them. After all, I was among those hired to serve as bodyguards for these inexperienced travelers! Inexperienced in worldly matters like many of their fellow learned men from Altdorf, but wise enough to know they needed swordsmen like myself to guard them on their expedition. Alas, that I was not able to protect them better! Upon questioning the passengers as to the nature of the voyage, they only roared with uncouth laughter to hear their plans to investigate the notorious place. This was doubly embarrassing to my employers, as the crew of this ship had done much the same when hired to take them there. Only the promise of extra gold had allowed us to hire them for this voyage, but even then we would only be dropped off miles from the outskirts of the city remains. It seems these pirates prowl the surrounding waters, preying on vessels travelling into the area laden with gold and supplies, as well as those leaving the area carrying the mysterious substance which has become even more precious than gold itself!

The lead pirate, who I took to be on of the senior officers, turned and waved his pistol to us. Loudly he stated, "Avast, scum! You will all do what you are told, and you may live to see sunrise. We will be relieving you of all valuables – stay quiet, or you’ll be a-swimmin’ without your innards!" I noticed his eye patch, only partially covering a long scar running along his face, and knew these were dangerous men indeed. The lamps and torches lit the deck with flickering lights as the pirates moved quickly and efficiently to transport chests of gold and boxed provisions to their ship, tied with several stout ropes to our own. There was a short commotion from the scholars when one began to remove several satchels of their precious scrolls. Quickly one pirate, a large and unsavory brigand clad in leathers so crusted and hardened that they creaked as he moved, thumped one of the balding men soundly on the head, causing him to collapse in a heap of robes! Turning to the remaining elders he grinned an evil leer, displaying several golden teeth, and causing them to immediately fall silent.

As this was going on, I noticed the lead pirate discussing something with two others, and then looking my way. He walked away towards me, and I recognized the two men as the ones I had wounded in the short scuffle (before a third had knocked me to the ground from behind). "I hears you put up a decent fight for a city boy," he said to me. I could only smile grimly at that, and hope I was not signing my own death warrant! "Cap’n Drakken could use always use another lad handy with a sword where we’re sailing. You’re not gonna come out well from this trip, but if you’re ready for some rough work there’s gold aplenty upriver!"

I was quite astounded at this offer, but I also realized that he was correct in his assessment, even more so than he knew. I had been counting on this party to pay off several gambling debts, and could not go back without the gold I had already promised to many money-lenders there. There would be no protection from them, even for a (disowned) noblemen’s son as myself. Sigmar help me, but there was little choice to be had. A few words later, I and my few belongings were brought aboard the pirate ship. I write these words as we sail towards Mordheim, under the watchful eye of one of the crew. I’m to begin learning my new trade tomorrow, especially with these shorter curved swords favored by the men. Once a privileged son of wealth, then on my own as a reputable private bodyguard for hire, I now begin my new life as a pirate.

from the journal of Riley Augustus Frayed aboard the pirate ship The Serpent's Mother

The blasted city of Mordheim has called to many a Pirate Captain with the song of easy riches, as the nearby rivers are filled with ships bound with gold into the city and wyrdstone out of the city. Using the perpetual fog and dust which fills the air around the ruins, a ship can navigate the city via the deep rivers running though it. With lightning speed, the pirate ships can appear from nowhere and attack a ship, quickly looting it of any valuables. Some Captains have even found safe harbors for their vessels, and lead frequent raiding parties into the city itself. These brave piratebands have become new additions to other groups of adventurers, fanatics, and nightmare creatures that dare enter the remains of the City of the Damned.

My first landing. First time I’ve been in the city. No, not a city, not anymore. Oh Sigmar, what did these people do to deserve such punishment? More later – I cannot find the words.

from the log of Riley Augustus Frayed, Crewman, pirate ship The Serpent's Mother

One thing I have found it that a pirate’s life does not leave much time for idleness. We must always be alert for other vessels, of course. The ship must always be at maximum effectiveness, ready to attack or run away if we cannot fight. Also, there is constant drilling and training, especially in swordplay. My previous background has helped here, but even I am moving to new levels with the blade. Ah, I think, if my fellows could see me now! Then I think, ah, if they do see me now, they will probably be trying their best to run me through. And me them… Such melancholy aside, many nights we spend listening to the veteran shipmates spinning yarns of past battles, or famous exploits of fellow pirate vessels. Several of the crew lead the others in song, of such bawdy lyrics that one cannot help but laugh aloud. Hobarth especially is renowned for them, and has a seemingly inexhaustible supply of shanties he can sing out in his booming voice. He and I have become friends since our first meeting and my recruitment to the crew, and has been instrumental training me to become a valued member of the crew.

As odd as it may sound, I find myself growing to like this life. It is hard and bloody but it does have it’s rewards. Even given the nature of the area we prowl. We play a dangerous game by hunting here, but nowhere else is there such a concentration of gold and other, more valuable items. I remember my initial reactions to this damned place, which now seems only as strong as my initial reactions to the dregs of Talabheim’s outskirts. I just realized that I have not thought of Talabheim for… how long? Weeks, at least.

Must stop now; Captain Drakken has called for me. Probably getting ready for another landing.

from the log of Riley Augustus Frayed, Crewman, pirate ship The Serpent's Mother

Another landing. I seem to be becoming more immune to the horrors of this place, Sigmar help me. Drakken says it is natural, and that the only other reaction would be to go mad. We were discussing things last night, as we sharpened our cutlasses for the landing. He turns out to be a rather civilized man, who like myself became a pirate when fate tossed him about. His ship, the Imperial frigate The Griffon, was blown out of the water in combat with the Bretonnian Corsair Couragous and he was rescued days later by the pirate ship El Dorado. When it was discovered that he was a Master Gunner, he was pressed into service aboard the vessel. Months later he had become Master Gunner on his new ship. Less than a year passed before he took command of his own prize ship, taken in pitched combat - the same Bretonnian ship who set him on the path of piracy! He said he took great joy in setting the formerly dashing Captain Druillet and his crew adrift in their landing boats, sans oars of course!

We drank a toast to them, wherever they might be now (probably in the belly of a Sea Dragon), and another to the ship, our very own Serpent’s Mother. Not only did Drakken rename the ship, but he also took on his new name, his old one being Roberts. "Not a very good pirate name," he said, "you gotta have some kick to it!" Evidently this was one of the lessons he had learned from his previous captain, Bloodwind the Black (originally known as Percival L’Angelou).

We drank another toast to old Percy, spilling a only bit more ale from our Black Jack tankards than in the previous toast, then got to the serious business of outfitting the landing party. Bont had finally finished work on the new Swivel Gun, to replace the one that exploded and nearly killed him, and we will be needing more fine blackpowder supplies. Drakken also wanted to try and find more of those exotic new poisons we had recovered from the bodies of those foul rat-men we fought last week. Word is that you can get more of it at certain trading posts. We’ve plenty of the glowing shards to trade, having ambushed a band of those odd female warriors who were trying to carry away a small chest full of the stuff. We were able to beat them off and steal away the chest, then backtrack their steps and find even more in a small crater. We should be able to fetch a good price for it, though we’ll not trade it all away at once (a trick I learned from Hobarth – sell too much at a time, and you’ll get less for each shard!). The only trick will be in finding the trading posts we seek. Sometimes they just aren’t where they were last time.

Later that night… Some thoughts before turning in. Thinking about going back. To the city. The city does strange things the closer to the center you get, and locations seem to shift as if the city itself is trying to lure you into the center of it’s web. Hobarth, who has been in the area longer than anyone I know, says the city itself is living, brought to life when Sigmar’s Hammer struck it, as a midwife’s slap brings a cry from a newborn babe. Others don’t realize it as they have become all part of the shifting landscapes. He says we notice it more as we pirates are tied to the sea, not the land, and get disconnected from the city’s grasp when we come back aboard our ship. Could be. I’ve heard odder things in the past half year since joining up. And I’ve seen plenty odd things both on the land, and even some in the sea nearby.

You have to have respect for the city is all. It doesn’t give up it’s treasures easily, and not without a fight usually, but if you respect what it can do, you can usually make it out alive.

from the log of Riley Augustus Frayed, Crewman, pirate ship The Serpent's Mother

Not a good day. More tonight.

That night… We have seen to the worst of our wounds, though Hobarth’s leg had to be removed. I thought we had treated it well enough, but the vile infection from the undead horror’s attacks spread too fast and we had to amputate. My friend made not a sound as I did the deed, but I could see the blood dripping from his clenched fists as he bit down on the lead shot. We quickly applied the torch and pitch to the wound, and that was too much for him and he passed out. We did our best to make him comfortable for the night. I hope he awakes. I would not want to be here without him. We’ve set up sentries for the night. I also hope we don’t see any more of the foul creatures tonight – I don’t think we are up for another attack.

My first landing as a Mate, and a near disaster. I have grown careless, and the city has taught me the folly of such action. They came from everywhere, even springing from the tainted soil itself. We were lucky to get away with the casualties we took, never mind the gold that had been used to lure us into the trap. You cannot let your guard down here, ever. I had been on so many successful landings, I have forgotten the true nature of the city. It does not forget. It waits, until it is ready and you are not. Then it strikes.

Tomorrow we must fight our way out. I can hear them off in the distance, rustling in the darkness. Sigmar help us.

from the log of Riley Augustus Frayed somewhere in the city. Mate, pirate ship The Serpent's Mother

That was perhaps the most amazing thing that has happened to me in the past year. Drakken is preparing to retire. He was cut up pretty badly in our last encounter with that foul sorcerer, but he was pulling through well enough and we were preparing for another excursion against Saan. He’s decided though that he’s getting to old for it though, and is taking his shares and departing for Tilea. He had been sounding out the senior crew for the past several days as they visited them, and aside from a few dissenters most were agreeable to his decision that I succeed him. I was shocked a bit. I had pretty much lived down the disaster of my first command, and had lead many more landings and gained much gold for the ship, but me? I still sometimes think of myself as the greenhorn leaping to the ship for the first time that night long ago. But as he pointed out, most of the crew have never known me as anything else but a pirate, and a good one at that.

I accepted, of course. Anything else would been a dishonor to him, and I owe him my life several times over by now. As well as possibly opening up the ship to a dangerous struggle for command among the others. And of course I wanted it, too. Funny, I had not realized how much I wanted it until it was mine.

I also need to find out the names of those who didn’t stand with me. Not sure of what to do with them. Keelhaulings, or just lashings? Must discuss it with Hobarth. Unless he was one of them? This will be tricky…

from the log of Riley Augustus Frayed, Mate, pirate ship The Serpent's Mother

"If we stays and fights, we might get dead, but if we runs away, we’z gonna wish we was!"

I remember overhearing this muttered from one of the Swabbies to another as we prepared to advance into the city, on a landing several weeks ago. They had looked back at me, and I did my best evil grin back at them as I patted the coiled Cat on my belt. Damn Straight. And if they knew even half of what could happen to them if they were able to escape, they would never dare leave the ship itself. Ah well. They’ll fight, or they’ll die, or both.

Most are good enough, just lacking the proper backbone to become a true pirate. Some of the ones we "recruit" around here you can never be sure of, and it’s best to keep them in a firm grip. Discipline, that’s what most of them need. And that’s what I will bring as their Captain.

from the log of Riley Augustus Frayed, Mate, pirate ship The Serpent's Mother

I set out on a new landing in the city, my first as the new Captain. Me. Amazing. I’ve been reading back on some of my first writings here in this book. Heh. Sorry little boy, afraid to go home but only slightly less afraid to go further. I’ve gone further than any of the friends I had from the old days could have. I even have two mistresses to serve and to serve me, both of whom I must give constant attention lest they turn on me. My life is now stretched out before me as far as I can see, a grand game between the sea and the city.

I took old Drakken’s advice though, and have arrived at what I think to be a suitably dangerous sounding name for myself. Given the insane turns my life have taken in the past year, I think it utterly appropriate. My crew agreed, and gave a resounding series of huzzahs to their new Captain this afternoon.

from the log of Mad Riley, Captain, pirate ship The Serpent's Mother