If you are familiar with this blog, you already heard of my Mordheim gaming group. We started to play Mordheim together some ten years ago (do you want to know more?) and nowadays, once a year, we make a retreat in Britanny and play a Mordheim campaign during a couple of days.
One eminent member of this group, Grand Inquisitor Eisen_Titinko (you may find him on instagram), started a campaign of his own with his brothers this year. For this, he assembled and painted a new warband: The Drakwald Inquisitors. Here is their story.
DISCLAIMER: bear in mind that we still play Mordheim and WHFB, so this story must be read with the eyes and mind of an archivist, considering End of Times (and AoS) did not yet happen.
The « Three Emperors era » remains, in imperial memory, an age of strife and chaos, during which the Electors of the Empire engaged in bloody civil war for the throne while sin and misery spread across the land.
When the Comet appeared in the sky and the city of Mordheim was hit by fire and desolation, few cared about Imperial unity and coming back under the divine rule of Sigmar.
In the midst of this confusion, a few men, wiser or crazier than others, decided to set aside the petty quarrels of the nobles and dedicated themselves to the fight for the only true cause that could lead Humanity toward salvation: the struggle against Chaos, with its all pompous madness and its cohort of sins and ignominious crimes.
Fighting Evil required men with strong beliefs and solid faith. Many repurgators and witchhunters groups emerged, pledging to root out the mortal sickness that was secretly spreading inside the collapsing Imperial society.
Some among them felt that a major cataclysm was in the making. A War of a scale the world had never seen or even imagined. Ardent spirits decided to unite and form an army able to stand against all the ennemies within, all the plotters and factious but also withstand the assault of the northern hordes that would soon come to feast on the carcass of the rotting Empire.
Far from the political intrigues of the Empire, deep inside Drakwakd dark forest, pious men established a brotherhood which sole purpose was to eradicate the monstruosities living in the woods and the blasphemous practionners of the Dark Arts. The called themselves: « The Inquisitors ». They took upon themselves to investigate the cursed cults that were spreading in the Empire while purifying the soiled roots of Drakwald.
The Inquisitors claimed an old fortress and chose to form an Imperial style Ost. The army was ruled by iron discipline, under the leadership of a Holy Chapter counting the most eminent members of the Inquisitors brotherhood. Many enrolled: peasans, craftmen, monks, fanatics, desillusioned nobles and desperate men.
The Inquisitors did not care much about Mordheim’s fate, considering the city had been struck by a just and holy punishment for its multiple sins. Nonetheless, when the Grand Theogonist called, they had to answer.
Still, since the quest was diverting precious ressources from their holy duty, the Inquisitors spared only a small company of men, under the orders of Reinhard Schleiter. They hoped this gesture would grant them the High Cleric’s support, in a time when Electors were starting to turn a worried eye on this small army growing in the shadows of Drakwald woods, outside of their authority and pledging allegiance to none but Sigmar Himself.
Reinhard Schleiter
A former Imperial Captain from Reikland, Reinhard Schleiter is a member of the Chapter of the Inquisitors. Greatly skilled in combat, he is famous among the brotherhood for his commanding talents and his tenacity.
He enjoys hymns, wine, pyres and fighting. He hates foolish men and heretics, showing no respect to the former and no pity to the latter. As much a marksman as a duelist, he likes to use any kind of weapons he can find.
Konrad von Marburg
Konrad von Marburg was born and raised in a noble family from Talabecland. Cold and civilised in appearance, he epitomises what one would expect from a heartless repurgator.
Konrad von Marburg dedicated his life to hunting down heretics and sorcerers among the nobility and the wealthiest spheres of the Imperial society. He once sent a close councilor of the Elector from Averland to the pyre. The ire of the Count and his desire to punish the bold repurgator may have convinced Konrad von Marburg to exile himself to Drakwald, in order to continue his work outside of the Count’s reach.
Nikolaus Eymericus
Nikolaus Eymericus is a young Marienburger and former student of the Imperial Ingineering University. By joining the Inquisitors he renounced a brilliant career. He was touched by Sigmar’s divine grace while travelling from Altdorf to Nuln, where he crossed path with a procession of penitents and holy men. Watching them he felt Sigmar’s gaze on his soul and decided to pledge his knowledge and mind to Sigmar’s glory.
Nikolaus Eymericus likes to carry strange artifacts and build strange pieces of equipment. One of these is his « Questions machine », which he carried on his back when he travels. This box contains all he needs to obtain confessions from suspects of heresy that may come into his custody.
Bernardus Guido
Bernardus Guido is a chaplain of the brotherhood. He is one of the many priests who have joined the Inquisitors’ cause, considering they deserve better than his hypocritical parishioners and their silly stories.
Bernardus Guido is a rough but talkative Ostlander, as skilled for preaching than hammering down his faith with his holy hammers. His hate for Chaos and its followers is a raging fire and an inspiration for all who walk alongside him.
Gottsmann
Gottsman is not a member of the Inquisitors. He was raised in a Wissenland monastery, after his parents were killed by beastmen. He became a lay in the order, where he lived a pious life: wearing the monastic habit, reciting prayers and fighting evil.
His ardent and almost fanatical faith drove him to Mordheim, which he intends to purge, by himself if necessary. He met Reinhard Schleiter in the vicinity of the cursed city. The Inquisitor invited Gottsman to join his company: « The more we are, the more pyres we’ll raise ».
The Henchmen
Henchmen are the core troops of the Inquisitors army. Workers, peasans, rascals or squires, lost men looking for salvation, they are all trained to escort the Inquisitors in their quest. They are able to fight as disciplined units on the battlefield or infiltrate small villages to expose blasphemy. When it comes to weapons, they favor pikes and spears, useful to repel the numerous beasts haunting the dark woods of Drakwald.
The Zealots
« Zealots » is a nuanced way to designate the fanatics who joined the Inquisitors hoping to sacrifice themselves to Sigmar and die in apotheosis while fighting Chaos. The Inquisitors welcome these zealots, eventhough they usually take only a handful of them when they leave their fortress, since their screams and convulsions tend to frighten skinny villagers and paunchy shopkeepers. The zealots are dreadful warriors, discarding pain and ignoring fear, mostly because they are more terrifying themselves than most of the foes they face.
The Hounds
Hounds are used to track down the monsters hidding in the woods. They also are a great asset for Inquisitors when they enter a town in order to purge it from its sins.
Well that’s all for folks. Hope you liked what you read, see you soon.
Banner is mine, all credits for the other pictures and the story itself go to Eisen_Titinko (see him on instagram).
Le Terrier du Verménarque 