
The autumn rain hammered down on the armoured column as it wound its
way northwards through a narrow defile in the Apuccini Mountains. They
were nearing their goal now, and the troops were fighting off the weariness
of six days' forced. march. At the-head of the column, the unit's lieutenant
pushed his helmet up and mopped the water from his face.
'I'll be glad when this job's over,' he commented.
'You're not alone there, Renzo,' replied his chief, 'Once we've finished
here, 1 think we'll go to Araby. I've heard there's a new prophet sprung
up there.' Renzo nodded. 'Just what we need,' he said, 'Lots of sunshine
and a nice, simple little holy war. You know where you are with that sort
of job - better than all this political messingabout. What a business,
eh? All because of an apple, a piece of string and three initiate priestesses.'
'And the use to which the Duke of Organza's son and heir was putting
said items,' his leader reminded him, 'And the fact that one of the initiate
priestesses was none other than the youngest daughter of our noble patron.
Anyway, it's all money.'
They turned a sharp bend in the gulley to find their way blocked by a
solid wall of pikemen. Suddenly, archers appeared on either side of the
sheer gulley sides, and a carefully-prepared landslide blocked the way
behind them.
'Form up!' bellowed their leader, 'Hollow square - move!' It was obvious
that they had walked into a trap, and one from which they had little chance
of walking away. Professionals to the last, the mercenaries readied their
weapons and prepared to sell their lives dearly.
'Mordini!' came a shout from the opposing ranks. The mercenary captain
squinted through the rain.
'Sardo?' he shouted back, 'I thought we were on the same side! Have you
sold Lambrusco out?'
'Not quite.' came the reply. 'Duke Fabriano sold you out. The whole war
with Organza is a set-up - your death was one of the alliance conditions.
You're too effective for your own good, Mordini - he began to worry about
what would happen if you turned against him.' Renzo spat loudly.
'Politics!' he grunted. 'What did I tell you?'
'Mordini!' Sardo continued, 'I don't need to tell you that this is not
of my choosing.'
'Understood!' Mordini answered, 'Just don't expect it to be easy. And
if you do me tell Duke Fabriano this - he hasn't heard the last of Mordini.
Someday, somehow, accounts will be settled for this day!'
Ennio Mordini was one of the most powerful mercenary captains ever to
serve among the Tilean City States. For most of his career, he and his
men served Duke Fabriano of Lambrusco, expanding that state's fortunes
considerably. Their success began to worry their patron, especially since
it was not unknown for Tilean mercenary units to seize control of the
states which they were supposed to be serving. When the neighbouring state
of Organza offered a lucrative alliance on condition that Mordini's troops
were disposed of, Fabriano seized the opportunity and sent them into an
ambush which none survived. Mordini swore just before he died that he
would be avenged on his treacherous employer.
Barely five years later, an army of undead skeletons poured out of the
Apuccini Mountains, under the tattered banner of Mordini. Fuelled by their
hatred, the dead soldiers cut the armies of Lambrusco to ribbons, and
razed the city to the ground. It is said that Duke Fabriano spent seven
days and seven nights dying. Now the Doomed Legion has turned against
Organza and the other City States, destroy everything in their path as
they aver themselves upon the double-dealing princes who connived at their
murder.
| EQUIPMENT |
Chain mail, bardiche-guisarme (two-handed weapon),
sword.
|
| BATTLECRY |
Lacking important things like lungs and
vocal cords the Legion has no battlecry |
| DEEDS |
While they were alive, Mordini's mercenaries
won a number of great victories against the enemies of Duke Fabriano
of Lambrusco. They are most remembered, however, for the assault and
destruction of Lambrusco. It is rumoured that Mordini has now re-fortified
the city, established a dead court there. It appears, though, that
no-one living has be close enough to find out. |
| UNIFORMS |
The Legion's colours are green and gold.
Althougl they no longer wear anything that could be recognised as
a uniform, the colours are sometimes visible on the tattered rags
of clothing that occasionally survive. |
| SHIELDS |
A skull, set in a red surround, on a dark
green field. Shield rims are gold. |
PROFILES - 2nd edition
Ennio Mordini - Skeleton Major Hero
| |
M |
WS |
BS |
S |
T |
W |
I |
A |
Ld |
Int |
Cl |
WP |
POINTS |
| Ennio MordiniS |
4 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
5 |
3 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
78 |
Renzo Avanti - Skeleton Champion
| |
M |
WS |
BS |
S |
T |
W |
I |
A |
Ld |
Int |
Cl |
WP |
POINTS |
| Renzo Avanti |
4 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
6 |
Trooper
| |
M |
WS |
BS |
S |
T |
W |
I |
A |
Ld |
Int |
Cl |
WP |
POINTS |
| Trooper |
4 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
4.5
Extra for standard 55
Extra for musician 22 |
Special Rules
Immune to all psychology tests. Cannot be routed. Cause fear in living
creatures. Subject to instability. Subject to stupidity when not controlled
by Mordini or Renzo
|