GRED ITS) THE CREATORS OF THE MON KINGDOMS Brian Snoddy Matt Wilson CREATIVE DIRECTOR ‘Matt Wilson MANAGING EDITOR Bryan Cutler GAME DESIGN Mate Wilson LEAD DEVELOPER Jason Soles ART DIRECTION James Davis RULES DEVELOPMENT Rob Stoddaed Robert Baxter Christopher Bodan Joe Martin Doug Seacat Jason Soles Rob Stoddard CONQUEST, CRUSADE, & CONVICTION Matt Wilson continuity ‘Iason Soles Robert Baxter Christopher Bodan Andrew Daniels Rob Stoddard TEXT PROOFING Mark Christensen Kevin Clark Doug Colton Lauren Cutler Dominick DiGregorio Erik Fleuter Dunean Huffman Mike McVey Mare Verebely Matt Wilson ILLUSTRATIONS Chippy Brian Despain Brian Snoddy Matt Wilson Sam Wood Kyle Hunter 7 B+0=eun GRAPHIC DESIGN James Davis tavour Bryan Cutler James Davis UARMACHINE LoGo Daniel Gelon IVATEER PLAYTESTERS & Al Christopher Bodan Badion John Cadice Alex Chobot Mark Christensen Kevin Clark Douglas Colton James Davis Dominick DiGregorio ‘Marky Erhardt Duncan Huffman Nathan Le Jon Rodriguez Mare Verebely Allen Wright MINIATURES DIRECTION Mike McVey SCULPTING. gory Clavilier Chas Elliott Peter Flannery Rev. Jason Hendricks Bobby Jackson Victor Martins Mike MeVey Jerzy Montwill Paul Muller John Winter Kev White APOTHEOSIS MINIATURES Alison McVey ADDITIONAL MINIATURES PRINTING Todd Arrington dobn Cadice Alfonso Faleo Joshua Howdeshell Jef Hoy Finn Kisch Ron Krvsie Alison McVey Mike MeVey Dave Perrotta mae AFOTHEOSIS TERRAIN Alfonse Falco ADDITIONAL TERRAIN: vJohn Cadice Rev. Jason Hendricks Mike McVey Rob Stoddard Brandy Cannon pHoTognarHy ‘James Davie Mike McVey PRESIDENT Sherry Yeary EMECUTIVE ASSISTANT Nicole Remacle Marky Erharde Erik Fleuter MARKETING MANAGER Duncan Huffinan PRODUCTION MASTER Mark Christensen TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Kelly Yeager MOLD MAKING DEPARTMENT Alex Badion Rev. Jason Hendricks Tom “Peeved” Williamson CASTING MANAGER Dominick “Darius” DiG Bob "BoB! CASTING DEPARTMENT ‘Alex “Mold Weasel” Chobot Doug Colton Rodriguez Mare “obsolete” Verebely SHIBPING AND PACKING MANAGER Kevin Clark SHIPPING AND PACKING TEAM Christopher Bodan Alfonso “The Traitor” Falco Aaron Gaponolf Ales Woah Nathan Let Andrew Daniele Erike Lakin David Ray Ama Rob Baxter Trisha Bluhm Erile Bridenstein Randy Brahl David Cael sJessica Car atl Clay David Cordy. Scott Curness Andy Daniels Keiron Duncan Jefferson L. Dunlap Alfonso Falco Alun Gallie Brian Gentry Matt Holmes Vince Hoogendoorn Matt Hoskins Chad Huffman Adam slohnson da Adams Anthony Jones Chris Keimig ik Lakin “Big Jon” Linde! Brian Martin Jason Martin Iain A. McGregor Isaiah Mitchell Erie Morgan Julie Nahm ‘imothy Nahm Chris Oakley Ray Peng Dave Perrotta David Ray Karl Reinders Geoff R Tim Sin Dan Smith Bryan Steele Chris Such Ben Tracy “Ww in Zapata Tony Zoltai SPECIAL THANKS Brush ThrallCONTENTS; Forewor . . Kuapor .. Pace Five. Karchev the Terrible Pe 68 Conquest, Crusape, & Conviction Part 1...6 Old Witch of Khador......... 0.2... 68 New Ru Forward Kommander Sorscha Kratikoff . . 72 Cyonar. Vladimir Tzepesci, the Dark Champion . . 74 Captain E. Dominic Darius...........32 Behemoth 00... ...0ee00eeeee neers 76 Major Markus “Siege” Brisbane 36 Khador Models. ea 78 Major Victoria Haley ....... BoMeGermies: «--< room. EEE ‘Nice digs,” the second man sai Josed the iron door behind him. 1 anything to—" He stopped short ashe r as the other removed a dusty green bottle from the trunk and tossed it toward him along with a pair of clay cups. “Yeh know me too well, Rebald. Ishouldn’t have thought you'd take me to a place devoid of the necessities. Raising the bottle to his mouth, he bh uncorked the exposed stopper his teeth and poured a dark, re rum into each of the cups placed on the table, Caine shot his back before Rebald finished filling his own, Bolden Rebald, scout general of gnar and the King’s spymaster sanctioned by writ of the Crown, removed his black: wool greatcoat and hung it on « peg jutting from the wall His slender, angular form and fluid movements befit a man who seldom wished to be observed by: others ‘Seems the only way to keep you in one place, Caine,” Rebald said. “Now tell ime how out plan ie coming together Lieutenant Allister Caine refilled his cup and tipped ie slightly toward the spymaster as he spoke. "Couldn't be better if the old boys were lining ‘up outside this room right now. I can't believe that red headed bleeding heart pulled off th i seinstatement, but playing Leto's guilt ike a lute. Already five of those Inquisition bastards have come out of hiding right here in Caspia. 1 haven't been able to get close to them for years! Twelve more are due to meet us in Corvis in wo weeks, They trust him—Stryker— he's still the kingdom's shining ki Out from under the skirts of their Tlumination benefactors thou they're sitting ducks. Hell, Rebald, 2 fortnight af be out of work, 1 reaching Corvis, I may Let's hope. Out of this side of the business, at least. Aren't you worried Stryker will suspect you though?” He's desperate, man. He's blinded by revenge and can't believe anyone would see things any other Caine paused to sip his drink. “There's no love lost between the two of us T know he was the rat who got me busted down over that little incident with Lady Arissa, but he didn’t a single one of those wool eyebrows when I volunteered for his commission.” Caine tipped the bottle fon end to empty the last drop into his cup. A wrinkle creased the side of his mouth as he tossed the empty container back in the open trunk. “Il be careful.” Rebald's eyes lowered half way and his expression mocked the notor gun mage’s own sincerity. “Our own patrons are getting restless, Caine ‘Things are coming to a head. The worried the Inquisition may APOTHEOSTsS 'twitchy and expose the litte bastard forcing itself through a sparse grove of stood. Her hooded cloak billowed with in the middle of all of this chaos. Leto crumbling chimneys was drowned out, each gust of ocean air. is a good king—probably too good— only to resume again like the distant Victoria Haley bowed her head andifhe learns the truth they fear he wail of a dozen grieving widows, Ib Vives Hales, Dowel ter bead would abdicate the crown by way of was a sound no human had heard in Blood right.” Spi elie era tes eee once humble seaside town of Ingrane emories of the parents taken from ‘ve been on this trail ten years, her so yy years ago. She reached up Reballh Tr veal fer teeo concen, was litle more than a few mounds end.” Caine sighed and stared into the bottom of his empty cup. “I haven't " to wipe the drops away and clear her vision and abruptly recoiled at the cold touch of steel upon her cheek. The steel of overgrown rubble now. If one looked closely, the outlines of former strvetures could be found under the met an inquintor yet who wouldn't eee ea and thick vines, wat Hera hanikal prosthetic turn over his own mother to save his skin, Once I get to the top of this food chain, there's just one more stop. attached to her shoulder repls arm lost ro combat with her sister. She Here and there a foundation stone or eae slocrepit beatth: sl stood as the only panned the inhunian sppendage. Its vestige of a house that burned to the Then with the exception of our good clockwork mechanisms and miniature Lola eee ground. High up from the water's edge head in bbeyond the barely detectable perimeter ‘“t0™ | Pistons were constant this kingdom fit for that crown. reminder of a gross disfigurement to of the ruined village, a cobbled path trad the tiost fling vige that aan pene evens, SI warcaster—a warrior without equal perfectly balanced in mind, body d hhad ever been here. Like a flat snake Waves crathed againat lw, tooky OF eit wound its way done she cliffs to send fans of sea spray into land spirit, but now she was maim hillside through the ghostly ruins and Fi the air, and they punctuated the surge imperfect, and terminated at the edge ofthe sea where with the thunderous bass of erashing the traitor Magnus with his own crude prostheticand shuddered atthe thought they could have anythix ae Ea single black pylon of decaying timber sur Ror @ moments the perpetia! testified to a pier that ence jutted into sapaaa mete by ieGrisd eae ued Meridius. At its edge a lone figure SeaTehad been less than a month since the arcane mechaniks of Cygnar's military development workshops had fit her with the contraption. It was only slightly more recent that she erupted before the war council to berate them for pulling out of the Thorawood before confirming thatthe Crysian threat had been eliminated from their lands. Not yet in control of the mechanikal prosthetic, she had reduced the council's table to splinters with an enthusiastic pounding on its surfuce. Her behavior earned her a leave of absence until she could manage to regain her control and “her better judgment” as Warmaster ‘Turpin added, Haley's mind 1s reeling. The events of the past few months were foo much (0 bear—the most violent the slaying of knew, the loss of Sister she hardly her right arm, and explosive conflict with her superiors. The no-confidence vote from the war council was the final strave that sent her retreating to the last place she remembered true peace. Though Ingrane now was not the Ingrane of her youth, and the wareaster found nothing to fill the void inside her. Blankly she wandered about the Kite ofthe village ruins. Her feet found an old path, and before she knew it the forlorn warrior stood among the debris of a structure she once called home. Stones and timbers were held fast in the embrace of rwisted, fast sowing vines, and not a piece of the fold house stood more than a foot high. Haley absently ki fubble at her feet and sifted through charred timbers with the butt of her * the tingle of memory or emotion, but the sensation of an energy present in her midst. It was low and dull and ced at the loose A tingle ran up her spine—not Barely registered a a hum ¢ her arcane sensitivity, bur it was an energy all the same right at her Feet. She crouched to the ground and bogan turning over scraps of wood and stone. Something metallic glesmed from within the blackened remains. I ‘was round and sharp serrated blade the size of a man's palm. She reached with her mechanikal hand to pull it from a chunk of wood in which it owas stuck —the leg of a table or chair perhaps—then staggered backward fas a shock ran up the appendage fand through her body. momentarily stunning her mind. She touched a finger to the blade with her gloved left hand, tested the blade once again, and received no shock. Palling it from a gymbol—a goathorned human skull upon crossed bones. It was the infamous mark of the Cryxian Pirate Queen Skarre Ravenmane who had plagued the coasts of Cygnar for as Tong as anyone alive could remember The cireular blade was a link from 4 lacerator whip employed by her Satysis raiders to channel psychic feedback to warcasters through their warjack host Realization hit the wareaster like a ship run ashor was the force behind the destruction of Haley's life. It was she who had . The Satyxis sea witch raided the village of lograne, she who hhad taken her sister, and she who twas responsible for the death of her parents and a lifetime of loss. The void in Haley's soul quickly filled with rage, and hatred seared every thought in her mind, She would go to ‘Cay, and the Satysis witch would p ttt Nemo stared blankly out the window of his quarters, a modest lodging on the third story of the Royal Cygnaran Army compound pressed against the northern edge of the wide Corvis harbor. Across the still water f thick column of ashen smoke rose from deep within the textile district and blotted out the afternoon sun like a velvet curtain drawn across the sky Not hours before, Nemo might have looked from this window as he had a thousand times in the past to see the minaret of the only Menite temple in Corvis. Topped only with a simple bronze Menofixnotpolishedin decades, it was not a proud structure, The spire had never attracted any particular interest from the Adept—it was easily lost among the ornate baroque skyline of the City of Ghosts —but its absence now left @ sinking feeling in the pit cof the ald warrior’s stomach as he realized the dread of a situation gone totally wrong, How..." The veteran warcaster never known to be at loss for words was paralyzed in awe. His normally dexterous mind felt immobilized by the gravity of the scene before him How could you do that, Coleman? He did not turn to face the young commander. He could not bear to look into the eyes of his former pupil who, not to long ago, Nemo would have called his greatest achievement “The ——potentate was. uncooperative — re not the Protectorate c as anger welled up to displace his The old warcaster broke astonishment. "They are Cygnarans just like you and II” His fio tips tingled with the energy of battle, and he swallowed hard to quell the rage he fal for his former student They are Menites, Nemo!” Stryker roared. “They are sympathizers to « APOTHEOSISstate that would see the end of us al! 1 will be taking the armor.” status of warcaster-commander, the When those fanatics of a merciless é clder's wizardly honorific of Adept It is not ready,” Nemo replied god come marching on this city, what 44. Jt go appear homed os he ll ump his onetime apprentice building—nay, what man, woman, of shld dejo bekeve wil be spared ‘Walked in a wide are to intercept the Stryker patted his breast pocket the fires of cheir wrath? Do you not young commander before reaching 8 containing a folded parchment bearing Iuliee eywrallocehiscovvouhe ree amsembly fade gearaffined the acl of King Leto ime, “Thi ee They om ace this TOTO t0 2 metal stand in the middle of the marque says yo don’, Step aside." The pas aoe room. "You are not ready Stormblades strode forward, seized the SNMP sey nrcoratuee MET ere excowiec ie imitations ‘TmOE Sompenents frum thei sandy compassion far the most innocent of of my-old battle armor. You have had hhuman life, They will blacken great long enough to test this, and I need “Coleman, you impetuous horse's Cygnar with their misguided flame if something that can keep up. ass," Nemo. grimaced through swe do not extinguish them first, clenched teeth. “TIl not worry that “It’s not ready, I'm telling you! 1 The Adept turned finally to face suit is half Cyrise-etull, man. Only his you'll fall to an enemy's blow. You'll be your own undoing! the younger mage. On the front of they know how this mechanika truly Stryker's greatcoat, he could see the works." Nemo huffed in frustration Stryker did not reply. Tuening his familiar brown crust of dried blood. and gestured at the shining armor back to his white haired mentor, he The but he did not don the battledress did not look entirely unlike his own the open door. nmander was in field uniform, of white and blue lacquered steel. It strode after the Stormblades through. of a warcaster. On his shoulder was unconventional electric _warcaster emblazoned aot’ the- royal lgolden, ermine Uae Wi back Uareiowimipwer 9 eh ammens ene reuirned cygnus of Cygnar but an inke-black generators instead of Nemo's one. swan, the to the window. The column of smoke still billowed from the burning mmbol of Stryker's personal “The actuatorsare too sensitive and the nple. In the harbor, he could see military contingent. "And you think voltaic generators are overproduicing. rounding hace neyplo up'lice'eetle: “(cel bees oe ee menNineae Cece Se Shier =, Uesulel and shipping them off to Bloodshore so far because the fable. If you push this Morrow help you— Try not to ser sere elk prison ships cut their moorings and Island will stop the aggression of the completely un: seas roy fo tue exe Protectorate? You make martyrs for armor, Col th it," the old a lei red behind a pillar of billowing ash, betting ‘You worry too much, Nemo. four enemies.” Stryker said flatly. Morrow is on our side.” With that, + His composure returned to the stoic Stryker called out behind him and Caine surveyed the area one Bement tnt heated ine ae cl Sears cman Nemo's ire had subsided. Hig ‘S808 Pen: Four men in clanking cventeen days out of Corvie and had brow wrinkled as the corners of his Stormblade armor entered the camp outside the ama village room; the golden insignias on theie rubbed black like nce the commander mouth fell in sadness. “My bay, I do ‘of Woodridge where a particularly shoulders we not kaow you high concentration of Menites were Sete ea Known’ to make residence. Some Cr taka Gnlly agree Tum ad Vegi iV peaaynoetb bad not yous BEd (ka see set fname te oF wee Pood Sebel) Heder & squad Fe to Protectorate forces a year before. journeyman. Put that past behind “Lieutenant —see this armor to the The commander had Jed dosen you sa Thave, old man. This war will mechaniks im my command section, “1020s 0 Stormbladss into ths jown not be survived ky thove who cling to Instruct them to prepare t for my usc Dacked bry an overwhelming forse of such untroubled times. immediately warjacks. Protectorate sympaihizers had little to say to the face of an Lord Commander Stryker walked “Stand down, you bloody halfhead!” Ironclad; Caine supposed that was across the loft toward the end that Nemo shouted, “I still outrank you, what the inquisitors were for served as Nemo's private workshop, Magus.” He spat the younger man's Go wal league to the the place reserved for the famed arcane title as if ie were an insulr. | O.1NH WS * Se Ieee Oe ‘mechanik’s personal work. ‘Though the two officers shared the i B+QM2HnNM7L71 of the main f abs hing body of snowmelt, the warcaster descended utenant,” Jeggins called. His the company, it was still a bechive the bluff toward the lone tent taking voice carried more ofa challen, of activity. Mechaniks servi care not to slip in the thawing sludge. greeting wwarjacks, armorers repaired weapons He didn’t trust the Protectorate (Caine raised his right band as if to ee ee it rors. reomen, cobbles, and other his shoulder. They werent his 3g enn witha bertine stride; the warcaster produced visible wave of energy that cracked domestic support tended to various of weapon, but no one would suspect tasks among the supply train keeping anyone other than Menite Zealots thecommander’scompany functioning once these were employed to mop up like a well-oiled machine, Fortunately the seene after his job was done, aed reader nL eee arenet his feet and back through the flaps of He made no attempt to disguise the canvas tent. A crash followed inside for Caine, Stryker had been quite his appearance—there would be the shelter as the inquisitor’s lifeless a een ra nel ele Ea Eaty eee inquisitors’ interrogation tent were oor . moments in this place. Flexing an poles, bringing the heavy tarpaulin unnerving to the troeps and sUPPOT — sceuator inthe plates covering his left down upon the remaining occupants. personnel, and he was now in the arm, Caine stoked his warcaster armor's habit oflocating it remotely, away and Expletives of both surprise and out of sight or earshot ofthe camp. A mm ace snapped from the jumbled mess mile of serubland and a sizeable bluff A sword blade pierced the side of the seperated the inguator: from the Ub. sstflar sau fallen tent and slashed a hole large base camp now. Caine would have e Familiar sound enough for two of the occupants 10 Se tien, ares one could from t holsters to bring one barrel arrive to investigate the commotion. any questions, ant be to bear on each of the two visible men you Gar nae eeaater ‘Two shots rang out synchronized so scconpmied Styler foe into remaining fen wen how Woodridge. The other thirteen awaited perfectly they sounded as one and an the two torturers lay’ on top ofeach other like dead pines Fell their return preparing to question ced jeer ga wnhe Oey were wafer atack,_— ine inom Crown. Caine, however, needed only The familiar sound of gunfire fone for his purposes: their ranking A Gy any questions, and the member Urias Sleg. He was an obese, remaining ten men knew they were loathsome man of known arcane furnace producing a loud pressure under attack. After a moment of aptitude. The job would be more Teleaseandagout of sooty smoke that scrambling, a half dozen random enjoyable for Caine than most—both _billowsd into the cool, afternoon sir. gunshots punched holes through the for the challenge and for the chance to The noise had the desired result, and canvas sheeting—none even close ‘om humanity. one of the inquisitors emerged from g Caine's proximity. The warcaster the house-sized tent to investigate orca eee fw beltcldate Gre Ghally back He was a man named dJeggins: = into the heap. One man within held specialist in ntetrogailen within Teal che, kdewledge he ceded, aad he ia eyorl Chea ene aidlied Pe AS aS. convince a person to trade answers The gun mage had only seen two prisoners escape passage on the prison ‘a mother and her infant child © inquisitors had marked them for Bloodshore, but something in the ae securing th for pain. He posed little danger to ig had touched he warcaster, but several of the Stryker at just the right time, and he woman's quiet sobl One by one, the inquisitors inquisitors inside possessed martial crawled from beneath the piled tent ‘s vehement himself Most wielded blades and more than that something human still dwelled within cled shell. released them despite Sl as well as arcane ability. S protest. Tt was a sign to C few held loaded forgelocks. “Have you was a wizard of no small distinction who held a high position within the 2n insane, Lieutenant?!” one yelled Order of Illumination before removing himself from public scrutiny after the 1e lord commander's st incredulously. Caine knew the man to be an ex-member of the Fraternal Order of Wizardry With his boots caked with the ‘oud of what seemed like an endless Inquisition’s disbanding RAPOTHEOSITS‘We're long past that, I'm afraid,” defensive magic. The air ignited in a them, focused his energy through the he replied. He punctuated his words blinding flare that disoriented Caine’s mystical magelocks, and. discharged with a fusillade from both pistols by vision long enough for the three an arcane blast that scattered the emptying their cylinders and filling bladesmen to set upon him, Dodging men like straw. Two were felled ds between them with a rapid succession of sword strikes, permanently, but the wizard quickly 1 cloud of sulfurous smoke. Two he whirled to disengage with the recovered, clearly protected by some al ward, more fell and a third dropped to one assailants as his vision came back into mi nce as hin let shoulder exploded infocus, lucky aie across his Back ain Cxine forsed hit power : fee a‘ : . i spell to flash him out of sight finish the fight. Nothing happened. He early in the morning to worry about turbine and sent him headlong into accuracy, Caine thought, as three the iey' muck. However, the three men men rushed with swords and ewo failed to press the attack fast enough, cextendedan arm, pointed one Spellstorm others leveled guns at him. Before and Caine rolled to his feet, head low the report of the gunshots could be in a crouch, and stre heard, though, Caine had vanished in thunderstrike through the magelock. ard. A millisecond later. the twin Wyte Nn ea at ee, fafa of hh. Garpiog i dcbetah ME etltece gitgRet ica’ waccatc ail cacti a Uae Facade MOMMA abet col blce Wich in afore pena deny fee miss of the inquishors Sarena secre ;potedin ee PRLSod 1 ibe the min could wirnfovane Cainaroemgy TENE advantage of the, Fr oceeate bread over hs em, the gun pent * SmPAY Handguns. two o _ body, and he could feel the full weight Er Ale iecuinitors brought their rolonded. OS ane ncena aeluyet mage had already finished reloading his Spellstorms and had taken aim at _yet another pair of targets. aa "of his powered warcaster armor no weapons to bear while a thirl—one [3.00 Ofer any aeigance to hit strength. The warcaster could feel his pulse intensify: he had underestimated of the wiards—ealled a spell to ignite the ground around Caine ina No strangers to combat, Sleg and fiery ring. Rising to his feet the gun too other wizards releursdaaeries of mage aimed. the empiy, pistale. at his am=ry“We own you now, Allister Caine, Sleg said. A wicked grin creased his fat, liverspotied face as he strolled toward the magically bound Feutenant. “We've a few more tricks to show you, warcaster, and a few ‘questions you'll be answering for us about all this treachery. Tell us what we want to know quickly, and you can avoid a litle bit of unpleasantness Slog reached out and plucked the twin pistols from Caine's helpless hands and added, ‘or don't, and let's see just how much pain your grog-soaked body can withstand. Caine's vision blurred as he fought to hold on to consciousness, Reaching ‘out with his mind, he searched for his ace in the hole and suddenly found himself disembodied, staring at the scene of himself and his captors through ironsframed eyes. Twenty yards behind the fallen tent, che underbrush rustled and snapped as three tons of nimble steel steamed to life, The warcaster transferred his power and focused it within the buzzing cortex of the Charger. Following instructions, it took aim at the men who held Caine eaptive Two quick cannon shots blazed From the thicket, The inquisitors flinched and ducked, but none were Caine clenched his raving to Morrow and half f any remaining power he had into the warjack. Fully spewed from the Charger’s vents and pressurized, steam it loped forward. A single shot from its dual cannon eviseerated one of the wizards in a gory fulmination that covered the other two with blood. Still advancing, the Charger rotated its cannon barvels with a mechanical thunk into the firing chamber. The round instantly discharged and sent the ccond inquisitor wizard Aying Flee 2 bloody comet past the astounded nd another shell dropped Sleg. As the lone inquisitor stood paralyzed in terror, the Charger gained speed, lowered its cannon farm, and charged directly toward the unarmed man. A moment before impact, the bright blue warjack rotated its right shoulder forward to slam Sleg square in the chest and send him spraveling into the putrid stew of ‘mud, snow, blood, and entrails. Broken from the arcane held, Caine reached out and thumped the Charger squarely on its shoulder re Emm A willsecd Pater, He twin Spelltirms snapped with a staceats «bythe ts Glast bwelve Retesired holes throuch the fri of inguisitors, mounting, “You missed?” His voice cracked from stress Retrieving his pistols, Caine walked to the inquisitor leader and put his boot heel in the small of his back, The aging man had not yet regained his breath, ind he gasped for air while squeezing his arms around « dozen broken ribs. “I'm a w halthead,” Caine chided we don’t work alone.” ‘You forget Suddenly the Charger jerked, ite pistons hissed, and the massive iron frame heaved in the direction of the bluff. Something had gotten its attention. Caine traced its line of sight in time to see the inquisitor he'd only wounded earlier nearing the top fof the hill, Chutching his mangled shoulder as he ran, the inquisitor was far out of range of the Spellstorms that Caine had not even. bothered to reload. “Bollocks!” he cried. The entire encounter had taken scarcely two minutes, and the encampment swas over a mile away and shielded by a bluff. His gunfire would have been hheard, not to mention the shots from the Charger—but the surrounding hills would make the direction of the sound impossible to pinpoint. I the ‘man crested the bluff, however, he'd draw a great deal of attention in this direction, and Caine would never have enough time to cover this up. Every minute counted. Quickly, thewarcaster connected to the mind of the warjack again. imultancously, he focused a spell upon the warjack’s cannon to grant it extended range far beyond the weapon's normal capability. Miss again, he thought directly into the mind of the warjack, and Til trade you in. Charger raised the gun, and guided by Caine's remaining sniped a single shot into the flee inquisitor’s back, The man hit the earth and snow with Mailing limbs and tumbled back down the steep In one motion the embankment. His last steps were "You'll swing for this, Caine,” Sleg grunted through pain-clenched teeth. "We're sanctioned by the Crown, We're not outlaws anymore.” Tm not here to judge, you bloated bag of Farrow filth. Your fate was sealed years ago, Enjoy the time you've had out from under your rock because you haven't got much left Caine pressed his boot against h forcing the inquisitor's broken rib Fragments into the bruised muscle tissue of his chest. “Now, give up his name and location and I'l spare you @ lite bit of unpl Thamar's locks —what the hell are youtalkingabout,man?”Sleggroaned. He had only ever admini ered pain RPOTHEOSTsS 5Neverbeforehadhebeen the recipient was going verymuchlike those before weapons deep into the battered of such torment. it. She found only = hovse full of countertop—a crude furnishing ce!” Caine drunken fil interrupted by frequent constructed of split pier pilings stil bellowed, “Tell me where you're hiding that bastard son of Vinter “The bastard, Sl bbravwls, an occasional stabbing, and a covered in the crust of barnacles. good desl of coin pilfering both from “Male with the rum, Snodgrass. Ler’s \ the patrons as well asthe proprietors. get it over with!" she snorted at the pales Haley expected the man who had barkeep, “I've not touched land since + professed to know Skarre's habits the last new moon, and I've a thirst would have already lost or spent for more than yer" blimey swill, if Haley lurked in the comer of a WON Oe vern called the Severed Tongue been paid, but she yeh know what I mean.” The lit Tah fescue ei gg eee resent we igh Hay hangs NE wy Sri eee Satyxis warcaster, but he had claimed ‘at case in the perpetually darkened The clientele was in usual form, she came here to satisfy her carnal Ceyxian port city of Blackwater, She and Haley was considering an early kept her face shadowed beneath her hhood and rented her table with drink into the doorless entry. She was a Haley let the hours pass far into the after drink, pouring them through woman of daunting stature clad in night. Deftly, she orbited the tavern the rickety floorboards whenever she little but a swath of mail and fa careful to keep her distance from the Satyxis lest her presence be detected. Seren ee cticetepped: ests well was sure no eyes were upon her. It was an uncomfortable environment She kept her movements to « minimum being surrounded by scoundrels and ‘and conserved the steam reserves in her cutthroatsofeveryimaginable lavor— Ravermane’s RIEAE xe earsaoro0;thal te would ace h aa ae eee ee at eto be powered up within the tavern. Only mercenaries, and more than tg ena eer drink and unwariness had kept her i oy ogre eae a Rataaorraredss far dake varie! Sea eae Theres eM eee pee tecnica aero SS ese dow ley For these works shehadmlkedibe | JETIONYPcpaNze seariton se beter chance wat otal he alleys ofthis pirate refuge. Sometimes ating information shrough coin fake the witch unaware. and other times through force, she was skarrehad taken ancy tonmusculr a rogue shirtless and covered in always careful not to expose her true totemic ink with numerable piercings llegiance. More han nce To Haley had never before sven. she had been forced to kill to preserve identity or a so, the shipman seemed uneasy ‘as Skarve straddled his lap, for few had returned to boast of congress with the infamous pirate queen +0 cover her sun-bronzed skin. Black hair cascaded from her head in long of Five Fingers who thought to double _ ily shocks, and in each hand she held their score by selling her to the local blade of wicked and flesh trade, ‘Their ship would prove Asahe stepped thro her head bowed forward granting her own skin. The first time came with the very smugglers she had hired out lic design, the threshold ing an opportunity at last, ey unwound the coarse strips of Ha useful upon her return trip since she went wrack of sailcloth she had used to conceal her clearance 10 a mageil fpeceett ens proc She had paid three weeks of forefront of her skull, There could be lost in thee had promoted the cook to captain. Fe map He Vee ame ne ment with Deneghra, ain the name of ag mistake; it was the Pirate Queen but like her arm, it had been replaced the Severed Tongue, and even then Skarre, scourge of the high seas and With an upgraded version Fabricated by the source was reluctant to give it up. curse of the Broken Coast. Cygnar's esteemed royal mechaniks. ‘The tavern was, she had been assured, Swifily, before she could attract the favorite haunt of one Satyxis As the pirate queen approached aytention, she leveled the dagger-like the tavern’s bar, she wound her arms behind her back. W foverhand strokes, she planted her Pirate Queen Skarre Ravenmane point of the spear at the pirate queen's two powerful back during the occasions she made port 1nd rushed across the tavern 0 but the seventh night of her stake out plunge it into her quarry. The instant Eneabefore the blade made contact arre words crawled from her throat at The tavern’s crowd dropped to swisted and her arm lashed out to seize barely a whisper the floor, and those near the exit Ned the shaftof Haley's spear. Dismounting with all the speed their drunken legs Haley stoked herarmor and charged SRR es Ere et eerie as Weer nia could muster. Reaching with her rammed her horns into Haley's face mind through the intricate arcane matrix of her spear, Haley focused her energy into the device to expel twin jets of the same hellfire Skarre had spawned. coi a arcane energy and she felt the pulse of Pan Se a Sa on oe ete pe Te ae step forward, she set her jaw as she spoke. "You ruined my life, Ravenmane The blow sent the Cygnaran warcaster careening to the floor. Were it not for the powerfield generated by Haley's armor, her skull might have been shattered. She raised her head instead Around them the occupants of the ‘Tonight I repay the deed. The pirate queen, spent and nseless, succumbed to the flame. Her tan flesh blistered before the infernal heat. Haley cocked back her mechanikal arm to hold the spear tomect herenemy’s gaze with no more tavern retreated in a circle, ‘Those | than a bloody nose and split ip. who knew better sought cover behind whatever farnishing was near. This wouldn't be the first fight tonight in the Severed Tongue, but it might very well be the first b T wondered when you'd gather your stones!” Skarre bellowed at ready to launch at Skarre's heart. The Haley stil lying on the floor. "Did you satisfaction of her death was a mere not think I could sense your presence? impulse away What manner of mang reinlander Wa"sister: Blackwater had ever sen, ares accost Skarre Ravenmane in Weaponless and _—_unarmored, her own waters? I'm going to feed yer Skarre estimated her disadvantage. Wait!” the Satyxis managed to cry as she choked on the boiling saliva scorching her throat. "Let me parley central to the harbor eels! Haley stared into Skare's eyes and $OTehng fi . ‘waited for the blood lust ro boil over infor my lie Starne fara fever Hs tS tie tonnes WhSMAAPINE Wp pence cl 4 Wharl™ Haley steope Signet fer ands pine to are Het joven could conan herself no more. the pte queen woul beg for mery corner: Takkarye and Bloody, opt fs mam whe el’ moments teary wien ncn Bat eh both hands she twisted his neck clear around while uttering her favored sword and dagger, were be true to yer king, yeh'll spare me courtship. Wi nowhere to be seen. Haley mentally gizzard that spear and hear the words thanked the informant once again and. ee Thave to say was pleased that her planning and ye ent ded bach aie , ys Javence had paid off: By now her Het Bead arched backward as the Haleyrushedthe wounded Satyxis, witch received a surge of sickly energy seized her throat in an iron grasp, and bogrin hirelings would have sold the when life fled the man's empty corpse. shoved her against the tavern wall pin ee eta shattering stucco to the floor around or dumped them in the harbor and Haley prepared. She would ‘hattring skipped town without looking back, have only one chance against thin Mets Charred Seance rhe Satine nowied oy lode ene fist, and as Haley leaned in, she could et. ees Raging, Starrs throw ber bande sill fel cha ella Heceradiasing fran ‘out before her and roared the battle Skarre’s body. “You have nothing to Invigorated, Haley regsined her fect and extended the prosth cry of the Satyxis raiders, A blazing say that will save your life, witch!” % iy tae hey ict of green fice leapt from her claws. Haley hissed fer spear magically leapt into her eer here mechanikal hand from where Skarre Another followed, chem a third Skacre gulped. The pain of her had ler it clatter to the floor. “Iam Haley focused on her armor ed flesh held her at the brink of ld and unconsciousness, but she new one’ Victoria Haley. Twenty years ago you 10 overboost her power slew my parents and destroyed the magically hold the assault at bay. flinch from Haley's mechanikal arm town of Ingrane. You took my sister. ‘The hellfire washed over her leaving would squeeze out what little life was You knew her as Deneghra snot so much asa scorch on her cloak. left within her. "I cannot turn back Skarre's head snapped in Haley's ao g tases PRET : a : . of flames, her spear hummed. It was waif of twenty years ago. Today we with those of the young Cygnaran ee tae sy acto eed ese aS hit atone FORE care For the pirate queen's spell and storing more for bloody Cygnar than yeh do ee oa tee Org rae earieer aes RAPOTHEOSITsS q