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This book is printed under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Contents copyright
©2005-2020, Wyrd Miniatures, LLC. All rights reserved. This book is a work of fiction; any resemblance
to organizations, places, events, or actual persons – living or dead – is purely coincidental. Copies of
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consideration without prior written consent of the owner of the materials except for review purposes only.

MALIFAUX is a trademark of Wyrd Miniatures, LLC 2005-2020. The Wyrd logo, the MALIFAUX logo, the
Through the Breach logo, the Penny Dreadful logo, The Other Side logo, and all related character names,
places, and things are trademarks and copyright © 2005-2020 Wyrd Miniatures, LLC. The Malifaux game
system is patent pending, serial no. 12/821,427

First Printing: July 2020. Printed in China.

MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION: EXPLORER’S SOCIETY

978-1-7331627-9-1
WYR23028
This text is protected by the copyright laws of the United States of America. Contents copyright © 2005-2020, Wyrd Miniatures, LLC.
All rights reserved. This book is a work of fiction; any resemblance to organizations, places, events, or actual persons - living or dead
– is purely coincidental. Copies of materials herein are intended solely for your personal, non-commercial use, only if you preserve
any associated copyrights, trademarks, or other notices. Wyrd Miniatures, LLC holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized
duplication is prohibited. You may not distribute copies to others for a charge or other consideration without prior written consent
of the owner of the materials except for review purpose only.

MALIFAUX is a trademark of Wyrd Miniatures, LLC 2005-2020. The Wyrd logo, the MALIFAUX logo, the Through the Breach
logo, the Penny Dreadful logo, The Other Side logo, and all related character names, places, and things are trademarks and
copyright © 2005-2020 Wyrd Miniatures, LLC. The Malifaux game system is patent pending, serial no. 12/821,427
THE EXPLORER’S SOCIETY.............................................................................................................................................. 4
ROUND TABLE.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 6
CRY HAVOC.............................................................................................................................................................................................. 18
UNCHARTED WATERS.......................................................................................................................................................................42
NOTHING IS FOREVER...................................................................................................................................................................... 62
STAT CARDS.............................................................................................................................................................................................86
UPGRADE CARDS..............................................................................................................................................................................160
KEYWORD INDEX.............................................................................................................................................................................. 162

ALPHABETICAL MODEL LIST

Alpinist.......................................158
Anya Lycarayen.......................138
Archivist....................................... 99
Artemis......................................... 92
Austera and Twigge................134
Bellhop Porter..........................156
Bernadette Basse......................126
Berserker Husk........................103
Botanist.......................................157
Brocken Spectre.......................109
Calypso Mk. II.........................121
Cornelius Basse........................124
Corvis Rook..............................141
Crypsis Corps............................. 91
Cryptologist...............................151
Daeva..........................................112
The Damned.............................133
Dr. Beebe...................................120
Dr. Meredith Stanley.............100
English Ivan..............................106
Eva Havenhand........................111
Eyes and Ears............................104
Gibson DeWalt.........................110
Grave Goo.................................136
Harata Ngaatoro......................118
Harpooner.................................122
Hopeful Prospect.....................159
Intrepid Effigy..........................152
Intrepid Emissary....................153
Jedza............................................128
Jessie Halliday...........................149
Kiya Manimi.............................117
Lamplighter...............................135
Lord Cooper................................ 86
Lucas McCabe..........................146
Luna.............................................148
Machinist...................................123
Malisaurus Rex........................... 89
Maxine Agassiz........................114
Mikhail XVI..............................131
Model 9........................................ 90
Moorwraith...............................137
Mr. Mordrake...........................108
Mr. Ngaatoro............................154
Nexus............................................ 96
Nightsilk Creeper....................102
Nocturne....................................113
Operative...................................144
Orville Agassiz.........................116
Rough Rider..............................150
Runaway....................................... 88
Sand Worm...............................127
Shambling Nest.......................... 98
Sophie.........................................130
Sovereign...................................140
Spelleater...................................101
Surveyor.....................................143
Tannenbaum.............................132
Tidecaller...................................119
Ullr................................................. 93
Vatagi Huntsman....................... 94
Vernon and Welles..................155
Winston Finnigan....................142
 T he mysterious is both sides of the same labyrinthine coin: the victory
of escape after a long and arduous journey and the paralyzing fear of
knowing the next turn could be your last. Understanding the Explorer’s
Society is much like navigating that paradoxical maze. Each path taken might
uncover the solution to an unsolvable riddle. But the more one discovers, the
more one might feel the weight of the walls that are slowly closing in.
The Society was originally founded by Lord Justin of Malifaux, and she utilized the Society’s many
Cooper, a man known to take the pleasures and resources to accomplish those goals. Likeminded
privileges his lordship afforded him to morally wealthy and curious leaders were gathered, expe-
gray heights. Bored and jaded by those experiences ditions funded, and secret knowledge plundered.
on Earth, he turned his eye to Malifaux, where Day by day, conundrums and enigmas became
one with enough means and will can do nearly facts and tools, information that all hinted at
anything without troublesome questions and more greater wonders and power. But the more she
troublesome laws. What now stands representing gained, the more she craved, and her appetite has
the Explorer’s Society, a palatial monument of become insatiable.
wealth in the heart of the Slums, began on a whim
and the desire to hunt. Beneath the many parties, fundraisers, and phil-
anthropic galas held on the Society’s first floor are
Malifaux stirred something deep in him. A land meetings of the well connected. One seat is filled
of eternal adventure beckoned out, and Cooper’s by the owner of the operation that has quite liter-
response was to invite his wealthy colleagues so ally linked the edges of Malifaux together. Anya
that they could relish the thrill of this wild hunt Lycarayen, the new head of Condor Rails, is the
together. Minor lords, jaded merchants, spoiled youngest member of the Explorer’s Society. Where
heirs, and others soon followed. But it would not her father saw unnecessary complication and pry-
be Lord Cooper that would shape the Explorer’s ing eyes, Anya sees opportunity and resources. She
Society to what it is today; it would be the woman believes rails are only the first profitable venture for
to whom he gave the Society key as his body was her company, and knowing where to invest next –
rebuilt from a near-fatal hunting accident. and how heavily – is exactly the type of information
the Society is willing to provide.
Gretchen Janus, an elderly woman of mysterious
origin – perhaps a Lady herself, lost foreign roy- Gathering that type of information is no easy task,
alty, or something else entirely - allowed her own but a little ingenuity and charisma can go a long
ambitions to delve deep into the unknown corners way. It takes a very specific set of skills to hang

4 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY

on the walls like a shadow and hear the whispers
of private conversations. English Ivan, a man
characterized by his own secrets, was enticed by
Gretchen’s invitation; such a collaboration could
provide him with resources well beyond his
own impressive reach. What the Society offered
would forever change him, for better and worse,
providing him with power and grief in equal
measure, but this unlikely affiliation has allowed
him to maneuver in the dark as never before.  expense on her expeditions into Malifaux’s unex-
But there are areas where even shadows refuse
to linger, where darkness is absolute, and only
the chittering of mites can be heard. An early
excavation of Gretchen’s ended up netting one of
her most valued assets: the hivemind known as
Cadmus. For a time immemorial they withered,
forgotten and locked deep within the earth.
Their gratitude for being freed, fed, and given the
opportunity to truly stretch their legs cannot be
understated. This connected consciousness has
begun spreading their influence in ways that others
can only dream of, and now the Explorer’s Society
has eyes and ears where many would never think to
look... or listen. Despite Cadmus obtaining entire
libraries of previously unobtainable knowledge,
the rest of the Society tends to keep their distance;
it is difficult to trust a weapon that was once made
to tear down kings and gods.
Others who have joined the Society stay far away
for vastly different reasons. Making the most
of her precarious situation, Jedza has trekked
along the winding roads of both worlds seeking
answers, sometimes without even knowing the
right questions. But a debt was owed and a favor
was demanded, and so this eternal wanderer
cursed with immortality has been brought into the
fold and tasked with securing the unreachable.
Joining her on these expeditions is none other
than Cornelius Basse, who has quickly made a
name for himself in contract towns as the quiet
man with a big gun. While beholden to the
Guild, a much more lucrative offer has been
made – one that doesn’t intrude on his current
obligations. In both Jedza and the Society, he
sees opportunity and freedom, and is willing to
lend a hand so long as it means finding solace for
him and his daughter.
EXPLORER’S SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION
For those who find peace in the exploration of
science, there are few organizations who are
as deep pocketed and almost equally as inter-
ested in the outcomes of experimentation as the
Society. This relationship has proven fruitful to
the Explorer’s Society’s efforts. In Maxine Agassiz,
they have found someone with the intelligence
and capabilities to go where few are able. Backed
by the Society’s resources, she is able to spare no
plored oceans and landscapes. Maxine’s allow-
ance remains unlimited, so long as she is willing to
cough up every minute detail to the greater cause.
But not even the hivemind or shadowman know
how far she has already reached into the abyss, or
what she has found dwelling there.
It falls upon the newly initiated, like Lucas
McCabe, to do the Society’s dirty work: collect-
ing the rare artifacts and fancy baubles meant to
make their bookshelves shimmer. Unbeknownst
to most treasure hunters, each curio has a secret
of its own. If one with experience in dealing
with subterfuge and secrecy were to map out
the worth and power connecting these relics, the
true aspirations of the Society’s head might be
revealed. But she’s smarter than letting those that
can connect the dots exist in the public eye. They,
alongside her true intentions, remain hidden in
the many secret passageways and trophy rooms
of the Explorer’s Society manor.
Like the Tyrants of old, there will be a time and
place to reveal her grand plan, but there is still
much work to be done.
5
 by
Matthew Majarucon

G retchen’s right index finger tapped gently against her leg as she
stared out of the carriage window. The subtle agitation was nearly
imperceptible, but both Mr. Ngaatoro and Ludvig had noticed. It was always
a journey of endurance, this necessary passage through the Southgate Slums.
It was all grime and poverty, all one decaying urban landscape passing like a
zoetrope. Endless. Repeating. Dilapidated. And boring, really. The carriage,
at least, offered a barrier of wealth Gretchen could rely on to keep herself
isolated. Ludvig cleared his throat, ignoring the glare Mr. Ngaatoro gave him.
“Will everyone be present this evening?” The horseless carriage rolled to a stop while
Malifaux’s elite milled about in the courtyard.
“Everyone in need of reminding,” Gretchen said Without another word, Gretchen slipped a pair
flatly, her gaze unmoving from the window. “The of silk gloves over her hands and straightened the
Society doesn’t run itself, as much as certain parties brooch at her collar. The carriage door opened and
think it does.” That was the end of it. Ludvig agreed Gretchen stepped out into the gentle evening. The
in silence, adjusting the valise at his side. The stench party was waiting.
of the slums gave way to a breath of fresh air. The
lights of the Society manor were calling the elite and
privileged, each one a moth to a hot flame.

The estate was a colossal edifice, especially for

something inside the Southgate Slums. Great pale
stonework almost shimmered with light; huge
glazed windows hinted at the treasures kept just
beyond their glassy barriers. Baroque towers in-
terjected at regular intervals, ensuring the build-
ing appeared just as much like a fortress as it did
a noble’s retreat. Gentle archways supported the
Society’s numerous arcades. Well-tended gardens
offered a perfumed breeze. The sweetness of rho-
dodendron, begonia, and dahlias bloomed along-
side more bitter ivies and shrubs. It was a rare
paradise within Malifaux City, a testament to hu-
manity and what discovery could build. A testa-
ment to what Gretchen had helped build.
Mr. Ngaatoro pushed the Explorer’s Society doors
open, and Gretchen was met with a wave of laugh-
ter, music, and light. She stood for a moment, drink-
ing in the unspoken tribute each guest offered her.
Her dark eyes took in everything the hall offered in
a matter of seconds. Finnigan. Halliday. Archibal.
McCabe and that dog he always had around.
Queeg. Durand. Lovelace, but neither of her sisters
- interesting. Representatives: Ridley, Innocence,
the Council. Aristocrats and their sycophants... The
room had gone quiet, as though every voice had
been cut down by a silent scythe. Gretchen smiled
curtly to the crowd.

6 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY

 Round Table

A ripple of acknowledgment traveled through the “Fortunate that there’s no one more fitting than him
hall before everyone slowly went back to their to keep us informed on such fraudulence. Perhaps
conversations. Alcohol removed the nervous edge you could be of some service to our experts, Lucas,
Gretchen tended to introduce to a party. That, and particularly in our Egyptian collection. I recall that
the manor’s luxurious adornments. area was once your specialty.” Gretchen let herself
enjoy McCabe’s deepening color but ended the con-
The bookshelves alone climbed almost to the sec- versation before the man could respond. “I hope you
ond floor, and that wasn’t even considering the val- both enjoy this little party before your next assign-
ue of their contents. Glass displays stood next to ment. I’ll expect results.”
alcoves or longer window boxes, all filled with pre-
cious artifacts and neatly handwritten labels or
informative tags, even if most of them were em-
bellished. The Explorer’s Society’s great hall shone
with candlelight and reflections of glass and mir-
rors, the precious metals and polished stone bounc-
ing a multitude of soft colors against the walls and
curios. Gretchen ignored it all.

She drifted through the party like a shark, the crowd

parting nervously before her to ensure they provid-
ed a respectable, but noticeable, amount of space.
Everyone seemed to be enraptured in quiet con-
versation or very curious about the amount of bub-
bles in their champagne until their little procession
had passed. Her eyes continuously scanned
the room. She was searching. Ludvig hur-
ried into a fast waddle when Gretchen’s
stride became more purposeful. Her heels
clicked on the floor, a song that kept everyone
who heard it paralyzed.

“Lucas. Ms. Halliday.” Gretchen’s call made both turn;

McCabe started, embarrassed, eyes snapping up from
his companion’s backside. If she noticed, Jessie didn’t
make a scene; she smiled at Gretchen’s approach.

“You look stunning, Lady Janus,” Jessie compliment-

ed. She shifted, adjusting the awkward dress cinched
around her waist. McCabe looked more comfort-
able. Cleaned up, the treasure hunter almost fit into
the high society surrounding him: fake with inflated
worth, just like the trinkets he peddled. Jessie, on the
other hand, was clearly pining for her overalls.

“Just Gretchen is fine, dear. I’m sure you’ve been giv-

ing Lucas his first tour of our exhibits?” Gretchen
kept her eyes on McCabe, enjoying the discomfort of
a man who had been caught looking at something he
shouldn’t have.

Jessie nodded. “I have. He wouldn’t stop complain-

ing. ‘Mislabeled’ and ‘fake’ were some of his cri-
tiques, I believe.” She looked at McCabe, who had
turned a slightly deeper shade of pink. Gretchen
raised an eyebrow.

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 7
 Round Table
Without another word, Gretchen left, Ludvig and
Mr. Ngaatoro in tow. She let out a faint sigh as she
walked. How she loathed small talk. It had already
taken them longer than necessary to show. Gretchen
appreciated subtlety, but the evening’s formalities
had grown tedious…
“My lady?” The voice was refined but held a touch
of nervousness. Ludvig looked up, pretending the
sudden intrusion hadn’t startled him. The voice
belonged to a server, in his 40’s by Ludvig’s best
estimate. He was well-dressed for the occasion:
pressed jacket, a small Explorer’s Society emblem
on his lapel, proffering a tray populated with cham-
pagne glasses. Ludvig felt the beginnings of a head-
ache forming, and Ngaatoro moved to remind the
server of his place. Why did people always choose
parties to try and get access to Gretchen? It was just
unprofessional-
Gretchen held up a hand. She plucked one of the
glasses from the tray and smiled, genuinely this
time.
“Thank you,” she said, sipping the drink before con-
tinuing. “Absolutely delightful. What’s your name? I
don’t believe we’ve ever met.” The question shocked
the server, but he recovered quickly.
“Humphrey, my lady,” he said, standing up a little
straighter. Gretchen pondered for a moment.
“If it’s not too much trouble, Humphrey, I’m having
a more exclusive gathering in one of the parlors.
Would you mind accompanying me and my guests
there to be our private waitstaff for the evening?”
The offer sped through the server’s mind; there was
fear, apprehension, then acceptance. It seemed like
he resisted the urge to salute, instead going with a
slight bow.
“It would be my pleasure.”
“Then that completes our attendance. Everyone is
waiting.” The annexes of the great hall beckoned;
dozens of rooms that led deeper into the manor were
all locked, but Gretchen had every key. She began
making her way through the party, but being in one
place for so long had invited others to try their luck
and gain Gretchen’s attention.
“My lady, Lady Janus!”
8 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
Ludvig swore under his breath. Ngaatoro glared at
him again but shared the same feeling. The tattooed
man stepped forward, but Gretchen lifted a finger
away from her glass. Ngaatoro stopped. He loomed
behind Gretchen instead. A thin, nervous man was
practically running towards the four, though it was
more of a rapid, awkward walk. He pushed stringy
hair across his balding pate, dabbing his forehead
with a handkerchief. He hadn’t stopped speaking
the whole time on his way over to Gretchen. Other
guests knew better than to stare at the commotion;
those who didn’t were quickly informed by their
neighbors.
“Ma’am?” he repeated, drawing himself up to his
full, unimpressive height, “I am Ry- “
“Ryan Fairchilde, a representative of our mutually
beneficial organization,” Gretchen interrupted.
Ryan’s throat bulged as he swallowed nervously,
eyes flitting from Ludvig to Ngaatoro and back. He
shook his head as though trying to clear Gretchen’s
words out of his ears. He enunciated his own words
with little thrusts of his hands.
“Then you know why I am here. We have much to
discuss. You have not responded to any correspon-
dence, even those that have been explicitly marked
‘urgent’, and that is to say nothing of your lenience
in regard to detailed communications about-”
“Did you bring what I asked for?” Gretchen inter-
rupted. Ryan stuttered to a stop and seemed to visi-
bly deflate.
“I… well, I… what?”
“Your hearing is apparently as absent as my request,”
Gretchen scolded. “Did you bring it?”
The small man sponged at his forehead again. He
coughed, spluttering out what he assumed was a
passable response. Gretchen raised her hand, and he
fell silent.
“Then we have really nothing to discuss until you
get me what I want. Good evening, Mr. Fairchilde.
This will be our last conversation until you can
fulfill your responsibilities. Take that however you
will.”
Ryan Fairchilde did not make the mistake of trying
to follow them, nor did any more guests dare speak a
word to Gretchen as she strode deeper into the man-
or’s halls. Fewer and fewer socialites occupied the
longer hallways and the rooms splitting from them.

The tiniest bit of music and conversation made its
way through the labyrinth, but for the most part it
was just soft footfalls on carpet that accompanied
the four. The occasional electric light provided illu-
mination, but many of the rooms were dimmed: a
precaution and a deterrent to keep tipsy guests from
wandering about where they shouldn’t. Neither
Ludvig nor Ngaatoro complained, and the server
followed dutifully with his tray.
Gretchen stopped at a small paneled room occupied
by a heavy reading table and two overstuffed chairs.
Rich tropical wood lined the walls. The carvings
started about four feet off the ground. Each panel
was carefully cut and fit with its neighbor. They
showed scenes of the world’s greatest mysteries:
ships sailing on wooden waves, wrapped in the jaws
of underwater monsters; ornate jungles, each leaf
curling around idols and ziggurats; snow-blasted
mountains above scorched, flowing dunes and the
legendary beasts that called such places home.
The work was breathtaking. And yet, Gretchen was
unmoved. She strode to the opposite end of the
room and fit her signet ring into the eye of a three-
headed lion under a desert sun. There was a small
click. The Soulstone embedded in her ring flashed;
the server made a small gasp of surprise, despite
himself. A compass rose on the far wall rotated,
pulling the panel open. Gretchen stepped inside.
Ludvig, Ngaatoro, and the server followed. Once all
four had disappeared into the darkness, the panel
slid shut without a sound.
The staircase behind the panel was long and dark;
for the server’s sake, Gretchen went slower than
usual. Twists and turns could be dizzying for the
uninitiated, and a server with a broken neck would
have been momentarily inconvenient. The few elec-
tric lights were extinguished, but Gretchen needed
no guidance. Her practiced hands easily found the
door she was looking for and slipped a key into the
lock. It clicked, and the world once again became
bright.
The study was large, albeit darker and… cozy, was
the word Gretchen had eventually decided on.
Bookcases lined the far walls; a massive hearth
blazed in the west wall, banishing most of the shad-
ows cast by taxidermied beasts. Thick carpets let
EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
Round Table
anyone walk in silence and eased the pressure stone
flooring caused on joints. A selection of sofas, chaise
lounges, and side tables clustered near the fireplace
and spread across the room to the east wall; they
were mostly occupied, Gretchen was pleased to see.
Glass cases with ornate metal bindings stood
proudly next to this conference area. The firelight
revealed tiny runes etched into the metal, and webs of
arcane power gave the glass an odd, almost watery
appearance. Gretchen knew each case’s contents.
A selection of twitching, wooden limbs wrapped
in dark fabric. A tiny gold coin in the guise of a
14th century English Florin, held very careful-
ly by two warded prongs. Sealed oni jars from the
Three Kingdoms. Several anatomical taxidermies,
ranging from human to Nephilim, were scattered
about. A collective mixture of gears and flat me-
tallic plates, ancient yet advanced. Several color-
ful Soulstones held up by tiny jeweler’s displays.
Pieces of shattered stone, runes pieced back to-
gether in a rough circle and laid on cotton cush-
ioning. Even from across the room, Gretchen could
feel the power emanating from the relics. The ar-
cane shields were strong, but still, what the Society
had managed to collect in such a time was nothing
short of remarkable.
“Gretchen! Lovely to see you again, my dear.”
The voice was gruff but powerful, easily booming
throughout the room. Gretchen allowed herself a
smile.
“The same, Justin. I appreciate you making time out
of your party to attend this meeting. You’re looking
well.”
The smooth clicking of mechanical limbs signaled
Cooper’s approach. He was a large man, made more
imposing by the sheer amount of metal forming his
body. A crystal tumbler was clasped in one metal
hand. A look of boredom had plastered itself across
his face, but Gretchen could see something else stir-
ring beneath.
“Good drink and better sport will do that,” Cooper
confirmed. “I can’t say the same about conversation,
though. Damnation, the old boy’s always on about
some nonsense or another.”
“Language,” a voice called warningly from the fire.
It took Gretchen a moment to find where the own-
er of the voice was sitting, but she eventually forced
her eyes onto his immaculate black suit and white
shoes.
 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 9
 Round Table

“Ivan,” Gretchen acknowledged. The well-dressed “Excellent. Humphrey, please feel free to set your-
man smiled, black Soulstone on the tip of his cane self down there for the time being. I’ll call for
appearing to darken. refreshment later,” Gretchen said. Ngaatoro stood
behind her chair, more a physical warning against
“A pleasure as always, Gretchen. I can’t thank you trouble than anything else. Ludvig settled his bulk
enough for keeping the lights dimmed. I’m sure it in a wider seat, fat fingers moving deftly to pull doc-
makes the old fossil feel right at home.” Ivan watched uments from his valise. The server took the spot
with a hint of amusement as Cooper grunted next to the dark-haired girl. She eyed the man
dismissively, walking towards a large bar with open contempt.
near the fireplace. The clink of a decanter
and the pouring of fragrant brandy did “I thought these meetings were private,”
nothing to soften his voice. she said callously. Gretchen raised an
eyebrow; Anya had collected a pile of
“Let’s make this quick. The blood is peanut shells in front of her, each one
up, and my hounds won’t wait for cracked open and left like a car-
your politics. Unless you want to cass in the desert.
offer them that fatty snack you’ve
brought with you.” The man
laughed around his cigar, wink-
ing at Ludvig. Cooper’s two
dogs were indeed present;
both looked at the heavyset
lawyer, who shuddered. The
larger dog licked his own jowls
before settling back down and closing
his eyes. Gretchen stepped around the
hounds. She placed her hands on the
back of a tall chair, its expensive
wood worn smooth with age.

“Then perhaps we can attend

to business that concerns only
our esteemed founder for
the time being? Would
the table have any
objections to that?”
Gretchen looked
at the others,
a young girl
with dark
hair and
her upright
accountant.
The girl
offered a fake
smile. Ivan simply
lifted his hands, acqui-
escing to the change
in itinerary. Gretchen
nodded curtly. Cooper
sat himself down heav-
ily in a chair, which
groaned under the sud-
den weight.

10 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY


“We need someone to clean up these inconvenient
messes, Anya. Otherwise one might think we let
children into the Explorer’s Society,” Gretchen
countered, voice nearing frigidity. Anya reddened at
Gretchen’s comment, tossing one last shell onto the
table before leaning back, chewing. The server stood
and produced a small handkerchief. He hesitated
before awkwardly moving to sweep the shells off
the table. After another moment of unsuccessfully
looking for a trashcan, he simply folded the kerchief
and shells into a little packet and placed it inside his
waistcoat, sat, and folded his hands into his lap.
Ludvig scanned the table and, seeing everyone set-
tled, began the meeting. “Regarding Lord Cooper,
there are only a few matters of interest. We’ve
received distressing reports on increasingly danger-
ous flora and fauna encountered during the Society’s
scientific ventures. Of course, we’ve saved the honor
of collecting any of these species for you, my Lord.”
At this, Cooper’s bushy eyebrows raised.
“Dangerous, eh? More so than the beasts hanging
around this place?”
Ludvig nodded. “If the reports ring true, sir, then I
am afraid so.”
Cooper stroked his mustache. “Interesting…” He
went silent for a moment, pondering. Eventually
Anya huffed and sent a dark look towards Ludvig.
“Is this where my money is going? Retirement plans?”
The assembled looked up as one. None dared shat-
ter silence a second time; instead, they waited while
Cooper looked up, glaring at Anya from behind his
spectacles.
Then, a feral grin broke out over the older man’s
face. He let out a barking laugh, slamming his hand
onto his chair’s arm. The wood splintered, but
Cooper didn’t seem to notice.
“Ha! I like the cut of your jib, girl! Where did you
find this little rebel again, Gretchen? Daresay she’s a
lot more interesting than you layabouts.”
Anya made to speak, but Cooper moved forward in
his chair.
“Now then, let’s get down to brass tacks. Inform my
man Fitzroyce about the location of these beasts. At
least someone in this blasted Society ought to do
some actual exploring, eh?” Cooper let out another
sharp laugh, throwing back his latest snifter of
brandy. He rounded on Ludvig. “You have the infor-
mation on these new quarries, yes?”
EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
Round Table
“I do my Lord, but there are some financial matters
to take care of first. The Society’s reimbursement for
your expenditures involving these gatherings need
to be signed.”
Cooper grunted, grabbing the proffered pen and
roughly signing. Ludvig tucked the document away.
“And this one.”
More scribbling.
“And these.”
More aggravated scribbling. Ludvig reached for
more papers.
“Give me one more damn piece of paper to sign and
it’ll be your head on that wall,” Cooper growled, the
pen cracking in his grip. Ludvig’s neck bulged like a
stressed frog, but Cooper had already stood, reach-
ing for the colossal hunting rifle leaned against his
chair.
“This politicking has taken up enough of the eve-
ning’s hunt.” Cooper tossed the pen onto the table.
“I’ll expect that information to Fitzroyce by the
week’s end. Consider the next Society event on me;
better that than signing papers all night,” he said,
glaring at Ludvig. The lawyer wilted, dejectedly
holding his many unsigned documents.
“Generous as ever, Justin. I’m sure the trophies will
be well worth any meetings you miss in the interim,”
Gretchen chided.
“Yes, it’s a shame you can’t be in two places at once,”
Ivan mused quietly, smiling.
Cooper grunted a rough agreement. “Ullr! Artemis!”
The two hounds immediately leapt to their feet, all
traces of sleep gone from their faces. The larger one,
Ullr, let out a deep bark. Cooper laughed, rubbing
the dog’s head as he threw the hunting rifle easily
over a shoulder.
“What are you hunting?” Anya asked. Gretchen
raised a penciled eyebrow; she knew that tone all too
well. It was dangerous. It was admiration. Cooper
stopped, limbs whirring as he turned. A joyless smile
cut across his face. In the light of the fire, Cooper’s
eyes looked almost yellow.
“Perhaps I’ll take you along one day and you’ll see.”
With that, the hunter opened another heavy door
in the parlor’s rear. Cooper called his hounds,
who led the way through the underground passage.
 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 11
 Round Table
The hunter followed, and the door slammed shut
unceremoniously behind them.
“Well, now that our Lord Cooper has been sorted,
we can proceed to the matters at hand.” Ludvig
cleared his throat, then readjusted his seat. “Several
key relationships remain strained. The Guild contin-
ues to make life difficult. The cost of bribery alone
has started to become annoying, and our beloved
Governor-General seems determined to truly upset
the status quo. Despite the aid of Condor Rails,” he
paused, looking over at Anya, “travel and the move-
ment of delicate resources continues to encounter
obstacles. With the Guild tightening control over
expansions to contract towns, we’ve already lost
quite a bit of headway.”
Anya’s eyes narrowed.
“Everything this organization does runs on my rails,
and with my scrip,” Anya said proudly. She round-
ed on Gretchen. “Let me be very clear. Those are
your obstacles, and clearing those obstacles is exact-
ly why I agreed to sit at this table in the first place.
Those delays go away as soon as the contracts get
signed. And not for a penny less than what we al-
ready agreed on.” She sat back, the coldness behind
her eyes giving the girl a look of maturity far beyond
her years.
Gretchen smiled, lips pressed thinly together.
“Condor Rails will get the contracts, at the proper
price. It will just take time.” Gretchen’s tone offered
no argument, but Anya frowned.
“Time. Throw enough money at it and suddenly
the clock starts working again. And when money
doesn’t work…” she paused. “You need to fix their
lawyers. We will not be getting our hands dirty.”
“No one is expecting you to. Perhaps my associate
can better inform the table about those matters.”
Gretchen indicated to the server. All eyes fell on
Humphrey, who began trying to look at all the aris-
tocrats at once.
“My lady? I… I don’t understand what you’re asking.
My connections to the Guild are- “
He stopped, as though trying to listen to a sound
only he could hear. Eventually, he shuddered, eyes
filling completely like black pools, body stiffen-
ing and warping like a piece of paper being crum-
pled into a balled fist. His neck sank and his fingers
seemed to elongate, gripping the edges of his chair
like a spider surrounding its meal. His mouth pulled
12 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
back, pink flesh filled with black veins; these same
worm-like vessels emerged from beneath his rapidly
paling skin. Anya looked on in horror as the mon-
strous server’s pitch-black eyes sparkled.
“We burned the old papers and made others us when
they did not listen. Some of us know the rails are
important, we can see it done, we did it. We remain
unnoticed.” Something in its body crinkled wetly. It
stuttered, the server’s body twitching as it tried to
get the words out. “We talk… talked… talking to the
ones in masks, the ones in power. We fear them, but
are important enough to speak with them. We do not
like them, empty husks, hungry, difficult and smart
because of that one. We are tired but get the papers,
the important papers with many signatures, will get
the remainder soon.” The server’s head swung heav-
ily to Anya, unblinking and almost absent.
The color drained from Anya’s face, and she shifted
uncomfortably. Something about the server’s tone
suggested that it didn’t mean the Society members
when it said ‘we’. It continued, black veins twitch-
ing in its neck.
“They fear, worry, what they cannot control. Not
us, we tell them all is well, many of us, many times.
We suggested alternatives, ad-.” The server stopped
speaking for a moment. One eye spasmed, and then
it resumed speaking. “-dendums. They sign, some
will tonight. All are pleased. Makes us calm and
pleased. The papers with the winged train, we are
packing them away and carry them to the meeting
soon, we wonder if Margaret has made pot roast
for dinner...” The server stopped again, a very brief
look of confusion coming over its features. It hesi-
tated and then went quiet. The veins retreated back
under its skin.
“We have ensured the pacts will be made in your
favor.” Its voice was now heavier and more present.
Anya didn’t speak for a long while. “Fine,” she even-
tually said, sitting back. “As long as Condor Rails gets
our contracts, you all can do whatever the hell you
want.” She moved her seat away from Humphrey,
putting another six or so inches between them. The
server’s dark eyes just watched, as though it was
curious about the phenomenon playing out before
it. Ludvig continued unperturbed.
“Lucas McCabe and Jessie Halliday appear to work
well together, and we plan to continue sending them
into the field for retrieval. Their latest prize, that
piece there,” Ludvig motioned to the case in the
 Round Table

center of the conference area. Its middle shelf was
occupied by a series of interlocking gears, smooth
and beautiful despite their age. But that hadn’t been
the only prize. Gretchen could sense it, feel the tiny
runes shining in her eyes. How beautiful they were.
Dark as the depths and cast upon the ever-changing
colors of the sea. She could see each one: Ra. Koreh.
Atlah. R’lon…
“On that, well…” He seemed to lose himself for
a moment. It was surely a trick of the light, but it
seemed like Ivan’s shadow flickered, as though it had
whispered something in his ear.
“I couldn’t possibly comment,” was what Gretchen
thought she heard, but Ivan’s murmur was difficult
to make out. The moment left as quickly as it came.

“Gretchen?”

The older woman blinked, trying to hide her dis-

traction. She looked up at Ivan, eyes narrowing
imperceptibly. The man stared before he gently
repeated his question.

“Are there any plans to send out more

teams to acquire new items for the
Society? Aside from Mr. McCabe and
Ms. Halliday? What about that Basse
fellow you spoke about some time ago?”

“Of course. McCabe and Halliday

already have their next assignment,
and the good sheriff will be fulfilling
his part shortly. I’d concern yourself
more with your own tasks, Ivan. How
are the Arcanists and the Union faring?”

“Troublesome,” Ivan admitted. “Dangerous.

Collapsing in on themselves. It’s not ideal, but
Kaeris and Ironsides have found some common
ground. It won’t take that much to push them over
the edge again, but this alliance has made it more
difficult to acquire the items you were interested
in.” The gentleman acquiesced, raising his hands
in defense. “Now I pride myself on being a man
who admits when he’s not performing to expecta-
tions. It may take a little bit more time to investi-
gate Ramos’ warehouses and Arcanist holdouts, but
it will be done.” He winked, ever charming despite
Gretchen’s needling.

Gretchen contemplated. Her darkened eyes met

Ivan’s without wavering. “I will continue to assume
you are more than capable of delivering on our
requests, especially considering the little bauble
we’ve loaned you from the Bayou. More quickly
than your friends in the Foundry, I would expect.”

There was no question in Gretchen’s last statement.

Ivan swirled the ice in his glass. He slowly rotated
his ivory cane, eyes never leaving the jet-black
Soulstone capping it, seemingly devoid of light
despite the illumination filling the room. He chose
his words carefully.

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 13
 Round Table
English Ivan stood, setting his glass down. He sent
the table a casual smile, ever the picture of refine-
ment. “On that note, I will take my leave. The night
is still young, and I must tend to other matters that
do not involve my fellows. The Arcanists will be
handled, and the lady shall have the books and relics
she asks for.” He bowed slightly in Gretchen’s direc-
tion before donning his black bowler hat. “I trust no
one has an issue if my better half takes my place?”
At that, a shadow peeled away from the wall. It
appeared to be something close to English Ivan;
thanks to the darkness of the room, the outline of a
suit was just visible. The shadowy face would have
been handsome if anything but its eyes were visible.
Both Ivan and the shadow doffed their hats to one
another in unison. The shade took Ivan’s place, set-
tling down on the chair with long fingers politely
placed over his knees. English Ivan walked into the
shadow that his own had emerged from. There was
a brief flash from the runes Ivan wore beneath his
clothing. As soon as his coattails passed through the
umbral portal, the gloom resumed obeying the laws
of the room’s natural light and faded.
The shadow gently leaned over to the table, reach-
ing with its long fingers for Ivan’s abandoned drink.
It took a try or two, but eventually managed to grab
the half-empty glass. It rested the tumbler on its
knees, more appreciating the feeling than making
any effort to sip. Gretchen enjoyed the silence for a
moment before announcing:
“Well, it appears that most of our group has taken to
their own interests. I believe we can call this meet-
ing adjourned.”
Anya wasn’t past her first word before Gretchen
held up a hand.
“You’ll be receiving several messages in the next
few days from the Guild regarding the Innocence
line and others. I think you’ll find the compensation
more than agreeable. The Society takes care of its
own, Anya. Remember that.” Gretchen let the threat
slowly dissolve in the air.
“I will… I look forward to it.” Anya pushed herself
out of her chair, straightening her coat. She gave
one last disgusted stare at the server and a sidelong
glance at the shadowy apparition before leaving,
her accountant quietly in tow. Gretchen turned her
attention to the man-shaped shadow.
14 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
“Make sure he sticks to his deadlines, won’t you?”
she asked. The shade tipped its hat, gingerly placing
the glass back on the table. It poured across the sofa
and seemed to slither into a crook of shadow near
the wall. In a moment, it was gone. “I believe we
accomplished what needed to be done.” Gretchen’s
eyes drifted across the room as Ludvig replied.
“I would say so. There are still a few minor notes to
go over. Contacting Mrs. Agassiz to see about bring-
ing her in, corroborating findings and all that. Some
Council business, of course. Preparing new cases for
when Jedza returns…” Ludvig trailed off. Gretchen
seemed far away. She was tapping her finger again.
“All matters for another day. The party should still
be going on upstairs. If both of you wouldn’t mind
mingling with the riffraff? I’ll join you shortly.”
Ngaatoro and Ludvig looked at one another but
complied. Ngaatoro made his way across the hall
and was starting up the stairs before Ludvig had
unseated himself. The Guild man followed, valise
and legal papers forcing him into a very unbalanced
waddle as he made his way back to the party.
When she sensed the room was empty, save for
herself and Humphrey, Gretchen stood. The server
mimicked her and followed as Gretchen walked over
to one of the walls near the cases. She smirked at the
idea of hiding magic amidst magic; none of the oth-
ers had an inkling of an idea. Gretchen whispered a
few words, and mechanical clicks issued down the
wall. A dark line blossomed from the doorframe.
Gretchen breathed in deeply, cool air prickling her
lungs. The server followed her inside and closed the
door after it.
The server waited patiently. Its black eyes watched
Gretchen walking around the room. The magi-
cal wards here were harsh, strong. Despite them,
it could feel the ancient power held inside these
cases, far surpassing the treasures on display out-
side. In its oldest mind, the server could taste it. It
was familiar. Terrifying. It knew Gretchen appreci-
ated the objects of its focus. Each one had been hid-
den, lost, abandoned. And now, they were found.
“Can you remember any of it?” Gretchen asked soft-
ly. She knew the answer by heart, but always hoped
for something different. The server clicked its jaw.

“We cannot always. She kept us away for so very
long. But they are familiar, some of them.”
A golden sundial split into concentric rings with lit-
tle petroglyphs depicting three-legged creatures,
with half of its face missing but also present. A piece
of heavy stone that reeked of death, trapped safely
behind dim glass. Three large hammers hung side by
side. Glass crusted with filth spreading from a blade
held daintily within; a sphere of perfect, flawless
frost and a leather-bound book inscribed with burn-
ing runes. It hurt to look at, even from behind the
wards. Gretchen read the title over and over, feeling
the insanity and magic burning within. It was like
looking at the sun; eventually, she pulled her gaze
away. There was so much more to see.
A collection of gears and spindles, beautifully
worked with a brilliant red gem but only part of a
whole; a knife, if one could call it that, with a blade
that was nothing, yet twisted. Bones laid on cloth,
far too large and strange to be human, rune-marked,
the area around these sigils like burned crystal.
Gretchen stopped at a case and smiled, reaching to
both sides and unlocking the top. It lifted open and
the servant’s infested body shivered with the new
magic that washed out, unrestrained by the case’s
wards. “It’s taken so much time, but we’re close.
The link was just one more piece.” Gretchen’s long
fingers removed the brooch from her throat. A prac-
ticed motion saw the heavy green Soulstone loosed
from the jeweler’s setting. She stared at the stone, its
depths misty and swirling in the presence of such
magic. Gretchen allowed herself a small chuckle.
The Soulstone fit right into its place, held in a stand
made of black iron. A dirt-covered monocle lay
beside it, the lens splintered. The Soulstone flick-
ered, but Gretchen ignored it, closing the case and
resealing its wards. The server had never stopped
looking at her.
“This new world is large, different than we remem-
ber. She is returned to the old forest, where the blade
now sits. A potent weapon and prize.” The server
murmured to itself. “We are learning much. We are
seeing much. We understand.” Its wet eyes looked
at one of the cases, tall and empty, as though built to
house the sword it spoke of. Gretchen took another
deep breath, satisfied with the room’s contents.
EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
Round Table
“As it should be. Come, I don’t want you to burn out
this vessel. He’s been useful.” Gretchen said, barely
audible. The pair left the chamber and its potent
cocktail of magic; the warded door sealed itself and
blended seamlessly into the wall. They returned to
the table, where Gretchen took a seat next to the
server. She heard him make a soft squelching noise.
The host’s skin regained its color as the limbs relaxed
and the black veins retracted deep into his body. She
looked back to the hidden door: it was closed and
invisible. The vessels never remembered anything,
but it never hurt to double check. A surprised breath
brought back Gretchen’s attention; Humphrey’s
mind had returned. He blinked several times, as
though he’d been brought into a bright light.
“My… my lady?” Humphrey’s confusion was evident,
and he was frightened. Gretchen adopted a face of
concern.
“Are you all right?” she asked, feigning worry. “You
seemed to faint for a moment.”
The panic of the working class rapidly splashed
across Humphrey’s face. Apologies and self-depre-
cation poured out of him in a stream, but Gretchen
raised a hand to calm him. “It’s nothing to apologize
for; we’re all human. I’m just glad to see you’re still
in good health.”
Humphrey looked immediately relieved. The sec-
ond wave of apologies and thanks fell out of him
while he stood and fetched his tray. Gretchen rose
and placed a hand on Humphrey’s back to guide him
towards the stairs.
“Perhaps returning to the party would do us some
good? There are always so many interesting faces
to mingle with, wouldn’t you agree?” Humphrey
nodded, politely listing the attendants he’d had the
pleasure to encounter during the evening. Gretchen
wasn’t listening. She already knew about all of them,
about the secrets their eyes and ears told her.
It was all just one more piece. One more little link
in the chain. Ra. Koreh. Atlah. R’lon…
 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 15
 by
Graeme Stevenson

“H appy birthday, sir!” exclaimed Poultice. Lord Justin Cooper

regarded the twitching basket with reservation. He noted that the
wicker was not in the least bit wine or brandy shaped, nor did it appear to
have a recognizable caliber, but he dutifully lifted the cloth cover, as it would
not do to seem ungrateful to one’s men.
He was immediately assailed by two small furry mis-
siles: one latched its mouth around his outstretched
hand, the other went for his boot. Both growled furi-
ously and with enthusiasm, play-fighting his limbs
with a gusto that far exceeded their capabilities.
“The purest of breeds, sir,” Poultice was saying.
“Their lineage can be traced all the way to Belgium;
to the very Saint-Hubert Monastery itself, I daresay.”
Cooper looked down at the bloodhound pup gnaw-
ing and slobbering on his index finger. The huge ears
and drooping chops were already forming, the red
coat was smooth and burr-free, and the pup had that
heavy-boned and muscular stance characteristic of
the breed. More than that, his eyes were bright and
fearless as he subdued Cooper’s finger, an indication
of the powerful animal he would become.
Despite his usual reserve, Cooper had to smile.
“I shall name you Ullr,” he said to the pup, draw-
ing a mutter of approval from the watching crowd.
“And you,” he said to the other, who had lost interest
in Cooper’s unresponsive boot and was sniffing her
way along the ground in pursuit of a beetle, “I shall
name Artemis.”
There was another soft rumble of agreement and
pleasure from the assemblage. “Capital names, very
suitable.”
“They will serve you well, sir,” Poultice said.
“Indeed they will. Excellent examples of their breed.
Thank you, Poultice.”
The other man retreated to the general crowd, glow-
ing with praise. The tent was full to groaning with
associates and well-wishers – perhaps a dozen fel-
low hunters and members of the Explorer’s Society
– and, spilling out behind them into the surrounding
grounds, their attendants, servants, and the like.
Being the founder of the organization and held in
such high esteem both as a hunter and a gentleman,
Lord Cooper’s gatherings were always well attended
by the most notable of guests, such as Colonel
Bluefeld, who had one side of his face reduced to a
rasher of bacon by a lion in the Kenya Colony but
nevertheless kept his feet and killed it with a bayo-
net; or Mrs. Peregrine Darling, notable for her skill
with a .44 caliber Henry repeating rifle.
An unknown fellow stepped forward from the
throng, a long box in his arms. He was well-groomed
and dressed, but had an air of deference about him
that told Cooper he was a messenger.
“Whose man are you?” he asked, as the skinny new-
comer stopped at the edge of the tiger rug under
Cooper’s chair.

18 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY

 Cry Havoc

“My name is Sullivan Brody. I bring a gift from Earl
Peter Clancy of Sunderland, with well wishes and
fond remembrance on the occasion of Lord Cooper’s
birthday,” the man said with a bow.
This was interesting; low comments rippled through
the crowd. The Earl of Sunderland was a powerful
industrialist in England, and supposedly had the ear
of the King himself. If the gift was anywhere near as
esteemed as its patron, this was high praise indeed
for Lord Cooper.
Cooper accepted the heavy mesquite box, oiled to
a high shine, and set it across his knees to open it
while a servant ushered away the yipping puppies.
The polite interest turned into loud roars of con-
gratulation as Cooper lifted out a customized .577
Nitro Express Holland & Holland single-shot hunt-
ing rifle.
It was an exquisite piece; carefully balanced, wal-
nut stocked, and with the trigger guard, fence and
barrel all silver plated and engraved. He broke the
action open and peered down the barrel. Machined
to perfection.
“Bravo!” churned the eager crowd. “Handsomely done!”
“A true huntsman’s weapon, for a true huntsman!”
“You will convey my profound thanks and my very
best regards to Earl Clancy,” Cooper said to the wait-
ing Brody. “Please assure him that his gift is one of the
finest I have ever had the good fortune to receive,
and that were he ever inclined to test its mettle in
the grounds of my estate, it would be my honor to
receive him.”
More rumbling and slapping of thighs, and the Earl’s
man bowed his way out of the tent.
“I too have a gift for you, sir, only this one isn’t so
easily presented,” Fitzroyce laughed. “And I daresay
it would be the very devil to wrap!”
There was general laughter as the crowd began
to cotton on to the man’s meaning. Fitzroyce was
notorious for arranging “exotic” hunts, and had a
network of trackers and poachers whose sole task it
was to find some of the strangest and rarest beasts to
serve as trophies for the discerning hunter.
“Am I to understand that you have organized an
excursion on my behalf?”
“You are, sir. I have everything set up for you in the
Quarantine Zone.”
An excited murmur filled the tent, and Cooper felt
his own pulse respond to the thought of a new oppo-
nent, a new kill.
“Then we shall go directly,” he said and got to his
feet.
At his back, two shaggy hulks rose in tandem –
Vatagi huntsmen from Ivanovo, Russia. They had
been Cooper’s companions ever since an
expedition to hunt brown bears on the
Kamchatka Peninsula, where they
had led him to a phenomenal spec-
imen – a huge bear that stood 11
feet tall and took eight shots
to drop. The men seemed
half bears themselves:
heavy-set, hairy, and
garbed in animal furs,
with barely a dozen
words of English
between them.

Even with the distraction of the animated crowd

and the beautiful firearm in his hands, Cooper had
noticed that an old associate of his, Harold Fitzroyce,
was grinning fit to burst. He had one hand over his
face, already more than halfway obscured by his
walrus mustache, and appeared to be giggling with
delight.

“Fitzroyce?” Cooper called. “You seem more pleased

than most with Earl Clancy’s gift.”

“Apologies, my Lord, but it could not have come at

a better time.”

“Oh?”

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 19
 Cry Havoc
They shared his passion for the hunt, however, and
this gave them an understanding that went beyond
language.
“Assemble my trackers,” he said. “Let us give the
Earl’s gift a worthy blooding.”
The camp began to swarm like an anthill.
The expedition into the Quarantine Zone was larger
than Cooper would normally have permitted, but as
it was his birthday there was an understandably large
number of well-wishers keen to see him make use of
his new rifle. The ruins deadened the spread of sound
or scent far better than a savanna or even a forest
would, so it gave scant advantage to his prey.
Just what he was facing became foremost in his mind
as they rounded a wall of black brick and came upon
a small plaza sporting a tall iron cage. The spectacle
of such a large quarry would have been impressive,
but the twisted and empty cage with the scattering
of dead manservants around it was far more so.
“Great Scott!” Fitzroyce exclaimed, running for-
ward. “The beast has escaped!”
Rather than causing frustration or alarm, this only
heightened Cooper’s anticipation. He fingered the
bent bars and extracted a tuft of matted brown fur
while Fitzroyce ran about, shouting orders to search
the area and pick up the animal’s tracks.
They were not difficult to find.
“Bear?” ventured Poultice, crouching over a broad
five-clawed blood print on a flagstone.
“Too large,” Cooper countered, seeing another track
in soil further on. The track was driven deep into the
earth by a tremendous weight.
Fitzroyce came up breathlessly. “I’m most dread-
fully sorry, my Lord – the confounded beast got free
before I had a chance to show it to you.”
Cooper waved him silent. “On the contrary, my dear
fellow. This only adds to the game.”
His Vatagi hunters appeared at his side; one had the
Earl’s rifle over his shoulder and wordlessly handed
it to Lord Cooper.
“Let us begin.”
20 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
The creature had not gone far.
They came up on it in an alley, several hundred
yards from the plaza, crunching on the upper torso
of a luckless manservant. Superficially, it resembled a
bear, but it was far too large and muscular. It had six
limbs, four of which were engaged in pulling apart
the manservant’s remains. Tusk-like spines pro-
jected through its thick, brown fur, each as long as
a man’s forearm.
A Slate Ridge mauler.
“What a tremendous beast,” Cooper murmured
as he took the safety off his new rifle. “Well done
indeed, Fitzroyce. You have exceeded yourself. I
don’t know how you managed to capture the brute
in the first place.”
“Not without difficulty, sir,” admitted Fitzroyce with
some modesty.
“Quiet now. Time to put the Earl’s gift through its
paces.”
Lord Cooper crept forward, leaving the dozen or so
associates and trackers behind, as was his privilege to
claim the beast’s hide for his own.
The group watched with mixed excitement and anxi-
ety as the hunter made his way along the alley, closing
the distance with slow and measured steps so as not to
disturb the rubble.
Cooper’s pulse was racing now, as it always did in the
anticipatory moments before the kill. The Holland
& Holland came up slowly, its gleaming stock set
against his shoulder in preparation for the impres-
sive kick of a .577 shell.
The beast’s anatomy was unknown to him. Its torso
was immense and no doubt well-armored, so he had
settled on a head shot; the eye socket or through
the soft palate of the mauler’s mouth, should it be
so obliging as to roar at his approach. The heavy slug
would have little difficulty in penetrating bone. He
had, after all, downed bull elephants through the
bony plates of their skulls with just such a weapon.
Finally, the mauler noticed his approach. It reared
on its hind legs to peer at him, ribbons of meat

hanging from its jaws. Cooper’s advance paused
involuntarily. It was far larger than even he had
anticipated – surely 15 feet in height.
Part of his mind was already trying to figure out just
where that gigantic head was going to be mounted
back at Ashford Estate while he drew a bead along
the polished virgin barrel, drawing the rifle tight
against himself and bracing his legs for the inevita-
ble recoil.
Without ceremony or display, the mauler dropped
and charged him. Cooper’s world shrank to the 50
yards between the beast and him, to the determined
panting and rumble of its approach, to the first tinges
of its carrion stink.
At 30 yards, he had his target and took a final breath,
held it.
At 20 yards, he squeezed the trigger slowly.
At 10 yards, the rifle gave a dry and impotent click.
The rest was disjointed.
EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
Cry Havoc
Screaming - perhaps his own, perhaps that of his
audience. The crackle of rifle fire and thudding
blows to his chest and abdomen. He saw a huge red-
rimmed eye, felt hot breath against his bare skin.
Grinding bone and splintering wood.
He felt the mauler jerking its head to the left, throw-
ing him bodily through the air, with both his arms and
the twisted ruin of the Earl’s rifle still in its mouth.
A final stunning impact, then blackness.
Time passed, but the extent of its passage went
unnoticed and unmeasured. Day or night, alive or
dead, it was impossible to tell.
Faces swam out of the darkness, voices echoed
inside his head, but he could not recognize the fea-
tures, could not understand the words.
Slowly, he began to discern a cycle when for a time
it was less gray, followed by a time when there were
no ghosts to torment him. This finally crystalized
into pale dawns and black nights, and he understood
on some level that he had survived.
The ghosts gradually reformed into people.
Wilberforce, his steward. Fitzroyce. His loyal
Vatagi. Others he did not know who had
kind but concerned faces, and who
returned frequently to frown at him.
Doctors. Surgeons.
Gradually, his world dilated
further and he began to take
in his surroundings.
Firstly, his own body. It ached
abominably, and the slight-
est effort left him gray
with exhaustion. The
thin starched sheet
he lay under may as
well have been a ton
of fallen masonry
for the all the suc-
cess he had in trying
to move under it.
 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 21
 Cry Havoc
The bed he lay in was his own – he recognized the
carved corner posts as those he purchased from a
merchant in Florence – as was the room. He had
commissioned Walter Crane to provide the tiger
and long grass motif for his bedroom wallpaper, and
looking at it now made his trigger finger itch.
So he was back in Malifaux City, at Ashford Estate.
That gave him some comfort at least, although the
array of glass bottles filled with clear, amber, and
ruby liquid hanging from stands at his side did not,
nor the snaking rubber tubes that vanished beneath
his immovable bedsheet.
The door connecting to his servant’s quarters opened
and Fitzroyce stepped through. He had a newspaper
folded under his arm and, humming softly under his
breath, made his way to the high-backed wing chair
in the bay window in a manner that suggested he’d
been following this routine for some time.
His friend had just about settled down with the
paper when Cooper spoke.
“Water.”
Fitzroyce almost swallowed his mustache in sur-
prise but hurried to comply and gingerly poured a
bit of water into his dry mouth from the jug and glass
at his bedside.
“My Lord Cooper, how do you feel?” Fitzroyce asked
as soon as he felt it prudent.
Cooper had no time for platitudes. “How long?”
“Eight days, sir. We thought you might have been
partially awake yesterday - at least your eyes were
open but you did not reply when we spoke to you.”
Cooper absorbed this slowly.
“The rifle,” he said at length.
Fitzroyce’s expression hardened, and he looked like
there was bitter news to be delivered.
“It was no misfire, sir. We retrieved the weapon and
despite the damage, it was quite clear. The firing pin
had been sabotaged.”
Cooper was already wearied by this short exchange,
but he had to know the rest and he fixed his subor-
dinate with a glare.
“Your Vatagi were able to retrieve the messenger,
‘Mr. Brody,’ before he left the camp. As it turns out,
22 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
during the subsequent enquiries it came to light that
Captain Burrage had been to Sunderland Castle and
had met the Earl, and more importantly Mr. Brody.
A fat, jovial man and really nothing like the scoun-
drel that delivered the Earl’s rifle. Further question-
ing proved fruitful. Before the imposter expired, he
admitted that his real name was Silas Everidge, and
that he had been tasked with intercepting the real
Mr. Brody to dispose of him and commit the afore-
mentioned sabotage on the gifted rifle.”
Fitzroyce pulled uncomfortably at his collar, but
Cooper knew what was coming next.
“The Vatagi were successful in prying the name of
Mr. Everidge’s employer from him before the end.
They were very thorough.”
“The Beast Man,” Cooper croaked.
“Indeed, sir. Marcus was the assailant named.”
There was no love lost between Lord Cooper and
the elusive Master of Beasts; rumors and warning
had been circulating since Cooper’s first arrival in
Malifaux of Marcus’ virulent disapproval of his pro-
fession and activities, and he knew that it was only a
matter of time before they came into conflict.
With the arrival of the Earl of Sunderland’s man and
his notable present in time for Cooper’s birthday
celebration, it would have been too sweet an oppor-
tunity for him to resist. What better comeuppance
for a notorious hunter than to die at the hands of the
very beast he sought to slay?
“The damage?” he asked.
Fitzroyce made a show of getting a doctor, protest-
ing it really wasn’t his field of expertise, but Cooper’s
baleful glare drew out the truth.
“The mauler took your arms,” he said eventually.
“Your body was badly gored and when it threw you
against the wall, it smashed your left leg and your
skull took a frightful knock. The doctors had to
remove much of what was left of your injured limbs
due to gangrene, and a number of your inner vitals.”
He indicated the hanging rubber tubes and glass
bottles. “They’ve been keeping you fed and watered
through pipes. It’s astonishing that you’ve recovered
this far, actually.”
Fitzroyce tried to sound jaunty, touching his fore-
head. “They even put a steel plate in your skull
where the fall broke it. Always knew you were hard-
headed, sir, but I say!”

Cooper looked down and for the first time realized
how empty the bed seemed, other than the central
hump of his torso. He could still feel his limbs, but
they were gone now; and with them all the things
that he loved best – hunting through grassland and
forest, across plain and prairie, the weight of a rifle
in his hands, the wild land under his boots.
He brooded. Was that it, then? Was that to be the
end of Lord Justin Cooper, gentleman hunter and
founder of the Explorer’s Society? A useless stump
in an empty manor, living out his last days in igno-
miny? He would have balled his fists, if he still had
them.
“Leave me,” he snarled.
Fitzroyce bowed and left him to his thoughts.
Some days passed and Cooper’s mood grew darker
as the true extent of his remaining capabilities
became clear.
He had always been fiercely independent, and each
new day brought fresh humiliations to be heaped
upon him; spoon feedings, dressing changes, bed
baths.
The doctors congregated frequently at first, prod-
ding his stumps, muttering about redirected blood
flow and suture grouping, poring over what was
left of his body with barely a thought for the man
that was trapped within it. The nurses were worse;
professional smiles and professional detachment,
breezy and cheerful and vacuous.
They continued to tend their helpless charge long
after the doctors had lost interest, in much the same
way as the maid continued to dust and polish the
other useless ornaments of the house.
His respites came in the form of Fitzroyce, Poultice,
and his Vatagi, who still regarded him as the man he
had been before this calamity, and his bloodhound
pups who loved him unconditionally whether he
could pat them or not.
Something Fitzroyce had said about the metal plate
in his head would not leave him; the phrase lodged
in his subconscious, and when it had germinated
into a hope he called his most trusted attendants
together for a proposition.
EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
Cry Havoc
They gathered one evening in his bedroom. A fire
had been lit even though it was barely autumn;
Cooper felt more vulnerable to the bite of cold since
his accident. The pups loved it, however, and were
both draped over his remaining leg, soaking up the
warmth from the fireplace while his companions
waited for him to speak.
“As it is now apparent that my limbs are not growing
back,” he began, to dutiful chuckles, “I have decided
that I must seek outside assistance in regaining my
mobility. There is no question of remaining like this.”
“No indeed,” agreed Poultice.
“If my skull can be rebuilt with steel, why not the
rest of me? We are in the Age of Technology, after
all. Surely there is an artisan who could give me
back the life I had before.”
Poultice’s eyes widened. “Victor Ramos!” he blurted.
“My sister’s beau has a cousin with very good con-
tacts in the M&SU who-”
“That oaf?” Cooper snapped. “You would have me
clanking and steaming around like a boiling kettle?
I’d sooner you took off my remaining leg and be
done with it.”
They fell silent for a moment.
“Well,” began Fitzroyce cautiously. “I may know
of another. A maestro with machinery, no doubt.
Though… he is a bit of a recluse. There’s no telling
that he would accept, sir.”
“If he is as good as your word, Fitzroyce, then money
is no object. Find him and bring him here.”
Cooper instructed him to make all necessary intro-
ductions, and to have him brought to Ashford Estate
as soon as possible. If this craftsman could be per-
suaded to give him even a fraction of the mobility
afforded to those lethal, mechanical dancers, even to
allow him to hold a rifle again, it would be worth
any price.
While Fitzroyce was about his duties, Cooper tasked
Poultice with something more his speed – to arrange
an audience with Gretchen Janus.
She arrived within the week, and masked her shock
at his diminished appearance well. Ever the diplomat.
 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 23
 Cry Havoc
He sent Wilberforce down to the kitchen for refresh-
ments to give them privacy, and offered her a seat.
“I was greatly saddened to hear of your accident,
Justin,” she said.
“As was I,” he commented dryly. “It is no small thing
to regain consciousness and find oneself half the
man he was before.”
“You must forgive the tardiness of my visit, but I was
in the westlands; an expedition to the stone tombs.
I only returned to the city very recently. Your man
Poultice found me the day I arrived and gave me the
dreadful news.”
“Quite all right. In fact, that’s partly why I asked you
to come.”
She waited for him to elaborate.
“The box by your elbow,” he prompted.
She gave it a curious look, then opened it. The Society
Key. He’d had Wilberforce dig it out earlier in the day.
“In my present condition I find my ability to lead
the Society is somewhat compromised. I am taking
steps to remedy the situation, but it may take some
time and there is no guarantee of success.”
“Surely when your strength has returned you will be
able to resume your duties?” she argued, but he had
seen her expression when she first saw the Key, and
knew he had made the right decision.
“It is more than that, as I think we both know. My
proclivities and the purpose of the Explorer’s Society
have diverged as of late. I shall retain my member-
ship, of course, and a position of seniority, but I feel
that you are far better suited to guide us forward.
You understand the central premise of pushing back
the veil of the unknown, and divining the cultural
richness of those new lands to augment our own.”
To his satisfaction, Gretchen closed the box and
placed it on her lap.
“You are very kind to say so, Lord Cooper. I hum-
bly accept your proposal. Together, you and I can
unravel the mysteries of both worlds.”
“Good, it’s settled, then! I am certain you will prove
most efficacious,” Cooper said.
“And you?” she asked. “These remedial steps you
mentioned?”
24 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
Cooper offered a grim smile. “All in good time, my
dear. All in good time.”
A few days after Gretchen’s visit, Fitzroyce brought
him the artisan.
He seemed humble enough at first: an old and slight-
ly diminished man in unassuming garb with clipped
gray hair around a high crown. When he looked
closer, however, Cooper saw the deep intelligence
in his eyes and the long skillful fingers folded polite-
ly across his middle.
“Mr. Vincenzo Campagnolo,” Wilberforce announced.
“Your servant, sir,” the man bowed.
“I am exceedingly grateful to you for accepting my
invitation, Mr. Campagnolo,” Cooper responded.
“You’re a tough man to find.”
Campagnolo feigned a smile and nodded. “One can
get lost in one’s work.”
“Yes, of course.” Cooper agreed. “My good man,
Harold here, has told me much of your craftsman-
ship. A maestro of machinery, he says!”
Fitzroyce nearly blushed.
It was clear from the artisan’s expression that he had
already guessed Cooper’s intent – and how could he
not? A limbless man abed, confessing his admiration
for his capabilities – it was the most obvious thing in
the world. But so much the better; Cooper was eager
for the man’s answer.
“Mechanisms,” Campagnolo said. “The illusion of
life, but wholly artificial. Not the fusion of flesh and
steel.”
“You feel such a fusion would be impossible?”
“On the contrary, sir,” Campagnolo said with a flash
of a smile, there and gone in an eye blink. His long
fingers rippled. “Such an undertaking would rep-
resent a higher art form – a marriage of man and
machine, and be superior to both.”
Cooper grinned. “Then, sir, may I press upon you to
accept a commission?”

“A most intriguing proposal,” Campagnolo said. “I
myself know something of you, Lord Cooper. If the
many impressive mounted heads and trophies are an
indication of your greatest passion, then this work
will require not only a return of your locomotive
faculties but an augmentation of your physicality.
An augmentation of sufficient precision that you
may rely unthinkingly upon the instincts your brain
already possesses, secure in the belief that your new
body will express them.”
Cooper agreed wholeheartedly. Much depended on
the final second of a hunt, when body and mind had
to be in perfect unison to bring down the charging
prize and avert calamity. There was no greater
example of that belief than his present predicament.
“I believe this fusion you seek may be achieved,”
Campagnolo said. “I confess that the proposition to
remake a living man using my skills appeals to me
greatly. I warn you, however, that this goal cannot
be attained quickly, nor without great cost.”
“I assure you that my finances are considerable. I
will meet your price, whatever it may be.”
“A handsome offer, my Lord, though I speak not of
the scrip so much as the labor,” Campagnolo flashed
another of his tiny fleeting smiles. His teeth were
very small and very white. “I speak, sir, of the art
of creation. A body fit for a hunter such as yourself
cannot simply be hammered out of iron plate. We
are not building a steam shovel for the Union.”
Cooper snorted. “Indeed not. Idiots.”
“We must find the shapes in the steel,” the artisan
continued, his long fingers moving again. “It must be
more than articulation and tensile strength; we must
find the grace, the precision. And we must form a
bond – a perfect bond – between the old and the
new if either are to function. All of this takes trial,
error, and above all, time.”
“If you can make me the man I was,” Cooper said, “I
will do anything you say.”
“I will do that and more,” Campagnolo said. “I will
make you better.”
Despite their auspicious first meeting, progress over
the following months was infuriatingly slow for
Cooper.
EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
Cry Havoc
He had approved the conversion of the second library
into a laboratory and workshop for Campagnolo’s
use, along with adjoining private quarters, and the
man had begun his preparations. Wagons began
to arrive at Ashford Estate, and more wagons, and
more again. Equipment of every description was
unloaded and man-handled into the second library;
inscrutable devices of every conceivable design, as
well as a bewildering array of technical equipment,
lathes, presses, and the like.
Bills began to flood in from mechanical distributors
and factories all over Malifaux, but Cooper never
doubted the capabilities of his new associate, and
only wished for some sign of progress beyond his
inexorably shrinking fortunes.
There were weeks of measurements and plaster
mold-making of Cooper’s body – Campagnolo
wanted to understand the “canvas upon which he
would paint”. The Explorer’s Society alumnus bore
it with as much patience as he could muster.
Blueprints were beginning to appear on the walls
of the library, and each time Cooper was wheeled
down there on a gurney it seemed fuller with tech-
nical equipment than the last. These blueprints,
drawn in a small and exact hand, were the first real
expressions of what Cooper one day hoped to see
wrought in metal.
He was pleased that the designs were functional,
robust, and pragmatic-looking, having harbored
quiet reservations about being presented with the
limbs of a steel ballerina to be affixed to his thick
masculine torso.
When confided in, Campagnolo had laughed and
said “No, my friend. We are not making a dancer.
We are making a predator. There will be beauty, but
in function rather than in form.”
Around this time, the artisan began talking about
an “engine”, a powerhouse strong enough to sus-
tain both Cooper’s vitality and the augmented body
that would contain it. An explosive flurry of blue-
prints was followed by a period of precise construc-
tion, the building of tiny and exceedingly complex
devices that would not have looked out of place in a
very accurate timepiece.
These components were gradually attached to one
another until a mechanism was built – about the size
of a melon and dense with moving parts. Once com-
plete, Cooper was privy to an informal activation
ceremony, where Campagnolo inserted a glass vial
 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 25
 Cry Havoc
holding a row of sparkling crystals that shone with a
powerful inner radiance. He had seen such crystals
before – Soulstones.
The device came to life immediately, but there was
no hissing or puffing, no rude smoke or mechanical
noise. The device was almost entirely soundless, and
worked with ceaseless internalized motion, glisten-
ing with light lubricating oil. It seemed both sleek
and potent at once.
“The heart of a warrior,” Campagnolo said.
Other, less immediately obvious, devices followed
suit - strange leathery bags, pumps, armfuls of glis-
tening rubber tube. Cooper gave up asking the iden-
tities of each and satisfied himself with Campagnolo’s
explanation that while enough of his vitals had sur-
vived the mauling to sustain life in its present form,
they would be woefully insufficient for a full-limbed
and vigorous man.
Surgeries began soon after. His body cavity was
opened repeatedly to allow the implanting of these
new devices in preparation for the articulated limbs
that would follow, and while his convalescence from
each operation seemed never-ending, he did begin
to feel stronger and more capable with each recov-
ery. Whatever these mechanisms were, they were
working.
26 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
Winter had come and gone at Ashford Estate by
the time Cooper saw the first of prototype limbs
that Campagnolo was building. Another explosion
of blueprints had covered the walls of the library,
incongruously still referred to by that name despite
looking more like a combined hospital and factory.
More surgeries followed; Campagnolo assured
him that these would be the last of the laborious
procedures, and were concerned with reinforcing
his torso and joints, as well as fixing sockets at the
shoulders and left hip for the limbs that would even-
tually be fitted to his trunk. These were the worst
times for Cooper – weeks of confusion and murky
drug-smothered pain while his battered body had
cunningly shaped steel components bolted to his
skeleton. Due to the severity of these operations,
they had to be staggered to provide time to heal, and
it was autumn once again before Cooper was ready
for the next stage.
He spent much of the time between surgeries with
his dogs, Artemis and Ullr. They had grown quickly
and were already exceptionally large for their breed,
although they still had that ungainly manner associ-
ated with youth.
Their loyalty rivaled that of his Vatagi, and their
joyful and riotous behavior when allowed to visit
him was a great comfort. He longed to take them
hunting, to track boar and deer through the woods,
to be free of this flesh prison. Their energy and exu-
berance were promises of what he too one day could
enjoy again.
Fitzroyce had secured a very reputable trainer, and
the dogs were shaping up to be excellent hunt-
ing companions, though what they seemed to
enjoy most was lolling shapelessly across him
at night, fast asleep and twitching while in
pursuit of a dreamed rabbit.
At long last came the time Cooper had
been looking forward to the most.
Campagnolo had been working on
a fully articulated leg, and finally
decreed that it was ready for ini-
tial trials. The process of attach-
ment was painless, but it took his
brain some time to get used to
the sensation of having a real leg
instead of a phantom limb.

The first tests were made from Cooper’s gurney;
interminable hours of Campagnolo’s instructions.
“Pivot the ankle forward. Good. Now back. Good.
Again. Good. Now the knee. Good.”
The absence of sensation was extremely strange;
this test limb had no pressure sensors and so he
felt nothing, and had to affirm visually that the leg
was doing what his brain told it to. The responses
were initially sluggish and faltering, but after some
tweaking from the artisan and practice from Cooper,
they became more assured.
“When can I walk?” he demanded.
“When you have two legs,” was the brusque reply.
“I have two legs,” he persisted.
“This is not a leg,” Campagnolo said, waving his
screwdriver at the metal limb. “This is a stick. A
post. But, with refinement, it may serve as a precur-
sor to a prototype which, eventually, we may ven-
ture to call a leg.”
Cooper knew he was correct, but it had been close
to two years since his accident; two years of immo-
bility and dependence, when liberty and individual-
ity were now so close.
Time crawled on, and the day finally came when
Campagnolo had Cooper’s gurney tilted up to a 45
degree angle, with a burly huntsman on either side
to hold him. On the artisan’s signal, they hoisted
Cooper upright and onto his feet - one flesh, the
other steel.
“Now walk,” the artisan said.
Cooper’s head swam – he hadn’t been fully upright
in so long, he seemed terrifyingly high off the ground
and extremely unstable – but this was the moment
he’d been dreaming of for so long that his fear was
quickly overcome with exhilaration.
He fell flat on his face – so abruptly and so quickly
that neither of the Vatagi reacted in time to catch
him.
“Good,” Campagnolo said with a nod. “This is prog-
ress. Now we pick him up and we try again.”
Cooper fell and fell again, trying to shuffle the dis-
tance he would have covered in a single stride before
the mauler, but the Vatagi were ready. Each time
they caught him and propped him up for another
go. Cooper persevered, and his balance gradually
improved.
EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
Cry Havoc
So too did the complexity of the engineering, and
by the following spring Campagnolo had worked
through a half-dozen refined iterations, and Cooper
was able to walk around unaided on his replacement
leg which now had a fully working knee and ankle
joint and a foot that matched his own in dimensions.
As the weather warmed and the ice and snow van-
ished, Cooper began to venture outside. At first, he
stayed within the immediate grounds of the estate,
plodding slowly and heavily up and down the
south lawn, followed by his dogs and the watchful
Vatagi. The pleasure of being outside with the wind
against his face again was indescribable. He was also
pleased that there was no joint pain, and despite the
long, long months of incarceration and inactivity he
already appeared to have deep reserves of stamina.
Ashford Estate was set on the edge of the Quarantine
Zone. The grounds were nowhere near as expansive
as his estates back in England or Africa, no more
than six or seven acres of grass with a small orchard
sporting oranges and lemons, but to Cooper they
were an exciting new wilderness to be explored.
Before he knew it, the conscious limp in his gait had
vanished and both legs worked in unison to over-
come the terrain.
Despite various rubber coatings on the sole of his
machine leg, traction was frequently a problem,
especially over rough scree and gravel. Finally,
Campagnolo fitted splaying claws to the toes, sharp
and more than strong enough to gain purchase even
on sheer rock. Cooper rather liked how they had
been styled on the clawed foot of the beast that had
deprived him of his original leg; it seemed most apt.
Campagnolo had also fitted Cooper with arms,
though these were devoid of articulation and de-
signed purely to keep his sense of balance and mo-
mentum correct while he learned to walk again,
and soon enough, it was time for more suitable
replacements.
Many smashed cups and split lips followed, despite
the artisan’s protests. Cooper had sworn to him-
self that the day he got his arms back would be the
last he spent like a huge mustached baby while
being spoon-fed his meals, and he was determined
to keep his word. His initially clumsy spasmodic
motions knocked over plates and cups, bent spoons
and threw gobbets of food over himself and his
surroundings without bias but he would not be
dissuaded, and eventually willpower and growing
hunger triumphed.
 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 27
 Cry Havoc
That evening’s supper of semolina, buttered toast,
and spiced brandy tasted like victory.
By the summer, he was finally ready to hunt.
Campagnolo had redeveloped his arms a dozen
times, with each new variant stronger and more
dexterous than the last, to the point where he felt he
could handle a gun again.
The first time, Fitzroyce brought him a Spencer
repeating carbine and a box of ammunition from
his gun cabinet and they went out together to set up
some stationery targets on the south lawn. Just glass
bottles and clay jugs, but it felt so good to be stand-
ing under his own power and squinting down the
iron sights of a rifle again that it was all he could do
not to laugh.
The rifle only fired .56-56 rim fire cartridges, a com-
paratively light load to what he was used to when
hunting big game. It was abnormally still in his grip
– the recoil against his shoulder went unnoticed,
and it wasn’t long before he was smashing every bot-
tle and jug in turn at a hundred, then two hundred
paces.
A few days later, Fitzroyce resupplied their make-
shift firing range at three hundred paces with more
bottles and a .44 Winchester. Cooper picked off
every bottle, firing faster and more accurately than
he could have as a normal man, and with no recoil to
speak of. The .44-40 Winchester cartridges packed
more of a punch – he knew this from memory, but
the gun’s recoil was almost non-existent in the grip
of his new steel limbs and his aim never wavered
once.
“Bring me a real gun,” he said.
Fitzroyce came back with a Sharps 1874 rifle,
loaded with .50-140 cartridge; a long-range cannon
designed for felling bison with a single shot. Cooper
had his eye back by now, and he fired off a dozen
rounds without a single miss at the full length of the
south lawn, almost six hundred paces. The recoil
was a trifling matter, an inconvenience, no match for
the heavy steel insulation of his new body.
Cooper regarded the heavy rifle thoughtfully. Even
at the height of his physical prowess he had come
home from safaris bruised and aching from firing a
rifle as high powered as this, but now...? Possibilities
began to form in his mind.
28 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
“I need a moving target,” he told Fitzroyce.
“We are a bit early for the rutting season but perhaps
we could find you an impressive stag,” suggested his
colleague.
“I have halls filled with antlers already,” Cooper said.
“A bear, then?”
“An eminently stupid animal. I want something
challenging. Something cunning.”
Fitzroyce chewed his lip, then snickered.
“If it’s cunning you’re after, I should have a word
with the scrawny fellow that keeps stealing the sil-
verware from my mother-in-law’s cottage. Blighter
had the temerity to wave at me the last time as he
made off over the fence. Of course, the Guild have
been alerted but what can they do, really?”
Cooper thought it over.
“Offer him two thousand scrip,” he said.
“Offer… I beg your pardon, my Lord?”
“Two thousand to run,” Cooper clarified. “I’ll set
him a boundary, say one thousand yards. I will have
only one cartridge, a single shot. If he reaches the
boundary or if I miss, the money is his to keep.”
Fitzroyce’s mouth was working, but no sound was
coming out.
“Good,” Cooper nodded. “You handle the proposi-
tion. I’ll expect his answer on the morrow.”
As it turned out, the man wasn’t fast enough.
It also opened a whole new kind of hunting that
Cooper had never considered before, and another
excursion was organized. And then another.
In a frontier world like Malifaux, everything was for
sale, even life. Many were drawn to the new world
with the promise of a better future, or a chance to
shuck off the past. Unfortunately, for most it was
a fool’s hope. Misfortune and destitution often fol-
lowed close behind, and for every full belly there
were a hundred others that went empty.
 Cry Havoc

Cooper was rapidly discovering that no animal

quite equaled the resource and cunning of a man,
and it was in those desperate moments when life
hung by a thread that a man, that any man, was at
his most dangerous.

They understood the rules, of course; they were to

be hunted through a landscape of Lord Cooper’s
choosing, be it the ruins of Malifaux’s Quarantine
Zone or a wyrdwood forest. Were they to escape
or otherwise meet the conditions of the hunt, then
their life was their own once more.

The drunks and the fiends were poor sport, he

soon found, but those with a secret hope were
the ones that really got his blood up – those
who pushed themselves beyond their endur-
ance and embraced their deepest animalis-
tic guile in an effort to evade his pursuit
– they were the most rewarding hunts of all.

Poultice started to call them Runaways, and

Cooper saw no reason to correct him.

While Campagnolo himself seemed

unfazed by the practice, some
within the Explorer’s Society
felt it was uncultured, even
barbaric. Cooper saw it as a
viable commercial exchange.
The desperate always had something to sell;
besides, he was not above sparing a life had they
led him a truly exhilarating chase.

Over the following months, Cooper hunted.

He hunted men through the crumbling spires and

broken alleys of the Quarantine Zone, flushing them
out with his faithful bloodhounds, now trained and
fully adult trackers of the very highest quality. He
was indefatigable; his remaining leg was strong and
heavily muscled once more, his machine limbs and
organs unrelenting in their pursuit.

They truly became one among the ruins of that former

civilization; a perfect alloy of man and machine, honed
to razor’s edge on the whetstone of human prey.

“These new limbs,” he said one evening after a

particularly satisfying hunt. “These enhancements.
They are remarkable.”

“And unfinished,” Campagnolo replied from one

of his many workstations, tinkering. “We are not
done yet.”

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 29
 Cry Havoc
“And yet already I have surpassed what I thought
was physically possible. I am more than I was before.
Stronger. More accurate.”
“And unfinished,” came the response again.
“I need a weapon that matches my capabilities,”
Cooper said. “The rifles I have now are… insufficient.”
It was true enough. Even the .600 Nitro Express
rifle Poultice had procured for him felt like a cork
gun, where before just carrying such a weight for a
single day would have exhausted him.
The artisan looked up from his bewildering jumble
of machinery, a glint in his eye.
“Soon enough,” he said. “I have foreseen this.”
It wasn’t long before Cooper saw for himself
Campagnolo’s solution to his problem.
“A customized repeating rife,” the man explained
one morning, pulling away an oilcloth to reveal the
fearsome weapon. “Influenced by the lever-action
Winchester 1873 model, but bored to a far higher
caliber, as befits your new stature. It takes a custom
.950 Nitro Express cartridge, which I am confident
will provide satisfactory recoil and stopping power.”
Cooper lifted the huge gun, more than twice the mass
of anything he’d handled before. Rather than being
absurdly bulky, it felt comfortable and appropriate.
“The telescopic sight is from August Fiedler of
Austria but you can replace this with something of
your own choosing, of course,” Campagnolo con-
tinued. “I also took the liberty of incorporating a
retracting blade under the fore stock, here. The rifle
is cast from such heavy gauge steel that it seemed
remiss not to provide an enhancement that would
benefit from your prodigious new strength.”
“Of course,” Cooper muttered absently, setting
the giant cannon to his shoulder and sighting
experimentally.
“One hundred rounds have been pressed already,
with more on order, so you should feel free to field
test it immediately while I tend to other matters.”
And field test it Cooper did.
The weapon was astonishingly powerful. Quite
apart from the deafening noise when discharged,
the enlarged caliber rounds smashed through brick
and steel with equal disregard, and left melon-sized
holes in everything they hit.
30 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
No elephant, rhinoceros, or even a Slate Ridge
mauler would be able to withstand such a massive
impact.
Cooper immediately went on safari.
Over the next six months, Cooper traveled through
Africa and India with a steadily growing contingent
of subordinates and attendants, hunting incessantly.
It was a test of before and after, to hunt something
familiar and gauge what he once was against what
he had become.
He bagged lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards, and
tigers with terrifying ease and rapidity; marching all
day through baking equatorial heat or dense jungle
without pause, regularly leaving his trackers behind.
Only Artemis and Ullr could match his stamina. He
took down game daily, and with impunity. Whether
bulls-eyeing a buffalo at a thousand yards or killing
a pouncing tiger at point-blank range, he brought
them all down.
And it was all so easy, and strangely unfulfilling.
The legend of his recovery and ferocious hunting
appetite was already spreading, and he had received
telegrams of astonishment and congratulation from
colleagues in the Explorer’s Society, but the praise
felt empty and unearned. He felt unchallenged.
Brooding, he returned to Malifaux and hunted Slate
Ridge maulers, wondering whether pitting him-
self against the beast that had almost done him in
would rekindle that spark of peril and adventure.
He tracked and killed four, each time allowing it to
catch his scent and charge.
Frustrated that his incredible new body had appar-
ently robbed him of the thrill of the hunt, he delib-
erately withheld his shot on the final mauler attack
in a moment of madness, instead sidestepping the
massive creature’s lunge and ripping the blade of
his new rifle along its spine, from neck to rump. The
beast flopped open like a well-read book, quite dead.
His men gathered around, exultant at his bravery
and method of dispatch, but Cooper himself was
disconsolate.
Men were cunning, but weak. The beasts lacked guile.
He needed more dangerous game.
 Cry Havoc

“With you on safari, I found myself with time on my

hands and an abundance of parts. I thought he may
prove a useful companion for you. Inspired by some
of my previous creations, he does not speak, but nor
does he sleep or waver in his allegiance – qualities
His trackers and agents were closing in on their
that might benefit a man of your confrontational
new target, and Cooper had spent the last few days
nature.” The artisan flashed his momentary grin
quickly putting together supplies for an expedition
once again.
into the Wildlands. He was eager for this test, and
understood that success here would flush out an “Indeed he will,” Cooper noted. “Handsome work,
even greater prize – bringing him both triumph and my good man. I am once again in your debt.”
revenge in one stroke – and it was with great impa-
tience that he answered a last-minute request from “You have paid amply for my services,” Campagnolo
Campagnolo. said with a bow. “And I have grown in skill and stat-
ure accordingly. We have both benefitted.”
Services paid for or otherwise, he owed a certain
debt to the man that had given him back his life, and
so he traveled back to Ashford Manor, and to the
second library.

“My good fellow,” he started immediately upon

arrival. “I’m truly grateful for all that you’ve done,
but you must understand that this visit interrupts
vital preparations for what may prove to be my fin-
est hour. I haven’t the time.”

There was a metal figure stand-

ing in the middle of the room
– blank faced and motion-
less, yet strangely familiar.
Campagnolo stood beside
it, closing an access panel
with his nimble fingers.

“The final incarnations of your

new limbs are unsurpassed,” he said.
“Some of the finest work I have ever
done, as a matter of fact. Even the earlier
models were of intrinsic value though
eventually rendered comparatively obso-
lete. It seemed a shame to waste them.”

Cooper stepped closer to review this automaton. It

was of similar dimensions to his own, and indeed he
recognized its limbs to be his own, or at least earlier
versions of them.

“I call him Model 9, as you are now fitted with

the tenth incarnation of my designs. It seemed
appropriate.”

Something that sounded like clockworks started up

deep in the chest of the mechanism and it came to
life, stepping forward with a grace that reminded
Cooper of the dancers at the Star Theater.

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 31
 Cry Havoc
Fitzroyce and the Vatagi were waiting for him when
he stepped outside. The Russians frowned at his
sleek new metal shadow, but Fitzroyce’s expression
was triumphant.
“Good news, my Lord. They found her.”
The stream was deliciously cool.
Myranda drank her fill and now lounged on the soft
moss of the bank, trailing bare toes in the water and
letting it drain away the excess heat of the afternoon.
The wyrdwoods of the forest were outnumbered by
the bronze crowns now, having spread their brassy
canopies and dark, fruity-smelling sap in profusion
following the return of the Autumn Queen. The
breeze still carried the scents of jasmine and hon-
eysuckle, and the musky odors of witch head mush-
rooms and horse moss could still be found closer to
ground.
Dandelion seeds spiraled lazily through the shaft of
golden light over her head, and the tinkling water
and sighing canopy conspired to steal the afternoon
from her with their siren song of indolence.
Truth be told, this was a welcome relief. Marcus was
agitated at the resurgence of the hunter, Cooper.
Her mate had become almost unbearable in recent
weeks, pacing his den with a restlessness that was
as infectious as it was unwanted. It was said that the
Explorers Society alumnus had returned in recent
months from what many presumed was the grave,
regenerated and reinvigorated somehow, and was
butchering animals with a greater fervor than ever
before.
It had all come about shortly after Cooper’s arrival.
Under the thin pretense of an organization dedi-
cated to exploration, he had begun traveling the
wildernesses of Malifaux and bringing with him his
bloated entourage of fawning sycophants, baggage
handlers, personal chefs, and whatever else a Lord
required to keep himself comfortably civilized. The
intrusion itself could perhaps have been stomached
for a while, except that Cooper insisted on shooting
every new discovery he made in the apparent name
of science, and piling their carcasses on wagons.
32 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
He burrowed steadily further south like a persistent
tick, and soon enough was in Marcus’ territory,
spoiling Marcus’ lands, eating Marcus’ food, kill-
ing Marcus’ animals. The insult could not be borne.
There would have been a bloody altercation in
which all of Cooper’s traveling circus would have
been butchered and the wrath of the newly arrived
Explorer’s Society invoked, had Myranda not sug-
gested a more subtle approach.
Another traveler had arrived in Malifaux – an agent
from Earthside looking for a guide. He had a hand-
some weapon for Cooper, to be presented on the
occasion of his birthday. It would be a simple thing
to intercept this gift – by the time Cooper realized
the sabotage, the beast he was trying to slay would
already have eaten him.
And it had worked perfectly, except that now he was
back – and worse than ever.
In an attempt to stop the man, they had apparently
created a monster.
Myranda knew that there would now be a direct
confrontation between them; the alphas would
duel for the claim of supremacy and sooner or later
Marcus would throw down his foe and the balance of
nature would be restored. Of that, she had no doubt.
Whatever foul agencies Lord Cooper had employed
to bring about his resurgence would prove a poor
match for the power and savagery of nature.
The breeze changed direction and her nose twitched.
Sweat. Soap. Expensive cologne. Gun oil.
She was already moving before the gun report –
shatteringly loud against the tranquil ambience of
the woodland – and launched herself towards the
water even as the bullet blasted the ground behind
her into a geyser of soil.
Cooper stomped down from the ridgeline to the
water’s edge, cradling the massive .950 Nitro Express
rifle in both arms while he reviewed the scene.
Trackers were already racing down both banks of
the river in pursuit of his baying hounds, but they
would find no trail. He had seen through the scope
how the woman twisted even as he squeezed the
trigger; stretching and shimmering into something

half snake, half fish that plunged into the river
and scythed downstream faster than a horse could
gallop.
So the rumors were true. Marcus’ woman was a
shape-changer. This would make the game very
interesting.
“Fitzroyce,” he roared over the shouting of the
trackers. “Call them back. I don’t want her too badly
spooked just yet. We’ll camp here tonight and pick
up her trail in the morning.”
“Very good, my Lord.”
As the men busied themselves bringing up the bag-
gage train and setting up Cooper’s tent, he settled on
a camp chair and lit up a cigar.
He was still confident that this tactic would suc-
ceed. Marcus was far too wily to ever walk into
an ambush unwittingly, no matter how carefully
crafted. Similarly, his territory was vast and it would
be an impossible task to box him in - let alone find
him - unless he wished it.
Still, it stood to reason that if he couldn’t come to
Marcus, the next best thing was to have Marcus
come to him. Which he would only do if Cooper had
something he wanted. Like his woman, Myranda,
for example.
Cooper wasn’t overly concerned about whether
Myranda survived the hunt or not – he expected
Marcus would be every bit as incensed to confront
him over her murder as her capture. In fact, the
outrage might overpower his natural caution to the
extent where he would fall foul of an ambush after all.
The hunter chewed his cigar and pondered. Inter-
esting. Very interesting.
The hunt continued.
They found her trail two days later, emerging from
the river some ten miles downstream and heading
south, deeper into the Wildlands.
The woman had guile, it had to be said. On the third
day, her trail overlapped that of a family of deer and
abruptly vanished. They would have lost her then
but for Artemis and Ullr – his dogs insisted that the
EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
Cry Havoc
trail followed the deer despite an absence of foot
prints, and it was only then that Cooper’s experi-
enced eye picked out a sixth deer trail where before
there had been only five.
This sixth “deer” followed her kin for a day, and
once again they lost her. And once again, the
bloodhounds proved their worth. A fox trail, barely
visible even to the trackers, peeled off from the deer,
which turned north. His hounds followed it through
dense scrub and forest, across multiple streams.
They ranged up and down river until they found
where she emerged, swinging back to the south
before finally reverting to her more recognizable
human prints.
Cooper caught up with her under the light of a near-
full moon, sheltering among the broken stones at the
base of an escarpment. Before he had the chance to
take his shot, that fool Poultice charged in with a net
and found himself facing not a slender woman but a
towering razorspine rattler.
Myranda escaped, and they gave Poultice a quick
burial before pressing on at dawn.
One week became two, became three.
They lost her trail again a good way south, and for
days they roved back and forth without luck. Even
Artemis and Ullr seemed puzzled – the trail just
stopped with a deep imprint in the earth, as though
their quarry had taken a leap into the air.
The air.
Cooper ordered the beaters and trackers out, rang-
ing in all directions for miles and miles. It seemed
likely that Myranda had taken the form of a bird, but
it was also likely that her shapeshifting had a cost.
Her periods as deer, foxes, boars, and the like had
been growing shorter, and her human prints more
prevalent. He doubted she could hold the form of a
bird for long – perhaps half a day at most.
They almost didn’t find her trail. Trackers had gone
over the area twice without luck, and Cooper only
continued to move southwest because that had
seemed to be her prevailing direction at the time.
He was on the verge of calling the hunt off after four
days without sign, when Artemis abruptly began
snuffling and growling. Ullr quickly followed suit
and both dogs began to move north with increas-
ing certainty. By mid-afternoon, they were racing
through the undergrowth in what appeared to be
 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 33
 Cry Havoc
the tracks of a gecko or some other tiny lizard – until
they found a bare human footprint beneath a bush
and the hunt was on once more.
Cooper realized that he felt truly alive for the first
time since his accident. Here was a genuine chal-
lenge – an amalgam of human cunning and bestial
savagery the likes of which he could never have
hoped to master as an ordinary man. Now, thanks
to the machinations of the artisan and his own stub-
born refusal to accept defeat, he had the endurance
and the reflexes to meet this challenge head on.
34 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
This was no elephant or tiger, no dumb brute plac-
idly awaiting the bullet that would transform it into
a wall trophy; this was a dangerous, resourceful foe
and perhaps the first true equal he had faced since
his recovery.
Cooper was filled with enthusiasm and good cheer,
to such extent that his entourage quickly forgot
about the unfortunate idiocy of poor Poultice and
strained forward as one for the kill, as eager at the
leash as his faithful hounds.
Victory was close – they could smell it.
Myranda was nearing exhaustion.
The hunter had pursued her doggedly for almost
four weeks. She had tried everything she could
think of to lose him - even taken to the air as a bird
and put miles between them - but she could not hold
any form other than her own indefinitely, and when
forced to return to the earth, somehow he found her
again.
The Wildlands were full of his beat-
ers and trackers, all moving in con-
centric circles around the central
hunting party as they flushed her
from cover again and again.
She had run south and west, until
the terrain became unfamiliar and
the woods turned hot and swampy. Down here the
wyrdwood was still king, and every bough hung low
from the weight of marsh vines and exotic climbing
plants whose flowers studded the gray trunks with
brilliant splashes of red and blue.
It had a beauty of its own; a more riotous, tumul-
tuous quality than the neighboring woods of the
Autumn Queen, but also more primal. She had
sensed things down here that were dangerous even
to her, dark beasts and Fae that cared nothing for
her skills and would harm her if they could.
But perhaps in that danger lay her salvation.
She understood now that she would not be able to
escape Lord Cooper by subterfuge alone. He was
too experienced a huntsman and his endurance was
inhuman. He would run her down until he had her
in a corner from which there was no escape.

There was still a chance, however, if he and his party
were waylaid by something more immediate; a dis-
traction, giving her the breathing room she so des-
perately needed to find a way back north to Marcus.
And she had an idea how that could be arranged.
Fitzroyce was grinning under his walrus mustache
as he trotted up, his face smeared with dirt.
“Our scouts report she’s gone to ground in a gully
up ahead, my Lord,” he said. “It narrows to a dozen
feet or so near the southern end, and is choked with
vines and vegetation.”
It was apparent from his pleasure that he thought
they had her trapped, but Cooper was less certain.
He had come to know Myranda’s mind intimately
over the last four weeks of forest terrain, and the one
thing she definitely wasn’t was short-sighted enough
to back herself into a dead end.
“Indeed,” he mused, scratching his chin with steel
fingertips. “Fan the men out on the ridges on both
sides. We’ll take the gully from the north. If she
tries to break out to the south she’ll have to run the
gauntlet of snipers on the ridges.”
“Very good, sir.”
Cooper still harbored a doubt, and paused his sub-
ordinate with a look. “Oh, and Fitzroyce – keep the
dogs well back from the gully. I don’t trust this devi-
ous woman and I’ll suffer no harm to them.”
“As you say, my Lord.”
His doubt grew to an apprehension as they descended
into the shadowy gully. Even with a dozen rifles up
on the ridge on both sides, and the presence of his
Vatagi, Fitzroyce, and others at his back, Cooper’s
instincts told him there was an ambush up ahead.
The ground down here was stony from the river
that had long since dried up, and his attention flit-
ted between the traces of movement among the
smooth pebbles and soil, and the green rat’s nest of
EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
Cry Havoc
vegetation up ahead. Myranda was close – he could
almost smell her – and that’s what made him uncom-
fortable. She should have been running.
The dogs were nervous; he could hear them baying
and growling back up at the camp. They too sensed
something was amiss, had perhaps caught a strange
scent in the air.
Cooper stopped, and the men at his back followed
suit.
“Something’s wrong,” he whispered to Fitzroyce,
his eyes sliding over the ground ahead of them,
searching for the source of his raised hackles. “We
shouldn’t have come down here.”
It was true enough. The walls of the gully were steep
and crumbling, there was no way out other than the
shallow mouth to the north. They had unintention-
ally corralled themselves.
“We’re backing up. I don’t like this terrain.”
Fitzroyce looked frustrated, but nodded without
comment and shouldered his rifle.
And just then, the gully was filled with a loud ululat-
ing cry – it sounded strange and exotic like the call
of some immense alien bird, and it echoed back and
forward repeatedly, making a terrific din.
“What is that?” exclaimed Fitzroyce, wincing.
“Myranda,” Cooper said.
Cooper hunkered low as the pebbles around him
began to shiver from rapidly approaching tremors,
audible even over the cacophony of alien howling.
“A distress call?” Fitzroyce asked.
Cooper shook his head, angry at his own idiocy for
walking into an ambush. “A dinner bell.”
The mass of vegetation erupted at the southern end
of the gully and a titanic nightmarish shape emerged,
the source of the thunderous footfalls.
Cooper had traveled to every continent on Earth
and had hunted animals on each one. He was no
stranger to the ferocity of nature in all its guises and
felt himself more or less inured to the terrible splen-
dor of an apex predator in full attack.
He’d never seen anything like this, however.
 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 35
 Cry Havoc

A lizard. A monstrous lizard 20 feet or more in

height, trailing vines that snagged and tore against
the profusion of spikes that ran the length of its
spine. It walked on its hind legs, which were mas-
sive, and as it strode forward, Cooper’s keen hunter’s
eye noted how the long-armored tail counterbal-
anced the head.

And what a head – the size of a small wagon, and

equipped with a set of jaws so large he would have
laughed with derision at the improbability, were they
not snapping furiously on the air before his very
eyes.

36 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY


The creature surged into the gully, suddenly seem-
ing all the smaller for being filled with its bulk,
shaking that huge head from side to side as it tried to
locate the source of the howling.
Cooper could hear the exclamations of astonish-
ment and fear from his own men, and in truth was
himself quite daunted at the prospect of tackling
this horror. Lions and tigers were all very well, but
this thing was more than twice the body mass of the
largest bull elephant he’d ever faced, and a hundred
times more ferocious.
The ululating cut off as abruptly as it started, and
Cooper caught a glimpse of a brilliant bird-like
creature just as it shrank to a tiny brown mouse,
which shot away between the splayed feet of the
new arrival. The trap was sprung, and now she
made good on her escape.
“Touché, madam,” Cooper muttered.
The beast snapped its jaws shut and surveyed the
gully, noticing for the first time the half-dozen small
bite-sized figures crouching a distance away. Its tiny
eyes rolled with fury. Clearly this creature was ter-
ritorial and Myranda’s piercing call had been a clear
threat to its sovereignty – it was here to defend its
lair and kill any intruders.
Namely Cooper and his hunting party.
The huge jaws yawned open but, instead of a roar,
out boiled a nest of swarming tentacles that lashed
and whipped at the air and sprayed warm froth
across the stony ground. Whatever this creature
was, it did not conform to any of the laws of nature.
Cooper found himself frozen with indecision.
On the one hand, Myranda had played her ace card
brilliantly and reeled them in like prize carp. She
had proven herself a more-than-worthy quarry,
which only made him ache all the more to resume
the chase and run her to ground again.
On the other, here was a magnificent speci-
men that neither he nor likely anyone at the
Explorer’s Society had ever laid eyes on
before. It was the sort of encounter that one
has perhaps once in a lifetime and he knew
that he couldn’t let that opportunity pass.
The main entrance hall at Ashford Manor
would need to be knocked down and extended
to accommodate this brute’s skull, but it would
be worth the extra expense.
EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
Cry Havoc
As though the two had reached the same accord, the
monster surged forward, stalking on long hind legs
that ate up the distance between them in seconds.
Cooper caught sight of its absurdly short forelegs,
which seemed to serve no practical purpose at all,
but the fledgling naturalist in him had no more time
for speculation as the beast was already upon him.
He put his first round into its skull in the crease
around what would have been a cheekbone on a
man, and was astonished to see the high-powered
bullet cut a deep trench in the lizard’s thick flesh but
otherwise ricochet ineffectually off the bone. His
next two shots were aimed at the chest, and punched
in more satisfactorily but seemed not to trouble it.
His snipers on the ridge had already opened up,
but they were armed with smaller rifles – beestings
against the flanks of such a monster.
Fitzroyce gave the beast one barrel of his .600 Nitro
rifle to the sternum and while it made a sizeable
impact, it otherwise did nothing to slow the charge.
It did, however, distract the target of that charge
away from Cooper.
The monster steamed past him like a derailed loco-
motive, going for the astonished Fitzroyce. And it
would have had him, had one of his fearless Vatagi
not launched a spear that struck the creature’s neck,
checking the assault.
Evidently of limited tactical capacity, the beast
turned to meet this new attack. Even as the Vatagi
was drawing another weapon – a heavy cleaver –
the monster’s lashing tentacles snapped around him
and slurped him into the air with a disturbing “man-
eating-a-bowl-of-hot-noodles” action. The massive
jaws slammed shut, two furry boots tumbled to the
ground; one convulsive swallowing action later and
the man was gone.
“Fiend!” Fitzroyce exclaimed, blasting his other bar-
rel into the monster.
The impacts were beginning to register – Cooper
knew the powerful slugs were being driven through
the protective lattice of flesh and muscle of its chest
wall, and a dark sluggish blood had begun to ooze
and spatter from the accumulating wounds, but the
beast was far from down.
It went for him again, but was distracted by a whirl
of glistening metal – Model 9 cartwheeled past in a
flash of blades that left parallel razor slashes along
its muzzle.
 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 37
 Cry Havoc
The beast was far quicker than any lizard had a right
to be. Its movements were more characteristic of a
bird than a reptile, and when globules of its blood
struck his face as the immense tail whipped around,
he found it was hot.
His remaining Vatagi attacked its flank while the
infuriated monster continued to chase Model 9, but
the stabbing spears were cut short when that huge
tail swatted them into the gully wall.
Cooper went to one knee and reloaded, taking stock.
The monster’s hide was pock-marked with bullet
holes now, though he knew that the vast majority
had barely penetrated the first layer of that spiny
skin. Cooper himself had pumped half a dozen .950
cartridges into its chest and he could see the breath-
ing was becoming labored, the thick lather between
the lashing tentacles was turning pink.
And, for all its tremendous size, this prize was a
biped. It had greater mobility, but with that came
instability.
“Model 9!” he roared, raising the custom rifle to his
shoulder again. “Turn it to face me!”
Without apparent effort or concern, the dancing,
flashing machine abruptly reversed course and the
beast followed suit, snapping with frustration at its
elusive prey.
As it turned, Cooper fired.
The bullet, traveling at some 2,500 feet per second,
struck the creature’s bony ankle with a tremen-
dous crack that echoed around the gully. The beast
roared in pain, stumbled, tried to take a step on the
wounded joint, and pitched forward full-length with
a sound like a collapsing building.
Cooper raced forward, planting his clawed foot on
the downed beast’s muzzle and fired again at point
blank range, hitting it square in the center of its
skull. The bony plate shattered and the massive slug
tore through its tiny brain, turning it to pulp. One
last violent lash of the tail and the thing was dead.
The men were already scrambling down from the
gully walls and he could hear shouts going up behind
him for tanners and butchers – they knew as well
as Cooper the prestige such a mighty skull would
bring. They crowded around, sharpening their long
flensing knives and setting down pails to collect the
meat and gore.
38 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
“Wish you joy, sir!” one said. “A tremendous shot!”
congratulated another.
“Get my man out of there,” he snapped by way of
response. “He was a Vatagi huntsman, and he’ll have
a huntsman’s burial.”
He left them to their work, marched back up the
incline to the makeshift camp where his dogs anx-
iously awaited his arrival. He gathered them up in
his arms, relishing their frantic licks as they simul-
taneously welcomed him back and cleaned his face
of gore.
“What a beast that chap was, hey?” he said, ruffling
their thick fur. “No doubt you two would have had
him, though, hey? Straight for the throat, the pair of
you, hey?”
They yowled their agreement, whipping his legs
with their excited tails.
“Excuse me, sir,” Fitzroyce interrupted him.
Cooper straightened up to find Fitzroyce carrying
what could only have been a gigantic egg, partially
wrapped in canvas.
“Sorry to disturb,” he said. “Only a couple of the
boys found these on the other side of the gully. Some
sort of nest, by the looks of things.”
Sure enough, a handful of men were coming up the
slope behind him, each one struggling with a heavy
egg.
“Thought you might fancy an omelet,” Fitzroyce
chuckled, then his eyes widened. “I’ll tell you what,
though – imagine one of these buggers hatched, eh?
What a sight that would be! You could keep it as a
pet!”
He laughed riotously until he saw Cooper’s expres-
sion, and his smile fell off.
“Oh, I say,” he said.
The warmth of the camp fire eased the ache in
Myranda’s bones, and the familiar scent of home
eased her spirit.
 Cry Havoc

She crouched in the darkness, watching the flames

dance, content to acknowledge their beauty with-
out understanding the meaning of the shapes. After
the pursuit she had endured, such contemplation
was a luxury.

The past weeks had taken their toll. She was drawn
and weakened, lashed by branches in her constant
flight. Her feet were cut, her nails cracked.
Had the ambush with the Fae not
worked, she could not have resisted
the pursuit much longer. As it was,
she did not even know how effective
it had been. There was a chance that
Cooper was already dead, although
in her heart she doubted it.

A figure came out of the darkness behind

her. She recognized his movements and his scent
long before he stepped into her field of view.

Marcus looked down at his mate. He touched a

scratch on her temple with infinite tenderness,
rubbed her blood between thumb and forefinger.

His face was a gathering storm.

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 39
 by
Mike Wallace

I n all chaos, there is order. It was the mantra of the scientist, the simple
belief that there is no true chaos, merely patterns that have not been
defined, or new variables that alter existing ones into unfamiliar forms. All
one needed was time, and the necessary calculations, to break them down
into something that could again be codified.
Maxine Agassiz’s study had become an apt analogy Maxine started, roused from her churning thoughts.
of this. Her normally pristine office had been slowly “Hm? What?” She turned. Her husband, Orville -
transformed from a place of organized peace to a who up until now had been more interested in trying
cluttered nightmare. Papers - covered in notes and to forge an aeroplane design out of his handkerchief
addendums of notes - formed mountains on the desk – looked at her.
and tables, surrounded by empty ink pots and long-
forgotten cups of tea. “You said something very grand. Philosophical. ‘Pit
your mind against the frenzied vagaries of disorder
Maxine sat in her favorite chair, one hand absently and make them fall in line.’ Or something like that.”
spinning a sepia-toned globe of the Earth marked Orville threw his cloth aeroplane and became
with red pins. London. San Francisco. Points of the crestfallen when it landed on the floor in a soft heap.
world where the Cult of the Burning Man - or some Despite herself, Maxine smiled.
other force - had opened their portals to that distant
world of Malifaux, permitting the horrors of that “The portals, Orville. It’s still the portals.”
place to spill forward.
She went to a corkboard next to her messy desk,
Within arm’s reach was an old chalkboard, marked thumping a thin fist against the pages she’d torn out
with weaving calculations of mathematical formulas. of various journals and publications. Many of the
It was pure disconnected nonsense to anyone who insights given to her were underlined or circled.
tried to read it, and yet Maxine’s months-long A map of Earth hung close by, stuck with bright
studies had pointed to no other possibilities. She orange pins linked together with yarn. Maxine had
simply couldn’t turn the nonsense into a pattern. been looking at the same repeating numbers and
articles for weeks. Rubbing her eyes in frustration,
She ran a hand through tousled, gray hair and she turned to a collection of dog-eared, heavily
straightened her jacket. Wild eyes, heavy with dark annotated copies of her most promising research
circles, picked over every disheveled detail. guides, published by the finest minds of the age:
Luminous Bridges, by Atoz; Stabilization of Inter-
“What was that, dear?” Dimensional Tunnels, by Heinsman; Mechanized
Magic: A Journey From Superstition to Science, by
Ramos. She had a heck of a time getting her hands

42 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY

 Uncharted Waters

on that one after all of his books were banned. But “Yes. Atoz’s book, Luminous Bridges, states that
it was another that caught her eye, just briefly. Earth is suffused with ley lines, natural currents of
Hidden away under another stack of papers, but unbound aetheric energies - magic - that crisscross
always within reach: a heavily abridged, excessively the planet. Even in a weakened state, these currents
censored copy of The Flammae by none other than can be measured and accounted for. These energies
Ephraim Wade himself. are like rivers, or electricity, always moving along
the path of least resistance.”
Acquiring the thin book had taken weeks of time,
money, and manpower, hiring more than 200 “To where?”
individuals and paying them handsomely to risk
their sanity transcribing each individual page.
Peeling away the pseudo-religious gibberish and
superstitious hearsay, dampening the memetic
effects the book had on the mind until all that was
left were some curiously informative notes on the
nature of dimensional portals, the greatest weapon
the Cult had against the rest of the world.

“Not diving too deeply into that crazy man’s book,

are you dearest?” Orville asked, peering over
Maxine’s shoulder as best he could from his wife’s
desk chair.

“Hush,” Maxine said. She grabbed a handful of pa-

pers. “Here. You’re looking positively bored.” He
gleefully began folding the papers together while
Maxine turned to the chalkboard and the mathe-
matical formulas that took up every inch of avail-
able space. “It makes no sense.”

Orville was well into crafting the third plane for his
paper fleet. “Why don’t you talk it out, dearest? Like
we did in our ol’ academic days!”

Maxine exhaled, trying to wipe her mind clean and

start from the beginning.

“From these books I’ve learned that portals - even

small ones - require a tremendous amount of power.
More than can normally be sustained by a single
person, or a group or people, even with a steady
cache of charged Soulstones.”

Orville gave it some thought. “That makes sense.

Where is this power coming from?”

She pointed at him. “I’m getting to that. My point

is that these energies normally disperse. Ley lines
form and scatter, but they don’t gather. Until now.
Aetheric energies are gathering in these ley lines.
They’re…”

“Bloating? Like a tick?” Orville offered hopefully.

Maxine hesitated, chewing on the imagery, but
agreed.

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 43
 Uncharted Waters
“Nowhere!” Maxine said, almost wailing, throwing
her hands into her hair. “Dissipation. Entropy! It
doesn’t make any sense. Mathematically, we should
be able to chart when the lines swell with power, but
they just don’t seem to behave in any sort of fashion.
The Burning Man is just… madness.”
Orville frowned through his mustache. Maxine’s
shoulders slumped. She looked so tired. But if there
was one thing Orville had learned, it was that he
couldn’t stop Maxine from tackling the hardest
problems in the scientific world. He hugged her,
kissing her forehead.
“Well, ticks or not, you don’t get any energy from
ley lines. We’ve missed you at dinner. I hear Martin
is making his famous roast turkey. Mashed potatoes.
Butter. Maybe even rolls.” Orville smacked his lips
overdramatically. Maxine gave him a quiet smile but
didn’t look up. Orville squeezed her again before
scooting out the office door. “I’ll have him save you
a plate.”
The chalk-filled slate loomed over Maxine. It was
chaos, but wherever there was chaos there had to
be order. The cover of the Flammae drew her eye.
Puckered leather made up the cover, stamped with
runes to ensure the book’s latent magic couldn’t affect
anyone nearby. One corner was cracked, the leather
split into little spiderwebs from a central point…
A tick. Maxine’s eyes raced, brain barely keeping
up with her rapid calculations. She raised her hand
and pinched the back. The skin went pale from the
pressure, then returned to its normal color when
she let go. It was a gathering, an abundance, a flood,
based on where pressure had been applied…
Scrambling for her chalk, Maxine whispered to her-
self, tracing back over her calculations. She cleaned
off a new space with her sleeve and immediately
filled it in with another long string of looping vari-
ables and numbers. She stepped back, feverishly
looking over her work.
“Orville. Orville!”
Orville’s voice grew louder as he meandered back
down the hall.
“Changed your mind about that turkey, my love?
I would offer to carry you down the stairs, but the
knees aren’t as spry as they used to be. What say
you hop on my back? Might be easier to get better
leverage. Fulcrums. Maybe I could make some sort
of launching device...”
44 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
“Just come here.” Maxine dragged her husband into
the study, kicking piles of paper and books out of the
way. She parked him in front of the slate and pointed
to her latest equation. “This, here. Does that make
sense? Does the formula equal out?”
Orville stroked his walrus-like whiskers and fur-
rowed his brow. A few moments later, a wide smile
broke across his face. Maxine exchanged glances
with her husband, eyes brimming with tears of relief.
He smiled at her, a twinkle in his eye. “Shall I tell
Kiya to ready the Superior?”
She practically jumped into his arms, and he spun
her around, the two of them laughing.
Barely a week later, the crew of the EVS were
assembled in the helm. Maxine stood in front of
them, still tired but looking much healthier than she
had in a long while. She cleared her throat.
“Thank you all for your patience and trust. I know
things have been rather secretive these past few
weeks, but now is the time to reveal why I’ve dragged
us all out here.”
The first to speak was the newcomer, Doctor Ogden
Beebe. A hands-on engineer type in frayed pinstripe
trousers and a vest, he looked as frazzled as Maxine
felt, though far better rested, and he’d solved the
problem of messy hair by keeping his head shaved
smooth. “And why would that be?”
Maxine stared at him a moment, trying to figure out
if the small smile Beebe wore was mocking or just an
understanding of academic stress. “Portals, Doctor.
We’re discussing portals. Specifically, the portals
that have plagued the Earth in recent years.”
“Just recently?” Harata Ngaatoro stood up straighter,
arms folded over his bare chest. The young Maori
man blended the traditional culture of his people
with the practicalities of modern conveniences:
facial tattoos and a necklace accompanied a belt and
trousers.
“More consistently,” Maxine corrected herself.
She drew a map from her desk, upending several
scattered papers to free it from under the pile. She
spread the map out in front of them, revealing a
handful of spots marked with blue ink.

“Here, here, and here. Points that correspond to the
most recent openings.” She paused, frowning, then
took up a pen, dabbed it in a few ink pots to find a
fresh supply, and marked a fourth and final location
somewhere off the coast of Greenland. “This point
marks the newest build-up.”
Kiya Manimi, a powerfully built Abyssinian woman
with a perpetual scowl, curled her eyebrow at the
display. “Ma’am, have you been getting enough sleep?”
EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
Uncharted Waters
“Of course not,” Maxine said, brushing the notion
aside, “but that’s hardly relevant. This is the culmi-
nation of my research. I believe I have discovered a
formula. This formula, combined with the detection
and sampling equipment onboard the Superior, is
what has led us to this spot.” She jabbed a finger at
the mark over the Atlantic. “If my theory is correct,
a portal will open on this very location. And if that
is the case…”
“It would mean you can detect Cult portals before
they open,” Kiya said. Her eyes went wide. “A mil-
itary force could mobilize to contain their attacks
before they even began.”
“Not just the Cult’s,” Beebe
agreed, “but the wild breaches to
Malifaux, the ones that have allowed
so much of their ecosystem to run rampant
on Earth. The Gibbering Hordes, in particular.”
The gathered audience looked over the map. “How
did you detect these build-ups?” Kiya asked. “Even
my people do not have the means.”
Maxine’s eyes wandered to an empty corner of the
room, and she tucked away a few errant locks of
hair behind her ear. “Well, that is - my careful - very
careful - studies into The Flammae have revealed
an emphasis on certain geological constants that-”
“Wait,” Beebe asked, holding up a hand. “The
Flammae?”
Maxine nodded, and continued nodding as she
shoved a pile of papers aside, muttering something
under her breath, and brought up a leather-bound
book branded with the image of the Burning Man
Cult.
Everyone, except perhaps Orville, who merely
chuckled, took a step back from the tome.
“Kāpene,” Harata spoke, one hand up in a gesture
of warding. “You are aware of that book’s effect on
people?”
 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 45
 Uncharted Waters
“I wouldn’t go poking at this thing if I hadn’t carefully
abridged and censored it,” Maxine said. She flipped
it open, revealing tear marks from missing pages
and entire passages covered in pitch-black ink. “It
cost a fortune in research aids, but it’s perfectly safe.
Mostly. The levels of cognitive hazard are minimal
with brief exposure.”
There was silence throughout the small room.
Maxine could feel the seconds ticking by, and sud-
denly she felt very small. Orville’s hand on her
shoulder was a comfort, and she tried to take a deep
breath.
Harata finally spoke. “I trust you. If the waters told
you to be here, then I am here, too.” A grunt of agree-
ment from Kiya, and Beebe eventually shrugged his
shoulders.
“I’ve heard stranger hypotheses before. These are
strange times, but if anyone could figure out that
blue matchstick’s patterns, it would be you.”
Maxine closed The Flammae and tucked it into a
desk drawer, relieved. “Thank you all. From this
moment on, we’re in this together, thick or thin.”
“That still doesn’t explain our escorts,” Kiya said,
glaring out the windows at the two heavy Guild
steamships a few hundred yards away from the
Exploration Vessel Superior.
“Ah, yes,” Maxine sighed. “This expedition has been
outsourced for funds, I’m afraid. It was that or sell
the family copper mine, which I will not do.”
“You could have easily brought this formula to
Abyssinia,” Kiya said. She folded her arms. “They
would have funded it as eagerly as the Guild.”
“Or the King’s Empire,” Beebe added with a shrug.
“Not to pick favorites, Ms. Manimi.”
“I’m aware of all your concerns on this,” Maxine
admitted. “Trust me when I say the decision was not
completely mine. I believe my investigations drew
their attention, and when it became known that I
was seeking to test my theory, they approached
me first, and I didn’t have time to turn this into a
competition over something like money. The portal
could be open at any moment, and the Guild has the
naval forces to face whatever comes through the
portal. When it opens. Hopefully.”
She exhaled, feeling far more tired than she had a
moment before. Presentations always exhausted her.
46 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
“Any questions?”
The crew leaders exchanged practiced glances.
Then Harata replied. “What do you need us to do?”
Maxine smiled. “Tomorrow we’ll begin collecting
data. Kiya, I want the ship’s systems focused on
sample collection. Harata, that means you, too. You
know the water better than most. I’ll need your
perspective on the portal’s effects.” She looked
to Beebe. “I’d like Calypso ready for a dive in the
morning. Time to get her sea legs.”
“With gusto,” Beebe agreed.
“And Orville-” Maxine paused, noting Orville had
begun putting a trio of paper aeroplanes through
a series of loop-de-loops. “Get your wings charged
and ready. I want airborne surveillance, at least out
to a half mile from our coordinates.”
Orville hopped up, letting the planes scatter about
the room, one of them lodging itself in his windswept
white hair. “Ah, you know exactly how to liven the
mood!”
She lovingly rolled her eyes. “Just don’t be up late
tinkering. I won’t have you falling asleep in mid-
flight again. We all need to stay sharp for when
this thing opens. If it opens,” Maxine added, softly
enough so none of the departing crew could hear.
The weather was not agreeable the next day. The
Atlantic always seemed to be miserable. So cold,
dark, and gray; a far cry from the soothing blues
and warm winds of the Pacific. But the Atlantic had
a prize, and that made it worth the extra layer of
underwear.
Even at the crack of dawn, the deck of the Superior
was bustling. Work crews moved to Kiya’s
commanding chatter through the aethercoms.
Beebe’s team was already preparing Calypso for the
crane at the aft section of the ship. The spherical
construct coincidentally reminded Maxine of a
squid, with a series of mechanical legs holding it up,
and a collection of crab-like limbs extending from
its sides that included gripping pincers, cutting and
welding tools, and an assortment of manipulators
and sample-collectors that served Calypso’s primary
purpose as a scientific exploration submersible.

To her surprise, Beebe was not crammed into the
tiny cockpit of the Calypso, instead unpacking a siz-
able control console that his team was disassem-
bling and carrying in pieces into the submersible. It
looked advanced but confusing, the work of a man
who had not built Calypso’s controls with an ‘every-
man’ interface in mind.
“Not taking a dive yourself?” Maxine asked as she
approached.
Beebe gave her a bashful smile. “I considered, but
decided I haven’t had a chance to field-test her under
these conditions yet. Besides, I didn’t spend half my
research grant on two frequency-tuned Soulstones
just to leave them sitting in a crate.”
He hefted a portion of the console and began heading
for the ship, and Maxine fell into step beside him.
“What’s the range on your console?”
“One thousand meters,” Beebe said, nearly bragging.
“Give or take. About the same length as her tether,
and a few hundred below her maximum safe depth.
I designed the transmitter and receiver to use the
ocean water as a natural conductor, so we should
get a clear signal.”
“I’m curious that you choose a remote console over
a logic engine,” Maxine remarked.
“Oh, she has one,” Beebe said. “Not much more
advanced than a dog, though. In the event of a trans-
mission failure, or if the pilot is disabled, she’s pro-
grammed to return to the surface and begin emitting
a reclaim code.”
“Ah,” Maxine said. “I guess it wouldn’t help to have
her doing her own thing while a pilot is trying to
steer her.”
Beebe’s smile became a little wary. “Experience has
taught me that when you’re underwater, the last
thing you want is for the machine to decide it doesn’t
want you on board.”
“Understandable,” Maxine said. “As long as the
readings stay clear.”
“No worries on that,” Beebe agreed.
They arrived in the scanning room, and Maxine
stepped aside for Beebe to continue the installa-
tion of his console in a corner of the room. Around
him, teams of machinists made use of some of the
most advanced equipment seen on either side of
EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
Uncharted Waters
the Breach. Aether detection and ranging systems,
hydroacoustics, electrical and temperature detec-
tors, and more. Each console required its own mas-
ter’s degree to understand. Maxine, of course, had
them all.
Kiya entered, ducking under the bulkhead frame.
“Morning.” Maxine returned the greeting.
“Ship’s in good shape, Kiya?”
“Yes, ma’am. All systems are a go, excluding Beebe’s
contraption.”
“Just wait till you see her in action,” Beebe insisted,
working under his control console with a screw-
driver. “She’s impressed everyone so far, and I think
even your sourpuss will appreciate such a fine bit of
engineering!”
Kiya snorted, a hint of a smirk on her face. “We’ll
have to divert power from the generators to carry
the additional drain. It shouldn’t be a problem as
long as we’re not running the engines.”
“Moving the ship while Calypso is submersed is
a bad idea anyways,” Beebe said, emerging from
under the console. “It’s basically an anchor while
it’s tethered, and I don’t intend to drop it into the
Atlantic.”
Maxine nodded in agreement. “What about the
Guild escorts?”
Kiya’s lip twitched. “The Hammer is maintaining its
escort distance. The Hoplite is engaging in combat
drills. The feel of those guns hanging over my
shoulder…”
“I know, I know. We all feel the same way,” Maxine
said, “but this is my vessel. You have my approval
to do anything necessary to ensure the safety of this
ship and its crew. Even from the Guild.”
The broad Abyssinian woman barely let a smirk
touch her face. “Of course, ma’am.”
“Good. Now, where’s Harata?”
“Fishing,” Kiya said, “at the prow.”
“Then I’ll check on him next. Call me before you
launch Calypso, Doctor. I’d appreciate being there
for her first sea voyage.”
“It would be my honor.”
 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 47
 Uncharted Waters
Maxine smiled and left the scanning room, strolling
down corridors of her ship, appreciating the feel of
it being alive. The Superior was not a new vessel
by any means, having been built around the turn
of the century. It had been paid for - and partially
built from - the rich copper mine she owned, and
that made it as much a part of her legacy as the mine
itself. Maxine had spared no expense ensuring that
the Superior benefited from the most advanced
materials and technologies she could buy or build
herself. It was an older ship, but the halls were filled
with discovery.
As Maxine emerged near the prow, she took note of
the harpoon guns that lined the deck. The armaments
were one such recent addition, a necessity when so
much of the world’s oceans now held Malifaux’s
aquatic horrors. Fending off sea monsters had
become a very real part of sailing Earth’s seas.
Kiya had contributed her own expertise to the task,
improving the guns to Abyssinian standards and
building crude interpretations of Abyssinian shock-
spears that would deliver a lethal jolt to whatever
they hit. Expensive, but Maxine would rather have
them and not need them, than vice versa.
Harata was standing alone near the prow, staring
into the waters below. The chill, wet wind of the
Atlantic seemed to have no effect on him. His eyes
were shut, flinching only slightly against the spray of
the ocean, and he held a tethered net in both hands.
“The sea is restless,” he spoke, just loud enough to be
heard over the wind. A look of concern flashed over
Maxine’s features; Harata was inscrutable.
“Restless in a bad way?” Maxine asked nervously.
Harata laughed; it was a reassuring sound.
“Not at all, kāpene. The Atlantic is temperamental,
but talkative. Jealous maybe, of her warmer sisters.
But proud.”
Maxine quirked an eyebrow. “And our objective?”
“There is a power here,” he nodded. He cast the net
into the waters, letting it trail from its rope along the
starboard side of the ship. “An energy that does not
feel natural or native to these waters. I believe we
are in the right spot.”
He hauled the rope up, his muscles straining as he
brought up a net half-full of struggling fish. “It draws
many hungry mouths.”
48 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
“Make way!” Came a cry from above. Maxine turned
and ducked as Orville’s bare foot swept past her
head. He kicked and twisted, catching a headwind
and soaring upward on a pair of broad mechanical
wings strapped to a rocket-propelled thruster pod
on his back. It coughed a puff of black smoke and
blue-green flames, fighting the wind. “Pardon me,
dear!”
“Where is your shoe, you idiot?” Maxine shouted.
“A few hundred feet below us, I’m afraid!” Orville
said. “It was causing a bit too much drag anyway!”
She sighed, rubbing her temple before shouting:
“Did you at least get breakfast before you took off
this morning?”
“You know I never fly on an empty stomach!”
He answered, letting out a whoop as he did an
impromptu flip. “This wind is a fighter! But I won’t
go down like some two-bit boxer. Have at!”
“Well, report your findings!” Maxine called out,
fighting against the smile tugging at the corners of
her mouth.
“Plenty to see!” Orville said, swooping low and
landing on the deck. “Oh! This deck is cold!” The
wings retracted with a stiff, robotic motion, though
the thruster pod continued to hiss and smoke.
“Focus, Orville. We’re here for a reason.”
“Yes, yes, of course, dear. Well, I see no hide nor
hair of any large fish,” Orville said, readjusting the
straps on his flight pack. “Anything bigger than a
mackerel is giving the area a wide berth. And there’s
discoloration in the water, extending to almost a
thousand meters in every direction.”
“The water around us is warmer than that beyond,”
Harata added, transferring fish from his net to a
large bucket filled with water.
“Interesting,” Maxine mused. “The aetheric buildup
could be part of it. Unless…” She frowned and tapped
her chin. “Unless the portal is already open, in some
minute form. Exchanging water from Malifaux to
Earth?”
“Not yet. The sea would make it known,” Harata
said. “The variations between the oceans of Earth
and Malifaux are distinct. Like when a tide and a
stream meet in an estuary, in a manner of speaking.”

“We can bring samples aboard when Beebe’s bath-
o-sphere launches,” Orville piped in, slowly enunci-
ating the unfamiliar word. He was standing on one
foot, pressing his bare toes to his trousers in an effort
to warm them.
“All the more reason for us to see it off. Let’s go,
Orville. We’ll find you some shoes.”
“Yes, dear,” Orville said with a chuckle.
The Calypso hit the water with a splash, bobbing for
a few moments before beginning to sink, the cable
that fastened it to the Superior slowly uncoiling.
In the scanning room, everyone had gathered around
Beebe’s control console, watching the engineer
deftly work the complex controls. “Readings are a go
across the board, seals are airtight. So far so good.”
“Can we see what she sees?” Maxine asked, hovering a
little over Beebe’s shoulder. She couldn’t help herself.
She’d witnessed submersibles and bathyspheres
before, but she had hired Beebe because his designs
were the most promising, the most ambitious. She
was eager to see what the engineer could do.
“In just a moment,” Beebe said. “She makes Watcher
tech look like the common bird.” He flipped switches
and hit buttons, and a flat, murky green lens about
the size of a dinner plate rose out of the console,
flickering with static until it revealed dark waters
and a glint of the Superior’s underbelly, silhouetted
from the dull sunlight above.
“Magnificent,” Maxine breathed. “The picture is so
clear.”
“Not just a picture,” Beebe explained. “Everything
Calypso feels is fed to this console’s readings.
Pressure, temperature, even chemical information
- though that last one takes a few minutes to be
properly broken down into data.”
“What can she tell us for now?” Maxine asked.
“She’s drifted down to twenty yards below sea level,
temperature is currently holding at a chilly seven
degrees Celsius. Current is northeasterly. Pressure
is… oh, about thirty-six pounds per square inch.”
EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
Uncharted Waters
“Harata mentioned the seas of Malifaux would be
different from ours, possibly chemically. Give me a
read on that when you can.”
“Well, we can look into water quality,” Beebe said.
He steered the Calypso about, circling the Superior.
After a few minutes of exposure to the water, a sensor
ticker began printing information out in a long, thin
ribbon of paper. Beebe tore a fragment away and
began studying it. “Hm, looks pretty typical. Looks
like oil’s in the water, probably from our friendly
Guild escorts. Oh, this is interesting. Something else
is showing up, too.”
“What is it?”
“Er, well. It’s tough. Too complicated for Calypso,”
Beebe said. “Sinewy. Dense. Hard to say if it’s native
or not. Hm.”
“What do you think it means?”
“My guess? Remnants from lunch,” Beebe said.
“Could be old muscle tissue, but doesn’t look like
anything I’ve seen before.”
Maxine pursed her lips. “That could from be
anything. Sharks. Gibbering Hordes.”
“Yes,” Beebe frowned, reading more of the printout.
“Maybe they know something we don’t.”
Maxine turned to Kiya, who had been watching
impassively. “Make sure everyone is alert. Keep
them armed and ready for trouble.”
“Yes ma’am,” Kiya said. She turned to leave the
room.
“And Kiya?” Maxine called out to her. “Remind our
escorts, as well.”
Kiya flinched but managed a smile. “I had nearly
forgotten.”
“Anything else Calypso can tell us?” Maxine asked,
turning back to the viewing screen.
“For the moment, no,” Beebe admitted. “But if she
picks up anything unusual, I’ll make a note of it.”
Maxine pursed her lips. It wasn’t proof of a portal,
but it was the next best thing. She clapped her hands
together. “Keep Calypso swimming as long as you
can. Inform me the moment you have something. I
feel we’ll have answers before the day is over.”
 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 49
 Uncharted Waters
It had been four days. Maxine sat on the bridge of
the Superior, a cup of thin coffee cooling next to
her. The sun hadn’t come up yet, but she was already
fending off a headache and dreading the approach-
ing dawn. Her anxiety grew as she glimpsed the first
flickers of light through the bridge’s viewport.
An aethercom console beeped loudly, and she
flinched away from it. A static-filled voice filtered
through. “Communications deck to Doctor Agassiz.
It’s the Hammer. They’re requesting another update.”
Maxine stalled for time by sipping her lukewarm
coffee. “Every four hours now. Tell him we’re
beginning the day’s operations. We’ll send word as
soon as they’re under way.”
“Yes, Doctor.”
Maxine swore, earning a chuckle from Kiya as the
Abyssinian woman entered the bridge. She handed
Maxine a list, which the doctor read over.
“We still have a few weeks’ worth of standard rations
and fresh water. Nothing to worry about yet.”
Maxine chewed her lip. The numbers were fine,
but even with Harata catching fish, she didn’t savor
the prospect of living on tinned food. “What about
engines and power?”
“We’re at half a tank, fuel-wise. Batteries are still
charged, but every time Beebe takes Calypso out for
a swim, they need to be recharged. Maybe two or
three more weeks before we need to return to port.”
There was a moment of silence, as Kiya hesitated.
“Waiting isn’t always a bad thing, ma’am. Like you
said, the Burning Man is unpredictable…”
“I know. I don’t regret being out here. I just wish we
had something worth being prepared for.” Maxine
sipped her watery coffee and donned her coat. “You
have the bridge for now, Kiya. I’ll see how Beebe is
doing.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Maxine didn’t have far to walk. The scanning room
was just down the corridor from the bridge. A
tired-looking team was working over the consoles,
blinking and bleary-eyed even as they remained
committed to their work. Beebe seemed to be the
50 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
only one who seemed rested at all, though the heavy
circles under his eyes proved otherwise. His hands
worked over Calypso’s controls, taking reading after
reading.
“How many launches is that, Doctor?” Maxine asked.
“This would be her seventh.” He glanced up from
the viewing lens. “I thought a night dive might help
me work out the last of her sea trials. I’ll definitely
have to upgrade her lenses for low-light conditions.
The torchlights don’t help much if they have nothing
to illuminate.”
She rubbed her temples. “Has there been any change
in your readings? Anything at all?”
He offered an apologetic smile. “Nothing. Readings
are unusual for the waters, but the only change has
been the dissipation of the organic compounds we
first read.” He rubbed his eyes before letting his
hands fall into his lap. “It’s possible we missed the
event you described. Perhaps a portal did open, but
we arrived days late-”
“I don’t believe that,” Maxine insisted. “We’d have
detected something prior to our arrival.”
Beebe nodded. “We’ll keep looking, but-”
Something on Calypso’s console beeped, a small
light blinking red. Frowning, Beebe turned to the
console and began working the controls.
“What’s wrong?” Maxine asked. She couldn’t really
keep the hope out of her voice, even if a red flashing
light rarely meant anything good.
“Unsure,” Beebe said. “Calypso’s retrieval beacon
just activated. She’s trying to return to the surface.”
The viewing lens from Calypso showed nothing but
darkness, so it was impossible for Maxine to see if
what was wrong, or if anything was. The aethercom
box near the door rang, making everyone jump.
Maxine snatched the handset off it.
“What is it?” she asked.
“Kāpene, it’s here,” Harata’s voice carried through a
burst of static and wind.
“What did he say?” Beebe asked, fighting with
Calypso’s controls. “Something’s pulling Calypso
down and preventing her from returning to the
surface.”
 Uncharted Waters

“What’s here?” Maxine asked, acknowledging “I… theoretically. The gripping claw is fitted to lift
Beebe’s concern. Calypso’s weight.”

Harata hesitated. “The water is in pain.” “We’ll test the theory,” Maxine urged. “Just do it fast.”

“What? Harata, what are you saying?”
“I think we need to leave…” Harata’s voice trailed off.
“Harata? Harata!” Maxine frowned, then let out
a gasp as the entire ship shuddered and groaned.
Alarm lights began to flash in the corridor. She
jabbed buttons on the aethercom. “Kiya, what’s
happening?”
“Unknown, ma’am!” Kiya answered. “Turbulence
off the port bow!”
Maxine put the headset down and headed back
towards the bridge, taking the stairs two at a time.
She found Kiya gripping the captain’s chair and
barking orders, with Orville peering through the
viewport.
“Get the engine room on the com,” the
Abyssinian woman snapped, and the
two machinists leapt to obey.

“I’m coming up!” Maxine said. “Beebe, where’s Calypso?”

“One moment,” Beebe said. He wiped sweat away

from his brow, eyes darting from one reading to the
next. “This isn’t possible.”

“What now?”

“Temperature and pressure spikes in the water,”

Beebe said. “Wait a moment, wait a moment...”

He flicked on Calypso’s torchlights, shining on the

tether cable holding Calypso to the Superior. Beebe
maneuvered Calypso, turning her viewing lens
downward, and Maxine saw a bright orange gash in
the water, like splintered glass floating in the dark.

“Incredible,” Maxine breathed, the rippling portal

reflected in her eyes. That feeling of hope rose even
as her mind tried to focus on the potential prob-
lems on her ship. “How deep is that, Beebe?”

“Calypso is seventy meters down,” Beebe

said. “But it’s getting- no. It’s pulling
Calypso towards it!” The depth meter
on the console began to rapidly descend.
Beebe’s hands worked furiously, fight-
ing the current. “I’m bringing her up.
Emergency main ballast blow.”

“Kiya, get the engines up! Get us away

from the event!” Maxine said into the
headset. “How will we get Calypso aboard?”

Beebe winced. “Not sure. The tether is still

holding, but it may take several minutes to get her
back. She’s fighting against the current.”

“We don’t have that time. Can it grab hold of the

Superior? Without damaging the ship?”

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 51
 Uncharted Waters
“Look!” Orville cried, pointing to the starboard
side of the Superior. All eyes went to the Atlantic
waters, where an erratic pattern of shifting color
was beginning to glow deep under water. “Maxine,
could that be your portal?” He hooted a laugh. “You
did it, my dear! Right again!”
“Yes,” Maxine said, feeling the blood draining from
her face. “Too right.”
“It’s opening right under us!” Kiya swore. “Engines!
Get us away from the portal!”
“We’re trying, captain!” came the static-filled response.
Maxine went even paler as the colors beneath the
ocean began to shift with more rapidity.
“Hail the Hammer and Hoplite and inform them of
the portal’s opening!”
The Superior shuddered as the turbine engines
began to rumble to life, but already she could feel
the tug of the shifting waters as the portal began to
fully form. She snatched up the aethercom speaker.
“All hands, battle stations! All hands-!”
The bridge crew tumbled back as the Superior
lurched to starboard. The entire ship leaned dan-
gerously over the water. Metal groaned as a force
greater than any ocean current started to pull on the
hull. Maxine struggled to regain her balance, push-
ing her wild hair from her eyes.
“It’s opening!” Orville said, pressed against the
forward windows. “Look at that.”
Maxine managed to drag herself towards her
husband and gazed in shock at what she beheld.
A maelstrom had formed just off the side of the
Superior, draining into the glowing portal a few
dozen feet below the surface, which seemed to grow
as it took in the Atlantic’s waters.
“Unreal!” Orville proclaimed, beaming.
The maelstrom slowed, and then for a few tense
seconds, ceased. The Atlantic calmed again. The
Superior’s engines managed to drive it away from
the portal, even as the Guild destroyers Hammer
and Hoplite began to approach, their cannon turrets
turning towards the portal’s entrance.
“Is it closing?” Orville asked.
Maxine frowned, calculating a dozen potential
scenarios in her head. “Worse. It’s reversing! Brace
yourselves!”
52 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
A geyser of water burst from the portal, exploding
into the air. Maxine’s mind raced faster, compiling
fluid mechanics and physics to figure out what
would happen next. She gasped as she saw another
threat; the shifting waters had propelled the Hoplite
directly into the Superior’s path.
“Kiya!” Maxine shouted, even as she prepared for the
inevitable impact. The Abyssinian woman snarled,
struggling to keep the Superior on its course.
A great echo of metal reverberated through the
ship as the two vessels impacted, a glancing blow
that nevertheless threw everyone off their feet. The
Hoplite, much larger and heavier than the Superior,
continued on while the Superior was forced aside,
the clanging metal turning into a pitched shriek of
steel-on-steel that dragged across the hull of the
ship.
“Damage report!” Kiya immediately shouted into
the coms.
“We’re taking on water!” The aethercom officer said.
“Engine room reports a breach in the aft-engine
batteries!”
“Get everyone out of there!” Kiya said, “then seal it!”
Maxine clung to Orville as Kiya wrestled with the
Superior’s controls, fighting a losing battle against
the forces of nature. For a moment, the groan of
metal continued to echo throughout the bridge. The
stench of burning diesel filled the air, and the thrum
of electricity was filling the air with static. Then,
the Superior just stopped. A look of concern passed
across Maxine’s face.
“Have the aft-batteries gone down?” she asked.
“Yes ma’am, but we’re still on forward and auxiliary,”
Kiya responded. The Abyssinian woman was as
confused as Maxine was. That wasn’t a good sign.
“Then why are we slowing?” Maxine asked as a
chill ran deeply down her spine. “I need eyes on the
portal. Now. What’s happening?”
The maelstrom had caught all three vessels, the
whirlpool now hundreds of yards wide. She
watched as the Hoplite, its smoking cannon turrets
hanging over the side of the vessel, was destroyed
by the impossible force of the maelstrom. The metal
hull snapped and tore apart, dragging the stern
down and severing it from the aft section, triggering
a chain reaction of explosions. What little was left of
the Hoplite was quickly pulled into the hole in the
sea.

They were being pulled in.
The Hammer vanished into the yawning portal,
swallowed like a snack. Maxine found Orville’s
hand as they grabbed onto the bridge’s railing,
steeling themselves for one final encounter with
the unknown as the Superior fell into the darkness
between realities.
For many agonizing seconds, Maxine wasn’t sure if
her eyes were closed or if the interior of the portal
was completely lightless. But then she didn’t feel the
deck plates under her or feel her husband’s hand in
hers. She turned her head but saw nothing, heard
nothing. For a panicked moment, she wondered
if this was what waited on the other side of death:
emptiness and nothingness.
But pinpricks of light began to blossom in the
corners of her vision, like fireworks viewed from
miles away. Darkness turned to a kaleidoscope of
patterns, each distinct in their own way, and each
of those exploded into further patterns. No, not
patterns… things. Bodies, disgusting parodies of
biology, twisting and fusing into impossible shapes:
tongues, eyes, pustules, rippling gills. Claws melted
into tendrils which spawned infinite howling faces
that in turn were reabsorbed into the swirling
tessellations of the portal’s interior. It was silent, and
as loud as creation itself.
It was chaos, and yet Maxine beheld a pattern to them
all. Creation. Probability. Whole universes that were
mere scraps of cloth on the mosaic that was eternity.
Vibrant jungles, blasted wastelands, frozen oceans,
alien deserts, impossible geometries, creatures both
familiar and utterly without description, realities
her senses could only perceive as a kind of mental
pain. Multi-limbed orbs forging cities of crystal,
slug-like beasts lurching in the muck. And above all
those worlds, a sun.
No. Not a sun. “The Burning Man.”
The Superior burst forth from blue-green waters
like a surfacing whale, its bow hanging in the sky
for a few tense milliseconds before it splashed back
down. Water spilled off the decks, washing away
debris and bodies. Glass shattered in the viewport,
metal screeched, and anything that wasn’t tied or
bolted down scattered across the floor.
Maxine found herself on her knees, every nerve
on fire. Orville was sprawled out beside her, still
clutching her hand, though she could not remember
his touch moments before. The bridge was dark, the
crew groaning and coughing.
EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
Uncharted Waters
Maxine struggled to breathe, her eyes still flashing
with images of what she’d beheld. She shook her
head, trying not to gasp at the pain that tore through
her arm. Orville roused nearby, slowly pushing
himself out from a pile of navigational equipment
and maps.
“Report!” Kiya shouted, already back on her feet.
“All stations, report!”
It took a few moments, but the Superior’s crew fed
information over the static: engines down, batteries
out, coms spotty.
“Where are we?” Maxine asked. She hissed when
Orville tried to help her stand. Something was
definitely broken, but she shooed away her husband’s
concern. Her eyes sparkled, almost dancing with
the colors that the portal had shown. “Did you see?
Inside the portal, did you see it?” she asked Orville
eagerly.
“See what?” he asked. “I saw only the portal and
then we were here.”
Maxine frowned, noting the response. Then,
Orville’s statement sparked a question. “Where is
here? Where are we?”
Orville helped her to her feet, and the pair went to
the forward viewport, now sporting a web of cracks.
The seas were dark but calm.
“Maxine, look,” Orville said, pointing skyward. She
traced his finger to a moon hanging low over the
horizon… and then a second, appearing to follow in
its wake. “Malifaux has two moons, doesn’t it?”
She continued looking at the stars. “That it does.
But we’re perhaps further into the unknown reaches
than any human before us. We could be thousands
of kilometers from Guild territory.”
He smiled. “Another first for the Agassizes.”
“Orville, I-”
He put a hand on her good arm. “No time to lose
confidence now, dearest. Let’s get everyone home
first. Then we can surrender ourselves to dread.”
While the two exchanged bittersweet looks, Kiya
turned to Beebe. “We need to restore the ship’s
systems. Have you seen the engine specs?”
“Of course, but-”
 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 53
 Uncharted Waters
“Go then,” Kiya ordered. “You know what you’re
doing. Try and get them up and running.” She saw
Beebe’s apprehensive look and sighed. “I’ll order the
crew to get Calypso when we’re sure the ship is not
in danger.”
Beebe looked satisfied but grim. “Thank you. I’ll
see what I can do.” He quickly left the bridge.
“I want a full report on the engines,” Kiya continued,
“runners between decks if the coms start dying. If
you’re injured, organize duties as appropriate.”
“You got it,” a machinist said, squeezing his way
through the bridge door. He eyed Maxine as he
passed; the scientist was clearly in pain, but had
gritted her teeth against making a scene.
“Let’s go see if we can determine our location,”
Maxine said. “Orville, fetch your pack. Find Harata
and send him up if he’s not injured.”
“Of course!” Orville said, unable to keep the
excitement out of his tone. He gave Maxine a peck
on the cheek before scooting off.
“Kiya,” Maxine continued, “can we see if the Hammer
made it through the portal?”
The Abyssinian woman grabbed a pair of binoculars
before helping Maxine carefully outside. Maxine
scanned the waters for a moment before her search
was rewarded.
“There’s the Hammer,” she said. “It looks like they
made it!”
Kiya looked through the binoculars. “I see sailors on
the deck. They’re trying to signal us by semaphore.”
She studied the flag-waving man on the Hammer’s
deck, frowning. “Looks like their engines are down
as well, ma’am.”
“Could have been some kind of surge from the
portal,” Maxine mused. Harata approached; the
Maori man was bleeding from a few cuts, but
otherwise seemed unharmed.
“The sheer amount of power… we’re lucky we
weren’t all consumed by it,” he said. He glanced at
Maxine, almost staring through her. “You felt it too,
kāpene?”
Maxine gently bobbed her head. Orville didn’t have
an ounce of magic in him, but the Maori mage had to
have seen what was inside the portal. A discussion
for another time, if they survived. The Superior
54 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
shuddered again, the deck plates trembling beneath
them. The vibrations made Maxine’s bones grate
against each other, and starbursts of pain clouded
her vision for a moment.
“Was that from their engines? Or were those ours?”
Maxine asked, breathing sharply.
“Neither, ma’am,” Kiya said. “Look!”
A dark shadow had welled up from below the two
ships, turning the steady seas into a dome of roiling
water. The two watched as a shape burst out of the
water and crawled onto the side of the Hammer’s
midsection. It looked like some horrid combination
of a crab and an eel, extending a long fleshy neck and
gaping maw from under a hardened shell. Dozens
of eyes peered from beneath, and thin pincers on
long limbs extended out to pluck up men from the
Hammer’s deck.
Chaos erupted on the Guild destroyer. Gunfire could
be heard in distant pops, joined by flares of magic in a
spectrum of colors that burned, chilled, or electrified
the beast’s shell. It fed with a ravenous hunger, seem-
ingly oblivious to resistance. One of the Hammer’s
deck guns fired, missing the beast entirely. The shock-
wave it produced made the creature release the ship
and dip back into the water, but Maxine could still see
it gripping the destroyer’s underbelly.
“Great ancestors,” Harata whispered.
The crew of the Superior, drawn to the distant
sounds of battle, found themselves transfixed by the
sight. When the creature’s claws began to tear at
the Guild ship’s hull, fear turned to panic. Shouting
and screaming erupted on the Superior. Even Kiya
looked stunned beyond words.
Maxine looked about, her hands shaking. They had
to do something. They had to help the people of the
Hammer…
No. What could they do against such a beast? The
Superior’s meager defenses were nothing compared
to the Guild destroyer’s, and it wasn’t saving them.
But there was more at stake than just survival.
Catastrophe or not, her theory had been proven
right. Her formula worked. The only thing that
mattered now was getting it back to Earth. To save
countless lives. The split in the hull of the Hammer
was already opening like a peeling orange. The beast
had pressed its body to the open gap, its feeding arms
spreading into the exposed decks. Water flooded the
ship. It was doomed.

“Kiya,” Maxine said, trying to keep her voice steady.
“We need to leave. Now.” The order made her
nauseous, like her guts had turned to bile.
Kiya blinked, unsure of how to answer, but then
she found her steel. Her face calmed into grim
determination. “Yes, ma’am.” She turned to the
terror-struck machinists loitering on the deck.
“Listen up, all of you! Get back to your posts and get
this ship going! You’ll have worse things to fear than
some big lobster if you don’t move! Let’s go!”
A hive of activity swarmed to life around Maxine,
but the scientist continued to stare at the dying
Guild ship.
“Harata. What can you tell me?”
The mage looked pale, turning his gaze back towards
the Hammer. “Besides the obvious? Nothing. This
is a far greater beast than I ever knew existed. It is
hungry. Alien. Its mind is simple but untouchable.”
“Can we use that to our advantage? What about
your magic-”
“Even here, my magic is small compared to that of
my ancestors. They barely defeated Horomatangi,
and this creature is unlike anything on Earth. Even
with the firepower of that Guild ship...” Harata
shook his head. “We cannot defeat it. You made the
right call, kāpene.”
The deck lights on the Superior flickered to life,
faded, and then came back. The alarm lights came
back on, and a klaxon began to wail over the boat.
Maxine frowned, turning her gaze back towards the
beast and the Hammer. The creature had paused
in its attack and looked towards the Superior. The
Hammer was already folding in half as it sank, the
few survivors aboard either clinging to the far ends
of the ship or drowning into the icy waters below.
“The lights and sound,” Maxine realized. “It’s calling
the creature!”
Harata’s eyes widened, and he broke into a run
back towards the bridge. The Superior shook as its
engines roared to life.
“Turn out the lights!” Harata shouted up at Kiya.
“The creature can hear and see us!”
Kiya frowned, unable to hear him over the blare of
the klaxons. Harata hesitated, then turned to help
Maxine. The pair sped to the bridge.
EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
Uncharted Waters
“Cut all non-essential power,” Maxine said as she
burst into the ruined room. “I want engines and
coms, nothing else! Turn out every light you can and
keep quiet! That beast is being drawn to us!”
Kiya swore at the realization. She pressed buttons
and flipped switches, cursing quietly after each one.
The Superior began to fall quiet, save for the rumble
of its engines.
“Harata, find Doctor Beebe and bring him!” Maxine
continued. “We’ll need you both here.”
Harata deftly avoided the bridge’s mess and ran
down the stairs. Kiya began steering the Superior
away from the Hammer and its gargantuan attacker.
Maxine watched from the windows, squinting
against the darkness. Dread replaced the guilty
bile in her stomach; the monstrosity was definitely
moving closer to the Superior.
“Faster, Kiya!” Maxine urged.
“We’ll be lucky to manage this much, ma’am,” Kiya
said grimly.
Maxine hit controls on the aethercom console. “All
hands, prepare for combat. I repeat, prepare for
combat!” A small commotion near the door drew
both women’s attention. Harata and Beebe emerged
from below decks, breathless and smudged nearly
head to foot in engine grease.
“Your man said we were being attacked?”
“The Hammer went down,” Maxine said. “That beast
is after us now. What are our options?”
“A broadside?” Kiya suggested. “Turn us about and
hit it with every shock harpoon we’ve got?”
“The Guild unleashed everything they had on it,”
Harata said. “It didn’t flinch.”
“Outrunning it is our only option then,” Maxine
confirmed. “Doctor, what would our top speed be if
you could repair the engines?”
“There’s a breach in the engine room. It would take
a day to drain and reinitialize,” Beebe said. “Right
now, thirteen, fourteen knots at best.”
“I could fly out there,” Orville offered. “Drop some
charges and distract the old beastie.”
 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 55
 Uncharted Waters
“Those wouldn’t hurt it,” Kiya and Beebe said in
unison. The two engineers looked at each other
in surprise, but it quickly gave way to depressing
silence. Then, Maxine looked up.
“Distract,” she said. “Orville, that’s it! Fly out a few
hundred meters away from us and the Hammer and
drop a charge there. It might break off to investigate,
giving us time to get away!”
“I’ll buy us some time,” Orville promised, activating
his flight pack and smiling like a young man freed
from the school day.
“Kiss for luck?” he asked.
She kissed her fingertips and tapped the lens of his
goggles. “Be careful.”
“I’ll give him what for!” Orville proclaimed, and
his pack rocketed him up into the air. When he was
almost a hundred feet up the wings extended, and
he soared over the dark waters towards the pursuing
monstrosity.
“All right, let’s hope he can buy us some time.” Maxine
turned to Beebe. “Doctor, if we get the winch running,
can you get Calypso up to the deck?”
Beebe looked even more crestfallen than before.
“The portal opened too quickly to get her back on
board. Her signal is gone.”
“No. She’s still with us.” They all turned to Harata;
his eyes were closed, and a very faint bit of
magic flowed across his hands. He concentrated,
whispering. His hands turned upwards, as if trying
to lift a great weight. Sweat beaded on his forehead,
but Harata continued to raise his arms. The sound
of displaced water drew everyone’s attention again.
Something much smaller seemed to be making
its way towards the Superior. Maxine watched in
amazement as the spherical body of Calypso rose
from the ocean.
An explosion broke out over the water like a
thunderclap. All eyes turned to see the spray of
water into the air as Orville dropped the first of
his charges. The devices were designed to aid in
hydroacoustic detection, a deafening firecracker
of a thing underwater, and as Maxine had hoped,
the pursuing beast thrashed in the water, slowing
considerably. They’d bought themselves a few
minutes, at best. Orville circled, preparing to drop
another.
56 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
Harata shifted, and Beebe ran down to the main deck
to receive Calypso. Kiya followed. Harata breathed
deeply, doing his best to control the wave of water
to deposit the bathysphere as gently as possible onto
the deck. The sound of metal on metal boomed and
vibrated through the hull. Maxine cradled her arm,
doing her best to keep the grinding bones steady.
“Doctor, can you adjust the Calypso’s retrieval
beacon? Intensify it? The sound would be deafening
to a creature that detects prey by vibration.”
Beebe frowned, the happiness of having his bathy-
sphere back quickly dashed by Maxine’s implica-
tion. “I think I could. Not really the glamorous end I
planned for her, but-”
“If this works, Doctor, I’ll build you a fleet of
Calypsos,” Maxine said. The idea of not dying and
gaining a bathysphere navy put Beebe in the right
mindset. He opened Calypso’s hatch and clambered
inside. He worked his hands over the controls, but
stopped. “Something’s wrong. She’s not responding.”
“Could the same overcharge that affected the ship
be affecting her?” Kiya asked.
“Very likely,” Beebe said. “She came through the
portal with us. Damn. We needed a jumpstart to get
the Superior’s batteries back on. I’ll need something
with a suitable kick, but not strong enough to make
her batteries burst.”
Kiya drew her shock spear. “I got it.” She flicked
the single control on the shaft, and a blue arc of
electricity joined the pronged tip of the spear.
Beebe smiled. “That would do it.”
Kiya smirked and accepted Beebe’s proffered hand.
The pair quickly set to rewiring the Calypso’s
alarms. “Ma’am, if you want more than just noise, I
can try and take shock coils from our harpoons
and work them in.”
“We can turn Calypso into a floating mine!” Beebe
piped from within the bathysphere. Maxine whole-
heartedly agreed.
“Harata, get as many shock harpoons as you can.
That might be enough to encourage it to leave us
alone.”
Harata nodded, still sweating from his spell. The rest
of the team moved quickly, spreading out onto the
deck where they could see the black shadow of the
beast steadily gaining on the Superior. Even with

the sinking Hammer now falling into the distance,
they could not keep ahead of the monster for long.
Another charge detonated, far closer than before.
The sea monster lunged out of the water with one
of its big claws but missed Orville by a country
mile. Maxine could practically hear her husband
whooping as he flew out of its reach. They still had
time, but it was running short.
“Harata, where are those harpoons?” Maxine called.
“Here!” he yelled back, bringing two big armloads.
Kiya reached down from Calypso and accepted the
weapons. In seconds, the broken hafts fell from the
bathysphere as the Abyssinian engineer removed
their shock coils.
“Do we have any way to give these an extra jolt?”
Beebe asked. “Calypso’s batteries are drained as it is.
We’ll need an external power source, otherwise this
will just be a little spark instead of a lightning bolt.”
Kiya’s voice echoed from inside Calypso. “The
doctor is right, ma’am. Abyssinian coils are strong,
but they need more.”
Another explosion rocked the open waters, and
Orville came swooping in for a landing. The beast
shrugged off the blast, not slowing in the slightest.
“He’s got wise to my game!” Orville said, his wings
retracting as he landed. “I could throw another
dozen at him and he wouldn’t flinch!” He placed
EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
Uncharted Waters
his hands on his hips. “How are things down here,
Beebe? Oh, hello Kiya,” he said, peering into the
bathysphere. The sight of his jetpack sent another
neuron flaring in Maxine’s head.
“Orville, do you have that spare Soulstone for your
pack?” She watched her husband furrow his brow
and dig into his pockets. Several tiny paper airplanes
fell out before he pulled out a softly glowing stone
with an “a-ha!” He presented it to Maxine, who
offered it to Beebe.
“Would this work?”
Beebe considered. “I think it just might.” He
frowned when Kiya grabbed the Soulstone first
and disappeared back into Calypso. His displeasure
was short-lived; after a few sparks and the stench
of ozone, the entirety of the bathysphere began to
crackle with electricity, arcing from coil to coil.
“We’re ready!” Kiya said, carefully exiting Calypso.
Beebe sighed sadly. “We’re all counting on you.”
“She’s good construction, Doctor,” Kiya offered in
way of consolation.
“Harata, now!” Maxine said. The Maori man
dropped into a squat, every muscle in his body
tensing up. Malifaux’s oceans rose to meet him, a
column of water hovering mid-air before engulfing
Calypso. Harata moved slowly, pulling the crackling
bathysphere down into the waters below. He swung
his fists and jabbed at the open air, each gesture
matched by a wave that struck the back of the
Calypso, propelling her forward. The water began
to thrum and vibrate as the coils electrocuted their
surroundings while the beacon sent out pulses of
discordant noise.
As Calypso distanced itself from the Superior, ev-
eryone watched the sea monster’s murky silhouette
beneath the water, worried of their plan going awry.
Seconds ticked past, the only sound on deck being
Harata’s movements.
But Maxine felt the shift in the deck as the
monster began to veer away. Perhaps it
was curious, or maybe it hated the noise
of Calypso more than the Superior,
but it turned and followed the small
exploration pod.
 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 57
 Uncharted Waters
“Kiya,” Maxine whispered, “get to the bridge. Make
sure they keep us on course. Beebe, get to the engine
room. Do whatever you can to improve our power.
I don’t want to stop until we’re sure that thing is far
behind us.”
Beebe frowned, wanting to stay behind and watch
Calypso’s final fate, but Kiya patted his shoulder, and
he nodded, following her.
“I can’t tell if it’s working,” Orville said, leaning so
far off the deck Maxine felt the urge to grab hold of
his belt and pull him back.
Harata continued until the beast suddenly lurched
out of the water. Its enormous eel-like maw hung
open, and it made to strike at the bathysphere. Each
time it did, the net of electricity around Calypso
cracked out with power audible even from hundreds
of feet away. The beast thrashed and writhed,
crashing back below the waves before resurfacing
again and again, refusing to allow Calypso’s survival.
Maxine placed her good hand on Harata’s shoulder.
He stopped, taking deep breaths as he pulled himself
back to the present. He shook from exertion but
tried to keep his voice even.
“My magic is stronger here. But I am out of practice.”
“You did well,” Maxine said before addressing the
Superior’s remaining crew. “Now. Absolutely no
one cheers. I want us to get as far away from that
thing as possible without drawing its attention.”
The deck hands nodded, but their wide-eyed smiles
spoke of their relief.
It had been nearly two weeks since the Superior
passed through the burning portal. The ship floated
on the water, little more than a metal shell that
was quickly becoming a husk. On the bridge, Kiya
flipped through a ledger.
“I have the inventory count as requested ma’am,
but-”
Kiya glanced up at Maxine, who sat in the captain’s
chair on the bridge, looking like she hadn’t seen a
bath in a week. None of them had. Her arm was in
a sling made from something that looked like it was
once some sort of signal flag. “I know it’s not good
Kiya. No need to pretend otherwise.”
58 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
Kiya set her jaw. “We’re down to quarter rations.
The local fish - if there are any - aren’t biting, despite
Harata’s efforts. We’ve got another week of fresh
water.”
“Anything on the coms? Even a whisper?”
Kiya shook her head.
“And the engines?” Maxine asked.
“Two days’ worth of fuel, at best. The batteries might
last a little longer.”
Maxine rubbed her eyes in frustration. “This is
pointless,” she muttered. “Two weeks without sight
of anything. I feel like this whole world is ocean.”
“Assuming this place is Malifaux, as you theorized, it
made sense to turn west. That the continent holding
Malifaux City might be analogous with North
America back on Earth.”
“Assuming this is even Malifaux. We could be
anywhere…”
They entered the scanning room. It was empty, save
for Beebe, who was sitting near Calypso’s console,
and Orville, who had turned one of the few crude
maps of Malifaux they had on board into a paper
glider.
“Anything on these scanners?” Maxine asked.
“For the fifth day, no,” Beebe snapped, but he cleared
his throat and sat up straight. “That is, no, sorry. I
couldn’t even tell you if there was an ocean floor
under us.”
“Orville? Anything?”
“The twin moons and odd stars suggest Malifaux,”
Orville said, “but with nothing to properly navigate
them by, we might as well be flipping coins and
making up astrological signs.”
A silence descended on the cabin. The thought they
could have been traveling in the wrong direction
for the whole journey wasn’t a pleasant one by
any means, but everyone looked up at the sound of
footsteps. Harata stepped halfway into the cabin.
“Kāpene, I think you need to be here for this.”
“For what?” Maxine asked.
“He’s coming,” Harata said, sounding grim and
walking back towards the fore of the ship.

“Who’s coming?” Kiya asked. Confused, the crew
followed him outside. Harata was at the stern of the
ship, gaze turned upward.
“What is it, Harata?” Maxine asked. “Something in
the water?”
“That beast hasn’t been seen in days,” Beebe said.
“Don’t tell me it’s found us.”
“No,” Harata said. “It’s in the sky. Look.”
Maxine had to strain her eyes, but through the
cloudless blue she spotted a tiny speck of black.
“What is it?”
Harata frowned. “He’s found us.”
“Who?” Orville asked.
“Slow the ship,” Maxine said. “Kiya, slow us down.
Full stop!”
It didn’t take long before the black speck had grown
close enough that Maxine could make out the
shape of a zeppelin. The Superior’s machinists had
gathered on the deck as well, craning their necks to
see, some of them laughing, their relief palpable.
As the zeppelin came to hover overhead, it dropped
several ropes, which the Superior crew hastily tied
to the ship. Then a rope ladder uncoiled down to the
deck, and they secured it as well. One figure climbed
down, moving with confidence and dressed in fine
clothes. He was Maori, like Harata, but much older,
broad-shouldered, with a serious expression.
“You’re a difficult woman to find, Doctor Maxine
Agassiz. Word back on Earth is that you went down
with all hands. I’m glad to see the rumors were false.”
The man extended a large hand. “Ngaatoro.”
Maxine glanced at Harata, who didn’t move, then
at Orville, who was gazing up at the zeppelin with
glee. Maxine’s mouth worked for a moment before
she found her voice, shaking Ngaatoro’s hand. “I-
yes. If you don’t mind me asking, er, Mr. Ngaatoro,
how did you find us? We’ve heard nothing over the
aethercom.”
Ngaatoro glanced at Harata. “Blood calls to blood.”
He paused. “Kei te ora koe.”
“Ko au,” Harata responded coldly.
EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
Uncharted Waters
“Hm. Koia kei a.” He gave the young Maori a low
nod, then turned to face Maxine again. “Your name
precedes you, Doctor Agassiz, and my employers
would hate to see all the knowledge on this ship lost.
We’re here to take you to back to Malifaux City.”
The man’s tone didn’t invite argument, but Ngaatoro
waited while Maxine absorbed the news.
Her eyes darted to each of them, hesitating for
the briefest moment. “That’s very generous, Mr.
Ngaatoro. Is there enough room for our entire
crew?”
Ngaatoro nodded. “We have enough room for all on
board, but I’m afraid your vessel will have to remain
behind.”
The thought of leaving the Superior, even under
these circumstances, sent a trickle of sadness
through Maxine, equal to losing a crewmember.
She dwelt on it for just a moment before wistfully
nodding to Kiya.
“You heard the man!” Kiya said. “Take only what
you can carry! We may not be back for some time, so
be sure you can’t part with what you bring! Move!”
The Superior’s crew and Ngaatoro’s men began
rapidly gathering everything they could carry.
Maxine approached Harata, cradling her arm. She
spoke quietly. “Is he your father?”
The younger man turned away from the scene,
busying himself with wrapping up his harpoon and
nets.
“He’s blood, nothing more. He’s more interested to
learn about the formula that brought us all this way.
Very interested. He represents a specific group of
people not unlike your crew. They’re good for their
word, but watch what they say.”
“You sound like you don’t trust him, Harata. He did
come out all this way to save us.”
Harata looked out at the ocean, as if hoping to see
the monster once more, then turned and stared up
at the airship. “Did he?”
 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 59
 by
Matthew Majarucon
“I ’ll have as much blood as you by the time we reach her!” Mikhail
shouted after swatting at a mosquito nearly the size of his hand.
“For once, something else wants you around and yet
you fight it off?” came Jedza’s retort.  her ribs clattered while they lit the way into the
The night was muggier than usual, and the Bayou
had brought out its insects by the swarm. Every step
through the accursed marshland was like walking
through a tar pit; Mikhail could no longer tell what
was sweat and what was bog water. There was already
thick muck to fight through, alongside ankle-grab-
bing roots and slithering amphibious predators just
waiting for an unaware foot to step into their sink-
hole. The overpowering smell of rotting vegetation
was a perfect, final insult to the horrible evening.
Ahead, he heard the squelch of mud followed by
expletives in a few languages grumbled into the
humid air.
“What is it, starushka?” Mikhail asked. Despite the
weather, he couldn’t keep the slightest bit of a smile
from his face. “Did the mud steal one of your feet?”
In response, a gloved hand dismissively waved back
at him. “Watch your tongue, or I will make sure the
old hag takes it,” Jedza scolded. Her voice was like
a stone worn down over the centuries. Even from a
few yards away, Jedza cast a curious silhouette. She
was covered from head-to-shoe in layer after layer
of clothes and scarves, with a traveler’s pack taller
than her resting comfortably on her back.
Sophie, the only being always able to keep up with
Jedza, happily lumbered beside her. The skeletal
auroch carried saddlebags and blankets piled high
on her back. She didn’t seem burdened in the slight-
est. Little bells strung on her horns and ribs rang
62 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
softly with every step, and the lanterns hung from
marshy Bayou. The tied-up bundle slung across her
back had stopped cursing at them long ago. After
hours of travel, the unwilling occupant simply gave
up, too exhausted to keep protesting.
Mikhail nudged the large bag and was rewarded
with a low groan. Satisfied with the response, but not
the situation, he stopped to swat at another insect.
After a few unsuccessful attempts, Mikhail man-
aged to land a swift slap, crushing it with a bloody
splat between both hands. He grimaced. Sometimes
he envied his companions, deathless as they were.
No skin or blood for the annoying bastards to feed
on. Mikhail wiped the smashed bug on his coat and
sighed. Jedza and Sophie had already walked sever-
al yards ahead by the time Mikhail had finished his
musing. He hurried through the sludge as best he
could to catch up. “Are you sure there isn’t an… eas-
ier way?” Mikhail asked, peering out from under his
sweat-soaked hair.
“Nyet. There is only one way.” Jedza continued walking.
“Maybe next time she can come to us.”
“Maybe you should ask her,” Jedza responded, decep-
tively passive.
Mikhail shifted the sword across his back and
squeezed parts of his coat to drain it of bog water.
He looked forward to removing the grime from his
boots in the morning. They were old and well-worn,
but he maintained them as though they were an
heirloom.
 Nothing Is Forever

His coat was similarly aged, a gift from Jedza during

their first winter together. Mikhail argued that he
didn’t need anything of such quality, but she assured
him that it would keep him warm and he could toss
it aside in the spring if he disliked it that much. More
than thirty springs later, the coat was as much a part
of who he was as the sword on his back. There were
a few rips and bloodstains that even a washboard
couldn’t get out, but he valued the memories it held
more than he hated how much it stuck to him in this
humidity.

“Come. The evening is already here, and it is not wise

to be in this place when the sun sets,” Jedza said, not
unkindly. Mikhail silently agreed. Unnatural things
always seemed to gravitate towards Jedza, and some
were hungrier than others.

They had gone maybe half a mile more, when Jedza

spoke again.

“You must tell me when you get tired,” she said. “I do

not mean to forget.” The words were quiet, almost
soft. Mikhail shook his head, chuckling.

“I am fine. So long as you do not let the witch cast a

hex on me.”

“Maybe I should let her turn you into a frog. It

would finally get me some peace and quiet.”

By the time they approached the hut, Mikhail was

covered in mud up to his knees, exhausted. Even
after so many visits to the witch’s home, he wasn’t
sure that he could find it without Jedza as a guide.
It looked the same as it always did, perched atop lit-
tle stilts that seemed to buckle and bow under its
weight. A soft light emerged from the windows
and gaps in the walls. Pufftoads and glowbugs
occupied the space around the hut, making an eerie
cacophony of raspy croaks and pulsing lights. Jedza
nudged Mikhail’s arm.

“Look. Your new family,” she chided, pointing at

the toads. Mikhail decided to change the subject.

“Should we?” he asked, gesturing to the bag thrown

across the auroch. Jedza shook her head.

“He will not go anywhere. Stay here, Sophie,” Jedza

said, stroking the auroch’s skull. “We will be back
soon.”

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 63
 Nothing Is Forever
“We?” Mikhail asked. His eyes darted to Sophie, as
though he was expecting the auroch to speak up and
defend him. Sophie was more interested in a tiny
snaptooth creeper that was biting ineffectively at
the skeletal teeth trying to eat it.
Jedza looked up at him, bracelets clinking as she
adjusted her pack. “Da. Or would you like to stay
with the alligators and prizraki?”
Something heavy splashed around nearby, sending
up a plume of brackish water. A gurgling shriek fol-
lowed. Mikhail imagined Jedza lifting an eye-
brow as she cocked her veiled head at him.
Jedza’s hand stopped mid knock when
the hut’s door creaked open on uneven
hinges. There, low on the floor and peek-
ing out from behind the door, was a
small voodoo doll with large button eyes and
64 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
a stitched, lopsided grin. It struggled for a moment
before pushing the door open enough for the two
of them to enter, waving them in with a flourish. As
they walked past the strange puppet it began strug-
gling again. Mikhail gave the door a tiny nudge to
help the voodoo doll along.
Zoraida had drawn an intricate symbol in chalk on
the floor of the hut. Knickknacks and curios were
scattered everywhere: a bottle of moonshine sat
nearby, along with a variety of cloudy jars filled with
things only the swamp witch could identify. Dried
plants hung from beams supporting the hut, along
with a multitude of strange bottles, urns, and books
stacked on stained tables. Shelves filled with pup-
pets and voodoo dolls that stared blankly, as though
they were watching for intruders. A cauldron domi-
nated the room; it lazily bubbled over a small fire.
Zoraida mumbled to herself, briefly rubbing the
bags under her eyes. The dead toad in her grip
had started to twitch and kick. She turned,
pufftoad squirming in between her knobby
knuckles. In the doorway was a bundle of rags
shaped roughly like a woman. A larger man
stood behind her, avoiding the witch’s gaze.
Though Zoraida knew Jedza’s eyes were long
gone, the witch could almost see a sparkle
behind the veil.
“Did you miss me?” Jedza asked, slowly mak-
ing her way into the hut.
“Miss you? I miss my clean floor. You gonna
clean this up?” Zoraida snapped, giving
Mikhail a dark look, which the man did not
meet. She swore as the toad slipped from her
grip and started hopping around, leaving its
insides behind.
“Now, that is no way to greet an old friend,”
Jedza interjected, crossing her arms.
“We can agree on that. You are old. You make
him look like he was just born yesterday,”
Zoraida snorted, jerking a thumb at Mikhail.
Jedza adjusted the pince-nez on her veil. “Have
you seen yourself lately? I am sure you have
a mirror somewhere in all
this mess.”

Zoraida chuckled, then picked up the toad’s still
breathing lungs and tossed them into the cauldron.
She turned and waited for Jedza to shrug off her
pack before the two embraced. After a moment,
both sat down at the nearby table. There were only
two chairs, so Mikhail simply leaned against the
doorframe. The swamp witch eyed him, but turned
her attention to Jedza.
“So, what brings you here this time? Finally gonna
let me jar and pickle him?” Zoraida asked, watch-
ing the bubbles slowly burst on the surface of her
cauldron.
“Can I not be here to just enjoy your company?”
“You only come here when you need something, and
you always bring trouble with you,” Zoraida said
sarcastically. “Tea?”
Mikhail appeared to stiffen when he realized the
question was directed at him.
“Da. That would be… nice,” Mikhail said.
“Made a whole pot of it.” Zoraida either didn’t no-
tice the green pallor that came over his face or just
didn’t care. She gave him a toothy, wicked grin be-
fore standing. Joints clicking, the old woman hov-
ered in front of her cauldron for a moment, savoring
the apprehension from Mikhail, before reaching
down and retrieving a small kettle that had been
steaming on the coals beneath.
“To your health,” Zoraida said, pouring the tea into
a pair of cups until both were filled with pungent,
watery brew.
“Za zdorov’ye,” he said flatly, raising his tea and
draining it in one go. He placed the empty cup
back down on the table with a grimace. The witch
downed a good portion of her own.
Jedza was uncharacteristically quiet during the
toast. She absently fiddled with something in one
hand.
“What’s that you’ve got there?” Zoraida asked, set-
tling noisily back down into her chair.
Jedza lifted a large coin and tossed it onto the table.
Its golden face shimmered, even in the dim light of
the hut. “As if you did not already know.”
“I do, but I don’t know why you’re fidgeting.”
EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
Nothing Is Forever
“Gretchen. She finally called her favor in… I do not
like the job, or the fact she is sending people along
with me, some lawman and his malyshka. You know
how manipulative that ved’ma is. She is all great
machines and old gods. She does not understand
stirring up the past can cause trouble.”
Zoraida sipped her tea and squinted at her old
friend. “What’s she got on the lawman? I thought
he’d be one to avoid her claws.”
Jedza shrugged. “She did not share and I did not ask.
I was too irritated. I have Mikhail. It has been centu-
ries since I have needed to rely on any other. It does
not sit well.”
Zoraida finished her drink. She grabbed Mikhail’s
empty cup and stared at the leaves in the bottom.
She poked at them with a gnarled finger and made a
small noise of surprise before setting it back down.
Mikhail narrowed his eyes in concern, but Zoraida
ignored him and peered at Jedza. “Look at it as a
debt no longer owed.”
Jedza nodded. “Mm. You are lucky to be done with
her.” She watched through her veil as Zoraida
chuckled, leaning back in her chair.
“Doesn’t seem like it. What do you want?” Irritation
crept into the hag’s voice. She already knew the
answer, but just needed to hear it come from Jedza.
“A thread.”
Zoraida scanned Jedza with one rheumy eye. “You’re
playing a dangerous game.”
“If I thought there was another way, I would not be
here.” Jedza held Zoraida’s gaze while the old witch
leaned back in her chair. “I know you can do it.”
“You know there’s a cost.” Zoraida gave a sideways
glance toward Mikhail. “Is that why you brought
him inside this time?”
“Nyet,” Jedza retorted quickly. “We brought our
own.”
Zoraida’s sunken eyes flashed with excitement as
she stroked her pointed chin. “Interesting. Didn’t
think you had it in you.”
Jedza shrugged. “It is someone who will not be
missed. But that does not answer my question,” she
continued. “Will you do it?”
 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 65
 Nothing Is Forever
“A favor given is a favor owed,” Zoraida said
ominously.
A deep sigh came from Jedza’s robes. “Another
debt. I imagine I will be dead before all of them are
paid.”
“Stop your whining. It’s not like I’m asking you to
kill anybody,” Zoraida snorted. Her voice dropped
slightly as she pointed a crooked finger. “I know
what you’re going after, and I want you to ask it a
question. You agree to come right back here and tell
me what it says, and I’ll get you that thread. Let the
lawman handle the rest. Deal?”
“It is a deal,” Jedza agreed.  moment, but eventually fell still again.
With the arrangement made, Mikhail left the hut
to retrieve the “gift” Jedza had insisted they bring
along for Zoraida. The two women sat in silence, the
moment quickly broken by Sophie’s bells rattling
and a fresh stream of muffled curses.
The steps to the hut groaned again and Mikhail
re-entered, the wrapped bundle across one broad
shoulder. “On the floor?” he asked, indicating the
chalk outline drawn there.
Zoraida rubbed her hands together. “The center.”
Mikhail heaved the struggling burlap sack. It landed,
hard. Mikhail cautiously avoided touching any part
of the chalk circle as he stepped back.
“Convenient of you to have that drawn up before we
got here,” Jedza mused while Zoraida undid a knot
at the end of the bag.
“Anything to get you out of here faster,” the swamp
witch huffed. “Now, who did you bring me?” She
finally got the rope undone and peeled away part of
the bag to reveal a filthy, gagged man, red-faced and
streaked with sweat.
“Ooh,” Zoraida exclaimed, bending to get a closer
look. “You were right. Nobody will miss him!” She
poked the man’s face with a dirty fingernail. “Yes.
He’ll do just fine.” The bound man snarled and con-
tinued to try and fight his way out of the burlap.
Zoraida rolled her eyes. She made an arthritic ges-
ture, barely any effort on her part, and the man
seized up.
Jedza turned to Mikhail. “Wait outside. I will not be
long.”
66 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
Mikhail quietly made for the door, dodging the odd
little puppet that seemed determined to follow him
about. Zoraida chuckled as she placed a few jars
on the ground next to the doomed man.
“What makes you think you can stay for the fun?
Can’t pull a thread if the dead won’t die!” she said
to Jedza. “That old willow out front should be far
enough, I reckon. Now, where’d those pins and
needles get off to?”
Jedza stood and picked up her pack. The hut floor
groaned as she made her way out the door. Legless
newts and eyeballs watched her go from their jars.
They scrabbled in the cloudy, liquid prisons for a
“You’ll know when we’re done,” Zoraida cackled,
voice carrying out into the Bayou night. 
The lights leaking out from the cracks and windows
of the hovel winked out, one by one. Mikhail fol-
lowed Jedza, who led Sophie towards a heavy wil-
low tree a few yards from the hut. They both tried
to ignore the screams and crunches, like cracking
eggs sizzling over a fire, that echoed out across the
Bayou.
Far away from the sodden Bayou, on the dusty hard-
pan of the Badlands, two eggs joined a slab of bacon
over a small frying pan and began to cook. Cornelius
Basse adjusted the pan over his small campfire,
which mimicked the others his frontiersmen had
made to fend off the oncoming dusk. A larger man
took a swig from a canteen, his metal hands reflect-
ing the dim firelight. 
“All I’m saying is, you need to watch what you say
around those folks,” Jonathan Reichart grunted.
“Can’t be too careful with them.”
Across the fire, Bernadette Basse’s posture was
almost a mirror of her father’s: tired, but enduring. 
“Look at you,” she chided. “A big old executioner
scared of a few grouchy fossils.” A look from her
father made Bernadette turn her attention to the egg
sizzling over the fire. She poked it with a stick. 

“If I’ve learned anything from the Guild, it’s that you
need to watch out for paper pushers over gunsling-
ers,” Reichart shot back. “I know what they can get
people into. You getting called up doesn’t sit right,
especially since we still have a lot of work to do out
here.” The executioner looked over at Cornelius,
who hadn’t moved.
“Don’t need to worry about that,” Cornelius re-
sponded calmly. “Just take care of the folks in Dust
Point for a few weeks. It’s nothing you don’t
know how to handle.”
EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
Nothing Is Forever
Reichart grumbled. “Even so.” He eyed the long suit-
case next to him. “A shotgun deals with a sand worm
better than these claws do.”
“We haven’t seen a worm out here in weeks,”
Bernadette said. Cornelius grunted in agreement.
“True.” Cornelius paused for a moment before look-
ing up at Reichart. “These frontier folk are still peo-
ple, Jon. Hard-working. They want to feel safe like
everyone else. I trust you can make the right calls
till we get back.” The sheriff’s tone didn’t offer any
argument. 
Reichart sighed deeply. “Fine. I’ll make sure no-
body steals pies from any window sills.” With
that, the big man pushed himself to his feet
and made for his tent, suitcase in hand.
“Just... be careful, Basse.”
Once he was well out of earshot, Bernadette
picket up the skillet and set it on the ground,
picking at its eggy contents with a fork.
“He seems grumpier than usual.”
 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 67
 Nothing Is Forever
Cornelius stared into the dying campfire. “Nerves.
He’s just being cautious. Can’t blame him for being
suspicious of people with power. Guild works with
the Society from time to time, but he’s right. We do
need to be careful.”
Bernadette pondered. “So we’re helping the Guild?”
“Not exactly.”
“But isn’t that why we took this job?”
“Malifaux’s a big place, Bee. We do what we have to.”
The Basses had traveled several days north to reach
their destination: an old, solitary wyrdwood a few
dozen miles south of the Hollow Point Pumping
Station. Cornelius leaned against the tree with the
edge of his hat pulled down to cover his face, while
Bernadette collected small sticks to keep their
campfire going.  Cornelius raised an eyebrow. “So you can judge
The missive that Cornelius received a few weeks
ago had once again found its way into his hand. He
scanned it again in the last of the evening’s sun, try-
ing to see if he had missed any information about
their assignment: 
“Sheriff Cornelius Basse,
Your reputation of integrity, honesty, and
capability in the field precedes you; as such,
we were pleased to hear you have decided to
accept our mutually beneficial arrangement.
Thusly, you will be cooperating with another
member of our Society and her retinue. You are
not to interfere with her process; simply provide
protection and ensure any items of interest are
directly returned to the Society manor. 
You will be properly rewarded and
compensated upon successful completion of this
task. Please find enclosed the necessary maps
and additional information for this venture.
Signed,
L. von Clausewitz
P.S. To avoid any unfortunate
miscommunication or errors, we give this
advice beforehand: Don’t judge, don’t shoot,
and don’t stare.”
68 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
Don’t stare? What did that even mean?
When he saw them walking towards the wyrdwood
tree a few hours later, he knew.
The auroch the Society had identified as her pack
animal was taller than he was and loaded with boxes
and bags. But that wasn’t what really caught his eye.
The fact that it was an animate skeleton, walking
along like it didn’t have a care in the world, seemed
worth mentioning. Somehow, the Explorer’s Society
hadn’t thought so.  Cornelius nudged Bernadette,
who was absentmindedly carving a stick.
“What is that?” Bernadette asked, tossing the stick
aside and squinting.
“Our companions,” her father replied.
“So Reichart was right. Don’t trust them.”
“Why?”
“Because they’re clearly… necromancers?”
without speaking to them first?”
“It’s a skeleton! They gotta be Ressers.”
Cornelius held his tongue, staring at Bernadette
until she shifted uncomfortably.
“Fine. I’ll wait. But at least now I get the warning.”
Bernadette watched as the group came closer. One
of the figures stood out amongst the others.
She appeared thin, almost frail, but a huge pack
stuffed with what looked like scrolls sat on her back
without a problem. She held an umbrella over her
hooded head, despite there being no rain. Small trin-
kets, or what Bernadette guessed were bracelets and
jewelry, decorated her neck and wrists.
The large man beside her looked to be a decade or
two past middle age and weather-beaten. Despite
this, he seemed capable, and dangerous. His beard
and hair were long, both tied with golden bands.
A heavy coat rested around his shoulders. A huge
sword was visible on his back; the weight didn’t
appear to slow him down in the least. 
As the three approached, Bernadette felt her nerves
tingle. She looked up at her father, who bore the
same stoic expression he always did. Bernadette
took a deep breath and set herself the same way.
 Nothing Is Forever

The curious group stopped a few yards from the “Bernadette Basse... ma’am. Nice to, er, make your
Basses. Nobody moved for a few moments until the acquaintance.” Surprisingly, Bernadette’s voice
bearded man gently nudged his veiled companion. didn’t break when she felt the skinless bones held
He said something in a low voice before the woman inside the glove.
stiffly thrust out a hand.
“Bernadette. It is a pleasure.”
“Privetstvuyu, druzya. I am Jedza. This is Mikhail
and Sophie. You are the ones who were directed to “And this is my father, Cornelius,” Bernadette
accompany us?” She waited.  continued. 

“Go on, Bee,” Cornelius said quietly. A pained look
came over Bernadette’s face as she silently pleaded
with her father to take the lead, but the lawman
didn’t move. Knowing that fighting was pointless,
she squared her shoulders and reached out to shake
Jedza’s proffered hand.
Cornelius tipped his hat to Jedza and Mikhail.
“We’ll rest here tonight and set off tomorrow, if
that’s alright with everyone.” He shot a look at
the auroch, who had candle wax dripping into an
empty eye socket. “You... do rest, right?”

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 69
 Nothing Is Forever
“Everyone rests,” Jedza replied cryptically.
“I suppose so,” the lawman said, inviting the new-
comers to gather around their fire. “Should we talk
about the mission? I’d like to know what you need
from us.” Cornelius watched Sophie meander about,
though she stayed close to Jedza. The old woman
had yet to take a seat.
“Da. It is a simple job. It should not keep you for
more than a few days. We go, we ask questions, we
get what we need, we return.”
70 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
Bernadette seemed puzzled. “Only a few days?
Guess this’ll be easier than we thought.” She ignored
her father’s glare, but he secretly felt the same. 
“You are here because Gretchen needed someone
living, and trustworthy. That is rare in Malifaux.
The second part, that is.” Jedza watched Bernadette
grow uncomfortable at the mention of “living”.
“So you are Ressers?” Bernadette blurted. Cornelius
hadn’t moved, but his shotgun was within arm’s
reach. To their surprise, Jedza laughed, shaking her
head.
“No, I am not a necromancer. Where we are going,
my… condition does not allow me to easily go. There
are some places only I can safely travel, but there are
others where things must stay dead. Do you under-
stand?” Jedza asked.
Bernadette slowly frowned, “No?”
“Do not worry. In time, you will.”
“No one ever does at first. It is no matter. Let
us eat!” Mikhail interrupted, walking to Sophie
and retrieving several bags filled with vegeta-
bles, dried meat, and utensils. He placed a small pot
over the fire and filled it with water from a jug. A
chunk of soup bone followed. When that was done,
he took the sword from his back and placed it care-
fully next to his bags.
“You’ve any bread to break?” Mikhail asked.
Cornelius considered, pulling up his own bundle.
He unwrapped it: hard bread, a chunk of cheese,
strips of jerky, some ground coffee, and a few hand-
fuls of berries.
“That work?” he asked.
“With this, I make a feast!” Mikhail exclaimed, try-
ing to put everyone at ease. “Did you travel far? So
out-of-the-way, this place is!” He spent the next few
minutes slicing vegetables and talking to Cornelius,
whose short answers punctuated Mikhail’s throw-
ing more ingredients into the pot. Both contin-
ued talking while the soup came along, though the
swordsman seemed more excited about the prospect
of cheese and bread than anything. 
Jedza continued to stand, albeit with the overlarge
haversack still clinging to her shoulders. Cornelius
nudged Bernadette. Mikhail had already sat
down, and Bernadette perked up when she real-
ized what her father meant.

“Can I take your pack for you?” Bernadette offered.
Jedza chortled, pulling the fabric taut around her
jaw as she waved off the younger woman.  actually carried – and set to work sharpening the
“You can try, but I am not sure all of us together
could carry that thing,” Mikhail explained.  “That must take all night,” Cornelius commented.
“Mikhail is right.” Jedza slipped one of the straps off
her shoulder. She let the pack down, the heft of it
kicking up a small dust cloud.
Bernadette watched as the dust settled around the
bag. “Just what have you got in that thing?”
The warmth in Jedza’s voice was evident. “A bit of
this and a little of that. Tchotchkes I have collected
over the years, mostly. Curiosities.”
“You got a deck of cards in there? Maybe we can
get a game of hold ‘em in before dinner’s ready.”
“Ah, card games. I prefer Nine Men’s Morris. Or
madiao. We could play them, if Mikhail had not lost
the pieces.” Jedza began rummaging. Sophie settled
down nearby with a clatter of bones and bells. A few
packs of playing cards landed near Bernadette, one
after the other.
“Maybe a full deck if you mix them all together.
I do not know. Keep them.”
Bernadette picked the cards up, slowly shuffling
through them. One of the decks had numbers and
suits she didn’t recognize, and another was just tarot
cards. “What else you got in there?” she ventured.
“One question with too many answers,” Mikhail
smiled.
“Da, you are full of questions. Come. Let me show
you.” Jedza began digging through her pack again.
She pulled out an armful of scrolls followed by a cast
iron frying pan, three yards of purple silk, and an
ornately carved lens of crystal that she rewrapped
in the silk and carefully leaned against the growing
pile of knickknacks. She almost climbed into the
bag head first to dig through things deep within.
Cornelius looked at Mikhail and the growing pile
of trinkets and baubles that Jedza set aside after
briefly explaining what they were.
“Does she do this a lot?” he asked.
“More than you know,” Mikhail chided. After sitting
back down, he picked up the large blade lying next
to him.  permission.
EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
Nothing Is Forever
Basse tensed for a moment, but relaxed when
Mikhail pulled out a whetstone, rag, and oil from a
pocket – seemingly some of the only things the man
blade.
“A good tool can stay with you forever as long as you
treat it right,” Mikhail said, focused on the sword’s
edge. “Give me four hours to cut down a tree and I
will spend three sharpening my axe.” 
Basse exhaled. That was a sentiment he could agree
with. He watched until the soup began to bubble.
He cleared his throat, which caught Mikhail’s eye.
“Mind if I?” he asked, indicating to the fire. 
“No, please, help yourself,” Mikhail said happily.
“It is good to break bread with new friends.”
While Cornelius ladled soup, Jedza started re-
packing the piles of items back into her pack. She
grabbed a small bundle, and Bernadette expelled
the tiniest sound in protest and immediately flushed
red. Jedza didn’t seem to mind. The old traveler had
stopped and was examining the collection she held. 
A few bright red sticks of licorice sat atop her jum-
bled batch of things.
“I do not have much use for sweets. Sometimes I for-
get what I carry,” Jedza said, handing the bundle of
slightly linty candy to Bernadette. The Basses shared
a moment of unspoken debate before Bernadette
reached out and took the licorice.
“I haven’t had good licorice since we came through
the Breach. Thank you,” she said, offering one to her
father. The lawman seemed to debate with himself
for a moment, and then took one.
“After dinner.”
Bernadette rolled her eyes, but put the tempting lic-
orice to the side. “Fine, fine.”
Jedza finished packing and sat down by the fire, look-
ing quite pleased with herself. Sophie allowed Jedza
to rub her skull. Mikhail and the Basses relished
their food, but Cornelius noticed that Jedza wasn’t
eating. He made no comment, but kept watching the
strange woman. She sat very still, staring back.
“Where do you come from?” Jedza’s sudden ques-
tion broke the sounds of spoons hitting bowls.
Bernadette glanced at her father, gaining a silent
 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 71
 Nothing Is Forever
“The, er, Badlands, probably, but we move around,”
Bernadette started.
“I do not mean here. I mean where do you come
from? On Earth.”
Mikhail turned and gave Jedza a look, but she waved
him away. He returned to his soupy potatoes and
leeks.
“Oklahoma,” Cornelius said slowly. “America.”
“Ah. ‘Land of the free,’ yes? I have been there once
or twice, but not as you know it. Why are you here?”
“Uh,” Bernadette cleared her throat. “Well-”
Her father interjected. “We have to be here.”
“As must we all,” Jedza replied, nodding. “And here?
Where did you say home was?”
“The Badlands, I guess. Far southwest,” Bernadette
pointed in the rough direction. “It’s dry. Dusty.
Nothing green for miles. Just dirt and clay. It’s not
for everyone. But we’re tough.” Bernadette seemed
to swell with pride. “We’ve traveled all over and
helped keep the peace. But yeah,” she finished. “It’s
dusty.”
Only the crackling fire made any noise for a while.
Some crickets joined in occasionally.  Bernadette wandered over a moment later with an
“The Society was light on details. Where are we going,
exactly?” Cornelius asked, setting his empty bowl down.
“An old place that is far away from here. Northwest,”
Jedza said, pointing out the direction with her chin.
“Far away? I thought you said it was only a few
days,” Bernadette questioned.
“Da. We will find our way faster than you think,”
Jedza replied. “Some of the greatest journeys take
the least amount of time. Shall I tell you of some
while you have dessert?”
Bernadette mulled the proposal over, nibbling on
her licorice. “Alright. Shoot.”
Jedza adjusted her scarves and leaned forward. “I
have traveled many places. I have seen many things.
Long ago, I spoke to a man who claimed he had
been across the great deserts in the East. The sand
was gold beneath the sun. So hot you would think it
was a great coin pulled from a furnace and flipped
up into the sky…”
72 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
Mikhail only half-listened. This was a tale he had
heard many times before, and he knew how it ended.
Before he drifted off, Mikhail told Cornelius to let
the campfire die; Jedza would keep watch through
the night.
She always did.
Cornelius woke to the scent of salt pork sizzling on
the fire and fresh tea. Jedza and Bernadette were
already awake and talking; the old woman’s auroch
was investigating the wyrdwood tree. Mikhail offered
a plate and cup, and Cornelius groggily accepted.
“Thanks,” he said. The first few bites drew Cornelius’
attention. The pork was strongly seasoned. A small
wedge of bread slathered in what looked to be some
sort of jam was nestled in the corner along with a
mixture of potatoes and eggs. Basse took a moment
to take a sip of tea. “This is good,” he said. The law-
man’s pleased tone made Mikhail laugh.
“I am glad you think so. The road is not always gen-
erous, but I have learned to make do with what I have.”
Cornelius shook his head and raised his cup.
empty plate. Mikhail beckoned, and she held out her
dish. In a few moments she had a new hill of potatoes,
eggs, and pork. She plopped down next to her father
and began eating. Cornelius furrowed his brow.
“Is that your second plate?” he admonished quietly.
Bernadette chewed more slowly, as if trying to fig-
ure out the best way to both keep her breakfast and
avoid her father’s scolding.
“It is no trouble,” Mikhail interjected before shoul-
dering his blade. “Better to eat than let it go to
waste.” He stood and left the Basses to their break-
fast, moving to help Jedza up onto Sophie’s back. 
When everyone had finished breakfast, the auroch
began to trundle forward, bells jingling softly. Mikhail
followed, and the Basses brought up the rear. 
Bernadette glanced around, making sure their new
companions were out of earshot before she spoke.
“So?”
“They’re a bit odd,” Cornelius said in a low voice.
 Nothing Is Forever

She snorted. “A bit? That’s an understatement.” company. And Sophie.” He laughed. “It is an honor
to travel in Jedza’s shadow.”
Cornelius shrugged.
Cornelius nodded. Honor he understood. Bernadette
“Do you think those stories she was telling were still seemed confused.
true?” Bernadette continued.
“So you’ve been with her since you were born?”
“Maybe.” Bernadette asked.
“Sometimes you’re not very helpful, Dad,” Bernadette “Not quite. I became her new
grinned before sloshing around her canteen. “And Mikhail when I was
tea? I mean, it’s okay, but it’s no coffee.” about twenty.”
Basse ruffled Bernadette’s hair, earning admonition
from his daughter in the process. “Come on, let’s
catch up before they get too far ahead.”

The Basses picked up their pace. They reached

Mikhail first. Bernadette, ever inquisitive, pressed
the big man for more details. 

“Hey, so I gotta ask… you’re alive, right?”

He laughed softly. “Yes, I am alive. But so are they.

In a strange way.”

“Then what got you mixed up with them?”

Mikhail didn’t answer at first. He hesitated, as if try-

ing to figure out how best to answer such a weighty
question. Before the silence stayed for too long,
Mikhail began to speak; the prospect of sharing his
story with someone other than an immortal collec-
tor or a cow got the better of him.

“A promise was made. I am not the

first Mikhail. There were many
before me,” he answered.

Bernadette was more con-

fused than when she started.
“What does that mean?”

Mikhail stopped and took the heavy

blade from his back. Instead of bring-
ing the sword to bear, Mikhail held it by
the haft. He pointed to a list of markings that
ran from the very edge of the hilt down to almost
the center of the blade. Cornelius noted that they
were heavily weathered and written in a language
he didn’t recognize.

“My family always has a Mikhail that accompanies

Jedza. When it is time, we etch our birth name into
this sword and then become the new Mikhail. We
are chosen for a lifetime. It is a heavy burden,” the
man joked, hefting the blade back up and starting
to walk again. “But I have my ancestors to keep me

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 73
 Nothing Is Forever
“That makes you what, the fourth or fifth Mikhail?”
“If the blade has kept a good count all these years,
then I am the sixteenth.”
Silence shrouded the conversation for a moment.
Bernadette counted off on her fingers, expression
growing more stunned. “Uh. How old is she?”
Mikhail just shrugged. “She is Jedza. She was old
when she saved my people, and that was many cen-
turies ago.”
“Oh.” The realization weighed on the Basses.  own table adorned with a lamp and lace tablecloth,
The three went quietly for a time, and soon caught
up to Jedza and Sophie. Bernadette briefly glanced
over at the skeletal woman riding atop the auroch,
oversized bag behind her and umbrella over one
shoulder. Despite Bernadette’s curiosity, she couldn’t
quite will herself to touch anything near the undead
bovine. Instead, she focused on the landscape ahead.
So far, it had been nothing but flat brushland, with
only an occasional shrub or tree to break up the
monotony.  down, evidently familiar with the space intended for
“So where exactly are we going?” Bernadette piped
up. Jedza looked down.
“A railway. Close by, but I am told it has not been
used in some time.”
Before Bernadette could ask, Cornelius stopped and
interjected. “Wait. I thought you said we were head-
ing someplace northwest. Trains don’t even run out
here anymore, far as I’m aware.”
Jedza’s voice was relaxed. “Do not worry. You are
not the only ones helping us on this journey. It is too
difficult for me to travel through a city. Not every-
one is as accepting as you. Nyet, the Society has
arranged for something special.”
Cornelius cocked his head at Bernadette, and his
daughter understood: stay alert. Hours later, weath-
ered railroad tracks came into view, occupied by a
massive black locomotive with three luxury cars
in tow. The logo of the Condor Rails prominently
adorned the side of engine: a winged train, painted
in gray. As they made their way towards the train, a
small statured man stepped from the locomotive and
waved to them.
“Afternoon,” Cornelius called, his eyes still scanning
for trouble. The conductor tipped his cap before
addressing the group.
74 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
“A fine afternoon to you all! We were wondering if
you would make it before evening. It is my privilege
to welcome you aboard.” He opened the wide door
to one of the train cars. Mikhail helped Jedza up the
steps, and Sophie clumsily followed; awkward as she
was, the carriage was wide enough to easily accom-
modate the auroch’s bulk. 
Bernadette couldn’t help but give a low whistle
when she stepped inside. The interior was opulent
to say the least. Four booths upholstered in rich
leather sat in the center of the car. Each had its
framed by heavy gray curtains that could be pulled
to shutter the large windows. They were hung on
rods capped with stylized condors, as if to remind
the passengers just whose train they were riding on.
The light reflected off polished fittings and decora-
tions that made the car feel more like a rolling work
of art than a mode of transportation. 
Booths had not been installed in the far edge of the
car; something close to a stable occupied that space
instead. Sophie trotted over to this spot and laid
her. Jedza settled into one of the booths, and Mikhail
sat opposite her. The Basses didn’t have time to sit-
uate themselves before the conductor, who had fol-
lowed them into the car, addressed them.
“Madame, sir, I am told this is your first time riding
with us,” he said pleasantly. “I trust you will find the
accommodations of this locomotive sufficient. If you
want for any food or drink, our staff will be more
than happy to oblige. Please do not hesitate to men-
tion any discomforts or desires. We at Condor Rails
do our best to make every guest as comfortable as
possible. We will begin our departure promptly.” He
doffed his cap again and left the car, sliding the door
shut behind him.
“Wow. Better than baking under the hot sun, huh?”
Bernadette said, elbowing her father in the ribs.
She ran and slid into one of the seats, stretching out
her whole body. “Oh, I could get used to this! Beats
walking, that’s for sure,” she exclaimed.
Jedza chortled. “I am sure Mikhail feels the same.
It is not our usual way, but it will do. Devushka
Lycarayen likes to make sure everyone knows how
moshchnyy she is. Strong. Powerful,” Jedza clarified
on seeing the looks of confusion on the Basses’ faces. 
“Who else is on this thing?” Bernadette asked to no
one in particular as she looked around.

“No one but the staff,” Jedza replied. “All to ourselves.”
It suddenly hit Bernadette: this was a private train.
Custom built, too, by the look of things.
Cornelius stumbled a bit when the train began mov-
ing; the opulence and thought of another good meal
had distracted him long enough for the locomotive
to start lurching forward as it picked up speed. He
took a seat near Bernadette and continued taking in
the view. “How long did you say this would take?”
he asked.
“About a day or so,” Mikhail replied as he got up to
inspect several expensive-looking bottles in a small
bar that was next to Sophie’s stable. He picked up
one full of clear liquid and undid the cap, smelling
the spirits within. He gave it a look of approval and
picked up three small glasses. 
Cornelius held up two fingers; Mikhail caught on to
what he meant and set one down. Bernadette qui-
etly huffed in disappointment, but the soft cushions
helped Cornelius ignore her pouting. For the first
time in a long while, the lawman relaxed. Maybe the
Society wasn’t all that bad.
The trip was more than easy; food was plentiful,
as was drink, and the Condor Rails attendants had
even been able to provide Jedza with some interest-
ing books and maps. A few of these made their way
into her pack, but nobody said a word.
Aside from meals, the group had been left mostly
undisturbed. Another member of the staff came by
to tend to their clothes. Cornelius and Bernadette
tentatively, but graciously, accepted. Mikhail, sleep-
ing off one too many drinks, didn’t respond to the
offer. The Basses’ boots and dusters were whisked
away to be cleaned and returned in a few hours
along with a light lunch. The train continued into
the evening, the dark world speeding by outside.
Cornelius allowed himself to fall asleep, rocked by
the gentle shaking of wheels on rails.
Bernadette was working through a plate of small
sandwiches when the train pulled into a dilapidated
station far west of Ridley, almost a day later to the
minute.  and the auroch. Basse felt his stomach flip into his
“Are we here?” Bernadette asked, pulling on her
newly oiled boots. 
EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
Nothing Is Forever
Jedza shook her head. “Nyet. We must travel a ways
more. Where we must go, the rails do not reach.”
She stood, umbrella in hand, and poked Mikhail to
rouse him from his slumber. 
He yawned, and began to instinctively prepare him-
self for travel again. His eyes began to linger on the
Basses’ coats and boots as he tiredly gathered his
own belongings. “Are your jackets cleaner? And
boots oiled?” he asked, giving a sidelong glance to
the mostly empty bottle of spirits on his table.
Jedza waggled her finger at Mikhail. “That is what
you get for drinking too much. No oiled boots for
you,” she chided, before leading Sophie out of the
rail car. Mikhail followed, and the pair started to
loudly banter back and forth in what Cornelius
assumed was some form of Russian. 
The Basses collected their things. Bernadette gave
the interior of the train car one last look before sigh-
ing heavily. Even though it had only been a day, she
would miss riding in this lap of luxury.
“Back to walking I guess,” Bernadette lamented. She
picked up her small bundle of sandwiches, unwrap-
ping another as she followed her father out of the
train car. He stopped suddenly, and Bernadette col-
lided into him. “Dad!” she exclaimed. A playful jab
died in her throat when she gave a small squeak of
excitement. Up ahead, floating above the empty
contract town, was a dirigible.
“Maybe not,” Cornelius said, taking in the craft’s
bulbous gray and gold balloon and ornate gondola.
“I guess it pays to have friends in high places.” 
Jedza gave a dry laugh. “Not always. Come. This will
take us close to where we need to go. A few hours,
maybe less. It will be up to the wind.” She walked
up to the dirigible’s cabin crew, who looked suspi-
ciously like mercenaries garbed in Condor Rails
gray. “Dobryy den’.”
“Ma’am,” said one, a taller, clean-shaven man. He
looked like he was about to say something to the
other crewman, but thought better of it. Without
another word, he pulled open the stylized metal
doors that led into the dirigible’s passenger space.
“Welcome aboard.”
Jedza walked into the awaiting gondola with Sophie,
which protested under the weight of her pack
throat and instinctively reached for one of the seats.
Mikhail laughed as he brought up the rear.
 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 75
 Nothing Is Forever
“We aren’t even off the ground yet!” he said, patting
the lawman on the shoulder.
“Not afraid of heights like your father, are you,
malyshka?” Jedza followed up, a playful lilt tinting
her words.  tall and rectangular, with the appearance of an
Bernadette shook her head. “Not me,” she said.  could enter, Jedza took a rod hung with lanterns
Cornelius’ jaw twitched. “Just wait, Bee. This won’t
be anything like climbing back home.”
Bernadette’s confidence quickly evaporated when
the airship shuddered. With the sound of thrumming
engines, the dirigible rose into the air. Cornelius
swore under his breath as his stomach turned and
attempted escape. Both he and Bernadette kept
their eyes forward until only passing clouds and tiny
snowflakes offered any indication they were moving
at all.
Just as Jedza had said, the dirigible took only an
hour to go further northwest, past Slate Ridge. To
Cornelius, it felt like an eternity. Every gust of wind
that shook the gondola sent another wave of para-
lyzing dread through the lawman’s body, squeezing
his stomach and making him feel as though his mus-
cles would shatter his bones. Jedza’s reassurances
that the echoing groans of metal and the scream-
ing winds outside the cabin were “completely nor-
mal” and “nothing to worry about” did little to help
Cornelius’ situation.
“That right there wasn’t natural,” he said to Mikhail
when they landed. “Just give me a horse next time.”
“A few deep breaths and you will feel better,” the
guardian said, steadying him while the lawman
regained his footing. Cornelius looked around, fight-
ing down a bit of nausea. Graying, craggy mountains
towered around them, almost swallowing the entire
horizon. To the south, there was little more than
blasted tundra that gave way to tufts of brown grass.  something tight close around his chest. He was a
After disembarking, Jedza spoke to the crew.
“Blagodaryu vas. You will wait for us, please,” she
said. The two saluted before closing up the gondola
against the cold breeze. Cornelius looked at the dirigi-
ble with dread. If it were to leave, they’d be stranded.
“They will not depart until we return. This I prom-
ise,” Jedza said, walking past her companions. “Come.
The way ahead is difficult, but we are close.”
Jedza and Mikhail seemed unbothered by the rocky
terrain and thin air; likewise, Sophie managed to
76 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
climb the step-like protrusions of stone without any
problem. The Basses struggled at this elevation.
When they finally reached a small plateau, Jedza
stopped. They stood in front of an opening: it was
established, if abandoned, mine. Before anyone
from Sophie’s pack. She placed her umbrella care-
fully alongside Sophie’s boxes and bags.
“It is too dangerous to take you with us. You must
wait for us, dear,” she said to Sophie, laying her hand
on the auroch’s head.
The auroch knelt and Mikhail unhooked a large roll
from her back. He laid it on the ground, and Sophie
gingerly stepped on top. She settled down. Jedza
gave her another pat and headed into the mine.
“What was that about?” Bernadette asked.
Mikhail shrugged. “Sophie tends to roll around.
Watch.”
Bernadette kept her eyes on Sophie as the four
walked into the cave. Sure enough, once they had
gone far enough, the auroch’s bones clattered into a
gentle, inanimate heap. Bernadette shuddered, and
stuck close to her father as the cavernous entrance
swallowed them all.
The wooden braces that kept the mine shaft open
were clearly old; the sound of wind cutting through
the tunnel was unnerving, as was the creaking that
came from the beams. 
“You sure this is safe?” Cornelius asked. He felt
frontiersman, and not being able to see the open sky
was uncomfortable. 
Jedza nodded. “Da. We are not the first ones to come
this way. But part of the tunnel ahead has collapsed;
we must move carefully there. One at a time.”
True to her word, the mine shaft seemed to get
smaller and more claustrophobic as the group
crept on. The braces had buckled in some places,
and Cornelius saw the piles of rocks and boulders
that had fallen from the ceiling. Jedza passed first,
followed by Mikhail. Cornelius kept an eye on his

daughter, and felt the cold spike of adrenaline when
she suddenly recoiled.
“What is it, Bee?” Cornelius whispered, moving
quickly to her side. She pointed, embarrassed, at the
base of the rock pile. There was a skeleton, its lower
half crushed by the stones. It appeared to be dressed
in old mining gear, although time had reduced many
of the clothes to tatters. Dried skin still clung to
parts of the body, but the thing had started to gently
spasm and move as though alive.
“Do not worry,” Jedza said calmly. “Once
we move on, his bones will be quiet.
I should have warned you.”  The group picked their way through the tunnel
EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
Nothing Is Forever
Bernadette was clearly shaken. “What happened?”
she asked. 
Jedza shook her head. “An accident, I am told. He
met his end regardless. Come. We must continue.”
Bernadette swallowed a lump in her throat and
glanced back at the dead miner. The body kept
reaching out, jaw moving wordlessly, until it was
at the very edge of Jedza’s light. Then, it collapsed
into a pile once more. It did not move again, but
Bernadette still saw its emaciated face and bushy
black beard in the darkness of the mine.
for another few moments before it split in
two. Before taking the rightmost path,
Jedza stopped and tapped her staff on
the ground.
“This is a dangerous place.” Her voice was
calm, but the weight was evident. “I will
warn you now. This is where lost things
go to be forgotten. What is inside has been
locked away for a reason. Do not touch
anything. Do not go off on your own. Do
not believe what your eyes tell you. If you
feel you are losing yourself, focus on this.”
 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 77
 Nothing Is Forever
She lifted the staff hung with lanterns. “It is meant to
keep the darkness away. Do you understand?”
Everyone nodded. Jedza turned to Cornelius.
“You are krepkiy, salt of the earth, so I do not worry
about you, but keep your little one close. That gun
may come in handy, but only fire if I say. These walls
could collapse, and even a mind as tough as yours
can be fooled, da?”
“Guess I’ll keep my eyes on those lanterns,”
Cornelius responded.
“Wise,” Jedza agreed. She tapped the end of the staff
on the floor and began to set off down the dark path,
greenish light doing its best to fight off the shadows
born deep inside the mountain.
Tiny dust devils swirled across the ground in places
and streams of powdered stone fell in others, mimick-
ing the sound of soft footsteps. Sometimes the shad-
ows cast by lantern-light looked human; Cornelius
had to stop himself from flinching and turning when
they beckoned and flitted across the edges of his
vision. He felt like he was being watched, but no
gleaming eyes emerged from the dark. Mikhail kept
a firm gaze on Jedza’s lanterns, but he seemed to
react as Cornelius did. Little movements triggered
the swordsman’s instincts, only to reveal there was
never anything there.
The echoes in the distance were worse. Every foot-
step sent out noise, which came back distorted and
unsettling. They slid through the air and changed
into other things entirely: familiar voices and false
whispers wrapped around everyone.
“Wha-?” Bernadette called out. She stopped walk-
ing, but Cornelius pulled her forward.
“It’s not real, Bee,” he said, voice almost breaking.
“None of this is.”
“Your father is right, malyshka,” Jedza said sadly.
“This is a place of cursed things. You must be strong.”
“No hexes,” Mikhail said to himself, as though the
words could strengthen his resolve.
Though it seemed like hours, the group had only
been walking the winding path for a fragment of
that time. Shapes began to break out of the dark: a
hoard of objects and strange items lay scattered, as
though thrown and torn apart in a frantic search.
Other piles remained clustered in corners or near
pillars that supported the high cavern ceilings.
78 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
A large dusty mirror rested against one column; bot-
tles and broken glass twinkled under Jedza’s light.
Pendants hung from blades like jeweled spider
webs, though there were just as many mundane bits
of metal, cloth, and bone strewn throughout.
Carved columns supported the enormous weight of
the mountain above; strange taxidermy glared out of
the gloom. The walls glowed iridescent in spots and
absorbed light elsewhere. Thick dust covered the
floor, but a central trail had been swept clear. Jedza
stopped for a moment, bending to look at the ground
before continuing, muttering to herself. The group
pressed on. 
Mikhail navigated his way through the hoard of
strange items and trinkets. As Jedza passed, the
bones of a human arm began to slowly rattle. It came
crawling towards Jedza, as though it still had a bit of
its previous owner’s fiery temperament.
She sidestepped the appendage and looked to
Mikhail. “Do you think she would want it if we took
it back to her?”
Mikhail chuckled. “I think she prefers her new one.
A bottle of whiskey would do better.” He used the
end of his sword to move the arm out of the way and
held up his hand to stop the Basses from advancing
further.
Jedza shrugged off her pack. She reached into one
of its side pockets and carefully removed a length
of thread. It was difficult to see, even with the light.
The edges were both colorless and wondrous, like
the night sky reflected in a prismatic pool of water.
For a moment, the thread captured everyone’s atten-
tion: it was simple, but more powerful a thing than
most of them had ever seen. 
A crumpled, humanoid form lay barely illumi-
nated, surrounded by more trinkets and antiquities.
It was difficult to see, but the flesh was sickly pale.
The thing was emaciated. One eye reflected almost
green.
“Who will have the honor?” Jedza asked, holding
up the thread.
No one moved.
“I have all the time in the world,” Jedza continued.
“You all do not. Come.”
More silence. Then, Bernadette stepped forward.
“I’ll do it.” 

“Bee, don’t!” Cornelius whispered as loudly as he could.  Jedza spoke in a clear voice, ignoring the frenzied
“Dad, I can do this,” Bernadette said casually. She
squared her shoulders and looked at Jedza. “What
do I do?”
Jedza handed her the length of thread. Now, it seemed
almost clear, like gossamer. When Bernadette took
it, her eyes widened in surprise at how heavy the
thread was.
“What is this thing?” she asked. 
“You will place this across its back. The thread will
do the rest. If it does not, that is when your father
should have his gun ready.”
“Be careful, Bee,” Basse cautioned. He unslung his
shotgun and pointed it directly at the dead husk.
Bernadette walked up to the corpse and carefully
draped the thread over it before walking back. “See,
Dad? No problem.”  tling breath, coughing and clearing its throat as if it
“You did well.” Jedza patted Bernadette on the hand
before approaching the creature. She nudged the
body with her foot a few times, stepped back, and
waited. It took some time, but the thing eventually
stirred.
Its desiccated muscles twitched violently. Shivers
and minor spasms helped shake dust and dirt from
the skin; beneath, the thing’s blackened veins slowly
turned the lightest shade of green. A pale light grad-
ually filled the Soulstones inside each eye socket, as
though the magic seeping into the creature’s body
was struggling to evict the presence of death.
As the veins inside its bulging neck began to recede,
the creature lifted its head. The right side of its face
appeared crushed, and one of its deer-like antlers
was shattered.
It seemed to peer about for a moment in a daze
before starting to thrash wildly, trying to push itself
up from the floor, to stand. The thread somehow,
thankfully, held it in place. A terrible scream erupted
from its dried and ruined throat. One clawed hand
kept grasping and covering its broken face, while
the other, trapped beneath the body, struggled in
vain to break free and release itself. Its back legs
worked weakly. The thread made any sort of retreat
impossible, but the creature still breathed heavily
from exertion and blind panic, attempting to pull
itself to safety.
EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
Nothing Is Forever
attempts at panicked violence. “I am glad you are
with us again. Be calm. I am not one of Their ser-
vants. I only have questions.”
Its Soulstone eyes, cat-like in the dark, were now
fully illuminated and focused on Jedza. The thing’s
mouth stretched open, still snarling. A long tongue
tasted the air, flicking between narrow fangs. A
vicious claw swiped ineffectively at the air but left
a deep gouge in the stone where the creature was
sprawled. It strained. The thread cut into its sickly
flesh. 
Jedza stepped forward and raised a hand. “We are
no threat,” she said evenly. “Calm yourself. You are
returned to this world, for the moment.”
Sharp claws continued to open and close as its
memory slowly unclouded. The creature turned as
much as it was able, exhaling before taking a rat-
had not spoken in some time. Eventually, two very
different feminine voices managed to form words,
although they were high-pitched, stressed the wrong
syllables, and drew out words oddly.
“You are not our little bird, the one we want to tear
apart for what she has done. No... This one is… a
curiosity, yes. Such power, so much life to share...
and yet so little. Knows much, but wants not. What
is it that she seeks?”
“Knowledge. Of the machine. And a question from
another,” Jedza replied.
The thing’s face split into a lopsided grin, as though
it held all the cards despite being weighed down by
the thread. “We will tell her of the machine first, yes,
if she offers something of equal value in return.”
Jedza shifted. “What is your price?”
“We sense something from the Thirteen within her
bag. The curiosity knows what it is, she does, she
does. We would take it.”
Jedza reached down into her bag. The creature
retreated back into itself as it waited. Behind her the
others watched, each clenching their own weapons,
but with no desire to get closer to the awakened
dead.
“What is that thing?” Cornelius asked, ignoring his
own desire to run.
 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 79
 Nothing Is Forever
“I do not know its past, but Jedza has called it a
Herald of that which has no name,” Mikhail replied
softly.
“Everything has a name.”
“If it ever had a name, it was lost to history before us.
A time before even Jedza.”
“That’s helpful,” Bernadette said quietly. Despite
a brave face, she shook with adrenaline and fear.
Though the room’s tricks had quieted, the Herald
was just as disturbing. The younger Basse watched
as Jedza produced a lens of shining crystal from her
bag and placed it in front of the Herald. The creature
mumbled to itself, claws flexing, before it grinned.
“We find this exchange acceptable.” The thing’s
voices reverberated throughout the room, both
impossibly loud and quiet at the same time. “What
does the curiosity wish to know?”  The lawman had no doubt he would attack if that
“We have found the first piece. Where do we find
the others?”
The Herald did not take its eyes off Jedza as it spoke:
“The first is where still waters died and the crown
was set in black. The second is covered in dust
where nothing good grows. The third twists and
turns above the world, but invisible to a living eye.
The fourth rests where it all began and where it will
all begin again. And the fifth,” it said, voices filling
with glee, “is with us.”
“I… I see,” Jedza said coolly.  prekrati eto!” She kept her veiled gaze trained on
“Does the curiosity wish to make another bargain?
For the question and for our piece of the machine?”
the Herald hissed, tongue flicking across its broken
teeth. It mockingly beckoned her with a claw. “She
must tell us what she wishes to know.”
Jedza walked forward with a painful slowness.
Mikhail moved forward half a step, his heavy blade
at the ready. Cornelius brought up his shotgun,
trained on the Herald. The Basses and Mikhail wait-
ed as Jedza spoke her question to the Herald, too
quiet for any other to hear. The thing’s eyes twin-
kled, and it bobbed its head eagerly.
“Yes, yes, we can tell her the answer to that. But a
question from another lets us choose our own price,
it does.”
“And what is that?” Jedza asked bluntly.
80 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
“This thread. This weight across us. Give wonder-
ful secrets in return, yes. A secret the curiosity badly
wants.”
Jedza shook her head, earrings clinking on the sides
of her skull. “Nyet. It is not a gift or bauble. It is a
burden, and one that cannot be borne for long.”
The Herald grinned. “Then we will ask for the one
that touched the thread, the one that is part of this
bargain as well.” It pointed at Bernadette. 
Immediately, Cornelius raised his shotgun, cocking
it and stepping towards Jedza and the Herald. He
glared at Mikhail, suddenly doubting the alliances
they had made.
The old guardian brought his sword around and kept
his eyes trained on Cornelius, but watched Jedza. 
undead woman asked him to, but Mikhail couldn’t
withstand a few loads of buckshot. From behind him,
he heard Bernadette’s knife slide from its sheath.
“This ain’t your fight, Bee,” Cornelius called back.
“Go on and get back to the front of the cave. We’re
done here.”
“Ostorozhno seychas,” Mikhail said, before taking
a fighting stance. He repeated himself in English,
calmly, but with no less frigidity. “Careful now.”
“Uspokoysya, sheriff!” Jedza snapped. “Mikhail,
the Herald. The protector slowly lowered his sword. 
Cornelius did not lower his shotgun. 
The Herald was still grinning sickly, its jaw dangling
from a length of cracked bone and dried skin. 
Jedza allowed the tension in the air to diffuse slightly.
She shook her head again. “Nyet. The girl is not part
of this. Whatever price you name, I will be the one
to pay it. No one else.”
Something flashed in one of the Herald’s broken
eyes. “If this is what the curiosity truly wishes, we
will trade. But she cannot decline our next offer, or
she leaves here without the answers she seeks, and
without the piece of the machine she wants.”
Jedza waited. “Da. I accept.” 

The Herald took sadistic pleasure in its final offer:
“The thing she treasures most. The thing that is
heaviest for her to carry. If she does, we will tell her
these things and more.”
She made no motion towards her bag. Instead, Jedza
cautiously moved her veil aside and fumbled with
something before pulling a tiny chain over her head.
At the end were two rings: one in simple gold, heav-
ily battered and tarnished, and one edged in blue
stones. Both shone very dimly in the light, but the
Herald wheezed in pleasure.
Jedza slipped the ring inlaid with blue stones from
the chain and laid it delicately in front of the Herald.
“No, no, little one! Both! They are heaviest for her
together.” The Herald’s claw shook as it pointed to
the gold ring still on the necklace.  she picked it up from the floor. Without another
For the first time since he had served her, Mikhail
saw Jedza stiffen. She stayed still for a very long
while. One hand moved at her side, back and forth.
There was only silence and stillness in the cavern.
Finally, after what seemed like a lifetime, Jedza
made her choice.  would be time to discuss what had happened later.
“Nyet, Jedza!” Mikhail said, shocked.  “Do we need to get the thread?” Bernadette asked,
She held a hand out behind her, and Mikhail fell
silent. Jedza hesitated one last time before rever-
ently placing the chain and the gold band in a small
pile. “There. It is yours.”
“She has given us the most valuable thing she has, so
old, worth more than everything she has ever held.
We give her our piece of the great machine, and
answer her question for another, and offer a secret
of our own.”
The corpse made a gesture with one claw. In the
darkness far beyond there was a sound, a clattering
and clinking, like falling coins and sand. A small
thing rolled into the light of Jedza’s lanterns. It was
an orb, lined with small glyphs. The sphere itself
was made of a strange dark material, and bands of
lighter metal wrapped around it in seemingly ran-
dom patterns.
“Now, we will answer the curiosity’s question for
another: telling the Fate of one has become impossi-
ble for all but two, but our mistress sees outside their
false truth. All loving mothers return to their babes,
but not with the skin in which they bore their chil-
dren. A choice will be made. Hers and hers alone;
that we cannot see.”
EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
Nothing Is Forever
The words echoed inside Jedza’s skull; the oth-
ers heard nothing but discordant murmurs. The
Herald’s jaw danced as it licked its lips.
“We must make our exchange equal, we must, we
must.” The Herald beckoned as best it could with a
sharp nail. “We know something she has wanted for
a very long time.”
Jedza hesitated again, but slowly leaned forward.
Before Mikhail had even readied his blade, the thing
simply touched the tip of its clawed finger to Jedza’s
forehead. The creature broke out into another dark
grin as its secret flooded into her mind.
“Does she understand? Or shall we explain again?”
Jedza’s fingerbones clicked against the sphere when
word, she nestled the orb underneath her shawls,
retrieved her pack, and walked away. The Herald
did not stop grinning until Jedza had gone a dozen
paces, and then let out a strained gurgle before col-
lapsing, once again nothing more than an empty
corpse. Mikhail kept a respectful distance; there
shoulders squared back, but her voice shaking.
“Nyet. It is done.” Jedza watched the thread begin
to dissolve until it was nothing. “We have spent too
much time here. Let us leave this place.”
The whispers and dust had gone silent; in their
place, the room’s treasures seemed to peek from
their covers of darkness. Cornelius looked at his
daughter and pulled her into a quick embrace.
“We’re okay, Bee,” her father said. “Let’s get out of
here.”
The Basses followed Jedza’s lanterns bobbing ahead,
but distance between them had thrown the cavern
into an unsteady gloom.
Suddenly, the clang of metal echoed throughout the
chamber, sending a shock of icy adrenaline through
the lawman’s body. He instinctively brought up his
shotgun, trying to locate the source of the sound be-
fore seeing Bernadette almost disappear in front of
him. She had stumbled, barely catching herself on
an old mirror. More trinkets clattered and chimed in
the dark. Bernadette stood up almost immediately, a
flush of unease and embarrassment creeping across
her face.
 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 81
 Nothing Is Forever
“Malyshka!” Jedza called angrily from ahead, staff
rapping on the stone floor. “What did I say? Do not
touch anything!”
Cornelius helped steady his daughter, ignoring
Jedza’s scolding and the dying echoes of the cham-
ber’s disturbed treasures. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” Bernadette snapped, pulling away from him.
She immediately dropped her head. “Sorry.”
“S’alright, Bee,” Cornelius said. “Just keep your eyes
up. If you trip again, I’ll tell Reichart.”
Bernadette rolled her eyes, quickly leaving her
embarrassment behind. “I’d rather you just left me
here.”
Cornelius followed his daughter around the cham-
ber’s twisting pathways. Jedza’s lamps eventually
cast one final glow on the walls before the relics of
ages past were once again swallowed by darkness.
Nobody noticed the distorted form that rippled
within the glass of the mirror Bernadette had caught
herself on. None were there to notice the too-long
fingers tracing the edges of the handprint left in the
dust or the hint of a too-wide smile. If any living
thing had been present, they might have noticed a
tiny crack start to work its way across the mirror.
No one spoke for the remainder of the journey back.
Jedza passed by the skeleton too quickly for it to
muster anything more than a few twitching finger-
bones. Once the graying sky was visible, everyone
visibly relaxed. The Basses remained close to the
pathway while Jedza and Mikhail moved to fetch
the auroch’s pile they had left behind.
On Jedza’s approach, Sophie’s bones began to stand
up again. In a few moments, the auroch was happily
trotting over to Jedza as though no time had passed.
The old woman just stared at Sophie for a long
while, tracing the lines of her bleached skull and
dark horns with her gloved hands. She motioned
wordlessly to Mikhail; when she did, the pair started
back down the trail. The Basses were close behind.
It took some time for the mountain winds to blow
away the memories that had been dredged up in
that foreboding place.
82 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
Once the dirigible came back into view, Cornelius
let the last of the tension out of his shoulders.
They would at least be able to get home. Mikhail
helped Jedza down a crumbling shelf of stones. The
old woman adjusted her hood and glasses before
approaching the Basses, holding out the sphere.
“Bring this to that stuffy old manor and give Gretchen
my best. Not everyone can age gracefully. She was
looking strashnyy, dreadful, last time we spoke.”
Cornelius carefully took the sphere. It wasn’t cold,
but something about the thing made him uneasy.
The runes on its edges almost seemed to speak to
him. The words didn’t make any sense in his mind,
but they were close to having some meaning…
“Do not touch it for long,” Jedza said. She held up
a plain burlap sack, pulled from her own expan-
sive collection. Cornelius dropped the orb into the
bag and tied it shut. She continued: “Give her this
as well.” Jedza had a long quill pen and a tiny jar of
ink in one hand; she gestured at Mikhail, and the
bodyguard knelt on one knee. Using his broad back,
Jedza scribbled something on the paper, folded it,
and gave it to the sheriff. 
There was another moment of extended silence, as
though the awkwardness of the first meeting had
returned for this goodbye. 
“I… I did not realize that more would be needed
to have all of our goals accomplished,” Jedza said
guardedly. “You are khoroshiye lyudi - good people.
I am sorry for involving you so deeply, little one.”
“Well... I’m sorry you had to give up your rings,”
Bernadette replied uncomfortably. “Must’ve been
pretty valuable for that thing to pick them over me.”
Jedza tilted her head in what she hoped resembled
something of a kind gesture. “All things come and
go. No matter. A life is something different. I would
not willingly cut one like yours short.” 
Cornelius looked at Mikhail and tensely offered a
hand. “We protect our own,” he said. 
The swordsman returned the handshake. “Da.
That we do. I wish you both safe travels.”
“Wait, aren’t you coming with us?” Bernadette
asked. “It’s… it’s a long way back to… well, wherever
you come from, I’d think.”
 Nothing Is Forever

“Ah, malyshka, as long as Mikhail and I are together,
we are home. Besides, there are other places we
must go. Perhaps we will meet again if I choose to
travel to your Badlands someday. I would like that.”
Cornelius tipped his hat. “We’d be glad to have you.
I suppose we’ll be off then. Come on, Bee. Let’s get
on that... thing before it leaves.” The discomfort in
Cornelius’ voice was evident, but a few terrible min-
utes in the air was better than weeks of traveling
underprepared in the northern wilderness.
Jedza watched the Basses head back to the dirigi-
ble. Bernadette turned back to wave before they
boarded. Once it drifted out of sight, Jedza began to
walk in the opposite direction.  scuttled back behind his desk to place the relic on a
“Come. We have a long way yet to go,” she said.
Mikhail eyed Jedza as she walked with Sophie. He
started with a lighter question. “You said Gretchen
was a dangerous woman. Is giving her that thing a
good idea?” He braced himself for a sharp retort, but
it never came. The old woman was more contem-
plative than usual, hand feeling for the tiny weight
around her neck that would never be replaced.
“Gretchen will get her toy, we will pay our debt –
my debt – and father and daughter will be none the
wiser. Let them have their wild frontier for a little
longer. The world will still be here long after all of
them have gone. In some form or another.”
“And the Herald?” Mikhail ventured, “What did it
offer you?”
He waddled over and handed one to Cornelius, who
accepted with forced politeness. Wasn’t there any-
one else but Ludvig he could talk to? “To congratu-
late you on your successful acquisition and return to
the, er, our…” Ludvig stumbled off. The lawman had
downed his drink in one go, and now held the glass
casually in one hand.
“Er, well, on your safe return to the Explorer’s
Society as a full member!” Ludvig concluded. He
raised his own glass and sipped delicately. “Now, I
assume you’ve brought something for us?”
Basse reached into a satchel and pulled out the orb
and bit of paper. Ludvig squeaked in excitement and
small stand. He smoothly opened the note and read
it before smiling up at the sheriff.
“Well done. Well done, indeed! Tremendous work.
Now, I know your employment lies with the Guild,
but we’ve pulled some strings and gotten approv-
al from the Governor-General himself to have you
assist us in some delicate matters, if you are inter-
ested. The rewards of Society work can be quite lu-
crative,” Ludvig concluded. He slid a Society signet
ring across the table atop a small stack of important
looking papers. Basse saw a few words that made his
heart skip a beat. He put his glass down on the desk
and stood at the back of one of the plush chairs in
the office.
“What’s the job?” the sheriff finally asked. Ludvig
sat back in his chair with a self-satisfied smile.

Beneath her veil, if Jedza had still had lips, she would
have smiled.

Cornelius Basse’s spurs clinked on the marble floors

of the Explorer’s Society manor. He had walked
the halls before, but informally. This would be his
first official meeting with the heads of the Society.
He had tried to clean himself up as best as possible
before arriving, but he still felt underdressed. The
steward he was following didn’t seem to mind.

“Sheriff Cornelius Basse!” a very fat man greeted

right as the steward opened his door. He held
two glasses of something alcoholic, based on the
number of bottles stacked neatly in the little bar.

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 83
 Stat Cards • APEX

15
COST
Master, Construct
APEX
Born into the lower end of high society, Justin Cooper
watched his peers revel in the best that money could buy
while his father remained frugal. He refused his son a life
of fullness, claiming it a weakness. There was only one
expense he allowed: the pursuit of the hunt. Justin resisted
at first. What good were riches if you wallowed in mud like
a commoner? And for what? To level a gun at an animal
and pull the trigger, only to have the entire thing be over in
moments? Justin fought every step of the way, desperate to
5 5
return to the comforts that waited for him back home. 6
Df
Wp Mv 2
Sz

When Justin refused to learn on his own, his father sent
him away. Disowned until he could prove himself, Cooper
turned to the only help he could find: his father’s huntsmen.
They were more than willing to take the young Cooper’s
money and teach him the ways of the world. This retreat
from high society ignited something inside him. Stripped
of life’s comforts, left to fend for oneself in the wilderness,
killing or being killed: that was true power. He learned from
the hunters he had once looked down upon, hardening his
mind and body against the wilds. When he brought down
his first prey and threw the corpse at his father’s feet, he
realized just how much of life he had been missing.
ABILITIES
Armor +1: Reduce all damage suffered by this model by +1.
Eyes on the Prize: This model cannot gain Distracted
or take the Disengage Action.
Laugh Off: If this model would be moved during an
enemy model’s Activation or from an enemy model’s effect,
it may choose not to.
Predatory Instinct: Once per Activation. After
targeting an enemy model with an Attack Action, this
model may suffer a - to that Action to receive a + to its
damage flip (or vice versa).
The Most Dangerous Game: During the Start Phase,
if this model is this Crew’s Leader, it may choose an enemy
model to gain Adversary (Apex).
HEALTH

In the years that followed, Cooper traveled. The frosts of

Russia, the steaming jungles of South America, the arid
grasslands of Africa, and the plains of America all wel- Lord Cooper
comed the hunter. But eventually, Earth and all its beasts
Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
became boring. It would be Malifaux that offered new
Machete y1" 6 Df -
opportunities and excitements. There, Cooper founded the This model may remove a Terrain Marker within a1 to
Explorer’s Society. It was outwardly dedicated to discovery receive a + to this Action. Target suffers 2/3/5 damage.
c Maim: Target discards a card.
and science, auspiciously concealing the members’ exploita- .950 Nitro Express Rifle z14" 6m Df -
tion and plundering of the land and its wealth. Once per Activation. This Action ignores Cover. Target
suffers 3/5/7 damage.
t Good for a Laugh: Draw two cards, then discard
Malifaux’s flora and fauna proved wickedly dangerous, in a card.
r Put Down: When resolving, the target ignores
more ways than Cooper could have ever imagined: a sabo- any of its Hard to Kill or Demise Abilities.
taged hunting accident brought him to the brink of death. c Tracer Rounds: Target gains Adversary (Apex).
m Trophy Hunter: Enemy only. After killing, Drop
It was only by his connections and wealth that he was able a Scheme Marker into base contact with the target.
to survive in any fashion at all. After years of rehabilitation Explosive Ordinance z8" 6 * 12
and painful trials, Lord Cooper was literally rebuilt. Shockwave 2, Df 13, Damage 1 and Injured +1.
Apex models may ignore the effects of this Shockwave.
m Blown Back: Push models damaged by this Action
With his physical body made new, Lord Justin Cooper real- 3" away from the Marker.

ized he had been holding back. Cooper found Malifaux to Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

be a place of loose ethics and beings so dangerous none but F Foul-Mouthed 6" 6 - 12
Motivation
the most insane would ever challenge them. It was perfect. Other friendly model only. Target Heals 1/2/3 and gains
Focused +1.
m Thrill of the Hunt: Friendly Apex models within
For the first time in a very long while, Lord Cooper feels alive p6 may move up to 3".
again. There is an entirely unexplored world to be hunted. To F Reload - - - -
be an apex predator on Earth was child’s play. In Malifaux, End the Focused Condition on this model. This model
may take the .950 Nitro Express Rifle Action, ignoring
Cooper dares anyone to try and take that title away from him. its Once per Activation restriction.

30mm

86 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY

 APEX • Stat Cards

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 87
 Stat Cards • APEX

1
COST
Minion (3), Living
Totem (Lord Cooper)
The warnings never seem to get through to people. Desperate APEX
souls are carted through the Breach on a daily basis. Many
are taken for everything they’re worth and left to die.
Gambling debts, sickness, crimes, and a trail of enemies
tend to follow some slippery men and women until they’re
backed into a corner of their own making with no way out.
When a dapper lawyer approaches in their darkest hour
and offers a contract to absolve them of their sorrows,
well… there are very few who don’t sign.
4 5
Those that take time to read the contract might find the
4
Df
Wp Mv 2
Sz
legalese quite alarming. Of course, not many do. The ABILITIES
promise of debts repaid and crimes forgiven is enough to Demise (Hunted): After this model is killed, if it was
killed by a friendly Lord Cooper, add a Soulstone to this
draw in the hopeless. When the time comes to fulfill their Crew’s Soulstone Pool. If killed by an enemy model, that
end of the bargain, Cooper allows his Runaways’ instincts model gains Adversary (Apex), which cannot end or
be removed while a friendly Lord Cooper is in LoS of the
to take over. They were not brought along to be servants enemy model.
or entertainment; they are there to be hunted. They have a Head Start: This model must be deployed on the
30-minute head start. Anything is fair game. Centerline instead of within your Deployment Zone.
Insignificant: This model cannot take the Interact
Action and is ignored for Strategies and Schemes.
Good luck. On the Run: Friendly Lord Cooper models may treat
this model as an enemy model. This model cannot relent or
Cheat Fate when targeted by friendly Lord Cooper models.

HEALTH

Runaway

Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

Makeshift Weaponry y0" 4 Df -
Target suffers 1/2/3 damage.
t Instigate: Enemy only. After resolving, draw a
card. Then, the target must take a yAction
targeting this model.
F Call for Help 4" 4 Wp -
Enemy only. Target gains Distracted +1. After resolving
this Action, a friendly Lord Cooper must take a z Action
targeting this model, if able, ignoring Friendly Fire.

Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

Escape - - - -
This Action cannot be taken by other models. This model
must be within 4" of a table corner and in the opposing
player’s Deployment Zone. This model may draw cards
up to its Maximum Hand Size and Drop a Scheme
Marker anywhere on the table. Then, remove this model
from the game (it is not killed).

30mm

88 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY

 APEX, FAE  •  Stat Cards

10
COST
Enforcer, Beast
APEX, FAE
The return of the Autumn Queen has brought forth old
life from dead soil. Plants and animals not seen for thou-
sands of years once again walk the wild places of Malifaux.
The greatest of these is a predator the Explorer’s Society
has dubbed the Malisaurus Rex, recently discovered by an
unfortunate research expedition. Despite their appearance,
the Malisaurus Rexes are wholly aligned to Titania’s court.
While born during the time of the Fae, these predators are
4 5 animalistic and primal. Magic can easily urge them to spe-
4 Wp Mv 4
Df Sz cific action, be it protecting a copse of trees or rampaging
ABILITIES to make sure trespassers are frightened away, or better yet,
Hard to Wound: Damage flips against this model suffer a -.
consumed.
Predatory Instinct: Once per Activation. After
targeting an enemy model with an Attack Action, this
model may suffer a - to that Action to receive a + to its Ownership of a Malisaurus, alive or dead, has become a
damage flip (or vice versa). top priority for most academic circles in Malifaux. Most
Rush: When this model takes the Charge Action, increase
the distance it Pushes by up to +2". infamous and notable of these examples are the University
Ruthless: This model ignores the Terrifying and of Malifaux and the Explorer’s Society. While the
Manipulative Abilities of other models.
University’s claims of owning a Malisaurus have not
Terrifying (12): After an enemy model targets this
model with an Attack Action, the enemy model must pass a been verified, Lord Cooper infamously took down an
TN 12 Wp duel or the Action fails. enormous specimen, whose taxidermy now resides in
Towering Figure: This model is unaffected by Severe
and Hazardous Terrain and can move through other models.
the manor’s main hall. However, rumors also
abound that the slain Malisaurus had a nest of
HEALTH
eggs. Taming such a beast would be an impos-
sibly difficult task, but some within the Society
claim that Cooper has commissioned enchanters
to produce runic manacles far too large to fit
Malisaurus Rex
anything close to human.
Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
Massive Jaws y2" 6 Df -
Target suffers 3/4/5 damage.
R Tear Off a Bite: This model Heals 2.
c Rampage: Push this model 5", ignoring any models,
such that this model moves through the target.
Models this model Pushed through in this way must
each pass a TN 13 Mv duel or suffer 1 damage.
F Lashing Tendrils 6" 6 Mv -
Push the target up to 4" in any direction.
R Rip and Tear: Take a yAction targeting the same
model. This Action receives a + to its duel.

Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

Tail Whip p2" 5t - 10
Enemy models within range must each pass a TN 13 Mv
duel or suffer 2 damage and gain Staggered. Push any
models damaged by this Action up to 2" in any direction.
t Territorial: Once per Turn. Until the End Phase,
this model increases the range of its Actions by +1"
and it cannot be moved or Buried.
F Wild Hunt a2" 5 - 12
Until the End Phase, friendly models that share a
Keyword with this model receive +c to Attack Actions
targeting enemy models within range.

50mm

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 89
 Stat Cards • APEX

9
COST
Henchman, Construct
APEX
It took a master craftsman a significant amount of time to
properly configure mechanical limbs for Lord Cooper. A
total of ten sets were fitted to the ruined hunter; the second-
to-last was transformed into an elegant killing machine.
Comparable only to the Coryphee of the Star Theater,
Model 9 is a machine built for speed and dexterity. There
is no doubt 9 carries itself in the same murderous fashion.

Model 9’s mechanical joints make its knives a perfect tool.

Its reliability (and the fact Model 9 is the only one that can 5 5
keep up with Cooper) has made the construct a favorite 6
Df
Wp Mv 2
Sz
bodyguard, distractor, and assassin for its master. Its critical
interventions have saved multiple lives, and hunting parties ABILITIES
Armor +2: Reduce all damage suffered by this model by +2.
are always more relaxed when the construct is around. But Blade Rush: When this model takes the Charge Action,
this familiarity has bred blindness. it can move through other models. Enemy models moved
through in this way suffer 1 damage.
Mobile Warrior: This model may take the Charge
Few have recognized Model 9’s little tics. Sometimes the Action while engaged.
construct will stare at Lord Cooper, head cocked. Despite Predatory Instinct: Once per Activation. After
having no voice, it walks with an air of confidence that no targeting an enemy model with an Attack Action, this
model may suffer a - to that Action to receive a + to its
construct should exhibit. Newcomers seem to enjoy the fact damage flip (or vice versa).
that Model 9 acts more like Cooper with each passing day. Run and Gun: This model’s Charge Action may generate
z Actions instead of yActions.
But nobody notices when it twists its blades a bit deeper
than necessary, or when it stands with one mechanical foot
HEALTH
in victory over its prey. Imitation is the sincerest form of
flattery, and Model 9 is learning more with each hunt.

Model 9

Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

Twirling Blades y1" 6 Df -
Target suffers 2/4/5 damage.
c Execute: The target may either discard a card or
a Soulstone. If it does neither, it is killed, ignoring
Demise Abilities.
M Reposition: Move this model up to 3".
Throw Knife z8" 7 Df -
Target suffers 1/3/4 damage. If the target suffers Severe
damage from this Action, this model may Place itself into
base contact with the target.
M Avalanche of Blades: After resolving, take an
Attack Action targeting the same model. This Action
receives a + to its duel.

Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

F X Marks the Spot a2" 7 - 12
Until the End Phase, friendly Attack Actions targeting
enemy models within range ignore Friendly Fire, and if
an enemy model within range is killed, draw a card.
M Burst of Speed: Push this model up to 5" in any
direction, ignoring other models. Enemy models
moved through this way suffer 1 damage.
c Thin the Herd: Enemy models within p2 gain
Injured +1.

30mm

90 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY

 APEX • Stat Cards

7
COST
Minion (2), Living
APEX
The most dangerous hunter is one who goes unseen.
Mercenaries pride themselves on their skills and ability to
get a job done quietly. Wealthy clients see them as tools to
get a specific job done, but Cooper was looking for more.
He found it in two talented rangers from the dismantled
remnants of a private military company, the Crypsis Corps.
The promise of pay beyond their wildest dreams and the
opportunity to hunt and stalk the nightmares that inhab-
6 4 ited Malifaux was an opportunity neither man could pass
4
Df
Wp Mv 2
Sz up. This deadly duo now plies their skills directly for Lord
ABILITIES Cooper and use the defunct name of their previous employ-
Beneath the Leaves: While this model is within a3 ers to hide the fact that only two remain.
of Severe, Hazardous, and/or Concealing Terrain, enemy
models treat the area within a3 as having those same traits.
Expert Shot: This model’s Attack Actions ignore
There is no terrain these two have not encountered or
Friendly Fire. endured. The pair can vanish into their surroundings as
Predatory Instinct: Once per Activation. After though they were ghosts. New members to Lord Cooper’s
targeting an enemy model with an Attack Action, this
model may suffer a - to that Action to receive a + to its hunts marvel at the Corps’ ability to stay still for hours,
damage flip (or vice versa). even letting good opportunities to land a kill pass them by
Sniper: When this model takes a z Action, it may lower
the value of its Focused Condition by 1 to treat the Action until the perfect moment presents itself. To some it might
as having +10" range. seem like a sixth sense. Cooper knows the Crypsis Corps
Stealth: Enemy models cannot target this model from
more than 6" away.
are above the rest for one simple
reason: they share a hunter’s bond.
HEALTH
A private language of expressions
and minute gestures lets the pair
coordinate attacks without
ever making a sound. When
Crypsis Corps
the time comes, a single
Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
squeeze of the trigger is all
Crypsis Rifle z14" 5 Df -
it takes for the Corps to
This Action ignores Cover. If the target has any show what true hunters
Conditions, add any suit to this Action’s duel total. Target
suffers 2/3/4 damage. they really are.
R Critical Strike: When resolving, the target suffers
+1 damage for each r in this Action’s final duel total
(to a maximum of +2).
m Stagger: Models damaged by this Action gain
Staggered.
c Tracer Rounds: Target gains Adversary (Apex).

Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

Patient Strike z14" 6 - 10
Drop a Strike Marker within range with no sight lines
between this model and the Marker blocked by an
enemy model. Once per Activation, after an enemy
model moves, if it moved through any unblocked sight
lines drawn from this model to the Dropped Marker, this
model may take a z Action targeting the moved model,
ignoring LoS and range. During the End Phase or after
this model moves, remove the Strike Marker.
t Focused Attention: This model gains Focused +1.
Target Practice z20" 3 - X
The TN of this Action is equal to the distance in inches
between this model and target Scheme Marker. Remove
the target.
F Quick Retreat - - - -
This Action may only be taken while engaged. This model
may move up to 4".

30mm

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 91
 Stat Cards • APEX

6
COST
Enforcer, Beast
APEX
Two bloodhound pups - purebreds from the Saint-Hubert
Monastery in France - were gifted to Lord Cooper on his
birthday. The first was strong, with a peerless nose and dedi-
cated gait, characteristics of the best hunters. The second, his
sister, bore the long ears and tenacity of an unmatched scent
tracker. Both would grow to become proud examples of their
pedigree. It took some time before the hounds would get to
fulfill their purpose. In the evenings they were companions
to Cooper, often laying by the fire or chuffing in their sleep.
Their days were filled with a strict regimen of training and
exercise, ensuring their growth into excellent hunters. When 5 6
Lord Cooper was ready, the baying of hounds signaled the 5
Df
Wp Mv 2
Sz
start of his first new hunt. ABILITIES
Hunting Partner: Friendly models’ Attack Actions
Artemis is leaner, but a much better tracker than her brother. ignore this model for the purposes of Friendly Fire. Enemy
models within a1 must discard a card to declare the
Cooper owes her many successful hunts; without the hound’s Disengage Action.
abilities, particularly clever prey may have escaped. Where Nimble: This model may treat the Walk Action as a f
Artemis’ nose tells her to go, the rest of Lord Cooper’s men Action.
Predatory Instinct: Once per Activation. After
follow. Even Ullr tends to lope behind his sister, doing his targeting an enemy model with an Attack Action, this
best to follow the same smells before leaping ahead when model may suffer a - to that Action to receive a + to its
damage flip (or vice versa).
prey is in sight. Perhaps most valuable are Artemis’ instincts. Unimpeded: This model is unaffected by Severe Terrain.
She can sense danger, especially Malifaux’s deadliest preda-
tors, far quicker than any other animal in Cooper’s menag- HEALTH
erie. Because of this, Artemis is often the trigger on which
many actions hinge. If she gives pause, all proceed with due
caution.
Artemis

Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

Tear Apart y1" 6 Df -
Target suffers 2/3/5 damage.
R Critical Strike: When resolving, the target suffers
+1 damage for each r in this Action’s final duel total
(to a maximum of +2).
c I Can Dig It: Drop a Scheme Marker into base
contact with this model.
M Reposition: Move this model up to 3".
Intimidating Roar 8" 5 Wp -
Push the target 6" away from this model. If the target is a
Minion, it gains Slow.
M On Your Heels: Enemy only. Place this model into
base contact with the target.
c Tracker: Enemy only. Another friendly model
within LoS may Push up to 4" toward the target.
If the friendly model is an Apex model, it gains
Focused +1.

Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

F Nose to the Ground p3" 6 - 12
Remove all Scheme Markers within range. This model
may choose an equal number of enemy models within
range to gain Distracted +1.
c I Can Dig It: Drop a Scheme Marker into base
contact with this model.

30mm

92 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY

 APEX • Stat Cards

6
COST
Enforcer, Beast
APEX
In contrast to Artemis, Ullr shares his master’s aggression.
A very large hound, even for his breed, he uses this weight
and extra mass to his advantage. His jaws are extremely
strong; it’s one of Cooper’s great joys to scratch Ullr and
praise him while a hapless “participant” in their hunt
screams over a bone shattered from canine teeth. Ullr never
tires of dragging a fresh prize from its hiding spot, head high
and jaws clamped down tight.
4 6 Loyal to their master, these hounds have been Cooper’s
6
Df
Wp Mv 2
Sz devoted companions throughout the most recent years of
ABILITIES
his life. They were there when he was broken and remade,
By Your Side: At the start of this model’s Activation, it and remain by his side in the hunt. Lord Cooper is a harsh
may discard a card to Place itself within 2" of a friendly
non-Minion that shares a Keyword with it.
man at the best of times, but softens this cold exterior for
Hunting Partner: Friendly models’ Attack Actions Ullr and Artemis. They eat the best cuts of meat from
ignore this model for the purposes of Friendly Fire. Enemy every hunt. Each hound has received more praise than all
models within a1 must discard a card to declare the
Disengage Action. of Cooper’s men combined, and many huntsmen have been
Predatory Instinct: Once per Activation. After kicked from their tents to allow the dogs to sleep comfort-
targeting an enemy model with an Attack Action, this
model may suffer a - to that Action to receive a + to its ably. A man’s loyalty might falter; Ullr and Artemis will
damage flip (or vice versa). never let Lord Cooper down.
Warning Growl: Damage flips against friendly models
within a2 suffer a -.

HEALTH

Ullr

Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

Trapping Jaws y1" 6r Df -
Target suffers 1/2/3 damage and gains Staggered.
c Hold Down: If this model is engaging the target,
another friendly model with LoS to the target
may take a z Action against the target, ignoring
Friendly Fire.
R Tear Off a Bite: This model Heals 2.
M You’re Comin’ with Me: Push the target up to
3" in any direction, then Place this model into base
contact with it.

Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

Flush Them Out 2" 5 - 10
Once per Activation. Other friendly only. Push the
target up to 4" toward an enemy model in its LoS. If the
target is an Apex model, it gains Focused +1.
F I’ve Got Your Back 6" 5 - 10
Target other engaged friendly model. Target is Placed
into base contact with this model.
F Mark Territory p3" 5 - 10
Remove all Scheme Markers within range. This model
gains Focused +1 for each Marker removed this way.

30mm

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 93
 Stat Cards • APEX

One of Lord Cooper’s first hunts took place in the frozen

tundra of Ivanovo, Russia, after being enticed by stories of
enormous and ferocious Kamchatka brown bears. There he
met two men. They spoke only a handful of words in English
between them, but were guides and huntsmen without
equal. Cooper learned by their sides for several months and
emerged from the experience a man made resilient to frigid
temperatures and draped in bear pelts. When the time came
for Cooper to continue on, he asked the men to accompany
him. They would become the Vatagi, his most trusted and
skillful hunters.

Having never once backed down from a challenge,

Lord Cooper considers them to be the pinnacle of
what a huntsman should be: tough, skillful, and
capable of enduring alone. While one of the orig-
inal two always accompanies him, Cooper
expanded the title to include any notable
hunter that he would trust with his life.
This circle remains very small, and so
induction into the Vatagi Huntsmen is
considered the highest honor.

Vatagi Huntsman
6
COST
Minion (3), Living
APEX
Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
Skinning Knife y1" 5 Df -
Target suffers 2/3/4 damage.
Clockwork Revolver z12" 5 Df -
Target suffers 2/3/5 damage.
c Bear Trap Launcher: Once per Turn. Drop a
50mm Destructible, Severe, Hazardous (Damage 1
and Injured +1) Pit Trap Marker into base contact
with the target.
On the Hunt 8" 5 Wp 11
This Action cannot target the same model more than once
per Activation. Resolve the following effects for each of
the target’s Characteristics (in the order listed below):
Beast: Push the target up to 4" away from this model.
Construct: Target suffers 2 irreducible damage.
Living: Target gains Adversary (Apex).
5 5 Undead: Target gains Injured +2.
5
Df
Wp Mv 2
Sz Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

ABILITIES F Create Trap 2" 5 - 12

This Action cannot be taken while engaged. Create a
Bond of Blood: At the start of this model’s Activation, if
50mm Destructible, Severe, Hazardous (Damage 1 and
it is within a2 of another friendly Apex model, draw a card.
Injured +1) Pit Trap Marker within range.
Predatory Instinct: Once per Activation. After t Toss Trap: Immediately, increase the range of this
targeting an enemy model with an Attack Action, this Action by +6".
model may suffer a - to that Action to receive a + to its
damage flip (or vice versa).
Set up the Kill: Once per Turn. After an enemy model
within a8 suffers damage from a friendly Pit Trap Marker,
it must either discard a card or a friendly Apex model may
take an Attack Action targeting it, ignoring Friendly Fire.

HEALTH 30mm

94 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY

 Stat Cards • CADMUS

15
COST
Master, Living
CADMUS
The Tyrant Wars brought an unprecedented amount of
unknowns into Malifaux. Fighting a war was difficult; doing
so on so many fronts would prove to be the Autumn Court’s
downfall. To combat this inevitability, Titania and her agents
scoured the deepest corners of Malifaux for solutions. While
the Autumn Queen ultimately ended with the Grave Spirit,
it wasn’t where she started.
7 4
As the Tyrants had done with the Nephilim, so too did
5
Df
Wp Mv 2
Sz
Titania begin creating new life. The project’s first success ABILITIES
was known as Cadmus, a collective hivemind of thought. Hivemind: After Deployment, Attach a Hive Upgrade to
this model.
By spreading mites into other creatures, Cadmus could see
Omnipresent Influence: This model may draw LoS
through their eyes and direct their movements. Every living and range for its Actions from friendly Cadmus models
thing had the potential to become an agent under their con- within 12". This model cannot draw LoS and range this
way from any model more than once per Activation.
trol. In the span of a few years, Cadmus’ reach was immense. Siphon Power: After this model declares an Action,
Their gathered information was assembled into one source, a friendly model within a4 may suffer 1 irreducible
damage. If it does so, this model may add one suit of its
to be utilized as Titania wished. For a time it seemed the choice to the Action’s final duel total.
Autumn Queen would triumph over the Tyrants. We are Legion: During the Activation Phase, when
this model Heals or suffers damage, it may choose another
friendly Cadmus model within 4", not already chosen for
Like many in Malifaux, Cadmus was sensitive to magic. The this Ability this Activation, to Heal or suffer 1 damage (as
more they learned, the more they grew. Their simplistic before). If it does so, reduce the amount this model Heals or
suffers by 1 (to a minimum of 0).
mind changed. Titania ordered them not to infest her Fae,
but the temptation became too great. Deep within their lair,
HEALTH
Cadmus learned of their creator’s history, of feelings, and the
magic that created them. But Cadmus was a poor liar. They
were unable to conceal their infestation of the Fae...
Nexus
When their betrayal was discovered, Titania sealed Cadmus,
Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
and everything they touched, away. Killing them would be
Hive Strike y1" 7 Df -
ineffective, for the hivemind could transfer to another host. Target suffers 1/3/4 damage and must either discard a
Instead, the Autumn Queen cast her spymaster into a deep card or gain a Parasite Token.
R Siphon Life: When resolving, the target suffers +1
sleep. As the ages wore on, Cadmus lost control. Their mites damage and this model Heals 1.
c Severe Injury: Models damaged by this Action
perished, and the main body fell into hibernation. gain Injured +1 for each c in this Action’s final duel
total (to a maximum of Injured +2).
Titania’s return sparked something new in Malifaux. It rever- t Transmutation: Once per Activation. End any
one Condition with a value on the target. The target
berated in Cadmus’ conscience. This stirring allowed a gains a Condition of this model’s choice at the same
strange, undying woman to hobble to their prison and undo value as the ended Condition (to a maximum of +2).

the wards spun there. Cadmus was offered a new central core:
Nexus. As a focus for a fragment of the hivemind’s power,
Nexus would allow the spymaster to work quietly without
alerting the Autumn Queen.
Exoskeletal Connection 6" 7 Wp 13
Friendly Cadmus model only. Drop a 50mm Destructible,
Severe Web Marker into base contact with the target.
Then, Place the target into base contact with the model
from which this Action’s LoS and range were drawn.
m Shed Skin: End all Conditions on the target.
t Surge: Draw a card.

Malifaux is nothing like Cadmus remembers. The old are Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

nearly gone, and new creatures have claimed the world as F Citizens of Malifaux p2" 6 - 8
Choose any number of Scheme or friendly Web Markers
theirs. They are suitable hosts, going about their lives none within range. Increase this Action’s TN by +3 for each chosen
the wiser to their true controller. For now, Cadmus does Marker. Summon an Eyes and Ears into base contact
with each chosen Marker. Then, remove those Markers.
what they were created to do: watch quietly from the dark.
F Soul Shock p2" 7 - 10
They report to Lady Janus, as they once did for the Autumn Enemy models within range must each pass a TN 14 Df
Queen. But things are different now. They have so much duel or gain a Parasite Token.
M Spinal Tap: The model from which this Action’s
to learn. Most interesting is the barrier their hosts call “the LoS and range were drawn suffers 1 damage.
Breach”. How fascinating and terrifying it is to them.
40mm

96 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY

 CADMUS • Stat Cards

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 97
 Stat Cards • CADMUS

3
COST
Minion (2), Beast
Totem (Nexus)
Cadmus originally aimed to infest anything in Malifaux and CADMUS
turn them into spies for the Autumn Court. Now they con-
tinue this tradition, though in a slightly more restrictive
fashion. Reproducing mites is a time-consuming process.
They require a body to infest. Their first choice was humans.
While gradually feeding off its life, the mites turned their
host into a mummified thing, wrapped in webs and kept alive
through sheer will. Cadmus very quickly learned that the
humans they turned into Shambling Nests were ineffective 3 3
and betrayed their presence to whatever community they 5
Df
Wp Mv 1Sz
were trying to infect.
ABILITIES
From the Shadows: This model may be deployed at
It was an obvious solution for Cadmus to turn their atten- the start of the game, rather than during Deployment. If so,
this model may be deployed anywhere on the table that is
tion back to the wilds. A Shambling Nest made from a boar at least 6" away from the enemy Deployment Zone, and it
or deer provides enough fuel for a mite colony. Keeping may not take the Interact Action on the first Turn.
them to the wilderness reduces the risk of discovery and Hard to Wound: Damage flips against this model suffer a -.
Insignificant: This model cannot take the Interact
lets Cadmus focus their energies elsewhere. When the time Action and is ignored for Strategies and Schemes.
comes to bring new hosts, the Shambling Nests are moved We are Legion: During the Activation Phase, when
to wherever they are needed. It’s easy for humans to write this model Heals or suffers damage, it may choose another
friendly Cadmus model within 4", not already chosen for
off the horrific creatures as sick or mutated by Malifaux, and this Ability this Activation, to Heal or suffer 1 damage (as
killing them is a convenient method of infection for Nexus. before). If it does so, reduce the amount this model Heals or
suffers by 1 (to a minimum of 0).
But the real truth quite literally prickles at the neck of every
potential host. HEALTH

Shambling Nest

Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

Ticks and Leeches y2" 4r Df -
Enemy only. Target gains a Parasite Token.
r Tear Off a Bite: This model Heals 2.
c Blood Loss: Target gains Injured +1.

Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

Swarm of Mites p2" 5 - 10
This model suffers 2 damage. Models within range
suffer 1 damage.

30mm

98 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY

 CADMUS • Stat Cards

Have you been down to the library? No, I mean the archives
downstairs. I’m telling you, there’s a lot of good stuff down
there. Sure, you need to get approval from Lady Janus and
fill out a Request Form… what was it, SP.D34? Anyway, it’s
a lot of paperwork, but that’s where I found the references to
the Whispering Jars. Set me up nice and proper, that did,
and got me into their good graces. But…

Well, I probably shouldn’t be telling you this, but it’s just you
and me here, right? So, listen, if you do get access, there’s
something weird down there. I’m not talking artifacts or
arcana or any of that, stuff ’s kept in the vaults and exhib-
its anyhow. It’s… the librarian. No, not Mrs. Lao, you dolt!
There’s another guy that takes care of the manuscripts and
documents and whatnot. Keeps the card catalogue in order
and all that.

Yes, I know they say that nobody else is working down there,
but he’s there. You think Lady Janus would risk people just
walking out with valuable stuff in their pockets? Just… be
careful. Get in and get out. I’ve only seen him a few times, and
even then it was just out of the corner of my eye. But Thomas,
I swear to you, the man didn’t have a mouth.

Archivist
8
COST
Enforcer, Living
CADMUS
Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
Inaudible Whisper 10" 6 Wp -
Target suffers 2/3/4 damage and must either discard a
t or have this model draw a card.
c Killer Late Fees: When resolving, the target
suffers +1 damage and ignores any of its Hard to
Kill or Demise Abilities.
t Spin Web: Create a 50mm Destructible,
Severe Web Marker within 1" of the target.
Font of Knowledge 10" 6 Wp -
Once per Turn. Friendly Cadmus model only. Until the
End Phase, when the target is declaring Triggers, this
6 4 model may change any one suit in the target’s duel totals
5
Df
Wp Mv 2
Sz
to any suit in this model’s final duel total for this Action.
t Impatience: If the target has not Activated this
Turn it must Activate the next time its Crew
ABILITIES chooses a model to Activate.
Arcane Shield +2: During the Start Phase, this model M Under Pressure: Push the target 2" away from
gains Shielded +2. this model.
Ill Omens +2: This Crew increases the value of its
Initiative flips by +2. Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
Siphon Power: After this model declares an Action, a F Deafening Silence a4" 6 - 12
friendly model within a4 may suffer 1 irreducible damage. Until the End Phase, enemy models must discard a card
If it does so, this model may add one suit of its choice to the to target friendly Cadmus models within range with
Action’s final duel total. non-y, non-z Actions.
M Vanish: Place this model anywhere within range.
We are Legion: During the Activation Phase, when
this model Heals or suffers damage, it may choose another
friendly Cadmus model within 4", not already chosen for
this Ability this Activation, to Heal or suffer 1 damage
(as before). If it does so, reduce the amount this model Heals
or suffers by 1 (to a minimum of 0).

HEALTH 30mm

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 99
 Stat Cards • CADMUS

8
COST
Henchman, Living
CADMUS
Epidemiology is an emerging science. Devastation from
the Piper’s Plague has made understanding the spread of
disease a valuable defense. Researching this hidden world
has produced some interesting discoveries, revealing far
greater threats to humanity. Dr. Meredith Stanley arrived
in Malifaux in the wake of Hamelin’s devastation. As a bur-
geoning microbiologist with a focus on infectious disease,
her skills drew attention… from one source in particular.
5 5
Cadmus had been watching Meredith for some time, curi- 5
Df
Wp Mv 2
Sz
ous about what her knowledge could provide them. The
world had been changed so drastically that Cadmus had dif- ABILITIES
A Fungus Among Us: When this model Activates, it
ficulty understanding its new rules. They could not produce may remove a Corpse or Web Marker within a4 to choose
a friendly Eyes and Ears within a4 to Replace with a
enough mites to infect the numbers they needed, and those Berserker Husk. Then, the new model Heals 3.
vessels that became new hosts quickly expired. So, they Breakthrough Research: After a friendly Cadmus
offered the scientist a proposal. In exchange for her life and model within a4 is killed, draw a card.
Healing Draughts: Friendly models that start their
whatever social benefits their spies could provide, Meredith Activation within a3 Heal 1.
would help Cadmus acclimate and, ultimately, survive. We are Legion: During the Activation Phase, when
this model Heals or suffers damage, it may choose another
friendly Cadmus model within 4", not already chosen for
Thanks to Meredith, Cadmus’ mites can already survive with this Ability this Activation, to Heal or suffer 1 damage
less energy and have been able to reproduce with greater effi- (as before). If it does so, reduce the amount this model Heals
or suffers by 1 (to a minimum of 0).
ciency. She proposed the idea of Berserker Husks, and Cadmus
has stabilized themselves thanks to her breakthroughs. Most
HEALTH
recently, Cadmus ordered Meredith to research the effects of
large quantities of magic on the mites. Specifically, exposure
to amounts that would be comparable to the Breach…
Dr. Meredith Stanley

Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

Alchemical Vial z8" 5 * 10
Shockwave 2, Mv 13, Damage 2 and Poison +1.
c Infect: Models damaged by this Action gain
Poison +1 for each c in this Action’s final duel total
(to a maximum of Poison +2).
Rancid Transplant 8" 5 Df -
Target a model within 5" of another friendly model.
Target gains Injured +1 and Poison +2. This model may
end one Condition of its choice on the friendly model;
if it does so, the target gains that Condition at the same
value (if any).
c Biological Warfare: If the target has Poison +3
or more, it gains a Parasite Token.

Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

F Doctor’s Orders 6" - - -
Discard a card. Friendly only. Move the target up to 4".
F Quarantine 4" 6 - 12
Target a friendly Cadmus model or enemy model with
Poison +3 or more. Until the End Phase, enemy models
cannot end a move or move through the area within a1
of the target, unless that move was started within a1 of
the target.
m Keep Your Distance: Push any models within p1
of the target 2" away from the target.

30mm

100 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY

 CADMUS, WITCH HUNTER  •  Stat Cards

Cadmus draws on energy for sustenance. Before their hiber-

nation, Cadmus used the souls of creatures to provide this
fuel. Thanks to Dr. Stanley’s research, they are now able to
absorb magic from those around them. Human magic users
were wonderful targets and useful agents, but difficult to con-
trol. The magic coursing through their bodies overloaded
the mites and caused them to die off, like ticks grown too
fat from blood. Stanley’s new breed of Spelleaters can han-
dle this strain with ease, even going so far as to turn spells
back on their casters or simply consume that power in place
of the host’s soul.

But nothing happens in Malifaux without Sonnia Criid even-

tually finding out. Her methods of interrogation have
unexpectedly provided her with new resources, such
as the Spelleaters. A mage unknowingly infected
with a mite was brought to the Yellow Crypt. As
the ritual progressed, Sonnia watched as her vic-
tim screamed out in pain as the mite changed with their body.
The connection to the collective was burned; Cadmus found
Criid’s flaming wards turned away their every attempt to
control the Spelleaters. This development has put Lady
Criid firmly in the hive’s sights, for she is the only living
thing that has bested their control.

Spelleater
7
COST
Minion (3), Living
CADMUS, WITCH HUNTER
Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
Siphon Existence y1" 5 Wp -
Target suffers 1/2/3 damage.
R Siphon Life: When resolving, the target suffers +1
damage and this model Heals 1.
t Transmutation: Once per Activation. End any
one Condition with a value on the target. The target
gains a Condition of this model’s choice at the same
value as the ended Condition (to a maximum of +2).
Elemental Blast z10" 6 Df -
Target suffers 2/3/4 damage.
t Blaze: Models damaged by this Action gain
6 5 Burning +1 for each t in this Action’s final duel
5
Df
Wp Mv 2
Sz
total (to a maximum of Burning +2).
c Drain Magic: Target discards a card. This model
may draw a card and then discard a card.
ABILITIES r Rejuvenate: This model Heals 1 for each r in this
Arcane Shield +1: During the Start Phase, this model Action’s final duel total (to a maximum of 2).
gains Shielded +1.
Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
Elemental Backlash: After an enemy model within
a6 discards a card from its Control Hand, it gains this F Down to the Last Drop 10" 5t - 10
model’s choice of either Burning +1 or Poison +1. Friendly only. The target and enemy models within p2
Redirect Magic: Before declaring Triggers in opposed of the target suffer 1 damage.
duels with this model, opposing models lose all suits in their t The Fire Within: Witch Hunter only. Enemy
duel total. Then, add those suits to this model’s duel total. models damaged by this Action gain Burning +1.
t Expand the Hive: Friendly Cadmus only. Enemy
We are Legion: During the Activation Phase, when
models damaged by this Action must each pass a
this model Heals or suffers damage, it may choose another
TN 12 Df duel or gain a Parasite Token.
friendly Cadmus model within 4", not already chosen for
this Ability this Activation, to Heal or suffer 1 damage
(as before). If it does so, reduce the amount this model Heals
or suffers by 1 (to a minimum of 0).

HEALTH 30mm

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 101
 Stat Cards • CADMUS

Old Malifaux was a place of strange life, with some species

born from the work of Fae and Tyrant alike. Many of these
went extinct in the Tyrant Wars and the conflicts that fol-
lowed, but the Nightsilk Creepers endured. Titania’s Cad-
mus was not the first. The Autumn Queen experimented
with many different bodies and forms before deciding that
something close to an arachnid would be best. The Nightsilk
Creepers were the results of these initial experiments.

The Nightsilk lineage feels the pull of the Autumn Court, but
another instinct overpowers that. Cadmus and their mites are
far closer to their kind; in the instances when the hivemind
requires brute strength to quickly eliminate foes that their
hosts can’t deal with, they send out a silent call. The clicking
of chitinous limbs emerges from the darkness soon after. As
powerful as the Creepers are, Cadmus has suppressed them
all. Should their Nexus be destroyed, Cadmus’ hive would be
reduced to nothing. So ancient are the Creepers that Cadmus
can manipulate one of those bodies to rebirth themselves.
Until all of Cadmus’ nests are destroyed, Nexus can never
truly be eliminated; another will simply peel its way out
from a Nightsilk exoskeleton, ready to command their
legion once more.

Nightsilk Creeper
8
COST
Enforcer, Beast
CADMUS
Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
Venomous Strike y1" 7 Df -
Target suffers 2/3/4 damage and gains Poison +1.
c Infect: Models damaged by this Action gain
Poison +1 for each c in this Action’s final duel
total (to a maximum of Poison +2).
r Tear Off a Bite: This model Heals 2.
Web Strand 6" 5 Mv -
Target gains Staggered and Stunned.
R Pull and Drag: Push the target 3" toward this model.
t Spin Web: Create a 50mm Destructible, Severe
Web Marker within 1" of the target.

4 5 Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

6
Df
Wp Mv 3
Sz F Create Web 6" - - -
Drop a 50mm Destructible, Severe Web Marker
ABILITIES anywhere within range.
Catalyst: Models with Poison that start their Activation F Creep Along - 5r - 11
within a3 suffer 1 damage from Poison. Push this model up to its Mv in inches toward a friendly
Hard to Wound: Damage flips against this model suffer a -. model in LoS.
r Return to the Nest: If this model is within 1" of a
Seize Prey: At the start of this model’s Activation, it may
friendly Web Marker, it may take a yAction.
Place itself into base contact with a friendly Web Marker
within 12". This model is unaffected by Web Markers.
Unimpeded: This model is unaffected by Severe Terrain.
We are Legion: During the Activation Phase, when
this model Heals or suffers damage, it may choose another
friendly Cadmus model within 4", not already chosen for
this Ability this Activation, to Heal or suffer 1 damage
(as before). If it does so, reduce the amount this model Heals
or suffers by 1 (to a minimum of 0).

HEALTH 50mm

102 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY

 CADMUS • Stat Cards

6
COST
Minion (3), Living
CADMUS
Before, Cadmus did not need to produce mites en masse;
the hosts they once controlled had lifespans that equaled
centuries. But now, they have been confronted with new
problems. Humans often require direct control to help
maneuver through the bureaucratic layers their society
has put in place. For Cadmus, this is like burning through
matches. They have developed a fitting way to produce
mites and deliver them to new hosts: the Berserker Husks.
3 4 Typically formed from those who can withstand the infes-
4DfC Wp Mv 2
Sz tation, Berserker Husks act as muscle for Nexus. Cadmus’
ABILITIES constant presence burns their energy away very quickly
Df (c) Drawn to Pain: Enemy only. After resolving, if and leaves a vacant shell in its place. The body is used as a
this model suffered damage, Push this model 4" toward the
Attacking model. breeding ground for a new colony. By directing numerous
Hard to Wound: Damage flips against this model suffer a -. mites at once, Cadmus can treat Berserker Husks like they
Relentless: Enemy models engaged with this model may are on a switch. When Cadmus requires raw power, or the
not declare Resistance Triggers.
Ruthless: This model ignores the Terrifying and
new swarms of mites are ready to be spread, they send in a
Manipulative Abilities of other models. Husk for devastation.
We are Legion: During the Activation Phase, when
this model Heals or suffers damage, it may choose another
friendly Cadmus model within 4", not already chosen for
The Berserker Husks react violently, becoming living weap-
this Ability this Activation, to Heal or suffer 1 damage ons hellbent on destruction while sending out mites to infect
(as before). If it does so, reduce the amount this model Heals
or suffers by 1 (to a minimum of 0).
new hosts. The body inevitably tears itself apart. Muscles
tear and bones break, but this is an acceptable loss. Bringing
HEALTH
down a Husk requires resources. If destroyed at range, then
the enemy has focused their efforts on an expendable brute
while leaving the valuable assets unharmed. That, and Dr.
Stanley can always make more to replace any Husks lost in
Berserker Husk
the fray.
Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
Tear Apart y1" 6 Df -
Target suffers 2/3/5 damage.
r Tear Off a Bite: This model Heals 2.
M Shove Aside: Once per Activation. Push the target
4" away from this model. Then, this model may
Push up to 4" and declare a yAction targeting a
different model.

Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

Swarm of Mites p2" 5 - 10
This model suffers 2 damage. Models within range suffer
1 damage.
c Severe Injury: Models damaged by this Action
gain Injured +1 for each c in this Action’s final duel
total (to a maximum of Injured +2).
m One of Us: Enemy models damaged by this Action
must each pass a TN 13 Df duel or gain a Parasite
Token.
F Creep Along - 6m - 11
Push this model up to its Mv in inches toward a friendly
model in LoS.
m Clamber: When resolving, if this model Pushes
towards a model with a Parasite Token, it Pushes
+2" and ignores Severe Terrain while moving.

30mm

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 103
 Stat Cards • CADMUS

2
COST
Minion (5), Living
CADMUS
Cadmus mites attach to any being that has a source of
energy, feeding off the spark found inside their host. Living
creatures are best, but even constructs have enough magic
to sustain the mites for a time. After a mite binds to a host,
everything they see and hear is transferred to Nexus. Who
could be a better agent than the everyman who sees and
hears it all on the busy city streets? These “Eyes and Ears”
are essential for supplying Nexus with information. If they
wish, the hivemind can even take direct control. This pro-
cess is gruesome: blackened veins bulge to the surface as 3 5
3 Wp Mv 2
the mite drains more energy. The host is put into a state of Df Sz

amnesia during these periods of mental domination. This ABILITIES

can cause panic and isolation, especially if Cadmus commit- Demise (New Host): After this model is killed, enemy
models within p2 must each pass a TN 13 Df duel or gain
ted an unusual act while inside a host’s head. Everyone still a Parasite Token.
has their part to play. A little coaxing Innocent Bystander: Attack Actions without a TN
that target this model gain a TN of 12.
is all it takes for an Eyes and Ears Insignificant: This model cannot take the Interact
to calm down, rest, and continue Action and is ignored for Strategies and Schemes.
their lives as normal. We are Legion: During the Activation Phase, when
this model Heals or suffers damage, it may choose another
friendly Cadmus model within 4", not already chosen for
Unfortunately, as numerous and this Ability this Activation, to Heal or suffer 1 damage
beneficial as they are, humans are (as before). If it does so, reduce the amount this model Heals
or suffers by 1 (to a minimum of 0).
not ideal hosts for Cadmus mites.
The hivemind has been forced HEALTH
to play a more passive role with
their human hosts or risk killing
them too quickly. Even so, these
Eyes and Ears
complications are quite interest-
ing. Humans live brief lives, but Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
they experience so much more Makeshift Weaponry y0" 4Df -
in this time than Nexus could Target suffers 1/2/3 damage.
t Grab On: Target gains Slow. End this model’s
have ever expected. Activation.
Lure 12" 4 Wp 12
Move the target its Mv toward this model.
t “HELP! I’m Trapped!”: This model suffers 2
damage. Immediately, increase this model’s duel
total by +2.
f Eavesdrop 4" 4 Wp -
Enemy only. Target must reveal a random card in their
hand. This model may choose to discard the revealed
card and have the target draw a card.

30mm

104 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY

 Stat Cards  •  DUA, UMBRA

15
COST
Master, Living
Who is English Ivan? He’s certainly not English, and his name DUA, UMBRA

is definitely not Ivan. His business has always been confiden-

tial. Ivan would come to a safehouse, carrying that ivory cane.
A smile and a tip of his hat was all it ever took. Locked doors
would open, secrets would spill, and Ivan would just disap-
pear without anyone ever knowing that he was there. The
M&SU thought he was a Union man. There were rumors he
worked with Ramos. Others said he plotted for the Elite Divi-
sion as a spy, trying to bring down Ramos and the M&SU. But 6 4
even as that information circulated, no one tried to stop him.
5
Df
Wp Mv 2
Sz

Some said the Sourbreak Line disaster was his doing, or the
events that injured Mei Feng in Sunbeam. There’s enough evi-
dence, but none ever seems to stick.
Those who think they know Ivan best are fellow members of
the Department of Ungentlemanly Affairs. Agents go about
their lives until they get their summons. Confusion and mis-
trust are the lifeblood of an informant, and English Ivan has
built a fortune in the market of information. His charisma
has been a port in a storm for many who had no clue the
ABILITIES
Black Mirror: When this model would gain a Condition,
it may choose a friendly model with this Ability to gain that
Condition instead, if able.
Dark Deception: When this model suffers damage from
an enemy Attack Action, it may remove a friendly Shadow
Marker within a2 to reduce that damage to 0.
Sustaining Shadows: Other friendly Umbra models that
start their Activation within a6 Heal 2.
Penumbral Converter: At the end of this model’s
Activation, it may choose either a Scheme or friendly
Shadow Marker within a6 and Drop the other Marker
into base contact with it. Then, remove the chosen Marker.

man was listening to every word they said, picking it apart Ungentlemanly Affairs: This model treats - from
Concealment, Distracted, and Friendly Fire as +.
for slivers of gold.
HEALTH
Another group believes they have figured out that Ivan is part
of the Explorer’s Society. It was his combination of technical
superiority and subterfuge that caught their eye. The wealthy
and curious all fit with his clientele, and he found an invita- English Ivan
tion at his door within a few months of Gretchen Janus taking
Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
over. She was dangerous. Ivan felt she knew more about him
10" 6 Wp -
than he was comfortable with, so why not keep both friends
Runic Siphon
If this Action has any + in its duel, it may replace a + with
and enemies close to see which one she’d turn out to be? She +c to its final duel total. Target suffers 2/3/4 damage.
c Shadow Pin: Target must have Concealment or
gave him dark alleys to lean into, and Ivan did so in every way be within 3" of a friendly Shadow Marker. When
he could. Unfortunately, one dark alley leaned back, hungry resolving, target suffers +1 damage and gains Staggered.
cc Intercision: Once per Turn. Enemy only. Summon
after being sealed away for so many years. an Umbra Minion with Cost equal to or less than the
target’s Wp plus 2, with a Shade Upgrade Attached,
into base contact with the target.
That fateful assignment involved retrieving an artifact that
Black Soulstone 7 * 13
produced darkness. For a man who made his name work-
z10"
Instead of Dropping a Shockwave Marker, this Action
ing in those conditions, having power over the shadow was Drops a Destructible, Concealing Shadow Marker,
centering the Shockwave on that Marker. Shockwave 1,
irresistible. But the relic was far more aware than Ivan could Mv 13, Damage 2. Friendly Umbra models may ignore the
have anticipated. It dragged him into its world and tore him effects of this Shockwave.
t Surge: Draw a card.
apart; the process nearly killed him. Only quick interven- M Swift Action: Take this Action again.
tion from the DUA saved Ivan’s life. Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
Encroaching Shadows 10" 6 - 12
Now, there are two places English Ivan walks. He speaks Target friendly Shadow Marker or friendly Umbra model.
Push the target up to 6" in any direction, ignoring any
with shades and moves as an intruder in their world. They models. Non-Umbra models moved through this way must
despise him for it, but this anger has started to lessen. Ivan each pass a TN 13 Mv duel or gain Distracted +1.
M Cut Them Down: The target may take a yAction.
didn’t escape the place of shadow unscathed. He has new
F Shade Step 6" 6 - 10
companions and voices that are not his own. The Soulstone Place this model anywhere within range in Concealing Terrain.
atop his cane has turned black as coal. Sometimes, just for a c Trail of Dusk: Immediately, Drop a Destructible,
Concealing Shadow Marker into base contact with this
moment, the edges of his memories will blur… model.

Who is English Ivan? It’s a question the man finds himself 30mm
asking more often than he’d like to admit.

106 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY

 DUA, UMBRA  •  Stat Cards

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 107
 Stat Cards  •  DUA, UMBRA

6
COST
Enforcer
Totem (English Ivan)
When English Ivan entered the shadows, the process tore DUA, UMBRA
his mind and spirit apart, recombining the pieces with
fragments of umbra. Physically speaking, Mr. Mordrake is
quite literally Ivan’s shadow, named so the dapper gentle-
man didn’t need to keep referring to the animated darkness
as “that thing”. He slithers about near Ivan’s feet, indistin-
guishable from a normal shade. This constant companion-
ship has given Mr. Mordrake a lot to think about. He and
Ivan are one and the same, but how can the two be so differ-
ent? Mr. Mordrake can feel when his vessel pushes away the 4 4
shady parts of his consciousness; it’s like displacing water. 6
Df
Wp Mv 2
Sz
That’s his cue to rise up and show people what English
Ivan’s darkest mind can really do. ABILITIES
Black Mirror: When this model would gain a Condition,
it may choose a friendly model with this Ability to gain that
When Ivan is preoccupied, his “better half” can sneak into Condition instead, if able.
his head and feast on little memory fragments. Secrets are Born of Shadow: The area within a1 of this model is
treated as Concealing Terrain.
the most delicious. The more Mr. Mordrake intermingles with Demise (Silhouette): After this model is killed, it
English Ivan’s mind, the better he feels. More alive. More… in may be Placed into base contact with a friendly English
Ivan. If it does so, it Heals 2, ends all Conditions on itself,
control. For now, Mr. Mordrake is content to watch and act gains Shielded +1, and the friendly English Ivan suffers 2
out his violent delights. Sometimes he swears Ivan looks irreducible damage.

at him with something like fear in his eyes. It only lasts a Ungentlemanly Affairs: This model treats - from
Concealment, Distracted, and Friendly Fire as +.
second, but Mr. Mordrake can feel it. It makes him smile.
HEALTH

Mr. Mordrake

Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

Reach Through y1" 5 Mv -
Target suffers 2/3/4 damage and this model Heals 1.
c Claimed by Shadow: Enemy only. Choose a
friendly Shadow Marker in base contact with
the target. Bury the target. If the chosen Marker is
removed, Unbury the target into base contact with
the chosen Marker before it is removed.
t Lingering Shadow: Drop a Destructible,
Concealing Shadow Marker into base contact with
the target.
Drag Under 6" 5 Wp -
Target gains Staggered.
t Disturbing Sight: Models within p1 of the target
gain Distracted +1.

Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

F Shade Step 6" 5r - 10
Place this model anywhere within range in Concealing
Terrain.
r Reconstitute: This model may remove a friendly
Shadow Marker in base contact with itself to Heal 2.
c Trail of Dusk: Immediately, Drop a Destructible,
Concealing Shadow Marker into base contact with
this model.

30mm

108 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY

 UMBRA  •  Stat Cards

There was death in the darkness that enveloped English Ivan.

He began seeing vestiges of skeletal faces pushing out from
dark corners, pursuing him, desperate to feed on the one that
had escaped their world of shadow. Ivan ordered the DUA
to immediately start expanding its knowledge of light-based
technology. It would be Gibson DeWalt’s Faraday collar that
gave English Ivan respite from his darkness.

The collars harness light and distort it to bind these

beings, called Brocken Spectres, into a singular form.
They are greatly weakened, and let English Ivan
safely navigate the shadowy parts of the world with-
out fearing for his life. Each Spectre strains against
its confinement; they are not used to occupying
solid bodies for so long, and bearing a Faraday
collar is anathema to them. Gibson DeWalt has
made several improvements to the collars, but
they have been unable to permanently hold a
Brocken Spectre. This in itself doesn’t worry
Ivan. The Spectres aren’t strong enough to
flee when the collar exchange takes place.
But the day might come when not even the
fruits of DeWalt’s knowledge can restrain
these killers in the dark.

Brocken Spectre
8
COST
Minion (2)
UMBRA
Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
Death Touch y1" 6 Df -
Target suffers 2/3/4 irreducible damage. If the target is
killed by this Action, this model Heals 2.
t Fall into Darkness: Place the target anywhere
within 4" of its current position in Concealing
Terrain.
F Envelop in Shadow 6" 5 Mv -
This Action ignores Concealment. Target suffers
1 damage for each friendly Shadow Marker or friendly
Umbra model within 2" of it (to a maximum of 3).
M On Your Heels: Enemy only. Place this model into
base contact with the target.
t Fall into Darkness: Place the target anywhere
within 4" of its current position in Concealing
Terrain.

Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

5 4 6 - 12
6
Df
Wp Mv 3
Sz
Hallowed Glory p6"
Enemy models within range must each pass a TN 12 Mv
duel or Push 3" toward this model. Any enemy models in
base contact with this model suffer 2 damage.
ABILITIES M Stagger: Models damaged by this Action gain
Born of Shadow: The area within a1 of this model is Staggered.
treated as Concealing Terrain.
F Reclaim Shadow 3" - - -
Df/Wp (m) Faraday Collar: After resolving, the
Remove target friendly Shadow Marker. This model
Attacking model gains Distracted +1.
Heals 2.
Terrifying (11): After an enemy model targets this
model with an Attack Action, the enemy model must pass a
TN 11 Wp duel or the Action fails.
Withering Away: Enemy models within a3 cannot Heal.

HEALTH 40mm

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 109
 Stat Cards • DUA

8
COST
Henchman, Living
DUA
People always swoon over the machine and never the maker.
Fame-hungry engineers bristle at this fact, but Gibson DeWalt
appreciates anonymity. DeWalt knew what he was getting
into when he agreed to join the Department of Ungentle-
manly Affairs, but still. If things hadn’t gone wrong in
London, if he’d just stuck to working on logic engines…

Gibson’s life has been a series of regrets, and the DUA was
another inevitable addition to that list. But things played
out a bit differently in Malifaux. Ivan asked for weird tech-
nology that played to Gibson’s strengths involving light
6 5
5 Wp Mv 2
manipulation. DeWalt’s greatest success was the Faraday Df Sz

suit, which resulted in him earning a healthy sum of scrip ABILITIES

for his part in the job. It wasn’t ideal, all the sneaking around
and secrecy, but DeWalt was finally getting to stretch his
engineering skills.
After Ivan got tangled up in his own shadows, he came
to DeWalt first. The pair worked on several experimen-
tal devices that used light and darkness alike to produce a
variety of effects: prismatic barriers, traveling between the
shadows, containment equipment to subdue more aggres-
sive umbral beasts. The successes piled up and DeWalt
finally admitted that maybe, just maybe, working in the
DUA wasn’t all that bad.
Arcane Shield +1: During the Start Phase, this model
gains Shielded +1.
Blinded by the Light: After an enemy model within
a6 is targeted by an Attack Action, this model may reduce
the value of the target’s Distracted Condition by 1 to have
the target suffer a - to any duels made to resist the Action.
Tools for the Job: At the start of this model’s
Activation, it may draw the top card of its Discard Pile,
then discard a card. Until the End Phase, this model may
add the suit of the discarded card to its final duel totals.
Ungentlemanly Affairs: This model treats - from
Concealment, Distracted, and Friendly Fire as +.
HEALTH

Gibson DeWalt

Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

Artefactor’s Wrench y1" 5 Df -
Target suffers 2/3/4 damage. If the target is a friendly
Umbra model, it instead Heals 2.
t Surge: Draw a card.
Chromatic Aberration 6" 7 Wp 14
Target gains Distracted +1. If the target is within 1" of a
friendly Umbra model, this model may instead have the
target gain Focused +1.
c Burn Out: Target suffers 2 damage and gains Fast.
Mechanical Firefly 6" 6 * 10
Once per Activation. Shockwave 2, Wp 13, Distracted +2.
Friendly Umbra models may ignore the effects of this
Shockwave.
r Nuclear Shadow: A friendly Umbra model
within 2" of a Shockwave Marker Dropped by
this Action may take a yAction, ignoring range,
targeting an enemy model that failed to resist this
Shockwave.

Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

F These Dark Delights 6" 6 - 10
Drop a Destructible, Concealing Shadow Marker within
range.
m Antiluminal Bridge: Choose a friendly Shadow
Marker within 6" of the Dropped Marker and this
model. Until the End Phase, after a friendly Umbra
model ends a move in base contact with either the
chosen Marker or the Dropped Marker, this model
may Place that model into base contact with the
other Marker.

30mm

110 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY

 DUA • Stat Cards

A longtime partner of the DUA and frequent violator of

English Ivan’s “no cursing” rule, Eva Havenhand serves
many roles in the organization. She owes her electrical
whip to Gibson DeWalt, who she has promised not to kill
as a fair trade. She is Corvis Rook’s go-to when a lighter
touch is needed, which is as ironic as it gets. Havenhand
is exceedingly vocal about her opinions; most of the other
DUA agents are well aware of Eva’s thoughts on them, pos-
itive or negative. So far, she’s avoided any real punishment,
as she has the strength and capability to back up her biting
comments and quick temper. Despite her spitfire attitude,
Eva respects Ivan and admires what he’s managed to build.

This does not translate to loyalty. Eva is in high standing

with the DUA and knows almost as many secrets as Ivan.
She’s been careful to cultivate trust, but every saboteur knows
what’s behind her friendly smile.

The time may come when Eva decides she can safely cash in
on everything she knows. She might never take that path, but
Ivan and Corvis are both keeping an eye out for any signs
that indicate otherwise.

Eva Havenhand
7
COST
Enforcer, Living
DUA
Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
Electric Whip y2" 6 Df -
Target suffers 2/3/3 damage. Models damaged by this
Action must either discard a card or this model may
move them up to 3".
c Shadow Pin: Target must have Concealment
or be within 3" of a friendly Shadow Marker.
When resolving, target suffers +1 damage and
gains Staggered.
t Sweeping Strike: When resolving, the target
suffers +b damage.
Derringer z8" 5 Df -
Target suffers 2/3/4 damage.
m Coordinated Attack: Another friendly model may
take a yAction targeting the same model.
5 5
5
Df
Wp Mv 2
Sz
Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
Secret Passage 12" 6 - 14
This Action may only be declared if this model is
ABILITIES within 1" of Blocking Terrain. Place this model
Don’t Mind Me: This model may take the Interact anywhere within range within 1" of Blocking Terrain.
Action while engaged or if it has taken the Disengage
Action this Activation. F Lock Away 2" 5 - 10
Target a Marker. Until the End Phase, enemy models
Flexible Morality: After an enemy model targets this
treat the area within a2 of the target as Concealing and
model with an Attack Action, the enemy model must either
may not take Actions other than Walk and Disengage
discard a card or suffer a - to its duel.
while within this area.
Scoundrel: At the end of this model’s Activation, it may
look at the top three cards of the opposing player’s Fate
Deck and place them back in any order.
Ungentlemanly Affairs: This model treats - from
Concealment, Distracted, and Friendly Fire as +.

HEALTH 30mm

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 111
 Stat Cards • UMBRA

7
COST
Minion (3)
UMBRA
Everyone has a shadow bound to their body. When it’s
offered a chance to break free, the shadow takes it. Daeva
are not wholly from Malifaux; the magic that animates them
is locked away in a place just between worlds, where the
infinite blackness sleeps. English Ivan usually summons
Daeva by pulling directly through a person’s shadow. As
he does so, it imitates the host’s form, eager to take ven-
geance against the captor that has unknowingly dragged
them along for years. This hatred is not limited to a Daeva’s
vessel; the shadows would just as soon tear Ivan apart, but
he is the only one that can send them back to their realm of
darkness. To be left to burn in the light is a fate that even the 4 4
inscrutable Daeva fear, and so Ivan is spared their assault.
6
Df
Wp Mv 2
Sz

Daeva also become easily agitated. Anything but dark and
quiet sets them on edge, and the shades have no issue doing
whatever they can to eliminate the cause. They are cold and
solid, but equally as ghostly and immaterial as the wind.
Shadows seem to obey them, cutting like knives or sepa-
rating from the creatures to form rippling pools of umbral
darkness. Survivors of a Daeva attack are never quite the
same. They always look over their shoulder, as though they
ABILITIES
Born of Shadow: The area within a1 of this model is
treated as Concealing Terrain.
Clingy: After an enemy model in base contact with this
model moves, it must pass a TN 12 Mv duel or this model
may Place into base contact with the moved enemy model.
Latch On: Enemy models in base contact with this model
suffer -1 Df.
Made to Kill: Once per Activation. After this model is
Placed, it may take a yAction after resolving the current
Action.

expect their shadow to rear up and attack without warning. HEALTH

Daeva

Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

Maul y0" 5 Df -
Target suffers 2/3/4 damage.
m Bowled Over: Push target 4" away from this model,
then Push this model 4" toward the target.
t Lingering Shadow: Drop a Destructible,
Concealing Shadow Marker into base contact with
the target.
c Shadow Pin: Target must have Concealment
or be within 3" of a friendly Shadow Marker.
When resolving, target suffers +1 damage and
gains Staggered.

Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

F Mimic 6" 5 - 12
Select one of the target’s non-F Actions that does not
Attach Upgrades or list a model by name. Non-Master
only. Until the End Phase, this model may treat the
selected Action (and its Triggers) as though it were
printed on its card. The Stat for the Action is considered
to be equal to the Stat for this Action.
M On Your Heels: Enemy only. Place this model into
base contact with the target.
F Reclaim Shadow 3" - - -
Remove target friendly Shadow Marker. This model
Heals 2.

30mm

112 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY

 UMBRA • Stat Cards

When he first emerged from the place of shadows, English

Ivan struggled to understand the aftereffects of such a jour-
ney. His mind was whole but separate, and the power he
had gained was still foreign and unsettling. There had been
creatures in that formless darkness. Some were monstrous
and untamable, but others were smaller and primal. Ivan
drew these beings out first. Animal shadows were the most
receptive, and in time he could call forth Nocturnes. They
were easy to control, as each operated solely on instinct.
They recognized English Ivan as their master, and slid from
shadow to shadow with predatory ease.

Though he has far greater control over his pow-

ers now, English Ivan still summons Nocturnes
with regularity. They do not last as long as their
stronger kin, nor can they communicate, but the
animal-shades are effective killers. Perhaps
most of all, Ivan uses them because he can
control them. The stronger shadows fight
against him every step of the way. The
Nocturnes are simple, and for that
Ivan is thankful.

Nocturne
COST
5
Minion (3)
UMBRA
Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
Snapping Jaws y0" 5 Df -
Target suffers 1/3/4 damage.
m Rake the Eyes: Choose a suit. The target must
reveal the top three cards of its Fate Deck and
discard any of the chosen suit. Place the rest back
on top of the deck in any order.
Displace 8" 5 Mv 11
This Action ignores Concealment. Move the target up
to 3". If the target is in Concealing Terrain, this model
may have the target gain Distracted +1.
t Lingering Shadow: Drop a Destructible,
Concealing Shadow Marker into base contact with
the target.
m Reposition: Move this model up to 3".

Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

F Reclaim Shadow 3" - - -
Remove target friendly Shadow Marker. This model
Heals 2.
3 6
6
Df
Wp Mv 1Sz
ABILITIES
Born of Shadow: The area within a1 of this model is
treated as Concealing Terrain.
Dusk Hunter: When targeting a model within 2" of
a friendly Shadow Marker, this model’s Attack Actions
receive a + to their duels and damage flips.
Unimpeded: This model is unaffected by Severe Terrain.

HEALTH 30mm

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 113
 Stat Cards • EVS

15
COST
Master, Living
EVS
In the scientific world, there are few more respected than
Maxine Agassiz. As the only child to a wealthy mining fam-
ily in the United States, Maxine attended schools that would
sculpt her into an idyllic member of the social elite. Though
her education began as a formality, it soon became filled
with rigorous studies. Her father initially disapproved, but
his tune changed when Maxine assisted in creating the first
voltaic pile, later refined into a proper electrical battery. The
increased demand for copper used inside these inventions 6 5
benefited her father’s mine, and he continued to encourage
5
Df
Wp Mv 2
Sz

his daughter to learn all she could. ABILITIES

In the years that followed, Maxine earned PhDs in Physics
and Mathematics, a Master’s in Engineering, and completed
additional doctorates in Chemistry and Biology on a fellow-
ship in France, where she also met her husband. Journeys to
Abyssinia and New Zealand brought new faces to her ship’s
research crew, gifted by her father and grandiosely named
the EV Superior. Agassiz continued to delve deeper into the
unknown; she often brought other scientists along on jour-
neys to integrate their fields of expertise. Maxine learned
quickly, but collaboration always produced the best results.
The arrival of the Burning Man threw natural order into
disarray. While governments dealt with the chaos raging
across much of the old world, Maxine went to work. Perhaps
science could still provide answers. She put her focus
on the Burning Man’s portals; how did they come about?
How did magic, an expression of energy, collect and dissipate?
Though Maxine dared not get her hopes up, she believed
she could determine how the portals appeared on Earth.
She was more than successful.
Her formula proved effective in predicting how the ley lines
behaved. After inadvertently traveling to Malifaux while
testing her theory, she and her crew found themselves at
the doorstep of the likeminded. Agassiz’s formula, not to
mention her multiple contributions to science, made her
a prime candidate for the Society. Accepted the moment
they walked through the door, Agassiz was put in charge
of exploring Malifaux’s oceans. Alongside her loyal crew,
Maxine has set out to explore places where science barely
scratched the surface.
Captain of the Superior: Once per Activation. After a
friendly EVS model within a8 Cheats Fate with a card that
shares a suit with its Reconfigure Ability, it may draw a card.
Deep Discovery: Once per Activation. When this model
would Cheat Fate, it may discard a card to Cheat Fate with
the top non-Joker card of the opposing player’s Discard Pile.
Polymath: During the Start Phase, choose any suit for the
value of X on this model’s Stat Card.
Two Steps Ahead: Enemy models treat X cards in
opposed duels with this model as having a value of 1.
Reconfigure (X): This model may treat any X cards it
Cheats Fate with as having a value of 9.
Seen it All: This model cannot gain the Stunned
Condition.
HEALTH
Maxine Agassiz
Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
6 Wp -
Strike Between the Lines y1"
Target suffers 2/3/5 damage and must discard cards from
the top of its Fate Deck until it discards an X card.
m Touch of Madness: Target discards a random card.
Clockwork Revolver z12" 6 Df -
Target suffers 2/3/5 damage.
X Age of Inspiration: Draw any one of this model’s
non-Joker cards it flipped during this Action.
t Draw Out Secrets: Drop a Scheme Marker into
base contact with the target.
Impromptu Invention 8" 7 Wp 12
This Action ignores Concealment. Target a model that
has not gained a Condition this Activation. Target gains a
Condition of this model’s choice (value of +1, if any) that
has not been gained from this Action this Activation.
r One for All: Once per Activation. Choose a
model within 2" of the target that has not gained a
Condition this Activation. The chosen model gains
the same Condition as the target.
c Maximum Force: If the target’s gained Condition
has a value, increase the value gained by +1.

Researching The Flammae introduced a tiny spark of mad-

Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
F Order in Chaos - 6 - 12
ness in Agassiz’s brain; the journey through the Burning Choose any number of X non-Joker cards from any one
Man’s portal turned that spark into a raging fire, for just player’s Discard Pile. Shuffle the chosen cards into their
owner’s Fate Deck.
a single moment. To the rest of her compatriots, Maxine X Patterns in Portals: If two or more Weak cards
appears normal. But there are burning threads that wrap were shuffled into their owner’s deck this way, Place
this model anywhere within 6" of its current position.
around her mind. They show her the world in a slightly
different light, enough to help her make connections that
before would have been impossible. The magic in Malifaux 30mm

may yet exacerbate these threads, though only time will tell.

114 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY

 EVS • Stat Cards

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 115
 Stat Cards • EVS

4
COST
Enforcer, Living
Totem (Maxine Agassiz)
Why, what if you added wings to the jetpack? Yes, perhaps EVS

made the pinions more aerodynamic here and here, maybe

even retractable! Zounds! If we account for the slipstream,
calculate the density of the different types of canvas… hmm…
what ho, that might just work! Maxine, dearest, I daresay
I’m on to something here! Number 38 is going to be the one, I
can feel it! Now, where’d that other shoe get off to?
There are some scientists that bemoan a discovery when
someone else makes it first. The same goes for inventors,
albeit competition in that field is far more vocal. Orville
is a contributor to both of those professions, but harbors
only a joyous appreciation for each advancement the world
churns out. Though his fields of specialty are navigation and
astronomy, Orville’s second love is aviation (preceded only
by his love for Maxine. And, perhaps, chocolate bonbons).
He has accompanied Maxine on every journey she’s taken
since they first met at the University of Paris (or, rather,
when Orville crash-landed in front of her in an open
field). The decks of the Superior are perfect
for flights, and veteran crewmembers always
know to duck when they hear Orville’s
excited whooping growing
4 6
6
Df
Wp Mv 2
Sz
ABILITIES
Deep Discovery: Once per Activation. When this model
would Cheat Fate, it may discard a card to Cheat Fate with
the top non-Joker card of the opposing player’s Discard Pile.
Flight: When resolving the Walk or Charge Action,
instead of moving normally, this model may Place itself
completely within X", where X is equal to this model’s Mv.
This model does not suffer Falling damage.
Reconfigure (m): This model may treat any m cards it
Cheats Fate with as having a value of 9.
Scout Ahead: After Deployment Zones are chosen,
choose an enemy non-Leader model without From the
Shadows. The chosen model deploys now, rather than
during Deployment.
Sputtering Exhaust: Models within a2 of this model
have Concealment.
HEALTH

louder.

Orville Agassiz

Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

“Up We Go!” y2" 2 Sz -
This Action cannot target models with Flight. Place the
target anywhere within 3" of its current position. The
target suffers 2/3/4 damage.
m Reposition: Move this model up to 3".
t Bouncing Bombs: Enemy only. Once per
Activation. Choose an another enemy model
within 3" of the target. That models suffers
1/2b/3b damage, which cannot be Cheated.

Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

F Aeronautical - 6 - 10
Eccentricity
The next Walk Action this model takes this Activation
may leave enemy engagement ranges when moving.
m Paper Airplanes: Enemy models within p2 must
pass a TN 13 Wp duel or gain Distracted +1.

30mm

116 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY

 EVS • Stat Cards

Neither Maxine nor Orville had experience sailing a ship,

which posed a problem when the duo first planned to set off
on a nautical research expedition. It fell to Maxine to hire
a suitable captain. She went through dozens of applicants
before settling on Kiya Manimi. As a former electrocutioner
from Abyssinia, Kiya was a jack-of-all-trades as far as the
Agassizes were concerned. She was a skilled fighter, an
accomplished engineer, and a proficient sailor. Though gruff,
Maxine could see a strong will and a good heart beneath
the coarse exterior. Kiya was offered the position, and she
accepted with a firm handshake before striding on board to
get the vessel ready for her maiden voyage.

Despite being blunt and direct, Kiya Manimi has become

as much an integral part of the Superior as its cabins and
scientific instruments. Secretly, Kiya has come to love the
people she sails alongside. What was supposed to be a single
contract has evolved into an entirely new life. It’s almost
enough to make Kiya crack a smile.

“For scientific prowess, give me Beebe; for navigation, my

husband; but when you are staring death in the eye, pray
that you have Kiya by your side.” –Maxine Agassiz

Kiya Manimi
10
COST
Henchman, Living, Construct
EVS
Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
Charged Spear y2" 6 Df -
This model may reduce the value of its Shielded
Condition by 1. Target suffers 2/4/6 damage. If this
model reduced its Shielded Condition when declaring
this Action, this damage is irreducible.
c Convulsions: Enemy only. Move the target up
to 3". Then the target must either discard a card
or this model may move it up to 3".
t Surge: Draw a card.
Discus Grenade z8" 5 Mv -
Target suffers 1b/2b/3b damage.
t Bouncing Bombs: Enemy only. Once per
Activation. Choose an another enemy model
5 5 within 3" of the target. That models suffers
5
Df
Wp Mv 3
Sz
1/2b/3b damage, which cannot be Cheated.

Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

ABILITIES
Armor +1: Reduce all damage suffered by this model by +1. F Shield Generator - 7 - 12
This model gains Shielded +1.
Deep Discovery: Once per Activation. When this model c Backlash Shield: Until the End Phase, after this
would Cheat Fate, it may discard a card to Cheat Fate with model is damaged by a yAction, it may Push the
the top non-Joker card of the opposing player’s Discard Pile. Attacking model up to 2" in any direction.
Reconfigure (c): This model may treat any c cards it
Cheats Fate with as having a value of 9.
Ruthless: This model ignores the Terrifying and
Manipulative Abilities of other models.
Technophile: Once per Activation. When a friendly
EVS model within a3 would draw a card from its Fate
Deck, it may instead draw any of value 5 or less from its
Discard Pile that shares a suit with its Reconfigure Ability.

HEALTH 40mm

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 117
 Stat Cards  •  EVS, PERFORMER

9
COST
Enforcer, Living
EVS, PERFORMER
Born on the islands of New Zealand, Harata Ngaatoro is
descended from the sisters who sacrificed themselves to
poison Horomatangi centuries ago. He is an accomplished
user of magic, and is particularly attuned to the oceans.
Harata can feel how the waters act and behave as his magic
reverberates through their depths like whale-song. It was
happenstance that he met the Agassizes. Harata said the seas
urged him to go, to heal the wounds of the world’s oceans.
Horomatangi had woken once more and was terrorizing
coastlines; the Gibbering Hordes had infested the waters, 5 5
and New Zealand did not have all the answers he needed. 6
Df
Wp Mv 2
Sz

The Maori man sailed with the Agassizes for months,
growing close to Maxine. The pair argued about sci-
ence and logic, supplemented with discussions on
magic and seeing the world as something beyond
statistics. She became his kāpene, a captain for
the world beyond the islands. In turn, Harata
taught Maxine how to trust her instincts.
Both have gained a deeper reverence for the
ABILITIES
Debilitating Poison: When an enemy model within
a4 suffers damage from Poison, it gains Distracted +1.
Deep Discovery: Once per Activation. When this model
would Cheat Fate, it may discard a card to Cheat Fate with
the top non-Joker card of the opposing player’s Discard Pile.
Distraction: Enemy models within a2 of this model
suffer a - to Wp duels.
Echoes of the Ocean: Once per Turn. Before a
Scheme Marker would be removed within a4, this model
may Drop a Scheme Marker into base contact with it.

unique beauty each person sees in the small- Reconfigure (c): This model may treat any c cards it
Cheats Fate with as having a value of 9.
est things.
HEALTH
Harata has never stopped upholding his peo-
ple’s traditions. While New Zealand is
far away, the young Maori refuses
to abandon his heritage. His own Harata Ngaatoro
blood did so for power and wealth;
Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
that shame has never stopped
6 Df -
weighing on his consciousness.
Carved Taiaha y2"
Target suffers 3/4/5 damage.
c Infect: Models damaged by this Action gain
Poison +1 for each c in this Action’s final duel total
(to a maximum of Poison +2).
t Sweeping Strike: When resolving, the target
suffers +b damage.
Crash Against the Waves z8" 6 * 10
Shockwave 1, Mv 13, Damage 1 and Distracted +1.
t Claimed by the Sea: Remove any one Scheme
Marker touching a p generated by this Shockwave.
c Infect: Models damaged by this Action gain
Poison +1 for each c in this Action’s final duel total
(to a maximum of Poison +2).
m Blown Back: Push models damaged by this Action
3" away from the Marker.
Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
F Haka a4" 6 - 14
Choose one of the Abilities below. Until the End Phase,
friendly models within range that share a Keyword with
this model gain the chosen Ability.
Ngeri: Enemy models ignore any + to their opposed
duels or damage flips against this model.
Peruperu: After an enemy model fails an opposed
duel with this model by 3 or more, it suffers 1 damage.
Tutu Ngarahu: After this model Drops a Scheme
Marker, move any one model within 3" of the
Dropped marker up to 3".

40mm

118 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY

 EVS • Stat Cards

The unlikely pair of Harata Ngaatoro and Ogden Beebe

collaborated to bring about the Tidecaller. The Superior’s
journey through the Burning Man’s portal highlighted
the need for a mobile and aquatic defender. With Beebe’s
experience building Calypso and Harata’s magic, Maxine
set them to task. The result was a cycling harness. A series
of pumps and tubes produced a circular vortex that could
absorb and contain large amounts of water, similar to a
whirlpool. When infused with magic, the waters within
could animate. Thanks to the redirective aether-channels
in the harness, the Tidecaller can remain fully formed for
much longer periods than would otherwise be possible.

The result pleased the ship’s crew immensely, and the

pair was well congratulated. The Tidecaller’s choice of
the Superior’s old anchor as a weapon raised some eye-
brows, but its reliability has helped keep the ship and the
crew safe. The Tidecaller’s harness is not a perfect science;
for some reason, the creature only responds to Harata’s
magic. Others who try find the watery giant looking
down at them with what can only be described as
bemusement on its face.

Tidecaller
8
COST
Enforcer, Construct
EVS
Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
Weighted Anchor y1" 6 Df -
Target suffers 2/4/6 damage.
t Spread it Around: When resolving, the target
suffers +b damage and models damaged by this
Action gain Staggered.
m Whirlpool: The target and enemy models within
p1 of it may be Placed anywhere within a3 of
this model.
Toss 1" 4 Sz -
Target a model with lower Sz than this model. Push
the target up to 10" in any direction. If this Push is
interrupted, the Pushed model and models in base
contact with it must each pass a TN 14 Df duel or suffer
2 damage.

Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

- - -
5 5 F Heavy Torrent z10"
This model may take the Toss Action against the target,
5
Df
Wp Mv 4
Sz
ignoring range, which gains a TN of 10 plus the Sz of the
target. When resolving that Action, reduce the distance
the target would be Pushed by an amount equal to the
ABILITIES distance between this model and the target.
Armor +1: Reduce all damage suffered by this model by +1.
Deep Discovery: Once per Activation. When this model
would Cheat Fate, it may discard a card to Cheat Fate with
the top non-Joker card of the opposing player’s Discard Pile.
Depths of Malifaux: This model is unaffected by
Severe and Hazardous Terrain.
Reconfigure (m): This model may treat any m cards it
Cheats Fate with as having a value of 9.

HEALTH 50mm

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 119
 Stat Cards • EVS

6
COST
Enforcer, Living
EVS
Revolutionaries are often considered mad by their con-
temporaries, but that doesn’t stop the most determined.
Dr. Ogden Beebe is one such forward thinker. Born in the
coastal city of Portsmouth, England, Beebe became fasci-
nated with technology, and loved the great ships the King’s
Empire anchored in the harbor. The huge vessels made lit-
tle sense to him, but he pursued knowledge in the hopes
5 4
he could someday build his own submersible. After hearing 4 Wp Mv 2
of the devastation of the Battle of London while traveling Df Sz

abroad in the United States, Beebe redoubled his efforts. ABILITIES

Another Man’s Trash: When this model Activates, it
Now more than ever the world needed a way to combat may draw any two non-Joker cards from its Discard Pile
the Gibbering Hordes, and Beebe believed he had just the with a value of 5 or less.

thing. Deep Discovery: Once per Activation. When this model

He proposed the idea of crafting a bathysphere, an under-
water exploration device that could be piloted by one or two
people. As his ideas grew more elaborate, creditors shifted
away. Undeterred, Beebe liquidated his assets and spent the
next year constructing Calypso. Upon completion, news
quickly spread, if for no other reason that the machine was
would Cheat Fate, it may discard a card to Cheat Fate with
the top non-Joker card of the opposing player’s Discard Pile.
Evasive: Reduce all damage this model suffers from
Shockwave, p, and b effects to 0.
Master Pilot: This model may choose not to deploy and
instead starts the game Buried with a Pilot Upgrade Attached.
If this model has a Pilot Upgrade Attached, it and friendly
Calypso models gain +1 to their Action’s duels and this
model may take Actions listed on its Stat Card while Buried,
drawing range and LoS from friendly Calypso models.

the strangest thing anyone had ever seen. Beebe touted infor- Reconfigure (t): This model may treat any t cards it
Cheats Fate with as having a value of 9.
mation about all sorts of technology that
seemed too nonsensical to be HEALTH
true. The engineer found an
employer (and admirer of
Calypso) in Maxine Agas-
Dr. Beebe
siz. It seemed Beebe had
just what she needed for a Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
very particular mission… Modified Welder y1" 5 Df -
Target suffers 2/3/3 damage and gains Burning +1. If
With Calypso’s suc- the target is a friendly Construct, it instead Heals 2.

cess, the world has Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

been made aware of Dr. Into the Hatch 1" - - -
Beebe. Governments This model may choose to treat this Action as a F Action.
Target a friendly Calypso. Attach a Pilot Upgrade to this
on Earth have tried to model.
acquire the plans for Bleeps and Sweeps p4" 5 - 15
the bathysphere. For now they remain Once per Activation. Enemy models within range gain
Injured +1.
firmly in Beebe’s head, and he has no m “Doctor, We’ve Lost Them!”: Move one enemy
model within range up to 2" in any direction.
intention of relinquishing them any- t A Bit of Scrap: Drop a Scrap Marker within range.
time soon. F “I Can Rebuild It” 4" - - -
This Action can only be taken if a friendly Calypso has
been killed this game. Discard any number of cards.
Remove target Scrap Marker. Summon Calypso into
base contact with this model, with Health equal to twice
the number of cards discarded to take this Action.

30mm

120 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY

 EVS • Stat Cards

After the noble sacrifice of his first prototype, Beebe used the
Explorer’s Society funds (and Maxine’s promise) to rebuild
Calypso. The Mk. II is slightly larger and incorporates new
advancements. It shares the typical bathysphere design,
with a window for viewing. A small logic engine helps
the construct function if piloted remotely, a feature
that has generated interest amongst the Society’s more
mechanically inclined members. The new Calypso also
has sets of stubby feet so it can walk on surfaces, and
flexible tentacles that end in gripping claws. Jokingly
referred to as the “fat crab”, Calypso Mk. II is nevertheless
a remarkable feat of engineering.

The data collected from the Burning Man portal proved

the original Calypso was a worthy machine, and the
Explorer’s Society has offered to produce more copies
of the bathysphere. The idea is everything Beebe
could have ever dreamed, but he is all too wary
of technological thieves. The doctor has added a
few failsafes and “special touches” to make sure
he’s the only one that can properly pilot Calypso.
For now, Beebe is content with the Mk. II and is
eager to keep her aboard the EVS so she can test
out Malifaux’s waters on her own terms.

Calypso
6
COST
Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
Enforcer, Construct
EVS
Mining Tools y1" 5 Df -
The target may not declare Resistance Triggers during
this Action. Target suffers 2/3/4 damage.
t Mass of Tentacles: Push all models within p3 of
this model 2" in any direction. Models moved this
way suffer 1 damage.

Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

Thriller Driller p3" 5 - 12

1 4 Destroy all Destructible Terrain within range.

6
Df
Wp Mv 4
Sz
t Mass of Tentacles: Push all models within p3 of
this model 2" in any direction. Models moved this
way suffer 1 damage.
ABILITIES F Eject - - - -
All-Terrain: This model cannot gain Staggered, is Target a friendly Buried model with a Pilot Upgrade.
unaffected by Severe and Hazardous Terrain, and ignores Unbury the target anywhere within 1" of this model.
models and vertical distance while moving.
F Climb Aboard 1" - - -
Armor +2: Reduce all damage suffered by this model by +2. Target a friendly model with Sz 2 or less. Attach a Pilot
Demise (Explosive +2): After this model is killed, Upgrade to the target.
models within p2 suffer +2 damage. This model does not F Onward! - 4 - 12
Drop any Markers when killed. This model may take the Walk Action.
Mindless: When this model is Summoned, it is treated
as having already Activated this Turn, and neither player
gains or discards any Pass Tokens.
Original Creator: When hiring, if this Crew contains
Dr. Beebe, reduce the Cost of this model by 2.
Vehicle: If any friendly model has a Pilot Upgrade,
this model gains that model’s Wp value, and any of their
Deep Discovery or Reconfigure Abilities (if any).

HEALTH 50mm

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 121
 Stat Cards  •  APEX, EVS

7
COST
Minion (2), Living
APEX, EVS
The Gibbering Hordes infesting Earth’s waters necessitated
heavier weapons to deal with the monsters. Harpooners are
the most popular choice; their weapons can immobilize and
restrain while the serrated edges easily pierce through shell
and skin alike. It takes skill and strength to properly utilize
a harpoon gun. A wrong shot can cost a user their life at
best and the fate of an entire vessel at worst. To offset these
risks, Harpooners often use weighted nets. When fired, these
cover a much wider area and give others a chance to attack
the creature once it’s downed.
4 5
Originally brought to Malifaux by the crew of the Superior, 6
Df
Wp Mv 2
Sz
Harpooners have since found a home in any party that might
encounter large and feral wildlife. It’s far easier to accurately ABILITIES
Deep Discovery: Once per Activation. When this model
fire a harpoon while standing on firm ground instead of the would Cheat Fate, it may discard a card to Cheat Fate with
the top non-Joker card of the opposing player’s Discard Pile.
deck of a ship. Several requests for more of these weapons,
Gunfighter: This model may treat any of its z Actions as
and those who can wield them, have been put out by the having a range of y1".
Explorer’s Society on behalf of Lord Cooper himself. Predatory Instinct: Once per Activation. After
targeting an enemy model with an Attack Action, this
model may suffer a - to that Action to receive a + to its
damage flip (or vice versa).
Reconfigure (m): This model may treat any m cards it
Cheats Fate with as having a value of 9.

HEALTH

Harpooner

Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

Harpoon Gun z12" 5r Df -
Target suffers 2/3/5 damage. Push the target up to 3"
toward this model.
m Compressed Nets: Once per Activation.
After resolving, this model may take the
Massive Net Action, ignoring range, Dropping
the Shockwave Marker anywhere within 1" of
the target.
r Lead the Target: When resolving, this model
may Push the target in any direction instead of
toward this model. If this model was engaging the
target before it was moved, this model may Place
into base contact with the target.
c Undersea Toxins: Target gains Injured +1
and Poison +1.
Reel In 12" 5 Mv 8m
This Action may target a Marker. If it does so, ignore
this Action’s Rst. Push either this model or the target
4" toward the other. If this Push is interrupted, enemy
models within p1 of the moved object must each pass a
TN 13 Mv duel, or suffer 2 damage.
F Massive Net 8" 5 * 10
Shockwave 1, Mv 12, Damage 1 and Staggered.
r Barbed Mesh: When resolving, models damaged
by this Action suffer +1 damage.
m Mass Hysteria: Push models damaged by this
Action up to 3" in any direction.

40mm

122 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY

 EVS • Stat Cards

Maxine Agassiz can only be in one place at a time, so she

leaves the daily operations of her ship to Machinists. Like
all of the Superior’s crew, Machinists are treated like family
once they prove their mettle and devotion to exploring the
unknown. Newcomers are given respect and a fair shake;
everyone on board has a part to play. The Machinists know
what they’re doing, and Agassiz trusts them to keep the ship
running when the going gets tough. This freedom results in
most Machinists sticking around and calling the Superior
their home for multiple voyages.

Maxine also has a soft spot in her heart for younger Machin-
ists, as they remind her of more youthful days. There’s noth-
ing quite like the thrill of your first adventure to get a curious
mind filled to the brim with ideas. Maxine ensures they all
have what they need to succeed. Many are students, and
Agassiz takes time to instruct them on proper usage of their
equipment (much of which she designed herself ), as well as
lessons in navigation, the sciences, and proper paper airplane
folding techniques (from Orville).

Machinist
5
COST
Minion (3), Living
EVS
Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
Heavy Wrench y1" 4 Df -
Target suffers 2/3/4 damage. If the target is a friendly
Construct, it instead Heals 2.
c Handyman: Friendly only. This model may take
the Quartermaster Action targeting the same
model.
Collier Revolver z12" 5 Df -
Target suffers 2/3/4 damage.

Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

Quartermaster 6" - - -
Discard a card. This model cannot target the same model
more than once per Activation. Friendly only. Target
gains Shielded +1. If the target is an EVS model, it may
draw a card.
F Navigation Charts - 5 - 10
Choose any two non-Joker cards from this model’s
5 5 Discard Pile and shuffle them back into its Fate Deck.
5
Df
Wp Mv 2
Sz
c All Hands on Deck!: If two c were shuffled by
this Action, one friendly EVS model within 6" and
LoS may gain Focused +1.
ABILITIES
Deep Discovery: Once per Activation. When this model
would Cheat Fate, it may discard a card to Cheat Fate with
the top non-Joker card of the opposing player’s Discard Pile.
Eye of the Hurricane: Friendly models within a3
may ignore a effects of enemy models.
Reconfigure (c): This model may treat any c cards it
Cheats Fate with as having a value of 9.

HEALTH 30mm

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 123
 Stat Cards • FRONTIER

15
COST
Master, Living
FRONTIER
Cornelius Basse grew up on an Oklahoma farm where
he learned the value of patience, respect, and responsibility
from his father (and years of hard work). It was on that
farm where Cornelius also learned how to shoot a shotgun,
and more importantly, when; as his father always said, a man
holding an empty shotgun is just as intimidating as a man
with one loaded as long as he never needs to fire.

When his father passed, Cornelius couldn’t bring himself to 5 5

keep up the farm as it was an extension of the man who raised 6
Df
Wp Mv 2
Sz
him, so he sold it to his neighbor for a fair price. With that
ABILITIES
money, he traveled across the American frontier, breaking Home on the Range +1: When deploying, every friendly
bread with bandits, settlers, vagabonds, and the like over model with this Ability can deploy +1" beyond this Crew’s
Deployment Zone.
campfires, as long as the company was kind. And when it Favorable Terrain: This model is unaffected by Severe
wasn’t, he often found himself being the only one vigilant Terrain. While this model is in Severe Terrain or within 1"
of Impassable Terrain, it has Cover.
enough to break up backroom brawls. He even met the love
Hard to Kill: When this model suffers damage, if it has
of his life on the road, who told him to settle down and make 2 or more Health, it may not be reduced to below 1 Health.
a living by just being the man he was: a protector. Df (c) Tangled in the Briars: After resolving, Push
this model 2" away from the Attacking model. If this Action
was a yAction and the Attacking model is within 2" of
Before she and Cornelius had the chance to marry, she Severe Terrain, end its Activation.
soon passed as well, but not before giving him a daughter, Gunfighter: This model may treat any of its z Actions as
having a range of y1".
Bernadette. As Cornelius raised his wildflower, he gained a
reputation across the American plains and canyons as the
HEALTH
face of frontier justice. He was fair and strict in his ruling;
his cold stare was said to stop bullets and his stoic nod was
enough to mend wounds. Those early years were hard,
and taught Cornelius lessons he thought he’d never have to Cornelius Basse
learn. He hoped that showing his daughter the importance Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
of patience, respect, and responsibility through his actions Chesterfield Shotgun z8" 6 Df -
would be enough for those values to resonate with her, but Target suffers 3b/4b/5b damage.
R High Noon: This model gains Shielded +2.
she was too much like him, and needed to learn those values c Severe Injury: Models damaged by this Action
herself. gain Injured +1 for each c in this Action’s final duel
total (to a maximum of Injured +2).
12" 7 Mv -
Unfortunately, it was an action made by his daughter that Caught in Quicksand
This Action ignores Concealment. Target suffers 1/2/3
would ultimately drive them both out of America. Cornelius damage and gains Injured +1. If the target is in Severe
Terrain, Place it within 1" of that terrain, not in terrain.
had taught Bernadette the importance of self-defense (“And if R Sand Worm?!: Once per Activation. Immediately,
it means your life or theirs… do what needs doin’ to survive.”), change this Action’s effect to: “Target suffers
2b/3b/4bb damage. Remove all Destructible
but the person on the other end of her knife was the son of a Terrain within p3 of the target.”
corrupt judge. His death meant that Cornelius had to make c Among the Willows: Target must be in terrain.
Choose a terrain the target was in when this Trigger
the toughest decision in his life: to define what it means to do was declared. Until the End Phase, that terrain is
the “right thing.” treated as Hazardous.

Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

But Cornelius Basse had suffered enough loss in his life to risk Stoic Nod 6" 7 - 12
Other friendly model only. Target Heals 1/2/3.
his daughter becoming a potential victim of the justice system
- - -
that he chose to protect all those years. So, with his daughter’s
F Claim the Bounty p4"
Remove all Scheme Markers within range. For each
hand in his, they ran to Malifaux City to start a new life, far Marker removed by this Action, this model may draw the
top card of its Discard Pile.
away from anyone who might mean to do them harm. Little
F Kick Up Dust 3" 7 - 10
did he know that the Guild was watching, and waiting, and Drop a 50mm Concealing, Severe Dust Cloud Marker
just so happened to need a little bit of frontier justice of their anywhere within range. During the End Phase, remove
the Dust Cloud.
own to be doled out to contract towns. And they had an offer M Reposition: Move this model up to 3".
he couldn’t refuse.
30mm

124 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY

 FRONTIER • Stat Cards

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 125
 Stat Cards • FRONTIER

Bernadette Basse - arguably - received the worst traits of both

parents; her father Cornelius’ sense of law, and her mother’s
sense of righteous, spit-fire justice. So when that Burk-
wood boy tested his own legal limits when trying to
steal from that poor kid, Bernadette stepped in and
gave him a fat lip. And when he drew a knife, she
showed him where he could stick it.

After that, no law or justice could protect them

from Judge Burkwood. Despite her sense of righ-
teous indignation, Cornelius dragged Bernadette to
Malifaux.

They could outrun American law, but they couldn’t out-

run the Guild’s. Now her father has to work for them, or
she’ll meet the wrong end of justice. Maybe they both will.
Bernadette hates it, and she’s yet to learn why they can’t just
stand against everyone looking to cause them harm and put
them down, come hell or high water. Her father pleads with
her for a sense of decorum, but she refuses to hear it, ready to
beat down anyone who comes her way with a fight in mind.

Bernadette Basse
2
COST
Enforcer, Living
Totem (Cornelius Basse) Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
FRONTIER Knife y0" 5t Df -
Target suffers 1/3/4 damage.
R Critical Strike: When resolving, the target suffers
+1 damage for each r in this Action’s final duel total
(to a maximum of +2).
t Survival Skills: This model Heals 1/2/3.
Bring It 12" 5 Wp 13
Target moves its Mv +2" toward this model. Then, the
target must take a yAction that cannot declare Triggers
targeting this model, if able. Any damage flips from the
generated Action suffer a -.
R Rip and Tear: Take a yAction targeting the same
model. This Action receives a + to its duel.

4 5 Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

5
Df
Wp Mv 2
Sz
F Kick Up Dust 3" 5 - 10
Drop a 50mm Concealing, Severe Dust Cloud Marker
anywhere within range. During the End Phase, remove
ABILITIES the Dust Cloud.
Home on the Range +1: When deploying, every friendly t Shifting Terrain: Push the Marker up to 4" in
model with this Ability can deploy +1" beyond this Crew’s any direction.
Deployment Zone.
Favorable Terrain: This model is unaffected by Severe
Terrain. While this model is in Severe Terrain or within 1"
of Impassable Terrain, it has Cover.
Hard to Kill: When this model suffers damage, if it has
2 or more Health, it may not be reduced to below 1 Health.
Grit (Frantic): While this model has half of its
maximum Health or less, its Attack Actions receive a + to
their duels and damage flips.

HEALTH 30mm

126 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY

 FRONTIER • Stat Cards

8
COST
Enforcer, Beast
FRONTIER
The dry and barren wastes of the Badlands are some of the
most inhospitable territories in Malifaux, occupied by home-
steaders and ranchers without many other options. Danger
is everywhere. It’s a part of life. But there’s nothing in the
Badlands a few heavy slugs can’t make right, as the saying
goes. Or, there was.

Now, whenever the ground shakes and the dust clouds up,
it’s one of two things: Cornelius Basse and his posse or a
4 5 Sand Worm, and it’s usually a coin flip to see which is worse.
4
Df
Wp Mv 3
Sz
At 20 feet long and constantly hungry, Sand Worms rarely
leave much after they attack. They are completely wild and
ABILITIES untamable, but have strangely fallen in with the sheriff. The
Df (m) Burrow: Enemy only. After resolving, Bury this
model. reasoning behind this is inexplicable.
Favorable Terrain: This model is unaffected by Severe
Terrain. While this model is in Severe Terrain or within 1" Scientists and Guildsmen who read reports insist it’s specific
of Impassable Terrain, it has Cover.
Hard to Wound: Damage flips against this model suffer a -.
patterns of vibrations sent through the ground that direct
Home on the Range +1: When deploying, every friendly the Sand Worms away from the sheriff’s forces. Frontiers-
model with this Ability can deploy +1" beyond this Crew’s men say it’s the cold steel stare of Cornelius Basse himself
Deployment Zone.
Jaws of the Beast: Other friendly Frontier models
that intimidates the subterranean monsters into doing what
may ignore any - to their Attack Actions when targeting they’re told.
enemy models engaged by this model.

HEALTH

Sand Worm

Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

Savage Bite y1" 6 Df -
Target suffers 3/4/5 damage.
c Quicksand: The target and all enemy models
within p2 of the target must each pass a TN 15 Mv
duel or gain Slow.
t Thrash: Remove all Destructible Terrain within p1
of this model.
r Tear Off a Bite: This model Heals 2.

Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

Sandstorm a2" 5 - 10
Until the End Phase, non-Frontier models treat the area
within range as Severe, Concealing, and Hazardous.
t Lasting Winds: Dust Cloud Markers within p4
are not removed during the End Phase of this Turn.
F Terror From Below - 7t - 10
This Action can only be taken while Buried. Unbury
this model anywhere on the table into base contact
with Severe Terrain. Until the start of this model’s
next Activation, it is ignored for friendly Schemes and
Strategies and cannot take the Interact Action.
r Sudden Strike: This model may take a yAction.
t Thrash: Remove all Destructible Terrain within
p1 of this model.
F Drill into the Earth - 5 - 10
Bury this model.
c Sand Tomb: When resolving, before this model is
Buried, Drop a 50mm Concealing, Severe Dust
Cloud Marker into base contact with it. During the
End Phase, remove the Dust Cloud.

50mm

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 127
 Stat Cards • SEEKER

15
COST
Master, Undead
“Let me tell you a story.” SEEKER

Jedza lost her early days to running. She fled the forest with
dancing trees because of what she saw there. The roads
became her friends, as did the people who traveled them. In
her first few decades, Jedza thought she was given a gift. Life
always seemed to be a bit more vibrant wherever she passed
by. Colors were sharper, fruit sweeter, and dead flowers 8 4
bloomed anew in her presence. She embraced the life of a 5
Df
Wp Mv 2
Sz
wanderer.
ABILITIES
Chronicle (Wanderer): Once per Activation. After
Despite years of quiet, Jedza stayed aware. She knew she was another model within a6 Heals, this model may reduce the
always being hunted, for she had witnessed a terrible evil in next damage the Healed model suffers this Activation to 0.

that forest long ago. Each departure chipped away at Jedza’s
heart. She aged, but death never came. Jedza soon came to
realize her blessing was actually a curse. The dead started to
break through the ground, clawing at her ankles. She ran,
hiding her appearance to keep interacting with the civilized
world, but it brought her no peace. Before, she could linger.
Now, every day forced Jedza to flee as her presence brought
up that which had been dead for ages.
Font of the Everlasting: Models with 4 or less
Health that start their Activation within a6 Heal 1.
Fragility of Life: At the start of the game, this model
gains 2 Life Tokens. After another friendly Seeker model
within a6 is reduced to 0 Health, this model may discard
a Life Token to have that model Heal 2. After any model
within a6 is killed, this model gains a Life Token.
Hard to Wound: Damage flips against this model suffer a -.
Inevitability of Death: Once per Activation. When
an enemy model within a6 would Heal, this model may
have it instead suffer an equal amount of damage.
Unimpeded: This model is unaffected by Severe Terrain.

The next few centuries were a blur. Jedza traveled through

jungles and forests, across mountains and deserts. She HEALTH

walked to the bottom of the ocean. She saw wonders that

would inspire works of art and carried away treasures and
king’s ransoms… only to give them away. She had witnessed Jedza
the lives and deaths of so many she loved, the rise and fall
of kingdoms, and the stories she lived become legends. All Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

things seemed temporary and meaningless. Jedza was tired. Drain Life 6" 6 Wp
Target suffers 2/3/4 damage and this model Heals 1.
-

M Pulled Here and There: Push either this model or

When the Breach first opened, it sparked Jedza’s jaded curi- the target up to 3".

osity. Malifaux turned out to be interesting, but the road led Life of the Earth 8" 7 *
Target a terrain piece. This Action cannot target the
12

her back to Earth. During that time, the first Breach closed.
Easy come, easy go. The next hundred years let her visit some
long-forgotten places and long-dead friends… until Jedza’s
past caught up with her.
It was fortuitous that a strange woman came into the pic-
same terrain piece more than once per Activation.
Enemy models within p2 of target must each pass a TN
13 Mv duel or resolve the following effects based on each
of the target’s Terrain Traits (in the order listed below):
Concealing: Gain Distracted +1.
Hazardous: Resolve the target’s Hazardous effects.
Impassable: Suffer 3 damage.
Severe: Gain Staggered.

ture. She would use her resources to save Jedza; in exchange, Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

the Jedza would owe a debt. The traveler agreed. When the Lost Knowledge 8" 6
Remove target Marker. Draw two cards.
- 11

Breach reopened, the woman called in her favor. Now, Jedza c Stay Awhile and Listen: Once per Activation.
Choose one model within range to gain Staggered.
walks with a purpose; wherever she needs to go, she’ll get
Plenty of Wares 6" 8 - 12
there. Target Heals 1/2/3.
r Extra Supplies: When resolving, the target Heals
an additional +1.
And maybe, just maybe, the road she’s walking now will be t Purification: End one Condition on the target.
her last. c Cursed to Wander: Move the target a number of
inches equal to its Mv. If the target is an enemy model,
it may pass a TN 15 Wp duel to ignore this effect.
F A Weary Road 6" - - -
Friendly only. Move the target up to 3", then Drop a
Scheme Marker into base contact with it.

30mm

128 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY

 SEEKER • Stat Cards

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 129
 Stat Cards • SEEKER

4
COST
Enforcer, Undead, Beast
Enforcer,
Totem (Jedza)
“There once was a man who rode atop a white beast with SEEKER

great horns, and he gave it to the woman he loved…”

When Jedza happened upon a poor farm, she saw the auroch
they used to till their soil was close to death. Without it, the
family would starve. Something in the beast’s eyes struck a
chord in Jedza. She offered to buy the auroch. The family
would survive, as would Sophie; the name Jedza chose for
the gentle bovine that died at her feet and returned to life.

The beast’s strong back proved invaluable. Sophie carried

packs and tents without complaint, the happy jingle of her 4 4
5 Wp Mv 3
bells a comforting sound as the two meandered here and Df Sz

there. Children adored Sophie, and her horns would always
be decorated with shiny bits and baubles by the time Jedza
decided it was time to keep moving.
Sophie didn’t realize when she became skeletonized. She
didn’t get too cold or too hot, which was nice. A little bit of
creaking started to accompany her bells when they jangled,
but Jedza didn’t seem to mind, so Sophie didn’t either. This
spirit has kept Sophie moving through these last centuries
of undeath. She’s not quite sure where she’s going, but she’s
always enthusiastic… as much as a skeletal auroch can be.
ABILITIES
Chronicle (Caravan): Once per Activation. After
another model within a6 Heals, this model may have the
Healed model discard a card and then draw a card.
Companion: After a friendly model ends its Activation
within 6" of this model, if this model has not Activated this
Turn, it may discard a card or Pass Token to do so.
Hard to Wound: Damage flips against this model suffer a -.
Move Along: Friendly models that start their Activation
within a3 gain +1 Mv until the end of their Activation.
Unimpeded: This model is unaffected by Severe Terrain.
HEALTH

Sophie

Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

Trampling Hooves y0" 4 Df -
Target suffers 2/3/4 damage and gains Injured +1. Place
this model anywhere into base contact with the target.
M Gentle Giant: Enemy models within p4 of this
model must each pass a TN 14 Wp duel or be
Pushed 2" toward this model.

Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

Camp by Candlelight a6" 4r - 10
Once per Turn. Until the End Phase, after another
friendly model ends their Activation within range, this
model may discard a card to end a Condition on that
friendly model.
M Bell of the Vagrant: Until the End Phase, enemy
models cannot ignore or be unaffected by terrain
within range.
r The Long Rest: This model suffers 2 damage.
A friendly Jedza within range gains a Life Token.
F Grab From the Pack 2" 4 - 10
Friendly Seeker only. Target gains Focused +1.

50mm

130 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY

 SEEKER • Stat Cards

9
COST
Henchman, Living
SEEKER
“The family pledged an oath…”

For the first century or so of her nomadic life, Jedza stayed

5 4
6
Df
Wp Mv 2
Sz
ABILITIES
Armor +1: Reduce all damage suffered by this model by +1.
Caught in the Ring: Models engaged by this model
cannot target other models with Attack Actions.
Chronicle (Protection): Once per Activation. After
another model within a6 Heals, this model may Place into
base contact with the Healed model.
Hard to Kill: When this model suffers damage, if it has
2 or more Health, it may not be reduced to below 1 Health.
Unyielding: When this model would take an Action
outside of its Activation, its owner may choose for it not to.
Unimpeded: This model is unaffected by Severe Terrain.
HEALTH
close to what she knew. Though she never returned to her
home, she wandered throughout Eastern Europe for the
comfort and familiarity it brought. The people were kind,
but wary; wars and senseless conflict had shaken the region
and made life difficult for common folk. When a small village
was attacked, Jedza protected the family she had lodged
with. After the raiders were driven off, the family’s patriarch,
Mikhail, knelt and swore his family would forever protect
her as she had done to them. Jedza agreed, but insinuated
the pledge would last longer than he might expect. Since that
moment, a descendant of the original Mikhail has always
been pledged to Jedza’s service.
The name and sword have remained consistent with each
new protector. When the mantle is passed, the new keeper
engraves their old name into the epitaph blade and becomes
Mikhail. The latest is Mikhail XVI. He is one of the most
loyal Jedza has known, and has accompanied her for almost
30 years. While he remains strong, Mikhail XVI is not as
deathless as Jedza. His time will eventually come. A seven-
teenth name will be engraved into the epitaph blade, and the
lineage of Mikhail will continue.

Mikhail XVI

Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

Koschei, the Epitaph Blade y2" 6 Df -
Target suffers 3/4/5 damage. This model may have any
one model within 4" of the target Heal 1.
t Sweeping Strike: When resolving, the target
suffers +b damage.
c In Memoriam: Choose a non-Joker in the top five
cards of this model’s Discard Pile. Place the chosen
card on top of this model’s Fate Deck.
Entomb z8" 6 * 10
Once per Activation. Shockwave 2, Mv 12, Damage 2
and Stunned. Enemy models suffer -1 to their duel to
resist this Shockwave for each type of non-Shockwave
Marker within p3 of them.
m Blown Back: Push models damaged by this
Action 3" away from the Marker.

Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

My Father’s Legacy 4" 6 - 12
Friendly only. This model gains Focused +1. Move any
number of enemy models engaging the target up to 4"
toward this model.
m Cut Them Down: This model may take a yAction.
F Shrug Off - - - -
Discard a card. End one Condition on this model.

30mm

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 131
 Stat Cards • SEEKER

8
COST
Enforcer, Living
Versatile
“How wonderful it is, to be able to tell such stories…” SEEKER

The former journalist, printer, and cartographer of Innocence,

Christopher “Inkfingers” Tannenbaum has led a storied life
filled with more curiosities than a cheap romance novel. His
skills earned him a provisional membership in the Explorer’s
Society, and Christopher frequently sent back maps, draw-
ings, and information about the southern Badlands. After
discovering the secrets of Innocence, Tannenbaum found
himself in the center of more danger than he had ever printed
6 5
about in his newspaper. It took many questionable weeks and 5 Wp Mv 2
near-death experiences, but he decided to take a train back Df Sz

to the Explorer’s Society manor. His reported findings about ABILITIES

Innocence drew quite a bit of attention, and Tannenbaum
was handsomely rewarded for his report.
The Society had gotten what they needed
from Innocence, and decided Tannenbaum
would be best assigned to Jedza. Despite
Chatty: Enemy models within a6 must each discard a
card to take the Interact Action.
Chronicle (Innocence): Once per Activation. After
another model within a6 Heals, this model may place the
top non-Joker card of the Healed model’s Discard Pile onto
the top of its owner’s Fate Deck.
Inkfingers: During the End Phase, the opposing player
must discard their Control Hand.

being hundreds of years old, she still had Manipulative: If this model has not yet Activated this
Turn, enemy Attack Actions that target this model suffer
room to learn a thing or two about map- a - to their duel.
making from a professional. The two Unimpeded: This model is unaffected by Severe Terrain.

got to talking as they traveled, with

cartography helping strengthen the HEALTH

acquaintanceship. So far, things

seem to be going well. Jedza hasn’t
found Tannenbaum as annoying Tannenbaum
as mostly everyone else does, and
a skeletal auroch is not the weird- Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

est thing Tannenbaum has seen. Ancient Words 8" 5 Wp -

Target suffers 2/4/5 damage.
One thing is for sure: Jedza is M Drawn to the Unknown: Push the target up to
definitely more interesting than 4" toward a Terrain Marker in its LoS.
t Surge: Draw a card.
anyone back in Innocence.
F Comprehensive Notes 6" 6 Wp -
Master or Henchman only. Choose up to four non-Jokers
in the target’s Discard Pile and remove them from the game.
During the Start Phase, even if this model is no longer in
play, return those cards to their owner’s Discard Pile.
Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
Haphazard Topography 8" 6 - 12
Target a Marker. Push the target up to 3" in any direction.
t Draw Out Secrets: Drop a Scheme Marker into
base contact with the target.
r Point of Interest: A friendly model within 1" of the
target gains Focused +1.
Rewrite the Story - 5 - 18
Once per game. This Action can only be taken during
Tannenbaum’s Activation. Replace one of your Schemes
with another secretly chosen Scheme in this Encounter’s
Scheme Pool, resolving any beginning of game effects
now (any models chosen must be in play). The new
Scheme cannot score VP this Turn and if the replaced
Scheme has been revealed, reveal the new Scheme.
F Study 6" 6 - 12
Target a Scrap or Corpse Marker. Drop a Scheme Marker
into base contact with the target, then remove the target.

30mm

132 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY

 SAVAGE, SEEKER  •  Stat Cards

“He ordered their tongues cut out so none could challenge his
throne…”
It pulled itself from a frozen tomb in the Northern Hills with
twisted claws. Emaciated flesh hung from its bones; a rack of
horns grew from a skull more animal than man. It took only
a little mote of life to bring this lost creature back from the
dead. The Damned’s first encounter with Jedza ended in a
stalemate; the woman did not die, but without her presence
the Damned would return to its frozen tomb. Each wanted
something from the other. A tiny finger bone from Jedza
allows the Damned to remain alive. If Jedza commands, it
must aid her in whatever she asks.
Long ago, the Damned was the first to be remade into some-
thing more by the Tyrant December. This connection fas-
cinates Jedza, especially since the monster has a darkness
inside its long-withered heart: a hatred for December that
runs impossibly deep. She shared rumors about a woman
with dark hair and pale blue eyes who had managed to sur-
vive the Tyrant’s gifts, as the Damned once did. Rage helps
guide each new step it takes. It will return to the Northern
Peaks. It will consume the magic of December inside His lat-
est vessel and take its rightful place on the peaks. The Damned
can only imagine how good her heart will taste.

The Damned
8
COST
Enforcer,, Undead, Beast
Enforcer
SAVAGE, SEEKER
Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
Ferocious Claws y1" 6 Df -
Target suffers 2/4/6 damage. Push the target up to 2"
in any direction.
R Critical Strike: When resolving, the target suffers
+1 damage for each r in this Action’s final duel total
(to a maximum of +2).
M Pouncing Strike: Place this model into base
contact with another enemy model within 5" and
LoS. Then, take this Action again, targeting that
enemy model.
Breath of Frost 6" 5t Df -
Target suffers 2/3B/4BB damage. Models damaged by
5 5 this Action gain Staggered.
5
Df
Wp Mv 3
Sz
t Frozen Earth: When resolving, instead of
Dropping b Markers for this Action, this model
may Create an equal number of Ht 4, Blocking,
ABILITIES Destructible, Impassable Ice Pillar Markers in base
Chronicle (Betrayal): Once per Activation. After contact with target.
another model within a6 Heals, enemy models within p1
of it suffer 1 damage. Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
Hard to Wound: Damage flips against this model suffer a -. F Leap 6" 4M - 10M
The Old Ways: When this model performs a duel Place this model anywhere within range.
without any Fate Modifiers, it may suffer 1 damage to flip
the card for that duel from its Discard Pile instead of its
Fate Deck. Once the duel is resolved, the flipped card is
placed on the bottom of this model’s discard pile.
Toss Away the Scraps: After this model kills an
enemy model with a yAction, one friendly model within
a6 Heals 2.
Unimpeded: This model is unaffected by Severe Terrain.

HEALTH 40mm

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 133
 Stat Cards • SEEKER

7
COST
Enforcer, Undead
“When the spring moon passed into the evening sky…” SEEKER

When Jedza passed through the Breach, her curse of life

cast out like a net. It dragged and pulled fragments of a shat-
tered body held just inside the Breach, reforming them into a
young woman that emerged in Malifaux at Jedza’s side. The
girl was gray and dead. An owl, its eyes glowing with bril-
liant and otherworldly color, rested on her arm. For the first
time in ages, Jedza was fascinated. Though the girl was silent,
she seemed to acknowledge Jedza’s questions. After many
campfires and broken memories, Jedza was able to piece 5 6
the story together: the girl called herself Austera, and her 5
Df
Wp Mv 2
Sz
owl was Twigge. The pair had likely been present when the
ABILITIES
First Breach opened and became victims of its wild surge of Chronicle (Survival): Once per Activation. After
magic. Austera could remember nothing except a boom and another model within a6 Heals, this model may look at the
top card of the Healed model’s Fate Deck and may discard it.
a blinding flash, then nothingness. Hard to Wound: Damage flips against this model suffer a -.
Herald: During the Start Phase of the first Turn, this
Fear of breaking apart again drove Austera to follow Jedza, model may move up to 6".
but this quickly turned into respect and something akin Scout Ahead: After Deployment Zones are chosen,
choose an enemy non-Leader model without From the
to friendship. Malifaux’s magic healed the pair over time. Shadows. The chosen model deploys now, rather than
Austera has since taken time to explore the wilderness for during Deployment.
Unimpeded: This model is unaffected by Severe Terrain.
herself, one soul split between the air and ground. No mat-
ter how far they go, the two keep an eye on Jedza as thanks.
HEALTH
Without her, they would still be locked in a formless exis-
tence between worlds.

Austera and Twigge

Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

Sharp Claws y1" 5 Df -
Target suffers 2/3/4 damage.
R Siphon Life: When resolving, the target suffers
+1 damage and this model Heals 1.
M Rake the Eyes: Choose a suit. The target must
reveal the top three cards of its Fate Deck and
discard any of the chosen suit. Place the rest back
on top of the deck in any order.
F Aerial Strike 12" 6 Df -
This Action ignores Cover, Concealment, and LoS.
Target suffers 1/3/5 damage.
R Puncture: When resolving, this Action’s damage
flip receives a + for each r in the final duel total
(to a maximum of ++).
t Vantage Point: Enemy only. Drop a Scheme
Marker anywhere in the area between this model
and the target.

Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

Nature’s Rejuvenation - - - -
Once per Activation. Discard two cards. Draw two
cards.
F Eyes in the Sky 8" 5 - 14
Drop a Scheme Marker anywhere within range.
m Reposition: Move this model up to 3".

30mm

134 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY

 SEEKER • Stat Cards

7
COST
Minion (3), Living
SEEKER
“Remember, there is always a light in the darkness…”

There are many strange lanterns around Malifaux, primarily

around the Quarantine Zone. Some have been replaced with
electric versions, but a proper handful still flicker with real
fire. For the longest time, no one has known who or what
keeps them lit, but the people are eternally grateful all the
same. The flames are certainly magical; they keep away
5 5 the darkness in all places, both physically and mentally.
5
Df
Wp Mv 2
Sz
Apartments and flophouses near such a lantern always have
higher rents; the protection and calm the light seems to
ABILITIES
Ancient Lamps: After Deployment, Create two Dim spread is worth a few extra scrip. While only a few know
Ht 4 Concealing Lamp Markers anywhere at least 4" from about their existence, Lamplighters are the ones that trek
another Marker. Seeker models are unaffected by friendly
Lamp Markers’ Concealing Trait. headfirst into the unknown and light the way. They are odd
Chronicle (Seclusion): Once per Activation. After little creatures, mostly silent and focused on their work.
another model within a6 Heals, this model may Push the
Healed model up to 1" in any direction.
Don’t Mind Me: This model may take the Interact
The Explorer’s Society has quietly accepted them as contract
Action while engaged or if it has taken the Disengage workers, for lack of a better term. Whenever there is a softly
Action this Activation.
glowing lantern in a place the Society’s
Shimmering Lights: Enemy models that end a move
within a2 of this model gain Distracted +1 after resolving adventurers have started examining,
the current Action or Ability. their hearts and minds rest a bit eas-
Unimpeded: This model is unaffected by Severe Terrain.
ier knowing the Lamplighters
have already been there.
HEALTH

Lamplighter

Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

Lighting Stick y2" 5 Df -
Target suffers 1/3/3 damage and gains Burning +1.
M Drawn to the Unknown: Push the target up
to 4" toward a Terrain Marker in its LoS.
Unnatural Glow 8" 5 Wp 10
Push the target up to 3" in any direction. Then, this
model may have the target Heal 1 or 1/2/3 if it is within
a2 of a Terrain Marker.
t Steel Monument: Once per Turn. Discard a card.
Create a Dim Lamp Marker in base contact with
this model.

Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

F Light the Way 2" 5 - 10
Target a Lamp Marker. For the remainder of the game,
even after this model leaves play, the target is Lit and
friendly models within a2 of the Lit Marker each
receive a + to any one duel they take each Activation.
t Beacon: Enemy models within p4 of the target
must each pass a TN 12 Wp duel or Push 4" toward
the target.
M You’re Comin’ with Me: Push the target up to
3" in any direction, then Place this model into base
contact with it.
F Burn the Midnight Oil 8" 5 - 10
Target a Lit Lamp Marker. Until the End Phase, when
taking the Interact Action, this model treats the area
within a2 of the target as in base contact with itself.
c Caught in the Act: Until the End Phase, enemy
models within a2 of the target cannot take the
Interact Action.

30mm

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 135
 Stat Cards • SEEKER

“A foot in the grave is worth two on the ground…”

After Kythera unleashed the Grave Spirit, many were forced

to mutate themselves to avoid permanent corruption. As the
landscape rotted, so too did some of the denizens around
Kythera. These Neverborn absorbed necromantic energy,
becoming protoplasmic and gelatinous. They would sur-
vive, albeit in the form of Grave Goos. Since the reopen-
ing of the Breach, Grave Goos have been appearing more
frequently. The Grave Dynamo in Rotenburg seems to
have produced these creatures as foul consequences of
its necromantic Neverborn technology. Others have
thrived in graveyards and places where death is
common, like the Bayou.

Grave Goos mostly feed on corpses, minding their

own business and only becoming aggressive if
disturbed. Of course, a meal that’s slightly more
alive isn’t something to be turned down. Their
acidic bodies easily dissolve flesh and bone over
the course of a few months, making a well-fed
Grave Goo appear like a morbid collection of
body parts suspended in pudding.

Grave Goo
7
COST
Enforcer
SEEKER
Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
Sludge Strike y0" 6c Df -
This Action may target Buried models with Consumed
Upgrades, ignoring range and LoS. Target suffers 2/3/6
damage.
m Accidental Roll Over: Push this model 5" in any
direction, ignoring any models. Models that this
model moved through this way suffers 1 damage
and gain Poison +1.
c Infect: Models damaged by this Action gain
Poison +1 for each c in this Action’s final duel
total (to a maximum of Poison +2).
4 5 Mv
5
Df
Wp Mv 3
Sz
F Engulf y0" 5c
Enemy only. Attach a Consumed Upgrade to the target.
-

c Creamy Nougat Filling: The target suffers

1 irreducible damage.
ABILITIES c Encroaching Mass: Immediately, increase this
Chronicle (Leech): Once per Activation. After another Action’s duel total by the value of this model’s
model within a6 Heals, enemy models with a Consumed Shielded Condition.
Upgrade and enemy models in base contact with this model
gain Poison +1.
Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
Hard to Wound: Damage flips against this model suffer a -.
F Grim Feast 2" - - -
Regeneration +2: At the start of this model’s Activation, Remove target Corpse Marker. This model Heals 1/2/4.
it Heals +2.
Slippery: This model can only be engaged or targeted
by yActions from enemy models in base contact with it.
Through the Muck: This model is unaffected by Severe
Terrain. After this model moves, if it came into base contact
with any terrain, it gains Shielded +1.
Trail of Slime: Enemy models treat terrain in base contact
with this model as Hazardous (Damage 1 and Poison +1).

HEALTH 40mm

136 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY

 SEEKER • Stat Cards

4
COST
Minion (3)
SEEKER
“The mire stood up like a man, doffed a tattered cap, and
jauntily slid about…”

Jedza would never admit it, but she was surprised the day
a semi-humanoid mound of mud and bones began attempt-
ing to do something that she guessed was whistling. The
aura of life that surrounded her had always affected the
land, but never to that extreme. Jedza eventually realized
that some spirits were insatiably curious in life. When
she passes by their resting place, they are drawn to her.
4 4 Lacking bodies, they simply make one out of whatever is
4
Df
Wp Mv 2
Sz
immediately convenient.
ABILITIES The Moorwraiths seem to enjoy mimicking the forms they
Armor +1: Reduce all damage suffered by this model by +1.
Chronicle (Servitude): Once per Activation. After
had in life. Replicating hair and clothing are common
another model within a6 Heals, this model may move up (mustaches are the most popular). Some even try to hum or
to 2" toward the Healed model.
sing. While these tunes rarely result in anything more than
Rolling Stones: Other friendly Seeker models may
treat this model as a Severe Impassable Terrain Marker, dribbling mud, Jedza still finds the Moorwraiths endear-
which cannot be removed. Other models treat area within ing. They are little adventurers, not quite ready to let go
a2 of this model as Severe.
Through the Muck: This model is unaffected by Severe
of their mortality until they see a few more things. But
Terrain. After this model moves, if it came into base contact this time inevitably comes. Jedza moves on and the
with any terrain, it gains Shielded +1.
Moorwraith stays behind, but this separation
is not one of sadness. There is always an
HEALTH
unspoken traveler’s promise before the pile
becomes inanimate once again: we will
meet again, someday.
Moorwraith

Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

Hard Slam y1" 4 Df -
This model may lower the value of its Shielded
Condition by any amount. Target suffers 1/2/4 damage.
For each point of Shielded that this model lowered, the
target suffers +1 damage (to a maximum of +2).
M Bowled Over: Push the target 4" away from this
model, then Push this model 4" toward the target.
Dirt Nap 8" 4 Wp -
Target gains Slow and Heals 1.

Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

F Final Rest p4" 3 - 10
Remove all Scrap and Corpse Markers within range.
Choose a number of friendly models in this model’s LoS
up to the number of removed Markers, then each chosen
model Heals 1.

30mm

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 137
 Stat Cards • SYNDICATE

13
COST
Master, Living
SYNDICATE
The gray and black of Condor Rails has become a familiar
sight in the last few years, particularly in Ridley. Smaller rail
lines have all but disappeared. Owners have been bought
out, Guild officials bribed, and huge workforces assembled.
Almost every new mile of track is laid down at the order of
Anya Lycarayen, the head of Condor Rails.

Since her father Aucaman’s disappearance, Anya has directed

his business with a ruthlessness uncommon in someone her 5 6
age. Despite not yet being in her twenties, Anya enacts her 6
Df
Wp Mv 2
Sz
father’s teachings with single-minded resolve. Progress must
ABILITIES
be made at any cost. Use every asset you can; if someone tells Blade Rush: When this model takes the Charge Action,
you otherwise, work around the law and exploit every loop- it can move through other models. Enemy models moved
through this way suffer 1 damage.
hole you can find. If that doesn’t work, solve problems the Expansionist: If this model is this Crew’s Leader, enemy
old fashioned way. Finally, always have someone else do the models treat friendly Scheme Markers within this model’s
LoS and the area within a1 of those Scheme Markers as
dirty work. Hazardous.
Hard to Kill: When this model suffers damage, if it has
These creeds have guided Anya, but she has added several 2 or more Health, it may not be reduced to below 1 Health.
caveats of her own. Act unconventionally. Let others play to Hostile Work Environment: Enemy models within
a6 may not be targeted by the Actions of other enemy
their strengths, especially if that means gaining their bank models.
accounts. With these ideologies and a core of loyal enforcers, Price of Progress: After this model declares an Action,
it may suffer 1 damage to add any one suit to its duel total.
Anya has expanded Condor Rails into the premier rail line
in Malifaux, with some resources from the Explorer’s Soci-
HEALTH
ety. Though her father insisted allying with a faction was an
invitation for trouble, Anya has taken matters into her own
hands. Times are changing. Not all of his lessons were pearls
of wisdom, and Anya sees opportunity where her father saw Anya Lycarayen
only enemies. The Society has power, far more than anyone Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
could ever imagine. If that’s the boost Condor Rails needs to Ancestral Tomahawk y1" 7 Df -
fulfill its takeover, then Anya will gladly continue attending Target suffers 2/3/4 damage. This model may look at the
top card of its Fate Deck and may choose to discard it.
their meetings. m Reposition: Move this model up to 3".
r Siphon Life: When resolving, the target suffers
But there must always be a price for progress. Anya did not +1 damage and this model Heals 1.
c Stunning Strike: Target gains Stunned.
expect to deal with a new Governor-General or his poli- t Surge: Draw a card.
cies. Condor Rails threatens to become a monopoly. That F Bleeding Edge z6" 4 * 10
fact worries the Guild, and has put a target on Anya’s back. Drop a Scheme Marker completely within range. Enemy
models in the area between this model and the Dropped
What’s a market without a bit of competition? The law Marker must each pass a TN X Df duel or suffer 2
damage, where X is equal to this Action’s final duel total.
might slow her down, but Anya has no intention of stop- m Mass Hysteria: Push models damaged by this
ping for the Guild, the Governor-General, or anyone else. Action up to 3" in any direction.
c Steel Momentum: Place this model into base
contact with the Dropped Marker.
Her successes have been monumental, but Anya still feels
Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
pressure to preserve her father’s legacy. Condor Rails was
Union Buster 6" - - -
built through less than scrupulous methods. Many would Choose either toward or away. Push all models within p2
be eager to see Aucaman’s daughter fall, and Condor Rails of the target up to 2" in the chosen direction of the target.

along with her. But the queen of the rails never goes to war Hostile Takeover 6" 6
Once per Activation. Target a Scheme Marker. Push
- 12M

alone. Lawyers, spies, and the Society’s assets escort her on
one side; train cars, mercenaries, and questionable morals
do so on the other. Business is a game, and Anya Lycarayen
intends to control all the pieces.
the target up to 2" in any direction and Drop a Scheme
Marker into base contact with it. Then, remove the target.
r Focused Cleansing: This model Heals 2 and
may end a Condition on itself.
c Liquidation: Enemy models within p2 of the
Dropped Marker must each pass a TN 13 Wp duel
or suffer 1 damage and gain Stunned.

30mm

138 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY

 SYNDICATE • Stat Cards

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 139
 Stat Cards • SYNDICATE

7
COST
Enforcer, Construct
Totem (Anya Lycarayen)
A large, four-winged bird statue usually sits atop Condor SYNDICATE
Rails’ headquarters in Ridley. Visitors don’t see it as more
than a prideful decoration, something to add to the building’s
intimidating appearance. The reality is far more complex.
Aucaman had the construct, called Sovereign, built before
he stepped down as head of Condor Rails. Sovereign would
act as a defender and protector, a physical manifestation of
Aucaman’s will and enduring presence. It would guide his
daughter during her first months as a business magnate, and
act as a weapon if ever there was a need. Malifaux teaches
quickly, but there is no substitute for experience.
7 7
Not even Aucaman could have predicted how “hands-on”
4
Df
Wp Mv 3
Sz
his daughter would be in Condor Rails dealings. Sovereign ABILITIES
accompanied Anya to most of her meetings and investment Armor +2: Reduce all damage suffered by this model by +2.

ventures, tearing apart Condor Rails’ opposition with bloody
efficiency. The carnage it unleashed helped persuade reluc-
tant business owners to rethink their stance on a Condor
Rails offer. Sovereign is now more of a threat; it has become
infamous in the business world, and no amount of polishing
will ever clean all the blood spilled by the construct’s claws.
This looming calm is hiding a storm. When Anya gives the
order, thunder and lightning peel off the bird’s metal wings
as Sovereign once again becomes the power of Condor Rails
made real.
Flight: When resolving the Walk or Charge Action,
instead of moving normally, this model may Place itself
completely within X", where X is equal to this model’s Mv.
This model does not suffer Falling damage.
Price of Progress: After this model declares an Action,
it may suffer 1 damage to add any one suit to its duel total.
Sound of Thunder: Once per Activation. After this
model is moved, enemy models within p2 of it must each
pass a TN 12 Df duel or suffer 1 damage and gain Stunned.
HEALTH
Sovereign

Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

Menacing Talons y1" 6 Df -
Target suffers 2/3/6 damage.
R Puncture: When resolving, this Action’s damage
flip receives a + for each r in the final duel total
(to a maximum of ++).
t Glory of Ridley: Friendly Syndicate models
within p4 of this model Heal 1.
Thunderstruck 6" 5 * 12
Once per Activation. Shockwave 2, Mv 13, Damage 2
and Stunned. This model may ignore the effects of this
Shockwave and instead Heals 2.
R Cataclysm: When resolving, Drop another
Shockwave Marker within range and LoS.
t Glory of Ridley: Friendly Syndicate models within
p4 of this model Heal 1.

Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

F Fly With Me 2" 6 - 12
This Action cannot be taken while engaged. This model
may target another friendly unengaged model of lower
Sz. Place this model anywhere within 4". If this Action
targeted another model, Place the friendly model into
base contact with this model.
t Glory of Ridley: Friendly Syndicate models within
p4 of this model Heal 1.
R Show of Force: Enemy models within p4 of this
model suffer 1 damage.

50mm

140 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY

 DUA, SYNDICATE  •  Stat Cards

The world is full of problems: unpaid debts, troublesome

questions, “incidents” that nobody ever needs know about...
It’s a foolish owner that gets their hands dirty trying to solve
problems by themselves. When something needs doing,
quietly, a meeting with Corvis Rook is usually in order.

He is a hawkish man. His cold eyes glare behind his glasses,

watching as clients fumble to verbalize their problems.
He carries himself well enough, but scars beneath his fine
clothes tell of a life filled with relentless brutality. Rook has
made a living cleaning up other people’s messes, and that
suits him just fine.

Rook’s most frequent employers are Condor Rails and the

Department of Ungentlemanly Affairs. Ever since Anya took
over Condor Rails, she has managed to monopolize his time.
It’s not her money that matters, though. Anya’s pockets are
deep, but it’s what Rook learns on a job that’s most valuable
to him and his colleagues. Those connections keep him con-
nected with Ivan; the DUA has given him enough black-
mail to bring down much of Malifaux’s economic elite. Rook
keeps his mouth shut as a professional courtesy.

Corvis Rook
9
COST
Henchman, Living
DUA, SYNDICATE
Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
Staggering Punch y0" 7 Df -
Target suffers 2/3/4 damage and gains Staggered.
t Draw Out Secrets: Drop a Scheme Marker into
base contact with the target.
c Execute: The target may either discard a card or
a Soulstone. If it does neither, it is killed, ignoring
Demise Abilities.
M Shove Aside: Once per Activation. Push the
target 4" away from this model. Then, this model
may Push up to 4" and declare a yAction targeting
a different model.
R “Tell Me What You Know!”: Enemy only.
Target must either discard a card or name one of
6 6 their unrevealed Schemes (and any models chosen).
6
Df
Wp Mv 2
Sz
Pressure 8" 6 Wp
Target a non-Leader enemy model within 3" of a Scheme
-

or friendly Shadow Marker. Target must either discard

ABILITIES
Flexible Morality: After an enemy model targets this
model with an Attack Action, the enemy model must either
discard a card or suffer a - to its duel.
Price of Progress: After this model declares an Action,
it may suffer 1 damage to add any one suit to its duel total.
Remove Evidence: At the start of this model’s
Activation, it may remove a Scheme, Corpse, or Scrap
Marker within a4 to draw a card.
Slippery: This model can only be engaged or targeted by
yActions from enemy models in base contact with it.
a random card and suffer 2 damage or take a non-f
Action that does not Attach Upgrades or list a model
by name, chosen and controlled by this model.
t Draw Out Secrets: Drop a Scheme Marker into
base contact with the target.
m Pulled Here and There: Push either this model
or the target up to 3".
F Backroom Dealings 10" 6 Wp -
Enemy only. Reveal the target’s Control Hand.
m Pulled Here and There: Push either this model
or the target up to 3".

Ungentlemanly Affairs: This model treats - from

Concealment, Distracted, and Friendly Fire as +.

HEALTH 30mm

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 141
 Stat Cards • SYNDICATE

Fortune changed the strands of Fate to favor certain indi-

viduals over others. Their most prized asset was Winston
Finnigan, a man to whom everything had come miracu-
lously easy. He founded Winston Dirigibles based off an
experimental design that worked against all odds. Finnigan’s
life was filled with luxury, women, and wealth. But the
disaster at the Star Theater changed all that. Surrounded by
a destroyed upper-societal crust, Finnigan accepted Anya’s
offer to purchase Winston Dirigibles and now have kept him
on as a consultant. It was a role the businessman has played
with enormous success.

Rumors have abounded regarding what

happened at the Star Theater that night.
Winston was a very large gentleman, yet
now seems as fit and healthy as a man half
his age. His looks also seemed to have improved;
though he’s still recognizable, some have questioned if one
of the man’s illegitimate sons stepped up and claimed his
father’s place. The craziest gossip says he perished that night
and something else is wearing his skin. Winston addresses
every accusation with a dashing smile, a laugh, and a wink.
They’re rumors, he says. Rumors, and nothing more.

Winston Finnigan
8
COST
Henchman, Living Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
SYNDICATE
Sharp Wit y1" 6 Wp -
Target gains Slow.
t Draw Out Secrets: Drop a Scheme Marker
into base contact with the target.
r Red and Black: Once per Activation. Non-Leader
Enemy only. Choose two suits. The target must
discard a card of either chosen suit or take a non-f
Action that does not Attach Upgrades or list a
model by name, chosen and controlled by this
model, ignoring engagement.
c Sellout: This Trigger must be declared if able.

6 5 Enemy only. Immediately, this Action fails. Then,

add a Soulstone to this Crew’s Soulstone Pool.
5
Df
Wp Mv 2
Sz Derringer z8" 5 Df -
Target suffers 2/3/4 damage.
ABILITIES F Dirigible Ride 6" 6 Mv 12
Arcane Reservoir: Crews containing one or more models
ABILITIES Target a model with Sz 2 or less. Place the target
with this Ability increase their Maximum Hand Size by one. anywhere within 4" of its current position.
Celebrity: After this model resolves the Interact c Cut the Cables: The target and enemy models
Action, it may choose an enemy model within a6 to gain within p2 of it suffer 1 damage.
Distracted +1. t Luxury Vehicle: Target Heals 2.
Don’t Mind Me: This model may take the Interact m Ride Along: Target must be within 2" of this model.
Action while engaged or if it has taken the Disengage Place this model into base contact with the target.
Action this Activation. Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
Luck Thief: When performing opposed duels and
Fortune’s Favor - - - -
damage flips against this model, enemy models treat all +
Look at the top three cards of your Fate Deck and
as if they were -. After an enemy model fails an Action
discard any number of them. Place the remaining cards
targeting this model, this model Heals 2.
on top of your Fate Deck in any order. This model may
Price of Progress: After this model declares an Action, move up to 1"/2"/3" for each card discarded this way,
it may suffer 1 damage to add any one suit to its duel total. based on that card’s value.

HEALTH 30mm

142 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY

 SEEKER, SYNDICATE  •  Stat Cards

6
COST
Minion (3), Living
SEEKER, SYNDICATE
Condor Rails has always managed to expand more quickly
than their competition. They also seem to have fewer track
malfunctions and delays caused by unstable ground or weak
foundations. It’s more than luck that keeps Condor on the
better side of the soil. At one point several years ago, a group
of Surveyors was sent into an abandoned mine in the North-
ern Hills to check the mountain’s structural integrity. Con-
dor Rails planned to run a new line through the mountain,
and such a venture wouldn’t be undertaken unless the risk
was far, far less than the reward. As it turned out, both facets
came hand in hand.
4 4
5 Wp Mv 2 A cave-in trapped the Surveyors. During that time, particles
Df Sz
of Soulstone dust began to transform them. By the time the
ABILITIES group escaped, they had become half-fused with the rocks
Armor +1: Reduce all damage suffered by this model by +1.
that formed their prison. Some returned to Condor Rails out
Chronicle (Geomancy): Once per Activation. After
another model within a6 Heals, this model may discard a of a sense of loyalty. Others fled, terrified of the witch hunters
card to Create a Ht 2 Blocking, Destructible, Impassable,
and Hazardous Geode Marker anywhere within 2" of the
catching them if they returned. Anya has since brought the
Healed model. Surveyors out of Ridley as Condor Rails’ secret weapon.
Price of Progress: After this model declares an Action, Armed with surveying chains and magic, these elemental
it may suffer 1 damage to add any one suit to its duel total.
Unimpeded: This model is unaffected by Severe Terrain.
employees can clear entire swathes of land with great speed,
and reinforce stone where the rails will run. New Surveyors
HEALTH
still show up from time to time. After all, Condor Rails needs
to remain competitive.

Surveyor

Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

Surveyor’s Tools y2" 5 Df -
Target suffers 2/2b/3B damage.
t Sweeping Strike: When resolving, target suffers
+b damage.
m Mass Hysteria: Push models damaged by this
Action up to 3" in any direction.
Hooked Chain z8" 5 Df -
Target suffers 2/3/4 damage. Push the target up to 3"
toward this model.
m On Your Heels: Enemy only. Place this model
into base contact with the target.
R Pythagorean Quake: Once per Activation.
Choose a friendly Scheme or friendly Terrain
Marker within range. Enemy models within the
area formed between this model, the target, and
the chosen Marker must each pass a TN 12 Mv
duel or suffer 1 damage and be Pushed up to 3"
in any direction.

Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

F Chain Gang 3" - - -
Other friendly model only. Move the target up to 3".
Then, this model may move up to 3", which must end
within 3" of the target.
F Field of Steel a2" 5 - 12
Until the End Phase, enemy models treat the area within
range as Hazardous Terrain.

40mm

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 143
 Stat Cards  •  DUA, SYNDICATE

Corporate espionage is a time-honored tradition. In Malifaux,

it has become a necessity. Everyone wants to know when
and where their opponents are making moves. Information
like this is bought and sold, traded and bartered. The ones
responsible for acquiring it are Operatives. Called turncoats,
two-timers, and a host of other less favorable names, these
agents of espionage work their way into company boardrooms.
From there, they unleash quiet chaos.

Operatives often have a handler they report to, usually

another company or the DUA. They can make suggestions
and manipulate what their competition does, or else steal
information as it comes up. Every entrepreneur in Malifaux
has become wise to the danger of these Operatives, and even
just a threat of one can spread enough suspicion to destroy a
company. Words are chosen carefully. Inner circles change
often, and counter-operations lay out complex (and expen-
sive) plans to oust suspected spies. The best Operatives remain
unknown, playing their games in the shadows without ever
being cast into the light.

Operative
5
COST
Minion (2), Living
DUA, SYNDICATE
Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
Hidden Blade y1" 4 Df -
Target suffers 1/2/4 damage, ignoring Armor.
t Draw Out Secrets: Drop a Scheme Marker into
base contact with the target.
Derringer z8" 5 Df -
Target suffers 2/3/4 damage.
Arson 10" 5 * 12
Instead of Dropping a Shockwave Marker, this Action
must center its Shockwave on target Scheme Marker
within range. Shockwave 2, Mv 12, Damage 2,
Burning +1. Then remove the target.
c Trail of Dusk: Immediately, Drop a Destructible,
Concealing Shadow Marker into base contact with
5 5 this model.
5
Df
Wp Mv 2
Sz
r Cut Your Losses: Friendly only. When resolving,
Friendly models may ignore the effects of this
Shockwave.
ABILITIES
Infiltrator: Enemy models do not treat this model as Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
an enemy model for their Actions, Abilities, and Triggers.
This model may choose to be affected by the Actions, F Ambush - - - -
Abilities, and Triggers of enemy models that are restricted If this model is not in Concealing Terrain, it must discard
to “friendly” models and/or models of a specific Keyword. a card. If this model is not engaged, it may move up to 3".
Price of Progress: After this model declares an Action,
it may suffer 1 damage to add any one suit to its duel total.
Set up for Success: After this model resolves an Attack
Action targeting an enemy model that is within 2" of a
Scheme Marker, draw a card.
Ungentlemanly Affairs: This model treats - from
Concealment, Distracted, and Friendly Fire as +.

HEALTH 30mm

144 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY

 Stat Cards • WASTREL

15
COST

In England, Lucas McCabe had a respected family name, Master, Living

WASTREL
money, education, and everything he could wish for… pro-
vided that he was comfortable living beneath the thumb of
the Guild. He was not, as it turned out, and he soon left
that life behind him in favor of exploration and historical
study (or, as numerous police forces across the world would
later claim, tomb robbery, smuggling, and black market
dealing).

Lucas’ larcenous ways caught up with him in Egypt, but it 5 7

6 Wp Mv 3
was his fiancé, Karen, who paid the price. Murdered by peo- Df Sz

ple who wished to hurt McCabe, they stole his future by ABILITIES
shooting her three times in the chest. She died on the empty Trample: This model can move through other models.
Make Way!: After resolving an Action in which this
desert sands, her soul absorbed by a Soulstone amulet that model moved through one or more models, those models
Lucas had discovered inside a pyramid. By drawing upon the must each pass a TN 13 Mv duels or suffer 2 damage.
power of Karen’s soul, Lucas was able to obliterate his attack- Unimpeded: This model is unaffected by Severe Terrain.
Looted Supplies: At the start of this model’s Activation,
ers, albeit at the cost of his lover’s immortal soul. if it is within a1 of any Scrap or Corpse Markers, it may
draw a card.
After Karen’s death, Lucas became more reckless in his pur- Demise (Dismount): After this model is killed, it is
instead Replaced with a Lucas McCabe, Dismounted
suit of artifacts. In his desperate attempts to forget his fiancé Hunter. Then, Attach all Upgrades on this model to the
(and, perhaps, to get himself killed as way of punishing him- new model, which then Heals 5 and Drops a Corpse
Marker into base contact with itself.
self), he made numerous enemies, among them the Katanaka
family. While forgiveness is not a virtue possessed by the
HEALTH
Katanaka, they do understand the value of a useful asset
and arranged for McCabe to be arrested by the Guild. As
predicted, they recruited him for his unique skills, and soon
he was traveling to Malifaux to serve the Governor-General Lucas McCabe, relic hunter
himself. Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
6R Df -
For years, McCabe scoured both Earth and Malifaux for Bull Whip y2"
Target suffers 2/3/4 damage, then Push this model up to
magical artifacts at Governor Kitchener’s request, each time 2" in any direction.
R Rear Up: Enemy models within p2 of this model
turning the item over to the Governor-General only after it must each pass a TN 13 Df duel or suffer 2 damage.
had been reviewed by his Ten Thunder masters. Eventually, M Like the Wind: Push this model up to 5" in any
direction, ignoring other models.
they realized that the Governor-General was planning to
Netgun z10" 6 Mv -
become a Tyrant and arranged for McCabe to sabotage his Target suffers 2/2b/3b damage. Models damaged by this
Action gain Slow and Staggered.
ascension ritual. The plan succeeded, and Kitchener’s ritual R Pull and Drag: Push the target 3" toward this
was foiled, though with his disappearance, McCabe soon model.
found himself out of a job. Neither the Governor’s Secretary Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
nor his replacement had any interest in his services, and thus, Scrounge for Relics 5" 6R - 12
McCabe was unceremoniously fired. Discard target Corpse Marker or Scrap Marker. Attach
an Artifact Upgrade to this model.
R Doling Out the Loot: Choose an Artifact Upgrade
His treasure hunting days did not end with this Guild employ- Attached to this model. Discard it, then Attach it to a
ment, however. Shortly after he was fired, Lucas was con- friendly Minion or Wastrel model within 6".

tacted by the Explorer’s Society, which wished to make use “Careful, It’s Cursed!” 10" - -
Discard an Attached Artifact Upgrade from target
-

of his talents to track down a number of ancient Neverborn
artifacts from the days of the Tyrant War. McCabe took them
up on their offer and is once again back on the hunt.
friendly model. Enemy models within p2 of the target
must each pass a TN 13 Wp duel or suffer 2 damage and
gain Injured +2.
F Ride with Me 2" 7 - 12
This model may target another friendly model of lower Sz.
Push this model up to 5" in any direction. Then, if this
Action targeted another friendly model, Place the friendly
model into base contact with this model.

50mm

146 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY

 WASTREL • Stat Cards

15
COST

Master, Living
WASTREL

6 5
6
Df
Wp Mv 2
Sz

ABILITIES
Dismounted: This model cannot be hired, even if chosen
as a Leader.
Swagger: After this model resolves the Walk Action, if
this model does not have the Focused Condition, it gains
Focused +1.
Looted Supplies: At the start of this model’s Activation,
if it is within a1 of any Scrap or Corpse Markers, it may
draw a card.
Extended Reach: Enemy models within a2 cannot take
Attack Actions generated by the Charge Action.

HEALTH

Lucas McCabe, dismounted hunter

Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

Glowing Saber y1" 6 Df -
Target suffers 2/3/4 damage, ignoring Hard to Wound,
Hard to Kill, and Incorporeal.
R Critical Strike: When resolving, the target suffers
+1 damage for each r in this Action’s final duel total
(to a maximum of +2).
c Siphon Essence: Enemy only. After killing, add one
Soulstone to this Crew’s Soulstone Pool.
Collier Revolver z12" 6 Df -
Target suffers 2/3/4 damage.
t Focused Attention: This model gains Focused +1.
R Burst Damage: When resolving, the target suffers
+b damage.

Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

Scrounge for Relics 5" 6R - 12
Discard target Corpse Marker or Scrap Marker. Attach
an Artifact Upgrade to this model.
R Doling Out the Loot: Choose an Artifact Upgrade
Attached to this model. Discard it, then Attach it to a
friendly Minion or Wastrel model within 6".
F Chain Gang 3" - - -
Other friendly model only. Move the target up to 3".
Then, this model may move up to 3", which must end
within 3" of the target.

30mm

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 147
 Stat Cards • WASTREL

2
COST
Enforcer, Beast
Totem (Lucas McCabe)
Luna has been at McCabe’s side since his tragedy in Egypt. WASTREL
The mastiff is a large, heavily built hunting companion who
has saved his life on numerous occasions, though McCabe
lost count. He is as devoted to her as she is to him, and either
would risk their life for the other. They have faced all manner
of inventive traps, strange beasts, and dangerous criminals in
their adventures and have always come out on top.

No matter how many times McCabe has been arrested, 3 6

thrown into a foreign prison, and left for dead, Luna has
patiently waited for him to escape. Once, in Constantinople,
she was directly responsible for his escape, though McCabe
still isn’t quite sure how she managed to take out three
armed guards before limping up to his cell, a blood-soaked
keyring in her mouth.
Since arriving in Malifaux, Luna has developed an uncanny
ability to sniff out treasure and rare artifacts. She’s not above
chewing on the more interesting relics when the opportunity
presents itself, though McCabe does his best to get the most
valuable of his recovered objects out of her jaws before she
can damage them too much.
5
Df
Wp Mv 1Sz
ABILITIES
Carry the Goods: When a friendly model within a3
declares the “Take This!” Action, it may double the range
of that Action. If it does so, Place this model into base
contact with the target after the Action resolves.
Insignificant: This model cannot take the Interact
Action and is ignored for Strategies and Schemes.
“Luna! Give!”: Friendly Wastrel and Minion models
within a3 of this model may take an Action to discard one
Attached Artifact Upgrade from this model and Attach it to
themselves. Friendly Lucas McCabe models may do so as a
F Action.
Hunting Partner: Friendly models’ Attack Actions
ignore this model for the purposes of Friendly Fire. Enemy
models within a1 must discard a card to declare the
Disengage Action.

HEALTH

Luna

Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

Bite y0" 5 Df -
Target suffers 2/3/4 damage.
M You’re Comin’ with Me: Push the target up to 3" in
any direction, then Place this model into base contact
with it.
c Chew Toy: Discard an Artifact Upgrade Attached
to this model. Draw a card, then Drop a Scheme
Marker into base contact with this model.

Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

Frantic Digging - - - -
Once per Activation. Drop a Scrap Marker into base
contact with this model.
Scrounge for Relics 5" 4 - 12
Discard target Corpse Marker or Scrap Marker. Attach
an Artifact Upgrade to this model.
c Chew Toy: Discard an Artifact Upgrade Attached
to this model. Draw a card, then Drop a Scheme
Marker into base contact with this model.

30mm

148 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY

 WASTREL • Stat Cards

Jessie Halliday came to Malifaux as a botanist bent on find-

ing some sort of order to the Bayou’s plant life. Could they
be used for medicine? Food? Which ones were slightly car-
nivorous, and which ones were very carnivorous? She was
sure her knowledge would make her a prime candidate for
a Guild-sponsored research grant. How she ended up in the
shantytown of Frontier Point fighting a drunk Silurid and an
equally smashed Whiskey Golem was beyond her. So, when
the Explorer’s Society put out a call for willing researchers,
Jessie couldn’t sign her forms fast enough.

Her first assignments were on a freelance basis. Catalogue

plants, collect specimens, and send them back to the Society.
It wasn’t a full membership, but Jessie was thankful all the
same. Her work continued when she became a field agent,
as she often took on work when few other explorers dared.
More impressively, she always seemed to come back
with results and insights. Somewhere along the way
her successes got her assigned to explore the Sunken
City with Lucas McCabe. The danger there bound
the pair into an uneasy partnership, though Jessie
knows she has the upper hand.

Jessie Halliday
7
COST
Henchman, Living
Versatile Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
WASTREL Harpoon Gun z12" 6 Df -
Target suffers 2/3/5 damage. Push the target up to 3"
toward this model.
R Pull and Drag: Push the target 3" toward this model.
F Soulstone Flare 10" 5 * 12
Shockwave 2, Wp 13, Damage 1 and Distracted +1.
Until the End Phase, enemy models that failed to resist
this Shockwave cannot take the Interact Action.

Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

Archaeological Dig 6" 6 - 12
Once per Activation. Target a Marker. Drop a Scrap
Marker into base contact with the target. Then, remove
the target.
m Discovery: Add one Soulstone to this Crew’s
Soulstone Pool.
5 5 c I Can Dig It: Drop a Scheme Marker into base
5
Df
Wp Mv 2
Sz
contact with this model.

ABILITIES
Depths of Malifaux: This model is unaffected by
Severe and Hazardous Terrain.
Evasive: Reduce all damage this model suffers from
Shockwave,p, and b effects to 0.
Hard to Kill: When this model suffers damage, if it has
2 or more Health, it may not be reduced to below 1 Health.
Looted Supplies: At the start of this model’s Activation,
if it is within a1 of any Scrap or Corpse Markers, it may
draw a card.

HEALTH 30mm

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 149
 Stat Cards  •  FRONTIER, WASTREL

7
COST
Minion (2), Living
FRONTIER, WASTREL
As former Guild agents in North America, the Rough Riders
are models of western law and order. Callous and highly
skilled, they have no trouble riding the plains and killing
with a single shot. The deputies were brash and aggressive,
ending more standoffs with shootouts than was acceptable.
Unfortunately, bureaucracy got in the way of their form of
criminal justice. The group was disbanded; most took merce-
nary work or went on to live lives of freedom and adventure.

In Malifaux, they have found reemployment with the Guild’s

Frontier Division and as less-than-scrupulous mercenar- 4 6
ies for the right buyer. Each Rough Rider brings his own 5
Df
Wp Mv 3
Sz
equipment. Uniforms and rifles are kept in excellent working
order, and the horses each deputy rode in the west are the ABILITIES
Favorable Terrain: This model is unaffected by Severe
same ones they mount today. A Rough Rider at full gallop Terrain. While this model is in Severe Terrain or within 1"
of Impassable Terrain, it has Cover.
can still pull off trick shots and acrobatics without a prob-
Home on the Range +1: When deploying, every friendly
lem, making them highly prized in fights that need to be model with this Ability can deploy +1" beyond this Crew’s
ended quickly. Combined with their endurance and desire to Deployment Zone.
Looted Supplies: At the start of this model’s Activation,
see the guilty brought up for their crimes, very little can stop if it is within a1 of any Scrap or Corpse Markers, it may
a Rough Rider with set sights. draw a card.
Survivalist: When this model Heals, it Heals an
additional +1 Health.

HEALTH

Rough Rider

Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

Trampling Hooves y0" 5 Df -
Target suffers 2/3/4 damage and gains Injured +1. Place
this model anywhere in base contact with the target.
Repeating Rifle z14" 5+ Df -
Target suffers 2/3/4 damage.
R Critical Strike: When resolving, the target suffers
+1 damage for each r in this Action’s final duel total
(to a maximum of +2).

Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN.

F Kick Up Dust 3" 5m - 10
Drop a 50mm Concealing, Severe Dust Cloud Marker
anywhere within range. During the End Phase, remove
the Dust Cloud.
m Reposition: Move this model up to 3".
F Ride with Me 2" 5 - 12
This model may target another friendly model of lower
Sz. Push this model up to 5" in any direction. Then, if
this Action targeted another friendly model, Place the
friendly model into base contact with this model.
t Field Kit: After resolving, one friendly model
within a3 Heals 1/2/3.

50mm

150 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY

 WASTREL • Stat Cards

Neverborn technology is worth a lot of scrip to the right

buyers. The stuff is hard to get, though, and treasure hunt-
ers don’t know what any of it does. Some educated guesses
have theorized that this old technology was made to help
with amalgamation, the fusing of organic and machine. This
process is highly illegal in the eyes of the Guild, but those
with flexible morals tend to experiment with this forbidden
science beyond just applying pneumatic limbs for miners.
Cryptologists are one such group.

Whether willingly or by force, each Cryptologist has Nev-

erborn technology amalgamated with their bodies, granting
them a kind of sixth sense. Deciphering ancient runes, crack-
ing tombs, and opening the oldest locks become relatively
easy tasks. While respected for their skills, Cryptologists are
viewed with suspicion. Their bodies are in conflict with the
Neverborn machinery. It seems to be organic, slowly taking
over each Cryptologist more and more until they are some-
thing different altogether.

Cryptologist
6
COST
Minion (2), Living
Construct Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
WASTREL Clockwork Arm y1" 5 Df -
Target suffers 2/3/5 damage.
Cursed Translation 8" 5 Wp -
Target suffers 1b/3b/3b damage.
t Cryptic Message: Friendly models within p2 of
the target gain Shielded +1.

Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

F Antique Timepiece 8" 5 - 14
Friendly only. Resolve any effects on the target that
would resolve at the start of its Activation and do not
attach any Upgrades.
m Instinctual Response: Non-Leader only. End one
Condition on the target. Target takes a non-F
Action that does not Attach Upgrades or list a model
5 4 by name, chosen and controlled by this model.
5
Df
Wp Mv 2
Sz

ABILITIES
Ancient Technology: When a model within a4
Activates, it must either discard a card or this model may
choose any number of effects that would resolve when it
Activates to be ignored.
Armor +1: Reduce all damage suffered by this model by +1.
Depths of Malifaux: This model is unaffected by
Severe and Hazardous Terrain.
Looted Supplies: At the start of this model’s Activation,
if it is within a1 of any Scrap or Corpse Markers, it may
draw a card.

HEALTH 30mm

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 151
 Stat Cards  •  EFFIGY, PUPPET

4
COST
Enforcer, Construct
Versatile
Every living thing in Malifaux is a player in Fate’s great game. EFFIGY, PUPPET
The pawns that choose to wander, wishing to discover for
want of more, are often on the winning side. This curious
puppet was made to act as eyes to see beyond the unknown
vastness of the world, stitched with immaculate precision so
that what it seeks echoes the desires of its curious creator.

For years it has aimlessly meandered through caves and

unexplored locations that were too perilous for most,
yearning only for the bounty at the end of its metaphorical
treasure map, to feel the glimmer of gold from an opened
treasure chest on its stitched face. The Society found value
in its unending need for discovery. Utilizing its natural,
inquisitive behavior has suited both the Effigy and its maker
quite well. Now when it explores, it is driven by purpose...
though whose purpose remains an important question.
4 5
5
Df
Wp Mv 1Sz
ABILITIES
Accomplice: After this model ends its Activation, a
friendly model within 6" that has not Activated this Turn
may discard a card or Pass Token to do so.
Armor +1: Reduce all damage suffered by this model by +1.
Before and After: This model cannot be hired into a
Crew containing an Emissary of Fate model.
Hard to Kill: When this model suffers damage, if it has
2 or more Health, it may not be reduced to below 1 Health.
Helping Hand: If this Crew’s Leader is a Henchman and
the same Faction as this model, when hiring, this model’s
Cost is treated as 0.

HEALTH

Intrepid Effigy

Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

Torch y0" 5 Df -
Target suffers 1/2/3 damage and gains Burning +1.
M Galvanize: Another friendly model within 3"
of this model gains Focused +1.
Lead the Way 2" 5 Df 11
This Action cannot target the same model more than
once per Activation. Target model is Pushed 4" in any
direction, then Push this model up to 4" toward the
target.

Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

F Aura of Courage a3" 5 - 10
Until the End Phase, after a friendly model within range
passes a duel by 2 or more, if that duel was a simple duel
or an opposed duel with an enemy model, the friendly
model may Heal 1.

30mm

152 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY

 EMISSARY OF FATE  •  Stat Cards

10
COST
Enforcer, Construct
Versatile
EMISSARY OF FATE The lion is a symbol of power, honor, and valor. It is a preda-
tor against the weak and protector to its pride. The Intrepid
Emissary is a pillar to those ideals, sculpted from immacu-
late stone to easily stand against those with the gall to strike
against it. Until this moment it acts as a statue, patiently
waiting before the manors and lodges that it has sworn to
protect.

Its shield is an unbreakable tower, and its spear has been

sharpened to cut through intruders like a scythe through
chaff. It’s only logical that those who have made prey out
5 5 of the world would call upon such a monument to be the
7
Df
Wp Mv 3
Sz symbol of their potential. They believe none are stronger
ABILITIES than those with endless curiosity and coin. Perhaps even
Armor +1: Reduce all damage suffered by this model by +1. Fate can be swayed if enough riches are piled at its feet...
Hard to Kill: When this model suffers damage, if it has
2 or more Health, it may not be reduced to below 1 Health.
The Intrepid Emissary is a walking, impenetrable fortress,
Phalanx: Other friendly models that start their Activation
within a3 gain Shielded +1. and those who stand behind it can rest assured they will
Take the Hit: After an enemy model targets a friendly continue to live in decadence. Conversely, those that chal-
model within a2 with an Attack Action, this model may
discard a card to Place itself into base contact with the
lenge this status quo are often met with a quick and grue-
friendly model and become the new target of the Attack some end.
Action (ignoring range, LoS, and targeting restrictions).

HEALTH

Intrepid Emissary

Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

Stone Spear y2" 6 Df -
Target suffers 2/4/6 damage.
R Defensive Reflexes: This model gains Shielded +1.
M Knock Aside: Push the target 4" in any direction.
t Sweeping Strike: When resolving, the target
suffers +b damage.
Intimidating Roar 8" 6 Wp -
Push the target 6" away from this model. If the target is a
Minion, it gains Slow.
t Spear Toss: This model may take the Stone Spear
Action, ignoring range, targeting the same model.

Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

F Aura of Courage a3" 6 - 10
Until the End Phase, after a friendly model within range
passes a duel by 2 or more, if that duel was a simple duel
or an opposed duel with an enemy model, the friendly
model may Heal 1.
F I’ve Got Your Back 6" 6 - 10
Target other engaged friendly model. Target is Placed
into base contact with this model.
M Galvanize: Another friendly model within 3"
of this model gains Focused +1.

50mm

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 153
 Stat Cards 

9
COST
Henchman, Living
Versatile
Centuries ago, two Maori sisters fought bravely against the
immense and powerful Horomatangi, a serpentine titan that
tormented and ravaged their homeland of New Zealand. It
was their sacrifice that poisoned the great beast and saved the
island from certain destruction. Their cunning - and the recipe
for the poison that left Horomatangi sleeping for hundreds
of years - was passed down from generation to generation.

That lineage has taken several twists and turns, but none are
so unexpected as Mr. Ngaatoro. A quiet man, Mr. Ngaatoro
was known for his ability to intimidate with a look and carry 6 5
out whatever actions he deemed necessary to keep his fam- 6
Df
Wp Mv 2
Sz
ily safe. As the King’s Empire expanded its reach, his views
slowly warped. Ultimately, Ngaatoro sacrificed his heritage ABILITIES
Bully: After this model targets a model with lower Cost
for money and power, though he refuses to let anyone know with an Action, this model may add one suit of its choice to
its final duel total.
why.
Intimidating Authority: After this model is targeted
with an Attack Action, it may discard a card to have the
It would be the newly appointed leader of the Explorer’s Attacking model suffer a - to that Action’s duel.
Society who plucked him from his inner turmoil and placed Neurotoxins: Enemy models with the Poison Condition
within a3 cannot use Soulstones or declare Triggers.
him at her side. He was to become her enforcer, her right Voice of the Society: Friendly models receive +1 to
hand that saw her will carried through to the very end. Mr. their duels when targeting other friendly models within
a6 with an Action.
Ngaatoro now works to ensure his lady’s interests are taken
care of first, no matter the cost.
HEALTH

Mr. Ngaatoro

Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

Horomatangi’s Tooth y1" 6 Df -
Target suffers 2/3/5 damage. Models damaged by this
Action gain Poison +1.
c Undersea Toxins: Target gains Injured +1 and
Poison +1.
t Sweeping Strike: When resolving, the target
suffers +b damage.
Obey 12" 6 Wp 14m
This Action cannot target the same model more than once
per Activation. Non-Master only. Target model takes a
non-F Action that does not Attach Upgrades or list a
model by name, chosen and controlled by this model.
t Harsh Teachings: Target gains Injured +1 and
Focused +1.
c Infectious Words: Target suffers 1 damage and
gains Poison +1.
F Backroom Dealings 10" 6 Wp -
Enemy only. Reveal the target’s Control Hand.
m Advance: Push this model 4" toward the target.
t Surge: Draw a card.

40mm

154 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY

 Stat Cards

8
COST
Enforcer, Living
Versatile
As a young boy, James Vernon looked up at Earth’s moon and
dreamed of someday going there. Many years later, when he
arrived in Malifaux, the eccentric astronomer was delighted
to find there were two moons in the sky! He gathered up all of
his equipment and rushed to the Explorer’s Society. He spent
almost four hours going over the finer points of his plans to
reach the moons (Illios or Delios first, it didn’t really matter).
Vernon left with a full membership, funding, and more than a
few bewildered Society explorers in his wake.

Millicent Welles came to help Vernon with his analysis of

6 5 Malifaux’s unfamiliar astronomy. It was grueling work, but
5
Df
Wp Mv 2
Sz the pair got along well. Vernon pitched insane ideas and
ABILITIES theories, and Welles did her best to keep her boss from
Arcane Shield +2: During the Start Phase, this model going completely off the rails. Ever since their failure to
gains Shielded +2.
actually reach the moons (again, either one would do just
Hard to Kill: When this model suffers damage, if it has
2 or more Health, it may not be reduced to below 1 Health. splendidly), they have magnified their efforts to understand
Head in the Clouds: Enemy models suffer a - to the puzzles in Malifaux’s skies. A large telescopic machine
Attack Actions resisted by Wp that target friendly models
within a3. carries the pair into the field; Vernon swears there’s no better
You Take the Wheel!: Once per Turn. After this model way to look at the skies. To her credit, Millicent puts on
resolves the Walk Action, it may discard a card to take the
Interact Action.
an enthusiastic (if strained) smile and agrees, but she
worries Vernon’s craziness is going to start turning
HEALTH
her hair gray.

Vernon and Welles

Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

View of the Endless 10" 6 Wp -
Target suffers 1/2/3 damage and gains Staggered.
t Glimpse the Void: Enemy only. Target must pass
a TN 14 Wp duel or it is Buried. If the target is
Buried by this Trigger, at the start of its Activation,
Unbury it within 1" of an enemy model.
m Touch of Madness: Target discards a random card.
Falling Skies 10" 5 * 10
Shockwave 1, Mv 13, Damage 2. Push any models
damaged by this Action up to 2" away from a
Shockwave Marker Dropped by this Action.
r Cataclysm: When resolving, Drop another
Shockwave Marker within range and LoS.
m Crater: Enemy models damaged by this Action
must either discard a card or gain Staggered.

Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

F Onward! - 6 - 12
This model may take the Walk Action.
t Celestial Navigation: Look at the top three cards
of both this model’s Fate Deck and its Discard Pile.
Then, place any three non-Jokers from these cards
back on top of this model’s Fate Deck in any order
and discard the remaining cards.
m Rocket Man: When resolving the generated
Action, instead of moving normally, this model
may Place itself completely within 5".

50mm

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 155
 Stat Cards

A long voyage means a considerable amount of equipment

to lug around. When a Hopeful Prospect isn’t available, the
Society spares no expense to ensure their valuables are taken
care of during a trek. Their most elegant solution was to cre-
ate Bellhop Porters, humanoid constructs built for strength,
endurance, and carrying capacity. A single Porter can eas-
ily carry all the teacups, maps, spyglasses, and doodads a
member might need. In a pinch, they can even fend off
the occasional miscreant or skunk ape.

Particularly sentimental explorers will name

Porter constructs in order to provide a per-
sonality to their rotund forms. Clothing is also
common, although this tends to be a simple
butler’s uniform and a fine hat. Despite their
dapper appearance, Bellhop Porters leave
much to be desired. For one, they’re poor
conversationalists, and can hardly play a
tune. At the very least, they are slow run-
ners, which often means that the luggage
is given up first to whatever beast is chas-
ing the expedition team… unless a Hopeful
Prospect happens to be nearby.

Bellhop Porter
7
COST
Enforcer, Construct
Versatile Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
Baggage Handlers y2" 6 Df -
Target suffers 2/3/4 damage.
m Knock Aside: Push the target 4" in any direction.
Throw Junk z10" 5r Df -
Target suffers 2/3/4 damage.
r I Found Another One: Once per Turn.
Enemy only. Choose a non-Scheme Marker in play.
Drop another of the chosen Marker into base
contact with the target.

Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

At Your Service 2" 5 - 10
Once per Activation. Other friendly only. This model
gains Shielded +1. This model may reduce the value of
4 5 its Shielded Condition by any amount. If it does so, the
5
Df
Wp Mv 3
Sz
target gains Shielded with a value equal to the value
reduced by this Action.
F I’ve Got Your Back 6" 6 - 10
ABILITIES Target other engaged friendly model. Target is Placed
Armor +1: Reduce all damage suffered by this model by +1. into base contact with this model.
Accomplice: After this model ends its Activation, a m Tag Out: Place this model anywhere within range
friendly model within 6" that has not Activated this Turn so that it is engaging an enemy model the target
may discard a card or Pass Token to do so. was engaged by when this Action was declared.
Extended Reach: Enemy models within a2 cannot take
Attack Actions generated by the Charge Action.
Full Pack: At the start of this model’s Activation, it gains
Shielded +1 for each Marker within a2 of it.
Give ‘em a Lift: During their Activation, other friendly
models within a2 may be treated as +1 Sz.

HEALTH 40mm

156 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY

 Stat Cards

Humans have long turned to plants to provide them with

food, shelter, and medicine. At the head of cataloguing
and caring for these species are Botanists. They go into
the field to collect samples, conduct experiments, and learn
what properties these plants have. Malifaux’s flora
is especially fascinating, and oftentimes more car-
nivorous than should be reasonable. For better
or worse, Botanists working in Malifaux often get
exactly what they bargained for, and must ensure their
samples are well fed in the interim journey back to the
Explorer’s Society. Brave Botanists might also keep per-
sonal greenhouses, but these inevitably end up in disaster.

Many species of ornery plants have been collected by the

Explorer’s Society, and Botanists harness a plant’s natural
defenses to protect themselves. This could range from uti-
lizing spores to picking up the pot and pointing the biting
mouthparts at the enemy. Even Gremlins are occasionally
brought along; their inquisitive nature makes them the per-
fect candidate for when more seasoned scientists refuse to
stick their heads into places they shouldn’t.

Botanist
6
COST
Minion (3), Living
Versatile Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
Trapping Jaws y1" 4 Df -
Target suffers 1/2/3 damage and gains Staggered.
c “AHHH, MY EYE!”: When resolving, the target
suffers +1 damage and is Pushed up to 3" away
from this model.
m Pulled Here and There: Push either this model
or the target up to 3".
r Tasty Snack: Enemy only. Target gains Injured +1
and this model gains a Grow Token.
Flesh-Eating Spores 6" 4 * 10
Discard up to two Grow Tokens. This Action Drops an
additional number of Shockwave Markers equal to the
number of Tokens discarded this way. Shockwave 1,
4 4 Mv 12, Damage 1 and Injured +1.
5
Df
Wp Mv 2
Sz
t Corrosive Touch: Remove any one non-Scheme
Marker touching a p generated by this Shockwave.

ABILITIES Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

“Feed Me!”: Once per Activation. After a Terrain, Scrap,
F Grim Feast 2" - - -
or Corpse Marker within a4 is removed, this model gains
Remove target Corpse Marker. This model Heals 1/2/4.
a Grow Token and Heals 1. This model gains +1 to its Stats
for each Grow Token on it (to a maximum of +2). F Onward! - 6 - 12
Planted Roots: This model cannot be moved by enemy This model may take the Walk Action.
effects and is unaffected by Severe Terrain. At the start of
this model’s Activation, if it is in Severe Terrain, this model
Heals 1.
Wicked: When this model makes a successful yAction
generated by an enemy model’s Disengage Action, this
model may resolve the Action’s normal effects (including
Triggers) instead of reducing the enemy model’s Push
distance.

HEALTH 40mm

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 157
 Stat Cards

5
COST
Enforcer, Construct
Versatile
It would seem that some of the early human pioneers who
dared to venture into Malifaux a hundred years ago had
a sense of humor. Alpinists are robotic goats built to aid
explorers on climbing adventures in the Northern Hills and
Ten Peaks. But don’t let their blank stare fool you; these
ancient machines are essential tools for any curious traveler.

Recently, the machines (left to rust by their original cre-

ators) have been rediscovered and repaired by the Explor-
er’s Society. Any expedition into treacherous terrain is
seldom without one. Some engineers have even managed
to further advance their design by providing them with the
ability to let out a warning bleat if a camp is in danger. In
general, modifying existing Alpinists tends to not go over
very well. The machines are cantankerous at the best of
times, and do not take kindly to having their boilers recon-
figured for efficiency’s sake. Anyone who gets in their way
usually will have a few horn-shaped bruises to show for
their trouble.
4 5
5
Df
Wp Mv 2
Sz
ABILITIES
Armor +1: Reduce all damage suffered by this model by +1.
Climbing Gear: Friendly models within a4 ignore
models, terrain, and vertical distance while moving.
Ramming Speed: This model’s yActions generated by
the Charge Action receive +1 and any one suit to their final
duel totals.
Rush: When this model takes the Charge Action, increase
the distance it Pushes by up to +2".
Stampede: After this model ends a Charge Action in base
contact with any other models, it may suffer 1 damage. If
it does so, all other models in base contact with this model
suffer 1 damage.

HEALTH

Alpinist

Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

Horns y0" Df
4 -
Target suffers 2/2/3 damage.
M Knock Aside: Push the target 4" in any direction.
c Unintelligible Screaming: This model may take
the Annoying Action.
F 50ft of Silk Rope 10" 5 Mv 12
Push the target 4" toward this model. Then, Push this
model 4" toward the target.
r Impact: Enemy models in base contact with this
model suffer 1 damage.

Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

Annoying a2" - - -
Until the End Phase, after an enemy model within range
declares a Tactical Action other than Walk or Charge,
it gains Distracted +1.
F Tin Feast 2" - - -
Remove target Scrap Marker. This model Heals 1/2/4.

30mm

158 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY

 Stat Cards

Joining the Society isn’t an easy task. Despite what a major-

ity of the members have in common, it takes more than
an immense fortune or a spectacularly twirled mustache
to pass through those doors. At the very least, you’d need
a really fancy hat. Academics, aristocrats, and fools have
all tried to join the upper echelon of explorers, and most
have failed. These Hopeful Prospects are the latest batch
of aspiring initiates.

Those who have their sights set on entrance into the Society
must participate in a grueling expedition to bring back
something previously unknown: a relic, new species, or
information. Then, and only then, are current members
willing to sponsor a trial membership, but sometimes less
grandiose discoveries might necessitate further “proof” of
a Hopeful Prospect’s abilities, to make sure the first time
wasn’t dumb luck. These junior members must then go on
another expedition of equal or greater measure to receive
their full membership and signet rings (which come
with a hefty fee, of course).

Some strike gold. Many more strike out. For

these reckless hopefuls, the risk is worth
the reward.

Hopeful Prospect
4
COST
Minion (2), Living
Versatile Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
Knife y0" 4 Df -
Target suffers 1/3/4 damage.
Broken-Down Rifle z14" 4 Df -
Target suffers 1/3/5 damage.
R Critical Strike: When resolving, the target suffers
+1 damage for each r in this Action’s final duel total
(to a maximum of +2).

Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN

F Safety Precautions 4" 4 - 10
Friendly only. End all Conditions on the target.
4 4 r Mend: Target Heals 2.
4
Df
Wp Mv 2
Sz

ABILITIES
Blissful Ignorance: At the start of this model’s
Activation, it must discard a card and then draw a card.
Good Show!: Once per Turn. After a friendly model
within a4 kills an enemy model, the friendly model gains
Focused +1.
Hard to Kill: When this model suffers damage, if it has
2 or more Health, it may not be reduced to below 1 Health.
Insignificant: This model cannot take the Interact
Action and is ignored for Strategies and Schemes.
Welcome to the Society!: After killing an enemy
model with Cost of 5 of more, this model may Replace with
any Minion that shares a Keyword with this Crew’s Leader.
Then, the new model Heals 4.

HEALTH 30mm

EXPLORER’S SOCIETY 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 159
 Upgrade Cards
This Upgrade is a part of every Faction.
0
2 This model gains the following Ability:
Effigy of Fate: During the Start Phase of
Turn 3 and every Turn after, this model may
be Replaced with an Emissary of Fate model
that shares a Faction with this model. If it
does so, the new model Heals 2.
LIMITATIONS
Restricted (Effigy)
This model gains the following Abilities:
2
Bribery: Once per Turn. After this model is
targeted by an enemy model’s Attack Action,
it may discard a Soulstone to have the Action
immediately fail with no duel. Then, the
Attacking model adds a Soulstone to its Crew’s
Soulstone Pool.
Insurance: After another friendly model
within a6 is killed by an enemy model, add a
Soulstone to this Crew’s Soulstone Pool.
If this model is a Minion, it gains the following
Ability:
Excess Funds: Once per game. During the
Start Phase, this model may discard up to three
cards and then draw up to its maximum hand
size.
LIMITATIONS
Plentiful (2)
160 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  •  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
After this Upgrade is Attached, Bury this
model. If this model is not Buried this way,
discard this Upgrade.
After this model is Unburied, discard this
Upgrade. If this Upgrade is discarded while this
model is Buried, Unbury this model within 2"
of a friendly Calypso.
This model gains the following Abilities:
Control Console: Friendly Calypso
models may take Actions during this model’s
Activation. These Actions count against this
model’s Action limit and the number of F it
can take during an Activation.
I’m in Here!: Friendly models may draw LoS
and range to this model while it is Buried if
they can draw LoS and range to a friendly
Calypso.
Push the Red Button: After a friendly
Calypso model is killed, before resolving any
of its Demise Abilities (if any), this model
Unburies within 2" of it.
LIMITATIONS
Special (Pilot), Restricted (Living)
This model gains the following Abilities:
Backup Plan: Once per Activation. After an
enemy model Cheats Fate in an opposed duel
with this model, it suffers 1 damage.
Double-Cross: This model may Cheat
Fate with the card face down. The card is
revealed before declaring Triggers but after the
opposing player has Cheated Fate (or chosen
not to do so).
If this model is a Minion, it gains the following
Ability:
The Time to Act: After this model’s Crew
reveals a Scheme, this model gains Fast.
LIMITATIONS
Plentiful (2)

If English Ivan is this Crew’s Leader, increase
this Upgrade’s Plentiful Limitation to
Plentiful (5).
After Attaching this Upgrade, this model gains
Stunned.
This model gains the following Ability:
Demise (Reclaimed Darkness): After
this model is killed, Drop a Destructible,
Concealing Shadow Marker into base contact
with the model which killed this model.
Split: Once per Activation. Before this model
moves, it may suffer 2 irreducible damage
to Drop a Destructible, Concealing Shadow
Marker into base contact with itself.
LIMITATIONS
Special (Shade, Summon)
Plentiful (2)
This model gains the following Ability:
2
Deadly Pursuit: During the End Phase,
this model may Push up to 4".
This model gains the following Action:
Tactical Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
F Buried Treasure 1" - -
Remove target Marker.
If this model is a Minion, it gains the following
Ability:
Carry the Loot: Once per Activation.
After an enemy Scheme Marker within a6 is
removed, this model may draw a card.
LIMITATIONS
Plentiful (2)
EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
Upgrade Cards
After this Upgrade is Attached, Bury this
0
model. If this model is not Buried this way,
discard this Upgrade.
After this model is Unburied or after an enemy
Grave Goo is killed, discard this Upgrade. If
this Upgrade is discarded while this model is
Buried, Unbury this model in base contact with
an enemy Grave Goo.
This model gains the following Abilities:
Gelatinous Escape: At the start of this
model’s Activation, it must attempt a TN 14
Mv duel. If it passes, Unbury it in base contact
with an enemy Grave Goo.
"Get Me Out of Here!": Other friendly
models gain the following Trigger for yActions
when targeting enemy Grave Goo models:
m Slimy Rescue: This model gains
Poison +1. Then, Unbury a friendly
model with an Attached Consumed
Upgrade anywhere in base contact
with this model.
LIMITATIONS
Special (Consumed)
If a model with this Upgrade Attached is killed,
0
Attach this Upgrade to another Cadmus model
in this Crew.
This model gains the following Abilities:
Parasitic Grasp: Cadmus models in this
Crew may treat enemy models with a Parasite
Token as though they were friendly Cadmus
- models (except for Schemes and Strategies).
If an enemy model with a Parasite Token would
gain another Parasite Token, it instead suffers 2
irreducible damage.
Connected Conscience: After every model
has Activated, this model may gain Slow and
Activate a second time, but may only take
the following Action, where X is equal to the
number of friendly Cadmus models in play
divided by 2:
Attack Actions Rg Stat Rst TN
Will of Cadmus 6" X Wp 12
Friendly Cadmus model only. This Action
cannot target the same model more
than once per Activation. Target takes a
non-Charge General Action chosen and
controlled by this model.
r Aggressive Control: When resolving,
the target may take a yAction instead
of a General Action.
m Uncomfortable Twitch: After
resolving, move the target up to 2".
c Unwilling Servant: When resolving
the generated Action, the target ignores
its Insignificant Ability, if any.
LIMITATIONS
Special (Hive)
 
SOCIETY  •  MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION 161
 Keyword Index

apex frontier witch hunter

Artemis........................................ 92
Crypsis Corps............................ 91
Harpooner................................122
Lord Cooper............................... 86
Malisaurus Rex.......................... 89
Model 9....................................... 90
Runaway...................................... 88
Ullr................................................ 93
Vatagi Huntsman...................... 94
cadmus
Archivist...................................... 99
Berserker Husk.......................103
Dr. Meredith Stanley............100
Eyes and Ears...........................104
Nexus........................................... 96
Nightsilk Creeper...................102
Shambling Nest......................... 98
Spelleater..................................101
dua
Corvis Rook.............................141
English Ivan.............................106
Eva Havenhand.......................111
Gibson DeWalt........................110
Mr. Mordrake..........................108
Operative..................................144
Bernadette Basse.....................126
Cornelius Basse.......................124
Rough Rider.............................150
Sand Worm..............................127
performer
Harata Ngaatoro.....................118
puppet
Intrepid Effigy.........................152
savage
The Damned............................133
seeker
Austera and Twigge...............134
The Damned............................133
Grave Goo................................136
Jedza...........................................128
Lamplighter..............................135
Mikhail XVI.............................131
Moorwraith..............................137
Sophie........................................130
Surveyor....................................143
Tannenbaum............................132
Spelleater..................................101
versatile
Alpinist................................... 158
Bellhop Porter...................... 156
Botanist................................... 157
Hopeful Prospect................. 159
Intrepid Effigy...................... 152
Intrepid Emissary................ 153
Jessie Halliday....................... 149
Mr. Ngaatoro........................ 154
Tannenbaum......................... 132
Vernon and Welles.............. 155
Looking for more info on which
models work with each Master
or on how to build the best Crew?
Visit wyrd-games.net for all of
that fun stuff.

effigy
Intrepid Effigy.........................152
emissary of fate
Intrepid Emissary...................153
evs
Calypso Mk. II........................121
Dr. Beebe..................................120
Harata Ngaatoro.....................118
Harpooner................................122
Kiya Manimi............................117
Machinist..................................123
Maxine Agassiz.......................114
Orville Agassiz........................116
Tidecaller..................................119
fae
Malisaurus Rex.......................... 89
syndicate
Anya Lycarayen......................138
Corvis Rook.............................141
Operative..................................144
Sovereign..................................140
Surveyor....................................143
Winston Finnigan...................142
umbra
Brocken Spectre......................109
Daeva.........................................112
English Ivan.............................106
Mr. Mordrake..........................108
Nocturne...................................113
wastrel
Cryptologist..............................151
Jessie Halliday..........................149
Lucas McCabe.........................146
Luna............................................148
Rough Rider.............................150

162 MALIFAUX THIRD EDITION  • 

•  EXPLORER’S SOCIETY
The mysterious Burning Man has opened portals linking
Earth to Malifaux and flooded the world with monstrous
hordes and insidious cults. Will you join their ranks, or
will you fight back against the invaders by taking command
of Earth’s strongest nations?
The Other Side is a battlefield-scale miniatures wargame
that leaves the fate of Earth in the hands of the players.

A tabletop roleplaying game set in the world of

Malifaux, Through the Breach lets players create
their own characters to explore the complex and
dangerous world of Malifaux. The hand of fate is
cruel, however, and each character will eventually
have to confront their terrible destiny...
Get stories from the
world of Malifaux
for free on
the Tales of Malifaux
podcast

© 2005-2020 WYRD MINIATURES, LLC.

I n search of greatness in the vast unknown, the Explorer’s Society
has masqueraded under the guise of curious adventurers for the better
part of a decade. Recently, the keys to the Society have been passed on to
someone far more interested - and conniving - than its founder, and with
new leadership comes new ambitions. Their rapid expansion has drawn
attention from every corner of Malifaux. Each new discovery is a victory
for the Society, and to the victor go the spoils.

Malifaux Third Edition is a story-driven skirmish game that carries the

events from the lore directly into the characters’ mechanics. With a
streamlined hiring system, straightforward and updated rules that don’t
get in the way of the fun, and enough strategic depth to keep those
mental gears turning for years to come, it’s never been a better time to
dive into the world of Malifaux.
Seek your fortune, test your luck, and stake your claim in this fast-paced
and brutal tabletop miniature skirmish game.

WYR23028
$25.00
ISBN 978-1-7331627-9-1
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© 2005-2020 Wyrd Miniatures, LLC