Sarah Cawkwell’s second Age of Sigmar/Warcry short story, The Heart of the Fallen takes place in the desolate plains of the Bloodwind Spoil as warriors from the Untamed Beasts hunt dangerous prey in search of honour for their tribe. While one young hunter stalks the ‘meat’ on his own, determined to prove himself and claim his prize, three further warriors follow his trail, a core of concern underlying their youthful bickering. They all know that the hunt will be dangerous but great prestige is on offer, and the opportunity for one of them to truly make their name.
Tag Archives: Age of Sigmar
QUICK REVIEW: Fangs of the Rustwood – Evan Dicken
Evan Dicken’s Age of Sigmar short story Fangs of the Rustwood continues his approach of exploring the lesser visited corners of the Mortal Realms, this time featuring the sinister dangers of Chamon’s grot-infested Rustwood. Seeing opportunities for advancement in his future, witch hunter Kantus Vallo escorts a trio of prisoners, each a suspect in a high-profile murder, to face the judgement of his superiors in the Order of Azyr. As the forest’s lethal flora and fauna take their toll, however, he’s forced to free the prisoners and put his trust in them in order to survive and escape the Rustwood.
Gloomspite – Andy Clark
Andy Clark’s Age of Sigmar novel Gloomspite is straight-up disturbing…and the best thing he’s written yet. A tale of family, loyalty and heroism as the Bad Moon rises over Aqshy, it’s crammed full of insects, spiders, lurking horrors and stomach-churning fungus-based disgustingness. Grief-stricken Hendrick Saul and his Swords of Sigmar make for Draconium to deliver a hard-earned warning of dark omens and death to the city’s protectors, and honour a fallen comrade. Finding themselves trapped in a city beset by sinister disturbances and dire portents, the mercenaries begrudgingly join the defences but aren’t prepared for the darkness that’s rising to engulf Draconium.
QUICK REVIEW: The Iron Promise – Josh Reynolds
Josh Reynolds’ short story The Iron Promise, available from Black Library either as a standalone e-short or within the Warcry anthology, is a tale of twisted honour, oaths and bloodshed in the Age of Sigmar. Vos Stalis, Dominar of the Iron Golems, has been tasked with a dangerous mission, leading a small warband into the Bloodwind Spoil to assess the loyalty of a duardin forgemaster whose tithe to the Iron Golems has dried up. A test of his strength and loyalty as much as the forgemaster’s, it sees Vos venture deep into the forge and confront the danger that lurks within.
QUICK REVIEW: The Book of Transformations – Matt Keefe
Matt Keefe’s first contribution to the Age of Sigmar setting – and first Black Library short story for some years – The Book of Transformations takes the feel of an old-school Warhammer story and updates it for the Mortal Realms. In the magic-infused streets of a Chamonite city, the alchemist-turned-apothecary Mehrigus practices his art and dreams of greater things. To Mehrigus, the pinnacle of the apothecary’s arts would be to meld art, science and magic and achieve transformation as a cure. Though scorned by the Collegiate Arcane, his obsession continues to deepen, and as plague wracks the city his efforts appear to be rewarded.
QUICK REVIEW: In the Mists of Chaos – Rik Hoskin
This story is currently only available within Inferno! Volume Three.
The Black Library debut for Rik Hoskin, Age of Sigmar short story In the Mists of Chaos is a grim little story of human bravery and faith in the face of the twisting nature of the Ruinous Powers. Having played a crucial role in the defence of his village against a Chaos warband led by the sorcerer Ty’Gzar, Freeguild soldier Uffo Weisz finds himself with a legend to live up to. When the forces of Ty’Gzar return, Weisz leads his men in a confident defence of the village and its people, but the influence of Chaos can be dangerously subtle.
QUICK REVIEW: Bossgrot – Eric Gregory
Eric Gregory’s first Black Library short story, Bossgrot is an anarchic Age of Sigmar tale of loyalty and treachery amongst the Gloomspite Gitz. Bossgrot Gribblak knows his inspirational leadership gives him the unqualified adoration of his skrap…or at least their grudging respect. After taking a beating at the hands of some particularly violent ‘umies, however, he needs to give his gitz something to really fire them up, so he hatches a plan to give them a big win…he’ll lead them in a glorious assault on the heavily-defended Glinty Crown, and both reaffirm their loyalty and win himself great renown.
QUICK REVIEW: The Unlamented Archpustulent of Clan Morbidus – David Guymer
A tale of scheming skaven in the Age of Sigmar, David Guymer’s wonderfully-titled The Unlamented Archpustulent of Clan Morbidus reimagines the political maneuvering of a papal conclave as the vicious, backstabbing process of electing the new spiritual leader of Clan Morbidus. As the voting draws nearer, several candidates for the position of Archpustulent employ bribery, cunning and violence to ensure they, and only they, are elevated to this vaunted – and dangerous – position of power. In typical skaven fashion, however, each candidate’s devious schemes clash, backfire and generally get in each other’s way causing carnage in the depths of Blight City.
QUICK REVIEW: The Prince’s Tale (At the Sign of the Brazen Claw Part Three) – Guy Haley
This story is currently only available within Inferno! Volume 3.
The third instalment of At the Sign of the Brazen Claw, Guy Haley’s serialised story of a group of strangers swapping stories while waiting out a storm, The Prince’s Tale sees aelven Prince Maesa tell the tale of how he met Shattercap. As the storm rages, Maesa relives a time of heartache and loneliness as he wandered the Mortal Realms aimlessly, haunted by the loss of his beloved Ellamar. Only when he finally encountered a match for his own grief did the exiled prince find himself drawn back into the lives of mortals, and set against the pitiless sylvaneth.
The Imprecations of Daemons – Nick Kyme
Nick Kyme’s first Age of Sigmar audio drama, The Imprecations of Daemons sees a Stormcast Eternal revisit the birthplace of her former self to aid her family and confront an old enemy long thought defeated. Over a decade after being borne away by Sigmar to become a Stormcast, Malleon – formerly Mallaeh – returns to the Iron Fastness at the request of her sister Galaeda, to assist their father with a task too great for the old warrior-priest. She finds her home much changed from what she remembers, both the land and the people turned bitter and in great need of Sigmar’s light.