Dark Skies Over The Harrowmark - part 12 Gallowmire ruins

I'm working on more Gallowmire scenery for Warcry games in The Harrowmark. The first one is combined Sigmarite Mausoleum walls and gravestones (from Mortal Realms magazine) and an Awakened Wyldwood tree (from the Souldrain Forest set).

The second is a Warcry starter set ruin combined with another tree from the Souldrain Forest set, plus a few bits-box extras.

I'm hoping the rain will ease-off enough to get an undercoat on both of them so I can start painting soon!

(Updated 9th February 2021)

First of these two painted:

The Great Oubliette of Shyish, part 13 - The Smugglers

After a day of climbing down a steep winding stairway, carved into the stone of a cliff face, the Cleavermaws came to a shadowy necropolis of ancient stone temples and gigantic mausoleums. The crew had grumbled among themselves all the way down the stair but they brightened up significantly at the prospect of walking across level ground for a while, even if it wasn't a particularly welcoming environment.

+++

The Adventuring Party:
Kaptain Mogrum (Wurrgog Prophet)

- Bonesplitterz spell: Bone Krusha

- Bonesplitterz Command Trait: The Power of the Beast

Lost Uzzog (Ship's Wardokk)

- Loot: Gravesand Ossuary (single use)
Mr Sludga (Savage Big Deck-Boss)

- Bonesplitterz Artefact of Power: Greatdrake Toof Sword
Mr Deadwood (Savage Big Deck-Boss)

6th Exploration Roll - The Smugglers

Dungeon Fight!

4 Glaivewraith Stalkers (Surprised) & 8 Chainrasps (West)

+++

As the orruk pirates passed through the shattered necropolis, four Glaivewraith Stalkers faded into view, close-by on the right flank of the Cleavermaws.

Almost at the same moment, a Chainrasp Horde floated up from the earth in front of them. The spirits complained loudly and bitterly to one another about the "revenue men" of a free city, who tricked them into offering an illegal cargo and had them tried and hanged for smuggling.

Both groups of Nighthaunts stopped when they saw the orruks and just... waited.

The orruks were a little phased by the ghostly pause. But they took advantage of the leeway it offered - Uzzog used his Weirddokk power to boost Mogrum's magic, and the Glaivewraiths were disintegrated in a flash of green lightning.

The Cleavermaws could then focus on the Chainrasp Smugglers.

Two of the Horde were shredded by orruk magics.

The Deck-Bosses advanced, weapons ready.

While Mogrum followed them at a distance, making sure he kept an eye on the spirits.

Deadwood and Sludga roared as they thundered toward the Chainrasps.

The big orruks attacked together and sliced through the incorporeal forms, they dispersed most of the ghostly ex-smugglers in short order.

The few remaining Chainrasps did their best to retaliate - cruelly clawing and stabbing at the Deck-Bosses.

Uzzog used his Grimdokk power and healed Deadwood's wounds, even as they fought.

Mogrum intervened again and the last of the Smugglers exploded into a shower of rotted cloth. The Cleavermaws continued their search through the necropolis, looking for any sign of the Adm'rul.

+++

+++

Chamber cleared!

Scroll of Translocation: Arcane glyphs dance around this scroll, hinting at the magic it holds.

Give this item to a Hero to carry. In your hero phase, you can choose for the Hero carrying this item to use it. If you do so, pick 1 model within 3" of this Hero (including itself, if you wish) and remove that model from the battlefield. Then, set that model up anywhere on the battlefield. Then, the Hero that used this item is no longer carrying it.

Mogrum found a scroll among the ruins. He spent some time deciphering the ancient text within it and soon realised it's value. He tucked it into his pouch for use later.

+++

7th Exploration Roll - The Nest

Short Respite - Sludga's wound healed.

The Cleavermaws found a small building they could barricade. Badrot took a patrol outside to keep watch while Uzzog used the time to knit Sludga's wound back together with his Grimdokk power. The pirates didn't hang round longer than they needed to though.

+++

8th Exploration Roll - The Riddle

Treasure - Uzzog gained the Bonespitterz spell Breath of Gorkamorka

As the pirate orruks walked along a winding corridor, flanked on either side by towering stone buildings lined with statues of long-dead heroes, they saw many alcoves and window frames were piled with bleached skulls and bones. 

The way ahead split into two paths - one under a darkened archway, the other through a towering rusted iron gate that had come off its hinges. A strange robed figure in a full-face helmet emerged from the shadowed archway and approached the Cleavermaws through the gloom. The orruks tried to ignore them but they began yabbering in a strange accent.

"You must answer my questions three, if you are to pass by me!" Their voice echoed inside the metal mask.

Sludga hefted his sword and clicked his neck but Uzzog noticed his aetheric compass twitched slightly as the newcomer came near, and waved the orruk Deck-Boss back. "What are ye questions then?" he said, suspiciously.

“My first is this - Town without people, forest without tree, river without water. What do I be?” said the stranger.

"Ha. Easy: a map." said Uzzog, rather pleased with himself.

"Yes, yes. Very good. My second - A tail and a head I have it is true, but no legs do I have so why covert me, you?" said the stranger.

The orruks looked at each other for a few moments, brows furrowed. Mr Sludga scratched his beard and closed one eye as he thought. "Um.. a coin?" he said, uncertainly.

"Hmmm. Correct." said the stranger. "My last question is - Pull me up when you don't need me but drop me when you do?"

"Ah! An anchor!" shouted Uzzog triumphantly. "You asked the wrongs coves if you thought you'd fool us!"

"Did I?" said the stranger. They turned around stepped back through the archway, into the darkness within. Uzzog was about to go after them, but a dim light came on within and Kaptain Mogrum slapped a hand on his shoulder: There was an opening suddenly revealed in the floor, a deep chasm that had not been visible in the dark. Sludga kicked a stone down and there was no sound of it landing.

"What the zog was that all about?" raged Uzzog. "Don't we get a prize or nothing?"

"Well, you ain't fallin' are ya? Maybe that was it?" said Mogrum. Uzzog didn't seem convinced.

+++

9th Exploration Roll - The Lookout

Short Respite

They came to a cliff with a small tower build near the edge. A few of the crew climbed the stone steps and used their spyglasses to survey the surrounding area. A valley full of gravestones and dead trees lay to the north. Lightning seemed to flash just beyond a hill. They tried to sketch a map of what they saw, but the perpetual twilight made the details rough at best.

+++

10th Exploration Roll - The Symbol

Long Respite

The Cleavermaws found a stone dais, carved with arcane signs. Mogrum stood upon it and studied them for a time. They were all familiar but for one, which seemed to be mis-carved, either by accident or intentionally. He couldn't tell which.

+++

The Adventuring Party update:
Kaptain Mogrum (Wurrgog Prophet)

- Bonesplitterz spell: Bone Krusha

- Bonesplitterz Command Trait: The Power of the Beast

- Loot: Scroll of Translocation (single use)

Lost Uzzog (Ship's Wardokk)

- Loot: Gravesand Ossuary (single use)

- Bonespitterz spell: Breath of Gorkamork
Mr Sludga (Savage Big Deck-Boss)

- Bonesplitterz Artefact of Power: Greatdrake Toof Sword
Mr Deadwood (Savage Big Deck-Boss)

11th Exploration Roll - The Map

Dungeon Fight!

4 Glaivewraith Stalkers, 8 Chainrasps and 4 Grimghast Reapers

But that is a tale for another night....

The Great Oubliette of Shyish, part 12 - The Wreck of the Fallcrest

Shadows loomed in the dark archways on both sides of them. Row-upon-row of crypt doorways lined the avenue, some had dead branches protruding from the dark, others had rusted gates hung at angles off broken hinges. The pavements were cracked and uneven.

"Another shipwreck ahead Kap'n." said Mr Sludga and pointed with his new blade.

Mogrum nodded. The gloomy greenish light that had permeated the Great Oubliette for the entire time they had been here made seeing very far ahead almost impossible, but the shape of broken ship's timbers like the ribs of some great beast's skeleton was unmistakable.

+++

The Adventuring Party:
Kaptain Mogrum (Wurrgog Prophet)

- Bonesplitterz spell: Bone Krusha

- Bonesplitterz Command Trait: The Power of the Beast

Lost Uzzog (Ship's Wardokk)
Mr Sludga (Savage Big Deck-Boss)

- Bonesplitterz Artefact of Power: Greatdrake Toof Sword
Mr Deadwood (Savage Big Deck-Boss)

5th Exploration Roll - Dungeon Fight!

4 Grimghast Reapers (West)

+++

As the orruk pirates travelled west they came to a narrow avenue between crumbling mausoleums and the rotting wreck of a skyship. As they passed another broken statue of Nagash four Grimghast Reapers drifted out of the ship's broken hull, blocking the way ahead.

The blindfolded Nighthaunts waited for the orruks to approach, they slashed at the air unseeing; their scythes seemingly swung at random.

Mogrum and Uzzog both blasted the Grimghast Reapers with arcane powers and three of them disappeared in a flash of green light, leaving only blackened rags drifting to the cobbles.

The two Deck-Bosses approached the last Reaper.

Deadwood got there first...

And his belaying-pin made short work of the spirit.

Among the shattered timbers of the wreck, Uzzog found a Grave-sand Ossuary with the power to bring the dead back to life.

The Cleavermaws continued their journey through the underworld.

+++

5th Chamber cleared!

Loot: Grave-sand Ossuary: It is said that the grave-sand contained within these ossuaries gives one control over death itself.

Give this item to a Hero to carry. In your hero phase, you can choose for the Hero carrying this item to use it. If you do so, pick 1 other friendly Hero that has been slain in this battle. You can heal 1 wound allocated to that Hero so it is no longer slain, then you can set it up on the battlefield within 3" of the Hero that used the ossuary. Then, the Hero that used this item is no longer carrying it.

The Adventuring Party update:
Kaptain Mogrum (Wurrgog Prophet)

- Bonesplitterz spell: Bone Krusha

- Bonesplitterz Command Trait: The Power of the Beast

Lost Uzzog (Ship's Wardokk)

- Loot: Gravesand Ossuary (single use)
Mr Sludga (Savage Big Deck-Boss)

- Bonesplitterz Artefact of Power: Greatdrake Toof Sword
Mr Deadwood (Savage Big Deck-Boss)

6th Exploration Roll - Dungeon Fight!

4 Glaivewraith Stalkers (Surprised) & 8 Chainrasps (West)

The Great Oubliette of Shyish, part 11 - The Witchlight

The cold air of the Oubliette shifted. A light wind lifted dead leaves and swirled them around the orruk pirates. Lost Uzzog shivered, but not from the cold. He could feel something was changing in the air. Kaptain Mogrum felt it too - his magical senses were getting stronger by the day. Tiny green sparks crackled over his long platted beard and made it writhe as if it were alive.

Mr Sludga twirled his kutlass to loosen his joints, craned his neck with a click and flexed his meaty shoulders. He looked sideways at Mr Deadwood to make sure he wasn't going to leg-it. But Deadwood was watching the Kaptain.

The orruk pirates walked over a long stone bridge that crossed a deep ravine. On the far side they came to a lightly wooded area of overgrown and crumbling stone buildings. In the distance they could see a light, moving between the buildings...

+++

The Adventuring Party:
Kaptain Mogrum (Wurrgog Prophet)
Lost Uzzog (Ship's Wardokk)
Mr Sludga (Savage Deck-Boss)
Mr Deadwood (Savage Deck-Boss)

1st Exploration Roll - Treasure!
Mogrum gained Bonesplitterz spell: Bone Krusha

2nd Exploration Roll - Boss Fight!
Boss: Guardian of Souls with Nightmare Lantern
Minions: 4 Glaivewraith Stalkers (East) & 8 Chainrasps (West)

+++

Kaldrak the Pale appeared silently among the ruined stone structures. The Guardian of Souls bore a nightmare lantern: a ghostly beacon lit by the Flame of Nagashizzar. The mind-chilling black smoke it exuded did not rise up to the heavens, but instead drifted down, along the cracked flagstones of the Oubliette. Nearby Nighthaunts were invigorated by the wafting vapours, and the Guardian of Souls channelled the lantern so that the cold fingers of smoke snaked through the earth, beckoning spirits to rise out of their graves and mausoleums.

Kaptain Mogrum cast Bone Krusha and a Glaivewraith Stalker dissolved into black mist. 

Mogrum and the two Deck-Bosses moved toward the remaining Stalkers. 

Deadwood and Sludga charged! Sludga attacked first but his kutlass passed straight through the apparitions. Not to be outdone, Deadwood attacked straight after him with a shout of "Let Me At 'Em!" and destroyed one of the Glaivewraiths with his heavy belaying-pin.

The Guardian of Souls disappeared into the underworld. 

The Chainrasp Horde advanced without him.

Moaning and cackling among themselves the Chainrasps drifted through the stones of the ruins.

Mogrum left the Deck-Bosses to their steel-work and turned his attention on the Horde.

Sludga left Deadwood to finish the last Stalker and headed back to the Kaptain.

Deadwood cut down the Stalker with glee.

Uzzog summoned his Weirddokk powers and magic coursed into Mogrum, but...

The Guardian reappeared from the underworld, right on Mogrum's heels.

And the Chainrasp Horde charged!

Uzzog was enveloped! The Chainrasps' rusted blades and clubs rained down on him. He clumsily flailed about with his staff, to no effect.

Mogrum cast Fists of Gork but the unpredictable magic had no effect!

Mogrum's weirdmask protected him from the Guardian's ethereal blade! The Kaptain's bladed staff cut a sweeping arc through the ghostly leader: The Guardian howled in rage, then used a Twilight Translocation to escape!

The Guardian shimmered into view on the far side of the tree.

This left the Kaptain free to annihilate the Chainrasps.

He made short work of the minor spirits.

Soon the last of the Horde dissolved into the gloom, like smoke in the wind.

Lost Uzzog tended his own wounds... and hummed a shanty to himself as he worked.

"... to bring us sugar and tea and rum..."

His Grimdokk power knitted his flesh back together into some pleasing scars. He was still lightly wounded but he felt strong enough to continue.

As the Cleavermaws regrouped the Guardian of Souls approached... He hurriedly cast Spectral Lure, but the magic fizzled away to nothing.

And Kaptain Mogrum casually blasted him to nort but shreds of ragged cloth. His lantern landed on the flagstones with a metallic clatter.

+++

2nd Chamber cleared!

Loot: Spectral Lantern (This lantern illuminates the way forward in a ghoulish green light, but is soon spent. The next time you roll on the exploration table, add 1 to the roll (to a maximum of 12).

Mogrum also gained Command Trait: The Power of the Beast (add 2 to the general's Wounds characteristic for the rest of the campaign).

+++

3rd Exploration Roll - Short Respite

The Cleavermaws used up the Spectral Lantern's power to find a defensible area of the Oubliette, they knew they couldn't hang around for long, but it allowed time for Uzzog's last wound to heal before they set off again.

4th Exploration Roll - Treasure!

With great glee Mr Sludga found a Greatdrake Toof Sword under a pile of shattered timbers. (Unmodified Wounds rolls of 6 cause double damage)

5th Exploration Roll - Dungeon Fight!

4 Grimghast Reapers - but that is a tale for another night....

The Adventuring Party update:
Kaptain Mogrum (Wurrgog Prophet)

- Bonesplitterz spell: Bone Krusha

- Bonesplitterz Command Trait: The Power of the Beast

Lost Uzzog (Ship's Wardokk)
Mr Sludga (Savage Big Deck-Boss)

- Bonesplitterz Artefact of Power: Greatdrake Toof Sword
Mr Deadwood (Savage Big Deck-Boss)