The Badfangs - Bonesplitterz of Aqshy, part 14

The recent reveals of Hedkrakka’s Madmob, the new Bonesplitterz for Warhammer Underworlds, inspired me to make a few more savage orruks for my Warcry warband.

So Gurkfang, Rogtoof and Legbiter have joined the Badfangs.

As usual for this mob, they all have masks made from scrap they find in their adventures through the Mortal Realms. Gurkfang's is a piece of a Kurnoth Hunter, Rogtoof has part of an Ironjawz Brute's armour and Legbiter has some kind of aelf helmet. All of them wear cowls made from bakka-lizard hide over the back of their heads and additional decorations like feathers and stone trinkets.

The Badfangs are Bonesplitterz orruks from the dry and windswept Uzmorgarg plains in the wilds of Aqshy. The Badfangs tribe have an oral tradition, myths and legends that have long been told and retold, passed down through the years, of their time as travellers among the stars. They believe that in an age long ago they roamed the cosmos, they were not natives of Aqshy but they came from some other, unremembered Realm. They chased god-beasts across the void, riding in the belly of a creature they called the ur-whale, but they crashed into the Great Parch by accident while the ur-whale was battling another god-beast.

In some versions of the stories the ur-whale was killed by the other god-beast, in other versions the Bonesplitterz accidentally killed it from inside by cutting their way out in an ill-considered attempt to get at the god-beast that was attacking it.

Whichever version they believe, they all agree that in the crash they lost their ability to travel the cosmos and they were stranded. They still carry with them a sense of adventure that continues the tradition of travelling, exploring and finding new monsters to defeat.

So, loaded up with the most potent and powerful of the magic bones the tribe has found, the Badfangs followed Wurrgog Prophet Hogrog Ug Weirdklaw, hoping to ride a god-beast through the cosmos once more. They all still wear their traditional masks, in the style of various god-beasts, to protect them from the void between Realms.

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I'm really looking forward to adding Hedkrakka and his gang to my warband, with the addition of tradition Badfangs god-beast masks of course.

The Badfangs - Bonesplitterz of Aqshy, part 13. Animosity II

The Beast

In the hills overlooking Dreadfleet Harbour, Urgog, Ersatz and the Badfangs searched for some kind of great flying monster. The warband planned to get to the ur-whale and as it was flying away from the lake they needed to be airborne too.

They'd heard a rumour that a band of Pilgrims had a winged creature and they planned to take it from them and ride it to the ur-whale's back, then attack the corpse of the world-spirit on foot, atop its back.

They moved silently through the darkness, they were experienced and stealthy hunters of great beasts.

Urgog barely needed to say a word to them, they all knew their roles in tracking down and cornering their prey.

Gloomston the Pardoner and a band of Pilgrims were gathered in the courtyard of a ruined chapel. Gloomston at their centre, hissing and gurgling at his flock, who all nodded and growled at each other.

Gloomston saw the Badfangs at the moment they snapped-shut the jaws of their trap; soon enough to warn his followers, but too late to give him time to flee.

The filthy Pardoner stood his ground, not wanting his disgusting band to be slaughtered by the Bonesplitterz.

Howling in a Gorkamorka-addled rage, Urgog charged straight at him! Ersatz was just behind him.

Gloomston ushered his followers forward, who threw themselves at the Bonesplitterz.

Boss Ersatz hacked through the crowds of Crypt Ghouls.

Suddenly Urgog and Ersatz found themselves surrounded, cut-off from the rest of their warband! More and more Crypt Ghouls poured out of the caverns and caves...

But then... the squigs came!

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But the flying beast wasn't exactly what they were expecting...

The Badfangs - Bonesplitterz of Aqshy, part 12. Animosity II

The Portal

A small ruddy light glimmered in the dark beneath the bowers. A flickering of unnatural fire in the shadows, floating a few feet above the ice-covered forest floor.

The pinpoint grew into a thin, jagged line of bright amber light. A vertical wound, a crack in reality, that hung in the air. It contorted and widened as if a knife were being twisted within it. Orange fires poured out and illuminated the twisted branches of the forest for a minute. Shapes moved within the fires: crested hunched backs, elongated and horned heads, birdlike legs, black swords.

The amber light blazed brighter for a moment then flickered out, leaving the forest in its more usual winter gloom.

Mournblade, Herald of Khorne, and his followers had come to Lake Bykaal in the Realm of Death.

Wardokk Urgog and the Badfangs saw the light in the forest, from the shores of Lake Bykaal and wanted to see what was making it.

They followed Urgog into the woods and came to a shipwreck, tangled in the trees. Among the broken timbers of the ship the last of the strange fires died out.

The silhouettes of horned creatures could be seen. The Badfangs howled and roared and raced toward them impetuously.

Ersatz charged straight at Mournblade, he could see the Herald of Khorne was the biggest of the Daemons so he knew the fight with him would be the best!

He shouldered past the lesser Daemons and the rest of the Badfangs piled into them. Urgog chanted madly and Waaagh! power coursed through the orruks. Green sparks popped and fizzed from their bone and stone weapons.

Mournblade and Ersatz hacked at each other and leapt over the wreckage. Mournblade backed up, fighting defensively, drawing Ersatz into the tangle of broken timbers, away from the rest of the warband.

Then the Daemon turned the tables and went on the offensive. Otherworldly fires leapt along his blade and he sent the Orruk tumbling off the wreck.

The Badfangs fled into the night leaving the shipwreck haunted by Daemons... But they would let the rest of the tribe know what had happened, and they would be back with more ladz.

The Badfangs - Bonesplitterz of Aqshy, part 11. Animosity II

The Bad Sun

Wardokk Urgog and Boss Ersatz sat on the frozen surface of Lake Bykaal, the purple-tinted moonlight gave them a strange hue but their godbeast-styled masks made them look stranger.

They chatted in low voices and passed a goatskin of fungus brew back and forth (it had been "donated" by a band of Moonclan grots they had crossed paths with a day or so before).

Ersatz was mid sentence when Urgog cut him off with an urgent gesture. The Wardokk inclined his head and listened carefully.

Then he jumped to his feet and said "Geddup, the ice is creakin'!"

The burley orruk Boss moved surprisingly fast for his size, clawed fingers and toes scrambled on the ice, then the two of them stood still and listened again before Urgog set off into the darkness at full sprint. Ersatz did his best to keep up, not quite understanding if they were running toward or away from something, but trusting the Wardokk knew what he was doing.

An eerie blue-white light appeared under the ice behind them and Ersatz speeded up a little.

The Bad Sun of Orkkuh!

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When they got close to the shore they found the rest of the Badfangs cheering and shouting at them.

The noise attracted another warband that was patrolling the area.

They were Realmgate Wardens from a Free City. They were led by Elatine Jast, a witch hunter from Hammerhal.

Urgog watched as the Wardens started to spread out.

They were cautious and professional.

But the Badfangs were cunning.

The sickly purple moonlight cast deep shadows and the Badfangs made full use of them. 

Suddenly a blazing light burst through the trees in the west and the orruks pounced.

The Wardens fought harder than Zogfang expected and it took him longer than it should have done to bring down the soldier he attacked. 

Azgrok had to wade in, to help him. Much to Zogfang's annoyance. 

The Badfangs lost the element of surprise. Jast started shouting orders. 

Ersatz took that as his cue and barrelled into her.

Anderton Fenn, Jast's second, leapt to intercept the massive orruk.

But Wardokk Urgog stepped out of the shadows and the Wardens were broken.

The Badfangs - Bonesplitterz of Aqshy, part 10. Animosity II

Animosity II campaign Turn 2 has finished and you can read the Turn 3 Unfold Narrative here.

Turn 2, path 4

Following the bounty you recovered at the Shore of Sightless Faces, Dyrnawen Silverfish and his soulscryers have begun tracking further groupings of Namarti fish-souls deeper into the lake. Another such haven appeared to be centered around the shipwreck of the Marie Elaine, but upon further investigation, you’ve discovered the Namarti fish-souls there incredibly ill, their scales burnt and rotting alive. Your Akhelian patrols and sneaky git scouts speak of a wandering mounted warrior who comes and goes with the frequent squalls, sickening and slaying all who draw near. Follow Dyrnawen's lead; enter the storm, find the warrior, and return with his soul in exchange for what he’s taken from us.

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Result:

Lord-Celestant Hilmar Thunderstruck fulfilled his mission and confronted Lord-Celestant Han Shizhong and ran to ground between the shifting storms. hizhong was not at all what he seemed - corrupted and decaying. There was a loud crack and a flash of light. Nothing remained of the two Lord Celestants but a large, steaming hole in the ice, the water below momentarily boiling before starting to freeze back over.

Dyrnawen Silverfish revealed the secrets of the Aethersea, and of the binding of souls and the beasts of the deep. Inspiration twinkling in his beady eyes, Hogrog ug Weirdklaw knew this would make for one hell of a story.

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The Badfangs - Bonesplitterz of Aqshy, part 9. Animosity II

Lights in the Storm

The skyship Selachii came to Lake Bykaal to deliver a cargo of foodstuff, dry beans and grain, for a customer who hoped to set up a merchant outpost there. Her Captain, Bodrin Bok, had hoped to pick up another cargo to make the return journey worth their while. His small crew had hoped for some small diversion in a port town. They were all disappointed.

Captain Bodrin Bok led his landing party through the ruins of some anonymous town from ages past. The bitterly cold wind made them pull their fur-lined coats tight. He checked the map he'd been given for the seventh or eighth time but still wasn't sure they were in the right place. They had seen the beacon-light clear-as-Hysh but the lighthouse was nowhere to be found.

The sound of drumming pulled Bodrin out of his musing: a rhythmic clattering of bones banged on stone and timber. Hoots of derision and course laughter.

"Da fires that led you here was ours!" shouted Wardokk Urgog.

The Bonesplitterz laughed hysterically.

Zogfang shouted "A couple of dem are making a run for it Dokk!" and pointed with his chompa.

Urgog shouted a command and a couple of Bonesplitterz jumped down into the narrow alleyway and sprinted after the terrified sailors.

They herded the unfortunate skyshipmen into a trap.

Zogfang jumped down to confront Bodrin and the remaining crew.

The Wardokk and the rest of the orruks leapt after him enthusiastically. The men shouted in fear and anger, some drew swords and pistols but others just turned-tail and ran.

The crew scattered and fled back toward their moored skyship. Bodrin Bok grimly stood his ground as Urgog barrelled toward him, with a painted bone war-club raised high, sparks of green energy rippled over it.

The Badfangs - Bonesplitterz of Aqshy, part 8. Animosity II

I've finished 3 more Bonesplitterz for the Badfangs and three Bonesplitterz objective markers.

This is the whole warband so far:

Boss Ersatz' mask is made to look how the Badfangs’ imagine the ur-whale. He is not the warband leader (Wardokk Urgog takes that role most of the time) but his is a big percentage of their combat power!

The mask is made from a Killer Kan armour plate-icon and some leftover Dryad “head/hair” branches. The backpack is from an Ogors kit. The cowl is greenstuff.

Bigtoof, the Bone Totem carrier.

I have added a mask made from (I think) a bit of Daemon Prince armour, the skull from the Savage Boss kit (above) and more Dryad branches. I added a Bonesplitterz shield to the Bone Totem to make it different to the mask I used for Hogrog.

Gugtusk, the Boarboy Maniac - the warband's (somewhat unpredictable and not really reliable) scout.