Chronicles 17

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Vol. 17 BuIlDiNg a PaRk Learn how to assemble some fantastic terrain! FrOzEn MoMeNtS GaLlErY Your painting contest winners LuThEr tHe PaScHa HaRe A hare raising tale full of cuddly (and not so cuddly) bunnies

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Wyrd Chronicles Issue 17.

Transcript of Chronicles 17

  • Vol. 17Building a ParkLearn how to assemble some fantastic terrain!

    Frozen MoMents Gallery Your painting contest winners

    luther the Pascha hareA hare raising tale full of cuddly (and not so cuddly) bunnies

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    ContentS

    WYRDCHRONICLES17

    Credits Creative DireCtorNathan CarolandLayoutJorge Gomez

    editorAaron Darland

    GraphiC artistJorge GomezAlex Cairns

    ilLustrationsHardy FowlerJorge Gomez

    Contributing authorsAdrian ScottGraeme StevensonMason CrawfordBob KuzemeskiJustin GibbsMarko PaunovicMichael KelmelisChris Schmidt

    ForeWorD .............................................................................. 1

    ConDitionS in MaliFaux ........................................................2

    Festival day ..........................................................................7

    scenario: WereBeaStS ........................................................ 18

    Building a Park .................................................................... 19

    sMugGler'S run ...................................................................28

    luther the Pascha hare ....................................................35

    13 lesSons oF War ...............................................................46

    tyrannuS' tutelary ...........................................................56

    Painting ConteSt Winners - Frozen MoMents...................70

    Painting ConteSt Winners - CryStal BruSh ....................75

    stories mechanicsterrain fun & tactics

    content guide

    gallerypainting battle-reportsgame sessions

  • ForeWorDIt's the busy time of year because the entire year is the busy time of year. We've got a lot of projects being worked on for GenCon and beyond. April is a time of finalizing products and looking forward to what we can do on the next go 'round, so I thought I'd touch on that for a moment.

    You've seen Shifting Loyalties in open testing, and I'm happy we're getting a campaign system out there. Through the Breach has hit its stride internally, and Into the Steam is going off to print as new Penny Dreadfuls are shaping up. I love the way Darkness Comes Rattling has turned out, and I'm excited for everyone to get their hands on it. And our podcast is going launch any day now: Tales of Malifaux.

    Beyond that, we've got some plans (or maybe, more appropriately, plans to plan) on products both new and old. So stick with us, old hats, there's a lot coming 'round the bend. And for those of you are new... welcome to the show!

    nathan

    (Aaron, actually, because Nathan told me I had to write this because he was REALLY Busy!)

    1Lunch!

    :)

    LAZY-AaRon

  • 2aDrian scott

    Well its the April edition of Wyrd Chronicles and do you know what that means? Its Easter! So to help bring in the Easter spirit I thought Id bring you, dear readers, an article about that most Easterish of game mechanics Conditions!

    Wait, you want to know how Conditions could be considered Easter-themed? Isnt it obvious? No? Well look if you cant see the link then theres nothing I can do to help you. Youll just take me on my word that theres nothing in Malifaux that represents Easter better than Conditions honest!

    So at this point I was thinking of explaining what Conditions are but you know what? Id be very surprised if anyone reading this wasnt aware! So instead, if you feel like brushing up on the specifics then I direct you to p52 of the Malifaux 2nd ed. Rules Manual (p61 of the A5 sized version), where you should find everything you need to know.

    Pleasure and Pain

    Conditions in Malifaux can be divided into two very broad categories Supportive Conditions and Offensive Conditions. Supportive Conditions are those applied to your own models to improve them in some way. The two most common are Focus and Defensive, and are important enough to warrant their own article, conveniently published

    in Wyrd Chronicles #14 (which you should read, of course!). Others like Fast and Reactivate are found throughout every faction but almost every crew in the game has access to more specific Supportive Conditions. Examples range from Lady Justices Inspiring Swordplay to give positive flips to her crews attacks, to the Lucky Effigys Lucky Draw, which heals the crews Leader every time he/she flips a ram.

    Offensive Conditions are those that are applied to enemy models to disrupt, damage, or weaken them in some way. The common Burning, Poison, Slow and Paralyze Conditions are found across all factions but like the Supportive Conditions, there are many more that are specific to a particular crew or model.

    Of course the line between Support and Offense does blur in some cases. For instance Masters like McMourning, Kaeris, Brewmaster and Shenlong can use Poison or Burning on themselves or their crew members to provide a range of benefits. Also the restrictive, yet powerful Conditions from the Nurses Take your Meds triggers (eg. Hallucinogens only allowing Ml actions, but dealing +2Dg when they do) could be the best or worst thing to happen to a model, depending on what it wanted to do that turn!

    Overall, Ive found that Offensive Conditions tend to have a much bigger influence on the game than the

    ConDitionS in MaliFaux

  • 3buffing Conditions do. Boosting your own models is always going to beneficial but on the whole, Offensive Conditions invariably have a greater effect on the target models and the game in general. For example, a look through the model range reveals that while there are plenty of ways to Paralyze an enemy model, youll find very few options for putting Reactivate on your own models. Offensive Conditions are also both harder to pull off (usually at least requiring a resist duel for your opponent) and require a little more consideration to use well. So its for these reasons that Ive chosen to focus on Offensive Conditions for this particular article!

    Theyre everywhere! The Prevalence of conditionsOne of the common misconceptions about Offensive Conditions is that the majority of crews dont really utilise them to any significant degree. In truth, its the opposite. More than half of all Masters utilise Conditions to hamper or kill enemy models in one way or another.

    Everyone knows the usual suspects McMourning and Brewmaster with their Poison, Kaeris and Sonnia with their Burning. But there are plenty of others whose ability to apply an Offensive Condition can be a significant part of how they play. For instance Rasputinas ability to Paralyze models with Freeze Over can be as devastating as her high damage Decembers Curse spell. Then theres Mollys Whispered Secret attack, which grants negative flips to all duels, Seamus making things Insignificant with his Bag of Tools, Zoraidas Bewitch spell and Voodoo Doll, McCabe handing out Slow and Paralyzed the list goes on.

    Of the Masters who care not for such things, all still have access to models with some excellent Offensive Conditions. There are too many to mention within the scope of this article, but anyone who can hand out Slow (eg. Convict Gunlinger, Warpig, Sidir Alchibal) or especially Paralyzed (Crooked Man, Warden, Performer, Widow Weaver) are always a threat for their ability to efficiently neutralise enemy models.

    The Resurrectionists Faction in particular is loaded with characters that hand out Conditions. The ability

    to inflict (and benefit from) Poison is very common and models like the Nurse (as mentioned above) and Hanged (with Glimpse the Inevitable to prevent a model healing all game) can be a major problem if theyre given free reign. As a matter of fact, about three quarters of the Resurrectionist Faction use Offensive Conditions in some way.

    fighT the Power! PrevenTing conditions

    So what can players do about all these horrible Conditions being thrown around? Glad you asked! Generally you can boil the possible tactics down to four approaches: resisting the attack, killing the offending model, positioning your crew to minimise the danger, and Condition removal.

    resisting

    The first line of defence against negative Conditions is almost always to win the resist duel of any attack that applies them, for which having a high Df or Wp tends to help. There are such models in every faction, although in a general sense they are more commonly found among the Guild (for Wp), Neverborn (for Df) and Ten Thunders (for both).

    The best Offensive Conditions usually come from Ca attacks and/or attacks with a Wp resist. Therefore models with abilities like Stubborn (Wp-resist attacks suffer a negative twist to the attack flip) and the Counterspell Aura (enemy Ca actions lose their printed suits against models within 3) can be very effective in negating such attacks. Anything that boosts your crews Wp stats will also help: the Oirans Appealing aura and the upgrades Liquid Bravery (Gremlins) and Servant of 5 Dragons (Ten Thunders). The Guild in particular tend to have plenty of models and upgrades with anti-Ca or anti-Wp abilities, with Sonnias and Perditas crews being typically loaded with such tools!

    In addition, there are a few models that are simply straight out immune to certain Conditions. Examples would be the Monk of Low Rivers Brutal Sensei (for Burning, Slow and Poison) and the Arcanist Frozen Heart models (for Paralyze). However it can actually include less obvious situations, like the Moon Shinobis Drunken Gremlin Kung Fu effectively turning Mollys imposed negative flip from the Terrible Truth Condition into a positive. These

  • 4models arent particularly common and youll rarely be able to have a crew filled with them. However they can still make a difference, especially if you throw them directly at the model who applies the Conditions theyre immune to.

    However if you really want to flat out ignore your opponents Offensive Conditions you need go no further than the Outcasts and the Kings of Condition immunity themselves. These are the truly horrible Ashes and Dust (whos both very difficult to kill and is flat out immune to all Conditions), and Hamelin the Plagued with his faithful companion Nix. Both Hamelin and Nix have the Nihilism ability to let them ignore any Conditions they dont want. His crew also tends to have a healthy complement of Rats and Rat-like creatures, all of whom are either expendable or easily sacrificed to summon a fresh model. This makes Hamelin the closest a player can get to playing a crew thats outright immune to enemy Conditions, which grants them a great advantage against Condition-heavy crews like Sonnia and McMourning.

    Killing

    The next most obvious way to deal with negative Conditions is to simply kill the model whos threatening to hand out those Conditions. It is certainly the most permanent solution and against fragile, yet very dangerous models like the Nurse, it could be one of the best approaches to take! However if the model applying those Conditions is particularly resilient (a Master, for instance) then the effort spent killing that model might not be worth the threat it represents to your own crew.

    Whether or not to take out the models handing out Conditions is a decision youll need to make in the heat of the game. As always though, it comes down to the game objectives. Is that model actually getting in the way of your crew achieving enough VPs to win the game? If so, then it absolutely needs to die!

    I shouldnt need to go into more detail on how to kill a model, right? Great, so lets move on!

    Positioning

    If resisting or killing the model with Condition-based attacks isnt an option, the next choice is to limit the targeting options for that model. At its simplest, this means either staying outside range and line of sight of the attacker, or one my favorite tactics: tying it up with models that you dont mind being subjected to such abuses. A sufficiently fast crew (like some Neverborn crews) could keep well away from a model with Offensive Conditions. However you really need weigh up whether you can still achieve your objectives and win the game while playing hard to get. So sometimes, throwing something expendable in the way is the better option.

    Exactly what works best to tie up a model with Offensive Conditions really depends on that model. If keeping it engaged is enough to prevent the target from handing out Conditions (eg. it involves projectile or melee Attack), then just about any cheap and resilient (or at least expendable) model will do. However models like the Nurse and Hanged have the range on their attacks to target other models even while engaged. In that case, physically blocking their line of sight will help (theyll at least need to move before attacking their target). However, keeping in mind that so many of these Condition-granting attacks involve the Ca stat, models that disrupt Ca-based attacks can make very effective distractions. Two conveniently cheap examples of these would be the Night Terror and a Witchling Stalker benefiting from the Disrupt Magic Upgrade.

    Condition Removal

    If you cant stop the Conditions piling up, theres always the option to remove them yourself. While not common, every crew has access to at least a few models who can remove Conditions from other models. As the Faction who loves to support each other, Guild come out on top with these sorts of models. If Lady Justice can put her sword down for a moment she has the Restore Natural Balance action to remove ALL Conditions within a sizable pulse. Then theres the Shrug Off action on many of Perditas Family models and most importantly, the Witchling Stalkers Dispel Magic attack to remove Conditions. If nothing else, Dispel Magic makes the very cheap Witchling Stalker an excellent choice for most Guild crews one has found its way into almost every Guild crew Ive played!

  • 5Johan is another model worth mentioning. Besides being a capable melee fighter and offering some great synergy both with and against Arcanists, this Mercenary (ie. he can be hired by anyone!) is able to remove all Conditions on a model with his (1) Rebel Yell action. Theres also the Arcane Effigy (Arcanists/Collodi), Chiaki (Resurrectionists/Ten Thunders), and the Monk of Low River (Ten Thunders), all of whom are reasonably costed and can remove Conditions on other models without much difficulty.

    Gremlins and Neverborn unfortunately have the weakest options for Condition removal. The Gremlins are limited to their Mud Toss and Gremlin-See upgrades. The former grants an attack action (ie. they cant target themselves) and is limited to McTavish or Mancha Roja , both of whom are priority targets for enemy Conditions and will often have more pressing things to do with their AP. The latter is a Kin-only upgrade that will only remove Conditions from the bearer. On the other hand Neverborn have access to more flexible Condition removal, but its restricted to just two of their Masters the Dreamers Empty Night Action and Collodi hiring an Arcane Effigy. So unless they hire Johan, the both Gremlins and Neverborn are somewhat limited in their options for Condition removal.

    Its worth noting that a lot of the Condition removal actions can also be used on enemy models. Shenlong is great for this, since his Burn Like Fire Attack will strip Defensive, Focused, Fast and Reactivate off an enemy model and add them to himself. However, Shenlong aside, most of the time the risk and effort required to strip an enemy model of Conditions is higher than the reward gained. After all, most of the time you need to win the opposed duel with a specific suit to cast the spell, and doing that for something like Focused or Defensive is not usually worth the effort. Ive therefore rarely encountered a situation where Id want to spend resources removing Conditions from my opponents models. However thats not to say it never happens. I once stripped Reactivate from Tara, and have heard of a Shenlong player losing a stack of Focus, Burning and who knows what else to a timely Rebel Yell from Johan. So while Condition removal is rarely worth using offensively, there will always be those odd exceptions that are worth looking out for.

    The Final Word

    So before this article gets too long (again!) I should probably wrap it up. To finish with, then, Ill leave you with something that I probably say almost every article. So Im repeating myself, yes, but I feel the point is so important that its worth repeating whenever possible!

    Malifaux is a game of resource management. Whether its in the form of AP, cards, soulstones or models, theres something to be said for prioritizing those resources toward what will best help you score VPs while denying those VPs to your opponent. So while its all well and good to set up your crew and tactics to completely neutralise your opponents Offensive Conditions, you MUST be careful about focusing on that to the detriment of actually achieving your strategy and schemes. It therefore pays to keep your eye on the prize, so to speak, and to only prioritise countering those Condition-based attacks that will actually prevent you from scoring VPs!

    Until next time,

    AdriAn

  • 7BoB KuzeMeski

    Kaori ground the ingredients into paste, smells of berries, sugar and ginger tickling her senses and making her stomach growl. She glanced at her mother for a moment and saw the woman occupied folding pastry dough. With her mother distracted, she dipped a finger into the concoction to sample the flavor. Somehow, her mother noticed and slapped her wrist playfully but sternly. Kaori never understood how her mother seemed to see everything at once. Whenever she asked, Tamako would smile and explain that Kaori would only understand when she grew to become a mother herself.

    The sharp sting on her wrist brought her focus back to the task at hand. Her work was important, despite its monotony. No child, particularly a curious and active girl like Kaori, wanted to spend the better part of a day staring intently into a pestle, wielding a mortar until both wrists became numb. Though her mother described the task as meditative, Kaori knew it was something else. It was punishment for the sin of being young.

    Her mind wandered. At eight, there were so many other things she wanted to do. Her eyes strayed from the sweet-smelling paste and glanced at the activity around town. Down the street, workers were hanging colorful garland from street lamps. Nearby, a man went from to home, decorating each door with painstakingly-crafted origami blossoms. On this day, her drab town exploded with color; sometimes

    Kaori wondered if this display was more vibrant and beautiful than the real flowers used on the other side of The Breach. Real flowers wither and die before origami paper loses its luster. How could the two even compare?

    Not that she could remember much about the real world. Shed been Malifaux-side for most of her life. Glimpses of a previous life occasionally drifted through her mind but she had no control over what images came or when theyd happen. Sometimes it was a smell that would waft into her window and shed remember her Daddys smell whenever he held her; the sweat of hard work mixed with the soap he used to try and wash it away. Other times it was taste food was often different here. Sometimes better, usually worse. The Mishiko fruit that she worked into jam being one exception. She pitied the real world that they should not taste its succulence.

    Soon, her mother would fold the paste into the dough she was making and tomorrow, hundreds of flakey pastries would please everyone at the Mishiko Blossom Festival. The very idea of it made her stomach growl; this time audibly.

    Her mother smiled, knowing what questions Kaori would ask. The girls inquiries were part of the annual ritual, every bit a part of the celebration as the festival itself.

    Festival day

  • 8Mama, Kaori asked, turning to face her mother. Why cant we make a batch tonight, just for us?

    Her eyes were wide and hopeful; she willed her mother to provide the answer she wanted. Her mother simply shook her head.

    No Ki-Ki, she said with disappointed patience. Tamakos strictness was born from her own upbringing and out of necessity; the instinct of a widow and mother to protect her child and to raise a good and honest woman. Her stern demeanor concealed an inner softness. Letting her daughter down was an unwelcome task, one that brought her sadness. Its tradition to wait until the festival begins, partaking in food as both a celebration of the day and a shared experience with our community. It would be wrong of us to eat some now and short others of their share.

    Kaori bore a petulant expression despite anticipating the answer. Tradition was something she still didnt quite understand even though she tried to adhere to it.

    Whats so important about this festival, anyway? she muttered.

    Her mother considered her answer carefully, turning away from kneading dough to look at her daughter. Well, Ki-Ki, we are short on time but I will do my best to explain it. Tradition binds community. It ties people together by creating culture. In our homeland, the Asian community shares many such traditions to remind us that we are one people. Here in Malifaux, the Mishiko Blossom Festival is our own, a celebration not honored in our homeland. Mishikos birth was monumental when we immigrated through The Breach. It gave us cause for hope and something to celebrate together. It is our very own and so is that much more special. Do you understand, little one?

    Kaori nodded, though in truth was only trying to grasp what her mother said. Like most of the community, she did look forward to the celebration. There would be games, laughter, music, art and food. People would be universally happy if just for one day. She could not understand all of what her mother said but grasped that tradition was a good thing.

    Tell me the story, she said as she turned her attention back to paste. This too was part of the tradition.

    Of course, Ki-Ki, Tamako said. Mishiko was the first child born to our community after we moved here. Settling this land did not go well for us for anyone, really. This land is harsh and difficult to tame but there is great wealth for those who succeed. Hope for a better life brought us here but only a few of us will find it.

    Mishikos birth represented the birth of hope for our burgeoning community. Seeing a child come into this worldborn of this worldbrought a sense of normalcy and thoughts of a bright future. Little did we know that this girls birth was just the first miracle she would bring to us.

    Kaori knew that part of the tale. As a younger child, she was content to celebrate Mishikos birthday. Now that she considered herself a big girl, she wanted to know more.

    Where is Mishiko now? she asked. Can I play with her?

    Her mother smiled. Kaori saw both pride and sadness in her mothers face. She was proud of her daughters desire to know but the melancholy in her eyes spoke of a poor end to the tale. Suddenly Kaori wasnt sure she wanted to hear the rest. She ground the paste more forcefully, steeling herself for the rest of what her mother had to say.

    Remember what I said about how difficult this world is; how not everyone succeeds? she asked in a solemn tone. Mishikos parents did not find fortune here. Her father died several years after. His work in the mines caked his lungs with dust and one day choked off his breath completely much like it did to your father.

    Kaori refused to look at her mother, hearing the tears in Tamakos voice. She choked up whenever discussing her husband.

  • 9Without his money, Mishikos mother couldnt remain here. She decided it was time to move back across The Breach and return to family in the homeland. The young girl would have none of it, insistent on staying in the only world shed every known. No words could convince her to go. One night, Mishiko ran away, deep into the woods. She was never seen again.

    Kaoris head filled with questions and wonder. Where could she have gone? Did she ever turn up? Maybe I should go look for her, she thought.

    Her mother continued, addressing the girls thoughts. She is long gone, Ki-Ki. I know how your mind works, my sweet. She was five when she fled, certain to perish on her own. People searched for a few years more but never found her. Eventually, her mother returned to the other side without her husband or her daughter; a woman now broken by loss; a casualty of Malifaux.

    The searchers did find one thing, though, Tamako added. In the lands where Mishiko disappeared, a new tree began to grow, one that never seen before. Vibrant flowers erupted from the tree, decorating its branches in beautiful shades of red and purple. Eventually, they blossomed into the fruits youre grinding right now.

    She stopped working the dough for a moment and knelt down beside Kaori, gently pulling her daughters face toward her to make eye contact. You see, she said quietly, the flower of that tree became known as the Mishiko Blossom. It is the first flower to grow from winters cold grasp and it signals the beginning of spring. Just as the girl brought hope to the land, her flower brings rebirth each year. She has become part of Malifaux;her short life symbolizes so much for us. Her birth tied us together and gave us hope. Her disappearance strengthened our community as we came together to look for her. And now her blossom brings spring and sustenance. It is only fitting that we should celebrate her memory.

    Her ended the tale with a kiss on Kaoris cheek, then returned to her work. The girl continued with the pastry filling, a new feeling of reverence guiding her strokes. As her head struggled to grasp everything shed learned, her movement grew more rhythmic,

    respectful and meditative. Her work was not just work any longer; it was honor to Mishikos memory.

    And so Kaori worked for the rest of the day into evening. She no longer thought about or even noticed the pain and fatigue in her forearms. Her mind stopped wandering to things she would prefer to be doing or wondering what kinds of fun her friends might be having. During this time, it was just her and Mishiko.

    When the sun set, Tamako told Kaori it was time to sleep. Theyd wake early to bake the pastries for the celebration, just as they did each year. Kaori did not argue, exhaustion setting in. She wanted to sleep so that she could wake and enjoy the festival even more, given her new-found knowledge. It came as soon as her head hit the pillow; she dreamt of children playing, everyone eating magnificent treats, adults laughing and the world being right all because of Mishiko. In he dreams, Mishikos spirit was there, radiating warmth and happiness.

    The morning sun woke her with a start. She should not still be asleep; her mother needed her help in the kitchen before dawns light. It was unlike Tamako to let the girl sleep in.

    Kaori threw on a robe and rushed to the kitchen, alarmed that she could not smell the sweets backing as she went. When she got to the kitchen, her mother was not there, the stove was cold and the pastry dough smelled slightly sour.

    Concerned that her mother must have overslept as well, she rushed to Tamakos bedroom. When she flung the door open, a scene of horror accosted her eyes and burned grisly memories into her brain. Her mothers body lay in bed, twisted and contorted in impossible ways. Blood covered the sheets, pillows and bedspread even as it continuously oozed from deep gashes that peppered the womans body. In the rare, uncut places, purple and red welts adorned her skin with the unmistakable patterns that Kaori

  • 10

    recognized as knuckles. She attempted to rouse her mother but Tamako was unresponsive.

    With howls of sorrow and fear, Kaori ran toward Tamakos window, intending to open it and scream into the morning sun. Terrified thoughts stopped her from doing so. The first was the thought of the bruises on her mothers flesh. She knew those marks from vivid memories of seeing them on her father many times. When he was alive, men would sometimes visit the house and demand money from him. While father usually paid the fees, he sometimes had nothing to give. The men spoke of making an example of him, beating him with savagery that they seemed to personally enjoy.

    After a few such visits, her father carved out a room in the walls for Kaori and Tamako - a space for them to hide and be safe when the men came. They called it the hidey-hole and allowed Kaori to decorate it however she wanted. They painted the room pink, allowing Kaori to draw whatever she wanted on the walls to make the place as calming as they could for the young girl.Though her fathers cries of pain cut through any sense of serenity, it was at least a retreat to provide a pittance of solace.

    Several fears stopped her from yelling out into the night, the chief concern was that the very same men had done this to her mother Alerting attention to it might bring Kaori the same fate.

    Another fear gripped her - the fear of a child old enough to reason but lacking the wisdom to know better. What if they decided she did it? Horrible things happened in Malifaux all of the time. People sometimes did things that humans simply couldnt do. Would they consider her some sort of monster or witch? Would they send the Guild after to her to poke and prod at her until they knew how she ticked? It didnt seem worth the risk.

    She had no desire to face her mothers killers or be enslaved under the thumb of the Guild overlords. Instead, she quietly closed the window and took to her hidey-hole.

    She was still tucked away when the lawmen came. They looked around the house and discussed what had likely happened. They said that one of the neighbors reported something suspicious when Tamako did not attend the festival.

    She heard them investigate for awhile and listened to what they discussed. Though she could not catch each word, she gathered that the same men that sometimes attacked her dad also demanded money from her mother. The Guild officers said they did it to a lot of people in town. They called them the Ten Thunders and said that everyone in town would be too afraid of them to cooperate and help find her mothers killer.

    One of them didnt even intend to ask around. He told the other that the Thunders had sent a very powerful message by making an example of Tamako on a day of celebration. The two officers then agreed to go looking for Kaori. They intended to bring her to the orphanage.

    When they left, Kaori went over their conversation in her head. At first, she was angry that they would not at least ask around town for information. Scared lips never open, Tamako had once told her. If people were afraid of what happened to her mother, they wouldnt be much help to the officers. She had to admit that the officers were probably right.

    Amongst the jumble of thoughts that filled Kaoris mind, her mind kept coming back to one - orphanage. No one that spoke of the place did so above a whisper. Its reputation for cruelty and inhumanity trumped even that of the jails. Though Tamako had never threatened her with it, many parents use tales of the institution to convince their children how lucky they were to have parents. Some even went so far as to threaten their children, saying theyd move back through the breach and leave the kids behind for the orphanage if they misbehaved.

    Kaoris eyes welled with tears and her heart raced with panic. What if I end up in that awful place? What if no one finds out who did this? How will I go on with Mama?

    At her age, she didnt know the words for vengeance or revenge but she felt the raw emotions just the

  • 11

    same. She wanted whoever had hurt her Mom to feel that same hurt. Grief over Tamakos death, anger at the killers and fear of life in an orphanage overtaxed Kaoris brain and sapped her energy. Though she tried to figure out what to do, she hid away for hours and cried. Eventually, sleep overtook her.

    Shadows embraced Kaori when she awoke. The house was dark and quiet; she felt that she could finally emerge from the hidey-hole. She went into Tamakos room but the mortician had been and one. Through the bedroom window, Kaori saw that the festival was still underway, though there seemed to be little participation and absolutely no revelry. People conversed quietly, often casting glances toward her house. She feared they might spot her but the nervousness passed when she saw that no one came toward the house.

    She wondered if her mothers killers were out there, blending in with the rest of the community - or intimidating them as the officers suggested they might. Were the officers out there, too? If so, they would surely come for her and take her to the orphanage. Her legs began moving before her brain could register her desire to run awayto get as far away from the house and these people as she could. She fled out the back door and ran toward the woods. She didnt know what good it would do other than give her a chance to figure out what she could do or make people forget about her.

    A short time later, she crossed the forest boundary into a thick copse of trees. Scary even during the day, the woods seemed especially haunted and foreboding at night. Even small trees towered over little Kaori and every branch seemed to be reaching out for her. She found the courage to press deeper, running as fast as she could without running into a tree. Having dodged under a number of low branches and climbed over fallen trees, her legs eventually began to burn and she needed rest.

    She staggered to the ground, leaning with her back against a large oak tree. She slid down the trunk

    until she was sitting amongst its roots. The rough bark felt cold, which brought her some sense of comfort. She was sweating from fear and exertion; the trees cold touch and the nights chill air served to help her regain some of her energy.

    The darkness was not as calming. She listened to the alien sounds of the forest and knew that she was completely alone. Running away was impulsive and she hadnt considered how scared she might become. Things lived out here. They moved. She hadnt recognized the dangers until she sat and listened. The moments of silence she endured were deeply quiet; no voices drifted in through windows and the woods lacked the familiar sounds of her mother moving about the house. What she did hear was completely unrecognizable to her. Periods of silence made her sob with mourning; sudden noises brought tears of terror.

    She considered running back to the town. Maybe someone would help. Maybe the orphanage wouldnt be as bad as people said. Sitting against that tree, she debated for hours on what to do. What difference does it make? None of those people can bring Mama back. Theres nothing there for me.

    The thought of living in a world where there were a million faces and none of them were her mothers became too much to bear. Shed rather her life be forfeit. At least here, she had freedom. She would not suffer painful reminders of her mother at every turn. Especially if I die, she thought. Which will probably happen pretty soon out here.

    She lost track of time as she grieved at the base of the massive oak. When the suns rays began to creep through the trees, she beheld the beauty of the forest for the first time. Golden light highlighted leaves of every shade of green, making the trees glow majestically. Her tears dried immediately. She was sure this was a sign; shed not been attacked by some kind of animal, had made it through the night and was rewarded with a sight that she could not have even imagined. Something now told her that she had found safe haven.

    Hunger pangs focused her attention on the more immediate need to find food. She knew little about the woodlands but recalled something about berries,

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    nuts and mushrooms gathered in the forest and brought to town. She set out in search of something.

    It didnt take long for her to find a tree covered with some sort of red fruit. Its branches were so laden with berries that they nearly touched the ground. Kaori could eat here for days if need be. She approached the tree and plucked one of the succulent fruits from the limb and inhaled its smell. It was both sweet and sour, with overtones that reminded her of an apple.

    When she opened her mouth to take a bite, a large blackbird swooped down from the sky and knocked it from her hand. The bird landed on the branch as Kaori fell and scrambled back from the tree. She expected the bird to attack and claw at her but it never did. Instead, it perched on a branch and cocked its head quizzically at the young girl. Only when she over came her fear and stood did it react, letting out a large and threatening squawk.

    Foolish child, Kaori muttered - a phrase her mother sometimes used when shed done something wrong. You are going to die out here after all. Just a stupid little girl all alone in the woods.

    Oh, you are not alone, a soothing voice said from behind her. And as for dying,wellhes stopping you from doing that right now. That fruit is poison to humans. You wouldnt last a week after eating one.

    Kaori jumped. She turned quickly and saw a young woman walking out of the woods. In her panic, it actually looked like the woman was moving through the trees; phasing into and then out of the trunks. Her complexion was pale and a glowing light around her reminded Kaori of the sun coming through the trees. In this case, the light came directly from the girl.

    She smiled at Kaori. The smile contained such warmth and love that it immediately set Kaori at ease. She felt a connection immediately.

    You are Mishiko? Kaori said, somehow certain she was right. The girl nodded and moved closer. She radiated beauty; her face that of a young woman

    just past her teenage years. Smooth skin and long hair cradled her face as it cascaded its way down to her hips. She wore a flowing dress intricately embroidered with vines and maple leaves. The broken ground, covered with acorns, sticks and protruding tree roots did not not seem to bother her bare feet. As she grew closer, Kaori saw through her, able to look at the trees directly behind her.

    Youre dead, she said factually and without a hint of fear.

    Mishiko smiled. I am a spirit, she began to explain but I am not dead.

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    The look of confusion on Kaoris face drew another smile. I chose to be what I am. The Spirit of Nature watched over me when I fled here, a bit younger than you are now. It spoke to me, offering me a chance to join my soul with it. I didand I became a spirit - one with the forest and its creatures. We are all bound together.

    What does that mean? Did it hurt? Kaori asked.

    Not at all, Mishiko answered. I simply ceased to be a human. I left my body behind, which became the tree you know as the Mishiko Blossom. In my new form, I can communicate with the creatures and plants all around me. As if to prove her point, a family of foxes entered the clearing and began to play. When Mishiko asked them to introduce themselves to Kaori, they began to play around her ankles.

    If I can see you, does that mean I am a spirit? Kaori asked, surprised at how hopeful she sounded. She wanted to be able to communicate with the forest around her as well.

    Nonot yet. When you are ready, the Spirit of Nature intends to ask you to join it, also. When that happens, should you choose to, you can be as I am, MIshiko answered. Kaori watched as she quickly changed into a young child and then into an old woman. You will be timeless, appearing as you choose. You will know every creature in this wood.

    But that time is not now, she continued. There is something you must do, first.

    She changed herself back into the young woman that first appeared. A look of sadness came across her face. Your mothers death must be avenged. Until then, you are too strongly tied to the mortal world and will not be able to renounce your previous form.

    Kaoris eyes welled with tears at the memory of her mother. Meeting Mishiko filled her minds with hundreds of questions and a sense of awe that served to distract her from grief. The pain came back mercilessly when Mishiko spoke of her mother.

    I am so sorry, Mishiko added. I didnt mean to bring your pain rushing back in so suddenly.

    Kaori looked confused. How could she know how I feel?

    I am a part of you now, for as long as youll have me, Mishiko answered. Our spirits are intertwined.

    How?

    I wont pretend I understand - there is still much for me to learn about being a nature spirit. I know only that when you spoke of me in reverence yesterday; when you thought so deeply of me and meditated as you worked; your spirit called to mine. Ive been with you since, helping to keep you safe.

    But you couldnt help my mother, Kaori spat out, more harshly then intended.

    Mishiko shook her head sadly. I can commune with the spirits of the woods but can do little in the human world. When you ran here, to my sanctuary, I was able help. ButI think I can also help you bring justice the murderers.

    Kaori said nothing at first, trying to make sense of what was happening. Is this real? Am I still asleep, dreaming? Am I also dead and this is the afterlife?

    Though she knew the answers, Mishiko said nothing. She understood that the girl needed time to adjust. Instead, she asked a number of creatures in the area to gather berries for Kaori. After several minutes, they began to lay offerings at Kaoris feet and she began to eat them.

    Though still hungry, the fruit provided some sustenance and replenished her energy. She remained silent for a few moments longer, considering what Mishiko had suggested.

    How would we bring justice? Kaori asked. I dont know who did it.

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    Not the individual, Mishiko answered. But you do know others that are connected. I saw the memories of your fathers past. We will start with them. I have already asked some of my flying friends to look for those particular men. When we know where to find them, we will get the information we need.

    But they will not speak, Kaori said. Even the people who hate those men will not help. They are too scared.

    A wicked grin crossed Mishikos face. Nature can be a comforting and wondrous place, she said. It can also be vicious and deadly. We will give them something to fear even more.

    How do I do it? Kaori asked as she finished packing the mud, stones and branches into a large mound. She grasped sticks in both hands and laid down on the ground shed just built up.

    Youre going to go to sleep, Mishiko explained. When you do, youll think of nothing but how the mud feels on your skin, how it smells and how the sticks feel in your hands. Thats it. I will impart some of your spirit into the golem, channeling your anger through it.

    Kaori closed her eyes to let sleep come but her inquisitive mind immediately thought of another question. Why are you helping me? she asked.

    Though they may not have been the same men, people like them harmed my own father, Mishiko answered with sadness. They took his money or beat him, much as youve described. Theyve done it to countless people in our community. If not for them, you and I may have had peaceful childhoods and normal lives.

    She was silent for a moment before adding, I intend for this to be a very public execution. We will let the people there know that they are safe and protected.

    Kaori opened her eyes then and saw the same look of malice that Mishikos shown earlier. She almost felt sorry for the men they were about to visit.

    Sleep came quickly after she again closed her eyes, courtesy of the herbs Mishiko had given her. Though she knew her body remained in place, she could feel aspects of her spirit become one with the earth below. Within a few minutes, she discovered that she could manipulate the mound, creating the golem Mishiko instructed her to make. She pushed mud and rock into a humanoid shape and arranged the sticks into claws on her hands.

    She could not believe the power that coursed through her as she stood and began to move. The anger and grief that Mishiko infused with this creature made her inhumanly strong. It was a suit of Earthen armor and it made Kaori feel invincible.

    Through the link she now shared with Mishikos spirit, she could here the girls thoughts. My ravens found one of the men entering a tea garden, where he joined with a large group of men. You mothers killer is almost certain to be among them.

    The two begin moving toward the village. As an earth golem, Kaori travelled quickly; large and powerful legs using great strides to get her across land quickly. Mishikos spirit was close by, as were the pack of wolves and wild dogs that followed. Behind them, a Mauler chuffed and growled, anxious to tear into flesh.

    Aiko was the first to spot natures army as they came charging out of the woods. She stopped working her loom and stared dumbfounded at a massive moving mountain that walked on two legs. The apparition that travelled by its side peeled off and began to

  • 15

    come toward her, a pack of wolves behind it. Despite initial terror, she felt somehow soothed as the spirit grew closer. Its color shifted to a warm golden hue that filled Aikos heart with peace.

    Mishiko? she whispered. Though this spirit was older than the missing girl could possibly be, somehow she was certain it was her. The spirit nodded.

    Send word ahead, the spirit told her. Tell the the fine and honest villagers here that Mishiko and Kaori have come to remove the blight that constantly eats away at their livelihood. Tell them to stay away from Hyatus Tea Garden today. Remind them that what we do here, we do for Tamakos memory and as a benefit to you all.

    Aiko nodded, a slight sense of relief and satisfaction bringing lightness to her heart. She ran from door to door, relaying the message that the town was about to be cleansed.

    Hyatu enjoyed a life of luxury since allowing the Thunders to use his establishment as a meeting place. Not only did he avoid paying protection money, he sometimes profited from the men when they gathered for their private meetings, as they did today. He locked the door and entered the gardens to provide service for his customers.

    His sense of mirth turned to foreboding when the sky darkened a few minutes later. The bright sun disappeared, hidden away by a black cloud. Not a cloud, he realized. Those are birds!

    Avians of every shape and size flew chaotically above, purposely bringing about darkness. Some guests looked up in time to see falcons and hawks diving down, raking claws across their faces. Others began to scream and run toward the bushes, trying to get out of the garden but finding the wall of vegetation to thick to pass. A few began firing their

    guns recklessly, downing the occasional bird but doing very little to push back the attack.

    When all of the attention was on the birds, a massive creature burst through the garden wall, breaking through as if the bushes were made of paper. Deep in Hyatus mind, it registered that no human could possess that strength - but his eyes told him even sooner. The creature was roughly human shaped but large, bigger than a grizzly standing on its hind legs. It seemed as if the earth itself decided to take shape and stand, leaving Hyatu slack jawed with fear and confusion.

    The creature began tearing through the men in the garden, starting with the ones that were slow to react. It punched forward, driving sharp sticks into their midsections, gutting them and then leaving corpses in heaps on the ground.

    Tamakos killer, it boomed, a gravelly voice that sounded as primitive as the creature looked. Where?

    The thing looked from face to face as if expecting an answer, finally setting its sight on Hyatu.

    Kaori was felt only hatred as she slaughtered the criminals, taking a small amount of delight in recognizing a particular face as one of her fathers tormentors. It was not enough - she wanted vengeance for her mother most of all. No one answered her bellowed command but she soon smelled the pungent smell of human urine coming from the Tea Master. He had the weakest of will amongst these menhe would talk.

    She moved toward him, ignoring his repeated proclamations that he was not a murderer. While she pushed her way through the men, she began to feel the stinging jabs of knives piercing her side but found them to be mostly just an annoyance. Her spirit felt real pain a moment later, when a bullet

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    exploded through her chest and leaving a massive hole in her torso. She roared with rage and looked at the man whod shot her.

    She plucked a large stone from somewhere in her leg and hurled it at the shooter. It hit him hard enough to reward Kaoris ears with the satisfying crunch of his skull breaking.

    In her peripheral vision, she could see some men trying to flee through damaged garden wall, where they were met by Mishiko and her wolves. Screams of agony became a pleasing chorus as the wolves tore them apart slowly.

    No one escapes, Mishiko communicated to her.

    Kaori turned back to Hyatu. Where? she demanded.

    He said nothing but his eyes gave the answer when he glanced toward a large man coming toward her, unafraid. He carried a sword in each hand. He spun them gracefully with the movement of a master. A moment later, he charged.

    The killer was fast and agile, ducking under her arm as she tried to gore him. Both blades swept upward, cutting off what passed for Kaoris hand. Shed lost the deadly sticks she wielded as a weapon. The intensity of the pain surprised her; she heard herself wail as she flinched away from the man. He smiled in satisfaction.

    When the other gang members saw one of their men knock the creature back, it bolstered their courage and many stepped forward to join the attack. She heard many shots ring out, feeling only a few enter burn into her core. Though the birds of prey were doing what they could to distract the shooters, it wasnt enough. Kaori was having trouble maintaining her balance. She needed to end the fight quickly.

    Pushing his advantage, the man sliced with one blade, cutting deeply into her leg. Though the blade moved through the mud with ease, a solid branch brought it to a halt before it could sever the limb. It brought the man close enough for her to retaliate

    and she clubbed him with her injured arm. The blow struck soundly, with audibly snapping bone in his arm. The sword hed held in that hand fell to the ground below.

    He scrambled back and looked at the thing he was fighting. Whats Tamako to you, anyway? he asked. Shes just another peasant too dumb to do as shes told.

    The Kaori-thing took a step toward him and roared in his face. Mother!

    He laughed and yelled out, Little girl, I dont know how youre controlling this thing but once I put your puppet down, Im coming for you.

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    He lunged upward, pushing the blade through her head and knocking her down with his weight. It was his fatal mistake, she immediately realized. While he sat atop her, pinning her to the ground and chopping away at her with his blade, she began to reform the golems structure. She enveloped him with mud while simultaneously melding with the ground.

    By the time he realized he was engulfed, he was too hindered to move. He screamed in horror at what was happening to him.

    Kaori brought her spirit deeper and deeper, pulling him further down into the ground. She was the garden; she could feel everything around her. She was large enough to pull him under, suffocating him completely. Only when his last breath choked off did she leave the earth.

    She expected her spirit to immediately return to her body back in the woods but instead felt Mishikos spirit holding her in place. She appeared much like Mishiko, ethereal, timeless and beautiful. Townsfolk were peering in with curious wonder at the two spirits. Expressions of horror and relief crossed their various faces.

    Looking over the garden, Kaori could see that the wolves, dogs and raptors had finished off the rest of the gang members in various brutal ways. Only Hyatu survived.

    P-please, he begged. Please let me live. I will serve you. I will honor Tamakos memory. I will do whatever you request of me.

    A smile spread across Kaoris face. It was not a smile of warmth or joy but one like Mishiko displayed before the attack; a malicious grin that symbolized natures wrath. She reached out to the Mauler, enhancing its sense of smell. The scent of blood brought It charging into the garden in a frenzy.

    Mishiko pointed to Hyatu and the Mauler descended on him, tearing him apart with its numerous claws.

    When all of the men were dead, Mishiko looked over

    at Kaori. The Spirit of Nature has chosen you and you have felt its power. Your mother is avenged and your ties to this world are severed. It is now time to choose between becoming one with us or returning to the mortal world.

    Kaori smiled. This is whats meant to be, she said. There is nothing left for me in the world of the living. I will join you.

    I am glad to hear it, Mishiko said, looking genuinely pleased. I have been lonelyyour company is most welcome. Now come with me, please. I have an idea.

    With that, Mishiko sunk into the garden ground and Kaori followed.

    A few years later, children danced and sang around the tree in celebration of the Mishiko Blossom Festival. It was an unusual tree with a trunk that twisted and curved upward to form what most would call a feminine shape. Willow branches atop the tree draped down more on one side than the other; long hair falling down the back of the woman.

    Mama,what kind of tree is that? a little girl asked.

    Its called Tamakos Remembrance, the mother explained. The bright blue flowers you see trailing down the trunk are said to be tears falling in remembrance of Tamako, a lady who was once a part of this community.

    What happened to her? the girl asked.

    Its an amazing story about three people that made our town a better place, but it is not one you are old enough yet to understand, the woman explained patiently. For now, just know that to be near this tree and to visit this garden will always bring you feelings of peace and safety.

  • scenario: WereBeaStSWerebeastsBy Justin Gibbs

    There are tales of shifters, people who can change shape in the light of Malifauxs twin moons. It is all nonsense, of course; excuses for the barbarism of normal humans. Wouldnt it be convenient if the tales were true? If the people who butchered each other in the night were just monsters, and not our neighbors. Of course, you never know with Malifaux

    SetupAt the start of the game, each player secretly notes down one of their non-Peon models as the Shifter.

    DeploymentDetermine deployment randomly as normal.

    SpecialThe first time a Shifter suffers damage caused by a model it considers an enemy, it becomes enraged and changes shape. The Shifters player must immediately reveal it as the chosen model and then summon a randomly determined Beast into base contact with it, then sacrifice the chosen model. To determine the Beast, flip a card which may not be cheated:

    Black Joker:

    Rogue Necromancy (Crossroads pg. 63)

    C: Razorspine Rattler (Core rules pg. 160)

    R: Slateridge Mauler (Crossroads pg. 119)

    T: Sabertooth Cerberus (Core rules pg. 160)

    M: Waldgeist (Core rules pg. 186)Red Joker:

    Cojo (Core rules pg. 153. May be summoned regardless of Rare Characteristic limitation.)

    Anytime a non-Beast enemy model is damaged by one of the summoned Beasts Ml Attack Actions, the damaged model gains the following Condition for the rest of the game: Moon Bitten: At the end of each of this models Activations, it must pass a TN 12 Wp duel. If it fails, use the above chart to randomly determine a Beast, summon the Beast into base contact with this model; then sacrifice this model.

    VictoryEach time a player kills or sacrifices an enemy Beast which was summoned due to this scenario, that player gains 2 VP. At the end of the game, each player scores 2 VP if they have at least one friendly Beast summoned by this scenario in play. No more than 4 VP may be scored in this way.

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    Marko Paunovic

    Building a Park

    It was sometime in December that Aaron contacted me to do a step by step article of a terrain build for Wyrd Chronicles. Immediately I was up for the job, but I had no clue what to actually do. Hills, forests and even simple buildings have been done to death - there are enough tutorials on similar subjects online to fill at least a years worth of Wyrd Chronicles.

    Then fate stepped in (pun intended). I got the whole range of Plastcraft: Designed for Malifaux terrain for my demo games and decided to make a piece of terrain that would both compliment the PlastCraft terrain and help fill out my demo table.

    Looking at the photos of Plastcraft terrain and their table setup, an idea popped into my mind: make a 19th century park. Fortunately for me, I live in Zagreb, Croatia. The center of the city is full of 19th century architecture, parks included.

    This gazebo is in one of the more famous parks in Zagreb, and is only a minutes walk from the towns main square (and only a ten minute walk from my apartment). I ran the idea by Aaron, and when he agreed I started making plans. During January, I was busy building my park and shooting pics for every step of the build. When the terrain was actually finished, it was time to write the tutorial. I grouped the tutorial by thematic steps to help you follow along.

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    ConStruction

    The first step was to draw the terrain with all the features I wanted and to make a list of materials and bits that were needed. Because I didnt have much time to finish the build (waiting for various shipments to arrive was out of the question), I tried to use materials and bits I had handy. After singling out what Id use, it was time to start the actual build.

    the Base

    First, I drew the outlines of my park on the base (MDF board, 4 mm thick), then I put all the bits on it to make sure it all fit. At this time, its good to have at least one miniature handy to make sure it can be moved through the terrain features. Theres no point in making a nice terrain piece if your minis cant enter it.

    Once I was satisfied with the result, I used my jigsaw (although a normal saw would suffice) to cut the base into two A4 sized pieces (A4 pieces are 210mm x 297mm, or around 8.25 x 11.75). If you dont have MDF handy, most shops that sell photo equipment have simple glass frames with MDF background, held in place by a couple of clips. Its cheap and its handy. Once the base was cut, I glued my plastic fence in place. I bought the fence on E-bay; jJust search for an HO scale fence. One meter of the fence cost about 10 USD (with worldwide shipping).

    the PlaSter

    As you can see on the plans, I wanted to make an octagonal gazebo, so I needed an octogonal base. The easiest way to make your own walls and bases is to cast them in plaster, and for that youll need a mold. I put transparent plastic foil on the terrains base, where I hade previously drawn the outline of the gazebo. I then cut several basla wood planks to serve as the walls of my mold and glued them together using superglue. Because I was doing this right on top of my line drawings, it was easy to ensure that it was the right size and shape. I mixed the plaster, poured it into my mold, and half an hour later, I had my base.

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    Removing the cast from the mould was easy, as it was bendy due to the plastic foil base. Once the base was free from the mold, I made the second base that I would need to make my gazebo.

    Now I needed to make the walls of the gazebo. I had already made molds for a brick wall from an earlier project, so I simply poured in some plaster and cut the brick walls to size. The easiest way to make these brick molds is to find railroad model brick walls. Using latex milk, make the mold by covering the model brick wall and letting it cure for about 24 hours). After sanding the sides of the walls to make the joints look nice, I glued them together to the base to form the octogonal gazebo. One side I intentionally left open.

    With the walls complete, I put another base on top of the first, to form the floor of the gazebo.

    Next I had to make the stairs. Using the same brick wall casts as earlier, I made the shape of the stairs by carefully cutting them down to the desired shape and added them to a body I cut out of HD Styrofoam.

    Metal

    With the shape of the stairs complete, I needed to make the metal sheets that would form the stairs while making my terrain look steampunky. I used simple card from a box of instant coffee for this, and cut it into strips. I made the rivets with PVA (white) glue by carefully applying it making sure it formed little blobs that would look the part once they were painted.

    Then it was time to do the metal structure of the gazebo. For this, I used Evergreen plasticard profiles (I and H beams). For the fence, I used the railings from the HO fence sets I wrote about earlier. The horizontal roof holders were done with H beams, while the vertical beams were crafted from the I beams.

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    rooF

    To make the octogonal roof, I first had to make the shape of a single triangle. I wanted the roof to be 25mm high, so I started with a 25mm wooden slat, which I glued to the center of the base, so that it stood up vertically. Using the glued slat and the drawing of the gazebos frame, I made my triangle shape gluing three 2x2 mm wooden slats together, two of them vertically and one horizontally. I did not attach this triangle to the central upright slat.

    This triangle would serve as my template. I used it to draw eight card triangles (from the same box of instant coffee I used earlier)Which I then cut out with scissors. I then glued and taped them together to form the roof of the octogonal gazebo.

    I dryfitted the roof to the gazebo and it fit well. Using strips of card, I covered the gaps between the triangles, and then added rivets and welds using the PVA glue method I described earlier.

    teXture

    With the gazebo done, it was time to add some texture to the base. I cut the small hills from HD Styrofoam and glued them to the board with PVA glue. If you look at the original design on the second piece of the terrain, there was supposed to have been a fountain there, but after finding this pillar I decided it would suit the purpose better (especially since it had some runes written on it that might have been done by the Neverborn). Also, with its smaller base size, it would save me space and give more playing room while the terrain was in use.

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    I made the curbs of the terrain with some 2x2 mm wooden slats glued with PVA glue. Once that was done, it was time to add the texture. I normally use three or four different sizes of grain to make my texture. This time was no different as I used Gale Force Nines rough, medium and fine grit for the grassy parts.

    For the paths, I used the smallest grain I had the sand for chinchillas (which I normally use to make facades for buildings). To get the grain to stick, I applied watered down PVA glue to the board and sprinkled the grit over top, starting with the roughest and finishing with the finest. Always do it this way, otherwise only the finest grain will stick to the board.

    Painting

    After the PVA glue had set, I started painting the terrain. First, I undercoated everything black. Then I used a brown color to paint all the paths; I only drybrushed the grassy parts. When that was dry, I used ochre paint to drybrush over all the areas. The next drybrush layer was a mixture of ochre and

    white, followed by a layer of off white drybrush over the grassy bits and another drybrush layer of pure white over all areas.

    Painting BricKS

    I painted the curbs grey and the brick walls orange. I did the same thing on the gazebo. Then I added some red-brownish wash over the brick areas and drybrushed it with layers of orange mixed progressively with more white.

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    Painting Benches

    I found the benches on E-bay, also (search: HO scale bench). Ten of them were around 5 USD with shipping. The wooden parts were drybrushed brown and off white, while the metal was only drybrushed with silver mixed with black.

    electricity

    One of my favourite hobby shops in Zagreb has these cool lamp posts that can be fitted with LEDs. They are from the Decorabilia range of Stamperia (www.stamperia.com) and cost about 5 USD per pack of two. To make this part youll need:

    a single CR 2302 battery a single CR 2302 battery housing about 5m of wire 4 amber LEDs

    The CR 2302 battery gives 3V of power. Through each LED runs approximately 20mA of electricity and these high powered LEDs use 2.5 3 V of power (normal LEDs use up to 2V). So when these 4 LEDs are connected in parallel (each of them is connected to the battery itself), they need 2.5 3 V of power and about 80mA of electricity. The CR 2302 battery should last at least two games with this setup.

    As the wires would go on the bottom of the base, I had to make grooves for them. I did this using my drill, then soldered the LEDs to the wires (remember to always use the same colour on the longer leg of the LED and another colour on the shorter).

    The different colors will make things easier when it comes time to connectthem to the battery. I fed the wires through the body of the lampposts and glued them to the base, carefully laying each wire in its own groove. I then attached the clamps to the battery housing and connected all the wires. Once the battery was in place, all the LEDs lit up. Since everything worked, I used some wooden planks to safely secure the battery housing to the base.

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    PAINTING THE GAZEBO

    After undercoating the roof and the metal parts of the gazebo (stairs, railings and roof structure, I drybrushed it with the silver/black mixture mentioned above. Then I applied brass and gold layers to the brass parts (the base and top of the lampposts, the railings and the body of the gazebos roof).

    Once the base layers were done, I applied two special effects made by ModelMates: Rust (to silvery bits) and Verdigris (to the brass bits). Just apply these generously and after about ten minutes drying time, use a slightly damp ear-cleaning tips to remove any excess effects and add direction to the effects (rust usually runs down a slope). Finally, using green washes and glazes I added the moss effect to the brick walls of the gazebo.

    FLOCKING

    Once the paint dried it was time for flocking. I first pinned the trees to the base and added static grass, gluing it down with PVA glue. I also used some fir trees that were also pinned and I added some poison ivy to the gazebo.

    All that was left was to take pics and enjoy a game on my new terrain!

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  • Darkness comes Rattling is a cooperative board game for 2-6 players that follows the story of the Tribes of Man in their quest to save the world from corruption and Darkness. Each player will guide a mighty warrior and traverse a world of shadows, spirits and other dangers as they combat the coming night. Will you make the ultimate sacrifice? Will you become a mighty warrior, able to fight off corruption? Do you have what it takes to face the DARKNESS?

    WY

    R11

    009

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    destiny steps:

    CRSC AR: When the accounting passes you by, could be appropriate if the Fated dont bother to confirm how much moonshine theyre getting from the Gremlins.

    CREC 12R: You will return with the balm for all ills, could easily describe the Fated returning with high proof moonshine; no matter what your pain is, alcohol that strong will take it away pretty darn quick.

    Prologue

    The adventure opens as the Fated have been contacted by Arcadia Benoit, a local distiller who is responsible for River Hopper Whiskey, a strong drink with enough of a kick to impress even career drinkers. Shes heard that the Fated are capable (or cheap) and has asked them to meet with her at her distillery in the Riverfront Slums.

    Read the following to the players:

    sMugGler'S runa one-Shot aDVenture For through the BreaCh

    Mason CrawForD

    The River Hopper distillery is smaller than you might have imagined and a bit more shoddy, too. Its not falling down, but its clearly been designed with form over function. The woman that meets you at the door is dark skinned and wearing a faded brown coat over an untucked white shirt.

    Pleased to meet ya, she says, shaking your hands firmly. Her accent is odd, and it takes you a moment to place it as Cajun. Im Arcadia Benoit. Ive been told that you folks can keep a secert. If thats true, Ive got some good busness for ya. She places a hand on the door to her distillery as she waits for your promises of secrecy.

    Once given, Arcadia opens the door to the distillery and leads you inside. Surprisingly, there arent any stills or any other kind of brewing equipment in sight just wooden crates filled with empty bottles. Truth of the matter is, I aint no brewer. She smirks as she lifts a fancy bottle out of the crates and angles it so that you can see the River Hopper label.

    More of a smuggler, really. See, the Guild has all sorts of restrictions against sellin Gremlin moonshine in the city, but there aint no restrictions on human moonshine. She returns the bottle to its crate. So, what I do is, I get some Gremlin hooch shipped up here, cut it down with water so it dont kill anyone, then put it in fancy bottles and sell it as whiskey. It probably aint good enough to fool no expert, but that dont stop us from makin money.

    Arcadia shakes her head. What does stop the money is when the Gremlins dont deliver the hooch they promised. Been a week now, and I dont got no shine to sell. Im too busy here to go runnin off into the Bayou to shake it out of em myself, and my damned fool brother too fraid of the Caimons to do it himself, so here we are. What do ya say? Are you my runners?

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    Arcadia will offer the Fated a total of 5 scrip per character up front, and another 15 scrip each after theyve managed to unblock her supply lines. She wants them to take the train down to Edge Point (which costs 1 scrip for fare) and meet up with her brother, Pierre. Shell give them a piece of folded paper with directions to get them to his hut once theyre in Edge Point.

    Pierre can point them towards the Gremlin distillery, and once theyve retrieved the moonshine, hell bring them back to Malifaux on his boat (along with said moonshine). Arcadia doesnt have any love for the Gremlins, but shed rather not lose a business partner over a misunderstanding. If theyre actively trying to cheat her, though, then she doesnt care what happens to them.

    Scene 1: Fun TimeS on the Bayou

    The train down to Edge Point is on time, and the trip is uneventful. Once the Fated arrive in town, read the following text:

    Finding Pierres dock (which is actually more of a hut that leans out over the water) isnt too difficult if the Fated follow the directions that Arcadia gave them. If the Fated wander around town or lose the map (somehow), they can get directions by asking anyone in town. Pierre isnt really liked so much as he is tolerated, and anyone asking about him is likely to earn some judging looks from the townsfolk.

    Pierre Benoit turns out to be a wiry man with dark skin, an unpleasant odor and a thick Cajun accent. While initially suspicious about why theyre poking around his hut, he warms up considerably once they mention his sister.

    When the Fated ask him about the Gremlins, read the following text:

    The Fated will also have to bring the Gremlins their payment: a wooden crate packed with two boxes of ammunition (each measuring about 10 x 4 x 7). Pierre wont expressly tell them whats in the boxes, but its not a huge secret if the Fated decide to peek.

    If the Fated attempt to convince Pierre to head into the Bayou with them, he refuses, claiming that the Caimons the gators will eat him if he does. Hes genuinely terrified of the gators and always skirts the edges of the Bayou whenever he takes a shipment of shine up to his sister in Malifaux. The Fated can attempt a TN 14 Convince Challenge to talk him into reluctantly coming with, but hes agitated and paranoid the entire time, and leaps from the boat and swims for shore after only a few minutes into the Bayou proper.

    You disembark at the Edge Point Station, a pale shadow of the station back in Malifaux. But then, Edge Point is something of a pale shadow itself, and the languid, sleepy pace of the town feels unnatural after all the tension and excitement of the city. Its perched right on the edge of the Bayou, which lends Edge Point a bit of a muggy atmosphere, and insects buzz around overhead with annoying tenacity.

    Little possd like da make the misere, they do. Pierre shakes his head like a long-suffering father. Supposed to com round five, six days ago, but did dey? Nah, nahaint nothin come in from da Bayou.

    Pierre motions for you to follow him as he heads over to the side of his shack that hangs over the river. Theres a wide-flat-bottomed boat moored to a hook jutting out from the huts side, but Pierre ignores it as he points off into the swamp. You wanna find da little possd, you take my pirogue, take it out past that big tree dere, just keep on paddlin til you reach their little shack.

    Pierres pirogue his boat has a single small paddle. Theres a small sail rolled up in the bottom, but Pierre pulls it out and tosses it into his shack when he notices it. Ya aint gon need dat in da Bayou, sha, less you wan get caught in da trees.

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    Read the following text as the Fated enter the swamp:

    The Fated will have to participate in an Ongoing Challenge in order to make their way to the Gremlin Distillery.

    Finding the gremlin Distillery

    Skills Allowed: Labor, Navigation, WildernessTarget Number: 9Duration: 1 hourSuccess Requirement: 6Failure Requirement: 4

    When the Fated reach the required number of Success Requirements, they will arrive at the Gremlin Distillery and may proceed to Scene II.

    If the Fated reach the Failure Requirement, however, they get turned around and drift right into the center of a small Gremlin village. There are about a dozen Gremlins all in all, and none of them look too happy to see the Fated. They dont immediately attack, but if the Fated dont immediately turn around, theres likely to be a fight. Alternatively, they Fated could attempt a TN 10 Social Skill Challenge to gain some directions from the Gremlins.

    In any case, the Fated will have to begin the Ongoing Challenge over again, but with a + to their flips if they managed to talk the village Gremlins into giving them directions to the Distillery.

    After each Duration, have the Fated encounter one of the following events:

    Catfishing: As the Fated slowly make their way through the swamp, they catch sight of two Gremlins alongside the riverbank, about fifteen yards to their right. One is wearing pants and a large work boot like a hat, and the other has on just a dirty shirt. There are fishing poles in their hands (theyre trying to catch some catfish), and they give the Fated wary looks as they drift past. If hailed by the Fated, they make rude gestures in return.

    I Think I Just Lost A Bet: A snorting squeal draws the attention of the Fated to a small, floating piglet. A stick of dynamite has been shoved up its bottom, and its body is bloated, hinting at the gasses that have built up inside of it. Its tiny feet wiggle helplessly as it slowly drifts towards the Fateds boat, and the only thing that makes the scene less humorous is the burning fuse thats trailing behind it. The stuffed piglet was sent after the Fated by a Gremlin Taxidermist, who is hiding behind a nearby tree and waiting for the boom (TN 9 Notice).

    The Fated have one round to shoot the stuffed pig down (Df/Wp 4 (7), 4 Wounds), which might be difficult if nobody has their weapons drawn when it appears. If they succeed, it explodes in a squeal of falling bacon, making a tremendous boom that rocks the boat. If the stuffed pig isnt killed, it floats closer and explodes as the fuse runs out, dealing 3 damage to everyone in the boat (who must all pass TN 10 Acrobatics Challenges or fall into the water). The boat remains intact its pretty sturdy but it will develop a few minor leaks that will require one of the Fated to bail water from it every so often.

    The Taxidermist will peek out after the explosion, but will run off after realizing that his pig-bomb didnt sink the boat and kill the Fated.

    Cant Stop the Buzzing: The Bayou grows thicker around the Fated as they continue towards the distillery. Have the Fated make TN 9 Notice Challenges. On a success, they hear buzzing sounds and look up just as three Skeeters come swooping down from the canopy to get some fresh blood. Those who fail this Challenge are caught off guard and are considered to be Slow in the first round of combat.

    The Skeeters are essentially just giant mosquitos, each about the size of a full-grown man with wide, buzzing wings. Theyll swoop down onto the boat and try to latch onto the Fated; once attached, theyll shove their proboscises into their chests and start to feed.

    The outer edges of the Bayou are dominated by mangroves, but there are a few scattered cypress and pines trees looming over their small islands of solid ground. Everything is draped with green moss, and the air is humid and tinged with an unpleasant odor. The insects are soon a constant annoyance, and some of the mosquitoes are almost as large as your thumb. As you paddle forward through the brackish water, you occasionally see a few ripples caused by something moving beneath the surface.

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    Scene 2: The Gremlin DiStillery

    When the Fated reach the Gremlin Distillery, read the following text to them:

    When the Gremlins notice the Fated approaching, theyll drop what theyre doing and rush over to greet them. Of course, this now means that the pigs are unattended; feel free to describe various acts of pig-related chaos behind the Gremlins as they speak with the Fated (such as the pigs trying to eat casks of moonshine as large as they are or coughing up something interesting, blinking at it in surprise, and then eating it again).

    There are three Gremlins at this distillery: Shelby Rae, Ginny Lou, and Biter. Theyre easily excited, high-strung and more than a little bit drunk. Read the following text to the Fated once they dock at the distillery:

    As you turn the bend around a large bank of cattails, the Gremlin distillery comes into view! Its a ramshackle hut perched atop a dozen poles that barely manage to keep it swollen planks above the waters surface. Vines and moss are draped across its roof, and its porch stretches out into a long dock. Some of the nearby trees to

    the left of the hut have been knocked down in a clear path of destruction; it looks as if something massive recently stampeded through the area.

    There are three Gremlins outside on the dock, wrestling with a belligerent pig. The pig is nearly as large as a man, and the Gremlins seem to be doing their best to get two kegs strapped onto its sides. Another pig stands nearby, its legs shaking beneath the heavy casks that have been strapped to its body.

    Howdy thar! The three Gremlins flash friendly almost too friendly grins at you as you pull your boat up to their dock. The one that spoke is wearing a bowler hat and tattered blue jeans, while the female at his side is draped in a dirty white shirt that drags behind her on the ground. The third gremlin is naked, save for a lobster trap which he seems to have gotten stuck over top of his head.

    The Gremlin in the bowler attempts an elaborate bow, almost losing his hat in the process. Ahm Shelby Rae, and this heres Ginny Lou. He motions to the Gremlin in the large shirt, who curtseys in a polite manner. Neither pays attention to the third gremlin, who seems preoccupied with trying to chew his way out of the trap on his head. You here for the shine? Cause we was just getting ready to bring it to you hummies, sure as stink on a Silurid. The female Gremlin nods in emphatic agreement.

    SkeeterS

    Might2

    Grace3

    Speed5

    Resilience0

    Charm-5

    Intellect-4

    Cunning-3

    Tenacity1

    Peon (4), Living

    Defense7 (11)

    Walk7

    Height2

    Initiative6 (10)

    Willpower3 (7)

    Charge9

    Wounds4

    Skills: Martial Arts 1, Notice 1

    Talents:Cant Stop the Buzzing!: This character gains + to disengaging strikes.

    Flight: This character is immune to falling damage and may ignore any terrain or other characters while moving.

    (1) Proboscis (Martial Arts) AV: 6(9) ========= Rg: y1 ======= Resist: Df Target suffers 1/1/2 damage. X Sluuuurp!: When damaging, deal +1 damage, then this character heals 1 damage.

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    The Gremlins only have around half of the moonshine that they had agreed to deliver to Pierre, and theyll happily turn over that portion in exchange for the ammunition Pierre sent as payment. The Fated can attempt TN 9 Scrutiny Challenges to get the feeling that the Gremlins are a bit too eager to make the trade. If they press the matter, a TN 9 Bewitch or Intimidate Challenge will eventually get the Gremlins to reveal that they only have half the whiskey, and that the other half sort of walked off into the Bayou.

    Read the following text to the players if they ask about the rest of the moonshine:

    The pigs arent as good at wading through the Bayou as the Golem was, so the Gremlins are eager to get their Whiskey Golem back. If the Fated are actually

    interested in marrying a Gremlin (for some reason), Shelby Rae is serious with his offer, though the Fated are unlikely to be invited to many social gatherings back in Malifaux City once word gets out. Most likely, the Gremlins will end up cutting the Fated in on their next batch of moonshine. They could sell this to Arcadia for a tidy profit (around 40 scrip), or even go into business for themselves (though thats likely to make an enemy of Arcadia).

    If the Fated agree, Shelby Rae will inform them that the Whiskey Golem answers to the name of Woodford, and that he should follow them back just fine. He does not ask or care about what happened to Bubba (Shelby Rae never liked him much anyways).

    Of course, the Fated could just cut their losses and return with the moonshine the Gremlins do have to Pierre, in which case hell either be annoyed but happy to at least have some of the moonshine (if the Fated only paid for the half they received), or quite upset (if the Fated paid for the full shipment and only came back with half). If they overpaid, hell try to talk the Fated into going back to the distillery (at night; increase the TN of the Ongoing Challenge by +2, and when the Fated arrive at the Distillery, the Gremlins have all departed with their ammunition, never to return).

    Scene 3: An Angry Drunk

    The path of destruction left behind by Bubba and the Whiskey Golem isnt too difficult to follow; the Fated can float their boat right down the trail without having to make any checks to stay on course. Read the follow text to the players as they depart:

    Shelby Rae rubs the back of his bald, green head. Ahh ysee, bout that

    The Gremlin wearing the lobster trap raises his hands up in the air. KING OF DA BAYOU! he shouts, drawing winces from the other two. Shelby motions to the female, and she grabs onto the trap and starts dragging it and the attached Gremlin away from you.

    Sorry bout him, Shelby Rae says, spreading his hands out in a what can you do? gesture. That side of the familys a bit pig-loco. Same thing that happened to Bubbahe got a bit too deep into the shine and rode our Whiskey Golem off inta the Bayou. He motions to the path of destruction leading away from the hut. It was half full of shine! We thought hed stumble on back, but aint nothing like that happened, so we tried to get the hogs to carry the shine, only they keep tryin to drink it, and dont like all the weight and

    Shelby Rae bites his green lip, then takes off his hat and holds it in front of him as he looks up at you with big, watery eyes. Ifn you could reckon up enough courage to go track the Golem down and bring it back, wed be plenty grateful. My sisters of marryin age? He raises a questioning eyebrow. or we can just give ya some free moonshine from our next batch. Ifn ya dont fancy pretty ladies, that is.

    The path of destruction is surprisingly easy to follow the trees have been knocked down to either side, obstacles the Whiskey Golem cleared aside during its rampage.

    After about an hour of floating along the still water, you catch sight of what could only be the Whiskey Golem. Its nearly twice the size of a man and much wider, and seems to have been constructed entirely out of kegs and casks. Its buried hip-deep in the muck of the Bayou, and is struggling quite unsuccessfully to free itself. Moonshine is slowly leaking from small fractures in its kegs, and the entire area has the strong scent of alcohol lingering over it; youre pretty sure that you could get drunk just from drinking the swamp water around it.

  • 33

    The Whiskey Golem has been stuck in the mud for almost a week now, and its been slowly leaking its high-proof contents into the water the whole time. Its only down about a third of the half-batch it was initially loaded with, so theres still enough inside it to make unsticking it worthwhile. If the Fated can teleport it free of the mud, then thats the easy solution. Otherwise, getting it unstuck is handled with an Ongoing Challenge:

    Unstick a Whiskey Golem!

    Skills Allowed: Labor, LeadershipTarget Number: 9Duration: 5 minutesSuccess Requirement: 6Failure Requirement: 4

    Trying to unstick the Golem is hard work. Each time a character fails a Challenge made as part of this Ongoing Challenge, they gain the following Condition: Tired +1: This character suffers -1 to any duel involving a Physical Aspect. Lower the value of this Condition by 1 for every 30 minutes this character rests.

    If the Fated earn enough Success Requirements, they manage to free the Whiskey Golem. Assuming they call it by name (Woodward), itll trudge along behind them as they return to the Gremlins. Of course, the characters might just decide to bypass the Gremlins entirely and return to Edge Point with a new Whiskey Golem servant, which will no doubt earn them the ire of the Gremlins.

    If the Fated reach the Failure Requirement, however, theyll end up busting open the Whiskey Golem and getting showered with high-poof moonshine; each character will gain Poison +2 and will have the Dazed Condition for the next few hours. This effectively destroys the Whiskey Golem.

    In any case, after the first Duration passes, all of the noise will disturb a nearby resident: A very large, very drunk frog. It ate Bubba after the Whiskey Golem first got stuck in the muck, then ended up getting drunk as the moonshine pouring from the Whiskey Golem contaminated its home. Its near the end of a three-day bender by the time the Fated arrive, and its not happy.

    Read the following text to the players:

    The frog begins the fight about 8 yards from the nearest Fated, and fights to the death (its too drunk to care about things such as survival).

    Suddenly, a portion of the muck rises up to reveal a titanic frog, almost as large as a house! Its eyes are rolling in every which direction and its tongue hangs out of its open mouth. Youre not sure whats wrong with it at first, but then it belches and its rancid, alcohol-laden breath washes over you in a warm cloud. The giant frog is drunk!

    Worse yet, it appears to be an angry drunk