Von Klinkl's Terror - Necromantic Horror

A necromancer named Josef Von Klinkl created the entity which took his name.  Binding bones of a score of the dead with dark energies and his own lifeforce, Von Klinkl created a monstrosity that now haunts the ruined streets of the city he once made his home.

This is from Reaper - where it is called Night Spectre.  This is the metal version - but it seems you can get it these days also as part of the Bones range.

Thovak the Tall - Dwarf Treasure Hunter

Thovak was left on the doorstep of a poor human couple who lived in the foothills around Frugelholm Mountain.  The couple took the baby in, although they knew the child was not a human, they cared for it and loved it as if it were their own blood, naming him Thovak.

As he matured, it became clear why Thovak had been abandoned.  He was freakishly tall for a Dwarf.  He had a natural affinity for the trades of his ancestors; he grew up to be a miner alongside many of the human boys from his village.

Thovak heard of the ruin of Mordheim, and the possibility of making a fortune there with the mysterious 'wyrdstone'.  Wishing to repay his adoptive parents for their kindness, Thovak has travelled to the cursed city, selling his skills to any that will share their crowns with him.

This was a Reaper Miniatures mini I picked up ages ago to include in the Hireling Agency - apparently he's a 'Dwarven Miner Sgt'.  Sadly he's really not in keeping with the various classic Citadel/Marauder Dwarf minis I have so he got a backstory to explain his freakish (for a Dwarf) height.  I added a backpack to this mini (you can make out the butt of a pistol over his hat and part of the pack over his one shoulder) - I think this was a Citadel Dwarf Treasure Hunters backpack that I picked up on eBay.

Strongarm Steinkopf - Hired Muscle

A simple man with little in the way of ambition, Strongarm Steinkopf is a block of muscle motivated only by simple desires: gold, food, ale and a warm fire.  He has had many jobs over the years: caravan guard, circus entertainer, doorman to the Marienburg Merchant Guild, sergeant in the Wissenland free companies and many more.  What he lacks in intelligence he more than makes up for in strength and determination.

I also gave him a little tattoo on his unarmoured arm:

I got this along with a load of other metal Reaper minis (back before the Bones days) - he's not available in metal anymore it seems, but he can be found in the Bones range under the name Bandit Knocker. He was surprisingly enjoyable to paint - and I'm particularly happy with how his face has turned out!

Shadow - Thief and Assassin

A master thief and assassin, none know the true history of the woman known only as 'Shadow'.  She obscures her face with a tight-fitting mask of Eastern silk and seems to employ fighting styles from around the known world.  Some whisper she is an agent of the Dragon Emperor of Cathay, some swear that she is a young Elven noblewoman gone renegade, while others claim she is a member of a secret cult devoted to murder. The truth however remains a mystery…

This is a Reaper mini - where she goes by the name Lola, Overlords Solo.  I'm not too big a fan of the tactical roof bit, but it'll do.  

Sabrina Falke - Bounty Hunter

The nobles of the Empire will post bounties on individuals who have committed particularly dreadful crimes, you know, like murder, treason or stealing a pigeon from a baron’s land.  These bounties can be collected by those warriors brave enough and skilled enough to hunt down and capture (or kill) the wanted criminals.

One particularly feared bounty hunter is Sabrina Falke; her skill with her favoured crossbow is second to none and she grows ever more wealthy from capturing wanted murderers, rapists and thieves.  She has travelled to Mordheim where many of the mercenaries, sell-swords and hirelings have bounties – she hires her services out to Captains partially to keep a steady income and partially to provide her with assistance in taking in the criminals.

This is a Reaper Miniatures mini - where she goes by the name of Kyla, Bounty Hunter, sculpted by the legend Werner Klocke.  I really like the mini - I think she fits right at home in Mordheim; she's a no-nonsense type! I'm particularly happy with how her expression turned out (more by luck than judgement!).

Rodriguez the Black - Assassin

An assassin and manhunter of ill repute, Rodriguez hails from Bilbali in Estalia and is infamous for pursuing his quarries wherever it takes... he just wishes that this time it hadn't brought him to the accursed ruins of the Dark City.

This is a metal Reaper mini from when I ordered a load upon first finding that company all that time ago! He goes by the name Blackjack in their range.  I deliberately went for a very dark palette for the mini as befits the name I chose for him!

Olof - Border Princes Mercenary

The Border Princes are a near lawless place; a collection of ever-changing domains ruled over by a hundred different lords, princes and self appointed kings – they are a place where even those with a dark past can escape to begin again.

Olof was one such individual; a wanted criminal in the Empire, he fled to the Border Princes, selling his fighting skills for lords and patrons across the region. One such patron, a grasping merchant, sponsored an expedition to Mordheim – an expedition that was doomed from the start. Olof was sent along with a dozen other fighting men to the Cursed City – Olof was also the only one to survive the trip.

This is from Reaper Miniatures - where he goes by the name of Boris Mingla, Mercenary Warlord.

Nightmare - Fearsome Spirit

Long before the Comet's fall there was a local legend in Mordheim about a spirit made from all the dark dreams of the city that roamed the streets after midnight. Known simply as Nightmare, this spirit was said to be an ethereal cowled figure with a white skull leering out of a dark hood.

This terror of the night grows stronger every night – the survivors of Mordheim and the ragged inhabitants of the various shanty towns have nothing but fright-filled dreams; and these feed the old spirit.

Nightmare has been rumoured to have been encountered by some of the human mercenary warbands that are seeking their fortune in the ruins; he glides alongside the vampires and chaos cults as though he has made some dark pact.

This is a metal Reaper mini I picked up ages ago - in that range he is Railor, Necropolis Sergeant - or in teh plasticky Bones range, he is simply Ghost. I'm pretty pleased with how his 'manifesting' turned out in the paint job.

Die Mörderdame – Assassin

Since long before the comet fell, parents were using the name of Die Mörderdame to scare their children into obedience. Threats that Die Mörderdame would pay a visit to an unruly child were enough to tame all but the most stubborn youngster.

Thought by the adult population of Mordheim to be a myth, Die Mörderdame, or at least a female assassin claiming to be her, has recently appeared in the settlements that have sprung up around the Cursed City. Several high-profile individuals, including Udo from Marienburg and Reinhardt the Red, have been murdered, their bodies bearing wounds that could only be inflicted by one such as Die Mörderdame.

This is from Reaper Miniatures - where it is called Selthak Poisoner, Overlords Solo.

Magdalena - Mournful Spirit

A truly tragic spirit, Magdalena was a poor woman who eked a living in Mordheim as a vegetable seller. Although poor, she was happy and was due to marry her childhood sweetheart, Joachim – unfortunately fate had other plans for Magdalena and she died when the comet fell on Mordheim.

But Magdalena wasn't ready to leave the city – she couldn't leave until she knew Joachim was safe. She now latches onto the various warbands that fight in the ruins of her home and uses their energy to travel from place to place as she seeks her betrothed.

This is Kaena, Necropolis Solo from Reaper.  One of the random Reaper pick-ups I got years ago when I first returned to the hobby.

Dracula's America - An Unwelcome Guest and a couple of Hired Guns

I picked up the Old West Terrors Leader from Black Scorpion's Tombstone range to use as a Lost Soul Unwelcome Guest:

At the same time I picked up a Female Leader to use as the Hired Gun Belle Bridges/'Calamity', the Loa Spirit possessed gunslinger:

As with the other Black Scorpion minis I have these are really good quality!

Finally, it's possible to take a Renegade Bokor as a hired gun - well, I chanced upon the perfect Reaper mini to use - the Deadlands Noir Houngan:

Hopefully that'll scratch my itch to have a bit of New Orleans voodoo represented so I won't go and get a full Congregation posse!

Hauke the Vagabond - Rogue

A veteran of the murderous streets of Mordheim, Hauke has made a living out of cheating death amongst the ruins and the dangerous shanty-towns that surround them.

There are many tales surrounding the Vagabond, some say he fought off a Darksoul with only a roof tile, others say he routed a Skaven warband single-handedly. Only Hauke knows what the truth is, but he seems content to let the gossips further his legend – it is certainly good for business!

A random Reaper Miniatures pick up (Shad, Mercenaries Rogue) ages ago, I quite like his throwing knife pose.

Grigori the Grave-Robber - Necromancer

A twisted hunchback with a bitter outlook on life, Grigori was relegated to the most unpleasant and menial tasks in his village. He was regularly mocked in the street, frequently beaten and held in contempt and disgust by his fellow villagers. The only task he had that he enjoyed was to tend the village graveyard. He enjoyed his job a little too much, spending far longer than necessary with corpses both fresh and long-dead.

After a particularly vile scandal, Grigori was forced to flee his village and eventually he was taken in by a foul Necromancer as a lowly dogsbody. Grigori, who had never been given any form of education, absorbed his master’s knowledge like a sponge and one day, taking his trusty gravedigger’s shovel, beheaded the Necromancer. Grigori took his former master’s scrolls and texts and now travels the land, taking refuge and raising allies from the cemeteries and burial sites he encounters.

Grigori is a Reaper piece called Jos Gebbler, Mercenaries Mage.  I used Citadel plastic zombies to make his buddies.

Franzl Silberbart - Warlock

A feared figure amongst the settlements that surround Mordheim, Franzl is a bearded warlock of ill repute. Whispered rumours maintain that he trucks with daemons and fell spirits, although any who have pushed the issue have been left wracked by fits of agony.

His head is adorned by a horned skull of some strange beast and he carries an ornately carved staff, decorated with the likeness of some terrible serpent. He finds many potential employers in the Cursed City, but who knows who his true master is?

Franzl here is a Reaper Miniatures piece (metal, not Bones range version) called Leisynn, Mercenary Mage.  His little buddy is a spare Citadel Familiar I had knocking about. I'm pretty happy with how the book turned out.

Coffinsmasher - Ghast

Some Ghouls become larger, stronger and more fearsome than most of their kind – these Ghasts, as they are known, can sometimes be found leading feral packs of the flesheating degenerates.  One such Ghast known to have made Mordheim his home is Coffinsmasher, a brutal hulking beast that has claimed the local Garden of Morr as his territory.

He can sometimes be cowed by a powerful vampire long enough to lend his aid on the battlefield.

I picked up Maugramak, Ghast Hero from Reaper Miniatures as part of a random selection.  It's got a nice heft to it (being metal and all), and the tomb scenic base element is part of this single-piece mini.

The Bloodstalker - Vampire

A sinister agent of the Von Carstein family, the vampire swordsman known as The Bloodstalker works with the many warbands that have travelled from the dark province of Sylvania to further the Von Carstein cause.

The Bloodstalker moves with preternatural speed and dexterity and is a formidable opponent. He is as quick to turn to attack a vampire that he has deemed a disgrace to the Von Carsteins as he is the opposing warriors.

Another of those random Reaper Miniatures I picked up years ago - this one is Bloodseeker Vampire, Necropolis Solo. 

Baron Otto - Vengeful Spirit

Baron Otto was a nobleman who owned a parcel of land outside Mordheim, but spent his life within the walls of that ill-fated city. He was hated and feared by the common folk in his domain, he would have even the most minor crime punished with stocks, flogging or even hanging.

Eventually, in the days of panic that rose up in the first days after the Comet fell, he was cornered by a band of commoners from his domain – they beat him, stabbed him and set him on fire while he screamed in impotent rage.

Otto still remains in Mordheim – his utterly evil and vengeful spirit still lingers in that cursed city. He can sometimes be found alongside the nobles from Sylvania, the only individuals he classes as his equal.

I almost forgot that I'd picked up as many Reaper Miniatures as I did - this is Gauren, Necropolis Hero. After deciding on his backstory he almost painted himself!

Arsenio the Estalian - Pirate

A gentleman pirate and swashbuckler of renown, Arsenio was a first mate aboard the legendary Pearl of Magritta before he struck out on his own after an argument (and subsequent near-fatal duel) with his former Captain.

His attempts to save up for his own ship have so far met with little success and he now plies his trade across the Old World. Tales of the riches that can be made finding and selling the mysterious wyrdstone have attracted the Estalian to the Cursed City of Mordheim.

Another random Reaper Miniatures pickup, this is Rod Blackreef, Mercenaries Sergeant.  A fun and quick miniature to paint.

Lady Anastasia von Sylvania - Vampire

A beautiful young noblewoman from Sylvania, Anastasia, like the rest of the Sylvanian nobility, is a vampire. Although only relatively recently turned, Anastasia is seen as a rising star within the corrupt court of that dark province. She has been sent, at the behest of Vlad von Carstein himself, to Mordheim. There she monitors the activities of the other vampires.

She sells her services to both fellow Vampires and Mercenary Captains; her unnatural beauty sealing the deal as much as her skills on the battlefield.

I found the Reaper Miniatures Naomi, Necropolis Mage along with a few other random miniatures and thought it would fit in nicely to the Hireling Agency. Tried for an Aleera from Van Helsing vibe with the paint job on this one.

The Abhorrent Creation - Grave Golem

Born from a particularly foul blend of necromancy and geomancy, the Abhorrent Creation is formed from innumerable graves; headstones, earth and bones fused together into a nightmarish giant.

The dark sorcerer who originally crafted the Abhorrent Creation is long gone, either dead or fled the Dark City. But still the Creation shambles through the streets, instinctively drawn to those who wield the necromantic arts.

I picked up the Reaper Miniatures Grave Horror, Necropolis Monster on a whim ages ago.  He'll be a tough NPC for a special scenario (Cleanse the Garden of Morr perhaps?) or monstrous hireling for the Sylvanians.