Mini Malifaux League - Week 1

This is what I can remember from the game it may have gone on an extra turn but because I didn't take notes thsi is from memory. Sorry I neglected to take any photos of this game, however I found it to be pretty humorous so ...

Scenario: Break The Seals Story Based Encounter

Three columns are set up across the center line. One player has to destroy the columns the other must defend them. 40 Soul Stone Scrap. 

My List:
Kirai
5 Seshin
Spirit of Lost Love
SnowStorm
Datsue-Ba
Ghaki
Onryo

Opponent:
Vicktorias
VonSchill
Trapper
Librarian
Ronin
Student of Conflict

Turn 1
He shot at the objective column with a trapper. 

Snowstorm moved everything toward his side of the board, cast Ice Pillars blocking his view of the column.

He moves Vonschill up and shoots at the Ice Pillars.

I move a Seshin up.

He companions the Vickorias with a totem and moves them forward (they're on the opposite side of the board)

I move up a Seshin.

His ronin runs up

I move a Seshin

His librarian moves up.

At this point he's done activating so I activate Kirai: Spirit World to the front Seshin. Summon Ikiryo (in melee with Vonschill). Absorb Spirit a Seshin. Evolve Spirit the other two Seshin to summon a Shikome and Uncontrolled Crying.

Ikiryo activates and beats Vonschill down to 2 wounds.

Shikome activates and Nimbles up to beat Vonschill (he burns through his stones with Slow to Die heals, last one is the Black Joker)

Rest of my stuff moves up.

Turn 2
He gets initiative and runs the Vicktorias up and does some other funky stuff to get the sword Vick next to Kirai. He attacks a Seishin and kills it. Goes after Kirai loses the pitiful duel and I get the trigger to wound him. Gets through with the last action and she dies (Easy Button Lost Love saves her).

Kirai actives and Chill of Death on Sword Vick (carries to gun Vick). Heals up, and Swirling Spirits to put Ikyrio in base with Sword Vick. 

He does something with the Librarian.

Ikyrio activates and kills Sword Vick with 2 swings. Moves toward Gun Vick. Opponent conceeds the game.

Metro Malifaux League Week 5

Seamus gets Spiritual

by Josh Powers [jmp_mydog]

“Bloody Hell, these were new boots,” Seamus exclaimed as he trudged through the swampy bog. Reflecting on the events that put him here. 

During the last his last visit to Nicodem’s new Observatory, the undertaker’s newest pupil shared the secrets of bending the wills of spirits to follow the orders of a master. At first the hatter scoffed at the idea, but after seeing them in action he reluctantly conceded their usefulness. With Molly and Sybil running another errand he brought some of the restless spirits with him for this errand.

The hissing and screeching of the harpies abruptly jarred him from his thoughts. The gardener called these creatures Shikome. Apparently they’re soul hunters, and for this little mission they should be most useful. Flocking around them were several bat-like apparitions, commonly referred to as Night Terrors, these particular beasts seem to have an affinity for the Shikome.

“Well now my sweets, that blind whore is out here somewhere. I need you to track her down and do your worst.” The beauty of these spirits is while they suck the life from their victims they leave the body unscathed, making resurrection last a bit longer.

With a screech the Shikome and Terrors launched into the air scanning the swamp for signs of their prey. The hatter trudged off through the bog keeping an eye to the sky for a sign they’ve found his nemesis. Silently following behind was a hungry ghost, these Gaki are drawn to the living hoping to feast upon their flesh. 

As he burst into a clearing, gunshots rang out. The Terrors had found some prey. Getting a better look, it appeared they had scared one of the Ortegas from his hiding place. Suddenly a crash a hiss of steam burst from the underbrush...a peacekeeper. “Isn’t this just my luck, since when do they send that mechanical beastie out in the swamp. Well I guess that’s my que.” and he ducked back behind a ramshackle structure. 

A vengeful spirit, draw to the energy manifested appeared and lashed out at the construct. It’s ghostly claws tearing rents into the side of its carapace. The constructs massive arms lashed out and briefly disrupted the Onryo’s hold on this world. With a shriek it vanished passing through the body of Samuel Hopkins, as he stepped out from behind another shed. 

“It seems I must do everything myself,” Seamus sighed as he cocked the hammer of his .50 cal, and unloaded into the construct. The massive boom of the hand cannon was shortly followed by a larger explosion as the boiler tanks ruptured and the Peacekeeper collapsed into the bog. Giggling hysterically the hatter then turned his attention to the squawking harpies, who were swooping and diving behind the shed Hopkins just stumble from.

“Excellent, my sweets. That’s right let’s end this whore once and for all. What the hell...?” Seamus exclaimed as a giant bird tore into his shoulder. Crouching down the hatter scanned the area to see where the flying vermin came from. A rustle in the underbrush gave away the unseen assailants position. “Well now no need to be hiding their, Bukko. Come out an play nice.” Reloading his flintlock Seamus closed the distance between himself and the cowardly bushwhacker. 

A shot rang out, knocking Seamus’ hat from his head. “I don’t have time for this, why don’t you go away.” he ordered, firing his hand cannon in the direction of the shot. Santiago collapsed as his shoulder exploded in a shower of gore. Unseen from the shadows the Gaki leapt onto the wounded gunfighter and began to gorge.

Behind the shed, Lady Justice is swarmed by the vicious harpies. She swings here sword and tries valiantly to dispatch the apparitions, but her efforts are for not. The poisonous claws rake her face and tear at her body. Through shear brute force she is able to sever the ties that hold one of the soul-hunters to this world, but the poison takes it’s toll and the other beast is able to bring her down. Silently she collapses into the murky water.

“Well now, what have we here. Looks like the gardener might be onto something. Shoo now, I need the body, she going to make quiet the beautiful flower, yes ... yes she will.” Wiping the Austringers blood from his hands he gathered up the still warm corpse of the sword mistress and headed back to the city proper.

Metro Malifaux League Week 4 (part 3)

Raiding the Lab

By Jonathan Mann [shortmann]

Rasputina was gone, my supplies untouched, my army decimated, but still partially intact…I just had to bring them back again.  I made my way back to the lab to check up on Dr. McMourning’s work, and deliver the supplies and corpses we’d salvaged in previous battles.  When we rounded the corner, Mortimer got the feeling something wasn’t right, and I shared that sentiment.  I sent my vulture out to investigate, and the last thing I saw through his eyes was the Ortega clan coming around the corner.  It would seem the Guild found our base of operations.  This….this would be a problem.

Perdita and her family were about to rush our lab when we arrived.  And I don’t think McMourning had any clue what was waiting outside, looks like it was time to defend our home turf.  My numbers low, my vulture killed while scouting, this was not going to be an easy battle, but I had to buy McMourning time to gather forces and flush the guild out, or at least give them a chance to relocate.

 After my previous battle, I found a new minion, someone hanged by the guild as an example to all that would oppose them, and this seemed like a good opportunity to test her worth against those that sent her to her fate.  Mortimer and the Samurai led the charge, and I sent a Necropunk off to the side to recover an arcane tome inside to increase our control over fate.

Unfortunatley, we were pinned down in that alley, and we could barely advance.  Perdita and the Ortega’s were cruel and organized.  As I sent one minion out to stop their advances, they quickly sealed it’s fate before I could call forth another to assist him.  Then the came after me.  It didn’t long for me and my army to call a retreat under their fire.  They had superior cover, and the thin tunnels and alleys were perfect terrain for them to pick us off before we could do anything against them.  I gave the signal for the retreat, but not before big Papa Loco decided to come crashing in on us dynamite in hand and insanity in his eyes.  He cleaned up the rest of my army, leaving me with no choice but to leave whatever had survived the blast to fend for themselves as I escaped.

I just hope I bought McMourning enough time to prepare a counter offensive.

Retaliation

By Jonathan Mann [shortmann]

After a crippling defeat at the hands of The Guild, Mortimer and I hid in a nearby abandoned building.  We had to recover our losses.  Many numbers needed to be replenished after The Guild defeated us, and that would take time.  As I began replenishing our numbers, a familiar aura began to permeate the air.  It was the Neverborn.  More specifically, it was Lilith.  She’d found us yet again, and she had a grudge to settle.

With a new Vulture at my side, and the spirit of The Hanged back and eager to inflict terror on the terrifying denizens of Malifaux, we began yet another battle.  It’s true what they say, “there ain’t no rest for the wicked,” and when you live with living corpses, you don’t come much more wicked.  Our supplies needed to be protected again, they had to make it back to our home base.

As usual Lilith wasted no time in covering ground and getting her wretched Nephilim deep onto our side of the battlefield.  But she was not prepared for the trap I had laid for her.  A Bell in one corner, and the Hanged in another, with everyone else coming up the middle to set the trap.

The first Nephelim stupid enough to charge me was soon crippled deeply by The Hanged, lower his will greatly…enough for my bell to pull him off.  This ping-pong would happen for the rest of the battle, and this Neph would be my goal.  If he had the balls to charge forward, then he was trying to prove something to his master.  I would take his head as a trophy and prove his master’s strongest was worthless.

With the Bell and The Hanged teasing the first Nephelim that reared it’s head, Lilith and her Terror Tots came charging forward and surrounded my forces….exactly as I planned for them.  The Hanged let out a shriek that pierced the sky, shocking even me and my own minions.  It caused enough chaos that some of her Nephelim had to retreat and recover from the fear it had induced.  Giving me an open shot at a very unprotected Lilith who watched in awe as her big, strong, fearless creatures of nightmare ran at the site of a little ghost.

With one Nephelim trying to take out the spirit that caused it so much anguish, the other one came straight for me…forgetting the bell lurking around the corner able to lure it out of my range.  This would happen at least 3 times much to my satisfaction.  Meanwhile the great brood mother herself was surrounded by my Samurai Punk Zombies, who carved her up with little resistance.

With Lilith out of the way once more, I set my sights on protecting our supplies, only to realize that Lilith herself had a caravan attempting to make it by.  I couldn’t have that now could I?  I made short work of it, which apparently enraged her mighty Protégé.  He charged forth, from where he was safely hiding from the big scary ghost and destroyed my caravan.  He should have stayed hidden, for he had a sword wielding zombie, a seductive bell, and a minefield of mindless zombies to cross to get to safety.  Something that lucky for me did not happen.

My lone Punk Zombie charge him, harming him considerably, but also hurting himself.  Nearly dead, it sought to recover for a second strike, when I commanded a nearby mindless zombie to charge the mighty Nephelim.  His attack succeeded, harming the Nephelim with but a scratch, which with the viscious black blood killed off the wounded Punk Zombie nearby.  With it’s (un)dying breath, he made a very mighty strike, casting down the great Nephelim.

The last of Lilith’s forces saw his great brother fall, and retreated from battle.  Our supplies were gone…but so were Lilith’s, and we had made a great ally out of The Hanged.  I’m sure Lilith would recover and come for me again, but I would be ready for her. 

Metro Malifaux League (part 2)

Slummin' It

An Excerpt from the war journals of Nino Ortega [by Aaron "Squidguy"]

Got another fun story for you, my brothers and sisters. Now, me and the Guild have a fairly uncomplicated relationship. I kill hordes of neverborn, and they keep my bills paid. That's as far as it goes. But every now and then, following orders can get you into a mess of trouble.

The Governor General sent orders to cousin Perdita to investigate rumors of a soulstone vein that had erupted somewhere in the slums."

Soulstones! Great! Not like we don't already have thousands of those, right? Whatever, long as I get to shoot somethin.' 'Course, this didn't sit well with 'Dita. She's a classy girl, y'know, the slums don't really suit her, and the last thing she wanted to do was waste a nice afternoon hauling soulstones up out of some rank pit. But orders are orders, right? Whatever keeps food on the table.

The fragrant Malifaux slums. At least the property taxes are reasonable!

So we head out into the slums, Sam and 'Dita out front, austringers in a flanking position, executioner taking up the rear as usual. I spot a prime sniping position so I climb up there to check out the situation. Let me tell you, the view of the Malifaux slums ain't any better from on high. In no time at all I spot the soulstone vein and motion for Perdita and Samael to get into position. Out of nowhere I hear this growling noise, so naturally I'm thinking' maybe the executioner skipped breakfast or something. Only suddenly the noise is comin' from all around me, right?

It's too bad that daguerreotypes can't capture the full extent of how awesome I am.

BOOM! Outta nowhere, the place is suddenly swarmin' with Neverborn! Now things are getting interesting. The little pink ones and the big leathery ones are running rampant throughout the alleyway and all of the sudden I caught a glimpse of the queen mother herself in the distance. I won't lie, brothers and sisters, my blood ran cold.

Now, Samael Hopkins is a legendary guy, I mean, he's fearless, right? I see him charge up into the fray, guns blazing, only suddenly this creepy little critter, looks like a fat little cherub or something, looks at him, its eyes go all crazy, and all of a sudden Sam gets this thousand-yard stare like he don't wanna fight no more. I shout at him to get his act together but outta nowhere POW, one of the big winged bastards plows into him like a locomotive, just knocks him off his feet. That was the last I saw of him and the shock made me sick to my stomach.

Watching Sam's back was supposed to be the executioner's job. He's lucky Lilith ended him before the Governor General found out he left our best man to the nephilim.

So at this point 'Dita is pissed off like an ornery razorspine and seeking to even the score so she ducks out from behind a corner and paints the sidewalk with the cherub critter's brains. Hell hath no fury, I tell ya. The last I saw of her from my vantage point was her diving down a dark alleyway. There were a buncha screaming and roaring and in the light of the muzzle flash I saw dark shadows of huge winged beasts projected on the alley walls. I can only imagine what went on in that alleyway but I tell you one thing, no neverborn came away from that fight unscathed.

Unfortunately with 'Dita and Sam outta commission we had to rely on our austringers to keep the 'born pinned. Now, you laugh all you want about the idea of a grown man using a pretty little bird 'stead of a rifle to fight off the hordes of the damned, but I tell you what, those boys can do a helluva job. So all the sudden this huge nephilim staggers out of the alleyway, got near a dozen bulletholes in 'im all thanks to 'Dita, and there's this angry shriek, right? I barely have time to look up and this screaming falcon drops outta t'heavens, hits the nephilim in the throat like a hatchet dropped from a zeppelin. Hell of a thing, seeing a godless beast like that felled by a critter a tenth his size.

It seemed like we had the upper hand, but it wasn't long before the tables got turned on us. We was sent out on a turf raid, but we walked into a slaughter. So I'm up in my perch, keeping the heat off my comrades-in-arms, poppin' neverborn heads like cherry tomatoes, when all the sudden you-know-who just… appeared in the midst of the battle. Just like the legends say, kids! I'm not joking! She cut down our best executioner like he was made of dry kindling and sent our austringers into hiding. So my heart's in my throat and I'm dripping with sweat but my aim is true and her head is in my sights… Lilith looks RIGHT at me…

…and suddenly I'm not up in my nice little perch anymore. I'm lying on the ground, flat on my back, looking up at her, like she pulled me outta the sky just by thinking about it. I tell y'all I ain't never been with no neverborn chick before and I ain't intend on startin', but when she gets you into an uncompromising position like that using only the power of her mind, well, it does funny things to yours. Wish I could tell you more, friends, but that's the last thing I can remember before I was put outta commission. The austringers picked off the remains of her crew, but not before she grabbed a whole bunch of soulstones and fled. As for me, well, I guess they found me in a hell of a state, all crumpled up and bloodied in a waste bin. Not a dignified way to go, I guess, but who else do you know who has the huevos to face up to Lilith herself and live to tell 'bout it?

So in the end I guess we'd have to consider it a stalemate. Dita and I are holed up in this hospital on one HELL of a laudanum drip, and the doctor says she'll wake up any day now. I know we're both anxious to get back to Latigo for some of abuela's home cooking. In the meantime, I guess the governor is real keen on recovering Samael's body and sending more raid crews into the slums to secure the soulstone vein. I hope for their sake it's worth it. Me, I'll be fine as soon as they let me out of this damned body cast.

Until next time kids!

-Nino Ortega

Metro Malifaux League Week 4

The DISCOVERY 

By B. Ellsworth [paperbagfox]

The trees were whipping past Lilith’s face as she ran through the forest trying to get as far away from the streets of Malifaux as possible. After the close encounters that took place during the night before, Lilith was in no mood to push their luck more then needed. But the ugly truth about Malifaux is that no matter what there is always something or someone out there that is looking for a fight. There was strange feeling that came over Lilith, and the feeling was the type of sensation that today would prove to be the same. Not looking forward to finding out what exactly brought on the feeling, Lilith pushed on through the trees. 

As Lilith ventured on through the forest a glimmer caught her eye off in the distance. Curiosity got the better of her as Lilith and her minions set a new course toward the flicker of light in the brush of the woods. As Lilith and her followers got closer to their new destination, a sudden noise on their side made them come to an abrupt stop. Feeling like they were on the verge of a trap, Lilith and her crew fanned out in order to not allow the unknown attackers easy pray. And then in a small opening just on the other side of the source of the distraction appeared Kaeris, the new henchman for the Arcanists. Lilith’s eyes widened as Kaeris ignited a flame and sent the burst in the direction of both Lilith and the mature Nephilim. 

Lilith was able to dive out of the path of the flame just in time. Hitting the ground Lilith turned to watch the mature get hit in the chest with the burst. The mature quickly put out the fire that ignited on his clothing and to assess the damage from the attack. Now knowing what group is involved in the attack, Lilith got to her feet and prepared herself for the battle that was about to begin. Sensing Kaeris was taking aim on him again, the mature took flight through the trees to where Kaeris could not see him. 

Having seen the attack on the mature, the young Nephilim wanted to take matters into his own claws and show both Lilith and the mature that he can carry his own weight. Gauging where the flame burst came from, the young charged head strong into battle. The young was able to land two strikes on Kaeris, but was unable to bring down the filthy fire breather. As soon as the second blow landed on the scum, there was reselling came from the shrubs near by. The reselling can from a group of steampunk arachnids rushing toward the fight. Once they reached the battle the little arachnids latched onto the young and started ripping him apart. 

Black blood was flying everywhere, landing on the arachnids as well as Kaeris. Kaeris already being weakened from the young was not able to withstand the power of the young’s blood and fell lifeless to the ground. Lilith seeing this take place hurried to aid the young but was not fast enough to help her baby. The pain in Lilith’s chest grew with every step toward the pack of arachnids that by the time she reached them the lust for revenge was too strong. One swing of the greatsword sent one arachnid smashing into a nearby tree, followed by a downward strike splitting another in half. The last arachnid tried to attach itself to Lilith but was set off into the vast forest by a swing from the greatsword. 

The mature was watching as Lilith dismantled the swarm of arachnids like little play toys; when movement near Lilith drew the attention form the perched Nephilim. Paying close attention to the area where the movement came from, the Nephilim watched as two guns raised and took aim at Lilith. Fearing for his mother the mature dove to attack the unknown gunman. To his surprise the gunman turned out to be the Convict Gunslinger and started to tear into the coward. The Convict was an easy treat for the mature to sharpen his claws on. With his limbs flying the mature could sense pride coming from Lilith behind him. 

Lilith turned back to the original source of their distraction and started to walk to the brush where the glow was coming from. Using her greatsword to pull back the brush find out what was so important to the Arcanists. The source of the glow was non other then a soul stone vein that looked like it would be able to provide power for an extensive amount of time. Sensing the potential power that the vein could produce, Lilith stated to mine the vein for all its worth. While she was gathering the stones, Lilith could hear noise coming from behind her, the sound was that of breaking wood. Lilith noticed a large wagon wheel go flying through the trees and knew that the scum were near. 

Feeling the urge to get out of the woods as soon as she can, Lilith grabbed the newly gathered soul stones and called out to her loves. Sensing the minions heard her Lilith stated moving out of the forest with her crew in toe. Once she made it to a clearing, Lilith turned to allow her loves to catch up and form a new plan. To her surprise the only followers to make it to the clearing was the Doppelganger and two tots. With a heavy heart Lilith forged on with the soul stones slung over her back and the diminished crew in line, hoping that there would not be any more surprises in the future for her and her crew … 

… TO BE CONTINUED