Verteidiger’s Revenge

Hugo Verteidiger, Mordheim’s former watch captain, is dying. 

It would seem that only Hugo’s exceptional constitution has kept the poison coursing through his veins from ending his life sooner. But those who best know the captain would correctly guess that the burning desire for revenge has kept him from stepping through Morr’s Gate.

A week or so before the Doom, Captain Verteidiger made a shocking discovery that many of Mordheim’s leading nobles, possibly including Count von Steinhardt himself, were secretly worshipping the gods of chaos. A staunch follower of Sigmar, Hugo confided his suspicions with his long time friend, Lector Michalleonus Krausmann (better known as Father Micha), who was originally skeptical. Hugo promised to obtain evidence.

Unfortunately Hugo was betrayed, seemingly by members of his own watch. Secretly arrested and poisoned, Captain Verteidiger would most likely have died in some secret dungeon were it not for the Doom. Hugo was being transferred to a discreet location when the comet hit the city. The strong walls of the prisoner’s wagon in which he was being transported protected Hugo from the blast that killed his captors, allowing the captain to escape.

In the days and weeks that followed Hugo has tried to regain his strength, but it is all he can do to keep from fully succumbing to the toxin within his body. Verteidiger does not know who to trust. Did Father Micha betray him? How many of the remaining watchmen are devoted to chaos? Who is this new noble, Faustus von Reikwald, and is he or isn’t he a cultist? Too many questions and Hugo has too little time. The captain needs to make something happen to get answers…

Verteidiger’s Revenge (Side Quest)

Warbands who get involved in this Side Quest have discovered evidence that Hugo Verteidiger is alive and/or clues to his whereabouts. As warbands uncover the story they come closer to finding the watch captain and learn what has happened to him.

Side Quest Objectives

The objectives to this side quest are the clues left by Captain Verteidiger within specific scenarios of Mayhem Chapters 2 through 5. How to obtain each objective is explained in the scenario it appears in. Remember to record completed objectives for Verteidiger’s Revenge in your End of Turn Data Sheet in the Active Side Quests-table.

Warbands need to complete at least 2 objectives in order to advance to the finale of the side quest.

  At the end of chapter 5 the two warbands with the most completed objectives discover Hugo’s location and proceed to the final special scenario, Save the Captain? which ends the side quest. If several warbands tie for this honor, the side quest’s finale can be played with up to 4 warbands. Should one warband have completed more objectives than any other, they automatically start Save the Captain? with an Estalian Assassin, Anna Montez, serving their warband. 

  If no warbands complete at least two objectives the side quest concludes with Captain Verteidiger dying in obscurity and no one earns any rewards.

Quest’s End

Once Save the Captain? has been played Captain Verteidiger has either been rescued from his poisoning or his last moments in the Old World are witnessed. The warband winning the scenario earns the Captain’s Return-reward if Hugo lives and the Stiletto’s Rise-reward if the captain dies. If only one warband completed 2 or more objectives by the end of chapter 5, the scenario is not played and the warband can choose whether or not to save Hugo Verteidiger.

Captain’s Return Reward

If Verteidiger is saved, he exposes Luigi Stiletto as both his would be assassin and a chaos cultist. Luigi and his coterie flee Brigandsburg, leaving control of the settlement to Diegoma Altriste. While the remaining watchmen beg Hugo to lead them again, the captain’s body is forever weakened from weeks of poisoning and malnutrition, while his spirit has been crushed by the fall of his beloved city. Hugo retires, but does remain in the region sharing his wisdom and helping to rebuild with the forlorn hope that Mordheim could one day rise to its former glory.

  The winning warband earns the gratitude of Captain Verteidiger, Lector Michalleonus Krausmann, and Diegoma Altriste. The warband earns the following rewards:

• 1 Loyalty point to Sigmar’s Haven.

• Combat Drilling

• Eye for Aptitude

• Optional MVP

Hugo promises to instruct your heroes in combat tactics. For the rest of the campaign, whenever your heroes earn an advance, you may choose to forgo the advance roll and select one of the following options instead:

Combat Drilling

• +1 WS

• Any Combat skill (even if the hero cannot normally take combat skills, Hugo is a phenomenal teacher!)

• The Parry Master skill

Parry Master (unique combat skill)

The hero is an expert at deflecting close combat attacks. The hero may use the parry rule with any weapon (excluding natural weapons and fists) as well as make a single parry attempt against each warrior attacking them in close combat. When using weapons with the parry special rule, this fighter can choose which successful hit roll to make a parry attempt against, not just the highest roll.

Eye for Aptitude

Hugo can spot a natural flair for combat when he sees it. While the Captain spends his time with your heroes, he does observe your henchmen. When making an advance roll for any henchmen group, if the roll would add +1 to a characteristic which has already advanced, you may automatically change the result to That Lad’s Got Talent, instead of re-rolling.

Optional MVP

Hugo’s story becomes recorded for posterity in an epic poem, The Invincible Captain, by troubadour Deva LaRoche, who mentions the name of the winning warband in his ode. If your campaign uses optional sources for Mayhem Victory Points, the warband earns 1 MVP. Record “The Invincible Captain” special MVP in your End of Turn Data Sheet in the Treasury & Assets Table.

Stiletto’s Rise Reward

Should Captain Verteidiger succumb to the poison, the suspicions over Luigi Stiletto’s involvement die with him. Stiletto strengthens his position within Brigandsburg by sponsoring a large funeral for “his beloved mentor” Hugo with full honours.

The winning warband earns the following rewards:

• 1 Loyalty point to Brigandsburg.

• 100 gold crowns either in cash or in weapons & armour* 

• A free hired sword†

* Rare weapons & armour will be at normal cost but no rarity roll need be made. Common weapons can be considered to cost half their value when purchased with this reward.

† Both the hiring fee and upkeep costs are automatically paid for until the hired sword dies or leaves your warband. If you are using the Mordheim Mercenary Market optional rules, you can wait to use this reward until a hired sword you want becomes available.