‘Ill Met In Mordheim’ – Robert Waters (from ‘Tales of the Old World’ – Black Library)

 


Page Count: 42 Pages

I’ve had a good run, finishing full length novels, but I think it’s time to take a little breather and make this week all about short stories instead. I’m pushed for time at the moment, and I have plenty of anthologies to choose from. Lets see where the journey takes me.

Well, the first stop is pretty obvious, not only because you’ve already read the title but also because ‘Warhammer’ has become a real ‘go to’ for me these days, the Old World most of all. I’ve travelled a fair way through the Old World but I’ve never made it to the outskirts of Mordheim, let alone behind its walls. That changed last night though with a tale of friendships lost and found, a horde of rat-men and possibly the best dog ever…

Captain Heinrich Gogol is a man on a mission, a mission that will take him into the cursed heart of Mordheim to locate the Heart of Sigmar. The only problem is that the Skaven already have the Heart and they’re not interested in giving it up. And who is the mysterious Estalian Captain, Bernardo Rojas? Can he be trusted, can anyone be trusted in Mordheim…?

‘Ill Met In Mordheim’, ‘Ill Met In…’ Yep, certain ‘Sword & Sorcery’ influences are worn very proudly here, both in the title and how the plot plays out. ‘Ill Met In Mordheim’ makes no apologies for what it is and you know what? I’m cool with that. These days, I’m more than happy to give these kind of tales a little leeway, as long as they deliver. So, you’re asking, does ‘Ill Met In Mordheim’ deliver…?

‘Ill Met In Mordheim’ doesn’t have the same air of humour to it, as its muse, but was still a lot of fun to sit with and follow. And after the day I had yesterday, that was all I wanted really so I was more than happy with what I got. ‘Ill Met’ makes great use of its setting to deliver a tale that is creepy in all the right places and explodes into action at the drop of a hat. A couple of slightly awkward phrases made me wonder if the campaign had been played out, on the table top, before being committed to the page but again, I was happy to give it the benefit of the doubt. Because that’s the thing, ‘Ill Met In Mordheim’ has so much heart and energy in its plot that I was just picked up and carried along. At its heart, ‘Ill Met’ is pure ‘Sword & Sorcery’ that really captures the kind of warfare that takes place away from the battlefields. Life is tough and when you’re trying to make some honest coin in the city of Mordheim… Well, Waters has a great time showing the reader just how tough life can be.

And I finally got to visit Mordheim. That’s another city I can tick off my ‘Reading Tour of the Old World’ :o) Waters paints an appropriately gloomy and dark picture of a city long dead (but somehow, still watching you…) and I was right there for the atmosphere. That and the slowly developing friendship between Gogol and Rojas (just like another ‘Ill Met In…’ but with its own character).

Warhammer Fantasy has room for many types of story, to be told, and ‘Ill Met In Mordheim’ is a great example of what a hint of ‘Sword & Sorcery’ can bring to the table. A sweet little slice of action and horror, I really need to pick up ‘Tales of the Old World’ more often.

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