Grathrul

Beastman

By Luke Fisher

Heinrich stared out into the night. There was a distinct chill in the air, and it was getting colder. Heinrich bent over the fire, poking it to stir the flames. Jacq watched the darkness creep upon the camp, the only source of light being the moon and fire. But the moon did not penetrate the forest. The rest of the patrol was asleep or on guard duty. Sounds could be heard, not human. Heinrich and Jacq woke the rest of the patrol, and silently nodded to them to brace themselves. Up ahead, Garthang and his herd were moving closer to the camp, seconds away, and then the flesh would be his.

Heinrich and Jacq, two of the most experienced veterans of the patrol, knew the dangers that lay before them. There was still some time before the enemy struck, so preparations were prepared. Heinrich decided to try and get a quick nap in before they had to fight for the Emperor, and the holy Sigmar. As Heinrich drifted off in two his sleep, he thought back to the day he became part of the Empire, and met with Jacq. It was a glorious day, and all too soon he found out that it was either kill or be killed. It was the day of initiation, where It was up to the captains to decide who was fit to join, or not. Heinrich felt a bit nervous, because he had messed up on the patrol ground, and had gotten into trouble with the captains. It was to be the first battle Heinrich had to fight in. They would be fighting against some, from what the reports had said, Beastmen. They supposedly worshipped the Lord Of Change, which to speak of in the Empire, was blasphemy against the Emperor and Sigmar. It was only a small force of Beastmen, who had been pillaging some villages along the border. As they left the town, Heinrich felt a bit better. If, he could prove himself in this battle, he may just win back the favour of the captains. Night soon crept in, and the patrol stopped. Heinrich was put on sentry duty, and that was a punishment. The attack came as a surprise, which completely took the patrol by surprise. Heinrich quickly found himself in the thick of the fray, shocked that he was killing, and people whom he saw as friends, dieing. Wham! He felt something hit the side of his head, and he realised that this was the end. Everything was fading, darkness clouding his vision. He saw the beastman standing over him, ready to kill him for good. Then the beastman was gone, the darkness fading, and a figure, with a grim smile on his face, pulled him to his feet. “My names Jacq, I think your name is Heinrich, right?” “Yes, that is my name. Thanks for saving me back there.” “No problem, but let’s get back to the battle shall we?” So as Heinrich and his new friend Jacq, went back into the battle, they got split up. The lead captain was under attack by the leader of the beastmen, who was larger, and attacking with such ferocity that the captain was sure to fall soon. Heinrich charged right at the beastman, which let out a blood curdling howl, which sent a shiver down his spine. His sword cut flesh right through the beastman’s flank, which it turned it’s huge hulk towards him, full of hatred and anger. This time it yelled it’s battle cry out, “Garthannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnggggggggggg” But at this, Heinrich strode towards, and had to duck a blow from the axe swing. But then the onslaught stopped. The beastman, called Garthang, let out a cry that signalled the retreat. But before he retreated, he stared at Heinrich with pure hatred, and said “Garthang will not forget you, manling.” And with that remark, he left. Heinrich went over to the captain, and asked if he was okay. The captain replied that he was, and that Heinrich had proven himself to be worthy of being a full time soldier. The survivors, which numbered nearly all the patrol, were tending to the wounded and the dead. Jacq came over, and congratulated him on winning, and he has also overcome the trial. And so thus, with the win, they marched back towards the town, with Heinrich marching by Jacq, proud of himself upon that day.

Screams, terror, and fear were what flowed through Jacq’s mind. He was starting to sweat now. The screams, the wailing women, children brutally slaughtered by the filth encrusted axes and swords of the beastmen. Panting hounds, biting at whatever there jaws could get around, whether it be man, woman or child. Saliva, with blood mixed in it, dripped from the mouths. Then the hulking beast that came out of the mist, charging towards Jacq’s family who where cowering in terror in a closet. Jacq was hiding under the bed, watching in horror as his family was ripped apart, flesh from bone, no mercy was spared. Not even to his little brother, who was but a baby. Then the Beastlord set his eyes upon Jacq, no sign of mercy, only rage and evil. Then that was all Jacq remembered. “Wake up, wake up Jacq!” Jacq immediately woke up, his face paler than ever. He was shaking, cold to the touch. Heinrich immediately put a blanket over Jacq, and handed him some beer. “The same thing again?” Nodding his head, Jacq took a sip. “I-t was the same again” “Get some sleep while you can, before we fight again” It was going to be a long night.

Something was not right. On the over side of the forest, the beastmen had stopped. Garthang was now in a bad mood, and he had already killed five unlucky ungors. Beastmen where disappearing, and then been found again with the mark of Slannesh on them. His Lord Tzeentch would not be pleases with Slannesh, and so there would be fighting between the two. Garthang decided to consult his shaman on what Tzeentch wanted him to do. With a growl, he said to his shaman “Do it now”. Dark mystical energies gathered around the shaman, which he then started to gather crackling blue energy around him. The shaman channelled Tzeentch’s voice, and which he commanded, “You will first find the reason why your numbers are dwindling, and then move on to attacking the humans. If there are any willing to change, tell me.” With a flash, the shaman was back to normal. “The hunt shall begin."