[[Trench Crusade] escarmourche uchronie "WW1-Croisades-Grimdark"]

Haschischins ... heu j'veux dire ASSASSINS !



+++SULTANATE ASSASSIN+++
They go by many names: Ghost Wolves, the Secret Knives, Subtle Vipers, the Sultan’s Wrath. Whatever they are called, assassins of the sultanate instil terror in the hearts of even the most dauntless.

Assassins are a legendary order of mystic warriors, notorious the world over for their esoteric arts and ruthlessness. Atop a forbidding mountain broods the onyx fortress, Alamut the Unconquerable. Behind its shadowed walls great secrets are hoarded by the ancient magi. Some say that the founder of the Order of Assassins, Rashid ad-Din Sinan, best known as the Old man of the Mountain, still holds his court here. A preposterous rumour, naturally, since that would make him close to eight centuries old.

Though the Isma’ilii Sect of Assassins is seen as heretical by many within the lands of the Iron Wall, a pact forged between Sultan and the Mountain ensures that the warbands of the believers often include one of these supreme killers in their service.

Assassins are able to bend space and time using sacred rituals and powerful hallucinogens discovered by magi of the order. With this esoteric power they prowl behind enemy lines, hunting their targets with merciless efficiency. They can seemingly appear in two places at once, strike an enemy with startling speed and then travel back in time to a moment a few heartbeats before, safe from any retaliation.

They do this in service of their Sultan, whose enemies they are charged to destroy in a form of ritual holy murder. To carry out this task, the assassins are painfully altered by many powerful unguents, chemicals and potions. They stand much taller than a normal man and are many times as fast and strong.

Though adept with all manner of weapons, assassins favour the poisoned blades forged in the unknown depths of Alamut. These weapons are imbued with the Supreme Poison: The Milk of Manat, also known as The Cup of Death. A simple touch of these blades upon unprotected flesh is certain death, as the body of the victim turns black and rots from within over the course of several excruciating seconds.

In Cthonic chambers deep below the surface, generations of young assassins are raised; fed an awful, bitter diet rich with strange toxins. Generation by generation, their tolerance grows, until the blood of these willing vessels is drawn and then smelted into a poisonous iron. The iron is forged into wicked, curving blades and deadly spells of slaying are layered into each fold of the toxic metal. Finally the red-hot blades are quenched in the venom of the pale, unnatural offspring of a basilisk and manticore. Thus the blood of the first generation of Assassins still lives to this day, growing more potent with each generation.

[Vers le retour d'Epic ?]

Il y a 4 heures, Dorhan a dit :

 

Alors si il en met autant plein la vue que ses figurines d'infanterie, raison de plus pour passer mon tour   

@latribuneludique : okay, je me suis peut être un peu mal exprimé mais tu n'es pas obligé de mal prendre mes propos...
J'ai peut être utilisé des mots 'forts' (à tort?), mais j'ai pas dit que le jeu était mauvais, mais qu'il me plait moins (de ce que j'en ai lu en diagonal, car en anglais).
Mon avis est peut être un peu biaisé du coup, c'est vrai, aussi par les avis de ceux qui connaissent les anciens systèmes et trouvent ça éculé (je leur fait confiance).
Je ne suis pas intervenu ici pour cracher gratuitement sur LI, mais LI ne me donne pas envie et j'explique pourquoi...
Peut-être que si je testais j'accrocherais, va savoir, mais ne suis pas prêt d'en avoir l'opportunité amha... Bref.

Tant mieux si c'est plus court en tout cas (c'est déjà un très bon point), et tant mieux pour les figs qui sont réussies (blindés etc) même si trop grandes par rapport à la plupart des gammes existantes, mais si ça n'est que ça on peut quand même mélanger les gammes c'est pas si grave.
Après pour l'infanterie les ratés sont rédhibitoires me concernant, si d'autres tolèrent cette 'qualité' et payent pour, grand bien leur fasse...

PS: ah tu trouve que le tableau à quelques inexactitudes ? tu crois à de la mauvaise fois ou erreur ?
Explique-moi ce qui te semble erroné, et je remonterais l'info si besoin.
Moi je n'ai fait que le reprendre d'ailleurs ce tableau (et la personne qui l'a posté sur le Discord d'E.A l'avait également récupéré ailleurs, j'ignore d'où exactement mais ça ne semble pas venir de quelqu'un issu de la commu dite 'Ferc' ... va savoir)

PPS : l'important avec la sortie de LI c'est que ça redynamise l'ensemble de la communauté Epic, tout système confondus, là on est d'accord je pense.
Et je ne suis pas de ceux qui pensent que ça va diviser la commu ou quoi... par contre GW qui attaque des petits fournisseurs (faits avérés!) c'est pas cool, et GW pourrait un jour emmerder vraiment les groupes qui font encore vivre NetEpic et Epic Armageddon (sous prétextes de PI) ça c'est une inquiétude légitime...
 

[Vers le retour d'Epic ?]

Il y a 6 heures, latribuneludique a dit :

(...) on sent bien qu'à LI, les auteurs ont cherché à représenter l'ensemble des armes disponibles à The Horus Heresy, histoire que les joueurs 28mm se sentent comme chez eux. Du coup tu as des règles spéciales bien plus nombreuses à LI.

C'est bien le but.

Du coup on peu parier que ça va grandement ralentir les parties, surtout combiné au système de jeux assez laborieux à l'ancienne...
Je serais curieux de voir en combien de temps sera jouée une partie de LI contenant autant de figs qu'une standard d'Epic Armageddon (3000pts), et je parle bien d'une partie jouée par des joueurs qui maitrisent le jeu. J'ai comme l'impression que ça sera plus long...
Ou alors si temps de jeu équivalent (voir plus court soyons fous) : reste le ressenti, le fun, le plaisir de jeu, l'interaction avec son partenaire de jeu, le truc qui fait qu'on s'amuse et qu'on est pris dedans sans ennui ou lassitude...
Perso je préfère bien m'amuser pendant 3h que je faire chier pendant 2h (oups Wh40k...), le temps est relatif en fonction de ce qu'on y fait !
(même si du narratif à LI ça peu être cool, si le système est lourdingue ça va saper le fun!)

Si vous hésitez entre les systèmes connus d'Epic voici un tableau comparatif que j'ai vu passé sur Discord, très bien fait :



Après on peu très bien aimer /jouer à plusieurs d'entre eux, moi c'est décidé je reste sur E.A. exclusivement, car c'est suivi par des passionnés qui le font vivre depuis 20ans, qu'il y à pas mal de joueurs, des évènements réguliers, bref une communauté fort active (je préfère ça avec un jeu abandonné par GW qu'un jeu supporté officiellement et "mort" dans les faits par manque de joueurs autour de nous!), mais je fait ce choix de ne pas me lancer dans LI aussi par simplicité (pas le temps de me disperser dans trop de jeux) et par amour de cette règle si géniale qu'est E.A., qui est déjà si riche et à tellement de potentiel pour s'améliorer avec tant de listes très variés de tas de codex différents !

*PS:
et puis pour LI finalement les figs me rebutent (infanterie quel gâchis), à ce prix c'est inacceptable pour moi...
(j'ai déjà plein de 30k forumware par ailleurs)

[Quel legion choisir ?]

Le 27/11/2023 à 10:52, Mozza a dit :

Mon style de jeu :

 

Beaucoup d infenterie avec quelque char et des personages bien styler qui degage un charisme inegalable.

Salut,
Alors à 30K tout est possible avec toutes les Légions... donc partant de là : étudie bien le fluff de chacune, et prends celle qui te plait le plus, ou dont les personnages te paraissent le plus classe, prends aussi en compte le schéma de couleurs selon tes gouts, important ça ! (conseil : fait même quelques tests préalables de peinture pour voir)

Sinon, sur le sujet j'ai vu passer ça ce matin, ça peut aider à choisir :

[[Trench Crusade] escarmourche uchronie "WW1-Croisades-Grimdark"]

Les deux dernières news :

1/ Les Pèlerins des Tranchés :
Un bon gros morceau de fluff, avec différents type de troupes, d'équipements et de doctrines car il y à différentes Processions qui vénèrent différents Saints.
Hâte de voir les nones par exemple ! Et que dire de cette description dantesque de cet énorme chariot de guerre qu'est le Shrine Anchorite !


 

+++TRENCH PILGRIMS+++

As the war rages against the minions of Hell, strange visions torment the faithful across the globe. Men and women touched by Heaven are granted visions, and Revelations are made by the messengers of God. Sisters of the Holy Orders are marked by Stigmata and take up the sword and the cross as instructed by the angels. Those who have transgressed seek to atone for their sins by taking as many followers of the Devil with them to the afterlife.

So they come, the mad and the maimed, the God-touched and the guilt-ridden, all gathering around Prophets and Prophetesses, forming Trench Pilgrim Processions, disorganized groups which arm themselves and follow the prophets of the Lord unto the front lines. They fight with unrivalled zeal, throwing themselves against the Heretics and arming themselves with anything they can get their hands on, from the oldest muskets to scourges and Molotov Cocktails.

Pilgrims are not officially sanctioned by the Holy See, but the Church still blesses the crusades of the faithful. Thus the Pilgrim Processions are a common sight on the battlefields, often charging across No Man’s Land in suicidal assaults against the Heretics, directed by the visions of the Prophets and Prophetesses who lead them, and urged on by the whips of Castigators who are charged with instilling the Fear of God in their troops.

The bulk of the Pilgrims are men and women with little military training, but when they don the Iron Capirote of a Trench Pilgrim, they can face even a demon from the deepest Bolgias of Hell unflinchingly. Nor is death necessarily an end to their mission: sometimes the Seventh Meta-Christ will deem a fallen Pilgrim worthy and bring them back as Martyr-Penitents, warriors half-way between Heaven and Earth, able to fight once more and feel no pain from bullet or bayonet thrust.

Rarer and more dangerous are the Stigmatic Nuns: Holy Sisters who manifest wounds to match those of the Third Meta-Christ whom the nuns venerate. They excel in close quarters combat, for each bleeding wound that they suffer makes them stronger, not weaker, as their devotion to suffering as their Lord once did gives them strength and endurance not found on mere common mortals. Armed with swords and pistols, they cross No Man’s Land heedless of any danger, praying to sustain wounds for the Redeemer which in turn will transform them into the very Vengeance of the Lord.

In front of the Trench Pilgrims are driven the Ecclesiastic Prisoners: either captured enemies of the True Faith forced to make a final act of contrition or volunteer sinners seeking redemption. Each is strapped with high explosives which are detonated once they reach the enemy lines. They dash across the killing grounds, hoping to either miraculously survive the blast and escape, or take as many followers of Lucifer with them as they can, depending on their convictions.

The most puissant of Pilgrim Processions will be accompanied by a Shrine Anchorite: a metal behemoth some twelve feet tall, a living altar of War almost completely immune to any damage. The interior of the Anchorite is covered in spikes and barbed hooks so that the Monk who controls this colossus is in a constant state of torment, rejoicing in the pain so they can suffer as their Lord once did. In combat they wield Adamantine Catherine Wheels of massive proportions which they use to crush the sinners and heretics into a pulp, and then string them upon the wheel as a warning to others.

There is a bewildering number and variety of Trench Pilgrim Processions: The Penitents of Pious Revenge swear in the name of St. Olga and uses flamethrowers, burning grenades and incendiary ammunition to assail the Heretics. The Pilgrims of the Iron Path follow St. Rita of Cascia and go to battle with hammers, mauls, maces and cudgels, and hammer nails into their heads in the memory of the saint they venerate. The Theban Legion of Rome carries the heads of the heretics upon their standards in the memory of their patron, St. Maurice. They fight with swords and other blades, competing with each other for the number of Heretic heads they amass.

Trench Pilgrims of the Procession of the Sacred Affliction are known for their zeal for close quarters combat, their armour decorated with icons and shields adorned with the depictions of the Saints, which despite appearances can withstand machine gun bullets, and the millstones they carry in order to tie them around the necks of sinners before they suffocate them in the mud and blood of No Man’s Land.

-Art by Mike Franchina

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2/ Les Alchémistes Jaribéen :
(les artisans qui "fabriquent" les fameux Lions de Jabir présentés précédement ICI )
Mais ils ne font pas que ça, c'est vraiment des sortes de "mages de bataille" ou  d'artificiers bien énervés, un bon gros morceau de fluff là aussi.
 

+++JABIREAN ALCHEMIST+++

The Alchemists are the battlefield mystics and artificers of the Great Sultanate of the Iron Wall, schooled in the hidden knowledge of the legendary Smaragdine Tablet within the House of Wisdom. Admission is open to any with will and intellect deemed sufficient, be they man or woman.

To become an Alchemist is no easy task: they undergo many trials on their path to mastery. First are the countless lessons of the newly initiated; studying the Jabirean Corpus, translating the Keys of Solomon and learning all the Fundamental Disciplines of their primaeval science. Only after seven years of study, under the watchful and exacting eyes of the High Alchemagi, is an aspirant allowed to attempt the Three Trials required for full membership in the Order.

The first trial is to create a suit of Alchemist's armour which protects against harm. This is an essential tool of their craft, festooned with the Seals of Solomon which enables them to bend the elements of Creation to their will and shields them even from the devices of Hell.

Next, they must create a takwin servant, a Homunculus creature of artificial life and intellect. If the candidate manages to follow the complex formula, as well as the intricate timing and temperature requirements, the creature will emerge after forty days of toil. It will act as the Alchemist's living tool of creation, for their hands have fine motor skills well beyond even the most nimble craftsman. Vaguely shaped like a small human, it can change the consistency of its body to an almost liquid-like slime to squeeze into alchemical chambers to do their master’s bidding in extreme temperatures and in the fog of poisonous chemical fumes.

Many aspirants fail here and their creation emerges from its golden celestial sphere a deformed monstrosity filled with hatred towards its creator, and burrows itself into the Alchemist's body to consume it from within, wearing its would-be master as a skin.

The third and final test is opening their Third Eye, the key to cosmic illumination which allows them to see the building blocks of Creation and thus be able to ensure that the elements they use are in perfect balance.

Those that fail their final test are horribly changed. Their Third Eye swells to nightmare proportions and melds with their original pair, driving the aspirant mad during the process of their deformation. They spend the rest of their pitiful lives screaming of the unseen horrors all around now revealed to them. Out of mercy, alchemists that fail in this way are often put down, but there are rumours of cabals of these living failures kept alive for reasons unknown.

An Alchemist that has passed all three trials is formidable indeed: a master of esoteric powers, able to control fire and ice, metal and liquid; capable of creating intricate mechanical devices and artificial life as well as weapons of calamitous potency. In exchange for the freedom to practise their arts, the Alchemists supply the Sultanate with the peerless Jabirean battle lions, and serve on the front lines where their devastating alchemical compounds melt the flesh from the bones of enemies of the Believers, or dissolve through even the toughest armour.
 

[[Trench Crusade] escarmourche uchronie "WW1-Croisades-Grimdark"]

Un peu de fluff sur la Principauté de la Nouvelle Antioche (artwork déjà connu) :
... intéressant car on y apprends pourquoi et comment de petites bandes infiltrent les no mans land de ce front principal, c'est tout le cadre du jeu d'escarmouche à la Mordheim qui est ici introduit, avec les questions de rivalités sur le terrain, l'autonomie de ces bandes, hâte d'en savoir plus...



+++THE PRINCIPALITY OF NEW ANTIOCH+++

- From the Official and True annals of the Church history as told by Melchior Gessel, 1910 AD -

For three hundred years the Principality of New Antioch has stood defiantly as the focal point of the Church and the Faithful at the very edge of the shadow cast by the Gate of Hell. It is the Home of All Our Hopes, the bulwark against Heretic forces and the first line of defence against the devil’s might. Should New Antioch fall, all of the Levant will be lost.

War has never left this corner of the world. The ancient city of Antioch was destroyed by a mysterious demonic weapon in the year 1545, but the Faithful never gave up their positions in the ruins. Despite the lethal demonic essence emanating from the crater that was left behind, the garrison held on, even as mighty Constantinople fell to the legions of Kimaris, Marquis of Hell.

Before it was destroyed, the ancient city of Antioch was always the first line of defence to be put to test. Thus it is no wonder that in the year 1559 the Sword Congress of Vienna agreed to rebuild and fortify the city, and that a yearly tithe is to be sent to New Antioch by all the Faithful nations, though this levy is rarely in form of coin. Instead, endless supply trains of foodstuffs, tools, ammunition, weaponry, machinery and skilled workers and engineers come from across Europa and the Mediterranean Sea, as well as the African dominions.

Keeping the supply routes open is a constant game of cat and mouse, as Heretic infiltrators and raiders harry the caravans and ships that allow the Principality to exist to this day.
Since those days New Antioch has grown to be the most important fortress-city in the world, the Sword and the Shield of Europa and Africa. All the princes of the Church and heads of the various states and domains who oppose Hell understand that it is better to fight their battles against the Heretics away from their heartlands. To this day New Antioch has withstood eight great sieges and its famed walls, with their seventy-seven mighty towers, have never been breached. This is partly due to hundreds of anchorites, metallic battle shrines with devoted entombed within them, that are embedded into the walls, keeping a vigilant watch over the walls day and night.

More than anything else, it is the volunteers who come to serve under the Banner of Christ that ensure the continuous existence of the Principality. Thus in the streets of the city one can hear hundreds of languages and dialects. One might observe hussars of the Polish-Lithuanian commonwealth brushing shoulders with the last remnants of the Varangian Guard, or hear the sermons of a street preacher from Eire extolling the soldiery of Ethiopia to lay down their lives for the cause. Perhaps they might even witness the Church Engineers procession taking their latest invention to be tested in the front lines.

This all happens under the watchful eyes of the Office of Propagation of Virtue that tirelessly patrol the streets. While they are quite happy to turn blind eye to the revelries of soldiers, they ferociously persecute even the slightest deviation from Church doctrine. The execution of heretics is a weekly spectacle that draws immense crowds.

Factories spew black smoke as newly constructed tanks roll out of the workshops. Foundries burn white-hot day and night in order to keep the artillery battalions, the pride and joy of New Antioch, at full strength. In the techno-laboratories of the city the Church toils away in creating the superhuman Communicants empowered by the cloned flesh and blood of the Redeemer. Thousands of workers give their lives in horrific accidents and overwork each year, and great statues celebrating their sacrifices stand around the city.

Despite all these preparations, it is the grim reality that New Antioch could never withstand the full onslaught of the combined Heretic forces. It is only thanks to the ferocious and bloody internal conflict amongst the devils that has allowed the Principality to stand to this day. The Archdevils and Princes of Hell bicker and plot against each other, and only rarely does one of them gain supremacy for long enough to mount a full-scale invasion. Even though the war has stretched for centuries with decades of nervous lull between great battles, the Rulers of Hell are immortal, and to them the war has barely even started. They are beings that have existed before there was time and wish to savour the agony of the mortals who die in their millions. And thus the Great War rages on, sometimes with long years of silence followed by sudden, ferocious assaults.

As the nominal supreme commander of all the Faithful armed forces, the Duke of New Antioch is a title of unrivalled prestige and honour. But despite swearing fealty to the Duke, in reality troops from across all of Christendom who come to do battle against Hell operate in units of their own, taking commands from their own leaders. It is worth noting that some soldiers renounce their citizenship and take up the cross, and come to serve under Duke Constantine alone. Thus the standing army of the Principality is the greatest single fighting force the Faithful can muster, and those who serve on the walls of the Home of Hopes are rightfully proud of their livery.

In recent years the Duke has despatched small forces into No Man’s Land to gather intelligence, look for artifacts of power, conduct raids on Heretic forces, secure strategic strongpoints and loot the battlefields for the wealth of coin and weaponry scattered across the tortured landscape that stretches between New Antioch and the Heretic domains over the centuries. These warbands have to raise their own coin and are simply given commission by the Duke and have to muster their own forces. However, holy relics, great wealth and fame across all the world ensures that there is a steady supply of ambitious leaders who are willing to risk all in the crucible of war. Competition for loot, supplies, artefacts and information is fierce, and these warbands often come to blows, not just with Heretical forces, but with competing rivals and crazed Trench Pilgrims.

Thus the Necropolis of Antioch overflows with the graves of fallen soldiers. But the proud flag of the Principality, blue as the sea and red as blood still flows over its ramparts. But for how long is anyone’s guess. All the portents and reports of the scouting parties confirm only one thing: the Heretics are marshalling for the largest offensive operation in history. The board is set and the pieces are moving.

The Great War is beginning anew.

[[Chaos-tyranids-RdT-divers] les gugusses de teudge]

Tes Tyty "gigériens" sont vraiment top ! très efficace comme schéma de couleurs, bravo !

[[Trench Crusade] escarmourche uchronie "WW1-Croisades-Grimdark"]

Encore de la grosse bestiole, pour la faction du Sultanat cette foi, avec les "Lions de jabir" (le fluff est intéressant et original, même si ça me fait un peu penser aux créations les plus folles des Alchémistes de Dirz, de feu Confrontation)... en tout cas je suis curieux de voir comment ce genre de gros modèles seront fait en figurines :


 

LION OF JABIR

 

In the fabled Sultanate of the Iron Wall, deep beneath the golden gardens of Damascus, through the Cavern of the Sleeper, and past the Seven Gates of Potentiality, are the vast laboratories and metaphysical factories of the Alchemists.

 

Using the mysterious Jabirean process called takwin, the alchemists are able to create artificial life, and produce all manner of strange and wondrous beasts and automatons to delight the masses of the souk, and grace the gardens of the Sultan.

 

Deeper still, in the darkest and most secret reaches of the alchemy complex, past the Seven Hidden Gates of Actuality, are the sanctums where the art and science of takwin is honed to its most keen and deadly purpose. Here they make the dreaded Lions of Jabir.

 

Named after the deadly hunters of the plains, the Lions of Jabir can take many forms, not all of them leonine. Each one is a unique masterwork, and they are grown according to the skills and artistry of the Jabirean scientist that created them. The esoteric arts the alchemagi employ are learned through study of forbidden Books of Solomon, and many alchemists are killed when their experiments fail or run amok. However, the Lions are in desperate demand by the army of Sultanate, so the program continues, regardless of cost and casualties.

 

Creating the Lions of Jabir is extremely difficult, and there are endless variables to consider. Because of this the Lions are often malformed in some way. Though still magnificent hunters in war, their malformations often cause their existence to be one of constant physical pain and suffering. The truly tragic cases are the Lions created with human-like intelligence, who are wracked with existential dread as they realise the horror of their unnatural origins.

 

In battle the Lions of Jabir are deadly threats, and are used as a vanguard of the host of the Sultanate. The Sultan himself has a hunting pack of seventy-seven enormous Lions of Jabir that guard him day and night, and accompany him on the battlefield. The speed and ferocity of the Lions is nearly unmatched, and some even have strange powers granted by their alchemical birth. Many have armour melded with the flesh and fashioned from alchemical metals, etched with cryptic seals and sigils, and richly embellished by the Alchemists to hide the defects in their creations.

 

[[Trench Crusade] escarmourche uchronie "WW1-Croisades-Grimdark"]

Le 11/10/2023 à 17:03, Miles a dit :

Mouais, les légionnaires hérétiques pas mal, mais moyen convaincu par le janissaire et son pistolet à platine... On est en 1914 et on envois des gens dans l'espace quoi...

 

Et pas très hypé par les bestiaux. J'ai l'impression que tout les bg des infernaux sont les mêmes "porte de l'enfer" blablabla "élite triée sur le volet" blablabla "trop fort trop dark". Mais je suis pas un crack en anglais donc je loupe ptet les subtilités...

Bah on est dans un univers fictif, type dark-fantasy uchronique, donc perso je vois pas le problème d'un pistolet avec une tech soit disant "archaïque", surtout que ça pourrait très bien se justifier fluffiquement (par exemple: tradition du corps d'élite de ces janissaires et munitions spéciales "bénies" ou que sais-je!).
On pourrait faire le même reproche à 40k (ça à déjà été fait d'ailleurs) : épée tronçonneuse et autres armes de close seraient sans aucun sens dans un univers futuriste avec des armes de guerre high tech à coté... pourtant on fait avec, ça fait partie du charme et de l'univers à 1000%.

Pour les Death-Commando et autres bestioles infernales : oui question de goût, après quand tu pige bien l'anglais le fluff est quand même bien savoureux et surtout plus subtil que l'image qu'on peut en avoir au 1er abord, faut creuser.

@Grimberg : excellente nouvelle !

[[Trench Crusade] escarmourche uchronie "WW1-Croisades-Grimdark"]

 2 news pour les légions infernales :

1/ Les troupes hérétiques : (un multi-kit de base à venir, très modulable, les poses seront plus dynamique que ce WIP, comme pour les Pèlerins...)

 

++HERETIC TROOPER SCULPT WIP++

Brother Mike here with a quick look at our Heretic Trooper work in progress sculpt. Sculpted by the talented Saint Decent, this multipart kit is going to have all sorts of bits and weaponry.

There's still lots more to add but we wanted to give you a glimpse of what we got cooking. Saint Decent is really into guns, pouches, and military gear as well as a fantastic sculptor and has been a real joy to work with. Saint had this to say...

"I could talk about my vast commitment to the lore and research and process but thats all boringgg. I'm very happy to be able to work on these guys. I hope they'll speak for themselves.

I can't wait to paint everything up."


2/ Les Commandos de la Mort hérétiques : (là pour l'instant juste un artwork et du fluff bien savoureux!)


 

++HERETIC DEATH COMMANDOS++

From a very early age a select group of Heretic youth are sent beyond the Gates of Hell to be raised as Death Commandos. Very few are chosen, and even fewer return, but those who complete their training stand amongst the most elite of the Heretic Legions.

Barracked in the Seventh Circle of Inferno, they are taught the deadly arts of assassination by the damned souls of the greatest killers and murderers whose souls now reside in Hell. Here they undergo brutal training, mastering the use of all manner of weapons and poisons and they are schooled in martial skills by the personal guard of the Arch-Devil Beleth. They learn to slither as serpents through the battlefield, leaving murder in their wake.

Their specially forged Tartarus Claws are quenched in the waters of the River Styx, a source of poison more potent than any mortal venom. Many carry silenced pistols to take down targets unseen and unheard. Aside from their weapons, the Death Commandos are equipped with stealth generators that operate by diffracting light, utilising the heart of an innocent and infernal technologies that hide them from the eyes of God.

Once their training is complete, the Death Commandos emerge from the abyss as silent spectres of carnage. Of the Heretic troops fighting in the Trenches of the Great War, the Death Commandos are the most feared by the faithful.

Most infamous in the ranks are three master Death Commandos, Cain, Barabbas and Haman, who simultaneously assassinated the Supreme Pontiff, the High Prophetess Aelia and the Holy Roman Emperor in the year 1894. This threw Church forces into turmoil, and allowed the Heretic Legions to launch a lightning offensive across the Levant and Europe.

The tongues of the Death Commandos are ceremonially ripped out at the end of their training. They will never speak of what they have learned and their unnerving silence adds to their sinister reputation. They communicate with each other with a complex system of inscrutable hand signals.

 

[Que sait-on des Corsairs eldars?]

il y a 42 minutes, Miles a dit :

fluff corsaire, les deux sources qui me viennent à l'esprit c'est Yriel d'Iyanden, qui sauve le vaisseau éponyme des tyranides

Complément :
le moins ancien (mais très bon roman) de la Black Library : VALEDOR (moi qui n'aime pas trop les Eldars j'ai bien kiffé!)

Sinon il y à ça en très vieux fluff : https://taran.pagesperso-orange.fr/eld_errant.htm
(et sur les runes pirates : https://taran.pagesperso-orange.fr/eldarrunes10.htm )

Ou encore des factions de corsaires dans l'Imperial Armour volume 11 !  (les gros livres de FW à l'époque, très bons!)
 

 

[Heroquest (version Avalon Hill et Hasbro)]

@karezeg :
Merci pour ton témoignage, très intéressante ta démarche, tu partage ta version maison upgradée quelque part ?
Comme beaucoup j'ai découvert les figurines via HQ à l'époque, quels souvenirs

[[Chaos-tyranids-RdT-divers] les gugusses de teudge]

Très chouette cette cavalerie Tzeentchisée !

[[Trench Crusade] escarmourche uchronie "WW1-Croisades-Grimdark"]

LES JANISSAIRES

JANISSARY OF THE SULTANATE OF THE IRON WALL
 

The janissaries are the Sultanate’s elite warriors, raised from childhood in the arts of war. Captured during raids upon the desolate northern and eastern marches beyond the Iron Wall, they are subjected to rigorous martial training and indoctrination from an early age. Through spiritual and alchemical means, bound by chains unseen, their minds are carefully conditioned until they attain a complete and unwavering loyalty to the Sultan, and to him alone.
 

Their physical attributes are augmented by potent elixirs created by the mystic Jabirean arts. Their ornate armour is forged from the metallic formula that the alchemagi of the Sultan gleaned from the very Iron Wall that protects the Sultanate from their enemies. These soldiers are also protected by powerful talismans crafted by the blind thaumaturgists from the School of the Meteoric Omen. Armed with jezail rifles, hand mortars, yataghan blades, and a devotion carved upon their very souls, the janissaries are formidable opponents indeed.
 

On the battlefield, Janissaries excel at storming enemy strongpoints and trenches, crushing elite formations and acting as the bodyguard for high-ranking individuals. Though the Sultan uses them sparingly beyond the Iron Wall as they form his personal bodyguard, some janissaries are sent to the front line skirmishing units of the Sultanate to bolster the cause of the Sublime Gate. In the middle of the mud, blood and dust of the trenches, their richly decorated panoply of war creates a beautiful and frightening spectacle as they charge the enemy lines, with complete conviction that the Paradise awaits those who fall in righteous battle.
 

Art my Mike Franchina

[[Trench Crusade] escarmourche uchronie "WW1-Croisades-Grimdark"]

Pas eut le temps avant, mais je rattrape ici les 3 dernières news (textes en spoiler à passer au traducteur si besoin) :

1/ GRANDE NOUVELLE : un kit multipart en plastique va être produit pour les Pèlerins des Tranchées !
...il y aura donc au moins une boite d'infanterie avec différents torses, jambes, têtes, bras, armes, équipements etc, offrant une variété de poses plus que bienvenue.

Révélation

Brother James has been summoned from the subterranean sculptura chambers of New Antioch to give a brief sermon on sculpting the new multipart Trench Pilgrim. Blinking in the light, hood drawn over pallid skin, Brother James elucidates thusly:

Blimey it’s bright up here! Can someone turn those candles down a bit? That’s better. I’ve been told I need to give a lecture about the multipart Trench Pilgrim that I have been sculpting for the forthcoming Trench Crusade game. Well, here goes…

We’ve always loved the idea of multipart infantry kits, since the variety of parts give you so many options when sticking them together. With the Trench Pilgrims, we want to design a number of parts including different legs, torsos, arms, heads, weapons and relics, all with the aim of providing choice and variety in pose and loadout.

Pictured here is the basic pilgrim in A-pose (with arms at about 45 degrees in relation to the torso). This is still work in progress, with some refining and tweaks to be made here and there, but it should give you a good idea of where we are going with this. Since the model has been sculpted in its component parts (head, torso, legs etc), it will be a lot easier for me to manipulate and pose, with some re-sculpting required here and there – for example at the joints and where the drapery of the fabric needs to be moved about so that it hangs/flows correctly.

Currently, I am sculpting some alternative heads (helmets and bareheaded – medieval bowl cut, anyone?), weapons (rifles, trench clubs, knives), icon shields and so forth. Not only that, but I am also doing a female version of the pilgrim. The intention is to have plenty of variety for players choosing their fodder for the trenches.

! Ces images sont du WIP, pas de poses définitives pour l'instant !
(à parier qu'un équivalent arrivera peut être pour le coté Légions des Enfers...?)

2/ UN RÉSUMÉ DE L'HISTORIQUE de l'univers de  Trench Crusade :

Révélation

A BRIEF AND INCOMPLETE TIMELINE OF THE TRENCH CRUSADE

biased and likely inaccurate

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

1099 First Crusade captures Jerusalem. The Knights Templar commit the Act of Ultimate Heresy. The Gate of Hell appears on Earth. Jerusalem is destroyed in the cataclysm.

1101 The Year of Three Battles. Heretics reinforced by the armies of the Third Circle of Hell conquer all of Levant.

1102 The ancient city of Antioch is fortified and becomes the focal point of resistance against the forces of Hell.

1106 Cobar becomes the First Tyrant of the Sixty-six.

1109 The Great Sultanate of the Invincible Iron Wall of the Two Horns that pierce the Sky is formed. In the coming decades it unifies the Islamic factions. The Great Iron Wall of Iskandar re-emerges and is fortified against the Heretics.

1117 The legendary Seventeen Martyrs travel to the Domains of Hell to convert the Heretics. They are captured, tortured and kept in the state of dying to this day inside white-hot Brazen Bulls.

1165 The Old Man in the Mountain and his Hashashins defend the mountain fortress of Alamut. Reportedly, the castle stands to this day, despite being besieged for hundreds of years.

1215-1306 The wars of Triclavianism. The Church is split and fights a fierce internal conflict. Heretic domains extend as the faithful fight against each other. Millions perish by sword and fire.

1346-1353 Beelzebub unleashes the Black Grail. Tens of millions are infected and become metastatic vessels in the worst plague in the history of mankind. The Corpse Wars begin.

1429 Living Saint Joan of Arc drives the Black Grail from mainland Europe.

1477 The City of Argos is taken by God and it is no more.

1503 War Prophet Angelos, guided by St. Elegius, discover the formula of Orichalcum Steel. Though extremely costly to produce, the metal proves to be effective against all missile weapons, and is still used to this day.

1545 Antioch destroyed utterly by a mysterious infernal weapon.

1573 Sacred Order of the Dragon halts the heretic advance after the destruction of Byzantium. Word spreads of a million heretics impaled in the hills of Wallachia.

1595 Walls of New Antioch completed.

1666 The Year of Six Woes. In a surprise raid, the newly-created Heretic fleet captures Gibraltar. The sea fortress became the Heretic base of operations against Europe. Forces of Hell gain access to the Atlantic.

1670 Due to the constant coastal raids by the Heretic Fleet the Crown of England begins the construction of the Fortress of the White Cliffs of Dover.

1703 Against all odds, a small force of Hebrew Knights striking from their secret fortress destroy the Templar stronghold at Acre.

1805 Heretic fleet under the command of Heretic high captain Ranga defeats the fleet of England in the battle of Bloodied Cliffs. Admiral Nelson is slain in combat.

1866 In the utmost secrecy Heretic scientists, aided by the Demon Marbas, construct the first modern submarines.

1870 Launched from Gibraltar, the Heretic submarine fleets extract a heavy toll on the merchant navies. Widespread famine.

1872 Heretic forces storm the city of Rijeka. It is fortified and Heretic conquest is launched against the European mainland.

1894 They Year of Broken Trinity. The Death Commandos simultaneously assassinate the Supreme Pontiff, the High Prophetess Aelia and the Holy Roman Emperor. The faithful are thrown in turmoil. The Heretic Legions, commanded by Hell’s nobles of the Seventh Circle and a huge vanguard of tanks launch a lightning offensive in Levant and Europe Simultaneously.

1899 Church Space Program commences.

1907 The construction of the moving fortress of Britannia is completed.

1910 Battle of Cordoba. Bloody stalemate. Heretic artillery devastates the ancient city, but the Heretic forces fail to gain access to the hearthlands of Hispania.

1914 The present day. Both sides are preparing for major offensive operations. In the huge swathes of No Man’s Land furious skirmishes and raids increase in intensity and tempo as the faithful and the heretics vie for information, powerful relics, and securing strategically important positions.

3/ APERÇU et concept-arts de la Nouvelle Antioche :

Révélation

THE CITY OF NEW ANTIOCH

Amazing Trench Crusade art of Chander Lieve, depicting the City of New Antioch, chief bastion of the Church, the Home of All Our Hopes, and the main fortress of the Faithful stemming the tide of the Heretic Legions. It is famed for its walls that have never been breached despite many furious assaults, and remains unconquered to this day.

The original Antioch was destroyed by a mysterious demon weapon, and New Antioch was built in the crater that remained. The large concrete dome seen in the background covers the epicenter of the blast, and protects the city from any lingering effects, but some question its efficacy.

Tout ça prends une belle consistance

...

*EDIT: et j'ai loupé cette news sur ces sympathiques bestioles "nurglesques", leur fluff ets bien cool 
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=205595549176960&set=a.131390236597492

[[AOS-Death] Comtes Vampires : Dragons de Sang, Pirates Von Carstein, Loups Vyrkos & Stryges de Bretonnie]

Tes Vampires Pirates sont magnifiques, très belles conversion et peinture !

[[40k - Astra Militarum] Le 5e Panzer Korps de Mortressa]

Wooow, ça envoie du lourd !
Bravo pour tout ça, ton armée à beaucoup de personnalité et on sent la passion que tu as mis à la réaliser !

[[Kharn-Ages] Présentation Jeu]

Ok merci pour la précision, vu que c'est la même équipe derrière je pensais à tort que ça se jouait presque pareil (ce qui n'aurait pas été un mal hein!).

[Rumeurs et Nouveautés Horus Heresy]

Avec une fig pareil par Forge il n'y à juste aucun intérêt à avoir une version plastoc par GW... m'est avis que les EC sortiront bien à 40k comme entendus dans des rumeurs fiables, peut être que en 2024 (?) mais ça va venir, et si besoin du Primarque-Démon car une entrée dans le codex alors il y à le FW qui sera commandable aussi sur le site GW, comme beaucoup de matos forge depuis quelques temps déjà.

*EDIT: amha l'inverse est aussi valable pour les WE, depuis la sortie d'Angron en plastique pour 40k il 'y à quasi plus aucune chance que FW en sorte un en résine (ou pas avant très longtemps), pour le Siège on à la fig GW. Donc à moins d'une grosse surprise je crois que cette histoire d'avoir forcément les Primarques-Démons par FW et GW c'est un peu oublié, ils ont annoncé ça il y à des années et ne sont pas obligé de s'y tenir du tout.

[[Kharn-Ages] Présentation Jeu]

J'avais un peu tâté Briskars (excellent! et le coté Pirates avec des animaux c'est très cool) mais Khârn-Ages je connais moins...
Pas envie de me lancer dans une énième nouvelle gamme de figs, surtout vu mes symptômes de collectionnite aigu, je vais rester avec ma collec de factions Briskars, mais le jeu à l'air également très bien, à priori c'est une sorte d'évolution de ce dernier non ?

[[Trench Crusade] escarmourche uchronie "WW1-Croisades-Grimdark"]

Le 24/08/2023 à 18:50, roron a dit :

Tu as vu l’info quelque part pour une sortie en KS ?

Oui,
vu en commentaires FB de leur part (plusieurs fois il me semble), mais pas de date annoncée pour l'instant à ma connaissance... (avant la fin de lannée j'imagine?)

Un peu de fluf sur fig déjà parue (livraison pour bientôt avec le reste du pack peur ceux qui ont contribué au 1er KS) :

Révélation

OBSERVERS

When the need is great, the Synod of Strategic Prophecy sends their famed Observers to support the war effort. This order of warrior monks lives a life of absolute solitude, sharpening their minds and bodies to make themselves living weapons in the Hand of God. Once a soldier joins the order, they very rarely leave the Temple of The Word – the only exception being when they are summoned to the battlefield, a situation where their unique abilities can decisively shift the balance in favour of the faithful. Even the slightest disturbance to their prayers or training will mean that they will not be able to commune with the Lord of all Creation. Thus the days of the Observers are spent in secluded, cloistered cells, when not practicing their martial or mental disciplines.

Observers wear a specially crafted Oculus Helmet enabling them to attune to the Voice of God. This remarkable connection grants them the capacity to simultaneously perceive the immediate past, present and future, to a degree. This allows them to perform martial feats unrivalled, but a living human is not meant to hear the Holy Words, so it comes at a cost. Since the Voice of God never decays, they must concentrate with superhuman focus to extricate the righteous guidance amidst the narrative spanning from creation's inception to the present moment. The ceaseless resonance of the Divine Echo ringing in their ears renders sleep impossible. Therefore they must resort to potent sedatives and mind-altering drugs for them to endure the heavy burden of their battlefield role for any length of time.

The Observers diligently practise the recitation of the Words of God, granting them the power to issue commands to anyone they address, friend or foe. The special metal of their helmet allows them to replicate the Holy Word as closely as it is possible, compelling any creature in creation to obey them momentarily to a degree.

Though they master many weapons, the trench polearm stands as the preferred choice for Observers. This tool allows them to skilfully vault over barbed wire and drop into enemy trenches with devastating force. Guided by the omniscient words of the Almighty, they possess the ability to evade nearly any strike. With proper focus, they foresee impending attacks within the crystal of the Eye of God that is incorporated into their helmet. As such, enemies' efforts to take them down are often frustrated, since the Observer simply moves the minimum required to avoid any harm, knowing precisely where the blow of the Heretic is going to land.

However, even the slightest slip in their concentration means that they might lose the Voice of God that guides them, rendering them just as vulnerable to death as any other mortal soldier.

+++

The Heraldry of the Synod depicts Sword and Crown, symbolising service to God through war, while the Clouds and the Stars represent Synod's mission to commune with the Lord directly.

Les Observeurs :

[[Chaos-tyranids-RdT-divers] les gugusses de teudge]

Vraiment top ces Tzeentcheux à la peau bleue ! Le patron Tzaangor aussi envoie du lourd, et ton champion converti (celui qui est ailé) à l'air génial mais d'autres prises de vues aideraient à y voir un peu plus clair amha, là on peut pas vraiment apprécié ton taf (qui à l'air magnifique) *EDIT: c'est bon j'ai pu zoomer en affichant la photo entière dans un autre onglet, il est vraiment cool avec son casque typé gladiateur. Et mention spéciale aux incendiaires et hurleurs, qui sont très réussis également !

[[Trench Crusade] escarmourche uchronie "WW1-Croisades-Grimdark"]

Le 19/08/2023 à 17:50, Barbarus a dit :

Pour l'instant, tout est en VO... Une VF possible?

J'aime beaucoup les dessins/idées...

 

Barbarus : je vais suivre ça avec intérêt...

 

Que V.O. à priori, aucune idée si d'autres langues sont prévues, ça m'étonnerait un peu vu que ça reste un petit projet de passionnés, mais sait-on jamais.
Après si des fans voudraient en faire une VF officieuse... bon on va déjà attendre le prochain KS avec le jeu en lui-même.
Pour te donner une idée de l'ambiance du background si tu ne parles pas anglais je suggère de passer les textes au traducteur, ça sera pas parfait mais un bon début.

[[Trench Crusade] escarmourche uchronie "WW1-Croisades-Grimdark"]

Aperçu de deux factions principales (parmi d'autres!), avec pas mal de fluff :

 

1/ La Légion Hérétique :



Fluff :

Révélation

HERETIC LEGION

“We are no longer supplicating weaklings trembling before an unmerciful God. We say: Blessed are the mighty-minded, for they shall ride the whirlwinds.”
- Ramman, the Annointed of the XXI Heretic Legion 'Widowmakers'

A shroud of darkness blankets the world. Smoke and brimstone spews from the yawning gates of Inferno enveloping the lands, where people have abandoned God and openly wage war against His Creation. It is a grim reality that a full third of humanity has bent their knee before the idols of Hell. The main military force of Satan on Earth is the Heretic Legions, raised from amongst these citizens of the damned.

Spies are sent into Hell’s domains under special absolution by the Cardinal Protector. Most are caught, never to be seen again, save for some who’s eternally screaming heads are returned to New Antioch, branded with bleeding runes that mock the Holy Trinity.

Yet some do make it back to the light, whispering of the horrors they have witnessed: of firstborn cast into the mouths of the burning statues of Baal and human flesh sold by the pound in dreadful markets. They speak of the great idols of the Golden Calf and rapturous men and women who prostrate themselves before them, carving layers of their own flesh in ecstatic offering. Inverted pyramids and towers plunge into the depths of these cities, built of iron and black stone. Within their depths stand sacrificial altars where screaming captives are slowly sliced to death over agonising days and weeks with sacrificial knives made of infernal basalt. Cathedrals to the Princes of Hell hang from great arches of volcanic stone, while captives are crucified on hundreds of upside-down crosses.

Accounts speak of sprawling factories made of mutilated flesh and metal, their forges yielding endless munitions for the ongoing war. Guided by the teachings of Tartarus' smiths, alchemists toil over colossal weapons and armoured behemoths, wielding the forbidden secrets of their patrons' metallurgy to forge instruments of death and suffering beyond the grasp of any human engineer. Once-proud cities of Earth, where churches have been toppled and entire populations are now dedicated towards bringing down the very Throne of Heaven.

Amongst the forsaken citizens that endure within the earthly domains of Hell, the greatest status is afforded to the soldiers fighting in the Great War. But joining the army of damnation is no easy task. Those who wish to win a place amongst the Heretic Legions must make an unholy pilgrimage to the burning bronze gates of Hell where, even from leagues away, the infernal heat sears both flesh and spirit until the pain becomes unbearable. In the Valley of Tears the great road that leads to the gate, paved as it is with wailing souls and lamentations, is littered with endless mounds of charred bodies. Many are still half-alive, writhing in agony, trapped in a grotesque twilight between life and death, their wickedness deemed insufficient. These discarded souls are doomed to writhe in agony until the Day of Judgement.

Those who make it within sight of Hell’s Maw are considered worthy and are initiated into the Legions, taking unbreakable vows that chain them into darkness for all eternity, their bodies branded with the mark of the Devil Lord that has claimed them. Armouries of Hell then equip them for battle and Heretic Priests beckon forth new supplicants as dictated by the whispers of their patron arch-devils. Thus a new Heretic Legionnaire is born. They hail Lucifer as their master and are damned for all eternity.

Yet there are some who push further on: to the very Gate itself and beyond. Their very flesh ignites, never to recover, but those with the blackest souls can enter the Inferno itself. Amongst those the Anointed are especially revered amongst the Legions. They are the paragons of unhinged brutality – men and women of colossal vigour and unyielding devotion. Having tread the accursed path to the shores of the Lake of Eternal Flame, where the damned wither and contort in ceaseless torment, the Anointed emerge forever scarred by the embrace of abyssal fires. The blackened and burnt flesh of the Anointed will never heal, but in exchange they are granted the right to wear Heavy Gehenna armoured suits and they gain strength to wield weapons that a normal man could barely lift. It is said that glancing into their eyes one can see the reflection of the very flames of Hell, forever etched in their vision.

Yet some who witness go even further in their depraved devotion. Suicide is a mortal sin and one eagerly embraced by many. Most cry out for devils to notice their final sacrifice in vain, as the Infernal nobles are capricious and delight in betraying their own as much as their enemies. But those with truly wicked and depraved souls are resurrected in contempt of the Redeemer, coming back as Choristers, horrific mockeries of Creation whose severed heads sing unholy hymns praising the Devil, their voices causing the ears of their enemies to bleed.

Though the vast bulk of the Heretic Legions are made of mortal humans, Hell often sends their own abhorrent progeny to reinforce their mortal foot soldiers: nightmarish War Beasts made of captured and possessed beasts and dreaded Artillery Witches who act as mobile artillery supporting the Heretic lighting assaults. Thus, in this accursed theatre of war, mortals and abominations march hand in withering hand, bound by the suffering ties of damnation. The wails of tortured beasts meld with the shrieks of damned souls, while the skies rain down fiery retribution upon all who dare to oppose the Heretics’ ceaseless crusade for a demented parity with their Creator.

 

2/ La Nouvelle Antioche (présentation des Lieutenants) :

 

Fluff :

Révélation

New Antioch Lieutenant

Lieutenants are leaders of small squads or platoons of New Antioch’s soldiers, playing a fundamental role on the distant frontlines of the Trench Crusade, displaying unwavering resolve in preserving the unity and morale of their troops. Lieutenants might be the favoured son or daughter of a noble family or gained their rank by impressing their superiors with their exceptional strategic acumen and audacious bravery.

In addition to their command role, they are also responsible for acquiring new weapons, arms, equipment and food for their troops. All too often this requires looting the battlefields of No Man’s Land or even raiding settlements, since resupply can be sporadic at best.

Having rightfully earned their position, Lieutenants enjoy the privilege of selecting their preferred arms and armour, often with the pick of the rarest battlefield finds. It is not uncommon for a Lieutenant to wield a distinctive weapon, perhaps a family heirloom, an idiosyncratic affectation or an ostentatious piece providing some much-needed swagger.

 

[[Trench Crusade] escarmourche uchronie "WW1-Croisades-Grimdark"]

Sympathique personnage (le Dévoreur de Wurmloch, un "mangeur de péchés"), voir son fluff sous l'image :



There are many paths to becoming the monstrous abominations known as Sin Eaters. Some were starving wretches who would eat anything to stay alive. Others hedonistic gourmands searching for the rarest delicacies. But the most famous is the Devourer of Wurmloch.

A priest in the small Bavarian town of Wurmloch had a terrible secret. He didn't just take people's confessions, he delighted in them, savoured them. The greater the sin the more he enjoyed it. Eventually he began extolling his flock to commit more grievous sins as a twisted means to expunge them, but secretly revelled in their guilty confessions.

The priest’s perverse obsession kept him in the confessional booth night and day, and over the following months he grew unnaturally, horrendously fat, demanding the townsfolk keep him sated with near constant confessions of their sins. The townsfolk grew frightened, refusing to go into the church to face the disgusting priest and his litany of curses and demands.

No one knows exactly what happened next, but a terrified county sheriff discovered the priest in the church, swollen to near bursting and slick with gore, and bellowing hideous blasphemies even as the sheriff and his deputies burned the church and the empty town.