Heroscape Codex

Editor’s Note

I

ssue 8 of the Codex is

So, what do we have here, another

upon us, and we’re glad to

strategy article?

have this wonderful com-

Yes, describing how the Zombie

munity to share our crea-

Hulk makes an outstanding sparkle!

tions with. So this year, I decided to Well, what else is there to know?

Ninja Status Editor

write a little poem, instead of our

You’ll have to see for yourself.

usual editors notes. *Ahem*

Come, turn the page, and enjoy the

*Ding! Ding!* What’s that

show!

sound in your pocket? Why, it’s the new Codex issue, it’s

Happy reading!

finally on the docket!

~NS

What’s new in this fantastic issue? Could it perhaps be a new sonnet? No, in fact, it’s quite the opposite!

Credits Editors

Art

Evar-Scarcarver El T Wanderer999 Ninja Status The Grim Reaper’s Writers This Issue Friend

Compilation El T

Page Design El T

Cover Photo Ninja Status

2 PAGE

Taeblewalker Marrowick El T Fi Skirata Dysole kolakoski The Grim Reaper’s Friend Evar-Scarcarver

@HeroscapeCodex /hscodex

The Codex is produced by volunteers who are members of the Heroscape fan site, Heroscapers.com. Contributors are listed by their screen names. Contact us with questions or content submissions at [email protected], or send a private message to El T, Ninja Status, or The Grim Reaper’s Friend on Heroscapers.com.

This publication is completely unofficial and is in no way endorsed by Hasbro Limited. Heroscape and all associated marks, names, races, race insignia, characters, locations, units, illustrations and images from the Heroscape universe are either ® TM and/or © Hasbro limited 2004-2009, variably registered in the US and other countries around the world. Used without permission. The Products listed in this magazine are copyrighted and trademarked, and/or are licensed by owners of properties. The use of their names and images herein is solely for informational purposes, and the lack of copyright or trademark symbols is not intended as a challenge to any such status. No portion or contents of HS Codex may be reproduced without prior permission from the publisher and pertinent author(s). Entire contents © 2015 by HS Codex.

Volume 2 - Issue 8

Contents C3G Interview: IAmBatman

4

by marrowick

Community Watch SoV Unit Strategy

Zombie Hulk

by Taeblewalker p. 6

5

by El T

SoV Strategy: Zombie Hulk

6

by Taeblewalker

‘Scaper of the Month: Dysole

9

by Fi Skirata

The Alien Invitational

11

by kolakoski Gang of Four

Fan Art Spotlight: Zettian Guard

The Alien Invitational

16

by Evar-Scarcarver

Heart of Vengeance: Chapter 4

by kolakoski p. 11

18

by The Grim Reaper’s Friend

Fan Art Spotlight

Blazbaros’

Zettian Guard

by Evar-Scarcarver p. 16

Art by Wanderer999

Heart of Vengeance

Anger of the Heart By The Grim Reaper’s Friend p. 18

Got something cool and Heroscape-related you want to share? Want to tell us what you liked or didn’t like about this issue? Send us an email at [email protected]. You can also tweet your Heroscape pictures to us at @HeroscapeCodex, or post them to our Facebook wall at /hscodex, and we’ll feature them on the Community Watch page.

PAGE

3

Heroscape Codex

C3G Interview IAmBatman By marrowick

F

rom last

we started dreaming of

month's

shared synergies and a

interview, I

universe of customs de-

understand

signed to work together. I

you started the C3G

started a thread asking if

movement. What exactly folks would be interested, made you decide to start and all the listed names C3G?

jumped right on board, and

I wouldn't say I started the away we went! movement so much as I was there when it hap-

Out of your many years

What is your favorite set

pened and I started the

with C3G, do you have a released by C3G?

first thread. Basically, we

favorite unit?

had an active comic cus-

Not really. I have a bunch. etc.)

(Master set, expansion,

Hard to beat that! As you've recently retired, is there anything

toms community where we Some top ones are Bruce

Probably the Fantastic

you would like to say the

were all giving each other

Wayne Batmans, Green

Four Master Set. I think

Heroscapers communi-

critical feedback, which

Lantern (Hal Jordan),

that might've been, top to

ty?

evolved into a peer review

Wolverine, Anti-Monitor,

bottom, some of our very

You guys are the best!

thread called NM24 (no

Flash (Barry Allen), Anti-

best work (Puppet Master

Thanks for carrying on the

more than 24, meaning

Monitor, Professor X, and

issues aside).

legacy and for being

we'd consider something

Oracle.

for no more than 24

awesome friends! If you could be any

hours). The activity was at

Do you have a favorite

comic book character,

a great level with folks like

comic book character?

who would you be?

Griffin, GreyOwl, Markb,

Batman. Also, probably,

Bat-Mite. He's got a great

Balantai, Necroblade, and

Robin (Tim Drake) the pre costume, he's always

Matt Helm. So it was only

-New 52 version.

natural that

4 PAGE

having a good time, and he's basically omnipotent.

Volume 2 - Issue 8

by El T

3 Threads Worth Reading New

New

Necro

Is the Heroscape community dead? by ShyGuy

[Link]

The short answer: no. Although the discussion trails of quite a bit towards the end, it’s a good reminder of everything that’s worth celebrating about Heroscape today. Give it a read.

DanieLoche’s HS Tools by DanieLoche

[Link]

DanieLoche, a prominent member of both the French and American Heroscape forums, made this thread to archive all the helpful Heroscape tools he’s devised, including an updated map of Valhalla and a sales calculator.

How long will this site last? by johnny139

[Link]

This discussion, posted way back in 2007, gives an interesting historical context to the thread atop this list. See especially truth’s third post in the thread — it’s eerily prophetic. Long live Heroscapers!

Fan Photos

@papiojarrod

@admiral__murphy

@curthull38

@featuringjared

PAGE

5

Heroscape Codex

SoV Unit Strategy Zombie Hulk By Taeblewalker

T

he Zombies of Morindan have gotten a big

brother to play with. And boy, is he mean! He can activate a squad of zombies and then move in for the kill. But at only 60 points, he can be fragile and taken out of the fight soon. With the right amount of luck, he can be brought back. We'll take a look at how to manage this undead mon-

in your army. We’ll use

give you more activations

comes deadlier. His offen-

strosity in your army.

Agatagary’s chess-based

with another hulk or

sive ability is good. He also

categories to simplify

zombie squad and being

allows for an attack by

analysis.

able to come back from the another hulk or a squad of

ANALYSIS

dead.

Each unit is complex, and must be well analyzed to be CLASS The Zombie Hulk is a truly understood. We'll

Zombies of Morindan, which increases his overall

OFFENSE

offensive ability.

begin with Zombie Hulk’s

bishop class unit. He is

With an Attack of 4, the

cost. By cost, we refer

fragile and can be easily

Zombie Hulk poses a

mostly to the value in

taken out. However he can reasonable threat. When he With a Life of 3 and a

points, but also to its

have a significant impact

takes away a defense die

Defense of 3, the Zombie

on the game, being able to

from the target that be-

Hulk won't last long under

importance

6 PAGE

SURVIVABILITY

Card by SoV

Volume 2 - Issue 8 sustained fire. Your best

might consider drafting

opponent has small or

on the same order marker.

bet is to use him against a

some range of your own,

medium figures, you really

From then, as long as the

melee army and to try to

such as Marro Stingers, to

want the zombies engaged

Hulk is engaged, you will

get the drop on the enemy

soften the opposition

as quickly as possible.

have some order marker

by attacking first. His

before moving in to melee

Against low defense units,

management to consider.

ability to come back from

with the zombies.

you can try attacking three

You can't use Horde Shriek

the dead does mitigate this

Against a mostly

figures individually. If they if your Hulk is engaged.

somewhat, but overall his

melee army, you have the

have higher defense, then

However, if you have a

survivability is rather low.

opportunity to shine. Use

make use of Zombie

second Hulk, then once your first Hulk is engaged, put order markers on the

STRATEGY

second Hulk, giving you

When drafting the Zombie

more zombie activations

Hulk, you want to draft

and moving the second

Zombies of Morindan as

Hulk into battle. Mean-

well. This gives you

while, any zombies that

flexibility and extra activa-

attack figures engaged with

tions. Drafting four or five

your first Hulk get the

squads is probably the

benefit of Paralyzing Fear.

right number, as it gives

Don't underestimate the

you enough zombies to

Attack of 4 that the Zom-

launch a reasonable offensive. Having a second Zombie Hulk is also a

Zombie Hulk was made specifically for use with Zombies of Morindan, offering modified turn bonding in addition to two offensive enhancements.

stand a better chance of causing damage with your zombie army when you have a backup. Perhaps most importantly, if you are going up against a range heavy army, you Photo by SoV

to 5 when you consider the defense die lost from

good idea, since they are relatively fragile and you

bie Hulk offers. It's closer

Horde Shriek to get your

Onslaught as often as

Paralyzing Fear. Once your

zombies out as quickly as

possible.

Hulks are both engaged (or

possible. You can either

Eventually, the

if you have lost one already

move up a single Hulk with time will come when you

and the other is engaged),

several order markers, or

you can place order mark-

get to attack with the

put order markers on both zombies while the Hulk is

ers alternately on the

Hulks to put them both

unengaged, and then move zombies and the Hulks,

into position. If your

in and attack with the Hulk taking

PAGE

7

Heroscape Codex SoV Strategy: Zombie Hulk advantage of the best

relying somewhat on your

monster with a Zombie

five or six Hulks, moving

targets with the best

ability to replace your

Onslaught, then quickly

up two at a time, can

timing. This can be tricky,

losses by returning them

moving with the the

quickly overwhelm the

since you have to guess

from the grave. By timing

Zombie Hulk's Attack of 4 enemy with Paralyzing Fear

where your opponent's

your attacks on appropriate backed up by Paralyzing

effects. Enemy figures

figures are going to be

targets, you will force your Fear. Such a one-two

losing two or three defense

during the round, and you

opponent to destroy the

don't know who will win

same figures over and over even the toughest oppo-

initiative. Read the battle-

again.

field. Then choose your

punch can severely weaken dice are especially vulnerable to an Attack of 4.

nent. If you think your

UNITS TO AVOID

targets, keeping in mind

opponent is going to have

OPTIONAL STRATEGIES Long Range Units: The

Zombies Rise Again and

some really tough opposi-

Multiple Hulks: If you

Zombie Rises Again.

Zombie Hulk can easily be

tion, like a powerful dragon don't want to draft zomDon't forget that a large or or giant, then you have two bies or if none are availa-

taken out by ranged attacks

huge figure destroyed by a

choices. One is to draft a

ble, try drafting multiple

chance to close for melee.

zombie squad comes back

monster of your own to

Hulks. A steady stream of

Use him as a counter draft

as a Zombie Hulk. A well-

support your zombie army.

to a melee army, or one

timed Zombie Onslaught,

Another is to plan to

with fairly short range, like

used on a figure like

surround such a

the Marro Stingers. -

long before he has a

Zetacron, a Deathwalker or a weakened ogre or troll can bring one of your Zombie Hulks back into the fray. And of course a death blow from a Zombie Hulk can realize the same result. Always bear in mind that your units are relatively fragile, having only a Defense of 3. You will be

8 PAGE

For more information, see the Book of the Zombie Hulk on Heroscapers.com. See also the Book of the Zombies of Morindan. Link: Zombie Hulk Link: Zombies of Morindan

Volume Volume 2 2 -- Issue Issue 8 8

‘Scaper of the Month March 2015: Dysole By Fi Skirata

PROFILE Who are you, really? I am Sam. Sam I am. I do not possess green eggs or ham. Presently. How old are you? Take my age. Multiply it by itself. No matter how many times you do that the last two digits will be my present age (25).

What's another board game you enjoy and why? I like playing just about anything, but favorites include chess, RISK, Clue, Stratego, and 7 Wonders.

HEROSCAPE When and how did you get into Heroscape?

I like all of the generals, but I do think my initial draw was to Vydar since I like the sci-fi stuff.

Who, or what, is your

Freshman year of college

avatar, and how did you

one of my friends

Who is your favorite

come up with your

(Vermilyion on the site)

Unique Hero and why?

username?

told me about this game

Nilf still might be my all-

My avatar is Handles, the What is your occupation? longest serving Doctor Presently finishing up a Who companion

and we played a game. This time favorite, but recently

graduate degree in eco-

game taught me that the

Sudema has shot up my list

Ivor glyph is evil as Air-

of favorites mostly because

(chronologically). He's a

borne dropped onto an

I took her to three tourna-

nomics (a months to go)

Cyberman head. He's

Ivor on height and de-

ments in a row and she

and then looking at some

awesome.

stroyed everything. (I was

performed quite well for

not playing the airborne)

me.

What is your favorite

When did you get started

aspect of Heroscape?

with C3G?

kind of job in data analytics

My username is a

of some sort.

bit anticlimactic and hard

What other interests do

to explain. Just know that it

you have?

involves an ancient Greek

DND, MTG, Running,

word and a character from

Building armies. Definitely Well, I wasn't officially a

building armies. I love all a book series I liked in high math, sci-fi books, random the funky interactions and I school mangled beyond conversations/debates love trying to make things about meaningless topics. recognition. Kudos if you work within those. can figure things out from To whom is your allethat. giance and why?

part of the project until recently. I joined one of the online Superhero Scape tournaments on a whim and then got sucked into all the interac-

PAGE

9

Heroscape Codex ‘Scaper of the Month: Dysole tions and counter interac-

some pretty sweet combos.

tions there. After a while, I Other favorites include and several others noticed

Baron Zemo (Helmut), the

that certain figures created

Stepford Cuckoos, X-23,

either gamebreaking

Speedball, Starlord, and

combinations or were

Vertigo for various game-

themselves gamebreaking.

play reasons.

The C3G people began a review process that I helped contribute to and eventually they brought in me and several others to help make sure that they weren't releasing any more of these combos.

What is your favorite special ability and why? That's hard. I think I get the most glee out of powers that frustrate my opponent or allow me to do something swingy so things like scurry or

Of the figures that you

Zemo's Adhesive Trap for

have helped create and

the first and frenzy or Stare

refine, which has been

of Stone for the second.

your favorite? I haven't created any, but of the ones that were more game changing I think Red Skull is probably my favorite of the bunch (Cosmic Cube is easily the best E-glyph even after it

COMMUNITY What do you enjoy most

cause he so had untarnished victory in the bag.

about Heroscapers.com? Is there any member of The people. I have met

Heroscapers.com you'd

some really awesome

really like to play

people that I know almost

against?

as well as people I know in Thanks to Online Scape real life. Describe your favorite Heroscape moment. I'm going to say this one mostly to annoy awesomeunleashed. It was a Chaos in the Catacombs game (where the goal is to escape with the most treasure glyphs) hosted by OHS against awe-

What has your time

someunleashed, dok, and

working on the Codex

kevindola. Sudema was a

been like?

wandering monster

Interesting. I haven't

(meaning she was a neutral

contributed as much as I'd

figure anyone could place

have liked due to getting

order markers on) and I

hit with a busy train shortly got her to stare of stone

I've gotten to play against a lot of people I never thought I would when I first joined but wanted to, including dok (whom I keep perpetually losing to {0-9}). As of right now I think Jexik and killercactus are fairly high on my list and I think I'll get a chance for at least kc at Gencon.

LIE DETECTOR 1. The longest amount of time I have continuously run for is 16 miles and it was mostly because I got lost on a

after joining, but it's been

awesomeunleashed's Tul-

nice to be a part of it.

Bak-Ra (with 3 Treasure

What is your favorite

What is your favorite

Glyphs) and dok's Mol-

C3G figure?

map and why?

tenclaw (with 3 Treasure

grounded for as a child

Well, it is also my favorite

I don't really have one but

Glyphs) in that game and

was sneaking out to go

superhero. Martian Man-

if I had to pick I'd probably ended up tying for the

hunter. He's a tank, he has

go with Remains of Clio-

victory. It still bugs awe-

awesome powers, and he

nesia. It's just a nice map.

someunleashed whenever I

got nerfed).

10 PAGE

can set up

bring up that game, be-

12 mile run. 2. The only thing I got

Continued on page 15 >>> Japes’ Lie: 2. I have two 3" binders that I use to keep my Heroscape rules, cards and maps organized in.

Volume Volume 2 2 -- Issue Issue 8 8

Alien Invitational Gang of Four Battle Reports By kolakoski

W

ell

cards exclusively for the

prepared 3, 1,400 point

met!

last Gang of Four (our

armies. We played 3 Free

On

gaming group, consisting

For All and Kill the Most

Feb-

of myself {duh}, chas,

Points in 10 Rounds

himself. THE MAP: PLANET GYMNASIA

ruary 6, the New York City Sherman and Taeblewalk-

games, the armies being

The map was fairly large,

Gang of Four played the

er) monthly gatherings.

chosen by die rolls. While

but the action was mainly

long-anticipated Alien

The C3G team has done a

Taeblewalker and I chose

on one corner, on a Jungle-

Invitational by Chas. I

laden hill, and, both near-

am relatively new to C3G,

by, a bridge and an elevated

and it to me. While chas,

platform.

Sherman and Taeblewalker

chas: Our map this

are familiar with even the

time around is ¼ smaller

most obscure comic book

than our usual footprint,

character, and every book,

being wider than it is deep,

movie, cartoon, and TV

so we can get right into the

appearance of each, and

action. It is 4 BU wide by

have designed their own

only 3 BU deep (a Basic

cards and played countless

Unit being two 24 hexers

"supers" games among

mirrored into a rectangle)

them, I have only vague

instead of the usual 4 x 4.

impressions of the most

However, between

iconic plus a smattering of

each of the 12 BUs is a

those that have hit the

great job. Their cards

exclusively from C3G,

strip of lower terrain—

screen in the last 10 years

generally contain elegant

Sherman Davies did the

mostly rivers of water, with

or so.

and exciting Special Pow-

same for his own cards,

some swamp river, ice, or

Nevertheless, I have become a big fan of

ers. Rarely do I find a more and chas fielded a hodge-

even molten lava to inter-

preferable card from

rupt the regular water or

podge of units from

C3G, and have played C3G another source. Each of us various designers, including provide

PAGE

11

Heroscape Codex The Alien Invitational ford crossings. The entire

Each BU map

symmetrical map. Each

include Ice Mountains,

section is unique, and

section has at least one

Rock Outcrops, Jungle

height being no more than partially screened off by

river ford connecting it to

Trees and Bushes, Pine

three levels up from the

sight blockers to form its

its adjacent BUs, except

Trees, and small elevated

base. The idea is not to

own ‘arena’ for action,

where two sections are

hills based on 7-hexers.

give flyers too much of an

usually with a height area in directly attached.

There are a couple of three

advantage.

the middle. So it’s not a

-hex bands of shadow in

map is pretty flat, with a

Sight blockers

the center. There are no

SHERMAN DAVIES (All Sherman Davies Cards) Team 1 J'onn J'onzz 325 Maxima 310 GL Kilowog 290 Supergirl 260 Wonder Girl 180 TOTAL: 1, 365

Team 2 Wonder Woman 340 Power Girl 320 Big Barda 290 Troia 260 Mr. Miracle 170 TOTAL: 1,380

Team 3 Hercules 330 Capt. Marvel 320 (Carol Danvers) Colossus 240 Cyclops 200 Nightcrawler 160 Kitty Pride 150 TOTAL: 1,400

Team 2 Superboy 330 Eradicator 280 Flash 280 Blade 230 Angel 200 (Buffy) Krypto 80 TOTAL: 1,400

Team 3 Valkyrie 350 Deathlok 255 Scarlet Spider 245 Cyborg 200 Daredevil 180 Forge 170 TOTAL: 1,400

Team 2: “The Legion of Super Heroes” M’Onel 350 (Chas) B Wild Fire 280 (C3G) B Superboy 240 (Kon-el; C3G) C Shadow Lass 180 (Chas) D Ultra Boy 150 (Chas) D Dawn Star 140 (Chas) D TOTAL: 1,340

Team 3: “The Justice League of America” Doctor Light 350 (Chas) B Red Tornado 300 (C3G) B Geo Force 270 (Balantai) B Black Lightening 190 (hi1hi1hi1hi1) D Gypsy 180 (C3G) D Kid Flash 110 (C3G) TOTAL: 1,400

12 PAGE

castle battlements). The Alien Entry after the Teams were chosen. NO HOLDS BARRED ALIEN ENTRY RULES We'll roll dice for our entry order, with the ability to enter anywhere on the map perimeter, with the first hex entered counting! All characters must be on the board by Round Three, or be left out (with no points

TAEBLEWALKER (All C3G cards) Team 1 Starlord 250 Groot 275 Rocket 175 Gamora 300 Drax 350 TOTAL: 1,360

and one fortified hill (with

There are no start zones.

CHAS Team 1: “The Green Lantern Corps” GL Tomar Re 350 (Fatsnack) B GL Jade 350 (IamBatman) B Halo 300 (Chas) B Green Construct: Stealth Bomber 100 (C3G) Guardian of the Universe 100 (IAmBatman) The Fourth Doctor 200 (Creo) TOTAL: 1,400

roads. There is one bridge

Rules (below) were created

KOLAKOSKI (All C3G cards) Team 1 Wolverine 180 Archangel 260 Phoenix 230 Professor X 220 X23 220 Sage 190 TOTAL: 1,400

castle walls castle doors, or

Team 2 Sub Mariner 250 Raven 190 Gambit 210 Beast 170 Storm 220 Iceman 150 Firestar 120 Zero-G 80 TOTAL: 1,370

Team 3 Beast Boy 60 (BB Bear) 20 (BB Cheetah) 20 (BB Pteradactyl) 40 (BB T-Rex) 60 Blue Lantern 280 Black Canary 190 Aqauaman 330 Wonder Man 350 TOTAL: 1,350

to anyone for them). So you can enter further away from your predecessor, but get jumped on right away by the next person coming in.

Volume 2 - Issue 8 Entry strategies will be

helpless Krypto.

important and interesting

on Wolverine for Healing

Then she proceed- walker, who messed up my Power X, not realizing

depending on the individu- ed to destroy Eradicator als' play styles, as you can

immediately by Taeblewhole tactical deployment

until after Prof's demise

and Superboy himself. The by forcing my ranged army that I could have placed it

be as canny, or as Heat-of- Flash was killed, immedi-

to fight hand to hand.

on the Prof to begin with,

Battle wacko, as you like.

ately after his first activa-

Kolakoski, who sent some

and moved it at the begin-

You don't even have to

tion, by Maxima's Psi-

help to me while fighting

ning of any of my turns

enter where you entered

Blast. In spite of all this, I

Sherman Davies on his

with Sage's Telepathic

other figures on a previous nearly won this game due turn — it’s all up to you!

to the extraordinary perfor- of my kills by getting the

entire rest of the game

mance of one hero - Blade. final hits on them. I killed

trying to kill Wonder

GAME ONE Sherman Davies 1670 Points (Team 1)

own front, took away most Tactician. I spent the

Let's see . . . first he only Blue Lantern, ironical- Woman, to no avail. killed a couple unknown

ly by Halo (the anti Lan-

Taeblewalker's hero

figures, then Wonder Man, tern), who did it without

was Groot. As he posted in

Kolakoski 1,290 (Team 2) Wonder Girl, and Maxima. him finding out about her

Groot's Book: I had fun

Taeblewalker 930 (Team 3)

using Groot yesterday. He

Chas 280 (Team 1)

I realized, only in

powers until later.

hind sight (so much of that here, as you will see), that

was my last figure, but he GAME TWO

avenged his fallen com-

Chas 1,405 (Team 3)

rades. He took out over

After Taeblewalker and

Blade would have done

chas entered their first

even better if I had remem- Taeblewalker 760 (Team 1) 700 points by himself. One

units, I offered chas an

bered to use Vampiric

Sherman Davies 220

time he got 7 skulls on an

alliance, which he accepted. Tracking, as his 5 Move

(Team 2)

attack. I didn't win, but it

Immediately, Sherman and often limited his effective-

Kolakoski 0 (Team 1)

was great fun using him.

Taeblewalker formed their own alliance, both of

ness.

chas' take: This chas' take: kolako-

This game was a total

time, anticipating TWs

which lasted the entire

ski, who came in closest to disaster for me. Sherman

tactics, I set up Red Torna-

game. I split my forces,

me, immediately offered

moved Wonder Woman

do near two lava hexes.

thinking wrongly that they

me an alliance, which I

adjacent to Professor X,

Using his power, I proced-

were within support range

accepted, and the other

and took him out early,

ed to keep dumping TWs

of each other. Sherman's

two then teamed up--all

saying afterward that he

team members into the

Supergirl was an unfortu-

teams being theoretically

wouldn't have done it if he lava. Although using my

nate, serendipitous, counter temporary, but in this game had recalled the existence

own Varient Molten Lava

-draft to my Kryptonians.

lasting the entire length of

of Prof's Psychic Defense Rules which give a much

First she beat up on the

the game. I was jumped

X. I placed the X initially

greater spectrum of results,

PAGE

13

Heroscape Codex The Alien Invitational TW rolled incredibly badly, Firestar in a game yester-

chas' take: I came

and died almost as soon as day. She used her special

in mostly in an area away

The Scenario: The map

if we were using standard

attack and got 7 skulls

from the others, who

had no height greater than

lava rules! I wiped out his

before she stopped rolling

seemed to be all fighting

3 Levels, which was a very

entire team except for

them. Only one of the first each other on the opposite good thing. Other than

Groot. TW managed to

two dice showed a skull,

end of the board. Since SD that . . .

keep the big tree in the

but six more were rolled

brought in Hercules all by

game, with an assist from

after that. She nearly took

himself near me, I planned Rules dictated that the

SD's Power Girl, but I got

out Deathlok, who was

to get his juicy points as a

the points for her as well.

lucky and rolled four

start. But although Mon-El close quarters. The best

Unable to kill Groot, I still shields. ran away with the game on points. GAME THREE

hurt him badly initially, he Daredevil was truly was to last a long, long

(Team 3)

place to set up was in one corner of the map, and most of the action oc-

tying up and wounding

moving carrier, Dawnstar

curred there. The limitation

(and killing ) 3 of chas'

carrying Wildfire, and

to only non-Terran Good

scooped up both glyphs

Guy units unduly limited

Lass' Special Ability that

which Forge dropped and

the number of viable units

subtracted 2 from his

pulled back with them. As

available, especially in

Superboy blazed away at

three teams had mutants, I C3G. The inclusion of expected they would be

Sherman's Hercules from a useful to me, but I never I won this game in spite of safe distance. The real hero got to use them. I was too the early ineffectiveness

action mostly took place at

time. I brought in a fast

Taeblewalker 815 (Team 2) Attack, while chas' own Chas 510 (Team 2)

The Alien Entry

the Man Without Fear,

Kolakoski 1,510 (Team 3) units, in spite of Shadow Sherman Davies 1,425

CONCLUSIONS

of this game, though, was

Sherman Davies' cards was no problem, as they are easily viewable from his

far from the main action to card threads, but a good

and demise of my Cyborgs, the recently released Scarlet get back to it. Finally SDs

many of chas' cards were

as I was unable to set them Spider.

Nightcrawler teleported in

either totally inaccessible or

with K's Scarleet Spider,

in relatively obscure, at

who robbed me, getting

least to me, individual

up in a shooting pod with

After taking out

Valkyrie and Forge before

Namor above, he was

both of the latter were

engaged with chas' Mon-El Herc after I'd put all his

threads with which I was

taken out piecemeal.

when he donned his

wounds on him except

unfamiliar. Although we

Firestar's extraordinary

Stealth Suit, and poached

one. This was a recurring

accepted our lack of

luck didn't help matters.

Hercules right out from

theme in all my games, as I knowledge of opponents'

under him, using to great

did lots of damage but was cards initially, one of chas'

effect (as he had all game)

often unable to complete

Green Lanterns was

the defeat of my targets!

determined to be broken,

As Taeblewalker posted in her Book: I had

an awesome moment using his Spider Stingers 9.

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Volume 2 - Issue 8 ‘Scaper of the Month (cont) and powered down mid-

ping has a great time,

game (chas says, Ah, yes! while everyone else, Tomar Re by Fatsnack

victims and observers

was taken down a bit. I'd both, is totally disgusted. appreciate you noting

If the scenario

that it was not one of my requires, or players wish

attend a concert. 3. I have met Patrick Stewart.

Doctor Who. It's the best. It's great. I could talk about it for hours. The Avatar series (Last Airbender and

4. I went to Disney World Legend of Korra) are before Disney Land probably second. Third and

cards!), and Game 2 was

to play, exclusively C3G,

despite living on the

pretty much ruined for

there should be plenty of

Taeblewalker, especially

cards to choose from.

West Coast and neither between Community and of them as a kid. Adventure Time.

with so much Molten

First come, first served,

Lava (even within chas'

shouldn't lead to narrow

"gentler" variant). My suggestions:

fourth is probably a tie

CLOSING

choices for the player(s)

THREE FUN FAVORITES

slow to choose. If non-

Favorite Song:

have for the 'Scaper

C3G cards are allowed,

Oh. That's insanely diffi-

community?

they should be available

cult. I don't have one. I

Be excellent to one anoth-

Classic 'Scape are applica- for viewing before game

listen to a wide variety of

er. Seriously, you guys are

ble to C3G. Extreme

day, i.e., pictures of the

music ranging from Weird

the best community I've

height may be dramatic,

cards (or at least stats and

Al to symphonic metal to

ever been a part of. Keep it

and simulate situations

powers) should be

Disney to classic rock to

up.

Good map building principles for

from comics, moves, etc., emailed to all participants

pop music that I wished I

but are bad for gameplay. well ahead of time.

liked less than I do. So

Fortunately, that was not

yeah. I don't have favorites,

In spite of the

What message do you

Whom do you pick for the next 'Scaper of the Month?

various flaws in the

just songs I like and don't

Scenario, we all had a

like.

great time and learned a

Favorite Book:

even chas' "benign" kind. lot. chas went to a great

kevindola if he hasn't been

That's a tough one but I'm

I have been the guy who

deal of trouble to set it

done yet. If neither of

just going to say a Wrinkle

dropped Laglor into

up, and we were all

those work shoot me

Molten Lava with my

grateful. -

in Time for starting my sci- another PM and I can fi/fantasy obsession. scrounge up someone.

an issue here. The same can be said for Molten Lava,

Wyvern, and I have been

Currently working through

myself the victim, most

the Discworld series.

notably in this Scenario, of Molten Lava death. The guy doing the drop-

To read more about the Alien Invitational, you can visit the thread on Heroscapers.com. Link: The Alien Invitational

Let's try Soundwarp again. If he doesn't pick up try

Thanks again for your time! -

Favorite Television Series: Oh, good. An easy one.

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Heroscape Codex

Fan Art Spotlight Blazbaros’ Zettian Guard By Evar Evar--Scarcarver

I

n the theme of my weird mood, I present to you, in TV script text format, the From the Desk of a Frostrager/Fan Art Spotlight, now with studio audience! [studio audience claps] Starring that amazingly handsome spraytanned frostrager, EvarScarcarver! [studio audience claps, and a teenage girl in the back can be heard screaming, “I love you Evar!”] “Thank you, thank you everybody.” The Frostrager calms down the audience. “As amazing as I am, you really must save the applause for this weeks featured art. Zettian Guard, by DeviantART user Blazbaros!” [studio audience gives standing ovation] “This is stupid.” The director walks onto the stage, staring at the Frostrager with his ‘you are so fired’ look. “Of all the crazy things you’ve turned in, this is the

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stupidest.” “Ladies and gentlemen and Marro and Elves and other assorted species, the director!” [studio applause] “Stop it, Scarcarver!” The director yells. “There’s not even a studio audience! You’re just playing recordings!” “I suppose you’re going to say that there’s no director either.” Evar jokes. [studio laughter] “Really?” The director says. “It’s issue eight, and this is your best idea? Whatever happened to the eloquent amateur art writer and budding philosopher from issue 3? Now that was writing!” “That was different. I had things to say. I had...” The Frostrager protests. “No!” The director demands. “No more sitcoms, conversation with voices in your head, or studio audience in the form of recordings turned into text on the page. Wise up, and write!”

The Frostrager grows serious, smooths back his hair, turns to the audience, and takes a deep breath. He looks down at the piece of art in front of him. “Very well. Let’s get started.” I’ve always loved drawing aliens, cyborgs, and robots. In the same way of drawing fantastical beasts, the limit is your imagination. The artist still applies all rules of foreshortening, perspective, color theory, flow of action, but anatomy and logical weaponry can be just used as an outline or reference material, or thrown out the window entirely. Looking through Blazbaros’ other pieces of art, he obviously not only enjoys drawing robots, but he’s good at it. The diversity and creativity of his imaginative mechanical masterpieces amazes me. No monotone machines here! A lot of his robots

have blank white backgrounds, which as an artist I have done many a time simply because unless you have something in mind before you finish the main objects in the foreground, backgrounds can be very messy to add. Zettian Guard is not one of these, the background being a tasteful blend of dull colors accented by a red glow that helps to drive home the evil robot feel. Not only are the colors of the background matching and not distracting, the glowing red makes up a hexagonal pattern that the Zettian Guard stands on, paying homage to the original inspiration of Heroscape. The Zettian guard looks visually amazing, it’s reference obvious to any die hard Heroscape player, while still showing a healthy amount of artist’s interpretation and creativity. The colors are tastefully shaded to give an artful portrayal of shadows and light. >>>

Volume 2 - Issue 8

>>> Nothing is overdone or distracting on the drawing. Even so, the attention to detail is amazing; the eyes glowing slightly and smoke drifting from the freshly fired cannon. Looking through Blazbaros’ other pieces, two that stood out to me are titled “Imperial Retribution”, a commission, and “Lunar Mechanicultist” both of which are visually stunning and show off the artist’s skill and imagination. I suggest you go check these masterpieces out on DeviantART. That’s all for now, and remember, if you know of any Heroscape Fan Art that deserves a spotlight in the Codex, you can send me a PM on Heroscapers.com (EvarScarcarver) or contact us through Facebook or Twitter (/hscodex for Facebook and @HeroscapeCodex for Twitter). Until next time! ~ ES [studio applause] “You are so fired.” -

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Heroscape Codex

Heart of Vengeance Chapter 4: Anger of the Heart By The Grim Reaper’s Friend

T

GRUT, NINTH YEAR OF THE THIRD AGE here were almost no free villages on Grut. Nearly all of them were ruthlessly ruled over by some mighty orc, a champion of some powerful village. These champions were forever in fierce contention with each other, as their borders expanded beyond their control. Of the champions, only a few were deadly warriors. Most had attained their position by poisoning

their rivals from the shadows, and then stepping in to take their place. Of those that were true champions, only about half inspired terror throughout Grut. Ragnak was one of these champions. Drelach, the champion whose borders were closest to his, was another. They both possessed a demon Heart, and they both refrained from leading a full-scale assault on the other, for neither could die. Of those champions that were feared throughout the land, like Ragnak and Drelach, there were but three that had attained a truly massive amount of power. Those three were Nerak, Ornak, and Tornak. Nerak lived in the far North, where the clouds of burning ash from the volcanoes could not reach, and snow fell upon the mountains. His refuge was a massive fortress, half imbedded in a mountainside, from which his deadly swogs would issue and tear any advancing army to shreds. Ornak’s realm was below that of Nerak. He had slain twenty demons, and the resulting supply of Hearts had somehow crazed his mind with dark magic, making him volatile and likely to attack any orc who came near him. No army even thought to challenge him. The third champion, Tornak, lived in the West. He had built a massive city – the largest ever to be seen on Grut – in the sheer walls of a canyon. This canyon was no demon made crevice. It was miles deep, the river that had been formed by it rushing through with great speed. It provided an unlimited supply of water for the city, something without which Tornak and his orcs would have long since died out. Tornak employed the use of raptors and other ’saurs to defeat his enemies. His army was skilled, wellequipped, and well-provisioned. He was not as powerful as Nerak or Ornak, and relied on strategy rather than force to win his battles. His city was rich with the accumulated wealth of all the villages he had conquered, and its fortifications were nearly impregnable. It was understandable, therefore, that Tornak was surprised when he received word of an approaching

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Volume 2 - Issue 8 army, bent on his destruction. Tornak continued to stare at the scout, unable to believe his ears. “He’s attacking?” he repeated. “He’s actually attacking us?” The scout nodded. “They’ll be here by nightfall, sire.” Tornak glanced out the stone-rimmed window. Dusk was already falling. “And you’re sure it’s him?” he asked. The scout nodded again. “I got a good look at him. The Heart in his armor burns with a fel light, its magic supplying him with otherworldly strength. He will not let up, and rests only so that his army does not die of exhaustion.” Tornak pondered the sky. It would be dark within the hour. The attack made no sense. It was a bold move, yes; the army posed a large threat to Tornak’s city. But it was foolish, so foolish… the least experienced commander could see that. Tornak knew who led the army, he knew that Ragnak was marching to attack him. But why would Ragnak leave his own village undefended? It would take at least a week for him to return: plenty of time for any passing orc to invade and leave the village in ruins. It was an obvious mistake, too obvious, in fact. Tornak did not believe for a moment that Ragnak had simply overlooked it. What then was his plan? Why would there be such an obvious flaw in his attack? It was foolhardy to say the least. Such a mistake could very easily cost Ragnak what power he had. “Prepare the defenses,” said Tornak, turning back to the scout. “I want the second and third squads of raptors saddled and ready in twenty minutes.” The scout nodded once and was gone. Tornak turned back to the window. “What is your plan, Ragnak?” he whispered to the gathering darkness. “What do you mean by attacking me in such a way? What would cause you to do this, to overlook such a mistake?” GRUT, ONE MONTH PREVIOUSLY Ragnak rolled, keeping his balance centered so that he wouldn’t shift direction. He came up on his feet directly in front of a surprised orc, whom he promptly beheaded. A quick jab with his other axe dispatched an orc behind him. No champion would claim his village. Ragnak had been so busy defending his lands against Drelach that he had left his own village undefended one too many times. Now a truly powerful orc, Tornak by name, had launched an assault. His

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Heroscape Codex Chapter 4: Anger of the Heart goal, Ragnak was sure, was to collect his store of demon Hearts and thus secure even more power for himself. It was lucky that Ragnak had been so close by. He had been returning from a nearby village with a sizeable army when word had reached him of Tornak’s attack. Now his village was the scene of a full-scale attack as the two armies clashed, battering each other to bits. Wherever Ragnak went, Tornak’s orcs fell. However, it was not a mindless swath of destruction that he cut. Ragnak was carving a path straight to his home, straight to his family. It was them that he would defend. Ragnak’s mind, once keen and discerning, had been reduced to a haze of red, filled with constant pain. Ragnak had once thought, what seemed like decades ago, that by killing Grimnak he would have peace. He had thought that if he could avenge his father, he would be able to accept his loss and move on. He had been wrong. Despite Grimnak’s death, his father still haunted him. He was joined every night by Grimnak, jeering and laughing, and now Drelach, dooming Ragnak as blue blood dripped from the skulls strapped to his arms. The nightmares caused him to wake, shivering in the darkness. Aderra did her best to soothe him, but sleep seemed to flee Ragnak as quickly as his enemies fled his blade. If it weren’t for the demon Heart, which continued to pour strength into him, Ragnak would have long since collapsed out of sheer exhaustion. Ragnak cut down another orc foolish enough to get in his way. Tornak’s army was losing ground rapidly, but they were taking many orcs with them. Already the streets were flowing with blue orc blood, hacked corpses choking its passage. Ragnak slew a last orc and bound to his front door. All was silent inside. “Aderra?” he called, and he was surprised to hear that his voice was rough, as if it too was filled with blood. “Kira?” Silence greeted him. He rushed inside, his weapons raised, ready for any foe. What he was not ready for was the thick trail of blood smeared across the floor that met his eyes. It led from the door, weaving back and forth, and turned into a side room. Ragnak followed it, gripping his axes tighter, fearing what he might find. The room was in shadow. Ragnak could just make out a dark form in one corner, a tangled mass that seemed to have no shape. The trail of blood led to it, and Ragnak followed, his fear mounting. Not fear for himself, but what he might see, what might meet his eyes at any moment. If it was Aderra that he now approached, or Kira, grievously injured… Ragnak tore the Heart from his armor, clutching it tightly, prepared to use it on his family, to heal them, to keep them with him… The light from the Heart spread across the shape before him, and Ragnak gasped. It was not Aderra, nor Kira. The tangled shape was Tornak. “You!” Ragnak thundered, lunging forwards. He now saw that Tornak had been bent over where he kept his remaining demon Hearts, doubtless about to extract them from where they lay. Fortunately, Tornak had not

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collected any yet, and Ragnak leapt after him as he bolted for the door, axes whistling through the

Volume 2 - Issue 8 air. Ragnak had nearly reached Tornak when they hurtled out of the house. The brightness of the day struck Ragnak’s eyes, temporarily blinding him. He staggered to a halt, searching fruitlessly for Tornak through the rays of the sun. It was at that moment that Tornak spoke, his voice guttural, commanding. “Tera!” Ragnak did not know what the word meant. A moment later, however, a vast shape blocked out the sun, and Ragnak ducked as Tornak’s raptor leapt at him from nowhere. He tripped and fell over backwards. The demon Heart which he still clutched in his hand slipped from his grasp and skittered into the shadows beneath the house. Ragnak raised his axes to ward off the raptor, but his weapons were batted aside. A single clawed foot rose momentarily into the air, Ragnak tried to roll out of the way, and then felt a terrible pain on his face as the foot descended, leaving three bloody slices in his head. Blood immediately filled Ragnak’s eyes. Through the blue haze he saw Tornak leap atop the raptor and turn away, yelling for his soldiers to retreat. Then the pain blotted out his vision entirely. Ragnak struggled to remain conscious. He knew the wounds were too deep, that he was losing blood too fast. There was only one thing that could save him, and it was mere feet away, glowing faintly in the bright light of the sun, half hidden in the shadows. Ragnak crawled forward, his fingers slipping on the blood-sodden ground. The pain in his head threatened to overwhelm him. Blackness gathered in the back of his mind, beckoning him to join it, to release himself, to give in to the pain… Pain shot through Ragnak’s entire body as his fingers closed on something small, wet, hard, and warm. It beat irregularly with a life of its own, its magic pulsing through his veins. The glow of the Heart penetrated even through the darkness in his mind, shoving it aside with ease, forcing his eyes open, returning him to full consciousness. For a moment, the pain in his head intensified, and then it ceased, as abruptly as if a nerve had been severed. The blood ran cleanly off of Ragnak’s face, out of his eyes, and he leapt to his feet, full of renewed energy, ready to fight, ready to kill… But Tornak and his army were already gone, the dust left by their retreat the only sign that they had been there. Ragnak staggered slightly. His Heart was still trying to heal his head, even though the pain had stopped. That was odd. The pain never stopped until the wound was healed. What was the Heart doing, then? Ragnak lifted a hand and felt his head. The dark magic felt warm on his arm as his fingers traced the outline of three long, jagged scars running from his forehead to his cheek. The brief moment in which he had not had the Heart had done enough damage to never be healed fully. Fortunately, the raptor’s talons had missed his eye, but Ragnak could tell that some of the muscles controlling his mouth had been severed. The right side felt oddly slack.

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Heroscape Codex Chapter 4: Anger of the Heart Ragnak rushed back inside his house and back into the room, where he quickly counted his Hearts. Tornak had taken none. Relief flooded him briefly before being washed away by trepidation. Where, then, had the blood come from? It was still smeared along the floor, running, Ragnak now saw, to another dark corner of the room. Ragnak looked towards the corner. A small figure was huddled there, completely silent and very still… too still. Not Kira… no, please not Kira, not my daughter… But it was Kira. However, she seemed uninjured. She looked up as Ragnak approached, tears glistening on her young face. And only then did Ragnak see what lay in the corner before her, in a pool of blood, motionless and dead: Aderra. Grut, ninth year of the Third Age “Charge!” Ragnak thundered, drawing his twin axes. The swog beneath him moved fluidly, its powerful muscles pushing away from the ground as it leapt forwards with ever-lengthening strides. The orcs behind Ragnak drew their own weapons, a good number of them the bones of slain demons, and let loose a terrible war cry to the heavens that tore the night in two. Their challenge was answered by a mass far before them: Tornak’s warriors, mounted on raptors and ready for the fight. All sound seemed to fade for Ragnak. Only the thundering of the two forces rushing to meet each other rumbled in his ears; all else was forgotten. This was the night Aderra would be avenged. Tonight, finally, he would have peace, true peace. Tonight, Tornak would be slain. Though the swog beneath him quickened its pace, and though the raptors before them charged forward with the lust of battle, time seemed to suddenly slow down for Ragnak. He watched as the two armies drew closer, and closer, their weapons drawn, their mouths locked in a terrible scream, their faces pictures of ferocity. So this is how peace is achieved, Ragnak thought. The idea seemed wrong to him, insane, as if it didn’t belong. And then the armies clashed. Sound suddenly returned with a clash of arms. Arrows flew through the sky overhead. Orcs fell. Screams rent the air. Flames burst into existence. The raptors screamed and slashed their enemies. The swogs hissed and rent their foes with long claws. Orcs slammed into each other, tearing into flesh with their blades, knocking aside swords, killing without discretion. The sky and ground faded together, both stained with the blood of the battle. All was chaos. Ragnak ripped through the orcs before him. Tornak had not won by being at the front of every battle, where he was an easy target. He had won by remaining in the back, cowardly issuing orders to those under him.

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It was him that Ragnak had come to slay. Tonight was the night that he would pay for his murder

Volume 2 - Issue 8 of Aderra. Ragnak broke free of the ranks. He was now behind the enemy line, between the battling armies and Tornak’s vast city. However, between him and the city was another army, a second legion of Tornak’s raptors. They were waiting for the first wave to weaken Ragnak’s army before rushing in and finishing them. And standing at their head, mounted proudly on his armored raptor, was Tornak, nothing but shock registering on his face at the sight of Ragnak. Without a second’s hesitation, Ragnak turned his swog straight towards the second army and charged. That was where Tornak was. That was his goal. Arrows thudded against his armor, but they bounced off harmlessly. Even those that were tipped with fire were quenched by the Heart. Ranks poured in front of Tornak, charging Ragnak down. The spears and swords ripped through his swog with ease, but they slithered off of his armor and weapons like water, unable to penetrate it. Even those that found his unprotected arms barely left gashes before they were turned aside by the magic of the Heart, the wounds instantly healed. Ragnak leapt off of his swog as the beast fell to the ground, pierced by a hundred weapons. He kicked one orc to the ground and dispatched him, slew another with a quick jab of his axe, and marched onwards, not caring how many orcs attacked him. There was only one that he sought tonight, and no amount of soldiers would stop him. For the first time in twenty years, Tornak’s orcs faltered. Those that had not gone to slay Ragnak backed away, half turning towards the city. Tornak could not blame them. Ragnak was carving a path through at least a hundred orcs as though they weren’t even there. He’s coming for me, Tornak realized with a jolt of fear. He’s coming for me, and nothing is going to stop him. One of us is going to kill the other. Tornak’s grip tightened on his sword. He had a family that loved him. He had a village that looked up to him. He would defend them at any cost. He could not ask his rapidly dwindling army to defend him, not when their efforts were so clearly useless. No, it would fall to him to meet Ragnak, to fight this final battle. Tornak unslung his shield from his back. “Ready yourself, Tera,” he whispered to his raptor. “Our enemy fast approaches.” With a mighty bellow, Ragnak slew the final orc and charged ahead, paying no heed to the mountainous pile of corpses that he had left behind him. His arms had been slashed so many times that they appeared to be encased in dark magic, and his head was so wreathed in it that he saw Tornak through a haze of dark red.

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Heroscape Codex Chapter 4: Anger of the Heart “Your time has come, Tornak!” he yelled as he ran, his axes weighted down with blood. “You slew Aderra! You took her from my life! Now I shall take yours, in payment! Prepare to taste my vengeance!” The next thing Ragnak knew, something very strong had struck him in his armor and he had been flung to the ground. The raptor raised a leg, preparing for another strike. Ragnak rolled, avoiding the blow, but Tornak bent down and swung at him with his sword. That proved to be a mistake. Ragnak grasped the sword, heedless of the pain that was quickly healed, and yanked Tornak out of the saddle and onto the ground. He stamped on his face, keeping him temporarily down, and then swung his axe at the raptor. The demon bone found its mark. It lodged in the ’saur’s neck. The raptor let loose an earsplitting screech, but a quick blow to the head from the other axe silenced it, and it fell to the ground, lifeless. “No!” Tornak screamed, leaping to his feet. He swung his sword at Ragnak, who ignored it and allowed it to bounce off of his armor. Instead, he swung his axe at Tornak’s arm, quickly breaking it.

Art by Evar-Scarcarver

Tornak staggered backwards, the sword falling from his limp grasp. “No,” he repeated, his eyes wide. He knew the end was near. Ragnak advanced on him, his face a mask of fury and pain. A kick to the stomach was sufficient to make Tornak fall to the ground. Another strike of the axe, and his other arm was broken, the shield useless. Ragnak knelt on him, keeping him in place, and looked into his beaten face. For a long time, neither of them spoke. They both knew how it would end. Ragnak considered Tornak. Not that many years ago, he had similarly looked down on another orc, another victim of the power of his Heart. Grimnak had taken his father, and Ragnak had killed him. But he did not have peace. The pain of his father’s death had not left him. Before him lay Tornak. He had taken Aderra. Would the pain of that loss stay with him as well? Would

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he be tortured by her death also?

Volume 2 - Issue 8 Ragnak moved his axes carefully, deciding where to strike. He would have his revenge, and he would have peace. He would strike down Tornak now, concentrating all his pain at Aderra’s death into the single blow. And then, and only then, would his heart be at rest. “You haven’t won.” Ragnak glanced back at Tornak’s face. It wasn’t frightened now. It was calm. Tornak knew what was coming, knew that he could do nothing to stop it, and had accepted it. “You haven’t won,” he repeated. “You’ll never win as long as you carry that Heart.” Ragnak considered him for a moment. “It is the Heart that has slain you,” he said quietly. “It is the Heart that will give me peace. It is the Heart that has given me revenge.” He raised his axes on high. “For Aderra!” he bellowed to the heavens. And then the axes descended in a spray of blood. Aderra… Aderra… The single word seemed to repeat over and over in Ragnak’s mind as he looked down on the mangled body of Tornak. He felt no different. The pain was still there. The memory was still there. He could still see Aderra’s lifeless body huddled in the corner, Kira crying over it, and he felt a wave of anger, of hate. He drove his axe into Tornak’s lifeless body, snapping its bones in two. Still the vision swam before his eyes. He sunk his axe to the hilt in Tornak’s flesh, but still Aderra was before him, her blood pooling on the ground, Kira’s sobs filling the silence… “Nooo!” bellowed Ragnak. Again and again he sank his axe into Tornak, but the pain only increased. Now Aderra stood before him, her eyes reproachful. “Avenge me, Ragnak,” she said, over and over. “Avenge me.” “I have!” thundered Ragnak. “I have. I have slain Tornak!” His father joined Aderra, the same request upon his lips. “I slew them both! They’re dead, dead by my hand! Why do you still haunt me? Why do you rob me of peace? What must I do?” Still the words echoed: Avenge me… Avenge me… Avenge me… Ragnak fell to the ground, burying his face against it, trying to block out the visions, but they persisted in his mind. He had had his revenge upon Grimnak. He had had his revenge upon Tornak. And still, peace was not his. What must I do? Anger of the Heart is the fourth chapter in a series of five. To comment on The Heart of Vengeance, you can visit TGRF’s thread in the Fan Art and Fiction forum on Heroscapers.com. Link: The Heart of Vengeance

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