Captain's Log:
I managed to fasten one of our spare backplates onto my plate armour as a breastplate. It certainly looks odd but it gets the job done! Walking down a mountain was a nice change to the routine. A very pleasant feeling of serenity washed over me like a cooling splash of water. Ghal Moraz is truly a blessing to carry. The spirits of the crew were generally lifted, although The One keeps insisting that something is wrong with Werner's feet. I can assure you that this is not the case! He's just... he... hurt his feet. That's right, he hurt his feet after all of this mountain walking. The land itself seemed to react to the hammer being rescued from the underworld. We were gifted clear skies for our efforts and even clearer trails. I am happy to say that the nearby forces of Chaos have felt the presence of Skull Splitter and have fled with their tails between their legs! The nights became frosty and quiet. Better than deathly and loud, I can easily say! The elven valley would take about a good fortnight of travel to make it there. We estimated that we had about a week's worth of food. Shite. Well, I wasn't up for eating Enzo or Dumpling so those tough mountain goats were our best bet. I let Werner loose on one and we got about seventeen good portions of goat meat for the journey. Not the best eating but I'm not going to bloody starve because of acting like a snobby noble gourmend... gourmander... gourmand? Thanks. Yes, one of those!
Met two trappers along the way. Two similar looking fellows that were about five feet and a bit... Conrad and Adolph. The left one was Conrad, no, Adolph. Regardless, they asked us a fair few questions about where we were going and if we would go with them. I didn't know what to say to these odd men but The One set them straight. They didn't bother us at all after that. She also linked her god given insight with the hammer. Discovered that it would instantly slay any goblins and similar creatures. I expected nothing less! You kept talking about your human feet very loudly but the very next morning, Werner had regular feet. Seems I'm not a complete fool after all! No, no, his feet couldn't possibly be new human feet. They looked too fresh and like someone else's feet? Nonsense. Finally we reached the elven valley. I had a plan in mind and had to ask the elves about it. Firstly, I asked if they had any of the old mad man spare. They just gave odd looks.
They did have those flying creatures though. Pegasi is what they call them. Pegasi only accepted the pure of heart. I was filled with dread... that they would be overwhelmed by our purity, of course. It was about Festag, the 19th of Vorhexen, when we approached those winged steeds. The elves kept giggling about our saddles. Something about the harness being only used by elf children. By the hammer, I'd rather be safe than stylish! Long gone are the days of fancy pants. The horses weren't too pleased about having to carry us but they were eventually persuaded. We decided to let Enzo retire in the valley. It was a sad farewell but he bloody earned it. The journey to the north was horrible. The amazing spectacle passes after the first day. The next eight are just painful. I tried looking below the horse. Sights of burning villages and grotesque battles were the only things I saw. I looked back up glumly. Even Pegasi grow weary of travel. I learned that the moment they landed in a strange clearing. I got the feeling that they were delighted to finally be rid of such a heavy load. I didn't enjoy their company much either! Aloof elf horse blighters! The war against Chaos can sometimes make painful necessities, I suppose. Ghal Moraz hummed and shook with an ancient power, pointing us forward! That's the sort of definite guidance I can appreciate.
Our boots caked themselves in the mud of a rainy Imperial road. A family were struggling with a cart stuck in the mud. We stepped forward to help but the driver pulled out a rusty blunderbuss. He was in an awful state of panic but Blessed Jim talked him out of it quickly and cleanly. We easily lifted his cart out of the dirt. We also noticed two bodies under the bundles on that cart. Two Talabecland soldiers. Nearly dropped the damn thing in shock. We got Bruno to tell us everything without much effort. He probably told us too much, to be honest. He was nearly conscripted by force, accidentally killed two men with the blast of the weapon and hid the bodies. Told us of the Sigmarites and the Ulricians at war and everyone who was involved. Graf Heinrich Toddbringer was nearly assassinated and wounded, while the Tsar of Kislev has declared war on the Empire as his son was killed! We must hurry! We let Bruno be and continued to carry out the hammer's will.
Got approached by eight horses, seven without riders and one rider slumped and struck with three arrows. We grabbed four of them and began to gallop. Our ride was short lived as we were met with seven Sigmarites with weapons. They were suspicious of us but we told them of our titles and blathered our way past them. Barely got by. I heard some cries from a nearby undergrowth and dismounted. The last thing that hidden beastman saw was the sun blocked out by a gigantic hammer. I felt stronger, more accurate, like I could will the hammer itself to hurl itself at my foes! We reached a camp with several halflings and other fellows playing cards. A man named Dr. Faustmann Faustmann was willing to discuss the recent tidings with us. The Sigmarites in Wolfenburg were up ahead.
I hope we aren't too late.
No, not if the hammer still wills it!
- Johann Dasbuut.
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