"Ennio: "Once we have finished here, I think we'll go to Araby, I've heard ther's a new prophet sprung up there".
Renzo: "You're not alone there, Renzo,' replied his boss, 'Once we've finished here, I think we'll go to Araby. I've heard there's a new prophet jump up there. ' Renzo nodded. 'Just what we need,' he said, 'Lots of sunshine and a nice, simple little holy war. You know where you are with that sort of job - better than all this political messingabout. What a business, eh? All because of an apple, a piece of string and three initiate priestesses"."
- —Captain Ennio Mordini and his lieutenant Renzo Avanti[1][2a]
Mordini's Nightmare Legion
The Nightmare Legion or Doomed Legion is a renowned regiment of Undead Skeleton Warriors that operates in Tilea. While they were alive, these mercenaries won a number of great victories against the enemies of Duke Fabriano of Lumbrusco. They are most remembered, however, for the assault and destruction of Lumbrusco.[1][2a]
History[]
Ennio Mordini was one of the most powerful mercenary captains ever to serve among the Tilean city states. For most of his career, he and his men served Duke Fabriano of Lumbrusco, expanding that state's fortunes considerably. Their success began to worry their patron, especially since it was not unknown for Tilean mercenary units to seize control of the states which they were supposed to be serving. When the neighbouring state of Organza offered a lucrative alliance on condition that Mordini's troops were disposed of, Fabriano seized the opportunity and, arguing that Organza's son had defiled his own youngest daughter, sent them into an ambush. After a six-days-long forced march during a rainy autumn into the Apuccini Mountains, Mordini's troops were trapped in a gorge by Sardo's, another mercenary force in the service of the Duke of Lumbrusco. Mordini swore before he died that he would be avenged on his treacherous employer. None survived.[1][2a]
Barely five years later, an army of Undead skeletons poured out of the Apuccini Mountains, under the tattered banner of Mordini. Fuelled by their hatred, the dead soldiers cut the armies of Lumbrusco to ribbons, and razed the city to the ground. It is said that Duke Fabriano spent seven days and seven nights dying. Now the Doomed Legion has turned against Organza and the other city states, destroying everything in their path as they avenge themselves upon the double-dealing princes who connived at their murder.[1][2a]
Even today the Nightmare Legion are one of the most renowned Skeleton forces in the Old World,[3a] and it is rumoured that Mordini has now re-fortified the city, and established a dead court there. It appears, though, that no-one living has been close enough to find out.[1][2a]
Chronicles[]
The legendary regiment under the command of the mercenary leader Ennio Mordini and his lieutenant Renzo Avanti was probably the most successful mercenary company of its time, and became extraordinarily rich and powerful - mainly in the service of Duke Fabriano of Lumbrusco . But that was exactly their fate, as their employer, who feared that Mordini might try to usurp power over his city-state himself, decided to get rid of the mercenaries. An alliance offer from Lumbrusco's neighbors, the Prince of Organza, of which the betrayal of Mordini and his men was the price, presented the duke with a welcome opportunity. Ennio Mordini and his company were sent on a mock campaign against the neighboring city-state, which allegedly involved " an apple, a piece of string and three priestess initiates " that the son of the ruler of Organza intended to abuse for sinister purposes , one of the priestesses being Fabriano's daughter. - This whole story was just a lie and deceit, and Mordini, Renzo and their men ran into one of the mercenaries of a captain named Sardo in the pouring rain at the foot of the Apuccinis on the edge of the zombie swamps The captain Sardo set a trap. Mordini and his mercenaries had no choice but to sell their lives as dearly as possible, since their death was a done deal, and when Ennio Mordini finally fell he swore that the traitorous Fabriano of Lumbrusco would not have heard from them for the last time and the bill for that day's betrayal would eventually be settled.[1][2a]
The following conversation has been handed down from the process:
'I'll be glad when this job's over,' he said.
'You're not alone there, Renzo,' replied his boss, 'Once we've finished here, I think we'll go to Araby. I've heard there's a new prophet jump up there. ' Renzo nodded. 'Just what we need,' he said, 'Lots of sunshine and a nice, simple little holy war. You know where you are with that sort of job - better than all this political messingabout. What a business, eh? All because of an apple, a piece of string and three initiate priestesses. '
'And the use to which the Duke of Organza's son and heir was putting said items,' his guide reminded him, 'And the fact that one of the initiate priestesses was none other than the youngest daughter of our noble patron. Anyway, it's all money. '
After a sharp bend in the mountains they stood in front of a wall of spike-bearers. Crossbowmen came from both sides, closing the path behind them by falling rocks.
'Form up!' shouted their leader, 'Hollow square - move!' They were trapped and had little chance of escaping it. Now they just wanted to sell their lives as dearly as possible.
'Mordini!' came a cry from the ranks in front of them.
'Sardo?' he called back, 'I thought we were on the same side! Have you sold Lumbrusco out? '
'Not quite.' came in response. 'Duke Fabriano sold you out. The whole war with Organza is a set-up - your death was one of the alliance conditions. You're too effective for your own good, Mordini - he began to worry about what would happen if you turned against him. ' Renzo laughed out loud.
'Politics!' he groaned. 'What did I tell you?'
'Mordini!' Sardo went on to say, 'I don't need to tell you that this is not of my choosing.'
'Understood!' Mordini replied, 'Just don't expect it to be easy. And if you do me tell Duke Fabriano this - he hasn't heard the last of Mordini. Someday, somehow, accounts will be settled for this day! '
Uniform[]
The Legion's colours used to be green and gold. Although they no longer wear anything that could be recognised as a uniform, the colours are sometimes visible on the tattered rags of clothing that occasionally survive. Their shields are dark green with gold rims, and portray a skull with a red surround.[1][2a]
Battlecry[]
Lacking important things like lungs and vocal cords, the Legion has no battlecry.[1][2a]
Wargear[]
The Nightmare Legionnaires wear chain mail and wield shields, bardiche-guisarmes and swords. The unit includes captain Ennio Mordini (armed with Skabscrath), lieutenant Renzo Avanti (armed with two swords), a banner bearer, and a musician.[1][2a]
Miniatures[]
Sources[]
- 1: The Nightmare Legion box (3rd Edition).
- 2: Citadel Journal Spring 1987
- 2a: pg. 4
- 3: Warhammer Armies (3rd Edition)
- 3a: pg. 118
Gallery[]
