It viciously twists its rust-encrusted sword as it jerks it free of my chest. I have never felt so much pain in my life. As soon as the blade clears my skin all strength leaves my body and I collapse in a pile at the vile things feet. Looking up at the abomination I think only as to how a skull whose smile is always locked in a perpetual grin can seem to muster such a truly evil, satisfied smile. It kicks me in the side of the head in passing to attack one of my comrades. The battle rages around me now, friend and foe obviously thinking me dead, or so close to it that not even the gods could help me. Looking down at the messy thing that was once my chest I am forced to agree with them. If only I could take more of these undead fiends with me before I die, maybe it would give my passing a bit of meaning. I see my battle hammer lying by my hand but I can’t seem to get my fingers to respond to my call to pick it up. Ah, my battle hammer, my father’s and once his father’s before him, I can see every detail clearly marked upon it, every rune, every engraving so vivid to my eye. Finally my fingers touch its beautifully bound hilt, I almost scream from the shock that runs through my arm as my hand closes around it. It’s like lightning that drives all thought from my brain.

Darkness.

I awake to the sound of battle still surging around me; it can not be long since I passed out. What’s this? I feel no pain! I must be closer to death than I know if I am so numb. I pray to Sigmar to grant me strength, to allow me to kill as many of these sins of nature that I can! Again the lightning from the Hammer shoots up my arm bringing its blinding pain, this time I cannot stop the scream. Darkness threatens to take me again but I fight it, I hold onto the light. The light, it’s blinding, it comes from my Hammer. Slowly the light creeps up my arm and behind it comes blessed relief from the pain that nearly has overcome me. What is this? Am I dying? Has Sigmar not heard my call? Peace settles upon me, the noise of the battle fades. Another jolt comes from the Hammer. This time no pain fills me, this time only strength fills my body. I nearly faint at the sight of my chest fully healed with only the bloody hole in my shirt to hint at the gruesome wound that was there not seconds before.

Sigmar has heard my prayers!

As I stand I look for the Skeleton that wounded me to ensure that he was the first to feel my hammer’s bite. To be alive was truly a gift from God, I will do what I promised in my dying prayers and slay as many of these creatures as possible. I see it standing upon the arm of one of my comrades about to make another lethal thrust with that wicked sword. Almost before I realise it I have crossed the space between us and have crushed its evil skull with my hammer. I never remember moving that fast before, what has my God done to me? I feel no fear, Sigmar walks this battlefield at my side and He guides my hammer with every swing. I wield my hammer as a tool of destruction. I will become like this hammer for my God. I will destroy these evil things as long as my lord commands. I will become Sigmar’s Hammer.