As a Dwarf Player I have always been drawn to the Slayer-like history and background of Josef Bugman.
I was therefore pleased to see that GW had presented some trial rules for him, even though I was under the impression he had died. I was also kind of pleased to see that there were some inconsistencies in the two pieces of fluff GW had produced:
http://uk.games-workshop.com/news/uk/event...rld/bugmans.htmhttp://uk.games-workshop.com/warhammerworl...arfs/bugman.htmThis led me to write the following piece describing the current whereabouts of the legendary Dwarf, so that I might use him as a contemporary character in my games of Warhammer (with my opponents permission of course!). What do you think?? Is it OK to write new fluff for an old character??:
There are many legends describing the life and fate of Josef Bugman, so many in fact that relatively little is known for definite of his life or current fate. There can be no debate that Josef Bugman was one of the greatest Dwarf brewers in history, responsible as he was for the notorious Troll Brew and Bugman’s XXXXXX.
Josef Bugman was still a relatively young Dwarf when he inherited the famous Bugman’s Brewery which lies in the shadow of the Grey Mountains, upon the River Sol. The family business had been founded by Zamnil “Samuel” Bugman, one of Josef’s forefathers, although it was not until Josef Bugman received ownership that the brewery truly thrived – developing from a small business into a Dwarf settlement of considerable size.
Bugman’s abilities as a Brewmaster were held in high regard and awe by all Dwarf-folk, particularly the Dwarfs of Grey Mountains. Indeed it is said that the stronghold of Karak Norn still owes Bugman a great debt for the vast quantities of Troll Brew he supplied.
Despite his obvious talents, Josef Bugman was an adventurer and huntsman at heart. So great was his passion for hunting that he founded and trained a regiment of expert Rangers who served as his bodyguard, accompanying him on his travels away from the brewery. It was upon his return from one such journey that Bugman found his ancestral home besieged by a particularly vicious horde of goblins. Although the Dwarf defenders of the settlement fought bravely, the brewery was ultimately lost and plundered by the marauding Grobi.
It is well-documented that Bugman’s Brewery was all but destroyed during the Goblin Wars. Imperial records state that the goblin attack was so fierce that no Dwarf survived, not even Bugman himself. Accounts in the annals of the dwarfs however claim that Josef Bugman had been able to brew an ale with magical regenerative properties that he kept with him at all times. Dwarfs tell of how this special brew allowed Bugman and his Rangers to defy death and that they still patrol the areas around the Grey Mountains, exacting revenge upon any goblins they find. There are even tales of how a secretive, shadowy band of Rangers has emerged form the wilds clasping tankards of ale as if they were more precious than even the purest of gold. These Rangers are said to only appear to aid beleaguered Dwarf forces, and disappear equally as mysteriously as they emerged.
To an Imperial scholar these claims may seem fanciful, although in reality may not be so very far from the truth, for Josef Bugman is indeed still alive. He now leads a hermit’s existence, accompanied by what remains of his Ranger bodyguard, upon one of his old steam-powered river barges – the “Brewer’s Tap”. This was the vessel upon which Bugman returned to his family home on that final, fateful occasion and thus remained hidden from goblin eyes. It is from his barge that Bugman now co-ordinates his attacks upon the goblins, and this partially accounts for his apparent ability to ‘disappear’ into the wilderness.
Imperial accounts of other aspects of the siege of Bugman’s Brewery also seem inaccurate in light of recent events. Josef Bugman has now been reunited with the survivors of the siege including his old friend and Runesmith Skraggi Silvertooth, who forged the Bugman family axe wielded by Josef. It appears that during the siege of the brewery, as the settlement was overrun, Skraggi was able to escape via a long-abandoned tunnel network, accompanied by a bodyguard of ironbreakers. With the loss of the brewery and no master, Skraggi contemplated joining the Slayer cult, but being an old and wise Dwarf knew that this would mean his talents as a Runeweaver would go wasted. Instead he sought new employment, eventually commiting his services and those of his Ironbreakers to Boris the Bulletdodger, Dwarf Lord of the Undgrin Ankor. With time news reached Skraggi of the whereabouts of Bugman and his mysterious Rangers, and Skraggi set about re-joining the force of his old friend.
Skraggi has now renewed his oath of allegiance to Josef, and along with Boris the Bulletdoger has joined the master brewer as he assembles a throng set to travel to the Badlands. their aim is to rid the Old World of Bugman's Goblin nemesis, Big Chief Wiggum, once and for all.
Also at Josef’s side is a band of Slayers encountered by Bugman during his patrols of the wild. More recently still, the gyrocopter patrols of the Dwarf hold Karak Norn have located Bugman’s encampment. The hold has now despatched a small clan to Bugman’s aid, as part repayment for the great debt owed to him.
