'Martha Blackard'

A Flintloque Background Article Tony Harwood

An Orcs in the Webbe Original! A fiery Orc outlaw rises from troubled origins becoming a terrifying legend dreaded by soldiers across Al-Garvey...

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Over the years, I have on these very pages regaled you, my loyal and regular readers, with tales of daring-do and high adventure, many detailing the escapades of that Orcish rogue and anti-hero: Foul Mouth Freddy. Today I introduce you to a femme fatale who would make even Freddy blush.

The origins of Martha Blackard are shrouded in mystery with only the merest splinters or shards of information detailing her early upbringing. It is said that she was a street urchin abandoned by her mother and never knowing her father, but other urban myths place her in a well-to-do household with a preacher father and pious mother. Whatever the truth of her early childhood official court records show that, as a young Orc, Martha with her fiery temperament and flaming red hair, was never far from trouble, the city watch or the courts. One early court record names Martha as the recipient of one huge side of pork which, having been stolen from the local butcher ended up in the arms of Martha Blackard (aged undetermined) of 14 Rutland Street, Swains Eye, Taffsea. It was no coincidence that Rutland Street adjoined the local gaol and was one of the first streets to be cleared of ALL miscreants once destruction and redevelopment of the notorious city slum areas commenced some years later.

A later court appearance recorded that when Martha was fined the princely sum of ten shillings for causing an affray and damaging the bonnet of a local seamstress of good standing. The fine was originally set much lower but obscenities and a further unseemly fracas outside the court forced the magistrate to increase the fine and even threaten a prison sentence.

Further court visits have been recorded and it was on one such occasion when the local ‘Beak’ threatened Martha with a hefty prison stay that Martha’s future took a slightly unusual turn. A missionary minister, a huge and grey haired Ogre happened to be in court that day and needing some willing hands (for an adventure he was undertaking in Algarvey) interceded with the court and agreed to take Martha with him on his attempt to convert those heathen green-skinned Goblins to the unswerving ways of Sentinel. Martha was none too pleased with this turn of events and made herself heard in a very un-lady Orc manner with names and cat-calling that would have made Foul Mouth Freddy’s ears glow with embarrassment.

Never-the-less, Martha sailed with the Missionary and his unprepared party to the wilds of Algarvey where swarthy Goblins fought with ‘Wheel and Turn’ against the unholy ‘pointy-ears’ led by the usurper Mordred. The trip was long and, although un-eventful, did cement Martha in a game of one-up-man or should I say one-up-Ogre-ship - Martha and the preacher were continually at logger-heads and on more than one occasion the Ogre threatened and very nearly did throw Martha overboard. The main points of contention were that Martha refused to attend prayers and saw no reason to observe the Sabbath, preferring to play cards with and take money from the unsuspecting sailors. Did I mention that Martha was quite the card-shark?

On arriving in Algarvey things did not improve and now that the missionary was in unfamiliar lands with soldiers or crooks (one and the same in many Orcs’ eyes) Martha’s protests become more vocal. Contemporary accounts claim that foul language arguments and yelling matches between Martha and the at-wits-end Ogre missionary would continue for hours into the night. Even battle hardened troops like Foul Mouth Freddy and his less than pure posse gave Martha a very wide berth. Martha on the other hand found solace in the arms of (many) Dark Elf guerrillas that fought alongside the Goblins. In fact Martha began to accompany the guerrillas on their raids against the Ferach intruders and there are illustrations by the famous Dark Elf artist Gotcha who recorded increasingly barbaric atrocities carried out by both sides in his series of paintings called the Disasters of Waaagh.

It wasn’t long before these raids were coming to the notice of the authorities (on both sides) and Martha was re-named Martha Blackheart by the Ferach and Martha the Heretic by the Goblins in reverence to her potty-mouth (similar to another foul mouthed leader of Orcs – our Freddy) and irreverent behaviour. For Martha, with a tongue that could curdle fresh goats’ milk, still refused to attend prayers or recognise the Sabbath. Sometime later, either by mutual agreement or through sheer bloody-mindedness Martha and the long-suffering missionary parted company. Martha was now free to cavort with the swarthy Dark Elf guerrillas and lead her own band on horrific raids against the sapphire uniformed invaders. Each night Martha and her raiders would execute atrocities that I am just not able to record in this respectable Londinium publication. Night after night the raids with the red-headed Martha, riding a stallion as black as the darkest black moonless night and named Midnight, would return with trophies of Ferach heads and captured Elf banners torn and blood stained. These raids ultimately came to the attention of some War Demons – where there is war there are always War Demons and these Demons decided that Martha was just the figurehead they need in this never-ending struggle.

In one infamous example Martha incited both Orc Redcoats and Goblins with promises of loot and hard liquor to attack a large garrison of Ferach, holed up in a ruined fort. The battle was ferocious and ultimately successful with much smashing of windows and destruction of property but the attack caused many injuries and wounds to the allied Orc and Goblin forces. The authorities were not pleased and an enquiry concluded that the Orc sergeant had operated with haste and recklessness. He was stripped of his sergeant’s stripes (once again) but as we know a certain sergeant usually gets his stripes back! The Goblin soldiers were treated less harshly with just a thrashing and some gruel and grog held back for a day or so. Martha got away scot free. But that was Martha for you always at the front of a ruckus, egging-on others to commit offences but somehow managing to never get caught herself.

However one late winter night on the eve of Cryptmas Martha left with her cutthroats on her trusty Midnight for another raid against the Ferach but never returned...

Few lamented the disappearance of such a dark and wicked character with no search parties being raised to go and look for her, Midnight or her band of raiders. Even so it wasn’t long before stories and rumours began to circulate – a wild she-Orc Banshee riding a beast as black as a bat in a coal cellar on a starless night and at the head of a band of similarly attired ferocious guerrillas hell-bent of death and destruction. Gotcha (the troubled artist) even scribbled a couple of charcoal sketches but they were deemed to horrific for general release and burnt as an abomination to Goblin-kind.

These stories continued and as is often the case became tales to tell young green-skins or Snotlings if they misbehaved – “Be good or Martha of the Blackheart will get you.”

A lie? A myth? A fairytale?

Maybe not. Sometime later on a night with only the merest slither of waning moon to light the way some Red-coated Orcs were in pursuit of a retreating troop of Ferach skirmishers and through the chilled silence of the night charging horses and wild shrieks were heard thundering across the battlefield. Then - total silence and no trace of the ‘pointy-ears’ could be found. Not even a discarded Shako or a spent cartridge. But wait. Just out of the corner of your eye were those faint glowing hoof prints in the still wet mud, hoof prints that seemed to dissipate in to curling wisps of eerie grey smoke as you attempted to focus on them. Was it Martha - Martha Blackheart and her guerrillas? Days later a similar experience, except this time as well as the horse ridden by a demon-possessed, red-haired, she-Orc and her wild hunt, there were now skeletal and ghostly Ferach skirmishes accompanying them, silently running alongside them as if in a perpetual race against ferocious pursuing demons.

Dark Elf Guerrillas still tell stories about Martha Blackheart and her ever-increasing band of spectral followers harassing any Ferach soldier who dares to venture out after dark. Albion authorities do nothing to silence these rumours preferring to allow myth and horror tales of ethereal guerrillas to haunt the troubled sleep of the Ferach invaders while gleeful War Demons revel in the monstrosities of war and their very own She-Devil.

Author’s Note

I’m not sure if there is an obvious miniature or conversion for Martha within the current Flintloque range of figures. I’m also not sure if Martha should be riding Midnight side-saddle or not. Maybe someone will do a Limited Edition resin print? The ethereal guerrilla raiders could be built around mounted Dark Elf guerrillas painted in a luminous green or pale Celadon colour. I see them very much as I would imagine Ghost Riders in the Sky, a song by Johnny Cash. Horses with flowing black manes and glowing red nostrils spouting fire. The un-dead Ferach skirmishes could be standard metal Ferach painted in a more ghostly or washed-out colour scheme, maybe converted so the lower halves appear as floating in the ether. Undead Witchlands inspired miniatures fighting in Catalonia!

If you decide to add a Martha Blackheart’s group to your Flintloque/Slaughterloo games here are some tips. The group should be a mix of mounted figures and foot soldiers but move as mounted models as the ever-present War Demon magic should allow the infantry to keep up with the cavalry as they charge. They should act independently of any brave Albion or Goblin force but can be partially controlled by a Dark Elf Guerrilla player. They can only operate at night, ideally black moonless nights and accompanied with odd bouts of thunder. Enemy combatants will not be able to see or hear the ethereal band until it is too late and they can attack from any side of the table making any attempt at defence superfluous. Finally, any casualties are removed but can join the guerrilla band as additional un-dead troops in future games.

So where did the inspiration for this short story come from?

Martha was a real person. My daughter has been exploring the family tree on my wife’s side of the family and Martha really did exist. Her criminal record and misdemeanours are now the thing of legend with official papers and local newspapers naming Martha in a number of different court cases and offences, I have elaborated them (slightly) but Martha was one hell of a woman. Other elements come from a little know Welsh legend called Mallt-y-Nos (Matilda of the Night) about a young woman who preferred to go out hunting on her stallion, Midnight instead of attending church.

In memory of Martha 1859 – 1930 May she rest in peace

I hope that you like this re-telling.

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Webmaster's Notes

This article was written exclusively for Orcs in the Webbe and was first published on the 9th December 2025 as the ninth entry in the 2024 Advent Calendar. 

You can read all the previous adventures of Foul Mouth Freddy by clicking on his maroon  tag  just below and to the left.

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