Warhammer: Vermintide 2 News

An absent-minded man of mysteries, Franz Lohner relies on his bulging journal to keep track of occurrences, intrigues and arguments around Taal's Horn Keep. Sometimes his notes are even useful, believe it or not. The Franz Lohner Chronicles are extracts from that journal.



Turns out that Saltzpyre’s been thinking about the long game. I mean, we’ve all seen that things are getting worse around here, with no immediate hope of improvement, but Saltzpyre’s actually come up with a suggestion about what we do about it. And I’ll be honest, it’s not the one I expected of him.

According to Saltzpyre, there’s a place up in the grim north called “The Citadel of Eternity”. Never heard of it myself, but he’s adamant there are clues scattered about, if you know what you’re looking for. Supposedly, it’s a place close to the roof of the world, near enough that you can speak with the gods, if that’s your poison. And I’m not talking about the Dark Gods of Chaos, no – those buggers can hear you anywhere, so I understand. Proper gods. Sigmar and the like. Gods who might lend a hand, if we ask ‘em nice.

Apparently, the Order of the Silver Hammer has known about the Citadel of Eternity for some time, thanks to the liberal deployment of thumbscrews and red-hot pokers. It’s the kind of secret they don’t want out in the world, which makes it all the more surprising that Saltzpyre’s proposing we see if we can find the bloody place.

Didn’t exactly look happy when I coaxed that part out of him, if I’m honest. He knows that even contemplating the idea’s going to get him put on his fellow Witch Hunters’ naughty lists, should they ever find out. But he did perk up a bit once he got the words out. Even did that thing we let him think is a smile. You can tell it’s been weighing on him. A man like Saltzpyre lives his life bounded by rules, and breaking them’s scarier than all the red-hot pokers in the world. That’s how I know that no matter how bad I think things have gotten lately, they’re almost certainly worse.

Anyway, he’s asked me to keep it to myself for the time being. Wants to approach the others in his own good time. This ain’t gonna be some Festag stroll. It’s an expedition, right into the heart of the very worst bit of the world, and it’s gonna take a lot of preparation.

How do I feel about it? Still figuring that bit out, if I’m honest. I mean … just imagine if we could get a bit of divine intervention going. Faith’s all very well, but it don’t last forever. Not that I’m expecting old Sigmar to come striding down out of the heavens wreathed in lightning – though wouldn’t that be something? But a word? A blessing? Something to keep wavering hearts in the fight, and give us all a bit of hope that it’s possible to turn things around?

Yeah, I’d settle for that.

But then again, I’m not the one traipsing up into the Chaos Wastes.

An absent-minded man of mysteries, Franz Lohner relies on his bulging journal to keep track of occurrences, intrigues and arguments around Taal's Horn Keep. Sometimes his notes are even useful, believe it or not. The Franz Lohner Chronicles are extracts from that journal.


Hello diary. I hope you don’t mind me addressing you, an inanimate object, as if you’re some kind of sentient being worthy of conversation? I know it’s unseemly.

Alas, you are my only real friend … probably because you have no eyes with which to see how often I scratch myself in unseemly ways, or ears to hear that strange whistling noise I make with my teeth while I scour my tiny mayfly brain for what passes as a useful thought.

Believe me, you’re much better off for it. If only the others were so blessed.

I come to you with a confession. I have recently realised that I must be much, much, much nicer to Kerillian. Or rather, to Lady Kerillian the Beautiful and All-Wise - as I should really start calling her. She is patently as far above me as I am above the worms churning the soil.

No.

Wait.

She is patently many times farther above me than I am above the worms churning the soil. I cannot give you a precise number, no, as counting makes my head hurt and my tongue itch.

Alas, it’s a source of constant, guilty shame that I do not readily prostrate myself and clean Lady Kerillian’s boots with my tongue. Which she would of course not allow, because my tongue – like the rest of me – is filthier than her boots ever get. Yes, even after she’s been forced to walk through yet another sewer because I arrogantly assumed that doing so was a good use of her time.

I understand now that Lady Kerillian’s longevity is no excuse for such poor planning on my part. I should be endlessly grateful for every moment she sees fit to grant me - me! - and never again ask her to join Bardin’s misguided attempt at a sing-song.

Let me see. What else? What else do I talk about all the time? Oh, that’s right.

Pumpkins.

Pumpkins. Pumpkins. Pumpkins. Pumpkins. Pumpkins.

I love pumpkins. In fact, I sometimes wish I was one.

Pumpkins. Pumpkins. Pumpkins. Pumpkins. Pumpkins. Pumpkins. Pumpkins. Pumpkins. Pumpkins. Pumpkins.

Yours, Franz Lohner, in pumpkin love.

Pumpkins.

An absent-minded man of mysteries, Franz Lohner relies on his bulging journal to keep track of occurrences, intrigues and arguments around Taal's Horn Keep. Sometimes his notes are even useful, believe it or not. The Franz Lohner Chronicles are extracts from that journal.



Well, we’ve been here a while now, so I guess it’s time I laid down a little bit about the history of our fair base of operations: Taal’s Horn Keep.

First thing you ought to know is that there were originally two Taal’s Horn Keeps – or rather two Taal’s Horns Keeps. You see, folk think this place is named for Taal’s hunting horn. But in the earlier depictions, Taal has two bloody great antlers. That’s where these two keeps got their names. One sitting on either shoulder of the pass. Turns out the baron who ordered their raising was a devout follower of the Hunter God, and wanted every advantage he could get over the greenskins flowing out of the mountains. And you have to admit, there’s some fine symbolism in an invading army having to chance the Horns of Taal before they can get on with the pillaging.

The only problem was, this here baron was also a bit lax when it came to keeping his fortifications maintained. Wasn’t great on spending money to build ‘em, neither. If you reckon this place looks bad now, it’s an improvement on what he stumped up for. Regardless, by the time the greenskins finally did come a-knocking at the door, neither keep was able to offer much in the way of resistance, although the garrisons surely tried.

There’s a persistent rumour that one of two castellans even retained a hedge wizard to aid in the defence … Only the scruffy old fool ended up calling on rather more of the Winds of Magic than he intended. Routed the greenskins and cursed the fortress at the same time. Nasty business, or so I understand. All tentacles, screams and inky black madness that even a northlander’d baulk at.

Both keeps were abandoned soon after that. Can’t blame anyone for that – the only thing that comes close to living in a cursed keep is having to stare at it across the valley. Step a bit closer to the present day, and one of them collapses from disrepair, its stones nicked to build that lovely bridge down in the valley. The trouble is, I can’t rightly tell which keep collapsed, and which one was left standing … not that the one left standing what you might call good nick. Records are as vague as a Tilean’s wedding vows, if you take my meaning? But I do have my suspicions. Olesya says the Winds of Magic blow strong around here, and that can’t be coincidence, can it?

Still, I’m sure the others’ll let me know if they start hearing voices, won’t they?

The 3-Year Anniversary of Warhammer: Vermintide 2’s launch on PC is just around the corner, and with that, we of course want to celebrate! Vermintide 2 officially launched on PC on March 8, 2018.

Between March 5 - March 14 players on PC will be able to play the celebratory mission ‘A Quiet Drink’, earn Double XP all throughout the Anniversary, and we will be doing daily giveaways over on the Vermintide Twitter.

[h2]A NOTE FROM THE DEVELOPERS[/h2]

These past 3 years have gone by super quickly, and we are humbled and grateful for each and every one of you. Without you, our players, we would not have been able to continue with the development of Vermintide 2 and now Darktide as well. Thank you for all of your feedback, fan art, bug reports, streaming, and of course, thank you for loving Vermintide 2. Let’s celebrate together to highlight the past 3 years, and the years to come!

/The Vermintide 2 Team

An absent-minded man of mysteries, Franz Lohner relies on his bulging journal to keep track of occurrences, intrigues and arguments around Taal's Horn Keep. Sometimes his notes are even useful, believe it or not. The Franz Lohner Chronicles are extracts from that journal.




Hello Franz, darling, it’s Sienna. If you’re reading this, then you already know I’ve found your little diary.

I have to say, I’m very impressed. Quite apart from the content – which is simply chock full of interesting bric-a-brac, if oddly miss-spelled in places – I adore those loving little doodles in the margins. Especially the ones of Saltzpyre. You’ve really captured his scowl – or rather, one of his many scowls. They do say that goblins have a hundred different words for ‘mushroom’. Our dear, gallant Victor is a bit like that, but with bleak facial expressions, don’t you find? Perhaps it’s only having the one eye that does it? Or having a shard of flint where his heart should be.

And speaking of hearts … Don’t think I didn’t spot where you’ve scrubbed out all those bits of conjecture about Kerillian and Markus. Never mind how I know what you’ve been writing – one is a wizard, darling, and you are a dull fellow at times. Such imagery! And all in rhyme, but honestly I don’t know where you got the idea in the first place. It’s best we draw a veil over the matter, don’t you think? At least, unless you’d rather I accidentally let the odd detail slip? I’d have to explain some of the longer words to dear Markus, bless him, but I’ve a feeling Kerillian would be rather faster on the uptake. And if Bardin finds out, he’ll only put it to music, and I shudder to think of the consequences.

And all because of your little diary. Hang on … there’s not something about me in here, is there?

Oh. Apparently not.

So … I’m not worth writing about, is that it? You can’t stop chattering on about the others, but poor little Sienna’s too boring, is she? Well, the things I could tell you!

I’ll have you know I’ve led a fascinating life, full of wisdom, excitement … and not one or two moments of indiscretion. Anecdotes that would make your toes curl. Tales of romance and daring from across the Old World. Intrigue. Danger. Excitement. Explosions!

Oh, the stories I could tell. And you’re never going to hear them. Not now. You’ve hurt my feelings.

How does it feel to be left out?

Being back at the Bright College, that’s what it feels like.