The second “Shadow in the West” AoS narrative event is coming up! It will again take place in Walsall, England, on October 21st-22nd 2023, and it will be another extravaganza of thematic battles, puzzles, storytime and more!

“The Shadow in the West: Trials & Treachery” is the second installment of the narrative event hosted by the Nacho Momma’s Wargaming Club. 

Last year, players investigated who killed the vampire king MacDeath, ruler of New Albion in Ulgu. There were many suspects, and only by unraveling the mystery could one of the main contenders stake a claim to take the crown of the kingdom. Yes, it was full on puzzles-and-wargaming clue-gathering style.

There were thematic tables, secrets that players had to find, and lots of team planning. And of course, dozens of amazingly themed armies, ready to claim the throne of MacDeath.

It was the Pirate Git, Toadsmasha, that finally conquered the vaunted position. 

But Toadsmasha’s reign was apparently short-lived: a army of lycans turns out, a race thought lost to the realms, besieged the keep, and kicked him off the throne. It seemed players introducing werewolves into their armies found its way to the event plot. Such is the way of narrative events.


This year, players return to New Albion, where the werewolf usurper to the throne, Chancellor Ross MacLenteth stole it from under last year’s claimant! 

MacLenteth stood at the right hand of MacDeath when he took the throne from Duncan II and had always stood loyally as his friend and advisor; but behind this veil of deceit, MacLenteth had been biding his time. Plotting and amassing his legions of Lycan warriors on the uninhabitable island of Inchkeith, MacLenteth waited for the opportune moment.
Vengeance was ever in the heart of the Lycan; for it was the Vampire lords of old that all but wiped the native Lycans tribes out.

It is on Inchkeith that MacLenteth not only built his stronghold, but unearthed a realmgate to Vorsprangs Bridge in Aqshy where allies were found and trade began. MacLenteth has spent most of his time in Aqshy securing trade with Ulf Cywin , eagerly awaiting the outcome of Dracothfoote’s lost fortune, to rebuild the economy of New Albion.
But little does the Lycan King know what new shadows rise in the west to threaten his claim to the throne of New Albion and the trials and treachery that lie ahead…

This enterprising new king has gathered allies from all over the realms, in particular one Ulf Cywin (a storyline connected to the Warhammer Witney event that took place earlier this spring)… but he has not yet managed to conquer the kingdom’s keep, to cement his position.

We chatted with the lead NEOs for the event, Tom (@korvaks_saga), Damien (@Sigmars_Revenge), Jon (@wackcjack) and Ol (@OB1138), about what players can expect this year.


Q: Last year you had hidden clues that players had to put together to solve the murder-mystery. How did that go last year, and what innovations to it will you be deploying this year?
A:  It went really well! The co-players really got into the spirit of the weekend and many were found between rounds pouring over the narrative looking for clues.

This year let’s just say we have taken inspiration from escape rooms and some use of technology may be involved….


Q: There will be thematic tables representing the territories in New Albion this year as well, right? Did we read correctly that players will be able to fortify them?
A: All of our tables this year will be themed again. Some will be making a re-appearance as well as some brand new tables for this year. We have teamed up with the guys from Witney Warhammer to write some co-narrative as a nice little easter egg for players that attend both events. Players took real ownership over their territories last year and seemed to have a real connection to their table. One of our players ended up defending Kal’dor Keep for 4 games over the weekend!

Let’s just say the fortifications is a little tease for year 3 and the siege that is on the horizon.


Q: This year you will again have two teams: those helping MacLenteth and the lycans, and those aiming to snatch the kingdom back. You also said are counting that splinter factions will pop up from the two teams to take the throne for themselves!
How do you manage the scoring and team meetings in those cases? Share with us your NEO secrets, please.
A: As NEOs we hate unnecessary bookkeeping so kept everything as simple as possible for both ourselves and the players. The scoring was all about the counties of New Albion. The region is split into 5 different counties and whichever team controls the majority of towns in that region controls the county. The team with overall control of the map at the end of the weekend gets the first try at solving the puzzle.

So in the case of splinter factions if the players who control the towns believe they have enough regions to fight for control of New Albion then they are able to. It all came about as the NEOs of this event have twice tried to stage a coup at Witney Warhammer, and both times failed spectacularly due to our severe lack of skill in Age of Sigmar 😂


Q: What would you like to say to those who would be interested in coming, for their first try at a narrative event?
A: Do it! If you are brand new to Age of Sigmar it’s a great way to get to learn the basics of the game as we strip away all rules from the GHB and take it back to basics with the core rules only in play. Also it is a great group of players who are all very welcoming and make excellent opponents. Narrative players are the loveliest people you will meet in the Warhammer community!

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Thank you for sharing this preview with us, Tom, Damien, Jon, and Ol!

We will be following the event online, so please post lots of pictures on social media!

You can find the Event Rules pack here for more details and tickets.

There are still tickets available, grab yours before it’s too late!!!
And if they happen to be all taken, sign up for the waitlist: there are always dropouts! (true story)

What do you think about this event?
Do you have any questions for the NEOs, and how they craft these mystery-solving events?
Leave your comments below!

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