Siege of Fellguard is a short story set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, written by Mark Clapham. This is my review of the story, with minor spoilers. The description on the Black Library website:
When the fortress world of Kelthorn voices its allegiance to Chaos, dozens of Imperial Guard regiments are sent to crush the traitors. The Cadian 39th, commanded by Castellan Blakov, lead the fight to storm the planetary capital, Fellguard. Can they cross the treacherous no-man’s land of static defences to capture a crucially placed bastion that guards the main entrance to the city?
As you may be able to tell even from the description, this is classic Astra Militarum fiction. The setting is Warhammer 40,000 but it's uncannily close to the World Wars of our own early 20th century. In this story, it's the Cadian 39th division storming desperately across the battlefield to slaughter as many of Nurgle's daemons as they can.
Blakov and his priest Vurch lead the charge for the Imperium. Mazalai and the hosts of Nurgle are attempting to maintain control of the great fortress city, Fellguard. As a sacred city on the fallen fortress world of Kelthorn, Fellguard is an important asset, and it's the Imperial Guard's job to seize the bastion located on its outskirts.
Early in the story, the Cadians manage to sieze the outer wall, literally made of the bones of the Imperium's fallen soldiers (to repel daemons), and quickly turn their attention to the bastion. Mazalai is the commander tasked with ensuring that the Astra Militarum fail in their attempt. The problem is, Mazalai has often been overlooked by Nurgle, and he's not sure why. Then again, there's no better way to prove your worth to your god than to charge into a holy war at a disadvantage.
It might seem odd that some of the greatest romanticism in Warhammer 40,000 is saved for the plague god of disease and decay, but nevertheless there are fewer factions in the setting as universally loved as Grandfather Nurgle. However, the Chaos god's army in Fellguard represent him at his most putrescent. There's no charm to Nurgle in this story, no cute Nurglings running amok, no Ku'Gath the Plaguefather, and no framing of disease as a benevolent gift. Nurgle's worshippers in this story are truly disgusting, truly unpleasant to read about, and probably not something you'd want to read if you don't enjoy biological horror.
The real story, I sense, is the excuse to write a really good story of siege warfare, if not from a tactical perspective then from an emotional one. Reading Siege of Fellguard, you understand the desperation and frustration on both sides. Mazalai recognises that the city he's protecting is in danger of being seized, and there's not much he can do about it. It's a fortress city. He can't move it, but the Cadians are bearing down on it. He's trapped by the very thing that's supposed to make him strong, and he's seemingly abandoned by the god whose cause he's dedicated his life to.
Vurtch and the Cadians are, of course, dedicated to the will of the Emperor. Their frustration is the opposite to Mazalai. They have freedom of movement, they have supplies and artillery, they have a everything they need to recapture Fellguard, but to reach the city they must make their way through hordes of diseased enemy soldiers. And so they push, and keep pushing, until they reach their objective.
The result of the siege is the climax of the story, so I won't spoil it here, but of course in the end it turns out that everyone feels at least a little betrayed. Sometimes I think that's the real message of Warhammer 40,000. Put your faith in gods and fables you imagine, and you'll live a life happily devoted to the thing you created for yourself to worship. You'll inevitably be disappointed, though, when it fails you in the end.
This was a good Warhammer fiction, but be warned that it's pretty disgusting at times. If you enjoy bio horror, and you like a good siege, then this is probably a short story for you.
All images in this post copyright Games Workshop.