Chapter 8 

Chapter 8 

Building a team from scratch is a difficult and rather expensive process. First of all, we had to choose a city where the club would live and train. Well, of course, it was possible, like many teams, to be hobos. Ahem, I mean a wandering team, but Uzraz decided that a team without strong roots and foundations was not what he wanted to see. 

Big dwarven and human cities were out of the question because they were expensive. But then we came across an advertisement that Karak Azgaraz was offering a good salary plus tax benefits. Uzraz rushed to negotiate about a place for the club. 

While he was busy with that, Grim and I were selecting candidates for the team and looking for tough guys from Middenland. I can't say anything about the dwarfs, we were waiting for the head coach, who being a dwarf should have solved that problem. But with humans it was simple, first I quickly examined the candidates with the help of glasses and immediately threw out those who had injuries, illnesses, or other problems. Then there was a brain test. No not IQ tests, most players can not even write, but to realize that they will play for a team that is going to go pro league and that loners do not have any place in the team, to put it mildly. 

There are of course exceptions like superstars, but they would not agree to play for our side, plus they fucking demand so much money that, even if we sold the whole team into slavery, they would only play for a couple of matches. In the future, maybe, but for now, we have to do everything ourselves. 

That's where Grim got some invaluable help from me. I already have some experience of the game, and if you add to it the experience from my past life, it's quite good. And if there were guys who got cocky and thought they were future Blood Bowl stars, they came out against me in the scrimmage. I beat about 16 or 17 degenerates, thanks to the strength and skills allowed to do it until we got some decent players. To my disappointment, there were no particularly notable candidates. Not bad mediocre players who can be made into good players with experience and training. Although I wouldn't mind getting a potential Griff Oberwald. 

In the end, we drafted 5 guys. One of them had an asterisk next to his passer stats, apparently the system was telling me that he was going to be a good thrower. We decided to check it out and it turned out that he throws better than the others. Grim announced that he was going to be a thrower and all of his next practices would focus on passing and handling the ball, like picking and catching. The rest of us were the usual linemen, the Blitzer spot was taken by me, as no one else was better. 

Grim despite being a junior coach was overjoyed. The excitement and interest in the game was reignited in him. Before, the team was a constant headache for him because of Waggy and terrible players. But here he could do his coaching job in peace, especially when instead of drunkards and losers he could work with decent players who wanted to get better. So, when the selection of candidates was finished he started coaching them with passion. 

That's when it got bad for everyone. Especially me. Why? Because I was the strongest in the team and to take the fear out of the players he made me do one-on-one fights from the beginning. What's more, he made us work at full strength. Good thing we hired a temporary healer until we got to Karak Azgaraz. 

It was easy enough at first, but then he made them fight in twos and threes against me. I started getting hit, though my opponents didn't always stay on their feet in the end. So the days went by, it was mainly physical training and fights with me. Then we started training how to stop enemy players with grabs and dives to the feet. The rookies were scared at first, I would run at them in the best rugby style with my knees high up intimidating them and not allowing a simple tackle to stop me. Some got a knee to the head and fell to the ground shaking their heads, and some were less lucky and went to sleep in the healer's tent. 

But it all had a purpose, over a couple of weeks the players became more confident. It was too short of a time to improve their physical performance and skill, although the training was intense. I was especially happy with the thrower, although slowly, but he was getting better. And so the days went by until Uzraz came to us urgently shaking papers and saying that it was time to move to our new home. 

It didn't take long to move, so after about ten days, we arrived in Karak Azgaraz. 

My first impression of the city was that, while not in decline, it was far from prosperous. I think I understand now why there are a lot of tax exemptions here, the local head wants to revitalize the town by attracting new companies and people. 

There was a club here, but it wasn't as good as expected, so after a while it fell apart, leaving behind some infrastructure and the main clubhouse. Uzraz managed to persuade the local authorities so they gave us what was left of the club for minimal rent. 

- Uzraz, how did you get all this for us? Even though the place has long been in decline, but I was expecting a small dormitory and a field for training, not this luxurious complex. - I told him as I walked around the main clubhouse, which was more like a huge mansion. 

- I'm glad you like it here. Not many people can understand the true beauty of stone. They complain that the stone vaults are too heavy and the furniture is too rough. - Dwarf smirks, but in his eyes you can see the joy and pride that there is someone who can appreciate the dedication of dwarves. 

- Send those smartasses to the goblin squig pits or to the Skaven caves. They'll realize the difference. - I reply to him and touch one of the columns in the hall. 

There is a kind of warmth coming from it as if the building itself is letting me know that it is happy to have the players back. 

- As for what it cost me, I had to move some of my business here and set up VIP seats for the local elders and the king. - Uzraz sighs. 

- Don't worry, Uzraz. I'll do my best not to let you down. - I put my hand on his shoulder. 

Seeing the determination and stalwart confidence in my eyes, he sighs and smiles as if he's lifted a heavy weight from his heart. 

- Thank you, Baha. I didn't call you Azumgi for nothing. 

- By the way, I've been meaning to ask but never got the chance. What does Azumgi mean? - I asked him when we went towards the exit from the main building of the club. 

- Azumgi means something like a man of iron. It means a strong man you can rely on. - His reply boosted my ego, having some understanding of dwarves, I can say that they see me as a worthy man. 

- Huh. Well, now I have no choice but to show a decent game. I cannot fall flat after such a recognition from Dawi. - I patted him on the shoulder again. 

We sat down on one of the benches near the field and watched Grim work with the rookies. 

- Uzraz what about the head coach and the dwarfs? We have been training on our own for some time now, and I would like to start normal training and team building. - I'm asking Uzraz. 

 - Ugh. They should be arriving any day now. You don't know how hard and easy it is to find players among the dwarfs. 

- Why is that? 

- When I put out the call, a bunch of dwarfs came to me. But they were all youngsters who had only recently begun to grow a proper beard. The eagerness and desire to play as much as you want, but lack of experience and more or less decent physical fitness. And when I decided to turn to more mature and experienced they immediately began to refuse when they learned that the team would be mixed. - Uzraz almost broke his smoking pipe in anger. 

But the dwarf's craft withstood and Uzraz filled it with tobacco to calm his nerves and smoked. I had to wait for a while to let the dwarf enjoy the fragrant smoke and relax. 

- Fuh, when I remember that, I want to take up an axe. Realizing that the problem can not be solved in a hurry I went to look for Blood Bowl veterans who would, suggest or advise what to do in such a situation. You have no idea how many beers barrels of ale I had to drink until I was told that the best option would be to hire an old and experienced dwarf. 

- And did you find one? 

- Uh-huh. I did, and it's partly your fault. - he grinned and pointed at me with a pipe in his hand. 

- Why would I do that? - I was surprised. - I was not particularly familiar with dwarves before meeting you. 

- Haha. It's just that eating prank during your match with the Skaven was written about in a couple of dwarven magazines. We love to read when those rats get their tails stepped on or outsmarted. And some journalists found out that you were behind the trick and wrote about it. 

- Yeah, that's a surprise. I don't even know what to say. But it was fun. - I smile and shake my head, especially when I remember how the Scavens sat down to eat and watch the game. 

- I bet they did. I almost choked on my beer when I saw the players eating on the field. So going back to coach. When he found out you were on my team, he said you'd be fun to be with. So after a short negotiation, we signed a contract and he went to recruit players for the team. 

- You just agreed to this? - I ask with genuine surprise. 

- Ha. Of course. After all, our coach isn't just an average player, but a former Dwarf Warhammerers. 

- Wait. Do you mean one of the top dwarven teams? The one that even the dwarves themselves consider dangerous on the field and masters of tricks that are bad for both their own and their enemies? - My eyes almost popped out of my head when he said Dwarf Warhammerers. 

I've read in Spike magazine about the most famous dwarven teams. It mentioned teams that were strong in defense or analyzing the enemy and developing tactics. But when it came to the Warhammerers, it said that they were dangerous not only to their opponents but also to their own players. 

One day they decided that they didn't want to play with the entire enemy team. So they decided to thin it out a little for what they assembled a kind of landmine made of explosives with screws and bolts. But they overdid it and explosions sent to the morgue not only nearly all of the enemy team, but also half of their own. And the most "fun" that they played with was the undead, which was later resurrected by the necromancer coach. But the crowd loved it...the ones who survived. 

And now I find out that we're going to have a coach from that team and I suddenly feel a little uneasy. 

- Uzraz, why don't we find someone else? I doubt my chances of survival in the near future. Or maybe we could at least hire some more healers. - But then a heavy dwarf hand in a gauntlet with a big brass knuckle falls on my shoulder. 

- Don't piss your pants, boy. Why do you need a healer when you have a keg of Bagman's? A couple of mugs and you're ready to slaughter your enemies on the field again. Trust an experienced old dwarf. 

I turn around and see a dwarf with a long beard wearing super-heavy armor that resembled the Juggernaut outfit from the games. 

- I wonder how he moves in all that. - I casually voice my thoughts causing the dwarf to chuckle. 

- Experience, boy. Experience. Now let me introduce myself. Kazran Scarlet Fist. And I am your coach. So, boy. Let's play Blood Bow? - he had a bloodthirsty grin on his face that made Uzraz and I gulp. 

That's how I met Kazran Crimson Fist. And in the weeks that followed, I remembered what hell training meant and learned why Kazran was called Kazran Scarlet Fist. Or rather, I felt it on my face when his fist knocked me out and the stones were covered in my blood. 

The days were beginning to get tough for the team.