Sunday 19 December 2010

Plundering in Arnar


The Ogre Mercenaries of Graag continue to rove across Palurin whilst their Lizardmen allies defended the home kingdom of Cuitlaxaochitzin. With the onset of winter of in 220PC they began to head south in search of milder climes, after a number of successful raids upon the tribal lands at the periphery of the Kaalroen Empire. Their route passed close to the forests of Arnar. Travellers from across the globe knew this to be a forbidden forest, fiercely guarded by its inhabitants. Yet driving snow storms and the onset of hunger caused the Ogres to overcome their dread and so the army entered the dark woodlands in search of food and shelter. Their movements were tracked from the moment that the first Ogre stepped foot across the sacred way-lines. Word was sent to Calminaion and a host of incensed Wood Elves descended upon the mercenaries as they took refuge from the onset of the bitterly cold weather.

The Elves summoned the guardian spirits of the forest to their aid, and fey sprites, capricious dryads and the very trees themselves seemed to rise up in outrage against the Ogres’ presence. The Elves were rash in their assault and had not considered that these Ogres were hardened fighters, veterans of numerous campaigns across Palurin. Now they were cornered with no hope but to stand and defend themselves against the sylvan onslaught.

The Ogre general led his most veteran warriors into the midst of the enemy host, having spied the Elven leader across a forest glade. The Ogres crashed into the elite Eternal Guard of Arnar, the battle-scarred Tyrant seeking out his chosen foe amongst their ranks. The Elven lord proudly stepped forward to meet the challenger who dared to invade his sacred homeland. He darted and danced around his lumbering foe, yet for all his martial skill and grace the Elf was no match for the Tyrant’s brute strength. The Eternal Guard watched in horror as their general was knocked to the ground by a brutal swing of the Ogre’s axe. Before the Elf could struggle to his feet, an over-sized iron boot crashed down upon his head, savagely ending the duel and leaving the Tyrant the clear victor.

The forest spirits fought with violent abandon to expel the Ogres from their home. However, the shamanic magicks of the Ogre Butchers were magnified by the army’s hunger and desperate situation. The Elves could do little to stop a furious counter attack as the Gut Magic of the Ogres lent them extraordinary strength and resilience. The Elves and their allies melted back into the forest. As they Ogres surveyed the field of victory they realised an unexpected banquet now lay before them. The Ogres sat down to feast upon the slain... though all agreed that Dryad did not taste good.

Arnar suffered further misfortune when, barely a year later, the eastern settlements of the Wood Elves drew the attention of reaving Dark Elves of Lamentation . Many innocents were stolen away in the night and bundled upon the black-sailed ships. Dorshidhion unleashed the full fury of its best warriors but the cunning Druchii were prepared and had brought their own dark legion in escort, purposed with protecting the raiding vessels waiting on the beaches. Vicious Corsairs rained wicked barbed bolts down upon the Wood Elves as they burst from the forest to attack their dark kin. The assault of the Wood Elves stalled, and the Druchii unleashed their savage war hydras upon the woodland host. The defenders of the forest fell back in dismay, and the dark ships escaped with their plunder.

The Dark Elves continued to raid along the coasts of Arnar, and later extended their reach as far south as Melthu, their vessels prowling the swallow coastal waters. This continued piracy drew the attention of Grey Seer Typhus himself- he was outraged that the Elf-things dared to enter his domain, let alone steal his slaves! Yet even the forces of Typhus could not bring the Druchii to heel, and in 227PC the Skaven swarms unleashed from Boiling Peak were repulsed by the Dark Elf escort following the fleet. The marauding ships once again escaped into the wider ocean, replete with the spoils of months of plundering.

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