HSE suffers raids

The period 513PC to 520PC was not a happy one for the Holy Sigmarite Empire. Matilda was ageing, and her rule becoming ever more autocratic, and she seemed more focussed on improving the treasury than securing her borders. By 513, the Realm of Ran'k'adanra had expanded, running from the coast to the state of Helland, and a brisk trade along the Easting road had grown up between the HSE and its strange neighbour to the west. This trade improved life for those in the south and west of the Empire, and Sudhafen prospered. However in the east the noble families of the Empire faired less well.

Tarnished by accusations of necromancy and Vampirism, House Volbeck of Osterland had few friends inside or outside the HSE. Pellenar, now a full state of the HSE, remained hostile to the Volbecks, and the Drazkharovs, the Volbeck's usual ally, had become insular and aloof. Matilda was no friend of the Vollbecks either, so when Osterland was raided by the Ogre Kingdom in 513PC, the Empress showed little interest. Matilda was equally loathe to get involved when the province was attacked by Elves in 514PC, but later in the year, when a small army of House Vollbeck was defeated by the Dark Elves of Khaldeith, the HSE could no longer turn a blind eye to the constant threats to its borders.

To deal with the Dark Elf threat, Matilda once again tried to stop Khaldeith from sending troops and equipment to New Naggaroth. By sailing up the Dinethenin river, raiders from the southern Dark Elf city were plaguing the lands to the south of Osterland, and attacking the HSE itself. Once again Matilda's navy sailed from Sudhafen to give battle with the Dark Elves, and despite sinking several Dominion vessels, the outcome was the same, and the flower of the Holy Sigmarite Navy once again perished at the hands of the Dark Elf raiding fleet.