The Domovoi War - 435PC

The Domovoi war was fought between the Kaalroen Empire and the Holy Sigmarite Empire in 435PC. Since the success of the HSE's Ogre army in 424PC the Empire had been gradually extending its influence in the east, with the Drazkharov influence growing in the North, and the count of Wurmlingen's estates growing ever eastwards, extending the province of Niederland and making the count the de-facto ruler of the state.

The Drazkharov's had, by 435PC, divided the growing state of Holwingen in two, forming a new state, Mallenstien, around the river town of Mallendorf, which had grown increasingly prosperous since its founding just a decade earlier. The Emperor Louis II approved this action, and sanctioned the expansion of the Empire into the lands east of Pellenar, while continuing to recognise the King of Pellenar's independence.

The major barrier to eastward expansion had always been the raids by the Kaalroen Empire into the western foothills of the Mallvass mountains, but during the 5th century secretive talks had been taking place in Hovedstaden, with the aim of securing a treaty with the lord of the Kaalroens, recognising the HSE's right to colonise all of Canaur. The negotiations had been long and relatively fruitless, and it appeared that lord Tragean was in fact enjoying toying with the Sigmarite ambassador.

Nevertheless, expansion east continued, and the Empire prospered, until 435PC, when two enormous Domovoi armies massed at the passes of the mountains. One tracked north towards the Mallend Gap, and the Count of Holwingen dispatched an army to prevent them from passing into the Emperor's lands. Once again the Count's elite greatswords and host of free company were able to defeat the chaos army, routing them from the field. A few onlookers in Mallendorf commented on how the army marched through the settlement only by cover of darkness and never showed their faces, but this only added to the mystery of the count's armies...

Meanwhile a second Domovoi army had penetrated the Mallvass mountains further south, and began ravaging settlements along the lesser Canaur. Louis II acted swiftly and the standing army of the HSE was in the field before the Domovoi could reach the gates of Wurmlingen.

Outside the town, the two armies drew up for battle, but as the Domovoi approached, disaster struck the Empire army, as one by one their artillery blew apart, the cause later being attributed to a suspect order of gunpowder. Very soon the Sigmarites found themselves with but one cannon, but that cannon proved to be sufficient, as a well placed cannonball blasted the chaos sorcerer from his monstrous mount, defeating the magical wardings which may have protected him.

The Domovoi came on however, unphased by the loss of their sorcerer. Seeing an opportunity present itself the empire general, Templar Grand Master Gerhard Von Schmekt, rode his cavalry onto a hill to the left of the battlefield, while the Empire infantry stood steadfast in the valley below. As the greatswords prepared to meet the charge of the Domovoi, Von Schmekt's knights crested the hill and charged down into the flank of the enemy force. After dispatching a mighty Shaggoth, the knights crashed into the Chaos footsoldiers. This left only the chaos knights to charge the Empire infantry, and the greatswords held their ground, cutting the enemy cavalry down to a man.

The knights made short work of the chaos foot troops, and soon the battle became a complete massacre, with only one brave - or very foolish - chaos sorcerer staying to fight. Furious at his army's defeat, the sorcerer made straight for the Empire battle wizard, and a bizarre hand to hand duel then took place, while the rest of the Empire army looked on perplexed. Eventually Von Schmekt and his cavalry arrived, and dispatched the enemy wizard, sadly too late to save the screaming Empire battle wizard, who had been strangled.

The two decisive victories over the Domovoi didn't appear to bother lord Tragean, and negotiations continued, as fruitlessly as ever. Louis II was still keen to have a treaty with the Kaalroens, but he had to make sure the Grand Theogenist, Josef IV, didn't find out. As Ravensfeld was founded by the Count of Wurmlingen on the eastern fringe of the realm, Josef was out in the streets, calling for a "great crusade" against Chaos. Quietly Louis wondered whether his biggest enemies were the other empires of Palurin, or his own church.

Ogre Kingdom suffers setbacks

It was not the chaos worshippers of the Kaalroen Empire who troubled the new Ogre Kingdom as the middle of the 5th Century approached. Following the battle of Alluvium in 408PC relations between the Ogres and Mellvellon had soured. The Kingdom lay on the important trade route to the west, where elven caravans would bring fine objects and craftsmanship to the Holy Sigmarite Empire and Cuitlaxaochitzin, in return for gold and other raw materials.

Although the Kaalroen Empire took its own share of the trade with its "trading post" at Grattistad, the trade flowed relatively unmolested between east and west. However during the 5th century, caravans were ever more frequently raided while crossing the Mallvass mountains, and it was clear the Ogre Kingdom was sponsoring the raids, or at least doing nothing to stop them.

In 429PC the lords of the high elves sent a "delegation" to the hall of the overtyrant, backed up by a strong army. The Ogres refused to agree to Mellvellon's terms, and a battle ensued. The elves were successful and forced the Ogres into a treaty ensuring protection for the trade between east and west, or they would sack the Ogre capital.

Eleven years later the Ogres of Graag, loyal to the rulers of Cuitlaxaochitzin, sent an expedition to the Ogre Kingdom to settle a point of pride. Ogres escorting lizardmen trade caravans to Mellvellon had been taunted and derided by the Ogre kingdom scouts, labelling them lackeys, slaves and fools. The Ogres of Graag made it quite plain they were just as much a part of the great kingdom of Cuitlaxaochitzin as the slaan or skinks, and underlined this fact by bringing and army before the great hall and defeating the Ogre Kingdom's warriors in open battle.

Skaven expedition defeated

They had been lost in the jungles for weeks. Grittik had looked on, exasperated, as the Chief Warlock Skrix turned the map over and around, time and again, occasionally glancing up and down the jungle paths, tail jerking nervously, then turning his perplexed gaze back to the tattered map grasped in his paw. Skrix clearly didn’t have a clue where they were supposed to be going. Given the circumstances, most Chiefs would by now have been quickly... err, retired, yes-yes... but Skrix had managed to maintain a facade of confidence and authority throughout the trek deep into the heart of Cuitlaxaochitzin.

But Grittik and the other warlocks of the Guild’s warpstone expedition were tiring of the pressing jungle heat, persistent bites and stings from tropical bugs, and seemingly endless trudging. Grittik had acquired a huge blistering sore on his tail where a bloat fly had nipped him four days ago. Things had continued to get worse as the army became increasingly strung out on the march, each cohort becoming separated from the others as they navigated tangled vines, noxious bubbling swamps and venomous thickets. Frettin’s clanrats were falling way behind, and the Unscurried hadn’t been sighted since those pompous, puffed-up Stormvermin decided to go left around the lake instead of going right with the rest of the expedition, claiming to “know better than any bunch of worthless litter-runts”.

Chitters of dissention were passing between the warlocks when Skrix’s back was turned. If he was allowed to continue in this folly they could all end up trapped in this tropical hell forever. But Chief Warlock Skrix’s potent and unstable blend of genius and paranoia made it hard to judge the right moment to enact his “demotion”.

Grittik stopped, resting his weapon against a tree to uncork his water bottle, when he heard a SNAP in the thicket up ahead. He froze to the spot. Some of the others had heard it too. The air danced with twitching whiskers as dozens of anxious noses sniffed the cloying jungle air. Then, like the first thunderclap of a storm, the jungle erupted in a cacophony of raucous bellowing, pounding footfalls and discharged blackpowder weapons. Bursting through the mist and undergrowth came a ferocious warband of Ogres. Each of them was easily five or six times Grittik’s height and at least twenty times his weight. They roared their war-cry as they charged towards the Skaven, the canopies above shaking with the force of the avalanche of Ogres surging beneath.

“Ambush!!” the cry went up, though any who hadn’t realised instantly what was going on must have had their brains addled by swamp pox. Clanrats swirled around in disarray as the Ogres bore down on them. Grittik threw himself down on his belly and scrabbled beneath the carriage of the ponderous cannon that had, just moments before, been lumbering up behind him. Just with a whisker to spare too, as the Ogres crashed past him and on into the assembled clanrats who were serving as the Chief Warlock's personal escort.

Grittik watched from his hiding place as the Ogres milled through his comrades. The brute leading the Ogres’ attack stopped in the midst of the clanrats, reached down momentarily, then leapt back up and thrust his arm in the air as if in triumph. Wide-eyed, Grittik saw Chief Warlock Skrix firmly locked in the monster’s iron grip. Scrabbling against the gnarled fingers of his captor, Skrix was screeching hysterically as the shovel hand brought him in towards the hulking Ogre’s gaping yellow-toothed maw. Grittik turned away and closed his eyes tightly just in time to miss the end, but he couldn’t block out the nauseating CRUNCH as the Ogre made short work of the morsel that had been the once-proud Chief Warlock.

Grittik could just peer out from under the gun carriage to make out dozens of iron-shod feet stomping towards his hiding place from across a clearing to his right. He had to move or risk getting crushed beneath the wood and iron frame when the Ogres inevitably smashed the gun to kindling. Overcome by a sudden and personally unexpected attack of reckless courage (a most disturbing and unsettling sensation for any sane rat), Grittik scampered out on all fours and rushed to the tree where his weapon still rested. He seized the barrel, knowing that if he was going to get out of this with his life he’d somehow have to slow the Ogres down first.

Paws shaking, Grittik levelled the barrel at his oncoming foes and squeezed the trigger. There was a hooting WHOOSH! and with a sprouting tail of smoke the rocket left the tube and spiralled up into the air, smashing low branches and shaking loose a shower of leaves. Grittik allowed himself a moment of malevolent satisfaction as the rocket screamed towards the target, only to have his optimism turn to dismay as the projectile corkscrewed widely and veered off through the canopy. He heard the dull, thudding BUMPH! somewhere in the distance, the accompanying cloud of warp-tinted smoke mushrooming up through the trees. Grunts and cries of a score of dismayed Ogres he hadn’t even seen echoed back. At least he’d hit something.

However, Grittik was now acutely aware of his peril. The jungle air was filled with the gleeful bellows of rampaging Ogres, the screams of massacred clanrats and the acrid stench of burning warpfire. More pressing, the Ogres that he had tried to shoot at looked none too pleased at having a rocket fired at them. On the contrary, the look of unbridled battle-rage contorting their faces quite convinced Grittik that retreat was the better part of valour.

With that he turned and fled, all four paws kicking up the dirt and leaves of the jungle floor as he made off into the dense brush. After some distance, with the Ogres mercifully falling behind, he came upon towering tree trunk. Without hesitation he shot up it, digging his frantic claws into any nook or crevice that afforded a hand-hold. Some forty feet up, safely in the canopy, he paused. Tongue lolling and panting heavily for breath, Grittik could espy the Unscurried making their way into the battle. The Stormvermins' wickedly barbed halberds glinted steel death in the dappled forest light, but Grittik thought it best to see out the rest of the battle from up here. What good could he do down there anway? Besides, someone would need to take up the post of Chief Warlock when this was all over.

The Holy Sigmarite Empire in the 5th Century PC

Overview

In the 5th Century PC the Holy Sigmarite Empire is the largest human Empire on Palurin. There are smaller dominions of men, including the satellite protectorates of Pellenar, Ebenland and Kustenland, but the HSE dominates them all. Founded by Empire explorers many of the customs and traditions of the Holy Sigmarite Empire have remained largely unchanged since the first explorers set foot on the new world. The HSE has expanded greatly since its beginning, but it is still ruled by the hereditary monarchy of the Alptraum family, whose colours are yellow and black. The religious leadership of the nation comes from the Grand Theogonist of Sigmar, or the Pontiff, who wields great influence, although no real political power.

The Empire is divided into several states, each of which is ruled by an aristocratic family. The state is then further divided into provinces which are ruled by lesser lordlings. Each lord and lordling is expected to protect their own lands and set their own laws in line with the teachings of Sigmar. They are also expected to pay taxes to the Imperial coffers, but any change in taxation must be agreed upon by consent of a majority of the states, in a gathering known as the Imperial Court. Th Emperor also has a large standing army which is also his house army, as the ruling Alptraum family also governs the capital state of Sigmarheim.

The HSE has a large Ogre population, as Ogre mercenaries made up a significant proportion of the original settlers. The Ogres of the HSE are fiercely loyal to their adopted state, as they themselves helped to build it. Although the Ogres hold no positions of real power, The chieftan of the Ogres is the nominal head of the HSE military, much to the irritation of the aristocratic lords. In addition the Ogres contribute substantially to the Empire's income, usually by campaigning against the Empire's enemies, and they are given large license in their expeditions, and can keep half the loot of their campaigns.

The West

The West of the Empire is also the most populous, and almost half the population live in this region, which stretches from the Duron mountain range in the north to the border of Hoffenland. The states of Bergland, Helland, Neuland, Sigmarheim and the Nimarn Valley make up the west, and they contain the largest city in the HSE and its capital, Sigmarheim. Hellveg is also a major town on the river Nimarn. The Sigmarite church is based in the capital, and the Imperial palace and Cathedral of Sigmar are the largest and most impressive structures in the Empire.

The West is the oldest region of the Empire and has the oldest noble families and traditions. Westerners tend to look down on the other regions, particularly in the aristocracy. The fertile lands of the Nimarn Valley also make the region the richest in the Empire, and the populous here tend to be the most loyal to the Emperor and his family, whilst also being the least religious.

The South

The south consists of Hoffenland, Sudhafen and Galamor, along the coast of Galamor Bay. Since 420PC Hoffenland has extended to the Pan Coron Ocean, with the new harbour town of Eichenwald sited as the Empire's newest port. The south is dominated by fishing industries and naval power, and Galamory is the home of the privateer navy of the HSE, a group of licensed but privately run warships, who often act outside the control of the Emperor on the high seas. So long as they don't start a major war and pay a share of their profits to the crown, the Emperor has in general turned a blind eye to the activities of the privateers. The official Holy Sigmarite Navy is based at Sudhafen, but has only been in action once, against the navy of Typhus, with disastrous results. It is generally looked down upon by the privateers of Galamory, who see the Imperial Navy as for show rather than doing anything useful.

The south is generally loyal to the Emperor, but even less religious than the west, and the official religion of Sigmar is often surplanted by that of the Goddess of the Sea, Manann. The people of the south have an affinity with the sea, and are often regarded as a little strange by the rest of the Empire, and their customs are the most divergent from the rest of the nation. The south has also been plagued by Dark Elf and Skaven raids for hundreds of years, and the populace are generally keen on enjoying life as much as possible rather than worrying about the future.

The East

The east consists of Schinderland, which was the largest state in the Empire before the expansion of Hoffenland, Dortland, and Niederland, and its population is mainly concentrated on the Great and Lesser Canaur. Schinderland is a state of rolling meadows and dispersed settlements, with much of the population living in and around its seat of power in Niederdam, the Empire's second largest city which is also home to the Empire's colleges of magic. Niederland is the furthest east of the Empire states, and is more populous than Schinderland, its rich and fertile soil providing ideal farming land for its inhabitants. Wurmlingen on the Lesser Canaur and Oberbrucken on the Greater Canaur are the largest settlement. Dortland is similar, though smaller, with its seat at Gross Dortbeck.

The easterners are the most religious, or even pious of Sigmar's lands. The East is the newest part of the Empire, with Niederland only having half the history of the west, and Dortland even less. In the east the cult of Sigmar is very strong, and pilgrims will often walk barefoot to the cathedral in Sigmarheim. Ulricans, already a minority in the Empire are distrusted and often discriminated against. The level of education is also poorer in general, as most of the region is made up of farmers, although Niederdam does boast a university as well as the Colleges of Magic.

The North

The north of the Empire is comprised of just two states. Ancient Nordingland is ruled from Weissbruck, and for centuries was the northern border of the Holy Sigmarite Empire. Then in the third century PC the Drazkharov family, who trace their lineage from Kislevite kings, were given a lordly seat at Krahefort. Since then they have expanded their state of Holwingen to the north and east, and established Erichsbrucken and Franzbruck on the northern reaches of the Canaur. The north is colder than the south, with harsh snowy winters, and is populated sparsely. The soil is poorer and the gentle valleys in the south give way to bleak moors and forbidding forests. Most of the population of the north live in one of the three major settlements, but unlike the other HSE states Holwingen is ruled not from a settlement, but from the Castle of Krahefort, the Empire's largest and most impressive fortification.

The people of the north live more simply than those in the south, and the settlements are built of stone and thatch, rather than half timber and slate. Harvests are poorer and food more difficult to find, and this is often very dependent on the weather, and as such the population tend to be superstitious in nature, mistrustful of the decadent ways and easy lifestyles of the south and west.

Adler An Zee

Adler An Zee is the newest addition to the Empire, a new colony bought from the dwarfs in 376PC in exhange for the Duron Mountains. A large number of Ulricans have moved here, eager to be free of the discrimination of the HSE mainland, and over 50% of Adler An Zee worship gods other than Sigmar. A large Ogre population has also moved to Adler An Zee, as it is nearer the campaigning grounds of the Kaalroen Empire and Typhonian Enclave.

Kustenland

Kustenland is the smallest independent human nation recognised by the Holy Sigmarite Empire. It is completely surrounded by the HSE and totally reliant on it for its continued existence. Kustenlanders are mostly peasant farmers, and most of those who want something different out of life end up in the Empire anyway. In time the full merger of Kustenland with the HSE is an almost certainty.

Ebenland

Ebenland is very similar to Kustenland, though larger and its inhabitants, mostly trappers and rangers, are fiercely independent. Much of Ebenland is marshland and of very little value.

Pellenar

Pellenar is the largest independent human realm after the HSE, ruled by a King from the capital Ingolrop. Its customs are similar to those of Old Kislev, and it is believed to have been founded by Kislevite travellers a few centuries after the establishment of the HSE. Successive Emperors of the Empire have recognised and guaranteed the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Pellenar, though a number have tried to peacefully integrate the realm into the HSE.

Pellenar is dominated by flat grasslands, which make it the ideal land for horses, and it is horse breeding at which the kingdom excels. Most Empire knights and nobles prefer a Pellenar steed, and the people of Pellenar are often known as the "horse lords".

Palurin Political - 424PC

Holy Sigmarite Empire 408-424PC

The Count of Holwingen had showed little sign of slowing with his advancing years. Rather, Count Drazkharov had helped to maintain the impetus of the Emperor Wolfgang’s campaign of expansion into Louis’ reign. In 410PC the Count and his lady wife Anastasia sailed to Adler an Zee at the head of a host of a thousand soldiers, pledging their support and protection to the new colonies.

Igor and Anastasia toured the new settlements to meet the smallfolk there, and personally brought supplies and provisions to the pioneers who forged westward to annex the territories of New Aranur. Anastasia was noted to dote on the tales of the smallfolk and take great interest in their adventures of the new lands. The Count himself led a joint counter-attack against Skaven invaders later that year, and his soldiers were rapturously received by thronging crowds who celebrated the victory along the streets of Ulrichshafen. In no small part did this victory over the vile rat-men weigh in the Drazkharovs' favour when they brokered a marriage for their eldest daughter, Izolda, to the young Lord Mortiz of Ulrichshafen, second son of the venerable and well-respected Moritz family of Nordingland.

Holwingen was still equally as fierce in its defence of the Empire at home, and in 416PC the Krahefort Guard mustered in the passes of the Durom Ranges to successfully repel a a Lizardman incursion from Cuitlaxaochitzin that otherwise threatened to overwhelm the Empire’s northern borders. Igor and Anastasia became much beloved in the Holy Sigmarite Empire as brave and just protectors of the people of the north. As the influence of Holwingen rose, other noble houses sought to align themselves with the power of the Krahefort. In 418PC the victor was decided as the Drazkharovs' second daughter, Sophia, was married to the aging Count of Wurmlingen. It was rumoured at the Imperial Court of Sigmarheim that, as part of the marriage deal, Igor and Anastasia had promised their support to the Count’s claim to inheritance of the long-contested state lands of Niederland.

Emperor Wolfgang concentrated on domestic matters towards the end of his reign. In these years the count of Holwingen extended his control over the north, while Wolfgang was blessed with three Grandchilden by his hier Louis. In 413PC, just ten months after the birth of Prince Konrad, the Emperor died, aged 67. He remained bitter to the end that he had been unable to extend the control of the Kingdom to the seas of the Pan Coron Ocean, and his son Louis vowed this would be his main aim.

In 416PC Louis began planning a new settlement on the coast of Armaethor. He completed his father's road to the coast in 417 without interference from the Lizardmen, and by 418PC Eichenwald had been established as the Empire's newest port in Armaethor, on the shores of the Pan Coron Ocean.

Eichenwald quickly started drawing trade away from Galamory and Sudhafen, as captains were far more willing to sail into the new Empire port than risk getting too close to the foreboding shores of Arvin and the Dark Elf Dominion. The Count of Sudhafen, irritated by the loss of profits then began discussions with the dwarfs to build a canal connecting the two ports.

The establishment of Eichenwald was met with indifference by Cuitlaxaochitzin, but the armies of Typhus licked their furry lips. Another human settlement, even further from the main armies of the Empire, and harder to defend. By 421PC the Skaven realm was ready to strike and a new raiding force was assembled, making the difficult trip across the Pan Coron Ocean in just a few weeks, arriving in late summer of the same year.

Eichenwald and the surrounding area were not powerless to defend themselves however. Realising how exposed the new town was, and expecting a Lizardman attack, Louis II had stationed a permanent large army in the town. This army became aware of the skaven before they had a chance to sack the city, and marched out to the skaven landing zone in order to halt their advance on Eichenwald.

The skaven gave battle under the setting sun, and the artillery and magic of both sides was brutally effective. Poison gas bombs, warpfire, rocks and all sorts of deranged weaponry were fired at the Empire lines, as well as vicious spells. The Elite Alptraum guard suffered the most, with more than half the regiment lost in the opening exhanges. Still the Imperial army stoically marched forward into the teeth of the skaven guns, firing back with cannon and hellstorm rockets.

The Imperial artillery was no less destructive. The skaven screaming bell was severely damaged, and the core strength of the ratmen horde, the stormvermin, was obliterated by accurate shell fire. The battle reached a climax when the Imperial cavalry delivered the charge, breaking the ratmen's lines and forcing their way through to the screaming bell itself. In the ensuing melee both the skaven general and his infernal war machine were destroyed in a cacophony of rending metal and tortured inhuman screams.

Unfortunately, despite causing horrific casualties to the skaven horde, the Imperial army was almost annihilated. The Empire general, surrounded, panicked and was cut down after his knights had bravely stood and died facing the swarm. Only a handful of state troops limped back to the relative safety of the Eichenwald pallisade, and there they waited for the inevitable skaven assault on the underdefended settlement.

It never came. Typhus' horde had suffered huge losses, despite holding the field. Their general was gone and their war machines damaged or destroyed. Their elite infantry had been slaughtered and only a few thousand clanrats and skaven slaves now remained. Far too few to even think of continuing the raid. The skaven looted what they could from surrounding villages and returned to Boiling Peak with their spoils.

The heroic defeat, while saving the town of Eichenwald, did not please Louis II. Another king had lost another army, and in 422PC his mood turned ever more black after his youngest son, Konrad, succumbed to the plague.

Two years later, Domovoi forces from the Western areas of the Kaalroen empire led by Tyras, Personal Champion of Elder Hors the violent, sought to expand there holdings in that direction. Tyras sent raiders as far as Pellenar, a small nation of humans native to Palurin and under the protection of, though not control of, the Holy Sigmarite Empire. Emperor Louis II was quick to respond, despatching a standing army of Ogres to help the Pellenarians. After a handful of minor skirmishes in which the Ogres crushed smaller raiding parties, Tyras was forced to raise a larger army so as not to lose face in the sight of his master. The two forces clashed on the plains outside Saarborn.

Whilst the large number of Chaos sorcerers used the eight winds to their advantage in the early stages of the battle it was clear that the Domovoi were overwhelmed by the sheer number of ogres arrayed against them. A few individuals managed to escape and return to Novgorod with news of the massacre in the West. Tyras was one of the survivors but had been gored by a mournfang in the final stages of battle. His recovery would take many months and forced a furious Elder Hors to take control of the Domovoi armies himself. Meanwhile the domain of Pellenar welcomed increased talks with the HSE, and allowed a number of Sigmarite missionaries to visit their settlements and spread the good word.

Typhus renews expeditions

Following their retreat from the walls of Sein Craban the standing armies of the Typhurian Enclave had been devastated and scattered. Typhus had emptied Boiling Peak of its garrison to secure his advance on the Elven colony and their loss left him in a perilously weak position.

When patrols around Boiling Peak captured a number of skink spies from the empire of Cuitlaxaochitzin, Typhus feared the weakness of the Enclave had become known. Realising he had to demonstrate his empire's continued strength and resolve beyond doubt or risk invasion, Typhus ordered the agents brutally killed before scraping together what forces he could to launch a punitive retaliatory raid against the Lizardmen. Typhus' small army made landfall under cover of night from their airships and marched directly towards the port of Tacapantzin. Completely surprised by this unexpected aggression the Lizardmen rushed their troops to stall Typhus' advance and buy time to prepare a proper defence of the port.

Finding his path blocked in a narrow pass Typhus himself opened the hostilities, blasting the elite Temple Guard forming the core of the enemy host out of existence with his deadly sorcery. Facing annihilation under a deadly bombardment of poisoned gas the Lizardmen were forced to leave their defensive positions and rush forwards to engage the Skaven. The fighting was exceptionally brutal and bloody and the Skaven were fought to a standstill. Typhus himself was forced to teleport himself back to the fleet when a rampaging Stegadon threatened to trample him in its blind rage. Eventually however the shattered Lizardmen withdrew, hoping they had bought sufficient time to mobilise enough troops to mount a defence of Tacapantzin. The attack never happened. Their victory won and statement made, the Skaven hordes retreated to their fleet and departed back to Boiling Peak. Unknown to his enemies, the small advance guard that had clashed with the Lizardmen had been all that Typhus could throw together and had never posed any threat to the well defended port.

Following their successful raid the fortunes of the Enclave rapidly improved. Typhus established a new city in the south of his realm. Overshadowed by a mighty extinct volcano, Widows Peak would provide a southern base for the large Skaven fleet and allow them to better control the straits between the Great Rhun Sea and the Pan Coron Ocean. The privateer fleets of the hated Elves of Mellvellon now ran even greater risk of interception if they wanted to hunt in the eastern seas.

The Enclave's fortunes were to wax once again when a delegation from the Kaalroen Empire came to Typhus with an offer of trade. The delegation had initially been ambushed by the alert and paranoid Skaven. It was only after his warriors had been slaughtered and his elite household cavalry were surrounded on all sides that the leader of the delegation succeeded in communicating his wish to parley. Typhus received the Kaalroen's ambassador at a specially orchestrated ceremony at Boiling Peak. Newly raised and equipped legions of troops, paid for with loans from the Warpclaw Guild, marched past in a never ending stream. Elder Dažbog of the Domovoi seemed impressed with the military might of the Enclave although in truth Typhus' army was still small. The ignorant Kaalroens couldn't tell one skaven from another and seemed oblivious that they were in fact watching the same regiments march past them repeatedly, each block of troops rejoining the start of the march once they were safely out of sight of the Kaalroens.

Elder Dažbog was keen to secure Typhus' aid and support against mutual enemies. He showered Typhus with extravagant gifts and even more extravagant flattery, offering to support the Enclave with regular shipments of warpstone and war materials provided Typhus would commit to making war on their mutual foe.

The Enclave, which had been weak and destitute only a few years earlier, was once more strong. Fresh warpstone was being manifested in the giant magical condensers at Boiling Peak to feed the wheels of Skaven industry. As they returned to report their success to the Domovoi Pantheon, the Kaalroen delegation sailed past the island fortress of Tyrant's Gate, a fortress that had not been there when they had passed the island on their way to Boiling Peak.