Wood Elves defeat Phallucia

With success in the north against the beastmen, lord Traegan had secured his dominance over the Kaalroen Empire and the supremacy of Hjemland in the realm. With Skraeland apparently content to remain peaceful and the defeat of another of the chaos lords in the far south against the Holy Sigmarite Empire, the lord of Phallucia decided that an expansionist war was required to retain his position in relation to Tragean.

The chaos lord advanced an army south in 123PC, deciding to expand his domain south into Arnar, something Traegan had failed to do in 50PC and again in 68PC, the second time through the lord he was forced to put down in the civil war of 100PC.

Since 69PC no Kaalroen expansion south had been attempted, as every time the wood elves of Arnar prepared an army to stop them, and as the Phallucian army crossed into Arnar in 123PC, the story was no different. Once again the elves of the Quiet Glade set a warhost against the Kaalroens, defeating them for a third time in the shadow of the Branmeren hills.

First war of chaos supremacy

While Ug’s forces were being defeated in Pellenar, the first war of chaos supremacy was in full swing in northern Canabrin. The lord of the Kaalroen Empire, Traegan, could no longer put up with the warlike beastmen on his northern border. Just as the beastmen were about to invade, Traegan sent forth a powerful force to intercept them.

In 121PC, after several skirmishes, a third of Ug’s armies faced the disciplined ranks of the tower of Hovedstaden just south of the great forests of Canabrin. The battle was fierce and no quarter was given, but the power of Traegan could not be overcome by the ravening beast horde. The host was utterly broken by the Kaalroen Empire and the threat of Ug’s beastmen to the homelands of the chaos realm was lifted, for the time being.

Campaign of Sigismund (Map)

Campaign of Sigismund (119-122PC)

In 114PC Emperor Konrad I took the reigns of power in the Holy Sigmarite Empire, and the sixteen year old ruler was highly influenced by the Grand Theogenist, Englebert, who became his chief advisor and almost like a second father to the most powerful man in the realm.

For six years the Empire prospered peacefully, but by 120PC the growing threat of raiders from the north led Konrad, under the watchful eye of Englebert, to organise a great crusade against the Chaos raiders, warriors from the Kaalroen Empire and marauding hordes of beastmen from the far northern Domain of Ug, who were both pillaging the plains of Pellenar, an area the Empire wanted to expand into. Sparsely populated, Pellenar had little in the way of resources, but expansion east was a key policy of the Empire in the 2nd Century PC.

The campaign of Sigismund, as it became known for the general who led the army on behalf of the young emperor, lasted two years and was a great success. In spring of 120PC the grand army of the Empire finally tracked down the largest Kaalroen force in Pellanar and defeated it soundly in the Battle of the Upper Canaur.

The battle, which only saw Sigismund commit just over a third of his whole force, was a one sided massacre, dominated by accurate artillery fire and devastating spells from the armies Death wizard. While Sigismund’s army turned up en masse, the Kaalroens arrived peacemeal and never stood a chance. It was the first victory for the Empire over Chaos and ensured Empire hegemony over Pellenar, if Sigismund could defeat the beastmen in the hills to the north.

The following year the “Battle of the Beasts” put an end to the beastmen raids of Pellenar of the early 2nd century PC. After marching his army right up to the Mallvass mountains, Sigismund faces a mighty horde of beastmen in late 121PC. The Templar Grand Master drew up his battle line and allowed the beastmen to attack. They did this with fury, attacking all parts of the Empire line simultaneously, denying the Empire force room to manoeuvre.

The Sigmarites however, imbued with faith in their general and showing incredible stubbornness did not break with the initial charge of the beast horde. Gradually, and thanks to not a little luck, the beastmen faltered, then broke, and Sigismund personally led the charge which routed the beast lord’s elite infantry.

The battle was also notable for the escapades of the fire wizard, Hans Shenklemann. The wizard somehow managed to evade the crazed attacks of a razorgor, survive the catastrophic effects of a devastating miscast and then flee successfully from an enraged beastman battle standard bearer. From then on the phrase “Lucky Hans” became common in the Empire, denoting a miraculous escape from certain defeat and destruction.

Upon his return the Empire rejoiced at the successful crusade and Konrad was hailed Konrad the Protector. The influence and power of the Empire in Palurin rose to its highest, and the Sigmarite realm of men expanded, its population reaching over 700,000.

The period of Sigismund’s campaign also saw the founding of Weissbruck, in the north of the Empire, and the establishment of official divisions of the Empire, ruled by a Graf. Schinderland, the Empire’s most eastern territory at the time, saw the biggest benefit from the crusade, expanding as far as the Great Canaur.

The increasing power of the Empire was noted around the world of Palurin, and in 125PC the Elves of Mellvellon, possibly invited by Englebert, sent envoys to Sigmarheim. On the advice of the Grand Theogenist, who wanted once and for all to put the dealings of Konrad’s father with the Dominion behind him, Konrad accepted the representatives from Dragonspire and a trade agreement, based on caravans travelling the Great Easting Road, was drawn up. Celebrations and a joust marked the event, which the elves apparently found amusing, if barbarous.

The trade agreement flourished until 128PC when Mellvellon questioned the quality of the gold the Empire was offering in exchange for elven goods. It is widely suspected the Dominion substituted good Empire gold for poor quality counterfeit coins, but no proof was ever uncovered. Insulted, the hot headed young Konrad, now thirty years old, impounded all Mellvellon goods en route to the Empire.

Infuriated at this response the dragon lords of Mellvellon sent an army along the Easting road, surprising the Sigmarites. The Elf warhost reached the Canaur in late summer and made camp add the inn of the Twinned Tailed Comet, an important trading post on the route.

Rapidly Konrad sent Sigismund with a new army to the river and after a day of unsuccessful Parley, the “War of the elf pate”, named after the goods impounded at the trading post began, and ended, settled in a single day’s battle on the banks of the Canaur.

Despite bringing a dragon, the elves were thwarted by accurate rocket battery fire and the skill and ferocity of Sigismund’s cavalry and the greatswords of Sigmar. The greatswords slew the dragon and the elf general leading the army, while the elf infantry was worn down in a titanic struggle with Sigismund and his knights. Despite being badly wounded by elf great weapons, Sigismund routed the elf warhost and took the victory.

Following the victory Konrad (again possibly influenced by the ageing Theogenist) sent a mission of peace to Mellvellon. Anxious to restore peace and to maintain the friendship of the powerful Empire of men, the high elves accepted the restoration of trading and the alliance of Konrad. The strategic position of the Empire in relation to the Dominion no doubt influenced the decision of the dragon lords.

With peace restored trade flourished, and at the time of Englebert’s death in late 128PC and in the following years, the town of Niederdam grew up around the trading post and the ruins of Luvallium, an old settlement of Aranur, were found and researched by Empire archaeologists. The investigations were fruitful, and much treasure was discovered, adding to the Holy Sigmarite Empire’s growing prosperity.

Holy Sigmarite Empire - Political Divisions

Top Ten Lists!

Population

Kaalroen Empire: 860,000

Dark Elf Dominion: 820,000

Holy Sigmarite Empire: 705,000

Cuitlaxaochitzin: 570,000

Wood Elves of Arnar: 560,000

Mellvellon: 495,000

Domain of Ug: 410,000

Skaven Realm: 300,000

Cloudy Mountain Orcs: 220,000

Aquilan Empire: 210,000

Biggest Cities

Lamentation: 180,000

New Har Ganeth: 120,000

New Skraeland: 100,000

Sigmarheim: 95,000

Hovedstaden: 90,000

Phallucia: 90,000

Sudhafen: 90,000

Boiling Peak: 90,000

Dragonspire: 90,000

Quiet Glade: 80,000

Cultural Wonders of the World

Great Temple of Cuitlaxaochitzin: 8

Boiling Peak Complex: 7

Cathedral to Sigmar: 4

Tower of Phallucia: 4

Tower of Skraeland: 3

Tower of Tragean: 2

Herdstones of Ug: 2

Holy Sigmarite Empire 102-120PC

In 110PC the High Elves of Mellvellon received the letter from Sigmarheim informing them of the negotiations with the Dominion. Outraged, the High Elves sent a force overland via Arnar and the moors of mourn into the vale of Canaur, determined once again to meddle in the affairs of other realms.

The battle of the Lesser Canaur took place in late 110PC on the river itself, to the north east of the Holy Sigmarite Empire. Empire scouts had spotted the approaching army, but Englebert was secretive enough not have allowed anyone but his closest allies find out about his conversations with Mellvellon. Heinrich was therefore initially puzzled by the High Elves' demand that he stop negotiating with the Dominion. Heinrich refused the High Elf decree and, insulted by the High Elf presumption, sent his army to the bridges of Canaur. After repeating their demand, the High Elves attacked.

The battle was exceptionally bloody as both sides fought for control of the river crossings. The battle ebbed and flowed and at one point an Empire victory lokoed likely, following the rout of the Dragon Princes and destruction of their right flank by fired up greatsword regiments. These elite troops were so enthusiastic to pursue their enemy that they almost lost Heinrich the battle, driving too far east initially and abandonning the very river crossing they had to protect.

Templar Grand Master Halsdorf fought his last battle, regaining control of his greatswords before facing the might of a star dragon on his right wing. For a time his cavalry held up the beast, and one of Halsdorf's battle wizards managed to weaken the rider, but the monster was too strong. Halsdorf died, trampled under foot by the Dragon Lord of Mellvellon. The hero of Sudhafen was dead.

The dragon then charged into the Empire elite infantry, and though the elf lord on top was killed the beast killed or scattered the remaining greatswords. The Elves had managed to gain a foothold on the crossings of Canaur, but their army had been destroyed. The remnant force abandonned the march on Sudhafen and returned, battered, to Mellvellon.

The battle had secured Heinrich's position and made things difficult for Englebert, but the Emperor knew in his heart why the High Elves had come, and began scheming for the Grand Theogenist's downfall. By the end of the year however, Heinrich was dead from a fever and his son, twelve year old Konrad, now took the throne.

Konrad was too young to rule alone, so his uncle, Jurgen, was appointed lord Protector. Many thought Jurgen mad, and indeed it was rumoured he intended to take the throne for himself once Konrad reached 18, but Jurgen too did not live long enough, dying in a riding accident in 114PC. Konrad, now 16, was crowned Emperor of the Sigmarites with the blessings, and no doubt advice, of Englebert.

The Empire had prospered under Heinrich and the protectorship of Jurgen. Heinrich's negotiations with the Dark Elves and the stalemate in Canaur ensured the continued expansion of the realm, an enterprise much helped by the exploitation of the riches found in the ruins of Hardor in Hoffenland. The period saw the establishment of Sudhafen as a large city, and the founding of Freidrichslingen and Ravensgart, the Empire's main port.

Dominion expansion 100-120PC

During the first 20 years of the 2nd Century PC, the Dominion continued to expand. The lords of Lamentation poured money and resources into the development of a mighty navy, and by 115PC the Dark Elf Navy was by far the largest on Palurin, and put the little collection of sailing ships in Ravensgart to shame. The Empire's navies stayed within Galamor bay, while the Dominion's crossed the Pan Coron ocean, discovering new lands to the south and west in 117PC and arriving in force at Aquila in 118PC.

The Dark Elves also began exploring the coasts of Palurin, seeking to create safe havens around the world and dominate the sea. They arrived at Basslaer in 113PC and found no inhabitants, or so they thought. Just a year after the first settlement had been established, a daemonic incursion thrust the new conlony into turmoil until Lamentation sent an army to defend them. The army sent defeated the daemons and cast the from the world, allowing the Dark Elves to continue their colonisation.

"...The rocky island of Basslaer is lit by flashes of lightning as the storm crashes against the coast, the flashes of light revealing dark figures clambering ashore over razor-edged rocks. Nimble corsairs direct the landings, the snorting figures of Cold Ones pull against their riders as the heavy cavalry struggle ashore. Crossbowmen hold their weapons tight under cloaks to protect the vulnerable strings from the driving rain.

At the centre of the island, eldritch energies crackle and deep within its pit, the Daemon portal begins to awaken. The rain of the storm evaporates away from the boiling gateway, and with a flash Horrors appear upon the rim of the caldera. They cavort and dance in insane geometries, describing eldritch symbols and calling forth their bloodthirsty kin – Bloodletters, and mighty Juggernaughts, riding from the portal and advancing up the slopes. Slowly, with titanic majesty, the winged form of a Lord of Change emerges from the portal, and its wingbeats urge the Daemon warhost on before it.

Battle is joined on the outer slopes of the rim under the driving rain, a meeting battle with the last Daemons still emerging from the portal and the Dark Elves still landing the remainder of their forces. On the right flank, Seekers of Slaanesh are delayed by a Cold One Chariot but then tear into the soft underbelly of the Dark Elf Army. At the same time, however, the catastrophic charge of Cold One Knights and a fearsome War Hydra crash into the Daemons of the Blood God that hold the left, and these avatars of war are cast back to whence they came. The Lord of Change flaps and attempts to escape, but the force opposing it is too much, and as it struggles to lift off a Cold One Knight lance pierces its breast and banishes it forever.

The Daemon host is broken, and the storm lashes the now-quiescent portal. The Dark Elves lash their slaves forward, and mighty towers begin to rise around the rim of the portal. A gantry is conjured from the stone, reaching out above the centre of the portal. Standing at the tip of the portal, buffeted by storm winds, stands a Sorceress of stunning beauty and terrible power. Within her fist is a curved dagger, and before her is bound the last of the Daemons of Slaanesh. A cry, a flash of power, the dagger falls and the Daemon is cast back into the portal. Those with the witch-sight see the Sorceress trace a path back along the gantry, shrouded by an aura of terrible and unholy power, flowing from the portal and lending vitality to her movements.

The world shudders, and a new power is born in the Dark Elf Dominion..."

Beastmen raids 112-120PC

The period 112-120PC in the lowlands of Canabrin was dominated by successive beastmen raiding campaigns which reached progressively further south and touched all the elven kingdoms of Palurin.

The first raiding campaign poured out of the Domain of Ug and travelled west to the colonies of Mellvellon on the shores of Canabrin and Arnar. The elven colonies suffered badly at the hands of the beastmen and many outlying settlements were razed to the ground. Eventually the beastmen were brought to battle, but even then the High Elf army was defeated and the terror only ended when winter came.

The next major raid came in 114PC when Ug's followers reached the Arnar woodlands having crossed the Cenebrae between Novgorod and the Fortress of Eternal Dawn. This time the beastmen travelled south, into the forests and there more beastmen flocked to the banner of Ug. The Wood Elves of the Quiet Glade tried to stop them, but were overrun and forced to conceal their settlements by magic from the beastmen horde. Much damage was done to the woodlands which grew wild and untamed where the hordes had been and it took the wood elves years to tame the land.

In 116PC a beastman army reached as far south as New Naggarond, but did little real damage. None-the-less the lords of the Dominion sent a host north to counter the threat. In late 117PC the Dark Elves caught up with a large roaming force of beastmen in the foothills east of the mountains dividing Canabrin and Canaur, and destroyed them utterly. The beastman incursions came to an end.

A contemporary account:

"117 was a year both the Beastmen of Ug and the Dark Elves of Lamentation learnt many things about their foes.

The Dark Elves hadn’t expected the way the Beastmen could roam so far from their core territory, and were almost unprepared when Ug’s raiding parties reached their northern borders. An army was hastily diverted from plans to expand into the north of Canaur and set to hunting beastmen. As is typical for the arrogant corsair lords of the seafaring Dark Elf Dominion, they set about the engagement like a hunt for sport, and spectacularly underestimated the cunning and mobility of their more flexible foe.

Advancing onto the battlefield in wide order, with a casual disregard for their flanks, the Dark Elf forces rapidly discovered their mistake when two large regiments of angry Gor and an even angrier Ghorgon appeared behind their lines and began to wreak havoc. Surrounded and on the back foot, the Dark Elf army – led by a wizard not renowned for tactical thought – seemed set to suffer a crushing defeat.

It would seem, however, that while the Dark Elves underestimated the cunning of their brutal enemies, the Beastmen underestimated the wild fury of the barely-restrained War Hydra. Engaged by a heavily-armoured Beastman warlord, the beast suffered terrible injuries and fell for a moment, but in moments its flesh knitted back together and it rose once more. Granted phantasmal weaponry by the wind of shadows, the beast tore the Beastlord into ribbons and proceeded to rampage through the Beastman warhost. Supported by hails of crossbow fire and cavalry and chariot charges, a battle that had looked to be lost by overconfidence turned into a crushing victory for the Druchii.

Naturally, all responsibility for the victory was claimed by the cunning sorcerer, and the beastmasters were quietly put to death to keep the official story intact."

Ug's domain had been weakened by the loss to the Dominion, but now he set his eyes on the real prize, building up mighty beastman warhosts to attack his neighbour, the Kaalroen Empire. By 120PC the preparations were almost complete. This would be no mere raiding force. The army assembled by Ug had been brought together for one purpose, crushing the armies of the Kaalroen Empire and taking the land for his own.

High Elf War of 107

With the Kaalroen Empire an ever present threat and the construction of docks in Novgorod in 98PC, the High Elves of Mellvellon knew they had to do something to contain the expansion of chaos. They began by securing the help of the Ogres of Graag, having been on good terms with the Lizardmen of Cullinor for half a century.

The Ogres successfully raided Novgorod but this only angered the lords of Chaos and soon a much larger army was heading towards the new colonies on the shores of Arnar where the elves had discovered ancient ruins. The High Elves in response mustered a truly mighty host and set out from Mellvellon to land at Dragon's Teeth Bay.

No sooner had they embarked however they learned of the presence of the Dark Elves in Aranur. This could only mean the Dark Elves now had a fleet capable of reaching the east, so the high elf lords split their forces. One army would be diverted to fight their hated kin while the other half would face the might of the Kaalroen Empire.

It was an unfortunate decision. In 107PC the high elves fought a war on two fronts, and lost. Their armies were destroyed in Arnar by the army of Phallacia and the host of Lamentation, raiding while the lords of Aquila cowered in their halls, smashed the army of Mellvellon on the plains of Aranur. The war of 107PC saw the high elves humbled and the might of chaos grow in the north.

Later however the high elves had some good fortune, discovering an ancient horde of treasure in the ruins on the coast of Arnar. This new found wealth allowed them to pay the tribes of Anar to help them settle the region and prevented many from turning to the Kaalroen Empire for protection.

Dark Elves defeated at Sudhafen

In 102PC Emperor Heinrich, who had ascended the throne promising to expand and secure the Empire's borders, proclaimed the nation's newest city, the port of Sudhafen, to a joyful people. The proximity of the city to the Dark Elf Dominion however meant that immigration was far lower and the city struggled to thrive with the constant threat of Dark Elf Raiders.

Heinrich responded by sending an army to Sudhafen, totalling nearly ten thousand armed men. The raids stopped for a time, but such an armed force in Armaethor was a threat and an afront to the Dark Elf Dominion, and war was always going to be the result.

In 103PC Lord Seragond of Har Ganeth sent an army to Sudhafen, but Grand Master Halsdorf's spies picked up their movement, and the army of the Empire intercepted the dark elf host in Armaethor to the south of the Empire city.

The battle was incredibly bloody, even for its time, with less than half the soldiers on both sides surviving. On the Empire right flank the battle centred over an important ford in a shallow river, where the Empire Greatswords broke and destroyed the Dark Elf corsairs. On the left flank the elite infantry of Seragond's host, the black guard, were annihilated first by concentrated magic, then by a decisive charge by Halsdorf's cavalry, timed to perfection while the Dark Elves were still reeling from the magical onslaught.

In the Empire centre the army of men suffered. A monstrous Hydra destroyed the majority of the swordsmen and their detatchments, while the Empire handgunners, crossbowmen and artillery were all annihilated by ravenous bloodthirsty harpies.

At the end of the battle however the dark elves had lost. Leaderless and with only their cold one knights intact, they fled from the much weakened but still intact Empire lines. The battered remnants of the army returned to Sudhafen to a hero's welcome and Heinrich travelled south for to congratulate and reward the Templar Knight.

The Dark Elves left Armaethor, at least for the time being, but remained a potent threat in the south, occupying Arvin Isle and east Canaur in the Dinethinan Valley, fashioning it "New Naggaroth". Attempting to protect the Empire and concentrate on growth and expansion, in his later years Emperor Heinrich began making overtures to the Dark Elf Dominion about making a peaceful settlement. To his surprise the lords of the Dominion were not unreceptive.

Sigmarheim and New Har Ganeth exchanged diplomats, although Lamentation remained unresponsive. In 107PC, while the Dark Elves fought their kin in Aranur they realised a treaty, at least for now, would not be without its advantages and so talks began. At first there was little progress, but gradually the negotiators began to reach understandings on sphere's of influence and free travel out of Sudhafen. The Empire even managed to get the Dominion to agree never to make slaves of men of the Sigmarite Empire, and for a while in 110PC it looked like a peace deal was on the table.

Not everyone in the Holy Sigmarite Empire condoned the Emperor's actions, especially Grand Theogenist Englebert "the outspoken". Again and again he criticised the Emperor in public, and very nearly accused Heinrich of blasphemy. This in turn almost led to Englebert being arrested for treason, but his popularity in the north caused Heinrich to hesitate. By 109PC Sigmarheim was a seething cauldron of unrest with factions for and against the monarch and his argument with the church.

Englebert was powerless to stop Heinrich however, and a significant proportion of the populace favoured peace. After all the notions of good and evil did not really apply to elves, why should the men of the Empire have cause to hate the Dominion, whatever they did and whatever they worshipped? Such an attitude was becoming prevalent, and in 110PC Englebert made a bold move to prevent the peace with the Dark Elves, writing in person to the High Elves of Mellvellon.

Biggest cities (infrastructure+culture+military)

Lamentation - 14

Hovedstaden - 13

Phallicia - 13

New Skraeland - 12

Sigmarheim - 11

New Har Ganeth - 11

Typhus victorious (Skaven official history...)

Warpstone is the lifeblood of skaven society, acting as both its energy source and main means of currency. For the Boiling Peak nest to continue to thrive warpstone needed to be found, and in large amounts. Typhus dispatched expeditionary forces far and wide to scour Palurin for warpstone deposits.

One deposit was found in the far north near the planet's frozen pole. In ages past the elves of palurin had erected a circle of waystones as a containment measure around the crash site of a warpstone meteorite. Not trusting his grasping underlings, Typhus travelled north to oversee the reclamation of the warpstone personally. To his frustration he found his way barred. The skaven activity around the site had drawn the attention of the nearby Domain of Ug and a large force of mutated beastmen arrived to challenge the skaven for the meteorite.

Fuelled by rage and half maddened by the nearby presence of warpstone Typhus summoned all his might. As bloody carnage erupted in the centre Typhus unleashed the changing power of the horned rat on the obstreperous beastmen, mutating them into skaven and turning them on their former allies. Although the beastmen fought with a ferocity and single mindedness typical of the minions of the dark gods they were surrounded and unsupported and only a few survived to escape the field.

Typhus felt a feeling of smug self-satisfaction wash over him. His followers were overawed by the sheer destruction he had personally unleashed which should ensure their loyalty for at least a little while to come. And the beast's shaman leader, turned into a pathetic mewling and stunted skaven would serve well as both a pet and a reminder of the fate of all those who opposed Typhus!

Civil War in the Kaalroen Empire

The Kaalroen Empire remained farily peaceful from 80PC to 100PC, with only occasional incursions into their territory by barbarian tribes and Ug's beastmen. For the most part however Ug was contained and the Kaalroens continued to expand their empire, despite the grevious loss of their northern Watchtowers in 89PC.

Five factions now held sway over almost independent realms within the greater Empire, though all owed fealty to Tragean in Hovedstaden. The three most powerful factions were the rulers of Hjemland, Phallacia and New Skraeland, but two more were also vying for power towards the end of the 1st century.

After the loss of the watchtowers one of these two factions lost influence, while the other decided that 100PC was the time to overthrow Traegan and the Kaalroens' dominance of the Empire. The battle was fought in the valley of the Cenebrae river, but Tragean's forces were victorious, consolidating their hold over the Empire and increasing their lord's dominance over chaos. This was further enhanced when the Kaalroen's discovered an ancient tribe living in the ruins of a once great city. By demonstrating his powers, Tragean convinced the tribe to join his faction, and by the end of the first century PC the Kaalroen Empire was easily the largest and most powerful on Palurin.

War of the Elves

By the end of the first century PC the High elves of Mellvellon had begun to send out missions to the mainland with the intention of setting up permanent settlements along the shores of Arnar. They made contact with the Wood Elves of the Quiet Glade fairly early on in their travels, sometime around 70PC, and for twenty-three years relations were good, even friendly. That all changed in 90PC.

The war of the elves, which culminated in the defeat of the Dragon Lords of Mellvellon on the plains of Arnar was mainly a clash of cultures and a disagreement between the two kindred nations over which of them had the right to call themselves protectors of Palurin. The Wood Elves had twice defeated the Chaotic armies of the Kaalroen Empire and when the high elves arrived demanding that they accept lordship from Mellvellon, they were less than impressed.

For two years the elf realms squabbled over their claim to Arnar, which became the focus of the dispute. When the High Elves began settling near to the forests the Wood Elves finally lost patience and attacked in strength.

The battle of Arnar Plains in 93PC saw the full might of the Wood Elf realm fall upon the lords of Mellvellon. Despite their superiority in equipment and the power of two mighty dragons, the high elves were defeated and forced to leave Arnar. Although this resolved the two empires' dispute, relations remained poor for the rest of the century.

Second Dark Elf War

Just over 40 years had passed since the Lizardmen and Dark Elf nations fought a bitter war over the lands of Armaethor, a wide peninsular to the west of Arvin Isle and the Dark Elf Dominion, lying to the south east of Cullinor and the home of the Slaan. That war had ended in stalemate and neither side had emerged victorious. Since then the two empires had grown and now rivalled each other for the second most powerful nation on Palurin.

The second Dark Elf war, as reckoned by the Lizardmen, broke out in the hot summer of 85PC, when the host of Lamentation landed once more on Armaethor and travelled north in search of tribes to enslave. Learning of this the Lizardmen responded by sending a massive army of their own, and the two clashed on the shores of Galamor bay just after dawn.

The two vast armies practically stumbled upon each other and neither had deployed for battle. Despite this the Dark elves attacked, with much of their force concentrated on their enemys' left flank. The lizardmen meanwhile, spread over ground which sloped gently down to the sea were more spread out, but managed to weather the first charge of the Dark Elves. Luck, or the gods was on their side and by nightfall the dark elves had been surrounded and destroyed, their remnants scattered.

For two years the Lizardmen controlled Armaethor before returning to Cullinor and the construction of a new and mighty temple in the heart of their realm. It was left to the Ogres of Graag to keep vigil in the south. In 87PC the dark elves returned, this time an army loyal to Lord Seragond who had recently established New Naggarond on the shores of Canaur. From his capital, New Har Ganeth, Seragond sent an army to exploit the region of Armaethor, to enslave its inhabitants and dominate the land where his rivals in Lamentation had failed. Seragond's army clashed with the Ogre mercenaries in the autumn of that year, defeating them and establishing Dark Elf Hegmony over the region once more.

Dark Elves win war of Dínethenin Valley

As the first century PC approached its end, the Dark Elf Dominion was expanding rapidly, with more arrivals from the warhammer world boosting its population. The war against Chaos in the Dínethenin valley continued off and on following the inconclusive battle in 73PC, with the Dark Elves establishing permanent settlements on the coast of Canaur in 75PC.

By 79PC the tower of Seragond at the mouth of the Dínethenin had become well established and the Kaalroen Empire looked increasingly unlikely to be able to remove the Dark Elves and dominate the region. So, in 82PC the host of Phallacia emptied from its walls and marched south to take on the armies of Seragond.

The battle in 82PC between the Dark Elves and the Kaalroen Empire decided the fate of the Dínethenin valley. The Dark Elves were stalwart, and their elite infantry slaughtered the warriors of chaos while their barely tamed Hydras, brought from Naggaroth and bred in the new world, took a terrible toll on the chaos infantry. By the end of the battle the forces of chaos had been utterly shattered, and the Dark Elves celebrated their victory, pushing further up the river and consolidating their hold on eastern Canaur.

Rankings

Power 1 Kaalroen Empire 2 Lizardmen 3 Dark Elf Dominion

Empire Extent 1 Kaalroen Empire 2 Lizardmen 3 Dark Elf Dominion

Population 1 Kaalroen Empire 2 Wood Elf Realm 3 Lizardmen

Culture 1 Lizardmen 2 Skaven 3 Kaalroen Empire

Military 1 Domain of Ug 2 Skaven Realm 3 High Elves Dark Elf Dominion
Lizardmen

Otto's Folly

In 61PC Emperor Otto II had decreed that Empire settlers must not venture east of the Great Canaur river in response to growing unrest in the region. Beastmen tribes were overruning the land and the news that the Dark Elf Dominion, now an ever growing threat to the south, had defeated the horde made things no better. When Otto died in 68PC the edict had not been rescinded and Otto III, the new ruler, agreed with the policy of his late father. He was even more convinc

ed when the armies of Tragean, who had defeated the Sigmarites in his grandfather's day, began their campaign which ultimately led to the stalemate near Crocket's peak.

Otto III however desired expansion of the Holy Sigmarite Empire, and was a devoutly religious man. He felt it his duty to bring Sigmar's guidance to the sparsely populated lands of Palurin, and desired to make his mark on history by bringing new land under the rule of his dynasty. Fearful of venturing east, the Emperor decreed in 79PC that he would send an army west. He would cross the Desert of Bones and claim all the lands to the east of the Sentinels for his own.

Inevitably the Lizardmen of Cullinor learned of Otto's plans through their trade with the Empire, mostly conducted through the Ogre mercenaries of Graag. The Slann learned that Otto was to cross the desert and this alarmed them, for in the deep desert itself lay the ruins of an ancient civilisation, one which had great significance to the lizardmen, and could not be allowed to be desecrated by the clumsy footfalls of mankind.

The Lizardmen tried diplomacy, but Otto, who had just founded Ottoberg in the north of the Empire, threw out their ambassador and warned the master of Cullinor to stay to the west of the mountains. They did not, and in the summer of 79PC the Empire armies, tired from their long and thirsty march across the desert, faced the largest army of the reptilian kingdom seen in Palurin for over thirty years.

Undetered, the armies of Sigmar went into battle in the passes of the Sentinel mountains. Despite the magicks of the Slaan leading the army the Empire cavalry charged into the heart of the lizardmen host, confident that their elite infantry, the greatswords of Alptraum, would follow them in. Unfortunately a combination of tiredness and incompetent command meant the Empire's finest soldiers hesitated, and the cavalry, along with the army general Boris Schenke, fled the field after having lost more than half their number. Apparently paralysed by indecision the greatswords then allowed themselves to be charged, and the Slaan high mage unleashed horrific sorcery against them. None survived the battle.

Towards the end of the battle the remaining Empire units were almost saved by the army's amethyst wizard, Hyram Sek, who unleashed an unstoppable spell which ravaged the lizardmen units for the entire length of the battlefield. The spell, overpowered probably by fear for his own life, allowed Sek to escape, but the remaining Empire infantry, confused and leaderless, were annihilated by the thinned out, yet infuriated ranks of saurus infantry.

Having lost the better part of his professional army, Otto sued for peace which the Lizardmen, their own army in tatters, accepted, forcing the Emperor of the Sigmarites to swear never to cross the Desert of Bones again. The expansion of Otto III was at an end, in an expedition forever remembered as "Otto's folly".

Kaalroen Empire resumes expansion (64-73PC)

After fourteen years of relative peace. mostly caused by intrigue and politicking within the realm, the armies of the Kaalroen Empire began to set out once again with the intention of expanding the dominion of Tragean and his liege lords. In 64PC the land of Skraeland was unexpectedly assailed by a daemonic incursion, which alarmed many and not just within the Kaalroen Empire itself. However the Skraeland army more than matched the daemons in battle, destroying yhe incursion utterly. For the next ten years the lords of Skraeland prospered and a third mighty tower was constructed to rival those of Hovedstaden and Phallacia.

Meanwhile the forces of Chaos tried once again to expand southward, but were again thwarted by the Wood Elf Realm who refused to permit the filth of Chaos to set foot in the realm of Arnar. After another defeat to the elves the Kaalroen Empire gave up trying to bring that land under its control, though they never found out just how close they had come to defeating the Woodland realm. The Wood Elves kept themselves to themselves for the next decade, rebuilding their strength after a costly war.

This led Tragean, master of the Kallroens, to venture over the Mallvass mountains once more, following a similar path to that of Ug some eleven years previously. Once again an army approached the river Dínethenin and as before the dark elf lords refused to stand idle. The armies of Tragean were however no beastmen rabble, and the two great armies shadowed each other in the foothills of the moors of mourn, as the Kaalroens attempted to get behind the dark elf warhost, cutting them off from their homeland. However they could not be outflanked and eventually the two armies fought a set piece battle in a high pass near to Crocket's peak. After several hours of hard fighting it became clear to lord Tragean that only by destroying both armies would he be able to pass into Canaur. This made no sense, so the Chaos army reluctantly returned to Hovedstaden, its campaign only half complete.

The Dark Elves meanwhile suffered heavy casualties and although they had prevented another Empire from claiming dominion over their coast, they had failed to defeat the Kaalroen Empire in open battle.

Beastmen contained (60-61PC)

The Domain of Ug in northern Canabrin drew the attention of the elves in 60 and 61PC as their raiding parties ventured further and further from their homeland. By the summer of 60PC the beastmen hordes of Ug had found their way south and west of the Malvass mountains and were ravaging the plains of eastern Canaur. Emperor Otto II of the Holy SIgmarite Empire banned his subjects from venturing east of the Great Canaur river, an edict which remained in place for decades and would have ramifications in the future.

In late 60PC however the beastmen had reached the river Dínethenin, too close to the Dominion of the Dark Elves. The lord of the dark tower sent a large force to deny the beastmen passage to the sea. The battle of the Dínethenin plain was a brutal affair with no quarter given on either side, but after a day of bloody fighting the Dark Elves just managed to overcome the might of Ug's forces and send them back to the north.

When Ug returned to his domain he found that the High Elves had already taken advantage of his land's weakened state to launch their own campaign in Canabrin. Hundreds of settlements cheered to see the children of Anaerion marching across the cold northern plains towards the forests. In 61PC the elves spent some time in Canabrin fighting the beastmen hordes and pushing them back to the forests. This culimated in a major battle in Autumn 61PC which saw Ug's grip on the east of Canabrin broken, and the elves set up permanent settlements on its shores to watch over the barbarous empire of the north.

The coming of Ug

Under the Baleful presence of the new moon they gathered. Their Herdstone Glowing faintly red as the warping energies of chaos exuded from within it. The mighty herd surrounded the stones and raised their voices in exaltation to the great god Khorne. Tied to the stone, atop the heaped spoils of war, was a single runt-like minotaur, chosen as a sacrifice by the bray-shamans. As the braying of the herd reached cacophonous levels, a towering bull, over 12 feet tall and rippling with muscle, strode from within the crowds and up to his victim. Plunging his hand into the beasts chest he ripped its heart out in a single flowing move and devoured it. Then, one by one more of the surrounding minotaurs came forwards and took a piece of flesh from the sacrifice, consuming it, at with it, some of the energies of Khorne himself.

Next the corpse of Galrag, Ug’s standard bearer who was ripped to shreds in a previous battle, was brought forward. Upon his corpse the herd descended, ripping what pieces they could out of his flesh as they picked him to the bones. One minotaur, a mighty champion much blessed by the dark gods, fought his way atop the carcass, and, swinging a large branch, forced all others to step back. He ripped the head of his former comrade from it’s shoulders, and took bite after crunching bit into the skull, until naught but the horns remained. At this point a red glow came into his eyes. He felt the hunger of the bloodlust, khorne’s gift to the minotaur, upon him but to a degree he had never felt before, and stampeded into the forests to hunt.

As the rest of the herd slumbered, satiated by the heaps of ogre-flesh upon which they had gorged themselves, This one, nameless, minotaur pillaged and destroyed all the villages he came upon, his flesh warping with the energies of tzeentch, as he spread chaos and destruction in his wake, growing ever more powerful, larger, fiercer and more crazed with each raid. Finally after months of pillaging he collapsed, exhausted and finally satiated he slept for three weeks, and awoke completely changed. The Gods had chosen to truly bless this one, granting him a second pair of arms, a second glorious pair of horns and a new hugely powerful frame, turning him into a frightful killing machine. The change was not easily won however, and the minotaur paid with his conciousness, now more beast than ever he existed only to wreak destruction upon the civilized lands, to rip men open with his bare hands and consume all in front of him.

He was not the only minotaur chosen for greatness at this gathering. A weak and lowly minotaur, Ulrark, was unable to force his way to the flesh on offer, and found himself starved, beaten away from the foodstuffs by his mightier kinsmen, and, crazed by hunger, found himself forced to consume the fractured shards of a destroyed elven waystone. As the magicks of chaos within him swirled and combated the elven magic of the waystone, he too became crazed and was driven to seek solitude in the forests. With a great scream of pain he felt the waystone embed itself in his stomach and begin to draw on the magical energies that had created him. His eyes clouded over until he could barely see and he stampeded, panicked, through the forest until he collapsed in a field.

He awoke to the quieted whispers of men, and when he opened his eyes he found he could see the glowing outline of one of them and could feel the magical energies exuding from him. He could feel the shard of waystone within him calling for the man’s blood. In one swift move Ulrark leapt from the floor and gripped the man by the skull, lifting him into the air and biting into him. As the mans lifeblood slipped away to be drank in by the crazed beast, Ulrark felt something else being consumed as well, for he was consuming the wizard’s soul. The men with the wizard fled in terror from this disgusting beast and Ulrark clattered back into the forest, to once more hunt the prey he had been assigned.

So it was that Cygors and Ghorgons first came to Palurin.

Typhus frustrated by daemons

Alarms screamed throughout the Boiling Peak volcanic base. Typhus scurried through the fume choked corridors, screaming obscenities at anything that got in his way. How had it all gone so badly wrong? The raid by the man-things had set his research back years, but his genius was not to be thwarted so easily! After making the finishing touches he had begun powering up the arcane machineries of Boiling Peak earlier that day. Everything seemed to be working fine, except for a few non-essential pressure valves exploding. The awesome power of the volcano was harnessed and eldritch energy flashed around the copper earthing apparatus and unfortunate slaves. But then something had failed. As the apparatus reached full power the raw magical energy was vomited forth in an uncontrolled burst, immolating skyre researchers and menial underlings alike and creating a sickly rent in the fabric of reality, from which spewed the daemonic legions of chaos.

Typhus' nest guard had poured into the chamber to contain the breach and for a while it looked as if they would succeed, banishing nearly all of the legions of lesser daemons. But then a greater daemon of the blood god weighed in and scattered Typhus' crack troops before it as chaff. The troops ordered to protect Typhus had fled and so he had been forced to stamp his feet petulantly and vanish in a puff of smoke to rally more forces to the bases defence. When control of the chamber was finally regained the delicate machinery lay in ruins.

There was only one possible explanation for this set back. The apparatus must have been sabotaged and his underlings paid off to desert Typhus in his moment of need! Typhus didn't know who could have done such a thing, doubtless some rival hoping to usurp him as ruler of the magnificent Skaven Empire! To be safe, Typhus had all potential rivals executed and began the laborious work of rebuilding.