Imperial Victories 240PC

As the main force of the Imperial army was far from the Holy Sigmarite Empire fighting in Aquila it was with some concern that a large force of orcs was reported much closer to home, amassing in the Holwing Hills to the north. The Empire lacked an organised defence force but their Emperor Karl I was a shrewd politician and peacemaker. He called on the disparate factions of the HSE to provide what troops or support they could.

The military wing of the Sigmarite Church, Ordo Pacis, provided a horde of armed fanatics and knights of the Order of the Light-in-Darkness as well as the leadership of the battle hardened Friar Berhardt. Battle mages were selected from the Universities of Sudhafen. From the forges of Niederdam came the war-machines of the Engineer Brotherhood, including their most recent and jealously guarded invention, the Dampfbehälter or Steam Tank.

It was this unusual force that took the orcs, under Warlord Edbiter, by surprise. After a series of raids on the smaller orc camps Berhardt himself lead the army to the Warlord and personally lead the charge against Edbiter. Surrounded by hordes of fanatics and trained knights, his axe blows bouncing off Berhardt's blessed armour, Edbiter lost his nerve and fled.

With the mighty war machines providing supporting fire and mages protecting his men from the evil magic of the orcs, Friar Berhardt cut down the fleeing orcs, scattering the Waagh before it could truly get going. But there was one final act of revenge, as a towering giant leapt in the air and came crashing down upon the Friar, squashing him quite flat before striding off with the rest of the fleeing army.

The Imperials had won a great victory, establishing a presence in Holwing and founding the outpost of Krahefort to protect against future orc raids. Meanwhile in the Great Cathedral of Sigmar a new mural was ordered known as 'The Martydom of Saint Berhardt'.

Elsewhere in 240 the Imperial navy encountered opposition whilst searching a series of ruins on scattered islands previously unexplored. Whether the forces of the Cuitlaxaochitzin lizardmen were protecting the ruins or plundering them for their own gain is unknown but their fleet was in larger numbers than seen before.

Despite the forces involved the Imperial fleet, directed by Commodore Forelle from the flagship Kraken's Rise, were able to draw on their experiences gained over the course of many years and take up excellent positions forcing the lizards to sail into the wind. Imperial cannons destroyed many ships at long range so as not to give the enemy chance to board with their vicious saurus warriors.

They could not hold off for ever though, and the Kraken's Rise was boarded and swamped by mighty lizard warriors. The crew put up a brave flight but were eventually slaughtered along with Commodore Forelle. This was the only low point of the battle as elsewhere the Imperial fleet sunk Cuitlaxaochitzin ships with impunity. Despite the loss of their flagship the Imperiuals had won a mighty victory.

Much plunder was recovered from the islands and returned to Galamory. Imperial scholars began theorising on the strange designs of the treasures bought back and theorised that they belonged to an ancient race until now forgotten about on Palurin.