Wednesday, 17 October 2012
Spark in the Tinderbox
The year 665PC sees the untimely and quite unexpected death of the Grand Theogonist Cornelius I. Appearing to have succumbed to spontaneous exsanguination in his bathtub, having being hale and healthy the very same morning, his death throws the Church of Sigmar into disarray. Conclave is called to elect a successor to the Holy Seat of Sigmar. Alas, the process drags on for weeks as contending Arch Lectors are variously found dead, have fled the city, or mysteriously withdraw themselves from nominations.
Meanwhile, the small but increasingly popular Puritan Movement gains support in the north. Regarded by some as an extreme branch of the Church, the Lector Boris Drazkharov nonetheless seizes upon the Puritan’s distaste for "idolatry" and "vanities" forming part of religious worship. The churches and shrines of Holwingen are systematically purged of their symbols and relics of Sigmar in favour of a more austere aesthetic. Churches in Mallenstein quickly follow suit. As the strength of the Puritan movement rises it begins to challenge the Empire’s other religious orders, considering the worship of other deities anathema. The Puritan’s scorn falls upon the faithful of Manaan, Morr and Ulric. Non-Puritans are derided and castigated for not adhering to the worship of the One True God and Saviour, Most Holy Sigmar.
Puritan zeal is whipped up by the Machiavellian Lector Boris. Priests of these other faiths soon find themselves persecuted across Holwingen, and rapidly, the rest of the north. Boris personally goes to great lengths to vilify the priests of Morr. Scores of that brotherhood suffer at the hands of the Puritans and many of Morr’s temples and shrines are put to the torch by Puritan lynch mobs.
After three months of delay, in Sigmarheim the Conclave is finally ended with the appointment of the new Grand Theogonist Ignatius I. He is appalled at the excesses of the Puritans in the north and calls for immediate cessation of their activities. Conversely, with Boris Drazkharov fanning the flames of religious fervour, the Puritan movement labels the newly appointed Ignatius a heretic for tolerating any who would stray from Sigmar's pure light.
The Grand Theogonist issues a warrant for the arrest of Boris Drazkharov and number of other Puritan leaders. However Boris finds support in his cousin, the Count Ivan Drazkharov of Holwingen. The armed escort sent to apprehend Boris is intercepted en route and the men are massacred by Holwingen state troops.
This incident causes outrage and draws the attention of the Imperial Court in Sigmarheim. With tensions beginning to reach crisis point, and a schism threatening to sunder the Church, the Emperor has little choice but to dispatch the soldiery of House Alptraum to take Count Ivan and Lector Boris into custody, so that they may be brought before the Throne to answer for their actions.
But the Drazkharovs are ready. As the Alptraum troops take rest and make camp outside the town of Weissbruck on their route northward, an army raised at the Krähefort descends out of the mist on the Holwing Hills.
Meanwhile, the small but increasingly popular Puritan Movement gains support in the north. Regarded by some as an extreme branch of the Church, the Lector Boris Drazkharov nonetheless seizes upon the Puritan’s distaste for "idolatry" and "vanities" forming part of religious worship. The churches and shrines of Holwingen are systematically purged of their symbols and relics of Sigmar in favour of a more austere aesthetic. Churches in Mallenstein quickly follow suit. As the strength of the Puritan movement rises it begins to challenge the Empire’s other religious orders, considering the worship of other deities anathema. The Puritan’s scorn falls upon the faithful of Manaan, Morr and Ulric. Non-Puritans are derided and castigated for not adhering to the worship of the One True God and Saviour, Most Holy Sigmar.
Puritan zeal is whipped up by the Machiavellian Lector Boris. Priests of these other faiths soon find themselves persecuted across Holwingen, and rapidly, the rest of the north. Boris personally goes to great lengths to vilify the priests of Morr. Scores of that brotherhood suffer at the hands of the Puritans and many of Morr’s temples and shrines are put to the torch by Puritan lynch mobs.
After three months of delay, in Sigmarheim the Conclave is finally ended with the appointment of the new Grand Theogonist Ignatius I. He is appalled at the excesses of the Puritans in the north and calls for immediate cessation of their activities. Conversely, with Boris Drazkharov fanning the flames of religious fervour, the Puritan movement labels the newly appointed Ignatius a heretic for tolerating any who would stray from Sigmar's pure light.
The Grand Theogonist issues a warrant for the arrest of Boris Drazkharov and number of other Puritan leaders. However Boris finds support in his cousin, the Count Ivan Drazkharov of Holwingen. The armed escort sent to apprehend Boris is intercepted en route and the men are massacred by Holwingen state troops.
This incident causes outrage and draws the attention of the Imperial Court in Sigmarheim. With tensions beginning to reach crisis point, and a schism threatening to sunder the Church, the Emperor has little choice but to dispatch the soldiery of House Alptraum to take Count Ivan and Lector Boris into custody, so that they may be brought before the Throne to answer for their actions.
But the Drazkharovs are ready. As the Alptraum troops take rest and make camp outside the town of Weissbruck on their route northward, an army raised at the Krähefort descends out of the mist on the Holwing Hills.
Wednesday, 10 October 2012
Daemon outbreak
The High Elves and Skaven in Palurin had been at each other's throats for centuries, ever since the Elves had established the colony of Sein Creban close to Boiling Peak. Most years only small skirmishes took place but every so often both sides would marshal great forces to war and magic would split the skies apart.
Such magical energy being unleashed is not safe for the world, and there are those who theorise it was unchecked magics that caused the downfall of the long lost civilisations of Palurin. Whatever the truth in 591PC, near the Elf-Skaven border, great rips appeared in the sky and daemonic forces dedicated to the dark prince Slaanesh spilled out to attack both sides.
The Skaven were the first to be set upon. The rat-men attempted to marshall their forces into some sort of defence but the daemonic assault was too swift. The claws of the Slaaneshi warriors eagerly tore apart fur and bone massacring the squealing Skaven.
Elsewhere the High Elves had more time to prepare before the attack, their mages sensing the approaching danger. Their vat-grown ogres marched from Ogreguard to meet the daemons on the field on battle. Their tough hides protecting them from slashing claws, the ogres soon turned the tide and in ribbons of pastel light the daemons were banished back. Perhaps the elves could have urged their ogre warriors on into the now-undefended Skaven realms, but with the rifts still glittering in the skies above they were unwilling to leave their lands undefended. The ogres returned to Ogreguard, the elven mages began their vigil against what may be coming.
All over Palurin its inhabitants looked into the night sky to see a pink corona of light in the distance and ponder its meaning. In the daemon-worshipping lands of Rank'an'Adanra they rejoiced at the sight. Their gods were coming closer to Palurin than ever.
Such magical energy being unleashed is not safe for the world, and there are those who theorise it was unchecked magics that caused the downfall of the long lost civilisations of Palurin. Whatever the truth in 591PC, near the Elf-Skaven border, great rips appeared in the sky and daemonic forces dedicated to the dark prince Slaanesh spilled out to attack both sides.
The Skaven were the first to be set upon. The rat-men attempted to marshall their forces into some sort of defence but the daemonic assault was too swift. The claws of the Slaaneshi warriors eagerly tore apart fur and bone massacring the squealing Skaven.
Elsewhere the High Elves had more time to prepare before the attack, their mages sensing the approaching danger. Their vat-grown ogres marched from Ogreguard to meet the daemons on the field on battle. Their tough hides protecting them from slashing claws, the ogres soon turned the tide and in ribbons of pastel light the daemons were banished back. Perhaps the elves could have urged their ogre warriors on into the now-undefended Skaven realms, but with the rifts still glittering in the skies above they were unwilling to leave their lands undefended. The ogres returned to Ogreguard, the elven mages began their vigil against what may be coming.
All over Palurin its inhabitants looked into the night sky to see a pink corona of light in the distance and ponder its meaning. In the daemon-worshipping lands of Rank'an'Adanra they rejoiced at the sight. Their gods were coming closer to Palurin than ever.
Tuesday, 2 October 2012
New skaven faction
Though the increasingly paranoid Typhus stayed plotting in Boiling peak the Skaven were not idle towards the end of the 6th Century. New clans and alliances were forming and new warlords emerged to try and win glory in the eyes of Typhus, or possibly break free of his tyrannical yoke.
In 586 rat-men poured from the tunnels around the Holy Sigmarite Empire city of Sudhafen. This was a dangerous time for the HSE as factional accusations and infighting was threatening to tear the once great land apart. The Emperor was unwilling to send troops to help Sudhafen, fearing an attack to the capital Sigmarheim. It was fortunate therefore that the Von Schaffernackes family of Hoffenland had recently formed a military guard of their own. Despite the presence of fearsome Skaven weapons of war and mighty rat-monsters the staunch defenders of humanity were able to repulse the attack and seal up the tunnels from which the rats had emerged.
A Skaven army bearing similar clan markings was seen in great force only a year later in the west, attacking Cuitlaxaochitzin. The confident Slann sent their skink hordes to deal with the invaders but the new clan seemed a wily bunch and managed to force the lizardmen to a standstill before returning to their tunnels. Neither side could claim a victory but Cuitlaxaochitzin now had to be wary and in Typhus' kingdom a new power was rising.
In 586 rat-men poured from the tunnels around the Holy Sigmarite Empire city of Sudhafen. This was a dangerous time for the HSE as factional accusations and infighting was threatening to tear the once great land apart. The Emperor was unwilling to send troops to help Sudhafen, fearing an attack to the capital Sigmarheim. It was fortunate therefore that the Von Schaffernackes family of Hoffenland had recently formed a military guard of their own. Despite the presence of fearsome Skaven weapons of war and mighty rat-monsters the staunch defenders of humanity were able to repulse the attack and seal up the tunnels from which the rats had emerged.
A Skaven army bearing similar clan markings was seen in great force only a year later in the west, attacking Cuitlaxaochitzin. The confident Slann sent their skink hordes to deal with the invaders but the new clan seemed a wily bunch and managed to force the lizardmen to a standstill before returning to their tunnels. Neither side could claim a victory but Cuitlaxaochitzin now had to be wary and in Typhus' kingdom a new power was rising.
Monday, 4 June 2012
Domovoi continue warlike expansion
The Domovoi had always been the most active of the tribes that made up the Kaalroen Empire. Towards the end of the 6th Century they embarked on a number of conquests to prove their worth. It is possible that this began in 573 when an up-and-coming Nurgle chieftain, Rustirus Puce of the Flyswatter tribe, openly mocked the Domovoi for a string of defeats they had suffered. The Domovoi were quick to anger, storming Puce's camp and adding his head to their trophy racks.
Whether or not the Domovoi felt they had something to prove they became far more active in the years following. When Cuitlaxaochitzin increased its attacks upon Kaalroen the Domovoi were first to rush to its defence. In a brutal fight they sent the lizardmen fleeing, setting back the Slann attempts to conquer Kaalroen for a number of years.
The frequency of their attacks upon the Holy Sigmarite Empire also increased. In the east House Volbeck, busy themselves with dealing with Cuitlaxaochitzin invaders, struggled to hold off attacks from the Domovoi. On two separate occasions the chaos raiders swept through the Osterland, pillaging farms and villages. The attacks were finally stopped when House Drazkharov sent aid to its Volbeck allies. The dark magics used by the Drazkharov army was enough to finally defeat the Domovoi, but the tribesmen returned to Kaalroen with both loot and honour.
Whether or not the Domovoi felt they had something to prove they became far more active in the years following. When Cuitlaxaochitzin increased its attacks upon Kaalroen the Domovoi were first to rush to its defence. In a brutal fight they sent the lizardmen fleeing, setting back the Slann attempts to conquer Kaalroen for a number of years.
The frequency of their attacks upon the Holy Sigmarite Empire also increased. In the east House Volbeck, busy themselves with dealing with Cuitlaxaochitzin invaders, struggled to hold off attacks from the Domovoi. On two separate occasions the chaos raiders swept through the Osterland, pillaging farms and villages. The attacks were finally stopped when House Drazkharov sent aid to its Volbeck allies. The dark magics used by the Drazkharov army was enough to finally defeat the Domovoi, but the tribesmen returned to Kaalroen with both loot and honour.
Eastern HSE at war
For decades an enclave of lizardman warriors had hidden itself within the borders of the Holy Sigmarite Empire, conducting raids and spying missions for the Cuitlaxaochitzin Slann. They could not last forever without being discovered. Relations between the HSE and Cuitlaxaochitzin were already close to all-out war, and the Emperor needed little prompting in 577PC to order the enclave hunted down and exterminated.
The overconfident Slann sent their Ogre forces on a commando raid into the HSE to extract the lizardmen before they were found, believed the powerful force would be little challenged by anything the HSE could throw at them. But the warriors of House Volbeck proved sterner than most, bolstered by the dark magic that was by now ingrained into the HSE and ignored by the ruling classes. The Ogres were forced to retreat back to Cuitlaxaochitzin and in the months following numerous skinks were rounded up and executed within the borders of the HSE.
The east of the HSE was suffering increasing raids on farmlands and villages, mostly due to Domovoi attackers from Kaalroen. As House Volbeck was dealing with the Ogres from Cuitlaxaochitzin the chaos raiders took the opportunity to make an attack. House Volbeck's rear guard was defeated and the lords of Volbeck returned to find much of their outlying settlements looted.
It would take a few years to recover, but House Volbeck was eager to remind the Emperor of the good it had done against the Cuitlaxaochitzin Ogres and not the losses it had suffered. In 580 the lords considered their house strong enough and they went to war, attacking the Ogre Kingdom to the east under a flimsy pretence that they believed it was the Ogres who had raided them and not the Domovoi. Once again House Volbeck proved themselves worthy against Ogre foes and they looted enough treasure to return to the HSE and look like heroes.
The overconfident Slann sent their Ogre forces on a commando raid into the HSE to extract the lizardmen before they were found, believed the powerful force would be little challenged by anything the HSE could throw at them. But the warriors of House Volbeck proved sterner than most, bolstered by the dark magic that was by now ingrained into the HSE and ignored by the ruling classes. The Ogres were forced to retreat back to Cuitlaxaochitzin and in the months following numerous skinks were rounded up and executed within the borders of the HSE.
The east of the HSE was suffering increasing raids on farmlands and villages, mostly due to Domovoi attackers from Kaalroen. As House Volbeck was dealing with the Ogres from Cuitlaxaochitzin the chaos raiders took the opportunity to make an attack. House Volbeck's rear guard was defeated and the lords of Volbeck returned to find much of their outlying settlements looted.
It would take a few years to recover, but House Volbeck was eager to remind the Emperor of the good it had done against the Cuitlaxaochitzin Ogres and not the losses it had suffered. In 580 the lords considered their house strong enough and they went to war, attacking the Ogre Kingdom to the east under a flimsy pretence that they believed it was the Ogres who had raided them and not the Domovoi. Once again House Volbeck proved themselves worthy against Ogre foes and they looted enough treasure to return to the HSE and look like heroes.
The fourth High Elf Skaven War
Once more back at Boiling Peak Typhus began to receive reports from his Clan Eshin spies that the armies of the High Elves were mobilising. They were building up their strength at Ogregard in preparation for a full scale invasion of the Typhonian Enclave. Rather than wait for the Elves to attack Typhus ordered his own armies to muster behind the chain of forts that barred the narrow isthmus separating the two protagonists and prepared to meet the Elves in open battle.
With the Maemir Bay on one side and Caraloth Sea on the other there was little room for the two armies to manoeuvre and they met in a brutal head to head engagement. Typhus himself took to the field, blasting entire regiments of Elves into oblivion with the mutating power of his dark magics. The armies of the Elves were lead by their own Mage who responded in kind, both wizards unable to check the sorcerous might of the other. Fuelled by a hatred born of hundreds of years of constant and fruitless warfare the fighting was bitter and bloody with no quarter given or expected.
When the dust settled it was the Skaven hordes that claimed victory, breaking through the Elven lines to surround Ogregard and sack its surrounding townships. The fourth war between Mellvellon and the Typhonian Enclave had begun.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)