Storm of Chaos

"Forged from the other world, six treasures shall he posses....Upon his head the crown shall see all, and open eyes will prove woe to mortal kind.....Then shall he ride unto the World...Then will the World know that the last war has begun....With the coming of doom will march a lowly boy. Anger his nourisment and blood his wine....And from the Land tamed will rise a Champion. Disease shall be his downfall and saviour divine.....A King's son shall be chosen. In power will he thrive and glory in is name....And with the coming of the end the old will fall by the hand of the new...."

- The Prophecy of Fate, take from the Celestine Book of Divination by Necrodomo the Insane

The Storm of Chaos (2521-2522 IC) was the great Chaotic assault intended to conquer first Kislev and the Empire, and then the rest of the Old World, launched by the Forces of Chaos under the leadership of the Champion of Chaos Undivided known as Archaon the Everchosen, the "Lord of the End Times." The Storm of Chaos broke over the northern territories of Kislev and the Empire of Man in 2521 IC and was finally broken by a potent grand alliance of Men, High Elves and the Dwarfs at the Battle of Middenheim in 2522 IC.

The Invasion involved nearly every major faction in every nation of the Old World, even those in fabled Ultuan and Naggaroth. From the North, Archaon, Lord of the End times invades the northern portion of Kislev, laying waste to entire villages and towns along the river Lynsk. His vast horde swept south, laying siege to Praag, and sacking the port city of Erengrad. From there Archaons forces surges through Ostland  and invading the Norther portion of the Empire. To the East, Archaon's herald, Crom the Conqueror, has breached through Peak Pass and as we speak is breaking through the Eastern Border's of the Empire, laying siege to Karak Kadrin and invading the lands of Sylvania. To the West, the Witch King Malekith has made a pact with the Runious Power's and simultatiously, while the High Elves send's troops into the Empire to aid in their efforts, Malekith launched his invasion of Ulthuan, breakign through the High Elven fleet's blockading the coast, and moving into the The Blighted Isle, hoping to recover the lost Altar of Khaine.

The sheer size of this invasion force is beyond imagination, on all sides, Chaos is once again surging into the lands of Man, Elves, and Dwarves, and if the Empire falls, then the whole Old World will be lost to Chaos. Yet all is not lost, for with this coming invasion, came a common goal, the whole of the Old World has finally united under the Banner of Order, Man, Dwarves, and High Elve have met in the Conclave of Light and togather they fight side by side in a war that will forever decide the fate  of the Three Kigndoms.

The Storm of Chaos was also a massive narrative campaign created by Games Workshop for the Warhammer Fantasy Battles tabletop miniatures wargame setting, played as an international tournament in the summer of 2004.

History
"Fear me mortals, for I am the Anointed, the favoured Son of Chaos, the Scourge of the World. The armies of the gods rally behind me, and it is by my will and by my sword that your weakling nations shall fall."

- Archaon Lord of the End Times

The World stands in the brink of Annihilation. It has done so since the beginning of time itself, when the great Old Ones of ancient times were destroyed. The gate of the   Old Ones  , once a marvel of techonology, had collapsed and with it, Chaos flowed like water into the cold harsh lands of the north and south poles. Since that time, the world has been doomed to a fate of total destruction. While the world itself dies its slow death, the fragile civilizations of the Old World, cling to their existence. They battle and wage war against the thing's that never sleep, creatures that speak no reason, and those that seek nothing more then to usher in destruction and chaos for the pleasure of the Chaos Gods, and heroes and armies of the World fight for the very survival of their race. They battle against the corruption of Chaos from within. Fight wars in order to protect themselves from the selfish Chaos Gods that constantly seeks to overthrow them.

They fight corruption, mutation, and arnarchy, within their very homes, their very lives, and those people that live in it. Decent man fall back to ancient terrible rituals and sacraments, Mutation runs wild in the lands of Man, twisted beast roam freely in the dark dense woods of the Old World, and the leader's of the world looks to the north with fearful eye's for they know, that the End Times......have Begun.

The Beggining of the End: Necrodomo and the Book of Diviniation (2301 to ??? IC)
The threat of Chaos comes in many guises, from the mutating winds of magic that pour's across the known world, to the vile beastmen that lurks within the dark forest of the Old World, and the numberless hordes of barbaric warriors who lives within the Chaos Wastes. However, it is the corruption of souls, the pollution of ideals and dreams that is its most subtle and deadly weapons, for within every person lurks the heart of Chaos. It is perhaps fitting then that the greatest threat to the Empire came not from a Kurgan Warlord, nor a Beastmen Cheif, but from one of their own. No one knows his original name, but, he was once a devout and zealous Templar of Sigmar, born scant few years after Magnus the Piou's Great War against Chaos. The Templars, known by most as the Witch Hunters, were sworn to protect the Empire from the influencing threat of Chaos. This Templar had enacted these deeds for many years, ever believing in the divination of Sigmar himself. However, the threads of fate were moving leading this lone Templar to betray his own people and the god his people worshipped.

There are a great many books and teachings, treatises and grimoires that are kept from stray eyes, for these books hold heretical and blasphemous text that tells the truth about Chaos, the true Truth of the World. The Zealous Templar, read these manuscripts written from the Book of Divination from the words of Necrodomo the Insane. Driven with a sense of revelation and rage, he burned down the Cathedral that held the sacred books, and ran outside. He threw his fist towards the sky, calling the Gods liars and began to go around and kill is own family. From there he traveled to the True North, where his destiny finally lie.There he offered himself to the Chaos Gods as a tool of destruction. His lifespan unnaturally extended by his Chaos patrons, Archaon spent the next century gathering six artefacts of Chaos.

The Crowning of the Everchosen: Archaon and the Six Treasures of Chaos (??? to 2520)
"Forged from the other world, six treasures shall he posses....Upon his head the crown shall see all, and open eyes will prove woe to mortal kind"

- Part of the Prophecy of Fate, taken from the Celestine Book of Divination, by Necrodomo the Insane

A unique Mark of Chaos, and the blessing of all four powers in unison. It combines all of the advantages of the individual Marks of Chaos, but is even more powerful. The first part of Archaon's dark quest was to go to the Altar of True Darkness in Naggaroth. He gathered a small band of Chaos Warriors called the Swords of Chaos and battled his way to a citadel so tall it appeared to pierce Morrslieb itself.Inside the citadel, it was said to be blacker than even the heart of a dark elf: when one of Archaon's followers attempted to light a torch, it was snuffed out instead by the darkness. Archaon was unafraid, and marched off alone into the dark. Such was his skill that he was able to slay hundreds of the misshapen monsters that infested the citadel.Archaon reconsecrated the altar for the Gods of Chaos, offering up the hearts of the creatures that had crawled in and defiled it. When he emerged he bore the eternally burning Mark of Chaos on his forehead.



The Armour of Morkar belonged to Morkar, the first Everchosen. It makes the wearer invulnerable to all but the most powerful of attacks. After leaving Naggaroth on a stolen ship made of black metal and pulled by a sea-drake, Archaon took leadership of a seafaring war band. They sailed to a mysterious land populated with savage half-humans. Neither sun nor moon had ever touched their pallid skin. After six days and six nights of battle, the city of these creatures had been reduced to rubble. Archaon delved deep into their necropolis until he found the Tomb of Morkar. Within lay the Armour of Morkar. However, as Archaon reached out to take it, the spirit of Morkar animated the armour and attacked him. It lay down a relentless flurry of blows until Archaon cursed it in the language of the Unberogen tribe. The attack ceased for a moment, and Archaon smashed it aside, banishing the spirit of Morkar and allowing him to claim the armour as his own.

The Eye of Sheerian is named after the Tzeentchian Sorcerer who discovered it. Although on its own it grants the bearer prophetic powers, when placed in the Crown of Domination its prophetic powers can be used to their true ability to allow the bearer to predict and avoid the attacks of the enemy. After claiming the Armour of Morkar, Archaon set out to retrieve the Eye of Sheerian. At that time it lay in the lair of the Chaos Dragon Flamefang, and the ancient drake valued the Eye above all of it's other treasures. Archaon placed his claim for the Eye by smashing his axe into Flamefang's head. Long did man and monster battle at the base of the Cliff of Beasts. Flamefang breathed fire and even swallowed Archaon, but the Armour of Morkar protected him. Archaon hacked his way out of the Dragon's gullet with the ferocity of a Flesh Hound, until Flamefang's throat was hacked to shreds and it died of exhaustion and blood loss. Archaon plucked the Eye of Sheerian from its place on the belly of the Dragon and hung it around his neck.

Alternatively known as Dorghar, Ghurshy'ish'phak, Yrontalie and the Steed of the Apocalypse, this daemonic beast was stolen from the menagerie of the Daemon Prince Agrammon in the Realm of Chaos. Archaon battled his way past the Daemons guarding Agrammon's palace and sneaked inside, hiding beneath a beast that was part man, part mammoth and part insect. Inside was every beast imaginable, and some that are not.Archaon tracked Dorghar through the menagerie by its sulphurous stench. When he found it he vaulted on to its back. The Steed of the Apocalypse changed shape and burst into flames, but Archaon was able to break it like a wayward stallion and escape from the Realm of Chaos.

The Slayer of Kings was the sacred blade of Vangel, the second Everchosen.He bound the Greater Daemon U'zuhl into the blade, and the millennia of imprisonment have sent it insane with rage and fury. It was said to rest at the top of the Chimera Plateau, near the top of the world, so this is where Archaon went after stealing Dorghar from Agrammon. The warriors battling around the plateau saw the determination and destiny of Archaon, and he quickly gathered a huge horde of followers. They swiftly defeated the Chimeras guarding the higher passes and Archaon and his three companions climbed to the top of the plateau.From the top, Archaon looked down on the world, swearing that he would one day rule over it all. Suddenly, what he had taken for a mountain behind him turned over in its sleep, causing a series of earthquakes in the lands below. Archaon realised that the mountain was actually the father of the Dragon Ogre race, Krakanrok the Black. Even he could not defeat this foe, so instead he and his companions sneaked past the titanic monster, only to find that the Slayer of Kings was clasped to its chest. Prince Ograx the Great, the strongest of Archaon's companions, was able to lift up one of Krakanrok's talons high enough for Archaon to retrieve the Daemonsword. However, the Daemon bound inside began to shriek with deafening volume. As Krakanrok began to stir, Archaon thought fast and plunged the Slayer of Kings into Prince Ograx's chest. With the blade's thirst quenched with royal blood, Archaon was able to sheath it and return from the plateau to the cheers of his followers. Now Archaon carries the blade with him into battle. Although the blade is potent enough already, he can unleash the power of U'zuhl to become a lethal killing machine - although sometimes it will try to attack him or his companions in its fury. Once U'zuhl has been unleashed it cannot be rebound until the end of the battle

Forged before the dawn of man, the Crown of Domination once held the Eye of Sheerian, but had been lost to history. It strikes terror into the bearer's foes and gives strength to his allies. Decades after finding the Slayer of Kings, Archaon still had no clue as to the whereabouts of this ancient battle-helm. Eventually Be'lakor revealed its location, planning to steal the crown after Archaon found it. The crown lay in the First Shrine to Chaos, high on an icy peak in the Worlds Edge Mountains. Be'lakor led Archaon up the mountain, the Steed of the Apocalypse carrying him over the most difficult terrain. After a day and a half Archaon stood before the massive double gate that was the entrance to the Shrine.Through the gateway was a labyrinth filled with dire beasts and vengeful Daemons. Archaon was tested by each of the Chaos Gods to see if he was worthy to be the Everchosen. Nurgle sent deadly diseases that Archaon fought off with sheer willpower. Tzeentch created a labyrinth of crystal, but Archaon blindfolded himself and used instinct alone to negotiate it. Slaanesh sent temptation after temptation, but Archaon resisted, never diverting from the path to the inner gates of the Shrine. After passing through the inner gates, Archaon found himself on a narrow causeway surrounded with hellfire that scorched his skin and burnt away his hair. Suddenly, a mighty Bloodthirster of Khorne erupted from the flames and attacked the potential Everchosen. The Greater Daemon was strong, but Archaon drew strength from the Slayer of Kings and wrested the Bloodthirster's weapons away and strangled it with it's own whip. The hellfire died away, leaving Archaon standing in a simple shrine. A throne stood at the back of the shrine, with a withered corpse sitting on it. On the top of its withered skull sat the Crown of Domination. Archaon took the crown and, with his wounds healing and frame swelling with power, he held it to the heavens. After over a century of searching, he had claimed the title of Everchosen. All that he needed now was a coronation. Upon retrieving the Crown, the daemon prince Be'lakor performed the coronation that made Archaon the Lord of the End Times. On that day, it is said that a Twin-Tailed comet, both a omen of great and terrible things, has foretold the coming of the Storm. The Twin-Tailed Comet in the bright night sky. Especially in the Altdorf thousands of people throng the streets, driven to  hysteria by the rumours and the comet. Grand Theogonist Volkmar appears daily on the steps of the temple of Sigmar in  Altdorf. There are many rumours about the war in the north. Streets are full of doomsayers, flagellants, curates, students,  scholars, fishwives, pickpockets, preachers, and riots. There are also rumours about the Champion of Light, who would  arise to face the Everchosen

The World Engulfed: The Coming of the Storm (2520 to 2521 IC)
"Then shall he ride unto the World......Then will the World know that the last war has begun"

- Part of the Prophecy of Fate, read in the Celetine Book of Divination by Necrodomo the Insane

Upon his coronation as Everchosen, the whole of the Chaos Waste has begun to go to war once again, as herald by a Twin-Tailed Comet hurling across the starry night. Beastmen warherds, Chaos Warbands, and Mutants armies of all kind flocked to the growing army, all hedding the call of the Chaos Gods. During this time, Malekith Witch King of Naggaroth  has made a pact with the Runious Powers, from which while the Chaos Legions launched their armies south from Axebite Pass and creating chaos in the Kingdoms of Man, Malekith and his Dark Elven armada will simultanously attack Ulthuan while the High Elves lend aid to their allies. Along with this, Archaon order his Herald Vardek Crom, also known as Crom the Conqueror to marshal with another Element of Archaons army and break through Peak Pass to invade the Eastern Border's of the Empire, most specifically to invade and destroy the Kingdom of the Dwarves, also known as Karaz Ankor. Along with this, Archaon has send a vanguard of his troops under the leadership of Surtha Lenk, ahead of his army to clear the way for the invasion force.

By the 2nd day of Plugzeit High Zar Surtha Lenk launch his vanguard army towards the Empire. He first managed to smash through the Kislev territory and defeat several armies of Kislevite before reaching the borders of the Empire. The Ostland State Army was caught unprepared for this vanguard. Along with this Norscan warriors from the north sailed the dread Sea of Claws and made landfall in the shores of Nordland. The greater part of Ostland's military might was spent fighting this invasion force, but it was the Imperials who was losing, and in desperation Valmir von Raukov issued a plead for aid against this horde towards the other provinces. He sent out several messengers towards the Counts, but Lurk has been informed about this and intercepted many of the messengers. However a few managed to escape and with the call of aid came Elector Count Helmut Feuerbach along with his elite forces toward the war in the north. At the same time Lurk has already smashed his way through the town of Smallhof and press his army through the Forest of Shadows enroute to Wolfenburg itself.

Von Raukov's messege reaches the nobility of Altdorf, where before the messenger died of his wounds before he could give a more broader detail to his message. As such Karl Franz believed for this to be the actual Storm of Chaos invasion and gathered an Army to come to the aid of the province of Ostland. The Imperial Army, along with regiments of the Emperor's own Reikguard order departs Altdorf. Wizards from several Colleges also came along with the massive army and did Grand Theogonist Volkmar the Grim and his army of Warrior Priest, flagellants and zealots. There the armies was soon met by the armies of Middenland and awaited the coming of the rest of the province Imperial Armies. By the 31st of Sigmarzeit, High Zar Surtha Lenk's armies arrived at the capital of Ostland, the siege of Wolfenburg has begun. When the armies of Averland, Stirland, Nuln, and Talabhiem were assembled the Grand Army then depart to relieve the siege of Wolfenburg. Along the way towards Ostland, the Grand Army was ambushed by a massive horde of Beastmen, Karl Franz and his griffon mount was gravely injured during the battle and had to choice but to return back to Altdorf with a Red Arrow coaches along with Volkmar the Grim. As such he appointed Kurt Helborg as the new commander of the Grand Army, even though he was strongly opposed by the Count Borish Todbringer and a few other nobles. Within five days of fighting, Kurt managed to break the Beastmen horde and send them reeling back with the aid of local Hocland regiments.

However Kurt came too late, by the 1st of Vorgeheim the city of Wolfenburg was sacked by the Armies of Surtha Lenk. Enraged at this failure, he order the Grand Army to attack the fallen Wolfenburg and break the horde into smaller host. The attack was lead by the Grand Army's calvary of the Reikguards and White Wolf. Surrond and tired after a 33 day siege the army of Surtha Lenk was finally broken and was ripe for massacre and retreated. It was finally at the battle of Mazhorod that the army was finally destroyed entirely by Boyarin Kurkosk forces, where Surtha Lenk was killed.

In th far side of the World, in the cold desolate lands of Naggaroth, Morathi Hag Queen of the Dark Elves and Mother to Malekith himself has once again renewed her heretical pact with the Dark Prince of Excess of Excess himself. Fearing another great Incursion gathering in the north, Morathi found it wise to ally herself to the Runious Powers, while her son Malekith is invading Ulthuan, and draining the power of the druchii nations. Though the other Hag Queens believed that they have suppressed and came close to nearly exterminated the cult for years, this was sorely mistaken. The power of the covenant of Sorcerous has wax strong over the years with their increasing involvement with the Cult of Slaanesh. Seeking to strenghten the Cult, Morathi travelled far to the North. Borne upon the back of her Dark Pegasus, Sulephet, and accompanied by a coterie of Sorceresses also riding swift, flying steeds, she soared through the Darkness and chill of their cold desolate lands, moving over large swaths of land and mountains as they headed north. They flew past the great spires of the northern watchtowers that marked the border of their realm. Yet still they flew on, pushing far into the enemy territory of the savage Chaos tribes known collectively as the Hung.

Eventually Morathi and her conterie directed their steeds to land upon the tainted soil in the midst of a great gathering of warbands. As enormous bonfires burned at the heart of this growing army, around which sat the greatest of the Chaos cheiftains and warlords. The grim northern warriors clutched their cruel weapons tightly as the female Elves leapt lightly from their saddles, and gracefully walked through the campsite. None dared to halt their progress, for all could feel the power these strang, lithe women wielded as they made their way to the centre of the gathering. The warlords rose from their council to confront the interlopers. The savage sorcerers of the tribe gasped as they saw the beaut of Morath; the eye of the great god Slaanesh, who they knew as Shaarnor, was upon her, proclaimed the mystics. In their eyes, the favour of the Prince of Pleasure coiled around her like a serpent. In a spectacular, orgiastic ritual, Morathi summoned sixty troupes of six Daemonettes, and bid them descend upon the tribes main Kurgan rivals.

The Daemonettes ripped through the Kurgan warbands with both savagery and grace and the warlords swore their oaths of alliance with the Dark Elven Sorcerors. So it came to pass that Morathi allied herself with the tribes that had been previously raiding the borders of Naggaroth. Word of her alliance spread throughout the Hung riders, to whom became known as the Consort-Queen of Shaarnor. With Morathi in the lead, her Chaotic alliance began to march towards the lands of the Dark Elves. Many of the Followers of Khaine saw this as an ofront to their war god, and Hellebron Hag Queen of Har Genth, and first bride of Khaine has started assembling her might host of Witch Elves and their elite Executioner's to wage war against Morathi's upstart army of Pleasure Seekers. However, Morathi instead launched her invasion south, towards the lands of the Lizardmen, in hopes of finding many powerful artefacts to aid in her cult's rise to power. With Malekith in fabled Ulthuan fighting the High Elves, no one is able to stop this civil war from escalating to all out war between the two factions and Naggaroth will run red with blood on its cold surface.

From Karl Franz Conclave of Light, messengers rode south, crossing the Grey Mountains at Helmgart and entering Bretonnia at Montfort. They made all speed to the capital of Couronne, to the court of King Leoncoeur. A Monarch ever aware of the threats to his realm, Louen was not surprised to hear the dire news that the emissaries brought. There were some amongst the Dukes and Knights who argued that the perils of the Empire were not their concern, and that they should look to securing their own borders and defences should the Empire fall to the might of Archaon. A warrior king in the great traditions of Bretonnia, Leoncouer chastised thse councellors and spoke of the Norse Longships that had grown  brave and ventured south to raid the villages of Bretonnia. He saw that if the Empire were to succumbed to the hordes of the north, Bretonnia could not hope to hold against the tide that would be unleashed against his people The Fey Enchantress too guided his decision, telling the court that it was the will of the Lady of the Lake that Bretonnia take to arms and aid their fellow man. Her divine mistress had come in dreams to many Grail Knights in the proceding night, and even now they were gathering at Montfort for the march north.

The King had no hesitation to declaring a new Errantry War against the forces of Archaon. He would ride north himself at the head of his knights, and prove to the world that the strenght of Bretonnia had not lessened under his reighn. Yet Bretonnia is a large realm and its knights spread far and wide, and though many thousands awnsered the call to arms, it would take months for the army to be readied fo war. From the north, south, east and west, young knights eager to earn their honour and worth to gain the ranks of the Knights of the Realm decended on the towns and castles of Bretonnia. The March north would be a long journey itself, crossing the Grey Mountains is no small trask itself, and Leoncoeur feared that despite his great effort he might not arrive in time to aid the Empire in its most dire time.

As the invasion continues, as promised by Lord Teclis, the High Elves sent what warriors they could spare from their battles with Malekith to support the Empire's war effort. Along with Teclis himself, the High Elves of Ulthuan sent 300 of their most deadly swordmaster's of Hoeth to come to the gathering army around Talabahiem. But it's not these fierce warriors that would be a great boon to the Emperors growing army, but the dragonships and hawkships from the infamous fleet of Lothren. Led by the great Sea Lord Aislinn, the cruisers the High Elves had sent towards the Sea of Claws were a great boon to the war effort. Thought they were to late to stop the initial landings of Norse ships, they did wonder's with guarding the coast of Nordland and aiding Grand Baron Gausser's tired armies, where they also prevent anymore retaliatory raids from reaching any of the coastal towns of the kingdoms of man. A portion of their fleet has also been sent to Erengrad to kill those Norsemen that had made landfall there. Not content to merely have his massive fleet in a defensive position, Aislinn has began making his own retaliatory raids against the coast of Norscan itself. Aided by the Sea Rangers and Sea Guards, his ships companies had laid waste to countless towns along the coast, creating confusion and terror amongst the barbaric populous. The terrified survivors of the Sea Lords attack carried terrifying tales of sleek moving fiqures and silhouettes of the White Warriors, the Sea Ghost from village to village.

These successful attacks have been herald by a strange eriee silence on the Sea of Claws, in the pre-dawn fog, as gloomy mist starts to rise from the water and swathe the village in a glittering white blanket of cloud. Under the cover, the Hawkships would glide their way to the coast with an almost silent grace, their companies spreading out in a well-trained precision, distant voices would be heard, echoing along the fjords, stirring the Norse from their sleep. As they emerged fromt their primitive huts and lodges, weapons ready, they would be struck down by a hail of arrows for the gloomy mist, each having near un-surpassed precision, as cries are sounding along the liking calls of the sea spirits brought forth from the Sea Lords mages. Volley after Volley of arrows pierce the bewildered Norsemen, even their strong frame and brute valor unable to resist this well planned attack. Those that didn't fall charged at the gloomy mist, weapons failing to feel the flesh of their attackers, only to be stabbed by the well discipline phalanx of the Sea Lords glittering armored soldiers. Such onslaught led to dozens upon dozens of massacres along the coast, and those that travel along it, would see eriee silence among the ruins of once courageous Norsemen villages, burned to ash in the snowy cold coast. Few survive these encounters, even fewer live the next few days.

The Breaking Storm: The Opening stage of the Storm of Chaos (2521 IC)
"Sigmar was a weakling, and his Empire founded on falsehood. I shall destroy him and his false gods. The city of Ulric will burn and the memory of the upstart king shall be obliterated!"

- Archaon, Lord of the End Times

In the following year, of 2521 IC, Archaons's Chaos Horde swept south from the Northern waste, surging into the cold open tundra of Kislev, the ice shrouded land already devastated by the vanguard of Chaos Lord Lenk sent earlier. Due to this, the armies of Kislev are fighting a desperate delaying action against the horde, fearing that this horde would destroy the Kingdom of Kislev. Quite the contrary, Archaons's main priority was to invade the Empire, and as such he split an element of his army to face the Kislevite. Once his army reached Praag, the City of Heroes, Archaons not content to be bogged down capturing the city like many other invasions, order his liutenent D'aggorn the Exalted to besiege Praag and to invaded and sack the capital of Kislev itself. Archaons's thus lead his forces further south towards Erengrad.



With word of the invasion reaching the ears of the Imperial Goverment and it's people, terror started to grip much of the populous. In response to this, the Grand Theoganist himself, Volkmar the Grim, has called a holy crusade against Archaons's hordes. Many heed the call, those of pure faith joined the growing army, both Templars and commoners both, others join just out of pure fear of the coming invasion. The faithful Theogonist lead his sigmarite followers north, hoping to intercept Archaons's horde before it reaches the Empire. Hoping to advert the Storm of Chaos Volmar faced Archaons's large horde with his own fanatical army, aided by the armies of Elector Count of Talabhiem. Before the battle commenced, Volkmar gravely knew his army won't be able to defeat such a vast horde, and thought of a solution. In desperation Volkmar issued a challenged to Archaons's in single combat. Knowing the Everchosen has no choice but to obey less it would show weakness in front of his whole army, the Everchosen agreed.

Thus Archoan met Volkmar's host in the blasted tundra of the north. The two armies clashed long and hard, each fighting with great zeal and faith in their gods. Volkmar on top of his Great War Altar lead his forces forward to face Archaons's himself. Volkmar charged Archaons, fearing nothing, and total zeal in his eyes he felt that Sigmar would guide his blade and defeat the Everchosen for such was his faith in his God. If the gods heard, they did nothing for once Volkmar reached him, the Everchosen simply struck with amazing speed and slew the Grand Theogonist of Sigmar with one stroke. He battered the War Altar aside and proclaimed the duel his. Though killed, the Sigmarite army fought on courageously, but such a large horde could not be bested, and the Imperial sounded the retreat. Archaon didn't peruse and press home the advance, but simply let the weak men of the south back home, to sow further fear and misery among the populous. With the lost of Volkmar reaching to the ears of Altdorf, church bells ringed to mourn the passing of such a faithful leader and warrior of the Empire, taken from the people in this most dire time. Yet it was not the case for once the Imperial armies and The Everchosens horde swept south, the Deamon Prince Be'lakor, resurrected the fallen Theogonist, in an effort to outdo the baleful Everchosen he so sorely despised. He chained the battered body of Volkmar around the now tainted altar of Sigmar, where is cursing and wailing body can be seen by the faithful Sigmarite followers of the south, sowing further discord towards the Empires faithful populous.

WIth the news coming in from the north Karl Franz issued the creation of the Conclave of Light at his captial city of Altdorf and invites the head of states from all across the Old World to a conference where he explains the situation of Archaon's invasion and his plead for aid. For 30 days the Conclave was held where over the weeks most of the representative of several nation reached the capital. Such individuals included Snorri Thungrimsson, an envoy of the Dwarf Slayer King Ungrim Ironfist arrives to Altdorf's East Gate in the 18th of Jahrdrung, and envoys from the nation of Bretonnia and also the great merchant city of Marienburg as well. During the conference the Dwarves has agreed to lend aid to the manling nation of Kislev, and Bretonnian King Louis has agreed to start a new Errantry War against the invasion. It was finally at the cold spring morning of the 30th day of the conference that the High Elves finall reached the city of Altdorf. Finally togather the Conclave of Light, plans for the defense of the Empire are laid out, and ancient alliance are renewed.

In an effort to stall the invasion Kislev sent 3 armies towards Archaons's host and ensure that the horde doesn't cross the river Lysnk. At first the armies managed to hold on, but the hordes numbers were too much, and the 3 Kislevite armies were destroyed, leaving the path clear for Archaons's to lead his army towards Erengrad. The ancient port city of Erengrad was a major trade hub for Kislev, and a major powerhouse where much of the nations economy flows. Desperate to hold on to this keys city, the Kislevite have made many modifications to the city to ensure that the horde won't be able to breach it's formidable walls. However, Wolfships and Longships from the Coast of Norscan has blockaded the ports and made numerous raids in the city. Along with this Archaons army has completely surrounded the city on all sides, meaning there was no escape for the courageous Kislevites. The Everchosen thus order his army to besiege the city, calling in Hellcannons of the Chaos Dwarfs to bombard the city's defenses. With a soul wrenching roar of pure malevolence, the massive daemon engine unleashed its anger. Screaming hellfire exploded from the maw of the infernal creature, streaking over the teeming mass of thousands upon thousands of the Northmen that filled the plains around the doomed city of Erengrad. The inferno slammed into the walls of the city, huge earthwork crumbling down all around them. The shot, was followed by another salvo of cannon fire from the crewmen of the Hellcannons. Even from their location, the horde could see great destruction being brought around the city, huge infernos gripped the buildings while great masonry tumble over like sand against a wave. For seven days and seven nights this city held against this massive onslaught. But the time has come for this futile resistance to fall, as decreed by The Lord of the End Times himself.

After a muderous volley of cannons were spent, the battlefield became silent. The dreaded legion loomed ever closer to absolute victory. Soon war drums sounded in perfect unison as immense siege towers are brought up, hauled by massive shaggy beast, pushing or crushing aside those that got in their way. The drum tempo began to grow higher and higher, as hundreds of Ironclad warriors and fur covered barbarians march in formation towards the city. Sorcerors and cloaked shamans of all kinds began chanting their blasphemous language and called down lighting to smite their foes on the battlements. Hundreds of mishapened creatures march along the warriors just to be greeted as a muderous volley of arrows struck them by the hundreds each time. This army did not care, only the pleasure of their dark gods, and as such the men of the north rushed in towards the city, crushing their fellow Northmen under their boot that failed to catch up. Hurling themselves towards the wall, these twisted parodies of man clawed their way up the walls itself, eager to quench their thirst for blood

They climbed the slopes of the wall, sinews buldging as they claw their way to the top. They were greeted with a shower of rocks and arrows killing many outright, yet even in death they still clung to the walls, a testimate to their savagery. Countless of their fallen brethren still clunked to the battered walls, in a mass of hanging chains ready for the fel legions to clamber on. In response, cannon batteries began booming their ammunition amongst the teeming mass of Northmen. Cannon balls ploughs through the legions of chaos creating great tears in their ranks, only to be refilled by even more of the foul creatures. Finally the siege towers have reached the walls of the city, unleashing great hordes of beserking marauders against the frightened besiegers. Many towers fell, and many more were crushed under the splintering crash of the infernal contraption, each killing as many men as every volley shot by the Kislevites. But they still kept on coming, never stopping to care for the wounded or dead, simply trampling them beneath their boot. The besiegers fought on savagely, for out of fear then courage, but even their savagry were being hacked down by the dozens by the more powerful men of the north.

The Everchosen then ordered in the infernal battering ram to tear through the north gate. The contraption was being hauled by great massive hulking brutes, veins popping in an effort to push the massive construct. With an ear splintering crack the ram burst through the north gate, unleashing the armies surging in through the gap, marauders and chaos warriors plowing through their brethren to fight the besiegers holding their ground, as packs of feral chaos hounds followed in their destructive wake. The Chaos worshippers parted as they see their dreaded leader ride towards the doomed city with baleful eyes. The Everchosen cared not for this city, it merely stood in his way towards destiny. As he drew closer to the gate, a hail of arrows struck the chosen in a futile attempt to end his life, yet a man like Archaon could not be killed by mere mortal weapons and the arrows simply shatter against the unholy armor of Morkar. As he entered through the gate, he bare witness to a gruesome battle taking place where man, and beast who were once man, fought each other to the death. All around him bodies laid mangled and broken. The presence of such a dreaded figure on the battlefield was too much for the remaining defenders and they flee in horror through the streets of the battered city.

From the distance warhorns roared as it signaled the Norseships successful landings in the harbor ports. The Coastal batteries that were facing seaward are roaring to life, trying desperately to sink the ships before they made landfall. Every shot fire came with a splintering crash as the cannonball wreck havoc upon the flimsy vessel, yet there were far too many to sink. The fearsome norsemens all disembark upon the harbor and one by one the coastal batteries were silence by a way of bodies overwhelming the crew of the cannons. Archaon gaze around him, he saw the battered buildings surrounding him, his armies pillaging the riches of the city, and the last few futile resistance being crushed as we speak. His steed pawed the ground anxious to join in the slaughter. The mighty Chaos Lord could feel the pleasure of the gods as they looked down upon him and could feel their approval swelling him with power. His legion streamed over the uncontested walls, and many more pour fourth through the broken shattered gate seeking out the last remnants of defense to quench their thirst for blood. The city was ablaze, it's intensity the strongest in the ports where the Norscan landed and broken the last vestige of the defenders courage. Soon this will happen to every single city in the Old World, soon his long hard journey will come to an end.

Erengrad has fallen.

The Return of Sigmar: The Marshalling of the Empire and Valten the Exalted of Sigmar (2522 IC)
"And so it begins......The greatest battle for the Old World has Begun"

- Todbringer and Al-Ulric Valgeir during the Siege of Middenhiem

With Archaon finally reaching the northern lands of the Empire, every province in the entire Empire is marshalling every single regiment and abled body men to aid in the defense of the northern provinces. Even the great military leader and statemen, Karl Franz the Emperor himself. As Archaon entered the province of Ostland, Archaon swept through the land, almost uncontested, for Ostland is still ravaged by the previous invasion. In an effort to bolster the destroyed cities defences, Valmir von Raukov hired the famous mercenary band known as the "Star of Victory" to defend the city from this invasion. Led by Captian Bruno Hauptlelter, who was originally from the city itself honourable agreed. Archaons forces split his horde into five different armies, each lead by a Champion of one of the Chaos Gods along with his own. The battered cities and towns of Wolfenburg, Ferlangen, Zundap, and Bohsenfels fogut fiercely against the Northmen. In the village Kurst, the presense of the malfunctioning, but mobile Steam Tank crewed by Von Zeppel has been instrumental in the valiant defense of the village against the Chaos armies, but in response Chaos forces began to bring up monstrous Hellcannons upon the village to deal with the mechanical beast.

As the armies of Slaanesh moved through the northern provinces, the army sacks the town of Boven. It seemed almost a miracle that the horde seemed to bypass the town of Wurzen, some say it was thanks to the tactical skills of organizaiton and strategy by Baron von Wallestein that help them. But the truth is far from it, for as word soon got out, the Empire found out that von Wallenstein is an agent of the Cult of Pleasure who betrays teh defences of Zundap as a sign of "good faith" towards his Chaos Gods. Good news however have caught word of a Vanguard of Bretonnian Knights lead by Duke Bohemond Beast-Slayer, leaving Monfort, passing Axe Bite Pass and reaching then reach the northern Empire. However this army is still many leagues away from the fighting and the forces of Archaon is burning and pillage his way through the lands. In Zundap, the soldiers under Count von Raukov have been pushed from their fortified position on the old steam mill by a host of Dragon Ogres and mutated Giants. In Wolfenburg the Chaos armies once again besiege the crumbling city, slow by surely are pushing their way through the ruins of Wolfenburg, every inch of their advance being paid for in blood.

The Keep of Bohenfels unlike the other parts of the province is hold on strong. Having retained possesion of the catacombs that stretch up to the castles foundations, the defenders now are holding the walls against the relentless assault of the enemy. In the province of Nordland, the settlement of Ferlagen had an initial success at halting the enemies advances towards their homes but were beggining to fade into memory as the hunters of Nordland are being driven back towards their homes by the relentless assault, while some have even flee towards the mountains, expecting the village to fall soon. Fighting continues within the blasted walls of Wolfenburg as bands of brave troops roamed the streets, attacking from cellars and ruined buildings as their hit and run tactics took their toll on the enemy. This tactic managed to stall the Chaos advance into the city considerably, buying valuable time for those defenders futher west. At Castle Bohsenfels, an eriee silence shrounded the fortress. The silence was finally broken by the screams of those sacrificed to Tzeentch echoes through from the forest throughout the whole night, as the Tzeetch Army lead by Melekh the Changer gather more magical energy with which to assault the defiant troops within the castle walls. The towns and villages of Ferlagen and Zundap is holding on, but is begun to weaken, both fearing that once the enemy gathers in strenght they might be able to crush the last vestige of resistance.

Chaos numbers began to swell larger by the day, and the battle for Wolfenburg is growing to becoming more one-sided by each passing hour, while the Castle at Bohsenfels is now cut off from reinforcements and aid and only a matter of time before its downfall. Increase attacks on Imperial settlements at the province of Nordland made the Beastmen to enter into the Ream of Athel Loren, home of the Wood Elves and the forest spirits of old. Engraged by this desecration of nature, the Wood Elves made retaliatory ambushes against the Chaos Hordes that entered near their boundries, killing them in droves. The Wood Elves greatest enemy, BeastLord Morghur, Master of Skulls is ralling for yet another assault upon Athel Loren. Orion is mustering his forcers into an army to smash the invaders and drive them out of their sacred realm.

After seven hard days of fighting Count von Raukov finally passes word to the mercenary band of Bruno's "Stars of Victory" to withdraw from the Ostland capital, seeing it now as a lost cause. Though many left, a few brave souls remained behind to continue to harass the combined forces of Archaon, the Plague Lords of Nurlge and the Skull Lords of Khorne lead by Feytor Champion of Nurgle and Haargroth Champion of Khorne. The remaining defenders layed as many traps and ambushes as the enemy pours through the shattered walls of the city. Organizing his forces to a more fortified and stable position, Von Raukov added more modification to the castle of Lenkster and the bridge it protects. But if Zundap falls, then the hastily thrown defences at the village of Struhelspan will not keep the tide of chaos at bay and will spill through the defensive line he built into the heart of Middenland itself.

By the 29th of Sigmarzeit, Castle Bohsenfels has begun to fall after a relentless assault form both above and below as arcane energies unleashed by the great sorceror Melekh the Changer corrupted the men of the castle into fighting each other. The surviving commanders of Bohsenfels debated whether to windraw their forces to the village of Ferlangen after the fall of Castle fearing that the castle had insufficent troops to defend against the hordes. At the same time, the village of Zundap has also fallen, its skeletal remains of the steam mill a grim testimony to the ferocity of the fighting. In an effort to further his war effort, Archaon has struck a deal with one of the great Skaven Clan Lords of the Council of Thirteen, Throt the Unclean. In exchange for a dishonoured tribe of marauders to be used as test subjects for the skavens expirements, Throt allowed Archaon to bolster his army with Throt's own creations. From this unholy pact, the Flayerkin joined the Chaos Hordes. News also broke out that the great Dwarf Hold of Karak-Hirm has fallen to Orcs during Hamnir's trade mission towards Barak Varr.

The Soldiers of Von Raukov's army is weathering the first assault against his new defensive line with very minimal casaulties. However the surivors of Bohsenfel is now hard pressed to defending the village of Ferlangen from yet another relentless attack. By the 1st of Sommerzeit, the village finally falls to the hands of Kordel Shorgaar, standard bearer of the Lord of the End Times. The norther host however had to halt their advance awaiting the news from Bohsenfels. Archaon is exceptionally displeased with Melekh's lacks of succes thus far and some whispered will have to march north to dead with it personally.

In the ruined village of Zundap, the steam mill has been turned into a  torture palace for the delights of Styrkaar, beloved of Slaanesh. While the Imperial forces regroup at Struhelspan, the followers of the Dark Prince were pre-occupied in the indulges his unnatural passions with those captured in the fighting. Towns and cities were being razed to the ground or abandoned as the army moved through. Ostland, Nordland and Hochland are taking the most of the beating as these impoverish provinces lack funds and proper infurstructure to stop the invasion from coming unprovoked thorugh their lands. As Archaon leads futher west, his armies came and destroy nearly all major settlements and villages in the entire provinces of Hochland. Even the great capital city of Hergig, the seat of Elector Count Aldebrand himself has fallen, despite the valiant defences of its populace, where the city held its last stand in the central keep where many of the powerful wizards and magisters of the licensed Sorcery College fought the coming hordes to the last man. Aldebrand sorrowfully fled the city before its downfall, swearing he would return one day.



As though it seems that darkness is flooding in the hearts of man, and the world seemed lost, a flicker of hope has begun to burn within the hearts of the faithful men of the Empire. News has been buring through the populous of a zealous Warrior Priest by the name of Luthor Huss claiming to have found Sigmar reborn. Luthor Huss was a contraversial figure even before the war had begun. This man of faith and pure heart had an uknown past, the earliest records of him was when a monastary found a young boy in the front of their gates, begging to be in the priesthood and with a burning passion to destroy the filth of Chaos. Many years of hard training and study followed. The boy grew to become a formidable warrior and uncompromising priest. Yet the simple quite life in a monastary was not a life for him, for he burns with the desire to face Chaos. Luthor Huss proved his worth after coming to the aid of a village under attack from Beastmen, where he himself stalked the tribe to their lairs and killed every one of them, and brought back the head of their Shaman. When the Storm of Chaos hit in 2520 IC, Luthor Huss, undaunted by the Chaos Armies asailing his nation, sought Sigmar incarnated, and travelled the lenght and breadth of the Empire, searching for a sign that Sigmar has returned. It was whilst travelling from Nuln, after making a protest at the great Sigmarite cathedral against the appointment of the new Grand Theogonist, that Huss first learned of a remarkable feat in the south Reikland. He heard tales of a boy, no more then 18 summers old, who had single-handedly bested a Beastmen warband attacking his village of Lachenbad. He had wielded two hammers in his fist, and struck down the raiders with superhuman blows.

With all haste, Luthor Huss rode to Lauchenbad, and there he found the villagers rebuilding their homes. Amongst the ruins, he spied the blacksmiths son, Valten. Tall and broad, with golden hair and blue eyes, he was the very image of Sigmar himself. Huss saw the immense aura of power surronding the boy and knew in his faith that he must be Sigmar reborn. He fell to his knee's in supplicaiton, declared to the world that Sigmar has returned. Huss declarations fell on fearful ears however, as many in the court of the Emperor and beyond felt these implications were false. Nonetheless, hundreds of refugee's, villagers, and the just the plain scared flocked towards Huss's banner, creating an army of peasants and fanatics to see Sigmar reborn. There were many fearful of this growing army, for some felt Huss was delusional, or was a deamon in disguise. Others were enemies of Huss, such as the new and corrupt Theogonist Johann Esmer, the man who become the Grand Theogonist after the suppose death of Volkmar the Grim at the hands of Archaon. He himself tried to hunt down Huss, for he felt he was a threat to his seat of power, and once he became Theogonist, Huss flew to a furies rage. In Altdorf, news reached the ears of the highest in the nobility and even the Emperor, Karl Franz himself was brought into this dicovery. Some were filled with hope that Sigmar has returned and came to save them in their hour of need, but many others were afraid of false hope. Word came that Huss and Valten were marching to the capital to seek the audience with the Emperor himself. With them was a great rabble, thousands strong of preachers, warrior priest, witch hunters, flagellants and fanatics. This zealous mob followed Valten wherever he went, as he hunted down the Beastmen warbands roaming in the dark forest, coming ever closer to the capital.

It was upon the door that Valten found the gates barred from them. Huss demanded entrance, though Valten quickly withdrew and waited. For three days the growing army of Fanatics and Priest waited at the doors of Altdorf, and Huss has returned numerous times to the gate to cajole and threaten the Reikguards captains stationed there, and meanwhile the rulers of the Empire gathered at their chambers to discuss what to do. Opionions was split, with some believeing Huss's claims of Valten being Sigmar reborn, while others like the Grand Theogonist Johann Emser called him a fraud and a heretic.

In the 2nd day of Sommerziet, Archaon ferious about the delay the followers of Tzeetch has brought upon the Horde, personally marched his own Warband north to end this issue once and for all. In the twilight hours outside the besieged castles of Bohsenfels, Archaon ordered the Tzeetch followers to withdraw from the siege and hear his words. Archaon was outraged by this lack of progress and spit out mountains of curses from the gods onto the Tzeetch followers, and to futher prove his point, he ordered the massacre of a five hundred of the Tzeetch warriors heads to be piled in a burning pyre. As the pile grew larger, Archaon slowly walked towards Melekith in confrontation. Begging for mercy, the Sorceror's last word was cut short as Archaon cut off the head of the Champion of Tzeetch. After his death, Archaon order Melekh's son, the mutant Cyspeth, to leave only a holding force and advance through Ferlangen to the Nordbergbruche.



By the 3rd of Sommerzeit, a captain of the Reikguard; fearful of the holy punisments Luthor Huss has accused the god will do to them, opened the gates, which lead to a small civil war between the Reikguards faithful to the supposed Sigmar reborn, and those who is still loyal to the Emperor. Valten and Luthor Huss rushed towards the court of the Emperor, and in his Throne the  Emperor Karl Franz himself sit. A very devout Sigmarite, Karl Franz was in no means a corrupt and unjust man, but he too was fearful of the false hope this man might bring to his people, and the thought of giving up the greatest empire in the Old World, which he worked so hard to protect to a group of fanatic's wasn't something he thought wise. He was faced with an impossible dicisions. If he were to believe the claim of Luthor Huss, then indeed this is Sigmar reborn and he had by right to claim the Empire as his, but if he were to side with the Theogonist, then he believed many in the Imperial Court and some of the Elector Counts might revolt and side with Valten. Which ever choice he made, it would seemed as if he would betray half of the Empire. Valten however stood quite during the meeting, netheir claiming nor denying Huss's claims.

With the Empire finally united under the Banner of Valten, the armies made haste to aid their brothers of the northern province. Upon hearing of Archaon's intent on Middenhiem, the Generals of the Empire has a difficult disicion to make. This is becoming a two-front war, as Archaon is drawing nearer to the fortress city of Middenhiem, and with Crom the Conqueror's army moving in from the east, the Counts of Averland and Stirland were reluctant to spare troops to the north. A solution came when Slayer King Ungrim Ironfist himself, has vowed to uphold the honour of holding Peak Pass once more against Crom's army. Although it didn't guartee security, the new's managed to convinced the Counts of Stirland and Averland to send a small detachment of their armies towards the north to aid in the war effort, eventually mustering in the fortress city of Talabhiem, where the army is eager to revenge itself of their defeat in the north sent by Volkmar eariler. However, the massive army was growing far to large to send all by barge along the river the Talabec, and so the armies of Reikland and the zealots of Valten's peasant army set off to the east. However this journey still held many perils for days to come.

As the massive Imperial Army moves through the thick forest of the Drakwald, the armies had been met with several engagements from Chaos Worshippers and Beastmen alike from the remants of Surtha Lenk's horde month's eariler. Along with reinforcements coming in from the north, the devasatated horde finally got enough of their strenght back to begin making raids and ambushes against Imperial supply lines and caravans. The bulk of the forces has already crossed the river Talabec and is razing towns as they move. In order to futher gain more support, Karl Franz has promised the Elector Count of Talabecland to clear out these incursions onto their lands on their way north. Most engagements are often minor skirmishes, and the Imperial army was too large and unable to flush enough of the Beastmen and Chaos raiders from the forest to severely halt the raids upon their supply lines. The Beastmen and Chaos raiders main tactics where to attack the smaller caravan lines and regiments, often attacking isolated encampments far away from the main army, and harassing the supply caravans coming in and from the fertile southern provinces towards the armies in the north, which inflicted casualties upon the army and slowed down their march. However as the armies moved futher on, scouts and witnesses began spreading rumours of destroyed and burning Beastmen camps all across the forest. The scout weren't able to identify their mysterious allies, all they could find were fine slender arrows that impaled untold hundreds of the foul creatures.

Finally, only ten leagues away did the Imperial Army came close to their destination; Talabhiem. It was only then that a massive Beastmen host attacked in mass from the forest floor. Along with this army stood hundreds upon hundreds of northmen marauders arrayed along the road that led to Talabhiem. These northmen all were dressed in an exotic fashion, wearing patterned fur, with brightly dyed skins and hair, and tall crests on their helms. This nightmarish army was the army of Slaanesh who had crossed the Talabec and were tasked to halt the Empire forces from reaching the city. Once the battle commenced, the bloodshed continued the whole day, but even this massive army could not stand against the Bulwak of the Imperial forces and slowly did the spineless curs fled back towards the forest in the darkness of night along with many prisoners. It is said that Karl Franz could not sleep, for he still hears the screams of the captives during the night.

After the gruesome battle, the Imperial Army finally reached the Fortress City of Talabhiem. There the Imperial Army from several other provinces has gathered togather to see the Empire's two greatest hero's. Many stood up in attention as the legendary duo walked through the thousands of campfires in the great fortress-city. Thousands were pressing in towards the pair, jostling each other for a sigt of the two greatest men of the Empire. As the Reikguards cleared a path, the Army of the Empire suddenly parted in front of the two generals. Ahead of them they were met by one of the most strangest sights to have been witnessed. On the one side stood a contingent of Dwarfs, nervously handling their hammers and axes. The cause of their concern was the five hundred High Elves in their glittering armour, at their front the high mage Teclis. With him stood a tall elven steed, its flanks white and glittering, its amrour gleaming. Teclis strode forward and waved for Valten to dismount. He presented the young warrior with the steed, telling him that its name was Althandin, sired by Malhandir, steed of Prince Tyrion. Though not purebred like his father, Althandin was the finest horse than any other horse in the Old World, and Valten humbley accepted the gift with a nod and a pleasant smile.

Not to be outdone, a venerable Dwarf stomped forward from his folk, two of his followers bearing a large suit of armour between them. Its silver and golden plates shimmering with powerful runes. The Dwarf introduced himself as Barak Grimjaw, temporary ambassador for High King Thorgrim Grudebearer. It was his honour, he said, to present Valten with a suit of the greatest gromril armour ever made. Forged two and a half thousand years ago for Sigmar, the armour had never been claimed. The High King thought it fitting for Valten to have it now, and it came the promise of future friendship and wishes of good luck. Valten stripped himself of his old Imperial plate armour right there, and with the aid of Barak donned the gromril suit. Leaping into the saddle of his mighty Elven steed, Althandin reared high as Valten raised the Hammer of Sigmar above his head. A rousing cheer shook the camp, joined with Elven and Dwarves voices.

With a mighty boom of his voice Valten shouted:

"To Middenhiem!"

The War in the East: Grimgor Ironhide and the Invasion of Sylvannia (2522 IC)
"Den put out da word. Gork has tole me wot to do. We is goin to win again but we is goin to do it 'is way. I dunno how I ever forgot. Tell the lads the war's back on and Gork's goin to be wiv us ev'ry step of da way"

- Grimgor Ironhide talking to Borgut



With Archaon already decending through the Empire's northern borders, Crom the Conqueror has marched his troops through Peak Pass and eventually towards the Fortress Hold of Slayer's Keep. There the Slayer King himself has pleadged to defend this pass at what ever cost against this massive horde, in order to aid their allies of the west. The mighty army had already fought against the Orc horde of Grimgor Ironhide and survived, crossed the harsh wilderness of the Dark Lands, and battled its way up the Peak Pass across the World's Edge Mountain. Its leaders, Crom the Conqueror, once sought to fight Archaon in single combat, but upon seeing the Slayer of Kings, bowed down in homage to the Everchosen. The chieftain of the Kurgan tribes of the Kul forswore all his worldly possesions and arank and accompanied Archaon on his quest for the other treasures. He returned to his homeland and his people as Archaon sought the last of the great treasures the Crown of Domination, besting tribal leader after tribal leader in single combat to unite the Kurgan people against the Empire.

His attack from the east threatened Stirland, Ostermark and Averland , and also the Halfing realm of the Moot. His presence in the Peak Pass drew vital fighting forces away from the war effort in the north towards the east, away from Middenhiem where they might better combat Archaons incursion. It is said that Crom himself had never been beaten in single combat, and he issued a challenge to any Champion of Men, Elves or Dwarves to face him. However, the turn of events has awaken yet another great evil in the undead lands of Sylvania. In the quiet, haunted castles of the Dark Realm, they have plotted and schemed, content that the Empire has treats enough to face without a return of the Vampire Wars.

The sinister peace of the dead was to be disturbed, and from an unexpected quater. From the east, Crom's army are battering their head against the walls of Slayer's Keep, ever trying to take the Hold and spread their destruction towards the Empire. Yet not all of these Chaos Warriors followed Crom's leadership. Other's along with several other warbands and smaller armies walked through more hidden and treacherous routes throug the mountain, unaware of the land they believed with be ripped for slaughter. The von Carsteins are jealous guardians of their borders, and will not suffer the presense of any who do not owe allegiance to them. Thus the presencse of so many warriors of the Dark Gods was met by a swift response. As the stubborn warriors of Crom crossed through the dead gloomy lands of Slyvannia, even their brutish nature and hard life made them still ill prepared for the horror the von Carstien's will invoke upon them. The tribesmen swept through the land, expecting to find plunder and woman for their spoils, yet all they found were deserted old villages and castles that dotted the landscape. These men assaulted the ancient castles of the land, only to find hordes of skeletons warriors dressed in Empire uniform hailing broken and decaying ancient arrows against the hordes of chaos. Out of the mist and damp swamps of the forest, wailing ethereal spirits rose from their grave to destroy their intruders, their pierceing screams plagueing their nightmares.

Warbands that came across old villages, found themselves ambushed by hundreds of decaying zombies and ravenous ghouls emerging from the ground and grabbing those tribesmen foolish enough to hold their ground to only be taken over by a wave of decaying body. One by one the numberless hordes of the dead fought against the Chaos Warriors of the North, and one by one the skeleton hordes would kill a Marauder for every 3 of their own, only for the very same warrior to raise up and slaughter their own fellows. With this disturbance, Mannfred von Carstien has arisen from his long sleep. He saw the world in flames as the hordes of Chaos swarm over the fragile lands of the south. Mannfred not content to be a thrall for the Dark Gods personally took command of his undead horde and fought the invaders from his lands. Once the threat has been removed, Mannfreds eyes would turn westward once more, to the Empire again.

Before the Storm began in 2521, Grimgor Ironhide was an already infamous Black Orc warlord in the World's Edge Mountain. No one knowns of his origin, the earliest records of him was him emerging from the Howling Waste with a band of Grisly Black Orc. He and his band began to subjugate many other local orc tribes and with this horde, Grimgor sought challenge after challenge to prove his worth to his Ork Gods. He bested Imperial Regiments, Dwarf Armies, Steppe Nomands and even the Skaven Horde of the infamous city of Hell-Pit. However his greatest challenge ever would lead him to even darker and unholy lands and its there where he found a challenge. After hearing about the invasion forces flocking in the north, Grimgor Ironhide got bored of killing the Kurgan tribes of the east and was eager to face this new challenge. He order his horde to muster around the area known as High Pass, the only ascesable path through the mountains of the north, and the perfect spot to face the upcoming invasion.

It was faithed for these two warriors to meet, and when the armies of Chaos met the Horde there was a greusome massacre on both sides. Grimgor himself fought Crom to a standstill for the whole day, only for Crom to lower his sword to signal an end to the duel. Grimgor was enrage and roared to continue the fighting. It was only when this happened did he looked around to see the mangled bodies of his horde dead in his feet. He slowly retreated back to the mountains where there he found the remains of his army. Frustrated about his loss, Grimgor swore he would avenge himself of his loss and began to kill all of his Goblin Big Bosses and the rest of his Goblin horde, seeing them as weak and responsible for his loss. During his slaughter of the Goblin Big Bosses, Grimgor Ironhide hacked at a massive boulder in the bottom of a ravine. There his second in command Borgut Facebeater saw the greatest Black Orc Warboss to have ever lived talking to his carved Boulder. After finishing his conversation with said Boulder, Grimgor ordered Borgut to strap the boulder into some wheels. With a grin he left Borgut, who was inspecting the boulder. After looking at the carving he soon found himself looking at a face, an Orc face, and realized this was a head statue of the orc god Gork.

Realising this, he got all the boys togather and strapped the effigy in some wheels. Grimgor's new army is now composed of veterans of many battles and was now respectfully called his arm "Grimgors 'Ard Boys". Marching back through Kislev, Grimgor's army slaughtered his way through the carnage unfolding between the Kislevites and Chaos Worshippers. WIth him his boyz dragged the effigy of Gork, and as the panicked news of Grimgor's advance spread, word came to other Orc tribes living in the World Edge Mountain. Realising that the Empire is fair game now, orcs in the tens of thousands poured down from their mountain homes and joined Grimgor. Grimgor followed the trail of destruction brought by Archaon which lead to the fortress city of Middenhiem. Though he intended to fight and kill Archaon's and his horde, he soon realized that Archaon is intended to storm the city. Grimgor decided that his boyz needed to get in on the action too, otherwise who would ever take them seriously again. With human slaves captured from other tribes, they contructed two massive and mighty war engines. Da Godz, as they were called were might siege towers build in the shape of Gork and Mork. From the bellly of Gork protruded a massive battering rams, while Mork was topped with the largest rock lobber any Orc has ever seen. Shamans danced atop the mighty war machines, while Grimgor's personal rock effigy of Gork pulsed with Waaagh! power. Known that the gods wanted him to prove himself, Grimgor joined the assault.

Middenhiem will be mine.

The Duel of Two Gods: The Battle of Middenhiem and the duel of Archaon the Everchosen and Valten the Exalted of Sigmar (2522 IC late Autumn)
"To Middenhiem!"

- Valtens Exalted of Sigmar

On the 62nd day of the war, the armies of the Emperor and Valten arrived at Middenheim. Archaon withdrew his siege to prepare for battle, which was finally joined at the village of Sokh. For four days the battle raged, with the forces of the Empire barely holding their own against the combine force of the Greenskins and Chaos army,even with the aid of contingents sent by the Dwarfs and the High Elves. With his army fighting against the Orcs, Valten, seeking Archaon, once again drove into the Swords of Chaos, Archaon's personal warband. This time, his foe was there, mounted on the Steed of the Apocalypse and towering over his warriors. The warband of Archaon parted to allow Valten to approach the Lord of the End Times. With a roar, Valten charged, Ghal Maraz swinging toward his foe. The hammer smashed through the magical form of Archaon’s Daemonic mount. The steed exploded in flames and smoke, and Archaon was hurled to the ground. Valten lunged forward to press home his advantage and raised the Hammer of Sigmar above his head to strike the killing blow. A screech filled the air as Archaon struck out with the Slayer of Kings and unleashed the power of U’zuhl. The blade bit through the gromril armor of Valten and drove deep into his gut. Slowed but not stopped, Valten continued with his strike. The head of Ghal Maraz fell wide of the mark and tore a shoulder plate from Archaon’s armor.

Pushing himself to his feet, the Lord of the End Times ripped the Slayer of Kings free, struck again, split the comet-emblazoned breastplate of Valten, and sent him onto his back. Through the blood of the grievous wound, the birthmark across Valten’s chest could be clearly seen. As if stunned by the twin-tailed comet etched into Valten’s flesh, Archaon took a step back with the Slayer of Kings held to one side. Luthor Huss launched himself at the Everchosen. His hammer sent up a shower of sparks from the impact with Archaon’s Chaos armor. A mighty blow to the side of the head caused Archaon to lose his footing and sent him down to one knee. The next blow did not land, as the Lord of the End Times raised his shield to block it and jarred the hammer from Huss’s fingers. With a howl, the Chaos Champion batted Huss aside and shattered bones as he flung the Prophet of Sigmar through the air. The sounds of guttural war cries resounded around the Lord of the End Times, along with the shouts of his warriors. Regaining his feet, Archaon turned as another figure appeared in front of him. A green-skinned forehead slammed into Archaon’s helmeted face as Grimgor made his presence felt. Behind him, his ’Ardboyz fought against the heavily armored warriors of the Swords of Chaos. The Orcs had fought their way through Valten’s followers to reach the Everchosen. With Middenheim beyond anyone’s grasp now, there was only one way left for Grimgor to prove himself to Gork and Mork. Grimgor hefted his weapon Gitsnik in both hands, swung it in a wide arc, sheared the bottom from Archaon’s shield, and sent the Everchosen sprawling backward.

Once more, the Slayer of Kings flicked out, but Grimgor had expected the counterattack and parried with the hilt of his magical axe. The Black Orc Warlord brought his booted foot down hard onto the arm of Archaon and knocked the Daemonic blade from his grasp. Using the flat of Gitsnik, Grimgor battered Archaon across the head twice and then placed the tip of the blade on the Everchosen’s throat. The Black Orc pulled back his head and roared into the leaden sky. “Grimgor izz da best!”  A great cheer went up from the Orcs, a deafening chant of Grimgor’s name that echoed over the clash of fighting. Grimgor raised Gitsnik above his head, roared again, and pumped his fist in the air. Having proven his point, the warlord turned south with his barbaric horde. Their cheers of victory were heard long after they disappeared from sight. Luthor Huss recovered his senses and regained his horse. Dragging Valten across his lap, the Prophet rode from the melee, carrying the still form of his master free of the fighting. He rode hard to Middenheim and took Valten to the shrine of Shallya. Though Huss’s own wounds were grievous, he would have no one tend to them until Valten had been seen. Only when the Abbess gave word that Valten still lived did Huss allow himself to collapse. His body was carried to the main shrine by Volkmar, who had roused himself from his own sickbed shortly after Huss’s arrival. Outside, the battered forces of Archaon withdrew. They abandoned the Hellcannons and awaited the grim battle that would surely commence the next day. Finally, the arrival of the Undead army of the Von Carstein line of Vampires from cursed Sylvania  tipped the scales, breaking Archaon's troops and forcing his outright retreat from the walls of Middenheim. At first it seemed that the Empire had only exchanged its Chaotic invader for an Undead one, but the Vampire Count Manfred von Carstein, faced by an assemblage of the mightiest men of the Empire and their Elf and Dwarf allies, turned his decaying army around and returned to Sylvania, more than happy to wait for a more felicitous moment to seize the Empire for himself and his Undead hordes.

On the second day after the battle, Karl Franz had a visitor. It was Luthor Huss in tears. He cradled the Hammer of Sigmar in his hands. When the Emperor asked what had happened, Huss told him, his voice torn with anguish. Valten had been murdered. When Huss had visited this morning, he had found the Exalted of Sigmar on his bed, transfixed by a glowing green blade. Shocked and unsure, Karl Franz made his way to the Temple of Shallya to see for himself what had occurred. Teutogen Guard barred the entrances but allowed him to pass into the chamber where Valten had slept. There was no sign of him. There was blood on the bed and floor. On the walls, in crimson, was scratched a rough triangle with a slash through it. Huss asked what he should do. The Emperor, taking Ghal Maraz from Huss’s grasp, surveyed the scene once more and then turned to Luther.

''“You shall go forth among the people and say that Sigmar has left us, as he did so many centuries ago. Give them hope in these dark times. Do not betray their faith. Tell them that he has left his hammer to me, as a sign of his trust, and tell them that you are still his prophet and shall look for his return again when we most need him.” ''

The Emperor knew that his people needed hope in the aftermath of what the Men of the Empire were already calling the Storm of Chaos, and he told Huss, now the Grand Theogonist of Sigmar, to tell the populace that Sigmar had returned to the realm of the Gods once more but had left his warhammer to the Emperor as a sign of trust and that he would return one day when the Empire needed him the most. Today, in the year 2522 IC, the Empire is not yet safe, but it has gained some crucial time to recover its strength before the next threat rears its head. Archaon's nightmarish minions of Chaos have scattered and he himself has retreated to the ancient Brass Keep in the Empire's Middle Mountains or the great Chaos Waste of the North to lick his wounds and plot his next campaign to destroy the hopes of Mankind. At the same time, the Storm of Chaos has battered the Imperial armies and the Emperor and his Counts need time to rebuild.

The Empire itself is sorely wounded at present. The north and northeast are in utter ruins, with Ostland in particular in the worst shape, having borne the savage brunt of Archaon's invasion and the depredations of the Forces of Chaos. Hochland also suffered greatly, with many of its towns and villages overrun, along with eastern Middenland and Nordland. Nor is the danger now over. Although Imperial forces defeated the Forces of Disorder at the Siege of Middenheim, the remnants of all their armies, Chaotic and Greenskin alike, have retreated into the vast woods and forests of the Empire, from which they now launch raids on surviving Imperial settlements or small groups of travellers, merchants and soldiers. And where monsters and mutants do not roam, Human bandits do. Neither the Imperial roads nor the rivers are safe and only a fool would travel without an armed escort.

The dislocation of the Empire's population in the northeast was also massively disruptive to the realm's health. As the winter months sets in after the war those who were not killed or mutated face a slow death by starvation and exposure to the elements. Famine is almost certain, for Archaon's troops burned what crops they did not steal. Farmers either fled or died defending their steadings and the destruction of provincial records means that many land-titles are in dispute, delaying new planting. Trade is at a near-standstill and some areas have been forced to rely on a barter economy. Civilisation itself seems on the verge of collapse in the northeastern Empire with reports of cannibalism and the spread of Chaos Cults reaching ears in Altdorf. The southern and western provinces of the Empire fared much better, for their lands did not become battlefields. Yet they face their own difficulties. The disruption of trade and commerce has led to supply shortages, spurring inflation and a flood of refugees has moved into western Middenland, Talabecland and Stirland, putting a strain on those provinces' cities and the goodwill of their people. Nor has it escaped the Electors of some of the southern Imperial provinces that the war presented an opportunity to settle some old scores with their northern counterparts.

All in all, the Empire today has more than its fair share of problems that call for the attentions of those special men and women who are willing and crazy enough to take up the mantle of heroes.

Aftermath
In the Aftermath of the great Storm of Chaos, many minor events took place after the war that has brought stability, or destruction to other parts of the Empire and other Realms. All events listed happen within the span of one year after the wars end.

Empire
​ *Vampires from all the blood-lines have suddenly "awaken". Many among their ranks believe that the legendary  time of The Thousand Thrones is near *Two powerful Beastman arise among the scattered tribes of Drakwald - Shaman Urslak Cripplehorn and  Gargorath the God-Touched. Shaman Urslak plan is to cast mighty ritual that will transform everyone living in  the forests of the Empire into Beastmen using enchanted menhir. Gargorath's herd will be huge in the end of  year, when he moves them agains the Empire forces. *Dreaded necromancer Heinrich Kemmler has returned to the Empire. He remains unseen and disquised until  the end of the year when he will finally strikes ===Kislev=== Dark Elf Lokhir Fellheart loots the sunken ruins of the Lizardmen city of Chypayotl and finds the Helm of the Kraken.
 * Grand Theogonist Johann Esmer III flees to Marienburg before Volkmar the Grim returns to Altdorf. There isn't  much support to Esmer, but he is still saying that he is the rightfull Theogonist and speaking against the  Volkmar. When Volkmar returns he takes over the Templars of Sigmar (force of witch-hunters and templars  created by Esmer). Volkmar gives them even more rights to find the servants of the Dark Gods.
 * Archaon’s Horde had spread misery and death across Ostland, Hochland, and Middenland. Tens of thousands  were homeless and starving. Their fields had been burned, and their homes were left in ruins. Confronted by the  full horror of Chaos, many were the folk who had been driven insane through terror and misery. The forests  were crawling with soldiers and peasants who had abandoned their gods and bartered their souls to the all  conquering power of the Dark Gods. Though Middenheim had been defended to the last and Archaon’s horde  was shattered, the remnants of warbands and Beast Herds still lurked throughout the northern Empire. Zundap  was overrun with verminous Skaven, who had turned the old steam mill into an unholy hive of rat creatures.  Brass Keep was just an empty shell. Its dark corners were home to strange beasts and twisted spawn, and the  warriors of the Dark Gods gathered in its ruined towers and cellars
 * It is little surprise that Boris Todbringer has led the White Wolves and the remnants of the forces of Middenland  into the south and west, seeking a sign of Khazrak's whereabouts. His search is cautious, though, for he knows  well the dangers of fighting in the Drakwald.
 * Helmut Feuerbach, Elector Count of Talabecland, survived the failed attack against Archaon in 2521, with  Volkmar the Grim. But he has not returned from the Storm of Chaos and is feared dead. With him also  disappeared the Knights of the Red Shield (Elector Counts personal bodyguards).

Factions

 * Archaon's Swords of Chaos warband and Chaos Horde
 * The Daemonic Legions of Chaos
 * The Imperial Army of Middenland
 * The Imperial Army of Ostland
 * The Imperial Army of Hochland
 * The Imperial Army of Nordland
 * The Imperial Army of Talabecland
 * The Imperial Army of Riekland
 * Orc Warboss Grimgor Ironhide's WAAAGH!
 * The Dwarf Slayers of Karak Kadrin
 * The Dark Elf Cult of Slaanesh
 * The Vampire Counts' Army of Sylvania
 * The Bretonnian Armies of the Errantry War
 * Skaven Clan Eshin
 * High Elf Sea Patrol (Lothern Sea Guard)
 * Witch King Malekith Invasion Army

Notable Participants

 * Archaon - The Everchosen, the" Lord of the End Times," Champion of Chaos Undivided and leader of the Swords of Chaos warband. Archaon is the Everchosen, the supreme champion of the four Great Gods of Chaos who led the last terrible Chaos incursion - known as the Storm of Chaos deep into The Empire. According to rumors, he was once a zealous Templar of Sigmar, devoted to battling the menace of Chaos. He read ancient manuscripts written by Necrodomo the Insane, which contained blasphemies about the religion of Sigmar and the nature of Chaos. Screaming in rage, he called the gods liars and burned down the temple and manuscript. He then hunted down and killed his entire family. Adopting the name Archaon, he travelled north towards the Chaos Wastes. He is known as the greatest Chaos Warlord to have ever lived, doing feats that even surpass that of previous Chaos Lords, even that of the Dreaded Chaos Lord Asavar Kul. He is also the instigator and bringer of the Storm of Chaos, having fought and killed his way through the trial's the Chaos Gods has sent him. He himself has bested Greater Deamons, Deadly Monsters, and scaled great feats of power and determination that the gods finally bestowed him the Title "Lord of the End Times" and giving him the complete control of all Chaos Worshippers in the Warhammer World. He was last seen in the Siege of Middenhiem, where he lost against Grimgor Ironhide. His fate is unknown


 * Ar-Ulric Emil Valgeir, High Priest of Ulric, and the central authority in the Cult of Ulric. He is bestowed the greatest seat of power in the cult, having almost as great an influence and power as those of other Elector Counts. He is also an extremely exceptional warrior, as the Cult of Ulric values valour and power above all else, which would make the priesthood of the religion nothing more then pious wolf-furred warriors. He fought and defeated Archaon's Lieutenant Haargoth the Bloody, Champion of Khorne.


 * Be'lakor, the Dark Master, a daemonic power that had been punished by the Chaos Gods for thinking he was their equal. Be'lakor was finally released from his prison to perform the coronation of Archaon as the Everchosen of the Ruinous Powers, a position he himself coveted. Before the time of Man, Elves or Dwarves he was the first Chaos Champion to be elevated to the glorious title of Deamon Prince, and some say was considered a Demi-God among men. His pride however ensured that Be'lakor's will consider himself an equal of the Gods, which inqured their wrath. His fate is unknown


 * Borgut Facebeater - An Orc Nob and Grimgor Ironhide's second-in-command. He and Grimgor was present during the chaotic battle of High Pass, where tens of thousands of Greenskins and ten-times the amount of Chaos Worshippers fought savagely. He himself fought against the Champions of Chaos, where he viciously strangled a Chaos Champion down before he broke the personal Standard of Grimgor Ironhide himself. He was last seen with Grimgor after the war.


 * Boris Todbringer  - Elector Count of Middenland and considered an unsurpassed warrior and general. He and the Al-Ulric were in charge of the defense of Middenhiem, and the armies sent to protect it. After the war, the Elector Count was responsible for repairing and rebuilding his ravaged lands and to ensure the Chaos taint removed from the lands surronding Middenhiem after the siege.


 * Deathmaster Sniktch - the most deadly and skilled Skaven assassin to have ever lived. Sniktch is a memeber of the Council of Thirteen, a covenant of all the major leaders of the whole Skaven race, where he is the supreme leader of the feared Clan Eshin, a candre  of the most skillful and dangerous skaven assasins in the world. Thought to have been the assassin of Valten.


 * Emperor Karl Franz - Karl Franz, also sometimes styled Karl-Franz or Karl Franz I, Protector of the Empire, Defier of the Dark, Emperor Himself and the Son of Emperors, Elector Count of Reikland and Prince of Altdorf (formal titles) is the current Emperor of the Empire of Man, the Elector Count of Reikland, the Prince of Altdorf and the greatest statesman and general the Empire or perhaps the entire Old World has seen in many centuries. Karl Franz, who was elected to the Imperial title in 2502 IC and inherited it from his father, is acclaimed as a patron of the arts and science, as a military innovator and as a valiant general. Thanks to his tireless efforts on the behalf of its people, the Empire has flourished during his reign as never before: the Imperial Engineers School in Altdorf has grown, the Colleges of Magic have thrived and his armies have marched from victory to victory, most recently during the terrible events of the Storm of Chaos. The Emperor frequently takes personal command of his troops, wielding Ghal Maraz, the fabled magical warhammer given to Sigmar himself by the Dwarf king Kurgan Ironbeard over two thousand years ago, or his Runefang sword, and riding atop Deathclaw, his Griffon mount of many years.


 * Feytor the Tainted - One of Archaon's four lieutenants. A Chaos Lord devoted to the Plague Lord Nurgle.


 * Garagrim Ironfist - The son of the Dwarf Ungrim Ironfist and War-Mourner of Karak Kadrin, Garagrim had devised a plan to rid his family line of its dishonour. By dying in combat as his father's champion, Garagrim believed he would prove the worthiness of the Ironfist bloodline. He was killed when a Chaos Giant fell on him as it died, thus fulfilling his Slayer vow.


 * Grimgor Ironhide - The greatest living Orc Warboss suffered defeat at the hands of Crom the Conqueror a couple of months before Archaon's Chaos Horde attacked the Empire. Shamed and now in a risky position, Grimgor kept control over his Orc WAAAGH! only by claiming that the Orc God Gork had given him a religious vision. Guided by this vision he ordered the massacre of all the Goblins in his army. He later managed to defeat Archaon in single combat before the gates of Middenheim, effectively ending the Storm of Chaos by badly wounding the Chaos Lord. Thus satisfied at the level of carnage he had unleashed, the Orc Warboss quit the field. His fate after the battle is unkown.
 * Haargroth the Blooded One - Once a simple goatherd of one of the Graeling tribes, Haargroth was chosen by the god Khorne for great and power. As a young lad, he happened upon a beastkin warlord and in a rage, killed him with his own axe. By chance, the weapon was marked by the Blood God and set Haargroth on the path to glory. He took control of his tribe by sheer strength and will and dedicated himself solely to the worship of the Norse warrior-god. Haargroth led his tribe to many victories, assimilating many of the other clans of Norsca to his banner and annihilating those who would not join him. The fearsome reputation of his raiders became such that his tribe was later termed as 'the Slaughterers of Haargroth'. Haargroth even led his fellow Norscans on daring and bloody longship raids, despoiling the Empire, Kislev and even the mangrove lined shores of Lustria to the south. Eventually, while raiding in the Chaos Wastes, Haargroth came into battle with Archaon himself. Howling and thanking his god for finally sending him a worthy adversary, Haargroth fought Archaon, but even the Norseman could not prevail against one so favoured by all four of the Chaos Gods. Haargroth was laid low, but Archaon was sufficiently impressed with his skill to offer him leadership of one of his armies. Haargroth accepted the offer, becoming one of Archaon's Four Lieutenants. He was slain by Ar-Ulric Valgeir during the Battle of Middenheim.


 * Johan Esmer - The weak-willed Grand Theogonist of Sigmar, Esmer was central in the opening phases of the Storm of Chaos. He was a very corrupt and unpious Theogonist, who was later removed from power after the return of Volkmar, the former Theogonist. He was last seen fleeing towards the port-city of Marienburg.


 * Kordel Shorgaar - One of Archaon's lieutenants and the standard bearer of the Swords of Chaos.


 * Mannfred von Carstein - The Count of Sylvania and a powerful Vampire lord who used the political instability caused by Archaon's invasion of the Empire to launch his own invasion of the Empire with a massive army of Undead in a bid to become its new master like the von Carstein Vampires before him. He was also central in the Storm of Chaos event, as he himself managed to stop the Chaos armies coming in from the east to invade the lands of Stirland and Averland. He and his army destroyed the remnants of Crom's army that managed to bypass the Dwarves of Karak Kadrin.


 * Melekh the Changer -  An Aesling blacksmith and warrior whose wife died in childbirth, after the tribal sorcerer, known as Gaerkoll attempted to use his magic to ease the birthing process. Gaerkoll's drunkenness caused his spells to spiral out of control and instead cause the infant within the woman's womb to mutate, thus did Melekh father a monstrous mutant for a son. Seeing this as the sign of favour from Tzeentch, the chieftain ordered much feasting in Melekh's and the child's honour. Melekh was later charged by Gaerkoll to journey into the Chaos Wastes and learn the true name of a Lord of Change. He accomplished this task and later returned to his people, and found his son had murdered the shaman outright, allowing his father to take leadership. Thus an ancient prophecy was fulfilled of father and son uniting and the old falling by the hand of the new -- recognizing this, Archaon rode down and offered both champions of Tzeentch leadership of one of his hordes.


 * Morathi - The Hag Queen of the Dark Elves. Morathi once more swore her loyalty to Slaanesh, the Prince of Chaos, and led the Dark Elf Cult of Slaaneshi forces in an invasion of the Lizardmen city-states of Lustria in an attempt to parallel Archaon's accomplishments in the New World even as the Everchosen sought to conquer the Old World.


 * Luthor Huss - The self-styled "Prophet of Sigmar" who spoke up against the corruption and complacency that was rampant among the Sigmarite priesthood before the Storm of Chaos. He was also credited for finding the reincarnation of Sigmar, Valten. Once founded, he lead Valten towards the court of the Emperor himself, along with an army of Peasants and religious fanatics. There Valten was proclaimed "Exalted of Sigmar" and Huss granted the title "Prophet of Sigmar". After the war he would to become the new Theogonist of the Sigmarite Cult.


 * Styrkaar -  A Chaos Champion of Slaanesh and chieftain of the Sortsvinear tribe, Styrkaar gained much fame from daring longship raids on the southern lands and against the Kurgan tribes to the east. From birth he shared his body with a daemon of Slaanesh and merged with it after gaining the title of chieftain by killing his own father in single combat. Styrkaar was later recruited by Archaon the Everchosen to lead one of his armies.


 * Teclis - Teclis was the greatest of the High Elven High Mages. Teclis had always worried about the place of Mankind in the struggle between Chaos and Order because of humanity's easy susceptibility to Chaotic corruption, and was therefore eager to once again help the human Empire in battle when the next great Chaotic incursion swept over the lands of Mankind. It was Teclis who presented Valten with the magical steed Althandir, and banished Be'lakor's Daemonic Legions back to the Warp at the Battle of Middenheim.


 * Valten, Exalted of Sigmar - Valten was the young man who Luthor Huss claimed was the reincarnation of the Imperial warrior God Sigmar. He was defeated by Archaon in battle before the walls of Middenheim and was later assassinated by the Skaven assassin, Deathmaster Sniktch.


 * Vardek Crom the Conqueror, Herald of Archaon - A Chaos Lord who was Archaon's second-in-command of the Swords of Chaos warband. During the Storm of Chaos, Vardek Crom was supposed to manoeuvre his troops so that they could attack the Empire's frontiers from the east. Vardek Crom defeated the Orc Warboss Grimgor Ironhide in single combat, leading to the Orc’s shaming and his determination to find redemption at the Battle of Middenheim where he defeated Archaon, Crom's superior, in personal combat. At the end of the campaign, he is presumed to have died, leading an army of Chaos-loyal Kurgan tribesmen through Sylvania, the Vampire Count Mannfred Von Carstein’s cursed homeland.


 * Volkmar the Grim - The resurrected former Grand Theogonist of Sigmar whose death at the hands of Archaon had marked the start of the Swords of Chaos' invasion of the Empire.


 * Ungrim Ironfist - The "Slayer King", or more properly, the King of the Dwarfhold of Karak Kadrin.


 * Sea Lord Aislinn - Admiral of the High Elven fleet deployed from Ulthuan to aid the Empire against the Forces of Chaos.