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, 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 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 gravely inquired and 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 Gathering 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 Black Blood 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 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 no choice but to return back to Altdorf with the 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 Elector Count of Middenhiem Boris 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 the local Hocland regiments.

However Kurt came too late, for by the 1st day 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. Surronded 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. Many felt that the worst was over, and that the Storm of Chaos has ended. All held a sigh of relief and went back to their normal lives ignorant of the perils the world is facing, and the greatest war the Old World will begin the lands of Sigmar's people.

The Cult of Pleasure
In the 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.

Knights of Bretonnia
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.

Elven Fleet of Sealord Aislinn
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 would split an element of his army to later 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 deal with Praag and to invaded and sack the capital of Kislev itself. Archaon thus lead his forces further southwest 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 heeded the call, those of pure faith joined the growing army, both Templars and commoners alike, 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 Archaon 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 Archaon 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 Sigmar heard, he did nothing for once Volkmar reached him, the Everchosen simply struck his sword 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 finally 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.

Siege of Erengrad
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 War in the East: The Invasion of Sylvannia and Grimgor Ironhide (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

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 Grimgo 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, Ostermarkand Averland, and also the Halfling 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 fated for these two warriors to meet, and when the armies of Chaos met the Horde there was a gruesome 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. Knowing that the gods wanted him to prove himself, Grimgor joined the assault.

The Return of Sigmar: The Marshalling of the Empire and The War in the North (2522 IC Early Summer)
"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 the men fought valiantly against the Northmen hordes. Archaons  forces then split his horde into five different armies, each lead by a Champion of one of the four Chaos Gods along with his own. The battered cities and towns of Wolfenburg, Ferlangen, Zundap, and Bohsenfels fought on fiercely against the Northmen. In the village of 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 enemies assaults, but in response Chaos forces brought 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 just a few miles south of the town, 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 indeed an agent of the Cult of Pleasure, who betrays the defences of Zundap as a sign of "good faith" towards his Chaos Gods. News however have brought word of a Vanguard of Bretonnian Knights lead by Duke Bohemond Beast-Slayer, leaving Monfort, passing Axe Bite Pass and then marching towards the northern Empire. This army however 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 besieged the crumbling city, slowly but surely pushing their way through the ruins of Wolfenburg, every inch of their advance being paid for in blood.

The Keep of Bohenfels unlike other parts of the province is holding 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 assaults of the enemy. The settlement of Ferlagen had an initial success at halting the enemies advances towards their homes but as the day goes by they begin to falts as these hunters are ill-equiped for this defense and as such are being driven back towards their homes by the relentless assault, while some have even lost hope and fled 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 in the dead of night. The silence was finally broken by the screams of those sacrificed to Tzeentch throughout the whole night, as the Army lead by Melekh the Changer gathered 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 these small towns are beggining to grow exceptionally weak, 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 a more one-sided battle by each passing hour, just as Castle Bohsenfels is now cut off from reinforcements and aid and only a matter of time before its own downfall. Increase attacks on Imperial settlements at the province of Nordland made the Beastmen unawarely enter into the Realm 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 boundaries, 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 forces 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 the fighting and 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 possible 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 and will pour into the heart of Middenland itself. By the 29th of Sigmarzeit, Castle Bohsenfels is begining to fall under 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's most brilliant and influencial leader, 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. In response Hamnir has gathering around several hundred Dwarven Warriors to retake the hold, along with the legendary duo Gotrek and Felix.

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 Castle from yet another relentless attack. By the 1st of Summerzeit, the village of Ferlagen finally falls to the hands of Kordel Shorgaar, standard bearer of the Lord of the End Times. The northern 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 even whispered he will have to march north to deal with this matter 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 of their 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 through their lands.

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 discovery. 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. As such Valten stayed in the outskirts of Altdorf awaiting the time for his entry.

In the 2nd day of Sommerziet, Archaon was furious 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  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.

With the fall of Zundap, Imperial forces were pulled back to the eastern end of the bridge at Struhelspan. The excess that Styrkaar and his Slaaneshi host indulged allowed a little time for these retreating forces to gather themselves again and join with the garrison at Struhshelspan. When Styrkaar's demented warriors fells upon the defenders of the bridge, they found their intial assaults blunted with devastating cannon and handgun fire, and was forced to pull back towards the forest. At Castle Lenkster, the brave efforts of Lord Jared von Strudt stopped an assault inteded to cross the river upstream. Under a covering bombardment from the von Brunel, Lord Jared, amongst others, fought a valiant defense until a sortie from the castle garrison pushed back the invaders. His position is reinforced with the soldiers of Captain Kaufman. Lord Jared then creates a counter-attack that drove the attackers from the northern castle walls. Von Raukov remains in overall command of the castle, and for the time being it seems that the Lenkster bridge is secure.

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 sat. 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.

In a brilliant tactical move, Karl Franz handed the Warhammer Ghalz Madaz to Valten and proclaimed him the Exalted of Sigmar and the spiritual leader of the Empire much to Johann's dismay. He also proclaimed Luthor Huss as the Prophet of Sigmar and ordered him to fight alongside Valten throughout the wars end. In doing this, Karl Franz not only acknowledge Valten as Sigmar Reborn, but has also managed to keep his ruler of the Empire. United, Karl Franz now assembles his Grand Army.

On the same day, at the battle line around Lenkster, Grey Seer Verminous Fang has begun putting into action a devious plan to tunnel under the river itself and assault the enemy from behind. Initial attacks on the bridge fortification themselves were lacklustre and the men of Ostland and Middenland have been able to strenghten their forces. Slaanesh Champion Styrkaar has also begun marching towards the front, from the ruins of Zundap with his army. As fighting still continued in Bohsenfels, a warrior of Khorne by the name of Bogolav Tammas feels something calling him from the Forest of Shadows. Leaving the battle, he wanders south into the woods until he found the Blood Fane, an ancient tainted Chaos Monolith dedicated to Khorne, and its guardian the old Beastmen Keeper. The Beastmen keeper has told Tammas that his time has come, and it his duty now to guard this sacred grove. Tammas thus executed the Beastmen and offered his skull to Khorne. Tammas becomes the new guardian of Blood Fane. In the 15th Day of the war, Kordel Shorngaar of the Middle Mountains awaits the arrival of Cyspeth and his Tzeetchain army, while the Skavens of the Under-Empire expliots the perils of the Empire and continues to fight in the valleys arounds the pass. At Lenkster, the arrival of the School of Engineer's expeditionary forces has stemmed the recent attacks, while Von Raukove continues to exhort the defenders of the castle to repel the latest assaults. A dread rumor however has begun to spread throughout the camp, about Archaon bringing in their own heavy artillery into the front; Hellcanons. The Commmanders knew that once they come, the walls of Lenkster would not hold against this onslaught. Along with this, Styrkaar arrived to Struhelspan. He has promised his warriors free reign to do what ever they wish once they break through the line within 5 days. Such promise of looting, slaughtering, and debauchery have driven the army into a killing frenzy.

The Battle for Bohsenfels is over and the siege has grinded into smaller skirmishes now, as the army of Tzeetch moves away from the castle towards the front. The several dozen men left in the castle are fighting against smaller bands of warriors around the catacombs now, and it would seem that they will probably survive to see the end of the war, this news means ill omen however for those fighting at the front along the lines holding the river and the village of Struhelspan. Supported by scattered bands of Elves and Dwarves, the Imperials at Struhelspan has managed to forced back numerous enemy assaults led by Styrkaar, the devoted servant of of Slaanesh. His depraved warriors were growing very weary of the war, as the ceaseless battles fail to excite their over-developed needs and keeps them away from more pleasurable persuits. The Warriors of Feytor is also aiding in the assault against Castle Lenkster, however Feytor himself has not been seened since the battle of Kurst. In the far north, Kislev is still fighting against the armies of D'Aggorn the Exalted, who was tasked to destroy the capital city of Kislev and come south to aid in the assault. His forces are coming closer and closer towards the capital and messengers has been sent far and wide to locate the armies of Garagrims Slayer army who was marching north to aid Kislev and to kill as many Chaos Worshippers as they can to fufill their doom, but no news have yet been heard of him.

The Hellcannons from Archaons own Chaos Horde have arrived for the siege at the 19th day of the war. The bombardment of Castle Lenksters had begun at first dawn. The cannon fire wrecked havoc upon the walls of the Castle as the arcane blast from the Hellcannons screeched through the air, and impacted upon the keeps walls, shattering stones and flesh in equal messure. The volleys lasted for half the day, and the castle itself is sorely battered. The eastern towers are in ruins and the northern walls are breached in several places. Yet despite this weakness on the walls, Archaon held back his forces, perhaps waiting  for a sign from the gods to launch his final assault. In the depths of the middle mountains, a combined force of Skavens and Marauders are almost upon the span of hte Nordbergbruche. Desperate fighting by men and dwarves alike keep them from the bridge, but without support from the Middenland mortar company, as the artillery company ran out of ammunition due to Skaven infiltrators, it seems the bridge will be lost within a few days. The battle around Struhelspan has been somewhat tame, as the defenders are content to stem the tide of warriors advancing upon them, whilst Styrkaar appears to idle away the hours in other pursuits, distracted from the fighting.

When darkness fells the Hellcannons start to fire the Castle Lenkster. Soon soldiers fell to their knees gasping breath and spewing the contents of their guts over the castle walls. Even the doughty Dwarfs that had raised their axes in defence of Castle Lenkster are afflicted by the strange malaise, their legendary constitutions no safeguard against theunnatural disease. The Imperial Engineers and their gunboats held the bridge as the Hellcannons fired. This allows the Count von Raukov to muster some semblance of a retreat from the route that has been threatened. The Elector's brave wordshad been for nought, as he fell back towards Breder in Middenland. A small force of Bretonnians has been seen heading north to Middle Mountains, directed by their Lady to defend the Nordbergbruche. They are met by the warriors of the Tzeentch warlord Asil Yarp, who unleashed the horrors of aHellcannon upon them for the first time, scattering the brave knights to the wind. With this counter-attack foiled, it seemsinevitable that Cyspeth and his Skaven allies will cross the bridge within hours.

The river under the Struhelspan is quickly filling with bodies as a new offensive is launched by Styrkaar's followers. Promises of glory and indulgence, the maddened warriors of Slaanesh have repeatedly hurled themselves at the defenders, whose strength has been weakened by requests for more troops at Lenkster. However, the bridge is held. An army of Middenlanders and the White Wolves of Count Todbringer marched forward to reinforce the defences at Esk. Count von Raukov, driven from his homeland, makes Breder a new headquarters. Von Raukov gatheres together his men and is determined to assault and reclaim the castle at Lenkster. But the armies of Archaon and Feytor had crossed the river in considerable numbers during the night, and dawn saw them advancing rapidly on Breder. Caught unprepared, the soldiers of Breder are hard-pressed to hold back the avalanche of howling warriors and roaring monsters that descendedon their town, and Archaon, sensing victory, urges his warriors to press home whilst they hold the advantage. A small force despatched by Feytor held ground near Esk, and early fighting has broken out along the road and paths leading to the village.

Nordbergbruche has fallen.

Suddenly assailed from the far end by Skaven that had tunnelled around their defences, the dwarfs and men holding the bridge are caught in a vicious trap. The magic of Tzeentch fills the valley as Cyspeth and his coven of sorcerous allies unleashed the raw power of change upon the foe, rending their enemies with glittering bolts of energy and mutating them into twisted, mewling wrecks. The sheer ferocity and speed of the onslaught sweeps away all resistance, and within an hour the bridge is taken. The victory celebrations are muted however, for the warriors of Tzeentch know that they have done only a little to rebuild their reputation in the eyes of their master, and also ahead lays one of the greatest challenges Brass Keep. The thinly defended bridge at Struhelspan still holds. What should have proven to be little more than a minor delay in the advance of Styrkaar has been turned into the last bastion of the defence of the south by the indolent nature of the Slaaneshi champion’s attacks. Valuable time has been wasted, time that would be preciously needed if the forces wereto take the bridge and assault the much stronger positions at Hergig and Fort Schippel.

In the 11th of Sommerzeit, A province-wide counter-offensive, led by Boris Todbringer and Count von Raukov, has stemmed the advancing Chaos host, from Esk in the south, at Breder, to the Brass Keep in the Middle Mountains. Count of Middenland rides forth with a contingent of White Wolves and Teutogen Guard, blessed by the Ar-Ulric. At Brass Keep, a sortie led by the Knights Panther smashes the vanguard of Cyspeth as it marched through the mountains from the Nordbergbruch. Reinforcements to the growing battle are slow, from both sides, as the winding columns of troops negotiate the harsh terrain of the MiddleMountains. In the south, Styrkaar strikes. Frustrated by the lack of mettle shown by his warriors, he leads the next attack personally, in a demonstration of his personal power and favour by Slaanesh. The fighting is bitter yet brief, as the deadly Championof Slaanesh cuts down all who would oppose him. When more and more Imperial troops rush to the west end of the bridge a large part of the ground gives away beneath them, plunging dozens of soldiers into a great tunnel beneath. Here they were set upon by vicious Skaven, who attack forth from the pit in a great tide. These are Clanrats and Stormvermin of Verminous Fangs army of Skaven mercenaries.

In Breder, the initial assaults of Archaon and Haargroth push back the forces of von Raukov. As the sun climbs to noon, something glitters in the north, moving towards Breder. These are force of the Elves led by Talaananthes Silverfall. The Elves immediately attacked, engaging a force of Khornate beserkers and warriors. With these unexpected reinforcements, the defenders took heart and the forces of Chaos are been pushed back to the edges of the town once more. Pushed further and further west, the forces of Dwarfs, men and Elves defending Middenheim are been stretched to breaking point. However, as their own supply lines shorten and the veterans of previous battles join those waiting at the next line of defence, their resistance is stiffening once again. Esk, a potentially weak spot in the battleline, A small village with barely a defensible wall, is now garrisoned by a force several thousand strong. Beyond it lie the rich pickings of central Middenland, and ultimately Middenheim itself. Intent on claiming this prize for themselves, the initial attacks at Esk have been fought not by the warriors of the Dark gods, but bythe vile ratmen of Chaos, in the form of Skaven Clan Deathbite under the leadership of Chieftain Skritchskritch. Combined with the success of Verminous Fang at Struhelspan the two armies attacked the settlement.

With the Empire finally united under the Banner of Valten on the 12th day of Sommerzeit, the armies made preparations to aid their brothers of the northern province. The Day of Hope is being held in the city of Altdorf. There is much fanfare and hubbub and also a great parade in the streets as both Karl Franz and Valten ride side by side through towards the city gates as numberless spectators rush to get a glimsp of their heroes of the Empire. Valten was a magnificent sight in the parade carrying the magical Ghal Maraz in his shoulder, along with the finest Imperial Plate avaliable to him. Along with this growing army, Karl Franzs greatest warriors, Grand Marshall Kurt Helborg and the Emperors personal champion Lugwig Swartzhelm has also join in. Along with them gave several of the worlds greatest Magisters of several of the Colleges of Magic, such as Magister Patriarch of the Celestial Order Stern Glanzend and Magister Matriarch Arburg. Even the Templar Order of the Fiery Hearts entire house has been commited to the aid of the north with their Grandmaster Baron Orenstihl leading them. 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.

At the war front, f rom the depths of the Drakwald, the one-eyed Beastlord Khazrak has begun to attack the Imperial line of defence. In the darkest  hours of the night, his force comprising of many warbands, attacked the walls of Untergard. The defenders are unable to  stop the rampaging Gors, Ungors and Minotaurs, and their efforts to repulse the attack are crushed by the appearance of  two mighty Dragon Ogre Shaggoths. When Khazrak has fought his way to the bridge he then awaits the arrival of other  warbands to help him cross the river and complete the sacking of Untergard. Rumours tell that Boris Todbringer has already ordered his men to start withdrawing from Breder, although Count von  Raukov has insisted on staying to defend the town. With supplies low, having been lost to an attack several days ago, it  is doubtful whether the Ostlanders can hold on unaided. Archaon leaves Esk where Feytor succesfully reach the village itself. Archaon also leaves the fate of Breder in the hands  of the murderous Haargoth, Blooded One of Khorne. Brass Keep stands defiant against the hordes of Cyspeth, despite advances made by the Tzeentchian horde and their  Skaven allies.

At Fort Schippel, the advancing warriors of Slaanesh made small gains, facing a network of well-constructed barricades  and emplaced cannons and mortars. Aided by Dwarfs from other areas of the Empire, the defenders of Fort Schippel sit  confidently behind their Dwarf-made walls and redoubts. Just as daunting is the great wall of Hergig, capital of Hochland,  where Styrkaar is now preparing his next assault, no doubt filled with visions of the hedonistic pleasures he can enjoy  with the thousands of people trapped inside the city by the fighting. Alexi Makarev, son of the now-dead Boyar of Erengrad and a dispossessed noble, has issued a call to arms to all men of  Kislev. As the armies of D'Aggorn the Exalted press closer to Kislev itself, while Praag itself is almost besieged once  more, it is a time for the people of Kislev to once again rise against adversity and protect their homes, as they have done so for generations.



On the first day of the Battle of Unterguard Bridge the withdrawal from Breder by Count Todbringer has left the men of von Raukov forces in a tight spot. The Chaos forcers are pressing hard, and the Count of Ostland is mustering his men for a speedy march towards Esk. It is likely that there will be little respite at the village, as it seems that Boris Todbringer is intent not on defending the small village but continuing to move westward along the Old Forest Road. The Warlord Leth-Dar, emmissary of Cyspeth the Gifted, has gathered another army north of the town. Attacks against the Brass Keep are testing the defenders. One initial foray is met by the Dwarfen warriors of Ragargrim  Skund, his Thunderers and war machines taking a heavy toll on the enemy and even destroying a Greater Daemon that had  manifested itself from the strengthening magical field surrounding the Tzeentchian host. Recovering quickly from the shock of Khazrak's surprise attack, forces around Untergard have moved into the town and  assaulted the area around the bridge in an attempt to dislodge the many Beastmen now lurking within the half-ruined  storehouses and the sprawling coaching station that dominates the end of the bridge itself. An assault along the bridge  itself was repulsed by a counter-attack from the mutated beasts of the Dark Gods. Battle of Unterguard Bridge begins.

With Count Ludenhof now in residence, the defence of Hergig continues. Not entirely at home in the ongoing siege  Ludenhof is said to be planning a sally forth with the elite Hunter regiment of the Jaegerkorps, in an attempt to break out through the attackers' lines  and start battling against the foes that are even now marching to the Hochland capital. Fort Schippel is still a formidable bastion standing in the way of the twisted legion of Styrkaar. Knowing full well the fate  that will befall them should they be captured by the followers of Slaanesh, the defenders of the castle have vowed to die  fighting. The devoted of the Dark Prince launches several assaults in quick succession, including attacks through the night. Defences at Breder have been overrun by the forces of Haargoth the Blooded One. Bestial, rage-driven warriors pour  into the streets, slaughtering all in their path. The disorganised remnants of the defending army are now been pushed  back to Esk, with the frenzied fighters of the Lord of Skulls close behind. Brass Keep has seen an escalation in the fighting, as more forces from both sides pour into the Middle Mountains; the  army of Cyspeth on the one hand desperate to win a quick advantage, the defenders knowing that behind them stands  an almost open road to Middenheim itself. The panic and confusion at Esk, caused by von Raukov's rapid retreat, has enabled Feytor and his foetid minions to  make gains against the defenders, destroying several outlying buildings and moving into the village itself.

The foray by Count Ludenhof from Hergig has been put on hold, as Chaos forces threaten to overwhelm the northern gate  of the city. Every man, elf and dwarf is needed for the walls, and the Count has listened to the impassioned advice of his  war council and decided to remain within his capital. The attacks at Fort Schippel continued with troops now freed from the fighting at Breder, the Kommandant of the Fort,  Kristophe Gohlinghost looks warily to the north to see whether fresh enemies will arrive at his gate, or press on to the  much weaker defences as Esk. Khazrak one-eye push his bestial warriors onto the bridge at Untergard, and broke out into the remainder of the town. With the river held, the divided forces of the Beastlord captured supplies intended for Middenheim, and are now armed  with weapons stolen from the barges intended for Boris Todbringer's host. In the mid-morning, the brassy charion calls of many trumpets could be heard echoing along the forest roads of Middenland. Soon outriders and scouts along this trail reported a large sighting of a massive host of knights thousands strong moving in from the southeast, bedecked in the full panoply of war and bearing the heraldry of the Bretonnian Dukes. At their head rides Duke Bohemond, the Beast-Slayer, and command of King Louis's vanguard. The  Brass Keep defenders are still holding the army of Tzeentch, leaded by Cyspeth, and their the Skaven allies at bay. Brass Keep  commander is Grand Master Kohlspier, leader of the Knights Panther. Boris Todbringer continues to head westward to confront Khazrak One-eye. A force of Knights of the White Wolf, led by the Grand Master, have turned back and make a valiant stand on the  outskirts of Esk.

The heroic efforts by these ferocious knights has allowed the route from Breder to be slowed to an orderly  retreat, as Empire forces disengage from the enemy now circumnavigating the village to attack their rear lines. Fort Schippel and its human and Dwarf defenders continue to hold against the inhuman forces assailing its walls. Several  assaults have been launched, most of them beaten back before their ladders are raised and their siege engines  closing in on the castle. In Hergig an inhuman assailant, later described by the Count Ludenhof’s as a vermin-creature the height of a man,  enters the count’s chamber as he the Count read reports of the fighting. A keen hunter, the Count was kept alive only by his iron  nerve and the finely crafted hunting rifle always kept by his side. The attacker is wounded but fled and avoided capture. Khazrak continues to fight fiercely for possession of the bridge in Untergard, despite an near-overwhelming number of  troops being sent to the town to prevent  the Beastmens escape. The timing of Khazrak’s attack, launched to coincide with a fresh  offensive at Breder and Esk, can not be pure coincidence, and though Boris Todbringer is reminding his officers and men  of the reward for Khazrak’s death, commanders in Untergard are cautious and wary of allowing themselves to be caught  by surprise again. The rearguard by Knights of the White Wolf held at Esk, but for barely long enough to allow their comrades to retreat  westwards towards Krudenwald. However, as the troops fell back to their next defences, they are struck from the north  by a green thunderbolt – Grimgor Ironhide. Attacking from the foothills of the Middle Mountains, the Orc warlord set upon  the marching army in a furious assault. Count von Raukov is wounded in the fighting but fights his way clear, and now  the route to Krudenwald is wide open. Grimgor appears to have a head start over Haargoth, and undoubtedly the two  bloodthirsty warriors will be eager to outdo the other in their assaults on Krudenwald. A coordinated attack at Untergard has succeeded in pushing the forces of Kharak One-eye away from the bridge,  allowing more troops to be brought up the river. The fighting has broken down into vicious street-to-street battling, as the  roaming bands of Beastmen waylay their foes before seeking safety in the ruined buildings of the war-torn town. Both Brass Keep and Fort Schippel continue to hold back their attackers from the walls. Unshaken by the attempt on his life, Count Ludenhof of Hochland rallies his men at the walls of Hergig, staving off  successive assaults from the north and east. These attacks have been haphazard and short-lived, and it seems that  Styrkaar is wary of making an all-out attack.

As the 5th day of the Siege of Unterguard commences the Grand Army of Karl Franz, Valten and Zealots of Luthor Huss heading north to aid the northern province were attacked by Beastman raiders on their way from  Altdorf to Talabheim. 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.

Be'Lakor! A name that has spread across the northern Empire in recent times, spoken in terrified whispers. Now the  nightmare hinted at by the doomsayers has become a reality. The magical winds have been increasing in strength for  many days now, and omens of evil have been plaguing Middenheim and the surrounding area. At Krudenwald, a great  magical storm enveloped the town for several hours, culminating in the sky splitting asunder and pouring forth a tide of  daemonic beasts spawned from the twisted imaginings of a madman. At their head soared the Dark Master, a palpable  wave of terror spreading out before him. Now the town is set upon by three beings intent on its destruction – Be'Lakor,  Grimgor Ironhide and Haargoth the Blooded One. Von Raukov sents messengers to King Leoncoeur of Bretonnia to  request his intervention at the beleaguered town immediately. The Battle of the Three Armies begins. Sensing the change in the winds of magic, the Shamans of Khazrak urge the leader to strengthen his efforts to hold  Untergard, advising that soon his uneasy allies will break through to him. The renewed fighting has sent the Beastlord to  push back towards the town's bridge, although resistance is growing steadily each day.

Brass Keep (Knights Panther, State Troops and Dwarfs) stands defiant against the Skaven and Tzeentchian warriors  besieging it. Though progress has been slow, the forces attacking Fort Schippel make their first assault against the walls. Under  cover of newly constructed siege towers, baying warriors and twisted mutants reached the south wall, and although  several hundred managed to storm the parapet they are driven back after vicious fighting. Several siege towers are  destroyed in the process. Meanwhile, the capital of Hochland, Hergig, continues to hold strong against the depraved warriors of Slaanesh. Count  Ludenhof leads the Jaegerkorps on a daring sally forth to destroy several war machines under construction outside the  range of the city's cannons. This set back tests the patience of Styrkaar to the limit. The fighting at Bohsenfels continues to a limited degree, as occasional forays into the catacombs or counter-attacks by  the defenders spill more blood on the already crimson ground.

While the Count Ludenhof of Hochland sallied forth was successful to destroy battering rams and siege towers being  constructed by the warriors of Styrkaar, a more sinister threat is growing within the forests. The vile rat-men allies of the  Slaanesh worshippers unleash their arcane machineries at the walls of Hergig, slaying many of the defenders and also  trying to kill Count again. The wall yet stands intact, while soldiers desperately fight against maddened, frothing-mouthed  rat-kin. Having given up on reclaiming the bridge at Untergard, Khazrak has led his forces northwards, his two mighty Dragon  Ogre Shaggoths at the forefront of his attempted breakout. He heads towards Immelscheld where Boris Todbringer is  inspecting the defences currently. In Krudenwald, the massive assault by Orcs, Daemons and the mortal followers of the Dark Gods threatens to sweep  away all resistance. Von Raukov defends the town valiantly. Brass Keep has become a slaughter field, as thousands of human and inhuman attackers throw themselves at its  impervious walls in the hope of gaining some purchase that can be later exploited. Cyspeth’s Skaven allies plan  something new also. Unlike the poor unfortunates that died at Castle Lenkster, the defenders of Fort Schippel have so far been free from the  unnatural poxes and diseases unleashed by Feytor, beloved of Nurgle. With three wells and a sizeable storehouse, the  defenders are yet to feel the true deprivation of a siege, and the desultory attacks by Feytor’s men have caused little  casualties. If the Champion of decay was looking for his god to lay low the defenders, he seems to have been mistaken,  and should remember that the gods look to those who look after themselves.

As the war drags unto its 36th day, continued fighting in and around Untergard has taken a heavy toll of defenders in the area, with Khazrak and his  beastherds leading the men of the Empire into all manner of ambushes and traps, whilst continually eluding the patrols  and huntsmen sent out to find him. In a daring act, he doubled-backs on the town and launches a surprise raid on the  bridge from down stream, destroying the crossing and preventing more troops from coming across the river from the  west. His task completed the One eye vanishes back into the forests and with the bridge gone Boris Todbringer has  begun to recall his troops to Immelscheld to bolster the defence there. The bodies of hundreds of Beastmen, Men,  Dwarfs and others litter the streets of the half-ruined town and the surrounding woods, a testament to the long and  bloody fighting for possession of its vital crossing. The walls of Hergig are been sorely tested by the devastating warpstone-powered machines of the Skaven, and Styrkaar  of Slaanesh leads another successful assault, this time against the northern gate towers. Its supplies mysteriously fouled  and officers being killed in their beds, the army of Count Ludenhof is beginning to disintegrate as weary men fall back  from the walls under the now relentless assault. The outer wall of Brass Keep has been taken by a determined attack, aided by a mine being collapsed by Skaven under  the southern ramparts. The defenders, sensing the impending attack, pull back quickly from the assault, surrendering  wall with few casualties and barricad themselves inside the keep itself.

Fluctuating magical energies around Krudenwald have seen the appearance and disappearance of daemonic warriors in  many places, while the shadow of Be'lakor still lies over the town. Grimgor Ironhide has slain dozens of foes himself over  the days of fighting and still seems determined to single-handedly storm the defences before any other warrior. Haargoth  has not been seen for several days. As yet the tainted champion Feytor has not made a significant move at Fort Schippel, though noxious fumes and strange  noises have begun emanating from the woods around the citadel. In the cold north, the dispossessed Boyar Alexi Makarev is said to be leading his forces south to link up with the Gryphon  Legion Makarevat Bohsenfels. Aided by other forces of the North Kislev Alliance, Makaver is planning a series of raids  on the attackers, if he can break through the thin cordon at Bohsenfels.

War continues in and along the roads leading through the Drakwalk forest;  where 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.

As the need for more ammunition and weaponry for the armies of the north, Nuln has double timed their efforts to create even more cannons, gunpowder, and rifles. However the most important export the Engineer's are plotting to create were the ability to finally create several newer Steam Tanks made by the designs of Leonardo's original work along with a new assortments of Organ Guns. However probably the greatest production currently being made are the creation of a new weaponry and some consider the greatest gun ever created and are being both created and started by Marshall Lord Randolf Vogt, where they call these new prototypes "the Magnus".

The Battle in the North has begun to escalate more in every passing day for as Krudenwalk falls to the  combined attacks of Haargoth, Be'lakor and Grimgor. This monstrous host has swept onwards to  Immelscheld, and the line of troops assembled by Boris Todbringer. Though the army of Middenland stands ready, the  ground is unfavourable and Immelscheld provides little in the way of defences. Confident of victory here, Archaon leaves  the host and moves northwards to the Middle Mountains. The Battle of the Three Armies ends. In a final devastating assault, backed up by the arcane war engines of the Skaven, Styrkaar breaks through the wall of  Hergig, forcing the defenders to retreat. With the city in the hands of the Slaanesh lord, and Count Leutendorf retreating  towards Talabheim, the southern force is now free to turn westwards and continue the march on Middenheim.

With the fall of Untergard, Imperial troops have been fighting all over Middenland, against pockets of Beastmen as well  as warbands that have forayed westwards ahead of the larger armies. The fiercest fighting is around Grimminhagen, as  warped creatures and demented warriors assault the town in the hopes of cutting off Count Todbringer's retreat to  Middenheim. At Brass Keep, the relentless attacks have now secured the courtyard around the citadel and battering rams are been  brought up from the valley below. Though the defenders pour bolt and bullet into the attackers, filling the courtyard with  piles of the dead, Cyspeth urges his warriors on to greater acts. Count von Raukov falls back with his forces to Grimminhagen under cover of Boris Todbringer's army protecting  Immelscheld. This sudden influx of soldiers drives out the Beastmen that were attempting to seize control of the town's  outskirts. At Immelscheld, the initial assaults were easily repulsed as twisted warriors and their inhuman allies quickly marched to  the attack, but were defeated. Scattered Orc attacks, against both the defenders and the attackers, have proved similarly  indecisive. The Hellcannons arrive at Fort Denkh and inspire fear in the defenders, yet though the bombardment has been effective,  the Chaos Dwarfs crewing the weapons lack the numbers required to carry the battle to those inside the castle. Perhaps spent by their efforts over the previous days, the attackers at Brass Keep have relented slightly in their assault,  giving the defenders valuable time to shore up battered obstacles and tend to their wounded. Fighting continues to move back and forth at Fort Schippel, as Feytor seems to have settled in, content with a lengthier  siege. At Bohsenfels, the North Kislev Alliance led by Alexi Makarev brokes through the few attackers remaining at the castle. His attack is aided by the arrival of the Gryphon Legion from the west, and support by cannons sent from the city of  Kislev. Forged from the bells of the city's cathedrals, these cannons are believed to be blessed by the gods, although the  frail brass of the cannons is liable to crack and break under intense firing.

After the gruesome battle along the road of Talabecland, 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 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

In the evening after the great gathering round Talabhiem, Valten was meet by Wolfmar von Krutz, High Priest of Ulric in Talabheim. Wolfmar von Krutz has not believed in  the divinity of Sigmar and has stubbornly argued with every tutor until he arrived at his conculsion that Sigmar was not a  God. No-one knows what passed between the Valten and von Krutz, but von Krutz chose not to ride north to  Middenheim, which had been his original plan. Instead, he returned to his temple, feverishly claiming that Sigmar had  been reborn, and that all Ulricans should watch for the "Mark of Unification."

Grimminhagen is under a strong assault, as the forces of darkness attempt to break through the town and on to  Middenheim itself. Should the defences of the town fall, the attackers will be at the walls within hours. Boris Todbringer,  fearing that Grimminhagen may fall and cut off his retreat, starts to pull his forces out of Immelscheld. If allowed to  withdraw intact, he will be able to link up with von Raukov in Grimminhagen, under the cover of a Knights of the White  Wolf rearguard as before. The bombardment of Fort Denkh continues as the terrified defenders await the assault that could easily sweep them  away The chanting of Hashut worshippers drones constantly alongside the daemonic screaming of the Hellcannons. At Brass Keep first Chaos troops attack the walls of the inner citadels. Despite rocks and hot oil dropped by the  defenders, battering rams are pushed forwards and attack the gatehouse of the keep. The attack is eventually driven  back, and in the quiet that descended, ominous scratching and rumbling noises could be heard from below the ground. The commandant of Brass Keep orders that no one drink from the wells, fearing sabotage by hidden assailants.

A burst of vigour by Feytor has seen gains made in the attack on Fort Schippel. Joined by attackers moving west from  Hergig, the Champion of Nurgle unleashes his sorcerers against the defenders of the south wall. Men, Dwarfs and Elves  suffer from the unholy contagion, and even the stones themselves start to crumble and crack under the withering magical  decay. The retreat from Immelscheld continues, while attacks from Grimgor Ironhide threaten the north of the village. Fighting  between the Orcs and Haargoth's Khorne warriors stalled the assault, during which the Dark Master Be'lakor made a  foray into the town, but was repulsed by a contingent of Dwarfs alongside Teutogen Guard and numerous warrior-priests  of Ulric. As troops from Immelscheld arrive in the area around Grimminhagen, fighting has intensified. Sensing that the  opportunity to break through quickly to Middenheim may be passing, Khazrak One-eye has attacked out of the forest,  leading a force of Beastmen and Chaos Warriors. Attempts to waylay the columns pulling back to the town have so far  proved relatively unsuccessful though.

A valiant sally from Fort Denkh destroys one of the Hellcannons raining daemonic fire onto the castle. Knights of Sigmar's Blood, along with woodsmen of Middenland, attack under the cover of darkness, scattering the crew of the  infernal machine. The machine breaks loose from its chains and attacks the knights before rampaging along the Chaos  Dwarf lines eventually detonating in an explosion of magical energy. Brass Keep falls to a deadly combined attack overland, underground and even from the air. Whilst the warriors of  Cyspeth assailed the citadel gate, Skaven tunnellers of Clan Deathbite erupted from the storage cellars beneath the  castle. As the defenders fell back from the walls to combat this threat, a group of strange warpstone-powered aircraft  made from crashed Dwarfen Gyrocopters raked the walls with ratling gun fire. Though all of these flying machines  eventually crashed or were destroyed, the aerial assault planned by Verminous Fang certainly contributed to the castle's  fall. However, upon entering the keep it was found that many of the defenders had already evacuated along a hidden  tunnel that the Skaven had missed, and were already regrouping in Sokh. Cyspeth's forces must gather their strength  and then push on quickly if they are to meet their rendezvous with destiny at Middenheim.

At Fort Schippel, an attack is led against the castle by one of Feytor's champions name Putrious. As diseased warriors  and hideous daemons assaulted the walls a valiant defence, led by Captain Heisner, succeed on holding the rampart  against the tide of foulness. In the last days of Sommerziet Imperial line between Immelscheld and Grimminhagen has been sorely tested as more troops moved westwards  towards Middenheim. Count Boris Todbringer has not been seen since the retreat began and some say its because he is in the woods  around Grimminhagen, leading the search for his arch-foe Khazrak, the very same Beastmen Warlord that tormented his very lands for ages and personally took out his eye in a duel. The differences between Todbringer and von  Raukov have been resolved, and the Elector of Ostland is sending messengers to coordinate the defence of both  locations. Dark magic is unleashed on the poor settlement of Sokh. An incantation from the overly-titled Lightbringer, Lord of the  Black Star, Chosen of Tzeentch and Champion of the Chamber, has corrupted the woods around the village, turning  them into a dark, writhing place where Empire soldiers disappear and retreat to Middenheim will be highly risky. The fighting continues at Fort Denkh and the Middenstag while a force known as the Scions of Darkness have struck  hard at Fort Schippel, with a series of attacks starting at the darkest part of the night and continuing into the day. One of  the dreaded Hellcannon arrive to assist their efforts, along with Skaven from Clan Pestilens, in an effort to bring the  defenders to their knees... and if that fails, to allow the diseases of Clan Pestilens and Nurgle to corrupt the defenders  from within. Several Hellcannon arrive at Emperor's Hammer, along with a regiment of Chaos Dwarfs. Bombardment starts on the  fortified inn, but as the screaming inferno descended on the inn, a rousing chorus could be heard from the walls:

''“Men of Ulric stop your dreaming... Can't you see their spear points gleaming? See their warrior pennants streaming..... To this battlefield... Men of Ulric stand ye steady...... It cannot be ever said ye..... For the battle we're not ready....... Stand and Never Yield! Off the hills rebounding..... Let this song be sounding...... Summon all to Ulric's call...... The mighty force surrounding  Men of Ulric onto Glory...... This will ever be your story..... Keep these fighting words before ye.....Middenland Never Yields!”   ''

With news that Karl Franz and Valten have arrived at Talabheim, Boris Todrbinger gives the order to withdraw to the outer defences of Middenheim as men, Dwarfs and Elves pulled back from Grimminhagen. A solid charge led by King  Louen Leoncoeur of Bretonnia scatter the pursuing Chaos forces. In the melee that follow, the Bretonnian King and his  knights engaged the Daemonic host of Be'lakor. As Louen battled bravely against the Dark Master, an anguished cry  was heard over the battlefield. Filled with inhuman strength, Volkmar the Grim ripped free of the chains binding him to  Be'lakor's army standard and laid about the daemons with those self-same enchanted chains. Bloodied but unbowed,  Volkmar is carried free upon the back of the King's hippogryph and taken to the temple of Shallya in Middenheim. Priests of Sigmar and Ulric call upon their gods to lift the dark curse upon the woods around Sokh, the sorceries of  Tzeentch eventually dispelled by their efforts, though four of their number lost their lives in the ritual. With this binding  magic gone, the defenders of Sokh are able to withdraw to safety before the attackers realise that their foes have  escaped them.

Meanwhile, there has been double cause for celebration at the Emperor's Hammer. The Chaos Dwarfs artillery that had  been bombarding the coaching inn has been moved on towards Middenheim itself, and the army that accompanied the  Hellcannons has passed by, leaving the fortified tavern still standing. Not only that, but a group of Dwarfs moving along  the Old Forest Road towards the City of the White Wolf have, in an act of unparalleled generosity, gifted the brave  defenders with three barrels of Bugman's Owd Bearbaiter. Prince Saneth of Ulthuan, commander of a small contingent of  Elves that had been passing through the inn's locale when it had been attacked, kindly passed their rations on to the  other defenders. As the armies of Archaon and his Lieutenants begin to close on the city of Middenheim, cannons mounted on the walls,  along with mortars and other war machines, have begin to pound the approaching attackers. Every few hours, the  ground trembles and the sky reverberates with a monstrous roaring as the gigantic Ulric's Thunder fires its house-sized  balls at the foe. The cannon's Giant loader, affectionately known to locals as Thunderball, has been working hard since  the siege began, although at such distances it is hard for the engineers to target accurately.

Siege of the City of the White Wolf
"As long as the fire of the Great Temple last, Middenhiem and Middenland will never fall!"

- Graf Boris Todbringer In the war-ravaged lands of the Empire, in the northern-most of the lands sits the great Principality of Middenland , home of the powerful Ulrican Cults and the ancient homeland of the fierce and deadly Tuetogen people. Such was the greatness of this land and its people that Ulric himself has thought it right to have is very own place in the world, where Taal, Ulrics brother has given him a single mighty mountain in the great expanses of the Drakwald. With a mighty swing of his fist the greatest Fortress-City ever made was born. Middenhiem, also known as Ulricsburg, while others know it as the City of the White Wolf is both a massive city and a powerful Fortress in its own right. Those in many nations see's the great city as the rightful sacred land of the War-God Ulric himself, and many people who have heard about it says that Middenhiem is the greatest and most impenetrable fortress in the entirety of the Old World. Once one feast their eyes upon the majestic city, they will bear witness a mountain of stone and masonry a mile high and its spires piercing the very sky at its highest point. Such greatness in the city, proved a fitting place to guard one of the Worlds most sacred artefacts inside, where deep inside the very core of the city itself, within the greatest Temple of Ulric ever made sat the Ever-Lasting Ulrics Flame. A sacred artefacts many hundreds of years old since the time of the first of the Tuetogan people and even times before the birth of Sigmar, the Ulrics Flame was the most sacred flame dedicated to the God of Winter and Wolves. The Silverly Glow of the Flame is in many ways similiar to the Great Flame of Asuryan, the patron Elven God of the Elves , and such was it that those who prove to be worthy shall go through the Flame like the Sigmar of Old to see if one is of Pure Heart, not corrupted by the dark influence of Chaos. It be rightful for the entire land of Middenhiem to go to war and fight to the death for this sacred city, every last men, woman and child would gladly give up their lives to keep the fire safe from those who seek to usher in the Darkness that threatens to consume us all.

The greatest Fortress ever made by men will be tested as the very Storm that seeks to destroy the World consumes all in its path along roads leading to the city. Armies and Legions would fight to destroy this city, yet many who gazed upon it see's such immensity and power that not even the greatest of armies could scale the very walls alone, and no Siege Tower ever made would not even reach the first out of a series of walls that blocks the passage to certain levels of the city. The Walls itself radiate with power and magic for the very stones itself were made by the greatest of Dwarf Masonry and encased with powerful spells and wards by the Elven race of Old. Such power is shown in the city itself, but the true strenght the city has is within the heart of its own people, where 10 men would be enough to be able to hold off any mortal army. Yet, this is not a mortal army, for the very energies of creation flows through the gap between worlds and unholy creatures stalk through the sea of forest below ever eager to quench its thirst for blood. In the following few days the greatest battle in the whole Old World will be fought in this great Battlefield, and where two gods will forever decide the fate of the Kingdom of Man.

As the month of Sommerziet comes to a close and the month of Vorgehiem grows nearer, the  Siege of Middenheim starts. After the first day of the siege, the defenders have rallied under Boris  Todbringer and Valmir von Raukov. Von Raukov has been overseeing two counter-attacks made against the Chaos  armies and Skaven swinging in from the northeast, while a stern defence of the northern causeway has held the outer  gatehouse, forcing Haargroth to fall back out of cannon range to gather his scattered forces. As Archaon led the attack against the eastern causeway, the ancient magiks bound within the stones of the bridge were  unleashed. Each of the causeways is enchanted to collapse when the ritual was performed, to prevent an attack  reaching the city itself. As the priests of Ulric prayed and the wizards of the Elector made their incantations, the ancient  Dwarf-hewn stones began to crumble. Cracks appeared along the roadway and blocks began to shear from its sides,  plummeting hundreds of feet into the Chaos army below. Siege towers and battering rams were flung from the causeway  as it began to shatter under the spell, but it was then that Archaon's sorcerers responded to the hex. Summoning the  vast magiks of Chaos, unearthly vines of metal barbed with stone thorns erupted from the ground, binding the shattering  causeway together. However, despite the efforts of his shamans, Archaon was forced to retreat to the foot of the  causeway as debris rained down to the ground and his arcane war machines were cast aside. The magical battle still  continues for control of the causeway and so Archaon has now started a barrage with the Hellcannons, his first  assault having been repulsed. As the magical screaming bolts of the Chaos Dwarfs' machineries batter the walls,  thousands of Flayerkin have been gathered in the rear of the Chaos lines, preparing for the next attack.

At first the south-eastern wall and southern causeway looked to have been breached as the horde of Kordel Shorgaar  dared the cannon and mortar fire to approach hidden entrances to the catacombs. Things looked dire indeed when an  Orc force led by Grimgor Ironhide seemed to join the attack. Two mighty war machines, Da Godz, were pushed towards  Middenheim by hundreds of Trolls, as the air crackled with Waaagh! energy around the Idol of Gork. As Kordel neared his  goal, Grimgor turned northwards, driving his army like a spear into the side of Kordel's advance. The Black Orc Warlord  believed that Kordel, bearing the banner of Archaon, would be near his master. His disappointment to find only another  of the Lord of the End Times' lackeys was vented in a murderous rage that saw Grimgor slaying everything in his path. Faced with the green behemoth, Kordel was left no option but to retreat and allowed the Orcs to set up camp at the base  of the causeway into the city. Delayed to the east, Styrkaar of Slaanesh is only now arriving at Middenheim, but the  arrival of his forces in the south will surely bolster the Chaos attack.

To the west, Khazrak and the Dark Master has launched their attacks, alongside Feytor Champion of Nurgle. These three unholy terrors have made significant advances towards the city, but both Feytor and Be'lakor have been stalled in their efforts by valiant attacks. Continuing the battle he began previously, King Leoncoeur of Bretonnia has once more faced the Dark Master and lived. Protected from the evil Chaos sorceries of the Daemon Prince by enchantments of the Lady, King Louen led a charge of dozens of Pegasus Knights against the Dark Master and his vile followers. Though Be'lakor himself remains unharmed, he was forced to expend much power maintaining the breach into the Realm of Chaos that allows his legion to exist making him weaker by the moment. Meanwhile, the arrival of Boyar Makarev and his North Kislev Alliance provided timely reinforcements to hold back Khazrak's Shaggoths. There are many Dwarfen Slayers during the Battle of Middenheim and as the Siege begun many were  ready to face all the Daemons and Chaos Champions that dare try to scale the walls, maybe even Archaon himself. Amongst these Slayers is also the old and legendary Snorri Nosebiter friend of the even more legendary Gotrek Gurnnison, the greatest Slayer to have ever lived and his chronicler Felix Jaeger. Snorri is often also called by the younger Slayers as "Father Rustskull".

The last desperate hours of the 1st Day of the Siege as been seen as mixed success for the defenders of Middenheim. Following the partial destruction of  the eastern causeway, a contingent of White Wolves led by Boris Todbringer pushed against the scattered armies of Archaon. Despite Archaon rallying his scattered followers, the eastern approaches to the city appear safe once more. The same  cannot be said for the south and west, were numerous foes are closing in on the city. Under the cover of a seething dark  mist raised by the Champion of Tzeentch called the Lightbringer, the armies of the Lord of Magic have marched forwards  and led into the shelters of the North West cliff. Protected against the artillery on the walls above by the overhanging rocks,  Cyspeth and his horde are now searching for a route into the catacombs beneath the city. Further troubles has beset the desparate defenders of the western causeway, as Kislevites, Bretonnians, Dwarfs and the  men of Middenheim muster their courage to confront the Daemonic Host of Be'lakor. This army of malevolence incarnate  has been further bolstered by further daemonic incursions into this world, led by a Daemon Prince the defenders have started calling  Shadowstalker, a darkly angelic being that has already killed dozens of the Imperial defenders. Khazrak One-eye has also moved his army against the cliffs to the south west of Middenheim, awaiting the arrival of Feytor. Given the Beastlord's experience and knowledge of his greatest foe's city, it is likely that he knows of some secret path or  passage that will take him into the city. Meanwhile, Archaon's woes have increased with an unorthodox attack by the Orcs of Grimjaw Ironfang and other nearby  tribes. Cannons scavenged from the ruins of Brass Keep have been put into action by the Greenskins. Many of the  stolen artillery pieces has exploded, while others however have been significantly ‘Orcified' so that they fire explosively flatulent  Squigs, while one or two actually rain down cannon balls onto the warriors following the Lord of the End Times.

As the battles continues on the 3rd Day of the Siege, the massive Cannon known as Ulric's Thunder wrecked havoc upon the armies below as the immense firepower unleashed by it created massive gaps between the enemy lines as the massive cannonballs plow through the ranks of the army, while the massive Middenhiem Giant, named Thunderball loads even more ordance unto the metal beast. However in the dark moonlight of the night, Ulric's Thunder was silenced. Despite the valiant efforts of Enthardon, Prince of Nagarythe, and his bands of Shadow  Warriors, shadowy Skaven Gutter Runners and Assassins struck from the depths of the Fauschlag (Ulricsberg) catacombs. In the darkest  hour of the night, the stealthy saboteurs crept into the massive warehouse that served as the bedchamber to the Giant  Thunderball. As the gently behemoth slept, warpstone-laced cursestones were placed upon his gigantic form. The city  was awoken before dawn by enraged bellowing and the cacophony of splintering wood and stone. The warpstone had  mutated Thunderball, his body becoming a writhing mass of pustules and tentacles, his small mind broken by the  corrupting influence of the raw stuff of Chaos. As Thunderball rampaged through the streets, he was attacked by gunners  from Boris Todbringer's household, but was eventually felled by the intervention of Valmir von Raukov, who shot the  Giant through the eye with his Dragon Bow, felling him. The once loyal beast that served the Middenhiem well has fallen and without Thunderball, Ulric's Thunder cannot be loaded, for the  mechanism was broken up to construct other defences.

Angered by the attack of the Orcs against his forces around the southern causeway, Archaon has ordered Styrkaar to  launch an all-out attack, despite the fact that the army of Slaanesh has only recently arrived from its forced march. Fearful of Archaon's gaze should he fail, Styrkaar leads the attack himself, cutting down not only Greenskins, but  breaking through to attack the Empire lines that lay beyond. However, Grimgor and his Orcish allies were not idle and a  counter-attack by the Greenskins drove back Styrkaar's army so that much of the day's gains were lost. A fierce cannonade, from the walls of the city, drive back the attacking forces assembling near the western causeway. Under cover of this bombardment, Priests of Sigmar, Ulric and Shallya have begun preparations for a ritual that will break  some of the power currently sustaining the Daemonic legions of Be'lakor and the Shadowstalker. Further to the south, a rival to Khazrak has emerged from the forests. Allied to the rat-men of Plaguelord Nilax, Braylord  Morurghur was successful in summoning a Great Unclean One to break the army defending the south west cliff. The  Greater Daemon of Nurgle caused horrendous damage, breaking through the Imperial line and enabling the Braylord to  push closer to the city, before eventually being banished back to the Realm of Chaos.

In Kislev, Garagrim Ironfist faces a gigantic troll-beast from the Northern Wastes, and unfortunately has lived to tell the  tale. Though the gigantic creature, ten times the height of a Dwarf, slew scores of Slayers, the War-mourners' axes were  to prove its bane and the creature was felled, its legs shorn in two beneath its knees. Garagrim has now turned  westwards towards Praag, looking for a foe that can best him. The Sea of Claws has also been the site of a great battle, as several Norse tribes combined their fleets to launch an  attack against the coast of Nordland. However, the flotilla was surrounded by a glittering mist several miles from the shore  and was set upon by the Hawkships of Lord Aislinn. Confused by the magical fog, the Norsemen were unable to close  with their more maneuverable foes and were eventually sunk or driven back to the north by several hours of merciless  bolt thrower volleys.

Unimpressed by the challenge posed by Styrkaar and his horde of Slaanesh, Grimgor has quickly tired of his fighting at  the southern causeway. Turning to the east, he has once more assaulted the army of Kordel Shorgaar in an attempt to  break through to the east and a chance at confronting Archaon himself. As yet, it appears the Lord of the End Times is still  content to allow his lieutenants the opportunity to defeat the troublesome Greenskins, though if they are unsuccessful, he  may be forced to turn his attention away from Middenheim to deal with this savage threat. Confused by the battle between the Greenskins and Chaos horde and as to the intentions of their Orc ‘allies' the Men of Middenheim and a large contingent of Dwarfs from the Middle  Mountains have been biding their time at the walls. With the Greenskins now moving on, this force has pushed forward  again to occupy the gate towers at the foot of the causeway. A swift attack by Styrkaar may well catch them unprepared  as they try to make defensive positions from the ruins left by Grimgor and his horde. At the western causeway, an attack led by Baron-General Adelbert Wessbecker has succeeded in outflanking the legion  of the Daemon Prince Shadowstalker. Unknown to the Imperial commander, his attack was aided by a dark ally,  emerging from the catacombs of Fauschlag (Ulricsberg). Clan Virulus, pursuing their own agenda, cuts through the  daemonic forces surrounding the western causeway and battled their way through the beasts attacking the cliffs to the  south west. Though his ultimate goal is unclear, it appears that Grey Seer Skritchit thinks it is in the interests of Clan  Virulus that the Chaos attack fails.

The counter-attack had fallen to Wessbecker due to a disturbing event the previous night, involving Count von Raukov. One of his closest aides, Jeffrey Tier, was revealed to have been tainted by Chaos, and was used as a vessel by  daemonic forces to attack the priests currently creating a ritual to banish the daemonic horde. Several priests were slain  or wounded before the dragonbone-tipped arrows of the Elector Count slew the possessed man. While Clan Virulus is heading southwards, another Skaven force has moved to the southwest and has launched several  raids on the camps of the Kislevites and Bretonnians guarding the approaches to the city. Verminous Fang has been  busy creating an alliance with the Prophet of Hashut Helna Blackhand, as well as collaborating with the Chaos Dwarf  Sorcerer Vhaark, is motives still unknown.

After 7 days of hard fighting the walls of Middenheim still stood proudly, though they bear the scars of much fighting. At the northern wall, a steady  push from the Ostlander army that retreated back to the city has forced Haargoth and his blood-crazed warriors almost to the  forest's edge, while attacks against the northern causeway have been weathered and now the forces of Boris Todbringer  and retaking the bastions at the foot of the great ramp. The eastern causeway has seen much fighting, with Archaon pushing forward with all the warriors he can bring to bear,  though he has yet to unleash his Flayerkin. However, after two days of near-constant assault, the horde was spent and  the ground they had gained was taken by a swift combined charge from the Knights of the White Wolf and the Knights  Panther. On the south eastern wall Kordel Shorgaar was forced to retreat from the attacks of Grimgor Ironhide, whilst being  bombarded by artillery from Middenheim's walls late in the second day of his assault upon the causeway. The standard bearer of Archaon launched a new  attack that drove the Greenskins back to the foot of the wall, but this renewed attack was crushed by the Goblin warlord  Gobhead Shankhammer and his Elf Munchers. The surprise use of a captured wagon filled with Night Goblin Fanatics  and explosives-rigged sides crushed Kordel's mounted warriors at their moment of victory. The southern causeway looked as if it might fall into the hands of the enemy, as Middenland troops were subjected to a lightning-fast assault by  Styrkaar of Slaanesh. Still mustering the defences after the eastward movement of Grimgor, the defenders of  Middenheim bravely held on and then counter-attacked, forcing Styrkaar into the Drakwald.

At the south west cliff the bestial Daemon Khar'Phaos launched an assault in an effort to outshine Khazrak One-eye. Daemonic Furies bearing rocks attacked the walls above while the Beastmen attempted to force their way into the caves  not far from the feet of the Fauschlag (Ulricsberg). However, on entering the catacombs, the intruders found themselves  assailed by the rat-like denizens that had recently made the Fauschlag (Ulricsberg) their lair and were repulsed with  heavy losses. Celerioth Quelleri, High Elven lord, launched a devastating charge against the Daemonic Legions threatening the  western causeway. Confronted by the glittering Elven host the Daemons were driven far back, the kin of Ulthuan bathed  in the shining light of their magic. As the host was  disintergrating, magicals rents were made for the legions being pulled back to the Realm of Chaos as it is tearing the skies above, but the Dark Master responded, clouding the battlefield in blackness. Dismayed, the Elves faltered and eventually the Dark Master himself appeared, driving the Elven contingent back to the causeway, neither side having made any gains. The first confrontation has occurred between the army of High Zar Dahn Chytzen, and the forces of the man the Chaos Champion has sworn to seek out and destroy – the Kislev Boyar Alexi Makarev. Though Makarev himself was not at the battle, a countryman named Namo bore the Boyar's flag aloft as the Kislevite noble's champion. The Winged Lancers proved devastating against the northmen, and some rumours claim that Namo himself captured Dahn Chytzen's standard during the fighting.

The fighting at the north west cliff has waxed and waved in favour of both sides. After initial successes, the Bretonnians  under Louen Leoncoer pushed back their foes from the cliff face, allowing Imperial mortars from above to rain death  down onto the attackers. However, an ambush by Beastlord Kilama'garr on a force of Knights from Lyonesse sowed fear  and confusion through the defender's ranks and they pulled back, losing much of the ground they had lost. From all across the city, a massive bombardment of cannon and mortar fire preceded the counter-attack, followed by drumbeats and horn blasts. Bretonnians charged alongside the Gryphon Legion of Kislev, while white-shafted arrows from Elven archers punched through armour and Dwarfen bullets penetrated flesh. All the while the blue and white of Middenland flew proudly from banners poles all across the city. The Ar-Ulric himself has finally emerged from the great temple of Ulric, a wild light in his eyes. He has taken command of the southern gates, guarding the causeway, facing the army of Styrkaar. The Slaaneshi champion has recently been joined by another devotee of Slaanesh, a Dark Elf known as Kouran Hex.

Styrkaar commands the Jade Sceptre cult inside the city of Middenheim to rise up within the city. From their headquaters in and around the Eastgate district known as the Templar's Downfall, they summon a handful of Daemonettes, with the idea of attacking the South Gate from within. However, the cult priests proved too weak and unskilled to control the Daemonettes, who ran wild through the streets of the Eastgate district. They were soon cut down by wizards, Witch Hunters and priests who were tasked to destroy the menace. The surviving cultists are rounded up and executed, by the Witch Hunters and the Templar's Downfall is razed to the ground. In response to the renewed attacks from the south, Grimgor has entrusted Borgut Facebeater with the task of clearing a path up the south causeway, while he deals with Archaon. When he has beaten the Everchosen, the warlord plans to hang his body from the south gate as proof that he was the first to make it to the impregnable city. Borgut knows better than to fail the Ironhide and so is currently scrounging every ‘Ard Boy he can find in a bid to beat Styrkaar to the city.

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 happened within the span of one year after the wars end.

Empire

 * 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).


 * 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 ofyear, 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

 * Boyar Alexi Makarev, having fought valiantly in the defence of Middenheim, rides with all speed to his homeland to assist in the reclamation of Erengrad, and on to the fighting still raging at Praag. Having disobeyed the wishes of the Ice Queen and ridden south to the Empire, it remains to see what reception he will receive from

Dark Elves

 * Dark Elf Lokhir Fellheart loots the sunken ruins of the Lizardmen city of Chypayotl and finds the Helm of the  Kraken.


 * Morathi has heard rumour that Hellebron has moved against the temple of Slaanesh that is now found in Naggarond, and is returning to the capital of Naggaroth to see off the Witch Queen's challenge. It is likely that the encounter will be bloody, as followers of both sects seek to dispose of their rivals. A potential civil war could erupt if the situation is not brought back under control


 * There are rumours of the dreaded Dark Elven Black Ark in the western parts of Sea of Claws few months after the war

Norsca

 * For many generations the Norse will tell of the White Ghost, the Sea Spectre, the Mist with Fangs. Lord Aislinn and his warriors of Lothern have been ruthless sin their patrols of the Sea of Claws, slaying thousands of warriors destined for the coasts of Nordland and Kislev. It is unsure whether Aislinn and his fleet have returnedto Ulthuan, where they are needed to support the war against the Druchii (Dark Elves) – the terror amongst the Norse tribes that he is still prowling the waves is enough now for the seas to be free of their longships. How long the fear remains cannot be judged, and perhaps as soon as the next summer, the Dragonships and Hawkshipsof Ulthuan will be sorely missed.

Dwarfs

 * Even as Slayer King Ungrim heard the great gates of Karak Kadrin slamming shut once more, he was broughtnews of the death of his son, Garagrim. It was too much to bear, and through the ancestral debt to his peoplehad been lifted, Ungrim once more renewed his Slayer oath, to avenge his fallen son and to atone for his defeat. It was a bitter king that brooded upon the dragonbone throne of Karak Kadrin that night.

Wood Elves

 * As the winds grow chill and the first fingers of autumn grip parts of Athel Loren, Orion begins to weary of the  hunt. He has retreated to the Great Hall to feast and celebrate his great victories of the summer, his exploits now retold in the songs and dances of his subjects. Winter comes soon and the Time of Dying, and before the  cold touch of snow falls upon the mystical forest of Athel Loren, Ariel bends her will to healing the lands despoiled by the Beastmen. The forest itself has claimed many victims, the blood and flesh of fallen mutants nourishing the magically-charged soil of Athel Loren. The haunting melodies of the Dryads and the bass rumblings of the Treemen echo through the boles of the trees, singing of the long depredations suffered at thehands of the kin of Morghur and the joy of victory


 * But in the shadows, a few twisted beasts still lurk, fearful of the woods and the shadowy warriors within, but with  ancient hatred burning in their hearts. Vanquished, cowed by the fury of the Wood Elves, they slink through the  guardian stones, taking out their petty anger on villagers and livestock, retreating back to the Vaults and the  Forest of Chalons. It will be a while before the fires burn bright at the herdstones again, for there are hundreds  of warbands that will no longer fight, dozens of shamans who will no longer bring the blessings of the gods. But  Morghur still remains, and while he lives, the Beasts will forever turn their jealous eye towards the enchanted  realm of Athel Loren.

Skaven

 * The Fall of Miragliano. A massive Skaven force from the Blighted Marshes crushes the defending mercenary army and sacks the city of Miragliano. The disgraced former Imperial Count Leopold von Stroheim - once an aspirant to the lordship of the fledgling province of Neuland on the island of Albion - led the remnants of thedefeated force through the Blighted Marshes until cornered and destroyed by a force led by Warlord Quickpaw and Grey Seer Squelch.


 * Skaven are already plotting new attacks against the weakened Empire.

Greenskins

 * Greenskin hordes are on the move. Many tribes from the World Edge Mountains and in the Border Kingdoms and Badlands will cause much trouble in the near future attacking southern and eastern provinces of the Empire, Dwarf Holds and Border Kingdoms.

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 - 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.