"It was not meant to end. I would become immortal, at the right hand of the Lord of Decay... When the armies come south, who will pave the way for them if not I? I bargained my soul for Grandfather Nurgle's protection, but now I have failed him. The rot consumes me... I have..."
- —Otto von Gruber's last words, before rotting into nothing.[1]
Otto von Gruber was the Elector Count of Ostermark in the immediate aftermath of the Great War against Chaos, but despite his prestigious title he was in fact a chaos cultist, having sworn his service to Nurgle in return for the god saving his life from a deadly canker.[1]
He was aided in his decisions by his loyal advisor and former duellist, Andros.[1a]
History[]
Otto von Gruber was once a mere noble of Ostermark, but was struck down by a canker that threatened to end his ambitions and plans. Swearing service to the Lord of Decay, Gruber was spared from this ignoble end, but evidence of his dark covenant remained.[1]
In order to hide his own misdeeds and dark loyalties, he foisted accusations against the patriarch of the von Kessel family, the then-Elector Count of Ostermark, and fabricated evidence to support his claim. He used his newfound position of power to claim the title of Elector Count of Ostermark for himself, and put both the von Kessel patriarch and his son, Albrecht von Kessel, to the sword, claiming ownership of their lands and titles. The only one spared from Gruber's malignant plot was the infant grandson of the von Kessel line, Stefan.[1]
In order to shame the von Kessels further, he had young Stefan's face branded with the Mark of Chaos, so that all would believe the von Kessel line to be corrupt. Gruber tried to make a Warrior Priest of Sigmar by the name of Brother Gunther perform the branding, but Gunther refused, believing that even if the adult von Kessels were guilty, no child should be punished for their parent's crimes. Following this refusal to the Count, Gunther took it upon himself to more closely investigate Gruber himself, something which earned him the ire of the Count, who tried to have Gunther silenced, but to no avail. It would be many years before Gunther would find a lead, however.[1]
In the meantime, Stefan von Kessel grew up and rose to the rank of Captain in the Empire's armies, and following the Great War against Chaos, he would end up discovering Gruber's plot and past misdeeds thanks to Gunther's aid, and together they marched with Stefan's forces to end this threat to the Empire.[1]
Tracking down the Count, who had been planning an attack against the Empire with the aid of Chaos Marauders and Daemons, Stefan von Kessel assaulted the fortress in which Gruber hid. The Nurgle-worshippers were overwhelmed and the Count was cut down by the vengeful Stefan, who took back his ancestral Runefang, so that it could be put to good use once more.[1]
Having failed Nurgle, Gruber's last moments were spent in agony as the rot spread through his body, devouring it from within. Stefan ordered Gruber's body burnt, and for the ashes of the traitor to be sent to Emperor Magnus as a gift.[1]
Source[]
- 1: Mark of Chaos (Novel) by Anthony Reynolds
- 1a: Ch. 4
- 2: Warhammer: Mark of Chaos (PC Game)