"I don’t believe any of this nonsense. Why, these woods are as safe as my estate in Altdorf, filled with Sigmar's bounty. The closest thing you'll find to a Beastman in these parts is a randy buck."
- —Trubert, formerly of Altdorf[2a]
Map of the Reikwald in the 26th century IC.
Reikwald Forest is the largest forest within the Imperial Electoral Province of Reikland, being a haven for desperadoes, cut-throats, criminals, and all manner of ne'er-do-wells. Lying between the River Reik and the Grey Mountains, it is through this forest that the main road that links Bretonnia and the Empire of Man runs, and those who pass along it must bring plenty of protection, for their every step will be dogged by bandits and brigands. The road crosses the Grey Mountains over Axe Bite Pass, and those who emerge from the forest are very often poorer than when they entered it.[1a]
At the mouth of Axe Bite Pass is the Imperial fortress of Helmgart, a massive tower that rises from the mountainside and whose battlements overlook the narrow path below. Invading armies favour Axe Bite Pass for crossing the Grey Mountains and this region of the Empire has seen many bitter battles as the armies of Reikland fight off their many enemies.[1a]
The Beastmen in Reikwald are especially virile, and for some unknown reason reproduce at a far faster rate than the warherds of other regions. Indeed, the forests echo to disturbing calls, mingled with the cries of those foolish enough to intrude upon the Beastmen's realm. The woodlands are, in places, teeming with Beastmen and each herd must compete with the next for domination of the hunting grounds. The Ungors in particular are especially numerous, so much so that there exist entire tribes of these smaller Beastmen.[3a]
These tribes contain a great many Turnskins; Beastmen born as Humans who mutated into Beastmen later in life and were driven out of their own societies to flee to the woodlands. Although such peculiar creatures would have little chance of attaining a position of strength amongst the Gors, they often come to dominate tribes of Ungors, leading them in endless, bitter wars against the Humans that cast them out. The population of a town overrun by Ungors will be put to death in the most horrifying manner possible, the inhuman creatures inflicting ever more severe tortures upon the flesh of their enemies.[3a]