"Gausser is nothing but a pawn of the Laurelorn Elves."
- —A political observer in Ostland[3c]
Grand Baron Theoderic Gausser of Nordland enters combat atop his Griffon.
Theoderic Gausser, Grand Baron of Nordland, Prince of Salzenmund, Lord of Laurelorn, Duke of Marienburg and "Terror of the Norscans[3b]," is the Imperial Elector Count and autocratic ruler of the Grand Province of Nordland, where his power knows no check save tradition and the opinions of his lower nobles and notable advisors, informally expressed[3a].
Gausser is also the nominal and de jure lord of the independent city of Marienburg, from which the ruling burgomeisters have forbidden him to return upon pain of an excruciatingly hideous death since its secession from the Empire. Patriarch of the ancient line of House Gausser, Theoderic is truly the embodiment of his people's warlike nature.[1a][2a][5a]
History[]
"What kind of ruler is he that controls less than half his province?"
- —A Reiklander noble[3c]
Early Life[]
Theoderic Gausser was born in 2458 IC into House Gausser, a displaced noble line whose heads were once the Elector Counts of Nordland, though Nordland at this time had fallen in status to become a vassal state of Middenheim.[13b] From birth, Gausser's mother Ingrid Gausser plotted to restore her son to the throne of Nordland and under her influence, Gausser made himself a popular figure at the Imperial court of Altdorf.[13a]
Gausser himself was far more content on the battlefield than at court. He served under the command of Baron Werner Nikse, the then-lord of Nordland through marriage to the ruling Todbringer line, and eventually rose to the position of Nordmarshal.[13b] Yet, throughout his time of service, Gausser never relinquished the rage that his mother had imparted within him at the denial of his birthright.
Under Gausser's command as Nordmarshal, the Nordland State Army won a great victory in 2502 IC at the Battle of Nordland Fjord. Shortly after his coronation, the new emperor, Karl Franz, decided that his first act would be to march northwards at the head of a mighty Imperial host to reinforce the army of Nordland. Gausser's armies could not know where the Norscans would strike in time to defend their people, but the emperor had brought with him some of the most powerful wizards of the Celestial College, whose members are gifted with the ability to read the future in the heavens.[5b][7a][7b][13b]
The next time the Norscan raiders struck, they were met with fusillades of fire from concealed handgunners and crossbowmen, and their ships were sunk by unerringly accurate cannon fire, Helstorm Rocket Batteries and the powerful arcane storms summoned by the Celestial College's arcane war altars.[5b][7a][7b][13b]
Hundreds of Norscan raiders died without a fight as their heavy hauberks dragged them to the bottom of the sea, and those that survived to reach the shore were met by disciplined ranks of swordsmen, spearmen and halberdiers marching onto the beach. The berserk Norscans were slaughtered without quarter, and the emperor himself led the charge against the final Norscan shieldwall.[5b][7a][7b][13b]
Gausser's most humuliating defeat was suffered in 2506 IC during the Nordlander assault on the Norscan Fjordling tribe, where they were repelled by a trio of brothers called the Glottkin.[13b]
Using his network of alliances, Gausser became a friend of Kurt Helborg and secured multiple allies among the Empire's Great Provinces, to the extent that many believed him to be the true ruler of Nordland even while Baron Nikse still formally held the office of Elector Count.[13a]
Gausser organised (or at least inspired) a rebellion against the rule of Middenheim over Nordland during the Turmoil of 2512.[12b] Due to the intrigues of Gausser's mother, the most powerful Nordlander nobles and the Cult of Sigmar pledged support to Gausser's revolt.[14a] Agents of Gausser fed infomation to the Black Chamber that Baron Nikse's daughter had been a Chaos cultist of Slaanesh -- information provided by renegade members of the Purple Hand.[14b]
A quiet scandal followed in which Altdorf and Ostland exerted pressure to force Boris Todbringer of Middenheim to depose Nikse both as the Grand Baron of Nordland and Prince of Salzenmund. The official reason was an error of legitimacy in the baron's birth, which kept the horrible truth concealed.[14b]
At the same time, Gausser loyalists and large portions of the Nordland State Army rode to Salzenmund, where Gausser claimed Crow Feeder, the Runefang wielded by the Elector Count of Nordland, and proclaimed Nordland an Electoral Province of the Empire once again. Ostland, Averland, Stirland, Ostermark, Talabecland, Wissenland and the two Arch-Lectors of Sigmar supported the restoration of Nordland to the status of an Electoral Province under the rule of Theoderic Gausser, while a seething Boris Todbringer was advised patience by the Ar-Ulric and was compensated by Karl Franz for the loss of Nordland with the reunification of Middenheim and Middenland under his rule.[14b]
Elector Count[]
"As we are aware of Emperor Karl Franz's antagonistic position regarding Marienburg, it should be no surprise to note he ordered Reikland's most recent naval build-up. It seems likely he is looking to build upon his legacy for future generations, and is buoyed up by his victories in the recent incursions from the north. Further, Nordland is a clear threat, for if the reports from Dietershafen and Salzenmund are to be believed, Grand Baron Gausser may be planning nothing less than a full-scale invasion."
- —Pepijn Maijer, Steward of the Palace of Marienburg[4a]
The Elector Count of Nordland, Grand Baron Theoderic Gausser, in combat atop his Griffon.
Gausser came to power during the Turmoil of 2512 in Nordland. His accession to the rank of Elector Count is said to have been controversial, probably due to a dynastic conflict with the Nikses, which forced him to make frequent attempts to consolidate his position. In the Norlander capital city of Salzenmund, he owes a great deal of money to the local burgomeisters, and the rival Nikse dynasty is constantly working against him.[4d]
To the south, House Todbringer of Middenland looks to their former vassal province of Nordland with greedy eyes, and make repeated forays across the Nordland border, all to "hunt Beastmen." Indeed, across the Empire, Nordland is barely seen as an ELectoral Province at all, and many see little difference between a Nordlander and a Norscan. Gausser has always intended to change this.[4d]
His need to enlarge his feudal holdings in order to reinforce his position at home seems to have been a constant thorn in his side, pushing him to cause many a border conflict with his neighbours -- the nobles around Laurelorn Forest have pressured him to demand a renegotiation of the Grand Barony's pact with the local Wood Elves[3c].
At some point before the Slaughter at Volganof in 2515 IC[7b] Gausser struck an unscrupulous border agreement with Vassily von Raukov, heir to the Elector Count of Ostland, the disastrous consequences of which were only averted by the military intervention of Oleg von Raukov, the younger son of Valmir von Raukov[6a], and in 2516 IC, Gausser almost caused a civil war when he hired an army of mercenaries to enact his territorial ambitions against neighbouring Hochland.[3d]
The conflict was only averted when the emperor requested that the Supreme Patriarch of the Colleges of Magic, Balthasar Gelt, intervene on his behalf. Though ostensibly at Salzenmund as the emperor's ambassador, Gelt secretly transmuted the gold earmarked for Gausser's armies and mercenaries into worthless bars of lead.[5c][7c]
The hired swords refused to fight without payment and the looming threat of Imperial civil war was averted. As soon as Gausser discovered what had happened, the enraged Elector Count drew his Runefang and swore he would have Gelt's head, but his murderous ambitions were thwarted, as the supreme patriarch had wisely left Nordland in a hurry on the back of his Pegasus.[5c][7c]
Gausser has also recently revived an old claim to the area of the Northern March of Ostland that lies around Salkalten.[3d]
However, Gausser's most ambitious plan to change his fortune was to invade and annex Marienburg and the Wasteland back into the Empire's fold.[4d] His plans began to take shape in 2512 IC, when the emperor decided to hold discussions with him and Baron Köhler of Dietershafen, which bore fruits more than a decade later -- now Nordland has its own navy, the new Imperial Second Fleet. This new, more modern fleet is operating out of Dietershafen, and while it is not the largest in the Old World, it is well-trained and experienced.[4b] Furthermore, this navy swears to follow Grand Baron Gausser, not Karl Franz.[4c]
Gausser's plan involved drawing Middenlander and Marienburger eyes to Carroburg and its new fleet, and to fan the flames of war between all the parties involved. Then, when they were all blinded by the smoke, he would sweep down into Marienburg with the well-trained Dietershafen fleet and his State Army, and take the city.[4d]
Success would resolve all of Gausser's problems in one fell swoop. Firstly, he would be rich from the spoils of war, so his debts would be as nothing. Next, he would formally take the title of Prince of Marienburg and transfer the Princedom of Salzenmund back to the Nikses, consolidating his power in Nordland by creating a strong ally among his former greatest rivals. Lastly, he would be renowned as the saviour of the Empire, a hero for retaking the errant Wasteland. This would curtail Middenland's ambitions and the emperor would be forced to support his conquest.[4d]
End Times[]
Unfortunately for Gausser, the coming of the End Times was to disrupt all these preparations. In early 2525 IC, a Nurglite Plague Fleet battered through the Asur fleets patrolling south of Norsca and split into three parts -- the largest sailed with the Glottkin along the coast and towards Marienburg, the second, led by Gutrot Spume, headed straight towards the shoreline of Nordland, there to take the Old Dwarf Road south, and the third, at the orders of Orghotts Daemonspew, would sail towards the Gulf of Kislev and smash their way through Erengrad and head towards the city of Talabheim.[9a]
As the Glottkin sacked Marienburg, the second Plague Fleet made landfall upon the shores of Nordland. In the past, this war-torn stretch of beach was fiercely defended by the valiant warriors of Elector Count Theoderic Gausser, but now all of these people had either died defending their lands or fled south towards the Imperial heartlands. As such, the Nurglite landing was unopposed.[9b]
Gausser had taken his forces south to seek refuge in Altdorf, where after Karl Franz's disappearance on the northern border he demanded an audience with Reikmarshal Kurt Helborg and bickered every day with the Elector Counts Alberich Haupt-Anderssen of Talabecland and Emmanuelle von Liebwitz of Wissenland for the position of steward in the emperor's absence.[9c] His final fate during the End Times is unknown.
Total War: Warhammer[]
In the alternate timeline of Total War: Warhammer where the Turmoil of 2512 did not occur, Theoderic Gausser was already present to fulfill his duties as Elector Count of Nordland after the death of Emperor Luitpold I in 2502 IC.[7b] Initially he supported Boris Todbringer of Middenland for emperor, and Todbringer got eight votes in the first round, two votes shy of claiming the crown, with Luitpold's son Karl Franz getting four.[8]
Karl Franz relied on politicking and ploys to tilt Boris' supporters in his favour. He met Theoderic just hours before the second round, but no ploy was needed, as the Grand Baron of Norland asked only that the new emperor's first edict be to repel Norscan raiders from Nordland's coast. In the meantime, Todbringer had not bothered to campaign after the first round, and in the end Karl Franz was crowned unanimously, with even Todbringer voting for him.[8]
Personality and Appearance[]
Portrait of Theoderic Gausser
Theoderic Gausser is an abrasive man, impatient and short-tempered. At the age of 54, he has the restless energy of a man half his age. A decade as Nordmarshal hardened him in battle and he is proud to be a man of action -- far better to strike first than sit pontificating on morality.[13b]
Gausser is most at ease with other warriors, preferring the company of generals and captains to priests and politicians. He has particular respect for Reiksmarshal Helborg and Emperor Karl Franz, who he saw prove themselves in the Battle of Nordland Fjord in 2502 IC.[13b]
Despite his temperament, Gausser is pragmatic. He pays respects to the right cults, speaks warmly to his peers when necessary, and recognises that Nordland cannot recover from centuries under Middenheim's rule without some compromise.[13b]
Gausser is tall and sturdy, with a warrior's bearing, a handsome, lined face, and a grey-blonde beard. In public, he often wears blue-lacquered plate armour, a green cloak, and a gold skullcap helmet -- a constant reminder that he was Nordmarshal. In conversation he stares into the eyes of his interlocutor and rarely gives away any sign of concession.[13b]
Family[]
Theoderic Gausser is married to Countess Malin, the younger sister of Baron Ludolf Köhler of Dietershafen, in a largely loveless, political marriage. He has two adult children. His daughter Lena Gausser is married to a minor Averland noble and is largely absent from Nordland. His son Ostwin Gausser, his heir, lives in the Gausser holdings near Oldenlitz.[13a]
Wargear[]
As the Elector Count of Nordland, Theoderic Gausser had the right to wield the Runefang known as Crow Feeder.[11a]
Sources[]
- 1: Warhammer Armies: The Empire (4th Edition)
- 1a: pg. 16
- 2: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd Edition: Core Rulebook (RPG)
- 2a: pg. 214
- 3: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd Edition: Sigmar's Heirs (RPG)
- 4: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd Edition: Shades of Empire (RPG)
- 5: Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition)
- 6: Warhammer Fantasy Battle: Core Rulebook (8th Edition)
- 6a: pg. 458
- 7: Warhammer Armies: The Empire (8th Edition)
- 8: The Prince of Altdorf (Short Story) by Andy Hall
- 9: The End Times Vol. II: Glottkin (8th Edition)
- 10 Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 1st Edition: The Enemy Within IV - Power Behind the Throne (RPG)
- 10a pg. 10
- 11: White Dwarf 325 (UK)
- 11a: pg. 73
- 12: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Empire in Ruins - Part 5 of the Enemy Within Campaign (RPG)
- 4: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Salzenmund - City of Salt & Silver (RPG)
- 14: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Empire in Ruins Companion (RPG)