A/N: I do not own anything belonging to Warhammer 40k, Warhammer Fantasy, in addition I don't own anything pertaining to Girls und Panzer, I do own the plot and a good portion of the characters though. Also remember ladies and gents keep me honest in the stories and point out in story inconsistences and I'll try to fix it to the best of my ability. Well folks as the orcs say 'ere we go!
Also I do not own Delia, she belongs to SilverSnowVixenAiko. Thank you for allowing me to use her in this story.
Remember folks, if you want to create a story in the setting of WAO get in touch with me and I'll be more than welcomed to work with you. Just PM me and we can work out a deal on a fan made WAO story! I don't want to be the only left to create new material when you folks can be spured on to make your own takes. Depending on how well the story is I'll even include it into the canon of WAO.
/
To describe the Empire on September 7th 2023 was to describe a chess board larger than Germany. The board was not set up with flat squares, but rather territories that ran from Arid planes in the south, to snow capped mountains in the north, the temperate forests in the center of the Empire and the marshlands in the west. These territories were under control of various factions, some wanted to rule, some wanted to be left alone others just wanted to succeed. But as it was with chess broads there were two players and with them there chess pieces. These pieces had names, they had lives and for most they did not know they were pieces. They knew they were in the game though. Even the leaders of these two factions, who thought themselves to be the masters, were little more than pieces in a grand game….
/
White King, Queen, White Kings Bishop and Rook.
Averheim- Early Morning
He was the first count, the first one to earn the title, the first count to own a Rune Fang. Kiabou sat upon his throne in the count's palace, his Rune Fang sheathed next to his throne. Seated before him were three of the most powerful men in Averland besides himself. He had the power to exile these men, to put prices on their heads, even to call in the guards to have them executed, or mobilize the state army to destroy any of their loyal forces. But he needed these men, he needed their skills and their forces if he was going to live and continue to enjoy his life.
Kirk was his chief of staff and the overall commander of Averland's armies, second only to Kiabou in title and was in charge of the skaven. After Kirk came the field commander of the PLA, Major General Tavington. Tavington was in his late twenties and a Brit with long black hair done up into a pony tail with a pair of green eyes. He had shown aptitude when he organized the PLA retreat from the west, then facing raiders from beastmen and the other Imperial States. These two men had a combined total of 5,500 players and over 180,000 bots under their command.
Finally there was the massive orc Big Boss Fethof. He was the leader of the Greenskin's who fought for the PLA. He had under his command, 50,000 greenskins bots.
Kiabou then spoke." Let's keep this short. I don't like staying away from the sluts for long." He then opened his menu and a small vile appeared in his hand as he said." The karma slider for Averland is almost at the other side. A few more days and my armies will be able to freely move against the pricks in the west."
The Elector Count of Averland then poured a line of purple powder onto the table and drew his Runefang. He then used the ancient and sacred blade to separate the powder into smaller lines. As he did so Kirk spoke." My contacts in Tilea have the mercenaries all lined up. Another hundred thousand pikemen ready to be purchased as soon as Averland crosses into the red. They will be able to march up to Nuln in 6 days when the time comes."
Kiabou then asked." The Marianburgers?" He then snorted the line of weird root as he heard his answer.
Tavington answered Kiabou." General Henniker has told me that his armies are ready to march on Altdorf at a moment's notice. His armies are mostly human but he does have some units of Lizardmen and some chaos warbands working for him, in addition to a few other surprises."
Kiabou pulled away from his drug of choice and asked." Surprises? What does he mean by that?"
Tavington shrugged." He's keeping that close to his chest. Though I think it has to do with war machines but I can't be certain if it's for land or their fleet."
Fethof then snorted." Where does dat leave da orcs and skavies?" His accent was thick with orcism mannerism.
Kirk answered him as his boss took another hit of the powder." You'll be marching alongside the main army of PLA. When the time comes for you to commit your boyz though be rest assured you won't be the first wave of cannon fodder."
Fethof seemed content with that answer and Kiabou lifted his head up, his eyes were dilated. He talked fast." There ain't anything new going on. The meetings over." He then stood and turned, running towards the door.
Tavington scoffed when Kiabou was gone." So we have a druggie as a leader, how wonderful."
Fethof then spoke clearly." He's the head of the state in name only. At least we can with him go we can speak like civilized people and do a real meeting."
Kirk added." Once we have Nuln we won't have a use for Kibaou. Till then we need his 50,000 bots and the few 40k weapons he has in the armory."
The other two grunted. Soon they would be free of their leader and soon afterwards free of WAO.
/
Black King, Black King's Bishop and Black King's Knight.
Altdorf- Morning
In the Reikland a similar meeting to that taking place in Averland, was playing itself out with three of the most powerful men in the principality. They were the Reiksguard headquarters in the southern portion of the city near the Imperial Palace. In the room was Field Marshal Steve commander and chief of the Imperial Army (IA) was standing by a window overlooking the city, he was armored in meteoric half plate and what parts of his uniform that was visible was the off white of the Altdorf bot's uniforms. Major General Eugene on the other hand had a crimson uniform under his black cuirass and large pauldrons which a space marine would have been proud of and he was sitting on a chair with his heavy boots on the wooden table. Both wore a dragon skin cloak.
Finally there was the recently arrived Mortimer, the doors closing behind him as he walked into the room. Mortimer was wearing the red and blue robes of a lector of Sigmar under his heavy armor. He had as weapons a shield, across his back and at his side a one handed war hammer. He said to the his fellow cohorts." I've got good news. The steam tank from Middenheim has arrived."
"And how much bad news have you got?" Steve asked as he turned towards Mortimer. Eugene sneaked at the poor quip.
"The bad news is that It's crew needs to be trained up. The tanker's apparently have plenty of experience with cannons and close in fighting, but not so much on how to properly maintain machines." Mortimer finished as he sat next to the table.
Steve joined him less than a moment later and he spoke." I think that Nuln needs to be re-enforced. Our contacts in Averland say that the PLA is about to finally hit the end of the karma bar. Once they hit it then they can over run Nuln in a couple of days."
Eugene and Mortimer, if they were still living their old lives of a business manager and a football coach, could of argued against Steve. After 9 months of leading armies, being taught by military historians and applying those lessons in their pseudo real life, they were inclined to agree with Steve. Nuln was the closet major city to Altdorf besides Marianburg and offered the single safe route that their army could use, without the harassment of the beastmen in the woods. It also allowed Bretonnians to easily pass into the Empire over some passes. They weren't in the war officially yet, but that didn't mean there wasn't volunteer battalions in Marianburg.
That was a point that was a problem though, Marianburg was closer to Altdorf with no serious obstacles in the way over Nuln. There was the army from Middenheim which could match the Marianburgers if they were fighting alone. But money from the trade hub of the old world had been able to hire on at least a thousand players to act as mercenaries. The complete combined armies of Altdorf and Middenheim could defeat the Marianburgers in the field, but then that would leave the south relatively undefended. It was a game of balance at this point, one which all three were playing against the PLA and each other.
Eugene spoke next." I agree. But which one of us should leave and who should stay?"
Steve then said, while looking at Eugene." I would say you." He then lifted up his hand before Mortimer could protest." It's because your good on the defense and the counter attack. I'm decent at leading during a pitched battle, which when it comes to blows with Marianburg I think we can say that is going to be fairly important. Finally Mortimer here can call on a few thousand flagellants to lead a counter attack if one of us falls."
Mortimer added after thinking up an answer." I also have the power of the Heldenhammer. Plus if you both fall then there really isn't anything I could do about it." Then he added silently.' And who ever survives and is victorious becomes the Prince of Reikland.'
There was another war of politics and popularity in the trio. Each of them was set to change the course of the Empire depending on one vote, the vote of an Elector. Should an empire player get the rare and prestigious power of an Elector they could vote for the next Emperor of the Empire. The Emperor then would have the full resources of the Empire under its control instead of just one province or a religious order. A man could take the power of an Elector, but at the same time unless he had the backing of people to watch over him he could soon find a dagger in his back.
Mortimer had achieved the rank of Lector of Sigmar, which gave him a vote, but removed himself from the running to become the Emperor. Yet at the same time if he was able to complete the right quests before any rivals for lectors came along to challenge him, he could take the position of Arch-Lector. If he became the Arch-Lector that would make him more or less making him a pope… which he found hilarious because he was atheist in the real world.
Kiabou had taken a similar route in becoming an elector count, though he had used the lives of several hundred of his followers to become an elector count when the quest became available. He had both the soldiers and treasury of an entire state at his disposal. He did not have the powers to declare war against another state of the Empire, not so long as he was part of it. But when his state reached the end of the karma meter….
Eugene added his opinion. "That leaves a problem. Thinker's is going to hate having me show up. He has been spending a lot of time and silver on assuring his people that Nuln can stand on it's own. When my army shows up at the gates I'm not sure if he is going to let us pass through them, he has his pride after all. Yes his generals could force him to open the gates but then we will be dealing with a populace not welcoming to the re-enforcements. We don't want to deal with a uprising that Thinker lead last year."
Steve stroked his goatee in thought. He then said." A good offense is a good defense and I have a plan to put it in motion for a good ofense."
/
White Queens Knight, White Queens Rook and Pawn.
Marianburg- Late Morning
Rosalina's 28-gun brig The Titans Hand was on patrol on the River Reik. She and her crew were not sailors that belonged to the Marianburgers military, but were privateers. This was a recent upgrade from their previous distinction of being pirates. The pay was steady and they had a port of protection from anti-pirate guilds and other pirates. But at the same time it did not pay as good as taking cargo laden ships from players for a great payday. Now they had rules that if they took a ship the cargo went first to the Marianburgers and then her crew were paid a quarter of it's value. That was when they were lucky to go pirating instead of patrolling the waters around Marianburg.
For the past month they had been hired on to act as mercenaries and to work alongside others who were hired to fight for Marianburg. In the city there were representatives from all the factions in the Warhammer World. Outside of Imperial state troops the second largest faction were the Chaos Warriors with three hundred players, then came the Elves with a couple hundred players a piece, there were something around seventy dwarfs and then there was a small guild's worth of forty lizardmen.
As her ship sailed down the river it passed by a camp that made her skin crawl. The Dixie Boys were not allowed in the city, not ever since a few incidents when they first showed up. There were five hundred Bretonnian players on the river banks. Her pirate guild were killers but they didn't do anywhere near half the things the Dixie Boys had done in their own country. All of the knights and their servants had variations of grey tunics and talberds. They then had flags, heraldry and designs on their shields and clothes which was a blue cross on a red field. On the blue cross were 10 stars and to either side was a sword and a collar. Some of the worst dredge to make their way into WAO had joined Brettonnia when it first started and now they were on the same side as her.
She turned her eyes away from the camp and sighed. She had a pair of passengers to deal with that were representatives of Bretonnia and the Lizardmen. The Bretonnian was named Duke Philip and was thankfully not part of the Dixie Boys, but rather part of 'King' Giles court. Rosalina didn't trust the Quebecois as far as she could throw him full armored up an with two cannon balls tied around his legs. But she had to work with him. The other representative was a stink lizardgirl called Chica, she was a Terradon rider and had bright blue scales covering her body. Roslina trusted her somewhat more than the Bretonnian if by the virtue that she was just a mercenary and not a war criminal like Philip probably was.
Philip stood at the bow of the ship observing the shore as they went down the river. He was a commander in the Bretonnian forces; his forte was ground selection for the coming campaign down to Altdorf. Chica had the same mission but with her razorback she could observe a larger amount of territory while being safe from gun and cannon fire. She was in the crows nest with her razor back, in another 15 kilometers she would be flying off to reconnaissance further down the Reik.
Rosalina welcomed her services, especially if there were any Altdorfian vessels who were making scout trips. If they were smaller than her ship she could have a find pay day. Anything larger and she would turn her ship around and go back to Marianburg. So it was that she and her crew sailed down the river.
/
Black Queens's Knight and two pawns.
Altdorf- Late Morning
Ulrics Fist, a Conquer class Steam Tank, made its way to the engineers barracks west of Altdorf on a cobbled road. The metal rimmed wheels clanked and clinkered against the pavement as the tank drove to its destination. In the cupola it's commander guided the driver to make sure she didn't hit anything by accident.
Kazumi Orai was the tank commander and technically the owner of the metal monstrosity and just 16 years old. Kazumi stood at 154CM tall and had short brown hair and eyes, with short bangs framing her face. Her driver was Michele Wittmann, a German girl in her late teens. She stood at 165CM with blue eyes and had long blonde hair done in a braid. Michele was in the belly of the tank driving it with levels, much like a tractor from the 1930's or earlier would have been set up. Both girls wore a blue tunics and medium length utility skirts, that were trimmed in white and red. For some protection while dealing with the tank they wore thick leather gloves and covering their eyes were brass goggles.
Because of the loud sounds that the steamtank generated, especially since the tanks engine was right behind Michele's head, verbal communication was nearly impossible between the commander and driver. Instead Kazumi would tap Michele's right or left shoulder with her foot to indicate which direction she should be driving the tank. Michele could drive the tank alone with a narrow vision slit but at the same time this method was much easier.
Kazumi directed Michele to the left on a new road, that lead directly to the barracks. This road was dirt and bumpy, which given there was no suspension on the tank, was quite difficult on the buttocks. Thankfully the road was only a few hundred yards from the barracks and it was short drive.
The barracks were a series of cabins with large shacks attached to them which housed that crew's or that particular engineers war machines. In addition to the shacks were a trio of stables across a path from the war machines, these housed beasts of burden to transport the guns. Finally at the end of the path were three barns with a small cabin attached to each one. On each of the barn doors was a crest belonging to each starting city under Imperial Army control. In front of the building with the Middenheim crest, a fortress in white on a blue field, were four girls in similar clothing to Kazumi and Michele.
Kazumi waved at them and three out of the four waved back, saved for a little blonde girl. Kazumi tapped both shoulders of Michele and knocked on the metal above her head. A signal to stop. Michele then came to a halt about five meters from the other girls. Kazumi was the first out of the tank as Michele turned it off, expelling the remaining steam within the vehicle which caused a very loud whistle to be heard. Most players who heard it the first time would of jumped at the sound, the Middenheimers certainly did so when they unlocked the tank last week. The other tanker girls though had no reaction to it.
They walked forward and one of the girls, a tall strawberry blonde girl with green eyes in her early twenties extender her hand." Hi there I'm Sandy Pully. I'm the commander of the Altdorf tank Fury and the armored company. This is my driver Ericka." Sandy spoke with an American accent. Ericka smiled and clicked her heels together." Hallo, I'm Ericka Eckhart. I hope the journey from Middenheim wasn't that bad?" She was also blonde but her hair was a crew cut style and she spoke with a German accent.
Kazumi said." Other than a few mechanical failures and the dirt roads, it wasn't that bad." Michele then landed on the ground and Kazumi continued." Oh I'm Kazumi Orai and this is Michele Wittmann."
A black haired woman in her early twenties with medium long black hair then spoke with a British accent." Good to meet you Kazumi. I'm Tammy Atkins of the Lions Roar and my driver is-."
This time the youngest girl, who couldn't be more than 13 and a blonde page boy's hair cut then spoke up." I'm Katyusha Ivonovich and how you ever got more than a mile without your tank blowing up I don't know." She said in a strong Russian accent.
Kazumi rubbed the back of her head." Uh yeah. We kinda ran into that problem when tried running the tank for the first time. We didn't understand how to blow the steam valves when there was to much pressure built up and almost lost the tank. Actually we need your help on understanding how to maintain the boiler."
"That doesn't excuse why your nearly an hour late." Katyusha added irritably.
Michele answered the Russian pistol." We haven't eaten since yesterday so we stopped in Altdorf to get a breakfast and see the Imperial Fleet." What a sight it was from the waterfront restaurant. There were over two dozen ships which ranged from cogs, to brigs and frigates and the massive 196 gun flagship. It was a welcomed sight over the tight confines of the tank.
Before the little Russian could go off on another tangent Sandy pressed her hand down on the girls head and said." We'll give you the in's and out of tankery soon enough. Till then I welcome you to Imperial Army Armored Company, or as the boys like to call us The Gun Bunnies."
/
White King's Knight
Averheim- Noon
"Aaaannnnddddd." Jeremy pulled the trigger on the pistol which resounded with a loud boom in the tavern. The shot hit the tankard balanced on top of one of his mates head and knocked it off." Boomshacklaka!" The rest of his buddies slapped his armored back. Jeremy then downed a tankard of beer and sheathed his pistol. Jeremy was an older player in his mid 30's with long black hair done up in a pony tail, he was slim in build and had a rougish saber scar across his left cheek.
Jeremy and his band of soldiers were pistoliers in service to the PLA. It was a job that he loved as did his mates. They could ride, they could scout and have freedom on some quests. Not as much as the knights but they still could take a lot more leave than the infantry.
There was also a bit of highwaymen in each of the pistoliers. As evidence by their lack of caution in running up close to an enemy and preforming ride byes. The little game that they were playing was safe for them to preform because of the fact they were in their home city. Friendly fire was no more than a blow that could easily be shrugged off here. In the field though that was a different story.
Jeremy and his squad of Pistoliers were on a short leave for the day after patrolling to the south east by the dwarfen realms. A boring task but at the same time a safe one since the dwarfs didn't have a practically big bone to pick with Averland. Some traitors had left the PLA and made friends with a dwarf city, but they were of little concern.
Jeremy was eyeing up some fine NPC wenches booty when he heard a ding of a message in his inbox. He sighed and put his tankard down to open his menu. He saw the message was from the colonel, his commander and proceeded to open it. The message was short and to the point.' You and your squad are to meet with Colonel David in Gellenfeild by sun set. You'll be his scouts until further notice.'
The pistolier snorted and flicked the message away. He then open his inventory for a map and quickly found Gellanfeild. It was thirty miles to the East and on a paved road. The journey would take about three hours, which given it was already afternoon…." Damn." He said.
'The boy's aren't going to like this.' He thought before putting the map away. Jeremy then spoke." Last call boys, leave's been canceled. We're going north."
/
Black Kings Rook
Nuln- Afternoon
A mile East-South East of Nuln there was a series of three hills turned into entrenchments and a training grounds for Imperial Army South (IAS) called Britenfield. The northern and largest hill was Hualt's Dike, south of that was Crow's Levee and just south of that was Ashers Levee. Linking the three hills was a narrow gauge railway with two small engines running back and forth along the hills. The rail lines was also large enough for the grand mortars and great cannons to be rolled onto the track and pulled along. The main purpose of the rail lines though was to shepherd men and supplies to and from the city of Nuln.
On Hualt's Dike, most of the few men and the boys of the 1st Imperial Horse Artillery of the Brunswick Corps practiced melee under the midday sun. The regiment was made up of twenty people, of which only half made up the actual artillerymen. The others were a mix of engineers, guards and horsemen to drive the specially limbered guns. They were armed with cutlasses and had light leather armor when they went to battle. The regiment of artillerists fenced with each other under the tutelage of their Colonel Michal Ikari and Major Euan.
Michael Ikari was 15, he was Irish by birth and half Japanese on from his father side. With a blending of his father's eyes, height and black hair and mother's Irish looks. He wore the black uniform of Nuln, which consisted of a pair of trousers, a white shirt and a jacket with two lines of silver buttons along with a pair of crossed white cannons on his collar to show his specialty. To donate his position as a commander he wore a bi-corner hat.
Euan was a year older than Michael and a good half foot taller at around six feet tall. He had a similar uniform to his colonel, but instead wore the Tarelton style helmets that most of the regiment wore. The helmet was a leather one with a metal ridge running from forehead to the back of the head. There was a short black horse hair Mohawk that ran on the ridge of the helmet. He was a full Scotsman, though in the last year of high school along with another member of the Regiment. His face was long and his hair was black. He was fencing with a gunner.
The gunner was the youngest member of the regiment at thirteen and it's youngest NCO. Lance Corporal Like's Gaming was a Dane who was living in Germany with his parents when WAO came out. He stood at around five two, with a pudgy face and had bright, curly auburn hair. He was doing his best to throw off Euan with insults and using the trick to 'spin to win'.
" Turn around you Scottish bastard!" He giggled and then ran behind Euan to hit him from behind. Euan countered by running behind Like's Gaming to repeat the same tactic.
Off to the side next to the pair, Lieutenant Colonel Jack, defeated his sparing partner. He Looked over to Euan, his classmate and Gaming, then proceeded to face palm." Oh god what the hell are you two doing?" He asked in his almost English accent. He was a classmate of Euan, but that is where the similarities ended. He was several inches shorter and had a more rounded face with a pair of green eyes and light brown hair with the beginnings of a scraggily beard under his chin.
"Trying to catch this Danish son of a bitch." Euan said in his thickly accented voice.
Gaming then laughed." You can't catch me." He then was able to cut the cloth on Euan's back, careful not to actually strike him.
Jack then looked at Michael and said." That is so retarded… are you going to let this go on?"
Michael shrugged." They are getting result's. And it would confuse the enemy when unleased on them."
" Not to mention it's the most hilarious game of grab ass I've seen all day." This came from under a nearby great cannon and was unlike the other voices in the regiment. This one was an American accent, though of Mid-Atlantic origin.
Michael walked up to the cannon and tapped his foot on the packed earth. "Color Sergeant Oak, why are you not training with the rest of men?" He asked the man under the cannon.
Color Sergeant Oak pulled himself from under the limber and then stood to his full height of six feet three inches and half that broad, he was also the oldest man in the regiment at twenty four. He was handsome with a strong jaw, with short light brown hair and thick muttonchops. His eyes were a sky blue and deep set. He wore the same style uniform as the other men in his regiment, but instead wore a shako with a silver horn on it and green braid. He also was armed with a heavy cavalry saber over the cutlass that the rest of the regiment had.
" Just having a rest till arty practice is up and running sir. At that point I'll be working just as hard as any of you gents." He spoke with a smirk.
The right side of Michael's face twitched when he heard Oak speak." And what do you think about when the enemy over run our gunnery position and you have to rely on that sword of yours?"
Oak tapped the hilt of his sword." Oh well I don't expect to be around when that happens. I'll probably be waiting behind the arty guard's till they clear out the position, then I'll be shooting as usual."
"And let your comrades die?" Michael asked, his fists clenching.
Oak smiled sheepishly." Welp my skills are not really suited to close combat over arty."
Ikari then smirked evilly." Then as your commander I order you to show me how well of a bad fighter you are. Euan, fence him."
Euan then walked towards Oak, his sword drawn." Aye. Let's see what ya can do Oak."
Oak then sighed and drew his own sword and advanced." Sorry I gotta do this buddy."
"Eh, why you say that?" Euan then lunged with his cutlass.
Oak dodged to the left and grabbed Euan's left wrist and then punched him with his hand guard on his saber. That stunned Euan for a moment and Oak followed up by kicking out his knees and sending him to the ground. Oak then pressed his boot to Euan's blade, pinning it to the ground. This took less than five seconds to send the major to the earth.
As Euan was on the ground recovering, Oak said." And that's why I said sorry."
Michael clapped his hands." Well you've proven yourself wrong Color Sergeant."
Oak let off the sword and leaned against the great cannon's wheel, resting his saber against the spoke." I said I don't have any skill, I didn't use any skill when I flatten Euan. No offence sir." He nodded to the Scotsman.
Euan shot his free hand up into the air, a thumb sticking up." Perfectly alright mate!"
Michael then gave a single chuckle." Teh. Well then, in that case I suggest that we move on to Artillery training. Colonel Jack will take the lead, Likes Gaming you'll be gunning and Oak you'll be loading for him. And that will be for the next week at that, since I want him to perfect his artillery skill's since as he has some skill over you."
Oak grunted.' Alright, that I deserve.' He thought.' I don't want to cause any more trouble that makes me lose any time with Delia.'
Oak then set about loading the great cannon 'The Lions Roar'. He set about getting a cloth bound bag of powder and pushed it into the muzzle of the cannon. He got a wooden ram rod and then pushed the powder bag into the base of the cannon. He then looked up and asked Gaming." What round type?"
There were three types of cannon rounds available to use with field gun class of cannon. The field guns were ranging from the smallest being Falcone's, to Sakers, to Demi and Finally the Great Cannons of the Empire. The three types of rounds available to these guns were round, grape and when they were able to unlock it for that particular gun an explosive shell. Likes Gaming said." Round, I want to snipe a scarecrow." Below the heights was a series of low foot hills with scare crows, large round targets and other targets for the arty players to shoot at. These were set up every night by non-combatant members of the Imperial Army.
As Likes Gaming primed the cannon, Oak went the artillery carriage and selected a thirty pound solid round shot from a secured cage. He grunted as he lifted the heavy cannon ball up and took it over to the cannon, then rolled it down the muzzle. He then used the ram rod to force the ball firmly against the powder bag." What are you gunning for?"
"Scare crow at 400 meters. Adjust to the right." Gaming said and Oak gripped the right wheel of the gun and started to move it." Hold it." Likes then went into firing mode and adjusted the cannon by moving his crosshairs up and down. There were some elements of realism in the game when it came to cannons, but at the same time to make it playable for one or two players certain sacrifices had to be made during the building of it. One was making it easier to shoot a cannon over the real life counterparts. Oak stepped a few paces away to allow Like's to fire, the smoke could still obscure eyes in the moments after firing infront of the gun and he would act as spotter.
Likes Gaming then took a moment after his final adjustment and then brought the lighter down on pin hole. There was a brief fizzing as the finer gunpowder was rapidly burnt away, then there was the deep 'boom!' of the powder charge exploding. Oak tracked the heavy cannon ball, it's round shape glinting in the sun light, as Likes Gaming started to roll his gun back into position. The shot was close to it's intended target, but the shot was to high and to the right of the target. The shot bounced and dug up the earth, sending plums of easily tractable smoke.
"Adjust a quarter inch up and a half inch to the left." Oak said to Like Gaming. Then he smiled." I could hit that right off if I was still in the rifles." Oak said and watered the sponge end of his ram rod. Other guns on the hieghts fired at similar targets. The entire ridge becoming covered in smoke as the thunder of the guns resounded and dimmed.
As Oak cleaned the cannon Like's Gaming asked." If you could of hit the ass of a fly at that distance why didn't you stick with the rifles?" The teenager got out a powder bag and put it at the end of the muzzle.
Oak rammed down the power bag and said." Well I didn't like running around in the woods much. I rather like a roof over my head thank you very much."
Like's Gaming then primed the cannon." Any other reason?"
Oak chuckled as he passed by Gaming to get more round shot." The other reason? Bitch's love cannons."
/
White Queens Bishop
Under the Darkwald Forest- Afternoon
Wizzel was a jezzail armed skaven player and sniper of Clan Freaka. He was in his early forties and covered in grey-blonde fur under his ragged green-brown robes and cowl. Around him was a clawing withering, stinking mass of ratmen as they moved through the tunnel. The tunnel was one of many thousands that connected the old world and even a few to Lustria. The tunnels could be dangerous, especially powerful field bosses and other Skaven clans were a problem to be sure of, but this was relatively safe area.
Above him were roots of the trees in the Darkwald. The tunnel was fairly dry and wide enough for a dozen clan rats to walk in formation. Because of the tunnels location most of the mobs that Wizzel and his fellow clan rats face were beastmen and they were easily dealt with a tide a vermin. It was a decent place for his people to level grind because of the ability to quickly slay mobs. Even units of mobs could be quickly dealt with in the narrow confines of the tunnel.
Wizzel was not on a level grind trip this time. He and three of his fellow players were actually hunting for players. Specifically members of the Imperial Army and other players who aided them. It would help sow some confusion behind the enemy lines before the upcoming war. Maybe even pull some resources away from the front lines.
If it made it easier so he could escape this game and get back to his kids he was willing to kill for it. He had done it before and he would do it again, he would deal with the consequences when he left the game. If he got sent to prison for his crimes, he didn't care, so long as he could see and talk to his daughters he could live with himself.
He wasn't the only one in the small hunting squad. There were other players with specialties, one was an assassin in melee, another was a grey seer and then there were two engineers. One was a typical Skaven engineer who had his minion bots carry his myriad of weird inventions. The other was amazingly a melee specialist, but had re-created 3D Maneuver Gear based on the same gadget from Attack on Titan. Wizzel had seen the engineer use the gear to take down a giant and he was suitably impressed by that action.
And so he marched under the roots, to his doom or another step to freedom he didn't care.
/
Black King's Rook Pawn
Late Afternoon
A carriage abled itself south on the highway along the river Reik, just south of Worlitz. The carriage was an NPC operated service for players traveling the Empire, one which they could pay for to allow them rest and not worry about riding a horse. Currently there were four players taking advantage of the service.
Of the four, one of them was already asleep, a male dwarf player who rested against the left side of the carriage. The other three were sharing stories to past the time. An officer of the Reikland had finished telling his tale of patrolling and adventuring on the border of Averland. He was an Indian with the name Sanjay. He in his early thirties with a narrow face which was clean shaven. Sanjay was a lawyer who went to England to study, there he was Introduced to Warhammer Fantasy via table top. He found the game rather interesting but could not afford the miniatures at the time, though he did buy WAO now that he had a disposable income.
He was listening to another passenger finish up on his story. This player was sitting next to the dwarf, pressing up against him with his bulk. The player was a Canadian college student with the name Trace. He was a merchant from Nuln and was telling how he had procured a dragon's hide on an expedition to the chaos wastes.
"… So with the hide divided up between me and Agil, I headed back to Altdorf and sold it to the Kiowask Brothers. That's why the boy's in charge of the city all have those fancy capes and I'm ten thousand gold pieces richer." Tracy finished speaking.
The final passenger spoke, she sat next to Sanjay and was able to see the mountains from her seat." Well I suppose it's my time to share a story." Delia said with a smile.
She was a beastman, but unlike so many others who were cloven hoofed and goat like, she was quite different. First off was that unlike many other beastmen, who wore little more than armor, she was wearing an Empire waist dress (of the Napoleonic era, not of the fantasy world she currently inhabited). Her feet were paw like and covered in fur like the rest of her body. Her legs were long and thick leading up to wide hips. Her rounded bum sat upon her fluffy, purple and white skunk tail. Her dress struggled to contain her large Double-F breasts and they jiggled with each bump on the road. Her face was that an humanized skunk but much softer and cuter on the eyes. Her bright sapphire eyes were framed by her light grey hair.
Delia began to speak to her fellow passengers, her accent placed her from England." I don't have many adventures but there is one from the early days when the game started."
She placed her hands in her lap as she started her story." When the game started I choose to be an Averlander and that was the second biggest mistake in my life. The biggest was choosing to put on the Nerve Gear." Delia tapped the side of her heard for emphasis.
" In the first couple of hour's I saw that a few gangs form up in Averheim and stop any one from getting out of the city. I knew this was going to get bad and I needed to get out, so I came up with a plan. I heard that beastmen were inherently tougher than humans so I did the faction switch to them. I then was forced to change my appearance, so I added the fur, tail and head to my body. So with my new stats I jumped into the River Aver and swam down river. If I still had a human body at that point hypothermia would of taken me after a few minutes, but after ten miles I made it to a small village and made it to an inn to dry off. After that I stop by a shop to get some new clothes. Then I joined with a beastman warband that spawned near Averland."
She then gave a short nervous chuckle." I thought that would be the end of my troubles. I looked after the younger members of the warband, we fought lower level mobs while the older people took care of the higher level enemies. The warband got along with the Averlanders but we kept the kids away from the city and I stayed with them. Then the night of the long horns happened."
Delia shook her head to clear it." I got a message about the betrayal from our leader before the Averlander's destroyed his inn. That inn also had most of the warband in it and I learned later the Averlander's used cannons to destroy it. I took the kids and the few other survivors with me to the North West of Steissen where there was a forest we could hide in. We thought that we could be safe until we could make it across the river Aver. We were of course wrong."
She then sighed." The camp was in a clearing with a bray stone circle and there were three other adults that survived including myself. We took turns between looking after the kids, pickets and rest. That day I was on patrol and I was watching the path leading to the stone circle. It was far from the road, so the only people on it must have been going to the circle. I was on the east side of the path hiding underneath the road in a hole hallowed out a couple of nights before. On the other side of the path was a hill, but we didn't want to set up a watch post there because it was too obvious that a watch post could be set up there, so the others decided to put the watch post where it wasn't going to be. From where I was I could see the path and anything on it because it curved.
I saw the platoon of 10 players, low leveled one's without any bots of their own except for one with a cannon crew and their officer with a unit of 10 handgunners. I was about to open up my menu when I saw a skirmisher emerge from nearby bushes about three yards away. He was close enough that he could hear me if I opened my menu. He wasn't moving on either. Every moment that I waited to open the menu the platoon was getting closer and closer to the circle. If I opened it to early then the Skirmisher would of heard me and my spear would be useless in the hole. While if I opened it to late then my people would have been surrounded and killed off.
As the platoon rolled above me I was about to open my menu, the sound of the footsteps and armor clinking would of covered the sound. That was when I heard the crack of a musket firing. At first I thought the Skirmisher found me and missed, or that one of the kids was found by the patrol. I heard a shout from above me and the skirmisher ran to the side of the path and fire his musket up into the hillside on the other side of the road.
I didn't see the battle that took place above me, but I could hear it. The Averlanders shouted and screamed, but they were overwhelmed with rifle fire. The last of the battle I saw was when the skirmisher ran from the path and a single pursuer chased after him. I saw the pursuer leap over my hiding place and threw his saber at the Skirmisher. That was one of the most stupid things I ever saw. Then the saber actually got the skirmisher in the throat before the pursuer could land."
That got chuckles from the two awake passengers. Delia also shared a smile, though the memory was not entirely pleasant. She then continued." When he landed he went over to the fallen skirmisher and retrieved his saber. He then turned around as he sheathed the sword. He was completely covered in blood, but his dark green uniform hid it except for his face and hands. He proved that he was not on the Averlander's side so I showed myself to him. As it turned out he was a member of the Nuln rebels under Colonel Sharpe, part of the rifles and he was alone."
"And who was this rebel?" Sanjay asked.
Delia smiled genuinely." His name is Oak. He brought the remains of my warherd to the rebels and they protected us. After the Uprising we went our separate ways, he stayed in Nuln and I, along with the children, went to Altdorf. I've been working at the orphanage ever since." 'Though we've been in touch in a verity of ways.' Delia thought for a brief moment of joy and pleasure.
"And that's my story." Delia finished. There was then a jolt and the dwarf awoke.
"Eh story?" He shook his head." I have stories."
"Well miss Delia here has finished up her story. Why don't you tell us your's?" Asked Tracy.
The dwarf grunted." Yeah. I think I will."
/
White Kings Knights Pawn
Gellanfield - Early Evening
Duncan was in his mid-twenties and a sergeant in the PLA. He was 5'10 and had short black hair, his build was somewhat heavy set. He was a halberdier user and armored in marion helmet along with a heavy cuirass.
He was currently standing at attention outside of the town along with the rest of battalion. There were fifty men in the battalion and four regiments. It may seem to be reverse that a battalion would have regiments but that was part of lore of the world. The regiments could be interchanged with companies with their roles not changing.
The first regiment was that of the 27th Halberdiers, it was the largest with fifteen soldiers and over 330 bots, of which Duncan was the second in command of. After the Halberdiers came the 16th Swordsmen with thirteen duelists and 200 bots. Then there was the 22'd Firelocks, with twelve men and over 150 musket armed bots. Then there was the regal a dispatch of The Knights of the Dawn. There were only ten of them but they had 50 full plated mounted bots, a powerful armored fist.
Then there was the three detachments assigned to the battalion. The first had been around the battalion for the past two months, an artillery section of two sakers commanded by four artillerists from the 3'd artillery regiment. They were reliable and Duncan liked them after serving in a few battles with them. Then came up the quarterstaff corps, they took care of the equipment, food and other odds and ends. They were welcomed. It was the newbies that he was concerned with.
They had arrived not even an hour ago. They were only eight pistoliers but had over a hundred bots along with them. As soon as their commander had gone to Colonel David the rest of the players went to the tavern to continue a party they were having before they left to join the battalion. They didn't even make an effort to socialize with the other soldiers in the battalion.
They were lined up now along with the rest of the men. Lined up though was too strong of a term, the pistoliers were just hanging onto their horses as they sat upon their mounts. The only one not having any trouble with his balance was their commander, who was leaning forward on his horse.
Colonel David stood in full dress plate in front of the nearly thousand men and bots. David was a little younger than Duncan, he had green dyed hair and brown eyes. He was armed with a shield and sword, of which both were sheathed and strapped to his back.
He then spoke aloud to his battalion." Men, tonight we start our march into the Moot. Our mission is to raid, ravish and otherwise pillage the region of all good, food and resources."
That elicited a cheer from the entire battalion. It wasn't often enough that they could let loose like that. They could buy a lot with the loot from such a mission. New clothes, good food and whores were the true payment to the soldiers of the PLA.
/
Black Queens's Rook and four Pawns.
Konrads Watch- Evening
Roshi leaned back in her chair and relaxed with a cup of tea in her hands. Around her was a sea of conversation in the small keep of the highway fort. She and her battalion of dwarfs were on a mission along with players in service to Weiss, along with the old man and his daughter. Most of the players in Weiss's service were former members of Averland, but there were some members from the other city states of the empire. There were 70 human players, along with a few elven mercenaries at the fort, only five remained at the main castle on the border to the east. There was the opposite number of dwarfs under the command of Roshi.
Most of the players were outside in the forts grounds, they were protected from the undead mobs out in the night. Though the ground was cold and night not especially much warmer, it was safe. Safe enough for the expedition to spend the night in the field.
Tomorrow the expedition would leave for a ruined castle to the south and clear it of any undead. Then it was time to expand the power of the dwarfs further into the Empire with their Imperial Protectorates when that castle was rebuilt.
Over all Roshi enjoyed the job of being both a conqueror and a rebuilder. She hadn't fought against a player ever since Zhufbar took over Cragmere and she was glad. Going against a computer program was so much more welcomed than against a human. Both because she preferred fighting a program that was relatively dumb compared to fighting against a thinking being and that she knew that when she buried her axe into a players head she was killing them in the real world.
Work made her turn her mind away from those dark days. Building a line of fortresses and towns into Slyvania was a welcomed reprieve and a rewarding task. She had her friends to help take her mind off of past and she had made good memories with them.
Desiree was at the bar and snuggled under her husband's arm, they were her closet friends out of all the others in this world. After that came Lizbeth and Kirito, who were arguing at a table about materials and the best way to make weapons. They weren't dating but Roshi could slice the tension between those two with a knife. Then there was a certain blonde haired girl sitting at the table with Roshi.
Bertha was a magic user of the lore of life, her forte wasn't in the combat aspect though she did have some spells to use in case she was needed on the front line. She was more of a gardener and a healer, in the re-established towns she used her powers to revitalize the fields or help grow crops. In the field she had saved the life of many a player.
"We'll be going into Stirland soon." Bertha said to Roshi out of the blue.
Roshi looked over to the young girl and shook her head." I doubt it. Slyvania is a big region and your father plans on taking it all." Then a pause." You'll be dealing with undead for a long time Bertha. Not the living players just yet."
Bertha then bit her lip." But we'll have to fight the Averlander's soon. Poppa said he knows he has to fight them eventually, he also said that it will be soon."
Roshi thought before saying." Unless the PLA moves close to Slyvania I still think your father and I won't be fighting the Averlanders. If they do then we'll see about fighting them. But the Averlanders have more problems in the west so they'll move west before they remember your people. By then I'm sure the westerners would of thrashed the PLA so hard they couldn't come after you."
After months and months of planning and listening to the threats Averland posed in the south Roshi understood what could happen. There were plans in her kingdom for what would happen if Averland decided to strike east. If they did they would find the dwarven army of Zhufbar to be a rock that would break the tides of war.
That seemed to placate the girl and she went to drink her own tea. The pair were not a traditional set of friends, due to the age gap between them Roshi was more of a big sister to Bertha. It was a role that Roshi was playing more and more often as she became a leader to her dwarfs. It was something she found uncomfortable especially given her experience with her own elder brothers, every day it got easier. It helped that Roshi put on the funny cockney accent she picked up from TV, it made them both laugh.
The pair then heard the 'thump thump chug' of a gyrocopter above them. The scout had returned.
/
Black Queen, Black Queens Bishop and Pawn.
Hochland, four miles south of Hard Oak citadel- Night
Under the boughs of the forest along the old road was heard the thunder of hooves. A stagecoach cracked and creaked as a team of six horses pulled it along at a thunderous pace. It's driver was a young Skaven scraming 'hey haw!' as he whipped the digital creatures. The single passenger was standing on top of stage to the best of his ability.
The ability to stand on the top of a stage was a hard enough task if it was not for the fact that the passenger was dealing with another set of problems. That set of problems were half a dozen highway men nearing the rear the carriage. There were originally two more highwaymen, but the passenger had dealt with them at a range with his repeater pistol before he climbed on top of the stage. Now he had his blessed hammer of might drawn and ready for the mobs.
"Come on ya bastards!" Adler yelled as bullets whizzed by his head.
Three of the highwaymen pressed their horses on hard. One went to the right of the coach and the other two to the left. Adler drew his long barreled flintlock pistol and unloaded into the face of a one of the highwaymen on the left as he reached out to the top handlebar of the coach. The mob died instantly and fell from the saddle, his horse dragging him by the stirrup into the woods.
On the right the highwayman reached out and Adler struck him in the head, ripping his jaw off. The remaining highwayman then leapt onto the coach's roof as Adler recovered from the other highwayman. Adler then swung his hammer at the bandit on the roof. The highwayman blocked with his saber and then lunged at Adler. The witch hunter blocked down with the haft of his hammer. The highwaymen then turned his saber upside down and pulled the blade away from Adler and slashed upwards.
The slash caught the tip of Adler's chin and cut it. Adler leaned back and the mob then slashed at him. He dodged but had lost his balance. To regain it he reached out for the only thing that was stable, the highwayman. It was at that moment that the carriage hit a bump and sent both Adler and the highwayman over the front driver's seat, just barely missing Rusty. Adler landed on the yoke and the highwayman on a horse. The highwayman stabbed at Adler, who crawled forward on the yoke and then onto another horse ahead on the opposite side of the highway men and then started to fight him with his hammer.
While Adler was dealing with his own Highwayman, Rusty was handling his own set of problems. That problem was dealing with driving the wooden construct and trying to survive the attacks from the mobs. Rusty felt a highwayman leap onto the back of the carriage.' I hate to do this.' Rusty thought and then drew the drivers blunderbuss. The highwayman advanced on Rusty and lifted his cutlass to bring it down on the Skavens head. Rusty twisted and fired the blunderbuss and blasted the highwayman off the carriage. His remaining mounted comrades rode around his corpse.' There goes my only shot.' Rusty thought sourly.
The battle on the horses had moved on to the front pair of horses. Now both man and machine were standing on a horse across from each other. They were fighting with hammer and saber in a duel of balance and death. It was an epic scene, until the coach hit a rock and sent both fighters sailing through the air. The Highwayman let out a Wilhelm Scream as he was stampeded over by the horses and then was finished off by the carriage. Adler was sent under the yoke but not the hooves of the horses, he couldn't pull himself up over the yoke so he started to work his way down the yoke, his coat being dragged under him.
The remaining highwaymen got closer and closer to the carriage. When the one closets to the carriage reached out to climb on it a Minotauress charged out from the forest and knocked him and his horse over. The highwayman was finished when Minotauress crushed his skull under her hoof.
The final highwayman managed to jump onto the carriage and made to rush Rusty. The boy had his dagger out, which glowed with warpstone infused enchantments, ready to defend himself from the attacker. That was until two hands reached around the highwayman's neck and there was a swift twisting motion, the highwaymen's neck snapping.
Adler then threw the body off the stage coach and then took his seat next to Rusty." Slow it down for the pretty lady." Adler said to the young man.
Rusty then pulled back on the reins, slowing the horses down to trot, He looked at the dirt and blood covered Adler and said." You look like crap."
"I just climbed under the stage and saved your life and you notice that I'm a little dirty? And people say I have prioties skewed." Adler said and opened his inventory to retrieve a book on a bounty hunter with no name. He then used his music selector to listen to a tune.
At that Rusty rolled his eyes and guided the horses at a slower pace than the rollicking ride only a few moments ago." I could of handled the mob." Rusty told his guardian.
"Oh no doubt about that." Adler murmured as he flicked the page of the book." I just have your back as much as you have mine. Or would you of preferred for me to use the bound scroll?"
Rusty grunted and from behind the carriage the pair could hear the clinking of heavy armor. Adler turned around and said." Howdy honey. Thank ya kindly for that save."
Tatianna waved him off." I was going to meet you at your castle anyway. I just didn't expect you to bring along company. Care to explain that?" She walked alongside the coach, easily keeping up with her near bestial legs.
Adler chuckled." Funny story that. You see there is a quest back in Hergig where we can act as body guards to the carriage and protect it up the road. Well I wasn't going to let a few extra silver go to waste, especially with the vacation just a few hours away. So I took the job and 8 dead mobs later here we are."
Tatianna shook her head and smiled." You are a greedy capitalist pig. Aren't you the richest man in Hochland so why do you need a few more coins?"
" Well my dear communist cow girl I like a little extra spending money in case I need to donate some coins to the pour. Though in this case I will be using the cash to pay for a trio of holsters and…." He then opened his inventory and selected a package, that was long and thin." This little beauty." He handed it to Tatianna.
She dawwed at the sight." Thank you." She opened the package and saw the gold and diamond necklace." Its beautiful." She looked it over before equipping it.
"There is an enchantment for a ward save and magic resistance on it." Adler said with a smile." Course I do have a few other surprises once we get to Stirland for our vacation."
She raised an eyebrow." Lingerie?" She spoke coyly.
Adler chuckled as Rusty cringed." Eeyup." Adler said. Then in his mind he added.' And one ring.'
/
So it was across the Empire that the pieces made their opening moves. It was with these moves that a player decided to make her own moves. Argo the rat had seen where the chess pieces were going to go and made a choice. The Empire was to go in up flames and she was going to observe the spark in the east.
/
Character Index
Adler, Rufus- Former leader of the Golden Wolves, now a Witch-Hunter and owner of Hochland Forest Community College. Rusty's guardian.
Afendivkov, Tatianna - Minotaur beastmen. One of Recks captains and girlfriend of Adler's.
Atkins, Tammy: British steam tanker.
Argo- Skaven player and master spy
Asuna- High Elf warrioress
Chica- Terradon rider and Lizardman, currently on the Titans Hand.
Cooper- Dark elf player, friend of Rufus in the real world.
Delia- Beastmen player and former Averlander. Currently living in Altdorf where she helps run an orphanage. She is the lover of Oak.
Desiree- A dwarf player married to Kurt and is part of the Zhufbar army.
Eckhart, Ericka- Steam Tanker
Essex , R. 'Rusty' - Young Skaven player. Is currently being looked after by Rufus, a very close friend of his mothers.
Euan- Major of the 1stIHA
Eugene- General from Altdorf and brother of Mortimer
Fethoff- Orc warboss and lieutenant of PLA
Gerry- Krutz right hand man and one of the few that is still sane.
Ikari, Michal- Colonel of the 1stIHA
Ivonovich, Katyusha- Steam Tanker
Jack- The leader of the players of in Middenland and Middenheim.
Jackie- Lieutenant Colonel of the 1stIHA
Jawa- Smiths Sectary and a sorcerer of death
Juro- Goblin Assassin
Kiabou- Elector count of Averland, master of the PLA and all around asshole.
Kirk- Treasurer of the PLA
Kirito- Dark Elf player, now mercenary working for the Zhufbar dwarfs
Klein- Former Averlander now in service to Weiss and a knight.
Kurt- A high elf player and mercenary who is married to Desiree
Krutz- Serial killer and chosen of the chaos gods.
Likes Gaming- Corporal of 1stIHA
Lizbeth- Dwarven smith working for Zhufbar
Mortimer- Lector of Sigmar and brother to Eugene.
Oak- Sergeant Major of the 1st Imperial Horse Artillery, lover of Delia
Okimi- Priest of Ulric and former member of the Golden Wolves.
Orai, Kazumi- Steam tanker from Middenheim
Pavlov-Russian teen. Former member of the golden wolves and now a leader in his own right in Kislev.
Petal, Roshi- British Teenager who's brother won WAO in a raffle. She is now a major in Zhufbar's army.
Pully, Sandra- American Steam Tanker
Tavington- General of the PLA
Thordek- Defacto leader of Zhufbar
Sanjay- Dark Elf crossbowmen turned mercenary
Sanjay- Former lawyer turned officer in the IA.
Silica- Former Averlander, now turned beastman sorceress
Smith, Steve- General of the Empire in Altdorf, friend of Rufus in the real world.
Weiss, Bertha- Daughter of Fredrik and a battle wizard of the lore of light
Weiss, Fredrik- Inner Circle Knight Preceptor, leader of Averland Refugees and father of Bertha.
Wittmann, Michele- Tanker from Middenheim
Wizzel- Skaven assassin