Reviews:
Guest 1: Sadly most the Northern provinces had stayed away from this event. Ostermark because they already contributed, Hotchland because reasons, Ostland because their true homeland Kislev is having issues, Nordland because some asshile on a Golden Mask turned their Elector Counts basement full of Gold Bars onto led, and Middenland because Boris Toddbringer thinks that talking rats have some sort of secret society intent on destroying humanity, plus Kazarak Two Eyes is being an annoying bitch so Boris thinks it's going to be funny to carve out one of the Beastmen's eyes and leave him for dead.
Guest 2: And even then based off recent artwork even the "Standard" Night Elf armor is still little more than a Bikini.
Guest 3: And that persecution plays a part of the stupidity i hate in End Times. "Oh necromancy is fine now we don't care, look even Gelt is raising Zombies, go ahead anyone can use that school now." Meanwhile even before the End Times the whole thing of the persecution was just like "oh the Nids ate the Squats". But in honoring the Older lore, and to keep the little bastards from causing too much confusion they'd probably look to stay either in Horde territory or in Iron Forge...of course they'd probably start to earn everyone's ire there but still. and thats if they even move considering that they are defensive of what they know to be theirs.
Guest 4: Well the Demigryph Knights aren't necessarily needed, and honestly while the "elite" are always fun, a decent quality mass deployment troop is always better for forming an army. But between the Colleges and the Empire's gunnery school they can certainly challenge most in Azeroth in this regard, particularly with the Empire having breech loading on their handguns. But of course elites are needed to improve the performance of the other troops or to succeed in particular tasks.
Guest 5: I wouldn't put it that far...they've had tastes of true warfare but it was always cut short because Logistics on their world only seem to apply to the "bad guys" be it Horde, the Burning Legion (whom by lore Logistics and even man power concerns shouldn't exist) or anyone else. those foes then break away from what should have been tactical victories because supply limitations or "evil= crazy, so we don't need to give reasoning to our plot". or the alliance pulls something that based off logistics, even taking magic portals into consideration, shouldn't be possible to field in the absurdly short amount of time that was needed. (IE made and fielded minutes after the suprise attack was launched). If things had remained as "dark" as say WC3, or writers didn't hand wave everything Warcrafts leaders should be skilled veterans and drooling morons like Sourfang wouldn't have ever been allowed near a company command let alone leading armies.
The Alliance and Horde have had to experience aspects of real command in small doses, so they just need to adjust, particularly as Moral will have to finally apply to the Alliance for once and low moral shouldn't just lead to Horde civil war number who bothers counting the Horde's countless civil wars, that happen for no good reason, this time. And while that might seem like I'm shitting on the Alliance...well again this is coming from a guy who thinks Sourfang should be demonized for his willful murdering of his own troops as a tactical analysis of his battles would in most universes lead to his military court martial, possible treason sentencing and subsequent execution for, if not treason, willful and deliberate neglect of duty.
But the strength of the Alliance, should have been (thanks Blizzard for getting hyper lazy and letting your views ruin a good setting) a powerful combination of strengths diverse people's acting via differing but coordinated means towards a unified goal...seriously the Horde is the (roman/historic definition of the word) Dictatorship with a central culture overriding elements of the other cultures within the Horde. Yet the Horde has the most people with actually different views on everything... which is a significant detriment to them considering the civil wars, traitors, and deserters Blizzard has pushed on everyone.
Now that take of the Alliance ironically would come as very appealing to certain elements of Mallus, particularly Marrienburg since they could leverage the Alliance for political power and profit... but between culture gap and well to oversimplify, Anduin. Yeah even then its a HARD sell to convince anyone to give up autonomy for uncertain benefits.
As for Cathay's current goals, well that's still a unknown and has a lot of people on edge. After all 100k soldiers particularly from a state you know can raise more soldiers easily is a terrifying prospect, Just ask Eastern Europe what they thought of the Ottomans.
Guest 6: Sort of a mix of reasons, one is just who the Bretonnian's diplomat is. Etienne Edouard Villechaize, Comte de la Rougierre... is difficult he says he's best combination being a Dwarf of Bretonnian culture...but he's a Dwarf with Bretonnian culture. And then most the Affair is Empire internal and while comparatively Bretonnia is a good neighbor, they and the Empire aren't friends like the Empire and Dawi are...and you can't really say no when Teclis just shows up saying "you're going to do this or the world will explode" sure the Guy's lying, the world will go on...maybe... but you don't want to take that risk...or risk pissing off the most powerful magic caster you know.
JiggyliFAP: Not much i can respond to there, but namely its that the Warhammer Dwarves have their own language and their own words for themselves. But Bretonnia has no real reason to get involved, hell the Wood Elves practically share a border with humanity and they're barely seen more than Asur, meanwhile the Bretonnians not only haven't been approached, but they aren't defending anyone or doing anything that would gain them their "honor".
Dragon King of the West: If it wasn't for the Skaven the Dwarves wouldn't care. Even when it came to Sigmar the Dwarves only helped humanity because of Sigmar's actions when he was younger and the efforts he made to keep up good relations.
But what forebodes you about the village elder?
Hakuryuu: Feels like you did a bit of a stream of consciousness there. But Shamans are open to visions in general, regardless of God or status. and I'm Glad you liked thr Dawi?
DragonANGL: No that pair are based of a popular Japanese story...because you know, when you think of china of course Japanese stuff takes priority...
as for that Hunter i assume you mean Markus Wulfhart, yeah no he existed well before Total War, and my friend actually threw a fit they kept him in Lustria rather in his "rightful place". Many characters in Warhammer Fantasy only had a short time in tabletop or never got their chance...because when it comes to Warhammer Fantasy Table top, GW put about as much investment for it's 30 years of history as Blizzard would put into Shadowlands and BFA, even telling fans to fuck off and just buy another when they called to complain of a sprew defect where half of a model line's parts were missing from the sprew...many people seem to forget when GW treated the fans like dirt and are now somehow suprised that they are calling their own fanbase a bnuch of Nazis. But this means that there are dozens of abandoned and half forgotten realms. characters and races in Warhammer Fantasy that never saw gameplay time, or went decades since their last time having rules or a new model, but had entire book series dedicated to them and their story...and then Warhammer's RP systems just make that worse and add some minor contradictions when it comes to the "theme" such as the Empire's Clockwork angels and clockwork horses.
Jak23: Well if the Night Elves, and Draenei have tought us anything, if it's got a immortal life span/thousands upon thousands year long life...then it has yet to grow the fuck up. And do you blame the Alliance for their savior complex, Blizzard hasn't done ANYTHING to question or reduce their self righteous image as even their worst war criminals are mind controlled, secret infiltrators, or former Alliance who loudly denounced the Alliance or got kicked out.
But my mistake was one born of my only care about the High Elves being how best to cook em. my one friend who played Asur was also a legit Ultramarine fan who for three eds of 40k whenever i complained about my sister's being shat on would with no malicious intent ask "why don't you just suppliment with space marines?" ...the cathartic feeling when SM were just flat inferior to Sisters in every regard and i could use his own line on his felt so good. My other friends were as follows, Warriors of Chaos, Dwarves, Chaos Dwarves to flash how rich he is, Skaven, Orcs, Orcs again, Lizardmen, and indecisive between Dark Elves or Empire...I was Vampire Counts and Skaven, followed by Beastmen right in time for the world to blow up and GW to tell the fans it was the fans fault.
Onix121: Every Warhammer faction is a parody of a historic legend or actual history. So the Empire is based heavily off the HRE, its also to a lesser etent based off the Renesance artists, the Roman Republic, and the Conan books thus why Sigmar has great oiled pecks.
But so the Empire is much like the HRE a "democraticly" elected Emperor, elected by and from a few "Elector Counts" who are in all but name king of their provinces, as well as some representatives from the leading cults. Each Province next has its own ruling body be it a merchent council or "not hapsburgs" royal family, the power of the Emperor is more for foreign matters and matters of mediation between provinces.
OscuroSignore-51: Gonna call yeah out boi, you named people, solo characters even, not regiments.
As for Shandris...I'm pretty sure Felix would be rather impressed with what brand she drank and that was able to stay as close to sober as she did...to WoW fans drinking this who might be all "but we have huge magical alcohol events" that one mug can kill a human with a moderate to low tolerance for alcohol and is known for putting every other race flat on their back with one or two mugs.
There actually were a good number of subterfuge enemies in Warcraft...but then this game called World Of Warcraft had to ruin it all, now I'm not sure if it's because the writers thought that their player base consisted solely of six year olds but my money is on routinely reapplied brain damage to make sure everyone remains in Blizzard's company standards. Thus dragging every foe down significantly and making the height of subtlety in WoW and Kid Buu's stealth as he's screaming and beating his chest DBZ about equal... and what disturbs me is that i think Blizzard legit thinks James Bond is the stealthiest and most subtle mofo in existence.
but if you pull back the the levels of brain death, and self loathing requires to work for Blizzard, and apply the absolute minimum degrees of subtlety and subterfuge needed to continue existing without a Azerotheans murder-hobo auto killing you, the Cult of Twilight in particular are actually extremely impressive considering they even exist in the first place particularly when their main base was a giant fucking spire visible for hundreds to thousands of miles away. but a good number of WoW villains WOULD have had subtle and genius plots, if not for the giant glowing "there are badguys here to murder you hobos" signs...Much like WoW SHOULD have well thought out battles but Blizzards decided brain damage equates leadership material *glares at everyone's "favorite" Ork...at least as of after a particular cutscene* , For a fan of Warfare, Logistics, strategy, etc...yeah WoW takes a lot of elements that would be great for that and that you could build soild progressing stories, and complex class focused narratives...and that hit that with a moron hammer either because Blizzard is too lazy or legit too stupid to ever try that and their only talent lays with mid-quality boss fights and non-narrative related PvP, they seriously have murdered Good battles, and great scenes aplenty by turning them into generic boss rushes where the fate of entire battles hinge on one dude taking on 30 guys by himself as his troops stand by uselessly and were to infer that the battle is taking place in the background... but the whole thing is still determined by tell don't show and 30 players vs a dungeon boss.
Rather than 30 players making a huge difference in the battle has the AI is "upgraded" to use the "super advanced hyper intensive well beyond modern capabilities" 2003 dynasty warriors 4 squads AI... Which then makes it really sad when you realize that that is what GW is aspiring up to and if it wasn't for the Black Library and a handful of very dedicated employees no one here under the age of 47 would even know any of 'that one company that went out of business decades ago', GW's IPs.
But the Alliance in particular, when the world just sort of rewrites itself so even your most blind, self serving actions are somehow automatically the actual height of virtue... yeah why would any Alliance member listen to a outside opinion. Or st least any mid to low ranking Alliance Member who doesn't see the amount of uncertainty and "No you will shut up and listen to the sexy dragon...he's sexy now so that means he's right" that goes into their leaderships decisions. The lower levels of the Alliance always seem so unquestionably sure of their own actions regardless of the consequences that at one point it even, back when Blizzard still figured at least one well writen paragraph of story was worthwhile, that the whole Forsaken Blight was a Alliance members fault.
Not to mention that no matter how i look at unless the Isle of Theramor's walls (you know that cliff face with no houses) was more than 7 times the area that the castle is, then well the "city" of Theramor supported a population of under 50...and Jaina was going to drown a city that with the subterranean bits and unexplored mountain portion could have without much 'Doctor Who bigger on the inside' space folding fuckery supported a population of several thousand, over the bombing of a military castle, her house, a single inn, a blacksmith and two shacks. Even with space folding fuckery inside of Theramor's walls that's still pushing it to achieve a population of 50...which then considering the number of survivors players run into likely 3/5ths of the population survived, and Jaina thought killing thousands in response was good and fans will lay on the alter and allow the priests to rip out their hearts to sacrifice their souls rather than allow me to slander Jaina by pointing out just how absurdly disproportionate her response was, a single Horde town getting killed would have still had more deaths and more military impact than Theramor did. Especially if Alliance manufacturing if as strong as Blizzard claims then Theramor effectively had no impact whatsoever since the named characters survived...particularly sad if you can recall the Theramor of WC3 and how that place took up most the area that the swamps outside of Theramor once took, but apparently Jaina didn't like having neighbors and demolished all that and shipped everyone away so we'd just have her tower and four other buildings as a "city".
But as to Kyn'ra's fall, and the prophecy we shall see what is to come.
But as a lot of individuals show a lot of eagerness, I'll say it here, I'm open to anyone wanting to join in on scribing this epic narrative. Because I've got the overall course, and a wide knowledge of the wants, abilities, etc of many of the particular organizations involved, i don't have the most set in stone plan as I'm letting the characters and the logistics determine the story and I am always a open to working with someone.
micelzod: Unlikely after all her goal is to keep those forces alive, get home, save home. If countering the Skaven threat comes up after that thought process, well we have plenty of Alliance characters to do it, though Shandris might be the one everyone elects to do it, unless Tyrande micromanages it herself.
As for things on Azeroth we have not yet hit the point where we can learn second hand what's going on, as none of my main or secondary POV's are currently on Azeroth or even close to the portals, yet. But it's coming. As for Disease I'm pretty sure post French revolution Famine started to overtake that as the number one cause of death (case and point the Taipong Rebellion), and the worries and statements of focus of the leaders in BFA I'm fairly sure both sides were worried not just about a lack of manpower, but also with food production. Anduin seemed to be trying to balance recruitment needs against leaving his farmer populations alone, and after a whole planetary population just magically got added to Orgrimmar's, there seemed to a bit of a integration and food concern.
Via ad Bellum
Alyzz Kneecord woke screaming. No she returned to the living while screaming, her very soul screaming in agony as it returned to her still living flesh. The Goblin woman sat up naked, panting out of breath and moaning out screams as air and the art of breathing tried to return to her. Then Alyzz recognized that she could see and slowly worked her head from side to side looking about the room as a soft scream barely whispered itself as a constant whine from the Goblin.
Alyzz didn't know why she was screaming, was she afraid? No she hurt, she hurt a lot. Alyzz looked about the dark, overly warm tent where several women of varying ages, several human women wearing Cathayan garbs, sat. After looking about Alyzz then finally noticed other details, about herself and otherwise. Alyzz herself was covered in a multitude of crude bandages, had been treated in a variety of salves and oils, and even had potion bottles laying next to her.
On the other side of the tent, and unmasked for the first time since Alyzz had met her, Zhang Genji lay unconscious but clearly in pain and struggling. Immediately Alyzz tried to move to her, man-servent...no, her friend's side, but collapsed before she could crawl forward two paces. The Goblin tried to reach out for the woman only for an Elderly Cathayan to slap her hand away.
The woman ranted for several moments in the Cathayan language while Alyzz stared on in incomprehension. Alyzz then spoke in a choked, dry voice, "Pl-Please, I dont understand what you're saying. So you, do you understand me." The woman's look of incomprehension told Alyzz more than what she needed to know.
The women went back to treating Zhang, proding with needles, and tossing aside Leeches that rested on the woman's shoulder which seemed to dissolve the moment she tossed them aside. Another women used ointments and poured potions down Zhang's throat, yet whatever progress they were making it was slow and required intense focus and work to achieve.
Focus that was momentarily broken as the flaps to the tent burst open. "Ohhhhhh, what you doin 'ere? Why da screa...Mawwalker!" Before Alyzz could even look back to see who came up she was scooped up into the large meaty arms of Kogkradd Kegeater. The Ogre Tyrant looked highly concerned and looked over Alyzz as if he both wanted to help her, or eat her.
"H-hi Kogkradd, it's good to see you." Alyzz began but was quickly cutt off as the Ogre shouted into her face.
"No, Bad Bitsize! Don't go running to fight without da tribe! You're small and weak, like a Gnoblar! You are my favorite 'itty bitty buddy and I don wanna lose ya'!" The Ogre Tyrant's shout nearly deafening the Goblin Private Investigator, turned ambassador to the Ogre Kingdoms and apparently Ogre Folk hero.
Alyzz blinked slowly still trying to collect her senses. "I-I went to go fight alone?" Alyzz asked baffled as the realization that Alyzz could not even grasp her current situation, nor remember how she got to where she was now dawned on her.
Kogkradd Kegeater looked down at Alyzz. "Yup, you and da Dragon-lady. I founs you twos out in da badland outside the Sentinels. I saw dat you were gone so I wen' looking fer yahs. Den I found you. Out der covered in tasty bits and juice dragging that meal over der."
One of the Cathayan women seemed to react to Kogkradd's words looking over with a hard glare at the Ogre. "She is inflicted with a powerful venom thats trying to eat her from inside, the monster you faced also used poison on their blades and arrows. She's barely alive and needs more treatment if she's to survive and your distracting the doctors! Get out!" Kogkradd looked at the woman as if he only just noticed everything in the tent.
"Oh, ok." The Ogre then walked out of the tent carrying Alyzz in his arm. Outside the tent the blistering heat of the Darklands desert in mid-day stung Alyzz's eyes. But after several long painful moments of adjustment the Goblin found herself in the midst of the Ogre Camp, but with several Cathayan Sky-Lanterns hanging over head, some flying some conspicuously large banners.
"We had to get some docs to help and Zhao Ming had some, but we know you don like him so we made him promise that he still is staying far away. But you were so sick we had to stop a lot and moving was really slow." Kogkradd explained as he carried Alyzz, who saw some of the Ogres of Kogkradd's tribe light up seeing her awake.
"Well that's good to hear." Alyzz wheezed out, her voice still course, her throat sore and dry.
"But some Gobs have been stalking us, they even have tried attacking a few times. I think dey is working for some other tribe, they aint acting like dey do when they are their own tribe." Kogkradd then added getting a incredulous look from Alyzz.
"What do you mean getting stalked? Well dem is riding Wolves around us and watching us but not wanting to fight and keep running away, but dey also seem to be getting more of em, Tragg Gatecrasher even says he seeing Orks gathering and marching west." The Ogre stated nonchalantly with a shrug of his shoulders.
"Wait, how many Orks are marching West?" Alyzz asked becoming increasingly alarmed.
"Tragg said dat there would be quite the fight waiting for us when we get to where we are going. So lots we don know how many are gathering but da Dragon said it looks like the stunties arranged da thing but are holdn back." The Tyrand explained with a huge smile, looking like he's eagerly looking forward to the battle.
"Are they going to the Crimson Post?" The Goblin asked, her tone desperate.
"Umm, yes. They probably headn dat way." Kogkradd answered honestly.
"Have we sent a runner?" Now the Goblin was sitting up in the Tyrant's arm, a new sense of panic filling her.
"Umm, nah Mawrider we walking der." A confused Kogkradd answered.
"No I mean did we send anyone ahead to warn them of the Ork army on it's way?" Alyzz then pressed.
"Ummm, no." The answer was direct simple, and exactly what Alyzz feared.
"We need to..." The Goblin froze looking back to the tent she and Kogkradd just came from. If the Ogres rushed ahead that would mean abandoning Zhang, it would possibly mean leaving her and these doctors to die. But could she really let the Horde suffer an attack just because of a single human?
Kogkradd followed the Goblin's gaze then looked about the camp, his brow furrowed. Then suddenly the Tyrant exploded into action. "You get da hunter! You pull dem down!" The Tyrand ordered in a booming voice his Ogres leaping up to obey even as Alyzz watched both shocked and confused even as a band of Ogres pulled one of the Sky Lanterns to the ground.
Then Kogkradd was in the tent again, earning glare and frustrated shouts from the women within. "Get er outda here! On to da floaty ting NOW!" The Ogre shouted at the women, most scattering in incomprehension others shouting back or actually moving to obey immediately.
Other Ogres marched up behind the Tyrant one wearing a wide assortment of pelts. Kogkradd looked to them. "Move er like we would a bunch ah eggs. get er onto the floaty thing!" He ordered now to them and the Ogres moved to obey.
"Hunter once you done, go ahead to da place, let em know greenies are commin and we comming too." The Ogre Tyrant then said to the pelt wearing Hunter Ogre was he walked by trying to carefully move Zhang while the women fussed around her.
Once most the crew had been forcefully yanked from their sky lantern and the Doctors and Zhang Genji had been placed abord by the Ogres Kogkradd began shouting orders again. "Yous all hold da floaty thing down low so it keeps steady with us, everyone else pack camp we marching full time!"
And then before Alyzz's addled mind could fully grasp everything happening the Ogre camp had packed up and they were once again marching westward.
Ghozul looked at the map considering his options. The Cathayan army was marching at a increased pace. More than twice the speed they had been once before, and soon they would be outside his area of control, and closer to the otherworldly fort the Dawi-Zharr had once sieged. Thus far he had to rely on Hobgoblins to track and brief him on everything and he sensed that some glory seeker might soon try to claim the Cathayan Army and the Crimson post, finalizing his shame and stealing all the glory for themselves.
So no matter how despicable and lowly it was Ghozul had determined that he would do whatever it would take to make at least a part of this victory tie to him. Thus he had released hundreds of greenskin slaves. Riling up the greenskins and using his Hobgoblin servants to set them on a course for the Crimson post. Already the slaves had multiplied in number the way free Greenskins always inevitably do, and as Ghozul had hoped they kept their momentum, word of a fort the great and vastly superior Dawi-Zharr were unable to take morivating all the recently freed and wild greenskins to march upon and investigate the fortress of legend.
It was costly and certainly this would fail to take the fortress or destroy the Cathayans. But it would spoil the ambitions of any other Dawi-Zharr who thought to take either of Ghozul's prizes, and it would certainly soften them up for him.
Still such a sacrifice from his own private stock of slaves had been hard for Ghozul, particularly when trying to keep it from the ever judging eyes of the Eternals. But now if he could slip his 'honorable duty' and find either a legitimate excuse or permission to march west after the Cathayans he could possibly take this grand prize before any of his competitors, though certainly their own spies were already slipped back to their masters to inform them of such a haul of slaves that 'Ghozul had to hide away from'.
Ghozul would have his haul of slaves. The new ones would be worth entire weeks or even months of labor from other slaves, each. And Cathayan slaves always were so industrious, they were always such a delight to own.
Up until Ghozul could capture more of his prized slaves though, he would have to keep his intent hidden. He needed to honor the Dawi-Zharr's superior honor and protocol at least until he could gain the ability to do as he desired once again.
Shandris found herself once again sitting across from Grand Countess Emmanuelle von Liebwitz. Today was the second day of the 'Electoral Council of the Empire and Alliance' and Shandris had evidently made a rather wise choice not committing to any of the Elector Counts nor the nobility. Now sitting across from Shandris wasn't just The Grand Countess but also a very off put Grand Duke Helmut Feuerbach, besides them stood Countess Elise Krieglitz-Untern and the Dark Lady Elspeth von Draken.
Overnight since she had met with them somehow these two had formed an alliance making their own proposal to Shandris, one that the General would certainly be remiss to pass up. Even then Shandris had to consider if this offer was actually worth the apparent treasure that the Asur, Teclis, had given her, or was she maybe instead over estimating the value of this treasure and passing up a good deal.
"And so there it is dear. Three of Nuln's Iron Companies, and Four Companies of Talabecland' Craterblades, as well as the countess pressuring the Knights Panther to send six hundred and fifty of their own to serve you. Twelve Thousand and Five Hundred Troops and six hundred fifty knights, in exchange for those two chests, and your signature on these loans." The Grand Countess explained while presenting the papers for Shandris to sign.
At the General's side Aethalas looked over the two papers swiftly, scowling all the while. "These loans are highly biased towards Talabecland and Wissenland. Particularly since we're paying the upkeep of the troops you're lending us with these funds." The Captain complained.
The red haired Elector Count of Talabecland grunted bringing the table's attention to himself. "Your war is a risky business. There's a good chance we won't get paid back at all if your enemies kill you all, or even if your loss or even a hard won victory costs you all your gold before you can give us what's due. Why wouldn't we make sure that we get a return for that risk?"
Uydron then spoke up. "I doubt such a defeat or victory would entirely eliminate our ability to work towards repaying our debts, but perhaps a larger period of time to repay with a greater increase, perhaps a cycle of a increase every two years? Ostermark already gave us a similar terms, so if the Loans are all too similar it might cause a crisis that would impact your repayment, particularly if one part or another of the Empire has been repaid and has established valuable trade with the Alliance, but if you were to take this other approach there may be less potential for you to lose out on what your owed."
Emmanuelle von Liebwitz perked up with a smile. "It seems you have someone with good sense in your retinue General. Well then, we can rewrite the loans here if you agree."
Now Shandris had to contemplate the offer hard. These two particularly with this odd Alliance of theirs were possibly the best offer Shandris had recieved, and she could be facing less interest and thus worse offers if she didn't agree to this. Still there were unknown elements that clouded the General's decision. While he had been here, Karl Franz had not spoken to Shandris at all, and no seperate offers by him had been made to the Alliance, but he had spoken at length with all the other Electors and the Arch Lectors who had both also chosen thus far to not speak with the General.
After several long moments of contemplation the General made up her mind, though Helmut Feuerbach was looking impatient and increasingly ill-tempered. But the fact that Karl Franz was avoiding any contact with the General instead acting through proxies meant that he likely either didn't have anything he could provide, or that it was taking his backing simply to get the Imerials to support Shandris this much. Then the Arch Lectors represented the Cult of Sigmar, a powerful cult with a large following and great influence in the Empire. But while the Church of the Light proved how powerful an ally religious institutions could be, they also showed the limitations of such institutions. Funds from a cult for warfare were actually rather limited and instead it was their political pull that drew warfunds, and Churches and Cults were often who you turned to if the state was too caught up with its own concerns to be of help, or when a nation on its own didn't have enough power to keep going. So it was unlikely that the Cult of Sigmar would help unless they chose to help and approached her first, something they hadn't done yet.
"The offer is good, I accept on behalf of the Alliance." Shandris announced with a bow to those assembled.
Across from The Night Elven General Emmanuelle von Liebwitz smiled victoriously. "That's great to hear... Oh by the way Lady Elspeth von Draken and some of the other heads of the College of Magic have had some debate about the portal. I'll cut their debate here short, I want you to take her with you when you go through the portal, otherwise they'll remain deadlocked in this debate and with the changes these portals are making to the winds of Magic Elspeth has had so much of her research disturbed. So I want you to agree to take her with you, with my full blessing, when you go through the portal."
Behind the Elector Count of Wissenland the woman referred to as the Dark Lady of Nuln glowered down both at her benefactor and at at the Kaldorei General. In response Shandris focused more on the noble woman on front of her before asking the looming question. "And why is this? Shouldn't she or the other wizards be approaching me if this is what they want?"
The answer to Shandris was a simple sigh that then the Dark Lady Elspeth von Draken herself elaborated on. "We are all currently locked in debate on this, none of us want to over commit to this venture, but still multiple colleges of magic have all taken notice and wish to experiment and investigate both the portal and your world. I didn't want to commit myself unless none of the other heads were not going to do themselves."
"In other terms, the Wizards all got themselves stuck waiting for someone else to go do something they didn't want to do, but all wanted the reward. So I'm moving things along before Balthazar Gelt makes his own move and perhaps makes the situation worse." The lackadaisical interjection of Emmanuelle von Liebwitz rolled smoothly into the conversation pulling the focus back to the Grand Countess.
A deep, fake cough however broke up the conversation and instead drew the attention to Helmut Feuerbach who then slid a new paper to Shandris, the new Loan, which then the General checked and eagerly signed. These loans favored the Empire's provinces significantly, but they were also significant for funding Shandris' ability to press an offensive through the portal if need be. "Let me give you a warning, you might be getting men from us, but that doesn't make you their leader. And while many of Lady Emmanuelle's retinue have proven themselves if you let them assume command without contenders you'll find yourself wasting the lives of my men, and if you waste their lives pointlessly you'll just as readily make an enemy of me."
Shandris didn't even pause as she returned the paper to the Elector Count. "Are you volunteering Elector? While I would be glad to accept your aid, surely Karl Franz might not support such an action, for some reason I feel like he would have to consent to allowing you to go."
"Don't you try mocking me, Elf." The Elector Count growled in response.
"I wouldn't dare. However I just wanted..." The sound of stomping feet cut off Shandris as Marius Leitdorf stormed over to the table disrupting the conversation, close behind Hans Leitdorf followed a long suffering expression on his face.
"You, blue Ear! Are there small fish people?" The question stunned the table, everyone having a reaction ranging from shock to absolute disbelief.
After a brief moment of silence Aethalas finally provided an answer at the same time as Countess Emmanuelle von Liebwitz.
"You absolute..." The countess began.
"Do you mean Murlocks?" The humans at and around the table then turned their disbelieving stares to Aethalas only for their attention to snap back to Marius as he snatched the Countess' drink off the table splashing it into his brother's face.
"See I told you I was right to declare war against the Sea People. Now go kill them all before they trap Sigmar in a void of infinite nothingness where he'll be forced to make love to a male dragon creating a universe of senslessness from their love jewelry!" And then with that Marius Leitdorf was gone storming away in a fit but not before shouting back at the Night Elves. "If you kill the evil fish people I support your war, I'll write up the orders!"
All those present gaped in shock, for there was no other way to define the feelings and confusion the famed Mad Count's tirade had caused. Shandris even had to now worry, did that man really intend to kill all the murlocks of Azeroth? Did he decare war on the Murlocks, or rather small fish people, before ever learning of Azeroth's existence? Either way, Shandris now was determined she would not let that man, nor anyone related to him near the command of the army she was forming.
Shandris sighed focusing back on the two Elector Counts in front of her. "I appreciate both your insights and your offer. Unless someone else presents something more, I will assume that by the end of the day Lady Elspeth von Draken we will be welcoming you on the mission to Azeroth." With that Elspeth von Draken walked away while Countess Emmanuelle von Liebwitz smiled, nodded then stood up excusing herself followed shortly by Count Helmut Feuerbach.
Shortly after that Alberich Haupt-Anderssen, Grand Count of Stirland approached Shandris' table asking if he could have a seat. With a sigh of resignation Shandris accepted. Today would be a extremely long day, but the progress she was making would be vital for her, for the War effort. for the Allianc, and for all of Azeroth and for Mallus.
Kyn'ra grunted in exertion as she and several of the Pioneers pushed the last boulder that blocked the fortress gate off the cliff. The Dark Fortress of Thirrizae Wraithscream had been left unfinished and abandoned for centuries atop a mountain to the North of Kislev. The simple fortress had grabbed Eekizz Switchpickle's attention and the Gnome had determined it would make for a excellent base for the Pioneers to use.
Abandoned tunnels that reach down into the Dwarven Underway, supposedly a realm of massive caverns, tunnel networks, and even hidden cities lay beneath the fortress. Meanwhile on the surface the half finished fortress was surrounded by small cliffs and rough almost intraversable terrain surrounded the fortress which also oversaw a number of narrow seldem walked valleys which would be vital for Pioneers to launch their raids into the territory of these Norscan Marauders.
Finished removing the obstacles and other stones that had been used to mysteriously seal the fortress, Kyn'ra and her pioneers returned to the structure interior where several of the Chosen Kaldorei's warriors and Eekizz waited with a prepared map of the region with several placed out figures. The Pioneers bowed in respect of their leader though Eekizz instead focused more on the map and his work only acknowledging Kyn'ra presence with a slight nod.
"Alright Eekizz, the camp will be ready soon. But what's so important that has you...like this?" The Pioneer leader waved her hand vaguely at the Gnome and the maps and contraptions around him.
"I've gotten multiple reports from the scouts, and readings from some of the equipment I had been setting up." The Gnome excitedly exclaimed.
"What? Can you maybe elaborate?" The chosen of Elune insisted of the almost bouncing Gnome.This of course lead to the Gnome exploding into a long, fast ramble using far too many large terms with far too many syllables for the Pioneer leader's tastes.
"Eekizz, Eekizz! I nees you to focus. Lets start with the reports what reports did our scouts being?" Kyn'ra demanded, grabbing the almost hyperactive Gnome demanding his attention.
This causes Eekizz to pause for several moments before collecting himself. He then cleared his throat and began to disseminate the information he had collected, starting of course with the reports Kyn'ra had requested.
"Our scouts have brought back a list of camp locations and some descriptions and estimates concerning our enemies." Eekizz then started to show Kyn'ra eight outer camps on the map followed by a central camp.
"Each of the outer camps has recently been reinforced, but stopped sending out raiding parties or scouts, only occasional hunters now. The central camp however has sent a large force southward depleting their numbers, all while leaving a Shaman and one of their leaders still in the camp." The Gnome explained, gesturing to the circle of eight tokens arrayed in a wide circle around the main camp which lay in the center of a valley, seperate from all the others.
"It's like their inviting us to kill their leaders." One of the Warriors stated staring at the arrangement of the camps and the lack of unity between them.
"I'm not too sure about that, the Central camp seems to have totems arrayed to line up with the other camps around the Shaman's tent. And the Shaman seems to be aware of the happenings in the other camps. But that's all on that which our Scouts could gather. Even Stealth has its limits." Eekizz countered but before the eager Gnome could press on to the next topics Kyn'ra spoke up.
"It doesn't matter, we promised to exterminate them all anyways, and their arrangement may just help us with that. Eekizz which of the support camps has the largest contingent?" Kyn'ra took command looking over the map.
"None of them, estimates put each camp at over five hundred warriors, the highest estimate being five hundred and twelve. All with their huts and everything else in nice orderly rows to make taking count easy." The Gnome provided.
"And the main camp!?" One of the Warriors blurted out, a panic in the man's voice. Though thr man cowered back after a glare from Shandris.
"Over a thousand after they sent most of their forces away the Scout rounded it to one thousand and twenty in that camp." The Gnome answered almost clinical in the explanation of the numbers.
"And these troops aren't nearly as effective as the Empire's counterparts. I'll make the call once we've hit the first camp, but I expect we will have to kill all the outer camps in a single day at the least." Kyn'ra spoke dispassionately, she knew this was truly part of her quest from Elune, but she also felt as though she herself was missing something, like she was overlooking a detail of her quest which would render it all pointless unless she completed that one specific part.
"Well onto more immediately exciting things! Kyn'ra my instruments have found a hidden chamber in this fortress. One filled with magic!" The Gnome's excitement almost worried the others in the room but he then curbed his enthusiasm to continue with a calmer tone.
"Someone sealed the room behind a crude wall. I expect it to be either a treasure room, or something that would be better dealt with now than after any battles." The Gnome provided simply.
It was then that Kyn'ra sighed before turning to walk off. "Fine, show me where it is." Then the Pioneers leader walked deeper into the Fortress with Eekizz quickly jogging behind her.
As she traveled deeper into the fortress the incomplete structure's veneer of being a fortress and the truth of its status as a over glorified mine began to show. Still she had been able to get deeper as even long abandoned, the crude stairs in the 'fortress' has remained intact allowing the group of Kyn'ra, Eekizz and many of the warriors to march sure-footed to the destination that Eekizz guided them to.
Then there it was, indeed there was a crude wall that stood out from the rest of the 'fortress' subterranean walls which Eekizz then pointed at loudly pronouncing, "There it is Lady Kyn'ra!" before stepping aside to allow Kyn'ra and the Warriors to inspect the wall.
It took Kyn'ra several seconds consideration before she and an Dwarven Warrior both threw themselves bodily at the wall pushing and toppling the rather underwhelming structure. But while the weak wall had been insufficient and even disappointing, the chamber it concealed was certainly not.
The room was dark and unlit, but Night Elven and Dwarven eyes could see the room fine in the dim lighting. This throne room possessed eight pillars covered in painful runes with a single throne at the center. On this throne sat a lone mummified corpse a rusted short sword plunged into it's chest. Closest to the throne lay the decayed bodies of Men and Dwarves, clearly as long dead as the corpse on the throne. However further out in this room lay the remains of Skaven, and their bodies were fresher than those in the middle of the room. Where the mummified corpse could have been there for over a thousand years, the Skaven corpses lay with elements of their rotted meat still remaining, perhaps they lay dead for decades, two centuries at the most.
Though what killed the Skaven still was unclear. Kyn'ra saw no remains of sprung traps, nor dead warriors beside the Skaven, and the corpses of the Men and Dwarves clearly had not been disturbed in all the time that they lay on the ground.
Shandris stepped forward ahead of her followers carefully came behind allowing Eekizz to remain behind so the Gnome could light a lantern. Kyn'ra moved toward the throne looking over its occupant. She was clearly a woman, yet her body was encased in red plate armor thick enough to make even a Orc tire out after a hour. At the woman's side, held weakly by her mummified hand, was a large two handed sword forged in a black metal.
While the others spread around the room now finding a alter that looked like they had in the past been used for sacrifices, Kyn'ra instead pressed forward toward the throne. Then the Blade by the corpse glowed and a specteral blade formed slashing at Kyn'ra causing the Kaldorei to raise her arms in panicked defense. And then the blade stopped, it's blade caught in her hand, it tried to press in, already its spectral edge drawing blood, yet the ghost blade didn't press through and Kyn'ra could feel the power, as if the power was pulling into her, being devoured by her essence.
Then the Kaldorei Renegade could hear, no for hearing implied sound, she could feel the blade speaking to her. "You are strong enough to withstand my edge, take me, use me and we can purge your enemies. The Vampire, that thing masquerading as the woman you once fought alongside of, perhaps Shandris or even Tyrande can be made to serve at your feet." Kyn'ra scowled at the sword trying to cut her arm open. A tempting offer, but from something she would destroy.
"Kyn'ra, I found her...no I have this you..." A new feeling a new voice in her head began, the voice of Elune.
"E-Elune, give me strength!" Kyn'ra roared her prayer to her Goddess.
"Kyn'ra, Kyn'ra listen to me. Do not listen to the blade!" Elune's voice commanded, stating to Kyn'ra what she already intended to do anyways. "Kyn'ra, I have chosen you for a great and glorious purpose. We need you to take the blade's power, reject its offer, do not embrace or use it! You must bear the burden of such dark power within thr vassel that is your own body, you will do something far more than slay champions of these Dark Gods, you will take their power from them, bring them back to Azeroth where I will purify it, cleanse it and turn their own power against them. As your God that is within my power. But now you must TAKE that sword's power from it!"
Kyn'ra roared, the blade cutting deeper into her hand as her fingers of her other hand now wrapped around the hilt of the specteral blade. The cursed sword's will pressed onto Kyn'ra. "Yess, this is it, accept me and I shall allow you to cut through all your foes!"
With the ghost blade in her off hand Kyn'ra closed on the throne, fighting against the non-existent blade in her hand the Kaldorei raised the blade aiming to strike. Sensing her intent the sword reacted, the ghost blade trying to wrench itself from her grasp as suddenly the withered corpse moved by the sword still grasped in her dead hand as it slashed up to bisect Kyn'ra's head. But the Kaldorei overcame even the will of the cursed blade.
The specteral blade clashed with its material counterpart. The two blades collided with a force that lit the room for a quarter second before the black blade and its ghost form both shattered against one another. A screaming wind filling the chamber as fires fueled by rage and hate screamed across the chamber before Kyn'ra breathed in, pulling the power into herself. The flames burned her senses, rage and unbidden hate filled Kyn'ra forcing the Kaldorei to bring her emotions, her wrath under control.
For long silent minutes after the shattering of the cursed sword Kyn'ra stood breathing struggling to control her desire to kill, to claim vengence on all those about her for the wrongs this horried wretched world had done against her. The room was too cold, but Kyn'ra burned with wrath her teeth steaming. Still the Kaldorei then calmed, she had fought down the rage and cleared the sensation from her body, but this had inflicted more pain upon her than the sword itself had.
As Kyn'ra calmed Elune returned to her. "Good, this is just the beginning though. They have other, just as dark or darker powers that you need to claim. The enemy you plan to fave they will provide us far more than what this sword had."
With this Kyn'ra nodded understanding her Goddess. "We rest tomorrow, they day after we march and kill them all, no survivors."
The next Night brought the end of the 'Electoral Council of the Empire and Alliance'. Negotiations, backroom deals, and countless meetings over the three days had left Shandris exhausted. But the end result had been rarher impressive, over a million marks, enough funds to support the forces Shandris had been loaned or contracted for a little under three months of warfare. While moat of those funds had been loaned to the Alliance and would be needed to be paid back with some intense interest it was enough to get the war with the Empire forces and the Horde going until she could get Alliance gold and diplomats to hopefully bring the Empire further into the conflict and into the Alliance proper.
Next the tired general reviewed the list given to her by Aethalas, the list confirming what the Empire or Mercenary representatives had promised her. First the Kaldorei General checked the end of the pages of paperwork Aethalas had filled out, where the Captain had placed her final tally of all the forces she was reasonably certain would join the Empire Expedition into Azeroth. Twenty Nine thousand, one hundred and eight Imperial troops, Mercenaries, volunteers and Knights would be converging on Mordheim tonpush through the portal, and there were several non-committal statements from the Dwarves claiming that "The Dawi will march on these blasted Horde" but what that meant for Shandris was still uncertain.
But after her own troops and the troops from Ostermark, Wissenland's three Iron Companies brought four thousand and seven hundred troops, Talabecland brought four of their Craterblade Companies amounting to seven thousand troops. Unprompted Marius had 'given' four thousand Averland state troops to Shandris, while four thousand and five hundred state troops and famed Deathjacks from Stirland would also march for the Alliance.
Shandris had also been able to hire six hundred Golden Pinions, a Halberdiers unit, from Marrienburg. One Hundred and Fifty of Braganza's Besiegers a famed heavy infantry. And she had hired fifty Birdmen of Catrazza, who promised to provide human infantry who could fly. And from various sources a thousand, two hundred and fifty 'free company' Mercenaries had committed themselves to the fight, or rather to the Gold Shandris possessed.
Then the Cult of Sigmar had suprised Shandris instead offering their own full support with One thousand devoted pilgrims who would fight so long as she fed them, as well as a promised hundred Sisters of Sigmar and eight warrior priests, though one was apparently proving difficult to track down at the moment.
Then the Knights had brought their own contributions one by one. The Knights Panther had indeed sworn six hundred and fifty knights to Shandris' cause, then four hundred Knights of Sigmars Blood were pledged along with a subtle note promising not to cause any needless slaughters of fish people. A letter had shown up promising five hundred Knights of Morr to the campaign and lastly one hundred and twenty Knights of the Blazing Sun were promised to Shandris service as well.
The general was still trying to wrap her head around the weapons and abilities of this army as well as its scale. While still small compared to the total might of the Alliance, the fact that such a force was considered an acceptable risk for a force not fully committed to the war was certainly telling of the scale of the Empire's reserves and weapons. Still she would need plenty of work to determine what was the best way for her to use such forces. While she had the commitment, now she needed a plan.
