Chapter 3
The board is set
Hundreds of miles away under the setting of the deep, red sun two men sat on an elaborate, stone balcony overlooking the ancient city of Altdorf. Capital of the empire, Altdorf had been there as long as man had been. It was there, albeit a village, when Sigmar was born. It was there when the last chaos incursion swept through the lands of the free, it was older than time itself, so it seemed to many, but in the history of the old world it was but a blink.
The city stretched forward before the men on the balcony, grey and misty. The balcony was on a huge palace in the rich part of the city, marble domes glistened in the setting sun and horse drawn carriages rode across the cobbled streets taking their rich owners back to their mansions in time for supper. Almost directly in front of the balcony spanned the great plaza, a huge open area of purest marble and filed with beautiful parks and ornate fountains. Further away, in stark contrast to the cleanliness and the quiet of the rich quarter was the poor part of the city or The Pit as some of the richer inhabitants of Altdorf called it. Here the streets were packed with mud not cobblestones and you were lucky if you ever even saw a horse if you lived in this part of the city. Here you had to watch your throat as well your purse if you walked the streets at night, murderers and thieves roamed the streets at will as the authorities largely left this part of town to itself. Further along from the Pit lay the housing or slums where most of Altdorf's one million inhabitants lived. Running through the middle of this hive of dirt and depravation ran the river Reik, lifeblood of the empire. Then came the wall. An absolutely huge wall ran the whole way around the city which was circular in shape. Armed guards patrolled the wall day and night and a trench full of razor sharp stakes stood at the bottom. If a guard fell, he never survived.
The two men sat at two chairs on a silver table laden with expensive food and the best wine. The first man was an elf. He looked awkward on such a small chair but he was anything but really. Wearing a sparkling white gown, hemmed with blue satin and gold leaf he looked every inch the powerful mage he was. With a long nose and piercing eyes that stared right into your soul, he was a striking figure. He was Teclis, high Lore master of Hoeth and one of the most powerful mages ever to come from the elusive shores of Ulthuan, Isle of the elves.
The second man was tall, for a man, and strong and had an aura of goodness and purity about him. He too was dressed in a blue although his shirt was mostly covered by the brilliant chest of gold armour he wore. His face was kind and caring, not particularly handsome but good looking in his own right. He looked the sort of man you would be glad to have on your side. His name was Karl Franz and he was emperor of the largest human country in the old world, the empire of which Altdorf was the capital city.
"Storm clouds gather in the north," said Teclis, staring out over the city. "Soon they will come and sweep the world before them."
"Who?" Replied the emperor, taking a piece of meat and chewing on it slowly.
Teclis did not touch the food but took a cup of mint tea and took a deep sip. The man is a fool. The death of his race may soon be at hand yet still he sits and eats like nothing is wrong. I have nothing but contempt for the race of man, yet if they die then all hope is lost so for the moment, at least, I will have to grin and bear it. "The gods of chaos." Said Teclis. "They will raze the world to the ground if they win this war. None will survive."
The emperor swallowed his meat quickly. "What can we do to stop them then? Our armies are stretched to breaking point as it is. We just can't cope, the Orcs are launching a new Waaggh from the badlands, dark elves sail the seas, preying on unwary souls and worst of all, in our own empire the vampire counts rise again from the depths of Transylvania. We have not a hope in hell."
Troubles also plagued the Empires cities. Unnatural or bizarre incidents whilst not commonplace were begging to happen more frequently. A boy with two heads here, a man driven mad by warp stone there, a baby born with no arms or legs, the ground suddenly opening up and swallowing a man to his death. All such things were no good for morale. A minor incident could be swept under the carpet, witnesses paid off or told to keep quiet, committing the victim to a mental asylum and so on but incidents such as these… well they were a different matter.
"Not entirely true. Has it not occurred to you that it is because of the chaos incursion that all this is happening? The winds of change shift, they know that the time of chaos is coming. They speak to all the evils of the world and they all rise to accept its call. They may not be one army exactly, but they all follow the same purpose. The destruction of humanity." Said Teclis.
"Well what can we do?"
"Nothing." Said Teclis. "We will just have to hope and pray."
Great. Thought the Emperor. The wisest man I have ever known gives us no hope whatsoever! What can I do now?
"But," Said Teclis. "We can hold them back for another thousand years at least. We can win the battles. We just can't win the war." On a balcony in Altdorf, Karl Franz was now slightly happier than he was before.
A day later Karl Franz sat on a throne in the hall of the electors debating with his chief servants, the elector counts. He studied the assembled group with a sense of bewilderment. This was the smallest meeting in hundreds of years, certainly since Karl became emperor. 4. He thought. 4! Assembled around the table were the four out of 13 elector counts that had made it to the meeting that was held every 4 years on the anniversary of Sigmar's death. Quickly he recited the reasons for the absentees, for the benefit of the scribe furiously scribbling away in the corner. "Absent today is Otto Von Rehargel who is currently fighting a campaign against bandits in his region. Also absent are Klaus Jenshhargen and Wolfgang Hirsch who are both fatally ill. I regret to inform to inform you that three of our number are dead. Kraus Von Krishven and Markus Von Hellton both died in suspicious hunting accidents and Heinrich Von Gluchven was found stabbed to death in a locked room with no windows, at the top of the tower. When guards finally smashed down the door, with the aid of an ogre they had hired they found no means of false entry. The others simply have not appeared at this meeting for circumstances unknown to me or others." He read. "Anyone who knows their whereabouts may speak now."
"They're dead." Stated Teclis abruptly. "I sensed 6 deaths before the start of the meeting. Three you know are dead, 3 others are too."
"What makes you so sure?"
"I just know"
"Who are you anyway?" Said Wolfgang Klaus, the oldest count at the meeting. He stood up, his long white beard flowing.
"Wolfgang, Wolfgang!" Said the emperor, trying to defuse the situation. Klaus had quite a temper on him when provoked. "Wolfgang this is Teclis, a mage from Ulthuan, he is here to help." Teclis stood up.
"Teclis, this is my old acquaintance Wolfgang Klaus."
Acquaintance, Wolfgang thought. It should be me in that seat not you, you young upstart!
"Charmed," Said Teclis sarcastically.
"Do not speak to me like that young man!" Roared Wolfgang, pulling his frostfang sword from its scabbard. Within seconds Klaus was hovering several meters up in the air, his sword flung to the far corner resting at the shocked scribe's feet.
"For your information," Snarled Teclis. "I am in fact 7000 years old. Which makes me 10 times older than you, young man."
"Yes, ok. Now put me down."
"Say please."
"Please put me down."
Klaus slowly fell back into his seat. Teclis sat down and with a wave of his hand bought Wolfgangs's sword back into its scabbard.
"Now," Said the emperor, trying to come to terms with what he had just seen. "Let's get down to business. If anyone present wishes to speak he must raise his hand, I will then give permission to speak."
"We must send…" Teclis completely ignored what had just been said and began to talk, the emperor cut him off with a sharp glare. Fool. Thought Teclis. But it's their barbaric culture; I'll have to follow their rules. Teclis sat down again and reluctantly and slowly raised his hand.
"Teclis may open the meeting. Any objections?"
Wolfgang Klaus briefly thought about raising his hand but then retracted the idea sharply with a sharp look from the elven mage. It's like he can read my mind!
"Ok then, Teclis. Proceed."
"We must send troops to Kislev. There, will be the first major battle of the war."
Kurt Angelus raised his hand. "Speak."
"If I may say so, no disrespect to your judgement, master elf," Kurt said, casting a wary eye in Teclis's direction. "But I believe the garrison at Kislev will stand firm." Kurt was elector count of Kislev, the most northerly province of the empire and thus closest to the chaos wastes. Kislev was a hard place, cold and bitter its people doubly so. Weakness was an unknown word in Kislev; if you were weak you died from the cold in infancy or were killed by one of the many types of voracious snow wolves that roamed it during winter. That was just if you were lucky. Chaos raids by marauders worshipping the dark gods were a yearly, even monthly, experience. To be taken as a slave by these savage barbarians was the ultimate torture, death was but a release from their terrible enslavement.
"No," Said Teclis. "The garrison must be reinforced, if it is not Kislev will be razed to the ground less than a week after the first wave. That I promise you, for I have seen it my own eyes."
"If Teclis says he has seen it then I believe him, we send more troops to Kislev."
"My lord, respectfully, I completely disagree. Our troops would be better off taking care of the troubles within our own lands; do you not know of the problem of the vampire lords in Sylvania?"
"Kurt, while I do understand the Sylvania situation I feel that the best option is to take care of the situation at hand. Wolfgang, do you have anything to say on the subject?"
"No, my lord." Wolfgang grunted.
"Good, Replied the emperor. "Then who can spare the troops for this mission?"
Not one of the four men raised their hands.
"Sad days, Said the emperor rising from his seat. "A sad day it is when a noble elector count will not answer a call to arms from his master. Where is the brave spirit of old, where is the willing to help fight for your country and your ruler? That spirit is no longer to be found. Will anyone prove me wrong and answer my call?"
Suddenly there was an almighty crash as a stout, armoured and bearded man strode into the hall clattering the scribe to the floor. "I will," He gasped his face red with exertion. "And I would have answered it sooner if it weren't for those damn gobbos on the way here!"
"Good evening Otto," Said the emperor grinning at one of his oldest friends. "Welcome to my hall. Teclis, meet master Otto Von Rehargel who you presumed dead. Otto meet Teclis, esteemed elf mage and wise companion."
Otto shook Teclis hand vigorously. "Been a long time since your kind visited these shores," He said jovially. "And a sad thing too." Wolfgang Klaus smiled falsely. He hated Otto. The fat fool spent too much time feasting and drinking than doing anything worthwhile but then he was the emperor's pet and staying close to him would bring Wolfgang much needed favour.
"I can spare two-thousand highly trained men, no more no less."
"Thank you Otto." Said Karl. "Please…take a seat." He waved towards the table and Otto pulled out a chair and sat down with a heavy sigh.
"Permission to speak, Sir."
"Permission granted, Otto."
"That Waaagh needs to be dealt with soon. I've seen their leader, big brute he was. If I didn't know better I'd say it was our old friend Grimgor Ironhide.
"Ridiculous!" Said Kurt Angelus. "Grimgor Ironhide perished over 30 years ago. I saw him with my own eyes. He was hit by a cannonball square in the chest! No-one can survive that."
"Von Carstein?" Said Teclis.
"That was different."
"Different my arse." Said Otto. "They never found a body and anyway, I know what I saw and what I saw was Grimgor Ironhide. I don't care what you have to say."
"Well Grimgor or not the Orc threat still has to be delt with," Said the Emperor, sensing the tension. "What is the news on our allies in Brettonia?" He motioned to the scribe.
"Well sir…" the scribe bowed deeply. "Our Brettonian friends are stalling on the deal. King Leoncour is very… stubborn. He believes that the Brettonians can ride the storm out on their own, sir. If I may say so sir, I believe he is a pompous buffoon."
"Pompous buffoon he maybe but he is still one of our most important allies and at the moment we need all the help we can get. So I would appreciate it if you did not express your private opinions in front of me, do you understand?"
"Yes sir."
"Ok, well then…"
"Sir?"
"What is it?" The emperor snapped.
"Do I write that down? In the minutes, that is."
"Write down what?"
"Our conversation about king Leoncour," Said the scribe. "Do I write it down sir?"
"Come here." The Emperor waved his hand and the scribe hurried nervously towards the throne. "Yes my liege?" He squeaked.
"Hand me the notepad."
"Yes sir." The scribe tentatively handed over the notepad.
"Now look." The Emperor held the blue notepad up in one hand and took out a silver dagger with the other. "Watch carefully now." He said and drew the dagger up. In one clean motion he sliced the book in half. The scribe bit his lip to stop himself from crying out. "Now get out of my sight." Shouted the emperor and threw the notebook out the open window. The scribe hastily ran out of the room, possibly to hurry downstairs and collect his notes from where they had landed scattered in the streets below.
"Guard, lock the doors so he cannot get back in. Oh and if you hear him listening at the door you have my permission to remove him with whatever force you deem necessary."
The guard nodded and made his towards the door.
"As I was saying, Teclis, if you are willing, you shall be my emissary to king Leoncour," Said the Emperor. "You will travel in luxury and under the highest guard second to no man but me."
"I have my own guards. Watch." Said Teclis and waved his hand and uttered an incomprehensible command. At once as though a sheet had been lifted, 4 guards in long white cloaks with flame pattern hems appeared in the chamber. They each carried a wickedly sharp long sword, as long as a spear of man. Each golden hilt was encrusted with jewels and rubies. Upon their heads they wore conical golden helmets with wings on either side.
"What treachery is this!" roared Wolfgang and sprung up from his seat. Wildly he slashed at the nearest elf warrior. His frost fang pierced the Elf's shining mithril armour and buried deep his gut. Before the dead elf even hit the floor Wolfgang flew across the room with tremendous force and smashed with an ominous crack into the far corner of the room where he lay still, neck bent at and odd angle.
At once uproar erupted in the room. Several guards rushed in, swords drawn, and Kurt Angelus was suspended like Wolfgang before him several feet in the air. The elves silently blended back into the shadows they had come from. "Put him down!" Roared one of the guards and with a flick of the hand he too was floating like Kurt. Otto roared heartily and bashed his fist on the table, his face red with laughter.
"Order!" Shouted the emperor and stood up. "Teclis put Kurt down. Guards get a physician to attend to Wolfgang. Never, not in a thousand years have such events occurred in this chamber!" He roared. "An utter disgrace! I should have you all thrown in the dungeons for this!"
"I see I cause friction here. I will leave for Brettonia now," he said. "Goodbye." And with that, he clicked his fingers and disappeared in a puff of bright purple smoke.
Otto steadied himself slightly. "That elf… absolutely bleeding Fantastic!" He began to laugh again but cut short with a harsh glare from the emperor. Kurt Angelus picked himself up, dusted himself off and sat down again. "OK, after that debacle we shall discontinue. Gentlemen return to your private quarters, we shall meet again tomorrow."
The night was pitch black and utterly starless. Only the slow flicker of the torch carried by the black cloaked and hooded figure prevented utter darkness. As the figure walked slowly beside the river Reik he felt only disgust that it, once the mightiest river of the empire, had been tainted so foully by the incompetence of Karl Franz and his leadership. The figure walked slowly and deliberately, he knew where he was to go by heart. Soon he reached one of the many small bridges that crossed the river and he left the dusty road. Walking down the steep bank for a while he came to the small section of beach that went under the bridge. Walking to the shoreline he stood as the waves washed over his feet, waiting for the contact to arrive. He waited and waited for what seemed like an age, until at last a second black cloaked man, also carrying a torch arrived. He walked slowly onto the small patch of beach and sauntered up to the man he was her to meet. Without speaking he held out a hand. The first man rummaged around in his pocket for a second and pulled out a blue notepad, held all the way down the middle with special glue, mixed by the alchemists of Altdorf. The second figure purred softly and took the notepad. Then looking around to check there was no-one nearby he said coldly "The Emperor and the elf will be dead by tomorrow, you have my word," With that he turned slowly and walked away and disappeared around the corner. 'Fantastic!' Thought the first man. 'Tomorrow the empire shall be mine!'