Old World News Turn 28
Bretonnia
Death of Lafayette: Duke Lafayette the Bizarre, of Gisoreux, died in his sleep at the ripe old age of 71. Much mourning in his lands.
...Your grandfather is gone.
The Dark Strikes Back: The Beastmen of Arden reinvigorate themselves, for they have a new champion among them:
Vulgos, the White Skull. A dreadful Beastlord daubed in profane markings holy to all the foul gods of Chaos, he leads attacks on all the lands attached to the forests-- L'Anguille, especially; as though he prepares for something. Thousands of men have died already to his attacks, and more will follow unless something is done.
Traitors Twice: The shamed Knights of Brionne who set out long ago on the Grail Quest, and who are not yet cleansed, have left the Old World entirely. Though much parred down by the wars in Norsca, several-hundred of them-- it is hard to get a good count of the vagrant knights, after all-- have arrived in the Great City of the Hanhuiat, seeking to aid them in their battle against the Dark Elves.
The same Dark Elves who turned them traitor...
Burning Cities: A huge warehouse in Parravon has been burned down. Fleeing from the scene, there was a great black shape, mounted by what looked to be two vampires, a poor child clenched in its talons.
Whatever was taken from the warehouse, none know; but several days later, after the smoke cleared, several of the merchants were taken to the dungeon...
Bang, Bang, Bang: For some reason, the Cursed Idles-- a group of exiled nobles who carry the taint of Gunpowder and have for some time-- have been seen fighting in the Badlands against the Orcs, the leader of their damned band with the favor of a young lady tied to his blade.
Lyonesse Makes a Friend: The newest port in Écosse, Charleston, has established a contract with the merchant house Agnew in Lyonesse. Though it favors the merchants, it is still a good enough deal.
Mounted Archers: Inspired by the Greenskin hordes that ravaged the lands not so long ago, the prince has established a Ducal force of Horse-Archers; mounted Villeins, they ride and shoot alike, harassing and taunting and killing the enemy in their weakness.
Knights Disappear: Certain knights, in the blackest hours of the day, have disappeared from Carcassonne, plucked from their homes. It is...disquieting.
Nippon Envoy: Ambassadors from the Empire of Nippon have arrived in Bretonnia, sent by their Emperor to make formal contact. Negotiations continue apace, and there are rumors that, to celebrate the marriage between Sir Gasard and Lady Tamiko, as well as between several ladies of Bretonnia and Samurai of Nippon, there will be a great tournament.
Behind these ambassadors comes a trade fleet of white ships.
Dwarfs Active: Ten dwarfs have arrived at Karak Dal. Together, with Thodrek Silverspear, they shall one day set out, with aid of your son, to reclaim Karag Agilwutraz-- better known as Mt. Silverspear-- from the Greenskins. A Runesmith, an Engineer, a Thane, a Slayer, an Ironbreaker, a Ranger, a Thunderer, a Mountaineer, a Longbeard, and a king, they have set to work forming an army from those of Karak Dal. Extremely secretive, they have little contact with the world outside their mountains-- but for the Runesmith, herself very familiar with many of the knights.
Empire
Battle of Ratmen: Strange, rat-like beastmen in Stirland attempted to attack the Castle Steinken, for any number of potential reasons. And so the Graf and Grafin went to battle, he protecting the walls from their saboteurs wielding the mighty Orc Hewer, while she led a daring raid into their tunnels.
Many died, but in the end bolstered by cannon and shot, and with the aid of the elf the Beastmen were pushed back to their warren, to sulk more, lady Justine returning with a new trophy-- a banner, taken from them.
Steinken Finished: "The Little Stone", the mighty fastness which Kurt calls his new home, stands finished. Filled to the brim with chapels and warriors, each day warriors fall from it like a blade on the evil of Sylvania, and each day trials are held for crimes sometimes centuries passed. It is a good day for that benighted land.
(+2,000 Prestige Each)
Scouting: The scouts of the Ulrican Crusade already search for a new target-- Sylvania belongs to the Sigmarites, Under-Altdorf lies already in their grip-- but yet, in this world there is no lack of terrors to confront. That said, by and large the greatest amount of soldiers still wait in Under-Altdorf, keeping it secure as it is converted into a Temple to Ulric, itself a lengthy process.
Texts Away: Texts have been sent to the Southlands, and Sudenburg, for the perusal of the Wizard lords there.
And only that. Obviously.
I AM YOUR EMPEROR: For years now, since the failure in Norsca, the shame of loss, and the loss of life, have hung heavy over the Emperor, Mattheus. Deep the shame, and terrible the loss.
So He Went East.
Guided by visions, and by oracles of the Order, he went to follow the path of the Twin-Tailed comet that fell last year. Armed in only simplest armor, he went, bearing just the Reikland Runefang and leaving his wife, the estimable Amalia, sister of Kurt, for the year.
He traveled far from the Old World, but in the end he returned. His missing hand was gone, replaced with ingenious contraption of elven make that fit upon him. Too, in his return he came bearing a crown forged of the meteoric iron, forged by Dwarfs of Karaz-a-Karak, waiting for him as returned to Altdorf.
None can know, for sure, what deeds he performed-- but they were mighty, for a great number of weapons rest now in Altdorf-- weapons ripped from the cooling carcass of their masters, many of them Tong in design. So too did he return with a many slaves freed from the lands of the East and brought to Sigmar's light. And so does he become Mattheus the Missionary, Mattheus the Blessed, Mattheus the Unattackable.
Kislev and Dobrungol
All Quiet On the Northern Front: The attack on Norsca was expensive, in life and treasure and time-- but, it seems that to lose so much life so quickly, even for the barbarians, is much to take. As well, the Hung and Kurgan turn their lances east, to attack Cathay.
Elven Visitors: Elves, bearing strange magics and stones, have been spotted in Dobrungol.
Tilea
War, War, Brutal War: So the forces of the Chivalric League turn against Luccini, seeking to cast down their foes once and for all.
However, it seems the chaotic-- little c, that's important-- Assassin's Brotherhood has cast off their cloak and turned on the forces of King Carlo, weakening him. It is brutal, grinding war-- his attacks cast, ruined, shunned, even by aid of the Phoenixes, his wizards in this matter.
High Elves
The Phoenixes Take Flight: The refugees of Arnheim, under the guidance of Aetra and Amyan, have taken to the blade as new soldiers in the Court of the Asur: The Phoenixes. Clad in white and gold plate, and marked by a special cloak, they are an expeditionary force now, mostly from destroyed Arnheim-- but already, there are talk to expand it.
For now, they help protect their allies in Naggaroth, lending their strength to the great city.
Badlands
Wrath of the Tomb Kings: Dread Settra himself, so wrathful was he, set out to slaughter with impunity the horrendous goblins that dared to steal from Nehek's tomb.
It was brutal, it was horrendous, but his crown was recovered.
Now, it lies only to reclaim the rest of his vast treasure.
Pinned: The High Elves have lain siege to the Iron Rock, battering it with terrible magics, striking against its green inhabitants-- for their treasure, the Amulet of Sunfire, lies in the hands of its master, Wrogstompa. A Warboss of some power, he wields the amulet by the efficacious manner of "Having his least favorite Goblin Shaman hold it until they pop or bake, then repeat", using it like artillery to strike down his foes-- except, of course, for the Elves, ever favored by Lileath.
Losses: The Asrai have been stymied. Seeking to establish a base for whatever reason, they sought to temporarily claim the ruins of the Black Fortress as their headquarters. Cast down by the Skaven in their war with the Dawi Zharr, it has been emptied of life for some time.
It seems, however, that the Dwarfs dug too greedily and unleashed a horror of smoke and fire, in an attempt to turn it on the Ratmen. Though in the end it was cast down, many Asrai died in the efforts-- the Wizards of Gaufangen have been spotted heading there to join their brethren and refill their ranks. Rumors of strange materials, and strange rituals fly-- though, it should be noted, they always do when the Elves are involved.
From what the scarce shared Asrai reports say, it seems the Dawi Zharr and Greenskins that battle against them have torn each other to the bone-- but at a guess it seems the Greenskins have managed, so far, to take the offensive.
Led by brutal Savage Orcs, and reinforced by an almost constant tide of every sort of Greenskin-- except, perhaps, for Hobgoblins-- the Darklands are littered with bodies of broken dwarfs, the enslaved peoples, and greenskins. Still they come, a greentide whooping and hollering. They near Zhar Naggrund itself, the capital-- even with the aid of the Mercenaries of Chaos and more daemons than ought be considered, it seems that the Dwarfs might have bit off more than they can chew.
Lizardmen?: The army of Lizardmen, led by their strange Skink master, have been chewing through Orcs by the thousands, Saurus, Kroxigor, and less Skinks have shattered the greenskins, killed them, ruined them, howsoever you wish to say it they have done. Blowpipes, javelins, strange magics and more have slaughtered them.
Vampires, Vampire: Mourkaine is besieged, Ushoran himself, again sane-- for a given value-- along with an army of Vampires and living servants seeking to reclaim the capital of his Empire. Against them, half a million Orcs, twice that in Goblins, and a vicious Orc Warlord.
It has not been pretty. Distracted, though, by Greenskins, the other forces of the Old World have...tolerated is far from the right word, ignored perhaps?-- the Vampires in favor of more pressing matters, such as ensuring a Waaaagh! of earthshaking strength does not form, nor that the chance to reclaim a gift of Lileath is lost.
Fay Muckery: The Autumn Champion (Belicent) has been seen riding through the Badlands at the head of an army of Fay, clad in a strange armor, planting the seeds of a new forest. It seems the Fae have a plan.
They have also been helping kill Greenskins. It's a good feeling.
Dwarfen Victory: The Forces of Clan Rinkeldraz stormed the Stonemine Tower, conquering it from the Greenskins and putting many of them to the death. Eager for a fight, the Orcs of the Bitterstone Mine went out, leaving behind only a token force of Goblins to hold their home.
This was a mistake, for an ally King Varrak had made in his Long Exile proved very useful. Belegar Angrund, Prince of Clan Angrund, led a force of his Clan's warriors to push out the Goblins from the Bitterstone Mine and reclaim it in the name of Dawi. That done, the Dawi met up, pinched the Orcs between them, and put them to the sword.
Now, only Ekrund itself must be taken. But swiftly, before the Orcs return from the Dark Lands.
Men of the Badlands- Unite: the human villages of the Badlands have been disunited for Millennia. Dread Strygos once ruled them, vampiric masters; now monsters, Greenskins.
No more will the people of the land be ruled by another, foreign master!
Dozens of Claimants to form a new Empire have arisen, that will not fall before the might of the Orcs, that will stand against the oppression and tyranny. While this will come to a head, for now they are all united in one goal: to remove the Orcs, or at least to ensure that their people can live in peace.
The claiming of the crown of Shah can come later.
Beastmen, too?: Lady preserve. A force of Beastmen has arrived, throwing an already chaotic situation even further to the dogs. It seems likely their masters desire that they save the dwarfs-- or slaughter them. Depends on the Foul Four's moods when it happens, really.
