RAIDS are not exactly even meant to be the sort of attacks where overwhelming support would be necessary: they are far smaller affairs by design. Let the defectors defect: better them to be clearly marked hostiles than hidden cults causing us grief. And comparing Kurgan capabilities to the faction that regularly tries to overwhelm Ulthuan is just absurd. The Graelings would just sour our allies by being bastard raiders they EXPECT from our lands, and Naggaroth would regard them only as target practice anyway. Also, Kurgans are closer to us and already threaten Kislev.
You raise several good points, but I still think striking at Naggaroth is the better choice.The problem with saying let the defectors defect is that if they do so in the middle of the raid, they could easily screw over the rest of the raiders. I'm not really interested in inflicting serious damage on our enemies with the raids, I just want to show the Graelings there is a place for them in our nation. If we send them against the Kurgan and the raid wipes, it will be a long time before the new tribes are willing to trust us or think we have their interests in mind. I agree that Naggaroth is more powerful than the Kurgans, but they're also going to be distracted fighting the massive coalition of every other Order nation. Again I urge you to send the Baersonlingers with the Graelings if you want to hit the Kurgans, so that the Graelings get used to working with others, and to hopefully provide a safety net in case things go wrong.
Eh, your plan is winning anyhow, and with how quiet it has been here lately I rather doubt mine will be able to catch up.
And we all know Chaos tribes just love screwing with each other too, so what kind of plunder-loving, bloodthirsty marauder would pass up on the opportunity of actually coming BACK to the lands of their tribe to show off their success and embark on other government-approved raids afterwards instead of trying to join the Kurgan horde (that would likely kill them out of principle anyway: I think I recall reading Kurgans and Norscans don't really get along) and forsaking everything they have, as well as being likely the first to wipe in the coming raid?
Also, I'd frankly rather slaughter the entire tribe than let GRAELINGS be our emissaries in biggest Order coalition in living memory.
You are Ashi Axe-Child, and another woman has just given birth to your husband's child. The healthy new babe is back in your rooms, and she looks like you and Thorfin. No one should doubt that the child is yours, and you will be the only mother she ever knows.
You try to be happy. You try to make yourself love the little infant. But you can't. You can't even call up any real compassion for the rest of your family.You try to hide it and act as you did before. You think you've fooled the children, but you don't know if you can keep up the pretense. You're so tired.
Over and over, your thoughts slip into an endless chorus. No matter where you are or what you're doing, it whispers, "You're tainted. You're corrupted. You're ruined." With those words ringing in your mind, the world has lost all its beauty and sweetness. Nothing brings you pleasure now except for training.
Even now, you are wearing your full armor and practicing with your favorite ax. Your situation has left you without a sparring partner, so you train alone and in secret. Part of you thinks you thinks you should stop this- that it gives Khorne a foothold in your soul, but you need it. You need something to feel good.
With an effort, you wrench your thoughts away from your endless brooding. You move through familiar fighting stances and practice moves, while your mind focuses on what you will need to do next.
In another few weeks you will leave Mountain Crown and return to the capitol. You'll need to present the child publicly and arrange for a celebration. After that, you will need to avoid strenuous exercise in public, but that gives you an excuse to send Tabitha to oversee the military. Your former ward is rapidly adjusting to her new responsibilities. She should prove a good replacement once you're-
Someone screams.
Your attentions snaps back to the outside world. You hurry to the room's door and throw it open. Another scream rips through the hallway. In the distance, you can hear the familiar sound of combat.
Ax in hand, you rush to battle.
Someone has attacked Mountain Crown. Are they after Hall? Do they know about him? Or are they just after the many shaman who live here?
Ahead of you, a man rounds the corner, fleeing from something behind him. He sees you and opens his mouth. Before he can speak, an enormous spear-tip erupts from his throat. The man falls to floor, gurgling helplessly as he drowns in his own blood.
Cruel laughter fills the hallway, and an abomination steps into view to retrieve her spear.
She wears plate mail painted scarlet and flecked with blood and gore. Two great wings stand out from her back, and two great horns grow from her head. She bears a shield made from the still-screaming face of a demon. You have never seen her before in your life, but you know she is the Gorequeen, Valkia the Bloody, the Demon Princess and favored consort of Khorne.
You attack. You take a quick step and swing your ax at her head, but Valkia raises her shield. Your gaze flickers to its demonic face. It has so many eyes, and life still shines from their depths, and they are so very deep. Endless pools that can draw you in forever.
Valkia drives a mailed fist into your gut, sending you flying backward and driving the wind from you.
You hit the floor gasping, trying to suck in a breath before she attacks again.
But Valkia does not strike. Instead, she smiles down at you. "Rejoice. You have been blessed."
You stagger to your feet.
"You have pleased Him, and-"
You strike, slipping in under her spear and bringing your ax down on a joint in her armor.
Valkia smoothly shifts a few inches, and your blow glances off harmlessly. Then she slams her head down on to yours. Her horns pound into your skull.
You wake up on the ground, covered in blood. Your blood? No. The dead man's. It's still warm. You weren't out long. You flop up onto your back and stare up at Valkia. There are two of her now. No. Wait. No, you're just seeing things. There's still only one.
She's talking. "... blessed, honored. He has reserved a special seat for you his in his hallowed hall. There, you will fight forever and know a bliss eternal."
'Bliss.' Bliss sounds good. And you're so tired. So very tired. You could just go to sleep and wake up in the halls, and then everything would be fine. You would- No. You have fought Chaos your entire life. Maybe Khorne will take your soul in death, but you won't just hand it over.
You hear a new voice and realize you're talking, mumbling out the first prayer that ever truly touched you. "Blessed be the Singer, he who makes all things flourish with his sweet voice."
Valkia's expression turns angry. She thrusts her spear at you, and you only barely manage to roll to the side. You try to strike back, but she drive a foot into your arm. Bones break.
You collapse back to the ground, but, even through the agony, you gasp out. "His is mercy and kindness and rest at the end of long trials."
She kicks you in the chest, and your ribs splinter. Your breath turns to gurgles. A distant part of you knows that means your lungs are filling with blood.
Valkia reaches for her spear.
"Ancestors," You whisper. "Take anything you want. But deny Khorne my soul."
She raises her spear high, and you know that you will die.
Light bursts out of you, shining forth from every pore. It hurts. It hurts worse than anything you've ever felt, like someone stuffed you full of red-hot coals. But you don't care, because the light makes Valkia flinch.
You surge up from the ground as her spear strikes down. You feel its tip pass by your ear. You slam your good fist up into her chin, knocking back her head, sending her staggering back a few steps.
You rise to your feet. Your ribs are still shattered, and, after that punch, both your arms are broken. But none of that matters anymore. The only thing that matters is ending that abomination.
Valkia roars in fury and charges at you. She's stronger and faster and tougher than you, and you bear no weapon, but you blaze with holy light. Over and over, the brilliance bursts forth at just the right time to blind and distract her.
Valkia speaks no more words as she fights in earnest. The world shrinks down to a rapid blur of attack and dodge and parry. You distantly note the very walls around you shatter as you fight back and forth through the building. You hammer your broken fists into Valkia hard enough to dent her armor. You fighter harder than ever before, and a small human part of you marvels at you proving an equal match to a demon princess.
Then you feel the inner light start to fade. Whatever fuel it burns is running low. If you are to win, you must do so soon.
Ashi Roll: 96
Valkia Roll: 1
You lock eyes with Valkia, and you know what you must do. You charge straight at her, and she drive her spear through your chest, exactly as you planned.
The light burns brighter than ever before, and your chest becomes a crucible of purifying power. Valkia's spear splinters inside you, and then each little piece burns away to nothing.
The abomination stare at you in shock, and you smile.
You tackle her through a stone wall. The two of your explode out into a courtyard. Valkia tries to take to the air, so you tear of her wings. She rakes and claws at you, cutting to the bone. But why should you care? You are not flesh. You are light. You are the cleansing flame that burns out the corruption of this world. You are the Purifier.
Your every touch harms her, eating away at her body and her armor alike. You rip of her arms and legs and lower jaw, leaving only a torso and head that cannot even curse at you.
You clutch what little remains of Valkia to your chest, and you summon up all that's left of the light. You send it all out in one last burst of brilliance, a light so bright and powerful your whole vision turns white.
Valkia disolves, and you know her soul will never return to Khorne.
Your vision finally clears enough for you to see, and you find yourself on the ground, staring up at Thorfin. He looks so scared.
You smile up at him. You no longer even have the strength to whisper, but you know he reads your lips as you mouth, "I had a good run. Tell the kids I love them."
Ashi's Trait: Greater Khornate Doom: Your dread reputation terrifies Khornates, but some may travel the world to challenge you.
Greater Khornate Doom Roll: 2/100
AN: Turn 18 Results will be up in a bit. That's where you will learn about the results of this attack, the fate of Ashi, and also whether or not your newest daughter is divine.
Ashi is either dead or purified. So, if you wanted to use the boon to meet with the Everqueen, you'll get a chance to change that opinion later on.
By the way, at the end there, Ashi got three critical success in a row; the odds of that happening and of Valkia getting a critical failure were 1/160,000
Presumably Khorne either straight up does that thing where he forces her to join Chaos against her will or he, like, possess someone and comes after her personally.
Ashi is either dead or purified. So, if you wanted to use the boon to meet with the Everqueen, you'll get a chance to change that opinion later on.
By the way, at the end there, Ashi got three critical success in a row; the odds of that happening and of Valkia getting a critical failure were 1/160,000
You smile up at him. You no longer even have the strength to whisper, but you know he reads your lips as you mouth, "I had a good run. Tell the kids I love them."
