Pulling the strings
-Send him in! –the count said, and the audition started. More than a dozen messenger was waiting outside the hall, from the entire Empire, to speak with the count, and tell him the news. Merchants, spies, emissaries, priests, soldiers… On the Count’s right stood his son, prince Hans, on his left, some nobles and advisors.
The door of the hall opened, and the first men came in. He was a warrior priest of Sigmar, tall, bald, wearing his armour and carriing his blessed, mighty warhammer. The count allowed the priests of Sigmar to carry arms in his hall, everyone else had to give them to the guards.
-My Lord, I bring world from his highness, the Grand Theogonist Wolkmar. – the priest said and touched his medal, shaped like a twin tailed comet.
-Tell us then, what can we do for him, and if we’re able to help, we’ll waste no time. –the count replied.
-He decided that, in the name of Sigmar, the county of Sylvania must be returned to the Empire, and those heretic Carnsteins must be destroyed, once and for all. For too long have those demons spawned and poisioned the body of our holy Empire. Therefore his highness askes every count to send an army into Sylvania, and by united force, take Drakenhof, and purge the land.
The count was not suprised. In the past few months, the undead caused many problems, mostly for Stirland and Averland, that it can’t be unseen. Sylvania began to gain strenght, and the Carsteins were prepairing for something. Something must be done, that was obvious. Also that was obvious, that the conquered territories will be given to the Emperor by the Theogonist…
-His highness is right, we, sons of Sigmar shall unite, and destroy this threat by divine right. Tell his highness, that I ordered my general Wolfgang back from Senden to Nuln, and when he arrives, he’s army will be reinforced and he’ll join this holy enterprise.
The priest bowed his head.
-Sigmar may bless you and your people, good lord! Farewell.
After he left, his son said:
-Father, why? Everyone knows that this is a bloody work! If we can even take Drakenhof, it will cost too much… the Carsteins can not be defeated so easy…
The cout smiled.
-You’re too young, but nevermind… it’s always good to learn. Well, let’s see… when Wolfgang arrives, I’ll tell him, to lead the army west… but don’t hurry. Maybe Drakenhof will be taken before he arrives… who cares? Those lands are dead. But, as I heard, there are a lot of cities taken by beastmen and other forces of chaos. Well, we will take those cities, purge them as his highness would say, and the Theogonist could not refuse granting them to his holy soldiers, who was so eager and brave in this war against heresy…
The prince nodded.
-Well then, send in the next.
A short man came in, wearing dark clothes and a hood. In a blink of an eye, everyone knew that he was a member of the infamuos guild of assasins… he was not much to look at, but they knew well that these assasins are much more dangerous than they seemed. Some said they could kill even with a look. The guards stepped closer to their count.
-My master informs you: he is ready to accept your proposal and make a contract. You’ll hear about him.
That was all. The count nodded, and the short man left. The count was smiling, turned to his son, and said:
-Remember my son: sometimes one single dagger is more effective than a thousand swords. We’ll speak about that man later, but now, send in the next.
The next one was a captain of one of the City Guard’s companies. The count remembered to have seen him a few times. He greeted him, and let him speak.
-My Lord, I’ve got some news you may be interested in. Yesterday evening I’ve met a Tilean man, while I was… well, I was patrolling the outskirts. So, I’ve found out he’s the member of a mercenary band of a certain captain, called Fernando Pirazzo. So, this man said, that they don’t have a master now, so they are ready to make a contract with you…
-The Lost Legion of Pirazzo… I’ve heard about them. Pirazzo is said to be a tough man, and his company is well equipped, experienced and well trained in the use of the pike and the crossbow. Well, I think we could use them. Gather them, send Pirazzo 5000 gold, and tell him to report to me as soon as he can.
-I’ll do, my Lord.
After him came in a man wearing the uniform of the Gunnery School.
-My Lord, I’m happy to inform you, that we managed to finish the production of the repeating handguns you’ve ordered. We also gathered the best shooters of the School, and armed them. Now, we made a company of the finest shooters, all armed with Von Meinkopt's Whirling Cavalcade of Death. They are now positioned in Nuln, and are awaiting orders.
-Great! Give my best regards to the master engineers of the School. Next…
The Holy Soldiers
The summer fairground had just began, and the roads were full of caravans, merchants and traders bringing their goods to the markets. The road, heading from Nuln to Averheim was especially crowded with masses of people travelling to Averheim, to one of the biggest fair in the Empire. That’s why Wolfgang choose this way. He planned to buy supplies for his army in the city, and march towards Drakenhof. But the main reason was much more cunning… the Count told him not to hurry… and on this road hurry was impossible. Instead, he sent messengers back and forth the road, to tell everyone, Wolfgang from Wissenland’s army marches to Averheim under the sacred banner of Sigmar, the Emperor, and the Grand Theogonist. And under these banner everyone is welcomed and granted help and protection, if needed.
And the protection was needed. Small bands of rebels, greenskins and undead was constantly harassing the routes. So Wolfgang’s army soon was dwarfed by the masses of villagers and merchants accompaniing it. He ordered his men to sew twin tailed comets and hammers to their clothes and banners, and now, as holy soldiers, they’ve ended up guarding the poor children of Sigmar.
And it worked. When the army reached Averheim, Wolfgang was brought word, that Drakenhof was taken… and also, that the Count sent that Tilean, Pirazzo, in command of a mercenary army, north to Averheim, to help fighting Stirland and Averland the beastmen. So Wolfgang decided to turn north, and take Pötting from those damned beasts, while the Tilean deals with their camp souther… he hated those abominations since he was young, but the hatred, he felt for them since he was wounded could not be described. Just a week before Senden was taken, in a battle, a huge bestigor crushed his armour and helmet with it’s axe. He barely survived the wound, and it left a terrible scar along his face and chest. He knew that everyone call him the Scarred… and he was proud of that scar, and wore that name proudly too.
So he led his army north, destroying every beastmen band and army they’ve encountered. Meanwhile Pirazzo managed to take the beastmen camp, and was ordered to march to Welleborn, to deal with a rebellion.
Pötting was taken too in days, and the countryside was silent, and safe. And then, bad news arrived…