A United Reikland
The fate of humanity lay in its own hands, not satisfied with the threat posed by the races inhabiting lands afar, their own internal power struggle would leave the Empire harbouring a civil war with Karl Franz mustering what forces remained loyal to him in an effort to defeat the Successionists and reunite Reikland under Empire rule.
Altdorf remained the base for Karl Franz to front his campaign, Successionist forces had succeeded in gaining a controlling stake in Grunburg, Eilhart and Helmgart, the Empire had a 3 front war to wage.....
Grunburg would be the first settlement to fall back into the Empires hands. A battle won with few losses as the organised forces of Karl Franz would rout those fighting for a cause less known. Yet the spoils of war would be short-lived, the hub of the Empires renaissance would be threatened as forces from Middenland would offer their support to the Successionists and they would march on toward Altdorf. The Empire had one chance to rebuff this move and under the leadership of Karl Franz, the Empire forces mustered at Bloodpine Woods in an effort to ambush their enemy and stop any threat to Altdorf before it began.
Over 2000 men would square off in a rain soaked wood, the Empire had the element of surprise on their side and would press home that advantage, swamping the Successionists from both sides, causing mass confusion and mass casualties. As the Middenland forces fled the field, the Successionists appeared and immediately saw the bloody scene ahead of them. The steel of the Empire had the thirst for more and Karl Franz wheeled his men to face the 2nd army. The battle would play out as the first, Halberdiers, Swords and Guns all took their aim and carved yet more flesh in front of them. The Empire was flexing its strength, if there was to be a watershed moment in the recent history of the Empire, this was to be it. They had taken Grunburg, slaughtered those threatening Altdorf and now had the rest of Reikland in its sights.
With Emperor Karl Franz leading the way, he would rely on his fellow Generals to play a role in reclaiming Reikland as Rickard Bierne and Arch Lector Nicolas Holz would lead their armies into West Reikland to take on the Successionists encamped in Eilhart and Helmgart. Inevitably blood would be shed, the Empire gave the rebels a chance to fall back into line, but they had gone to far, they continued to hope for full control of the Empire under their terms.... they would be wrong.
It was now with deadly precision that the Empire would sheer their way into the settlements they craved. The Successionist forces met them man to man in the field of battle, but they were no match for the hearty Empire warriors. Inspired by the victories in the East, Holz and Bierne led their men toward yet more reward, this time taking no mercy on the traitors. The Empire would first overthrow those in Eilhart, before butchering the remaining defectors in Helmgart. It was a waste of human life, but a necessity for Karl Franz and the Empire, he now had full control of Reikland and a foothold in to which to spread the will of Sigmar.
Fellow human lands now held the Empire in higher esteem, trade deals, non aggression pacts and more were signed as Karl Franz shored up the borders to his North.... but it was never going to be about furthering their conquests in the Empire, an old foe loomed large... the Greenskins were rampaging their way through land and sea. A WAAAGH led by Skarsnik would be the next threat to the Empire and Reikland. Karl Franz needed to muster further forces as a Greenskin war would be inevitable.