Border Princes: Turn 4

33rd Pflugzeit, 2516 IC

To Herr Gavius Klugge, of the Grey Order

I received with interest your sketches of the hieroglyphs denoting this Nun’keb the Erratic.  Your translation of the hieroglyphs WAS technically correct, even if it lost some of the nuances which would be detected by one more expert in the field.  I have consulted the extensive Imperial Collections of Nehekharan Antiquities and found some references to our Nun’keb.  It seems he lived, er… lives… I mean is ACTIVE mostly around the ancient city of Numas.

Based on this information and from your reports it seems likely that Nun’keb has lead the Neherakhan forces North from Numas and across the Badlands to reach the Border Princes, an amazing feat!  Who could imagine leading a force intact overland through the Greenskin plagued Badlands?  Surely this is yet further proof of the incredible advances of Man’s most ancient Civilization!  Even more intriguing, however, is the motive!  There are Neherakhan relics and stele in our very own Imperial Collection which were recovered, not from cities to the far South but from the Border Princes, which suggest that the Border Princes were once tributaries of Neherakha, long before any fanciful founding during the Crusades.  I believe this force is coming to claim the lands and tributes which they consider rightfully theirs… fascinating!

Regards,

Herr Kriel Schlager, Amethyst Wizard

3rd Sigmarzeit, 2516 IC

I have received word that the Imperial division to the South has made a bold march into the fetid Blood River Bogs.  Once again, it appears that the local Huntsmen were exemplary guides, but credit is apparently also due to the ingenious portable bridges and experimental steam-powered paddle-craft which helped transport the Imperial Artillery through the mud and wetlands and which the Imperial Engineers are so excited about.  Apparently the designs are based on sketches by Leonardo di Marigliano himself!  In a rare bout of optimism I am not going to guess how long until one of these devices breaks down, collapses or blows itself and all bystanders to smithereens…  Of course, the Imperial Battle Wizards played a role as well, old-fashioned though it may be: for the poultices and enchantments of the Lores of Life and Beasts no doubt kept our State Troops alive in the disease ridden swamps.  Good, practical, College –sanctioned magic… that is what is most useful in times like these.

-Gavius Klugge

7th Sigmarzeit, 2516 IC

Merchant caravans travelling West are arriving at Malko with reports that the forests South of the Old South Road are crawling with orcs and goblins, who continue to pour down from the mountains to the East to join the Greenskin plague sweeping the Border Princes.  The flood of refugees grows daily, and while it has been a good harvest I fear for Malko’s supplies.

-GC

10th Sigmarzeit , 2516 IC

A legion of Nehekharan warriors has continued to slowly but surely secure the Southeast frontier between the Border Princes and the Badlands.  This fits with Herr Schlager’s speculations that this may be an overland force from Numas reclaiming ancient tributes or colonies.

-GK

12th Sigmarzeit, 2516 IC

I have felt a shift in the Winds of Magic from the West this night, dear colleagues.  It seems that those damnable damsels of the Lady have lead Lord Tybalt and his retinue to the ruined High Elven tower of Tor Anrok, ancient seat of House Lothain and a fulcrum of great magical power!  I need not remind you, esteemed colleagues, of the extensive libraries which remain largely intact in Tor Anrok’s hallowed halls: for the ingenious High Elven architects designed the tower such that no mere raiders but only those skilled in the Art could find it! 

In any event, there can be no doubt that the Damsels must cede control over Tor Anrok to the Imperial Colleges of Magic ‘ere this is all over.  Such magics can only safely be controlled and safeguarded by those properly schooled in the principles of Teclisian magic, not these wilful women with their poppets and faerie rings and other hedge magics! 

I shall be sending a stern message to my hapless lackwit of an apprentice Alphonsus for failing to notify me of this turn of events.  Honestly, where do the Colleges find these apprentices these days?  Hopeless, the lot of them!

-Gavius Klugge

14th Sigmarzeit, 2516 IC

The forces of Chaos previously denied passage into the mountains in the North by the wild weather have finally secured the passes they so desired, or so my hidden Dwarf contacts tell me.  Let us hope another storm brews to wash away their taint!

15th Sigmarzeit, 2516 IC

Word from Imperial Outriders scouting south from the division stationed in the Blood River Bogs is that Herr Schlager’s antique friend Nun’Keb and his Silent Legion are marching Southwest from the Old Blood River.  Their chariots, which were such a hindrance in the Blood River Bogs, are making rapid progress across the flatlands to the South.

The Imperial commander also reports the strange news that large numbers of Orcs, Goblins and Snotlings have been washing up on the banks and amid the reeds of the Blood River Bogs.  Most are are dead or have had to be finished off by Imperial troops (for a wounded orc is often all the more dangerous for it!) but several goblins were able to be taken for interrogation.  Under the no doubt merciful ministrations of the Witch Hunters the cowardly wretches happily admitted that what appears to have been a rather ill-thought out Greenskin attempt to cross the Thunder River had ended disastrously, and that many orcs and goblins had been swept away to their doom.  Good tidings indeed, and the Border Princes west of the Thunder River are no doubt breathing a sigh of relief!

-Gavius Klugge

18th Sigmarzeit, 2515 IC, “Sigmartag”

Here in Malko, the festivities celebrating the Ascension of Our Lord Sigmar have been marred by the news that the horde of barbarian tribes, dark armoured warriors lately of Tamurkhan’s host and all those cultists and heretics who have flocked to their banner have struck South along the Thunder River, enslaving, torturing and killing as they go.  The few refugees who have managed to escape their onslaught are hollow shells, mad with fear, and bring tales of dark rituals and sacrifices and mutilations.  Few here in Malko feel like commemorative feasting and drinking and singing when all around are the vacant stares of the refugees and the flagellant’s incessant droning about Sin and Damnation and the End of Times… and certainly no one has the stomach for the traditional ‘Sigmar’s Sausage Eating Contest.’  Rather, the more sombre religious elements of Sigmartag have been emphasized.  Desperation tends to breed devotion, and while the liturgies, processions, preaching and prayer here in Malko are much humbler in scale and grandeur than that of the lofty cathedrals of many-spired Altdorf or smokey Nuln, these devotions have reached fever-pitch.  ‘Tis probably for the best that these people have some comfort, I will need their faith to steel their hearts if Malko is to have any chance of holding… and even then I fear the chances of holding are depressingly slight.

The zealots and flagellants may be completely mad but they are right about one thing… we don’t need ‘Sigmar’s Sausage’ in Malko, but rather one of Sigmar’s miracles, or perhaps his mighty warhammer Ghal Maraz!

25th Sigmarzeit, 2516, IC

Imperial forces operating near Aldium have continued to consolidate our hold on the lands South of the Old Silk Road, even as the Bretonnians secure the North.  Petty lordlings of Imperial descent continue to bring their household troops to join with our forces.

-GK

28th Sigmarszeit, 2516 IC

The steady stream of refugees arriving at Malko has suddenly, and ominously, stopped.  Mounted merchants and caravan guards, haggard, battered and bloodied, have arrived at Malko with the dire news that a mighty horde of orcs and goblins surged Westwards across the Old Silk Road, stripping the goods of all caravans unfortunate enough to be caught in their path and enslaving or butchering all the merchants, guards and refugees still out on the road.  Only those with mounts, and few of those at that, escaped the carnage.  The Old Silk Road, and access to the East and far Cathay, has been severed.

There is more dire news still!  Just as the burghers, mercenaries, refugees and merchants huddled here within Malko’s palisade were breathing a sigh of relief at news of the failed Greenskin river crossing early this month, we have received word that the Greenskin warlord who took the Silk Road has driven his horde on relentlessly, marching and raiding day and night to seize the strategic Bridge over the Thunder River ahead of the forces of Chaos approaching from the North, and with it easy access to the West!  Nothing now stands between this screaming horde of orcs and goblins and Malko itself! 

The one blessing in this all is that the bridge has been denied to the servants of the Ruinous Powers.  ‘Tis a slight blessing indeed with a screaming orc horde bearing down on us, but I shall take it.

-Gavius Klugge

31st Sigmarzeit, 2516 IC

When Malko’s warning bell sounded today to alert the guards and mercenaries stationed here that an army was approaching, I was certain to see the orc horde advancing from the East.  However, when I clambered up Malko’s makeshift palisades and looked out across the Silk Road I saw not Greenskins marching from the East but the brightly coloured pennants and caparisons of Bretonnian knights, riding from the West.  It seems Young Henri and his Gallant Companions have arrived…

-GK   

Faction	Normal Territories	Special Territories	Total Territories	Razed Territories	Victory Points	Banners	Alliances
Bretonnians	6	1	7	0	11	3	Empire
Empire	6	1	7	0	11	3	Bretonnia
Orcs and Goblins	9	1	10	0	14	4
Tomb Kings	6	0	6	0	6	3
Warriors of Chaos	6	0	6	0	6	3