It was only
a few months after the final battle at the gates of Middenheim that rumour
spread of large Chaos force concentrations in the very east of the Empire.
Apparently Archaon, Lord of
End Times hadn’t given up yet the conquest of the
Empire and the remainder of the old World. In order to do so, he wasn’t just
counting on his own Chaos Hordes. He had forged alliances with several other
lords known to serve one of the many evil gods. Dark Elf Highborns had
disembarked their troops from their black ships on the nothern shores and were
now joining the Evil Host. Vampire Counts and Lords had awakened their servants
from the grave and had pledged to serve the Everchosen. Skaven Warlords and Grey
Seers had their subjects dig their way to the East and were waiting underground
for the orders ofthe Favoured of the Gods. Numbereous Orcs and Goblins had
followed their warlords, for they knew they wer going to see some action. And
so, the Empire was once again at war...
Karl Franz, the ruling Emperor, had requested all forces of Light to gather once again under his banner to get rid of the treath of Archaon once and for all. He requested the churches of Sigmar and Ulric to bring word to his Elector Counts and ask them to send whatever forces they could miss to join his own army at Leopoldsburg, a city not far from where the highest concentration of Archaons forces were reported. Both the Grand Theogonist and the Ar-Ulric, send out messengers. These messengers where commonly Warrior Priests on horse, mostly accompanied by a small bodyguard of Knights.
One of these
messengers was Thor Klopterop. Joined by a small squad of Inner Circle
Reiksguard Knights, he reached Talabheim and demanded to be heard by the Elector
Count. In the great hall the old Elector Count sat motionless as Thor told him
the bidding og the Emperor. Out of a group of nobles suddenly a young man stept
forward. ‘Father, why don’t you answer the call of our Emperor?’. ‘Karl, my son,
I can’t request any of my subjects to join the forces of the Emperor unless it’s
of their own free will. You know that the main part of our reserve troops is
assigned to the Relieve Force
of Falco. The few remains of the reserves have no officers to command them. If
any of you offers to take the lead upon him within the next week, the reserves
are at the disposal of the Emperor.’’Search no further, Father, I will lead them
myself’, Karl anwsered. ‘Wait for a week, my son. Then we’ll see!’.
The week
past by slowly. The only troops remaining in the reserves were a
unit of
spearmen, a unit of swordsmen and a couple detachments of handgunners. On the
last day, the court of Talabheim and Thor gathered again in the Great Hall.
‘Father, nobody has volunteered to lead the troops. I will go myself but Talabheim will send troops for the Emperor.’ ‘I know my son. But because their
are only 2 regiments, I will put one regiment of my personal bodyguard
Taal’s Guards at your service.’ ‘I thank you, Father, I...’ ‘I wasn’t finished yet! Do
not interrupt me!’, the old count shouted, ‘at my request and expense, I have
hired you some artillery and fast moving cavalry from the forces of Nuln. Use
them well!’ ‘Again I thank you, Father, I will make you proud of me!’. Then Thor
stepped forward: ‘And I and my bodyguard of Knights will join you also!’
And so they set off. Underway several brigands and adventurers joined the troops, hoping to make some money on the field of honour. As they traveled through a large forest, they heard sounds of battle further down the road. Without hesitation Karl ordered his men forward and as they came closer they saw a small group of White Wolf knights who had fallen in an ambush of beasdtmen. The unexpected charge of the Talabheimer troops surprised the Beastmen completely and the Chaos minions were cut down to the last man. ‘Thank you for the intervention, my lord. We are the survivors of a force of knights sent by our grandmaster to aid the Emperor. We were led in an ambush and outnumbered three to one. I don’t think the 5 of us won’t be much of use to Karl Franz so...’ ‘Nuts’, Karl interruped, ‘why you don’t join me. A small fast moving troops of knights can always come in handy to enter the fray at an decisive moment. I will send a message to my father, the Elector Count of Talabheim, so he can warn your Grandmaster...’ The 5 knights accepted the proposal and rode with the troops of Prinz Karl to Leopoldsburg. When they finally arrived at the city they saw the numbereous soldiers of different races who had made camp here. Karl knew ‘Here Chaos will be stopped... ‘
