Archmage
Bright Wizard
Engineer
Ironbreaker
Rune Priest
Shadow Warrior
Swordmaster
Warrior Priest
White Lion
Witch Hunter
Empire Army Overview
- Magnus the Pious
The greatest nation of men in the Old World, the Empire is composed of the human descendants of Sigmar, who united the tribes of men at the Battle of Black Fire Pass. Sigmar was deified after the battle and his promise of eternal aid to the kingdom of Dwarfs still stands today. This action solidified the relationship between men and Dwarfs and planted the seeds for the burgeoning Empire through trade. Today, the Empire is led by Emperor Karl Franz, who rules from his seat in the city-state of Altdorf.
The life of a citizen of the Empire is a perilous one, for there are foes within every shadow and enemies around every corner. Secret cults abound, or at the very least, there are rumors of them running rampant. No one is certain who is trustworthy, and fear and paranoia are omnipresent in the isolated settlements that dot the Empire's provinces.
As the Empire rots from within, it is constantly under assault from without. Chaos Marauders from the north frequently mount massive campaigns into the Empire, pillaging and destroying all that they can. In the Age of Reckoning, such a warhost has attacked the Empire's northern borders under the leadership of a powerful Champion. The timing of the invasion is particularly ill-fortuned, for the Empire is being ravaged by a mysterious plague that is transforming the populace into murderous fiends.
Faced with such desperate circumstances, Emperor Karl Franz has been forced to call upon the Dwarfs and High Elves for aid, lest his lands be transformed forever into a nightmarish domain of Chaos.
Empire Careers
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| Knight of the Blazing Sun "The Goddess instructs us to seek out the enemy's weaknesses and to attack them with relentless force. Do this in all things - in love, in politics, in war. To accomplish any task - to defeat any foe, all that is needed is a keen eye, a sharp mind and the favor of the Goddess." |
Witch Hunter "These poor, simple folk - too fearful or too dull-witted to see the vulgarity and evil in their own midst. They wail and complain about my... uncompromising methods, but who among you can say that hanging half a village is too high a price to pay for the assurance that corruption has been exposed and destroyed this day?" |
Warrior Priest "Where is your faith on this dark day? Chaos rides against you - will you let these beasts destroy your hearths and homes, or will you trust in Sigmar and fight? Forward men, and drive back this Chaos rabble! For the Empire! For Sigmar!" |
Bright Wizard "There is a fire within you! Deep in your mind there is a glowing ember which we will fan to life, and build into a blazing beacon. YOU will be the Empire's greatest weapon! A Pyromancer! Your fire will incinerate the enemy, and purge the unclean! Do not! Be late! For class!" |
The Order of the Griffon
In the Age of Reckoning, the Empire is ravaged by a strange and terrible plague that transforms its victims into savage murderers. Soon after the appearance of this vile disease, a great Chaos warhost assaults the weakened Empire from the north, crushing what little resistance remains in the plague-wracked villages of Nordland.In the face of these dangers, many of the Empire's citizens have given in to fear and panic. Some have abandoned their homes to settle elsewhere, believing the battle to be a lost cause. Others have embraced the powers of darkness, thinking it best to side with foes that cannot possibly be defeated by force of arms. Too few have found the courage to stand and fight, and even with the help of the Dwarfs and High Elves, the greatest nation of men in the Old World is perilously close to destruction.
Seeking a solution to the many difficulties arrayed before him, the Emperor summons forth the Grand Theogonist of the Cult of Sigmar, the Supreme Patriarch of the Colleges of Magic, and the Grand Master of the Reiksguard. Together with these advisors, Karl Franz devises the Order of the Griffon, a military force made up of highly skilled soldiers, Wizards and devotees of Sigmar's cult who will be charged with facing the gravest threats from within and without.
Receiving their orders directly from the Emperor, the leaders of this new regiment will act as an extension of his will and authority, free to take any action necessary to protect the Empire from threats of any kind. Also, the regiment will serve as a proud example of the glory of the Empire and its ruler, meting out swift justice to those who would betray their countrymen or abandon their duties in these desperate and dangerous times.
History of the Empire
Sigmar Heldenhammer's birth was foretold by the appearance of a two-tailed comet in the night sky. At the age of 15, Sigmar rescued the Dwarf King Kurgan Ironbeard from goblins, and for a reward was given the hammer Ghal-Maraz.("splitter of Skul" in the language of the Dwarfs) and began to be called Heldenhammer (or hammerer of the Goblins). This event began a strong relationship between the races of Dwarfs and men that persists to this day.
Sigmar became a mighty barbarian chieftain of the Unberogen tribe who unified the twelve great Human tribes into what is now the Empire, through diplomacy and war. He commanded the respect and sword arm of many brave men.
As the Dwarfs were retreating from a Greenskin attack, Sigmar and his forces confronted the Greenskins from behind. The combined forces of Dwarfs and Men defeated the Greenskins at the battle of Black Fire Pass. After the battle of Black Fire Pass, the High Priest of Ulric crowned Sigmar Emperor, this marked the first year of the Imperial calendar.
Sigmar then divided his holdings amongst the 12 tribal leaders, to create the provinces of the empire. The provinces of today's empire are based around these, but some have been lost through various hardships and conflicts over the centuries.
Since the time of his passing Sigmar has been worshipped as the premier God of the Empire. His followers pledge to fight Chaos wherever it is found, and defend the Empire from internal and external forces.
In the year 1111 a plague fell upon the Empire, killing many men and weakening the Empire. It also took the life of the Emperor Boris Goldgather. The plague was shortly followed (in 1124) by a great schism in the imperial power structure. Mandred Ratcatcher who had been elected by the council to replace Goldgather, was slain by evil creatures. The resulting vacancy of the Imperial throne sparked controversy. Many laid claims to the title of Emperor, but none truly held the crown of Sigmar. Eventually the empire was divided in two by those who followed the Ottilian Emperors of Talabecland and those who followed the Electorate Emperor. Controversy surrounding the crown lasted for centuries, involving many more factions than the two mentioned, and the Empires strength waned significantly during this period. Many would lay claim to the crown, but the Empire was not united. The Empire was weak and vulnerable to attack during this time of political strife.
In 1707 an Orc Warlord, Gorbad Ironclaw, led an army of Greenskins into the Empire. The army sacked the city of Nuln, in the province of Solland, and killed the Elector of that province. Gorbad and his army then won the battle of Grunberg and moved on to lay siege to Altdorf. The Electorate Emperor was slain in combat, but the defenders of Altdorf held the city, and the Orcs were driven from the Empire.
There was no true emperor when, in the year of 2302, many evil omens heralded the advance of forces of Chaos from the north. Chaos sacked the city of Praag, and though they had no Emperor, men from the Empire bravely moved to meet the forces of Chaos in battle. Magnus the Pious led them. Magnus hailed from the city of Nuln, where he was a religious scholar. Magnus the Pious led the forces of men from the empire, in conjunction with Kislevites, and dwarfs to meet the Chaos invaders at the Battle of the Gates of Kislev, where they were victorious.
Magnus was Elected Emperor in the year 2304, in no small part due to his military triumphs. He was the first sole Emperor in a thousand years. The Empire prospered under Magnus and many of the Emperors who followed him. In the year 2429 there was a controversy involving the city of Marienburg's independence. The result was that the Emperor of that time was deposed in favor of Wilhelm, the prince of Altdorf. Wilhelm is the ancestor of the current Emperor, Karl Franz.
Karl Franz, the ruling Emperor, was elected in 2502. He is a supporter of the arts and science, along with a military innovator. His support of the Imperial Engineer's School has provided the empire with advanced weaponry second only to that of the Dwarfs. Karl Franz is a valiant warrior, and takes personal command of his armies whenever possible. He wields Sigmar's Hammer, an ancient weapon crafted by the Dwarfs
Political Structure of the Empire
The Emperor is a strong sovereign entrusted with the duty to protect the lands of the Empire from threats both internal and external. The Imperial Council appoints the Emperor for life.
The Imperial council consists of the Elector Counts from the provinces originally formed and assigned by Sigmar to his loyal tribeleaders after the battle of Blackfire Pass. Though some of those Provinces have been lost, ten remain and each count of those provinces holds a seat on the Imperial Council. The Elector Counts hail from: Averland, Hochland, Middenland, Nordland, Ostland, Ostenmark, Reikland, Stirland, Tillabecland, and Wissenland. The other members of the council are the Grand Theogonist of Sigmar, two Arch lectors of Sigmar, the High Priest of Ulric, and the Elder of Moot.
The Empire is really a collection of provinces, bound together through common religious practices, common language, and a duty to the Emperor. The ten provinces are ruled over by the same Elector Counts who select a new Emperor when one is needed. Originally there were two other Counts, hailing from the now non-existant provinces of Solland and Drakwald. The lands of Solland are now a part of Wissenland, and the lands of Drakwald are now ruled over by the Count of Middenland.
Disputes between provinces are not uncommon, and often settled through combat. The provinces of the Empire each maintain their own standing army, bearing the provinces standard, to protect their own interests.
Geography of the Empire
The Emprie is a land surrounded by mountains and other barriers that help protect from invasion, though nothing compares to the protection the Empire provides itself through strength of arms. It is bordered on the west by the Grey mountains and Brettonia. To the South lay the Black mountains. The Middle Mountains border the northern imperial provinces of Ostland and Hochland. The Middle mountains are heavily forested, and often inhabited by beastmen. To the Northeast lays the land of Kislev, which offers a small buffer between the Empire and the dreaded Chaos Wastes. The Wasteland borders the Empire to the Northwest.
Much of the Empire features thick woodland areas. In areas of habitation the forests have largely been cleared to allow for fields and settlements. Most of the forests near settlements are relatively safe. There are two major forests that would be dangerous for an unknowing traveler to wander into. The Forest of Shadows is in the province of Ostland, and often has dangerous beastmen within it. The Reikland Forest surrounds the major road between Altdorf and Brettonia. It harbors many a criminal hoping to prey on wealthy travelers moving to and from the capital.
The Reik is the largest and most important river to flow through the Empire. It flows right through the capital of Altdorf, and its Delta is found near the city of Marienburg.
There are many important settlements in the Empire, but the most important is its capital, Altdorf. Altdorf is a center of trade, magical studies, and engineering of weaponry. In the southeastern portion of the Empire lies the city of Nuln. Nuln is also situated on the Reik, and is well known for the cannons it produces. Talabheim lies in the north, just south of the Middle Mountains, and in the midst of the Great Forest. It is often used as a trading center connecting the rest of the Empire in the South to Kislev in the Northeast. In the Northwestern portion of the Empire lies Middenheim, the city of the White Wolf. Here the worship of Ulric is more common than the worship of Sigmar. The Knights of the White Wolf, who are valiant in combat and hail from Middenheim, are the city's greatest source of fame.
