For Taal and Rhya (Geheimnisnacht Talabecland AAR)

[wingren013]

This is me. The Glorious Empress Ottilla III of the Empire of Man, Countess of Talabecland, and Defier of the Dark. As you can see that last title there is about to be put to the test.

I have no fear of this vile creature, I'll simply raise the regiments, hire some Morrites, and oh...

My fellow Elector Counts refuse to help, even Timotheus of Ostland whose family I've betrothed my daughter to.

No matter I shall find allies elsewhere, like the stout company of Dwarves I hired. Nevermind that their loyalty is bought with gold.

Apparently my conflict has also drawn other eyes. I'm beginning to doubt my chances here.

In the middle of my glorious war (which I am currently obviously winning) my neighbor tries and marries one of my commanders, my niece Zofie. I tell him to bugger off and go marry a peasant. Apparently he takes that as an offer to marry her to his son. (note that this is Karl Franz's ancestor)

This war which I am definitely winning is going just fine. If it wasn't I wouldn't be narrating it. So as you can see everything is totally fine. Just fine. Not fire. FIne.

I receive another envoy form those crazy Khornates up North . And wait. What do you mean she wants her son to marry Zofie!!! IS SHE PRETTIER THAN ME!!!!!!!!

I decide to marry her off to some no-name in a backwater county. Oh and apparently Timotheus changed his mind on that whole war thing.

Apparently I've got some sort of close tie through a marriage pact I made for my newborn daughter (who of course was concieved with my faithful husband even though he was in the Capital while I was with my army and any who says otherwise is a Chaos Cultist) with my hated rival for the Imperial Throne. I'm quite dubious about this but I'd rather have her soldiers die than my own so I accept.

Countess Felizitas didn't believe that my Husband could have conceived my child. Clearly she was a witch!!!!!!

My daughter has come of age. Seems she has some sort of dental condition but the dentist I sent for, a mysterious old man with a ravem, said everything was fine and who am I to doubt the words of the wise Doctor Notzeentch. Some sort of Strigany ancestry there with the name but we can't all be perfect.

Did I happen to mention that I stood to inherit Felizitas titles?

So turns out people think my daughter is ort of Chaos Mutant. Truly I am surrounded by idiots.

After years of what was clearly the coward Von Carstein running from my glorious armies and not a desperate guerilla campaign I have finally brought him to battle.

FOR TAAL AND RHYA! THE BEAST IS SLAIN! WE ARE SAVED!



ahem.

More of my vassals dies and leaves his land to me. Gotta say I have no idea why my parents were always whining about these guys. Having vassals is great!

At last final Victory is mine. Truly I am the worthiest for the Imperial crown! Praise Taal! and Tzeentch!

As I begin my retaliatory campaign against the fool in Sylvania It seems that I have become quite the household name among the Empire. Truly nothing could possibly go wrong now.


(for those wondering I won the war by assaulting the holdings that Vlad sieged to keep warscore down and let him slowly take attrition from sieges and assaulting as my own men and mercs replenished quite quickly in my own lands) The allies I got helped but I could have probably won the war without them, just come out weaker.)

 

[HIMDogson]

Subbed!

 

[wingren013]

The war has been going well so far. That deluded Vampire's hordes of the dead can't stand up to Imperial steel. Overall I think this will be quite a good war for me. It even killed a political rival.

This seems...ominous.

And I was right! my faithful steward Wenzel has died leaving me without a competent tax collector. While I am easily able to replace him I will always mourn those extra 2 crowns a month.

Eager to get in my good graces, my new head tax collector proposes a trade expedition. I heartily agree.

My steward has informed me that we apparently don't own any ships. Apparently the large numbers of barges we have for transporting our soldiers are actually some sort of tax scheme and don't exist. Very well. I will simply hire a group of "Sailors" to acquire one for me.

And look I even made back my investment. Truly I am the greatest businesswomen to ever live.

Some random merchant has heard of my venture and wants a cut. In response I send him a transcript of my campaign against Vlad the Terrible Odored and Generally Disliked (I added that last little part when my scribes were writing it, wish I could have seen the look on his face)

Apparently the priests I brought along have issue with the previous employment of our crew. I remind them that I am the holy defender of the Emperor and that they shoul sod off and min their own business.

The construction of fort Suckitdorf has begun.

We arrive at our destination a small island far to the south. Apparently they've never seen horses here so we can make a killing selling them to the local yokels.

The Tzarina of Kislev has proposed a marriage of my nephew Berengar and her daughter. I accept because I find the idea of Berengar freezing his nether regions off while waiting to marry a 5 year old hilarious.

oh... Well played Tzarnia. Well played.

Meanwhile back on Pirate Island I am apparently something of a legendary diplomat compared to the locals. Truly my magnificence knows no bounds.

Look at stupid Vlad. Not only did he lose a war, but I am clearly the superior diplomat (which of course as we all know is the only thing that matters)

While engaging in diplomacy I stumble upon a few oddities. Note the horrible mutations on the Queen of Brettonia.

And the current state of the world that matters.

Anyways, with the war over I think I'll do some infrastructure spending. Apparently most of our castles don't even have proper walls!

Apparently the Witch Hunters decided that I was a threat to the Empire. Probably had something to do with me kicking them out.

My next move is to reclaim Mordheim from the filthy Beastmen that infest it. Look, just like Emperor Mandred!

Lets follow it up with a little more Imperial Reconquest eh?

Curse you Rat Creature. Why my vassals won't let me kick you out I'll never understand. Stupid vassals mucking up my plans.

Peasants revolt in the slice of Sylvania I've taken. Apparently they are angry at no longer being prey for bloodhungry monsters or something.

Apparently people still think my darling daughter is some kind of Chaos worshipper. I will find the origin of this slander.

After crushing the revolt somebody finally answers my wanted ad. He's a bit eccentric and one of my priests demanded that he be burned for using magic but I think I'll hire him.

I'm so proud of my grandson. Look at those stats.

 

[stnylan]

Well this is quite enjoyable so far. She is not someone who takes stick from anyone by all appearances.

 

[wingren013]

Someone has murdered my Daugther! I will have their head for this!

Could it be those Witch Hunters?

Or perhaps that damnably hard to kill Rat Man?

mmm... probably not him, considering he just fell off his balcony in a tragic accident. Speaking of, Ragnhild seems like a trustworthy steward for his former lands.

The Witch Hunters fight for my enemies! I will have my revenge.

With the war over I make a disturbing discovery...

...one of my rightful vassals refuses my rule!

Traitors and murders surround me! Berengar was apparently so angered by my hilarious joke that he was conspiring with the Witch Hunters to kill my children! I send my guards to arrest him but he escapes to the court of some mayor in Reikland. I put it on my to conquer list.

Still my anger over Berengars betrayal won't keep me from what is rightfully mine.

He is as they say, "boned". Isn't my wit amazing?

That's named character material there Kislev.

and all is nearly right in the world.

Now to take my revenge on the Witch Hunters

This is salvageable.

Vlaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[wingren013]

Well this is quite enjoyable so far. She is not someone who takes stick from anyone by all appearances.

Thank you. I'm trying to play to her traits which are proud and angry. Glad its enjoyable.

 

[stnylan]

Her wrath is pretty spectacular too.

 

[ninoallen]

goltta sub to this one

 

[wingren013]

I think you know my answer already, Vlad.

As the war wages on, the Count of Averland marches to my aid. Alas it is clear that Vlad is in league with the Ruinous powers, for A terrible uprising of disease cultists paralyzes the Averlandian army as brother is set against diseased mutated former brother.

The Vampiric Armies are easily crushed, but still something is missing. I know! I'll send some hapless fool with a sword to slay the beast!. I choose my Marshal Helga and assure her that the reason I'm sending her to kill the send her off to kill the unholy superhuman with a mastery of martial and magical arts is not that I stand to inherit her titles. She can totally take him.

Well I won the war.

apparently that one too.

As I take stock of the war situation I can't help but be proud of the web of alliances my diplomatic skills have assembled. Clearly people just can't get enough of me.

At some point during the slaughtering of the Witch Hunters I noticed that my runefang was different. Turns out I have two of the things. Who would have thunk.

aaah sweet victory. I order the WItch Hunters run out Reikdahl and turn the place over to the Taalite priesthood. At least all they try to do to my kids is get them to donate money (although one might argue that is just as bad).

Well Vlad I missed yah. Promise I won't bite.

You have good taste in furniture I must say. I think I'll keep my Witch Hunter skull collection here.

Turns out there's a new Head Honcho among the priests. And wow he hates me. Must be something wrong with him. Probably a vampire. I mean how could you hate me if you weren't some undead abomination. Thinking about it the Witch Hunters were probably all Vampires too. No doubt plotting to hand the empire to their master. "Hey Hans! Comission a statue of me killing Witch Hunters! They were totally Vampires!"

People have the strangest ideas about my grandkids.

Best Empress ever.

Speaking of, I sort of knew a certain count Nettburg with a claim to Middenheim and well we got to talking one day...

 

[stnylan]

Well now, some very positive developments. Shame about the grandkids

 

[wingren013]

Yeeeeaaaaargh!!!!!!!!!! My Grandson lies dead by an assasins blade! May Taal hunt them forever in the next world as I shall hunt them in this one!

The return of Middenheim from the hands of rebels does nothing to dull the pain. And in all truth it is hollow. The great city itself and the majority of the province still lies in the hands of the False Empress Eva, the people and lords caring more for her lineage as a Todbringer than for my rightful rule as Empress.

Hitting something that screamed was nice. I must have been quite the terrifying figure. A distinguished lady swinging two runefangs like a madwoman. It makes me feel better when I imagine those men were my daughter's killers.

Treachery of the highest order! My son-in law slew his own daughter! I do not care for his reasons! Such a vile twisted monster must be killed! I can't believe I ever considered him enough of a family member to grant a title to!

My daughter too? Oh.

The people talk of me as if I am the greatest Emperor to ever live. They speak of my wars. Of my keen political instincts. Of my defense of the Empire. They never mention my children. Three of my four babies lie dead. One by sickness and two by assassin. I think I should lie down a bit and rest.

 

[stnylan]

And so we shall see what the son can do.

 

[wingren013]

With my Grandmother's passing I have become Emperor by unanimous vote of the remaining non rebel Electors. The Priests call her a wicked woman, speaking ill of all her deeds, ascribing her greatness to base greed. The peasants speak differently, they call her the defender, they speak of her as perhaps the greatest since Mandred Ratslayer or even Sigmar himself. Perhaps she was both. What she is to me though is a headache.

Despite her success in war, her feud with the Templars of Sigmar and almost insane obliviousness to the evil surrounding her has left the Empire defenseless against the depredations of hidden foes. It is only luck that kept creatures like my mother from bringing ruin to the lands. How I escaped her taint I do not know. While I am not one for superstition I cannot help but think that some greater power sought to preserve me. But for what purpose I cannot guess. My first act as Emperor (after some political stabilization and favor currying of course) was to rescind my Grandmother's edict against the WItch Hunters. While there was some grumbling among her loyalists from such an action I impressed upon them its necessity for a stable realm.

The Witch Hunters got to work immeditaly, scourging the unnatural Vampire my mother had deluded herself into thinking was a slightly disloyal vassal suffering from a physical impairment (that woman I swear)

Shortly thereafter I meet the treacherous Pretender-Empress of Middenland on the field of battle. She was not match for a man wielding two Runefangs.

My wife Tatyana bore me a son, Moritz. One day he shall be Emperor.

Unfortunately my Uncle would not have the chance to see his nephew. He died fighting the Middenlanders. As he was childless I inherit his property. Good news for the crown, bad for the House of Untermensch. There are precious few of us left. Superstitious courtiers whisper it is a curse afflicting our line. A punishment for my Grandmother's impiety. Perhaps there is a curse. But if there is I suspect the gods responsible are not those worshipped by my countrymen.


Another tragedy strikes and my wife, whose Kislevite heritage gave her a small measure of magical skill was torn apart by a mob of superstitious peasants. While ours was a loveless marriage I can't help but feel a pang of sadness that our son will grow up without a mother. (Wife got killed by Witch Hunters. Forgot to take a picture)

And I think I'm in love...

 

[wingren013]

Couldn't fit this into things organically but this happened:

I also have to say I'm incredibly surprised that Ottilla didn't get assassinated. She literally had 0 intrigue and made a massive amount of enemies including multiple Vampires. As you can see her successor is a bit more level headed but alas the curse of Untermensch's will reap it's toll.

 

[stnylan]

Well he has had a good start, but nothing good lasts for long in this world.

 

[EvilCatInTheHat]

Loved what I read. Are you keeping the campaign going?

 

[wingren013]

Yep

Already played the next part. Going to write it up this weekend.

 

[Specialist290]

Been tempted to take this mod for a spin myself recently. I'll keep an eye on this