Kislev

You may be looking for the Capital city and seat of the Tzars which is located here: Kislev (City)

Kislev is a country located to the north-east of the Empire and directly south of the realms of Chaos. It is the most northerly civilised nation in the world. Its current ruler is the Tzarina Katarin the Ice Queen

Geography

The empire borders to the south and west, the Sea of Claws to the west, Troll Country to the north and the World's Edge Mountains to the north-east and east. Although its southern boundry is drawn at the river Urskoy (a tributary of the Talabec), its northern border is much less well defined. Many take it as to be the river Lynsk, although some tribes live north of this river.

The north of the country is barely distinguishable from the Troll Country and the tundra, although more wooded to the east in the foothills of the mountains. It is always cold and infertile land and most who live there are nomads, moving from one grazing ground to another.

The further south you go, the more hospitable the land gets, though it is still chill all year round. There is generally a shortage of carved stone so most buildings use uncarved stone or wood, although this is not true for the palaces. They are built with gold in onion-shaped domes and towers. Due to the unforgiving landscape, there are only three cities, Erengrad, Praag, and Kislev City.

History

At the time of Sigmar, the lands were populated by the tribes of the Ungols, who also dominated the Ropsmenn. They shared many traits with the Kurgan peoples to the east, being horse riding nomads. Around 1500 (Imperial Calender) a large migration from the east of the World's Edge Mountains heralded the arrival of the people first known as the Gospodars, and then after the foundation of Kislev City, the Kislevites. They were wealthy people and easily took control as the Empire was in no position to counter them, having to deal with their own internal strife. The superior weapons and tactics of the Gospodars pushed back the Ungols to the west and north who then completely absorbed the Ropsmenn completely. Eventually, the power of the Gospodars grew and the city of Kislev was founded.

Around this time, Praag was growing due to the raids into the Ungol territory, which eventually forced the Ungols to accept Gospodar rule. Erengrad had also grown into a busy port of commerce ruled by the Kislevites, and from here they could sail into the Sea of Claws to trade or fight the Norse and occasionally the Empire.

This state has existed for 750 years, and Gospodar and Ungol society have merged over the years into Kislev. The lands are ruled by powerful warrior-sorcerers who practice an unique kind of magic Ice Magic. The leader of Kislev is a Tzar or Tzarina who ascends to the throne through birthright, although they all originate from Gospodar heritage. The current Tzarina of Kislev is Katarin the Ice Queen. Other important Tsar's were:

• Boris Ursus, the Red Tzar
• Tzar Gospodar IV
• Tzarina Shoika
• Tzar Vladimir Bokha

A great Gospodar queen was the Khan-Queen Miska, who led the Gospodars across the Worlds Edge Mountains.

The language and beliefs of the Gospodars are more evident inthe south, particularly in Kislev and Erengrad, while to the north where the lands become more barren, the horse tribes hold sway. Praag has, for the most part, been reclaimed by the old Ungol nobility and is, in many ways, a seperate power to the north, although it is unlikely that they would ever seek independence.

Kislevite Religion

The Kislevites worship many different gods, although only a small number of major ones. There is a difference in who is worshipped between the north and south, the south being influenced by the religion of the Empire, while the north being influenced by the old Ungol tribes. Many of the gods are explained in Kislevite Religion.

Kislev Bestiary

The Kislevites maintain small armies with a large number of mounted units. They make use of the various tribal warriors and create units that keep them seperate so as to avoid inter-tribal warfare. They do have some of the fastest human cavelry in the Old World, the Ungol Horse Archers. The army of the Kislevites is investigated in the Kislev Bestiary.

Ice Magic

Due to the type of landscape the Kislevites live in, they have developed their own unique form of magic. It can be used as barriers or as devistating attacks to freeze the enemy in their tracks. This magic is explained in Ice Magic.

Inspiration

Kislev has seen many renditions through the editions Warhammer Fantasy. It is largely molded upon medieaeval Russia and Poland. In fifth edition Kislev units and the Ice Queen could be taken by any Empire army of sufficient size. In sixth, or current, edition Kislev units can be taken as an allied contingent force to good aligned armies.

Sources

• Warhammer Armies: The Empire, 4th Edition.Baltimore: Games Workshop Ltd, 1996.
• Warhammer Armies: Kislev (6th Edition). 6th ed. A gathering of White Dwarf articles.