Great War Against Chaos
The Great War Against Chaos was a series of campaigns and Chaos Incursions lasting from about 2301 to 2304 IC.[1a]
Dire portents of disaster were observed throughout the Empire during the summer of 2301 IC - crops were shrivelled in the heat or devoured by insects, once reliable wells suddenly becomming filled with noxious slime and cattle were killed by virulents poxes - many within the Empire were sure that the land was cursed by Nurgle. [9]
Beastmen grew in numbers and power and took back part of Ostland and Ostermark and bands of Chaos Warriors roamed as far as the Howling Hills to the north of Altdorf. Orcs were driven from their own lands and into the more civilised nations whilst in the far north much of the Chaos Wastes were swallowed by the Realm of Chaos. [9]
As the situation grew worse, many Witches, real or innocent were burned or drowned and bands of flagellants roamed the Empire. [9]
Contents
Dark Elf Invasion of Ulthuan
Beginning in 2301, the Norse began to make isolated raids against Ulthuan. In what was to be called The Great Chaos Incursion the Witch King Malekith saw a opportunity to strike and took it. In 2301 IC, Dark Elves began an large incursion into Ulthuan. The northern kingdoms, including Chrace and Avelorn were devastated by his armies while Phoenix King Finubar was stuck in besieged Lothern. [1a]
Battle in Avelorn
Alarielle the Everqueen and Tyrion fled Dark Elf Assassins into Averlorn's deepest forests.[1a]
Malekith then released the Keeper of Secrets, N'Kari, to hunt the Everqueen. Because Avelorn's forests had close ties to Athel Loren, Ariel sent Scarloc the Scout and his kinband to hunt down N'Kari. Scarloc's scouts attempted to use hit-and-run attacks against N'kari until it was finally worn out, but this strategy did not work. When the daemon was only one hour away from Allarielle, Scarloc and his kinband lured N'kari into a Dark Elf army. At this point, Scarloc and his remaining scouts returned to Athel Loren. [2]
When N'kari finally found its way to the Everqueen, Tyrion was able to hold it at bay until his brother Teclis arrived and banished it to the Realm of Chaos.[1b] Meanwhile, Lord Moranion of Athel Tamarha protected Ulthuan's east coast, and Prince Imrik defended Caledor.[1a]
Battle of Finuval Plain
The Dark Elf incursion was finally brought to a halt in 2302 IC at the infamous Battle of Finuval Plain. After banishing N'kari, Tyrion, Teclis, and Allarielle met up with the Handmaidens of the Everqueen. From there, they traveled to the Finuval Plain in Saphery, where the remnants of many High Elf armies had gathered in order to make a final stand. [1b][1c]
The Dark Elf army was bolstered by Chaos Warrior allies, however, the High Elves fought with courage and initially were able to bring about a stalemate. Eventually, though, the tide slowly began to turn against the High Elves. Finally, Teclis summoned all the power he could and, invoking Lileath, smote the Witch King, Malekith with magical energy. Malekith managed to avoid complete destruction by hurling himself into the Realm of Chaos, but without a leader, the Dark Elves fell into disarray and fled.[1b]
Siege of Lothern
To the south of Finuval Plain, the city of Lothern was under siege and so after winning the Battle of Finuval Plain, Teclis and Tyrion marched south to relieve the Lothern. At this battle, the Phoenix King Finubar himself led a sally out of the walls and caught between two armies, the besieging army was utterly destroyed. Two days later, Prince Tyrion led an army to relieve the Tower of Hoeth and the Phoenix King took another army north, to face the main Dark Elf invasion host. [1b]
Asavar Kul's Chaos Incursion
The worst incursion came to Kislev in the year of 2302 IC. It was led by Asavar Kul, Everchosen and warlord of the Kurgan and was engaged by the Elector Count of Ostland and the entire army of Kislev between the towns of Chazask and Murmagrad. Few survived the battle to report the defeat to the ruler sof Ostland and Kislev. Asavar ravaged the northern part of Kislev and then crossed the River Lynsk and advancing on Praag. [9]
Magnus the Pious
It was Magnus von Bildhofen, a noble of Nuln, who truly realized the gravity of the times. He was a magnificent orator, and so brought many allies to his side. He organized two armies: one made up of mostly cavalry. He hoped it could move fast enough to save Praag, the northernmost major city in Kislev. The second he lead in person. It was far larger and slower than the first, but he only planned to march to Kislev City, the capital of Kislev.[3a]
After a council of war in Talabheim Magnus dispatched his trusted friend, Pieter Lazlo, at the head of an embassy to beg the Phoenix King of Ulthuan for an army. After a harrowing voyage from Marienburg, Lazlo arrived and presented the letter to Finubar but when he set sail for home, he brought no soldiers with him, but instead three wizards - Teclis and the Loremasters Finreir and Yrtle. Teclis made a shocking proposal to Magnus: end the ban on magic as it would take sorcery to fight sorcery. [7]
Fall of Praag
The northernmost city in Kislev, Praag was the first to come under attack from the Chaos hordes. It was the meeting place for the armies of Asavar Kul, who marched out of the east and over High Pass, and Engra Deathsword, whose army had come from Norsa in the north.[5a]
When he had the city sufficiently surrounded, he released a plague on the denizens of Praag and the refugees that had fled into it. Sick and starving, defenders of Praag where no match for the Chaos worshipers but Asavar was content to let pestilence do his work for him. [9] Praag fell in the winter of 2302.[6a] After Praag fell, Kul commanded his sorcerers to perform and blasphemous ritual. A black wind from the Realm of Chaos swept through the city and transformed everything it touched, turning Praag into a living nightmare [3a][6a][9]
News of the cities fall and transformation was brought to the city of Kislev where the Tzar was raising and training his army to fight the invasion. [9]
The Sack of Erengrad
Erengrad was sacked by a Norscan army led by Sven Bloody-Hand, following which, he and his army then returned to Norsca.[5a]
The Battle for Kislev's Gates
After leaving Praag, Kul's horde marched south to the city of Kislev. Here, he began another prolonged siege. Kislev's garrison was larger than that of Praag, but it still could not hold against such strength and consequently Magnus's army redoubled their efforts to relieve them. [5b]
Upon reaching Kislev, Magnus formed his army quickly in the hope that he would be able to attack the chaos hordes while they were still disorganized.[5b] Magnus also wanted to beset the enemy on as many sides as possible: the Imperial forces attacked from three different points on the east, a Dwarfen army, led by High King Alriksson attacked from the north, and the defenders of Kislev from the east.[5c]
Everything fell into place when Magnus's first army, returning from Praag, came over the Hill of Heroes and onto the battlefield.[3x] At about the same time, Magnus the Pious and Asavar Kul joined in an epic duel. After hours of fighting, Magnus finally sliced the Everchosen's head from his body. Kislev was saved and victory was won.[5d][9]
Aftermath
After meeting in Wolfenburg, Magnus the Pious was officially elected Emperor, thus ending the Time of Three Emperors. Soon after, the Colleges of Magic were founded. Prior to the Battle at Kislev's gates, Teclis had traveled to the Empire and trained some men in the arcane arts. These proved invaluable assets in the coming years. [1b][3a][4b] Many had failed this program, either driven mad or killed by a miscast spells, but those remaining became powerful sorcerers in their own right, the first Magisters of the Empire. [7]
The War in the Mountains
In 2302 IC, another army marched out of Norsca. This one was not headed to Kislev or the Empire, but to the Dwarf hold of Kraka Drak.[5a][6b] After being defeated, King Silverbeard destroys the entrances to the hold in order to prevent the Chaos Warriors from invading other holds. The chaos army and its leader, Valmir Aesling, perished, but not before slaying every last dwarf in the hold, a job that took them until 2390 IC to complete. [6a]
Gallery
Magnus the Pious and Teclis.
Notes
- Kraka Drak seems to still be around, meaning it is likely that the dwarfs resettled it - confirmed in Sea of Claws (book). [8]
Sources
- 1: Warhammer Armies: High Elves (8th Edition)
- 2: Warhammer Armies: Wood Elves (8th Edition): pg. 31
- 3: Warhammer Armies: The Empire (8th Edition)
- 4: Sigmar's Heirs
- 5: The Empire at War
- 6: Warhammer Armies: Warriors of Chaos (8th Edition)
- 7: Winds of Magic (book): A Glimmer of Hope, pg. 13
- 8: Sea of Claws (book): Kraka Ravnsvake, pg. 40
- 9: White Dwarf 270 (UK): The Great War Against Chaos, pg. 24-29
