Drakwald

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Drakwald was located in the north-west.

Drakwald was a province of The Empire, being the homeland of the ancient Thuringians [1][2].

Situated between The Wasteland on the west, Middenland on the south-east and Nordland on the north, the province eventually fell under unclear circumstances.

History

King Otwin of Thuringians refused every emissary of Sigmar Heldenhammer, who sought to gather an alliance of kings and tribes. Finally in -4 IC the Unberogens invaded with an army of some twelve thousand warriors. King Otwin mustered his own army and met them in battle, but when he was defeated in combat he relented and gave Sigmar his oath. [9]

When Nagash invaded the newly created Empire in search of his Crown of Sorcery, the tribe were driven from their lands by the dead, the survivors fleeing to Marburg or Middenheim. [10]

In 322 IC Emperor Hündrod the Furious slew Mascar the Great Dragon in Drakwald.[7d]

During the latter years of the first millenia, the counts of Drakwald desired the realm of Laurelorn Forest as their own as did the counts of Middenland and Westerland. The Wood Elves resisted and defeated all attempts to conquer them. In 897 IC the elves overwhelmed the army of Drakwalder Count that history remember only by his moniker "The Unlucky". This defeat was crushing and set the stage for the downfall of the province.[7a]

Drakwald Emperors

At the turn of the first millenium, the Elector Counts of Drakwald had bribed their way to the office of the Emperor. The province had been weakened by the defeat in the hands of the Wood Elves and series of disasters. They moved the capital to Carroburg and began severely decadent reign. To this day, "Drakwalder" is a byword for greedy person. The Empire rotted from within. [7a]

The last ruler of the province, Elector Count Vilner, was slain around 1110 IC [3][7d] by the Skaven assassin Deathmaster Slike. [8a] The Runefang was sent to Emperor Boris Goldgather for safekeeping. The Emperor placed the Runefang into his palace vaults until the time he decides on an heir.[7d]

After winning the Skaven Wars, Emperor Mandred Skavenslayer first act on the throne was to officially dissolve the Grand Province of Drakwald and strip the house Hohenack of any honours. Its Runefang sword was given to the Cathedral of Ulric at Middenheim.[7c]

During the next centuries Drakwald was left unsupported and many of its settlements were destroyed by Beastmen and Goblins.[7d]

The province was divided between Middenland and Nordland in 1414 IC [3][7d], the first receiving the lion's share of Drakwald's territories.

Beast Slayer

"Beast Slayer" redirects here. For other uses, see Beastslayer

Beast Slayer is the Runefang of Drakwald. In 1550 IC, when the Count of Middenland rebelled against the Wolf Emperor in Middenheim, he and his successors used the Drakwald Runefang. It is not known how the sword moved from Middenheim to Nuln, but Cult of Ranald refers it as "The Great Caper".[7c]

These days, it is kept in the Imperial treasury. [6b].

Drakwald Forest

A legacy of the province is the name of the Drakwald Forest[4][5][6a], covering part of Middenland and of Nordland. It's a dark and dangerous place, home of several Beastmen tribes.

Deep in the forest The Place of blood is the location of the first conflict between Beastmen and Skaven.

Notes

TriviaScrollTrans.png

The following information is not to be considered officially sanctioned and/or is not written from an in-universe
point of view. A detailed explanation of the term "Trivia" as used in the Lexicanum can be found here.

  • Very little background about Drakwald was ever released; even the sourcebook Uniforms & Heraldry of The Empire, which provides the colours and heraldry of Solland and Sylvania, manages to "forget" Drakwald.[4]
  • The fact that no one inherited the Runefang is puzzling; it's possible but unconfirmed that Vilner simply had no sons and heirs.
    • Emperor Boris Goldgather ruled from 1053 IC until 1115 IC.
    • Sigmar's Heirs states that Boris Goldgather and his predecessors were from Drakwald.[7] This is unlikely, seeing as Drakwald's last elector count died in 1110 IC, and Boris Goldgather's reign did not end until 1115 IC.
      • Sigmar's Heirs actually calls Vilner heir to the throne of Drakwald instead of the Elector Count. It might be so that Boris was the Elector count and Vilner was his relative.[7d]
  • Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition)[6c] states that a certain Konrad Aldrech was the last Elector Count of Drakwald. Sadly no background whatsoever is provided.
The provinces & city-states of The Empire
Provinces Reikland - Middenland - Nordland - Ostland - Hochland - Talabecland - Ostermark - Stirland - Averland - Wissenland - The Moot
City-states Altdorf - Nuln - Middenheim - Talabheim
Lost provinces Drakwald - Solland - Westerland - Sylvania

Sources

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