The Wasteland
| Main Leaders | Directorate of Burgomeisters, Elector Count of Marienburg (formerly) |
| Capital | Marienburg |
| Major Races | Humans, Dwarfs, Sea Elves |
| Languages | Reikspiel |
| Status | Prosperous |
| Type | Mercantile city-state |
| State Religions | Old World pantheon |
| Location | Western Old World |
| Lands Ruled | The Wasteland |
| Vassalized by | The Empire (formerly) |
The Wasteland is large city-state and a mercantile nation ruled by Directorate of Burgomeisters. Its capital Marienburg is probably the largest city of the Old World. Located between The Empire and Bretonnia, it is de facto a buffer-state between the two. [1]
History
The area now known as the Wasteland was once a rich and verdant area with rich woodland and lush grasslands through which roamed vast herds of wild cattle, the auroch. Both the Elves and the Dwarfs loved the area - the Dwarfs calling it Tiwaz-Katalbuyk - Rest at Journey's End [1a] whilst their allies the elves built a great city port - Sith Rionnasc'namishathir. [1b] The Elves would also build a great white road leading inland - parts of which are still usable. [1a]
In -1997 IC the War of the Beard begins and in -1502 IC the city and its fortress are besieged by the Dwarfs and after a long conflict razed to the ground. [1d]
Following the departure of the elves following the War the land was devastated by the arrival of the Skaven even as the equally malignant Fimir expanded their marshland empire. Inevitably the two races went to war, unleashing increasingly deadly forces and magic until it seemed the tormented land rebelled, destroying both the Fimir Holds and the Skaven fortresses. Since that day it has remained a mist shrouded and devastated land. [1a]
Humans
Fleeing slavery at the hand of the Teutogens, the Jutones arrived in the Wasteland in about -20 IC and immediately fought against the Fimir, with a great victory being achieved in the barely visible ruins of the old elf city, the Fimir queen being killed in single combat by the tribes leader, king Marius. Marius proclaimed the area to be Jutonsryk or the Realm of the Jutones building fortifications on the islands that remained of the Elf city, his own tower being named Rykseiland or Realm's Isle. [1c]
Gijsbert Mannelykheid and his son Grootneus were some of the early Kings in the 3rd century IC. Attempts to found new settlements in the rest of the Wasteland met with little success and nothing survived on the Bitter Moors. [1c]
Emperor Sigismund II battles the barbarians of the Reik's mouth in 501 IC and is victorious. He makes the king, Bram, a Baron of Westerland and Vassal of the Empire, naming the new province Westerland. [1c]
The riches of the Manaanspoort Sea is initially Marienburg's gold mine with a seemingly inexhaustible supply of fish providing a large surplus that was salted and exported. However the growing riches drew unwanted attention and Norse raiders plague the region from 632 IC onwards with the Marienburgers meeting mixed success in battling the raiders, sometimes fighting them off, other times having to bribe them to leave. Despite this, Marienburg trades more and more, reaching out to Bretonnia, Estalia, Tilea and even Albion, Cathay and Ind. [1c]
In 1507 IC Marienburg itself is seized by Bretonnian army under Duc de L'Anguille, for the next five years the citizen resist the occupation which ends when a army under Grand Duke of Middenland approaches the city. [1d]
In 1979 IC, during the Age of Three Emperors, those Electors who still participated in the imperial elections wanted a strong Emperor to unite the divided nation.[4] The electors however chose the underage Countess Magritta of Marienburg as elected Empress.[4] Many (probably most) of the Electors had been bribed by wealthy Marienburg merchants[1]The Grand Theogonist refused to acknowledge the election; his refusal de facto ended the line of elected Emperors.[4] Rather than unifying the Empire, even greater hostilities ensured. [4]
Baron Matteus van Hoogmans seized the opportunity to create a treaty with the High Elves in 2150 IC. IC [1c]
The last Baron of Westerland, Paulus van der Maacht, died without any heir while serving in the army of Magnus the Pious's during the Great War against Chaos in Kislev. As noble houses across the Empire clamoured to be awarded governance of the city, Marienburg quietly appointed a Directorate consisting the greatest of its Merchant Houses and Temples. The Emperor prayed on the matter and confirmed their power. [1c]
Over the next hundred years, the city would take control of its own defences, replace the Imperial 2nd Fleet with its own private naval forces and appointed their own excise service, whilst carefully maintaining the flow of coin to the Imperial treasury. Finally 2429 IC in the reign of Emperor Dieter IV the Directorate were able to declare independence with considerable bribes. [1c][2]
The outraged successor to Dieter, Wilhelm III the Wise sent three military expeditions against Marienburg but all three were defeated, the last resulted in a humiliating surrender of the Imperial Army at the Battle of the Grootscher Marsh. The subsequent treaty of 2429 IC confirmed the status of the region.[1c]
End Times
The city fell to the forces of Chaos during the Battle for Marienburg in 2525 IC. [5]
Locations
- Almshoven: The town and its lighthouse were destroyed by a Champion of Nurgle in the 23rd Century IC. [1a]
- Bitter Moors: A huge expanse of poisoned land, inhabited by few people and little wildlife and known for its disorientating fogs. [1a]
- Broekwater: Fishing village with a reputation for harbouring smugglers. [1a]
- Fort Bergbres: A former Imperial castle now run jointly by the Marienburg Directorate and agents appointed by the Duc du Gisoreux. [1a]
- Grootscher Marsh: A gloomy delta that spreads for dozens of miles up and down the coast and back along the River Reik. [1a]
- Kalkaat. [1a]
- Kleinland: Lying between the Reik and the Bitter Moors, Little Country is mostly heathland used for sheep farming. [1a]
- Manannspoort Zee: The great bay where the river Reik enters the Sea of Claws, it is usually full of ships and wildlife including whales and the dangerous Grey Barbed Shark, also known as Stromfels' Kitty. [1a]
- Marienburg: One of the largest, richest and most corrupt cityports of the Old World. [1][2]
- Reavers' Point: Site of a large pirate base in the 24th century IC. [1a]
- The Tumble Downs: Lying north-east of Marienburg, they are low lying hills and swampy dells with occasional stands of oak or pine trees. A single proper highway, the Middenheim Road cuts through the southern part of the downs. [1a]
- Aarnau: A large and proud town famed for its militia. [1a]
- Fort Solace: A new port and lighthouse created after the destruction of Almshoven. [1a]
Quotes
| I pray for the day when they come crawling for help against Chaos or the Norse or the Bretonnians. Let the Directors see what their gold buys them then! I curse them and their lands and their city! Westerland - bah! I name that land for what it is, a Wasteland, and I hope they choke on it!
~ Emperor Wilhelm the Wise von Holswig-Schliestein on learning of the defeat of his army sent to retake the city. [1a] |
Sources
- 1: Marienburg: Sold Down the River
- 2: Warhammer Armies: The Empire (8th Edition): Marienburg, pg. 21
- 3: Mordheim Rulebook, pg 69
- 4: Warhammer: The Old World Rulebook, pg. 43
- 5: Marienburg's Stand (Short Story)
