Border Prince Lore: Vampire Counts

By Alexander Bade

The Dark Pilgrim:

An excerpt on the life of Dieter Geheimnisnacht

Dieter Geheimnisnacht is a powerful Master Necromancer of virtually unknown origin or history until this past century. It is known that he battled alongside Heinrich Kemmler and Mannfred von Carstein in the Border Princes region in the year 2522 and even before that he was seen beside Kemmler as he besieged Bretonnia from the Grey Mountains. Geheimnisnacht’s earliest accounts are known from the discovery of a series of journals found at his lair at Kleiberstorf where Geheimnisnacht escaped but in such a rush he was forced to leave behind this trove of information he set down from when he first began studying the black art of Necromancy.

Geheimnisnacht was not always known by this name. His birthplace is unknown but believed to be somewhere in Averland although this is purely conjecture since no real evidence supports this except for the style of hand writing in his early journals is reminencent of a merchant upbringing in the Averland region and the fact that when Geheimnisnacht went into hiding in was in the Averland.

Geheimnisnacht was born as Dieter Fredrickson to a river merchant frequenting the Aver River. Nothing is known of his childhood or early adult life but based upon some of his first entries in his first journal we can assume he was very disillusioned of his lifestyle of constantly moving up and down the river Aver. Geheimnisnacht often expressed in hateful tones that he could not abide by his family’s living arrangements, a floating barge which housed Geheimnisnacht, his parents, and three other siblings (two brothers and a sister). Geheimnisnacht expressed affection for his family but was often at strife with his father who attempted to train Geheimnisnacht as a merchant to take over the business. Geheimnisnacht ran away around the age of seventeen and quickly fell out of known existence for several decades when presumably he sank into the clutches of some Necromancer or another where he was introduced into that black lifestyle.

Accounts show that when Geheimnisnacht was fighting in Bretonnia he was little more than a pawn to Kemmler, a low level Necromancer, but he showed an enormous talent for raising the ancient dead from the grave and so Kemmler kept Geheimnisnacht on as a supplementary aid and took great pains to teach Geheimnisnacht of the tradecraft so that by the time Kemmler was forced to retreat at the battle of Maisontaal abbey Geheimnisnacht had become one of Kemmler’s chief lieutenants, though still somewhat of a lesser caster by most standards.

For the next thirty-one years Geheimnisnacht falls from the face of records except for small skirmishes mostly involving Witch Hunter cadres and Geheimnisnacht’s forces, all of which ended in the escape of Geheimnisnacht and usually the death of the Witch Hunter in question. It seems that Geheimnisnacht is back now, in the Border Princes region where perhaps he is looking to carve his own empire and begin his own small army to join forces with Kemmler or Von Carstein yet again to wage war upon the Empire or Bretonnia once more.

Border Prince Lore: Lizardmen

Lizardmen Backstory
By Tristen Fellowz

Delicate hands held a small trinket close. The finely crafted object resting, mere inches, from the rhythmic rise and fall of an ample bosom. Exquisite, almond shaped eyes danced innerly with the radiant glow emanating below. It was a ring. Studded with three stones of rare worth. The room was dark and still. Light, like emerald fire, shone from three pear shaped gems. She beheld the jewerly with baited breath, as one who receives their deepest desire with but a moments notice.

Soft features, atop an elegant framework of finely sculpted bone, gifted her with a visage fit for a nymph. Her every curve was enticing. Long burnette strands, silky and smooth, danced whimsically around her mantle. Had they rested about her as to be expected, the mane would have reached down to the crest of her derriere. Instead her hair extended her personal space in all directions. The effect was to create a mesmerizing aura about her. An effect that could be stared upon and not grow dull.

Bone hewn heels, leather stitched to high backed boots, tied curvaceously around lengthy calves, fidgeted softly in the dimly lit ambience. Her delicate diaphram flexed slightly in pace with her rapid breathing under the tightness of her corset. She was teasing herself. Eagerly awaiting the moment that she would slip the ring on her slender finger. She did so not entirely without reason. As was obvious with the eerie glow bathing the room, the ring was more than a precious sculpt of metal and gem stones.

Gazing down, eyes set amidst her ever shifting curls and strands, thin slit pupils caught the light reflected from the precious stones. Each pupil formed a pin point of light, like a candle from a great distance. Completing the incantation inside her head, the mystical auras of the ring seeped slowly into her vision.

Each gemstone had the image of a rune a short distance above it. Runes shaped from fire. The runes wrapped around the ring like a cresent moon. Drawing her breath quickly and holding it in, she slipped the ring on her finger.

The effect was immediate. Her blood began to course wildly through her veins. Heart pounding within her chest as though it might burst. Lean muscles flexed with exquisite tension and her chest heaved greatly. Raw energy washed over her in a blissful current. The feeling slowly began to subside and she opened eyes she had closed on impulse. The world looked anew and she had a glow about her. Peace.

She cherished the rush of magic, attuning itself to a new master. It was intoxicating. A prized sensation that many never felt. She let out a deep breath and closed her eyes again.

*****

While the heart fluttered of the enchanted female something stirred, far away, restless. Deep in the dank jungle depths of myth and swarming viper bulging eyes, yellowed with the passing of strange eons, flickered. A short raspy voice whispered breathlessly in a language lost to most of the world.

Quickly, shadowed diminutive figures raced about, springing into life with their master's awakening. Three of the creatures met together finally in the center of the cyclopean chamber. A rune borne in each clawed hand. The runes came together and the humanoids pieced together the meaning of their master's words. "Thieves gather with golden treasure, of fate and fortune import. We march."

Border Prince Lore: High Elves

Amendial, The Butcher of Avelorn
By Jonathon Schweer

Amendial is a very fearsome and formidable Elven general. He is the half-brother of the Everqueen, Alarielle the Radiant. He was born years after his older half-sister, who was birthed to satisfy the Elven demands that the Everqueen marry the Phoenix King and conceive a daughter who will one day rule. Amendial was raised at the Elven fortress city of Elyran Tarn. As a young child Amendial showed exceptional promise in the martial arts and with the bow. He often hunted and trained with the fearsome Sisters of Avelorn, and is rarely ever seen in battle without the sisters at his side. Follow the death of his mother and the ascension of his sister, Amendial found himself being promoted up the ranks of the Elven army until he was soon the youngest general in Elven history, less than a century old at the time of his being named a general.

All was not great in the Elven lands however. Soon a nomadic army of Orcs and Goblins invaded the Elven homelands, and made fall in the lands of Avelorn. The Orcs every vicious and unmerciful, destroying the Elven cavalry with their dastardly Doom Diver catapults, and breaking unit after unit with their barbaric Black Orc and Savage Orc war hosts. Amendial was the only general to find success against this Orc horde. It was not long until he discovered that a Goblin with a large spider pet and a Black Orc War Boss on a Wyvern were behind this invasion after escaped from a land called the Badlands. Sensing that something more sinister had to be driving this Orc and Goblin band forward, Amendial eventually captured a Savage Orc Shaman Lieutenant for the self-proclaimed Goblin Demigod, Morlan. Amendial was able to torture vital information out of this weak lieutenant and discover a weakness in the Orc and Goblin War band.

Amendial was the one responsible for luring these two large war bands into the Burned Glades, where he was successful in launching a counter assault on the Orcs. His hordes of Swordsmen from the tower of Hoeth sliced the Black Orc marauders and Savage Orc Barbarians with swift efficiency, while his personal retinue of Sisters of Avelorn and the personal retinue of Alarielle rained volleys of magical arrows on the Goblin catapults of Doom. With the way clear the Dragon Princes of Caledor and Silver Helms of Avelorn were free to charge in and clean up the unbreakable Goblin hordes that lined the battle field.

The final blow to the horde was dealt by Amendial himself, as he swooped in on his Flame Sphere Phoenix named Sage. Amendial first met the Black Orc General, Drauken, in a battle of strength, which he easily won by nullifying the effects of the Armour of Gork. Following this great victory Amendial trapped the Goblin demi-god and defeated him in a challenge as warriors from both sides looked on. Following the victorious challenge, Amendial ordered every Orc and Goblin on Ulthuan to be killed with no mercy, and to be sure it was successful Amendial rode at the front of every war band as it rushed into battle. Within days the Avelorn was free from invaders.

Following the great victory of the Burned Glades, Amendial was informed of a new territory that was ripe for the picking. His sister Alarielle, revealed that the Orcs were tricked into coming to Ulthuan to keep the Elves busy at home while they battled over a new territory in the Border Princes region. The Elves have long desired to expand their empire, and capturing the Border Princes region would greatly assist in this mission. Late at night, Amendial climbed aboard a great Elven warship along with his elite force of Sisters, expert Swordsmen from Hoeth, an elite squadron of Dragon Princes and the Silver Helms of Avelorn, and his faithful Flame Sphere Phoenix Sage. The warship set sail for this new and mysterious territory, but while the land is uncertain, one thing is definite, Amendial will capture the Border Princes region, the only question is how many bodies will he have to climb over to do so?

Border Prince Lore: Beastmen

Krookentou
Jeff Morck

As the Beastlord Krookentou, the Cutthroat Spike, ascended a hill overlooking the area called the Border Princes, he could feel it in his blood that this was his time. Krookentou knew this was the place where he would start the return of the Children of Chaos to rightful place as masters of the land, and all the lesser races would hide in fear.

Since the night he fought his way out of the womb of the female that had borne him, he knew he was meant for greatness. Krookentou knows he has been blessed by the Dark Gods, because his first memory of that night was looking up and seeing Morrslieb when Morrslieb was most full and at his zenith. Krookentou recalled the stories he had heard as Young Beastagor from the older ones around the fire. Krookentou would gnaw on a piece of flesh he had taken from a Gor or a weaker Beastagor and listen to the stories about the old times where the Beast ruled world and other were just prey. His Blood would boil during the story of the Battle of Golden Hammer, where man rose to an undeserved level and stole the Children of Chaos power. Krookentou knows, he must learn from the past so the cloven-ones to rule the future

Krookentou had been there when Khazrak the One-Eye, had defeated Graktar in a challenge to become the Chieftain of the Warherd. Krookentou thought it was a sign of weakness when Khazrak had banished Graktar instead of killing him. Now that Graktar has returned and started to gather his own warherd, and caused the Breatsmen to become divided. Krookentou learned that the only good enemy is a dead enemy.

Khazrak the One Eye also taught Krookentou that a Beastlord must control a Warherd by sheer will and power. Krookentou knows that the Warherd would never as organized as a human army. Krookentou still demands discipline and total obedience. The Gor or Ungor that springs an ambush or a Wargor, who fails to lead his troop victory, may find themselves on the herds menu.

Now as his Warherd moves through the Black Pass into the Lands of the Border Princes, Krookentou knows he has learned his lessons, and he is ready. More importantly than Krookentou being ready he knows his Warherd is ready. As the warherd of Beastigors, Gors, and Ungors moved into the Border Princes, Krookentou could hear the roars and feel the rumbling of the ground as his monsters made their way to the Border Princes area. Krookentou felt Breatman’s pride in his Warherd, a Warherd where even the Ungors were impressive. This was the Warherd that put Children of Chaos back in charge of this world. As Krookentou walked back down the hill and to his rightful place at the front of this Warherd, he was told by waves of returning Harpies scouts that other groups were moving into the Border Princes. The Harpies report that groups of Elves, Lizards, Undead, and Rats. It did not matter to Krookentou, he knew that his Warherd would consume all the order and shat out chaos.

Border Prince Lore: Skaven

Razeek Twotail
Skaven Grey Seer
By Phil Sidebottom

When Razeek was young one of his spells miscasted sending him into unconsciousness, during which he was visited by the Great Horned Rat, may his schemes never fail. The Great Horned Rat, Great be thy name, told Razeek that he will find a great treasure that will lead the Skaven to greatness. When he awoke from his vision, he did what any self respecting skaven would do, he kept the vision to himself and study the details in secret. After several long years of pouring over books and scrolls, Razeek had discovered the area where he must do further research, but the place was infested with non Skaven nuisances. So the first step is to get a clan to clear the infestation out but without divulging his true goal . . . an easy task.

Razeek found Clan Wolf Talon as the perfect clan to use for this task. The clan was in disarray as the right to rule the clan was being claimed by three Warlords. He entered the grand hall of the Wolf Talon during one of their great “debates”(aka Insult war) and declared “ The Great Horned One has spoken to me and only one of the skaven in this room will be able to lead this Clan to greatness.” With this knowledge the three Warlords began to scheme and plan with their closest advisers. It did not take to much time for Razeek to gain the trust of each warlord in private, while a skaven's tongue can be sharpe and made of the smoothest sliver, no skaven can compare to a Grey Seer's sneaky tongue. For many months, the war of sly and cunning that only skaven can fight waged with very little progress except for Razeek, for he had successfully turned all of their advisers to his side, and on the last day of the month, Razeek had invited the three Warlords to the grand hall of the Wolf Talon. Along with them, came their advisers, whom up to this point was on the edge of deciding between their warlord of Razeek. Razeek addressed each warlord in turn and congratulated them and their advisers on their skill of cunning for the last few months then with a quick flash of his tongue he cut the ties between the warlords and their advisers showing that all the work was done by the advisers and not the warlords. The advisers all made their decision and furnished their blades and stabbed and cut the warlords in front of them, all of which were still oblivious of the treason that was to befell them. As the final grasp of air the last warlord exclaimed “You said on of us would be Clan Leader, you lied!” “I did say one of us would Clan Leader, that one was me.” Razeek replied with a skitter that would make the Great Horned Rat jealous, though no one could ever come close to his laughter nor try but this Skitter was a good one in The Great Horned One's eye.

With the Wolf Talon clan under his control without even dirtying his own hands, as to be expected from the victor of a skaven secret war, the first task was done. Now all that is left is to exterminate the vermin leaving on the land he needs to search.