Difference between revisions of "Siege of Vindicarum"

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{{BattleLeftAlign
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|Previous    = [[Battle of the Golden Gate]]
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|Concurrent  =
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|Next        =
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|Name        = Siege of Vindicarum
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|Image        = Vindicarum 01.png
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|Image caption= [[Vindicarum]]
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|Conflict    =
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|Era          = [[Arcanum Optimar]]
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|Location    = [[Realm of Chamon|Chamon]] - [[Viscid Flux]] - [[Vindicarum]]
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|Outcome      = [[Order]] Victory<br>
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* Near total destruction of [[Vindicarum]].<br>
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* Sky-lanes from the [[Viscid Flux]] to [[Prosperis]]' northern coast claimed by the [[Geldraad]].<br>
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* Construction of many [[kharadron]] [[Aether-gold Refinery|cloud-mining platforms]] above [[Mount Ketnus]].
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|Combatant1  ={{Runemark|Order}} [[Grand Alliance of Order]]<br>
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:{{Runemark|Kharadron Overlords}} [[Kharadron Overlords|Kharadron Empire]]<br>
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::{{Runemark|Kharadron Overlords}} [[Second Madraltan Armada]]<br>
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:{{Runemark|Cities of Sigmar}} [[Vindicarum]]<br>
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::{{Runemark|Collegiate Arcane}} [[Collegiate Arcane]]<br>
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::{{Runemark|Devoted of Sigmar}} [[Devoted of Sigmar]]<br>
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::{{Runemark|Dispossessed}} [[Dispossessed]]<br>
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::{{Runemark|Freeguilds}} [[Freeguilds]]<br>
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::{{Runemark|Ironweld Arsenal}} [[Ironweld Arsenal]]<br>
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:{{Runemark|Fyreslayers}} [[Fyreslayers]]<br>
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::{{Runemark|Fyreslayers}} [[Gulgrymstok]]<br>
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:{{Runemark|Stormcast Eternals}} [[Stormcast Eternals]]<br>
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::{{Runemark|Stormcast Eternals}} [[Celestial Vindicators]]<br>
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::{{Runemark|Stormcast Eternals}} [[Hallowed Knights]]<br>
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:::{{Runemark|Stormcast Eternals}} [[Steel Souls]]<br>
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|Combatant2  ={{Runemark|Legion of the First Prince}} [[Legion of the First Prince]]<br>
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:{{Runemark|Daemons of Khorne}} [[Daemons of Khorne]]<br>
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:{{Runemark|Daemons of Nurgle}} [[Daemons of Nurgle]]<br>
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:{{Runemark|Daemons of Tzeentch}} [[Daemons of Tzeentch]]<br>
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:{{Runemark|Daemons of Slaanesh}} [[Daemons of Slaanesh]]<br>
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|Commanders1  ={{Runemark|Kharadron Overlords}} [[Drongon Humboldsson]]<br>
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:{{Runemark|Kharadron Overlords}} [[Grubda Klarsdottr]]<br>
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:{{Runemark|Kharadron Overlords}} [[Imoda Barrasdottr]]<br>
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{{Runemark|Stormcast Eternals}} [[Kostos Volkar]] (KIA)<br>
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:{{Runemark|Stormcast Eternals}} [[Gardus Steel Soul]]<br>
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::{{Runemark|Stormcast Eternals}} [[Lorrus Grymn]] (KIA)<br>
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|Commanders2  ={{Runemark|Slaves to Darkness}} [[Be'lakor]]<br>
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:{{Runemark|Daemons of Tzeentch}} [[F'tanax]] (KIA)<br>
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:{{Runemark|Daemons of Tzeentch}} [[Atra'zan the Immolator]] (KIA)<br>
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|Strength1    =
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|Strength2    =
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|Casualties1  =<div style='text-align: left;'>{{Runemark|Kharadron Overlords}} Low<br>
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{{Runemark|Cities of Sigmar}} Death of nearly all of Vindicarum's mortal regiments.<br>
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{{Runemark|Stormcast Eternals}} Death of more than half of the Celestial Vindicators and Steel Souls.</div>
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|Casualties2  =<div style='text-align: left;'>{{Runemark|Slaves to Darkness}} Annihilation of the Legion of the First Prince.</div>
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}}
 
The '''Siege of Vindicarum''' was a battle for the [[Free City]] of [[Vindicarum]] which was besieged by the [[Legion of the First Prince]] led by [[Be'lakor]]. The city was defended by the forces of Vindicarum including [[Stormcast Eternals]] of the [[Celestial Vindicators]] and reinforcements from [[Hallowed Knights]]' [[Steel Souls]] later joined by the [[Second Madraltan Armada]] and the remaining [[Fyreslayers]] of the fallen [[Gulgrymstok]] [[Magmahold]].{{Fn|1}}
 
The '''Siege of Vindicarum''' was a battle for the [[Free City]] of [[Vindicarum]] which was besieged by the [[Legion of the First Prince]] led by [[Be'lakor]]. The city was defended by the forces of Vindicarum including [[Stormcast Eternals]] of the [[Celestial Vindicators]] and reinforcements from [[Hallowed Knights]]' [[Steel Souls]] later joined by the [[Second Madraltan Armada]] and the remaining [[Fyreslayers]] of the fallen [[Gulgrymstok]] [[Magmahold]].{{Fn|1}}
  
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The Legion of the First Prince advanced upon Vindicarum under the cover of cursed skies. The arcane disruption caused by the unnatural stormfront shrouded Azyrite seers and isolated frontier outposts, the latter quickly overrun by waves of daemonic shock troops. Thousands of soldiers were massacred, their leaders sacrificed to empower the Dark Master’s ritual. The moved with the single-minded focus of Be’lakor and his repeated promises of the orgy of slaughter after the city's fall kept the vast horde concentrated on the city. Using cursed realmgates and hidden shadow-paths, the Legion rapidly advanced deep into the Viscid Flux before the first reports of the threat and the tragedy at the Gate of White Gold reached Vindicarum but by now the Legion was almost at the gates and appeared to outnumber the city's garrison at least six to one. Messengers were dispatched but almost all were hunted down by flocks of [[furies]] or swallowed up by the raging storms of sorcery that encircled the Flux. Suddenly a column of lightning slammed to earth on the slopes of Mount Ketnus to reveal Lord-Celestant Gardus Steel Soul and his Warrior Chamber.{{Fn|1c}}
 
The Legion of the First Prince advanced upon Vindicarum under the cover of cursed skies. The arcane disruption caused by the unnatural stormfront shrouded Azyrite seers and isolated frontier outposts, the latter quickly overrun by waves of daemonic shock troops. Thousands of soldiers were massacred, their leaders sacrificed to empower the Dark Master’s ritual. The moved with the single-minded focus of Be’lakor and his repeated promises of the orgy of slaughter after the city's fall kept the vast horde concentrated on the city. Using cursed realmgates and hidden shadow-paths, the Legion rapidly advanced deep into the Viscid Flux before the first reports of the threat and the tragedy at the Gate of White Gold reached Vindicarum but by now the Legion was almost at the gates and appeared to outnumber the city's garrison at least six to one. Messengers were dispatched but almost all were hunted down by flocks of [[furies]] or swallowed up by the raging storms of sorcery that encircled the Flux. Suddenly a column of lightning slammed to earth on the slopes of Mount Ketnus to reveal Lord-Celestant Gardus Steel Soul and his Warrior Chamber.{{Fn|1c}}
  
The enormous storm crept towards the free city, covering the lands in darkness and a rain of blood. The Celestial Vindicators received the news of their imminent doom with eager anticipation and Gardus disliked the fact they enjoyed killing too much while little for the mortals they were charged with protecting. Vanguard chambers of the Celestial Vindicators sent to scout the aftermath of the battles in the northern continent had confirmed his visions, under the cursed skies spread, Stormcast Eternals found their souls trapped upon death and would never return to Azyr. Lord-Celestant Kostos Volkar, commanding the city’s defence, informed Steel Soul that the Vindicators had only seven chambers present to defend the city as their aggressiveness meant their armies were spread far across the realms, and cannot return in time. Daemonic armies were of vast numbers were marching with incredible swiftness. Freeguild strongholds and frontier outposts as far as the Axiomatic Mountains had been overrun. The horde that poured into the valleys and lowlands around Vindicarum was made up of not only daemons but also warped mortal worshippers and tribes of avian beastmen. By nightfall, they would be at the gates of the city. {{Fn|1d}}
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The enormous storm crept towards the free city, covering the lands in darkness and a rain of blood. The Celestial Vindicators received the news of their imminent doom with eager anticipation and Gardus disliked the fact they enjoyed killing too much while little for the mortals they were charged with protecting. Vanguard chambers of the Celestial Vindicators sent to scout the aftermath of the battles in the northern continent had confirmed his visions, under the cursed skies spread, Stormcast Eternals found their souls trapped upon death and would never return to Azyr. Lord-Celestant Kostos Volkar, commanding the city’s defence, informed Steel Soul that the Vindicators had only seven chambers present to defend the city as their aggressiveness meant their armies were spread far across the realms, and cannot return in time. Daemonic armies of vast numbers were marching with incredible swiftness. Freeguild strongholds and frontier outposts as far as the Axiomatic Mountains had been overrun. The horde that poured into the valleys and lowlands around Vindicarum was made up of not only daemons but also warped mortal worshippers and tribes of avian beastmen. By nightfall, they would be at the gates of the city. {{Fn|1d}}
  
Meanwhile in the floating island of Madralta the [[Geldraad]] was convening to begin the [[Second Conference of Madralta]].{{Fn|1d}}
+
Meanwhile in the floating island of [[Madralta]] the [[Geldraad]] was convening to begin the [[Second Conference of Madralta]].{{Fn|1d}}
  
 
==The Siege of Vindicarum==
 
==The Siege of Vindicarum==
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[[Category: Battles]]
 
[[Category: Battles]]
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[[Category: Broken Realms]]

Latest revision as of 04:19, 31 December 2022

Previous Battle of the Golden Gate
Siege of Vindicarum
Vindicarum 01.png
Vindicarum
Era Arcanum Optimar
Location Chamon - Viscid Flux - Vindicarum
Outcome Order Victory
Combatants
{{{3}}} Grand Alliance of Order
{{{3}}} Kharadron Empire
{{{3}}} Second Madraltan Armada
{{{3}}} Vindicarum
{{{3}}} Collegiate Arcane
{{{3}}} Devoted of Sigmar
{{{3}}} Dispossessed
{{{3}}} Freeguilds
{{{3}}} Ironweld Arsenal
{{{3}}} Fyreslayers
{{{3}}} Gulgrymstok
{{{3}}} Stormcast Eternals
{{{3}}} Celestial Vindicators
{{{3}}} Hallowed Knights
{{{3}}} Steel Souls
{{{3}}} Legion of the First Prince
{{{3}}} Daemons of Khorne
{{{3}}} Daemons of Nurgle
{{{3}}} Daemons of Tzeentch
{{{3}}} Daemons of Slaanesh
Commanders
{{{3}}} Drongon Humboldsson
{{{3}}} Grubda Klarsdottr
{{{3}}} Imoda Barrasdottr

{{{3}}} Kostos Volkar (KIA)

{{{3}}} Gardus Steel Soul
{{{3}}} Lorrus Grymn (KIA)
{{{3}}} Be'lakor
{{{3}}} F'tanax (KIA)
{{{3}}} Atra'zan the Immolator (KIA)
Losses/Survivors
{{{3}}} Low

{{{3}}} Death of nearly all of Vindicarum's mortal regiments.

{{{3}}} Death of more than half of the Celestial Vindicators and Steel Souls.
{{{3}}} Annihilation of the Legion of the First Prince.


The Siege of Vindicarum was a battle for the Free City of Vindicarum which was besieged by the Legion of the First Prince led by Be'lakor. The city was defended by the forces of Vindicarum including Stormcast Eternals of the Celestial Vindicators and reinforcements from Hallowed Knights' Steel Souls later joined by the Second Madraltan Armada and the remaining Fyreslayers of the fallen Gulgrymstok Magmahold.[1]

While the forces of Order managed to stop the Dark Master from sacrificing the city to the Dark Gods and ascend to the position of Everchosen it was a pyrrhic victory with most of the city and its population wiped out while the souls of the slain Stormcast Eternals were lost to the cursed skies that raged above the city.[1]

Background

In the aftermath of the Assault on the Eater's Lair many realmgates were destroyed or destabilised in a chain reaction which was followed by a massive offensive by the Legion of the First Prince across the mortal realms. The Legion destroyed the destabilised realmgates further creating more chain reactions. The destroyed reamlgates unleashed chaotic energies creating a phenomenon known as the cursed skies that blocked the souls of slain Stormcast Eternals from returning to Azyr. During the Battle of the Golden Gate the Gate of White Gold was destroyed bringing the cursed skies to Prosperis and under it, the Sigmarite Brotherhood was wiped out alongside the mortal defenders of the gate sent from Vindicarum. Be'lakor hoped that by destroying Vindicarum, a bastion of Sigmarite faith, he would regain the Chaos Pantheon’s favour.[1b][1c]

Meanwhile, Gardus Steel Soul who was slain while defending the Genesis Gate was reforged in Azyr and angry over the abandonment by the Seraphon decided to confront them himself and visited Mount Celestian. On its peak, on the edge of a mirror-smooth lake of pure starwater was an ancient shrine to Dracothion and here Steel Soul knelt for many days. Suddenly in a searing light from on high, a great serpent appeared its scales glistening with the power of the cosmos. Gardus felt the call and slowly waded into the lake, letting the icy waters swallow him up. He came to the summit of a floating golden ziggurat, surrounded by glittering constellations and orbited by comets. Above him sat a masked figure upon a throne of ancient stone, glowing so brightly with magical power that Steel Soul could not look directly at it. The Slann showed visions in which Excelsis is overrun by the forces of Destruction while many more fell to Daemons defended by Stormcast Eternals whose souls did not return to Azyr upon being slain. Gardus wanted to reinforce Excelsis but the Slann denied him and showed visions of the destruction of Vindicarum directing him to Chamon instead.[1a][1b]

Prelude

The Legion of the First Prince advanced upon Vindicarum under the cover of cursed skies. The arcane disruption caused by the unnatural stormfront shrouded Azyrite seers and isolated frontier outposts, the latter quickly overrun by waves of daemonic shock troops. Thousands of soldiers were massacred, their leaders sacrificed to empower the Dark Master’s ritual. The moved with the single-minded focus of Be’lakor and his repeated promises of the orgy of slaughter after the city's fall kept the vast horde concentrated on the city. Using cursed realmgates and hidden shadow-paths, the Legion rapidly advanced deep into the Viscid Flux before the first reports of the threat and the tragedy at the Gate of White Gold reached Vindicarum but by now the Legion was almost at the gates and appeared to outnumber the city's garrison at least six to one. Messengers were dispatched but almost all were hunted down by flocks of furies or swallowed up by the raging storms of sorcery that encircled the Flux. Suddenly a column of lightning slammed to earth on the slopes of Mount Ketnus to reveal Lord-Celestant Gardus Steel Soul and his Warrior Chamber.[1c]

The enormous storm crept towards the free city, covering the lands in darkness and a rain of blood. The Celestial Vindicators received the news of their imminent doom with eager anticipation and Gardus disliked the fact they enjoyed killing too much while little for the mortals they were charged with protecting. Vanguard chambers of the Celestial Vindicators sent to scout the aftermath of the battles in the northern continent had confirmed his visions, under the cursed skies spread, Stormcast Eternals found their souls trapped upon death and would never return to Azyr. Lord-Celestant Kostos Volkar, commanding the city’s defence, informed Steel Soul that the Vindicators had only seven chambers present to defend the city as their aggressiveness meant their armies were spread far across the realms, and cannot return in time. Daemonic armies of vast numbers were marching with incredible swiftness. Freeguild strongholds and frontier outposts as far as the Axiomatic Mountains had been overrun. The horde that poured into the valleys and lowlands around Vindicarum was made up of not only daemons but also warped mortal worshippers and tribes of avian beastmen. By nightfall, they would be at the gates of the city. [1d]

Meanwhile in the floating island of Madralta the Geldraad was convening to begin the Second Conference of Madralta.[1d]

The Siege of Vindicarum

Be’lakor looked up at the city enveloped by the cursed skies, the sheer corruption in the air allowed breaches in reality that allowed more and more daemons to claw their way into the world until they covered the volcanic slopes all around. The armies of Be’lakor that was once spread across the realms relying on treachery and misdirection now stand united and the time for correcting the mistake of Archaon being named Everchosen had come. Be’lakor raised the Blade of Shadows and bellowed the order to attack and as one, the Legion of the First Prince charged up the foothills of Mount Ketnus, towards the city at its summit.[1e]

Even Gardus Steel Soul, who had travelled the breadth of the realms and battled in the Nurgle’s Garden, was stunned by the sheer numbers of Daemons moving with such unity of purpose. Gardus and Kostos Volkar looked over and commanded their forces from Fort Venger the Stormkeep of the Celestial Vindicators. Below, on the lower slopes lay scattered shanty towns and pilgrim districts, beyond the safety of the city’s natural defences. The most faithful of Vindicarum’s Devoted armed with flails, cudgels and hatred of Chaos had gathered here, refusing to retreat to safety. They were brutally massacred by the Daemons and one by one, the outer forts of Vindicarum were burned to ashes, their ruins marked with banners bearing the sigil of the Dark Master.[1e]

Despite facing a gruesome fate the warriors of the faith did not break and flee. Their sacrifice bought Vindicarum’s Freeguild and Dispossessed defenders precious time. The steep upper slopes of Mount Ketnus were filled with ingenious defences: fields of spring-loaded scatter mines and giant sluice-gates connected by duardin minecraft to the boiling quicksilver at the heart of Mount Ketnus. Even as the daemons flowed between jagged passes and geyser fields that belched sulphurous gasses, these gates opened to unleash searing liquid metal engulfing howling masses of Bloodletters. Teams of Freeguild Gunners and duardin Ironbreakers appeared from hidden sally-tunnels, opening fire into the rear of the foe while Prosecutors hurled crackling javelins down at the enemy as Gyrocopters duelled with Rot Flies. Volleys of Helblaster rained down on the advancing horde in a series of blossoming fireballs and the heavy wall-guns sent shells the size of ogors arcing down to detonate on the ashen slopes. Soon, the incline beneath was turned into a hellish wasteland, covered with immense craters filled with the blood that rained from above. Still, enemy numbers did not appear to thin and daemons were soon following the retreating Freeguild soldiers as Outriders fired into the mass of Daemons while their mounts galloped to the safety of the Iron Collar, the basalt curtain wall consisting of multi-tiered battlements resembling the heavy chains of office worn by Vindicarum’s Devoted priesthood. As the ground forces were being routed duardin air machines fell from the sky one of which struck the fortified Armsgate Zul at the southern edge of Vindicarum, setting an ammunition crawler alight. The resultant explosion created a breach in the wall around two dozen yards across while chunks were sent flying to smash down buildings in the inner city. Mage-engineers of the Collegiate Arcane quickly sealed the breach with molten iron, which solidified into a makeshift barricade but it wasn't the only weak point and the daemon horde flowed towards the most vulnerable areas while the Lord-Celestants sent more Liberators to reinforce those areas.[1e]

Disaster at Armsgate Zul

Be’lakor observed the battle upon a throne of flayed bodies of mortals, using his predatory insight to find weaknesses in enemy defences to which cohorts were directed uncaring of the staggering losses his legion had already suffered as reinforcements were not in short supply. He could feel the grudging delight of the Dark Gods and knew Vindicarum would be an offering that would seal his claim to the title of Everchosen. But the gods were fickle he did not care to take chances with a long-drawn-out siege. He called forth Atra’zan the Immolator and gave the daemonic lieutenant the task of leading the attack on Armsgate Zul.[1f]

Lord-Castellant Lorrus Grymn had taken charge of the defence of Armsgate Zul. Hallowed Knight Liberators, had managed to force back a wedge of Bloodcrushers, that briefly smashed their way into the city proper. Shoals of Screamers continued to strike at the gunners atop the Iron Collar, targeting the artillery batteries and drawing the panicked fire of Handgunner detachments lost to fear and confusion. Suddenly a blazing host of daemons came hurtling over the walls. Atra’zan, hurled spells that engulfed entire Freeguild platoons in flames while blue horrors scrambled over the walls of the Iron Collar. Then came Flamers of Tzeentch who ignored the mortals and set alight powder kegs and ammunition carriages that fed the Iron Collar’s heavy guns creating multiple detonations. Under the Chaos, Atra’zan the Immolator and his Daemon host plunged into the city burning down everywhere they went. Horrors that were cut down split into brimstone imps that scattered into the depths of the city to further spread the flames even reaching the depths of the duardin-forged armouries of Armsgate Zul. A detachment of Stormcast battle-wizards summoned downpours of icy starwater but it only took one brimstone horror to make it through and hurl itself into one of the munition wagons.[1f]

A thousand tonnes of explosive valchemite detonated at once, sending a section of the wall the size of a cogfort into the air and sending it crashing down the mountainside. The Lord-Castellant Lorrus Grymn and his gryph-hound Tallon were also sent hurtling through the air to hit the floor with bone-shattering force. With the walls of Vindicarum shattered, Be’lakor drew the Blade of Shadows and unfurled his wings, leading his daemonic legion into the city.[1f]

Attack on Fort Venger

Daemons poured into the city through a breach in the Iron Collor filling the city with screams that drowned out the sounds of gunfire and explosions. The Daemon horde reached Fort Venger where they were met by Lord-Celestant Volkar and his warriors who launched frenzied counter-attacks with increasing aggression while the Steel Souls sought to combine their might with the remaining mortal auxiliaries. Despite inflicting massive losses on the Chaos host the numbers of Stormcast Eternals were rapidly shrinking the souls of the slain permanently lost while more and more Daemons came flowing in.[1g]

Soon the forces in Fort Venger were cut off with Lord-Clestants Steel Soul and Volkar leading less than a hundred Stormcast Eternals and fewer than eight-score Freeguild Guard. They prepared to make their last stand before the gates of Fort Venger as the daemon-tide surged around them and shadows coiled about their boots. Suddenly the enemy horde halted, opening a path for the Dark Master. Be’lakor brought the captured Lorrus Grymn and personally executed him in front of the defenders. Furious Steel Soul charged alongside Volkar followed by both mortal and Stormcast warriors who willingly joined the suicidal charge.

The Dark Master cut through the Stormcasts with his sword while unleashing curses that caused Celestial Vindicators to fall to their knees, weapons slipping from their hands. Volkar managed a few desperate strikes but was cut down by Be’lakor. Gardus Steel Soul hacked his way through the confusion of battle trying to reach Be’lakor who also wanted to personally kill the Steel Soul. Thus the Dark Master ordered his minions to grant the Lord-Celestant passage. On the steps of Fort Venger they duelled, the Dark Master wreathed his hide in an umbral shield causing all attacks that were supposed to him to miss while the Blade of Shadows lashed out like a viper, seeking gaps in Steel Soul’s defence even as its wielder spat hexes that siphoned the strength from his enemy’s limbs. Beneath the Cursed Skies, Be’lakor’s power was too much for even Gardus Steel Soul driving the Lord-Celestant to his knees as he tried to repel the huge sword driving ever closer to his neck. The duel was suddenly interrupted by a spear of light that shot down from above. Be’lakor turned his eyes away from Steel Soul towards the solitary patch of white in the storm above. [1g]

On Wings of Iron

Silhouetted against the radiance of a new dawn an armada of airships was descending on Vindicarum displaying the colours of nearly every sky-port. During the historic Second Conference of Madralta, it was agreed that the sky-ports would rescue the God-King’s armies with a possibility of making a profit in the process. Endrinmaster Humboldsson was given the honour of leading the Second Madraltan Armada due to the Redoubtable being the fastest vessel in the empire. The prototype Frigate came down aethercannons roaring and bombs spiralling down to crash amongst the daemonic horde below. The sheer size of Be'lakor’s host meant it was still pouring into the city through breaches in the Iron Collar presenting easy targets for the Duardin. Gromthi triangulated each salvo that unleashed explosions that rippled through the packed enemies. Behind came hundreds of Arkanaut Ironclads, other Frigates and heavy, wide-platformed Carriers that unleashed squadrons of Gunhaulers and single-pilot fighter craft that came as angry swarms.[1h]

Each ship unleashed a thunderous broadside combining into a thunderous cannonade which only ended to make way for sky-vessels that were sweeping in to disgorge Grundstok Marines and Arkanauts from rapid-descent lines into the city. The infantry laid down fields of fire around isolated pockets of defenders still fighting on. Well-placed salvoes of aethershot cut down daemons by the score, while aetheric fumigators were employed to clear thicker concentrations of the daemonic foe. The Legion attempted a counter-attack with Atra’zan the Immolator leading his Blazing Cavalcade, hurling bolts of witchfire and summoned serpents of living flame to drag passing gunships out of the sky. But the Kharadron had brought enough firepower to level a kingdom and the massive Daemonic host was no match for sheer firepower. Atra’zan's arcane shield protected him from cannon fire but the Ironclad Goldhammer, flagship of High Admiral Grubda Klarsdottr simply rammed the Immolator’s chariot with her ‘Grudgebreaker’ prow-ram, crushing both the Herald and its Chariot.[1h]

While Klarsdottr’s shock-fleet cleared the streets of Vindicarum Admiral Imoda Barrasdottr of the Intaglio cleared the skies. The master cartographer had helped chart a course for the Kharadron armada through the tormented sky-lanes of Chamon and now her skills the squadron of swift Arkanaut Frigates flew through the treacherous currents of sorcery to hunt Plague Drones and shoals of Screamers. With displays of pinpoint gunnery, the fleet shot down the flying daemons causing daemonic corpses to rain down across the city in hundreds. Meanwhile, Endrinmaster Drongon Humboldsson sighted the remaining Hallowed Knights and Celestial Vindicators in the wreckage of Fort Venger encircled by daemons, led by a monstrous, winged figure wreathed in shadow. Humboldsson ordered the Redoubtable on a full attack run followed by a squadron of Gunhaulers. [1h]

Siege Broken

Gardus Steel Soul used the distraction to drive the enemy back and strike a grievous blow with his runeblade but Be’lakor merely growled and hurled a bolt of shadow that sent the Lord-Celestant flying. The Dark Master had no intention of admitting defeat and leapt into the air, flying towards the vessel that was dispatching gun-wielding warriors and Fyreslayer Berzerkers to form a protective perimeter around the surviving Vindicarians. The warriors of Gulgrymstok sought the most terrible of daemons to slay willing to pay their own lives for the opportunity of vengeance. They sighted the Lord of Change F’tanax, the entity responsible for the destruction of their magmahold. While the greater Daemon blasted several Duardin they leapt atop the daemon’s back, hacking at its spine and neck while their bodies glowed with the power of their ur-gold runes. [1h]

An enraged Be’lakor slammed into the Redoubtable and was met by Endrinmaster Humboldsson alongside his Skywardens who launched themselves at the Daemon Prince armed with skyhooks and vulcaniser pistols. Be’lakor killed them off by slicing their endrins or unleashing coils of shadow-magic to strangle them to death. Humboldsson unleashed the full fury of his weaponised harness, firing welding beams as he swung his aethermatic saw to sever Be’lakor’s wing. Be’lakor’s form shifted into a mist and his shadowy claws took hold of Humboldsson’s skull, driving the Endrinmaster onto the deck of the Redoubtable. The duardin’s mind was filled with visions of terror and despair, for a quick death to escape the sheer anguish. But the Daemon Prince’s eyes locked upon the Arkanaut Gromthi as he advanced across the deck of the Redoubtable armed with just a riveting hammer, narrowed at one end like a miner’s pick. Gromthi appeared to be a foot taller and filled with a fiery strength that seemed to glow from within him. With a snarl, Be’lakor retreated as Humboldsson lost consciousness.[1h]

Aftermath

While the forces of Order was ultimately victorious it came at a massive cost. The walls of Vincarum were breached, its citizens were slaughtered in the thousands and the city itself was reduced to a burning ruin. Both the Celestial Vindicators and the Steel Souls of the Hallowed Knights had lost more than half of their number, the souls lost to the raging storm of Chaos while mortal forces were almost entirely wiped out. The Legion of the First Prince was destroyed but isolated bands of daemons continued to rampage through the city and the Celestial Vindicators and their few remaining mortal auxiliaries returned to purging the city of daemons with a stern focus.[1i]

The Kharadron delegation including five Grand Admirals of the Geldraad offered to transport Gardus and his warriors anywhere for a fitting price, of course. Endrinmaster Humboldsson oversaw the reparation works of the Iron Collar, as well as the construction of several cloud-mining platforms above Mount Ketnus. As part of their payment for coming to the city’s rescue, the Geldraad had negotiated a claim to the sky-lanes from the Flux to Prosperis’ northern coast. Any losses that the sky-ports had suffered would be covered by the rich streams of aether-gold already flooding into their coffers. Gromthi and Humboldsson discussed about solidarity with their allies but Humboldsson insisted on kharadron beliefs instead of fighting purely for solidarity with their allies. Gromthi after bidding farewell suddenly disappeared leaving only the smell of pipe smoke. [1i]

Be’lakor brooded the situation in his throne-room within the shadowy labyrinth of Mordikar, torturing captured prisoners to deal with his rage. He had recognised the true nature of the white-bearded Duardin, a power he had long thought lost had suddenly returned to the realms and could not risk an encounter. The Dark Gods showed their contempt at his failure to deliver their promised prize with mocking laughter that followed him through his retreat from Vindicarum. He soothed his ego considering his defeat the result of interference by an unexpected power. He considered his achievements of inflicting great losses on the Steel Souls and the Celestial Vindicators while entirely wiping out the Sigmarite Brotherhood, destruction of an entire Stormhost which not even Archaon could achieve. Most importantly the cursed skies not only raged above Chamon but was expanding, spreading across the other Mortal Realms. The Dark Master’s ascension had merely been delayed and there would be more sacrifices.[1i]

Sources

  • 1: Broken Realms: Be'lakor
    • 1a: The Trouble in the Heavens, pg.40-41
    • 1b: Ruination, pg.46-47
    • 1c: Chamon Aflame, pg.52-53
    • 1d: A City on the Brink, pg.54-55
    • 1e: The Siege of Vindicarum, pg.56-57
    • 1f: Death Under Darkening Skies, pg.58-59
    • 1g: Oblivion Beckons, pg.60-61
    • 1h: On Wings of iron, pg.64-65
    • 1i: After the Storm, pg.66-67