News From the Front: Advance on Altdorf!

The sound of galloping hoofbeats on cobblestones echoed loudly throughout Westmark Barricade. General Klunst sighed in relief, for it had been a long while since they had seen a messenger of the Empire, or even a horse for that matter.

"General Klunst, Count von Rendt," called the messenger, while looking back fearfully in the direction of the east. "I bring grim tidings. The regiments holding the crossings of the Lyns

k have been defeated. The enemy has brought up additional Hellcannons, and our lines have been broken by them."


Instead of waiting for General Klunst to respond, the messenger spurred his horse and galloped westward out of the city, as if it were the only sane thing to do.

Klunst was beside himself with fury.

"Your Honor," Klunst said to the Count, "What did he mean, 'the regiments holding the crossings of the Lynsk'? I ordered our last two intact regiments to hold the center of town, not be exposed at the river."

Count von Rendt fanned himself. "I felt those orders to be rubbish. I sent our soldiers to make a manly defense of the Lynsk bridges, not cower behind piles of rubble in the city center."

"You ignorant snivelard," Klunst grated. "You've squandered your entire army getting to Praag, and now you've squandered mine!"

"The bridges should be held, General. Surely you can see that!"

"The bridges were open to artillery fire! If you were more than a pig-witted dabbler, you would see that!" Without another word, Klunst struck the usurping noble across the face with his war-gauntlet in full view of the warcamp's armsmen.

"That was unwise, General," von Rendt said through gritted teeth. "I have powerful friends back in Altdorf. You do not."

"Prove it," said the general.

Approaching Aldorf: Beta Review
The ongoing war between the forces of the Empire and Chaos continues, and this time around their Elf allies have heeded the call for aid. The battle spills over from Ostland and Troll Country into the war-torn areas of Talabecland and High Pass as WAR approaches Altdorf. Victory is a fickle friend as the battles rage at the gates of the great city. Can the mortal army of Tzeentch push the forces of Empire all the way back to the gates of Altdorf? Will they manage to siege and then sack Altdorf itself?

During this round of Closed Beta, testers fought in bloody frays to determine whether Altdorf would stand or fall against the barrage of Chaos and the Dark Elves in Tier 3 areas. Twelve careers for four races were open to play. The conflict between Order and Destruction neared a crescendo in Tier 4 as players tested the overall Campaign, battling back and forth from fortress to fortress on the road to Altdorf.

Other exciting additions to this phase of testing included:

-The first version of our in-game mail system
-Siege Testing
-Campaign Testing
-Fortresses
-Altdorf
-Twelve Careers with Career Mastery.

This phase of testing was broken into three parts, beginning during the second week of April and ending during the second week of May.

Part One focused on updated PvE content and careers. While new Open World RvR areas were implemented and available, we stressed that players should test the new career mechanics with templated Rank 20 characters.

Part Two focused on testing the overall campaign itself. We opened Tier Four and offered templated Rank 40 characters to test Open World RvR, Fortresses, and Keeps. This allowed us receive feedback and data on how the ebb and flow of the Campaign actually played out.

Correspondence
The following letters and writings, bloodied and torn, have been intercepted by various factions throughout the fields of battle.

Professor Cindik Antun
Bright College
Altdorf
The Empire

Esteemed Professor,
It had been three days since my arrival in High Pass. The previous night Morrslieb had bled a sickly red, a blighted oppressive presence that had weighed heavily on the souls of the men. I observed stout hearted pikemen sobbing in their bedrolls. Even to those not attuned to magic, the twisted presence of chaos was palpable.

So it was the morning of the third day that I led a party into the mountains. Motivated by the experiences of the previous night, our goal was to investigate rumors of cultists performing dark rituals. To my senses, a pulsing sense of corruption to the east guided our direction.

Captain Boschmar of Dogbite Ridge had tasked eight men with my escort, a noble gesture considering the lack of resources in this time of darkness and plague. It was Havel, a grizzled swordsman who first noticed their tracks. His warning was unnecessary, the buzzing of chaotic chanting had been throbbing against my mind for several minutes by that point. We were close. Signaling to the men, I made ready for battle.

As we crested a small ridge I saw them. Not one hundred yards away, a dozen cultists chanted around a desecrated altar. Blotting out the perverted symbols of chaos, I called on the winds of magic. The power of Aqshy filled me, fiery ecstasy coruscating through every nerve and fiber of my being. With an effort I channeled the raw essence of Aqshy into a destructive fireball, hurtling it at the chaos worshippers.

Even as my fire reached out to claim the cultists, the brave soldiers of the Empire charged down the slope, bellowing their warcrys and brandishing their weapons. The chaotic chanting was interrupted as my flame hit, cultists screaming in agony even as the flesh melted from their bones. As the sounds of battle rang out, I incinerated another servant of the dark gods.

I felt the morale of the men rising as victory seemed imminent; suddenly a dark presence skittered across my conscience. Instinctively I called upon Aqshy to shield me. The men of the Empire had no such defense. Blades of shadow streaked across the battlefield, the swordsman Havel fell, scythed down by knives of darkest magic.

Cries of victory turned to screams of despair as more fell to the foul magic. The cultists fought back with renewed vigor, a pikeman went down, a sacrificial blade buried in his throat. Seeking out the source of the magical assault, I spied a fiendish Dark Elven Sorceress. Sadistically reveling in the carnage she orchestrated, the Sorceress did not immediately notice as I closed the distance between us.

With a scream I unleashed a nova of devastating power. As soon as I launched the attack I felt the energy of Aqshy combust within me, searing agony tearing through my soul as I drew upon too much power. Involuntarily falling to my knees, I beheld the Dark Elf reeling, stunned by my attack. With the last of my strength I sent forth a barrage of fireballs.

Defenseless the Sorceress was literally blown apart by the onslaught, reduced to bloody and burned hunks of flesh. Staggering to my feet, I turned to assist the Empire soldiers. I needn’t have bothered, without the Dark Elf’s magic the cultist’s rally had been brief. The surviving warriors wiped their blades on still twitching corpses.

So the day was won, but at what cost? Of eight soldiers who I had set out with, only three returned. Surely the Empire will rely heavily on the strength of the Bright College in the testing times ahead.

Your faithful Servant,
Heinreika Konrad
Pyromancer

Father,

I write to you from the retreat of a campfire in the guard of the Empire. Regretfully, I must also inform you that we have lost our foothold against the legions of Chaos in Passwatch. The siege lasted for days until a section of the wall prepared to crumble at the constant barrage of catapults.

Seeing an opportunity to sing my blade, I stood at the line with few of my brethren alongside legions of Knights. Their armors were decorated with the most brilliant array of golds, oranges, and red. Priests of Sigmar moved through the ranks blessing us for the battle ahead, and many kneeled in prayer. The howling of the final boulder was heard throughout the grounds as the wall crumbled and dust filled the air. When it settled, the clanking of armored behemoths thundered through the wreckage.

Foolishly, a handful of the knights stepped forward to meet the Chosen of Tzeentch, unaware of what the dark Sorcerers had in store for them. The very earth cracked as howling shades broke forth, enveloping the men caught inside. Their bloodcurdling screams churned our ranks, as many were seemed unprepared for the dark magic our twisted brethren posses. The Chosen took hold of the opportunity, and charged through the thick plumes of purple smoke.

My shield met the fall of a twisted hammer, and the glow of demented eyes pierced through the dark void of it's helmet. He must have not expected such a thin looking being to be able to withstand such a blow. I took the opening and slid my sword through the separation in his armor, just below the shoulder. He howled, yet it was unlike anything I heard before. With the roar came the rippling of the very air around me, and my vision began to cloud. Curse the foul magics of Tzeentch! I quickly slammed my shield against him to prevent any further disruption, but was unaware that his bellow was not only offensive, but a call for help.

I first felt my ribs crack, then the warmth of my blood rushing to the area. It took a moment to notice that the air had escaped my lungs and I was falling to a knee. I glanced to my right to see the deformed arm of what I could only assume to be a Marauder. It's flesh had been torn to make way for what appeared to be a large bludgeon, adorned with spikes of bone. His sword fell faster than I could raise mine, and it tore open my back.

The world closed in upon me as I fell to my stomach in the dirt. I felt the spring. Cool breezes across my cheek as I strolled past the lakes of our homeland. I could not believe I had been so foolish to allow such an opportunity. Before I succumbed to the darkness, I heard whispers in my ear and felt a strong hand grip my arm.

I was later told that the Priest that saved my life had been felled later in the battle, and had saved many of our brethren. I truly see the compassion for all that Men posses, and the fervent hatred for which they fight Chaos. It is a thing of beauty to witness the Empire in battle.

I shall remain here until my wounds fully heal, then shall rejoin the front.

You are always in my thoughts,
Sylaqui

The Gods of War
Siobhan

I can smell it. Madness. It is all around me. How I came to be among these crazed humans and these mutants of nature still causes my rancor to rise. I refuse to call them comrades.
My eyes fall on the Zealot, Ashkaiel, her eyes glazed as if she is intoxicated. If she were not merely a tool to help take this cursed keep, I would just as soon offer up her lunatic soul to Khaine. Perhaps he would judge her worthy. Or perhaps he would strike me down for daring to offer such as she. Foolish humans, worshiping this Raven God. Do they not know the power of Khaine, the God of Murder?

For two days we have lay siege to the keep. Sent ahead by my superiors, I was to prepare the way, to try to command this rag tag group of warriors. I had hoped that there would be more of my kinsmen here. Instead, I am surrounded by the crazed minds of the Chaos army. Near impossible to command. And yet one must admire the fight in these warriors. It is mindless to be sure, nothing compared to the art of war as practiced by the Dark Elves. But the power and might that their Chosen posses is awesome indeed. Even I can acknowledge that.

Soon, I think, we will break their defenses. Bloody cowards, hiding behind those walls. What’s this? A small group of Empire troops emerge from behind us. I didn’t think any among them had such courage. I do not know from where they came. But I smile. It has been a whole day since my blades have tasted blood.

There is a brief moment of bedlam as the others realize we have been flanked. “Hold fast! Keep up the assault on the walls! It will take but a few of us to dispatch these fools!”

I inhale deeply, feeling the power of my ritual blades course through my veins. I send the Chaos warriors ahead first. They fight with the same crazed vigor to which I have become accustomed. But something is wrong. Blast! A warrior priest of that false God, Sigmar! The wounds to the Chaos warriors mount, yet the priest will not fall. Hatred fills my heart and I feel Khaine’s power within me. He will be mine!

My blades touch the heart of a foolish Witch Hunter. He is no match for the power of Khaine. More fall before me. I can feel Khaine’s blessing and know that the Chaos warriors are the beneficiaries of His grace. But still, the priest will not fall. Finally, I am eye to eye with the blasphemous priest. The power of Khaine fills me and the blood lust is upon me. I can not tell you how long we fought. Blow by blow, we dance darkly on the battle field. His puny god refreshes him as Khaine does me. Finally, I land the death blow, cleaving his soul from his body.

But at what cost? Blessed Khaine, I can feel my life force draining from me. The fool priest will get his vengeance. I sink to my knees. Fine. Let my name be carried on the wind and Khaine receive me. Defeated by a priest of Sigmar! The shame burns within me even as I lay dying.

What’s this? My heart beats more strongly as I feel power infuse my blood. I can taste it, the bitterness of the dark magic. As I regain my feet, I look behind me. Ashkaiel. She stands there, staring at me with her empty eyes, shaking that macabre skull at me. She doesn’t laugh, but I swear I see her lip twitch, as if biting back a smile.

I give her a quick nod, all be it begrudgingly. I suppose I will not kill her after all.

The Gods of War
Ashkaiel

She thinks I’m stupid. She thinks she’s better than me. Ashkaiel knows this. I see with the eyes of the Raven God now. Ashkaiel’s not stupid. The skull knows. He talks to me. He tells me the way. The non-believers don’t understand. They don’t know the power of the Raven God. This skull once a powerful wizard. It is full of his power. It knows the way. I killed him. Then I filled his empty head with the power of the Raven God.

Siobahn. She calls herself Disciple. But her god is false. There is only the Raven God. Who is this Khaine? There is no other god but the Raven God.

Hmmm, Empire troops. Fools all. They think they can sneak up on us. But I know they come.

The skull, he tells me. The Raven God will feast on their stupid flesh.

Siobahn leads the way. She thinks she knows more. But the skull, he tells me to listen to
her. That she is wise in the war making.

“Watch”, the empty wizard head whispers. The others can’t hear. They do not believe hard enough. I can see Siobahn. I can feel her anger. She be mad. Very mad. There. In the middle of the fight. I can feel my heart race. My eye twitches. Warrior Priest. A fine prize he will make. A heretic to give to the Raven God. Raven God will feast upon his body, tear his eyes from his skull. Mmmm. Skull. I want his skull. Powerful magic it will be.

They fight long time. A ritual I make on Siobahn. A ritual of the Raven God. She be mad if she knows it. But she doesn’t. She fights hard. That Khaine, he must have some magic, because she calls his name and she grows strong again. But so does the priest. The others, they move on. The Empire troops, Chaos cuts them down or they run. Run, fools, run! But the Raven God, he will find you, feast on your souls.

No one left but Siobahn and the priest. Fighting, fighting. So much blood. Finally. The priest falls. Siobahn slices him. He dead. Dead, priest, dead! I want his skull.

Wait! Siobahn falls. On her knees. I hear the Raven's call. Pale, she is. The skull whispers to me. She will die soon. I call upon the Raven God. Dark Magic I make on Siobahn. Tzeentch renews her. Who be stupid now, Siobahn? I can see the magic fill her. She is new again.

She looks at me. Surprised, she is. I try not to laugh at her. A nod of appreciation, is it? Not sure. It doesn’t matter. The skull. I want that priest’s skull.

Next Dispatch

Ancient adversaries square off in battle as the Bloody Sun Boyz clash with the Oathbearers in next month’s beta test. Who will triumph as the Greenskin army meets the Dwarfs from the peaks of the World’s Edge Mountains to the deep fetid Marshes of Madness? Only time will tell, so be sure to check back for next month’s issue of News From the Front!