Old World, Imperial Year 2513, late March, the capital of Ostermark, Bechafen.
Ostermark, though often overlooked within the Empire, is one of its most ancient and important provinces. Numerous signs suggest that this land was once ruled by the long-lost Empire of Human Wizards in the distant past. However, for the residents of Ostermark, such tales are but ancient history. The province, as it exists today, was formally established nearly a thousand years ago after the Great Chaos Incursion, when the Ostrogoth tribe formed settlements and outposts in the northeast corner of the Empire. This land lies south of Kislev, north of Sylvania, and west of the northern World's Edge Mountains, composed mostly of vast forests and wastelands.
During the rise of Emperor Sigmar, Ostermark was already home to a barbaric and warlike tribe led by King Adelhard. The king sought to unify the region's scattered clans to defend against the constant invasions of Greenskins, Beastmen, and Trolls. As a result, the people of Ostermark grew naturally fierce and developed a strong sense of unity, believing that humans were stronger together than divided.
At that time, Ostermark faced a terrifying Greenskin invasion. King Adelhard managed to gather his forces to defend a few key outposts, but they could not withstand the Greenskin onslaught. Adelhard sent his emissary, Gagarin, to Reikdorf to seek help from Emperor Sigmar. Many in the Carolingian tribe thought Ostermark was too remote, but Sigmar insisted, leading thousands of troops to their aid and crushing the Greenskin warboss. After the victory, Ostermark declared its loyalty to the Empire, and King Adelhard relinquished his crown to become an Elector Count. In the subsequent Battle of Blackfire Pass, axe-wielding warriors from Ostermark played a pivotal role in defeating the Greenskins.
Now, in a villa in Bechafen, the capital of Ostermark, the surviving members of the Garland Council—a dozen witches—were holding a meeting to discuss their next steps.
Bechafen, also known as Beckhaven, is the political and economic center of Ostermark, and the seat of the Ostermark Alliance. It originally served as the province's economic hub, with the Brunwasser River flowing through it, exporting timber, pottery, and livestock to the Empire and earning significant profits.
One of the major branches of the Garland Council was based here, as the supply of essential resources to Skykeep largely came from Bechafen. Normally, a witch would be stationed here to oversee logistics, but the recent Grand Council gathering had left the city empty. After their escape via teleportation, Aurora and the others had taken refuge here, all injured or exhausted and in need of rest. The witches were divided into three factions regarding their next move.
The first faction, led by Theresa, believed their only hope was to seek refuge in Bretonnia and ask King Ryan for shelter. Given the relationship between Ryan and the Garland Council, he was likely to welcome them.
This faction had the support of about half the surviving witches.
The second faction, led by the legendary Sky Witch Adrianna, opposed going to Bretonnia. She argued that Ryan already had a faction led by Veronica and the Lady of the Lake's Prophetess Morgiana, which would make them third-rate citizens. She suggested instead seeking the patronage of an Elector Count or traveling to Kislev to join the Ice Queen. Adrianna advocated heading to Ostland to seek financial backing from Elector Count Varmir or, failing that, going to Tsarina Katarin.
The third faction, led by Aurora, remained undecided. The powerful Ice Witch was reluctant to submit to Ryan and wanted to keep other options open. She believed joining Ryan should be a last resort, as the Garland Council had always prided itself on independence.
As the surviving witches sat in the courtyard of the Bechafen villa, discussing their next course of action, the atmosphere was somber. Many were weak and emotionally drained. The air was cold, reflecting the grim landscape of Ostermark—though not as frigid as Kislev, the region was dark and desolate. Even Bechafen, the capital, was sparsely populated. The wind howled through the city, rattling the courtyard as the witches sat in silence.
They had yet to fully accept the reality that Skykeep had been destroyed and the Garland Council was no more.
All the witches were still recovering from the battle, having overtaxed their magic and lifeforce. Theresa, in particular, was exhausted, having rested for a full day yet still feeling drained. "We can't stay here," she said wearily. "We need a safe place to rest and rebuild hope for the council. Only Ryan can offer us that."
"I agree with the first part of your statement, Theresa," Adrianna replied. "But we don't need to go to Bretonnia. You may be King Ryan's court mage, but we are not. He already has plenty of magical advisors. I don't see why he would treat us well, and even if he does accept us, we would become his vassals. That's not what we want—or at least, it's not what I want."
"But after such a huge disaster, if we don't unite now, how can we rebuild the Garland Council?" Theresa argued, exhausted. "Speaker Margarita sacrificed her life to give us a chance to escape. If you want to go it alone, Adrianna, go ahead. Let's see what happens."
"I'm not planning to go it alone, but I don't want to be anyone's vassal either," Adrianna snapped, clearly irritated. "Theresa, you come from a well-off family, your path has been laid out for you, and you got lucky. But not all of us have that luxury. I doubt your knight king would welcome us with open arms."
"We don't know if he'll welcome us," Aurora interjected, her mature yet weary voice cutting in. "But Adrianna, we can't go to Kislev right now. If you know anything about the situation there, you'll see that option isn't viable."
"Then what about Ostland?" Adrianna suggested, knowing Kislev was in turmoil.
"Elector Count Varmir would be happy to have another courtier," Theresa muttered impatiently. "You might even make it into his top ten favorites. He has ten acknowledged bastards! Do you think he'd acknowledge you?"
Adrianna fell silent.
Aurora decided it was time to weigh in. "Our options are limited, ladies. We all know that the southern Empire is dominated by the Imperial Colleges of Magic. Even in the north, our influence only extends to Nordland, Hochland, Talabecland, and Ostland."
After a moment of contemplation, Aurora couldn't help feeling conflicted. Was she truly going to bow to Ryan? Still unwilling to give up hope, she suggested, "Let's go see the Speaker of the Ostermark Alliance and Elector Count Wolfram Hertwig. Let's see if he is willing to help us. If he is, we can weigh our options. If not, we can head for Bretonnia. But please, let's stay united. The most important thing right now is solidarity."
With this suggestion, no one had any further objections. Theresa, though frustrated that her mother hadn't sided with her, remained silent after receiving a warning glance from Aurora.
After a brief lunch, Aurora and Theresa took a short nap, but they still felt fatigued. Nevertheless, they prepared for their visit to the Elector Count's palace in Bechafen.
The skies were gray, the buildings gray, and their mood equally grim. Aurora and Theresa, dressed in noticeably more colorful clothing than the locals, drew curious glances as they walked through the streets. However, they faced no hostility, as Ostermark was a place of mixed bloodlines. The first Elector Count, Adelhard, had married women from across the Empire, and the people of Ostermark were open to intermarriage with outsiders, unlike many other provinces.
(Of course, they particularly disliked men from Reikland, especially those who courted local women. Such men were derisively called "Reikland flies" in Ostermark.)
As they walked, neither mother nor daughter spoke much. They were still in shock from the recent events. Upon reaching the iron-gray Elector Count's palace, Aurora noticed the presence of the Death's Head Regiment, Ostermark's elite force. This army had been founded during the Vampire Wars and had a distinguished history of battling undead lords. Known for their skull masks, black-and-red banners, and fearsome resilience, the Death's Head soldiers had been instrumental in defeating the last vampire count, Manfred von Carstein, at the Battle of Hel Fenn.
"Daughter, go ahead and introduce yourself," Aurora said to Theresa as they approached. "We both know Hertwig's reputation. My name won't carry any weight here."
"Understood." Theresa stepped forward and introduced herself, stating her titles and requesting an audience with Elector Count Wolfram Hertwig.
The Death's Head soldiers, notorious for their disdain of magic, initially seemed hostile toward the witches. But upon hearing Theresa's credentials beyond being a member of the Garland Council, they quickly relayed her request inside.
Two minutes later, a soldier jogged back. "His Excellency welcomes you. Please, come in."
Theresa remained composed, but Aurora couldn't help but smirk inwardly. As expected, it was Ryan's name that opened doors. Her wild son-in-law's reputation had become a key to the Old World.
With this realization came a pang of sadness.
The palace of Bechafen was far from luxurious. Like
the province itself, it was austere and practical, with gray, brown, and red being the dominant colors. Apart from the Elector Count's personal crest and the purple accents of his guards, the decor was simple. Theresa noticed that many of the men in the palace sported thick mustaches. They were led into a plain receiving room, furnished with basic wooden furniture. The attendant gestured for them to wait. "Please be patient. His Excellency is just concluding a meeting with the Alliance. He will be with you shortly."
"Thank you," Aurora nodded.
Unlike many provinces in the Empire, Ostermark's Elector Count is not a hereditary position. The ruling family was wiped out during the 1999-2000 Mordheim catastrophe, when the twin-tailed comet struck the city, killing every noble and commoner except for the Sisterhood of Sigmar, who had received a divine warning and took refuge underground. After Mordheim's destruction, the remaining cities and villages of Ostermark formed an Alliance, and the Speaker of this Alliance was usually elected as the new Elector Count.
"The current Elector, Hertwig, is known for championing the rights of commoners and the middle class," Aurora explained to Theresa. "He spends a great deal of energy keeping the nobles, the church, and the knightly orders in check, ensuring they don't exploit the lower classes. He constantly emphasizes that the justice of the nobility is not the justice of the people."
"If he were in another province, Hertwig would have been deposed long ago by the nobility," Aurora continued. "But Ostermark's unique political system allows commoners and the middle class to hold a large number of seats in the Alliance Council. As a result, Hertwig's power is secure, and the people love him for it. Under his leadership, Ostermark has thrived."
Just then, a deep laugh echoed from the hallway, and Elector Count Hertwig entered the room with two attendants. His expression was one of genuine surprise. "By Morr! Lady Theresa? What brings you to this backwater? It's been nearly ten years since we last met in Altdorf, hasn't it? Regardless, you are most welcome. How can I assist you?"
"Your Excellency, we are in trouble," Theresa replied, standing up quickly. "We need your help."
Hertwig's mind was already working. He knew the witches only brought trouble.
The Garland Council's reputation was of little concern to him; his court wizards came from the Imperial Colleges of Magic.
But the knight king, Ryan-Marcador, also known as "the Pious"? That was a name he couldn't ignore. He knew exactly who Theresa was.
The Elector Count smiled warmly, nodding as he gestured for Aurora and Theresa to sit. "Of course. What troubles you, and how can I help?"
"We..."
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