Post: #1

The two Black coaches slowed to a stop it had been an hour since they had left the Badlands and arrived at the Border Princes. Something had changed in the distance fires burned.

The small town was completely destroyed when they arrived. Mircea stepped out of his coach and examined the scene. The town had been ripped down and burned there was no sign of its inhabitants. Mircea sighed it was just the same as the last twelve ruins he had passed through on his way to Nexeternus stripped of all life and burning.

"Mircea! up here." called Vyacheslav standing on a hill staring into the distance. Mircea joined him and watched an army marching away into the distance "hmmmm it looks undead perhaps nine thousand strong" said Vyachaslev "ten thousand" Mircea corrected him "its one of Simon's legions" he said observing the standards on show. "just one?" asked Vyacheslev. "From what I've seen of Simon's faction he had many legions under his control and that is just one of them and its not even the largest. His forces have been increasing thanks to all the casualties from the battle and the resurrection of the Border princes dead." replied Mircea. "The sooner we get to Nexeternus the sooner we can find out whats going on."

Post: #2

The two vampire remounted their Black coaches and they took off, packs of dire wolves and bats flanking them. Moving up near the group of warrior Mircea stepped out and mentioned the ranks of undead out of his way.

''Now who is commanding these soldiers?'' he muttered to himself.

Post: #3

As the Coachs continued onwards through the ranks of undead Ingrid opened the window of the Black Coach closest to Micrea's. "I am not sure" , She called towards him. "However, it may be more then likely to be a Get or Wight of Simon, strong enough to keep these undead warriors raised and intact.

Post: #4

The undead troops began moving aside as a figure appeared behind them and began to move towards the vampire lords. Wearing the garb of a witchhunter Mircea recognised Lucius Simon's lord of torture. "Lord Mircea its good to see you again" he said "Lord Aurelius awaits you at Nexeternus. In the wake of my grandfather's death Lord Aurelius has assumed control and has begun putting Lord Simon's plans into action. No doubt you will have a lot to discuss with each other." "How do you know about Simon's death?" asked Vyachaslev puzzled Lucius turned to him "Mother sensed it of course she already knew it was coming unfortunately in her grief she has slipped into a trance and has yet to recover."

Post: #5

''Of course Lucius, I will move twords Nexeternus it seems that there are many things to be changed'' the vampire lord said to himself as he turned around. ''I suspect myself and my nephew will have much to talk about'' he said and returned to his black coach, the transport wheeling off again in the direction of Nexeternus.

Post: #6

The road to Nexeternus got more crowded the nearer the coaches and their occupants got to their destination as regiments of skeletons and spirits marched or floated past. There was an incredible amount of activity going on. In the distance several zombie giants probably salvaged from Magneqrox's hordes were slowly pushing a great column of rock up so that once it stood upright it reached towards the sky. It seemed that Simon had intended to build a great icon or statue at that spot perhaps as a mark of vanity.

The fjords were also a hive of activity when they arrived there. The forwas being rebuilt by human masons and undead helpers. The area was full of tents and there seemed to be a large garrison keeping watch over the work. A large column of zombies was walking through towards Nexeternus evidently the spell that Simon had cast was still in effect and summoning fresh hordes to swell the ranks.

Post: #7

The black coah travled over the fjords and thruoght the gates stopping before them. A pair of servats came and opended the doors. The vampire lord exited and looked upon the great castle before the gates opended before him and he enteres, cloak swirling behind him. None challneged him, his dark aura cowing any would be mortla guard.

He stalked throught the hallways, looking around and noticing the various repairs behing done along with portriats that Simon had collected over the decades, somthing Mircea had always considered a useless distraction. Mircea ignored them all, walking on towrds his destiniation.

Opening the great double doors that let to the throne room he looked around, standing before him was the figure of Aurelius. ''It seems he have much to talk about Aurelius my nephew'' he annouced.

Post: #8

Vyacheslav and Ingrid entered the throne room of Nexeternus as Micrea began to speak. The room was of enormous scale, and being constructed on thick stone, large pillars dotted the room. Following the end of Micrea's greeting with Simon's Get Ingrid turned to Vyacheslav and whispered. "Do you know of this von Carstein, Vyacheslav?"

"I'm afraid I do not my dear." , Vyacheslav replied. "It appears that our many years spent within the Empire have left us estranged from the, wretched remains what is left of our line..." Vyacheslav trailed off, as Aurelius began to address them.

Post: #9

Aurelius stood up "gentlemen and lady" he said acknowledging Ingrid with a nod "welcome its good to have you back safely. My sister Sariah can't be with us at the moment or doubtless she would join us." "doubtless" Mircea agreed "I understand that you're in charge now Aurelius." "Correct" replied Aurelius placing his hand into a lighted torch the flame left it and burned in his palm he settled down into the throne showing no discomfort from the flames. "Simon always knew that there may come a time when he would die. To prevent the anarchy that always appears to occur Simon designated me as his successor to ensure that his plans were carried out should the worst happen."

Post: #10

Intresting trick, Mircea thought. ''Well then what are those plans Simon has? I'm sure that the vampire councill would be intrested in seeing what you plan to do, especially since I have ring now'' he said, mentioning to his ring finger.

Post: #11

"Our plans are our own Lord Mircea." said Aurelius with a slightly bored tone "I was not told to include the council in any of them especially now that we're collaborating with skaven and tomb kings. But their going to be big oh yes!" "its going to be quite a show. My instructions are to treat you as an ally soon we will be in complete control of the Border Princes we just have to sacrifice a few more lives to make sure that the other Lords around here get the message and submit."

Post: #12

''Some of those lords are Brettonians and have reletives in Bretonnia, I woudl suspect that you would not like to have a crusade of knights knocking on your doors now would you?'' Mircea quiestioned. ''That's why maybe you should proceed with caution, after all that fool Merovich was from Brettonia and might be able to use hidden agents to rouse support for an attack on us after his direct assualt failed'' he suggested.

Post: #13

"The Brettonians have enough problems to deal with at the moment Lord Mircea." said Aurelius "The recent unpleasantness up north with those chaos fanatics may be over for now but there's plenty of stragglers all over the Old World. Another war so soon after that one would not be in their best interests. Not to mention the fact that the nobles down here are dispossessed and unwanted by their families thats why their trying to scratch an existance down here" Aurelius passed the flame to his other hand and then hurled back on to the torch where he had originally taken it from. It lit up with a flash and then settled down "and even if they do come down here they can't stop us. We outnumber them and we know the territory. They don't!"

Post: #14

''Speaking of refugees, some of my wolf packs have detected a dwarven host moving from Barak Varr towards us, they however have just finished off a recent orc infestration and are far closer to your forces, they could prove a serious threat towards you.'' Mircea stated.

Post: #15

The grim band of dwarves trudged on. Thunder pealed in the heavens, rain fell in torrents, the elements contested the dwarves’ every step, and yet they marched on. In the distance a city loomed, inviting the dwarves to take shelter, emboldened by the sight they redoubled their efforts. As they neared, it seemed as if the city was abandoned. Yet its foreboding archways and elegant flying buttresses offered reprieve from the tumultuous storm, and for that they thanked the gods.

Post: #16

Lucius stood looking over the ruins of another destroyed town. As per his orders he had slaughtered every last man, woman and child. There would be no mercy or clemency Lucius and his brothers were on a mission of genocidal extermination. Simon had always been worshipped as a god by his own subjects and respected as a dangerous being to cross which was why the other Lords in the Border Princes had left him alone. But now that Simon was dead killed by a mortal Aurelius had commanded that the people of the world be reminded of the vampires divinity with a show of force and bringing a god's wrath down upon them. The dead started to rise and then move in the direction of Nexeternus. There they would join the war effort and do something useful for their immortal overlords. Only Simon's worshippers were going to survive this one.

Aurelius laughed "The Dwarfs of Barak Varr have always had a an arrangement with us Lord Mircea. We allow safe passage for their people without waylaying them and they don't bother us. It wasn't an arrangement they were happy about but they didn't have the military strength to do otherwise and even if they did a war would greatly weaken them and with them being such slow breeders just losing one of their citizens would hurt." He stood up "If they are marching to war then they must be desperate."

Post: #17

"Lord Lucius, do you know the name of the Dwarf who is leading this war party?" , Vyacheslav asked, looking at the Vampire. "If you wish it I could advance forward to meet them, eliminating it's Leaders in the process."

Post: #18

From a tunnel near the ruins emerged the form of Volgrim Skobison and a party of Miners. Around them were gargoyles and what seemd to be like a ghostly presence. Volgrim shurddered. They had coem from the tunnels to join thier brethren from barak Varr, but the tunnel they used had not been used in over a century. Obviously things had changed.

Post: #19

The dwarves were not alone. The shadows were filled with the misshapen agents of the master of the city. Lunatics, depraved men, devilish constructs, and worse heeding the silent edicts of the living city.

From the heart of the beast a black cat watched the scuttling dwarves, his eyes gleamed with interest. The dwarves had stepped into his abode, their fears open for him to perceive, their minds unwound for his scrutiny. His servants hovered in the shadows, just beyond the dwarves’ perception drawing shivers down their spines, their minds numbed by irrational fear.

The miners glanced about nervously. The city was without a doubt a convenient place to make camp, yet they had never been a place more unsettling. It was as if the very stones were staring into the depths of their minds, subtly mocking them. But the alternative was to march through the tempest, and they had spotted the Von Carsteins’ scouts in the distance, it was only a matter of time before the wretched bloodsuckers attacked, and the city was an opportune place to defend.

Placing their faith in the gods, the dwarves entered the city fanning out and preparing whatever scant defenses they could.

The shadows rippled in silent laughter. The web tightened, the spider hungered.
*******

"Lord Mircea."

A still reverting vampire intruded upon the assembled Von Carsteins, his thick fur was smeared with blood.

"Milord, the dwarves are fortifying themselves within a nearby city. We were engaged by a small contingent of their forces", the get cracked a bloody smile, fangs stained with blood and gore.

"We impressed the mangnitude of their error. However their force is large and far too close for comfort", he ended with a respectful bow.

Post: #20

''Well it seems that your little treaty with the dwarves has broken down'' Micea commented. ''I will take my army, it has been too long since I have taken part in a proper battle, I will also be taken a few of your soldiers also Aurelius as renforcements, that's assuming that you don't mind?'' Mircea said as he turned around and left the room withount waiting for an answer.