- Joined
- Feb 12, 2008
- Messages
- 27,916
Important Note: It is recommended that any members who wish to read the full history look through the original TVC found here:
https://www.vampirecounts.net/forums/the-vampire-council.48/
However be warned, it's a long read!
Prologue
10 years ago the unthinkable happened. 10 years ago the dreaded vampires of night rebelled against the greatest of master of the undeath, Nagash - the Supreme Lord of Undeath.....and won.
The war was devastating, battles won and lost, friends and enemies alike wholly destroyed. Amongst it all there was also love, betrayal, honour and deceit.
Yet at the end, Nagash was finally destroyed, his Black Pyramid torn down to ensure he did not return once more.
Finally the vampires were free of the unseen shackles many had felt from their distant master. For many now was the time they could step out from the shadows and begin their dark rule........but they were wrong.
As always, the Lords of Chaos had watched and waited, and had finally struck at the perfect moment. Though not realised by any in the Vampire Council, at the moment of Nagash's true death, the balance of power had not shifted to them, but away.
10 Years Later
Ten years. Ten long years, in which things had greatly changed.
Some were expected, after all after defeating such a foe, it was natural that some of the vampires would feel invincible, none more so than the arrogant von Carsteins.
All was quiet in the first year, as in Sylvania and the Border Princes the Carsteins recovered the immense losses suffered. Though the exact date is unknown, during this time the master vampire Vlad von Carstein took his leave of his sons, along with his faithful wraith-servant Naar-Zul. The master had been greatly wounded during his duel with Nagash, and many spoke with wonder than he had actually survived. Whether this was the cause or something else, only his heirs Simon, Mircea and Karl knew.
Likely his leaving seemed to spur the three, who collectively lead the Carsteins. Karl the silver tongued, master diploment. Simon the artist, the dreamer, but also the visionary who had resurrected the might of the Carseins. Certainly not the least, Mircea, rumoured to be a tactician second only to the legendary Abhorash.
It was during the winter of the second year that they struck the Empire. At first they won victory after victory, and it seemed certain this time that the Carsteins would prevail. Yet once again they were thwarted, though not fully defeated. With the assistance from their dwarven cousins and Kislev the Empire pushed back.
Unlike the previous masters of the Carseins, the three could not be so easily defeated. Their different mindsets worked to their advantage, ensuring that critical mistakes were not made, and using advantages never once considered.
It was during the sixth year the Dwarves were forced to recall their forces. Their kingdoms had come under siege from an unexpected quarter, their wayward cousins in the east. Chaos Dwarves had forged an unholy alliance with many tribes of the Ogre Kingdoms and with their combined strength, planned to destroy the noble Dwarves once and for all. To current date many dwarf holds are still under siege.
Further north the powers of chaos had also not laid dormant. For many years there was talk of a new powerful champion. Details were scarce, and if he truly existed it seemed for the moment he did not seem interested in going to war.
That changed during the seventh year. Raids became more and more often on the lands of Kislev, and all prophecies and portents showed the rising of a champion of Tzeentch.
With the men of Kislev forced to return north, the fall of the Empire was expected shortly after. Yet still now in the tenth year, the Carsteins have done little more than tighten their hold on lands they now hold, roughly half of the Empire. Battle and skirmishers are frequent, yet the men of the Empire do not have the strength to destroy their foes......and unknown to them, neither do the Carsteins.
Far down in the Land of the Death, the tale is far different. The dead of Nehekhara had suffered more than any under Nagash, and his death had released much of the darkness within them.
They had once more become one kingdom under the leadership of Settra, whilst Rowhaine, the Avatar of Asaph had resurrected the old ways. With great joy the covenant with the Nehekharan gods was remade, and their power once more began to flow into the lands.
As part of the covenant, work began on rebuilding the great cities, and the living were once again welcomed into them. Although the dead still ruled, for the first time there was a harmony between them and the living not known anywhere else. Nehekara flourished, and once more began its journey to being one of the greatest lands of men, though many still shunned its dead masters.
It was here, far from the surging power of Chaos that it was first noticed. As each year passed, the power of death, of necromancy seemed to diminish. With each year, every creature of death from the lowly skeleton to the powerful kings and liches felt their own strength weaken.
In now the tenth year, many constructs have fallen silent, deaf to the incantations of the liche priests. Rumours of the stalemate in the Empire has reached their ears, and it is clear the vampires are suffering as well.
With the destruction of Nagash, the power of the dead is starting to slip away, whilst the power of Chaos waxes once more…….
https://www.vampirecounts.net/forums/the-vampire-council.48/
However be warned, it's a long read!
Prologue
10 years ago the unthinkable happened. 10 years ago the dreaded vampires of night rebelled against the greatest of master of the undeath, Nagash - the Supreme Lord of Undeath.....and won.
The war was devastating, battles won and lost, friends and enemies alike wholly destroyed. Amongst it all there was also love, betrayal, honour and deceit.
Yet at the end, Nagash was finally destroyed, his Black Pyramid torn down to ensure he did not return once more.
Finally the vampires were free of the unseen shackles many had felt from their distant master. For many now was the time they could step out from the shadows and begin their dark rule........but they were wrong.
As always, the Lords of Chaos had watched and waited, and had finally struck at the perfect moment. Though not realised by any in the Vampire Council, at the moment of Nagash's true death, the balance of power had not shifted to them, but away.
10 Years Later
Ten years. Ten long years, in which things had greatly changed.
Some were expected, after all after defeating such a foe, it was natural that some of the vampires would feel invincible, none more so than the arrogant von Carsteins.
All was quiet in the first year, as in Sylvania and the Border Princes the Carsteins recovered the immense losses suffered. Though the exact date is unknown, during this time the master vampire Vlad von Carstein took his leave of his sons, along with his faithful wraith-servant Naar-Zul. The master had been greatly wounded during his duel with Nagash, and many spoke with wonder than he had actually survived. Whether this was the cause or something else, only his heirs Simon, Mircea and Karl knew.
Likely his leaving seemed to spur the three, who collectively lead the Carsteins. Karl the silver tongued, master diploment. Simon the artist, the dreamer, but also the visionary who had resurrected the might of the Carseins. Certainly not the least, Mircea, rumoured to be a tactician second only to the legendary Abhorash.
It was during the winter of the second year that they struck the Empire. At first they won victory after victory, and it seemed certain this time that the Carsteins would prevail. Yet once again they were thwarted, though not fully defeated. With the assistance from their dwarven cousins and Kislev the Empire pushed back.
Unlike the previous masters of the Carseins, the three could not be so easily defeated. Their different mindsets worked to their advantage, ensuring that critical mistakes were not made, and using advantages never once considered.
It was during the sixth year the Dwarves were forced to recall their forces. Their kingdoms had come under siege from an unexpected quarter, their wayward cousins in the east. Chaos Dwarves had forged an unholy alliance with many tribes of the Ogre Kingdoms and with their combined strength, planned to destroy the noble Dwarves once and for all. To current date many dwarf holds are still under siege.
Further north the powers of chaos had also not laid dormant. For many years there was talk of a new powerful champion. Details were scarce, and if he truly existed it seemed for the moment he did not seem interested in going to war.
That changed during the seventh year. Raids became more and more often on the lands of Kislev, and all prophecies and portents showed the rising of a champion of Tzeentch.
With the men of Kislev forced to return north, the fall of the Empire was expected shortly after. Yet still now in the tenth year, the Carsteins have done little more than tighten their hold on lands they now hold, roughly half of the Empire. Battle and skirmishers are frequent, yet the men of the Empire do not have the strength to destroy their foes......and unknown to them, neither do the Carsteins.
Far down in the Land of the Death, the tale is far different. The dead of Nehekhara had suffered more than any under Nagash, and his death had released much of the darkness within them.
They had once more become one kingdom under the leadership of Settra, whilst Rowhaine, the Avatar of Asaph had resurrected the old ways. With great joy the covenant with the Nehekharan gods was remade, and their power once more began to flow into the lands.
As part of the covenant, work began on rebuilding the great cities, and the living were once again welcomed into them. Although the dead still ruled, for the first time there was a harmony between them and the living not known anywhere else. Nehekara flourished, and once more began its journey to being one of the greatest lands of men, though many still shunned its dead masters.
It was here, far from the surging power of Chaos that it was first noticed. As each year passed, the power of death, of necromancy seemed to diminish. With each year, every creature of death from the lowly skeleton to the powerful kings and liches felt their own strength weaken.
In now the tenth year, many constructs have fallen silent, deaf to the incantations of the liche priests. Rumours of the stalemate in the Empire has reached their ears, and it is clear the vampires are suffering as well.
With the destruction of Nagash, the power of the dead is starting to slip away, whilst the power of Chaos waxes once more…….
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