Credits Design Team:Eric Cagle,David Chart,Andrew Kenrick,andAndrew Law Additional Design:OwenBarnes,KateFlack,andRobert ]. Schwalb Develorem: Roberri' SchwalbRoberr Clark andRob vaurn Graphic Design andArt Direction:HalMangoldCOver Art:Ralph Horsley WFRP Logo:Darius Hinks Interior An:ScottAltmann, AlexBoyd, Tyshan Carey,PaulDainton, ChrisDien, VincentDutrait, CarlFrank,Dave Gallagher,Paul Herbert,EricLofgren, ParLoboyko, KensonLow, Andrew Murray, TorsteinNordstrand, William O'Connor, EricPollak,ScottPurdy,David Rabine,Adrian Smith, ChristopheSwal, Chris Trevas, Franz Vohwinkel, Ben Wootten Cartography:Andrew Law WFRP Development Manager:OwenBarnesWFRP BrandManager:Kate Flack Headof Black Industries:MarcGascoinge rr ABlackIndustrkPublicarion racesand raceinsignia,marks.names,characters.illustrations. and images.fromthe Warhammeruniller.re arceither,First published in2007 by BLackIndustries, animprint Tivf,andiorGamesWorkshopLtd 2000-2007,variablyof BLPublishing registered intheUK and other countries around theworld.All Games Workshop.Ltd rightsreseY/lt'd. WillowRoad GreenRonin and theGreenRoninlogo areTrademarks1ottingham ofGreenRoninPublishingLLe and areused withNG72WS permission.UK Product Code: 60040283030No pan of truspublicationmay be reproducedsroredina retrieval syStem, ISBN10:1-84416-314-8 ortransmitted inany formbyanymeans, ISBN13:978-1-844] 6-3] 4-4 electronic.mechan icaJ,photocopying, recording or otherwise without[he prior Black Industries World Wide Website: permission of thepublisher. www.blackindustries.com CopyrightGamesWorkJhopLimited2007.AI! Rights Games Workshop World Wide Website: ReseI'ued.GamcsV{forkJhop,theGamesWorkshoplogo, \\'Ww. ga mes-work:shop. com Wdrht1mmer.WarhammerFal1tmyRoleplay,theWarhammer GreenRonin World Wide Web site: Roleplaylogo,BlackIndustries.theBlackIndustries logo,BLPublishing.7J. e HLPublishing logollnd all associated I www.greenronin.com Table of Contents Journeyman's ReleaseJ..I.54 VermaI Acts of Faith_-+_ .. Penance---l--------r-a-Punishmenr_+. + ........u Sacrijice-'_O:...--------t"Service __++_ ATemple of Fles. Absrinence'---------tMorrijicarion,-.,..---------1r-..u New ar{ godshold may.Whetherhe finished hislife'sI not,forheisdead and hishomeand possessions'B'ere seiXfd and burned bythoseopposed to[haos. I cannot conceroeof'rPhat would temptmantotuma'rPa) fromthe gloriousgods,to'Brhomdt'lJotionisrtYParded 'rPithdivine protection. Those'Brho placatethegods,whoshowthemtheir duerespect,canrectroe great re'B'ard,shelteredfromthe'rPOrstoftheravagingtouches and theruinoustempt"ti()1lJofthe foulerdeities.I grit'lJe formykist friend,fortbttragedyofhisabruptend,andforthekisstousall that his passinghasbrought.13utI donot 9uestionthe'Brhysofhisend,forthosewhodabble'rPiththedark.nessha'Uea tendencyto it into thtmsel'UtJ,wall(f(pinginitsdespair,ambition,rage,and t'B'isted perversions. Ina seme,I feela responsibility,a purpose,a holYi'l'UOCationtoexpiatethecrimesof my friend.'PerhapsI shouldsettopaper thepUyPQStand causeoftheright and truegodsintheEmpire,cataloguingtheir gloriousto,if onlyinpart,diminishthosehlasphemiesrecorded bymy departedfriend. Trulysuch a 'rPOr{ would glorify our gods and restore the goodfaith and dt'lJoti()1l of mortals to their seruice and'rPOrship,and therebyemurethecontinued patrimony gr-ventousby great Sigmar. IfI 'B'eretoauthorsucha tl7me,'rPhere'rPOuldI begin?Inthebeginning,I suppose.libraryis full ofdustyaccountsand ancient 'B'ritings that claimtotelithetrueoriginsof ourqlJds.Whilstsuchinformationisindeedfascinating,theredrema,IYconflictingtales,M>t1ldmong thosethatrelatetoSigmar.Suchdrip'rPithha/f;truthsandfalsehoods.and soextractingthetruthof thesey,ritingsisa dallntingtask: Whichtochoose?I must letSigmar guidemychoiceand acceptthatwhichisdecreedbydi'Uiney,ill. It isobviousthat onceI establishthehistoryofthenine primarygodsoftheEmpin,thatoftheircultswouldfo/I(f(p,Thereisandbundance of loreregardingtheseinstitutions.thoughtheytend wconflictdependingontheerain'rPhichthey'B'ert'rPritten.eAlas.thelensofhistoryis smeared 'B'ithlieland cmfusion. Ofcourse,no discussion ofthe grtdt qods TMUJd be complete 'rPithout aloo\at theJurpbeliefsofthecom7lJ()1lmen ofour nation.'Peasantsh4'Ue SIKhcurilJusideas'rPbenit romestotheqods,and most venerateanarr.vofspirits,ancestors,and /esserqods.It isfromtheir ignorAncethat fanaticismarises.I the'Z!al ofthesesertJants.but I worrythatSfJmtother spirit,SfJmt ftuJ thingof mayseiz! theirsouu in pl4ceofthegod to'Brhomthe)' prostrateth"nsel'Uts.I supposeSfJmtmentionoftbtselesser deitiesIhould bemade,inatlJitiontothemisguided ritualsoftheir foiJrm'ers.'fet I must hdvecare'Albenapproachingthissubject,lest I call _thewrttthofthose'rPm guard agdinst these fO'B'ers. Piousexpressionisanother 'rPOrthysubjea.Our calendaris full of holyandsacreddaysset dsidetohonourthepantheon.VouJ,tersbelieve these art just excuses to shirk. honest labour,but thosewhoha'Ue parlicipated in these grandfestivalstheyare pleasingtothegods. Undoubtedly, the most 'rPOrlh'B'hile subject is the seruanlS of the gods themselves. Sadly,ma,IY good Empire folk. hdve mispercepti()1lJ about the functionand purposeofourrole,misunderstanding'rPhat'B'tdoand whatimpelsUlWgroeover ourlr-vtswthedeities.WhilstI aman expertonv'onSigmaran" hiscult,I havecolleaguesinma,IYother cultswhom1m sure'B'Ouldbewi//ingtod()1latea portionoftheir timeto thecompletionofthis'B'Ork:13ysheddinglight onour relatiomhipwiththeqods,perhdpssomeclaritycould beachieved. Issuch fane), foolish?'Ft'B'inour brdveIdnd canrt,1.d.after ali.I rwnderatthisurgetoauthorsucha book:Isthissomedroineimpulse. some paththat hasbeenilluminated bythe gloryofourgods,oramI motMJ,1.tedb)'somebaser "mB (jrtdinly,I havenoneed offame, 'B'ealth,or gkiry;thesearetbttrttppi,Wof themund,1.ne,,1.nd theyserutonlytodisguisemoresiniiter agencies. thisdrivemust be droine{Yinspired.I must embr,1.cethisbelief,dluJlistentothedr-vineutterances4StheyCl7metome from"V'mdster.I cannotbesuliied by baser needs,and must Temdinpureofhearl and purposelest these'rPOrdsbetainted. The then.WheredidI place thatletter totheEmperor?oAb,hereitis... 4 ------Chapter I:A Brief History of the Cults of the Empire~rr "Never have I encountered asupposedly civilised nation where religion and superstition directly control almost everylevel of thinking. The Emp'ire is as much ruled by' the representatives ofits Gods as it is by its nobles, ana that can make truth aaangerous commodity to own." -ATTRIBUTED TO HIGH LOREMASTER T EeLlS OF U LTHUAN 5 Chapter I:ABrief History of the Cults of the EmireJgain,1amtoby your command,tocraft a manMIC7'iptfqr JOUrdilctrnme1lt.phi1olaphert,historians,and theistI,and theextantoftheqadIthemlel'Utl,intoa tomeducrihingtheHistory,ofthe[UitloftheEmf1Rq-herefore,alHrendismywibleIl,1Ihal/ delcriktruthfuJIythe formatimof the "And it began:reJigioulinstitutiominthilbleIled Jdnd.Ilhdll beginbydiscuSlingmatterI that fallintoImperial and then guide youthroughtime'scorridorsuntil 'lilt powerful, rose up;arrruelitthilnight,'rl>bereI put my pentoparchment beneaththet'nlinlightof :Jvfomlieband:Jvfannslieh.q-hroughoutthisdiscourse,I shdl/ pTO"videhistorical Hom, firmof wiU.CQ1/lext,and Iections fromother mays,papers,and t'Utnindi1;idua/s,all toaid in understandingthiscomplexsubject,forit il t'lJident frommystudiesthat thereare mdnycompetingtruths'rl>hellit comutomatttrI offaith. 'ForalthoughtheholycultsarenurJleduioul fX"i'tYhouItloftheEmpire'l utahLishment,and aU preachsimilar crtlltionmyths,it'rl>asnot dhP4JSrajonce,longago,thecultsdid not even exitt,and "either did their belief. OFTHE FIRST TIMES Whatlittleisk.1IO'4'noftheearliestHuman populatimoftheland thtlt would becomeour gloriousEmpirecamel fromtn>oprimarysources. The fiTltistheleamed VtMrft-the ElderYlIithYlIhom'liltIhdreourlongestdltegiance-ftr theyhaverele-vantrecordithatdateback. toour prehiltory.Therecondiithe primitrveHumamthemItI'Uts-for tracesof their pdSIingltill exilt,includingancientcarvings,pllintinp,andold hurialmoundi. JlthoughtheEivel undoubtedlyhoard malIYrele-valllrecordlof thiltime,securingtheloreofthisElderHl/fi>t'lJer,astheyhavelittleregardfor our religiousritesand practilel-vietl>ing our cults,astheyvietl>most ofour great morethanundiIguiled diIdain-1 do'101be/it'lJethiItobea Iignificdnt10il. CONCERNING THE DWARF CHRONICLES 'Onfortundttly,theancient VYlIarfihaw fe'rl>extant recordsconcerningthe fiTltHumantribesthat lived inthe 'l{ei{'Batin.It ispresumed that oncetheretveremore,but malt oftheVYlIarf holdsha'Utfincebeendeltroyed,and thosethtlt remdinhave suffered repeated ndturdl difaftersand O'Utrthecenturiet,all of havemulted inthemany great 1oms.Hl/fi>t'lJer, ravageioftime,andfromit theoccasiOndI glimpIt of our antecedentIWI be folUuI. The Chronicles ofHigh King Num Shieldbreakerfint \1lOYlJIlhiltorical record ofIIHumantribeillthe flmts ofthe futureEmpire.1YlI4i forbidden"ccmtotheancient,goldenva/umeI,101 cannot reliablytfUOlt fromthem,butI 'rl>asgranted anabridgedcoPyof thereie'lJantiecti01lI'rl>henI produced myImperialSeal of Jcquisitim. The fascindtingchroniclesrt'lJealtd theVYlIarfKingdomsofthat erll'rl>ereunder :Aialiive earthqUtlRtsrived themount"ins,and Rhya, the beautiful, rose up; TaaJ, the hot Spread of Then, chey did create all natural things." - THE BOOK OF GREEK dated byVYlIdrftto'J47 KJ (cired-149210, boastIthe some primt'lJallorehassuroi'Utd the has proventobeimpoilible. YlIithlittle Imperial:A1ajesty,thePrinceof'IereVmgal(yphichroughlYtramlatesasa band ofpeopleypk shoddythings),ttnd"needed tobetaughta S'nIift lessoninrespect."dlthougha,arfiundoubtedlYe1KounteredHumans man)'timesbefireinthesouth,Vmgal tobethename that and T/O'IJl,almost4,000 Jearslater,Humans,tothea,arfi.arestill k.no'DInasVmgi,theracethat shoddythings. Weareblessed bythea,arftnfiretkught.asthesea,arfirtcorded c'-verythingthey foundinthectlmp.dmongthesimpletoolsandfixtures thtltlittertd thecamp1l>eresuggestivelyshaped objects,nodoubtofrituttl significance,yphichrt1)ealaforthrightattitudetothedctsof'RP)'d. Timealld civilisationhttve no'DIreplaced suchdirectdepictiomypiththe ypheatsheafand theantler-vmbols that aremuchmoresuitable for public dilpla),and 1m toexcite the passionsoftheeasilYkd. Vmurprising/Y,the'DrParfihad littleinterestinthesebadlYsculpted [tgures,and theyabtlndoned them. Lttter chroniclesrecoulltsimilar tales-a,arfispottingnomadic Humans;Humans fleeing -but verylittleisadded concemingtheir possiblereligiouspr.-dises. (Forthis,1l>e tumtotheantiquarians. CONCERNING THE ANTIQYARIAN DISCOVERIES fortkse e11fuiringintothe foundatiomofour greatnation,it hilsbecomeincreasinglY fashionableto find antifUdrian projects. d/l ()'1.)erourEmpire,canIeesmall groupsof bravemendnd womensportingshuvelsalld drtistS'tools,dlJreddyto enthusidsticallYeXCdvdteancientsitesand diligentlyrecordthey find.fJ"hisrecentdevelopment 1m ledtoa//ofdisCO'lJeries,but nonemore tothismanuscript thanthegalasteinQrvingr. VncrJ'lJeredintheJ(plsahilJsingalabecland byagroupofdisrtputabletombrobbers,thethirteenstoneslabsofthegalastemQrvingrarea YPOlldertobehold.The pictogramsareYPOnino'DI,but fascinatingcluescansti" be garnertd bytheeducated scholar. THE OLD FAITH "Most believe the Cult ofthe Mother died out long ago. They are wrong. Not onlydo the Great Families ofmy Order continue Her traditions, but the sickle is born by others, which most ofwhomhide far fromprying eyes. Before he formed our Order, 'redis came to our great groves. By channelling Gbyran he activated the Waystones we believed had been raised by our ancestors, and showed us what our "Oghams" truly were: acreation of the Elder Race, the Asar, the Elves. We watchedas 'redis explained the nature of belief, magic, and ofHoeth, the God he especially revered. Not all of us accepted his foreign ways. Indeed, afull third ofthe Druidic Families stubbornly spumed 'redis, refusing to believe his ..truth", and fled into the dark forests, just like the prehistoric tribes ofold. But those who remained, listened, and then eventually understood. Not long after, the Jade Order ofMagic was formalised, and we were its numbers. We didn't change our beliefs-indeed, we practise the Old Faith still-but we understood dlemfor what they were: atwisted reflection ofthe truth. Since then, our role as Nature'S Guardians hasbrought us into contact with many others who believe they are the Children ofthe Belthani. They are all, I amquite sure, just as wrong aswe were." -EROWIN GRUNFELD, MAGISTER DRUID OF THE JADE ORDER 7 'Thesldbsdepictd surpriJingl)'complexsocietyledbypriestscdlled HCults of the Emire Chapter I:A Brief History of the druids:''ThecdMJingstellof Humdntribesthat fled tothe'l{ei\'Basin fromaforeignt'Uil,dlthough'rllhdtthat t'Uil'rllasisunspecified.Ofmte,especially'rllhenoneconsUmthetribe'sprimirrvelifuty/e,ii JKro,advanced theirreligion'rllas.Se-uenofthethirteenslabsarededicated toreligiousriteialone.It iscleartheyused,and probdb/ymeted,H manyof theOghdmSand stonecirclesicattered around this fascindtingEmpire,4nd 'rl>translated asHthe:A1other -a fertilitygoddessofCreation.'Theyalsoappe4rtohaveunderstood therydesofthe pmingSWOtU and celestialbodies,aJm41/yoftheirItone circlesn>erealigned tomartthem.T'herefore.it leems theycekbr4ted the14meequinoxesthat lWdotoday.H O'n>e'lJer,t'rl>asthe 'BddJands,themajoritycame fromacrosstheWorMsEdgeMountains,prob4bly fromthe territoryn>e1lO'rl>label theWolf Lands. HfHmJer,thesearenottheonlYamfinned migrationsofthistime.The'NJ!!se1>rParfchronicle'TheSaga Iorvamson describesencountersTlIithma'1Ysav4getribesof HumaminthelandiTJitnm call K.isle'lJ,andacroI!theterritoriesofmodemO,Uand and "Wolkold's Teutognens fought through the hordes until they achieved the uplands. With Courage driving them onwards, they climbed. Countless weak souls feilln those mountains, all too pitiful to stand by Ulric'S side. After years unnumbered, Wolkold broke through to the other side, and Ulric'S Chosen howled down the mountainside, irrepressible as blood from an open wound. At last, Wolkold had found Ulric's Hunting Grounds. He named the mountains 'The Worlds Edge; for his people would never cross them again, and gathered the 'Teutognens to his side. Now, they ......."Quld conquer." 8 --------------- , qodsbyseveml collectivename>,suchastheElderqods, nordqodt,orthequindeus, fir the)'aretheoldest deitiesstill 'Rlidelyrecognised bySigmar's great Empire,and deserve specialattention. texts,orn;en priests. a seasonalequinox-perhapsbonYJ'nling fromtheedrlier 'Belthani-but thiJwasnotthecase. Chapter I:A Brief History of the Cults of the Empire 'Nkdldnd.The chronicLeisreliablYdatedto-1012 ICand daimsthatIorvarrJsonencounteredtheallCestorsofthetribes2a>enOT!'call the 'Ongols,'NE!sii,and'Further,thesamechronicLealso claimsthattheCZiurognenJU1erealreadyintk vicinity,even thoughit predAtesthe'Blac\'Fire'Passimcriptiombymorethallmenty yearl. SuchJm.:llicontradietionr.:IreCommononestudiesthesee.:lrlytimes.Theonlycertainthingisthatapproximately 1,000 yedrsbefore thebirthof HolySigmar,tribesof Humansmigrated to,orwre driveninto,the;A1ost fledlallds fromturon theWorlds Edge:Jv!ountdins,althoughitJeems someAlsocame frqmthe'BadlandJ.Thesetribes>erebynecessity,andconflicts bet>eenthemU1erecommon.Ital10seemsdeartheyspoJ.tmav diffirent tongues,and had notmastered theartof'Rlrittenlanguage. What thenhappened rothetribesisunclear.'But,it seems theywre slaughtered bythemorebelligerent tribes, suchasthe Vnberogenr,orthe7Cutognens,aJall evidenceof theirculturevallishesatthispoint. CONCERNING THE FIRST GODS It is'Rliththearrival oftheqre.tt Triberthdtwuncover the IIARE THE OLD ONES GODS? firstmentionof theqodsthathavecometobesoimportantto our gloriousEmpire. I"I have spent all my adult life studying the great works ofthe Elder Races, and, without compare, the most mysterious ..In thoseedrlYtimer,manyscholarsbelieveeachofthetribesIaspects oftheir writings concern the "Old Ones." had their 0Ml patrondeity.Theycitetheconfirmed assoctdtjons bemeenthe7Curognemand'Olric,the 'RPpSmetlnand Tor,the 'OngoJrand 'DazjJ,and the'laleutemand Tadl.'Fromthese theyextrapolatethatother tribesmust have had simi/ar patrons. ThemostcommonauociatWnsare&.1114111/'RliththeEwid/s, 'Rj,yaTIliththe'Bretonni,&iU TIliththe Jha/tthe;A1enogoths,TIliththeOstagoths,and Lupus withthe Cherusens.H (J'BItver,sU{h propositionsare gUeJ1TIlIJr't at best. For example: High Elfaccounts ofthe Old Ones appear to directly compete with the creation myths concerning t\\'o oftheir Gods: Asuryan and Isba. In Loremaster Finreir's Book ofDays, the Old Ones-who "came from beyond the heavens" -are attributed 'vith forming the world as we know it, and creating dle Even race. However, contradicting this, Loremaster Beldryah seminal ''''urk on Even theology, The Harne Eternal, has the Elven "Emperor ofthe Heavens", Asuryan-whose plan all Elves Whatiscertainisthat manysmall pantheons'Alereinexistenceare said to follow-being the prime creator, and Isha, :l. Goddess at a veryedrlYtime,withqodsseleetingtribesaccording ofNature, as the mother-i.e. creator-ofthe Elven race. totheir>hims,ortribesturningtodeitiesmostrelevant toFurther, the High Elves apparendy do not believe that the two theirdailYlife.It seems that oftheseqods texts contradict each other. traniferred bet'll>eenthetribesastheymixed,'Rlarred,and The only sensible conclusion is that the Gods ofthe Elves must gradual{ydeveloped trade.Thus,theqodsTIlOrshippedby'the most succeJ1[ultribes,and theqodsmostappropriatetothe harsh,cruelliveJthat thetribesendured,graduallyspread actually be Old Ones, and that the two books are simply telling two variations of the same tale. throufPout the 7?,ei\ 1J.tsin. However. when I proposed this hypothesis to Fclanthian, an J/though'Alethetribesobserved manyqadr-most of whcmarenOT!'long forgotten-fIVeroseto prominence:VIric, Biven scholar from Marienburg that I have communicated with for many years, his enigmatic reply simply confused me further: ;A1orr,e7It1a1l4an,Taal,and 7?j,ya.Theseqods represented 'My friend. you are incorrect, the Old Ones are not the "Gods' cOllCeptsofcoreimportdllCetotribdllife:l1'4r,'Death,Jv@4re ofmy people. to ease your mind, I can confirm the (mdrineand ternstrial),andLife,andsooncametobe two Asur texts you cite in your illuminating missive do not 'RlOrshippedbymanyoJthetribes,dlthoughthe)''Alererften contradict each other: \nO'Rlnbyalternative1I4mes.ScholanoJtheEmpire\nO'Rlthese Perhaps my translations are wrong?" - EXTRACTED FROM THE JOURNALS OF FATHER IGYORI RHYURVIC OF BRUNMARL, PRIEST OF V ERENA Worshipoftheseqodstoo\a verydifferent formtoOUTmodernobservances.'J..& onlywre therenotemples,but there'Alere110cultI,sacred Instead,triballeader>,asrepresentativesof their peqple,TIleredeemed theclosesttotheqods,and part of their duty included pleading'RliththemostlyuncaringdeitiesdUTingdisasters,and themdurilJgperiodsofbounty.Todothis,triballeaders normallyoffered gre"t,bloodysacriftees,oftenHuman,uponsacred daysimportanttothetribeordeity.OftentheseJacred d4Jroccurred upon 9 I Chapter I:A Brief History of the Cults of the EmireTHE RUINOUS POWERS "It is wdl knO'WIl that the greatest danger the Empire faces is that posed by the Ruinous Powers. These Daemon Gods threaten to break the natural order of all things by mixing the RealmofChaos-their ever,changing domain-with the mortal realm, allowing the Daemon Gods to rule both as one. Thus, they take any opportunity they can to direcdy influence the mortal realm, and mutations, as well as other unsavoury circumstances, are the result. Bycomparison, it seems obvious that the Gods ofthe Empire onlyrarely touch the mortal realm. This may cause some to believe that the Gods ofthe Empire must then beweaker than the Daemon Gods, for they only rarely influence mortal affairs, but Ipropose such beliefs are unwise. Instead, I suggest that the Gods of the Empire can touch the mortal realm whenever they wish, and are just as puissantthe Chaos Gods, but they simply choose not to. Why this would be, I can only guess, but I have read one myth that may have the answer. Wilhelm Brehnsson's Myths the Cities Forgot contains an oral tale that suggests the only reason tile Dark Gods cannot destroy the mortal realm is because iliey are somehow trapped. Further, so the tale goes, every time any other God influences the mortal realm, the prison about the Ruinous Po'wers grows weaker." "-eA SPE(...OL.A'11PEE'Jo(QVI'R.TCO'J(.CE'RXl.'}(fj 'THE 'NJ!'TV7W (ff'THEqovs, DAGML\R HOMMEL eAs yourImperial;A1ajestyTlJiliobserve,the formationofthecultsTIJe todayTlJasstill fir off,buttravellers fromthesUlkdrenched IouthTlJeresoontohringthemoneItepdoser. OFTHE CLASSICAL GODS gatheringre/i,tbleinformatiollahouttheagesprecedingour gloriousEmpireildifficult.The'!>waifshad,as yet,littleintemt inthe belligerent tribesofthe'1\eiJv.altheyTlJerestill engaged intheir centuries,longTlJar'ttJiththe'ttJhichtheyTlJerelosingbadb. rp"ltrther,theHumantrWeIleft littlebehindforanti9uariamtoItud)',astheyTlJereconst,mtbOIlthem(J'l)e,and "'relYiettled inone place for ,my lengthoftime. H OTIJt'1)er,somedetails,althoughIUSpect,canbe found..eAlthoughthetribesof thenorthTlJereilliterate,thetribesinthesouthoftheOld WorldTlJere1Wt.It maybe'DIidebdisputedintheEmpire,butmodemTileamclaimtobethe primaryciviliursoftheOld World,for they 1WtonlYifJread theuseofletters,butalioorganised religio1land thegodithat I heretitletheOassicalqods( and,mOitimpottantb,theyclaimtohavererordi Hprovingit. CONCERNING TILEA It isTlJeIlthat the foundingof our giorioulEmpireTlJastheItarting point of HumancivilisationintheOld "Vorlli.HotPeVer,theselj,important and pointlesslYiruJ,bomIchotmofthe'Tileancity'ltates perIiIt with fictitious claimsthatit TlJaItheir ancestot'sthat TlJerethetruecivilisers.Vnfortunately, theobvious filIehoodoftheirliesisall but impouwletoprove,particularlyasthe dilhonest'Tileam ScrollIand.recordstheyclaimdate fromthilearlYtime. TheleacadenJicsofduhiousveracityassert that,much lilt(the fertile'1\eik. l1aiintothenorth,thedrierlanditotheIouthTlJerealso populated bytribesof Humam.H(JTIJt1)Cr,unJiktthelUJrthemtribeI,whoTlJerein'/Jaders from foreign soil,theTileamincredulouslYarguethat theiranceltorshad longi,lhabited their lands,and.citeU"liktbmythsofgreat 'TileancitiesIupposedly foundedduringthe occupationoftheOld WorldbytheElvesasproofofthiI-a claimI beliroehal Thelegacyofthismythical civilisation'DIal,accordingtothebiased TileanI,the'ttJritten'triOrd,'ttJhichtheirancienttextssuggestlMi gifted tothemby!frena,nohiitoricalbasil. 10 "In the breast 0' the sea I served me time. 'Eave away) me jolly boys) 'Eave away right now. Then aright,pretty girl pardon'd me crime. 'Eave away) me jollies) or The King will sink thee do'WIl; 'Eave away) me jolly boys, 'Eave away rightSaid 'er name was Shallya; an' 'er 'ips '\Wre fine. 'Eave away, me jolly boys, 'Eave away right now. So I tipP'd 'er a wink, said she'd be mine. 'Eave away, me jollies, or The King win shake 'is crown; 'Eave away, me jolly boys, 'Eave away right -OF SE.AJJ(J) e:M.A"G. . THE TWENTYSHANTY' ---- - -thegoddessofWiJdom.Wbatt1ltrtbeoriginofthiJancient Ulritten language,'tilen/Tlllcali it OaS/ical,and its modemequroalent iIJtill Chapter I:A Brief History of the Cults of the Empire uJed acroJJtheOld World aJtheprimdYyscriptofdcademicstudy,dnd dJd commontonguebet't/lCttlenlightenedflllt of all Old Worldnations. Thus,longbefOrethe gredt of TiledhadbeenUlYQUght,it iIclaimed thereUlasanintel/cctlMI elitethat could readdnd Ulritein theIouthoftheOld World.H /TIlIt1Ier-dJifthiI'tIlerenotalrea4J enough! -the arrogant'TiJeans got1ICtj further.edsmOIt of their edrlYsettlements't/le1ebuilt inand around theruinsdbtlndonedmal!y centuriestflObytheElveI,theTiletlnsdimredSfJ1ltheir 4,,,eltors mUItha'VetrtlmlatedtheimpossiblYcomplexrunesofthtltrace.''From theletranlldtifJ1lstheTlleansthenclaimtohavelearned the ftunding principleI of modem philoIophy,medicine,theology,4stronomy,and, mOltimportantly,theybelit1le theyu1lCO'Vered manyne't/lgodI. Whate'Verthetruth,the'TileanI,aI'tIle1/asbeingliar!and>ereanad'Utl/turouIdnd CUriOUI and soonorganised expeditimI toexploretheiurro,mdinglandi.Whentheye'Ventu41/yencountered thenortherntribeI,theybrought UliththemoftheirUlrirten languageandqodI,dnd hdd d impactuponour CONCERNING THE CLASSICAL GODS 'Todid yourImperial;A1ajuty'1understanding,theqodIintroduced bythe 'TileanItoour tribal fOrefather!areherecalled theOdIIicdl qods," after thelalJgu4getheIouthemersintroduced toourancestors, Wheretheqodsa/reddyWeentheOld World tribes. IftheTileamaretobebelie'lJed,'Which1 suggest theyshould mt be,amther importantexport fromthesouth'Wasthepriest.Wherethe northerntribesrelied upontemporalleaders-their chiefsand J.i.ngs-to guardtheirIpiritualTPelfare,Tileam tobelie'lJethesouthemtrWes had temporaland spiritual leader!. Whate'lJerthetruth,at a Iimilartimetothearri'lJalofthesoutherner!and theirOassicalqodI,itiI generallyacceptedthat priemsoon Ipreadthroughout theTlQrth. OF ORGANISED RELIGION"Words'V41UJUiIhthe HJlthoughTile4nscholarsclaimthearrroaloftraders fromthe southof theOld Worldbrought priesuand organiIed cultItothe 'R,ei{'Basin,thi;iseasilydi;prO'iJedn>ith just a modicumofcareful rtIearch. ,ViE 7"JII'R.'DOroS[VLE CIFVE'R.EJ& S TE,ACJlf'NSiS, PROVERB THE NINTH Js a smgleeX4mple:It iIn>elllr(}on>nthatthe1eutognenIhad long'rPOrIhippedVlnc,theirtribe'I patrondeity.JlthoughtheVlricam freely admit theydidnot h4'VeanytempleIuntil 6J Ie n>hena hightemplen>aIcompleted arout/d theEternal 'Hameof e7l-fitgard (modem,day e7l-fiddmheim),thecult does guard manyancient records'Whichpro'lJetheWinterqo' had lot/gbeenser'lJedbya dedicated pntIthood and organised cultforma'Vbeforetheir hightemple'WasraiIed.Thus,are yet moreTilean"truths"exposedforthelieItheyare! Whatissureisthatsometimeinthethirdcenturybeforethecorot/atio11of Sigmar,priestsbegantoreplacetribal chieftainsaIthesole'lJehicies tothedrvine.Jnd notlongafter this,thepriestsbegantoorganiIethemsel'lJes. CONCERNING THE RISE OF THE PRIEST Withthespread ofsomanyreligionsthroughthe13asin,it becameimpraaical fora singledanchieforJ.i.ngtodeal'Withalldrvine matterI forhis people.'l\(!onemanhad thetimetounderstand allof theqods,minordeities,natureIfiritsandsimilar,and alIaorganise his people.'Further,manyoftheqodsdidnot favourtheleaderO'lJerall othermen.'Forexample:J\1orr favouredthedead,Shallyatended ali,and Itrenachampioned scholars.Thus,asalreadyshon>n,theacademictheoriesofTiiea aredemonstrablyuntrue, forit seemsthat theriseofpriestssimpbcame froma need toappeal to,and u1u1erstand,manyqods, issomethingonemanisincapableofdoing. H O'tt>e'!Jer,it iscledr fromTileantextsthatthesoutherntribesmayha'lJehad anadvanced concept of the priest longbeforeour blessed land, soaninfluence fromthemshouldnotbeentirelydiscounted,butIhouldbeunderstood asa limited influenceat most. Soon,mostclansa1u1tribesIpomd anarray'ofpriestsdedicatedtotheqodsthat>ereimportanttotheir people.Jlmost allcommunities 1Porshipped the fi'lJeElderqods,and their priesthood;'RIere Joined b)'thOItoflocalnaturespirits,and thoseofother qods. Shallyis priestmes;oan joined them,asthegoddm'I influence9uiclrbspreadfromtIMTileantradingsettlementIthatn>ereestah}jshed inthe'Basin('fPith1I&1nbeingthelargest,'Which'Wasthenafortifiedvillage built 'WithinElf ruin;).Jfter Shallyacameherholy mother,I6rena./frena'srarecultistshad animmeasurableimpaa, fortheybroughtthe'BlessedJrt ofWords,and forthe firIt time,the mythI,legendsand[aUesofthegreat Tribesn>ererecorded. Vnfortunately,almostall of theseearlytext!havebeenlost-and those fm>n>eh4'Vearealmost impouibletotrAnslate,astheOaISicai I,mguagehasde"velopedmuchsincethatearlyera-hut theirinfluenceisstill felt,formany ofthehob'fPere'lJeretodayarecopiesof copiesofcopiesof thoseI6renall'recordedoriginals. CONCERNING THE RISE OF THE CULT 12 Js thetribesmet,traded,orc01UJueredeachother,their priestsdid thesame,Ipreadingtheirbeliefs.Soon,there>eremany groupsofpriest! respectingthesamecentraltenetIacrouour great land,and someevenhad accesstoprimiti'lJe,holytextI,recorded forthemat great costby the priesthood of /frena. o Chapter I: A Brief History of the Cults of the Empire::::?:ThuIthecultIdid slrmly flnn.Hl1rPe'l)er,method.ofdissel1linating holyteaching.'t!aried,and .ome'JIitre farmoreeffictrvethanothe". lubmittingtoit.Tl>henanindi't!idudlgod I/pped outofHumansight,it Tl>asfdrtbdpennanent ommmce,asthegod in tfUtltloTJdiJ not dieTl>ithhil foJioTl>ers,and some 100\mealUTtI tobe\nuJmagain.'ThiscanbeiemintheCUrrtlltresurgenceofLupos '1WTshipinHachidnd'RIhereheisnon>seenasa god ofPredatoTJ,not WoI't!esor Winter,hisoriginaLdomain-or inthe perualrveTI>OrshipofSCJJinWiSJtnJand. Luposalld SOUareofespeciltLnote,dSthe) ma) oncehaw bemthe patronsofthe foundingtriks ofthose(]rand Prrroincei (the[herusem for Hach/and,alld theJ'ld'engenl for Wissen/and),and maysuggest aJitheoriginal trihdi PdtronsltiU'Iatchuuer their peopletothis verydd). OFSIGMAR rrhemanylegendlof SigmarHelJenhammer,'FirrtEmperor,Porgerof Empire,4re bya/lright-thitll(!lJgmmandTl>Qlnenofour greatnation,andrightly10,ftr heilthe greatelt mort41thathasever lrued,alldTl>dtchesall ofouractionstothisveryday .AI hi!ImperialH'f!meSl'li/l../ready\1lOJl',SJimarTl>asthesonofOief'Bjom oftheVnberogentribe,'lhomthe'R..eik,idnderPrincel claimastheir wvered atlwtor.rrhe futureEmperor'sbirthTl>as bythe pauing ofa hoi)tn>ilktailed comet,and byall 13 Wheretheprie.t.ofthe1Cutognem putan)'culti.t cumpetingn>ith'O/rittotheaxe-thus,bythetimeof Sigma,sbirth, then'JIitrenocultlopenlycidimingtorepresent 'linter,'RIO/vesor Tl>ar-mollothercult. Tl>erelessaggnSJrve.Indeed,somecultsdid not e't!entry toenfOrcetheirreligiou.'t!ietPs,'RIhichrelu/ted inlome qodl being'RIOT/hippedinmanydiffirentTl>a)s,and b)mdnydiffirent Ildmes.Jgood exampleofthilisthemanyEarth.3vfother cu/t! thatcanbe fOundthroughoutour piousEmpire,indudingtheminor cultsof'Dyrath,Hdleth,and Hyacinth,n>hich,am01'YtIthoJastic circles,areall presumed toberevering'R..h)aunaerdifftrent guises. Contraryto"141"expectAtionl,oneofthemOlt 'ldr/iJecult expdmions camejronlthe'Id/eutencult of'Ida/,'lhichattempted todraTl>aU naturedeitie!under itl .rn>a).Tod certainextent,it fUcceeded,but dlthereTl>erecountlessminorqodsdedicdtedtoone ftnn or another ofndtun,'Ida/ 'RIdl1le't!er goingtonpidce themallinthemindsof .3vfen.1I{!yertheleu,bySJimdr'1time,Taa/n>alseenastheKing of Jl(!ture,dna d//animdll,rivers,'JIitdther,plantsandmoren>ere hisdomain,Tl>ithan)othernaturedeit)automaticallypruumed tobe beholdentohim.InJeed,theTakutensoftenTl>ent further,proelaiming thatgaa/n>asaauallytheKingof allqods,d messdgethat Tl>dS never accepted bythe'1eutognem. .As JOurImperia/.3vfajesty Tl>illperceive,the ftnnationofthecults 'ldSa verys/rm proem,and 'RIOu/dtak!man)centuriesbefOrethe organisationsTI>erecognisetodaycanbeidentified.rrhereTl>ereholy textsto'lrite,templestobuild,andtraditionsto ftnna/ise-and no tn>opriestsdgreed.IIwasIIdifficulttime,madelJOealierby influence fromother tribestotheTl>est,eastand south,dllof Tl>hom had theirOl:l'nopinionsaboutIJIJWtheqodl lhou/d be'1WTshipped. 'Duringthiltime,therileofthe [I'VeE/Jerqods becamecumplete, and mOlt ofthecompetinggodslost their influenceonH umanit). ExamplelofIoltgodl aremany.Some1l'trt lost astheyTl>erenolonger reie't!anttotriba/ life-such as13eoffJrn,god ofPrre &ountaimand (}therl'/lltresubsumed intoother d god oftheSun, Tl>hosecultn>aJabsorbed bythe'Ida/ites.Indeed,absorptionoftenaccumd against the'liJ1ofthelemr cults,suchal hdppenedrPith.Aha/t,a god ofPertility,'RIholepriesthood Tl>assl..ughtered by'Ida!s cult fornot Old Wolf White Back Old Wolf White Back prowls the hills, Beliy craving fresh new kills. Bloody Blitzbeil wants him dead, So, it slices offhis head! Old Wolf White Backho\",l.s out loud, To the cheers ofUlric's crowd. "Every morning, asI don robes in the vestry, I hear the Temple Wards singing their simple rhymes. As they are Middenheimers, their childhood songs are different to those I \",as brought upwith; but they are no less interesting, and are certainly asbrutal. In particular, the rhyme 'Old Wolf White Back' fascinates me. I have read that it was once recited by children at public executions, and perhaps implies that in Middenheim's past, capital killings were accompanied by wolfhowls, but I have come to my own conclusions Evina Klug. 'Verena's high priestess in Middenheim, allowed me access to her libraries, and there I uncovered the tale ofLupos, a WolfGod associated with Taaland Rhya, pOSSibly as part of anancient triumvirate. In particular, the White Wolf was of especial importance to that deity, and represented the long-dead religion'S ferocity and passion. Does it not seem likely that the early 1eutogens may have absorbed the Cult of Lupos, probably at the end ofan axe? Thus, Ulric's association with wolves may be stolen from another cult, and may have nothing to do with the original cult at all? If my suspicions are true, they will bring many Ulrican religious texts into question, for wolficonography is now associated with Ulric from the beginning oftime-and I believe that may be alie!" -THE 3RD JOURNAL OF WERNER STOLTZ, SIGMAR'S HIGH CAPITULAR IN MIDDENHE1M Master of Undeath, 'j..rneasured by mere es, looked to the sky above the Chaos loon, and beheld: La, there 'w.IS aBlazing Star in the night, and it had two tails ofHoly l-Ire; then he cried with Exceeding Great 'ferror, for the Enemy had come." -THE qaSTBVCH, 'THE STERNSCHNUrrEo _aJ....Heunite .m.J aMId passihb'TIXIUIJkcomea grxL Chapter I: A Brief History of the Cults of the Empire ,mault by Orcs fromthe forests.'Famously,qriuidd,Sfg'ma': f theane1Jentthat TI>Ouid fore1Jer fiJISigmar lI?ithhatred oftheOfall thetalestold of H o/ySigmdr,oneoftbemOIt jammuC1J11W cbiefoftheVlIberogens,anddistl'f:ulJhed bimself j:Ja T1UItU .As ll>eallSigmar refClled tIlt hightag cftJx qrecn.rfins,4Tlenemytheybothdespised'rtitb-J.w.._' ....--,....:-0... lI?tfrh,tmmerqh4i (Sitrer). 'But the t4/esr.fhU lift thetl1dve(jre4t Tribes rfef\1p.. imagined.hilt fl:I7:>a.." CoER..G THE El {PEROR SIG,'N!!lm/)tiDestheof\:.-lJ 11ft.tid inundmtandingthecult that TI>Ouldcometon>orshiphim,butit alsocomfortsthepioussoul,and ;sa Jrottbyfor..nym.m offaith.Thus,e1JenthoughI amaTllare JOurbnperial :A1ajeflylI?illalreadybe fullycommAllt lI?ith the kgendt,[Tttll brieflyrete//themnonetheless .After bteoming chief oftheVnberogens,realised thathistribealonelI?asnotenoughtodefeattheqreensktnf that assailed hif andhetTlell'thathis people doomedifhedid not action.Thus,SigmardidTIlhathehad to,and planned tobind thetribef ofHumanitytogetherintoa larger,moreeffecti'Oe force.Eventually,after a stringof heroicbattlesandtemenegotiations,Sgmar united tll>elveofthetribesof Humanityintoa single,mighty force.eAswell af persondllyleadingtheVnbtrogensand rziutognens(lI?homhehad conqueredbythat time),thechiefioftheEndalf,Thuringiam,Cherusens,CZilleutenf,eAsobomf,13rigundians,:Jl.1e1lOgothf,:Jl.1erogens, Ostagothf,andVdosesal/ accepted hiscommand. ThedecidingconfrontatiOlIbetll?een and:A1anlI?afthe'Battle for'Blac{'Fire'PaS[.There,Dwdrjs,Sigma':s ftrongallief, joined theHumans,and togethertheyscattereda hordelargerthanalVtheTI>Orldhadseenbefore.Thebattlenotonlydrovethe fromthe 'Basin,butit alroended theqoblin that had plagued theDwarjs fqrcellturies.eAf'tilt'aiimOft of theHumantribal chiefitrdgicallydiedinthebattle,and countlmthoufandsmorealso/osttheirlivef.'But,eventhoughthecosthad been high,e1Jerythro4tstillcriedSigma"sname.Hehad notonlysaved allHumanity,but hehad alsow,;ed theT>rParjs. Soon,mirroringtheDwaifenmodelof IIHtghKing1e4dingtheHolds,Sigmar TIlascrrJlI?nedEmperorofthetTllelve7ribesbythehighpriest of Vlricin(modem#dllYeAltdorf),4nd our gloriousEmpireTIlafborn.He formed t'tllelveqrand 'Provinas fromthea1lienttribal lands,and thesUr"vrvi,!,gtribal chiefi(orthedescendantsofthoselI?hohadfallen)wereinstalled torule forSigmar asCounts. 'Forthe [tut time,'DlI?arjs,Sigmar's greatestdllier,cametolivealongsideHumans,and somee1Jtnsold their tothenell?Empire, raifingstonebuildings,aidingtheIantedii,thenoblesrPanted it;Sigmar thegod,and hisne'Jt> cult,ll>treestablishedintheEmpire,and 'Jt>OU1d forever playa significant partinits fuh4re. for.1emperor from.1mongsttheirnumber.To.1void theIwrriblepossibilityof dertroyingSigmaYsEmpire,the noblesagreed this'Iliasa suitablemethod toappointSigma;s repfacement.Eventually,theyappointed [auntSiegrichof .J1verland tosucceed Sigmar.His first acta!Emperor'Jt>as toenshrinetheelectionof a ne'Jt>EmperorinSigma'sLa'lli, and he the[auntsof thegrand Provincesas Elector[aunts. CONCERNING THE ASCENDED SIGMAR What happened toSigl114rafter hi!abdicationisuncerl.1in. Somesayheheaded east to'Talabheim,turned southdU'rmthe Old 'Forest 1\oad to e1lt east,and thencontinl4ed east,heading for theWorldsEdge .7v!ountaim.'But,astheapplicabletextscontradict eachother, .11ly,utem!t todiscernthetruthamong.rt themyths isimpossihle. Whatcanbeconfirmed is'Jt>hathappened totheEmpire Sigmarleft behind. Withintwenty yearsof hisdisappearance,there'Iliasalready acult ofpersolldlity groT/1ingaround thememoryofthe firstEmperor.He'IliasIt>eIJloved byhi! people,and statues had beenerected,specialanniveTSilriesofimportant evmts had beensetaside,and manychildren'Jt>ereIIdmedafter him. Thus,'Ilihena 'Iliandering friArnamed 'JohannHe/strum .1nrJed in1\eiJi0rfclaiminghehad receivedaof Sigmar,theoftheEmpireimmediatelJbelieved him,forthey'Jt>erehungry formoretale!ofSigmar.HolJ Helstrumpreached thatheffitneued'Olricstandingcold and proud,holdinga magnificent,goldenCTU'rminhisheavy hands.Surroundingthe Wintergod 'Jt>eretheother divinities, onffithprideand approval.K.neelingbefore'Olric 'IliasEmperorSigmar,and'OlricslO'll1Iyplaced theCTO'1I:>non hishead.HelstrumpreachedthatSigmarhad ascended .1nd becomeimmurtal,thatSigmar 'Iliasereholy,thus enshriningtheElector [aunts'Jt>ithdivineduthority,his message 'Iliasimmediately popular 'Iliiththenobles.Indeed, Helstrum'Jt>enteven further,proclaimingtheEmperor 'Ilias Sigm.1;s divinerepresenwive,and thusshould beobeyed in allmatters. toexpand into HUMANITY'S ONLY HOPE "Your 7th Objection: Cults of the EmireChapter I:A Brief History of the Ifmultiple Gods were once mortal, then ascension frommortality to Godhood cannot beumque. Minor: Sigmar, Ranald and Myrmidia were once mortal. Conclusion: Ascension is not unique. I deny the entire proposition. I deny the major thus: If aGod chose to be mortal, then became aGod again, he would just be returning to his original state, not ascending. Thus, proofofaGod'S previous mortality does not prove an individual God began as amortal. Only those that began asmortals can be described as ascending when achieving Godhood. I deny the minor thus: Myrmidia was aGod before she was amortal. It is dear from verified Tuean and Estalian texts that Mymudia chose to become mortal. Further, I offer evidence from the Universities ofAltdorf andNuln, where manyold Oghams have been translated that refer to an Eagle Goddess known in die Reik before Sigmar was born, long before Myrmidia walked as amortal. Lastly, I do not accept Ranald was ever mortal, and I would be interested ifyou have any proofthat he was. Therefore, I willcontinue with my assertion that Sigrnar's divinity is unique, and that all Bretonniamust convert immediately for the safety oftheir souls. There is only one God that truly understands the Human condition. There is only one God that ascended from mortality. There is only one God fit for HumanitY'S worship, Sigmar:' -FROM THE nTH LETTER OF PROFESSOR H:\NS PFAFF OFALTDORF U NIVERSlTY TO THE KINGDOl-,j OF BRETONNIA OF THE FIRST MILLENNIUM The firstmillenniumof our gloriousEmpirebroughtmanydevelopments fir thecults:most of the holYtextswererecorded,and bytheend ofthemiilemJiummanywerebeAutifullYiiluminated;themoderncult structures formed,and manyoftheorders "BItrt founded,suchtheOrderoftheJtJ'uil fortheSigm4rites;man)'hightemples"BItrtbuilt,SIKh4StheHighTempleof Vlric in 6J1[, And theHighrumpleof Sigmarin246 Ie; andanexpandingof lessertemples.,.nd shrines"BItreestablished. Indeed,by1000 1[, the cultsll>en'verysimiJ.u totheir modem#MY mmterparts. s cult h4l1grrrMI rtift/y,and Vlric'shad btgunitsma4Y decline.Taal had subsumed 7?hJa'scult inIrJhis,and 7?}JyatlJwereleIScommon. h4l1 mysteriouslYappeared, norecords canfirml'Phenorr*re.J\1ana111lrPASTtJfJTshipped01almost .dl C0ASt.11communities.ShallyarPaspqpu/Ar ever:JfJ'here,AltIxMgft holYsitesnm almost notPcA/led the "'Drivetothe'Frontiers,"WASa timeofrParAnd conflict,whichthecults ofSigm.1r I1ndVlricsupported TlJith fervent passion. The ferPextant chronicles fromthisperiodare fragmentaryI1ndohscure, anyhardftetsofthisimportantcampaign,and thecult aetrvitiellUrTOundingit,diffICUlttoconfirm.SometextsseemtoimplYthatthereweredisagreementsbetweenVlricl1nsand Signwi/es i11'UolvedrPiththe'])rtve,rPhichseemslik.elyaslomeextremitt Vlric.1tlJdouhted Sigmar'sdi1Jinity.H rtrl>e'Ver,thiscanmt bellAted rPithany certainty,and someSigmaritetexts flat!>'contradict thisinterpretation.Whatissureisthat TlJht1lthebordersoftheold triballandloriginally claimed bySigmarwerereached,disagreementsbetweenthenoblesArose,anditseemsliJebthatthecults"BItrealsoirrvolved. Oltland and 'TaIAbecland 'rI1ished toexpand their easternborder!intoVngol territory,theland "BItnr119C4//Kislev.msterlAnd sought msteland).J\1iddenland strived to9ueIJthe'rI1i/dmrthernl.1nds ').Ikdland).Jnd mAny othersagreedrPiththisexpl1nsionistvierP,i1l(Iudingthecult,rPhichhasalrPAysbeenaggreur-ve.'But 1ereconstantlyunder attaclrJromother tribesofHumans, a1n>ellas(jreensk.,ins,13wtmen,and other,fotl. Thus,by900 I[, ourgloriousEmpire had mortJy'fUititl expAnsionilt poJicitI,and insteddfocusedupondefendmgn>hdt it had airea4Jsecured.13ythat time,the C01ltfUCringEmpire included all oftheterriroriesthat yourImperial e'Jv!tJjestynmlI gutJrds,and also!fanned most of'tllhtJt 'tilt I1O't/Icall Kis/eto,all ojParra'lJQ11,a large part ofthe 'Bordtr Princes.and,ofcourse,the ds thebordmJlIeres/t're fornaught;theEmperorhtJdspa!fen. Ten yearslater,thelaststaneofthemassiverebuildingoftheHtgherempleofSigmtJr 'tIIasItJid.Exactly1,000yetJrsafterHolySigmar's 'lJietOlyat1314ck.,'FirePm,thecult ofSigmdrhad secured itselfdSthedomindntcult ofour gloriousEmpire,andapenv'demonstratedit 'tIIith thecompletionof thelargest templeinailthegrand Provinces. H O'f9MJer,theother cultsdidnotapprove,and someopenlY grumbled their dissatisfactionat thenen>developments.Jmongst these,the passionateandangryVlricanshad theloudestvoice.13ut, forthemoment,their 'lJOiCelUrenlmOlt(yunhedrd. CONCERNING THE SOUTH Js aur gloriousEmpireexpanded totheT/()rthandSigmtJr'scult grm in porper,thedisparatesoutherntribel)l>t'Teall bound together bya warriar-n>mnann fit,often Jide!aJtheebbandflowofpolitic!changed. Jnd althoughit iJtruethatthesecondmiJJenniumbroughtmllny aer.;ances,it wasalsori'VencOrruptiOIl,decadence,and arrogance. E'Ventual(y,thedifferencesbecameimconcilahle,and ci'Vil'Alar out. CONCERNING THE CRACKING EMPIRE 'TheoffracturesthattheJheenof Imperial'AlaJ4! old astheEidtrgods,datingbactto thehatredand Vnherogen,ofTaleutmand OJtagoth.threadJwerespunast'Vtry noblepamd a 1leWunjust law.aseverycuit Jupportedanother CQITUpt official,aseverysoul intodespairorexcw. 'R,atherthan servinga united Empire.the cultsand noblesbegantoJervethemsel'Ves, ai/attheexpemeofthepeople. kis general(yaccepted that the problemsbeganat theend ofthe first mii/mnium1[;the 'Bretonnitribeswere forgedtogetherintoa nnl> ndtionbygi/iesIe'Bret01l,and thelfestermark,prrn;inceaerOl!thegrey J'Jountaim'Alas thenerrun.The 'Bretonniamthen gathered forcesto fOrge1l0rth'Alards,but fortifICationsalongthegrey:JJ.ountains weresoonpopulated 'Alithso/diers fromaero!!thegrand Pr()'l}inces,and the'Bretonnians''Aleat'v:ights'Alererepulsed. 18 'ThiJwas fo/lowedbya thread of increasingbdesperateproblemsthatso compou1u4t/ uponeachotherthata di'ViJion'Alasine"vitable.70begin,a Charter I:A Brief History of the Cults of theEmrire prrxmionofincompetent,de,adent,and tkJroughlycorrupt emperOr!significant!>' the position.Perhaplthewrst of thele'll>asEmperor 130rilHohenhach Tl1510, oftencalJedwgoldgather,"or,leu politely,W theIncompetent. WHeused hisimportant position fOrnothingmorethan perronal gain,andlet theEleaor Countsaa asthey pleased aslong4J theysent him frequent,expellSroe gifts.Imperialojfices'll>tre i,lvented and sold 'll>hent'Verhiscoffers gottoolOll>('ll>hich theyreportedlYdid agre4t de4l),and ludicrously grand titles n>ertappointedro friendland 10000vtr!tiSthe'll>himtook..him. PerhapsU>Orse,ratherthandaingagainstiuchdisreputable emperors,thecultsmostlysupported them,a!thisprovided greater freedoms,and,sometime!,political advantages.Shose "-The perfect crime. I say; for if succeed, cannot be caught, even ifall knowofour deeds. Only ifwefail can be punished. -But, how can this be?When commit acrime. the lawofthe land always follows, especially ifthey knowwhat have done, and who are. - Not for this crime, my friend. I can guarantee that success will bring us safety. - Please, do not taunt me so, what isthis crime must plan? - You tell me." mistreuesand harems'll>ereparaded throughthesmetsinshtlme,and'll>msecrimmtllactroities'll>treunc01Jeredbyrivals.HO'll>e'Ver, onemust becareful 'll>ithsuchreports,asmtlny'll>ererecordedbypolitictll enemies,.1//designed tosupport theircounter,positions. eAstheEmpireSTPayedinthis wind,thehorrorsofthe'Black.. PlaguesuddenlySTPeptthroughtherzzeik..'Basinin1111Ie ll>ipingout entirecommunitiel.'Thedeath, roilwa!appdlling,andlomeprovince!mayhaveUJJtasmanyainineintentodiswe.'Unfortunately,the J'fIM" wcuumthatthiscreated'll>aJsoon filled by'll>ar.'The'Province,alreddydepopultlted frommanyunll>i!eintothe Eiven,held Laurelom 'ForeJt,'ll>asejJcaroelydestroyed,and ''IMII{)(JnO1Jtrrunbyrampagingqret1lJlr,fnsand 13eastmen.In theaftermtlth ofdiseasetlnd detlth,evenemperors'lWreinstaJled byIeifishEleaors,a//O'll>ingthemto'll>tlgeinternecine'll>drr for territory.Indeed,iuchconflias 'll>ere10commonthat'll>tnOll>cailthistimetheeAgeof mrs. 'By1]60 lConegrand 'Provincecould '10more,andfinallydeclareditsindependence.Significantly,it had thesupport of t'll>Oofthe largest cultlof theEmpire:theLalitesand theVlricans. CONCERNING THE EMPRESS OTTILlA Whenthegretnd ofStir/and,anobviousSigmaritepa>nandlong'standingenemyo/7alabecland,'ll>tliappoi,lted Emperorbythe Eleewrs,grand'Ducheu Ottiljaof'Ta/abeciand had[maliyhad e1Wugh,and after consultingtheCultof'Taal,beganto preparations. IneJoJiddenheim,theCultof Vlric had alsohad enough.'Thegrandoftheircityhad longdistrusted tiltinfluencethatthecult had 0"DeI'thepopulace,and had beentryingto forcetheCult of 'Olrictoreorganileitself.'Fllrther,theCultofSigmllr effiarvely controlled theeleaion!ofnell>Emperorr,'ll>hich'll>alintolerabletotheVlricam.WhenOttilil1approllchedJr- Vlric>ithclaimsthdt shehad proof thdt a//Sigmarites'll>treheretics,and thdt Sigmar'll>iIInogod 4ter a//,theHigh'Priesthappilyaccepted herilrvitationtom01Jehiscult to 'lalabheim. Otti/iaJlJelcomedVlrierotheEyeof the'Forelt,and theVlricancult claimedallSigmarites'll>trehereticiafterOttili,is [al/aetOUI Ottiliathenbanned thecultinherlands. When'lalabee/and thendeclareditselfindependmtfromtheEmpire,and Ottiiiaclaimed the title of Empress'll>itkJutelection,beingcrrmmed by eAr' VlricjUlt as Sigmar had been, the other grand 'Provinces'll>ere stunned. 'They 'll>tre morestunned'll>henOttiliam"rched I1n army fromherunami/ablebilItionof'Taiabheimand dertro)edthenumericallysuperior forcetheStirlanderEmperorhad Ientnorthro9uell herrebe/Jionat the'Battleofthe'Talabecrzziver. HerItattment made,she>ithdrtll>toimpregnable7alabheim,and 'll>arrageda11around her. Jithoughsuccessiveemperorltried,nonecould brea{the crater'll>aJJsof the7dalbaston,and 'Talabheimneverfe".'TheOnilianEmperors (astheyll>Ou/dcometobek..nOll>n)ll>Ouidrule 'lalabecldnd untileJoJagnusof 'N.l!Jn final!>'reunitedthem'll>iththeEmpirein2J0 4 1[. CONCERNING THE COLLAPSE OF EMPIRE Chronicles fromtheJge offlllr are [tIled 'll>ithbitterhatred and 'll>Oe,and it isevident that noteventhe greatestthreatltoour gianoul Empire'll>treenoughto flrcea resolutiontotheconflictland hatredl. 19 Chapter I:A Brief History of the Cults of the Empire THE SHADOW BLADE "This myth is not known to the cults, for it comes from the Asur, whomI have had the fortune ofdiscussing these matters v.ith. When the Great Gates collapsed, and the mutating energies ofthe Aethyr were released, mourning verena was approached by T;w to join the defence against the Dark Gods. He had become king after his father, Asuryan, had been struck down by the Blood God, and was rallying those who sti1lli ved. After muchpersuasion, Verena eventually agreed to join the survivors at the Great Pyramid. When she arrived, she was shocked to see how few remained. Knowing they desperately needed an advantage, verena studied the great tablets of the Old Ones, and uncovered the existence ofTlanxla's Sword ofJudgement, a weapon of incredible power. So, without informing T;w, she travelled to the Southern Gate disguised as aservant ofthe Dark Gods. After hardships unnumbered, she eventually foundit in the hands ofaDaemon God. Like many other artefacts of the Old Ones, the Sword ,vas beingused to further the schemes ofthe Dark Gods. The Daemon God in question was calledUlgu, who had been commanded by the Lord ofChange to join with seven other Gods to flood the mortal realm with the Aethyr. Verena, using her intelligence and wit, tricked Ulgu into giving her the Sword, then fled back to the Pyramid, to join the last stand against the Dark Gods. When she arrived, the forces ofChaos 'vere already making their attack. She swooped do,vn and joined the defence. the defenders ,vere driven up the pyramid, until thereonly ahandful ofGods about the Diamond Throne at its top. Just as it seemed all was lost, agreat, white fire erupted from the Throne, and Asuryan the Phoenix, wearingabifurcated mask ofwhite and black, strode forth. With astrength borne offury, the resurrected Kingofthe Gods drove back the confused forces ofChaos. To this day, Elven servants ofverena, ,-Alomthey call Hoeth, all bear swords, muchlike their God. In tum, ,...the Wise Magisters ofthe GreyOrder, also favour the weapon, all in memory ofamyth that probably isn't even true." - MARKUS FISCHER, MAGISTER OF THE GREY ORDER Indeed,19henEstaiiA1945i:mMJed bySultdn 'jajftr of.Araby inthe fifteenthCenlury19ith.fums IOimpressiblethat theOld World seemed to bethre4tmed,theqnmd prrTlJlnaSdid torespand.Em6amISi/,glY,it TMS!.EMiI0/13retr.mnia19ho put out adesperatec4l/ f(ITaUmen 0/ntJbkintent torid theOld World of;,1V4Jers.TheCrusAdeIagainstJraby anbecauseneither thecults 11IJftheEkavr CountI CftnlJruppornd it,but indroldUeresocorrupt b)'thistimethat the]are11/J'RIperceroed bymost schol4rstohave beetlmere formalities forappwuingtheCjrand TheogoniIt'schoice. This.AgeofThreeEmperors'R1aIoneof unending'R1ar,pain,and disaster.1VJfromancm 4nd daemonoiogiIt!'ll>ererifeinthe14nds. Theqospodars,a tribeofHU,,14ns,invaded acrosstheWorldsEdge.,JIJount4ins,deflatingtheVngols,OstJandmand Ostermar"trI,pushingback-theEmpire'sbordersto forgeIfne)l1natio1l:K.itiev.(jreensl.i.nsConstlfnt!JfromthemlJuntainsand foreIt!,aM t'Venmanaged to19ipeouttheqr4nd Prr.n;inceofSo/latul in1771[. '}.(ksetribeimenrepe4ted!Jharried thecoastlines,and p oTtalorindeed,anyEleaor Count.'J\&. coronationtook"place,leavingtheEmpire'R1ithout4votedemperor.sac/'oed MarienJ,urgin1850Ie Cult persecutionsbecame commonpl"ce,especiallY fromtheCult of .And the findistoneof Morr's laid i1l'979 Ie 19hen .,JIJ4gritt4 of:A1arienburg declared herself EmpreII,but the Cult of Sigm4r refused toaccepther, 20 Chapter I: A Brief History of the Cults of the EmpirevisiftosJmpSigma,sdispleasureat themoclr.!.ryhisEmpirehad become,a fnlin;tai/edcometslammed intothecapitalojOstemm".Jn 1999IC flatteningit. This seenasthe finalsignthatSigma':s dream (rver,and hisEmpire atanend.Soon,allofthegrand Pf()'l)inwm:re 21 OFTHE GREAT WAR AGAINST CHAOS ejficti'Ue/yindependent,and1Jlaramongstthem,and thecultsthat supported them,became commonplace. Withthe(jrand PrO'lJincucrippled hy1Jlarand acrimonioushatreds, darlifOrcesrosetoclaimthe/dndthat 1JlasonceSigma,s.IntheeMt,the prO'lJitu:eofSylvania fill under thewayof theUndead,and theterrible IMrsofthelimpireCountsnearlybroughtthe ftudinggrand PYO'Uincesto their{nee,.Tothenorth,the'Nkse maderaid after raidinto Wester/and, 'l\{kd/and and Ostland.'Fromthemountains,theconstant threat of nt'lJer died.vlnd, fromthe firests,'Beastmen 'Ui//ages andfield,. HorPe1}er,all theseconflictsdidnothingbut masVhe truethreat.'Far tothenorth,tribesolderthanSigma,s Empirenoere gatheringin numbersunimaginable.They musteringbenedththebannerofone theybelit'lJed had beencboienbythe'Dar{ godsthemseJve,;ant'lJiJby thenameof e.dsa'UarK.uJ. 'Thetimeofthegreat ffarvlgaimt Chaoihad arri'Ued;a 1Jlar'll>etheElder 1{aceshad predicted,and dreaded,fir miJlennia. -And Blessed Myrmidia observed: When confronted by avastly superior foe,the Good General must use her guile, and her enemy's hubris. The general ofa vastlysuperior force expects to win, and through that expectation, victory can be plucked. And Lagario exclaimed: But, general, they outnumber us by too much, wewillbe enveloped.l will not allowthe slaughter ofmypeople. And Blessed Myrmidia said: Fortunate for us that '\Ie outnumber their southern force. And Lagano goggled: Theyhave asouthern force? And Blessed Mymlidiasmiled: Not yet, but we can resolve that." -THE 'BOOKOF WJR, 'THE BATTLE FORFm.JR TEARS BRIDGE' Chapter I: A Brief History of the Cults of the EmireCONCERNING MAGNUS THE PIOUS IfyourImperial:A1.ajesty 'll>illallO'll>,I belie'Vethis fol!O'll>ingextraetfrom'jutteSigma1'Z..()()ns[hr(n/ide0/ :A1.agnusexplainstheterror0/ thetime farbetterthanI could replicate.It isparticularlyrelevantasit alsomentionstheadionI0/lome0/thecultI.Vnfortu1Iately,much theCrusadesbefore,thecUltIdidnotinitial(ysupport thecause'll>CnO'll>tobecomet. "'Fromthe1I{kthem 1Mstestheycame.TheKurgan.TheHung.The'./I.&:se.vlt theirIideIrodethemutant and theheretic. eAt theirheild rode'DaemonicServdnts0/the'Dart qodI.eAndleadingthemall 'll>aseAsavdr Kul,Champion0/ the PO'll>CrI,'Damned,Indomitable. Thehorde'Jl1aIunimaginablYmighty.(outltlmthouIandI poured soutlmards,and thepriestIof'Dark. qodIurged themon, demandingbloodandIdcrifiw fOrtheirfell masters. Whenthe gibberinghordert4ched theKiIle"oJitecityo/Praag,it miftly ravaged theItronghold.Sronged i,l1locent,outraged til afather)'!lhosechild had beenmurdered-and theelOlfucnce0/his'JPOrdsthroughe'Verydespair.He touched somethinglonglost.He gifted hope. 13uttheharnd and mistrust ofa tmusandyearsof )'!larn>ereimpoIlihletoignore,and mal1Jdidnet 'll>anttohedr him,especially the embittered cults.HO'll>e'Ve1','RIherttheytiA11l11cd.(JIJagnus,theirqods supported him.h,.(JIJiJJmheim,theCult ofVlric ridiculed the prtacher;so..MagnusthrougfttheEtenwl'R1me,provingthe1Mrgods!4'lXJUr.InJ/tdoif,the{jrdnd TheogoniIt claimed he"ll>4Sdheretic.'But 'Jl1henthe%np"m ofSigmar tied himtoafor burning,the flttmeI1I>OU1dnot catch,e'IJC1I THE DARK GODS "And then the Cataclysm came. King 1aal rose from His Forest, and with Dark Morr muttering dire portents in His ear. He banished all immortals from the world. But the Cataclysm's architects refused His order. The Crow. the Hound. the Serpent, and the Vulture jealous ofKingTaaI, and had tried to use the Great Gates to take what was His. They had failed. As the other immortals fled. the Four attacked, bitter and angry with their frustrations. Many died. After countless battles, King Taalwas eventually surrounded. There were few still by his side. Ulric the Wolf. Noble Margileo. Just verena. Sotek the Snake. Manann ofthe Sea. And Gentle Shallya, and afraid. Even Smiling Ranald had fled. and nowhid in the Places Between, fearful for the future. Then, just as the Four and their allies arrived for the Final Battle, Flaming Phoenix. whom all had thought dead. returned from atop His Gleaming Pyramid, and He smote about Him. Thus the rebels pushed behind the Great Gates, and \vere sealed there forever. But they were restless in their cage. and soon worked to escape." -TRANSLATED FROM THE OBERNARN STONE, NOW HELDIN THE IMPERIALMUSEUM, ALTDORF 22 .--------------- --. Chapter I:A Brief History of the Cults of the Empire wAnd I said: Can you tell me the tale of Ranald, and how he achieved Godhood? And the child replied: Yes.The Greatest Trick. A well,known tale. Ranaldans claim that, when mortal, Ranald ,vas a THE GREATEST TRICK bandit; agentle soul who robbed from the rich and gave to the poor. This so enchanted Shallya that she fell in love, ensnared by the romance ofRanald's deeds. One night, when distributing supplies to victims ofthe Fly Lord, Ranald fell dreadfully ill, and ,vas approached by Morr. Shallya could not bear the loss ofher love, so she stole Ranald fromher father'S grasp in the only way she knewhow: she let him drink from her holy Chalice, and granted him immortality. Ranald, nowaGod, laughed at Shallya's naivety. He admitted to the cryingGoddess that he had never been sick at all, and that he had manipulated her from the beginning. And I said: So, the tale istrue? And the child replied: No. It is false. The greatest trick Ranald ever pulled ,vas convincing Humanity that he had ever been one ofthem. II - THE TEffJ.'M.EN:.T (JF PE'Iiththe[haoshorde0/ Jsavar Ku/,and,ttgainstall odds,prevailed. HCONCERNING THE EMPIRE REBORN .JI.1agnuh f'JPulariv.",41absolute,and quiteimpouibletorelateinthiJsimpkmanuscript.Hehad defeated.IIIimmwurabb fOU/dbechaired bytheEmperor himJtIf,1I7ho1l>OU/densureth4tan)' probkmJaired there ofthe prt'lJiouJEmpire,e?vfagnus fonneda councd thatd//the 23 Chapter I:A Brief History of the Cults of theEmiren>erededitwith.Hir choiceofcultr forinclurionWMcOllb1rJmidl.'Beyond the fi'1Jeob'Uiourcultrof theEldergods,dnd thoseofthewidefy worshippedShalfya,andHrena,hedlsoddmitred 7?"aTlaldandeJl.{ynnidid.ThelastwasostensibfyincludedbecausetheKnightsof howthoroughl.>'VWdgnushdd rebuiltour gloriousEmpire.Hehdd cdrefulfyrebdlancedtheq,and PrO'Uinces, twelwElector CountlalSigmar had donelongbeforehim.Hehad created theCo/legesofVWagic'l7iththehelpof theHighEI'1Jes,pf(rl)iding forthe futuredeftnaof theEmpirewithmight.>'magic.Hehad dragged thecultstogetherandforcedthemto gdtherbeforehimt'Uery [roe yearsto dirtheirdifferences,lomethingtheynQ'R7happilyaccepted.Hehad t'Uen utdb/ished tight diplomdticreldtionswithailtheiurroundingnations, t'Uenthoughtheyn>erehiltorical enemiel. JlI ofthishedidforonereason:tohisdyingdayit isrecorded that VWttgnusoftenclaimed (}4I)Shad not beendeft4ted, Just dri'Uen Hebelieerethe first/czIightv'ordertorespond tohiscalltoanns;but,it iswidefy belit"ved thdttherealtruththeyn>ereincludedisbecauseof thecult's pervasmeinfluencein 7/lea.uuJEstalia,whichVWagnus'l7iihedtohethrecognireand monitor. OFTHE COMING OF KARL FRANZ VWagnusruled fOr65long ytarr.Thelengthy,Itablereignlucceufulfy eTaIedmanyof thememoriesofthe prt'Uiousturmoil.'l\& oneoftheElector!that gdthered to'Vote for VWdgnussrepldcement boreenough yearstorecall the pre'Uioultunnoi/s.JlI theyhad /czIunmWdSVWdgnusdndEmpire.'Theysolenmlyagreed totitletheirlostEmperor"the Pious"inrecognitionofthemiracleshehlld instigllted. 13ut,ifyourImperidlVWdjeltywill permit metobesoheld,I belit'UetheredlmirdcleWIIS am Sigmar.l am Golden. I am God. Harken for my name, for it will echo redoubled dlrough the ages. It will strike down my enemies wherever they may hide. It will be heard when the need is greatest: -'DETJS SIq.MJR, .--------------- ChapterI:A Brief History of the Cults of the Empire:::z;25 In2522 1[, 1umtofuscould be/ir.;ethe ftu/ sl.1vestotk 'Dar{ qodsltIQu/Jreturn just ase7vfagnufhad prophesised,and innumberI unimaginable.'Butreturnthe)'did,and thistimethey'RItreunconcerned 'ttIithI(is/ev.Thistime,eArcha01ltheEverchosen,thener;leadtrofthe ChaosH ordef,headed Str4ight forour gloriousEmpire. CONCERNING THE STORM OF CHAOS Weareblessedindeed tohavehadJourImperial:Jvfajestylead us throughthe'ttIarthathasno>beendubbed "TheStormofOaos." Withoutsuch/eddership,and such diplomaticbrilliance,thereisnodoubt thatour gloriousEmpireltIQU/dhave [allentothe 'R.uimusPO>trs.Of particular brilliance'Jl7astheConclaveof Light,agreatcouncil Jour LIFE AFTER DEATH "All lies. ALL LIES! There is no Afterlife. Morr ferries you to the gaping maws ofhungry, uncaring Gods. We are naught but food for their insatiable hungers! Deny him! Deny them all! ALL IS CHAOS!' -FOUND ANONYMOUSLY SCRAWLED ACROSS THE WALLS OFTHE TALABHEIM TEMPLE OF MORR IN 2p2 Imperia/HJghnef f called rodecidethe futureof all our people,forit dre'1llthecultstogether 'Jl7iththe great teddersoftheOld World;and)ou guided themtoltJOr{together,and eventualb,thecouncil formeda mutud/b agreed strategJtorepeltheincomingb/asphemief. Theresulting'ttIar'ttldSdevaswing.eMost ofKjslev,Ostland,H ochland,:Nkdland dnd e7vfiddenldnd '1lItreravaged by themerciless marduders descending from the north,'ttIhile Ostermar!t dnd Stirland 'RItre assaulted b) another hordefromacross the WorMs Edgt eMountdins.Cjreenll>.j,nsalto gwped theopportunitytoand ploughed througheAverJand,Stirland, and %Iakcland. J,td,asif this'ttIarnot enough,all the'ttIarand bloo/Medstirnd ,mother ancientevil,and thtMmpireCountsofoldSyl'V4llidrose'ttIrestingtotal control oftheir curIed land beforea/somarchingtowar. ds your Imperiale7vfajesty jirst-hdnd,it 'ttIastheSiegeofeMiddenheimthat s.mtheend oftheStormof(}aos.T'he great Gtyof theWhite Wolf held outagainstJrchAfJ1land hisseemingb limitleuarmies,reinforced,arit lW, by your tactical genius.Exa/ted Mlten, AherooftheEmpirerumoured tobeSigmArrehom,also gavehislifeinsinglecombAtagainstJrchd01ltf) gUAranteethe'lJictory.It lMSa SAcrificethAt'll>OUndedtheEmpiretothecore,but it la>Qntheday. Our gloriousEmpire,thoughrA'Vdged,had survived. OFTHE PRESENT Today,thecultsofour g/QrioulEmpireinfluencealmostallmatters.Templestoali themajorqods,andmanyminor,canbe foundinevery to'Jl7nand city,and shrinu ofalishapesand si'4s arescattered evelJ'A'hereelse. Jlthoughthemajor cultrchilmsareinthe past,thememoryoftkm ;1persistent,and somecultists,includingman)Sigmaritesand the 'O/ricans,still beara deep,abidingsuspicionofeachother.HO'll>e'Ver,full;scaleand croil 'ttIarhasnotafflicted ourEmpire forover rn>oCt1ltUries,and aslongas'll>ehave ourhistorytoleArn frompast mistake,'ll>ecan,Sigmar'ttlilling,ensurethat'lPe such .mlu/11mhappenillgagain. eAnd eventhoughSigmdrHeldenhdmmer'sEmpiremd)hdvebeenhdlfdestroyedby theinsanetribesmenof the'Dar{ qods,'ll>ehavethe enlightened leadershipofJourImperialHighnesstosetusthroughthesedar{times.eAverland,e:i\100tlaltd,7?.eiJl.anda,td Wissenland m4) k theonl)qrAnd Provincesmostlyunscathed,but thatonlymeanstheyare freertoaid therebuildingthat 'Jl7illensurethen4meK.arl'Franz.. is ascelebrdted ase:i\1agnus,and echoesdo>nthroughthtagesofourdescendants. eAsisright inthesedifficuhtimes,people'f/1i/falsotumtotheir priestr;so,no>morethdnever,itisimportantthat thecuits preachthe coma mtJIage. 'tes,somemAyhaveancientenmitiesdatingtothe'Timeofthe 'Iribes; yes,somema) fiel justified inhatingeachother;but the)areail meTJof the Empire, the) are all your Imperial e7vfajestf s subjects,they are d/l servantsof theqods.'BetheyVlrican,TaAlite, Sigmarite,oranythingelse,the)''f/1ilispend theirlasttoden)the'R.uinousPO>trs,and thisislomethingthe)ailshare. Thusit istotheubrave thesecuitistsoftheqods,that'Rlt,thecommon peopleoftheEmpire,'ttIillal'ttlaystum, fortheynever lose hope,they never despair. Theyareoursalvation. Chapter II:OldWorld Cults The citizens of theEmpire are adeeplyteligious and superstitiouspeople.11wre are agreat many spirits,wd otherworldlv creatures,burthe of these arethe (,ods.There arevariationacrosthe Empire, ane!mOt\: beyond itsborders,but ten;ods Ilrerecognised asbeing themostpoweritddeitiesthat demandofferingsand sacrifice.It istbe worshipof these powers thatbindsthefolk of the Empire rogether. Themostpopulat God.h, veE'x((:nsivecultofloyaJ worshippers thatdotbE'worksof theirdiYinepatron,givethemhonour.and placatetheseelementalbeings. The cults arimponambecaue lhey'persuadethe Godtotaythit hands.Lifeisanything but easyillthe Empire, and like e:Orientation Knight 1Vlarincr or SonofMmlflllll: Swim their services.fortisk of becoming indebted or reliamontheknights. andby :1SSodarion,Marienbllrg, THE ORnER OFTHE ALBATROSS -111cOrder ofAlbatross consisrs of priestly pilotsandnavigators rightly conrrolJedbyrhehightempleinl\-Iarienburg,For a tithe. theexacramountdependJntonrll('lengthof the voyage,the destinatiort andthe.valueof thesnip'scargo,a millStone(a are known)servesaboJrda vesseLnavigating ittoitsdestinationand placating the temper of Manannasbestthey can,Somerime.sthese priesrs act aslink morerhang,)odluckcharms,othertimesther areexperiencednavigatOLuponwhos,killsthestlccesor fa.ilure of anentire expeditionhinges. 'n1Corder isdirectly conrmUedbythematriarch, andthehigh templecollecrsdJCtitbesdireccly.ItoncewasthecaSeiliat(hetilhes were collec.teduponrJ1esafearrival of a vesselat it!destination.but under thehrewdleaderhip of thematriarch,[bedtheispaidio advance--ostensibly this isanadditional sacrihce roplacate Manann forrJ1evoyageahead,but jn reaHtyit ensures Ihatregardless of the safe passage of rhevoyage,Ihetemple never losesout. Albatrosses,asthemembersof theorder arcknown,areusually not only navigators,but alsospellcasting priests,able10channelthe willof M:J,nann10aidthe voyage. SoNSOFMANANN The SODSof !vLl1lannarethemOStubiquitousorder of templars devotedtoManann,though theylackthe wealthand prestigeof rbeKnightsi\lariner.TheSonsof Manannare b35edinthetown ofa1kalten,andhavechaptcrhouses attachedtomanyof thecult's remplesalong thenortherncoast. Theonsof Manann weardistinctive turquoise and whitearmour. andgointobatrlearmedwithcutlass,spear andbuckler,weapons tharbefittheirnavalheritage.lhe Sonsof Manannguardships from pirates andraiders.asweUashunting foUowersof Stromfels THE STORMGUARD l"heSwrmguard are anorderof priest.whoarc devotedtobunring tll(' followersof Slrornfds, rooting Ollthiscultsandsroppingtheir machinatiolls.Priem of rhe Srormguard wearhoodedcloaks of dark blues andgreys,embroideredI'lid''ubde wavemotifsinwbile andsilver.and oftencarry tridentS andspearswithwhichthey an: wellversedintheirLlse.TheSwrmguardarebasedina secluded templehiddenina rocky covealong theNordlandcoast,and regularlyenlisrtheaid of theSonsof Manann ontheir missions, TEMPLES Templesof Mananl1vary widdy i[)their appearance,thoughall have some common elements.Eachtemplecontains at least one lm'gestatue of Manann,amImost feature wide,spacious halls for worshipperto garher.Beyondthat.. however.temples cantakemany form. . froma shackbuilt on a pier to a majestibuilding,coveredin gold.pc-arls.and coral.\\lnenpossible,the,setemples sitascloseto water aspossible.preferably evenona smallislandor peninsula.The temple of Manann inMarienburg is evendesignedinsucha wayas to allowtherising tide tofloodthe wide-opencourtyard-many rires areperformed inthis sacred space,fulluf sea water. Morerhana iewrem pIesof Manann arebuilr wirhinrhe decks of agingboars.someof which arcpermanently moored.while orhers serveasRoaring . andeveninitiates.act onsuch dreams without qllesrion.Dreams enjoining orher kinds ofSECTS inrervemionsupposedrobe wirhtheo,her prie,m ara The primary divisionwithintbe Cuit of :\-lon isberweenthetemple,whoswdl' their owndreamsfor confirm, Tion.Song., (If the Order of rheShroud, whore\'crehimasGodof the Dead, andtheRilvl'lldoes statethat sometimesMon ,ends amessage to a single Augur" whoreverehim asGodof DreamandProphecy.Whilepriest,torestthe discernment of the other priests,soadreammight the Order of the Shroudismuchlargec,tbereisalmost notenionbe [romMort evenif none of the other priesLhave similar ones. ber\veen rhese groLlpS,asallfollowersacknowledgeMorr's difFering If rhedream only requiresactionby ,he drcamer.,benheisalmost aspects. alwayper01inedto acr on ir.Actionsthat threarenthetemple, or 111erei..divisionwirhin ,he cult.whichcause somerequire coopet'ationfromother prie,'DRABBLE-ROUSER Asa direCt of itsobsession\vithknowledge.thcCult of Vt:renatendstofindirself inthe centre of comroversymorcoften thannot-far more.thanother rivalcult.mong some of the more radicalmembers of the cult'sclergy,there iabelief that all writing.nomaner itSconrel1l:.i: worth protecting.uchiewput the CUllatodds with WitchHunters,:lJ1dspecifically,theCult of Sigmar.who 'wouldseesuhhertiI textsconignedto purifying pyres.l1lisisa poim of seriousconr' solid bond. BelL"gong."tlIld bangillg onmeli1l repel tht'.force.,((youtr,ke a di'tld mans shoes,keepthe L7ceslooJefiJI thcncxtfuif m.oon,lestI;!.I' spiritcome.,'back tohaunt )'ou. A Ctltcrossing)'oll!'JiIlthmeal1.l'Rmlflld i,'watd;ing,(fa pair O'o.>.'I?J )'ou!' I'alkdoomis.'lireto folloli'. GoMim('11/11101{1Itack )'(11/du>'ing!I .f.dl moon. ((you're ;ick,all appLeclll'ried ill lOW' pocket.and allowed torOt.draws the disMscfr0m your body. CCIlV,.and otherweahby individualsoftenh ~ v ealtarscraftedfrompreciousmetal.rarewoods.andadorned with masterful paindngs, ,tames.andmosaicsof theGods. Altarsreplacesforeither thetamilyto gather inprayer.or for solitary contemplation.Asa result.altarsarehighlyindividualised and oftenadorned widlprecious objects-typicaJly thefinestand mostexpensive objt"ctsina household..ultisrs. wholavishthem Chapter III: Folk Worship TABLE3-6: RANDoM ALTAR AsPECTS The following canbeuedto ascribeoroe pardcular aspectto agivencultist's altar.Re-rollany resulr rhat.(Jmesup wirhan inappropriare ahar aspectfortbeindividualinquestion. RoUResult 01-0SRareTome:llJt altarbearsatomelong thoughrlostat covetedby members of the owner'culLA Challenging (-10%) AcademiKnowledge(Religion)or Academic Knowledge (Theology) Test re"ealsrhebookfixwhatit is. 06-10ShodJ.l""The altar ispoorly erafred IlI1dthreatons to faU wit" roughhandUng or if bumped. J 1-15Tid.)/:111ealtarisextrcmdy neat,witheverything lined uproexactmeasurements,and i.devoid of dusr.Mera! objects shinefromfrequerupolishing, andthe colours ofpaintings Standout. 16-20$tals q/Filil/,: The altar (l\.tldits surrounding)iscoveredwitheahiandpard'llnenlS of the faith.These seals arefilled withrdigiosayings.prayers, and from hClly 21-25Gemstonn: 111ealtar isfittedwithseveralfinegemstone, wonb2d 10 gc. 26-30MultipleGoe4. The symbols ofscVttalGod$ c;rowu this altar. '"IhUatranglmlent could bl;nell[ or haphltWd. 31-35Blood OlICring: Abowlof humanbloodiLon the altar.orthe altar iscovered wTthspiltblood. This blood couldbefreshor dried. 3(.....40The altar overflows withicons.ietUre)i,offerings. and other bric-a-brac, 41-4SGmfrOIiS Ojprings: The alrar is covered wirh allmanner of fine or expensive offerings./\bout 2d lOgo' worthof coin. gem and Bile,uelie intothediVinity. 46-50&quir)tt Cmftsma!lSMpi Thalmr iofuperiot l;tllftsmanship. withgold filigree.exquisite camn, andrich &brledrnplnitlItf.\,. If looc,ed,{he altar yields 2ull) gc worthof objects. scraedgold, andthe like. 51-55StrnllgeObjects:The 'altarhas someodditems thatdonot seemto have relevance10ib theme.For example.a astrolabea mummHied elf band. or a glass spheJewitha curiousinternalcrack. 56-60Stt:mThe altar has a secret I;Omparonetlt that can be spotted with a Challenging (-10%) Perception Teu. lhe opnlng may havea lade. and may be trIlp{'t,inthe hopethis willmake. Morr takerhemsooner. 1he culthinarchy dt=[y S!atCSthe Blessed art:hereticsbutverytt"" priesrs Wasteany effort onpersecuring them, MxrRMIDIA Of allthefanaticalgroupsthatproclaimtheir servicetoMyrmidia. rwostand attheforefront. Myrmidia Perfecta ThelmperiaJCultof Myrmidia pomaysher a,Goddesof rile An of\X/ar.a s(nuegic wan:.ior willing touse whatever taericsit(()ldumph ()verevilfoes. isanimaget.hathasagteatdealof -appealtopeoplerecoveringfroJ))(hc effecrsofwar.I(is also a major simplificationof {becultasj(isfoundillTiJeaand EstaLa.There, Myrm idia i,1 the Goddess of Civil isarion,and pauoness of the ,ut, . 1',,10stoutherners who seedleImperia! sryleuf worship simply shrug.and ask what canyOllexpcClfromsuchbarbarouspeople? A fe,v,thefanaticsof Mrmidia Perfecta,s(;"itasa gro;'Sinsultto rheirGoddess.They regard theImperialpriestSof!'vlyrmidinas blasphemers,eJlcnlies ofMyrmidia robedestroyed wi[hallrhekill andcunning arrheir disposal. Needitssto say,LaAguila Ultim'lhas strongly condemned thisseer. and commandedtbeybe hunteddownasdang",rousheretics.Most ollLhernpriestagree,feelingrheorher a,pecrs of Myrmidiacan be introducedbter,oncethe rni!.itarya,peethasv,,'onafoothold. Th.ereare,however.enoughsoutherners who areinwirh Myrll1jdiaPerfecta.someiJlpositions of influe.ncerhalthe secr hasbeelJabletoand actuallytake sOllleaction withiJlrhe Empire. RemeanslMagri ttans 111edebateoverthe sireof l\1yrmidia',binh asamortalthe whole cult along culturaJUnes,FormOSt,itismerely amatter of honour andstatUS.Thereareextremist,onbo[h sides,however, whotakerhingsmuchfurrher. These groupsbelieve the Tileansor Estalians appropriate) actually opposedMyrmidia.and sheledaniLlvasionof their lands[0bring (heheretics under conrrol.A, a consequence,the conqueredraceshould,evennow,be the slavesof the conqueron. Each groupmanoeuvresto17tHnatives of itsownCOlllHT)'itlloall posirionsof authorityinthe cult.and eveninsecular positions in the orher coulHry.Ihey usepolitics,bribery,slander,rreachery,and the circum 'rances,Each.,idetriesroincite al1-Qutwar againstthe other. fortunately,both groupsarerather small, anddHIShavenotbee!1 able to domuchmore[hanfue!arath"'rchauviniStic cllmat(:.The expansionof l'viyrmid.iaintotheEmpire,however,provide, rhem with anopportunjty.UnperiaJcitizen,arenor already cornmilled toOIlesick or rhe other,andthus couldberecruitedtosuppOrt oneide.Asrhe cultgrows in[heEmpire,this hasthe potential tofinallytipthc lnlJIKe,Atoavoidgening caught.'nlat issomething duwntoRanald,andtoluck.Fortune'sFavouredare a v:uiery of flagellant,althoughthebeatingafe geoeraLlyadministered bythe oflicersof"rhelaw. Fonune's Favoureddonothave a long lifecxpectancy.'.linrobe dangerous, audlhen goto dealwiththe dangerhased 011their knowledge.Thesepeoplesomer-imesworkin concen withthe Order of Mystcrie,hUInOIalways;a Scholastic want,1to sutterif hissmdy fa.!lsshon, and sochoosesa dangemus location withamregard forthe presence of andentwisdom.Most ofrheseoScholasTicdie-horriblyearlyon[heir GrStexpedition./\ few. relucky,and defeartheperil,or ar leastcscape,rhaJlksro exten sive). kneeling infrontof tJ1Calrarintoning theirprayers of repemance in FollowerofUlri who performs lIO their acqualll.tallces,'Olat sald.it isparticularly popular inthe Cult of Sigmar.andomeooe whodoesitvery occasionally,after graveoffences mightbeseen merely piolls. waltcrcadonshaveoccurred whenoppusing cultitSusc this sign.assumingtheorher personbelongsWtheir p,lrticllhlI culr,onJ}'to be miStaken. CoMMON VIEW Chapter V:Other Gods "Nothing more than a face for thosemoney-grubbing merchants outto pick your pockers clean fora loaf of bread or newpair of boots.Theycallthis God Handrich. 1 calt him "greed," nOthingmore." -RUDIGFJ\. SnLRoTI, RAGPICKER "Our culthasbroughtnorhingburforrune andgoodwill rothepeople.ThroughHandrich'sblessing themoney tha.t webring intrickles downtorhepeoplein need. Why, irs the perfectsystem!" -JOHANN MEYERS,lANDLORD A."IDCuLTIST OFHA.."IDRlCH "Thisupstartcult isnothing more than a ruseanda sham. Theyclaim cobe'legitimate' businessmen,but honestly,is theresucha ching? MaybeHandrichissome bigjokeby Ranald, designedtores!our faithandpatience'" -HFLMUT NEUBER,CoNMAN exarnpl>on bothsidesof rhi notnecessarilybeing true.The tWOculrshavehealth" sense ofompctidonbetween them.and.sofar.ith;u;not eruptedinto'iolence,though theft,backrooJl)dealings.and orher c/inynicks arecumidered fair d'lCrwo, 1he Culle,( Handrichorgan.ises itelf ilHOfraternalgroups and secret. ocieries.compucd of mcrch.1JHsand wealthy burghers. 'Illesegroups' goalsinclude fosteringa spirirof compctitk1u.f()rcing competitors (Qcapitulatein busin. ,melthe spiritual enligh ten men tdlatcomes fromCOiJllll\ln i ngwithboth comradesandthedeity. 1hese groupsareexrremdy hierarchical,withmanyinitiationsdlalmustbepased before moving closer totheiuner circle. l\-lanvmembers believethey are simplyjoining someformof guild.obiivioliStothemachina;iolls occurring behindule scenes. 111einner circle.however,worksto setprice,.lower taxes,and raisemoremoney forthebuilding of temple, and expanding the word andinfluenceof Handrich.It Chapter V:Other Gods AREAsOFWORSHIP HANDRICH:AsPECTOFRANALD? Ha.ndrichisfoundprimarilyinthedty-state of Marienburg,where he hasproven wildlypopular,somerimes eclipsingl'vIana.nn's,ta.tu.re there.0 merchant inthat cit)' would pasuptilE' chance (0giveofferingstothe God of Trade. Outside of Marienburg,Handrichisprimarilytound withinthe large. tcities of theEmpire. 1here iasmalltemple inAltdOl{ .lltboughplans existto expandonthebuilding or create anew, larger srrucrureinthe fumre.Inorher c.itie, shrinesto Handrich arefoundaroundpublicmarkers and withinthehomes of merc!l:llHs.Devourculrist.sof Handrichare happytospreadhi word whilethey goabollttheir daiJybusinessof buying and selling forPlOh[, Handrib is alsopopularinEstaJia, Tilea,andsome of the. dryrare.of theBorder Princes,andthispopuJarl ty isincreasing 'teadi!'.ThosetCwns,Uldcitiest hatdistrustor perseCUlemembers of Ranald's cultare far more likelyto allowcwotSof Handrich intotheir gares.I'orthisreason,cultistofRanaidsometimesteal the pendams fromHandridl worshippets,in,il effon [0pas themselvesoff a"Iegitim'lte." TEMPERAMENT Handrichdepictedasaontented andjovialfigurewho delight. inborhrheacquisition0wealthandthespending of il.He i.the consummate,seller-charismatic, .smooth,andlikable,andseemsto ,-jewhiscultistnotso(llLlch,15mereworshlppers,but015 business partners,Handrichjshrewdinh.idealingsand expectshis culrists o be smarter andfasterthanrhepeoplerheyde.al\vith.Culrists believeHalldric.bw;llche.severy uansactionandbusinesdealing. Building charitdole worksisalsohighl)'encouraged,thougholie.n with some secondary purpose.suchasa taxshelter or meanof aVOidinginspectionof goods. Onthenegative side, Handrichisbow greedy andmanipubtive, exhorting thebelief that[he ends justify themeans.rnHandrich's eves.if youmake a profit from someone. else'sstupidiry or ignorance.thantllat'Scoin better spent c)nbetter venrures,Cultists are encouragedtopm up rhis double:standard of pre.seming a l'specrable f..'lce10[hepublic,whilefleecingthem withfixedprices andfalseshortage". USING THE CULT The Cult of Handrichcanheused,1Sagood disrractionforthose expectingtodealwjrhcultist"of Ranald.Althoughtheir beliefare imiLu,culrists of Handri11aremllChmorepubliand open about their activities.Formore suggestionsOilusingHandrich,be .sureto check ourWPRPCompallion. AdventureHook iImminent Domain Thanksto general!..donations and wiseinvestment byit- priers. the Temple ofl{andrichInMarienburg isbeing refurbishedand apanded. Whilethe new south wing of rhetemplehbeing built into apreviouly vacantpace,rheplannednorth wjng hasbeen delayedduetothe facrthat the owner of the building, adealer 121 AlthOllghHandricllisarelarivelynewdeity,thequestionbegs tobe answered:ishereaUyiuslanasp,;:ctof Ra.naldunder a differentname? Throughoutmudl of tbeEmpire,Handrich andRanald areconsidered the same,though worshipped under bothnameswirhoutmuchrhoughr.1hose thatrravel in[otherarreachesof rheEmpire strive(Qshow rhe differences betweenthese twOGod,and, overtime,the. plitbetween rhetWOGodsisbeing accepted.Infact,withthe riseof the middle class,compmed of merchants andburghns,the cuJrof Ha.ndrichisprobablytheLtste. t-growing cultthroughoutthe whole Empire. InMarienburg,however,tbi;;divisionbetweenthe Godsis very 'TIletwOhavetheir OVi'ntemples,whichare constantly trying(()outdo eachodler intermsof sil.t:and exrravagance of wealthdi'played.Cultistsof Handrich open lydispla:'thei rymbo!.whilecultitof Ranaldkeep themhidden.Bothhaveroughlythe ,ame levelof influence onlocalpolitics,but the Cult of Handrichisfarmore transparentinitsdealings. 'Thecommon peopleEwourRanaJdfarmoretl1:U1/-l,)odricb, seeingthe lauer asjust one more aurhoriry figureout toget their coin-at leastRanald isupfronthisgreedfor gold,whileHandrich simply want, to raisepricesinorder [CJgetit.Somepeople seethe wisdominworshipping both deities,hopingto garnerthe suPPOrtof uJeseGods,regardless of rhefactthattheymay bethe samething. Afterall,tbe Empireisfullof Gods whoalldeerverecognirion,thev claim, sowhatharmintlle.reinrecognising both? CULT SKIllS ANDTALENTS Ini rfare.maysometimesbetruethestoryprobably existsbecausethe)' RANALD -the courtyardof thetempleforone dayandtwonights,eatillg aillcarntoroleratefoulstenches.Furrher,nopriestof Morr ever squeamish.Theytendtobequiet.calm,anJ patient.with a tender concernforthe dead andcoolindifterencetotheliving.Alotof themhave a dry,morbid sense of humour; afe",.areactually very fiwny.bur mostpeople feelrhatlaughing intbepresenceof a prie. t of Mon ishighly inappropriate. soa reputationtor causing laughter ishard to generate, MYRMIDIA Eventhough l\1vrmidiaisaGoddeJ s of War,the initiarionrites of her cult invoJvecombat.That isnOtrosaythatpeople arenotchosenforinitiationbasedontheir combatprowess,but thatassessmenttakes placebeforetheriteitself.AlmostalLri,te. involve thepresentationof armsand armour co(henew priest, and they arealmoS'invariably public. Thedetailsvarya greatdeal fromplacetoplace.andevenfromone occasionto anQlher,asitis conunonforthe ritetoinvolvesome reference torhe bolddeeds of dleparticular injriate.Forexample, shemight bepresemed with a swordtoreplace one shelost fightingOrcs. When a priete.ls wakes inthe morn ing,herfirst task istoarm herelf forthe day.Most dQrhisliterally,putting onarmour and raking uptheir Every step of thisritualisaccompanied by prayers to Myrmidia, and theprayers recountIhefuncrion of rhe armour or weapontakenup,In many cases,armour is notthe appropriate garb forrhe da "sothenext thing the priest doesistakeit off again.Only if the circumsrancesmakekeeping armour in their quarterimpractical willpriestperformthe ritual symbolically.treating their dOthesasarmoura.ndanyroo]as ,veapon, MostMyrmidian superstitionsrevolvearound military strategy. 11m, , many refusetoenter blinda.1leys,or I',hi, w"jrh a relic weaponrha r the wielder gai nsa + 10%bonustoCharmand Command Tesrsmade whendealing withworshippers fromlhe samefaithaslhe rdic,regardles of whether they appreciate lhe siguifiC:UJceof theweapon.A rdic weaponmayonly bea melee weapon.holyweapon, incorporating a Godypartof aholywarrior or divine champion loroitsdesign.Somereliquary weaponsmighlGequite subrle, incorporating alinger boneinrorhehandle,whi],.;tothersmay berathermoreblaunt, withtheiron-boll11dskulJof a lon.gdeadheroformingthehammerhead.'Thewielder gains a +10% bouus roCharm andCommand Tetsmadewhendealjllg,vjrh worshipper.of the same fajrh asrherdiquary,solong J,Sthey reali.e rhe significance of theweapon. Areliquary weaponmay onlybe a meleeweapon,andCOU/HSasa Good Craftsmans.hip weaponof its bask rype.Suchiremsarenevertor .ale in markets.rhoughrhey are worrhatleastfiverimes lbe normalprice of sucha weapon.lbese itemsart:giftsfromthe cult 01'treasure-sfoundor recovered. NEW ARMOUR ANDCLOTHING -IllefollOWingnew item.\expandondlosepreselHedinIf/FRP and theOld ITTrJ/,fdAl'lI1oJU)'. Fur Mantle orders of remplarswearman desof exoticnit over(beLOp of tbeir armour,usuaJJylakenasrrophiesfromlaincreaturesor worn inremembrance of pasrglories.Famousadhere.nrsinclude theKnightsGrifton,whoseleading membas wear griftonpelrs rakeninhistorichuots,tht:Knight.,Panrhet.who wear panther SkillStoill,uk their founding inthe mountains ofAraby dULing the Crusades,and,mostbrnoillly. the Klliglm of tbe Whlre Wolf who wear lhepeltSofwolvesslainbyeveryknight aa mark of TABLE 9-3: ADVANCED ARMOUR Armour typeCo$tEneLocation(s)

APAwilabllity Ll't/rha l(Jgc PltJu l=uI.lObsidian Armour 20 450 Bo#. Ht:ad All5 Average Ver}' Rare CLOTHING Attire Heraldic Tabard Cost 5gc Ene: 0 Availability Average advantagetOO,suchaskeeping rheknight warminrbedepthsof wimer.or prorecring vulnerable areasfromJrtack./\ furmanrle (OUIltSa.lightarmour whenwornonitsown,burmaybeworn over(hetOpof maLior pi are,giving anaddition,J1 APtothehead andbody(maximum of 5 APs) , -Illecostora furmanrJegivenin ellrableisforrhefurof a commontype of animaLsuchasa wolf or bear.Thefurof a rarebeastcounts asa Gm)dCrafmnaushlp irem.andincludesfursof tigers,pambers andpolar bears.Thefur of anexoticbeastcountS asa BesrCraftsmanshipitem,andmight includerhepelr of a griffonor something even mOreexork. Heraldic Tabard This simple taba.rdor overcoaris decoraredindisrinaive colours and heraldryami i. worn overthetopof a suiI'of armourto allow the wearertobe ea,ill'idemihedon[hefidd of battle.Skilledw,lrriorsin a Jloble'saIm)'may weara tabard displayingrheirmasrer'sheraldry, while members of a knightly order may aUweara common deSign, obles or ranki ngofficesoftendisplaya more ornateof their heraJdic design,toallowthem[()remaindisti,nctfromtheir subordinate.whilstbeing identifiableapart of rhesame army.Of courserhere areames when anam,)' or anofficer doesnor "vishto besoeasilyrecognised,inwhichcase!he heraldic tabardissimply removed and hiddenina bab'A character maymakeanAcademic Knowledge(Genealogy/HeraJdry) TeSTor a Challenging (-10%) COrfu"I!OnKnowledge(rdevanrcountry) Testto identify the beraldry of a character wearing a heraldicrabard.althoughthe difficult), of passagefromsquire totemplar.Exoticfurshavetheir practical lhimay increase or decreasedepending on therarily of rhedesign. Chapter IX: Holy Warriors - MIN Of GOD, MIN Of Wa-TheBlackGuard of 1\'lorrraketheirname fromthemassivesuits of platemailatmour theywear.ornately crafted(rompieces of obsidian.Obidianarmour isbulky,butthe sinister appearanceit Thefollowlng entries aresamplecharactcrsthat takeadvalHage of therulesand informationpresellledinthischapter.Usethnn whenc\'er youneeda knightlyN PCina snap. Huben, Squire (Human Squire) Hubert isa squire inthecrvice of the Klligfm Griffon.intraining ro become a knight himself one day.He isrepresentativeof the connde.s, YOUIlf;boysiJ1thesrvice of thetempi'll'orders of the Empire:. Skills:AcademicKnowledge(Genealogy/Heraldry),AnimaleIre. Animal Training, Charm, CommOlJKnowledge(the Empire), Dodgt'Blow,Gossip,Ride,SpeakLanguage(Reikspiel)+1OO/'ll Talents:Etiquene, Excdlenr Vision.FleetFooted.Specialist Weapol1Group(Cavalry),Strike MigbtyBlow Armour (Medium),MailShirt,MailCoif,Leather Jack(Head2, ArmsI.Body 3.Legs0) Weapons:Demilance,,hield, Mace Trappings:Horse withSaddle and Harness Remer Aldhan, Griffon Knight (Human Knight, ex-Squire) Reiner Aldhanbeena fully-Hedgedmember of the Knights Griffonfor2 yearsnow,and in thattime hasfOllgbraJlmanner of horrors on thebartlefieldsof the Empire during rheStormof Ch:IOS,He willgofarwithinthe order,suchishispiery andmartial prowess,and already has a unit ofknights under hiscommand. Aldbartisrepresentative ofthe remplars of Sigmar foundwirhin holy order.tluougholltthe Empire. Skills:AcademiKnowledge(Genealogy/HeraJdry),Academic Knowledge(Religion),Academic Knowledge(Srrategy/Tactics). AnimalCare,Animal Training.Charm,Command. Common givesitwearer srrikesfearintothe h Casting Time:Half action Duration: Instant Range: Touch(YOli) Ingredients: Asprig dholly(+ 1) Description: Yourprayerheal, 11 injured cbamcrcr of 1 Wound. 'TIlt:tal'getcanonlyreceivedielJI".,or hOULper poim of yOU.fMagic Characteristic. Triggered:lbc spellremainsineffecturtila specific circumstaocrriggerit.YOllgainnobenefitfromcaring such spells mulriplerimes. You:'lliepeJlmay be cast only on yourself Touch: Youmust touch" targerforthespelltorake etten. Touch (You): .-\5touch.bUtyoumay alsocast the spellon yourself. Yards(Squares):The spellhas arangel1leas\lredinyards. Br.FSSINGOFTHEMAR....... Number: 5 Casting Time:Half action Duration:Iminute (6rounds) Range: Touch(You) Ingredient: A pieceof rope(+ 1) _ Description: You.rblessing gramsa dlaraCter a +5%honustoRow, SaiLaJldwim. MORRlAN PETTYMAGIC 'I11efollowing prayersareknownonly bythe culr of Morr, Br.FSSINGOFMoJr.Llo,l"R.u.R_ Casting Number:5 Casting Time:Half'lcriol1 Duration:1 minute(6rounds) Range: Touch(Vou) rugredient:Acather fromaraven(+ ] ) Desc.ription:Yourstirring wordsinspirea duraner tolll1derstand rhermly pitiable Slareof rheUndoughtacharacter I11mtfirstpassa\\?ill Power Te,LIfhe fai1.s,he mustdo everyrhinginhispower!O enmre that hefulfibhi:part of thehargain,Furthermore,if acbaraaer doesmanagetobteakthedeal,berakesa -10% penalry to allCharm,Evaluate,andHaggle Testsunrila week "frer[heneXTivlarktag. BuRGHERAm UISITION Casting Number: 9 Casting Time:I111i1.1l1(e Duration'1 hour!lvlagk Range:Yo\'l Ingredients:10%of the valueof alltransanioJl.'completed, minim\.lm5 gc(+2) Description: YOIlpleadwithyour Godromakesuretlnr tllere willbe alocalmerchant willingtodealwithyou.For]hour perpoim of your IvIagicCharacteristic,YOUmay add+20o/iliI lhe InaIpopular, BECALM Casting Number:16 Casting Time:Fullanion Duration::1 hour/Magic Range: 9Gyards(48squares) Ingredients: Adagger carvedof whalebone(+2) Descript