Eyes of the Five?

Eyes of the Nine and AOS

And so wearily Nathaniel began his journey North.  Although the council never implicated him for anything wrong they had their suspicions and he couldn't risk continuing to base his now hampered operations in Alba Mesa.  And so he trekked North, past the Tolerance of Crows and into Chrysalis, the haven in the Charred Lands that he would make.  He was soon joined by his band of misfits and the retained services of a Gaunt Summoner.  

Binding those small ones was beneath him, he would leave it to the Summoner, he needed all of his focus on his big project and on carefully assembled contracts and bindings with the clever ones.

I really like the idea of a Tzeentch force in AOS, it appeals to my sense of efficiency as the PCRC tend to vary in enthusiasm between 40k and everything else so I reckon this significantly increases the probability of playing my army in whatever system they are excited by.

Eyes of the Nine* increases that efficiency further as it will play in AOS Tzeentch and Warhammer Underworld (Shadespire) which means my one army now covers three different systems.

*Are 4/5 of them missing?

The Watchers of the Ninefold Pact

The Watchers of the Ninefold Pact

Within the South Eastern Borders of the charred lands is a region called Chrysalis.  In this region is many things that normal regions contain, towns, castles, wildlife and some day to day life.  None of it should be there though because this region is in the Charred Lands.

At the magical center of this region is a tower, whose exact location seems to change from time to time.  This glimmering tower and its surrounding land appear as a beautiful place surrounded by a verdant garden and a town.  It is the home of the watchers of the Nine fold pact*, a sect of Jethelech whose followers truly believe that they are draining him of power.  Their goal is to push back and reclaim the charred lands from the taint of death.

Is Chrysalis easy to access?  Some who seek to find it never do despite its location on the border.  Others, perhaps by intent, find it easily, almost accidently as it is possible to get to it somehow without seemingly crossing the Tolerance of Crows.  It is said to be a beautiful and seductive place and even a reasonable place to do business.

The Watchers are led by the enigmatic Nathaniel Hultz, a man who rejected the shackles and strictures of the governing wizards of Alba Mesa and some say from the celestial council itself.  A man who believes himself to be the saviour of the Charred Lands.  A man for whom the ends justify the means.

If you are unlucky enough to go looking for trouble here you might run into Shanduko, a Lord of Change who appears in many forms (battle form below).  He fights only as a last resort, he will first give you an offer that you cannot refuse.  Shankduko seems to be bound to Hultz although it is not known whether this is by force or through a deal.

*Rumour has it that the Sigmarian cult of the Celestial pact is somehow linked to them although no evidence has emerged that was not circumstantial.

The Adventures of Nathaniel Hultz: Part IX

The Ends Justify the Means

The battle had not gone well. To see a force of chaos this large so far South of the Charred Lands was unexpected - they may be here for a purpose.  Were we their purpose?  Or had we been opportunistically attacked?

The 'Emperor Karl Franz'*, the Cosmic Smite was badly damaged, lying on its side, on top of one of its mechanical horses.  The Lord of Change that had attacked them lay dead, finally dismembered by Holgars axe, Holgar, injured lying close by.  The rest of the battle continued to rage with the sounds of the copper cavalry clashing with distant horrors in and among the smoke of battle.

I had just finished despatching one of the bird mutants that had somehow got onto the carriage when suddenly from out of the smoke came another Lord of Change and I realised that I had run out of options.  It changed direction and came towards us, staff raised it started casting a spell.  I had about 30 seconds to turn the tide of battle.  Time for Plan B, a plan I had never intended on using.

I wiped the blood off my hands and then I wrenched globes off of the 'Cosmic Smite' until there were 9 left and then I stood in the middle, pulled out my tattered copy of the Doctrines of the Purple Hand' and said those 9 unholy words which caused the greater daemon to freeze.  I then uttered the 9 commanding words in the common tongue: 'Stop.  Go home, stay there until I summon you'.  The Jethelech Daemon melted away and I could feel the tide of battle turning, I was fizzing with blue and purple magic.

'What have you done...'.  coughed Holgar, spitting up blood.

Oh no, Holgar was conscious, he had seen it.  What was I to do?  'Holgar, old friend, I had no choice, please forgive me'.  '

'You always have a choice Nathaniel'.  Holgar coughed again. 'A noble death is better than this, remember whose side you are on'.

'I am truly sorry Holgar'

'If you are sorry then you will confess to the council as soon as we get back, there may be a way back'

'I can control it Holgar, I saved us, doesn't that matter?'

'Give me the book Nathaniel'

It was then that I made my fateful decision.  It wasn't meant to be this way, I was a force for good and giving this up now would not help anyone. It would not help my people or the Tallowlands.

'Give me the book Nathaniel'

I picked up one of the dismembered talons from the dead Lord of change and walked over to Holgar, I pulled him close to me and I wept as I plunged the talon into the wound in Holgars back, cradling him as he died, a look of shock and terror on his face.  I knew that his principles would trump our friendship and it could be no other way.  I would have to deal with the guilt later.

When the others arrived I explained what had happened.  Holgar had valiantly given his life and killed the Lord of Change, turning the tide of battle, Holgar would be a hero, celebrated in song.

That night and the next 8 nights I dreamed of nothing but the laughter and cackling of daemons.  The others would never know of the sacrifices I had to make to keep them safe but my plan would proceed unabated.  There was a way of cleansing at least a part of the Charred Lands and I would be its master.

*Some people mistakenly call this a Hurricanum but what do they know, Sigmar told us what it was called centuries ago and we definitely accurately recorded what he said.

The Adventures of Nathaniel Hultz: Part IV

The Hurricanum and the Celestial Council
They say the design for the 'Emperor Karl Franz'* vehicles were handed to the Celestial Council by Sigmar himself and that he laughed with joy** when the first of these vehicles was created, a template for all of the others.  The design has changed little over many centuries although the celestial wizards of Alba Mesa, of which I am one, use their mechanical beasts to pull the sacred device.

It was with great honour that I was asked to take charge of the Cosmic Smite - the 'Emperor Karl Franz' that was stationed in the temple at Alba Mesa and to take responsibility for its sacred duties.  Although primarily a vehicle of war, the machine has other peace time functions as well and I intend to discharge these duties well.

I have not yet been invited to sit in the circle of sovereigns in the council much to my frustration, what else do I have to prove, was victory in the battle of Broken Pacts not enough for them?  Did I not save them in their hour of need?  I fear some suspect that I have achieved my position too quickly for one so young.

I must continue to be patient and assuage any suspicions they have.  I have not read from or used the book now for some time.  Not because I fear it, it has been most helpful to me and indeed nothing to fear, but because the use of its lessons may raise suspicions.

It is possible I will not need the book any further, I have gained much mastery and knowledge and there is no need to tempt fate.  If I am right though we can begin to reclaim the charred lands and to drive chaos and its foul allies back towards Nygorach - perhaps they can be contained for good.

*Although without a name for the vehicle it is wise to assume that the inscription on the vehicle is its name.

**We hope it was joy

The Adventures of Nathaniel Hultz: Prologue

A Mixed Start
"Stop running Frieg stop, You've got nowhere to run," Nathaniel yelled, as he levelled his crossbow at the old book seller huddled in the corner clutching a package wrapped in rags. "We know what you and the other are up to, we know what you've been trying to do in this city and the evil that you have been practicing, if you surrender now I will give you a quick death and commend your soul to Sigmar."

Dammit where was the rest of his party when he needed them? He could hear the distant sounds of battle, they were probably dealing with the other cultists.

"My Lord Jethelech foresaw this, he has a plan for you apprentice" the bookkeeper muttered, "now kill me!" he exclaimed and he sprung forward, unnaturally quickly and aggressively. Reflexively Nathaniel shot him. He crumpled up immediately and that was it, the book seller moved no more.

I've killed before, thought Nathaniel, but then why was he shaking so much? That bookkeeper had unnerved him, what had he muttered about him? What was he protecting that was worth dying for?

Nathaniel slowly picked up the package and started peeling the rags off. As the last layer fell off he stopped suddenly, and time itself seemed to slow down as he stared at the package. It was a book, a book that he had thought long lost when the veiled library of Eastpine Vale burned, a very ordinary looking book which in the common tongue was called "Doctrines of the Purple Hand". He had been thinking about this book for some time, this forbidden tome that promised a way to control rather than be controlled by dark magic. Up to now he had resisted all impulses to track it down, it was illegal, he had been warned against any contact with books of this nature.

What was he to do with it? He could hardly hand it in or he may be put on trial himself! He knew that this tome could change his life, within a short time he could become more powerful than his mentor, even more powerful than the great wizards of Mirror Keep, and yes he could control it, he would not succumb to the greedy ambitions that these cultists had fallen to, he would be different from them, more noble, he might even be able to use this power for good!

But no, it is chaos and he had been taught that all chaos power corrupts its user eventually, that your very soul is at stake, would he be able to protect his soul? Perhaps not. Oh what to do, and he had to decide quickly, the sound of battle had stopped and the others would be joining him shortly.

He made his decision.

His old alley instincts took over and he slipped the book under his cloak. He deferred. Maybe he would take a peak at the contents, after all just a small look wouldn't harm him and he could always get rid of it later…

His thoughts were quickly interrupted.

"Are you alive umgi?" cried Nathaniel's dwarf friend Holgar, covered in blood and grime screeching round the corner faster than any dwarf had any right to move, checking to see if he was intact, Nathaniel just stared back, he too was covered in the bookkeeper's blood. Holgar continued, "I think we got all of them, did you find what they were protecting?"

A brief pause, and then the answer from Nathaniel: 'No, No I didn't, maybe next time..."

***

Alba Mesa

Alba Mesa - a force for good?

I was bitten by the Tallowlands bug a few months ago when it came into my head to create a Cities of Sigmar 'Tempest Eye' force in a steampunk style.  As yet I lack any models at all to show off given the fact that the models I want to base it on have not been released for the most part and my family commitments.  I really dig the background the PCRC are coming up with though for the Tallowlands so I thought I can at least contribute some of that.

The plan is to convert these guys into pistoleers and outriders:

And convert up a Hurricanum using the same horses:

I will likely convert up a General on a Griffon as well.

The following background intentionally has things in common with Tempest Eye.  I hope it isn't too close and I would encourage the PCRC to tell me if they think it is verging on unoriginal, I liked the original background and wanted some way of transferring aspects of it to the Tallowlands.  Tempest Eye forces contain up to one quarter Stormcasts and one quarter Kharadron Overlords as well as traditionally relying on celestial magic.  Combining all those forces as allies will always give the same feel to almost any 'counts as' Tempest Eye background.

^^

***

What is Alba Mesa?  It is more than just the cavalry, which aided the Sinian Emperors when called upon*.  It is more than just a place or indeed a marvel of ancient and modern engineering.  It is more than just the capital of the Celestial College**.  It is one of the few places where wizards and scientists, dwarfs and humans, stormcasts and mortals mix in peace.  

Nestled high up in the Dawn mountains lies a metropolis entrenched into the mountains, a city of two sides; the Western side, dominated by the Kharadron Overlords in Barak Mhorna and the Eastern side, Alba Mesa.  Atop the glittering peaks stands three magnificent buildings:

• The capital of the Celestial college, which has an observatory that you can see from many miles away.  Celestial magic in Rho is regulated here while the movements of the heavenly bodies and comets are monitored
• Crown Keep - a small keep which is home to the Stormcasts who are allied to the Celestial college
• The great lighthouse and aetherport of Salgrun

*Although significantly not its last Emperor
**Not to be confused with the celestial council despite their outsized influence on it

Extracts from the last publication of the Nobleman's guide to Rho, a publication that ceased when demand for its services fell with the Empire.

..of course it could all have been very different.  After the Age of Chaos, the Eastern side of the Dawn mountains was completely cut off from the rest of Roh (sic) both by the geography; the mountain ridges curve around to the East preventing any access of a peninsula of land trapped by the mountains, as well as the great storm which engulfed the mountain peaks for the first century or so of this age.  

The dwarfs colonised the western slopes while unbeknown to them, humans from a different land crashed into the rocks near the peninsula and settled it - for several generations that was their whole world.

When the tempest lifted there was conflict and war although eventually the pragmatism of the dwarfs in recognizing two entrenched defensive positions won out and an uneasy peace was reached...

...just speculation that the storm had been caused by an open realm gate on top of Salgrun peak and that closing it permanently has stopped the Tempest.  Although who or what had the desire or motivation to do this is unknown to me...

... by then the dwarfs had come to recognise that the humans of Alba Mesa were not going anywhere and made good trading partners.  Relations begun to thaw at that point... 

...that doesn't explain the interest that the humans had in technology.  That came from the Celestial college which was a mix of mystics and engineers like nothing I have seen before.  The mystics fully believed that it was the will of Sigmar to tame the mountains as a way of accessing the heavens.  Whether from self interest or prophecy they encouraged the development of mechanical beasts of burden, the forerunners to today's steam horse cavalry.  Given the unique climate and geography of course it would have been impossible to develop any cavalry without the aid of magic or mechanics...

...a golden age it would never again quite live up to with the treaty reached with Emperor Eldros II of the Sinian Empire which saw the forces and races of order fight together as one to expel...

...presented its own unique problems given the fall of the Empire although the solution they eventually reached preserved and protected Alba Mesa (and Barak Mhorna) at the cost of their effectiveness at projecting power.  Their forces remain on high alert given the frequent incursions from the charred lands to the North...

Extracts from the annals of the Kings of Roh (sic) and their bonds to the Sinian Emperors

***

^^Art by Dmitriy Semyroz