Post by Andrew on Jan 26, 2007 11:48:06 GMT -6
As Duke Ayden of Carcassone watched, the great cannon crew went through their practice firing. With a curse, one of the crewmen dropped the cannonball in the dirt. Rubbing it off with his shirt, he loaded it up. Sneering with contempt, the Duke turned towards Arch-Lector Draxum.
"As much as I disgust such warmachines, they continue to prove to be valuable assets. Perhaps you should reprimand that crew; they seem to be a bit careless with their work," he commented.
It had been many years since Ayden had first met Draxum. At first, they came to battle for the invading of Paladin Ayden's territories by Lord Draxum. With fury, the knights of Bretonnia had thrown back the invaders, but with both armies depleted, the Vampire Konrad von Werheist made his presence well known and attacked them both. On the battlefield, the two generals met and agreed to ally against this new threat. A series of skirmishes followed, where the joint armies of Bretonnia and the Empire attacked and were attacked by the legions of the Undead. Bolstered by the early victories, the men and knights attacked von Werheist's lair. The sky had turned dark as they approached the expansive cemetary in which the mausoleum was built. An evilness hung in the air. As they entered the cemetary, decaying hands broke through the ground as a veritable horde of skeletons and zombies burst from the earth below. The Bretonnian men-at-arms and soldiers of the Empire were tripped up by the groping hands. Some fled in terror at the abominations, but the worst was yet to come.
From the dark entrance to the underground entombment appeared Konrad von Werheist himself, surrounded by his most dangerous servants. With fell blades they hacked their way through the footsoldiers, and even the proud knights of Bretonnia were cut down by their darkness. The power of von Werheist kept the armies of light from casting magic at the Undead before them, while the Vampire, with merely a gesture and a few whispered words, slayed men all around him, while more Undead clawed their way to the surface with each passing moment. The fresh corpses rose again quickly with a new reddish glow to their eyes, and turned on their former comrades and friends. Dismayed by this horror, the allied army was all but routed.
It was there, at the pinnacle of the battle, that Lord Draxum and Paladin Ayden had fought their way together through to the heart of the dark army: von Werheist. Challenging the Vampire, Ayden stepped forward. In a mock honor salute, von Werheist accepted, and with preternatural speed was upon Ayden before he could breathe. A series of blows rang out, and it was all the Paladin could do to defend against each quick thrust and swing. Finally, Ayden got the momentum and retaliated, though nowhere near as quickly. He knew he was outclassed, but he fought on anyway, determined to destroy the Vampire or die trying. The latter almost happened, but for a fortuitous strike that sent the young Ayden landing hard on his back.
As Ayden dizzidly watched in seeming slow motion, von Werheist lept onto him, desiring to feast on his blood. Before he made it to Ayden's neck, a brightly flaming hammer came across his field of vision and connected with von Werheist's head. The Vampire flew sideways, landing in a crumpled heap. Roaring holy prayers to Sigmar, Lord Draxum swung his hammer two handed, bringing it down on his chest, crushing it's evil heart. With the defeat of von Werheist, his hordes slowly crumbled back to dust. The survivors cheered for their lords as Ayden got to his feet. Lord Draxum personally chained the body of the Vampire to the mausoleum doors, and when the sun came out again, it burned away and was no more. Konrad von Werheist was defeated.
Since then, Lord Draxum and Paladin Ayden have campaigned together many times, driving back invaders from many races in both Bretonnia and the Empire, saving each other's lives many times. In recent times they have been concentrating on ruling their territories, but with a rival Empire army, marauding bands of chaos, and now the skaven emerging from the mountains, they have come together once again to fight these new threats. In Ayden's eyes, the now Arch-Lector has far more honor than long ago, and is a bit wiser, if not any less zealous in his hunting of the impure and degenerate.
"As much as I disgust such warmachines, they continue to prove to be valuable assets. Perhaps you should reprimand that crew; they seem to be a bit careless with their work," he commented.
It had been many years since Ayden had first met Draxum. At first, they came to battle for the invading of Paladin Ayden's territories by Lord Draxum. With fury, the knights of Bretonnia had thrown back the invaders, but with both armies depleted, the Vampire Konrad von Werheist made his presence well known and attacked them both. On the battlefield, the two generals met and agreed to ally against this new threat. A series of skirmishes followed, where the joint armies of Bretonnia and the Empire attacked and were attacked by the legions of the Undead. Bolstered by the early victories, the men and knights attacked von Werheist's lair. The sky had turned dark as they approached the expansive cemetary in which the mausoleum was built. An evilness hung in the air. As they entered the cemetary, decaying hands broke through the ground as a veritable horde of skeletons and zombies burst from the earth below. The Bretonnian men-at-arms and soldiers of the Empire were tripped up by the groping hands. Some fled in terror at the abominations, but the worst was yet to come.
From the dark entrance to the underground entombment appeared Konrad von Werheist himself, surrounded by his most dangerous servants. With fell blades they hacked their way through the footsoldiers, and even the proud knights of Bretonnia were cut down by their darkness. The power of von Werheist kept the armies of light from casting magic at the Undead before them, while the Vampire, with merely a gesture and a few whispered words, slayed men all around him, while more Undead clawed their way to the surface with each passing moment. The fresh corpses rose again quickly with a new reddish glow to their eyes, and turned on their former comrades and friends. Dismayed by this horror, the allied army was all but routed.
It was there, at the pinnacle of the battle, that Lord Draxum and Paladin Ayden had fought their way together through to the heart of the dark army: von Werheist. Challenging the Vampire, Ayden stepped forward. In a mock honor salute, von Werheist accepted, and with preternatural speed was upon Ayden before he could breathe. A series of blows rang out, and it was all the Paladin could do to defend against each quick thrust and swing. Finally, Ayden got the momentum and retaliated, though nowhere near as quickly. He knew he was outclassed, but he fought on anyway, determined to destroy the Vampire or die trying. The latter almost happened, but for a fortuitous strike that sent the young Ayden landing hard on his back.
As Ayden dizzidly watched in seeming slow motion, von Werheist lept onto him, desiring to feast on his blood. Before he made it to Ayden's neck, a brightly flaming hammer came across his field of vision and connected with von Werheist's head. The Vampire flew sideways, landing in a crumpled heap. Roaring holy prayers to Sigmar, Lord Draxum swung his hammer two handed, bringing it down on his chest, crushing it's evil heart. With the defeat of von Werheist, his hordes slowly crumbled back to dust. The survivors cheered for their lords as Ayden got to his feet. Lord Draxum personally chained the body of the Vampire to the mausoleum doors, and when the sun came out again, it burned away and was no more. Konrad von Werheist was defeated.
Since then, Lord Draxum and Paladin Ayden have campaigned together many times, driving back invaders from many races in both Bretonnia and the Empire, saving each other's lives many times. In recent times they have been concentrating on ruling their territories, but with a rival Empire army, marauding bands of chaos, and now the skaven emerging from the mountains, they have come together once again to fight these new threats. In Ayden's eyes, the now Arch-Lector has far more honor than long ago, and is a bit wiser, if not any less zealous in his hunting of the impure and degenerate.
