Empire Army 3 - Call to Arms by Warhammer

Author:Warhammer [Warhammer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Warhammer
Published: 2011-02-11T07:00:00+00:00

PART TWO

HUNTER’S MOON

(Late Erntezeit—Mittherbst—Early Brauzeit)

From

The Testimony of General Ludwig von Grahl

(unexpurgated text):

…It would become known as one of the blackest days in Hochland’s recent history. Von Nieder’s army was utterly routed. Von Nieder himself escaped, but many of his men were not so lucky. The greenskins killed thousands, spilling enough blood to stain the earth red.

In the wake of victory, with his enemies in disarray, Ironfang decided to press home his advantage. Splitting his forces, the orc chieftain sent his wolf riders and other light troops to pursue the fleeing human infantry. Meanwhile, he led the rest of his army in search of the Hochlanders’ missing cavalry.

They found them two days later. Having learned via messengers of the defeat suffered by their comrades in the infantry, the Hochland cavalry attempted to withdraw to safety, to regroup their forces. Ironfang was too wily to let them elude him, however. Forcing the cavalry to meet him in battle, he scored another crushing victory—slaughtering the knights and other riders almost to the man.

In the aftermath of the two defeats, Hochland was plunged into crisis. Despite my fears for the province’s safety I found much to admire in Ironfang’s generalship. Certainly, the enemy chieftain displayed a remarkable cunning and military sophistication for an orc.

Of course, in the days that followed, many in Hochland tried to diminish the enemy’s triumphs. It became fashionable to claim the greenskins had “just got lucky”.

To my mind, such opinions were no more than the mouthings of idiots. A good general must be able to recognise an able opponent when he sees him. Moreover, it was certainly the case that part of the reason for the defeat of Hochland’s army in the field was that von Nieder had underestimated Ironfang’s abilities.

In the meantime, the change in the military situation had led to a reappraisal at the Elector’s court. Within days of the army’s defeat becoming known, I was summoned unexpectedly to Hergig, ordered to report for an audience with His Excellency Count Aldebrand with all due haste.

Naturally, I made my way to Hergig as quickly as possible. Arriving at the palace, I heard that the Reiksmarshall Kurt Helborg was also there. We were old comrades, having served together on several campaigns long before either of us rose to the status of general.

Apparently, the Reiksmarshall had come to Hochland on a state visit. Although the fact his visit had been announced suddenly, with little time for the functionaries in the Count’s palace to prepare for it, had led many to gossip Helborg had come in response to the province’s recent reverses on the battlefield. It is an open secret the Emperor Karl Franz sometimes sends his envoys on such “state visits” to the provinces in order that they can communicate his displeasure on some matter to the local count.

That Helborg had come on such a mission was soon made clear. As I was taken to an anteroom to await my audience with the Count, the Reiksmarshall contrived to arrange an “accidental” meeting between us in the corridor.

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