Witch Hunters

The Empire is overflowing with hidden enemies. Mutants, cultists, and witches are everywhere. Bloodthirsty undead stalk the night. And the deep forests are home to greenskins, beastmen - and far worse things. It's not enough to watch the borders - a close eye must be kept on all citizens, all the time.

Enter the Witch Hunters. These men (and a few women) are a sad necessity of life. It's their job to hunt the hidden predators, to uncover the cults, and root out evil. Their gaze pierces lies and illusions. Their wit unravel the plots of their enemies. They do what lesser men dare not, can not do. They... wait just a minute... that's what the minstrels would have you believe. 

In truth, Witch Hunters are a mixed bag. While there are certainly some brave, skilled warrior-investigators out there, they are a shockingly small minority. Some witch hunters are little more than thugs, strutting through the towns and villages of the Empire, demanding adulation and obedience in equal measure. Others care little about guilt or innocence as long as they get to torture peasant girls and hang a few petty criminals. A few are outright frauds, pretending to do the work of witch hunters only to live off the locals.

Witch hunters are not above the law. They can't go around stealing or killing random strangers. What they can do is name someone a heretic, a mutant, a witch, or in league with the Dark Powers. Such individuals do not have the protection of the law and indeed anyone aiding and abetting them are subject to harsh punishments also.

Witch hunters have been around for as long as anyone can remember. They had a great upswing in authority and prestige under Magnus the Pious who demanded the temples aid his hand-picked men with rooting out hidden threats. There is currently no one source of witch hunters, no Imperial Inquisition so to speak. Instead, anyone can (in theory) be a witch hunter. That said, pretending to be a witch hunter isn't all that common. It could quickly become fatal if you confront real cults - or if the locals see through your bluff...

Here are some of the common sources of witch hunters:

Imperial Witch Hunters: These guys are sponsored by the Emperor. Their number has dwindled throughout the reign of Lutipold. It's a time of peace and stability, so the need for witch hunters is not that great, right? Their main advantage is that they "wield the authority of the Emperor," meaning they can expect help from local authorities throughout the Empire.

Sigmarite Witch Hunters: These guys are sponsored by the church of Sigmar. In the latter years of the 25th century they are becoming more common - and the temple has taken to cracking down on "false witch hunters." Like Imperial witch hunters they have a big advantage: the backing of a major temple that has a presence in almost every village throughout the Empire.

Verenean Witch Hunters: Few in number, these witch hunters are nevertheless quite effective. They use novel investigation techniques to uncover heresy and cut out the rot without damaging the host needlessly. They are also highly organized and share information with each other. Bova von Dunkelberg is an example. Peter Baden-Würt (the hanged witch hunter outside Unfer). Unfortunately they lack the innate authority of the Imperial and Sigmarite hunters.

Sponsored Witch Hunters: These are sponsored by local authorities. "Local" being anything from a local town council to one of the major provinces of the Empire. They can be just as effective (or ineffective) as other witch hunters, but lack any authority outside the immediate area.

Runefangs

 

The Runefangs are twelve ancient (presumably magical) swords forged by the legendary Dwarf Runesmith Alaric the Mad. The Runefangs are, after Sigmar's hammer, easily the most well-known weapons of the Empire.

The swords were intended for the twelve tribal leaders who had followed Sigmar. Today they are the badges of office of the Elector Counts of The Empire. Rarely wielded in combat, they have become regalia rather than weapons of war.

While there are twelve Runefangs, there are now only ten Elector Counts and provinces that remain. The realm of Drakwald (located in the Drakwald Forest) was destroyed and absorbed by Nordland and Middenland. Solland, the southernmost province, was sacked and destroyed in the early 1700s by Gorbad Ironclaw. The Elector was killed, and his Runefang was taken as a trophy by the ork warlord. Its current whereabouts are unknown.

The Runefangs

Unless otherwise noted the Runefangs are all heavy longswords (bastard swords) better suited to barbarian warfare than modern combat.

Averland - Mutters Verderben: Mother's Ruin is one of few Runefangs to be carried daily by an Elector-Count. It's also one of few to be regularly wielded in combat.

Drakwald - Bestienschlächter: Beast Slayer, the Runefang of Drakwald is kept in Altdorf under the protection of the Emperor and Sigmar. 

Hochland - Goblinfluch: The Bane of Goblins is said to be badly corroded after slaying a terrible Chaos beast during the Great War Against Chaos. 

Middenland - Beinbeißer: The legendary Leg Biter is the blade of the Todbringers, rulers of Middenland and Middenheim. It's likely that the Todbringer carries a replica in public.

Nordland - Krähenfresser: Crow Feeder is, like Stone Breaker, not a sword at all, but a bearded axe in the Norscan style. The lords of Nordland don't really talk about this much. Indeed, they always carry sword and axe together, so it's a moot point really.

Ostland - Kopfzerstörer: Head Chopper (or maybe Destroyer is a better word) is a mighty zweihänder that rests peacefully in the Great Hall in Wolfenburg. None of the Tassenincks have the might to wield it.

Ostermark - Trollspalter: The blade Troll Splitter is forged in the manner of a Kislevite cavalry sword, a heavy curved blade well suited for mounted murder. The weapon earned its name in Troll Country.

Reikland - Drachenzahn: Dragon's Tooth is the blade of Riekland and thus the blade of the current Emperor, Lutipold I, long may he reign. The number of heroic paintings and statues depicting the Emperor and his blade is quite large. As far as is known, the Emperor has never wielded the sword in anger - or been in a battle.

Solland  - Groll Siedler: Grudge Settler was lost to the orcs many years ago and never recovered, despite many claims to the contrary (every few years, someone claims to have found the blade). 

Stirland - Ork-Messer: Orc-Chopper is the twin of Mother's Ruin; the blades are so similar they are hard to tell apart. Unlike the Averland blade, its role is mostly ceremonial.

Talabecland - Steinbrecher: Stone Breaker isn't a sword at all, but a mighty warhammer, not entirely unlike Sigmar's. It sits silently in a vault somewhere; it's been generations since any lord of Talabecland had the strength to wield it.

Wissenland - Blutbringer: Blood Bringer is the sword of Emmanuelle von Liebwitz. She does not carry it in public (nor is she strong enough to wield it).

Knightly Orders

 

The Empire is home to many knightly orders, some of them new, some very old. There are literally hundreds of orders on record but the majority of them have long ceased to exist, or exist only as purely honorary institutions (being a knight has certain social benefits, so people with money sometimes purchase knightly ranks).

At the end of the 25th century there about two dozen orders that are still militant and sizeable enough to field knights on the battlefield. The heavy cavalry charge is doubtlessly still a powerful battlefield stratagem, but many orders have adapted to the changing times. They dismount to fight, act more like officers and NCO than rank-and-file, and even employ artillery.

Five orders are hands down the largest and most famous. They are listed here:

Notable Templar Orders

The Orders Templar are sworn to a specific deity. Even gods like Morr (why does the god of the dead need knights?) and Taal (a wilderness/rural god) have templar orders dedicated to them. Shallya is about the only major god NOT to have a templar order.

Knights Griffon: Sigmarites. Protects the Grand Theogonist, other high-ranking clergymen, and key temples. Still fields heavy horse. HQ: Nuln (in practice Altdorf)

Knights of the Blazing Sun: Powerful champions of Myrmidia. Still fields heavy horse but typically fight using modern tactics and weapons. HQ: Talabheim.

Knights of the White Wolf: Ferocious warriors of Ulric. Still fields heavy horse. Its heavy foot is among the Empire's finest. HQ: Middenheim.

Notable Secular Orders

Secular does NOT mean godless. The members of Secular Orders will honour most gods in an equal measure. It's just that they don't have a particular patron god.

Knights Panther: Ancient roots. Rose to prominence during the Arabyan Crusades. Dedicated to human purity and the eradication of mutants. In practice this often means crusading in distant lands, seeking glory and treasure. Still fields heavy horse. HQ: Near Carroburg, Middenland. Major chapter houses in Talabheim and Middenheim (the Knights Panther traditionally guard the Elector-Count of Middenland).

The Reiksguard: Bodyguards of the Emperor. Still fields heavy horse. HQ: Altdorf.

Knights Griffon

 

The Knights Griffon are among the Empire's most famous and easily recognizable knightly orders. The order was founded by none other than Magnus the Pious. It's job was to guard Magnus and follow him into the thick of battle against the Chaos hordes.

After the war, the Knights Griffon became the premiere guards of the Grand Theogonist and other high-ranking clergymen. This continues to this day. All members of the Knights Griffon are sworn to protect the priests and temples of Sigmar to their dying breath. That said, the Knights Griffon are not completely immune to political and honorific appointments. But even such appointees have to swear the same oaths and could (in theory) be called to battle in times of need.

When the Emperor moved his seat to Altdorf, the Grand Theogonist followed suit, and so did the bulk of the Knights Griffon. Still technically headquartered in Nuln, the Großmeister (Grand Master) resides in Altdorf and the "chapter house" there is bigger and more richly appointed that the one in Nuln.

Gunpowder weapons

 

Gunpowder is not a recent invention in the Old World. It's been around for a long time and has been used for military applications as far back as Magnus the Pious' time, if not longer. There are accounts of "große Kanonen, Zwerg gemacht" (literally: big, dwarf-made guns) being used against the Chaos hordes assaulting the Kislevite port city of Erengrad.

During the 25th Century, cannons have become lighter and more easily transportable. Big guns are no longer found solely on the walls of the Empire's fortifications or aboard the land-locked carracks of the Imperial Fleet. From 2450 or thereabout, horse-drawn cannon have found their way into the armies of every province of the Empire.

The "gunpowder revolution" not only has to do with the weight of the cannon. Even more important is price: as the gunmakers have perfected their craft, they are increasingly able to use cheaper iron to cast weapons (rather than hideously expensive bronze) in bulk (and still keep weight down). The cost of gunpowder and cast iron balls is also down to acceptable levels. The very best guns are still bronze and shoot hand-crafted stone balls, but iron guns shooting iron are good enough and much cheaper.

There are as many gun types as there are gun manufacturers - and then some - but Nuln, the greatest gun forge in the Empire, has begun to set the standards of gun-making. The smallest field cannon is the 4-pounder "infantry gun." The biggest transportable piece is the 12-pounder "groß-Kanone." Its power is undeniable, but it needs a crew of 15 and six horses to pull it. There are also 6 and 8-pounders being made, and a 6-pounder howitzer. Bigger guns for ships (not typically made in Nuln) and fortifications also exist.

While cannons have more or less replaced conventional artillery, gunpowder weapons are slower to replace bows and crossbows. There are many reasons for this. The elf bow remains the fastest-firing and most deadly ranged weapon but requires many years of training to use. Lesser bows are still deadly in the hands of a skilled archer. Crossbows are equal or superior to guns in terms of range, power, and reload times. Of all ranged weapons, guns are perhaps the most affected by damp weather conditions.

That said, muskets are becoming very affordable going into the 26th century, to the point where it is cheaper to buy than a crossbow of comparable power. There are some companies and battalions of gun-armed infantry already, and the number is likely to increase. But it'll take time: guns may be cheap, but it's still very expensive to completely reequip existing armies.

Pistols, rifles, and blunderbusses warrant special mention: 

Pistols have become very popular with Imperial light cavalry (pistoleers, road wardens, scouts, and the like) and, by extension, the sons of the nobility. Young bravos armed with sword-and-dagger, Estalian style, and a couple of pistols (of fine make and great ornamentation) are a common sight indeed. Because of the demand for pistols, prices are quite high compared to equivalent longarms.

Rifles, iconized by the Hochland Long Rifle, are glorified muskets with longer barrels and tight "rifled" barrels that give great accuracy and power (it must be mentioned that they need equally finely made bullets and precise application of the best gunpowder). Such weapons must be carefully crafted by master artisans, are terribly expensive, and are not really worth equipping large formations with.

The blunderbuss is a peculiar weapon that's captured a special place in the Empire's imagination. It's a crudely crafted weapon that is capable of shooting almost anything. While the effect can be devastating at short range, it's not really a military weapon. Coachmen and criminals do love it, though.

The origin of gunpowder is hotly debated (but ultimately irrelevant beyond scholarly debates). The dwarfs claim they invented it and have been using it forever. Others point to Cathay as the point of origin and say the dwarfs learned of it through trade. Whatever the truth, dwarfs routinely use cannons and have done so for many years. Dwarfs employ handguns as well, but not to the exclusion of crossbows. It's possibly a matter of ancient tradition, but there is another consideration as well: using large quantities of gunpowder underground is a great way to choke your own warriors.

Wigmar's relatives

 

Original parents

Eldwin Heck (d. 2480): Wigmar's (adoptive) father. Died of the plague.

Dagna Heck (d. 2480): Wigmar's (adoptive) mother. Killed herself by jumping into the river.

Siblings

Adler: Fate unknown.

Josef Quartjin: Took the name Quartjin after the boatman who adopted him. Told Wigmar they were all adopted.

Henrietta (d. 2480): Died of the plague.

Berit (d. 2480): Died of the plague.

Ernst (d. 2496): Convicted of rape and murder. Hanged in Dunkelberg.

Kurt Heck: Two years Wigmar's senior. A mercenary with the Dark Griffons.

Kleine Emil (d. 2480): Sickly child. Died of the plague.

Wigmar: PC.

Adoptive (second) family

Heller Heck: Uncle. Eldwin's brother. Adopted Wigmar and Kurt, the youngest living children. A mercenary sergeant with the Dark Griffons.

Maud Heck (d. 2497): Became sick in spring, died in summer.

Olina Drauer: Heller's daughter. Married to a watchman in Dunkelberg.

Wanda Metternick: Heller's daughter. Married to a freeholder outside Dunkelberg.

Breda Dreck: Heller's daughter. Married to a cavalryman.

Also see this post.

The Imperial Electorate

 

As of 2499 there  are 10 Kurfürsten that rule a province (these are the proper Elector Counts). There used to be 12 but two provinces have been lost.

1. Kurfürst von Averland: Marius "der Löwe" Leitdorf. One of the Empire's most renowned knights.

2. Kurfürst von Hochland

3. Kurfürst von Middenland: Boris Todbringer

4. Kurfürst von Nordland

5. Kurfürst von Ostland: Hans-Hals von Tasseninck (father of Hergard von Tassenick).

6. Kurfürst von Ostermark

7. Kurfürst von Reikland: Emperor Lutipold, long may he reign.

8. Kurfürst von Stirland

9. Kurfürst von Talabecland

10. Kurfürst von Wissenland: Emmanuelle von Liebwitz

(11. The Elector Count of Drakwald): The bloodline was destroyed. Territory divided between Nordland and Middenland.

(12. The Elector Count of Solland): Ravaged by orcs. Absorbed by Wissenland.

There are now 5 additional Kurfürsten (Electors) that aren't provincial rulers (but have other high titles).

11. The Grand Theogonist of the Cult of Sigmar: Yorri XV

12-13. The two Arch Lectors of the Cult of Sigmar

14. The Ar-Ulric of the Cult of Ulric

15. The Elder of The Moot