Old World, Kislev, North of the Lynsk River, the small town of Zedvika. Kislev Year 999.
The town was blanketed by snow, as is typical in Kislev, where snowfall begins north of the Lynsk River as early as late September and intensifies by now. Zedvika was a small settlement with around 800 inhabitants, comprising about a hundred modest houses and surrounded by a simple wooden palisade. This rudimentary wall was all that shielded it from the encroaching darkness.
Inside Tsarina Katarin's grand golden tent, Kislev's High Command gathered to discuss their next move. Outside, the Empress's two elite regiments—the Ice Guard and the Kreml Guard—stood vigil.
The Ice Guard, a unique and highly skilled group, consisted of female warriors drawn from the Ice Witch Sisterhood. These formidable fighters were as adept with bow and blade as they were with powerful ice spells, making them a rare dual-force in the Old World. However, their powers were strongest on Kislev's icy plains, and outside these frigid lands, they became less potent.
As the meeting convened, Marshal Rokossovsky entered last. Though his army numbered a daunting 30,000 troops, most were hastily conscripted and poorly trained. His most reliable forces were 12,000 Ugol horse archers, as well as two regiments of Winged Lancers and a regiment of Ursun-blessed Bear Riders.
Brushing off the snow, Rokossovsky removed his bear pelt armor, entering the tent where a Kreml Guard stopped him at the door. "Please wait here, Marshal. Her Majesty is inspecting the newly delivered provisions."
"How much did they bring in?" he asked.
"About 65,000 kilograms of grain, and a few other supplies," the Kreml Guard replied awkwardly.
"65,000... that will barely last the army two days." Rokossovsky muttered, glancing icily at the guard and stepping aside to wait.
Rokossovsky knew well why supplies were so limited despite the season's bountiful harvest. The reason lay with the Kreml Guard themselves. These elite, royal troops were created centuries ago by the Mad Tsar Igor, a paranoid ruler who feared assassins lurking in every shadow. The Guard, tasked with protecting the Tsar, also became infamous for enforcing the law harshly on the people, especially during wartime.
The Tsarina's Kreml Guards had been dispatched to collect supplies, yet rather than mere requisition, they imposed "village law" upon every settlement they encountered. Their methods were harsh: they demanded tributes from the villagers, slaughtered livestock for feasts, and devised "convenience taxes" and "tribute lines" to fatten their own coffers.
Even when food was gathered for the army, it was reduced through layers of bribery, tribute, and skimming by the Kreml Guards and local officials. This explained why, despite the abundance of resources, the military still faced shortages.
The command council convened shortly after. Kislev's Grand Marshal, Dmitri Zayev, spoke first. "We can't delay any longer, Your Majesty. We need to strike now."
Everyone agreed; they had discussed this point before.
"We have one crucial advantage," bald-headed Marshal Konev stated, pointing to the map. "According to our scouts, the Norscan Mountain Legion, led by High King Wamir Aisling, is still about forty-five kilometers from the battlefield."
Earlier, Aisling's Norscan forces had attempted a flanking maneuver but were repelled by Katarin's army. Now, they were still some distance away, buying Kislev precious time.
"Additionally, a large Chaos force is marching southward, but according to estimates, they are still days away from reaching us," Konev continued.
"Our immediate opponents are Prince Sigvald's Slaanesh army and Festus the Leechlord's Nurgle army," added Rokossovsky. "Your Majesty, this is a rare opportunity—a fleeting chance to catch our enemies off guard. I propose a pre-dawn assault tomorrow."
Katarin tilted her head, questioning, "And why target the Slaanesh army?"
"Because they're having a party," Rokossovsky said bluntly.
Reports from scouts indicated that Prince Sigvald, bored by the campaign's restraint and the order to avoid engaging Katarin, had ordered his entire Slaanesh army into a three-day orgy of indulgence. Drunk on their victories and excesses, they reveled, oblivious to the threat bearing down on them.
Suspicious that this excessive celebration might be an internal Chaos ploy to weaken Sigvald's forces, Rokossovsky briefly entertained the thought. Chaos infighting was notorious, but he pushed aside the thought. This was their only chance, and they had to act.
With a grim resolve, they finalized their battle plans.
Marshal Konev's assault corps would lead the charge at dawn, striking at the gap between the Slaanesh and Nurgle armies. Rokossovsky would join the attack to push through the Slaanesh lines and ideally rout or expel Sigvald's forces from the field.
Meanwhile, Grand Marshal Zayev's forces, stationed on the northern front, and Fedosev's regiment to the east would hold off Festus's Nurgle troops, buying time for Konev and Rokossovsky to shatter the Slaaneshi line. Once the Slaanesh army was defeated, they would turn their full force on Festus's army.
The outcome of the battle depended on their ability to swiftly overpower Sigvald's forces. Should the plan succeed, even Aisling's approaching Norscan army would arrive too late to rescue their allies.
The plan set, the generals departed, each one fully aware that this might be their only chance for victory. Katarin provided Konev's assault corps with 10,000 of Kislev's best soldiers, including sharpshooters, elite Kreml Guards, and sixty cannons.
Eighteen hours later, Kislev Year 999, November 1st, 3:30 a.m.
The Slaanesh camp along the Torsol River was a chaotic, smoke-filled mess. Led by Sigvald himself, the entire camp had indulged in an orgy of pleasure, feasting, and hedonism. They had guzzled vodka like water, roasted captured Ugol prisoners alive, and feasted upon the flesh of infants and children in a gruesome display of debauchery.
In their depravity, they erected Chaos stars and Slaanesh symbols across the camp, singing and dancing with wild abandon, and even finding satisfaction in the animals they had corralled.
Of course, none reveled as hard as Sigvald, who slumbered in the heart of the camp, still savoring the aftertaste of his recent atrocities.
"The sensation... it's like the harvest itself, filling me with strength!" he had declared, before passing out.
Three hours later, as the camp lay in a drunken stupor, the thunder of cannon fire shattered the pre-dawn silence. Kislevite battle horns and war cries filled the air, rousing the Slaaneshi forces from their depraved slumber.
Confused and disoriented, Sigvald's warriors struggled to assemble. Many staggered, weak from overindulgence, while others clumsily attempted to don their armor. Sigvald himself barely managed to shake off his stupor before Konev's assault corps bore down upon them.
The following are the deployment forces for the western front of Zedvika.
Prince Sigvald's Slaanesh Army:
- Slaanesh Champion, High-level Ascendant, Prince Sigvald the Magnificent
- Chaos Sorcerer, Fistajacks the Scribe
- Slaanesh Champion's Mirror Guard (300 warriors)
- Three Companies of Dark Lust Warriors
- Chaos Warriors (Halberd) - Three Companies
- Chaos Warriors (Sword & Shield) - Four Companies
- Four Regiments of Chaos Warriors (1,000 each)
- Three Regiments of Chaos Knights
- Nineteen Regiments of Marauders
- Six Companies of Marauder Horsemen
- Eight Chaos Hellcannons
- Six Beast Chariots
Kislev Army:
- Kislev Marshal, Legendary High-level Ascendant Konev
- Bear Cavalry Marshal, Legendary High-level Ascendant Rokossovsky
- High Sorceress of the Ice Witches, Legendary Ascendant Vanessa
- "Sons of Kislev" - One Company of Boyar Elite Champions
- Two Companies of Ursun-blessed Bear Cavalry
- Three Regiments of Winged Lancers (1,500 total)
- Four Regiments of Kreml Guards (Armed with heavy axes)
- Three Regiments of Royal Sharpshooters
- Four Regiments of Kossar Warriors
- Twelve Regiments of Ugol Horse Archers
- Twelve Regiments of Conscripted Infantry
- Two Artillery Regiments totaling 60 cannons
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