Fluff:
The fluff texts were written over the last year and started in the Old World and then continued in the AoS world. This happened because a forum campaign in the AoS world took place in the German forum in which I am also active. Hence the world change.The fluff texts were written over the last year and started in the Old World and then continued in the AoS world. This happened because a forum campaign in the AoS world took place in the German forum in which I am also active. Hence the world change.
Treatise on the Fimir, excerpt from the Great Almanac of the Creatures of Albion
Why the Fimir differ in size and physiognomy has long been unknown and ultimately unclear, but there are some theories as to why such differences exist.
Adalbert von Carroburg’s theory that the Fimir would grow with social status, but we are not dealing with the common orcs here. After many further studies and observations, this theory does not really seem conclusive.
We now know quite well that the Fimir reproduce like common parasites, i.e. they need a female host to bring their brood into Sigmar’s world.
The abducted women can come from different races, but the Fimir are completely open and quite indiscriminate in this respect. As far as we know, this fact explains the diversity of the Fimir within a clan. This could also be an explanation for the social structure of the Fimir, although further research is needed in this regard.
- Treatise by Wilbert von Worlitz, librarian in the Great Library of Altdorf -
Extract from the court records of the Inquisitor Melchior von Altdorf
First the fog rolled in, it was a thick fog that swallowed almost all sound and reduced visibility to a few feet. It was spooky. Then … nothing at first. This lasted for 3 long days. Then, during the night, there was a sudden attack by the moor demons, you can’t call them anything else. They were huge, powerful and had only one eye in the centre of their grimacing faces. It was a well-planned and efficient attack, in keeping with the disgusting and dull appearance of these creatures. Food, blacksmith tools and our women were their targets. We fought like lions, but it was no use, in the end we were driven back into the hills. When the fog cleared the next day, we saw the full extent of the destruction. Although we had cut down many of them, we didn’t find a single body. Frightening … After much deliberation, we decided to turn our backs on the unreal and enchanted Albion and return to our beloved Empire.
- Gerhard von Aarnau, head of the settlement Südland in Albion -
The return of the commander
Cadoc saw the ruins shrouded in mist appear before him. It looked very inhospitable, cold and uncomfortable at best. He strode forward quickly and purposefully. He stepped into the mist, walked on … and saw the castle made of solid granite, excellently crafted and with windows everywhere through which he could see a cosy glow. Cadoc was home!
He had bathed, wrapped himself in dry velvet clothes and was waiting for Hrys, the first mage of the feast. They had to talk about the latest developments. Albion was changing and they had been taken by surprise, not that it had weakened their position at the moment. However, strangers, many strangers, had landed on the island and threatened to upset the fragile balance. After deliberating, weighing up all the options and drinking another good cup of wine, they decided to go to the great mother and inform her.
They were nervous, their long tails twitching and their large single eyes shining a deep yet bright blue.
The two Fimir walked quickly and determinedly to the throne room of the great mother, the Meargh!
- From the diary of Cadoc of Lestyn, 1st Commander of the Clan of the Kroll -
The plan
Te Cadoc was surprised and this did not happen too often. After all, he secretly prided himself on being informed about everything and everyone in the fortress.
Over the years, he had heard, understood and realised various plans of his Meargh Gwydion Urchardan. They had built the black fortress into a secret city with extensive cellars and dungeons. They had steadily increased the size and thus the power base of the Kroll clan. With the help of their gods, they had managed to manifest the black fortress in all the swamps of the world.
But this time he was more than surprised, he was speechless. The Meargh was talking about the end of the world, the End Times? They should leave this world with their stronghold, preferably with all possible members of their people and allies, such as the Fir Bolg, the Formorians and all others, and settle in a new world. Not that he would miss this world that much, but could such an endeavour even succeed?
He doubted his Meargh for the first time, but did he have the right to? She had ways and means of making contact with entities beyond his imagination and he doubted? Cadoc gave himself an inner jolt, tightened up and drank a large gulp of the splendid Tilean red wine. He looked into the disbelieving and astonished faces of the assembled Dirachs, the nobles of the clan and then into the calm, faith and confidence radiating face of his Meargh. Cadoc was convinced that he would also follow his mistress into a new world.
Now it was time to make the necessary preparations. In addition to a thing with the other Fimir and meetings with the allies, there were countless preparations to plan and realise. Forging weapons and armour, stockpiling supplies, acquiring or manufacturing all kinds of aids. And much more besides.
The Meargh and the Dirachs were usually in the high tower of the black fortress or in the deep dungeons, together with the powerful, such as Kroll, Balor and Lisaart.
When would it start? The Meargh had not yet given the signal, but he Cadoc had a feeling …
- From the diary of Commander Cadoc of Lestyn, 1st Commander of the Clan of Kroll -
A new world
Cadoc still couldn’t believe it… He was intact and felt as strong and healthy as ever! He could have sworn that nothing had changed if it wasn’t for the sky and the light. They are so different, similar but not the same!
He was used to the ‘Black Fortress’ changing places, but the world? Not so much. The Meargh Gwydion Urchardan had outdone themselves, with Balor’s help of course. They had transferred from the dying ‘Old World’ to a new world.
Previously, the ‘Black Fortress’ could only manifest itself in large swamps, which was now also the case, but unfortunately the local swamp turned out to be quite small. The dragons immediately began to weave the fog and enlarge the swamp. The former was done quite quickly, but the latter took time. Transforming nature is a slow and continuous process.
It was also important to explore the area, secure the position and give the Meargh a realistic assessment of the potential danger.
For this reason, the Fir Bolg have been relegated to exploring and securing the swamp, assisted by the various bound demons and swamp creatures. As the Fir Bolg and the various creatures are bound to the Meargh, they can only be used in the vicinity of the ‘Black Fortress’. The various creatures are supported and led by the Fiana Fimm, the elite troops of our people. Because the Meargh must be protected at all costs.
The Fimm Warriors were organised into small, powerful groups and deployed as scouts. They are and were the eyes and ears of the Meargh, without them we would be virtually helpless against our potential enemies and the alien nature.
After all, the scouts had disturbing news to report. They had not arrived in an uninhabited or at least sparsely populated part of this new world. There weren’t too many inhabitants here, but there were a lot of different armies. Humans, large humans in strange armour, demons and the cursed Skaven. There were also undead, orcs and goblins. The orcs and goblins were familiar and yet different from the greenskins of the old world. They seemed to be much smarter and also much more sophisticated.
After lengthy and very difficult negotiations, an agreement was reached with the Orcs (who call themselves Kruleboyz) and the Goblins (or Gloomspire Gitz). They are allowed to conquer the old human city and the surrounding lands, while we have the freedom to create a swamp and then settle in the new swamps and the neighbouring floodplains.
Of course, we don’t really trust the greenskins, but at the moment (with the appropriate security measures) they are the best ‘allies’.
- From the diary of the army commander Cadoc of Lestyn, 1st army commander of the Kroll clan -
Doubts
The Meargh Gwydion Urchardan and the Fimm Warlord Cadoc of Lestyn are seriously worried, crossing over to an alien world was risky. But where in Balor’s name were they stranded?
Now that the scouts had (mostly) returned, the overall picture of the region became clearer.
It is a region in which several peoples, factions and alliances are fighting for supremacy. There are humans, strange oversized humans completely clad in armour, lizardmen, dwarves, living trees, chaos warriors, demons, skaven, vampires, skeletons, ghoules, orcs and goblins.
It is not yet clear who is an ally or enemy of whom. Ghoules and probably also Vamipre have already been identified in the immediate neighbourhood.
However, a direct confrontation has been avoided for the time being. According to the scouts, the Ghoule are gathering their troops, but their next intentions / plans are not (yet!) really recognisable.
The alliance with the orcs and goblins is still holding, which is reassuring for the time being, as the situation is unlikely to become any clearer for some time to come.
Regardless of the question of alliances and possible armed conflicts, the transformation of the landscape is progressing well. The number of moors and lakes has already multiplied, now it is a matter of uniting the small areas into one large whole.
It is also important to build fortifications and permanent quarters as quickly as possible. Because it is not yet clear whether there will be seasons here and what they will look like. Consolidating the situation is therefore the top priority for the Meargh at the moment.
Most of the old allies who had followed them have also been located and gathered. The Formorians, Fir Bolg, Fenbeasts and Swamp Daemons had already arrived. So had Kroll and Lisharrt, the princes of Balor.
Some of the allies and also some of our Fimir army leaders and warriors had not yet turned up, but Cadoc of Lestyn is confident that it was only a matter of time before they too would arrive at the army camp.
In addition, some of the local large lizards have already been captured. The Marsh Reavers therefore now have lizards to ride in addition to their previous ratites. This should be seen as reassuring, as no further ratites have yet been sighted and the losses so far have not been replaced.
Once the missing allies have turned up, there will be a military review and once the defences have been built, the offensive can begin.
After all, the Fimir have come here to rule and not to be enslaved. The only two real options are victory or downfall - Balor will decide!
Branwen ferch Llŷr - Diplomat & Scout
Branwen ferch Llŷr was the diplomat of the Meargh GwydionUrchardan and on his way home. He had first sought out the goblin shaman Dragnosh and his troop of Gitze by the river and forged an alliance.
This part had been the most strenuous and probably the most dangerous part of his mission. This Dragnosh was, to put it mildly, an emotionally unstable character and volatile in word and deed. The fact that everything had gone so well in the end had only been due to his inner balance and strength.
Afterwards, he had visited and investigated the places where he had met the undead. His ability to conjure up dense fog had stood him in good stead during his reconnaissance. This was the only way he could avoid detection by the bats on several occasions.
His ‘horse’, actually a Bog Beast that he had tamed and banned into the material form of a horse, and his ability as an illusionist had done the rest to create a suitable camouflage.
What he had seen at the sites of the skirmishes, however, made him very thoughtful and worried, because it looked like the ghouls and the vampires were fighting together. This was more or less an upheaval of alliances, because as far as he knew, these two factions had always been enemies or at least cordially opposed to each other.
What he had seen at the sites of the skirmishes, however, made him very thoughtful and worried, because it looked like the ghouls and the vampires were fighting together. This was more or less an upheaval of alliances, because as far as he knew, these two factions had always been enemies or at least cordially opposed to each other.
He had to bring this worrying news to the Meargh in the new fortress ‘Alcimoennis’ as quickly as possible.
In his opinion, the plans to become more offensive in the near future should at least be reconsidered …
The first battle and its consequences
Army commander Cadoc of Lestyn once again had to pay tribute to his Meargh Gwydion Urchardan. He had considered it unnecessary to completely rebuild the old ruined fortress they had found. He had assumed that the swamp, as in their old home of Albion, would protect them sufficiently. But that had not been the case.
The undead hordes of the ghoul ruler Baron Vanstatten had simply emerged from the swamp and virtually overrun the border troops. Contrary to his expectations, the swamp had not stopped the enemies, but had actually benefited the undead.
Had it not been for the newly built fortress, the Fimir would probably have suffered a crushing defeat. However, after long days of fighting, they were able to keep the undead at bay. By gaining time, they were able to rally their own troops. A rapid advance by the allied Formorians and the Fir Bolg, in conjunction with their own fast lizard riders, enabled the besiegers to be surrounded. The simultaneous attack by the relief troops and the Fimir troops stationed in the fortress meant that the besiegers were almost wiped out.
At the subsequent war council, the Meargh was convinced that the Undead troops had only been a vanguard of the actual Undead army. They were probably only there to test the strength of the Fimir troops. How she knew this so precisely was unclear to Cadoc, but it could be assumed that the Meargh could obtain such information with the help of her magic.
In order to obtain further information, scouting parties were sent out into the surrounding area. In addition, the patrols of the lizard riders were reinforced. The Fir Bolg were also given the task of monitoring the interior of the swamp.
Coordinating the next steps with Dragnosh, the crazy but very dangerous greenskin (which he would never be told, of course), was now essential. Cadoc would have to do this. He would have liked to delegate this task to someone else, but unfortunately this was impossible due to the Meargh’s instructions.
In addition, the diplomat Branwen ferch Llŷr was sent out to find more, as had now become apparent, urgently needed allies.
They would have to be better prepared for the next, probably much heavier blow from the undead …
The days before the campaign
The troops were assembled and equipped. In addition to the Fimm Warriors and the Fiana Fimm Elite Warriors, all the Marsh Reaver Lizard Riders, the Fenbeasts, the Formorians and the Moor Hounds were now assembled. In addition, the Eye Tyrant, the Athachs and also Kroll and Lishaart had arrived.
The Fir Bolg and the Nuckelavees were just waiting to be summoned.
Now they were waiting for their allies, the Kruleboyz Orruks. Cadoc, the Fimir warlord, had already feared that they would not arrive at the agreed time. After all, they were only Orcs, even if they called themselves Orruks here. Nonetheless, they were of course good and fearless fighters, whom one would be reluctant to have as enemies.
To pass the waiting time, however, there was always Tadhg, the famous bard who performed his best ballads, stories and songs. Tadhg was rather frail and even chubby for a Fimir. This had something to do with the fact that he was a welcome guest in all Fimir castles and villages and was always served in the most excellent manner. Today he was performing his classic war hymns, which was greeted by the Fimir in attendance with a joyful cheer and a guttural chorus.
Wine and beer also flowed freely, as nothing could outweigh the good morale of the troops. In addition, pigs and cattle were roasted over an open fire and mushrooms and all kinds of plants, which were new to the Fimir but tolerable, were served for good measure. Even the Formorians and the Fenbeasts seemed to enjoy the feast, for whatever reason. When the Meargh, the Dirachs and the most powerful warriors mingled with the revellers, the atmosphere was at boiling point. There was laughter, plans were made for the future … and there was no room for doubt that evening!
The following day, with the troops already moving towards the ghoul positions under Baron Vanstatten, the war council met once again. Strategy and tactics were discussed, as well as possible retreat options in case, contrary to expectations, something should go wrong.
The ambassador Branwen ferch Llŷr had also returned and had identified the rendezvous site, a large clearing directly on the informal border with the ghouls, with the orruks.
Their commander, Killaboss Ulfur, would be waiting for them there when the Fimir army arrived. To ensure that the rest of the march would proceed without complications, the area had been divided into zones, which the respective commanders would occupy with their troops.
The decisive steps had been taken, now the warlord’s skill and, of course, luck had to decide the fate of the Fimir people …
Epilogue of the battle for the Duchy of Rosengard
The battles against the undead and the chaos had been won. The greenskins had taken possession of the hills and mountains and we, the Fimir and our allies, had annexed the lowlands and especially the floodplains. The transformation into swampland was progressing rapidly, and the mists were becoming thicker and thicker.
Branwen ferch Llŷr, the diplomat and spy, was almost constantly on the move and had reported that the forces of Order had finally defeated the combined forces of Chaos. After securing the positions, the settlers of the humans and their allies began to spread further and further north into our new territory.
The Meargh called a war council, but after intensive consultations it was concluded that another war (especially without the Gitze) would be doomed to failure. Where brute force would not bear fruit, cunning warfare must tip the scales of fate in our favour.
After further lengthy and controversial consultations, the plan for the next few months was finalised.
The fog would be our friend and helper, as it had always been in the long history of our people …
