Despite some factions within the Holy Sigmarite Empire still feeling agrieved following the trade dispute of 372PC, Emperor Louis fostered good relations with the Dwarf Kingdom, seeing them as a powerful ally in the south, especially as his realm was still vulnerable to the predations of the Typhurian Enclave, thanks to their agreement with the Dark Elves of the Dominion. In 376PC the dwarfs were already constructing their newest hold, Karak Vermingard, on their southern border, and the dwarfs were interested in investigating mountains other than those upon which their Empire stood.
The dwarfs had long expressed interest in mining the Duron range, and even settling their, but had been politely put off by the rulers of the Sigmarites. Now, with the Lizardmen Empire growing rapidly eastward, Emperor Louis warmed to the idea of a buffer state comprised of stubborn and stalwart dwarfs, and the Duron range would be an ideal location for just such a colony. In return the dwarfs offered the remains of Aquila, the lowlands around the Tiban river. In 376PC the deal was signed, and Karak Kharval was founded on the slopes of Kings Mountain. Aquila became a new HSE colony, named Adler An Zee, and the city of Ulricshafen soon sprung up on the mouth of the river, full of adventurous types and those with new ideas. Meanwhile the grnad theogonist began preaching that the Alptraum line should be building armies along our border, not heading off for new lands. Louis ignored the pontiff, the power of the Empire now resting soley with the Emperor's family.
With the seas around Palurin unsafe for common shipping, and the Imperial Navy having never established much confidence in the hearts of its citizens, the decision was made to travel by land to the new human colony of Adler An Zee. Of course travelling in such a way was not without its risks and the Emperor sent a contingent of ogre mercenaries, lead by captain Barhum Bugg, to protect the colonist caravans.
As expected the long journey was not without its trouble, including many harrying raids by chaotic forces from the Kaalorean empire. Captain Bugg’s forces were enough to see the raiders off with only minor casualties, but the situation escalated after scouts reported an entire chaos army hiding in a patch of swamp land and looking to cut off the caravan.
The ogre mercenaries marched ahead to meet the attackers and at the Battle of Brown Mire the forces clashed. Bugg personally lead his Irongut guard deep into the heart of the enemy lines. As knights, warriors flying on daemonic beasts and axe wielding berserkers beset him he stood defiant, roaring contempt and giving time for his army to produce a devastating counter-charge. The Kaalorean forces were stomped beneath the iron boots of the ogres, the few survivors scattering back north.
That evening the ogres hosted a great feast, giving praise to the volcano gods for their victory and in the process terrifying the settlers. Bugg was true to his word though, and within weeks the caravan arrived safely in Adler An Zee and the settlement of Ulricshafen was founded. It seemed ogre mercenaries would be settled in the former lands of Aquila for some time to come.
Meanwhile west of the Duron Range, the new dwarf settlement of Karak Kharval was not met with rejoicing. The Slaan, concentrating on other worldly affairs following the ogre uprising, were offended by the sudden sale of the mountains to the dwarfs. Seeing the new dwarf enclave as a threat, the amphibian rulers judged that if they could be defeated in battle early in their existence, the dwarfs might think twice about the benefits of their new deal with the Empire. At the same time, lizardmen envoys made it clear they had no designs on the HSE itself, attempting to drive a wedge between the dwarfs and the humans.
In 379PC however the plans of the Slaan lay in ruins, as the lizardmen army sent to defeat what was considered a small and weak dwarf presence, was decisively beaten at the battle of the bones, just east of the great pyramid in the Desert of Bones. With their army defeated, Cuitlaxaochitzin was forced to accept the establishment of this new dwarf realm, and the dwarfs of Karak Kharval celebrated, pledging their friendship to the Sigmarites and their fealty to the dwarf King in Karak Brynaz.
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