(Not 100% sure if this is where this goes, if not, feel free to move it)
This is the Fluff and motivation behind my army, a displaced Border Princes force. This was written back when I first got into Warhammer (Back in high school) and is a bit out of date by today's standards. I will attempt to update the storyline and fluff as I write it. For now, I will present it as it stands right now.
Justius De’Parque, Lord of the Blue Rose and Viscount to the lost Border Princes lands of La’Verillon and it’s principle city-state El-Derar, is an enigma, even to his own allies. A lord without a land, a warrior without a home, friend to dwarfs and elves alike, De’parque wages a constant and self imposed quest to rid the world of the various undead forces that plague it.
A noble Knight and Lord, some say he was of Bretonnian blood, others say he was a Reiksguard knight’s descendant; De’Parque lost his lands to a series of disasters that seemed as if they were divine punishments from the gods. The entire valley of La’Verillon was flooded when an earthquake cracked the valley floor and part of the Black Gulf flooded in. El-Derar was cut off for a long period of time by the Black mountains to the north, and the newly formed sea to the south. Vile Skaven chose this time to attack the city.
Weakened from the loss of most of their croplands, as well as overcrowded by refugees from La’Verillon, El-Derar reeked of plague and death. The Skaven were driven off at a horrible cost, but before the victorious, though exhausted troops could recover, the corpses of the recent dead were animated by a villainous necromancer named Manfred Bloodhand. That the troops of the city were already exhausted from the recent battle with the Skaven was bad enough, but now they faced a massive force of undead creatures in their very homes. What was worse to these already overwhelmed troops and citizen-soldiers was that the undead army was made up of family members and friends only recently deceased due to the conditions in the city and the toll of the Skaven. The soldiers had not even had the opportunity to mourn their dead and many were unaware that their loved ones had died; now, they faced their very families in their own homes. Understandably, many died, unable to strike their own kin. Lord De’Parque, heavy though his heart was, ordered his house bodyguard of Knights to attack his own city with fire and sword. The city burned, taking the undead in the great conflagration. The few remaining guards retainers and household in the castle fought their way through to the army and the entire living population marched away from their city, the flames reaching high into the darkening sky. Many men wept openly at the horrors they had been forced to endure.
The soldiers and refugees, weakened and hungry, traveled many leagues to the northeast, fighting their way through goblin tribes and a few beastman camps, attempting to reach friendly lands of Bretonnia or the Empire. One day however, they were beset by a force of skeletons, survivors of a hellacious battle with dwarfs. The people under Lord De’Parque’s charge were ill equipped to fight now, but with so many women and children still with them, they had no choice. De’Parque himself led the charge into the middle of the skeletons, ordering his cavalry with him and the foot soldiers to take the citizens to safety. Fighting madly, the Lord of El Derar managed to destroy the skeleton forces, turning to rejoin the main column, he saw it surrounded by a massive army of undead. Without hesitation, the remaining cavalry charged headlong into this new threat. It was not long before the humans were pushed into a circle, the weeping and screaming civilians in the center with what little remained of the soldiers, now only a few hundred, attempting to protect them.
As the undead forces began their attack, massive peals of thunder echoed all around the combatants and whole ranks of undead simply exploded. As De’Parque looked out over the craggy valley, ranks of heavily armored dwarfs attacked the undead forces. Thunderers decimated the ranks of ghouls and skeletons while a massively armored dwarf lord obliterated the necromancer who had kept far to the rear of his horde, away from De’Parque’s force, but ironically placing him at the very front of the dwarf attack.
With the death of the necromancer, the rest of the undead army crumbled into dust or simply disappeared. The ragged survivors of De’Parque’s people were brought into the mighty Dwarf stronghold of Karak Izor, upon the slopes of which the humans had been traveling. The proud De’Parque showed remarkable humility to the dwarf lord, asking for forgiveness for trespassing as they had no knowledge that they were traveling on dwarf land, and that he alone was responsible for any punishments the dwarfs decided upon. The dwarf king laughed, and told De’Parque that his blood was spilled protecting the dwarfs from a surprise attack from the undead. Had the dwarfs not heard the sounds of battle, they would not have known of the undead until they were already upon the very gates of the city. The lord was doubly grateful for his eldest son and youngest daughter were both outside the gates at the time and undoubtedly would have been among the first victims to the undead.
In gratitude for their part in the battle, and in respect for a man who could show stubbornness, fearlessness, pride and humility in equal measures, the humans were fed, clothed, their wounds treated, and left a month later, much healthier and in much higher spirits. A troop of dwarf guards was sent with them to bolster their defense and provide a guide to the human lands to the north. De’Parque was gifted with Thorn, a mighty sword of black metal, secret runes of power engraved upon the blade and promises of friendship and alliance were traded with the dwarfs.
Many adventures and hardships followed until they came at last to the lands between the Empire and Bretonnia. Technically within the borders of the Empire, De’Parque carved out a wild section of land, freed it from the orcs and goblins infesting it, and built a stronghold. Many of the dwarfen guides stayed on and helped build. The human settlement grew strong with the dwarf aid.
Now with the might of the Empire protecting his people, and with many of the dwarfs staying on to aid in expanding and strengthening the city, Lord De’Parque leads his army out among the lands of the old world, hunting down and eliminating all undead forces they find. Their adventures have led them against many other forces too, such as Orcs and Goblins, Skaven, and even the bestial and bloodthirsty armies of Chaos. Each time De’Parque has led his army through the battles alive, but it is against the undead that the army truly reserves its hatred. None of the veterans of El-Derar have ever forgotten the parody of life that the foul necromancer gave to their loved ones, and as such every warrior from the noblest knight to the lowliest foot soldier passionately intends to see that it never happens to anyone else again. The army has gathered followers from among the Bretonnians, the Empire and even Kislev. All through the lands of men, stories tell of the lord of El Derar, now clothed all in black in mourning for his people; his shield device of a blue rose has earned him the nickname the Lord of the Blue Rose, and his army, also clad in black and blue uniforms, is called the Thorns of the Rose.
Notable personages of El-Dear:
Justius De’Parque (Lord of the Blue Rose)
General of the Empire – 80 Pts
Profile M WS BS S T W I A Ld
Lord 4 5 5 4 4 3 5 3 9
Warhorse 8 3 0 3 3 1 3 1 5
Pegasus 8 3 0 4 4 3 4 2 5
Weapons: Sword
Options:
Lance (+6 Pts)
Wears full plate armor (+12 Pts), and carries a shield (+3 Pts).
Justius rides either a barded warhorse (+21 Points) or the Pegasus Nightstar (+50 Points).
May choose magic items from the common or Empire magic items list, with a maximum total of 100 points.
Thorn (100 pts) All hits wound automatically and allow no armor saves. (As Runefang) (If Thorn is taken, it counts toward General Justius’ full magic items cost, therefore he cannot take any other magic items if he chooses Thorn)
Special Rule:Ancestral Heirloom, As Lord Justius counts as an elector count and army general, one unit of state troops may have a magic banner worth up to 50 points.
Lord Alleton Silverheart
Battle standard bearer – 75 Pts
Profile M WS BS S T W I A Ld
Lord 4 5 5 4 4 2 5 3 8
Warhorse 8 3 0 3 3 1 3 1 5
Equipment: Sword
Weapons/Armor: Wears full plate armor (+8 Pts).
Rides: Alleton rides a barded warhorse (+14 Points)
Magic Items: Magic banner, no points limit.
Alleton Silverheart is perhaps the greatest champion ever to serve under Lord De’Parque. He also enjoys the position of being Lord De’Parque’s best friend and most trusted advisor. Alleton grew up very close to De’Parque, as both their fathers were knights serving together fighting in Araby. Alleton serves as champion to the Lord of La’Verillon and the bearer of the army’s standard.
Lady Elecia Orphiel De La’Volour
Captain / Hero – 50 Pts
Profile M WS BS S T W I A Ld
Lord 4 5 5 4 4 2 5 3 8
Warhorse 8 3 0 3 3 1 3 1 5
Equipment: Sword
Weapons/Armor: Lance (+4 Pts) Shield (+2 Pts) Wears full plate armor (+8 Pts).
Rides: Lady Elecia rides a barded Bretonnian warhorse (+14 Points)
Magic Items: May choose magic items from the common and Empire list worth up to 50 points.
Lady Elecia is a stunning woman with flowing red hair and piercing green eyes. She is the favorite among the lower ranks on wagers as to whom their lord will eventually marry.
Elecia is a Bretonnian noblelady, a late-born daughter to a well known, yet elderly knight and his only child. Her strong will and desire to make her father proud have led her to the highly irregular act of becoming a knight errant. The codes of chivalry, and worse, tradition are less than kind to a female knight and had it not been for the memory of Lady Repanse De Lyonesse, it is quite likely that her father would have caved in under popular opinion and forced his daughter to settle into the life of an arranged marriage. Instead, Elecia set out with armor crafted especially for her and her father’s sword at her waist.
Elecia has gained some skill and has already made a modest name for herself, yet her appointed task of hunting down and bringing back the head of Lichemaster Heinrich Kemmler still eludes her. Her pride refuses to allow her to marry until she has earned her place as a knight of the realm, though Justius is obviously holding her interest. She remains with him both for her love, and because his quest to eradicate all undead compliments her own search for Kemmler.
Veregard Grimheart
Wizard Lord Level 4 – 210 Pts
Profile M WS BS S T W I A Ld
Wizard 4 3 3 3 4 3 3 1 8
Warhorse 8 3 0 3 3 1 3 1 5
Equipment: Sword
Weapons/Armor: None.
Rides: Veregard rides a barded warhorse (+21 Points)
Magic Items: (0-100 pts)
Veregard Grimheart has had a life as hard as his name. Born in a poor village near Middenheim, Veregard grew up an orphan. His life was one big fight to stay alive in the cold streets. One day a chance encounter changed his life forever. Making an attempt to cut the purse of a foreigner that had stopped in the village, Veregard was caught and beaten to the ground by a city watchman. Before the angry guard could continue the beating, the foreigner stopped him and took responsibility for the boy. The foreigner was a wizard, one of the great battle mages from Altdorf. Impressed with the boy’s skill, the Wizard Markos Leitropolous took the boy under his tutelage. Veregard, now given all the food he needed and a warm place to sleep took to his studies vigorously, afraid that if he did not succeed, he would lose all of it. After years of training, Veregard joined the ranks of the Empire as a powerful wizard, eventually finding his way to El-Derar, where he has placed his services into the employ of Lord De’Parque.
Allisande
Battle Wizard Level 2 – 100 Pts
Profile M WS BS S T W I A Ld
Wizard 4 3 3 3 3 2 3 1 7
Warhorse 8 3 0 3 3 1 3 1 5
Equipment: Sword
Weapons/Armor: None.
Rides: Allisande rides a barded warhorse (+14 Points)
Magic Items: (0-50 pts)
The young and beautiful sister to Alleton, Allisande has grown into great power of her own. As a child she was rather sickly and her family feared for her life. In the hopes of finding a cure for her health, Allisande’s uncle took her to distant relatives in Bretonnia hoping that perhaps a cure could be found there. While on the road, Allisande’s uncle was visited by a strange woman in pale green clothing. The next morning, Allisande was given into the care of the woman, whom only ever named herself as the Prophetess Etraina. Five years later, on Allisande’s sixteenth birthday, she returned to La’Verillon, cured of her illness and wielding great power as a sorceress. From that day onward she joined Lord De’Parque as an advisor and confidante.
The above was made before the advent of warrior priests, so I hope to add some of them soon. I am currently also reworking the army list. With my own models, I have a couple of wizards (Never used, have never actually used magic yet) and the rest are all core and special. I hope to upgrade shortly. The story itself will also recieve an upgrade. My primary brick wall currently is location of this new city of El Derar. My first location was near Marienburg, as it allowed them to be very close to Bretonnia while still inside EMpire lands. But because of the storyline I imagine they might have relocated closer to Sylvania, I want to maintain close Bretonnian ties, especially with the character of Elecia. Frankly, I'm stumped. Any ideas?