[Tah Kazak Rik]

Christoph Vorst’springa was born in the imperial year of 1616, in the Town of Sonnefurt. His father, Jeremiah Vorst’springa was the towns Burgermister, and adviser to the Baron of Thalfang. Jeremiah was a strict and highly religious Sigmarite, and trained his son likewise. When Christoph was 16 he entered the Army of Wissenland as Lieutenant of the River Soll Spearmen.

Christoph quickly ascended the ranks after several successful campaigns against Orcs near Scharmbeck, and after only three years of service, Christoph was knighted by the Count of Wissenland for his actions against the Orcs, and honored by the Count of Solland for actions that prevented a Barbarian invasion from the Black mountains into Solland. Christoph received a Generals commission two months after he received these honors. Christoph did not disappoint expectations and campaigned for 2 years against the Orcs near Weilerberg, defeating the Orc Warlord Grimlob Yungslayer and once again preventing invasion into the lands of Wissenland. Christoph then purchased lands around Wielerberg, and eventually earned the Barony of the town and surrounding country side after the ancestral baron died without any children.

In 1656 after years of military honors and extreme success, Christoph had received barony of Kruetzhofen, Serrig, Jengen, and Owingen for his years of service to Solland and Wissenland. However his power began to rival even the strength of the Counts, which worried both ruler’s council and advisers, and considering that Christoph commanded the loyalty of nearly fifty thousand soldiers, the worry was not without merit. Christoph however maintained the respect and friendship with both Counts, and was responsible for keeping relative peace between the two neighbors. Rumors floated abound that Christoph was plotting to overthrow the two Counts, but no evidence was ever found to support such slanderous campaigns.

Glory for Christoph ended in the year 1666, when Nagash rose once again for a single night, and hundreds of thousands of dead were brought into unlife. Though Nagash himself did not truly invade the lands of the Empire, those who were brought back by his awakening besieged countless cities across the Empire. Several of his Lieutenants and Generals, Wight Kings, Long Dead Barbarian Rulers, and slumbering Vampires were awakened that night, and one in particular, the Morcar the Ancient Vampire of Nehannie, rumored to have been the one of the first vampires turned by the Queen of Lahmia, and a necromancer of power near to equal to Nagash, awoke with intent to reclaim former glories gained during the time of Nagash’s invasion into the lands of the Empire.

Morcar and his horde of zombies and grave guard invaded the South Western corner of Wissenland from the Montdidier Pass. Christoph sent word for assistance through out Wissenland, and Solland, but his pleas for help went unanswered, as finally the Counts had been turned against him by their advisors. The only answer he received were two letters of rejection for aid. Christoph and his army posted at Weilerberg were forced to respond without aid or support. They responded swiftly but without much preparation or supplies. Though Christoph and his forces had early success in the defense of the town, Morcars numbers began to turn the battle in his favor. Christoph however was able to construct a strategy that allowed him to push Morcar’s forces south towards Kruetzhofen, using several feigned charges from Calvary and Outriders. As Morcars forces were pushed south, the Standing army from Kruetzhofen attacked Morcars flanks and rear. As victory seemed near, Morcar, his personal guard and several units of ancient elite warriors seemingly hopelessly charged into the center of Christoph’s lines.

However it was not as hopeless as it appear, and Morcar’s elite forces cut massive holes into Christoph’s lines, their immortal prowess and magical blades cleaving hundreds of mortal warriors. Christoph responding to the slaughter met Morcar in single combat. Christoph, a veteran of war for 30 years, defended himself valiantly, but Morcar was much more powerful and skilled, his ancient expertise superior to any mortals, and Morcar struck Christoph a mortal blow. As Christoph lay dying, his forces were routed as Morcars elite continued their slaughterous rampage, retreating to Kruetzhofen.

But Morcar was not finished with Christoph, and the vile Vampire cursed Christoph with the Blood kiss, turning the former mortal into one of the wicked undead. As Christoph turned from mortal to undead, Morcar took his victim to an ancient and hidden arcane circle in the mountains near Wielerberg, once a place of worship for prehistoric cabal who worshipped gods without names. Here Morcar preformed great arcane rituals on Christoph completely corrupting the mans once noble soul, and forever cursing him with unlife.

Scholars do not know why Morcar made the decision to turn Christoph, some speculate that it was because the Ancient Vampire was impressed with the general’s stratigical daring, or it was simply to spite Christoph’s attempt to defeat him, but what is known is that Christoph was forced to serve Morcar, as the Vampire continued his attack on Wissenland.

Christoph himself did not participate in any combat, refusing to slay his former countrymen, and served as stratigical adviser and chief general for Morcar’s campaign. However Morcar’s forced were stopped at Wusterburg, as the combound forces of Wissenland and Solland forced the undead host in a slow retreat back to Weilerberg. It was here that Morcar took his stand, and it was here that Morcar proved himself to be a traitorous foe, worse than imagined. As the Imperial army besieged the town, Christoph attempted to open the gates and allow the Imperial forces into the city, but was stopped when Morcar promised Christoph a release from his undead enslavement if he were to assist him in escaping the town. Christoph swore that he would help in return for the cure of unlife.

Morcar was led by Christoph through a series of underground tunnels that eventually took them to the outer borders of Wissenland, near the Brenheim Pass. It was here that Morcar betrayed Christoph. With a clear chance at escape, Morcar refused to release Christoph from his curse, stating that no such thing was possible and only death could bring release.

Christoph attempted to kill himself by plunging a dagger into his heart, but Morcar confessed that he had woven a immensely powerful spell on the young vampire that prevented the him from ever truly dying. Christoph horrified that he would never be able to be free of his curse, flew into a rage and attacked Morcar, and drove the dagger into the Ancient Vampires heart. With a laugh Morcar then told Christoph that he was also immortal, forever able to survive horrible wounds and complete dismemberment and even being burnt to ashes. In his arrogance, Morcar told Christoph that only one blade could ever bring true death to either one of them, a blade known as the Fell Blade, an ancient weapon forged by one of the Creators of the World, an Old One. Morcar then informed that he was the only one who knew of its true location. Christoph stood broken, as his mind processed the horror of his new immortality, a life that was truly eternal. Morcar simply laughed and with his remaining bodyguards retreated to his hidden castle, leaving the once proud man broken and mentally shattered.

For years, Christoph wandered the mountains seeking death, hoping that Morcar was lying. Many times his body was rent and torn, as he allowed dragons, griffons, orcs, and wolves to gorge on his flesh, only to awaken the unharmed in the stomach of larger beasts, or his body fully regenerated where he had fallen in battle. In times where his body was fully destroyed, from dragon’s fire or other similar causes, he would awaken unharmed in the ancient arcane circle as if nothing had ever happened.

After hundreds of years, Christoph finally accepted his fate, all hope lost. However one goal remained to give Christoph purpose, to bring vengeance upon Morcar. Christoph once again began to wander, but he also wandered in the lands of men, disguised as a relic hunter. He became a member of dozen secret cults, joined cabals, and learned the ways of necromancy from the macabre mystics and corrupt sages of the mountains. He explored crypts and dungeons of long dead men and other races in search of any clues to the location of the Fell Blade.

Finally in 1956, Christoph learned of a scroll that had recently been entrusted to one of Morcar’s other thralls. It was the scroll that that revealed the location of the Blade. Christoph tracked down the thrall and interrogated him. From the thrall, named Vinncino Jacapo, Christoph learned that Morcar’s mind had become so corrupted and filled with arcane knowledge that the ancient Vampire had foolishly taken to writing down all of his greatest and oldest secrets in order to relieve his over taxed mind and make room for newer knowledge. Vinncino also revealed that Morcar had actually been victim of a ritual gone wrong, where too much dark energy had entered his mind, and that his mind was simply eroding away into madness from too much exposure to the raw winds of dark magic.

In return for the information, Christoph allowed the thrall to maintain its existence, if he would serve him instead, Vinncino agreed. Together they tracked down the location of the Tomb that held the Fell Blade. Christoph discovered however that the tomb was guarded by hundreds of wards and spells, and that he lacked the knowledge to undue them so that he could enter the tomb. But Vinncino, a true student of his master was able to dispel the wards one by one.

After a week in the tomb, Christoph finally entered the inner sanctum. It was here that Christoph discovered that Morcar had converted the tomb into library dedicated to arcane knowledge and necromantic pursuits. But the wards were not the only protective measures put in place by Morcar, within the heart of the tomb, there were thousands upon thousands of Ghouls, led by a mutated and feral vampire, Abrohesh the Vile. Against the ghoul horde, Christoph and Vinncino though powerful were unable to overcome their numbers and were brought before Abrohesh. The Vile was a creature that nearly predated the creation of the first vampire, and had been an early experiments by Nagash to creature his elixir. Abrohesh was selected as the one best of all the warriors of Lahmia, and chosen for his strength and endurance, as Nagash hoped would lend him in surviving his many experiments.

Nagash however had considered Abrohesh, a failure because his body was too resilient and discarded him into the Delta’s waters. However Abrohesh did not die and was found by Morcar and enslaved to serve him as guardian of his arcane libraries. But as Abrohesh rose his mutated claw to crush the life from Christoph, the vampires eyes met, and Abrohesh froze, as true terror filled his heart, for within Christoph’s gaze Abrohesh could see the suffering and despair found in the corrupted Generals once proud soul, the seething vengeance pouring into Abrohesh, and a hate that they both shared for the one that had enslaved them in one way or another, hate for Morcar. Abrohesh spoke to Christoph in a language long forgotten by man, but Christoph understood that he had won the loyalty of the wretched creature without a word.

Christoph asked Abrohesh to take him to the shrine of the Fang, and the mutated vampire obeyed without question. Abrohesh led the other two vampires through the library and into another vault that contained riches and items from ancient times. Upon a black alter coated in the blood of one hundred noble soldiers, was a simple blade without runes or adornishments. But despite the simple appearance of the blade, it exuded a power that made all three vampires stop in their tracks; Abrohesh fell to his knees clutching his head, the blade whispering to his primitive senses overwhelmed by the voices of ten thousand dead heroes. Vinncino collapsed in awe of the blades true power, his advanced necromantic senses nearly burned away by the blades runes only visible by those with true mage sight. Vinncino warned Christoph that the blade would kill those it deemed unworthy to touch it, but Christoph heeded not his companions warning. Christoph only momentarily paused as he approached the blade, its malevolent essence filling him with dread, but his desire for revenge eliminated any fear, and Christoph took the blade from the altar and held it before him. But he had been to presumptuous to believe that it would be as easy as simply taking the blade from the altar.

Suddenly with the sound of one hundred meteors striking the Earth, the cavern began to shake, the ancient tombs walls began to crumble and flames burst from the cracks. Swiftly the three vampires raced from the shrine room and into the library. Ghouls ran for the tombs exit, but thousands were crushed or burned as the cavern’s final defensive wards were triggered. Finally the three vampires exited the cavern as it imploded upon itself. As the dust settled, all eyes turned to Christoph, who stood wickedly grinning that he had finally claimed the weapon he sought to bring vengeance upon Morcar. Abrohesh and his ghouls cowered before him, and Vinncino glared up at the undead general, amazed that the blade did not reject Christophs claim upon it.

From here Christoph and his followers scoured the mountains for Morcars hidden castle. It was in 2302 that finally they found it. Christophs necromantic powers had grown enormously under the watch of Vinncino, and his martial prowess advanced under the training of the wicked Abrohesh, and his horde by this time had grown to an vast size, ghouls, wights, and corrupted strigoi vampires were drawn to him seeking to follow the wielder of the fang, for with him they knew they could jealously avenge themselves upon the civilized nations of mortals. Many mountain towns were sacked and held, dwarven and imperial alike.

But no major force rose against him in this time, for the war against Chaos preoccupied the attentions of the dwarven and human empires. It was this force that Christoph brought to Morcars doorstep in the Black Mountains. Morcar awoken by this intrusion sent his best minions against Christoph, believing that he could defeat the usurper. Christoph allowed Morcar to watch from his tower and believe that he was still weak, never showing upon the battlefield his true strength, and feigned defeat for two days, never allowing the ancient vampire knowledge that he possessed the allegiance of Vinncino, Abrohesh, or the Fang.

Finally on the third day of the siege Morcar exited the safety of the castle walls and took to the field to finish his thrall once and for all, and force him to bow to his will. But Morcar did not take to the field alone, his dozen of apprentices and pet necromancers were brought to full bear. Amongst these champions was the dwarven Vampire, Varick Mordrinsson, a vampire of incredible prowess and skill, told to have killed over one hundred thousand men since his turn to vampirism. Christoph was aware that Varick was Morcars most powerful ally and that without Varick and his thousands of grave guard that Morcars force of zombies and skeletons could not stand against the host of ghouls and wights he had kept in reserves behind the crest of the mountain. Christoph also knew that Varick’s dwarven will was only kept in check by the helm he was forced to wear, and without it upon his long dead brow that Morcar could not command the spirit of the dwarf within. It was these facts that Christoph expertly exploited.

As the final battle commenced, Christoph drove into the heart of Morcars lines and challenged Varick, as Morcar watched from the rear of the army. It was here that Christoph’s manipulation of Morcar’s lack of knowledge was made present. As Christoph battled the dwarven vampire, the sound of ten thousand corrupted screams echoed from the surrounding mountains, and hordes of ghouls, Abrohesh at their head, charged down the slopes and crashed into Morcars lines, surrounding the castle and encircling Morcars one hundred thousand strong horde of zombies and skeletons. From the ranks of his personal grave guard, Vinncino uncloaked himself and interrupted the challenge between Varick and Christoph, chanting a spell that caught the dwarven vampire unawares.

The spell disrupted the link between the helm and Morcars will, which caused the dwarf’s soul to fight a spiritual battle between its undead nature and its ancestral honor. As his thoughts were distracted, Varick’s grave guard halted in their tracks, their arms and blades frozen in air, as their commanders will was lost to them. With the elite of his army disabled, Morcar’s main force, comprised of weak zombies and skeletons was crushed beneath the fury of ghoulish hunger and the rage of wight scythes. Morcar in his fury began to wildly cast spells, felling hundreds upon hundreds of ghouls and banishing dozens of wights, but deep inside he knew he was lost. Eventually he was overcome, as the last of his minions was clawed apart by ghouls. Christoph had won the battle, and had Morcar brought to him.

Forced to kneel before his one time thrall, Morcar laughed, mocking Christoph’s efforts, reminding his “child” that he was eternal and ultimately unkillable. But Christoph smiled and laughed right back, reminding the ancient vampire that he had the allegiance of Vinncino and Abrohesh, and asked him what this could mean.

Morcar was at a loss, his mind so corrupted, that he could not remember who his one time servants were. But he needed not to answer, for Christoph drew the Fang from its scabbard. Morcar’s mind, however melted by corruption, could not mistake the only thing capable of killing him, and he for once in the millennia of life, felt true terror, and he began to scream knowing his end was near. But his struggle was for naught, and Christoph delighted in his former master’s panic, and brought the blade down in a masterful arch, cleaving the ancient vampires head clean off. With that the vampire’s corpse burst into a burning pile of ash, as its dark spirit was absorbed into the blade.

For the first time in hundreds of years, Christoph felt the kiss of freedom. But he had one last task, to kill himself. But as he reversed his grip brought the blade’s tip towards his armored chest, he paused. He had gone over this moment, every day since the time Morcar left him in the mountains, and he had planned it in a thousand ways. But suddenly he realized that with the blade in his possession, he could take vengeance upon the lands of the Counts that betrayed him, he could bring down the whole Empire and its corrupt government, he could forever prevent the type of betrayal that he had suffered by killing every man, woman, and child within the Empire. He could avenge himself for being forgotten by the people that he had protected in life, but had turned their backs on him, and had merely forgotten him. He quickly devised a plan to exterminate every living being within the Empire.

He consulted Vinncino, and the two spent many years within Morcar’s castle, researching the thousands of scrolls and tomes of knowledge, to find a way to enable them to purge the world of man. They learned of the spell that Nagash had devised to create a world of undead, and from scrolls thought long destroyed describing the spells workings, Vinncino devised a similar spell that would instead kill all living beings instead of turning them into the undead. They determined that the components necessary for the spell were to be found within the hidden tomb of Kulmal the Red, once a retainer to Nagash, and upon whose bones Nagash had inscribed the alternate ritual that Christoph sought. The tomb however was found within the Empires borders, and consequently within the borders of Solland. Christoph’s spies reported to him that Wissenland had taken over the lands of Solland. And so Christoph began to stage the invasion of Wissenland in search of the hidden tomb of Kulmal.

First Christoph obtained control of Varick, through a devious ritual that transferred control of the helm to himself. Christoph however allowed the dwarf to maintain more control than Morcar did. This allows the dwarf to fight with more skill and prowess, but also allows Christoph to maintain more of a mental connection to the dwarf’s spirit.

Next Christoph secretly traveled to the lands of the Lizardmen, where he enthralled a Saurus Oldblood through Vinncino’s magic, Kurtizqul who possessed the only weapon capable of breaking the seal in tomb. Christoph also bound to his will, most of Kurtizqul’s bodyguard.
Christoph then traveled to the lands of north of Cathy, Mongule, and mountains within. Here he encountered Sinter Greifer, a great Ogre Tyrant. Here Christoph signed a pact in blood with the powerful Tyrant, forging an unholy alliance. Sinter and his tribe traveled back with Christoph to the Black Mountains, using roads long forgotten by dwarves and skaven.

Christophs most appalling action before his invasion began was to enslave the Wood Elf Tribe of Prince Kordare Fellbow. Using manipulation and ancient rituals, Christoph convinced the Prince, and his chief advisor, Lathira the Forgotten, a forest spirit and anciently powerful witch, that he was going to eliminate all mortals that threaten the forests of the world, and that he would spare the Wood Elves if they were to ally with him. The wood elves foolishly believed him and allied themselves to him. Once the alliance was signed, Christoph using a spell of his own devising bound Prince Kordare’s mind to his will.

The Final act that sealed the plans for invasion was the enthrallment of Wulfgrack Beastbreaker, a powerful Black Orc Warlord. Recently defeated in the year 2529 by Dwarves living the woods near the edge of the Border Princes, Wulfgrack wandered the mountains seeking death for his failures. He and the remnants of his WAAAGH encountered Christoph’s forces. Wulfgrack in a foolish ploy to regain his honor attacked the Vampires host, but was quickly defeated. Wulfgrack himself was brought low by Varick, and brought to Christoph. The aspiring Conqueror of men gave the Black Orc an ultimatum, join him as a thrall or suffer a fate worse than death and be forever bound to the Fang, joining the souls of countless mortals before him. Wulfgrack foolishly seeing the opportunity to eventually gain enough power to overthrow Christoph agreed to join him.

And so in the year 2530, during the reign of the Human Emperor Karl Franz, and the Dwarven High King Thorgrim Grudgebearer, Christoph Vorst’springa, once the most beloved son of Wissenland, invaded the lands of that he had once called home, in search of the devices of his ultimate revenge.
___________________________
Christoph Vorst’springa’s special rules for Warhammer Fantasy are as follows:

Toolage of Vinncino: After years spent with Vinncino, Christoph has learned the great inner workings of necromancy and so is considered a Level 3 wizard.

Fell Fang: This blade was forged by a rogue member of the Old Ones to be the bane of his fellow Gods, any thing that is touched by is magic is forever bound to the blade, their spirit ripped from their body and their physical form burnt to ashes. If a victim suffers a wound, he is slain outright.

Gaze of Hate: Those who Christoph deems worthy opponents will find themselves challenged to personal combat. But even the most confidant warriors will find that to gaze into the eyes of their undead foe is to find the essence of utter hatred and contempful disgust for the existence of mortals. Within his stare they see the true intentions that Christoph means for the mortal world and find themselves nearly unable to properly defend themselves as if frozen in place by such unnatural malfeasance. At the beginning of the close combat phase, select one model in base contact. That model must pass a leadership test at -3 or the vampire rerolls failed wounds.

Wielder of the Fang: Though its true power is hidden only to those with mage sight, any being dead or alive can feel the power of the blade and hear the voices of those it has claimed whispering of their inevitable doom should the blade’s magic touch their skin or pass through their spiritual essence. Because he wields the blade to his will, Christoph causes Terror.

Relics of Life: Upon his body Christoph wears the remnants of the armour he was died in. Upon his arm he carries the shield he wielded in life. He carries these without burden to remind him of his lost mortality, as well to protect his undead flesh from wounds that will temporialy inconvenience him. Christoph wears Heavy Armor, and carries a Shield.

Vengeance for Damnation: It is Christophs goal to make all mortals and daemons pay for allowing him to suffer the curse of undeath, and will never forgive them for his curse. Christoph Hates all enemies and can re-roll all misses in every round of combat.

[Skull Krusher]

Will you continue this storyline. It is very interesting. Please continue.