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Erntezeit-1-18-2492
The days passed swiftly as I sent home, aboard the dwarfen air-fleet, the gold I had earned as reward for the liberation of so many karaks. At the same time, I attended the daily ceremonies held in the great halls of Karaz-a-Karak for the settling of grudges, where the High King himself presided, the Book of Grudges open upon his stone table, surrounded by the elders of his council.
There, before dozens of thanes and clan representatives, Thorgrim heard each case one by one: ancestral disputes, grievances against the urks, commercial affronts, or ancient debts. Between ten and twenty grudges were resolved each day, solemnly struck from the Dammaz Kron once they were declared settled. The dawi rejoiced at every resolution, for each closed page meant their honor endured and the wounds of their people began to heal.
Joy was palpable. After generations of overcrowding in stifling caverns, now the clans were reclaiming their ancestral strongholds and a measure of their dignity. Around forty karaks yet remained to be freed in the south before the mountains could be declared secure, but the High King had already announced that his own host would take up the task, unless dire need forced otherwise.
Meanwhile, I sought to uphold the policy of cooperation among the clans, fostering unity. During those days of waiting, while my men and wealth were steadily carried home, I busied myself negotiating with dwarfen nobles: I discussed with merchant guilds potential trade routes, contracts for selling dwarf goods in my lands, and above all, the purchase of wares that might sustain my future industry. Many merchants were already diverting their caravans towards the lands of Duran, knowing they would find there both safety and reliable raw materials.
On one occasion, I was honored by Thorgrim himself, who showed me one of his most treasured possessions: the crown of Phoenix King Caledor II, seized from the elgi during the ancestral war. Its brilliance was striking, but more striking still was the pride radiating from the dawi who beheld it. Each dwarf who laid eyes upon that relic left the hall with his face alight, satisfied that the offense against their people remained remembered and recorded. Their hatred of the elgi, I understood, burned as fiercely as if the war had been yesterday.
Every grievance in which I took part, whether as witness or mediator, was celebrated. In the end, my name was inscribed as a participant in dozens, even hundreds of grudges now stricken from the solemn records of the dawi.
Before my departure, I received one final gift. This time it did not come directly from the High King, but from the Council of Elders, who wished to reward me in the name of all dwarfkind. They bestowed upon me a runic ring, wrought with the same mastery as the mace I already bore. Three runes were etched into it: one that repelled hostile sorcery, another that granted the bearer deep rest, and a last that silenced armor entirely, erasing the metallic sound of every movement. Such a powerful item, I was told, was the sort only rune-masters themselves might wear.
I accepted the gift with solemnity, though inwardly I wondered if the rune that repelled magic might interfere with my own arts. Even so, I knew it was a token that sealed the trust the dawi had placed in me.
At last, the day of departure arrived. Several members of the Council of Elders bade me farewell, wishing me a swift and untroubled journey. We boarded the air-fleet and began the return. The voyage was calm, my coffers of gold secured, and in the skies my griffon soared and played around the flying ships, beating its wings with more strength than before.
We crossed the frozen passes of the mountains, where the cold was harsher than on our way in, yet it did not halt us. At last we reached the Empire, where the mild climate of harvest season greeted us like a balm.
We descended near my laboratory, where a group of dwarfs sent by Duran awaited eagerly, full of questions about the campaign. They wished to know whether I had reached Karak Eight Peaks, but I explained the situation in Karaz-a-Karak and the priority of consolidating the south. They understood at once, returning to their work with serious yet satisfied expressions.
Meanwhile, the workers began unloading the vast wealth of gold brought back from the expedition. I gathered my men, gave them their due rewards for their service, and sent my share directly to my treasuries, spread among my cities, to finance the great expansion project that awaited me.
The gold was immense, yet so too was the task ahead.
In my absence, much had changed. From the Bretonnian campaign to my departure into the dwarfen mountains, Imperial politics had taken their course. When the Emperor declared the war in Bretonnia concluded, he withdrew all the state troops involved—and my contacts in the regiments did the rest: they guided those veterans straight to me, remembering well the treatment they had received under my command.
Thus I gathered ten thousand veterans into my ranks, drawn from all corners of Reikland. Following my orders, the dwarf council I had left behind in my lands moved them at once to Marienburg, to settle the city and strengthen it. There, eight thousand remained as a permanent garrison, reorganized into companies with captains for each district. The other two thousand were assigned to guard the naval fortresses protecting the approach to the ports.
Alongside them, some eighty thousand more souls had migrated into Marienburg—the families of the guards, drawn by the wealth the city offered under my rule. In this way, Marienburg was beginning once again to grow, rising towards the size and stature it had once known.
In my three cities the growth had been steady through births, while all migration was being directed towards the newly-drained lands of the marshes.
Recently, however, another massive wave of settlers had arrived from every province of the Empire. The Emperor had issued a second call for colonization, sending not only those who sought new opportunities in my lands but also beggars, the homeless poor, and all manner of social misfits from the great cities, to populate the new frontier in Bretonnia.
In my lands nearly one hundred thousand souls disembarked, drawn mainly from Averland, Wissenland, and Middenland. For them, small villages and hamlets were swiftly being raised across the vast plains, while the sea of Bretonnians who still remained in my domains continued crowded in emergency shelters, waiting for the draining of the marshes to be finished so they could finally settle.
At last I set out by rail towards Marienburg to review the city's progress. The journey was brief, for the trains now ran at full speed, crossing freshly sown fields and villages still under construction. Upon my arrival at the station, I was received by a group of officials who administered the city under the supervision of my dwarfen councillors.
"Well then, inform me of the city's affairs," I ordered as we made our way towards the palace.
One of the port officials spoke first. "The Emperor has left much of the second Imperial fleet docked in the military piers, my lord. They await your authorization to remain for the long term."
"If they take charge of protecting commerce in my seas, so be it. Send confirmation of my permission to the Emperor," I answered without breaking my stride.
I noticed the great number of ambassadors and diplomats in the city. There was far more movement than usual, a sure sign that Marienburg was regaining its former importance.
"Anything else?" I asked, glancing at my advisors.
The agricultural councillor spoke with a worried expression. "My lord… the granaries are in danger. With so many people arriving at once, we face the prospect of famine. The new lands will only begin producing next year, provided the dwarfen engineers finish the drainage of the marshes in time. Until then, this year's reserves will not suffice to reach the next harvest. We could run out of grain at the beginning of the coming year."
I pressed my lips together and replied calmly: "Then we must move ahead of the crisis. Travel to Averland, Wissenland, and the great estates of Reikland. Buy up all the grain you can while the harvest prices are still low. Contact Rutger and have him purchase as much as possible before the speculators drive the price up. I want the granaries full before anyone else attempts to hoard it for profit."
"Yes, my lord, I will inform him at once," the man replied, bowing before hurrying away.
Another of my aides, an emissary of the dwarfen engineers, spoke next in his dry, meticulous tone: "My lord, an agreement has been reached with the Elector Count of Wissenland for the establishment of a railway line to Nuln. The plans are complete, awaiting your approval for the dwarfen lodges to begin their work."
"I shall review the details later. Leave them on my desk," I answered as we crossed the threshold of the Marienburg palace.
One of my secretaries continued, agenda in hand, reading in haste as he struggled to match my pace. "My lord, Kislevite diplomats request an audience. They seek to purchase large lots of firearms from our manufactories and require your permission for the sale. The chief envoy is already in the city, awaiting your arrival.
"The Grand Theogonist also invites you to a ceremony in your honor, and the Arch-Lector of Reikland requests a meeting regarding the construction of new churches and chapels. The Cult of Sigmar has sent nearly three hundred thousand crowns for this purpose."
He turned another page before adding: "Ambassadors from Tilea, Estalia, and Miragliano also await. They wish not only to purchase arms but to discuss a preferential trade treaty that would reduce port tariffs and docking fees. Lastly, a great dwarfen vessel docked a month ago: its emissaries seek authorization to establish a dwarfen shipyard in Marienburg, taking advantage of the naval infrastructure your lordship has built."
"Ah… one of those gigantic dawi vessels has docked in my harbors, then. What cargo did it carry?" I asked with interest.
"Beer, my lord. A great deal of beer, sold to the dwarfs of the city's artisan quarter. They also purchased large amounts of timber from Middenland merchants, and they wished to buy ores in bulk, but nothing beyond that," my aide replied.
"And how goes the matter of the salt? Is it already functioning?" I asked as we finally reached my study, where I was surrounded by dwarfs handing me reports of revenue.
"It is already functioning, my lord. Nearly five thousand workers have been hired in the industry, and the boilers produce vast quantities of salt each day. Almost all of it is being sold to Kislev, at the same price they once paid when Marienburg was under its former directors. Thanks to this, we now enjoy very considerable income," said my aide, handing me the reports.
"Good… now it is my turn to work. I expect the Emperor will summon me soon to discuss important matters, and I cannot afford to leave all this unattended. Call in the Kislevite envoy to begin talks on the sale of firearms and powder," I replied, settling into my seat.
Meanwhile, I began reviewing the paperwork my dwarfen councillors had prepared: supply contracts, mining ledgers, and petitions from guilds seeking licenses. The silence of the chamber was broken only by the crackle of coal in the fireplace and the distant voices of my officials working in the adjoining offices.
It was curious how, even after vanishing for months in military campaigns, the weight of governance would fall once more upon my shoulders without mercy. I had succeeded in delegating much into competent hands, yet chaos always found its way through, forcing me to restore order with my own hand.
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If there are spelling mistakes, please let me know.
Leave a comment; support is always appreciated.
I remind you to leave your ideas or what you would like to see.
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