Klaus watched the procession of Morrite priests, clothed in an ominous black robe that covered their face. Their chest displaying the symbol of Morr, a dark raven. A God of death, dreams and dreamers. For now, he’s the God of death. For death has come to the colony. Deaths suffered from the carnosaur and repelling a raid and lifting a siege. He closed his eyes and reflected the past week. A week ago, he was preparing to beat back a bunch of greedy curs. Now he’s preparing to defend against an unknown enemy. An enemy that could number in their millions. An enemy with unknown potential. Do they have magic or are they like the dwarves? He steadied his breathing and tried to remain calm.

He volunteered to this position in an attempt to desperately atone for his grandparent’s mistake. They did unspeakable sorcery within their mansion. Praying to the Chaos gods. Reading forbidden texts. Until one day a witch hunter discovered their evil doing and promptly burned them. He winced as he could still remember them. Their hands were no longer the hands that read him stories when he was a kid. Instead, vile red tendrils came out of them and screamed as it was cleansed with fire. That was nearly thirty years ago. My poor parents pleaded and begged not to be burned. But it was unfortunate. They were tainted by Chaos too. The only ones that weren’t, were me and Johanne... And her.

Now he is tasked with an unenviable position as a leader that would lead an undermanned, undersupplied and underdeveloped colony against an entire civilization. Perhaps this is Sigmar’s will. To challenge me and lead these people into prosperity. To atone for the sins of my grandparents.

Lord Stanhelm watched as dozens of corpses, most not having legs or arms, were buried in a cemetery. He tried to look mournful but couldn’t. He didn’t have time for anymore pointless sophistry. So much needs to be done but not enough time to do so. He rushed to the podium which was slightly elevated and did his planned speech.

“Citizens of the Empire! This past week was not the best. Hundreds died and many more are now without a father, a mother or a sibling. Many of you have come to realise that this is no longer the paradise that was sold to you when you boarded the ship. I must confess that it isn’t. But it could be. The evidence is right here!” He pointed towards where the lifeless bodies were being buried. “Through their bold sacrifice, they have shown us that we could fight back! Hope is not yet lost. It simply needs to be earned! We have to build our cities into mighty fortresses! We must produce weapons: guns, swords and halberds. We must hone our martial prowess. Let us make the hope of surviving and flourishing in this land a reality! We shall not let their sacrifices be in vain! The Empire endures!”

The crowd shouted the chant back with grim determination. Some wiped tears from their blood shot eyes and roared with vengeance.

Klaus watched the crowd and smiled. Hopefully, that should rile these peasants up. Maybe make them work harder. It’s only fair. I work hard and so should they.

“That was a fantastic speech, my lord. You have certainly sparked an enthusiastic zeal onto your people.” His Treasurer complimented.

“I hope so. Everyone is in danger of either being killed by lizard savages or traded into slavery by those imperial rogues. All of us need to work twice as hard, from kings to paupers.”

Hervig blanched at that. “Do we have more information about that my lord? Are they really coming?”

“Audric von Hofstein should be joining us with our first ever council meeting. The good admiral should be able to tell us if there were any irregular traffic in the Great Ocean.”

The two continued to walk towards the ever-growing townhall. Klaus then remembered something important. “Listen… Hervig. I’m sorry. I didn’t realise your wife recently gave birth to a son. Please do not take this as a slight.”

“Don’t worry my lord. I don’t. I simply owe you far too much and the situation was unexpected and unprecedented. I did my duty.”

Klaus smiled but his eyebrows raised. “I have yet to give my congratulations to Emma, so please do so at my behalf. But you have to satiate my curiosity. How exactly did you convince Ser Adel to give up the loot? Adel is a hard man after all. That’s why I assigned him as the overseer of the forward base camp. I think the locals are calling in ‘Nahrstadt’.”

“That’s the shortened version my lord. But you’re right. He was pretty tough to negotiate with, but we came to a deal. I would sell their loot and give them some of the money. The rest, the treasury can have.”

Klaus eyed him suspiciously but decided not to question him further. He’s no longer the uptight, naïve and honourable noble. He decided it was a waste of time. All of his marriage requests for him and his brother has been denied. No matter how honourable and how incorruptible he and Johanne are, most still consider them tainted with Chaos. When he was young, he would’ve question Hervig on how he managed to have a deal, but now he no longer cares about the means. Just the end. If the end can make the treasury fill up with monies, then so be it. He eyed him again. Perhaps I am tainted with Chaos. I now have a Marienburger working under me.

He went to his office and continued to do more work. More parchment to sign and more orders to approve. More petitions to reject or accept. Until the Lords: Martial, Treasurer and Admiral barged into his office.

“I’m sorry brother. Knocking when you’re busy working is a waste of time. Now let’s get this over with. I got another duel to one of those cocky Carroburg swordsmen.” Johanne walked over to the seat to his left and slumped down whilst putting his boots on the table.

Hervig sat to his right and Audric opposite him.

“Now that my esteemed Councillors have finally met up, first time in two months since we settled, we can finally talk about something important.”

“If you want to talk about invading those reptiles then I’m all for it! You just need to convince him,” Johanne pointed at Hervig. “To increase the state troops and militia’s budget. He keeps refusing me.”

“It’s because I’ve ordered my Lord Treasurer to use the money on build a stone wall. To deter those savages from attacking us, we need to turn New Altdorf into a mighty fortress.”

Johanne chuckled and spilled wine on his shirt. “Straight out from your speech! That was a damn good speech by the way!”

Klaus barged on and ignored his brother’s antics. He may act rude but he’s damn good at organising armies and training them. He placed the letter, detailing about a possible attack, on the table.

The Admiral read it and instantly scowled. “My lord if you would forgive me but there’s nothing suggesting that this letter is accurate. I have thirty ships patrolling the Scorpion and Settler’s coast. There may be a few rat scum and pirate ships out there but they’re not a threat.”

“So, no sign of a rogue army with the potential to carry out a land invasion?”

“None whatsoever.” The Admiral said with no hesitance.

Both Hervig and Klaus sighed in relief at that. But… That means they won’t be coming within a few a months. But they’re still coming. I just don’t know when. Why must magic be so fickle!

“That’s good to hear but continue with the patrols. Especially guard those merchant ships coming from the Old World. We have treasures that we can sell, and I want them hearing the news.”

“I’ll make sure I inform them, then my lord. But word should have spread about the golden loot in one these ‘plundered’ temples. I’m afraid, I won’t have enough ships to stop some of the most adventurous from coming over here.”

“That’s fine by me. Let them come. I hope they’ll redirect the Lizardmen’s ire away from us.” Klaus said as the entire room became still. The shock and horror of them existing is still haunting his councillors. He noticed Hervig was fidgeting and about to say something but kept silent. “Do you have anything to add Lord Treasurer?”

“No, my lord. I was just going to advice having a tax of some sorts aimed towards golden relics, treasures and other precious metals found on those temples under the Empire’s control. But this may just encourage smuggling and discourage more people from coming here.”

Klaus wondered if that was a good idea. They would have more revenue, but the problems listed by Hervig does make sense. I’ll leave that problem to him. He seems to know his stuff and he’s very competent.

He then stared at his brother. “Looking by how bored you are, you must’ve done everything I asked of you.”

“Of course, Klaus! That new forging district is pumping out more swords and halberds we need. At this rate we could arm everyone in several months. The problem lies in gunpowder. We need gunpowder mills.”

The Stanhelm brothers both stared at Hervig. “How much is it going to cost?”

Hervig rapidly flicked at his book and fiddled with his Arabiyan abacus. “From building the mill itself and hiring the builders to build it and the people going to work it… Maybe hiring one of Giovanni’s associates at Port Reaver… It could cost up to a thousand Imperial gold marks.”

“How much are we making in a month?” Klaus inquired.

“Without counting the skaven loot we’re selling to the brettonians… About four-hundred gold marks. That’s from the taxes on the crops being grown on Nahrstadt and the tariffs. It’s still too early to tax the people’s individual income as they’re still settling in.”

Johanne chipped in and impatiently asked. “Can’t we just increase the tariffs? According to your notes it’s set at three percent! How about increasing it to like twenty?”

That sounds like what the brettonians would do. Except it won’t be twenty but much higher! No wonder Hervig hates them so much.

“Lord Johanne, while that may temporarily increase our revenue, but that would annoy the people in the New World Colonies and the Elector Counts in the Empire. What’s going to stop them from retaliating and increasing tariffs on our products? This is going to be a huge problem as the Blacksmith’s guild are actually producing much more than we need. I have to talk to Erick about exporting them off. Maybe sell the swords and halberds to the adventurers? That could even cover the cost of the gunpower mill!”

Klaus nodded and agreed with him. “I’ll order Herr Schmidt to what you said Hervig. It’s a waste to let them rust in a stockpile. Hervig, sell them at a reasonable rate and make sure to use the money from those sales to build the gunpowder mill.” He quickly dipped a feather quill on an ink well and started to write a letter to the head of the guild. “Audric, how long till the second wave arrives and how much of them are going to arrive?”

“I still haven’t received the second wave’s census, but I could roughly guess. Maybe about four-thousand to five-thousand people considering that only twelve ships are coming towards here.”

We need more houses to shelter all those people then. “Will we keep those ships?”

“I think so, Klaus. That would increase the Imperial Lustrian fleet to forty-eight strong. The supplies should deal with your handgun shortage, Johanne.”

Johanne grinned and cheekily moved the table slightly with his foot. “How much of them are state troops? Wait… forget I said that. We still don’t have the bloody census! When are we going to have them?”

“One of the messenger cutter ships should be coming here in a few weeks. They should be fast enough to avoid pirates and other reavers and deliver the census along with the Emperor’s orders.”

Klaus intentionally coughed to get his Councillors attention.

“To summarise… We should have enough money to build a wall. A stone wall. And a gunpowder mill. We’ll also get twelve more ships. The state troops and militia are well trained, armoured and supplied. Finally, we’re not under any threat of being invaded by other humans?”

His councillors nodded in confirmation at that.

Good. What a productive meeting.

Hervig squirmed and cleared his throat. “Wait, there’s more Lord Klaus. When we lifted the siege we managed to capture two lizardmen…”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ernst didn’t bother listening to Lord Stanhelm’s speech. He was too busy wiping the tears off his eyes. Regret threatened to overwhelm him. Regret at leaving his brother to his death. Regret that he felt glad doing so because he didn’t want to die. He replayed his memories over and over again. He remembered Fredrick’s body… Bits of his chest missing and one of his arms along with the shoulder was gone! He remembered how he callously stepped over his brother’s dead body, thinking that can’t be him. Thinking that he must be alive. He promised to be alive and his brother has never broken a promise before. Hours went by as he searched through forty mangled bodies.

“Oy kid! Stop deludin’ yerself!” He remembered how one of his workmates shook him and lead him to Fredrick’s body. He ranted and raved at the cruel joke and accused him as a liar. Anger then turned to despair. Despair turned to acceptance. He accepted his parent’s death, and he shall do so again, with heavy heart, with his brother. He was the only Draven in the world now, but he still struggles to compute it in his head, as tears turned puddles into the ground.

He wanted to raise his clenched fist and chant, ‘The Empire endures!” with the crowd, but he just couldn’t. He wanted to feel anger once more. Anger towards the lizards for causing his brother’s death. But he couldn’t. He just cried and looked on listlessly. I’m so pathetic! I just lost Fred and what am I doing! Am I training with the sword? Did I enlist to be a state trooper so I could avenge his death? None! He crossed his arms in front of him and trembled. He clutched his scar as the phantom pain struck once again. I don’t want to die!

“Those who lost loved ones in this barbaric attack will be eligible for compensation! Please head over to the court of pleas and get your dues. I am truly sorry for your loss!” The Treasurer’s herald shouted.

His ears perked at that but suddenly bit his lips. Blood started to run down. The first thing I worry about is money?! Money!

He shamefully walked over towards the townhall and queued up. The line was full of bereaved families that are still mourning. In a twist of irony, he felt comforted by their cries and whimpering. At least he wasn’t the only one. He looked down as he waited.

Eventually, he came face to face with a familiar woman. The woman that would occasionally give the builders food. “Lady Emma?” He was delighted to see her and immediately realised that her stomach wasn’t bulging. She’s given birth. Why is she working?”

Emma saw him and instantly wiped his tears with a napkin. “Ernst… Why are you here?” She said with dreadful sympathy.

“Fredrick… He- “

Emma cut him off. “Say no more.” She gave him a pouch full of golden imperial marks and sneakily added more to it. His eyes widened with surprise as he realised, she has just given him what amounts to a peasant’s wage for an entire year. He shook his head vigorously towards her. “Where are you living Ernst? Are you still living with those fellow labourers of yours?”

“I-I think I am my lady. But probably all of them are dead, and most don’t even have a family to begin with.”

“You’re paying rent?” She said with concern.

“Yes. Usually the foreman would deduct it from our wages.”

“Good! Your very lucky. Your foreman is still alive… What’s his name again? Hendricks. He’s suffered a few dart wounds but not too seriously. He should recover within a month. Once he recovers, he should be able to take care of you.”

Ernst nodded at that and wondered what he was going to do next. He was lost. Usually Fredrick would decide everything. But now… He could arrange his own life in order, but he didn’t know how. He was too reliant on his older brother and so he desperately asked Emma for any guidance she could offer.

She rustled his head and gave him a reassuring pat. “Keep this money safe. Always keep it close to you and never let it leave your sight. No one should be able to see this except you. Do you understand?” She paused to let him respond with a nod. “Lastly, keep doing your job. Don’t waste the money on pointless drinks at the bar. Your brother didn’t die for you so you can be a drunkard.”

Ernst visibly grimaced and retorted. “I would never drink… I would never drink in excess.”

“But you feel like doing it don’t you? Don’t fall for the temptation. Treat it as if it’s tainted with Nurgle’s blight. Once you start drinking without moderating yourself, then you’ll fall to a huge pit. Trust me. I may be only a decade older, but I’ve seen it happen to other people. Don’t let it happen to you.”

He heeded her words and thanked her again. Before this, he didn’t know what to do. He was clueless and confused with too many conflicting emotions swirling inside of him. Now he knew and he stepped out as if the fires of hope lit beneath him. Keep doing my job eh? He remembered Fredrick’s plan and tears threatened leak out again. He wanted to be a foreman. Maybe, if I could work much harder and impress Foreman Hendricks, maybe he could vouch for me. Maybe if I could work hard enough, I can become a self-made noble! Fred, I won’t let you down! I promise!

“Mein Herr…” Ernst was brought out of his musings by man, a few years older than him. “Can you read?”

“Yes, I can. Why?”

“I just need something read out in the noticeboard. I’ll pay you ten copper marks.”

Ernst wanting a bit more money decided to accept the request. I may as well. I just need to read.

‘Builders needed. Constructing a stone wall around New Altdorf.’ Ernst accepted the tip and read the notice again. They’re building a wall? I may as well sign up. Something to distract me from grief. The forging district is nearly completed anyways.

He walked towards his lodgings and hid his money underneath the wooden floorboards. He looked around at the empty beds and slumped down. Out of forty-two, just me and the foreman survived. I survived because I fled…

The next day the town square was filled with people. Many people crowded it and formed many disorderly queues. Ernst asked why they were queuing up. “I want to help build the wall.” Was their response.

He waited patiently until it was his turn. “I helped build one of the smithies in the forging district.”

The man interviewing him widened his eyes and stood up. He shook his hands and said, “Yer resolve is simply amazin’ youn’ man! First you fought those lizard beasts now yer volunteerin’ to help build the wall?! Yer in! The salary is twenty silver marks per month.”

Ernst simply stood there and stared, as if the daemons took his emotions. I didn’t fight. I fled. Eventually, he nodded and came to the construction site.

Dozens of eager builders quickly dug the outlines of a moat and he joined in.

The monotony of his routine caused him to be extra perceptive to his surroundings. He would notice how fast he got from his lodging to the construction site. Not because of his fitness but the state of the roads. Gone are the gravelled and pebbled roads, replaced with stone paved paths.

Every day he would look around at the new taverns and inns opening. The sprawl of the marketplace and the extension of the town square, to the detriment of the people who build their hovels nearby. Wooden buildings being reinforced with sandy coloured stone, likely pilfered from the Lizardmen’s temples.

He saw with great pride as he ordered the moat to be filled with water, as the walls grew in height inch by inch. This time they were at a slight incline and could see New Altdorf booming downwards. The port’s piers stretched for miles towards the Great Ocean and its dozens of warehouses lining the coastline. The more they worked on the wall, the more he noticed more ships would pass by. More cranes would be erected, and more people would crowd the streets. The streets now had wagons and carriages that he was now cautious of.

Days, weeks and months passed without anything interesting happening. He simply wanted to prove himself, carry out his brother’s plan. He would make him proud. He would make his long-departed parents proud as he would restore House Draven to their former glory.

“Hey Ernst… You may be young but for the past few months I’ve observed you and your work ethic. You seemed to naturally fill in the leadership position in your group. The speed that part of the moat you were working in was completed at a much faster rate than any other groups. For that, you deserve a reward. A wage rise and I’ll let you supervise the building of the gatehouse.” The master foreman lauded and promoted him.

I’ll become a nobleman using my own two hands. One step at a time! Watch over me! Fred, mamma and pappa!