Kislev: by Niels Arne Dam, Tim Eccles, and Alfred Nuñez JR
Kislev: by Niels Arne Dam, Tim Eccles, and Alfred Nuñez JR
Kislev: by Niels Arne Dam, Tim Eccles, and Alfred Nuñez JR
With due diligence, the scholars of the Collegium Historica have been compiling a
comprehensive tome which describes the events surrounding the Great War against Chaos, its
antecedents and aftermath. This great effort remains a work in progress, but a sampling is
submitted here to provide a sort of overview to this most important period in Imperial history.
In this submission, we will take a look at the events from the soldiers’ point of view. Given the
lack of writing skills prevalent among the average Imperial and Kislevite citizen, the sources
used here are very rare indeed. Still, these excerpts provide an interesting insight of the times
that are generally overlooked by scholars of lesser stature.
We cite four sources in this endeavour: Boyar Volkh Staverovich from the Kislev area; Cregnor
Hardhelm, a Dwarf captain of the Red Talons mercenary band; Holger Schmidt, a member of a
Middenheim detachment of archers; and Nobert Flesicher, a volunteer from the Reikland who
ran messages between the various unit leaders.
It was then that the great gates of Kislev opened up so that the Dwarfs and Kislevites
within could open another front. Their impetus was quickly spent and they began a
fighting withdraw whilst we were surrounded. Magnificent Magnus, the avatar of
Sigmar as surely as I fought that day, fought against the mighty leader of the Chaos
horde in single combat. The battle seemed to last all day.
As the battle turned against us, the knights that Magnus sent to Praag arrived
unexpectedly from the north with Kislevite cavalry. They charged hard onto the rear of
the Chaos horde as the thrice blessed Magnus beheaded the Champion of Chaos. This
proved too much for the invaders from the Wastes and they broke. A mighty cheer arose
as the battle was won.
While others are proclaiming this day a great victory, they don’t realise that a lot of
Chaos beasties got away. Someone’s going to have to go after these creatures and
exterminate them. I have a bad feeling about this…
The men of the Empire are complaining about the cold Kislevite winter. One would think
they were pansy Elves…
Kislev Timeline
Imperial Event
Year
c-3500 Elven colonisation of the Old World finally reaches the site of modern day Erengrad.
This outpost marks the eastern and northern most penetration of the Elves.
c-1990 to Dwarf armies from Karak Vlag and Karak Ungor combine to drive the Elves out of
-1700 the Lynsk estuary and the southern coast of the Sea of Claws.
c-1500 The greenskin attack on Karaz Ankor forces the Dwarfs to abandon their settlements
along the Rivers Lynsk and Urskoy.
c-1000 Goblin tribes settle in the forests between the Lynsk and Upper Talabec.
c -300 to Thurini tribe migrates from the east of the Worlds Edge Mountains along the River
-100 Lynsk to the south-eastern shore of the Sea of Claws.
-1 Sigmar leads alliance of Humans and Dwarfs into the Battle of Black Fire Pass
where the allied forces crush the Orc and Goblin army. The remaining greenskins
are driven back into the Dark Lands.
1 High Priest of Ulric crowns Sigmar Emperor. Sigmar calls forth a Council of
Chieftains to determine the boundaries for each tribe. The tribal chiefs are granted
sovereignty over their lands. Krugar, chief of the Talabec tribe, is granted
sovereignty over lands along the River Talabec.
c500 Talabec nobles fail to exploit the resources of the forested lands between the Lynsk
and Upper Talabec. Trading posts of Eisigbucht and Pelzdorf are established on the
sites of modern day Erengrad and Kislev, respectively. The Norse begin to settle
along the north-eastern frontier of the Empire.
510 Emperor Sigismund II the Conqueror is unable to subjugate the Norse in the north-
eastern portion of the Empire and signs truce due to revolt in eastern Stirland.
Imperial Event
Year
1102 Emperor Boris Goldbringer conspires with the High Priests of the Imperial cults to
arrest wizards and charge them with heresy. Many are burned at the stake.
1111 Devastating outbreak of Black Plague begins in the Empire and spreads throughout
Old World over the next five years. Skaven erupt in the rural provinces to take
advantage of the plague. Many are enslaved and small settlements abandoned. As
war and disease ravage the Empire, Talabheim is used as a base for adventurers,
trappers and missionaries to explore the upper reaches of the Talabec. Missions of
Taal and Rhya along the major rivers between the Lynsk and Upper Talabec
represent Imperial culture and authority. The trading post of Zobelfluss is
established near the site of present-day Praag.
1115 Death of Emperor Boris Goldgatherer the Incompetent. No successor elected during
ensuing anarchy.
1124 Count Mandred Skavenslayer finally drives out the Skaven from the eastern Empire
and is elected Emperor.
1152 Assassination of Emperor Mandred by unknown assassins. The Electoral Council,
unable to reach an agreement on a successor, dissolves into anarchy. The 200-year
Age of Wars begins.
1360 In opposition to the Grand Count of Stirland’s election as Emperor, Grand Duchess
Ottilia of Talabheim declares herself Empress with support of High Priest of Ulric,
thus initiating the Age of two Emperors.
1503 First wave of Gospodar peoples migrate through Northern Pass from Farside by
pressure from the Ungols, a people moving into steppes from region in northern
Cathay. Monastic missions of Taal and Rhya provide the nomadic Gospodars with
agricultural technology and a core of cultural unity. Gospodars occupy the Imperial
towns of Zobelfluss and Eisigbucht and renames them Praag and Erengrad,
respectively. The legend of Boris Ursa comes from this time.
1510 Norse tribe of Ropsmann peoples raid Gospodar settlements along Lynsk River as
the tribe begins to immigrate from southern Norsca.
1523 Ropsmann Norse establish themselves as ruling minority in Erengrad despite Khan-
Queen Mishka's efforts. Mishka takes town of Pelzburg and slaughters its
inhabitants.
1681 Night of the Restless Dead. For one night throughout the Known World the dead
stir and walk the land, sowing terror and confusion. Entire villages and towns are
overrun and destroyed before the night of terror ends.
1750 Ungol hordes invade Kislev from Steppes to the east, occupy eastern area of
Talabecland and become rulers along the Rivers Talabec and Urskoy. They
establish their capital in Pelzburg. Gospodars sweep into Ostland in advance of
Ungol horde. The Norse Ropsmann repel the Ungol horde along the River Lynsk
and its marshy banks. Prince Vermund of Erengrad establishes Cult of Ulric in
northern Kislev while the priests of Taal and Rhya are allowed to continue their faith
under the rule of the Ungol aristocracy.
Imperial Event
Year
1900 Ungol warband threatens Talabheim burning surrounding farmsteads to the ground.
Talabheim Emperor Gregory I Dissell acknowledges sovereignty of Ungol chief
Utilla over all the land east of Talabheim, including a sizeable chunk of eastern
Ostland.
1903 Development of loose confederation of states centred on the city-state of Erengrad.
Ingjald the Red, one of more famous of the Norse Ropsmann princes, rules the port.
A trading post is founded at the site of modern Bolgasgrad where the north and
south forks of the River Lynsk converge.
1910 Ungol capital of Dorogo (re-named from Pelzburg) becomes cosmopolitan city with
trading links with the Dwarfs, the Empire, and Cathay.
1979 The "Wizard's War" begins in Middenheim and spreads throughout the Empire and
the Old World. Witch Hunters range the land, though their activities are severely
curtailed by the Ungols and Norse.
1991 "Wizard's War" ends in the banishment and execution of a number of
Demonologists and Necromancers. Within two years, Cult hierarchies begin violent
suppression of sorcery. A number of suspected hedge wizards and other sorcerers --
who escaped being burned at the stake – flee into the lands of the Ungols and Norse.
2003 Ungol aristocracy is assimilated into Gospodar culture as Khan Chankar weds
Gospodar Princess Akila.
2011 Ropsmann princedoms finally establish overland trade with Dorogo.
2085 Khan-Queen Taira Pavlovna creates the Brotherhood of the Bear, a Templar Order
dedicated to Taal.
2100 Prince Igor the Terrible of Erengrad, invites Prince Tambor of Dorogo to join the
Confederacy of Kislevite States. When Tambor refuses, Igor sends army to reduce
Dorogo. Tambor is later beheaded.
2101 Igor begins the building of the city of Kislev on the ruins of Dorogo. He then
embarks on a series of campaigns over a forty-year period to consolidate various
minor states and principalities of southern and central Kislev. Internal pressure and
increased threat from Stirland, Middenheim, and Ostland forces the Talabheim
Emperor Talgris XII, known as “the Fool,” to consider aligning Talabecland with
Igor the Terrible's Confederacy of Kislevite States. Confusion reigns as the Treaty is
signed, Talgris is killed, the Treaty lost and Igor's son ejected from the city.
2122 Prince Ivan 'the Lunatic' (Igor's brother) marches on Talabheim. Talagraad is razed
to the ground. For the only time ever, an enemy enters the Wizard's Way. They are
stopped at Taal Tor, and name it the Bear's Mouth. The Prince's army disintegrates
with the coming of winter and Marshall Braxix chases the rabble east. Ivan is
captured and Braxix surprises everyone by talking to him. The Agreement of Braxix
restores some of Talabecland's original borders to the Upper Talabec and across the
foothills of the Worlds Edge Mountains.
2134 Igor's campaign stalls at foothills of Worlds Edge Mountains and Farside Steppes
region. Igor declares both territories part of Confederated States of Imperial Kislev
and names himself Tsar of all Kislev. With the completion of the Kremlin, Igor
moves his capital to the city of Kislev.
Imperial Event
Year
2143 Tsar Igor I dies while campaigning across the Lynsk. Prince Ivan assassinated when
travelling to Kislev to ascend the throne. Rebellions rise across the land until
suppressed by the new Tsar Alexandr Njevski. Kislev reaches its golden age for the
next thirty years under Tsar Alexandr I.
2247 After several increasingly weak and ineffectual Tsars, a coalition of government
bureaucrats and priests conspires to govern Kislev through puppet Tsars.
Establishment of first agricultural colonies in Farside.
2252 The Farside colony of Chernozavtra is founded on an island on the Zapadryeka
River.
2300 An entrenched bureaucracy and a priesthood increasingly concerned with temporal
power contribute to the deterioration of the central government. Remote princedoms
and Erengrad continue to enjoy relative prosperity. Raids by Dolgans and
Hobgoblins cause failure of all but the strongest colonies in Farside. Establishment
of Romanoff dynasty.
2301 Chaos Incursion into the Translynsk region. Those fleeing report it to be the largest
army ever assembled. Many settlements are abandoned. Portion of the Kingdom of
Praag north of the Lynsk falls.
2302 Magnus the Pious appears in Nuln and unites Empire. Tsar Alexis Romanoff appeals
to Magnus for aid. Bolgasgrad and other settlements along the Lynsk are abandoned.
Chaos fleets range across the Sea of Claws and attack merchant shipping. Chaos
hordes also pour into the Wheatlands. The siege of Praag begins in Spring.
Chernozavtra and the rest of the Farside colonies fall to the forces of Chaos.
Magnus the Pious arrives in Middenheim and splits his forces. The mounted troops
depart on the Erengrad Road and makes use of the port of Norden to supply its
troops. Magnus leads the rest of his army through Talabheim on way to Kislev.
Magnus the Pious receives more troops at the Ostlander town of Wurzen with one
arm heading towards Praag and the other towards Kislev. Praag falls in winter and
siege of Kislev begins. Battle of Kislev breaks the Chaos forces.
2303 Battle of Grovod Forest results in defeat for Chaos horde. Imperial and Kislevite
forces with Norse allies drive Chaos forces back. Eternal alliance between The
Empire and Kislev. Kislevite chapter of the Order of the White Wolf founded.
2310 – Central and southern Kislev prospers, but the Translynsk recovery plagued by
2394 periodic external and internal conflicts with Chaos-inspired forces. Praag is rebuilt
during this time.
2405 Erengrad and other towns along the Lynsk begin their recovery as the Translynsk
colonies are re-established and fortified. Prince Alexis Chokin I leads the re-
settlement and re-fortification of Bolgasgrad. The Farside settlement of
Chernozavtra is re-colonised.
Imperial Event
Year
2451 - Newly enthroned, the young Tsar Ivan IV Romanoff withdraws the garrisons from
2455 the Translynsk colonies and some of the Lynsk towns, informing each to look to
their own defences. Rumours spread that political intrigue at the capital by the
entrenched bureaucracy led to this fateful decision. The Kings of Erengrad and
Praag take advantage of the opportunity to spread their influence. Other towns, like
Bolgasgrad, go their own way.
2475 Last Romanoff Tsar, psychotic Ivan IV, murdered by a fanatic priest. The young
Radii Bokha rises to power with the support of the military and aristocracy. The
new Tsar marries Natalya Shuisky, a Gospodar princess who is ten years his senior.
2478 Winter plague wipes out the population of Chernozavtra.
2482 Nikolaus Silinvol becomes King of Erengrad. Katarina is born to Tsar Radii Bokha
and Tsarina Natalya.
2484 A second child, the Duchess Annya, was born to the Tsar and Tsarina.
2488 Prince Zoltan Telepnev ascends to the throne of Praag becoming its king.
2497 Duchess Katarin joins Shallyan Convent at Daikop. Duchess Annya is killed on the
return trip as a result of an unfortunate road accident.
2500 The heir to the throne of Kislev, Tsarevich Nikolaus, is born. Tsarina Natalya dies in
childbirth. Chaos activity north of the Lynsk increases steadily.
2502 Large Beastman warbands emerge from the forests near the Imperial borders and
terrorise central and southern Kislev. Tsar Radii reacts by redeploying the garrisons
along the Lynsk and Translynsks regions to meet this threat. The political fallout
from this military blunder results in the secession of Bolgasgrad and other northern
settlements.
2505 Goblin raids along the foothills of the Worlds Edge Mountains from Belev
southward are becoming more commonplace. More military resources are allocated
to meet this threat.
2506 Dolgans unite under War Chief Darok Hookhorn and declare war on the Hobgoblins
of the Steppes and their Goblin kin.
2508 Goblin raids on the outlying villages near Rakhov forces the Tsar to send more
troops to the south to battle the raiders.
2509 Raiding in the Translynsk recommences, but to a lesser scale than in the central and
southern regions. Praag and Erengrad begin to strengthen the defences of their
respective cities.
2512 Marriage of Tzarevich Nikolaus to Lady Sofia Silinvol, Princess of Erengrad
Gazetteer
LEGEND:
GAZETTEER OF KISLEV
Settlement Name Size Ruler Pop Wealth Source Trade Constants Garrison Notes
Selling/Buying Militia
BELEV ST Boyar Budimir 740 2 Fur, Ore 296/0.1 50b/100c Located along the
Dalmatovich South Urskoy in the
foothills.
BOLGASGRAD T Prince Alexis 1,100 2 Agriculture, Trade 440/0.2 unknown Recently proclaimed
Chokin II independent
princedom
KISLEV C Tsar Radii 12,500 4 Trade, Government 10000/5.0 300b/2,500c Capital city of
Bokha Imperial Kislev
Dubna ST Tsar Radii 450 2 Goats, Agriculture 180/0.1 25b/80c
Bokha
Nidzica ST Tsar Radii 600 2 Agriculture 240/0.1 25b/70c Ferry across Urskoy
Bokha
Selkow V Tsar Radii 95 2 Agriculture 38/0 5b/10c Near Shallyan
Bokha convent of Daikop
MURMAGRAD ST Boyar Dalmat 390 2 Fur, Agriculture 156/0.1 45b/100c Translynsk town
Tversky
PINSK T Prince Sergei 1,600 3 Agriculture, 960/0.5 100b/300c Famous for its sharp
Clivonsky Livestock, Cheese and strongly
“aromatic” cheeses
PRESLAV ST Boyar Pyotr 820 2 Agriculture, Timber 328/0.2 80b/400c Largest town in the
Mikhaylovich Wheatland Colonies
RAKHOV ST Boyar Yakov 950 3 Agriculture, Timber, 570/0.3 75b/300c Largest settlement in
Kalita Vodka southern Kislev
SHATSK ST Boyar Dmitri 525 2 Ore, Metalwork 210/0.1 60b/120c Located in the
Radonezh foothills of the
Worlds Edge
Mountains
VEL'SK ST Boyar Razin 350 2 Timber, Fur 140/0.1 40b/150c Translynsk town
Timofeevich
ZWOLEN T Duke Albert 4,250 3 Trade, Timber, Fur 2550/1.3 80b/200c Near the Imperial
von Babenberg border where the
Urskoy meets the
Talabec, ferry