Chapter 123 123: The Return To The Fold

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The garrison guards have not surrendered, and Marienburg's fleet remains under whoever commands the resistance. For now, they show no intention of capitulating," reported one of my captains. "But they haven't fired their cannons either, which is a good sign. They won't bombard their own city unless they are desperate. Besides, many of the warships are already under our control. With vessels that weren't expecting a war, how long can they last? Days? Weeks? Perhaps a month. Sooner or later they will realize they no longer have a city to supply them. The same goes for the island: only jailers remain there, and without supplies they will eventually surrender," I replied, gazing toward the islands and the ships blocking the harbor. "We could force them to surrender using the city's captured ships," one of my bodyguards suggested. "No. That would be too risky; no one here knows how to handle them properly, and we would lose many men against experienced crews. Place cannons in positions where we can sink them if they come too close. The repeater cannons should be able to pierce their hulls if we land a good shot," I ordered, pointing to northern and southern sectors where the artillery should be deployed. My men nodded and began setting up the cannons. Just a few volleys of artillery were enough to drive the warships back to other Marienburg naval bases. The blockade was broken, at least for now. It wasn't long before the men on the prison island lowered Marienburg's flag and replaced it with a white one, asking to negotiate. It was a welcome development, as it meant taking one of the most important river fortresses. I seized the opportunity and sent a ship. It returned minutes later with the prison guards, who had surrendered without resistance. The garrison commander had checked the stores and realized there weren't enough provisions to withstand a siege. They had no other choice. I immediately investigated whether the jailers had ties to any important Marienburg families. With the exception of the commander, none belonged to significant lineages; they were just common recruits. Thus, ironically, that commander became one of the few important bureaucrats of the city to survive. With much of the city secured, I sent six thousand men north in two groups to seize the coastal towns where the rest of Marienburg's navy was likely hiding. With around ten thousand soldiers I remained to defend the city, while the witch hunters searched every street, every house, for hidden cults. At last, one of Altdorf's trains arrived laden with clergy of the Cult of Sigmar. Dozens of Sigmarite priests disembarked, accompanied by witch hunters. At the forefront came the Arch-Lector of Reikland, his brow furrowed. "Arch-Lector, it is an honor to have you here," I said, shaking his hand. "Servant of Sigmar... once more you serve the interests of our god," he answered in solemn voice, with an unexpected warmth in his gesture. "The city is secured for now. We found cultists performing rituals, though we have no doubt there are more. The local priest of Sigmar and one of Ulric worked together to seal the portal that spewed demons into the city. We managed to contain it... but the damage was great," I reported immediately. "So I have heard, young Graf. And the necromancer? Did you manage to capture him?" asked the Arch-Lector. "No. We saw him fighting against the demons at the docks, but when the horde vanished he had already disappeared. We believe he fled the city. We searched Suiddock's warehouses and only found desecrated graves and mass pits, prepared to raise thousands of corpses at once," I answered. "All of this happening under the noses of those traitorous heretics..." muttered the Arch-Lector with contempt. "But at least order has been restored. Even so, the Cult wishes to discuss certain matters with you at once, before the situation develops further." "Follow me, I know a place where we can speak without interruptions... and away from the blood that still stains the streets," I replied, leading him to Jaan's mansion, once the wealthiest man of Marienburg, now under my possession. "Tell me, Arch-Lector, what does the Cult want of me? I suppose this comes from the Grand Theogonist himself," I said, taking a seat and gesturing to a chair for him. "As you know, the rightful lord of the city is Duke Theoderic Gausser. However, the Cult would prefer to see a Sigmarite noble who reconquered it at the forefront, rather than an Ulrican. We wish to know your thoughts, and whether you would be willing to cooperate in this matter," he answered gravely. "Certainly I know who holds the right by blood... but I also know that I hold it by conquest. The city is valuable, and I am tempted to add new lands to my domains. Lands that will once again honor Sigmar with villages and temples dedicated to our patron god," I replied with a smile. "An interesting proposal, from what I hear... The Cult will support any debate that arises regarding the city's possession. However, we require that Sigmar's authority be reestablished here, especially considering that in the past this city confiscated many of our temples and handed them to other cults to raise their own churches. It would be prudent to demand their immediate return, to send a clear message: Marienburg once again serves Sigmar," declared the Arch-Lector firmly. "Indeed, the damage inflicted by Marienburg's heretic merchants in confiscating the Cult of Sigmar's properties must be remedied. Consider it done. I suppose that if we reclaim the cathedral of Handrich, it would serve as a fitting point for the Cult's rebirth in the city," I said, glancing at the Arch-Lector. "Yes, that was one of our properties before it was seized and demolished to build a heretic temple of the merchants. But not only that: we also demand the cathedral of Mannan. Part of its construction stands on lands that belonged to the Cult of Sigmar, and we deem it just that they be returned to us in full," the Arch-Lector replied sternly. "Wouldn't that create friction with the Cult of Mannan, Arch-Lector?" I asked with interest, weighing the move. "They are as guilty of rebellion as the followers of Handrich. It is only just that they be punished for supporting the separation of this territory from the Empire of Sigmar. Casting those rats into the streets is the least they deserve," the Arch-Lector replied, his combative tone leaving no room for doubt. "In that case, I will raise no objections. I will see to it that many of my men accompany your priests in the recovery of those rightful possessions that were confiscated. And I expect your support in any debate regarding the future of the city, Arch-Lector, for there is no one better suited than I to be its protector. After all, I am the only one with the means to defend Marienburg from the Chaos that consumed it just days ago," I concluded, returning the firm gaze of the Cult's representative. "We are grateful for your support, Graf Albrecht. Let us hope that soon I may address you by a loftier title. But for now, this city must be placed under absolute control. I assume you will not oppose the witch hunters operating at the fullest extent of their authority?" asked the Arch-Lector. "So long as they present evidence, the witch hunters may judge all the city's inhabitants, as many as necessary. With a Chaos portal having opened so recently, I have no qualms about restoring peace with a firm hand. I also request that, if possible, they examine my men for the Mark of Chaos. Only a handful were carefully inspected by the local priest, and I want to be certain of them all," I answered gravely, meeting the Arch-Lector's eyes. "I will see to it. None bearing the mark of the Ruinous Powers will remain standing in this city. You have my word, Graf Albrecht: Marienburg shall be a shining example of Sigmar's purity and of our holy mission in the struggle against Chaos from this day forward," the Arch-Lector replied before rising and leaving the mansion to begin his work. The following days unfolded as I had planned. Broekwater, Almshoven, and Fort Solace fell with barely any resistance, secured by my troops the Marienburg navy was incapable of mounting a solid defense. Fort Hollum and the town of Aarnau were also taken, along with all villages and hamlets along the way, leaving the north of the Wastelands under my control. Just in time, for forces from the Elector Count of Nordland soon appeared, attempting to cross the border to seize the towns—though they arrived too late. Amidst the witch hunters' pyres and their constant trials, I finally managed to free men from garrison duty in the city and send them south to secure the swamp villages and, most importantly, demand the surrender of Fort Bergbres. There the situation was more complicated: the commander and officers were members of the great houses that had proclaimed themselves leaders of the Republic of Marienburg, alongside merchants who had fled the city and sought to regroup in order to reclaim it. But the garrison had other plans. The next day, the lifeless bodies of those commanders were thrown toward our lines. The garrison surrendered entirely, unwilling to starve in a hopeless siege. Thus, Marienburg and the Wastelands fell fully under my control. Yet there was little immediate profit to be had. The witch hunters' purges, combined with urban combat and the devastation wrought by the vampire and the Ruinous Powers, had left the city gravely scarred. Marienburg, a city that once housed nearly two hundred thousand souls, had lost tens of thousands. I estimated the dead numbered in the tens of thousands—between political purges, religious trials, and the battles against Chaos corruption. And many of those who remained were not even Imperials: they hailed from foreign cities, ports of the Old World, and even from the far east, from Cathay and beyond. The city, for the time being, stood calm—though not truly at peace. Many merchants who had escaped—or simply been abroad when the city fell—now proclaimed themselves "Directors of Marienburg," and, according to my somewhat reliable sources, were beginning to hire mercenary companies with the intent of retaking it. It was clear that, though the streets were quiet, the city's future remained uncertain, and it could once again become a battlefield. As for me, the work was endless. I had to tally the gold seized in the conquest, reorganize the tax records, and prepare the ground for trade to flow again once the ports were repaired. Without respite, the days passed in reconstruction, mountains of paperwork, and the first official complaints from priests of various cults, enraged that the Cult of Sigmar had seized the city's most important cathedrals. The witch hunters' investigations only deepened the tensions: many priests were accused of corruption, suspected of bearing the mark of Chaos, or even of vampirism. The pyres began to burn fiercely, sending a clear message that heresy and disorder would never again take root here. At the same time, my men fought in the shadows against the remnants of Marienburg's smuggling bands. Those rats still tried to reclaim their old "normality," but we hunted them down one by one. Their bodies were hung from the city's bridges as a warning: the corrupt system that had ruled under the Directorate was finished, and their treachery would no longer be tolerated. For years they had endangered the Empire by trafficking cursed items and forbidden relics, filling their pockets without caring about the consequences. Now, the tap had been shut off forever. Between executions, trials, and reconstruction, time slipped through my fingers. But at last, I received my official summons to the Volkshalle, into the presence of the Emperor himself. ----------------------------- 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. -------------------------------