Latest developments from the Border Princes,

To the west, the Tomb Kings have repeatedly failed to expand their lands despite bringing to battle their new fiendish constructs - the Ushabti. To their east the High Elves brought forces from the Blighted Wastes to a standstill at the banks of the Tana Dante. More recently the priests operating out of Madritte smashed their forces against the implacable Dwarf from the mountains, and were forced into retreat.

Despite warnings of the dark power rising in the Acaes forest, the High Elves succesfully defeated the strange creatures of Chaos. However they could soon be in trouble - after the Dark Elf forces destroyed a rising Slaanesh warlord they have expanded their territory to cut off their High Elf bretheren. The Dark Elf commander has stated that his next target will be the High Elves, who must be wiped from the Border Princes.

Recent Troops Movements

A quick update, my lord, on the advancement of the various armies that roam the Border Princes.

After their retreat years ago the High Elves have returned, and been succesful in a series of fights to gain control of the east bank of the Tana Dante. Orc forces have also sprung up in the area, after lying dormant for a long time. The Imperial city of Aldwin is surrounded by the greenskins, and since the Elector Count of Stirland removed his forces from the area, the Imperial troops have been quiet to react to such threats. Rumour has it though, that a power struggle is taking place in Freihafen, and the forces of the church of Sigmar are mobilising.

The Wood Elves continue the expansion of the Caledonian with little resistance, whilst their evil kin the Dark Elves continue their conquest of the Black Gulf Coastline - though the may face resistance in the east, as it has been said the vengeful tree spirits of the Achaes Forest have begun to stir, noticing the intrusion on their borders.

Some forces have failed to make much progress. The Tomb Kings of the Blighted Wastes have failed a number of times to advance beyond their current borders, though it is said that the Liche Priests are searching the ruins of Camargh for new powers. It is also said that their Vampiric allies have holed themselves in Castle Vendrack for reasons unknown. In addition, depsite the large number of Dwarf forces in the Border Princes, they have mostly failed to expand on the trade highway they planned from Karak Izor to Barak Varr.

It remains to be seen how the situations develop further, and whether the power the Chaos unleashed at the Tombs of Cairnos will aid them.

Chaos rule the Tomb of Cairnos

In a bloody series of fights, a dark alliance between the forces of Chaos have taken the mysterious area known as the Tombs of Cairnos, and are even now plundering the hidden treasures.

Three Dwarf forces had arrived at the tombs a day before the clashes took place, intent on opening the graves and seeking the artefacts within. But Chaos forces were hot on their heels, with forces of Slannesh, beasts of Tzeentch, Skaven and Dark Elves encircling the tombs, ready to pounce. Meanwhile an Elf and Lizardmen alliance rushed to the area, intent that Chaos could not be allowed to gain access to the powers of the tombs. Added to the confusion, a rampaging orc horde had entered the area, and the activity in the area had raised the slumbering undead from their barrows.

The Chaos were quick to make their presence fealt, with a large Chaos horde crushing a smaller undead force, though their Skaven allies could not overrun the barrow-wights that faced them. Meanwhile, the Dark Elves devestated the Dwarfs occupying the abandoned village of Sweinstein and a Tzeentch lord easily deafeated the Elves trying to stop them taking control of two ancient monoliths.

Perhaps if the Dwarfs and Elves had worked together, they would have fended off the forces of darkness. As it was the Dwarfs accused the Elves of trying to steal their treasures, and joined battle. The Dwarfs were forced to reatreat from a Wood Elf army around Cairnos' Acropolis and barely held out against the Lizardmen. Meanwhile, the High Elf cavalry, attempting to flank the Chaos, ran across the Orc horde, who slaughtered the unprepared Elves.

Following such brutal fighting, the Dwarfs had been scattered, lacking any of the treasures they had come to loot. Of the Elf forces, only the Wood Elves could mount a serious offensive against the remaining Chaos forces. Perhaps unlikely help could come in the form of the Orcs, who were eager for more killing.

Whilst the Tzeentch lord harnessed the power of the monoliths, the Orcs mounted an offensive. Fortunately for the Tzeentch lord, the beasts of the Lord of Change were on hand to strike back at the greenskins, who were forced to retreat. Meanwhile the forces of Slaanesh and their Dark Elf allies marched towards the central tomb, intent on harvesting the powers within.

The Wood Elves made a valiant attack on the rear of these forces, but the mobile Dark Elves turned around and after a bloody fight chased their woodland kin away. At this time, the Slannesh army reached Cairnos' Tomb - but the ancient hero had raised an army of his warriors from the dead to fight back the Chaos advance. But it was to no avail, the Slaansh crushed the undead with no difficulty.

As the sun dropped below the horizon, the forces of good were scatted and fleeing in all directions. Chaos forces smashed open the barrows and tombs, looting all they could find, and harnessing the ancient energies contained within. This can only make the forces of darkness far more powerful in the coming weeks and months. But how long can the alliance between Slaanesh, Tzeentch and the Dark Elves last?