World History - 12 Years since the fall of Sigmar and the death of Itaxis

My role-playing is largely done in a parallel "Warhammer Fantasy" world. 

The divergences were quite small, almost non-existent, until the God Sigmar was killed during a battle to slay the returned God Itaxis. The Dwarf Absolon was directly responsible  for his death - channeling his God's energy into battle with Itaxis allowed Itaxis to draw out the energy and destroy Sigmar on the battlefield.

Anyway, here's the 12-year history since that historic battle from the perspective of Absolon.

Fundamentally at this stage the only bit of Warhammer Fantasy that remains is the map ... !

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It has been a long twelve years. Following the defeat of Itaxis and the death of Sigma, the Empire has changed beyond all measure. At first, with the help of Absolon, the young Emperor was able to hold the Empire together, but soon the rebellions started. First was the Western province around the city of Marienburg. The ruler of that city proclaimed himself King Alfred of Sto, a reference to the ancient human kingdom that bridged his region with that of the Bretonnian city of Gisoreux (with which he sought to unite).

Absolon led the armies of the Empire to quell this rebellion and reinforce the Empire’s western borders.

In his attempt to quell the rebellion, Absolon was utterly successful. Absolon secured the Empire’s Western border. The armies of the Empire with Absolon at their head repelled all incursions from Bretonnia. The rebellion was put down with remarkably little loss of life, “King” Alfred did not have the support of the vast majority of his people who were still loyal to the Empire. 

Unfortunately, while Absolon was working to restore order, and putting in place a new ruler for the city-state, an assassin killed the Emperor in the throne room. The noble houses of Altdorf quickly fell upon each other, as there was no clear line of succession, to put a new ruler in place. The battle was relatively short and a new Emperor, Alston Duma, was installed.

The Empire changed again under Alston. The loss of Sigma and the scattering of clerics had hit the confidence of the Empire hard. A distrust of magic began to seep into the very heart of the Empire. On returning to the Capital, the people and their leaders treated Absolon as a hero. However, the mumblings about Arronar (and Duncan and Myia) continued. Soon there was widespread talk of the heroic Paladin who, somehow, had been instrumental in the death of Sigma, was in thrall to the Demon and her “pet” mage. The whispering against Arronar reached up to the Imperial court. Despite all the efforts made these rumours persisted. It came to a head after Duncan’s request to set up a training academy in the Wizards noble house (Trimon Negat-Aru) was blocked on the direct command of the Emperor. Duncan took the decision, against Absolon’s strong objection, to relocate his family to the East and set up in the city of Kislev.

Absolon remained in the Emperor’s court for more than a year before it just became clear to him that Alston was not to be trusted. One night there was an attempt on Absolon’s life - an Assassin armed with the Dagger of Souls attempted to kill him while he slept. Unfortunately for the Assassin, Darmak was staying in a nearby room, and Absolon had been using the Gem Village to research how to restore Sigma. Darmak was quickly able to kill the assassin, and Absolon and Darmak fled the city, taking a small force of loyal Clerics and mages with him. Whilst Absolon intended to take the dagger with him; the blade was missing. They left Altdorf without it, fleeing to the North East and the imperial-controlled city of Talabheim. 

Shortly after arriving, the Emperor issued a “kill on sight” order for Absolon. While there were lots of people in the city who were loyal to Absolon, there were not enough to guarantee his safety so. Despite him wanting to make a defence there - Absolon was convinced by Darmak and Duncan (who joined the group a couple of days later), to continue to Kislev where Duncan already had a base.

The loyalty of the people of Kislev to Absolon became apparent quickly. Before Absolon even arrived the proclamation calling for his death by the Emperor had put the region into open revolt. General Veiss (who the party had previously met as they journeyed from Altdorf to Talabheim back in their adventuring days, and who, having been promoted, was now a General) was leading the rebellion.

Since the defeat of Itaxis and the death of Sigma, the forces of Chaos in Kislev had been mysteriously quiet. General Veiss discovered that the portal (through which Chaos has poured into the world) was now closed. A small garrison of men (and mages) had secured it and cleaned out those mutations that remained.

After two months it was agreed by General Veiss and his army council that the region should formerly succeed from the Empire and that it would need a leader. The Council decided that that leader should be Absolon, despite his objections. He was installed as the first King of Kislev since Kislev joined the Empire 200 years ago. King Absolon VII.

Time passed, while the Empire continued to plot the downfall of Absolon, the loyal soldiers he surrounded himself with were able to ensure his safety in Kislev.

Five years passed. The Empire decayed and collapsed into little more than a military dictatorship - its people suffered under the hate-filled despotic rule of Emperor Duma. Under King Absolon, the new Kingdom of Kislev grew in strength and reputation. Beyond its borders alliances were formed with the Mountain Dwarves of Karak-Ungor, and Karak-Kadrin. The nominally independent city of Erengrad joined the new Kingdom, as did the Empire’s formerly most northern city of Praag. With Karak-Kadrin securing the new kingdom’s southern border, and the now-fortified chain of towns and villages between Petragrad and Zwolen securing the western border peace reigned. The new Kingdom began to prosper with greatly expanded trade to the East as well as to the nominally independent halfling controlled lands within the Empire to the south. 

Approximately two years ago, the Desert Elves sent emissaries to make contact. The elves had returned from hiding after the defeat of Itaxis (and whose original kingdom Itaxis had destroyed). Whilst primarily a nomadic people they pledged their loyalty to the new king as he had been responsible for the defeat of Itaxis. Trade to the east massively increased as both the mountain dwarves and the desert elves could then help to protect the convoys as they passed through their respective territories.

Recently the number of refugees has increased from the Empire. The hatred of spell casters and the desire to control everyone and everything have made it incredibly difficult for people to live within the Empire.

Yesterday spies within the capital of Altdorf reported that the Emperor had voluntarily handed over power and that the Army Generals were now receiving orders from someone else - from who it was not clear.