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Cast of Characters

Franz Edelmann- 3rd son of the elector count of Westerland 28yrs old
Fredrick Braun- Knight from Reikland 33 yrs old
Leon Albrecht- Young noble from Stirland trained as light cavalry 20 yrs old
Wilhelm Scholz- Former captain of Middenheim halberdiers 43 yrs old
Gunther Bartel- Engineer/Armorer trained at the academy in Nuln 38 yrs old
Monch Vogel- Warrior Priest of Sigmar 50 yrs old

Synopsis of the story to come Franz Edelmann being the third son of an Elector Count, and hungry for influence and political power, spent his teenage years in the pistolier corps, before spending his early and mid twenties running his father's fleet. Realizing his ambitions would likely never come to fruition as the 3rd son he hatched a daring plan to colonize the far off Dragon Islands in the name of the Empire and Westerland, to create a new province, one that he would hold Countship over. Despite the recent civil war ending Franz put out the word he was looking for adventurous men to join him. Any not born of noble lineage who came independently of a lord or noble, and could maintain a fruitful homestead for 5 years would be granted the land they settled on and a minor title within the Westerland hierarchy.



Franz looks ahead from the port bow of his flagship, the Comet of Sigmar. An armed merchant galleon with a broadside of 4 great cannon, procured from Nuln by the engineer Gunther Bartel along with a volley gun that was disassembled to arm the sloop Otto Bauer ahead of him, with each firing deck facing forward at the bow and one port and one starboard.

The crews were experienced sailors, his father's men he's been over seeing for years now, along with a sizeable regiment of spearmen, halberdiers, and a few handgunners Bartel had brought along. A dozen minor nobles, and half a dozen sons of other nobles had also volunteered, and brought their horses, and some livestock. All in all, Franz had roughly 700 men total between the two ships, including many peasants hoping to make a name and gain a landed title by working a farmstead.

After months at sea, the Dragon Islands were finally dark smudges on the horizon, and if the wind remained favorable Franz knew they'd be dropping anchor off shore around night fall, and he could lead an expedition ashore in the morning. Franz's hand fell to the sword at his side. An enchanted sword, not as powerfully imbued with magics as an elector's Runefang, but it filled him with an unnatural vigor and courage when he drew it. Along their path the two ship convoy had been attacked by corsairs several times, however his ship's mighty armament often repelled them, convincing them to find easier prey elsewhere. Franz had grown up on the sea, and in fact felt quite out of place when his father placed him into the pistolier corps so he could prove himself in 'real' battles and learn the tactics and strategies required for land based warfare, ignoring the several encounters and battles against pirates he had while abroad learning the ways of the sea and the breeze. Franz was initially bitter about that, but now is glad he had the necessary knowledge to lead these men once they were ashore.

The ships arrived a few hundred yards off shore and dropped anchor, about an hour after sunset. Once the anchoring was completed, an evening watch was stood up, to keep an eye out for pirates who might stumble upon them in the dark, and Franz retired to his cabin. It could have only been a few hours before Franz awoke just in time to hear pounding on his cabin door as only one of many sounds disrupting a previously peaceful night. The sounds of men shouting, running feet on the decks, as well as the sound of howling wind, and beating ran, a mighty storm and whipped up around them while he slept. As Franz got out of bed he felt the sensation of movement. Not the typical rocking and drifting a ship at anchor or tied to a pier would have, but significant movement. Either someone gave the order to weigh anchor, or the anchor was dragging, the latter making more sense.
As the young Edelmann came up on deck, hot rain immediately struck his face, and his hat was torn from his head and sent overboard. Men raced to and fro some trying to climb the rigging. Franz began demanding them get down from the rigging and back on deck, the wind and rain made climbing too dangerous and he'd need every man with him if he were to be successful. "Let go the anchor cable! Man the capstan, and pay it out slowly, and we might yet stop her before she runs aground!" he bellowed to the crew around him.

AI assisted update

Franz's eyes widened in horror as he realized that the anchor cable had snapped under the relentless force of the storm. His flagship, the Comet of Sigmar, was being mercilessly dragged towards the treacherous shores of the Dragon Islands. Panic surged through him as he barked orders to the crew, desperately trying to avert disaster.

"Brace for impact! Prepare to abandon ship!" Franz's voice boomed over the chaos, barely audible amidst the deafening roar of wind and crashing waves. The crew scrambled to secure themselves, clinging to whatever they could find as the vessel was tossed about like a toy in the clutches of a raging tempest.

With an ear-splitting crunch, the Comet of Sigmar crashed against the rocky coastline, splintering wood and tearing through the hull. The impact threw Franz off his feet, sending him sprawling onto the deck. He could taste saltwater in his mouth, and his vision swam with disorientation.

Shaking off the daze, Franz rose to his feet, his heart pounding in his chest. The ship groaned and creaked under the relentless assault of the waves, threatening to break apart at any moment. Urgency filled him as he realized the dire situation they were in.

"Abandon ship! Save yourselves!" Franz's voice reverberated with a mix of desperation and determination. He fought against the torrential current that threatened to drag him under as he made his way to the lifeboats. The crew, driven by survival instincts, followed suit, clinging to any hope of escaping the sinking vessel.

Amidst the chaos, Fredrick Braun, the Reikland knight, and Leon Albrecht, the young noble, fought their way to Franz's side. Their faces were etched with grim determination as they braced themselves against the unforgiving storm.

"We stand with you, Franz," Fredrick declared, his voice firm. "We may have lost the ship, but we won't let our mission falter. The Dragon Isles await, and we shall not be deterred."

Franz nodded, gratitude welling within him for the steadfast loyalty of his companions. "We press on, no matter the challenges," he affirmed, gripping his enchanted sword tightly. The weapon, once a symbol of his ambition and thirst for power, now served as a reminder of their unwavering resolve.

As the lifeboats were launched, the crew members clung to each other, fighting against the churning sea. The waves tossed them mercilessly, threatening to consume them in its icy embrace. Yet, driven by their shared purpose and a desperate will to survive, they pushed forward.

Finally, battered and exhausted, the survivors reached the shore of the Dragon Isles. The storm continued to rage above them, but they had managed to escape the clutches of the sea. Their ship lay shattered on the shoals, a grim testament to the power of nature.

Gathering their remaining strength, Franz, Fredrick, and Leon rallied the survivors. It was a motley crew, a mix of nobles, soldiers, and peasants who had sought a chance at a better life through Franz's ambitious plan. They had all endured the wrath of the storm, and now they stood together, united by a shared sense of resilience.

"We may have lost our flagship, but we haven't lost our purpose," Franz declared, his voice ringing out with determination. "The Dragon Isles will still become our new province. We will establish Westerland's presence here, and we will build a future from the ashes of this storm."

With renewed resolve, the group set off into the unknown, venturing deeper into the uncharted lands of the Dragon Isles. They were battered, their resources depleted, but their spirit remained unyielding. Franz Edelmann