Rumors of the state of the empire
It has been well over one thousand years since Sigmar the Divine, Protector and First Emperor defeated the hosts of Chaos, threw closed the Black Gates, and claimed all of the fallible Sons of Men as his wards and vassals. For the last thousand years, the armies of the Gottsreik have warred against all the known peoples in the world, to enlighten and protect them from that most dangerous foe: themselves. It is the Reikslander way of life, no other, that keeps the weak minds of Men from succumbing to the dark powers.
For almost all known history, the heirs of Sigmar have sought to protect humanity from the blight of another Damned Host. They have stamped out witchcraft and supplanted piety in its place. They have put an end to the pagan, barbarian practices of other lands: Brettonia, Estalia, Norsca, Kislev – all have been brought the gift of Imperial culture. The Old Races are no more than a memory, a wives' tale, but the stewards of Sigmar's Word say it is for the best that Men rule in the land of Men.
The Empire extends from the North of Norsca to the south of Araby, where just ten years ago, the final victory in Sigmar's Great Crusade was won. The armies of the great crusader generals have been repurposed with protecting the realm and collecting the levies neccesary to maintain order. These Ranger-Generals patrol throughout the Empire, holding no lands, having been charged with protecting all citizens equally. They move from hold to hold, collecting levies from local lords, and meting out Sigmar's Justice to those in need. They also ensure that no lord collects a standing army of any significant size – citizens of the Empire are allowed fame and fortune, but military power is the domain of the Emperor alone.
The society of the Empire, while seemingly harsh, has benefits. The constant vigilance of Sigmar's Hands, the warrior-priests charged with seeking out the taint of darkness, has ensured that Chaos is kept at bay. The impartial loyalties of the Ranger-Generals has kept the peace in the realms. A powerful merchant class has arisen, and have tended towards positions of power in local governance. These merchant princes are kept in check by the Ranger-Generals, ensuring that even the poorest of the Empire will not be too ill-treated.
All the same, though, dark whispers flit about. The Reik is stagnant, they say. With no one left to fight, the soldiers of the Crusades have begun to return to their homelands, and unrest stirs. In the south, in Tilea, it is said that some wealthy merchants have begun plotting against the Empire, recruiting armies with their vast wealth. Some even speak of witchcraft, sorcery, the dark art which brings Chaos. Scholars respond even more forebodingly that were such the case, humanity would be lost, for does not the strength of the Empire derive from the purity of its citizens? Ill winds are indeed brewing, and many citizens of the Empire find that they would rather wander the lands than wait for their vague doom in one place.
Many of these restless souls find purchase in the nomadic host of a Ranger-General. The numbers and members of these armies are fluid; it is tradition for new recruits to be taken in, and for a few veterans to retire from the Ranger Guard at each stop. The Ranger-Generals patrol on vast arcs throughout the Empire, returning to Reiksland after a period of years or decades to pay the people's tribute to the Imperial coffers. The pay in the Guard is good, and many find it an easy way to escape the dull, creeping fear of stasis that remains behind them in their homes.
You are one such soul, having forsaken your previous life for that of the wandering Guard. You have joined up with the Ranger Host of Gottlieb Sturm, known as the Strong, as his tour returns from Estalia by way of Brettonia. The host is nearing Altdorf, capital of the great Empire, and has but a few stops left to make. The stories say Altdorf is indeed a city of cities, and you are eager to see its majesty.
