Introduction

If I’m going to make a record of this, I suppose it makes sense to start at the beginning!

My name is Sebastien Tyrol and I grew up on the farms of Hammerhall, Aqsha. I lived with my parents Wulf and Greta and my two younger sisters Anna and Mara. At the time life seemed hard, but compared with my life since it feels like a dream.

My parents were approached by an emissary of the Collegiate Arcane who claimed to sense a convergence of magical energy around me. A skill I later learned they called the witch sight. She was called Eléan and offered to mentor me during my education in the city college. My parents were so proud, for generations my family had done nothing but tend the fields. I would be the first one to get out, the first one to learn to read.

I was terrified!

My fears were unfounded. Life in the Collegiate was easy. Eléan was harsh, but an excellent teacher. All that was asked of me was a few menial tasks and a devotion to my studies. I soon realised I had an affinity with Amethyst magic, the magic of death. A lore feared by many, but to me it has always seemed perfectly natural.

Once in a while the college would be visited by the great and feared Battlemages. Brothers and Sisters of the Collegiate Arcane who fought on the front line against the armies of Chaos. I was in awe. Life in the college was comfortable, and the the thought of venturing out to face the darkness of the realms was something I vowed never to do.

I continued to learn at an impossible rate. I devoured all of the lore I could lay my hands on. Within a few short months I’d worked my way through most of the college’s extensive library and still I yearned for more.

I heard rumours that the Collegiate had books that were restricted to all but the most powerful. A few volumes of ancient and rare tomes said to be transcribed directly from the teachings of Teclis himself. Apparently there was a volume for each of the eight lores of magic and a few of them were right here in Hammerhall.

Late one evening I slipped away. Down into the catacombs beneath the Collegiate. I’d discovered where the books were hidden and had to see for myself.

There they were, three of the eight volumes. A volume on Amber magic, the lore of Ghur, a volume on Gold magic, the lore of Chamon, and finally the volume on Amethyst magic. My palms were sweating, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. Could this really be the word of the great Aelven mage Teclis delivered to the humans during the Age of Myth?

That’s when everything changed!

I heard sounds of a commotion coming from the floors above. Screams and explosions. Dust and small stones fell from the ceiling above me and the whole building shook down to its foundations. We were under attack!

Thankfully I heard the voice of Eléan in the hall outside. Everything was going to be alright.

That’s what I thought until I heard her companion speak. It was a sound that got under your skin and ate into your bones. Three, four and five voices all speaking at the same time, gibbering and senseless. The whole room became as cold as the grave, time seemed to slow down and speed up in strange ways, and the very blood in my veins felt hot.

I admit it. I’m a coward. I hid!

They took everything. Everything, that is except the Amethyst tome. I’d taken that without realising, my finger nails dug into the leather binding so deeply I thought I’d never let it go.

I stayed hidden for hours before I gained the courage to venture out. The Collegiate was in ruins. The library was ransacked. But worst of all, my Brothers and Sisters were all dead. It was a massacre!

A few days later the Battlemages arrived with a company of Stormcast Eternals. Never have I seen such warriors. Surely with them as our allies the struggle against Chaos isn’t in vain.

I was trained by the Battlemages and during the next few years we took the fight to the dark powers.

Over time I heard tales. Tales of a human wizard aligned with the forces of Chaos. Trading more and more of her soul for the favour of her new masters. Each time we get close she always manages to slip away.

Eléan is drunk on power, I don’t know how many of the tomes she managed to trace, but I know now that the Amethyst tome isn’t safe.

I have seen battle, I’ve fought side by side with the Stormcast Eternals. I’ve seen my Brothers and Sisters, Battlemages of the free peoples fight bravely and die for Sigmar. We are powerful. We are strong.

… but it isn’t going to be enough!

I have been offered a place amongst the Soulbound. I know it’s the right thing to do.

And still, I’m terrified!