The son of the God-Emperor in Warhammer Fantasy

"Humans have always relied on dwarven technology, from many years ago to the present. Dwarven-made products are always the best."

In the springtime Glamorgan County, Ryan and Belegar walked one after the other along the field path, heading towards the dwarven settlement.

Along the way, Belegar kept talking incessantly while Ryan mostly listened, occasionally responding with a few words.

Morgiana and Olica didn't come along; following Ryan was only his butler, Carstenberg. Seeing Ryan and Carstenberg both listening attentively, Belegar opened up, recounting the glorious history of the Angrund clan. He spoke of how prosperous and powerful Eight Peaks Mountain was, how they resisted the greenskins and Skaven for centuries, but in the end, they couldn't hold out and had to leave, starting their wandering journey.

"If you had a population of a hundred thousand back then and couldn't hold Eight Peaks Mountain against the greenskins and Skaven, why do you, King Belegar, think you can now muster an expeditionary force to reclaim it?" Carstenberg asked curiously.

"Neither the greenskin nor Skaven invasions are what they once were. When we defended Eight Peaks Mountain, it was during the height of greenskin power. During the earthquakes and the combined assaults of Skaven and greenskins, at least half of the dwarf fortresses fell," Belegar spoke with indignation at this humiliating history. "But later, Emperor Charlemagne established the Empire and signed the 'Holy Alliance' with the Dwarf High King. Together, at Blackfire Pass, they formed a massive coalition to fight off the largest greenskin horde ever. The war lasted from dawn to dusk, and the human-dwarf coalition utterly crushed the greenskin invasion. The losses were so severe that it took the greenskins centuries to recover, and no greenskin warlord could ever muster a Waaagh! on the scale of the first Blackfire Pass battle again. If we could have held out until the Blackfire Pass battle, we could have kept Eight Peaks Mountain."

Ryan understood. Though the dwarves were not as strong as before, neither were the greenskins who had attacked Eight Peaks Mountain. In the first Blackfire Pass battle, the greenskins were completely defeated and never regained their former unity, returning to small tribes. Later, no greenskin warlord, not the late (supposedly) Grom the Paunch, "Big Belly" Grimgor, or the famous Grimgor Ironhide, Wurrzag the Great Green Prophet, or Skarsnik, "Warlord of Eight Peaks," could lead more than a tribe.

"So, you humans have benefited greatly from us dwarves. When Charlemagne unified the Empire, how much did the dwarves contribute? Yes, the dwarves owed you that. If Emperor Charlemagne hadn't saved the Dwarf High King, the bloodline of the High King's family at Karaz-a-Karak might have been extinct. But I hope you will reciprocate. If you need my help to attack Blackstone Stronghold, no problem, Belegar will keep his word." Belegar patted his chest, eyes fixed on Ryan.

The implication was clear: remember the expedition to Eight Peaks Mountain! If I help you now, you must help us next! No reneging.

Ryan nodded with a smile, recalling the founding of the Empire. Indeed, without dwarf assistance, Emperor Charlemagne might not have established the Empire.

It was well known that Charlemagne united twelve human tribes to form the Empire, but he faced many obstacles in a series of wars.

The most intense opposition came from the Thuringians, now part of Middenland. Their king, "Mad King" Oskar, refused to surrender or submit even after Charlemagne had unified or defeated most tribes. Oskar mocked the other tribes for kneeling before Charlemagne, declaring himself loyal only to Ulric at the Great Temple of Ulric.

To resolve the last human tribe that refused to submit, Charlemagne launched a conquest war. The Thuringians mustered their army for battle but were shocked at the sight of Charlemagne's forces.

With dwarf help, the Carolingian tribe was fully equipped with chain mail and breastplates, wielding fine dwarf-made weapons. Charlemagne himself wore enchanted rune armor and wielded the legendary warhammer Ghal Maraz.

Dwarf catapults, crossbows, longbows, and chariots were all ready.

In contrast, the Thuringians wore animal-skin armor, many warriors bare-chested with wolf pelts, wielding stone axes, spears, and simple bows. Decent swords were scarce.

They were from different eras. How could the Thuringians hope to win? Charlemagne's Carolingian tribe had more soldiers and cavalry.

In the first clash, even the stubborn Thuringians had to retreat. Out of respect for fellow humans, Charlemagne offered a final ultimatum, demanding a champion duel.

Mad King Oskar had to face Charlemagne. The two greatest human warriors engaged in an epic duel atop a thousand-meter-high peak before Ulric's holy flame. Charlemagne withstood Oskar's fierce assault and defeated him before Ulric's sacred fire.

Faced with either the slaughter of his tribe or submission, Oskar understood Charlemagne was Ulric's chosen champion. True men honored the duel's outcome.

From that day, the Thuringians submitted, and the Empire's borders were established.

After musing on this long tale, Ryan refocused on Belegar: "King Belegar, how many clansmen have you brought this time?"

"About three thousand, with two thousand being excellent warriors," Belegar replied gruffly. "After the long journey, they are exhausted, Ryan. You must arrange their accommodations well."

"No problem, you can find Carstenberg if you need anything." Ryan handed the task to Carstenberg, who could only smile wryly. Dwarven demands were numerous and troublesome, always picky and thankless. Whenever Ryan assigned him to deal with dwarves, it gave him a headache.

Fortunately, the Bretonnian dukes supported Ryan and François's plan to attack Blackstone Stronghold economically if not militarily. François opened his coffers, swearing to cut the rest of Kemmler's head into pieces.

His father-in-law was wealthy, and Winford Duchy was rich, so Ryan didn't worry about funding.

"My army is assembled; any more and your land couldn't support them," Belegar understood. The King of Eight Peaks knew the difficulty of raising and paying for troops.

Without a base for repairing equipment and supplying logistics, Belegar always had to pay higher wages and maintenance costs.

When they reached the Angrund clan's camp, large groups of dwarves were resting, smoke rising into the sky. Ryan's men were delivering carts of food, vegetables, meat, ale, and essentials.

"I and my chief engineer, Halhaf-Grudgebearer, will use your workshops to produce siege weapons, mainly cannons and organ guns," Belegar said. "We will ally with you to attack Blackstone Stronghold. Here is our complete military list."

Belegar handed over a parchment listing the troops the Angrund clan would deploy.

- Legendary Dwarf Lord, King of the Angrund Clan, undisputed King of Eight Peaks, rightful ruler, last bloodline of Rune King, Belegar Ironhammer.

- Chief Engineer of Angrund, Halhaf-Grudgebearer.

- Clan Chief of Angrund, Berrick Northstar.

- One unit of Angrund Oath Guards (mixed Ironbreakers and Hammerers).

- Three units of Dwarf Warriors.

- One unit of Dwarf Miners.

- Three units of Dwarf Rangers.

- One unit of "Crossbows of Eight Peaks" Dwarf Heavy Crossbowmen (equipped with heavy weapons).

- One unit of "Northstar Axemen" Dwarf Hammerers.

- One unit of "Steel Brotherhood" Dwarf Ironbreakers.

- One unit of "Will of the Rune King" Dwarf Longbeards.

This was a formidable list. At Ryan's request, Belegar had written to various places, summoning many clansmen to help Bretonnia attack Blackstone Stronghold.

Ryan nodded at Carstenberg, who took out a thick parchment and handed it to King Belegar: "Here is our list of troops for the attack on Blackstone Stronghold."

- Lord, Bretonnian Holy Domain Grand Knight, Count of Glamorgan, Baron of Jean, Champion of the Lady of the Lake, Leader of the Grail Knights, Ryan-Macado.

- Legendary Fire and Light Mage, Veronica-Bernadotte.

- Legendary Ice and Psychic Sorceress, Teresa-Trovik.

- Templar Knight Alfred.

- One unit of Kingdom Knights led by the Standard Bearer, Grail Knight Armand.

- Three units of Ranger Knights led by Hex, Olivier, and Lopus.

- Two companies of the Glamorgan County Sword and Shield Infantry Regiment.

- Three companies of the Glamorgan County Spear Infantry Regiment.

- Two companies of the Peasant Crossbowmen Regiment.

- One unit of "Bastogne Hunters," Peasant Longbowmen led by Sergeant Denis.

- Two companies of the "Count's Halberd Regiment" Halberdiers.

- Two companies of "Ursun's Wrath" Ungol Horse Archers led by "Terrifying Ivan."

- One company of "Ryan's Hammer" Artillery, composed of four cannons and one organ gun.

- One unit of "Green Wind," Wood Elf Rangers led by half-elves Des and Aestel.

- Three companies of "Chalon Forest Defense Regiment," a mixed regiment led by Sergeant Bertrand.

- One company of "Norvigren Ironbreakers" led

 by Dwarf Chief Swain-Norvigren.

- One unit of "Dugan's Blackpowder Brotherhood" Dwarf Thunderers led by Dwarf Engineer Dugan-Ironhand.

This was Ryan's full roster.

Updated! This is the second update today! Please vote!

I think it's better to list all the assets the protagonist currently has. It's surprising to see how rich the protagonist has become after writing nearly two million words!

_________________________

[Check out my Patreon for +200 additional chapters in all my fanfics! $5 for all!!] [[email protected]/INNIT]