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27July2009   
T o d a y ’ s T a b b l o i d    
PERSONALNEWSFOR
riorio2@rogue-games.net  
1   
ROGUEFEED    
[LostWorks]RoadsandRoad    WardensoftheEmpire   
JUL26,200907:53A.M.  Ineverrealizedhowmuch
 WarhammerFRP    
thingsIwrote.Ithink   thisisoneofmyfavoritepiecesIdid,anditappearedin
 Warpstone   
.  
RoadsandRoadWardensoftheEmpire   
TheroadsintheEmpirearefewinnumber,butverywelltraveled.  Contrarytopopularbeliefthemaintenanceandpatrollingofroadsisnot  afunctionoftheEmpire.Instead,thisfallsontheshouldersofthe   individualprovincialgovernments.Eachprovincemaintainstheroads    withintheirboarders,aswellasprotectingalltravelers.Toensurethe   safetyofalltravelers,provinceshavecreatedroadwardens.Road    wardenspatroltheroadsandareoftentheonlyformoflawseenin   remoteregionsofaprovince.Thisarticledealswithnotonlyroad    wardensbutalsotheroadsoftheEmpire.  
DevelopmentofRoads   
 YoucantracethedevelopmentEmpireroadstothefirstEmperorSigmar   Heldenhammer.WhenSigmarbegantheforgingoftheEmpire,hesaw    theneedforroads.Roads,heopinioned,wouldnotonlymakeiteasierto   movetroopsandgoods,butasawaytounifyallregionsoftheEmpire.  Thefirstroadswerenothingmorethensimplefootpathsorforesttrails.  Sigmarsawaneedtotaketheseestablishedtrailsandmakethem     permanent.  ThefirstmajorroadbuiltwastheOldDwarfRoad.Seeingthegrowing   Empire,thedwarfssawtheneedtohaveaneasytotravellandrouteinto   theEmpire.Thedwarfsofferedtobuildtheroad,andinreturn,all  dwarfswouldbefreetousetheroad,andfurthermorechargednotypeof   tariffwhileusingit.Sigmarinturnwantedtheconstructionprocesstobe   awayforboththehumansanddwarfstoworktogether.Hestatedthat  aslongashiscountrymenwereinvolvedintheprocesstheyco   uld   proceed.H    umansanddwarfsworkedtogetherinthebuildingo   fthe   road,andthehumanslearnedmanynewconstructiontechniques.The   dwarfs,be   causeoftheproject,solidifiedtheirrelationshipwiththe   humans.  Constructionbeganin11ICandittookfiveyearstocompletetheproject.  StartingfromtheBlackFirePass,theroadreachedthecitynowknown   asWurtbad.TypicalofDwarfconstruction,theroadwasbuilttolast,and   atthetimewasanengineeringmarvel.Thehuman/dwarfcrewsfirst  excavatedparalleltrenchessome40-feetapart,andthesetrenches   provideddrainagefortheroad.Thenusingthematerialtakenfromthe   trenches,afoundationtwentyfeetwidewasraisedthreefeetabove   groundlevel.Embeddedintothisfoundationthecrewsplaced6-inch   thickslabsofgranite.Theroadwasbuiltasstraightaspossible,and   insteadofgoingaroundhills,theroadcutthroughthem.  SigmarthencommissionedthebuildingoftheAltdorf-Middenheim     Roadin30IC.Theprojectprovidedamuch-neededlinkbetweenthe   northernandsouthernregionsoftheEmpire.UnliketheOldDwarf   Roadproject,theAltdorf-Middenheimroadwasnotpaved.Instead,a   fifty-footwideswathofforestwascleared,andtheexistingfootpath   expandedtoallowwagontraffic.  OtherEmperorsfollowedSigmar’sleadandcommissionedroad-building   projectsaswell.ItwasSigismundtheConquerorwhothesawtheneed   ofroadstoaidinhismilitarycampaigns.Thefirstroadhecommissioned    wastheOldForestRoadin500IC.Sigismundneededawaytoeasily   movetroopsfromthenorthernregionstothesouthernboarders.  Seekingtheaidofthedwarfs,theOldForestroadwasbuiltsimilartothe   OldDwarfRoad.Ittookfouryearstobuildtheroadsincethe   constructionprocesssufferedmanysetbacks.Themajorityoftheseset   backswereduetotheraidsconductedbytribesofgoblins.Thehumans   anddwarfssufferedlargecausalities,buttheysucceededinfinishingthe   road.  SigismundalsocommissionedtheconstructionoftheGreatNorthRoad   in503IC.TheroadplancalledforittoonotonlylinkTalabheimto   Middenheim,butMiddenheimtoMarienburg.Withcampaignsinthe    Wasteland,Sigismundneededaneasyroutetomovetroopstothenorth.  TheAltdorf-MiddenheimRoadwasgood,butwasquicklybecoming   congestedwithincreasedtraffic.Toremedythis,asecondrouteto   Middenheimwasneeded,aswellasalandrouteintotheWasteland.  Constructiontookplaceintwophases.Thefirstphasetookthreeyears   andlinkedTalabheimtoMiddenheim.Tospeeduptheprocess,ahard   packeddirtroadsome40feetinwidthwascreated.Whentheroadwas   completedin508IC,thesecondphaseoftheprojectstarted.Built  followinganexistingforesttrial,itwaswidenby40feet.Theroadwas   finishedin513IC,andwouldhavebeenfinishedsoonerifitwerenotfor   afewproblems.Thefirstproblemwastheconstantattacksfromthe    woodElfsoftheLaurelornForest.  TheElfswereopposedtoroadsbeingbuiltneartheirlands.Theroad    wouldprovideeasymilitaryaccessforthenewhumanempire.In   addition,itofferedthepromiseofimmigrationintowhatwasatthetime   elflands.Thehumanswerealsoclear-cuttingmuchoftheforestto   providefortheconstructionoftheroad.TheElfsemployedmanyactsof   sabotageandtriedtohaltconstruction,buttheyhadlittlesuccess.The   ElfsfinallywithdrewdeeperintotheLaurelornForest,andstrengthened   
 
Today’sTabbloidPERSONALNEWSFOR
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27July2009   
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theirboarders.Thesecondmajorproblemtheconstructioncrewsfaced    wasthefactthatSigismundwantedtheroadbuiltthroughthemiddleof   theSchadensumpf.Thisvastmarshhamperedtheconstructionand   causedmanydeathsamongtheconst4rcutioncrews.  In530ICSiegfriedtheLawgivercommissionedtherebuildingofthe    Altdorf-MiddenheimRoad.Theroadthatdatedbacktothetimeof   SigmarhadbecomethemajorlinkbetweenAltdorfandthenorth.Itwas   aheavilytraveledroad,andthoughmaintainedcouldnothandlethe   largeamountoftraffic.SiegfriedwantedtheroadbuiltsimilartotheOld   DwarfRoad.Itwastobewidenedtofiftyfeet,andraisedfivefeetabove   groundlevel.Inplaceofgraniteslabs,granitebrickswerelaidintothe   roadbed,andkeptinplaceusingafastdryingmortar.Anagreementwas   reachedwiththedwarfsandtwoteamsofconstructioncrewsarrivedin   theEmpiretobeginbuildingtheroadin531IC.  Tospeedupconstructiontwocrewswereassembled,oneinAltdorfand   oneinMiddenheim.Abetwasplacedonwhichcrewwouldreachthe   midwaypointfirst.Themixedhumananddwarfcrewsworkedhardand   fast,bothwantingtobethefirsttofinish.Threeyearstothedayofthe   startofconstruction,theMiddenheimcrewreachedthehalfwaypoint,  andexactlytwominutesbehindwastheAltdorfcrew.Inthespiritof   comradeship,thetwocrewslaidthelastbrick,whichwasmadeoutof   gold,together.Aregularbrickpaintedgoldquicklyreplacedthisbrick.  Theoriginalgoldbrickwastakenaway,anditscurrentlocationis   unknown.Withtheplacingofthegoldenbrick,thelastmajorEmpirial  roadworkprojectended.   Aperiodofmuchroaddecaytookplacebetween1111ICand1124ICand   thiswereduetotheSkaveninvasion.WhiletheBlackPlaguehadadeath   gripontheEmpire,theSkavenleapedattheopportunitytoinvade.The   SkavenusedWarpstoneminestodestroymanyroadsandbridges.With   alackoffunds,andtheSkavendemolitionwork,theroadnetwork   suffered.Itwouldnotbeuntil1124ICwhenCountManfred   SkavenslayerwoulddrivetheSkavenout,whichledtohisbeingelected   Emperor.WiththeSkaventhreatover,thelong,slowprocessof   rebuildingtheroadsbegan.   WhencivilwarrockedtheEmpirein1359ICmuchwouldchanged.  Roadsbecameimportantfornotonlythemovementofsuppliesand   troops,butalsoameanstodeprivetheenemyoftheirsuppliesand   reinforcements.In1547ICtheEmpirefounditselfwiththreeEmperors   andthreetimestheamountofconfusion.Theroadswerestill  maintained,butthedaysofmassiveroadbuildingprojectswereatan   end.Whateverroadbuildingdidtakeplacewassmallandtypically   involvedmakingforesttrailseasiertonavigateforcartsandwagons.  In1980IC,theDarkAgesasthescholar’srefertothem,settledacross   theEmpire.Thegraniteslabsthatpavedcertainroadswerepulledup   andusedtobuildmoreusefulstructures,andalloftheroadsbeganto   deteriorate.Moreimportantly,banditsandothergroupsplaguedthe   roads,andtheareasoutsideofthecitiesbecameanoman’sland.There    werecommunitiesthatexistedoutsideofthecitylimits,butthemajority   ofthepeoplestayedwithincloseproximitytothemajorcities.Roads,for   themostpart,becamedesertedandonlythebrave,desperate,orfoolish   traveledthem.  TheriversoftheEmpirehavealwaysbeenimportant,andwiththe   deteriorationoftheroads,nottomentionthedangerroadtravelposed,  manyturnedtotheriverforthetransportationofgoodsandpeople.  Riversprovedtobesafersomanyprovincialrulersmovedtoutilizingthe   rivers.Somerulersstillsawaneedtomaintaintheirroads,butlacking   thenecessaryfunds,theeffortsweremainlysuperficial.Remoteregions   closetotheriversawlittleneedtomaintaintheirroadsandshiftedtheir   focustotherivers.ItwouldnotbeuntilMagnusthePiousthattheroads   onceagainwouldbecameimportant.  Magnusrealizedtheimportanceoftheroads.Hesawtheneedtolink   townslocatedawayfromriverstotownslocatedbytherivers.Itwas   easierforamerchanttoshipgoodsbylandbetweenTalabheimand    Averheimthenitwastotransportthembywater.Asaresult,Magnus   attemptedtotakecontroloftheroadsback.Allregionsthatbenefitedby   havingroadsopposedthis.WiththegrowthoftheforcesofChaos,  Magnusalsoneededawaytomovetroopsquicklyandefficiently   throughouttheEmpire.  IntheyearsbeforeMagnusbeingdeclaredEmperorin2304IC,  provincialrulerswerefreetolevywhattariffs,ortollstheywanted.Many   provincesgotwealthyofftheroadtariffstheyemployed.Tomake   mattersworse,therewasnouniformtoll,andmerchantsfaceddifferent  tollsdependingonprovinceorlocationwithintheprovince.Themore   importanttheroadwas,thehigherthetollwas.Inaddition,thecloser    youcametoamajorcity,thehigherthetollwouldbe.Withtheapparent  endoftheeasymoneyprovincialleadersfoughtvigorouslyagainst  Magnus’gambit.Teamstersandcoachingcompanieslobbiedloudlyfora   standardizedroadtoll,andwereinfavorofMagnus’plan.Todrivehome   theirpointmanyteamstersandcoachingcompanieswentonstrike.They   refusedtodelivergoodsorpeopleuntiltherewasastandardroadtoll.  Facedwithtwoangryfactions,Magnusactedandactedquickly.  In2330ICMagnusdeclaredthatcontroloftheroadsintheEmpire    wouldstaywiththeprovinces.Inaddition,provinceswouldbeallowed   tokeepallroadtariffsunderthestipulationthatprovinceslevya   standardizedtollsetbytheEmperorhimself.Magnuswentfurtherand   decreedthatprovincesmustprovideforthesafetyofalltravelers.This   meantthattheywererequiredtomaintaintheroadsandprovidefor   roadwardenstoprotectalltravelers.Themoneyforroadmaintenance   andfortheroadwardenswouldcomeexclusivelyfromthecollectedtolls.  Theagreementwasratifiedin2337ICandthecurrentsystemhasbeen   inplaceeversince.  Todaytheroadwaysarewellmaintainedandwellpatrolled.Manyof   theseroadshavealsobeguntoberepaving,andcurrentlytherearea   numberofdwarfconstructionprojectsunderway.Therearemanysmall  roadscuttingacrosstheEmpire,buttheseroadsareoftennothingmore   thentwotravelwornruts,orfootpathsthatthroughtheyearsofusehave    becomerecognizedasroads.Currentlyindiscussionisaproposalfor   constructionofaroadfromKarakKadrintoWurtbad.Thishascauseda   debateoverwhowillpayforit.Ostermarkisapoorprovinceandthecost  couldbreakthetreasury.Stirland,thoughwealthierthenOstermark    wouldbehardpressedtocomeupwiththeneededcapitaltofinance   
 
Today’sTabbloidPERSONALNEWSFOR
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27July2009   
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suchanundertaking.TheEmpirehassuggestedthattheyfinancethe   projecttogether,andthattheywouldcontrolalltollsleviedalongit.This   suggestionhasnotbeenwarmlywelcomed.  
RoadWardens   
Thegroupchargedwiththetaskofmaintainingthepeacealongthe   Empire’sroadsiscollectivelyknownasroadwardens.Fromprotecting   tollbooths,toenforcingimperiallawsinremoteroadsidevillages,   wardensserveaveryimportantfunction.Wardensarenotfoundinevery   province,andaremainlylocatedneartheinterioroftheEmpire.  Middenland,Hochland,Reikland,Stirland,Nordland,andOstlandare   theonlyprovincesthatfundandmaintainroadwardens.Evenforthese   provincesthecommitmenttotheirwardensvaries.   Wardenjurisdictionsbeginwherethecitylimitsend,andthisis   generallyrecognizedastenmiles.Withincitylimits,wardenstakea   subordinateroletothecity’swatchorlocalmilitia.Ifwardensarresta   criminaloutsideoftheirjurisdiction,lawrequiresthemtoturnthe   prisonerovertothelocalauthorities.Inaddition,wardensarenot  allowedtoenforcelawsorarrestcriminalswithinthecitylimitswithout  theapprovalofthelocalmagistrate.Wheninvestigatingacrimewithin   thecitylimits,wardensarerequiredtocontactlocalauthoritiesandturn   theinvestigationovertothem.Theaboveonlyappliestothemajorcities   ortownsintheEmpire.Fortownsorvillageswithoutanorganized    watch,roadwardenstaketheleadinmaintainingthepeace.   Wardensaretypicallyorganizedinpatrolsoffive,withfourwardens    beingledbyasergeant.Thesizeofpatrolscanvaryandaresubjectto   localconditions,suchasbanditactivity,greenskins,orChaos.These   groupspatroltheroads,staffthetollbooths,andmaintainthepeacein   smallvillagesalongtheroad.Patrolsareondutyforfourweeksandthen   enjoyaone-weekrestperiod.Whileonpatrol,wardenscanstayatany   coachinginnandreceivefreemeals.Furthermoreallinnsmustkeepat  leasttworoomsavailableforwardensatalltimes.Thoughmanyinn   ownerscomplainaboutthisrequirement,theyseethebenefitofhavinga   constantwardenpresenceintheircommonrooms.   Alongmajorroadways,wardenpatrolsareconstantandtravelersand    villagerscantypicallyexpecttoseeawardenpatroleveryday.Along   minorroads,travelersandvillagerscanexpecttoseeawardenpatrol  everyd3days.Whilespendinganightatacoachinginn,thetravelerwill  findawardenpatrolrestingforthenight.Majorroadsarethosefound   ontheEmpire’smap.Theseroadsarepavedandlinkthemajor   populationcenterstogether.Minorroadsaresmaller,andtendtobe   smallfootpathsorcarttrails.  Thedailylifeofawardenisfilledwithconstanttravelonhorseback.   Wardensareunderpaidforthedangerstheyface.Fromfindingbandits   andoutlaws,tofightingtheforcesofChaos,awardenisinconstant  danger.Allwardenstravelwith,andreportto,asergeant.Sergeantsare   eitherchosenbyageormerit,butoftentimesahealthydonationtothe   RetiredWardenFundaidsinadvancement.Sergeantshaveseenmuchin   theirtimewiththewardens,andtendtobegrizzledveterans.Tosurvive   longenoughtobecomeasergeantisatestamentnotonlytotheirability,   butalsototheirluck.  Thenextrungofleadershipiscaptain.Basedinruralvillagesandcities,  captainsadministertheday-to-dayoperationsofthepatrols.Atypical  captainsupervisesbetweensixtotenwardenpatrols.Captainsensure   thetollboothsarestaffed,thewardensarepaid,andarrestedcriminals   aredealtwith.Promotiontotherankofcaptainisearned,andonlythe   mostskilledachievethisrank.Typicallywardencaptainshaveseensixto   eightyearsofservice,andhaveseenthingsthatwouldhavebrokena   lesserman.Captainsarerotatedtoanewpostingeverytwotothree    years,andthetheorybehindthisisthatitminimizescorruption.Thisis   normallynotanissue,buttherehavebeencasesofcaptainsworking    withcriminalrings,orworsewithslavers.   Attheupperlevelinthewardenchain-of-commandistheWarden   Commander.Basedintheprovince’scapital,theyareresponsibleforthe   runningoftheentireoperation.Theprovincialrulerappointsthe   Commandertothepost,andgenerallythetermofserviceissixyears.In   theorythispositionisbasedonmerit,andonlythebestareappointedto   thepost.Thisisnotalwaysthecase,andthepositioninsomeprovinces   hasbecomepolitical.Itisoftennotwhatyouknow,butwhomyouknow,  andsomeCommandershaveattainedthispositionthroughmoneyand   notmerit.  Eachprovincemaintainstheirownwardens,whopatrolonlytheroads    withintheirprovince.Thisprovesaproblemwhenasuspectcrosses   provincialboarders.Therearemanyrivalriesbetweenregionsand   nowhereisthismoreapparentthenintheranksofroadwardens.There   isnocooperationamongthedifferentgroups,andtomakematters    worsetheycompetewhenitcomestotheapprehendingcriminals.The    worstcaseofthisrivalryistheonethatexistsbetweentheMiddenland   andtheReiklandwardens.  Theoriginofthisfeudgoesbacktothenotoriouscoachinginnmurders   of2498IC.Overathree-yearperiodaserialkillerwasstalkingthe   coachinginnsalongtheAltdorf-MiddenheimRoad.Thekillertargeted    women,andmurderedatotaloftwentybythetimehewasapprehended.  Thekillerwasdiscoveredandfledonhorsebacktowardthesouth,witha   Middenlandwardenpatrolinpursuit.Thekiller’shorsethrewashoe,  fell,andbrokeitsleg.Whilethekillerwaspinnedunderthehorse,the   Middenlanderswenttoarresthimbutwerestoppedbyagroupof   Reiklanderwardenswhohadarrivedatthescene.Asitturnedout,the   killerhadcrossedtheborderintoReikland,leavingtheMiddenlanders    withnojurisdictioninthecase.Thekillerwastakenintocustody,and   creditforthecapturewenttotheReiklanders.Thiseventstartedthe   feudandtothisdaybothgroupsarebitterrivals.  Theprovincialrulersprovideforthefundingofwardens.Bylaw,alltolls   mustgotobothroadimprovementsandtothewardens.Forsome   provinces,thevalueoftheirroadsandwardensishigh,andextramoney   isspentonthem.Formostprovinces,however,wardensarepoorly   equippedandfunded.Becauseofthelowpayitisdifficulttofind   qualifiedcandidatestojoin.Onceacandidatejoinsthewardenstheyface   eithernotraining,oralotoftraining.ReiklandandMiddenlandplacea   highvalueontheirwardensandallcandidatesfaceasix-monthtraining   
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