Life in the Old World is a constant struggle for survival, especially for the nomadic strigany people, who wander the lands of the Empire. As reports of strange illnesses and disappearing bodies increase, the Elector Counts of Averland and Stirland decide to get rid of this menace once and for all, by driving the strigany out of the Empire forever. As the strigany are rounded up, a massive force of hard-bitten mercenaries is sent to intercept them, but would-be slaughterers find the tables turned when they discover the strigany have dark and ancient allies who rise to their defence.