Marius Leitdorf

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Marius Leitdorf is was the Elector Count of Averland. He was also insane. Like, seriously, standards for sanity in Warhammer Fantasy are a bit lower than your average setting's, but Marius was still kooky enough to be publicly known as the Mad Count of Averland. He routinely relied on the advice of his warhorse, Daisy Kurt von Helboring II, as equal to or superior than the insights of his advisors, was a highly mercurial ruler, and was known for alternating between periods of intense melancholy and bouts of screaming rage. At his command, the armies of Averland waged wars against forests, swarms of bees and armies of fish... and for once we actually don't mean aquatic beastmen, even though those are presumably a thing in the Warhammer world. Also, he had a lifelong rivalry with the grim and humorless Reichsmarschall Kurt Helborg, who was deployed to Averland after the Halfling Rebellion to prevent any more embarrassing episodes.

Despite being mad as a sackful of wet skaven, Marius was a valuable asset to the Empire when he could stay sane for a few days at a time. He was an accomplished poet, an inventor of some standing, an exceptional swordsman, a brilliant military tactitian, an inspiring leader of men who always led his armies from the front and actually won many great victories through his unique blend of uncanny insights and insane courage. He was also an incredibly successful lady's man, seducing noblewomen and adding their husbands to his ever-growing list of enemies. Despite his erratic nature, Emperor Karl Franz considered him to be one of his greatest allies, perhaps in part because Marius both was the first person to vote for Karl's appointment as the Emperor over Boris Todbringer and because Marius saved Karl's life when they were attacked by Middenlander thugs after securing the vote of Hisme Stout, the Elector of the Halfling Moot, as recounted in the short story "The Prince of Altdorf".

He was ultimately killed fighting Orcs & Goblins in the Third Battle of Black Fire Pass, holding the line with the remnants of a regiment of greatswords against a personal assault by Orc warlord Vorbad Ironjaw. While the ultimate Imperial victory in that battle helped to secure Karl Franz's position, Marius died without establishing a direct line of succession, beginning a fight between the nobles of Averheim to decide who will next rule both the city and the province.

According to Sword of Vengeance and Sword of Justice by Chris Wraight, a good chunk of his insanity can be attributed to fighting off the influence of a Slaaneshi cult and sorceress that had been trying to turn him to Chaos.

Rules for fielding Marius in your Empire armies in 6e appeared in White Dwarf #314, where he was a Lord choice costing 259 points. He has Movement 4, Weapon Skill 5, Ballistic Skill 5, Strength 4, Toughness 4, Wounds 3, Initiative 5, Attacks 3 and Leadership 9. He wears Full Plate Armor and carries a Runefang and a dagger, which gives him a bonus attack. He can ride a Barded Warhorse for +21 points. He has the special rules Elector Count (if you field Marius, a single unit of State Troops - halberdiers, spearmen, swordsmen or handgunners - can carry a Magic Banner worth up to 50 points) and Frenzy - yes, he does get a total of 5 attacks for having two hand weapons plus being Frenzied, with the 5th attack lacking the bonuses of his Runefang.

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