Something wasn't right, and Galis knew it.
He had brought up his concerns to Eltharion and Eldric earlier in the day, but the heroes had simply scoffed and chalked it up to Galis' nervous and obsessive nature. He had always been the kind to make sure everything was perfect and in place before committing to anything, and it had led to a reputation of cautiousness bordering on cowardice.
But this was different.
The Sea Guard units had been stationed at the top of the pass as the final preparations were made to load the ships in the harbor below. Twelve tall-masted elven frigates were moored in a small harbor just north of the Great Vitae River delta, as crates were hurriedly transferred into their holds by men with scarred faces and shifting eyes. It didn't smell right to Galis. It reeked of something underhanded, something unworthy of the Glorious Host.
Galis returned to his post at the banks of the small but turbulent river that cut across the steep and sheer face of the pass. Their contingent was charged with defending the pass just long enough for the ships to be loaded and to set sail. But to be loaded with what? And to defend the pass from what?
Even as he thought it, the answer was clear. These were the lands of Queen Khalida and the dread armies of Khemri.
A deep, rolling thunder interrupted his reverie. Galis stared as the sky at the far end of the mountain pass darkened; stormclouds rolled in like smoke from a forest fire, lit from within by flashes of unnatural green lightning.
"Mount up the outriders," Galis barked, "and someone alert Altherion. The enemy marches!"
As the reavers forded the river to begin scouting the oncoming forces, the water turned to blood. A sickly black ichor stuck to the legs and bellies of the horses, causing them to rear and balk, their eyes rolling back in fear. One rider slipped beneath the foul ooze, shocked into silence as a dark current swept him from the saddle as surely as a hand from the grave.
A jagged bolt of lightning split the sky as the lumbering figures of the Ushbati were visible on the horizon. A thick cloud of dust filled the canyon, driven up by the pounding hooves of their infernal cavalry. The long, low blast of their infantry horns reverberated in the pit of Galis' stomach.
The dead were upon them.
SET UP
I originally had four army lists prepared: Tomb Kings, High Elves, Goblins, and Empire. I picked the Khemri force and rolled a D3 to determine their opponent. I was pleased to find that it would be the Elves, as this was the one army I had never played with before.
Since I was playing against myself, I decided that my alter ego, Penfold, would command the Elves while I would take the helm of the undead.
We got Battle for the Pass as the scenario, which would play well with the mobile forces both armies brought to the table. Unfortunately, the random terrain started with a Mysterious River, which made things interesting from the get-go.
The river crossed the battlefield, cutting the area in two and providing a natural chokepoint in the form of the one "safe" crossing on the left flank. A handful of obstacles, a set of ruined walls in the middle, and a pointless pit of quicksand provided the rest of the scenery. A lone sorcerous portal near the middle of the right flank made for an interesting source of randomness as well.
The placement of scenery would have a major effect on the outcome of the game, as it would turn out. We drew lots to see which army would deploy in which side, to prevent any possible subconcious favoritism.
The Glorious Host - 2250 High Elves
Eltharion the Grim on Stormwing
Lore of Heavens (Iceshard Blizzard, Chain Lightning)
Eldric the Unforsaken (Level 2 High Elf Mage)
- Silver Wand
- Loremaster's Cloak
High Magic (Curse of Arrows, Fury of Khaine, Flames of the Phoenix)
Galis the Hesitant (Level 2 High Elf Mage)
- Ruby Ring of Ruin
- Dispel Scroll
Lore of Light (Shem's Burning Gaze, Banishment)
---
20 Seaguard
- Full Command
- Shields
- Banner of Eternal Flame
15 Seaguard
- Full Command
- Shields
- Galis
---
10 White Lions
- Full Command
1 White Lion Chariot
20 Sword Masters
- Full Command
- Banner of Elytharion
- Eldric
10 Reavers
- Champion, Standard Bearer
- Bows and Spears
The Rising Sands - 2250 Tomb Kings
Khalida
Hierophant Bastet - Liche Priest
- Cloak of the Dunes
- Hieratic Jar
Anumat the Unclean - Liche Priest
- Ruby Ring of Ruin
- Talisman of Protection
---
20 Skeletal Warriors
- Spears and Shields
- Light Armor
- Full Command
- Khalida
- Banner of the Undying Legion
15 Skeletal Archers
- Blessing of the Asp
15 Skeletal Archers
- Blessing of the Asp
- Anumat
5 Chariots
- Champion
- Standard of the Cursing Word
8 Heavy Horsemen
- Full Command
8 Light Horsemen
- Full Command
---
3 Ushabti
1 Tomb Scorpion
---
Screaming Skull Catapault
- Skulls of the Enemy
DEPLOYMENT
PENFOLD:
My elves drew the north end of the board, meaning that I had the deployment zone behind the mysterious river. I felt early on that this was a major advantage for me, as I could use the bridge as a defensive chokepoint, plonking arrows at the Undead from across the river. I knew he wouldn't want to risk his fragile chariots in the water, meaning that I could plan on the bulk of his army being funneled down the left flank. With my Sea Guard whittling down his troops and the harder hitting units holding the bridge, I knew I could keep the Khemri advance in check. Just as importantly, by taking that end of the board, I had denied the undead the one hill on the board, making the Screaming Skull Catapault less dangerous and more prone to scatter.
But then I started deployment and realized quickly that I was in serious trouble. I started off badly by deploying a unit of Sea Guard on the bridge, leaving the Sword Masters and Lion Chariot in a queue to get across. The Reavers set up to explore the sorcerous portal and harass the far flank, while the second group of Sea Guard held down the middle, ready to provide a modicum of fire support from across the river. The White Lions, seeing the traffic jam at the bridge, got ready to ford the river. Meanwhile, Eltharion took the top of the hill, looked down at his forces marshaled below, and wept silently.
STRELKA:
I have to admit that I wasn't happy. The set up on my end of the board favored an army ready to dig in and hold on through a siege. I had a fairly mobile and relentlessly shooty force, and I had no intention of sitting behind a moldering fence! This, of course, meant cramming as much as I could on my right flank, hoping to just bash my way across the bridge come hell or high water. The mass of bodies on the side of the board meant that line of sight was a complete mess for just about every unit, including the catapault in the rear.
The Ushabti and the heavy horsemen set up in the center, with the light horse setting up on the far left to give the Reavers a flanking counter to worry about. The tomb scorpion's underground marker was placed ominously behind the second Sea Guard unit.
As we rolled for initiative, I was concerned that the first few turns would be a total jumbled mess.
Deployment:
I. TURN ONE
The Reavers made their Vanguard move, wading through the river and crossing to the other side. As they shuffled through the water, it blackened and thickened, turning into a toxic miasma from the foul magics of the Khemri. The necrotic ooze would prove to be a major player over the course of the battle.
The close quarters and profusion of obstacles meant that the chariots had to pick their way through the mess carefully. The knock-on effect meant that the heavy horsemen and skeleton warriors more or less shuffled around aimlessly.
The winds of magic were not kind to the elves, giving them only two dispel dice to counter the incantations of the Liche Priests. The incantations of urgency allowed the Tomb Kings to break the log jam and position the chariots to threaten the bridgehead.
The Sea Guard performed a forced march across the bridge, hoping to give their allies enough room behind to clear the bridge and enter the fray. Eldric destroyed one of the chariots in the Flames of the Phoenix, while the reavers - already a man down from the effects of the toxic river - faced a barrage of fireballs from the sorcerous portal.
II. TURN TWO
The Ushtabi, bellowing in an ancient and horrible tongue, charged into the reavers. The undead constructs rushed through a hail of arrows, crushing five of the elven scouts and sending the unit running back into the river towards safety.
The chariots crashed headlong into the Sea Guard holding the bridge, winning the combat but unable to force the proud elves to break. However, the unnerving barrage of the Screaming Skull catapault proved too much for the Swordmasters, who turned tail and ran after suffering only a single wound.
The archers under the watchful eye of Anumat the Unclean showered the White Lions with arrows, killing four of the stubborn woodsmen with poisonous shafts. The White Lions stayed firm, however, and refused to flee.
Eltharion and Stomwing swept into battle with the Ushtabi, allowing the reavers enough time to rally and reform. The White Lions managed to ford the river and get onto the far bank, but not before their champion was sucked to the bottom of the river by its foul, black current.
Eltharion Charges (it seemed like a good idea at the time)
Galis the Hesitant showed no signs of indecision as he blasted the light horsemen with a spell of Banishment, wiping the unit off the battlefield in an explosion of holy brilliance.
On the right flank, the elves' hopes were shattered as Eltharion and Stormwing found themselves outclassed by the Ushtabi. As one of the undead constructs crumbled to dust, the other two mercilessly hacked apart the elven lord and threw his shattered corpse into the river.
III. TURN THREE
Sensing victory, the heavy horsemen simply reformed and prepared to defend their quarter of the battlefield from any late heroics. Urged on by the hierophant's incantations, Anumat's unit of archers fired upon the Lion Chariot. The chariot, having JUST made it off of the bridge, was instantly cut down in a merciless hail of poisoned arrows.
Enraged by the death of its master, Stormwind attacked the Ushtabi with a renewed vengeance. But the savage attacks of the undead proved too much, and the griffon was forced to flee.
On the bridge, the charioteers finally broke the back of the Sea Guard resistance. The Sea Guard had struggled to find the courage to fight on, and finally the infantry broke and ran. Perhaps caught by surprise, the charioteers did not have the momentum to catch up, trailing behind the running marines.
With most of the elvish force fleeing, things looked grim. Eldric, Eltharian's second-in-command, was unable to get the shaken swordmasters back under control. The pride of Loeth - along with the army's principal wizard - swept down the mountain pass to safety.
Galis mustered his lone unit of Sea Guard to action. Under a withering hail of arrows and a relentless torrent of Light magic, the Ushabti were finally unbound and crumbled to dust. A pyrrhic victory, to be sure, but a satisfying one.
Knee-deep in poisonous ooze, the remaining White Lions found their pride, and prepared to get back into the fight.
Things Turn Pear-Shaped
IV. TURN FOUR
The remaining undead chariots ran down the fleeing Sea Guard on the right flank, cutting down the few survivors as they attempted to reach the waiting ships.
As the remaining units of undead moved to solidify their positions and prepare their final assaults, the tomb scorpion emerged from the earth and charged Galis' marines from the rear. The unit lost the ensuing combat, but the confusion caused by the assault left them too disorganized to reform.
A long range bombardment from the Screaming Skull catapault struck the remaining reavers squarely, crushing the champion and the musician. The sole survivor turned to run, but the nefarious currents of the necrotic river dragged his horse out from underneath him.
The skeletal archers struck the remaining White Lions, leaving only the standard bearer alive. Battered and bruised, but driven by insane courage, he charged defiantly ahead. Bellowing with a forlorn rage, his suicide charge lost steam as he entered the central ruins.
The scorpion continued to decimate the Sea Guard, finally causing the frightened elves to break and run. Confused and disorganized, the unit surged across the river, braving the blackened waters in an attempt to escape the unnatural construct blocking their route to the ships.
V. TURN FIVE
Anumat's mummified cracked as he grinned. Leveling the Ruby Ring of Ruin, he let loose a crackling gout of flame that set the remaining White Lion ablaze.
As the archers whittled down the fleeing Sea Guard, the tomb scorpion turned his attention to Stormwing. Weakened by its earlier bout with the Ushabti, and still reeling with grief, the griffon was no match for the relentless construct. Attempting to flee, the faithful mount of Eltharion was plucked from the sky and torn to pieces.
It just got worse from here...
VI. TURN SIX
Galis struggled to gain control of the situation. Unable to rally the Sea Guard, he did everything he could to combat the magical onslaught of Khalida's forces. Time after time, he manipulated the winds of magic until finally he was thoroughly drained. Animated by the unholy urgings of Hierophant Bastet, a unit of archers drew back their bows and cut down the last of the Sea Guard.
Exhausted, unable to go any further, Galis straightened up and straighted his robes. Turning to face the advancing horde of undead, Galis stared defiantly as a final volley of arrows blotted out the sun.
FINAL RESULT
THOUGHTS
A. Tomb Kings
STRELKA: I was really nervous in the opening turns, as the congestion over the bridge was really limiting my mobility. I was relying a lot on the incantations to sneak in a few extra moves, but the winds of magic were pretty generous with the elven dispel dice! In the end, though, it came down to three key moments:
1. The chariots holding up - and eventually breaking - the Sea Guard on the bridge. Nothing says drama like "dramatic fight on a bridge," and by keeping the Lion Chariot and swordmasters out of the entire battle, that one melee made a mockery of deployment.
2. The screaming skull catapault more than paid for itself. One shot, one kill, one broken unit. The -1
LD upgrade made a huge difference, as it was that one point on the roll that sent the Swordmasters screaming for the hills. One measly enchanted skull, a zippo lighter, and 110 points took out 505 points of swordmasters, upgrades, and their offensive spellcaster.
3. The Ushbeatdowni crushing - and I mean crushing - Eltharion. I was worried when the griffon and lord came swooping in, but an absolutely ABYSSMAL set of rolls for them resulted in only one wound. The constructs came back with a vengeance and utterly destroyed Eltharion. From that point on, it felt like the rest of the battle was just mopping up.
I am woefully out of practice, however. Most of the game was spent looking up rules and realizing what I SHOULD have done. Deployment on both sides was sloppy. Neither unit of horsemen did anything interesting, useful, or exciting. I spent most of my time screening my own missile troops' line of sight, and my hierophant clearly had no idea of battlefield positioning. Against a remotely competent opponent, I'd be hosed.
I was pleased to see that fear made a significant contribution to the win. If not for the reduced weapon skill, the Sea Guard would likely have cut the chariots to ribbons on the bridge. And the Standard of the Cursing Word had a major effect on the tide of battle on that flank. Overall, I was really pleased with the Chariot and Ushabti Exhibition.
Still, a lot of questions I need to get the answer to before I go and do this for real. Like, what exactly do Huge Ritual Blades DO? Somehow, treating them as mundane hand weapons seems anticlimactic. Double checking the attack values for chariots in close combat is pretty big, too.
- Hero
It's a tossup between the Screaming Skull Catapault and the Ushabti. Both units far outplayed their points cost and made significant denials to the elves.
By breaking the swordmasters, the elves lost their primary spellcaster. Even if they had rallied, they were so far out of position that getting them back into the fray would have been a near miracle. And the loss of the reavers and Eltharion to the Ushabti basically denied the elves one half of the board altogether, putting more and more pressure on a few units that were already feeling the pinch.
- Goat
The light horsemen. I tried to get cute with them by swinging them wide around the sorcerous portal, hoping to get in a flank charge on the reavers. But as they got out of incantation range, I realized that they were pretty superfluous all the way out there. With no march move and only a smattering of low-priority targets, I have to admit I didn't really shed a tear when Galis banished the bejeezus out of them.
B. High Elves
PENFOLD: "A remotely competent opponent." I hate you.
I lost this match more or less on deployment. No, when setting up terrain. I was responsible for the obstacles on either end of the bridge - I wanted to prevent Strelka from rolling a stream of chariots and cavalry across. I was responsible for the ruins in the middle. And, once I learned that I was taking the river side of the board, I was the one responsible for stacking missile units in front of a chariot and block of swordmasters. I wish I had an excuse, but I don't.
I will admit that I was surprised at the death of Eltharion. Sometimes, it is easy to be swayed by seeing weapon skills of six and eight and thinking you're an unstoppabe killing machine. But the sad truth is that there is precious little difference between a
WS of 4 and a
WS of 8. Those Ushabti hit my lord just as easily as they hit my Sea Guard.
The Mysterious River: Necrotic Ooze was a major blow to me as well. Though I only lost a few models to it all game, it became a major psychological hurdle for me, as I was weighing the risk of every crossing.
There's not much I can add here, apart from pointing out the suitably dramatic and heroic ending of the match. The lone White Lion standard bearer, rushing into a certain death seemed like a very gritty and proudly stupid death, like the Charge of the Light Brigade. And poor Galis (proxied by night goblin shaman M. Night Gobboshamanalayn) - Mr. Second Fiddle, Mr. Not-as-cool-as-Eldric, Mr. Proxied by a Goblin - being the last lone model on the board. Having wiped out whole units and being THE primary source of damage in the match, Galis stood alone in the middle of the ruins, surrounded on all sides by Undead. It was like the end to a Swedish war movie - tragic, bleak, hopeless, and somehow heroic at the same time.
- Hero
Galis. Without a doubt. By the time his unit was really able to act, it was already decided, but the spunky little guy (I can't help but think of him as a goblin
) burned swathes through the undead and managed to stave off the inevitable until the last possible moment.
- Goat
As tempted as I am to say Eltharion, I have to give this dubious honor to the Swordmasters. One model is partially clipped by the SSC template, fails a wound, and over 500 points worth of models turn tail and gradually run off the board. It wouldn't be so horrible if it didn't take three turns for them to fully run off the board, merely prolonging my humiliation.
.... .... 
Space Marine Bike Army - 15/1/6
~2500 pts
~2250 pts
