<![CDATA[Latest posts for the thread "3K WE v Skaven with BC maps"]]>

casperthedog’s skaven warlord Haskeer! His opponents are the wood elves, led by the spellweaver Blodauwedd (that’s bloe-die-weth, by the way. Love that welsh).

I'm trying out a pretty icon-heavy BC map style, for reference black crosshairs = shooting attacks, red crosshairs = hostile magic and blue crosshairs= friendly magic. They don't show up amazingly well on the pics but hopefully it will explain where all the skulls are coming from! Let me know if it makes it look to cluttered.

One more thing, due to the highly reactive natures of both Beer and Turn Counters the following game ran for 7 turns. But as both players were completely oblivious to this fact until I started writing this up we'll call it fair

Hope you all enjoy.

Here Haskeer attracts the attention of a Grey Seer named Theequel, who needs a favour…

The Battle of Parched Glen
Or: The Further Adventures of Haskeer the Horrible

Prologue
....Three months had passed since Haskeer’s shameful retreat from the gates of Karaz a Kazrak (Battle of the Kazrak Gates) with the remnants of his Clan Bisskit. Upon their return to Under-Praag Haskeer had found his power and status ruined. Quite unexpectedly he was approached by a Grey Seer by the name of Theequel, who made him an offer he couldn’t refuse. Theequel had great prestige amongst many local Clans and his bargain was thus: Clan Bisskit was to conduct a raid into the borders of Athel Loren, or…Theequel would allow Haskeer’s rivals to descend upon his clan and reduce it to slaves and plunder. What he hoped to gain from this raid Theequel would not say, but Haskeer glumly collected what forces he could and set out through the tunnels, with one of Theequel’s followers in tow to keep an eye on things.

Soon, in Athel Loren, the mage Blodauwedd Leafblower began to sense the trees on the nearby edge of the forest recoiling, as if something evil approached underground from which they wished to protect their roots. She reached a weather beaten glen and to her horror found rats and rat-men swarming from hidden tunnel entrances and skulking amongst the shadow. She cursed them, and fled into the forest to summon its defenders.

The Lists

Spoiler:

Deployment

Wood Elves Turn 1

Spoiler:

Skaven Turn 1

Spoiler:

The tide of rats! (#treemanass)

Wood Elves Turn 2

Spoiler:

The forward elements of the elf army launched their attack on the Skaven’s soft eastern flank, the Wild riders charged into the small rat pack guarding the cannon while the weather-grounded eagle struggled past them along the ground to attack the war machine. In the centre the Treeman launched himself at one of the rat packs which chose to retreat rather than face him and so he turned his attention to the Slaves. This left the way open for the Treekin to catch the Doomwheel out in the open unable to react. The rest of the elven army preferred caution and held position as the giants entered the fray.

Blodauwedd focussed on the Giant Rat pack behind the Doomwheel, she gathered all her power together and attempted to awaken the earth spirits to drag the rats down into the ground. The Grey Seer though was powerful indeed and again thwarted Blodauwedd’s attempts, the winds of magic were firmly under sway of the Skaven now. (6vs6 phase with 2 skaven channels, all the dice went into the one cast and dispel!)

The elven archers at the back of the field had manoeuvred to get into range of the Abomination advancing on the western flank. The Battle Standard Bearer opened the volley with his hail of doom arrow and the three regiments on the hill followed suit. Despite the howling winds summoned by the Skaven sending many arrows off target the beast took several wounds, the flaming shot of the Noble’s unit hampering its healing abilities, leaving him weakened and limping.

As battle was joined the small rat pack on the eastern flank fled from the Glade Riders’s blaring horn after a trade of casualties, and the cavalry held firm. The Wild Riders rode down the rat dart without taking a casualty and joined the Eagle attacking the Cannon, slaying all its crew before the Eagle itself struck a blow. In the centre the Treeman smashed into the Slaves, killing six of them as they clawed ineffectually at him. The Slaves had faith in their numbers and held firm, but were robbed of the enthusiasm granted them by the Warlock. To their west the Doomwheel’s crew could do nothing to hurt the tough Treekin and they tore huge chunks from the machine before it turned to flee and was cut down, with the Treekin rampaging on into the Giant Rat horde.

Skaven Turn 2

Spoiler:

The Skaven began to find the ground ahead difficult going. The Hellpit Abomination, rounding the mysterious pool, tried to reach the Dryads in the elves’ centre but found the distance too far, while Haskeer discovered the stalling of the first wave of Slaves had left no room for his own bodyguard to make it to the front line, ‘no worry’ he thought, ‘they shan’t last long’, and hoped the Treeman might tire before he got to grips with the thing himself! On the west flank a rat dart was goaded in to block the dryads from the now stranded Abomination. On the Eastern flank however things looked like they might recover, the Gutter Runners appeared behind the rampaging Wild Riders and Eagle and Haskeer’s newest toy (hired with the last of his wealth) the Globadiers turned to also face the elven vanguard. The Slaves, reasoning they could not catch either of their nearest foes, manoeuvred to get out of their way.

Still the winds of magic blew steadily (6vs5) and the Warlock in the Grey Seer’s unit drove the Giant Rat pack into a fatal frenzy before the Grey Seer guzzled a warpstone token and blessed them with filth, although the warp-stone made him convulse horribly for a few seconds. Blodauwedd attempted to counter him but her efforts fell just short of the Grey Seer’s and she was left too drained to oppose him further. Recovering, the Grey Seer reached out and drained the vitality of the nearby Treekin, withering them as they moved, while the second Warlock used his lone warp-stone token to ensure he kept the fell wind blowing around the field. (Note: This was a cracking magic phase for Nick, getting 4 spells off on 2 dice each using 2 tokens, thanks mainly to my dismal dispel attempts!)

Then the air was filled with the clamour of the Rattling Guns. The team at the rear of the Skaven line turned their gun on the Eagle on the Eastern flank, bringing it down in a hail of bullets. The team to the front under Haskeer’s direction opened up on the Glade Riders in front of their line and slew three of them. The surviving musician turned and fled in panic, unnerved especially not only by his comrades death but by the sinister smirk of the nearby overgrown statue (Note: We randomized a mystical monument for the statue and got a charnel pit, -1 Ld to everyone within 6”, I then proceeded to fail this panic check by one. The only effect it would have for the entire game. Go Terrain!) However some of the Skaven shooting seemed to be being hampered by the ferocious winds, both of the Mortars failed to find their targets and only one Dryad fell to their combined fire. Worse, the combined fire of the Globadiers and Gutter Runnners could not produce even a single dead Wild Rider, one of the Globadiers managing to poison himself in the process. Haskeer noted this and, not for the first time, lamented the ineptitude of Clan Skryre.

But then Haskeer’s spirits were lifted by the most unexpected sight. The Slaves blocking his path, far from dying in droves, had clambered up on the Treeman and were viciously hacking at it, the Treeman tore three Slaves from his branches but he had been wounded and fled from the tide of slaves in panic! Haskeer chuckled at the giant beast loping away, the wretched slaves in hot pursuit, and considered (with another glance at the Skryre and Eshin troops) that perhaps whips were better incentive than coin! On his other flank though things looked grim, despite the efforts of the Skaven magic the seething tide of rats could do little to the hulking Treekin. They dragged one wounded forest spirit down before the Treekin cut a bloody swathe through their ranks, slaying a full dozen. The Giant Rats lost some momentum but were unperturbed and fought on.

Wood Elves Turn 3

Spoiler:

Blodauwedd had a sinking feeling, the initial attack of her army had stalled or was in retreat and the enemy bore down upon them. Worst of all, her own attempts to aid them were failing. As she surveyed the field the storm above intensified even further. Suddenly a bolt of lightning rent the sky and struck the banner carried by Haskeer’s retinue, apparently causing them no worry, and then the heavens opened. Thick rain poured down and the combined wind was now nearly a hurricane, Blodauwedd struggled to hear the shouts of the archers next to her over the roar and she moved along the line to be closer to the centre. (Note: Damn you, Storm Banner!)

Still wary of advancing the elven archers only checked their ranges. The Dryads however would not be restrained. The unit in the centre charged into the rat dart ahead of them and the Dryads on Blodauwedd’s right saw their chance and pounced on the Slaves pursuing the Treeman. They were many in number but they had run heedlessly into a small copse where the Dryads would be at their most dangerous. With his kin heading off his pursuers the Treeman halted and turned to face the enemy. The Wild Rider on the eastern flank wheeled behind the Skaven and looked for new targets.

Blodauwedd tried once again to contribute her efforts but the magical energies were completely eaten up by the storm and the Skaven wizards. (2vs2, skaven channelled one) She attempted to heal the wounds of the Treekin but what little energy she could muster was put down by the Grey Seer.

The Elven bows proved just as ineffective. The storm made it near impossible for the archers to find their mark. The Glade Guard around the hill once again opened fire on the Abomination but between them only one arrow hit home and wounded the beast. On the eastern flank the other archers and the lone Glade Rider tried to hit the Rattling Gun but could not get a shot on target.

Within the woods the Dryads took a heavy toll on the Slaves. The Slaves, terrified at the sight of the Dryads, could not mount any resistance and, with the trees disrupting their ranks, they broke and fled. In their panic the Slaves tore outwards, desperate for life and freedom, hacking as they went. Though they dared not harm the Dryads they caused a wound to the Treeman and brought down two Glade Guard as they ran! The Treekin again carved into the Giant Rats, felling thirteen, but still they held. Too late the second unit of Dryads slaughtered their foes and ran through to join their kin. (Note: Bonehead play there, I did the combats in the wrong order and missed out on yet more dead rats!)

Skaven Turn 3

Spoiler:

Then the storm began to ease, the wind was less powerful and the thunder ceased. Haskeer endeavoured to push his attack as best he could. The rat dart on the eastern flank tried to charge at the lone Glade Rider but he fled and so they ran on into the archers behind. Though they had time to loose their arrows they couldn’t find their mark with the persistent wind. Around them Haskeer, the Slaves and the Gutter Runners all began to close in on the elves. To their rear the Skaven back line prepared to mow down the Wild Riders. On the western flank the badly wounded Abomination turned hard on its left and ploughed into the rear of the Treekin and Dryads.

Now the winds of magic became miserly (2vs1), but the Grey seer was resourceful and still managed to further atrophy the Treekin without Blodauwedd being able to stop him. (Note: That’s the second wither so the treekin are now T3!)

It was the Warlock to Haskeer’s right that opened the Skaven barrage. Seeing Dryads and Wardancers grouped together on the far side of the field he felt it was time to unleash his Doomrocket. Haskeer peered at him nervously as he lit the fuse. The rocket went sailing overhead, screeching through the wind, and landed smack in the middle of the elf forces. The Wardancers took the brunt of the damage, losing four of their number as the Dryads lost one. (Note: Spectacular shot from the rocket. Wanting 35” to get max coverage Nick threw the full 10 dice for a total of 36”. Go averages!)

Behind Haskeer the two Rattling Guns whirred back into life and poured fire into the Wild Riders. Their forest spirits spared some of the damage but three were still slain leaving a sole survivor whom the Globadiers failed to finish off. The Mortars also failed to find targets. The Gutter Runners, wishing to show their quality, loosed their slings at the eagle borne Noble, who had been floundering on the eastern flank due to the winds, and wounded him.

At the same time the Abomination crashed into the corner of the treekin and flattened two in the impact before the rear-most Dryads pounced on it and finished the wounded beast off. Between them the Treekin and Dryads slaughtered another fifteen Giant Rats (Note: Leaving just 12 and the 8 Packmasters alive!) as the rats brought down two Dryads and another wounded Treekin. Still however the Giant Rats were buoyed by their numbers and refused to flee. On the other flank the depleted rat dart could not hurt the Glade Guard while they lost one in return and again they fled from the savage sounds of the elven musicians.

Wood Elves Turn 4

Spoiler:

At last the storms completely abated as Blodauwedd took stock. With the Abomination dead the western flank finally had room to manoeuvre and the Dryads and Wardancers began to advance. Seeing the skaven encroaching in the East, however, the forces in the centre rallied around the hill, redressing their ranks as they went, while those on the flank moved to intercept the rat men. On the far flank the Noble, his eagle finally able to take flight, charged headlong towards the gutter runners, sling bullets plinking from his armour. In the Skaven rear the last remaining Wild Rider headed for the Globadiers but was struck down by their globes before he could make contact.

Blodauwedd now found that with the storm gone, so had the Skaven’s hold over the winds of magic and at last she could aid her troops. Although the winds still only blew faintly (3vs3 including a skaven channel) she was able to push through the Grey Seer’s defences and bring healing to the Treekin. One’s wounds vanished and another picked itself up from where it had fallen and rejoined its comrades.

The archers closest to Haskeer’s Stormvermin took advantage of their range to fire their arrows and fell three of the rat men while the archers around the hill targeted the Grey Seer’s entourage and killed four of them. The freshly retuned Glade Rider, still refusing to leave the field, rode up and fired at a Skaven mortar but could not hit it.

In combat the now much depleted swarm of Giant Rats could still do little to their assailants. They brought down one Dryad but were again pummelled in return, the last of the Giant Rats was dead leaving only a few Packmasters stood facing the elves’ allies. They finally broke and fled. The Dryads gave bitter pursuit but could not catch them while the Treekin calmly turned to face the centre of the Skaven line. Tragically for the elves the Noble and his eagle were brought low by the Gutter Runners. Before the eagle could flash its talons or the Noble could bring his great blade to bear the Skaven scouts lashed out with flashing, poisoned daggers and slew him, pouncing upon his mount in quick order.

Skaven Turn 4

Spoiler:

Wood Elves Turn 5

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Skaven Turn 5

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Wood Elves Turn 6

Spoiler:

As the battle wore on Blodauwedd still kept her forces at a distance from Haskeer. She halted her own retreat and reformed her archers around the hill, with the Treeman taking up a central position ready for the counter attack. The Dryads and Wardancers moved to create the flanks of a trap that would soon, with luck, finally bring battle to Haskeer himself, but on the elves’ terms. The Treekin and depleted Dryads moved against the Skaven rearguard but could not reach the rat men. The Treekin fell short of the storm-conjuring Warlock’s regiment and the Globadiers fled from the Drayds’ advance.

Blodauwedd knew now was the time to deal the hammer blow to Haskeer’s retinue. She felt power coursing through her as it had not done while the Skaven storms had wracked the field and this time she would not waste her efforts (10vs7 including a Skaven channel). She began by summoning nature’s throne to augment her powers, the Grey Seer attempted to counter her but his efforts fell short, leaving him drained. She then healed the Treekin, resurrecting two fallen warriors. Finally she once again attempted to summon the earth dwelling spirits. With the Grey Seer unable to oppose her the Warlocks offered what resistance they could, but it was not enough. Cold spectral hands reached from rents in the earth opening up beneath the Stormvermin. Haskeer’s rat ogre dragged itself free but his Chieftain standard bearer and a full twenty of his Stormvermin were dragged to the depths. They were shaken but held their ground and Haskeer realized just how vulnerable they now were. (Note: Finally, a magic phase! After the Grey seer failed his 2v2 dispel attempt on throne it was all Blodauwedd. 3 dice went unopposed on regrowth, and then 5 dice went into dwellers and 5 came back, but failed to dispel by just 1!)

The remaining Glade Guard added to the dead, bringing down 6 more Stormvermin. They were now decimated, but still held their ground. The only fighting, on the eastern flank, did not go well for the Skaven. The Gutter Runners slew two more archers but the remaining two were themselves dispatched, leaving the Glade Guard to turn and face the approaching tide of slaves.

Skaven Turn 6

Spoiler:

There was no turning back for Haskeer now, still he urged his retinue onwards towards the elves. Again his targets fled, Blodauwedd’s troops retreated in an orderly fashion but another group ran from the field, their position now compromised. Across the field the orders to charge reverberated. The few remaining Giant Rats hurled themselves at the newly freed Glade Guard, dodging incoming arrows as they went, while the Slaves attempted to reach the retreating Wardancers but found the distance too great. In an uncharacteristically bold display the lone Warlock also goaded his men into action, tired of hiding from the weakened Treekin and trusting his rodent instinct for a vulnerable enemy (Note: remember those Treekin are only T3 atm).

The Grey Seer’s grip on the magical ether was no longer what it once was and he, riskily, considering his weakened state, set about guzzling his remaining warpstone tokens. (4vs2 including, you guessed it, a skaven channel!). The Grey seer used one of his tokens to aid in sapping the strength of the northern-most Dryads and another to augment his summoning of a carpet of rats which seethed over the Dryads dragging three to the ground. The Warlock then attempted to use his remaining power to shoot magical lightning at the Dryads also, but lost control of his spell before it was completed.

The Stormvermin’s Rattling Gun now turned its attention to the same Dryads. Without ever ceasing their stream of bullets the team swung the gun round, but in their reverie he did not notice the thing again beginning to overheat and swell. The only warning was a small clicking noise, as the gun ceased firing, before it exploded spectacularly, to great cheers from the elf troops gladdened to see the thing finally out of action. (Note: A fitting end for a model that had paid for itself 3+ times over in dead treekin, dryads, and cavalry!) The second rattling gun opened fire on the Dryads in the woods in front of the Skaven lines killing one while the Mortar team nearby had their machine jam and set about unclogging it.

Ahead of them the remnants of the Giant Rats fared badly, losing two rats before they could strike the Glade Guard. Although the lone survivor still managed to kill an elf he turned and fled, still unable to stand the elven music. Meanwhile, the Treekin continued to add to their toll of slain rats, smashing apart 9 Clanrats in return for a minor wound. The rat men though were determined to fight, as long as their numbers remained superior.

Wood Elves Turn 7

Spoiler:

Now the trap was sprung. Haskeer was deafened by roaring and cheering all about him as the Treeman came crashing towards him and Wardancers and Dryads also closed in for the kill! His troops looked uneasy, but he let out a great cry and held his flaming blade aloft to remind his troops that this was why they had come so far, to kill elves and defile their land, and so the Stormvermin stood firm to receive the charge. Across the battle field more dryads joined the fray. The last remnants of one group joined the Treekin in their fight against the Clanrats and another attempted to make it to the Grey Seer and Warlock in another regiment, determined to trade their lives for those of the already wounded enemy wizards. The Grey Seer though was not so nobly minded and burst back through his men who turned to follow him in flight.

Blodauwedd re-gathered her troops and felt magical power now coursing through her (10vs5 including an Elf channel). She used much of her power to attempt to harden the Treeman’s hide, having now noticed the eerie flicker of green flame along the Stormvermin’s blades, but the retreating Grey Seer threw all his effort into blocking her. With his energy spent though Blodauwedd could use what remained of hers to heal the Treeman’s wounds and return him to full strength. Away from the fighting the remaining Glade Guard attempted to bring down the now functioning mortar but their arrows bounced off the machine’s mechanisms.

Now the Treeman bore down on Haskeer, but the first blows were struck by the Dryads and Wardancers on his flanks who butchered their way through his bodyguard. Soon all that were left were the regiment’s champion to his left, and standard bearer to his right. Haskeer hacked at the Treeman and found a gap in his thick bark, causing a deep gash that erupted in flame as the Treeman bellowed in pain. The Treeman, ignoring the futile blows of Haskeer’s rat ogre, struck back at him. But Haskeer’s armour was thick and his mount strong, and he avoided serious injury. Enraged, the Treeman, with a great sweep of his arms, swatted the last of the Stormvermin and sent them flying back into the woods. Haskeer was now alone and could not stand against the forces around him. He ran. Haskeer's enemies thundered after him but, in a flash of inspiration, he realized it was not the enemy he had to outrun in order to survive... He leapt forward from his rat ogre’s back, sailing over its head (think Free Willy, but with mutant rats), and sprinted into the undergrowth, leaving his confused former mount to suffer the vengeance of the forest. Away behind him the Treekin and Dryads crushed the Warlock’s Clanrats and sent them fleeing, catching the remaining Rattling Gun up with them as they went.

Skaven Turn 7

Spoiler:

Victory to...

Spoiler:

Epilogue
....Theequel’s agent trudged through the borders of the forest, sticking, by instinct, to dark valleys to avoid attention. What remained of Clan Bissket trailed behind him, despite his best efforts to lose them. Out of the corner of his eye he sensed movement and he instantly dropped to the ground, peering into the dark. Across his path came Haskeer, alive, dirty, bloodied and acting very peculiarly. He was running from tree to tree, pausing to cower behind each one, smelling the air and frantically spying for pursuers. He seemed, though, to have no idea where these threats might come from, as he chose cover seemingly at random, not keeping himself obscured from any single direction. How he had got this far without an elven arrow yet in his back the Seer could not fathom. He pondered, observing him, - how easy it would be to leap up and plunge a dagger in Haskeer’s back, and then leave his hangers-on lost in the forest when they discovered (and looted) Haskeer’s corpse. Perhaps he would get a share of Clan Bissket’s remaining wealth if none returned. And surely it would be simpler to tell Theequel that Haskeer and his army had all perished in the forest, than to return with a defeated force that could blame the Grey Seer for their loss. But, he sighed, Theequel had stipulated that it was preferable for Haskeer to return alive whatever the outcome of their expedition, and the Grey Seer feared Theequel’s rage. So the Grey Seer stood up, emerging from the undergrowth, but nearly found his decision robbed from him. Haskeer was so startled at this sudden appearance that he leapt into the air and went stiff with fear, and the Seer thought that Haskeer's heart may give out there and then. Without acknowledging Haskeer’s wretched state the Grey Seer merely bade him follow and continued on through the trees...

Haskeer will return in...

Haskeer 2: Ratopussy

and...

Haskeer 3: The Musk of Victory
(I could do this all day

)

Thanks for reading, comments always welcome. Also check out pics of Haskeer' Horrendous Horde here]]>