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Background

The End Times have begun…

Archaon has been crowned as the Everchosen and his Legions march from the Northern Wastes intent on the destruction of the Empire.  Karl Franz has called the Conclave of Light where all the great leaders of the Old World have promised their support in the defence of the Empire and the destruction of Archaon’s Horde. Consequently the High King has promised that no foe shall pass through the World’s Edge Mountains. This promise may be swiftly broken. A massive force, spearheading the advance of Crom the Conqueror, self-proclaimed “Herald of the Everchosen” is already marching down through Peak Pass.

High King Thorgrimm Grudgebearer has given the task of holding the eastern end of Peak Pass to Nordin Axefounder, king of Zhufbar.  Together with the remaining militia of Stirland and a hastily recruited mercenary army, the Dwarfs march deep into the Ostermark, prepared to meet the oncoming host of Chaos.

Already, though, the plan has turned sour. The mercenaries hired with dwarven gold have failed to arrive and the legion of Chaos is already descending into the plains of the Ostermark. The Elector Count of Stirland has left with his guard to “seek help” from the main force led by the Emperor rumoured to be 200 miles away at Marburg, and only the Captain of the Waldenhof Militia remains to lead the men of Stirland. The Dwarven Warhost for their part is starting to doubt that the pass could have ever been held and are preparing to sell their lives dearly.

Setup

The scenario was “Pitched Battle” so the armies deployed at least 24” apart.

Dwarven war machines took advantage of the hill for their deployment, while the Empire war machines used the cover of the hedge. The Dwarven host deployed entirely in their half of the deployment zone (the right flank), with Empire hand-gunners and halberdiers backing them up. The rest of the Empire force deployed on the left flank with Knights in front and another unit of hand-gunners holding the extreme left flank.

The hordes of Chaos deployed with the Spawn on the left flank, the Knights and Flesh Hounds on the right flank and a solid core of infantry in the centre. The Nurglings were deployed deliberately to block the Slayers and the Screamers and Daemonettes were deployed in reserve with the Nurglings providing cover.

The only plan was to use the Flesh Hounds and the Screamers to destroy as many war machines as possible, while the rest of the army engaged the enemy. I don’t think the allies had a plan beyond kill as many Chaos worshippers as possible!

The Battle

The opening phases of the battle saw a little manoeuvring and the Flesh Hounds engaging, slaughtering, pursuing and massacring the Huntsmen, the Nurglings engage the Slayers in a contest of attrition and the Imperial Knights engaging the Chaos Knights led by Valnir the Reaper.

Valnir and his Chosen made short work of the Imperial Knights and crashed through into the Swordsmen led by the Warrior Priestess. The Flesh Hounds turned to engage the Empire troops on the far side of the hedge and the Screamers slashed the handgunners on their way through to the Dwarf cannon on the brow of the hill. Meanwhile, the implacable advance of the Nurgle plaguebeast was disjointed by the warrior clansmen of Zhufbar manfully (or possibly dwarf-fully) getting in its way when it rolled a seven for its movement. The Daemonettes, Plaguebearers and Warriors all jostled for position as the dwarven line drew closer and the Daemon Prince, Yeter’el, gave one push of his mighty pinions and propelled himself into the midst of the Empire battle line.

Again Valnir made light work of the best mortal humankind could offer. The Warrior Priestess lay shattered and broken beneath the feet of Valnir’s Daemonic Steed and her retinue were put to flight. Valnir then proceeded to fail the Stupidity test for the Helm of Many Eyes and his unit shot forward out of the battle line!

Further along the line the dwarfs were besting the Warriors and Yeter’el’s Plaguebearers, while the Nurglings were slowly being ground into the ether by the Slayer’s axes. Feytor the Tainted fell beneath the Great Axe of the Dwarven Lord, after inflicting only 1 wound, and the great hammers of his retinue rose and fell dealing carnage amongst Feytor’s Chosen. Only the Plaguebeast seemed immune to Dwarven courage as the clansmen swarmed around it trying to deal a deadly blow. On the flanks the Flesh Hounds prepared to visit Khornate butchery upon the hand-gunners and the Screamers were trying to deal the death blow to the dwarven cannon crews.

The final turns were critical. The Dwarves smashed through the daemonic hordes, leaving only B'gfhtbhs'turd, the Great Unclean one and his Plaguebearers, Valnir and his depleted Knights, the Screamers and the Flesh Hounds to stave off almost all of the Dwarf army and the tattered remnants of their Empire army. The Screamers were attacked by the Longbeards, the Slayers made a dash for glory (and an uncontested table quarter), the Runesmith and his warriors were put to flight and destroyed by Yeter’el, and Valnir helped the Flesh Hounds finish off the hand-gunners. B'gfhtbhs'turd turned with his retinue to face the Imperial dwarves the last vestiges of a once mighty Imperial force.

In the very last turn, some cunning magic robbed the Dwarf Lord of his life force and Yeter’el slew him in single combat (somewhat cheekily the Steal Soul spell also gave Yeter’el the extra wound he needed to survive the combat with the Hammerers!), while B'gfhtbhs'turd slobbered all over the Imperial dwarves. Valnir showed a little discretion by remaining out of range of the remaining fully functioning dwarf cannon and the game was over.

Debriefing

A good game, and a close one. It came down to a draw as there was only 70 points difference in the victory point scores.

My infantry units were on reflection too weak to take on the Dwarfs and should have been supported by a character (Yeter’el had been with the Plaguebearers but went off to do some mortal hunting on his own) or Valnir with his Knights. The early magic phases were robbed by Dwarven stubbornness and the three warrior priests. As the priests (and the Runesmith) were slaughtered one after the other the magic slowly turned back to me and my Tzeentch hero got off some nice magic missiles. The last magic phase was priceless and was the ONLY thing that killed the Dwarf Lord. In hindsight the Knights and Valnir should have been on the Dwarven flank, with B'gfhtbhs'turd and his Plaguebearers, while the Daemonettes and Spawn dealt with the humans. Still, there will be another Storm of Chaos in a hundred years or so and we will have our pound of flesh!

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