Alright, after kicking out the wives, we finally got our battle going. The battlefield was however a very dangerous place for both armies since young childrens were running all around it. But eh, as it happened it was easier to manage kids without womens around
So my ennemy as I mentionned was the Empire, with a kyslevite theme. Unfortunately, I forgot both my throwers and LSG at home as I started painting, so archers and extra empire warmachines ended doing some proxy, my excuses for that. Also, I still don't use Bchronicler very well, refer to pictures in doubt.
He had approximatively:
lvl4 Life
lvl2 Light
lvl2 Light
Priest
BsB with a magic banner
Templar Grand Master sword of Bloodshed, O trickster shard, dawnstone
25 free company
25 free company
30 halberds
6 pistoliers
9 inner circle knights
40 Greatswords
2 Great cannons
1 Mortar
I don't know the empire too well but I knew the greatswords, knights and warmachines were the bad news. Not too sure if so many casters was really optimal but it felt overall character heavy.
"The elven host was now pretty far into the Kyslevite province. Last they had heard, an imperial archeologist had preceded them into the area with an imperial battallion. Upon their arrival in the small desolated village, the information was true as they were greeted by a mortar warning shot"
Who are you? Said a look out.
We are escorting Lady Letitia of Averlorn into recovering the horn of Isha.
That horn belongs to the empire. You will not steal from us. Begone!
Sir, we will not leave without it.
After some laughter from the imperials, the Grand templar said: This is an holly relic of Sigmar, it stays here! End of story. If you aren't gone soon, we will fire the canons...
So here is the deployment:
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We already had the terrain set up except for hills, so we rolled for who got to chose his side of the battlefield and the losing player would get 2 hills to place. I got 2 hills.
I think my deployment was not optimal but my opponent deployment seemed even worst. I kept him guessing on which hill I would deploy the RBTs until very late and placed only my fast cavalry, spears, chariots then the LSG, and the heavy cavalry units. In the end , he deployed his greatswords completely on the wrong side of the battle. He did not knew yet who would go first and the big unit of reavers dead center really really anoyed him as he knew the house would not impede their move in the least.
Empire goes frst. He is somewhat releived, his machines will get to fire for sure and will be able to react to my vanguards move. The small unit of reavers elect to vanguard behind his fast pistoliers and threaten ennemy flank rather than being shot to pieices.
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The captain of the Reavers winks at the lady Letitia provoking the ire of sir Lorik but before anything is said, he signal the charge of the light elven cavalry, and boldly they rode with their prized banner flying in the wind.
The Empire agressively move in the west flank, trying to make the distance. The imperial light infantry is however more cautious but does try it's best to impede the light cavalry, blocking an early charge possibility at their war machines.
Magic is uneventful, except for a single net of amyntok cast by the lady wizard hidden within the halberdiers. A poor dispelling roll see it get trough on Lord Malrik heavy cavalry on the eastern flank.
Shooting starts with the pistoliers at long range on Lord Malrik cavalry but most shots fails to hit and none to wound. Then the dreaded thundering of the empire canons is heard.
"As their horse ran across the field, lady Letitia could not help but blush at the impetuous young artist. She still had that magnificient portrait he had given her at her birthday. Then all hell broke as the canon balls suddenly smashed trough the ellyrian riders ranks.
Feanir had barely cleared around the old manor ruins that the massive lead ball took out 2 riders on his right, and another 2 on his left. Before he could react, one of his companion shouted as he was push out the way, mortar shrapnel exploding all around them. As smoke cleared, horses and elves layed dead together on the bloodied green field. But the surviving reavers did not flinch and rode they did into the jaws of death."
Ellyrian reavers took horrendous casualties but they don't flinch, whatever plans I had for them as far as flank charges or rank disruptions would have to wait next game. Their goal was thoses imperial canons.
High elves turn 1
Unable to charge, the reavers free reform their way past the ennemy lines and within the minimum mortar range and as to have maximum cover from canons grapeshots. Second units of reavers turn around to deal with the pistoliers, positionning themselves right behind them. Sir Lorik cautiously advance along the charioteers since Lord Malrik opted to not risk his own unit trough the magical net. The spears advance to block the ennemy knights way, counting upon receiving magical support.
Lady Letitia starts to weave her potent magic, starting with throne of vines. The ennemy mage use the energy feedback into an attempt to turn her into a frog but she resist. She then attempt dwellers below but then again, a sigil scroll is used, dispelling and causing a violent mind blank making her forget the spell. With all remaining dices, she attempt flesh to stone on the spears but the ennemy scores a double 6 on dispel. This is bad news.
Shooting. The Lsg volleyfire into the free company, killing a good score of them while the aim of the charioteers is true, killing 2 halberdiers. Then the reavers draw their bow at point blank while an RBT scythe down several pistoliers with multiple shot. The left RBT attempt to fire a single bolt trough the knights flank but the bolt fails to get trough the first kill. Even worst news for the spears. As they ride, Captain Feanir manage to take out one of the mortar crew with a precise arrow.
Empire turn 2
Desesperate to get into the fray, Empire Knights charge the spears headlong. Greatswords march again, also trying to get into the fight. On the eastern flank, the kyselvites tries to reform their line but oddly the right free company decide to try to get around the building. This is a mistake, and asking him after the game, he told me he hoped to hold the line long enough for them to get around or to lure my eastern heavy cavalry into chasing them. Anyways, that is what it is.
Magic is uneventful, a new attempt to cast a magical net on the heavy cavalry is made but this time dispelled by Lady Letitia.
Unfortunately, the spears martial prowess was not good that day as they manage to kill only 1 knight despite 19 attack. The champion is killed with 3 wounds in the challenge and 4 more elves are knocked out by the heavy lances. Despite being steadfast, they fail their roll and I realise too that I failed to correctly position my BsB to support them. I of course roll snake eyes as they are run down by the knights.
Seemingly as if they panicked, the mortar misfire and cannot fire this turn. Seeing Captain Faenir on their flank and about to charge their comrades, both canon prepares to fire grapshots trough hard cover.
" Brothers, we are almost there! Ride on! Said Faenir as the thunder sounded again. Charge they did into a hail of lead as five of them were hit, 2 of them mortally wounded. As they finally reached the empire gun position, Faenir shouted: " Riders of Ulthuan! charge!!!!"
High elves turn 2
The Reavers charge the mortar, Sir Lorik and the charioteers declare a combined charge into the halberdiers. The eastern 2nd unit of Reavers ignore the free company and goes back were the action is. So does also Sir Malrik now free from the net, moving to face the ennemy Knights, supported by the LSG who move ahead to protect their flank.
Letitia starts to weave her most potent magic phase of the game with 12 dices, casting three spells on 4 dices. Throne of Vines is cast irristibly protecting the miscast, then shield of thorns on the charioteers which the ennemy amazingly failed to dispel and the flesh to stone on sir Lorik Knights, which also goes trough irristible and miscast again denied by throne. Yes, after 3 games of having poor magic phases, it did felt good. A good score of Halberdiers went down.
Sooting saw some more free company die from LSG fire ( yes fire snce they have eternal flame banner ) and 2nd Reavers bows. One of the RBT completely missed the Knights and the other one took out a few Greatswords.
The Halberdiers, already softened by the charioteers thron shield were completely smashed by 5 impact hits and 3 more kills from horse and crew. Then came Sir Lorik and his silver helms...
"As they dispersed the ennemy halberds, Sir Lorik offered his arm to the wounded wizard lady who was still cowering after he had hit her with his shield.
My lady, my apologies if I hurted you, but this mud field is no place for a lovely rose. Would you kindly ride with me?
Lady Letitia was'nt too happy at the scene as the shaken human girl accepted the noble's offer."
Chariotters end the pursuit, while Lorik' unit restrained and free reformed to face the battered free company. Captain Faenir reavers overrun into imperial canon.
Empire turn 3
We agree because it is getting late and kids growing more and more annoying that it will be last turn. It looks like it will be it anyways.
A desesperate attempt is made on the eastern flank by the free company to charge the heavy cavalry. My opponent hoped to remain steadfast after CC so to hold the unit there. His wizard attempt something similar upon the charioteers.
Knights and greatswords position themselves to charge the reformed elven line. Eastern 2nd free company continue their fool's errand.
Magic starts and end with dwellers below cast irristibly at Sir Malrik's unit. 3 out of 7 helms are sent below, with Lord Malrik disdainfully cutting off whatever arms were trying to drag him underground. However, things were even more burtal for the greatswords as 14 of them died of the results of a cascading explosion. The battle wizard evaded inextremis being pulled into the void, suffering a single wound.
The last canon attempts to snipe Malrik himself but misfire! Reavers overrun into them.
The free company effort does not pay off, as they fail to even inflict a single wound into the toughness 7 helms. Still, despite several heads cutted down by the helms, they do remain steadfast but unfortunately fail their LD roll. That's were I almost paid for having no actual rank. As for the wizard and the charioteers, the wizard was killed. He could have actually won if he had survived, since charge and flank was already ensuring that.
High elves turn 3
At this point, my ennemy does not expect much more from his troops unless I roll very poorly on that above average charge with my BSB heavy cavalry. And so does Sir Lorik make his charge , combined with Lord Malrik own charge. The 2nd Reavers then proceed to a nice long charge to finish the free company agony.
LSG quick reform and are flanked by charioteers to prepare a counter charge should it ever be needed.
Magic does not acomplish anything for Letitia that turn, winds being poor and the ennemy actually having more dispel dices than the helves power dices.
Both RbTs open up on automatic mode, killing another 5 greatswords. LSG and charioteers kills another 4 or so.
The charge is violent, as all but 3 empire knights are knocked out from their saddle but one of the silver helms crash down with his mount. But the empire General will not yield until he tested the mettle of Lord Malrik. Both opponents unmount and draw their swords.
The ennemy's sword of bloodshed starts singing into a whirlwind of attacks but even if Lord Malrik greatsword hits are fewer, they are deadlier. After what seems an eternity, only 1 hit from each oponent goes trough. Lord Malrik's ward deflect the hit at last minute but the seed of rebirth fails to heal the deep wound inflicted by elven steel.
" Please Sir, accept my sword said the old knight.
You can keep your sword sir, all we wanted was the horn of Isha.
So that is what it is called after all. Then so be it, you will have it.
Sir, let us attend to our wounded.
Meanwhile, captain Faenir unmounted his beloved horse and planted the last nail into the remaining canon fire mecanism. Then he turned around as his brothers shouted a long cry of victory echoed in the distance by some fallen comrades they tought dead.
So victory to High elves
I will comment in a bit later, but can already say he paid a big price for not deploying his great swords correctly. As for his free company fool's errand, he still defended it even today. Anyways, feel free to comment in the meantime. I sure would like to discuss tactics and all.
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