The Vanguard was on the lookout yet again, as Nadia alerted me yet again of the impending conflict. Her mind was pure, and thank God it was so, for when she had seen in her dreams were beyond my stomach. I could take the corrupted minds of Chaos, and of their gods never scared me. The minds of men were frail and had no order, but even I could generally sense their unbarred doors. The unguarded mind is like a fortress with its gates unbarred. These visions though, were filled with disease, and a random love for destruction that even the most chaotic minds could not devise. These creatures longed not for death, nor for destruction, but they just longed. For what, I do not know, as I doubt anyone could. They lived, though to say such was an exaggeration, it¡¦s more like they just were.
These visions, as much as they disturbed my provoked me to anger, and a need to destroy that which lacks purpose, for life is based on it. Without purpose, you get no where, and you get there fast. We knew that we would not be able to surprise these creatures, as some of their army moved underground, and some above. So we sat and waited for the rats to come to us¡K.
**OOC**
This BR is 1500 pts, vs. Skaven, pitched battle. I used my vanguard (slightly altered), and he used 3Engg, 3Ratling, 7 Jezzies, 3x20CR 2x6 NR 6Tunnelers.
The battlefield we chose was perfect, with a forest on a hill for which my First Helms would come charging out of, with cover from deadly warp stone, a central valley with two flanking hills. I would direct the brunt of all the Vanguard through this central valley, the peal off to the flanks if necessary. He met me on the battlefield with no honour, as one can expect from weak minds. The infantry units split the field with 2 on the left lank, and 1 on the right, with giant rifles in the middle, guarded be seething mounds of poisonous vermin. As I waited for him, I decided to take initiative.
The beginning of battle from the Vanguard was purposefully slow, so as to set up charges in due time, as I had a lot of vermin to wear down before I could kill the mean of his troops. I feared nothing from the 'ninja rats', as I knew they could do nothing to hurt me. When it came time for Nadia to shine, she did so with dazzling light, as the Jezzies were stuck blind by righteous light of her purity, they would have a hard time aiming at anything for the next while!
The rats sat there and watched me advance, hoping that their machine guns would be in range next turn, as I had stayed well outside of their range. The rats threw a few sling shot at me, which bounced with due expectation off the armour of my knights.
I decided that sooner would be better than later to initiate combat, and ran both chariots into the seething rat swarms, and my unit of silver helms into the pesky ¡¥ninjas¡¦ with hopes of overrunning into their back ranks. My unit of Princes aligned for a charge on a unit of upright rats, hopefully out of range of too much warp stone. The first helms advanced of the other unit of ¡¥ninjas¡¦, staying but an inch away, hoping to provoke a charge. There was to be no successful magic this phase, other than a slight draining of the power of a warlock. The chariots did their 10 wounds, but were still to be tied up for a while with swarms, but the silver helms did their job completely demolishing the ninjas they engaged and ran full of spirit headlong into the rifles.
The rats were looking scared, as they realised their fate was at hand. It was not to be a pretty day for the rats¡K if they even knew what a pretty day was. The other ninjas bit the bait, charging into my first helms, while the unit of standing rats charged into the flank of Nadia¡¦s chariot, which promptly panicked (on a 10 :( ), taking her to safety, and the other chariot was thankfully out of rang of a re-direct. There was no warp lightning to be had, as one did not gather the power, one was snuffed instantly by Nadia, and the other miscast! Things were glum indeed. The shooting had a lot more potential, alas one gun was out of range, another tore 3 of my Helms valiantly fighting the Jezzies, and my Reavers were no more. Combat proved a mistake too, as the ninjas broke, and the Jezzies were flattened. Everything from here on in was simply mopping up. And making sure NONE survived to plague any lands.
Summary: A Skaven Skryre army. Had me scared, as I know full well what ratling guns do to my cavalry, I had to get in there hard and fast, which I did. He was a fairly new played, and I had to remind him of the rules (he kept shorting himself). I could have been bad with less experience, but chalk another win to the Vanguard! Well, massacre, at end of turn 4.... But Don't tell anyone else -_-
The day was a dark one, not overcast, not had night fallen, but dark in my soul. I had stayed by her side through three journeys of the sun through the sky, hoping, wishing, for a positive sign of life. It was today that I would both be relived and crushed. To ease the pain on my heart and soul, I do believe God was kind to me by allowing the grace before doom, as who knows what damage I would have done to myself were it not so. It was shortly after the Vanguard had finished dinner, and though dinner was brought. I was too weak to eat. This would not stop me, however, from trying to coax her into but a mouthful to ease my mourning spirit. She swallowed the first mouthful of food since I had been with her, and my spirit soared to the heavens above, to reach that point where life once again held meaning. I gently nursed her to a point where her consciousness was such that she could read the joy on my face. I doubt her gift for telepathy had anything to do with it, as my fatigued spirit could hide nothing this day. I was falling dusk, and she was sitting on the edge of her bed when the Drakemaster, Dandurian, came to intrude upon my bliss. It seemed a host of Lizardmen had materialised while my lover was battling for her life. I do not know what they intended, but I do know what I intended. Should they have spoken Asur, I would have told them to leave, however, lacking the capability to croak myself, I decided on a gesture that could not be misinterpreted.
I assembled my war host, and met my opponent on the field of battle, planning on nothing less than total destruction or these grotesque creatures. My days of brooding over her would have an outlet indeed. They would see my wrath, and feel what pain is. They will learn my word for death, war!
*OOC* The armies
Mine ->Immer: barded steed, lance, helm or fortune. (General)
Nadiatesya: Chariot, Level 2, Corin, Dusk (Blinding light, Pha’s)
Haluthir: Chariot, level 1 Scroll, Fury (Walk, Drain)
10xFirst Helms: FE, FC, Ellyrion
6X Silver Helms: FE, champ, musician
5xReavers: Musician
9xPrinces: FC, Standard of balance
1xEagle
His -> JSOD w/enchanted shield
BSB, hornet sword
Scar-vet GW, Tepok, Queztl
15xQuesztl war, FC
15xQueztl war, FC
10xSkink, scout, Queztl
10xskink, Queztl
3xKrox
Steggie
Terrain: Two hills on LHS, one in each deployment zone, one hill RHS middle.
The battle:
The battle plan was simple, deal with the blocks of infantry en masse, after my Dandurian and I rip through the scaled giants, it would be a simple matter of rounding up from behind. Time to put the plan into effect! I sent my Reavers up the LHS of the field to tempt an awfully suspicious lone lizard walking down that side of the field. I moved into position to align a charge through the gnats into the scaled giants, just not yet. My First helms would provide back up for the Reavers, charging headlong into the foolish lone lizard after the Reavers tactically fled. My magic was cast, and Nadia’s sword light, as if by the heavens themselves. Since it seemed these lizards knew not the workings of magic, Haluthir had no role to play. Having tried to summon the power of Corin, I found that the enemy still had control over the winds of magic, and snuffed that attempt entirely.
He took the eagle up the RHS the bait it was acting, launching javelins at my wondrous beast, trying to bring it from the skies. Though grievously wounded, the brave eagle soared higher into the sky, and out of range. The cursed giant bow atop the crawling dinosaur managed to skewer 2 of my princes, their wounds and armour to be mended after this menace was accounted for. A foolish lizard I knew he was, and take the bait he did. As my Reavers soundly fled, the lone lizard knew he had a problem, for it wasn’t till after he crested the rise that he saw my First Helms waiting in ambush.
Seeing the opportunity to break his lines early, I sounded my trumpet, and the call was echoed by my Firsts! As I charged into the frail ones, many javelins flew to attempt to break the tide, but none succumbed to the tiny toothpicks, and they met our wrath head on. Our initial charge left one alive, who broke in terror, leading us right where I wanted to be, in combat with the giants. To my left, the Firsts did not to so well; leaving the foolish thing alive, for it seemed to have a carapace even a lance could not break! It mattered little, as I had it soundly outnumbered, and now surrounded. It would soon know death. My eagle soared high into the sky, and rounded on the steggadon, in an attempt to draw fire away from the main force. The chariots settled in for a charge, waiting for their comrades in arms to help them out. The winds of magic blew, but to no real effect. However, this time Corin’s power was allowed to shine, and the glow from the one with the standard’s sword faded to a dull pulse. My Reavers failed to rally, and fled back to camp. I would be having a word with them later!
One block of foot sloggers rushed forward, in an attempt to draw my Helms into battle, which the other held back, anticipating a flank on anyone who took the flank of their comrades. Battle proved to be his downfall, as his giants were devoured, managing to impale 3 of my princes upon their crude instruments of wealth, which they had to talent wielding! We restrained our lust for blood, now deep behind the enemy lines. My Firsts ground through the lizard, grinding him and his carapace deep into the ground, tenderizing the unfortunate thing trapped inside.
This is where his folly proved to be more than I could bear, I decided to add insult to injury. Sounding the horns of battle, I charged in, hitting my foe in the rear, while my Firsts covered a flank, with my chariots both running headlong into the front. Their general stood with his eyes wide as he saw the true meaning of death. They were carved mercilessly, but not without pain on our part, Nadia, in her weakened state could not kill the standard bearer before luck would see him put her to harm. In her weakened state, I could not feel our soul link, yet I had not noticed it missing until I had sent he sword pass through her abdomen. The scream of rage that followed her death was heard in the heavens, and filled my companions with rightful bloodlust. It was a cold day for the Vanguard, a day that would forever taint our souls. The lizard gloated in his triumph, even though it was to be his last. This gloat could not stop the terrible force of the destruction to his unit, as 13 of his kind lie dying at his feet. They fled like cowards, bringing my Firsts and my chariot into the flank of the last unit. The battle was decided. It was mere revenge and bloodlust that kept my troops slaughtering, and as was my habit, not a thing of my foe remain living. It is a pity, really, for who is going to update their lexicon with my definition of death and war? All things come with a price, I suppose.
Never forget, for the Vanguard will be there to remind you!
It was in patrolling the bloody field after the battle, summarily executing those that had caused me this pain that I happened on the link. It was faint, like a light through a shudder in the darkness, which disappears when you treasure it too much and look at it. Whenever I grasped for it, it was gone, so I let it go, and it returned. I let it guide me to where she lay, nearly trampled in the reckless pursuit of her killer. But alive she was! Though not healthy by any means, she breathed, and she ate. Her mind was once again with me, and I knew the pain she felt. She was glad to be alive, to share her thoughts with me. For the first time in her life, we shared thoughts as one. She was too weak to guard her mind, and I was far too deep in rapture to keep her thoughts from me. I knew that, for this moment at least, my tortured past would not poison her. As her bones mended, our link faded into the soul link we both knew and loved. I barred my poisons from her, so she could keep the purity for which I loved her for. The Vanguard was ready; the Vanguard was on the move.
SUMMARY:
Well, movement, and a rather weak opponentwon me this game. VP? 2200-300. Massacre, turn 5. He had no mages, but Tepok allowed him 4 dice. One magic item made the ring of Corin little use, and the rest of magic had little/no effect on the game. He used his steggie like a 235pt bolt thrower, which helped me out, and then, despite my warning, opened up the BSB unit to a charge by DP, FH, and 2 chariots, pursuing into the other unit of Saurii. What surprised me the most was... well, that fact that he was on top of the in game mini-tourney, and he had to rule check 5x a turn! He should know what he is doing, and considering his main army is HE, he should know what the magic items did, instead of making me show him the AB every turn. In short? Massacre, great to beat the snot out of a poor-sport opponent. Can't believe my Reavers failed their rally roll on a 10 *grumble* I can roll Ld test to save my life (which it usually would).
