Monday, September 13, 2010

Month 1 Week 2 - Incidental Enemies

Though Grey Seer Malkrit's attempted ambush on the High Elves had failed, his kind are not known for dwelling on their defeats, and so the Skaven commander was hatching another devilish scheme.

Returning breathless one night, his Gutter Runner scouts had reported a sizable caravan of foreigners travelling towards the northern barrowlands. In addition to the supplies, slaves and the promise of an easy victory to bolster morale such a target represented, his keen-nosed scouts had detected the scent of warpstone!

This opportunity could not have come at a better time, for the Council of Thirteen's minions had come once more to exact their punishing tithe of warptokens on his force. The time had come to act.

As his army formed up in their path under the cover of darkness, he discovered something amiss however- the caravan's wagons were not carriages piled high with food and trade goods as expected, but disguised war chariots drawn by unliving Skeletal Steeds, while the caravan's numerous guards and followers were grim Skeleton warriors swathed in cloaks.

Surprising though the discovery was, it made little difference to Malkrit. The Council would have their warpstone, or have his hide for it. His preference was clear.

The Blockade

As the Skaven scurried to form a blockade across the their path, Ramses' silent army fanned out into a battle line without missing a step.


Skeletons and chariots aplenty form a battle line.


The Undead find their path blocked by a horde of ratmen in a looting frame of mind.


Whiskered snout and grinning skull face off across the battlefield.

Eager to prove he did not fear the unnatural enemy army, Malkrit ordered his Clanrats forward, bearing him towards the undead line on his mighty Screaming Bell. Surging forward enthusiastically, they made up the heart of the Skaven advance, while other units cautiously brought up the flanks.


Malkrit leads the way! What a rat.

As ever, the magical Storm Banner was unfurled to cover the Skaven advance from the hail of missiles the Tomb Kings were bound to unleash upon them.

The sight of the ominous bulk of the Screaming Bell approaching stirred something in Ramses' centuries-dead heart, however. Leveling the rune-bound Spear of Antharak at the Skaven war machine, he signalled a headlong charge, certain his fell presence alone would prevent the Skaven from engaging his chariot bodyguard from the flanks.

Like a bolt from the blue, Ramses and his men tore into the Clanrats, hewing left and right. Yet Ramses himself was unconcerned with the Skaven rank-and-file; his target was Malkrit himself, and bellowed his challenge at the Grey Seer.

Aware of the hundreds of pairs of yellow eyes that waited for his reaction, Malkrit took a gamble on the protective magics that enshrouded his Bell, and accepted.


Ramses and Malkrit fight man to rat.

His gamble was a poor one however, and with a series of deft swings, the Grey Seer tumbled from his lofty perch.

Rightly shaken by the loss of their brave leader, both units of Skavenslaves shied away from attacking the flanks of Ramses' unit.


If a lord should perish, what chance does a slave have? The Skavenslaves refuse to engage.

Sensing weakness in the enemy, the rest of the Undead army surged forward to capitalize on the Skaven army's indecision.

From deep within the Tomb King lines, the Screaming Skull Catapult refused to fire as its crewmen fumbled the shot. The sightless Skeleton Archers had no such problems, and culled a handful of Skaven from amongst the verminous swarm.

Where the Slaves had faltered in the face of the enemy however, the Plague Monks, frothing with nameless diseases, had no such complications. Brandishing filth encrusted weapons, they charged headlong into Ramses' bodyguard, whose attack had lost impetus now they were locked in combat.


Seriously pissed off Plague Monks attack the Chariots flank, after the Slave traffic jam abates.

With the putrid ratmen in their flank, Ramses and his bodyguard fared a good deal worse. Before long, just Ramses and his chariot remained, battling defiantly against the horde.

Elsewhere, a unit of Skavenslaves charged headlong into Prince Seti's Charioteers, who held against their charge. Try as they might, they could not inflict telling damage against the Chariots, and were wiped out by the Ushabti that thundered into their flank.

Then, with a dread tolling that echoed across the battlefield, a maelstrom of magical power erupted from the Screaming Bell, sending arcing bolts of infernal energy into the ranks of the Tomb King army.

The lightning struck down a great many of Ramses's army, including Setep, who tumbled from his saddle. Even Imhotep cowered before the magical firestorm, narrowly escaping destruction by seeking the shelter of his Skeleton archers, who shielded him from harm.

Eager to inflict further damage on the enemy, Warlock Engineer Kritislik let fly with a deadly accurate Doomrocket, which landed square in the middle of the Skeleton Spearmen, who were reduced to a mere handful of warriors.


10,000 years of war never prepared the Skeleton Spearmen for devastation like this.

But it was too little too late to carry the day, for the Tomb Kings had also inflicted telling damage on the Skaven army.

As dawn came, both armies regrouped and quit the battlefield, having inflicted heavy losses on their opposite number, but having not quite driven them from the field.

Result: Draw

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Month 1 Week 2 - For The Blood Of Our People

At the witching hour, as men drowsed at their posts and blinked blearily into the gloom, half-blinded by their own torches, they came.

Cloaked in the chill darkness, a picked team of Shades crept through the copse of trees, ever closer to the human Archers stationed the small hill.

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"Be vewy vewy quiet... we're hunting Archers..."

With them was an Assassin, whose midnight robes concealed an array of deadly throwing stars that gleamed darkly with bloodlust.

He raised a fist, and the shadowy company raised their soot-blackened crossbows.

"Khaine-thelas"

In an instant, the biting cold wind had turned into jagged bolts.

Men screamed and died, riddled with barbed arrows. The remainder stood in shock as shadows coalesced into the forms of charging elves, drawing forth long curved blades for the kill.

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Sneaky sneaky sneaky... At this range, the Archers haven't a prayer.

The slaughter lasted mere seconds, and the sight of the carnage sent a nearby unit of village militia fleeing in horror back to the safety of the houses.

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"We're under attack! Let's er... go tell the others!"

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One unit cut to ribbons and another panicking... "Screw this, let's go pick mangoes instead."

But tough conditions breed hardy men, and the commotion had alerted the Archers stationed in the chapel.

Lit by the torches of the men they had killed, the Shades proved easy targets for the Archers. They loosed a cloud of arrows into the murderous Druchii, slaying two where they stood.

Pinned down by unrelenting volleys of arrows from the chapel, the Shades consolidated, taking potshots at militiamen from the cover of the hill and the wooden shack built on it.

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It's hard to see from here, but that chapel's buzzing with angry archers.

Determined to drive the invaders back, a squad of villagers clambered up the hill, only to be met with a hail of crossbow bolts and throwing stars at pointblank range, scything them down where they stood.

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"Drive them back! For the EmpirraaaaaGGGHH!!!"

But with dawn fast approaching, the assassin cursed and blew on his horn, summoning the rest of raiders from their prepared positions.

Hearing the signal, Aedan's Dark Riders and cruel Corsairs marched swiftly in for the kill, and for a moment, it seemed the Archer's valiant actions would succeed only in delaying the inevitable.

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Corsairs march on Grigor's Folly, curved blades a-whicker with excitement...

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...while Aedan and his Dark Riders gallop in like Mexican banditos.

But dawn brought hope for Grigor's Folly as Boyar Ivann Borislav and his mounted command crested the hill, riding hard for the village.

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Spot the Kislev reinforcements way over there? Ok I should have taken the pic from the other side.

Sighting the arrival of enemy reinforcements, the Archers in the chapel loosed their bows at the Dark Riders, slaying a handful even as they rode near.

The two forces met in the village clearing. Spurring his steed on, Ivann drove his depleted wedge of Gryphon Legion into the Corsairs, who drew their wicked blades and met their charge.

The Kislevites fought like men possessed, lashing out with their flanged maces at the Dark Elves. Incredibly, the Corsair's nerve broke in the face of their assault and were scattered by the triumphant horsemen.

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Don't mess with Kislevites before their morning vodka.

With only his faithful banner bearer left by his side, Ivann nonetheless declared a charge on Aedan's Dark Riders.

Sensing the tide of battle turn against him, Aeden chose not to meet his charge.

Instead he called for his elves to withdraw, leaving the village safely in the hands of the Empire and the Assassins and Shades to melt back into the shadows from whence they came.

Result: Empire victory

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Month 1 Year 1 - The Dead Walk

Whilst the younger races battled amongst themselves, older, stranger forces were enroute to Greywater Reach.

From their desert fastnesses, the dread Tomb Kings of Khemri had travelled to the Old World for their own secret ends.

Using a World Gate - a forgotten relic of the Old Ones - they arrived in force in Greywater. From the gaping portal of blackness that yawned open in the ruins of Castle Heinholm, flocks of carrion emerged, borne aloft on rotting wings to reconnoitre the land.

Yet their motives were not unknown to the ever-vigilant eyes of Dulan, Slaan Lord of the pyramid temple of Tzulanz, who had sensed disturbances in the primordial ley lines caused by their use of the Old One's teleportation magic

Sending forth great numbers of his own skink scouts through a portal powered by his own magic, he hoped to learn the whereabouts of the undead interlopers and prevent them from further disturbing the world's geomantic web
.

Hampered by the obfuscating sorceries of Hierophant Imhotep, many Skinks fell prey to the voracious undead predators, who swooped down upon them from above.

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Terrified by their horrifying appearance - and awful smell no doubt - a number of Skinks leg it.

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Snipe for your life!

Yet what they lack in brute strength, the race of Skinks more than make up for with determination
, and Dulan gleaned from their minds the whereabouts of the Undead host.

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When push comes to shove, you never sell a Skink with a sharp stick short.

The Red Dawn

At daybreak, Lord Dulan gathered his warhost about him and marched on the Undead camp, seeking to rout the foe using the element of surprise.

But the Tomb Kings of Khemri are meticulous planners who have witnessed an age of warfare and destruction, and had prepared well in advance for a hostile reception.

As the Lizardman army formed up to attack, they found the Undead standing ready, a hundred grinning skulls staring at them through sightless eyes. It seems long-dead warriors who need neither rest nor sustenance are hard to catch unawares.

Anchored by an unyielding centre of spearmen, Ramses seized the initiative and waved his massed Chariots and Skeletal Heavy Cavalry forward in a grand pincer movement.


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Get them! As the Lizardmen march onto the field, the Undead surge forward.


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The charge of the bony brigade.

Cackling missiles hurled from a Screaming Skull catapult culled several unlucky Skinks and Saurus; in response, the Lizardman host returned fire in earnest, sending a handful of Skeleton Warriors back to eternal rest.

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Help! It's raining burning craniums!

As the Children of the Old Ones moved to meet their foe however, an ominous rumbling echoed from deep beneath the earth.

With a spray of earth and an unearthly scream, a pair of Tomb Scorpions burst from the ground to charge Chief Xialan, whose Terradon mount shied away from the beasts and fled.

Seizing the chance to rid himself of a problematic opponent, Setep propelled his Light Skeleton Horsemen into the fleeing chief, driving him from the field.

Steeling himself, Laolan the Skink Priest led his Skink Cohort in brave charge into the rear of the Scorpions. Though their short blades could do little to the calcified chitin of the Scorpions, the beasts themselves struggled to turn to face their foes and soon collapsed from their determined assault.


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And THAT'S for scaring Xialan away...

On the other flank, Ramses and Prince Seti thundered into the Kroxigor on their resplendent Chariots, routing the huge Lizardmen with cleaving swings of their ensorcelled weapons.

Simultaneously, the towering Ushabti broke into a loping run, huge ceremonial blades levelled at Lord Dulan's own Temple Guard. Unbowed by the sight of their attackers, the tough veterans locked shields and held firm against their charge.

Then disaster struck as Laolan, flushed with success, attempted a difficult spell. With a ripping noise that clawed at the senses, a daemonic claw tore its way into reality, sending the Skink Priest reeling into unconsciousness.


Stemming The Tide


Sensing the strands of fate turning against him, Lord Dulan quieted his mind, rousing himself into action with a mighty magical fusillade.

Tracing arcane symbols in the air with dextrous, many-jointed hands, he first sent a flock of spectral crows into the carrion, tearing apart the abominations with beak and claw.

Turning, Dulan infused Bokalan, leader of his Temple Guard, with the rage of a wild beast. Wreathed in a crackling corona of arcane energy, he tore into the Ushabti with renewed vigour, scattering their remains to the wind with broad sweeps of his ponderous halberd.

Finally, exerting his will, he halted Ramses's Chariots with an arcane barrier that froze them in place, preventing them taking further part in the battle.


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"Oh no you don't". It's amazing what a frog can achieve when it's angry enough.

Spurred by their Lord's power, the Skink cohorts rallied around their mighty Kroxigor cousins and drove into Ramses's Heavy Cavalry, destroying them in a swirling melee.

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After dirty big Scorpions, what's a couple of skellies, eh?

Both armies having suffered telling damage, the battle slowed to an exchange of missiles as the sun sank into the horizon.

Come nightfall, both forces pulled back to regroup and fight anew at dawn.

Result:
Draw

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Month 1 Year 1: Grigor's Folly

Lord Valkith's Dark Elf host landed at Splinter Point, approaching the hapless town of Grigor's Folly from the south.

When his scouts brought word of the town's inadequate defences, the lord of House Vae split his army into two, the better to secure the village by stealth.

Under the leadership of his battle standard Aedan, a force of Shades, Corsairs, Dark Riders and Warriors set out to capture Grigor's Folly. Their orders were simple: Take the town by night, burn no buildings and leave no traces that Dark Elves had spirited away its inhabitants.

Their assault was intended as much to sow fear into the hearts and minds of other settlements as it was to secure their primary objective - human slaves destined for the blood-soaked meat markets of Naggaroth.

The rest of his army advanced to the rear, together with slow-moving supply wagons and his Reaper batteries.

Meanwhile, Lady Elissa had received word of the plight of Grigor's Folly. Deciding that the direct course of action - to march with all haste to the defense of the villagers - would likely be second-guessed by the cunning foe, she dispatched her bloodthirsty uncle Ivann Borislav and a small cohort to defend the village, trusting him to abandon them to their fate should the Druchii attack in force.

In the meantime, she marched the rest of her command hard into prepared positions to hit the Dark Elves while they were busy razing the town.

Yet her decision to use the hapless peasants of Grigor's Folly as bait had rankled Knight Captain Johann, commander of her bodyguard.

Secretly, he gathered to his side a hand-picked band of like-minded soldiery and set out to delay the advance of the Dark Elf army.

Battle is joined

Outnumbered twice over by the sprawling Dark Elf train, Johann led his ragtag force personally into the fray.

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Johann rides to his doom. Brave man.

Irked by their temerity, the Dark Elf army surged forward to sweep the enemy aside. The bold warriors of the Empire dug in their heels for the inevitable impact.

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The Dark Elf battle line. Blimey there's a lot of them!

On the eastern flank, Valkith's Cold One Knights took heavy casualties from a fusillade of Outrider fire. With a curse, they levelled their lances and charged headlong into the Empire archers, who scattered rather than meet their charge, turning the Outriders' jubilation into panicked retreat in an instant.

Sensing doubt in the foe, the knights then singled out a regiment of Ulrican men-at-arms, and were countercharged in turn by a detachment of archers. Though their aim was true, luck had deserted them and the ferocious knights were pulled down by weight of numbers.

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Bum rush the knights!

Elsewhere however, Lord Valkith mounted on his slavering Manticore proved a much tougher prospect, ending the threat of the Knight Captain and his mounted bodyguard with a well-placed charge into the rear of their formation.

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Valkith and Manticore go RAWR.

Despite this, Johann's company continued to harry the advancing Dark Elf battleline, cutting down the unarmoured Hag Queen Kelindra and her Witch Elf Bodyguard, and slowing the Executioners. The Dark Sorceress Alariel too felt the sting of their uncannily accurate arrows, wounding her badly enough to force her to withdraw from the battle.

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Chainmail bikinis vs firing squad. Ouch.

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Encircled by Dark Elves. Not good...

Enraged by the humans' refusal to yield, Valkith stormed into the Huntsmen, taking a measure of vengeance for the loss of the Witch Elves.

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Revenge! Om nom nom nom

Though Johann's own company had been reduced practically to nothing, their actions had taken a serious toll on the Dark Elves' progress.

Result:

Units successfully breaking the blockade:

Valkith on Manticore
Dark Elf Spearmen
Dark Elf Crossbowmen
Harpies

Units stalled:

Kelindra Vae
Alariel
Executioners
Cold One Knights
Witch Elves

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Month 1 Year 1: Malkrit's Ruse

Ranging ahead of the main Skaven army, Gutter Runner scouts had alerted Grey Seer Malkrit to the presence of a powerful force of High Elves led by Prince Aethir of Caledor massing at a clearing near Graven Wood.

Sensing an opportunity for a devious ambush, the wily ratman sent his bloodthirsty Assassin Quickslit to ambush the High Elf mage Gilia Tsairith, who had been marching through Graven Wood with his bodyguard of Lothern Seaguard and Archers to join the main Elven contingent.

Anticipating the Elves' movements, Quickslit hid his handpicked Gutter Runner kill teams in the dense undergrowth of the forest, waiting for an opportunity to strike.

Accompanying him was one of Clan Eshin's new innovations -- a towering Assassin Rat Ogre named Sneekrush. The abomination had had the brain of a failed assassin-aspirant transplanted in place of its own, woefully small brain, giving it elementary stealth skills and reasoning.

Taking decisive action, the gutsy Elves manage to evade the Skaven ambush, with Gilia's potent magical skills taking a toll on their would-be assassins. The wizard himself blasts Sneekrush with a spray of branches and woodland debris at pointblank range, leaving the monster floored and apparently dead.

Fearing the day is lost, Quickslit made a valiant last ditch effort, launching himself into Gilia's bodyguard, slaying elves left and right. But the stoic Elves close ranks around their leader, and the assassin is inevitably forced to flee.

In his haste to make good his escape, the assassin drops a precious clue: a map detailing the whereabouts of Grey Seer Malkrit's own army.

Armed with this valuable information, Gilia rejoined Prince Aethir's command, and the hunter now became the hunted.

Surprising Malkrit's army, the High Elves launched a deadly ambush of their own. Arrayed in marching column and unprepared for battle, the Skaven are attacked by Elven infantry on one side, and swift Dragon Princes and a White Lion Chariot on the other.

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Elves to the left of them, elves to the right of them. Rats.

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Elf infantry attacks one flank of the Skaven column...

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... while Dragon Princes burst out of the woods using the Banner of Ellyrion. Sneaky!

Cornered, the ratmen launch a spirited counterattack, but in the end the Skaven are driven from the field, when Malkrit and his Stormvermin bodyguard break ranks, confronted by High Elves both to their front and rear.

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The Skaven fight hard, but the Elves have them by the tail...

The High Elf ambush is not without cost however. Warlock Engineer Kritislik's infernal sorceries and Skryre-crafted wonder weapons leave a great many Elves burned and blasted.

Night falls and Malkrit and his lieutenants retreat into the darkness of the trees, plotting their revenge.

Result:
High Elf victory

The Campaign Map

WIP, please check back later

Vern's Tomb Kings

Faction goal:
To establish contact and an alliance with the Barrow Kings in the North.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

Lords:

RAMSES III, Tomb King

Equipment/magic items: Shield, Great Weapon, Spear of Antharak, Scorpion Armor, Collar of Shapesh
Mount: Chariot

Pros:
Patient
Unbelievable Bravery
Brillant Commander

Cons:
Lazy
Risk Lover
Careless with troops

Additional info:
Ramses is descended from Settra himself, however having such an illustrious ancestor has robbed Ramses of all ambitions (due to lack of advancement opportunities). He is contented to remain as a lesser tomb king as long as there are foes to kill and other forms of entertainment.

Personal (private) goal:
Capturing a female elf or human to sing for him back in the tombs.

Heroes:

SETI, Tomb Prince

Equipment/magic items: Chariot of Fire, Great Weapon, Sword of Might
Mount: Chariot of Fire

Pros:
Expert Charioteer
Filial Piety
Brave Soldier

Cons:
Unmotivated Prince
Makes mistakes in crucial moments
Bites off more than he can chew

Additional info:
Seti is supposed to be Ramses’ heir, but a twist of fate has led to Seti dying before his father in the Battle of the Golden Sands. Thus he was embalmed as a Prince and not as a King. As a result Seti wonders chow it feels to be a king.

Personal (private) goal:
To kill as many enemy heroes as possible to atone for his mistakes in earlier battles.


HEIROPHANT IMHOTEP, Liche Priest

Equipment and magic items: Cloak of the Dunes, Hieratic Jar
Mount: none

Pros:
Wise
Survivor
Scholarly

Cons:
Trusts subordinates too much
Frail body
Afraid to die

Additional info:
Imhotep likes to disguise himself as an old man and wander to the Araby towns for dice games and wine.

Personal (private) goal:
To discover a more efficient way to bind the dead of defeated foes to the will of the Tomb Kings.


SETEP, Liche Priest

Equipment and magic items: 2 Dispel Scrolls
Mount: Skeletal Steed

Pros:
Good with magic missiles
Fellowship with troops (the still-sentient Tomb Guard)
Knowledge of foreign ways

Cons:
Gungho in battle
Bad Planner
Too brave for a priest!

Additional info:
Setep secretly wants to attain the position of Hierophant.

Personal (private) goal: To become the new Hierophant!

AHX's Empire Alliance

Faction Goals:
To defend humanity against the evil races. Save the world and be back for bedtime.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

Lords:

LADY ELISSA, Wizard Lord

Equipment/Magic items: Barded Steed, Horstmann’s Speculum (sometimes dun have *wink*), Rod of Power (ooh yeah….), Armour of Tarnus (light armour with ward save), Biting Blade (-1 armour saves)
Mount: Barded Steed

Pros:
Ice Queen
Ambitious
Intelligent

Cons:
Arrogant
Manipulative
Vindictive

Additional Info:
Offspring of a diplomatic marriage between Empire and Kislev nobility. Trained in various schools of magic within the Empire and attended the court of the Kislevite Queen. Power hungry, sees this campaign as a way to bolster her reputation as a mage/warrior/general. Also merciless in battle, a result of early years spent campaigning with Kislev troops against Marauder incursions.

Personal (private) goal:
Not so much honor but definitely glory.

Heroes:

KNIGHT CAPTAIN JOHANN OF ELISSA'S BODYGUARD, Empire Captain

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Equipment/Magic items: Sword of Power, Barded Steed, Full plate and shield.

Pros:
Grizzled Veteran
Honourable
Master Strategist
Loyal

Cons:
Prideful

Additional Info:
Fulfils the role of military advisor to the Lady Elissa. Personally cannot stand the little brat. Worries constantly for the lives of his troops, afraid that Lady Elissa will squander them with incompetence. Compassionate and a hero to his compatriots.

Personal (private) goal:
Feels personally responsible for the lives of his troops.


IVANN BORISLAV, Kislevite Boyar

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Equipment: Lance, heavy armor, shield
Mount: Warhorse

Cons:
Loud and Boisterous
Sadistic Killer
Boastful
Gambler
Drunkard
Lecherous

Additional Info:
Uncle of Elissa, Ivann leads a contingent of Kislevite troops in support of his niece’s army.

Ivann lives everyday like its his last, the only thing he values more than having a good time is the slaughter of the Kislev’s enemies.

Skilled and brutally efficient in the art of butchering, it is said that his enemies turn and flee upon seeing his charge. ‘For the motherland!!!’

Personal (private) goal:
Death and destruction, wine and women.


ROBILLIARD THE COWARDLY, Empire Wizard

Equipment: Dispel Scrolls and a good sense of danger.

Pros:
Devious
Petty
Harbors a strong desire to stay alive
Miserly
Snobbish

Additional Info:
Nobody likes ‘Robi the Weenie’. Unpleasant to hang around with and possessed of a huge misguided ego, Robi makes life difficult for everyone.

No one however can criticize his cowardly but perfectly viable tactic of slinging flames and magic missiles at the foe from afar. A pompous ass always dressed in all black. Elissa likes to pretend he doesn’t exist.

Personal (private) goal:
Stay alive!

Terence's High Elves

Faction goals:
To defend Ulthuan from the Dark Elves and aid the lesser races against Chaos incursions.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

Lords:

AETHIR OF CALEDOR, Prince

Equipment/magic items: Gem of Hoeth, Staff of Saphery, 5+ ward save item
Lance, shield, dragon armour and hand weapon.
Mount: Barded Elven Steed

Pros:
Cautious
Humble
Reasonably brave

Cons:
Fear of disappointing his family
Relatively inexperienced politician
Not exactly known by his people

Additional info:
Aethir is a young and inexperienced Princeling of Caledor, serving his people because he is bound by family honor.

He fears he will fail his family more than the people he serve.

His prestigious position is acquired through inheritance rather than merit and he has yet to prove his worth.

A former student of magic in the Tower of Hoeth, Aethir is nevertheless neither an accomplished user of the arcane arts nor a master swordsman. Instead he tries to combine both his skill with magic and weapons to forge his own path in this world of endless nightmares.

Personal (private) goal:
To uphold the prestige/family honor of his house/family.

Heroes:

GILIA TSAIRITH, Mage

Equipment/magic items: Ring of Fury and hand weapon.
Mount: none

Pros:
Inquisitive
Logical thinker
Knowledgeable.

Cons:
Loves a debate (practically with everyone)
Easily distracted by magical relics
Always lost in thoughts

Additional info:
The only wizard retainer that serves Aethir's lesser house of Caledor, Gilia has equal interest in both the creative and destructive nature of magic. He is an accomplished master of the Lore of Life.

Aethir’s family wealth and his own duties have provided Gilia all the resources and opportunties to further his research and travel the world to widen his knowledge.

Personal (private) goal:
To study and understand the winds of magic and other ancient magical relics.


ELIATH OF THE TOWER OF HOETH, Mage

Equipment/magic items: 2 Dispel Scrolls, hand weapon
Mount: Unbarded Elven Steed

Pros:
Trustworthy
Dutiful
Good polictical sense/acumen.

Cons:
Mild arrogance
Cold
Immoveable personality

Additional info:
With his hawkish features and air of arrogance, Eliath is always watchful and in tune with the events around him.

Eliath was sent to aid Aethir as an adviser and agent in recognition of his house’s aid to the Tower of Hoeth for generations.

Personal (private) goal:
To rid Ulthuan from the grasp of chaos cults, especially Morathi's cult of pleasure.


CAPTAIN TIRANDIR, Noble (Battle standard bearer)

Equipment/magic items: Reaver Bow, Great sword, Dragon amour, shield and Mask/helm +1 armour and treat water features and normal terrian (of mer something I forgot liao, no book)
Mount: none

Pros:
Well respected by his troops
Hardened veteran
Inspiring

Cons:
Blunt with words
Grim
Little empathy for other races.

Additional info:
Fierce and battle hardened, Tirandir is a master archer armed with a powerful bow. He is an inspiration to his fellow warriors to fight on and follow his lead.

A lesser noble, Tirandir is a retainer of Aethir’s lesser Caledorian house.

He earned his rank and standing by surviving a number of bloody campaigns against some of the foulest creatures of the Warhammer World including his dark cousins.

Personal (private) goal:
To ensure that as many of his troops as possible survive each expedition.

Lawrence's Skaven

Faction goal:
To retrieve the lost Skaven Artefact, The Black Ark

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

Lords:

LORD MALKRIT, Grey Seer

Equipment/magic items: Power Stone
Mount: Screaming Bell

Pros:
Master Tactician
Patient
Loves to overcome extreme odds (Pits 1000 against 10000)

Cons:
Complacent
Stubborn
Hungers for arcane knowledge.

Additional info:
A talented Grey Seer who is a master planner of war, love to use tactics which involves fire and burning the enemy alive. The burnt scent of human flesh fill up his empty void and let him feel very accomplished.

A very patient Skaven, Malkrit can defend a position for weeks, no matter how the enemy taunts him.

On one such rare occasion, the enemy general send him a lady's dress with a message that he has no guts to ride out of camp and fight. Instead of fuming to such an act and be taunted, he actually put on the dress and performed a dance in it!

This caused the enemy general to lose his patience and charge his camp. The enemy force of 10,000 crumbled in 10 minutes, without a single Skaven casualty!

Personal (private) goal:
To be the first Grey Seer to cast the dreaded 13th spell, 'Curse of The Horned Rat'.

Heroes:

GRITNETZ THE BLOOD DRINKER, Chieftain (battle standard bearer)

Equipment/magic items: Sword of Might, Enchanted Shield
Mount: none

Pros:
Ruthless
Veteran fighter
Knowledgeable

Cons:
Brutal
Drunkard
Ambitious

Additional info:
A veteran fighter who is a secret worshipper of Khorne and uses a blade faster than the brain, had always plotted to overthrow Malkrit and be the new Burger King.

He never succeeded even once because he is drunk most of the time.

Nonetheless, Gritznetz is a very good chieftain to have around when he is sober.

His violent temper has caused his own rats to be displease with him, because whenever he was drunk, he will brutalize his own rats and make sure that they be on the skewer for tomorrow's dinner for the slaves

Personal (private) goal:
To overthrow Grey Seer Malkrit and lead the faction by violence and force.


KRITISLIK, Warlock Engineer

Equipment/magic items: Warlock Augmented Weapon, Doomrocket, Warlock Optics
Mount: none

Pros:
Does things by the book
Disciplined
Outspoken

Cons:
Arrogant
Hesitant
Blunt with words

Additional info:
Kritislik is considered the second-in-command of the expedition force.

Because of the position and power he possesses, he looks down on every other Skaven in the faction, and never fails to punish Skaven who break the rules (lashing them all night long).

As far as his talents are concerned, Kristilik will only ever be second-in-command, because of his hesitation to make decisions.

Because of this flaw, many rats and commanders have died under his lead.

Personal (private) goal:
Finding the Black Ark is the only priority, all else does not matter


QUICKSLIT THE ARTIST OF SKINNING, Assassin

Equipment/magic items: Blade of Corruption
Mount: none

Pros:
Shameless
Vicious
Loyal

Cons:
Easily distracted by women
Takes life easy
Overconfident

Additional info:
Killing and womanizing are always part of Quickslit's life.

As a secret worshipper of Slaanesh, he seeks pleasure and beauty in every perverse thing he does. He has perfected the art of skinning so well that the victim actually feels no pain when he skins them ALIVE!!!

A shameless rat who feels that dealing a low blow is a perfectly normal way to win a fight (90% of his fights are won in this manner).

The downside is that he must have some every night.

Personal (private) goal:
Skin all men and deflower all women in his short life span.


EEDRICK BLACKFANG, Warlock Engineer

Equipment/Magic items: Warplock Pistol, 2 Dispel Scrolls

Pros :
Careful
Driven
Observant

Cons :
Perfectionist
Disrespectful
Cowardly

Additional info:
Personal assistant and bodyguard to Kritislik, spends a lot of time mastering his Warplock Pistol. He hopes to snipe an enemy in the head with it one day.

Personal (private) goal:
Blow an opponent's head off with a Warplock Pistol.


FILTHFANG, Plague Priest

Equipment/Magic items: Plague Furnace

Pros :
Tough
Reckless

Cons :

Personal (private) goal:

Elmer's Lizardmen

Faction goal:
To stop the Tomb Kings from awakening the Barrow Kings in the Empire which, unknown to everyone else, lies on an important nexus point in the geomantic web. Without this, the balance of Chaos will dramatically shift. Survival is not of importance as long as the nexus point isn’t corrupted.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

Lords:

LORD DULAN, Slann Mage-Priest of Tzulanz (Battle standard bearer)

Equipment/magic items: Focus of Mystery, The Focused Rumination, The Becalming Cogitation, Unfathomable Presence, Cupped Hands of the Old Ones, Bane Head, Dispel Scroll, War Banner
Mount: none

Pros:
Focused
Determined
Magically Sensitive

Cons:
Hard-Hearted

Additional Info:
Having re-founded the ruined temple city of Tzulanz of the Southlands, Lord Dulan found tablets uncovering part of a prophecy.

After decades of contemplation and debate with the few other surviving mage priests in the Southlands, Lord Dulan has declared that all the signs are now in place for the denizens of Tzulanz to march forth and fulfil their destiny.

Even though the spawning pools in Southlands are not spawning as many Sauruses as intended, Lord Dulan is determined to fulfil what he knows of the prophesy to the letter, even if it means sacrificing all their lives, or the lives of the fleshlings who are unknowingly guarding it.

Personal Goal:
To ensure the Barrow Kings are not resurrected, thus preventing the nexus point from being corrupted.

Heroes:

XIALAN, Skink Chief

Equipment/magic items: Staff of the Lost Sun, Spear, Light Armour, Shield
Mount: Terradon

Pros:
Marksman
Quick-witted
Lucky

Cons:
Condescending
Loner
Show-off

Additional Info:
Xialan is the first Skink to be spawned from the spawning pools beneath Tzulanz after Lord Dulan had re-founded the ruined temple city.

Larger than the other Skinks, Xialan is the only Skink in Tzulanz to have tamed a Terradon, which are exceedingly rare in the Southlands. Perhaps because of his affinity with the wild creatures in the jungle, or the adulation often received from his Skink peers, Xialan has developed an ego that is pretty big for one so small, thinking himself best of the Skinks.

Looking down on the other Skinks, Xialan refuses to group up with other Skinks during missions, often ending up working alone. Oddly enough, he somehow manages to survive whatever is thrown at him, in style.

Perhaps the Old Ones still have one last play left for him to perform?

Personal Goal:
To show the other Skinks who’s da man!


BOKALAN, Saurus Scar-Veteran

Equipment/magic items: Charm of the Jaguar Warrior, Enchanted Shield, Light Armour, Halberd
Mount: none

Pros:
Ferocious Fighter
Thrill Seeker
Skink Lover

Cons:
Overly Protective
Hot Headed
Playful

Additional Info:
The only Saurus spawned in Tzulanz who isn’t a Temple Guard and without an affinity with Cold Ones, Bokalan however, fights with a ferocity that surpasses all others.

Being the chief trainer for the hordes of Skinks that were spawned in Tzulanz, Bokalan soon grew to love the adorable and at times playful Skinks, liking nothing more than to spend whatever free time he has playing with them.

In combat, Bokalan loves flying around the battlefield, striking at enemies he perceive to be the most threatening to his beloved Skinks and often losing himself to rage whenever his Skink friends die.

Personal Goal:
To protect as many Skinks as possible from harm.


LAOLAN, Skink Priest

Equipment/Upgrades: Level 2 Wizard, Cloak of Feathers, Blood Statuette of Spite
Mount: none

Pros:
Attentive
Determined
Devious

Cons:
Cowardly
Paranoid
Boot Licker

Additional Info:
Laolan’s one and only ambition ever since he was spawned from the pools of Zlatlan was to be a Skink Attendant for a Slann Mage-Priest.

A very attentive Priest as well as being a very accomplished boot-licker, Laolan slowly worked his way up the ranks to be a valued assistant to Lord Dulan, mercilessly eradicating all other Skinks who got in his way.

However, after learning that this mission might be one that will cost them all their lives even if they do succeed, Laolan has become slightly paranoid.

Determined to earn himself credit and get back to the Southlands alive, Laolan will stop at nothing to ensure his continued survival, even if it means colluding with the other races…

Personal Goal:
Self-preservation.

Victor's Dark Elves

Faction goal:
To improve the standing of House Vae within Naggaroth by conquering new lands and hauling more slave and riches back to sell.

Background info:
House Vae may be a noble house with a long lineage dating all the way back to the Sundering, but it has never been able to climb up the ranks to become a major player in the politics of Naggaroth.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

Lords:

VALKITH VAE, Dreadlord

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Equipment/magic items: Heavy Armour, Sea Dragon Cloak, Shield, Crimson Death, Black Amulet
Mount: Manticore

Pros:
Ambitious
War veteran
Good business acumen

Cons:
Afraid of failure
Eager to prove himself
Always manipulated by Alariel

Additional info:
Valkith started his military career as a Corsair captain, crewing his own ship. As such, he is a hardened war veteran and has done a fair bit of travelling. Also, due to his frequent dealings with slave traders and other slavers, he has fairly good business acumen and good bargaining skills (whether through diplomacy, threats or just simply sticking a dagger at the other party's throat).

Recently, Valkith has been slightly distracted by the presence of Alariel, the beautiful sorceress, especially when she has been playing coy with him. His decisions are actually substantially influenced by her.

Valkith suspects that she is actually manipulating him, but somehow, she always manages to make her cause and arguments sound like the most reasonable and logical choice.

Personal (private) goal:
To become the ruling lord of Clar Karond.

Heroes:

ALARIEL, Sorceress

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Equipment/magic items: Dispel Scroll, Spell Familiar
Mount: none

Pros:
Spellcasting prodigy
Political genius
Manipulative

Cons:
Cowardly
Self-serving bitch
Attitude problem

Additional info:
Alariel is the apprentice of Valkith's aunt, a High Sorceress of high standing within the Covenant. His aunt decided to send her to aid Valkith in his quest for riches and power, in exchange for first claim to any magical lore or artifacts which the army might encounter.

Alariel is manipulating Valkith for her own means and she would do all it takes in order to climb the ranks. She thinks of him as nothing more than a tool in her ascension as a political figure to be reckoned with in the future.

Personal (private) goal:
To improve her own standing within the Covenant and the political scene of Naggaroth.


AEDEN, Master (battle standard bearer)

Equipment/magic items: Heavy armour, Sea Dragon Cloak, Shield, Lance, ASF Banner
Mount: Dark Steed

Pros:
Surprisingly loyal to House Vae
Disciplined
Fearless

Cons:
Always defer to higher authority
Secretly lusts after Alariel
Tactless

Additional info:
Aeden is a loyal retainer of House Vae, having also served Valkith's father. He has borne the house’s battle standard for over 200 years.

A veteran of hundreds of battles, he has a wealth of battle experience and is considered to be quite fearless. He is however, known to be tactless and blunt in his words.

Like Valkith, he has been slightly distracted by the sorceress' presence. However, he doesn't get any of her attention since he is only the house’s standard bearer. This makes him jealous and slightly discontent. Who knows if this will eventually lead to a reckoning with Valkith?

Personal (private) goal:
To serve House Vae faithfully and aid his liege lord (at least for now.)


KELINDRA VAE, Hag Queen

Equipment/magic items:
Mount: Cauldron of Blood

Pros:
Fearless
Skilled in the arts of torture
Inspiring (Only to her Khainate troops most probably)

Cons:
Too fanatical to her worship of Khaine
Political idiot
Lunatic

Additional info:
Kelindra Vae is Valkith's elder sister, who was admitted into the order of the Brides of Khaine from a very young age.

Recently Valkith recruited Kelindra and her Witch Elves into his army, as well as a regiment of Har Ganeth Executioners for his campaign. He promised them a substantial portion of the slaves and enemy troops captured for their use in their rituals and "festivities". However, Valkith has to tread very carefully, for if the Khainites prove over-zealous, that might eat into his profits.

Personal (private) goal:
Nothing else but the worship of Khaine matters - even if it means sacrificing fellow dark elves.

Friday, February 26, 2010

Setting: Greywater Reach

Greywater Reach sits in the north of the Empire, a thinly populated expanse of arid grassland blotched with dark forests and craggy uplands.

Named for the turbulent Greywater river, the region is largely ignored by the Electors of the Empire, who choose to devote their attention to more fertile and populous parts of the land.

The region's poor soil struggles to yield a decent crop, so the peasant folk are poverty stricken and scattered.

To make matters worse, the northern tracts of the Greywater are dotted with cairns: Piled towers of rock and shingle that mark the graves of long dead warrior kings and warlords.

Such a trove of ancient tombs and burial grounds is bound to attract the attentions of necromancers and occultists, and their unspeakable deeds have lent the place an evil reputation.

Now, Greywater has come alive to the pounding of marching boots as no less than six armies have arrived to do battle here.

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NOTEWORTHY LOCATIONS

Grigor's Folly

Grigor Stolt was never a pious man. Lumpen and stoop-shouldered, he had lived a hundred years ago, plowing the ashen earth of Greywater Reach to eke out a meagre living. Unremarkable in every way, he would have been lost to history, buried beneath the sea of greater men who, like Grigor, had died young. He would have, but for the day he had went alone to his doom.

There came a day not long ago, when marauding Beastmen had crept out of the woods near his little unnamed hamlet. While others fled the inevitable slaughter, Grigor fastened half a dozen pots and pans to his skinny mare's saddle, grabbed his staff and rode a-clattering through the woods.

Their interest piqued by the noise, the Beastmen had turned away from the village and followed.

Grigor and his faithful steed were found weeks later, their bones sorted neatly into his pots and pans around a blackened firepit, but of the Beastmen there was no sign at least.

Thus did the hamlet come to be named Grigor's Folly, for sometimes the right thing to do is far from wise.

So it begins!

Welcome all, to our first gamesmastered Warhammer campaign!

I will publish updates, story hooks and general notices for the Six Banners campaign here, so do check back regularly.

Also, I will try to do short writeups for each battle that takes place for this campaign here, so you can keep up to date on results and narrative. I really need your help here, if anything really stands out in your weekly campaign battles, do give me a shout, so they can be recorded for posterity's sake.

Keep checking back for more info!