War of the Shrines Part 10: High Elf turn 2

With lord Aelna dead or fled...and most of the small High Elf force honestly knew not which was true...the goals had changed.

Gone was the driving force, the impetus to rule their inferiors and in its place was, if not panic, then at least quiet desperation.

The goal now was survivor, return to their homelands. But where to look for leadership?

On the bright side, the Dragon Princes stopped their pell-mell flight and turned back towards the field they had fled through.


As they turned, Prince Chrysopolis slew the hapless mage in front of him.

Perhaps it was the terror of the massive Prince behind them. Perhaps it was, the normally lethal High Elf shooting went awry with not one wound caused by bow or Repeater Bolt Thrower.

The White Lions did manage to wound the troll again, but 4 of their own number died in return. The High Elf lines weavered...as soon as the mighty Chosen warriors slew a number of archers, they would doubtless break.

But then something happened...the out-manned Archers did not manage to wound their enemies...but they did not take a wound, either. (they saved 8 of 8 wounds needing 5s)

Bolstered by their unexpected stand the High Elf army gave a cheer. Slowly their lines stiffened. Perhaps they could win their way clear yet....



Casualties:
Caused 1 wound apiece to the Troll and the Orc Chariot

Took:
4 White lions
1 Mage

War of the Shrines, part 9, Warriors of Chaos Turn 2

Varangia watched with patience. Though his men were crowded in, soon they would break through the lines and then his better troops would break through.

Ah...there it was. Without waiting for his signal, his elite troops sprang into action.


Prince Chrysopolis flew forward to attack the High Elf battle standard bearer. His loss should cause their lines to break even quicker which would allow the Knights, Dragon Ogres, and Shaggoth to sweep around that flank and begin wreaking havoc, death and destruction on his enemies.

Close behind, the Knights saw their chance and charged into two Nobles caught out on their own.


Close behind, the Dragon Ogres and Shaggoth readied themselves to charge through the breach the Chosen were about to open by destroying the High Elf archer brigade.

He turned to the other flank in time to see the Knights stationed there charge in to help the beleaguered Giant against the Treeman.



The left flank started as planned. Chrysopolis handily dispatched the hapless noble and his charge carried him on into contact with the archmage who moments before had been safely behind High Elf lines.

Then a strange thing happened. The Archers slew a Chosen and only lost one man in return (1 hit in 11 attacks needing 3s). They stood strong, holding up the Knights who tried to follow through after slaying the two hapless Nobles.

Magic crackled and suddenly the Dwarfs, confused, began turning on themselves, slaying 4 of their own number before regaining their senses.

Angered, fearful, the Warriors fighting the Forsaken devastated them, slaying 4 and forcing the other to flee, charging into the Marauders behind.

More magic crackled and Marauders began disappearing...to be replaced by Exalted heroes. Varangia nodded. He would not get the breakout his army desired, but soon...and when they broke through, there would be no stopping them.

Casualties:

7 Hammerers (including 1 champion)

1 Dwarf Warrior

1 Glade Rider

1 Wound to the Treeman

2 Dryads

2 High Elf Nobles

1 High Elf Battle Standard Bearer

1 High Elf Archer

Lost:

1 Chosen

4 Forsaken

2 Marauders

1 Chaos Knight

1 wound to Spawn

put 2 Exalted Heroes in unit of Marauders

Giant regained 1 wound

War of the Shrines Turn 2: Dwarfs Part 8

Rigal hesitated. Should he command his men to maintain their defensive positions? He knew his dour, courageous men would stand solid, letting the waves of the Warriors of Chaos break against them...

Yet would it not give him the element of surprise if instead he took the fight to the enemies?

Decision made, he gestured to his standard bearer.

Instantly the Dwarf lines swung into action.


The two blocks of Warriors guarding the front of the pyramid suddenly surged forward into the oncoming Marauders, pinning the Chaos Warriors behind them.

With surprising speed and skill, the Slayers and Hammerers swung out from where they defended the eastern wall to begin forming a wall on that flank before the northmen could chew threw the weak Elvish defenses.


Other Warriors charged in to help the pirate crew as the battled a chariot.


In the west, his stern warriors moved towards the shrine guarded by the Glade Guard. They would have to face another devastating volley before they could charge.

And in the south, his front lines surged forward, a handful of hammerers reaching a long line of Night Goblin bowmen.



The expected cannon fire proved useless as three of them mis-fired. The fourth tore through lines of Waywatchers and Glade guards, then the lighter crack of the highly accurate Handguns roared into action with more success.

It was in close combat the Dwarf defenders proved their mettle. On all sides they wreaked havoc, killing Marauders, Night goblins, and charioteers.

Then the impetus of their charge gave out. Grimly Rigal looked on as the opposing lines began their counter-punch.

Casualties:

2 Waywatchers

5 Glade Guard

1 Dryad

2 Repeater Bolt Thrower crew...and 1 wound on a machine.

A White Lion Chariot

6 Orc Bowmen

4 Night Goblins

5 Chaos Marauders

Lost:

1 Dwarf Warrior

1 Pirate

1 Hammerer

War of the Shrine: Turn 1 Overview

Wow. That was...well...AWESOME.

I had certain ideas about how it would go. I hoped to weight things slightly towards the underdogs (any force outnumbered/outpointed by whoever it was facing would receive a minimum 6+ Ward, stuff like that) but still figured the 2 dominant forces would be the Warriors of Chaos and Dwarfs...not necessarily in that order.

The first turn figured to be dominated by shooting. With the table so crowded, it would take a while for the Warriors of Chaos to bring their numerical superiority to bear.










Sure enough, the first turns required some sacrifices of troops and position to present opportunities for turn 3 or 4. They are having to physically obliterate every opponent because, outside of some goblins, NOBODY is running.




The Orcs and Goblins could have wreaked havoc if they had rolled higher, but having to endure Dwarf and High Elf shooting before they started, then getting waffled by High Elf charges really hindered them. Now they are cramped in and will find it difficult to get off the combo charges they desperately need.

On the bright side, the Fanatics have been wreaking havoc.



The High Elf Force was all but demolished in their first turn. Failing a restrain test meant their spearmen had to fight the Chosen on turn one instead of turn 2 which in turn forced the Dragon princes to charge in a desperate, all-or-nothing charge. If they could have somehow defeated the Chosen, it would have completely demolished the WoC battle plan on that flank and the Dwarf army might even have made a move to help as a form of self-preservation.

Instead, the only armored troops the High Elfs have are at the far end. If the Chariot can hold out for a round, they might rally and help there...but that flank is facing some powerful troops in their own right in the Giant and Troll.





The things that went really right were for two of the three weakest armies.

First off, Orc magic was unbelievable with fully 3 units attacked by the ongoing Gork spell, sweeping a unit into action in a favorable position, and just generally wreaking havoc.

Second, Wood Elf shooting did surprisingly well. On the one hand, over half the wounds they did were saved. On the other hand, they still caused 9 wounds with just a single round of shooting.

Turn 2 presents some tremendous tactical decisions, particularly for the Dwarfs.

Do they simply maintain their defensive position around the pyramid, counting on their shooting to whittle down enemy forces and the bonus Ward Save to keep them alive?

Or do they go aggressive:

- Charge the Marauder blocks in an attempt to keep the WoC army bottlenecked as long as possible.

- Swing the Slayers/Warriors who were facing the shattered High Elf army around to block off the WoC army?

- Conversely, swing the other way, make some charges, and try to rapidly wipe out the entire Orc and Goblin army, allowing them to reduce their fronts and concentrate more force but later on the WoC?

- Either way, they simply MUST move towards the Wood Elf army who otherwise will simply sit back and pick them off with bow-fire. The deadliest close combat Wood Elf troops are almost all occupied with WoC and Orcs and Goblins, so it might be a good opportunity.

The WoC will continue their blunt force trauma straight ahead advance, bringing pure power to bear everywhere.

The High Elfs might just try to form a small, tight defensive square and hope nobody notices them.

The Wood Elfs will keep shooting and counting on their shock troops to win that way.

But the Orcs and Goblins...ah, what a choice. Hide behind their wall as they slowly but surely lose a shooting war, then charge in once their bow-packing screen is dead? Or go all Waaaaagggghhh and charge in with true Orcy disregard for chance to win and good planning?

War of the Shrine; Part 7: Wood Elf

Oakheart Wylde looked grimly on the battlefield. The short men had chosen wisely...there were no trees for Wylde to hide his brethren in. The mighty Treemen and Treekin would be hampered by not having the strength of the forests to look upon.

He glared in anger as the strange men on his left flank sent a giant after his treeman and with hatred as the cackling squig hoppers moved towards his other flank.

He would prefer a different field. He would prefer not to be so far from his beloved Purewater Breezewalker. But that was what he wished. This was what was.

One gesture sent Wardancers, treekin, and Dryads to help their embattled brethren. A second unleashed massive flights of arrows. He could not worry now about what he wished...it was time to win the battle.

He smiled as he watched the skilled Glade Riders plunge ahead to block off the human horsemen. At pointblank range they unleashed their bows, slaying 40% of the hard-riding foes.

A few Dwarf Warriors also fell under the skilled bow fire of his Waywatchers and Glade Guard but few...too few. Curse those Dwarfs and their stout armor.

The Wardancers crashed into the battle alongside the mighty treeman. Their graceful moves entranced the deadly but stupid Squig Hoppers long enough for the Wardancers to cut down 5 of them.

However, the Treeman reeled momentarily as one Squig Hopper penetrated his defenses. Nevertheless, the strength of the Wood Elf charge was too much for the few remaining Squig Hoppers. They tried to flee but were run down.



Seeing the onrushing Wood Elfs, the Night Goblins released their deadliest weapons. With a maniacal chuckle, a Fanatic burst forth from their ranks, penetrating the thick bark that protected the treeman.

It only slowed him momentarily, however, and the Treeman, pitch seeping through his bark, joined the powerful wardancers in assaulting the Night Goblin Spearmen. Oakheart smiled, knowing the devastation about to be unleashed on the greenskins and turned to see how his other flank was faring.

The smile disappeared as he saw the Treekin crash into the Chaos Knights. One Knight fell under the onslaught...but so too did a Treekin. Oakheart knew he needed a better return in that battle.

He saw one of his Dryads take a piece out of a cursed Chaos Spawn only to die from the riposte.

Then the giant swung his mighty club at the treeman guarding that flank. Oakheart's heart jumped into his throat...that blow could kill Jahn E Treemayne...but the mystic wards surrounding Jahn deflected the blow, and his own attack staggered the giant.

Casualties:

9 Squig Hoppers

2 Marauder Horsemen

3 Wolf Riders

4 Dwarf Warriors

3 Wounds on the Chaos Giant

1 Wound on a Chaos Spawn

Took:

Lost 1 Treekin

Lost 1 Dryad

Took 2 Wounds on the previously unwounded Treeman

War of the Shrine Part 6: Orcs and Goblins

Alaquippa smiled as he gazed around the field. Surely, this would be the greatest Waaaaggghhhh ever assembled...just look at all the enemies there for him to defeat!

Pointy Ears to the left and right, stunties straight ahead, and beyond all that masses of humans, ogres...plenty of enemies. This battle would be regaled for all history. He would be the greatest warlord of all time.

Sitting Lightning sidled up, chewing the bone through his nose. "The Shrine of Mork is befouled by the pointy ears. We should cleanse it."

Alaquippa guffawed loudly, drawing the gaze of every orc and goblin near him. "I care not for some moldy old shrine. Look at the glory to be found before us!"

"Fine," snarled Sitting Lighting, "I shall see to it myself."

He turned to build an attack when the Dwarf line opened fire and the High Elf line moved forward.

Without waiting for Alaquippa to give orders, the greenskins swung into action. With a might roar, the giant and chariot roared off to rend squishy elf flesh apart.

Meanwhile, on the far flank, the irrepressible Squig Hoppers bounded forward, unmindful of the massive and deadly Treeman in their way. Alongside them, the spearmen rode up to heave their javelins at the Waywatchers nearby.

The orc and goblin shamans swung into action. The foot of Gork descended again and again, smashing apart an Organ Gun, denting the cannon next to it and killing a crewman, killing a handful of Dwarf Warriors.

The squeakier magic of the goblin shaman slew only a Dwarf Miner and for a moment silence descended over the battlefield...but then the hand of gork swooped down and swept forward a unit of Spearmen.

Startled, three maniacal fanatics sprung forth, wheeling their wild destructive path through the stoic Miners.

Close behind them, flung by the ghostly hand, the spearmen crashed into the Miners, the third wave of destruction to hit them in mere moments.

Alaquippa gazed from combat to combat, watching as the chariot took a dent and his Troll began bleeding as the Giant jumped up and down on a White Lion, squashing him to a pulp.

The spearmen struggled to wound the Miners, but the few attacks the Miners could do back did little more. For a moment the Miners wavered...the blast of magic, arrows, fanatics and Spearmen appearing to be too much. But then the Dwarf battle Standard stepped up and they remembered they were Dwarfs. There would be no running from goblin scum.

(The Dwarf gunline, reduced by 6 Thunderers and an Organ Gun)

Casualties:

6 Thunderers

1 Organ Gun & Crew

1 wound to cannon & 1 crewman dead

1 White Lion

1 Wound on the Treeman

Suffered:

2 Night Goblin Spearmen 1 wound apiece on the chariot and troll

War of the Shrine Part 5: High Elf turn 1

Lord Aelna Rua stared grimfaces at the forces arrayed around the field. He had believed only he had learned what lay within the pyramid, but here were gathered mighty forces from across the globe.

He quickly began to regret bringing only a skeleton force. It would require shrewd planning to survive this battle. He turned to instruct his mages on how we wished them to use their magic when suddenly the Dwarf cannons and handguns roared too life.

Before he could react, warhounds were charging the flank. With the precision so drilled into them it was second nature, the spearmen swung around to repel the threat. He smiled at their precision and skill as they dispatched a few of the dogs...

And then frowned as they foolishly charged headlong into the elite ranks of infantry whose advance had been hidden by the reckless charge of the warhounds.


Before he could stop them, the Dragon princes wheeled and charged into the combat to support their brethren.

It horrified him even as pride flowed forth from him. That was why he had brought these Elves with him..their courage and togetherness.

That sense of pride only grew as he watched the Dragon Prince Champion bellow out a challenge which was promptly accepted. With all the skill at his command, the Dragon Prince cut down his foe.


The smile quickly faded as Aelna felt the line behind him move. Too late to stop it, he turned and saw the White Lion Chariot charge headlong into a unit of Dwarf Pirates and his own elite White Lions charge into some Night Goblin Spider riders.


He spun to his war machines, mages, and bowmen. "Fire! Fire! Fire!" he screamed.

His battle plan was already in shambles, but he would support his courageous warriors anyway.

Magic flashed forth, only to see enemy mages counter almost everything his own tried.

He watched helplessly as a massive bolt from his Eagle Claw bounced off the horrifying Shaggoth, but the other bolt thrower and the ranks of archers managed to fell 4 of the handguns that had taken such a toll on them moments before.

He turned back to see how his Dragon Princes were faring in time to see all of the Spearmen cut down. The Dragon Princes broke and ran, closely pursued by the Chosen warriors.

He was not sure if he was elated or terrified to see his well-disciplined archers swing in to intercept the Chosen, allowing the Dragon princes to escape, but it would doubtless mean the end of that unit.

On the left, things went better as the Spider Riders died in droves and fled, allowing the White Lions to charge into the Troll behind them.

He hesitated briefly, debating what to do. Already outnumbered, his battle line had crumbled in the first seconds of the battle. Was there any way to bring order out of chaos and rescue the situation?

Casualties:

4 Thunderers

1 Warrior

5 Spider Riders

2 Chosen

6 High Elf Spearmen