SoBH #4

Battlefield: Open Ground
Weather: Heat Wave
Scenario: Place of Power
Defender: The Blightvale Autho-RAT-y

Forces:
(New additions/changes to the warbands are in italics. Full stats shown for new recruits)

Valgen Maest's Warband

• Valgen Maest : DWARF COMMANDER (0/3XP) 95 Pts
  Training applied; 3XP for Free Disengage
• Ovthur Whurdar: Crossbowman (0/3XP) 32 Pts
  Equipment: Ammunition.
  Training applied: 3XP for 1 improved Quality
• Falster Vonlyr: Elite Warrior (0/3XP) 52pts
  Training applied; 3XP for Free Disengage
• Harthic Urduum: Warrior (0/3XP) 40 Pts
  Training applied: 3XP for Fearless
• Klob Garathal: CROSSBOWMAN (1XP) 24 Pts
  
• Delgar Faderg: MAGIC-USER; (dagger)
  Quality 5+
• Baz Farthal: Skirmisher (javelin, shortbow or small crossbow) 18 Pts
  Quality 3+,Combat 2. Short Move,Shooter: Short.

The Blightvale Autho-RAT-y

• Skeener - Leader (0/3XP) 75 Pts
  Quality 2+
• Hasnaar - Shaman 46pts
  Quality 3+, Combat 1. Fearless, Magic User [Equip: Magic scroll]
• Rusineth - Swarm Master (0/3XP) 46 Pts
  Mounted
  
• Masssch - Warrior (2XP) 27 Pts
  Combat 4
• Griszarr - Warrior (2XP)27 Pts
  Combat 4
  
• Durlik - Thrower  (2XP)27 Pts
  Combat 3
• Ikineth - Standard Bearer (2XP) 27 Pts
  Quality 3+
• Rat Swarm (x2) 22 Pts

 Setup:

The magical place of power was a temple overlooking the battleground. The scenario conditions meant that any magic user in the temple at the end of the game would get 3 Victory points.

Both commanders realised that the key to getting to the temple was the foot of the stairs, and both camps risked multiple 3 dice rolls as they sprinted to their goal. Despite most quality checks being 2+ (with leader bonus's, etc) double fails were inevitably being rolled, not only stretching out the warbands, but also causing fatigue in the Heat Wave conditions (1 dwarf and 2 skaven warriors tiring in the first 3 turns!).

The forces reached the foot of the stairs at the same time, if not in tight formation. A dwarven crossbowman took position to block the ascent to the temple, whilst a rookie skirmisher thought to prove himself and rushed in the affray, knocking down a rat warrior.

The rat swarm rushed in from the flank to increase rat numbers, though, and the new dwarf recruit was gruesomely killed, causing a morale check to the front line of dwarves. But the new training of the dwarf warrior, and the abilities of the Elite warrior left them unmoved by they comrades death. The crossbowman however wasn't so strong, and fled away from the fight.

The skaven pushed forward to block any more dwarves reaching the steps, whlist a warrior met the crossbow man blicking the way to prevent his losing off a ranged attack. The now mounted beastmaster and his pets dashed over to tackle the isolated dwarf crossbow, who put up a fight but eventually fell to the swarming bodies.

final moments of the battle the dwarves made a push, but were held by the newly trained up rat ranks, and as a bitter final blow they watched their other bowman fall. No-one had made it up to the temple, but it didn't matter, the rats had won.

Battle Result:

Blightvale Autho-RAT-y: Victory