The air was dim, the night was dark with no moon, Lord Sir Ikim Mc
Esmy was about to discuss, with his generals, the next moves against
the Vampire Counts army's camp, a couple of miles just out of the
border, when a boy came running in the tent. He was sweaty, his hart
was pounding, and, with his eyes out of his head, said "t-they...are
approaching", and nearly fainted. Henry VonGreenwich, on of the most
talented general of McEsmy's army, grabbed the kid before he could fall
on the ground. "Who is approaching?", asked Lord Ikim "I saw them from
far away", continued the bay, rather stressed and tired, "they are
many... I saw the banner... the banner of SCARION", then collapsed. The
boy was brought to the infirmary, where he could get first aid and,
most important, some rest. "The whole plan will have to change, the boy
said SCARION's army is a big one; though we are few. What can we
do...". He was about to finish the phrase, when the sentinel of the
camp blew the horn, in sign of danger. Another squire came running in.
"Makhrud...Makhrud is here". A big black bat bursting in.
...PUFF..., the bat turned into a Makhrud, the vampire lord. His
pale skin was even brighter in the dark tent. Marcus De La Tor, one of
the Paladins of Lord Ikim, swung the sword, and pointed it toward the
creature.
Sir Makhrud, impassable, said "Calm down. I come in peace, for now. I
believe you have heard: SCARION is here. My people say they are too
many for us only, but if, for once, we ally, we might make it".
"Why should we fight with you; we hate each other as much as we hate
SCARION's amry. How can I trust you?".
"You'll have to, my word has been given, and you cannot fight alone".
"THEY ARE NEAR!!", yelled a squire, who was in the watchtower, in the
border of the camp. "All right then, I am sure I will regret this, but
I have no choice. Lets go".
The two lords gathered all their men (and skeletons), and went to meet SCARION's Chaos army.
The field was full of hills and mountains, with a long river that divided the land in two halves.
The Bretonnians (1080 pts army) divided into two formations: one in
the far left and one in the far right, leaving the center to the
Vampire Counts. The left side was taken by a lance of 6 knights errant
and 5 mounted squires; the right side was taken by 8 knights of the
realm, led by Lord Ikim Mc Esmy, and with Lady Magdalane (2nd lvl,
mage), by 5 knights of the Order of the Phoenix (Grail knights), led by
Marcus DeBoar (BSB), and 5 mounted squires.
The center of the field was the Vampires', who were 1 units of
skeletons (20), one of which led by a Vampire Hero, 20 Grave Guards 5
wolves, 1 Black Coach, and Sir Makhrud alone (1st lvl mage).
On the opposite side of the field, stood the Chaos army, led by
SCARION, who was flying high on the field on a disk (4th lvl mage), and
was watching the enemy from the top. From left to right of the field
(from the Bretonnians point of view), there were (aprox): 5 chosen
knights, led by a Chaos exalted champion, in front of them stood 6
marauder horsemen; 12 chosen warriors, with a Chaos hero; 15 marauders;
5 screamers of slaanesh; 5 chosen knights; 8 warhounds; 1 charriot.
1st turn: Chaos
The
Chaos army started, but did not move at all. The mage casted a
Dilectable Torture, that was dispelled with one scroll (phew...), by
Lady Magdalane. Nothing more happened (you ugly stinkin' cowards!!!).
1st turn: Bretonnians and Vampire Counts
The
three lances moved forward, the mounted squires went in front of them
to protect them, though out of the charge range of Chaos.
All the VC's units move forward a bit, a part from the wolves, who went
right in charge range of the screamers, and waited impatiantly for the
charge (ouch!).
The magic phase saw nothing good happening, since all spells were
easily dispelled by SCARION.
2nd turn: Chaos
CHAAARGE!!
SCARION and the five screamers flew to charge the poor wolves, the
first from the front, the other from the flank.
All other units stood still, apart from the warhounds that went closer
to the nearest lance (the one of the Knights of the Realm).
The magic phase was a fluff, and nothing happened.
The close combat ended in favour of the Chaos screamers and lord, who
demolished the poor wolves-bait. Though, Sir Ikim and Makhrud didn't
expect them to fall so soon, and the screamers continued the charge
against the Order of the Pheonix, and SCARION against the skeleton unit
with the vampire hero, who challenged the Chaos General.
2nd turn: Bretonnians and Vampire Counts
It
is time to charge, and do some damage", thought Sir Ikim, looking at
the warhounds in front of him and, right behind them, the chaos
chariot. "Two with one move, not bad".
The Knights of the realm charged the war hounds.
On the left portion of the field, the Knights Errant, the mounted
squires, and the Black Coach got closer to the coward chosen knights
and marauder horse men ("I wouldn't have thought of such a reaction",
thought the Champion of the lance).
The shooting phase had better not even been used, since the bows were
probably broken: no hits, even in short range (Gosh).
The hand to hand phase saw: the challenge, that ended with one wound
for each contender; the screamers lost and fled against the Order of
the phoenix, who decided no to pursue ("We will go right against the
warriors, the marauders and the chosen chaos knights, better stay
here", thought David LeBoar); and the poor war hounds against the lance
of the Knights of the realm. This last combat ended for the knights,
who pursued and went for the chariot "WHAT!!!!", yelled Sir Ikim, "I
cannot believe this". The lance stopped the purse _ of an inch from the
chariot. "May the Lady help us", told Sir Ikim to the other fellow
knights. This position was a really bad one: right in the left flank of
the lance stood, though not seeing them, yet, the warriors and the
marauders, plus, next turn, they will be charged by the chariot.
3rd turn: CHAOS
The
screamers rallied, and turned to face the enemy.
Just as expected: the chariot charged the lance, who stood and waited
for the impact.
The warriors charged the Order of the Phoenix, and so did the chosen
knights ("The battle isn't getting any better", told Sir Ikim to his
Champion, who nodded).
The marauder tried to hit the mounted squires, but missed all of their
throws ("Eh, Eh!!").
The close combat phase ended as follows: the challenge saw three
wounds, but luckily two of them were saved by SCARION, and none against
the Vampire hero, but SCARION stayed ground. The Chariot managed to
kill 4 out of 10 knights, who managed to inflict 1 wound to the
chariot; the combat was a tie. The warriors and the chosen knights
killed 3 knights of the Order of the Phoenix, who killed one
themselves, but lost the battle, and fled, though not enough far away
for the chaos knights to pursue them, and they were reached and killed
("Things are going really bad, for us", thought Sir Ikim. His best unit
was crushed, just because those damn wolves died too soon).
3rd turn: Bretonnians and Vampire Counts
The
mounted squires and Black Coach charged the Choas marauder horsemen
(the errants could not see them, too bad) ("This damn two-level-hill
between us and them is making us loose time, we must hurry", told the
errant champion, to the Ghost on the chariot, who nodded and laughed in
a squeaky sound). The mounted squires tried to charge the warriors from
the flak, but, having to pass the river, had to stop in between.
The Grave guards, with halberds charged the remaining 4 chosen knights,
which went for the (once) Order of the Phoenix.
The magic phase saw two spells from both Lady Magdalene and Makhrud,
but one (Makhrud's) was dispelled, the other did no damage to the
targeted warriors. The close combat saw a gruesome ending of the
marauder horsemen, firstly charged by the mounted squires, than hit by
the Coach; they all died, leaving only blood all over the ground.
Also the chosen knights had to reconsider the battle, getting other 3
dead ones, before the Grave guards, against one slain in the other
side. They lost battle, and fled, but the slow Grave guards could not
reach the last knight. Another tie in the challenge, between SCARION
and the Vampire hero; and another tie, even in the battle between the
chariot and the lance of the Knights of the realm.
Both armies were tired, and the battle was a tie, and had to be
postponed until another time, so everything was left as it was.
The difference between the two armies was 360, that meant a minor
victory, but what upset Sir Ikim the most, is that most of the damage
taken was to his best unit: the Order of the Phoenix Grail Knights,
that were all killed, including the BSB.
Most of the damage dealt was from the Makhrud's army.
When every one left, Sir Ikim McEsmy and Makhrud met. The vampire said
"As for this time, I have helped you... don't get too used to this".
Sir Ikim McEsmy took off his helmet, gave a glace to the vampire, and
went away, thinking he will never see again Marcus LeBoar, one of his
best paladins.
"What have I done wrong?", asked himself Sir Ikim, "If only those damn
wolves would have stood a bit more... but no, what am I supposed to
expect from a Vampire. I have lost, and next time I'll do better". And
followed his army away, into the camp site. |