Prologue:
After the battle at Saphrey and escaping with their lives by entering a hastily constructed portal by Truella. Malice the Dark Elf Lord, with a glowing Gauntlet on his hand stepped out of the portal and asked “Were have you taken us now Witch?” Truella replied “I had to build the portal quickly in order to aid our escape, so I’m not quite sure where we are?” “What! Exclaimed Malice you better hope we are some place safe or you shall pay with your life!!!”. As the rest of the Dark Elves exited the portal Malice ordered his Dark Riders to Scout around and find out where they were. Malice suddenly heard something and spun to see what it was. A small regiment of blood stained Dark Elves without a leader was hiding in the trees nearby. Malice beckoned them to come forward and explain themselves. A champion of the Dark Warriors stepped forward, and said “We had just fought the High Elves at the river north of hear, we had taken heavy casualties and fell back at the command of our Noble, who didn’t survive the battle.” He then knelt to the ground and said, “We pledge our allegiance to you my Lord.” Malice swung violently with his Gauntlet crushing the Champions skull in one blow. He then turned to the remaining warriors and said “This is the price of failure in my army and even though he was not the one who caused the failure someone had to pay”. Malice then ordered the remaining warriors to join his army and to gain revenge for the last battle…
Near the river Tanous the High Elves were caring for their wounded and cleaning up the area after the battle. Creylin was talking with his mage Alios and said “After that battle we should rename this place bloody river in honor of our recent victory against the Dark Elves.” Alios responded “Don’t you think we should prepare for a counter attack?” Creylin Laughed “No! We nearly killed everyone in their army, plus the cowards they are they will not return for sometime” Both Alios and Creylin laughed heartily…
Malice’s Dark Rider Scouts returned and gave the new to Malice. He said “Excellent, we will strike while their defenses are down”. He then gave the order to his army to move out and prepare for battle…
Lists:
Creylin – Prince – Armour of Gods, Blade of Leaping Gold, Pure of Heart – 220 pts.
Alios – Mage, Elven Steed with Ithilmar Barding, Upgrade to Level 2, 2 Dispel Scrolls – 187 pts.
Tendal – Commander Battle Standard Bearer, Heavy Armour, Sword of Might, Guardian Phoenix – 169 pts.
19 Swordmasters, Full Command, Lion Standard, Amulet of Purifying Flame (Lead by Creylin) – 232 pts.
7 Ellyrian Reavers – Upgrade to Bow, Full Command (Lead by Alios) – 196 pts.
10 Archers, Musician – 126 pts
5 Silver Helms, Shield, Heavy Armour, Full Command – 150 pts.
5 Silver Helms, Shield, Heavy Armour, Full Command – 150 pts.
19 Spear Elves, Full Command (Joined by Tendal) – 239 pts.
1 Repeater Bolt Thrower – 100 pts.
2 Tiranoc Chariots – 170 pts.
Total: 1995 pts.
Dark Elves:
Malice Stormblade, High Born – Heavy Armor, Shield, Cold One, Gauntlet of Power, Crown of Black Iron – 372 pts.
Truella – Sorceress, Level 2, Dark Steed, Dark Star Cloak, Dispel Scroll – 187 pts.
Kaldren – Noble – BSB – Heavy Armour, Sea Dragon Cloak – 105 pts.
5 Cold One Knights, Full Command – 190 pts. (Lead by Malice)
7 Dark Riders, Repeater Crossbows, Full Command – 175 pts (Lead by Truella)
5 Dark Riders, Musician - 97 pts.
19 Dark Elf Warriors, Shield , Spears, Full Command – 177 pts (Lead by Kaldren)
10 Witch Elves of Khaine, Hag, Manbane – 242 pts
20 Corsairs, Full Command, War Banner – 250 pts.
6 Harpies – 78 pts.
1 Repeater Bolt Thrower – 100 pts.
1 Repeater Bolt Thrower – 100 pts.
1 Cold One Chariot – Spears – 99 pts.
Total: 2000 pts.
Battle Field Layout and Deployment:
As Malice approached the battlefield, he saw his dark riders return with several High Elf heads, he knew his riders and destroyed the High Elf scouts and now if he moved quickly he could gain surprise on the Elves who were busy chatting and frolicking about their victory. He stopped his army and surveyed the battlefield. He saw a stony hill on the left side of the battlefield and a river now filled with blood, from the fallen Dark Elves flowing horizontally from the hill across the battlefield. Only a small section, near the middle, would not be crossable. Then he saw a hill across the battlefield on the High Elf Side with a small Copse of Woods directly across from it. Finally, a small High Elf lookout tower in the Right corner of the battlefield.
Malice knew the elves on the other side of the river would be to busy partying to notice his small units and thus set them up first. He gave orders to each of his units explaining where to setup. First he ordered his Reaper Bolt throwers to set up. One on the hill and the other in the small High Elf lookout tower. Once they were setup, all of his other units moved onto the battlefield. First, near the hill on the left side of the river Malice and his Cold Ones marched into place, behind them Truella and her Dark Riders with the Harpies following. Next to Malice but on the right side of the River the Cold One Chariot. Next to them the Corsairs, and them the Dark Warriors and Kaldren, protecting their flank the Witch Elves just in the Woods. Finally, the other Dark Rider unit behind the Tower.
Malice then heard and Elven voice from the other side of the battlefield yell “The Dark Elves are Hear, Prepare for Battle”. The rest of the High Elves were angry with Creylin for letting there defenses down and decided that Alios would lead them (Authors Note: IC resulted in the Wizard counting a general). Malice watched and the Elves argued among themselves and hastily built their battle line. First a Chariot set up opposite the Cold Ones Knights and Malice, with a unit of Silver Helms beside then and Archers behind all on the same side of the river as Malice and the Cold Ones. Now on right side of the River came the unit of Spear Elves with the Battle Standard, Tendal. Next to him the Swordmasters, and the Prince Creylin, Next to then another unit of Silver Helms, with the Repeater Bolt Thrower on the hill behind then. Across from the tower the mage Alios and his Ellyrian Reavers and finally another chariot.
To Battle:
Malice took the initiative and attempted to move his Cold One Knights forward, but the ferocity of the beasts lead them to pull on the reins so hard that their riders could not control them and the unit moved forward only slightly (Authors Note: They went stupid, but my Dark Elf player uses the Fluff of ferocity instead) . Malice cursed the scaly beasts and regained control. Truella moved her unit around the Cold One Knights and to their flank. Truella summoned the winds of magic in an attempt to call forth chill winds on the Chariot, but she lost control and the cold winds she summoned blasted her. Her whole body began to free and she nearly passed out and fell from her saddle. The rest of the Dark Elves held their place. Both Reaper Bolt Throwers opened fire on the lone chariot across from Malice and the Cold One Knights. 12 bolts sailed into the chassis of the chariot, and several damage the structure, but the chariot still continued to function.
Creylin knew the battlefield was under control of the Reaper Bolt Throwers as they had perfect firing lanes across the whole field (Authors Note: New rules say if unit is in flank of the Bolt Throwers then the whole unit is hit. This meant I had to control where I moved my Knights to make sure no side shots could be obtained). Creylin looked at Alios and the wizard summoned the full power of the winds of magic and directed a fire salvo at the Bolt Thrower on the tower (Authors Note: I hit with Irresistible Force, I rolled 2d6 and got 3 hits. 2 of which hit the machine and the one that hit the crew failed to wound). Amazingly, the bolt fizzled out before harming anyone. That tower must have an Elven protection spell on it, thought Alios. The Repeater Bolt Thrower opened fire and a salvo of bolt hit the Dark Riders and Truella unit. 3 Dark Riders fell from their horses impaled by bolts.
The Archers moved to the left of the chariot to draw a line of fire on the Cold One Knights.
Creylin held the rest of his units in place waiting to see the Dark Elves next move.
On the left side of the river, the wounded chariot attempted to charge Truella and the Dark Riders who fled through the Cold One Knights who ignore the fleeing Dark Riders. The Chariot crew realized it would not reach any enemies and stopped hopping to reverse before being counter charged by the Cold Ones and Malice.
Malice had finally regained control of his ferocious Cold One and directed his unit to charge toward the High Elven chariot. The Cold One Knights trampled forward their beasts hissing with each step. The Chariot crew fled directly away from the Cold One Knights and Malice and right by the archers and Silver Helms narrowly missing the archers (Authors Note: In the new rules if my chariot fled through my own unit I would take impact hits, so I moved my archers from it path last turn). Malice halted his Cold Ones realizing he would not catch the High Elven chariot.
Truella and her Dark Riders had rallied and moved up the flank again they targeted their Repeater Crossbows at the fleeing chariot, but failed to wound it.
On the other side of the battlefield Kaldren ordered his unit forward along with the Cold One Chariot, and Corsairs keeping the river on their left flank protecting it. While the Harpies flew into the middle of the battlefield landing in front of the Dark Elf skirmish line.
Both Reapers opened fire again this time targeting the Silver Helms near the fleeing chariot hoping to weaken them before they counter charge Malice and the Cold One Knights. But after 12 bolts the finely crafted Elven Armor deflected all of them (Authors Notes: He rolled 5 hits, 3 wounds, and I saved them all)
The Silver Helms held their ground waiting for Malice and the Cold One to come closer. The Fleeing Chariot next to them rallied and also waited.
The Archers opened fired on Truella and the Dark Riders, 2 more Dark Riders fell from Elven arrows.
Across the battlefield the other unit of Silver Helms, Chariot and Alios’s Ellyrian Reavers moved down the flank keeping a strict eye on the Reaper Bolt Thrower in the Tower, and careful not give it a flank shot. While Creylin and the Swordmaster moved forward down the middle of the battlefield towards the Harpies and entire Dark Elf Line. Tendal understood what the Silver Helms were planning and reformed his unit of Spear Elves to face the Silver Helms, knowing that when they charged they would probably lose and the sheer hatred of the Dark Elves would mean they would have to chase the Helms, thereby allowing a flank charge. The Silver Helms saw Tendal move his unit and charged into Malice and Cold One Knights, the Silver Helm Champion issued a challenge hoping Malice would accept, but Malice allowed the Cold One Knight champion to fight in his place. The Challenge was quick and the Silver Helm champion impaled the Cold Ones Knights champion on his Lance. The rest of the Silver Helms impaled 2 Cold One Knights on their lances, but in return Malice’s sheer Hatred showed true and his Gauntlet lashed out killing 4 of the Silver Helms. The Silver Helm champion was all that remained and he fled in fear of Malice and the Cold One Knights. They pursued him and trampled him. Amazingly running right by the Spear Elves and Tendal who had set the Hatred Trap, but now Malice and Cold Ones avoided it and were now near the hill with Repeater Bolt Thrower on it. At the same time the Reapers Bolt throwers opened fired on the same wounded chariot and the bolts splintered the chariot, the steed ran away pulling the two crew, hurling them off the chariot and onto the ground.
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