SKULLTAKER
Avondorf Falls
Deployment and Opening Moves
The battle began with the Chaos forces dividing into three. Redmane and his Chosen (receiving the blessing of extra attacks – like they needed them!) deployed as required at the centre of the village, facing the Empire horde.
On his right, the swift moving force combining two units of Skullcrushers (one supported by the Khornate Exalted on his Juggernaut), the Chimera and supporting warhounds advanced around the flank of the village, splitting to go either side of the barn.
On the left, the Khornate Chaos Warriors advanced down the narrow channel between the rocky edge of the table and the village itself. Behind them came the Chaos Kngits supported by the Exalted BSB.
At the rear, the Chaos Marauder horde awaited any flanking Empire forces.
The Empire split their forces into the infantry assault, and all cavalry units in the flanking force to arrive later in the battle. The infantry were led by two hordes, one of Flagellants, who advanced up the Empire left (facing the Skullcrushers) and the other of Greatswords supported by the BSB, who advanced up right. Both had open ground between themselves and the Chaos Chosen.
Supporting behind the Flagellants were the spearman block (containing a Captain and the Shadow Mage) with their detachment of archers, and the mortar which parked opposite the barn. Behind the Greatswords sat the Duellists (supported by the General and the Celestial Wizard Lord) with their Halberdier detachment, the Volley Gun and Handgunners on the flank. In the centre, behind the woods sat the cannon.
The Empire advanced cautiously behind their two horde units, with Flagellants pushing towards the Chosen, but then getting sidetracked by the Warhounds, whom they attempted to charge. They then attempted a charge into the Chose, but came up short, leaving their flank exposed to the Skullcrushers and Chimera, although protected by the fact the Chaos unit could not fit into the gap betweent he barnb and the village itself. Neither Cannon nor Mortar was able to shoot, and then were ineffective due to misfires. The Volley Gun found itself twice out of range.
The Chaos forces also advance cautiously, both wings bottlenecked by the terrain, while Redmane held his Chosen back in the centre of the village, knowing the Emire gunnery would not be able to strike him.
The Empire attempted to exploit their magical edge, but Khorne protected his chosen, with the Shadowmage miscasting his very first spell and detonating, killing most of the spearman unit (although not himself!). The Empire captain moved out of the surviving spearmen and into the lea of the barn.
The Empire flanking force began to arrive, with the knights arriving in the backfield, forcing the Marauder block to turn and confront them.
The battle began with the Chaos forces dividing into three. Redmane and his Chosen (receiving the blessing of extra attacks – like they needed them!) deployed as required at the centre of the village, facing the Empire horde.
On his right, the swift moving force combining two units of Skullcrushers (one supported by the Khornate Exalted on his Juggernaut), the Chimera and supporting warhounds advanced around the flank of the village, splitting to go either side of the barn.
On the left, the Khornate Chaos Warriors advanced down the narrow channel between the rocky edge of the table and the village itself. Behind them came the Chaos Kngits supported by the Exalted BSB.
At the rear, the Chaos Marauder horde awaited any flanking Empire forces.
The Empire split their forces into the infantry assault, and all cavalry units in the flanking force to arrive later in the battle. The infantry were led by two hordes, one of Flagellants, who advanced up the Empire left (facing the Skullcrushers) and the other of Greatswords supported by the BSB, who advanced up right. Both had open ground between themselves and the Chaos Chosen.
Supporting behind the Flagellants were the spearman block (containing a Captain and the Shadow Mage) with their detachment of archers, and the mortar which parked opposite the barn. Behind the Greatswords sat the Duellists (supported by the General and the Celestial Wizard Lord) with their Halberdier detachment, the Volley Gun and Handgunners on the flank. In the centre, behind the woods sat the cannon.
The Empire advanced cautiously behind their two horde units, with Flagellants pushing towards the Chosen, but then getting sidetracked by the Warhounds, whom they attempted to charge. They then attempted a charge into the Chose, but came up short, leaving their flank exposed to the Skullcrushers and Chimera, although protected by the fact the Chaos unit could not fit into the gap betweent he barnb and the village itself. Neither Cannon nor Mortar was able to shoot, and then were ineffective due to misfires. The Volley Gun found itself twice out of range.
The Chaos forces also advance cautiously, both wings bottlenecked by the terrain, while Redmane held his Chosen back in the centre of the village, knowing the Emire gunnery would not be able to strike him.
The Empire attempted to exploit their magical edge, but Khorne protected his chosen, with the Shadowmage miscasting his very first spell and detonating, killing most of the spearman unit (although not himself!). The Empire captain moved out of the surviving spearmen and into the lea of the barn.
The Empire flanking force began to arrive, with the knights arriving in the backfield, forcing the Marauder block to turn and confront them.
Midgame
Battle was joined when the Exalted Hero in the Skullcrushers charged out of his unit and into the flank of the Flagellants. Here, fate took a turn, and the Exalted drank from the Chalice of Chaos and transformed into a Daemon Prince! With the Flagellants now pinned by this unbreakable monstrosity, the Chosen were able to move away and focus on the Greatswords.
In the backfield, the Marauder horde unexpected made a charge at their absolute maximum range and caught the Empire knights unready, obliterating them ina single combat, and thus ensuring control of the Chaos rear.
The remaining Skullcrushers and Chimera, having been whittled down by combined Mortar and Cannon fire, moved around the barn and swept away the remaining spearmen, forcing the Shadow Mage to flee and exposing the flank of the Greatswords, just as they engaged the Khornate Chaos Warriors. As the Cannon slew the Chimera and the Chaos BSB, the Skullcrushers were reduced to a single model and it seemed as if the Greatswords would hold.
Redmane and his Chosen, realising the battle was moving away from them, charged the remaining Flagellants that the Daemon Prince was stomping into oblivion, and easily swept through them and into the Empire backfield.
Endgame
With The Daemon Prince Now Freed From The Flagellants And The Cannon And Mortar Engaged By The Chosen And ‘Crushers Respectively, The Empire Centre And Left Collapsed Completely. While The Greatswords Were Able To Slay The Warriors Eventually, The Casualties This Cost Them Meant They Had No Chance Of Surviving The Assault Of The Daemon Prince And Knights, Even With The Support Of The Late Arriving Demigryphs, And Were Swept Away And Advanced Into The Empire General And His Duelists, Taking The Empire BSB With Them.
Battle was joined when the Exalted Hero in the Skullcrushers charged out of his unit and into the flank of the Flagellants. Here, fate took a turn, and the Exalted drank from the Chalice of Chaos and transformed into a Daemon Prince! With the Flagellants now pinned by this unbreakable monstrosity, the Chosen were able to move away and focus on the Greatswords.
In the backfield, the Marauder horde unexpected made a charge at their absolute maximum range and caught the Empire knights unready, obliterating them ina single combat, and thus ensuring control of the Chaos rear.
The remaining Skullcrushers and Chimera, having been whittled down by combined Mortar and Cannon fire, moved around the barn and swept away the remaining spearmen, forcing the Shadow Mage to flee and exposing the flank of the Greatswords, just as they engaged the Khornate Chaos Warriors. As the Cannon slew the Chimera and the Chaos BSB, the Skullcrushers were reduced to a single model and it seemed as if the Greatswords would hold.
Redmane and his Chosen, realising the battle was moving away from them, charged the remaining Flagellants that the Daemon Prince was stomping into oblivion, and easily swept through them and into the Empire backfield.
Endgame
With The Daemon Prince Now Freed From The Flagellants And The Cannon And Mortar Engaged By The Chosen And ‘Crushers Respectively, The Empire Centre And Left Collapsed Completely. While The Greatswords Were Able To Slay The Warriors Eventually, The Casualties This Cost Them Meant They Had No Chance Of Surviving The Assault Of The Daemon Prince And Knights, Even With The Support Of The Late Arriving Demigryphs, And Were Swept Away And Advanced Into The Empire General And His Duelists, Taking The Empire BSB With Them.
As The Last Empire Resistance Was Defeated, Avondorf Fell To Chaos. The Empire Captain, Having Slipped Through The Chaos Lines, Met Up With The Flanking Pistoliers And Scouting Huntsmen And Withdrew Into The Frostwood . . .
Aftermath
Hate raging through his veins, Aroch Redmane marched towards the scarlet titan before him. Once the trusted commander of his cavalry, Haakon now stood, winged, fanged, his scarlet flesh tattoed and flaming. Raw fury emanated from the ascended warrior, and Redmane knew he must slay the creature now or lose any chance of glory. “Abase yourself before your chosen master” he bellowed, hefting his hammer in a gesture of command and defiance.
With a volcanic voice that tore into the minds of all the warriors on the field, the creature replied, a solitary claw pointing at the brazen warrior. “It is you who are base, mortal. My time has come, and your time has ended!”
Redmane raged, and made to swing his hammer at the creature. Yet as he did so he realised he no longer had the strength the lift the weapon. Pain, scalding agony as he had never before felt burned his hands and he dropped his hammer. The heat of the fire melted his gauntlets away and the brass of his greaves likewise began to flow. Yet beyond all imagining his flesh remained intact. Dazed by the sudden assault of pain, he gazed at the tortured flesh of his hands, only to see tiny fanged maws appearing on his palms. Welts sprang up his arms, each tearing apart into further mouths, and as the metal tore away and dozens of welts coursed up his limbs, a cacophony of tiny voices coalesced into a single word screeching from dozens of maws lining his flowing flesh.
“Unworthy!” the voices cried, but Redmane no longer heeded them. As he closed his eyes for the last time as a man, he knew for certain they were right. He had held back from the slaughter when Haakon had charged in. He had let his hubris for victory in the battledeflect his holy purpose in spilling the blood of the foe.
When he opened them again, no eyes existed behind his lids, only more darkened maws whispering the same curse. Disgusted, the Chosen circled the heaving creature that once been Aroch Redmane, blades raised to end the affront to nature.
“No,” the Daemon Prince commanded, as its gaze levelled at the twisted morass of trees and undergrowth beyond the burning village, “there is still prey for this beast, and the hunt has only just begun.”
Hate raging through his veins, Aroch Redmane marched towards the scarlet titan before him. Once the trusted commander of his cavalry, Haakon now stood, winged, fanged, his scarlet flesh tattoed and flaming. Raw fury emanated from the ascended warrior, and Redmane knew he must slay the creature now or lose any chance of glory. “Abase yourself before your chosen master” he bellowed, hefting his hammer in a gesture of command and defiance.
With a volcanic voice that tore into the minds of all the warriors on the field, the creature replied, a solitary claw pointing at the brazen warrior. “It is you who are base, mortal. My time has come, and your time has ended!”
Redmane raged, and made to swing his hammer at the creature. Yet as he did so he realised he no longer had the strength the lift the weapon. Pain, scalding agony as he had never before felt burned his hands and he dropped his hammer. The heat of the fire melted his gauntlets away and the brass of his greaves likewise began to flow. Yet beyond all imagining his flesh remained intact. Dazed by the sudden assault of pain, he gazed at the tortured flesh of his hands, only to see tiny fanged maws appearing on his palms. Welts sprang up his arms, each tearing apart into further mouths, and as the metal tore away and dozens of welts coursed up his limbs, a cacophony of tiny voices coalesced into a single word screeching from dozens of maws lining his flowing flesh.
“Unworthy!” the voices cried, but Redmane no longer heeded them. As he closed his eyes for the last time as a man, he knew for certain they were right. He had held back from the slaughter when Haakon had charged in. He had let his hubris for victory in the battledeflect his holy purpose in spilling the blood of the foe.
When he opened them again, no eyes existed behind his lids, only more darkened maws whispering the same curse. Disgusted, the Chosen circled the heaving creature that once been Aroch Redmane, blades raised to end the affront to nature.
“No,” the Daemon Prince commanded, as its gaze levelled at the twisted morass of trees and undergrowth beyond the burning village, “there is still prey for this beast, and the hunt has only just begun.”