Sorcerer's Gambit
The Empire Pays A Price
Deployment and Opening Moves
With their twin objectives heavily defended, the empire forces opted for an all out assault on the Altar of Lubricity, figuring they could sweep into the well-Defended tower once the tower guards had been slain by massed war machine fire. With this in mind the allies elected to refuse their left flank almost Entirely. Leaving a small contingent of spearmen, supported by archers and pistoliers to delay any chaos forces pushing at their left. the empire generals ensured that any troops doing so would have to face massed shooting: distributing crossbows, archers and handgunners throughout the buildings of rook's rest, the empire created a handy base for their missile troops. Behind the village, two gyrocopters sought to the covers offered by the village to push across the field and get behind the chaos lines.
Opposing them, the chaos forces withdrew their strength away from this flank also, delpoying swift marauder horse units to protect the reaper bolt thrower deployed on the hill covering the open ground. Facing the village lay the two jugger chariots whose brutish armoured might had little to fear from mere bowfire. A small contingent of khorne beserkers accompanied to mighty chariots, as did a gibbering horde of slaaneshi forsaken, whose swift movement allowed them to respond to any threat marching at them. Finally, to counter the gyros a shambling chaos Spawn accomapnied the tentacled horror that was the chaos giant.
The tower itself was guarded by a unit of khornate chaos warriors under the leadership of the exalted champion hjalmar redhand. covering the approach, two slave units of druchii darkshards and a contingent of elite black guard added steel to the defense, Challenging any empire regiment foolish enough to test their fighting skill.
With their twin objectives heavily defended, the empire forces opted for an all out assault on the Altar of Lubricity, figuring they could sweep into the well-Defended tower once the tower guards had been slain by massed war machine fire. With this in mind the allies elected to refuse their left flank almost Entirely. Leaving a small contingent of spearmen, supported by archers and pistoliers to delay any chaos forces pushing at their left. the empire generals ensured that any troops doing so would have to face massed shooting: distributing crossbows, archers and handgunners throughout the buildings of rook's rest, the empire created a handy base for their missile troops. Behind the village, two gyrocopters sought to the covers offered by the village to push across the field and get behind the chaos lines.
Opposing them, the chaos forces withdrew their strength away from this flank also, delpoying swift marauder horse units to protect the reaper bolt thrower deployed on the hill covering the open ground. Facing the village lay the two jugger chariots whose brutish armoured might had little to fear from mere bowfire. A small contingent of khorne beserkers accompanied to mighty chariots, as did a gibbering horde of slaaneshi forsaken, whose swift movement allowed them to respond to any threat marching at them. Finally, to counter the gyros a shambling chaos Spawn accomapnied the tentacled horror that was the chaos giant.
The tower itself was guarded by a unit of khornate chaos warriors under the leadership of the exalted champion hjalmar redhand. covering the approach, two slave units of druchii darkshards and a contingent of elite black guard added steel to the defense, Challenging any empire regiment foolish enough to test their fighting skill.
in the centre of the field, two mighty battlelines drew up, ready to face the foe. On the Empire side, two units of knights of morr readied themselves to ride around the village and divide the chaos host. supporting them, a mighty steam tank lent its power to a horde of ranked morr swordmen bearing their battle standard, and with their accompanying detachments of halberdiers. and over all of these the winged form of black steffan and his Hippogryf, eager to take the fight once again to his most hated foes.
to the right of the army of morr lay the massed ranks of the army of sigmar. a column of swordsmen from the regiments of bogenhafen accompanied knights, anselm's free Company and the empire general with his elite guard of greatswords and supporting detachments of handgunners, and at the fore a hellblaster volley gun to dissuade the chaos elite from charging forward. amid these yellow-plumed warriors, doughty dwarven hammerers lent their considerable fighting prowess the empire centre.
On the empire right marched a host of dwarves, freed from the greenskin interference in the black mountains and ready to join their allies in the war against the invade: alongside two more gyrocopters, four regiments of bearded axebearers formed a wall of snapping blue banners and rune-etched steel. A second regiment of hammerers guarded their hold's lord, who rode atop a shield borne by his nearest kin. Longbeards marched proudly alongside them bearing proudly their battle standard, and alongside these another dwarven lord, this time leading heavily armoured ironbreakers to battle. finally, stout dwarven warriors held the extreme right, a wall of shield and axe preventing any foe from assaulting the flank. With a mob of empire flagellents deployed to push ahead of the dwarven advance, the allies then carefully aligned their most dangerous war machines behind Their lines: stonethrower, mortar and cannon made ready to strike down the foe.
to the right of the army of morr lay the massed ranks of the army of sigmar. a column of swordsmen from the regiments of bogenhafen accompanied knights, anselm's free Company and the empire general with his elite guard of greatswords and supporting detachments of handgunners, and at the fore a hellblaster volley gun to dissuade the chaos elite from charging forward. amid these yellow-plumed warriors, doughty dwarven hammerers lent their considerable fighting prowess the empire centre.
On the empire right marched a host of dwarves, freed from the greenskin interference in the black mountains and ready to join their allies in the war against the invade: alongside two more gyrocopters, four regiments of bearded axebearers formed a wall of snapping blue banners and rune-etched steel. A second regiment of hammerers guarded their hold's lord, who rode atop a shield borne by his nearest kin. Longbeards marched proudly alongside them bearing proudly their battle standard, and alongside these another dwarven lord, this time leading heavily armoured ironbreakers to battle. finally, stout dwarven warriors held the extreme right, a wall of shield and axe preventing any foe from assaulting the flank. With a mob of empire flagellents deployed to push ahead of the dwarven advance, the allies then carefully aligned their most dangerous war machines behind Their lines: stonethrower, mortar and cannon made ready to strike down the foe.
Seeing The Unwavering Regiments Of The Allies arrayed before them The Chaos Forces Pushed Their Slave Army To The Fore, Ready To Create Havoc And Open Gaps For The Brass And Fur Clad Chaos Elite To Exploit. Two Skittering Regiments Of Skaven Slaves Were Whipped Into Position Across The Front Of The Battleline With Their Master - A Grey Seer Atop A Mighty Bell - Behind Them Leading His Personal Guard Of Stormvermin.
Flanking the skaven, the undead came. on one side, borne on rotting steeds, black knights trotted into postion, their moulding banners Revealing the wights as once-proud empire knights. on the other, also bearing the decaying remnants of empire banners, grave guard marched, accompanying their battle standard and led by the warrior known only as the black king.
behind them, the strength of chaos was revealed. alongside the tower a second regiment of khornate bezerkers, brass clad and eager to once again Grapple with their morrish foes. Beside them loping warhounds and then another Regiment of chaos warriors, this time bedecked in silks, polished plate and the alluring sigils of the dark prince. beside the stormvermin, skullcrushers rode, their bestial steeds groaning and roaring as their swollen brass bodies itched for the charge. leading them, a daemonsmith rode on his own personal jugger, the two redolent with aetheric power.
building the altar, forty marauders dedicated to slaanesh were led by two warriors, an exalted champion and his sorceress mistress, who devoted themselves to blessing the building with acts of lust even as the battle shaped around them. behind the altar, two more lords of chaos, each atop slithering daemon snakes. besides them, more marauders of slaanesh accompanied a sorcerer lord to battle on the left flank, marching in the shadow of two towering hellcannon, their daemon maws dripping with tormented souls. finally, accompanying another slaaneshi exalted, a regiment of chosen: the alluress and her harem eager to avenge their defeat in previous encounters.
To shield the hellcannon and chosen, more undead servants marched. a loping pack of ghouls and horde of shuffling zombies marched ahead of the twisted necromancer who had summoned them. atop his corpse-laden cart, the necromancer wielded his bone-staff, and hosts of ethereal spirits, wrenched from their unlife materialised among the chaos line, ready to sow fear and terror in their enemies.
finally, behind these lines, their steeds flaming and smoking with arcane fire, two proud regiments of chaos knights awaited, each accompanied by shambling masses of flesh that were once their lords and masters.
Flanking the skaven, the undead came. on one side, borne on rotting steeds, black knights trotted into postion, their moulding banners Revealing the wights as once-proud empire knights. on the other, also bearing the decaying remnants of empire banners, grave guard marched, accompanying their battle standard and led by the warrior known only as the black king.
behind them, the strength of chaos was revealed. alongside the tower a second regiment of khornate bezerkers, brass clad and eager to once again Grapple with their morrish foes. Beside them loping warhounds and then another Regiment of chaos warriors, this time bedecked in silks, polished plate and the alluring sigils of the dark prince. beside the stormvermin, skullcrushers rode, their bestial steeds groaning and roaring as their swollen brass bodies itched for the charge. leading them, a daemonsmith rode on his own personal jugger, the two redolent with aetheric power.
building the altar, forty marauders dedicated to slaanesh were led by two warriors, an exalted champion and his sorceress mistress, who devoted themselves to blessing the building with acts of lust even as the battle shaped around them. behind the altar, two more lords of chaos, each atop slithering daemon snakes. besides them, more marauders of slaanesh accompanied a sorcerer lord to battle on the left flank, marching in the shadow of two towering hellcannon, their daemon maws dripping with tormented souls. finally, accompanying another slaaneshi exalted, a regiment of chosen: the alluress and her harem eager to avenge their defeat in previous encounters.
To shield the hellcannon and chosen, more undead servants marched. a loping pack of ghouls and horde of shuffling zombies marched ahead of the twisted necromancer who had summoned them. atop his corpse-laden cart, the necromancer wielded his bone-staff, and hosts of ethereal spirits, wrenched from their unlife materialised among the chaos line, ready to sow fear and terror in their enemies.
finally, behind these lines, their steeds flaming and smoking with arcane fire, two proud regiments of chaos knights awaited, each accompanied by shambling masses of flesh that were once their lords and masters.
as the armies Maneuvered into their final positions, a screening force of empire archers emerged from the central copse of forest and alongside them, emerging from the cover of the surrounding rocks, two ranks of dwarven rangers shouldered their axes and drew crossbows in preparation for unleashing a volley into the nearby druchii before the tower. needing no encouragement, the black guard immediately charged, catching the rangers before they were ready, and slammed into them in a wave of glittering steel. the battle had begun!
On the far side, glimmering runes glowed and before the very eyes of the startled Chaos lords and the dwarves marched, adopting aggressive positions in and around the woods before the altar. The empire outriders also seized their chance and galloped into a firing position.
Pushing their slaves ahead of them, the Entire chaos line advanced. On the right the marauder horse took a more central position, even as their charge the reaper bolt thrower slaughtered the empire pistoliers, killing all but one in a single volley. the chariots and forsaken likewise wheeled towards the centre, hoping to funnel in behind the black guard, as did the marauder bezerker pack.
On the other flank, the zombies pushed wide, sealing any chance of flanking the chaos left, and headed towards the Dwarven regiment aiming to do the same. With a burst of power, both hellcannons opened fire, inflicting horrific casualties among the outriders and slaying several hammerers to boot. The chaos forces lashed the allies with their magic, but the presence of the dwarves bled off their power, until the slaaneshi lord stepped too far to inflict her glorious pain upon the foe, and was sucked into the aether with a scream of desperation and horror.
The black guard brutally butchered the dwarven rangers and put them to flight, panicking the screening archers alongside them. as the dawrves fled, the iron discipline of the druchii came to the fore, and they formed their battleline where the empire screen had been, knowing full well the allies would not charge over their own fleeing men to get to grips with them.
With a command issued in a voice of cold stone, black steffan halted the rout, and the fleeing troop rallied in front of their battleline. steffan flew his griffon behind rook's rest in anticipation of leaping the village and into the forces ahead of the tower. behind the rallied troops, the empire batteline had to adjust: the knights and steam tank had little room to maneuvre, leaving the massed missile regiments to pour Their fire at the blackguard.
In the centre, the skavenslaves charged forward, desperate to end their miserable lives and take the foe with them. with a foolishness borne of their stupidity, one horde was offered the flank of the hammerers, and took the bait, hitting the resolute dwarven elite. the other unit targeted the knights of bogenhafen who positioned themselves to lure the slaves out and open the way to the battleline behind. as the ratmen hit, the bell peeled, its force ripping gouges in the earth behind the empire line, and damaging all of the allied war machines.
As expected, the hammerers dispatched the skavenslves without breaking stride, however the knights of bogenhafen underestimated their foe, and were unexpectedly overwhelmed by the desperate skavenslaves, who broke and routed them before running them down a causing a wave of panic right in the centre of the empire line. This had the effect of dividing the allied forces neatly in two, and the chaos battleline quickly moved to exploit the gap, as the men of bogenhafen moved to react.
Before the tower, the black guard again hit the dwarven rangers, who this time threw aside their crossbows and met the charging druchii with throwing axes, having more success in whittling down Their number. A furous melee erupted, and when the blades and blood-mist cleared, only three druchii - two commanders, one bearing the battle standard, and the black guard captain - remained. the two surviving rangers fled, and this time to black guard pushed their advantage, and directed their suicidal fury into the waiting knights of morr.
but all did not go easily for the forces of darkness. unleashing his alchemical power, the wizard lord of of the gold order unleashed a wave of Transforming energy into the oncoming khornate warriors. several were instantly turned into unliving golden statues. Even as the black Guard struck his unit of protecting knight, the golden lord unleashed his power again, transforming more of the khornate warriors, and this time slaying the khornate battle standard and their fire mage in a single devastating spell.
On the far flank, the dwraves continued their relantless march, positioning themselves to unleash a devastating charge on the undead Units arrayed before them. Seeing the threat, the necromancer was forced to fling his rotting dire wolves into the dwarven path, delaying their march until the chaos support was ready. Behind these dogs, the grave guard positioned themselves to fight.
Finally, the builders of the altar approached completion, before combined cannon fire ripped chunks of blessed stone from the altar, and slew several of their number.
On the far side, glimmering runes glowed and before the very eyes of the startled Chaos lords and the dwarves marched, adopting aggressive positions in and around the woods before the altar. The empire outriders also seized their chance and galloped into a firing position.
Pushing their slaves ahead of them, the Entire chaos line advanced. On the right the marauder horse took a more central position, even as their charge the reaper bolt thrower slaughtered the empire pistoliers, killing all but one in a single volley. the chariots and forsaken likewise wheeled towards the centre, hoping to funnel in behind the black guard, as did the marauder bezerker pack.
On the other flank, the zombies pushed wide, sealing any chance of flanking the chaos left, and headed towards the Dwarven regiment aiming to do the same. With a burst of power, both hellcannons opened fire, inflicting horrific casualties among the outriders and slaying several hammerers to boot. The chaos forces lashed the allies with their magic, but the presence of the dwarves bled off their power, until the slaaneshi lord stepped too far to inflict her glorious pain upon the foe, and was sucked into the aether with a scream of desperation and horror.
The black guard brutally butchered the dwarven rangers and put them to flight, panicking the screening archers alongside them. as the dawrves fled, the iron discipline of the druchii came to the fore, and they formed their battleline where the empire screen had been, knowing full well the allies would not charge over their own fleeing men to get to grips with them.
With a command issued in a voice of cold stone, black steffan halted the rout, and the fleeing troop rallied in front of their battleline. steffan flew his griffon behind rook's rest in anticipation of leaping the village and into the forces ahead of the tower. behind the rallied troops, the empire batteline had to adjust: the knights and steam tank had little room to maneuvre, leaving the massed missile regiments to pour Their fire at the blackguard.
In the centre, the skavenslaves charged forward, desperate to end their miserable lives and take the foe with them. with a foolishness borne of their stupidity, one horde was offered the flank of the hammerers, and took the bait, hitting the resolute dwarven elite. the other unit targeted the knights of bogenhafen who positioned themselves to lure the slaves out and open the way to the battleline behind. as the ratmen hit, the bell peeled, its force ripping gouges in the earth behind the empire line, and damaging all of the allied war machines.
As expected, the hammerers dispatched the skavenslves without breaking stride, however the knights of bogenhafen underestimated their foe, and were unexpectedly overwhelmed by the desperate skavenslaves, who broke and routed them before running them down a causing a wave of panic right in the centre of the empire line. This had the effect of dividing the allied forces neatly in two, and the chaos battleline quickly moved to exploit the gap, as the men of bogenhafen moved to react.
Before the tower, the black guard again hit the dwarven rangers, who this time threw aside their crossbows and met the charging druchii with throwing axes, having more success in whittling down Their number. A furous melee erupted, and when the blades and blood-mist cleared, only three druchii - two commanders, one bearing the battle standard, and the black guard captain - remained. the two surviving rangers fled, and this time to black guard pushed their advantage, and directed their suicidal fury into the waiting knights of morr.
but all did not go easily for the forces of darkness. unleashing his alchemical power, the wizard lord of of the gold order unleashed a wave of Transforming energy into the oncoming khornate warriors. several were instantly turned into unliving golden statues. Even as the black Guard struck his unit of protecting knight, the golden lord unleashed his power again, transforming more of the khornate warriors, and this time slaying the khornate battle standard and their fire mage in a single devastating spell.
On the far flank, the dwraves continued their relantless march, positioning themselves to unleash a devastating charge on the undead Units arrayed before them. Seeing the threat, the necromancer was forced to fling his rotting dire wolves into the dwarven path, delaying their march until the chaos support was ready. Behind these dogs, the grave guard positioned themselves to fight.
Finally, the builders of the altar approached completion, before combined cannon fire ripped chunks of blessed stone from the altar, and slew several of their number.
Midgame
With the allied advanced now disrupted, the forces of Chaos advanced to drive home their advantage. Warped and rotting hounds leapt ahead of the advancing regiments of warriors; the Grey Seer urged his stormvermin forward, the bell tolling furiously as they advanced; finally, the Chosen of Slaanesh used the ghouls ahead of them to expose the flank of the oncoming Iron Breakers. In response, the Dwarves reverted to their time-honoured strategy of forming a castle of steel and armour, deploying Oathstones and preparing to defend their position.
At Rook’s Rest, the three surviving Druchii tore into the Knights of Morr, and directly assaulted the Wizard Lord. As the fight turned against the golden lord and his retinue, he reached for more magical power, only to unleash torrent of energy that was felt by every allied mage and priest. Despite the damage inflicted on them, the knights held, even as help arrived in the form of a detachment of halberdiers.
With their path of advance blocked by this furious combat, Black Steffan and the Gyrocopters swept over Rook’s Rest, and drew fire from the Darkshards at the base of the tower. The doughty Dwarven machines were built tough however, and survived the wave of black-fletched bolts. Seeing the towering Hippogriff clearing the trees, the Reaper took aim and buried a powerful bolt into the beast’s flank, yet the potent creature shrugged off the impact.
With the allied advanced now disrupted, the forces of Chaos advanced to drive home their advantage. Warped and rotting hounds leapt ahead of the advancing regiments of warriors; the Grey Seer urged his stormvermin forward, the bell tolling furiously as they advanced; finally, the Chosen of Slaanesh used the ghouls ahead of them to expose the flank of the oncoming Iron Breakers. In response, the Dwarves reverted to their time-honoured strategy of forming a castle of steel and armour, deploying Oathstones and preparing to defend their position.
At Rook’s Rest, the three surviving Druchii tore into the Knights of Morr, and directly assaulted the Wizard Lord. As the fight turned against the golden lord and his retinue, he reached for more magical power, only to unleash torrent of energy that was felt by every allied mage and priest. Despite the damage inflicted on them, the knights held, even as help arrived in the form of a detachment of halberdiers.
With their path of advance blocked by this furious combat, Black Steffan and the Gyrocopters swept over Rook’s Rest, and drew fire from the Darkshards at the base of the tower. The doughty Dwarven machines were built tough however, and survived the wave of black-fletched bolts. Seeing the towering Hippogriff clearing the trees, the Reaper took aim and buried a powerful bolt into the beast’s flank, yet the potent creature shrugged off the impact.
In the centre of the field, the skavenslaves continued their headlong charge, hitting and overwhelming the Empire mortar, causing more panic amongst the Empire ranks. Taking matters into his own hands Anselm, The People’s Prophet, wheeled his followers into the breach and finally put the errant slaves to the sword.
Yet even as this foe was dealt with, more of the ratmen arose. From the rent in the earth caused by the tolling bell, a mechanical prow, wreathed in green fire collapsed the ground nearby to one of the Empire cannons. Black clad Night Runners burst forth from the very ground and quickly destroyed the machine, and the Steam Tank, still blocked by the melee surrounding the Black Guard, took it upon itself to deal with this latest nuisance. With a whirl of steam and grinding of metal, the lumbering steel beast swung about and bore down upon the ratmen with the fury of an avalanche, obliterating them under its iron shod wheels.
Behind it, the Black Guard continued their assault, slaying the Wizard Lord and putting the knights to flight. In a haze of blood-mad fury, the three Druchii turned about, looking for the next foe, before finally being ridden down by the other contingent of black-clad knights.
As the Druchii Lords died, Black Steffan swept from the hill of Rook’s Rest, the screech of his mighty mount putting both regiments of Darkshards to flight before him. In a sweep of black feathers and leonine power, he landed before the tower, ready to bear down on the few surviving defenders manning its battlements. Offering a prayer to his god, Steffan downed the vial of holy water he had brought with him, and his cloak of feathers hardened into unyielding basalt as he readied himself for the charge.
On the far flank, the Dwarves dispatched the final packs of dogs that blocked their path to the altar, even as the Hellcannon tore into their number, forcing the shield-borne Dwarf Lord to take up the leadership of the Longbeard regiment. Alongside them, the Greatswords bore their lord into position on a wave of power blessed to them by the wizard of light, while the Swordsmen of Morr prepared to meet their most hated foes: the Warriors of Khorne, decimated by magic and combined fire yet still potent in their fury.
As the battleline formed, a roiling darkness descended from the heavens: the supplicants of the Alter had finished their work! A spiral of dark energy, crackling with purple lightning sheathed the Atlar, warping all the mortals within. With a howl torn from unearthly throats a siren song greeted the allies. The golden gates of the Atlar swung wide. Lithe and seductive, the mortal builders emerged in new, more pleasing forms as rank upon rank of Daemonettes joined the battle and behind them, grown towering and tumescent from their coupling, the Exalted of Slaanesh were revealed in the form of two Daemon Princesses.
Inspired by the touch of Chaos upon them: the entire Chaos line surged forward to meet their enemy.
Yet even as this foe was dealt with, more of the ratmen arose. From the rent in the earth caused by the tolling bell, a mechanical prow, wreathed in green fire collapsed the ground nearby to one of the Empire cannons. Black clad Night Runners burst forth from the very ground and quickly destroyed the machine, and the Steam Tank, still blocked by the melee surrounding the Black Guard, took it upon itself to deal with this latest nuisance. With a whirl of steam and grinding of metal, the lumbering steel beast swung about and bore down upon the ratmen with the fury of an avalanche, obliterating them under its iron shod wheels.
Behind it, the Black Guard continued their assault, slaying the Wizard Lord and putting the knights to flight. In a haze of blood-mad fury, the three Druchii turned about, looking for the next foe, before finally being ridden down by the other contingent of black-clad knights.
As the Druchii Lords died, Black Steffan swept from the hill of Rook’s Rest, the screech of his mighty mount putting both regiments of Darkshards to flight before him. In a sweep of black feathers and leonine power, he landed before the tower, ready to bear down on the few surviving defenders manning its battlements. Offering a prayer to his god, Steffan downed the vial of holy water he had brought with him, and his cloak of feathers hardened into unyielding basalt as he readied himself for the charge.
On the far flank, the Dwarves dispatched the final packs of dogs that blocked their path to the altar, even as the Hellcannon tore into their number, forcing the shield-borne Dwarf Lord to take up the leadership of the Longbeard regiment. Alongside them, the Greatswords bore their lord into position on a wave of power blessed to them by the wizard of light, while the Swordsmen of Morr prepared to meet their most hated foes: the Warriors of Khorne, decimated by magic and combined fire yet still potent in their fury.
As the battleline formed, a roiling darkness descended from the heavens: the supplicants of the Alter had finished their work! A spiral of dark energy, crackling with purple lightning sheathed the Atlar, warping all the mortals within. With a howl torn from unearthly throats a siren song greeted the allies. The golden gates of the Atlar swung wide. Lithe and seductive, the mortal builders emerged in new, more pleasing forms as rank upon rank of Daemonettes joined the battle and behind them, grown towering and tumescent from their coupling, the Exalted of Slaanesh were revealed in the form of two Daemon Princesses.
Inspired by the touch of Chaos upon them: the entire Chaos line surged forward to meet their enemy.
Endgame
With a crash of blade on shield, the two battlelines finally met, and the full fury of the antagonist’s hatred was finally let free. No longer positioning, diverting, outflanking: the two forces’ warriors met face to face at last.
Furthest from the tower, the zombie horde was torn into by the Dwarven Warriors, who slew uncounted numbers of the undead peasants only to see them shake off impossible injuries and strike back at them. Beside them, the Chosen of Slaanseh struck the Ironbreakers engaged with the Ghouls in the flank, only to themselves be hit by the maddened Empire Flagellants.
Freed from the distraction of the Direwolves, the Longbeards met the potent charge of the Daemon Princess and the Exalted Chariot, now supported by the Knights of Khorne who had swept into the gap in the battleline to get to grips with the foe. Besides this fight, the Grave Guard went toe to toe with the reaming Hammerers of the Dwarf Lord’s retinue with the second Daemon Princess in support. Alongside this fight, the Greatswords engaged in a brutal war of attrition with Stormvermin, the Grey Seer and his bell.
In the centre, the second unit of Hammerers swept aside the Black Knights, and met the Slaaneshi Warriors head on. Behind them, the men of Morr met the Khornate warriors even as the Knights of Slaanesh moved to support them. The lumbering chariots, finally arriving at the line of battle, crashed into the Knights of Morr, as the bezerks of Khorne began to move into the houses of Rook’s Rest and put the Empire gunners sand archers to the axe. Finally, the Forsaken howled and lunged into the flank of Black Steffan, even as his gaze was fixed upon his ultimate goal.
As the lines met the Black King - Wight Lord and champion of the undead horde - began warping before the very eyes of the Dwarven horde mere metres from him. Their runes glowing in the presence of unholy magic, the Runepriests watched as Razzak sloughed off his persona of the Black King and, plucking his disc from the very air, laughed cruelly before sweeping back into the Altar to sate himself on the power still residing there. Despairing, the Allies could but watch their quarry escape them as they met the massed ranks of their foes in furious combat.
With sword and axe, halberd and lance, shield and spear the combatants met. The Dwarves could not bring down enough of the zombies to break the Chaos flank. The Slaaneshi chosen were put to flight, but not before decimating the Ironbreakers, who bravely held against the assault of the Chaos elite - albeit with the help of an errant Hellcannon blast that slew the Daemon Princess even as she moved to strike - until the fury of the Chaos Knights and the Exalted Champion cast down the Dwarven lords and forcing the iron-clad guard to bear away the bodies.
Beside them, the Dwarven leadership suffered similar fates, brought low by the enchanted blades of the Grave Guard. The wights were butchered in turn, but the damage was done as the Longbeards no longer had the numbers to continue their advance.
Likewise, the Greatswords and Stromvermin fought until neither remained. The Grey Seer was quickly slain, cut from his bell, as both side boosted their warrior’s fighting skills with spell after spell. Beside them, the Hammerers could not stand the assault of the Slaaneshi elite, and were slain where they stood, selling their lives as dearly as they could.
With a fury borne of Daemon steel, the chariots smashed through the Knights of Morr like paper, sweeping them aside and crushing the war machines beyond. Behind them, old foes met as the Swordsmen of Morr once against faced off against the Warriors of Khorne. Once again the men of the Dreaming God sold their lives dearly, but once again they were put to flight. Despite only two of the brass bezerkers remaining, who themselves were swiftly slain by the avenging Steam Tank, the back of the assault on the tower had been broken.
The final tragedy for the men of Morr fell before the Tower’s very gates. Black Steffan, his stone cloak deflecting every blow, was undone when his mount was torn from beneath him by the gibbering horde of Forsaken. With no avenue of escape, and his back to the cliffs of Rooks Rest, the hero of Morr was last seen fighting against entire horde alone.
Seeing defeat was this day’s due, Anselm rallied the remaining troops to himself and, uttering prayers of protection over the fallen, began the retreat.
With their warriors stopped at every avenue, the assault was over. Mighty heroes had been slain. A glowing Altar of power glowered in unholy light. The Tower, its guardians slain to a man by the massed power of the Allied artillery, finally collapsed in a cloud of stone dust and blood. The forces of Chaos had prevailed.
Aftermath
Ascending the black marbled stair, Razzak bathed in the warping power that pulsated through the veins of the blessed stones. Ever prideful, he contemplated his victory. He had once again eluded his foes, once again manipulated others to fight and slay in his twin lords’ name. And once again he had turned fortune on its head, this time undoing the advance of the Sigmarites and their pathetic stunted allies. Best of all, the heart of the men of Morr was finally broken: their savior defeated and their armies put to flight.
As he reached the summit of the tower, he looked down at the battlefield, fittingly laid out beneath his feet, where all lands might one day be, he mused in his arrogance. The daughters of Slaanseh copulated and defiled the dead and living alike. Sons of Khorne stalked the field taking skulls where they found them, and settled scores amongst themselves. The ratmen, having served so well, served again: crucified to a rat on the burning walls of the houses of Rook’s rest, even as the Necromancer gathered their burned bones in his corpse cart, ready to use the raw materials to produce more unliving slaves to do his master’s bidding.
Yet even as he allowed himself a feral grin of triumph, the cry of a lone horn sounded in the pass before him. In the distance, a torch appeared. Then another. More horns sounded. As the light faded a hundred torches flared in the oncoming dark. The grin fell from Razzak’s face more swiftly than the Tower of the Hourglass had fallen. Beneath every torch, a regiment marched. Yellow plumes and proud banners snapped in the rising storm. Rain spattered off war-hardened plate, as rank upon rank of Empire soldiery, knights, Dwarves, even the very peasants of the Empire marched. Now the torches stretched as far as Razzak could see. And at the column’s head: a mighty warrior atop a black horse, his leather cloak pulled tight about him and his golem marching the dance of revenge at his feet. Even from here Razzak could feel the tiny creature tug at his power.
Ascending the black marbled stair, Razzak bathed in the warping power that pulsated through the veins of the blessed stones. Ever prideful, he contemplated his victory. He had once again eluded his foes, once again manipulated others to fight and slay in his twin lords’ name. And once again he had turned fortune on its head, this time undoing the advance of the Sigmarites and their pathetic stunted allies. Best of all, the heart of the men of Morr was finally broken: their savior defeated and their armies put to flight.
As he reached the summit of the tower, he looked down at the battlefield, fittingly laid out beneath his feet, where all lands might one day be, he mused in his arrogance. The daughters of Slaanseh copulated and defiled the dead and living alike. Sons of Khorne stalked the field taking skulls where they found them, and settled scores amongst themselves. The ratmen, having served so well, served again: crucified to a rat on the burning walls of the houses of Rook’s rest, even as the Necromancer gathered their burned bones in his corpse cart, ready to use the raw materials to produce more unliving slaves to do his master’s bidding.
Yet even as he allowed himself a feral grin of triumph, the cry of a lone horn sounded in the pass before him. In the distance, a torch appeared. Then another. More horns sounded. As the light faded a hundred torches flared in the oncoming dark. The grin fell from Razzak’s face more swiftly than the Tower of the Hourglass had fallen. Beneath every torch, a regiment marched. Yellow plumes and proud banners snapped in the rising storm. Rain spattered off war-hardened plate, as rank upon rank of Empire soldiery, knights, Dwarves, even the very peasants of the Empire marched. Now the torches stretched as far as Razzak could see. And at the column’s head: a mighty warrior atop a black horse, his leather cloak pulled tight about him and his golem marching the dance of revenge at his feet. Even from here Razzak could feel the tiny creature tug at his power.
With A Gesture And A Curse, Razzak Once Again Plucked His Mount From The Aether And, Turning From The Sight Before Him, Abandoned The Hourglass To Its Fate Even As The Triumphant Forces He Had So Recently Commanded Sat Oblivious To Their Imminent doom. As Night Fell, The Lone Flyer Made For His Final Refuge With All The Speed He Could Muster: The Last Bastion Of The Daemon’s Nest.