The Battle of Phoenix Tower
Aid comes to the Empire
“How could they have known?” The words had sprung unbidden from Azarielle’s lips, and the Imperial envoy, already unsettled in her august presence, shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot, unsure how to answer. Sensing his discomfort, Azarielle smiled and said “Do not trouble yourself, sir. The question was rhetorical.”
The pale tower gleamed a pale orange in the pre-dawn light, and Azarielle’s sharp eyesight saw massed ranks of steel-clad warriors glowering in the distance. Although the dawn was breaking, its golden light struggled to illuminate the enemy. Azarielle could see the nebulas of writhing corruption the dark host wrapped about itself as it advanced. Even at this distance she could feel the ancient stones of the tower shudder at the touch of such twisted power, and rested a slender hand upon the battlements, as if to calm them. Whispering an ancient word of power, she released an aetheric zephyr which sprang forth from the Elven tower, casting her emerald tresses about her and sweeping away the unnatural thunderheads brooding over the oncoming host.
The light was now strong enough for the Imperial envoy to see the foe as well, and the first rays of the sun reflected hot and sharp from razor-polished spines of weapons and armour. Blood-red shields and snapping banners bore dark, shifting runes that hurt the eye to behold, and among the steel and crimson lithe naked figures could be seen, ritually carving the same aching runes into their own supple flesh, and howling in delight and bloodlust. At their back, two titanic figures appeared. Unclad and sinuous like their twisted kin, yet of a scale that dwarfed the cavorting figures at their feet, both had cold pale flesh embedded with barbs and scarred with writhing sigils. Beneath bat wings the colour of night the two she-beasts could be seen directing the host, which swept outwards to begin enveloping the tower on which the observers stood.
Azarielle turned back to the envoy. ''Tell your commander to prepare for battle, and we shall do what is needed to break the evil that is before us'. With a curt nod the Imperial envoy turned on his heel and took his leave, relieved to have a task that he could understand and achieve. As he departed, Azarielle’s guard came forward. In tall, intricately forged and polished helms of gold and silver and soft white cloaks edged in shimmering turquoise, the three warriors had set aside halberds of polished steel and pale ash and brought forth a golden bier from which tendrils of scented smoke caught in the radiant dawn. With an elegant gesture of her long fingers, Azarielle awoke the sacred fire, and a nimbus of light wreathed her outstretched hand. “It is time for the Phoenix to awaken”, she said, and the white stones of the tower shimmered in response.
As the first bolts and arrows flew between the hosts of dark and light, the tower sang and a mighty bird winged with fire exploded forth from its pinnacle and speared towards the enemy . . .
The pale tower gleamed a pale orange in the pre-dawn light, and Azarielle’s sharp eyesight saw massed ranks of steel-clad warriors glowering in the distance. Although the dawn was breaking, its golden light struggled to illuminate the enemy. Azarielle could see the nebulas of writhing corruption the dark host wrapped about itself as it advanced. Even at this distance she could feel the ancient stones of the tower shudder at the touch of such twisted power, and rested a slender hand upon the battlements, as if to calm them. Whispering an ancient word of power, she released an aetheric zephyr which sprang forth from the Elven tower, casting her emerald tresses about her and sweeping away the unnatural thunderheads brooding over the oncoming host.
The light was now strong enough for the Imperial envoy to see the foe as well, and the first rays of the sun reflected hot and sharp from razor-polished spines of weapons and armour. Blood-red shields and snapping banners bore dark, shifting runes that hurt the eye to behold, and among the steel and crimson lithe naked figures could be seen, ritually carving the same aching runes into their own supple flesh, and howling in delight and bloodlust. At their back, two titanic figures appeared. Unclad and sinuous like their twisted kin, yet of a scale that dwarfed the cavorting figures at their feet, both had cold pale flesh embedded with barbs and scarred with writhing sigils. Beneath bat wings the colour of night the two she-beasts could be seen directing the host, which swept outwards to begin enveloping the tower on which the observers stood.
Azarielle turned back to the envoy. ''Tell your commander to prepare for battle, and we shall do what is needed to break the evil that is before us'. With a curt nod the Imperial envoy turned on his heel and took his leave, relieved to have a task that he could understand and achieve. As he departed, Azarielle’s guard came forward. In tall, intricately forged and polished helms of gold and silver and soft white cloaks edged in shimmering turquoise, the three warriors had set aside halberds of polished steel and pale ash and brought forth a golden bier from which tendrils of scented smoke caught in the radiant dawn. With an elegant gesture of her long fingers, Azarielle awoke the sacred fire, and a nimbus of light wreathed her outstretched hand. “It is time for the Phoenix to awaken”, she said, and the white stones of the tower shimmered in response.
As the first bolts and arrows flew between the hosts of dark and light, the tower sang and a mighty bird winged with fire exploded forth from its pinnacle and speared towards the enemy . . .
Deployment and Opening Moves
The Slaaneshi forces and their Druchii allies moved to encircled the Tower of the Phoenix that stood proud in the centre of the Asur and Empire lines. Sweeping up the left, the Daemon Princess and her dark sister, and titanic female Keeper of Secrets, drove before them a host of Daemonettes, naked Marauders, Hellstriders and Spawn. Their mortal host, a high priestess of Slaanesh rode at the head of the host in her ornate chariot drawn by sinuous deamonic steeds. On the right, the Druchii host advanced slowly and relentlessly. Serried ranks of Dreadspears anchored the host, supported by wickedly armed Black Guard and Executioners, and flanked in their far right by a monstrous hydra and Slaaneshi knights who swept around the copses of pines in an effort to outflank their hated foe. In the centre, Darkshards and Reapers created a killing zone in the clear field before the tower, and dared the Asur Spears to advance upon them, while overhead a screeching Pegasus the colour of sable cloth swept from the skies, a sneering Druchii lord upon it back directing the battle with sweeps of his long cruelly barbed lance.
Facing them, the Asur and Empire anchored their line upon the Tower of the Phoenix. Regiments of stout Swordsmen held the line for the Empire, alongside Spearmen and Maiden Guard for the Elves. Archers, Hellblaster, Cannon and a Fiery Sun Mage upon his crimson dragon supported the infantry, whilst Azarielle directed the battle from the tower itself. The wings of the allied lines consisted of swift moving units of human and elven knights. On the far right, Dragon Princes and Silver Helms bedecked in pale armour marched proudly, with Tiranoc and Lion Chariots alongside. On the left, two regiments of black armoured Knights of Morr took to the field, with more Silver Helms alongside. At her signal, the Tower brought forth a fiery Phoenix, which swept to the right flank to meet the threat of the Keeper deploy there.
As the missiles flew, signaling the start of battle, black clad Shades emerged from the woods, crossbows spitting and taking down the pistoliers who had scouted too far from shelter and they swiftly withdrew to shelter. The Empire centre held steady, raining arrows upon the oncoming Druchii elites, but with little effect, while the Sword and Spear hordes braced beneath their banners for the approach of the Chaos Chosen down the Empire right.
Lured from its battle line on the right, one of the Elven chariots broke ranks and rode forth into the path of the onrushing Keeper, who effortlessly dodged cannonball and bolt to smash aside the flimsy construct and sweep behind the Allied lines. Behind the Chaos forces, Shadow Warriors emerged from their places of concealment, slaying the Reaper crew with a withering hail of bowfire before maneuvering to harry the advancing Marauders.
With a mighty clash the Chaos forces surged into the Empire right. The long limbed Daemonettes cavorted in the wake of their Priestess’ chariot as it swept aside the Free Company picketing the Empire line, and charged towards the Elven Knight reserve beyond. Alongside them, the Marauders also hit the Empire line, but found the black-clad Swordsmen an immovable bulwark against the Chaos assault and were repelled.
On the far left, the Slaansehi Knights spurred their sinuous beasts, and caught the Demigryphs in an unnaturally swift charge, butchering the noble creatures on their ensorcelled lances. Enraged by the bloodshed, the Asur responded. The Dragon Princes led the noble charge, dipping their lances and sweeping into the Daemon Princess as she urged her charges onward. The charge was strong enough to distract the alluring creature, enabling the Great Phoenix to descend upon her and dispersing her essence back to her throne with the Tower’s holy fire. Inspired, the Silver Helms spurred their ivory-clad mounts, and destroyed cackling spawn and Druchii Corsairs alike with their fury, crumbling the Chaos left and pushing them back from the tower.
In the woods before the tower, brave Empire huntsmen, setting their traps for the foe were themselves trapped by the preternaturally swift Druchii. The Black Guard, eager to slake their weapons in human blood, outwitted the human trappers and ritually slew them in Khaine’s name in preparation for greater slaughter to come. The howls of the dying and the ritual display of the dead unnerved the Empire forces who witnessed the gruesome spectacle, and the Empire Crossbows fled in terror, and even the Knights of Morr quailed before this horror. However, these knights were led by a man who would no longer run. Black Steffan had searched the depths of his own soul and found the strength that Morr had placed there. He charged the Black Guard alone, and his knights, inspired by his great courage followed him into the fray. The charge bowed the Druchii elite, but they would not break, and the combat under the eaves of the wood was of such ferocity that the men of the lands of Morr spoke of it for generations afterwards.
Inspired by Steffan’s great courage, the Knights, Crossbows and Archers who had all fled from the Black Guard’s terror, all found their courage and turned again to face their enemy.
The Slaaneshi forces and their Druchii allies moved to encircled the Tower of the Phoenix that stood proud in the centre of the Asur and Empire lines. Sweeping up the left, the Daemon Princess and her dark sister, and titanic female Keeper of Secrets, drove before them a host of Daemonettes, naked Marauders, Hellstriders and Spawn. Their mortal host, a high priestess of Slaanesh rode at the head of the host in her ornate chariot drawn by sinuous deamonic steeds. On the right, the Druchii host advanced slowly and relentlessly. Serried ranks of Dreadspears anchored the host, supported by wickedly armed Black Guard and Executioners, and flanked in their far right by a monstrous hydra and Slaaneshi knights who swept around the copses of pines in an effort to outflank their hated foe. In the centre, Darkshards and Reapers created a killing zone in the clear field before the tower, and dared the Asur Spears to advance upon them, while overhead a screeching Pegasus the colour of sable cloth swept from the skies, a sneering Druchii lord upon it back directing the battle with sweeps of his long cruelly barbed lance.
Facing them, the Asur and Empire anchored their line upon the Tower of the Phoenix. Regiments of stout Swordsmen held the line for the Empire, alongside Spearmen and Maiden Guard for the Elves. Archers, Hellblaster, Cannon and a Fiery Sun Mage upon his crimson dragon supported the infantry, whilst Azarielle directed the battle from the tower itself. The wings of the allied lines consisted of swift moving units of human and elven knights. On the far right, Dragon Princes and Silver Helms bedecked in pale armour marched proudly, with Tiranoc and Lion Chariots alongside. On the left, two regiments of black armoured Knights of Morr took to the field, with more Silver Helms alongside. At her signal, the Tower brought forth a fiery Phoenix, which swept to the right flank to meet the threat of the Keeper deploy there.
As the missiles flew, signaling the start of battle, black clad Shades emerged from the woods, crossbows spitting and taking down the pistoliers who had scouted too far from shelter and they swiftly withdrew to shelter. The Empire centre held steady, raining arrows upon the oncoming Druchii elites, but with little effect, while the Sword and Spear hordes braced beneath their banners for the approach of the Chaos Chosen down the Empire right.
Lured from its battle line on the right, one of the Elven chariots broke ranks and rode forth into the path of the onrushing Keeper, who effortlessly dodged cannonball and bolt to smash aside the flimsy construct and sweep behind the Allied lines. Behind the Chaos forces, Shadow Warriors emerged from their places of concealment, slaying the Reaper crew with a withering hail of bowfire before maneuvering to harry the advancing Marauders.
With a mighty clash the Chaos forces surged into the Empire right. The long limbed Daemonettes cavorted in the wake of their Priestess’ chariot as it swept aside the Free Company picketing the Empire line, and charged towards the Elven Knight reserve beyond. Alongside them, the Marauders also hit the Empire line, but found the black-clad Swordsmen an immovable bulwark against the Chaos assault and were repelled.
On the far left, the Slaansehi Knights spurred their sinuous beasts, and caught the Demigryphs in an unnaturally swift charge, butchering the noble creatures on their ensorcelled lances. Enraged by the bloodshed, the Asur responded. The Dragon Princes led the noble charge, dipping their lances and sweeping into the Daemon Princess as she urged her charges onward. The charge was strong enough to distract the alluring creature, enabling the Great Phoenix to descend upon her and dispersing her essence back to her throne with the Tower’s holy fire. Inspired, the Silver Helms spurred their ivory-clad mounts, and destroyed cackling spawn and Druchii Corsairs alike with their fury, crumbling the Chaos left and pushing them back from the tower.
In the woods before the tower, brave Empire huntsmen, setting their traps for the foe were themselves trapped by the preternaturally swift Druchii. The Black Guard, eager to slake their weapons in human blood, outwitted the human trappers and ritually slew them in Khaine’s name in preparation for greater slaughter to come. The howls of the dying and the ritual display of the dead unnerved the Empire forces who witnessed the gruesome spectacle, and the Empire Crossbows fled in terror, and even the Knights of Morr quailed before this horror. However, these knights were led by a man who would no longer run. Black Steffan had searched the depths of his own soul and found the strength that Morr had placed there. He charged the Black Guard alone, and his knights, inspired by his great courage followed him into the fray. The charge bowed the Druchii elite, but they would not break, and the combat under the eaves of the wood was of such ferocity that the men of the lands of Morr spoke of it for generations afterwards.
Inspired by Steffan’s great courage, the Knights, Crossbows and Archers who had all fled from the Black Guard’s terror, all found their courage and turned again to face their enemy.
Mid Game
Enraged by the destruction of the Daemon Princess, the forces of Slaanesh redoubled their assault upon the forces defending the tower. In a frenzied wave they hurled themselves forward. sweeping aside the artillery massed in the woods on the right flank, the keeper and chariots turned to face the line of high elf chariots. The wan blood-flecked Witch brides of khaine, seeing the pale white plate of the eagle princes as they galloped towards them, Carved new runes of devotion into their supple flesh before charging headlong onto their flashing blades. Lightning fast, the lord of slaanesh gunther hedstrom also assaulted the pale elves, but neither could break the noble warrior's steely resolve.
In the centre, the slaanshi elite pushed forward, and were met with witheringly accurate fire from the maiden guard holding the slopes before the tower. the charge slowed, faltered and finally Ceased, with the entire regiment cut down by the elven maidens. driven by the lust for experience, the final warrior in the unit: a dread sorceress of the dark prince, hurled herself onto the maiden guard's blades, and was slain still screeching in bliss.
at the foot of the tower, the stout swordsmen of morr steeled themselves as the chosen of slaaneshi Swept up the hill into their ranks. the Resulting melee saw casualties too numerous to count, but as the Cacophony of battle ceased, somehow it was the chosen that were set to flight, and the men of morr roared their victory and reformed under their regimental standard. in the vale before them, the noble silver helms broke the blood magic of the witch hags, who withdrew in bitter defeat, but could not pursue their ancient enemy due to the attentions of the swift slaaneshi lord at their flank. Overhead, The Twin Flames Of The Phoenix And The Sun Mage Swept Behind The Onrushing Lines Of Pink And Red Clad Warriors, Slaughtering Their Fast Support And breaking their lines.
then, tragedy struck! the high mage cormar, unable to balance the flow of the Winds of magic with the crackling power of the asur tower at his back, lost Control in a cataclysmic detonation of arcane force. simple warriors at his side were incinerated by the handful in the cascade of magical fury.
finally, black steffan, wicked barbed blades hacking all about him, fought as if the hand of his god was held over him. his armour torn in a dozen places, the black enamel chipped and Running with his blood, his blade slaying where it fell, Steffan of morr would not break. even as his knights succumbed to the fury of the druchii elite. even as the warrior priest at his side was brutally cut down. even as more of the crimson-clad elves swarmed around him, steffan would not break!
with a warcry that reached to the heavens, steffan fought on, the press of battle sweeping him from sight as the druchii advanced en masse. from the hill above, the ranks of gunners and artillery sergeants, unable to see their talisman and faced with the Advance of the steel and red warriors to the foot of the hill, could wait no longer. fire and shot poured from the hill into the druchii, carving swathes of warriors from their feet. lords and humble warriors alike fell to the onslaught, yet their discipline was as inhuman as it was resolute, and still they advanced, their titanic warbeasts at their side.
Enraged by the destruction of the Daemon Princess, the forces of Slaanesh redoubled their assault upon the forces defending the tower. In a frenzied wave they hurled themselves forward. sweeping aside the artillery massed in the woods on the right flank, the keeper and chariots turned to face the line of high elf chariots. The wan blood-flecked Witch brides of khaine, seeing the pale white plate of the eagle princes as they galloped towards them, Carved new runes of devotion into their supple flesh before charging headlong onto their flashing blades. Lightning fast, the lord of slaanesh gunther hedstrom also assaulted the pale elves, but neither could break the noble warrior's steely resolve.
In the centre, the slaanshi elite pushed forward, and were met with witheringly accurate fire from the maiden guard holding the slopes before the tower. the charge slowed, faltered and finally Ceased, with the entire regiment cut down by the elven maidens. driven by the lust for experience, the final warrior in the unit: a dread sorceress of the dark prince, hurled herself onto the maiden guard's blades, and was slain still screeching in bliss.
at the foot of the tower, the stout swordsmen of morr steeled themselves as the chosen of slaaneshi Swept up the hill into their ranks. the Resulting melee saw casualties too numerous to count, but as the Cacophony of battle ceased, somehow it was the chosen that were set to flight, and the men of morr roared their victory and reformed under their regimental standard. in the vale before them, the noble silver helms broke the blood magic of the witch hags, who withdrew in bitter defeat, but could not pursue their ancient enemy due to the attentions of the swift slaaneshi lord at their flank. Overhead, The Twin Flames Of The Phoenix And The Sun Mage Swept Behind The Onrushing Lines Of Pink And Red Clad Warriors, Slaughtering Their Fast Support And breaking their lines.
then, tragedy struck! the high mage cormar, unable to balance the flow of the Winds of magic with the crackling power of the asur tower at his back, lost Control in a cataclysmic detonation of arcane force. simple warriors at his side were incinerated by the handful in the cascade of magical fury.
finally, black steffan, wicked barbed blades hacking all about him, fought as if the hand of his god was held over him. his armour torn in a dozen places, the black enamel chipped and Running with his blood, his blade slaying where it fell, Steffan of morr would not break. even as his knights succumbed to the fury of the druchii elite. even as the warrior priest at his side was brutally cut down. even as more of the crimson-clad elves swarmed around him, steffan would not break!
with a warcry that reached to the heavens, steffan fought on, the press of battle sweeping him from sight as the druchii advanced en masse. from the hill above, the ranks of gunners and artillery sergeants, unable to see their talisman and faced with the Advance of the steel and red warriors to the foot of the hill, could wait no longer. fire and shot poured from the hill into the druchii, carving swathes of warriors from their feet. lords and humble warriors alike fell to the onslaught, yet their discipline was as inhuman as it was resolute, and still they advanced, their titanic warbeasts at their side.
Endgame
Azarielle gazed from her perch high in the Tower of the Phoenix. To her right, the glowering Keeper of Secrets reached out with its dark power to tempt her soul to damnation. At her feet, the regiments of man stoically stood with her own glittering warriors to hold the foe at bay, while to the right the druchii continued their relentless advance into the teeth of the combined missile fire. calling upon the souls dwelling within the stones, azarielle whispered words of untold power, and the jewelled pillars supporting the tower crackled into arcane light. rays of blinding white radiated from the ancient stones, and Echoes of the vast majesty of the towers of hoeth, impossibly far away, ghosted into the minds of all whose eyes were not dazzled by the Iridescent Display!
Azarielle gazed from her perch high in the Tower of the Phoenix. To her right, the glowering Keeper of Secrets reached out with its dark power to tempt her soul to damnation. At her feet, the regiments of man stoically stood with her own glittering warriors to hold the foe at bay, while to the right the druchii continued their relentless advance into the teeth of the combined missile fire. calling upon the souls dwelling within the stones, azarielle whispered words of untold power, and the jewelled pillars supporting the tower crackled into arcane light. rays of blinding white radiated from the ancient stones, and Echoes of the vast majesty of the towers of hoeth, impossibly far away, ghosted into the minds of all whose eyes were not dazzled by the Iridescent Display!
enraged, helganesh the keeper of secrets, recoiled from the dazzling light, even as a slender bolt, carried on the luminous tendrils from the Tower pieced its flesh. in an instant, light flowed from the tower into the wound, and the mighty creature was flung from reality in a shower of light.
power flowed into the veins of man and elf alike, and blades aglow with righteous power carved into dark armour. warriors of Slaanesh, tribeswomen of the north, druchii fanatics, even the mighty hydra could not stand before the lambent fire issuing from every warrior. With their will to fight broken and radiant fury in the eyes of every warrior before them, the forces of darkness sensed their assault had failed.
azarielle closed her eyes and offered a prayer of thanks. the day had been won!
power flowed into the veins of man and elf alike, and blades aglow with righteous power carved into dark armour. warriors of Slaanesh, tribeswomen of the north, druchii fanatics, even the mighty hydra could not stand before the lambent fire issuing from every warrior. With their will to fight broken and radiant fury in the eyes of every warrior before them, the forces of darkness sensed their assault had failed.
azarielle closed her eyes and offered a prayer of thanks. the day had been won!