DeSade's Second Skaven League Battle!
Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2002 2:03 am
The rain was coming down in sheets and torrents. Lightning crackled against the dark sky. The wind roared through the trees. Miserable wet Harpies squawked and bickered, while the Manticore paced nervously back and forth, unable to fly in the storm.
Baron DeSade snarled at Petit-Noir, and shook his fist. “Your portents said today would be clear!”
The mostly-nude Sorceress shivered in the rain as she answered. “My portents were right!” she shouted over the storm, “this is the result of enemy magic.” She pushed wet hair out of her eyes.
“So turn it off!” roared the Baron. “Aren’t we supposed to be the Ultimate Masters of Dark Sorcery?”
Petit-Noir shrugged and shivered.
DeSade turned from her and looked across the field. Ever since he had foiled the Asur ritual, thousands of the rat-folk had poured over the land. He regretted attacking the High Elves now, seeing the massive wall of vermin in front of him.
Moaning and slobbering, two units of Rat Ogres stood at each end of the massive Skaven army, which literally seemed to stretch as far as the eye could see. Next to them, moving towards the center of the Skaven line, regiments of Giant Rats squeaked and sniffed the air. Next to them were regiments of human and goblin slaves, followed by two units of Clan-rats. In the center were a unit of Plague Monks and a regiment of Stormvermin, backed up by two Warplock Engineers. DeSade thought the whole design of the army was remarkably symmetrical for such a barbaric race.
He looked up at the sky again, cursing the storm. Without his flyers to leap over the Skaven lines, he was going to have to try and punch through the rats the hard way. He gave his Dark Steed a sharp kick and ordered his army to advance!
The two armies moved towards each other; the Skaven, like an unstoppable tide of brown fur, while the Dark Elves seemed a thin wave of black metal.
Sensing she was close enough, Lorraine the War Hydra charged into the Rat Ogres on the right flank. The Mercenary Knights, Steinauer’s Company, leveled their lances and galloped full tilt into a unit of Clan-rats. Dark Elf Shades sprang from a nearby building to attack the same Clan-rats in the flank. The Cold One Chariot surged forwards, powering into the unit of Goblin slaves. Dark Riders drove their spears at the other unit of slaves. The Manticore loped across the ground, leaping at the enemy General in his unit of Clan-rats. Dark Riders galloped in alongside the Manticore, adding their spears to his claws.
DeSade led his squad of Dark Riders around the Rat Ogres in front of him. He was gambling a lot, he knew, but if things went well, the Skaven line would be broken in several places. Petit-Noir, following close behind cast a Chillwind spell onto the Rat Ogres, giving one a minor case of frostbite.
The Cold One Chariot roared into the Goblin Slaves, slaughtering five of them. The Slaves panicked and broke, allowing the Chariot to utterly smash their formation. DeSade exulted.
Dark Riders speared three of the Human Slaves, but one was canny enough to kill a Dark Rider, causing them to lose the battle by one. DeSade winced. If the battle had been a tie, he would have won, as the Slaves had no musician.
The Mercenaries, in a stunning display of incompetence, inflicted only one wound on the Warplock Engineer in the Clan-Rat unit, and killed only one other Skaven soldier. Although the Shades killed two, one of them was killed in return, and the battle was drawn.
The Manticore inflicted a paltry one wound on the Skaven General, while the Dark Riders were only able to kill two of the Clan-Rats. In return, the Skaven General easily knocked the Beastmaster from his perch and stabbed him to death, while the Clan-rats brought down another Dark Rider. Having lost so badly, both of the Dark Elf units fled. The Clan-rats eagerly pursued the Manticore, who could not fly to escape, swarming all over the beast and devouring it within moments.
Lorraine inflicted two wounds on the Rat Ogres she was fighting, taking one in return.
DeSade shook his head. Now the Skaven would be able to bring their superior numbers to bear.
Plague Monks crashed into the side of the Mercenary Knights, but the Giant Rats decided that if they tried to join the battle between the Hydra and the Rat Ogres, they would only get stepped on. They fled in squeaking terror.
Although the Plague Monks tore at the armored Knights in a screaming frenzy, their attacks could not break the Human’s armor. Knights killed two of the Clan-rats, while the Shades did nothing but die twice. The Dark Elves lost the battle very badly, yet both units miraculously held on two rolls of “3” or less, not that it would change the inevitable outcome.
Slaves and Dark Riders hacked at each other, bringing down two units on each side. The Dark Riders broke and fled, but the famished Slaves pursued them too quickly, ripping the Elves down from their tasty horses and preparing to turn their fine steeds into fine steaks.
The Hydra and the Rat Ogres each inflicted one wound on each other.
The Cold One Chariot, overexcited by the destruction it had caused, continued to mindlessly charge across the battlefield. The Storm Banner finally blew itself out, and the Harpies joyously took to the air. Corsairs charged forwards to help the Hydra, and the Baron DeSade led his Dark Riders in a charge on the Rat Ogres on his side of the battle field.
Petit-Noir was having little success with her magic, but she managed to generate another Chillwind, which killed 3 Giant Rats.
DeSade and his Dark Riders attacked the Rat Ogres with the Fury of Khaine himself, killing two of the beasts. Although the surviving Rat Ogre clubbed one of the Dark Riders from his saddle, the unit was completely broken. With a Druchii battle-cry, DeSade and the Riders rode down the fleeing Rat Ogre and crashed into the flank of a regiment of Giant Rats.
The Plague Monks finally managed to beat down two of the Knights, while the Knights killed two Clan-rats, while the Clan-rats killed two of the Shades. Having been so badly beaten, the Knights and Shades both broke and ran, with the Plague Monks in frenzied pursuit of the Knights.
On the right flank, the fevered attack of the Corsairs slew a Rat Ogre, breaking the unit. The Hydra gleefully chased them down.
On the Skaven turn, the Stormvermin charged a unit of Dark Riders, who promptly fled out of their reach. The frenzied Plague Censer Bearers chased down the single fleeing Shade. The Plague Monks, who were excellent runners despite their many sicknesses, chased down the Knights and stomped them. The Giant Rats who had fled from the Hydra continued to make their escape.
The Warplock Engineers, having finally gathered a sufficient amount of warp-energy, unleashed Warp Lighting and the bound Storm Demon on the Druchii Lancer regiment, killing 7 Spearmen. Another burst of Warp Lightning fried five of the six Harpies. Showing the bravery my Harpies are renowned for, the last winged-wench did not flee.
DeSade and the Dark Riders speared six of the Giant Rats, breaking the unit and running them down.
The Cold One Chariot continued on its own merry way, oblivious of the battle around it.
Although they knew it was futile, the Lancer regiment lowered its spears and charged the Clan-Rats that held the vermin’s general. There was small hope that they could inflict one more hit on the already wounded Skaven, while in truth, there was no where for them to run to.
With a glad cry, the lone Harpy swooped down on the fleeing Giant Rat regiment, slaying them all.
Although neither the gallant Druchii Spearmen nor their foul Skaven opponents could land a blow, the weight of the rats was enough to break the Spearmen. They were run down by the drooling vermin.
Spotting the Hydra, the Stormvermin charged the monster, easily passing their Terror test. Plage Censer Bearers charged into the Hydra’s flank.
Again, the Warplock Engineers unleashed their warp-lightning, and although the surge of power killed one of them in the process, Baron DeSade’s entire squad of Dark Riders was slain, leaving the Baron by himself.
Although Lorraine’s mighty constitution was proof against the poison gas of the Plague Censer Bearers, they still beat her mightily with their flails, while the Stormvermin stabbed her with their halberds. Although the Beastmaster Apprentices slew one of the vermin, and Lorraine’s thrashing tail smashed two of the Plague Censer Bearers, the wounded Hydra panicked and ran, only to be caught and killed by the pursuing Skaven.
The death of the mighty War Hydra proved to be too much for the disheartened Druchii. Both the Corsair and the Dark Rider units which were close to the Hydra panicked and ran.
Baron DeSade, alone on the left flank except for Petit-Nor, with his army in flight and still outnumbered three to one, tossed his helmet in the dirt and called it a day at the end of turn four.
Blah, beaten again!
Baron DeSade snarled at Petit-Noir, and shook his fist. “Your portents said today would be clear!”
The mostly-nude Sorceress shivered in the rain as she answered. “My portents were right!” she shouted over the storm, “this is the result of enemy magic.” She pushed wet hair out of her eyes.
“So turn it off!” roared the Baron. “Aren’t we supposed to be the Ultimate Masters of Dark Sorcery?”
Petit-Noir shrugged and shivered.
DeSade turned from her and looked across the field. Ever since he had foiled the Asur ritual, thousands of the rat-folk had poured over the land. He regretted attacking the High Elves now, seeing the massive wall of vermin in front of him.
Moaning and slobbering, two units of Rat Ogres stood at each end of the massive Skaven army, which literally seemed to stretch as far as the eye could see. Next to them, moving towards the center of the Skaven line, regiments of Giant Rats squeaked and sniffed the air. Next to them were regiments of human and goblin slaves, followed by two units of Clan-rats. In the center were a unit of Plague Monks and a regiment of Stormvermin, backed up by two Warplock Engineers. DeSade thought the whole design of the army was remarkably symmetrical for such a barbaric race.
He looked up at the sky again, cursing the storm. Without his flyers to leap over the Skaven lines, he was going to have to try and punch through the rats the hard way. He gave his Dark Steed a sharp kick and ordered his army to advance!
The two armies moved towards each other; the Skaven, like an unstoppable tide of brown fur, while the Dark Elves seemed a thin wave of black metal.
Sensing she was close enough, Lorraine the War Hydra charged into the Rat Ogres on the right flank. The Mercenary Knights, Steinauer’s Company, leveled their lances and galloped full tilt into a unit of Clan-rats. Dark Elf Shades sprang from a nearby building to attack the same Clan-rats in the flank. The Cold One Chariot surged forwards, powering into the unit of Goblin slaves. Dark Riders drove their spears at the other unit of slaves. The Manticore loped across the ground, leaping at the enemy General in his unit of Clan-rats. Dark Riders galloped in alongside the Manticore, adding their spears to his claws.
DeSade led his squad of Dark Riders around the Rat Ogres in front of him. He was gambling a lot, he knew, but if things went well, the Skaven line would be broken in several places. Petit-Noir, following close behind cast a Chillwind spell onto the Rat Ogres, giving one a minor case of frostbite.
The Cold One Chariot roared into the Goblin Slaves, slaughtering five of them. The Slaves panicked and broke, allowing the Chariot to utterly smash their formation. DeSade exulted.
Dark Riders speared three of the Human Slaves, but one was canny enough to kill a Dark Rider, causing them to lose the battle by one. DeSade winced. If the battle had been a tie, he would have won, as the Slaves had no musician.
The Mercenaries, in a stunning display of incompetence, inflicted only one wound on the Warplock Engineer in the Clan-Rat unit, and killed only one other Skaven soldier. Although the Shades killed two, one of them was killed in return, and the battle was drawn.
The Manticore inflicted a paltry one wound on the Skaven General, while the Dark Riders were only able to kill two of the Clan-Rats. In return, the Skaven General easily knocked the Beastmaster from his perch and stabbed him to death, while the Clan-rats brought down another Dark Rider. Having lost so badly, both of the Dark Elf units fled. The Clan-rats eagerly pursued the Manticore, who could not fly to escape, swarming all over the beast and devouring it within moments.
Lorraine inflicted two wounds on the Rat Ogres she was fighting, taking one in return.
DeSade shook his head. Now the Skaven would be able to bring their superior numbers to bear.
Plague Monks crashed into the side of the Mercenary Knights, but the Giant Rats decided that if they tried to join the battle between the Hydra and the Rat Ogres, they would only get stepped on. They fled in squeaking terror.
Although the Plague Monks tore at the armored Knights in a screaming frenzy, their attacks could not break the Human’s armor. Knights killed two of the Clan-rats, while the Shades did nothing but die twice. The Dark Elves lost the battle very badly, yet both units miraculously held on two rolls of “3” or less, not that it would change the inevitable outcome.
Slaves and Dark Riders hacked at each other, bringing down two units on each side. The Dark Riders broke and fled, but the famished Slaves pursued them too quickly, ripping the Elves down from their tasty horses and preparing to turn their fine steeds into fine steaks.
The Hydra and the Rat Ogres each inflicted one wound on each other.
The Cold One Chariot, overexcited by the destruction it had caused, continued to mindlessly charge across the battlefield. The Storm Banner finally blew itself out, and the Harpies joyously took to the air. Corsairs charged forwards to help the Hydra, and the Baron DeSade led his Dark Riders in a charge on the Rat Ogres on his side of the battle field.
Petit-Noir was having little success with her magic, but she managed to generate another Chillwind, which killed 3 Giant Rats.
DeSade and his Dark Riders attacked the Rat Ogres with the Fury of Khaine himself, killing two of the beasts. Although the surviving Rat Ogre clubbed one of the Dark Riders from his saddle, the unit was completely broken. With a Druchii battle-cry, DeSade and the Riders rode down the fleeing Rat Ogre and crashed into the flank of a regiment of Giant Rats.
The Plague Monks finally managed to beat down two of the Knights, while the Knights killed two Clan-rats, while the Clan-rats killed two of the Shades. Having been so badly beaten, the Knights and Shades both broke and ran, with the Plague Monks in frenzied pursuit of the Knights.
On the right flank, the fevered attack of the Corsairs slew a Rat Ogre, breaking the unit. The Hydra gleefully chased them down.
On the Skaven turn, the Stormvermin charged a unit of Dark Riders, who promptly fled out of their reach. The frenzied Plague Censer Bearers chased down the single fleeing Shade. The Plague Monks, who were excellent runners despite their many sicknesses, chased down the Knights and stomped them. The Giant Rats who had fled from the Hydra continued to make their escape.
The Warplock Engineers, having finally gathered a sufficient amount of warp-energy, unleashed Warp Lighting and the bound Storm Demon on the Druchii Lancer regiment, killing 7 Spearmen. Another burst of Warp Lightning fried five of the six Harpies. Showing the bravery my Harpies are renowned for, the last winged-wench did not flee.
DeSade and the Dark Riders speared six of the Giant Rats, breaking the unit and running them down.
The Cold One Chariot continued on its own merry way, oblivious of the battle around it.
Although they knew it was futile, the Lancer regiment lowered its spears and charged the Clan-Rats that held the vermin’s general. There was small hope that they could inflict one more hit on the already wounded Skaven, while in truth, there was no where for them to run to.
With a glad cry, the lone Harpy swooped down on the fleeing Giant Rat regiment, slaying them all.
Although neither the gallant Druchii Spearmen nor their foul Skaven opponents could land a blow, the weight of the rats was enough to break the Spearmen. They were run down by the drooling vermin.
Spotting the Hydra, the Stormvermin charged the monster, easily passing their Terror test. Plage Censer Bearers charged into the Hydra’s flank.
Again, the Warplock Engineers unleashed their warp-lightning, and although the surge of power killed one of them in the process, Baron DeSade’s entire squad of Dark Riders was slain, leaving the Baron by himself.
Although Lorraine’s mighty constitution was proof against the poison gas of the Plague Censer Bearers, they still beat her mightily with their flails, while the Stormvermin stabbed her with their halberds. Although the Beastmaster Apprentices slew one of the vermin, and Lorraine’s thrashing tail smashed two of the Plague Censer Bearers, the wounded Hydra panicked and ran, only to be caught and killed by the pursuing Skaven.
The death of the mighty War Hydra proved to be too much for the disheartened Druchii. Both the Corsair and the Dark Rider units which were close to the Hydra panicked and ran.
Baron DeSade, alone on the left flank except for Petit-Nor, with his army in flight and still outnumbered three to one, tossed his helmet in the dirt and called it a day at the end of turn four.
Blah, beaten again!
I'm a bit concerned about how your BRs are starting to feel lost for the Dark Elves from the start, though!
