KoW/ 1500 points/ Smoke & Mirrors/ Abyssal Dwarf Win
The Gods were now smiling on Sycorax. The blundering Admiral had failed to secure the unfathomable treasure but had at least stopped it tumbling into the greedy claws of the Twilight Kin, something to be thankful for he grudgingly conceded. But now another chance to grab stupefying wealth had arisen and Sycorax wasn’t going to entrust this to some snivelling underling. This was his time!
Rumour of the vast riches had travelled and the hated Dark Elves were amassing to steal away Sycorax’s future. So typical of the foul and traitorous race.
He surveyed the plain to his front - but where was the prize? It wasn’t obvious to him even though he communed with Ariagful Herself. The Elves though would have the same blindness he consoled himself. His only chance therefore would be to vanquish the Piratical Scum from the field and then freely claim the gleaming horde. It was ever thus he allowed himself to smirk.
He arrayed his force with his left flank anchored on a wood relying on Basu’su’s Children and the monstrous Abyssal Grotesques to blunt, or at least slow the Elven advance. Meanwhile his centre would overwhelm the Corsairs - here he had Blacksouls, Decimators and Immortal Guard - a formidable foe if ever there was one. They were supported by The Hex Caster and Infernox. On the right were the beastly hounds of hell straining at their chains covering the monolithic bloc of the stone giants. In between these and the Immortal Guard were placed the fearsome liquid fire of the Dragon Fire team. Sycorax was only too well aware how the Elves despised fire power the Dwarves could bring to bear.
The Elves, on Sycorax’s left, had the Phantoms and one unit of flying chariots along with an apocalyptic Souldbane on his spectral beast. The centre was crammed with an array of Pirates, so-called Fleetwardens, covering the much-vaunted Impalers cowering at the rear of the battle line. At least their Void Captain knew what it was to stand up and be counted, placing themself in the front rank. Also cowering was the wiccan, The Summoner Crone, with her cruel tricksy magick. Finally on Sycorax’s right a second unit of flying chariots, Void-Skiffs he believed they were known as. He wasn’t interested in their odious nomenclature.
The Dwarves commenced a measured advance, much was at stake for Sycorax, and he knew the foul Elves were masters of trickery and craven deception. The Phantoms surged forward goading the Abyssal Grotesques to commit themselves. Sycorax knew this was a ploy to allow the flying wains to counter and blunt his misfigured brutes. Nevertheless he thought he’d be able to thwart this. The brutes made short work of the Phantoms and the Gargoyles threatened the Void-Skiffs. Sycorax had miscalculated though! The Disfigured brutes tower above Basu’sus vile breed allowing the chariots and Soulbane to crash into his tortured yet beloved children. Sycorax’s venture could be snuffed out before the first trembling finger of light had stretched towards the darkness……he momentarily dared not breathe! The Abyssal Grotesques were battered mercilessly but held!
It was time to force the centre. Now in range Sycorax unleashed hell against the cowering pirates who were showing no appetite for the struggle, reluctant to move forward. The Blacksouls propelled their ravenous Mastiff at the Void Captain who was stalled and winded but remained resolute. The Infernox and Decimators poured infernal rage into a block of the Corsairs. Despite heavy losses they stayed their fraying nerves but like the Void Captain were temporarily paralysed and hesitated. The Dragon Fire team sought to incinerate these pirates too but barely singed their foes. The Elven line was buckling but stayed firm.
This shook the Twilight Kin from their watchful slumber. A troop of Fleet Wardens crashed into the flank of the Abyssal Grotesques which those tortured beasts would not survive this time. However the Gargoyles had nimbly manoeuvred to the rear of the Elvish Hammer, the flying wains, and imbued with Basu’sus Vile Brood managed to overcome and vanquish these elite warriors.
A second troop of Fleetwardens flattened the Dragon Fire team who were seeking shelter behind a wall but were in turn pummelled by the Stone Giants .
The Soulbane now threatened the Hex Caster who proved no match. His spectral beast trampled the mangle corpse of the valiant caster and into the flank of the Decimators who were covering part of the uncovered treasure secreted within a marshy bog.
The second flying wains had decided now was the time to act and hurled themselves against the Molten Menace. Like cooling lava he was rooted to the very earth and would not yield. A regiment of Fleetwardens did their best to uproot this micro-volcano and targeted his flank yet this impertinence just made him more resolute. The Immortal Guards removed the strain of the Void-Skiffs from the Molten Menace by charging their front and the Decimators had survived the initial surge of the Soulbane and now became embattled this Horseman of the Apocalypse.
Meanwhile the Stone Giants had continued their inexorable flow forwards. The Summoner Crone had sought to blunt this with her withering Alchemist’s Curse but for once it fizzed and whizzed but barely a scratch was made. Relief for Sycorax, she had the power to seriously trouble the pride of his battle line.
The Golems were now able to smash the flank of the Void-Skiff while the Immortal Guard gripped their front in a lethal vice nothing could survive and they were crushed to splinters and dust. The Mastiffs now emerged from the wood on the Elves’ left and charged like the wild beasts they were into Fleet Wardens protecting the Impalers. The Elves though, with pikes were able to withstand the beastial ferocity and the Mastiffs’ effort was for nought.
The Souldbane overcame the Decimators and was able to claim the marshy treasure. Towards the centre of the field was more of the glittering prize but what remained of the Twilight Kin were pushing forwards over this.
Sycorax could feel his very being twisting and shrinking inside him. The treasure was literally slipping through his fingers. His forces were exhausted and on the brink of collapse…..He joined the line and with the fury of Ariagful vanquished the wiccan with fire. This act momentarily revived his troops. The Golems overran the Fleet Wardens, so recently victors against the dogs, while the Infernox turned to face his craven attackers, yet more Fleet Wardens, who he put to the vengeful sword.
The scarring and fracturing of the landscape was now giving up the the secrets of the golden horde. Unless Sycorax could exhort his battered force for one last push all would be utterly lost….
The Impalers now roused themselves from their own slumber and charged the exhausted Molten Menace. He had stood firm against so many foes this day he knew, as did Sycorax, the Impalers, cream of the Pirate force, would overwhelm him. And so they did! And in doing so had uncovered a mountain of gold.
It had come to one last desperate gamble or Sycorax would lose and would be lost, supplanted by one of any number of wolfish Ironcasters too cowardly to stand with him this day.
He unleashed a rock and molten fury against the Soulbane who had been content to sit atop the half-submerged horde, the fool, and condemned him and his foul beast to nothing more that hissing steam rising from what had become a bubbling cauldron of a marsh, so intense was the heat of the fireball.
And now his Immortal Guard hurled themselves against the immense shields of the Impalers. The Infernox, though vanquished, had done just enough to chink the armour of these seemingly impregnable beings and the Immortal Guard were able to first push, then prize and then burst open those armoured sentinels and fall upon them in such fury there was nothing to be hauled away as grizzly prizes…..
The rest of the Elvish host, that which remained, had no stomach to continue this slaughter and Sycorax had achieved a most stunning and profitable triumph. He collapsed.
Next time: Armada/ 250 points/ Icy Waters
