Below is my first attempt at writing a battle report. I know that my crude diagrams are not as good as the pictures I see in pretty much everyone else's battle reports but I still hope you can understand them.

Also before anyone comments on it, there is an illiegal rune on my Longbeard rangers. It was agreed, by my opponents suggestion, that it be allowed to make this scenario more of a foot race instead of me letting him take the tower and then blasting him with artillery. I went along with it so that is why it is included.

On the whole, this was an extremely fun scenario, a different twist on the normal king of the hill/tower scenario. Also deploying in column formation heading toward the tower was a different way to start the battle instead of facing the opponent to begin with.

Elven Army

10 Seaguard FC
10 Sword Masters SB Musician
5 Reavers
3 Shadow Warriors
1 Great Eagle
1 Arch Mage (Aithseral)  Lvl 4 Wizard Lore of Life
	Book of Hoeth	
	Dwellers
	Regrowth
	Flesh to Stone
	Throne of Vines

Dwarven Army (Clan Ironbeard)

15 Warriors FC Shield
12 Longbeard Rangers FC Shield, Great Weapon, Throwing Axes
	Standard
		Stollaz's Rune
10 Thunderers FC Shield
8 Miners FC Blasting Charge
1 Organ Gun
1 Runesmith (Glyfi Hoenir)
	Weapon (Hammer)
	Armor
		RoResistance
		RoStone
	Talisman (Scepter)
		MRoSpite
		
1 Thane (Dain Ironbeard)
	Weapon(Great Axe)
	Talisman
		RoBrotherhood

Scenario

A tower sits in the distance to the north.  Dwarves approach from the southwest and the Elves approach from the southeast.  The objective is to capture and hold the tower at the end of Turn 5.

Setup

Dwarves place first and go first

From South to North in a column formation facing the tower the dwarves field Thunderers, Organ Gun, Warriors, Runesmith, Longbeard Rangers with Thane.

From South to North in a column formation facing the tower the elves field Great Eagle, Sword Masters, Seaguard, Arch Mage, Reavers.  Shadow Warriors deploy behind the Thunderers.

Dain Ironbeard was nothing if not methotical, when he set to hold he held and when he charged he cut the enemy in half. For years he had fought along side of his cousin Oin Ironbeard and Glyfi Hoenir his nephew against highwaymen and the beasts that lurked in the woods of the Empire around Oin's Brewery.

An old dwarf, he was experienced and very battle hardened, and as such had attracted a group of the most grisled longbeards imaginable. Armed to the teeth and just as determined and stubborn as their leader the company now marched through the valley towards the Tower of Ithril. Clan Ironbeard had decided that the tower would make the perfect staging area for an assault on the fallen dwarf hold and it was Dain's responsibility to act as scouts for the small battalion led by Glyfi who were to setup a base within the tower.

The hold was currently held by the cursed skaven so Dain knew that care was needed in order to keep the ratmen from becoming aware of the dwarven plan. What he saw across the valley took him aback however, elven riders careening toward the tower.

With a few barked orders the longbeard banner was unfurled and a dwarven horn rang out sounding danger ahead. Turning back Dain saw Glyfi and his warriors marching forward and yelled back that elves were about before ordering his dwarves forward at the double.

Vanguard

Longbeard march 6" towards Tower
Runesmith march 6" towards Tower
Warriors march 6" towards Tower

Reavers march 11" towards Tower

TURN 1

Glyfi, having heard the call of battle and hearing that an elven army was about turned back to the warriors, under the command of his brother Gimli the champion, ordered their banner unfurled and relayed down the line that elves were approaching. The horn of the warriors soon echoed the call of the longbeards as they set off at the double toward the tower. Behind the warriors Snorri Ironbeard, distant cousin of Glyfi and Dain and studying engineer, ordered the organ gun to deploy as he moved his thunderers to take a defensive position to defend the rear of the dwarven column.

Looking around Glyfi saw that the elven outriders were galloping toward the tower as a line of elven infantry marched forward to support the calvary. Being a runesmith he then felt a tingling of power that set his hair on end, the bloody elves had a mage who was gathering power somewhere in their midst.

As the dwarves redoubled their efforts to advance, Snorri had just got his thunderers into position when he saw it. "By Grugni's beard! Take cover m' lads!," he screamed as the elven archers launched a barrage of arrows from the rear of the dwarven column. The elves had out manovered the dwarves and had nearly caught them unaware.

To the east the elves were still marching in tight formation and the organ gun was able to cut a murderous swath through their tight knit formation as the thunderers returned a volley at the elven archers to the rear. The elves melted into the shadows before the dwarven rifles were able to find their mark however. The slightly confused Snorri was unable to dwell on this turn of events for long because a cry of "May Valya protect us" rose from the organ gun crew dwarves and Snorri turned his attention to the Great Eagle that was swooping down from the sky upon them.

Dwarves

Longbeard march 6" towards Tower
Runesmith march 6" towards Tower
Warriors march 6" towards Tower
Thunderes reform to face Eagle and Shadow Warriors and defend Organ Gun Flank.

Organ Gun targets Seaguard...roll 10 on artillery dice and all 10 wounds, no saves

Elves

Eagle failed charge move 6" towards organ gun
Reavers move 8" toward Longbeards
Arch Mage moves 5" toward Tower
Sword Masters move 10" toward Tower
Shadow Warriors move 6" toward Thunderers

Winds of Magic  1 + 4
	Elves:5d	Dwarves:5d

Reavers attack Longbeards...4 hits, 3 wounds, 0 saves
Shadow Warriors attack Thunderers...1 hit, 0 wounds

TURN 2

As the echo of the dwarven guns subsided Dain found himself dodging a rain of arrows unleashed by the elven horse archers. A few longbeards fell to the withering barrage as Dain gave the cry, "At em brothers! Cut em down." The horn sounded the call to charge and it was echoed by the horn of the warrior regiment as the dwarves surged upon the riders.

As Glyfi charged along with his dwarves he saw the elves unleash one last volley before turning and fleeing to the east. It was in this moment with the elves retreating and the dwarves in pursuit that he noticed the magical energies collecting within the elven infantry and a blast of energy rent the air with a burnt odor as a blue/violet cackle of energy lept from the far side of the elven infantry.

Unable to deal with such a blast of magical energy Glyfi turned and saw his brother and the beardlings fighting for their lives with foes beneath their feet. Dispite Glyfi's best efforts, and the grumblings and withering glances from Dain's company, the spell of the elves was too much for the warriors and they fell back from before the marching elves. Looking further down the line Glyfi swore upon Grugni's beard as he saw the Eagle swooping upon the crew of the organ gun.

Snorri and his handgunners found themselves hard pressed as volleys of arrows landed in their flanks from invisible foes. To his rear the Organ Gun crew were fighting for their life with the Great Eagle. He no longer could see Glyfi and his command through the smoke and beating wings, now Snorri and his men were alone in a sea of hostile elven forces.

Dwarves

Forgot to roll for miners (Grumbling and Mumbling)
Longbeards, Runesmith, and Warriors charge Reavers
Reavers shoot at longbeards, flee smith and warriors...4 hits, 1 wound, 0 saves
Reavers flee 10"
Longbeards pursue 6"
Runesmith pursue 5"
Warriors pursue 4"

Organ Gun out of range
Thunderers target Shadow Warriors...3 hits, 0 wounds

Elves

Reavers reform
Eagle charges Organ Gun
Shadow Warriors move 5" to flank Thunderers from their right and behind Organ Gun.
Reavers move 8" toward tower
Mage move 5" toward tower
Sword Masters move 8" toward tower

Winds of Magic 1 + 4
	Elves: 10d	Dwarves:10d
Archmage casts dwellers against warriors with 7 dice...IF
7 warriors die...mage miscasts dealing self 1 wound and losing 2 power die
warriors flee away from mage 7", Longbeards and Runesmith pass panic test

Shadow Warriors target Thunderers...2 hits, 1 wound, 1 save
Reavers target Longbeards...5 hits, 0 wounds

Eagle vs. Organ gun...0 hits
Crew vs. Eagle...2 hit, 0 wounds
Eagle stomp attack...1 wound

TURN 3

It was too much! Beak, talons and wings rended two dwarves apart in front of the gunners eyes and he fled, abandoning the organ gun and fleeing wildly away. Snorri saw it all unfold but didn't have the luxtury of time to reform his men to face the eagle for the stealthy elves had launched a frontal assault just as the eagle attacked from above. It was all his dwarves could do to just throw away their rifles and grab shield and axe before the elves unleashed their fury.

Dain didn't have time to reflect on the silence of the dwarven guns. Dispite the best efforts of the elves to attack, flee, attack, flee he had finally managed to get within striking range and him and his longbeards quickly made an example of the frail elves. The great axes of the dwarves could unhorse an elf quicker than high minded elves could imagine.

As Dain and his dwarves set about the butchers work Gimli finally managed to bring his dwarves under control and Glyfi quickly directed him to march to aid the thunderers before Glyfi ran to join the longbears yelling orders. "Dain secure the tower! Longbeards to me, form up and defend the entrance. The bloody elves are upon us!"

Dwarves

Miners role a 1 to appear
Warrior reform
Longbeards charge Reavers who stand and shoot...3 hits, 2 wounds, 0 saves
12" charge is a success

Eagle vs. Organ gun...2 hits, 1 wound, 0 save
Crew vs. Eagle...1 hit, 0 wound
Stomp...0 wound
Crew flee off table, Thunderers pass panic test

Reavers vs. Longbeards...5 hits, 3 wounds, 1 save
Longbeards vs. Reavers...10 hits, 8 wounds

Elves

Shadow Warriors and Eagle charge Thunderers and both cover the 2" distance with ease
Sword Masters move 10" toward tower
Archmage move 5" behind Sword Masters

Winds of Magic 5 + 6
	Elves: 11d	Dwarves: 12d
	Archmage casts dwellers against warrior with 7 dice...IF
	4 warriors die...IF due to Book of Hoeth, no miscast double 5s

Shadow Warriors vs. Thunderers...3 hits, 3 wounds, 2 saves
Eagle vs. Thunderers...2 hits, 1 wound, 0 save
Thunderers vs. Eagle...3 hits, 2 wounds, 0 save
Thunderers vs. Shadow Warriors...0 hits
Stomp...0 wounds

TURN 4

As Glyfi set the dwarves in a defensive perimeter from further up the valley a dwarven horn sounded retreat. Glyfi knew that this could well be their last stand for if Gimli had just been defeated then they were alone. The elves were now nearly within range of the dwarven throwing axes as another blast of the foul elven magic slammed into the longbeards who, unlike the beardling, quickly defeated the grouping earthen hands.

Dwarves

Miners roll a 1 to appear
Thane leaves Longbeards and moves to claim the tower.
Runesmith moves to join the Longbeards
Warrios march 6" toward Eagle

Shadow Warriors vs. Thunderers...2 hits, 1 wound, 0 save
Eagle vs. Thunderers...1 hit, 0 wound
Thunderers vs. Eagle...1 hit, 0 wound
Thunderers vs. Shadow Warriors...2 hits, 1 wound, 0 save
Stomp...1 wound
Thunderers flee away from Shadow Warriors toward warriors but are overrun by eagle
who hits the warriors.  Shadow Warriors move to within 2" of warriors.

Elves

Sword Masters move 10" toward Warriors
Archmage move 6" behind Sword Masters

Winds of Magic 4 + 5
	Elves: 12d	Dwarves: 12d
	Archmage casts regrowth on Eagle with 5 dice = 20
	Runesmith attempts dispell with 6 dice = 17
	Archmage casts dwellers on Longbeards with 7 dice...IF
	2 longbeards die...IF due to Book of Hoeth, no miscast triple 5s

Shadow Warriors vs. Warriors...2 hits, 1 wound, 1 save
Eagle vs. Warriors...2 hits, 1 wound, 0 save
Warriors vs. Shadow Warriors...2 hits, 2 wounds, 0 saves
Stomp... 0 wounds
Eagle flee 7" but is caught by warrior pursuit of 10"

TURN 5

Looking up from the magical nuisance Glyfi saw that the elves had turned to the west and looking further up the valley he saw that the smoke was clearing and that the warriors of Gimli had chased the elves and the eagle from the field in the west. Another horn sounded from the east and as Glyfi looked on he saw a hole open up behind the elves and good dwarven miners pour into the light of the day.

The elven mage stepped forward and cast another spell at the miners causing the same earthen hands to pull the miners back to the earth from whence they had came but also causing the mage to collapse to the ground from the effort. The elven warriors rushed to the wizard's aid and quickly fled the field leaving Glyfi and the remants of his command in control of the Tower of Ithril.

Dwarves

Miners arrive at closest point to Archmage on a roll of 4
Longbeards redress ranks to face Sword Masters
Miners move 3" toward Archmage
Warriors move 6" away from Archmage

Elves

Sword Masters move 10" toward tower
Archmage moves 6" away from miners

Winds of Magic 3 + 5
	Elves: 8d	Dwarves: 12d
	Archmage casts dwellers on Miners with 8 dice...IF
	4 miners die...mage miscasts but no adverse effect

-------------------------------------------M---------------------------------------------------|
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|
LB-RS AM |
Tower OThane SM |
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W |
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Conclusion

Glyfi had succeeded in the objective of the mission but looking upon the field from the tower ramparts knew that it had been costly for Clan Ironbeard. Less than half of each remaing regiment remained standing, the organ gun was in ruins, and the thunderers had scattered and fled from the elven assault. It had indeed been very costly for Clan Ironbeard and it remained to be seen if they would be able to continue with their assault of the Skaven.

"Dain," Glyfi said, "When we finish here I do believe we have an elven mage to hunt uncle!"

" 'ye m' lad, I believe your right." was Dain's response.

Dwarves won a marginal victory due to the capture of the tower.  Without the capture of the tower the elves would have won a very marginal victory due to point value kills