If there were a good reason for Thorne to be on this blasted, frost-cloaked plain, he couldn't think of one. The Rangers had sent word that a massive force of Beastmen were rolling their way towards the hold, and the rangers had never lied. So while some might think that an invading force of Beastmen was the best reason for Thorne to be away from the warmth of his forge, Thorne knew better. Going to battle with the crazed, mutated servants of chaos was the last thing he wanted to be doing that morning.

The throng had been called. The King had sent forth his personal guard, and another horde of warriors had come with great axes keenly polished. So, too, had come a horde of Ironbreakers from the depths below. The rumors of a strange warband of howling beastmen reached even into the deepest portions of the mines. A good, thing, too, thought Thorne. Apparently the Beasts were all riding massive chariots. It would be an interesting afternoon. Thorne didn't much like "interesting" afternoons. Boring, regular afternoons were preferable.

He spit into his leather gloves and rubbed them together, then hefted his shield and hammer. His Talisman and armor were polished bright, and runed. To his left, among the King's own Hammerers, stood Egnun Wrathiron, Thane of the Wrathiron Clan. His ancient battle standard bearing the King's own arms snapped in the frigid breeze. Thorne was happy to have him along, come what may. He opened his mouth to speak to the old Thane, but was cut off by the sound of warhorns.

Along the horizon, made black by the rising sun behind them, came the thundering army of Beastmen, all sitting astride massive chariots of war, cut to the form of giant elephants. Their war howls and brays echoed off the mountainsides, bringing down avalanches of snow and rock all around the Hold. It was going to be a long morning.

Opponent: Beastmen.

List:

1 level 4 Great Bray Shaman, on a Chariot
1 Level 2 Shaman, on a Chariot
23 Chariots

My Dwarf Throng -

Runelord Finnius Thorne. Shield, Rune of Stone, Rune of Balance, Rune of Spellbreaking

Thane Egnun Wrath Iron -

BSB, Rune of Gromril, Run of Preservation, Rune of Resistance. Rune of Fire on his hammer.

Gorgon's Rollers
19 Ironbreakers, Full Command. Rune of Determination.

High King Bangor Bloodrage's Orcthumpers

38 Dwarf Hammerers, Full Command, Master Rune of Grungni

Dorgar's Foeblenders

40 Dwarf Warriors with Great Weapons, Full Command

Squigthumper Reserves

15 Quarrelers with GW, Musician.

Canon, Forging and Fire

Organ Gun (2)

Grudge Thrower; Accuracy, Penetration (2)

Deployment -

The 23 Chariots deploy in a massive battle line that stretches across the entire table. The models are all just big Elephants with Beastmen riding them on small Howdahs. It's pretty intimidating, and cool.

The Dwarf Throng deploys in a tight, central castle with war machines elevated on a hill, guarded by quarrelers. The hammerers are deployed in front of the hill, with GW Warriors on their left flank and Iron Breakers on their right. Organ Guns took up positions between the Hammerers and the other units on the left and right, with the canon and the GT on the hill.

Dwarfs win the roll, and go first.

Dwarf Turn 1)

"Hold your damned ground! Fire all batteries! Take that shaman down before he waves his bleeding hands about and howls!" Shouted Thorne as he fingered his Talisman. They needed to soften these chariots up a bit, or they'd tear through the lines and make a break for the hold.

The grudge Thrower does a single wound to an advancing chariot. The Canon Misfires and cannot fire on the following turn. The crossbows bring down a chariot.

Beastmen Turn 1)

The Beastman Shaman tries to enfeeble the Great Weapon warriors, but fails. The chariots all advance.

Dwarf Turn 2)

Thorne could hear the canon crew cursing and spitting, and could feel the shame rolling off the other crews for their failure. The quarrlers calmly reloaded, and his men held their ground. The enemy would be among them soon, with thundering paws and devestating force. They had to hold. It was their only choice.

The Organ Guns wound but do not bring down their targets. The Grudge Thrower misfires, but can fire normally on the following turn. The canon is repaired. The crossbows also wound another chariot.

Beeastment Turn 2)

The beastmen inexorably advance. They are now within charge distance for the following turn. Their shaman attempts to cast Pit of Shades, but is dispelled by the Runelord.

Dwarf Turn 3)

Thorne focused his will on his rune hammer, drawing in the shadow energy put forth by the enemy shaman. He grabbed it like a thrashing lizard, and then mentally slapped it in the face. The energy obeyed, darkened his hammer a moment, and then was silent. But they were too damn close. The artillery had failed, and things were going poorly. And he got the feeling that they were about to get worse.

Just then, a lesser shaman held up a black chalice, and all hell broke loose among the artillery crews. Thorne couldn't stop it, try as he might. They just failed. Just then, the old Runelord heard the enemy call their charge.

One organ gun misfires and explodes. The canon, back online, fires at the Shaman's mount, hits, but rolls a 1 to wound. The GT scatters off after a reroll and hits nothing. The Crossbows once again bring down a chariot.

Beastmen Turn 3)

The ironbreakers are charged by 5 different chariots - 4 to the front, and one to the flank. I had opened their frontage up to 10 wide to protect my war machines.

The Great Weapon Warriors are also charged by several chariots.

The Shaman casts Pit of Shades with Irresistable Force, but it scatters harmlessly away.

In combat, the Ironbreakers manage to hold, despite losing 11 men to impact hits and combat. They lose the battle, but are steadfast and do not run. They do several wounds in response, but don't bring any chariots down.

The Great Weapon Warriors take heavy casualties, and dish a lot out, but do not kill any enemies. They win combat, the enemy holds.

Dwarf Turn 4)

By Grungni, Thorne was proud of his men. Despite the failure of their best weapons, they held their ground against the bone-wrenching, stone crushing onslaught of the war chariots. The Ironbreakers on the right stood their ground, despite heavy losses, as did the men of the Throng. They would keep their oaths. Behind him, he could hear the engineers and crewmen re orienting their weapons, ready to fire. And fire they did. Thorne knew what he had to do. He committed his Hammerers to the fray, charging directly forward into several of the chariot's path.

Two chariots and the weaker of the two shaman fall to a hail of artillery fire.

In close combat, the Ironbreakers are joined by a downhill charge from the Quarrelers. They win combat against the chariots, which panic and get in the way of the flanking wave that had set up for a charge on the following turn. The quarrelers reform to face the other chariots in the center of the battlefield while the Ironbreakers reform to face the coming second onslaught.

The Hammerers devastate the one chariot they charge, and overrun into the next.

Beastmen Turn 4)

The Great Shaman casts some sort of canonball like spell which bounces over the Organ Gun and lands square on the Grudge Thower, killing it. The second spell he casts fails.

In close combat, the Great Weapon warriors are wiped out.

Dwarf Turn 5)

Thorne couldn't see what had happened on his left flank, but he knew it couldn't be good. The songs had ended, their last echoes like ghosts in his ears. He couldn't think about that now. He had business to attend to. He could see the enemy battle standard bearer, alone after the death of his mount. He wheeled his men about, hell bent on claiming that damned Chaos banner for his wall.

The hammerers charge the BSB, who flees. They redirect into the flank of one of the Chariots fighting the Quarrelers and Ironbreakers.

The Ironbreakers charge, kill their enemies, and then overrun towards the BSB, who flees again. They reform to protect the lines. The Quarrelers are free to shoot, and kill one chariot. The organ Gun slaughters the enemy general with 10 S5 hits.

Beast Men Turn 5)

5 Chariots charge the Quarrelers, who stand and shoot. They do some wounds, but are destroyed.

3 Charge the canon. Two of them fail their charges, one gets through.

1 Charges the Organ Gun.

The canon and Organ gun miraculously survive and hold.

Dwarf Turn 6)

Thorne knew the battle was won, but the damned Beasts didn't know it yet. It was time to let them in on his little secret.

The hammerers destroy their charge target, then overrun into the Chariot that's hitting the Organ Gun.

The Canon is destroyed.

Beastmen Turn 6)

The remaining chariots pull back, not wanting to die in close combat. The few in close combat are killed, though the last Organ Gun does fall to the enemy.

Thorne Surveyed the Damage. It was wretched. The damned chariots had destroyed 40 good dwarfs, and had crippled several war machines. The quarrelers had been killed or wounded to a dwarf, and would not recover as a unit. Even the hammerers had suffered heavy losses. Only the Ironbreakers, clad as they were in their Gromril Armor, seemed hale and ready for more battle.

The hold was safe, for now.

Just as he thought it, he regreted it. Another Ranger, this one stinking of sweat, ran to Thorne's side with a message. It was written in perfect, flowing script.

"To whom it may concern:

By Nightfall, we will be at your door. Likely you destroyed the foolish Beastmen and their chariots of war. But tonight, I come for you, and your blood. Be prepared.

Sincerely,

Count Vordamon Desperus"

I hate sodding vampires, thought Thorne.

"Dwarfs! To arms. Send word to the King for Reinforcements! We're not done today, not by a long sight!"

(battle with the Vampire Counts to Follow)

Review:

Ironbreakers: A+. The IBs withstood over 20 impact hits and the melee attacks of a massive Chariot Charge, and came back swinging. They protected the right flank for long enough for the Hammerers to do their job.

Hammerers: A+ The Hammerers were, of course, exactly what they needed to be.

Runelord: A - I shut down most spells.

Thane - B. Didn't really do much. Had a couple of rerolls, so he was well worth the cost.

Quarrelers - B. A constant source of stinging bites for the chariots, and some decent combat help when they charged into melee. Versatility paid off, even though they eventually died.

Warriors: C. They were cursed with crappy rolls, and did not do nearly as much damage as they normally do in response. They died, costing me many Victory points.

Artillery - C. Ugh. So much fail. Bad rolls, lots of misfires and double misfires. They did take out several chariots, though, and eventually killed the general, so they paid off their cost. However, the battle should have been much more decisive.

The list my opponent was using was very cool and fun. Had he rolled up my GW Warriors or IBs sooner, I would not have been able to stop him from slaughtering my artillery. However, the IBs held, and that made all the difference.

Battle 2 - Dwarfs Versus Vampire Counts.

Lord - Level 2 Vampire Wizard on Terrorgeist.

Black Coach with Level 2 Necromancer

Corpse Cart with level 1 Necro.

Another Necromancer on their own in the back.

10 Dire Wolves

40 Ghouls

Varghulf

Cairn Wraiths + Banshee Upgrade

They came at night. They always did, they had to, waiting until the moon had taken the watch duty of the sun. There was little you could do but dig in and wait, and so the Dwarfs did exactly that. Reinforcements were called forth from the Hold. The King wanted to join the battle, but Thorne insisted that someone needed to be in command inside in case an army of Rats or Goblins decided to take the opportunity to attack. The King agreed, but sent more of his personal guard, more artillery, and another horde of Warriors to defend the valley that led to the Hold's exterior gates.

Despite the exhaustion left from the battle with the Beastmen and their chariots, Thorne was alert and ready. The Crews triple checked every inch of their war machines. The Throng took up a position with their shoulders to the side of the mountain, thus refusing their flank to the enemy. Everyone had eaten, and the best ale was brought up to fortify them against the cold.

The Dwarfs were hardy folk, but the undead could care less about the cold mountain winds. The undead would not run, would not yield, and would not break. They would not lose fingers to the bitter wind, or if they did they wouldn't notice. The Undead were simply hungry, and their master was the the hungriest of all. He wanted Dwarf blood, and if Thorne didn't do his job, the vile Count would get his wish.

Dwarf Turn 1)

The groans were unmistakeable.You could hear the teeth gnash and the bones creak. Ghouls lumbered across the valley floor towards Thorne and his Men. The old Runelord could feel the raw amount of magic being summoned by the enemy before them. He could smell the Varghulf, could see the Dragon flying above them all. He could hear the ghosts wail and the vampires laugh. But despite the distractions, he knew his duty. He would do everything in his power and considerable knowledge to make sure that the Vampires didn't bring the power of magic to bear against his Throng. Everything else would be solved with hammer, axe, powder and carved stone.

The Organ Gun fires into ghouls, who are in range due to some special ability of the General. Six of them fall.

The Varghulf dies to a single canonball, taking six wounds. He never even gets to move.

The Grudge Thrower scatters away harmlessly after a reroll.

The other Organ Gun detonates. Sigh.

VC Counts Turn 1)

The army moves foward. both Ghoul Hordes move up the center in 5 by 8 formation. The Wraiths and the Dragon move up towards my right flank, using abuilding as cover from the Canon. The two chariots stay to the back, but advance. The Dire Wolves move up the right flank alongside the Ghoul Hordes, preparing for a charge. The Terrorgheist is in range of the Ironbreakers. His scream only kills one. The Spells they attempt fail or are dispelled completely.

Dwarf Turn 2)

Already the damned dragon was upon them, screaming it's horrible scream across the valley. It echoed wretchedly on the high mountain walls. Thorne was done playing around. He prepared to charge - for all of them to charge. He was tired of waiting. He was tired of letting the foe come to him. He wanted to be done with these devils so he could go back to the warmth of his forge.

The Organ Gun kills six Wolves.

GT Kills the Terrorgeist with a direct hit!

Hammerers and G.W. Warriors Charge the two hordes of Ghouls. The Hammerers win by 10, the GW Warriors win by 5. The Wraith King that's leading the unit of Ghouls that face the hammerers gets into a challenge with the BSB that will last for nearly the whole battle.

VC Turn 2)

The Vampires manage to regrow a bunch of Undead. The dismounted General charges into the Hammerer's flank and wreaks all kinds of hell on them. He's rerolling misses, and then rerolling successful wounds. Ugh. He's a damnable beast and I have no hero available to stop him.

The Hammerers get pounded but still win by 3. The GW Warriors win by 8. Lots of Ghouls die, and wounds spread out to the others in the combat because of combat resolution.

The coaches move up and get into charge range. The Black Coach manages to gain 1 die from the Magic Phase. The Corpse Cart really doesn't do anything, and neither does the Necromancer in the back.

Dwarf Turn 3)

This is more like it, thought Thorne. Sure, some of the corpses got back up once you stoved their skull in, but that was ok. The hammerers were hammering, and Thane Egnun was locked in a brutal duel with the Wraith King. The artillery had done admirably (unlike the fools who faced the Beastmen) and would continue to do so, by all accounts.

Thorne, upon seeing the Wraiths, had left the horde of Hammerers to join the Ironbreakers. Someone with an enchanted weapon needed to be there to deal with the Wraiths if they survived the Grudge Thrower's kind attention. He called the charge against the remaining Dire Wolves, which had positioned themselves in such a way as to present a roadblock to the backside of the enemy general. Well, fine, thought Thorne. I'll kill some dogs and then smash the arrogant count's skull in.

It was all the same to Thorne, all things considered.

Grudge Thrower Kills the Banshee and wounds another Wraith.

Canon hits the black coach, and you guessed it, rolls a 1 to wound. !!!!

The Organ Gun is now out of range of any viable target.

The Crossbows manage to do a wound to the black coach.

The Ironbreakers charge the remining wolves, wipe them out, then reform to face the rear of the Vampire Count general.

The GW warriors destroy the Ghouls they are facing.

The Hammerers and BSB basically draw in their combat. That Lord is vicious, but the BSB's tank build makes him immune to the Wraith King's killing blows. He takes no wounds, but only delivers a wound in return.

VC Turn 3)

The Black Coach charges the GW Warriors. The Wraiths charge the Hammerer Flank, supporting the Vampire Count general. All magic is stopped cold by the Runelord.

GW Warriors destroy the coach after taking some wounds. They reform to face the flank of the remaining Ghoul unit. This is where the battle is decided.

In the next turn, the Dwarfs eliminate the General, the enemy BSB, and the last group of Ghouls. The only enemies left alive is the Corpse Wagon, and the necromancer that has lived in the backfield all game. The game is over at turn 4. We shake hands, and go have a beer.

Review:

This was a much stronger showing than it was against the Beastmen. My infantry held out against two Ghoul hordes. The Artillery didn't suck nearly as bad as they did in the first game. The Ironbreakers didn't shine as much this game, mostly because they had little to shine against.

The lack of a proper Dwarf Lord was really hard on my hammerers this game. That Vampire lord was brutal. I'm glad I smoked the Terrorgeist when I did.

Runelord was a boss. Canon was a boss, despite failling to wound. OGs were meh. GW Warriors were awesome. Hammerers were awesome.