So, the reports from his rangers were true. Thane Stonehammer looked out over the marshes at the manlings preparing to press towards the mine. He had never really doubted the words of his rangers, but he was surprised that these humans would be so stupid as to try to take a dwarf mine, the locals weren't often prone to this kind of lunacy, must be mercenaries he mused. Still he smiled, it looked as though his rangers had given a good account of themselves before falling back to prepare the defences at the mine, the humans were out in numbers. A pity that the Rangers were back at the mine and not here to have another go at these dogs. Still he mused, it couldn't be helped. The manlings would be lucky to see another sunrise, never mind the wonders of a dwarf mine.

As he turned back to prepare his battlelines, a snarl from the Master Engineer accompanying his expedition drew his attention. "Why those back stabbing good for nothing green skin loving filth, they have brought Cannon here to attack us." The Thane's smile turned to a scowl, this affront would not be forgiven.

My Force:

The lists were composed blind in advance. No one knew what the other player had in their model collection, never mind their list until deployment.

Heroes

Thane:
Great Weapon. Master Rune of Gromril, Rune of Resistance.

Runesmith:
Gromril Armour, Hand Weapon, Shield, Rune of Stone, Rune of Resistance.

Master Engineer:
Gromril Armour Hand Weapon

Troops

15 Warriors (Full Command)

10 Quarrellers

The Guns:

Bolt Thrower

Cannon
Rune of Forging, Rune of Reloading

Cannon
Rune of Forging

Total 1001 pts. Quite pleased with this, went in expecting to drop my Rune of Reloading on the second cannon to a rune of burning, but was asked if I minded him being 2 pts over. I said no problem and off we went.

His list:

Heroes

Count (I think)
Mounted. Magical Sword. Heavy Armour.

Knightly Orders

5 Mounted knights

5 Mounted Yeomen with hand guns.

Troops

15 Spearmen

20 Swordsmen

10 Handgunners

Artillery

Cannon (Small Type)

Hellblaster Volley Gun

Deployment.

Was my first visit to my opponents new game board. The board was set up with a marsh in the centre which we ruled was impassible, with a River feeding into it from one board edge (My Right). The half of the board without the river was quite heavily wooded, with a small settlement (My Left). There was a hill on my side behind the river, and a hill on his side of the river, but closer to the middle of the area.

Thane Stonehammer and his retinue were helping the Master Engineer bring the Artillery in to place on top of the hill with a commanding view of the field of battle. As they did this, the Quarrellers skirted the hill and prepared to take up position behind the river. As they did saw, the manlings saw them and began to draw up into a line of battle. Stonehammer chuckled as he saw the manlings form their long disorderly line, they clearly didn't realise how small a threat the dwarves saw them as, it would take no more than 50 dwarves to drive them back, yet the manlings and their sense of ego seemed to be expecting a whole throng.

Bored with watching the manlings now, Stonehammer decided to get things going. He started his march down the hill temporarily blocking the lines of sight for his bolt thrower, but gave the order to open fire with the Cannon. The Quarrellers continued their advance to prepare for the job to come.

Grimnir and Grungi roared with the ferocity of their namesakes. Grungi cut a line straight through the empire spearmen, and Grungi blew apart the flimsy volley gun that had been wheeled into place covering the bridge across the river. Master Engineer Ekrund had already set about settling his grudge against the manlings and their trecherous use of dwarf developed weaponry. Despite this declaration of intent, the men across from them held their nerve. It seemed they were going to have to learns the hard way.

Upon realised that he was in range of the Dwarven guns, the Manling general decided he had better start moving before a large, heavy message carved into a ball of lead and delivered at high speed unseated him from his horse.

He urged his Knights to make a bee line for the bridge across the river, and his yeomanry on his flank made for the ford. The swordsmen in the distance set off into the woods and spearmen inexplicably decided to reposition themselves closer to the handgunners, who for their part set off at a quick march determined to get in range of the dwarves. The manling engineer out to prove himself set his cannon to its optimum elevation, packed in as much powder as he dared and let rip at the Quarrellers on the dwarven left. The ball flew long and true, but the only sound to come from the dwarven lines was mocking laughter as the ball gently rolled to a halt just in front of their lines.

Stonehammer continued his descent down the hill and took up position in front of the bridge. Leaving his engineer in charge of the guns, he called for another volley. The cannons spoke again, blasting two of the heavily armoured empire Knights from their seats. The Engineer took personal control of the bolt thrower and under his guidance another Knight fell dead. This time the quarrellers joined in, the ones on the right flank bringing down three Yeomen and the ones holding the left bringing down a handgunner.

Whilst the Yeomen on the empire flank held their nerve, this was two much for the Knights who turned and fled. Almost run down by their own Knights the spearmen also turned tale. The Empire General was now further from dwarf lines than when he started and desperately trying to restore order.

As confusion reigned on their side of the bank, the Empire forces continued their advance. The swordsmen were now out of sight somewhere amoung the trees, and the two remaining yeomen had made it across the river. The hand gunners reformed into a firing formation and continued their advance. The General had by now managed to get some discipline back into his Knights, but the spearmen were now nought but figures in the distance as they left the field of battle and fled for home.

The Empire Cannon spoke again, and again found the dwarves out of reach.

With the Knights not currently a threat, the big guns of the dwarves looked for other targets. The two cannon in the dwarf lines responded to the Empire engineers pleas for attention and decided to show him ho to shoot. One of the dwarf rounds fell short but the other stuck home. This time however the craftsmanship of the manlings wasn't quite as shoddy, and the war machine held together. Just. The quarrellers to the left failed to bring down another handgunner, and the quarrellers to the right didn't manage to find their mark among the remaining yeomen. Aware of the threat the Master Engineer pointed his bolt thrower in that direction, but only managed to bring down one of the two empire troops.

The Thane halted his advance on the bridge, and prepared his lines.

The Empire General urged his disgraced Knights forward, determined that they regain their honour on the field of battle, and they set off at full gallop for the bridge. Rather than turning tail, the last surviving Yeoman screamed out an oath of vengence and made for the quarrellers on his horse, drawing his pistols as he went. The Swordsmen in the wood were still out of sight. Relieved to find that his gun wasn't out of range, the empire engineer fired again. Although he managed to hit something this time, the shot was again short and the cannon ball was only able to kill one of the quarrellers.

Convinced by all the Quarrells landing among them that they must be in range by now, the handgunners returned fire on the qurrellers. Another chorus of laughter rose from the dwarves, as again, the manlings gunfire fell just short. Stonehammer began to wonder if the rangers had found a way to spoil the manlings powder before the battle. The consistancy with which the mens guns fell short was uncanny.

The raging yeoman however fared better and as he closed on the Quarrellers, he shot the nearest dwarf right between the eyes. The first dwarves had fallen.

Things had turned serious now, this was no longer a lesson for the humans not to interfere in dwarven lands. Dwarven blood had now been spilt, and this changed everything. The quarrellers to the left brought down a second handgunner, and those to the right avenged their comrade and killed the final valiant yeoman. Aware of the threat now facing their thane, the dwarf guns on the hill spoke again. The two remaining knights accompanying the human general were soon dismounted and dying, but the human general was left alive, albeit with a huge bolt sticking through his shoulder.

In response, having seen the destruction of his yeomanry, the cowardice and subsequent destruction of his Knights and knowing that his spearmen had deserted him the human general realised that given the current state of his shoulder and the odds stacked against him, help was unlikely to arrive in time nor were the dwarfs likely to forgive this attack and show mercy. He decided that an honourable death in combat was all he had left. He spurred on his horse and made straight for the Thane and his dwarves. The human hand gunners moved closer to the river bank, hoping to support the impending arrival of the swordsmen from a position that was in range of something.

The swordsmen themselves appeared from the woods and headed for the rear and flank of the dwarf lines, though it looked as though they would be too late.

The human general and his horse managed to kill a couple of the dwarves determined to break his charge before he reached their Thane however they need not have worried, as their Thane prepared to swing his great weapon, there was a sickening crunch as the Runesmith hauled the man from his horse and brought his hammer down upon the generals head.

Things were pretty much settled now, all that remained was to scare off or deal with any remaining humans. Thane Stonehammer swung around his unit and set off for the swordsmen, whilst the Quarrellers began to take a grim toll on the Handgunners across the bank. The cannons of the dwarfs spoke again, this time telling the approaching swordsmen of what had gone on whilst they were in the woods and warning them of what was to come. Three swordsmen fell to the artillery fire of the dwarves.

The hand gunners saw that all was lost, and realised that there was no point losing their lives along with everything else, and left for home.

The human engineer was lost in a frenzy trying to prove he was as good as any dwarf. Determined that this shot not fall short he overcooked the powder, and rather than propelling the short forward, he managed to propel his Cannon barrel, his crew and himself skywards. The soot covered faces of the dwarf artillery crew on the hill now had streaks all down the, clean lines drawn by tears of laughter.

Given that the swordsmen had failed to heed their warning, the whole dwarf position on the hill turned on them, and 11 fell this time, leaving but a handful.

The Swordsmen came to a halt and took in the scene before them. The dwarves were reforming to face them, and the only humans moving on the field before them were five fleeing handgunners. The unit leader decided to take command of the remaining men, saluted the Thane and his positions and set out marching back towards the empire.

Edited to add photos