The Barrow Part 3 (the first turn).

Turn 1

So finally the first turn:

Lord Micka raised a hand to quiet his necromantic servant. “I hear them child, some five of their scouts, more will follow, we must to arms.” With that Lord Micka drew his hands up a gesture to accompany the forceful implementation of his will. In that instant across the country that was due to become a battlefield a multitude of dead warriors rose as one from their work and formed organised ranks in more efficient in death than ever in life.

The first turn, general advance on both sides.

Bald Rick turned stumbling as he ran to his own unit of Zombies, raised by his own hand these unfortunate cadavers, dead not even a year were the master necromancers newest exercise in honing his power. With his own drawn visage he felt lost among their ranks and the threat of Elven arrows felt less. Just to be sure Bald Rick reached out to eldritch powers and reanimated some recently killed villagers he had left lying close at hand. He had planned on studying some of their internal workings tonight but he felt this way they would serve him better in his current need. Besides tonight he would have elven corpses to dissect if all went well.

Even as his servant swelled his own ranks with the freshly dead Lord Micka took the opportunity to reach out to those buried for centuries on this oft fought over piece of land. Skeleton warriors joined his unit as he commanded the whole army to advance, as the Elven scouts ran forward to take up position. By the time the main eleven hosts arrived Lord Mika had already taken position of the field and with it the initiative. His horsemen galloped forward towards a forest, their ethereal mounts would have no issues moving as swiftly under the bows of the towering pines as on the level grassland of the Vale. Lord Mika intended them to sweep round and take the Elven flank.  To his far left his siege machines launched the screaming animated sculls of long dead traitors in a high arc to fall with deadly force amongst a pack of Elven hounds.

As Kats archers retreat the illusionary hero keeps the deathriders in check.

Forcing his main force forward accompanied as ever by the instability decreasing  Georgiou’s Physician cart (known simply as Geo Phys), Lord Mika cast further spells to strengthen the ties of his own unit to the material world. The main Elven host moved forward and to Lord Mikas annoyance a collection of buildings appeared on the battle field to block the view of his catapults, he’d have to move the cursed things.

 In game terms a general advance from both sides really narrowed the gap between the opposing armies, borrowed from 4th edition  was the march move instead of reserve move, a big time saver for little in game difference. Woodelf missile fire was almost nonexistent, stupid woodelves, and the screaming scull catapults showed how deadly they are with only good leadership preventing the beginnings of a rout. Magic resulted in some buffs for the undead units, extra troops and help with instability, whilst the woodelves benefited from two illusions.


Actually its probably worth a short aside to discuss instability and illusion. Instability is the downside for undead in 3rd ed, they get to cause fear and ignore psychology but must roll for instability when they get pushed back. The results range from wipe out, to minor debuff, to extra attacks, rolling high is good and the plague cart and certain spells add to this roll or even help you ignore it. Illusion is fun and really deserves a GM and pre-game casting, the Illusionary hero in the woods near Kat and her archers is a real hero for all the undead know and is set up to hold back the undead riders by his presence alone. For a gamer regularly using illusions a whole world of bluff and double bluff opens up. Another use for illusion is just to plonk a building in someone's line of sight to stop missile fire as happened here, inelegant but it works. In a depature from the rules raising zombies instead of skeletons was allowed though numbers raise stayed the same.



Probably the best tactical move was the rapid advance of the skeletal horsement towards the archers in the wood, without the range to shoot in the wood and not wanting to get charged the archers withdrew, several turns of no shooting ensued. Worth noting that who goes first after a scouting turn was incorrectly remembered and the undead not only stole a march with the infamous Chambers whole force as advanced force ploy but also nabbed first turn.

Use your Illusion.

The Barrow, Part 2 initial setup.

 

KEY

1.       6 Death riders with light armour, shields lances and a banner. Lead by Victora Mbrus a level 10 hero.

2.       Bald Rick a level 15 necromancer leading a unit of 25 Zombies, 5 freshly raised.

3.       The lonely Barrow.

4.       Lord Mika Ston, a level 20 Vampire leading 22 skeleton warriors, 2 freshly raised. A level 10 hero is also in the unit.

5.       A plague cart known as Geo Phys .

6.       Philard Ding a level 10 hero with light armour and two hand weapons leads a unit of 20 warriors.

7.       The Fern River and The Barrow ford.

8.       15 Grim reapers lead by a level 10 hero, Henri Champion with light armour and scythe.

9.       2 Screaming Skull catapults accompanied by level 5 hero light armour.

10.   Kat leading her 14 archers with instrument and standard. Kat a lvel 10 hero is equipped with a long bow and hell shaft arrows .

11.   An illusionary Hero.

12.   9 wood riders armed with bows lead by Lord Bi Lloddie armed with Mithril armour, a mighty strike blade and a long bow.

13.   Xispa a level 10 hero with light armour scribed with protective runes and a spear. He leads 20 warrior kinbands with light armour, shield, spear, instrument and standard.

14.   The watchers, 6 glade guard scouts.

15.   Sim O’Nking a level 15 wizard.

16.   10 Guard archers.

17.   A mighty Treeman.

18.   12 Warhounds with 2 handlers.

19.   Micheal Astrachan a level 10 wizard.

20.   10 war dancers.

21.   16 archers, standard and instrument.

The forces as they stand at first turn, after the scouting turn but before any moves have been made.

The Barrow.

With the waters of the Fern only just beginning to swelling with the cold runoff of the thaw Lord Bi Lloddie had led his Sylvan forces back to the Vale of Fern. It still felt cold to the bone and though the Winter watch they replaced had waited out the coldest and darkest months on guard he still felt resentful towards their retiring, going back as they were to enjoy the festivals of fertility and light. But it was a new season and Spring Watch was here to witness and record all that befell this crucial if usually quiet part of the Wood Kings realm.  No he must not grumble, in this world so often painted in gritty shades of gray Lloddie had always prided himself that he was one of the Goodies.

Lord Bi Lloddie and the Wood riders of Spring Watch

He rode closer to the master illusionist Sim O‘Nking, “You have scryed the whole area?”

“And more my lord”, the wizard replied, “I have cleverly disguised magic eyes covering all approaches to the Vale all the way from the Ford at Capri to the lonely Barrow. No beast of land or air can enter the Vale without my knowledge. See here look deep into the crystal ball of Mo Niter.” The great lord peered deeply into the shifting green mists of Sim’s crystal ball, at first he could make out only a fierce blizzard, he hoped the snow would prove to be the last remnants of Winter and began to turn to make plans for the coming storm.  “Wait sir I apologise, Interference only, I’ll just adjust the settings.” Sim passed his hand over the crystal several times before allowing his liege Lord to look into Mo Niter once more.

Xispa Kerm and his Kin, Sim O'Nking rides behind carrying Mo Niter.

“Good I see the Ford of Capri remains undisturbed, the people of Brent Wood can rest easy still.”  The vision shifted from view point to view point roughly following the path of the Fern. He smiled as he viewed himself, his band of wood riders and his hunting pack in the image and marvelled as it moved over the rest of his host. He could clearly make out Xispa Kerm and his Kinband, Sim’s fellow mage Mikael Astrachan and Kat Umbell and her bows followed by a troop of war dancers. Finally his eyes rested on his glade guard scouts known simply as The Viewers.

Kat and her Archers.

“All is good with the host”, Lloddie proclaimed,” with this Mo Niter and with The Viewers telling us all that they see Spring Watch will really have a good idea of what is going on in this country.” Watching still, the vision displayed in Mo Niter shifted once more from glade to meadow to village until finally coming to rest at the Lonely Barrow.  In ancient times Men had settled this area in an age when the Woodland Elves had lived in great cities a time known even today as the Evil Time. Because of their necromantic practices the vile nameless Men had been forced out by a grand alliance of good a thousand years ago.  The Barrow here was only of a lesser lord of the old people and was not widely known to the world outside the Woodland realm. Still it was rumoured that a great artefact lay somewhere in the barrow, one that must not be disturbed and so the Seasons Watches guarded this area with great diligence. “Something is wrong with your crystal Mage, the Barrow looks like it is under excavation.”

Sim looked into his crystal ball, “Um Lord, the Barrow is under excavation, it is teaming with zombies and undead men from the Evil Time.” Loddies face went hard, ”teaming with men from the Evil Time you say? These men from a past time shall not team all over our lands. I shall put a stop to this Evil Time Team.”

Lord Micka Ston and part of his excavation team.

A robed figure walked briskly between the earthworks covering the barrow. “This whole operation is bust!” the necromancer grumbled. He knew full well he was in Wood Elf territory and could almost feel a sharp steel arrow head punching in between his shoulder blades. He wasn’t afraid of death. The great necromancers of old fascinated him, he had studied there ways for so long. Had he not practiced their arts, taking a terrible physical toll for his endeavours? When he still lived in the cities of Men he had gone completely bald overnight gaining forever the cursed moniker, “Bald Rick”. He had sacrificed so much for the study of death, so no, death held no fear for him except perhaps his own. And that is why he was so keen to rush this dig, they had barely been here a day and he was already prepared to say the whole thing was a Bust Op. His Lord and Master the ancient Vampire Scholar Lord Micka Ston told him that in his youth before he had travelled down form Kislev and been gifted the blood gift he had seen this very barrow mentioned in his masters Tome. This was the resting place of a powerful Necromantic artefact and Lord Micka would have it.  However not one single artefact had been uncovered.

Philard Ding leads his warriors.

Though the ancient minions worked tirelessly they had not the imagination to see this was all going nowhere. The grinning head of Philhard Ding the skeletal champion raised itself from out of the earth. “What do you want simpleton?” the necromancer sneered but the hollow eyes seamed to be staring through him. Looking behind himself Bald Rick saw his Lord approaching. He addressed his lord and master, ”Master Mika I must tell you we have found nothing, the whole Op is Bust. And….” The necromancer paused reluctant to convey his inner thoughts to his master. The Vampire raised a hairless eyebrow, ”Yes my disciple?” It was useless, Mika already new his doubts, he was allowed few secrets from his master, “Lord I worry about the Woodland Elves, I fear, for the meagre rewards we have gained we have bitten off more than we can chew.” The Vampire began to laugh, “Nonsense disciple, there are many, chewier, barrows than this, we will manage quite well even if the fey guardians arrive.” Bald Rick bowed his head, he disagreed with his master but from a sense of preservation did not want to show it. Secretly inside he said to himself, ”Yes there are many barrows but I have doubts that they are chewier than the Bust Op at Barrow in Fern is.”

Please do return dear friend when we shall see what happens when Spring Watch take on the Evil Time Team head to head. If you can stand the puns that is.

Resurrection!

 

I’m back after months away, blame work and the kids not laziness, never laziness. And I have a simple conversion for you.

OK so these Vamps are pretty common but I’m a sucker (get it) for anything marauder and I’ve had an itch to give him the sword from the marauder Necromancer for years. A very simple job but well worth it to my mind. Here he is leading a unit of skeleton spears in a 3rd ed battle report I hope to post soon.

Blood, blood glorious blood, nothing quite like it for cooling the mud.

Long time no blog, I’ve been distracted by WWII stuff this time, perhaps I should start a sister blog for my historical stuff. Anyway inspired by Nico and his truly amazing site, really you must visit; I thought I’d post some old pics of more of my Chaos collection. Again old PJs so please don’t judge too harshly they are a shambles compared to Nicos master pieces but work well enough on the table. Perhaps one day I shall revisit them with the brushes but currently too many other projects await on the lead pile.

There are Beastmen, chaos dwarf crossbows and war machines, centaurs and more thugs knocking about somewhere but that’s another post…

I'm a bit busy...

So I've be preparing stuff for a second round of LL and actually playing, ergo no posts for a while. To keep things ticking over here are a few shots of my Slaaneshi stuff old paints but good record here:

I'm looking at you big boy...

Hello darling...

I'd do anything.. for a better PJ.

Not sure why there are no pics of my Daemonette units or mounted knights. The fiends, champions and thugs are still sadly in the lead pile.

A short post from a proud Father!

I finally won an original Monster Manual for a fair price in excellent condition on ebay recently. I got home from work yesterday to a lovely brown package to unwrap, my 2 year old son Arthur is very good at unwrapping gifts so he insisted on helping me opened it.

“OOO, exciting book!”,  he exclaimed as we revealed the beautifully naive and colourful cover of the seminal work. “You read it to me”, how could a proud father do anything less. A most happy session was then spent as Arthur pointed to every single illustration (OK I skipped a few scary pictures very quickly before he got to them) and said, “what’s that?” Except for the Dragons and real animals because he knew exactly what they were. The picture of the sealion (think merlion rather than the pinniped) fighting the shark was of particular interest, he held the book open at that page as he drank the illustration in. He has got cuddly dragons, now I need to get him some cuddly sealions!