Battle of the Tears of Fate

Greetings!

Here comes the second battle fought in our new Firestorm II campaign, this time pitting my Hammerhalian aelves against their more sinister kin from Anvilgard!

See Battle of the Chains for the previous battle in the campaign, or check out the Faction Focus if you want to read some backstories on the participant factions.

The Battleplan we generated from the Open War cards was a tricky one: an ambush deployment with two objectives and both armies arriving in 2-3 parts? Ouch.

It all became even more ouch when my opponent won the roll-off to choose which part he wanted to play, which put me onto the middle of the board as Player A. Other than that, it was a simple scenario; grab both of the objectives and control them at the end of any of your opponent's turns.

Onto the battle!
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After his swift victory at The Chains, Lord Morduviel Dawnspur took his army south-east, crossing the mountain range dividing the Flamescar Plateau and pressing on to the plains beyond. Day by day his legions drew closer to the Coast of the Searing Sea, the rumoured landing site of the Anvilgard intruders. The forces of Hammerhal were snaking their way through the ancient ruins at the Tears of Fate, navigating the labyrinth that was the husk of a dead city, when Seawarden Sarvaniel suddenly called the column into a halt.

Lowering the hand with which he had signalled the order, Sarvaniel looked around them. Hot winds blew from the east, pulling at their banners and making them flap lazily above the ranks. There was an overwhelming smell of sulphur and ash in the air, and no matter how many swigs one took from a waterskin there was always a dull tang at the back of one's throat. Whispered conversations started rising from the halted soldiery as their officer scanned their surroundings.
"Ithulwin, where's our rearguard? Lord Dawnspur was supposed to bring up the rear with a squadron of Reavers," Sarvaniel inquired, frowning at the dull-grey ash clouds that limited their vision alarmingly.
The adjutant shrugged, the same alarm in his almond-shaped eyes that had overtaken the Seawarden.
"I can't say, my lord. They were right behind us only moments ago."
"What about our forward scouts?"
"Not a word from them either, my lord."

Something was amiss here. Suddenly, a warhorn blew somewhere nearby, startling the aelven column. That was not a Hammerhalian battle-call, that was something else. In a matter of heartbeats the enemy came into view, a giant War Hydra backed by ranks of Drakespawn cavalry rushing at them from amidst the clouds of ash and smoke.
"Ambush! It's the cursed Anvilgardians, FORM ON ME!" Sarvaniel cried out, drawing his sword.

Puffington Post #19

Firestorm Faction Focus

Greetings!

With the newest Firestorm campaign now underway, I thought it might be polite for the three participating warlords to introduce their forces and their respective hobby blogs. Once more troops get painted and the armies are arranged for some family portraits, I'll be adding some character/unit introductions here along with some pretty pictures.


Blueraven's Seraphon

Worldship entered realspace after receiving distress call from Flamescar Plateu’s beacon. Primitive races had invaded Seraphons ancient territory and managed somehow trigger beacons warning signal.

During the travel around Mortal Realms, most of the ships denizens had stayed in suspended animation. Much had changed when they finally landed near Realm of Fire. Necroquake had disturbed the balance of realm magic and new races had emerged from hiding.

With technology that seemed like magic to the lesser races, worldship teleported scouting party to the Plateu to investigate the disturbance.

Led by Saurus Oldblood roughly translated Kraq-nar Jaws of Death, the scouting party advanced deep in to the enemy territory.

Be sure to check out his impressive myriad of content at Blueraven's Blog.

VainVader's Anvilgard

Wild Beast Hunting Cohort Three of the First Safeguard Army of City of Anvilgard, in command of Dreadlord Rinos Wildbringer, riding Qidir the Loud, a Black Dragon

While Rinos and his cohort were usually patrolling and hunting in the nearby jungle areas of Anvilgard, it was not unheard of them to sail ships and campaign elsewhere as well. This time their destination was Flamescar Plateau and they were not hunting primarily wild beasts, but knowledge and secrets long forgotten. However, the beasts would not be forgotten, since a large number of different beasts travelled the seas with the army, as mounts to the valiant knights.

Their black ships with red sails arrived at Searing Sea and disembarked army looked anxiously to move forward to inland, area very much different to their home jungle.

Head over to his cozy blog and have a look at all the stuff he's painting at Vain Vader.

ExtraBushyBeards' Hammerhal

Lord Morduviel Dawnspur assessed his troops as they marched by. Mounted Reavers from Hammerhal's outer rim far-ranging patrols, Citizen Archers from the Highborn Quarter garrison, Levy Spearmen drafted from the lowlier aelven population in the southern Craftsmen's Disctrict, a Repeater Bolt Thrower funded from Morduviel's personal coffers and an Archmage of the Eldritch Council with an entourage of Swordmaster bodyguards. A hint of a smile passed across the aelven lord's features, but only momentarily.

Morduviel was very pleased by the enthusiasm and open-mindedness the aelven aristocracy of Hammerhal had shown towards his family's ambitions in sending an armed force to safeguard the peace and tranquility of the Flamescar Plateau. House Dawnspur had received valuable intelligence on the movements of an Anvilgardian fleet making it's way to the plateau through the Bay of the Searing Sea, and they had resolved to stop the usurpers in their tracks. Flamescar Plateau and all its natural resources and ancient treasures were the rightful possessions of the Free City of Hammerhal, after all.

As his legions marched on in lockstep, emerging from their fortified encampment and disappearing into the hazy dawn along the strands of the Coast of Ill Omen, Lord Morduviel cast a gaze at the ranks of Spireguard bringing up the rear of the column. Oh yes, he mused to himself. Just this morn a squadron of sleek, white-flanked Hawkships had sailed in along the murky waters of the coast, landing several cohorts of spear-and-bow Spireguard Marines to reinforce his already considerable army. A courtesy of his family's friends high up in the Swifthawk Agency, no doubt.

I see no reason in placing a link here.

Battle of the Chains

Greetings!

Here comes the very first battlereport of the Firestorm II Campaign I announced not too long ago, featuring my Hammerhalian Aelves facing off against the Seraphon under the command of Oldblood Kraq-Nar.

This battle took place at The Chains, a region littered with ancient duardin chainforts that can be manipulated to lash out against any interlopers: army generals within 1" of a Chainfort terrain feature may inflict D3 mortal wounds on any enemy within 12" of the terrain feature. A nasty special rule!

Otherwise the aim of the game was simple, there were three objectives on the board and the player controlling the majority of them at the end of the game would be the victor. However, should either player control all three objectives at any point in the game, at the end of their own turn, the victory would go to him. Overall a very nice and simple scenario, spiced up by the random Twist we rolled for our game: every unit gained +2" Movement as well as +1 to Run and Charge rolls, making everyone painfully fast in a game of take-and-hold!

On with the story!

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Lord Morduviel Dawnspur assessed his troops as they marched by. Mounted Reavers from Hammerhal's outer rim far-ranging patrols, Citizen Archers from the Highborn Quarter garrison, Levy Spearmen drafted from the lowlier aelven population in the southern Craftsmen's Disctrict, a Repeater Bolt Thrower funded from Morduviel's personal coffers and an Archmage of the Eldritch Council with an entourage of Swordmaster bodyguards. A hint of a smile passed across the aelven lord's features, but only momentarily.

Morduviel was very pleased by the enthusiasm and open-mindedness the aelven aristocracy of Hammerhal had shown towards his family's ambitions in sending an armed force to safeguard the peace and tranquility of the Flamescar Plateau. House Dawnspur had received valuable intelligence on the movements of an Anvilgardian fleet making it's way to the plateau through the Bay of the Searing Sea, and they had resolved to stop the usurpers in their tracks. Flamescar Plateau and all its natural resources and ancient treasures were the rightful possessions of the Free City of Hammerhal, after all.

As his legions marched on in lockstep, emerging from their fortified encampment and disappearing into the hazy dawn along the strands of the Coast of Ill Omen, Lord Morduviel cast a gaze at the ranks of Spireguard bringing up the rear of the column. Oh yes, he mused to himself. Just this morn a squadron of sleek, white-flanked Hawkships had sailed in along the murky waters of the coast, landing several cohorts of spear-and-bow Spireguard Marines to reinforce his already considerable army. A courtesy of his family's friends high up in the Swifthawk Agency, no doubt.

Firestorm II Campaign

Greetings!

I promised this summer would bring new campaigns and lots of batreps and painting, and this is the post that starts things off by announcing....

Firestorm II

Second War for the Flamescar Plateau

This post will serve as a landing page for this campaign's overall progress, and as such will be constantly updated as the war rages on. Last time there were four warlords competing for the possession of the Flamescar Plateau, one from each Grand Alliance, but this time there are three armies... all of which hail from the same Grand Alliance.

The Free City Hammerhal sends forth a contingent of aelves drawn from the city's massive population, while the shadowy city-port of Anvilgard provisions a competing force to race its sister city of Hammerhal for the control of the Flamescar region. Above the armsrace of the two Cities of Order, a more mysterious power gathers... The Seraphon are bound for the plateau as well, led by the ancent Oldblood Kraq-Nar in search of a disturbance their worldship detected on its voyage through the void in between the Realms.

While waiting for more battlereports and tidings of war, be sure to check out this campaign's Firestorm Faction Focus!

This campaign is still in progress and will receive fairly regular updates.

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