1500 Points v. Khorne Chaos Warriors

Khorne Warlord on Chimera
w/Mark of Khorne, Flail, Chaos Armor, Shield of Ptolos

5 Harpies

5 Chaos Knights w/ Chaos Armor, Lances, Shields, Barding, Standard, Musician

5 Chaos Warriors w/ Standard, Musician

5 Chaos Warriors w/ Standard, Musician

The Wood Elves:

Aewyn Machiara, Wood Elf General
Elven Steed, Lance, Light Armor, Shield, Longbow, Van Horstman's Speculum

Kaitani, Wood Elf Mage
Elven Steed, Longbow, "Hold Fast"

Dunados Celedan, Glade Rider Champion
5 Glade Riders w/Lances, Shields, Standard

Belen, Wardancer Champion
5 Wardancers w/Standard

Oakheart the Treeman

Chariot w/Scythed Wheels, Extra Steeds
3 Crew w/Spears, Longbows, Light Armor, Shields

Chariot w/Scythed Wheels, Extra Steeds
2 Crew w/Spears, Lt. Armor, Shields

5 Waywatchers

10 Archers

9 Archers


Aewyn Machiara surveyed the field of battle. There was a steep hill in the center of his own deployment zone, a broken-down tower (all that remained of the smashed Brettonian defenses) to the right of his deployment zone and toward the center of the field, and a wood directly in front of the left portion of his deployment zone.

He looked towards the Brettonian village. He could see three buildings in the Khorne deployment zone connected by two walls. He knew that the Khornates had left no one alive in that village, and had already destroyed the Duke's army sent to protect the village. Aewyn turned and directed his troops to deploy.

The unit of 10 archers went on the hill, with the unit of nine archers slightly to the right of the hill and the Glade Riders deployed on the extreme right flank. The chariots were deployed to the left of the hill, and the Wardancers were deployed directly in front of it. Aewyn, Kaitani, Oakheart, and the Waywatchers all deployed directly behind the forest on the left side. He knew that the Khornate Warlord riding the Chimera could easily destroy him in hand-to-hand combat, so he felt it wiser to take cover in the woods as soon as possible.

The Chimera-riding Warlord was positioned to the left of the village (from the Wood Elf perspective). The Harpies were positioned directly to the right of him. The Chaos Knights were deployed in a line directly behind the leftmost building, facing left. The first unit of Chaos Warriors was deployed directly behind the center building, facing left. The last unit of Chaos Warriors was deployed directly behind the rightmost building, facing right.

Aewyn heard a great bellow and a flapping of wings. Apparently his lengthy deployement had allowed the Chaos Warriors to steal a march on him. He turned and watched as the Chimera and the Harpies lifted into the air and flew high, becoming tiny specks in the sky. Neither the Chaos Knights or either unit of the Chaos Warriors moved. Magic was uneventful, except that Kaitani informed him that Isha had briefly blessed her with Total Power over the winds of magic! Aewyn thanked Isha for her favors; if Kaitani could get within 24" of the Chimera when it came down, she could hold it fast, saving the Wood Elf army and, if not dispelled, setting the Chimera up for a murderous countercharge from the Kindred of Equos' Chariots.

Aewyn directed his troops not in the wood to "circle the wagons," a tactic best done with two Chariots when facing an intimidating flyer. The Chariots move so that the main elven units (in this case archers and the Wardancers) and the other Chariot are in its charge arc. When the big flyer charges, the charged unit will flee and the Chariots will countercharge the stranded flyer. The only troops who were not involved in this were the Glade Riders, who galloped up the right flank in order to engage the Khornate Chaos Warriors cowering (!?!) in the village. Aewyn knew that he, Kaitani, Oakheart, and the Waywatchers were safe because flying troops cannot use flying movement to enter the wood. He also felt the Glade Riders were safe because they could flee the charge of the Chimera and leave him standing out in the open where Kaitani could trap him with her "Hold Fast" spell and the Chariots could move in to finish him off. If the Chimera for some reason did engage the Glade Riders, they still had the opportunity to "feign flight" and possibly outrun the Warlord's pursuit.

There was no movement from the Khornate hosts. The Harpies and Warlord stayed up high, and the Knights and Warriors did not move, except for the Warriors behind the rightmost building, who actually moved BACKWARDS to get out of the Glade Riders' line of sight. Aewyn scratched his head. This was the strangest group of KHORNATE Chaos Warriors he had ever encountered. Normally they charged across the field screaming and yelling. This group didn't seem to want to enter combat. Maybe they weren't yet aware that the battle had started? (Ed. Note: The Warlord should have had to charge in this turn because he was flying high and frenzied. Frenzied units must charge if anyone is in charge range. Since any unit not in the forest would have been in charge range, the general should have had to charge. I didn't think about this until turn 3, however, so c'est la vie!).

Aewyn instructed his troops to hold their positions, except for the Glade Riders, who continued moving forward to put themselves in a position to charge the Chaos Warriors.

Finally, the General charged the Glade Riders. The Glade Riders fled the general's charge, didn't run very far, but anyone charging from flying high is stuck at the point of the charge and cannot pursue fleeing troops. It did leave the Riders in range for a shot of Chimera breath, but fortunately no one was injured. The Warriors, Knights, and Harpies STILL did not move.

The Glade Riders rallied. The Wood Elf Chariots left their "circle the wagons" positions and headed for the Warlord, as did the Wardancers. Kaitani burst from the forest and headed straight for the Chimera, intent on casting her "Hold Fast" spell with Total Power. The archers shot at the Warlord, but with no effect. Kaitaini subsequently cast "Hold Fast" on the Chimera.

But wait! There was a dispute as to whether Kaitani was within 24" of the Chimera. Although a measurement was taken, which Aewyn felt conclusively proved that she was (;-)), the disagreement was not settled and the Wood Elves lost the subsequent roll-off, which means Kaitani had wasted her Total Power. (sigh). This was not good news.

The Khornate General was required to charge the Glade Riders, and so he did. The Harpies came down on the very edge of the table on the Wood Elf left side to contest table quarters. The Warriors and Knights still did not move. The Glade Riders attempted to feign flight but failed their leadership test and were destroyed in hand-to-hand combat.

The Chariots charged the Warlord but were just out of range. Aewyn ordered Oakheart out of the forest towards the Chaos line and the Waywatchers back towards the Harpies. Missle fire at the Harpies and the Warlord once again failed to cause any wounds. The battle was over.

The final score was Chaos 340 (240 for cost of Glade Rider unit with Champion + 100 for the Glade Rider standard) to Wood Elves 100 (had sole control of the Wood Elf right table quarter).

I must say that this was one of the most disappointing games I have ever played. A Chimera in a 1500 point game (and I was limited to one (1) magic item!), KHORNATE Chaos Warriors and Knights skulking behind buildings, frenzied general not charging on turn 2, losing the roll-off for Kaitani's spell range when I had based my whole strategy around it . . . oh well. I have another league game against this army in a couple of months so I will get the chance to avenge Loren and my fallen Glade Riders (why, oh why did they not feign flight? ;-))!