2000 Points: Wood Elves v. Blood Dragons

Introduction.

Lord Galvandor raised himself in the stirrups of his magnificent elven steed, a white stallion named Dash. He surveyed the battlefield as the living dead arrayed themselves for battle in front of the ruined keep. They moved strangely co-ordinated, as the powerful mind behind them exerted his, or its, will. They reminded Galvandor, in a grotesque way, of a puppet play he once saw, where the puppeteer moved his wooden dolls with the same jerky movements as the unliving in front of him. He turned in the saddle to speak his mind to his lifelong and trusted companion, the Mage Lord Mazaii. But he held his tongue when he saw the contorted mask of anger and hate in his friends face.

Mazaii is a wielder of High Magic, the purest and noblest of all magic. He is a Tree-Speaker and Animal-Friend and a worshipper of life and nature. He could feel the pain from the earth itself. This gathering of evil spirits and wielders of Dark Magic, the cruellest and blackest of all magic, made him want to scream his rage out loud. Wich he did.

Lord Galvandor heard the warcry of his friend, but no-one replied from the undead battleline. There was only silence.

Then suddenly, one unit of Skeletons parted, and formed a honour guard, and forward rode a single figure on a black steed. He was clad in crimson plate mail and carried a rune inscribed sword. The warrior raised his sword in salute and smiled. The keen eyed wood elves had no problems in picking out the details in his face; the black eyes, the pale skin, the white fangs. They clearly heard his hoarse words: "I accept your challenge, mortal. Come and meet your doom!"

Lord Galvandor turned to his retinue, but the veteran wood elves were already in position. He smiled to himself, raised his lance, and shouted to the champion Viali: "Unfurl the banner! Unfurl the Banner of the Grey Hawk!"

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Special Rules:

-2000 pts each side
-Max 50 pts Magic Items
-Total Power = Power Scroll, Drain Magic = Dispel Scroll

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Lord Galvandors Retinue (Wodd Elf War Host)

-Lord Galvandor (General).
Steed, Lance, Longbow, Rending Sword, Armour of Fortune, Van Horstmans Speculum.

-Mazaii (Mage Lord)
Steed, Staff of Lightening, Dispel Scroll, War Paint, Skull Staff.

-Viali (Battle Standard)
Steed, Lt. armour, Shield, Banner of Sorcery.

-Gawain (Champion)
Steed, Lt. armour, Shield, Lance, Hail of Doom.

-5xGlade Riders (led by Gawain)
Lt. armour, Lance, Standard: War Banner.

-5xGlade Riders (led by Viali)
Longbows.

-6xDryads

-6xScouts

-5xWaywatchers

-9xArchers

-9xArchers

-6xWardancers

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Blood Dragon Army

-Vampire Count (Blood Dragon)
Steed, H. armour, Shield, Rending Sword.
Special abilites: Strength of Steel, Red Fury.

-Necromancer Lord
Staff of Damnation, Chalice of Sorcery, Potion of Strength, Jade Amulet.

-Necromancer
Warrior Familiar.

-Wight Lord
Steed, H. armour, Lance, Enchanted Shield.

-Wight Lord
Shield, Armour of Fortune

-Wraith

-Skeleton Champion
Spear, Armour of endurance

-Doom Wolf

-9xDire Wolf (led by Doom Wolf)

-Banshee

-4xVampire Bats

-19xZombies (led by Wraith)

-18xSkeletons (led by Necromancer & Skeleton Champ)
Spear, Standard, Musician

-18xSkeletons (led by Necromancer Lord & Wight Lord)
Lt. armour, Shield, Musician, Standard: Banner of Sorcery.

-6xWight Cavalry (led by Vampire Count & Wight Lord)
H. armour, Shield, Lance, Standard: Standard of Shielding

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Battlefield layout:
We played the game on a 4'x4' table. North was the Vampire Counts table edge, and south was the Wood Elf table edge.

Scenery was as follows:
-In the N-W quadrant there was a large, one level hill.
-In the N-E quadrant there was a sturdy stone tower.
-In the S-W quadrant there was an old, decaying barn.
-In the S-E quadrant there were some overgrown ruins.
-In the middle of the table there was a small copse of trees (6" in diameter).

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Deployment:

Deployment; Wood Elves:
-The Scouts deployed in skirmish formation on the extreme western flank, west of the old barn and only 3" from the southern table edge.
-The Glade Riders armed with lances deployed in skirmish formation on the east side of he old barn.
-Lord Galvandor and the Mage Lord Mazaii deployed as single models next to the Glade Riders /within 5").
-The Dryads deployed south of the woods, with the wardancers right behind.
-The two Archer units deployed in a long line west of the ruins, very close to the southern table edge.
-The bow armed Glade Riders deployed in skirmish formation on the extreme east flank, east of the ruins.
-The Waywatchers infiltrated the wood in the middle of the field.

Deployment; Vampire Counts:
-The Dire Wolves deployed on the north-western flank, west of the hill.
-The Vampire Bats deployed behind the hill.
-The Skeleton unit with the Necromancer Lord deployed on the hill.
-The Zombie unit deployed on the east side of the hill.
-The Bashee hid behind the Zombies.
-The Skeleton unit armed with spears deployed north of the wood.
-The Wight Cavalry with Vampire Count deployed on the eastern flank, west of the stone tower.

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The Battle:

WE Turn 1:
-Movement: The Waywatchers moved to the western edge of the forest. The Dryads moved into the forest, and wheeled to face noth-east, closely followed by the Wardancers. The bow armed Glade Riders spurred their horses, and moved 18". They positioned themselves just south of the wood. The rest of the elven army held their ground, as they had been expertly deployed for battle.

-Shooting: The two Archer units let loose with their longbows, and two dead knights fell to the ground. The Scouts, Waywatchers and Lord Galvandor targeted the Dire Wolves, and seven beasts was destroyed.

-Hand-to-hand: Nothing. No-one was in close combat yet.

-Magic: Mazaii used his Staff of Lightening on the Necromancer Lord, and meeting no resistance, the lightening bolt struck home. There was a small crackle as the Necromancers Jade Amulet absorbed some of the energy, but the lightening still caused one wound. Mazaii then cast Glamour of Teclis on the Vampire Bats, and still met no resistance from the evil wizards. Mazaii continued with The Fiery Convocation on the Wight Cavalry, and for the first time the Necromancer Lord showed his magical powers, and dispelled it, using most of his cards. Mazaii saw his chance and drew power from the Banner of Sorcery to cast Assault of Stones on the hill in the Nort-Western corner. The Undead general did not have any dispels left, so with a mighty roar of grinding stones, Mazaii unleashed the fury of the Eatrh itself on the blasphemous ones. Result: The remaining Dire Wolves and Doom Wolf was destroyed, the whole unit of Vampire bats was crushed and eight Skeletons from the Necromancer Lords unit fell apart before the earth settled itself.

VC Turn 1:
-Movement: Both Skeleton units and the Zombie unit moved forward. The Wight Cavalry led by the Vampire Count advanced on the east side of the forest, and wheeled to face the Dryads who were partially in the woods. The Bashee advanced at frightening speed towards the west side of the forest.

-Shooting: The Banshee screamed at the Waywatchers in the woods, and two fell to the earth, dead as stones. The remaining three elite scouts gripped their longbows and held fast.

-Hand-to-hand: Nothing.

-Magic: The Necromancer Lord raised his Staff of Damnation, and tried to summon its power. This was dispelled by Mazaii with Drain Magic from the banner of Sorcery. Frustrated, the Necromancer Lord cast Vanhels Dance Macabre on the Wight Cavalry. it was dispelled two times, but the third time it took effect, and the Wight Cavalry charged the Dryads. He then cast Vanhels dance Macabre on the spear armed Skeletons, who marched after the Wights, to the east side of the forest. The last act was from the first level Necromancer, who used two dispel cards to Witch Flight into close combat with the Scouts.

WE Turn 2:
-Movement: The Wardancers leapt over the Wight Cavalry, and turned to make a rear charge next turn. The Glade Riders armed with lances moved to the western table edge, and prepared for a flank charge on the Skeleton unit led by the Necromancer Lord. The Mage Lord Mazaii followed them to get a clear line of sight to the Banshee. Lord Galvandor and the Horse Archers stayed close to the Dryads to give them the benefit of Galvandors Ld, and reroll from the battle standard.

-Shooting: The two Archer units let loose a volley of arrows at the spear armed Skeletons, and five fell apart. The Horse Archers fired at the Necromancer Lords Skeleton unit and two was destroyed. Then the champion Gawain, leader of the lance armed glade Riders, unleashed his Hail of Doom Arrow and five more fell. The remaining Waywatchers fired at the Zombies and felled two.

-Hand-to-hand: The Scouts drew their swords to finish the impetous Necromancer who had foolishly transported himself into close combat, but before the Scouts could land a blow, a furius creature emerged from the Necromancers slingbag. It was all teeth and claws, and it shredded one elf to pieces. The other elf was unsettled by the monster and missed. Surprise turned to panic, and the Scouts fled the battlefield, closely followed by a Necromancer and his mad pet. (We were unsure if the Warrior Familiar would be affected by Witch Flight or not, but we let it work because of the surprise it caused me). The Dryads used the Willow aspect to deny the Wight Cavalry their spear bonus. Unfortunatly did the Vampire Count hit and wound with his Rending Sword, and one Dryad was killed. The Dryads caused no casualities in return, and broke automaticly as they were outnumbered by a fear causing enemy. The Wights pursued and caught the Dryads at the edge of the forest. Luckily, no-one panicked.

-Magic: Mazaii pointed his Staff of Lightening at the Necromancer Lord one more time, and uttered the command word, but it was dispelled without effort and rendered useless. Mazaii then spread his arms and tried to Banish the Unliving ones, but this too was dispelled. He then used his last magical power to summon The Fiery Convocation on the Wight Cavalry, and was successful. Two ancient Wights became charcoal.

VC Turn 2:
-Movement: The Wight Cavalry charged the Horse Archers, who passed their fear test, and elected to stand fast. The Zombie unit and the Necromancer Lords Skeleton unit advanced on the west side of the forest, while the Skeleton unit with spears advanced towards the Wardancers on east side. The Banshee hid behind the Zombie unit. Lastly the first level Necromancer reappeared on the southern table edge.

-Shooting: The Bashee screamed again at the Waywatchers, and the remaining three was killed by pure terror.

-Hand-to-hand: The Horse Archers tried to Feign Flight, passed their Ld test, but fled only 7" and was caught by the pursuing Vampire Count and his unit. Subsequently they were slaughtered to an elf.

-Magic: The Fiery Convocation burned the remaining two Wights to cinders. The Necromancer Lord drank from his Chalice of Sorcery and was wounded by the power. The Necromancer Lord used his Staff of Damnation, but it was dispelled and used up. He then cast Gaze of Nagash on the Glade Riders, and Mazaii tried to dispel, but to no avail. Five Glade Riders was killed, and only the champion Gawain remained. The Necromancer Lord then cast Vanhels Dance Macabre on the Skeletons with spears, and they charged the Wardancers. He continued his magical onslauht and summoned a total of six Skeletons in his own unit. Lastly, the low level Necromancer Witch Flighted into close combat with one of the Wood Elf archer units. Luckily for me, he forgot to dispel The Fiery Convocation.

WE Turn 3:
-Movement: The Glade Rider champion Gawain and Lord Galvandor charged the Skeleton unit led by the Necromancer Lord. The unengaged Archer unit Wheeled to get line of sight to the Vampire Count and his Wight Lord companion.

-Shooting: The Archer unit let loose an accurate volley of arrows at the mounted Undeads, but all arrows was deflected by the heavy armour.

-Hand-to-hand: The champion Gawain screamed a challenge to avenge his fallen kin, and soundlessly a Wight Lord accepted. Gawains lance hits and wounds twice, but one wound is saved by the Wight Lords Armour of Fortune. Unbalanced by the impact, the Wight Lord missed with his attacks. Lord Galvandor wielded his Rending Sword and split his attacks between the Necromancer Lord and Skeletons. He hit and wounded the Necromancer Lord twice, causing a total of four wounds. With a death rattle the Necromancer Lord fell to the ground. With its powerful hooves Lord Galvandors steed crushed a skeleton. A couple of more skeletons fell apart because of combat resolution. At the other end of the battlefield the Warrior Familiar missed with all its attacks, and the agile elves killed it, and surrounded the lonely Necromancer. In the combat between the spear armed Skeletons and the Wardancers, I made a terrible and stupid mistake. (I forgot that the Skeletons charged and strike first). I chose the Whirling Death dance, but three Wardancers was killed before they could strike, and they only managed to destroy two Skeletons in return. Subsequently they broke and fled, but was not caught.

-Magic: The Fiery Convocation wounds the Wight Lord. Mazaii then cast Glamour of Teclis on the Skeletons with spear. He then cast Banishment, but this was dispelled by the Vampire Count. Mazaii managed to Deadlock the Wight Lords Armour of Fortune, to help Gawain in the challenge.

VC Turn 3.
-Movement: The Skeletons with spears tried to advance, but failed their Ld test, so they turned and moved backwards. The Zombie unit wheeled towards Lord Galvandor. The Vampire Count and the Mounted Wight Lord moved towards Lord Galvandor also.

-Shooting: The Banshee screamed at the Mage Lored Mazaii, but no effect.

-Hand-to-hand: Gawain and the Wight Lord, locked in challenge, traded blows with no effect. Lord Gavandor felled three Skeletons, and one more fell apart. The Archer unit who had surrounded the Necromancer put him to the sword.

-Magic: The Fiery Convocation destroyed the Wight Lord and damaged the Vampire Count. The only undead wizard left was the Vampire Count, who tried to cast Drain Life, but it was dispelled. He then managed to dispel the Fiery Convocation.

WE Turn 4:
-Movement: The Wardancers Rallied, and both Archer units wheeled towards the Zombie unit.

-Shooting: Both Archer units shot at the Zombies, and felled six of them.

-Hand-to-hand: Gawain and the Wight ord continued their standstill. Lord Galvandor felled three more skeletons, and the steed yet another. Even more fell apart from combat resolution.

-Magic: the Winds of Magic were low, and the only spell to be cast was The Fiery Convocation, who was dispelled by the Vampire Count.

VC Turn 4.
-Movement: The Vampire Count and Zombie unit chaged Lord Galvandor, but the Zombies was just out of range. The Skeletons with spears failed their Ld test again, and was moved even further away.

-Shooting: The Banshee screamed at the champion Gawain, who, with a surprised look on his face, fell to the ground, blood streaming from his nose and ears.

-Hand-to-hand: Lord Galvandor issued a challenge to the Vampire Count, who haughtily accepted. His arrogance turned to horror as Van Horstmans Speculum swapped S, T & I. The Vampire Count failed to wound Lord Galvandor, who in return caused six wounds on the Vampire Count with the aid of his supernatural strength and Rending Sword.

-Magic: Nothing.

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With the death of the Undead general, a lot of undeads was destroyed, and he yielded.

Victory to the Wood Elves! Praise Isha!