Sheltered Barrage in the Blood Stained Forest

Battle number 3.

 

The forces of the Daqan Lords once again attempted to ambush the peace loving Uthuk Y’llan. They deployed 3 units of greyhaven mages, 2 units of citadel guards, 2 units of citadel lancers, 1 unit of rune golems, 1 unit of iron bound spearmen and 1 unit of riverwatch riders against a band of 5 viper legion archers, 2 units of blood sisters, s units of fleshripper brutes and a unit of obscene. The Daqan reinforced their position with spikes and crystal spires, which, according to the deployment rules, cost one less deployment point than normal.

VP were awarded for occupying the marked spots and the Daqan gained a VP whenever they eliminated an enemy adjacent to the village, while the Uthuk gained a VP if a unit occupying a forest hex eliminated an enemy unit.

Starting Positions

Turn 1
The Daqan sprung their ambush using the echelon left manouevre. A unit of citadel guards moved forward to occupy one of the objective locations and a unit of riverwatch riders charged forward to occupy the second one, backed up by a unit of lancers. 2 VP.

Turn 1 Daqan Plan

Turn 1 Daqan Result

The Uthuk responded with an attack in the centre. A unit of fleshrippers raced to occupy the remaining objective while a unit of archers moved sideways and engaged the Daqan riders. this freed a path for a unit of blood sisters to move into the nearby wood and also attack the riders. Unfortunately, while the archers poisoned the riders, they did no actual damage and were in fact wounded by the rider counter attack. The blood sisters forced the riders to withdraw from the objective and occupied it themselves, but they also did no actual damage. 2VP.


Turn 1 Uthuk Plan



Turn 1 Uthuk Result

Turn 2
The Daqan launched a cavalry charge. The riverwatch used some lore to recover from the poisoning and moved into the trees to flank the blood sisters and threaten the Uthuk archers. While a unit of lancers raced into another copse of trees to attack the blood sisters. It is unclear exactly what happened next, as the blood sisters were destroyed but the Daqan did not advance onto the vacated objective. A unit of Daqan archers were wounded and forced to withdraw. 1 VP for a total of 3.
 

Turn 2 Daqan Plan

Turn 2 Daqan Result

Two units of Uthuk archers in the centre responded and attempted to engage the Daqan cavalry. One unit advanced to the objective marker and inflicted a casualty on the riverwatch light cavalry in the trees, but suffered a casualty in return. The second unit of archers also inflicted a casualty on the riverwatch. 2VP for a total of 4.
 
 

Turn 2 Uthuk Plan



Turn 2 Uthuk Result

Turn 3
The Daqan counter attacked with the lancers in the woods, riding down the Uthuk archers and taking the objective. They also advanced a unit of golems. 2VP for a total of 5.

Turn 3 Daqan Plan

Turn 3 Daqan Result

The Uthuk turned their attention to their left flank and attacked with 3 units. The blood sisters advanced into the woods and cast their spells on the nearby Daqan spearmen, wounding one, while the fleshrippers redeployed to cover the gap in the centre of the battle line. 1 VP for a total of 5.

Turn 3 Uthuk Result

Turn 4

The Daqan launched an "onslaught" allowing 3 units of infantry to move an extra hex. A unit of spearmen moved forward into the village to protect the flank of the objective. A unit of mages on the left moved forward and another unit of mages on the right moved into the hill and attempted to bespell the blood sisters to no effect. 2 VP for a total of 7.

Turn 4 Daqan Plan

Turn 04 Daqan Result

The Uthuk responded by ordering a "wedge" advance. The blood sisters cast "Fury of Uy’llam" and targeted the Daqan spearmen on the nearby objective killing them and scoring a VP for doing so from within a forest. The Obscenes moved forward and two units of archers engaged the riverwatch in the woods, expelling them and poisoning them but doing no actual wounds. 2 VP for a total of 7.

Turn 4 Uthuk Plan

Turn 04 Uthuk Result

Turn 5
Daqan then tried an echelon right. The unit of mages advanced as did the citadel guardsmen to attack the blood sisters. The golems also moved forward, while magic was used to permit the iron bound infantry to advance onto the objective. The attack of the mages and spearmen wounded one blood sister and produced a magical shield for the golems. 2VP for a total of 9.

Turn 5 Daqan Plan

Turn 5 Daqan Result

The Uthuk archers were ordered to "darken the skies" and fired volley after volley at the Daqan cavalry. A unit of heavy cavalry was destroyed, but once again the light cavalry evaded and withdrew into the woods. The Uthuk commander also used dark magic to "scatter" the Daqan who were surrounding the left objective marker. 1VP for a total of 8.  

Turn 5 Uthuk Plan

Turn 5 Uthuk Result

Turn 6The Daqan on the left flank were spurred to action at the sight of the heavy cavalry being shot down and attacked. The remaining unit of lancers charged the Uthuk archers and ran them down while the two units of mages advanced to provide support. The commander also used his magic lore to move the iron bound heavy spearmen back to the objective on their right. 2VP for a total of 11.

Turn 6 Daqan Plan

Turn 6 Daqan Result

The Uthuk patrol in the centre took up the fight and the fleshrippers charged through the woods to strike the light cavalry while the blood sisters cast spells at the mages. The cavalry were destroyed and the fleshrippers immediately turned on the nearby heavy cavalry wounding them and forcing them to withdraw. One of the mages was wounded. 2 VP for a total of 10.

Turn 6 Uthuk Plan

Turn 6 Uthuk Result

Turn 7
The Daqan called on their battle lore to aid them. They gained 6 lore tokens which they used to portal the golems to attack the blood sisters forcing them to withdraw from the woods. 2VP for a total of 13.


Turn 7 Daqan Plan

Turn 7 Daqan Result

The Uthuk attempted to replicate that feat by also calling on their battlelore scoring two infantry and one elite action. They also used their lore to activate the fleshrippers. The obscene moved forward and destroyed the mages on the left. One unit of archers advanced and fired at the mages on the right poisoning them. The fleshrippers attacked the mages on the objective but, despite flanking them with the archers, had no effect. Finally, the archers in the rear fired at the remaining heavy cavalry unit and destroyed it. However, after the carnage, only 1 VP was scored for a total of 11.

Turn 7 Uthuk Plan

Turn 7 Uthuk Result

Turn 8
The Daqan forces attempted to exploit their lead and tried to surround the Uthuk. Both units of mages on the left used their lore to remove the poison and cast spells against the Uthuk archers, forcing the to withdraw. On the right, the golems attempted to push the fleshrippers off the objective, supported by the mages, but failed. 2 VP for a total of 15.

Turn 8 Daqan Plan

Turn 8 Daqan Result

The Uthuk attacked on their left flank with the golems, blood sisters and archers and defeated the golems scoring 1 extra VP for a total of 13 but it was not enough to defeat the Daqan. As they occupied 2 objectives at the start of their next turn the Daqan won with 17 VP.

Turn 8 Uthuk Plan

 

Turn 8 Uthuk Result

Infiltrating through the Iron Volley

 

After their backstabbing raid into the Uthuk Y’llan homeland to desecrate the sacred groves, the cowardly Daqan withdrew back to their own lands leaving their peasant archers to defend the border. The Uthuk Y’llan, however, were not about to let this insult go unpunished and mounted a raid of their own to infiltrate the enemy territory and exact revenge.

[Rule note: For the campaign we decided that we would follow the normal scenario set up rules and select one scenario each from a random draw of 3 cards. However, once that scenario card is used, it is removed from the deck thus reducing the future choices and ensuring that each battle is different. In this game, the Uthuk selected "Power of Infiltration" (C3) and the Daqan selected "Iron Volley" (A2). The choice was interesting as both scenarios required the players to score victory points by killing enemy units.]

Setup

The Daqan forces deployed 5 units of Yeoman Archers, supported by 2 units of Greyhaven Mages and a Siege Golem. Their plan was to hold back and defeat the Uthuk through sheer firepower. The Uthuk deployed a mixed force comprising Viper Legion archers, infantry in the form of Berserkers and Blood Harvesters, 3 units of Flesh Rippers, and a Chaos Lord.

The Daqan scouts must have detected the Uthuk Y’llan preparing to invade, as they reacted quickly and began a Line Advance, moving some archers forward to secure a victory banner and occupying the nearby crystal spire with the siege golem (This allowed any unit that started its move on this hex to use an extra die in combat). Their long range fire killed two of the Uthuk flesh rippers, but was otherwise ineffective. 1VP

Turn 1 Daqan plan

Turn 1 Daqan result

The Uthuk began a battle march. The Chaos Lord moved forward to capture a victory banner and one unit of archers moved forward into the ford. Both left flank archer units then took shots at the forward unit of Daqan archers, killing 2 and forcing them to withdraw. 1VP.

Turn 1 Uthuk plan

 

Turn 1 Uthuk result

The Daqan responded with an attack from the centre. The mages on the right moved in front of the weakened archers and cast an ineffective spell at the injured unit of Fleshrippers. The magical energy did succeed in conjuring a magical shield on the nearby archers to help them in the future. Meanwhile the Siege Golem, infused with magical energy from the crystal spire, fired at the Chaos Lord with no result. The Mages on the left flank, moved forward into some trees and cast a spell at the Fleshrippers in front of them, only forcing them to withdraw. 1VP for a total of 2.



Turn 2 Daqan plan



Turn 2 Daqan result

The Uthuk commander gave the order to "darken the skies" and all three Viper Legion Archer units fired. Despite launching a total of 6 volleys, they only result was that the leading unit of Mages and Archers were poisoned.1 VP for a total of 2.

Turn 2 Uthuk plan

Turn 2 Uthuk result

The Daqan forces executed a left echelon manouevre. Two units of archers plus the golem fired at the Uthuk unit of Blood Harvesters in the centre. Only one was injured. 1VP for a total of 3.
 

Turn 3 Daqan plan

Turn 3 Daqan result

The Uthuk retaliated with an atack on their left flank. Both units of Fleshrippers advanced with the weakened one moving behind the buildings to use them as cover. One of the archer units supported the advance and fired at the Mages, scoring 1 hit. 1 VP for a total of 3.

Turn 3 Uthuk plan

Turn 3 Uthuk result

The Daqan, facing an imminent attack on their right by the Uthuk Fleshrippers, called for a "desperate ploy" The Mages and the larger unit of archers both fired on the Fleshrippers that had moved into the buildings. However, the buildings shielded the enemy and the only outcome was another magic shield for the archers. 1VP for a total of 4.

Turn 4 Daqan plan

Turn 4 Daqan result

The Uthuk then launched a cavalry charge. The two units of Fleshrippers on the left surrounded the Daqan Mages and ran them down. The smaller unit then turned on the archers and killed two more of them before forcing them backwards. On the right, the third unit of Fleshrippers advanced ready to support further attacks. 2VP for a total of 5.
 

Turn 4 Uthuk plan

Turn 4 Uthuk result

Fearing their right flank was about to be overrun, the Daqan committed the forces in their centre to an attack. The Mages in the woods pulled back to take aim at the Fleshrippers in the town and the Golem backed them up with heavy fire. The lone archer on the hill also fired at the weakened unit of Fleshrippers. The combined firepower drove the enemy away, but did no actual damage. 1VP for a total of 5.

Turn 5 Daqan plan

Turn 5 Daqan result

 The Uthuk continued the pressure on their left and ordered the two Fleshripper units to patrol and clean up the remaining Daqan light troops. However, they were obviously exhausted after their earlier charge and rapid retreat and they had no effect on the defending archers and Mages. 1 VP for a total of 6.

Turn 5 Uthuk plan

Turn 5 Uthuk result

The Daqan commander urged her remaining men on the right flank to use the "clash of steel" to repel the Fleshrippers. There must have been some whisky in their porridge that morning because the defenders not only held their ground, but managed to kill two of the fleshrippers and drive another one away. 1 VP for a total of 6.

Turn 6 Daqan plan

Turn 6 Daqan result

The Uthuk then began to switch their effort from left to right, using the centre as a wedge. One unit of Fleshrippers was ordered to continue cleaning up the Daqan light infantry, which they did by overrunning the Mages and then charging into the remaining archer. Meanwhile the Chaos Lord moved away from the victory banner freeing it up for a unit of archers to secure it and take a shot at the Golem to poison it as they did so. On the far right the Berserkers were ordered forward ready to charge. 3 VP for a total of 9.

Turn 6 Uthuk plan

Turn 6 Uthuk result

The Daqan were quick to counterattack, albeit they no longer had any troops on their right flank. The Golem used its lore to treat the poison and fired at the Fleshrippers, missing them. The Mages also attacked the Fleshrippers and did succeed in killing the one on the hill and using their magic to shield some nearby units. The archers straddling the centre and left flanks fired at the Uthuk archers forcing them to withdraw. 2VP for a total of 8.
 

Turn 7 Daqan plan

Turn 7 Daqan result

The Uthuk pursued their attack on their right flank. The Fleshrippers swung around the woods and charged a unit of archers, with the aid of the "fury of Y’llan" (rolling 5 dice). However, even calling on their chaos magic they did no damage and the archers fought back killing two of the Fleshrippers. The other Uthuk attacks faired no better and the Berserkers were pushed back. 1VP for a total of 10. 

Turn 7 Uthuk plan

Turn 7 Uthuk result

The Daqan responded my ordering a "battlemarch" and activating 3 units: the siege golem, the mages and a unit of archers. The mages and archers failed to do any damage to the depleted unit of Fleshrippers, but the siege golem managed to destroy them. 2VP for a total of 10.

Turn 8 Daqan plan

Turn 8 Daqan result

In response, the Uthuk could only muster enough units to patrol on the right flank. But it was enough to do the damage. The berserkers attacked one unit of Daqan archers and used their "thousand cuts" ability to wound the second unit, but were unable to capture the extra objective location. The Uthuk archers also fired on the mages, but merely succeeded in poisoning them. 3VP for a total of 13.

Turn 8 Uthuk plan

Turn 8 Uthuk result

The Daqan responded by patrolling their left flank, where the mages were the only unit available to attack. They used their magic to remove the poison, advanced to retake the objective and managed to injure one of the Uthuk berserkers. However, the berserkers fought back and also wounded a mage. 1VP for a total of 11.

Turn 9 Daqan plan

Turn 9 Daqan result

The Uthuk then launched an "onslaught", ordering 3 infantry units into the fray. The archers and berserkers used the fact they were flanking the mages to destroy them and capture the objective. 3Vp for a total of 16 and victory.

Turn 9 Uthuk plan

Turn 9 Uthuk result