Season of the Wych - WarCry Campaign Battle #2

Weakened from the last battle on the Zarakh Expanse, Daonti and his warband escape the dogged pursuit of the Khorne Daemons, hiding out amongst the overgrowth. Sventa channels his life force into his sword, rejuvenating it's sharp edges. The Bloomwych kindred create a circle, entrenching their roots deep into the earth, connecting to Alarielle and the spirit-song that flows through all Sylvaneth, feeling their doubts float away as new limbs grow in place of old. Spirit-songs spoke to Isalith, guiding her to a near by tree cluster. These trees were on the verge of death, but she could feel the presence of a soulpod near by.  The other two Bloomwych tell Doanti of their find. To promote the growth of a new soulpod, the warband would need to secure the area of any corrupting energies, so as not to taint the weak spirits before they are ready to transcend their current form. In the barren Eightpoints, Doanti could still feel connected to the Everqueen, and he felt compelled to spread her spirit-song to even the most dark places of the land. This was their calling....

A howl in the distance, warned the Sylvaneth that, Khorne's dog, Burning Ash, had picked up their scent. The Dryads got to work channeling energy into the pods, as the rest of the Nature's Byrches readied themselves to defend their future kindred.

Battle Setup

Terrain Card - B4

Deployment Card - B1

Victory Card - Purge - Defender picks a quarter to defend, not telling attacker till end of the game.

Twist Card - Sinister Bargain - Roll off, winner gets 1 Chaotic Beast

Rachel was the defender, and she also got the Chaotic Beast for the Twist. We forgot to roll off for the Chaotic Beast at the beginning so it appears on turn 2 instead.

First turn with okay, rolls. I believe we both had A double, so we both banked our wild dice. Khorne took first turn.

Bonegnasher took the offensive, moving in and using the double ability, hungry for blood, but wood and ticks might have to do to sate his appetite. Daonti screeched out as the hound tore off some of his bark. He stomped on the dog's paws, forcing it back as he stepped back to ready his aim.

Skullcleave observed the intense blood boiling attack, he too advanced, moving closer to the Sylvaneth, hoping to engage in battle for battle's sake. The bloodcrusher was unaware of the scheming of others, only living for the glory of bloody battle.

This move was legel, I should have checked if I could move through friendly units (you can't) and if my mount could climb (it can't). So Skullcleave should be back behind Bonegnasher. Ooop, guess I should give a destiny point or something to Rachel for my cheaty cheaty ways.

Flyt Spritekin was quick to defend his grove mistress, slashing at the flesh hound with unbridled rage.

Furious Blade spread out, spying more reinforcements coming from the north east, they were eager for blood, but Khorne's bounty would be their's if he brought a gift of a larger skull.

Furious Blade used the Ironoak Seed he gained from last battle, I had assumed that it was automatic once used, but reading up after our game, we should have both used an action to use our artefacts. If it was Perishable instead of consumable then it would be automatic, oh well, at least we cheated together.

Childchewer rushes towards the two Spritekin instead of Sventi, some followers of Khorne believe it's not the quality of skulls, but the quantity of skulls taken in his name.

Islalith Bloomwych joins her kindred brother in battle, trying to turn the forces of Khorne away from the soulpod for fear of their corrupt nature would spoil the new growth of Sylvaneth. From behind Islaith, Daonti pulls back her bow, unleashing a storm of arrows into Skullcleave.

At this point, Skullcleave was getting pretty injured as the bow did 12 damage out of his 30 wounds, he also wasn't able to attack anything when he moved in, just get pelted.

Red Butcher waited for the other members of his warband to catch up to his skull total.

From the south came the pitter patter of paws and hooves on the moist dirt, surging into the battle was Burning Ash and Childchewer. And from the north came Thronrir the Hunter with Loralith and Maudelith, as well as an ally, a wandering Salamander.

Childchewer on his mount eyeing up Spyraff for a fight.

Burning Ash catches up with Sventa, chomping down on his leg, Sventa shook the hound off, slicing horizontally onto the beast she she ran across it's flank, spilling out brass blood. Infuriating the leader, as it strains it's body to stand proudly before his foe. 

Childchewer crashes into the Spyraff, his bark splintering off into the air from the force of the charge.

Feeling bold from consuming Ironoak Seed, the bloodletter seeks to claim Thronrir the Hunter's skull, he thrusts his blade between the gaps in his shoulder paldron.

Loralith brings the fight to the Red Butcher.

Gutwrench moves to help Red Butcher

Red Butcher strikes back, this time facing his opponent.

Maudelith wasn't about to let the bloodletter foul their plans, leapt out of the thick brush, Furious Blade was taken off guard as her scythe cleaves through sinew and bone of his arm. The wretched creature cries out, as blood coats the forest floor. Before Furious Blade can react, Thronrir the Hunter, notches an arrow and slays the mighty warrior.

Bonegnash enraged at the prospect of being surrounded, lets out a howl of defiance before clawing into "Schemin' " hands Flyt. Fatally wounding the Spritekin before, bucking his hind legs into the Salamander's jaw.

Childchewer runs down Sventi, but not before sustaining more wounds from the elder tree spirit. Burning Ash charges into the north east corner, spying another skull for the taking. Maudelith would attack first, nearly killing the leader.

Thronrir the Hunter knew that time was critical, if these daemons were present while the soulpod was transforming, then their efforts would be for not. He ran through the ruins, and fired his bow at Skullcleave, the hulking bloodcrusher, was panting heavily from lacerations all across it's body, but still refused to topple.

The beast instead charged, driven to claim the skull of the leader of the Sylvaneth, trampling him in the charge then breaking off chunks of his bark armour.

 

As suddenly as they came, the Khorne daemons had left, their goal of slaying for their dark god had been sated this day. Daonti felt that their corruption would have influenced the soulpod's metamorphosis, she rushed to where Islalith and the dryads had been nurturing it. New growth had started to sprout in the Eightpoints, but presents of the daemons, had tainted the soulpod, it would soon wither away.

Rachel had chosen the north west corner, her deployment zone, as the quarter she needed to clear out of all of my forces. Throughout the game she was messing with me, making me second guess which area she was actually defending. (which is why i had spread out so much, clearly it worked.) Skullcleave was in the quarter, which is why Thronrir was trying to take him out near the end. 

I am glad I picked up the city ruins, but I think I need a few more scatter terrain to make up new locations for a narrative. Rachel is letting me paint up some of the Awakened Woods she has as I have more drive to get stuff painted up for the blog. Should be done by the next game. 

And our next game will be the First Convergence, a predetermined quest for both of us. We will need to both play and win our convergence to advance our campaign. Narrative wise, I will most likely run some Slaves to Darkness or Nurgle warbands, will be nice to switch it up a bit.

Next on the Hobby Desk

I had a 35 PR Warhammer game with my friend Pilon, so that should be coming up soon once I sit down to write it. I also have the Necromunda Goliath and proxy Cawdor gangs finished, just need to create a background for them.