The Battle of Broken Barrow (Intro)

Thantsants and I played out The Battle of Broken Barrow today using Warhammer 3rd edition. We didn't have a GM unfortunately so we just role-played it out as best we could. Thantsants took a load of pictures and will likely have them up soon so I won't drop any spoilers. I will say that we had an amazing and fun game though! I will post a full battle report when T emails the snaps to me. In the meantime, here are a couple of phone shots from turn one and the intro fluff I wrote.

Lord Savage's warband is closest occupying the right flank of the Undead horde. His escape route lies through the forest at the far end of the table.

The Orcs are pouring into the valley in search of a buried relic of great power. Give yourself a bonus point if you identified the 54mm Fighting Fantasy Ogre being used as a Giant!

The Battle of Broken Barrow.

The infamous Druchii renegade Lord Savage has made landfall on the Albion mainland after months at sea. He immediately attracted some of the local creatures of Chaos to his cause to replace those of his crew he had murdered to stave of the ennui of a long voyage. These were Beastmen, seven in number, and Ogres, two in number. Shortly after beginning the final march towards the proving grounds chosen by the Dark Pantheon he was set upon by a monstrous, red-skinned giant, one that had the cursed sign of hated Khorne scarred into his flesh, and his cretinous lapdogs. Though Savage’s devotion to his God and his patron Daemon was beyond question none could stand against such raw power and he was forced to withdraw and find another route. One of the Beastmen did not recover from the wounds he received and his brethren rejoiced because instead of seven they now numbered six, the holy sign of the Lord of Pleasure. This was taken to be an omen of their God’s favour.

The longer road led Savage to a fog-filled valley with sides of damp moss and broken rock, like the gaping maw of a marsh-dwelling Troll. There was a path of strewn cobbles that led to an ancient, seemingly abandoned graveyard. Though there were graves aplenty there seemed no adjoining house of Morr, nor any town of the living nearby; just the tumbled grave markers and the stench of death.

As Savage rode slowly through the valley he felt the sentinel presence of the Undead looming in the swirling shadows of the fog. Calling out his challenge to the mists he was answered with a discordant, sibilant growl…

“Thou hast come to Broken Barrow on this path of thine but a crossroads lies before thee now. No living creature has been suffered in this valley for centuries six in number but alas! Suddenly such peace as we are permitted has been shattered by the filthy doings of the Orc, yonder. Stand beside us in this coming hour and passage for thee is our boon. Help us rid our domain of the green cancer.”

The last was spoken as a command rather than a request. Lord Savage had always understood there was to be trials along the way, only the most worthy of the Dark Champions would arrive at the appointed place at the appointed hour, and he made his choice swiftly.

“The pact is made! We will kill that which knows no pleasure beyond the brutish lust for the taking of a foe’s life and you will stand aside at the end.”

As if in response a mighty drumming reverberated through the fog. The clamorous rhythm almost seemed to come from all directions at once. Perhaps it did…

Victory Conditions.

The Shaman of the Orc tribe has been plagued for weeks with visions of a mighty relic weapon that lies within one of the tombs of Broken Barrow. No doubt one of the Dark Gods is responsible; playing some incomprehensible game of their own device. The Orc army must get a unit into the central graveyard and spend a turn successfully digging for the relic in order to win the game. For every turn spent digging roll a dice; on a 4 or more the dig was successful!

The central graveyard contains the entrance to the lair of a powerful Liche and this will be defended at all costs, though it is not a victory condition. To achieve victory over the despoiling Orcs the General must die along with all Shamans.

The path to the Proving Grounds lies directly through the warring factions of the Undead and the Orcs. For Lord Savage to win he must either be alive when the Undead victory conditions are met or escape from the opposite short board edge from the one on which he is deployed. The Slaanesh warband must be deployed within 18” of a short table edge.

Check out Thantsants' blog for more on the Battle of Broken Barrow, or check out my own (strictly unbiased of course!) take on events here.

Thanks for stopping by!