The Battle of Gretchen. 25/10/14

A group of us descended on Slayer Gaming for the second time to conclude the saga of Deathfist and Baron Kraust's rivalry. Scroll on down to see the results!

Although this was nominally a set piece battle between two established rivals, everyone was given a piece of paper with personal (and sometimes competing) goals that if met would constitute a 'success'. Players were also encouraged to tell their own story and plenty of freedom was given to the individuals involved (ie enough rope to hang themselves!)

A large group of ogre mercenaries with a 'distinctive-looking' mercenary giant in tow makes up the left flank of the army attacking Kraust's village, Gretchen. With the Deathfist late for his own battle his allies decide to launch the assault without him so as not to waste the element of surprise.

A whole tribe of Fimir had even been enticed to leave the fens and march with the invaders.

Gretchen's populace go about their daily business unaware of the impending attack. Deals are struck, animals are led to market and the inn is bustling. The shambling undead haunting the outskirts of the village are nothing unusual either, the folk simply turn a blind eye.

Despite the best efforts of the greedy mercenaries the Baron is far from surprised, his footsteps have too long been dogged by Khorne's lackeys and their allies, so by his command traps are laid and troops are summoned to the field. A cyclopean giant is in the van while hordes of rotting zombies and skeletons form the main body of Kraust's force.

From his vantage point at the highest window of Goethesturm Tower Kraust surveys the ground over which the battle will be fought and schemes up a plan.

Goethesturm. How much blood has been spilled in it's shadow? How many lives ended under it's baleful gaze? How many howls of pain and grief have echoed from it's walls?

The Chaos champion 'Doomed Ratchragged enters Gretchen as an ally of the Deathfist under the patronage of his erratic God 'Wenwoch the Waylayer'. As Ratchragged utters a devout prayer to Wenwoch the capricious spirit perversely steals all his weapons in lieu of an answer. Such is the nature of Chaos!

Bryan the troll ambles forward as the Deathfist finally arrives, leading his Chosen. He takes up a position behind the ogres on the extreme opposite to Kraust in his tower, a costly blunder which will make killing his long-time rival next to impossible!

Swarms of bats pour out from their lairs in the thatched attics of Gretchen's outlying farms. They ambush Kraust's enemies, weakening them and more crucially still slow them down.

From out of the sky swoops a terrible Spined Dragon. What awful pact was made with the beast to gain it's trust we shall never know. Ulther Deathfist's allies summon a horde of lesser daemons that coalesce into a single, horrible beast-daemon. An epic struggle begins on the ground but after the interference of a powerful ogre which lands a flurry of blows on the dragon the pair of titans take to their wings to finish the duel aloft.

Nearby, Slake-Sin's Throng of Exquisite Pleasure leaps forth from a warp-rift seeking battle with their thrice-accursed enemies; the followers of Khorne. The Slaaneshi troll takes a long look over the field of battle, slowly panning his gaze from left to right and taking in all the unfolding drama. "Wot a load ov crap" he exclaims, and promptly walks away never to be seen again.

Kraust's giant 'Harryhausen' stomps forward on his cloven hooves at the head of a mighty host of the undead. He bites the head off a Chaos champion and hurls the body over his shoulder, which clears a farmhouse and narrowly misses the Fimir. The surviving Chaos warriors exchange glances before taking flight as one.

His rival bellows a challenge, shaking the rafters of an unfortunate Kraustian farmer! With a swing of his massive club the 'milk-complexioned' big fellow kills his one-eyed opponent with a single blow! His triumphant warcry thunders out across the battlefield but the undead have no hearts to chill.

On the right flank of the invasion force more mercenary ogres skirmish in the haunted woods with a wight.

Back on the left flank the Deathfist and his Chosen are set upon by two giant spiders and a bruising melee erupts.

Ulther Deathfist's Chaos Dwarf artillerymen launch a barrage of fire on the nest from which the spiders are emerging. It is a saturation rather than a precision bombardment however and mortar shells and bazooka rounds land all over Gretchen.

Ratchragged dismounts after slaying a few peasants and begins to loot Gretchen. Perhaps he is looking for a new weapon! After a few more hasty prayers to Wenwoch go unanswered the God finally decides intervene once more as he sets off a magical null vortex which destroys magic items and saps magical power from mages in the area. Bryan the troll goes beserk and slays many enemy warriors.

A wild chase through the narrow alleys of Gretchen begins as a chariot careens carelessly into innocent bystanders. A raging fire, started by stray shells from the mortar, breaks out in the centre of the village.

Coppermain the Meargh and Tarpot-Smite the Dirach lead their Fimm against the numberless foe.

Being on the other side of the village, Kraust's necromantic allies escape Wenwoch's null vortex and summon still more undead troops. The enormous resulting plague of undead wipes out the entire tribe of Fimir!

Slake-Sin helps secure Goethesturm as the invader's right flank collapses.

Deathfist lands blow after blow on the giant spiders but cannot prevail. Suddenly a shadow passes over the struggle as another conflict is played out overhead. The flying daemonic beast has it's heart torn from it's chest by the Spined Dragon and it's corpse falls to earth where it explodes in a volcanic shower of evil energy. The only other casualty is a nearby ghost, it's soul is wrenched into hell alongside those of the composite beast-daemon. Fire and magic is poured into the badly wounded dragon and it too succumbs, plummeting straight down onto the Deathfist. An uncanny explosion of dragon fire mixes with the poison of the two squashed giant spiders and causes a wave of chemical death to billow out from the dragon's corpse causing untold casualties.

A surviving giant spider leaps down onto some invaders from a rooftop, this is too much for the attackers who turn and flee sparking a general rout in the centre.

Only the chariot crew continue their gruesome business unaffected. The flames begin to spread.

Ratchragged has fought his way across Gretchen and confronts Kraust's hordes on the eastern side. Offering an impassioned final plea to Wenwoch the Waylayer Ratchragged is rewarded with the sight of his God swinging out a gnarled claw and back-handedly slapping an enemy phantom, destroying it in a shower of ectoplasm!

The mercenary enchanter 'Tim' and his bodyguard 'Wulf' have fought the same regiment of skeletons all battle long. Both remain unwounded as the battle draws to a close and the concept of a 'tarpit' unit is turned on it's head!

Slake-Sin's bodyguard and the centaur unit crash into what little of the invaders can be mustered on the right flank. The centaurs slaughter some chaos warriors while the giant's wounds multiply. The battle paused for a confused moment as a Slaaneshi warrior has a sudden epiphany and pulls aside his codpiece revealing a ghastly, green phallus. Stricken with horror, the giant and even the Slaaneshite's comrades are unable to muster the wherewithal to strike a blow. "BEHOLD! For I am reborn this day as 'Green Helmet the Exposer', this name I shall bear henceforth! Tremble at the thought of what adventures might lie before me!"

Individual acts of fortitude are not enough for the invaders to prevail, Kraust looks out upon an emptying field of battle as the day draws to a close. A day of death and slaughter has been the price for defending his domain against the Deathfist who finally turns his back upon his enemy forever, swearing never to return. What vile ends will Baron Kraust pursue now he is unchallenged!

"Kraust watched as his allies departed. There goes the ambitious necromancer, his reward was more knowledge than he earned but less than he yearned for. There goes the Eldritch Knight, his reward was a tome that would be his gateway to eternal life, and eternal servitude. There goes the Slaaneshite, it's reward was a single human female from Gretchen. This naturally puzzled the Baron and stirred his suspicion though he granted the boon freely. Only time would tell whether the decision would have repercussions. He turned from the window and looked at his long abandoned study. Time to return to his work. Time to make the living suffer!"

Big thanks go once more to Slayer Gaming for hosting us. Many, many thanks to all those who took part, it means a lot to me to see happy, smiling faces around a gaming table. Finally, thanks also to the bakery across the road!

Thanks for stopping by!

The Battle of the Burning Tower. 14/6/14

A 'Warlord Paul Presents' production.

When luminaries of the retro-revival scene join forces for a big retrosexual get-together good things are bound to happen. The latest chapter of my ongoing campaign to revive the fortunes of global gamesmastering saw Orlygg of the Realm of Chaos 80's blog ally with Steve Casey of the Eldritch Epistles blog (also your friend Bridgend Steve on eBay) and take on Thantsants of the Somewhere the Tea's Getting Cold blog. The legendary Nik Dixon brought his classic Wood Elves along to add an unknown third element to the proceedings.

Look at that happy face! He loves it!

First of all please allow me to introduce and thank our hosts, Slayer Gaming. Stepping in as a free venue at short notice they exceeded all expectations and couldn't have been more friendly and accommodating. I hope those of you who enjoy reading these retro after action reports will take a moment to pop over to their Facebook page and give them a like as it will not only show the community's appreciation for a FLGS that welcomes the retro scene revivalists but also will be useful for hearing about updates on new events and how we are being perceived in 'modern' wargaming circles. They also have some mighty impressive discounts available on their webstore by the way. I have no shares in SG (regrettably) but it's the least I can do to return the awesomeness shown to us.

Slayer Gaming Facebook page.

Slayer Gaming home page and store.

Cheers!

On with the show. If you've missed any of the intro narrative or build-up games it is worth a search through this blog to familiarise yourself with the protagonists.

At the beginning of the game it was explained to the players that Baron Kraust (Thantsants) had detected his pursuers and left the Elven Road to take refuge in a small, renegade fiefdom run by a petty warlock. The fiefdom was accessible only through a narrow pass guarded by a watch tower and accompanying toll booth. The force present in these buildings was unknown and the three independent parties pursuing Kraust (Orlygg's Ulther Deathfist, Steve's Carnivale and Nik's Elves) would only have a small unit of scouts available at first. the objective was to penetrate through the fiefdom's defences and obtain information on Kraust's whereabouts.

A deceptively peaceful scene at Deadwood Pass. Igor the road warden is cheerfully extorting monies from a trader at the red-roofed toll booth while two Dark Elf mercenary crossbows prowl the tower battlements.

A kinband of wild Wood Elves accompanied by a Zoat mage enter the pass using stealth to cover their approach. They are able to slink past the local guards and take up a commanding firing position in one of the patches of petrified forest that give the pass its name. Along the way, they trigger a magical trap left by the wily Baron Kraust, sword-trees! Tree limbs bearing magical blades lash at the unsuspecting Elves, unused to fearing the forest one of their number succumbs to the onslaught.

Next to arrive is a Dark Elf mercenary guard with two prisoners from the Carnivale. Swiftly following them comes an unsubtle Khornate 'reconnaissance in force' led by Grimgrunt, one of the Deathfist's Lieutenants. The Beastmen's noses twitch uncontrollably at the smell of magic on the guard, and Grimgrunt is about to order an attack when more strangers arrive from the travelling circus troupe offering an alliance. An accord is struck (after some role-play) and the Chaotic efforts become more coordinated.

As the large Khorne scouting party is spotted they come under fire from the watchtower. One of the mercenaries runs downstairs to alert the Orcish tower commander Gruntslahg (seen here on the road to the right of frame) before returning to the battlements to add his crossbow fire to that of his comrade's. Gruntslahg is not the bravest of Orcs and didn't rise to his position by carelessly risking his life in combat, he orders Fikskul the Ogre mercenary into the Chaotics while supervising from a safe distance. The Kinband's Zoat casts a dispiriting spell on Igor the road warden and the weak-minded unfortunate is utterly stricken. He seals himself in the toll booth and goes downstairs to his underground hovel where he drinks heavily before taking his own life (it really was a very poor magic saving throw result). The mercenary guard with the Carnivale prisoners stops to talk to Gruntslahg, asking if it might be worth fetching that Baron Kraust to help defend the pass, as he is a right tasty Necromancer, and where might he be? The Orc ignores the suggestion and orders the chagrined merc to dump his prisoners in the watchtowers oubliette and join his comrades on the battlements.

The Kinband are set up in ambush further up the toll road. As a messenger from the watchtower carrying a heavy bag of documents flees up the road he is peppered with arrows and slain. The unfortunate trader who fled from the toll booth at the approach of Grimgrunt's force was also attacked by the indiscriminate Elves but due to errant shooting from the Wood Elves his mule was killed in his stead allowing him to make progress toward the thatched hostelry. Not to be deterred by his comrades inaccuracy, the Zoat mage attacks and kills the innocent trader by hitting him with a big lump of metal up close and personal, 'just in case'.

The Carnivale arrives in full, gleaming, painted wagons rolling toward the fracas developing by the toll booth. Fikskul kills a Thug while another has fallen to the Dark Elven marksmanship from the watchtower. Grimgrunt bellows a challenge in the Dark Tongue at the Orc commander who promptly flees toward the safety of the watchtower leaving Fikskul to his fate.

The two Dark Elves atop the watchtower don't recognise the approaching guard, he must be one of Dinuvial's lads, they ignore him and continue to add their fire to the combat below.

The guard ignores his orders to throw the prisoners into the oubliette, instead he frees them once inside the watchtower and works with them while they search the lower floors for clues. They only give the Orc's desk a cursory glance however, missing an important note. Heading to the top of the tower the 'Dark Elf' reveals himself to be none other than the famous Great Nint'hen-doh, illusionist extraordinaire and star attraction of the Carnivale. Pushing up his sleeves, he unleashes a trio of fireballs at the Dark Elves' backs with a flourish of his hands. Unfortunately, one of the barrels of oil stored here to deter attackers is caught by a fireball (What are the chances? About 16.7% as it goes...) and explodes spectacularly. Both Dark Elves are killed either by the fireballs or the accident while a shocked Nint'hen-doh and his comrades are wounded but on their feet still.

Down on the Toll Road, Fikskul finally succumbs to his multiple opponents. The final blow comes from Grimgrunt himself who very carefully planted his axe in the Ogre's spine while he wasn't looking. No doubt the tale will be somewhat different once retold at the campfire.

Nint'hen-doh, Klynt and Clyde escape the watchtower as the fire spreads, quickly engulfing the building. They are rather singed and a little embarrassed too.

The rest of the Carnivale, they don't really need to know the full details of the accidental arson supposes Nint'hen-doh. They make progress through the pass unopposed thanks to the erupting chaos all around. 

The watchtower is soon merrily ablaze. All paperwork therein pertaining to the whereabouts of one Baron Kraust becomes so much ash. Nint'hen-DOH!

The Carnivale/Khorne alliance is able to coalesce and head up the pass following the death of Fikskul, the destruction of the tower and the flight of Gruntslahg. Nobody is sure exactly where they are going unfortunately. After some role-play, it is finally revealed to the players (Nint'hen-doh resumes his magical disguise and talks once more to a cowering Gruntslahg) that the Orc is fleeing towards the hostelry in the hope of meeting Kraust there. Another magical trap is triggered en route, this time summoning skeletons bound to a runestone, which impedes the Chaotics momentarily.

Armed with the knowledge of the location of their quarry at last, Grimgrunt sounds a daemonic horn (not magic, daemonic) which summons his master, Ulthur Deathfist, through a portal to a ridge on the south side of Deadwood Pass.

The Horde of the Deathfist, arrayed for battle once more.

The Deathfist's personal banner waves proudly over his elite bodyguard which he leads into battle, hoping to avenge his previous misfortunes.

Out of the dust, skeletons begin to draw themselves upright, jaws clacking maniacally as if some memory of hunger for the enemy's blood is driving them into a frenzy. The road beyond the thatched hostelry is flooded which is why Baron Kraust has been forced to rest here. Now roused to anger he is not without defences, his powerful necromantic magic assembles a large army in moments with which to oppose the Deathfist.

The Battle of the Burning Tower is about to begin. The board is set, the pieces are moving.

The battle begins as the Deathfist's Chaos Dwarves unleash their awesome firepower on the Undead. Kraust responds by sending a Bone Giant and a lethal unit of Death Riders towards the missile troops of his enemy's exposed right flank.

The Chaotics seek to encircle and trap Kraust, though the rune-bound skeleton trap is still causing problems. Klynt and Clyde, unable to face the Undead, flee back to safety leaving Nint'hen-doh alone and unguarded. The Zoat mage is drawn into a protracted struggle with some of the skeletons. Disturbed by the turn of events the Wood Elves attempt to cause as much carnage as they can while preparing to withdraw to safety.

The Bone Giant is diverted towards a unit of Minotaurs while the Death Riders plough unhindered through a copse of petrified trees. Grimgrunt's scouts and the Carnivale form the Deathfist's left flank which presses towards the hostelry. The Carnivale desperately wants to retrieve a stolen relic and avenge a murder. Ulther personally leads the centre with his elite Chaos Warriors and some Beastmen. On the right the Minotaurs steel themselves to face the towering Undead horror while the Chaos Dwarves in the rear try to fire as fast as they can.

A bone-chilling sound comes from the Death Riders as they come within range of the Chaos Dwarf crossbows and their pace picks up speed.

Ash, stone and burning wood falls onto the Chaos Warriors but they do not flinch for a moment. The Carnivale's wagons steer wide around the inferno.

The Death Riders take terrible casualties from crossbow fire as they ride up the ridge to confront the Chaos Dwarves but get their revenge by slaughtering the diminutive marksmen. The Bone Giant is heavily wounded and lurching unsteadily after a combat with the Minotaurs but nevertheless it routs the brittle bull-men, sending them fleeing over the ridge and off into oblivion. The relatively intact (but freshly painted...) Chaos Dwarf crossbows are allowed a special GM's last chance to rally in a field (just off-table) but fail (with a double 6 no less) and are never seen again.

A chariot smashes into the Beastmen of the Deathfist's centre sending limbs flying as its scythes do their deadly work. Nint'hen-doh is to be seen in his true form (purple and yellow robes) finally in this scene and faintly in the previous image.

The fight between the chariot and the Beastmen is a vicious one, both Undead steeds are destroyed as is one of the crew but one Skeleton refuses to embrace death a second time and eventually the Beastmen lose their nerve. The victorious Skeleton leaps from his wrecked chariot and lustily pursues his foe.

Two Carrion dive onto Grimgrunt's warband who have Nint'hen-doh and his spells in support. Above this conflict, a second unit of Death Riders appear on Kraust's right flank and burst through the Wood Elves who are forced to scatter and leave the field. These Death Riders move on to attack the Carnivale.

The crucial point of the battle is nigh. The Deathfist's forces are in retreat and disarray all across the field of battle and his own bodyguard is flanked thanks to the gap left by the Beastmen. Victory or defeat turns upon the elite heavy infantry being able to overcome the panic caused by the sudden appearance of hostile forces on their exposed right. They hold, just, and use their superior fighting abilities to chop down the Skeletons one by one. Emboldened by the certainty that flight is impossible, Gruntslahg joins the fray and finds himself face to face with death incarnate. After a brief struggle, Ulthur beheads the Orc and roars his defiance. 

It is as if Ulthur's personal triumph is a signal that ripples out all over both armies. Having reached a high tide, Baron Kraust's army is suddenly hurled back in all quarters as the magic binding his force together begins to unravel. The Carrion are pulled from the sky and trampled by Grimgrunt's warband, The mortar and bazooka crews defeat the Death Riders, the Bone Giant loses its final wound to the trick-shooter Klynt, Kraust himself is beset by debilitating spells and almost assassinated, his legion attacking the Chaos Warriors crumbles and is destroyed and he is forced to summon a desperate rearguard while he flees clasping the stolen relic. His army's sudden collapse is as swift as it is total.

Only one last action is played out, The Death Riders responsible for routing the Wood Elves plough into the Carnivale, all but Leon and his devoted Christina flee from their hideous approach. Fur sprouts and muscles bulge as Leon transforms into a mighty werewolf. With Christina clinging to his hairy torso (Franzetta-style) Wolf-Leon tears the last remaining Undead apart, scattering their component bones over a wide area before selecting the choicest and settling down to allow Christina to scritch his ears.

Kraust paused in his ascent to glance back for a brief moment. He wrang out his robes once more but it couldn't help him shake off the chill now. Behind him no sign of his army could be discerned at all, it had been wiped out utterly. No matter. Though being forced to wade through that cursed flood was a nuisance he had survived and what's more he had all he needed to create a new phylactery. Once that was complete, all would bow before him once more! All he needed was rest, a little time and shelter. The local ruler had been most accommodating thus far, he would continue to be no doubt, despite this little upset on his borders? And surely those circus fellows would give up the chase now that their Khorne allies had got their petty victory and toddled of home, wouldn't they? Yes, just a little time and a quiet place to conduct rituals, not to much to ask...


Having all gone badly, or at least a little bit meh, for the Deathfist the sudden turnaround was rather spectacular. It happened so fast over a single turn that the excitement can hardly be captured with photographs, I hope the way I've portrayed the battle in the narrative gives you at least a hint of the tension that built and the abrupt u-turn.

Many, many thanks to those who traveled (some distance) to Mansfield and took part. It is always a pleasure to roll dice with you gentlemen. Thanks once again to our hosts, Slayer Gaming, and thanks finally to the bakery around the corner for supplying me with a most excellent bacon cob.

Thanks for stopping by!