Saturday 28 November 2015

A letter from Prince Vyshnevtsky (1)

Nobles of Averland!
These are the demands of Vyshnevtsky II, Prince of Hardenburg, protector of Kasos, Lord of Oporto, General of the Empire, Captain of the Scarlett Guard, Captain of the Stirland River patrol, conqueror of the Vampires and bane of necromancers, Skaven and worshippers of Chaos.

He hopes that diplomacy will be entered into between our two people and that his demands would be met.
  1. That Hardenburg is granted a monopoly over Dwarven trade along the river Aver, from the Moot to Nuln
  2. That Marlene Von Alptraum is installed as Elector Count(ess) of Averland, with a coronation in Averheim, and Kastor Leitdorf renounces all claims to the state of Averland.
  3. That all ships of Hardenburg be given the right of navigation along the river Aver.
  4. That all merchants of Hardenburg be allowed free use of the old dwarf road, without tolls or impedement of any sort by the state authorities
  5. That Hardenburg's armed men be allowed free passage in Averland, but that they will not be billeted on the men of Averland, save of their free will and with proper re-payment, and will not impede or threaten the men of Averland in anyway.
  6. That the order of the Black Bears shall be returned their chapterhouse and allowed conduct their affairs free from intervention by any state, as is the privilege of the knightly orders of our glorious Empire
  7. That the men of Hardenburg and Averland would aid one another whenever the powers of Chaos or necromancy stalk the land and darkness threaten. Then would they lend all aid to oneanother in fighting the common foe of all mankind.
  8. Freedom of Worship for all followers of Morr in Averland, that they would not be excluded from any office, or be prejudiced against in anyway.
3, 4, 5 and 6 have long been the tradition of our two peoples, and are only concluded that we may have assurance of these at the conclusion of this war.
2 is of right as is practiced in the empire - for we are not like the orcs or norsemen who choose their leaders upon brutallity. We men of the empire focus on right - and it is surely Marlene's right - by birth and the will of the people - that she sit upon the throne of Averland and bear its runefang.
1 has long been the tradition, however it has been threatened by the proclaimed unlawful coronation of Kastor Leitdorf. We wish to have assurance that this, which has made our city great and benefitted both our people, will not be impeded.
8 and 7 it is our hope that through diplomacy a bond could be formed between our peoples, for we are stronger together than apart.

The Averland war of Succession part 3 - The Battle of Grenzsdadt - Warhammer


 This was the second big pitched battle of our Averland war of succession, the first having been the Battle of Pfungzig. The war, over the succession to Marius Leitdorf, with the Averland nobility supporting his nephew Kastor Leitdorf, while Hardenburg was intervening on behalf of the previously deposed Ludmilla Van Alptraums, had begun with the Hardenburg army crossing Blue Reach. It had then divided into two with the famed Hardenburg marines marching on Pfungzig, while the Grand Army, with much of the knights of the Black Bear, headed south for Grenzsdadt, the key to Black fire pass, the old dwarf road and the Black Bears' chapter house.
Pfungzig was taken and Kastor forced back down the road by the Marines led by Pietr. Since then the prince had arrived to lead the marines and Pietr had ridden south to take command of the Grand Army. The Grand Army had also recently been joined by Carranado, Warden of the Lagoon (a successful Estalian admiral in the Hardenbrug navy, who had recently been elected the first Warden of Kasos, a satelitte republic of Hardenburg, which had been established by the Prince during the Obsidian war against the Vampire Raspartine) at the head of a force of Tilean Kasotian mercenaries and knights. Kastor's cousin Ferdinand had been sent to lead the Averland force to counter their march. Outside Grenzsdadt the two forces met.

The Grand Army of Hardenburg - 2750pts
Lords
- Pietr - Grand Master with sword of bloodshed, luckstone, shield
- Carranado, Warden of the Lagoon - General with sword of battle, barded warhorse, full plate armour, shield.
Heroes
- Black Bears' Chaplain - wizard - lvl 2, chaneling staff - lore of beasts
Core
- Black Bear knights - 8 inner circle knights, commander, banner, wailing banner
- Black Bear knights - 8 knights, commander, banner
- Kasotian knights - 10 knights, commander, banner
- Kasotian pikemen - 30 halbediers with detachment of 15 free companies and 15 free companies
Special
- Prince's guard - 35 greatswords, commander, banner, war banner, detachment of 15 free companies and 15 free companies
- Kasotian cannon - great cannon
- Prince's guard - 5 outriders
- Prince's guard - 5 outriders
Rare
- Hellblaster
- Hellblaster
Ferdinand's army of Averland - 2750pts
Lords
- Ferdinand Leitdorf - General with sword of bloodshed, armour of fortune, enchanted shield and barded warhorse
- Wizard lord - Lvl 4, ruby ring of ruin - lore of life
Heroes
- wizard - lvl 2, chaneling staff - lore of fire
- captain - mace of hellstrum, full plate, shield
- captain - sword of strife, full plate, shield
Core
- Knights of the Blazing Sun -14 inner circle knights, commander, banner, wailing banner
- Leopolds' Own - 50 halbediers with shields, commander banner and detachments of 20 swordsmen and 23 (Tilean mercenary) handgunners
- Tilean Spearmen - 20 spearmen with shields, commander, banner
Special
- Count's guard - 17 greatswords, count's champion, banner
- 3 great cannons
Rare
- Hellblaster

Pietr at the head of his knights eyes up the Averland line of battle, the Hardenburg force outnumbered the Averlanders by about 4 to 3

The battle commenced with the Outriders riding forwards to form forward pickets. They opened fire, taking out a few Tilean handgunners and a hellblaster crewman.

All along the line the army advanced, with the artillery limbered forwards.

But then the Averlanders opened fire - their bright wizard hurling a fireball into the advancing Hardenburg greatswords, taking out the whole back rank of five.

Then the massed Averland artillery opened fire. A great cannon fired, smashing a Hardenburg hellblaster to pieces and killing a free company.

Then their Hellblaster fired on and killed the whole outrider picket ahead of them.

Their second cannon ploughed through the colourful Kasotian knights, taking out a whole file. However their third cannon misfired, leaving the crew to clean out the damp barrel.

When the smoke cleared, Carranado and his knights attempted a charge, however with their flashy but untested horses reeling from the blast (and a triple one rolled) they stumbled forwards.

The Kasotian cannon opened fire across the town hitting the captain in the head leading the greatswords.

The Black Bears closed in upon the woods, on the otherside of which waited the Blazing Suns. The Outriders and remaining hellblaster shoot down the last of the rear rank of Tilean handgunners, however there were still enough left to shoot down three of the nearest knights.

The Kasotian left flank advanced on the Averland artillery positions and count's greatswords

Risking a dangerous charge through the uneven ground of the woods, Ferdinand led the Blazing Suns in a charge against Pietr and the Black Bears. Two riders were unhorsed as they negotiated the roots, but the charge struck home. Pietr, upon his bear, and Ferdinand met in a duel clashing their magical swords of bloodshed as the lances of the Blazing Suns crashed home. Two Black Bears were killed, but, thanks to a speel from the Averland wizard lord, making the flesh of the knighst rock hard, the Blazing Suns didn't take a casualty. The Black Bears fled, their magic standard falling into the hands of the Blazing Suns, and Pietr was forced to break from the duel as he raced after his knights, shouting for them to rally.

The disaster worsened as they took little heed of him, continuing their flight from the enchanted stone knights. However, seeing the Blazing Suns charging past him in their pursuit, the Black Bear's chaplain decided to act...

He called on Ursun and was instantly turned into a great ice dragon (great fire dragon), right on the knights' flank!
Meanwhile the other Black Bears made a charge into the Tilean spearmen who had advanced with the Blazing Suns.

The Kasotian cannon fired again, and again hit its mark, blasting apart the Averland Hellblaster

Carranado's knights, having taken three casualties from them in their advance, at last hit home into the cannon's crew, and succeeded in at last, driving them from the field, though with some effort. Having overrun the gun, they moved to face the greatswords

Ferdinand ignored the new and surprising appearance of a dragon and raced on after Pietr, at last driving him and his knight from the field as they fled before the Blazing Suns. It may well be the most shameful moment in the annals of Black Bear history

The Averland gunners on the hillside turned their piece on the newly appeared dragon, hitting it and causing several wounds, but not plucking it from the sky (though this did now mean the Chaplain would not be able to resume his original form for several weeks)

Anotehr Averland gun tore into the Kasotian infantry, killing several with a round shot.

Seeing his order master fleeing, the dragon swooped down into the blazing suns, killing a couple, but failing to break them and taking no wounds. Ferdinand pushed his way through to face it.

The Kasotians and Greatswords now charged home. The Greatswords hacked down a whole rank of Averland halberdiers, but so great was their resilience, and the perfect shooting of their mercenary Tilean handgunner detachment, that the Greatswords were reduced to half strength by the end of the first round of combat, though they held firm. The Kasotians had much better fortune and forced the swordsmen into flight.

Having been charged by the greatswords, Carranado and his knights succeeded  in taing down just five, to four casualties themselves. They were put to flight.

Over in the centre the Averland swordsmen rallied, beside their stalwart parent regiment.

The Wizard lord now rose up, upon a throne of vines, ready to cast spells of greater power over the board.

The handgunners again fired, killing four free company men, while the remaining two artillery pieces missed their targets.

The Black Bears at last broke the Tilean Spearmen, running them down and taking their standard, though they had lost three of their own. As they ran through the forest, the banner bearer was plucked from his horse as his wings became tangled in a tree.

The dragon continued its combat with Ferdinand and his knights, killing another two, while remaining impervious to their attacks.

Now into the fields, the Kasotians re-engaged the Averland Swordsmen, while their detachments charegd in, on into the block of Halbediers, the other into the Averland bright wizard.

Meanwhile the greatsword's militia wings both charged the Tilean Handgunners, taking but three casualties from their closing fire.

The mercenary handgunners were all slain, expcept for two who fled before the almost undamaged militia companies. The Kasotians meanwhile, mande short work of the Swordsmen, and reformed to face the position of the last gun and the greatswords.

Carranado and his men re-engaged the Averland greatswords, and Carranado slays his first man in combat.

However his knights didn't make a scratch and were all hacked down. Carranado fled the field in disgrace - his knights having killed but seven greatswords and three artillerymen.

The Greatswords continued their bitter fight against the Averland halbediers' position, aided by the Kasotian militia. However with his now boosted powers, the Wizard Lord turned the Averlanders' flesh to granite.

Ferdinand continued the fight against the chaplain with his last Blazing Suns. However the Chaplain, in dragon form, slew the remaining knights, snatching up their magical banner to take back to Pietr.

Standing alone against the dragon, Ferdinand fought on!

The supernaturally tough halbediers cut down even more Hardenburg greatswords, forcing the Kasotian militia to flee, and standing up to the new flank charge from the Greatswords' militia wing. The Greatswords were at last cut down to a man and the militia fled

With that the battle ended. The now leaderless (with the only remaining character a dragon) Grand army of Hardenburg, seeing the Greatswords flee, joined them in a general rout. Only the Kasotian spearmen was still in tact, together with their cannon and the Hardenburg hell blaster. The last handfulls of militia, including a block just returned from pursuing the bright wizard (whom they considered a witch) from the field, two outriders and the last knight joined in the flight.

The Chaplain growled at Ferdinand, who he had not had the chance to smite, and turned to cover thre Hardenburg retreat from the air.

Ferdinand had won a great victory for Averland, and had successfully prevented the key town of Grenzsdadt from falling into Hardenburg hands, he had beaten Pietr, a previously unbeaten general, in the field and driven the knights of Kasos and the Black Bears from the field. Whats more his centre had held and slaughtered the Prince's greatswords.
It was a good day for Averland - their first of the campaign.
As for the Hardenburgers - the Kasotian spearmen and chaplain/dragon covered their retreat back into the rural country of eastern Averland. The home of the Black Bears was now out of their hands and a day of great shame had befallen them. The key to Pietr's strategy was now far gone and there would be words in Hardenburg's military council.

Victory to Averland!
Grenzsdadt in Ferdinand Leitdorf's hands and Pietr in flight.
By B


Monday 23 November 2015

Clash outside Grenzsdat - Warhammer Fantasy

This was an 800pt test game of Warhammer Fantasy (M's first proper game), which we were using to get some practice in for the big Battle of Grenzsdat which will be fought this week.

If you remember, at the Battle of Pfungzig, the Averlander force of Baron Kastor Leitdorf (that old pretender according to Prince Vyshnevtsky of Hardenburg) was beaten by the Hardenburg Marines (the prince's guard and Hardenburg and local levies, with a contingent of Black Bear Knights) under the command of Seneschal Pietr, grand master of the Black Bears. The Hardenburg Marines thus took the town of Pfungzig. Meanwhile the Grand Army of Hardenburg was heading south towards Grenzsdat, the home of Pietr's Black Bear knights and the key to the Old Dwarf Road through Black Fire Pass, while Kastor's cousin was marching to meet him. This clash represented an insignificant engagement between detachments from the two forces.

Averland
Captain
Bright Wizard
40 halbediers
11 swordsmen
20 Tilean handgunners
Great cannon

Hardenburg
Captain
Black Bears chaplain (lore of beasts wizard)
5 knights
14 halbediers
10 handgunners
14 greatswords
hellblaster


the battle opened with some damaging magic from the averlanders - a fireball crashing into the greatswords

The cannon also opened fire but missed.

the Hardenburgers began their advance

The chaplain attempted a spell, but accidentally blew the forest around him to shreds.

The hellblaster opened fire causing a few casualties amongst the halbediers

The Chaplain's curse assailed the halbediers with nebulous tree spirits

the bright wizard and swordsmen invested the coaching inn,  the wizard setting fire to the men's swords and sending a fireball crashing into the greatswords' flank

the cannon again overshot, but the professional tilean handgunners took out nearly half of their Hardenburg opposites

The Knights charged into the halbediers, while the chaplain miscast again, turning himself into a mule, however he did manage to morf the knights and their horses into demi-bears

The hellblaster opened fire on the bright wizard and filled him with shot.

The Hardenburg levy handgunners opened on the swordsmen only taking one down.

The knights ploughed through the halbediers in the ensuing combat...

... taking but one casualty, breaking them and running them and their captain down, and capturing their standard.

The handgunners and great cannon again opened fire.

the great cannon again missed, but the handgunners annihilated the handgunners.

The hellblaster opened fire on the swordsmen shredding seven of them

The handgunners again fired on the advancing halbediers and they quit the field.

The Hardenburger's having began their advance on the guns.

The cannon fired on the approaching knights, but missed... again
but the handgunners, with closing fire, cut down all four remaining knights

The three remaining swordsmen charged the hellblaster crew and ran them down.

the greatswords, seeing the rest of the army defeated, now fled from the handgunners, with the intention of preserving themselves rather than risking the guns.

When the points were totted up the Hardenburgers had killed the enemy general and taken a standard, however this still wasn't enough and they were beaten by just 30pts.
The Tilean handgunners were certainly the unit of the match - they had proved themselves with deadly effectively, consistently rolling plenty of sixes, but cutting down unit after unit with their massed firepower. It was the first blooding for either of our mercenaries (the men of Hardenburg's vassal Kasotian republic will be making an appearance in the next game) and they had proved themselves well.

by B