Campaign Report: Let the Betrayals Begin!

Our Players

Justin Cunnane: Chixl's Warhost (Lizardmen)

Jason Pierson: Waaagh Blackfang (Orcs & Goblins)

Louis Mule: The Murderous Legion (Dark Elves) 

Josh Affrime: The Horde of the Scorched Cauldron (Ogre Kingdoms)

Steve Stiefel: The Roving Province of Sigmarheim (Empire)

Rob Hawkins: Skryre Lord Skreekits' Lightning Engineer Cult (Skaven)

With the Murderous Legion's massacre at the hands of the Chixl's Warhost, the Ogres of the Scorched Cauldron were rethinking their alliance with the Dark Elves. They had sent word to the Lizardmen of their intent to betray their allies in light of these "unforgivable" defeats.

Skink Priest Cha-Cha-Haman skittered around the great Slann, waiving a piece of leather. The "document" from the Ogres was crude, but spelled out their desire to turn on the wretched Dark Elves. However, no matter the attempts to communicate, the great Slann sat silent on his palanquin, eyes closed in the ageless contemplation of the Slann.

This decision would have to be made on his own. A large cart full of gold was already prepared to be sent to the Ogres. The priest still didn't understand the love of these worthless items, but it would be enough to ensure the loyalty of the Ogres.

"Send the cart and prepare the Warhost," he chirped to the nearest Kroxigor. There was work to be done.

With the orderes issued, The Ogres pushed south into the lands of the Dark Elves, claiming the tower of Tor Anrok for their own. The southernmost Ogre banner engaged the Dark Elves as they attempted to Fortify.

 

 

Lou definitely had a fight on his hands. He had lost enough territory that, win or lose, he would need to dissolve one of his banners. Having learned from his encounter with the Lizardmen, Lou went heavy with the bolt throwers and repeating crossbows. Assailing the enemy from afar with missiles and spells, he nearly destroyed them to a man (er, Ogre).

Josh's army was massacred, and retreated back to its headquarters. And, because his shrinking realm could no longer support it, Lou disbanded the banner in own own headquarters.

On another note– I had ordered one of my banners to tunnel underground (the Skaven special campaign rule) with the promise of supporting the Orcs in their coming siege of the Imperial headquarters. The banner would remain underground the following turn and could attempt to surface in any Razed territory on turn 9. I asked Jason if he would be kind enough to Raze some territory for my rats to emerge...

 

 

Recognizing his plight, Lou sent out a call for aid, and I replied as we moved into the eighth turn.

To his greatness Lord Skreekit,

I lead a great host of Druchii to the far west and my spies have informed me that your enemies have drafted the help of the ogre army. This makes a 3 way alliance against your 2. I'm sure your mightyness can defeat them all regardless but why not use more willing lackies to die in place of your skaven?
If you and your green friends would allow me to join your alliance I could be the knife in their backs as your hordes sweep them from the front.

When the humans , lizzies and ogres are crushed it will be every clan for himself of course.

See you on the battlefield,
Katienne Kinslayer

***
 

The Dark elf captain was in his tent, pouring over maps. Over his shoulder he heard the faintest sound- a breath, barely perceptible but to his elven ears. In a single motion, he turned, sword drawn. It was immediately met with the blade of a small cloaked figure, who seemed to have materialized from nowhere. A second dagger, gripped tightly by what must have been the creature's tail, extended from under the wretched thing's cape.

The Skaven assassin and Druchii stared at each other, eyes locked. Out of the assassin's sleeve, a small rat scurried across the floor and up onto the table. It was carrying a small scroll, and a pouch that jingled as he ran. Depositing the package on the table, the rat hurried back under the Skaven's cloak.

"For your masssster," the creature hissed. The Elf turned his head to look at the table. When he looked back, the assassin had silently vanished.

The Dark Elf emptied the contents of the coin purse. Shiny green stones, small gears, and many, many bottle caps spilled onto the table– the Skavens' "currency." The scroll read as follows:

Kinslayer-thing, we accept your offer of friend-making. Our engineers have been toiling for ages to build a time-travel machine. They are very close to success, and it will surely help you in your predicament. Until they are finished, we will make way with all haste to the West. Watch for our coming on the Old Silk Road.

We will make offer to the Green-things to help, but they are currently tied up with the Man-things in the South. Please accept these tokens of our good faith.

–Skryre Lord Skreekits

My Skaven would do all they could to aid the Druchi, if they could arrive in time. The Old Silk Road was many miles long, after all.

As Steve and Jason maneuvered around each other, Justin and Josh moved in for the kill. The Lizardmen attacked the Dark Elf headquarters with support from the Ogres.

 

 

The battle did not go well for the Dark Elves. Unlucky magic had Arnizipal's Black Horror wipe out about a fifth of their own army. Justin's Ripperdactyl riding Skink Priest, Pik-uh-Chu took out two bolt throwers, a Sorceress, and tied up a unit of crossbowmen single-handed!

When the dust cleared, Lou's army had been massacred and Lizardman glyphs were raised over the Dark Elf fortress. 

 

 

Lou's remaining banner was stranded. He had three turns to retake his headquarters, or he would be eliminated from the campaign. The Dark Elf banner and my Skaven banner were both in position to reach it in exactly three turns. Could we make it?

'Til next time!