Battle Report: Dwarfs vs Skaven Part III

And the battle rages on...


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Dwarf Turn 4:
The Dwarven lord looked around and realized his missile fire had not done nearly enough to thin the ranks of this vermin horde. He ordered the charge and he along with his Army Standard Thane and Hammerers charged into the slave unit in front of them.
He was half expecting them to flee, but they held and were slaughtered under the onslaught of the Lords mighty rune blade and the numerous hammer blows that came down one after another. When the fur stopped flying the skaven slaves were beating a hasty retreat. The Lord and hammerers followed but were unable to catch the quick rodents. But more fresh meat was right in front of him as he slammed into their flank.

The thunder unit was in much worse shape as they were no match for the speed and quickness of the night runners. The rats hacked and slashed and dwarf after dwarf fell until only two were left standing and they ran for it. The night runners were too quick and the last of the thunderers were covered over with a swarm of rats.

The crossbowmen held strong and actually beat off the overrunning tunnel runners. But the tunnel runners held strong. And the other crossbowmen continued to fire quill after quill into the oncoming slaves.
The warriors could see themselves being outflanked and were trying to force the issue on one of the giant rat units.


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Skaven Turn 4:
Velsquee smiled, yes, the stunty things were falling into his traps. He called for an all out charge. Plague Monks and Censor bearers slammed into the rear of the hammerers while the clanrats #4 charged into their flank.
Slave units 1 and 2 along with the gutter runners all charged into the first crossbow unit.
And the clanrats #1 and giant rats surrounded the hapless dwarf warriors.

Every Dwarf unit except the warriors were now tied into combat. The day would soon be won.

The 2 crossbowmen had held on as long as they could and were hacked down with the poison blades of the tunnelers. The other crossbow unit #1 faired no better losing five to the poison blades and were broken and run down.

Finally, the Lord and Hammerers started pounding on the slaves to the front and killed more than a half dozen. But the fog of death from the Censor dropped 3 hammerers as well as a censor bearer. And then the combined attacks of the Plague Priest, Censor bearers, plague monks, warlock and clanrats claimed another 7 hammerers.
Even though the hammerers are a stubborn bunch, the thought of running crept into their minds. Velsquee could taste it. He could smell the fear in the air around them.

But the Dwarven Lord called to his troops to stand fast. The Hammerers took a look upon the army banner and realized if they ran, any survivors would surely be taken as slaves or have to buy some oarnge hair dye. They stood strong. Velsquee squeeked out a curse realizing he would have to engage in battle himself.


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Dwarf Turn 5:
With only 2 units left on the field of battle, the Lord was too preoccupied to worry about it. Amid the swirling blades, flails, blood and death, the Lord found his way to the Plague Priest Juhel. The fanatic priest was using his flail like a club now. The rest of the troops continued to fight but left a circle of dead bodies that the two fought in. The Dwarf lords speed was insanly fast as blow after blow rained down on the priest who seemed unable to turn a single strike aside. The priest poked with his club but to no avail. Luckily the rune blade was also turned aside by the tough hide of the priest, and his dozens of sores and scabs. Finally one blow struck true and the priest was knocked to the ground. Wounded but not out, the priest regained his feet and stared the dwarf lord down.

The rest of the skaven attacks were pretty useless except for the fog of death still being created by the censor bearers, but then the hammerers struck with a mighty force, driving the skaven back. But with Warlord Velsquee nearby along with their huge numbers most of the skaven units held firm. Only the censor bearers fled the combat.

The wariors on the other side of the field, made an ill advised charge and the giant rats skittered off to safety leaving the warriors in a very bad predicament.


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Skaven Turn 5:
The 2nd giant rat unit and clanrats #1 combined charge on the warriors, and while the armor on both side prevented any strikes from being true, the sheer weight, size and flanking attacks was more than the rune smiths had signed up for. But their fear was turned to horror as the rats quickly overtook their fleeing prey.

The Dwarf lord knew now that they were all that stood between the rats and victory. But he was still locked into combat with this priest who kept chanting over and over driving him nuts. He could hear on the other side of his combat a skreech that was followed by more rats charging into the combat. How many of these rodents would he have to kill? The Lord hacked again at the priest and ended his insane muterings. Then tried to fight his way across the melee that had broken down with rats, blood, fur and dwarfs strewn everywhere.
He got there in time to see the Warlord wound his standard bearer. This was an outrage but more hammerers fell and again the skaven pressed their advantage. Again the Hammerers gained strength from their Lord and banner and held steadfast as Dwarfs should.


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Dwarf Turn 6:
The Dwarf Lord yelled out that no matter the outcome, his troops had fought bravely this day, and this inspired them. The Dwarf Lord stepped in front of his fallen color bearer who was bleeding but still alive. And as quick as the skaven warlord was, the dwarf lord was quicker, striking blow after blow after blow. Velsquee shrank back as a slash across his chest and another on his thigh oozed with his black blood. He swung back with his mighty axe, but the dwarven armor was too tough until the final blow cracked the Dwarven Lord's chest plate.
The Dwarf Lord let out a curse to the gods, never in his hundred battles had he tasted the steel of his enemy. This rat was no match for him, but he was a cagey and slippery foe none the less.
The Hammerers went to town killing rat after rat goaded on by the words of their lord. The rats began to run. The clanrats, the plague monks and slaves, all ran. Only the Warlord and his body guard of clanrats held firm.


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Skaven turn 6:
All the fleeing skaven stopped to see how their warlord would fare with this Dwarf Lord.
Velsquee spat out a mouthful of blood. He knew the day belonged to him, but this stubborn stunty wasn't going to let him enjoy his hard fought victory. He knew it was time for a bit of trickery. With the Dwarf lords next strike, Velsquee dropped to the ground. Seeing their warlord fall, the clanrats turned and fled. Another clanrat unit nearby also turned and ran only being outran by the warlock in their midst.

The Dwarfs, bleeding, wounded and now outnumbered 15 to 1, grabbed what wounded they could and retired from the field of battle. It had not been a glorious day for the Dwarfs. The Lords only conselation was that he had put an end to the skaven warlord.

Velsquee stood up among the pile of dead rats around him. An empty jar of skalm rolled away from his feet.
The black hunger overtook him the rest of the skaven.
Dwarven meat is best served warm and raw!!


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This is what the battlefield looked like after the game ended.

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The battle was really fun, but my Dwarven opponent spent way too much on ruins and did not have near enough troops on the board. Ecspecially anti-magic runes, ouch, he had enough to shut down a 2nd gen slaan and 2 skink priests. He also didn't protect his flanks at all. This cost him badly. His missile fire was also very ineffective. Finally, only his Hammer unit being stubborn Ld 9 with the BSB saved the battle from being a total massacre.

All he had left on the board at the end was his Lord and BSB (both wounded, neither below half) and 7 hammerers. He captured one standard.

I had lost my Warlord, plague priest, 1 warlock who fled on turn 6, 2 clanrat units and 2 slave units. I had captured his warrior standard and held 3 table quarters.
Final tally of vp was:
Dwarfs: 1019 Skaven: 1925

I hope you enjoyed it and please leave comments.

Ben