Battle of Finuval Plain: Turn 6 – Murderous Spite

This is a final turn of the account of the Battle of Finuval Plain. If you missed the previous turn, you can find it here. If you want to go to the Finuval Plain main page, click here.

High Elves Turn 6

High Elves Turn 6. To see a larger version, right-click and select "Open Link in New Tab"

The Witch King had fallen, but so too had the Everqueen's personal champion, Tyrion. It was a psychological blow for both sides, but the High Elves were gaining the upper hand, and dared to hope that this battle might indeed be the moment the invasion was halted and turned back.

The frustration of the Cold One Knights engaging Teclis' Archer bodyguard had reached fever pitch by the time they were surrounded and destroyed by the thundering charge of Silver Helms, Star Dragon and Frostheart Phoenix. It was a terrible assault, and the outcome of the combat was never really in question. The sole survivor of the charge was N'kari's battle standard bearer, who died trying to protect his banner as half the High Elf army closed in around him. Teclis had been rescued, and with him the left flank had been saved.

There's no kill like overkill. The High Elves apply excessive force in removing the Cold Ones from Teclis' flank.

Once more to Cancon

I thought I would interrupt my series of Finuval Plain battle report segments to post briefly about what is coming up this weekend. For what is probably close to the 15^th time for me, I will be heading up to Canberra for the annual event that is Cancon. As always, I will be playing Warhammer Fantasy – and so will another 129 people! This makes it the largest Australian tournament in years, by a fair margin. Cancon is also the only remaining 3 day, 8 game tournament on the calendar. Between that and the huge number of players attending, it's shaping as the big event for the year.

Warhammer at Cancon has a rich history of wildly varied and sometimes terrible composition rules and scores. I've seen peer comp, panel comp, hard caps, really really hard caps, and everything in between. This year the TOs have elected to run Swedish Comp, which I have talked about before. Given that I don't think comp worked all that well last year, and 130 is a stupendous number of lists to assess, I believe the decision is a good one. How it has actually been implemented, I am not so keen on.

Battle of Finuval Plain: Turn 5 – Don't Fail Your Strength Test...

This is a continuation of the account of the Battle of Finuval Plain. If you missed the previous turn, you can find it here. If you want to go to the Finuval Plain main page, click here.

High Elves Turn 5

High Elves Turn 5. To see a larger version, right-click and select "Open Link in New Tab"

The battle continued to be closely fought, with neither side gaining a clear upper hand. The winds of magic gusted and swirled strongly across the battlefield, and the Mages of the High Elves sensed that the moment for dramatic intervention had now come. Opening themselves to the energy around them and channelling it into them, they prepared to unleash a sorcerous onslaught upon their enemies.

The situation is making Teclis nervous.

Battle of Finuval Plain: Turn 4 – A Beast Awakened

This is a continuation of the account of the Battle of Finuval Plain. If you missed the previous turn, you can find it here. If you want to go to the Finuval Plain main page, click here.

High Elves Turn 4

High Elves Turn 4. The flash up the top is the second Comet of Cassandora hitting. To see a larger version, right-click and select "Open Link in New Tab"

With dozens of regiments struggling in bitter hand-to-hand combat and the Witch King having finally committed himself to battle, matters were coming to a head. If the High Elves could push through now, perhaps the Witch King's stranglehold over Ulthuan could be broken.

Behind the Dark Elf lines, another Comet of Cassandora crashed to earth with thunderous force, though slightly less devastation than the High Elf Archmage had hoped. Two enemy Bolt Throwers were vaporised, although the crew of a third managed to dive aside and avoid serious injury. The blast was alarming enough to send the small unit of Crossbowmen guarding the machines running from the field, their duties forgotten.

On the left flank, the Chosen continued to hack at the flank of the White Lions, however true to their reputation, they resisted stubbornly and a single survivor stood his ground defiantly. The frustration of the elite Chaos Warriors was evident, but it was they who had failed to break through to fresh opposition.

I'll take you all!! I don't even need a blade on my axe! I'll club you with my stick (not a euphemism)!

Battle of Finuval Plain: Turn 3 - To Kill a Daemon

This is a continuation of the account of the Battle of Finuval Plain. If you missed the previous turn, you can find it here. If you want to go to the Finuval Plain main page, click here.

High Elves Turn 3

High Elves Turn 3. The crosshair up the top is a new Comet of Cassandora. To see a larger version, right-click and select "Open Link in New Tab"

With the enemy advancing and tide seemingly going against them, proud High Elves launched themselves into the fray all along the line. On the left flank, units leapt to the assistance of their struggling allies. The White Lions who had been waiting in the forest decided that the time had come to intervene. They charged into the rear of the massive regiment of Dreadspears assaulting the now-riderless Star Dragon.

To the rescue! The White Lions and Griffon ensure that a Star Dragon is the least of the Dreadspears' worries

Battle of Finuval Plain: Turn 2 - Darkness Rising

This is a continuation of the account of the Battle of Finuval Plain. If you missed the previous turn, you can find it here. If you want to go to the Finuval Plain main page, click here.

High Elves Turn 2

High Elves Turn 2. The flashes are the Comet coming down. To see a larger version, right-click and select "Open Link in New Tab"

Battle of Finuval Plain: Turn 1

This is a continuation of the account of the Battle of Finuval Plain. If you missed the introduction, you can find it here.

High Elves Turn 1

High Elves Turn 1. The crosshair over Dark Elf unit DR2 is a Comet of Cassandora. To see a larger version, right-click and select "Open Link in New Tab"

As Urian's bisected form crumpled to the ground, the High Elves gave a great cheer and surged forward. Having dragged himself into Malhandir's saddle, Tyrion surveyed the seemingly endless ranks of his fallen kindred, and thought better of attacking them alone. Instead he wheeled about and rejoined the ranks of his comrades. The Silver Helms parted ranks to allow him space, cheering him as he formed up at their head. He was sorely wounded but he sat tall in his saddle, resplendent in his ancient armour. Even as he did so, he felt the pain from his wounds lessen as the Everqueen used the power of the Star of Avelorn upon her brow to heal him.

Battle of Finuval Plain: Deployment and the Duel

Prologue

From the north they came. A fleet of ships led by the Black Arks of Naggaroth landed on the shores of Ulthuan, and a tide of Dark Elves and their Chaos allies swept across the land. The Witch King had returned at last to claim his prize, and the High Elves were powerless to stop him. In battle after battle, the forces of the Asur were defeated. They had been unprepared for the size and savagery of the invasion, and they stood on the brink of annihilation.

Even Avelorn, the very heart of Ulthuan, had been despoiled. Alarielle, the newly crowned Everqueen, had narrowly avoided capture thanks to the efforts of Prince Tyrion, descendant of Aenarion. Together they had fled into the forests, but Tyrion was wounded and they were finally run to ground by N'kari, a mighty Keeper of Secrets. Malekith had bound the daemon to him with the promise of the Everqueen's soul, and N'kari would not be denied by a wounded princeling. Sorely wounded though he was, Tyrion rose to fight – and was batted aside without a second thought. The devastation of her land had left Alarielle incapable of defending herself, and it seemed her fate was sealed.

It was then that Tyrion's brother Teclis finally arrived. Where Tyrion had become a warrior of renown, Teclis had been mastering his studies at the White Tower and was now a mage of incredible power. No sooner had be arrived than he banished N'kari from the mortal plane and healed his wounded brother as he lay dying. He then guided the Everqueen and her protector clear of the Druchii net that had been closing around them, and they rejoined the remaining forces of the Asur as they mustered on the Plain of Finuval.

Finuval Plain

A High Elf temple in one corner of the field. Thanks, Hamish!

From all across Ulthuan, the last armies of the High Elves had gathered together. Finuval Plain would be their final stand. The Phoenix King remained besieged in Lothern and the White Tower in Saphery still stood, but defeat here would mean the war was over.

The situation was not lost upon Malekith. On the other side of the plain, his vast forces gathered, preparing to crush this final act of defiance. Prisoners were sacrificed and daemons were summoned. N'kari himself was dragged back to the material plane with the sacrifice of 1000 screaming victims, his mind fixed upon the twin descendants of Aenarion and his revenge. Hordes of armoured Chaos Warriors honed their weapons and prepared for battle. The Witch King was ready. After 5000 years of exile, Ulthuan would finally be his.

Finuval Plain: Rules for Urian and the Opening Duel

There is a lot to lay out for this battle and I'm not quite ready to post the first part of the report yet, so here is something I have neglected to post until now: the rules we used for Urian Poisonblade and his role in the battle. There were a couple of factors in how we balanced these rules, and some of them we didn't much care about (like the points value, which simply mirrors Tyrion). All we really wanted was a close fight to open the game.

Urian Poisonblade

410 points

M5 WS10 BS9 S4 T3 W3 I10 A4 Ld10

Special Rules: Always Strikes First, Hatred (High Elves), Killing Blow, Murderous Prowess

Supernatural Reflexes: Urian has a 4+ ward save.

Champion of Malekith: Must always issue and accept challenges. In addition, the contemptuous ease with which Urian dispatches his opponents is extremely demoralising for the enemy. Wounds inflicted by Urian count double for combat resolution.

Equipment:

Blackheart Armour: Magic armor. It grants Urian a 1+ armour save.

Urian's Reaper: Magic weapon. Gives the wielder +1 Strength and the Poisoned Attacks and Armor Piercing special rules.

The Duel

At the start of the game (after deployment), Tyrion (on foot) fights a challenge against Urian Poisonblade in the centre of the table. The challenge is completely resolved (until one side is slain) before the battle commences. No break tests are taken during the challenge. When the challenge is completed, the victor wins the first turn for his side. If the challenge is a draw (ie they die simultaneously), roll off for the first turn. If Tyrion wins the duel, he is immediately replaced by the mounted model before the battle proper begins, as Malhandir races to his aid. Urian will slum it on foot.

Finuval Plain: Sifting through the aftermath

The battle of Finuval Plain was now a few days ago, and I've had some time to recover from what was a pretty hectic day (and a fairly frenetic lead-up to it, as well). Of course, now I am left to sort through the notes and photos we took, and try to make heads or tails of the game. For a normal game of 2500 points or so, this is not a big deal. When there is 10 times that much stuff on the table, it's a lot of work. So you will have to bear with me as I get moving and start to put the battle report together. As with Hel Fenn, it will doubtless be posted a bit at a time as I make progress. In the meantime, here are a few teaser photos (I took over 550 pictures, though not all of them worked out as I might have hoped).

Still setting up... What a mess.

Finuval Plain: The final charge

Tomorrow is the day. We've just about finished packing the models, and soon we shall be heading for bed before an early start. My last few days have involved far too much painting, but we're just about where I wanted to be. A couple of final additions to the forces are Tyrion (on foot) and Teclis.

Now it's entirely possible that nobody has a walking Tyrion model, given that he only ever rides into battle in style atop his faithful steed, Malhandir. However, at the commencement of the battle of Finuval Plain, Tyrion fought a duel with the Dark Elf Urian Poisonblade in the centre of the field. Tyrion was on foot, so I figured we needed a model for this iconic moment of the game. I ended up just kitbashing a model from a number of different sources, and using a little green stuff to finish the job. But I figure he does the job.

Dragon rider helm, torso, arms and sword, Noble wings, a set of White Lion charioteer legs, and a cloak I've had kicking around for ages, but don't know where it came from...