Moonstruck: Going back to my Worldroots?

I mentioned previously that Moonstruck had sold out, and that I am one of those who entered. The tournament is in a few weeks, so I really need to make a list.

This will be my first tournament since Cancon in late January, and it is also my first using the End Times rules. This means 50% Lords, access to the Lore of Undeath, and Legion lists, as well as Battlescrolls from the End Times books. This all stacks up to mean that I have absolutely no idea what to expect. The scope for the creation of terrifying armies has increased dramatically, and I don't have a feel for how well the comp system will reign it in.

With all this in mind, I took a long time to come up with an army. I couldn't really make an army based on what I expected to meet on the table, because I have no idea what that will be. What I needed was a concept I wanted to play with, and eventually I settled on one I have been wanting to use for a long time: The Court of the Everqueen.

From a background perspective, the High Elf Everqueen holds court in the forests of Avelorn (or did, before the End Times). She is protected by a maiden bodyguard, and the forests are full of forest spirits and the like, much like Athel Loren. It has always seemed like a good theme for a list, however the High Elves never had the ability to put things like Treemen into their list, so any effort to recreate the army as a whole would generally have been using Wood Elves.

The End Times changed this, by combining the different Elf armies into lists like the Host of the Phoenix King and the Host of the Eternity King. Suddenly it has become possible to field forest spirits alongside High Elves. I don't really know how long the End Times rules are going to be doing the rounds, so it makes sense to take the opportunity to finally field my Avelorn list at Moonstruck.

In keeping with the confusing nature of the End Times, there is now more than one version of the Everqueen to choose from. I have decided to go for the full-blown crazy version of her: Alarielle, Incarnate of Life. She's ridiculously powerful, but she's 540 points. And the plan is to surround her with some pretty sub-par stuff to fit my theme, so I figure she will be OK. Here is the list I think I am going to use:

• Alarielle, Incarnate of Life
• Durthu
• High Elf Noble (BSB) with Sword of Might, Enchanted Shield, Dragon Armour
• Wood Elf Spellsinger (Level 1, Lore of Undeath) on Unicorn with Dragonbane Gem
• High Elf Noble with Dragonhelm, Heavy Armour, Great Weapon
• 18 Maiden Guard (Lothern Sea Guard) with Spears, Bows, Light Armour, Full Command
• 18 Maiden Guard (Lothern Sea Guard) with Spears, Bows, Light Armour, Full Command
• 18 Dryads with Branch Nymph
• 6 Treekin
• 5 Dragon Princes of Caledor with Standard, Musician
• 5 Sisters of Avelorn
• Eagle Claw Bolt Thrower
• Eagle Claw Bolt Thrower

The list should be interesting. Alarielle gives everything within 12" Regeneration, and can heal wounded models each turn as well as having her Life magic to work with. It could mean things like Treekin and Dryads grow a fair bit of spine so long as they stay within her range. A few of the characters have fire protection to help resist Flaming Attacks - the easiest way to bypass Regeneration. Durthu is the only significant combat punch in the list, although at least I have a moderate amount of shooting.

The characters. I need to re-base Durthu, I guess. Sigh.

In practical terms, I don't know how well I can play and control a game when I am trying to keep everything within arm's reach of the Everqueen. It may not be sustainable. If I can't get Durthu into the right places, my army has almost no high-strength attacks. I may regret that. There is a reason people don't invest heavily in units like Treekin, Dryads and Sea Guard - the things my army is built around.

2 units of these ladies form the core of the army.

Vengeful tree ladies! Hooray!

Treekin. Now only Strength 4. This makes me sad. Hate to think how it makes them feel.

Trying to tip back the gender balance - the only regiment of men in the army.

I don't think I've used a Bolt Thrower in anger since 6th edition.

I'm sure I'll find time to finish painting them. I hope.

The Spellsinger is the silliest inclusion, there purely because I wanted to include the model. She weighs in at around 140 unnecessary points, however the Lore of Undeath may be her redemption, as it gives me the potential to challenge for table quarters when my army is extremely poorly constructed to capture them (you require a rank with a standard to take each quarter). Of course, now it means I need to paint some Skeletons. Sigh.

It's Tyrion! Or rather, some random noble wearing gear that is a pale imitation of the real thing...

The other particularly foolish choice is the second Noble. He is there because I wanted to use my Tyrion on foot model, that I converted for Finuval Plain. I figure he can run around as Alarielle's bodyguard, even if he's not the mighty hero himself. He's unlikely to ever get a run otherwise (you can't actually field Tyrion on foot), so this is his chance. It sort of fits the theme of the Everqueen's court, in a mind-bending sort of way (it is a long time since Tyrion was running around as the Everqueen's protector).

So all in all, my list is a strange mix of a powerful End Times character and lots of questionable choices. Will it work? Time will tell. Can I get it properly finished and painted in time (once the Wyverns and stuff are dealt with)? That is another question that will be answered in time.