#50 Battle VI - At the Command of Our Lady

Dodging the rain for a second Gardenhammer battle with Owen (grave.walkers; the photos are all his handiwork). Definitely the first time I've played Warhammer with chickens clucking round my ankles!

Meeting Engagement: Caught Off Guard

Calyx the Venerated strode through the tombs defiant, daring the gheists to reveal themselves. He could have been more cautious, but his aim was to draw the malignant spirits out to confront him. He had faced such foes thousands of time before and was utterly confident in his trooper's abilities to keep the forces of Death at bay.

"O Lady of the Rose, I believe I have found the one that knew the Empty Hearse. It has ventured into Barfunweltz again. Give me your order and we shall come upon them unexpected among the tombs."

"Yes, go. And I shall join you Baptist, for I much desire to taste this soul myself."

* * *

Deployment

A Shroudguard materialised from the Underworlds: the Zealot (mounted Knight of Shrouds) and two units of Reluctant Converts (Bladegheist Revenants). Before them was the main body of the Gravewalker's expedition: Lord-Exorcist Calyx the Vengeful leading his Liberators and Evocators.

Turn 1

Living up to their moniker, the Foolish Martyrs relinquished the initiative to the Gravewalkers whose Liberators and Lord Ordinator established a defensive position on one objective, while a unit of Evocators descended from the celestial realm to control the centre of the the field. Meanwhile, the Vanguard-Raptors deployed with Aetherwings and the Tenebrael Shard ready to deal with whatever gheists should appear among the tombs.

The Zealot led his Shroudguard forward but not fast enough to engage the enemy. Lady Olynder then appeared with her Inquisitorial Informants (Grimghast Reapers).

Turn 2

The Anvils destroyed the Knight of Shrouds through the concentrated fire of the Raptors' shooting (twice!) and chained lightning from the Lord-Exorcist. The Liberators moved forward to support the Evocators who braced for the inevitable charge, while Calyx himself held the objective in the Gravewalkers' territory. Finally, the Sequitors entered on the right flank while other unit of Evocators remained in celestial realm, poised to descend upon the foe.

Lady Olynder and the Grimaghast Reapers slowly drifted towards enemy. The Bladegheists charged the Evocators, just as The Baptist (Spirit Torment) appeared from the underworld to support them. But even their frenzied storm of blades was insufficient to subdue the mighty Evocators, who responded by destroying one unit of the Bladegheists and depleting the other.

Turn 3

The final unit of Evocators descended from the heavens ready to fight for the objective in enemy territory. However, their charge fell short, the aetheric particulate having disturbed their concentration. The rest of the Stormcast force held fast, confident in their dominance over the field of battle.

The Chainrasp Hoard of Foolish Martyrs finally appeared from the underworld on the Nighthaunt right flank. The Reapers promptly charged the Evocators in their territory and wiped them out! Sadly, the malignants' powers were waxing too late.

Turn 4

The Raptors turned their attention to the newly arrived Chainrasps, whittling them down a little. The Tenebrael Shard finally worked his mysterious ways and charged the Lady Olynder herself. But in the presence of the Mortarch of Grief, even great assassins forget their training and he did little to weaken her. The rest of the Stormcast force continued to hold their ground, sending only their birds forward to harry the foe.

In a last attempt to assert themselves, the Nighthaunt swarmed over the only enemies within reach - the Aetherwings. The Spirit Torment dispatched them before the Reapers and Chainrasps had even raised their spectral fists. Meanwhile, Olynder's handmaidens' wail of the damned proved too much for Tenebrael Shard who disappeared as mysteriously as he had arrived.

Result

Stormcast 22, Nighthaunt 4 

Neither of us had played a Meeting Engagement before and lessons were certainly leaned about the importance of objectives! I can see these ghosts are going to take some practice to get the hang of playing...

* * *

"Yes my Lady, that was indeed the soul we seek."

Lady Olynder billows before me, her handmaidens staring me down lest I dare raise my face to hers.

"I thought as much." Her whisper chills me. "I want that soul. I perceive it is... significant. It must not return again to Sigmar's Anvil."

"No my Lady." I cringe. "If only we could have overcome its bodyguard this day."

"Indeed. It is... regrettable. But there are more weighty matters in the Mortal Realms that require my attention at present." Her voice commands: "This is your mission, o Baptist - you and the Procession of the Foolish Martyrs. Capture that soul. Do not fail me."

#51 THE FUTILITY OF HERESY