#53 Battle VII - Robbers of Graves
The vast majority of the corpses of former members of the original Society of the Sanguine Rose have been ripped from their graves and devoured by their spiritual successors. This religious rite, instigated by the Abbess (under the influence of the nascent Baby-Eating Bishop) was the very practice which created the Raptured Court.
As a consequence of this ritual, the unspoiled remains of original followers of the False Apostle have become rare indeed. Unless unnaturally preserved by some sinister thaumaturgy, these cadavers are now too decomposed to be reanimated as deadwalkers, yet like many rare things, they are highly valued. Indeed, many and varied are the factions which can be found fighting over these remains in the vast cemeteries of Barfunweltz:
The Soulblight Gravelords and their servants in the Reformed Society seek these cadavers for assorted necromantic rites and rituals. The mordants of the Raptured Court view them as the most sacred of sacramental meals. The Nighthaunt spirits of the Foolish Martyrs jealously guard these bodies that they once inhabited. They are even of academic, arcane interest to the Stormcast Eternals of the Gravewalkers - or 'Graverobbers' as they are known by the followers of the Way of the Rose.
High up on Barfun Moor, amid the ruins, woods, lakes and rocky outcrops, an elite force of the Gravewalkers stumbled upon a horde of chainrasps and their cruel leaders. Unbeknownst to the Stormcast Eternals, somewhere in this remote and wild place lay the unsullied remains of a former member of the Society of the Sanguine Rose. The Nighthaunt attempted to drive the 'Graverobbers' off, and the Foolish Martyrs and Anvils of the Heldenhammer battled for a night and a day without either side taking the field.
Now comes the end of the battle - all reserves are deployed and all that remains is to keep the ground that has been taken while making a last push across the enemy's lines...
1000pt Pitched Battle: Total Commitment
Gardenhammer again, with Owen shamelessly deploying both his cat and cockerel to attack me and my miniatures! Photos and Graverobbers courtesy of grave.walkers.
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| 1000pt Anvils of the Heldenhammer |
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| 1000pt Reikenor's Condemned |
The battle raged on, still a stalemate, as both sides held their ground. The Stormcast started picking off the malignant heroes, exposing the vulnerabilty of the Chainrasp Hordes. Finally, the Gravewalker general himself succeeded in separating some of the Foolish Martyrs from their masters and banishing them to the underworlds without means to return quickly enough.
The Nighthaunt made a last-ditch counter-attack, sending both units of Celestial Dracolines back to Azyr and grievously wounding Lord-Arcanum Eldinos Heldensoul, and thus regaining their territory. But the general's faithful Gryph-Charger Fellreaper used the winds aetheric to whisk him away before the Chainrasps could finish him off. But it was too late and the horde was now spread too thin. The spectres withdrew, leaving the Gravewalkers victorious, yet still wondering what had prompted such a mighty battle.
Yet another victory for Owen's Graverobbers and another great battle. Lord-Arcanum Eldinos Heldensoul was definitely 'man of the match', supported by Knight-Zephyros Neave Blacktalon. I feel I'm getting a bit better at using the Nighthaunt, but it's really hard to manoeuvre when your main units are so reliant on their supporting heroes. The Chainrasp Hordes proved less durable but much harder-hitting than I anticipated (I took three units of 20).
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I am the Baptist.
The Graverobbers took the field, but they paid for their trespass. Nonetheless, it is sacrilege that they stray so close to such a precious tomb. How shall we rid our land of their false worship and idolatry?
But what irks me most is that the one called Calyx was not even here. Lady Olynder has tasked me to bring her his soul, but he eludes me. I must not fail her.
I cannot fail her.
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