#83 Battle XIV - Chicanery of the Stormcast Intruders
“You have done well Anya.”
The young vampire dipped her blond head to Lady Beauvoir as her mistress lounged upon her coven throne, sipping delicately from a goblet of fresh blood with awe-inspiring self-control. Anya Liedl settled into her own place beside the scrying pool.
“Paule,” Lady Beauvoir addressed the other vampire now, an elderly woman with a stiff and formal air. “Has Tes reported back yet?”
“Not yet, my Lady.” Anya could hear Paule Weiß’s disapproval even in those four short words. Tes was everything Weiß was not – beautiful, dangerous, mysterious: everything Anya admired in a Soulblight sister. But Tes was busy on her own mission this night.
“No matter,” continued Lady Beauvoir, “the Bloody Pilgrims shall prevail. Anya has established our influence inside the so-called ‘Crusade’” (she spat the word) “we shall continue our attack from without."
The Bloody Pilgrims had harassed the Dawnbringers all the way across Barfunweltz from Glymmsforge, to where they had eventually founded their new settlement of Salas Nova. Undead from near and far had been drawn to the Sigmarite migration like wolves to a herd of aurochs. The forces of Order had been beset by the Raptured Court of the False Apostle, the Procession of the Foolish Martyrs and even a visiting force of Kastelai Gravelords who had briefly joined forces with Lady Beauvoir. Throughout the journey, the free people had been entirely dependent upon the protection provided by the Stormcast Eternals known as the Gravewalkers. Sigmar's heroes had largely kept the forces of Death at bay, but at great cost to their own numbers.
"We shall not relent in our harassment of the Gravewalkers," continued Lady Beauvoir, "They are weakened and defensive as they wait for reinforcements. And we shall keep their gaze turned outward while Salas Nova collapses from within. Paule, are the Three Evils in place?”
“Yes, my Lady. The Lord-Arcanum and a small contingent of Stormcast are watching them from a position near the ruined Sigmarite shrine. Your three vargheists have them completely distracted as you intended. We shall be upon the infidel before they even know of our presence.”
“Excellent. Instruct the Hermit to raise the Rose Guard. It is time.”
Silently, the Throne Behind the Power ascended into the air as its spectral host bore it inexorably over the tombs towards the unsuspecting prey.
The opening battle of our first Path to Glory campaign: 'The Trap' battleplan (600 points) with the Bloody Pilgrims ambushing the Gravewalkers.
The Throne Behind the Power swept out of the treeline, the Rose Guard clattering along beside them, cursed blades glowing eerily in the starlight. Alerted by the noise, Caesiana Wraithsbane's Sequitors fell back without hesitation, out-pacing the deathrattle but not escaping Lady Beavoir's floating throne. Her coven caught and cut down two of the Stormcast. Lady Beauvoir grimaced: she had hoped for her surprise attack to start more decisively.
With all the professionalism of many lifetimes of soldiery, Lord-Relictor Baelor the Revered calmly translocated the Sequitors well out of harm's way to the other side of the ruined shrine. Runar Bjornsson's Hunters activated their astral compass, instantly disappearing and reappearing behind a distant sepulchre where they could bring their boltstorm pistols to bear from a relatively safe distance. Even Lord-Arcanum Heldensoul removed himself from the situation, abandoning Baelor to charge the undead foe alone. But the Lord-Relictor was no match for the bloodthirsty coven. Lady Beauvoir fed briefly from his prone form to restore her strength before leaping back upon her throne and scanning the battlefield. The cowardly Gravewalkers had scattered!
With a scream of rage, the self-styled Saviour of Barfunweltz ordered her troops to give chase. In a frantic bid to destroy their prey, the Bloody Pilgrims pursued the infidels through the graves while the Stormcast rode the winds aetheric to lead them on a merry dance among the tombs. The Gravewalkers picked a few undead off with pistols and spells but the Hermit of Barfunweltz simply raised the deathrattle back to unlife. Eventually the swift Coven Throne caught the Hunters, infuriated vampires falling upon them without restraint, only to see the last one translocate himself out of danger and rally one of his fellows.
Inspired by their mistresses, the Grave Guard found an unexpected turn of speed and caught the rallying Hunters unaware, cutting them down in seconds. In response, Eldinos Heldensoul called lightening down upon Lady Beauvoir, before charging in and severely weakening the Bloody Pilgrims' throne. The coven responded in kind, almost killing the Lord-Arcanum who retreated to safety once again.
Lady Beauvoir's ambush had failed thanks to the Stormcasts' trickery, and yet the Bloody Pilgrims had sustained no casualties.
That was such a great narrative game - the Path to Glory rules seem really good fun. A 13:4 major victory to the Gravewalkers, although I'd like to claim a moral victory please! I don't see how I could have won that scenario against such manoeuvrable troops without shooting so I was really pleased to do as well as I did, especially when my first turn charge proved so ineffective.
Owen and I achieved our quests and he suffered no permanent casualties. We shall both have a few reinforcements available for our next battle too. A great start down our respective Paths to Glory!
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