#97 Battle XIX - The Blood Ring of the False Apostle
Our second 'WHednesday' game! We played The Ritual battleplan (same as last time) but swapped roles, so the Stromcast were attempting to disrupt the ghosts' sinister ritual. 1500 points again in an attempt get the game finished by a sensible hour! My Procession of the Foolish Martyrs army was built simply on the premise of using warscrolls I haven't yet tried with the new Nighthanut rules. I was particularly keen to try Kurdoss Valentian.
Gheists were swarming over the ruined mausoleum, while ghostly strands of light danced over two nearby statues, clearly forming some nexus of necromatic power. As soon as the Gravewalkers approached, the Procession of the Foolish Martyrs rearranged themselves into a defensive formation. Without hesitation Lord-Arcanum Eidinos Heldensoul commanded his warriors to advance and the Stormcast surged forward, determined to halt this ritual of diabolical sorcery.
Lightening flashed and winds aetheric swirled as the Gravewalkers redeployed to surround the Foolish Martyrs. Vanguard Hunters and Raptors alike took up tactical firing positions but the majority of their bolts seemed to pass straight through their ephemeral enemies.
Gryph-Chargers charged from all directions banishing many spectres, although some (whose robes and armour were strangely black and unadorned) proved less effective*. Many spectres were banished, but some seemed to reappear soon after to reinforce their ghostly brothers.
* You may need to sit down before you read this but... Owen brought a couple of models he hadn't finished painting!? I know!? He was suitably apologetic about it, but more importantly I'm delighted to report that the dice gods punished the offending models most effectively - I've never see a unit roll so many 1s and 2s!
Kurdoss Valentian laid waste to all who dared approach his throne, but his desperation to assert his sovereignty made him stray too far from his protective spirit hosts and he was brought down by Sigmarite missiles. Nonetheless, the Nighthaunt counterattacks were relentless, and sensing that the Gravewalkers' numbers were rapidly dwindling, Eidinos Heldensoul and the Stormstrike Chariot together charged the ruined dais where the Ritual was reaching its zenith.
But even this bold charge failed to banish the tenacious gheists. Even as Lord-Arcanum Heldensoul stood upon the very epicentre of the arcane rite, a chilling whirlwind of Nighthaunt descending upon him in eternal fury, he could only resign himself to the truth: The spectres' ritual could not be stopped. But what fell purpose had it achieved...?
Another victory for the Procession of the Foolish Martyrs! It was nice to feel in control of a battle for once, with the Nighthaunt well positioned on the objectives and their saves rendering them seemingly invulnerable to Owen's aggression. Kurdoss Valentian did not disappoint (I just need to keep him body-guarded by spirit hosts) and the Lord Executioner was punchy too. I was also greatly helped by a double turn, and when Owen again lost the priority roll for turn four (on a six!), he graciously capitulated.
The Preacher approached his liege. "Our Lady of the Rose, it is done."
He proffered a ring to her, which floated, gently rotating, in the cold, dark air between them. Of what metal it was forged was impossible to say, for its scarlet stone oozed blood which coated the entire piece and dripped endlessly onto the graveyard earth below.
Olynder's voice was a whisper of misery. "Did Sigmar's lackeys attempt to thwart you?"
"Yes my Lady, but to no avail. The Blood Ring of the False Apostle has been reawakened; wheresoever the blood roses grow, its bearer shall have supremacy."
From the shadows at Olynder's right hand emerged the form of Kurdoss Valentian, mounted upon his great throne. Empty eyes sockets stared ravenously at the ring and one hand twitched as if to reach out and grasp it. Olynder half turned towards her husband and nonchalantly shook her veiled head.
"Not you, dear."
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