#117 Battle XXX - The Taming of the Spell

The rat-thing twitched as Viktor drained the last of its life-force away, through his carved bone staff and into his own withered soul. He was exhausted, but he was alive (whatever that actually meant for an ancient necromancer). He had just spent the last hour or so wrestling to bind and control a magical manifestation - what he called the 'Soulsnare Graspers'. While battle had raged between the Lost Thorns of Elohiim and their old Skaven foes the Wyrmhole Covenant, Viktor had been busy siphoning the arcane powers released by the deaths of the combatants. 

It had not been easy. The endless spell had strenuously resisted him even after the last ratman had fallen, and he had taken grievous wounds despite shielding himself with the skeletal Guardians of the Barrow. But he had survived, and the grave guard had been resurrected again, and he was healed. 

Even now, the writhing, grasping arms of the manifestation tried to reach him, but he had them tamed. They should prove useful in Elohiim's service here in Ulgu.

Soulsnare Graspers (Shackles) - Endless spell

My third battle in the campaign was against Steve's Skaven who I have played many times before. This definitely proved helpful as I knew which units presented to greatest dangers to my own. We played the 'Decisive Battle' battleplan which was essentially a classic kill-them-first scenario, and one that I think played to the Soulblight Gravelords' strengths, particularly as I just kept raising everything he killed! The poor 'hamsters' took a bit of a thrashing, but I'm sure Krittix Leyshaper will have his rodenty revenge.

I managed to achieve my second quest of the campaign, plus enough glory and renown points for a few upgrades, including reinforcing my grave guard! Here is how my order of battle looks now:

Glory points = 10
Order of Battle = 1130 points available
Arcane Tome: Vile Transference, Prison of Grief, Summon Horrorghast, Summon Soulsnare Shackles
Current Quest: Search for the Artefact
Warlord Elohiim (Vengorian Lord) - rank: aspiring path of the warrior (berserker), 9 renown; amulet of screams
The King of Thorns (Wight King on Skeletal Steed) - rank: aspiring path of the leader (tactical acumen), 10 renown
Viktor Bract (Necromancer) - rank: aspiring path of the mage (dedicated practitioner), 5 renown; lash of the sire
The Lost Thorns (Deathrattle Skeletons) - 4 renown
Guardians of the Barrow (Grave Guard) - rank: aspiring path of the attacker (battle fury), 10 renown; REINFORCED
Knights of the Lost Thorns (Black Knights) - 3 renown