#136 Battle XLII - Lessons of Death

Lord Tzunaak, Emissary of Sternieste inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly, a pointless but instinctive habit learned many years ago when he was alive. But somehow the action seemed to calm his blighted soul. Damn this Aqshyan ire! In the relentless heat of the Adamantine Chain he had lost his temper and let irrational wrath guide his actions. He could not recall exactly why he had become quite so infuriated by Liege Mortek Erimos, but he had directed his ostensible 'Crusaders' to hunt down and slaughter the general of the Antipolos Reliquists.

It was not long before the Ossiarch force had found itself not only cornered, but on open ground perfect for cavalry. Without hesitation, the perfectly drilled bone constructs had silently adopted a castle formation around their Liege Mortek. Overflowing with Aqshyan fury, Tzunaak had instantly ordered the charge and moments later the Bonereapers line had been flattened by the combined impact of his knights - both blood and barrow. Some Mortek Guard had held a little longer than most, but their bones too were soon trampled into the ash.

It was the Errant Knights of the Blood-Drenched Rose, Voltaire's own Barrow Knights, who had counter charged in order to be the first to reach Erimos himself. Despite the superb defence of this Mortek Triaxes, the Errant Knights had cut the Liege Mortek down in short order. 

Then the burning red mist had lifted from his soul, and Tzunaak had ordered his forces to withdraw, even allowing the Reliquists to gather some emberstone. For the forces of Death can be allies after all, and it is not always wise to provoke the legions of Nagash himself.

As he calmed himself down, it did not escape Tzunaak's notice that both Lord Voltaire himself and the Templars Ascendent had delayed their arrival until after battle was done. What message would they now relay to the Pontifex Surrexit? 

Lord Tzunaak shrugged. It mattered not. But it would probably be wise to reward the Errant Knights of the Blood-Drenched Rose for their achievement this day.

It was good to get the Soulblight Gravelords back on the campaign trail for another entertainingly brutal cavalry charge. This time the victim was Cameron's Ossiarchs, for whom I can't help having a soft spot as another Death faction. Both of the Gnaw's Edge battle plans would have been a tall order for him in this match up (especially as I outnumbered him by so much that I had to leave over 350 points in reserve) but we felt the Twisted by Rage scenario would give him the best shout. Nonetheless, both Barrow and Blood Knight charges proved pretty devastating and I had succeeded in assassinating his general by halfway through turn 2. I decided at that point that Lord Tzunaak had calmed down, so I retreated all my units and we called a truce to allow for the gathering of emberstone. 

Lord Tz
unaak's victory means the Brotherhood of Mannfred has now reached the Hateful Shores, but is he too late? While Cameron and I were playing, Mel's Seraphon defeated Max's Skaven and are making their way to Hel's Claw...