After the farmers and workers were driven out, the druids of orboros erected a stone monolith upon a very specific spot. An intersection of two powerful leylines lay beneath the earth, right on the edge of the forest. This sacrificial stonework would allow them to tap into it through offerings to the Devouring Wurm. And so the blackclads protected their sacred site from that day forward.
One year later, a Cygnarian army looked to reclaim these lands, led by Commander Stryker himself. The pagan savages would be defeated and forced to see their sacred monolith shattered. The hiss of steam and rumbling iron upon earth echoed throughout the countryside as the battlegroup of an ironclad, charger, and lancer marched toward the ruins.
The always alert and watchful Circle, had noticed their approach from miles away and had already assembled a force led by the Stormwrath, Krueger. Using the power of the monolith to amplify his call, he reached out to the most savage beasts of nature. A feral warpwolf and a Gorax. The presence of either would make even the bravest of men reconsider, let alone both together. Not Krueger though, his power over beast was absolute, and these two were at his bidding. At the stormlord's side, a master of stone magic levitated inside a triad of squat obelisk-shaped stones, intricately carved with runes. Krueger sent the keeper and his stones to advanced positions ahead of the battlegroup to prepare their magic.
Krueger watched from beyond the monolith as the enemy took up their positions, centered between the ruined structures. Wanting to secure the highground before they could establish a strong firing position, he imbued the feral with the power of lightning, causing tendrils of it to lick about from his claws. He then forced his will upon the Feral, driving him to race with all speed around the forest towards the hill, keeping him out of range and site of the Cygnarians. He then called upon the power of the wind, conjuring a whirling gust of wind that encompassed his area of control as he took up position directly behind the great monolith. The gorax was commanded to secure the forest entrance, while the stonekeeper shepard' his stones forward in a wide, flat formation.
[Krueger cast lightning tendrils on Feral, cast deflection, moved foward 6". Feral warped for speed and ran 16" around the forest towards the cliff-faced hill, then riled. Gorax ran forward, setting up between the monolith and the forest. Shifting stones and keeper shifted forward 8"]
The veteran commander caught the subtle hints of movement and was quick to react, dispatching his lancer off to the left flank to contest the highground while the other two hulks of iron push foward to secure the center, taking cover behind the ruined wall.
Lancer ran to the top table edge. Ironclad and Charger took up center positions behind cover of 1" wall. Striker moved up.
Seeing the enemy's plan play out, Krueger forced the Warpwolf deeper into their flank. As the beast took position at the base of the highground, it instinctively warped its body to form a tougher hide and bony armor. The gorax's savagery was kept in check as Krueger sent it to skirt the forest edge and protect that flank, staying within the shadows of the trees. The shifting Stones once again shifted to improve their position, expanding out the triangular formation to encompass a larger area. Krueger needing a better vantage took to the sky and flew from his hiding spot to skirt the tree tops. He whipped up another whirl of wind to deflect any ranged attacks.
[i]Krueger upkeep lightning tendrils on Feral. Feral warped armor and moved into base with the high-ground piece. Gorax moved forward, ending w/ just the tip of his base in the forest for concealment. Krueger cast skyborne and deflection, then flew forward into the forest[/i]
Stryker, worried that his flank would not hold against the fast-approaching warpwolf, ordered his jacks to reposition and pull towards the highground. He imbued the charger with a powerful sniping magic, giving it a supernatural aim and positioned himself near the ruined building. The charger unleashed a powerful blast from its dual cannon, but failed to injure the feral who had the cover of earth and Krueger's storm wind as well as his protective armor warping. The ironclad lumbered forward and readied itself for the incoming onslaught.
[i]striker cast snipe on charger, moved forward (might have shot at feral but dont' remember exactly.)[/i]
In seeing the enemy's reactive manuever from his sky vantage, Krueger wasted little time in capitalizing. He flew forward then called out ancient words to the darkening sky. Suddenly a swirling black cloud dipped down from the sky in a vortex! The tornado snatched up the Ironclad and launched it through the air, letting the hulk crash land in a vulnerable prone position! The fall caused major structural damage to the 'jack. The shifting stones combined their magic to teleport the Gorax forward into a flanking position on the other side, then Krueger urged the feral to unleash its full fury upon the exposed Ironclad. The beast charged in, lightning tendrils still desperately grasping for a conduit. The ferocity of the beast was unmatched as its claws melted through the iron armor like butter, ripping it to shreds, giving the lightning its much desired conduit! Arcs leaped from the scrapped jack into the nearby Charger, giving it a bit of a jolt!
[i] Krueger's tornado rolled incredible and dealt like 13 damage thru armor, the feral's charge finished it off, getting a little extra electro-leap damage on the charger[/i]
Stryker, seeing the dire situation unfold, burst into action! With Krueger's wind wall down, he focused his will into the Lancer, channeling a rumbling earthquake spell through its arc-node! The feral was unable to hold its ground and fell prone! The commander ordered the Charger to unleash a devastating volley of cannon fire into the feral beast while taking his own pistol shots. The lancer followed suit and charged in to skewer the Feral from its backside! The beast's bones were shattered and flesh battered leaving it will no spirit or mind to fight, but it still stood, heaving for every breath.
[i]Bad dice rolls on damage prevented zac from having an excellent retalliation allowing the feral to live (with 4 health dots and no mind or spirit).[/i]
Next turn, the stonekeeper failed to hit with his Rock Hammer. Krueger healed the feral for 2, reviving its mind and spirit, then moved forward and chain lightning'd the Charger. It did decent damage to the 'jack and chained into Stryker for a few points of damage. the Gorax used his animus primal then charged the Charger and scrapped it. The feral forced to regenerate and I forgot to shake the prone effect on my feral so he spent his turn standing up and changing his facing to avoid back strikes. The stones shifted to form a protective screen for Krueger.
Zac then regained his honor with some good dice rolls and went slice 'n dice mode with stryker on the feral in melee combat. Stryker pwnd his face! And popped his feat giving everything +5 armor! The lancer then ran to move into position on Krueger's side of the high ground, putting a dangerous threat on the warlock's exposed flank.
My turn... The gorax auto frenzied, but had nothing in range and no charge targets.. it advanced towards the closest (stryker) and ended its activation. Realizing i couldn't hurt anything with all his stuff having +5 armor, i retreated. Stones ported Krueger back behind the forest and he camped fury (since gorax generated 0 and feral was dead), i was in dire need of all i could get.
Zac spent his next turn repositioning his lancer back with his warcaster, and sending said 'caster to kill the Gorax, again in melee combat. Apparently he doesn't fall into the category of men mentioned at the beginning of this battle report about being afraid of the most savage of savage beasts! He slayed the beast using all 6 focus.
With the feat wore off, Krueger got crafty... he cut himself for 2 fury to max out, then advanced 6" to get a good linear angle on the Lancer and Styker. He cast tornado and took a gamble didn't boost to hit, needing a 7. It hit with an 8(!!) and threw the lancer back 3"! The perfect amount i needed to LAND on Stryker and knock him down!! 1" less and no stryker. 1" more and no stryker! It was THAT close! ehehhe. So with striker and lancer prone, the stone keeper advanced and lobbed a rock hammer at them... AoE 3 POW 14... boom. Ended the poor warcaster's life and Circle's sacred monolith remained protected.
AWESOME game zac! It was really back and forth (dice gods were with me tonight lol) and if i hadn't gotten that super lucky 3" throw, i probably would have been done, cause i had no beasts left for fury, and my shifting stones aren't much for fighting... This game taught me the huge value of knockdown abilities... your earthquake is pretty nasty, especially with arc nodes. Tornado is quickly becoming one of my favorite spells, tossing jacks around and setting up nice auto-hit charges :D That terrain setup was really enjoyable i thought as well.. nice and symmetrical (for the most part) game-play wise, but different in aesthetic. trees vs ruined buildings
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