WHFB Dark Elves vs Skaven 2500p

Once again the Dark Elves faces the Skaven! Having recruited a new Supreme Sorceress, the Dark Elves take to the battlefield confident they will finish of the vermin lurking around the old farmhouse! Or will they…?

DEPLOYMENT

The Dark Elves deploy (once again) to the north of the battlefield. From the north vest: Cold One Chariot, Cold one Knights, Witch Elves, Spearmen with the Supreme Sorceress, Corsairs, Cauldron of Blood, 2 units of Warriors with reaper cross bows, a bolt thrower and finally a Cold One Chariot. On each flank, behind the lies, a unit of Harpies.

Facing the Dark Elf army, from south vest: Slaves, a Hell pit, Stormvermin, more Slaves, a Cannon, Clanrats with BSB and Grey Seer, Plague Furnace with Plague Priest, even more Slaves (with Warlock) and ridiculously more Slaves (with warlock) and finally a Cannon. Two units of Gutter Runners in reserve.

THE BATTLE

Being faster and more agile, the Dark Elves go first, moving all units forward at full speed, except the Spearmen and Crossbow units. The Harpies to the south hide behind the building threatening the Cannon on centre hill. To the east the harpies close in on the Cannon on the hill to the fare east. The young Supreme Sorceress manage to kill of some of the Plague Monks, taking a wound and killing some Spearmen in the Backlash. A hale of bolts and arrows inflict damage more damage to the Plague Monks.

The Skaven Army advances at full speed. Transfixed by the Supreme Sorceress, they forget to call upon the rain. The Hell pit overloads and run almost straight over no-mans land and stops in front of the hard hitting dark Elves units (idiot!). A unit of Slaves to the north charge the Harpies who in turn flee to safety. The Plague Furnace does its best to close in on the Corsairs. The Grey Seer does not manage to call upon the 13^th one. Cannons and the Doom Rocket kill of several Crossbow warriors. The Supreme Sorceress despairs (temporarily).

The Dark Elves surge forward. The Corsairs engage a centre unit of Slaves; the Harpies moving over the Skaven Line ready to assault the Cannon next turn. The Chariot and the Cold One Knights to the vest moves past the farmhouse making ready for a fight nest turn. To the northeast the Crossbow adjust their position. Again the Supreme Sorceress, eager to prove herself, unleash the Dark Powers of magic, killing Plague Monks and Slaves, again killing several of her own Spearmen and losing yet another wound in the backlash. The shooting units target the Plague Monks and Slaves to the north, killing several, but not enough! The Witch Elves attack the Hell pit taking it down to two wounds only loosing five in return. The Corsairs kill of half the Skaven Slaves in centre, but they hold.

The Plague Priest with his Plague Furnace and Plague Monks decide to attach the flank of the Corsair in centre. However, with only 4 Ranks only a small portion of the Monks get to fight. To the north east a Slave unit manages to charge one of the Crossbow units. The Slaves to the south manages to charge a Cold One Chariot, the Cold One Knights being bystanders. All other Skaven units surge forwards. Again the Grey Seer does not manage anything, but the Skaven Warlock to the north manages to kill of a Cold One Chariot with “Warp Lightning”. The Cannons does not mange anything! In close combat the Hell pit takes another wound and does not manage to inflict severer casualties to the Witch Elves. The Corsairs cut down the Skaven Slaves and kills of several Plague Monks, who in turn does not manage to kill off enough Corsairs to win the combat. The Skaven Slaves explode, killing foes and friend alike. The Slaves to the east inflicts casualties to the Crossbow armed warriors, but they manage to hold their ground. Damn parry saves; damn ward saves from the Cold run on the Corsairs… The Slaves to the vest manages to win the combat over the Cold One Chariot, but does not manage to cut it down while fleeing.

The Cold One Knights charge the brave Slaves to the vest, winning the combat. Being out of range of the General and BSB – they explode! In centre the Witch Elves kill of the Hell Pit – ore so they think… The Corsairs makes a swift reform aliening with the Plague Monks. Both side takes heavy casualties. In centre the Supreme Sorceress kills herself when again unleashing the Dark Powers of Magic at full strength! The Crossbow men to the east fires at the unengaged Slave unit closing in on them.

To Horrible to Die. D6 = 6. The Hell pit emerges once again, with 2 wounds. The Stormvermin enters the centre of the battlefield, the Hell pit preventing them from charging. Finally, the Skaven general remembers to call on his reserves, they entering the field to the north centre opening fire, killing some archers. The Grey Seer finally manages to spread decease on the dark Elves, killing several Crossbow warriors and some Spearmen. To the north the Harpies are cut down by Slaves and the other unit of Slaves deafest the other unit of Crossbowmen, but they manage to retreat. The bolt thrower succumbs to the Slaves.

Eager to revenge the Supreme Sorcerer, The Witch Elves assault the Storm Vermin, supported by a Cold One Chariot. The charge brings the Witch Elves down to one Rank, but they manage to win the combat with the assistance by the Cold One Chariot. Behind them, the Cold One Knights close in; ready to charge the Storm Vermin from behind next turn.

In centre, the Skaven army massed against the remaining Corsairs, the Hell pit reaching them from behind. The combined attack killed them off. To the northeast, the Slaves and Hell pit destroyed the Crossbow unit, converging on the remaining unit. The Gutter Runners killed several Dark Elves with their poisoned slings. Again, the Grey Seer failed to inflict significant damage, and again the Cannons did – nothing (except one blowing itself up). Did we not pay the weapon teams enough? The Storm Vermin killed of the remaining Witch Elves.

The Dark Elf Spearmen assaulted the Storm Vermin, and the Cold One Knights assaulted them from behind. The Charge was devastating. The remaining Storm Vermin fled, pursued by the Cold One Knights. The Spearmen consolidating to take the inevitable charge from the Plague Monks. The Hell Pit is finally destroyed.

The Plague Monks charged the Spearmen, almost whipping them out. The Storm Vermin did not manage to rally, fleeing the battle. The remaining Slaves and the Clanrat unit adjusted their position, so that they could face the attack from Harpies ore other remaining units (witch ones…?). 

The Harpies attacked the Clanrats, being cut down. The Plague Furnace, the Monks and a unit of Gutter Runners fought with the Cold run, not inflicting significant damage either way.

The game ended. The Dark Elves had two remaining units left, Cold One Knights and the Cold run. The Skaven had two units of Gutter Runners Left, the Plague Priest, his Plague Furnace and Plague Monks, a Slave unit, One Cannon and the Clanrats including the BSB and Grey Seer. A bloody battle indeed!

The Skaven Army once again triumphed, but by a far less margin that the previous engagement. The Skaven general expect an even harder fought battle next time. Next time….