Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Fantasy Adventures => Topic started by: Gibby on June 19, 2021, 02:05:41 PM
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(https://i.imgur.com/24ujmqg.jpg)
Ah, Estalia. Land of the First Men (as the Estalians tell it).
Off the Western coasts of the Old World, ships belonging to her many independent and quarrelsome realms glide to and fro upon crystal waters. Merchants, adventurers, pirates, or a mix of all, they ply their trade and make Estalia known to all the Kingdoms of men, and beyond. From the New World colonies, ancient treasures and exotic goods alike make their way through the various ports and spread through Estalia.
But Estalia is too disunited a place to enjoy this vast wealth. Its hot, dry lands are not ruled by one crown, but by many independent kingdoms, few of which are known beyond the confines of Estalia itself.
(https://i.imgur.com/WiFHAi9.jpg)
Here, from the South-Western side of the Irana Mountains, flows the river Guadariz. Half way on the water's journey to the Southern Coast, there sits the small but wealthy free-city of Aguila, and it is here that our story begins.
Aguila, Spring IC 2404.
Lightning forked its way across the sky as the lone scout rode through lashing rain. Mad with fear, he was the last survivor of a party sent to investigate rumours and whispers of strange happenings in the Northern parts of the Miramar Hills. Long had those hills been the source of many fears for local, rural peasantry. Crop failures and any lost cattle were blamed on a supposed evil that eminated from there. It did not help that in sunken valleys and in ancient tunnels there were many old burial places, barrows, and even graveyards more recently built.
Thiago had scoffed at this latest task. Six had ridden out at the behest of the Don, who was tired of petitions these last two moons from scared, superstitious farmers. Only Thiago was now returning. Ahead lay the city, and as the sun set, he rode through the gates unchallenged by startled guards. Thiago was received quickly by the Don Vicente Morales.
The peasants were right, Thiago said, between incoherent and almost contradictory reports about what he had seen. Evil was lurking in the Miramar Hills once again, an evil that slew all but this one man, who had seemingly aged a decade since setting out at dawn. There was talk of barrows emptying themselves of armed and honoured dead, who flocked around a wretched sorceror, who cast black arts under the command of a more terrible master.
“It would be prudent,” said the Don, a short time later to his close advisors, “to send a force into the hills to cleanse them of this evil. Long have those hills been a source of unease for our folk, but never has any tangible threat been reliably reported this far North.”
Among the most trusted of these advisors was an Imperial mercenary, one Captain Zacharias Von Zorn, commander of the Crimson Company, who in the last two years had become a permanent force of mercenaries in the Don's employ – bolstering the garrison of the city.
“I'll lead the Company out, aye. Send with me some of your livery and I'll see to it that this fledgling force of old bones is returned to the earth, and I'll bring you the sorceror's head as well.”
Another of the advisors, a Cathayan scholar named Guan-Zhao, stirred in his seat, his substantial black beard shivering with the motion. “Don Vincente, much kindness you have shown me since I arrived in your fair city. I have stayed here so long under your generous hospitality, not least because of your vast array of obscure tomes and scrolls to which you have freely given me access,” the scholar's Estalian was very formal as he rose from his chair and grasped his curiously carved staff from its leaning place near a window. “But it would be remiss of me not to repay your kindness by aiding you and the good Captain as best I can. It has been too long since I put my talents in spellcraft to use.”
So it was that at first light, the Crimson Company marched forth, backed up by two regiments of swords and a regiment of musketeers from the city. Into the hills they marched, to face down a foe that was even now building its strength in the ancient valleys that yellowed between the Miramar Hills.
The Battle of the Miramar Hills
(https://i.imgur.com/ILHRw1c.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/fGkiESQ.jpg)
The Crimson Company and the Aguilan garrison march forth against the nightmares from the grave.
(https://i.imgur.com/eZOGO8I.jpg)
Despite their banner being missing, the Aguilan Second Sword Regiment led by Sergeant Diego Pulpo held the left. The Crimson Halberdiers led by Guan Zhao to their right, bolstered the inexperienced Aguilans
(https://i.imgur.com/zKBRHcv.jpg)
Racing past crumbling grave sites, the Dire Wolves were infused with dark energy; the Dance Macabre!
(https://i.imgur.com/VQxMgn4.jpg)
A fearsome charge! Three men were torn down and ripped apart by tooth and claw, no less sharp for the flesh that rots around them. Diego yelled encouragements to his men, and personally slew two of the beasts with the man beside him
(https://i.imgur.com/XLmcHrj.jpg)
"Hold here!" bellowed Sergeant Miguel of the First Aguilan Swords. They halted to let the musketeers fire. The volley smashed some of the heavily armoured dead across the swampy ground.
(https://i.imgur.com/hNB0PvB.jpg)
Salazar Cuervo, once a proud scholar of Myrmidia, now lives as a raving mad cur among overgrown ruins, practicing the black arts that condemned him many years ago. Here he cast his spells in service of La Sombra, his mistress.
(https://i.imgur.com/y9ABDw4.jpg)
Here, La Sombra, once a woman of the Elder Folk, who scholars say cannot be taken by the curse of undeath. The lore has it wrong, for here she stood in her terrible countenance, skillfully wrought arms fused with the terrible gifts of the vampire. None upon this field could know that once she was a proud merchant of the Cantero Clan, whose Dwarven hold is in the mountains near Cartego. Shunned by her folk, and as the evil in her still-heart grew, she fled into the night. Here in the wretched hills she had found her army, to render bitter vengeance on the world that was robbed from her!
(https://i.imgur.com/lDtwTp3.jpg)
The clash of honest steel continued against rotten and terrible beasts whose time should long have passed. The men overcame their revulsion and trusted in the strength of their training. More creatures fell, and the evil magic that sustained them began to fade away.
(https://i.imgur.com/q64s7xt.jpg)
The crash of musketry heralded more shotte, smashing its way through the foe. But Salazar Cuervo had rich pickings in this foul place to refill the ranks and seal up holes made by shotte and cannonball alike. More dead spilled from old barrows and lichen-covered graveyards. These were the shieldfolk of ancient Estalia, the first men,who knew their craft in life, and remembered much in death.
(https://i.imgur.com/9I2Xk5P.jpg)
Forward they marched, the shrieking necromancer and the grimly silent vampire filling them with vigour. As the last of the Dire Wolves were cut down, the Crimson Halberdiers wheeled right to support the centre. But was it too late?
(https://i.imgur.com/Q4NnEOu.jpg)
The Dance Macabre, a spell that turns a shambling corpse into a spirited Rodolero, is manifested from the winds of Shyish. The Cathayan Scholar Guan-Zhao could not hold back the dark power of Salazar Cuervo, who has slept in underground tombs and conversed with long dead murderers in forbidden vaults these last decades. The undead raced forward at blinding speed, the centre of the living line wavered, and handgunners desperately loaded their pieces.
(https://i.imgur.com/FrGP1dK.jpg)
The first swords of Aguila buckled under the weight of the dead. Holding as desperately as they ccould, mighty blows were swapped between those who could still scream, and those who breathed their last in ancient days.
(https://i.imgur.com/mFWilRP.jpg)
But fear ruled in this shadowy valley, and here fear would be obeyed. The Vampire, personally carving a bloody swathe through the ranks, her rotten shieldbearers slowing not at all even as some were returned to the grave. The swords broke and routed. Some men fell screaming under the darkly animated foe, some clawed past one another to run shrieking back to Aguila with their shields cast into the dirt. Some were never seen again.
(https://i.imgur.com/p9LYkSc.jpg)
The shadow of death fell upon the centre. On the heels of fleeing men, the dead crashed into musketeers and harried the crew of the great gun Der Brüller, who in turn routed from the field.
(https://i.imgur.com/NIVTX67.jpg)
Captain Von Zorn and his bodyguard fell back from the foe, but were able to reform past the Crimson Musketeers.
(https://i.imgur.com/UjBlOJf.jpg)
Regiments of the living marched from the left flank, ready to aid their beleaguered allies, but seeking also to not be scattered alone in these unholy hillside burial grounds. Who knows what else yet stirred where the warmth of the sun cannot reach?
(https://i.imgur.com/zhlpTwo.jpg)
Captain Von Zorn led his bodyguard forth, and as the lines were about the clash, he bellowed a challenge to the unholy champion leading these men of olden days.
(https://i.imgur.com/EA95lPS.jpg)
But behind the glowing eyes of that wretched hearthguard, whose rest had been desecrated forever, there lay no personal will. His lot was to seek no glory, but to serve only the will of his dark master. His ancient shieldmen pressed forward around him, no word spoken from throats as parched as the Southland deserts.
(https://i.imgur.com/rlpEu1Z.jpg)
As the zweihanders rose and fell, old bones being cleft in twain, not least by Captain Von Zorn's own blade, the black heart of Salazar summoned forth unholy bolts of that most evil of magicks - the winds of Shyish. The Dark Hand of Death, terrible bolts of energy streamed forth.
(https://i.imgur.com/Fda808o.jpg)
Fully one third of Von Zorn's men were cast into death by this unholy uttering. But theirs were hearts made of steel, no fear could seek to dominate these men (in game terms I rolled snake eyes on the fear test - insane bravery, they no longer had to test for Fear for the rest of the game... not that there was long left). The Crimson Musketeers fell back as Von Zorn held the line.
(https://i.imgur.com/EBcsi3a.jpg)
On the other flank, Guan-Zhao along with the Crimson Halberdiers did their best to hold La Sombra and her Grave Guard at bay. The fighting was fiece, but the living gave ground in good order – fully aware that more of the dead gathered on their flank. Where was Sergeant Diego and the Second Swords?!
(https://i.imgur.com/2TbDukP.jpg)
Hearts of steel could drive a man so far into danger before cool heads take over. Captain Von Zorn, amidst the fray, many newly-dead piled at his feet, assessed the battle. The sun was weaker now, behind the clouds. The centre was broken, but the men who remained held, despite the push of melee across either flank. The lines parted as the leaders of the cursed foe sought to re-assert their magical control over their forces.
Across the field, living ears heard the call of retreat. In good order, the men marched to their drums, to the rally point set ere this battle began, for such an occasion that the foe was stronger than any reckoned. No mortal can seek to decipher the mind of the vampire, who did not set her forces upon the heels of the living as dusk crept forth. La Sombra had held her ground in the hills, and established her power.
The war had only just begun.
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Blimey David, you've done our battle proud in your write up!
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Thanks Derek! :D
I omitted almost all game-terms so it's not a very good mechanical re-telling. For those wondering: that last photo is the end of turn 6 by which point the battle ended. Totaling up the Victory Points resulted in a Minor Victory to the Undead, which hopefully is clear in the narrative.
That Dance Macabre spell took me by surprise!
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Sounds and Looks like a great game!
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Well this is bloody brilliant. Top mapmaking skills there, and lovely armies! I recognise almost none of the human models used.
I do like a 'narrative' retelling of the battle - you've hit the right balance of detail/light-handedness in your retelling so top marks. Felt a bit like reading an old White Dwarf battle report :)
Looking forward to the next instalment!
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I believe David uses TAG Renaissance Spanish. It's a very good range of figures, I'm sure he will tell you more.
My undead mix GW, Mantic, and my Grave Guard are Gripping Beast Anglo-Saxon Thegns with heads and other details from Mantic zombies and ghouls. Heresy necromancer and a Stonehaven vampire dwarf for my general!
WFB 6th edition for the rules, for our first game we used force lists from Ravening Hordes. Those lists are a little less gimmicky than some of the army books. Only 1000 points, but we both like armies that use formed units above the more fantastic elements
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Well this is bloody brilliant. Top mapmaking skills there, and lovely armies! I recognise almost none of the human models used.
I do like a 'narrative' retelling of the battle - you've hit the right balance of detail/light-handedness in your retelling so top marks. Felt a bit like reading an old White Dwarf battle report :)
Looking forward to the next instalment!
Thanks K-C Tyr, that means a lot coming from you - a master of narrative!
I wish I could claim credit for the map - all I did was take an existing and very beautifully done map of the Old World and zoom in on Estalia. I took the liberty of editing the name of one place from its original into my invented city of Aguila.
The map, if you're interested, is here: http://www.gitzmansgallery.com/shdmotwow.html and is a great resource for any would-be Old World adventurer. We are using the Old World as it was circa the launch of 6th edition, and we're doing what we wish with the setting from that point onwards. It was a gritty and detailed world then!
The models: The Crimson Company, the more Imperial-looking sorts, are all Foundry figures with a few Artizan Landsknechts to fill out the gaps. Their pikes have been swapped with Halberds where necessary. The chunkier sword unit led by Sergeant Diego are all Foundry sea dogs, and the slighter swordsmen are, as Derek says, TAG Renaissance Spanish Rodoleros. They all work together fairly nicely and the latter are perfect as Estalians. Oh, and a few of the Greatswords are from Steel Fist Miniatures, including Von Zorn himself!
I have a lot more forces to paint yet!
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Excellent report Dave! Sounds like you both had a blast!
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That was great fun.
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A splendid report/story with splendid models too. A darn fine date to set a campaign in. (I wonder if La Sombra might give harbour to a vampire fleeing west from Tilea, should it prove necessary?)
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Great start, looking forward to seeing it continue 8)
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Thanks, Padre. The date is no accident! Your campaign was the inspiration that got me back into Warhammer - in fact these models were purchased after reading your campaign back before Biagino was even a a vampire. No doubt, more allies would be welcomed by this growing evil force (should it still be around in current-year by the Tilean campaign calendar...)
Great start, looking forward to seeing it continue 8)
Cheers, Jim :)
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A splendid report/story with splendid models too. A darn fine date to set a campaign in. (I wonder if La Sombra might give harbour to a vampire fleeing west from Tilea, should it prove necessary?)
She already thinks of her necromancer as a threat, another vampire could be... interesting. She will need thralls of her own at some point though:)
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I reckon Biagino, in Miragliano, will have heard of her. I have a feeling she might be mentioned in a story quite soon!
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She's certainly a fairly uncommon form of vampire, and so may be spoken of in far off places!
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Miragliano isn't really that far off.
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I imagine it's a perilous journey through the vast Irana Mountains, or the blighted marshes and past Skavenblight, or over the seas infested with every kind of pirate!
Probably not too troublesome for a vampire!
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Biagino is an expert at running away. I'm sure he could make it.
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That was very cool. Interesting background and lovely figures.
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Excellent story telling, looking forward fo the next one.
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A real honour for her!