The Earl of Jabberwick green has just woken up. He is not at his best in the mornings (he is not totally compos mentis in the afternoons to tell the truth, and in the evening he is quite hopeless). He is taking his morning constitutional in one of the courtyards of Jabberwick Hall.
But something is afoot...
Bezrond and Fezrond, Champions of Zuuf, have hatched a plot to kidnap him. Since that the Earl is a faithful friend of Moonface, Champion of Tzeentch and sworn enemy of Zuuf, this will be quite a coup if they can pull it off.
Their plan relies on two important points: firstly the Earls propensity for mistaking the identity of anyone he meets; secondly the use of diabolical illusion spells - Bezrond has disguised himself as Sir Eaglehead, another champion of Tzeentch who is known to the earl. Fezrond has added an illusory eagleman of his own just to add to the confusion.
The Earl deploys in the middle of the courtyard. He is taking a stroll and will move d3" in a random direction unless other factors compel him to move differently. He is subject to nincompoopery and also subject to mistaken identity. Moonface, Champion of Tzeentch and his faithful companion Flamehead have heard that something is afoot and are rushing to the scene.
Bezrond, in disguise, deploys with a unit of cultists (on the left). The rest of the cultists come in from the opposite side. Fezrond deploys with the chaos goblins. Pre- battle casting: Bezrond - Assume illusory appearance (disguised as a Champion of Tzeentch); Fezrond - Create illusory hero (another champion of Tzeentch).
The grounds of Jabberwic Hall are awash with strange magic this morning, clouding the senses and slowing movement. All models to move at half the normal rate, even when charging. No reserve moves are allowed.
Turn 1 - The Earl starts to wander towards a group of cultists, still oblivious to their presence. The Zuufites close in. Fezronds random spell-casting familiar helpfully casts breathe underwater on him.
Turn 2- The Earl is caught up in reminiscing over old romances and remains immobile. As the Zuufites advance, suddenly the Earl is confronted with an orange-clad figure.
The Earl fails his intelligence test and is somewhat confused about who he has met. "Good morrow to you my good man. Are you come to fix the roof?" "Er no, I am in the service of your true friend and ally Sir Eaglehead. If you would just come this way with us, your carriage awaits." "Eaglehead? Do I know an Eaglehead, let me see..." In the magic phase, the random casting familiar unhelpfully decides to cast assault of stone, flinging several small stones at Jabberwick, one of which strikes him painfully on the head. Fortunately the Earl again fails his intelligence test and remains unaware of any hostile intentions. "The birds are doing very hard poo these day, dont you find?" says the earl, looking up into the sky.
Turn 3 - Jabberwick is even more confused this turn. "Ah now I recognise you, you are one of the Prince of Orange Squash's men arent you?" "Yes thats right", said the quick thinking cultist. "This way please, his Highness is waiting," The cultists start to lead him towards the table edge.
Turn 4- Both Moonface and Flamehead arrive simultaneously (their arrival, like almost everything in this scenario, was determined at random by dice rolls).
They announce their arrival in style. Moonface uses his magic ring to cast the lvl 3 spell cause cowardly flight on the cultists threatening to usher Jabberwick away. They flee. The goblins (along with Fezrond and his familiar) panic and flee too. In a further unexpected developement, the Earl, believing the cultists to be friends, must make a panic test too. He promptly fails and starts running away!
Flamehead roasts two of Bezronds men with a fireball.
Fezrond, busy trying to rally the gobbos, loses control of his illusion. Bezrond remains in disguise and continues closing in on the Earl, sending his remaining men to attack Moonface.
Moonface slays two and sends the other running. The other cultist squad rally.
Turn 5- Jabberwick, blundering around at random again mistakes the cultists for the Prince of Orange Squash´s men, and starts to follow them. Fortunately, flamehead is alive to the danger and swoops in to blast them with a fireball.
.
Fezrond again fails to rally the gobbos.
Turn 6 - Things are going badly for Fezrond, with all but one of his men dead of fled, and his twin fleeing. It seems that the forces of Tzeentch will prevail easily. However, Jabberwick, failing his nincompoopery test for the umteenth time, decides that a tactical retreat is in order. Flamehead swoops in to reason with his confused friend.
"Jabberwick, its me, Flamehead. These people are trying to kdnap you." But it is no good. The Earl, bewildered by all the excitement, fails to recognise him, believing him to be the Double-Duke of Cheltenam and Gloucester. "Ah your Double-Grace, good morning. Might I recommend a tactical retreat. I find it helps in these kind of situations." (What situation the Earl believed he was in is anyone's guess.) With that he proceeded to head out of the courtyard.
Moonfsace charges Bezrond's familiar, killing it and following up into Bezrond, breaking his illusion and revealing him.
And so the two champions come to blows. Moonface strikes, wounding his foe twice. Bezrond is dazzled by the Moonface's Glittering chaos weapon and only manages to score 1 wound. His hatred for his opponent drives him on and he refuses to flee.
Fezrond and the goblins, their morale shaken, flee from the courtyard.
Turn 7- The Earl, in total confusion also flees the courtyard and disappears into the distance. Moonface strikes down his enemy and stands victorious. The last surviving cultist surrenders.
But what has become of the Earl?...
09 December 2013, 10:45:35 PM
