Map - Year 7, Turn 3 continued

 Dwarf and Bretonnian kingdoms are officially allied.

The Bretonnian garrison at the Lost City (G8) have ceded control of that capital to the Dwarf army.

Meanwhile, the combined Dwarf and Bretonnian armies have crushed the Undead defenders of Mousillon and gained control of the Undead capital. A Bretonnian flag has been planted upon the top of the tallest tower.

The Undead lost 300 troops in the initial battle and then a further 150 troops were picked off as stragglers in isolated groups as the undead retreat in disarray. The remaining 300 undead troops regroup at the Red River (D2).

50 Dwarfs and 50 Bretonnians are rumoured to have died in the attack.

Word from The Tusk.

The Dwarfs have been defeated by the armies of undeath. Though initially going well the Dwarfs fighters found themselves outmanoeuvred by a flanking attack from flying Vargheists and Terrorgheists. Despite the defeat it was an even battle and a horde of Ghouls was destroyed by the Dwarfs rear guard action.

Dwarfs lose 300 troops and retreat behind the walls of the Tusk (banner has 1,200 troops left)

Vampire Counts lose 250 troops (1,250 left)

Another entry is made in the Book of Grudges.

The Bretonnian Errantry force has been smashed from the Cauldron of the Norse. The Slaves to Darkness blackened the ground with their sheer numbers as they swept down from the mountains. Heroic indeed was the defiance of the Bretonni but not even the greatest of heroes can stand forever against the tide.

And so it was that after four hours of constant battle the King sounded the call to retreat.

The surviving Bretonnian forces retreated into Western Elswood (C14) to nurse their wounds behind the walls of the forest castle.

The Norse have retaken the Cauldron.

Warriors lose 200 troops, Bretonnians lose 300 troops.

Map - Year 7, Turn 3

History of the Sundered Isles – The Forty Fourth Year of the Second Age. Macdanalus, Scrivener to the King. The Seventh Year and Third Campaign Month of the Great War

The Bretonnian King surveyed his troops for perhaps the last time. His scouts reported over four
thousand Norse warriors fast approaching and his brave Knights would be heavily outnumbered.
This glorious errantry war to free the Sundered Isles from the blight of Chaos could yet end in
disaster. The entire expeditionary force could yet be cast into the sea. Could the prophecy be
wrong?

But if they won…ah what glory! To triumph while outnumbered by the forces of darkness and to hurl
the monsters back into hell… that would be a fine tale to tell. Legend would remember they fought
outnumbered against the forces of hell and spat in their eye. That was what mattered.

The anvils beat in tune while his men readied for the battle. In the far distance he could hear war
drums. They were coming.

The Battle of One Hundred Heroes
Location: The Cauldron (C15)

Attacking forces (4,164pts):

• Warriors of Chaos 1st army (1,500pts lead by the King)Army has no max points for characters (but must have 25% core), general has +1 Ld and has a free magic item taken from the Warriors of Chaos Book (including special character magic items)
• Warriors of Chaos 2nd army (1,500pts)
• Warriors of Chaos 3rd army (1,164pts)

Defending forces (2,60pts):

• Bretonnian 1st army (1,400pts lead by the king) Army has no max points for characters (but must have 25% core), general has +1 Ld and has a free magic item taken from the Bretonnian Book (including special character magic items)
• Bretonnian 2nd army (1,280pts)

Far to the west the storm-clouds were gathering around Mousillon (D3). The two Dwarven armies
had landed and were waiting camped outside the walls while their siege engines wrecked the walls
and reduced them to pulp. Meanwhile two Bretonnian armies had marched down from Castle
Drakenhof (C3) and Castle Templehof (D4) and were deployed just one mile from the city. The air
was pregnant with tension as everyone waited to see what would happen – and to see what sides
would be picked.

The Battle of Three Armies
Location: Mousillon (D3)

Vampire Forces (750pts):

• Vampire Counts 6th army (750pts)

Dwarf forces (2,615pts):

• Dwarf 1st army (1,460pts)
• Dwarf 4th army (1,155pts)

 Bretonnian forces (2,987pts):

• Bretonnian 4th army (1,487pts)
• Bretonnian 5th army (1,500pts)

There was more drama as far to the south the Bretonnian army garrisoned in the Lost City (G8)
spotted the advance of a Dwarven force marching from the Twins (G7). The Bretonnian commander
ordered his personal standard bearer out to discover the Dwarf intentions.

Encounter at the Lost City
Location: The Lost City of the Old Ones (G8)

Bretonnian forces:

• Bretonnian 3rd army (1,500pts)

Dwarf forces:

• Dwarf 3rd army (1,500pts)

The old Liche was not to be underestimated and he ordered his troops south from Shattered
Stone Bay (H8) to conquer the old Ogre lands and defy the bearded ones. The Dwarf army in Gash
Kardak (H9) was ordered back to make a stand at the Tusk (I8) and it would be there at the edge of
Dreaming Wood where the two armies would finally met.

Siege of the Tusk
Location: The Tusk (I8)

Vampire Counts forces:

• Vampire 5th army (1,500pts)

Dwarf forces:

• Dwarf 2nd army (1,500pts)

Meanwhile the Slayer army completed the mopping up operation on the Burning Isle(1) by seizing
the undead controlled villages on the Coast of Claws (H6) while the two southern Dwarf fleets
rendezvoused off the coast of Rockguts (H7). Finally, the Dwarf army on Dolmen Isle redeployed to
Licheburg (E3).

Not to be outdone the Vampire Counts maintained their own campaign of conquest as undead
forces moved to seize Ostermark (G16) on Smith’s Isle and the Forest of Eyes (D11) on the Isle
of Mists. The Undead also captured Mournwood (I14) using a naval assault from Caledor. Less
successful was a foolish assault on the Elven held Black Pillar (H14). Three hundred undead troops
were destroyed in the bloody repulse. Finally, the undead fleets redeployed to Nordland (E13),
Mournwood (I14) and the Twins (G7) The Vampire army in I13 moves west to J12 to capture the ruined fortress from the Dwarfs.

…………………………………………………………………………………

Territorial Changes

Dwarfs seize the Coast of Claws (H6) from the Vampires – village

Vampires seize Mournwood (I14) from the Warriors of Chaos – barren
Vampires seize Ostermark (G16) from the Warriors of Chaos – village
Vampires seize the Forest of Eyes (D11) from the Bretonnians – village

Vampires seize (J12) from the Dwarves – fortress

…………………………………………………………………………………

Casualties
Vampire 7th army loses 300 troops

…………………………………………………………………………………
(1) Except for that Goblin fortress – cough, cough – slayers – cough, cough

Map - Year 7, Turn 2

History of the Sundered Isles – The Forty Fourth Year of the Second Age. Macdanalus, Scrivener to the King. The Seventh Year and Second Campaign Month of the Great War

The Bretonnian King and his two armies (C14) swept arrogantly into the Cauldron (C15) from
Western Elswood. The Norse capital had been abandoned to its fate and the Bretonni quickly moved
to secure the city from the inevitable counter-attack. The Norse King waited silently in the hills to
the South East (D16) of the Cauldron as the Bretonnians entered his capital and seat of power. He
had spent the month reorganising his three armies to best advantage. His men were restless and
wanted to attack. Not yet. Soon, very soon… The Norse ship sailed up the coast from Kvellig (D14) to Western Elswood (C14).

On Asur’s Rest it was the same story as the Bretonni marched in unopposed from the Giant’s Bed
Mountains (F7) to take the Lost City of the Old Ones (G8) from the Undead, a city of great wonder
yet also great horror. The conquering march of the chromatic army had not finished yet and their
knights marched west from the Iron Hills (C4) and the Grey Mountains (C5) to seize the Undead
fortresses of Castle Drakenhof (C3) and Castle Templehof (D4). The wall of bone was breached.

The Dwarfs own march of conquest continued in earnest. The 4th army in Licheburg (E3) and the 1st
army in Northern Morswald boarded ships at Licheburg and sailed north to the coast off Mousillion
(D3) while the 5th army in Licheburg marched east to seize Swartzhafen (F4) from the Undead. The
long awaited amphibious assault also began, with Dawi forces (G6) pouring ashore on Asur’s Rest to
capture the villages surrounding the twins (G7). The raucous journey of the drunken Slayer pirates
finally ended to the relief of the captain. The orange haired emos were deposited ashore at the old
Ogre graveyard of Direbogs (I6). Finally, the army on Kanesdue marched north from the Tusk to take
Gask Kardak from the Undead (H9).

Reeling from the loss of six provinces, the Liche King made his moves. The counter-attack began with Undead troops shambling ashore on the Isle of Mists to capture the Herding Plain (E12) from the Bretonnians. The Undead abandoned Asur’s Rest for now and used the fleet sailing in to Shattered Stone Bay (H8) to pontoon across to Kanesdue Isle (K8) on the southern shore of the bay. The third fleet deposited its cargo of ghouls ashore to seize Nagarythe (I13), before sailing back to Caledor (H13), where the Caledor garrison immediately boarded ship. The Undead mop-up of Smith’s Isle continued with the King’s army capturing Ostland (F15). Scouting troubles prevented the other army in Talabheim (G14) from moving.


Territorial Changes

Bretonnians take the Cauldron from the Warriors (C15) – Warriors of Chaos capital
Bretonnians take the Lost City of the Old Ones from the Undead (G8) – Legendary and ancient capital – razed.
Bretonnians take Castle Drakenhof from the Undead (C3) – fortress and bridge
Bretonnians take Castle Templehof from the Undead (C3) – fortress

Dwarfs take Swartzhafen from the Undead (F4) – village
Dwarfs take The Twins from the Undead (G7) – village
Dwarfs take Gash Kardak from the Undead (H9) – barren

Undead take the Herding Plain from the Bretonnians (E12) – village
Undead take Nagarythe from the Warriors (I13) – barren
Undead take Ostland from the Warriors (F15) - barren

Map - Year 7, Turn 1

 Macdanalus, Scrivener to the King. The Seventh Year and First Campaign Month of the Great War.

On Asur’s rest the Bretonnians swept down from the Challenge stone (E7) to seize the Twins (F7)
from the Undead. Back on Norslatch they signalled the invasion of the dead king’s realm. All did not
go to plan. The Necromancers’ portents of terror had created a pall over the Grey Mountains (C5)
which prevented the army from moving. More successful was the Montfort (B5) battalion which
marched into the Iron Hills (C4) and burned the Blood Knights’ temple to the ground while securing
control of the province.

The Dwarf invasion came from the south and the west. Both armies in Krag Bryn (F2) stormed
into Licheburg (E3) trailed by their two fleets offshore. The Straddlebrook expeditionary force (F5)
boarded ship and set sail for Karak Kadrin (G6) while the Karaz-a-Karak (H3) clansmen force marched north through South Morswald (G3) and into North Morswald (F3). The brutal march put paid to 40 Dwarf troops. On Kanesdue the Dwarf 2nd army marched out of the old Ogre capital (I7) and into the Tusk (I8) while the Slayers from Dreary Wood (J7) moved into the Great Hall (I7) to try board ship. Unfortunately localised storms prevented the ship and its ginger haired crew of psychopaths sailing out of port.


Vampire Counts response
The dead King scrambled to respond to the Dwarf and Bretonnian invasion. He ordered the army in
Bloodpeak (H10) west into Shambletown (G9) to protect the Lost City while the fleet in Bloodpeak
was sent south west into Gash Kardak (H9) to cut off the Dwarf invasion from Kanesdue Isle. The
Caledor (H13) fleet and army sailed south east into the coast off Nagarythe (I13) while the army
in Bastion Hills (H12) marched into Caledor (H13). With his diplomacy in tatters the undead king
suffered mutiny from within his own army. While the mutiny was crushed it prevented the army
moving out of Talabheim (G14). The king then split the Talabheim army into two smaller banners.

To the north the Altdorf (F14) army quietly boarded ship and was last seen off the coast of Nordland
(E13). The army in Mousillon (D3) prepared its defences for the coming siege.


War on the Foot
After enduring six months of devastating chill and one month of continuous bombardment the
Norse Lord (C15) finally got the signal he had been waiting for. The Kvellig (D14) relief force was
on its way led by Krogar Fell-Hand himself. The Cauldron itself had been reduced to rubble by the bombardment and was now all but useless as a defensive position. It was time to quench his thirst
with Bretonnian blood. He ordered his armies to prepare to sally forth.

Outside the walls the cavalry hordes of the Bretonni looked like a sea of bright colour and glittering
metal over the blackened and cursed earth (C15). The scouts reported that Duc Manfred had almost
arrived with his army from Western Elswood (C14). Apparently it had been a harsh month with 120
brave men succumbing to starvation. It was almost time…

To the south-east the Norse plans had gone awry. Their army in Aesling (D16) had scouting
difficulties and trouble with mercenaries. Although 100 troops were recruited to the banner they
would not be able to arrive in time for the second battle of the Cauldron…


Territorial Changes
Bretonnians seize The Twins (F7) from the Vampire Counts – village
Bretonnians seize the Iron Hills (C4) from the Vampire Counts – temple is destroyed

Dwarfs seize the Tusk (I8) from the Vampire Counts – fortress
Dwarfs seize North Morswald (F3) from the Vampire Counts – village
Dwarfs seize Licheberg (E3) from the Vampire Counts – village


Casualties and Reinforcements
Bretonnian 2nd army loses 120pts to starvation
Warriors of Chaos 3rd army recruits 100pts of mercenaries
Dwarf 1st army loses 40pts to forced march


Battles
The second battle of the Cauldron (known in later years as ‘The Crimson Fields’)

Bretonnian forces (2,880pts):
Bretonnian 1st army (led by the King) – 1,500pts
Bretonnian 2nd army – 1,380pts

Chaos forces (2,940pts):
Warriors of Chaos 1st army (led by the King) – 1,440pts
Warriors of Chaos 2nd army – 1,500pts

Armies containing the King can spend unlimited points on characters but must still have a minimum
of 25% on core. The King gets a free magic item (heirloom) from the magic item section of his army
book that does not count to the total points of the army, or to the maximum he can spend on magic
items. Kings are +1 Leadership (or +1 Weapon Skill if already Leadership 10).

Map - Year 7, Spring Spells

Betrayed and bruised, but fuelled by an aching bitterness, the Liche ordered his magical defences.
Gifted with the power of raw magic from his new alliance with the northern warriors of chaos
and their dark gods, his coven of necromancers brought this raw magic into a deadly coalescence,
bending the laws of nature and spewing a vortex of chaos over the Eerie Downs (E5). Next, the
coven unleashed a debilitating plague of nightmares and waking qualms of terrifying intensity over
the Grey Mountains (C5).

Far to the east the sorcerer lords of chaos invoked the power of grandfather Nurgle. Papa Nurgle
blessed Northern Elswood (C14) with a beautiful and colourful rot. Four months’ worth of Brettonian
supplies immediately decay and are destroyed.

The Dwarves reputation for weak magical prowess was once again borne out as their attempt to
restore life and abundance to Mousillon (D3) surprisingly failed.

Finally, the storm of magic roiled west and settled over Chrace (H11).


Spell effects (all last for the campaign year)

Chaos Void is over the Eerie Downs (E5)

• Any banner or fleet moving in is automatically destroyed

Portents of Terror is over the Grey Mountains (C5)

• Any force in the tile must roll 4+ on D6 or be trapped in the tile for the turn

Rot is over Northern Elswood (C14)

• Any baggage that enters the tile is automatically destroyed

Map - Year 7, Espionage

Espionage

The plans had been in motion for years. The Dwarf operatives based in the Great Wall on Rusty Plain (G2) and the world renowned operatives of Couronne moved into action quickly once the signal came down. The Dawi spies wiped the Vampire operatives from the map in a single night of clean yet thorough destruction. At least it was almost thorough…   

A single Lahmian spy intercepted orders being delivered to the Straddlebrook (F5) expeditionary force which provides vague information about troop numbers and movements.

Meanwhile, the Dawi had been perfecting their zombie impersonation techniques. Fortunately Dwarfs have a high tolerance for poor personal hygiene. While some spies vanish without trace the Dwarfs gradually learn a great deal about the movements and size of three separate Undead armies.

The Bretonnians moved quickly to throw the Undead forces on Norslatch into disarray. In a dawn raid led by the heroes Jacques Crow and Jean Charpentier, the Bretonnians caught the Blood Knights of Iron Hills (C4) while they were sleeping in their sarcophagi. Not a single vampire survived and the entire banner is effectively destroyed for this campaign year. Charpentier alas was last seen falling from a cliff while wrestling with Valek the leader of the Blood Knights. His body was never found.  The assassins sent against the Vampire capital were also successful. A senior Liche was destroyed by lord Flash-hart while preparing an equinox spell. Flash-hart later escaped the citadel after a daring carriage chase through ghoul town.

The Chaos worshippers were better prepared for the Bretonnian black ops and only a single assassin was able to outwit the Norse agents and breach the walls of the Cauldron. A few troops died but the damage was contained.

The Norse were less well prepared for the band of Bretonnian saboteurs that attacked Kvellig (D14). The saboteurs poisoned the fortress food stores destroying all baggage in the province. They also set fire to the fortress causing immense damage and killing many people. Kvellig is razed to the ground though the banner is unaffected and the fleet escapes just in time.  

Game effects (in the order shown – I randomised)

Assassins:

Vampire Counts temple banner in the Iron Hills (C4) is destroyed.

Vampire Counts banner in Mousillon (D3) loses 250 troops.

Warriors of Chaos banner in the Cauldron (C15) loses 60 troops.

Saboteurs:

All baggage in Kvellig (D14) is destroyed.

The fortress at Kvellig (D14) is razed.

Spies:

Dwarfs must reveal to the Vampire Counts the point value of the Straddlebrook expeditionary force (Banner in F5) and must also reveal to the Vampire Counts where the banner and fleet in Straddlebrook (F5) intend to go during the first campaign month. Then Vampires must reveal to the Dwarfs the remaining point value of their banners in Mousillon (D3), Bloodpeak (H10) and Caledor (H13) and must also reveal where these banners and their fleets are going to move during the first campaign month.

Spring Spells

• Vampire Counts: Chaos Void, Portents of Terror
• Bretonnians: Na
• Warriors:  Rot
• Dwarfs: Abundance

Map - Year 7, Deployment

As dawn broke on the Isle of Smiths a rider spurred his mount onward over the low hills and into the pasture land beyond. The ruins of the human town was the rider's goal, there to convey news of the most base of treacheries to his master.

For a day after hearing the reports from the West, Morbius quietly seethed. 

Honour, honour the humans and dwarves rattled on about. Honour the dwarves had spoken of as he gave them the ogre's fortresses. Honour was the word of the day when his assassins had sunk the drow ships on Norslatch. Granted, they had given the humans a greater headache after being marooned, but the intention had been to help. Overall.

Eventually, Morbius rose and gave a great sigh. Perhaps it was time to find a new friend. One that did not harp on about honour so much. He looked out the shattered window at the silent ranks of his undead followers, patiently awaiting his will.

"Ultimately, one supposes, this is what comes of treating with the living." Morbius spoke aloud, to nobody in particular.

As one, his entire army broke from it's reverie, pivoted on the spot in perfect unison, and began the long march West. All but the rider, who now had another message to deliver.