Battle Report:
Fuethan Enclave (Idoneth Deepkin) vs. Khailebron Temple (Daughters of Khaine)
Mission: Places of Power
2000 Points
Deepkin List:
1x Soulrender: General, Lord of Storm and Sea, Terrornight Venom
1x Soulrender
1x Lotann, Keeper of Souls
1x Tidecaster w/ Vorpal Maelstrom
10x Namarti Thralls
10x Namarti Reavers
10x Namarti Reavers
6x Ishlaen Guard
6x Morrsar Guard
2x Allopexes
Allies:
1x Knight Incantor
5x Sequitors
Daughters of Khaine List:
1x Morathi
1x Bloodwrack Medusae: General, Mirror Glaive
1x Hag Queen (artifact I cannot recall)
30x Witch Elves
5x Blood Sisters
5x Blood Sisters
5x Blood Seekers
5x Blood Seekers
10x Blood Seekers
Battalion: Temple Nest
Deployment:
The deployment zones for the mission split the board into two diagonal halves. Along the diagonal line that separates the players' territories, three objectives are placed. One on either end of the table, one in the northwest and southeast respectively, and a third placed in the center of the board. Only heroes with an artifact or wizards are allowed to hold and score objectives, so my opponent and I deployed accordingly.
Deepkin Deployment:
The Deepkin deployed just outside of the 12" from the DoK's territory, and basically sealed up my half of the board with nice conga line. On the right flank, The Morrsar Guard deployed behind a line of ten namarti thralls, backed by the General Soulrender. Anchored on the other side of the thralls further toward the center field, Lotann and the other Soulrender perched themselves between the Narmati Thralls and a squad of Reavers behind an Occularum terrain piece.
In the center, the Sequitors created a bulwark in the small space between the occularum and one half of the Gloomtide Shipwreck placed conveniently just out of reach of the board's center.
On the left flank, another squad of reavers deployed behind an observatory-like terrain piece, backed up by a Tidecaster for further support. On the extreme left flank, the Ishlaen Guard and a squadron of Allopexes stood ready to swarm the northwest objective.
Daughters of Khaine Deployment:
Across from the Deepkin right flank, a token force of 5 Blood Sisters and 5 Blood Seekers deploy to assault the Southeast objective, across from the Morrsar Guard. In the center, 30 Witch Elves mustered for an offensive, backed by Morathi more towards the Idoneth's center-left, Hag Queen, Medusae, and two units of 10 and 5 Blood Seekers skulking in the backfield. Not too far away from the main force, a unit of 5 Blood Sisters anchor the right flank.
Deepkin Turn 1:
So, a horde of 30 witch aelves and Morathi looked like something that I wanted to steer clear away from. So, I decided that I would focus my efforts on the flanks with a swift offensive into his back lines (the dream) and play defensively with the forces anchored in my center.
The Reavers on the right flank advance and climb into the ruins of the Occularum and take up a defensive position. The other reaver squad toward the left flank did likewise and took shelter in the stairs and crumbled wall of the Observatory. Each squad would not do so well with their one-shot firing mode, so my hope here is that my opponent would want to act aggressively and come within 9" of either Reaver Squad, so that I could unleash the 3-shot rapid fire mode with impunity.
The Morrsar Guard burst forth from the aethersea and sail overhead toward the Blood Sisters and Blood Seekers arrayed against them on the right flank. But they do not charge headlong into the first fight, but attempt to stay out of charge range for the turn and form a protective barrier around the Southeast objective. The Namarti and General Soul Render advance toward the objective behind the Morrsar Guard, and form a neat second line behind them. Lotann and the second Soulrender anchor themselves below the Namarti Reaver Squad in the shadow of the Occularum.
The Ishlaen Guard combined with the Allopexes crested the waves on the left flank and created a barrier around the Northwest Objective. The Sequitors and the Knight Incantor shuffle forward to better protect their choke-point. Incantor attempts mystic shield in the magic phase, but fails.
Daughters of Khaine Turn 1:
The Witch Aelves advance toward the center, gifted with Witchbrew from the Hag Queen and enhanced with a quick Mindrazor from the Medusae. Morathi attempts to summon the Black Horror on the Reavers in the Observatory, arcane bolt into the tidecaster. She also may have attempted to mystic shield on a unit, but I don't think that one mattered too much. Arz. Black Horror fails, but the arcane bolt scores a pair of wounds on the Tidecaster, leaving her at three. The Hag Queen also attempts a go at the Blood Sacrement Prayer, but is found unworthy and is wounded.
Seeing an open gap in the Idoneth backlines, the Medusae General unleashes one of her commands and teleport the unit of 10 Bloodseekers in the Southwest, behind the tidecaster and the Namarti Reaver unit garrisoned in the Observatory.
The Bloodseekers unleash their salvo across the Idoneth lines. One of the Morrsar Guard reap two wounds, as do one of the Ishlaen Riders. The unit of 10 Bloodseekers unleash a volley into the tidecaster, but by some instance a grand fortune (Hello, Lookout Sir!), she comes limping away from the fusillade with one wound remaining.
The Bloodsisters on the right flank advanced toward the Ishlaen Guard and sounded the charge. Between them, the Blood Sisters lay low two of the Fangmora Eels and their riders. On the right flank, the Blood Sisters advance toward the wall of an azyrite ruin and hunker down behind it.
Suddenly in the midst of a ferocious battle, the Ishlaen Guard weather the storm of glaive-swings with surprising durability, only having lost a pair of their number to the onslaught of the Blood Sisters. The Helsabres rattle as they pierce scaly armor and flesh alike, leaving two of the Blood Sisters mangled and broken in the aftermath. Goaded by the scent of fresh blood on the water, the Fangmora Eels strike with brutally rapid force, and proceed to chew up the three remaining Blood Sisters with their fanged maws alone.
One unit of Blood Sisters is silenced forever in the first skirmish.
Score: 0 to 0
Deepkin Turn 2:
The Tidecaster attempts to summon a Vorpal Maelstrom upon the Melusai that have appeared from the dim waves of the Aethersea, but fails in the attempt. The Knight Incantor unleashes an arcane bolt and strikes on the Witch Aelves dead with a magical blast. Still out of range of any juicy targets, both Reaver Squads keep their eyes peeled for choicer targets.
The Namarti Thralls once again advance behind the Morrsar Guard and advance upon the objective. The Soul Render General claims the Southeast objective as his own, and will remain there for the course of the game.
At once alarmed by the Melusai in their backlines and elated by their sudden victory over the Blood Sisters, the Ishlaen Guard and the Allopex Squadron race back 14" and 12" respectively (that is their normal move distance) and prepare themselves for a swift and devastating charge into the archers.
Eager to reap their share of the glory, the Morrsar guard confidently glide just out combat range of the Blood Sisters hunkered behind the Azyrite wall (like that will save them from the flying eels!).
The eerie call of the Morrsar Musician's conch shell spurs her Akhelian brethren into a lightning charge. The Blood Sisters shriek out in blind terror as the Fangmora Eels burst over the Azyrite ruins, suddenly impaled upon the Volt-Spears of the Akhelians fluid charge. What little remains of the Blood Sisters is torn to shreds by the voracious maws of the rampant fangmora eels.
Another unit of Blood Sisters bites the dust.
The Ishlaen Guard and the Allopexes succeed in closing the distance with the 10 Blood Seekers. In the frantic paced melee, four Melusai are slain in the exchange, but the ceremonial daggers of the Blood Seekers take their own toll, as a wound is taken on one of the Allopexes, and another Ishlaen dragged from his mount and viciously stabbed to death. However, of the six remaining Blood Seekers, four of them lose their courage and flee from the battle! Only two Blood Seekers remain from the big unit.
Undeterred by the death of their glaive wielding sisters, the Blood Seekers on the right flank find an opportunity to pounce upon the Morrsar Guard and pile in for a sneaky attack! One of the Akhelians is slain in the ambush.
Daughters of Khaine turn 2:
Morathi starts the show with a successful Arz. Black Horror summoned upon the Reaver Squad in the Observatory. Of the ten Namarti hunters, six of them are slain, pretty much maiming the unit before it could strike. She also transforms into her monstrous true self. The Medusae fires another arcane bolt into the tidecaster and obliterates her in an explosion of shadow magic. Witchbrew is given, but I think Mind Razor failed this time. The Hag Queen attempts another prayer is found unworthy again, and is dropped to three wounds (jilted :P!).
Morathi flies over to the now abandoned Northwest objective and claims the place of power as her own. The Witch Aelves advance along with the Medusae and claim the center objective.
In the midst of combat, the Blood Seekers manage to drag down another Akhelian through sheer spite (mortal wounds inflicted on the Akhelians whenever they roll hit rolls of one :P). In turn, three of their number are fed to the eels, and only two remain standing.
Deepkin Turn 3: The Knight Incantor summons an arcane bolt and annihilates another Witch Aelf. The Reavers fortified in the Occularum open up with their rapid-fire shot, but due to Khailebron's mist-shroud, they only manage to cut down two or three witch aelves.
There can be no more waiting, the High Tide has come and demands a sacrifice a dogs to be pulled down into the depths! The Sequitors and the Knight Incantor lead the charge into the horde of Witch Aelves. Encouraged by the High Tide, the Soulrender and Lotann himself join the charge into the Daughters of Khaine. The Ishlaen Guard and the Allopexes race across the left flank into the center of the battlefield, but become too exhausted to join the carnage and shred the enemy (really critical fail of a charge for both units here :P).
Making use of the High Tide, the Idoneth Heroes deign to be the first to swing their blades in this combat. The Soulrender does well for himself, and cuts down about four Witch Aelves on his own. Lotann pretty much is clubbing the open air, and only manages to slay about one or two of the Aelves despite all of his attacks.
The Witch Aelves strike back in a sudden flurry of blows. Two Sequitors are slain in the melee, while the Soulrender is dropped to three wounds, and Lotann himself dropped to two. The Sequitors strike back with such haste, that they forget to use their Aetheric Channeling and promptly miss every single one of their attacks :P. Oh well, I guess the Idoneth only use them for the extra wounds lol. The Knight Incantor does a bit better and puts another 3-4 aelves into the grave.
The Morrsar Guard finish off their Blood Seeker opponents and await the coming of the ebb tide (which is high tide as well for Fuethan) to make their next move.
Daughters of Khaine Turn 4:
Blood Sacrament finally goes off from the Hag Queen, Mindrazor goes off from the Medusae, and then the Snake-Aelf uses a command point and teleport the Hag Queen to the Northwest objective where Morathi is. The Hag Queen now claims the objective and allows Morathi to finally unleash herself upon the foe.
The unit of Blood Seekers in the back take potshots at the Knight Incantor whittle her down to three wounds. Seeking to stop Fuethan's momentum on the left flank, Morathi fixates the Ishlaen Lochian Prince with her deathly stare and turns the Akhelian and his mount into a monument of stone, leaving only the musician on one wound (took some fire from the Blood Seekers).
The Knight Incantor pops a soul flask, and puts a couple wounds on the enemy as well as herself. The Witch Aelves plunge themselves into a murderous frenzy in the center, and proceed to cut down the Soulrender and Lotann, and whittle down the Sequitors to just the Sequitor Prime. The Bloodwrack Medusae throws some blows in on the Knight Incantor, but somehow, despite the pounding of the Witch Aelf knives and their general, stands firm with one wound remaining.
The last unit of 5 Blood Seekers charge in, but even piling, cannot really reach the front of the combat. They surround their Bloodwrack General and prepare to fight to the death.
Morathi charges in and slays the remaining Ishlaen, and impales the slightly wounded Allopex upon her great spear, Heartrender, slaying it. The remaining Allopex strike at Morathi before she can get her blows in and take off the maximum three wounds that she can receive in one turn. (Awesome :)!). Two Naramti Reavers still hunkered in the Observatory are pulled into the combat.
Deepkin Turn 4:
Ebb Tid = High Tide for the Fuethan, and none are safe now that there is blood in the water.
Being allowed to run and charge or run and shoot, the remaining Idoneth units still outside of the thickest fighting surge forward to enter the fray. The Soulrender General uses a command point for "On the Double" on the Namarti Thrall unit within 12" of him. The Thralls rush forward and succeed in their charge to enter the fray. The Thralls whittle the Witch Aelves to about eight or so, but are in turn shredded to about just four Thralls :P.
The Sequitor Prime, the last remaining warrior in her unit, remembers her Aetheric Channeling and manages to whittle down the Witch Aelves further still. The Knight Incantor manages to land some blows on the Bloodwrack Medusa and take her down to four wounds.
The combined efforts of the remaining Allopex and the two Namarti Thralls manage to cleave another three wounds off of Morathi, leaving her six wounds left. Morathi proceeds to rend apart the last remaining reavers, and whittles down the Allopex to one wound due to many flubbed rolls toward the end and some lucky saves!
The Morrsar Guard pull off the impossible thanks to the Flood Tide and their natural 14" move. They ride the waves toward where the fighting is thickest with an 17" move and run, and proceed to nail their charge with a mighty roll of 10. They slam the Blood Sisters and the Bloodwrack Medusae from the rear, and with the impetuousness of their charge, proceeded to slay everyone in range, leaving my Knight Incantor with her one wound to claim the objective.
Daughters of Khaine Turn 5:
Nothing much remains at this point. The Deepkin have a Knight Incantor, four Morrsar Guard, and unit of 10 Reavers left to them. The Daughters of Khaine on the other hand, have a Morathi with half of her wounds, a Hag Queen, and four Witch Aelves left on the field.
Morathi turns a pair of Reavers to stone with her powerful gaze and swiftly charges in and crushes the Knight Incantor under her great tail and rends apart one of the Morrsar Guard. But the Akhelians have not lost their bite, and manage to tear another three wounds off of Morathi, leaving her with three left!
With the Reavers having nothing to shoot at, they abandon their fortification to advance toward the Hag Queen. A vain effort, but might as well.
The Idoneth Deepkin didn't have much of a fifth turn, as I retreated with my Akhelians toward the Hag Queen thinking there would be a turn six. It was at the end of my final turn that my opponent and I both realized that the mission ends on turn 5.
So we called it a good game.
The Daughters of Khaine pulled out a nail-biting victory.
DoK : Deepkin
15 : 12