Post by imrillion on Feb 25, 2023 10:58:40 GMT
Wow… what a game… 
in the end it was a solid victory to the mini-me. She was very lucky though to be fair. She likes Albion but prefers the Asrai and Druchii. Battlereport as follows
****
To be fair, I underestimated my opponent and over estimated both me and my units abilities. Couple that with a turn 4 unlucky roll and Araby got its ass kicked.
After set up, I won the roll off. Izzy had done her homework and had selected a fairly good list with plenty of shooting and offence. Her defence would be magic based with Woad saves essentially being all she had.
I won the roll off for first turn and move my entire army up…
The Corsairs start at a jog from the town, unsure of who the strange pale skinned men are they move cautiously, yet confident that they can handle almost anything, with their Hashsashin lord hiding within their ranks…
Ali ibn Talib, leader of the Mamelukes gallops his warriors forward around a small outcrop of trees, on the right flank, attempting to surprise the enemy from the rear. Safe in the knowledge the prophet is with them and their armoured horses are living tanks of the battlefield (oh how wrong was I) Ali allows himself a cruel smile and a moment of lackadaisical mirth.
Ala’din the leader of the rogues on their carpets surges forward on the left flank, toward the strange giant men… “The bigger they are the harder they fall” jokes Ala’din to his compatriots as they prepare to throw poisonous vipers down on the big, slow, unwary half-giants
The Sufi mystic Nasreddin, sheltering in a tower, attempts to cast a Genie curse on the young bloods but the Druid Cathbad deftly siphons the winds of magic away from the young men of the tribe. Drawing again on the magics of the desert Nasreddin creates a mirage of mighty Fimir warriors, sending the young men into a battle frenzy and forcing them to charge next turn. Muttering incantations of binding Nasreddin calls forth a might Efreet from the plane of fire to lay waste to his foes!
The Mamelukes, on the right flank, their bronze armour shining with golden splendour take aim at the Youngblood’s from horse back, loosing their arrows a black shaft with turquoise flights finds its mark in the throat of a young warrior, felling him. The rest sail harmlessly by as the mother Danu herself protects them from harm.
Nasreddin’s personal guard attempts to kill more young men but the arrows fall meekly to the earth, not a single one finding its mark, the goddess Danu protecting her children.
Turn 1 for the Albionites.
The Youngblood’s charge the apparition of the Fimir warriors. Connor Macleian takes a swing at the neck of one of the beasts with his short sword but as he does, it disappears. Too late do they realise they had been duped and were now out of position and in the open…
Attempting to help the beleaguered young men Sean the hounds-man whistles his dogs forward, desperately trying to buy the young men time to get back into position, Sean and his dogs race toward the large unit of enemy corsairs trying to draw their attention.
Cathbad orders the berserk Woad Warriors forward. Not needing to be told twice (or even once for that matter) the naked crazed warriors run forward in an attempt to get to grips with the enemy.
The half giants wander forward. Ignoring the flying carpets, they make for the biggest target they could see… the large unit of Arab corsairs…
Cathbad draws upon the winds of magic. Intoning his earthen mother for the strength to protect her followers Cathbad casts gift of life on every single unit around him. As the mist rolls on across the battlefield, obscuring his forces the Mystic Nasreddin is unable to combat the strength of the Druids magic. With a warm glow the young man slain earlier in the battle breathes once more, reaching up with a snarl he tears the barbed, black shafted arrow from his throat, as the wound miraculously closes its self. Jogging forward he rejoins his comrades.
The men on the onager load a large heavy clay pot, filled with iron nails, horse shoes and broken blades. They loose their payload. Up, up, up it goes before crashing down hard among the large unit of black clad corsairs, cutting down 3 of their number.
Araby Turn 2
The corsairs charge the unit of hounds. They never stand a chance. Sean dies to a push dagger through the eye, the hounds get sliced apart by the blood thirsty pirates. Cheering after such a bloody display they charge toward the young men but fail to make the distance.
Flying high in the air Ala’din and his boys hurl clay jars full of snakes down on the half giants. The snakes do their work well, felling a large warrior and wounding another, though his giant’s constitution keeps him from dying the vicious bites inject their burning venom deep into his veins.
Ali ibn Talib and his Mamelukes gallop forward around the tree line, coming up on the rear of the young bloods they fire into their exposed backs, unable to hit their mark through the thick fog that has enveloped the battlefield, Ali curses and readies his men to charge…
The Flaming Effeet dances forward, to flank the Youngblood’s. His lithe sinuous frame mesmerising as the heat shimmer from a funeral pyre.
Nasreddin, angered over his inability to best this upstart savage Druid calls upon every shred of magical power he can, casting his mighty arts he summons another image, this time of a unit of palace guard assault pale skinned women, their wickedly curved swords being sheathed only to be replaced by swords of a different kind for a different sport. Cathbad and his warriors, incensed, charge the unholy brutes…
The Sufi mystic Nasreddin smiles wickedly as his masterful arts work on the minds of the weak willed Druid and his followers. Casting a glance toward the surrounded young bloods he make the sign of the evil eye and casts a genie’s curses upon them, sapping their ability to fight and ensuring victory for his warriors.
Turn 2 Albion.
As Cathbad and the Raiders charge into the ranks of the palace guard they too find they have been duped and pulled from their place in the battle line, with a curse Cathbad, wild eyed, whips his head around to take stock of the battlefield, the young men have been surrounded, curse his foolishness how could he have let this happen!?!?!
The enraged half giants march forward at a charge, oblivious to the flying carpets above them they make for the flank of the large unit of Arabian pirates in the distance…
Cathbad beseeches the his goddess to work through him, casting, with everything he has, he pulls the white hot, pure energy of Mother Danu deep from the bowls of the earth. Enveloping the young men, their tattoos glow a brilliant blue as Cathbad prays it will be enough to buy them time until his fighting men and their half giant allies can get there to help.
Connor Macleian swallows hard… taking a moment to hide in the mists he prepares the other young men of the Sessair for the fight of their lives… will they wither and shrink from battle? “NO!” Comes the reply… will they shame their ancestors by running? “NO!!!” They angrily shout in unison… WILL THEY TAKE EVERY GODLESS BASTARD THEY CAN WITH THEM, TO NOURISH THE SACRED SOIL OF DANU’S BODY WITH THEIR BLOOD!?! “YEEEAAAHHHHH!!!!! “The youngbloods feel an intense heat heading toward them. With a scream of FREEEEEDOOOOOM!!!! They loose volley after volley of smooth, deadly stones at the creature, made of smoke and flame… alas despite their zeal they cannot harm such a being and their stones simply thud onto the magma of its skin and melt into a red hot ooze….
Seeing the leader of the enemy hiding like a coward in one of the towers, the crew of the Albion onager prepares another pot, this time though it is filled with balls of iron… again they loose their payload. Gracefully the lethal projectile arc’s its way toward the tower. With a satisfying CRASH the pot finds it mark with only a slight deviation. Foreign men scream in a foreign tongue as body’s fly from ruined ramparts. Nasreddin’s booming voice, augmented by sorcery can be heard steadying the nerves of his remaining men as they begin to panic.
Turn 3, Araby
The corsairs, the Efreet and the mamelukes all charge the young men. The Efreet waves an infernal hand and the weapons of the corsairs glow red hot and burst into flame… The Sufi Mystic attempts to befuddle and glamour the minds of the Woad Raiders again but the powers of the Druid Cathbad are too much and he dismisses the sorcery, not to be duped a second time… 4 young warriors are then impaled upon the lances of the Arabian Cavalry, their tattoos unable to keep them from harm… 2 more are cut clean in half by the burning blade of the Efreet, his own magic, more than enough for the powers of the Druid.
3 more are surrounded by corsairs and while they are unable to hurt them, despite the gift from the Efreet, they never the less overcome them by sheer numbers and bind them as prisoners and slaves…. Connor spits an oath of single combat at the enemy… a ring forming within the pirates ranks, the Hashashin steps forward. The pirates ensure they would seperate the two from the ensuing bloodshed and allow this to play out. With his gaze falling on his dead friends and the ones being bound looking toward him with terror in their eyes Connor Screams in bloody furry at the Arabian Assasin…
“You may take our lives… but you will never take… OUR… FREEEEEDOOOOOM!!!”
The young warrior surges forward, aiming with his sword to pierce the enemies heart… but it was too late… already the Hashashin throws 3 blades into Connor’s heart, jugular and liver… with a blinding flash the artist of death tears the blades free and Connor’s lifeless body falls to the ground, as bright red arterial blood pumps, hot and viscous from his wounds to nourish the earth…
The aftermath of the brutally quick battle sees the victorious pirates and gold armoured cavalry prepare to engage the rest of the enemy forces… re positioning and in full control of the right flank the interlopers to the desert are now all but beaten! If these were the best the enemy had to offer, the dark one who had paid for their services had wasted his gold… this rabble would die alone in the desert, they were pitiful indeed… The men of Araby were shaming themselves fighting ones such as these…
Turn 3, Albion
They were dead. Cathbad had seen the future of his tribe cut down before his very eyes… with a snarl the Druid bade his forces forward, a scream stole from the throats of men behind him and his charge faltered… turning he could see dark skinned men on bright red carpets pelting the onager crew with pots of deadly vipers and swooping down to cut their throats as they tried in vein to fend off the vicious assault. Beside him the half witted half giants also slowed their pace… seeing no alternative, Cathbad prayed again for the protection of his lady and as she granted his request. He could feel her otherworldly anger over what had become of the brave young souls who had been cut down in their prime… again mists swirl and envelop the battlefield protecting he and his men… Nasraddin, still reeling from the ear splitting, bone shattering blow of the onager projectile only a few moments earlier is unable to keep the power of the Druid in check…
Turn 4 Araby (shit goes down hill)
The Sufi Mystic Nasreddin could see the battle unfolding below. He could see the corsairs were outmatched… Taking a snort of dragon powder he had imported from cathay the sorcerer gathers his arcane powers about him. Casting out he curses the giant men, sapping their fighting ability with yet another geese from the genie with whom he had bartered a large part of his soul…
Charging forward the Hashashin and Arabian pirates smash into the front of the giant men of Albion, deftly slicing and tumbling the pirates and assassin viscously go about their wet work.
Ali ibn Talib surges his horse forward, “ALAHLAHLAHLALER” he shouts, the war cry of his people, as he and his brothers close with the enemy. He notes a crazed look in their eye. They do not fear him… who are these beasts, these vermin who would fight naked against he and his mighty warriors?… The idiots would surely be cut down as wheat stalks to a scy….
All of a sudden Ali ibn Talib is almost impaled as a 3ft, wickedly sharp javelin gashes the side of his neck. He hears blood curdling screams as no less than 4 of his men are unhorsed to this assault. Ali and his men CRASH into the ranks of the enemy, lances stabbing, horses stamping and biting but nothing seems to hurt these wild men, their tattoos glow with an unholy light… a paltry 3 are either cut down or stomped under foot. Screaming the mad men begin surrounding and pulling riders from their horses. Yelling in a murderous and guttural tongue, wild of eye and foaming at the mouth the pale, blue painted warriors begin to hack and slash.
“THE PROPHET PRESERVE US RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!” Ali screams as he attempts to gallop away.. unfortunately the mists befuddle and blind him and his men, turning them about this way and that! The last thing Ali Ibn Talib sees is his headless body slumping down from his horse as his head sails toward the ground. Blood fountaining as a man dressed in nothing but tattoos and beads howls toward the sky in triumph.
The Hashashin runs atop one of the giant beasts, his blades doing their work, stabbing and slashing. An already wounded Half giant topples to the ground, the assassin looks about himself as he deftly jumps down to the ground. Several corsairs lay in crumpled heaps, an unfortunate happenstance but a sacrifice the Hashashin was willing to make. With a bellow of frustration the large humanoids throw off their small assailants and begin to run. Any other time they would be dead men. Their Achilles cut to slow them and the slicing, slashing and piercing knives of the corsairs would finish them. This time however the mists that cover the battlefield, misdirect he and his men and somehow the brutes get away…
Ali’din laughs as the final pot throwing man screams in pain as the neuro-toxic venom of the Kureshian pit viper does its work finishing him off. With a swarthy grin and a call to his brothers, is signals to them that it is time to rejoin the fight!
Albion turn 4
With an angry shout the son of ogmios starts to slow his run, grabbing the bellower he slaps him around the side of the head with the haft of his great hammer… the bellower boomes in his giants tongue and the unit halts. “We go back! MASH little ones to GOO!” The half giants roar in agreement as they about face in the mist and once more begin to lumber back into the fray.
As Cathbad and the Woad raiders finished chasing down and butchering the last of the horsemen the smell of fire and brimstone fill the air. Turning his head Cathbad could see the Efreet closing the distance to their right flank. “HOLD! RIGHT FACE”. Cathbad booms and the carnyx let out a mighty cry.
As one the Woad raiders, slick with the gore of their enemies and carrying fresh heads as trophies, reform to face this new threat.
Cathbad sneers, he could feel the unholy magics, this is but a daemon by another name. Further to his right he could see his half giant allies begin to trudge back into the battle. With a quick prayer to Danu he attempts to pass on to them the valour of his people… The insufferable sorcerer again squashes his magical arts. “DENY ME NO MORE” bellows the Druid, shooting a crazed look atop the ruined tower. Pulling everything he had from his deep connection to the earth he chants the incantation of shielding… Power flows through him, again and again waves of ultimate power rush up from the ground. Harnessing this gift Cathbad bids the holy mother protect his giant friends, as a warm blue glow infuses their tattoos. The scream of rage from atop the tower could be heard all across the battlefield. As Nasreddin’s Will is once again thwarted by the power of the earth itself. With that, Cathbad turns his attention once again to the being of smoke and flame before him.
“Aaaaaim…. LOOSE!” As one a volley of javelins erupts from the ranks of the woad raiders. Curses and snarls follow as Cathbad reaches out with his magic, severing the creatures link to the elemental plane of fire. With a shriek of surprise the creature stops in its tracks, 4 shafts now plainly visible, jut forth from its neck and torso… with a groan the thing topples forward, it’s life force spent…
Araby turn 5
Nasreddin stares down with his sorcerous gaze upon the battlefield. His noble horsemen are all dead, his Hashashin is wandering around blind, his Efreet has perished and was, so far, unwilling to return (rolled a 12 to attempt to get him back 😂), casting his gaze around the tower he sees he is down to a paltry sum of elite bowmen… How, has it all come to this… Nasreddin’s mind reaches out to his silent assassin, wordlessly guiding his footsteps and those of his pirate mercenaries toward the giant men. Urging them to slash, killl and eviscerate…
Ala’din and his carpet riders speed on in to attempt to support the charging corsairs, too late do they arrive and are unable to join the combat.
The corsairs and Arabian assassin feel rather than see the half giants in the mist… with a silent scream the assasin takes off at a sprint, the corsairs shout cries of challenge as they try to keep up. The Hashashin makes for the largest of the fiends and in a blur of motion a dozen cuts and slashes leave small red welts all across the giants form before it can react. Nothing happens however as the tattooed hide of the creature glows blue with each kiss of the assassins blades, no attack being able to penetrate. With a grunt and snarl the huge island warrior hefts his great hammer and swings furiously, it is all the Hashashin can do to avoid the attacks… this challenge was tied…
The last half of the corsairs go about their bloodthirsty work, hacking and slashing at the giant fiends they struggle to find any real ground with none of their attacks able to pierce the mighty foes hides.
Replying in kind, the giants attacks are devastating. Men scream and bodies crumple pirates are killed in droves. As one they break and flee from the terror of the battle, the Hashashin cutting throats and silently cursing as he tries to maintain order…
Albion turn 5
With the threat of the the Efreet gone and the pirates heading back toward he and his men, Cathbad and the Woad raider run forward toward the pirates. The woad raiders chant and froth at the mouth, eager for their next brain ball trophies.
The Half giants bellow in triumph as they attempt to run down the Araby pirates, too sow they are however and the smaller faster men are able to evade the mighty hammers of the sons of Ogmios.
Araby turn 6
The Mystic back hands a retainer, his plans had not gone well. Touching the mind of his assassin and his his pirate mercenaries, they slow and regain their composure. Turning to face threats from every angle the assassin lead corsairs ready themselves. Nasreddin attempts to coax the flaming effrit from his fiery dimension but to no avail. It is all he can do to attempt to cloud the minds of the Druid once again, attempting to bring forth the image of a mighty war elephant charging toward the left flank of the Woad warriors. The Druid easily dispels the attempt. Wise now to Nasreddin’s tricks. Directing a few spiteful shots toward the Druid and his followers from the tower, Nasreddin’s men fail to strike the naked barbarians as their arrows fall meekly about their number.
Albion turn 6
With a roar, the half giants charge into the ranks of the corsairs. Unwilling to waste his life on such folly the Hashashin melts back into the shadows, saving himself to fight another day. The pirates, having seen enough bloodshed flee toward the tower and the perceived safety of their Sorcerous master…
With that I conceded the battle because it was 11:30 and both the mini-me and I had to go to bed..
What went wrong? It was Deffo turn 4 when my Mamelukes bounced off of the block of Woad raiders. Up until that point I used my movement phase really well. Set up multiple charges and had the entire battle in hand. One failed charge saw me undone. The cav charged in and took 4 wounds from the thrown javelins, the ap 1 of the javvies, together with the cav only having a 3+ armour save meant the mameluk’s just got torn to shreds. I learned the hard way Mamelukes are medium cav, definitely not heavy cav… they only managed to kill 3 Woad raiders on the charge for no deaths in return but between the 4 kills with the javelins and the static combat res the Woad raiders saw them off. Couple that with a shitty break roll and a fairly good roll on the part of Isobelle the Mamelukes we’re cut down to a man.
Next was the corsairs winning their first battle against the half giants but not being able to catch them. This really put a spanner in the works as having no static combat res of their own, being skirmish, they were relying on pure wounds to see them through. Pulled away from the tower, and the Djinn by themselves and no one to support I knew I couldn’t pull off another win again against that unit but all I could to was keep charging in and pray. My bloody carpets couldn’t do stuff all as they’d gone war-machine hunting and were MIA. The rest went about as well as could be expected. My Djinn would NOT come back after he had been killed by massed javelin fire while Isobelle and I just wrestled the magic phase back and forth all game. The second battle with the half giants actually highlighted a really interesting WAP mechanic. As I went to take parry saves against the giants attacks Isobelle stoped me and told me that since her half giants were more than +3 strength greater than my corsairs, I didn’t get to use it. I had forgotten that particular rule and as such, ended up suffering horrendous casualties which had me needing to roll snake eyes to stay in the fight…
Another thing I can’t overstate is the Albion lore attribute “Mists of Albion” HOLEEEEE SHIIIIIT! It is SO good! It kept Isobelle’s units from dying to missile fire, I couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn door with shooting, between moving, skirmishing and the mist, the best possible roll to hit I had all game was a bloody 6! Super super good spell. Also the gift of life being a 6+ bubble gets your units that mist buff regardless of wether they need models back or not, that mist is SUCH a boon!
The Woad paint parry stack is amazing in close combat for Albion and really makes your units as tough as nails. The Woad raiders do exactly what it says on the box, they’re naked and they’re crazy.
Looking back, I probably wouldn’t do anything too different my entire line crumbled after a VERY unlucky roll with my cav then continued unlucky rolls to get my Efreet back.
I was also VERY impressed by the mirage spell on the lore of the desert. Usually these types of things don’t effect immune to psych models, like the Woad
raiders for instance, but this spell does and I can’t overstate how amazing it is to place a counter at the edge of a units charge range and have them pulled out of line in their next charge phase, unable to stop it. I’ve always said the game is won in the movement phase and this spell is SUCH a boon, I’d never leave home without it in an Araby army!
The forces of Nasreddin the Mystic will return and next time the barbarians will fall
in the end it was a solid victory to the mini-me. She was very lucky though to be fair. She likes Albion but prefers the Asrai and Druchii. Battlereport as follows
****
To be fair, I underestimated my opponent and over estimated both me and my units abilities. Couple that with a turn 4 unlucky roll and Araby got its ass kicked.
After set up, I won the roll off. Izzy had done her homework and had selected a fairly good list with plenty of shooting and offence. Her defence would be magic based with Woad saves essentially being all she had.
I won the roll off for first turn and move my entire army up…
The Corsairs start at a jog from the town, unsure of who the strange pale skinned men are they move cautiously, yet confident that they can handle almost anything, with their Hashsashin lord hiding within their ranks…
Ali ibn Talib, leader of the Mamelukes gallops his warriors forward around a small outcrop of trees, on the right flank, attempting to surprise the enemy from the rear. Safe in the knowledge the prophet is with them and their armoured horses are living tanks of the battlefield (oh how wrong was I) Ali allows himself a cruel smile and a moment of lackadaisical mirth.
Ala’din the leader of the rogues on their carpets surges forward on the left flank, toward the strange giant men… “The bigger they are the harder they fall” jokes Ala’din to his compatriots as they prepare to throw poisonous vipers down on the big, slow, unwary half-giants
The Sufi mystic Nasreddin, sheltering in a tower, attempts to cast a Genie curse on the young bloods but the Druid Cathbad deftly siphons the winds of magic away from the young men of the tribe. Drawing again on the magics of the desert Nasreddin creates a mirage of mighty Fimir warriors, sending the young men into a battle frenzy and forcing them to charge next turn. Muttering incantations of binding Nasreddin calls forth a might Efreet from the plane of fire to lay waste to his foes!
The Mamelukes, on the right flank, their bronze armour shining with golden splendour take aim at the Youngblood’s from horse back, loosing their arrows a black shaft with turquoise flights finds its mark in the throat of a young warrior, felling him. The rest sail harmlessly by as the mother Danu herself protects them from harm.
Nasreddin’s personal guard attempts to kill more young men but the arrows fall meekly to the earth, not a single one finding its mark, the goddess Danu protecting her children.
Turn 1 for the Albionites.
The Youngblood’s charge the apparition of the Fimir warriors. Connor Macleian takes a swing at the neck of one of the beasts with his short sword but as he does, it disappears. Too late do they realise they had been duped and were now out of position and in the open…
Attempting to help the beleaguered young men Sean the hounds-man whistles his dogs forward, desperately trying to buy the young men time to get back into position, Sean and his dogs race toward the large unit of enemy corsairs trying to draw their attention.
Cathbad orders the berserk Woad Warriors forward. Not needing to be told twice (or even once for that matter) the naked crazed warriors run forward in an attempt to get to grips with the enemy.
The half giants wander forward. Ignoring the flying carpets, they make for the biggest target they could see… the large unit of Arab corsairs…
Cathbad draws upon the winds of magic. Intoning his earthen mother for the strength to protect her followers Cathbad casts gift of life on every single unit around him. As the mist rolls on across the battlefield, obscuring his forces the Mystic Nasreddin is unable to combat the strength of the Druids magic. With a warm glow the young man slain earlier in the battle breathes once more, reaching up with a snarl he tears the barbed, black shafted arrow from his throat, as the wound miraculously closes its self. Jogging forward he rejoins his comrades.
The men on the onager load a large heavy clay pot, filled with iron nails, horse shoes and broken blades. They loose their payload. Up, up, up it goes before crashing down hard among the large unit of black clad corsairs, cutting down 3 of their number.
Araby Turn 2
The corsairs charge the unit of hounds. They never stand a chance. Sean dies to a push dagger through the eye, the hounds get sliced apart by the blood thirsty pirates. Cheering after such a bloody display they charge toward the young men but fail to make the distance.
Flying high in the air Ala’din and his boys hurl clay jars full of snakes down on the half giants. The snakes do their work well, felling a large warrior and wounding another, though his giant’s constitution keeps him from dying the vicious bites inject their burning venom deep into his veins.
Ali ibn Talib and his Mamelukes gallop forward around the tree line, coming up on the rear of the young bloods they fire into their exposed backs, unable to hit their mark through the thick fog that has enveloped the battlefield, Ali curses and readies his men to charge…
The Flaming Effeet dances forward, to flank the Youngblood’s. His lithe sinuous frame mesmerising as the heat shimmer from a funeral pyre.
Nasreddin, angered over his inability to best this upstart savage Druid calls upon every shred of magical power he can, casting his mighty arts he summons another image, this time of a unit of palace guard assault pale skinned women, their wickedly curved swords being sheathed only to be replaced by swords of a different kind for a different sport. Cathbad and his warriors, incensed, charge the unholy brutes…
The Sufi mystic Nasreddin smiles wickedly as his masterful arts work on the minds of the weak willed Druid and his followers. Casting a glance toward the surrounded young bloods he make the sign of the evil eye and casts a genie’s curses upon them, sapping their ability to fight and ensuring victory for his warriors.
Turn 2 Albion.
As Cathbad and the Raiders charge into the ranks of the palace guard they too find they have been duped and pulled from their place in the battle line, with a curse Cathbad, wild eyed, whips his head around to take stock of the battlefield, the young men have been surrounded, curse his foolishness how could he have let this happen!?!?!
The enraged half giants march forward at a charge, oblivious to the flying carpets above them they make for the flank of the large unit of Arabian pirates in the distance…
Cathbad beseeches the his goddess to work through him, casting, with everything he has, he pulls the white hot, pure energy of Mother Danu deep from the bowls of the earth. Enveloping the young men, their tattoos glow a brilliant blue as Cathbad prays it will be enough to buy them time until his fighting men and their half giant allies can get there to help.
Connor Macleian swallows hard… taking a moment to hide in the mists he prepares the other young men of the Sessair for the fight of their lives… will they wither and shrink from battle? “NO!” Comes the reply… will they shame their ancestors by running? “NO!!!” They angrily shout in unison… WILL THEY TAKE EVERY GODLESS BASTARD THEY CAN WITH THEM, TO NOURISH THE SACRED SOIL OF DANU’S BODY WITH THEIR BLOOD!?! “YEEEAAAHHHHH!!!!! “The youngbloods feel an intense heat heading toward them. With a scream of FREEEEEDOOOOOM!!!! They loose volley after volley of smooth, deadly stones at the creature, made of smoke and flame… alas despite their zeal they cannot harm such a being and their stones simply thud onto the magma of its skin and melt into a red hot ooze….
Seeing the leader of the enemy hiding like a coward in one of the towers, the crew of the Albion onager prepares another pot, this time though it is filled with balls of iron… again they loose their payload. Gracefully the lethal projectile arc’s its way toward the tower. With a satisfying CRASH the pot finds it mark with only a slight deviation. Foreign men scream in a foreign tongue as body’s fly from ruined ramparts. Nasreddin’s booming voice, augmented by sorcery can be heard steadying the nerves of his remaining men as they begin to panic.
Turn 3, Araby
The corsairs, the Efreet and the mamelukes all charge the young men. The Efreet waves an infernal hand and the weapons of the corsairs glow red hot and burst into flame… The Sufi Mystic attempts to befuddle and glamour the minds of the Woad Raiders again but the powers of the Druid Cathbad are too much and he dismisses the sorcery, not to be duped a second time… 4 young warriors are then impaled upon the lances of the Arabian Cavalry, their tattoos unable to keep them from harm… 2 more are cut clean in half by the burning blade of the Efreet, his own magic, more than enough for the powers of the Druid.
3 more are surrounded by corsairs and while they are unable to hurt them, despite the gift from the Efreet, they never the less overcome them by sheer numbers and bind them as prisoners and slaves…. Connor spits an oath of single combat at the enemy… a ring forming within the pirates ranks, the Hashashin steps forward. The pirates ensure they would seperate the two from the ensuing bloodshed and allow this to play out. With his gaze falling on his dead friends and the ones being bound looking toward him with terror in their eyes Connor Screams in bloody furry at the Arabian Assasin…
“You may take our lives… but you will never take… OUR… FREEEEEDOOOOOM!!!”
The young warrior surges forward, aiming with his sword to pierce the enemies heart… but it was too late… already the Hashashin throws 3 blades into Connor’s heart, jugular and liver… with a blinding flash the artist of death tears the blades free and Connor’s lifeless body falls to the ground, as bright red arterial blood pumps, hot and viscous from his wounds to nourish the earth…
The aftermath of the brutally quick battle sees the victorious pirates and gold armoured cavalry prepare to engage the rest of the enemy forces… re positioning and in full control of the right flank the interlopers to the desert are now all but beaten! If these were the best the enemy had to offer, the dark one who had paid for their services had wasted his gold… this rabble would die alone in the desert, they were pitiful indeed… The men of Araby were shaming themselves fighting ones such as these…
Turn 3, Albion
They were dead. Cathbad had seen the future of his tribe cut down before his very eyes… with a snarl the Druid bade his forces forward, a scream stole from the throats of men behind him and his charge faltered… turning he could see dark skinned men on bright red carpets pelting the onager crew with pots of deadly vipers and swooping down to cut their throats as they tried in vein to fend off the vicious assault. Beside him the half witted half giants also slowed their pace… seeing no alternative, Cathbad prayed again for the protection of his lady and as she granted his request. He could feel her otherworldly anger over what had become of the brave young souls who had been cut down in their prime… again mists swirl and envelop the battlefield protecting he and his men… Nasraddin, still reeling from the ear splitting, bone shattering blow of the onager projectile only a few moments earlier is unable to keep the power of the Druid in check…
Turn 4 Araby (shit goes down hill)
The Sufi Mystic Nasreddin could see the battle unfolding below. He could see the corsairs were outmatched… Taking a snort of dragon powder he had imported from cathay the sorcerer gathers his arcane powers about him. Casting out he curses the giant men, sapping their fighting ability with yet another geese from the genie with whom he had bartered a large part of his soul…
Charging forward the Hashashin and Arabian pirates smash into the front of the giant men of Albion, deftly slicing and tumbling the pirates and assassin viscously go about their wet work.
Ali ibn Talib surges his horse forward, “ALAHLAHLAHLALER” he shouts, the war cry of his people, as he and his brothers close with the enemy. He notes a crazed look in their eye. They do not fear him… who are these beasts, these vermin who would fight naked against he and his mighty warriors?… The idiots would surely be cut down as wheat stalks to a scy….
All of a sudden Ali ibn Talib is almost impaled as a 3ft, wickedly sharp javelin gashes the side of his neck. He hears blood curdling screams as no less than 4 of his men are unhorsed to this assault. Ali and his men CRASH into the ranks of the enemy, lances stabbing, horses stamping and biting but nothing seems to hurt these wild men, their tattoos glow with an unholy light… a paltry 3 are either cut down or stomped under foot. Screaming the mad men begin surrounding and pulling riders from their horses. Yelling in a murderous and guttural tongue, wild of eye and foaming at the mouth the pale, blue painted warriors begin to hack and slash.
“THE PROPHET PRESERVE US RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!” Ali screams as he attempts to gallop away.. unfortunately the mists befuddle and blind him and his men, turning them about this way and that! The last thing Ali Ibn Talib sees is his headless body slumping down from his horse as his head sails toward the ground. Blood fountaining as a man dressed in nothing but tattoos and beads howls toward the sky in triumph.
The Hashashin runs atop one of the giant beasts, his blades doing their work, stabbing and slashing. An already wounded Half giant topples to the ground, the assassin looks about himself as he deftly jumps down to the ground. Several corsairs lay in crumpled heaps, an unfortunate happenstance but a sacrifice the Hashashin was willing to make. With a bellow of frustration the large humanoids throw off their small assailants and begin to run. Any other time they would be dead men. Their Achilles cut to slow them and the slicing, slashing and piercing knives of the corsairs would finish them. This time however the mists that cover the battlefield, misdirect he and his men and somehow the brutes get away…
Ali’din laughs as the final pot throwing man screams in pain as the neuro-toxic venom of the Kureshian pit viper does its work finishing him off. With a swarthy grin and a call to his brothers, is signals to them that it is time to rejoin the fight!
Albion turn 4
With an angry shout the son of ogmios starts to slow his run, grabbing the bellower he slaps him around the side of the head with the haft of his great hammer… the bellower boomes in his giants tongue and the unit halts. “We go back! MASH little ones to GOO!” The half giants roar in agreement as they about face in the mist and once more begin to lumber back into the fray.
As Cathbad and the Woad raiders finished chasing down and butchering the last of the horsemen the smell of fire and brimstone fill the air. Turning his head Cathbad could see the Efreet closing the distance to their right flank. “HOLD! RIGHT FACE”. Cathbad booms and the carnyx let out a mighty cry.
As one the Woad raiders, slick with the gore of their enemies and carrying fresh heads as trophies, reform to face this new threat.
Cathbad sneers, he could feel the unholy magics, this is but a daemon by another name. Further to his right he could see his half giant allies begin to trudge back into the battle. With a quick prayer to Danu he attempts to pass on to them the valour of his people… The insufferable sorcerer again squashes his magical arts. “DENY ME NO MORE” bellows the Druid, shooting a crazed look atop the ruined tower. Pulling everything he had from his deep connection to the earth he chants the incantation of shielding… Power flows through him, again and again waves of ultimate power rush up from the ground. Harnessing this gift Cathbad bids the holy mother protect his giant friends, as a warm blue glow infuses their tattoos. The scream of rage from atop the tower could be heard all across the battlefield. As Nasreddin’s Will is once again thwarted by the power of the earth itself. With that, Cathbad turns his attention once again to the being of smoke and flame before him.
“Aaaaaim…. LOOSE!” As one a volley of javelins erupts from the ranks of the woad raiders. Curses and snarls follow as Cathbad reaches out with his magic, severing the creatures link to the elemental plane of fire. With a shriek of surprise the creature stops in its tracks, 4 shafts now plainly visible, jut forth from its neck and torso… with a groan the thing topples forward, it’s life force spent…
Araby turn 5
Nasreddin stares down with his sorcerous gaze upon the battlefield. His noble horsemen are all dead, his Hashashin is wandering around blind, his Efreet has perished and was, so far, unwilling to return (rolled a 12 to attempt to get him back 😂), casting his gaze around the tower he sees he is down to a paltry sum of elite bowmen… How, has it all come to this… Nasreddin’s mind reaches out to his silent assassin, wordlessly guiding his footsteps and those of his pirate mercenaries toward the giant men. Urging them to slash, killl and eviscerate…
Ala’din and his carpet riders speed on in to attempt to support the charging corsairs, too late do they arrive and are unable to join the combat.
The corsairs and Arabian assassin feel rather than see the half giants in the mist… with a silent scream the assasin takes off at a sprint, the corsairs shout cries of challenge as they try to keep up. The Hashashin makes for the largest of the fiends and in a blur of motion a dozen cuts and slashes leave small red welts all across the giants form before it can react. Nothing happens however as the tattooed hide of the creature glows blue with each kiss of the assassins blades, no attack being able to penetrate. With a grunt and snarl the huge island warrior hefts his great hammer and swings furiously, it is all the Hashashin can do to avoid the attacks… this challenge was tied…
The last half of the corsairs go about their bloodthirsty work, hacking and slashing at the giant fiends they struggle to find any real ground with none of their attacks able to pierce the mighty foes hides.
Replying in kind, the giants attacks are devastating. Men scream and bodies crumple pirates are killed in droves. As one they break and flee from the terror of the battle, the Hashashin cutting throats and silently cursing as he tries to maintain order…
Albion turn 5
With the threat of the the Efreet gone and the pirates heading back toward he and his men, Cathbad and the Woad raider run forward toward the pirates. The woad raiders chant and froth at the mouth, eager for their next brain ball trophies.
The Half giants bellow in triumph as they attempt to run down the Araby pirates, too sow they are however and the smaller faster men are able to evade the mighty hammers of the sons of Ogmios.
Araby turn 6
The Mystic back hands a retainer, his plans had not gone well. Touching the mind of his assassin and his his pirate mercenaries, they slow and regain their composure. Turning to face threats from every angle the assassin lead corsairs ready themselves. Nasreddin attempts to coax the flaming effrit from his fiery dimension but to no avail. It is all he can do to attempt to cloud the minds of the Druid once again, attempting to bring forth the image of a mighty war elephant charging toward the left flank of the Woad warriors. The Druid easily dispels the attempt. Wise now to Nasreddin’s tricks. Directing a few spiteful shots toward the Druid and his followers from the tower, Nasreddin’s men fail to strike the naked barbarians as their arrows fall meekly about their number.
Albion turn 6
With a roar, the half giants charge into the ranks of the corsairs. Unwilling to waste his life on such folly the Hashashin melts back into the shadows, saving himself to fight another day. The pirates, having seen enough bloodshed flee toward the tower and the perceived safety of their Sorcerous master…
With that I conceded the battle because it was 11:30 and both the mini-me and I had to go to bed..
What went wrong? It was Deffo turn 4 when my Mamelukes bounced off of the block of Woad raiders. Up until that point I used my movement phase really well. Set up multiple charges and had the entire battle in hand. One failed charge saw me undone. The cav charged in and took 4 wounds from the thrown javelins, the ap 1 of the javvies, together with the cav only having a 3+ armour save meant the mameluk’s just got torn to shreds. I learned the hard way Mamelukes are medium cav, definitely not heavy cav… they only managed to kill 3 Woad raiders on the charge for no deaths in return but between the 4 kills with the javelins and the static combat res the Woad raiders saw them off. Couple that with a shitty break roll and a fairly good roll on the part of Isobelle the Mamelukes we’re cut down to a man.
Next was the corsairs winning their first battle against the half giants but not being able to catch them. This really put a spanner in the works as having no static combat res of their own, being skirmish, they were relying on pure wounds to see them through. Pulled away from the tower, and the Djinn by themselves and no one to support I knew I couldn’t pull off another win again against that unit but all I could to was keep charging in and pray. My bloody carpets couldn’t do stuff all as they’d gone war-machine hunting and were MIA. The rest went about as well as could be expected. My Djinn would NOT come back after he had been killed by massed javelin fire while Isobelle and I just wrestled the magic phase back and forth all game. The second battle with the half giants actually highlighted a really interesting WAP mechanic. As I went to take parry saves against the giants attacks Isobelle stoped me and told me that since her half giants were more than +3 strength greater than my corsairs, I didn’t get to use it. I had forgotten that particular rule and as such, ended up suffering horrendous casualties which had me needing to roll snake eyes to stay in the fight…
Another thing I can’t overstate is the Albion lore attribute “Mists of Albion” HOLEEEEE SHIIIIIT! It is SO good! It kept Isobelle’s units from dying to missile fire, I couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn door with shooting, between moving, skirmishing and the mist, the best possible roll to hit I had all game was a bloody 6! Super super good spell. Also the gift of life being a 6+ bubble gets your units that mist buff regardless of wether they need models back or not, that mist is SUCH a boon!
The Woad paint parry stack is amazing in close combat for Albion and really makes your units as tough as nails. The Woad raiders do exactly what it says on the box, they’re naked and they’re crazy.
Looking back, I probably wouldn’t do anything too different my entire line crumbled after a VERY unlucky roll with my cav then continued unlucky rolls to get my Efreet back.
I was also VERY impressed by the mirage spell on the lore of the desert. Usually these types of things don’t effect immune to psych models, like the Woad
raiders for instance, but this spell does and I can’t overstate how amazing it is to place a counter at the edge of a units charge range and have them pulled out of line in their next charge phase, unable to stop it. I’ve always said the game is won in the movement phase and this spell is SUCH a boon, I’d never leave home without it in an Araby army!
The forces of Nasreddin the Mystic will return and next time the barbarians will fall
