Gargants and greenskins have stolen their way into the settlement and are running rampant as the Dawnbringers desperately put up their defence.
But the forces of Bristlewhakka are not the only ones that are troubling the settlement. A small warband known as the Purple Serpent lead by king Cernunnos were successful in a surprise hijacking of a Khardron sky ship while the city attempted the crossing. This warband also seeks to take control of the city, and fully intends to use the chaos within to their advantage.
Small war band and over as the Purple Serpent lead by king Cernunnos and his daemonic allies were successful in a surprise hijacking of a Khardron sky ship while the city attempted the crossing. Storm into the city cutting down free guild defenders anybody in the way of them over control of the settlement in the name of Loesh the Serpent.
slaves to darkness major victory vs City of Sigmar
Sons of Bugman AEC Memorandum VT03-28b
duly countersigned by a representative of the Grundstok Company.
After much action in the field, Sgt. Amberstock, Cpl. Stoutbomb, and the subcontracted marines of The Fifth Skalfhammer returned to basecamp with a gunhauler modified far outside regulatory restrictions. Before debriefing could be delivered, the Fifth was immediately reactivated to deal with the unexpected orruk and chaos attack on the settlement and tasked with defending civilians.
In this action, no civilian casualties were reported in the quadrant tasked to the Fifth Skalfhammer squad. Cpl. Stoutbomb’s report is that their lines were immediately assaulted by the same greenskins who had harried them all throughout the Vurm-tai campaign, and as a result the enemy leader atop what has been designated “Danger Weasel” was able to single out Sgt. Amberstock for attack. The Sergeant is at present convalescing with settlement healers; despite grievous wounds and much uncertainty, all indications point to a successful recovery. “Danger Weasel” was also neutralised during the action by aethercannon shot, but the present status of the “Killaboss” is unknown. With both leaders removed from the action, chain of command and superior Grundstok Company discipline prevailed.
Raedheil looked one last time about his remaining officers – who were almost as numerous now as the threadbare force they commanded. The Beastmistress Farleith. Madeye Aratheln the Ranger. The Assassin, the Shadow Walker and the Scourge. The seasoned headman of the Vurm-tai.
“No word whether the bestial forces up there respect the pact we propose, and the odds are not kind. But remember what we still are. //True// Aelves. We do not strike potential allies against Chaos till we are stricken.
“The cultists and their aethyric monstrosities, on the other hand? The treason of Sylvene is //far// from settled as yet. Them we slay. Now follow where our Vurm-tai lead, upon the Worm!”
The aelves, panther and few humans ascended the worm with care and trepidation, threading their way between Orruk bands unaware, indifferent, or both, in a surgical strike at the Chaotic foothold. A salvo from hurriedly alerted Blissbarbs brought down two of the last Shadow Warriors, but caused small delay in combat. Then there followed a foe of greater style and sophistication.
An alliance had formed between Myrmidesh Painbringers and a band of Cypher Lords, as willing to adore the Prince of Pleasure as other scions of Nochseed revered the Changer of Ways. In their separate manners, these warrior orders both lived for the sword, and they were startlingly well commanded by a haughtily, exultantly self-maiming Lord of Pain. The True Aelves’ advantage of surprise could not long now avail them. The Vurm-tai veteran leader lost his second leg and fell helpless on the worm’s heaving morass, endeavouring in vain to use his own peg leg as a weapon. The curious humoured Slaaneshis in scorn let him live for the present. There fell too warriors the Hedonites and Slaves respected as more perilous foes, both among Raedheil’s most intimate confidants, his cousin the onetime Scourge captain and the grim-faced Shadowblade Assassin.
Yet though this victory was far too costly, it nonetheless remained victory of a sort. Raedheil found himself master of the worm’s bloodied slope, and had time to look wearily to his remaining followers of most note, the Beastmistress, Aratheln, the Shadow Walker and a brave female Vurm-tai scout, before the Ogors came.
Whatever the various followers of Beastwhakka itself made of the citydwellers’ offer, these Maneaters saw weakness when they smelt it, and cared little what they crunched. The True Aelves expended their last arrows, then drew blades that burnt blue-white in their hands and prepared for death, Raedheil never shirking his place at their head.
Then the menace that had fallen upon the exiled aelven leader made itself fully manifest. Some part of the daemon that had absorbed Sylvene had lodged itself within the aelf who presumed to attempt its banishment, and its presence that day was to the scavenging Ogors’ misfortune. When dust and gore settled on wormback, Raedheil Shorehaunter was no more, but the Ogors lay mangled or fled taken aback.
Six ‘True Aelves’ remained standing, their great cat growled still, and the last two women of the Vurm-tai. Here in Ghur, upon the worm and its nascent ‘city’, would they live and die in defence of civilisation of a sort, naming the wise Beastmistress over the half-crazed Aratheln as their leader and hurrying to report to the Fauncrest as best they might.
Gunnery sergeant Tun Kegslayer was content. His squad managed to successfully encircle and eliminate a warband of greenskinz. Surprising Kruleboyz is no small feat! Surely additional ration of ale will be theirs. He’ll show those umgi how a true duardin drinks during celebration.”Of course if there will be a reason to celebrate.” he corrected himself. Job wasn’t done yet. Bristlewhakka was still alive and he still commanded quite a bunch of orruks. And those wretched undead… “Kegslayers!” he shouted. “We won this time, but the worst is yet to come. But we are duardin. No enemy is too strong for us! No challenge too big! We will prevail! For ale and for glory!” “Tonight, we drink with Gazul!”responded his soldiers and once more charged into the fray…
Result: Order victory
Lord Calaec of the Ley-Finders reporting back to the Living City.
We were betrayed. Our hard-fought control over the ley-lines in hopes of harnessing the energy to aid the settlement of the worm, was abruptly torn from our hands as Chaos had corrupted Sylvene’s mind. Too late we realized her intent, as a portal to the Realm of Chaos was opened at the head of the Worm.
I ordered my forces to retreat to the fledgling city, so we could process what happened, regroup, and move forward. In the erupting chaos, our retreat was messy. I reached the city with half of my forces, where we managed to fortify ourselves just as Chaos troops approached our stronghold.
A Bloodthirster took out most of my honoured retinue of Wildwood Rangers in a single attack. Things appeared bleak.
But on the other side of the battlefield myself, Willow-Baroness Adalanthel, and the Dryads managed to hold off several chaos forces, slowly whittling down their numbers. The Sisters of the Watch led by High Sister Telveth once again proved their worth by taking down the Bloodthirster as it tried to make its way to me. This was a turning of the tides. Especially when shortly thereafter, Glade Lady Vahy and Glade Lord Alalvon arrived at our stronghold on their trusted Forest Dragon and Pegasus respectively – with Tenebrael Shard Yacyth seemingly appearing out of thin air and taking down their Khornate slavedriver.
With my army complete again, all Chaos forces were swiftly taken down and we managed to hold our position in the new city.
(Pictures: https://twitter.com/WH_Narratives/status/1443070840631971846?s=19&fbclid=IwAR3PQXbUruoclImKSg1ydeuDeVwjgUIpNDSJ6r22tfMuZST9pA1O2HnR3wE)