The Chronicles of the Emerald coast - 1819ic

 Matthias Kahn - Observer from Blessed Tower

I Matthias, continue my chronicle of these times.

• 1st month of the new year, The Empires council of Wizards put an unnatural curse on the great river flowing from the western foothills of the Ironjack mountains. This allows one of the Levied forces to scout the valley north and west along the former banks of the river. Much to the Empires dismay, not much was found there.

• 2-4th month of the year, The Dawi-Zharr explored their Northern border, discovering a Ossified Realm of  Sea Elves. Heavily defended but neutered. 

• Towards the middle of the campaign season a force of Dawi-Zharr Explored the Southwestern fringes of the empire, in the process raising a farming valley for the supplies needed to continue their exploration and to deny the Empire its use in further turns.

• Whilst that Drama unfolded the 2 Main armies of the Dawi-Zharr and the 2 main armies of the Empire Engaged in a large battle along the coast near the Elvish Village of Rasador.

The Battle of Rasador

The scouts of the Empire and the Dawi-Zharr swarmed across the farming valley, moving to counter or probe a point here of there. The Dawi-Zharr Hobgloblin scouts got the better of the Empire Pistoleers however and revealed a full half of the enemies forces there.

Table setup by random terrain generator - Empire occupied the high ground on the left whilst the Dawi-Zharr deployed over open ground

Chaos Dwarves and Bullcentaurs Sandwich the Halbadiers on the hill. The Hero on a Flying Taurus causes terror and adds 3 attacks to the combat.

Bullcentaurs try for a dangerous push in the centre, it ended up costing them dearly.

The Battle ended on Turn 6, having run out of daylight the warring armies both fall back, the Dawi-Zharr got the better of it. The Empire losing a battle wizard with his altar, several Knights and many Infantry. The Dawi-Zharr lost some Bullcentaurs, Blunderbuss Infantry and Orc Slaves.

 The battle demonstrated this campaign will not be decided by a single combat, but rather a grinding campaign of back and forth.

The final Summer months and Winter

• 4th month after retreating both sides consolidated their Banners into a single larger Banner.
• 5th month, Chaos dwarves are Brutally turned back by an enclave of Sea Elves North West of the Blackstone mountains. The question is raised, why are the Sea Elves in the mountains?
• The Banners of both empires retreat without incident at the start of autumn. 
• Winter - Dragons swoop down from the Blackstone mountains, burning the dwarven village of Forbrinkrag, the dragons sow terror but the physical damage was minimal - surely a warning of Hashut encouraging greater carnage
• The Empire, has a plentiful harvest boosting their coffers during a hard year of fighting
• The Dawi-Zharr turn Rasador into a fortress town
• The Chaos dwarf Spies disappear from the city of Belburg whilst Empire saboteurs burn down Kar athol. Chaos dwarf saboteurs burn a small fleet of the empire and assassins on both sides remove mid level men in both armies sapping valuable knowledge and the spirit of the soldiery.

Final thoughts on the year

 The eagerness of the two Warlords to face each other in battle was tempered by the grinding nature of battle, the Chaos dwarves had a hard start but really pushed the Empire whilst the Empire Warlord realised he did not have enough men of command to move his ponderous forces forward consistently.

The year ended with large scale recruitment and reconstruction efforts in the Empire, whilst the Chaos Dwarves prepared for a year of Sieges and being besieged.