The Chronicles of the Emerald coast - 1821ic - Collapse

 Matthias Kahn - Observer from Blessed Tower

Kharagroth Ghazath Cragbeards power is in question, the first month of disastrous battles has ended and the upper echelons of the Chaos dwarf leadership in the Emerald Isle are worried. The remanets of the field armies that fought at Drakenhelm north and south deserted with the intention of marching on Kar-Tor leaving the Garrison at Belburg wholly unsupported against 3 Empire armies.

 

 Whilst all this happened the sleeping Empire of the sea elves began to stir, several patrols reported tall masted Catamarans sliding down the coast but patrols were unable to catch them. Their spies seeing the division amongst the Chaos Dwarves triggered a sudden rise to arms, their ships slipped out of port and began systematically ambushing Chaos Dwarf naval patrols, next came the convoys laden with treasures and slaves, the escorts were picked apart and cargos ferreted away to secret coastal bases or out to sea.

 On land small contingents of Elves ambushed patrols and destroyed local enforcer garrisons, finally a large army spilled out of the Sea Elves empire. During this time the Sea Elves refused contact with the Empire and turned away all ambassadors, much like they had in past years. This lead to an awkward tension between the Empire and the Elves; that the Chaos Dwarves were able to exploit, Fighting the Elves and Empire in detail.

The Battle of Dunmar and the Retreat of the Dwarves

The armies close on one another with the forest on the left flank anchoring the battle lines.

The Chaos Dwarves close on the Crossbows on the left. The combined fire of Crossbows and cannon were unable to disrupt the Closing Chaos Dwarves.

The left Flank charges sweep the Empires right flank whilst a contingent of Bullcentaurs Rips the guts out of the Empire Left, and Centre made up of Handgunners.

The Battle of Dunmar was a crushing Defeat for the Empire, losing 9 units whilst the Chaos dwarves took some stands casualties but the only full unit lost was a death rocket that self destructed.

• The Total Victory at Dunmar allowed the Chaos dwarf northern armies to retreat unmolested by the Empire, despite their numerical superiority. The Empire was unable to press the advantage of numbers for fear the Elves would flank them during an extended siege of Dunmar so maintained a strategic reserve to counter any Elvish tricks.
  
  
• The Victory at Dunmar further destabilised Kharagroth Ghazath Cragbeard leadership rather than saving it, others now saw themselves as better candidates for leadership. The writing was on the wall; the Empires armies were too numerous, their own naval forces were moving in to contest the seas and the Sea Elves were stepping up their assault by landing small contingents along the coast and torching Towns and Villages.

Blood in the water

The final decision was made to run, the Chaos Dwarves had upset the Empires plans and the addition of the Elves to the contest and their unwillingness to make deals with either side meant the situation might be saved by strong leadership and a unified state; however all confidence in Kharagroth Ghazath Cragbeard leadership had vanished, the armies morale was shot and the symmetry expected of a well rounded force was lost due to casualties, in particular the loss of so many Bullcentaurs; the religious guardians of the Chaos dwarves being felt keenly amongst the rank and file. The Chaos Dwarves laden their ships with treasures and made steam for safety.

 As the fleet Sailed for the horizon, Kharagroth Ghazath Cragbeard stood on the stern of his massive smoke belching Thunderfire battle barge 'Hashut's Hammer' mulling over his plans to secure his leadership and re-establish his empire, his Lamassu Zhazkurth Zharribath sat next to him musing over the flows of magic. Zhazkurth stopped, eyes narrowed on Kharagroth a sudden powerful unexpected thrust of his paw and Kharagroth was falling, pinwheeled off the back of the hull and into the ocean to certain death. Zhazkurth laid down on his paws, the Two Bullcentaur guards, a handful of servants and advisers glancing over in mild interest at the cries of Kharagroth as he fell and bounced off of the hull. He should have been stronger, they all thought.

This concludes to Chronicles of the Emerald Isle, I hope you've enjoyed reading the goings on of my Campaign. It's been a blast playing both a campaign and Games, we learnt a lot about the old rules and found some things the need tweaking which I will do a separate post on.