Conquest of the Black Peninsula - ManOwar Sea battle of Lyfor Headlands - 1534ic

 The thrum of steam engines and the glow of Warpstone reactors, another year of campaigning and another battle takes place. The year 1534ic was not one for landlubbers.

 The Campaign season began with agents despatched across the land, Eshin Assassins tried to kill the Chaos Dwarf King Kruhk Bagranarhk; however the kings agents flushed the rats out and had them tossed into firepits.

The Dwarves on the other hand got much more for their trouble, paying off a yet still rooted warren of conspirators and traitors they managed to burn several barracks at the former Bretonian Fortress called 'Vers-Aisle' killing a number of clan rats. Saboteurs tried to burn down the fortress south of Vers-Aisle called Fontun-Brun, these traitors were caught and fed to the Rat Ogres.

The Campaign season begins

One Skaven Force focused all year on expanding south of Fontun-Brun, pushing south down the east coast. The other Skaven army pushed north taking the independent Dwarven fortress of Gon-Aluk with only 50 points in losses.

The Chaos dwarves pushed their main force into the centre of the Skaven empire in a south easterly direction with the intention of securing more revenue through slaves and taxes. A secondary force also explored the wilderness directly west of the capital.

Both Empires began building up their Fleets the previous season; a great Naval battle we inevitable. Eye witnesses confirmed the fleets as such:

Battle for Lyfor Headlands

As the two Skaven Fleets rounded the Lyfor Headland in column one behind the other; the two smoke belching Chaos Dwarf fleets came into view, situated several Miles apart the two Fleets were in a double line abreast with the obvious intention to prevent the Skaven fleet which was much faster from running the gauntlet or turning a flank. The first Skaven fleet moved directly from sailing line ahead into a double line with the Doom bringer in the centre.

Turn 1

The Chaos Dwarves maintained their Line Abreast formation, the Skaven Admiral Salt-Sniff assumed they intended to envelope his compact assault formation. Both Fleets moved steadily forward and the Great Taurus moved into the centre to support the ManOwar.

The Great Leveller fired a shell which fell slightly short damaging the lead Warp raider on the left flank causing it to lose its engines.

Turn 2

The Great Taurus flew forward, working their way through the Slave crewed Warp raiders. The Doom Bringer tried to fire off its Anti-Flyer Flame weapon but missed. The Great leveller fired again and Damaged the engines of the Centre Plague burners on the right flank.

Turn 3

Skaven remembered they had a grey Seer and attempted to cast:

The Grey Seer succeeded, but when rolled for all 4 crew checks came up a 1,2 or 3.

The Plague Burners pushed forward on the right Flank, The first successfully boarded a Hull destroyer, the Rat Ogres slaughtering the small crew of Chaos Dwarves and Slaves. Another with its unique gift from Nurgle being a Vomit cannon that causes -2 to saves, destroyed the Ram and Engine of the centre most Hull destroyer before a 3rd Plague burner arrived to board and slaughter the crew.

The Chaos Dwarves all battle could not fire their Thunder fire Battlebarge, the silence of its giant missiles allowed the Left flank to be rushed by Plague Burners.

The 2 left most Plague Burners killed the crews with the poisoned gases of the the Censor and the right Plague Burner easily overwhelmed the crew of the Thunder roller.

Turn 4

Skaven won the Initiative roll and attempted to cast this spell:

Intending to place the Chaos Dwarf Flagship in base contact with the Doombringer and its eager StormVermin Crew. The Skaven rolled a 1! and the Grey seer was forced to eat 5 more Warpstone to prevent a catastrophic chaotic mishap.

Taking first turn the Skaven Activated the Doom bringer with its bell that's been ringing all game, Rolling 5 dice a Double 6 was rolled with a total range of 22 inches.

What happened next was awe inspiring, the entire Chaos Dwarf fleet fell within range, losing 3 ships of the line to critical hits, and Each of the ManOwar: Great Leveller and Thunderfire Battle barge taking 3 of 4 below the water line hits meaning they only had 1 hit left before sinking themselves. What was more pressing though was the sheer ferocity and danger the crews and poisonous gases posed to the Chaos Dwarf fleet.

In the End the Chaos Dwarves lost everything bar their Great Taurus' and one Thunder roller a truly crushing defeat.

Defeat at sea

The loss of control of the northern coasts was a massive loss to the Chaos Dwarves, with the Skaven taking fortresses and towns right next to the heart of their Empire.

Where the Chaos Dwarves made headway however was in their thrust deep into the centre of the Skittervald Empire, there will have to be a strong response in the coming Season from the Skaven to secure their Land Empire, even if they can dominate the seas.