Conquest of the Black Peninsula - Battle of Thor-A-Grin pass 1537ic

 Following the collapse and slaughter of the Chaos Dwarfs the threat the Shimmer beards coalition reared its head. After several attempts to send envoys to Anol-A-Luk ended in further embarrassment, to the degree Gutter whisker faced a minor revolt of Nobles who were next in line to try, the decision was made to send a Banner into the wilderness and ascertain by way of a reconnaissance in force what they faced and possibly force a political solution through a show of local strength.

 The Shimmer beards faced their own problems, the violent opposition to Skaven Envoys though not out of character for Dwarfs was also a calculated political move.

 The coalition was already fracturing, the cost of raising and keeping militia armies in the field for the Bretonnian lords with their limited economies based on grain production was beyond their means, the Dwarfs offered financial support in the form of gold and silver coinage but that held its own problems, the peasantry did not normally trade in coinage, instead relying on wooden Mill tokens and promissory notes for barter and exchange; an introduction of Gold and Silver coins would cause social upheaval as the Peasantry was suddenly faced with the possibility of engaging with the economy outside of the tightly controlled Silo and Mill combine owned by the local lord. The Bretonnian Lords were acutely aware of the threat this posed to their realms.

 The other more pressing issue was the Skaven had gone to ground, the Coalition was discussing the threat of an external enemy that had not been seen in a whole year, whose sole engagement had been through envoys. The devastated lands to the east barely stirred and most considered it more so cursed land than enemy territory, something to pass nearby with prayers on their lips rather than an open an impeding threat.

 The Army of the Skittervald advanced towards Anol-A-Luk, the Shimmer beards sent their Militia to face them at Thor-A-Grin Pass. The pass was unremarkable except for a Single watchtower which controlled the road and passed smoke signals to Anol-A-Luk and the fortress east called 'Thor's Mantle'. Whoever controlled the tower could either sneak up on the opposing side or get advanced warning of an assault; more so the Tower was a simulacra of the struggle between the Shimmer beards and Gutter whisker, whoever controlled the tower would control by proxy the western region of the Black Peninsula.

The Battle

The Dwarfs deployed in 3 Brigades, two Melee brigades on the flanks and a Brigade of cannon and Thunderers in the centre.

The Skaven deployed in 3 Brigades also with a similar configuration.

The Skaven won the roll off to go first, moving their brigades up except the right flank Brigade lead by the Clan Eshin hero Snifolkn Mouldshard. I didn't realise but you don't count VP from controlling the tower unit turn 3 (oops). The Dwarfs Swung around their right right securing the hill whilst their Brigade on the their left got bogged down after one order.

Turn 2 the Skaven moved their shooting to face off against the Dwarf Gunline, managing to kill one stand of Thunderers.

This exposed the whole line to a charge from Slayers in the initiative phase and followed up with a wider charge from Dwarf Warriors and Fledunost Cavalry.

Feldunost Cavalry - Mercenary knights with a banner of Fortitude

Turn 3 after 2 rounds of combat the Dwarfs cleared most of the rat swarms, shooting from the gunline wiped out the Warpstone cannons before Dwarf Warriors led by their King wiped out the Jezzails and charged forward to clear out the Clan rats holding the tower but failed.

Turn 4 The Doom wheel turned around and charged into the Dwarf warriors only to bounce off and for those same Dwarf warriors to charge the Doom wheel and do the same.

The Feldunost charged the clan rats whilst the Slayers continued carving their way through.

The Fledunost and Slayers slaughtered the Clan Rats and turned to fight the Doom wheel now in its 3rd combat with the warriors. The combat ended in a tie and the doom wheel turned away and withdraw to face down the inevitable Feldunost charge.

Whilst all this was happening Storm vermin and the Great Bell moved around to flank charge, only to be charged in the rear by Slayers and wiped out. The Clan Rats and their Eshin Leader Snifolkn Mouldshard were wiped in a subsequent charge from the Feldunost, however no Ratkin could say they saw the Eshin leader fall...

The final Gambit from the Skaven was to march the Rat Ogre Brigade initially lead by the Eshin leader, around the forest past the serried ranks of dwarfs and right into the axes of the Slayers, the first 2 command rolls succeeded but that final 3rd order failed and with it the chance of Victory for the Skaven at Thor-A-Grin Pass.

I Rolled on the pursuit chart to see what happens. I rolled a 3.

 Throt Gutterwhisker was captured! The Skaven forces fell back in complete disarray harried by the Gyrocopter squadron and Feldunost the whole way. Throt was manacled and put in an Iron cage forged by the runesmiths with ancient and terrible wards to prevent magic being used to escape.
 The personal retinue of the Shimmerbeards defended the Cage abstaining from too much ale and keeping a keen eye on the oversized rat, little did they know they were being stalked.

 Out of the shadows a glimmer of green, suddenly from the baggage train came a gigantic fluorescent green mushrooming cloud and flames; the snap thump of bodies hitting the floor was heard by Throt, relief washing over him until he realised who it was standing at the cage door... Snifolkn Mouldshard. With a Sneer Mouldshard handed the death token to Throt, Throt understood now all those agents sent away to never be heard of, the firebombing of his barracks den in Vers-Aisle, the assassinations it was all clan Eshin. Throt realised that the opportunity at Skittervald was not meant as a challenge but a grave, when he achieved success beyond what they thought possible he became a threat they could no longer ignore, especially considering the power such a vast reserve of mineral and agricultural wealth he could command through the vast slave mines and plantations possible in the Black Peninsula. The assassin brought up his warp blade still wet with Dwarfen blood and ended Throts short stint as imperial master.

 The council of 13 received notice of Throts death without comment, moving onto more pressing concerns. 

The Total Victory at Thor-A-Grin pass cemented the Shimmerbeards as the second Imperial power in the region, the Bretonnian lords knelt at the newly coronated King Kurag Shimmerbeard. The Skittervald declined and eventually succumbed to civil war, eventually a equilibrium in power was reached and stalemate endured.

Closing thoughts

 The Eshin Subplot in the story came about because the Skaven could not for the life of them (or throt) roll a decent result on any of the Espionage tables, as a joke I began to comment that the lack of Gutter Runners and assassins in my army was a tell tale sign of Eshin conspiracy. 

 I felt the final Battle of Thor-A-Grin pass was necessary to tie up the loose end of Anol-A-Luk, the city was discovered mid Campaign with a garrison of 900points so naturally we both ignored it has too hard a nut to crack.

 I really enjoyed this campaign, I felt like the war was won in the campaign map rather than the battlefield. The ManOwar battles were great fun but generally inconsequential to the wider campaign.

Til next time.