Carcarion claims the spoils
Entry posted by Gulug1974
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Horrors giggled as they emerged onto the abundant landscape of the Realm of Life. Trees adorned the rolling hills and an old fort, at one with the foliage emerging from it, sat ahead of them.
Carcarion, an Ogroid Thaumaturge of impressive width, lumbered through the gate behind them. He was accompanied by a willowy Gaunt Summoner, his name known only to himself. More troops of the Neverending Host of Change filed and flew from the rippling realmgate. A chariot, complete with Gorebeast, rumbled forth with Skyfires on discs zipping through the air above it. Last to emerge, crackling with pent-up energy, came Stanza; Tzaangor Shamen and master of all his kind in the caves.
The air was vital with magical charge. Something cataclysmic was imminent and it had brought more than Tzeench’s sons to the forest. In the distance Sylvaneth warriors and KharadronOverlords could be glimpsed through the trees.
Arrows whistled into the Skyfires as the enemy moved forward, one burying itself to the hilt and whipping a Tzaangor from his floating monstrosity. Caracarion bellowed his rage and waved the host forward. The Skyfires returned fire and took down one of the Hunters in the distance. Behind them the wizards began to chant and draw upon the essence of magic that emanated from the abandoned fort.
Suddenly a comet burned through the sky and crashed into the ground on the far left of the Order battleline. Carcarion could sense the magical potential of the artefact and the Overlords could smell Aether, a Khemist in their midst.
There was little time to think. Skyhooks roared forth their vicious ordnance, splitting the Skyfires in two or smashing them to the ground. Soon only the Aviarch stood proud.
Another comet crashed to the surface in a welter of charred wood. It narrowly missed the fort and the Horrors raced to claim it. Things were looking grim for the host though as the chariot charged forward, only to be thrown off course as wildwoods burst from the ground around it.
All was not lost. The Gaunt Summoner chanted passages from his book and flames erupted amongst the Arknonauts ahead of him, half of their number succumbing to the heat which found every ******. Carcarion’s own flaming staff engulfed another company, reducing its numbers dramatically.
Reality folded and blinked and suddenly there were two more Skyfires hovering besides their Aviarch. They poured their fire into the Hunters stationed near the comet and charged forward to engage them while Stanza flew into the Arkhonauts in front of them.
All was not won. The Arkhonauts pushed forward through the receding fires and levelled their weapons, the Khemist roaring them on. They first destroyed the Gaunt Summoner, his form returned to the Realm of Chaos, before sending the Horrors back from whence they came. Carcarion stood firm, casting a coruscating spell to increase his might. He first destroyed the Dryads facing him and then finished a unit of Arkhonautsclose behind with the aid of Stanza. Then he turned his attention to plundering the comet for its secrets. The Skyfireswere doing the same as they spent their lives finally finishing the Hunters. Stanza flew across and took the enemy’s comet for himself.
Laden with new knowledge and the spoils of war the Tzeenchian heroes returned to the Cavern of Eternal Rebirth to oversee the regrowth of their companions. They left behind a landscape littered with the dead and barely a soul alive.
This was the first outing for my Tzeenchian force. It was supposed to be doubles but my partner could not make the game. I just happened to have six Skyfires and a TzaangorShamen in my box which created another 500 points to play against James’ Kharadron and Sean’s Sylvaneth. It was a very relaxed affair with all of us learning our warscrolls and Sean having his first game of AOS.
We played the ‘Gift From the Heavens’ battleplan from the General’s Handbook. I was impressed with the power of the Arkhonauts’ skyhooks and the Gaunt Summoner’s spell on a horde. The ability to fold reality with my Skyfires probably won me the game. A fun matchup, it is always entertaining to play when everyone is starting out with new armies.
Hobby wise my Horrors are done for the moment and will be revisited in the future. Next jobs will be to finish Carcarion, the Ogroid, and put base colours and shade on the chariot. This will more likely be a unit used as a painting project and for relaxed games because it is a bit disappointing in combat due to lack of rend. Having said that it did hold up a unit of Arkhonauts for two vital turns.
Paul
Twitter: @ugluk1974
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