Spellbreakers at Realm's Edge - part 6

The Burning Head of Thalia

The day of Gloryson was back to the expected weather for the time of year - cloudy and cold.

"What's this place called?" said Kaptain Mogrum as the Cleavermaws gathered in a graveyard at the edge of the gloomy forest.

"Um. Thalia... I think?" said Mr Deadwood. Behind him a few of the crew started whispering to one another and pointing over the Kaptain's shoulder at the huge skull formed of swirling ghostly energies, mud, rocks and tangled branches that floated over a charnel pit.

Mogrum was in a foul mood today, his head hurt and he wanted to cut down any arguments among the crew before they even started. Otherwise one or more of them would be getting turned inside out.

"Right, listen you lot. That there thaumaturgic phenomenon is properly called the Burning Head of Thalia. Got it?" said the Kaptain in a loud voice.

The crews' faces went blank for a few moments then, slowly, started to contort into expressions of doubt and they made a few dubious noises.

Green aetheral energies crackled across Mogrum's fists as they clenched and unclenched a few times.

Some of the brighter hands caught on quickly, "Yep. That's definitely it!" said someone at the back of the crowd. A few of them nodded and made more certain sounds while elbowing their dimmer neighbours. Soon the whole crew was in agreement.

Mogrum turned his back on them and strode off through the graveyard. He tried not to hear the crews' muttered discussions behind him.

~ 🕱 ~

At the far side of the clearing a number of other warbands gathered, all seemingly intent of harvesting the energies of the Burning Head. The Hunters of Gloomfen, The Shadowflames and the Murderfist Tribe led by the Aspiring Deathbringer Erdeni Batur. 

The Gloomfen Aelves and the Murderfist Bloodbound headed toward each other.

Mogrum cast a Mystic Shield on himself.

Laelanyel, the Mistweaver Saih, and Drevakh Xosh, a Tenebrael Shard made straight for the Hound of Khorne and his handlers.

Tark the Fyreslayer made to intercept the Burning Head, hoping to be able to bind it and draw it to their spellforge to capture it.

But the Endless Spell had a will of it's own, and it changed direction! It smashed straight through the centre of the melee and destroyed the Bloodbound involved! Both the Aelves were wounded but not badly.

The Fyreslayers Tark and Durbak attacked the nearest target - the first of the orruk pirates.

Bosun Higgs drew his kutlas and ran-through Durbak, while Ledger Nud and Liberty Snik fended off Tark's attacks!

Drevakh Xosh disappeared into the shadows then reappeared among the Bloodbound.

As the Hunters of Gloomfen activated their Deluge Key and turned the ground to slick, sucking mud. Then peppered the Tenebrael Shard with arrows!

The Aelves and Bloodbound smashed into each other.

Casualties were heavy on both sides!

As the Burning Head of Thalia swept off into the wilds, out of reach of the four warbands, Bosun Higgs brought down a second Slayer!

~ 🕱 ~

"That weren't the Burning Head of Thalia. That were the Firey Cranium of Helike." said Dogwatch to no one in particular.

Mr Sludga punched him in the back of the head.

~ 🕱 ~

This was the Spellhunters Battleplan again (from Malign Sorcery) but as there were 4 of us playing this time we used 2D6 for Initiative (stolen from Kill Team!) and the player that rolled lowest (and went last) in each Battleround got to move the Endless Spell if it was not bound by one of the warbands.

We called it a draw at the end as although the Endless Spell was closer to the Murderfist's objective than any of the others, the Shadowflames had one model with control of it.

Viktor's side of this tale is here.