Through Hel and High Water - a Path to Glory Ravaged Coast campaign, part 4

The Rotmoon, 26th day of Sorows

Helbridge

We reach Gnaw’s Edge these week and it as worse as we've expecting. The weathers are unremitting bad, in fact they seems worse by each day. So, we head inland for site of power, where El Doktoro has tell us Emberstone are.

+++

The blood-hued skies of Aqshy roiled with storm clouds and smoke. Lightning leapt in crimson arcs, striking nearby volcanic ridges with blinding fury, illuminating a narrow land-bridge that jutted across a churning sea. Crusted in soot and salt spray, the Rotmoons charged.

Kapitan Alunzo daLeeva led the way, black coat billowing behind him, gold trimmed armour dull under the ashfall. The blade of his sword, Shipwrecka, seemed to ebb and flow, reacting to the power at the land-bridge’s far side. A brace of battered pistols clanked at his side. Behind him came the others; loud, mad, and hungry.

Palmaz strode along the sand, voice raised in a shanty so horrible the storm itself seemed to wince. El Doktoro the shaman trotted barefoot beside him, red eye-glass lenses glinting like twin embers above his grubby ruff, singing quietly and off tune in a language only he understood. And towering above them all Ogdrog stomped, his massive axe slung over one shoulder, smoke wafting from the muzzle of a Kharadron rifle he'd had modified for use like a pistol.

But theirs was not the only storm to make landfall. From above came the lightning - true lightning, shot from the heavens - and in its wake came the Stormcast Eternals, gold-clad sentinels of Azyr. Both warbands had the same aim, albeit with different motivation: to reach the sacred ground at the far side of the land bridge and hold it against all comers.

There would be no flanks, no escape, and no room for subtlety. Just orruk steel, celestial wrath, and a causeway too narrow for anything but blood.

A binding of Soulsworn Questors translocated, from their lightning-borne arrival point, to the sacred ground objective.

The Weirdbrute Wrekkaz rushed ahead of the rest of the Rotmoons. Eager as always to start the fight. The Oddmoonz raced in front, but the Weirdmoonz were close on their heals.

Ogdrog and Roggriguez's Brutes made short work of the Vanquishers who had struggled to cover ground in claggy sand.

The rest of the crew did their best to keep up, but something moving through the smoke behind them caught their attention.

El Doktoro cast Bash'em Ladz on the Oddmoonz and Ogdrog roared encouragement: Both the Wrekkerz mobs charged and crashed into the Soulsworn (despite them craftily giving ground to confound the Wrekkaz)

Accompanied by the clash of weapons and armour Palmaz' shanty rang out across the battlefield, casualties fell on both sides, but the Wrekkaz wounds knitted closed and they leapt back into the fight. The Soulsworn held their position despite atrrition slowly eating away their advantage.

Supported by El Doktoro's magicks, Dragante's watch turned, and ploughed into the Prosecutors who'd appeared behind them, dropping out of the storm.

A dragon swooped toward Bortagno's watch, as the Stormcast were reinforced by a band of Annihilators who translocated onto the only Emberstone Cluster in sight. But they abandoned it, without harvesting the precious realmstone shards, and thundered into Ogdrog and his hefty ladz.

The Vigilors struggled through claggy sand to close on the pirates, so they peppered the orruks with arrows from long range.

The Oddmoonz took advantage of the cover provided by a squall of soot rain and disengaged from the Soulsworn. They'd spotted the Annihilators moving away from the Emberstone and sprinted to claim it for themselves. (The Annihilators headed for the sacred ground after they dealt with their first quarry, but that had nothing to do with the Oddmoonz choice....)

Even without them, the Weirdmoonz felled the last of the tenacious Soulsworn and captured the sacred ground.

The last Prosecutor fell and Dragante urged his watch to regroup and help their shipmates.

While El Doktoro and the dragon rider exchanged blasts of magical fire, Kapitan daLeeva dived for cover behind the rocks...

... as the dragon took a deep in-breath.

Dragante's watch were hit by Vigilors' arrows again, but either most glanced off armour or were redirected by the pirates' lucky trinkets.

So bows were swapped for swords.

The dragon swept around the rocks and Kapitan daLeeva charged! He drove Shipwrecka deep into the beast, wounding it severely.

But he was immediately swathed in a jet of seering flame...

+++

The Stormcast had gained the upper hand: Their losses were less significant than the Rotmoons' overall. When the Annihilators re-took the sacred ground, it was clear the pirates would continue to be worn-down if they attempted to contest it again.

So Palmaz called for a retreat, and the Rotmoons fell back to the ship with (a not insignificant) three shards of Emberstone in-hand.

+++

Opponent: Daniel

Faction: Stormcast Eternals

Battleplan: Storm the Land Bridge (1 Objective)

Twist: Ash Storm

Emberstone Clusters: 1

Points Values: 1290 vs. 1720 (Stormcast stalled reinforcements = 230+ points)

+++

Result Loss

Added to Emberstone Vault +1 shard from the captured cluster, +2 from the post-battle D3 roll.

Total Emberstone Shards Gained Overall = 12

Campaign Battles Fought = 4

Through Hel and High Water - a Path to Glory Ravaged Coast campaign, part 3

Carrion birds squabbled among themselves as the smouldering harbour was picked-over by a different breed of scavenger. The Rotmoons sang horrible sea-shanties as they rummaged through the belongings of the former citizens. Clothing, crockery, jewelry and various ornaments were cast out of doors and windows, chests and drawers upturned, their contents scattered over the streets. Anything that might have value was stuffed into bags or pockets.

But there was a growing atmosphere of impatience among the crew. The small treasures were not what they’d come for. Where was the Emberstone hidden?

A screech of metal-against-metal brought the pirates to frozen silence. Everyone of them listening intently.

“Steam-engines, to the north-west!” came a cry from above. The lookout had finally remembered his duty.

While the others were distracted Murko found some Emberstone, hidden in barrels, and called out happily.

Dragante's watch started prising-open barrels and crates.

Palmaz started another chorus of The Mermaid of Helbridge, and Bortagno's watch joined in.

The war engines approach was accompanied by gouts of steam, the clanking of pistons and gears. Then, suddenly, the roar of a dozen guns firing a ragged overlapping cannonade.

Bullets and balls ripped through the air; it punched through walls, shattered the remaining glass from window, and brought tiles tumbling from rooves. Most significantly, it also shredded Roggriguez' Brutes.

The storm of death unleashed another roar; this time one of rage, starting with Palmaz and soon joined by the other pirates.

Kapitan daLeeva, Palmaz and Ogdrog charged the nearest tanks.

The Kapitan was taken down. Ogdrog hefted his massive choppa above his head and leapt at the lead engine, bringing it down on the turret with an echoing clang like a cracked bell.

Bortagno's watch took their precious haul of Emberstone and tried to take cover behind the remains of a stone-built tower.

While Dragante's watch also took cover, huddled behind a large rocky outcrop.

At the rear of the steam-engine's lines, an Ogor Warhulk, with a fussil-major perched in a crow's-nest on his back, directed the tank's gunfire; he marked targets by firing coloured flares, their lights burning brightly in the armour of his chosen victims.

The entire division of war machines were thus able to focus fire, at one group of pirates at a time, destroying them utterly, then moving on to the next target.

They steamed ahead at full speed through the shattered harbour town, chasing the pirates down.

Dragante's watch stood firm against the relentless advance.

But they were trapped in the enfilade between two war-engines - with very little choice, they charged the nearest tank.

Murko and his ladz shrieked - as they were caught in a jet of volcanic steam that burst from the ground nearby. Moments later the unstable Emberstone they had found exploded - their unarmoured hides were burned and horribly blistered.

The steam tanks broke formation and fanned-out...

... hunting down any survivors.

Bortagno tried in vain to grab another Emberstone shard, but the fussil-major's punishing fire forced him to duck back into cover. He fled empty handed.

Soon there was barely anyone left to resist them - the engine crews were able to harvest the Emberstone the Rotmoons had accrued but abandoned.

When there were only scattered remnants of the Rotmoons left the order to fire-as-they-bear was given, and the engines cleaned-up. They rolled over the last defenders and captured all the Emberstone they could carry.

+++

Opponent: Sin

Faction: Cities of Sigmar

Battleplan: Ransack the Encampment (3 Objectives)

Twist: Volcanic Incandescence

Emberstone Clusters: 3

Points Values: 1230 vs. 1280 (which meant no Stalled Reinforcements)

Emberstone Vault = 2

Total Emberstone Shards Gained = 9

Battles Fought = 3

Through Hel and High Water - a Path to Glory Ravaged Coast campaign, part 2

Extract from Kapitan daLeeva's logbook:

The Rotmoon, in the Scorched Outskirts of the Ravaged Coast. 15th day of Graives.

We are joining by Roggriguez and the Brutes of he Division. Roggriguez is an old acquaintances of Maximo, who convince they to join of our endeavour on the Coast. We make land, further down the coast at a ruin of temples. There seeming to be a camp there, what we planning are to ransack.

Kapitan daLeeva and El Doktoro stood on a slight rise above a wide grassy plain, dotted with the broken remains of ancient idols. A hot wind buffeted them as they discussed the plan for the day.

They had found the encampment of another warband, the Darlings of Deathrattle Tallyband - led by Rigormortis the Unmoveable, who were also searching for Emberstone. As always, the pirates intended to take that Emberstone for themselves.

The Rotmoons gathered, singing their favourite horrible sea-shanties.

El Doktoro opened proceedings; he cast the Hand of Gork, and hurled the Weirdmoonz toward the nearest Emberstone Cluster.

Ogdrog and Roggriguez' Division charged the massed Plague Bearers that had stepped out of a stinking rent in the fabric of reality.

A mob of Rotmire Creed fired at the Weirdmoonz with diseased darts. The Wrekkaz hardly noticed though; they were entirely focused on the betentacled Maggotkin hero rounding the stone pillar ahead of them.

Meanwhile Ogdrog and Roggriguez’ ladz gleefully turned half a dozen daemons into pools of slime.

The Rotmire Creed charged the Weirdmoonz their hand weapons, and the infections they spread, took down two of the Wrekkaz. Bortagno's Watch moved up in support of their crewmates.

But the Kapitan charged the Creed from behind, Dragante's Watch on his heels - the Kapitan tore through the shocked cultists and slaughtered them all, single-handed.

The Oddmoonz arrived (a bit late, as they had become confused in the heat) and tried to loot some Emberstone. Murko's incautious haste was his undoing though - the Emberstone exploded in his hands.

The diseases and swords of the Plaguebearers took down another Brute but the hulking pirates killed a daemon. Ogdrog killed two more.

The daemons switched their focus to attacking Ogdrog.

The megaboss laughed at them and cried, "How does it look like? You fellows don't standed no chance, eh? I send you all back to your grandfather!"

A gang Blightkings slammed into the flank of Dragante's Watch.

El Doktoro aimed a blast of sparking green sorcerous power and evaporated three Plaguebearers.

Despite that, the last Brute of Roggriguez’ Division fell. The accumulated wounds and disease started to catch up with Ogdrog. His axe sliced through nothing but empty air as his vision started to blur.

Dragante's Watch was running out of ladz to fight the Blightkings. So El Doktoro hurried to their aid.

The Kapitan fell, overcome by the vile contagions the Maggotkin spread.

Bortagno's Watch took-up an Emberstone Shard and eyed the supplies stashed at the back of the Maggotkin's encampment.

On the far side of the battlefield the Spoilpox Scrivener picked his moment and collected the last of the Emberstone. The Oddmoonz raced toward him, but he launched a thunderous and disgusting sneeze (!) at them and stopped them in their tracks.

El Doktoro realised that between them, they had a reasonable haul of Emberstone but they were at risk of losing all of it. He wanted to make sure they weren't left empty-handed, so he gave the order to withdraw.

+++

Opponent: Jay

Faction: Maggotkin of Nurgle

Battleplan: Ransack the Encampment (3 Objectives)

Twist: Mounting Corruption

Emberstone Clusters: 4

Points Values: 1200 vs. 990 (which meant I had 100 points in Stalled Reinforcements)

I played my 2nd game in our Ravaged Coast campaign against Jay - he was a great opponent and we both agreed it was a really enjoyable game.

The scoring seemed to favour the defender in our match-up - both attacker and defender can score 1 Victory Point for each objective controlled each turn. The attacker can also score 1 VP for each unit destroyed that turn. But all 3 objectives were at the back of the defender's territory (the closest was more 22" away from my army!) and Ironjawz infantry are not famous for being fast.

On the other hand, the 2 of the Emberstone Clusters had to be in the neutral territory either side of the defender: Much more accessible to me!

At the start of my turn 4, I was losing the game 8:4 on Victory Points but 2 if the 3 Emberstone tokens left in play. I decided to withdraw with the loot I had.

Although there was a tiny chance I could have won the battle and taken all the Emberstone available, the chance of losing all of it was much, much higher.

So I ended up with 3 Emberstone Shards even though I lost. The Rotmoons picked up 2 during the battle and I rolled a 1 on the D3 shards for losing. I also had one left in my Emberstone Vault from the last battle.

I recruited Palmaz, the Warchanter, and embarked El Doktoro on the Path of the Sorcerer (I selected Focused Sorcery as I'm hoping it will help his terrible track record for casting the Great Green Hand of Gork).

My updated roster now looks like this:

The Rotmoons, Path to Glory Ravaged Coast

1320pts

4 drops

Faction - Ironjawz

Formation - Weirdfist

Kapitan Alunzo daLeeva , Ardboy Big Boss [General] (120)

[Path of the Brawler, Aspiring - Dependable Assault]

- Botagno's Watch, 10 x Ardboyz (180)

El Doktoro, Weirdnob Shaman (130)

[Path of the Sorcerer, Aspiring - Focused Sorcery]

- Dragante's Watch, 10 x Ardboyz (180)

Ogdrog, Megaboss (190) 3 Battle Wounds

- The Weirdmoons, 3 x Weirdbrute Wrekkaz (100) 3 Battle Wounds

- The Oddmoons, 3 x Weirdbrute Wrekkaz (100) 1 Battle Wound

- Roggriguez’ Division, 5 x Brutes (200)

Palmaz, Warchanter (120)

Arcane Tome

Bash'Em, Ladz!

Da Great Big Green Hand of Gork

Get'Em Beat

Fixin' Beat

Emberstone Vault = 0

Total Emberstone Shards Gained = 7

Battles Fought = 2

+++

Afterwards, I made some "character sheets" for my heroes.

I was never happy with my attempts at using the Warscroll maker github thing. It's an amazing piece of work, but it's not compatible with my brain.

So I reverted to what I know well, and enjoy doing: messy stained paper, scissors, glue, and inky pens.

I made sure I left plenty of room for adding Path abilities, artefacts and enhancements later.

Edit: I just added 2 more cards for the Rotmoons' Arcane Tome and Battle Traits: