Southern Escalation Kicks Off! Part 2

In part 1, I presented a Battle Report of the first game of the day. Now it's time for the second! One of the players had to head off early, leaving us with 7 players. The other 4 had just started their game (ending up playing 2v2, Order vs Chaos) so I suggested I play against the other 2 players 2 on 1. I had bought some of my extras as well, so figured a larger Chaos army fighting 2 armies of Order would be a good setting. As it ended up, all the Chaos players ended up on one side of the table, while all the Order players ended up on the other. Perhaps it was just one large battle after all?

The Setting
The Chaos and Order forces had heard of hidden mystical artifacts nearby on the battlefield. Chaos obviously intending to use these artifacts for evil, while the forces of Order want to prevent this. However, one of the artifacts is just a ruse, with no real power at all! Half way through the battle, the forces will find out which of the artifacts is fake, and the fight will gravitate towards the 2 remaining artifacts.

The Armies
I had slightly more points (just 0.5) because I couldn't quite make a same pointed list. It ended up being 11.5 points to 11 points (the Seraphon player only had 5 points to play with).

The Shadowborn
Chaos Lord
Chaos Sorcerer
10 Chaos Warriors
10 Chaos Chosen
5 Chaos Knights
5 Marauder Horsemen
Chaos Gargant

Seraphon
Scar-Verteran on Carnosaur
5 Saurus Knights
10 Saurus Warriors

Noble Free People
The Fey Enchantress
5 Grail Knights
5 Mounted Yeomen
10 Men-At-Arms

Deployment
Deployment ended up with both sides seperating into two forces. Obviously the Seraphon and Free People weren't on hugely good terms with each other after clashing earlier in the day, while the Chaos Lord directed the mounted contingent of the Shadowborn to the hold the left flank against the Nobility. The infantry forces would engage the Seraphon, who were already on one of the objectives.

Deployment with Objectives highlighted

The mounted Yeomen vanguarded up near the building to engage the forces of Chaos early.

The Yeomen vanguaged up

Battle Round 1
The initiative was given to the forces of Order, which generally moved up at a steady pace. The Fey Enchantress buffed up the Yeomen who were the closest to danger while the Grail Knights moved up to the archway spanning the two buildings.
The Yeomen shot their bows at the Chaos Knights, but were unable to land any shots.
In the Chaos turn, everything launched forwards. The Chosen moved into the terrain that held the objective, with everything else moving up as well. The General inspired the Chosen, while the Chaos Sorcerer cast Mystic Shield on them to give them additional protection in case the Seraphon engaged.
On the left flank, the Marauder Horsemen scooted up to the gap in the building. Due to being near the Mystical building earlier in the Hero phase, they launched their Javelins which felled a Grail Knight and wounded another before engaging them in melee. The Chaos Knights surged forwards into the Yeomen, expecting to punish them for their aggressive movement.

The Knights charge the Yeomen, expecting easy prey...

The Horsemen being the weaker unit attacked first, bringing the Grail Knights down to 3 members. Had the lady abandoned them?

The Horsemen engage the Grail Knights

The Yeomen are unable kill any of the Chaos Knights, but the Chaos Knights find the protection of the fey is not so easy to get by, only managing to kill 3 of the Yeomen with their Glaives and steeds.

The Knights kill some Yeomen, but do take some damage in return

Things do not turn out so well for the Marauder Horsemen though. Even though they have robbed the Grail Knights of their charge and numbers, the lady favous them as they kill a Horseman and wound another.
Battle Round 2
The Chaos have stolen the initiative, and the Lord immediately decides to send the Chosen into combat. The Chosen are given Inspiring Presence, as well as the boon of visions from the Sorcerer and Mystic Shield. The Chosen engage the Seraphon Cavalry, while the rest of the army moves up onto the objective, with the Chaos Gargant sitting in cover.
In combat, the Marauder Horsemen suffer as 2 Horsemen are bought down and the remaining 2 flee due to battle shock. The Chosen slay 2 of the Saurus Knights outright, while taking a wound in return. The Chaos Knights cannot finish off the Yeomen, with 1 remaining.
In the turn of Order, the Seraphon and Nobility take action. The Fey Enchantress buffs up the Grail Knights, although her Magical Chalice fails and can no longer be used. The Seraphon leader moves up to engage the Giant, while the Saurus move through the building to assist the beleagered Saurus Knights.
In combat, the Scar-Verteran on Carnosaur goes first, but only manages to deliver 4 wounds to the Giant. In return, the Chosen deliver a huge blow to the Saurus, slaying another Saurus Knight and taking out many of the Saurus. 2 Chosen are slain in return. The Giant whacks the Carnosaur around with his club, dealing 4 wounds back but cannot manage to wound with his 'Eadbutt or Kick. The Warriors nearby are drawn into the combat, dealing a wound or two to the Carnosaur but cannot bring their numbers to fight.

The Chosen deliver a heavy blow to the Seraphon forces

On the left side of the field, the Chaos Knights have been engaged by the Grail Knights and Fey Enchantress. One of the Knights is slain by the Enchantress, while the Knights cut down the Yeoman and wound the Fey Enchantress twice. The can't managed to get past the enchantments that have been put onto the Grail Knights.

The Melee of the mounted forces

With combat over, the objective that the Saurus had originally been holding disappeared. This would be a huge problem for the Chaos forces, as the left flank was collapsing and everyone was engaged in the combat.
Battle Round 3
I believe Order got the initiative here. The Men-At-Arms who had done nothing all game, were suddenly in the right spot to take the objective. They quickly moved their way towards the objective, claiming it for the Free People. The Fey Enchantress heals her wounds with her potion, meaning the damage from the last round was basically negligible.
The fight between the Carnosaur and Giant continue, the Carnosaur unable to leverage its killing capabilities against the Giant, leaving him severely weakened. However, the Giant and Warriors make a good account for themself, and bring the Carnosaur low as well.
The fight between the Chosen and the Seraphon ends up with the Seraphon severely depleted. The Saurus Knights are wiped out, while the Saurus Warriors are down to their last few members.

The time of the Seraphon is near an end

The Knights were starting to be depleted by the Grail Knight and Fey Enchantress, but they do manage to slay a Grail Knight in return and wound the Fey Enchantress twice.

The Knights are under heavy pressure

In the Chaos turn, the Warriors retreat from the combat, needing to move towards the left side of the board to contest the Men At Arms. The Chaos Lord was eager to get his blades wet, and engaged the Carnosaur which by now was severely depleted.
In Combat, the Chaos Lord immediately fells the Carnosaur without so much as a sweat. The Chosen are able to slaughter the remainder of the Saurus Warriors.

The Chosen finished off almost all of the Seraphon army alone

On the left side, things do not look so good. The Fey Enchantress is wounded again, but the Chaos Knights are down to their last model, only the Doom Knight remaining.
Battle Round 4
With the right side of the battle in my control, I won the roll of initiative but gave it to my opponents thinking I could easily contest my own objective. This would possibly prove to be folly, as again the Fey Enchantress heals 3 wounds, putting her well out of range to be taken out. The Men-At-Arms settled on the objective in a defensive position. In combat, the Fey Enchantress and Grail Knight are finally able to take out the Doom Knight

The Doom Knight is bought down

In the Chaos turn, the game is almost wrapped up. The Chosen move back to claim the centre objective, while the Warriors move to contest the one on the left. Unfortunately, they fail their charge as they are so far away at this point.

After this, the roll is made and it is determined we will go for another turn! The Chaos forces could still win by contesting the objective!

Battle Round 5

Order are given the initiative this turn, and there is not much for them to do but wait out the inevitable.

In the Chaos Turn, the Warriors manage to launch their offensive on the Men-At-Arms. The Chaos Warriors cannot bring their numbers to fight the Men-At-Arms in the building, and cannot manage to slay any of them.

The Warriors engage the men at arms, while the Fey Enchantress and Grail Knight ride to the rescue too late

The Men-At-Arms in return, take out a Warrior to prove they have some steel in their spines. However, it is too little too late, as the scuffle over the objective this late in the game means neither side can claim the artifact at this location.

A Chaos Warrior is lain

So with the game at an end, the Chaos forces had won with 1 objective held and 1 contested.

Chaos Victory

Game Thoughts

The game was good enjoyable fun. The epic (fail) of a combat between the Carnosaur and Gargant, neither able to land their most damaging attacks. The Chosen basically going through everything as if they're a hot knife through butter. The last minute dash for objectives. It could've easily gone either way, if the game had ended earlier it would've been a drawn. Feel a bit bad for the Seraphon, who couldn't do anything to the Chosen. The double turn hurt as the Saurus Knights were caught out of position. Potentially the Scar-Veteran should've joined in as well, even if it meant fighting both the Chosen and Giant, he could've lent his might in the fight against the Chosen which perhaps would've turned the tide against the Giant with support from his ground forces.

Closing Thoughts

The Escalation league got off to a great start. Lots of great games, awesome finish to the day with the forces of Chaos prevailing on all fronts (The 2v2 game ended up with the Chaos just holding on, see Doom and Darkness' Youtube Video Report of the Action). It was great to get 8 players rock up, given I hadn't had much interest too much prior to the event.

My New Years Resolutions regarding this event and my warband are being ticked off as well! We've got people playing at the first campaign day, and while I didn't have my entire warband finished, I did have 6 points painted up (enough for a deployed force). If I had pushed myself, I could've had the entire warband painted, but I was starting to get sloppy the day before and didn't want to rush the Knights just to have everything painted.

Hope you enjoyed the write up, and until next time guys!