The Hills Have DwarfsIntroductionFor three days Prince Sadrin had pushed his army hard. His soldiers marched during every hour of daylight, and then a little more. Sadrin knew that dwarfs might have legs somewhat shorter than he and his men, but that nevertheless their incredible stamina was said to allow them to move rapidly for they needed little rest (if any at all).
The Dwarfs of Karak Zorn were almost certainly after him! His Tassingbe warrior scouts had surely not only offended them, but enraged them and fanned a burning desire for vengeance in their hearts. Four dwarfs had been killed upon the foothills, no doubt substantially more would be mustering to balance the wrong.
Now the Prince still had a substantial force, but he could not afford to lose any more men. He had a jungle to penetrate, a city of gold to find, perhaps even a garrison of some kind to defeat. Already his supplies had been robbed by fast-moving greenskin raiders upon wolves and boars, and although his fighting strength was not yet critically diminished, many slaves had succumbed to starvation. Not that their deaths concerned him, rather it was the thought that next it would be his brave soldiers who suffered.
Engaging in battle with irate dwarfs was the last thing he needed!
The Prince’s Army:
Prince Sadrin al Marwan - General; Warhorse; Sword of Justice; Dawn Armor; Holy Relic
Agha Idrahil - Shield; Sword of Battle; Armor of Meteoric Iron
Wizard Zadra ibn Borhasa - Lev’ 2; Rod of Power; Sigil of Sigmar
Wizard Mukri al-Hajib - Lev’ 2; Talisman of Protection; Silver Horn
10 Camel Cavalry, full command [Dogs of War Heavy Cav’] with War Banner
10 Light Cavalry, full command [Dogs of War Light Cav’]
25 Spears of the Desert, full command
25 Spears of the Middle Palace, full command + Crossbowmen detachment
25 Royal Guard Swordsmen, full command
9 Handgunners with Marskman
12 Slave Archers with Marksman (numbers depleted from starvation)
1 Great Cannon
1 Mortar
War Elephant (Stegadon minus bow)
Total Points: 2236
Got Ya!Despite their efforts, the arabyans of Amon proved too slow, for the dwarfs came just as they feared. Perhaps being denizens of this hilly region the Dwarfs knew how and where to travel swiftly? Or perhaps the Arabyans should sensibly have discarded their artillery pieces? Certainly the dwarfs had not brought anything to slow them down - the only machines they had were light Bolt Throwers and a Gyrocopter, no cannons or mortars or other such burdensome engines.
The Army of Karak ZornDwarf Lord, General - Gromril armour; Oath Stone; Runes: Snorri Spangelhelm, Gromril, Spite
Thane, Battle Standard Bearer - Gromril armour, Runic Standard (Determination & Sanctuary)
Master Engineer - Handgun, Pistols, Gromril armour & Rune of Luck
Dragon Slayer - two Runes of Fury
10 Slayers, full command
22 Hammerers, full command
22 Dwarf warriors, full command, Heavy Armour; Shield
22 Dwarf warriors, full command, Heavy Armour, Great Weapon
20 Quarellers, full command
10 Thunderers + Musician
3 Bolt Throwers (one with Penetrating, another with Skewering)
Gyrocopter
Total Points: 2235
The Field of BattleThe two armies would clash in the lowest and outermost of the foothills, where clumps of jungle trees were scattered as if motley groups of outcasts meandering away from their homeland, forlorn and lost.
The Dwarfs arrayed themselves with their bolt throwers upon their flanks, with their four fighting regiments at the foot of a hill occupied by the Thunderers. The Quarellers stood left of centre, while the Gyrocopter hovered in the rear awaiting a chance to contribute something of worth.
Prince Sadrin himself rode with his camelry upon the far left of his line. His agha Idrahil led the swordsmen to the Prince’s right, while the two spear regiments stood next in line. The wizards had both joined the crossbow detachment, and to their right, at the heart of the Arabyan line, stood the mortar and the cannon. (Already one cannon had been abandoned due to the damage done to it when the Greenskins attacked.).
On the Arabyan right the handgunners were flanked by the hulking mass of the war elephant, with the skirmishing slave archers (their numbers depleted due to the more severe rationing they had endured) and the light horse beyond them.
Next part to follow soon.
So …. What’ya think? Who’s gonna win this one? You know armies, terrain and deployment. If you want to know more, then all I can say is that my friend ‘J’ chose to command the Arabyans and so I became a Dwarf for the afternoon.