The battle in the Pass, North of Cesana

 The Battle in the Pass

 

Despite the cold, Captain Ryan was almost uncomfortably hot. An attack by the orcs could come at almost any time, so much of the army was marching at leas partially armored. Ryan was a bear of a man, his sheer size lead some to claim that there was ogre blood in his ancestry, while others said that his fiery red beard showed he was part Norse. Even for a man of his size, covering the rough ground and incline of the pass in full plate was not an easy task.

After the battle of Cesana, there had been some dispute as to the next course of action. Many wanted to winter in Ravola now the food supply was secure and the dwarves had already returned to their mountain holds. However, Angelica, the captain who many had come to look to for leadership, was of a different mind. The Orcs had fled back to their mountain camp, and if left until the spring, would have replaced many of their losses. Instead she called for a strike against the camp before the winter truly set it.

The army that marched up the pass was made up of Angelica's most faithful followers, some volunteers from Ravola and a mixed group of local forces from surrounding towns and villages. It was from one of these that Ryan had come.

From up ahead there was a commotion, somewhere orcs had been seen and the army rushed to equip and fall into line of battle.

Zandrap Neckbreaker was possessed of a cunning superior to most orcs. Compared to the previous warboss, Rok'ed, he was a genius. When the few survivors returned form Cesana, there was no doubt that Zandrap would be the next warboss. He was able to ride the returned Toofy without problem. In fact, he had spent more time with the wyvern over the years than Rok'ed and had developed as close a thing as affection for the great beast as an orc could.

When wolf riders reported 'umies marching towards the camp Zandrap swiftly assembled his forces and headed out to meet them. Now he was warboss, and no one was taking that from him.

The Empire line.

The forces deployed across the pass, with the orcs blocking the way. On one side pistoleers and a group of hand gunners clearly discomforted by the presence of the death wizard lord, Necraia, faced off against a chariot and a large group of wolf riders led by a wolfboss named Riznap. Behind them a great swarm of snotlings covered the ground. Both sides also had a giant, who eyed each other suspiciously.

In the center Angelica lead her knights, while captain McCoy lead his knights. He had volunteered for the force in part due to his shame at missing the battle in the mountains against the skaven. Next to them were a large body of swordsmen. They faced the large group of arra' boys lead by an orc shaman and a mob of night goblins. Behind them a group of black orcs waited along with some goblin war machines.

On the other side of the battle field, orcs and big'uns jostled as the majority of the empire infantry, including a band of greatwords lead by Ryan, moved into position. The wizard, Edward, who had come all the way from Udolpho with Lady Angelica, lead the crossbowmen.

The Orcs and Goblins.

Turn 1

The empire army advanced all along the line. The pistoleers rode up and shot down 2 night goblins, but that was just a drop in the ocean. Much of the magic was unable to reach the greenskins, but a burst of fire from Angelica's ring felled 2 orc boys. The cannon plugged a shot into the ground near the giant.

The orc arra boys let animosity get the better of them and end up in an unfavorable position.

As the empire approached the orc archers lost control of themselves and tried to charge the pistoleers, who naturally fell back. The orc charge lost momentum and they found themselves milling about between the armies blocking the other units and now facing a wave of steel clad horsemen. The orc boys also lost control and, seeing no nearby enemies, started thumping each other instead. The shaman in the archers, attempted to cast fists of Gork on himself, but this was stopped by Edward's dispel scroll. The rest of the magic did nothing. 2 knights were pitched from their horses by spears from the war-machines while the doom diver catapult destroyed itself spectacularly. The unit of pistoleers near the canyon wall had positioned themselves badly, and caught between the rocks and the wolf riders were wiped out. The wolf riders, howled along with their mounts as they crashed into the empire giant behind.

Turn 2

The empire forces saw their chance. The knights in the centre crashed into the orc archers, who did not even have time to shoot. Angelica lead her demigryphs into the wolf riders, but many of them were blocked by the bulky form of the giant and could not get close. Ryan and his greatswords tried to reach the distant orcs in front of him, but the ground was uneven and they struggled forward only a little. Behind the lines the pistoleers rallied and returned towards their original position.

The knights break through, but now find themselves in a sticky situation.

As the knights thundered towards the archers, a fanatic was pushed out of the nearby night goblins and into their path. 2 of the knights were knocked down but the rest rode over the spinning loony and crashed into the archers. 1 knight fell but many more orcs were slain and the unit fled back through the black orcs, who ignored them. The knights who had blown their horses on the charge and failed to catch the archers, now found themselves in the middle of the green skin lines and unsupported.

The cannon misfired and the crew busied themselves trying to get it ready to fire again, while all attempts at magic failed or were dispelled.

The lines approach.

Angelica was challenged by the wolf boss, and both failed to injure each other, while the giant could only kill one goblin with his club. The goblins and their wolves refused to flee and continued the fight.

Now the orcs seized their chance, the black orcs smashed into McCoy's knight's flank, while the giant hit the front. The orc big'uns let by a black orc hit the greatswords but were counter charged by the halberdier detachment. Zandrap and Toofy along with the night goblins charged the swordsmen and were counter charged by the archers.

The orc arra boys run for the rear after escaping the knights.

The orc magic and shooting achieved nothing of note. On the left flank the orc big'uns were surprised by the skill of the halberdiers, who struck down 5 orcs. The orcs managed to fell several greatswords but lost more than half their number. The black orc wounded Ryan but was immediately struck down by the burly human. With over half of their unit slain the remaining big'uns fled and were run down.

The central combat was carnage and the night goblins netted themselves and were then savaged by the humans. However, Zandrap and Toofy stomped, smashed and stabbed an even greater number of swordsmen and the archers on the flank turned and fled, leaving the swordsmen to their fate.

On the right flank, Angelica and the boss continued their duel to no effect, while the giant picked up the wolf rider champion and hurled him into the black orcs, killing one. Both sides refused to run and the fighting continued.

The knights and captain McCoy fight on.

The knights fighting the black orcs and giant lost several of their number but were able to injure the giant and take down a few orcs. McCoy called on them to hold, and they did so.

Turn 3

The greatswords and Ryan now charged the large body of orcs in their front. All across the battlefield there was combat. Any attempts at magic failed and the cannon, which had just been prepared to fire promptly misfired again.

The greatswords struck down many boys and lost some in return but both sides held. The swordsmen lost many of their number but the night goblins once again netted themselves and also took losses. Despite the terror of the wyvern, the unit held on.

The mass combat on the right saw the wolf boss and angelica both wounding each other while giant shouted and the wolves in an effort to make them leave. However, they remained and one of the wolves was even able to bite his foot.

McCoy's knights suffered terribly as the giant began to jump up and down on them (double 6 for hits) and crushed the remaining men and horses under his feet. However McCoy struck down 3 black orcs and held on, despite overwhelming odds, refusing to drop his banner.

The orc archers continued to flee while the fighting continued. The giant, suddenly free after crushing the knights crashed into the demigryphs. Magic and shooting again did little. The empire giant seeing the effect of his orc counterpart attempted to emulate him and started jumping. However, he immediate lost his balance and tumbled back, crushing 2 hand gunners who were behind him. Angelica and the boss failed to wound each other and combat continued. The giant head butted a demigryph, but was wounded by the other 2.

Zandrap and Toofy finally finished the swordsmen who broke and fled, pursued by the night goblins.

The orc and greatsword combat continued, despite the clear superiority of the greatswords and Ryan. McCoy again weathered the black orc attacks and struck down 2 more, still refusing to break.

The cannon seemed to hit the rock lobber, but did no damage.

Turn 4

It was at this moment, that Necraia saw her chance. Gathering up all her power she sent forth a purple sun which passed through the wolf riders, snotlings and black orcs. Slaying many before ending near the hill between the black orcs and the goblin warmachines.

The purple run rolls through the orc lines.

All across the pass the fighting continued. The greatswords broke the boys and ran them down. Angelica finally defeated the wolf boss in the challenge while the demigryphs knocked down the greenskin giant. He collapsed on top of one of their number, pinning both rider and mount under his massive body. The other giant crushed 3 wolf riders and, while they were able to wound him in return, they broke and fled, only to be run down.

It was now that the orc archers rallied, well behind the lines. Zandrap urged Toofy onwards and crashed into the greatswords. Ryan stepped forwards in a challenge, but was instantly batted aside. However, his sacrifice gave the men of his unit just enough time to outpace the rampaging Toofy as they fled.

McCoy continued his fight, slaying another 3 black orcs even as his armor resisted their rain of blows.

Turn 5

The greatwords continued to flee while the wizard Edward rusted Zandrap's armor and his crossbowmen wounded the orc leader. The empire giant and demigryphs made short work of the snotlings that had been milling around behind the wolf riders. The purple sun suddenly moved up the hill and engulfed 2 goblin bolt throwers. After it had passed, there was no sign of the goblins or their war machines. The cannon once again failed to hit its target. McCoy finally struck down the remaining black orcs and turned back to the battle.

Zandrap charged after the fleeing greatswords and they deliberately tried to escape amongst the rocks of the pass walls and so he stopped to take stock of his surroundings.

The orc shaman stepped out of his archers and called down a mighty foot of Gork, which crushed a pistoleer who was still riding about. The night goblins made for the cannon and drew close.

Turn 6

The empire cannon finally found its range, even as shrieking goblins bore down on it and stuck Toothy square. The giant wyrm fell to the ground and ceased moving. However Zandrap emerged from the ruin of his mount, his face twisted into a vision of rage. The rest of the empire army manoeuvred, but it was clear that the battle was ending.

All that was left was for the goblins to overrun the cannon and for Zandrap to take out his fury on the few men of a detachment that were nearby.

Empire Minor Victory

The aftermath

Many of the men who had accompanied angelica up the pass had expected an easy victory similar to the one at Cesana. However, it had ended up as a bloody and costly battle. Though the army would push on, it would take another 2 days. Burying the dead, attending to the wounded and reforming the units of the army would take time. The dead greenskins were burned in a pile the following day, but the fallen giant appeared to have not been as badly wounded as though and had crawled away out of the pass during the night.

Ryan had been found amongst some rocks where he had been flung during his battle with the Zandrap. Despite the fight he had only minor wounds and walked from the field. Only more hardship lay before him and the rest of the force before the fate of this enterprise would be decided.

Gazrip stood amongst the beaten forms of a half dozen orcs, many more stood around him, waiting for his next move. “I iz da biggest now, so I iz da warboss” he announced. None of the other orcs disagreed, instead the all seemed to be slowly backing away. “Dat'z wat I though” he said even as he heard the crump of heavy boots behind him.

Zandrap lead the tattered remains of his army back into the camp. All that was left were mostly night goblins and orc arra boyz. Most of the bosses had returned, the wolf rider boss was missing, but Zandrap cared little about goblin, another wolf boss would soon appear. The scowl on his face was dark and brooding and no one would dare meet his eye, well almost no one.

“Oi, you iz ded” shouted Gazrip when he caught sight of Zandrap. “Even if you iz 'ere, you is still ded so I'm da warboss now. If you wanna...” Gazrip was never able to finish his challenge as Zandrip's axe removed his head, as well as much of his chest and right arm. Gore splattered the crowd of orcs who shrank back from his gaze. Silently he walked through the camp and entered the warboss tent, when the umies arrived, he would make them suffer.