Given that I had my High Elves and David his Dark Elves, it seemed perfect to have a Dark Elf raid on a Chracian town and with that in mind, we set up the table you see below. The battle was played from the short table edges, and as you will see, most of the buildings had fencing or walls, which we also ruled would count as an obstable and provide soft cover to any shooting which went across it.
Also, so that one failed panic test wouldn't result in a large unit being destroyed for clipping a building, we ruled that although you couldn't enter any buildings, any unit forced to flee into one, would simply run round via the quickest route.
Armies:
David's Dark Elves
Dreadlord (DL)
w/Sea Dragon Cloak, Armour of Eternal Servitude, Crimson Death and a Null Talisman.
(221)
Malus Darkblade (MD)
(275)
Master (M)
w/Sea Dragon Cloak, Great Weapon, Repeater Crossbow, Blood Armour and Seal of Ghrond.
(143)
Sorceress (S)
2 x Dispel Scroll. Spells: Power of the Darkness and Chillwind.
(150)
19 Spearman (Sp1)
w/FC and Shields
(148)
18 Spearman (Sp2)
w/FC, Shields and Warbanner
(166)
10 Repeater Crossbows (XB)
(100)
5 Dark Riders (DR)
w/Repeater Crossbows + Musician
(117)
5 Harpies (H)
(55)
14 Black Guard (BG)
w/FC, Null Talisman and Standard of Hag Graef
(267)
5 Cold One Knights (CoK)
w/FC and Null Talisman
(190)
Cold One Chariot (CoC)
(100)
7 Shades (Sh)
w/Add. Hand Weapons
(112)
2 x Repeater Crossbows (RBT)
(200)
My High Elves
Archmage (AM)
w/Level 4, Talisman of Saphery, Folariath's Robe and Scoll. Spells: Drain Magic, Shield of Saphery, Curse of Arrow Attraction, Fury of Khaine and Flames of the Pheonix
(360)
Korhil (K)
w/White Lion Chariot
(270)
Mage (M)
w/Level 2, Silver Wand and Ring of Fury. Spells: Rule of Burning Iron, Transmutation of Lead and Spirit of the Forge
(185)
Noble (BSB)
w/BSB, Dragon Armour, The White Sword and Mask of the Merlond
(166)
10 Archers (A)
(110)
21 Spearman (Sp)
w/FC and Lion Standard
(239)
White Lion Chariot (WLC)
(140)
14 White Lions (WL)
w/FC and Standard of Balance
(285)
5 Lion Princes (LP)
w/Banner of Ellyrion
(165)
5 Shadow Warriors (SW)
(80)
2 x RBT (RBT)
(200)
Great Eagle (GE)
(50)
Deployment Map
Dark Elf Turn 1
The CoK and Malus on the left flank moved forward, ready to charge next turn and the Black Guard moved in support. The RXB's moved forward to the wall at the end of the street, ready to take up a firing position and the Spearman moved forward whilst the Sorceress attempted to cast Chillwind but it was dispelled. The Shades moved out slightly and dropped a Spearman from the other side of the street and both DE RBT's shot their opposite numbers, to no avail. Also, as the Chariot rumbled forward, the crew sniped an Archer and the DR's galloped forward and shot at the RBT crew and did hit one, but it was only a graze and he lived.
High Elf Turn 1
The Great Eagle took aloft and landed behind the CoK and Black Guard, ready to bounce on something. The Spearman moved forward to take up an opposite position to the RXB, ready to defend the left flank and in response the hail of fire, the Mage unleashed his Ring of Fury at the Shades, but it was scrolled. Rule of Burning Iron, directed at Malus, was also dispelled, but the Archmage was able to cast Curse of Arrow Attraction on the DR's, but Flames of the Pheonix, directed at the Spearman unit with the Sorceress and Master was also scrolled.
Despite 8 hits from the Archers against the DR's, no wounds were landed, but the RBT on the right flank didn't have such poor luck, killing 3. On the left flank, the RBT killed 2 CoK's and both units passed their panic.
Dark Elf Turn 2
Malus unlease Tz'arkan and then charged the Spearman behind the wall, who promptly fled through both Chariots and the Lion Princes, both all three units passed their Panic tests (Valour of the Ages helping Korhil). On the right flank the surviving DR's charged the RBT crew and killed them, racing on afterwards. Chillwind was again dispelled as the Spearman units tried to cross the walls of the town. Having reached the wall moments before, the RXB's fanned out and took up the perfect firing position. Also, with the Spearman blocking their LOS, the crew of the RBT killed 4 Archers, but they held their nerve and the Shades wounded the Eagle with a volley of fire.
High Elf Turn 2
Having survived the fusilade of fire, the Eagle charged the RXB in the flank, easily overcoming the obstabcle that was the wall. Meanwhile, the Lion Princes formed up for a charge against the CoK easily leaping over the wall, however, the White Lion Chariot that attempted to follow them was smashed to pieces as it tried the same, giving itself 6 impact hits for the trouble. Meanwhile, the Spearman rallied and the Archers turn to shoot the Harpies which had landed behind them, but they all missed. The RBT fiding it's mark however and killing 3, forcing the remaining 2 to flee.
A Ring of Fury at the Black Guard was dispelled (dammed Null Talisman's were everywhere!), as was Transmutation of Lead on the CoK's. Flames of the Pheonix however, wounded the Sorceress, the Master (but his armour saved him) and killed the Spearman champion along with 6 others.
The Eagle killed 2 DE's in combat, but the unit held and the Lion Princes killed 2 Cold One Knights, but Malus was enraged and cut down 3 of them, and the remaning Cold One killed another. Suddenly finding themselves outnumbered by a frightening opponent, they fled and were cut down.
Dark Elf Turn 3
As the Harpies came to their senses, Malus and his final retainer charged the HE Spearman, who felt their hearts filled with courage and held. Also, the Shades charged the Eagle and although only 1 managed to reach high enough to catch it, it struct the bird straight through the heart and killed it. On the right flank, half the DE infrantry were now clear of the wall and marched on, along side the Chariot, which along with the DR's who had turned the flank, killed 3 more Archers. Both the RBT's combined to kill 3 White Lions, the cover saving a few. Also, the Sorceress tried to summon the will to dispel Flames of the Pheonix but was unable to match the power of a true Mage.
Finally, as Malus charged in, heading for the Mage, the Spearman Sentinel stepped forward and was mauled, gutted and slaughtered in combat, but the unit held firm and also dismounted the final CoK with a wall of spears.
High Elf Turn 3
The Black Guard, who had found themselves out flanked moments ago, turned just in time to take a charge from Korhil and his Lion Chariot mount. In the centre, the approaching DE infrantry prevented the White Lions from turning to asist the Spearman, but they retreated slightly from the advancing enemy. Trying to reduce the effectivness of his weapons, the Mage cast Transmutation at Malus, but Sorceress stopped it with what would be her final action as the Flames burned stronger and consumed her and 7 Spearman, but the unit held firm, the whip of the Dreadlord shortly behind them.
A Fury of Khaine put a single wound on the Chariot and Shield of Saphery has cast to protect the Spearman, but it didn't help the 3 that Malus cut down.
Finally, as Korhill hit home, he beheaded the unit leader and then killed 7 more between impact hits and attacks from his mount.
Dark Elf Turn 4
The Cold One Chariot failed it stupity test and so didn't charge the remaining Archers in the rear, however, the Spearman and Master did charge, but gave up shortly afterwards, having misjudged the gap. The Dark Rider's jumped the wall and charged the flank of the White Lion unit, hoping to assasinate the Archmage, should the White Lions protecing him not respond in time but even as one White Lion cut down a single Dark Rider, the spear of the other moved through thin air as the Folariath's Robe rendered the Archmage out of space-time. Despite this shock, the Dark Rider held his nerve. As the battle raged on, a stray round caught one of the two remaining Archers and left a single Elf standing there.
In the centre, the Shades caught sight of the Shadow Warriors who were hiding and ran towards them as Korhil, his driver and the Lions killed the last of the Black Guard, taking a wound on a Lion in return, but it was able to fight on.
Finally, the HE Spearmen were finally able to wound Malus, but he killed 3 in return and the combat raged on.
High Elf Turn 4
Korhil turned his mount round and headed back towards the south of the town. The Archmage failed to cast Shield of Saphery on the spearman, but Transmutation of Lead was successfully cast. The final Archer moved away from all other ranged enemies and as he did so the RBT killed the last of the Harpies which had landed in the centre of the town again.
The White Lion missed the Dark Rider and dodged the return blow, but the Rider had enough and fled the combat, the White Lions standing in check.
Despite seeing his armour begin to rust, the Spearman simply couldn't hurt Malus and he killed 5, but the Elves held.
Dark Elf Turn 5
The Cold One Chariot and the Spearman charged into the White Lions and the RBT in the centre of the town inflicted another wound on Korhil's chariot.
As the combats continued, Malus killed 3 Elves as they simply couldn't hurt him, but they held and in the centre, the chariot killed 3 White Lions with the impact of it's charge, but the White Lion champion struck a blow back. As the Master stepped forward, the Archmage called him out, and without a magical weapon, couldn't hurt him. This allowed the BSB and remaining White Lions to kill 4 Spearman, which was enough to force the unit to break, but the Chariot held firm.
High Elf Turn 5
Korhil charged into the rear of Malus Darkblade and struck him down, saving the remaining Spearman and the Shadow Warriors charged the Shades who had found them, and although they killed one, they were slaughtered.
Flames of the Pheonix was cast against the Dreadlord spearman unit but instead miscast and wounded the Archmage. The chariot and the WL Champ missed one another but the chariot held one, knowing that the Dreadlord was moments away.
Dark Elf Turn 6
The Dreadlord and his unit charged the White Lions, and the Archmage again called to challenge the DE's. The Dreadlord answered, believing he would strike him down, but his Talisman of Saphery removed the power from his weapon. The White Lions and BSB combined for 4 dead DE's, but they lost 2 of their own kin and in the end, lost the combat by the smallest of margins. However, the nerve of the White Lions and their leaders broke and the unit ran, cut down by the DE's as they ran, which allowed they to charge the flank of the Spearman unit.
High Elf Turn 6
Charging the side of the Spearman, it allowed Korhil and his chariot to charge them back in return and single impact hit combined for 5 dead DE's. The Dreadlord however, wasn't able to move to a fighting position, but they unit had no intention of going anywhere and the fight for the Elven town continued...
Final Results:
Dark Elves: 1986 VP's
High Elves: 1513 VP's
Minor Win to the Dark Elves.
It was a close game, and one of the most enjoyable I've had for a long time.
Cheers.
