The Doomlords Revenge!

One day, in the distant past (aka January 2019) I was reading Ye Olde Undead army book. Therein I discovered a tale of Woe from the heart of the Empire; the story of a depraved Necromancer and his cunning plan to destroy the Realms of Men and the battles that followed. I refer, of course, to the Revenge of the Doomlord Scenario. I was mesmerised. I had to play it. When I managed to get hold of a Doomlord of Middenhiem model for a mere £8 I had to had to play it!  All I needed was an opponent...

Dieter Helsnicht, The Doom Lord of Middenhiem!

Enter Rick. Rick is a natural commander of the Undead. This may be because he is one himself. A Commander of the Undead...not an actual Undead, obviously.  I pestered Rick to command the Undead in this Scenario, and he agreed to on the condition he was allowed to win.

I would of course command the Armies of the Empire! We decided to play the entire game using 4th edition WHFB rules- Nothing 5th edition at all, which was not something we'd tried before! Luckily I had the Battle Magic and Arcane Magic sets and the other necessary rulebooks to facilitate this. Probably would have helped if I'd read them first though. 

The Scenario is a simple one, with 3 Empire forces trying to converge on an Undead army, The undead army is a little smaller, but the Empire doesn't get all its strength until quite late in the day, with only a small force to hold back the tide. 

I had to pick 3 armies- a 1000 point force to defend the Village of Beekerhofen, a 1600 point relief force from Middenland, and a 400 point flying column of Kislevites.  My Empire army has been undergoing renovation this last year or so (and I've only a few more units waiting for attention) and I was keen to get as many of my figures on the table as possible! I eventually decided to do without wizards and warmachines (apart from a sole hellblaster!) because they took up points I preferred to spend on troops, especially in the force that was intended to defend the village, where I would need every man I could get behind those barricades! Therefore I was resolved, this battle would be won or lost by the courage of mortal men! 

Firstly, the Elector Count of Nordlands army, or whats left of it- Most of it has been crushed or routed by the Doom Lords carefully executed ambush by the Lake of Woes. The Count commands whats left- the few units that held together during the retreat fighting numerous rearguard actions against the pursuing Undead, and the militia and townsfolk of Beekerhofen, the village where he has been brought to bay.  A hint of hope amidst the despair- the legendary Moon Duke has appeared with his entourage, and a party of travelling Barbarians who were drinking the Village Pub dry have vowed to join the defence.

The Elector Count of Nordland , with whats left of a once mighty army.  10 halflings, 5 pistoliers,
12 greatswords, the Moon Duke and 10 halberdiers, 10 halberdiers from the Village Watch, 10 drunken barbarians
(counting as Flagellents!) a helblaster, and 16 miltia.

The Elector Count of Middenlands relief force , actually the vanguard of his Army marching north from Middenhiem would be a more impressive sight, with regiments of Regular Infantry in good order, and representatives of two knightly orders.  No heroes to lead them, but a Battle Standard to keep them in line..

The Elector Count of Middenlands force: 25 spearmen, and 25 halberdiers, 20 archers,
5 each of the knights panther and Knights of the white wolf, and 6 outriders.

 On the road to the East is a Kislevite patrol on its way home to Erengrad. After his defeat at the the Lake Of Woes the Elector count of Nordland sent a galloper after them to bring them back. This handful of horsemen represents my numerical advantage; let us hope they are not to late to the fray!

The Kislevite flying column: a Captain leading 5 horse archers, and
7 winged lancers.

 A Flurry of pistol shots sounded in the darkness followed by the hoof beats of tired horses urged to one more effort. A handful of weary men galloped out of the darkness and joined the Count as they rode towards the lights of Beekerhofen. Count Edwin looked about him at the tired faces; all that was left of his own Regiment, the Nordriek Horse, whose exertions these last two days had been devoted to protecting the mass of fleeing soldiery and civilians heading west.  They were few now, and he had asked much of them, as they had turned and charged their tormentors, driving them off, time and time again.  They had tried to do more- to cut their through to those regiments of his army that hadn't simply fled, but had died where they stood, surrounded and selling their lives dearly- but the task had been beyond them, and the Count could only watch as his army was all but destroyed.

Now at last , as they neared this outpost of civilization the pursuit had dwindled away and the Count dared to hope they might find some respite from the horrors behind them in the dark. . He had dispatched a galloper here to warn of what was coming, and as he and his men rode into the village centre he was greeted by the elderly Burgomaster in his nightclothes and chain of office.
          "My lord, Sigmar be praised, I had heard you had perished! I received your message, and done as best I could- the Militia and Watch and have been turned out, and we are preparing barricades and repairing walls as you see...do you still intend to make a stand here? "
   The Count looked about him- he had been hoping more of his men would have rallied here, but only a few could be seen helping the villagers; most were still heading west, their terror overcoming their weariness. The Burgomaster sensed his disappointment .
          "I encouraged them to take the western road when they wouldn't stay- I thought it best we keep the road to Middenhiem clear so we spread rumours that it was already cut! We could not persuade them to stay and defend our homes..." the burgomaster trailed off with a shrug, perhaps understanding that what was left of the Army of Nordland would be reluctant to stand against the horrors they had already faced. "Rest a while Lord, there is food and ale in the hall, and we will see to your horses..."

         Unable to rest long the Count soon found himself going round the hastily erected barricades that supplemented the scattering of walls and hedges around the village, staring into the darkness beyond the firelight, and glumly wondering if his messengers had reach his cousin, the Count of Middenland . By now most of those who wanted to flee had already done so, and few now wanted to risk the western road without the safety of numbers. The night was mostly silent, except in the pub where even at this early hour a small party of travelling barbarians were quaffing and singing. They had mocked the more civilized Imperial soldiers as they fled past, bragged about their own invincibility, and how many enemies would fall before them. They had declared to the Count their intention to join the coming fight, and demonstrate their greater warrior prowess, before going back to their drink and song. They had refused to help prepare the defences, claiming it to be the work of lesser mortals. 
        A figure appeared beside him, in full armour and bearing a huge halberd. The Count looked him up and down, wandering who the newcomer was, his jaw dropping as he recognised the distinctive crescent moon on his helm.  The legendary Moon Duke himself! A figure from legend, and a hero of the Empire. With a chuckle at his astonished expression the Duke raised his visor, to reveal the face of the Burgomaster. 
      "You're...the Moon Duke? But...I thought you must have died years ago, if you existed at all. I recall well the stories I was told as a child..."
   "HA! Yes, That was me once...and again at need, though I feel the weight of the years upon me, but...LOOK!"  
    Turning to follow his outstretched arm the Count saw the light of dawn just beginning to break, revealing that an army had come to Beekerhofen, deployed across the eastern road, an army of the dead. The two men watched as it took up its positions, their own men gathering at the walls with despair in their hearts when the saw the dead before them. The Count shuddered as the growing light allowed him to recognise some of their banners...banners that a few days earlier had been his own.
     "Now that is interesting", said the Duke, surveying the arrayed host. 
     "Not quite the word I'd have chosen" replied Count Edwin quietly, but the Duke continued;
     "See how they refuse their southern flank?  They can't go further north because of the river, but they could encircle us to the south and attack from all sides if they so wished! Why would they not, with our meagre defences, but that they know something we do not?  A-Ha!  I have it! Take heart my Lord, for they fear swords at their backs; your message got through, the Men of Middenland are coming!"

The defenders of Beekerhofen take up their positions on the walls
covering the villages eastern side.

The Watch and the remnants of the Nordriek Horse are held back as a reserve 

The Doomlords Army is revealed by the dawn...

And on the road from Erengrad the Kislevites ride hard to the rescue!

The undead advance, and arcane magicks swell their ranks!

The defenders are outflanked by spectral horsemen and winged horrors!

The skeletal chariots are no use in the village, so move to cover the left flank. 

Desperate hand to hand fighting errupts all along the barricades, but the defenders
have the best of it-Count Edwin stands his ground against the Doomlord and the
Barbarians , Greatswords, and the Moon Dukes men cut down all the undead who come near.

The spectral horsemen are to much for the halflings who eventually give way.

In the nick of time help arrives as the Count of Middenhiems vanguard marches on to the field, the well ordered state infantry of Battenburgh and Middenland in the centre, and the cavalry on the flanks.

The Doomlord fells the Count of Nordland and runs amok in the village, chasing the Watch through the Streets,
The undead are replenished by his will and the numbers begin to tell against the defenders. The barbarians vault the walls to
take the Zombie horde in the flanks.

On the road from Erengrad the Kislevites clash with the undead rearguard...

The watch rally, but are facing a power they cannot match with mere courage.

The Middenlanders charge , clearing the undead chariots from the field, the white wolf knights crushing all before them with great sweeps of their hammers.

And then the Winged Hussars Arrive! But are they too late?

Skeletal infantry try and hold back the vengeful Middenlanders.

In the village death stalks the streets freely now, with only the Moon Dukes
men and a single barbarian to hold the walls. The Imperial and Keslivite Horse
seek to crush the undead between them, but a terrifying Wraith in their midst and the
nigh unstoppable Doomlord scatter the cavalrymen.

The Army of Middenland commands the field, but the Beekerhofen
all but belongs to the Doom Lord.

The Moon Duke and his remaining men resolutely hold their ground as the remaining kislevites
are driven from the field. despite their heroic efforts the Doom Lord is Victorious!  

    The Count of Middenland's Runefang carved through another undead creature , breaking the sorcery that animated it and wrecking its skeletal form, around him the Knights of the White Wolf fought with massive hammers against rusty blades and spears. Suddenly,  these minions of the Doom Lord gave way before them revealing the open fields and the village of Beekerhofen beyond. The streets were crammed with the walking dead, and in their midst a figure on a huge winged beast cackling manically, reveling in its moment of triumph. He thought he caught a glimpse amidst the horde of a moon-crowned helm that stil stood tall and proud, but dismissed it.  Surely nothing could still be alive amidst that carnage. The Count, not a man to give way to despair easily, realized they were out matched- the vile magics of their enemy had won the day, and even if he had the strength to keep up the attack it was clear there was nobody left in Beekerhofen that would be saved by the attempt. The rest of his army was still strung out on the road from Middehiem, and he knew now his best chance was to keep it as intact as possible for the battles ahead. As he started giving orders for the retreat he vowed that the Nordlanders would be avenged! 

The final score, if you're interested was actually pretty close. 20-17 to the undead.  And it all came down to a single LD test- In the last turn I declared a charge with the Knights Panther against a unit of undead in the Village- I didnt think they'd destroy them but I wanted to make the effort. Unfortunately they failed their fear test...and refused to charge...until Rick pointed out the Wraith in the unit, that it was actually a terror test, and the knights had run away! Arrgh!   We made a few mistakes with the 4th ed rules that might have made a difference to- with only one wizard on the field you're supposed to reduce the Winds of Magic to d6, rather than 2d6. but we missed this and this allowed the Doom Lord free reign to raise as many skeletons as he wanted, cursing anyone who got in his way, and using a his dark magic spell to flit about the battlefield at will picking on small units who couldn't stand before his manticore! This combined with the ability to cast spells in his opponents turn made him rather unstoppable!  I'm not sure a wizard of my own would have made a big difference especially early on when I could have only had a low level one anyway- I didnt get many dispel cards and couldn't roll a 5+ to save my life!. A dispel scroll or two might have been handy though. A movement spell was what I really needed- we were playing on a slightly too large a table, and the Middenlanders had a long way to go when they arrived!

Still, we've made a start to something interesting here; inspired by the old Gathering of Might and its subsequent campaign in White Dwarf I thought it might be fun to make this the first game in a little campaign...so watch this space, because the Doom Lord of Middenhiem  hasn't had his  revenge yet!