Border Princes: Turns 11 and 12

 

The crossroads of the Old Silk Road and South Road are once again the site of conflict as the Crimson Host encounters the Gnawing Hunger! I don't think either party expected this battle, but the Skaven find themselves facing a 450 point deficit!

After securing Aldium, the Covenant of Blood braced for a Dark Elf counter attack by fortifying their positions. Barbarians swept through homes and shops, looting and tearing apart buildings for material to create barriers. To the north, an army broke past the Dark Elf lines and in a surprise maneuver sacked the ancient tower of Tor Anok!

The Gnawing Hunger's inscrutable plans appear to have fallen through, as their insurgent force is met by four of the Crimson Host's armies. To make matters worse, the Barrow Legion reclaimed the Old Silk Road the rats had taken as they traveled west, leaving no path for retreat.

The Crimson Host of Maltherion found itself faced with a choice: commit to a protracted siege of Aldium or defend the arcane tower of Tor Anok. The power of the ancient tower proved to be too alluring to abandon and their forces marched north to retake it by force. Enroute, they meet the Gnawing Hunger on the battlefield.

Their borders secure, the Barrow Legion musters their forces to reinforce their forward armies. With the Dark Elves repelled and the Skaven entrenched across the Blood River, the necromancers have time to plan their next attack. Though, the ratmen have begun to approach the defiled fortress-town of Malko...

The battle at the crossroads was a bloody affair. Multiple dragons led the Crimson Host into battle and their sheer numbers overwhelmed the Gnawing Hunger. The Skaven battled fiercely and were led with cunning, but even after felling dozens of elves, the combined might of their numbers and monsters were impossible to defeat. With nowhere to regroup, the army was scattered and dissolved. 

The massacre the Skaven received is not all bad news, as they still have enough territory to support it so it respawned at their fortress at the end of the turn in a position to support their riverfront. The south of the Border Princes is now lined with fortifications and any attacking is going to need multiple banners to have a chance of breaking through. On to turn 12!

With the withdrawal of enemy forces around Aldium, the Covenant of Blood could begin to expand once more and marched to the north. Their army at Tor Anok attempted to fortify, but were besieged by the Crimson Host before they could ready themselves!

The Gnawing Hunger attempted to attack across the Blood River but were impeded by the terrain and forced to hold their positions! Their forces just outside Malko fortify and prepare to siege the fortress. 

The Crimson Host of Maltherion attacks the forces of Chaos occupying Tor Anok in a bid to retake the tower! A lone army marches east, perhaps to challenge the Barrow Legion once more?

The Barrow Legion reinforced their southern border in anticipation of more skirmishes with the Gnawing Hunger and sent another battalion to the region surrounding Malko to hold their most valuable territory. A lone banner was sent into the mountains along the Black Fire Pass. What could they be planning?

The battle at Tor Anok was fierce as the Crimson Host and Covenant of Blood, now bitter enemies after months of conflict, fought to control what is an incredible tactical advantage. Neither side could leverage their position into a victory and were forced to withdraw due to the casualties suffered. Though neither could claim victory, the Dark Elves have largely surrounded Tor Anok with their forces. 

Tor Anok is unoccupied. Malko is nearly surrounded. Battle lines are drawn in the south. Bold gambits are in play. Next turn is sure to be a good one.