Ambush at the River Shaukel

The Ambush at the River Shaukel: Empire Vs Dark Elves (3000pts)

So I will first thank Jon for his hard work writing up the battle report, he has done a wonderful job and saved me a few hours work.

This report will provide plenty of fluff and a pretty in depth battle report, I have presented the fluff from both the Dark Elf viewpoint (Jons Army in Purple) and The Empire viewpoint (my army in Blue) with the 2 stories interweaving and hopefully setting the stage for future battles and a background for my army. We won’t be offended if you skip the fluff, it will all be in colour to make it easier to do so. 

Jon was trying out the new Dark Elf army book for the 1^st time and I was playing my 1^st ever battle of Warhammer Fantasy.

Scenario: Battle line.

Dark Elf Army List:

Lords:

Ashniel Emberrain, Supreme Sorceress Level 4

Tome of Furion

Black Amulet

The Other Tricker's Shard

Lore of Dark Magic

Black Dragon

Heroes:

Vaedra Chillslayer, Master (Mistress)

Battle Standard Bearer

Lance

Sea Dragon Cloak

Heavy Armour

Shield

Cold One

Razor Banner

Naxva Nightcaller, Sorceress

Dispel Scroll

Lore of Metal

Core:

20x Uraithen Repeater Crossbowmen (I refuse to call them Darkshards, there was already a much better word for them in the fluff.)

Shields

Naliryan Kinkiller, Musician

Standard Bearer

20x Uraithen Repeater Crossbowmen (See above.)

Shields

Ilnar Dirgeblood, Musician

Standard Bearer

5x Dark Riders

Repeater Crossbows

Shields

Musician

5x Dark Riders

Repeater Crossbows

Shields

Musician

Special:

War Hydra

Fiery Breath

War Hydra

Fiery Breath

10x Cold One Knights

Dreadknight Ramene Witcarver

Standard Bearer

Musician

Banner of Swiftness

30x Executioners

Draichmaster Rakir

Musician

Standard Bearer

6x Shades

Additional Hand Weapons

5x Warlocks

Alexander considered the information he was given for a moment and answered, “It seems that they want to invade Nordland discreetly, that must be why they have risked coming ashore at wreckers point with a vanguard force. They must be heading directly east using the coastline to protect thier flank to seize Salzenmund unaware and therefore create a foothold for a full invasion into the empire.”
“Very good son, very good. Salzenmund has mostly natural defences, it would be easy to take the city unaware under the cover of night with an elite force, a task Dark Elves will be very capable of and it is for this reason that I have called you here. You will take most of my army, march west to Hargendorf and defeat or delay the Dark Elves. I will head west to Salzenmund with a small force of knights to inform Count Gausser of the potential attack and allow him time to prepare a defence for Salzenmund. If the battle is won, send a rider to Salzenmund with news for the city will stand vigilant awaiting the attack.”
Alexander nodded after receiving his orders, Proud that he was the son chosen to lead his fathers men. His father continued, “And do not fret son, Halfdane is skirting the force to prevent them wreaking havoc throughout western Nordland at the smaller settlements, when the time comes he will join you in the field. I have also sent word to our allies so you shall not stand alone, the Empire will prevail, Nordland will assure it.”
As he finished both men got to their feet, understanding that this may possibly be the last time they ever spoke as they left each other to prepare for war.
____________________________
Alexander and his force were making their way west, the journey was arduous but this was mostly down to the heat coming from the midsummer sun. His contingent wasn’t the largest but his men were eager. He led his fathers largest regiment the black stripes, the unit was one of the best trained in all of Nordland but were struggling with the warmth whilst carrying all of their war gear. Alexander tried his best to ignore the chatting of discomfort. They were trying to keep pace with a steam tank his family had recently bought from Nuln. It was huge and he could finally understand why his father was so proud of the behemoth, it led the force like the tip of a lance.
His fathers personal bodyguard of greatswords were following closely behind, they were charged with guarding the Hurricanum sent by the Celestial wizards; Alexander still didn’t know how he was able to obtain one of the orders most prized relic but he was grateful for it none the less, he was less grateful of the wizard that accompanied it, he went by the name of Gais and he seemed like a bumbling idiot. Muttering constantly about cogs and twists, snow and storms; he was completely oblivious to his surroundings. Alexander was unhappy to have a wizard in the army but if he had to accompany the Hurricanum he would not interfere with his fathers plan. At the tail of the army were his fathers war machines, the Helblaster Volley Gun and Cannon, they were guarded by crossbowmen and led by the eccentric Leonardo Pickwick. The artillery was followed by the knights of Hanann, the inner circle knights led by Hrolf Halfdane himself. They had not seen the raiders since first discovering their landing but they had provided protection to the smaller settlements as they said they would.
During the march East the force had come across a small band of traveling warrior priests accompanied by a Witch hunter. After facing the inquisition of the more senior ranking priest, Angus Beck; Alexander was able explain what the armies purpose was, they then offered their services to him.


The apish creatures had taken the bait. Ashniel Emberrain and her convent sister, Naxva Nightcaller, stood aside from the army’s officers. They listened attentively as the shade-clan scouts and outriders made their reports. The druchii advance force had halted at the northern end of a valley, running parallel to the River Shaukel. Even this close to the coastline, the boughs at the edge of the Laurelorn forest were thick and dense. The valley offered a few sparse clearings, but was still partially wooded even so.
“The scouts have returned with the vanguard knights” shouted a soldier in the front rank of the halberdiers. Alexander questioned them but neither had spotted the enemy. Alexander couldn’t help but smile, ‘He will beat the dark Elves to the battlefield he has in mind and would have plenty of time to prepare his men’. Out of the nowhere a Grey wizard appeared in front of him, a trail of dense smoke wrapped around him. He turned to Alexander,“Prepare yourself the enemy is upon you!”
Alexander was shaken, his scouts had reported no enemy, as he was about to shout his orders a hail of metal bolts poured over his men, he then realised he was caught in a trap.


The grey wizard Tobias created a thick fog around himself that he controlled as if it was merely a puppet, it surged towards the crossbowmen yanking at their arms and legs causing every action they attempted to become extremely laborious. The celestial wizard Gais on the other hand had raised his staff to the heavens and almost instantly the sky became dark and the temperature dropped significantly, an Ice storm had been created and the ferocious weather severely affected the elves ability to fire their weapons accurately.

Naxva Nightcaller gasped as she felt her mistress's spell manifest. She staggered behind the lines of the Uraithen, but the crossbowmen paid her no mind as they wrestled against the unnatural storms. She clutched tightly at her chest and leaned heavily upon her staff. It felt as though the pain itself were winding its way from her very heart. So much power had fed into the invocation that she felt a part of her own life energy being sapped with it.
The men had continued their advance despite the evil magic and poor luck they had been faced with, they were closing in on the enemy but not a single one among them could have prepared themselves for what they were about to engage. Two hulking monsters broke free from the Elven battle line, spitting acid over the ranks of men, many died but those that stood standing pressed harder to avenge their fallen comrades.
Tobias turned his attention to the beast and the fog he had conjured began surrounding Alexander and his men, “What are you doing wizard! How dare you betray the Empi..!” Alexander was about to finish his sentence when the fog began to dart forward as if to stab at the monster before it. It screamed in pain and collapsed in a dead heap. The men cheered and rushed onwards towards the enemy.



“Witch come to me and die with honour! Sigmar fights through me and you WILL face the wrath of my hammer!!” The Arch kept shouting challenges at the witch. Alexander did his best just to stay alive, their speed was overwhelming and he found himself thanking his armour for keeping him alive.
Naxva began backing away, but the Uraithen in front of her didn't see her as they turned to withdraw. Men bumped into her in their careless haste and she thrashed and cursed at them in return, struggling to turn and make her own escape in the press of bodies. The wind was knocked from her lungs as a shield struck her, and she sprawled awkwardly to the ground. She tried to rise to her hands and knees but a tightening agony coiled its way around her heart. It felt like the affliction she was stricken with before, when Ashniel had unleashed her power.
"Ilnar?! What in Mirai is that fool doing?!" Naliryan demanded. "Their leader is the only one still struggling, I want that mongrel alive. Shieldwall, box him in!" He emphasised the order with a few signal blasts from his horn. "If any of you even think of turning your backs," he addressed his men, "I'll put you to the sword myself!"
Ashniel leaned close to Phlegathon’s neck, affectionately stroking the scaled hide. The black dragon thundered to the earth just long enough to seize the lone human in the talons of its forelimb, before climbing to the heavens once again. "You can hurt it, beast of the night winds,” the sorceress said with sardonic glee, addressing her monstrous pet. “But try not to break it."

Empire Army List:

Lords:

Arch Lector – Angus Beck

Great Weapon

Light Armour

Armour of Meteoric Iron

Dawnstone

Ruby Ring of Ruin

Battle Wizard Lord Level 4 – Tobias

Lore of Shadows

Power Stone

Talisman of Preservation

Heroes:

Captain of the Empire – Alexander Hanz

Battle Standard Bearer

Full Plate Armour

Enchanted Shield

Talisman of Endurance

Wizard Level 2 – Gais

Dispel Scroll

Master Engineer - Leonardo Pickwick

Warrior Priest – Leon  Gauss

Heavy Armour

Shield

Dragonhelm

Talisman of Protection

Warrior Priest – Hrolf Halfdane

Heavy Armour

Shield

Warhorse

Trickster's Helm

Witch Hunter – Victor Karver

Brace of Pistols

Helm of the Skavenslayer

Core:

10x Archers

10x Crossbowmen

40x Halberdiers

Shields

Full Command

5x Knights

Musician

11x Inner Circle Knights

Full Command

Rangers Standard

Special:

Great Cannon

29x Greatswords

Full Command

Rare:

Hellblaster Volley Gun

Celestial Hurricanum

Steam Tank

The fire was crackling loudly as a damp log was settling in the fireplace, providing the only light in the study. Duke Albert Hanz was sat staring into the fire, his scars accentuated by the firelight and his eye patch was jet black as if it was sucking all of the darkness from the room. A soft knock came from the doorway. “Come in Alexander...” Alexander entered, his auburn hair matching his fathers but his frame was much larger. Albert gestured to the chair next to him “Sit.” The chair creaked under his weight as he lowered himself. Albert started, “I have received news from the grand master of the cult of Hanann, Hrolf Halfdane. His scouts have spied a Dark Elf raiding force that has landed at wreckers point. He is unsure of the numbers and their motives as of yet but has informed us that they are marching east. Do you understand what this means Alexander?” He turned to his son, his face stern showing the discipline and concern that comes from centuries of warfare.

Evidently, an army from the castle in the province’s heart had been hastily assembled with the intention of stopping the druchii before they could penetrate deeper into Nordland. The humans had endured a forced march that must have abandoned the roads, cutting a path through the south eastern hills in their hurried rush to head off the dark elves.

            Since arriving in the empire, many of the druchii were finding the mild weather irritable, shifting within their armour and khaitans. Druchii of Karond Kar were accustomed to frigid winds and frequent storms of icy rain, not the moderate climates of the old world. Ashniel smirked maliciously at their discomfort.

Only the cold one knights seemed immune, having already applied the toxic vrahsha serum to their skin. It ate its way into their nerve endings and numbed their bodies of sensation, but the scent it produced allowed them to be accepted as pack mates by the reptilian warbeasts they rode. Persistent use could render a knight completely insensate in time, losing their sense of taste, smell and even touch. It was a price they were willing to pay. Though not as fast as conventional steeds, the cold ones were voracious and violent predators, their teeth and talons capable of tearing through horseflesh and even armoured warriors.

The scouts and dark riders were kneeling at the feet of Vaedra Chillslayer, the twin sister of Dreadlord Vallash. Her hair was pulled into a number of tight braids and she wore the proud armour of dark elf knighthood. Beneath her bevor, a cowl covered her neck and face below the eyes. Rumour said that after a failed attempt to bargain with her older brother, Kalusyr, he slit her throat and immediately sealed the wound with the burning vrahsha.

Though knights would occasionally use vrahsha on their wounds in an emergency, it was not without its risks. It was made from the poisonous slime that the cold ones themselves exuded from their scaly hides. Although applying it to wounds would clot them instantly, there was a very real risk of serious infection if not properly treated.

Thus, Vaedra was forced to live on with the handicap of muteness, and even swallowing food or drink would be a constant reminder of the agony the wound gave her. Given that Druchii society was bent upon showing no weakness, the insult that she was forced to bear was profound. Despising Kalusyr and being unable to have true command, her loyalty and that of her retainers to Vallash was assured. If that was through Vallash Heartshiver’s artifice, he was cunning indeed, Ashniel mused.

The highborn she-elf’s disdain for the sorceress was made transparent from the narrow-eyed glares Vaedra directed toward her. Ashniel always did her very best to reciprocate with the most patently artificial smile she could conjure, reminding herself that it would always be the prerogative for pawns to chafe in the presence of the game’s masters.

Vaedra signed in sharp hand signals to Ramene Witcarver, commander of the Chillslayer Cavalry, who stood a deferential distance behind and to her right. The Chillslayer Cavalry were resplendent. A regiment of cold one knights that had served as the household cavalry of the late Vaulkhar, Kyrakis Vayn. He’d perished at Finnuval Plain, spilling the blood of asur-kin traitors more than two centuries ago, and left a power vacuum among his descendants ever since.

The armour worn by the knights were priceless heirlooms, their pauldrons crafted into the shape of spiny sea dragon fins, and horned crests adorned the brows of their helms. Vaedra had ridden into battle with them for so long that she had garnered not only their respect, but a loyalty that was a thing of antiquity among most druchii. So much so that after the Vaulkhar fell, they entered her service and took her name as their own.

Ramene Witcarver was a veteran of two thousand years of war. One side of his face had long ago been obliterated by scarring, but his patrician features held a knowing dignity even so. It had been his cold one that had taken his right eye in a moment of ill temper, and Ramene had disciplined his warbeast by punching his gauntlet into the creature’s own eye socket. He nodded as Vaedra finished her hand signals with a shard gesture in Ashniel’s direction, and turned towards the sorceress. “As a high sister of the Witch King’s convents, seniority of command belongs to you, Lady Ashniel.”

Ashniel studied the other faces of note. There were the minor lordlings in command of the Uraithen infantry, Ilnar and Naliryan Kinkiller. The other individual stood apart from the others with naked steel in his hands, held point-down into the earth. Rakir, Draichmaster of the temple’s executioner contingent, looked every bit the druchii hero posing for a portrait. He disdained the use of a helm, his long raven-dark hair tied back from his angular face, and he stared with anticipation at what was soon to be his killing field. Ashniel was aware that, along with the executioners, a compliment of temple priestesses had also accompanied the invasion for a considerable price in sacrificial flesh. They, however, were as yet still cloistered within the black ark. The sorceress couldn’t deny her alleviation that the zealots had yet to show themselves.

The draichmaster belonged to the Temple of Khaine, the Uraithen belonged to their Dreadlord, and Ramene and the Chillslayer knights were loyal only to Vaedra. Ashniel may have enjoyed greater privilege than them all in Naggaroth, but here she was the outsider. Here, her lesser sister, Naxva, and a small number of warlocks were the only resources that truly belonged to her. And she was not about to place any trust in Naxva.

Ambition was expected and encouraged among the sisters of the convent, but that Naxva’s insidiousness and hubris didn't sit well with Ashniel. She'd seen it before. It wouldn't be long before she coveted Ashniel’s position. Worse, she may also have foreseen the same goal that Ashniel sought on this human-infested rock. As the high sorceress’s mind pondered the situation, she concluded that perhaps there was a way of dealing with the problem on this very day.

“I’ve heard it said that you’ve seen centuries of battle, Lord Ramene,” Ashniel said with an appraising look. “By all means, please showcase what you know. I’m sure we’d all benefit to see the fruits of your experience.” Her tone was full of feigned admiration that she didn't bother to disguise.

Ramene Witcarver turned a questioning eye to his mistress, but Vaedra merely gave her consent with a dismissive nod and a wave of her hand. Politicking bored him terribly. Ramene considered the word games played by Naggaroth’s high society to be the pastime of cowards. He believed that the truly strong confronted their enemies face to face and without pretence. It was a dangerous and antiquated way of thinking for him to hold in the current age. Nevertheless, he ignored the sorceress’s petty goading and applied himself to the role of strategist, a task that was worthy of him.

“The scouts report that the enemy force appeared disorganised and fatigued from a forced march,” the Dreadknight said. “It appears our feint was successful. The humans have taken the bait and mustered this battalion at a moment’s notice to respond to our movements. Any scouts of their own that would have seen our troop positions have already been dispatched by the shade-clan hunters. They’ll know we’re here, but not how our forces are arrayed. Like sheep being herded blindly towards the slaughter,” he said with a predatory snarl. “That said, they are dragging war machines behind them. From their description, they sound like the black powder weapons they’ve been copying from the dwarves. They’re unreliable contraptions but I want them destroyed sooner rather than later. It will take them time to set up and we need to get there first. Our knights will head west around the woods. The dark riders will try to draw out the enemy’s horsemen, while we lie in wait for them with the cold ones. The scouts will go on ahead to create further confusion. With that taken care of, we can flank them and take their artillery apart at our leisure. Therefore, we need to keep the enemy’s main line occupied elsewhere.”

“Are we to gather that we’ll be doing the occupying?” Naliryan Kinkiller inquired with an arched eyebrow and a nod towards Ilnar. The fallen noble held a repeating crossbow against his shoulder, idly tapping the trigger with his finger.

“Correct,” Ramene replied. “The Uraithen will make a cautious advance into the valley, just enough to get into range with their crossbows. Take the beastmasters with you. I’m certain their charges will help gain the humans’ attention.” Finally he turned to the Draichmaster, “Rakir, I want you and your executioners in the centre, but you are to maintain your position until the enemy has committed itself.”

The Draichmaster turned his head towards the rest of them. A contemptuous look marked his flinty eyes, as though he’d just observed something offensive. His voice growled through the mail cowl covering the lower half of his face, “One does not ask the Bloody-Handed God to wait for his due.”

“Indeed not,” Ramene replied tersely, “However, I think it would be wise to keep the Pale Queen waiting for us in Mirai a little longer, rather than acting foolishly.”

Ashniel held out her hand and a ball of blue-black flame crackled into angry life in her palm. Once all eyes were upon her once again, she cast the flare skyward. “Enough,” she announced, reasserting her dominance. “The strategy is a sound one, Lord Ramene. We will proceed as you suggest.”

A colossal, serpentine shape consumed them with shadow as it blocked out the sun above. Summoned by its mistress’s flare, the mighty wyrm sought to land nearby. Phlegathon the Black Death’s talons struck the earth with force enough to make a few of the assembled druchii brace themselves against the resulting tremor. It laid one enormous leathery wing outstretched across the ground so that Ashniel might climb it like a stair. As she straddled the great beast’s neck, it surveyed the valley ahead. The apex predator’s eyes glared ahead and its nostrils flared at the scent of prey. A deep hiss rumbled from the dragon’s monstrous throat, a sound like the grinding gears of some immense dwarven machine.

Before Phlegathon launched itself into the sky once more, Ashniel looked down at the others. “I will ride with the flanking force,” she called. “Have Naxva accompany the infantry regiments, I’m certain they’ll find her talents to be most helpful,” she added with a knowing smile. And even if they don’t, she thought, any number of misfortunes can occur on the battlefield.

Deployment

Our battlefield was set up by our games master. It was left relatively open, as the realm of battle board has lots of slopes that aren't always kind to large numbers of men on movement trays. It was set up as a valley with a broad hill with an arcane ruin on the west and another hill which had a modular hill placed on top on the east, so it had enough height to block line of sight. A large wood was placed off-centre and turned out to be a giant venom thicket.

The Pictures should show you where all the units are. As for characters, The dark elves placed their BSB with the Cold One Knights and the Metal Sorceress with the Crossbows on the East. I placed his Mounted Warrior Priest with the Inner Circle Knights and my Engineer loose with the artillery but close enough to them & the Crossbows to benefit from Look Out Sir. My Heavens Wizard was with the Archers and my Shadow Wizard was inside the Greatswords with the Warrior Priest on foot. My Arch Lector, BSB and Witch Hunter were all in the Halberdiers.

For spells he had Doombolt, Bladewind, Word of Pain and Soul Stealer on the Dark Sorceress, and Searing doom for his Metal Sorceress.

My Heavens Wizard had Curse of the Midnight Wind and Iceshard Blizzard. We forget some of the Shadow Wizard's spells but he definitely had Mindrazor and Miasma. We think he also had Penumbral Pendulum and Withering.

[Looking at the photos now, it does appear that my right Dark Riders are a bit too far forward after their vanguard move, but the end result would have been the same!]

  

Dark Elves Turn 1 (Jons perspective)

  

The first thing I wanted to do was take down his war machines, so I was aggressive with the left flank and more cautious on the right to see how he would respond. I also moved my right Dark Riders to flank charge the Archers and hopefully put one of his wizards down early.

The magic phase was quite dismal. We ended up with 6 power dice to 6 dispel dice. I was told the Helblaster could use the engineer's ballistic skill, so I lowered it with Word of Pain which he failed to dispel. The warlocks then cast Soul Blight with irresistible force to drop their toughness for the shooting phase, losing one of their number to the magical backlash. In hindsight I should probably have just Doombolted something.

In shooting, both the Shades and the left Dark Riders fired on his crossbows, killing 5, but they passed their panic test. The right Dark Riders fired on the Archers and killed 4. They also passed their panic test but only due to the BSB reroll. My two Crossbow units kill just 5 Halberdiers partly due to prior advice to take shields for just such a rainy day!

Horns shrieked as the infantry phalanxes came to a halt. A wall of angular kite shields presented itself before the druchii. Each bore the device of a bleeding heart clutched in the grip of a taloned gauntlet, symbolic of the implacable and stoic hatred that armoured the souls of all dark elves. Steel breastplates, vambraces and mail shined coldly over violet dalakoi, and banners bearing the rune of Ereth Khial fluttered in the gentle breeze. It was an eccentric philosophy, but their Dreadlord venerated the pale queen of the underworld just as much as the war god, Khaine, seeking the favour of the latter in battle so that he might find victory and that of the former if he did not. He planned to lead armies to glory for a long time, be it in this world or the next.

"That's close enough, you whoresons!" Naliryan shouted as the Uraithen settled into their positions. He studied the enemy force approaching at a brisk pace and spat into the weeds, "I can smell them from here already." The jibe elicited sibilant chuckles from beneath the full-face helms of his men. He signalled Ilnar's unit with a blast of his horn, who responded by mirroring the sound.

"Sa'an'ishar!" As Naliryan bellowed command, the Uraithen's front rank knelt down. Both they and the second rank took aim with their repeating crossbows, holding them braced against their shields. Naliryan drew his sword and held it high. "Fire!" he snarled and swept the blade downward.

Empire Turn 1 (Bens perspective)

I was on the back foot straight away, I had no idea that his army could close the gap so quickly and this mistake pretty much cost me the game immediately! My idea of using the Helblaster to protect a flank was going to fail and I could do nothing about it!

My reaction to the speed was to close the gap between my men and his but also to keep the crossbows at bay to help weather the next 80 shots at fairly lightly armoured troops. I kept the knights back as to avoid the line of sight of his metal witch. I then slammed the steam tank into the dark riders to stop them from causing havoc in the back field as best I could. My knights had the ranger banner but it failed to help them and their pursuit of the dark riders on the left flank was an utter failure.

In the magic phase I had 7 power dice to his 5 dispel and completely shut down the Crossbow's. I combo’d both Iceshard Blizzard and Midnight Wind on the unit to my right and miasma on the left, he failed to dispel anything. At least magic was doing as I had wanted!

The shooting phase... absolutely sucked! My cannon aimed for his BSB but he passed the Look Out Sir roll and lost only one regular cold one knight. My Helblaster targeted the shades and jammed once, the engineer reroll jammed again!! making just 5 shots that killed only 3 of the shades, they then passed their panic test. They were in trouble! The Crossbows picked off one more of the Dark Riders.

The combat phase resulted in the Steam Tank making 8 impact hits on the right Dark Rider unit, destroying them completely.

Alexander never expected the Dark Elves to be so quick, ‘how? How could they have covered so much ground?!’ His deliberation was costing lives and Angus Beck strode forward, shouting orders left and right, “FACE THE ENEMY! FORM YOUR RANKS! SHOW YOUR COURAGE AND EMBRACE SIGMAR!!” His confidence demanded obedience from the soldiers and they rushed to form their ranks, and began to engage the raiders.

On the left flank Hrolf Halfdane and Leonardo were dealing with the vanguard force and being caught off guard had left them slow to react. They failed to catch the enemy riders and the black powder weapons were being operated with clumsy hands as they failed to fire a full volley killing only a handful of elves.

Dark Elves Turn 2

With their shooting ability reduced, I swift reformed my Crossbows to make some room for the hydras and also to form ranks for the melee that would soon come. My Shades charged the Helblaster and the Warlocks slammed into the flank of the Crossbows. My Dark Riders rallied and once again moved to block his knights, while my own waited on the hill. I was still nervous about the Steam Tank, but I found I could now move my dragon sorceress behind his main line to cause some serious damage on a number of targets. Originally I was going to throw my hydras out as a lure to set up some counter charges when an idea came into my head...

In the magic phase it was 7 dice to 6. First I used Word of Pain on the Halberds which he dispelled. Next I hit them with an irresistible Bladewind. I lost one more Warlock and wounded my Metal Sorceress from Magical Feedback but my Supreme Sorceress saved her wound with her black amulet and 16 Halberdiers got shredded.

Then the shooting phase came and many, many more infantry died. The triple breath weapon crossfire resulted in wounding the Witch Hunter and killing 6 Halberds and 12 greatswords. The Crossbows, being so cursed in his turn, expectedly accomplished nothing.

Then combat came. The Shades killed the Helblaster crew and the Warlocks killed all of the crossbows without even so much as a fight and overran into the cannon. That just left his Steam Tank as the only main headache left to me in my mind...

With a teeth-aching rumble, Phlegathon rose above the patchy woods on wings of night. It observed the creatures below as a man observes insects, a baleful light in its dispassionate gaze. The black dragon inhaled deeply and expelled a breath of life-desiccating vapour that cared nothing for the armour of men. The she-elf upon the titanic reptile’s back rose to her feet, standing on the beast’s shoulders with inhumanly surefooted grace. Nevertheless, the sorceress held tightly to one of Phegathon’s neck spines, safely exulting in the view below.

Ashniel laughed at the storms of hail, strong winds and thick fog that the human mages had conjured, and even more so as the Uraithen, men of Karond Kar no less, struggled to continue firing. Many bolts flew, but they fell wildly off target. "What a clever little magic trick," the sorceress giggled as though watching an animal perform an amusing trick. "But let me show you how power is truly meant to be wielded!" she shrieked, following the threat with a stream of arcane words. She greedily leeched power from the winds of magic despite the risks of channelling too much raw aethyric energy, trusting in her protective wards to shield her from harm. As she swept her bladed staff towards the humans below, more storm clouds gathered above.

Rain fell upon the packed ranks of Nordlander halberdiers that was neither water nor ice, but solid, wickedly-edged black shards that cut like glass. That's when the screaming began. Surgically sharp chips of obsidian fell from the sky with enough force to slash through the humans’ sparse armour, tearing through uniforms and the flesh beneath. Many men dropped their weapons and fell to ground, seeking to cover their heads with their arms. Many others perished from their freely flowing wounds, their last moments filled with no thoughts but that of their own lacerating agony.

Naliryan Kinkiller watched as another volley of bolts clattered uselessly into the earth, falling nowhere near their targets, and was unimpressed. The keen eyes and sharp senses of his men should have been able to compensate for the mists, and the strong winds and hailstones falling among them should have felt like nothing more than being at home. Were they not druchii?! He bit into his lip hard enough to draw blood and made a mental note to ensure all future drills would be substantially more arduous.

The elf beside him finished the business of reloading and tried to steady his crossbow enough to take another shot. After the bolt tumbled feebly into unoccupied ground, Naliryan backhanded the man to the floor. He turned and tossed his horn to the she-elf on his opposite side. “Signal the beastmasters,” he snarled. “Release the hydras.”

A tattoo of horn blasts resounded around the valley, shortly followed by a tumultuous chorus of bestial roars. As the Uraithen reformed to present gaps in their phalanx, a pair of massive, grey skinned, quadruped warbeasts surged out from behind the druchii battle line. The monsters were fast; in a matter of heartbeats the hydras closed the gap between the two armies, goaded ahead by the barbed lashes and bladed spears of their cruel handlers.

Once they had come to within a dozen paces of the terrified soldiers of the imperial army, the multitude of heads upon the hydras’ sinuous necks reared back. What began as a series of deep-throated growls became a choir of monstrous screeches. As the sound left the maws of the beasts, so too did gouts of searing flame, sowing havoc and death among the humans’ already decimated numbers.

Naliryan breathed deeply at the scent of burning manflesh, and let it out with an appreciative sigh. “I love my work,” he said with the bloodthirsty passion of a shark.

Empire Turn 2

As Luck would have it when generating steam points, my greed/desperation was punished, and the steam tank decided it was going to go bang.

I charged the small knight unit into the right most Hydra and The halberdiers charged the left side hydra, I kept the greatswords back just to protect the flank of the unit and also because I fully aware of what executioners are capable of. The Hurricanum and archer unit crept up behind to continue their support.  I charged and caught the left side dark riders with the inner circle knights but failed to reform and thus sealed their doom. In the name of fun and a lack of anything useful to do I charged an extremely angry engineer into the shades just to see what happened.

My magic phase was 8 power to 5 dispel. The Shadow Wizard casts Mindrazor on the Halberdiers and scored irresistible force with a Dimensional Cascade. I used the lore attribute to switch the wizard's position with the warrior priest, so I would only kill greatswords and not halberdiers as well. The wizard escaped with only losing a single wound and losing one power die. 6 more Greatswords bit the dust though. My Arch Lector then used the Ruby Ring of Ruin to fireball the left crossbow regiment which killed 4. I decided to try out the Celestial Hurricanum on the Crossbows too, but It was dispelled.

In his shooting phase the Archers shot the only target in range which was the right Crossbow unit, killing 1.

The Warlocks naturally finished off the cannon and reformed, and likewise with the Shades and Engineer. In fact they hit and wounded with all 6 attacks, so I was dead as dead gets! He actually thought the Halberds might fluff their chance when they only hit the hydra 6 times, but probability won out and they wounded the beast exactly 5 times. They overran 8 inches, stopping short in the face of my Crossbows. My glorious and knightly charge to kill the other hydra didn't go so well. Despite hitting 4 times they managed to wound it only once. With the hydra's remaining attacks it scored 6 hits and 5 wounds, while I saved 2 of them. 3 knights lost their lives despite their courage. With no banner the combat was a draw and the hydra Combat Reformed to face the survivors.

The Steam tank crushed the riders and then started to turn towards the main battleline but the machine experienced a malfunction and from nowhere it exploded leaving only a burning metallic husk behind.

Alexander glanced to the left flank and could see it was clearly overran, Hrolf was trying his best to control the flow of battle but it became obvious his efforts were in vain.

Dark Elves Turn 3

  

Now it was time to put the poor humans out of their misery. The Cold One Knights charged the Inner Circle Knights in their exposed flank. The Executioners surged forwards into the remaining Greatswords but lost 3 after 16 dangerous terrain tests going through the venom thicket. Ashniel the Supreme Sorceress and her pet monster charged the flank of the Celestial Hurricanum. I was going to keep my Repeater Crossbows ranked up and could have double teamed the remaining Greatswords, which probably would have put them down for good. However, after being prompted by the games master, I decided to prolong their agony by swift reforming and backing up 3" to fill them with as many bolts as possible, both in my shooting phase and as a charge reaction when they came at me.

The winds of magic and channels yielded 9 power dice to 5 dispel dice. I inflicted Word of Pain on the Greatswords dropping their weapon skill by 2. I was hoping to lower it to 0 but it didn't turn out to be necessary.  Next the Supreme Sorceress tried to Doombolt the Archers and the Wizard they were protecting but he stopped it with his dispel scroll. He was unable to stop me again, however, when the Warlocks followed suit and hit them 10 times for 7 wounds. The Archers were obliterated and left a poor, gravely wounded Wizard behind...

...who was then picked off by a fluke shot from a Shade who was found to be in range with his crossbow.

Gais had not foreseen these events, he doubted himself and his time within the celestial order. He could hear screams of pain all around and the sounds of hooves approaching; as he turned to flee the bolt had struck him. It pierced his lung and his in his dying thoughts realised that no man should be able to predict his death and was grateful for its release.

Collectively the 2 Repeater Crossbow regiments put 11 more halberdiers into the dirt, leaving just the command group and the 3 characters!

Then the bloodbath arrived and the Executioners hit 17 times, wounding with all of them! Despite allocating a few attacks to the Shadow Wizard, his talisman saved all but one. Leaving him wounded for the second time but still alive. The same could not be said for the Warrior Priest who accepted my Draichmaster's challenge and got Killing Blowed. After watching every man but himself die, the Shadow Wizard fled and displayed a most impressive pair of running legs. He outran the Executioners and made it just past the Black Dragon. The Executioners pursuit roll took them into contact with the Celestial Hurricanum, and they promptly helped to smash that up too. Every attack my Cold One Knights made found their mark but he managed to save 4 even with the Razor Banner. That meant 7 of the Empire's Inner Circle Knights were impaled upon barbed lances. Vaedra, the Battle Standard Bearer with them also challenged the mounted Warrior Priest to a challenge and skewered him like a pig on a spit! The remaining 4 Knights fled and managed to escape pursuit close to the edge of the field. Up on the hill, the hydra crushed one more knight but the survivor was made of sterner stuff than those of the Inner Circle and battled on!

The Chillslayer Cavalry put their heels to the cold ones’ flanks the moment the dark riders cleared the treeline. They needed little encouragement. As the reptiles caught the scent of horseflesh their nostrils flared and their jaws parted in a hungry hiss. Their powerfully muscled hind legs easily carried the fully armoured knights at a steady canter.

            A large regiment of human knights, their armour gleaming like a rising sun, burst from the trees, lancing down and scattering the remaining dark riders. Brightly coloured plumage fixed to the knights’ helmets fluttered proudly. Many men raised their lances high and gave an exultant cheer at the backs of the fleeing dark elves. Most didn’t realise their peril until it was already upon them.

            “Charge! Wipe them out!” Ramene screamed, but the knights couldn’t have stopped their cold ones now even if they wanted to. At the sight of so much horsemeat the entire pack gave an ear-splitting hunting roar that was soon taken up by the druchii that rode them. The reptilian warbeasts lurched into abrupt and surprising speed that gave the foe little time to react. The enemy knights’ steeds bucked and whinnied in abject terror, the riders struggling to turn about to face the new threat.

            The crash was deafening. Men and horses screamed their last as they were brought down by the fangs and taloned forelimbs of the cold ones, or perforated by the barbed tips of druchii lances. A few men were thrown from their horses’ backs, only to be trampled to death below. Amongst the carnage, Vaedra alone was silent. She made eye contact with one of the humans she presumed to be an officer in voiceless challenge. As they came together her lance obliterated the man’s shield and threw him from the saddle with enough force to snap the shaft of her weapon. Her sword rasped from her scabbard as she sought to ensure his demise and claim the head as a trophy, but her cold one had seized the throat of the officer’s horse and refused to give up its meal. Within the space of a few heartbeats, Vaedra lost her chosen victim in the press of the melee, not knowing whether or not he yet lived.

“Khaela-Mensha Khaine!” The cry rose above the cacophony of the melee, as the war god’s sacred slaughterers went about their holy work. Rakir had not allowed the discipline of his warriors to falter, waiting until the appointed time before they made their charge. Now that the humans’ line had committed themselves, far away from any kind of help, the temple executioners plied their terrible trade.

The Draichmaster stood sentinel among the wreckage of broken bodies and churned earth. No common fodder were worthy of his sacred blade, but he’d sighted an enemy warrior that stood apart from the rest. Rakir raised his draich, a two-handed sword with a single curved edge, and bellowed his challenge, “I am Rakir, scion of Har Ganeth, Draichmaster of Karond Kar! In the name of the blessed murderer, offer your soul!”

He had no idea if the creature had understood the meaning of his words, but the man responded by raising his warhammer and inclining his shaven head all the same. What followed was a duel unworthy of the annals of history or heroism. The Draichmaster stood ready, allowing the human to approach. The moment Rakir’s challengee lifted his hammer to strike, the druchii exploded into lethal action. The human had clearly not expected the dark elf to be able to wield such a large sword with the fluid grace that the Draichmaster exhibited. With his first counter strike Rakir disarmed his opponent, severing the hand that held the warhammer. The human’s head, still bearing an expression of shock and dismay, tumbled to the dust with the draich’s return stroke. The body followed in a boneless clattering of plate armour. Rakir snorted in disgust. “No better than the rank and file,” he complained.

Empire Turn 3

[By this point things looked so bad for the Empire army that our games master stopped bothering to take notes, so commentary will be quite brief from now on. But end game absurdity was going to follow.]

The Inner Circle Knights failed to rally and continued to run off the board. The Shadow Wizard also continued to run with superhuman speed. The remaining infantry despite their devastating losses refused to panic and charged the rightmost Crossbow unit with the Sorceress, only losing the Halberdier command group to the stand and shoot reaction. That left just the Battle Standard Bearer, the Arch Lector and a wounded Witch Hunter. I was reminded that the Empire army now consisted of 5 men and a horse. And one of those men was running for his life.

My Witch Hunter attempted to challenge the Sorceress who refused to be part of such foolishness. The Uraithen (champion) finished the Witch Hunter off, but through a combination of armour and magical items protecting them, they failed to wound either the Arch Lector or the Captain with the banner. They slew 3 or 4 of the Elves in return, he lost the combat.  And then failed his morale test (He may have forgotten that they still had steadfast!) and rolled abysmally for my flee distance. The whole unit and the Sorceress were then routed by the 2 men!  Then his Hydra not only fails to kill the lone knight, but is wounded in response by the horse! It still stuck around though thanks to being in range of the Supreme Sorceress's inspiring presence.

Hrolf Halfdane and a 2 of his cult riders had managed to make their escape, they were being pursued by the cold ones but his only concern was warning the Elector Count and General Hanz about the Dark elf force that would be approaching the city. He sent a silent prayer to Sigmar for the fallen men and battle brothers but continued to make haste for Salzenmund.

Naxva heard Ilnar ordering his men to keep firing. No matter how many humans fell, however, the rest kept coming with dauntless determination. They were close enough now to see the whites of their eyes. She was about to spit a curse that would turn their armour into molten slag, but suddenly her concentration was broken. One of the pudgy-faced beasts in a long, tan coat was pointing his sword right at her, shouting in his guttural language. She stepped back behind the ranks of the Uraithen. "Deal with that stinking creature, you base-born curs!" She snapped at the men around her. They moved to obey and she was satisfied to watch as one of them slipped a sword between the man's ribs.

The sorceress’s satisfaction didn’t last long. Something was wrong further up the druchii line; men were cursing and staggering back against the press of their own cohorts. She heard shouted foolishness about a man whom no blade could fell. Several of the Uraithen were already falling back, their officers cursed them for turning their backs and ordering the line to hold, but the confusion was already sown.

Naxva pressed a hand against her breast and tried to speak the words of a spell to reinvigorate herself against the pain, but something heavy crashed into her back, driving her to the ground once more. She felt someone grab a fistful of her voluminous hair and flip her over. It was the bloodied and mortally wounded man she'd seen earlier. Before she could speak a single malicious spell to defend herself, the witch hunter plunged his sword into her mouth, then finally gave in to his wound and collapsed dead on top of her.

Dark Elves Turn 4

[Picture says it all. The Elves moved things around to deal with the stubborn nuisances from the Empire and the lone knight and the hydra continued fighting to a standstill, neither one harming the other.]

Empire Turn 4

The Arch Lector and his Captain charged into the melee once again. This time things were as they should be though. The Captain carrying the Battle Standard met his end, possibly to stand and shoot, and no Druchii fell. The Arch Lector who had kept his men going in the face of innumerable hardships and led them to their deaths, finally lost his nerve and ran. And the last brave knight of the men of Nordland could give no more either.

Bolts flew through the air towards Alexander and as he was about to speak his final prayer and flash of smoke consumed him and he was pulled away from his doom. Tobias had saved him and with the battle lost he now had to get word to his father.

The human commander battered against the shields arrayed before him time and again but to no avail. The Uraithen phalanx gave a violent shove as one, sending the dauntless enemy general sprawling in surprise, but otherwise unharmed. Then a dark and broad shape blotted out the sun overhead.

Dark Elves Turn 5

Got him!

The battle’s aftermath was a busy affair. Vaedra Chillslayer had been determined to pursue the enemy survivors that had fled, in order to capture or slay any that might be able to send word back to their masters. After all, the more that the druchii could keep their foes in the dark, the better. To that end, she had set off with half of the Chillslayer Cavalry, Rakir and a small group of his executioners, as well as Naliryan’s Uraithen and the surviving war hydra. Those left behind had been charged with the duty of cleaning up and returning to the black ark under the supervision of the rest of the Chillslayer knights. The witch, Ashniel, had already departed on her great wyrm, taking the one that the dark elves had presumed to be the enemy general with her.

            Those among the humans that had been taken alive had been secured and chained by the shade-clan scouts and gangs of junior beastmasters. Those with injuries had been hurriedly treated by unsympathetic field chirurgeons, while the unfortunate ones who were wounded beyond the point of usefulness as slaves had been disposed of. Their barely recognisable remains dangled for the trees for the sport of hungry corvids. Ilnar and his men, the ones who had broken formation, had been rounded up to await their Dreadlord’s judgement upon returning to the Dreadwake.

                                                    _________________________

As well as barracks, private chambers for the highborn, armouries, pens and crags for the warbeasts, the Dreadwake's fleetmaster had also provided his passengers with an audience chamber as part of the bargain. An austere space with a vaulted ceiling, no natural light penetrated the gloom. In place of windows, illumination came only from pale witchlights burning in their sconces.

In the centre of the floor stood Ilnar and his subordinates, the petty officers that had failed to keep order during the prior battle. They had been stripped of arms and armour, wearing only their unadorned khaitan robes. All of them were held at spearpoint. Stood facing them, lining the walls of the chamber, were several ranks of soldiers that hadn’t been part of the initial landing party.

At the far end of the chamber an onyx throne stood upon a raised dais, its glossy surface reflecting the room’s fickle light in unsettling patterns. On that seat Dreadlord Vallash Heartshiver sat, his hands resting on the pommel of a naked sword. Its name was Frostshear, a slender, single edged blade that curved at the tip. Its edge was jagged with cruel protrusions, designed to cause further misery to its victims as it was pulled free from their bodies.  The weapon had been enchanted by Ashniel herself, one favour among many that the highborn had exchanged with the witch.

Ashniel stood to Vallash’s left with a group of the Saratharha, the Dreadlord’s infantry bodyguards. Beside her was Nheilyn, the Saratharha’s dour-faced captain, whose hand rarely left the hilt of his sword. On the Dreadlord’s right were his Heartshiver knights, together with Cynnar the Flenser and a wolfishly grinning Merkusia.

 The high sorceress had returned to the Dreadwake ahead of the rest of the landing party, and had already relayed the events of the battle within the valley to the Dreadlord. Her story had been further corroborated by those Chillslayer knights that had returned in Vaedra’s place.

Dreadlord Vallash Heartshiver rose to his full height. Over his khaitan he wore the full panoply of war, a prince’s ransom of exquisite silversteel armour. His features were lost in the darkness of a full-face helm, the angled eye slit overshadowed by the barbed horn crest upon its brow. With a single clawed gauntlet he removed the helm, passing it to Nheilyn. His scarless, arrowhead face was a mask of impassivity. The slight narrowing of his eyes was the only outward sign of his displeasure.

The highborn stared down at Ilnar. "And despite overwhelming superiority,” he went on, “both in terms of numbers and by virtue of being druchii, those under your command lost their nerve. As a result, one of the Witch King's sorceresses was killed." Vallash's voice was clear, but had a dry, almost rasping undertone. Ilnar was about to reply when his lord cut him off, "Perhaps we should deliver you all to Malekith by way of recompense?"

Ilnar tried not to show intimidation, but his body language betrayed him as he looked at the assembled druchii around him. Vallash began descending the dais as Ilnar made his case. "I make no excuses for my men, Dreadlord. I'll interrogate them myself. I’ll beat them to within an inch of their lives to find the ones responsible for the disorder in the ranks."

"There will be no need,” Vallash announced. “I already know who is responsible." Before Ilnar could query what his master meant, Frostshear flashed like quicksilver in the highborn’s hand. The black marble of the floor became painted with a scarlet patina. Ilnar collapsed amid his own shrieks, as his legs were separated below the knees. "Do the same with his hands, then bind the stumps and throw him into the sea,” Vallash ordered Cynnar. “Crucify his lieutenants on those with the best view. They can watch him flounder just as they did on the battlefield!"

As the Dreadlord went back to his seat, Cynnar motioned several armed men to seize the offenders who were now fighting tooth and nail against their guards. "Scourge the rest of his Uraithen bloody and then integrate them into the remaining regiments," Vallash called from the throne. As the disgraced officers were removed, the Flenser himself dragged Ilnar from the chamber by the hair.

"Show our guest in," Vallash ordered, reclining in the throne. At his summons, a pair of eadukhar dragged the chained and manacled enemy commander the length of the hall, ignobly throwing him at foot of the dais. "You've caused more than your share of trouble for a slave, haven't you?" the highborn spoke down to the warrior priest with predatory attention. By Vallash’s side, Nheilyn hissed a heavily accented translation to the man. The Nordlander spat several guttural syllables in return, but the druchii ignored him.

"Know this little man,” the Dreadlord continued, “Not only did you lead many of your kind to virtueless deaths, but many, many more will find themselves wishing for such an end every minute of every day for the rest of their lives.” Vallash Heartshiver leaned forward, his eyes murder bright. His tone became hard with malice, “It is your fault, gharbhinlir,” he continued. “Your kin are a fat, weakling people. You allow yourselves to be victimised, and thus, you become victims. You allow yourselves to be vulnerable, and thus, you are prey.”

When the human began trying to reply in his clumsy language, one of his gaolers silenced him with a spear haft to the jaw. Vallash smiled in a way that had nothing to do with joy. "Your people will suffer for your failures,” he promised. “You and your little army of nuisances have succeeded in nothing but wasting time, and you will live to watch their lasting misery. We never forgive; we never forget."

The highborn dismissed the assembly. As Merkusia, Nheilyn and his other retainers took their turn to begin filing out, Ashniel turned to leave as well. "Not you," Vallash whispered and beckoned her closer. She leaned languidly against the throne’s backrest, requiring Vallash to look up at her, but he ignored her trivial little power game. "Will there be repercussions for the loss of your convent sister?" he asked quietly.

His genuine interest seemed to surprise and amuse the witch. She delayed her answer just long enough to cause him deliberate irritation. "My Lord is concerned?" she asked with a wry and wintry smile. "There is no need. There are always risks on the field of war.” She withdrew, turning to go. “Besides,” she added, "Many neophytes lose their lives in the course of their studies. Sometimes they seek power beyond their ability. When that happens, they are seldom prepared for the consequences,” she said, almost to herself, as she walked away.

Many thanks to Jon for writing the report, I have tweaked my turns a bit to explain my views and thoughts but it stays mostly intact. Jon is primarily interested in Fluff as am I and if you read those bits thank you for taking the time

Jon’s comments: Most of his problems I think came from his deployment. Even though when I was making my drops to counter what he placed, I also had an idea in my head of how I wanted my army laid out. I knew I wanted the infantry together, backed up by the hydras, and I wanted most of my fast movers together to rush one side of the board. I don't know if he had a deployment plan in mind for his own units and just abandoned it when he was confronted by my drops, but you can see just from the first deployment diagram what a precarious state his left flank was in before we'd even begun.

He did remark that he wasn't prepared for how fast we could close the gap. Some fast cavalry/chaff of his own would have help mitigate the problem I feel. Pistoliers can also move and shoot and would probably have been able to send the Shades and Dark Riders packing for example. I was also expecting to face larger units of missile troops that could be used to deal with my fast cavalry.

And finally, he probably had too many points sunk into characters. Considering his Wizards did plenty of good things for him on their own, the Warrior Priests probably weren't necessary.

That said it was still an enjoyable game, and documenting what happened for the first time in our gaming careers was also good fun!

Ben’s comments: I too had really enjoyed the game, it was my 1^st proper game and it was a blast. I don’t really mind losing as long as I get to do stupid things and at have least 1 of my ideas work, in this case it was the earlier magic phases and the valiant charge of the furious engineer.

I do think I set up terribly in hindsight (I was supposed to have a plan) Jon mentioned a denied flank once the game was over but the thought never crossed my mind and I was hoping the Helblaster & steam tank would scare him off the idea of attacking the flank.

I agree that I spent too much on characters, the warrior priests were a total no show, I didn’t even use their battle prayers! I should try and refocus my strategy to include them properly instead of as an afterthought.

Hopefully the next battle will be a triple threat match using the triumph and treachery rules and will include everybody’s favourite army, the Chaos warriors. If it is half as fun as this then it’ll be great to be a part of.

Thanks for taking the time to read this (if you did) I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as we enjoyed creating it. We have more battles and scenarios ahead, were also working on ideas to create more diversity to the rule book scenarios and hopefully you’ll enjoy them too.

Note:

Just incase anyone didn't really know the dark elves terminology Jon has passed along an index that may make his fluffy bits easier to understand,

Uraithen: The repeater crossbow designs used by the Druchii, meaning Deathrain. (In my case, also the name of the soldiers that use them.)

Sa'an'ishar: Shorthand for 'Shields and spears!' Used as a general order for attention or to be ready for immediate action.

Hithuan: Due to the Druchii's Machiavellian society, a rigid code of etiquette known as hithuan has evolved among the highborn as a means of protection from assassation and other such threats. Thus other Druchii are expected to keep a specific distance from highborn depending on their station. Lowborn may not approach closer than three sword lengths, or roughly twelve feet, without being summoned. Retainers may stand as close as two sword lengths. Valued retainers, luitenants, and other highborn stand just outside of a single swords length. The closest, most intimate space is reserved lovers, playthings and mortal foes. A highborn Druchii is considered well within his rights to slay anyone violating hithuan on the spot.

Khaitan: The long flowing robes worn by Druchii. Those worn by the noble born, such as Cold One Knights, are often made of rich silk and patterned with runes or charms of protection.

Dalakoi:  A padded aketon or gambeson worn over the khaitan with mail sleeves and a long mail skirt. Often made of soft leather such as doeskin or human hide. When fully armoured, the breastplate would be worn over the dalakoi.

Vrahsha: A thick liquid made from the poisonous slime that Naggaroth's subterranean cold ones exude from their skin. Due to their aggressive, temperamental and pack nature, a Druchii must anoint himself with the liquid in order to ride cold ones to war. It gives off a noxious fume that masks a Druchii's scent but burns away nerve endings when in contact with skin, making it go instantly numb to sensation. persistent use over a long period can result in the effect being permanent, along with burning away any sense of taste or smell. If in great desperation, sometimes Cold One Knights may use vrahsha as a clotting agent and local anaesthetic for wounds. Due to its' toxic nature however, there are great risks to applying it to opens wounds. Possible repercussions include delirium, seizures and even death.