Warhammer Fantasy Battle Reporter Forum

The poor fools...they thought they could catch us off guard, and take away our prizes. How pathetic.... I am Halorath Blackwhisper, Commander of the Dark Hydra expeditionary force, sent from Naggaroth as per the orders of our King, Malekith.

I looked across the grassy plain extending before my eyes as in the distance with shining armours of the Empire's battle formations. Holding onto the reins of my Cold One I looked toward my second in command and asked quietly, "What intelligence do we have on the local force Grumenael?"

After taking in a deep breath my assistant spoke quietly, adjusting a little his raven hair as he overlooked the soon to be battle-field "The humans have a three thousand men force here my lord. Mostly state troops from what we know, some knight support and the usual artillery. The tower in the town to the north was housing a small wizard coven as well". I nodded and eventually looked to my left at Ellysia, a sorceress that had joined our forces to provide magical support. Eventually her enchanting voice could be heard:

"My Lord, their pathetic sorceries are nothing to the Dark Art. I will keep our troops protected until we are in striking range. Once we're locked in combat I will weaken them".

With a nod I looked over our perfectly assembled lines. On the flanks cold one riders kept perfect formations with their lances raised. The beasts perhaps sensing the soon to come carnage snored, hissed, filling the air as well with their mighty roars. I looked upon our warrior lines gesturing to the crossbowmen commander to hold fire. Behind us with creaks the Bolt throwers were loaded with care by their crews. As a gust of wind blew through my hair I noticed an Imperial officer.. an envoy moving to mid battlefield with a white banner. Kicking the flanks of my own mount I moved toward him, escorted by a Dread Knight and another rider. Stopping defiantly within arms reach at the human's side I looked him in the eyes and read fear. With a courtly smile I eventually broke the silence:

"What do you want human? I didn't know we were having negotiations......"

Coughing, the rather young man replied, trying to seem unintimidated "Count Manfred demands that you release the Empire citizens you have taken in your illegal raid and surrender. Your lives will be spared if you do so....", before he could finish I thrust my right arm forward, the blades on my gauntlet piercing his eyes, eventually impaling his head. As blood and brain matter spurted all over my breastplate I pulled my arm back slowly as his own retinue was taken out by my bodyguards. I nodded in the direction of the sorceress and soon a black mist shielded us from the eyes of the Imperial Army. Riding back toward my troops I eventually stopped before my own unit of Knights and spoke loudly so they could all hear:

"These pathetic mortals wish to fight us, take away our spoils... let us take their life, freedom and families instead. Bring me the head of their General or better bring him to me alive!. For Naggaroth and the Witch King, do your duty, wipe them out!". Cheers errupted from our lines and soon a hail of repeater crossbows opened fire, covering the advance of our troops. I could hear the Imperial officers barking orders at their men ....

As we emerged from the black mist I could see my cold one snatching a human in it's mouth, trashing with it's head while the claws ripped their way through breastplates of many others. My lance pierced the chest of the officer putting the man out of his misery. Around me the other Knights had drawn swords and from the backs of their fighting mounts were cutting down enemy infantry, making their way toward a line of imperial riflemen. An unnatural sound could be heard and black tendrils formed around their gunners, atrophying muscle, withering their bodies... the sorceress was doing her job. Soon the imperial state troops broke off and ran toward their own comrades in arms but it was too late. Our momentum helped us catch up with the fleeing humans, smashing into the riflemen line as well. Some of the knights had been wounded, two or so had fallen but we continued.....

Moments later I found myself facing one of their Knights. Knocked off his horse the man pointed at me and barked out "Fight me Elf!". Of course I assumed he expected a chivalric duel but it was not to be. Lightly nudging my Cold one, the beast's vicious talons grabbed the Knight and even as he struggled the animal's serrated teeth sank into his flesh. Moments later he was ripped in half a whole fountain of blood errupting from severed veins and arteries, only adding to my mount's aggression. Wheeling toward their lines we crashed directly into the side of their Panther Knights and everything turned into a bloody slaughter.

Knocked off my Cold one I quickly got to my feet only to find one of their heavily armoured Knights charging at me. Tumbling on the ground I embedded my sword in the horse's chest making the man fly through the air as the beast stumbled and fell to it's death. The human growled darting to his feet, throwing his helmet off drawing a huge two handed sword.... He attacked and our blades made contact, sparkles flying in the air. Reaching for my poisoned dagger I stabbed is thigh only to buy myself time to reach his dead mount and my second sword.. I could see his eyes go blank as the poison was working it's way into his system. Despite that he put out a considerable effort....but with each contact of our blades I could feel him grow weak. Only then I noticed the plumed helmet he had thrown on the ground.... this was indeed their general. Staring him in the eyes I took my time knowing sooner or later the paralyzing poison would kick in, each attempt to strike me left him weaker and weaker until after a final strike he fell to the ground.. not dead but paralyzed.

Around us his fellow men began to crumble and fall, demoralised as their general fell. Our warriors drawing hand weapons cut down the survivors where they stood..but to my surprise close to five hundred slaves would be taken. Setting my boot on the general's body I looked down at him "You will make a lovely plaything for Lady Aalana....". Around me the battle was soon coming to an end. Wounded men were put out for good while the prisoners were rounded up and surrounded by the Cold One Knights. Walking my way to my own beast I approached the makeshift slave pen and spoke "Your lives belong to me now mortals and try to think on your new situation as labour animals....", I turned toward our slave master and nodded, "Take them to the ships!".

With a final gaze upon this corpse littered field I turned around joining my forces... we had suffered minimal losses but for the small loss we had a lot more to gain. We would return home with our prize!

That was a very enteraining read.

I think you captured the nature of a Dark Elf perfectly, I particularly liked this...

"Of course I assumed he expected a Chivalric duel but it was not to be"

Fantastic

Keep up the good work.