After the harrowing experience in the dark wood outside of Alrenn, King Billiam XXXVII set his sights elsewhere. In order to secure more territory and ultimately take Kavus Keep for his own, Billiam would need roads…and bridges.
The Rosewood Bridge lies to the northeast of Alrenn, and would provide valuable transportation to the forces of New Gal’Durak and the ability to push into the eastern edges of the Dragon’s Teeth.
Billiam had heard rumblings of the Library of Threl was under control of another dwarf clan: Balimar. A strong military presence to be sure, but Billiam had the goddess, Fulgria, on his side, and the willpower to take what rightfully should belong to his clan.
There is a problem, however: Burgus Stoneheart. Burgus, a mighty duelist in his own right has proven himself in single combat against many foes, once winning a tournament to determine the true King of War. King Billiam XXXVII did not fear Burgus and so he issued a direct challenge to face him on the field of battle. King versus king.
Billy’s Expectations
Since I had the opportunity to play a campaign game in-person at TNT this year, I had to take it. The only member of our campaign who was attending that event, however, was Alex Chaves. Normally, the hobby guy in your group doesn’t end up challenging the former US Master, but here I am. Coming off of Mountaineer and my epic challenge video, I knew I couldn’t let Chaves get off with a few words in a facebook post.
I challenged him with the condition that we both include a King on Large Beast in our armies. This unit is often considered one of the biggest points sinks in the entire game, but all dwarf players have one and hate that they don’t get to use it. Alex accepted. I mean, after all the trash talk, he would never be able to back down.
Billy’s List:
- King Billiam XXXVII and Toebiter – King on Large Beast with Wine of Elvenkind
- Berserker Queen Chelgar and Chonk – Berserker Lord on Brock with Blade of the Beast Slayer
- Bowen’s Braves – Horde of Ironclad with Brew of Strength
- 2 x regiments of Herneas’s Rangers
- Horde of Earth Elementals with the Healing Brew
- 2 x regiments of Brock Riders, one with Potion of the Caterpillar and one with Blessing of the Gods
- 2 x regiments of Mastiff Hunting Packs
- Gram the Gold Flame of the East – Stone Priest with Martyr’s Prayer and the Banner of the Griffin
- Battle Driller
- Herneas the Hunter
Alex’s Expectations:
The lead up to this battle was epic. Billy did one of his fantastic challenge videos and I tried my best to return in kind with my “aristocrat” bathrobe response video. But even more importantly Billy is a stand up dude who I have somehow never gotten to play despite being in the same tournaments time after time.
I had to modify my tournament build to fit my campaign theme. Having 3 mountain tiles meant I can bring a third horde of earth elementals but I had to leave my organ gun and steel behemoth at home against what would normally be a dream matchup for them! My list still has defense and teeth with some moderate shooting which I think would give me the range advantage
Alex’s List:
- King Burgus Stoneheart, Might of the Mountain – King on Large Beast
- 3 x Horde of Earth Elementals
- 2 x Berserker Brock Riders – Caterpillar and Fire Oil
- 3 x Sharpshooters
- Berserker lord on Brock – BoBS
- Stone Priest – Martyr’s Prayer
- Mastiff Hunting Pack
The scenario was Ransack and our armies were pretty evenly matched. This was going to come down to skill and a little bit of luck. I knew that my center was definitely weaker than Alex’s. He had 3 hordes of Earth Elementals to my 1 and a horde of Ironclad. Part of the terrain deployment for TNT involved the players placing an obstacle after all other terrain was placed and sides were chosen. I was able to put my fence (the topmost one) just north of the center objective, meaning that his rocks were going to have to come over it in order to hit me. I figured this would give me enough time to swing the brocks around and deal with them. Our kings made their way forward so that they could duel uninterrupted.
By turn 2, our kings were in combat. King Billiam was able to land a few wounds on Burgus, but was unable to kill or waver him. Our shooting tried desperately to take out each others’ threats and my stronger right flank with 2 regiments of brocks was able to start pushing forward. I got chaffed up by some mastiffs, but was able to push through those fairly easily and start taking out the rest of the units on that flank. The left flank saw 2 regiments of ragers and Herneas push up against a unit of brocks using cover and sharpshooters taking potshots.
On turn 3, I pushed my center up to be able to start contesting the center objective. I was safely hidden behind my fence, forcing Alex to make hindered charges into my lines. Through the use of Drain Life on our TNT event special character, Sting, as well as Martyer’s Prayer, we were able to heal our units after each round. By this time, Alex’s brocks on my left flank had taken out my rangers and were turning to deal with the rest of my army, despite sitting on 16 wounds. The kings continued to pound on each other, without any major happenings.
The wall proved a MAJOR headache for the earth elementals. Billy’s MVP play of the game for sure. I had to make a big decision on the flank where my Brock lord could either turn towards the middle or stay to try and slow down the brock rider units from getting to my ranger troops. I decided I needed the extra wounds in the middle of the board.
Turns 4 and on, my brocks were able to take out the ranger contingent on Alex’s left flank. Alex’s berserker lord began pounding on my earth elementals in the center, despite being hindered. My center held as I continued to heal them. My Sting was able to cast Drain Life on Alex’s regiment of brocks that had just crumpled my left flank and take them out.
Billy kept the middle units tied up and force me to not only take hindered charges but also not letting me use the numbers advantage to get any flanks or even combine enough charges to do enough spike damage to get past the healing. A sole battle driller was able to clean up my very injured right flank and even made it back to the middle just in time to kill my earth elemental horde that was contesting the middle token form his horde of ironclad.
On turn 6 it was a narrow victory to King Billiam’s Forces, however…..
Turn 7 got rolled and my sole unit of earth elementals pushed forward enough to barely contest the middle token.
Eventually, the forces of Gal’Durak were able to take out one of the earth elemental hordes in the center as my brocks brought their force to bear against them.
Burgus swung his enormous axe at Billiam, but he deflected the blow with the Aegis of Ages. Thrown wildly off balance from the powerful blow, Burgus was left open to a counterattack. Billiam raised his hammer high and took full advantage of the opportunity his parry brought to bear. Striking hard, Billiam swung his hammer, smashing the hardened steel breastplate of his adversary, dismounting Burgus. Billiam let out a mighty war cry as Toebiter bellowed an ear-shattering howl. Burgus’s bear mount went to its master, guarding his body from the enemy king.
Knowing his victory was secured, Billiam turned Toebiter in the direction of his troops to provide support in their mission only to hear the distant thunderclap of a sharpshooter’s rifle. Suddenly he was struck by a tremendous blow that knocked him clear off of his mount. Sensing danger, Toebiter successfully dragged the unconscious body of King Billiam to safety.
Burgus awakened to one of his lieutenants shouting.
“He’s over here! Someone get the sledge!”
The injured king wavered in and out of consciousness.
“Did we…win?” The king asked through labored breaths, “Did we get them?”
Nervous as to how to answer the king’s inquiry, the lieutenant responded hesitantly
“No sir. We…it was a stalemate.”
Burgus had a look of disappointment carved into his face as his head lolled back and he lost consciousness again…
