Skaven vs Witch Hunters! The Eighth Skirmish!

 

On Monday, January 22 2024, Matt’s Skaven ambushed Greg’s Witch Hunters. And an ambush it was!

The Witch Hunters, The Flames of Redemption, had wandered close to the South Gate near the ruins of the Great Amphitheatre in search of wyrdstone. Having spotted no danger, leader Werner von Halstaff ordered the band to spread out to search as wide an area as possible. Unfortunately for him, the skavens, The Skulking Blades, had spotted them, and decided to launch a surprise attack on the unsuspecting humans. And thus began Scenario 9: Ambush!

Another standard scenario from the core rulebook.  One warband was designated as the ambusher, the other the ambushee! Witch Hunters were the defenders (decided by random die rolls) and set up first, anywhere on the table but EACH model could not be closer than 6” to a table edge and 6” from another model (representing them spread out and searching). To make matters worse, Greg had to roll for EACH Hero and Henchmen group first to see where they started: On a roll of 1 to 3 they started on the battlefield, on a roll of 4 to 6 they were elsewhere off the board, and would enter as possible reinforcements (at the beginning of the defender’s second and subsequent rounds, they roll again for each off-board hero/henchmen group, and on a roll of 4+ they enter on a random table edge). The skaven as the ambushers, set up on a random table edge after the defenders were placed.

Winning Conditions: The game ends when one warband routs (or 10:00pm in our case).

The Witch Hunters, THE FLAMES OF REDEMPTION, continued to be led by Werner von Halstaff who took up a higher position on some rubble to oversee the search operations. Nearby were the zealots: Anna and Gerwalt, as well as newcomers to the flock Rolf and Schaffer (having lost Selig and Rudiger in the last skirmish). Flagellants Hans and Sister Bertrille were also near and searching. Currently out of Werner’s site were the witch hunters Frederick and Maghilda, along with his trusty dog Daisy (all three were off-board waiting to come in as reinforcements).

The skaven warband, THE SKULKING BLADES, were well hidden amidst the ruins. Led by assassin adept Khretch Nightseeker, he was accompanied by a few new furry faces, chief of whom was the sorcerer Skitch Stonechewer. The other new face was black skaven Rik-Rik Toecutter, joining fellow black skaven Crut Crestflayer. The two night runners, Strok Keenfingers and Queek Heartsblood were also there, along with three nameless young verminkin.

Back: Sorcerer Skitch Stonechewer (wyrdstone of course), Queek Heartsblood
Front: Khretch Nightseeker, Rik-Rik Toecutter, Strok Keenfingers, 3 verminkin, Crut Crestflayer

Round 1: The skaven crept closer, positioning themselves for the ambush. Queek and Strok crept around the ruins of a large inn, three verminkin clambered atop an outcropping of rock. Khretch led the sorcerer Skitch Stonechewer and the two black skavens up the main street. The time for hiding was over...

Khretch barked his order, and the skaven sprang from the ruins in a flurry, sharp nails scritching on crumbled stone. The night runners Queek and Strok charged flagellant Sister Bertrille, while the leader Khretch charged zealot Gerwalt. Black skaven Rik-Rik and Crut followed their leader closely, also engaging with the lone man-thing!

Sister Bertrille is charged by the night runners, Queek and Strok!

Zealot Gerwalt discovers that today will not be a good day

The sorcerer Skitch Stonechewer moved up, carefully eyeing the ruins but letting the black blades and leader pull ahead. The three young verminkin above on a shelf of rock, sprang from the shadows and hurled a flurry of sling bolts at the witch hunter leader Werner. A difficult shot to be sure for such inexperienced ratlings, as Werner was just at the edge of their distance and they had moved while slinging (i.e. they needed 6s to hit). Three stones struck true!! 

But surely, a little sling stone would do no harm to the leader of the Flames of Redemption, armoured as he was and wearing a sturdy metal helmet? But NO! One struck with deadly accuracy and took Werner von Halstaff OUT of Action with a Critical Hit!! Disaster strikes the witch hunters early!

Werner von Halstaff lies senseless upon a heap of rubble

On the battlefield below, the new black skaven Rik-Rik took the initiative and attacked zealot Gerwalt before Khretch could, taking Gerwalt OUT of Action! The skaven leader was both impressed and displeased at the loss of his kill.

On the other side of the ruined inn, flagellant sister Bertrille managed to avoid the strikes of night runner Strok, but Queek knocked her down!

The witch hunters tried to rally after their leader had gone down so quickly! Flagellant Hans regrouped with zealots Anna and Rolf, hoping to form some sort of defense. 

New zealot Schaffer charged night runner Queek but his pitch fork struck wide! Sister Bertrille quickly got to her feet, as both night runners attacked (ignoring the pathetic zealot). The flagellant managed to avoid any new blows, but her attacks likewise found no mark!

Round 2: The skaven assassin adept, sensing fear, pressed his swarm to charge! He, along with the black skavens Rik-Rik and Crut charged zealots Anna and Rolf. 

The three verminkin, flush with bloodlust after taking out the human leader, rushed forwards onto a walkway and let loose another volley of sling stones, this time at the flagellant Hans. He stood there, arms wide, letting his faith in Sigmar protect him…and all seven stones missed!

For zealot Anna though, her faith was not enough, as assassin adept and leader Khretch took her OUT of Action! Rolf somehow managed to survive the twin blades of Crut but his pathetic knife failed to strike back.

On the other side of the rubble, upon where the witch hunter leader Werner von Halstaff lay unconscious and bleeding from his head wound, the night runners Queek and Strok fell upon the flagellant Sister Bertrille. Queek stunned her with a blow to the head, and Strok followed up with a deadly slice of his poison blades, taking her OUT of Action!

From the same edge of the battlefield where the skaven entered, witch hunter Frederick suddenly appeared, having heard the cries of his countrymen. Seeing his leader lying motionless upon the rubble, and three others of the flock OUT of Action, he attempted to really the group, but failed, and the witch hunters ROUT!

Witch Hunter Frederick (file photo)

An unbelievably quick, and dangerous skirmish!      

 

POST BATTLE

For THE SKULKING BLADES no casualties, thanks to their lightning quick and deadly assault!

For THE FLAMES OF REDEMPTION, flagellant Sister Bertrille, zealots Anna and Gerwalt, along with their leader Werner von Halstaff all needed to make survival rolls. Unbelievably, the zealots and flagellant survive! Unfortunately, Werner von Halstaff rolled a Deep Wound, and would miss the next 2 games while recovering.

Unfortunately, for the purpose of our little 12 game campaign, this meant Werner would miss the last two games in the campaign, and we decided as a group that sucks. We allowed a reroll, ignoring any “dead” result. The second roll came up Captured! A fun bit of haggling ensued (“I’ll give you all my money!” I believe is how it went), and Greg paid Matt 35 gold crowns for the return of his leader.

So, all in all, not as bad as it COULD have been for the witch hunters! All survived, a loss of 35 gc, but some experience gained (more about that below!).

For loot rolls:

As the witch hunters lost their leader for searching, Greg only had two heroes to continue searching and managed to find 2 wyrdstone, which he sold for 45 gold crowns.

The skavens, flush from their victory, and with six heroes available, made out like bandits (Matt also rolled crazy good), finding 6 shards of wyrdstone! They sold all for 100gc.

The skavens also rolled double 4s and found a Straggler, which they promptly sold for 4gc. They also rolled triple 6s, enabling them the services of a Hireling for FREE for the next mission. Rumours abound that Khretch might be enlisting the services of a mercenary rat ogre, or a warlock.

For Experience:

Experience was allotted as normal (no special scenario bonuses, aside from the winning leader).

Skaven:

Leader Assassin Adept Khretch Nightseeker +1 Leadership

Black skaven Crut Crestflayer gained a New Skill

Night runner Strok Keenfingers +1 Wound!

Witch Hunters:

Witch hunter Frederick gained a New Skill (Dodge)

Witch hunter Maghilda +1 Ballistic Skill

Flagellant Henchmen group +1 Initiative

Zealots: Rolf became a Henchman Hero! (Combat/Strength new Skill lists for him, and gained Step Aside); the other three zealots gained +1 Strength.

 

FINAL THOUGHTS

Wow. I mean, it happened so fast none of us could believe it, lol. Matt was rolling like gang busters and it again goes to show how quick a game can end with a few good rolls. Unfortunately for Greg, the scenario was not kind (it WAS an ambush after all), so his two big champion witch hunters were off the board for the first round, and his Henchmen groups just couldn’t deliver any decent retaliatory strikes.

Also, Matt had brand new miniatures for all his skaven (except Khretch), so maybe that helped? Lol!

At least the witch hunters were able to gain some decent experience and leveled up a few groups/champions!

Next up, Reiklanders vs Skaven! (and I’m not going to lie, I’m a bit frightened now, especially if Matt does bring in the mercenary rat ogre from one of the Town Cryer books, lol!).