Skaven vs Possessed, the 12th (FINAL) Skirmish!

On Monday, September 16, 2024, Jay’s Possessed battled with Matt’s skaven amid the rubbled streets of Mordheim! The Possessed were passing through a neighbourhood within the Poor Quarter, when the Skaven sought to stop their progress! And Scenario 4: Breakthrough began!

This scenario had already been played twice before, first between Jay’s Possessed and Greg’s Witch Hunters, and the second time between Perry’s Reiklanders and Matt’s Skaven (in a similar situation, with the Reiklanders needing to break through the darn ratmen!). A standard scenario. Jay’s Possessed set up first along one table edge, and Matt’s Skaven set up anywhere on the table, as long as each of his warriors were at least 8” away from any Possessed figures.

Winning Conditions: Jay’s Possessed were designated as the “attackers” with the goal of two of his warband reaching the opposite side of the table, thus making a “break through” enemy lines to safety! The game would also end if either warband routed, or we reached 10:00pm and ran out of time (our deadline for playing on a school night).

The Possessed warband, the BROTHERHOOD OF THE VOID, led by the vile and cunning Magister Meister Herwig with the Brethren, a group of easily manipulated souls following Chaos for their own nefarious reasons: Gosric, Baldur, Klaus and Jürgen.  They were joined by a second group of Brethren, new blood for Chaos conversions: Albrecht, Bertolt, and Rolf. 

(L - R) Green Cloaks: Rolf (wheel), Bertolt, Albrecht
(L-R) Magister Meister Herwig (back), Gosric, Jurgen, Baldur, Klaus

There were the two beastman, Cousin Ruprechet and Cousin Ingvar (not be confused with his brother Cousin Ingvar, who had died at the hands of the Witch Hunters last time! At least the new robes fit well.) - the two set up on opposite sides of the neighbourhood. Magister Herwig was also accompanied as usual by the two massive Possessed individuals, Exalted Vessel Sven, and Exalted Vessel Wülfstan!

Beastman Cousin Rupprecht and Exalted Vessels Wulfstan and Sven

Pigman Beastman Cousin Ingvar

The skaven warband, THE SKULKING BLADES, were well set up amidst the ruins, awaiting the followers of Chaos. Led by assassin adept Khretch Nightseeker, he was accompanied by the sorcerer Skitch Stonechewer, the two black skavens Rik-Rik Toecutter and Crut Crestflayer, and the two night runners, Strok Keenfingers and Queek Heartsblood. The three nameless young verminkin chittered excitedly, eager to show off their deadly sling skills again! A final, hulking figure also joined them, lumbering from the shadows into view: a rat ogre!

Verminkin high up. Skitch Stonechewer (in black) w. Khretch Nightseeker
Night Runners Strok Keenfingers and Queek Heartsblood with rat ogre!

Black Skaven Crut Crestflayer and Rik-Rik Toecutter

A NOTE again that sorcerer Skitch Stonechewer, although a skaven miniature, was using the stat line for the sorcerer mercenary.

Round 1: The Possessed moved into the area. Magister Meister Herwig pushed both rabble of Brethren forward, deciding to stay close to the more experienced of the two groups. Magister Meister Herwig drew upon the forces of Chaos, hoping to unleash the Lure of Chaos spell, but unfortunately he could not bring the power to bear.

The two possessed moved up as fast as they could, while Cousin Ruprecht shadowed them closely. On the opposite end of the neighbourhood, beastpig Cousin Ingvar kept to the shadows, having spotted a verminkin in a second story window readying its sling…

Then it was the skaven's turn to attack! A barked command from Assassin Adept Khretch, and the rat ogre charged the new Brethren. Rolf managed to stand firm, but Albrecht soiled himself and cried out in Fear (failing his test). The night runners followed up, flanking either side of the new Brethren, looking to capitalize on the rat ogre's ferocity. 

Khretch charges the Brethren, while the rat ogre and night runners engage the new blood!

The verminkin on the second storey near Cousin Ingvar, was not actually eyeing up the beastpig but Meister Herwig himself. A far shot, and cowering behind the Brethren did nothing to deter the ratman, and the sling stone hit true! Magister Meister Herwig was knocked onto his back! A small setback, but easy enough to recover from, truly. But then, sorcerer Skitch Stonechewer managed to summon his own magical energies and cast the Black Fury! He transformed into a black mist and rushed forwards, between friend and foe alike, rematerializing beside the fallen form of Meister Herwig! With the black energies still coursing through him, he was able to unleash a fury of attacks, and managed to wound and take the leader of the Brotherhood of the Void OUT of Action!!

Ack! Magister Meister Herwig takes a rock to the skull! And black-clad Skitch Stonechewer
uses dark magics to take him OUT!

The other two verminkin were not as lucky with their sling skills, as their slingstones rattled uselessly off roofs and walls, missing their targets of Brethren and Possessed alike. With their spears, the two new Brethren attacked the rat ogre first, but neither Albrecht nor Rolf managed to hit the beast. Miraculously, the vicious swings of the rat ogre also missed both of the Brethren! Queek tried to hit Rolf who managed to avoid the blow, but poor Albrecht, so frightened by the rat ogre, failed to see Strok Keenfingers in time before the night runner’s blade slipped into his ribs, taking the new Brethren OUT of Action!

Oh lord that rat ogre is huge! 

Beside the large melee, Assassin Adept Khretch sprang forwards to engage Brethren Baldur, but both missed with their attacks. On the other side of the neighbourhood, the black skaven made to charge the two enormous possessed vessels, but Rik-Rik had a change of heart (i.e. failed his Fear test) and let Crut Crestflayer charge Sven alone! 

Crut Crestflayer springs to attack Exalted Vessel Sven, while Rik-Rik
takes a moment longer to survey the field. 

Crut struck with his extended claw-weapons and missed, but Exalted Vessel Sven followed up with a mighty blow that took the black skaven OUT of Action!

Round 2: The two possessed vessels, Sven and Wulfstan, locked eyes with the quivering form of the frightened Rik-Rik and charged! Sven reached the black skaven first and smashed him OUT of Action (leaving Wulfstan very sad). Beastman Brother Ruprecht ran for the far side unopposed. 

Opposite, Pigman Brother Ingvar continued to slowly, cautiously, make his way up the street, keeping to the shadows.

Brethren Klaus hefted his pitchfork and charged skaven leader Khretch to aid Brethren Baldur. Both missed their attacks, and Khretch as the master assassin adept managed to STUN Baldur with a cunning blow.

New Brethren Bertrolt managed to hold his own against the night runner Strok, neither landing blows to wound. Rolf smashed his spear into the rat ogre, but could not wound. The rat ogre struck at Rolf, hitting him three times, and miraculously only knocked him down! Night runner Queek, however, quickly followed up with a deadly strike, and took Rolf OUT of Action! 

Brethren Jürgen and Gosric attacked the skaven sorcerer Skitch, but failed to land a blow on the tricksy sorcerer. Skitch slashed back with his dagger just as uselessly.

For the skaven, the rat ogre sought a new victim, saw Brethren Jürgen and charged! Jürgen screamed (i.e. failed his Fear test) and flailed at the monstrous ratman with is axeyspear! The rat ogre slammed into the Brethren hitting twice, but miraculously could not wound! Sorcerer Skitch, his power now spent and trapped behind the enemy, continued to attack the Brethren. Jürgen slashed at the skaven sorcerer and knocked him down. Brethren Gosric then followed up with his axespear and took the sorcerer OUT of Action!

New Brethren Bertolt and Strok Keenfingers again exchanged a flurry of blows. Bertrolt couldn't hit, and the skaven did hit twice but failed to wound. Khretch turned his attention to Brethren Klaus, but the pointy spear strikes first and miraculously took the assassin adept OUT of Action! Queek Heartsblood attacked Brethren Bertrolt and hit, but failed to wound.

Round 3: The Possessed, with Magister Meister Herwig out of the fight, and two others of the Brethren down, decide to flee the area and rout! The skaven win and screech their defiance, half-knowing that if the Possessed had not backed down, they may themselves have had to flee! (what with four of their number down, including assassin adept Khretch!)

 

POST BATTLE

For THE SKULKING BLADES four casualties, including the leader Khretch!

Khretch Nightseeker: Chest wound

Rik-Rik Toecutter: Leg wound (-1 MV)

Crut Crestflayer: Full recovery

Skitch Stonechewer: Old battle wound!

 

For BROTHERHOOD OF THE VOID three casualties, including leader Herwig!

Magister Meister Herwig: Smashed leg (can’t run)

(new) Brethren Rolf: Full recovery

(new) Brethren Albrecht: DEAD!

 

For loot rolls:

The Possessed found 2 wyrdstone and sold both for 45gc.

The Skaven also found 2 wyrdstone and sold both for 45gc. In addition, they found a shop (roll of 2,2) and found another 4gc.

 

For Experience:

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

For the SKULKING BLADES:

Khretch: +1 WS

Queek: +1 ATK

Strok: New skill! (TBA)

 For BROTHERHOOD OF THE VOID:

Magister Meister Herwig: +1 Wound!

Exalted Vessel Sven: New skill! (TBA)

 

FINAL THOUGHTS

A pretty fast and brutal battle. Surprisingly, the rat ogre not as deadly as it could have been as Matt rolled a few duds a few times! (Double 1s twice in a row for wounds!). Every time I think a battle will go a certain way, it turns into a donnybrook in the middle of the table, lol. Still lots of fun though, and both leaders taken out this time, wow!

Next up: THE FINALE! The individual skirmishes are over. Now, a monster hunt for all four warbands! Rumours have it that an unholy alliance between the skaven and witch hunters may be brewing in the background to thwart the plans of the Reiklanders…