Darklands Battle report: Albainn vs Khthones (999 gold)

'Slaughterfest!'

Today we bring you an epic struggle between the Albainn 'Painted Ones' and the 

Khthones 'Slaughterers'.

The Khthones deploy first due to their lower authorithy rating. The Krokodarchon chooses to deploy his reptilian mates in a central position on the battlefield. Two small woods flank the Khthones' deployment, so it won't be easy to outflank the small host.

The Albainn general decides on a left flank deployment type. Oghuritnes and oghurs are on both flanks and the revered goghu anchors the battleline.

Both hosts are deployed, time to smash each other's brains out!

Turn 1

The Krokodarchon starts the battle by daunting the Oghuritnes and Drast, the hound of Dun Durn. He then advances alongside his Krokodar bodyguards. 

The Albainn sagart casts 'resistance' on the big unit of Oghuritnes. He then tries to recover but fails his recovery test. One fumble roll later, 9 wounds of damage are added to one of the Oghuritnes. Luckely, the Sagart survives the magic backlash.  Bagseg, the Oghuritne Umaer inspires the Oghuritnes and they move towards the Krokodar.

Turn 2

Aggrakk, the brutal Krokokh warrior charges into the Oghurs. One Oghur is knocked uncouncious and is killed outright. But before the Krokokh can feast on the corps of the fallen Oghur, Gudhlagg and the surviving Oghurs step forward and kill the foul beast.

The Khthones retain the initiative and the Krokodarch and his Krokodar bodyguards smash into the Oghuritnes. The Krokodars deal out 65 damage and the Krokodarchon an impressive 84 damage! Several Oghuritnes are torn limb from limb by the cold blooded killers. 

Brugbad, the Oghuritne Rud rallies the survivors around him and together they put 41 damage on the Krokodars. 

The Krokodars are the strong unit, are swift chargers and aquired a whole pile of blood. Unsurprisingly, the Oghuritnes retreat from the onslaught but are caught and utterly destroyed by the Krokodar and their leader. Savage!

The Albainn are reeling but continue the fight. The Sagart puts 'stone shatter' on Bagseg, the Oghuritne Umaer. Bagseg then charges the weary krokodar unit and deals 53 damage, enough to kill a Krokodar warrior all by himself. The other Krokodar unit and Ettu, the revered Oghu exchange blows but both hold firm.

Turn 3

Once again, the Khthones gain the initiative, despite the re-roll for the Albainn. The krokodarchon activates first and cuts down Bagseg. His surviving bodyguard kills the wounded Oghu.

The Albainn Oghurs finally end their flanking manoeuvre and attack the second Krokodar unit. They deal 93 damage but despite the carnage, the stubborn Krokodar hold firm. The Krokodarch, the other Khthones commander, then joins the fray and destroyes one Oghur. Gudhlagg and the surviving Oghur fall back.

Turn 4

The end is in sight for the few Albainn survivors. Gudhlagg and his mate make a last stand against the murderous reptiles. After a last brutal combat, the game ends.

Victory to the Khthones!

Darklands Battle report: Albainn vs Norse (999 gold)

'DAWN ATTACK!'

The year is 650 AD. A small warband of Norse raiders embarks from their longships after a long journey at sea. Scout parties detect a small Albainn host that prepares to meet the raiders head on.

Troll Gothi Laugär takes command and orders his men and trolls to take up battle formations. It is the dawn of a very hot summer day and the Norse ready themselves for the coming bloodshed.

Drast the Hunched surveys the battlefield. The Norse raiders are deploying around a large building nearby. But the Albainn warlord anticipated this raid and is preparing to set up his trap...

 Bagseg, the oghurithne Umaer leads his fellow oghurithnis through the thick woods. They have succesfully outflanked the bulk of the Norse forces.

The Norse holumann unit detects the oghurithne war party and charges into battle. But fear engulfs the otherwise brave men from the north and their charge is unsuccesfully. The oghurithnes retaliate and they start butchering their opponents. Three holumann manage to escape the carnage.

After this show of force the Oghurithnes breakthrough into the second unit of Holumann. The Norse Visi Haäkon Ingvarsson enters the fray and starts hacking at the giant brutes. But thanks to their parry saves, the oghurithnes only take minor damage.

 The Norse battle line is barely holding after the Albainn shock attack. The fell troll roars at the enemy but fails to make an impression...

Troll Gothi Laugär desperately tries to swing the tide of battle. He launches a couple of lightning bolts at Ettu, the stone giant. But Ettu, the great stone construct, only takes minor damage. The Gothi orders the Trolls to press forward but they are too far out of position.

A giant melee ensues when the brave Albainn Gairlom charge the fell troll. They manage to hack big chunks of meat out of him. But the lumbering troll is not fast (and skilled) enough to damage the gairlom in return.

Uhmaer Gudhlagg scans the battlefield for a worthy opponent. He spots the unit of trolls (and some tasty beers!) and decides to charge in. After a brutal combat in wich the trolls totally screw up, the Uhmaer emerges victorious.

The Norse have taken a tremendous beating and even the fell troll is brought down by the puny Gairlom spearmen. Troll Gothi Laugär decides that he has made enough mistakes on this hot and sunny morning. He scrambles what is left of his host and decides to head for the beachhead. This battle is lost but he will return. One day...

Victory to the Albainn!

Darklands Battle report: Khthones vs Albainn (999 gold)

"The Khthones invade!" A Darklands battle report by Krikke

It was a wet and cold autumn day at around 9 am in the morning, when the vile Kthones started their attack on the peacefull village of Albain Oghurs.

The Kthones picked their time to attack well, the weather was in their favor. Torrential rain was turning the battlefield into a mud field, slowing everyone and everything down and hindering visibility.

The weather would prove to be a hindering factor the entire battle raining the whole time.

1st hour is pretty uneventfull as everyone manouvers to get into a better position. 

Already it's clear the Albainn pooring out of their village are bottlenecking themselves. Second hour and the fight is on. Albainn human infantry is bogged down and gets charged by the first unit of Krokos.

They get eaten!

Oghurs charge in. They kill 1 and wound another Kroko. Krokos stay in combat after a succesful panic test. Thirth hour and Albain initiative

After killing all but one Kroko of the first unit, our defending Oghur promptly get charged by a new unit including the Kthones general. Things will only go downhill from now on.

When the dust settles, 2 more Oghurs bravely died to defend their homes.

Fifth hour and we can see the battle is about to end. Although the Albainn fought valiantly, it was not to be. Their village would be taken by the vile Kthones. Who knows what they would do to the women and children...

There was so much bloodshed, Krull came to visit to check it out! ;-)

Another awesome evening with my gaming buddies, beautiful models, beers and the awesome game of Darklands.

Thank you Beire and Tho!

Til Valhall!! Darklands battle report: Ysians vs Norse

'TILL VALHALL!'

The year is 650 AD. The small Norse town of Mannarsfell is the scene of a brutal Ysian raid. It is autumn and heavy rain pours down from the skies. The field of battle is transformed in a thick muddy field.

Jarl Skäldi leads his warband of troll warriors  through the woods, intend on defending the village from the foul Ysian raiders.

The trolls are reinforced by two holumann units. Gothi Laugär, a renowed sorcerer, also joins battle. The Norse set up for battle:

The Ysian raiders set up near the south of the village. A unit of brutes will be spearheading the assault. This bunch of frenzied maniacs is lead by a feared Deathbrute. The second wave of attack consists of an immens flesh-hulk named Druc. The last wave of attackers are a unit of axe-drunes, lead by War-drune Kai and Battle-drune Vance.

The Ysians gain the initiative and the frenzied brutes race forward. Jarl Skäldi sends his first unit of trolls forward to meet them. A bloody combat ensues and the trolls manage to cut one of the brutes down. But the two surviving brutes hit back and one troll has only a couple of wounds left.

War-drune Kai keeps  the pressure on and sends Druc into the thick of battle. The enraged monstrosity charges into the trolls and totally obliterates the entire units with his big meaty fists!

The horrified Holumann unit watches how the trolls are being eaten by Druc.

 Druc gains an impressive 18 blood tokens for his achievements!

But the carnage is far from over. Frenzied Druc makes a breakthrough move and slams into the Holumann unit. The Norse humans remain disciplined and advance through the thick mud towards Druc. They start hacking away at the flesh-hulk but only manage to do a couple of wounds. The still frenzied Ysian warbeast immediately retaliates and eats 8 humans. The two surviving Holumann decide that enough is enough and flee.

Rain is still pouring over the battlefield. Troll Gothi Laugär decides to take matters into his own hands and calls upon his sorcerous powers. He sends a series of crackling lightning bolts at the two remaining brutes and totally obliterates them. Another lightning bolt is send at Druc and manages to take away half of his wounds!

Jarl Skäldi is emboldened by this show of force from the Gothi and charges the wounded beast. His bodyguard of elite troll warriors also enters the fray.

The brutal shock attack is too much for the wounded Druc and he is killed by the troll's great cleavers.

The Ysian deathbrute commander joins the melee and challenges the troll Jarl for a duel. A short exchange of blows ensues and Jarl Skäldi cuts the deathbrute in half!

War-Drune Kai tries to gain back the initiative and personally leads his axe-drunes into the exulted trolls.

The War-drune swift charges into Skäldi and decapitates the troll with his great weapon. All remaining units in the Norse host take their woe tests and remain firm. Gothi Laugär takes over command and orders the great cleaver trolls to hack away at the remaining Ysians.

War-drune Kai and his personal guard of axe-drunes are chopped into tiny bits. The Ysian invaders are repelled, victory to the Norse!

Aftertoughts: Wow, what a great battle! Darklands has become my favorite wargame and this battle shows why. Brutal combat, epic duels, terrifying beasts, deadly magic, .. this game had it all.

Playing my gaming buddy Krikke is always great fun. His Ysians are painted to a very high standard and I like their savage battle tactics. Frenzied units are very good because they double their blood and they are always on alert. But their downside is that they are very hard to control. So I had to lure them away from the main action. Sadly, because of the thick mud (slow going) it was impossible to lure them away with the holumann units. The puny humans were stuck in the mud and the brutes raced towards my lines.

Krikke played his Ysians very aggresively and the outcome of battle was uncertain untill the end. The game went smoothly and we only had to interrupt the game a handfull of times because of rules issues. The Darklands rulebook looks quite intimidating, but the basic priciples are quite easy to learn. We are now in the process of learning all the master rules, they add a lot of dept to your game.

I must say that I am very impressed by this ruleset and look forward to my next battle! 

Til Valhall!!