Slann vs Chaos , 4000 pts, WFB 3

´The Battle of the Horns of the Bull Frog"

The time for Grenja`s invasion had come. After months of gathering and corrupting followers deep in the Southern swamps and caves of Lustria. However, his disciples defeat in `Death in Lustria´ (solo player skirmish Jungle Crawler game - which needs a report also still) meant that his plans of invasion were now known to the Slann. The younger Slann commanders urged their leader to allow Grenja to advance North in to the Jungle and then defeat him by ambush and stealth. However, the Slann leader Usuthu Blue Tongue demanded he be met upon the fields of South Lustria in the traditional, old way of Slann Warfare. A large Spawn Band was formed, Cold One riders summoned and West Lustrian Venom Tribe made peace with the Central Authority and joined the Slann march South .

As this was a solo game random events were added to prevent it become just mass dice rolling combat in the middle of the field, particularly as both armies have little missile fire. At the start of each turn the D6 random event table was rolled. 1= The Gods demand more Blood , each Idol on the field (4 in total) was numbered and lightning bolts would fire on D12 direction at the nearest unit, regardless if Slann or Chaos. 2 = Tropical Storm. All flyers forced to ground and begin acceleration / flying new the next turn . 3 = Amazon Ambush , 10 Amazons at random table edge would attack the nearest unit, or advance towards them if out of charge range, the following turn.

Furthermore each piece of Jungle Terrain was given a random card to be activated when a unit or character model came with in 4 inches. These included the Ooolpoonroo flower, known in Settler tongue as Lustrian Coffee, giving +1 movement for the remainder of the Battle. And the Lustrian Death Flowers, d6 strength 4 attacks on the unit or character which had activated the card.

Finally, to add further spice. The forces of Chaos received a 3 man stone thrower manned by corrupted Orcs . The Slann received also a Catapult manned by local Humans volunteers . Chaos also received a free Salamader who carries the Sacred Skull of Grenja giving leadership re rolls to all within 12 inches. The Slann therefore received 2 free Giant Frogs.

Magic was limited to lvl 2 spells . It was a quite humid day upon those cursed fields to the South, so the camera may have become slightly blurred with tropical steam, some photos may not be of the highest quality.

The Forces of Chaos

Grenja , Chaos Knight, Frostblade, Galvorn Armour. 16 Chaos Marauders, heavy armour, shield , handweapon. Plus Champion with Army Standard / Battle Banner.
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5 Marauder on Horse , handweapon , heavy armour , shield, Dread Banner.
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Champion with Bane Blade, 22 Thugs . handweapon , light armour, shield.
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10 Thugs, lightarmour, bow
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lvl 15 Minoutaur , 4 Minotaurs (still painting this Snake Version of Unit, so some proxy was required)
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Giant (lvl6)
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Hydra (lvl2)
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Hippogriff (lvl4) with Chaos Knight, Hellhoned Blade and Galvorn Armour
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lvl 15 Sorcerer, Chaos Armour
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Disciples of the Red Redemption
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Lvl 15 Chaos Pygmy Shaman, plus 20 Chaos Pygmy.

(levels of Monsters were rolled after Deployment)

Wonderful stuff, thanks for the show and tell.

Paul / Golgfag1

Slann Army

Usuthu Blue Tongue, lvl 20 hero, Mithril , Frostblade. 19 Jaguar Warriors, lightarmour, shield, handweapon. lvl 10 Hero, Hellhoned Blade, Army Standard / Battle Banner
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lvl 10 Hero with 29 Spawn Band, shield, handweapon, light armour, Hellfire Banner
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lvl 20 Hero , Enchanted Strike, Magically Inscribed Armour, mounted on Cold One, plus 9 Cold One riders , spear, handweapon, shields. Warbanner
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15 Alligator Warrios, handweapon, heavy armour
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15 Warrior Priest, Handweapon, Dread Banner
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10 Venom Tribe
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Coatl lvl 15
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Coatl lvl 10
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Lvl 20 Troglodyte , Hellhoned Blade, 3 Troglodytes
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Animal Handler, light armour, 3 Giant Scorpions
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lvl 15 Hero, 20 Human Slaves
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lvl 15 Hero Arcane Armour, mounted on Cold One, with 4 Cold One riders light armour, shield, spear , handweapon
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lvl 15 Slann Wizard plus litter
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20 Venom Tribe
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lvl 10 hero, mounted on Cold One, with 4 Cold One riders, shields, spear handweapon

From turn 4 onwards a Reinforcements table would be rolled on, 1-3 Chaos, 4-6 Slann, again at a random table edge, with specific units listed 3 = 5 Chaos Warriors . 6 = 10 Eagle Warriors. It was hoped this would add further random elements without being too over influential on events.

The forces of Grenja`s Chaos deployed first. His plan was simple. The Marauder Cavalry on the right flank would distract the Slann flank , while he and his Marauder unit supported by the Hydra and Chaos Pygmys with the Minotaurs would hold the centre allowing the Giant, Hippogriff and Thugs to destroy the right flank of the Slann and unite with him in the centre, sweeping through the Slann forces from the rear. Next to Grenja´s tent with personal altar , the stone thrower and Thugs archers would support him with missile fire in the centre.

The Slann deployed in Usuthu´s favoured traditional formation. On both flanks were the smaller Cold One Rider units, supported by Coatl . They would attack the flanks as the strong centre of Jaguar Warriors, Spawn Band, large unit of Cold One Riders and Troglodytes advanced . The Venom Tribe and Giant Scorpions would head towards the Jungle Terrain and on the right towards the lake, from there hoping to cause confusion and ambush. The Alligator Warriors were positioned on the left while the Warrior Priests suported the right flank. The Human Volunteers catapult would try to weaken Grenja´s centre.

Turn 1

The Random Events role, brings...Pleasant Weather , as the forces of Chaos advance. However, the first victim of Lustria´s cruel beauty is on the Chaos right flank. The mounted Marauders encounter as they advance the Lustrian Flowers of Death. The first casualty is recored - a single Mounted Marauder. The Thugs on the hill fail to wound any of the large Cold One unit with their bows. However the Orc Stone Thrower manages a direct hit on Usuthu. His toughness of 5 however saves him and only 1 wound is received. 3 of his Jaguar Warriors however are crushed. In the Magic Phase the Pygmy Shaman casts Mystic Mist (for 3 turns) on Usuthu´s unit of Jaguar Warriors, the Troglodytes and Human Slaves, thus slowing the Slann advance in the centre. The Chaos Sorcerer fails to cast Dispirit on the Spawn Band.

Slann Turn 1 ...

The Slann encounter immediate problems. The large Cold One Riders unit attempts to charge the Minotaurs, however, they misjudge the distance and are beyond their charge range. The Cold One Riders are now unformed, with the Minotaurs closing on them. On the left flank the smaller unit of Cold One riders fails its stupidity test, despite being led by a lvl 15 Hero. They shuffle forward and to the right randomly, leaving them exposed to Marauders on War Horses. The centre slowly advances through the mist at half movement, though the Spawn Band are unaffected by the Mystic Mist and surge forward and gain plus one Leadership from the Flowers of Moonzmoonz. The Giant Scorpions enter the Jungle terrain, while the Orange Venom tribe turn to support the Cold Ones should the Marauders charge. On the right flank the third unit of Cold One riders pivots, awaiting the Giant´s charge, hoping to hold the Giant for 1 turn and then receive support from the advancing Alligator Warriors. The Human Volunteer Catapult misses Grenja but kills three Chaos Pygmys, while in the Magic Phase the first of Grenja´s Marauders fall to Fire Balls from the Slann Mage and Spawn Band standard. The Lvl 10 Coatl prepares for combat with the Hippogriff by casting Strength of Combat upon itself. The lvl 15 Coat casts Enthuse on the Troglodytes.

Chaos Turn 2....

The Chaos assault begins and the random event role brings . . . pleasant weather again. No Tropical Storm to slow the advance of the Hippogriff and save the Slann. The Minotaurs charge the unformed Cold one Riders, however in doing so, they have weakened Grenja´s centre. The Giant charges the small unit of Cold One riders while the Marauders also charge forward at the Cold Ones suffering from stupidity. From the Hill another Stone is fired, this time missing Usuthu but deviating in to the Mist and killing 2 Human Slaves. The Hydra now uses its Breath Attacks and 2 of the 4 Troglodytes are reduced to bone and melting flesh. The Thug archers kill a single Spawn Band. In combat the Giant swings it´s club, rolling a 6, and wiping out the entire unit of Cold One Riders in one attack. However, the Minotaurs , due to the minus 1 to hit of the Cold One stench only kill 2 , the Slann inflict enough wounds to win the combat with their banner. The Minotaurs are pushed back. The Mounted Marauders kill a single Cold One Rider, the Slann inflict 3 wounds, but due to the charge and the Marauders, the combat ends in a draw. The Warrior Priests remain blocked behind the Cold One Riders unable to attack. In the Magic Phase another Spawn Band falls to the Pygmy Witch Doctor´s Assault of Stone.

Slann Turn 2 ...

Now the Spawn Band charge the Chaos Pygmys as the Trogldotyes charge Grenja`s unit of Marauders hoping to hold them for a turn to prevent them charging the Jaguar Warriors. The Venom Tribe on the left charge also the Marauder Horse, passing their fear test against the Dread Banner, in the flank, but the Marauders are not panicked. But now, as the Hydra breathed death upon the Troglodytes, it could not pivot in the reserve movement phase, allowing a sudden charge from the Giant Scorpions concealed in the Jungle Terrain in to its flank. Twice the Hydra fails its panic test and the Giant Scorpions tear in to it with pincers and tails. On the right flank, the lvl 20 Coatl moves forward to protect the Cold Ones from a Hippogriff flank attack. While the Venom Tribe hold their ground before the Giant and prepare to unleash 20 poison darts.

Now realising the threat to the flank, the Human Volunteer catapult takes aim at the Hippogriff and hits, causing 3 wounds but still it has 4. The Venom Tribe firing at a large target, but with minus 1 from fear cause 2 wounds on the Giant.

Seeing the Hydra rout, the Slann are filled with a new confidence . The Spawn Band easily routs the Chaos Pygmys. The Troglodytes inflict wounds on the Marauders, but loose the combat due to the Battle Banner, but hold their ground. Now the large Cold One unit, with plus 1 to hit from the pushback, and the Enchanted Strike kill 3 of the Minotaurs and rout the lone surviving Minotaur hero. On the left flank , the Cold One Riders and Venom Tribe fail to inflict a single wound on the heavily armoured Marauders on Horse and again the combat ends in a draw.

The Slann Mage, from his lofty position on the litter, begins to wound the Chaos Sorcered with fire balls.

Deleted here the Slann Turn 2 uploaded twice...

A distant view of the Hydra routing and Minotaur hero fleeing the Cold One Riders...as the battle begins to turn.

Chaos Turn 3...

Again, Pleasant Weather is rolled, the idols remain silent witnesses to the carnage around them. The Hippogriff and Thugs charge the Coatl. The Giant charges the Venom Tribe, who manage to inflict 2 further wounds by standing and firing their poisoned blow pipes (each poison strength being individually rolled). Grenja`s Marauders rout the Troglodytes, but they have fulfilled their duty and held him back from charging the Jaguar Warriors.

The Giant swings his club and the Venom Tribe that survive now flee, pursued by the Giant who has no broken through the left flank of the Slann. The lvl 10 Coatl is killed by the Chaos Knight mounted on the Hippogriff.

Slann turn 3...

At last the Jaguar Warriors free from the Mystic Mist charge Grenja, as does the lvl 15 Coatl in the flank. The Alligator Warriors charge the Chaos Thugs. Meanwhile the routing Minotaur hero is killed allowing the Cold One Riders to charge the Thugs archers on the hill, close to Grenja`s tent. The Scorpions kill the fleeing Hydra and turn back towards the rear of Grenja`s unit.

In Missile Fire the Giant Frog´s devour one of the Red Redemption. The Human Volunteer Catapult now aims for the Giant, hoping to save the rear of the army, but misses.

Now in Combat, a challenge is declared, Frostblade vs Frostblade, Usuthu vs Grenja... despite Grenja´s Galvorn armour on heavy armour, he fails to make his saving through against the single wound...and is cut down. His Marauders rout . His Sorcerer flees directly in to the waiting pincers of the Giant Scorpions. The Cold Ones slaughter the Thugs and are now upon the Orc Catapult. Even the Marauder Cavalry are now cut down at last by the Cold One Riders and Venom Tribe...only the Alligator Warriors fail to wound a single Thug on the right flank.

Chaos turn 4...

And now even the Gods desert Grenja. The random event role releases lightning bolts on to the Thugs, while the reinforcement role brings a fresh Spawn Band on to the left flank. The Hippogriff decides to make a final charge on the Human Volunteer Catapult, routing them and pursueing them from the field. While the Giant charges the Slann Mage in revenge for the failed Fireball attacks. In a final act of defiance, as the Slann army begins to turn towards the Giant , the Giants clubs the Slann Mage to death.

As the Slann pursue and cut down the last survivors , the Salamander is able to escape carrying the Sacred Skull , while the Red Redemption creep silently from the field, rumoured to have carried away the head of their beloved master Grenja...

Thanks Paul ! i think that required more coffee breaks than the actual battle. now to decide whether to tidy up, or use the rare chance of having field set up and the figures out the cupboard and on movement treys for a rematch.

Wonderful stuff, I vote for rematch. Hope meet again on the field of battle once we are able ,whenever that may be. Great battle report, appreciate the effort of fighting both sides, recording events and photographing, then writing it all up. Thanks for transporting us to Lustria, armies and board look great.

Great stuff Mr Lustrian Frogg! - I hope you had fun.

Looking forward to playing Slaan vs Dwarfs again in the future!

Pete