Assassin's Gambit ~ Part II

This is an extension of a previous story that can be found HERE.

The Nyss assassin thought back to his encounter with the Trollkin in the ravine and winced.   His nose still crooked from the encounter, he stretched and rotated his shoulder while practicing his forms.   His arm and shoulder had been set and healed professionally but it still ached.  The Nyss continued through the pain as he had every day for almost a year since that encounter.  His ability to wield his sword seemed to be greater than his former capacity as evidenced by the grace, speed and precision exhibited as he continued through the steps and forms.  If anything his patience and focus had gotten better than before the encounter that had nearly cost him his life, either way the time had come for the Nyss to collect from the one responsible for causing him so much pain.

…

She scaled the broken wall easily and found a perch nestled in the corner of where the roof tiles ended and a worn stone creature warded the edge of the building.  The stone carving appeared to have once been something marvelous but now stood muted and gray its features long lost to time and weather.  She wrapped her cloak around her and began scanning the courtyard through the scope of her rifle. Even a trained eye she would appear nothing more than a large stone at the base of the statue.  Her boss had sent her to confirm rumors that the one that wanted to kill him was indeed staying in the rundown inn.  Scanning every corner and cranny for signs of movement was boring work and she had to be careful.  The one she looked for was very good at not being seen and word had come to her boss that competing contracts had already lost more than a few of their men that didn’t hide well enough while trying to track the target.  She would be careful though, she was always careful, and though she was instructed not to engage the target if he did find her she was certain she could put a bullet between his eyes long before he had the chance to dispose of her like he had the other contracts scouts.  In the distance she could hear singing and laughter from the pub, only one Troll she knew sang that old Troll drinking song….

…

Assassin's Gambit ~ Fiction

The Nyss Hunter crept slowly through the dry underbrush, the harsh heat of the summer sun and the biting flies were still difficult for him to deal with when compared to his cold winter home.  The environment didn’t even register to him at this moment; nothing did the moment before his kills.  Unwilling to attempt to get any closer to his prey the Nyss Hunter quietly placed two arrows in front him and knocked the third taking aim on his target.  He knew very little about this particular target and had no idea why someone wanted the Trollkin killed.  Small for a Trollkin he was still quite large by human standards, compared to most Nyss, Trollkin always seemed slow and clumsy and this one was no exception.  As the Nyss pulled back the first of his three shots he took note of the large maul strapped to the Trollkin’s back, he wondered how effective such a slow cumbersome weapon would fare wielded by a slow cumbersome humanoid when compared to the Nyss claymore he had carried most of his life.  He aimed center mass at the Trollkin and let fly all three arrows one after the other in rapid succession, his practiced hands moving faster than the eye could see.

At that instant the Trollkin dove sideways and rolled directly toward the Hunter’s position in the bushes.  Only one of his three arrows had hit the mark driving deep into the Trollkin’s left shoulder.  Coming up to his feet near the Hunter’s position the Trollkin let out an earsplitting cry sending shockwaves of energy at the now scrambling Nyss.  Branches shattered all around the hunter from the sonic wave of energy, leaving his ears ringing and his skin stinging from a handful of small cuts and slivers left by the exploding foliage.   The Hunter could not remember how long it had been since one of his targets had evaded him so completely, frustrated he began his hasty retreat down the narrow ravine running on light feet not hampered by the broken ground or foliage.  Missing would not be a mistake he would make again, though a new opportunity would be more difficult if his Trollkin target knew he was coming.

The Nyss ran comfortably down the ravine as the walls rose on each side.  He followed a narrow path up the right wall that he had found a few days earlier knowing it would lead up and out of the ravine.  Slowing a bit to check for pursuit the Hunter saw the Trollkin hot on his trail, ignoring the path and moving straight down the middle of the ravine.  Smiling he knew the Trollkin’s folly since he would soon be up and out safely away from pursuit.  The hunter crested a small rise as his path moved to the right in a switchback that would take him out of range and steeper up the wall when he skidded to a halt.  The switch back and the whole upper half of the ravine path had been blocked by a rockslide.  Knowing he had underestimated the Trollkin yet again he quickly scanned the ravine floor for the sign of his prey, just in time to see the Troll bellow another ear shattering cry at his position.  Again the very air seemed to ripple as small rocks shattered all around where the Nyss was standing.  This time though the hunter was one step ahead of the shockwave, ears still ringing the Hunter took two small steps at the rising cliff wall on his right and vaulted himself gracefully in backward flip directly over the Trollkin’s head, landing softly a few feet behind him.  Thinking to finish off the Trollkin, the Hunter pulled his bow and arrow in one fluid motion.  As he pulled back on the string the Trollkin only paused a moment before he rushed the Nyss, both of them knowing he wouldn’t get to the Hunter in time.  Right as the Nyss loosed the arrow the top limb of his bow snapped having been weakened from the sonic blasts stealing the power from his arrow that caught the Trollkin right in the chest.  The Surprise from the Trollkin as the arrow bounced harmlessly off his leather tunic was all the Nyss need to summersault backwards and renew his flight down the ravine.

Running softly the Nyss knew he would not tire before the pursuing Trollkin and so continued quickly down the rocky ravine floor.  Only the laughing song from the following Trollkin gave him pause, the words of a rowdy Trollkin drinking song echoing throughout the canyon.   The Hunter’s flight took him into a small opening leading directly into a smooth cliff face making clear to him the enjoyment he heard from the Trollkin.  The prey had proved a bigger challenge than he was getting paid to face and his benefactor would soon pay for the misinformation about this contracts unwritten abilities.  Turning to face the Trollkin as it emerged from the scraggly trees the Nyss reached back to draw its claymore.  Though he preferred his bow he was quite capable with the long curved blade that all Nyss learned to use from a young age.  Adopting a sideways stance with his sword in both hands pointing away the Nyss stared hard at the singing Trollkin re-evaluating the stocky humanoid as it prepared for the upcoming melee.  The calm surface of Nyss fighting forms the Hunter had practiced daily came floating to the surface of his psyche, though the Trollkin’s song seemed to buzz at his calm attempting to break it.

Unmoving the Nyss watched the Trollkin reach back to his heavy clumsy looking maul and bring the square headed weapon to bear with ease.  He noticed small glowing blue runes etched into one of the maul’s faces and marveled that someone would take so much time crafting such an unwieldy weapon.   The Nyss watched as the Trollkin grabbed the Maul mid shaft and slowly approached to what the Hunter expected to be a short fight.  Exploding into action the Hunter stabbed straight and high directly at the face of the Trollkin with speed and accuracy quickly attempting to end the melee.  The Trollkin easily battered away the attack with his Maul moving it much more quickly than the Nyss thought possible.  The Trollkin continued upward with the deflection angling his attack in a spin that arced up and then downward quickly at the Hunter forcing it to roll sideways past the Trollkin to avoid the attack. 

Coming to his feet quickly and to the side of the Trollkin the Nyss slashed sideways cutting a large gash up his opponent’s side from the Trolls waist all the way up to his shoulder.  Grunting with pain the Trollkin staggered forward and away as the Nyss reset his fighting position.  The Trollkin charged the small Nyss coming in at the same high angle he had before, as the Nyss gracefully began the forward roll into a dodge the Trollkin released his grip on the maul with one hand and aimed a backhand at the head of the Hunter clipping him in the ear sending him tumbling to the side.  Rolling to his feet the Nyss again scrambled backward as the Trollkin shifted his grip again grabbing his maul with both hands at the end of its shaft spinning the maul in a wide arc in the direction of the Nyss, missing again but sending him back and away from the Troll.  The Hunter feinted another step back luring the Trollkin to step forward toward him then stepped inside the reach of the Troll stabbing straight the Trolls abdomen.  Reacting quickly the Trollkin slapped at the incoming blade knocking it downward and straight into his leg pushing though it to the hilt.  Reversing his grip the Nyss began to pull it out hoping to sever the Trollkin’s leg completely.  Dropping his maul the Trollkin grabbed the Nyss by both hands and proceeded to smash the Nyss’s face with his forehead sending the Hunter stumbling back.

The Hunter’s eyes blurred and the blood from his now broken nose that spewed all over his chest.  Staggering backward and away from the Troll expecting the Maul to crush his face at any moment the Nyss waited.  Spitting out blood his eyes cleared enough to see the Trollkin on one knee blood gushing from the wound in his leg unable to stand.  Having extracted the claymore the Troll grabbed his maul with one hand and smashed it into the claymore on the ground shattering the blade.  The Nyss drawing a long knife from his belt enraged at the loss of his claymore charged at the nearly immobile Trollkin.  With one hand the Trollkin swung the maul out low forcing the Nyss to jump straight up to avoid the weapon.  Arcing sideways and over the Troll the Nyss slashed downward with his short knife cutting a long line on the Trollkin’s face from the side of its cheek all the way up its scalp cutting into his face and head but unable to penetrate the humanoid’s thick skull.  Landing softly and rolling away again the Nyss nearly lost his balance from the disorientation that lingered from the head-butt.  All calm gone from the Nyss he charged the Trollkin again thinking to end the flight with a quick slash to the beast’s throat.  Again the Trollkin swung his maul out with one hand this time high forcing the Nyss to duck and roll forward.  Shifting his grip the Trollkin moved his right hand up the maul’s shaft to its head and stepped painfully toward the rolling Nyss.  As the hunter came to its feet the Trollkin punched the maul into the Hunters shoulder shattering the bones in the Nyss’s upper arm and collarbone. 

Dizzy and nearly unable to stand the Nyss hurried back up the ravine blood running down his face, arm unusable, bow and sword gone.  He could no longer hear the Trollkin but dared not stop; thinking any moment the fierce Troll would be on him...

On both knees in the clearing the Trollkin watched as the Hunter sped away, unable to pursue, or even stand he hoped the assassin would not visit him again anytime soon.  Falling forward onto his hands staring hard at the ground trying to stay conscious he realized he wasn’t fighting a small human but an elf, he had never seen one of them before.  Eyes blurring his face hit the dirt and he lay still, nearly dead the gaping wound in his leg and up his side began to heal slowly... ever so slowly.

Homebrew ~ Horthol, Long Rider Lord

Horthol, Long Rider LordSpd: 7
Str: 9
Mat: 8
Rat: 4
Def: 14
Arm:19
Cmd: 10
Fury: 5
Beast Points: +6
18 Boxes

WeaponsBison’s Might
Pow 7
P+S 15
Reach
Magical Weapon
Critical Smite - On a critical hit, this model can slam the model hit instead of rolling damage normally. The model hit is slammed
d6˝ directly away from this model and suffers a damage roll with POW equal to this modelʼs STR plus the POW of this weapon.
The POW of collateral damage is equal to this modelʼs STR.

Thunder
MountPow 15
Critical Knockdown

Steady

Bull Rush
Long Rider Lord – When determining distance to friendly Long Riders for any spells, effects, or feats from this model double the total possible distance being measured. Long Rider Units become FA: 2

Elite Cadre Long Riders(same as written)

Follow Up

Line Breaker

FeatModel/Units starting their activations in this model’s control area gain Pathfinder, +2spd, may Charge, Slam or Trample for free. Large Based models effected by the feat become Calvary Models and gain the Calvary Charge Rule and may make Impact Attacks. Medium and Small Based models may make a Light Calvary move at the end of their activation.

Spells

Carnage 3
Friendly Faction models gain +2 to melee attack rolls against enemy models in this modelʼs control area. Carnage lasts for one
turn.

Killing Ground 2
Friendly Faction models beginning a charge in this modelʼs control area gain Pathfinder ICON. Warbeasts in this modelʼs
battlegroup beginning their activations in this modelʼs control area can charge or make slam power attacks against enemy
models without being forced. Killing Ground lasts for one turn.

Defender’s Ward 2
Target friendly Faction model/unit gains +2 DEF and ARM.

Grapeshot

Like most Trollkin warlocks, Grim was a bit leery around Dire Trolls.  When he first heard that wiley old Shaman Hoarluk Doomshaper had brought them forth he could only chuckle with apprehension.  That all changed for him the day he found Cannonball.  Grim was helping Doomshaper track a pair of Maulers that had run off into the woods after rampaging through a camp of Farrow Brigands they had hired on the day before.  It wasn't hard, the two Maulers were young and not particularly bright even by Dire Troll standards.  After a few hours Hoarluk motioned to Grim that he could feel Dire Trolls up ahead.  Grim belly crawled up a ridge to get a good view, as he focused in with his goggles he saw the two Maulers fighting over what looked to be one of the missing Farrow from the camp.  Hoarluk, almost arrogantly, walked up towards the Maulers with no fear whatsoever.  Grim had to give it to the crotchety old Troll, he had stones.   As Grim scanned some rocky outcroppings through his scope the unsettling feeling came across him that he was being watched.   Looking hard at the outcropping he understood what he was feeling at the same time his eyes adjusted on the Earthborn hidden cleverly between two boulders.  The Earthborn appeared to be staring right at him.  As unnerving as it is to be inspected by a Dire Troll it was uncommon to stare a Dire Troll in the eyes and see intelligence staring back at you... at least intelligence by Dire Troll standards.   Grim rubbed his eyes and replaced the goggles to make sure he was seeing what he though he was seeing but the Earthborn had moved out of sight. 

Awesome Armies ~ Hoarluk Doomshaper, Rage of Dhunia by Just Cabal

So here it is, our final installment of Awesome Armies.  Just Cabal was nice enough to put together his version of the eDoomshaper list he likes to run.  Included on the left is a poll about the Five armies contributed.  Which do you folks like the best... you can vote for multiples if you like.

(E) Hoarluk Doomshaper +6

Earthborn Dire Troll - 10

Dire Troll Mauler - 9

Krielstone Bearer (full) - 4

- Stone Scribe Elder - 1

Trollkin Champions - 10

Troll Whelps - 2

Troll Whelps - 2

Trollkin Champion Hero - 3

Total 35 Pts

Awesome Armies ~ Grim Angus by Theummhmmguy

So this list I have been tinkering with is different, but I have found it to be simply amazing at going in for the kill.  Grim Angus and his pair of Earthborn Dire Trolls that I have named Cannonball and Grapeshot.  The idea with this list is simple, send in your Earthborns to take em out.   Ideally I play this list at 25pts, and though I don't intend my 25pt list to be Tooth & Claw... it is, but when I extend to 35 I throw in a little ranged and call it good.  Before I get too far into it here is the list;

35/35
Grim Angus (*6pts)
* Troll Axer (6pts)
* Troll Impaler (5pts)
* Earthborn Dire Troll (10pts)
* Earthborn Dire Troll (10pts)
Pyg Bushwackers (Leader and 9 Grunts) (8pts)
Stone Scibe Chronicler (2pts)

Nightfall Review ~ Solos

Fel Caller Hero ~ He is an animal.  Who would have though all you had to do was increase his RAT a little and he would become a killing machine?  I like him on offense much more than I used to, but losing the ability to buff RAT & MAT still stings a little every time I use him.  Nightfall killing machine he should have been... spraying five sword knights in one attack = good.  Hitting one of them = Bad.  Not killing the one he hit = Insulting.  Redemption came in the form of a mostly dead unit of exemplars in another game but the lack of damage was already done.

Nightfall Rating 3 Stars
Least Favorite Band ~ Kriss Kross

Eric the Red

For a long time now I have been creating short pieces of fluff about some of my models.  Like my  tribe of Pygmies and their Blitzer they take care of.  One of those pieces of fluff that has emerged in my battle reports is about one certain Hero, "who until recently had not yet been named' and his seemingly futile efforts to get the attention of Grissel.  So without further ado, here is my newest painted model and some fluff on where he came from.

TROLLKIN CHAMPION HERO... ERIC "THE RED"  (BETTER PHOTO SOON)

(Excerpt from the writings of the Privateer Press book, 'Metamorphosis')
For hours he held his ground until the very earth was soaked with the blood of their dead. I lost count of how many fell before they ended him.

~Helgin Kith Elder Bortas, after fighting in the Thornwood

Player Spotlight ~ Goran75

Known to us on the PP forums as Goran75 he is a painter extraordinaire and of course awesome because he plays Trolls.  I sent him a small handful of questions and here are his responses.


Q. How long have you played WM/Hordes, and what got you started?
A. Been playing about 3 times a month for two years or so. Before that I was a 40k fiend (black Templars, Eldar). unfortunately, lately, I have been going through chemo to kick rectal cancer in the *** (eh, get it, subtle humor that). so sadly, I dont have the umph to game at the moment, somedays watching TV is taxing. dont worry this phase is just about over.

Bring the Pain!

So here is my shortlist of my new favorites in MKII. Yeah there are some other good and awesome things, Borka and Fenn Blades I'm looking at you two.

rMadrak - I have always loved him and his surefoot defense buffing goodness. Add in some Carnage and Snap fire and good gravy he is better than usual.

Grim Angus - A feat that is to die for, this Troll controls the battlefield better than he ever did in MKI. Now with the ability to grant hunter, a gun that will blow your shorts off, and a netgun that will make you wish you didn't get too close this Troll is the complete package for scenario play.

Troll Stories, by Von

No, I'm not talking about the Stone Scribe Chronicler. Not yet, anyway.

I still don't have my new Trollblood army sorted out (still waiting for December's pay, and waiting to see how much of that I get to keep - it might be closer to Easter before I can actually afford the army), but while we're waiting for all that nonsense, I'd like to talk for a bit about one of my favourite things about Trollbloods.

It's the IKRPG.

See, I have mixed feelings about much of the IKRPG content. Most of it is superbly well developed, in particular the four actual Iron Kingdoms and the Protectorate, and the religions. Some of it - the Iosans and the Rhulfolk in particular - lies closer to conventional fantasy territory, a redressing of archetypes rather than a reinvention of them in the strictest sense of the word.

The trollkin, however, are something genuinely clever. They occupy that slightly awkward nice of the half-orc; the noble savage who's never going to entirely fit, but they extend it so much beyond the rather limiting "somehow a human and an orc made a baby and that baby grew up big and green/small and pink and awkwardly caught between societies" of the stock species.

They're not developed as extensively as the humans are, but they're done in the same style. They have regional variations (between the Gnarls, Scarleforth, Thornwood, Wyrmwall, Bloodstone and Scharde kriels) like the humans' national-border-crossing ethnicities; they have religious tensions, between the angry, vengeful, red-in-tooth-and-claw aspect of the Ravaged Mother and the gentler earth-mother perspective on Dhunia; they have a distinctive architecture; a marvellous balance between integration with wild trolls and reluctant participation in industrial society, with urban trollkin and Boomhowler and co. and now Bull and the Cryxian Bloodgorgers all part of an advancing world not quite their own; and, my favourite part (I think) they have some customs like the Glimpse of the Mind and the fell callers and the various quitari and the trollshen that indicate a deep culture that's quite alien compared to much of the Iron Kingdoms. And they have that marvellous language, even if it does look a bit like cod-Klingon.

They're one of the most developed non-human species in the Iron Kingdoms, and one of the most interesting from an archetypal standpoint. That's what convinced me to give them a whirl when my gaming group of yore picked up Hordes and chose a faction apiece, and when we were designing our characters for an IKRPG game (I'm still sad that I never got to play my Fell Caller): that, and I thought the Blitzer looked comical.

Skegg

Skegg supposed he was stealthy by Troll standards, but he wasn't so sure that measured up to some of the other races. These Nyss Hunters were fantastic at moving sliently through the woods. As he watched them they rooted out handfuls of Cygnarian scouts with little trouble at all. As he watched them at work, noting the expert ways they handled their bows and claymores, their leader became clear. A Nyss woman whom at first he didn't even notice, was clearly in charge, that and clearly better at everthing than the rest of her unit of hunters. Their leader told them to setup camp right where they were, a bad sign for Skegg since at the moment he was predening to be a rock that one of them had sat on to take watch on the edge of the clearing. He supposed it would be a long night, so he starting trying to learn how many were there and which ones were the best at what they did. As he watched and listened he noticed two others that were with these hunters, but seemed to be working of thier own accord. The first one he had seen, the second he learned of from the Nyss sitting on him.

The first one obviously a Nyss, but young looking, seemed to be constantly muttering to herself constantly. As Skegg watched her begin to practice with her bow it became immediately clear that she was better than most the other hunters with it. She would shoot one arrow at a tree, take a pace back then draw and shoot as quickly as he had ever seen, planting the first arrow directly below the first until there was a long line of arrows down the tree. The man sitting on him began to speak as Skegg cursed under his breath for not noticing another hunter walk up, "She is pretty Cael, but remember how quickly she killed that fellow that attacked her." The other man, Cael, chuckled almost sadly,"yes that one is both pretty and dangerous, but she has proven herself to us. That shooting of hers is probably better than Celena herself." The still un-named hunter sitting on him noted, "Well yes, but her Iosian friend makes them a deadly duo. You are the best I have seen Cael, but that Iosian Kyla would take you apart and not even blink a hint of emotion about it." "I suppose you're right Jeffe, but those soulless are just disconcerting. I can see why the Iosians blame humans for the condition, though I am not sure it is their fault. Anyway, Celena wants to talk to you and it is my watch."

With that the two Nyss men both departed, one walked into the forest and seemed to vanish while the other headed to find his leader. Skegg scanned the encampment but couldn't see the Iosian Kyla, not seeing her with his eyes he stretched out his limited abilities and immdediately found the absence of magical energy. He released his magic and squinted through the dusk finally seeing her, another young looking female this one Iosian sitting perfectly still and showing little emotion at all. As he watched the girl drew two wicked looking blades and began to work through a routine that was both impressive and impossible for a Troll to accomplish.

Skegg began musing about his Troll lineage, it was pretty impressive after all. It was also the reason he was named Kithless. His grandfather was a very good Fel Caller in his day not to mention his prowess with the sword, of course his grandfater also lost his mind, murdered most of of kith and mated with a Pyre Troll and then got eaten by the same Pyre Troll. That child was his mother, and she was a very good mother even though she was a bit of an outcast due to her lineage. She possed all the abilities of both her parents. His other grandfather was just as glorious, he was nothing more than a farmer for his Kith, not a bad way to live working off the land. This grandfather drank too much even by Troll standards, which is impressive to say the least. One evening he went out to investigate sounds coming from his brewbarn and found a very inebriated Slag Troll. It was strange having two grandfathers fall to the same fate, but his father was an interesting Troll, with the Orneryness of his mother and the stupidity of his father dad was a poor one at best. His mother never told him how he was born, and she never would since her father took himself and his mother to Dhunia in a fit of rage one night. It was his father's crimes that labeled him Kithless, and truth be told it was probably a good thing.

He was an interesting Troll for sure. He had some marginal Fel Caller ability, though it was really only good for soothing the lesser of the Troll beasts. It did give him needed help from the occaisional Slag or Pyre Troll when he got in a tight spot. He could fight almost as well as any Fel Caller with two swords, though he had taken to carrying a mace in one hand and a sword in the other. If he was hungry he could eat metal thanks to his grandmothers physiology, though it hurt when he did it. And if he really needed some help he could spit small amounts of molten acid and fire onto his hands or weapons or even at his enemies. He was smaller than most light beasts and half-Trolls, but was suprisingly agile for a Troll. His regeneration was unparralled, it seemed he had all the regeneration of a Dire Troll packed into his smallish frame. It sure made him hungry all the time though.

He wanted to be fighting on the front lines with what he considered to be his Kith and Kriel. When he had went to Grissel to ask if he could fight though, she reminded him of his position with all Kriel. He of course reacted agrily and spit at her tent, forgetting about his spit, it burned her tent down. He decided then and there he would help as best he could from a distance, dispatching Cygnarrian scouts and troops wherever he found them crossing Grissel's West flank. The tiring part about it was hiding from Grissel's troops at the same time. He supposed Grissel was offended that he had any Warcaster and Fel Caller ability at all. He was hardly a warcaster, when compared to the great leaders and Troll shamans in this war his abilities were marginal. Even for a Troll what he was, well it was hard to swallow for most Kriel. Too many of them grouped him into the same categories as Boomhowler for his taste, though he heard that Boomhowler might actually be helping Grissel, it was probably in spite of Grissel.

Skegg's musing were inturrupted by a runner coming into Celena's camp, "Grissel asks that you come to the front immediately, her West flank is collapsing" As the camp of hunters, immediately set off to Grissel's aid Skegg reached out in his mind to his brothers. Bark the Slag Troll and Lit the Pyre Troll did not even need to be asked upon seeing his intentions and were soon heading the same way the Nyss Hunters and their two young friends did. Regardless of Grissel's feelings toward Kitless and bastard Fel Callers, he would do what he could. Besides that, Bark and Lit were sure that Skegg could get his arm cut off and grow it back fast enough to pick his mace back up and kill whatever cut it off. They were determined to give Skegg any opportunity to prove them wrong. As the three of them ran towards the oncoming battle Bark let out his signature Barking Roar and lit just howled, in fact Skegg found himself mimicing their enthusiam...

Harmek the Bloodletter

So the Trollblood forums of at Privateer Press regualarly post stats for models they wish would be released including a trio of Pygmy Troll Grim Angus Wanna Be's and a Light Troll Beast that can call down lightning.

I have always wanted a focus/fury caster, so I came up with one. Here is what I posted on the Privateer Press Forums a few days ago.

Harmek the Bloodletter.
Old Champion Kithkar who lost his unit long ago do a particularly nasty Black Troll. As the Troll feasted on the remains of his comrades his mind connected with an old Dire Troll in the hills. Shortly before he lost conciousness he saw the form of an Earthborn carry him away. When he awoke he was alone and will never know why the Dire Troll saved him, but since then his Warlock potential was released. For a time he traveled kithless from clan to clan as a Hero performing what good deeds he could, but the nightmares of the Black Troll kept him on the move. As time passed he became absorbed with ridding the Iron Kingdoms of every evil menace he could, hopefully ending with the Troll responsible for killing his Troll Brothers. Early in his wanderings he hired on as Pirate mercenary and proved to be quite adept and ridding merchants of undesireables. As he sailed he immediately took an interest in the steamjacks that the merchants used. After years of picking up knowledge here and there he became Adept and fixing the jacks, being able to lift parts of them back into place with one hand to fix them he left his fellow human mercenarys in awe of his strength, though he never noticed how strong he had become. His devotion to his comrades always left them wanting to fight by his side. After the Skorne invasion he felt the tug to return to help the Trollbloods find peace but resisted for a time not wanting to leave the mercenary life and the jacks he had fixed over time. His mind was made up for him when the boat he was on was attacked by a Cryxian warship, he fought bravely but they were overrun and would all soon die when he stared at a Mule he had spent many hours working with and willed it to attack, it did by blowing up half the ship taking the Cryx with it. When the battle was over the ship was his but at a great cost, him and a small number of the humans with him, with that he took the ship to dock used all his savings to repair it and headed to his kith with everything in the cargo hold... it happened to be a delivery of steamjacks.

Fury 3, Focus 3

Harmek's armies may include
Any Trollblood unit.
Any basic Merc Jack.
Any Trollkin Mercenary
Celena Reyfall and her Nyss Hunters.

STR 10
MAT 6
RAT 5
SPD 6
DEF 15
ARM 16

CMD 8

ATTACKS:
Studded Guantlet PS 15
Studded Guantlet PS 15
Special Action Combo Strike PS 18

ABILITES:
Fearsome - Enemy models in melee range must make a command check or flee.
Get em Boys - On a successful charge attack enemy Trollblood models in his command range gain +2 to Hit with melee or ranged attacks.
Mental Shift - Harmek may spend one Focus or Fury to make all remaining Focus or Fury become the same. Harmek can only do this once per round during the maintainance phase directly after leeching fury or gaining focus but before allocating focus.

*Note: Harmek cannot use Focus to Heal Warbeasts or Use Fury to Boost his jacks.
SPELLS:
Courage of Friends Range 8 Cost 3 Upkeep - Target Unit gains +2 Def and Cannot be knocked down as long as they are in formation with each other. Effect lasts for one round.
Gale Force Range CNTRL Cost 3 - Harmek throws himself at his enemies with unnatural speed and vigor and gains boundless charge, The Ferocity of his attack gain him boosted attack dice for his first melee attack.
Tune-up Range 8 Cost FOCUS 1 - Harmek can repair d3 damage from any friendly warjack.
Beatial Protection Range 8 Cost Fury 2 - Target Warbeast gains counter-charge for one round against target enemy model that ends its movement within 6" of it or Harmek. Each model affected my Beastial Protection May only Counter-charge once per round.

FEAT: Return the Favor - Once per game Harmek may completely restore any Warjack in his battlegroup or Completely restore a Warbeast that began the game with him. Warjack or Beast must be placed within 3" of Harmek and cannot performs actions this turn.


A man can dream can't he? More confusing to play and the fact that a Trollkin Impaler and a Mule or Mariner would be downright nasty means probably never...

Stryker Suggests Wargames To Madrak In Preparation For The PKA.

Link to BACK STORY

Madrak was still very unsure about this recent alliance with Cygnar. In light of what was happening to Grissel he could not understand why one part of Cygnar would fight them while the other part would help him. Either Leto did not have control over all its army or he gave each group more latitude then they should. Of course who was he to talk, his kith were sometimes just as likely to attack each other as they would an enemy.

"Our Warlocks practice against each other in Mock Combat," Madrak suggested to Stryker, "It keeps us sharp and helps us to learn our strengths and weakness." Stryker would have to remind himself that though some of the Trolls were not very smart, some of them were indeed quite intelligent... "We do much the same with our Cygnar armies, what say you to a match then to sharpen our wits," Stryker almost goaded Madrak, "Rowdy grows restless, and I fear without an outlet our armies may decide that the PKA is an enemy to far away." Stryker was hoping to get a better look at the way these Trolls fought on the field. He could easily see that with their technology his ranged attacks would tear apart these Trolls, as they seemed to have very little in the way of ranged weapons and the ones they did have were either old Cygnar guns or crude sticks. "It is time for war then," Madrak grinned to Stryker as he Grabbed Rathrok with both hands and flung it at a nearby Tree, splintering it. As the Axe reappeard in his hands, he gripped the Axe haft with both hands flexing. Stryker knew intimidation tactics when he saw them. "Let us work out the rules of our mock fight then," Stryker said as he turned to walk towards his tent. On his way the earth shook under Madrak's feet making him stumble and almost fall...
We played a 500pt Duel in preparation for our upcoming Escalation Tournament. Our terrain looked something like this. Only rough terrain are the rocks in the middle.

My List.
Points: 499
Model Count: 11
Victory Points: 17

Madrak Ironhide Points: 64
Slag Troll Points: 70
Troll Impaler Points: 75
Dire Troll Mauler Points: 111
Fell Caller Points: 35
Trollkin Hero Points: 38
Trollkin Champions [5] Points: 106

His List (I think)
Points: 496
Model Count: 17
Victory Points: 18

Commander Coleman Stryker Points: 64
> Squire Points: 18
> Thorn Points: 93
> Ol' Rowdy Points: 121
Journeyman Warcaster Points: 25
Black 13th Gun Mage Strike Team [3] Points: 77
Stormguard [9] (3 added) Points: 98

We rolled off and he won and so decided to go first.

Deployment

Cygnar - He deployed on the top of the map with his B13 behind the Trees, Stormguard, Rowdy, Stryker, Squire in the middle and journeyman on the far left.
Trolls - Its Madrak so I bricked up middle right, Hero on the left flank, Fel Caller on the right, Slag and Imp in back, Mauler left of the Hero and Madrak in the middle.

Turn 1
Cygnar - He Snipes the B13, they move up into the trees and hit my middle Champ for 4 damage. Yeap shooting 25" or some such nonsense. Stormguard advance up the middle with Rowdy behind them and Stryker behind him with the Squire. Journeyman and Thorn go left.
Trolls - So without gobbers and the KSB I am feeling a little exposed and screwed. I run to my right a little towards the B13 but only about 8", Champs go V-formation Maddy surefooted in the middle with the two lights bringin up the rear. The Mauler stays left runs his full 10" twowards the rocks.

"Let them taste our range boys," Stryker said over his comm to the Black 13th, "they are tougher than most humans, but even they cannot withstand our barrage for long". Without hesitation they moved up and unloaded on Madrak's front lines.

Turn 2

Cygnar - He kills my point Champ, and nails Madrak with the B13, I take 10 damage with one hit and opt to scroll the 14 damage from the next hit instead of pushing it off. His SG run over in front of the trees and Rowdy moves up to countercharge position. Thorn runs up Mauler gets Eartquaked down and he gets hurt decent.
Trolls - Champs run to engage the SG, Mauler does the same to Rowdy after the Fel Caller stands him up. Madrak Surefoots while the Hero blocks the lane to him on the left. Farstrike the Slag and end up with no fury. Slag moves up and hurts Rowdy boosting damage, good hit but Rowdy chooses where it goes. Impaler goes for a slam and misses but the two have Maddy's left flank covered.


Turn 3

Cygnar - Mauler dies a Horrible death to Rowdy and Slag gets near killed as well. He does some CMA on Champs do little. My Slag gets hurt a little. Not much else since he put most his effort into killing the Mauler. He feats giving all his crap +5 armor add in arcane shield to Rowdy and he is ARM 18. The SG are ARM 23.
Trolls - My Fel Caller Tries to charge the far right SG and misses on both hits. The Champs hit alot but only get through the armor on a couple of them. Hero decides to sacrifice himself and charges up to Rowdy's base going after Stryker but misses and can't damage on the backswing. Slag does no damage to Thorn and the Impaler hits for no damage as well. I'd say his feat worked great. Madrak actually tries stonefall in an attempt for a critical, yeah its a pretty good critical against WM... He doesn't get it.

Madrak was impressed by Strykers command of his army, they did not leave him many openings and forced him to react to their movements. Seings his beasts nearly out of the fight he knew he was about about to lose and decided to go for broke. "Champions ready your blades and slice through their lines," Madrak bellowed as he turned to the Hero, "Grissel sends you to me with high praise, show me why she thinks so highly of you and she will hear of your glory directly from me!" The Hero gritted his teeth and set to work on yet another human Warlock.

Turn 4
Cygnar - He CMA's the Champs again nearly killing the one blocking los to Madrak. Rowdy the Journeyman and Thorn kill the Slag and leave the Imp with 1 wound left. The B13 have to move and end up missing a few on Madrak leaving him with 5 health. Stryker tries to kill the Hero along with one of the B13 but the only do 5 damage. What good is retalitory strike when the dude hitting you can use ranged attacks in melee?
Trolls - Knowing I am dead I decide to go for it, Madrak moves up to the Champs uses Guided Hand on the Champs and the Hero then feats, the Champs Crusher all remaining stormguard, the last Champ gets the B13 dude engaging the Hero and takes a couple swings at Stryker doing a little damage. The Fel Caller WarCrys the Hero then Hero then takes a shot at Stryker hitting him for 10 damage, his backswing also hits delivering the killing blow. Gooo Hero.

As much as it pained Stryker to see his army lose even when his opponent seemed to be ready to fall apart he had to give Madrak praise. It appeared that this Troll was indeed worthy of Leto's friendship, pity it had gone they way it did for a full fledge alliance with the Trolls could strike fear into the hearts of their enemies and bring peace to the Trollbloods and Cygnar. It was wishful thinking of course but hopefully the good they did here would count for something against Cygnar's current relationship with the Trolls. His voice crackled accross the comm to his army, "well fought, luck is on thier side today, with them the PKA stands no chance... now reset we go again at 1800 hours," Stryker smiled to himself as he planned to take on Madrak again.


Synopsis - He had me on the ropes right from the start and did a great job of taking out my crap without me being able to do much about it. Surefoot and Champs in Melee will always be amazing unless MKII kills it. One more turn would have had me dead no matter what so I went for the kill and got lucky. I almost always forget how good Crusher is until I use it, and no I don't use it every game, the oppotunity doesn't always present itself.

PKA Tries to stop Grissel with eFeroa, Grissel Sends Feroa home trussled and tied.

"Madrak's bad luck seems to be our own," Grissel commented to the young Fel Caller. She had sent the young Caller ahead with the unit of Kriels and the two beasts just two days ago and already he had returned with a particularly nasty Slag Troll and an Earthborn that was just a little too smart for a Dire Troll. "We saw a contingint of Menites heading straight towards you on our way to Madrak so he sent back some firepower for you," the young Fel Caller grinned as he pointed over at the Earthborn, "He has been teasing the Slag Troll the whole way here, he keeps pouring seasoning on the Slag every time it isn't paying attention." Grissel was always amazed at the antics of the big beasts, but she remained wary of all the Dire Trolls preferring some of the smaller more intelligent beasts over their larger cousins. Where were the Imaplers, Axers, and Bouncers when she needed them?

Dhalia appeard at Grissels side, "It is Feroa as pompous as ever, she intends to make you pay for taking down that Butcher fellow last week." Grissel Grimaced at the thought, first they had a whole section of the Cygnar army trying to prove themselves by wiping out her race and she keeps running into these PKA folks. Why Khador and Menoth would ally themselves might be of concern for Victor next time she saw him, for now she just wanted a long drink from the newest brew out of Borka's Pygmie brewers. They called it Whelp Ale, and though she was reasonably sure they didn't acutally make it out of Whelps, she had taken a liking to it.

"Longriders take the flank to the East when the ground is more open for your Buffalo the rest of us will take to the Trees and hit them from the other side." Grissel grinned inspite of herself, her primal instinct to fight coming out after this errand had become one battle after another. Even though she didn't want to kill them for no reason, she did enjoy battle. She saw the Menites arrayed in standard formation accross the field and so begun her advance singing to lighten the feet of the Longriders as they went. The Menites looked suprised at her speed, but did not seem to be caught off guard. She heard Dhalia call out from her right and saw her surrounded by some very dangerous looking Menite women while her pet snake seemed affixed on a big big Jack in front of him. As Grissel and her beasts moved to deal with them her own beasts began advancing on the jack immediately after killing them all. "Go get em boys," she sang loud enought that her whole army surged forward to smash the Menite front lines

She sang a song of Battle to her Champions as two large explosions erupted in front of them spewing fire all over them. Truely those were the best of the Troll crop as they continued to fight even as they burned to death. Her Longriders seemed to be bogged down with some particularly crazy looking Menites, but they were killing them hopefully fast enough to help on the flank. Through her bond she found the Slag and Earthborn actually egging each other on and competing with each other to see which one could take out the Menite steam jacks the fastest, she encouraged them on watching the Eartborn rip the large jack apart with his bare hands that looked shaped like giant swords while the Slag Trolls Spittle dissolved the rocket firing jack. She let out a chuckle that seemed to mirror that of the Earthborn as they all turned their attention on Feora and the big jack in front of her. She was proving to be difficult stepping into fire at one place and emerging from one a small distance away lighting everything on fire as she moved away from it.

True to form the burning Champions were already hacking away at the lone remaining Menite jack while one of thier Hero's went after a unit of tough looking well co-ordinated Menites that had caught the Eartborn's attention. "Time for us to put this fool caster down," Grissel said to Dhalia as a stray rocket knocked her out of the fight. Grissel began a song of hope to her army that seemed to buzz in Feroa's ears.

Ready to use her fire to retreat, Feroa began casting the spell when for some reason it wouldn't work. She shook her head to clear her mind but found herself unable to do so. Looking up to get her bearings she found herself face to face with Grissel and the very large Troll beast responsible for tearing her Avatar apart. Still pious to the end Feroa glared at Grissel, "You will pay for my destruction you sub-human whore." As Feora brought her staff to bear, Grissel's own hammer resounded from Feroa's skull knocking her unconcious.

When she awoke she found that she was in a secluded clearing with Grissel and her big Troll. "Do your worst my God will protect me," Feroa spat at Grissels feet.

"Your God does not save you this day woman, I do," Grissel spat barely able to keep herself of smashing in this woman's skull and making it into a soup bowl. "I seek only the survival of my people, not the murdering of anyone in the Iron Kingdoms. Know this, if you attack my people again you will pay for it with your life."

At that Grissels song lifted and Feroa stepped into her fire to get as far away from this Troll woman as possible. Feora would have to rethink her position on the intelligence of the Trolls, she did not think however, that she would rethink her feelings that they were an abomination that needed to be rid of from the Iron Kingdoms. She would see this 'Grissel' again, and the next time she would make her pay with her life for her insolence.

Grissel Beats Down The Butcher...

Grissel wasn't expecting to see any Khadorians let alone 'The Butcher' himself. She had never seen him on the battlefield but knew his reputation well. Not only did she not expect to see The Butcher, she did not expect him to have with him one of the biggest Warjacks she had ever seen. Having only two small Beasts with her she could only hope her small unit of Champions and the pair of Heroes would be able to take care of business.

Grissel had thought Madrak sent her on a fools errand to meet yet another hireling to help their cause, now she felt this errand foolish indeed. As she picked up a rousing song for her troops an eerie melody joined in and compimented her song. As the large jack opened fire she saw a large Snakelike creature flanking the Khadorians and knew she had found not only a hireling as Madrak had suggested but a much needed ally in the upcoming fight. "Those big jacks cannot hope to catch us, get around them to the living and take them apart," As always Grissels voice carried over even the sounds of fire coming from Khadorian guns.

Their suprise at that shadowed only their shock at the speed in which the Trolls were on them.
"No matter the loss of the Troopers," The Butcher mumbled to the hound next to him, "My Behemoth and Beast-09 will show these wretched Trolls why they do not belong in the Iron Kingdoms"

CerealJon over at Getting Small took pity on me and scheduled in a quick 500pt match earlier today. Grissel vs The Stupid Retarded Butcher of I can kill whatever the heck I want to in one hit.

Okay really Grissel didn't do much. It was dieing Champs and Charging Heroes that took care of Business. I will p0st a battle report detailing the futility of playing Khador when you are really a Menite. Sorry CerealJon... after the whooping you gave me last week, payback feels great.

Borka's Bomb. (Trying my hand at storytelling a preview to tomorrow nights finals)

Borka had come to realize that Madrak must have duped him into going after the old stone, he would have to give old Ironhide more credit next time they got in a fight. He couldn't complain of course, it had been eventful to say the least. Borka had seen a handful of casters with small contingints of Warjacks or Beasts.

Madrak must have known Borka would get the action he so clearly craved...

"That pale skinned, cursed Troll is becoming as wiley as an elder shaman... I'll have to buy him a drink," Borka said to the Pyg next to him who was once again bathing in the beer he was supposed to be carrying. At least Borka got to bring his favorite Impaler Gug, but the Mauler and Slag Troll belonged to Madrak and it seemed they were two of the dumbest Trolls he had ever had the opportunity to drink with.

His opinion was fast changing of those two though. His first direct encounter was with a Warwitch from Cryx, and though Gug had a spectacular shot taking out the witch's Jack that she used to bounce spells at him, he had nearly paid for it with his life at the hands of one of those wretched mechanical worms. Borka's rage and greif at losing Gug was short lived though as the Slag Troll of his own initiative walked right up to the worm and broke it clean in half. Borka saw the Cryxian whore smile and wished he was close enough to smash her head in with Trauma. Briefly remembering something Madrak said about flying lessons must have gone accross his bond to the Mauler who promtly picked up Borka and sent him sailing in her direction. Laughing at his sudden turn of fortune Borka caved in her skull. He turned to see the Pyg handing some food to Gug nursing a beer, his bond to Borka reappaering, "Good idea Gug, I'll have one too."

No sooner had the Pyg sat back down to bathe in Borka's beer then they heard the growling of Ravagers. Drinking down the last few drops he used his link to tell his beasts to group up as the Seraph began hitting them with its Blight Strike. "Gug that Carnivean is too far away," Borka said, but Gug just looked down the shaft of his spear and bent it a little before sticking it Roman style into the Carni sending it flying back. The Mauler jumped in front of Borka without hesitation taking the first few hits from the Ravagers and prepared to catch the Canivean. Feeling the Rage of the Mauler seep through the bond and his courage bouyant from the aid of the Pyg, Borka looked over at the Slag Troll, it nodded and lifted Borka off the ground. Borka rolled to his feet and in one motion charged past a Ravager and bringing Trauma to bear against what looked to be Ogrun... or at least it used to be. Even dazed from bearing the brunt of the attack the twisted Ogrun nearly made Borka pay the price for not finishing him when he had the chance... but Troll Blood is tougher than others. One more swing put the ugly Ogrun down for good.

Celebrating not one, but two victories this day Borka drank to his good fortune and vowed once again that he owed Madrak a drink for getting him the fights he'd been looking for. "Get out of my beer you stinking Pyg and pour me another drink," Borka chuckled, this Keg Carrier was unique and had lived longer than most of his Keg Carriers of past battles. After a few hours of rest and heavy drinking a sharp warning came accross the bond from Gug, his excitement at the prospect of more Ravager meat for dinner was clear.

Borka's roar was barely distinguishable from that of the Mauler as he welcomed the sight of more Everblight fools, this time a competent looking female standing over the remains of a heavily armored Cynarian.