Stormvault campaign: Maggotkin vs Stormcast Eternals, 2019.10.08

Introduction

'Great Virulax...' - wheezed the Bringer of the Pox. 'We are getting dangerously close to Lethis. Surely the defenders will not let our passage be unforgiven...'

'Oh come now, Bringer' - said Virulax, affectionately stroking the twisted branches of a freshly risen Feculent Gnarlmaw. 'This land will barely know our blessings. And we will not cross into the city proper. It stinks of death, but not of rebirth... it is an abhorrent place. This whole realm is dead. I long to bring life to it, but alas...'

Over the hill, the forested land gave way to a small cluster of buildings. Virulax grinned, speech forgotten. There will be humans there, and they will know the gifts of the Grandfather. Unless... Virulax scoffed. The blessedly putrescent scents in the air were disrupted by the sharp tang of freshly struck lightning. The Great Unclean One pulled itself up, brandishing weapons. 

'On guard, children! Stormcast...'

Meeting Engagement: Death Pass

Battle round 1

As always, the Drones of the Plague buzzed forth to scout the enemy positions. They were met by the growls of Stormcast mounts, who had already taken offense to the beautiful Gnarlmaw sprouting near the human village.

Battle round 2

The Drones pulled back, the Bringer instructing all troops to form a defensive wall which the Stormcast could not reach. The plagueband bided its time.

Battle round 3

The Stormcast struck without mercy, annihilating Plaguebearers and Plague Drones with no chance of retaliation. Although the air rippled and a new squad of Plaguebearers marched forth to take the human settlement, the tally of death swung greatly in the Defenders' favor.

Battle round 4

Virulax took the lead, unleashing lethal magics and swinging his great rusted blade. The Sequitors and Evocators fell, and the Great Unclean One settled his great bulk on the point of interest, at the base of the hill. With more of his children clogging the streets of the human settlement, the battlefield was firmly in the hands of the daemons.

The Stormcast had lost the ground, but they made up for it in ferocity. They fell upon the remaining Plaguebearers, slaughtering them to the last. In the face of this unstoppable fury, Virulax ordered the retreat.

Aftermath

The warband gathered near the hidden realmgate, ready to depart the Realm of Death. They licked their wounds - or, rather, Virulax licked their wounds, his great slobbering tongue gathering the corruption of all his children. The Great Unclean One was in a not quite happy, not quite somber mood. He had tested the defenses of Lethis, and was rebuffed, if by the slightest of margins. Alas, the Realmstone Wand carried by the Bringer of the Pox had reached its utmost potential, and was ready to unleash death on any future enemies. Yes. All was not lost...