Badruk Eadsplitta's Runt Waaagh
"It has become increasingly rare to encounter those specimens of orruks reported of in the chronicles of the Age of Myth, the Greenskinz.
Nonetheless, they are occasionally spotted in those remote corners of the Realms spared the worst of war. Perhaps is this lack of extreme conflict that prevents those Orruks from growing stronger or from being deeply touched by Gorkamorka. Besides their smaller size and comparably saner behaviour, or perhaps because of them, Greenskinz also appear to be more tollerant towards grots. It is thus not uncommon for such tribes to comprise both orruks and grots on a regular basis, rather than as an alliance spurred by the common thirst for violence.
When these Runtz, as the other orruks call them, are found by the roaming remnants of defeated Great Waaaghs, it takes very little to start them on the path of the Waaagh. These Runt Waaaghs are generally brief, but as always when orruks are involved, violent affairs. If they are not quickly stopped by determined opponents, the continuos conflicts pursued by their new leaders strengthen or madden the Greenskinz. By the time they emerge from the hinterlands, the grots have been weeded out and a new Ironjaw or Bonesplitter tribe is ready to join the nearest Great Waaagh.
One such Runt Waaagh was formed shortly after the Season of War in Ghyran. Following the horrific siege of Greywater Fastness, Ardboy Boss Badruk and his mob roamed far and wide until they stumbled upon an alliance of Greenskinz and Moonclan Grots. Badruk immediately issued a challenge to any and all bosses, orruk and grot alike. In quick succession he beheaded three orruks, but did not keep count of the grot bosses. Or perhaps they were more than five and he lost count.
As the heads were piling up, the tribe Great Shaman, Worgutz Deffskull, stepped forward, hailing Badruk as the Eadsplitta and their new Warboss. A high pitched scream of indignation came from Loonboss Gripe Neckstabba and Madcap Shaman Flug Sourtongue, but that was immediately drowned in the orruk boyz' chanting. A couple of green flashes from Worgutz eyes scorching the ground in front of the grot leaders closed the deal."
from 'The Greenskinned Menace' by Alhacleas Pyrarius
I've recently hacked the rules for AoS solo playing published in White Dwarf 458, so that I could use any model as the Adversaries, rather than just the three factions covered in the article. However, I didn't have enough models on round bases to be used as minions. So, I dug out my old Orcs & Goblins and rebased a few of them.
I had already done Badruk and the Ardboyz for Armies on Parade 2019. Since they were a matched play valid unit, I went for minimum sized matched play units for the other models, even if less are needed to play a solo campaign.
Now I have plenty of minions and bosses to play a solo campaign and, whenever it will be possible to go back to real gaming, a 1500 points army.
Since I was at it, I've also calculated how many more points I can get by rebasing the rest of the army. That will be another 1500 points allowing me to deploy either 1000 points of Gloomspite Gitz, 2000 points of Greenskinz or the whole lot as Grand Alliance Destruction army.
Anyway, that rebasing won't be done for a while. Now it is time to get some gaming done!
The Sky Dock Siege
An'sec floated away, screaming in frustration. His shape had just vanished in the distance when the amethyst energies that had built up through the whole battle erupted in a violent tornado. Some distance away from the Freebooter's Tower, the Moonclan Shamans were lifted in the air and tossed around like broken puppets. Inside the Tower, Kalyustar fell to his knees, his mind ravaged by the roaring magical energies. At the Tower'a feet, the Raidho Othalas grabbed the loot and run for shelter. Only van Toorn saw them leaving, his vision still fuzzy as he slowly came to consciousness.
***
It had taken days for the worst aftershocks of the magical upheaval to subside and allow safe Realmgate travel. Pieter van Toorn stood in front of the Haunted Gate as four heavily armoured figures emerged from the greenish light.
"Witch Hunter... why that sudden call? Venithya and its Free Companies have pressing business in much more chearful and prosperous lands", the one-eyed veteran's tone was one of veiled reproach.
"Then, Lord Captain Rodrik, ask why one of your mages has kept three Companies here, way longer than required for his original task" a flicker of rage passed through the General's good eye "But there's more. Kharadron. As always, they invoked their Sigmar-forsaken Code and turned onto us. Worse, they stroke a deal with the servants of Nagash..."
"And I guess, considering the latest developments, you don't want them to leave the area?"
"Precisely! Whatever is in their caskets goes to your men. But first, we have to find them. I've lost them in the magic storm"
"They are inside the Sky Dock, waiting for a ship" Kalyustar's voice sounded hollow behind his mask. From where he had appeared, the two men couldn't say.
"If this is true, you might have finally proven yourself, wizard" there was an icy undercurrent of menace in van Toorn's voice.
"Yet, you will have to explain your actions to the Gilded Hand Elders" as always, Captain Rodrik was just matter-of-fact. But that did not take away from the implicit threat.
I WARNED YOU THERE WILL BE NO GRATITUDE. REMEMBER WHO INFORMED YOU
Kalyustar caressed his Skull. "Should we leave these issues for later and deal with pressing matters?"
Captain Rodrik ordered the Fencers and Aurelian's Aurpards to form up together and prepare to advance. The Marksmen and Cuirassiers covered their left flank. On the right, van Toorn preared his pistol.
As Kalyustar had warned, the Raidho Othalas have had time to strenghten their hold on the Sky Dock. Every single access was manned, while their Aetherchemist supervised the defense from the Dock platform.
On the edges of Wörtbad, An'sec, the Ordeshal Riders, the White Lady and her servants approached through the parched fields.
The Rotmoons turned around Fallow End's House and emerged onto the village main square.
Whit chilling screams, the Ordeshal Riders approached the southern wall of the Skydock.
Thunderous volleys rung in all direction. Ineffective against the incorporeal Riders, bouncing off the walls of Fallow End's House, the aethershots turned out to be the undoing of van Toorn and the Cuirassiers.
As the smoke cleared, the Sky Docks were simultaneously assoulted from the north, south and the east. Kapitán da Leeva and Rockeye the Leadbelcher burst into the building, slamming onto the Kharadron Chemist.
Sheltered behind the Rose & Scythe balustrade, Kalyustar watched the fight unfold.
With the Witch Hunter gone, it is just a matter of time. Wait and see, Soulchemist, just wait!
Bortagno ad the Ordeshal Riders kept battering at the eastern gate.
On the southern wall, the White Lady burst through the press of bodies to drink deep of the Kharadron Navigator's blood.
Kapitán da Leeva's realmstone-loaded pistol belched a cloud of malevolent gheists at the Aetherchemist.
Down below, the Rotmoons cheered at the balst and rushed forward. Don Grotto hold back to land the boys moral support with his high-pitched shouts.
The second wave of the Free Companies reached the northern wall, the Aurpard's pike striking over the Fencers' heads. The Kharadron numbers were seriously reduced now.
Now Soulchemist! In a fluid motion, Kalyustar lifted the Skull. Amethyst lighting engulfed the Aetherchemist, his soul then drifting back as a purple mist. Kapitán da Leeva frothed with rage at being deprived of the kill, but the Sky Dock was safely under his control.
Pressed on all sides and without leadership, the few surviving duardin dropped their weapons and surrendered to the Free Companies. The Kharadron were let through the Free Companies lines as Captain Rodrik prepared to be charged by the Ordeshal Host.
And then, the undead retreated.
The men stood motionless, trying to understand what had happened. But none of them had noticed the dark shape darting from Kalyustar's Skull to be fondly embraced by An'sec. A faintly visible duardin's face retreated from the gheist's hand, a soundless scream pictured on its lips.
Lands of the Dead
"The wizard is right, Pieter of the Order of Azyr", the deep voice rumbled like thunder above the heads of the two men.
"Lord Ironfundson! My sword is yours to command", van Toorn bowed his head and drew the sign of Sigmar over his chest.
For his part, Kalyustar stared up, his porcelain mask reflecting the electric glow surrounding the massive Lord-Ordinator.
"We have let the trickery of this ancient Enemy fool us. No matter how, this Wizard saw through the veil of lies and misdirection. So, Witch Hunter, by Sigmar's Will, put your indignation aside. Many signs brought me here to secure what the Enemy seeks. Round up your men and join the Kharadron. There is digging to do".
A hint of frustration marred van Toorn's barked orders to the Wörtbaders and Free Companies mercenaries.
'What now, Soulchemist?' the voice came through with barely contained spite 'Will you serve under this half-soul?'
Kalyustar stood, his eyes fixed on the Stormcast. He would serve, no matter what the voice said. For now, Ironfundson was the only thing that kept van Toorn from putting a silver bullet into his chest.
The digging and mining had gone on for days, duardin and humans sweating under the pale Harrowmark sun to stash the Realmstone that laced the grounds around the Hurricane Bell. As the teams prepared for another day of toil, the Bell started to toll, the sentinels posted by Ironfundson atop the cliff pointing towards the west. An'sec, He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named, had come, and brought the most unlikely of allies with him.
The Rotmoons swarmed around one of the Realmstone stashes, a manic Grot screaming orders in his high-pitched voice. The dead crawled out of their graves and secured another.
Van Toorn gathered all men he could and strode through a copse of trees, ready to intercept the advancing An'sec.
The Rotmoons waded through the Kharadron fire and some of the duardin themselves, but were met by Lord Ironfundson at the feet of the Hurricane Bell.
An'sec and his retinue of spirits charged forward, surrounding van Toorn and cutting him out from the rest of the human warriors.
Shooting from the hip, the Raido Othalas run to support Lord Ironfundson, but their numbers were matched by more orruks.
The Fancy Fencers and Wörtbaders mounted a stoic resistance around the fallen body of van Toorn. Look at his majesty, Soulchemist! A Grot was smart enough to see it... are you any less than a savage?
As An'sec's Balefire Blade had the best of the men fighting him, a shout erupted from Kalyustar's mouth "I'm not!". A barrage of arcane bolts hit the Knight of Shrouds.
With an anguished sigh, the shape of the regal spirit started to unraveled. Then, the band of gold around his finger glared. Dark light darted away and An'Sec reformed at the feet of the Hurricane Bell.
On the other side of the rocky outcrop, the Kharadron navigator joined Ironfundson and they finally managed to fell the Rotmoon's troggoth.
The last Wörtbader standing notched an arrow and let it loose, hoping it would be enough to banish the weakened spirit. An Arkanaut leapt down from the cliff, adding his shots and cutlass to the effort. With a chilling laughter, An'sec shrugged off both attacks and drained the duardin soul, replinishing himself.
An'sec's servants were drawn to the Realmstone stash watched by Kalyustar. Straining against the voice in his head, the wizard swung his staff and banished the spirtis.
The deranged Cave-Shaman stuffed a handful of mushrooms in his mouth. The spore cloud surrounding him coalesced in a huge maw and closed around Lord Ironfundson.
The fall of the Stormcast was hailed by a deafening Waaagh! scream and the Rotmoons rushed forward. An'Sec and the Cave-Shaman watched over the field with glee.
Kalyustar and the few duardin still standing retreated. The day was lost and only a handful of Realmstone could be saved.
So, Soulchemist... what were your little heroics worth for? What did service to Sigmar brought you?
