Battle Report - Seize the Prize Part 2

Here’s a quick summary of the battle up to this point:

·      Erestor has the ring

·      The Dwarves have killed 8 Elves

·      The Elves have killed 2 Dwarves

Turn 7:

            Erestor, deciding that his skills would be put to better use in the thick of battle, passes the ring into the care of a trusted Elven warrior. The group moves around the ruins to get a clear run to the other end of the battlefield.

The Elven archers exchange fire with the Dwarves outside the ruin, but even the Elven arrows fail to penetrate the Dwarves’ thick armour. Sniper Dwarf takes out another Elf!

Dain and two Elves fight each other to a standstill, but Durin in his wrath takes out two Elves with a single crushing blow from his axe.

Meanwhile, on the crumbling upper floor of the ruin, two Dwarves push an Elf archer off the edge. The Elf landed headfirst, and his neck was broken, much to the dismay of his comrades.

However this only served to spur on Glorfindel and an Elven warrior who each chop down a Khâzad Guard with swift and deadly slices from their Elven blades.

 

Turn 8:

            Erestor and his comrades are efficient warriors, and with flashing swords end the lives of two Dwarves. In the opposite corner of the ruins, Glorfindel continues to fight off surrounding enemies and kills another Dwarf. The axes of the Dwarves are busy too, and Dain and Durin claim a victim each. The Great Eagle screeches in pain and rage as cold Dwarf steel meets his flesh.

Turn 9:

            One of the Dwarves who pushed the Elf to his death jumped down from his lofty position to join the combat, but his friend decided he would be safer staying put.

With loud battle cries, Erurainon the Elf Captain used all his might to bring a Khâzad Guard to his doom. The mysterious power in Erestor’s Noldorin Daggers spelt death for an unfortunate Dwarf in close combat. Durin also continued his killing spree as his axe split helm and head of an Elf warrior. Truly the day was a day of heroes! (albeit rather foolish ones to be fighting each other…)

Turn 10:

            Finally, the short legs of the Dwarves catch up with the Elf bearing the ring! One Dwarf caught the Elf, raised his axe to strike and… bam! The foolish Dwarf lay dead and the two Elves whose blades cut him down looked down with sad disdain. This turn was bad for the Dwarves: the blood of another Dwarf was splashed on the stones of the ruins by three Elves. Glorfindel killed yet another Dwarf, who had leapt from a high position only to find a blade through his heart. Erestor, while charging a Dwarf, threw a slender Noldorin Dagger into the Dwarf’s head, and the Dwarf moved no more. The Eagle also swallowed a Dwarf (which was quite crunchy). Other Dwarves fell as well. Only one Elf fell in return.

Fate was with Durin and Dain, however, and Dain managed to keep alive even under five sharp spears.

Turn 11:

            Erestor the assassin kept up the deaths with another flying Noldorin Dagger in a Dwarf’s face, and they cut down a Dwarf who had charged him in close combat also. With a large gulp from the Eagle as Dwarf ranger was swallowed, the Dwarves realized with dismay that their force was broken!

Another Dwarf fell to an Elf’s blade, while Dain relied on his final fate point to survive the continuing onslaught of Elven spears.

Turn 12:

            The Elven bowfire results in a Dwarf death, and Erestor and co. take out yet another Dwarf. However, the Dwarves do kill another Elf. This was part of what we called the Eternal Fight, as the Elf spearman and a Khâzad Guard had been dueling for ages! Despite the Elf abandoning his spear and resorting to clobbering the Dwarf with his shield, the Dwarf’s heavy axe eventually beat the Elf into the ground.

Fate was on the side of the King’s Champion, who continued to battle with Glorfindel.

Turn 13:

            After being broken, Balin had to use might to remain in the battle. The sneaky Dwarf rangers, who had moved to intercept the ring-carrier along with Balin, now caught up with the Elf. He was trapped against the board edge with two angry Dwarves! He bravely defended the prize, but failed to deal any damage to his attackers.

Meanwhile, Sniper Dwarf (who had managed to avoid death unlike his fellows) was surrounded and cut down, despite his valiant efforts.

Balin used his last might to strike down the Eagle as it swooped towards him. With its final cry, the Elves chilled as they realized they had lost half of their force. The Elves were broken!

In revenge for the death of the Elf in the Eternal Fight, the banner bearing Elf stabs the Khâzad Guard who killed him and stains the fabric with the Dwarf’s blood.

Turn 14:

            Balin, having defeated the Eagle, seemed to have tired of the battle, and promptly fled! Much to the delight (and bemusement) of the Elf ring-carrier, his two attackers swiftly followed! He took the chance to make a run for the board edge.

One of the heralds suddenly had a panic attack at the sight of Glorfindel on his powerful horse and froze in his tracks. A Dwarf ranger, attempting to intercept the escaping ring-carrier, was shot in the back of the head by a keen-eyed Elven archer. Dain, however, managed to withstand a terrifying 16 attacks whilst surrounded and hence prompted a rendition of “Dain, Dain-Dain-Dain, Dain-Dain, Dain-Dain, can’t touch him…”

Turn 15:

            At last! The Elf exits the board, leaving the trail of woe behind him.

Elf minor victory!

The remaining forces:

·      Elves:

·      Dwarves

Dwarf of the Match Award goes to… Dain (can’t touch him) for outstanding sturdiness!

Elf of the Match Award goes to… Erestor, for expert assassination!

All in all it was a very enjoyable and exciting match to play (helped by the fact I won). At the end of Part 1 it seemed that the Dwarves would butcher their way to victory, but alas for them the tables turned and the Valar were with the elves. If only Aulë had given the Dwarves longer legs, they might have had a chance!

Thanks for reading!