Bullets and Blades

[Kaligula]

Hello! I just got back into my Cygnar, after a four year break. I have a Circle Orboros army, and wrote several battle reports in the style of short stories on the battle report thread The Stone and Forest, and I'm going to do that here with my Cygnar battles.

This is my first MK II game, and I love the new system! Here are the army lists that I and my opponent fielded.

Cygnar - Lt. Caine; Light Warjack Hunter, Light Warjack Charger, Arcane Tempest Gun Mages w/ Officer and Light Warjack Sentinel, Gun Mage Captain Adept, Harlan Versh, Stormsmith Stormcaller, Trencher Chain Gun Crew, Trenchers (6) w/ Officer and Sharpshooter, Captain Maxwell Finn - 35 points.

Skorne - Void Seer Mordikaar, Heavy Warbeast Titan Bronzeback, Heavy Warbeast Titan Gladiator, Agonizer, Void Spirit, Void Spirit, Ancestral Guardian, Immortals, Paingiver Tormentor and Beast Handlers, Praetorian Swordsmen - 35 points.

Caine scanned the ruins, jagged stones that once made buildings pointed out from the sand. The wind howled and whipped around the structures, blowing the sand up into Caine's face. His men grumbled under their breath, curses spat out through dirt in their teeth at the higher command.

They were on patrol, watching the east borders for signs of the traitor king or his allies, the twisted and inhuman skorne. Since the patrol had started, the Cygnarians hadn't met anything out in the sands but wind and the occasional destroyed settlement. None of the settlements were younger than fifty years, old and forgotten before any of these soldiers who walked between them were born.

Caine heard something slip into the wind, a new, strange noise. He whistled quickly, the battle group coming to a stop. Captain Finn looked back at Caine, waiting for the signal. Caine listened a moment longer, then nodded. Finn hissed orders to the other Trenchers, the soldiers sprinting past a wall and hitting the ground. The chain gun was quickly placed and locked into position, all the Trenchers pointing their rifles towards the other side of the small ruins. The sand and wind made it difficult to dig in, but each man moved enough sand to get down a little further.

The Gun Mages positioned themselves against a wall behind the Trenchers, their Sentinel primed to unleash a storm of bullets. Caine sent his Charger and Hunter ahead and to the right, each one poised to shoot anything that moved in front of them. The Stormsmith moved over and huddled near the Trenchers, the Gun Mage Captain Adept stood near the Gun Mages. The mercenary Harlan Versh kept to himself, finding a wall and ducking behind it. Caine's squire followed the warcaster as he slowly crept up towards the center of the small, abandoned town.

Louder sounds pierced the wind, the clank of metal and voices growing in volume every minute. Something big burst out from behind a wall, slamming into the Hunter that was the furthest up. It was a skorne warbeast, aa giant with tusks. The Hunter lasted only moment, ripped a part before Caine and the Charger, pieces of the fallen warjack tossed dozen of feet away.

The Charger opened up with its dual barrel cannon, the Gun Mages and Sentinel moving up to help lay down a suppressive fire. Something tall with wide shoulders and a long spear-like weapon launched itself at the Trenchers, its alien eyes fixed on Captain Finn. Finn stood up and took the charge, both falling into the foxhole and struggling to get a blade inside the other. The creature slipped its weapon in, the buckler coming down and landing on Finn's head.

As Finn blacked out two apparitions flew in and tore a part the Trencher chain gun crew. The squad of Trenchers watched in horror as their captain and fire support died or suffered a grievous wound while the rest of the enemy started to circle around. The tall creature that had fought Finn leapt away and ran to the back behind the Cygnarians, crouched behind a wall.

The Stormsmith had seen the beast move, and in turn crept over to the monster. Versh had seen the bloody fight and quickly sprinted over to where the thing had crouched down. Versh's quad barrel hand cannon was leveled as he slowed to turn the corner. the former Inquisitor saw what he had hoped wasn't, a Totem Hunter. He had heard stories of the strange beasts, their lack of communication and lust for killing.

The Stormsmith pulled on all his power, summoning a fast moving storm into the area. Under his goggles a blue glow started to seep out. As Versh fired his hand cannon a streak of lightening burst from the ground and arching up into the sky.

The Totem Hunter growled from the pain, but still crouched where it was. Its head slowly turned, the red eyes coming to rest on Versh. The ex-Inquisitor holstered his pistol and unsheathed his sword, both hands gripped the handle.

The Stormsmith was gathering his energy again, preparing to burn the monster again. The Stormsmith watched as Versh and the Totem Hunter slammed into each other, steel flashing back and forth, Versh ducking and weaving as the Totem Hunter used its buckler to deflect the slashes. The Totem Hunter spun on its heels and landed its buckler on Versh's jaw, the witch hunter falling to his back and out cold. The Totem Hunter sprinted off to crouch behind a fallen pillar as the Stormsmith followed, the black, angry clouds gathering above him again.

The Trenchers shot three of the warriors with the swords, but they charged in and killed three of them. The Trenchers stood their ground, their bayonets stabbing and slashing at the swordsmen. Heavily armored soldiers burst through one of the low walls; black clad, menacing warriors with long swords. There was one behind them that was taller and seemed in some way to order them about. The black armored warriors charged in and killed the rest of the squad. Their attention turned along with a huge warbeast that lumbered up to their side.

The Gun Mages along with the Captain Adept and Sentinel unleashed anoher volley at the warbeast that had torn a part the Hunter. Each shot pushed the beast back until one shot landed the creature on its back. The Gun Mages turned their attention to where the Trenchers had been. Two spectral creatures were moving towards the Gun Mages, and with a quick command from the Captain the Gun Mages fired their powerful shots into the beasts. Each one exploded into a cloud that obscured the other skorne.

Caine moved up slowly, his pistols firing and reloading in one fluid motion. The warbeast that had destroyed the Hunter had moved away after getting up and hid behind a low wall, but the Charger fired and crippled the beast. Caine was able to make the kill, but from the left came an ear-piercing roar.

Caine turned to see another heavy warbeast slip into a ghost form and run through his Gun Mages. It slipped back into flesh as its fists came down on the warcaster. Caine ducked and dodged but the beast landed tow lucky shots and Caine blacked out.

Later Caine would discover his Gun Mage Captain Adept had ordered the retreat, the Charger carrying Caine and the Gun Mages grabbing Finn and Versh. The skorne had been fast and brutal, something Caine hadn't expected. He learned from his mistakes and would head out into the sand again to make them wish they hadn't under estimated him.

[rvrchamp]

Haahaa... awesome report! I definitely love how the character units have a pivotal role in the story, and everything isn't focused on the warcasters. Lookin forward to reading more!

[Kaligula]

Thank you much! I am going to try and get up to the shop this week and get a game or two in. I love MK II!

I'm really excited about getting more games in with Caine, playing Darius and Nemo. I have to get Sloan and Siege, asap!

[Kaligula]

Gorman Di Wulfe blacked out after the explosion landed near him. Darius heard the loud boom, twitched as the roofs of the houses shook. Ahead the Rhulic Warjacks rumbled out into the center of the village, drills whirring and loaders clunking in new shells. Forge Guard readied as they slowly advanced.

Darius pushed his Centurion up along with the Hunter, the long barrel popping as it tore a chunk of armor off the driller. The Defender boomed a round off but the enemy were aware of the attack and were able to get out of the way.

A moment later and Darius Centurion was surrounded by the Rhulic folk, giant hammers pounding on its shield as a 'jack rammed into its side. Darius sent a halfjack up along with Strangewayes, readied to administer quick field repairs if needed. The Hunter moved in, readied a shot but the Bokur charged, ripping an arm off and tossing it aside. Gorten smirked behind the driller, his pistol leveling out on the Defender. Darius was quick to react though and fired everything at his disposal at the Driller.

Gorten backed away from the smoking wreck of the heavy Warjack. the Hunter slipped out of the Bokur's attack arc and swung its gun back at the Bokur. The boom and smoke cleared and the Bokur laid still. Gorten shifted over, his fury coming to bare. The dwarf didn't see the halfjack mine though, and the explosion tore into him and ripped the front of a house apart.

Darius' vision blurred as a explosion tore across his heavy armor, his field mechaniks swinging back to see what was attacking. Darius ignored the warning in the back of his mind and pushed the Centurion forward, loading its cortex with everything he had.

The Centurion surged ahead, the giant piston spear shooting out and slamming into Gorten and continued to slam into him until he collapsed. The Forge Guard and other Rhulic folk backed off, collecting thier Warcaster as the rest of the Warjacks went inert. Darius stepped into the center of the village, dents and scratches covering all the armors of the forces of Cygnar, but dents and scratches that were badges of honor, badges of triumph.

[Kaligula]

Durgen grunted as the heavy Warjacks rumbled forward. The Forge Guard and High Shields kept close to Herne and Jonne, but Caine was ready for them. The rocky outcrops funneled everything into a straight line, a fire lane. Madhammer's blaster fired along with Herne, but the Journeyman Tursch with his Charger were able to shift out of the way behind one of the outcroppings.

Caine's Defender thundered forward, crushing rocks as it took a high position on a small rock outcropping. The Gun Mages stood their ground in the center, each poised with Magelock Pistol in hand.

The Forge Guard came up the large cluster of rocks, their hammers held high while the High Shields trudged forward. The Blaster came in first, firing but missing its target, a loud curse slipping out of Durgen's lips. The Basher and Avalanche stood close by, the black smoke bellowing out in preperation of a charge. Caine saw the move and teleported out of the way, the Basher smashing into the Gun Mages and blowing its charges off.

Caine slipped up past Tursch's Charger and smiled. His Magelock Pistols jumped out of their holsters, each weapon firing faster than the Rhulic folk could dodge. As Caine turned after unleashing the barrage of rune bullets, only a few Rhulic troops stood. Caine drew up his power, pushing all his might into the Basher. The giant Warjack slammed away and knocked into Durgen, the Rhulic Warcaster crashing to the ground.

The last two Gun Mages moved around, each taking careful aim at the downed Warcaster. Caine smiled as the Magelock Pistols echoed their shots through the rocky terrain. Durgen, with his hammer fell silent. Caine collected the Defender and the rest of the Gun Mages, giving a small nod to Tursch as the Journeyman moved the Charger back towards their camp.

[Kaligula]

Journeyman Tursch pushed his Charger forward. The Charger, Double Shot, lurched forward, it's cortex old but still strong. Tursch shot an ugly glance at Caine, the Journeyman thinking he should control more, and stronger Warjacks.

The Gun Mages fired, bringing Tursch back into the battle. The Hunter marshaled to the Gun Mages shot off into the distance, but Tursch saw the shot miss. Menoth's followers were tearing down on them. Two heavy Crusaders pushed forward while the song of the Choir hinted at Tursch's ears.

Caine kept to the right of the ruins, his Defender posed. Lt. Caine rarely interacted with the troops, rarely gave orders. Tursch had learned not to ask the Warcaster questions or suggestions, but to just push forward and fight. Two light Menoth 'jacks rushed forward while the Warcaster, Tursch could barely make out, swung a chain and moved as a man trained by one of the monk orders, Rza Tursch thought.

Two Paladins had rushed out to stand like statues behind a broken wall, Tursch's attention focused on them. He pushed his Charger forward, quickly casting a shield on it to protect it from any Menoth trickery. As he finished the spell to his right all hell had broken loose.

The Gun Mages and Hunter had been slammed and crushed by the two Crusaders, the enemy Warcaster swinging his chain and crushing the skull of one of the Gun Mages. The light Warjack with duel swords swipped in, the last Gun Mage barely able to dodge its twin blades. Tursch pushed the Charger forward, but in the corner of his eye saw his commander moving. Caine was on the prowl, Tursch felt the power of the Gun Mage swell.

Tursch kept his sword held up, the other hand on his pistol as Caine surged forward, a loud boom of blue slamming into one of the Crusaders, sending the heavy Warjack back and crushing some of the Choir that followed behind. The heavy 'jack had also knicked Rza.

Caine's pistols fired faster than any Sentinel or chain gun, more Choir falling and the Paladins who had slipped by Tursch falling to the magic-laced bullets. Rza still stood, the chain starting to swing. The Menoth Warcaster was preparing to charge, and both Tursch and Caine knew it.

Before the Warcaster could move straight in, Caine's Defender took aim and fired, the boom echoing off the walls of the ruins. The shot, maybe luck, maybe the skill Caine wielded with Warjacks hit the Menoth Warcaster square in the chest, the shot pulizering any magical shields or armor the monk wore. The enemy Warjacks went into autonomous mode, the Choir in the back moving away. The downed Crusader stood up, its head slowly turning back and forth. The light Warjack with the broken shield picked up the downed Warcaster and moved away quickly, Trusch smiling as his Charger let a few shots off just to make them moved a little faster.

The last Gun Mage pushed the Hunter, almost a wreck, back to their camp. Trusch smiled and saluted at Caine, but the Lt. just sneered and reloaded his pistols, his Defender turning it's enormous head to stare at the Journeyman.

Tursch thought again of how he winded up under Caine. The coldest, quietiest, meanest of all the Cygnarian Warcasters in the Kingdom was to tutor a young Warcaster, and Tursch had not heard any lesson fall from Caine's lips, only the rare insult. Tonight if Caine mingled with the men, insults would fall on Tursch's ears. Tursch already felt the swell of heat from the scathing he would most likely recieve.

[Kaligula]

How are these battle reports coming along?