Idoneth clash with beasts

The Eidolon and its retinue swept through the vanguard of the beast herd with little effort. The small bleating creatures were annihilated within moments. The King meanwhile prepared his main lines to meet the bulk of the horde, confidence filling the Idoneth lines as they saw they had the beasts out matched.

But this confidence was short lived as a mighty raw rose from the nearby tree line. A gigantic ghorgon barrelled out of the undergrowth, lunging for the Eidolon and bearing it to the ground. The pinned avatar was helpless as the monster smashed it to a pulp with its bare fist. More monstrosities appeared from the dark forest, roaring obscenities as they crashed into the Idoneth lines.

The aelves managed to maintain discipline despite some grievous casualites, falling back in good order so that they could bring their greatest assets to bear.

A tidal wave of eel born knights flowed over the withdrawing Idoneth and plunged deep into enemy lines. Unprepared for such a violent counter punch the beast lines faultered, and then crumbled. Pockets of resistance formed around the herd leaders but even these eventually fell to the wrathful aelves.

Battle of Shivermere

The year of 13PC saw the rulers of the Marrowcraw Court leading crusades on three fronts. In the North, the Beasts of the Barrowgorge Fray continued to raid across the Splintervale. To the south, the Quemaran belligerents remained a considerable military presence. But by far the most pressing threat to the Dominion of Death lay to the east, where the forces of the Bloodcoast Alliance maintained constant aggression along the expansive border between the rival nations. The most recent attacks saw their Carpathian mercenary companies beginning to encroach upon ruined outskirts of Shivermere, the largest city in the eastern regions of the Dominion of Death, as they sought to seize control of the arcane conduit waystones that channel the flow of death magic across the Dominion’s borders.

With their armies already stretched thin, and with a vast border to defend, the Marrowcraw princes unleashed an ancient and terrible power to bolster the defences of their kingdom. Drawn forth from the crypts of Shivermere, summoned from aeons-long slumber by malign rituals, hosts of fell spectres surged from the netherworld. Led by their dread monarch, Varros the Ever-Damned, the revenant army unleashed from Shivermere swept eastward to intercept the Carpathians.

The Carpathians were swift to form-up into battle order in the face of Varros’ attack, intent on driving back the spectral host. The Namarti foot soldiers of the Hollow Legion formed the vanguard, their Reaver archers raining fire down upon the oncoming ghasts. But the horror of spectral onslaught proved overwhelming for the Hollow Legion and the Namarti fled in terror.

The fierce cavalry of the Akhelian corps were not so easily daunted, surging into the fray astride gnashing Fangmora mounts. Though outnumbered by the massing revenant host, the Akhelian warriors’ counter-attack blunted the advance of Varros’ swarming ghosts. As the aether tides began to swell, the Shivermere spirits seemed to lose their form and cohesion. While the Akhelians held fast in the centre, a mighty Eidolon of Mathlann, borne upon a aetheric tidal wave, came crashing down upon the flanks of Varros’ black knights even as they advanced to encircle the Carpathians. With the arrival of the Aspect of the Storm, bringing in its wake reinforcements from the Hollow Legion, it seemed as if the forces of death would be swept aside. Overwhelmed by the fury of the mighty Eidolon, the revenants began to dissipate and fade back into the mists, and their grim sorcerers were put to flight.

But the malice that drove the Ever-Damned was unbridled. In life, Varros had been a despot. In death, his malevolence was all-consuming. With the ghosts of Shivermere shackled to his will, Varros dragged the spirits of Shivermere back across the mortal veil. The ghastly forces began to coalesce once more, as if untouched by the trials of battle. By contrast, the Akhelian mercenaries were beleaguered and fatigued, now finding themselves surrounded by Varros’ re-formed army. The remaining Carpathians tried to break free and escape, riding the receding aether-tides to safety. Furious Fangmoras thrashed and writhed past their spiteful attackers, some were cut down by swirling blades and others dragged from their saddles by grave-cold grasping claws.

The ghosts of Shivermere had driven the Carpathians out of the city and back across the borders into the Aelvish lands from whence they came. Varros the Ever-Damned had delivered the Marrowcraw Court a victory. But would the dread tyrant of Shivermere be satisfied to retire back to his tomb in the wake of his victory?

Chaos in the northern wastes

The leader of the troupe spun gracefully through the verdant field. With a soaring leap she landed in the midst of a daisy patch. She was soon joined by a vibrant cohort of fellow dancers, their every move perfectly timed...

...the Gor herd screamed in terror as the tide of Daemonettes crashed into them, joining the titanic Keeper of Secrets that had just lunged into the centre of their ranks. Razor sharp claws tore chunks of flesh and fur and blood turned the dry, cracked earth a deep red...

...the dancers went their separate ways as the tempo of the music changed. Some of the younger and more agile members of the troupe went to play amongst a nest of rabbits. Others danced around an ancient oak tree as it gently swayed in the light breeze...

...a pack of Seekers separated from the mass of daemons, barreling into the unfortunate Ungors in the rear guard. Another group of the riders surrounded the giant Cygor, slicing it to ribbons with the bladed limbs as it clumsily swung at them with it's great fists...

...the troupe leader danced atop a lichen covered boulder as the music reached it crescendo. The rest of the troupe matching her every movement from all over the green field...

...the Keeper of Secrets, To'Me'Ku'Pr, plunged its mighty claws into the ancient Shaggoth, watching in delight as the life faded from its eyes. It's agony was palpable. The God Hunters had won the day as the last beasts in the arid valley were cut down...

...the dance moved on...

Sylvaneth renew contract with Idoneth Deepkin

With ten years of service now completed it was time for Alarielle to renew her contract with Carpathia. Wary of their “allies” mercurial nature the Syvaneth had insisted that there be provision within the contract for it to be renewed without the risk of having to compete with rival offers from the other factions on Permenia. Such caution was wise but the smooth rolling-over of the contract was complicated by a dispute over payment caused by an ambiguous semi-colon in the 76th paragraph.

Unable to reach an agreement over the exact meaning of the wording the nobles leading Carpathia's expeditionary force consulted their codex of contract law and determined that such a dispute could be best settled in a trial by combat. The value of the disputed payment would be split into six portions and scattered in equal spacing about the field of battle. The two sides would compete to capture the treasure hordes with each side getting to keep what was captured.

As battle broke out the Idoneth were initially baffled by the rapid growth of shrubbery about the treasure cashes but since there was no prohibition on this within the codex the trial was allowed to continue. The Idoneth launched themselves into the trees and acquitted themselves with honour, proving the martial strength of Carpathia's legions to their paymasters. Despite this much of the disputed treasure simply vanished into the trees whilst the fighting was going on and the matter was eventually settled decisively in the Sylvaneth's favour. 

The Idoneth were frustrated but respected the outcome of the trial by combat and their contract with the Alarielle was renewed for a further ten years.

Battle of the Sallowash

Nighthaunt defeat Seraphon for control of the Sallowash river valley

Idoneth defeat Slaanesh in Yarpin

Since the beginning of their service as part of the so called “Blood Coast Alliance” Carpathia's expeditionary forces on Permenia had been relegated mostly to defending and patrolling Alarielle's steadily growing territory. The Sylvaneth were fully aware that their allies were fighting for coin rather than principle and seemed reluctant trust them in open combat. Although their mundane duties were seen as an insult by Carpathia's proud Akhelian nobility the situation met with little protest, after all they were making a tidy profit and sustaining only minimal casualties. If the Sylvaneth were content to see such a poor return for their investment it was fine with Carpathia's legions.

The Idoneth were shaken from their routine when patrols operating out of Yarpin's newly established fortifications located a host of Slaaneshi daemons trespassing into Aelven territory. Without bothering to consult with or warn their Sylvaneth allies Prince Leonidas ordered the legions to assemble and sally forth. This chance to hunt his race's most hated foes would be the perfect antidote for his boredom and he was determined that the Sylvaneth would not steal this opportunity from him as they had so many others.

Riding forth the Idoneth confronted the daemon host amidst the florishing woodlands of Yarpin amidst the base of an Aelven watchtower. Knowing the speed of his foe Leonidas thought little of callously throwing his Namarti to the front as bait to be ridden down in the initial charge. As the minions of Slaanesh butchered the hapless Namarti Leonidas unleashed the vengeful knights of Carpathia. Crashing into the daemons as they  danced and capered amidst the corpses the Namarti the  whooping Akhelians rode them down in turn before flowing onwards to surround the greater daemon that led them. Momentarily stupefied by is mesmerising musk the knights faltered for a moment but Leonidas barred the abomination's path, fending off its attacks in a dazzling display of skill. Overcoming their momentary hesitation the knights rushed to the aid of their prince and cut down the mighty daemon. With their living paragon banished the remaining daemons faded.

Their spirits lifted by the joy of combat the Idoneth returned back to their fortress and word of this disturbing new foe was finally sent to Alarielle.

Battle of Fermia desert

By year 11 of the permenia Calendar, New Quemara had developed into a country of over two hundred thousand. The most populous region remained the hinterlands of Vinduhr to the south of the Collines du Nord, but the northern and eastern territories were rapidly propsering thanks to continued immigration. Much of the influx of settlers from outside of Permenia was based on the contracts gained by the Kharadron Overlords, who began performing convoy escorts and transportation services for the nobles of other realms keen to exploit the new sub Realm of Quemara. One major family involved in this expedition was the Alptraum family, a dynasty who claimed lineage of their line to the age of Myth and beyond.

 

Claims of lineage aside, the resulting influx of the Alptraum's and those people they feudally dominated rapidly expanded the settlements on the borders of Quemara. Not trusting the lords of Vinduhr to provide them with military support, the Alptraums raised their own forces to protect the Eastern Marches, and the army was headed by Duke Gabriel Alptraum from his noble seat at Dietenburen. The Alptraum army's first test came in the eleventh year, when from the north and from the dark forests of Aglia, a horde of beastmen was reported heading south over the Fermia Desert. This relatively small desert existed due to the realm's strange magical flows, and no rain fell here, but it was easily crossable in just a few days. Duke Gabriel realised the army posed a threat to his lands of East Quemara, and raised his banners to face the beasts in Fermia before they could head south. The Aelves simply watched from their towers and halls.

 

The army of men set up on the scorched plain of the desert, their greatswords on the left flank and their swordsmen on the right. in the centre the might of the Alptraum artillery was protected by units of freeguild, and behind, near the Duke himself, Knights of Order prepared to breakthrough any weakness in the enemy battleline. Facing the human host a tide of beasts rolled across the horizon, with gors and ogors and even a mighty Ghorgon causing the ground to rumble as the beast herd approached.

 

The Free people of Quemara struck the first blow, killing the Ghorgon outright with well placed cannon and rocket volleys, and the bullgors suffered as well to the artillery. On the left flank the gors were reluctant to face the greatswords of the Alptraums, but on the Duke's right wing the bestigors managed to outflank the Quemaran position and get into combat with the swordsmen, who were soon in trouble. Spooting an opportunity, Gabriel ordered his Knights to charge the dragon ogors in the centre of the beast herd's line, but the charge did not hit home with enough power. Unable to wound the beasts with their lances, the ogors and shaggoth wiped out the knights and started advancing on the human centre.

 

On the left flank the free people did well, with the standoff with the gors finally ending when the beasts reluctantly charged. No match for the greatswords, the gors were cut down. The duke meanwhile had to deal with the appearance of a cockatrice, but this distraction delayed the general's intervention on events on his right flank. Here the bestigors had defeated the free swordsmen of Dietenburen, and were working inexorably towards the artillery. The artillery itself had prooved less than effective after its initial shooting, as the nervous gunners often missed their intended targets. By nightfall on the first day the beast herd had wiped out the defending free company around the artillery pieces, and the crew fled. Now only the greatswords remained battleworthy, and they conducted a retreat from the Fermian deserts, hoping the beast herd would not follow them over the hills into New Quemara.