Round One - B'trark Gorehorns (MD) verses Liche Chronicles (AA)

Whispers were in the wind. Something was afoot... or was it? Those few warbands who were lucky or resourceful enough to have heard the whispers weren't going to sit idly by wondering. This is how the B'trark Gorehorns (MD) and the Liche Chronicles (AA) encountered each other on an outlying Cathayan settlement - trying to gain information in any way they could.

The sun was pulling humidity from the bogs and acid pools this fine morning around this borderland settlement. The warm southerly breeze coming through open windows spread the sweet smell of breakfast throughout the stilted Cathayan huts, but did nothing to temper the humidity at all. One family was just sitting down to start eating when a polite knock came at the door...

Scraggly though he was (and what was that strange smell permeating his clothing?), the humans were willing to give some information to one of their own (Magnus, the Necromancer, gained 7 points from questioning two families, but when he tried to torture the second family for more information he was quite unsuccessful). These were tough villagers, used to living on the wild frontier, and were certainly not fond of Beastmen. Five of the six families living in this small community were questioned and tortured by the Beastmen, and only two families gave out any information and only as their children's lives were being threatened (Gaurin 2pts; Albrath 3 pts). But the real excitement of that day came when the two warbands crossed paths...

Now a large lake acid lake split this village in two, with two families living on the far side. Magnus the Necromancer was heading around this lake through a small patch of forest with two Zombie bodyguards. The keen ears of the Beastmen didn't dismiss the sound of dead twigs breaking, and the threesome were soon spotted and charged from both sides - Gaurin, the Beastman Chieftan and his warhound charged around from the East side of the lake, while Albrath, the frenzied Centigor and another warhound charged from the West. Luckily for the Necromancer, the haunted forest added extra protection, as one of the warhounds was spooked by the strange noises and refused to enter. Luck was certainly not with Gaurin, or maybe his pride was his downfall, for his wild swing missed the Zombie altogether and he was promptly knocked down in return. Albrath had better luck in his frenzied state, quickly taking a Zombie OOA, but this had little effect as the zombie was quickly reanimated by Magnus to rejoin the fray. Seeing Gaurin on his back, the cowardly Magnus also took the opportunity for an easy kill. And that is how, without landing a single blow, came the end of Gaurin - with no great deeds to his name. (BG loses 2 information points)

Outraged, Albrath stuns Magnus to the ground, but is unable to finish him off as one of the Zombies demands his attention. The reanimated Zombie attacks the brave warhound, who avoids injury and knocks the Zombie to the ground. The whimpering warhound meanwhile had issues of its own, as it was still too afraid to enter the forest and was then charged by a Grave Guard (Nicholas) and a Wight. Nicholas was quick to put an end to that battle, but could but sit and watch as the battle in the forest went on, lest he dare enter the acid lake in order to join the fray.

Further East, where a line of three houses stood including the longhouse of the village leader, the main bulk of both warbands stood glaring at each other. The Beastmen were the first to strike, but fear overcame the two Bestigors, leaving two Gors to make their run for glory. In their first rush, Kudu knocks down a wight, and Nyala does the same to a zombie. Their minor triumph is short-lived, as two Grave Guards and more zombies join the fray. Kudu is knocked down by Louis and put OOA by a zombie, and Armand does the same to Nyala, who manages to endure the hit a zombie puts on him. Seeing Kudu OOA, the two Bestigors charge Louis, who is put OOA and forced to miss the next game with an arm injury by Bragor.

Back in the forest, the brave warhound takes the knocked-down zombie OOA, while Albrath takes his zombie out with a critical hit. Albrath doesn't stop there taking Magnus OOA (LC loses 7 info points).

Refusing to let the loss of three of their own deter them, even if one was their leader, the Beastmen bravely hold out against the fear-causing undead. In the end, the Liche realised the game was lost - they had lost the information the were seeking, and there was no easy victory here - and withdrew his fledgling hoard in order to build up his strength. This one is willing to wait a long time for revenge...

So the question now is, will this fledgling Beastmen warband who have just lost their too-proud leader go running back to their woodland stronghold, or will their new Centigor cheiftan be sober and intimidating enough to hold them together and lead them to victory...?

B'trark Gorehorns found 3 treasures and 11 gold crowns; bought an unholy relic.

Liche Chronicles found 3 treasures, 7 gold crowns, and reanimated a corpse into a Zombie; bought a rabbit's foot (or lucky charm - one of them).