A call to arms - victory at last!

Finally, a significant victory for the Raven Guard!

Facing the Dwarves who had defeated me so soundly before, the Altdorf Raven Guard were eager to avenge their comrades.

Knights from the Raven Order, led my Marcus Corvinus himself, led the charge on the left flank into a unit of rangers. These were butchered to a man (well, dwarf) as they turned to flee after seeing their champion hacked to pieces by Marcus. In the centre, the solid line of foot troops advanced whilst on the right the Outriders advanced to take up position opposite one of the many bolt throwers, and the Empire artillery climbed the hill in front of them for a better field of fire.

As the centre advanced, one of the Hand gunner detachments was wiped out after almost every ranged weapon took aim at them. Embarrassingly, the spearmen unit panicked and ran, despite the best efforts of Ulrik von Lederhosen, bearer of the Battle Standard. The swordsmen unit held firm, however. The spearmen were to rally immediately in the following turn. The organ gun, however, decided to avenge the Rangers. The knights disappeared in a cloud of fire, smoke and debris. After a pause, Marcus charged through, unscathed but angered by the loss of the entire unit from around him.

The tone was set for the remainder of the game. The mounted troops attacked and destroyed one group of crewmen after another, whilst the foot troops engaged the Dwarf crossbow men and warriors.

Finally, as night drew in the remaining two units of dwarves withdrew from the field, leaving the Empire troops victorious.

Battle honours are awarded to:

- the crew of the 'borrowed' Dwarven bolt thrower, who finally managed to hit a target on turn five. This was, I believe, the first time the crew had hit anything in three games. They even managed to kill four spearmen, and narrowly missed Ulrik!

- the empire Volley Gun, which wiped out most of the Dwarven warriors unit with a final volley of 18 shots, from which nine kills resulted. The command squad that was left decided they would record the Grudge and withdrew.

- the crew of the bolt thrower that withstood the Outriders attacks for three rounds before being killed. The Outriders returned to the weapon after the battle, and buried the Dwarves with full honours alongside the bolt thrower the had been so protective of.