“Very well. It is time that we take the fight to our foe. Take the Lancers, Stephen’s Pistoliers, and tribesmen. We will be awaiting your attack.”

The Flanking Force

10 Kislev Winged Lancers @ 338.0 pts
     Standard Bearer; Lance; Light Armor; Shield; Warhorse
     War Banner [25]
     1 Champion @ [38] pts
          Lance; Light Armor; Shield; Warhorse
1 Hero @ 120.0 pts
     Lance; Warhorse
     Armor of Meteoric Iron [25]
     Dawnstone [25]
     1 Warhorse @ [0] pts

8 Pistoliers @ 248.0 pts
     Standard Bearer; Two Pistols; Light Armor; Horse
     1 Champion @ [50] pts
          Two Pistols; Light Armor; Horse
          Potion of Strength [10]
1 Wizard @ 88.0 pts
     Two Pistols; Warhorse
     Dispel Magic Scroll [25]
 

2 units of 5 Kislev Horse Archers- 80 pts each.

The pass was not unnoted by the forces of Chaos though and they had dispatched their own force consisting of:
6 Marauder Horse
2 Ogres
a unit of Gors (16-20)
a beastmen chariot
and a lvl 1 mage in a marauder chariot

 
In a place where the pass widened enough to allow the growth of a small copse of trees, the forces stumbled upon one another. The unruly nature of the Gors and the Ogres meant that the Empire forces were deployed before the evil forces were prepared. The pistoliers were out on the furthest left, beside them were some horse archers, the lancers, and finally the second group of horse archers. The Lancers were directly behind the forest. Across the field, the Ogres were opposite the left most horse archers, the Gors slightly to the right of the Lancers, then the beastmen chariot, the wizard’s chariot and the horse right side of the forest (from the Empire’s perspective).
 
The daemons of Chaos once again proved very interested in the battle and bestowed on their followers all the gifts that have ever been recorded by the chroniclers of such battles. The Pistoliers were effected by a malady very much like the one suffered in the first battle. Another storm descended and killed 2 horse archers. The Gors skin suddenly glowed brightly and the Marauders were gifted with the ability to slice through armor as if it were water. The wizard grew in both height and weight, becoming harder to kill in the process (+1 wound, but his spell was Boon of Tzeentch- ha ha).
 
The Lancers and the Pistoliers were the first to move, starting forward to take advantage of the enemy’s surprised state. The horse archers and Pistoliers moved to circle the forest. The Winged Lancers predictably placed themselves parallel to the forest facing the side around which the chariots and Marauders would circle (a major mistake as I utilize the method too often and lacked to units to do it properly this time).
 
The ogres moved to block the Pistoliers and the Gors marched over to support them. The chariots and horse advanced (the horse swinging out wide).
 
The Winged Lancers tried to maneuver out of the bad position they had gotten themselves into, but couldn’t move far enough to have both the Marauders and the chariots in their charge arc. The Pistoliers began dancing with the Ogres and neither unit played any further part in the battle.
 
The Marauders charged and destroyed the horse archers. The Lancers counter-charged, but the Marauders fled, leaving the Lancers exposed to the chariots. Seeing their countrymen’s plight, the horse archers galloped through the forest and sacrificed themselves to stop the chariot’s charge. They died believing their countrymen would avenge them and so went willingly.
 
When the Marauders rallied, the Lancers knew their position was dangerous, but they were not willing to let their archers’ deaths be in vain. They spurred their horses and lowered their lances at the Beastmen chariot. Their fearsome charge resulted in one of the Gor drivers being wounded. (Yes. A lance armed hero, a champion, and one lancer scored 2 hits, one of which shattered on the chariot body.- I need new heroes or dice.) Yet, even this was enough to break the Gors questionable courage. They turned their chariot and fled. The Lancers decided not to pursue, knowing that even if they had to flee this battle, they would be better able to avenge their countrymen alive. [This was possible a mistake also. Casualties were carried over from this battle to the final one, so it may have be better to simply sacrifice the Lancers (the flank charge by the Marauders would probably be too much for them) in the hopes of destroying the wizard and his chariot. I am not sure.]
 
Thus, when the Marauders and the chariot charged the Lancers, they fled and together with the Pistoliers, outran the forces of Chaos. They informed Volker of their failure and deployed themselves with the rest of the army for what would be the final battle.