The Lord Admiral Cordain was in a foul mood. For a dark elf, that’s not
a pretty thing. When his captain came limping back with only one other
cold one in tow, his mood did not improve. When the report started with
the words, “We didn’t lose.”, he became downright angry. The rest of the
captain’s explanation follows.

        They were ready for us, sir. They must have spotted the harpies, for
their bolt-thrower was deployed on the ground where it could cover two
of the three lanes of approach through the town. On its west was a large
block of spearmen, on the east some archers. To the west of the spearmen
was a chariot (hidden by a barn) more archers and some Reavers. The
village mage stood with a small contingent of swordmasters on the east
of the battlefield, beside them was a pegasus and rider. Their mage was
far better than ours (both 2nd level, I got Total Power [held for 3
turns] and drain magic [twice]) however, as the only spell we were able
to cast was blade wind, and that only killed two longbows.
        Our bolt-thrower and a unit of crossbows deployed on a hill to the
northwest. Little did we know that a large group of those who hide in
shadows waited in ambush behind the hill. Then from west to east, were
the cosairs (the only unit still mostly intact at the battle’s end on
the DE side) a second unit of crossbows, the cold ones, the harpies and
the dark riders. The scouts slaughtered a family and used the house as a
base near the enemies lines. If only they could shoot straightly.
        The battle started with both the Riders and the Reavers rushing
forward. Then our lines moved. The Cold ones advanced behind the Riders,
the corsairs marched to a wall just before the Riders could reach it.
The Harpies landed near the house which the scouts were hidden in. The
bolt-thrower turned on the shadow warriors who had risen from behind the
hill. Despite the short range, it only killed two warriors. The crossbows on
the hill dropped a rider and the 28 bolts from the 2nd crossbows and the
scouts killed one crew of the bolt-thrower. Their lines showed little
movement. The shadow warriors, lucky b8^%$rds, charged the bolt thrower
crew. The Peg. dropped behind our lines, and the Reavers started to round
the wall, hiding from the crossbows in the process. The swordmasters
turned to face the dark riders as they rounded the flank on the next
turn.
        Then arrows darkened the sky. 3 corsairs appeared to fall, but 2 rose
again, arrows embedded in their cloaks. Having no other targets, the
general (Bow of Loren), bolt-thrower, and longbows all concentrated on
the crossbows. When the storm had passed, the unit all lay still and
silent. Everyone remained steady however. A nimbus of light bathed his
wizard and strange words flowed from his lips. He raised his glowing
hands and with words inspired his troops to fight to the death (Hand of
Glory), there would be no quarter from either side now.
        Our advanced continued. The Harpies engaged the swordmasters as the
Darkriders closed on their flanks. The Cold ones moved slowly, worried
by the presence of the pegasus so near their ranks. Unfortunately, this
left them in the open and in sight of the bolthrower. The crossbows
turned and reform, ready to charge the shadow warriors (had no targets).
The scouts fired at the bolt-thrower to no effect, though one shooting
from the side of the house managed to wound the peg. One swordmaster
fell, but two harpies were hacked to shreds. The rest fled (but stayed
on the board, DAMN) and took the riders with them (they stayed on the
board too).  The swordmasters did not pursue (I assumed the Harpies
wouldn’t rally. They did.) The bolthrower crew managed to slay a shadow
warrior, but one of them fell in turn.
        The spearmen waited (a mistake by me). The swordmasters charged the
riders, causing them to flee even further from the battle. The chariot
wheeled around the barn to face the corsairs. The Peg continued to
harass the cold ones. There was no other movement. Shooting saw half the
cold ones fall in a bolt-thrower volley (I love this. A warmachine that
doesn’t misfire, that doesn’t roll 10 when you guess 4 inches in front
of a unit, that doesn’t roll 2 and 2 when you guessed 6 inches short of
a unit, etc.). A bunch of arrows thudded into the house, but the scouts
were unharmed.  The riders charged the corsairs flank, but the assassin
stopped their attack. They wheeled and fled, though not before one
hurled his spear through a dragon cloak.
        Both the Harpies and Riders managed to rally. The Cold ones decided
discretion was the better part of valor and turned, running under the
Peg’s wings to hide behind the house owned by the scouts. The corsairs
charged the longbows. One fell in the arrow blast which greeted them and
though it looked as if they would fall short, the charge was successful,
leaving only one longbow alive, who broke and fled (this was a mistake,
but I was sure he was short, so I figured it was a good chance to
inflict some more wounds).Not only had they gained revenge for the
crossbows, but they were out of the chariot’s path. (These two played
ring around the barn for the rest of battle and won’t be mentioned). The
crossbows charged the shadow warriors and the two fought to a bloody
stalemate, ending only when night fell. (by that time I had 1 shadow
warrior left. who had managed 5 saves on a 5+ in the last 3 rounds of
combat). The scouts turned their attention to the longbows and managed
to kill six of the unit.
        The spearmen finally advanced towards the scouts’ house. The bow of
Loren dropped three riders, halving the unit. The Peg disappeared into
the blue, ready to help out whoever it was needed. The swordmasters
charged the Harpies, hacking one down and wounding the other. In a rare
display of concern the Harpy tried to save his wounded comrade as the
fled, or perhaps he was just looking for an easy meal, whichever the
case however, the weight cost him time and both were impaled on the
swordmaster’s blades.
        The corsairs advanced towards the bolt thrower, but stopped so the
champion could fire his Sky Arrow. It hit the peg, but did not bring it
down (one wound). The Dark Riders advanced up the flank again. The Cold
Ones continued to hide. The scouts shot two spearmen.
        The Spearmen charged the scouts, who fled from the back of the house.
The Dark riders managed to kill Peg was it dove from the clouds. Needless to
say, the rider died too. The bolt--thrower fired at the corsairs and their cloaks
saved them again, as only two fell (question- if the special save from the Dragon
cloak is made, the bolt doesn’t penetrate, right? That’s how we played and he
made 3 of 5 special saves).
        Little else happened. The scouts rallied, the Swordmasters charged the
Dark riders. The Riders champion was cut down in a challenge, but the
other four swordmasters killed only a single rider (leaving one alive so I
get no points). The general left his unit and together he and the
bolt-thrower reduced the cold ones to the champ and I. You must take
this Black Amulet back to the wizards, it failed me on both occasions I
needed to use it and almost cost me my life. His hero briefly rose from
the dead on the winds of magic, but in a display of ruthlessness that
impressed me, was just as quickly sent back when his wizard Drained all
the magic from the battlefield to save the last bolt-thrower crew from
the Blade Wind.

Final score (okay, technically I won, but it is a draw- still I did win).
High Elves- 305 (Crossbowmen, Harpies, Bolt-thrower) Plus- cold
ones-left champ and general with one wound, dark riders- left 1 in
combat with 6 swordmasters and a champ.
Dark Elves- 277 (Longbows, Hero) Plus- Shadowwarriors- left 1 in combat
with 5 crossbow men. Reavers- 2

        I thought the battle went according to plan. I just couldn’t finish off
those two units which was annoying. I also screwed up in not advancing
my spearmen and chariot sooner. One more turn and the score would have
been very different. I had my spearmen, swordmasters and a chariot with
very few causilities, while the only units he had for combat was the 14
or so corsairs and the scouts (who are indifferent fighters at the best of
times).