Scenario.

Since the early years of the Age of Empires, the second of the Third Era, the Dark Elves have taken possession of a vast territory located in the steppes of the East, on the eastern shore of the Aryal Sea, located south of the Taklimakan desert and north of the Zungaristan. This eastern kingdom of the Dark Elves is identified with the same name as their biggest underground empire: Swartälfheim, the same with which is also named the large island in the northern Aztland Ocean.

From their fortresses overlooking the Aryal Sea, often the Dark Elves make raids against the settlements of Aryals, the High Elves who occupy the Aryalistan, land located to the west of the sea to which they gave their name. To carry out their attacks, the Dark Elves sail along the southern coast of the Aryal Sea, which overlooks the territory controlled by the Tartarian tribes of the Black Horde, with whom they have entered into an agreement. In this way, the Dark Elves manage to reach the southern Aryalistan coast undisturbed.

One of these incursions is in progress. A Dark Elves army has landed on the Aryalistan southern coast and is moving toward the north, raiding settlements of the High Elves he meets along the way.

Under the orders of Prince Gwalk Gryfbraik, an High Elves army moves to intercept and destroy the invaders.

The meeting of the two armies takes place at the plain called Dyffryn y Llafnau Gwaedlyd (Valley of the Bloody Blades).

Armies.

We played with armies of 3000 points and with 1000 points of magic each.

High Elves have deployed:

- Heroic Warchief mounted on Giant Griffon with at his orders three Units of Cavalry (one with six Elite Lancers, one with eight Veteran Lancers and one with six Veterans Warriors), a Hero on horseback with "Sacred Hauberk". The Leader is protected with a "Ring of Protection” (Book of Magic of Light).

- Missile Weapons Command with General, Standard Bearer, one Multibalista, one Catapult, two Units of Veteran Archers.

- Infantry Command with General, Standard Bearer, three Units of Veteran Lancers and one Unit of Elite Pikemen.

- The arcane component consisted of a Wizard with 57 points magic, a Demiurge with 15 PM, three Priests and four Clerics.

The Dark Elves deploy:

- Heroic Warchief on Raptor with "Crimson Hauberk" (Magic of Evil), with at his orders one Unit of Elite Warriors one Raptor, a Hero with "Demonic Blade" and "Black Armor" (Magic of Evil), one Scout, two Units of Crossbowmen on flying creature and and a Giant Hydra.

- Leader on Raptor, with at his orders two Units of Veteran Warriors and one Unit of Veteran Warrior Witches.

- Leader with Standard Bearer and Herald, having under his command one Unit of Heavy Crossbows and three Units of Veteran Crossbowmen, all with the protection of Pavises.

The arcane component consisted of one Sorcerer with 28 PM, a Wizard of Evil with 15 PM, three Priests and four Clerics.

The battle.

The Dark Elves won the “Exploration and Maneuver Test”, so they chose the field and have sided after their opponents. They also could choose the start time: the first hour of the night.

Having seen that the Dark Elves have deployed their Units of Crossbowmen and Multibaliste with the shelter of pavises, the High Elf Warchief decides to keep cover its two Units of Archers, in order to preserve them for later when they may become useful in later turns of battle. The Units of Crossbowmen and heavy crossbows of the Dark Elves are then targeted only by the multibalista and the catapult.

It begin the exchange of volleys between the two opposing sides.

The Warchief of the Dark Elves attack sends his Infantry Command Infantry to attack (which form the right wing of his army) and and sends forward (in order "Oppose") the Crossbowmen on flying creature.

The Warchief of the High Elves replays by sending to attack its Infantry Command (which form the left wing of his army) that it is deployed in front of the corresponding Infantry Command of the advancing enemy.

The Dark Elf Corossbowmen on flying creature are made sign to the volleys of the High Elves Archers. Of them, he survives only one, that is faced by the Warchief of High Elf on Griffon, who in the meantime has given the order to "Attach" even at his Command.

In fighting in melee that follows, the last of Crossbowmen on flying creature is eliminated.

Evocation of the spells "Storms of Energy" by the magicians of opposing sides, to try to eliminate creatures and enemy warriors These spells are, however, entirely irrelevant because all are "disperded" by the wizard of the opposing side.

The Dark Elf Warchief orders his Cavalry on Raptor, which he joins, to go on the attack. Together with the Cavalry also advances the Giant Hydra.

All opposing Units come in contact. Fighting rages. All begin to suffer the first losses.

While Infantries face off on the left side of the High Elves deployment, on the other side the two opposing Cavalry come in contact. A Cavalry Unit of the High Elves had to go to engage the Dark Elf Crossbowmen lined at the center. Even the Warchief on Giant Griffon gives his contribution to eliminate the dangerous Crossbowmen enemies.

The Giant Hydra proves to be too strong as opponent, unstoppable. In the Combat Round of the tenth Turn it kills the Giant Gryphon of the High Elf Watchief, who manages to escape and get to safety. In the next round the Mounted High Elf Hero sacrifices himself, facing alone the monstrous creature. In the melee that followed, he falls, dying heroically.

Doing the “Invocations to the Gods” to survive Individuals, Creatures and Cavalry Warriors seriously injured in the fighting, both armies suffered losses of Clerks. High Elves also suffer the loss of two Priests: one in the eighth Turn and the second in the eleventh.

Thanks to the contribution of the Leader on horse who joined his strongest unit, the Dark Elf Infantry gets the better of one of the High Elves. The Dark Witches Warriors are instead annihilated: the few survivors of the fight in melee with the enemy Infantry fall under the latest volleys shooted by the Archers Unit deployed near the left side.

In the end, the Cavalry on Raptor are also annihilated the High Elves Archers who tried to oppose the last dam relentless enemy advance.

For the High Elves is a real defeat!

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The game was then ended at the last (twelfth) Turn with the following result:

- Losses incurred by the High Elves (Sergio): 2882 points out of 4000 points (including the arcane)

- Losses incurred by the Dark Elves (Sandro): 1299 points.

- Difference Losses: 1583 points in favor of Sandro.

- Result: MASSACRE.

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