Dwarf Quest - Upon the Wreckage of Beleriand

Buddies,

Happy belated New Year.
Here comes a trio of Warhammer Skirmish games that are now finally getting a full photoshoot and write-up.
This first post is the setup.

Also, there are some changes going on in my wargame life.
I will be switching my 28mm mass combat to 15mm mass combat  BUT...

Narrative skirmish in 28mm will continue here.
So fear not!
Oldhammer still lives here! 


For 15mm fantasy I will be using Kings of War & With Sword & Shield.
Also been ramping up to do proper historical 15mm wargaming with L'Art De La Guerre (ADLG) & Might of Arms.
At some point I will start a separate blog for these 15mm mass combat ventures.

 Finally, since I am moving away from 28mm mass combat, I will be selling my non-Citadel figures.
I just wont need so many anymore.
I will be keeping IronClaw, Marauder, and all the other vintage lines.
And will continue to focus primarily on completing my Citadel and pre-slotta collections.

So help fund the Moria Reclamation Project and check out my internet garage sales going on:

For Undead:  http://mars-miniatures-commissions.blogspot.com/2018/01/painted-minis-for-sale-part-1-undead.html

For Monsters:  http://mars-miniatures-commissions.blogspot.com/2018/01/painted-minis-for-sale-part-2-monsters.html

For Humans & Dwarves:  http://mars-miniatures-commissions.blogspot.com/2018/01/painted-minis-for-sale-part-3-humans.html

For Orcs & Goblins:  http://mars-miniatures-commissions.blogspot.com/2018/01/painted-minis-for-sale-part-4.html


Now, onwards to the Dwarf Quests!

 When last we left you, Bugman and his Beer Cart Defenders, the Dwarves of the Blue Mountains, & the remnants of the Shire's Hobbits approached the eastern entrance to Moria when the sounds of a vast army came echoing out of the tunnels.

 It turns out, it is the Dwarves, fleeing Moria (though others say it is a tactical withdrawal, but the truth would be beer withdrawal!)
The main commanders and heroes have gathered together, while the rank and file army move out to the valley of Dimril Dale.
There are Hobbit refugees, Slaan ambassadors, Gondorian Wizards, and even an Elf!

 But firstly and most importantly, Thorin Oakenshield has arrived from Erebor.


High King Thorgrim:  With your coming, Thorin - King Under the Mountain, the morale of the Dwarves are at an all time high, and they would stand here and fight the army of Balrog if you and I give the word.  They are just right behind us!  What do you wish to do?

Thorin:  I have made many mistakes in the past because of Gold fever, Dragon sickness, but also mainly because of my Dwarven hubris.  Ive died and been reborn.  Ive been humbled and will not charge headlong into another mistake without consulting with our wisest counselors and our fellow Dwarf Kings.  I have never seen so many Kings of the Dwarves gathered together as I have today.  My friends, we all have stories to tell, and advice to give, let us speak together about how best to achieve complete Dwarven victory!  (louds cheers erupt from the crowds)

High King Thorgrim:   You have indeed changed, Thorin.  I will relinquish my title of High King to you, if you ask it!

Thorin:  Keep it for now, my friend.  I swear that I shall not sit on the High King's throne until Moria belongs to the Dwarves and all threats to Dwarfkind are eliminated.  So let us hear news from everyone and decide how to deal with the coming of the Balrog and his minions.

 A collective gasp from the Dwarves gathered around fills the air.
Oaths are a sacred thing to stunties!
Also, thats an oath of a very tall order!
Some would say its too tall for a Dwarf, but we are talking about Thorin, of the House of Durin the Deathless.
To the Humans, Slaan, and Hobbits this oath may sound poetic or impulsive, but to all the Dwarves this is a serious venture and means very epic times are indeed approaching!

 Lobelia, Frodo and the cocky banner of the Shire

The Hobbit refugees come forward to seek asylum with the Dwarves.
They pledge undying loyalty and oaths of cooking and pipeweed in return for safety.
It is granted, and everyone celebrates this fine alliance.

 Kremlo the Slaan, and Legolas the Elf

Kremlo brings greetings from the Slaan high council and pledges their ancient alliance to be remembered and renewed.
Long ago, before the coming of Chaos and Orc, the Dwarves ruled the upper depths of Moria, and the Slaan ruled the lower depths beneath Moria - the fabled Hollow Earth.

Legolas Greenleaf, son of Thranduil of Mirkwood Forest, brings a nervous greeting and a request for alliance between Dwarves and Elves.
With a frown upon his face, Thorin nods in agreement.  (He still remembers his prison time beneath Thranduil's Halls)
But these are new days, days of change and progress!
Even the grumpiest Dwarf will ally with the snooty point ears, it seems!

 Hieronymous, Otto, Gimli, and Nindalf

Finally, two wizards from Gondor approach the High King's throne.
Hieronymous is a Fire Wizard from Altdorf, and Otto is an Amber Wizard of House Slytherin.
These 2 Oldhammer minis are coded as Citadel C02 Wizards.

They speak to the High King about a quest to not only save Moria but also Gondor.  Maybe even all of Middle Earth!
The Dwarves are fighting the Balrog and Gondor is fighting Sauron, but their master is Melkor aka Morgoth who is coming back!
Morgoth, the Great Enemy is coming back from the void, the Dwarves ask?
Yes, at least thats what all the signs point to.
The prophecy of the Dagor Dagorath (The Last Battle):  "until the Dagor Dagorath, and the Coming of the End, when Melkor returns” 

To prevent/combat this, they must find ancient relics located in the isles to the west.
According to the librarian/seers of the White Tower, they have narrowed their search to 3 particular isles which might have these powerful relics.
The names of these isles are:  Tol Morwen, Tol Fuin, and Mirdorog-naht
They can sense the glow of these magical energies through the Astronomy Engines atop Minas Tirith.
Weapons and artifacts powerful enough to slay Morgoth, Sauron, and the Balrog?
What manner of magic must fuel them?

But the Dwarves are in need of help now and this quest would take a long time?
The Wizards have new spell devices that can send them to the isles - Tele-Port-Keys!
Or TPK's for short.  (The Dwarves grunt at that, afterall TPK is also short for Total Party Kill)
They are two-way use and burn out afterwards.
They cost too much and take ages to make, but they can carry 8 people and only a wizard can control them.
Unfortunately, the Gondor Wizards were hoping Gandalf would be found, but alas, they are one Wizard short.  (Merlin went looking for the White Towers somewhere near the Shire, Saruman has turned into a Sith-Lord, and Radagast is gods only knows where)

Luckily, Nindalf the dwarf wizard is here to control the 3rd device.

So the Dwarven council decides to take the 3 Quests and send 3 "Away Teams" to go planetside (erm Isle-side)

These Quests must hurry, since the Balrog and his armies are just about to descend upon the Dwarves!
The rest of the Dwarves and their allies will begin to fortify the Valley of Dimril Dale against the coming Balrog.

But who to send?
The new Hobbit allies are good at thievin' (good for getting into small spaces).
The Slaan are wise and ancient, they might know something about these isles.

Away Team #1
From bottom, left to right: Gimli, Nindalf the Wizard, Frodo, Legolas.
From top, left to right: Uther, Foreman Brisket of the Miners, Frost Dwarf Maggie from Karak Norsca, and Kimril the Slayer

Gimli leads this team to the Dark Isle of Tol Fuin.
It is a somewhat large island off the coast nearest to the Grey Havens, unless you count Aman which supposedly went into the sky, or Numenor which sank under the waves.
While Queen Helga was persuaded not to go, she sends Frost Dwarf Maggie to represent the Norse Dwarves.
Kimril the Slayer, a Dwarf Lord of Legend, and famed first Dwarf Slayer seems to have a crush on the aloof Maggie.
Uther is another Lord of Legend, this team packs some punch!
Frodo is the secret Ring Bearer and is somehow roped into the quest because he is the nephew of the famous Bilbo Baggins, and the Dwarves would not take no for an answer.
Legolas, the only non Hobbit who knows that Frodo has the One Ring, has to come along since he has volunteered to protect the Ring Bearer.

 Away Team #2
 From bottom, left to right: King Alrik, Heironymous, Samwise Gamgee, the White Dwarf
 From top, left to right: 2 Goldshield Dwarves, Kremlo the Slaan and Breedo the Slaan

King Alrik leads this team to the Cursed Isle of Tol Morwen, which is further out west than Tol Fuin.
Samwise Gamgee decides to join up for the cause and has struck up a friendship with the ol grumpy stuntie known only as "the White Dwarf".
Kremlo the Slaan just wants to help do his part, but Breedo his companion seems intent on eating Samwise.  (Afterall, the fat Hobbit looks tasty to reptile eyes!)

  Away Team #3
 From bottom, left to right: Bugman, Otto the Wizard, Lobelia, Balin
 From top, left to right: Guts from the Blue Mtns, Pickles Map-master, Grundrin, Mad Furrikson

Bugman leads the 3rd team to the Mysterious Isle of Mirdorog-Naht, the largest isle of the three Quest Isles.
Could this isle be The Undying Lands, where the Elves keep sailing to?
They might see some Valar, really powerful beings from the beginning of time!
Or perhaps its Numenor, risen up from the depths?
So maybe this away team will get social with some of Aragorn's ancient lost relatives!
Lobelia is bringing her broom, in case she needs to tidy up these places and give a good impression to whomever they meet (afterall, cleanliness is next to Valar-ness!)
Pickles will hopefully be able to help identify wherever they end up, since he is the Map master.

A family reunion of sorts!

Balin, Thorin, and Gloin.

Balin died and mysteriously came back to life (Chaos Gods did it! But shhh... its a secret!)

Thorin also died and came back to life  (The Emperor Protects, and so does the Adeptus Mechanicus with their Stasis Chamber)

Gloin... well... he went and had a son!  Gimli is a fine lad too, they reply!

Three Dwarves who were part of the Thirteen who set out for The Lonely Mountain, long ago.
They speak of the old days, and remember how they started "Thorin and Company".
Beer is handed around and they remember their Hobbit friend Bilbo (where is he, these days?)
Then they spill some beer on the ground for their fallen friends and family, Fili and Kili.
When this whole thing is done and the Dwarves are at last victorious and the Balrog/Sauron/Morgoth is slain...  perhaps they could start a new company, "just like the olde days!".


Balin says to call it Thorin and Company - Round 2.
Thorin says it will be Thorin And Balin Adventure Quest Incorporated
or TABAQI (for the love of pipeweed)
Hopefully they can find a rejuvenated Bilbo and get him to join!

"It's a dangerous business going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to..."


~~~

The stage is set, now here come the skirmish battle reports.
Tomorrow I will post the first one, and then one a day thereafter.

As always I left the fluff of the blog in the hands of the battles (and dice).
I think you will be as surprised to see what impact these Quests will have on this very blog!

And dont think Ive forgotten Bree!


Cheers,
Mar



Next Post:  The Dark Isle Of Tol Fuin