Gobstyk's Gaming Club

The Tale of Klavius the Undying.

Beyond the altar of ultimate darkness in the wastelands of Naggaroth exists the Horde of Klavius. Klavius was a pupil of Teclis the great High Elven mage, a human who showed enough promise for Teclis to believe that he could manage the mysteries of High Magic. At first Klavius showed a great aptitude for his new lessons, but unlike the High Elven mages Klavius had two very human attributes: ambition and impatience.

 Late, under the twin moons, Klavius would study the darkest and most forbidden magics. He discovered texts that suggested that the most power was contained in the altar of ultimate darkness, in the home of the dreaded dark elves.

 Klavius bided his time until he had learned all he could from the ivory tower. Then he joined the next expedition to Naggaroth with Eltharion. After leaving that doomed army, he travelled north and found his goal.

 Klavius soon acquired power beyond his wildest dreams, and the land groaned as it gave up bodies of Elven warriors and chaos fiends long since forgotten. As news of his power spread he was joined by some other likeminded mages. Geography helped eliminate the weaker mages as they failed to make the journey through the lands of the witch king.

 Klavius now leads his band in the hazardous desert between the lands of Naggaroth and the Northern Chaos Wasteland. His dreams of power continue to grow, and his knowledge of the arcane matched by very few humankind. He dreams of returning to the lands of the Emperor and teaching him the true meaning of power.

 Klavius at the Tower of Hoeth.

 Klavius stood with his neck craning upwards. The white marble of the tower was a marvel to his eyes. It soared upward, a dragon in full flight, majesty and glory. How could anything compare to the marvel of this beautiful building? As he lingered, his eyes continues to marvel at the sight. More so was the power of magic a marvel to his soul. He could feel the power and potential for greatness. It was intoxicating, he could feel it coursing through his veins and filling his very being. He glanced at the novice High Elven mages, ploughing the fields with their minds whilst the citizens looked on in awe and kindness. One smiled and waved at the farmers at the side of the field, who drank and rested whilst the novice showed off his ‘power’. That was no power! Power was to be feared and bowed down to, not applauded and thanked. Feeling a sneer come to his lips Klavius looked away, and into the eyes of Teclis. Had the Great Mage noticed his disdain? He must not! All relied on his teaching and goodwill! Klavius must continue his study now, he had a taste for it.

“It is a wonder my Lord,” he placated “Such minor mages carrying such magics that they can do the work of many in so little time.” He desperately tried to keep the disgust from his voice,

“Such minor mages have been at their studies for twice your lifetime young human. Your presence here is an experiment. No mon-keigh has ever been taught at the ivory tower, and many wish you to fail, and in so wish me to fail. Do not cloud your mind with the achievements of others; instead focus on your own strength.”

“That I will my Lord.” He felt the power surge through him as the winds of magic blew across the field. “That I will.”

 Klavius at Naggaroth.

 “To Arms, To Arms!” Eltharion bellowed taking to the air on his mighty Griffon. A horde of High Elves arrayed across the plain, weapons gleaming in the cold sunlight. Facing them, their arch enemy, the Dark Elven kin. Usually they would be repelling their dark cousins from their homeland of Ulthan. Eltharion thought differently. He had taken the fight to the Dark Elves. He was beginning to realise his folly.

Klavius, now given command of a small regiment of warrior levy and a bodyguard of White Lions summoned forth the fury of khaine upon the advancing dark elven horde. Many fell in the flames. The battle was not going well for the High Elves, but it could yet be turned. Klavius saw an opening. He led his force through a gap in the battle line to the North and turned to attempt to out flank the single-minded thrust of the enemy. He called down flames and fire on the few Dark Elves in his way, his sea guard adding arrows into the foe. Then Eltharion fell.

A mighty groan went up from the High Elven host, they began to fall back, but the way back East and the shore was blocked. Klavius sent a message to the other mages in the host, to head North and escape to find shelter and safety and return to Ulthan by another route. Few listened.

“Vlagh, form up our troops and head for that gap, we must escape!”

The captain of the White Lions nodded, and went about opening the gap with a combination of arrows from the sea guard and a charge from his personal bodyguard. The Dark Elves reacted to the charge by sending troops to close the gap, but it was too late. Forty of Klavius’ troops escaped the carefully constructed ambush. Then the gap was closed.

With the cries of the dying ringing around Klavius led the few Elves he had with him north. The Elves wept in despair and regret.

  Klavius smiled.

 Klavius at the Altar of Ultimate Darkness.

 “I like this not my Lord.” Announced Captain Vlagh of the White Lions. “The place reeks of evil” Vlagh was worried about the position they were in. The place had ambush written all over it, and he was sure that some Dark Elf Shades had made their position two days ago. He had prepared his troops to expect trouble.

“You worry too much my old friend,” Klavius replied nonchalantly “The power here is magnificent, do you feel it Mattheus?”

“Indeed I do, my Lord.” The young mage whispered in awe. “It is magnificent.” He smiled. “It will suit our purpose.”

Vlagh raised an eyebrow at this comment, but said nothing. Klavius looked at his elven apprentice with a rebuking glance.

“With only two score troops our chances of making the coast are slim, without reinforcement.” Klavius said calmly. “I intend to be reinforced.”

It was then that the arrows began to fall. A raiding party of Dark Elves had found them, and the ambush had begun. Vlagh quickly took charge and mustered his remaining troops in defence of the two mages at the altar. Their prepared state was testament to the Captain’s leadership. Black magic began to fall upon the elves; Chill wind froze them to the bone and the pain of Chroesh consumed every nerve. Klavius could feel the power of the magic falling upon his troops, and started to mouth the word to dispel it, but he held back. The High Elves had tried to regain their position and formation, but they were being outflanked. Their dark kin were upon them, outnumbering them 3 to 1. It was hopeless, despite their best efforts. As the Elves clashed in mortal combat, sounds of death and despair echoed around. It was music to Klavius’ ears.

“It is time.” Whispered Klavius. With a word he called out to the soil. “Rise!”

Intent on killing the last of the High Elves the Dark kin did not see the new threat until it was too late. The silent dead fell upon them, and those that could not run were cut down. Klavius noticed with detached fascination that the death cries of High Elf and Dark Elf were so similar that they could not be differentiated. The few remaining High Elves cheered, until the undead cut into them too. Mattheus felt no regret at this; his kin were estranged to him. He could feel no kinship with those that had no appreciation of the power that magic could give.

The battle was over, the Dark Elven mage Mariana looked upon the scene with horror and joy. Her band of warriors, her first command, lay dead upon the field, slain by the human mage and his High Elven apprentice. Never before had she seen such power, and power was worth risk. She would also apprentice herself to the human; take the High Elf’s place at his side. If he refused her, he would kill her. She knew and understood that. Her life was forfeit for losing her warriors so the gamble was well worth it.

“My Lords, let me join you!” she shouted from the edge of the clearing.

“Hold.” Klavius commanded his undead host. He could feel the potential of the Dark Elf mage, who would know of magic that he had yet to study. She was as pleasing to the eye as she was to his ambition.

Mattheus looked upon the dark elf with disgust. Klavius was pleased at this. “I accept you as my apprentice. If you displease me you will die.”

“I accept!” the Dark Elf shouted with glee. She knew her life would forever be changed by her choice, and she liked that.

 The raising of Vlagh.

 Klavius looked down at the dead body of his captain. Vlagh had served him well in life, and he had come to rely on the expertise of the White Lion. Was it regret he felt at his passing? The mages he had with him had little knowledge of battlefield tactics, and it was a closed book to him too. He needed an advisor, he needed his captain. He made his choice.

He laid the body on the Altar of Ultimate Darkness.

“Arise and serve me, my old friend.” Kalvius commanded.

Vlagh’s eyes opened. He clutched his sword, which began to glow a pale blue.

“I serve you, my Lord.” He bowed before Klavius.

“You will carry my standard, so all know who dooms them.” Klavius announced. “And I return to you your host of troops.”

Klavius looked over the battle field and the dead High Elves.

“Arise and serve me, as you did in life!”

As the High Elves stood Klavius felt power wash over him. This was n ordinary band of skeleton or zombie warriors he had risen to serve him. The bond in life now served in death as his Grave Guard arose before him.

Even those whose bodies had been hacked into a hundred pieces by frenzied dark elves and unrelenting skeleton warriors left behind their battered bodies and rose in spirit form.

“Know I am well pleased with you.” Klavius announced.

The dead did not care, only wanting to add to their number by slaying the living. Klavius knew he needed to build a larger army if he was to threaten the Old World. He would also need to find a way to return to the land of his birth. The chaos wastes were to the North, Naggaroth to the South. He would have to bide his time and win many battles. The power was worth it. The long quest had begun. His host was ready for war.

 Klavius at the Tower of Sinister  Enchantment.

 After Klavius left the Altar of Ultimate darkness, he spent years wandering the chaos wastes teaching his apprentices the dark arts and carefully putting together clues to the location of the books of Nagash.

 “My Lord Klavius, the air! Can you feel it?” asked Mariana in awe. Klavius had felt the air charged with power for some time now. It pleased him that Mariana should sense it before Mattheus. Mattheus scowled, it had obviously not pleased him.

 “A mere shade of the Ivory Tower.” He sneered.

 “If the Ivory Tower was so much to your liking, perhaps you should return there?” replied Mariana calmly. She had won this round and Mattheus remained silent.

 The tower stood before them amidst the ruins of an ancient settlement. The magic filled the air with energy and Klavius was indeed reminded of the Ivory Tower all those years ago. He felt…regret? At what could have been had he followed Teclis? No, he would long since have died of old age.

 Movement caught Klavius out of his reprieve. Bright blue, fire, sparks! Demons! Klavius ordered his troops towards the tower. He must get there, he must search it! His Personal Guard advanced, magic crashed against them, some of their number fell in a bright flash of incandescent fire reappeared as a horror, only to be cut down by their companions.  Klavius summoned more warriors and they crashed into the demonic host. Klavius gloried in the power of his army. His bodyguard even felled the bird like form of a greater demon.

 The Tower was his.

 Klavius and the 7^th Book of Nagash.

 Rumour abound that the legendary 7^th Book of Nagash had been uncovered by a relic hunter from Bretonnia. Klavius sailed across the Great Ocean and the Tilean Sea, landing north of Remas. The book was rumoured to be in the Foul Peaks, so Klavius journeyed through the Zombie swamps.

“My Lord is it wise to march this close to Skavenblight?” questioned Vlagh, his dead eyes glowing with unnatural reasoning.

 “Why should we fear those vermin?” cut in Marianna, looking down her nose at the High Elven warrior. “We are led by the mighty Klavius. Should the skaven attack, we can increase our number 10 fold in this hallowed place.”

“Indeed,” agreed Mattheus, though it pained him to do so, he could not let Marianna grow in his master’s estimation, “Klavius could destroy any resistance with a single word. Why caution when we are so close to our goal?”

 Klavius himself could barely contain his desire to acquire the 7^th Book. He knew Vlagh was the only one who had any knowledge of military strategy, gained in his life time as a High Elven commander. However, his desire could not be sated and now was not the time for caution.

 “We will advance to the Foul Peaks immediately.” The horde began walking, needing no time to prepare as they still stood where they had stopped marching over four hours ago.

The walking dead staggered forward, under the watchful eye of Klavius. As they left the edge of the zombie swamp and entered the first of the low passes leading to the mountains, Klavius did not know that other eyes were also upon them.

 Re-enact the battle at the altar of Ultimate Darkness.

Klavius and Mattheus start at the altar in the High Elven deployment zone. The Dark Elves start with Marianna in the woods.

High Elf forces.

20 Sea guard, full command.

19 White Lions. Full command.

Vlagh, High Elf hero with Lion Guard honour.

Dark Elf forces.

2x10 Shades.

20 warriors with spears and full command.

2x10 warriors with x-bows.

20 Corsairs with full command.

Klavius: Level 3 Necromancer Lord, Staff of Damnation, Cloak of Mist and Shadows. Lore of Necromancy. (1, 3, 4, 5)

Mattheus: Level 2 High Elf Mage. Black Periapt, Dispel Scroll. Lore of Necromancy. (1, 4)

Mariana: Level 2 Dark Elf Mage. Lore of Darkness. (1, 3)

 Klavius and Mattheus win if all troops are destroyed.

Mariana will join Klavius if the Dark Elves have less than 20 models left. (Not including her.)

The Dark Elves have the first turn.

 To re-enact the Taking of the Tower of Sinister Enchantment.

 Take and Hold scenario. The objective is a tower at the centre of the table.

 2000 points of demon host. (Tzeench was the original opponent.)

 2000 points of undead.

Including:

Klavius. Level 3 Necromancer Lord, Staff of Damnation, Cloak of Mist and Shadows.

Mattheus. Level 2 Necromancer. Black Periapt and dispel scroll.

Marianna. Level 2 Necromancer. Book of Arkhan and dispel scroll.

Vlagh. Wight Lord. BSB. Rod of Flaming Death.

 To re-enact the ambush in the Foul Peaks.

 Undead Forces. 3000 points.

Including:

Klavius. Level 3 Necromancer Lord, Staff of Damnation, Cloak of Mist and Shadows.

Mattheus. Level 2 Necromancer. Black Periapt and dispel scroll.

Marianna. Level 2 Necromancer. Book of Arkhan and dispel scroll.

Vlagh. Wight Lord. BSB. Rod of Flaming Death.

 Skaven 2000 points. No more than 3 mages.

 Ambush scenario. Attacker: Skaven. Defender: Undead.