The Winter Arena

[Arklite]

right, after asking DaveVC04 very nicely i've been allowed to go ahead and start this little diddy, so lets begin!

Birds fluttered past the window breaking the sunlight as they passed. Despite the mid-day sun the room was dark, the light merely making the shadows seem more significant than illuminating them. Gabril sat down on the high backed chair waiting to be called into the office beyond. Wrapping his cloak against the chill wind fluttering through the room gabril considered his situation. The strife within the city had escalated, the people’s council and the nobles had clashed again over the taxation of food since the wars last year and it had taken the palace guard to stop an all out riot. Gabril took in a deep breath, his breath misting in the air. “Blasted winter” he mumbled as he rubbed his hands for warmth. Despite the cloudless sky and beaming sunshine the wind was razor sharp cutting away any warmth falling towards the city. The winter was unnatural, he was sure of it. This far south it was unheard of it to have frost let alone snow and it was taking its toll. The cities people remained home, their doors barricaded against the chill. This of course meant that virtually no one was going to work and that the nobles weren’t getting their gold. Gabril snorted, the jumped up fools constantly lashed down on the lower classes ever since the duke was deposed. Their hatred of the victors only sated by their vote in the triumvirate.
As the first seat of the people’s council Gabril had often been forced to sit through the baseless claims of the nobility whenever the triumvirate was called. Selfish and arrogant, only looking to secure their own position regardless of the cost to the city. Gabril sat glaring out of the window deep in his thoughts. Grudge and vendetta rolling across his vision endlessly, the wrongs that had been committed against his people by their “betters” and constant reminder of the rebellions near failure. By the gods it scratched at his soul. Standing up he began to pace across the room. The upcoming vote was critical for the survival of the city. The tax was the only thing keeping the city intact in this turbulent time and the petty demands of the nobility couldn’t jeopardise this delicate situation if Media was to survive. Floorboards creaked and groaned under each step adding a mocking melody to Gabril’s anger. The man behind that door, the representative of the cities military, was the only thing which could stop the tax being removed and the only thing keeping this city in once piece. The middleman.

“Do we have any idea on the general’s allegiance in this matter?” don Jerald cringed at the voice of his counterpart across the table. The high pitched falsetto of don Zanan grated on Jerald’s bones like nails down a slate, and his panicked whinging only amplified its effects.
“I cannot say. he has been decidedly neutral in this affair so far” it was partially true at least. Mode had been rather hostile towards the prospect of a secret meeting and the possibility of offering a bribe. The man was horrendously difficult to manipulate, not like the duke. “I intend to visit him later today and make our proposal to him.”
Zanan quickly snorted “you know he will demand it made public at the next meeting of the triumvirate before agreeing to it. then the peoples council will have us at their will and the workers will revolt before we can even return to our homes”. Zanan’s cowardice grated on his bones. The City's army depended on the contributions of the nobility just as much as the people, offering him more will be too much for him to refuse. “The man will listen and he will no doubt fold to our offer, besides the loss of the tax will be more than compensated for by our extra support, he has nothing to loose from this offer and plenty to gain.”
“Except sating that sick sense of humour” Jerald glared across the table at Zanan. Curse the little worm for being right…

Gabril was startled by the door’s latch unlocking. A wave of heat swept out from the office beyond encouraging Gabril to hurry inside. The office was not the largest room in the building, in fact it was once an armoury, tucked away in a secure part of the palace. If it wasn’t for the ornate shelves on the walls you wouldn’t have any idea, long swords and axes hung lifelessly from their rests. Rumour was that Mode was capable with any weapon to be found in tilia and had time and time again refused to pick any weapon in particular. The man wore his title like an actor would hold a face and the people loved him for it. The man himself was average, adding to the whole joke. He stood no taller than a man from the empire, nor was he particularly good looking. He had a light figure but broad shoulders and his dark hair rounded off the whole affair leaving him with no real description beyond… normal. At least at first impression, Gabril knew as much as anyone who had the fortune (or misfortune) to have met the man face to face that he was more than normal. A capable mage and a strategist the man had managed to turn back impossible odds in the great wars of last year and had returned in time to save the city from the duke, storming the palace at the head of his bodyguard and disarming the tyrant single-handedly in a duel. At the moment he was sitting behind his desk thumbing his way through a book. Gabril made his way into the room and glanced out of the huge window making up the left hand side of the room. The cities pike men were drilling in the square bellow, ordered blocks of troops wheeling and turning constantly bringing a wall of steel tips to bear against imaginary foes, heavy armour glinting in the winter sun. 256 men working in perfect order. Gabril turned his attention back to the office. Mode had put down his book and was scribbling some notes, no doubt another “tactical innovation”. The man constantly interchanged the operation of his forces, one month he would focus on firepower and guns, another the push of the cavalry. The only thing that remained constant was the presence of the city's robust pike formations, a traditional cornerstone in the cities battle tactics.
“Will you ever make up your mind?” Gabril always had to initiate conversation when speaking with mode. He knew it was all an act, the busy scholar absentmindedly not noticing his guests as they enter, but gabril knew the importance of this act. Mode had never committed his support for either the nobility or the people. His position was far too dependant on either. The nobility funded over half the army’s treasury and provided the bulk of the officer core. In turn the people supplied the troops and arms that were the lifeblood of his office; as such he was always the last to vote in the triumvirate, he only ever chose to be a tie breaker for when the nobility and the people didn’t agree.
“Hmm?” he murmured “ah gabril, please sit down. Forgive me I did not notice you there” he quickly tidied away his books and his notes and began to straighten up his desk. “I’m glad you’ve come. I have an idea I wish to share with you” if gabril had been drowsy he was wide awake now… “An idea mode? Surely after your last venture you would want to have a rest” this was as good as any a way to get into mode’s mind. He was probably the greatest mind the city had ever produced, as well as the most cunning but even he was prone to the scholarly fault of rambling while making small talk. Gabril had learned a lot through this method and mode had never seemed to have become wise to it. “My friend you wound me! Take a rest when the city is in such strenuous times?” the wicked smile across Mode’s face was far too familiar and far too troubling. “I received an interesting letter only this morning, now where did I put that thing” mode vanished under his desk. Drawers rattled and files flipped out of sight as Gabril spun all the possibilities through his head. Mode was always one for grand ideas and they often worked. Only Sigmar knows what he has come up with this time. “Aha!” Mode reappeared behind his desk looking flustered and with a look of childish glee spread wide across his features. “The high priestess of Myrmidia sent me this request last week. It arrived by courier this morning.” Myrmidia? Gabril wasn’t a man to hold faith with the goddess of tactics and battle he had to admit. He was a merchant at heart. This was becoming more and more intriguing to say the least. Mode paused for a moment and locked eyes with Gabril a flash of challenge leapt out and startled him… this was no scholar’s innovation. “She has requested that we hold a series of games, an arena as it were. To honour the goddess in this season of rest and to find the greatest champions in the old world, to prepare us for the times ahead.” Gabril sat silence for a moment, an arena? The timing was terrible… with the people so dissatisfied with the nobility it would have been the perfect time to get rid of the pompous fools. “I believe the people need something to calm their nerves” Mode continued “times are difficult and a distraction would be perfect, of course the event shall be free. I believe the duke’s old arena could do with some renovation, don’t you agree?” Gabril knew he was cornered… to say no to this would require an explanation and he needed mode’s cooperation in the upcoming triumvirate and that means he would have to play to modes game for now. “An excellent idea my friend! I shall begin the proclamations immediately, shall I organise some labour for the renovations?” Gabril might as well try to profit from the situation after all.
“Do not worry you’re self my friend” mode replied “I think you’ll find I’ve already organised some assistance in this matter”

How to enter:

You are allowed to use any Lord or Hero character from any of the current army books. Storm of Chaos and the like are out. Below you will find a list of rules on how things work; however, there are a few limits on your characters.

• Each character must be named.
• They must be legal and cost no more than 250 points in total.
• They cannot ride monstrous mounts (mounts with more than one wound).
• No special characters.
• All Hero choices may select 100 points of magic items, rather than the usual 50.
• In addition, each one must be accompanied by a background and a description of them for the write ups.


• To enter, you send a PM to me along with:

• Name of character
• Background
• Equipment
• Total cost

Rules

Equalizers

• Goblin Warbosses (Night Goblins included) may go up to 20 points over their magic item limit providing that they do not exceed 250 pts in total.
• Skink Chieftans may go up to 20 points over their magic item limit providing that they do not exceed 250 pts in total.
• Skaven Warlords may go up to 20 points over their magic item limit providing that they do not exceed 250 pts in total. The Appendix Plague Lord is no longer permitted.
• Vampires get 35pts extra – they may not exceed their magic item limit.
• Tomb Kings get 25 points extra, they may not exceed their magic item limit.
• Empire characters that do not take a Runefang may go up to 20pts over the magic item limit providing that they do not exceed 250 points in total.
• Wood Elf characters get 20 points extra; they may not exceed their magic item limit.
• Dark Elf Assassins are counted as Hero choices for all intents and purposes.
• Bretonnians must pray to gain the Blessing, allowing their opponent to charge them and gain all the benefits thereof in the first round of each combat. A Bretonnian player who does not wish to pray should specify this before the match is rolled.
Additional Rules

Warpstone amulet - Same points cost, but roll to see if you die BEFORE the fight instead of afterwards.

Killing Blow - If a character scores a KB hit then this is how damaged will be worked out: D2+n

(n stands for the number of original wounds the character had minus two. This gives a 50% chance of killing a character off.)

Dwarfs – Any dwarf lord entered may be mounted upon shieldbearers, all rules and restrictions apply as per usual.

Gaze of the gods table: chaos characters will receive a single roll at the start of the tournament to represent the champion having the favour of his gods to take part. However unlike in a normal game further rolls will not be made after any victorious matches. However, should the player wish to change his result on the gaze of the gods table at any point of the arena he has a single re-roll which he can make before a match is fought to represent the fickle nature of chaos. Note that the player will be stuck with the second result regardless of the outcome. (Example: Daniel the chaos champion rolls +1 attack at the start of the arena, but later decides he wants something else in round 2. unfortunately he rolls stupidity and is stuck with it for the remainder of the arena in place of his +1 attack)

BANNED ITEMS

The following items are banned, they are found to be too powerful or have an unfair advantage in an Arena of Death game.

- Tress of Isolde
- Sword of Fate
- Van Horstmann's Speculum
- The Daemon Sword
- The Fellblade
- The Bane Head
- The Grudge Rune
- Kurbog's Curmudgeonly Klobbera
- Virtue of Confidence
- Annoyance of Netlings
- Palanquin mount
- Pendant of Kaeleth
- Any and all items/weapons/armour that nullifies or breaks magic weapons or armour.


Also, any item that includes in its rules "nominate one enemy character" is illegal.
How it works

If you have never fought in one of these, the point is to pit two characters against one another, one on one. In all essence it is a challenge as in a normal game but with a few differences. Namely, they’re trapped in an arena with the only way out is to kill or be killed.

We will roll a match up between two characters until one perishes. The one who remains standing will be the victor and progress to the next round.
Combat

- Always Strike First

- First round of combat
In the first round of combat, both warriors count as charging for the purposes of lances and other special rules. If neither warrior has a 'strike first' ability (or a 'strike last' ability), the person with the highest Initiative will strike first. If both warriors are equally entitled to strike first (usually because they have equal initiative), striking order will be determined randomly. In essence, we will follow the rules as outlined by GW for ASF, great weapons, and the like.

- Later rounds
In later rounds of combat, neither warrior gets charging bonuses (pretty obvious ). Strike order will be determined using the same system as in the first round of combat - however, in cases of equal initiative, the die to determine strike order is not rolled. Instead, the person who struck first last time will strike first, combat alternating between each warrior.

- After the Fight
After the fight, the victor advances to the next round. Any wounds they suffer are healed, as well as any other effects (such as the manbane poison: or anything else that permanently reduces statistics). It is as if the last fight never happened!

Psychology

- Break tests
Break tests are ignored in the Arena (where are they going to run in a ring of death?). Other psychology that may force an opponent to flee from combat is also ignored. THERE IS NO WAY TO FLEE IN AN AOD. For this reason, panic, unbreakable and Stubborn also have no effect.

In addition, undead warriors ignore the rule that causes them to take wounds from combat resolution. In a similar manner, daemonic characters do not suffer from instability.

- Fear
Fear is handled similarly to normal. In the first round of combat, a warrior facing a fearsome foe will take a Ld test. If he fails, he will hit on 6+ for that round of combat. After that, fear has no effect.

- Hatred
Hatred is also handled as normal. The warrior will re-roll failed 'to hit' rolls against hated foes in the first round, unless a specific army book overrules this.

- Stupidity
Since stupidity is ignored in combat, it only effects the first turn when the model suffering stupidity is attempting to charge. He or she will take a stupidity test as normal; if failed, the model strikes last, no matter what. I.e., no ASF for failed test.

- Frenzy
While there's nowhere to run, you can still have the frenzy knocked out of you; therefore, models do lose frenzy as normal.

no reservations will be taken for this arena, it will be done on a first come first serve basis based on who gets their personal messages in on time.

[Arklite]

Arena entrants:

1. Colteron (Avatar of Khaine)
2. Izmael Mutantkin (Daelrog)
3. Gunthur Ironhide (King Ulrik Flamebeard)
4. Nurkzeg Nutcruncher (Ginger Ninja)
5. Little Brom, knight-for-hire (Da Mighty Camel)
6. Masumune (ArchonFarseerGuy)
7. Zhao Yun, One of the Great Five Tiger Generals (Rob the guru)
8. Gharzarc (xanaq)
9. Snazzgit the Acquirer (ArtificiallyEnhanced)
10. Jhoira of the Ghitu (Lore_Colten)
11. Saro Kuyl (Attila the Hun Jr)
12. Francois de Montagne (Mpdscott)
13. Cors el Revenir (Alzer)
14.
15.
16.

come on folks! 3 places left!

edit: i'll be asleep for the next few hours (should be back online around 8am GMT) as characters will be sent Via PM the first 5 entries will be accepted. any others will sadly not be allowed to compete. arena participation will be based 100% of when the PM arrives in my inbox. thankyou.

[King Ulrik Flamebeard]

Yes.. I am actually being involved in one of these. Lets see how it goes!

Kuffy

[xanaq]

I wasnt going to do another one, but couldnt resist.

[ArtificiallyEnhanced]

My first ever- so I'm entering a gobbo! I already have the excuses lined up!

[Attila the Hun Jr]

I'm in. Great fluff by the way.

[mpdscott]

Hopeful entrant PM'd.....

[Alzer]

Threw up a character, we'll see what happens.

[Da Mighty Camel]

My first time in an AoD as well! Prepare to get yer skulls mushed.

[Arklite]

Arena entrants:

1. Colteron (Avatar of Khaine)
2. Izmael Mutantkin (Daelrog)
3. Gunthur Ironhide (King Ulrik Flamebeard)
4. Nurkzeg Nutcruncher (Ginger Ninja)
5. Little Brom, knight-for-hire (Da Mighty Camel)
6. Masumune (ArchonFarseerGuy)
7. Zhao Yun, One of the Great Five Tiger Generals (Rob the guru)
8. Gharzarc (xanaq)
9. Snazzgit the Acquirer (ArtificiallyEnhanced)
10. Jhoira of the Ghitu (Lore_Colten)
11. Saro Kuyl (Attila the Hun Jr)
12. Francois de Montagne (Mpdscott)
13. Cors el Revenir (Alzer)
14. Bogrod the Bloody (tuxedo clank)
15. Boris "cold fists" Drebrenin (Andre)
16. Brave Sir Robin (Brave Sir Robin)