Twelfth Battle of La Maisontaal
| Next | Fall of Heldenhame |
 | |
| Conflict | End Times |
| Date | Autumn 2523 IC |
| Location | La Maisontaal Abbey |
| Outcome | Victory for the Undead |
| | |
| Bretonnians | Undead |
| | |
| Duke Theodoric Duke Jerrod |
Arkhan Heinrich Kemmler |
| | |
| | |
| Few survivors | Kemmler dead |
Arkhan's Advance
Arkhan moved through the Vaults, binding Heinrich Kemmler and Krell to his service and breaking open the seals of many ancient tombs to create a small but potent army. They marched through ruined Brionne and Carcassonne swiftly defeating Duke Tancred II as they crossed into Brionne. [1a]
Those few knights that survived retreated to Castle Brenache where Jerrod became the new Duke of Quenelles. He consulted the Prophetess Lady Elynesse who managed to scry the destination of the undead - La Maisontaal Abbey. [1a]
Abbey
The once grand plans of Tancred I to create a mighty fortress on the site had mostly dissolved after his death but a garrison building was created becoming a home base for a substantial force. The military there - knights, men-at-arms and archers was commanded by Duke Theodoric who had first come to the abbey as a penance. As the End Times was unleashed, Theodoric had led the forces of the Abbey in many sorties. [1a]
When Jerrod arrived and informed him of the advancing undead, Theodoric saw this as a chance to prove that Bretonnia was not forsaken. Ignoring Jerrod's advice, Theodoric mustered his army in the meadows to the south of the abbey. [1a]
Battle
Arkhan deployed his army like a vast battering ram composed of bone and rotting flesh and aimed it at the centre of the Bretonnian line and at its head was the formidable form of Krell. [1d]
Confronted by the advancing horde, Theodoric gave a final prayer to the Lady and ordered his archers and trebuchets to fire as they could hardly fail to find a target even in gloom. Although holes were torn in the ranks and the flaming arrows destroyed the dead, Necromancy soon restored them. [1d]
Krell and his wights charged into the men-at-arms and began to rend them asunder, but initially the line buckled but held. The flanking knights now charged, the left commanded by Theodoric himself, the right by Montglaive. At the same time, the three Damsels sought to counter the dark magic but the Lichemaster, outraged at their challenge, quickly incinerated them and their escorting knights with black lightning. [1d]
Soon half of the knights were dead, but Theodoric had fought his way to within striking distance of Arkhan himself and charged with his blessed axe upraised. He cleaved through the ancient liche's breastplate, throwing him to the ground - but already his bones were knitting together. Before the Duke could strike a second blow, the vampire Arkhan interposed himself, parrying the blow before counter-striking and beheading the impudent human. With his brutal death, the courage of the remaining Bretonnian’s began to fail. [1d]
At this point, Jerrod and his knights arrived, plunging deep into the dead, shattering the Wights and bringing new hope. Krell sought out this new enemy, destoying anything that stood in his way - living or dead. At the same time, Kemmler challenged Arkhan deep in the vaults of the abbey, holding Alakanesh aloft as he re-afirmed his allegiance to Chaos. [1d]
As the battle continued to rage, the Abbey itself exploded due to the vast magics the two mages were unleashing beneath it. Although Krell was buried by the explosion but quickly surged to the surface and advanced on Jerrod once more. Gioffre of Anglaron challenged the undead champion but a single blow of the Black Axe cut him in two. [1d]
The dead all around began to rise once more and choking on ash and his shame, Jerrod ordered a retreat with what few of the living still remained. Below in the vaults, Arkhan swept the ash that was all that remained of the Lichemaster from his robes. [1d]
Order of Battle
Bretonnia
- Duke Theodoric of Brionne, [1b] Bretonnian Lord. [1e]
- Montglaive of Treseaux, slayer of the wyrm Catharax. [1d]
- Brionnese Guard: Peasant Bowmen. [1e]
- Ennar's Outlaws: Renegade Peasant Archers. [1b][1e]
- Taal's Hunters: Two scouting parties of Mounted Yeoman. [1e]
- Tervoc's Lance: Lance of Knights of the Realm. [1e]
- The Holy Warders of La Maisontaal: Regiment of Battle Pilgrims. [1e]
- The Left Hand of King Gilles: Two Trebuchet seige trains. [1e]
- The Rapscallards: Men-at arms. [1b] [1e]
- The Right Hand of King Gilles: One Trebuchet seige train. [1e]
- The Sons of Bagrian: Two regiments of Men-at-arms. [1e]
- Duke Jerrod of Quenelles. [1b] Bretonnian Lord. [1e]
- Companions of Quenelles. [1b]
- Fastric's Skylance: Pegasus Knights led by Fastric Ghoulslayer. [1b][1e]
- Gioffre's Lance: Famous knights including: Leon of Toular, Gioffre of Anglaron, Comte Raynor and Taurin the Wanderer. [1b] Lance of Knights of the Realm. [1e]
- Companions of Quenelles. [1b]
- Aldrad of Lyonesse. [1b]
- Aldrad's Lance: A group of hard-drinking impulsive Knights Errant. [1b][1e][1e]
- The Three Sisters of Ancelioux: Alisse the Haunted, the Enchantress Guerrite, Jeneva, the Blessed Maid of Mousillon. [1e]
Undead
- Arkhan the Black, [1c] Mortarch of Sacrament on a Dread Abyssal. [1e]
- Anark von Carstein [1c] on a Nightmare. [1e]
- Drakenhof Templars: One brotherhood composed of those vampires that Mannfred von Carstein did not consider worthy of his name. [1c][1e]
- Heinrich Kemmler. [1c]
- Krell, [1c] Lord of Undeath. [1e]
Sources
