Byron's Invasion of Ulthuan - The Wrath of Eltharion (550-562 points)

 Down swoops Eltharion the Grim, Warden of Tor Yvresse!

After months of the Goblins pillaging and marching across Elven lands, Eltharion has taken to the skies seeking vengeance.

Eltharion espies a lone column of wolf riders down below.

Eltharion has been a blight upon the goblins ever since. He soars high over the country and searches for weak points in the goblins' designs.

Eltharion races down from the sky to assail the goblins.

Eltharion's daring and dashing raids have left the goblins on high alert and paralyzed their formations. The goblins are unable to leave their bivouacs for fear of interdiction by the terrible elf. This has left the goblins strung out in clumps of encampments down a forested valley. 

The warden pounces on the terrorized goblins, scattering them. 

The goblins recognize the threat and need to stop him. If they don't, then their entire campaign will be ground to a halt in the valley. However, each time the goblins seek out Eltharion, he falls back behind a blocking force positioned mid-valley. The force of elves is positioned on a hill that funnels the goblins between difficult ground. The elves know if the blocking force is overcome the goblins will stream down through the alley and threaten Tor Yvresse. 

Eltharion hides smugly behind Elril's guard. 

The goblins have begun various strategies to assail this position and overcome it. 

Frontal assaults have failed. So the goblins have attempted other schemes with comparable results. The goblins needed a solution.

Goblin fanatics are shot by supporting archers in the woods.

Eltharion was flying high over the valley in the following days when....

YEEEEEEeeeeeeuuuuuUUUUMMMmmm! (that's the Doppler effect of a goblin) A goblin on a novel type of constructed wings cut through the clouds and arced right by him!

My kids read those Dog Man books with the "flip'o'rama" pages. Try toggling back and forth between the pics to get a similar effect.

The flying goblin continued his arc back down to the earth below and crashed into the blocking force. 

The wailing goblin bowls over the elves in a mess of canvas, goblin limbs, and fine elven ithilmar mail.

Seeing the grim violence done to his comrades (and fearing that the next might not miss him either), Eltharion searched for the source of this new goblinoid devilry.

Flying overhead, Eltharion spotted the goblin device several hundred yards beyond bowshot. The device was well-guarded by archers making a direct attack alone too dangerous. The goblins had won this round. The blocking force would have to retreat, but they had bought precious time to prepare the next battle and evacuate the locals.

The defender of Tor Yvresse would wait. 

Now for pics of this month's minis:

Eltharion the Grim: 450 or 462 points

Why the points discrepancy?

Eltharion first appears in the army list present in the Maugthrond Pass scenario pamphlet. The total elf force is 992 points. If we subtract the cost of the rest of the force using the points values contained in the WARHAMMER ARMIES pamphlet, also contained in the starter set, then we get a value of 462 points for Eltharion.

However, the 4th edition high elf book provides 450 points for the Elf warden:

The difference may stem from their differing equipment. The starter box Eltharion is equipped with light armor, the Sword of Teclis, and the Helm of Atrazar. Whereas the Army Book Eltharion is equipped with Fangsword and the Talisman of Hoeth. Further the Army Book Eltharion also has hatred of goblins and gets +1 to hit and +1 Strength when fighting Grom. 

Clearly for the coming battle Eltharion will be equipped in the canonical gear from the Maugthrond Pass booklet. 

The Doomdiver catapult: 100 points

This warrants a bit of an explanation. This doomdiver catapult uses the 6th edition warmachine, 4th edition goblin ammunition, and an orc crew. The reason for this is that 1. most orc and goblin warmachines in 4th edition had orc crew I liked, 2.  the 6th edition catapult more, and 3. the rules around the doomdiver crew (how many are there??) feels too ambiguous. This arrangement felt more in keeping with the other war machines in the army - because of course orc bullies would delight in flinging goblins beyond the horizon. 

This pic is to emphasize that the orc is pulling the slingshot back with a rope and is not holding a whip.

Elven shields: 0 points

These elves have been sitting on my shelf without shields from before I ever participated in OWAC. 

Also, my final goal for this OWAC is to recreate the box art from the starter set. The box art includes an elven shieldwall, so I'll need some of those for the final picture. 

Total: 550 or 562 points.

Finally, a picture of my shelf of goblins (and Eltharion) showing my progress toward the ultimate goal: recreating the 4th edition starter box art. 

As you can see from the pic, I am behind. My model count has not yet crossed the "April" line. I have June to paint up Grom (and more goblins) and then July to paint up more goblins while finishing the wrap up post.