The Cursed Tower: A Warhammer Scenario

OVERVIEWLong ago, a proud Bretonnian Knight rode south to Araby to take part in a great battle. While in that desert land, the Knight uncovered an ancient scarab encrusted with jewels. The Knight took the scarab home as a trophy of his accomplishments during the battle. Unknowingly, he had returned with more than a simple antique. The scarab was a well of dark magic from the lost realm of Nehekhara,

and an evil curse soon seeped from the scarab to poison the Knight’s proud castle. Years later, only a crumbling tower remains of the Knight’s home, but within, the scarab’s power still calls to those who think themselves powerful enough to master it. Meanwhile, the Knight himself is forever damned to serve the scarab as a hideous Undead guardian. Now, two forces meet in the dark woods surrounding the ruined Bretonnian tower, both intent on being the first to break the scarab’s curse and claim its power for themselves!

ARMIESThe forces are chosen up to an agreed points value. Both armies must possess a Wizard. If one army does not have any Wizards (such as Dwarfs), that army must have a character who adds dice to the Dispel Pool.

BATTLEFIELDWe recommend a 4' x 6' table for this scenario. If you are running this scenario on a different-sized table, you may have to adjust the Deployment Zones accordingly.

In the center of the table, place the Ruined Bretonnian Gatehouse to represent the Cursed Tower. No other terrain may be placed within 10" of the center of the table.

DEPLOYMENTAfter setting up terrain, both players roll a D6. The player with the higher result may select the Deployment Zone where he wishes to deploy. His opponent then places the first unit. Players then alternate placing units until all the forces are deployed.

• War machines are placed at the same time but do not have to be deployed together. • Characters are placed at the same time after all other units but do not have to be deployed together. • Scouts are deployed after everything else and are placed per the rules found on p. 112 of the Warhammer rulebook. One unit of Scouts may be placed on the battlements of the Cursed Tower itself. If Scouts are deployed on the battlements of the Cursed Tower, the unit is subject to the maddening curse suffusing the building below and suffers D3 S3 hits after deployment but before the game begins, with normal armor saves allowed. If both sides have Scouts, both players should roll a D6.

The player with the highest result may choose to place his Scouts first or second.

WHO GOES FIRST?Both players roll a D6. The player who finished deploying his units first (excluding Scouts) may add +1 to this die roll. The player with the highest result may select whether he wants to go first or second.

LENGTH OF GAMEThe game lasts 8 turns.

SPECIAL RULESThe Curse. A lingering sense of malice and dread surrounds the tower and fills the still and silent clearing with fear. All units within 18” of the tower suffer a –1 to their Leadership and combat resolution. Units that are Immune to Psychology or Unbreakable are not affected.

The Guardian. The Knight that once ruled this castle now serves the evil scarab and has been transformed by its power into an Undead servant. Any unit that comes into contact with the tower must halt and do battle with the Guardian exactly as if the unit had been charged by an enemy unit. The Guardian always challenges the unit’s champion if possible (this challenge may not be refused) and has the following profile.

NAME POINTS M WS BS S T W I A LD

The Guardian N/A 4 5 3 5 4 2 4 2 10

The Guardian has a 4+ ward save and possesses the Killing Blow ability. The Guardian never leaves the tower and thus may never pursue a fleeing foe. The Guardian is Unbreakable and Immune to Psychology. The Guardian will not attack until battle looms nigh. Thus, this rule does not apply to a unit of Scouts if it chose to deploy on top of the tower.

VICTORY CONDITIONSUse the Victory Point rules found on p. 198 of the Warhammer rulebook to determine the number of Victory Points earned with the following additions.

If the Guardian was defeated, the player controlling the unit that defeated him gains +200 Victory Points. The player with a unit closest to the tower at the end of the game (measuring from the center of the tower) gains +200 Victory Points. Fleeing units don't count.