Battle Reps: Dwarfs vs. Vampire Counts

Once again, and like many times before the Dwarfs leave their stronghold in the search for precious metals so their artisans may work with.
Rumors of a powerful item of old have been passed down from generation to generation, but now things were different. There was hard evidence that the item exists. on their march the Dwarf army came across what was once a detachment of mercenaries, dogs of war as they were called in the old world. One of the survivors spoke of daemons that can suck the life out of a man, warriors of past ages and vicious hounds off hell guarding the treasure.
Such stories could easily chill the heart of any men, but not the heart of a Dwarf and certainly not the heart of a Thane.
With their heads set on recovering this ancient powerful item the Dwarfs marched on to location pointed on the map by the mercenary...

Dwarfs Army

1 Dragon Slayer @ 80 Pts
Runic Weapon [30]
Rune of Fury
Rune of Speed

9 Thunderers @ 165 Pts
Dwarf Handgun; Light Armour; Standard; Musician
1 Veteran @ [10] Pts

13 Warriors @ 151 Pts
Heavy Armour; Shield; Standard; Musician
1 Veteran @ [10] Pts
1 Thane @ 107 Pts
Gromril Armour; Shield
Runic Armour [15]
Rune of Preservation
Runic Weapon [25]
Master Rune of Swiftness

9 Longbeards @ 155 Pts
Great Weapon; Heavy Armour; Standard; Musician
1 Greatbeard @ [10] Pts

1 Bolt Thrower @ 45 Pts
3 Crew @ [0] Pts
Light Armour
1 Master Engineer @ 80 Pts
General; Dwarf Handgun; Gromril Armour; Great Weapon

1 Cannon @ 100 Pts
Engineering Runes [10]
Rune of Reloading
3 Crew @ [0] Pts
Light Armour

7 Miners @ 113 Pts
Great Weapon; Heavy Armour; Standard; Musician
1 Prospector @ [10] Pts

Dispel Pool: 4
Casting Pool: 2
Models in Army: 53

Total Army Cost: 1000

Vampire Counts Army

1 Vampire @ 190 Pts
General; Magic Level 1; Necromancy
The Master: Lord of the Dead [15]
The Master: Summon Creatures of the Night [15]
The Master: Summon Ghouls [15]
Walach's Bloody Hauberk [45]

1 Vampire @ 190 Pts
Magic Level 1; Necromancy
Enchanted Shield [15]
Tallisman of Lycni [10]
The Arkayne: Master of the Black Arts [50]
Sword of Striking [15]

5 Dire Wolves @ 40 Pts

5 Dire Wolves @ 40 Pts

14 Skeleton Warriors @ 180 Pts
Spear; Light Armour; Shield; Standard; Musician
Banner of the Dead Legion [25]
1 Skeleton Captain @ [8] Pts

10 Crypt Ghouls @ 80 Pts

1 Corpse Cart @ 100 Pts
Miasma of Deathly Vigor [0]
Unholy Loadstone [0]

1 Varghulf @ 175 Pts
Bestial Fury [0]

Casting Pool: 6
Dispel Pool: 4
Models in Army: 37

Total Army Cost: 995

Turn 1 - Dwarfs

The Old Dwarf Master Engineer was wise and knew better than to commit his forces. His warriors were ordered to stand their ground but his war machines, on the other hand were ordered to open fire on the enemy.
The cannon roared to life firing at the skeleton regiment taking three of them back to their graves.
On the other side of the hill the bolt thrower fired on the Ghouls killing one of them.

Turn 1 - Vampire Counts

Neglecting their magic phase the ancient Vampire rushed his troops forth to the Dwarf lines.
All regiments marched as far as they could but none of them came in contact with the Dwarf lines.

Turn 2 - Dwarfs

Seeing the advance of the undead horde the warriors led by the Thane repositioned themselves and readied for the eventual charge.
The Longbeards, seeing a possible threat on the advancing Varghulf, moved forth to intercept him.
Finally the Dragon Slayer also moved forth to intercept the Dire Wolves. The War machines had to be protected at any cost.
Once again the Master Engineer ordered the war machines to open fire. the cannon crew saw the Undead General hiding behind the Skeleton regiment, they knew a chance like this wouldn't come again any time soon...they ignited the fuse and...a direct hit! That shot sealed the fate of the Vampire as it took all of his wounds.
The bolt thrower crew fired at the corpse cart taking one of its wounds.
Finally the Thunderers opened fire on the advancing Dire Wolves killing one of them.

Turn 2 - Vampire Counts

Without a general the Undead army begun to crumble. The skeleton regiment took heavy losses, as the ghouls were able to avoid the same fate of the skeletons, but the dire wolves weren't so lucky and one of the regiments took two wounds while the other was wiped out.
Now reduced to two the dire wolves easily avoided the Dragon Slayer and charged the cannon crew, unfortunately for them luck wasn't on their side as they were unable to kill anyone but the cannon crew proved their worth slaying both beasts.
The ghouls moved towards the dwarf warriors. Behind the Undead lines the remaining vampire kept on trying to raise ghouls, most of his attempts were dispelled by the Dwarfs but this time he got lucky and a new regiment of ghouls was raised, right in front of the Dwarf warriors.
The Varghulf kept on advancing trying to outflank the Dwarf force to pick off the war machines and the thunderers.

Turn 3 - Dwarfs

Unable to charge anyone the warriors stood their ground and the longbeards maneuvered to block the advancing Vargulf.
The Dragon Slayer also moved towards the Varghulf.
The miners arrived just in time to "box" the Varghulf. Now the Varghulf was surrounded and unable to reach the war machines
Again the artillery roared to life. This time the Cannon overshot his target and the bolt thrower hit his target but he failed to wound.
All eyes were on the thunderers, so far they were only able to score one kill, but that was about to change as they opened fire on the skeleton regiment slaughtering the remains of the regiment.

Turn 3 - Vampire Counts

Things were looking bad for the Undead horde, the skeletons were no more, the varghulf was surrounded the only way to silence the Dwarf guns was blocked by the Dwarf warriors let by the Thane.
To get things worse the recently raised Ghoul regiment crumbled and the other Ghoul regiment took some casualties.
With this in mind the Vampires had only one option...CHARGE!!!
The Varghulf charged the Dragon Slayer hitting him with five strength five attacks not even this brave slayer was able to endure the vicious charge.
The Ghouls and the vampire charged the warrior regiment, this fight was to be settled between the Thane and the Vampire. They both exchanged blows but both refused to give quarter, this round ended in a in a tie with both, vampire and thane, scoring a wound on the adversary.

Turn 4 - Dwarfs

With the Dragon Slayer gone a path was now open to the dwarf artillery, in an insane act of courage the Longbeards threw themselves at the Terrifying Varghulf, inspired by their kin the miners followed the Longbeards and moved closer to the Varghulf hoping to charge the beast on the next turn.
This time the artillery had only one target, the Corpse Cart. All guns opened fire to the foul creation sending it to its doom.
With only one wound left the the Thane and the Vampire kept on fighting, each determined to kill the other. eventually the Dwarf Thane came out victorious as he dug his mighty runic axe through the Vampire's chest.
On the other side of the table the Longbeards struggled with the Varghulf, waving their massive great axes at the beast. They managed to score two wounds, one of which was regenerated, in return the Varghulf dragged one of the Longberds to their doom tearing them apart with his claws and fangs.

Turn 4 - Vampire Counts

With another vampire gone the few remaining Ghouls had to test against their leadership, which they failed in an incredible way sending the remains of the regiment back to where they came.
Now the Undead horde was reduced to one nasty Varghulf which kept on fighting against the Longbeards causing another casualty on the Stubborn Dwarfs and taking two in return, both of which regenerated immediately.

Turn 5 - Dwarfs

With little more left to do but to kill the Varghulf the warrior regiment turned to face the beast and moved towards it. The Longbeards remained engaged in combat and the miner rushed to join them in glory.
With the combined efforts of the Longbeards and the miners the mighty Varghulf was finally brought down.

The fallen Dwarfs shall be forever remembered for their bravery and the tales of how the lost treasure was recovered by the brave Dwarf army from the talons of the Undead horde.
As for the Undead horde, they rest in their graves, the place they should have never left, but for how long will these warriors of old be left in the peace of their tombs?....