Brutality: Age of Ishtar (Game II)

Game 2

Location: The City of Skulls

Centuries ago, a group of heroes decided not to fight, and instead co-operated. Over decades, they amassed an army of like minded individuals and created a city; a safe haven in the lands of endless murder. However, Ishtar was angered by their actions and destroyed the city; slaying everyone within. Cruel Ishtar cursed the fallen souls, so that they could not be reborn, and could not rest. Now the city is a shattered ruin, its wells chocked with skulls, its former inhabitants reduced to slumbering phantoms.

Praying/Scavenging

On a roll of "1", the Altar or Scavenging Point can not be interacted with from the rest of the fight. Also the active character suffers a roll on the Crushing Effects Table, as the spirits awake and attack them.

On a roll of "10", the Altar or Scavenging Point can not be interacted with from the rest of the fight. Also, the spirits rise up in a swirling storm, striking anyone that comes close. Until the end of the fight. any time a character takes an action (including movement) within 3" of the objective suffers a roll on the Crushing Effects Table.

(In the game I used some slightly different rules for this location, but I think I'll use the ones above in future games)

Deployment

The Skull Takes and the Blood Takes approached a ruined temple from opposite sides. The huge red statue is the Altar of Ishtar again, and the two skull-choked wells as the Scavenging Points. Noskull was skulking through the ruins and wouldn't arrive until Turn 2.

Turn 1

Bloodsecrator raced to the Altar of Ishtar, only to come face to face with Banner. 

The two Icons clashed in a violent tussle.

Bloodsecrator came off the worse, with 2 Wounds, 2 Extra Wounds and 2 Bleeding; while Banner suffered only 1 Wound and Dex -2 in return. 

Bloodsecrator was left reeling; his lifeblood gushing from his ghastly injures. 

Unwilling to let Bloodsecrator die from blood loss, Topknot charged in to steal the glory of the kill.

Bloodsecrator's armour rebuffed Topknots flurry of blows, but a single strike found its target, and the mighty Chaos Hero died... again. Bloodsecrator failed to injure Topknot in revenge and died an ignoble death.

Blood Takers: 1 Victory Point.

Topknot: 1 Experience Point

Dentax attempted to teleport Skullhelm towards one of the Skull Pits, but failed. 

However, he did manage to Enhance Skullbeard, inflicting a wound on his ally in return for a boost to Skullbeard's statistics. 

Skullbeard put this enhancement to immediate effect; hurling his axe at Banner, inflicting 1 Wound and Bleeding.

Headhunter and Skullhelm raced towards one of the Skull Pits.

Only for Bloodstocker to target Skullhelm and lash him with his deadly whip. Inflicting 1 Wound and Dex -2.

Turn 2

Meanwhile,  Horns had moved to the other Skull Pit. Obviously he hadn't been put off by his trials and tribulations scavenging in the previous encounter.

Noskull attempted to sneak up on Horns, but instead just ended up struggling through the rubble.

Skullhelm reached the Skull Pit and attempted to root among the bones for any lost treasure. Unfortunately he disturbed the slumbering spirits of the cursed dead. The spirits burst forth, inflicting 1 Extra Wound and Bleeding.

Bloodstoker stayed beyond the reach of the spirit storm, lashing Skullhelm once more; inflicting 1 Wound.

Dentax flew to Skullhelm's aid; teleporting his wounded ally from the reach of the vengeful spirits and Bloodstoker's lash. However, this was not without it cost, as Dentax had to sacrifice one of his Wounds to make the power work.

Headhunter backed away from the howling storm of angry ghosts and went to the aid of Banner, staunching his wounds. 

Skullbeard attempted to redress this by hurling his axe at Banner again. However, this time, the axe bounced off Banner's armour before returning to Skullbeard's waiting gauntlet.

Topknot raced to intercept Noskull, however he stumbled down the stairs and didn't get to grips with his foe.

Meanwhile, Horns successfully searched through the Bone Pit, and Banner prayed at the Altar of Ishtar. 

Blood Takers: 2 Victory Points

Horns: 1 Experience Point

Banner: 1 Experience Point

Turn 3

Noskull and Topknot clashed. Topknot suffered 1 Wound and Dex -2; but Noskull came off worse. Noskull suffered 1 Wound, 1 Extra Wound and Bleeding; leaving him with but moments to live.

After catching their breath, the two combatants threw themselves in to the fray once more. Noskull went down fighting, hacking away at Topknot even as Topknot clove him to pieces. Topknot was left with another wound a Dex: 0! 

Skullbeard took advantage of Topknot's staggering state, and hurled his vicious axe at the battered warrior; inflicting another wound and Fighting Skill -2.

Blood Takers: 1 Victory Points

Topknot: 1 Experience Point

Bloodstoker pursued Skullhelm, running through the cloud of angry ghosts and suffering a wound for his temerity. 

Dentax flies down and staunches Skullhelm's wounds

Skullhelm dashes round and attacks Bloodstoker from the rear, inflicting 1 wound and -2FS; but Bloodstoker's reposte scores 1 wound plus bleeding in return

Banner and Horns continued to rack up favour with Ishtar, and Headhunter joined in the labour.

Blood Takers: 3 Victory Points

Horns: 1 Experience Point

Banner: 1 Experience Point
Headhunter: 1 Experience Point

Turn 4

Noskull hurled his axe at Topknock again, but it bounced off his target's armour. Much to Noskull's shock, Topknot followed the axe back to its master. However, their desperate struggle proved fruitless and neither suffered further injury.

Dentax and Skullhelm piled in to Bloodstoker.

However, the mighty Bloodstoker proved more than a match for the wounded pair; fending them off until Skullhelm died of blood loss, before dispatching Dentax.  

Blood Takers: 2 Victory Points

Bloodstoker: 1 Experience Point

Horns continued his successful rooting through his Skull Pit, but things went pear-shaped for Banner and Headhunter, as Banner awakened the restless spirits trapped beneath the Altar. The ghosts sent the pair flying; leaving Banner with Dex:0 and disarming Headhunter.

Blood Takers: 1 Victory Point

Horns: 1 Experience Point