The Old Enemy

The crystal blue sky pleased Zaki. It brought him memories of what his ancestors had taught him in his youthful life. He enjoyed the bright star and all the life it gave his fellow scaled journeymen and the other youthful creatures that relied on its ever watchful gaze. Sitting cross clawed he began to meditate to communicate with his lord back in Lustria. Looking back he saw his brother Zik, his arm bleeding from the fall of his proud steed in the battle against the younger race.
"Any word brother?"
"I am about to try." Hissed Zaki to his Chief brother. "Tend to the others. All life is precious to try and maintain this foothold and carry out our Lords plan." Before he turned to carry out the Priest's wish, he struck his chest and bowed in respect to the general's efforts. He had done well, none of his kind had ever managed to hold a position such as this at a time of need. He demanded nothing but determination from his kin and they all respected him for it. He knew their strengths and their weaknesses and he knew all would give their lives to try and stop the evil that his master had sent him there to eliminate.

Gazing at the sun he closed his eyes, the towering saurus warriors guarding him in each direction. Suddenly Zaki was transported through space and time itself and emerged in his home land as a spiritual messenger. Lord Rib-Tec was sat upon his lily pad in the middle of his meditation pool.
"Your work is not complete my humble servant" an echoing croak filled the chamber. Zaki knelt in shock. Rib-Tec had never spoken to anyone this way in centuries. This was an honour for the Preist but his head was throbbing from the power that the Slann used to communicate with him. "The old enemy is gathering a small force to the West of your current location. The plagued ones will soon take your position if you do not act quickly! Return and destroy our old foe and make ready for war. Zaki showed the same respect as Zik had shown him not too long ago and he traveled back to his body.

Hissing, Zaki gathered his soldiers to his side and ordered his brother to return and gather new troops. Opening a gate to his home, Zik asked his brother what he wished him to send. Zaki looked at his brother and hissed two names subtly. "Lar-ax... Trox."

The ground festered beneath the lizards feet, the tunnels made the rocks feel like soil. Opposite them a sea of evil contraptions and chattering teeth met Zaki's gaze.

Looking around he saw no sign of the reinforcements that his small force needed to defeat the foe. There was no time to waste, and ordered his Ripperdactyls forward and into the air to deal with the warmachines as they did before. Launching forward the 10 skinks and 20 suarus began to march forward.

Suddenly another portal opened and out walked a behemoth of a creature. Three horns protruded from his heavily armored skull and the powerful muscles rocked back and fourth as it emerged from the shadow. A proud and aggressive stegadon, a young bull from a local heard known as Trox entered the battlefield alongside the saurus. Behind him was a large bipedal figure whom Zaki recognized straight away. Lar-ax, a great Scar-Vetran from many wars against the Skaven strode next to the skinks atop of a horned one. This rare beast was now thought to be extinct at the hands of the evil ratmen. Lar-ax had been blessed by Itzil and had raise the predator from birth.

As the rippers moved forward they were met by a sea of giant rats. These were notorious in Lustria for getting into the temple cities but they were rarely caught out in the open as they were now. Seeing the small morsals, the aerial beasts landed to snap up a snack, raring for the fight against the war machines their rides were not as impressed but could not control their mounts. The rats took a chunk out of the wings of one of the Ripperdactyls but they retaliated by sheer ferocity. snapping necks and slashed furry flesh left the fight on going and giving the Rippers a lovely meal.

Looking on at the mass gathered opposite him, Zaki began to see the work of a Ratman who followed the Lore of the Horned rat. This was deadly as Zaki had seen it before, scales could turn to fur and brothers turn on each other. This he could not allow. Summoning a bolt of pure evil, the Grey Seer launched an attack that fortunately was ineffective against the scaled saurus warriors. However something wasnt right. The Seer seemed to spazuim as Zaki's eyes gleamed. He then saw a small explosion and a great bang as a chunk of the Seer's unit were thrown into the air around him. This was a sign from Sotek himself that this day would be theirs! Another crash of lightning punched a hole through the suarus warriors to far greater effect and a smoking barrel pointed toward their direction... The distraction had worked and the Ratmen had a fully operational warmachine to pick off their opponents. Neither the less, Zaki ordered them forward.

The Ripperdactyls broke through the small morsals and targeted their original target after the huge eruption their felt in the air. Taking to the wing once again they continued their hunt. Lar-ax trotted to keep up with the winged terrors but made sure he was not in the way of their rage path.The saurus also moved forward along with the rest of the army providing they stayed out of the way of the mighty stegadon to their right.

The Rat men had to do something quick and the warp  lightning cannon pointed to the Ripperdactyls that were almost upon them. With a squeek, then a click... something went wrong and the cannon fired towards their own troops blowing another set out of their formations. This allowed the birds the chance to dive in and enjoy another feast. Zaki spotted the Grey Seers eyes burning and pointing towards the saurus block followed by a mighty screetch! 

He turned to his brothers and saw them spout more horns and fur... in horror he saw at least half of the warriors clutch their stomachs in pain and proud roars turning to sqwaks and squeeking. Zaki ordered Trox into the combat!

The ground shook and the mighty creature lowered his head impaling four rats as it entered a sea of rats! The Ripperdactyls on the right flank made short work of the cannon and turned their attention to the mele in the middle of the canyon. The rats were not phased by Trox and all wielded their weapons with martail accuracy. Finding soft spots in his armor, Trox and his handlers retaliated with clubbing blows. Just as they gained the upper hand another wave of rats charged the side of the proud beast! A battle ensued that began to grind the stegadon down, but resilience is what his kind were known for. Trox held the line and continued to fight. 

Zaki looked back and saw his fallen brothers in a mutated heap, some still shaking from twisted energies. Looking at his saurus champion, he nodded. This was nothing new for the ancient fighter and he ordered his saurus into the frey to help their relic beast. The battle was bloody and losses were many. The ratmen were skewered , saurus were felled but in the end the scaled servants of the old ones prevailed.

The rats fled the battle and were cut down. Uxotal and his chameleons had been working the rear of the Skaven's army, a trick that had been faithful to Zaki's plans thus far. They had eliminated an important Skaven member and had now lent their blowpipes to cutting the Grey Seers troops down along with the evil sorcerer. 

The rest of the Skaven managed to get away. This was a problem. Zaki's element of surprise was gone. The enemy knew of his presence. But as he looked at the bodies of his lost brothers and their mounts, he heard a loud croaking echo.

"Prepare for my arrival..."

Lizardmen: Crushing victory 5pts

Fully painted: 3pts

Newly painted hero (Lar-ax): 1pt

Battle report: 1pt

Total for Lizardmen: 10pts