Seeing as its online this year and I don’t have to lug a box of models and terrain into store, I decided to enter Armies on Parade.

So here is my entry direct from my kitchen!

The Retaking of Esasa

Esasa was one of the great cities of Chamon in the Age of Myth, thanks to abundant deposits of silver within its territories and serveral Realmgates just a short journeys distance.

It fell to the forces of Chaos, specifically those of Khorne and Nurgle, and since then has been abandoned, a pale shadow of its former glory, inhabited only by scavengers, and followers of the ruinous powers.

But it holds a secret, in his wisdom, Sigmar hid away in Stormvaults, relics and artefacts of such destructive might, that could change the course of all of life in the Mortal Realms.

In the aftermath of the Necroquake, the Penumbral Engines began to fail and the call of the weapons secured within was heard across the realms. Warbands from all the great races began to converge on the city, and Sigmar feared that the Stormvaults could be potentially breached.

Esasa is but nine days march from Vindicarum, and thus Sigmar dispatched a force to retake the city, lead by the Stormcast Eternals of the Celestial Vindicators.

This Armies on Parade board represents the moment when Lord-Celestant Invari Shadowborn claims the first Stormvault from a small force of Nighthaunt trying to breach its many mystical wards.

As they begin to set up camp, a force from the Vanguard Auxillary Chamber led by Elden Wolfforged is able to link up with them, having arrived in the city some weeks earlier as a scouting force.

Lord-Celestant Invari Shadowborn, Knight-Questor Lindan Swifthand and Lord-Relictor Abron Gravewalker

Lord-Celestant Invari Shadowborn sits on his faithful Dracoth Gulvar Flametongue as his Lord-Relictor Abron Gravewalker recites prayers for those warriors returned to Azyr to be reforged.

His is guarded by Knight-Questor Lindan Swifthand, who has been taked with his protection from all might harm him. A capable warrior though he is, the threats that face them within Esasa are numerous and should he fall, they may be undone.

There is a contingent of warriors from the Sacrosanct Chamber in the force under Shadowborns command, lead by Lord-Exorcist Galbreth Wraithborn. Here he attends to a crypt where many of the Nighthaunt defeated in the battle fled to, as he chants prayers to seal the spirits back in their tombs and to sleep in peace.

Prosecutors patrol the area around the retaken Stormvault

Prosecutors have been instrumental so far, able to scout forward and access the nature of the forces arrayed against the Stormcast Eternals, and then striking from above to break their lines.

Here they return to the Stormvault, ready to begin patrols in the area to ensure its a safe place to set up camp.

Knight-Venator Ula Broadsword was instrumental in the battle, using her arrows to take down a Guardian of Souls, which broke the lines of the undead assailing the Stormvault.

Errant-Questor Firland Hornwind is the survivor of an early quest to Esasa in the Realmgate Wars, and has pledged himself to slay all those who stood against his retinue of Liberators. Although they were all reforged and now serve on the frontlines of the Soulwars, Firland was forever set on his quest.

Having recently been reforged, he found himself joining with Shadowborn as they had common purpose. Only when all those who oppose Sigmar are slain will he take up in place in his retinue again.

Sequitors and Knight-Incantor Shearlia Aznent

The Sequitors of the Sacrosanct Chamber proved invaluable in the battle against the Nighthaunt, led by Knight-Incantor Shearlia Aznent they were able to force the wraiths back and weakened them enough to allow Liberators to banish them.

Knight-Heraldor Vesti Prideheart and Liberators

The majority of troops led by Shadowborn are Liberators, ready to fight to the last to bring the city back into Sigmars domain.

Here a retinue accompanies Knight-Heraldor Vesti Prideheart as he returns to the Shadowborns side having used his battle-horn to herald the return of righteousness and order to Esasa.

Lord-Ordinator Leriv Cindereyes supervises the setup of two Celestar Ballista

Shadowborn decided to set up camp around the Stormvault, to allow them to rest and regroup whilst they await the reinforcements following shortly behind them, and to begin to form a plan to retake the rest of the city with information from the scouts of the Vangaurd Chamber.

To guard the camp, her ordered Lord-Ordinator Leriv Cindereyes to set up some Celestar Ballista to guard the camp against attack, here two are set up at the base of the Stormvault.

Lord-Aquilor Elden Wolfforged arrive at the Stormvault in the aftermath of the battle

Accompanied by their companion beasts of Azyr, Lord-Aquilor Elden Wolfforged arrives at the aftermath of the battle. They have been in Esasa for some weeks, having set out ahead of the main force to scout the city and gather information about the forces arrayed against them.

They have of course not been simply observers, but have struck out at warbands of Orruks and Chaos Cultists who have made their home in the ruins of Esasa.

Elden has a burning desire to return Esasa back to Sigmars bosom, once having been known as Elric, a lowly labourer who has risen up to defend the city against the forces of Chaos, before being betrayed by one of the cities mages, who had sold his soul to Nurgle.

Meanwhile in an act to show those lined up to oppose them, Knight-Vexillor Kolkerel Deadreaper flies the banner of the Shadowborns Chamber. This is a declaration that the reconquest has begun and soon the banners of Sigmar will fly from all of the towers of Esasa.

I know its a bit corny, but I just love imagining the stories behind the models in my head!

Anyway, I have no hope of winning, but its been fun putting this entry together.