Passwords for this scenario are available from either the Laddermaster of the Fantasy General 
Website (nvayn@chesco.com) or the Abaddon at the Fantasy General Website (hillsp@sghms.ac.uk).

	This scenario remains balanced mainly through the rules which are set out below. The author would advise 
that the more experienced (or highest ranked) player takes Player 1 Magnus Demonarm as the scenario requires a 
good strategy from player 1 in order to allow him a chance of victory. Also, the author would advise those wishing 
to play this scenario against more than one player to take player 1 as it is very easy to win this scenario as player
2 when you are ready for the surprises player 1 has. The author has a text file documenting the historical outcome of 
this battle available to those who wish it, however, you should play the scenario at least once before reading this as 
it reveals much which is crucial to the game's interest and viability as a challenge. To receive this historical outcome 
file, e-mail hillsp@sghms.ac.uk or nvayn@chesco.com and we will reply as soon as possible.


Of Magnus Demonarm and Amal the Beast

	Of all the great generals that fought against the oppression of the Shadowlord, Archmage Krell was perhaps the 
least likely and most surprising. Having lived a scholarly life in the city of Ra, rarely leaving the famed wizards college
 or the nearby libraries and philosophy schools, he first came to fame whilst serving beneath Knight Captain Barselles in 
an early and initially ill fated skirmish at Drake Forge valley. The Knight Captain's army had been routed from the Valley
 by the Shadowlord's superior forces and Barselles himself was captured in the chaotic retreat. Krell, serving as a 
spellcaster at the time, rallied the remaining disparate forces of the army around the town of Brentwood launching a 
counter attack that briefly won the region for the Council. Summoned to report on his astounding turning of the situation 
and asked to explain how he had formulated his winning strategy, Krell informed the Council that he had long studied the 
history of the infamous evil mage Magnus Demonarm, often termed Master of The Dead through his skill in summoning and 
controling the undead. Demonarm had won a similar battle in the region centuries ago, and Krell, modelling himself and 
his strategy on the ancient Mage General had won the battle in a similar manner. The Council further tested Krell's 
strategic learning and installed him as a permanent general immediately and the rest we all know.



	The scenarios of Magnus Demonarm's known battles have since been included in the council's strategic training
as prime examples of the many uses to which a skilled mage may put the units at his disposal. This first Scenario, 
fittingly, is that of the battle at Drake Forge Valley whose strategy first brought Archmage Krell to the Council's 
attention, which took place just as Demonarm was reaching the peak of his fame and skill.

	Magnus Demonarm had fought his way across the continent seeking the knowledge of the ancients said to 
be divided in vaults beneath the towns of Brentwood and Hoargrove such that possession of both would be needed 
to use the power. His violent passage had alerted Amal the Beast, a foul general infamous for his experimentation with
corrupted beasts, particularly for his creation  of the pestulant Plaguecats (perverted Lionmen whose poisonous talons
were lethal even to the undead) and the ravenous Trollmounts (regenerating centaurs whose legendary lust for flesh 
fuelled their unholy healing powers) whose secrets are now thankfully lost. Seeking the powers of the ancients himself,
Amal made a pact with Borg the Dreadnought, a Mechmaster and Engineer of dark renown at the time and their combined 
force massed to oppose the apparently weakened remnants of Demonarms forces. Demonarm had the advantage of reaching the
town of Brentwood and forming a defensive position around it, whilst Amal lived in the certain knowledge his spies had 
provided him that his combined force was far superior to the charismatic and famous wizard. 

	It was known that Demonarm himself searched the vaults of Brentwood, and that he had summoned The elementals 
Mrr'uk Magmaswimmer and Kral Earthshaker along with a demon known as Azgh the Thought Stealer to his aid, though their
abilities were as yet unclear to Amal. Other than this only some chittering flying monkies and a few sporadic sitings 
of wraiths (shadows) had been reported in Demonarms possession, allegedly lead by a wraith lord named Gulzan, though only
rumours of this entity could be gained.

	Amal split his force, taking a small army under his command consisting of plaguecats, Trollmounts, and support 
units including an attachment of Borg's spatterguns and his fodder slaves to hunt down game for his beasts to take and
defend the nearby town of Hoargrove. The remainder of his army under Borg's command and including Borg's personal 
bodyguards, the twin Dread Golems Karg and Serk, massed in the Drake Forge Valley to launch an assault on Brentwood.


	For both sides time was an issue as the power of the ancients, according to legend, was accessable only during
the week immediately preceding and the week succeeding the Vernal and Autumnal equinoxes and the Winter and Summer 
Solstices. The Vernal equinox has past and for either side to profit from the power they must hold both Brentwood and 
Hoargrove before the time limit set by the turns remaining.

	Further, unknown to Amal, Magnus Demonarm had a secondary objective. The evil Skull of Crang, long lost to the
 world of Aer had been discovered by Magnus sometime ago .... or rather half of the Skull. It had been seized by the Elven
hero Loranus in a battle long since forgotten, and whilst Loranus did not have the power to utterly destroy the skull, his
mighty sword was able to cleave the skull in twain. For safety's sake Loranus had taken one half of the skull with him and
the remainder sent to a monastary of chaste monks for safe keeping. Unfortunately the evil of the skull corrupted the 
monks over the years and eventually the skull was taken by the now evil and corrupt brethren to the Temple of Mordoth. 
Magnus recovered Loranus' half when he looted his tomb some years past nad had since been seeking to reunite it with its 
twin. Now, just as his goal was near, he has learned that Amal has looted the second half of the skull from the Temple of 
Mordoth and has sworn to capture Amal in order to exact revenge.


Objectives:-

Magnus Demonarm seeks to capture the town of Hoargrove whilst holding Brentwood. Further Amal must be captured
 (killed) so that Magnus may use the skull of Krang.

Amal seeks to capture and defend the town of Hoarwood whilst simultaneously launching a massive assault on 
Brentwood. The capture of Magnus Demonarm may bring many benefits to Amal and is to be sought.



Scenario rules:-

(NB These rules can be ignored if you find them too complex. They are provided merely to enhance the historical 
flavour of the game beyond what the units and game provide as bare bones. Playing without these rules will probably 
make the scenario much less interesting.)

Each side has a large amount of gold for reinforcements. However, this *CANNOT* be spent unless both Brentwood 
and Hoargrove are in that player's possession. This gold represents the unleashing of the power of the ancients 
rather than recruitment money, and as such there are restrictions on what may be bought with it. Whilst the units
 (excluding heroes) on the map initially are no more than MUG 3, reinforcement units may be of any grade.

Magnus Demonarm may purchase any Magical or Undead unit up to and including grade 5 (this includes heroes of 
Magical race or Undead, though such heroes should be renamed, use your imaginations) with his 1500 gold, but only 
when both Brentwood and Hoargrove have been claimed. (At the beginning of this game both Brentwood and Hoargrove are 
red in colour and technically belong to Magnus. Only Brentwood is considered *claimed* by Magnus, however, until such
time as he can enter a unit into the town, which will almost certainly have been claimed by Amal by the time Magnus can
reach it.

Amal the Beast may purchase any Beast or Mechanical unit up to and including grade 5 (this includes heroes of Beast or
Mech race) with his 1500 gold, but only when both Brentwood and Hoargrove have been claimed. (At the beginning of this
game both Brentwood and Hoargrove are red in colour and technically belong to Magnus. Only Brentwood is considered
*claimed* by Magnus, however, until such time as he can enter a unit into the town. Amal ought to be able to claim 
and defend Hoargrove before Magnus' units can reach it, if he chooses to do so)

Skull of Crang:- Both the Magnus Demonarm and Amal units are equipped with the skull of crang item. However, 
neither may use the skull until the other has been captured (killed). ie only one of the two units may use the 
skull, that being the one who survives longest.

Death/capture of heroes:-

Magnus Demonarm:- The death of Magnus will be catastrophic to his forces. In addition to providing the enemy the 
use of the skull of Crang, once Magnus is killed any Magical unit that becomes broken on Magnus' side must be disbanded 
as it flees the battlefield refusing to fight on. All undead (except wraiths which follow Gulzan) must be immediately 
disbanded as they are animated purely through magnus' power and will. Further Magnus is not called Demonarm without 
reason, his left arm sports the foul Nemesis tatoo, a mystic ink imprint of a black snake which will crawl from the 
mages remains or captured person and strike dead those involved in his destruction. The last unit to attack Magnus when
 he is destroyed must be instantly disbanded, be careful whom you attack with,

Gulzan The Wraith:- Should Gulzan be destroyed, all wraiths on Magnus' side must be disbanded as they fight only 
at Gulzan's side.

Azgh the Thought Stealer:- Should the demon Azgh be forced from this world, his passing will leave a wave of 
confusion and fear in his wake. Any unit, friend or foe, within three hexes of Azgh when he 'dies' must flee 
in a straight line away from the hex in which Azgh was lost on both of its next two moves. If the unit reaches 
the edge of the map in these moves it is considered to have fled the battlefield and must be disbanded.

Amal the Beast:- The loss of Amal will be catastrophic to his army. Not only will the opposition gain use of the 
skull of Crang, but any beast unit on his side which becomes broken must be disbanded as it flees the battlefield. 
Further the beasts become disoriented without their master and are not disciplined enough to rest or recruit. Beast 
units must move and/or attack each turn once Amal has been lost.

Borg the Dreadnought:- Should Borg be destroyed, his bodyguards Karg and Serk the Dread Golems are immediately 
disbanded and Mech units may no longer rest or recruit. Further mech units which become broken must be disbanded.