Greetings all. First I have to thank a bunch of people- the organizers especially Grey Sage and Lou for organising the tourney. And also those locals who lent me an army- Not often can one show up at a tourney with a total of six models (Empire Halflings) and play 7 game as Dark Elves.

 
Like Tachyon, who basically covered all the pregame stuff (and thus spared you from being bored by me doing it), I was very happy to meet many list members (none of whome loooked anything like I thought they would)- but none made me happier than Lou [at least then I knew I had made it to the right place].

 
The event was sure to be interesting- previously, I had played a total of one game as a Dark Elf, and as I was borrowing models, had no idea what would even be available before I showed up. Deciding to go with a very non-traditional army (a true raiding force in this case) I opted for an emphasis on HtH. 2 units of Cold Ones. A big unit of cosairs with the extra weapon. A big unit of Dark Riders with spears. 2 mages. And only 11 models with rxbs (6 scouts and 5 more riders).

 
The first battle saw me against Marco's empire troops (aided by Grave Guard to my great confusion). Foretunately, he inherited my artillery dice and I was given 200 free VPs as both his cannons blew themselves up before they actually hit anything. A Helblaster shot destroyed the HtH Riders (after I screwed up my magic phase) but foretunately, the Cold Ones did sufficient damage to win the very close battle. Woo Hoo, a great start.

 
Game 2 was vs. Tachyon and his Bretts (and that same unit of Grave Guard), with the later addition of a Tzeentch chariot (are these the same nobles Bretts discussed in the book?). Foretunately, I had help from a Slaneesh chariot on my own (the same one which had destroyed Tachyon the game before). Unfortunately, this time it only rolled 1 impact hit and my Cold Ones fell an inch short of the Tzeentch chariot on the charge. I don't remember actually getting any points this game, so that equalled a loss and I was driven back to my boats.

 
Game 3 was vs. a local high eld army, and saw me employing a Tzeentch warrior on a steed and 5 of his followers on foot. The battle began well as the Riders charged and destroyed a bolt thrower before the elves could react, but the other riders failed to serious harm the chariot and were quickly overwhelmed by some Dutch Wardancers. Then my dice returned to me. The cosairs were paniced by massed bowfire (28 Seaguard on a hill, 1 more bolt thrower, and some archers somewhere) only to rally and panic again. It was not a pleasant sight and amounted to another loss.

 
Game 4 saw me vs. some dwarves and worried about the idea of charging across at the dwarves (who had the same hill that the seaguard had just used) I hired 20 Marksmen who managed to slay the same number of dwarves and won me the battle- His crossbows decided to get into a missile duel, allowing my cosairs to kill his slayers (the assassin in his only shining moment of the tourney killing a Dragon slayer helped) and my Cold Ones to eat two x-bows regiments and an organ gun crew.

 
So, after the the first day I was 2 and 2.

 
Game 5 Pitted me once again againts the HEs (different and more balanced army - it actually had spearmen and archers) supported by an Empire ally (the elf commander was Ariyen and the Empire Ariyan, or something like that- I can pronounce the names, but I can't spell them). My own Slaanesh ally provided help for me. One unit of Dark Riders was shot to shreds, but the other bigger unit managed to charge and the kill the crew of a chariot only to see the now out of control machine turn around and (8 impact hits later) destroy the dark riders. Luckily, the demise of the chariot crew paniced a group of silver helms while my allies Harpies destroyed a bolt thrower and his Chaos hounds mauled a unit of archers. The Black Horror spell (which for whatever reason I got in 5 of 7 games) did the same to a unit of spearmen- who still managed to rout my unit of cosairs (12 on the break test). The cosairs rallied though, and I squeeked out a win.

 
Game 6 was my shining moment. This time vs. dwarves. My Dark Riders managed to charge an Ironbreaker regiment (with the general) and not bounce off- the charge was in the flank granted. They held on long enough for me to get both Cold One units into charge position. Both declared charges and a good thing to, since my general's unit decided to go stupid for the only time in 7 games. Luckily for me, the champion in the other unit managed to challenge and slay the dwarf general (the Cold One doing 2 wounds to the champion's 1 of course). And the unit was run down and eaten. Game over.

 
Game 7 was quickly renamed- Avoid the Treeman. Unforetunately, we could not avoid enough WE arrows and all came down to the last charge. His glade riders into the flank of my cosiars, my Cold Ones and general into his 17 archers (in 4 ranks on a hill) after chasing down some Dryads. My assassin killed only a single a Glade Rider, and the sea dragob cloaks ever ineffective. I needed a 5 not to break and win the game (as surely his Glade Riders would be killed by the charge of my ally's Chaos Hounds, and my Cold Ones could finish off the unit of archers in 2 rounds if not 1). I rolled a 6. But, all was not lost, if my Cold Ones could break his archers, we would both be below our army break points and the game would be a draw. Much slaughter ensued- 7 archers died. Meaning he would need 7 to pass his test. He rolled a 6 and a 1. No! Oh well. A fun game (especially after I reached HtH so he couldn't shoot me anymore) and 4-3 overall record. Not bad for my first tourney and first real games with Dark Elves.

 
And as the papers everyone got said- everyone was a winner, because a fun time was had by all. Now, I just want a rematch with Tachyon in November.

 
"What care have I?
Though arrows fly and swords may bite,
I will laugh and sing and fight?
And if this day I die,
I drink in Sigmar's hall this night!"

 
-song of the Nordland swordsmen,
- as recorded by Volker the Mad Fiddler