**
Before we get started, I'd like to show off some sideline figures I got from Hungry Troll Miniatures. First, this Halfling Line Ref:
And this Goblin camera crew, proudly representing the official broadcast partner of the Sheogorad Saints: Channel Nine.
**
So, with the broadcast staff in place, it's time to get the action started! This is also the debut of my bleachers, which I recently updated:
As the Norse team steered their longships into the harbor at Dagon Fel, the winds that usually howl across the Sea of Ghosts began to die down, and the sun blazed down mercilessly from a cloudless sky. At the Superdome, the sunshine was so bright that throwing practice passes was difficult, and at kickoff, the bright sunshine turned into an oppressive, sweltering heat that hung over the stadium throughout the entire game.
Dripping with sweat, the Ravens won the coin toss and, invoking the name of an obscure Norse prophet, elected to receive.
The ball landed in the backfield right next to Ravens catcher Leifur Eriksson, who promptly ran it up to the line of scrimmage, where the Ravens formed a protective cage around him as nine thousand frenzied Norse fans chanted "box, box!"
Both sides went down a player in the first quarter, as witch elf Barenziah Targaryen blitzed lineman Per Yngve Ohlin and knocked him out, while Ravens werewolf Freki tore Saints blitzer Fieryra Targaryen apart, leaving her dead on the pitch! Line-elf Brelda Quintella also failed a Dodge roll and was injured.
Undaunted by their losses, the Saints formed up in the time-honored elven defense, ready to slow down the Norse cage as long as they could.
As the Ravens moved their cage down the field, werewolf Geri tried to clear Saints line-elf Methulu Ienith out of the way, but they were both knocked down on the play.
This created an opening for Saints assassin Raven Dren to slip into the Norse box, stab Leifur Eriksson and nimbly dodge out again.
Eriksson managed to escape injury but was knocked down and lost control of the ball, which bounced to werewolf Freki. Shockingly, the wolf-man caught it! The Ravens now formed a cage around the surprised werewolf, and even though Barenziah Targaryen scored her second knockout of the game by blitzing the Ravens' Hank von Helvete, in the end, Freki handed the ball back to Eriksson, and the Saints' defense couldn't stop him from completing a double Go For It into the end zone for the game's opening touchdown.
After a short brawl, which the Ravens' Jan Axel Blomberg and three Saints players missed due to the stifling heat, the teams adjourned to their respective dugouts for halftime.
**
When the second half started, both teams were ready to play, Hank von Helvete recovering from his knockout and only Saints runner Jenassa Samarys and Ravens blitzer Harald Hårdare overcome by the heat. Unfortunately, the fans were also ready, and the game was delayed when a riot broke out on the kickoff.
To the outnumbered Saints' dismay, the ball landed on their left, very close to the line of scrimmage.
Saints line-elf Endroni Dalas was forced to make a quick dash for the ball before the Ravens scooped it up, and she was driven to the sideline by the rampaging Norsemen.
However, witch elf Barenziah Targaryen came barreling down the field to clear some space for Dalas, who succesfully evaded the Ravens and launched a perfect quick pass to surviving blitzer Irileth Targaryen...
...who scored the Saints' first ever touchdown to tie the game and give the Channel 9 camera-goblin an excellent closeup.
**
As the second half wore on, more players succumbed to the oppressive heat: Saints assassin Raven Dren and line-elf Endroni Dalas were taken off the field for medical attention, while the Ravens were missing three linemen and the werewolf Freki. Hot weather can be dangerous for dogs! As only six players took to the field on each side, a fan threw a rock at Barenziah, momentarily stunning her at the kick-off.
The Ravens tried to run the ball up the field, but botched a crucial hand-off, and the game degenerated into a confused midfield brawl.
In the mêlée, Ravens blitzer Harald Hårdare knocked out his Saints counterpart Irileth, and thrower Thor Åkenskaldi killed line-elf Methulu Ienith, setting a league record for total fatalities in a game at two. With time running out, the Ravens were unable to press their advantage, and elected to secure the tie; Hårdare recorded his team's first completion of the season in the dying seconds, and the score remained 1-1. MVP honors went to the Ravens' werewolf Geri and Saints runner Jenassa Samarys.
**
That was a hard-fought and immensely entertaining game! I'd say the fans in the bleachers got more than their money's worth, with several fatalities, a riot and innovative six-a-side Blood Bowl. Both coaches certainly enjoyed themselves.
From the Saints' perspective, the first half went quite well: maybe I could have made the touchdown attempt a little harder, but our defensive play worked decently. My opponent took a risk by attacking the ball so aggressively in the first drive of the second half and I was able to capitalize, but the attrition was starting to tell on my squad; without so many Ravens being overcome by the heat on the last drive, I'm fairly sure I would have lost the game. So really, this tie feels like a win to me.
One of my motives in playing this starting roster was to get to try some of the different players, and I was very happy I did it. My witch elf was the real MVP, knocking out two Ravens players and playing an absolutely clutch role both in setting up our touchdown and stalling the opposition in the last drive. My assassin seemed to be terminally unlucky, constantly failing dodges and having little success with stabbing, even against the low Norse armor values, but their attack on the Ravens ball carrier in the first half was spectacularly successful. I still haven't really made up my mind as to whether assassins are worth having on a team or not, but this game is definitely a point in their favor. Meanwhile, my runner ended up with the MVP: she never actually even came close to handling the ball, but she did knock down several werewolves!
Of course, losing both a line-elf and a blitzer in the first game of a season is a disaster. The other injured line-elf got away with a strained groin, meaning they're going to miss the next game: as I can't afford any new players, that means I'll be fielding three journeymen the next time this team takes the field. To be honest, it would probably make sense to call it a season; but then again, playing as the underdog has a certain fascination!
Above all, though, this game was loads of fun. I hope we can get rid of this damn pandemic soon and start playing properly again.
As of this game, the Ravens lead the Turboleague on the strength of their inflicted casualties.
**
League table
Ragnarock Ravens (Norse) (0-0-1) 2 pts, 1-1, 2-0, 2, 1, 0, 0
Sheogorad Saints (Dark Elf) (0-0-1) 2 pts, 1-1, 0-2, 0, 1, 0, 0
Touchdowns:
Irileth Targaryen (Saints): 1
Leifur Eriksson (Ravens): 1
Casualties:
Freki (Ravens): 1
Thor Åkenskaldi (Ravens): 1
Fatalities:
Freki (Ravens): 1
Thor Åkenskaldi (Ravens): 1
Completions:
Endroni Dalas (Saints): 1
Harald Hårdare (Ravens): 1
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