Phase Two release Part 21

25. QBc1xQf4 25. h7-h6

The Black queen’s confidence had grown quite high and seeing the state of her King and the added bonus of the Shaman no longer alive, her ambition of leading the people was a strong possibility.

This White army was loosing out to strategy and it would seem it’s most powerful weapons the Mountain and the steam city were now no longer a threat. She set her eyes on the White army leader.

Having not had to move from his position over looking the board because of his dealings with the Steam Engine, the Bishop wished he still had it running now.

He always knew its effectiveness was a short term proposition but when used to its full capacity – like he had –it was a formidable weapon. The Bishop had been viewing the Black Queen’s movements and had deemed her a willing opponent but as the battle wore on she became over confidant and had left her flank exposed to an attack and this would be his glory moment.

The Black Queen concentrating on a way to penetrate the White King defenses was attacked by the fresh forces of the queen’s Bishop and was ill prepared for a defensive. She died never knowing the ultimate power she craved so much.

Phase Two release Part 20

23. d2-d3 23. QRa8-g8
24. KNg2-f4 24. Qd6xKNf4



The Black King had managed to drive all his collective ancestors from inside his head by the simple action of crying for his beloved Bullrok. Emotional weakness was the most effective way to drive the voices away from his mind, this the King discovered early in his days when the voices left as soon as he played with his mighty Bullrok, It was an attribute despised by those who come before him and he was the first to bring affection to the collective consciousness and they had not yet accepted it and hoped he would grow out of it. While grieving his beast he also took the chance to assess the situation. The Black King may be saddened but he was first and foremost a great leader. He called his Queen and she had already proved herself a capable and good wife by taking her charges and causing enemy casualties on her flank.
The Queen aware of the King’s situation and the hindrance rather than help the ancestors could cause sent her Basilisk to guard her husband and King.
This battle was not lost yet.


The Black Queen had kept her presence well hid and had already destroyed the Horse army will a fair degree of stealth, she surveyed the far flank of the battlefield where the Bullrok had fell and saw some openings.

The Skeleton General and his men were surprised at the ease that it took to dispatch the Elephant monster but felt the need to leave the area quickly as the area in which an Angel passes is home to great sorry an infliction that can cause depression in those that stay too long and they headed up the field.

Straight into the waiting army of the Black Queen who followed them after the attack on the Bullrok and the General Skeleton fell.

Phase Two release Part 19

22. KNf4xKRg2 22. d5-d4

The entire field came to a stand still as the moment the Bullrok struck the Angel head and it separated from its body. Streams of blue light burst from the open neck wound and lit the entire field with a radiance that could only best described as magical.

The Bullrok stood stunned, as it’s enemy fell feeling as if all the happiness it had ever known had been drained from its very being.

Those who weren’t stunned by the blue light looked skyward and for the briefest of moments thought they saw three bearded, age weary faces peering down at them.

The Skeleton General who had caught the Bullrok attack at the last moment had no idea his movement away earlier had caused so much mayhem and seeing the Angel killed filled him with dread, the irony of a reanimated skeleton General thinking how does one kill the un-killable was lost on him.

He turned his men around and attacked the Bullrok as it had attacked the Angel with full force as it stood unprepared.

The Bullrok offered no resistance and almost seem to give itself to death as the General’s skeletal men chopped it down.

THE THREE ANCIENTS

The entire field came to a stand still at the moment the Bullrock struck the Angel’s head and it separated from its body. Streams of blue light burst from the open neck wound and lit the entire field with a radiance that could only be described as magical.
The Bullrock stood stunned as its victim fell, feeling as if all the happiness it had ever known had been drained from its very being.

Those who weren’t stunned by the blue light looked skyward and for the briefest of moments thought they saw three bearded, age weary faces peering down at them.



How many millennia had the game been played?
How many contests?
In every one, a certain outcome had been reached – predictable as they would often be… but this?
From their three thrones, the Ancients could only stare in disbelief at the chaos below…

’What can I say Brothers? It looked like a fair fight on paper , maybe give the current board holder a little bit shorter odds and after only two moves the White Army went out to unbackable.
I don’t think I’ve seen a worse strategy for quite a few millennia.
This, mind you, with an Angel at the helm and another in the ranks.
I was sure this was another Black Army white wash.’

‘Indeed brothers, to show such promise only to collapse into chaos… you’d be given to think that one of the holy host would have better control of its subjects. And their Queen! A sacrifice such as that so early in the game? Aparently an abundance of pride is a common thread that runs through the ranks of the fallen.’

‘By all means and with pride comes a fall, albeit a mighty fiery one, hey Brother.
But to their credit the White Army Generals seem to have much intestinal fortitude, realising only all too well their King and his Angel pet could very well smite them to dust they took matters into their own hands and changed the course of the battle.’

’They certainly did at that. To see such… lesser… beings so brazenly ignore the will of their King, AND meet the Black Spear head-on. It has certainly raised the quality of the entertainment. Even those who have fallen, have done so valiantly.
And that vessel of stone and steam – such destructive power contained within its walls! I would almost have been convinced that it would remain unmatched upon the battlefield.
Of course, doing so would discount the Black King’s pet. Such a shame that there hasn’t been a fortification built that can withstand its hammer…’

‘Or being…. Let’s be realistic here brothers, hands up who thought we were the only ones who knew the secret of disposing of Angels?
Hmmm… I can see that one took you by surprise too….’

‘So, brothers, we’ve seen these two armies test each other on the board, and I for one am left too confused to call the victor. I’d hoped that we may have seen a change of the guard (that Black King has held the board for too long, methinks), but when an opportunity presents itself, this rabble that calls itself the white army sabotages itself in a spectacular fashion.
At the very least, they’ve certainly confused their opposition, yielding some entertaining results – personally I am glad to see the back of those so-called ‘bishops’. Such a shame that the mighty beast who crushed them so effortlessly in turn fell in swift fashion. Perhaps there’ll be more surprises for us before this disaster of a game is through?’

’Disaster, but compelling viewing Brother.
Do You think anyone saw us down there, when the Angel spiked?’

Below the clouds, the battle continued…

THE HALF TIME REPORT

Over at Redbubble.com where the Second Phase is rolling out, it was decided to have a half time breather so the folks could catch up on the quick fire release date of the twenty pieces so far.

So to keep those with their fingers on the pulse happy while the slow coaches catch up the good people at Game of Kings have released some Behind The News Goodies to pacify them.

How the Battle was built -The Bullrok

Ausven profile

How the Battle was built - BMB interview

How the Battle was built - The Steam City & Blasters

How the Battle was built - Interview with Danny

How the Battle was built - the Rock Titan

How the battle was built- The Game so far

Phase Two release Part 18

21. KBf1xg2 21. KRg8xKBg2

The Bullrok knew nothing of this but speed, an unprepared foe and the sole purpose of removing the Angels head from it’s shoulders ticked all the boxes in the right order for dispatching this Angel.
And it was so.
The entire field came to a stand still at the moment the Bullrok struck the Angel’s head and it separated from its body. Streams of blue light burst from the open neck wound and lit the entire field with a radiance that could only be described as magical.
The Bullrok stood stunned, as its enemy fell, feeling as if all the happiness it had ever known had been drained from its very being.

Those who weren’t stunned by the blue light looked skyward and for the briefest of moments thought they saw three bearded, age weary faces peering down at them.

Phase Two release Part 17

21. KBf1xg2 21. KRg8xKBg2




The King had finally made a decision based on his knowledge of winning not losing and the Angel had stop the deadly Leapers from reaching home soil but the many separate battles had obscured his vision and the true state of the battlefield.

The Bullrok having battered and smashed the steam engine kept an eye from its new lofty perch and witnessed the Angel attack on the Leapers. The Angel was undefended from a forward attack and the Bullrok knowing his King was safe plowed into the unsuspecting Bishop.

Usually an Angel fears nothing because only it and it alones knows how it can die.

Phase Two release Part 16

20. KNe2-f4 20. g3-g2
21. KBf1xg2 21. KRg8xKBg2


The Skeleton General impressed by the University Bishop decided he too should take an active role and almost to flaunt his independence rode in front of the King’s battle headquarters.

See the Bone army move out was the moment the patient but blood hungry Black army Leapers were waiting for and moved further to White armies fortifications and the prize all those that served a master craved. Promotion.



The King’s Bishop; the Angel had been in conflict since the very start of the battle. Everything about the field had a familiar air about it, even the King all of a sudden seemed closer in spirit than before. If only he could remember and lose this confusion that had almost made him useless so far. He had visions before reaching this place of leading the army beside the King to an early and easy victory but nothing had been so far from the truth. His King seemed confused and conflicted. Then as if his thoughts were an omen the King ordered the Angel to defend an attack from the Leapers that had taken both his priests and the Bone Generals men. This time he felt his King was right. His King was right and the Angel sought vengeance for all those the Leapers had killed with a deadly hand.

Phase Two release Part 15

18. QRh5-g5 + 18. Kg8-h8
19. QRg5-g8 +        19. KRf8xKRg8



The ever faithful Bullrok moved the King out of position with seconds to spare and as the Monolith sat motionless and exhausted of power the Bullrok took the huge machine apart with it’s massive hammer till everyone inside was destroyed.

Phase Two release Part 14

18. QRh5-g5 + 18. Kg8-h8

The Black King was at a loss. He had never encountered such an undisciplined force before.
Even the most primitive savages have leadership, this White army seemed to do whatever it pleased which in turn made it highly unpredictable.
The generations of forefathers locked in his head all spoke out at once causing him to roll at the Bullrok’s large frame in pain. Half of the voices were screaming instructions the half abuse at opportunities missed. Together they made the sound of a rioting mob.

The pilots of the Monolith were closer enough to witness the Black King in what the assumed was some kind of internal attack and with limited power motored towards his position.

Phase Two release Part 13

Phase Two release Part 13

16. QNc3-b5 …………………….. 16. d6-d5
17. QNb5-d6 ……………………….17. Qxd6

As the White King watched his most loyal subjects acting of their own accord, it became painfully aware to him that the Battlefield wouldn’t let him deliberately lose. As for his previous actions it now looked certain that his army were abandoning his command.
Only moments before the Skeleton General had passed before him without a hint of recognition.
The celestial umpires, the Ancients had obviously foreseen this and the King’s entire plan had been in vain.

He had to rethink his whole strategy.

Meanwhile the Equilord had guided his people up the field under the protection of the rampaging Steam Engine. Being under the White King’s command for so long had made the Equilord a bit rusty on commanding and and he soon found that he had been surrounded by smaller sections of the Black army. Just as he decided to return to the relative safety of the home lines he came face to face with the army of the Black Queen.

The Equilord’s wayward movement up the field had drawn the enemy’s most powerful element into the fray and the Equilord’s army were crushed deep in enemy territory without any chance of escape.

Phase Two release Part 12

Phase Two release Part 12

15. e4xKNf5 ……………………. 15. a6-a5

The Black Army Centaurs, seeing the Moving City approaching, abandoned the Body of the Titan just in time to avoid catastrophe but in their haste had failed to see the King’s Berserkers waiting in hiding and were ambushed and torn to pieces.

Phase Two release Part 11

Phase Two release Part 11

13. QRa1xQRa5………………………13. b7-b6
14. QRa5-QRh5 ……………………..14. KNh6-f5

As the Blasters were being attacked by the Knights the larger steam monolith was building it’s attack capabilities and as the Black Queen’s Amazonian Knights lay exposed on the flank with the remains of the Blasters it hit full potential and much like the Titan steam rolled straight into the unsuspecting Knights.

The attack was fast and furious the Black Queen ordering the Little Sisters to help their Mistresses immediately.
The University Bishop, aware that the Monoliths attack must be kept up for fear of losing momentum screamed across the field towards the fallen Titan.

Phase Two release Part 10

Phase Two release Part 10

2. KNg1-e2 ……………………….12. QNc6xa5

The Black queen saw the small iron and wood vehicles steam down the field and laughed. She told her Amazonian Knights to prepare to take on these little carts with shields as soon as they were within striking distance.

As the Blasters reached their initial burst limits they slowed considerably and were easy pickings for the Black Queen’s Knights, who when they pulled them apart realized they were empty of fighting men. This frustration built into fear when they realized the White Bishop’s ultimate plan.

Phase Two release Part 9

Phase Two release Part 9

10. a2-a4 ………………………. 10. 0-0
11. a4-a5 ………………………. 11. a7-a6

The Black King was mortified by the events he had just witnessed, not only had the remaining Shaman ignored his orders, it had been destroyed in the process. The King knew without the Shaman he was exposed to his own people who now had no real reason to fear him, minus the mad Bishop and it’s insane counter personalities. The Black King left his quarters and moved to the Bullrok pen.

The White Queen’s Bishop had decided to take things in his own hands as the death of his Queen had taken the fear of the King from him.
After watching the wholesale slaughter of both the Angel and General’s primary regiments and then the Titan sacrifice itself, he knew that the University could help swing this battle around and he had just the machines to do it.
He ordered the massive Steam monolith to fire its engines while the smaller blasters moved out to set up his plan.

The White King watched in impotent anger as his subordinates made decisions around him. The wrong decisions, he decided, because they were turning the course of the battle.

Phase Two release Part 8

Phase Two release Part 8

9. KRh5xKBh6 ………………….9. KNg8x KRh6

The Black King ordered his Centaur knights to attack unless they wanted to be next on the Titan hit list.
The Centaur Knights taking advantage of the rock giants weakened state and since it no longer had it’s people to help protect it, the Centaurs swarmed all over the Titan. Eventually finding the tunnels and shafts that led to its brain and using their fiery swords made sure it never rose again.
Its last thoughts were that after all it’s time as a solitary figure, it enjoyed its short time with its people the most.

Phase Two release Part 7 The Titan continues

Phase Two release Part 7 The Titan continues

9. KRh5xKBh6 ………………….9. KNg8x KRh6

The Black King watched in awe as the massive Titan slammed into the Shaman’s female-fire half and within seconds knew something was seriously amiss. His Shaman, the male-earth being let out an ear piecing scream as if it too was bearing the weight of the mountain monster that had killed his sister.
Before the King could raise an arm to stop him, the Shaman attacked the Titan and in one mighty sweep the shaman suffered the same fate as his sister.
The impact forced the Titan to a sudden halt and caused it to collapse in total exhaustion

Phase Two release Part 6

Phase Two release Part 6

8. KRh1xQBh5 ……………….. 8. KBf8-h6

The Titan was concerned when the Skeleton soldier refused the King’s orders but came to full realisation after the King ordered the Titan’s people to advance from a bad position and watched them being slaughtered, the Skeleton General sent his own men to assist only to suffer the same fate. Their victor had bunkered down and now taunted them from the safety of their fortifications.
The Titan had never seen such viciousness as that inflicted on the Queen and his own people. But the Risen army pawns had drawn away the spear wielding maniacs that had destroyed its people and exposed the Black fire beast. The Titan on seeing the Fire Shaman directly in his path and seemingly resting, it knew it had an opportunity for revenge, with or without the King’s permission.
Due to the Titan’s size its strongest attacks were head on which when it needed (and to the surprise of everyone on the field) incredibly swift. The resting Shaman had no idea what had hit her and was crushed under the tons of living mountain.

Phase Two release Part 5

Phase Two release Part 5 Leapers lay Waste

The White King made some rudimentary moves to counter the Black King but
after sacrificing two more pawn armies to minor battalions the King was abandoned by his Generals.

6. h2-h4 ……………………..6. g5xh4
7 g2-g3 ……………………….7. h4xg3

Phase Two release Part 4 The Black King Sees no Challenge | The Leapers Attack

Phase Two release Part 4 The Black King Sees no Challenge | The Leapers Attack
6. h2-h4 ……………………..6. g5xh4
7 g2-g3 ……………………….7. h4xg3

The Black King knew armies were intimidated by the celestial battlefield and were slow to reach their full potential, usually and thankfully too late for their own survival.
But never had he’d seen such inept moves so early in battle. It almost seemed this White Wing Commander was trying to lose the battle rather than win.
The King felt a little pang sensing this battle would offer no challenge. They were no better, maybe marginally worse than those he had fought before and he prepared to wipe them out.
He watched with disdain as his minor army of Leapers laid sections of the White Army to waste down the field.

Phase Two release Part 3 THE QUEEN BURNS, DISSENSION IN THE RANKS

Phase Two release Part 3 THE QUEEN BURNS, DISSENSION IN THE RANKS

3. e2-f3………………. 3.QBg4-h5
4. B2 –B3 ………………… 4. QNb8-c6
5. QNb1-c3 ……………………5. g7-g5

The White army could only look on in horror as the Shaman incinerated the unprepared Queen’s forces and their screams could be heard all the way back to the King’s battle tents.

The White King stood emotionless as gasps of horror rose up from the lines of battle hardened soldiers.
His reaction was swift. He ordered the Dead Army Knight to attack the Fire Shaman head on. The Skeleton General assessing such a move knew it was suicide and refused to move. The experienced General recognised pointless retaliation when he saw it.

He knew his life was forfeit – so what?

The King he used to know was beyond this.

The King’s Bishop stopped the General’s refusal from reaching the King, sensing that a mutiny minutes into a battle would do no one any good. Though he considered the General an abomination, he knew the risen soldier had the knowledge to help well into the fight.

So the Angel knowing the rewards of sacrifice ordered his own priests forward with instant if not unexpected results.

Unbeknownst to the opposing army the Shaman had attacked with a trifle too much enthusiasm and had nearly exhausted her stocks when the White Army Priests charged out. She retreated to the safety of the flanks to recoup her strength.

The White King was furious and the General would be a small stain on the ground if he could justify it. The Angel’s move had undermined his authority as much as the Bone soldier’s had, but also proved to the rest of the army he had made the right decision ignoring his King’s orders.

All through the ranks the King’s fears were being realised. The University Bishop and the Equilord seriously doubted the King’s ability to lead. The Equilord had his people’s welfare to protect and really didn’t give a damn about the King’s ambitions.

The Equilord decided he would go it alone against an unknown enemy that seemed to have been dragged from the pits of Hell itself.

The White King hadn’t expected mutiny so early in the piece, though he had known it was inevitable in the scheme of things. He knew he was vulnerable on the battlefield but none of his army was aware of this.

He just prayed that the Angel would stay loyal just a little while longer

The King made some rudimentary moves to counter the Black King but
after sacrificing two more pawn armies to minor battalions the King was abandoned by his Generals.

Phase 2 Release Part 2 The White Queen burns.

The White Queen burns.
2. Q-g4 ……………….. 2. QBxg4Q

And disaster he got.

The Queen’s movement up the field exposed her people to the full brunt of the Black army Shaman who attacked without hesitation. The Queen and her charges disappeared in burst of flame and dark smoke.

The White army could only look on in horror as the Shaman incinerated the unprepared Queen’s forces and their screams could be heard all the way back to the King’s battle tents.

They all knew now the capabilities of the Black army.