Aerie

Isarran pulled hard on the mast line, his slight form belying the strength with which he mastered the High Elf Hawk ship.  The ship canted quickly to port.  The sea hissed angrily as a storm of black fletched bolts landed on the Hawk ship's former course.  Isarran looked back.  His eyes could still pick out the hull of the sister Hawk ship, now a feeding ground for the great serpents of Dark Elves.  At least the sound of the sea on the rock walls of the coast drowned out the screams.

Isarran's ship was alone.  

When the patrol had sighted the dark elf ships, a full armada led by an immense Black Ark, the ship commanded by the junior officer left to spread warning.  The other two ships remained to harry and distract the Dark Elves as long as possible.  The great maneuverability of the Hawk ships was their only defense against the massed Dark Elves, and that defense was less than total.  A single mistake would leave the small vessel crippled.  Isarran cursed in the melodic manner of his people.  He flashed a hand sign to the navigator, letting them know of a shoal off the port side.  The shallow bottomed Hawk ship could pass over while their blasphemous brethren had to sail around or risk grounding.  

Isarran was exhausted from hour after hour of the hard work of sailing the Hawk ship under conditions that brooked no rest or mistake.  As they approached a headland a cursed bolt from the pursuing Death Fortresses struck the hull, damaging the rudder line.  Isarran could immediately detect the change.  The ship continued to sail as fast but would turn slower.  Compared to most ships the damaged Hawk ship was still nimble.  Not nimble enough to avoid sea monsters and magic propelled bolts.  Death approached, neither rushed nor leisurely, but merely implacably.  

The navigator gave a shout and pointed.

Rounding the headland before them was a majestic double hulled Dragon ship.  Her war banners were unfurled and her gleaming blades cut through the waves.  The beauty of a Dragon ship was never lost on Isarran.  It was like the whole ocean existed just to bear her alone.

But she was not alone.  Around the Dragon ship sailed Great Eagle ships.  Fellow Hawk ships jinked for position in a screening force.  It was an armada in force, enough to meet the Dark Elves head on.  But it was still a long ways away.

Isarran didn't have to be told to make for full sails.  He didn't want to die within sight of salvation.  A glance backwards told him he'd never see home again.  The Black Ark had come around the sand bar.  Another few moments and she'd be in line to fire on the Hawk ship.

A piercing cry came on the wind, answered at once by another and another.  Isarran stared upwards as a  host of great eagle dove towards the Dark Elves.  The birds had their wings stiffly angled back, plummeting with terrible speed towards the leading death fortresses.  Another flight of Eagles came, and another.  Isarran looked fore again, at salvation.  

In the shadow of the Dragon ship sailed another vessel.  It had a body not unlike the Eagle ships, but the usually lithe towers above the bridge had been replaced with a delicate honeycombed dome.  It was from this that the flights of Eagles had emerged, and still were coming.

The eagles struck at the great beasts of the Dark Elf ships, enraging them and tearing at their eyes.  They even tried to harass the Black Ark.  While they couldn't inflict much damage they kept the Dark Elves occupied and distracted as the High Elf fleet closed for the kill, and as Isarran's stricken ship escaped.

Isarran raised a hand of greeting at the sailors on the Aerie ship as they passed.

*

Aerie
High Elf Independent
200 pts

The Aerie is based on the Eagle ship hull and has many similarities
   
Move sail 6” x2 (use normal turn template)

Crew 3

Weapons 3 broadside Eagle Claw bolt throwers

Hit locations-
High:
2 Sail, save 4+, two hits, first hit no effect, second hit -2” move
3 Bridge, save 5+
4-5 Sail, save 4+, two hits, first hit no effect, second hit -2” move
6 Aerie, save 4+, two hits, first hit can't heal flyers, second hit can't hold flyers anymore and all held flyers take one wound

Low:
2 Sail (same site as 2 high above)
3 Bridge (same site as 3 high above)
4 Bows, save 4+, 1 Eagle Claw lost
5 Midships, save 4+, 1 Eagle Claw lost
6 Outrigger, save 4+, 1 Eagle Claw lost

Special rules
The Aerie can hold four flying squadrons.  Each squadron may be a single dragon rider or three eagle riders.  These squadrons are immune to normal attacks (including anti-flyer weapons) while inside the ship and may be released at any point during the Aerie's move.  Flyers may enter the Aere at the end of their movement.  While within the Aerie the flyers do not count for purposes of initiative.  Flyers must be bought as normal.  Flyers may begin the game within the Aerie.

A squadron that is damaged (one or two dead eagle riders, or a dragon that has lost some wounds) which returns to the Aerie may be healed.  During each end phase stored squadrons regain one wound, up to their normal maximum.  This can restore lost members of the squad in the case of eagle riders.  Note that it is each squadron and not each flyer that regains one wound, hence a squadron of eagle riders that lost two members would have to stay two turns inside the Aerie to get back to full strength (gaining one rider each turn).  Squadrons which are destroyed are gone permanently.  If the Aerie is damaged it can no longer heal squadrons.  If it is destroyed then it can no longer hold squadrons and all held flyers lose one wound (slaying any eagles and harming the dragons).  Any surviving flyers are placed next to the Aerie in base to base contact and may act this round if they haven't already had a turn. 

If the Aerie is sunk roll a die for each held squadron.  On a 4+ they manage to get out and should be placed on the table table next to the wreckage.