What Price Victory II - WH40K Battle reports

[Brother Panis]

I denne tråd kan der skrives WH40K battle reports. De vil blive skrevet af vinderen!

Håber I syntes om indholdet og at det er fyldt med Black Templar CHAOS sejre

/Niels

/Master Ciaphas

[Brother Panis]

W40k - Battle III - Ashweer - Killing Fields

The Avenging Angels had moved into the ruins and a small wood next to it during black of night, occupying a commanding view of the surrounding terrain. That could not be tolerated as it gave them control of the only approach vector to the central space port.

When Gathard and the Templars under his command had arrived at Ashweer they had sent an emissary to The Avenging Angels, but it seemed the Inquisitor was right as the only answer they received was the emissaries head. Now they would revenge this wrong during with fire and steel.

Gathard had moved his two fire support squads into position on the left flank to cover the rest of his forces when they charged out of
cover and into the ruins.

***    ***    ***

1. Turn

The Avenging Angels used the cover of darkness to reinforce their position. To the right of the ruins the mighty form of a Dreadnought supported fast moving assault marines, while a fast moving Land Speeder moved up near the ruins ready to pounce on any enemy forces moving against the infantry holding the ruins.

None of the Angels were within range of the Templars, so they held their fire, waiting for the enemy to come closer.
The full Templar force moved directly against the ruins in the center of the battlefield. It composed of two squads of Initiates with their Neophyte charges, two fast moving Typhoon armed Land Speeders and a trio of Initiates riding bikes of war!

As the dawn approached the Templar had enough light to target the green marines hiding in the ruins and the Land Speeder behind. One of the Typhoons used its missile launchers to shoot down its enemy counterpart, while its twin blasted some of the marines in the ruins.

***    ***    ***

2. Turn

The sun had no risen beyond the horizon, bathing the world in cold white light. Whether it was due to the bright light or the sight of the black tide hurtling towards them the Avenging Angels coward back into the perceived safety of the ruins. This gave them no clear angle on the oncoming Templars. The Angels reserves moved at full speed towards the ruins to support their brethren.

Gathard and Templars close combat specialist moved forward at full speed. The bikes gunned the throttle and zoomed to the left flank to support the fire support squads there.  One of the Typhoons opened fire on the dreadnought stunning it while the other again targeted the marines killing one. The fire support units were just able to get a range on the assault marines. Their combined shooting brought down three of fast moving traitors, forcing the last two to retreat out of range of their guns.

***    ***    ***

3. Turn

The battle was at its most critical point if the Avenging Angels could kill enough Templars before the charge hit home they could hold the ruins and win the day. To do so they had to stop the squad with the anti armour equipment leaving the Templars without any means to deal with the dreadnought coming in hot. Both squads of Angels in the ruin therefore blasted with all guns at the squad, killing multiple Neophytes forcing the squad to move back into cover. At the same time the Rhino transport moved into position to screen the dreadnought storming forward from the bike squadron.

Things looked bleak for the Templars. They had to stop the big rampaging behemoth or they would lose the battle. Every unit moved forward at full speed. The squad with the melta gun had a shot at the dreadnought but the shot just temporarily made it stop as it had to reboot its system and reroute power. The bikes tried without luck to destroy the Rhino with their plasma guns. To add to their failure one of the plasma guns exploded killing the bearer. The Typhoons opened up on the Dreadnought, but was not able to penetrate its thick armour.

***    ***    ***

4. Turn

The battle was still hinged on a knife edge. The Avenging Angels had to protect their ancient entombed brother long enough for him to come back online and then they had a chance. The driver of the Rhino tried to use his vehicle as a weapon driving at full speed at the anti armour squad, but his hopes of frightening them was crushed as they sidestepped the onrushing tank. The main body of Angels hiding in the ruins again fired at the anti armour squad, killing a single Initiate. At this slight the Templars went mad, redoubling their effort to reach the dreadnought. As the tank drove off the bikes where caught in the open, making them an easy target for the remaining jump marines, who charged resulting in a brutal melee where no side where able to gain the upper hand. 

The antitank squad were able to move around the still dreadnought, hitting it in the rear armour. The blast from the melta gun penetrated its core reactor vaporizing the machine. The resulting explosion killed several marines on both sides. At the same time the Typhoons killed the last of the of the support squad hiding in the ruins and stunned the driver of the Rhino. The way forward cleared the squad lead by Gathard charged towards their query, shooting as they ran. Totally unexpected the Avenging Angels Captain order his men to withdraw, fleeing the ruins before the Templars could reach them. On the left flank one of the support squads secured the flank while the other charged into the melee to help the bike squadron. This turned the tide and the two green marines were killed.

***    ***    ***

5. All was not lost for the Avenging Angels. They could still fight the Templars to a standstill with no clear winner. The fleeing squad stopped and fired at the Templars hot on their heels together with the support squad on the right flank hoping to force them back but the gamble didn't work and the Templars crashed into the depleted squad like a hammer on an anvil. In the chaotic fight Gathard sought out the Captain trying to slay him, but the Captains Iron Halo saved him from most of the blows. The Captain realized that all was lost and shamefully ordered his remaining men to flee the battle.

***    ***    ***

6. The Templars moped up the last remaining Angles squad leaving them in total control of the battlefield.

Result:

Black Templars
Emperors Champion Gathard: +3XP, all wounds healed
Black Templars claim tile on Ashweer

Avenging Angles
Captain: +0XP, all wounds healed

[VonPanne]

Hehe, fin rapport og det er pænt af dig at fremstille det som om at jeg havde en chance trods terningernes manglende vilje

[Rhiadan]

Nocturne Nebula Campaign – Campaign turn 1
Battle of 12. juli 2012 – Eldar vs. Black Templars

"An Opening Gambit"

Efter at have undertvunget og befæstet planeten Schwartzshild besluttede High Marshal Xanthus Valan fra the Black Templars Hellion Crusade at flytte sit fokus mod den nærmeste non-compliant verden i Nocturne Nebulaen, Ashweer Minoris. Marskallen gav Emperor's Champion, Gathard Labranche, ordre til at udrydde en generende men flygtig eldar tilstedeværelse på planetens nordlige hemisfære. De sejrrige Black Templars havde netop erobret planetens centrale rumhavn fra de kætterske Avenging Angels space marines, og derfor kunne kun en mindre styrke undværes til at tage sig af opgaven.

Martok Stargazer, Rhiadans farseer, trådte ud af webway-portalen og ned på Ashweers milde jorder. Martok mærkede planeten skælven under sine fødder. Dens slumrende World Spirit våndede sig i sin søvn over den krig, som de uvidende monkeighs havde bragt. Martok havde forudset, at de fanatiske barbarer, kaldet Black Templars, ville snuble på en af Ashweers skjulte World Spirit communion stones. Det var næsten for sent, men Martok var fast besluttet på at redde det skrøbelige relikvie.

De to styrker mødte hinanden ved daggry i udkanten af en udbombet kejserlig forpost. Relikviet befandt sig mellem de to styrker. Slagets primære mål var at sikre relikviet.

Slaget var vores første med de nye regler fra 6th edition. Spændende.

Black Templars valgte bordhalvdel. Eldar fik første tur. Der var nightfighting i effekt i tur 1. Martok tog opstilling med en gruppe Dark Reaper aspect warriors.



Martok havde forudset, at disse sortklædte krigeres str. 5, AP 3, range 48", heavy 2 våben ville blive afgørende for slagets gang. På midten af bordet havde Martok placeret en D-cannon som area denial. I første tur fløj en guardian jetbike-enhed frem mod relikviet og snuppede det for derefter at flytte tilbage 6" mod egen bordhalvdel med det med deres særlige eldar jetbike assault move.



Eldar skydning i tur 1 ryddede næsten den store bygning for Black Templars, men de sorte tempelherrer var snart klar til at slå igen.



Black Templars rettede al ildkraft mod de flygtende jetbikes. De anede, at de lumske eldar havde noget for med den genstand, de åbenbart satte så meget pris på. Det var utvilsomt noget psyker-witch-babble, som burde ødelægges. De skrøbelige jetbikes blev promte skudt ud af himlen af Black Templars land speeders. Relikviet tumlede til jorden.



I eldars tur 2 ankom Martoks hemmelige våben til slagmarken. Angrebet var nøje koordineret til at begynde samtidig med, at en Nightwing fighter fra Rhiadans rumstyrker skulle overflyve stedet. Nightwingen ankom med et supersonisk drøn, men sænkede straks hastigheden ved hjælp af de særlige eldar gravitetsmotorer og affyrede sine 2 bright lances og 2 shuriken cannons mod en Black Templars land speeder, der straks eksploderede.



I Templars tur 2 kom en drop pod med 10 brave marines ind fra reserves. De sigtede efter at ramme tæt ved Martok og Dark Reapers. Uheldigvis fejlede drop podens målsøgningsmekanisme på et absolut vitalt tidspunkt, fordi brother Herbast havde glemt at fremsige maskinlitaniets niende vers helt korrekt, så drop podden bragede i stedet for fuld kraft ind i en nærliggende bjergside uden af affyre sine retrobrændere. Alle mand blev tabt.

Martok beordrede i eldar tur 3 alle enheder til at avancere mod relikviet. Dire Avengers, rangers og Wraithlord løb frem.



Nightwingen skød mod marines i den lille bygning. Vypers skød den tilbageværende land speeder. Dark Reapers skød de sidste BT bikers. Alt så i sandhed sort ud for Kejserens tro mænd.

I BT tur 3 landede imidlertid tempelherrernes 2. drop pod med Emperors Champion Gathard Labranche. Da han så 1. drop pods frygtelige skæbne havde han ikke haft andet valg end at sigte lige efter relikviet, som hele slaget drejede sig om. Han landede spot on, og BT erobrede relikviet. Black Templar-spilleren havde valgt sin Emperors Champion til sin Warlord, og havde som warlord trait rullet Tenacity, der giver warlorden og hans unit Feel No Pain, hvis de er indenfor 3" af et objektiv. Black Templars eneste chance for at vinde spillet bestod nu i at holde på objektivet indtil spillets sidste tur. Med deres skydning udryddede de helt den avancerende Dira Avengers squad og en gunner fra D-cannon'en.



Eldar ville imidlertid ikke opgive relikviet uden kamp, og i spillets 2 sidste ture blev der kæmpet indædt nærkamp om det. Warithlorden chargede sammen med rangers. Martok chargede selv drop poden, men måtte sande, at 6th ed. Whitchblades ikke er halvt så gode mod armour som de var i 5th ed. Efter at have brugt en tur på at manøvrere kom Nightwingen heldigvis i stilling og kunne gøre arbejdet færdigt.

I en heroisk challenge kvaste Wraithlorden imidlertid livet ud af Gathard Labranche, og derefter blev der gjort kort proces med de resterende Black Templars.



Results: Eldar victory. Enemy slain to a man.

Martok kunne med tilfredshed tage den omstridte communion stone fra Ashweer i sin varetægt. Barbarerne ville formentlig aldrig ane, at der var en slumrende World Spirit på Ashweer Minoris.

Heroes:
Gathard Labranche: Slain in battle, debilitating wound, -1T. +1XP. Stiger et level. Slog Skilled Warrior på advancement-tabellen og valgte Preferred Enemy.

Martok Stargazer: +3XP. Stiger et level. Slog også Skilled Warrior og valgte Stealth.

Campaign Status:
Eldar + 1 victory
Black Templars +1 defeat

[Master Ciaphas]

W40k – Battle V – Regulus IV – The Relic

With a tortured scream, a rift appeared in the air. A dark mass stepped through the shimmering rent, solidifying slowly. Gathered round it, abased and praying, were 7 cultists. Warts and boils covered their faces and hands, pus oozing from their eyes and ears.  Where others would recoil in disgust, the dark form spread neboulus wings and roared in delight.

Feytor Plagueblessed had returned from the Warp.

The Necromancer, seer of the Death Guard host on Regulus IV, had seen that an ancient relic was kept within the great northern city of Neapolis; possession of this relic would aid the cause of the Warmaster greatly in this struggle. The only concern was, that the city was under the dominion of the Avenging Angels; Imperial lapdogs, who would be mercilessly crushed!

With their path clear, Feytor Plagueblessed ordered the march upon the city...

Captain Vern Castus, hero of the Midian Gulf campaign, stood next to Ancient Callius. Around him, his forces deployed with perfect discipline, ready to halt and throw back the advancing traitors. When his company's Epistolary, Trajan Pollux, had informed him about the antiquity kept on display in the former administrators office, he had guessed the Arch-Enemy's intent. It would be a race to deny them possession of the relic, but it had to be done; for the good of the sector. Already, the fleet had signaled that they were inbound, ready to retrieve the relic and transport it to the Chapter home world.

"Master Castus", the Ancient grumbled, the heavy baritone issuing from the vox grille on the front of the Dreadnought, "the 2nd Company reports that their strike towards the Arch-Enemy's forward bastions is about to commence. 4th Company is in position to block the Arch-Enemy here". The Captain smiled; everything was proceeding according to plan...

Feytor looked to his line of warriors, selfish and arrogant every, single one of them, the concept of honour long since lost to them, they were nevertheless fearsome fighters. To his left were the Fallen Angels of Caliban and the sons of Mortarion, the Death Guard of Barbarus. Behind him were the two Obliterators, Thanatos and Demetrius, hired from the Cult Obliteraturus at great expense to the Warmaster.

Seeing the lapdogs of the False Emperor taking positions across the city, Feytor took to the sky on wings black as night and with a powerful stroke swept across the field and soared above the Imperial line.

The Arch-Enemy shooting was largely insignificant, but the Obliterators managed to immobilize and glance one of the Avenging Angel Rhinos.

In return, the Imperial Space Marines fire glanced the two Chaos rhinos, but caused no significant harm.

- more to come -

Result
13th Black Crusade
Feytor Plagueblessed: +4 XP
+1 victory, claims Avenging Angels territory on Regulus IV

Avenging Angels
Captain Vern Castus: +1 XP, full recovery
+1 defeat, lose territory on Regulus IV

[Brother Panis]

W40k - Battle II - Regulus IV - Scourge of the Gods

From the surface of Regulus IV, the dwellers on the planet could see the fire in the heavens - unknown to the human inhabitants, the fires they saw were not signs from the God-Emperor, but rather the explosions of the Eldar fleet being annihilated by the Crimson Armada.

Striding towards his Seer Council, Farseer Martok Stargazer was, however, all too aware of what was going on. The followers of the Ruinous Powers would make planetfall soon, and the bones had told him where. Since Autarch-Admiral Thatueil was clearly being bested by inferior ships, it would be up to Stargazer's superlative warriors to break the backs of these deluded Mon-Keigh.

***    ***    ***

From the bowels of the Devastation's Hand the Dreadclaw assault pods descended down to the surface of Regulus IV. Within the hour, the forces of the Death Guard and their black armoured allies had secured a small beachhead - a beachhead that they were determined to hold at all costs. At the centre of the beachhead, a cultist coven completed their blood sacrifice; a human child brought from within the Eye, and marked from birth with the sign of Grandfather Onegal. The child dropped lifeless to the ground, the blood from its slit throat pooling into a prepared receptacle. Eldritch light played around the edges, and from the pool of blood rose the winged and terrible form of Feytor Plagueblessed. The blood cooling on his dark, ironskin body, the Daemon Prince stared at his followers, and smiled. "Little brothers. I am with you - and I rejoice - but first, we must secure this place, and the Eldar approaches. To battle!".

***    ***    ***

The Eldar drew up across the vale, to the left of the river Adelphi. Holding the centre of their line was a squad of Pathfinders and a squad of Striking Scorpions, led by Exarch D'Laien. On the right of the line was a Fire Prism, while the left was held by two Falcons carrying respectively Farseer Martok Stargazer and his Seer Council and a squad of Dire Avengers. Controlling the sky above the field was the Nightwing fighter "Cold Tear".

Across from them, was a hulking Land Raider, protecting smaller Rhino armoured personnel carriers. On the right flank of the Chaos horde, two horrific Blight Drones buzzed, while members of the Cult Obliterator assumed covering positions.

***    ***    ***

The Eldar gunned ahead, eager to cull the Mon-Keigh. The attack was led by Farseer Martok, who had uttered words of Fortune on the Falcon tank. The combined Eldar firefire tore off a sponson on the Land Raider. The Nightwing fighter in conjunction with the Fire Prism, managed to kill two of the three Obliterators.

***    ***    ***

Pertrubed by the loss on fire power, the Land Raider rumbled forward, and from it's hold, Terminator squad Astelan proudly strode forward. In their hands were clutched combi-meltas, and they aimed it at the Falcon which had sped towards the center of their line.

The entire Chaos army unleashed what firepower they had at Martok's Falcon, and despite it's good Fortune, the machine was brought crashing to the ground. Crying a word of praise to the Pantheon, squad Astelan assaulted Martok and his seers. One of the Terminators was cut down before he could engage the Eldar, hindered by the wreck of the Falcon, but the rest tore in the Xenos. They only managed to kill two Warlocks, and unsurprisingly, the Eldar held firm.

***    ***    ***

The Eldar host held it's collective breath, as it saw it's esteemed leader, Martok, engaged with the Chaos Terminators. Nevertheless, they exploded into action, as reinforcements in the form of jetbikes and a Vyper arrived on the field of battle.



The Eldar managed to kill the last surviving Obliterator, but the rest of their shooting was desultatory.

In the swirling melee between Martok and the Terminators, another Terminator was brought down, but in the return, squad Astelan slew all the remaining Warlocks, leaving only Martok Stargazer...

***    ***    ***

Near the rhino in painted in the livery of the foul Death Guard, the air started to shimmer and rip. From the tear in reality, a squad of gibbering Daemons stepped onto Regulus IV. Instantly, they threw themselves into the melee with Martok Stargazer.

Dodging a blow from a Terminator, Martok skewered a Daemon on his blade, dismissing it back to the Warp. This, however, left him vulnerable to Champion Astelan, who with a deftness thought impossible for a heavily armoured Terminator, jabbed his Chainfist into the Farseer's vulnerable side. With the sound of flesh ripping and blood spraying across ceramite, the Farseer gave a cry of anguished pain, and dropped lifeless to the ground.

***    ***    ***

The Nightwing zoomed round, firing it's weapons at Feytor Plagueblessed. The mighty Daemon Prince had just assualted and slain an entire jetbike squad, drenching his fists in their entrails and bodily fluids. Such an abomination could not be allowed to live. The powerful Brightlancs mounted on the fighter tore into the Daemon's mighty form, and with a roar, the Prince was banished back to the Warp, unable to maintain his material form.

This, however, left the fighter open to an attack from the Prince's followers, and Death Guard squad Graulgor dismounted their Rhino transport, and managed via careful firering to disable the fighter's flight engine. The failsafe's engage, and the fighter came to a gentle halt, just above the ground. With a wicked smile, Graulgor and his Marines stormed the Nightwing, tearing chunks out of the fuselage. The pilot tried to escape, but was crushed beneath the Powerfist of the Champion.

***    ***    ***

In the end, the field was held by the forces of Chaos.

The surviving Falcon did contest one vital objective, but the rest of the field was indisputedly held by the Ruinous Powers.



On the far flank, the Dire Avengers held onto their objective, securing it for the Craftworld.



The field belonged to Chaos, and the forces of Craftworld Rhiadan had lost the day - they would, however, be back...

***    ***    ***

Result:

Chaos
Feytor Plagueblessed: +2XP, all wounds healed
Chaos claim tile on Regulus IV

Craftworld Rhiadan
Martok Stargazer: +0XP, all wounds healed

[Rhiadan]

Nocturne Nebula Campaign – Campaign turn 1
Battle of 13. August 2012 – Eldar vs. Avenging Angels

(13. august... I know, lang tid siden, men det er en slo-mo kampagne vi har gang i)

"The Shooting Gallery"
Eldars tilstedeværelse på Ashweer var skrøbelig. Kun med nød og næppe var Black Templars angreb blevet kastet tilbage fra deres ene territorium. I sin visdom besluttede farseer Martok Stargazer derfor at forsøge at flytte fronten længere mod syd. Mod syd lå land kontrolleret af the Avenging Angels chapter space marines. Martok sansede, at disse på overfladen loyalistiske marines spillede en dobbelttydig rolle i Nocturne Nebulaen. De måtte knuses.

Vi spillede Big Guns Never Tire-missionen, hvilket gjorde både eldars Wraithlord, D-cannon support weapon og Dark Reapers aspect warriors til scoring units. Avenging Angels var uden heavy support. Der var fire objektives. To i midten af slagmarken og et ved hver af hærenes fire bases. Avenging Angels stillede op med en Aegis Defence line med quad gun til at tage sig af den forventelige eldar Nightwing fighter. Der røg også et objektive ned bag ved defence linen. Eldar stillede Dark Reapers og Martok Stargazer i noget cover bagerst på slagmarken ved et objektiv. Martok havde valgt Divination psychic discipline og rullede for Perfect Timing power. Det er en blessing der gør, at fjenden ikke må tage cover saves mod skud, der kommer fra farseerens unit. En giftig combo med 5 Dark Reapers, tænkte Martok.

Overview:


Eldar fik første tur. En Vyper squadron med 3 Vypers med shuriken cannons rykkede frem mod fjenden, og skød en land speeder ned.



Martoks Dark Reapers ryddede med hjælp fra Perfect Timing godt op blandt de marines, der gemte sig bag defence lines. 7 døde, 3 overlevede.



Avenging Angels rykkede i sin første tur sin rhino med tac squad frem mod det centrale missile silo objektive. Samtidig fløj en squad af assault marines frem og ind i en skov. Skydning immobiliserede den ene Vyper.

I Eldar tur 2 kom den frygtede Nightwing fighter på bordet. Marines med skyfire quad gun skød på den og ramte to gange. Piloten besluttede at evade. Da Nightwing har Shrouded-reglen for sine eldar titan holo-fields, steg hans jink-save til 3+, hvilket var meget heldigt, da han rullede 3 og 4 på sine saves. 2 Vypers rykkede frem og beskød fjenden.



Den truende assault squad blev beskudt af 3 eldar Jetbikes, 6 rangers og en Wraithlord med shuriken cannon. Kun sergeanten overlevede.



Avenging Angels rhino med tac squad og captain rykkede frem mod missile silo-objektive. Dreadnought avancerede. Captain og tac squad i rhino gik ud og skød/assaultede de 2 mobile Vypers, der døede grumt.

Martok med Reapers skød mod rhino-tac squad, der blev decimeret kraftigt.



Jetbikes boostede frem over bordet i et forsøg på at nå fjendens defence lines. Dire Avengers rykkede frem mod Missile Silo og beskød tac squad. Wraithlord rykkede frem mod objective ved krater midt på bordet.



Avenging Angels Captain forlod sin tac squad og forsøgte at assaulte de næsvise jetbikes, men kunne ikke helt løbe dem op.



Spillet lakkede tidligt mod enden. Nightwing drejede rundt og beskød Dreadnought i ryggen. De sidste tac marines bag defence lines blev skudt væk og jetbikes indtog deres objective. Også Avenging Angels assault marine sergeant og tac sergeant nær missile silo blev skudt væk. Dreadnought assaultede Dire Avengers, der flygtede så snart det gik op for dem, at de ikke havde nogen våben, der kunne skade den. De rallyede inden bordkanten, men var endt ret fjernt fra objectivet.



Avenging Angels captainen indså futiliteten i at kæmpe videre mod de efterhånden talmæssigt overlegne eldar, og gav kommandoen til tilbagerykning.

Results: Eldar victory.

Martoks styrker konsoliderede snart deres herredømme over territoriet. Målet var nået. Fronten havde flyttet sig.

Heroes:
Avenging Angels: Ingen campaign heroes deltog.

Martok Stargazer: +3XP. Steg et level. Slog igen Skilled Warrior og valgte Fearless.

Campaign Status:
Eldar + 1 victory, wins territory 08.04 på Ashweer
Avenging Angels +1 defeat, loses territory

[VonPanne]

Tak for et hyggeligt, men ensidigt spil. Alt hvad spidsørerne bare overvejede at skyde på, døde nærmest før der blev trykket på aftrækkeren... Vi fik også rodet os ud i de nye terrænopsætningsregler med fortifications og dem er jeg ikke imponeret over, selvom vi nu har opdaget at man godt må sætte op ind over de andre zoner. Det fungerede meget bedre i spillet mod Master Ciaphas, hvor vi bare satte op som vi plejer, uden at jeg fik indtryk af at det var et problem med en fortification.

Captain og tac squad i rhino gik ud og skød/assaultede de 2 mobile Vypers, der døede grumt.

Hvilket jeg til stadighed skal have banket ind i hovedet at man ikke må i 6th ed., men det kom alligevel ikke til at betyde noget.

Avenging Angels Captain forlod sin tac squad og forsøgte at assaulte de næsvise jetbikes, men kunne ikke helt løbe dem op.

Hvis der er tvivl, så viser terningerne hans charge move 

[Brother Panis]

Kill the witch

They would soon attack the marshal could feel it and he had trusted his instincts for a long time. It would be a hard battle and they were likely to be outnumbered by the foul xeno witches! The marshal spat, in a galaxy full of disgusting and horrible creatures there was nothing fouler than a xeno witch!  Too bad the fleet had not broken through the blockaded above too deliver the much needed reinforcements then this battle would have been a slaughter. Now they would have a real fight at their hands.

"Sir, the xenos are moving through the ruins!"

"Everybody ready, the degraded xenos are attacking and they will try to use witchery on us! Smite the unclean! And remember my comrades: Abhor the witch, Destroy the witch! No Pity, No Remorse, No Fear!"

The marshal stood up and ran towards the enemy, the time for cover long gone. Now the only priority was to get into contact with the enemy and kill them with fire and sword! The plan had been simple, let the xenos close and then attack them head on killing all and leaving none alive.







Turn 1 and 2
These two turn saw the destruction of the Eldar fast skimmers, before they could do any significant damage. The Templar drop pod also arrived and landed close to a squad of Dire Avengers, along with Faseer Martok and Yriel. Although they were able to rapid fire their weapons and one of their numbers carried a flamer, they only managed to kill a single Avenger. In return Yriel and a mighty Wraithlord charged the squad. Yriel using his Eye of Wrath attack killed 8 battle brothers, before the Emperors Champion avenged his brothers by killing the foul xeno. The victory was short lived though as the Wrathloard killed the remaining Templars! The Dire Avengers, along with Farseer Martok engaged Marshal Valan and his squad resulting in a prolonged but bloody melee.










Turn 3 and 4
The Eldar aerial reinforcement arrived in the form of a Nightwing. Over the subsequent turns it proceeded to destroy the Templars two Typhoon speeders and then tried to kill the support squads. These in tried to kill it, but was unable to. The melee between the Dire Avengers and Marshal Valans squad ended as Techmarine Bertrand and his squad joined the slaughter. The combat ended with Valan killing the Farseer. The Templars now pressed the attack. The two decimated Templar squads tried engaged the Wraithlord, but only Techmarine Bertrands succeeded. Marshal Valans squad was subsequently gunned down by a Fire Prism. The melee between the Wraithlord and the Templars was very one sided as only the Techmarine stood a chance of killing the beast, but would not let himself be singled out by it.









Turn 5 and 6
Trying to dislodge the stubborn support squads the Fire Prism moved towards the Templar line. It was met by blistering lascanon fire and never got far, crashing as both engines where shot to pieces. As the Wraithlord kept failing to neutralize the Templars it was fighting the rest of the Eldar army charged to support it. Although badly outnumbered the Templars never lost their faith in the Emperor and won the combat. Upon seeing the resolution and fanaticism that drove the Templars, the xeno citizen soldiers fled, fearing to meet their doom at the hands of the black clad giants leaving the field to Templars.



Result: Black Templar victory

Heroes:
Farseer Martok: Traumatized, -2 XP
Marshal Valan: +2 XP, Slow Recovery
Emperors Champion Gathard: +1 XP, Full recovery

Campaign Status:
Eldar + 1 defeat
Black Templars +1 victory

[Rhiadan]

Jeg gik efter sejren til sidst og chargede den techmarine og 3 marines, der var i kamp med wraithlorden, med 2 enheder af guardian defenders og (vist) 2 units af jetbikes. Hvis jeg bare havde stået stille med dem, var det blevet en draw. Men på helt utrolig vis formåede de mange angribende guardians og jetbikes ikke at lave så meget som et enkelt lille wound, og når så også wraithlorden misser, og moralcheksene fejles, ja så går det galt. Oh sorg!

[Brother Panis]

Have faith in the Emperor and he will protect!! Unless you're a vile xeno in wich case you should lay down and die!

Det var en kamp, med skiftende føringer, tror jeg det hedder! Din Wraithlord var håbløs i en del runder og dine stakkels guardians var helt uduelige. Men som man siger giv mig en Space marine for 100 normale mand 

[Master Ciaphas]

Regulus IV - Desperate times; desperate measures!

With Neapolis lost to the Arch-Enemy, the continued presence of the Avenging Angels on Regulus IV was teneous at best. Their last, best hope, lay in breaking through the siege line around the city.

Wounded in battle against the daemon prince, Feytor, captain Varn Castus drew the ancient relic blade entrusted to him by the Chapter Master of the Avenging Angels. Touching the flat of the blade to his forehead, he mouthed a silent pray to the Emperor. Looking at the Marines making up the last of the Angels on Regulus IV, Castus felt nougt by pride. He would lead them to victory...or die in the attempt.

Feytor spat a glob of green-yellow phlem onto the ground, watching as it sizzled slightly. Across the field, the misguided fools of the Avenging Angels had drawn their thin, green line, adamant in their refusal to bow the knee to the Despoiler. Feytor would teach them the error of their ways.

Bellowing a prayer to Mortarion, Feytor spread his pinions and took to the sky, while Graulgor and his squad rumbled across in their Rhino, flanked by the mysterious Sephior of Caliban. Securing their back, was the adherents to the Cult Obliteraturus, firing repeatedly at the entrenched Angels.

Feytor crashed into the Avenging Angels like a wrothful god of war. Smiting the Marines, he bellowed prayers to Grandfather Nurgle and Mortarion. Alone, he almost broke the back of the Imperials. Following up his charge was Graulgor and Sephior, neither particularly loyal to Feytor, but sufficiently cowed to know what fate awaited them, should they fail his plan.

Reeling from the assault, the Avenging Angels fought back like true heroes of legend. One by one they fell, all the while taking down the enemies of the Imperium, those traitors who had bartered their immortal souls to the powers of darkness.

In the end, most of the Angels had been defeated - but the toll taken on the forces of the Arch-Enemy were substantial. Feytor and Castus had both been defeated, while their men ground each other down. The Avenging Angels had failed in their attempted breakout. Their sole option was now to disperse and make their way to secreted Thunderhawks and evacuate Regulus IV...for now.

The Imperium would consolidate on Ashweer...and later - the Imperium would strike back!

Result:
The 13th Black Crusade victorius!
Feytor: Slow Recovery (must sit over next battle)
Feytor: +2 XP

Avenging Angels presence on Regulus IV terminated, as they now have no territory at all.
Castus: Full Recovery
Castus: +1 XP

[Master Ciaphas]

Battle IX - Ashweer - In Nomine Maleficarum

Marshal Valan studied the cartographic renditions of sector 137-A-222, which covered about a seventh of Ashweer; a blighted segment, which had fallen to the Arch-Enemy in the early phases of the Nebula Conflagration, as the scribes had already taken to calling it. Valan stared at the maps, and recalled with perfect clarity the dispositions of the troops available to him, for the reclamation of this vital sector. His fleet had void supremacy; now he would use it, and in one fell swoop, terminate the heretics on the surface below.

The scions of Dorn, the Black Templars, were going to war...

***   ***   ***

The rumble of the Land Raider drowned out all other sound. Inside, the Frateris Ferro of the Hellion Crusade stood waiting, waiting solely for the order to engage with and kill the Arch-Enemy. Roaring down from the Strike Cruiser, the drop pods carrying Marshal Valan and Venerable Dreadnought Luthgar would soon be visible as descending comets of fire in the sky. On either side of the proud Land Raider "Spear of Dorn", were Crusader squads Heinrich and Beomond had taken positions to cover the advance, while a Land Speeder Typhoon-pattern, would provide rapid, accurate heavy weapon support.

***   ***   ***

Across the field, entrenched in the ruined outskirts of the once thriving city of Ionnaio-Major, were the Arch-Enemy. A corrupted Land Raider, carrying the dread lord of the Terminus Est, Typhus, the Herald of Nurgle and Death Guard squad Graulgor had placed itself squarely on the main avenue, while a black liveried Rhino carrying black armoured traitor Marines covered the Land Raider's front. Just next to it, the Cult Obliteratus had taken position in a demolished hab block. Along them, was the so-called Necromancer, seer of the Chaos forces in the Nocturne Nebula, a fell Chaos Sorceror, who once upon a time, in an age of hope, had been known as Azeriah of the 1st Legion.

***   ***   ***

The super-sonic entry of the drop pods resounded across the field of battle. Ancient Luthgar's pod was set to impact just besides the Arch-Enemy Land Raider - but foul warp magicks had it deviate of course and land just beside a squad of chaos cultists. Bursting from confines, Luthgar's vox bellowed a cry of war and with fire and bolt shell, killed half four cultists. Despite the assault, the heretics held firm.

Marshal Valan's pod was far more precise, landing where it should. Disembarking, the meltagunner took aim at the Land Raider carrying Typhus and squad Graulgor. However, the shock of re-entry threw the gunner's aim, and the superheated beam missed the Raider! The rest of the Black Templar shooting was ineffecive, except for the storm bolter mounted on the Marshal's drop pod, which managed to wound Azeriah the Necromancer.

The shock and awe of their arrival spent, the Templars would now have to face the retaliation of the Arch-Enemy...

Turning slowly like a waking beast, the Land Raider spun in place. The ramp opened, and out marched Typhus, Herald of Nurgle along with the Death Guards of squad Graulgor. The Cult Obliteratus marched closer to Ancient Luthgar, while the Rhino carrying the Fallen of Caliban sped forwards to cover the Land Raider.

Though trying his best to summon the power of Nurgle, Typhus was thwarted by the stalwart will of the Templars, as they denied the witch. The Cult Obliterus fared better, as they aimed their multi-meltas at the Dreadnought - and with the blaze of an angry sun, the beams converged, instantly immolating the Ancient in a ball of fire!! First blood to the Arch-Enemy!

With the point of Manreaper, Typhus led the charge into the Marshal's Crusader Squad. The combat which ensued was bloody, but the Templars fared the worse. However, their faith in the Emperor and Dorn saw them hold steady, while Typhus and Valan duelled each other.

As the combat wore on, the Templar's last reinforcement arrived! From the sky came the Emperor's Champion, Labranche, with a Crusader squad, ready to bring retribution to the Traitors.



Even though the entire squad fired at the Cult Obliteratus, they managed to bring down just one of the hulking creatures. Meanwhile, across the field, a Crusader squad advanced and claimed one of the vital objectives on the battlefield.



In the melêe between Valan and the Death Guard, the Black Templars were shocked to see Typhus defeat the Marshal in the duel. The Dark Gods smiled upon their champion, and blessed him as their "Crusader".

As Marshal Valan fell to the ground, the sky resounded with the super sonic boom of an Arch-Enemy fighter roaring across the sky. With air supremacy now belonging to the Traitors, the Templars prospects looked dire indeed.



Advancing with the Obliterators, the Necromancer had all fire concentrated on them. When the firestorm abated, only the Emperor's Champion was still standing, wounded, but proud enough to carry on the fight. Missiles from the Land Speeder Typhoon incapacitated the Necromancer, and the asasult of the Champion felled one of the brutish Obliterators. However, despite these successes, the last remaining Obliterator incapacitated the Emperor's Champion with a blow from it's powerfist.

Determined to avenge the fall of their Marshal, and to protect their Champion, the Ferro Frateris drove their Land Raider forwards and disembarked. Assualting from the vehicle, they tried to destroy the Chaos Land Raider, which had shielded Typhus and his Death Guards. Despite their best attempts, they could but stun the vehicle once.

As the flurry of their blows abated, they noticed that the forces of Chaos had surrounded them. As the Traitors fired upon them, they started to fall back - sadly, they were prevented from regrouping, as the Enemy was close by...



The Templar Land Raider was rocked by the impact of several heavy blows, until finally, the last blow of the Death Guard Aspiring Champion's powerfist, knocked out its' power transmission system, effectively killing it. Meanwhile, the forcs of Chaos had been reinforced by a dread Blight Drone, which immediatedly made it's impact upon the battlefield felt, as the firepower mounted on it slew an entire Crusader squad in one pass.

The fire of the sole remaining Obliterator also managed to kill the last Terminators. The advance of the Chaos was taken up by the black armoured Chaos Marines.



The Templars were sorely pressed, as they tried to hold the line - but with their Terminators, Marshall and Emperor's Champion gone, they could only do so much. Try as they might, the firepower of the Arch-Enemy slew them one by one. In the end, the last Crusader squad, Beomond's, was gunned down by the combined fire of the Hellblade and the Blight Drone.



As darkness fell, only two empty, yet functioning, drop pods stood on the field of battle. The day belonged solely to the forces of darkness; those inhuman creatures, who had long since bartered up their mortal souls for material power...and in the warp, dark, thirsting gods laughed...

Results
Black Templars:
+1 defeat
Emperor's Champion: +0 XP, Slow recovery (may not participate in next battle)
Marshal Valan: +0 XP, serious injury (-1W, may not participate in next battle)

13th Black Crusade
+1 victory
The Necromancer: +2 XP, slow recovery