banner

banner
'We have come to destroy you!'

Wednesday, September 9, 2020

9th Edition .- First Battle - The usual suspects

 So! 9th has dropped and it was time to test it out. Wimaro and I would go at it again with the same armies that are quickly becoming each other's nemesii.... nemesisis.. nemesis'... enemies!


1000 pts Incursion

Wimaro running his usual forces, 3 starweavers, 3 troupes, solitaire, troupemaster and shadowseer along with 3 skyweaver bikers. A small hard hitting compact force.

I was running a horde of guardsmen - 6 squads, 2 veteran squads, 2 chimeras, 2 mortar teams, and a hydra along with 2 company commanders. 






Turn 1 - Guard

I won the roll off and went first. Orders were barked out and re-rolls given. My lines opened up the  starweaver on my left flank. Autocannons, stubbers, heavy bolters all shot out in to the dusk light, missing or failing to wound. Those that found their mark were saved by the flickering invul save of the alien craft. One lucky soldier fired his missile launcher into the darkness and BOOM found the mark doing 5 damage. The remaining lasguns finished off the final wound and killed an occupant in the ensuing crash. 

Elsewhere, the hydra took out 2 sky weaver bikers. 

 The dusk light was ominous and forboding. Trooper Jensin could barely make out the shapes of the buildings in the fading light. Before he could finish his though the gunner in the chimera spotted something in the distance. Thunderous fire exploded out of the tank. The chugging autocannon, the rattling boom of the heavybolter and the staccato of the stubber all mingling into a deafening roar. He peered through his missile scope and in sheer instince just fired. A huge explosion in the distance lit up the landscape.  








Turn 1 - Harlequins

Wimaro faced down a horde of guardsmen but ran straight in with his forces and attacked. He blew up a chimera and caused 5 casualities to an advancing squad. Not the best turn all round. He kept some of his forces back to hold and objective behind the ruined tower.


Turn 2 - Guard

The Harlequins were in front of me now. I opened fire and downed the remaning starweavers, but only after far too much firepower. Awful hit rolls and awful wounds rolls followed by good invul saves meant I'd dumped all my firepower onto the two vehicles. The clowns would be mowing through my men in short order.


Turn 2 - Harlequins

Close combat! woo. Men were sliced and diced but it mattered not - there were plenty more where they came from. A solitaire appeared and killed my mortars. They were in amongst me now. Steely courage and decent rolling is all that would save me now.

Turn 3 - Guard.

So.. I outnumbered Wimaro's clowns by about 8-1 almost. I fired what I could fire into the various pockets of harlequins but this would be a turn for the ages. A monument to mediocrity, a hallmark of shitty rolling, an epic tale of failure that would ring down through the ages.

Here's the thing. Harlequins aren't all that scary. T3, 4+ save. It's VERY overcomable if you have the weight of numbers. I had tonnes of men and about 50-60 attacks in close combat resulted in two wounds.... TWO! It was a game-breaking moment. Epic fail. 

Turn 3 - Harlequins

Quick turn, solitaire kills the warlord and 15-20 men die. Still have about 50 on the table along with a hydra.... BUT twas the end....


I conceded with 50+ men and a hydra on the table.... but why? WHY?


Conclusion!

For the last 2 turns Wimaro had been pressing the attack. My slow guardsmen were only contesting one objective while Wimaro had been scoring victory points. This was the big change I didn't anticipate or understand well enough. You score your victory points at the BEGINNNING of your turn, during the command phase. Meaning you have to be reactive to your enemy. Knock them off their objectives in your turn so that their next turn they aren't scoring.

At this point Wimaro had 29 victory points. 5 in turn 2, 15 in turn 3 and 6 for slay the warlord and 3 for a secondary which involved killing as many men as possible. I only had 5 points. With turn 4 about to start I'd score no points as I was either to far away or bunched up at the back. 

Barring another dismal turn of not hitting or wounding anything, I'd most likely table the remaning troupemaster, solitaire and 6 clowns... BUT tabling doesn't win you the game and it wasn't guaranteed either.

There was a change I could win, I had assasinate (kill characters, 9 potential points here), raise the banners high (do actions on objectives to more points) etc but it would require playing on for another 30-40 minutes and even then it was relatively unlikely and I'd need to wipe Wimaro, and then get lucky with orders to get my men up the table.


All in all! great fun, 9th is a bit confusing at times, the rulebook is unclear about a lot of stuff and being to eager to just play meant glossing over stuff. Either way - great fun and looking forward to the next game. I continue my tradition of ALWAYS losing the first game of a new edition - A proud feat I've managed since 2nd... good times!








Thursday, February 13, 2020

Emerian Escalation - The Campaign Continues!

The Hive world of Emeria is a young hive world on the eastern fringe. It's great cities are surrounded by blasted, polluted ruins. They are dangerous places full of bandits, smugglers and strange creatures. The rest of the planet is largely wild forests, deep rocky canyons and jagged snowy mountain ranges. It is a place of superstition, mystery and rumours. There's talk of ancient temples, strange sightings and bizarre events. Recently, the smuggler hamlet of Goldun outside Hive Vivus has been mysteriously abandoned. It's inhabitants gone - The patrol sent to investigate it barely survived their encounter with strange ghostly aliens. 
------------------------------------------------------

So! Here we are again, a new battle, slightly larger than last time, 750 pts! We'd be playing 'Cut off the Head' scenario where 3 characters are of vital importance. At the each turn after turn 3 you get 1 point for each surviving character, and 1 more point if that character is within the central objective, a communications array!

Wimaro's Harlequins:
3 Starweavers, each with 5 harlequins, some with fusion pistols, some with regular shurikens.
Lead by two 2 troup leaders and one dangerous Solitaire!

Rottimus' Guard:

Inquistor Drayk (Eisenhorn)
Colonel Chungus (Nork Deddog)
Shivaxi-01 (Counts as daemonhost Cherubael) (Eisenhorn can create a T6, S6, W6, 5A beast of a daemonhost - I thought it would be cool that an radical inquisitor somehow managed to enslave a Broodlord Genestealer for his own nefarious needs)

Two company commanders (Al-Faris & Hortin)
3x 10 man squads of guardsmen with heavy bolters, grenade launchers
2x 10 man squads of guardsmen with a flamer each
A plasma wielding veteran squad
A special weapons team with 2 flamers and a demo charge
2 Chimeras
1 squad of mortars

Dig in and wait!

Inquisitor Drayk peered out into the misty morning. They'd made good time getting here. The ancient eldar array in the distance was humming with activity. Drayk could feel it, his psychic mind reaching out hearing the strange vibrations emanting from it. It was otherwise unnervingly still... the sillouttes of the abandoned buildings slowly being lit by the coming dawn. The air was fresh and crisp. Captain Hortin of the local PDF was behind him, twitching nervously. 'My lord, we should move out and dig in around the objective, Tactica Imperialis states that in the event of...' A curt wave from Drayk silenced Hortin immediately.
'We wait! Dig in here... they will come to us.' Drayk's gravelly voice unnerved Hortin. He spoke with such surety. The inquisitor had arrived only days ago, bringing with him some famed Al-Kurdush Irregulars from the Helion System. These auxiliaries had made a name for themselves fighting alongside the Black Scorpions Space Marine Chapter. Hortin was in awe. A giant Ogryn by the name of Colonel Chungus also accompanied Drayk. Hortin was unsure if he was actually a Colonel but salute the towering creature anyway. A tall, tanned man named Faris commanded the irregulars. He stood patiently waiting amongst his men. Hortin was terrified. Drayk seemed unwilling to move out from their position and Hortin had seen the 'Bloodied 8' as they were called, men who had engaged this enemy before. Almost the entire platoon had been wiped out in minutes. He prayed to the Emperor that Drayk knew what he was doing.


The reavers cometh!
Turn 1

I deployed first and went first. I made sure to keep my force concentrated. Harlequins can pretty much go wherever they want so I had to make sure there were no gaps in my lines. Flip-belting Solitaires could too easily assassinate my characters!

My mortars fired and did nothing due to needing 6's to hit because of a crafty stratagem - and that was all that was in range.

Wimaro pondered the situation, the goal was to survive and score points in the centre, but right now, he was out of range of everything I had. We could let the turns go by and basically wait it out but Wimaro decided to make the first move, moving forward into the centre and opening up with his shuriken cannons in an attempt to get First Strike. He mowed down a whole bunch of men but didn't manage to wipe the squad. I used a CP to 'Take Cover!' to gain some 3+ cover saves which helped.

Bold move!
Drayk waited. He could feel them closing in. He saw that horrible blur, he'd seen it before and it filled him with dread. He shouted as loud as he could. 'Incoming! Take Cover!, down down down!'
The air was filled with razors, slicing through the lines. Men screamed and blood flowed. Drayk cocked his bolt pistol.... they'd be among them in moments.





Turn 2

Wimaro had gambled and it hadn't paid off. He was now in front of an Imperial Guard gunline. I opened up with everything I had. I was using Cadian rules - Captain Horten had 'The Laurels of Command' Meaning on a 4+ I can give a unit an extra free order, He also had the Cadian Warlord trait meaning everytime I gave an order, I can roll a 4+ to let that order spread to a nearby unit. Basically meaning I can stack orders and really buff my men. Anyway, I brought down a Starweaver and then mortared the occupants killing 4 harlequins... not great.

Wimaro continued his agressive strategy, he moved a starweaver forward into my lines and unloaded his Warlord Troupe Master, The solitair also disembarked and flipped deep into my lines. Wimaro went right for the head - and engaged both my company commanders - He had to stop those orders.

His shooting took out a chimera and some more men here and there but the assault was were it was at. The Solitaire flat out MURDERED Hortin instantly. Slay the Warlord The Troupe Master however engaged Faris, my other commander. I saved lots of 5+ invul saves! and he took only 1 wound! Wimaro cursed his luck!

Hortin was panting, they were too fast, the chattering of autoguns and heavy bolters filled the air. Agonising screams intermingled with Faris' booming voice. A figure blurred in front of him. He barely had a chance to register it before a hot searing pain overcame him. Hortin doubled over and fell forwards into a pile of his own intestines, his face slammed into the hard ground, he tried to break his fall but bloody stumps were all that was left of his arms.... darkness took him. 



Turn 3

Ok! So Wimaro was in my lines, I had to fight back with everything I had. I disembarked my Plasma veterans, and generally just made some space to move around. My shooting managed to take down the Starweavers and a few more harlequins.

I had to get rid of the solitaire. I shot at it, a threw a 'Grenadiers' Stratagem at him, (10 frag grenades), lasguns, flamers... everything! He TANKED the fire. I think I managed to take 2 wounds off him in total.

I'd had to finish him off in close combat. Colonel Chungus, Drayk and..... SHIVAXI-01 was revealed. A mind controlled captured Broodlord! They all attacked the solitaire and did BUGGER ALL. Again Wimaro rolled an ungodly amount of 3+ invul saves.

The Troupe Master faired badly against Faris who managed to save 2 wounds with his 5+ invul. Faris was proving to be legendary. He even took a wound off the Troupe Master.

The Solitaire, Surrounded!
Wimaro then fought back with the solitaire and killed Drayk, which in turn means Shivaxi-01 stops functioning... UGH! Another intel character down too. Only Colonel Chungus remained.

Wimaro had 1pt for slay the warlord, at the end of this turn he'd score 3 points for having 3 intel characters alive and I only had 1 intel character left, Colonel Chungus...If Chungus died I'd lose. This mission doesn't have 'tabling' so even I wiped out Wimari I'd lose on victory pts 4-1, maybe 4-2 if I got linebreaker.... a dire position!

Wimaro used his Troupe Master to flip out of combat with Faris and engage Chungus along with the Solitaire. Wimaro then uttered the famous last words 'I might actually win a game finally!' With a BIG smile on his face.... oh the hubris! the HUBRIS!



Colonel Chungus cried out with rage! Drayk had been run through and was lying on the ground, severely wounded. The two Eldar dancing about with impossible speed. Chungs reached out instinctively and grasped the Troupe Master by the throat. Chunguss reared back and then with all his might headbutted the master with a thunderous force shattering the Eldar's skull. In a rage Chungus swung his giant knife around wildly cutting the solitaire in half in a bloody spray. Panting, his picked up the limp body of Drayk and ran towards the Chimera. 

It was my turn to TANK. The solitaire and the Troupemaster only managed to take off 1 single wound. Chungus then headbutted the troupemaster to death! (Slay the Warlord) then shanked the solitaire to death with a huge knife. What a turn around! Wimaro had gone from sure victory to now total defeat.

The score was 3 to Wimaro (slay the warlord, +1 for intel character and +1 for being by the objective)

I had 2, Slay the warlord and +1 for intel character

BUT he had 4 harlequins left and 1 troupemaster by the objective... about 40 guardsmen and a chimera remained, more than enough to kill them and then Chungus could go get the objective.

The end score would be 5-4 to the Guardsmen! Without a hope of winning Wimaro conceded the remaining Harlequins withdrew into the darkness to fight another day.


VICTORY!

Conclusion:

Great game - Aggressive play from Wimaro that almost won him the game. He took 'Cut off the Head' very to heart and put everything into killing my characters. Colonel Chungus saved the day but just being tough.

Interesting development for the campaign and yet again the Mon'Keigh interrupt the Harlequins as of yet unknown plans.

Inquisitor Drayk will be back after having been laid low by the blades of the harlequins.











Friday, January 17, 2020

Back in Business, New Campaign, New Challenges and New Battle!

Will make this bit quick - Had a baby, stopped playing/painting, moved house, got a car and got busy being a family man #guile. 10 000 diapers later here I am, ready to pick up the hobby again with the little snippets of free time I have.

Started off small. 500 points against Wimaro (check out his awesome stuff here: https://www.instagram.com/craftworldeldar/?hl=en)

The plan is to play small games and build a narrative campaign organically from what happens in the games.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
500 points -
Eternal War - 4 objectives
Harlequins vs Imperial Guard
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Captain Kolt and Commissar Gneist paced back and forth. The 42 men of 1st Platoon, Echo Company stood at attention. Their uniforms immaculate and weapons shiny and ready for action. It had taken months but slowly the Korgen Planetary Defence Force had started to take shape. Korgen had enjoyed the protection of the Black Scorpions Space marine chapter for decades. Pirates, aliens and opportunists alike knew to stay away. Decades of relative peace had led to productivity and prosperity but severe neglect of the armed forces. Lazy commanders, unfit men, poor equipment maintenance and bad discipline all round. Kolt and Gneist were one of many teams sent here to batter them into shape. Orders from on high. All systems prepare for all out war. Kolt pondered his orders. Nobody knew why or what was coming, but he'd knew better than to question a strategy coming directly from a Chapter Master. Kolt silenced his worries. Today was the day! A baptism of fire for these men. Gangers had been reported to be using strange forbidden weaponry in the skirmishes outside the city. Search, investigate, eliminate and report back. The men piled into their chimeras and moved out through the gate.





 The chimeras trundled for hours along the desolate outskirts of the hive. The old hab-blocks and factories crumbling into dust from decades of caustic rain and howling winds. Only gangers, criminals, smugglers and outcast mutants eked a painful miserable existence out here. Kolt glanced over at the scarred, gnarled face of Commissar Gneist. 'The only familiar face on this forsaken planet' Kolt thought 'is that ugly mug'. 

The vox crackled into life, the commander of the chimera ahead reporting in. 'Captain! We're here, Goldun is empty sir, there's no one here'. Kolt jumped up, and slammed the door button lowering the ramp. He walked out into what used to be Goldun, a small hamlet that was usually bustling but it was deadly silent. No sign of the haggard merchants and ragged drunks, no music or smells of cooking. Kolt had a bad feeling. 'Mortar teams!, set up here with me, Gneist, move into the town and keep and eye open!

TURN 1

Wimaro went first, moved his two Starweavers up and out of cover, right into my face. The solitaire moved close too. 8 fusion pistols took out the first chimera with a massive explosion! the 2nd chimera was wrecked too. The shuriken cannons wiped out the two mortar squads too with devastating effect!

I fought back! The remaining chimera took down a starweaver with concentrated fire. The harlequins that bailed out were subsequently singed to death by a flamer and lasguns!



Captain Kolt watched in horror. He saw something flicker in the distance, something impossible. Strange colours and flitting movement, sparks, little beams of light obscuring something closing in. something closing in fast! Before he could thing the mortarmen in front him began to collapse into chunks of bloodied flesh. Kolt dived to the floor as thousands of shards of metal fizzed through the air. Kolt felt a wash of searing hot air blast over him as he saw the lead chimera vapourise in a gigantic explosion. Purple, black and glowing, the jumped, dived and danced across the road with impossible grace. Kolt's only consolation was a gout of flame from 2nd squad that consumed the strange beings as they screamed in pain. Kolt gathered himself and began shouting orders. 'Ambush! Disembark, Firing lines, Firing lines! Supressing fire!




Turn 2

Wimaro closed in, the final chimera exploded without trouble. Fusion pistols making quite work of the tanks. 42 men had become 25 or so in one turn. Another few died to shuriken cannon fire and close combat eliminated a squad. My men were now in deep trouble.

I fell back with my two remaining squads, and used the orders to 'Get Back in the Fight!' They turned around and unleashed lasgun fire, and flame and autocannon, taking out the last starweaver and the harlequins. All that was left now was the solitaire and the troupe master which were now wounded.



REMAINING TURNS

The turns went quickly and involved me being charged, losing men, falling back and my commander ordering them to get back in the fight. Each time I managed to do damage, rapid fire lasguns against toughness 3 is effective. The solitaire went down with a grenadiers command point. The WHOLE squad can use their grenades. 8 d6 s3 shots against one guy! I eventually killed the troupemaster, but not before he laid low my brave commander.


Kolt was proud. His newly trained men were handling themselves well. Moving under fire, laying cover fire, moving back, throwing grenades to cover their retreat. Kolt could see Gneist in their midst directing them brutal efficiency in between popping off shots with his bolt pistol. The strange figures were unearthly, bounding and leaping in and out of battle, each slash parted a head from shoulders, severed an arm or gutted a soldier. The screams were deafening but Kolt could see, the alien momentum was faltering. Before he could issue another order and black clad figure leaped over the battle. Kolt could barely react before he was run through and his arm was missing. Searing hot pain struck him and he fell to the floor. As he lay there, his life blood flowing out, his men turned around and bathed both him and the dark figure in lasgun fire. The last thing Kolt saw was a grenade roll towards him and the wounded figure. 


Gneist and the survivors retreat.

Conclusion

Victory for the Guard... but at grave cost. A mere 8 remaining men... out of 44 soldiers and 3 chimeras. The lasgun is made fun of but it works. In hind sight Wimaro should have tried to take out my commander earlier, i should have placed my mortars somewhere much safer. I also made a mistake with my mortars. They are two wounds each, I used old school rules where I though stg 6 meant instant death. So they were removed a little early.

Fun game to open our narrative, a pyhrric victory. As for Captain Kolt, I used the character death table here: https://rottimus.blogspot.com/2012/09/crusade-of-vengeance-character-death.html to see what his final fate would be: I rolled out of a 12... a 4 - BUT a -2 modifier because he died in single combat against the enemy warlord. He DEAD!

'Get up and keep moving shouted' Gneist. 'It's a two day march back to the gates and there may be more of them. Move move move!' Gneist's legs were on fire as they marched back through the wastes. Kolt's had saddened him greatly. They'd served together for almost a decade. A good man. Two of his men were dragging several of the alien bodies along with their strange equipment. These were no gangers or mere waste-dwellers. These were Eldar... of some strange creed. Gneist knew little about such things but he knew the Black Scorpions would want to know alien filth were in their midst!









Sunday, August 6, 2017

8th Edition - First Battle - Old Grudges!


So, it's been about 8 months since I last played 40k. 2016 ended with a break for everyone as combat-fatigue set in. Two long campaigns meant everyone kind of took a break and our community didn't play much. 8th edition has reinvigorated it somewhat. It was time to grab my stuff and head out into battle once more. 

The forces:

Black Scorpions (ultramarines) with Imperial Guard allies
VS
Crimson Slaughter
2000 pts

The scenario was eternal war: Secure and Control aka capture the enemy base.


Rik had fewer units so the force of chaos went first! Firing off some melta shots they stripped 2 wounds off Chronus' tank. The heavily damaged city meant it was hard to get clean shots off at things.


The Scorpions opened fire! The leviathan dread, a contemptor mortis and two predators concentrated their fire and took down a hellbrute! Damn they are tough in 8th edition. 1st Blood! (1)


Rik brought in two 10 man squads of raptors and a lord with a jump pack. They slammed down in my back lines, melta guns ready. They quickly vaporised two ogryns. The raptors then charged 5 space marines near the ogryns. The weight of attacks was simply too much and the 5 man squad was wiped out. The lord however, was now out in the open... not engaged in a close combat and dangerously vulnerable.

 The Scorpions fired back, killing 10 cultists. With Kharn in the open, the two dreadnoughts focussed fire on him and brough him down with large calibre shells. The lord in the open stood till, a missile launcher took aim....

Trooper Clayn peered through his scope. The daemonic warlord was shouting at his fellow raptors, barking orders and obscenities. Clayn thumbed the targetter, the reticle stabilised on the daemonic form of the lord. A beep and the krak missile was primed. With a blast and thump the missile streaked down from the bastion. Clayn's vision was obsured by the smoke trail. The loud explosion sent chunks of red gore high into the sky. A blood soaked crater was all that remained. Clayn picked up a sharp piece of debris and scrath another notch into his trusty missile launcher. 

Rik's warlord failed his invul save and took 5 wounds! Killing him instantly. Slay the Warlord! (1)
Rik would later admit that this was a tactical blunder. In 7th characters followed units, now they're separate. Keeping him at the back meant that he wasn't able to charge the marines and was thus left alone after the raptors charged away.

Turn 3 saw Rik move forward with purpose. He finished off a predator with Hellbrute autocannon fire and took a 7 wounds off the Vulture Gunship with accurate fire. He was doing damage but his assault gamble was crumbling slightly.

BZZZZZT!!
 Shooting was again effective. The dreads at the back turn around and hammered the second raptor squad. In the assault phase the leviathan and ironclad wiped out the 10 man raptor squad. The ogryns, eager for blood also wiped the other 10 man squad. Strength 7, -1 ap, 2 damage brute mauls are simply nasty. Ogryns are beasts in close combat!

The Leviathan cometh!

 Rik's assault had floundered as the 2 raptor squads were wiped. His second wave of chaos marines quickly took up the assault again. The ogryns however, were proving a tough nut to crack.

 

 Rik's Forgefiend took aim at the guardsmen in my base. He was getting dangerously close to taking it. It fried 4 guardsmen. The commissar made sure they didn't run however.


The Ogryns ended up finishing off the squad of chaos marines in brutal fashion. Slabshields and Brute mauls are simply a deadly combo. Multiple wound shooting is required to get rid of them. Or power fists.

In the final round of shooting my predator, leviathan and Mortis dreadnought killed the last hellbrute.


  
Conclusion

At this point Rik conceded the game as he had a dark apostle and 9 men guarding his base of operations. I'd scored Slay the warlord and first blood. If we kept playing it was probably that I'd get linebreaker too or even table him.

Victory for the Black Scorpions!

8th edition is good. Very good. There are plenty of annoying things that don't quite make sense but overall its so much easier to play. Everything has basic stats. Cover is simple. Fighting and shooting is simple. There are a lot of rules that are now gone. No armour facings, no firing arcs, no blast templates. It means your movement is much simple and easier to do.

The key to 8th will be shielding your units from whatever unit counters that unit. I.e Terminators and multi wound models will die like bitches to spawn (they deal 2 damage per wound)

The key to today's victory was Rik gambling with his assault. It was a bold move but in the end there wasn't enough of them to make the dent he'd hoped. Vehicles and dreadnoughts are CRAZY resilient. The Leviathan siege dreadnought is a complete beast....

Squad of the match: Ogryns/bullgryns. They are just tanks! They slaughtered the raptors, then slaughtered the chaos marine squad. Love em'

Thanks for Rik for a great introduction to 8th  
 

Thursday, December 22, 2016

Zherno'gore - Wielder of the Divine Light

Zherno'gore, the foremost acolyte of Stokahn Hammerhand has quickly established himself as a powerful force in the Scorpion Legion. His perfect control of pyromancy has already led to a fearsome reputation. Under the tutelage of both Hammerhand and Cylander he has become a terrifying psychological force on the battlefield, instilling fear and terror as he swoops in from the sky. With the flick of his wrist he can burn an entire field to ash or reduce a tank to a cinder. Those who have served along side him can attest to his fiery mood and vicious temper, a strange departure from the stoic, controlled demeanor most librarians must adopt to resist the temptations of the warp.


Conversion by Rottimus, Paintjob by Wimaro!

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Come the Apocalypse - Faustian Schism



The black ship slid silently through the void. All lights dulled and all systems in low power. Stealth was of utmost concern. This area was crawling with enemy filth. The scout mission was tedious affair but vital. Captain Gall had very clear orders from Azeron. 'Monitor, listen, report'. Gall's thoughts were interrupted by an orderly carrying a data slate. 'Sir! We have something' Gall plugged the data slate into his captain's chair and brought up in the information. The signal was bad and fading.
'Run it!' shouted Gall. Hulking black armoured marines, the bridge guard, stood silent like statues behind him until the information flashed across the screen.

One immediately leapt forward and began analysing the signal 'Captain! It's Brother Cyrus' ID code! Open communications to Azeron immediately! We must make landfall on that location.’

Augers had revealed no immediate threat, so drop pods had been deemed wasteful by the techpriest. Twin Thunderhawks slid through the atmosphere like arrows cast into the morning mist. Black bodkins against miserable skies.

The first Thunderhawk, simply adorned and lacking the plethora of gilding and oaths of moment many other Astartes chapters preferred landed on the blasted rock. The planet segment, as it was best described lacked a true ecosystem, its atmosphere was little more than the movement of moisture. Thunder rumbled in the distance as the ramp slammed down casting dark dust into the air. The lack of heavier gravity made the motes of grey powder float, only to be disrupted by Gall walking through.

A Marine with an Auspex pointed the way, over a serrated crest of rocks. The second Thunderhawk roared overhead, remaining on station and circling the area for threats.

As Gall blazed over the hill, he brought up his pistol. Ahead, in the centre of what seemed to be a crater the size of a loading bay, stood a tall figure beside a crouching one.

Lamp packs engaged illuminating the shadows. The crouching figure was large enough to be an Astartes, though it’s armour was blackened, still showing the signs of mk7 pattern and a briefest flash of a red scorpion on the pauldron. The Marine was a Black Scorpion, Brother Cyrus if his beacon was to be believed. He was last seen entering the Necrontyr Duat, denying the enemy great gains and sacrificing himself to an unknown fate. Brother Cyrus, did not move. Though vapors from his vox grill showed life.

The taller figure standing by Cryus spoke:“Pax, Brothers.” the figure said, the words harsh sounding and strange coming from such a demonic figure. “I am Chapter Master Sevastus Kranon, of the former Crimson Sabres.” Red armoured and gilded with dirty metals, the horns and baleful helm lens’ had Gall’s team aiming at his head in seconds. A Traitor Marine!

“AUSPEX?” Gall barked.

“He is alone, my Lord.” Came the reply.

A dozen laser dot’s decorated the Chaos Lord’s helms as the entire squad held aim. Kranon had not been encountered in the Chapters history, yet his reputation was well known.

“Wait!” Shouted the Auspex bearer. “Augers detect several detonators in the area. Radiation too.”

“Twelve Deliverance pattern torpedos. I had them fired into the planetoid. Remote detonation.” Kranon said, shrugging. “One cannot be too careful.”

Commander Gall growled.

“Explain to me why I shouldn’t sacrifice all here to be sure of your death.” Gall asked. His anger at the trap was bordering on rage. His gauntleted fingers itched to fire.

Kranon was silent for a second. “The Codex Astartes? Axiom 12, regarding the sacrifice of troops: Weigh heavily on the value of the deaths of thy own forces when their deaths are required to accomplish the mission. Regard not just their singular worth bu-”

“-But also what they may yet accomplish if not sacrificed there and then. I know the line well, Traitor.” Gall interrupted.

Kranon cocked his head to one side. “Guilliman was untouchable a tactician, but questionable as an author.”

Gall’s fist clenched around his bolt pistols grip so hard he could feel the soft recoil-reduction skin peeling away. “Are you only here to insult primarchs?”

“No, indeed not.” Kranon said. He motioned to the crouching Brother Cyrus. “Firstly, I come offering a gift. Yours I believe? We found him, believe it or not, on the other end of the galaxy. I figured he might come in handy, but to see your heraldry. Well, it almost makes me want to believe in the benevolence of gods again.” He chuckled bitterly.

The commander breathed out slowly. “A trick. As everything you offer or say will be, Traitor.”

Kranon feigned offence “Can’t we just get along? Our paths are closer than you think after all, I would go so far as to say the only difference between thee and me is but one. Bad. Day.”
“SILENCE” Gall roared. “I know your history, traitor. The Crimson Sabres were once known for their fealty. But now, twisted, cursed and damned. All you think about is Slaugh-”

“Survival.” Kranon said, cutting him off. The word cutting through Gall’s hate with its sincerity. It sounded, despite the best efforts of the Chaos Lord’s helm, sad. “You don’t yet know what it is to fall. It is a quiet thing. Subtle and slow.”

Kranon turned to Brother Cyrus’ form. “He was found like this. In a Sus-an induced coma. You may find hexagrammic wards chiseled into his armour. This was a… courtesy. Our ship is known to corrupt.”

He gestured away from the scene. “Walk with me, commander, if you dare.”

Grunting, Gall followed the Chaos Lord. “Take him and begin examination.” He said to his men.

Pacing slowly across the dust, the two astartes, one fallen, one true, stomped tread marks into the ground as their cloaks flapped lazily in the low-g wind.

Suddenly Kranon stopped. “The 13th Crusade of Abaddon begins, within this very year. Abaddon seeks to end all things.” he said. “He has sent us to examine the goings on of the Emperors children. I know you are doing much the same but have better resources. I would have your findings. And in return, I will give you what I know of Abaddons intentions to your area of space.”

Gall almost laughed. “An interesting proposition, yet you betray and backstab even your new lords. What trust is left? You deserve nothing less than death a thousand times over. And why only our home? If it is a crusade you speak of, why not the plans against Terra?”

Kranon turned to face the loyalist. Archaic armour against Gall’s smooth. “Because like us, the Black Scorpions are survivors. We both know the Imperium is in its final days and when she turns on you, and she will, then you will be ready. Humanity before the Imperium, yes?. I know things my brother. I know of you and your chapter, I know of your sacrifice and honour...of glory untold… yet… the Imperium moves against you. Already now I can hear them grinding into action. What will you do when the hammer falls?’’ Kranon didn’t wait for an answer. “The Crimson Sabres once tried with all their might to be the best the Imperium had. For all our loyalty and our service we were spurned and when we needed help most, betrayed.”

His words bit deep into Gall’s soul. He could feel it. For all his failures Kranon spoke the truth. Gall knew well of the exemplary and fine work of the Crimson Sabres. Their tragedy was a tale of woe, a warning to all. A message that even the finest can fall. A message that there is no reward for the faithful, for the great brothers of the Astartes. Their purpose was once to die for the Emperor, now it was to die for the Imperium. ‘Only in death does duty end’ thought Gall. The Sabres embodied that motto fully, even in their now traitorous form. Part of him admired their stubbornness...

“Your words are meaningless traitor! You spat on all that we stand for: Our sacred oaths. You, are a coward for fleeing those oaths.” Gall said,  hand idly thumbing his power weapon. He forced those treacherous thoughts away and focused at the task at hand.

Kranon’s voice was a low grumble which rose to a frustrated growl. “I long for the day all your kind see your Imperium for what it truly is: An empty lighthouse. A soul furnace to vainly guide your ships in the encroaching night. The Imperium is a failing beast, dragging it’s back legs as it tries to fight on. I long for the day I see your face, screaming in horror at the truth of things. I can already see it. I can see your doubt… I can TASTE IT!”

Gall drew his sword in a blue sparking arc, ready to lunge. Kranon put his hand up, revealing the detonator and its dead man’s switch. ‘Careful now Captain… let us calm ourselves. We have vital information, you have vital information… let us make this simple exchange and we can save our war for another day’

A voice shouted into Kranon’s ear. “My Lord, long range augers detecting Xenos ships, Eldar pattern. Unmistakeable. They've detected us!” Kranon nodded, trying to control his breathing. He wasn’t hearing just one voice in his ear, but several now. Whispers of anguish and vengeance which would be soon a crescendo of malice driving him to unspeakable acts of mindless slaughter. He needed a fresh kill to regain his calm. The sweet souls of dying eldar would quench his thirst….for now’

He turned to Commander Gall, and noted his ship was most likely giving him similar information. The two figures immediately put distance between each other and backed away, weapons raised.

“Let us conclude this conversation another time, Commander.’ Kranon sneered. ‘The Eldar have come for us both! Let us see if your reputation is deserved!”

Gall turned swiftly and began barking orders. ‘This is Gall, Request immediate reinforcements on my position. Squads form up on the right flank, defence pattern Zulu-88. That Crimson traitor filth will be on us at the first opportunity! Dig in!'


 Metres away in the other direction, Kranon was already snapping out orders as well. “Bring up the Aegis, prepare for counter attack. The second we have the information we need, make corpses of those Scorpion meeklings. But first. The Eldar.”

Monday, October 31, 2016

The Battle of Ira


Azeron watched carefully as the drop pods streaked down through the thin atmosphere. Each streak an omen of ill tidings for whoever was looking up into the sky that night. 'We are coming' hissed Azeron. The battlefield holoview showed a large force. The misguided forces of that arrogant and foolish Krieg general were converging on something. Readings were strange but it was an item of some power indeed. Azeron had despatched Zaitus Meks, his best field commander, along with a conclave of immense power. Stokahn Hammerhand and his finest disciples would be landing in the heart of their forces. He would tear the heart out of the enemy. Despite all his confidence there was still a feeling doubt. Azeron paced back and forth. Chaplain Siobar, once his mentor, had fallen. The pious and rousing Chaplain had seen fit to condemn the entire chapter to heresy. He had thrown his lot in with these brigands, these false prophets. Azeron's world was shaken... how could a once proud marine like Siobar fall? What would cause him to abandon his brothers so callously? Azeron composed himself. He was about to broadcast his orders to the assaulting force.

'Brothers! Siobar has claimed we have abandoned the Codex Astartes. He claims we have fallen from the Emperor's light. He claims we have embraced dark forces! He... He who fights with the False Prophet. He who fights with preacher touched by the dark gods! It is time to erase this fool from existence! We fight with honour, we fight for the light and we fight for glory! Leave none of these heretics alive! Bring me the head of the traitor Siobar!'

pict 7b 116 - Plains of Ira - orbit 77b
Captain Harkol was viewing the battle through his scope. Vast explosions and thunderous fire echoed out over the ruined city. On his left a super heavy tank of some kind went critical. He was temporarily blinded by the white-hot flash. Debris launched hundreds of metres into the sky. The shockwave must have lifted the chimera off the ground. Harkol felt his bones rattle. Harkol couldn't help but feel the Scorpions had made a tactical error. Charging head-long into the teeth of these misguided guardsmen was a fools errand. Beset by revenge, Azeron had abandoned tactical doctrine thought Harkol. It was chaotic. oOders and comms came in at an impossible rate. All harkol could do was relay co-ordinates as calmy as possible. His artillery crews were well trained. The quad guns chattered away sending artillery shots far into the distance. With each barrage the battle field cacaphony was lessening. They were hitting their targets. It was going to be a long day. 



Hammerhand sat still in the ruined command post, his hands slick with dark blood. The torn corpses of his enemy lay strewn about. The thudd of  single bolter shots rang out sporadically as his remaining marines dispatched the wounded survivors. Hammerhand gazed into the palms of his hands, He could see his reflection in the slick red blood. His terrifying visage was something to behold. 'Has it really come to this he thought' as he looked around at the guardsmen he'd slaughtered.  He thought of the False Prophet, that priest who had caused so much chaos with only his words. It wasn't guilt or regret. Just sadness... a tragedy. He had personally vanquished Siobar, his old friend, with a burst of pure psychic energy so powerful it ravaged the very fabric of space. There were still a number of traitor Scorpions that had escaped. One of them would no doubt take up the mantle. This wasn't over yet.

His thoughts were interrupted by the hulking terminators of the 1st Cohort. They were carrying a huge golden blade, the very thing the Krieg were after. It had been exposed by the winds. Strange voices called out to any who passed it. A strange item indeed thought Hammerhand. He wrapped his bloodied hands around the handle and held it aloft, inspecting the keen edge of the might sword. The blood on his hands seemed to be absorbed into the handle. Hammerhand felt something, pride, strength....power! Hammerhand heard the voice that had plagued him for months. 'yessss...yessss.... now we can finally begin' He silenced the voice. It was but a nuisance. He remembered the dying words of that blue armoured warlock he disemboweled on Warren's End. He remembered the gurgling low gothic the filthy witch uttered 'Beware your fate horned one, within you... two seeds...one of darkness and one of light...what grows... you must decide'

 'My lord' said the sergeant nearby. 'We have the prisoners we need for interrogation. Enemy force neutralised. Some retreated into the valley to the east. Orders?'
Hammerhands eyes glowed brighter than usual as he gazed into the blade. 'Pursue them, leave none alive'