Raven's Fall part 1: Landing at Outpost 83Φ-1

Vigilator Vræl gazed at the unconscious Stormseer secured opposite him.  The White Scar psyker was a curiosity, albeit an exceptionally dangerous one.  The psyker had caused considerable damage on the Avis Caveum. The Stormseer seemed a potent psyker in his own right, his ferocious abilities in melee, especially when he lost control of himself were something to be seen.  Although he was far from the most skilled fighter in the Legionnes Astartes he could still devastate any foe foolish to come within reach of his Thunder Hammer.  That was not what interested him the most about this particular White Scar, what interested him the most was the devoted, almost fanatical loyalty his battle brothers had shown him.  The Bonds of brotherhood amongst the Vth were well known, but that so many of the Vth had recklessly thrown their lives away attempting to get the Stormseer off the doomed Avis Caveum was peculiar, even for the White Scars.  As the Darkwing they were in weaved its way to the surface of Deliverance Vræl pondered what this might mean for the fight ahead.

J'zargo and his Raven Guard escort Vræl and 3 Terminators

The Raven Guard:
Praetor
10 Tactical Marines
10 AssaultMarines
6 Flamer Tactical SupportMarines
Deredeo Dreadnought
Deredeo Dreadnought

The White Scars:
Chaplain
Legion Champion
7 Outriders
7 Outriders
6 Outriders
15 Assault Marines

We played the Planetfall mission from Planetstrike with a few minor modifications.  The Raven Guard got Vigilator Vræl and the surviving Terminators from Escape from the Avis Caveum game for free in a Darkwing.  The Darkwing couldn't do anything other than fly on the first turn, land the second turn and jink.  Vræl and the Terminators could only overwatch, fight in an assault and move towards the base entrance.

Outpost  83Φ-1 prior to the orbital bombardment

 The White Scars got J'zargo free but he would be escorted by Vræl and the Terminators and couldn't do anything unless his escort were in combat, then J'zargo could fight or dead in which case he acted normally.  In addition 2 stratagems were added to the Planet Strike attacker's list:
1pt Wyrm Drop:  the attacker gets one extra Planetary Bombardment.  If this extra strike hits a unit or building and there is no further effect.  If there are no models or intact models under the template place a crater as normal and add one Burrowing Wyrm to all other games in the Deliverance lost Campaign.
2pts Steel Rain: as Wyrm Drop but the attacker gets D3+1 extra Planetary Bombardments will all the rules listed above.
Burrowing Wyrms:  at the start of any game using the Burrowing Wyrms rule roll 1D6 per Burrowing Wyrm, for each roll of a 5+ add a Steel Wyrm to the White Scar's army.  If the Steel Wyrm sufferes a deepstrike mishap the Raven Guard player may automatically place it and scatter as normal.  Should the Steel Wyrm suffer a Deepstrike mishap the white scars player rolls on the mishap table as normal.  Any instance of the Burrowing Wyrm rule is removed once the associated Steel Wyrm is killed.

After the Planetary Bombardment and Raven Guard Deployment.  2 Steel Wyrms were fired into Deliverance boring their way to sow destruction throughout the moon.

 

As the White Scars speed towards Outpost  83Φ-1 the Raven Guard open fire, the two Deredeos raining a hail of fire into the Astartes of the Vth.

The Darkwing with its valuable payload comes in for a landing.

The White Scars advance under heavy fire.

Outriders rush to destroy the base's defenses before tackling the Deredeo.

The first unit of Outriders hit the Bastion but their Meltabombs fail to cause any serious damage.

The Assault Marines slam into the second Deredeo and destroy the mighty Dreadnought

The White Scars are closing in as the Darkwing lands and the passengers disembark onto the landing pad.

The Flamer Support squad counter attacks the Outriders attacking the Bastion wiping them out.

The Deredeo comes under attack from the Outriders.

The Preator and Flamer Support squad move out after being attacked by and seeing off the nest Outrider squad.

The White Scars Assault squad, who are chanting J'zargo's name close in on Vræl and the Terminators.

Only to be intercepted by the Raven Guard Praetor and the remnants of the flamer Support squad.  The White Scars Legion Champion bellows out a challenge and is swiftly outfought by the Raven Guard Praetor.

The last surviving outrider unit destroy the Deredeo and speed over towards J'zargo.

Vræl and his last surviving Terminator drag J'zargo past the assault squad as the Preator holds them up.

The Outriders close the gap.

.

The Praetor smashes aside the broken forms of the Assault marines as they hurl themselves at him in an attempt to break past and reach J'zargo

The Raven Guard Assault squad drops in trying to cut off the Outriders.

But are too late as the Outriders zoom in and with J'zargo's aid fell Vræl and the Terminator!

The victory is short lived as the Assault squad quickly lep onto the Outriders butchering them and recapturing J'zargo, although not without some losses of their own.

Victory for the Raven Guard!

Although the White Scars managed to bloody the Raven Guard's noses quite severely and even free J'zargo breifly the lack of damage from the Planetary Bomnbardment hindered their progress.  Coupled with an exceptionally strong counter attack from the Raven Guard in the form of the Praetor and flamer squad who killed 2 Outrider squads and the Assault squad.  The Raven Guard Assault squad's late game actions saved the day for the Raven Guard. 

Vræl coughed up blood and pulled himself upright.  J'zargo caught Vræl unawares as the Outriders had roared in from behind.  Taking a Thunderhammer to the chest was something few could survive, even amongst the post humans of the Legionnes Astartes.  The Curiass of his Artificer armour was all but ruined from the blow.  Ahead of him Vræl could see the Assult squad dragging the once again subdued J'zargo into Outpost 83Φ-1.  As he strode towards the entrance of the subsurface base Vræl gazed upwards.  Devastation rocked the skies above Deliverance as the two fleets tore each other to pieces and as lander after lander streaked down towards the moon.  This fight was far from over.

Armies used in the Death of Gods and Angels (part 1)

Life has had a nasty habit of getting in the way the last few days so I haven't had a chance to put up pics from our final Legendary Battle for the era.  Worry not because they will be up soon!

In the mean time here are some pics of the various armies involved on the day. I will give a rough listing of what is in each army to the best of my knowledge (I will update this if anyone chooses to point out just how wrong I am :) )

First up my Raven Guard

Vigilator Vrael
Moritat Salvador
Centurion
15 man Tactical Squad
5 man Meltagun Support Squad
6 man Flamer Support Squad
15 man Assault Squad
10 man Recon Squad
10 man Veteran Squad
Apothacary
5 man Tartaros Squad
Contemptor Dreadnought
Dreadnought Drop Pod
Deathstorm Drop Pod
Darkwing Storm Raven

Tiges' Salamanders

Cataphractii Praetor
3 man Cataphractii Command Squad
Cataphractii Primus Medicae
Praetor
2x 10 man Tactical Squad
8 man Volkite Charger Support Squad with Rhino
10 man Recon Squad with Rhino
Legion Dreadnought Talon with 3 Dreadnoughts
Rapier Laser Destroyer
Land Raider Proteus
Legion Glaive
Astropath*
*there will be more info about this later

Lord Pants' Imperial Fists

Praetor Lordenae
Librarian Borrs
2x 10 man Veteran Squads
5 man Plasma Cannon Heavy Support Squad
Legion Dreadnought

Snowman's White Scars

Librarian J'Zargo
Chaplain
20 Outriders (I'm not sure what the break up was)
2x 15 man Tactical Squads
15 man Assault Squad
5 man Autocannon Heavy Support squad
Deadpool (Vindicare Assassin)
2 Attack Bikes (not shown here as they have been handed over to Khorne's Soul Forges)

Iron Knight's Iron Hands

Praetor
Casterman Orth
Librarian
3x10 Veteran Squads
3 Apothacaries
2x Sicarian Battle Tanks
Legion Fellblade

Steelesamurai's Scions of Guilliman

Praetor
3 man Command Squad
Librarian
Master of Signal
10 man Tactical Squad with Rhion
5 man Meltagun Support Squad
10 man Veteran Squad with Rhino
5 man Cataphractii Squad
Legion Dreadnought
Rapier Laser Destroyer
3 man Sky Hunter Squad.
Predator Battle Tank
Sicarian Battle Tank

Escape from the Avis Caveum

 After the disastrous battle in the Medicae Facility the White Scars forces are forced to flee the Avis Caveum, their boarding action ultimately having been defeated.  As the remnants of the boarding parties fight their way to the Avis Caveum's launch bays Vigilator Vrael continues to stalk his foe J'zargo Khan, all the while the Strike Cruiser crumbles as it is being bombarded by the White Scars fleet.

To make this game a bit more interesting we made a custom scenario, used the space hulk tiles and used the Void War rules; specifically Exploding Terrain; Faster Run; Open to the Void and a slightly modified Passages of Death.  We also trialed a few new house rule for the Secession campaign that will be getting introduced shortly.

The Scenario:
The White Scars had to get from the entry points of the map and escape via one of the Drop Pods or the Storm Eagle.  Each Drop Pod could take up to 10 Marines whereas the Storm Eagle could hold up to 20 marines.  The White Scars also had a few objectives they could destroy to earn a few more points.
The game had no turn limit, we would continue to play until all the White Scars escaped or died.

Victory Conditions:
1VP per White Scar
2VP Legion Champion 
5VP J'zargo
2VP per objective destroyed (the red dots in the map above)

11+VP White Scars victory
6-10VP draw
5>VP Raven Guard Victory

Forces
Raven Guard [unbound]
Vigilator Vrael
10 Tactical marines
5 Terminators
10 Recon Marines
2x 5 Ship security detail (Astra Militarum veterans)
White Scars
Librarian J'zargo Khan
Legion Champion
10 Assault Marines
5 Veteran Tactical Marines

Deployment- The Raven Guard get word of the White Scars imminent arrival.

The White Scars launch their attack.  The badly injured J'zargo and his few remaining (now veteran) tactical marines in the left hand corridors.  The remnants of the White Scars reinforcements that had been sent to the Medicae Facility headed down the right side corridors.

The Recon marines and Terminators move out to deal with the interlopers, whilst the Tactical marines and Security detail try to get a clear line of fire through the twisting corridors of the ship. 

The Recon marines and the central Security Detail are quickly overwhelmed by the White Scars.  Although J'zargo's injuries seem to be affecting his psychic abilities, causing him to suffer a perils of the warp.

The Terminators once again shift their position, feeling woefully out maneuvered by their jump pack equipped enemy.   The combined fire of the Tactical squad, Terminators and Security Detail take a heavy toll on the Assault marines.

J'zargo collapses under the strain of his injuries and another perils of the Warp!  Meanwhile The Legion Champion breaks off from the Assault Squad and they both destroy the objectives in the rooms they occupy.

Vrael arrives behind the White Scars he has been stalking and begins pouring fire into the Veterans defending J'zargo.

The Tactical squad makes a risky leap between the two corridors to close on the Veterans, two of their number are lost to the void because of the maneuver.  Meanwhile the Terminators advance on the Assault Marines and the Security Detail leg it from the Legion Champion in the hope that they don't have to sell their lives dearly, or at all.

The White Scars Veterans leap across the corridors to get some distance from Vrael and the Tactical marines.  The Assault squad continues to run rings around the Terminators.  The Legion Champion heads to the Storm Eagle, blowing one of the 2 remaining Security Detail in half on the way past.

The Raven Guard forces combine their fire and annihilate the Veterans protecting the unconscious form of J'zargo.  Things are looking grim for the few remaining White Scars.  At this point the Raven Guard were expecting them to bail or possibly try destroy the last objective room.

In a display of true brotherhood the Assault marines leap in to drag J'zargo to safety!

Only to have the Terminators charge in and put them to the sword (and axe and chainfist)!

The Legion Champion stares down the Terminators before demonstrating why he earnt his title.

 

Leaping in, grabbing J'zargo and making a break for the Storm Eagle, can they make it?!?

Despite his Artificer Armour the Raven Guard's fire cuts the Legion Champion down.  Securing victory for the Raven Guard.  

The Raven Guard finally cleared the Avis Caveum of the White Scars boarding action, their victory was short lived as warning klaxons sounded.  The Raven Guard forces quickly evacuated the sinking Strike Cruiser.

   As the Raven Guard descended planet side Vrael gazed beyond the viewports of the Storm Eagle taking in the scale of the space battle between the two Legions.  He turned his gaze to his fellow warriors seated in the Storm Eagle, as they tended to their injuries and the machine spirits of their Astartes Battleplate and assorted weapons.  Vrael shifted his view until he took in the prone form of J'zargo arnchored to a bulk head.  The White Scars bonds of brotherhood were well known to run deep, but J'zargo's forces showed an almost fanatical devotion to their Librarian.  Perhaps there was more to this Librarian than there seemed?  What secrets might J'zargo yield?

Avis Caveum: Battle in the Medicae Facility

After the last battle in the Depths of the Avis Caveum J'zargo Khan lead the bloodied remnants of his White Scars in an attempt to rendezvous with other forces of the White Scars boarding party.  Managing to find a medbay J'zargo is caught unawares by various Raven Guard elements drawn together by Vigilator Vrael.  Will the White Scars be able to hold out against the Raven Guard attack in time for their reinforcements to arrive?  Find out in this exciting episode!

We used the Cities of Death rules and the Void War rules.  From the Void War rules we used the Exploding Cover (cover saves of '1' cause an extra D3 auto wounds),  Faster Run (may run 2d6" but if either dice is a '1' every model must take an armour save) and Airless Void (-1Sv to anymodel not wearing a helmet) optional rules.

 The armies were roughly:
Raven Guard (unbound):
Centurion [powerfist, plasma pistol, artificer armour]
Consul-Vigilator Vrael [power sword, artificer armour]
Apothacary
6 Tactical Support [flamers, sarge w/lighting claw]
5 Terminators [assorted weapons]
6 Seekers
5 Heavy Support [missile launchers]
Contemptor Dreadnought [heavy flamer, twin heavy bolter]
3 Techpriests [2 heavy bolter servitors each, 2 with rad grenades]
3 Terantula Sentry guns [heavy bolter, 2x lascannon]
Stratagems
Infiltrators
AmunitionStore

White Scars:
Consul-Librarian J'zargo [thunder hammer, artificer armour, biomancy]
Legion Champion [jump pack, power sword, artificer armour]
15 Tactical Marines
15 Tactical Marines
15 Assault Marines [sarge w/power sword and combat shield]
5 Outriders [sarge w/ power axe]
Attack bike [multi melta]
Callidus Assassin
Stratagems 
Medicae Facility
 Booby Traps
(there was 1 more but I forget what it was)

The mission required the White Scars to hold the western wing of the central buillding, if at the end of any White Scars turn there were no White Scars in the building and it was occupied by Raven Guard then the Raven Guard would win, otherwise victory for the Scars.

Deployment

The Raven Guard Close in on J'zargo and the Tactical squad holed up in the Medicae Facility.

The Callidus makes a run for the Centurion, and is slain for her troubles!

J'zargo's counter attack smashes into Vrael taking him out of the fight!

The Raven Guard Clear the last of the White Scars out of the Medicae Facility.

Whilst the White Scars reinforcements close in.

But it proves to be too little too late!

On the very brink of reaching the Medicae Facility the order is given for the White Scars to fall back.

Victory to the Raven Guard!

Next time on the Avis Caveum:  Although initially successful the White Scars boarding assault has been thrown into disarray.  The few survivors now must make their way back off the ship, using the Raven Guard's own vehicles!

Next time on The Ultramar Secession:  The results of the Counter Thrust Legendary Battle which we fought at Wasmex last weekend.