Battle Report – HOUSE OF GECKO

Battle Report : Mausolia Angelis – Part II

September 12, 2019September 15, 2019 Posted in Battle ReportLeave a comment

After the devastating loss for the Dark Angels in the last report, the Rout have encountered a new foe on Mausolia Angelis…

Mausolia Angelis, fiefdom of the First Legio Astartes. The Vlka Gungnir stand triumphant on the field of battle, the Dark Angels relic seized. Defensive positions are taken up as atmospheric storms render any communication other than short range VOX impossible. The First Jarl orders Jarl Sigurd Fraegr and his Great Company to scout the rest of the planet and search for further Sons of the Lion.

Sigurd leads ‘NIDHOGG’, translated into low Gothic ‘the dreaded strikers’, making up the scout and fast attack packs of the Vlka Gungnir. Famous for striking without warning deep behind enemy lines causing chaos and destruction.

What the First Jarl and the Vlka Gungnir do not know is that a transmission from an interrogator chaplain, giving his last known coordinates was intercepted by the strikeforce ‘Tears of Sanguinuis’. The Blood Angels have set up an armoured column, with assault troops in reserve at the end of an abandoned Dark Angel checkpoint… The Wolves and Blood Angels draw unwittingly close…

Appalling atmospheric conditions make anything other than intra pack communication impossible, Jarl Sigurd sends the veteran long fangs to take up firing positions. Infiltrator packs Hati and Skoll advance through the 1st Legions fortifications, hellblasters following providing fire support. The Vlka Gungnir sense something ahead, growls accompanying their advance. Scout packs on foot and bike range ahead of the main force as eliminator pack Volsung take the high ground.

Bolter fire rakes the air, the Vlka Gungnir seeping their foe through the gloom. Wolves drop, threads cut by unknown assailants. Jarl Sigurd orders the scouts further forward and streaks of lascannons lay down covering fire.

The roar of a predator smashes through the gloom, fire raining upon the Rout not from the foul Dark Angels but angels clad in blood red, the sons of Sanguinius! Howling jetpacks signal the arrival of the dreaded Death Company, blasting wolves with bolt before charging headlong into combat. They slay wolf scout pack Uvaer before charging into the mighty form of Haakon Draugar. The redemptor dreadnoughts shell impervious to any attack’s, the ancient warrior backs away keeping the savage urge to rip the enemy to shreds in check.

+++ Open fire brothers +++

His distraction allows Pack Hati to rip through the bewildered Death Company, the howl of wolves on the trail of jet packs as suppressor and inceptor packs join the fray, their firepower blasting the Death Company into the jaws of Morkai.

Reeling from the onslaught the Captain of the Tears of Sanguinus orders a general advance, the massive shape of a leviathan and redemptor dreadnought stomps past the dug in Intercessor squads. The earth shakes as they open fire, packs slain in an instant.

Long fang pack Ulfred take aim at the massive shapes approaching, first reducing the Baal predator to molten slag they then blast the redemptor into oblivion. The other packs surround Lemartes and the sanguinary priest as Haakon Draugar obliterates them in a hail of fire.

The Vlka Gungnir open fire with everything trying to stop the relentless advance of the leviathan to no avail, packs slain under a hail of fire. Finally the steady aim of the long fangs strips some of its armour as the blood angel captain orders a fighting withdrawal.

Haakon Draugar fires Into the retreating Blood Angels. The Rout stand masters of the field!

And Alan’s wolves have bested yet another defending space marine force – how much longer will this miscommunication continue? Find out in the final round, where Blood Angel and their Dark brothers come together to attempt to quell the Hunt!

Battle Report: The Lion and the Wolf – Part 1

July 22, 2019September 15, 2019 Posted in Battle ReportLeave a comment

Last month Alan and Eliot had a chance to fire up a classic rivalry on the table top – the Angels of Caliban vs the Wolves!

Orbital Search

Mausolia Angelis, fiefdom of the First Legio Astartes. Now held by the Dark Angels Chapter, vital fortress monastery guarding supply routes from forge worlds oathed to Caliban.

Strike fleet Morkai, led by the First Jarl, Bjorn, called the Fell-Handed. Leading the Vlka Gungnir, awoken to judge the primaris by Jarl Grimnar himself. Thrown from the warp requiring repairs, Mausolia Angelis, offers no replies to hails.

Scanners locate a powerful energy source, as the First Jarl orders planet fall to investigate, the Dark Angels issue dire warnings, the planet is oathed to the Sons of the Lion and is no place for the dogs of Russ.

Meanwhile on the Mausolia Angelis…

5 days. 5 more days and the Chapter Master makes leave for The Rock once again.

Interrogator-Chaplain Izkeil has been almost 2 weeks chasing rumors of Fallen activies on Mausio Angelica, and nothing. Nothing but a few weak minded Cult leaders to ‘converse’ with. The secrets held here are safe, for now.

Izkeil knows that if the word gets out as to what the first company has contained here gets out, the Chapter Master will be the least of his worries.

A flair across the sky draws Izkeils attention, and he tears himself away from the viewport of the fortress. A hail on his vox.

+ Brother-Chaplain, we have visitors. Battle stations ready, possible fallen activity. Take no prisoners +

Izkeil replaced and locked his skull plate onto his helm.

+ No secrets will leave this place Master Azrael+

It began to rain.

Taking up formation the Vlka Gungnir vector into the energy source, an ancient mechanical relic from the Age of Darkness of unknown STC provenience. As the Wolves advance to claim the relic, proximity alerts sound… the Dark Angels have revealed themselves.

+++ Hail the First Legion Astartes +++ The First Jarl orders his Wolf Guard. ‘They fail to answer hails Jarl’. The hails are finally answered as bolt, plasma and lascannon erupt from the Dark Angels lines.
+++ Engage protocols active, slay the enemies of the Allfather+++

The landraider ‘Wrath of Morkai’ surges forward towards the objective, the howls of the blood claws inside accompanying the roar of the engine. Bjorn surges forward, ancient pistons driving the mighty war machine forward, blood claws surging around the Old One, desperate to fight with the living legend who fought with the Allfather and Russ himself. Long Fangs open up with lascannon and missile, covering the advance of the Rout.

The Dark Angels respond with devastating affect, long fangs obliterated as the feared Ravenwing roar forwards. A mighty redemptor and predator supporting the assault directed by the Chapter Master himself.

Pack Hati charge from the ‘Wrath of Morkai’ hurling themselves in a berserk charge at the enemy lines. The wolf guard surge forward in support, power fists crackling in anticipation of the slaughter. A crack of energy as the mighty Arjac Rockfist arrives on the field of battle, a beastial roar as the berserk wulfen charge into the field, Azrael himself the subject of their rage.

Blistering fire overwhelms the DA redemptor dreadnought, the ancient warriors duty has come to an end.

Azrael is mortally wounded in a flurry of blows and the wulfen surge into the predator. The DA infiltrators and intercessors are cut down by chainsword and fist and the relic seems secured.

Energy cracks stun the Wolves as the dread Deathwing arrive in reinforcement. They slay long fangs with ease with ancient power weapons.

Bjorn the Fellhanded charges into the Deathwing as Intercessor pack Torvigsson rush to assist. The Ravenwing are destroyed in furious combat leaving only the Deathshroud and a last tenacious surviving Deathwing Sergeant.

With the unknown Relic claimed by the Rout, the remaining Dark Angels retreat into the darkness.

Looks like an ancient rival is rekindling!

The Reclamation of Installation 2905/19GammaZulu

July 4, 2019July 3, 2019 Posted in Battle ReportLeave a comment

It has been a while since the last report – the Geckos have been busy wargaming and hobbying! Today Matty is sharing with us his battle report from a facedown between the rotting horde of Death Guard and the heroic Deathwatch!

Graemond (Black Templars) Charges heroically at a Plague Drone

The air was thick with the smell of the warp, almost so thick one could taste it. There was no sound aside from the wail of the wind, like a banshee it howled; almost as if the air itself was dying from the plague. Beatriz knew the enemy would not be far away, and the objective seemed close. Kill Teams Graemond and Darius readied Frag Cannons, checked suit ventilation systems and boarded the Blackstar. They were the recon team, sent in to scout the area; Auspex scans had identified a small rigging platform, with fuel reserves and thermal output still showing as active.

As soon as the corvus entered the area of operation (AO) the pilots screen howled in warning as the auspex screen lit up with a horde of contacts. “Initiate Assault Drop and secure the LZ” voxed Beatriz. The machine spirit within the blackstar surged as the pilot urged it onwards, perhaps feeling the thrill of an oncoming battle. The Kill Teams were silent, they were already prepared for war, nothing left to do now but pray the combat would be substantial. The Watch Captain dropped the teams into the middle of the semi ruined installation in a daring flyby maneuver and then proceeded to engage the enemy, a sweeping gun run with autocannons booming and bolters shaking as they emptied their drum magazines. From his position, he could see the putrid and diseased forms, the shambling undead huddled around a foul monstrosity that once was a machine. However the auspex relayed a more sinister force behind this, “Master, immediate forces are small, Graemond and Darius will dispatch easily, however the Emperor demands more of us this day, sizable enemy contact will be in the installation within minutes”.

Kill Team Graemond Pours bolter shells into the Horde

The Disciples of Nurgle were if nothing, resilient. Graemond and Darius unleashed volley after volley of bolter shots with air superiority thinning the herd, but wounds that would put down mortal men, even Astartes, simply slowed the horde down. They needed to hold out until reinforcements could arrive. Then they would show these traitors what the price of straying from the Emperor’s light would be. The Shambling mass had no end, the more they killed, the more strode over their pus ridden, decaying corpses towards them. Giant demon machines that spewed filth and fired explosive rounds were detected entering the AO.

“We, We are here soldiers. The might of the Emperor. Stand firm”, the sombre voice of vetern Warrior and elite Librarian M’Batu could be heard over the vox channels. And arrive he did, along with him a sizable chunk of the deathwatch forces. M’batu appeared on a rooftop, alone, unaided and began firing his bolt pistol down into the hordes, drawing their attention away from the kill teams. The undead saw an easy kill, a single marine, no matter how skilled, that was a dead marine. “Come Forth and face judgement, be put down in the holy light of the Emperor’s wrath!” his battle cry revealed his trap. The hum in the air rose to a fever pitch and then with a flash, Mbatu was surrounded by Kill Team Thracymachus, their bolters raised and spewing death. The horde was thinned, the battle cried loud.

However, the Plague Father also sent reinforcements the poxwalkers used their own dead as steps. Clawing and moaning, they rose the building until they surrounded the Warriors, forcing them to fight off clammy hands ridden with disease, the slime beginning to corrode the ceramite of their armour.

It was late in the day, the bodies of Nurgle coating the installation in a green ooze, the smell rancid, even the super human organs of the Astartes were now no match for the infection seeping into reality. The Deathwatch held, but it was costing them dearly, and Papa Nurgle had not yet thrown his most powerful tool into the fray. With lightning bolts of green and joyous singing from the plague warriors, the warp spewed two warriors forth. Typhus, lord of contagion and bringer of despair. And Putrificus, Demon Prince of Nurgle, 749th favoured of the grandfather. The strike was co ordinated, Putrificus struck for the throat, seeking the head of the Watch Master, whilst Typhus rallied the horde and sought to dismantle the front line. Neither were prepared for the wrath to come.

With Kill Team Darius being besieged by a demonic Plague Burst Crawler, along with the Horder of Poxwalkers, the Deathwatch surged with new confidence, inspired the Watch Captain, whose battle howl could be heard even among the roar of engines, and the banging of boltguns. He charged the Crawler, wielding his thunder hammer with precision swings. Then, his greatest challenge, Typhus.

All the while, Purtificus was busy with Watch Master Beatriz. The stoic leader showed no emotion through his death mask. His eyes simply stared the foul beast back, his spear coming into guard position, with no fuss or glory, no warriors to witness the deed, He charged the creature. The Guardian Spear wielded with the grace of centuries of service, limbs moving in a ballet of cuts and thrusts. Trusting in his ancient ceramite to protect against the cursed and diseased talons that struck out to wound him, and they tried. But the 749th favoured of Nurgle would not be favoured this day, Beatriz struck truly and sent the demon back to the warp.

The Man Reaper cut the reality of fabric as it was, but the Light of the Emperor gave the old wolf Captain courage, and the pair duelled. The thunder hammer cracking as it surged with power striking the warp cursed terminator plate that Typhus wore. Again and again the pair fought, when finally and heroically, the captain struck home, a concussive strike with the Thunder hammer threw Typhus back 15 feet and knocked him on his back, looking up and seeing the wolf charge toward him, the 2nd favoured of Nurgle called the warp, and slunk away, letting the warp feed him and regain his strength. But it was enough, just.

The raging battle had seen the medivac of a number of soldiers, the few still fighting, Graemond of the Templars, Kill Team Tzuka were making headway. And the retreat of the General and the ‘slaying’ of the Demon Prince was enough. Beatriz rallied the remaining forces and sought to put down the reaming plague marines. Crucially however, they controlled enough of the facility to warrant the damned and diseased to withdraw, as traitorous and plagued as they were, tactically lacking they were not. If only for a moment on the besieged planet, The Deathwatch had won a narrow victory.

Excellent report Matty – A close victory for the Emperors servants today!

Vox for Assistance!

May 27, 2019May 27, 2019 Posted in Battle ReportLeave a comment

Watch Master Beatriz and the Deathwatch faced oblivion on Migale. The hordes of Khorne worshipping warriors held them at the precipice of annihilation. The bravery of a few saved them from that. Like the Spartans of old Terra, it was a numberless horde against the few. But salvation, as for the heroes of the Imperium, was short lived. Aboard their battle barge, on their way to Komodious Prime, Auspex scans identified a number of Chaos shipped in orbital dock around a small, agri world.. Designation…. Draco Minus. Some ships belonged to the traitor, the Despoiler, The Black Legion. Others were more easily identified; their mechanicul, now, organic form was sickly. The God of Disease, Nurgle, had sent his Warriors to this planet.

Beatriz’s thought was interrupted by a short burst of Vox traffic hitting the command deck. Somehow penetrating the required authorisations codes for acceptance:

01010011 01110100 01110010 01101111 01101110 01100111 00100000 01010000 01101111 01101001 01101110 01110100 00100000 01101100 01101111 01110011 01110100 00101110 00100000 01010001 01110101 01100101 01110011 01110100 01101111 01110010 01101001 01101111 01110101 01110011 00100000 01000001 01110011 01110011 01100101 01110100 01110011 00100000 01100001 01110100 00100000 01110010 01101001 01110011 01101011 00101110 00100000 01010100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01110000 01101100 01100001 01100111 01110101 01100101 00100000 01110011 01110000 01110010 01100101 01100001 01100100 01110011 00101110 00100000 01001001 01101101 01101101 01100101 01100100 01101001 01100001 01110100 01100101 00100000 01110010 01100101 01101001 01101110 01100110 01101111 01110010 01100011 01100101 01101101 01100101 01101110 01110100 00100000 01101001 01110011 00100000 01100100 01100101 01101101 01100001 01101110 01100100 01100101 01100100 00101110 00100000 01010000 01110010 01100001 01101001 01110011 01100101 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01001111 01101101 01101101 01101110 01101001 01110011 01110011 01100001 01101000 00100000 00100000

The coded message, translated by the small mechanicus priest aboard:

Strong Point lost. Questorious Assets at risk. The plague spreads. Immediate reinforcement is demanded. Praise the Ommnissah.

The Emperor Protects, and Watch Master Beatriz serves. Knight assets would not fall to the Plague god or to The Black Legion. Not long had the Deathwatch been out of battle. The furious assault against the Eightscarred of Khorne had taken its toll. But the Watch Master would not sit idly by, he was made for War. His battle brothers were made for War. Whether it was Xenos, Chaos, or Traitors, they were an affront to the Emperor. Kill Teams were readied. Bolters cleansed and machine spirits soothed. The fury of battle awaits those who are worthy

Battle Report: the Vlka Gungnir meet Hive Fleet Kraken

April 16, 2019April 16, 2019 Posted in Battle ReportLeave a comment

Alan has another of his battle reports for us today, with his Rout facing off against the Tyranid horde! See how he fares…

The Valhalla System, Oathed in fealty to the Allfather, the Wolf King and the Vl legion since the days of the Great Crusade. Vital industrial worlds for the supply of arms and munitions to the Chapter cut off from the light of Holy Terra. Threatened on all sides by the spawn of laughing gods.

A desperate garbled distress signal is received by the light cruiser ‘Morkaii’s Axe’, from the Imperial Governor of Valhalla.

Defenceless, weak, dammed, alone.

The silent null of the approach of the tyrannids. Ragankok nears.

The Sons of Russ appear, the lords of winter and war, the executioners, the fury and savagery of a storm, the vengeance of a galaxy wronged, the Allfathers most loyal sons.

This is the grim darkness of the 41st millennium, there is only war in the Allfather’s Domains!

Dawn of War set up with six objectives placed as per the mission ‘the Scouring’. Units are placed alternatively with the player who placed their last unit first getting the first turn, which ensured the wolves would be going first unless the initiative was ceased.

Long fangs take up position on what turns out to be the superior objective.

Blood claw pack and ferensian wolves screen the centre.

The Vlka Gungnir took defensive positions covering the back field, trying to give the long fangs and hellblasters good fire arcs. Two combat packs of infiltrators are utilised to deny any Deep striking Tyranid charges.

The Vlka Gungnir prepare to face the red tide.

The tyranids set up with a large castle as a right hook with lots of units ready to deep strike held in reserve. With the superior objective held by my long fangs and the inferior objective in the tyranids deployment zone, the wolves expected a hard fight against the lightning quick Hive Fleet Kraken.

Turn one, assets of the vlka gungnir advance, the repulsor slaying a horde of gaunts to claim first blood. Ferensian wolves screen the repulsor as the blood claws sprint into the central ruins.

The Hive Fleet prepare to devour the Vlka Gungnir! Deep striking xenos beasts of all descriptions appear with the flying Hove Tyrant and Trygon popping up as a left hook. Genestealers advance through the centre, and the remaining termagaunt brood supported by a carnifex advancing as a right hook.

Tyranid psychic and shooting turns thinned out a hellblasters pack and the ferisian wolf screen is almost obliterated! The mighty repulsor ‘Wrath of Fenris’ takes some serious punishment, but the Vlka Gungnir stand firm.

Turn two sees the long fangs frag missile the termagaunt brood down to the last few, and the repulsor obliterates the carnifex in a hail of fire. The Vlka Gungnir are feeling confident about holding the left flank and the superior objective with it.

The blood claw pack holding the centre with wolf priest Baldur the Grim fail their charges into the genestealer brood. They prepare to face their wrath and that of the Broodlord next turn. The surviving hellblasters supporting the right flank succumbe to overcharging plasma attempting to slay the trygon.

Tyranid turn two sees the genestealers charge into the bloodclaws.

The hive tyrant sweeps across the battlefield, attempting to down the Storm Hawk ‘Gungnir ‘

Safe from overwatch the Broodlord made a mighty charge into the bloodclaws only for Baldur the Grim to heroically intervene!

The Broodlord strikes first, severely wounding Baldur the Grim – however, the wolves interrupt the combat phase and fight the genestealers with the bloodclaws who in a savage frenzy slew them all!

Turn three for the Wolves saw the blood claws consolidate on the center field objective and rune priest Leif Stormbreaker charging into the Broodlord, smiting the Gould beast before summoning ‘Fury of the Wolf Spirits’ granting six additional attacks with ‘Freki and Geri’. Baldur the Grim is felled before Leif slays the Broodlord in epic combat. The storm hawk Gungnir manages to slay the hive tyrant in a hail of fire ensuring victory for the Vlka Gungnir!

A savage battle sees victory for the Vlka Gungnir, 7-5 on victory points, my opponent shaking hands after seeing his Hive Tyrant, Brood lord and genestealer brood slain. It was a close run match however, and the interruption of combat by the bloodclaws probably swung it for the Vlka Gungnir. I have no doubt they would have been slain to a man by the genestealers if they didn’t fight first.

Alan’s Post Battle Reflection

List wise it was the first time using some units, the repulsor ‘Wrath of Fenris’ was excellent on its debut, slaying a termagaunt brood for first blood and popping a carnifex to blunt the tyranid right hook. I need to utilise its transport capability better as it is a large points sink.

I have struggled with pure primaris lists so have commenced primaris sizing space wolf specific units such as the bloodclaws seen today. This provides cheaper troop choices for list building and helped with getting more bodies on the table. They did an excellent job against the genestealers and claimed the center objective. The Space Wolf chapter tactic allowing +1 to hit when charging or being charged allowed for an awful lot of hits and I would name them the MVP unit.

On the other side of the scale is probably my hellblaster packs, they are expensive points wise and with only one damage unless overcharging didn’t provide the firepower to threaten the tyranid big beasts. I will be working on primaris sized long fang packs in the near future to provide more options in that slot.

Brilliant battle report Alan, that was a close one! Looks like the Wrath of Fenris really put the work in, good floaty tank!

Battle Report: The Evacuation of Migale Prime

March 25, 2019March 24, 2019 Posted in Battle ReportLeave a comment

Today we have the pleasure of another battle report from Matty! Matty battles it out with fellow Gecko Josephs handsome Deathwatch using the gruesome Eightscarred of Khorne – an army borrowed from another Team Geckoer – Jake. Enjoy!

In the ashes that remain of Migale Prime there is little left of value to either invaders or defenders. The staunch imperials that remain exist only to survive, striking ambushes when they can. Slowly bleeding themselves dry of ammunition and blood, and hoping to take an equal toll on their enemies.

But there are those who strive to achieve more in the Emperors name. The holy warriors of the Emperor, the best of the best, The Deathwatch; they march in an effort to escape, and to warn whoever is listening of what happened here. Led by Watch Master Beatriz, they slowly fought for months through the savagery of Chaos and Tyranid invaders until finally, they reached their objective. It was nothing special to look at, the remains of an imperial fortification and generator station. However it was special in the fact that it was the tallest building left, relatively, untouched. This meant that the Astropath could call to the heavens hopefully bringing salvation and sending out a warning.

The ruined sub-sector the Deathwatch have chosen for the Emperor Praised last stand.

The advance deployment of Deathwatch, two heavily armoured Kill Teams (Kill Team Thracymachus and Kill Team Graemond) deploy in the key structure, escorting the Astropath to the very tallest floor of the Imperial ruin. The rest of their vanguard force was moments away – fortunately too. Only minutes after moving into the ruins they all heard the harrowing howls and bone shaking bestial roars that echoed across the abandoned ruins. Carrying across the chilling winds, these terrifying sounds signified the approach of the enemy.

Kill Team Graemond (front) and Kill Team Thracymachus (rear) prepare their positions for assault

The Eightscarred of Khorne, filled with violent aggression and a burning desire to spill blood for their god came running through the debris. Their furious howling gusted like a breeze, impacting every Astartes that stood defiant. There is no time to give praise to the Emperor, or to ask for his strength and protection as the Eightscarred do not stop to gloat about their superior numbers, they simply charge. In moments, both kill teams in the ruins begin firing bolters, the dull thud now competing against feral screams. A massive Heldrake swoops in from the skies, firing torrents of baleful flame and attacking with its huge predatory claws.

The Heldrake, known in Imperial circles as a ‘Hell Turkey’, swoops in amongst the ruins

A daemon prince makes a charge at Kill Team Graemond, clawing through a balcony window. Its massive talons and claws reach in and slice marines to death – but not Graemond of the Black Templars. Graemond is a warrior unrivalled in swordsmanship and he parry’s all attempted blows and strikes back, severing many of the reaching talons.

Kill Team Graemond is charged by one of Khornes most ascendant.

The Black Templar’s finest, Sword Brother Graemond, fights in solo combat against a Daemon Prince of Khorne.

In its fury, the Daemon prince does not notice the reinforcements dropping down around him. Even a deafening crash does not draw him away from Graemond. This ended up being the monsters downfall. A mighty Venerable Dreadnought slams into the earth and charges the prince. With Graemond continuing to draw attention, the Dreadnought unleashes its epic strength, ripping the daemon apart from its hind legs.

Freed from the daemons hunger, Brother Graemond rendezvoused with Watch Captain Fëanor of the Space Wolves and legendary Deathwatch Librarian, M’Batu of the Salamanders. Whilst they descend from the heavens and regrouped, a single marine goes unnoticed, his body adorned in skulls and its ceramite pasted with red blood. Kharn. His violence unrivalled. His fury unleashed. What would have been a difficult target, in a venerable dreadnought, Kharn threw aside with his endless destruction. A toy caught in the gale of Kharn’s elemental wrath.

M’batu. Fëanor. Graemond. These three names go etched into the walls of the Watch Fortress, Master Beatriz ensuring that stories would be told of their bravery. Their commitment and their Emperor-given strength. They mounted a counter charge to Kharn. Throwing themselves towards him, led by the Black Templar, the Emperor gave them strength that day. The fight was brutal – swords and axes parried, maces crunched into ceramite and bounced off chaos infused armour. In the end, Graemond and Fëanor stand tall, bloodied, but victorious.

Sword Brother Graemond leads a heroic charge with Captain Fëanor and Librarian M’Batu against Kharn

A deadly Combat ensues. The Emperors finest searching for a weakness in Kharns armour.

Back from the badlands, in the fortification, Kill Team Thracymachus had been staunchly defending the Astropath, killing the Heldrake with bolter fire and personal combat. But looking from where the Heldrake once perched, the courtyard is now teeming with Bezerkers – yet they have no fear. From the flank Kill Team Darius explode from a rhino, unleashing a hail of bolter fire. But surrounded by ruins and geothermal piping, the Bezerkers remain unfazed. Kill Team Darius eats the aggression from Khorne warriors and the Kill Team is eradicated in a tempest of chainaxes. The distraction had worked however. In righteous vengeance, Thracymachus orders his squad to reign the emperor’s justice down upon the heretics. Owing to their superior firing position, the threat is eliminated and the fallen warriors avenged.

Kill Team Darius flanks the bezerkers, to their own demise.

With the battle drawing to its close, Watch Master Beatriz moves in to clear the courtyard and ensure with certainty that the Astropath and the valiant warriors of kill team Thracymachus can secure evac. This decision turns out to be fatal, as one of khorns most feverish worshippers, The Bloody Bishop, cries a call to arms and the enormous Khorne Contemptor Dreadnought, Tar’agon the Ancient Fury, smashes its way into the area. With this glorious combat, Beatriz sacrifices himself, allowing the Imperial warriors to get a message out, calling for reinforcements to land at Draco Minus – a staging planet for Imperial survivors.

Tar’agon the Ancient Fury moves in for the kill against Watch Master Beatriz.

On this day, the Deathwatch held. Against all odds and at the end of months of fighting, the message is sent, the Astropath saved. Perhaps the Imperium has a chance at saving the Migale Dominus system yet.

Brother-Techmarine Durdeg of the Iron Ravens chapter skilfully pilots the Corvus Blackstar into position. Evacuating those who can be.

A staunch victory for the imperium – good job Joseph. Thanks for the awesome Battle report Matty – if you want to see more of the miniatures from todays BR, please check out the team profiles!

Battle Report: Black Legion v Space Wolves

March 18, 2019March 17, 2019 Posted in Battle ReportLeave a comment

Last week, Alan’s Rout faced the Black Legion – see how he fared in this weeks Battle Report! (Eternal War – Narrow the Search – 1500 points)

Yorkvik VII, recruitment world Oathed in fealty to the Allfather, the Wolf King and the Vlka Gungnir since the days of the Great Crusade. A vital world for the supply of arms, recruits and munitions to the Chapter – and now defiled by the Black Legion!

An Imperial shrine containing priceless relics is desperately coveted by the Warmaster. Baldur the Grim, High Wolf Priest of the Vlka Gungnir rallies the Rout to defend Yorkvik VII.

‘Behold the oath breakers! Reviled in all of Uppland, the Oververse and Underverse! A Warrior who spits on his arm ring is no warrior at all!

The naysayers and doom mongers say this is Ragankok, the End Times.

I laugh in the face of such claims. Are we not the sons of Mother Fenris? As children we hunted far more terrifying creatures for sport and games!

Has the Allfather abandoned us? No! A son has woken, our kinsmen of the 13th Company return and the Wolf King’s hunt nears its end.

I swear this oath, no Black Legion filth will be left alive. The Vlka Gungnir will cleanse this place or feast in the Allfathers halls.

For the Allfather, for the Wolf King, for Fenris!’

Dawn of War Deployment is rolled for and my opponent Karim decides to deploy first with him having the first turn unless I can seize the initiative.

The cultists and chaos marines deploy in the centre of the field ready to advance towards the one objective in the centre of the table. Abaddon along with his Terminator retinue and Obliterator heavy support start in reserve.

Facing the horde I place my three Intercessor packs, Aggressors, leviathan and Hellblasters, with rune and wolf priests as support. I use two CP to send the Wulfen into the reserve with the ‘Cunning of the Wolf’ stratagem. With both armies deployed, I seize the initiative!

Supported by Uhtred the Broken, pack Hafgufa advance through Yorvik VII.

First turn the Rout pushes forward, and letting rip at the chaos marines with the Intercessors and leviathan the squad is thinned out. The hellblasters and other Intercessor packs down a few more of the chaos marine and cultist squads.

The Black Legion advance towards the objective, their superior numbers ensuring they claim the objective and the accompanying victory point.

Turn two saw the Rout further advance and shred the Black Legion ranks before the arrival of the main event… the Warmaster himself, the Lord of the Black Legion, Abaddon the Despoiler!

Arriving with his terminator elite, obliterators and the rabble of cultists using ‘Tide of Traitors’, my rear is sudden under serious threat. The obliterators open fire twice upon Uhtred the Broken – thankfully the mighty leviathan takes only a few wounds, despite the doubled shooting! Leif Stormbreaker the Rune Priest takes a flesh wound from the terminators, and after turn two The Black Legion are leading 0-2.

The Rout are in desperate need of reinforcement, and it arrives in the shape of two packs of Wulfen! I deploy one to the right of the terminators and the second on my left flank to wipe out the chaos spawn and strengthen my centre. The leviathan blitz the terminator squad before charging them!

The wulfen make short work of the spawn before linking up with Baldur the Grim to take the fight to the Warmaster. With the wulfen on the table, I feel a lot more confident. However gaining enough victory points is going to be a tough act.

Its going to be tricky to overcome the Black Legion point tally with the Rout so thinned out. This is made even more difficult when one sole terminator (assisted by Death to the False Emperor) fells the mighty leviathan!

Enraged by the death of the venerable ancient Uhtred the Broken, Baldur the Grim leads pack Morkai with grim resolve and charges headlong into the Warmaster!

Following this heroic act, Baldur the Grim is slain by the Warmaster before pack Morkai rip him to pieces in their death frenzy!

After an absolute blood bath of a turn and just seven of the Rout left on the table, I shake hands with my opponent and concede – the Black Legion is victorious 1-6 with my solitary point gained from slaying the Warmaster!

As it always is when playing against a fellow Gecko, ‘fun at all costs’ is the motto. My opponent Karim assisted with advice throughout as I feel a noob playing with primaris, and battling anything other than Tyrannids! A cracking game versus a top opponent! Another world claimed for the Warmaster!

This is the Saga of Baldur the Grim, strong of will and mighty of arm. Facing a myth from times of yore, a dread beast from the Era of Primarchs made flesh. Fearless in his duty as the Sanction of the Allfather. The halls of his ancestors and brothers call as he is felled by the Talon that bested the Allfather. Until next winter.

Awesome Battle Report Alan! The Rout have been bested today but the Warmaster is a tricky opponent – can’t wait to see what they are hunting next!

Battle Report: Defence of Hive City H/90319

March 15, 2019March 15, 2019 Posted in Battle ReportLeave a comment

Today, Matt brings us a Battle Report on the recent defence of Hive City by the Imperium forces stationed there…

The cold wind sweeps across the battlements. Cpt. Ajax Norbreth of the Tempestus Scions looks out over the dreary world as rain lashed his armour. Down to his left, ranks of Imperial Guard soldiers of the Aluesian 110th Infantry stand ready in defensive positions, on his right, more ranks of weathered soldiers. Behind them were the Leman Russ tanks, like hungry predators they wait. The low grumble of engines can be heard across the ramparts. Across his vox, “Ajax, where are the seething mass?” a low voice grumbled, coming from the Command Tank ‘Aluesian Fury’. “No Idea Ironhead, usually the beasts are on time” he jested back at the senior commander. Without giving time for reply from the General came the reply that would signify the end to any joy or happiness. The feral screams and roars sounded like a hurricane approaching, and then suddenly the ground breaks open and in pours the Xenos filth. Thousands of tyranids, swarming, massing, writhing to get to their next meal. In that split second it was almost calm, and then the thunder of guns destroyed the afternoon.

Hive Fleet Kraken crashes against the Imperials like a wave into the rocks of a cove. There is no end to them, but the city needs time to evacuate key personnel. So the Imperial defence has to hold. It would have been a lot more difficult had Inquisitor Lok not sent a call to requisition the specialist Emperor’s Chosen warriors of the Deathwatch. This reinforcement increased the chances of victory… in a minuscule increment. Nonetheless, Kraken will be repelled. Like an immovable object the Imperium will hold. Must hold.

Deathwatch Veterans engages with vicious Genestealers. They fight to take the attention away from the guardsmen.

As the Battle wears on, the feral beasts of Hive Kraken pushes into Imperial lines. Sustained bombardment from hive guard tyranid beasts destroys a mighty Deathwatch Corvus. The immediate assault is swift and brutal. But now within effective weapons range, and close enough for Astartes to utilise their hulking aggression and fighting prowess, the Imperium gets to swing its mighty hammer. A valiant squad of deathwatch Veterans, led by a Black Templar begin a suicidal March into Xenos lines. Librarian M’Batu from the Salamanders chapter follows to provide much needed psychic power, known by all Aleusians for the deeds performed only weeks earlier against the foul forces of the Arch Enemy.

Librarian M’Batu gives support to the heroic Deathwatch Veterans charging into the mouth of destruction

One of the foul beasts swoops and dives into imperials lines, plucking soldiers from the ramparts.

The advance continues, it never ends. It’s almost monotonous, the constant thud of guns and the screech of alien death. But shaking from the battle, an enormous beast, identified via short range auspex scans, known as ‘Old One Eye’ comes screeching across the battlefield. The Deathwatch know no fear and stand firm in the face of an enormous tide. Their stormbolters and chainswords barking and growling as they tear aliens piece from piece.

‘Old One Eye’ crashes through the battlefield. The Veterans hold firm, relishing the challenge that is to come.

As afternoon slinks away and night takes hold. The battlefield is illuminated by fire and flash. It is clear now that the situation is increasingly perilous. The never ending wave of monstrous creatures and horde of mindless creatures shows no hope. But the Emperor’s champions need no hope. They relish the horde. A glorious death in combat awaits. For the Emperor they continue to slay and fight. Their fury unending – the death toll mounts.

Two armoured sentinels dash forward in an attempt to flame out the beasts. The Swarmlord roars and shreds them in half, leaving a mess of metal and dead guardsmen

Ratling Raus sneaks through the enemy advance and manages to launch 6 satchel charges at the beast, wounding it severely. This actions saved many lives… but alas, was not enough

The guns of the Imperium roared continuously. The thud of armour silences the skies. Shrieks and roars of alien beasts competed for their moment… and overpowered the forces of Man. In the dying stages of battle, tanks, guns, even satchel charges thrown from brave ratlings was not enough. The Hive consumes all. It leaves nothing in its wake. It just digests and then moves to the next source of biomass. The Imperium is lost in this battle. But the war, the war rages on. The Deathwatch and the Aluesians will have their chance for glory soon enough.