"...they can't have it back! You must secure it on your Battle Barge, for the sake of aliaeeeeehhhhcthk..." gutural sounds of a half-man, half-machine being eviscerated took over the vox-cast coming through from the depths of the compound. It was quickly followed by the incessant mad laughter and gloating common to the lesser demons of Tzeench known as pink horrors. The old enemy of the space wolves had followed them to this accursed place. Svund Silverclaw, a wolf guard leading his namesake scout pack – the Silverclaws – knew it only meant their mission just became more time-critical than it already was.
"Secure the artifact – he instructed his scout brothers – head to the surface as if the jaws of the world wolf were at your heels!" His squad was part of a rescue and retrieve mission on a searing hot desert planet. This mechanicus outpost was key to the entire planet as it's operation kept the moisture levels of the surface to a minimum tolerable level. The mechanicus had however lied to them, the outpost was long overrun with demons and the extraction of this xenos relic was all but the ultimate goal of the magos in directing the space wolfs here. If not only to serve as proof of the scheme, Svund knew he had to take the artifact with him, after all it seemed to be the ultimate goal of the demons invading this place to obtain it.
He was the last to leave the deeper levels to the tunnel that led to the surface – "Let's see how much you giggle about buried in, filthy demonspawn!" He detonated the melta-charges sealing in the entire complex behind. Ahead of him, his packmates were nervous about the xenos artifact – "Well they want to put their claws on this thing – he revved up his chainsord as he started to sprint up the tunnel – and we are here to stand in their way! For the allfather!"
Deployment: Ambush
Points: 500pts
Mission: Modified Ambush
Special scenario: Xenos artifact. The space wolfs win if they carry the artifact up to the Stormfang gunship until the end of the game. The demons win in any other result. Only Infantry units can carry the artifact, they may run/charge as normal.
+HQ+
Thorbin the Axesplitter (Wolf Lord): Power axe, Stormshield.
+Elite+
Wolf Scout pack Silverclaws
Svund Silverclaw (Wolf Guard): Chainsword, Combi-melta.
Pack Leader: Plasma Pistol, Chainsord.
Scout with heavy weapon: Melta-gun
3x Scouts with bolter
Wolf Scout pack Tibica
Pack Leader: Plasma Pistol, Chainsowrd.
Scout with heavy weapon: Plasma-gun
3x Scouts with bolter
+Fast attack+
Land Speeder: Multi-melta.
Land Speeder: Heavy bolter.
5x Fenrisian Wolves
+HQ+
Arisyaa, high draconne sorceress (Herald of Tzeench): Disk of Tzeench, Ritual Dagger.
+Troops+
10x Pink Horrors
10x Pink Horrors
+Elite+
The thrice named brothers
T'kat (Exalted flamer of Tzeench)
K'tat (Exalted flamer of Tzeench)
T'tak (Exalted flamer of Tzeench)
Deployment
Arisyaa, high draconne sorceress of Tzeench has set up an ambush to the small space wolf taskforce buried beneath the sand. Her illusions mask their presence until the very second the wolf scouts bring the artifact to the surface. Powerful dampening fields have prevented her spells from divinating the location of the artifact, but the wolfs have been so kind as to dig it out of the Mechanicum labyrinth. The time is now and she has seen this scenario unfold in untold visions from her master. With a graceful weave of her arms she lets the veils of illusion dissipate and allows herself a moment of pride as the humans realize the trap.
The tzeench forces are deployed in secret, only mere markers are revealed to the space wolf player, who sets up their force around the exit of the compound. Their goal is clear: carry the artifact from the entrance of the compound over to the Stormfang gunship. Since this is a 500pts game we are using a 4x4 table and everything beyond the hills just in front of the gunship itself are out of play (the actual objective is to get the artifact to touch the board edge).
Deployment
The space wolves are set-up castled in the middle of the table. They'll have to trek the whole way across the board and that will not be an easy task. They set up their two core units of scouts around the entrance with the fenrisian wolves and land speeders as shields against the spell casting certainly coming from the tzeench forces.
Turn 1 (Tzeentch)
"Secure the artifact – he instructed his scout brothers – head to the surface as if the jaws of the world wolf were at your heels!" His squad was part of a rescue and retrieve mission on a searing hot desert planet. This mechanicus outpost was key to the entire planet as it's operation kept the moisture levels of the surface to a minimum tolerable level. The mechanicus had however lied to them, the outpost was long overrun with demons and the extraction of this xenos relic was all but the ultimate goal of the magos in directing the space wolfs here. If not only to serve as proof of the scheme, Svund knew he had to take the artifact with him, after all it seemed to be the ultimate goal of the demons invading this place to obtain it.
He was the last to leave the deeper levels to the tunnel that led to the surface – "Let's see how much you giggle about buried in, filthy demonspawn!" He detonated the melta-charges sealing in the entire complex behind. Ahead of him, his packmates were nervous about the xenos artifact – "Well they want to put their claws on this thing – he revved up his chainsord as he started to sprint up the tunnel – and we are here to stand in their way! For the allfather!"
Deployment: Ambush
Points: 500pts
Mission: Modified Ambush
Special scenario: Xenos artifact. The space wolfs win if they carry the artifact up to the Stormfang gunship until the end of the game. The demons win in any other result. Only Infantry units can carry the artifact, they may run/charge as normal.
Space Wolf force
++ Outrider detachment (+1cp) +++HQ+
Thorbin the Axesplitter (Wolf Lord): Power axe, Stormshield.
+Elite+
Wolf Scout pack Silverclaws
Svund Silverclaw (Wolf Guard): Chainsword, Combi-melta.
Pack Leader: Plasma Pistol, Chainsord.
Scout with heavy weapon: Melta-gun
3x Scouts with bolter
Wolf Scout pack Tibica
Pack Leader: Plasma Pistol, Chainsowrd.
Scout with heavy weapon: Plasma-gun
3x Scouts with bolter
+Fast attack+
Land Speeder: Multi-melta.
Land Speeder: Heavy bolter.
5x Fenrisian Wolves
Demons of Tzeench Incursion
++ Vanguard Detachment (+1cp) +++HQ+
Arisyaa, high draconne sorceress (Herald of Tzeench): Disk of Tzeench, Ritual Dagger.
+Troops+
10x Pink Horrors
10x Pink Horrors
+Elite+
The thrice named brothers
T'kat (Exalted flamer of Tzeench)
K'tat (Exalted flamer of Tzeench)
T'tak (Exalted flamer of Tzeench)
Arisyaa, high draconne sorceress of Tzeench has set up an ambush to the small space wolf taskforce buried beneath the sand. Her illusions mask their presence until the very second the wolf scouts bring the artifact to the surface. Powerful dampening fields have prevented her spells from divinating the location of the artifact, but the wolfs have been so kind as to dig it out of the Mechanicum labyrinth. The time is now and she has seen this scenario unfold in untold visions from her master. With a graceful weave of her arms she lets the veils of illusion dissipate and allows herself a moment of pride as the humans realize the trap.
The tzeench forces are deployed in secret, only mere markers are revealed to the space wolf player, who sets up their force around the exit of the compound. Their goal is clear: carry the artifact from the entrance of the compound over to the Stormfang gunship. Since this is a 500pts game we are using a 4x4 table and everything beyond the hills just in front of the gunship itself are out of play (the actual objective is to get the artifact to touch the board edge).
The space wolves are set-up castled in the middle of the table. They'll have to trek the whole way across the board and that will not be an easy task. They set up their two core units of scouts around the entrance with the fenrisian wolves and land speeders as shields against the spell casting certainly coming from the tzeench forces.
Deployment
This is going to be a long trek across the board!
Deployment
The demon forces have deployed in two flanks with the two units of pink horrors in an attempt to deny a safe flank towards the evacuation gunship. The sorceress and the thrice named are placed to the south where the clearest path is. With all of them being characters it is hard for the space wolfs to get an optimal target for shooting since all the options will be splitting pink-horrors.
Deployment
The space wolves use a command point to try and steal the initiative with "The tables turned" stratagem and almost make it with a 5!
Turn 1 (Tzeentch)
The mad laughter of the pink horrors fills the air with magical energies as they advance down the hill out of the illusion that kept them secret so far. They fan out in front of their herald and the thrice named exalted flamers, shielding them with a dizzying display of impossible colors and shapes as they dance in front of the formation.
Turn 1 (Tzeentch)
Two Fenrisian wolves are smitten by the arcane powers of the sorceress, their packmate's eyes going white with terror in front of the impossible enemy. The pink horrors luckly fumble their smite attempts and don't cast any spells.
Turn 1 (Tzeentch)
The pink horrors open up with their crackling flames onto the Fenrisian wolves in an attempt to clear out the screening unit, scoring only 5 hits of their 20 shots due to having advanced this turn. Their weak strength manages a single wound and the third fenrisian wolf goes down.
Turn 1 (Tzeentch)
The thrice named open up with their blue fires of Tzeench. The stream of concentrated blue heat hit the sides of the the foremost land speeder: The drivers jink and reel the grav-thrusters in evasive maneuvers and manage to barely save the craft from exploding with a single wound left.
Turn 1 (Tzeentch)
The pink horrors on the back try to finish it off with coruscating flames and manage to make a single unsaved wound to the armored skimmer. The Space Wolves spend a command point and make a successful re-roll of the armor save.
On the morale phase one of two last Fenrisian wolves scampers off the battlefield baring his teeth with fear.
Turn 1 (Space Wolves)
The melta-gun land speeder declares a charge against the Horrors and the Herald, absorbing the overwatch and managing to charge through over them and engaging the herald in base-to-base to prevent it from making a heroic intervention towards the scouts. It manages to find a spot where it remains 1'' away from the Exalted Flamers, as declaring a charge against them means going through a wall of auto-hitting AP-1 flamers.
Turn 1 (Space Wolves)
Even with a charge distance of 3 Wolf Scout pack Silverclaws makes it into combat. Every able space wolf unit charges in as to deal the largest possible blow to the demon forces and maybe clear a path to the Gunship on later turns.
Turn 1 (Space Wolves)
The thrice named decide not to enter the fray as combat emerges in front of them, chaotic and unbound. Chainswords and large combat knifes meet teeth and claw but the space wolves charge fails to deliver significant damage, with the scouts killing but two demons and the Wolf Lord another two. The demons counter-attack is similarly weak with most of the horrors missing, mostly just scraping at armor on four successful hits and the herald missing all of its attacks against the land speeder.
Turn 1 (Space Wolves)
As expected, the demon player decides to spend 2 command points on Insane Bravery to automatically pass the morale check. Having lost 13 models the unit would most likely be wiped and the command points are well-spent.
Turn 2 (Tzeentch)
The demons shuffle around the wolf formation, with the surviving engaged horror unit falling back from combat so the space wolf units can be shot at while the northern flanking pink horror unit manages to advance 6 extra inches for an incredible 12'' advance, bringing them early into a position to cut off the space wolves escape route.
Turn 2 (Tzeentch)
Turn 4 (Tzeentch)
As the last scout falls to the horde, Arisyaa finally seizes control of the artifact.
With the scouts erradicated, the demon seize a Major Victory!
These actions are, however, cautiously observed, analyzed.
In the data-crypt of the Dakhma canoptek titan swimming in the magma tectonic currents under the planet's crust, Autharok receives a signal from T'akard, the deathmark.
"It is of no consequence – he communicates to the other overlords gathered here – our plans for this sector continue."
Turn 1 (Space Wolves)
The space wolves have endured the demon initiative but the illusion spell cast by Arisyaa has vanished and they prepare their counter. The speeders dart around trying to find a vector into the special demons in the back, but the pink horror screen is too tight and they fail to find an opening.
Turn 1 (Space Wolves)
The Wolf Lord in charge of the mission, Thorbin the Axesplitter, commands all to concentrate their efforts in the jabbering and giggling mass of horrors in fron of them. Bolter fire crackles the air in a thunderous storm, broken by the hissing sound of melta-beams and plasma volleys into the demon ranks, wrath of the emperor incarnate!
Turn 1 (Space Wolves)
Colored shapes are torn apart, explode in cascades of coruscating gore in a display of magical chaotic energy. Ranks upon ranks of demons fall, but every felled pink horror splits into two smaller, blue horrors that in turn split into a pair of mischievous brimstone horrors. The demon players burns through his spare summon points but the effect is that despite felling 9 demons on the shooting phase the horde is none diminished, and the wall of bodies remains. This will have to be sorted out in close combat!
The melta-gun land speeder declares a charge against the Horrors and the Herald, absorbing the overwatch and managing to charge through over them and engaging the herald in base-to-base to prevent it from making a heroic intervention towards the scouts. It manages to find a spot where it remains 1'' away from the Exalted Flamers, as declaring a charge against them means going through a wall of auto-hitting AP-1 flamers.
Even with a charge distance of 3 Wolf Scout pack Silverclaws makes it into combat. Every able space wolf unit charges in as to deal the largest possible blow to the demon forces and maybe clear a path to the Gunship on later turns.
The thrice named decide not to enter the fray as combat emerges in front of them, chaotic and unbound. Chainswords and large combat knifes meet teeth and claw but the space wolves charge fails to deliver significant damage, with the scouts killing but two demons and the Wolf Lord another two. The demons counter-attack is similarly weak with most of the horrors missing, mostly just scraping at armor on four successful hits and the herald missing all of its attacks against the land speeder.
As expected, the demon player decides to spend 2 command points on Insane Bravery to automatically pass the morale check. Having lost 13 models the unit would most likely be wiped and the command points are well-spent.
The demons shuffle around the wolf formation, with the surviving engaged horror unit falling back from combat so the space wolf units can be shot at while the northern flanking pink horror unit manages to advance 6 extra inches for an incredible 12'' advance, bringing them early into a position to cut off the space wolves escape route.
The fresh pink horror unit manages to manifest Smite and deals 2 mortal wounds to the scout pack carrying the artifact.
Turn 2 (Tzeentch)
The last fenrisian wolf throws itself in front of the high draconne sorceress as she is casting her spells. The wolf falls onto the sand with one last howl, knowing that it did protect its pack from this fearsome foe.
Turn 2 (Tzeentch)
Finally within range, T'kat, K'tat and T'tak unleash the pink torrents of flame on the rear of the Land Speeders, the crafts crash and burn to the ground in a fiery display, their engines, pilots and hull melded and distorted in twisted shapes that pleased the three twins.
Turn 2 (Tzeentch)
Pleasant with the destruction of the Land Speeders, K'tat proposes a game to his siblings: that they charge into combat and see who can flay the most space marines with their flame whips. T'kat is the first one to attack, but his plan is spoiled by attacking the wolf lord who's Storm Shield easily absorbs all strikes from the demon.
Turn 2 (Tzeentch)
The space wolf player does not appreciate the mockery and spends his last two command points to mount a counter-offensive with the Silverclaws.
Turn 2 (Tzeentch)
Svund Silverclaw and his scouts hit with 6 of their attacks and deal 4 wounds to K'tat, who saves 1 of them on his ethereal form. Despite fighting with fury and honor, the scouts failed to fell the beast before it could retaliate.
Turn 2 (Tzeentch)
The final tally was that that T'tak won by being the only of the demons to slay two scouts, reducing the unit to Svund, the pack leader and a single member fighting for their lives.
Turn 2 (Space Wolves)
With not much to do Scout pack Tibica picks up the artifact and moves in to the front, shooting and killing two Pink Horrors on the reserve unit in the back. At this point, the demon player has run out of spare points for splitting so the torrent of horrors starts to dwindle as they are no more replaced by their lesser forms.
Turn 2 (Space Wolves)
The first real casualty for the demons comes when the scouts open fire with their pistols on K'tat, who was already wounded from the previous round of combat. The demon was brought low by an overcharged plasma pistol shot from the Pack Leader who dealt the final 2 damage needed to take it down.
Turn 2 (Space Wolves)
Howling at the sight of the fallen demon, the other scout pack charges in and lands all of its attacks on T'tak. Not even the ephemeral form of the demon could hold off against their fury, and the thrice Brothers are no more. Left standing is a single T'kat, engaged with the Wolf Lord and already badly wounded from that fight.
Turn 2 (Space Wolves)
With two of the large demons gone and summoning points running low on the demon side the Wolves start to regain hope of reaching the Gunship in the distance. The ferocity of the space wolf packs clearly overpowers that of the pink horrors, but it all depends on the next turn's psychic and shooting results.
Turn 3 (Tzeentch)
Seeing as the bet was a bad idea – and he was losing already anyway – T'kat falls back from combat ready to burn the damned Wolf Lord from his back. The sorceress did the same, ready to smite the hero, but failed to cast even the simplest of spells due to the incessant bickering of T'kat by her side.
Turn 3 (Tzeentch)
Seeing his squad targetted by all the pink horrors' shooting attacks, Svund Silverclaw drew all fire towards himself saving a whooping total of four attacks on his power armor before being felled by the fifth coruscating flame shot. As the weight of his body fell to the ground his packmates picked up on a frenzy, knowing the wolf guard had given his life for theirs. They could not fail now, they would not.
Turn 3 (Tzeentch)
The cunning demon charge managed to stay well away of the 3'' heroic intervention range of Thorbin, knowing full well that he could turn the tide of the battle.
Turn 3 (Tzeentch)
Even the avengeful strikes of the Silverclaws' last remaining members was not enough to bring too much damage to the demons. Their ephemeral form saves always frustrating their damage output no matter how powerful their blows. Despite this, without the strengthening aura of the Herald of Tzeentch most horrors simply failed to wound the space marines and they remaign entangled.
Turn 3 (Space Wolves)
Thorbin was determined to bring low the last of the Exalted Flamers, he knew that in order to suceed the scouts would have to deal with the horrors themselves, otherwise the large demon would simply fly after them in chase and burn them with his armor-penetrating flames: Only he could brave this beast!
Turn 3 (Space Wolves)
Pistol fire from the scouts manages to take down two more demons. With no splitting the mass of horrors finally starts to dwindle... but so are the scouts, with every fallen brother being much more significant than the demon losses. Would this xenos artifact be worth it for the price of these lost battle-brothers?
Turn 3 (Space Wolves)
Thorbin charges through T'kat's flames. The demon rolls 6 auto-hits and wounds all of them, but the Wolf Lord's 3+ invulnerable saves all of them and he connects in combat against the beast, but even hitting and wound all 5 attacks, the epehemeral form of T'kat saves the demon from a final blow that would split in half.
Turn 3 (Space Wolves)
The demon hordes, however, circle about and entrap the now lone remaining scouts. A flurry of teeth, claws and ritualistic daggers engulfs them. Outnumbered, the Scouts cannot hope to reach the Gunship now.
Turn 4 (Tzeentch)
The last fenrisian wolf throws itself in front of the high draconne sorceress as she is casting her spells. The wolf falls onto the sand with one last howl, knowing that it did protect its pack from this fearsome foe.
Finally within range, T'kat, K'tat and T'tak unleash the pink torrents of flame on the rear of the Land Speeders, the crafts crash and burn to the ground in a fiery display, their engines, pilots and hull melded and distorted in twisted shapes that pleased the three twins.
Pleasant with the destruction of the Land Speeders, K'tat proposes a game to his siblings: that they charge into combat and see who can flay the most space marines with their flame whips. T'kat is the first one to attack, but his plan is spoiled by attacking the wolf lord who's Storm Shield easily absorbs all strikes from the demon.
The space wolf player does not appreciate the mockery and spends his last two command points to mount a counter-offensive with the Silverclaws.
Svund Silverclaw and his scouts hit with 6 of their attacks and deal 4 wounds to K'tat, who saves 1 of them on his ethereal form. Despite fighting with fury and honor, the scouts failed to fell the beast before it could retaliate.
The final tally was that that T'tak won by being the only of the demons to slay two scouts, reducing the unit to Svund, the pack leader and a single member fighting for their lives.
With not much to do Scout pack Tibica picks up the artifact and moves in to the front, shooting and killing two Pink Horrors on the reserve unit in the back. At this point, the demon player has run out of spare points for splitting so the torrent of horrors starts to dwindle as they are no more replaced by their lesser forms.
The first real casualty for the demons comes when the scouts open fire with their pistols on K'tat, who was already wounded from the previous round of combat. The demon was brought low by an overcharged plasma pistol shot from the Pack Leader who dealt the final 2 damage needed to take it down.
Howling at the sight of the fallen demon, the other scout pack charges in and lands all of its attacks on T'tak. Not even the ephemeral form of the demon could hold off against their fury, and the thrice Brothers are no more. Left standing is a single T'kat, engaged with the Wolf Lord and already badly wounded from that fight.
With two of the large demons gone and summoning points running low on the demon side the Wolves start to regain hope of reaching the Gunship in the distance. The ferocity of the space wolf packs clearly overpowers that of the pink horrors, but it all depends on the next turn's psychic and shooting results.
Seeing as the bet was a bad idea – and he was losing already anyway – T'kat falls back from combat ready to burn the damned Wolf Lord from his back. The sorceress did the same, ready to smite the hero, but failed to cast even the simplest of spells due to the incessant bickering of T'kat by her side.
Seeing his squad targetted by all the pink horrors' shooting attacks, Svund Silverclaw drew all fire towards himself saving a whooping total of four attacks on his power armor before being felled by the fifth coruscating flame shot. As the weight of his body fell to the ground his packmates picked up on a frenzy, knowing the wolf guard had given his life for theirs. They could not fail now, they would not.
The cunning demon charge managed to stay well away of the 3'' heroic intervention range of Thorbin, knowing full well that he could turn the tide of the battle.
Even the avengeful strikes of the Silverclaws' last remaining members was not enough to bring too much damage to the demons. Their ephemeral form saves always frustrating their damage output no matter how powerful their blows. Despite this, without the strengthening aura of the Herald of Tzeentch most horrors simply failed to wound the space marines and they remaign entangled.
Thorbin was determined to bring low the last of the Exalted Flamers, he knew that in order to suceed the scouts would have to deal with the horrors themselves, otherwise the large demon would simply fly after them in chase and burn them with his armor-penetrating flames: Only he could brave this beast!
Pistol fire from the scouts manages to take down two more demons. With no splitting the mass of horrors finally starts to dwindle... but so are the scouts, with every fallen brother being much more significant than the demon losses. Would this xenos artifact be worth it for the price of these lost battle-brothers?
Thorbin charges through T'kat's flames. The demon rolls 6 auto-hits and wounds all of them, but the Wolf Lord's 3+ invulnerable saves all of them and he connects in combat against the beast, but even hitting and wound all 5 attacks, the epehemeral form of T'kat saves the demon from a final blow that would split in half.
The demon hordes, however, circle about and entrap the now lone remaining scouts. A flurry of teeth, claws and ritualistic daggers engulfs them. Outnumbered, the Scouts cannot hope to reach the Gunship now.
Thorbin is finally brought low while entangled in combat with T'kat. The treacherous Arisyaa flies over his back and smites him with no mercy, delivering his last wound and sealing control over the battlefield.
As the last scout falls to the horde, Arisyaa finally seizes control of the artifact.
With the scouts erradicated, the demon seize a Major Victory!
These actions are, however, cautiously observed, analyzed.
In the data-crypt of the Dakhma canoptek titan swimming in the magma tectonic currents under the planet's crust, Autharok receives a signal from T'akard, the deathmark.
"It is of no consequence – he communicates to the other overlords gathered here – our plans for this sector continue."