Many hidden agendas were at work in the Petod system, and it is unclear about what transpired in every battle. What is clear though is that an unusual turning point in the war consisted of a small unit action near an otherwise unremarkable and non-strategic location. It is unclear exactly why this battle was so important, but it is clear that all of the Chaos forces suddenly shifted marching direction at a single moment, and across the entire world began heading for this one location. It is also clear that the Imperial Forces sent in a strategic strike to the area as well. It is also clear that after this mission, that matters came to a head in Petod, and both sides rallied for a final and decisive battle.

Perhaps the only clues that can be had as to what transpired are to be found penned by Lord-General Militant Harry Paget (ret.) in his autobiography ‘Flashes For The Emperor’ in the fourth volume ‘Pyres of Purity in Petod’

It is a shame that not all matters in Petod can be made clear, even at the time of this writing. Unfortunately there are stories I could tell that would make a Commissar blanch and would bring to light such clarity as to why we fought, and why we died in Petod. Indeed, I was to serve a pivotal role in the matter due, no doubt, to my extensive skill in negotiation (from strength, strength bestowed by The Emperor!) with xenos species. Indeed, my adroit brilliance in certain negotioans may have saved...but, I probably cannot speak of that. It was also to be yet another chance for me to slake my thirst for slaying Chaos-tainted spawn, and yet another chance for me to appreciate the simple value of a Ratling and a sniper rifle. Let me assure you, blood was spilled in the streets, lives ended from deadly weapons fire or cruel thrusts of a knife in hand to hand combat, even now I feel emotion pulling at me as I recall the brave men and boys who trusted me to lead them in the darkest hour for the entire operation. This was a very important mission to be undertaken, one that set the stage for the final conflict, and there was no question who was going to do it - after all, who else could they choose?

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"Who else could they have chosen?" Captain Harry Paget circled around his tent in his (pleasantly) rear-guard position and looked over documents involving the command chain and dispensation of the Allied 1st. "I'm sure they could have brought in Captain Thompson, or maybe Captain Ulthvald...yes, Uthvald, that psychopath likes the idea of dying in glorious battle, let him wander around on the advice of some xenos witch to go battle some Chaos Marines, seems like a jolly fine time! Poor Captai Paget may just be forced to sit in the rear guard filling out requisition paperwork for another week, darn shame!

Harry contemplated if it was too late to try scuppering off into the hinterlands...

"Captain Paget, sir!" Sargents Locke and Czernichev entered his tent. Locke was a Cadian, with all the negative implications about fanatical devotion, bravery, and heroism that entailed. He was a broad shouldered man, blonde hair, square jaw, and that distant look in his eye that basically said he thought it would be a swell idea to die for The Emperor - Harry rather distrusted him. Czernichev was a bear of a man, Vostroyan, all sweeping moustache, odd sayings, and a likewise near-maniacal devotion to the idea of honorable battle. They were to be his core command staff for the mission. Harry swallowed nervously and tried to look stern.

"Ah, excellent, I was wondering when you two would arrive."

"Don't worry sir," Locke laughed, "we won't let you hog all the glory yourself! My lads are ready!"

"Mine also," Czernichev agreed, "In Vostroya we do not let a hero die alone, yah?"

"Yeah..." Harry Paget felt his bowels twitch unpleasantly.

"The Xenos is here with the information, she's a cold witch, so be careful, sir. I took the liberty of arranging snipers around your tent."

"Of course, and also, hopefully, some explosives underneath in case they manage to overwhelm us." Harry had been joking, but the look of concern on Locke's face suggested the Sargeant felt he had missed something obvious, and would probably be strapping a melta-bomb to the underside of his Captain's bed as soon as he had a spare moment. Harry tried not to dwell on that as he turned to face the three strange xenos entering the tent. Two were armed and armored as some of their elite warriors, their blue armor gleaming dangerously, the third, the clear leader, was a willowy female of unnatural beauty and poise, her multi-hued eyes seemed to look through Harry as she considered him. His mouth went dry and he fumbled with something to say. Xenos negotiations were always very risky and uneasy thing, the smallest wrong motion, the slightest misunderstood word,a nd he and everyone in this tent, most especially him, would be dead.

Captain Harry Paget felt his mind go blank.

"Um...well...could I offer you a cup of recaff?"

Oh bollocks! That had done it! A cup of recaff? Harry's bowels shifted uneasily again as the two warrior Eldar stiffened slightly, glancing at each other. The tall female's face was unreadable, her eyes seemed to swim with the knowledge of space and time in a face that was as eternal as carved marble. He knew he had been instructed to give her what aid he could, but somehow he had blown it all in one dumb moment of-

"Recaff?" She suddenly smiled brightly, "oh, please, yes, black, I take it black."

"Very well then," Captain Paget gave her his most charming smile as he motioned to one of his manservants and extracted a packet from his breast pocket. "It's my own, personal, blend, I think you'll like it." Harry, m'boy, he thought happily, the ol' Paget charm clearly works on all species, what can I say?

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Gentukama lurked upon his rusting throne. The Eldar witch had made her move. The humans were going to try to help her. The Elendil Thrakul was now, once again, within his grasp. Soon they would learn the error of their ways, soon not only this planet, but the entire sector would be awash in the warm, loving, and sticky embrace of Grandfather Nurgle. Gentukama motioned with one puss-dripping finger and a unit of his finest troops was sent forth, their goal to find the artifact, slay the human interlopers, and bring him his prize.

The Eldar witch had chosen poorly, this day, was Gentukama's!

The Elendil Thrakul has been discovered, now it is up to two elite strike teams from each side to secure the mysterious artifcat.

Rules –
Kill Team.
350 points.
No special rule add-ons to characters.
No vehicles.

Special Rules –
The Eldar left behind 5 volunteer Wraithguard to protect the artifact. At the start of each player turn roll 1d6 + a scatter die for each Wraithguard and move them the direction indicated (a hit goes in the direction of the arrow) They will then fire their weapons at the closest foe in range.

The Elendil Thrakul works identically to 'The Relic' mission.

Forces of the Imperium - The Retrieval Force

The 1st Allied Mechanicus - Dispensations in Service to Mars, Defenders of Forge World Iunden.

5 man Platoon Command Squad (Captain Harry Paget, also a plasma gun and melta gun)
2 - 10 man Infantry Squads, flamer, Sarges.
5 Ratlings
1 Bone'ead
1 Ogryn
3 Autocannon Heavy Weapon Teams

Forces of Papa Nurgle - The Joyful Embrace

Nurgle CSM

1 Aspiring Champion Plague Marine w. combi plasma (and a power weapon?)
2 Plague Marines w. Plasma Guns
4 Plague Marines
5 man Havoc Squad w. Missile Launchers (power weapon on the Sarge?)

"So the Eldar are going to serve as distractions to the main Chaos army, and our job is to sneak in and steal a little crystal stairway carving before Chaos gets it."

Harry felt like a right proper fool having to say that out loud. The rest of the men looked at him like he was worthwhile though, for some insane reason. Benny, the Ratling scout commander he had "saved" in Sancisto was there with some of his boys, they had taken a fondness to him and now sort of followed him around acting like he was a bigshot. Not that Harry minded, they tended to shoot most threats from a long way off, which was good with him. Locke and Czernichev stood barking orders to their men as some soldiers rushed to emplace their heavy weapons. Harry was even mildly happy to see the two Ogryn he had been afforded for th emission, their brute strength and ability to absorb punishment might just be what he needed...if bullets started flying thick and he had to flee.

"Seems like an odd cop, guv'nor," noted Benny with a shrug as he shouldered his rifle, "but me an' the lads will sort out the scouting right quick for ya!" He and the other Ratlings scurried off into the ruined buildings leaving Harry and the others behind.

"Brave lads, those," noted Harry. Also kind of dumb, what sort of dolt rushed *towards* the likely location of Chaos Marines?

"Anything else we should worry about?" Locke prepped his laspistol meaningfully.

"Indeed, in Vostroya we say, forewarned, is for a good place to drop orbital bombardment because civilian populace is expendable."

"No bombardments, I'm afraid, apparently this artifact needs to be taken intact."

"Unfortunate," noted Czernichev.


The two sides form up on either side of the square, considering the ancient Eldar defenders.


They seem so peaceful right now, but will that last?


Czernichev rallies up his men to a firing position behind a low wall, "In Vostroya, he who shoots first gives away position, he who shoots last probably has won! Men in the front attract fire, men behind, return fire!"


Harry thus takes up position behind the Cadians...they're also probably insane, but hopefully slightly less so.


Chaos Havocs take up firing position along the rear of the field, from this safe position they hope to unleash fire support to the Plague Marine advance.


Eight would be enough, but can seven manage?

"The Farseer said something about potential danger from old guardians...wonder what that could mean," Captain Paget considers this as, suddenly, with a lurch that casts off the dust of hundreds of years, the Wraithguard shamble to life!


And the scatter dice send basically every last one of them straight towards the Chaos lines (funny fact - this is the second time we played this mission...and the second time this happened)
Clearly they just sense the ancient enemy...

Their Wraithcannons surge to life and cut down one Cadian trooper and also one plasma gun armed Plague Marine (speaking as the IG player, I *like* that equivalent exchange!)


"Death to the servants of the Corpse-Emperor!
The Plague Marines surge forward, readying their bolters and plague knives as they consider their first obstacle, a wall of wraithbone and bad attitude...


...They are unimpressed.


All but one Wraithguard falls to plasma and missile fire, and that one is assaulted by one of the Plague Marines, his knife meaning to carve it apart.


"Heave to, m'lads, For The Emperor, For the Imperium, For Mars and the Omnissiah! " Captain Paget waves his men forward, as an odd side effect of that, he moves less forward than all of them. Duecedly strange, really.


Running forward the Imperial Guard intend to chew gum, kill Chaos, and claim the artifact.
The Ratlings already stole all their gum.


Czernichev orders the Ogryn into cover, as they are so valuable despite being tough enough to take a missle to the chest. He then orders his bullet-catchers...erm...men, forward!


The Imperial Guard unleash a withering hail of fire that is lucky enough to cut down the leader of the Plague Marine forces.


Boss, I thought we 'felt no pain'?


The Chaos Marines respond with a hail of fragmentary burst missiles that scythe down some of the massed infantry.


The Plague Marines advance, standing against the Imperial tide, they need to hold the line to allow their fellows time to withdraw with the Thrakul.


The board was infested with Ratling snipers, who were taking pot shots at any Chaos servant who poked their head up, here the Havoc Sarge is rushing forward to express his displeasure about this state of affairs.


Ancient wraithbone hands close down upon a putrid helmet, squeezing it like an overripe melon as puss and brackish liquids stream out of it. The last Wraithguard fells the Plague Marine in close combat and looks around for new victims.


"In Vostroya, they say man who fights Ogryn has large balls, but will soon have them stepped upon."
Czernichev and his squad rush forward, along with some Ogryn backup, to deal with the Plague Marine defense line.


Sargent Locke and a number of his fellows move into position to aide a Cadian locked in hand to hand combat with a Plague Marine while some of Paget's command squad readies a plasma gun for fire support.


Benny sees a Chaos Havoc readying another missile barrage in the distance.


So Benny decides the man probably doesn't need his face anymore.


The forces of Chaos shall learn to fear the name - Benny!


By the Glory of the Omnissiah, taste the heat of a thousand suns!"
The plasma gun flares to life and incinerates one of the Plague Marines.
The backlash of heat also deep fries the Guardsman that fired it.
He is posthumously docked four months pay for allowing the holy and honored relic plasma gun to be scuffed while it was signed out to him.


Captain Paget decides *not* to fire his plasma pistol...though he does wave it around over his head a bit and shout out something about the Emperor and Heresy.
You have to keep up a good show for the men, after all.


"Ogryn solve problems!"
The Bone 'ead and his fellow Ogryn lumber forward to pulp them some Chaos scum.


What a shock, the Wraithguard decides to continue heading straight for the Chaos lines.


This has no strategic relevance, but it feels spiteful and good - a Ratling sniper is slain in the assault.


"Die Chaos Heretic!" Locke cuts down the Plague Marine standing over the artifact, clearing the way for the Imperials to claim the objective.


The Wraithguard continues towards the Havocs, intent on crushing the taint of the Warp.


Benny shouts out a warning as the Havoc sarge tries to rush forward to reclaim the artifact, Imperial forces rush to bar his way.


Yep, you guessed it, the Wraithguard continues to storm toward the Havocs.


It kills one of them, but then the IG decide to do Chaos a favor and kill it...after killing the other Havoc first, natch


"In Vostroya we would say, you have been 'the boned' here.
The paths towards the artifact are blocked by a lot of IG intent to hold lines (that may or may not be fething, but will be held anyway)


With Locke running away with the artifact, protected by Czernichev, an Ogryn, and Pagat (who is keeping a slightly safe distance away, since for a while missiles were being fired at Locke) the last Chaos Marine tries to break past the line of encircling IG rearguard.


However, the line is held, and the IG forces cut him down as Locke makes good his escape.

IG Win!

Captain Paget loaded his men into the waiting troop transports as they prepared to evac from the site.

"Not yet, mon'keigh."

Paget glanced over his shoulder as a shimmering field of distortion crackled around him, suddenly he and his small band of battered warriors found themselves facing a full Eldar warhost. Elegant and strange weaponry was pointed at them as the Farseer known as Diyneer stepped forward, her multi-hued eyes gleaming with power as she approached.

"The Elendil Thrakul is not for one such as you, you will hand it over now or be destroyed." Around her the Eldar warhost was frozen, only waiting the word to attack. Diyneer paused a moment as she looked down at Paget.

"Say the word sir," hissed Locke, "we'll give them all the cold steel, and die in glory to the Emperor!"

"What? NO! ..." Harry paused as he saw the odd look in Locke's eyes. "I mean, no, no, it is a xenos relic, heretical and tainted, we are better off without it anyway. Besides, we will have our chance at these Eldar scum soon enough, and on our own terms!"

"As you say sir, for The Emperor!" Locke handed over the strange artifact and sharply saluted him. Paget nodded warily as he backed away and turned to hand off the odd relic to Diyneer.

"One last thing, Captain," she said as he turned to go. He felt his blood run cold as he swallowed nervously and turned back to her. She raised a pistol, pointing it straight at him. "I'll also have any of your personal recaff blend that you have on you..."

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All I can say for certain is, Eldar are an untrustworthy and cowardly lot, who are nothing compared to even the least worth of His Holy Servants, Mankind.
...they do rather like their recaff though.

- Lord-General Militant Harry Paget (ret.)
‘Flashes For The Emperor, Vol. IV - Pyres of Purity in Petod’

Imperium MVP

Am i allowed to say 'The Wraithguard'? Seriously, of all their attacks a grand total of 3 came my way all game. As a matter of comparison - 4 of them fired on Chaos in round 1 alone. Chaos was also forced to expend a lot of effort cutting through them because a wall o' Wraithguard was put in their path, allowing the IG to hustle up and hold objectives.

Solid runner up is Sarge Locke - he went forward, cut down a Plague Marine in combat, and then grabbed the objective and scuppered off all while being shot at repeatedly. Solid showing.

Imperium WTF

I suppose my poor plasma gunner, though it was hilarious. Maybe all my shooting in general, really - most IG victories came in assault, not during the shooting phase. Go figure

Chaos MVP

The Havocs really did most of the heavy lifting this game - they killed about half the Wraithguard, inflicted almost all of the casualties on the IG, and their Sarge was the only Marine working his way up the board to try to stop the IG's escape.

Chaos WTF

'Slappy the useless Plague Marine' - this guy rushes forward, and shoots a Wraithguard with his plasma gun - doing nothing. Then, I make a joke when shooting at the Champion (whose combi-plasma was already used) in that, plasma guns were less of a threat to me than bolters, because at least the plasma gun might kill the guy shooting it, and both will ignore my IG armor. I think that got in John's head, so he had the guy assault a single IG Trooper...nothing. Next round I move up a bunch of other IG and assault in. He attacks and manages to kill...nothing. In the third round he managed to overpower *one* IG Infantryman and then is killed by Sarge Locke. That's right, plague knife, feel no pain, 3+ armor, S4, T5, and couldn't overpower guardsmen in the assault.

Poor bastard, I hope he likes whatever rendering pit Gentukama is going to dump him in.