Canoness Dianus quietly sipped her tea, watching the training exercise unfold. Her forces were depleted, having lost too many Battle Sisters during the Daroth II conflict. She had just finished delivering the remains of two Wraith Constructs to an Adeptus Mechanicus research lab and transported a captured Eldar Farseer, the ring leader who lead the attack on during the Daroth II conflict, to the prison world Hell Rock II. Now she was on Avignor, a Cardinal World, recruiting new Battle Sisters to fill in her empty ranks. This was a live fire training exercise pitting Battle Sisters against Gun Servitors. So far not a single Battle Sister had died. They moved in unison like a pack of wolves, slowly clearing each area with deadly efficiency. "The drill sergeant has done well in prepping these girls," commented Veteran Sister Superior Cath. Veteran Sister Superior Cath survived the last conflict and had a long history with Canoness Dianus. "They have excelled all tests and are combat ready, but they are novices, having not experienced nor seen the true horrors of war. Until they face the true enemies of the Emperor, they will always be green," replied Dianus. "Quite, but we all have to start somewhere," answered Cath. The Canoness chuckled, reminiscing the days when she was Battle Sister. "Agreed," said Dianus.
...
Farseer Ava woke up, sitting in utter darkness. Slowly coming to, becoming aware of her surroundings. The vile stench of blood, sweat, monkeigh odor, and most of all, fear, overwhelmed her senses. She tried to stand up but discovered she was bounded to a chair with her wrists strapped to the armrests, and her feet chained to the legs. A dark velvet hood had blocked out all vision, muffling any sounds from outside. Ava attempted to reach out with her mind using her innate psychic abilities, but her thoughts hits an invisible barrier, dissipating any psychic energy. “It seems the primitive monkeigh aren’t foolish after all,” the amused Farseer thought, “who would have known they were capable of restricting psychic energy. But it’s futile, I have already seen the future, and fate will deliver me from this prison.”
...
Farseer Olórin concentrated, trying to get through to Farseer Ava. But his energy dissipated against an unknown invisible viel that surrounded the captured Farseer, making all telepathic communication or exchange of thought impossible. Farseer Ava was an important asset to the Iybraesil craftworld and losing her would be a terrible lost for the Craftworld. "Contact the court and have them ready a mighty Avatar. We will crush these monkeigh and rescue the Farseer by force," ordered Olórin.
...
"Canoness Dianus, requisition as many combat ready Battle Sisters and return back to the Eternal immediately," ordered Lord Inquisitor Antonio. "What's wrong? I thought my leave wasn't due for another week," replied Dianus. "Our late Xeno witch has friends who are trying to bust her from jail," informed Antonio. "I'm on my way," concluded the Canoness. "Cath, have all combat ready battle sisters rendezvous at the Eternal, they'll have taste of what's it like on the battlefield."
This was a rematch between Dlo and me. Please keep in mind that both Dlo's Eldar and my Sisters of Battle models are still a work in progress and aren't fully painted yet. You might notice some slight improvements in the following reports, but my Sisters of Battle models and vehicles are still not complete. One thing I've noticed on Dakkadakka is popularity of posting pictures as part of their reports. However, I'm known to take a hundred pictures per a report, which means it would take forever for the page to load up. I'll stick to posting links.
We rolled for mission and got Annihilation. Rolled for Deployment and got Dawn of War.
Setting:
Our table was setup to look like an Imperium City gone to the dark side. Possessed building buildings and pools of sludge with tendril sticking out dotted the battle scape. The very planet was unstable with vent steams and glowing orange of lava visible from the cracks in the surface.
Army List:
Eldar (Iybraesil):
-Farseer, Singing Spear, Doom, Fortune, Stones -
Olórin
-Avatar
-10 Howling Banshees, Exarch, Mirror Swords, Wave Serpent, Shuriken Cannons, Spirit Stones
-6 Fire Dragons, Wave Serpent, Shuriken Cannons, Spirit Stones
-10 Dire Avengers, Exarch, Bladestorm, Avenger Shuriken Catapults, Wave Serpent, Shuriken Cannons, Spirit Stones
-6 Guardians on Jet Bikes, 2X Cannons
-Fire Prism, Holo-Fields
-Fire Prism, Holo-Fields
Sisters of Battle (Order of Faith):
-75 Canoness, Eviscerator, Book of
St. Lucius –
Canoness Dianus
-5 Celestians Retinue, 2X meltaguns, Immolator
-10 Battle Sisters,
VSS, Book of
St. Lucius, Brazier of Holy Fire, Heavy Flamer, meltagun, Rhino, EA, smoke -
VSS Cath
-10 Battle Sisters,
VSS, Book of
St. Lucius, Brazier of Holy Fire, Heavy Flamer, meltagun, Rhino, EA, smoke –
VSS Helena
-10 Battle Sisters,
VSS, Book of
St. Lucius, Brazier of Holy Fire, Heavy Flamer, flamer, Rhino, EA, smoke –
VSS Tristy
-10 Battle Sisters,
VSS, Book of
St. Lucius, Brazier of Holy Fire, Heavy Flamer, flamer, Rhino, EA, smoke –
VSS Felicia
-135 Exorcist –
Eternal Hatred
-135 Exorcist -
Wrath and Ruin
-135 Exorcist –
Judgment Day
Deployment
I won the roll off to go first and chose which side to deploy on. I started out by deploying nothing while my opponent on the other hand, took advantage of this rare opportunity to deploy his
HQ, Avatar of Khaine, right in the middle of board, inside a building. Guardians on Jet Bikes are held in reserves while everything else moves in on turn one.
My opponent rolls off for stealing Initiative and succeeds! Sneaky Xenos! The game starts off with Eldar going first.
Eldar Turn 1 (Eldar):
Three Wave Serpents and two fire prisms turbo boost onto the board.
On the left enters an Orange Wave Serpent carrying Fire Dragons, followed on the right and entering middle of the board a Green Wave Serpent transporting Dire Avengers. Both zoomed across the board towards the middle, getting cover for moving flat out.
Along the right flank a Grey Wave Serpent transporting Farseer Olórin attached to a squad of Howling Banshees, turbo boosts.
Two Fire Prisms backs the three Wave Serpents, keeping a safe distance and ready to provide fire support.
The Avatar, having nothing to go after, stays put.
With everything but the Avatar moving flat out and with nothing to shoot or assault, the Xeno invaders awaited for the arrival of the Imperium Defenders..
Turn 1 (Sisters of Battle):
A sliver of orange light appeared over the horizon. A symphony of gothic tunes and angelic choir ranged out to the heavens. Following the battle tunes were the sounds of engines and metal treads. The sounds grew louder as the mechanized army transverses across city and enter the playing field.
Four Rhinos (from left to right) carrying
VSS Tristy,
VSS Felcia,
VSS Helena, and
VSS Cath, drove full speed into the dark streets and stopped, forming a wall of tanks. Following behind entered the Exorcist Eternal Hatred (Black) and Exorcist Wrath and Ruin (Grey), parking behind the first rank of Rhinos.
In the far right corner entered an Immolator transporting Canoness Dianus and her retinue of Celestians. Following close behind was the Exorcist Judgment Day.
VSS Cath and
VSS Helena’s Rhinos unleash a curtain of smoke, obscuring them to enemy fire.
Exorcist Judgment Day and Exorcist Eternal Hatred attempts to spot the enemy Avatar amid the darkness, but both fail to see anything. Exorcist Wrath and Ruin spots the Avatar and unleashed a barrage of rockets, inflicting one wound to the mighty Avatar.
Turn 2 (Eldar):
Farseer Olórin succeeds in fortuning the Avatar.
The Orange and Green Wave Serpents immediately goes for
VSS Tristy’s Rhino on the far left flank. They moved and disembarked their occupants.
The Gray Wave Serpent banks left and move flat out, moving towards Canoness Dianus and Exorcist Judgment Day.
The Avatar leaps out of the building and cannon balls into a pool of sludge.
Both Fire Prisms drifts a little closer, getting a better firing angle.
The Green and Orange Wave Serpent locked onto the
VSS Tristy’s Rhino, the only Rhino that isn’t obscured by buildings or popped smoke. The Green Wave Serpent whiffs its shooting while the Orange one penetrates and stuns the vehicle.
Fire Dragons fired their fusion guns, wrecking
VSS Tristy’s transport.
VSS Tristy and her Battle Sisters disembark from the rear hatch
Dire Avengers Blade Storm
VSS Tristy’s squad, slaying 6 sisters as a hail of tiny sharp spinning discs rips them apart.
Both Fire Prism fires concentrate a focused shot beam, landing dead on
VSS Tristy’s squad.
Two more girls perish under the Xeno blast.
VSS Tristy fails her moral test and flees off the board.
Turn 2 (Sisters of Battle):
Canoness Dianus and her Celestians disembark from the Immolator and advances towards the Grey Wave Serpent. The Immolator moves forward, getting a good angle at the Wave Serpent’s rear.
VSS Felecia moves her Rhino out of terrain, circle back around the wreckage of
VSS Tristy’s Rhino, and disembarks near the Fire Dragons.
VSS Helena’s Rhino moves forward and disembarks her squad, getting a clear firing lane at the Dire Avengers.
VSS Cath moves her rhino left at combat speed towards the two wave serpents.
VSS Felecia unleashed a storm of bolters and Flames, easily wiping out all Fire Dragons.
VSS Helena calls forth from her prayers a blessing of Divine Guidance and unleashes hell upon the Dire Avenger squad. 8 Dire Avengers are ripped to shreds from the onslaught and only the Exarch and a single Dire Avenger survives makes it out alive.
But they fail their moral test and started fleeing towards their end of table
A Battle Sister from
VSS Cath’s squad pops open the Rhino’s hatch and fire her Meltagun at the Green Wave Serpent, stunning the Xeno skimmer.
Exorcist Wrath and Ruin locks onto the Avatar and fires a barrage of rockets. But it fails to hit or wound the incarnation war god. Exorcist Eternal Hatred also fires its rockets at the Avatar, wounding it twice, but the mighty war god’s spectral shield with the help of fortune, saves.
Celestians with Meltaguns shoots point blank at the Grey Wave Serpent, but it’s energy fields negates any hits.
Exorcist Divine Judgment fires a salvo of rockets, penetrating, and glancing the Grey Wave Serpent. It succeeds in making its save against the penetration, but fails to deflect the glancing hit. Unfortunately, the glancing die came up to a 5 meaning immobilize damage result. But the Xeno skimmer had moved flat out and ends up crashing to the ground as a rocket critically disables the Eldar skimmer.
Farseer Olórin, along with his bodyguards of Howling Banshees, bails out of the wrecked skimmer.
But to their horror, an Adepta Sororitas Immolator lies in wait with its dual Heavy Flamers (twin linked).
The Immolator quickly douses the dazed survivors with holy promethium, setting 8 on fire. The 8 flaming Banshees did their last dance of running in circles before passing out as the flame consume them
Leaving the Farseer, Exarch, and a single Howling Banshee left.
Fortunately, they pass their moral test.
Turn 3 (Eldar):
By now, both my opponent and I had completely forgotten about the Jet Bikes. I allowed my opponent to roll twice with +3 on the first and +4 on the second. He fails both and they stay in reserves, not wanting to partake in this fight.
Farseer Olórin succeeds in fortuning himself and his Banshees while dooming the Celestians.
Dire Avengers continue to flee.
Farseer breaks off from the Banshee squad and heads over towards Exorcist Divine Judgment while the Howling Banshees moves to intercept Canoness Dianus.
Avatar slogs across the crater of chaos slime towards
VSS Helena, empowering the Dire Avengers with its fearless aura. Both Wave Serpents retreats back, ready to extract the two Dire Avengers on the next turn.
Both Fire Prisms continued hanging out in the back, enjoying the relative safety of their ranged Prism Cannons.
Farseer fleets towards the Exorcist and the Howling Banshees fleets towards the Canoness.
The Orange Wave Serpent fires its Shuriken Cannon at the rear of
VSS Felcia's Rhino, but smoke protects.
A Focused shot lands squarely on
VSS Felicia's squad. It would have killed the whole squad, but they go to ground. 3 Survives the blast.
But unfortunately they failed their moral test and being under half strength, once they return to normal, they’ll be following
VSS Tristy’s Battle Sisters by also fleeing off the board.
Canoness Dianus imbues her squad in a golden aura, calling forth the sacred Spirit of the Martyr. Howling Banshees assaults Canoness Dianus’ command squad. The Exarch pounces Dianus, slashing her from all directions and wounds the Canoness. The other Howling Banshee hacks down one of the Celestians before Canoness Dianus retaliates and cleaves the Banshee in two with her Eviscerator.
Exarch, unscathed by her losses, continues to fight on, locking the Adepta Sororitas in combat.
Farseer Olórin charges Exorcist Divine Judgment. Olórin enhances his Singing Spear with psychic energy and delivers a mighty blow, slicing the Exorcist apart, wrecking the Adepta Sororitas heavy support.
Avatar crashes into
VSS Helena’s squad, decapitating three of the Battle Sisters. The Battle Sisters retaliate, but are unable to pierce the war god’s molten lava body.
VSS Helena stubbornly refuses to retreat and continues fighting the Eldar monster.
Turn 3 (Sisters of Battle):
All three Rhinos shifted gears and moved drove forward.
Immolator drives full speed towards the right flank in case the Eldar Jet Bikes enters from the right edge of the table.
Both Exorcists reposition themselves for a better firing lane.
All three Rhinos open up with their storm bolters, concentrating on the Dire Avenger Squad. opened up on the fleeing Dire Avenger squad. The dust settles revealing the Exarch as the sole survivor.
Battle Sister from
VSS Cath's squad pops open the Rhino's hatch and fires her meltagun at the Green Wave Serpent, but fails to harm the deviant Xeno skimmer.
Exorcist Eternal Hatred shoots at the Green Wave Serpent, but only manages to stun the it.
Exorcist Wrath and Ruin fires at the Exarch. The Exarch attempts to go to ground, but he rolls a 2 for his cover saves and goes splat!
The Howling Banshee Exarch weaved and danced, elegantly slicing two Celestians with her Mirror Swords, but the Canoness catches the Exarch off guard and slams an Eviscerator into the Xeno's gut, destroying the Eldar with brutal efficiency. She consolidates, cornering the Farseer.
Avatar cuts down two more Battle Sisters.
VSS Helena spots an opening and lunges forward, inflicting a wound against the god of war incarnate.
VSS Helena fights on, determines to fight the Xeno foe to the bitter end.
Turn 4 (Eldar):
Farseer Olórin Fortunes himself and dooms the Canoness Dianus and her remaining Celestians.
He then moves out, making a last stand against the Adepta Sororitas command squad.
Guardian Jet Bikes finally come in, entering the left side of the table
Both Orange and Green Wave Serpents glides towards the left flank.
Both Fire Prisms fires a focused shot, blasting Canoness Dianus. But despite rerolls, the shot deviates far from its target.
Farseer flings his spear at the Celestians, but fails to wound twice, even with rerolls from Doom.
Orange Wave Serpent hails
VSS Cath's Rhino with its Shuriken Cannons, but fails to harm the transport.
The Guardian Jet Bikes are luckier, managing to stun an empty Rhino.
Farseer Olórin charged the Adepta Sororitas command squad. Finally the two commanders from both forces clashed in a show down. The Farseer masterfully repelled the Celestian's attacks while attacking back. Dianus signals the two remaining Celestians to surround the Farseer. Both comply and all three surrounds the Eldar commander. Both Celestians open up with their guns. Olórin paused for a brief second, pausing to activate his force field. In that brief second, the Canoness lunges on the Farseer, swinging her Eviscerator over her head and brining it crashing down onto the Farseer. The force field crackled as steal and energy collided, momentarily resisting the physical force before cracking, allowing the chained two-handed sword to cut through armor and flesh,
mortally wounding
the Farseer. Farseer Olórin collapsed and blood seeped out.
The Guardian Jet Bikes pull back, putting distance between them and the Monkeigh tanks.
The mighty Avatar shoves
VSS Helena and plunges the Wailing Doom straight through the Veteran Sister. At the lost of their fearless leader, the remaining Battle Sisters attempts to flee, but the Avatar cut them down, leaving none alive. The mighty war god let out a roar for victory and marched towards the mech column, leaving a wet trail of blood.
Turn 4 (Sisters of Battle):
The mighty roar from the Avatar awakens
VSS Felecia. Unpinned, she and her remaining Battle Sisters flees off the table.
Immolator changes its heading and returns to Canoness Dianus, picking up the wounded Canoness and her remaining members of her command squad.
Both Rhinos shift gears into reverse, pulling back from the Avatar.
VSS Cath's Battle Sister, armed with a meltagun, shoots out of the Rhino at the Orange Wave Serpent. But wreckage intervenes and the Xeno transport makes its cover save.
Exorcist Wrath and Ruin locks on and shoots at a Fire Prism, but fails to hit or harm the Eldar heavy support.
Exorcist Eternal Hatred fires at the advancing Avatar and despite 6 wounds, the Avatar saves all but one!
VSS Felecia's empty Rhino provides cover fire for the fleeing Battle Sisters and fires at the Avatar. Despite it being a storm Bolter, I rolled two 6's, inflicting 2 wounds! The Avatar fails one of his armor saves as a bolter penetrates the Avatar's thick molten skin, destroying the war god's inner core. The Avatar violently convulsed then exploded as its last cries echo across the battlefield, screaming anger and frustration.
Turn 5 (Eldar):
Wave Serpents continue moving forward, getting a good angle at the Rhino that just finished off their mighty war god.
Guardian Jet Bikes crept forward.
Both Fire Prisms also skims forward.
Combined shooting from the Orange Wave Serpent and Guardian Jet Bikes punctures
VSS Felecia's Rhino, immobilizing, destroying its Storm Bolter, and stunning the crew.
Green Wave Serpent fires at
VSS Helena's empty Rhino, shaking the it.
Fire Prisms fires a focused beam at
VSS Cath's Rhino, penetrating and blowing the transport sky high. Two Battle Sisters perishes in the explosion.
But
VSS Cath rallies her Battle Sisters and they step out of the wreckage, wounded, but still able to fight.
Guardian Jet Bikes retreats.
Turn 5 (Sisters of Battle):
VSS Cath and her remaining Battle Sisters quickly hopped into
VSS Helena's empty Rhino. The empty Rhino moves forward, towards an Eldar Fire Prism.
Immolator also drives forward, Disembarking Celestians easily within melta range of the Eldar heavy support.
Combined shooting from
VSS Cath Battle Sister's meltagun and Celestians Meltagunner both penetrates the Fire Prism, but its reactive Holo Fields minimizes the damage to weapon destroy and stun.
(can't take Prism cannon off because it's glued on)
Mean while, Exorcist Eternal Hatred shoots and immobilizes the Grey Wave Serpent while Exorcist Wrath and Ruin shoots at the Red Wave Serpent, but fails horribly and either fails to hit or harm the Eldar skimmer.
At the end of turn 5, we rolled to see whether the game would continue and the die came up to a 2, ending the long battle between Order of Faith and Iybraesil.
Picture of the aftermath:
Eldar: 6 kill points
-
VSS Tristy's Rhino
-
VSS Tristy's Battle Sisters
-Exorcist Divine Judgment
-
VSS Helena's Battle Sisters
-
VSS Felecia's Battle Sisters
-
VSS Cath's Rhino
Sisters of Battle: 6 kill points
-Grey Wave Serpent
-Fire Dragons
-Dire Avengers
-Howling Banshees
-Farseer
-Avatar
Outcome: DRAW!
Veteran Sister Superior Cath and Canoness Dianus surveyed the city, carefully avoiding the chaos infested pools and warped buildings. The taint of chaos ran deep as the blood of thousands of heretics and witches seeped deep into the core of the planet’s crust, intoxicating the planet’s surface.
The howling death cry from the Avatar and the death of the Farseer crippled the Xeno forces’ chain of command. The Xeno invaders had sped off, retreating back from whence they came from.
“Canoness Dianus, we’ve just received a data slate containing the battle report,” informed Cath. The Canoness skimmed through the report, accessing the casualties. “It’s a shame that Veteran Sister Superior Helena perished in battle, she would have been a good addition to our forces,” noted the Canoness. “Shall we sentence Sister Tristy and Sister Felecia to Repentia for cowardice on the battlefield?” inquired Cath. “That won’t be necessary,” replied Dianus, “they had their first taste of battle and this will serve as a lesson, more valuable then anything they were taught in the Convent.”
