Welcome to game 26 of our campaign. In this report, following their unseemly skirmish, the forces of Inquisitor Bellephoron and Magos Xanat have formed a wary alliance and a new force menaces the dig site.
It seems the Eldar have a particular interest in what the Mechanicus has pulled from the soil of Triskelion…
Previous games in this campaign can be found here:
http://www.dakkadakka.com/wiki/en/Gordy2000%27s_Battle_Reports
Note: The forces used in this battle are the ones still standing form the previous internecine skirmish.
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Arch-Magos Xanat fussed over the servo-haulers as they continued to carefully excavate the Xenos artefact.
He thrilled at the alien form taking shape before his eyes – what secrets could he wrest from the ancient relic?
His avarice was interrupted by the unwelcome arrival of the Inquisitor. That brute wouldn’t appreciate a find like this is he fell over it, which,
in Xanat’s pinion, he essentially had when the Inquisition force blundered into his dig site.
“Magos” barked Bellephoron. “Enough of your scrabbling in the dirt – the enemy approaches and we must prepare our defences”
Xanat sighed inwardly. How he loathed having to converse in organic speech. “+++ You are in error Inquisitor. My Skitarii are already in position.
My mind is separated into multiple discrete compartments. I am able to command my units with total efficiency whilst continuing my work.+++”
The Magos turned his face mask to the Inquisitor “+++ Addendum. Material surrounding is not ‘dirt’, but carbonised silica with trace elements of magnesium and potassium +++ “
Bellerphoron made a noise of disgust and marched off towards his own troops.
Satisfied, Xanat made a sweep of the surrounding area with his cranial auspex. Ghostly returns showed that the Eldar had indeed begun to creep towards the dig-site.
The Magos sent a pulse of data to his troops to bring them to maximum alertness. The Inquisition presence was an inconvenience, but when the plasma started flying, they may well have their uses…
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The dig-site
The defenders circle the wagons
Bellerphoron climbs atop his Rhino to get a better look
Arch-Magos Xanat continues his study of the Xenos artefact
Skitarii on alert
Striking Scorpions appear as if by fell magic
Xenos grav tanks roar into combat
The Inquisition begins to deploy to counter the Eldar attack
No mercy!
Dire Avengers dismount from one of the Falcons
The weight of fire from the stormtroopers and Skitarii wipe out the Scorpions before they can strike…
The combined firepower of the Mechanicus tanks can’t stop the Falcon
A third Falcon attacks
Deploy the plasma…
The junior Inquisitor searches for more Xenos to slay
Magos Xanat conducts running repairs on his prized Explorator
Wraithguard deploy from the Falcon and lower their D-cannons…
Firedragons deploy and line up a Chimera
More Firedragons appear – is that a Phoenix Lord?
Dire Avengers advance
The Eldar press close on the left flank
Bellerphoron ay bay
The Avengers firepower injures the Inquisitor, but he remains unbowed
Rangers snipe Skitarii from the ramparts
The Phoenix Lord and retinue moves into close quarter battle with Bellerphoron
The first squad of Firedragons just can’t seem to kill the Chimera
The Wraithguard are felled by the Mechanicus tanks
Bellerphoron is felled by the Phoenix Lord
The Junior Inquisitor shoots up the Firedragons
Inquisitor Hex piles into the fray
Beset on all sides
The Firedragons receive the charge
Hex fights his way towards his fallen colleague
The Firedragons fall before him
More guardians join the battle – directly assaulting Xanat
..and his tech-priest
Xanat lays all about him with his Omnissian axe
Hex and the Phoenix Lord line each other up, but before either strikes a blow a strange susurration passes over the Eldar. The Phoenix Lord lift his axe…
“Hold Mon-Keigh, a greater threat approaches”
Hex stays his hand – his psychic powers also begin to warn him of an approaching breach in the fabric of realspace – something is coming for them all…
Result – win Imperium (just…)
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The Eldar lowered his burning axe slowly, never taking his eyes from Inquisitor Hex. Waves of heat rose from his ornate armour
“You know not what you defile here human, but that is no longer our greatest concern’
Hex kept his blade in en guarde, his wariness of the Alien plain. “ I smell the stench of the warp here alien – what witchcraft is this?” he growled.
“Not us Mon-Keigh, your fallen brethren approach”
Hex cursed under his breath. “Chaos”
The Eldar nodded once. “They must not take the helm of the great one – you will add your blades to ours or we shall all fall into darkness”.
Without another word the Phoenix Lord and his troops turned as one and sprinted into the surrounding forest.
Magos Xanat scuttled around the side of the ruin towards where Hex stood. “+++ Inquisitor. Data feed. The Xenos have only retired
a short distance. Another force approaches. Estimated time to battle-sphere, 89 seconds +++”
Hex regarded the Magos. “Prepare your remaining forces Tech Lord – the true fight is about to begin”
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Well that was a nice, up close battle. The scenario rules allowed the Eldar to close quickly and they didn’t disappoint. I have to say,
Falcons are resilient – despite all the firepower arrayed against them, we didn’t knock out any.
The title fight between Bellerphoron and the Phoenix Lord was a bit one-sided in the end – lucky we still had Hex in reserve!
Next battle – Enemy of my Enemy. The Eldar and Imperium put aside their enmity to fight the true threat – the forces of Chaos…
