A Gathering Storm (a series of 2500 point games, with fluff)

Rainhawk22 — GMT

Hello all!

New user here, posting a series of bat reps from a group of war gaming friends. I will be the one writing the back story / fluff, and any critiques / constructive criticism is welcome.

As a note, my group isn't the most competitive, nor are we the most learned when it comes to rules. As such, if any infractions stand out, please feel free to point them out.

All games are played on a slightly smaller than normal table, and at 2500 points.

Without further blathering, I present to you:

A Gathering Storm

The sound of heavy foot falls echoed throughout the damp, dimly lit stone corridor, accompanied only by the fitful flickering of the warp flame torches lining the walls.

The corridor led into a silent throne room, where all light was consumed by the shadowy figure residing there.

"My lord, all the pieces are in play. The Wolves and Angels are en route. The artifacts' warp signatures are broadcasting intermittent bursts. A Grey Knight strike cruiser just left their 'secret' resupply base on Vermouth Prime, undoubtedly aiming to destroy the artifacts."

An unearthly silence filled the air, punctuated solely by the staccato taps of armored fingers tips clacking on stone.

A voice that rent tears in reality finally spoke.

"Let the games...begin."

--------------------------------------------------

Aboard a star cruiser bearing the insignia of the Blood Angels, a gravelly voice sounded over the vox.

"Sir, all three artifacts have been located, all within what appears to be the ruins of some sort of Necron complex. Your orders?"

A slight nod was the only movement the commander of the ship made, but Librarian Matthias knew well the silent communications of his mentor, Mephiston, Lord of Death.

"Ready Assault Squads Alpha through Zeta for insertion. No jump backs, there are reports that the artifacts emit some form of radiation that interferes with electronics. Arm them with transports" Matthias ordered.

"Done, sir."

"Prepare Veteran Squads One and Two, same restrictions."

"Yes sir."

"And alert three Predator crews. We land in ten."

"Aye aye."

A quick glance from Matthias told him all he needed to know. Fingering the ornate hilt of his power sword, he gave one last order.

"Tell Priests Johnathon and Moses to arm themselves. The Emperor shall guide our hands."

--------------------------------

The scent of meat and mead filled the sensitive nostrils of Wolf Lord Conan the Warrior as he made his way through the rwody mess hall about the strike ship, Fang of the All Father, home of a veteran group of Space Wolves.

Even a midst the the din of rough laughter and merry making, Conan's lupine ears easily recognized his superior's voice.

"...and then I brought my hammer down upon the beasts head, quickly ending the threat. And the very thankful smith's daughter was so impressed by my heroics that she offered to clean my fearsome weapon!"

The raucous laughter cut off abruptly as Conan growled from his throat.

"Lord Bogar, we will make planet fall in fifteen minutes."

Lord Bogar the Bear, Wolf Lord of the Glorious Host nodded and his booming voice sounded, silencing all.

"The hunt begins soon, brothers. Prepare yourselves, a glorious battle awaits us. The all father is watching, and we shall do him proud."

A weighty silence filled the hall, as each Wolf filed out, ready to kill and die for Russ, honor, and the Emperor.

-----------------------------------

Space Wolves versus Blood Angels

Lists: Blood Angels

HQ: Mephiston, Librarian Matthias
Elite: Sang. Priest w/ Power fist (2x)
Elite: 9x Sternguard Vets, 2x Multi-Melta, Sarge with powerfist. All bolters upgraded to combi-melta's. In Rhino (2x)
Troop: 5x Assault marines, no jump packs, 1x meltagun, with a Razorback w/ Twinlinked Lascannon (6x)
HS: Predator with Autocannon, sponsons with heavy bolters (3x)

Space Wolves

HQ: Wolf Lord with Runic armor, Thunder Hammer, Stormshield, Thunderwolf mount, wolf tooth necklace, saga of the bear (Bogar the Bear)
HQ: Wolf Lord with Runic armor, Thunder Hammer, Stormshield, Thunderwolf mount, wolf tooth necklace, saga of the warrior born (Conan the Warrior)
Troops: 10x Grey hunters, 2x melta gun, powerfist, in rhino (4x)
Fast Attack: 3x Thunderwolf Calvary, 3x storm shields, 1 w/ melta bombs, 1 with Thunder Hammer (2x)
Heavy Support: 5x Long Fangs w/ Missile Launchers, 1 Squad Leader, in Razorback w/ Heavy Bolter (3x)

Seize ground (3 objectives), Pitched Battle

Angels win roll off, elect to go first.

NOTE: all positions / terrain are from the Wolves point of views.

Terrain: Left to right, near to far.
Broken ruin on left, 3 story ruin in middle, broken ruin on right.
3 story ruin middle left, gateway ruin middle, broken ruin middle right.
Forest far left, gateway far mid, forest far right.
Dangerous terrain on diagonals.

Objectives placed: far left forest, near left ruin, far right forest.

No thirst on any Angels.

DEPLOYMENT: Right to left.
ANGELS: 2 Lasbacks w/ marines behind forest on right, 3 Pred's lined up next to the gateway, 2 rhinos with vets priests just left of gateway, 2 lasbacks w/ marines behind forest on left, lasback w/ libby and last lasback w/ marines behind the others. Mephiston chills behind the moving metal wall.
WOLVES: Long Fangs deploy in 3 story ruin, one squad per level, Bolterbacks behind the ruin, 2 Rhino's w/ hunters between left and center ruins with Thunderwolves behind them, 2 Rhino's w/ hunters behind ruins on left.

Wolves fail to seize.

Turn 1, Angels

"Multiple targets sighted, description unknown, likely cause: electrical interference" intoned the dull voice of a machine spirit.

"Deploy two assault squads to secure the nearest artifact, and another 2 for the far one. Then, move up. Emperor willing, we will pin the enemy in the corner, and destroy them."

Squads Alpha and Beta left their ride, searching the forest of withered, snow covered trees for an unknown xenos artifact. Squads Delta and Gamma did the same elsewhere.

With a roar barely audible over the howling winds, all vehicles converged on the unknown enemy. Guided by heat signatures, the trusty machines opened fire.

"Enemy vehicle destroyed. Three targets inside have fallen."

'A slow start', thought Mephiston, who flew forward on wings of incandescent light. 'Perhaps this foe is hardier than expected.'

<><><><><>

Movement:
2 squads of assault marines hopped out of their rides and posted up in their forest with the objective. All lasbacks move forward, rhino’s surge forward with the Vets towards the middle ruin. Mephiston passes Wings test and flies forward behind the rhino’s. Predators move forward and prepare to hamper the mobility of the Wolves. One moves the left of the middle gate, the other two move behind the gate with plenty of targets.

Shooting:
One lasback explodes a rhino, killing three hunters inside. Remaining fire only succeeds in shaking another rhino.

Assualt:
None

Turn 1, Wolves

“Traitors!” hissed the voice of Conan. “My Lord Bogar, let me lead the charge to destroy these fools!”

“Hold pup, let us close the range before we bloody this foe. Hunters, locate and secure the artifact. Fangs, provide supporting fire for our advance. Have our transports ready to assist the hunters and provide transport for the artifact. Thunderwolves, with me!”

The roar of heavy bolters, targeting the enemy’s transports was soon drowned out by the tremendous detonation of an enemy predator, the still smoking barrels of missile launchers giving credit to the Long Fangs.

A savage smile found its place on Bogar’s weathered face, even as he readied his blessed Thunder Hammer, preparing to teach these traitors what it meant to Space Marines.

<><><><><>

Movement:
All available Rhinos converge on the left objective, and the Grey Hunters get out and prepare to bunker down in cover for the rest of the game. The hunters from the destroyed rhino also move into cover. The cavalry move behind the rhinos, preparing for a next turn charge.

Shooting:
Bolter backs fire at the enemy rhino’s they can see; no effect.
It takes every Long Fang available, but a predator is destroyed.

Assualt:
None

<><><><><>

Turn 2, Angels

“Move, move, move! Get into firing positions! Fire at will, destroy the enemy armor! Rhino drivers, block the enemy from the Veterans, buy them enough time to scale the ruin. The Emperor smiles on you.”

The Blood Angel’s armored advance continued, all guns trained on the enemy vehicles, save the predators, which looked to avenge their fallen comrade. They succeeded; utterly destroying a squadron of foe’s armed with launchers.

Mephiston continues his advance, ready to charge into the foolish enemies so clustered together. He would secure the final artifact for extraction. His sword crackled with psychic might as he prepared his mind for combat.

The veteran’s at the base of the ruin took aim at an enemy tank with their multi-meltas, and vaporized it, the ensuing explosion killing fully half of the occupants. The rest surged upwards, looking for targets with a hint of rage in their eyes.

<><><><><>

Movement:
Sternguard get out, one squad with no line of sight climbs up a floor, the other stays put, eyeing a rhino. The now empty rhino’s prepare to sacrifice themselves to allow all the sternguard to climb up, preventing the cavalry from charging them. Mephiston continues forward, passing Wings.

Shooting:
Sternguard multi-melta a rhino to death.
Lasbacks explode another rhino, killing 5 hunters, who pass morale.
Predators kill one squad of Long Fangs.

Assault:
None

<><><><><>

Turn 2, Wolves

Lord Bogar kicked his fearsome Thunderwolf mount in the ribs, telling it to surge forward.

“Now brothers! Destroy all who would deny the Allfather!”

Every available Grey Hunter took aim at the silhouetted forms of enemy marines in the ruined building directly in front of them. Amidst the roar of sacred boltguns, the squads of cavalry surged forward, readying weapons for the carnage that waited.

Bogar spotted an imposing figure, lit only by what he assumed was psychic power, and, bellowing an oath out to Russ, charged in. His squad surged past him, annihilating the enemy vehicles foolish enough to get close.

Conan muttered a curse, Bogar had passed him! Regardless, he prepared to destroy the nearest enemy, but took the time to order one of his men to be ready to assist Bogar should he need it.

Even as he tore the weapon off a traitor rhino, he heard more than saw the salvo of missiles aimed at enemy tanks.

Bogar closed with his foe, who seemed to have the strength of ten thunderwolves in his arm, and the rage to match. He nearly succeeded in blocking all the vicious sword strokes aimed his way, but was caught off guard by a sudden thrust, which impaled him through the stomach. He nearly let out a scream of agony as some form of psychic energy coursed through his body, nearly causing every nerve to be incinerated. Through sheer force of will, he regained his wits, and spat out blood at this worthy foe.

Seeing their lord’s plight, two fellow Wolf Riders closed on the psyker, intent on avenging Bogar. Forced to duck under the swings of his sword, they proceeded to hammer the enemy in both legs, fatally crippling him.

To Mephiston’s surprise, the beast of a marine still impaled on his sword stirred himself. His surprise was to be his end, as even as he felt two crushing impacts from behind, he saw a massive hammer, coming at him like the fist of the Emperor. Pinned as he was, he couldn’t dodge, and was launched backwards off his feet, blood and bits of armor spraying outwards as his body sailed through the air, interrupted only by the sudden crushing impact of stone.

Snarling, Bogar turned his attention back towards his overall objective; securing the remaining artifacts, along with the total destruction of the traitors.

<><><><><>

Movement:
Surviving Rhino moves forward.
Calvary moves around dangerous terrain, ready to multi-assault a lot of enemies.

Shooting:
Long fangs succeed only in shaking the front Predator.
Every Grey hunter (30 bolters or so) target a single squad of veterans, and succeed in slaying only one.
The bolterbacks fair no better, failing to kill anything.

Assault:
All told, the Thunderwolf Cavalry charges both enemy rhinos, Mephiston, and a lasback.
Three Thunder Hammer armed Wolves direct all their attacks at Mephiston, who strikes first, having passed Rage, Sword, and activated his force weapon. He hits and wounds with all his attacks, but only one storm shield save is failed, which happens to be on Bogar, who, with Saga of the Bear, has Eternal Warrior, and lives. They then pulp him back.
One rhino is destroyed, one loses its stormbolter, and the lasback is destroyed.

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A Gathering Storm (a series of 2500 point games, with fluff)