Incursion: The Ritual
The Rival Duo, competing Lords of Chaos who have, for reasons unknown to the Imperium, joined forces are attempting a ritual to summon additional forces to their service.
Strike Force Arastos detect the anomalous energy source and investigate, finding the forces of chaos already in position to begin their foul sorcery.
Mission: Incursion (PL 50 per side): The Ritual
Attacker: Imperial Fists
Defender: Chaos
Pregame / Deployment
Knowing that they were investigating reports of Chaos activity, and remembering what happened the last time he faced the vile traitorous forces, Arastos decided to bring along his Chief Librarian, Xenokrates, rather than Brother Nikephoros, to stem the onslaught of foul sorcery. Alas, it was for naught, as there were no Psykers in this particular enemy.
Imperial Fists won the won to determine Attacker / Defender, and chose to attack, since it seemed to fit the narrative better, though it would have been a more prudent choice to defend, and make the Rival Duo walk into the superior firepower the Fists brought to the fight.
The Ritual zone was marked out on the map, the Khorne Terminator Lord was nominated as the Warlord and duly placed in position inside the Ritual zone.
The Imperial Fists placed their two objectives very aggressively, since they figured they had to get into the Ritual zone to disrupt the ritual. Chaos places their two objectives defensively, and occupies them with troops.
Strike Force Arastos forms up in a phalanx, ready to rush the Ritual zone, blasting everything with bolter fire on the way in.
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| Chaos deployment, Ritual zone marked out in center. Cultists hold the left objective, CSM hold the right. |
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| Phalanx of Terminators, ready to steamroll. |
The Rival Duo won the roll off, and chose to go first.
Turn 1 - Rival Duo
Dark Apostle's Litany was inspiring, though since it buffed himself in close combat, was meaningless...this turn.
The 5 Khorne Berzerkers and 5 CSM disembarked from the Rhino, and took up guarding positions around the Khorne Lord performing the ritual.
The Rhino advanced and blocked the forward movement of the terminator swarm.
There was limited shooting, and 1 terminator was killed from Squad Isokales.
SCORE
Rival Duo: 10 (perform Ritual action)
Arastos: 0
Turn 1 -Strike Force Arastos
Squad Thanatos moved into position to finish off the Rhino blocking their path, and the three Terminator squads fanned out to bring righteous bolter fire onto their enemies, swiftly wiping out the two units acting as guards for the Ritual.
Chief Librarian Xenokrates manifested Smite on the Rhino (2 MW) and Veil of Time on Squad Thanatos (Thunder Hammers). And I totally forgot about Null Zone and why I brought it. Damnit.
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| Thanatos has wrecked the Rhino, and consolidated forward. |
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| With minimal casualties, Arastos is poised to strike into the Ritual zone. |
SCORE
Rival Duo: 10
Arastos: 0
Turn 2 - Rival Duo
Realizing he cannot just try to outshoot the Fists, the Khorne Lord orders almost everyone forward, including himself, abandoning completing the Ritual.
The Dark Apostle fails to inspire himself with his self-buffing Litany, as he moves into position to assault Squad Thanatos. He is joined by the Khorne Terminator Lord, beside him, and the Greater Possessed comes racing around to attack Thanatos from behind.
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| Three Chaos characters engage Squad Thanatos, Dark Apostle on the left, Khorne Terminator Lord on the right, and a Greater Possessed in the back. They kill two. |
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| Khorne spawn engage Squad Hektor, killing four of five, leaving the Sergeant alone. |
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| Slaanesh Jump Lord and Slaanesh Spawn charge into Squad Isokrates... |
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| ...and wipe them out. |
SCORE
Rival Duo: 30
Arastos: 0
Turn 2 - Arastos
Chief Librarian Xenokrates manifests Veil of Time and Smite (on the Greater Possessed)...again...and I forget about Null Zone...AGAIN. Let this be a lesson...remember why you brought a unit. I do remember abut Veil of Time. Thanatos whiffing, coupled with me totally forgetting about Null Zone sets me up for what follows.
Also, Chapter Master Arastos charges the Khorne Spawn (on the left) and wipes them out.
The Greater Possessed killed the Chief Librarian before he got to swing.
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| Chief Librarian Xenokrates in the center, and within range to protect everyone with Null Zone, then I forget all about it, and why I brought a Librarian in the first place. |
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| The beneficiaries of Veil of Time, but out of support range from Arastos, Squad Thanatos struggles to get through Invul saves. |
SCORE
Rival Duo: 30
Arastos: 10
Turn 3 - Rival Duo
The Dark Apostle inpires himself with his Litany of extra attacks, but doesn't even get to use them.
The Havocs take down the lone Sergeant with firepower.
The Slaanesh Jump Lord takes down Arastos on the charge.
The Greater Possessed finishes off the Sergeant from Squad Thanatos.
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| The last survivors of Strike Force Arastos, before they get wiped out. |
SCORE
Rival Duo: 90 (End of turn 5)
Arastos: 10
Summary
I completely deserved that ass kicking. I specifically teched the Chief Librarian to negate character Invul saves, and then didn't stay in a nice tight cluster, where everyone could benefit from the multiple auras. My hammers ran off on their own, unsupported, and I opened up huge gaps in my lines where heroes could either run through or jump over. And I totally forgot about Null Zone, and it would have made a huge difference.
I deployed my two objectives very aggressively, like I expected to just bully my way into his deployment zone. Mistake. I should have realized I was the shootier army, and put the objectives where I could stand on them and just shoot him.
Hopefully, I can learn from these mistakes. Otherwise, I can expect another whipping like that.
Beyond that, Squad Thanatos and Squad Drakon both picked up a Battle Scar, they are both Fatigued.
My Librarian was Marked for Greatness (not his fault I am an idiot and can't remember my own spells).
Squad Thanatos earned 2 bonus XP for Reaper, and the Librarian earned 3 XP for Lord of the Warp, before he died to a Greater Possessed.
On the Chaos side, the Slaanesh Jump Lord killed three units, earned 2 XP for Reaper AND earned XP for Kingslayer. Quite a day for that vile villain.
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