Narrative Bat Rep

[Maccon]

Since this is my first offical post in the Fang, or on the forum for that matter, a little about myself. I've been playing 40K since back in the days of third edition...I know from that short snort in the back that such a thing means little to many of the Long Fangs around here. I've always been a fan of the Wolves, although it took me a long time before I finally joined Russ's chosen. I finally started my own army about 2 years ago. I've been quietly lurking about the forums for about 5 months now and have at last come out of the cold.

 

One of my favorite aspects of 40K has always been the stories of the battles themselves. And so without further ado, as my introduction to the Fang, here's one of them.

 

(NOTE: I'm long winded...so the story is long. If you like the tale, cool, if not...go find yourself another skald. Either way have an ale after you finish this, you deserve it.)

 

Wolf Guard Asvald, currently in command of a selection of the finest warriors of the Great Wolf’s company surveyed the open plain before him. Somewhere off in the darkness of pre-dawn sat his enemy, holding fast to their strongpoint. The battle had stalled for some time now, lines drawn up and neither side giving way. Asvald knew that for the Wolves of Fenris to win they must punch a hole through the makeshift headquarters their opponents had erected. That they were Astartes was of no doubt. That they claimed to be the Luna Wolves was suspect. That name was stricken from records and long gone, to the company of the Great Wolf it was a name of traitors of the worst kind. That alone demanded their removal from this planet, be they corrupted by the ruinous powers or no. Asvald sniffed the air once, detecting the faint aroma of anointing oils and the exhaust of chain weapons. His enemy was to the fore; he grinned, his long canines gleaming in the waning moonlight. “Advance.”

 

A rhino rumbled up quietly, using darkness as cover, Asvald following behind in his bulky terminator armor. Behind came the sound of thunder as a drop pod slammed into the ground near the wolves’ strongpoint. A squad of gray hunters led by Wolf Guard Ludin took up firing positions on a berm of earth nearby. As the sun finally crested the horizon, Ludin’s squad greeted the morn with a staccato of bolter rounds that tore into their distant enemy.

 

The sun also exposed the rhino to enemy fire, its drivers wisely deploying a screen of smoke. Moments later rockets flew through the rolling black clouds, their gunners’ aim spoiled. Still the squad inside had little desire to be inside a transport facing that amount of fire. One of the Gray Hunters regarded Asvald with a toothy grin, “You may stay in back if you need to catch your breath.” The Wolf Guard stared the wolf down and shouldered him aside, the Hunter’s scent speaking only of ribbing his leader, not challenging his skill. On the other side of the rhino Asvald could hear the crunch of power armored feet on gravel.

 

“Aye, we’ll see how tired I am. Keep up if you can pup.” With that he charged out around the corner of the Rhino and into his foe, his squad following behind with a howl to the Allfather.

 

Ludin watched from the relative security of the berm as the drop pod bearing the venerable Steinkal landed on the far side of the enemy’s fortification. The old one had always charged head-long into the fight in life, and his entombment in a dreadnaught had done little to change this. Ludin’s HUD spoke of a heat plume in the distance and he had little doubt that the so-called-wolves were feeling the Ancient’s wrath.

 

Further reinforcements rolled on the battlefield in the form of a Vindicator. The mighty battle tank rolled up to protect the exposed flank of the Space Wolves’ strongpoint. The arrival of the battle tank must have been guided by Russ himself for no sooner did it arrive than Ludin heard the high pitched whine of jump packs. A group of the Luna Wolves clad in shiny black armor dropped from a passing Thunderhawk. But their jump was misplaced, and the wind carried them closer to the Wolves than was safe. Ludin watched as a shell from the Vindicator landed amongst the enemy troops. Even through his armor he could feel the shockwave from the detonation and watched as rock and ceramite covered flesh was shredded and torn asunder. He doubted the assault troops would pose any threat now.

 

A warning flashed and Ludin turned his attention elsewhere. Steinkal’s communication system had gone offline, and a moment later there was another detonation across no-man’s land. The Ancient had fallen, and for a moment the worst was feared. Then the wolves detected a solid signal from Steinkal’s sarcophagus. His body may have once again been lost but he would fight again. “As this point he’s just too stubborn to die” Ludin’s pack mates chuckled before continuing to pour fire towards their opponents.

 

There was a squeal into the vox and Ludin could barely make out the call for aid going through it; it was coming from the Vindicator. Apparently the damage to the assault marines was less extensive than Ludin had first assumed. His opponents were stubborn too. His thoughts distracted by the now crippled Vindicator, Ludin almost missed the warning coming from his squad mates. The rest of his squad crouched in the berm as air-bursting rockets from a distant whirlwind hammered into his warriors. His terminator armor held, and Ludin was reminded of standing on the deck of his father’s ship in his youth, the storm wracked skies of Fenris throwing hail upon him. His squad did not fare so well, two of his brothers had slipped into the Red Dream.

Growling angrily Ludin turned to his squad, “Fall back to our strongpoint, take the wounded.” One of the younger pups made to challenge Ludin, he could smell it even through his helm’s filters, the whelp saw it as a needless retreat. A growl from Ludin stopped the comment in the younger wolf’s throat. “We are not retreating; we are covering our own strongpoint.”

 

Meanwhile, the final reinforcements for the sons of Russ burst onto the scene. A Land Raider Crusader sped towards the remains of ancient Steinkal, intent on recovering him. Asvald smiled as he watched the Crusader rush towards the fight. Inside was a squad of blood claws led by Wolf Priest Hedin. Asvald was sure that the old priest was whipping the pups into a fury over the fall of the Ancient. The Crusader fired several grenades into the enemy strongpoint. No sooner had they detonated than a wave of ceramite and steel slammed into the bedraggled defenders. The howl of the blood claws echoed across the field above the din. Asvald turned to his brothers, “Do we want to let those pups steal all the glory?” With a cry to their Primarch, the gray hunters ran towards the melee.

 

Ludin and his squad watched the approach of the remaining assault marines. Their commander was crying out to his squad whipping them into a zealous fervor. Ludin and his squad burst from cover and smashed into the remains of the assault marines. The black armored commander moved among the gray hunters, each blow felling one. Feeling the beast swell within him Ludin charged into the enemy commander. Ludin felt his killing song upon him, and slammed into his opponent like an avalanche. His thunder hammer rained blow after blow battering through his opponent’s defenses. By the time Ludin felt the beast within him recede the commander was broken before him, all his opponents destroyed. His squad had held the strongpoint against counter attack.

 

By the time Asvald and his squad reached the enemy strongpoint the action had been bloody. Many of the blood claws had fallen, but the enemy had fared worse. A crash ahead revealed an enemy dreadnaught striding towards the Space Wolves. Asvald felt a hand arrest the start of his charge. He gazed at the skulled helm of Hedin. “No” the old Priest’s voice came from the vox like the grind of gravel across a glacier. “No, they are honorable warriors. Their ancient is merely protecting his retreating forces. Let them go.” “Besides…” Asvald could feel the cold smile from the long fanged warrior, “we have bled them…have their scent, and now they run.” The rest of Great Company approached the now broken enemy line. The stalemate had ended, the battle turned in favor of the True Wolves. “And we Wolves do so love the hunt.”

[Wena]

Excellent... I rarely make it through a narrative Batrep, this one was a pleasure. I will now enjoy my ale... and welcome Wolf Brother...

 

Wena

[Max_Dammit]

Nice read, Next time some pics to spice things up a bit :)

[Grey Mage]

Eh... that wasnt so long winded at all. Still, nicely done. Did your opponents actually play a luna wolves force or was it something else?

 

Welcome to the fang, first Ales on me, the rest are on you tonight :).

[Grimmwulf]

It was a pleasure to read. made me want to grab my army and play a game right now.

[Sister Kyrie]

I did indeed play a Luna Wolves force. 10th Company, with elements of 1st. :)

 

And we throughly object to being labeled "traitor!" Clearly Russ' sons have gone crazy. To even think about striking down a brother Astartes! Horus will hear about this once we get back to the fleet...where ever it's gone to...and he will be having a LONG talk with Russ!

 

Meanwhile, since we have recovered from the shock of fighting fellow Astartes, if the Wolves intend to keep at this insanity, we are fully prepared to finish whatever they start.

[Longfang_Vigour]

Great job with the Narrative!

[Warhorse47]

Thanks for a well written story.