25,000 pt Marines vs Chaos Battle: Valley of Ash

[Dono1979]

Hey all,

 

Just partook in a demo game of apoc out a new club near me (Goulburn) with great success. 25,000 points on the table and run was had by all.

 

Here is the fluff battle report from the website, however there are some additional pics and background info at the below link

 

http://aus40k.com/wiki/index.php?title=Thriving_Chaos_Cult_discovered_on_Styx

 

The game went for four turns and ended with the Marines up on VP by about 12-9.

 

Marines Key units:
approx 1600 of fortifications including an Aquila Strongpoint with Macro
2 Warhounds
1 Fellblade

 

Chaos Key units:
Hellhammer
Lord of Skulls
Ork Stompa
4 x Greater Daemons
Brass Scorpion
2 x Wraith Knights

 

Intending to fortify the planet and create a large scale staging post, the allied Templar and Space Wolf made planet fall on Styx to being work establishing a defense network and begin exerting full control over the planet. While the 'ruling' aristocracy of the planet knew of their true place in the universe, the rest of the planet was largely ignorant, something which was originally thought to be useful in maintaining an easily controlled population. Instead this provided a fertile spawning point for multiple Chaos Cults to spring up amongst the superstitious commoners.

 

Eager to protect their newly developing corrupted world, the powers controlling the cults felt it was time to reveal themselves and repeal the encroaching Astartes. While the marines built defense lines and automated weapon platforms, the leaders of the cult sects began a series of blood soaked ceremonies lasting weeks and spilling the life blood of hundreds of innocents. The rising a blood shrouded sun signified that the Gods within the warp had heard their call and deemed them worthy of notice.

 

With a terrifying roar which filled the very souls of every mortal within a thousand kilometers the curtain dividing the Immaterium tore in dozens of places along the marines lines, allowing tormented daemons and other warp denizens to spill onto the planets surface, polluting the once vibrant valley. Simultaneously ground forces moved into position across the valley from the marines and began shelling their position. At first, unnoticed, a contingent of Eldar war units moved within the daemonic forces, not appearing to command them, but certainly co-operating in some way.

 

Caught in the open the Marines quickly activated their sole portable shield generator in an effort to protect their primary means of retaliation on a large scale; two Legio Crucius Templari Warhound Titans and a fully operational Aquila Strongpoint whose Macro Cannon and accompanying machine spirit had just been awoken from slumber. From beneath the protective power of layer upon layer of void shields, the Princeps and their Moderati coaxed the unready Titans into battle stance and watched as the opposing horde grew and gigantic perversion of reality rolled across the valley floor towards them. Great winged Daemons, rolling towers of death, a perverted Baneblade chassis; all of which protected by numerous ground forces and minor daemons emerging to start tearing the flesh from the ant infantry at the Titans feet. Battle was quickly joined however as more Astartes units deployed into the fray, supported by the conscripted militia of the Kilrech Crusade and the Serf warriors of the Vlka Fenryka. The initial wave of rampaging Daemons was repelled and the besieged marines were finally able to launch their own counter assault.

 

Now fully awakened, the Titans shrugged off the protective cocoon of the shield generator and strode into the field, Plasma discharge flesh burning allies but vaporizing foes, glowing bolter shells littered the field knee deep as the Mega Bolter roared arcs of fire left and fire, but the incinerating firepower of the Turbo-Laser eclipsed them both and created new dawns each time the mighty engines braced to fire. Even with this cataclysmic firepower the mighty Daemons closed still, reaping souls after soul, making bloody sacrifices to their tormented Gods. The Marines began to fall.

 

Working in concert the Warhounds tried to carve a path through the enemy forces and protect the vital strong point rapidly becoming engulfed in enemy fire. The towering skull enbossed daemon fell, a giant mechanical scorpion exploded in such a bright fireball that dozens of targeting augaries failed, unable to see past the flare haze, along with regular troops in arcs around the Legio warriors. However they were not the only engine to stride on the field. A corrupted ork Stompa shambled its way through rock and bone towards the embattled Warhounds along with the slender shadowy forms of Eldar Wraight Knights.

 

As the demi gods collided, the opposite flank of the marines began to collapse, the supporting Fellblade erupted into flames and artillery emplacement was quickly overrun. Space Wolf reinforcements mounted in mighty landraiders arrived just as the defense lines were crumbling, in time to stage a second stand. Aerial support was largely ineffectual but managed to secure the skies, but with such close fighting few shots could be made and a number of interceptors were brought down by raging daemons dropping from the skies. In the midst of the lines a battle to mirror the titans but on an augmented human scale took place. A Praetor of the Kildrech Crusade gallantly teleported onto the field alone, and facing the opposing Warmaster, entering into single combat the two master of combat grappled to end the life of the other. Even with the support of a full squad of marines and one of his best Centurions the Templar Praetor fell to the hands of his, somewhat familiar yet older, opponent.

 

In sympathy one of the embattled titan also fell to the ground, its hydraulic legs buckling an crashing into the ruins around it, a sever blow struck, taking the Engine offline. Its surviving twin howled in anguish and laid about with its remaining weaponry, obliterating the enemy in its vicinity, giving the stricken Titans crew time to commence repairs, its own vital void shields sparking and spluttering trying to reignite. Over its slumping shoulder, a second hulking tower of skulls cleaved through the marines recently completed firebase, inside the protective shields and unable to prevent its own demise. There was no explosion, no thunderclap, just a faint wash of ozone and a tickling release of air pressure, as the fortifications machine spirit ceased to exist an its might Macro Cannon went offline.

 

Additional Space Wolf reinforcements began to flow into the defense lines, replenishing the shattered seigeworks, as more Daemonic giants entered the field, but the initial surprise of the assault had faded and orbiting reinforcements were signaling they were inbound, only requiring minutes for descent, land zones to disembark and targets to kill. Emboldened by the approaching allies, the marine forces pushed forward to buy additional time. The crippled Titan, having been given a reprieve by the Omnissiah and through miracle of work within the Engine itself by the crew, awakened and began rising, preparing to join its wounded and stumbling twin. However, unaware of its comrades survival, unable to restore its void shields and venting vital plasma into the Engines core, the Warhound strode forward into the waiting horde. Its revived brother raised its wolfish head to bray a warning howl only to be drowned out by the roaring super nova of a Titan engine core intentionally overloaded at critical.

 

As the ash from the vaporized crater began to fall on the battlefield it was evident that whilst the Daemonic incursion had failed to wipe eradicate the Astartes presence, it had inflicted a terrible toll. But worse; it was evidence that this was only the opening salvos of a long war to come, a war to reclaim a world back form the brink of daemonic possession.

[Honda]

Looks like you guys had a lot of fun and the twin Warhounds look excellent!

 

I think the visuals of your games will go up a couple notches once everything gets painted.

 

Cheers,

[Dono1979]

For sure, that game was a demo/introductory game for the new club out there. So really there were only a couple of us who had fully painted armies, the other four guys fielded what they could.

 

Hoping for some really pretty games this coming fortnight at Cancon, lots of painted terrain and only painted armies.

 

My Kildrech Apoc event Series should also start getting a lot more painted armies on the board with prizes to intice people.