KiwiBen revisits Adepta Sororitas

[KiwiBen]

So, I wrote this.  The beginning of the History of the Order of the Gilded Chalice describes the Order's Homeworld, Damaris:

 

The Convent of the Order of the Gilded Chalice is situated on the Cardinal World of Damaris, located in the Koronus Expanse sub-sector of the Halo Stars. The Convent adjoins the Diocese Palace in Saint’s Rest, the capitol city of Damaris. The Diocese Palace is built on the site of the Martyrdom of Saint Agueda during the Eretraxian Heresy.

 

Damaris is situated near the Galactic Eastern tip of the warp-rift known as the God-Emperor’s Scourge. It has only been rediscovered by the Imperium relatively recently, and the first 100 or so Terran years since its discovery were tumultuous. Under the rule of the Adeptus Ministorum however, Damaris has grown into a powerful influence in the Koronus Expanse, and the wider Halo Stars sector, in a very short period of time.

 

Damaris was first identified by Rogue Traders exploring the Koronus Expanse in 478 M41. Although, due to warp-storms caused by its proximity to the warp-rift God Emperor’s Scourge, the planet was not able to be contacted or visited by trade or religious delegations until late in 523 M41. Those early delegations found what appeared to be a thriving Knight World. The knightly houses of Damaris had long since eradicated any native threats to the human population, and the rich resources of Damaris were supporting a healthy planetary commerce and a large (if slightly backwards and superstitious) populace, of an estimated 4-6 billion souls. The dominant power on Damaris was House Eretraxes, the leading knightly house, and the Eretraxian High King ruled all of Damaris. A handful of nobles of lesser houses, and lower ranking Eretraxian nobles governed the various regions of Damaris in the name of the High King, but all were pledged to obey the ruler of House Eretraxes in all things.

 

The general population of Damaris, a superstitious and poorly educated people, quickly adopted the Imperial Truth preached by the Missionaries sent to Damaris. Their leaders however, proved to be somewhat reticent, and shortly after the arrival of these early representatives of the Ecclesiarchy, worrying tales began to filter back to the Adeptus Ministorum of dark rituals and bloody sacrifices being practiced by many of the ruling elites of the knightly houses of Damaris. The Adeptus Ministorum dispatched an Ecclesiastical Mission to Damaris, which included a significant force of Sisters from the Order of the Bloody Rose. Aided by the Ordo Hereticus of the Emperor’s most holy Inquisition, the Mission soon determined that the noble houses of Damaris were harbouring a Khorne-worshipping cult – and at the cult’s core were the leading nobles of House Eretraxes.

 

In what became known as the Eretraxian Heresy, the worshippers of the foul Chaos god were systematically purged from Damaris by the joint forces of the Adeptus Ministorum, the Inquisition, and the Storm Lords chapter of the Adeptus Astartes. The Eretraxian Heresy took a terrible toll on the knightly houses of Damaris. All of House Eretraxes were exposed as heretics, and many of the minor houses followed them into damnation. Of the few houses that sided with the Imperium, most were utterly wiped out. Damaris’ populace, for the most part, refused to take up arms against the heretical knightly houses – the Imperial Creed, while widely embraced by the population, was “new” and the traditions and hierarchies of Damaris proved too deeply ingrained for them to completely abandon their loyalties. They recognised the heresy of their rulers, but could not bring themselves to fight against them.

 

The impact of the Eretraxian Heresy on Damaris was catastrophic. A full third of the Damarian population had been killed, mostly towards the end of the Heresy large-scale sacrifices by the heretic nobles, who turned their Knight-Titans on their subjects as they grew increasingly desperate to gain the attentions and blessings of their fell God. House Eretraxes was destroyed – although a few surviving members managed to flee off-world. Of those knightly houses that remained loyal, only a few minor nobles survived the Heresy and the subsequent purges by the Inquisition. Damaris’ entire ruling caste had collapsed. It was into this vacuum that the Adeptus Ministorum stepped.

 

In 581 M41, Damaris was re-designated as a Shrine World, in honour of the martyrdom of Saint Agueda of the Order of the Bloody Rose. The Adeptus Ministorum assumed governance of the planet, and set about crafting Damaris into a shining beacon of faith in the God-Emperor of Mankind, dispatching a leading Ecclesiarchy figure from the nearby Calixis Sector, Pontifex Eberardo. Upon arrival on Damaris, Pontifex Eberardo ordered the construction of a Chapel in honour of the fallen Saint, on the site of her martyrdom. Over the years, the Chapel has grown into a sprawling complex of shrines and cathedrals. At the centre of this complex rises the Diocese Palace, and an annexe which houses the Convent of the Order of the Gilded Chalice.

 

Pontifex Eberado’s first edict as ruler of Damaris was to impose a penance-tithe on the planet’s surviving population for their failure to properly persecute their heretical former rulers. To this day, the first-born child of every family on Damaris, upon the occasion of the 5th anniversary of their birth, must be delivered up by their parents to the Diocese Palace in Saint’s Rest. From that day onwards, their life will be dedicated to the Adeptus Ministorum. They will spend the rest of their lives knelt in one of the many great Cathedrals which adjoin the Diocese Palace – voices raised in prayer until the day that they die.

 

Within 20 Terran years, Pontifex Eberardo was elevated to the role of Cardinal of Damaris, with responsibility for the newly established Diocese of the Koronus Expanse, and Damaris was again re-designated – this time as a Cardinal World.

 

Now, as M41 draws to a close, interplanetary trade now thrives, thanks in large part to the resources of Damaris being exported to further the Imperium’s expansion and exploration deeper into the Halo Stars. Pilgrims flock to Damaris, having braved the treacherous journey from the planet of Fort Wander through the Koronus Passage. The city of Saint’s Rest reverberates constantly with the voices of millions of tithed souls, reciting endless prayers to the God-Emperor of Mankind. The prayers of faithful are amplified and broadcast into space by hallowed technology that has been shipped to Damaris from the Ecclesiarchal Palace on Holy Terra itself. Since this began, the warp-rift God-Emperor’s Scourge seems to have calmed, and the warp-storms which for so long isolated Damaris have abated. To the Adeptus Ministorum, this is irrefutable evidence of the divine protection of the Emperor. However, there are those who suspect that it may simply be a consequence of the psychic resonance which must surely emanate from Damaris – a by-product of the endless prayers of so many millions. Of course, such theories are surely heresy, and it would only be a fool or an apostate who would dare speak them aloud.

 

Damaris is now a truly blessed world. It is making great progress in erasing the scars and the shame of the Eretraxian Heresy, and has become a powerful political and spiritual force in the Halo Stars.

 

I'd be interested in any feedback from those of you who have the patience to read the hidden wall of text!

Edited January 11, 2017 by KiwiBen

[WarriorFish]

Was a good read, I'm not quite sure on the last bit though seems a bit quick for them to be having such a large effect on the storm. Perhaps it'd be better if it was scaled down to be a bit vaguer in classic 40k style, for example the storm is unusually calm and the Cardinal claims it to be divine protection and reward but nobody can be sure or something similar?

[KiwiBen]

Hmm, you might be right Warriorfish. Though on re-reading that part, it perhaps sounds like it's only taken 20 years for this to happen... in my mind the Cardinal is long dead, as all this took place circa 600 M41. So they've had a good few hundred years of prayer broadcasts!

 

That said, I do like the idea of simply calming the warp storms down a bit, rather than stopping them altogether... the Halo Stars are supposed to be a bit of a dangerous galactic wilderness... so it seems more appropriate

[KiwiBen]

So, in between painting my Vow, and playing the highly addictive Pokemon Go (is that likely to result in the Ordo Xenos coming knocking?  I'm not sure...), I managed to stumble on a day when the NZ version of GW's webstore actually appeared to have some Penitent Engines in stock (they've been disappearing and reappearing periodically lately...)

 

I decided that it was a sign from Him on Terra, and purchased 2 more to add to the 1 that I've had languishing in a box at home.  It is high time that he stopped lollygagging around, and got out there and slayed some heretics.  Hopefully having a few mates along will offer the necessary inspiration/encouragement.

 

EDIT: my act of contrition and repentance for allowing myself to be sidetracked from good works in His name shall be to assemble 3 Penitent Engines.  I think that more than evens things up...

Edited July 8, 2016 by KiwiBen

[Servant of Dante]

I had a much worse time with the turret on my immolator than I did with my penitent engine.

 

Yes, I've said that several times before

[KiwiBen]

I had a much worse time with the turret on my immolator than I did with my penitent engine.

 

Yes, I've said that several times before

 

Having just assembled 2 Immolator turrets, I can relate...  I find them to be a bit of a hassle - particularly the gunner's hands.

 

It remains to be seen whether the Penitent Engines are as bad as everyone says they are... they certainly have a reputation... 

[Servant of Dante]

 

 

I had a much worse time with the turret on my immolator than I did with my penitent engine.

 

Yes, I've said that several times before

Having just assembled 2 Immolator turrets, I can relate... I find them to be a bit of a hassle - particularly the gunner's hands.

 

It remains to be seen whether the Penitent Engines are as bad as everyone says they are... they certainly have a reputation...

I didn't actually pin mine, so that's probably a factor. Just a gallon of guerrilla glue

[KiwiBen]

So these arrived today...  Some heretics are about to get chainsawed and burninated.

 

http://i1288.photobucket.com/albums/b498/bm_foster1/ETL%20V%20-%20WIP%20Pics/20160714_1155231_zpsvdi4p7ud.jpg

[Servant of Dante]

Woot!

[CaptainHelion]

I should have known something was up when I felt the earth shake beneath me! It was the postie delivering your Engines!

[Frater Cula]

Nice Sisters, KiwiBen!  It's always a pleasure to see a 40k Triple Threat- playing, painting, and writing.  *grin*  Will you take an army-wide shot some time, do you think?

 

If you want to write more background, keep the Liber Astartes subforum in mind.  I think any homebrew organizations (Knight Houses, Sororitas Orders, etc.) are welcome, and people there might enjoy reading what you've written, and help you polish it up.

[Brother Sefiel]

Greetings

Not seen this before, and it's been a pleasing read. Very nice work.

I have a sister (or two) looking to get a combi-melta, but hadn't been inspired about what to do with the other hand, so your idea with the scroll is something I may well do.

[KiwiBen]

Thanks for the comments folks.  

 

@Frater Cula - there will be some more writing in the pipeline.  I've actually got quite a bit more in a draft state already, but it needs a little bit of tidying up yet...  I'll definitely keep the Liber Astartes subforum in mind though. It hadn't occurred to me, but it would would be a great way to get some feedback on the Order's background specifically.  Regarding an Army Shot, I might get one up once ETL finishes?  Truth be told, I haven't actually got that much painted yet...  I've got a mountain of Sisters that desperately need to see the pointy end of a paintbrush!

 

@Brother Sefiel - thanks!  If you do decide to go with the scroll option - Just don't make the same mistake as I did... It never occurred to me (until I was painting the scroll...) that the piece I used is actually a Canoness right hand, and I've put it in the left hand on the Sister Superior...  An embarrassing little oversight!  I must admit, that I cheated slightly, and just left it that way, and painted over the offending mutant thumb.  But it is nothing that a quick go with a file and a bit of greenstuff couldn't fix!  Suffice to say, the Sister Superior takes pains to ensure that her mutation, minor as it may be, remains hidden from prying eyes, for if it were discovered she would rightly be cast out of the Order, or worse.

Edited July 17, 2016 by KiwiBen

[KiwiBen]

I've finished my ETL Vow.  Plus a bonus unit of Seraphim that were sitting around half-completed.  My painting desk now has many more Sisters sitting on it awaiting base-coats...  I don't think I'm brave enough to attempt a second Vow this close to the finish line, but I'll aim to keep chugging along and get some more girls painted up.  

 

Pics...

 

http://i1288.photobucket.com/albums/b498/bm_foster1/ETL%20V%20-%20WIP%20Pics/20160807_093942_zpsbh7imrnb.jpg

 

http://i1288.photobucket.com/albums/b498/bm_foster1/ETL%20V%20-%20WIP%20Pics/20160807_094034_zpsowx7p6rv.jpg

 

http://i1288.photobucket.com/albums/b498/bm_foster1/ETL%20V%20-%20WIP%20Pics/20160807_094213_zpse2vgua6m.jpg

 

http://i1288.photobucket.com/albums/b498/bm_foster1/ETL%20V%20-%20WIP%20Pics/20160807_094529_zpsrppee5zu.jpg

 

Aaaand, a bonus (if somewhat blurry) family portrait:

 

http://i1288.photobucket.com/albums/b498/bm_foster1/ETL%20V%20-%20WIP%20Pics/20160807_095308_zps2lgs1m6q.jpg

[WarriorFish]

Fantastic colours as usual, great to have the army shot too. The priests stand out nicely yet still fit in, excellent work Kiwi :D

[KiwiBen]

Well, I made a rookie mistake...  I pre-ordered the excellent new Canoness model, and Codex: Imperial Agents, but also ordered a made to order Plasma-gun Priest with them.  That means my entire order will now be delayed while the Priest gets made...  So I won't have any of it until well into the new year.

 

In slightly happier news, I have completed my Vow of Penance and assembled 3 Penitent Engines.  They are now undercoated, awaiting the application of His blessed paint.  I have also assembled a large friend for them, in the form of a Cerastus Knight Castigator that I've had sitting around for the past 18 months.

 

Oh, and I've also got 5 Dominions, 2x 10 Battle Sisters, and 2x 5 Retrubutors loitering around on my painting desk with a basecoat applied.

 

Now I've just got to see whether I can force myself to actually paint some models.

[KiwiBen]

I thought people might be a bit interested in a little bit more background about the Patron Saint of the Order of the Gilded Chalice:

 

The Martyrdom of Agueda

 

At the beginning of the Eretraxian Heresy, Agueda was a Battle Sister of the Order of the Bloody Rose – part of the Ecclesiastical Mission sent to Damaris from the nearby Calixis Sector in the Segmentum Obscurus. While Agueda comported herself well on the battlefield and, like all Adepta Sororitas, was an exemplar of mankind’s faith in the God-Emperor, there was nothing about her which marked her out as special or different in any material way from any of her Sisters.

 

In the closing months of the Eretraxian Heresy, it was becoming increasingly clear that House Eretraxes was losing the war, and their actions became more and more depraved and desperate. The war-weary population had been caught in a deadly crossfire for years, and were already decimated by the fighting between the heretics and the Imperial forces. They now cowered in fear as the once-noble House Eretraxes began to slaughter huge numbers of its erstwhile subjects in great ritual sacrifices – an attempt to draw the attention of the Chaos God Khorne and earn his blessings and favour.

 

It was one such ritual that an advance force of Sisters of the Order of the Bloody Rose interrupted. Two Nobles of House Eretraxes, using the might of their Knight-Titans, had rounded up thousands of people from the surrounding farming villages and mining complexes. The hapless Damarians were crowded together into great huddles, a raging ring of flames encircling each group. Daemonic faces could be seen in the unholy fires, and the noise of the inferno mixed with the howls of the trapped prisoners and an eerie, otherworldly laughter that seemed to come from everywhere at once, somehow echoing around the wide open plain.

 

The Sisters’ force comprised only twenty-five Sisters, spread across three units, mounted in a pair of Rhinos and an Immolator. With their approach hidden by the thick, greasy smoke billowing across the blasted plains, the Sisters were able to surprise the Knights. However, this advantage was short-lived, and proved insufficient to even the odds between the two forces.

 

What little is known of the ensuing battle has largely been pieced together from the accounts of the Damarian prisoners who witnessed it, which have proved to be unreliable and riddled with inconsistencies, and a grainy vid-capture which was recovered from the column’s Command Rhino, which suffered significant damage, but was the only vehicle not to be destroyed in the encounter. The only two Sisters to survive – the crew of the Command Rhino – were both badly injured, and were unable to recall many details of what took place.

 

The great guns borne by the heretic Knights were turned on the Sisters’ column – warp-infused beams of molten heat reducing the lead Rhino to slag, and incinerating the ten Sisters within. As the remaining Sisters disembarked from their transports, the column’s Immolator turned its multi-meltas towards one of the Knights, landing a critical blow, and initiating a series of explosions in its magazine. In its death-throes, the great machine staggered towards the Sisters, and toppled forwards onto the Immolator that was the cause of its downfall. A critical meltdown in its reactor ignited the Immolator’s fuel tanks. The combination of the reactor meltdown and the fuel tank explosion sent the surviving Sisters flying, even as they were raked by fire from the remaining Knight.

 

The vid-capture of the engagement, just before it cuts out, shows a harrowing scene. As her Sisters lie dead and dying amongst the shrapnel and wreckage of the fallen Knight and their own transports, the lone figure of Sister Agueda staggers to her feet. It is just possible to make out in the images that her armour is torn and rent, and her movements appear to be slow and painful, one leg dragging uselessly. The vid-capture shows her bending down to retrieve something from the ground – an eviscerator which had been carried by the Veteran Sister Superior leading the column – as the hulking form of a massive Knight-Titan bears down on her. Agueda then staggers out of view of the camera. There is a blinding flash, and then the feed goes dead.

 

The rest of the story comes from the eye-witness accounts – and there are as many different versions as there were witnesses. What they all agree on however, is that there was a blinding light that seemed to emanate outwards from Sister Agueda, as she was borne aloft on wings of gold. At the same time, a torrential downpour began and doused the flames that had trapped the Damarian prisoners. Agueda, dwarfed by the Knight, rose high into the air, wielding the eviscerator, and plunged it through the carapace hatch of the Knight. The massive war machine staggered backwards, its systems failing as its heretic pilot died.

 

Bullets from the gatling cannon of the Knight seemed to bend around the glowing form of Sister Agueda as she flew at it once more and drove the eviscerator into its chest armour. Electrical fires broke out amongst the Knight’s critical systems. Smoke was billowing from the rent carapace hatch. Even with its pilot dead, and crippled as it was, the corrupted machine spirit of the Knight fought on, swinging its crackling power fist at Agueda. As the blow connected, Agueda was knocked clear of the flailing Knight, and landed heavily on the sodden earth.

 

After a series of shuddering explosions the Knight collapsed. Through choking smoke, some of the Damarian prisoners cautiously approached Agueda. Her body was crushed, and she was bleeding from the many cracks in her armour, yet her face was still surrounded by a soft halo of golden light. Many versions of the tale hold that a young child was the first to reach Agueda, filling a battered tin cup with rainwater, and holding it to the Sister’s lips. Finally, as the life ebbed from Agueda’s body, the halo faded.  One of the Damarian women removed a shawl from her own shoulders, and laid it across the fallen saint. The gathered Damarians knew they had witnessed something miraculous, tempered by great tragedy. As a sense of profound loss settled over those gathered, they began to sing dirges of mourning – traditionally reserved for the death of great Damarian nobles – for this off-world warrior, unknown to any of them, who had saved them all.

Edited January 11, 2017 by KiwiBen

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Your models look good, with skillfully applied paint. Your story of Aqueda's martyrdom is well-written.

[KiwiBen]

Thanks @Bjorn - I'm pleased with how the girls are turning out... plenty more to paint yet though.

 

In other news, I ordered the Triumvirate of the Imperium and the Fall of Cadia book yesterday... so that'll probably show up right around the same time as my "pre-ordered" Codex: Imperial Agents, made to order Priest, and Canoness Veridyan.

[KiwiBen]

So, after a very long hiatus from competitive gaming, I have actually signed up for (and paid an entry fee - so I'm committed) a tournament...  In my usual style, I have chosen a list that basically isn't painted, so I now have a little over 3 days to finish a metric cuss-ton of models.

 

The list I'm taking uses my new favourite Castellans of the Imperium detachment, focussed mainly around a core of Battle Sisters and Celestine.  It is an 1850 point list, which uses community comp.  Unfortunately Castellans isn't yet rated for Community Comp, but after some discussions with the TO, we've come up with a suitable penalty for the detachment.  The net result is that this list seems to sit at the tougher end of the spectrum for what people will be taking to this tournament.

 

HQ

 

Saint Celestine and Geminae Superia  [200]

(Supplement: Fall of Cadia, Vol 1)

 

Inquisitor Coteaz   [100]

(Codex: Imperial Agents)

 

Space Marine Captain   [150]

(Codex: Adeptus Astartes Space Marines), Chapter Tactics: White Scars, Bolt Pistol, Power Fist, Storm Shield, Frag & Krak Grenades, Space Marine Bike,

 

Troops

 

Battle Sister Squad (x8)   [111]

(Codex: Imperial Agents), Battle Sisters (x7): Boltguns, Bolt Pistols, Frag & Krak Grenades, Heavy Flamer (x1), Flamer (x1), Sister Superior: Bolt Pistol & Chainsword, Frag & Krak Grenades

Rhino (Dedicated Transport)  [40]

(Codex: Imperial Agents), Storm Bolter, Smoke Launchers, Searchlight

 

Battle Sister Squad (x8)   [121]

(Codex: Imperial Agents), Battle Sisters (x7): Boltguns, Bolt Pistols, Frag & Krak Grenades, Heavy Flamer (x1), Flamer (x1), Sister Superior: Bolt Pistol, Frag & Krak Grenades, Combi-Flamer

Rhino (Dedicated Transport)  [40]

(Codex: Imperial Agents), Storm Bolter, Smoke Launchers, Searchlight

 

Battle Sister Squad (x5)  [90]

(Codex: Imperial Agents), Battle Sisters (x4): Boltguns, Bolt Pistols, Frag & Krak Grenades, Meltaguns (x2), Sister Superior: Bolt Pistol, Frag & Krak Grenades, Combi-Melta

Immolator (Dedicated Transport)  [60]

(Codex: Imperial Agents), Twin-Linked Multi Melta, Smoke Launchers, Searchlight

 

Battle Sister Squad (x5)   [90]

(Codex: Imperial Agents), Battle Sisters (x4): Boltguns, Bolt Pistols, Frag & Krak Grenades, Meltaguns (x2), Sister Superior: Bolt Pistol, Frag & Krak Grenades, Combi-Melta

Immolator (Dedicated Transport) [60]

(Codex: Imperial Agents), Twin-Linked Multi Melta, Smoke Launchers, Searchlight

 

Militarum Tempestus Scions (x5) [90]

(Codex: Militarum Tempestus), Tempestus Scions (x4):Hot-shot Lasguns, Frag & Krak Grenades, Meltaguns (x2), Tempestor: Hot-shot Laspistol & Close Combat Weapon, Frag & Krak Grenades

 

Militarum Tempestus Scions (x5)  [90]

(Codex: Militarum Tempestus), Tempestus Scions (x4): Hot-shot Lasguns, Frag & Krak Grenades, Meltaguns (x2), Tempestor: Hot-shot Laspistol & Close Combat Weapon

 

Elites

 

Inquistorial Henchmen Warband (x4)  [22]

(Codex: Inquisition), Acolytes (x3): Laspistols, Psyker (x1): Laspistol

 

Inquistorial Henchmen Warband (x3)  [18]

(Codex: Inquisition), Acolytes (x2): Laspistols, Psyker (x1): Laspistol

 

Space Marine Command Squad (x5)   [200]

(Codex: Adeptus Astartes Space Marines), Chapter Tactics: White Scars, Veterans (x4): Bolt Pistols, Frag & Krak Grenades, Power Axes, Space Marine Bikes, Apothecary: Bolt Pistol, Chainsword, Narthecium, Space Marine Bike

 

Fast Attack

 

Stormtalon Gunship  [115]

(Codex: Adeptus Astartes Space Marines), Twin-linked Assault Cannons, Skyhammer Missile Launcher, Ceramite Plating

 

Heavy Support

 

Exorcist   [125]

(Codex: Imperial Agents), Exorcist Missile Launcher, Smoke Launchers, Searchlight

 

Exorcist  [125]

(Codex: Imperial Agents), Exorcist Missile Launcher, Smoke Launchers, Searchlight

Edited February 7, 2017 by KiwiBen

[WarriorFish]

Nothing like a deadline to get you painting models ;)

[KiwiBen]

Nothing like a deadline to get you painting models

 

I fear I may have bitten off more than I can chew this time though.  The SM Captain, Stormtalon, 2x melta BSS squads, and one of the flamer squads and their Rhino are painted.  All the rest is started, but nowhere near complete.  I see a few late nights in my future...

[Servant of Dante]

Obligatory (for me) comment about running sanctioned psykers still filthy witches with Sisters

 

looks like it will be a fun list to play though! Let us know how it goes

Edited February 7, 2017 by Servant of Dante

[KiwiBen]

So, I had a moderately successful weekend at Over The Top 2017.  Tournament was 5 games over 2 days at 1850 points. 

 

Game 1: Modified Maelstrom vs CSM (Traitor Legions - World Eaters) - LOSS

 

His list included 3x units of spawn, 1x bikers, Juggerlord, Jump Pack Lord, 1x Terminators, 2x CSM squads, 2x Helldrakes, and a unit of Havocs.  I suffered a loss here, mainly due to being stuck on my side of the table trying to fight off units of spawn from turn 1.  It made it quite hard to move around to claim the objectives I needed in order to earn Maelstrom Points.  The mission was fun though, we only had one deck of Maelstrom Cards, always drawing to ensure there were 3 in play and each of us were trying to achieve the same ones, and could discard 1 in our turn as usual.  It made for some interesting and tactical thinking about what objectives your opponent might be able to achieve in his turn and making sure to discard those to rob him of the points.  This was an excellent game - may favourite of the weekend - great opponent, good fun.  

 

Game 2: Modified Kill Points vs Legion of the Damned, Assassins, Inquisition - WIN

 

This list was interesting... 4x 10 man LOTD squads, the 4x Assassin Formation, and a cheap inquisitor.  I won this game.  The modified kill points afforded 1 kp for Troops, 2 kp for Elite/Fast/Heavy, and 3 kp for HQ/LoW.  His entire army being Elites and HQ played into my hands quite well here.  His LotD squads also arrived a little bit piecemeal, which meant I was able to deal with 1 or 2 at a time, rather than having 40 3++ marines arrive in my deployment zone at the same time!  Deep striking Storm Troopers earned their keep in this game, taking out his Inquisitor (hiding far in the backfield), and the Vindicare.

 

Game 3: Maelstrom vs Grey Knights, Inquisition - DRAW

 

This was your classic Nemesis Strike Force List with OM Inquisitor and Servo Skulls.  2 Librarians, big unit of Terminators, 15 Purifiers, Storm Raven, 2 Nemisis Dreadknights, OM Inq.  The draw came down to my last turn scrambling efforts to rack up enough Maelstrom Points.  Again, Deep Striking Storm Troopers proved their talents for wasting hiding Inquisitors.  I largely ignored the big Terminator unit with the Libbys in it, and focussed on killing the other things.  This was a cool game - beautifully painted and converted army (made to look like Custodes, complete with Grav Rhinos).  Grey Knights being my other main army, I knew this was going to be a challenge.  This opponent actually went on to win the tournament, so I'm pretty pleased with a draw.

 

Game 4: Objectives vs Dark Eldar - Win

 

This game had 4 objectives on the board - 1 in each corner (6" from each corner of the table).  Aim of the game was to hold as many as you could at the end of the game.  My opponent had 3 Ravagers (Dark Lances), 3x 5man troops in Venoms, 1x Trueborn in Venoms, Haemonculus with Chronos and Talos (formation), a Lhamean in a Venom, and 3x 6 Jetbikes.  The table had very dense ruins terrain, which meant his vehicles were drawing 4+ cover saves usually (3+ with nightshields), which made them very hard to deal with.  Fortunately, the terrain also shielded my transports from the worst of his firepower, and meant that I was able to get right up the table (we started on the short table ends for deployment).  With my little Henchmen Squads hiding in my backfield (on my own objectives) I managed to get my Battle Sister Squads up the table and onto his by the end of the game, to claim 4 objectives to 0.  ObSec is an extremely valuable thing - and Coteaz grants it to every non-vehicle unit in my list!  This was a cool opponent to play, and he lives not far from my Dad, so when I'm down that way visiting, I expect we'll try to line up a game or 2.

 

Game 5: Objectives vs KDK (?) - Draw

 

This was the hardest game I had.  The list was 6x Maulerfiends, 2x Soulgrinders, and a Brass Scorpion. and they were also summoning skullcannons onto the table using blood tithe points.  I was pushing  uphill from turn 1 trying to deal with them all, especially with them being so fast.  Luckily the corner deployment let me hide as far away as possible to get max turns of shooting with Exos and Immolators.  Everything else basically started in reserve.  When Celestine arrived, she proved what a beast she is - her and the bikers were pulling off multi-charges against 2 or 3 engines, and she just chewed through them.  I think her final tally was 3 Maulersfiends and 1 Soulgrinder.  I knew I couldn't deal with the Brass Scorpion, so I largely ignored it, just feeding it the odd unit.  Luckily ObSec came to the rescue here again, and we drew the game 3 objectives each.  

 

What I Learned:

 

Ob-Sec is awesome. Coteaz will be an auto-include in all my future Castellans of the Imperium Army Lists.

 

Deep Striking Storm Troopers are good value.  And when they inevitably die, they can recycle on a 5+.

 

Celestine is a total badass.  She survived every game, and only had to resurrect herself once.  She can tank wound very effectively, and her armourbane sword is very useful.

Edited February 13, 2017 by WarriorFish
Please don't dodge the swear filter

[A.T.]

I'm curious as to why you held Celestine in reserves so much?