[DW] Blackthorn/Swordhand: Episode III - The Sundered House

[Commissar Molotov]

ROUND 3 BEGINS

[Nineswords]

TWO MORE TRACKTION engines slowly rumbled their way across the square, the horde mobbing around them. They skittered and leapt, jabbing their makeshift weaponry to storm-wracked skies above. A fusillade of las rounds whittled down wretches who ran ahead, but a vestige of animal cunning remained, the majority of the horde using the tracktion engines as a shield.  It wouldn't be long before the mob could get close enough to the barricades to overwhelm the Imperial line.

 

Peering through his preysense scope, Greysight slowly swept the bolter round towards the next engine driver, a cluster of red globules indicating vital organs amongst the cold blue of the steel cockpit it sat in.

 

Holding is breath once again, he fired another round, momentarily lost in tumult of the horde's advance. The Storm Son was rewarded again almost immediately as he found his mark, the bolt round detonating upon impact with the hardened exoskeleton of the alien hybrid, piercing and shredding organs beneath. The thing keeled over, a clawed arm catching the steering mechanism as the dead body flopped out of cockpit onto the ground, causing the engine to lurch over into the first incapacitated tracktion engine, its tracks grinding slowly but neither vehicle moving.

 

Instinctively, the horde began to coalesce behind the remaining engine, hoping to use it as a spear tip. Several members of the mob climbed onto the engine's front to act as a living shield.

 

It wouldn't make a difference, thought Greysight, as he swept his boltgun over towards the third and final tracktion engine.

 

 

+++

 

OOC:

 

BS40

+20, Size

-20, Called Shot

D100: 29 (praise the Emperor!)

 

1D10+9 dmg, D10: 4

Driver killed

[Commissar Molotov]

GM: In the spirit of common sense and fairness, I'm happy to assume the remaining surviving traktion engine is the one that Atratus is targeting. 

[Steel Company]

How dare these… these things dare to touch me! His mind raced as several of these mutants gripped his left hand at the wrist, trying to pin his arm from being used to defend himself, This will not do! He seethed, relaxing his left shoulder before tensing it again to try and send some of these unclean things flying.

 

OOC: Spending a fate point to recover wounds:

Fate point to recover HP: 1d10 8

Brings Tyber up to 18 wounds

Graple;

Opposed Strength Test to escape grapple Target Number: 68 (48 base ST + 20 from PA)

STR test: 1d100 34 Pass with 5 DoS (3 DoS base +2 from Unantrual STX2)

 

GM: Opposed strength test against Tyber's 5 Degrees of Success

S30 (+Plus two assists): 23 (PASS) = 2 Degrees of Success

Tyber wins the opposed test, breaks free and may perform any Half Action. 

 

I will not die here! He thought to himself as he saw that the Man-beast still had not recovered from his swing, his shoulders were over extended, head low, guard down This is the perfect time to swing, Tyber thought, but neither of his baldes were in an ideal position, Unless I.. no, that is very unorthodox to strike like that. Not that I have much choice, this is too perfect a chance.

 

Loosening his grip on his arming sword, while rolling his right wrist to be palm up, with only his index finger and thumb gripping the handle, pommel slightly up, Tyber put all of his might and speed into the swing, changing his grip at the last second to be truly secure, pushing the handle tightly into his palm as the rest of his fingers gripped it tightly, the blade almost vanished against the mud and sky.

 

OOC:

Attempting to strike the big one:

WS test target number 58 (48 base +10 for size)

arming sword attack: 1d100 1

Spending fate for killing strike, makes attack unable to be dodged or parried

Arming sword damage: 1d10+15 25

Arming Sword RF damage: 1d10 7

Total damage: 32 Pen 3 Rending

 

It was an elegant swing, probably one of the best he had ever done to date, the onyx tip struck home and dug into the beast’s head.

 

That was when his enhanced senses noticed it, the tail of blood and gore following the tip through the air, it mixed with the rain that was coming down, splattering across the faces of a few of the lesser rebels. The force of the momentum of the blow forced Tyber to spin slightly, turning his head to the left as he came back around, trying the keep the beast in view, while reading his chain sword for a counter attack, unsure of what would be coming next from the beast.

 

In this moment, a moment of clarity, pure of motion, pure of purpose, he understood as the world turned slowly for him. He knew what he was meant for. That swing, the fluidity of it, the pure perfection of the strike, it had been something that Adavan had been trying to teach him, he was not meant to chase Sergio through the ranks, it was not where his talents lay, but this, seeking the best the enemy has to offer, the thrill of facing them down, this was where his talents lay, as he came around to face the beast again, he whispered “Thank you Adavan, for this last lesson, I know where my path should lead now.”

Edited August 20, 2018 by Steel Company

[Commissar Molotov]

GM: Opposed strength test against Tyber's 5 Degrees of Success

 

S30 (+Plus two assists): 23 (PASS) = 2 Degrees of Success

Tyber wins the opposed test, breaks free and may perform any Half Action. 

 

 

For convenience's sake I will resolve Tyber's actions and the Aberrant's response: 

 

 

 

Attempting to strike the big one:

WS test target number 58 (48 base +10 for size)

arming sword attack: 1d100 1

Spending fate for killing strike, makes attack unable to be dodged or parried

Arming sword damage: 1d10+15 25

Arming Sword RF damage: 1d10 7

Total damage: 32 Pen 3 Rending

 

Aberrant beast takes 32 Pen 3 Rending - the creature has TB10 and Armour 3(0) 

22 damage reduces the creature to 28 Wounds.

 

A grievous blow from the arming sword leaves a bloody runnel down what passes for the Aberrant-beast's face, obliterating one eye entirely. It roars, an almost reptilian sound that simply could not issue from a human throat, and swings its scythe one more time...

 

 

Round 3 Status and Initiative

Kill-Team Cohesion: 6

 

TYBER (SOLO) | AG43 ((4x2)+10) = 18 | WOUNDS 18/18(19) | FATE 3

SOLASTION ALBIKUS (SOLO) | AG33 ((3x2)+9) = 15 | WOUNDS 23/23 | FATE 3

KHYBER VAIDAN (SOLO) | AG39 (3+10) = 13 | WOUNDS 14/14(20) | FATE 2

SOUTH-EAST HORDE (LARGER) | AG30 (3+10) = 13

ABERRANT BEAST | AG30 (3+9) = 12

NYCAX SABAAN (SOLO) | AG43 (4+7) = 11 | WOUNDS 22/22 | FATE 3

SOUTH-EAST GUARDSMEN | AG30 (3+8) = 11

ATRATUS (SOLO) | AG65 (6+4) = 10 | WOUNDS 23/23 | FATE 3

GREYSIGHT (SOLO) | AG43 (4+6) = 10 | WOUNDS 22/22 | FATE 4

TRAKTION ENGINES | AG30 (3+7) = 10

NORTH-EAST HORDE | AG30 (3+7) = 10

DAON AKKAD (SQUAD) | AG45 (4+5) = 9 | WOUNDS 22/22 | FATE 2

HEAVY STUBBER TEAM | AG30 (3+6) = 9 

INTERROGATOR RYKEN | AG37 (3+5) = 8 | WOUNDS 20/20 | FATE 3

NORTH-WEST GUARDSMEN | AG30 (3+5) = 8

NORTH-EAST GUARDSMEN | AG30 (3+5) = 8

VÂRVOST (SOLO) | AG54 (5+2) = 7 | WOUNDS 21/21(24) | FATE 2

SOUTH-EAST HORDE | AG30 (3+3) = 6

SOUTH-WEST HORDE (SMALLER) | AG30 (3+3) = 6

NORTH-WEST HORDE | AG30 (3+2) = 5

SOUTH-WEST GUARDSMEN | AG30 (3+1) = 4

 

 

 

Edited August 20, 2018 by Commissar Molotov

[Slips]

”Brother Varvost, it seems that, in this scenario, Actions will speak louder than words. If you would join me, I would give you the benediction of Sanguinius before letting you do what you do best.”

Solastion attempts to enter squad mode as a free action:

Cohesion Test: 1d10 2 which succeeds.

As per his Scions of Sanguinius Ability, Solastion and Varvost, should he join squad mode, may now enter a frenzied state as a free action since Solastion has the Frenzy Talent. Solastion will only use his Free Action to enter a Frenzy after Varvost does so.

 

Being Frenzied confers the following Boni: +10 Weapon Skill, Strength, Toughness and Willpower but -20 Ballistic Skill and Intelligence. Additionally, they must attack the nearest enemy in melee if possible. The rest of the rules of Frenzy can be found on 119 Core.

 

Placing a hand onto Varvosts left shoulder, so that he may touch his Chapter Emblem, Solastion speaks over a private vox channel with the Eradicator.
++

O Sanguinus, Angel of Blood, Son of the Emperor, Genesire and Primarch to the XIth Legion!

Hear your faithful son this day!

Humbly doth he request your blessing upon himself and on those of the Blood who stand at his side!

May your light shine upon us,

So that with it the light of salvation we might bring the light of Salvation to the beleaguered!

May your fury course through us,

So that we may lay low those who array themselves against the Imperium we are sworn to protect!

May your will steel us,

So that we may pull back from the precipice of the Thirst!

May your gaze be ever on us,

 So that we can never truly be lost and ever be on the Righteous path!

++

 

His blessing is punctuated by him firing another semi-auto burst into the incoming horde with his Bolt Pistol once he finishes speaking it.

Semi-Auto Burst: 1d100 18 vs BS 49 + 60 (horde) = 109 vs 18 for 8 DoS for 2 Hits + 1 for the explosive damage type.

Damage w/ Tearing: 2#1d10+9 12 10; 12 damage, pen 4 explosive

Damage w/ Tearing: 2#1d10+9 11 12; 12 damage, pen 4 explosive

Damage w/ Tearing: 2#1d10+9 16 11; 16 damage, pen 4 explosive

 

And Solastions vision will start to redden at its periphery as the Red Thirst (frenzy) starts to take hold of him at the sight of the insidious xenos hybrids being slain before him.

 

Edited August 22, 2018 by Slips

[A.T.]

Two of the traction engines had already been slowed and Atratus aims quickly on the last. Through his scope he could see the driver of this one was some form of aberrant, smaller than the other but no less foul in its mockery of the human form.

 

The shot pierced it cleanly through the eye, a killshot even without the toxins, but the mutants physiology reacted violently to the poison as its flailing death throes caused the machine to swerve towards its companions.

 

38 to hit (BS 42 + 30 for double aim and accurate, -10 for called shot) = hit

2d10+4 damage = 20 - double righteous fury!

[Mazer Rackham]

Nycax Sabaan:

It was not an error, but a lesson.  It had cost him some clarity of thought - another admonition echoed in the back of his cognitive mass.  They were not thoughts - not as anyone not of the Machine would understand - who could comprehend the feel of the War Spirit against metal and flesh as the dark, radioactive rain hammered down against the blessed crimson sands?  His vision swam back to the present.  Focus returned.  His augmetic gifts brought him to sharpness.  The gentle echo of the respirator around his mouth was synchronised with the click and whirr of his Bionic eye.  Perfection in motion.  Unlike him.

 

He brought himself steadily to full height, avoiding the Astral Claw's line of fire.  He nodded his thanks.  No more was needed and a slight twinge of satisfaction began that the other Astartes seemed to be taking his hint about uneccessary wasting of breath, when he himself broke that edict.  A hiss burst through his Vox, that could have been static, binaric curse or both.  What had these...abominations done to the machines?  His anger burned cold as he raised his Bolter to reduce the miscreants to scraps of meaningless bio-matter, an eyebrow lifted in what, on a face may have been a curled lip.  He thumbed the selector, satisfied in the solid click of a mechanism altered by those that knew what they were doing!

 

A quicksilver arm moved into his vision, but dared not impede him.  Rightly.  His targeting augurs played over the host in front of him, sharp burning behind his eyes giving voice to the united rage of the Medusan contempt for the weakness on display and the Martian engines within him in crackling bio-electric feedback along his panoptical relay.  He waited a moment as his Squad Vox was cycling for a connection, his patience waning, both with the warning arm and the failure of local communications.  Suddenly without him thinking about it, his Noospheric interface found a carrier signal.  The urge to access it was impressed upon him and a hololithic pictogram appeared in his bottom right view.  Compelled by silent voices, by echoes of feeling, he blinked it and suddenly could hear snatches of the Kill Team.

 

+...that is the fate of the Xeno...+

+..actions speak louder than words...+

+...acknowledged Brother..+

+My Savant...?+

 

Boost the Gain 1.993 amplitude , apply internal capacitors by 13.7 microhertz and..

 

In each helm, a runic icon flashed green, opened and the Squad Vox channel was restored.  Such is the power of the Cog.

With a slight appeasement of satisfaction overcoming that annoyance, he turned his head slowly to the figure holding out the arm.  The whine of the neck servos betrayed his mood.

 

The huge Marine turned slowly, his Bolter unwavering over the hordes of mutated traitors below.  Akkad kept his voice level, firm now that the Vox had been restored.

+My Savant - use your grenades, the filth below are unaware of us.+

 

The Iron Hand turned back to regard the swarm.  His anger would not serve in this purpose.  It was a good suggestion. Suddenly a smile burned within his electronic soul, a cascade of engrams recalling victory over hated foes, as he pulled a Krak grenade from his belt.  There was sufficient fuel in the clustered automata to send a fireball of significant proportions into the enemy.  It would release the Machine Spirits of the tractors from their unhallowed torment.

 

He looked at the grenade and felt the clarity of purpose.  The singular desire of the creator and the created to bring vengeance.  The serendipity of the traction engines exploding and slaying the vectors of their blasphemy could not be ignored.  Mortis Ex Machina.

 

The Traction Engines sat clumped together, wretched in their tangled distress.  He drew back his arm, murmuring the Fourth Canticle of Land's Hymnal.

 

...Take up they missile, present it to the foe that it's war spirits be roused...tarry not, lest the wrath engendered be wasted, depress the rune of smiting and hurl the weapon at the enemy, whereupon in vengeace, it will consume him in fire...

 

It was a long throw.

 

Sabaan will use Half-action: Ready Grenade, then Half-action: Standard Attack: Grenade.
Target: 51 + 20 (Size) - 10 (Long Range) = 61
D100 Roll: 23 Success + 3 DoS.
Damage: 3D10+4 = 19 at Pen 6.

 

MR.

Edited August 21, 2018 by Mazer Rackham

[Mazer Rackham]

Daon Akkad:

 

He watched as the Iron Hand pitched the explosive into the dark, at the same time hearing the manic ripple of heavy, fixed-position weapons.  Heavy Stubbers, .55 Calibre, belt fed.  Two.  No, he corrected himself, three.

 

Perception Test = 50 + 20 (Heightened Senses) 70
D100 Roll: 40 Success + 3 DoS.

 

Coming from his right, a couple of hundred metres away, elevated position.  He cursed quietly.  The muzzle flashes gave him a bearing in the dark and rain, but the more important fact was that if he fired, the advantage he had just convinced Nycax of would be gone.  No.  He could do more damage here.  He had heard the chanting and the replayed words of his brothers now Sabaan had boosted the vox.  There was a chance to make the most of the resources available.  To have any hope of success or extraction - and the latter was becoming more favourable since the heretics didn't know they were there - was to make a big a dent as possible for as long as possible.

 

Following Sabaan's example was the best use of a Krak Grenade.  The distance was fair but manageable, his lips writhed in contemplation as he gripped Cadence and plulled a Krak bomblet from his waist.  Nycax had thrown well and the metallic shell of the Krak grenade plonked off the first wrecked traction engine and onto the hull of the next one.  It looked like it may not do the trick...indecision gnawed at him.

 

No.  The reward for investment was greater.  If Sabaan said those tanks had fuel in them, that was good enough.  Three tractors full of fuel was a bigger prize than a wall.

 

He locked the firing latch off with a thumb, depressed the lever five times for a five second fuse delay and heaved it at the tractors.  It fell a little short, lodging in a mechanism on the first vehicle, towards the back, where Sabaan had indicated, but it would do.

 

Akkad will use Half-action: Ready Grenade and then Half-action: Standard Attack - Grenade.
BS test: 51 + 20 (Size) -10 Long Range = 61
D100 Roll: 56 Success (No DoS)
Damage: 3D10+4 +2 (Mighty Shot applies to all Ranged Attacks) = 21 at Pen 6

 

Seeing the grenades go in, he hammered onto Vox, Squad-wide, his voice steady, the voice of a seasoned veteran.

+This is Akkad, I am with Sabaan+ he broke off to upload co-ordinates for them +Blackthorn, Sergeant Vaidan, Status?+

 

The Vox was pregnant with static as his reply cut out into the ether.

 

MR.

[Commissar Molotov]

Solastion:

Per the Scions of Sanguinius rule, Varvost becomes Frenzied as a free action.

 

+3 Magnitude Damage 

 

Vaidan:

Vaidan fires his Bolt Pistol at the Aberrant-Beast as a Semi-Auto Burst:

 

BS42 (+10 SAB, +10 Size, -20 Melee Combat): 16 (2DoS): 1 Additional Hit 

 

Hit 1: D10+9 (4,1)+9 = 13 (Pen 4) against TB10 = 3 Damage

Hit 2: D10+9 (7,7)+9 = 16 (Pen 4) against TB10 = 6 Damage

 

9 Total Damage, 19 Wounds Remaining

 

Heedless of the cultists surrounding them, Vaidan raises his Bolt Pistol and fires twice, the bolts taking the Aberrant-Beast high in the chest before detonating. Fist-sized chunks of flesh evaporate, but the creature still stands. 

 

Aberrant Beast:

The Aberrant-Beast uses the Lightning Attack talent to attack three times with his farm-scythe. 

 

Attack 1 (against Tyber): 

WS45: 64 (MISS)

 

Attack 2 (against Tyber):

WS45: 97 (MISS)

 

Attack 3 (against Vaidan): 

WS45: 8 (HIT) 

Damage: 2D10+16+2 (Crushing Blow), Pen 2: (3,3) = 24 against TB8 and Armour 10 = 6 Wounds

 

Vaidan rolls to dodge: 

AG39: 6 (SUCCESS)

 

Nycax Sabaan / Greysight / Atratus / Daon Akkad:

 

As Greysight and Atratus swiftly eliminate the drivers of the tracktion engines, the grenades from the Iron Hand and the Astral Claw land amidst the middle of the three. The detonation is enough to shake the ground, a scarlet plume of fire mushrooming into the air. There is a moment's pause before a second harvester-engine explodes also. The cultists surrounding the vehicles are showered with burning debris and shrapnel, curtailing the advance near-instantly. The moans of the injured and dying can be heard across the square. 

 

 

 

 

[Commissar Molotov]

Varvost:

Varvost charges the horde of cultists. 

 

Pilot (Personal) Test for Wings of Angels special ability: AG54 (35, PASS) 

 

WS62(+10 for charge, +10 for Frenzy, +60 for size / capped at +60) = 24 (9 Degrees of Success)

4 Hits:

 

Hit 1: 1D10+13+1D5 Damage (Tearing, Flesh Render) (8,6,8 = 8) + 13 + (5 - righteous fury - 1) (+1 Wings of Wrath) = 28 Damage (Pen 3)

Hit 2: 1D10+13+1D5 Damage (Tearing, Flesh Render) (9,7,5 = 9) +13 + (4) (+1 Wings of Wrath) = 27 Damage (Pen 3)

Hit 3: 1D10+13+1D5 Damage (Tearing, Flesh Render) (8,5,8 = 8) + 13 + (3) (+1 Wings of Wrath) = 25 Damage (Pen 3) 

Hit 4: 1D10+13+1D5 Damage (Tearing, Flesh Render) (8,9,2 = 9) + 13 + (1) (+1 Wings of Wrath) = 24 Damage (Pen 3) 

 

4 (Very Spectacular) Magnitude Damage to the Horde 

 

North-East Horde:

WS25 (94, MISS) 

 

 

As the Eradicator scythes through the cultist horde, their blows seem to have little effect upon his Power Armoured form. 

 

 

North-West Horde: 

Melee attack against Vaidan:

WS25: 94 (MISS)

 

 

Melee attack against Tyber: 

WS25 (20, HIT) 

3D10+3 (Pen 0) against the Body (Armour 11, TB8) = 7,9,7 = 4 Wounds

 

 

 

ROUND 4 BEGINS

 

Edited August 22, 2018 by Commissar Molotov

[Steel Company]

With his chain sword in a low guard, arming sword at shoulder height with the flat of the blade facing skyward, his right wrist extended as far forward as it could go while his arm was pointed slightly backwards. The green lenses of his helm fixed on the beast, despite it being on fire with fist sized holes in what was left of its body, it was not slowing down.

 

Tyber watched as it scratched at its head where one of its eyes had been, stomping around in the mud, leaving holes that started to fill with water. The beast reared the black spine of the blade on the scythe up and back into the air, holding it a moment while blinking the remaining eye. Taking a deep breath, the world still seemed to move slowly for Tyber, he could see every muscle tensing in what was left of the chest of that beast, its eye darting to his chest, right leg then to Vaidan. Never fight angry, beast. Thought Tyber as it lashed out at him.

 

GM:

Attack 1 (against Tyber): 

WS45: 64 (MISS)

 

The first swing was close to his chest, a little back step left the blade catching only air, the beast rolled its grip on the dark wooden haft, spinning the blade backwards, swinging it again; this time low looking to hook Tyber’s right leg. Again the world move slow for him, his senses taking it all in, the way the rain parted from the path of the blade.

 

GM:

Attack 2 (against Tyber):

WS45: 97 (MISS)

 

With a slight side step towards Vaidan, the scythe bit only mud, missing his leg completely.  The momentum of the swing causing it to swing around towards Vaidan’s right leg, Tyber watched as his Sargent gave a small hop back to avoid the blade, smiling to himself as he thought, Perhaps their codex does teach them something after all.

 

With a grunt he felt some of the knives of these lesser thralls stab into the joints and soft points of his body glove as he the words “One thing at a time, you will all die when I am done with this thing.” escaped his clenched teeth as he looked the beast over, looking to see how its guard was.

 

Taking his chance now that he was on the blind side of the beast, he lashed out with his chain sword in a short upward slash to the left leg of the beast

 

OOC:

Chain sword attack, Target number 59 (49 base, +10 from size)

chain sword attack: 1d100 3 Pass with 5 DoS

Chainsword damage: 1d10+13 17 (4 on the D10 result)

chainsword tearing: 1d10 6

Hit location LL, 19 damage pen 3 Rending

Armour of 3, reduced to 0

Toughness of 10

Damage after reduction: 9

 

Tyber followed up the strike to the left leg with a quick downward slash from his arming sword cutting across the left arm, looking to cause enough pain to get the beast to drop the scythe it carried.

 

Arming Sword attack, Target Number 59 (49 base+10 from size)

arming sword attack: 1d100 12 Pass with 4 DoS

Arming sword damage: 1d10+15 20

Hit location LA, 20 damage Pen 3 Rending

Armor of 3, reduced to 0

Toughness of 10

Damage after reduction: 10

 

Rolling the his right shoulder and blade slightly, Tyber brought the tip across the beast side, where its kidneys should’ve been, in any other creature this should be a killing stoke.

 

Arming sword swift attack, target number 59 (49 base, +10 from size)

arming sword swift attack: 1d100 24 Pass with 3 DoS

Arming Sword swift attack damage: 1d10+15 20

Hit location body, 20 damage Pen 3 rending

Armor of 3, reduced to 0

Toughness of 10

Damage after reduction: 10

 

That was when he heard it, a crackel on the squad vox +Blackthron….. Status?+, a welcome sound to hear his brother by choice had made it down, alive, +We should hurry and end this Sargent to regroup and focus our efforts.+ he spoke into the vox to his Sargent.

Edited August 22, 2018 by Steel Company

[A.T.]

Blasts of flame and shrapnel signalled the end of the traction engines approach. Pulling back his rifle Atratus snaps off a shot from his pistol at one of the stubber positions, the explosive bolt tearing apart the weapon. There seemed little point picking off those who fired it while hundreds more waited to take their place.

 

"Brother Greysight, we achieve little here. I suggest we secure the main building lest the xenos seek entry from below and cut off our path."

 

 

Aim and fire, Marksmans honour to reduce the range penalty by 10. 44 = hit, Damage = 8+9 = 17, Pen 4

[Mazer Rackham]

Nycax Sabaan:

 

The ball of fire erupting and showering the weak flesh was satisfying, hot metal scything through the bloated, mutated meat.  It was an incision, the first cut by the apothecary, removing the disease - his hand, to replace it with the steel fist.  The thought was not his.  The cybernetic hand had thrown the grenade and grimly he allowed it was no accident.  The Omnissiah would not be mocked.  A revelation then - a disease of purpose had consumed the world.

 

He turned, servomechanics purring, growling, spoiling for more.  He motioned for the Astral Claw to follow him and entered into communion with the blessed harness that he wore, beseeching the pistons to propel him forwards, he exloaded his intentions to the warrior behind him.  He was not of Medusa, but he had stood beside him as he had failed.  As his flesh had failed.  Nycax reflected he had cleaved to the Devastator when his equipment had stuttered - although user error of course - and ministered to that.  It was...tolerable.

 

But the situation was not.  It would be best to lead what remained of his Demi-Squad into the protection of the barricades, exposure time: 12.07 seconds, 49.37 metres distance, where they could form a more cohesive defence, whilst the enemy advance was stalled and the aberrant scum were reeling.  An affirmative pulse echoed melodiously in his helm, as his ocular reticula painted over the crowds below, satisfyingly reporting: +HOSTILE+

 

Behind him, he heard the Astral Claw fall in as around them the world burned.  If he had time, Sabaan would have watched it, but his chilling fury would not quench it.

 

Nycax Sabaan will enter Squad Mode as Free Action as Akkad is in Support Range (and will be maintaining SQD)
He will use Full Action: Run
Sabaan (AG 4 + 1 Hulking) moves 30 metres directly ahead, towards the barricade in front of him, his Bolter in hand.
(Due to running, enemy BS tests are at -20 to hit).

 

MR.

Edited August 24, 2018 by Mazer Rackham

[Mazer Rackham]

Daon Akkad:

 

He pulsed the acknowledgement, a smirk stealing onto his features as he complied and dropped into battle-speed behind and 5 metres away from Sabaan, maintaining spacing.  The Techmarine's plan was good - use distraction and delay to reach a better position.  One thing Sabaan had forgotten, or perhaps didn't realise was that human soldiers, especially indentured militia or PDF were a little wont to be trigger happy.  Akkad frowned, but not without some understanding.

 

They couldn't help it, he had seen.  They were merely trained to obey and usually when the enemy was in front and only the enemy, what soldier did not just shoot blindly - as quickly as he could to kill what was trying to kill him?  They were not Marines, this was to be expected.  The Tyrant's Legion had taught him this and, having been in the field with scared humans many times, understood that they just wanted it to end.  He despised that sentiment - even had executed a human for expressing it, granting his wish - but he at least understood it.

 

He doubted the capacity for such a sentiment within that monumental monolith of metal who churned the ground ahead of him.  He used the location relay built into his plate to scan for local Imperial Vox traffic.  Every platoon would have a Vox set and every Vox set had a transponder.  He latched onto the one nearest to them.  He heard some of the non-commissioned officers barking orders.  The Sergeants and Leaders would be near the Vox, that would be standard doctrine.  He pinged the Vox relay location to Sabaan as they ran.

 

+Leg...+ he bit the word off, he had nearly said Legionnaires.  Bitterly, he collected himself and tried again - the emotion lending sharp edges to his words.  And keep it simple he chided himself.  He put authority into his tone, the Command Voice.

 

+Loyal soldiers, reinforcements approach from the crash site, Codename Blackthorn, homing on Beacon Argus Rho Mu 13!  We will be coming in swiftly - give us covering fire and don't shoot us!+  A slight smile infected his voice.  Humans loved that kind of thing.  A reply came almost instantly.  The snap and crack of Lasrifle and Stub weapon fire exchanging was all around the male voice that replied.  It did not question the depth of his voice or who was coming.  Akkad understood that as well.  Reinforcements on a friendly transponder signal were always welcome.  War was like that.

 

+Understood Blackthorn, diverting fire - Emperor be praised!  Clearing barricades at grid 1813.4041!+  Before the link dropped he could hear the man shouting as he had promised.  He was going to get a surprise.  It was not every day the Emperor's Own reinforced you.

 

Akkad will use Full Action: Run (and talk at the same time!)
Akkad (AG 4 +1 Hulking) moves 30 metres ahead and veering 5 metres right and behind Sabaan.
(Due to Running enemy BS tests are -20 to Hit)

 

MR.

Edited August 24, 2018 by Mazer Rackham

[Slips]

Following in Varvosts lead, Solastion turns away from the mortals he was shielding from feeble small-arms fire with his body and charges headlong into the swarm of xeno-hybrid cultists.

 

As his armored form came into contact that was the veritable living sea of bodies being pressed together, controlled and directed as marionettes by a malign intelligence, Solastion spared not a second to start swinging his chainsword with, what to outsiders, would appear to be unrestrained fury but, to the trained eye, was actually masterful and well-practiced blow after blow.

 

Solastion will charge, if able, into the nearby horde of XENOS SCUM and hack into them with his chainsword with WS 49 + 20 Charge + 60 Magnitude for a total of 109 (+60 max).

WS 109: 1d100 13 vs 109 = 9 DoS which, due to attacking a Horde in melee, equates to 1 extra hit per 2 DoS for a total of 4 extra hits + the initial hit for 5 total hits.

Chainsword Damage w/ Tearing: 2#1d10+17 26 22; 26 rending damage, pen 3

Chainsword Damage w/ Tearing: 2#1d10+17 21 20; 21 rending damage, pen 3

Chainsword Damage w/ Tearing: 2#1d10+17 21 27; 27 rending damage, pen 3, with RF

Righteous Fury: 1d10 2 for 27 + 2 = 29 damage total.

Chainsword Damage w/ Tearing: 2#1d10+17 25 22; 25 rending damage, pen 3

Chainsword Damage w/ Tearing: 2#1d10+17 18 22; 22 rending damage, pen 3

 

Blow after blow he landed, each one powerful enough to bisect a mortal effortlessly, gore splattering his armor, coating it in a familiar-yet-alien gore and vitae; chunks of meat and shards of bone being flung around him as his chainsword spat them out when his swings had finally sawn through their intended target. It was testament to his blades craftsmanship that the motor and mechanisms within continued their murderous toll.

 

As the rain began pouring down torrentially, Solastion subconsciously grunted in disapproval at all the blood coating him being washed away but caught himself as he reminded himself what his purpose in this moment was.

 

But, still, they were surrounded and cut-off from one another and there were hundreds, if not thousands, of cultists to kill...

 

All that issued forth from his helmets external vox was his wordless, rage-filled shouts and roars as he went through mortal bodies like a melta gun through paper.

[Commissar Molotov]

ROUND 4 UPDATE

Kill-Team Cohesion: 6

 

The dead and dying litter the cathedral square. In the space of mere minutes, the Astartes of the Deathwatch have turned a certain defeat for the Imperial defenders into a killing ground. Such is the power of the Space Marines. 

 

Tyber/Vaidan: 

29 Wounds takes the Aberrant-Beast to -10 ® (Body)

 

The Dragon's arming sword cleaves through the scythe's wooden haft and through the creature's chest, exposing its organs and sending the brute crashing to the ground. The cultists around the two of you wail almost in unison, beginning to break and flee. As the horde thins, the way to the Templum is clear. 

 

++Regroup at the Templum.++ Vaidan's voice breaks through the static across the squad's vox-network. 

 

Vaidan does a run action towards the Templum. 

 

Solastion:

5 magnitude damage to the horde.

 

Cultists attempt to hit Solastion: 

WS25: 8 (HIT)

3D10 + 3 (Pen 0) = 8, 9, 1 = 21 against Right Leg (Armour 8, TB8) = 5 Wounds

 

3D10+3 (Pen 0) 

 

 

 

Nycax Sabaan / Daon Akkad: 

The Iron Hand and the Astral Claw storm through the horde, pounding toward the Templum's barricades. The Guardsmen ahead of you fire with surprising discipline, avoiding you whilst attacking the cultists. A few sporadic shots from the cultists do still land near you, but most are suppressed by the Imperial counter-response. 

 

Cultists fire at Sabaan: 

BS25 (-20, Running) - 91 (MISS)

 

Cultists fire at Akkad: 

BS25 (-20, Running) - 21 (MISS)

 

Atratus / Greysight:

Atratus kills a Heavy Stubber gunner outright. 

 

Greysight does a half-aim and then a single shot at the heavy stubber team: 

BS40+10: 20 (HIT) 

Damage 1D10+9 (Tearing) - 10 (RIGHTEOUS FURY) + 7 = 26 Damage (Pen 4) 

Kills a Heavy Stubber gunner outright.

 

Varvost:

Varvost performs a Multiple Attacks action (using Swift Attack talent)

 

Attack 1: WS62 (+10 Frenzy, +60 Size, capped at +60): 6: 11 Degrees of Success: 1 Hit + 5 Additional Hits

Hit 1: 1D10+13 Damage (Tearing, Flesh Render): (10, 8, 8) (RF: 1) + 13 = 24

 

Hit 2: 1D10+13 Damage (Tearing, Flesh Render): (9, 8, 1) + 13 = 22

Hit 3: 1D10+13 Damage (Tearing, Flesh Render): (7, 2, 8) + 13 = 21

Hit 4: 1D10+13 Damage (Tearing, Flesh Render): (6, 5, 10) (RF: 10, 10, 8) + 13 = 51!!

Hit 5: 1D10+13 Damage (Tearing, Flesh Render): (7, 4, 1) + 13 = 20 

Hit 6: 1D10+13 Damage (Tearing, Flesh Render): (5, 1, 6) + 13 = 19

 

 

Attack 2: WS62 (+10 Frenzy, +60 Size, capped at +60): 8: 11 Degrees of Success: 1 Hit + 5 Additional Hits

Hit 1: 1D10+13 Damage (Tearing, Flesh Render): (9, 1, 1) + 13 = 22

Hit 2: 1D10+13 Damage (Tearing, Flesh Render): (4, 9, 10) (RF: 3) + 13 = 23

Hit 3: 1D10+13 Damage (Tearing, Flesh Render): (9, 9, 8) + 13 =  22

Hit 4: 1D10+13 Damage (Tearing, Flesh Render): (7[/]b, 6, 3) + 13 = 20

Hit 5: 1D10+13 Damage (Tearing, Flesh Render): (5, 1, 3) + 13 = 18

Hit 6: 1D10+13 Damage (Tearing, Flesh Render): (7, 4, 5) + 13 = 20

 

12 Magnitude Damage

 

Cultists attempt to hit Varvost: 

WS25: 68 (FAIL) 

 

 

 

ROUND 6 BEGINS

• TYBER (SOLO) | AG43 ((4x2)+10) = 18 | WOUNDS 14/18(19) | FATE 3
• SOLASTION ALBIKUS (SQUAD) | AG33 ((3x2)+9) = 15 | WOUNDS 18/23 | FATE 3
• KHYBER VAIDAN (SOLO) | AG39 (3+10) = 13 | WOUNDS 14/14(20) | FATE 2
• NYCAX SABAAN (SQUAD) | AG43 (4+7) = 11 | WOUNDS 22/22 | FATE 3
• ATRATUS (SOLO) | AG65 (6+4) = 10 | WOUNDS 23/23 | FATE 3
• GREYSIGHT (SOLO) | AG43 (4+6) = 10 | WOUNDS 22/22 | FATE 4
• DAON AKKAD (SQUAD) | AG45 (4+5) = 9 | WOUNDS 22/22 | FATE 2
• VÂRVOST (SOLO) | AG54 (5+2) = 7 | WOUNDS 21/21(24) | FATE 2

 

 

Edited August 27, 2018 by Commissar Molotov

[Dosjetka]

Hidden Content

Vaidan will continue to run towards the Templum while switching from flamer to boltgun.

[Commissar Molotov]

Round 4, Continued

 

Tyber will do a full run action, his jump pack still not working after the strain placed on it during planetfall. 

Vaidan will ready his bolter and move as far as possible towards the Templum and the Imperial lines. 

[Steel Company]

Seeing the look of surprise in the man-beast’s eyes as it watched in shock during the explosion of it’s lungs and heart fell to the mud at their feet, Tyber spoke over the Vox Speakers, for all around to hear; +You have been weighed. You have been measured. And you have been found wanting.+

 

Placing his left sabaton against the lower torso of the beast, with a mighty kick Tyber wrenched his arming sword free of the beast, pulling some viscera free, again coating some of the lesser beasts in the fluids, their look of pleasure at being blessed more, turning to a look of horror as what had just happened set in, the most blessed of theirs felled by one of the chosen of the Emperor. It was a quite sound that singled their end, a simple splash and soggy sucking sound, a stabbing knife falling to the ground in time with the hulking carcass of the man-beast, then another and another, followed by the thunderous sound as they scattered, their moral broken.

 

Taking a moment, to take a piece of rib bone of the man-beast, Tyber placed it in a pouch that contained an unused magazine for his bolt-pistol, closing the flap he placed a hand on it, whispering to himself in his native tongue, “A gift for my brother by choice.”

 

++ Regroup at the Templum.++ Vaidan's voice came through loud and clear.

 

Looking at the temperature gauge on his jump pack, Tyber sighs to himself, the fans were still too hot to use, the rain was speeding the cooling process, but not fast enough to speed this coming run along. Setting himself into a solid run, one that he had done hundreds of time, running the training ring to build up his stamina, feeling mixed on seeing Akkad again, on one hand, his brother by choice had survived the decent and he wanted to share his accomplishment and personal breakthrough on where his path will take him. On the other hand, he was not looking forward to explaining to him about Faith, should he ask.

 

Tyber will do a full run action, his jump pack still not working after the strain placed on it during planetfall.

[A.T.]

A damaged stained glass window to some unknown imperial saint provides suitable access to the Templum, and Interrogator once again in hand Atratus drops the handful of metres into the building. A room full of tables and parchments greeting him, dozens of scribes would have toiled here daily under the gaze of their saint copying manuscripts, perhaps for decades if not for this war.

 

Striding towards the sound of gunfire and fervent chanting he soon found a balcony overlooking the nave, thronging with renewed activity and sound. "Praise be to the Emperor", his voice boomed amplified as he stepped into view, "ready the gates for the arrival of my brothers"

[Commissar Molotov]

Round 4, Continued

• TYBER (SOLO) | AG43 ((4x2)+10) = 18 | WOUNDS 14/18(19) | FATE 3
• SOLASTION ALBIKUS (SQUAD) | AG33 ((3x2)+9) = 15 | WOUNDS 19/23 | FATE 3
• KHYBER VAIDAN (SOLO) | AG39 (3+10) = 13 | WOUNDS 14/14(20) | FATE 2
• NYCAX SABAAN (SQUAD) | AG43 (4+7) = 11 | WOUNDS 22/22 | FATE 3
• ATRATUS (SOLO) | AG65 (6+4) = 10 | WOUNDS 23/23 | FATE 3
• GREYSIGHT (SOLO) | AG43 (4+6) = 10 | WOUNDS 22/22 | FATE 4
• DAON AKKAD (SQUAD) | AG45 (4+5) = 9 | WOUNDS 22/22 | FATE 2
• VÂRVOST (SOLO) | AG54 (5+2) = 7 | WOUNDS 21/21(24) | FATE 2

Solastion and Varvost:

 

Solastion continues his attack on the horde: 

WS49 (+10 Frenzy, +60 Magnitude, capped at +60) 

 

 

WS 109: 8 (10 DoS - 1 + 5 Hits) 

Hit 1: 2(1D10)+17 = 10(RF: +4)+17 = 31

Hit 2: 2(1D10)+17 = 5 + 17 = 22

Hit 3: 2(1D10)+17 = 8 + 17 = 25

Hit 4: 2(1D10)+17 = 5 + 17 = 22

Hit 5: 2(1D10)+17 = 7 + 17 = 24

Hit 6: 2(1D10)+17 = 10(RF: +5)+17 = 32

6 Magnitude Damage

 

Varvost performs a Multiple Attacks action (using Swift Attack talent)

Attack 1: WS62 (+10 Frenzy, +60 Size, capped at +60): 24 (9 DoS: 1 Hit + 4 Additional)

Hit 1: 1D10+13 Damage (Tearing, Flesh Render): 5 + 13 = 18

Hit 2: 1D10+13 Damage (Tearing, Flesh Render): 7 + 13 = 20

Hit 3: 1D10+13 Damage (Tearing, Flesh Render): 8 + 13 = 21

Hit 4: 1D10+13 Damage (Tearing, Flesh Render): 9 + 13 = 22

Hit 5: 1D10+13 Damage (Tearing, Flesh Render): 10(+1) + 13 = 24

 

Attack 1: WS62 (+10 Frenzy, +60 Size, capped at +60): 99 (2 DoS: 1 Hit + 1 Additional)

Hit 1: 1D10+13 Damage (Tearing, Flesh Render): 6 + 13 = 19

Hit 2: 1D10+13 Damage (Tearing, Flesh Render): 9 + 13 = 22

8 Magnitude Damage

 

Cultists attack Solastion: 

WS25: 7 (HIT) in the 70 (Body)

3D10+3 = (6,7,5) +3 against TB10 and Armour 10 = 1 Wound

 

Cultists attack Varvost: 

WS25: 8 (HIT) in the 80 (Right Leg)

3D10+3 = (7,4,1) against TB10 and Armour 8 = 0 Wounds

 

Sabaan and Akkad:

Sabaan and Akkad reach the Imperial Lines and are among the Guardsmen. 

 

 

Atratus and Greysight:

 

Atratus descends into the cathedral with Interrogator Ryken. 

 

Greysight does a half-aim and then a single shot at the last remaining heavy stubber team: 

BS40+10: 73 (MISS)

 

Hit 1: 1D10+13 Damage (Tearing, Flesh Render):

Hit 2: 1D10+13 Damage (Tearing, Flesh Render):

[Commissar Molotov]

ROUND 5 BEGINS

 

GM: Vaidan will reach the barricades and the Imperial troopers this turn if he runs - Tyber is a turn behind. Sabaan and Akkad will start amongst the Guardsmen. 

 

Atratus:

As you descend into the Templum, you see how the Imperial Troopers have co-opted the place of worship and made it into a mobile command centre. The pews and wooden benches where the pilgrim faithful would once sit and kneel to pray have been pulled to the sides, or broken down to nail over blown-out windows and provide cover. A field hospital has been established, and the moans of the wounded and the smell of blood and death is present in the air. A golden statue of the Emperor still stands tall, looking over the whole scene. At His feet you see carved baskets of fruit and grain - fitting, for an agri-world. The baskets are, you notice, filled with the metal identification tags often worn to distinguish the bodies of fallen Guardsmen. 

 

As your voice echoes through the transept of the Templum, the soldiers within the church react quickly, earning perhaps some small measure of appreciation from you; the constant fighting has not dulled their wits or their reflexes. You see the barrels of lasrifles pointed at you, until one soldier's cry: 

 

"A Space Marine!" 

 

There is a moment of hushed awe and reverence as these warriors are greeted by a living avatar of the Emperor's power. 

[Dosjetka]

Hidden Content

Vaidan shall continue to run towards the Templum, boltgun at the ready in case there are any remaining hostiles.

[Commissar Molotov]

Dos: 

As I said, you will reach the Imperial lines (that's guaranteed) without any hostiles. How do you wish to interact with the Guardsmen?