BCC's "Operation: Hells Maw"

[battle captain corpus]

First session of Deathwatch was lastnight.

Though it was a “rolling up” session I tried to inject settings straight away, so I had them making their way to their dormitories, storing armour for repainting etc then meditating/praying etc. Their characters are then “locked” at this point while they rolled up stats.

Had some fantastic combos of armour and talents all syncing up and a natural leader seems to be coming out.

Currently the squad is:

Ultramarines Tyrannic War Veteran
Dark Angels Devastator
Minotaurs Assault Marine
White Scars Storm Seer
Blood Angels Assault Marine

Captain Idaho is the Ultramarine.

Next week they’ll awaken from their meditation rituals, their armour will have been changed to Deathwatch and they’ll meet their peers.

BCC

Edited January 24, 2021 by battle captain corpus

[Commissar Molotov]

Awesome to hear of a new campaign starting! Your team looks to have some great utility and interplay between characters.

 

Please keep us updated with how your campaign goes!

 

EDIT: From my experience, it would massively help your players to have the ability to heal. You might consider providing them with an NPC Apothecary character, giving them some sort of "healing potion" (or "stimm canister") or even a servo-skull that can provide them with some form of pharmacopeia.) Otherwise the Kill-Team might struggle somewhat!

Edited January 9, 2021 by Commissar Molotov

[battle captain corpus]

Awesome to hear of a new campaign starting! Your team looks to have some great utility and interplay between characters.

 

Please keep us updated with how your campaign goes!

 

EDIT: From my experience, it would massively help your players to have the ability to heal. You might consider providing them with an NPC Apothecary character, giving them some sort of "healing potion" (or "stimm canister") or even a servo-skull that can provide them with some form of pharmacopeia.) Otherwise the Kill-Team might struggle somewhat!

Yeah without a Techmarine or Apothecary they may find certain situations tricky for sure. But such are the obstacles they’ll need to overcome. XD

 

BCC

[Commissar Molotov]

For sure, I guess it all depends on your GM style (from hardcore to narrative) and the type of game you're running - how long missions are, and the types of opposition they come up against. In a Deathwatch game players can sustain far more damage than they are able to recover, and limiting healing to fate point spends might end up in a TPK, forcing players to roll new characters! Playing Deathwatch round a table (or a virtual table) and having the "session" format can mitigate that somewhat.

 

Of course, nobody said service in the Deathwatch was going to be easy!

 

Are you planning to use one of the written adventures from FFG, or do you have a mission of your own design?

[Mazer Rackham]

Life in the Deathwatch is hardship - and they have chosen the road not often travelled.  That is a very strong squad, though!

 

Idaho is the UM - but of course he is!

 

Please keep us updated on this BCC, sounds like it's off to a champion start already.

 

MR.

[Arkaniss]

This sounds fun I look forward to following this :tu:

 

I'm not very knowledgeable about the RPGs but it does sound like not having a healer would be a challenge. That said the team went all out attack instead so maybe they just murder everything before anyone needs medical treatment :P They have a Psyker though, are there healing powers?

[Captain Idaho]

So far what we've done was incredibly fun! Though getting Tainted armour is a bit of an issue to start off with :)

[battle captain corpus]

So far what we've done was incredibly fun! Though getting Tainted armour is a bit of an issue to start off with :)

Only mild Warp tainting..... XD

 

It’s going to be a curious bunch for sure....I don’t think you guys will find combat an issue! But political moments? Investigation? Problem solving? .... we shall see!

Suffice to say as a GM I have always loved curve balls and it’s a joy to be GMing again for sure!

 

BCC

[Arkaniss]

Can you purify the armour? It's been done in the fluff before, though it's maybe not easy. It will depend on how generous BCC is feeling perhaps

[Mazer Rackham]

Would be interested to hear a little of the characters histories too :)

 

@Arkaniss - are they going to do a James Swallow(?) and chop up some Sisters to smear over themselves? :O

 

MR.

[battle captain corpus]

Can you purify the armour? It's been done in the fluff before, though it's maybe not easy. It will depend on how generous BCC is feeling perhaps

 

@Arkaniss: The Warp Tainting isn't hideous, essentially the Machine Spirit within the armour was heavily affected by exposure to the raw stuff of the Warp from fighting on board a ship etc at some point. As Captain Idaho has a very recent suit of armour it has quite a tame machine spirit and as such doesn't sway him too greatly.

 

The Minotaur on the other hand has a truly ancient suit of Mk3 armour with mk7 chest plate and mk7 arms. As such it has had a variety of owners, some of which have left imprints on the armour and truly weird ways!

 

BCC

[battle captain corpus]

As is the “norm” nowadays we have a Deathwatch WhatsApp group for my lovely guys to chat etc.

Every now & again I’ll ping them a “update” Vox cast esque message.

 

This was today’s:

 

+Vox sub network enabled+

+Dormitories 265-270 connection established+

+Apothecarian update+

 

Greetings Brothers,

 

I apologise for intruding on your reflection & preparation time.

I have briefly discussed with Captain Mordigael your physical & mental aptitude and awareness mappings. We are in one mind that your future Killteam is a truly formidable weapon.

My advice is to take this time to steel & prepare yourselves what may come. Particular attention to Chapters 197-364 of the Codex Astartes is recommended.

The foe you shall face is by no means an easy task and you will need to avail yourselves of every ounce of your wits, strengths of arms & guile to win the day.

 

In the teachings of our Lord Guilliman:

“A warriors skill is not how fast he may strike but where and how.”

Codex Astartes sub volume III.

 

I shall meet with you all at your mission briefing in 72 standard Terran hours.

 

Apothecary Majoris: Brother Falko.

 

+Sub net terminated+

 

As Captain Idaho already knows, Brother Falko is the chief Apothecary at Erioch at the moment. Hailing from the Genesis Chapter originally he has served 2 Long Vigils of the Jericho Reach so far. Well liked & respected by many he is a calculating & fierce warrior, always ready to lay his life down to save a Brother. Indeed a dozen at least Brothers of the Deathwatch owe their lives to Apothecary Falko.

Falko is one of my own PC’s that I ADORE roleplaying and generally try to include him where I can. It helps build his character & I can role play a bit to!

 

BCC

[Mazer Rackham]

Nothing wrong with having a familiar face - interesting angle on it with the WhatsApp group.

 

With Idaho having his own channel on Youtube, would you consider streaming/recording your sessions?

 

MR.

[Arkaniss]

Who doesn't love a reoccurring character? :D When is the first proper session? I'm sure everyone can't wait to stop meditating and start shooting exploding coke cans from machinegun grenade launchers. That's why we're all here after all!

 

Rackham don't get me started on that particular piece of fluff    I like to think that when Idaho's character realises that the goal of his mission wasn't to destroy the xenos but the friendships he made along the way, his armour will purify itself with the power of friendship.

[battle captain corpus]

@Mazer Rackham: I’ll just be updating it here for now. Though I’m comfortable on camera others maybe not! :)

 

@Arkaniss: their first real session will be this Friday evening.

 

I’ve asked the guys what kind of story they want, the general theme seems to be exploration, investigation & action. All of which is perfect with me!

 

BCC

[Commissar Molotov]

I look forward to your next campaign update!

[WarriorFish]

I note no mention of a tale of purging xenos with bolter and chainsword which is surely the most important part... you might need another session on purity of purpose and mankind's divine right to the stars. Make sure everyone is chanting from the same hymn sheet and that.

[battle captain corpus]

I note no mention of a tale of purging xenos with bolter and chainsword which is surely the most important part... you might need another session on purity of purpose and mankind's divine right to the stars. Make sure everyone is chanting from the same hymn sheet and that.

True! Though Captain Idaho was INSANELY happy to have a Bolter & Chainsword as his starting kit! Bless him!

Who knows...maybe they’ll meet a particularly fiery Chaplain at some point?!

 

BCC

[Captain Idaho]

Can't wait for this to be updated, but blimey that first engagement really showed the team just how powerful Astartes are against Humans... I totally didn't mean to kick that guy's leg off!

[Mazer Rackham]

Oh yes, they're total blenders to anything short of a Master level enemy! :)

 

Get used to punching in skulls with one hand, or in your case kicking people in the shins so hard they die...why do I get the feeling that's going to become a theme of your campaign....? :p

 

MR.

[Captain Idaho]

Well in short, the carnage bar was set by the rest of the team and I just couldn't compete with that at that point, so kicking folk to death it is.

 

I might get a bionic leg just to emphasise it!

[Arkaniss]

Can't wait for this to be updated, but blimey that first engagement really showed the team just how powerful Astartes are against Humans... I totally didn't mean to kick that guy's leg off!

Now I need to know more :P How did the session go? What happened? Who are you fighting?

[Mazer Rackham]

I can see it now.

 

GM: "Mr T, Chuck Norris, Captain America and Optimus Prime walk into a bar.  At the end of the bar are a gang of hive scavver punks.  One of them insults Optimus Prime's haircut.  What do you do?"

 

If it's anything less than that, I am Disappoint^TM.

 

MR.

[battle captain corpus]

++Operation: Hells Maw++

++Killteam: Circo++

++Killteam Leader: Brother Abraxus++

 

The Jericho Reach is beset on all sides.

 

Xenos of origins both known & unknown assail the Imperium.

 

This is the frontier.

 

Light from the Throne world of Terra is but a guttering flame.

 

Amidst this broiling storm of hatred, bloodshed & flame stands the Deathwatch of Watch Fortress Erioch.

 

New to the Reach stands Killteam Circo. Brothers Abraxus of the Ultramarines, Raziel the Dark Angel, Gharn of the White Scars, Liandro the Blood Angel & a marine hailing from the mysterious Minotaur’s Chapter join the frontlines.

 

- Abraxus is an exemplar of all that the Codex holds dear. A clear headed Tactical marine veteran of the 1^st Tyrannic War.

- Raziel the embodiment of the Rock itself. Solid, calm, and deeply thoughtful he wields the team fearsome heavy weapons.

- Gharn commands the raw power of the raging storms. His tribal barbarism at odds with his brothers.

- Ladarano despite his proud martial bearing hides a burning cold rage that is only sated through melee combat.

- Lastly is the Minotaur. Brooding, hulking & wearing truly ancient bastardised Mk.3 armour this assault marine is a force to be reckoned with.

 

The beginning of the operation saw them meet Captain Mordigael & his personal bodyguard, Brothers Rhamiel (Storm Giants) & Brother Frostcleaver (Space Wolves). The briefing took place in one of the main chambers studding Erioch. An armoured dome with a quarter open to realspace views showing the adapted strike cruiser “Thunders Word” refuelling.

 

A brief exchange of banter (mostly aimed from Abraxus & Gharn at each other) later and the general consensus is that the Ultramarine would make a great candidate for Squad Leader. (As GM it was amazing though to see Ladrano & Razielboth agree that their talents lie elsewhere and they would serve the DW better as their specialisms!).

 

Commander Mordigael went on to explain the parameters of the mission.

 

Primary Objective: Secure/Assassinate the Tau Commander seen on “Hells Maw”

Secondary Objective: Remove Tau sympathisers from “Hell’s Maw”

Tertiary Objective: Gather intelligence on Tau sympathisers and their network

 

“Hells Maw” is a blue sandy mining moon orbiting Spite, the fortress world of the Canis Salient. With two main areas of interest, Jury the landing area and distribution hub & Orefast the mining complex.

 

After the briefing they met Brothers Falko (Apothcary Majoris of the Genesis Chapter) & Brother Bloodfall (Veteran Sgt Space Wolves). Bloodfall was foul tempered and wounded from arriving back from a mission where he had lost men. Upon leaving Falko greets them all and gives them a servo skull with combat medication injectors. However it will only administer them to DW and at a point of dire emergency. Raziel took charge of the servo skull unit.

 

Brother Gharn set off in search of Bloodfall to learn more of his recent mission. Finding him in the practise cages, Bloodfall explains that his killteam was ambushed by Fire Warriors during a routine Kroot cleansing. Bloodfall is clearly upset and goes to take out his anger on combat servitors.

On arrival at the armoury the Killteam requisitions some Kraken rounds and then head to “Thunders Word”.

 

They planned to land via Corvus Blackstar & foot slog into Jury first, with a Thunderhawk in a holding pattern above the landing area to make a show of strength. However on a arrival they quickly found the hub was almost deserted. As they stumbled the landing area they were attacked by Imperial Guard sentries.

Ladrano gunned his jump pack before crunching down beside the first pair, his chainsword howling as it lopped the leg from one.

Raziel opened up with his heavy bolter and turned another to red mist and pulp.

Gharn brought forth a roiling fire beast shaped as a wild horse of Chogris. Incinerating two of the sentries, the psychic backlash blowing every window apart within 36 metres. Including the eyelenses on the remaining sentries respirators.

Abraxus vaulted the barriers and kicked the legs out from underneath one of the remaining sentries.

Ladrano then sawed the head off the remaining blinded sentry before eating a portion of his brain matter. The visions he saw showed that Tau propaganda was rife in Jury with the Imperial Munitorum & Guard forces heavily influenced. As the session drew to a close the characters gathered some leaflets and trinkets hidden on the sentries bodies…

 

BCC

[Arkaniss]

Love it! They're already killing things and eating their brains, I heartily approve! :tu: Sounds like the team is gonna have to teach the Tau some good, proper Imperial manners