A Scarring Experience

A signal broke through the warpstorm on Delvorth. Inquisitor Mila Baff, of the Ordo Xenos, has it on good authority that the Khar Sorvi (White Scars successor chapter, Black Scars translated into mongolian via Google) are dabbling into eldar technology, trying to get into the webways to find their lost Chapter Master Jaghatai Khan who disappeared into an eldar webgate. It was assumed that he was in pursuit of an Archon that had recently attack the White Scar homeworld of Chogoris. Khar Sorvi is led by Turgen Swiftspear, he has last been sighted on Bel'Kavvek with a small scouting party. Inquisitor Mila has requested the aid of the Stoic Patrisan to hunt down Turgen and stop his heretical actions. 

My high school friend Pilon (we use his last name as a nickname) was free for a game on Monday morning and offered to host. He also has the cutest puppy right now, so of course I wanted to go see it! Which I didn't take pictures of but here is a link to his instagram which has plenty!

Pilon's head canon, Khar Sorvi are actually looking for the perfect pizza and from the state of the universe that actually might be pretty hard to come by.

Imperium on Imperium battle, not that it doesn't happen as some Ad-mech like to reverse engineer technology from Xenos factions all the time. But whenever the devout Imperial agentas come around they just wink and shake their head negatively, no of COURSE we don't do that, that's just to understand the enemy's weapons better.

This was Pilon's first game of 9th edition, we went with a 25 PR game, as I still need to paint and assemble some of the ad-mech stuff that I would like to use for the rest of my 25 PR to make it 50 or a bit over. I might start out with two patrol detachments, but I still need to kitbash my Tech Priest Manipulus as I am giving him the Skorpekh legs that Pilon was generous enough to give me.

Anyways..... the mission is Assassinate, we rolled off to see who was the defender, I was the high roll and picked to be the attacker. As I didn't think my Canoness would survive long if she was a target. The defender gains 10 points for destroying any enemy models in that battle round with their Warlord as well as 40 points if he survived. The attacker gains points for wounding the Warlord and if the Warlord is taken out, they get 50 points. As Pilon's Warlord was under 10 wounds, he would also gain one wound back on his turn and get a 6+ feel no pain.

Pilon chose First Strike as his agenda, getting experience equal to each unit's first strike tally , and I chose Breakthrough, get into the enemies territory.

The Stoic Partisans tracked Turgen down to an overgrown ruined city, Bel'Kavvek used to be dominated by the Eldar years ago, some Xenos technology might still be salvageable. The Sisters of Battle arrived on the scene, Turgen and his men were already at work sweeping the area for technology. "Turgen Swiftspear, you are to cease and desist your salvage operation. Any further actions will force us to take action, by the command of Inquisitor Mila Baff." Turgen's oversized bike squealed it's wheels. "For too long has the Imperium of Man used their narrow minded views to trap us in stagnation. We refuse to conform to your outdated ideals!" Turgen raised his spear, signalling their advance. 

Apologizes for the bright pictures, it was such a nice day outside. I tried to get pictures from the opposite side to make it looks more like the grim dark we are used to.

First round setup.

 I took the first turn, moving up some of the smaller units to hopefully slow the advance of the bikes. The battle sisters took some shots into the scout bikes, but didn't damage them.

Scout Bikes, Assault Squad and Primaris Inceptors storm the Battle Sisters with terrifying speed.

Space Marines turn, advanced swiftly into the sisters deployment zone. Several of the Repentia Squad was cut down from the Scout Bike firepower.

One is the loneliest number!

Turgen skids around in the back doing some sweet donuts.

  Hiding in the back of the battlefield, the Eliminators switch to their Mortis Rounds to take out the Penitate Engine. Wound rolls of 6 will cause a mortal wound plus the normal damage.

Drug fueled Acro-Flagellants charge across the battlefield to get into combat with the Assault Squad, almost being wiped out by their pistol fire.

Alwyn's Battle Sisters take up a defensive position as the Inceptors's jetpacks roar across the sky, landing a few feet away from them. "Ready yourselves Sisters! Our foe has lost it's faith in the Emperor, they are no more different then any Xenos we have faced before."

Plasma Exterminators are no joke!

Anime Chibi for Cherub

The Assault Squad advances on the lone Acro-Flagellant, I believe all of the Assault Marines were able to hit it, but one.... most likely because it was a corpse by then.

Repentia Sister Thessa is surrounded by the Khar Sorvi bikes, circling around their potential kill. As they close in Thessa doesn't show them any fear, only showing them why her Repentia Squad fears the lashing of her whip.

Inceptors jetpacks smash into the Battle Squadron defensive position, their hulking frame crushing one of the sisters before the assault even starts.

Father Henry in his Penitent Engine spews flames into the Assault Squad, killing off two before entering close combat, his pair of buzz blades avenging the Arco-Flagellants that were wiped out. 

Only for one of them to flee and shoot back (because ALL White Scars can do that)

Cannoness Praxima, furious, as she watched her sworn battle sisters. She leapt into battle along side Thessa, her power sword bathing her body in a bright red rage, finding purchase in the joint of the Inceptor's armour. 

The staccato sound of melts gun fire was heard over the battlefield as Mylanthra's Seraphim Squad landed on the flank of Turgen Swiftspear. Bolter pistol fore bouncing off his armour, but the infernos score a couple hits. Mylanthra, full of faith in the Emperor, supercharged her plasma pistol with reckless abandoned. The heretic needed to be punished for his crimes against the Throne.

Meanwhile...

With the Battle Sisters at half strength, they would be more prone to flee, as they would need to make a combat attrition roll after their morale test.

Mylanthra wouldn't let her prey go so easily, dogging Turgen clear across the battlefield. "Forward Sisters, we are the Emperor's judgement, his wrath and his mercy!"

First round of combat, one wound left on Turgen, failed both his saving throw, as well as a reroll, but successes on his feel no pain!

Cannoness Praxima abandons her sister's to the slaughter, trying to give the seraphims a boost to hit, maybe she is actually the heretic here. Also trying to get breakthrough for 2xp.

More White Scar shenanigans of  falling back then shooting then charging again.

By the 5th battle round, I was thinking my Seraphim's only hope was in close combat, but then Pilon reminded me that pistols can be shot IN combat. I am so used to armies that only have one pistol in the whole squad, instead of all the squad having them. This definitely won the game for me, so thank you Pilon for the friendly reminder, sorry I killed your Warlord. 

With a great cry, the Seraphim Squad rejoices in slaying the traitorous Warlord of the Khar Sorvi. The Assault Marine was unfazed by the slaying of his Captain just a couple feet away. He charged in to avenge the fallen.

The shield of faith is strong with the Seraphim, no a wound from the assault marine.

Inceptors firing at Seraphim to deny breakthrough experience and gain kills.

Canoness Praxima comes under sniper fire, then is taken out by the Inceptors, or maybe it was the snipers, either way, no breakthrough experience for the Canoness.

Barely survived...

Canoness Praxima, wounded from sniper rounds orders her troops to tactically reposition themselves. "We have done the Emperor's work and purged a great enemy of the Imperium. The Seraphim launch into the sky, covering the Canoness as they move to recover their wounded.

I really am enjoying these smaller scale games, it definitely helps figure out new armies. That being said the more I play, the more I would really enjoy adding more Seraphims, or MORE Penitent Engines! I have the Ad-mech to paint up for the rest of the list, so I don't need to worry about more Sisters for now. 

Assassinate gives the victor a battle trait, which I gave to my Seraphim, they are now headhunters, adding +1 to hit and wound against characters.I figured that was suiting narrative-wise. Father Henry got a participation award for showing up so he ranked up, and I gave him Accelerator, plus 6" to a Heavy Flamer. That's 14" which is quite nice.My Battle Sisters were my Marked for greatness unit, I almost gave it to the Canoness but she just got a relic so I figured I should spread it out.a bit.

Pilon got a bunch of points for First Strike as his bikes and Assault squad took out a unit each. No ranking up yet as it was the first game.

Next on Jon's Hobby Desk

I just played another campaign game of Warcry with Rachel so that will be coming up soon, close to finishing up the Necromunda gangs, just need to paint a few more details. Then the Glottkin or Ad-mech should be on the table once they are done.