Crusade Battle #3 - KHAAAAN!!!!

With their mission complete, the Stoic Patrons intercept vox chatter with the other Khar Sorvi, it seems that they were close to what they were looking for. Canoness Praxima knew the dangers of dabbling in technologies that weren't sanctioned by the Adeptus Mechanicus and time was of the essence. Deep beneath the surface of the planet was an old refinery, it had been a site of several battles between the Iybraesil Eldar and the Imperium ages ago. A patrol detachment of Adeptus Mechanicus joined the Sisters, lead by Tech-Priest Advectius Volo with his Rangers, their specialty was to seek out unsanctioned technology to be destroyed, or so they claim.

Sister Alwyn noticed an off white structure within the ruins, she had seen Eldar travel through them before it. A Webway Gate, though this one was in overgrown with local flora, one of the arcs had been smashed into several pieces behind it. The Sisters of Battle would need to move in and claim the Xenos tech before they did, who knows what untold horrors the Eldar warp device might inflict.

Pilon and I decided on a 35 PR crusade battle this time, which meant I needed to do some assembling and painting. As you can see from the Dialogus being invisible till the end of the game when she is substituted for a Battle Sister, it could have went better. 

I mostly focused on the Tech-Priest Manipulus, kitbashing his legs from the Skorpekh Warriors from the new starter set. He is armless so he shouldn't be too hard to fight. I will magnetize the weapon options too. It seems that the Tech-Priest didn't learn from the previous mission about how dangerous unsanctioned technology can be. (But it does look pretty cool!)

With how many of the Battle Sisters Squad that had fled last game, I decided to bolster the Repentia Squad for this game, bumping them from 4 to 9, making them much more useful! (and survivable)

Before both armies, stood the shattered Webway, it's spirit stones still beating within the wraithbone structure, Praxima knew that this gate needed repairs, but did the Khan figure out a way to sing to the wraithbone? She didn't want to find out, the gate must be destroyed!

Turn one deployment, The Relic

The Adepta Sororitas took the first turn, hoping to take out some of the close combat units. With the White Scars ability to fall back and still shoot and charge, it wouldn't tie them up for too long! I drew Spirit of Marty letting me roll a 5+ to let the unit shoot or fight before being taken off the board.

Father Henry takes cover in the dense Barbed Venomgorse

The Sisters Repentia, now bolstered with the faithless that had fled from battle, show their faith in the Emperor by blindly charging into the Vanguard Veteran Squad. Needing to use a Stratagem to allow them to charge after advancing. They succeeded in taking out 2 of their numbers, much better to charge then be charged by them. As they do mortal wounds when they slam into you.

Thessa facing down Khan 

The sound of several jump packs firing in union ruptures the din of combat, the Assault Squad has arrived, unleashing bolter pistol fire into the Sisters Repentia before charging into them. Revving their chainswords, butchering the whole squad.

Father Henry moves in to flame the Khan and the Assault Squad, taking out 4 models, and causing one wound on the Khan. 

After combat.

Assault Squad falls out of combat to shoot at Henry before charging in. Don't think I was able to Overwatch because from the pictures they seemed to have survived getting into combat which doesn't really happen with Heavy Flamer units.

The Librarian takes to the center of the battlefield, claiming the webway for the Khan. Father Henry bathes the Khan in flames.

I believe the rangers tried to get closer to the action only to be shot at by the Khan, and also be very ineffective at shooting back.

Battle Sisters hold the line against the Venguard Veteran Squad

Turgen Swiftspeer's bike engine revs up as he takes off in a wheelie towards Alwyn's Battle Sisters, his armor badly damaged from the previous battle against the sisters. From the look of it, only one of his hearts had been punctured in the previous battled.

Chief Librarian Oktai Thunderlord reaches towards the wraithbone, psychic energy pulsing from his finger tip. The light blue wraithbone twitched on the ground, swaying in it's place on the ground. 

Sister Mylanthra, leader of the Seraphim, witnessed the wraithbone move on the ground. Psychic energy rippled across the battlefield, the wraithbone lifting from the ground. Mylanthra screams, "Sisters, descend on the witch!" They land between the psycher and the webway.

Two of her sisters in battle fall, the voice of Saint Lucia echos in their head, "Pain insists that I stand my ground." they stand up with the last ounce of their strength to shoot at the Heretical Librarian. Leaving Mylanthra to finish him off.

The skitarii side of the force didn't fair very well this battle, only Tech-Priest Advectius Volo taking out the two Assault Marines in combat.

The Martyred Lady Lucia's voice came to Mylanthra as Librariand and her exchanged sword slashes, parrying and dodging on her wings. Both adversaries charged back into the fight at once, killing each other in unison.

Rolled a 5 on of the Spirit of the Martyr, letting Mylanthra fight once more in battle before being slain.

Battle Sisters capture the middle only to be blown off of it by the Eleminators.

Canoness and Dialogus clean up the scout squad, making sure they aren't able to claim the center objective. The Canoness seems to get herself into combat every game, with her staff she actually can do some good damage.

Pilon charged in with the Eliminators as they were his only squad left. Securing the relic but not able to score until the non existent turn 6.

With the Battle Sisters mostly wiped out, the Khan Sorvi take the webway. defending the area till their reinforcements could arrive to repair the webway. Canoness Praxima beats a tactical retreat, what's the point of an act of martyrdom if there isn't a crowd to tell the tale of your brave deeds? 

This was a bloody battle, while playing I asked Pilon if White Scars can retreat, shoot AND charge. He double checked today and it's actually they can fall back and charge back in, not shoot as well. Boy that would have made a difference! Oh well, now we know, and knowing is half the battle!

Next on the Hobby Desk

Somehow Daemons have taken over the hobby desk, jumping in line to get some contrast paint on them. The 90x52 oval bases I ordered finally showed up, so I finished up one of the Bloodcrushers, and well there was only three and the other two were half finished, now the unit (as I only have three from the lot earlier this year.) is done as well as 10 Blood letters. 

This game was closer to the beginning of August, today I had another crusade game with Pilon, so hopefully I can continue to get posts up in a reasonable about of time.