Week 12 of the Aftermath Campaign: Karsonis Under Seige

Since Typhus and the Terminus Est arrived at the Karsonis System, events have been anything but mundane. With supplies and munitions beginning to run low, the "Maggots of Despair" and "Apostles of Contagion" were ordered to join the fleet of Deathguard ships under Typhus' command, and assist them in securing the Arcus Hold munitions station. Although the Deathguard were victorious at Arcus Hold, Lord Commander Encephalatitus' concerns about leaving the Karsonis System had come to pass.

Inquisitor Fortez wasted no time in taking advantage of their absence from Karsonis. He immediately began to tighten his grip on the already beleagured system. After firmly securing Imperial control at the system level, a full scale bombardment of the planet Karsonis was ordered. Inquisitor Fortez swore that the taint of chaos would either be removed from the planet, or the planet would be subject to Exterminatus. Either way, Karsonis would be cleansed!

Meanwhile, back at Arcus Hold, Typhus informed The Maggots of Despair and Apostles of Contagion of the second phase of Mortarion's plan for them. "Since we have successfully captured the munitions depot at Arcus Hold, Our Primarch wants you to depart from the Deathguard Fleet and head back to Karsonis" he told them. "You will engage Fortez...you will protect the planet Karsonis....and you will regain control of that system in the name of our father Nurgle."

For the past nine days they have fought off the fleet commanded by Inquisitor Fortez. Their defense of Karsonis not only stalled the Imperial fleet, but it has turned the planet into an impenetrable fortress.

It is now time for the Deathguard to go on the offensive and end Fortez' assault on Karsonis. The troops have been given the command they have awaited for........prepare for boarding action.

The hunter is now the hunted.

Week 11 of the Aftermath Campaign: The Race to Reload

"The Arcus Hold munitions station in the Vivace System is our target" said Typhus.

"Our Primarch has given me command of the Deathguard forces in the Aftermath Sector in order to accomplish this mission. Arcus Hold is the Imperium's primary supply depot for this sector. Mortarion desires for us to not only rob our opponent of his munitions, but for us to take control of this station for our own. The station is NOT to be destroyed, but captured" he stated.

“What about our efforts here in the Karsonis System” asked Encephalatitus. “Since I have been ordered to not engage Inquisior Fortez in a protracted fight, he has already made significant gains in this system. If you tell us to leave……”

“Do You Question Our Primarchs Ability To Run This Campaign” demanded Typhus.

“No my lord” replied Encephalatitus. “I just don’t want this system to fall completely into Imperial control.”

“Fortez can wait” said Typhus. “You will get your chance Encephalatitus…….and Encephalatitus, you get the privilege of being our Spear-Tip. Your ships will be the first to exit the warp and engage the Imperial Fleet.”

“As you command” replied Encephalatitus.

WIP: Nurgle Close Combat Dread

Here are a couple of pictures of the current Chaos Dread that I am working on.





Next I will be taking a drill to the dread as well as adding a bit of green-stuff to it.

The Battle for Arcus Hold (2): 40K in 40 minutes, Deathguard vs Tzeentch Daemons

The set-up for this battle will be: Annihilation/Spearhead.

This is a battle being fought and recorded for the online Warhammer 40K Aftermath campaign.

The forces taking place in this battle are:

Tzeentch:
Blue Scribes
Squad of Flamers with Changeling Upgrade
Sacraficial Daemonette squad

Deathguard:
7 man Plague Marine Squad: Squad Carrion with Rhino
5 man Lesser Daemon Squad
5 man Lesser Daemon Squad

*Special Rules:
Minimum of one troop choice.
Maximum of one HQ.
No models may have more than 2 wounds.
No special characters.
No 2+ save.
WYSIWYG!
No vehicle may have a total armor value greater than 33 (front, side, rear)

The Tzeentch player wins the dice roll and will go first.


Turns 1 and 2:
The flamers deepstrike atop a ridgeline just within shooting range of the Nurgle rhino, and end up immobilizing it. With the Deathguard being forced to disembark and advance towards the daemons, the Blue Scribes swoop in and blast the Deathguard squad twice with "Wind of Chaos".

6 of the 7 Deathguard are killed. Now you see them, now you don't!

Before:

After:



Turn 3:
The Deathguard Aspiring champion, aided by the "lesser" lesser daemons that had been summoned last turn, are able to defeat the Blue Scribes.

Turn 4:
The second squad of nurgle,"lesser" lesser daemons enter combat with the Daemonettes and are able to hold ground as reinforcements rush in to aid them.

Turns 5 and 6:
The Daemonettes are defeated. The remains of both nurgle, "lesser" lesser Daemon squads and the Aspiring champion are then able to assault and defeat the flamer squad.

Game ends with a Deathguard Victory: 3-0

Battle for Arcus Hold: 40K in 40 Minutes, Deathguard vs Deathwing

The set-up for this battle will be: Capture and Control/Dawn of War.

This is a battle being fought and recorded for the online Warhammer 40K Aftermath campaign.

The forces taking place in this battle are:

Deathwing:
Deathwing Terminator squad with heavy flamer
Space Marine Dread


Deathguard:

7 man Plague Marine Squad: Squad Carrion with Rhino
5 man Lesser Daemon Squad
5 man Lesser Daemon Squad


*Special Rules:
Minimum of one troop choice.
Maximum of one HQ.
No models may have more than 2 wounds.
No special characters.
No 2+ save.
WYSIWYG!
Usually it is "No vehicle may have a total armor value greater than 33 (front, side, rear)" But since Ron (++from the warp++) cheats all the time, we decided it just wasn't worth bringing up the whole Armour thing :)


The Deathguard player wins the dice roll, but hands over the first turn to the Deathwing.


Turns 1 and 2:
The Deathwing Dread is able to immobilize the Deathguard Rhino on turn 1 and are then able to drop their Terminator squad directly in front of the immobilized rhino.





After summoning a squad of their "lesser" daemons, the Deathguard disembark from the rhino and then shower the terminators in multiple baths of flames just before they assault them.


Turn 3:
With combat engaged, it doesn't take all that long for the Deathguard and "Lesser" Daemons to overcome the outnumbered terminators.

With three scoring units surrounding their objective, and the Deathwing having no more scoring units, we called the game.

Game ends with a Deathguard Victory: 1-0

Week 10 of the Aftermath Campaign: The Battle for Karsonis

'Curse that Typhus!'

The concussion from the exploding torpedo's ripped through the starboard launch bays of the Contagion. Klaxons began going off throughtout the Retaliator Class Grand Cruiser as she groaned under the relentless pounding she was receiving from Inquisitor Fortez's fleet.

"Commander, the starboard launch bays are venting atomsphere" said one of the bridge engineers. "The servitors are reporting extensive damage to the hanger decks as well. They advise not allowing the fighter wings to land on it."

'If the Terminus Est doesn't show up soon, I don't think there will be any escort left for him to command' thought Encephalatitius as he worked his way through the wreckage and smoke filled bridge of his ship.

"Helmsman......bring us about so our fighters can double up and use the port landing bays. I want those birds back on board immediately!" growled Encephalatitus.

"Aye, aye sir." Replied the officer.

"Send word to the Doomblight and Filthbringer to bring their fighter squadrons back as well" barked Encephalatitus. "As soon as all of our birds have safely landed, I want the fleet to disengage and head back to the Alpha site."

'We can't take too much more of this' he thought as he stood there surveying the damage reports coming in from all of the ships in the fleet. 'IF the Terminus Est doesn't show up soon, this system will slip firmly into the control of the Imperium, and we won't be able to do anything about it.'

'Typhus better show up soon.'

2000pt Planet Strike: 'Deffwing vs Plaguewing

The set-up for this battle will be: Planetstrike, with three objectives.

This is a battle being fought and recorded for the online Warhammer 40K online Aftermath campaign.

The forces taking place in this battle are:

Ork 'Deffwing:
Mega Nobz squad with Warboss and Battlewagon (645 pts)
Mega Nobz squad with Warboss and Battlewagon (645 pts)
Mega Nobz squad with Grotsnik and War Truck(375 pts)
Forgeworkd Mega Dread (205 pts)
Forgeworkd Mega Dread (205 pts)
Total: 2045 pts

Plaguewing:
Chaos Lord: Typhus (225 pts)
Chaos Lord: Encephalatitus (175 pts)
Greater "lesser" Daemon (100 pts)
Plaguewing Terminator Squad (330 pts)
Plaguewing Terminator Squad (300 pts)
Plaguewing Terminator Squad (300 pts)
2 man Nurgle Obliterator Squad (150 pts)
2 man Nurgle Obliterator Squad (150 pts)
Lesser Daemon squad (91 pts)
Lesser Daemon squad (91 pts)
Lesser Daemon squad (91 pts)
Total: 2003 pts

*Special Rules:
As per outlined in the Planet Strike codex.


The 'Deffwing player is the attacker, so he will go first.



Turn 1:



The 'Deffwing unleash seven barages of "Firestorm" missile strikes to cover their initial advance. With the two battlewagons full of Nobz in Mega Armour pushing towards the center objective, the Wartrukk with Grotsnik races up the left flank towards the second objective.

Knowing full well that my lone Plaguewing squad could not hold the center objective against the tide of Mega Nobz headed their way, I summoned the "lesser" GUO and "lesser" lesser daemons to help bolster their defense.

Turn 2:



Lol...the speed bump that I summoned to throw in front of the Mega Nobz was just that....a speed bump. The "lesser" daemons were wiped out within 1 round of combat. It was time to see what the Plaguewing and GUO could do.

Turn 3:



The battle for the center objective comes to a close with the GUO and Plaguewing being wiped out as well. There was a silver lining to the loss of the center objective. One of the squads of Nobz in Mega Armour was forced to flee after failing a morale test when they were taken below 50%.

On the left flank, the trukk carrying Grotsnik and his retinue of Nobz in Mega Armour was destroyed, forcing them to have to advance (slowly) on foot. The two Ork Mega Dreads that were supporting Grotsnik relentlessly pounded away at Typhus and the Plaguewing squad that were defending the second objective.

Turn 4:



While the Orks consolidated and dug in to protect and hold the center objective, Typhus and the Plaguewing squad race out and assault Grotsnik. After an intense but brief fight, Grotsnik and his Nobz are defeated. Typhus and the terminators prepare to go after the Mega Dreads.

Since the third objective was not under any threat of being captured, Encephalatitus and his accompanying Plaguewing squad had left the obliterators behind to guard the objective while they advanced towards the Mega Nobz holding the center objective.

Turn 5:



Typhus and his accompanying Plaguewing squad are able to destroy the Mega Dread they assaulted, and prepare to go after the last of the Mega Dreads.

Turn 6:



In a surprising victory, Encephalatitus and his Plaguewing squad were able to drive off the Mega nobz holding the center objective. The battle was brief but intense. Yet again, the Mega Nobz were forced to flee after failing a morale check.


Game ends with a Deathguard Victory: 3-0

Since this was our first attempt at playing Planet Strike, we naturally made a few mistakes. The one fairly major mistake we made was that the attacker declared his table edge before the objectives were placed. Since the defender gets to place all objectives, I naturally placed them all within heavily fortified buildings that were as far away from the Ork deployment as I could make them. If we would have placed the objectives before the Ork player picked his deployment zone, (as we should have) I really don't think the outcome would have been the same.

Hehehe.....do you know how terrifying it is to see 18 mega nobz and 2 warbosses closing in on a lone terminator squad. Those terms just don't seem all that tough anymore :)

Week 9 of the Aftermath Campaign: The Battle for Karsonis

'War makes strange bedfellows' thought the Lord Commander as he reviewed the astropaths message from Mortarion.

'To think I thought our Primarch was gettting weak for allowing a mere heretic, much less a follower of Tzeentch, to assume command of such a large assembly of Deathguard.' Laughing to himself, Encephalatitus couldn't help but be impressed with what the Deathguard had been able to accomplish during the past nine weeks. 'Not only have we created a permnant base of operation within this sector on Ignus, but we have also been successful in turning the planet of Flamberg into a Daemon World.'

'But now this?!?'

"Commander....?"

The voice brought the Lord Commander out of his thoughts and back to the message from their Primarch.

"Commander, what are your orders?"

"Inform our brothers that our Primarch is quite pleased with our recent success" said Encephalatitus. "Mortarion has now commanded that we proceed to the Karsonis System and await the arrival of Terminus Est. Once the Terminus Est arrives, we are to lend support and act as an escort in it's mission. We will be briefed as to what the mission is once we join up with the Terminus Est."

"Until Typhus arrives, we are to harrass and harry the fleet commanded by Inquisitior Fortez as much as we can without engaging in a protracted, time consuming campaign."

The Lord Commander paused to allow the magnatude of what their Primarch desired of them to sink in. The Deathguard will once again be under the command of Typhus, however brief it may be. "Make sure to relay the message from our Primarch to the commanders of the Doomblight and Filthbringer. I want both of those cruisers ready to depart by 13:00 hours."

"Yes my lord" said the deck officer as he prepared to carry out his orders.

As the deck officer turned, Encephalatitus motioned for him to stop.

"My Lord....?"

"Inform the sorcerers that I will need to communicate with the Daemon ships. Tell them they have permission to use however many captives they need for their rituals. I have a sneeky suspicion that we will need all four of those hellspawn ships before this is all said and done."

"As you command my lord" said the deck officer, but Encephalatitus didn't hear him as he was already back to his personal thoughts. 'Strange bedfellows indeed.......'

(The Battle for Karsonis is but a small part of the online Warhammer 40K Aftermath Campaign.)