Sepulchre – Frostfang

29/12-2022 – Anomalous readings

Koryo carefully made his way towards the end of the ruin and peered out.

”Those are the nodes that fill our scanners with anomalous readings and hide the enemy movements in this area, Autarch,” said the Ranger leader Haranor and indicated two strange looking objects of Necron design further into the ruins in front of them.

”Then those are the targets. We must destroy them, or at least shut them down. Any enemy forces or other things in the area?” Koryo replied.

”This area is as unsettling and still as the previous. There is an unnatural dread here, brought on by the Necrons and their devices. My men are on the edge, but holding so far. We have spotted a large group of Necron Warriors on approach from the opposite woods.”

”This unsettling horror unnerves every one of our warriors,” Exarch Iiloran Mournsong of the Warp spiders added. ”Warlock Daranael still suffers from some kind of suffocating madness and the Guardians are extremely unnerved since our last skirmish.”

”Farseer Embarath does his best to calm and guide them,” Koryo ensured. ”But we may not be able to depend on them as much this time. A strange form of inertia and exhaustion has stalled our advance and our forces are still far behind. But we must strike now, before more Necrons have time to arrive, even if our reinforcements will arrive in stuttering groups. Move out!”

The Rangers had secured a good vantage point from the tall ruins on the left Aeldari flank, as a Cryptek Technomancer lead twenty Necron Warriors on to the battlefield from the other side of a forest.

The Necron Warriors marched steadily forwards intent on holding one of the nodes. The Rangers were out of range and could not fire their sniper rifles.

The Necron Warriors moved relentlessly closer to the first node, as the Necron Overlord made his way through the forest. Exarch Khirigin Blademoon lead the Moonglow Dire Avengers onto the battlefield and advanced to get the Necron Warriors into range of their avenger shuriken catapults. Farseer Embarath Dreamweaver moved up in support and used his psychic powers to guide their aim. With a timely intervention, Autarch Koryo and the Ghostweaver Warp Spiders of Iiloran Mournsong made a sudden assault, materialising onto the central ruins. The Necron Warriors came under intense fire, with a bladestorm of shuriken from the Dire Avengers, sniper fire from the Rangers, and the death spinners from the Warp Spiders wiping them out so completely that they could not reanimate.

The enraged Overlord advanced towards the Warp Spiders, while the Technomancer retreated into the woods to meet up with the delayed Necron Immortals. The Immortals and the Overlord fired on the Warp Spiders and left only Iiloran and Koryo standing. The two moved further back with their sights still on the Overlord, as Daranael and the Guardians arrived and advanced on the second node. The Dire Avengers and Embarath advanced towards the first node. Dire Avengers defensive tactics enabled them to deactivate the node and revoke it’s targeting disruption and still fire on the Overlord, wounding him. Koryo’s dragon fusion gun failed him, as the Overlord phased through the blast. Finally, the Rangers managed a headshot that even the Overlord’s Resurrection Protocols couldn’t bring him back from.

The Immortals moved through the forest to get in range of their weapons, and cut down Iiloran with their gauss blasters and severely wounded Koryo. Koryo teleported back and away from the Immortals, as the Dire Avengers moved up and the Guardians protected by Daranael advanced towards the second node. Embarath guided the Dire Avengers again and their bladestorm cut down a few Immortals, who immediately resurrect and stood back up.

The Immortals took out all of the Dire Avengers, except Exarch Khirigin. The Guardians and Daranael advanced and deactivate the second node, while fire from the scatter laser and Khirigin hammered into the Immortals, but again they rose back up.

Seeing the many Aeldari closing in on them, the Technomancer ordered the remaining Necrons to retreat, leaving the victorious Aeldari time to permanently disable the Necron nodes.

”Well done!” Koryo exclaimed to his gathered troops after the battle. ”Despite this unnatural dread, we managed to destroy the nodes and the Necron’s stillness effect is already diminishing. Now we can more safely bring in more troops and find the main Necron Pylons and destroy them. I would especially congratulate the Ghostweavers, for their well timed ambush and they are now truly battle-tested and, I think, marked for greatness. Exarch Iiloran has showed that he really is an exemplar of the shrine! But the Necrons have surely taken note of our activities now and will gather in greater numbers. We will need to move swift to avoid being caged in by them.”

15/5-2022 – Eiyoltan arrives on Sepulchre

The Webway gate on the planet Sepulchre opened and Autarch Koryo Stormshadow stepped through, followed swiftly by alert Asuryani warriors of the Eiyoltan Craftworld.

”Greeting! It is good to see you back on your feet, Autarch,” Iiloran Mournsong, the Warp Spider Exarch said as he approached.

”The war with the ravagers of the Purple Pox cost us all a great deal,” Koryo replied to his friend. ”You became as sick and injured as I was. How are you healing?”

”As well as can be expected. The wraithbone grafts are necessary to halt the spread of the pox and they make us much more resilient, but they take time to adapt to. I feel like a newcomer to the Shrine again. Do you think we will find a cure for the pox in this accursed realm?”

”Yes, the survivors of the Eiyoltan Farseer Council have scried the future paths and seen that we will find an answer here. The Necrontyr is projecting a field of unnatural dread that affects even us and most of the troops are new recruits to cover for the losses from the Purple Pox invasion. But we need to survey and secure the indicated sites in these mon-keigh ruins. Take your positions and stay alert, I predict we will have company soon. And tell Warlock Daranael that we need a psychic beacon to alert the rest of our forces.”

The nervous Guardian Defenders took position on top of the tank in the central ruins, with good lines of sight of the opposite street and the Necron Immortals skulking there. The Rangers ghosted forward towards a vantage point in the ruins on the opposite flank, with Koryo Stormshadow and the Iiloran’s Warp Spiders in position to secure the ruins behind them. The Warlock Daranael led the Dire Avengers into cover in the centre. Opposite them, the Skorpekh Destroyers and the Technomancer hid in the ruins opposite the Dire Avengers, with the Necron Overlord and Immortals out on the flank opposite the Guardians.

The Necron Overlord and Skorpekh Destroyers moved forward under cover from the ruins as the Immortals fired on the Guardians. Daranael protected the Guardians by jinxing the Immortals’ weapons and only two Guardians fell. The Dire Avengers moved towards the ruins with the Guardians as the Warp Spiders secured the first site. The Rangers and Guardians fired on the Immortals and massed shuriken fire from the Dire Avengers cut apart the first Skorpekh Destroyer.

The Overlord kept advancing into cover in the ruins below the Guardians and the Destroyers retreated back to secure a site. The Immortals hit back hard against the Guardians, despite being jinxed again by Daranael, and the surviving unnerved Guardians fled.

The Dire Avengers tried to take their name literal and their matchless agility enabled them to traverse the ruins and target the Overlord. But despite their immense shrunken fire, they only managing to wound him and his living metal body regenerated. The Warp Spiders advanced on the right flank towards the Destroyers. The Ranger’s long rifles didn’t have any effect on the Skopekh Destroyers, but Koryo teleported closer and melted another construct to slag with his Dragon fusion gun.

The Overlord, Immortals and Technomancer shot and killed three of the Dire Avengers before the Overlord charged. But in order to have range to the Dire Avengers, the Technomancer and his bodyguard Crypthralls exposed themselves out of cover. Against the odds, two of the expertly trained and equipped Aspect Warriors survived the blows of the Overlord. The last Skorpekh Destroyer moved behind cover towards the Immortals and Koryo secured the site that had just been secured by the Skorpekh Destroyer. The Warp Spiders teleported into cover closer to the Technomancer. The Dire Avengers feigned a retreat from the regenerating Overlord and instead targeted the Crypthralls, killing one. Daranael and the Rangers also targeted the Technomancer, but their shots were intercepted by the last Crypthralls, who died protecting their master.

The Overlord chased after the Dire Avengers, and combined fire with the Technomancer to wipe them out. The Immortals targeted Daranael and took him out of action. Koryo used the distraction of the Dire Avengers and Daranael to teleport behind the last Skorpekh Destroyer and melt it with a well placed fusion blast. The Warp Spiders had also teleported into firing range and used their death spinners to destroy the Technomancer. However, the destruction of the mechanoid activated its resurrection protocols and brought him back from the brink of death.

The Overlord and Technomancer retreated out of sight behind the tank, as Koryo and the Warp Spiders advanced on the Immortals. Death spinners and long rifles did not manage to kill all of them, and a charging Koryo failed to take any more down. But the Overlord acknowledged that the Aeldari had the upper hand and teleported his troops away. The Asuryani had a close win, as the cost in Aeldari life was steep.

Koryo was surveying the surrounding area from the peak of a ruin, as Iiloran approached again.

”Daranael will recover, but I sense a growing anger within him after his injuries. The Guardians are even more unnerved after their casualties, but will recover physically,” Iiloran reported.

”Sad news for such great warriors,” Koryo replied. ”We shall keep an eye on them. But we learned a great deal about these new Necron types. I am glad we never had to face those three-legged machines in close combat, they looked utterly lethal. We will return to the Webway gate to await reinforcements and then investigate these anomalous readings the Rangers found ahead of us.”

28/8-2021 – Quickstalkers behind enemy lines

”By my blade, I shall break through their lines, tear through their armour, and leave a trail of corpses! I shall be first to the fray and will never back down! We will bring down the mightiest enemies and bring back a worthy trophy!” vowed Fander Quicksilver, the Wolf Guard Battle Leader and warlord of the Quickstalkers pack.

Torleif Beaststalker, the pack’s other Wolf Guard Battle Leader, shook his head at his brother’s wild boasts. Fander was truly magnificent with his blades and could lead a charge like no other, but he lacked experience and could do with some humility. Torleif had suffered niggling injuries in skirmishes with the Necrons and had to concede command to Fander for the time, even though Torleif was senior. The Frostwolves had been locked in a stalemate on Sepulchre for almost a year now, still no closer to finding the Necron headquarter or the source of the strange ailment that obscured the sector. The lack of progress had made most of the Space Wolves abandon their deed names and start a new saga. Finally, an augur sweep had detected a strange signal, and Fander and Torleif were sent to investigate. However, the way was blocked by a contingent of the Planetary Defence Force, who seemed to have been enslaved by Necron Mindshackle Scarabs.

”Enough words, brother! It is time to move,” Torleif interrupted and indicated the ranks of human soldiers and tanks on the other side of the ruins.

Torleif and his Cyberwolf companion, Kaisa, deployed in the craters around a wrecked Rhino with Jarek’s Infiltrator pack, Skule’s Eliminator pack, and the Phobos Rune Priest Hrafn. Fander crept through the ruins on the other flank with Rost’s Intercessors, Brage’s Grey Hunters, Morven’s Hounds of Morkai, and walking boldly up the road was Frode´s Aggressor pack. The Fenrisian Wolf pack accompanying the battle pack hung back, waiting for an opportunity to close. Opposing them was a large number of Imperial Guard, supported by officers, two Leman Russ tanks, and a Primaris Psyker.

The Imperial Guard opened up first and their fire took down the Frode and his Aggressor pack and most of the Eliminator pack, with only Skule left standing. Unperturbed, the Space Wolves advanced behind cover, while Fander called down an orbital bombardment to break up the Guard lines. Skule shot the closest officer, but failed to make a kill. The rest of the Space Wolves unleashed a hail of fire on the humans but failed to bring any more squads down. Kaisa leaped forward and engaged an infantry squad, biting and tearing several men.

Seeing the imminent danger of the incoming orbital bombardment, the Imperial Guard moved away from the expected impact spot, while keeping up their rate of fire as best they could, taking our Morven’s Hounds of Morkai and Hrafn. The Space Wolves kept advancing, laying down as much bolter fire as they could, and further decimating the Imperial Guard lines. The Brage’s Grey Hunters charged a Chimera, Fander an infantry squad, and Jarek’s Infiltrators another squad.

Reeling from the assault, the Imperial Guard fell back and mowed down Kaisa and Jarek’s Infiltrators with focussed fire. The Fenrisian Wolves moved up on the right flank, while Fander advanced on the enemy commander. Torleif retreated back, unwilling to brave the guns of a Leman Russ and three infantry squads. A wounded Skule failed to find his mark again. Fander charged and easily dispatched the Imperial Guard Commander and his retinue, as Brage’s Grey Hunters badly damaged the Chimera and Rost’s Intercessors killed an infantry squad.

The Guard lines buckled under Fander’s attack, but the other flank was lost, as Torleif hid as best he could. Forfeiting the kill, Fander led the remaining packs through the gap in the enemy lines making his way towards the source of the strange signal.

Even though Fander had boasted more than he had delivered, taking the enemy commander’s head made him a hero of renown. Hrafn took a heavy bolter hit to the head, loosing his eye, and was henceforth known as Hrafn One-eye. Brage’s Grey Hunters proved that they are indeed the most veteran warriors in the battle pack, but the swift movement of Rost’s Intercessors earned them the deed name Longstriders.

”Good work getting us through the lines, Fandor,” Torleif admitted, as the battle pack met again behind enemy lines. ”Now let my pack brothers find the way to the signal.”

Torleif signalled the Phobos armoured Space Wolves and the Fenrisian Wolves to move out, as Fandor rallied the others to push on towards the horizon.

12/9-2020 – The Purebloods arrive on Sepulchre

The Styx class heavy cruiser Bringer of Sorrow violently ejected from the Warp in the system designated 89831030/4. The system only had one planet: Sepulchre. The Bringer of Sorrow belong to the Thousand Sons warband the Purebloods. The shipmaster of the Bringer of Sorrow, the Exalted Sorcerer Pharon Xander, rose from his throne and summoned his command staff.

”This is the system the anomalies emirate from. Can you feel it brothers? The Warp is almost dead here. We must find the cause of this. You know your orders: land on the planet and seek out what is causing this!”, Pharon proclaimed.

”Your will be done,” the Sorcerer Ratash Mor replied. ”My forces will be the vanguard. I will depart immediately through the webway.”

”My troops will secure the landing site,” the Sorcerer Imigur Kazemde continued.

The last of the sorcerers, and Pharon’s greatest rival, Ishmael the Wanderer, said nothing, but gave a slight nod.

”Depart immediately,” Pharon ordered and dismissed his commanders.

Ratash Mor, impetuous as befitting a former member of the Pyrae cult, was true to his word and was the first of the Thousand Sons on the desolate world. Mor’s mastery of the webway made it unnecessary to use a lander, as he and his troops simply walked between the locations. His forces immediately detected a Necron presence in the ruins of an unknown town and moved to investigate.

The Necron and Thousand Sons forces deployed opposite each other in cover of the ruins, and Mor ordered the Rubric Marines to fire. The Necron Warriors suffered heavy casualties, but almost immediately regenerated and stood back up. The Spawn sent forwards were met by a Scarab swarm and the Skorpekh Destroyers. The Spawn had no chance and were cut down before they could even attack.

The eager Destroyers then turned towards the decimated Rubrics and charged. Mor realised their predicament and teleported the Rubrics away to safety, as he himself fought the Skorpekh in close combat. Despite fighting well, Mor was overwhelmed by the frenzied attacks of the mad machines.

The Skorpekh Lord chased after the teleporting Rubrics and slayed them, as fire from the Necron Warriors and multiple attacks from the Scarabs decimated the remaining Rubric Marines. Mor used his last energy to teleport his remaining troops away, leaving the area to the victorious Necrons.

A badly wounded Mor limped out of the webway and was met by Kazemde and Ishmael.

”The Necrons are here,” Mor managed to say before drifting into unconsciousness.

12/9-2020 – Recon on Sepulchre

Meanwhile, on the other side of Sepulchre, the Beaststalkers disembarked the Frostwolves Thunderhawk.

”Stay sharp,” Torleif Beaststalker said to his troops, as they spread out. ”Magnus’ traitors are here, as well as whatever foe is responsible for this malaise we are all feeling. Inquisitor Rain believes it has something to do with the Necrons. We are here to find out and cut off the head of the Necron command, if they are here.”

The Thunderhawk lifted off again and the Frostwolves advanced towards the ruins of a supply outpost in the distance.

Torleif and Jarek’s Nightstalkers cautiously advanced through the woods on one side of the supply outpost, as Hrafn Shadowstorm led Morven’s Night Terrors around the other side. Skule’s Farslayers took position in another wood further away from the outpost. They had spotted a large group of Necron Warriors in a wood on the opposite side, performing some kind of ritual. They seemed to be erecting some form of obelisk made out of blackstone.

The Necrons became aware of the approaching Space Wolves, and the Plasmancer followed the Canoptek Reanimator on the flank. The Necron Warriors continued their ritual, guarded by the Necron Overlord and Royal Warden.

The Nightstalkers advanced through the woods as did the Night Terrors on the other flank. Hrafn summoned the powers of Fenris and opened a chasm under the feet of the surprised Plasmancer. The Necron character did not have time to move, and was swallowed by the earth.

In response, the Reanimator advanced on the Night Terrors, followed by the Overlord. The Warriors finished their work and strode out of the wood towards the Space Wolves.

Hrafn and the Night Terrors did not fear the towering Reanimator, and demolished it with psychic powers and small arms fire. This revealed the Overlord behind, and the Frostwolves did not hesitate to engage in close combat. But the Overlord was a formidable opponent, and immediately struck down Hrafn. The Nightstalkers and the Farslayers on the other flank opened up on the Necron Warriors, but hardly made a den’t in their numbers.

Contemptuously, the Overlord disengaged from the Night Terrors, as the Necron Warriors turned their attention on them and gunned them down.

The remaining Frostwolves poured all the fire they had into the Necron Warriors, but they were too few to make an impact. Torleif gave the order to withdraw and the Beaststalkers faded into the shadows.

The defeated Frostwolves regrouped at their temporary camp, the severely wounded Hrafn having just managed to use his powers of obfuscation to help the Night Terrors and himself to escape.

”Well, the Necrons are definitely here,” Hrafn said to Torleif, as the Wolf Priest Adept, Alrik, tended to Hrafn’s wounds.

”Yes,” Torleif agreed. ”I tried sending word to the Frostfang, but the Necrons seem to be jamming our signal. After you are patched up, we need to find a signal boost or the jamming device. But for now: rest and recover, brother.”