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Post by Zyraen on Jul 21, 2014 23:44:53 GMT 8
Week 2 Update (Missions are up)
Hello Champions of the Imperium/Chaos/Xenos,
Welcome to the "Echoes of Vidar: Damnation" Campaign.
This is a narrative campaign designed to tell our own story within the Vidar sector of the Warhammer 40,000 universe. And to create our own heroes.
You may join the campaign at any time!
NEXT CAMPAIGN DAY: 3 AUGUST 2013 (You may play the Repeatable Scenarios at any time. Campaign Days are special scenario days that advance the storyline)
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Imperium
1. Benjamin Lin -Col. Carl Von Clausewitz (Astra Militarum)
2. Zackary Ong - (Astra Militarum)
3. Gabriel Cheng - (Dark Angels)
Heretics
1. Zach Lau - Ynvar Ravensblood (Space Wolves)
2. Greg Wong - (Chaos Space Marines)
3. Renzus - (Chaos Space Marines)
Necrons
1.
Neutral (Not aligned, may attack in faction)
1. Damian Chang - Teodora Coteaz (Grey Knights?)
2. Bryan Khoo - Sidora (Chaos Daemons)
3. Russell Ng - One Eye (FE/Tau)
4. David Woon - (Orks)
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FACTION SCENARIOS - Week 2-
Champions are not killed when defeated in a Faction scenario.
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RAID - Drive them back! (400pts)
Faction: Any
Type: Combat Patrol
Deployment Type: Dawn of War
Primary Mission: Destroy more than half the number of units/characters in the opposing force. (1st person to get this wins the game)
Secondary Mission: First Blood, Linebreaker, Slay the Warlord (1pt each)
Special Rules: Night Fighting, Mysterious Objectives, Reserves
Rewards: 1FP for Winner, 1FP for Loser. (Maximum 3 per week, must be vs unique opponents within same week)
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MISSION - Scouting Party (1000pts and above)
Faction: Any
Type: Maelstrom of War
Notes:
(For games less than 1500pts) Remove all cards that refer to Objective 5 & 6. There are only 4 Objectives in play.
Deployment Type: Dawn of War
Primary Mission: Players begin the game with 3 Tactical Objective Cards. Players may discard any unfulfilled objectives at the start of their turn and draw up to a maximum hand of 3 Objective Cards.
Secondary Mission: First Blood, Linebreaker, Slay the Warlord (1pt each)
Special Rules: Night Fighting, Mysterious Objectives, Reserves
Rewards: 3FP for Winner, 2FP for Loser.
OR
MISSION (WEEK 2) - Subjugation (1000pts and above)
Faction: Neutral vs Neutral
Type: Special
Deployment Type: Dawn of War
Primary Mission: Slay the Opposing Warlord (1st person to get this wins the game)
Secondary Mission: First Blood, Linebreaker (1pt each)
Special Rules: Night Fighting, Reserves
Rewards: 3FP for Winner, 3FP for Loser.
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The story so far:
953.M41.
Striking an unholy alliance with the Thousand Sons, the Chaos Marines known as the Life Takers plot to bring the Vidar Sector to its knees.
Commandeering a genestealer cult controlled Militarum on Praedis Zeta, the forces of Chaos secure 3 of the planets most vital capitals while cutting down the Imperius Reavers Space Marine Chapter to the last man.
(GR Apocalypse - Battle for Hive 23, Praedis Zeta)
On the planet of Safehold, scoured of life a century ago by a Necron World Engine, the Life Takers also managed to almost unleash a C'tan, only to have been stopped by the Alaitoc Eldar, at the price of too many Eldar souls.
(GR Apocalypse - A Star God Unleashed, Safehold)
White Scars, Space Wolves, Ultramarines, Blood Angels and Black Templar forces find themselves warring on all fronts against the forces of Chaos and Necrons alike.
And the Dark Angels seek a justice denied them for far too long...
For in the grim darkness of the far future... there is only war.
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The following factions will be used with the Damnation campaign:
Faction (No. of Starting Locations / Fate Points)
Imperium (1 / 2) - All Space Marine Chapters, Astra Militarum
Heretics (2 / 2) - Chaos Space Marines, Chaos Daemons, Dark Angels, Astra Militarum
Necrons (1 / 3) - Necrons
Neutrals (1 / 1) - Tau Empire, Eldar, Dark Eldar, Orks
Each participant in the campaign should pick one of the above factions upon signup. You will then privately message your faction and commander name (Please try to come up with a good name ^^) to G Saurus Rex.
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Echoes of Vidar: Damnation Campaign Ruleset v1 -Week 0
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ZONES
There are 4 Zones in the Damnation Campaign
1. Praedis Zeta - Hive World
2. Safehold - Dead World
3. Avarris - Knight World
4. Sanctuary 101 - Necron Tomb World
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EACH PLAYER STARTS THE GAME WITH:
1. Starting Territories
2. 1-3 Fate Points
3. 10 Honor Points
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A CAMPAIGN TURN
1. Each Campaign Turn lasts a week. (Mondays - Sundays)
2. During each Turn, a Champion may take the following actions:
- Any number of Raid actions. Only 3 FP may be gained every week from Raids.
- ONE Attack Action on an enemy territory anywhere on the board. (You may only attack another Zone if you control at least 1 Spaceport / Webway Portal)
- ONE purchase of an empty territory for 2 FP.
- ONE purchase of a Secret Agenda for 2 FP.
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ACTIONS
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RAID ACTIONS: Each Player may issue a "RAID" on another player not of their own faction as many times as they wish. You may not RAID the same player more than once a week.
You may decline a RAID challenge at any time.
ATTACK ACTION: Each Player may only issue an ATTACK to another Player-controlled Territory ONCE a week (1500pts - 1999pts, determined by DEFENDER). Should the Attacker win, he may then spend 2FP to claim that Territory as his own while the Defender gains 1 FP.
Should the Defender win, he gains 2 FP. These Territory gains are IMMEDIATE.
Defending players gain + 5%pts for each adjacent territory that he owns. This may be negated by using Fate Points (1FP per adjacent territory negated)
You may decline a RAID challenge with no penalty if another player in your faction (Imperial / Chaos / Tau / Eldar / Special) chooses to accept the challenge in your stead. Otherwise, you lose 1 Honor.
A player may choose to accept a challenge on someone's behalf up to ONCE a campaign turn. Doing so gains that player 1 Honor.
PLAYERS WITH NO TERRITORIES MAY NO LONGER DO ATTACK ACTIONS.
You may however play the "RAID" Mission until you have enough FPs to purchase a new territory. You may also accept challenges on another player's behalf.
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STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
Some Territories have Strategic Objectives built into the space.CAPITAL: Player defending this Territory has access to a Bastion, Spaceport, Manufactorum, Power Grid, Archeotech Site.
FORTRESS: Player defending this Territory gains a free Fortress of Redemption for the duration of all battles fought on this space.
BASTION: Player defending this Territory gains a free Bastion for the duration of all battles fought on this space.
SPACEPORT: Owning a Spaceport allows you to make ATTACK ACTIONS on another zone. Player defending this Territory gains a free Skyshield Landing Pad for the duration of all battles fought on this space.
MANUFACTORUM: Player defending this space has Elite/Fast Attack AND Heavy slots increased by 1.
POWER GRID: Play defending this space gains a +2 bonus when rolling to see who starts a game first.
ARCHEOTECH: When a player first purchases an Archeotech territory, they gain a roll on the Archeotech table.
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FATE POINTS
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USING FATE POINTS:
2FP: PLANS WITHIN PLANS - Gain a Secret Agenda (Roll once on the Secret Agenda table). You may only do this at the start of a new Campaign Turn, before you do any other actions.
1FP: I SHALL RETURN! - Prevent a story death should the Champion be "slain" in battle. This is automatically spent at the end of a battle where you Champion was slain.
1FP: CHEAT FATE - Grant a reroll on either To Hit, To Wound or Armor save ONCE. You may only reroll a single test ONCE.
2FP: DESTINY - Player may reroll ALL his Champion's To Hit, To Wound or Armor Saves for this turn. This has to be declared at the start of any movement phase.
2FP: PRESS THE ATTACK! - Challenge an additional Player's Territory ONCE. (Players may only challenge an opposing Player ONCE per Campaign Turn). You may only spend this AFTER you have used your ATTACK ACTION for the Campaign Turn.
"2+X"FP: STAKE A CLAIM - Gain control of an empty territory adjacent to a territory you own. "X" is equal to the number of new territories you have gained this Campaign Turn. You may only do this at the start of a new Campaign Turn, before you do any other actions.
10FP: I AM LEGEND! - Upgrade/Change your Champion to an existing codex Special Character's Profile. Subject to GM approval. You may only do this at the start of a new Campaign Turn, before you do any other actions.
10FP: LEVEL UP! - Permanently increase one of your Champion's stats by 1. You may only do this to each stat ONCE. Does not apply to Special Character Profiles. You may only do this at the start of a new Campaign Turn, before you do any other actions.
GAINING FATE POINTS:
2FP: Write a short narrative on your Hero and army. Purchasable ONCE. Immediate.
1FP: Paint up a unit or character during the course of the PREVIOUS Campaign Turn. Maximum once a week. You may only claim this at the start of a new Campaign Turn, before you do any other actions.
2FP: Scratch build a piece of terrain during the course of the PREVIOUS Campaign Turn. Maximum once a week. You may only claim this at the start of a new Campaign Turn, before you do any other actions. (Imperium, Chaos, Tyranid, Eldar theme) Maximum once a week.
1FP: Write a short narrative about your Hero's / Army's background / experiences during the course of the PREVIOUS Campaign Turn. Maximum once a week. You may only claim this at the start of a new Campaign Turn, before you do any other actions. Maximum once a week.
2FP: Model/Paint up your Hero to a 3 colour standard with effort. Purchasable ONCE. Immediate.
YOUR TOTAL FATE POINTS MAY NEVER EXCEED YOUR HONOR.
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HONOR
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Players start the Campaign with 10 Honor. When 2 players play against one another, the player with MORE HONOR gains a +1 to his roll when deciding who plays first.
YOUR TOTAL FATE POINTS MAY NEVER EXCEED YOUR HONOR.
You GAIN 1 HONOR when you:
- Accept an ATTACK! Action on behalf of another player in your faction.- Defeat a player with higher HONOR than you. (1250pts and above)
You LOSE 1 HONOR when you:
- Decline an ATTACK! Action challenge.- Are defeated by a player with lower HONOR than you. (1250pts and above)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------ARCHEOTECH - Roll immediately when you obtain an Archeotech location.
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2d6
2 - 5 The artefact crumbles into dust. It is nothing important.
6 - 7 Much needed supplies: Gain an additional 100pts for ONE mission in the following week.
8 Enhanced Technology: Choose a Troop unit type in your army. You may increase ONE of their following stats by 1: WS, BS, S, I, LD. This enhanced unit is now a 0-1 Elite choice that can score at no additional cost. If unit size is more than 10, it becomes a maximum of 10 models. You lose this ability should you ever lose this territory.
9 ANCIENT MASTERIES: Your Hero gains a permanent +1 to ONE of the following stats at no additional cost: WS, BS, S, I, LD. You lose this ability should you ever lose this territory.
10 Forgeworld Technology: Unlocks a Forgeworld Choice for your army. You lose this ability should you ever lose this territory.
11 Unlocked Potential: Unlocks a special character from your Codex. You lose this ability should you ever lose this territory.
12 Ancient Artefact: GM creates an item with properties that affect the story arc. You lose this ability should you ever lose this territory.
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SECRET AGENDA - Roll when you purchase a SECRET AGENDA. Do not reveal it other players unless told to do so.
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2d6
2 YOU TURNED THEM AGAINST ME! : Your faction has betrayed you, or you it. You no longer see eye to eye with them and have chosen to be independent. All other factions are now your enemies. Reveal this Agenda. Gain 5 FP.
3 - 4 SWITCHING SIDES : You have joined another faction and forsaken your own. Choose a faction that is not Come the Apocalypse. You now fight for them. You may purchase allies from within that faction. Reveal this Agenda.
5 - 6 MISTRUST! : Choose another player from your own faction. You may attack one of his territories. Devise a supporting narrative. Gain 3 FP if you win, and 1 if you lose. The defender gains 3 FP whether or not his territory is lost.
7 UNEXPECTED ALLIES : A famous character has decided to join you. Choose a special character from your codex. You may now purchase that character. You do not need to reveal this to other players.
8 DIPLOMACY : Offer to defend another player's territory in his stead. If you win, both you and the player you defended gain 1 FP. You may now field allies from that player's codex if the allies matrix allows.
9 VENDETTA : Choose an enemy Hero. The next 3 Territory Challenges done against that Hero's faction gain you double Fate Points. Gain an additional Fate Point each time you slay that Hero.
10 FORCED CONSCRIPTION! : Choose an enemy Hero. When you defeat his forces 3 times during the course of the campaign, you will then be able to field his codex as ALLIES as long as the Allies Matrix allows for it. He may then initiate a FREE, ADDITIONAL Challenge on your territories once a week.
11 GREATER THREATS : You now have an agenda that has game changing implications on the campaign. Consult the GM.
12 YOU PLANNED IT ALL ALONG: Choose an agenda on this list.
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Post by Zyraen on Jul 23, 2014 16:25:43 GMT 8
The Master Program ran the restoration process in what most beings would consider an endless loop, but that it knew was only the 8,934,691st time. The results were somewhat closer to full functionality, but that would not have been justified since it had achieved that several million iterations ago.
When the World Engine first appeared over Gaios Tertio, it wiped out the creatures that had infested the world, but in the process also disrupted the atmosphere of the planet, leaving it a lifeless, exposed rock. The defensive systems that were established during the early days of slumber had assumed a certain speed of approach of foreign bodies due to the atmospheric resistance, and had failed to account for such a change.
So it was that the meteor crashed upon Gaios Tertio without having been intercepted by defensive systems, and plunged deep into the frozen core of the planet to pierce the slumbering tomb beneath. Among the inconsequential millions of other Necrons obliterated, were the two Overlords that would lead what was once Valrendis, a coreworld of Kaldrek dynasty. It was just as well that the meteor seemed to be composed almost entirely of living metal,and dregs of familiar energy circuitry, and provided sufficient resources for necessary repairs. Thus did the Master Program reconstitute the two Overlords from databanks and their physical fragments that remained, scarabs bustling to rebuild new forms for them with their martial prowess, and to restore them to their rightful place.
Both Overlords were now ready to lead the gradually reanimating Necrons from the front with the full brunt of their prowess, reshaped from immeasurable number of records and scraps of their own memories, and they knew all that they needed to know of the dynastic traditions. However, in terms of strategy, tactics and adaptability to the new universe, they were likely still sorely lacking for the needs of Valrenis.
The Master Program once again considered its options, parsing through the records of the royal court for the 986,247th time. The records had not changed, but the situation had, with sensors detecting intense energy signatures from nearby planets and neighbouring systems, and some activities corresponded to that of past enemies, the children of the Old Ones. Valrendis would have to awake, lest it be destroyed whilst slumbering. So it was that this time, this one out of almost a million times, one would have to awake to take up the role of leadership.
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Lord Vaeren Kaldrek was annoyed, at least based on the definition of annoyed in his circuitry.
The Royal Court of Valrendis was dead, or may as well have been. Gone was the intrigue, the manuevering, the politicking that he had got used to in recent times. By gone, meaning that it no longer involved him ; by recent, meaning the period just before the slumber.
His two respected lieges, once the two co-rulers of Valrendis, were also different from what he remembered. Overlord Beylan Kaldrek was once a quirky warrior-lord with an intense hatred of the Eldar and a fondness for battle in the forefront. Nemesor Daeren Kaldrek had been a scholarly tactician whose treatises on efficiency still remained for reference, heading to the frontline only when it would appear to be the most efficient and effective course of action. Vaeren's memory circuits also noted that Daeren was once his father, a rather annoying and useless piece of data that he considered deleting, if only he knew how to. Yet now, both the Overlords were effectively identical, with only somewhat differing strokes with their various preferred weapons, and a slightly different preference regards when and where they would prefer to be while on the field.
He wondered why the Master Program had not tampered with his memories. It did seem that not one among the rest of the Royal Court remembered what he did about the two Overlords. Or maybe they were just pretending they did not remember. He hoped so.
Hope. What was that again? He reminded himself that his memories being left unaltered was not fact, only assumption.
Still, it was convenient being the undisputed leader of the Valrendis, with unswerving loyalty programmed into the consciousness of his subjects, even as they jostled and vied for influence over... this dead world.
In meantime, he had quickly stopped the Master Program from using what remained of the destructive meteor for materials and energy, instructing it to instead try to extract technological insight from the meteor, for it seemed like familiar technology that might be useful. The Master Program was instructed to convert the dead planet's matter into energy, a far less efficient process, yet he got the impression the Master Program was satisfied with his orders, somehow.
Regardless, the conversion process could not continue ad infinitum without causing a planetary collapse, and even if that could be averted and all its mass converted to energy, there would not be enough to awaken all the remaining tombs that lay within the frozen core of the planet.
Lord Vaeren Kaldrek decided that the immediate action was to secure more sources of energy from nearby systems to awaken more of his forces, while testing the capability of potential threats, and eliminating them where possible. His fleet would head out of the system first and return back by a circuitious route, so as not to betray the location of the still-stirring Valrendis. Yes, that would be the plan, as he mustered the forces deemed useful to him from the planet.
What else, what else? It was hard to put a tab on things.
Oh yes, there was that. Scheming, plotting, planning... all this while, for centuries. How to rise above all the petty bickering, how to secure the long-coveted title of Overlord. Lived it, breathed it - well, not breathing since the end of the Time of Flesh - and now, he was suddenly "here". Effectively he was THE Overlord Kaldrek, and arguably Phaeron, given that based on current knowledge, for all intents and purposes, this was all that remained of the Kaldrek empire. All of this, all his... without having to lift a finger, without having a chance to try out all his plans, without having to demonstrate his superiority.
How... annoying.
Of course, one could say that his capability was validated by none other than the Master Program itself, from its careful considerations after almost a million parses, a fact that the Master Program had impressed upon him as he awoke. Still, Lord Kaldrek decided he would have to earn it the proper way, as decreed by the traditions. He had the opportunity, but not yet the right - at least by his definition - to lead the dynasty. He would secure the victories and experience necessary to be Overlord... no, Nemesor... Kaldrek. And then, he would have the certainty - why did they not program that into him again? - that he was the right candidate to lead the Necrons of Valrendis to conquest of the universe.
A disturbing thought came to him. Was this dissatisfaction programmed into him, or had it been there all along? Could it be that the Master Program had implanted in him the desire to validate its decision, and if he failed, his position would be conveniently vacated via his demise for another to be elevated?
The glint of cerulean sparked fiercely from the lights that passed for his eyes.
Well, one thing was for sure - there was no way of knowing.
As his forces prepared to leave Valrendis, Lord Kaldrek considered instructing the Master Program to remove the needless first name "Vaeren" and the memory of his link to Overlord Daeren from his own mind. Yet the very thought just made him... uncomfortable. What did that word actually mean again? Regardless, he decided that was an unnecessary instruction.
If he survived the trial that was to come, he would become Nemesor Kaldrek, overlord of Valrendis and the Kaldrek Dynasty, on his own terms. Well at least, on what his circuitry informed him were his own terms.
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Post by Zyraen on Jul 31, 2014 20:10:34 GMT 8
The sector seemed bustling with activity and Kaldrek saw no reason to be in the thick of the fighting. His forces landed on a marginally more defensible foothold of very limited value, would hopefully deter invaders while he sent out disposable scouts, mainly scarabs to convert energy found and warriors to keep them on their leash.
Meatshields for Metal (CP vs Benjamin Lin / AM )
Sure enough, resistance was soon encountered, and the aliens surged forward, wiping out scarabs and warriors efficiently. Though the two Nightscythes that arrived killed many of them, it was not enough to really claim a decisive outcome. Regardless, there was a rough sense of their capabilities.
Based on preliminary information, these aliens were individually not threatening, but their numbers and their willingness and fearlessness at dying for the sake of their weaponry implied that they either had a high base population, or they had access to some sort of reassembly technology like Necrons, and that the weapons were exceedingly precious, which based on their efficacy, they were.
The first reason seemed unlikely given that the Sector was largely uninhabited, alternative might be that they had an efficient mode of intergalactic travel from colonies relatively nearby. The second possibility of reassembly seemed exceedingly unlikely, especially given that the remains found after the battle remained left to moulder. Perhaps some lies told by their leaders to them instilled such behaviour.
Kaldrek considered that at least the remains of his resources would be reused and reassembled where possible, in contrast to the piteous fate of these aliens. Well, if they treated their own as vermin, then they would die as vermin. Meantime, he also decided to adjust his aerial support to provide slightly more pinpoint accuracy from the air, detestable tactics would be rendered marginally more meaningless. Not that it would stop them from trying, of course.
Firepower and Finesse (Scouting Party vs Benjamin Lin / AM)
A little more reconnaissance work, courtesy of some mindshackles, had uncovered that these aliens (they called themselves humans, what an irony given the meaning of the word based on the specimens' memory banks) had possession of heavy armor, rivaling even his own quantum shielded vehicles, and probably long ranged weapons of mass destruction. The Overlords - Kaldrek no longer saw it meaningful to differentiate the two - were ready to bring their warscythes to bear. Kaldrek wondered if most other Overlords in the universe would be so eager to enter melee, especially against potentially devastating firepower, or was it just Beylan - the former Overlord Beylan, he reminded himself - who would be so enthused. Regardless, Kaldrek was more of the cautious view, as befitting his current body that was far less suited to take punishment.
The enemy was prepared for their arrival and opened fire from behind hilly terrain, onto what must seem a pitiful assortment of just five Necron vehicles and some warriors, and the first barrage saw the destruction of an Annihilation Barge. With their enemies' "humane" tactics, necron fire on the left wing was largely ineffective, while both Overlords prepared for a charge on the right aimed right where most of the enemy armor was. His aircraft brought updates of the second barrage, with an already injured Barge being destroyed, and almost the entire enemy firepower poured into one Overlord to no effect, while a single lucky shot on the other hit the energy core of an Overlord's Command Barge, causing the entire vehicle to explode, and it looked like the grievious repairs would take some time. Kaldrek ordered the flyers full speed and all three arrived in a timely fashion, taking out the enemy anti-air, as the remaining Overlord swept over the heaviest enemy armor, failing to connect with his Warscythe, then charged into the same pair of tanks that was locking up the choke point. With incredible efficiency from the two strikes that connected, each blow exploded one tank, to from Kaldrek's applause on board his Nightscythe, doubtless unheard by all concerned except his unthinking warriors. By now though, the humans had achieved so many objectives that the Necrons might not be able to catch up.
In a daring move, after pouring another fusillade that significantly weakened the Overlord, then the humans actually charged him! Still
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Post by Zyraen on Jan 25, 2015 22:12:48 GMT 8
FINAL
Prologue
The Master Program ran the restoration process in what most beings would consider an endless loop, but that it knew was only the 8,934,691st time. The results were somewhat closer to full functionality, but that would not have been justified since it had achieved that several million iterations ago.
When the World Engine first appeared over Gaios Tertio, it wiped out the creatures that had infested the world, but in the process also disrupted the atmosphere of the planet, leaving it a lifeless, exposed rock. The defensive systems that were established during the early days of slumber had assumed a certain speed of approach of foreign bodies due to the atmospheric resistance, and had failed to account for such a change.
So it was that the meteor crashed upon Gaios Tertio without having been intercepted by defensive systems, and plunged deep into the frozen core of the planet to pierce the slumbering tomb beneath. Among the inconsequential millions of other Necrons obliterated, were the two Overlords that would lead what was once Valrendis, a coreworld of Kaldrek dynasty. It was just as well that the meteor seemed to be composed almost entirely of living metal,and dregs of familiar energy circuitry, and provided sufficient resources for necessary repairs. Thus did the Master Program reconstitute the two Overlords from databanks and their physical fragments that remained, scarabs bustling to rebuild new forms for them with their martial prowess, and to restore them to their rightful place.
Both Overlords were now ready to lead the gradually reanimating Necrons from the front with the full brunt of their prowess, reshaped from immeasurable number of records and scraps of their own memories, and they knew all that they needed to know of the dynastic traditions. However, in terms of strategy, tactics and adaptability to the new universe, they were likely still sorely lacking for the needs of Valrendis.
The Master Program once again considered its options, parsing through the records of the royal court for the 986,247th time. The records had not changed, but the situation had, with sensors detecting intense energy signatures from nearby planets and neighbouring systems, and some activities corresponded to that of past enemies, the children of the Old Ones. Valrendis would have to awake, lest it be destroyed whilst slumbering. So it was that this time, this one out of almost a million times, one would have to awake to take up the role of leadership.
==================
Awakened
Lord Vaeron Kaldrek was annoyed, at least based on the definition of annoyed in his circuitry.
The Royal Court of Valrendis was dead, or may as well have been. Gone was the intrigue, the manuevering, the politicking that he had got used to in recent times. By gone, meaning that it no longer involved him ; by recent, meaning the period just before the slumber.
His two respected lieges, once the two co-rulers of Valrendis, were also different from what he remembered. Overlord Beylan Kaldrek was once a quirky warrior-lord with an intense hatred of the Eldar and a fondness for battle in the forefront. His fellow Overlord, Nemesor Daeron Kaldrek had been a scholarly tactician whose treatises on efficiency still remained for reference, heading to the frontline only when it would appear to be the most efficient and effective course of action. Vaeron's memory circuits also noted that Daeron was once his father, a rather useless piece of data that he considered deleting. Yet now, both the Overlords were effectively identical, with only somewhat differing strokes with their various preferred weapons, and a slightly different preference regards when and where they would prefer to be while on the field.
He wondered why the Master Program had not tampered with his memories. It did seem that not one among the rest of the Royal Court remembered what he did about the two Overlords. Or maybe they were just pretending they did not remember. He hoped so.
Hope. What was that again? He reminded himself that his memories being left untampered was not fact, only assumption.
Still, it was convenient being the undisputed Overlord of the Valrendis, with unswerving loyalty programmed into the consciousness of his subjects, even as they jostled and vied for influence over... this dead world.
In meantime, he had quickly stopped the Master Program from using what remained of the destructive meteor for materials and energy, instructing it to instead try to extract technological insight from the meteor, for it seemed like familiar technology that might be useful. The Master Program was instructed to convert the dead planet's matter into energy, a far less efficient process, yet he got the impression the Master Program was satisfied with his orders, somehow.
Regardless, the conversion process could not continue ad infinitum without causing a planetary collapse, and even if that could be averted and all its mass converted to energy, there would not be enough to awaken all the remaining tombs that lay within the frozen core of the planet.
Lord Vaeron Kaldrek decided that the immediate action was to secure more sources of energy from nearby systems to awaken more of his forces, while testing the capability of potential threats, and eliminating them where possible. His fleet would head out of the system first and return back by a circuitious route, so as not to betray the location of the still-stirring Valrendis. Yes, that would be the plan, as he mustered the forces deemed useful to him from the planet.
What else, what else? It was hard to put a tab on things.
Oh yes, there was that. Scheming, plotting, planning... all this while, for centuries. How to rise above all the petty bickering, how to secure the long-coveted title of Overlord. Lived it, breathed it - well, not breathing since the end of the Time of Flesh - and now, he was suddenly "here". Effectively he was The Overlord Kaldrek, and perhaps arguably "Phaeron", given that based on current knowledge, for all intents and purposes, this was all that remained of the Kaldrek dynasty. All of this, all his... without having to lift a finger, without having a chance to try out all his plans, without having to demonstrate his superiority.
How... annoying.
Of course, one could say that his capability was validated by none other than the Master Program itself, from its careful considerations after almost a million parses, a fact that the Master Program had impressed upon him as he awoke. Still, Lord Kaldrek decided he would have to earn it the proper way, as decreed by the traditions. He had the opportunity, but not yet the right - at least by his definition - to lead the dynasty. He would secure the victories and experience necessary to be Nemesor Kaldrek, at least, if he was still a Lord. And then, he would have the certainty - why did they not program that into him again? - that he was the right Overlord to lead the Necrons of Valrendis to conquest of the universe.
A disturbing thought came to him. Was this dissatisfaction programmed into him, or had it been there all along? Could it be that the Master Program had implanted in him the desire to validate its decision, and if he failed, his position would be conveniently vacated via his demise for another to be elevated?
The glint of cerulean sparked fiercely from the lights that passed for his eyes.
Well, one thing was for sure - there was no way of knowing.
As his forces prepared to leave Valrendis, Lord Kaldrek considered instructing the Master Program to remove the needless first name "Vaeron" and the memory of his link to Overlord Daeron from his own mind. Yet the very thought just made him... uncomfortable. What did that word actually mean again? Regardless, he decided that was an unnecessary instruction, for now.
If he survived the trial that was to come, he would become Nemesor Kaldrek, Overlord of Valrendis, on his own terms. Well at least, on what his circuitry informed him were his own terms.
==================
WEEK 2 JOURNAL
The sector seemed bustling with activity and Kaldrek saw no reason to be in the thick of the fighting. His forces landed on a marginally more defensible foothold of very limited value, would hopefully deter invaders while he sent out disposable scouts, mainly scarabs to convert energy found and warriors to keep them on their leash.
Meatshields for Metal (CP vs Benjamin Lin / AM )
Sure enough, resistance was soon encountered, and the aliens surged forward, wiping out scarabs and warriors efficiently. Though the two Nightscythes that arrived killed many of them, it was not more than half of them, hence hardly enough to really claim a decisive outcome. Regardless, there was a rough sense of their capabilities.
Based on preliminary information, these aliens were individually not threatening, but their numbers and their willingness and fearlessness at dying for the sake of their weaponry implied that they either had a high base population, or they had access to some sort of reassembly technology like Necrons, and that the weapons were exceedingly precious, which based on their efficacy, they were.
The first reason seemed unlikely given that the Sector was largely uninhabited, alternative might be that they had an efficient mode of intergalactic travel from colonies relatively nearby. The second possibility of reassembly seemed exceedingly unlikely, especially given that the remains found after the battle remained left to moulder. Perhaps some lies told by their leaders to them instilled such behaviour.
Kaldrek considered that at least the remains of his resources would be reused and reassembled where possible, in contrast to the piteous fate of these aliens. Well, if they treated their own as vermin, then they would die as vermin. Meantime, he also decided to adjust his aerial support to provide slightly more pinpoint accuracy from the air, detestable tactics would be rendered marginally more meaningless. Not that it would stop them from trying, of course.
( Loss on Turn 5)
Firepower and Finesse (Mission vs Benjamin Lin / AM)
A little more reconnaissance work, courtesy of some mindshackles, had uncovered that these aliens (they called themselves humans, what an irony given the meaning of the word based on the specimens' memory banks) had possession of heavy armor, rivaling even his own quantum shielded vehicles, and probably long ranged weapons of mass destruction. The Overlords - Kaldrek no longer saw it meaningful to differentiate the two - were ready to bring their warscythes to bear. Kaldrek wondered if most other Overlords in the universe would be so eager to enter melee, especially against potentially devastating firepower, or was it just Beylan - the former Overlord Beylan, he reminded himself - who would be so enthused. Regardless, Kaldrek was more of the cautious view, as befitting his current body that was far less suited to take punishment.
The enemy was prepared for their arrival and opened fire from behind hilly terrain, onto what must seem a pitiful assortment of just five Necron vehicles and some warriors, and the first barrage saw the destruction of an Annihilation Barge. With their enemies' "humane" tactics, necron fire on the left wing was largely ineffective, while both Overlords prepared for a charge on the right aimed right where most of the enemy armor was. His aircraft brought updates of the second barrage, with an already injured Barge being destroyed, and almost the entire enemy firepower poured into one Overlord to no effect, while a single lucky shot on the other struck the propulsion core of an Overlord's Command Barge, causing the entire vehicle to explode, and it looked like the grievious repairs would take some time. Kaldrek ordered the flyers full speed and all three arrived in a timely fashion, taking out the enemy anti-air, as the remaining Overlord swept over the heaviest enemy armor, failing to connect with his Warscythe, then charged into the same pair of tanks that was locking up the choke point. With incredible efficiency from the two strikes that connected, each blow exploded one tank, to from Kaldrek's applause on board his Nightscythe, doubtless unheard by all concerned except his unthinking warriors. By now though, the humans had achieved so many objectives that the Necrons might not be able to catch up.
In a daring move, after pouring another fusillade that significantly weakened the Overlord, then the humans actually dared charge him and eventually lucky blows destroyed him. He rose again, and then again though, even as the Necron forces managed to eliminate a few notable leaders against them, and the Overlord - clinging on to life only because of his Resurrection Orb - charged into a separate squad of humans, as those who had assaulted to him ran for cover against the increasing Necron firepower brought to bear. Although the enemy commander had fled his transport before it was blown open, the Overlord managed to cut him down. However, enough of the humans still stood, largely leaderless, and wiping them out would expend more resources. Coupled with news of scarabs reporting that a large cache of energy modules behind their lines had already been secured, Kaldrek ordered his forces to gather whatever fallen that could be "recycled" and withdraw.
( Draw on Turn 5 )
21 Jul - 27 Jul
- Signed Up : 3 FP
- Short Narrative on Hero & Army : 2FP
- Combat Patrol vs Benjamin Lin / AM (Loss) : 1FP
- Scouting Party vs Benjamin Lin / AM (Draw) : 2FP
- Model/Paint Up your Hero: 2FP
Score: 10 FP
=======================
WEEK 3 JOURNAL
In the aftermath, the territories expanded to strengthen his foothold, also progressing towards an archeotech held by the Tau. Considering the capabilities of the aliens around, Kaldrek took some time to hatch more plans that could be advantageous in the short term that was the current campaign, or perhaps even in the long term. All that was left to do was to identify notable abilities among the alien repertoire, and perhaps there might be thise deemed worthy of special attention.
Faced with Crisis (CP vs Russell Ng / Tau)
The Necrons' customary advance party soon reported news of enemy activity as they attempted reconnaissance of the archeotech area, and the scarabs laid low to try and survive deadly Tau missiles. Fortunately, their heavily armed troops were not able to get in favourable position, and the metal insects managed to last until aerial support could arrive. The modified aerial support proved considerably more effective than the earlier, but the Tau took cover from the deadly tesla and devastating deathray. Though more than half their number were lost after a few passes, enough remained to report back as the fliers returned back to recharge their propulsion cores.
(Draw on Turn 5)
Crisis Facing Crisis (Mission vs Russel Ng / Tau )
Kaldrek thought he had seen considerable firepower against the humans, but based on mindshackle data, despite being a younger race than the humans, the Tau quickly showed a fearsome mastery of firepower. Most of their firepower managed to destroy a barge, then a lone suit, masterfully built and equipped ( Kaldrek would later learn it was a R`Varna Riptide Battlesuit ) all but obliterated one of the two Overlords in a single round of shooting, and his target was finished off by missiles from the troops. The remaining Overlord turbo-boosted into cover against that huge thing, and the Tau quickly blew up another barge while enemy skimmers brought less heavily armored troops to bear, and they threw the sturdier crisis suits at the Overlord to try and prevent him from reaching their commander. Once again, things looked grim as the Tau managed to secure a steady number of objectives, while the Necrons had scarcely any.
Fortunately, aerial support came in good time, weakening one flank of markerlight drones led by an enemy Commander, even as the remaining annihilation barge picked off a few fire warriors before they could join the Overlord, which they indeed did. The aerial support carried on their planned flight path, destroying the commander and his drones near the engaged overlord while unloading a large number of Necrons in the middle of enemy lines, while the overlord managed to wipe out those he faced as their nerve finally broke. The planes circled around to hold the line and fire into the rear of an aggressively advancing Devilfish that sought to seize the Necrons objective near their edge, and more warriors were beamed down to weaken the remaining enemy commander and his drones. The next round saw the capture of an important objective as the Overlord charged and wiped out enemy fire warriors that had been holding the objective, and the mass of warriors that were now gathered put in enough shots to slay the enemy warlord. In the end only the fearsome R`Varna Riptide was left standing. Not one to wonder nor get complacent, Kaldrek ordered as much firepower as possible into the Riptide to weaken it first, though the Overlord somehow failed to reach it as planned. However, it seemed the lone Riptide had yet to carry out the sensible course of action, which was to retreat, and it was so tough that all of the firepower poured into it, along with Warscythe slashes and a charge by the Overlord failed to destroy it, but its nerve eventually broke and it was swept under the Overlord's Catacomb Command Barge, securing an open way forward for the exploration of the isolated archeotech.
(Win on Turn 7)
Different Death from the Skies (CP vs Christopher Rankine / Space Wolves )
Capturing more territory seemed to incur more hostilities, or that might simply be due to the range of the advance Party. This time in territory with more ruins, the scarabs and warriors were greeted by ferocious, feral space marines, descending from the skies in drop pods. Aerial support arrived on time, but could only destroy the drop pod as the scarabs were somehow still in combat withthe marines. A miscalculation resulted in the advance party being lost, but some limited information on their capabilities arrived back to Kaldrek. Still, as punishment, there was the customary mindwipe reset for the pilots.
(Loss on Turn 3 bottom. Flyers flew off and the rest got wiped, Tabled)
Surging Flames (CP vs Damian Chang / Gray Knights )
Kaldrek had thought the Space Marines' primary mode of transport was quite different, but somehow the heavily armored marines were quite different. Perhaps it was some insightful leadership on their part, but even the normally alert scarabs failed to notice the enemy until there was barely enough time to take cover. Those with jump packs rushed forwards and incinerated the swarms in an instant, while the warriors fretted to the ruins to try and avoid the ferocious looking terminators. Unfortunately, a little too close, as they too were caught up in the incinerators, and before the remaining two could activate reanimation protocols, they were lost to bolter fire by the Terminators. The Scythes would survey the scene from on high before heading back to report.
(Loss on Turn 2, Tabled)
Easy Come, Easy Go (Attacked by Gabriel Cheng / Dark Angels, Defended by Damian Chang / Gray Knights)
Lord Kaldrek received news that the Archeotech he had just taken from the Tau was being attacked by a large force of space marines. The attack was a bother and given that a search of the site had found little of interest - well, interest perhaps to the backward aliens but not to him - he considered simply putting up a token resistance.
An unexpected communications signal came in, broadcasted from no less than the leader of the force that had just obliterated his combat patrol. Apparently she wished to help him protect the territory? Well, he didn't really care for it either way, and a show of weakness might lull others into complacency. Besides, her forces seemed formidable enough based on how efficiently they had wiped out his combat patrol, in fact the fastest and most efficient force to do so thus far. And if the aliens made another enemy in the process, that would be even better. He replied back a focused message to the source, for their leader - Teodora, it seems - to do as she proposed, and meantime sent scarab patrols to use the upcoming confrontation as a means to gather intelligence.
The information returned was interesting. The attackers fielded a type of heavy walker - called an Imperial Knight - had arrived on the field and proceeded to pound the enemy forces while closing in. While its appearance meant the rapid defeat of his erstwhile allies, more important he had time to consider how to deal with the mechanical monstrosity. It almost certainly would obliterate Catacomb Command Barges for sure, and with its shields up, it was not efficient to devote tesla fire to it. For now, Kaldrek made a note to avoid needless confrontations with such behemoths, and proceeded to send a customary courtesy word of consolation to Teodora. Certainly he meant what he said, for it would have been better for him if her forces had destroyed that thing... well, depending on how many more Imperial Knights there were around. He had a nagging suspicion there were plenty more.
(Ally Loss, Territory seized)
28 Jul - 03 Aug
Score: 10FP
- 2 Territories (Manufactorum, Power Grid): -5FP (2+3)
- 2 Secret Agendas : -4 FP
- Combat Patrol vs Russell Ng / Tau (Draw) : 1FP
- Scouting Party vs Russell Ng / Tau (Win) : 3FP
- Seize Territory (Archeotech) : -2FP
- Combat Patrol vs Christopher / Space Wolves (Loss) : 1FP
- Combat Patrol vs Damian Chang / Grey Knights (Loss) : 1FP
- Journal Update : 1FP
Score: 6FP
==========================
WEEK 4 JOURNAL
White Flames and Black Lightning (CP vs Yu Don Lau / White Scars )
They came out from nowhere, white figures rushing out of the darkness. Fortunately his patrol squad had just enough notice to fan out as was their protocol for such engagements, before the light transport streaked out at a frankly amazing speed and spewed flames over the warriors. Despite the well planned strikes, one after another, the Warriors held fast longer than expected, buying just enough time for the aerial support to arrive. After the scythe's tesla destructor had torn up the rhino with the only weapon truly capable of threatening the aerial support, its precious marine payload was holed up in ruins only to be set upon by the deathray, claiming casualties plenty. Seeing the casualties around them and with little that could work on flyers, the white armored marines were forced to retreat, albeit one swift and well executed as they vanished back into whichever territories they came from.
(Win on Turn 5)
Black on Black (CP vs Sheng Ren Low / Chaos Space Marines)
The forces of the chaos space marines came to engage the combat patrol, and the necron warriors and scarabs promptly took up "preservation" protocols, though it is questionable if their own preservation ever was part of the agenda. Warped, metal-fused obliterators advanced relentlessly even as they rained down plasma blasts, terminating half the scarabs with extreme prejudice, even as bikers streamed forward in anticipation for the kill, and cultists skulked in the back. Fortunately, the scarabs were just finished off as the last warrior was cut down, and a lone flyer came in to dispense necron vengeance, followed by another that destroyed two obliterators with a single beam. Although the chaos space marines were all cut down by tesla, one defiant remaining obliterator managed to destroy the death ray with a lucky shot, and the tesla shots were unable to kill off enough cultists nor kill their champion to break their resolve, before the necron flyers were called to disengage and conserve energy for more pressing concerns.
(Loss on Turn 5)
Enemies, For Now... (Mission vs Gregory Wong / Chaos Space Marines)
Lord Kaldrek made it a point to find out more about the enemy, and what he found was interesting. It seemed the enemy was of a conviction similar to his, that the human forces - what was referred to as the Imperium - was severely misguided and wasteful, and unlike himself, actually dedicated themselves to "enlightening" them. While he questioned the means when unlike his own forces, the humans had no way of properly reassembling, the zeal with which they went about it was admirable, especially given the setbacks they had faced. He wondered as well about how this enemy reinforced itself, but right now, they were just an obstacle in the way of his access to the artifacts on Safehold.
The initial engagement saw the enemy line fully set up, ready to advance, but the intelligence gleaned earlier paid off, and the Necrons had just barely got the jump on the enemy. An enemy rhino carrying chosen with plasma was immobilized, but most other shots were futile due to the landing pad of the space port, even as the two Overlords closed in for the kill. Enemy shooting was semi-effective, lightly wounding each of the two Overlords, except for a shocking burst of power from within the Rhino that ripped apart an Annihilation Barge in a single devastating explosion. Only one of the flyers arrived, depositing a large retinue of warriors that weakened the enemy chosen carrying melta guns that were on the spaceport platform, even as Overlords arrived on the platform, systematically slashing then charging into two separate enemy units, crushing all the chosen and noise marines under their scythes. However, a solid shot from the enemy brought down an Annihilation Barge's quantum shielding, and the next thing the Forgefiend at the side of the field obliterated it completely. The other Forgefiend on the spaceport platform opened its maw to unleash daemonic fury, its myriad of shots consuming one of the Overlords.
The remaining Overlord - Beylan again, Kaldrek noted oddly - would quickly punish the Forgefiend on the platform for its impertinent disposal of its attacker, even as another flyer came in and disembarked more warriors, but combined fire from the two squads of warriors and the flyer somehow failed to bring down the remaining Forgefiend. The enemy leader disembarked alone from his rhino, which then proceeded to ram ineffectually against the Overlord in desperation, while the remaining Noise Marine squad rained down blast of power, and the obliterators moved to charge the large squad of Warriors, decimating their ranks with immense firepower, but perhaps as a result, failed to reach them with their power fists. The last flyer arrived, combined fire whittling down the noise marines to two men but the blastmaster remained, while the remaining annihilation barge picked off the last of plasma-wielding chosen. Perhaps partly because it did not make sense, and partly out of some admiration for the leader's dogged grit, the Overlord ignored the warlord before him and moved to slash ineffectually against the advancing obliterators before leading a charge against them. While the result was within the standard deviation of expectation, it was still somewhat less than ideal. Sure enough, the leader soon joined in the fray, and for his trouble was promptly mindshackled after being challenged, while the plucky remaining annihilation barge weathered a storm of fire from the last Forgefiend, that was rapidly repairing itself.
With time running out, the last flyer moved into position and placed the final squad of warriors on the enemy spaceport to secure it as their own, which then fired into and wiped out the remaining noise marines. Combat was inconclusive, despite more warriors running into the fray, while the snap-shotting Annihilation Barge and a returning nightscythe's fire finally laid the resilient last Forgefiend to rest. As it looked like his forces had secured what they had to while fighting was still inconclusive, the Overlord would salute the Warpsmith in respect and suggest an orderly withdrawal along with an offer for him to collect those of his fallen that he would. Kaldrek had expected otherwise of such a ferocious warrior, but the enemy leader accepted. He surmised since clearly no Necrons were "worthy" of conversion, perhaps the man was truly one who values lives over unnecessary bloodshed, which made him truly "humane", at least based on data extracted from the Imperium forces. Regardless, Kaldrek would also have it known that the attack was not driven by malice, but out of necessity to gain access to Safehold, and also incidentally to search the Archeotech that was present.
(Win on Turn 5)
Fragments of the World Engine
Kaldrek's forces arrived on the dead world of Safehold, the scarabs quickly combing through the debris over the site to recover data and information. While the technology was largely irrecoverable, bits of data was fairly interesting - it seemed that the debris related to Necron technology was once a massive spacecraft called the World Engine, and its architecture and approximate time of destruction seemed to match that of the meteor that had struck Valrendis and obliterated the original two Overlords. It was useful data to make sense of the meteor that Kaldrek had instructed to be analyzed, and also a semi-active communications relay - contact with important personas of other Necron dynasties it seemed. Kaldrek considered what sort of expertise he would truly need though before availing himself of such a resource, for even among Necron Lords of the same dynasty, few things were done without favours being exchanged, what more for calling upon Necron Overlords of other dynasties, possibly with scores or hundreds of tombworlds under their command?
He considered also that there were active Necron energy signatures detected on the surface of Safehold, and perhaps more beneath. Perhaps the concern about contacting other dynasties was less meaningful than it seemed.
Men Over Metal (Mission vs Benjamin Lin / AM)
Once more the forces of the Imperium came against the Necrons, and Kaldrek mobilized his Annihilation Barges and an Overlord to deal with the threat. He had expected a significant force with some heavy armor, based on past experience against the humans, but was a little nonplussed as reports came in that not a single vehicle was sighted amongst the enemy. The reason soon became clear as they set up their defensive line, equipped with a suitably formidable anti-air gun and lascannons that could be manuevered to ignore cover. Looking at their entrenched positions, there was little option but to place as many Annihilation Barges safely out of sight, focusing the firepower on the right flank where the enemy was in ruins rather than behind their fortification.
The lascannons roared to life, and denied of cover, one of the Barge's shielding was immediately brought down, while a large band of conscripts headed towards the left flank that was held by only 5 warriors. The remaining Barges moved forward to fire at the men in the ruins as the Overlord moved in for the kill. Even as reports came in of the as-expected firing results Kaldrek realized he might have erred, both in exposing the barges for such slender pickings and in leaving the anti-aircraft gun intact. Sure enough, the next round of shooting destroyed one barge and almost another, and as the first flier arrived it had its tesla destructor shot off, while the troops on it landed in no man's land near the left flank. After tesla and gauss had weakened the blob, the Overlord charged in only to find his advance first blocked by a courageous sergeant who was promptly sliced in twain, then the enemy was surrounded by an unknown force (Forewarning) while the priest's strange moanings seemed to strengthen it.
Even as the rest of the lascannons finished off the Annihilation Barges, and the quadgun shot down more reinforcements, the sonorous drone of that *coward*... or rather sensible, Kaldrek noted... kept the guardsmen going even while warriors joined in. Soon though the rest of the men came tumbling in, and Kaldrek had the satisfaction of watching - with his own eyes, for a change - the Overlord cut down the enemy leader, but this was the first time he had the irksome privilege of actually watching the engagement on foot with his own eyes, but it seemed that the humans were pouring all their effort into destroying the Overlord which probably seemed to their minds more likely to be the leader of his army, and he was well content with that. As the conscripts closed in his warriors and himself would re-order themselves, so they would minimize drawing fire, even as news came that the Overlord had fell. A retreat was decided upon and he withdrew as quickly as possible on foot with the remaining warriors, all the while mulling over how best to dislodge the many humans from their crevices and cover. It looked like he might have little choice save to have better support for the Overlords.
(Loss/Conceded on Turn 6. Great Learning Points)
In Your Face (Mission vs Damian Chang / Gray Knights)
When patrols reported of enemies approaching his line that looked suspiciously familiar, Kaldrek sent out a directed radio message that was ignored. Sure enough, scouts reported verbal references by the enemy to the leader known as Teodora. Oh well, if violence was what they sought, he was obliged not to disappoint. When suspiciously few numbers of the enemy were visible, he remembered the past experiences and ordered the Annihilation Barges into good vantage positions to reduce the likelihood of enemies getting the drop on them, and the Overlord to the backline to reprise any charge against the barges.
He soon saw that barely helped. A rhino rumbled forward, disgorging deadly... well, actually they looked a terribly hodge-podge bunch with practically no shooting, but two stormshield bearers were at the front, as well as two formidable hammer-wielding bearers - force weapons, he understood they were - among them, one of whose descriptions matched Teodora. Activating their jump packs with some kind of warp technology, the enemies were all but upon them, a terrible armored daemon with a massive weapon, and two groups of fearsome marines with an incinerator, who promptly opened fire against the barges before them to little effect. He considered retreating the barges for some space, but it was meaningless since they would not escape those that could charge them, and so ordered them to remain in position and unleashed all their fire on the monstrous daemon with its flesh all but fused with metal, wounding it but not enough. The Overlord could deal with the marines, slashing one group ineffectually, then charging in but that meant being tied up.
The enemy closed for the kill, the other group of marines charging the barge and detonating it, while the assault band drew closer and charged to destroy another barge with the nemesis force hammers. The monstrous creature charged the engaged Overlord from behind, but fortunately the thing was not immune to mindshackles and its massive weapon turned it upon itself, ending its threat but the remaining marine heroically held out against the Overlord, preventing him from distancing away from the looming threat. The Annihilation Barge returned fire on the assault band, dropping one nameless grunt but the shots ricocheted off the warp-reinforced stormshields, and the Overlord finished the impudent - if praiseworthy - marine, while the skies remained noticeably devoid of Necron aircraft.
This boded ill as the remaining marines and the assault squad charged the Overlord, who challenged the enemy but was refused. Realizing the stormshield bearers neutralized even his warscythe, he turned them against the marines and started to systematically chop away at them, shrugging off most blows between armor and phasing, but the leader - Teodora - was formidable and the wounds from her weapons stuck. Fortunately, a Nightscythe arrived, disgorging ten necron warriors, and the warriors, remaining Barge and Nightscythe opened fire on the enemy Rhino, but failed to destroy it, especially with the Barge having moved its maximum distance, while combat carried on to a stalemate.
The Rhino moved into better cover, and the Nightscythe and Barge closed in while the warriors moved towards the Overlord's battle and then charged in, while another Nightscythe arrived. The combined shots of tesla obliterated the rhino, and the warriors seemed to make some headway taking out the enemy leaders, even as the Overlord took one more wound and finished off the last of the marines. However, the victory was fleeting as the enemies carried on pressing their advantage and a last blow from the enemy leader destroyed the Overlord. Seeing that the enemy had won the melee, while they were still tied up with the warriors, Kaldrek ordered a quick mop up of the only other band left and the Necron forces swiftly vacated the field.
(Agreed to End on Turn 5 due to time. Draw by VP, Won by counting Points. Awesome Game.)
04 Aug - 10 Aug
- Journal Update : 1FP
- Combat Patrol vs Yu Don Lau / White Scars (Win): 1FP
- Combat Patrol vs Low Sheng Ren / Chaos Space Marines (Loss): 1FP
- Attack on Gregory Wong / Chaos Space Marines (Win): 3FP
- Seize Territory (Archeotech / Spaceport) : -2FP
- 2 Territories (Safehold Archeotech, Praedis Power Grid) : -5 FP (2+3)
- Painting Pledge: 1FP
- Attacked by Benjamin Lin / Astra Militarum (Loss): 2FP
- 1 more Territory (Safehold Barren): -4FP
- Attacked by Damian Chang / Gray Knights (Win): 3FP
Score: 7FP
==========================
WEEK 5 JOURNAL
Swift Repartee (CP vs Sheng Ren Low / Chaos Space Marines)
The forces of the chaos marines were sighted in the distance, giving the patrol ample time to take defensive positions. Despite the scarabs taking the battle to the enemy, it was not sufficient to do significant damage, but the flyers quickly all but obliterated the enemy squad within their transport. The next pass rooted out the leader of the bikers, and tesla fire destroyed the transport. More than ample chastisement for forces that would dare come against his forces.
(Win on Turn 5)
Impossible...! (Mission vs Benjamin Lin /Astra Militarum, Defending for Russel Ng / Tau)
Kaldrek had received news that the Tau were under attack by the humans, and anticipated that as aggressors against an enemy that could easily ignore cover, they were that much less likely to have prepared the earlier fortifications used to such devastating effect against him. Sure enough, things were as expected, and having despatched some of the wraith guardians of Valrendis, he looked forward to hearing reports of the massacre to come.
Then the reports came in before his unit had even reached the field, but of a totally different nature. The first of one Catacomb Command Barge being all but immediately destroyed to a fortuitious series of bolter shots, to the next news that both Overlords had succumbed to enemy fire without so much as reaching the unsheltered enemy lines, and even then the enemy still had enough firepower to destroy most of the wraiths and all but one of the annihilation barges. For a moment he felt shocked, an altogether... fleshly feeling... that disquieted him, before he reminded himself that there was such a statistical probability, though low, of such a incidents occurring. As a final repartee, he tested the crypteks and warriors against the enemy line, even as the remaining two wraiths eviscerated a tank, but it was far too little, too late, and he knew it even before enemy fire wiped all his remaining forces out with humiliating ease.
It was an ignominious defeat and a dark day. Kaldrek returned to his base, quiet as always, but this time his mind seething with thoughts of counter strategies against the humans, and turning up precious few options that seemed more certain than the forces he had just deployed. Was it really just probability against him? He wondered. Perhaps the Tau would be handy against them... perhaps... (Loss/Conceded on Turn 3) Unto the Breach (CP vs Benjamin Lin /Astra Militarum) Kaldrek's swift defeat at the hands of the humans meant that the patrol encroaching into their territory to secure energy resources was swiftly detected and once more the necrons found themselves faced with large troupes of infantry pouring down at them. Despite the Doom Scythe doing a much better job of disabling the autocannons levelled at them, a poorly timed attempt at bravado by the surviving Necron Warriors saw them entangled in a fruitless assault with conscripts, and careful positioning by the wily human commanders denied the loss of sergeants and officers to the death ray and teslas raining down on them.
(Loss on Turn 7)
Wolves and Vultures (CP vs Damian Chang / Gray Knights)
Once more the patrols made contact with the forces of Teodora, and once more those on the ground were quickly dispatched by the powerful attacks of the interceptors and the heavily armed terminators. This time however, they lasted until the aerial support arrived, even as they were torn apart by the marines like hungry wolves, the scythes circled around on high and took shots with impunity from on high, wiping out the interceptors first, then focusing on taking out the commander of the terminators. Unfortunately for Kaldrek, the selfless sacrifice of his comrades made it difficult to eliminate their leader, and the Necrons had to retreat to resupply without having accorded... full penance... on the impertinent aggressors.
(Loss on Turn 7)
The Sautekh Dynasty
Kaldrek's patrols had made contact with the Necrons that identified themselves as the Sautekh dynasty, and he responded with all the due courtesy and decorum that was demanded. Emissaries had been despatched to make overtures and assurances of alliance with them, even before the records from Valrendis and data from space probes sent out confirmed the assessment that the Sautekh dynasty, which was dominant even in the long distant past, now controlled hundreds, maybe even thousands of worlds out there.
Kaldrek mulled over if it would be fitting to remain in his current body, for purposes of meeting with them. Perhaps the time had come for him to house himself in a suitable frame, but perhaps not just yet. For now, they had yet to call upon him personally to a war summit, and his current form would suffice. For short visits, he would let one of the other Overlords - Daeron, probably - be present. Though surely, if the other dynasty became aware that Valrendis was led by a Lord, it might not bode well for the Kaldrek dynasty. Regardless, it seemed the priority was now to deal with the unnatural, anamalous disturbance in the system, and to awaken some device of the other dynasty. Proving his worth in this area would help, but still, helping strengthen another's hand...
11 Aug - 17 Aug
- 2 Territories (Safehold Barren & Archeotech): -5 FP (2+3)
- Combat Patrol vs Low Sheng Ren / Chaos Space Marines (Win): 2FP
- Journal Update: 1FP
- Diplomacy/Defence for Russell Ng / Tau vs Benjamin Lin / AM (Loss): 2FP
(Gain Tau as Allies)
- Combat Patrol vs Benjamin Lin / AM (Loss): 1FP
- Combat Patrol vs Damian Chang / Gray Knights (Loss): 1FP
- 1 Territory (Safehold Tomb Complex): -4FP
Score: 5FP
=================
WEEK 6 JOURNAL
Up Close and Personal (Mission vs Russell Ng / Tau)
(Loss on Turn 4)
18 Aug - 24 Aug
- Painting Pledge: 1FP
- 1 Territory (Safehold Barren): -2FP
- Journal Update: 1 FP
- Attacked by Russell Ng / Tau (Loss): 2FP
- 1 Territory (Safehold Barren): -3FP*
Score: 4FP
* - Dang can't remember if I actually did this...
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25 Aug - 31 Aug
- Painting Pledge: 1FP
Score: 5FP
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