Campaign I: Saduk - First TurnAshley Malkus and Konstanz ScriptorKonstanz looked at the others, uncertain of what to choose. "I suppose I could try and contact them, while Malkus and Saun search the area", he said slowly. "In case I can't reach them. Will that do?"
Search the area for them, mentally
The psykers only need to glance at eachother to decide. Konstanz Scriptor speaks warily. 'I suppose I could try and contact them, while Malkus and Saun search the area - in case I can't find them. Will that do?'
'Do it.' Coazan orders. He seems pleased at the speed the decision was made with. The eyes of the Lord-Commander and his various officers, sycophants and local dignitaries are fixed on them. The three psykers close their eyes, and reach out.
[Focuses: 5/4/3] Konstanz leaves his body first, racing towards the south like a psychic arrow. Minds flash past him, unimportant ones, belonging to Guardsmen in the camp and locals, not his targets. Despite the immense amount of psychic energy and thoughts emanating from all these little people, just waiting to be broken into, Konstanz has years of training and does not falter. Malkus and Saun follow, the latter trailing behind, moving erratically and wildly from lack of concentration. They rise from their bodies like ghostly observers, shifting through the Manor walls. Their mental senses and movements are confused by the influence of the Warp, and Konstanz's arrow soon leaves them far behind.
[Controls:4/6/6] There is no risk of any of the three losing control and drowning in the immense powers they carry. Malkus and Saun push the Warp's influences away with such effort they almost return to their physical bodies.
[Konstanz Power:2+1=3] Out in the countryside, there few minds that can be found are those of lonely farmers and wild animals. When he's almost given up hope, Konstanz finds his target - a Guardsman of the 320th. He probes in, and realizes with a start the man is seriously wounded. His comrades are nowhere to be seen, most likely dead. [5] He slips in, trying to look at the world through the man's eyes. He doesn't expect what he sees.
The lithe, gracefully-moving Eldar is clad in dark, elaborately-decorated robes. A multitude of packs and protective runes hang from his belt. The Eldar is flanked by others of its kind, soldiers protected by thick black armor and carrying some kind of missile launchers.
'You
will tell me more,
mon-keigh, and you...' he's just saying in clumsy Low Gothic when Konstanz spies a look through the poor scout's eyes. The Eldar stops, reeling back as if hit. At the same time, the scout begins screaming in terror, sensing the psychic presence in his mind. Konstanz heads out, but not before he senses the Eldar Warlock follow him out of his body.
[Focus:4+1=5][Control:5+1=6][Power:6+1+1-1=6] A shockwave of raw psychic energy slams into Konstanz like a grav-train at full speed, sending him screaming back into his body. Konstanz's real body, back in the Manor, abruptly falls to its knees, [Dodge:4] but his terror is in vain - the shockwave doesn't follow out into the material world, and nor does the Warlock.
Konstanz holds his head, trying to block out the deafening pounding generated by his unprotected psychic form being ripped apart by the Warlock's attack. He forces himself to look at the face of his Overseer. Coazan looks worried, while the others behind him stare on with expressions of fear or revulsion.
'Eldar,' he whispers, his voice barely carrying to Coazan, 'the thing had taken them captive.'
'Xenos?' he asks, frowning. 'Here?' He turns towards the other two psykers, still using their powers. The Lord-Commander and his staff are already ignoring them, their attentions turned to someone at the door.
[Power:4][Power:1] Malkus and Saun watch a long line of Eldar grav-tanks race towards the tanks of 4th Company, followed by Wraithlords and running infantry. Small, highly-mobile Vypers flast past overhead. Their Shuriken Cannons are inaudible to the psyker's current forms, but they and especially the Bright Lances mounted on a few are already strafing the Imperial lines with high-power shots.
'What should I do with you two, I wonder?' a cold voice abruptly asks. The pair spin around to see - or sense - an alien presence in the air above them. Its body lies somewhere in the south, but they cannot find its exact location.
They did not come here for combat, and Saun's wavering form would be child's play to banish back to his body or destroy altogether - but this
is just one alien witch, and they are battle-psykers of the Imperial Guard.
In the inner sanctum of Calhose ManorKonstanz ScriptorHP: 15/15
Equipment: Force Weapon, Laspistol
[3/3]Known Perks: Imperial PsykerFaction: Imperial Guard
Psychic form in the air above the exercise fieldsAshley MalkusHP: 15/15
Equipment: Force Weapon, Laspistol
[3/3]Known Perks: Imperial PsykerFaction: Imperial Guard
Urugur answered the driver with a question of his own.
"Movement? What kind of movement? Nothing better than that?"
He figured it couldn't be anything much of a threat on this dump of a planet, but there was no chance taking risks. He shouted out an order for his men to regroup on him, and gave his orders.
Contact HQ on vehicle radio to see if they know anything about what it might be, and inform them of the detected movement. Two men to advance towards the movement's general area, rest of squad including longlas and sergeant to trail behind at a good covering fire distance, with the Hellhound. All squad to advance with reasonable caution and fire-readiness, but not too much, we're not meant to be in a warzone yet.
'Movement? What kind of movement? Nothing better than that?' Grygur demands. The driver just shrugs, leaning against the top of the Hellhound. He doesn't seem particulary worried.
'Half a dozen people is my estimate, walking. I dunno, sarge, it's hard to tell with these things.'
Grygur calls up his squad to the front of the farmstead. [3] They take their time, and he uses the time to call HQ and ask about it. A bored-sounding woman answers, seeming pleased at something potentially interesting. [4] She tells you it's probably just farmers, coming in late to the parade, but it's worth checking out. Most people from the west come by shuttle.
Grygur promises to keep her updated and closes the channel, watching the few soldiers who have bothered to come out yet. All of them carry handfuls of amasec bottles and food and smile happily. Grygur can't help but to grin. If only actual wars were this nice.
'They're approaching fast, sarge.' the Hellhound driver suddenly calls out. 'Definitely six of them - they're running now.'
[3] Grygur repeats the order, but it doesn't help much. Two more wander out. The sergeant has no time to wait for the last one. He orders his squad to form up on the road.
'Englass, Dusinin, take point. The rest of us will follow at a good distance.' he orders, and the troops do as they're told with only little complaining and groaning. After a while, the final member of their squad appears from the farmstead and joins the back of the formaton. The two chosen soldiers begin casually walking up the road, chatting idly and loudly. The sergeant voxes them to shut up and stay alert. They grumble but the column settles into silence eventually, atleast for the most part - the Hellhound's engine roars too loud for any real efforts at stealth to be possible.
[2+1=3] 'They've stopped.' the driver voxes. 'Must've heard us. No, wait, I've got...' Grygur doesn't get to hear the end of the sentence, the sudden whirr and crack of an energy weapon blanking everything else out. [Dodge:2] The blinding Bright Lance beam slams into the right side of the Hellhound [Damage:100] and fills the air with the sharp stench of burning metal. Melting armor fragments fall off and clatter against the ground.
Grygur stands for few seconds perfectly still, utterly dumbfounded and mind racing to process what just happened. Then his training kicks in, and the sergeant hits the ground with a shout of 'Take cover!' to his men. [1] The effort is wasted, Deathspear Squad staring at the smoking Hellhound eyes wide. [6] 'What the hell? Burn them out!' comes a shout from inside the Hellhound, and the Cannon spins around to fire into the bushes to its right. [Dodges:1/3/6] The massive cannon gushes a veritable inferno of flames over the edge of the road, resulting in a satisfying burst of screaming from its unseen attackers inside.
[Damage:107+32=139/115-32=83] The attackers are soon revealed as two slender humanoids in form-fitting blue armor leap out of the bushes, only to be burnt to the bone just seconds later. The third Eldar manning the Brightlance platform flees the flames.
[Eldar Combat Rolls: 1+1/2+1/3+1] Nearly instantly, two Shuriken Catapults open up further up the road, [Dodges:2/4] Englass taking half a dozen shots to the chest with such force it throws him off his feet [Damage:34] and kills him in a heartbeat. [4+1=5] Dusinin screams, firing off a burst of return fire by insticts drilled into him in training. [Dodge:6] It's in vain, though. The Eldar is already running, disappearing behind the bushes on the right side. The young Guardsman spins around, [4+1=5] unleashing another volley of semiauto las-shots towards the Guardian who killed his friend, [Dodge:5] but this one flees as well.
Dusinin turns to run back towards the safety of the Hellhound, while the rest of the squad point their weapons in every possible direction. The road stands on a lower level of ground than the rest of the surroundings, creating natural mounds covered in dense bushes that obscure the Eldar from view. It might be best to get off the road. The Hellhound is heavy enough to go through the mounds, though it might get stuck in the vegetation beyond.
Enemies2 Eldar Guardians with Shuriken Catapults and Combat Blades,
somewhere on the left side of the road, Unknown Range.
Disciplined.2 Eldar Guardians with Shuriken Catapults and Combat Blades,
somewhere on the right side of the road, Unknown Range.
Disciplined.On the lower west road, next to the HellhoundSergeant Grygur UrugurHP: 25/25
Equipment: Lasgun
[6/6], Laspistol
[3/3], Chainsword
Known Perks: DisciplinedFaction: Imperial Guard
1 Guardsman with Lasgun [4/6] and Combat Knife,
running towards the Hellhound.
Disciplined4 Guardsmen with Lasguns and Combat Knives,
on the lower west road.
Disciplined1 Guardsman with Longlas and Combat Knife,
on the lower west road.
Disciplined1 Hellhound at HP 550/650 with Inferno Cannon
[2/3] and Heavy Bolter
[8/8],
on the lower west road.
Sergeant Micelus Abbar"Sir, in all honesty, there is no glory in fighting green-skins. They're barely sentient and from what I've heard, they fight simply because its fun. I do understand what they're capable of but they're more of a disease needing to be cleansed and cured rather than a great foe."
[1] Sergeant Abbar makes his opinion clearly known. Menek frowns. The hulking man seems to tower over him, resembling an actual greenskin in size.
'Don't use that tone with me!' he shouts. 'You obviously don't know anything about Orks. But you'll learn soon enough. Heh. I'll see to it.'
Abbar nearly snorts at the colonel's ignorance, but stops himself in time and replaces it with a curt salute. 'As you wish, sir. Did you have anything else to ask?'
Before he can answer, the comm-bead on his ear whirrs and he turns his attentions to someone else. Abbar listens to this side of the conversation with interest, though he doesn't get much out of it. The colonel's face, however, goes through so many changes in such a short time it's worth the effort. After the other speaker finishes, Menek stares off into the distance for some time, his eyebrows rising and descending over and over again as he tries to process whatever news he's heard.
'I... I've just received new orders - we're to go to full battle readiness. All companies. I suggest you go find your men, sergeant, before whatever's coming crashes down on our heads.'
On a Calhose market streetSergeant Micelus AbbasHP: 25/25
Equipment: Lasgun
[6/6], Laspistol
[3/3], Chainsword
Known Perks: DisciplinedFaction: Imperial Guard
6 Guardsmen with Lasguns and Combat Knives,
somewhere in the camp.
Disciplined1 Guardsman with Melta Gun and Combat Knife,
somewhere in the camp.
Disciplined1 Chimera with Multi-laser
[6/6] and Heavy Bolter
[8/8],
somewhere in the camp.
Laric and Markon JoanosNotify high command while trying to rally as many of the tank crews as possible.
Try to find my crew
[4] Markon Joanos fights to get his thoughts under control. First things first, follow protocol and notify High Command. The others would have to wait - the Lord Commander was much more important. He climbs aboard his tank, the familiar if disgusting stench of badly refiltered air and the glow of the machinery easing his nerves somewhat. Two of his gunners follow, still in shock. He settles in against the vox and selects the correct frequencies. Both High Command and his immediate superiors in the regiment need to know, and he repeats his quick message several times, pausing only to answer for a few quick-thinking vox specialists.
[3] Outside, with the still-panicking crewmen, Laric tries to gather his men. His voice carries badly over the shouts of fear and contradictory orders echoing throughout the field. Three of them flock to him, including Selop, his driver, but most of the gunners are nowhere to be seen.
[5] Climbing up on the top of his tank, Markon gives a signal for his gunners to fire a Bolter burst into the air. It silences the field for a few seconds, but that's all he needs. He looks at the assembled commanders and crew, thinking of something inspirational to say. Unfortunately, he doesn't get much farther than a 'We are...'
[3] There's the low moan of an aircraft swooping in, followed shortly by a clatter of Shuriken Cannons that [Dodge:5+1=6] sends everyone diving for cover. The high-speed shots cut deep into the ground, raising gusts of dust and mud. Joanos curses and gets back up.
'Get in your machines and start fighting back, damnit!' he bellows. Not the best of speeches, but it works. The crews and commanders of 4th Company begin rushing for their Leman Russes. Joanos drops back in and is pleased to see his remaining crew follow shortly. A few tanks down, Laric has similar luck. Engines awaken with a roar and Heavy Bolters begin gushing high-explosive shells into the sky. The fear and surprise is gone. This is what these men were made for. This is their ground. The Eldar might think they have an advantage, but then they have never met the heavy tanks of the Imperial Guard in direct battle!
Markon and Laric are separated by three tanks, and they do not share most targets.
Enemies (Markon Joanos)2 Eldar Fire Prisms,
on the far side of the fields, Long Range. Mobile Skimmer1 Eldar Wave Serpent,
on the far side of the fields, Long Range. Mobile Skimmer4 Eldar Vypers,
circling in the sky.
Fast SpeederEnemies (Laric)3 Eldar Falcons,
on the far side of the fields, Long Range. Mobile Skimmer4 Eldar Vypers,
circling in the sky.
Fast SpeederOn the west edge of the fieldIron CobraHP: 1400/1400
Equipment: 2 Exterminator Autocannons
[8/8], Heavy Bolter
[8/8], Plasma Cannon
[3/3], Plasma Cannon
[3/3]Known Perks: Lumbering Behemoth,
Incompetent DriverFaction: Imperial Guard
On the west edge of the fieldDestructum PeccansHP: 1300/1300
Equipment: Battle Cannon
[1/1], Heavy Bolter
[7/8], Heavy Bolter
[8/8], Heavy Bolter
[8/8]Known Perks: Lumbering Behemoth, Piece of JunkFaction: Imperial Guard
---
Ugh, looks pretty confusing and messy, atleast to me. I tried to cut down on the amount of spoilers by merging a lot of them, but I dunno how well that really worked. Oh well, you can blame if you miss something.
Tank guys; Long Range has an accuracy penalty and a damage penalty, but it's still possible to hit the Eldar with a lucky 1. If you're not too keen on wasting ammunition just yet, charge on to Close Range (which is still pretty long, but these are tanks, not infantry)!
Oh, and I added a new Tactic as well. See here.
Rapid Fire (-1): Everybody fires two shots instead of one on the turn, but with a +1 to Enemy Dodge.
Author
Topic: Hammer of the Emperor - A Warhammer 40k RTD - Pseudorevival! Combat tests! (Read 36980 times)