[Epic] "Skull's Shadow" - Battle Report (1/3)
This hasn't been coming through to the list, so I split it into three
parts hoping that would do the trick.
"Skull's Shadow": 5000 Points Chaos vs. 2500 Points Eldar + 2500 Points
Imperial
Scott Shupe vs. Erik Rutins
Hope you enjoy the unorthodox format and are able to piece together
enough of the battle from the transmissions and the army summaries. If
not, I'll post a more conventional report.
-----
Inquisition Eyes Only
Eldar Intervention Report
Record: A4629093-Q731828-FZ512576
Filed By: Inquisitor Rintus
Intervention witnessed by elements of 2nd and 3rd Company, Shadow
Skulls Chapter and 100th Tank Regiment, Cadian Imperial Guard.
Surviving witnesses are few, the most notable is Captain Caius of the
2nd Company.
Transmission excerpts are recorded below.....
-----
"Pods released. Beginning descent. Hail to the Emperor. Falco out."
<fzzt>
"Acknowledged. Hail to the Emperor. Caius out." <clk>
Caius, Captain of the Second Company, Shadow Skulls Chapter, clicked
off the helmet transmitter with his tongue and watched the ruins come
into view as his Rhino crested the hill south of the ancient fortress.
Built among the cliffs and mountains of a majestic world, the origin of
the structures was undeniable. The Eldar had once inhabited this
place, long before the Imperium settled it thirty years ago.
A small colony had thrived here since that time, composed mostly of
Cadian emigrants seeking a more pastoral existence. The dangers of the
Cadian Sector passed this world by until a few months ago, when the
tendrils of Chaos extended from the Eye and grabbed for a new prize.
From their nearby home system, the Shadow Skulls were the first to hear
the distress signal. Before departing, they sent the call further to
Cadia itself.
The incursion of Chaos was relatively small, orbital scans revealed
that it was restricted to a mountainous region to the east of the most
settled valley. From these mountains the raids had come, to kill some
and take away others. When the Chapter ships reached the system and
engaged the chaos vessels, they all realized that they were fighting
the 10,000 year old traitors of the heresy of heresies.
When they descended on the settlement, they found the few settlers who
were left now fell into two categories: the dead and the Changed. They
brought the cleansing flame.
When the followed the trail of corruption to the mountains they found
the rest of the settlers. They brought the cleansing flame.
When they sought the landing site of the traitors they found these
ruins, this fortress and the heart of the darkness.
-----
"Ajax, deploy the Third in the ruins on the right, send the demons back
to the Warp. Second will concentrate in the central structure and deny
victory to the Traitors. Acknowledge." <fzt>
"Acknowledged, Brother-Captain Caius." <clk>
"Third Company, deploy and set a hasty defense. We are the scythes of
death, we know no fear." <clk>
-----
"Captain Caius, this is Princeps Tanis of the Reaper. The western
ruins are infested with creatures of the Warp. We are advancing to
engage." <fzt>
-----
"Barcas, acknowledge. I want the Land Raiders on my left, now!" <clk>
-----
"Team Yankee, 100th Cadians here. UP! We have some kind of gigantic
flying demons in sight over here and what the hell is that a Titan?
AWAY! <KA-BO-" <fzt>
"Yankee, repeat your report, this is Princeps Tanis." <clk>
"Acknowledge, Tanis. We have in sight two Titans, one Warlord Class,
one Reaver Class. One of them has wings, Sir." <fzt>
"Yankee, acknowledged, we will be there presently. Tanis out." <clk>
-----
"Yankee here again, now we've spotted Eldar!" <fzt>
"This is the Reaper. That sighting is confirmed. We have in sight
skimming Eldar grav-tanks and what appear to be two Titans in support.
We are witnessing an exchange of fire between the grav-tanks and Chaos
forces." <fzt>
"Ajax reporting, the Third has suffered 80% losses. The eastern
buildings are now held by demons. We are withdrawing to the south."
<fzt>
"Force Barcas reporting, we have lost all Land Raiders to a surprise
assault. Our position is now held by dog-faced greater demons. We are
supporting the Reaper with our remaining Vindicators." <fzt>
"Yankee here, it's like shooting fish in a barrel. The Eldar are
keeping 'em pinned and we're knocking 'em down. Hey, by the way, where
the hell is that air support?" <fzt>
"This is the Reaper, we have lost all void shields." <fzt>
"Barcas, acknowledge." <clk> ...
"This is the Rea .... " <FZHszt>
"Yankee, acknowledge." <clk> ...
"This is Caius, the Second has withdrawn, casualties at 70%. Sergeant
Holk, provide covering fire from the Third, acknowledge." <clk>
"Acknowledged, Brother-Captain Caius. Holk out." <fzt>
"Caius, Acknowledge. This is Falco, we are on the ground." <fzt>
"Falco, Thanks to the Emperor. Where have you engaged?" <clk>
"Falco here. We have engaged the rear of the western flank. We bring
death." <fzt>
"Imperial Force Falco, I speak for the Biel-Tan Warhost. We will drive
our enemies towards you. May none escape the net." <hst>
"Biel-Tan Warhost, this is Imperial Force Falco. Co-operation
conditionally accepted." <fzt>
-----
We both started at around 110 morale and decided to end after three
turns as it was getting very late.
After three turns: Imperial + Eldar Morale ~ 35 vs. Chaos Morale ~ 45
A Tactical Victory for Chaos, with quite a disparity on the two halves
of the table. The Imperial forces were absolutely devastated while the
Eldar definitely gave better than they got. The Eldar would have been
hard pressed to pull off more than an orderly withdrawal, though, as
Chaos had two untouched titans and plenty of marines and demons waiting
to the East.
Below is a summary of the army lists with comments for each detachment
(Scott's comments on his, mine on mine).
-----
Received on Thu Jul 31 1997 - 13:07:38 UTC
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.0
: Tue Oct 22 2019 - 13:09:42 UTC