Cob Wargaming
40k Battle Report: The Ruins of Caltar
The Taint of Mechan:
Mission 1 battle report.
This is the first part of our 40k narrative campaign. Part Two the Valley of Kings is also available to view below.
Welcome to our first 40k battle report. We decided to start with a simple game featuring Space Marines vs Chaos Space Marines. each side had 1000 points to build a force. We would be fighting over a single objective which we would be trying to take back to our board edge.
The battle takes place on an abandoned planet almost forgotten on the outskirts of the Eye of Terror. The Space Marines from a mysterious and little known Chapter merely referred to as 'The Bloodless' have ventured to a ruined crumbling Abbey in search of a holy relic of their Chapter lost to them in a horrific battle long ago...
The Ruins Of Caltar.
Part 1:
​
"No man has stepped foot on this ground for centuries," Sgt. Sejanus mumbled, gazing at the archaic architecture, as his men picked their way through the maze of crumbling rock.
"The heretics left none alive," Master Lorentus' ghostly voice materialized behind him, Sejanus had not even heard his master approach. "We lost more than just good men all those years ago," Lorentus added thoughtfully. Sejanus already felt foolish for voicing his thoughts, after all, these silent rocks witnessed his Chapter's most crippling defeat at the hands of Chaos.
"Perhaps we may gain some vengeance today," Sejanus replied, trying to redeem himelf for his foolishness. But his master's stalwart gaze fixed upon him, making him feel like an ignorant child.
"It is not vengeance we are here to find," Lorentus mused, "We seek something far more important," He placed a firm hand upon Sejanus shoulder, a grip that he felt even through his impressive armour. "We seek Redemption." Lorentus' grip tightened and Sejanus almost could feel his Master's fingerprints burning into his flesh through layers of ceramite. "But perhaps we shall find some vengeance along the way,"
"For the Emperor," Sejanus announced, and his men forcefully echoed his call. Lorentus noddeed approvingly and added, in his mysterious and wise way.
"And for us all,"
Army lists.
Space Marines.
Chapter - "The Bloodless"
First Founding Chapter - "Iron Hands"
Chapter tactics - "Iron Hands" (6+ Feel No Pain for infantry, It Will Not Die special rule for Characters and Vehicles.)
​
Chapter Master Lorentus - 170
Artifcer armour, storm bolter, power sword, Iron Halo (4+ invulnerable)
​
Tactical squad Alpha - 195
Verteran Sergeant with Powersword
Ten man squad,
Two plasma guns
​
Tactical Squad Beta - 195
Veteran Sergeant Sejanus with plasma pistol and chainsword.
10 man squad.
Plasma cannon and Missile Launcher
​
Venerable Dreadnought Sicarius - 155
Venerable, Heavy flamer, assault cannon
​
Land Speeder - 90
Multi-Melta, Assault cannon
​
Assault Squad Gamma - 155
Veteran Sergeant, Combat Shield and Poweraxe.
​
Bike Squad Omega - 78
Veteran Sergeant with melta bombs.
Chaos Space Marines.
​
Chaos Lord - 65
Veteran of the Long War - 5
Mark of Slaanesh - 15
Murder Sword - 35
Aura of Dark Glory - 15
Plasma Pistol - 15 Total 150
​
26 Chaos Cultists - 114
Close Combat Weapons - 0
2 Flamers - 10
Champion has shotgun - 2 Total 126
​
8 Chaos Space Marines - 114
Close Combat Weapons - 0
1 Meltagun - 10
Mark of Slaanesh - 16
Veterans of the Long War - 8
Icon of Excess - 30
Champion - Gift of Mutation - 10
- Plasma Pistol - 15
- Power Weapon - 15 Total 218
​
1 Helbrute - 105
​
5 Terminators - 157
4 Power Fists - 28
Mark of Slaanesh - 20 Total 205
​
5 Raptors - 95
Veterans of the Long War - 10
Mark of Slaanesh - 10
Icon of Excess - 30
1 Plasma Pistol - 15
1 Meltagun - 10
Champion - Gift of Mutation - 10
- Lightning Claws - 15 Total 195
​
Grand Total - 999
​
​
​
Set Up
​
The board was set up as an ancient ruined city with ruins everywhere and a church like feature built around the objective marker. Because our table was quite small, the deployment zones were limited to 4 inches along the larger table edges.
​
The Space Marines rolled highest and chose to go first so that they could get first turn unless the Chaos forces stole the initiative, which wasn't likely.
​
The Space Marines deployed in a long thin line across the board edge. The fast attack options in the Bikers and Land Speeder were deployed on the flank in order to sweep up and surround the Chaos forces or should they attempt a smash and grab option with the Objective marker they could cut off any chance of escape. Master Lorentus was deployed in the centre of the board to assist Tactical squad Alpha in hopefully claiming the objective. Sejanus in Tactical Squad Beta had more long range and powerful fire power, so were deployed to hold and protect the right flank being backed up by the powerful Dreadnought Sicarius. The Jump Infantry was placed in the centre of the board, remaining out of sight behind the large ruined gateway, ready to provide a counter charge if needed.
​
The Chaos forces deployed the Helbrute in one corner with the intention of soaking up the Landspeeders shooting attacks and hopefully doing some damage to the bikers. Meanwhile the big unit of Cultists would hopefully swarm the other board edge and make a nuisance of themselves. This would leave the Chaos Lord and all his minions free to charge up the middle and claim the objective.
​
Next the Chaos side rolled for the Gifts of Mutation, this turned out to be a complete waste of points because the roll for both of them was 16 - Unworthy Offering: No reward. Chaos also named the Space Marine Chapter Master Lorentus as the target for the Murder Sword
​
Next we rolled for our Warlord traits
The Space Marines got Rites of War, any unit within 12" can use his Leadership for Morale Checks.
The Chaos Space Marines rolled a 6 and gained the ability to re-roll any rolls on the Chaos Boon Table
​
Chaos failed to steal the initiative and so Space Marines took the first turn.
Turn One
Space Marine Turn 1
​
The Space Marines in the centre of the board move up taking cover behind the ruins ready to rush into the ruined Abbey next turn.
Sejanus with his Tactical Squad Beta hold their position, allowing the heavy weapons to fire as they have a clear line of sight on some juicy Chaos Terminators!
​
Dreadnought Sicarius moves up keeping clear of Beta's line of sight and has his eye on some fleshy looking Cultists!
​
The bikers move up making a beeline for the Hellbrute, whilst the Landspeeder moves flat out keeping hidden behind the ruined gateway to avoid the Hellbrute's devastating Multi-Melta! It's a perilous life flying around in a vehicle with only a front armour of 10!
​
In the shooting phase Master Lorentus unleashed his Orbital Bombardment! He couldn't risk using it any later in the game as the board was so narrow and in another turn the forces would be too close to use it!
​
Lorentus lifts his eyes to the sky and watches as a torrent of devastation falls slap bang in the middle of no where. Destroying nothing more than a few bricks.
​
Beta squad has more luck, and the Plasma Cannon managed to kill a Chaos Terminator and Sicarius picks off two Cultists with his Assault Cannon.
​
Chaos Turn 1
The forces of Chaos all moved up in a line, being careful to stay either hidden or in cover as much as possible. The Chaos Lord 'bravely' taking cover behind the Terminators.
​
There was not much shooting to be done in this turn apart from the odd pot shot. The Terminators managed to cause two wounds on the squad of marines opposite but one was armour saved and one was saved by the Feel No Pain special rule. Curse the false Emperor! The Helbrute had a very promising view of the Bikers but could not hit them.
​
Without anyone in close combat that was it for turn one, glorious bloodshed would have to wait, for now.
Turn Two
Space Marine Turn 2
​
It was time to get Danger Close!
​
Lorentus joins Tactical Squad Alpha and leads them into the ruined Abbey, they begin to take up firing positions, ready to unleash some Holy Bolter fire upon the encroaching Chaos forces!
​
Sicarius continued his advance towards the Cultists, making sure they wouldn't be able to flank the ruins and totally overwhelm the Objective Marker. Plus soon he'd be able to couple his Assault Cannon with his Heavy Flamer and really cause some damage.
​
Beta had no targets now, and so Sejanus orders his men to move up and get some eyes into the centre of the ruins to provide some cover fire.
​
The Landspeeder soars over the ruins and places itself infront of the Hellbrute, ready to pulverise it with fire, hopefully it would be enough to overwhelm the monstrosity but should it's Multi-Melta fail it, the Bikers move up in support and get ready to charge...but hopefully it won't come to that.
​
In the shooting phase it was a bad turn for Chaos Infantry! Lorentus and Alpha take down four Chaos Space Marines, half the unit! The Chaos Marines manage to hold their nerve even in the face of such awesome firepower!
​
Beta lay down some serious Bolter Fire on the cultists to punish them for their heresy! Although a couple manage to duck down behind some cover to save themselves, three more Cultists fall. But the punishment didn't end there! Dreadnought Sicarius lands all four shots, and kills with all four! Not even the crumbling rocks can save them and the large mob is quickly getting wittled away. But, to their credit, their will is strong and they (just) manage to stay on the board with the help of their Sergeant!
​
The Landspeeder unleashes it's fury! And although it lands a hit with the Multi-Melta, it somehow does not manage to cause any damage! The Assault Cannon doesn't manage to land a rending hit and cannot cause any damage either and so in the Assault Phase, the bikers have to resort to charging to protect the vulnerable Land Speeder!
​
In combat both the Bikers and the Hellbrute cannot land a blow and remain locked in an epic duel.
Chaos Turn 2
The Helbrute was stuck in combat on one flank, the Cultists absorbing alot of fire on the other flank although looking pretty useless because they could not actually damage the Dreadnought. There was only one we could do, try to take over the courtyard and crush the Chapter master! The main force all rushed into the courtyard ready for the Assault Phase.
​
Onto the Shooting Phase. 5 cultists and the unit champion with shotgun were able to shoot at the Space marines cowering beside the Dreadnought but alas the only wound caused was saved by the thick armour. The Chaos Space Marines in the centre shot at the unit containing the enemy General, 2 Bolt Pistols did nothing, the Plasma Pistol failed to wound but the Meltagun finally got us a kill! The Raptors shot the same unit and missed with the Bolt and Plasma Pistols whereas the Meltagun hit but could not kill anything. the Chaos Lord fared a little better with his Plasma pistol, killing the loyalist marine that dived in front of his general after he passed his Lookout Sir! test.
​
In the Assault Phase the 4 surviving Chaos Space Marines charged at their loyalist counterparts hoping that the forces of darkness would actually be able to cause some damage in combat. All of the Space Marines missed the overwatch shots and the Plasma pistol got Hot which killed it's user, which seems to be a regular thing when we play! The Raptors charged the same unit followed by the Terminators but the crucial charge roll was failed! The Chaos Lord couldn't cover the distance meaning I was without the Murder sword.
​
In the Combat Phase the Helbrute missed with both of his attacks, then as he was clumsily floundering around the Sergeant on the bike clipped a Meltabomb to him and blew him to smithereens, the explosion not causing any damage to the bikers. Now onto the big combat in the middle around the objective. We both agreed that to make it easier for us noobs to figure out we would split it into two separate battles. First up the Chapter master took on the Terminators. Having the Mark of Slaanesh gave the Terminators an extra point of initiative so they would strike at the same time. The loyalist leader only caused 1 wound but that was saved, in retaliation the unit champion could not land a blow but the other 4 Terminators managed to crush the leader beneath their oversized boots. A glorious moment for the dark gods! In the other half of the big combat the Chaos Marine Champion failed to wound anyone with his Power Weapon, his fellow 3 warriors only caused one wound but luckily the Armour Save was failed. The Raptor champion who had re-rolls to hit and to wound (thanks to Veterans of the Long War and his Lightning Claws) still only inflicted a single wound which was prevented by the Feel No Pain special rule. However the other raptors picked up the slack and made a mighty 5 wounds of which 4 Armour saves were failed! Justice! The surviving Space Marines only managed 1 wound but that was saved. Having been well beaten the Loyalists fled back 8" and were caught by the Raptors who would hold them in combat for another turn. The Terminators and the Chaos Space Marines rolled low for Consolidation and moved to gather around the objective.
Turn Three
Space Marines Turn 3
The forces of Chaos were unfortunately dominating the Assault phase and all the Marines who had stepped foot in the ruins were either dead or fleeing! The fall of Master Lorentus being an especially tough blow! If the Marines were to re-tip the balance in their favour they were going to need some serious firepower!
​
Luckily, with the Biker's being so successful against the Hellbrute, the Fast Attack flanking option was definitely on! The bikers swoop around the back of the ruins whereas the Landspeeder perches itself over the ruins ready to rain down some vengeance!
​
The Assault Squad moves in to counter charge the Raptors swarming the last of Alpha squad.
​
Sicarius enters the Ruins, with the Terminators looking surrounded on either side, and Sejanus with Beta moves up to protect Sicarius' rear and stop him being swarmed by pesky Cultists.
The Bikers begin by firing at the Chaos Marines crowding around the Objective Marker. They manage to kill two and are in the perfect position to charge the remaining two stragglers!
​
The Landspeeder begins by firing it's Multi-Melta and killing off a Termintor! A good start! And although with four of the four Assault Cannon shots landing blows, only one manages to score a Rending hit and cause a wound that can go through the impressive Terminator Armour.
​
Sicarius unleashed his Assault Cannon and managed to score three Rending hits! This deadly volley polished off the last two Terminators and the crumbling ruins were beginning to look purged of Chaos!
​
Sejanus and Beta once again unleash their fire power on the battered Cultists! Beta manages to pick off four Cultists despite a couple escaping death by ducking behind some cover. Sejanus spies the Cultist Sergeant who has now been exposed at the front of the group! He rattles off a shot from his Plasma Pistol and before any of his men can react to the the hit for him, the shot melts his face!
​
The Cultists see this and without their Sergeant's leadership they turn tail and run!
In the Assault Phase the Bikers charge down the last remaining Assault Marines. With the charge they easily overwhelmed their opponents and killed both Marines without them landing single hit in retaliation!
The Ruins Of Caltar.
Part 2:
​
Sergeant Sejanus had watched his Master enter the ruined shell of the Abbey, he had not seen him fire a single round or even draw his blade but he had learnt of his fate as a huge roar went up from the foul heretics. No sooner had his Battle Brothers charged with him through the crumbling remnants of the outer walls, they were chased back out again, their armour splattered with blood and hanging in jagged metallic ribbons. Had he been able to feel fear, surely it would be taking him now. The tide was turning.
​
He felt his limbs yearn to lead him into the fray, but he had his orders, he had to hold the flank at all costs. He regained his composure and once again he leveled the barrel of his pistol towards the rowdy mob of misguided fools bearing down on him, their chests and faces emblazoned with the cruel icons of the Dark Gods. With a deafening roar his men opened fire behind him, and the heretics fell in their dozens their bodies vanishing beneath a cloud of crimson mist.
​
His eye was suddenly drawn to wild-haired man picking his way through the tattered rocks, navigating both the jagged ruins and the countless bodies of the traitors around him. Sejanus heard his sickly, rasping voice screaming at the cowering men around him, pushing them onward towards their deaths; whereas he himself had just emerged from his hiding place, sheltered behind a statue as the volley had ripped through his men.
Sickened by the man's cowardice even more so than his heresy, Sejanus flung the barrel of his pistol in a wide arc. The action was so sudden and volatile it even managed to grab the attention of the heretic, who's eyes yellowed and darkened by mutation quickly fixed on the barrel of the gun. The flash of realisation would have been quicker than the blink of an eye and before his face even had time to contort in fear, the shot ripped through his right eye taking half of his skull with it.
​
The body crumpled instantly with a heavy thud and the cowardly Sergeants remains disappeared into the carpet of corpses. The ever shifting mass of encroaching enemies suddenly halted at the disappearance of their despotic leader and as one the group began to implode. They began clambering over each other, shrieking and jabbering, Sejanus saw them clawing at each other, raking the flesh from their comrades faces and limbs as they swarmed to escape. Sejanus watched as the mob disappeared into the distance, their dark shadows becoming nothing more than a smudge on the horizon.
​
If he had been able to feel pride, surely he would have been feeling it now. The tide was turning.
Chaos Turn 3
It was at this point that I realised I had been forgetting to make use of the Icon of Excess (a 5+ Feel No Pain save), but it was too late now and besides the cause was looking pretty lost. With the Raptors locked in combat, the Chaos Lord could do nothing to assist so he decided to make an optimistic play for the Objective by moving up to charge the bikers. The Cultists managed to rally and moved half their distance sideways to witness the Lord in battle.
The Cultists tried to help out by firing snapshots at the bikers, 4 hit but the only wound was saved. the Chaos Lord shot his Plasma Pistol but in typical fashion it Got Hot however he saved the wound.
​
In the Assault Phase, the Lord did not hesitate to get into combat with the Bikers, weathering a storm of overwatch fire and armour saving the only wound caused.
​
In the Fight Phase, the Chaos Lord only killed one of the Bikers without suffering any damage in return. In the other combat the Raptor did no damage at all but the Champion killed two of the Assault Marines. In retaliation the Space Marine Sergeant killed off the Raptor and the Champion finally bit the dust at the hands of the surviving Assault Marines. With only the Chaos Lord left, the book was pretty much closed for the forces of darkness.
Space Marines Turn 4
The forces of Chaos had been severely depleted and with only the Chaos Lord left the remaining the Space marines move to completely surround him. The remaining Veteran Sergeant moves to take the objective should the Chaos Lord somehow manage to defy the odds!
​
With no shots to be had the Shooting phase is void and in the Assault phase Dreadnought Sicarius wades into the fray with the Assault Marines joining in to add their blades to the fight.
​
The Chaos Lord strikes first and takes down two of the Assault Marines. Sicarius strikes next and with his powerfist he smashes the Chaos Lord into the ground and kills him instantly!
​
With the last of the Heretics purged the day is won for 'The Bloodless' who claim the Objective Marker without any more resistance.
Post Game
A rather successful outing for the Space Marines, even though Chapter Master Lorentus didn't have much (if any) impact the rest of the army were incredibly efficient especially with shooting, managing to take down a lot of the much stronger Chaos units that would have dominated combats. They needed a lot of support in combat however, and in many places had to rely on numbers to cause any real damage. They lacked the presence of stronger fighting units such as Terminators.
​
For Chaos, perhaps the opposite was true, the force was quite close combat orientated, and although this was highly effective in places especially with their devastating sweep of the centre of the board with their Raptors and Terminators they were vulnerable to long range attacks, mainly having only pistols. The use of longer range weapons and some more superior firepower could have helped to support their comrades and help whittle down the numbers.
The Ruins Of Caltar.
Part 3:
​
Dreadnought Sicarius suddenly roared into life. Until now his huge hulking frame had only lumbered onward laying down a torrent of fire, but suddenly the steel monster took on a burst of speed. The ground beneath Sejanus' feet shook so violently he lost his footing slipping momentarily to one knee where he felt earth shift and writhe in agony. Sicarius' engines gave a torrid bellow spewing smoke and fire as he commenced his charge towards the hideous Chaos Lord. The stone pillars and walls crumbled around him, as he shook the ancient brick from it's foundations, reducing the loose rubble around his pounding feet to nothing more than dust. Sejanus forgot himself and his position; he abandoned his unit without a word as he sprinted after the huge war machine. Sicarius was a powerful and formidable warrior but he was almost as ancient as these crumbling walls that surrounded them.
​
Sejanus however couldn't match the towering behemoth's strides, and by the time he had rounded the corner his Chainsword already purring in his hand, Sicarius was face-to-face with his adversary. The Lord was clearly an impressive fighter, and Sejanus couldn't help but feel humbled by the number of his Battle Brothers lying strewn across the ruined Abbey's blood soaked floor. Sejanus raised his blade high and charged to aid his Ancient comrade who now was stamping and roaring furiously as the Lord drove his blade through the chest of yet another Battle Brother.
​
Before the Lord could fell another, Sicarius swung his powerful arm in a low sweeping arc, the swing missed his enemy by inches, as the hideous Lord nimbly maneuvered his hulking armoured body out of the way of the blow. The Lord produced a Plasma Pistol from seemingly no where, and Sejanus saw the muzzle flash twice. The first shot glanced off of Sicarius' thickly armoured hull, Sejanus didn't see where the second shot landed, but instead he felt it. The blow ripped through one of his hulking shoulders, and although he did not feel the bite of the plasma the force of the blow knocked him clean off of his feet, sending him hurtling through the low remnants of some crumbled masonry, shattering the brick like glass.
​
The force of his landing wrenched the Chainsword from his hand, and as it slithered away, all he could do was watch the combat unfold. The Lord danced and darted between Sicarius' legs, as the hulking warrior swung his Powerfist after him, sending stone exploding into powder all around him. The Chaos Lord finally returned the flurry of blows he had avoided, with gritted teeth he carved his blade into the Dreadnought's thick plated armour leaving a deep grove in Sicarius' shin plating. The damage however, was merely cosmetic, and Sejanus could almost see the futility dawn on the Heretic's face, as the next swing of his blade barely scratched the paint on Sicarius' hull.
It was then that the Dreadnought landed his first blow, with a bellow like thunder he lashed his arm across the chest of the Lord, sending his weapon ricocheting through the air. The heretic could not recover his footing in time to escape Sicarius' wrath and the mighty machine enclosed his Powerfist around the chest plate of the Lord. The heretic writhed and twisted in vain enclosed in the machine's grasp, Sejanus' envisioned it would be the same act of a rat trapped in the talons of a Great Eagle.
​
The Lord levelled his Plasma Pistol at the massive hull and began to rain shots into the Dreadnought with unrivalled fury. Sejanus began to lose count of the times the pistol shouted and flashed, but each shot pattered pathetically against the thick plate of Sicarius' chest, the plasma splashing against the metal like a raindrop on concrete. Even as the barrel began to glow red from heat from the Pistol's overheating chamber, the Lord continued in vain to Penetrate the armour of his captor.
Sejanus watched in horror and disgust as the gun began to melt his enemies hand, the smell of burning flesh rising from the smoldering mess of metal and flesh that was soon reduced to nothing but a blackened, bloodied stump. As the weapon fell silent, now nothing more than a liquid mess, Sicarius lifted the Lord high into the air, there was a cry from his Battle Brothers as shouted and praises to The Emporor rang out over the now silent ruins. With minimal effort Sicarius enclosed his fist, and the Power Armour of the Dark Lord snapped like dry kindling with a satisfying crack, buckling his body into an unholy and unrecognizable shape. With no more ceremony the Dreadnought tossed the knotted, lifeless tangle of limbs to the dirt.
​
Sejanus whispered a small prayer, silently into the earth. It was over. A looming shadow fell over him, and he looked up to see the sight of Brother Marxus the company Apothecary, studying him with a keen eye.
"Can you stand Brother?" He asked, not a flicker of emotion passed over his face. Sejanus shifted his hulking frame as best he could but his wounded arm would not move; instead it fell limp and lame by his side. Brother Marxus gave a nod of understanding. "Your wound is deep. But not fatal. Others are in more need Brother. We will return for you." He turned to leave. Sejanus summoned up a commanding voice, through teeth knitted together in pain.
"The Artefact?" He asked.
"Safe," Marxus replied, not looking back.
"Master Lorentus?" Marxus froze upon hearing the question, and turned his head so Sejanus could see the flicker of a smile stretching across his usually stalwart face.
"You know as well as I," Marxus began, "That this is not the first time we have lost Master Lorentus and it will not be the last." A shout of 'Medic!' snapped Marxus' attention away, and he suddenly broke into a run. But as he ran he called back.
"We'll have him ready to see you by tomorrow,"
​
Sejanus gave a small laugh, a sound that often sounded alien to him, but not today. He allowed himself the luxury of letting his laugh continue for a short while longer, as he lay his head back onto the cool earth and savoured that sweet sound that rang like a bell and echoed his joy in the face of victory.
​
​