******* Mission #5 has been completed. Casulties have been updated in the charts above *******
So in this mission, it was a rescue mission. We both decided that if the mission is failed, then it ends automatically, to save us loosing even more casualties, as we have lost more then we expected at this rate. But it was a lot of fun, and I hope everyone is enjoying reading along still.
* * * Background * * *
"Someone help them!", cried Ulthian as he knelt down by one of the Council Members. His name was Ul'kria, a very old Eldar male who had been a member of the Council Ancients since long before Ulthian was ever declared a Farseer on Illathor.
"Ulthian my dear friend, they have invaded the Capital. Their numbers in the thousands, even millions perhaps. We are still trying to hold them off, but several of the larger creatures slipped past and attacked the Council Chambers", said Ul'kria as he gasp to not let the blood fill his throat, "Most of us escaped, and made it to the evacuation ships, but the beasts cut off our exit and we were forced to make a quick jump into the webway to try and escape."
"We will move to the Capital and help defend our home!", said Ulthian, "I will not let these abominations continue to plague our lands anymore. Are they holding off the Tyranids?"
"I don't know for certain, the situation looked grim, but we were able to contain them to the main city entrance. But the more we killed, the more they seemed to multiply themselves", gasped Ul'kria, "Ulthian, I am afraid my time is here. I can not hold on much longer, please take my spiritstone with you. If you are able to return to the Capital and repel these creatures, I would wish to be brought back to fight once more within the Wraithbone."
"I shall honour that request, Master Ul'kria", said Ulthian.
"But Ulthian there is one more thing I need to tell you. Before the Tyranids broke into the Council Chambers, we were all able together to send a distress message out. We received word that the Master Farseer of Ulthwe' is on his way to aid us!"
"Eldrad Ulthran?", asked Ulthian.
"Indeed, the one and only. He is a good friend of Illathor and has visited with us many times over the countless years. He is bringing with him a small Ulthwe force to help us repel these Tyranids.", said Ul'kria. "He informed us he will be come over the plains of Vendour. Now go Ulthian, find Master Eldrad Ulthran, and assist in saving the Capital."
With that Ul'Kria faded away.
Ulthian looked at the now silent figure of the great Ancient Ul'kria. "They will pay for this. Yeril are there any survivors?"
Yeril rose from one of the bodies, "No Master, all have suffered grievous wounds. The beasts must have overwhelmed them just as they made the jump into the webway."
"So many Eldar lives lost. This was merely a war when man arrived, now it as almost as if it is a pure genocide of Illathor. But we must prepare to move. The Master Farseer Eldrad Ulthran of Ulthwe is on his way to Illathor and will head towards the plains of Vendour."
"Vendour? If I am not mistaken, the humans took that part of Illathor and began their 'mining' process on the sacred plains."
"Indeed you are correct Exarch", said Titherius as he walked over to join them, "The colonists began excavating and the Guardsmen set up a small fortification there. However I am afraid the Tyranids have already overrun that outpost. I tried to reach them a few days ago and they were under heavy attack. I am also sorry for your loss Farseer Ulthian. But if I heard you correctly, we have reinforcements on the way?"
"That we do Captain Titherius", replied Ulthian, "We must leave here now before more Tyranids arrive. I will take my Eldar to try and meet them before they are attacked upon landing."
"I have more of my Astartes scattered over the region. I will see what I can do to reach them. My communication relays are still being blocked by these damned creatures presence."
"Once we get to the Capital, we will be able to help you to be able to establish a communication link. We will meet up with you on the outskirts of the Capital at the end of the day."
"I wish you luck Ulthian, and will meet you there at the end of the day", said Titherius, "Palthor! Ready the Marines, we are going to go try and located more of our battle brothers!"
Titherius turned and marched over to his Astartes and began moving out of the jungle.
"Yeril, we must move quickly, for I fear our enemy will quickly pounce on them", said Ulthian.
"I will stay by your side Master Ulthian, we shall located Eldrad soon enough".
* * *
It was only a few hours until Ulthian and his surviving Eldar arrived at the Plains of Vendour.
'Such destruction of all that is beautiful', thought Ulthian as they walked into the remains of the once luscious and green fields. Now the Imperials have setup mining facilities and dug up this precious land. Ruined buildings also lay scattered about, and even bodies lay all over the ground.
"Keep your mind focused and at the ready Yeril, the Tyranids have already made a massacre here. I don't imagine more of them are too far away", said Ulthain.
Suddenly they heard what sounded to be a Eldar craft in the far distance. They all looked up to see several Eldar transports coming in from the sky. Such elegant and beautiful ships they all thought, as the Eldar crafts glided swiftly through the air.
The joyous sight was short lived however. The ships suddenly made darting moves through the air, as the cause for such sudden evasive action revealed itself. A winged Tyranid Tyrant came flying up on the rear flank of the Eldar landing party. Without hesitation, the Tyrants opened fire on the Eldar crafts. Covering them with slimly leeches, who burrowed into the hull of the ship, hoping to find a unsuspecting prey inside. Two of the ships came crashing down as the pilots were eaten alive as the worms dug their way through and found their target.
"We have to help them!", shouted Ulthian. "Fire at that beast!".
Before they could return fire, the Tyrant flew over another of the ships and ripped the hull in two as it swiftly zoomed by. The craft came crashing down and exploded in a vibrant blue flame as the anti-grav system exploded from the inside. The Tyrant then set his eyes upon the las remaining Eldar ship, which had now swung around to return fire at the Tyrant.
With a hail of lasers, the Eldar ship hoping to down the Tyrant with one solid volley of fire. The Tyrant however was ready for the counter attack and dove down under the incoming wave of fire, and flew up under the ship and returned fire. The ship smoked as the worms dug their way in and breached the cockpit. The craft came flying down and landed in the distance, as the Tyrant started to make another pass and come crashing down on the survivors, if there were any left alive.
Ulthian felt a burst of rage and anger, as he prepared to rally his forces and charge forward to check for survivors.
"We must move quickly if we are to locate any of the survivors!", shouted Ulthian. "We must find the Master of Ulthwe before these abominations can come crashing down upon them!"
Just as he prepared to move forward several Tyranids burst forth from one of the ruined buildings and came charging at them. They had to move quickly, as Ulthian knew this very well could be a one-way rescue mission.
* * * Mission #5 Batrep * * *
Please Note that the "left" and "right" table sides are from the TYRANID board edge perspective as to keep uniform during the batrep.Please also note that we do not have all of our armies fully painted/assembled. We are working on all of it, but also enjoy playing a very lot. So ignore some of the painting WIPs or proxying that may occur. This is for fun, and not a serious thing.Eldar List:
Ulthian - Farseer (HQ)
Ill'yna nighblade - Spiritseer (HQ)
Umbri Mah'ra - Warlock (HQ)
Yeril O'uril - Dire Avengers (Troops)
Guardians - Guardians (Troops)
Wraithguard - Wraithguard (Troops)
Shining Spears - Shining Spears (Fast Attack)
Fire Prism - Fire Prism (Heavy Support)
Wave Serpent - Wave Serpent (Transport)
Wave Serpent - Wave Serpent (Transport)
Tyranids List:
Tyranid Prime - Tyranid Prime (HQ)
Terror of the Skies - Hive Tyrant (HQ)
Life Leech, EnfeebleHive Guard - Hive Guard (Elites)
Zoanthropes - Zoanthropes (Elites)
X2 Codex Powers,
Psychic Shriek,
EnfeebleYmgarl Genestealers - Ymgarl Genestealers (Elites)
Termagaunts - Termagaunts (Troops)
Swarm Queen - Tervigon (Troops)
Endurance, EnfeebleWarriors - Warriors (Troops)
Biovores - Biovores (Heavy Support)
Carnifex - Carnifex (Heavy Support)
Objective:
The Eldar must find and protect Eldrad. If Eldrad is killed, then the mission immediately ends.
There are 6 tokens placed onto the table. They are number 1-6. When any infantry moves into 3" of one, they are revealed. If it is a 6, then Eldrad is placed onto the board. If it is not a 6, then a D6 is rolled, and on a 1-3 it is 5 Guardians, and on a 4-6 it is 3 Genestealers.
Setup:
The Eldar win the first turn. There is no nightfighting for turn 1.
Eldar Deployment.
Ulthian, Yeril, and the Avengers start inside of the Wave Serpent in the back right corner of the Eldar deployment, and the Shining Spears start ahead of the Serpent. The other Wave Serpent which is full of Guardians starts over in the middle of the Eldar deployment zone. The Fire Prism starts on the other side of the ruins next to the Guardian Serpent. Ill'yna, Umbri and the WraithGuard are deepstriking in with the Eldar Deepstrike campaign ability.
Eldar Deployment:
Tyranid Deployment
The Termagaunts and the Tervigon start in the middle of the Tyranid deployment, with the Zoanthropes right behind them. The Carnifex starts to the right of the Tervigon behind a ruined building, which the Hive Guard are hiding behind down below. The Prime and Warriors start to the left of the Tervigon. The Biovores and Tyrant start in behind a Imperial bunker. The Ymgarls are dormant in a piece of terrain.
Tyranid Deployment:
The Tyranids do not steal the initiative!
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Eldar Turn 1
One of the objectives near the Termagaunts is revealed, and it is found to be 5 surviving Guardians. Both Ulthian and the Prism adjust slightly so they can gain their jink save. The Shining Spears move up slightly towards the large ruined building ahead of them. The Serpent with the Guardians moves on top of the large ruins in front of the Shining Spears and passes the Dangerous Terrain Test.
The Prism opens fire at the Tyrant with a Lance shot and manages to take it down a wound. The Serpent on top of the ruins also fires at the Tyrant, taking it down another wound. Ulthians Serpent then fires at the Hive Guard and manages to take them down another wound.
Tyranids Turn 1
The Tervigon casts endurance onto the Tyrant, and then spawns out 9 Gaunts towards one of the objective markers in the back right of the Tyranid deployment. The Tyrant then swoops forward to right in front of the Guardians. The Warriors and Prime move forward to the objective marker in the middle rock rubble in the centre of the table. The Gaunts, Tervigon, and Zoanthropes all move ahead. The Biovores also move ahead to keep within Synapse distance. The Carnifex and Hive Guard also move out from their cover, advancing down the middle of the table.
The spawned Guants run forward to reveal the objective, and it is 3 Genestealers. The Tyrant attempts to cast life leech onto the Guardians, which goes off, but they then make their Deny roll! The Tyrant then opens fire with one of its Devourers and kills off the unit. The hive Guard then fire at the Guardians Serpent, which they hit 5 times, get two pens and a glance, but the Serpent saves them all with its jink save! The rest of the Tyranids all run straightforward down the table. The Biovores fire at the Spears and manage to kill one of them.
The Tyrant does not regain a wound from It Will Not Die (Endurance).
Eldrad has yet to have been found.
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Eldar Turn 2
The Wraithguard arrive from reserve and attempt to deepstrike in front of the Hive Guard's position. However they scatter a full 11" , landing right onto the Zoanthropes and then they roll on the mishap table, and are destroyed!! The Guardians Serpent moves off of the ruins to the back centre of the Eldar deployment zone. Ulthians Serpent moves up behind the Shining Spears to take a shot at the Tyrant. The Spears crowd around Ulthian's Serpent to give protection against the soon to be coming Ymgarls. The Prism adjusts slightly to gain it's jink save, and reveals another objective, which is 3 Genestealers.
Both Serpents open fire on the Tyrant, who they fail to wound, and who then passes both grounding checks. The Prism then fires its lance shot at the Tyrant, which misses.
Tyranids Turn 2
The Tervigon chooses not to spawn any Gaunts and casts Endurance once more on the Tyrant. Ymgarls also arrive in the ruins just ahead of the Shining spears. The Ymgarls all climb down and move towards the Spears. The Hive Guard, and Zoanthropes move forward, who then reveal another objective, which is Eldrad!! The Genestealers and spawned Gaunts move forwards towards the middle right of the table. The Biovores move forward to keep in Synapse. The Tervigon advances ahead with the Carnifex. The Prime and Warriors move ahead into the rock rubble near an objective, which turns out to be 5 Guardians. The Tyrant then swoops forward to right behind the Ymgarls.
The Tyrant opens fire at Ulthians Serpent, and hits with all 12 shots, but fails to roll even a single 6 (To glance)! The Hive Guard then fire at Ulthians Serpent, and manage to make only a single glancing hit. The Zoanthropes then cast Psychic Shriek, and two Warp Lances at Eldrad. All three powers go off, but Eldrad denies both lances but fails the shriek, which gets a 14, in which Eldrad then fails one of his 4 invul saves, taking him down to two wounds. The Gaunts in the middle then run forward, along with the Tervigon as well. The spawned Gaunts and Genestealer also run forward, coming up to some ruined barricades. The Carnifex then fires at Eldrad, and actually only gets 4 wounds, which Eldrad saves them all. The Warriors fire their barbed strangler at the Spears, and score a direct hit, but fail to wound any of them. the Biovores also fire at the Spears, but fail to cause any wounds.
The Ymgarls charge the Shining Spears, who kill one Ymgarl on the overwatch. The Ymgarls then make the charge and manage to only kill three of the Spears. They then attack back and kill 4 of the Ymgarls! They are fearless thanks to the Tyrant. The Genestealers by the Prism also charge in but fail to do any damage.
The Tyrant does not regain a wound from It Will Not Die (Endurance).
Eldrad has been in the right hand middle section of the table!
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Eldar Turn 3
The Prism moves back from the Genestealers, and Ulthians Serpent turns around to let him and the Avengers out. The Guardians Serpent moves along the side of the ruins to get a shot at the Tyrant.
Ulthian and the Avengers fire at the Tyrant, but only hit it once, and then fail to wound it. The Tyrant passes the grounding check. The Guardians Serpent then fires at the Tyrant, and does not hit it once. Ulthians Serpent then fires at it, and it hits, and wounds the Tyrant another wound, who also fails its feel no pain roll too.. The Tyrant then passes yet another grounding check. The Prism then fires at the Genestealers in front of it in hopes of staying alive through the battle, but scatters slightly and only kills two of them. Eldrad casts Psychic shriek, but fails due to being in range of SiTW. The 5 Guardians by the Warriors fire at them, but fail to wound them.
Eldrad charges into the Hive Guard and manages to kill one of them. The Hive Guard attack back and take Eldrad down to one wound. The Ymgarls kill a single Spear, and then loose 4 Ymgarls, leaving only one remaining,
Tyranids Turn 3
The Tervigon casts endurance onto to the Tyrant once again, and then spawns out 12 Gaunts (No doubles!), and they move up towards the Tyrant and Ymgarls. The Tyrant flies off of the board as it has no where to go unless it lands. The Zoanthropes, Termagaunts, and Carnifex all advance towards from the middle to the ruins in front of the Spears and Ymgarls. The Warriors move and surround the Guardians in the rock rubble. The Genestealers and Termagaunts in the middle right of the table move up towards the Hive Guard and Eldrad. The Genstealer by the Prism continues to chase after it. The Biovore also moves ahead to keep in Synapse. The Tervigon moves towards Eldrad and the Hive Guard.
The Carnifex fires at the Guardians Serpent, which fails to glade it once. The Warriors fire and kill all but one of the Guardians. The Zoanthropes run forward as they are out of range of everything, as do all units of Gaunts. The Biovore fires at the lone Guardian by the Warriors, hits both times, and then wounds, but the Guardian makes his +5 save.
The Tervigon and 3 Genestealers charge into the battle with Eldrad. The Tervigon then challenges Eldrad who accepts. Eldrad strikes first, causes a wound, who then activates his force weapon, which kills the Tervigon! The lone Ymgarl then attacks the Spears, but fails to cause any wounds, who is then killed by the Spears in the returning attack. The Spears then move forward towards the Guardians Serpent.
Eldrad is fighting for his life against the Hive Guard and Genestealers!
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Eldar Turn 4
The Guardians Serpent moves up to get a shot at the Carnifex, as the Prism moves to the back left corner of the table. Uthian, Yeril, and the Avengers move behind their Serpent, which has followed up behind the Guardians Serpent in an attempt to evade the oncoming Tyranids. The Spears move up beside the Guardians Serpent as well.
The Guardians Serpent, and Ulthians Serpent open fire at the Carnifex and manage to take it down to two wounds with their combined shots. The Prism then fire a lance and drops the Carnifex another wound, who is then finished off by the Shining Spears. Ulthian and the Avengers fire at the oncoming Gaunts, and kill off several of them.
The battle with Eldrad continues. The Genestealers strike first and manage to cause three wounds, which Eldrad fails one of them, and is then killed.
Eldrad is swarmed by the Tyranids, and appears to have been killed! The Eldar retreat back to the Capital!
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* * * Conclusion * * *
Ulthian could see him in the distance, the grand Farseer himself was being swarmed by Tyranid after Tyranid. He blasted them away with psychic bolts of energy and swung his sword furiously in an effort to hold them off.
"Ulthian, there are too many of them, we need to fall back to the city to link up with Titherius!", said Yeril as he blasted away a charging Gaunt.
"We can't leave without him!", cried Ulthian, and just as the words came out of his mouth he saw several Tyranids pounce upon the Master Farseer of Ulthwe. Ulthian's heart dropped. He had never known what it was to truly have fear take over oneself. But in this moment fear and pain clouded all over him and left him speechless. Ulthian was frozen on the spot.
"Ulthian!", shouted Yeril, as the Farseer froze on the spot.
Ulthian could not move. A small pack of Termagaunts was charging straight for him, and it was as if time stopped. Ulthian felt a voice echo through his mind.
'Ulthian', it said calmly, 'You must go, leave me, as I shall be alright. I have foreseen it. You must lead your Eldar to the Capital and escape Illathor. It breaks my heart to say it so, but I shall not see all of the Eldar fall along with this world. Now go and protect your people!'
Ulthian snapped back to reality, and swung his staff up swiftly and caught one of the Gaunts in the head, slicing it clean in two. He raised his pistol up and dropped the other two Gaunts, then fired a wave a psychic energy towards the remaining Tyranids, who were blasted into the ruins of a small building and crushed.
"Yeril, quickly gather the rest of our forces, we need to leave here immediately", said Ulthian, "There are too many of them and we can't continue loosing so many lives at such a fast rate".
Yeril gave a quick nod and called for the Serpent, which swiftly came over to their location with the hatch down and ready to pick them up. Yeril and the Avengers quickly boarded the Serpent, as Ulthian followed up behind them. The Serpent turned around and blasted several of the small Tyranids away who were attacking the Spears.
"Pilot", said Ulthan, "Let everyone know we are leaving immediately now."
The Pilot gave a nod as he informed the rest of the Eldar they were retreating back to the Capital. Just as he finished informing the other Serpent and Prism, the Pilot saw a large energy lance come flying towards them.
"Hold on!", he called out to his crew, as he shifted the skimmer quickly out of the way of the energy bolt. He looked out to see three floating Tyranids with bulbous heads floating over the battlefield towards them. The Pilot quickly turned around and took off at full speed away from the the Plain of Vendour. The Pilot could see the other Serpent, and Prism made it out safely, along with the Shining Spears. Feeling a trickle of fear still gnawing at his mind, he looked back to see the massed horde of Tyranids swarming over their previous location.
"Excellent manoeuvring Pilot", said Ulthian, "We owe our lives to you".
"Master Ulthian, what of Eldrad?", asked Yeril.
"It will take more then a bunch of beasts to take down the Master of Ulthwe.", replied Ulthian.
"We will be at the Capital outskirts in about two hours Master Ulthian", said the Pilot.
Ulthian sat down as the whole rescue mission settled in on him. It was clear now. The Tyranids outnumbered them more then they could have ever imagined. It was merely now and attempt to escape off of Illathor, as he knew the truth of it all now.
Illathor belonged to the Tyranids.
conclusion.
!!!
