500 Point

Game

Wolf Lord Hrothgar listened intensively to Brother Egil's story about what should have been a standard training exercise. He was distressed about this foreign incursion but did not want to alarm the Great Wolf over something that his warriors should be able to easily handle. Wolf Lord Hrothgar leaned out of his seat and motioned for Brother Kyrja to come over to the ongoing meeting.

Hrothgar then explained to Wolf Guard Brothers Egil and Kyrja that they would be taking out an additional squad of Grey Hunters with them on all Bloodclaw training exercises from now on, just in case another incursion should happen. Brothers Egil and Kyrja nodded in agreement and made their way out of the great hall and towards the armory; there was another training exercise that afternoon.

Meanwhile, Hrothgar pondered the situation at hand and decided to summon Iron Priest Ingólfr to inquire with him about the status of one of the Chapter's three slumbering dreadnoughts, and when they might be ready, just in case he needed them.

I won the roll for deployment, which means while I got to choose my table edge, I also had to deploy the first unit.  Liking the looks of the tall ruined building on my side of the table that would give great line of sight and fire lanes, I dumped one of the Retributor squads on the third floor.  Patrick promptly placed his Blood Claws in the complete opposite corner of the table, ensuring that the Heavy Bolters would be well out of range.

Rather than bolstering my position and making the Wolves come to me, I fell for his ploy and set up my next squad, a squad of 10 Battle Sisters with Heavy Flamer and Power Weapon-wielding Superior,  directly across from the Blood Claws.  The Grey Hunters were deployed just behind the Blood Claws, and the Scouts were held in Reserve as the second squad of Retributors lined up just behind the large Flamer-wielding squad, and the final squad of 10 Sister held the center of the table.

Although I won the roll for first turn, I opted to let him take it as I wanted the Wolves to run forward toward me, and out from behind the hill they were skulking behind during deployment.  So the Wolves went first and, predictably, ran out across the top of the hill right at my Sisters.  There was no shooting from the furry corner this turn.

The third-floor Sisters began their descent... but with a poor Difficult Terrain roll, didn't even make it to the bottom of the building.  The Battle Squad in the center opened fire on the Blood Claws bravely scampering over the hill.  In a flurry of Bolter and Storm Bolter fire, 7 hits were caused on the pack of young Wolves... but only one of those converted into a Wound, which was promptly saved by their Power Armor.  The Retributors on the right flank fared much better, wounding the pack seven times.  The Blood Claws failed two of those Saving Throws.  The Battle Sisters along side those Retributors also fired, wounding the pack four times, of which he failed another two saves.  The six remaining Blood Claws passed their Morale test.

The Space Wolves began their turn by failing the Reserves roll for the Scouts to come on.  The Blood Claws continued their advance on the Sisters from over the hill, while the Grey Hunters kept advancing toward the Sisters alongside the hill.  They ended up just outside of Bolter range, so once again had no shooting this turn.

The Retributors on the far left finally made it out of the building and started their way across the table toward the fight.  The Battle Sister Squad in the center moved forward (notably away from the table edge!) and took some moving pot shots at a few Blood Claws to no avail.  The second Retributor Squad let fly at the Blood Claws once again, Heavy Bolters shredding two of the young pups (but they made their Morale Check yet again).  The other Battle Sister Squad fired on the Grey Hunters this turn, but were unable to bring down any of them.

The Scouts arrived at the beginning of Turn 3, and were placed directly behind the Retributors and Sisters cluster on the far right.  The Grey Hunters and Blood Claws advanced, and while they fired their guns a bit this time, did not cause any wounds.  Luckily, the two packs were still just out of Assault range.

The Scouts, however, had no problem reaching the Sisters mob with their Assault move, and engaged both squads of Sisters.  The Wolf Guard's Power weapon sliced one Battle Sister open from chin to groin, and one other Sister fell under the flurry of axe and chainsword blows from the rest of the Scouts.  The Sisters struck back, felling no less than 3 of the Wolf Scouts!  Outnumbered by 4:1, they failed their Morale check and broke, while the Retributors made a Sweeping Advance and wiped out the survivors.*

The Retributors on the left flank (actually closer to center by now) stayed put and fired on some Grey Hunters they could see, actually managing to kill one.  Finally, they were having some part in this game!  The Battle Sister squad with Storm Bolters advanced through a ruined building toward the concentration of Wolves, while the other Retributors opened fire on the Grey Hunters, killing one.  The right-flank squad of Sisters advanced forward slightly to bring the Heavy Flamer to bear, causing five wounds on the Grey Hunters... all of which were Saved.  Every.  Last.  One.  The Superior's bolt pistol shots bounced harmlessly off their armor as well.  There was nothing for it but to charge in!  After all, the Wolves would just charge in the next turn, so why let them get their extra attacks?

The Sisters used an Act of Faith at the beginning of the Assault Phase, successfully rolling for "The Passion," which gave them +2 Initiative, meaning they would actually strike their blows first.  Fistfuls of dice flew about the table... and despite the Superior's Power Weapon, despite their success against the Scouts, and despite the extra Charging attacks... not a single Grey Hunter fell.

So the Grey Hunters struck back.  Fistfuls of dice flew across the table... and while they caused 5 wounds, the Sisters' armor saved every single one!  So with a score of Zero Wounds to Zero Wounds, the combat was a Draw and would carry on.

*After a good re-reading of the 'And They Shall Know No Fear' rule, I realize the Scouts would have stayed and fought, taking an additional 4 Wounds for being outnumbered 4:1.  With the way Patrick was making Armor Saves, though, it wouldn't have mattered... the end result would have been the same!

The Grey Hunters were locked in Combat, and the Blood Claws couldn't squeeze any bases into the combat, so instead used the side of the ruined building to block them from as much enemy Line of Sight as possible.

In the Assault Phase, the Sisters failed their roll for The Passion this time, so the Grey Hunters struck first, killing all but two of the Sisters, who inflicted no wounds in return.  The Sisters failed their Morale check and were Swept by the Grey Hunters.

The Retributors moved toward the right flank, leaving only the Superior in range and able to fire, and she missed both of her shots.  The remaining Battle Sisters squad continued their advance through the ruined building, and fired all their bolt weapons at the Wolves.  Once again, fistfuls of dice flew across the table... and only one wound was caused.  But lucky for the Sisters, the Grey Hunter actually failed his Save!  The Retributors from the right flank poured their fire into the Grey Hunters as well, but only caused three wounds with all their shots.  Out of the three, the Wolves only made one Save, failed their Morale check and fled 10" away.

Automatically rallying, the Grey Hunters did an about face and advanced toward the remaining Battle Sister Squad, while the Blood Claws moved forward toward the Retributors.  Both units then Charged their targets in the Assault Phase.

The Blood Claws killed two Retributors, and lost one of their own in return.  The Sisters passed their Morale check and so remained in the combat.

Meanwhile, the Sisters attempted the Passion again, but failed the roll.  Since they were going last anyway, I burned another Faith Point and was successful on Hand of the Emperor, which would give them all +2 Strength, but make them strike at Initiative 1.  The Grey Hunters killed one Battle Sister, and lost one of their own number in return, resulting in a locked combat.

The fresh Retributor Squad formed up into a firing line a safe distance away from all the bloodshed, ready for one or the other combat to finish so that they could fire at the surviving Wolves.

They Grey Hunters killed four Battle Sisters in this phase while the Sisters did not kill any of the Wolves - but they did manage to pass their Morale Test.  The Retributors lost another model this phase, but were unable to take any Blood Claws down.  They too passed their Morale check.

Pretty much everything on the table was involved in a combat at this point, except for the untouched squad of Retributors who were just waiting for a target to present itself.

They Grey Hunters killed only a single Sister this time around, but also didn't lose any of their own.  The Sisters held firm in that combat.  The Blood Claws took down another member of the Retributor squad who also failed to kill any Wolves.  The remaining Sister failed her test and was Swept by the Blood Claws, who then moved 3 inches toward the other melee.

The Retributors had no line of sight to the Blood Claws, so stayed put.  In the close combat, the Grey Hunters managed to kill 3 Sisters, leaving just the Superior left of that squad.  Luckily, she passed her Morale Test and steadfastly held her ground, denying the Wolves full Victory Points for that Squad.

Canoness Superior Seforina,

Again our search teams have encountered the mutant followers of Leman Russ upon the surface of Carsus Belli.  While this offshoot branch of the Space Wolves and their presence in this system has been a convenient excuse for our presence here, my staff of Superiors grow more curious by the day.  I beg again that I be allowed to share our true goal on this planet with my inner circle.  Not solely that mine own burden be lessened (May the Emperor grant me strength and resolve), but so that my Sisters lives may not become forfeit without purpose.

It appears that these Wolves are not aware of our purpose here, and that they themselves have no knowledge of what lies hidden on Carsus Belli.  I do grow suspicious of their motivations, however... If they are ostensibly here on "training excercises," then why the larger numbers of veteran warriors and war machines that we have seen?  Not all is as it seems.

Our ground forces and search parties are being taxed by these constant interruptions by the Sons of Fenris.  By way of Reinforcement, I mean to go planetside myself, and take the Penitent with me.  Surely they may find their salvation buying our search teams more times through their sacrifice.  I mean to make an end of this, and soon.  We shall reclaim the artefact, have no fear.

Yours in the Emperor,
Palatine Melisandre