Tuesday 5 November 2024

The Defence of Hive Apothis - Talos


Points: 1000.

Mission: Screaming Into The Void.

Detachment: Anvil Siege Force.

Opponents Detachment: Invasion Fleet.

Agendas: Critical Objectives, Drive Them Back and Monstrous Targets.

Opponent's Agendas: Hunt & Slay and Tyrannoform The Prey World.


The Defence of Hive Apothis was fought shortly after the fall of Vardenghast, in the last days of the Talos colony. After the Tyranid's victory over that hive city, the remnants of the Rift Wardens and the Imperial defenders were pursued across the warped countryside. More and more organisms poured into the battle zone after them, hunting down and slaughtering any that failed to escape. A remnant force of Rift Wardens, led by librarian Anwyr, managed to cross hundreds of miles to reach the last remaining bastion of Imperial defiance, Hive Apothis.

The Tyranids followed behind, pursuing along their right flank. Once the space marines reached the hive city, the Tyranids threw themselves against the walls under the cover of nightfall. Some of these bypassed the entrenched defenders and soon the streets were the scene of savage hand to hand fighting, which continued through the night. It was not enough and by morning, the xenos had breached the defences.

Saturday 2 November 2024

Turning Of The Tide - Omegon Theta


Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Dawn of War / Smoke and Mirrors.

Primary Objective: Terraform.

Detachment: Vannuard Spearhead.

Opponents Detachment: Battle Host.


With the war against the Aeldari going badly, chapter master Arthurus is forced to seek aid from their contact in the Inquisition, inquisitor Rosarius. Aid is dispatched and a team of assassins is given over the chapter to utilise against the enemy.

The chapter's retaliatory strike led to an engagement that lasted several days, near the new border of Aeldari controlled territory. With the assassin's assistance, the chapter was able to drive into enemy territory and recapture miles of terrain. They then launched a counter-attack which inflicted a large number of enemy casualties, and despite the deployment of wraith constructs, allowed the Rift Wardens to once more contest the dig site where the craftworld starship was buried,

Wrath of the Aeldari - Omegon Theta

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Hammer and Anvil / Inspired Leadership.

Primary Objective: Burden of Trust.

Detachment: Vanguard Spearhead.

Opponents Detachment: Battle Host.

The following was an engagement that took place over a month when the Aeldari forces pursued the Rift Wardens as they fell back from the archeotech dig site. The Craftworld allies managed to secure miles of territory from the Imperial forces because of this. They harried the Rift Wardens on the flanks but could not inflict much in the way of casualties among the space marines. The Craftworlders pursuit lead them to the outskirts of the a Mechanicus facility which, after a brief firefight, fell to them. Despite an attempt to hold this site, the space marines once more were forces to fall back.


The Dark Streets - Birmingham


Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Tipping Point / Hidden Supplies.

Primary Objective: Take And Hold.

Detachment: Vanguard Spearhead.

Opponents Detachment: Skysplinter Assault.

After receiving thousands of reinforcements from the webway, the Drukhari withdrew north to regroup against the space marine forces. Following an attack by the Rift Wardens, the Drukhari continued to fall back into the dark city streets, where they joined forces with more reinforcements. 

While the Drukhari bolstered their forces, the Rift Wardens set up defences around the surrounding districts, attempting to somehow contain the alien raiders. The Drukhari found themselves surrounded by space marine companies, with their tanks stationed along a high ground overlooking the alien staging grounds. Lillith devised a plan to break the encirclement - a surprise attack on the weakest link in the Imperial defence - and managed to convince the archon to enact the attack.

Lillith launched the attack during what passes for day on Birmingham. She led the charge while other Drukhari forces providied covering fire with raiders and ravagers. The wytch cult overtly approached the Rift Wardens, undetected by the space marines. The attack worked phenomenally well, forcing many marines to fall back or be slain. Many were pursued, captures and dragged away to the Dark City.

In the course of battle, the Drukhari captured territory and many prisoners. Many space marines died during this attack, and it led to the alien aggressors once again breaking out into the hive city once more.

Thursday 31 October 2024

Hydra Dominatus - Gehenna Prime


Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Sweeping Engagement / Raise Banners.

Primary Objective: Burden Of Trust.

Detachment: Vanguard Spearhead.

Opponents Detachment: Deceptors.


When contact was lost with the mining colony on Gehenna Prime, Imperial forces investigated and found that the planet had turned from the Emperor's Light - corrupted by the Alpha Legion. Armies were mobilised and dispatched to liberate the system. The Rift Wardens joined the crusade fleet and were one of the first forces to engage the enemy.

The initial engagement was a pivotal battle and involved the majority of the Rift Wardens chapter, operating under captain Mallegant. Further north, the few loyalist PDF forces also supported their attack. South of the main force, Artthurus led a coordinated attack along the main front. The objective was to break through one of the most heavily defended stretches of the Alpha Legion lines. The assault achieved its objectives, resulting in the first full breach of the enemy positions, in the face of heavy enemy resistance.  In concert with other attacks across Gehenna Prime, the Alpha Legion command began to feel that they were unlikely to hold off the Imperial forces.

Thursday 24 October 2024

A Dark And Stormy Night - Birmingham


Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Crucible Of Battle / Rapid Escalation.

Primary Objective: Purge The Foe.

Detachment: Vanguard Spearhead.

Opponents Detachment: Skysplinter Assault.


Birmingham - a dark and gloomy world, eternally wrapped in darkest night and pounding thunderstorms. When it's population came under attack by the piratical Drukhari, the Rift Wardens responded quickly, deploying to the heart of the city and engaging the vile alien.

The initial engagement was the beginning of a pursuit by the Drukhari against the fleeing PDF. After this terrifying pursuit, the Drukhari attacked and captured a series of rearguard positions. These positions were held by brave PDF soldiers and they held out as long as they could.

The initial Rift Wardens forces marched in columns through the streets towards the districts targeted by the alien raiders. At the same time, more space marine forces were deploying along the Emperor's Highway,

The Rift Wardens entrenched themselves to cover the retreat of the surviving PDF. These rearguards were successfully attacked by the Drukhari, capturing a number of survivors, dragging them back to their Dark City in chains. The Drukhari continued their advance into the space marine lines.

Monday 21 October 2024

Craftworld Offensive - Omegon Theta


Points: 1000.

Mission: The Gathering Shroud

Detachment: Gladius Task Force.

Opponents Detachment: Battle Host.

Agendas: Angels of Death, Drive Them Back and Recover Mission Archives.

Opponent's Agendas: Cleanse Infection and Forward Observers.


This offensive was part of a major attack by the Aeldari against the Mechanicus research stations around the buried Craftworld ship. It was fought over the course of a month, and was one of the largest battles in the initial stages of the war. It involved millions of skitarri, aeldari warriors as well as the majority of the Rift Wardens chapter. It was one of the deadliest campaigns for the Rift Warden, and ultimately the loss of these dig sites worsened the morale of the Mechanicus command.

Sunday 20 October 2024

Battle for Samakah - Talos


Points: 1000.

Mission: Routed Prey.

Detachment: Gladius Task Force.

Opponents Detachment: Invasion Fleet.

Agendas: Angels of Death and Monstrous Targets.

Opponent's Agendas: Hunt & Slay and Tyrannoform The Prey World.


Following a number of victories in the Samakah region, a combined series of attacks by the Tyranids, supported by extensive aerial support from flying monsters, allowed the hive mind to achieve a number of victories against the defenders. A Rift Wardens expeditionary force in the area were, by the attacks, to forced to fight back and push the Tyranids back, all but briefly. The Tyranids retreated to avoid being outflanked, Although the hive mind withdrew, they had inflicted significant casualties upon the Imperial defenders, although the Rift Wardens suffered few actual casualties.

Battle for the Artemis Line - Tartaria


Points: 1600.

Mission: Interdimensional Clash.

Detachment: Gladius Task Force.

Opponents Detachment: Retaliation Cadre.

Agendas: Defiance Unfurled, Know No Fear, and Monstrous Targets.

Opponent's Agendas: Outflank and Encircle, and Protect The Leadership.


The battle of the Artemis Line was a major offensive against the Farsight Enclaves. After driving the Enclaves back under Operation: Planetstrike, the Rift Wardens captured territory once held by the enemy while continuing to push the Enclaves away from the great hive cities of Tartaria. Having cut the Enclaves off from any reinforcements, the space marines proceeded eastwards to attack and capture more territory from the enemy, before moving on to attack and decimate multiple detachments of the Enclave forces. 

The Rift Warden advance force, commanded by chapter master Arthurus, began the Battle for the Artemis Line in the early morning followed by further breakthrough attacks by outriders. Meanwhile, on the right flank, the battle began with a drop pod assault against the forces holding a line of fortified hills. During this engagement, it soon became apparent that the battle was going to be a success for the Rift Wardens.

After leaving a companies worth of intercessors to hold the newly acquired territory against any counter-attacks, Arthurus continued to lead his battle brothers eastwards to attack and capture further territory. With the Enclaves in full retreat, they continued to pursue and engaged Commander Farsight himself. Once again, Arthurus fought a heroic battle against the enemy commander, striking a devastating blow which laid low the enemy commander. The Enclave forces recovered their grievously wounded commander but it was too late. The Imperial forces now controlled the lands around the capitol of Tartaria.

Thursday 17 October 2024

Operation: Planetstrike - Tartaria


Points: 1600.

Mission: Quantum Siege.

Detachment: Gladius Task Force.

Opponents Detachment: Retaliation Cadre.

Agendas: Drive Them Back, Monstrous Targets, and Recover Blackstone Data.

Opponent's Agendas: Outflank and Encircle, and Protect The Leadership.


In the months following the conclusion to the Corinthian Crusade, the Rift Wardens were once again contacted by Inquisitor Rosarius about yet another Imperial world reaching out to the Tau Empire. This time, a trade agreement had been made by the planetary governor of a world named Tartaria with an off shoot of the Tau Empire. Rosarias requested Arthurus drive the alien menace from this world while she and her acolytes dealt with the renegade governor and his family.

The Rift Wardens battle barge Herald of Faith, broke through the orbiting Enclave vessels to launch a swift and sudden planetfall strike against the Enclave forces. This enabled the space marines to capture two of the enemy's communication stations and disrupt their supply lines, while the infantry battle occurred further north. As the day wore on, more territory was seized from the Enclaves and Arthurus took to the battlefield himself. The next day, the Enclaves command base was captured by a valiant assault force the Tau were not prepared to face. This effectively ended the Enclave dominance on the surface at this time. During a subsequent early morning raid, the enemy commander, Farsight, was defeated and forced to flee the battlefield. During these operations, the greater part of the Enclaves force was surrounded and destroyed. These and other battles fought in the area, forced the Enclaves to retreat pursued by the Rift Wardens.

Unfortunately however, Inquisitor Rosarius was unable to apprehend the traitor governor and his family, who were spirited away by the Enclave. Rosarius decreed that she would find them and execute them for their crimes.

The Defence of Hive Apothis - Talos

Points: 1000. Mission: Screaming Into The Void. Detachment: Anvil Siege Force. Opponents Detachment: Invasion Fleet. Agendas: Critical ...