Battle of Odin's Gulf - Vanaheim

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Crucible of Battles / Point Blank.

Primary Objective: Take and Hold.

Detachment: Gladius Task Force.

Opponents Detachment: Saga of the Beastslayer.

The battle of Odin's Gulf took place over several days during the battle for Vanaheim. Logan Grimnar and Ragnar Blackmane lead a sizeable force across the icy wastes where they led an assault on the Rift Wardens at a wide ice field known as Odin's Gulf. The battle took place south of the Rift Wardens main holdings on the ice. The Rift Wardens were led by chapter master Arthurus himself.

On the first day, the Space Wolves crossed the Iceflow River undetected and assaulted the Rift Wardens. Ragnar attacked them at their weakest point, a gap between two patrols unnoticed by the space marines. Ragnar decided to take advantage of this and turned his forces towards them, slamming into the Rift Wardens.

During the night, after brutal hand to hand combat, the Space Wolves seized this section of the outer defences. On the second day, Arthurus led an attack to take the location back but due to Grimnar's intervention, Arthurus failed.

On the night of the second day, the Space Wolves continued to encircle the Rift Warden command site, capturing large sections of the outer defences. Arthurus once again took to the field with his bladeguard, ordering his brothers to drive the enemy out. The Rift Wardens advanced supported by multiple dreadnoughts, forcing the Space Wolves to retreat and threatening their flank. Grimnar decided to call in all his available reinforcements and through the night, the Rift Wardens were once again pushed back by superior numbers.

On the night of the third day of fighting, Space Wolf battle brothers, together with waves of thunderwolf cavalry, reinforced the frontline north of the space marines position. With these in place, Grimnar planned to attack the divided Rift Wardens fighting across multiple fronts. The Rift Wardens successfully held their lines, launched two counter attacks but the Space Wolves held their encircled positions.

As the battle progressed, the Space Wolves regrouped. The Rift Wardens used this opportunity to again drive their foe back out into the snowfields of Odin's Gulf, but were unsuccessful due to overwhelming enemy forces. Reluctantly, Arthurus ordered an evacuation, and the the chapter escaped via thunderhawks back to their flotilla in orbit. 

Arthurus called his commanders to him and they began to plan for their revenge.