Points: 1500.
Deployment: Front Line
Primary Objective: Duel.
The shrine with the holy shrine to the machine god, was strategically significant as from it's position, the whole of Bore-Hive Ultris could be seen and dominated. Arthurus decided to send in three companies worth of battle brothers to reclaim this site from the foul daemons of Slaanesh.
The Rift Warden attack began in the dark of night, and was led by Arthurus himself. The chapter master brought split his companies worth to form left and right flanks. They launched their attacks against the outlying defensive cordon of demonettes. The space marines lacked dreadnoughts or vehicles, and the fighting was fierce. Bladeguard were able to defeat counterattacks in brutal close quarters combat.
After several hours of heavy combat, the Rift Wardens managed to force the daemonettes forced to withdraw into the shrine itself. The space marines used this brief lull in the fighting to bolster other depleted formations.
As midday approached, the Riift Wardens began a coordinated advance on the shrine from three separate directions. Under heavy pressure, the daemons, after heavy hand to hand combat, withdrew eastwards. They ran into Arthurus' detachment and this combat was viewed as the first significant victory of the assault.
At the end of the day, the daemons of Slaanesh established defensive positions. Subsequent attempts by the space marines saw their numbers reduced by the savage attacks of the defending daemons. By the next afternoon, the daemons pushed the Rift Wardens back into the bore hive.
On day three, roaming bands of daemons attacked and took back control of the districts around the shrine, and fought back numerous counterattacks by the space marines. After regrouping and strengthening their numbers, the daemons initiated a strong attack but it was repulsed by Arthurus' depleted forces, although the demons likewise suffered heavy casualties.
