Battle of the Omnissiah's Shrine - Megaborealis

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.

Battle for Bore-Hive Ultris - Megaborealis

Points: 3000.

Deployment: Opposing Forces.

Primary Objective: Duel.

Following the battle for the Blackstone mines, Arthurus led a small force north to protect Ultris from a force of Slaaneshi daemons. At the same time, that force of daemons had slaughtered through the bore hive and was headed south into the path of the Rift Wardens.

It was still an hour before dawn when the daemons overran an Astra Militarum firebase to the north of the Rift Warden position. When Arthurus learnt of this, he changed plans and turned his force to engage those daemons. In the initial minutes of battle, the daemons inflicted heavy casualties upon the space marines before being counter-attacked by Arthurus and his bladeguard. The daemons fell back away from the firebase and back into the outskirts of Ultris. There the Rift Warden advance was then stopped by a much larger force of Slaaneshi daemons. The Rift Wardens counter-attacked several times but to no effect.

Meanwhile, the firebase behind them, was retaken by daemonette reinforcements from the Warp. After a short fight, the daemons were forced to retreat into the streets, leaving a weakened marine force to hold the site and hold it against being captured.

By midday, as the sun shone down on the hive sprawl, the daemons tried again to dislodge Arthurus and his forces. The assault was repelled, with heavy casualties on both sides. The daemons were forced to retreat further into the bore-hive but by this time, the space marines had also been seriously depleted.

Battle of the Enclaves - Mortwald

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Dawn of War / Lords of War.

Primary Objective: Linchpin.

Detachment: Gladius Task Force.

Opponents Detachment: Packbound Zealots.

As part of the efforts to recapture Mortwald, the Rift Wardens launched a surprise attack on the Enclaves district, liberating it and the surviving nobility from the clutches of Chaos. In response, the Black Legion turned their attentions to the Enclaves, launching a full offensive on the Imperial positions. The Black Legion rolled up with assault vehicles and began demolishing the Enclave gates and defensive walls, in preparation for the upcoming assault. These defences fell over two days of bombardment.

The Black Legion reinforcements arrived with fresh troops. Land Raiders and Predator tanks rolled into the streets. A massive firestorm assault was unleashed, decimating many of the space marine defenders and civilian casualties were high.

The Enclaves burned in the days ahead. Civilians fled east to what little Imperial held territory remained, and the Rift Wardens remained to cover their escape. The loyalist marines entrenched themselves in makeshift trenches, within ruined buildings and what few defence positions remained. The Black Legion bombarded their positions and followed up with heavy infantry assault and the Rift Wardens were slaughtered to man.

Retreat from Djodrolev Hivestar - Mortwald

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Sweeping Engagement / Rapid Escalation.

Primary Objective: Burden of Trust.

Detachment: Anvil Strike Force.

Opponents Detachment: Tallyband Summoners.

Following a string of defeats against the Death Guard in Djodrolev Hivestar district of Mortwald. Typhus and his loyal plague marines pursued them to the borders of the hive. Captain Lorgraine put up a valiant fight to allow his battle brothers to escape, but many Rift Wardens were slain in the retreat.

Under The Shadow of Chaos - Vigilus Wastelands

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Hammer and Anvil / Swift Action.

Primary Objective: The Ritual.

Detachment: Anvil Siege Force.

Opponents Detachment: Shadow Legion.

Belakor's daemonic host surged out of the deep deserts - an undulating legion of otherworldly horrors laying waste to everything they encountered. A small force of Rift Wardens concentrated in the vicinity were dispatched to halt their advance towards the hive cities. The space marines, under captain Lorgraine, went on the offensive but his forces were smashed in the first battle. The Shadow Legion gained ground pushing through the space marine defence line.

The last points of Rift Warden controlled desert were taken from them over the next three days. Having suffered considerable losses, Lorgraine ordered a retreat back to Hyperia Hivesprawl. Recent defeats against the Orks and other Chaos foes, had negatively impacted the chapter's morale. 

Wrath of Vashtorr - Ravitane

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Dawn of War / Inspired Leadership.

Primary Objective: Unexploded Ordnance.

Detachment: Anvil Siege Force

Opponents Detachment: Renegade Raiders.

The offensive of Vashtorr's followers began mere hours after the initial battle ended. Chaos bikers broke through the Rift Warden defence and took control of vital strategic locations. However, space marine forces under Captain Lorgraine made a flank counterattack and barely managed to force the enemy back.

Shortly thereafter, the Cogs of Vashtorr forced the loyalists back along a broad front, creating a bridgehead into their lines. The main forces, led by Vashtor himself and the mysterious individual known as Cypher, broke through the defences inflicting multiple casualties, and pushing the Rift Wardens further back away from the Bringer of Tears.

Lorgraine decided to retake the lost territory, by concentrating on a specific point in the enemy lines. The plan was to assault the lines with almost everything the captain had at his disposal. The next day, Lorgrain launched his counteroffensive. The engagement was brief and looked to be turning the tide of battle in the loyalist's favour until multiple warp gates burst open releasing the daemon Belakor and a horde of lesser daemons, who threw their attacks into the legions of Vashtorr. Lorgraine gave up the assault and left the enemy forces to fight among themselves.

The Burning of Mortwald - Mortwald

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Sweeping Engagement / Swift Action.

Primary Objective: Supply Drop.

Detachment: Anvil Siege Force.

Opponent's Detachment: Iconoclast Fiefdom.

This battle, a Rift Warden led defence of District 12, was a series of wide-scale conflicts across the width of Mortwald. The battle resulted in the burning of several districts of the hive sprawl, and the massacres of several hundred thousand civilians and Imperial soldiers. Imperial command began to feel that Mortwald was lost to them. The Rift Wardens were largely relegated to containing the traitor forces within the city walls for the time being.

Battle of Stump Subsprawl - Dontoria Hivesprawl

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Hammer and Anvil / Prepared Positions.

Primary Objective: Take and Hold.

Detachment: Gladius Task Force.

Opponents Detachment: Traitoris Lance.

The battle of Stump Subsprawl was a major battle between Imperial forces and a small maniple of Chaos Knights. The Rift Wardens and other space marine chapters attempted to claim control of the area as staging ground from which to launch attacks against the Death Guard and their allies in Dontoria. In response to their presence, the Death Guard sent their Knightly allies to slaughter the Imperial marines. The Knights with a small force of Nurgle daemons in tow managed to rout the space marines and force them out of the area. With no reinforcements available to support them, the Rift Wardens reluctantly fell back as well. With few resources available to them in Dontoria, the Rift Wardens redeployed elsewhere until new battle plans could be drawn up.

Battle of the Blackstone Mines - Megaborealis

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Search and Destroy / Swift Action

Primary Objective: Burden of Trust..

Detachment: Librarius Conclave.

Opponents Detachment: Daemonic Incursion.

Chief Librarian Uther made an attempt to oust the Daemonic hordes from Megaborealis. Assisted by elements of House Avalon and Inquistorial agents, his force struck at the site of several blackstone mines near the outer city walls, which to fierce fighting between the forces gathered. The Rift Wardens made some gains, such capturing vital transport routes into the hive city proper. When the daemonic forces failed to push out the Imperial aggressors, the infamous Skulltaker took to the battlefield, lending his support to the battle. With his leadership, the forces of Chaos were able to reclaim some areas of the mine workings from the Rift Wardens and pushed them back some distance. However, Arthurus dispatched vital aid from the librarius, via drop pod and teleportation, and this assisted in braking the defence of the daemonic, and again the mines changed hands. The main Blackstone workings were retaken by the daemons after a particulaly bloody battle and was in their hands after two days.

Over the next week, the daemons under Skulltakers command fought a series of vicious battles against the space marines. In one such battle, the daemons drove back the space marines and their allied forces, leaving some with nowhere to go back out beyond the hive city walls, which spread concern among the Rift Warden leadership.

Uther subsequently redeployed his forces and further mining sites were captured, Despite being surrounded by daemons, the presence of House Avalon made a difference in their attacks. A second daemonic offensive came shortly there after but while the chapter fought here, the daemons were sacking the rest of Megaborealis unchecked.

As a result of the fighting, industrial plants and transport routes in the hive were largely destroyed or forced into abandonment. A significant portion of the hive's mechanicus population were dead or missing. The Rift Wardens had control over the vital blackstone mines but were in danger of losing the rest of the hive city.

Battle of Paradyse City - Paradyse

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Tipping Point / Raise Banners.

Primary Objective: Terraform.

Detachment: Anvil Siege Force.

Opponents Detachment: Creations of Bile.

 

Paradyse, a world of the Sarcorixis sector, overrseen and run by the Adeptus Mechanicus. The world serves as a rejuvenation facility for wealthy and important members of the sector's inhabitants. In addition, it secretly serves as a holding facility for gene stock of the Imperial Fists and their successors. When a force of traitor astartes raiders attacked the planet led by the reviled Fabius Bile, the Mechanicus issued a priority request for aid. The Rift Wardens responded rapidly to protect their heritage from being defiled by Bile.

The initial battle for Paradyse City was a major engagement. Following the arrival of the Rift Wardens and their allies in House Avalaon, Bile led his forces in an offensive against the loyalist marines in the streets of Paradyse City. The battle ended with the Rift Wardens retreating from a superior force. The presence of the marines under Bile's command also began to fray the borders of reality and a number of smaller daemonic incursions occurred to further vex the Rift Wardens.

Battle of the Vangalt Defence Line - Vigilus Wastelands

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Dawn of War / Chilling Rain.

Primary Objective: Take & Hold.

Detachment: Anvil Siege Force.

Opponents Detachment: Pactbound Zealots.

The Battle of the Vangalt Defence Line began with an apocalyptic bombardment during which vast numbers of traitor tanks, supported by the firepower of two Carnage class cruisers, while traitor Knights fired a creeping barrage to cover the legionnaire assaults. The Black Legion marines attacked simultaneously along the front line, defended by the Rift Wardens and the Astra Militarum. During this battle, the enemy breached the front and second line trenches to eventually capture the defenders headquarters. On the right, those trenchworks were attacked and eventually captured by three companies of legionnaires. These three companies subsequently advanced, despite the defenders being reinforced by further Rift Warden squads, and captured supply points. This created a gap in the front lines for Black Legion bikers to ride through. They rode north and eastwards to the rear to capture the defending Imperial lines of communication.

The second phase of the battle began as soon as the gap was made during the infantry attacks. The bikers led the way north up of the Vangalt plains followed by hordes of legionnaires in reserve. These divisions subsequently rode across the Vangalt hills to occupy the wastelands beyond. The Black Legion slaughtered hundreds of thousands of guardsmen during this stage of the war.

The Rift Wardens command firebase was initially unsuccessfully attacked by one force of Black Legion marines. During this battle however, the Rift Wardens commander, chief librarian Uthar, was forced to escape, teleporting back to an orbiting battle barge. The firebase was captured days later, and soon the enemy had seized control over large swathes of territory. On the last day of the battle, the Rift Wardens attacked the Black Legion rearguard, killing large numbers of the traitor marines before fading back into the wastelands. 

Battle of Bore-Hive Scelerus - Megaborealis

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Tipping Point / Raise Banners.

Primary Objective: Burden of Trust..

Detachment: Anvil Siege Force.

Opponents Detachment: Daemonic Incursion.

The Battle of Bore-Hive Scelerus was a major battle in Megaborealis fought over three days between a vast horde of daemons and the Rift Wardens under captain Lorgraine. The daemonic horde was led by Kairos Fateweaver.

The attack at Bore-Hive Scelerus was part of a plan by Fateweaver in which the daemon sought to break through the Imperial lines and capture the hive sprawl. It was the largest demon offensive launched on Vigilus, and it caught the Rift Wardens in the process of bolstering their lines. This meant that their tanks were out of place and the daemonic attack, coming up against a disorganised space marine force, proved more successful than expected. The chapter fell back from the hivesprawl and left it for the forces of Chaos.

Battle of District 9 - Mortwald

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Dawn Of War / Chilling Rain.

Primary Objective: Take And Hold.

Detachment: Anvil Siege Force.

Opponents Detachment: Fellhammer Siege Host.

After the Battle of the Bridge, the force of the Iron Warriors planned a large scale offensive on the Imperial lines ahead of them, the various lines of advance converging on District 9.

Blocking the highways, the Maridan canal served as a retrenchment for a number of Rift Wardens. Though it was a largely unknown battle, District 9 was the scene of fierce fighting between the Rift Wardens and the Iron Warriors for it's control over two months of fighting before the traitor forces won the day.

Battle At The Bridge - Mortwald

 

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Dawn Of War / Chilling Rain.

Primary Objective: Take And Hold.

Detachment: Anvil Siege Force.

Opponents Detachment: Fellhammer Siege Host.

The Rift Wardens fortified a skyway bridge which connected Imperial held territory with a transit station controlled by the Iron Warriors. To do this, they had to destroy a portion of the bridge and barricade it with heavy weapons at the other end. The space marines took their position at an elevated point. The Iron Warriors decided not to storm the bridge and began using their daemon engines instead, before finally deciding to try and cross at another location.

During the night, a company of legionnaires crossed the bridge and were soon joined by a force of Nurgle daemons. During the night the Iron Warriors attacked en mass. The Rift Wardens lacked enough ammunition and after hours of fighting, were forced to regroup several streets back from the bridge.

Battle In The Wastes - Vigilus Wastelands

Points: 1600.

Mission: Overwhelming Dread.

Detachment: Anvil Siege Force.

Opponents Detachment: Traitoris Lance.

Agendas: Calculated Devastation, Monstrous Targets and Priority Kill Zone.

Opponent's Agendas: Critical Objectives and To The Last.

As the sun rose over the deserts of Vigilus, the Rift Wardens chapter of space marines left their trenches following an hour long artillery preparation. Part of this was artillery fire directed an an oncoming traitor Knight lance advancing on the Imperial lines. A rolling barrage of artillery fore was calculated to give the Rift Wardens time to keep up behind it.

The Rift Wardens, led by chapter master Arthurus plus a handful of veteran aggressors and several land raiders captured territory from the enemy forces. This objective was situated on a high ground surrounded by broken rocks, making it an ideal observation for monitoring the Chaos Knights.

Because the Rift Wardens did not have them at hand, the Imperial Navy provided air cover, multiple artillery regiments and multiple guardsmen squads. The Rift Wardens themselves brought their own land raiders and spartans, whose purpose was to eliminate the smaller Karnivore engines. With the Astra Militarum artillery to aid them, Arthurus' battle brothers were victorious in destroying the enemy Knights. A much needed victory for the chapter.

Battle of Nocturne Transit Station 2245 - Dontoria Hivespawl

Points: 1000.

Deployment and Mission: Search And Destroy / Chosen Battlefield.

Primary Objective: Sites Of Power.

Detachment: Ironstorm Spearhead.

Opponents Detachment: Plague Company.

The battle of Nocturne Transit Station 2245 was a battle fought following the collapse of the Nocturne Gate, and saw the Death Guard continue to apply pressure on the Rift Warden defenders.

The battle was fought around the Nocturne Transit Station that branched out across the hivesprawl. The Rift Warden survivors had fortified the sight and was the first target for Typhus and his allies. After weeks of desperate entrenched fighting, Typhus launched his forces decisive attack and finally smashed the space marine defence. The last two days of fighting were some of the most fierce fighting in the entire war for Dontoria. The Rift Warden defenders were massacred to a man and their gene seed corrupted and lost.

Battle of Rejuvenus Strongpoint - Mortwald

Points: 1600.

Mission: False Intel.

Detachment: Anvil Seige Force.

Opponents Detachment: Traitoris Lance.

Agendas: Calculated Devastation, Monstrous Targets and Priority Kill Zone.

Opponent's Agendas: Calculated Devastation and Reestablish Communications.

The Battle of Rejuvenus Strongpoint took place over several days. Traitor units of House Vextrix with daemonic allies, fought with the Imperial defenders over the control of a major district of Mortwald Hivesprawl.

Chaos victories within the Hive caused Arthurus to create a flexible tactical-operational force of Rift Wardens to combat the enemy within this theatre of the war. He would lead this force specifically t drive the enemy from the streets of Mortwald.

A force of thirty traitor Knights under the clashed for the first time with the Imperial defenders and pushed through their lines. Vextrix captured several outer districts but their ultimate goal was the Rejuvenus fortress at the heart of the district. It's capture would allow the traitor forces of Abaddon a position for his troops present to regroup and organise an effective defence of the district. The siege of this fortress began on the second day of the attack and resulted in all 7000 Imperial guardsmen slain. In addition to the capture of the fotress, Vextrix captured large warehouses of supplies and ammunition. The Rift Wardens attempted several assaults to recapture the district but they all failed. Arthurus was forced to pull his forces back, regroup and strategize a new victory.

Holding Operations - Vigilus Wastelands

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Sweeping Engagement / Minefields.

Primary Objective: Sites of Power.

Detachment: Gladius Task Force.

Opponents Detachment: Daemonic Incursion.

This engagement began in good clear weather and the Rift Wardens were able to fall back enough to set up a defensive position. Pauses were made due to sudden dust storms and to allow time for orbital bombardments on the advancing daemons. However, the daemons shrugged off these problems and came through them largely unharmed. Captain Lorgraine consulted with captain Andred and decided to reduce the scope of operations against the daemons, cancelling attack plans and reducing Andred's outriders to limited operations. Operations then resumed with an attack on the daemons northern flank, although these attacks were withdrawn as more dust storms swept through the region. Lorgraine ceased offensive operations, except for small attacks intended to improve positions and divert Be'lakor's attention from the main space marine force.

Wrath of Be'lakor - Vigilus Wastelands

Points: 2000.

Mission: Death And Zeal.

Secondary Objectives: Abhor The Witch, No Prisoners and Shock Tactics.

Opponent's Secondary Objectives: No Prisoners, Psychic Interrogation and Raise The Banners High.

The daemonic assault began in the early hours with a surprise bombardment as soul grinders materialised from the Warp. However, this bombardment largely fell short of it's target or failed to inflict many casualties as the Rift Wardens were heavily entrenched awaiting an oncoming Black Legion attack. The failed bombardment alerted the Rift Wardens to the coming attack withut disrupting their ability to oppose it. Shortly their after, Be'lakor and his legions manifested from the Warp and attacked.

Arthurus deployed his forces with a number of veterans in gravis armour, holding the left and right flanks. They deployed in a lose skirmish formation. One flank succeed in smashing into the daemon lines but were stopped and then forced to withdraw after suffering casualties from the daemon prince himself, As they fell back to their lines, they were outflanked and attacked by more daemons bursting forth into reality. With their flanks collapsing, Arthurus ordered a fighting withdrawl although they were hounded all the way back to the main Imperial lines.

Siege of Gate Proxima - Megaborealis

Points: 1000.

Mission: Cleanse The Land.

Secondary Objectives: Grind Them Down, Raise The Banners High and Shock Tactics.

Opponent's Secondary Objectives: Behind Enemy Lines, Despoilers of Reality and No Prisoners.

As more and more daemons massed around the walls of Megaborealis, the monstrous Skarbrand led a force of bloodletters and khornate flesh hounds against a small trade gate known as Gate Proxima. This gate was loosely defended by a small Rift Wardens force under the command of Lieutenant Kay. Although all battle-hardened warriors, they were a force no match for the daemonic legion charging towards them.

Upon reaching the gates, the daemons found themselves in a wide open expanse of wasteland and were soon pinned down by fierce bolter and plasma fire from the space marines atop the walls. With a bellowing roar from Skarbrand, the bloodletters surged forth but were once more cut down by the defenders. The assault lasted for two days with the daemons sustaining light casualties overall. When the gate finally fell, the Rift Wardens fell back as the Mechnicus closes off the entry points with massive blast gates. Kay's nearly lifeless body was recovered before his head could be claimed for the Blood God.