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.

The Second Battle of the Vangalt Defence Line - Vigilus Wastelands

 

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Defensive Line / Night Fighting.

Primary Objective: Purge The Foe.

Detachment: Anvil Siege Force.

Opponents Detachment: Soulforged Warpack.

The second battle of the Vangalt Defence Line was part of an ill-fated offensive by the Rift Wardens on the Black Legion occupying this strategic site after the recent battle. In this case, they found that Abaddon had summoned Vashtorr the Arkifane, and they would be forced to deal with his followers as well.

The Rift Wardens assault with the aim of cutting off one division of Black Legion and encircling them. One of the assaulting forces, managed to breach the front line and assaulted a fortified bunker, defended by a small number of cultists. After a brief skirmish, the chapter had captured a suitable command position, As the Rift Wardens took no prisoners, they slaughtered hundreds of traitor marines and even brought down Vashtorr, banishing back to the Warp. Following this, Abaddon joined the battle was forced to teleport back to the Vengeful Spirit having suffered grievious wounds from Chief Librarian Uther. The Rift Wardens had suffered minimal casualties as now the Black Legion lacked enough firepower to repel the loyalist forces and their counter-attack was repelled. Over the next twenty four hours the Rift Wardens broke through the defence line and obliterated the enemy forces. A significant victory had been achieved.

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. 

Second Battle of Arnmort Gate - Mortwald

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Sweeping Engagement / Prepared Positions.

Primary Objective: Terraform.

Detachment: Anvil Siege Force.

Opponents Detachment: Veterans Of The Long War.

The second battle of Arnmort Gate was fought over two days by Abaddon and his Black Legion against the Rift Warden defenders. Together with two other attacks on the wall, it was one of three battles breaching the walls of Mortwald. The Black Legion breached the walls despite the Rift Wardens opposition under captain Lorgraine. Abaddon had his own plans for Mortwald and planned to conquer the outer districts as quickly as possible. 

Further Black Legion reinforcements arrived by drop pod and the Arnort Gate district fell to their control eight days later. The Rift Wardens did not have defensive lines or barricades so resorted to brutal close quarters fighting within the abandoned hab blocks. Slowly, they forced the space marines out and into the heart of the hive.

The War of Nightmares part 3 - Vigilus Wastelands

Points: 1000.

Deployment and Mission: Dawn Of War / Chosen Battlefield.

Primary Objective: Vital Ground.

Detachment: Anvil Siege Force.

Opponents Detachment: Slaves To Darkness.

This engagement was an attack by the Rift Wardens against the fortified positions held by the Black Legion. Previous engagements against the Black Legion had failed to achieve their goals and had led to the demoralisation of the local Astra Militarum regiments and confounded the Imperial forces present. 

The Rift Wardens tactical objective was to capture the Black Legion defences on the ridge that they had captured weeks earlier. The ridge gave a commanding view of the Imperial defences and the supply road leading towards Mortwald. Three companies worth of battle brothers launched the initial assault soon reinforced by terminators from orbit.

The space marines attacked under cover from artillery bombardments among the enemy lines, which left the area devastated and filled with large craters. A creeping barrage began and protected the Intercessor advance as they secured the ridge with support from dreadnoughts and aircraft. The effect of the bombardments was improved by phobos spotting teams who ranged ahead of the main force. The battle was ultimately brief and the sons of Abaddon were slain with prejudice. Their forces pushed back into the deserts and Imperial morale reinstated.

The War Of Nightmares part 2 - Vigilus Wastelands

Points: 1000.

Deployment and Mission: Hammer And Anvil / Hidden Supplies.

Primary Objective: Take And Hold.

Detachment: Gladius Task Force.

Opponents Detachment: Slaves To Darkness.

During this battle, the Black Legion captured the Imperial fortification at Beggar's Canyon, a location at a crossroads between the major hivesprawls. After the end of the battle, legionnaire's advanced to positions which would give observation over the Rift Wardens positions, ready for a general attack. Black Legion attacks began soon after, and where then forced out by a Rift Warden counter-attack. The attack captured the space marine positions, in one of the biggest attacks by the Black Legion to date. The forces of Chaos were able to capture more ground and inflicted significant casualties upon the space marine defenders.

The War Of Nightmares part 1 - Vigilus Wastelands

Points: 1000.

Mission: Reconnaissance Mission.

Secondary Objectives: No Prisoners, Psychic Interrogation and Shock Tactics.

Opponent's Secondary Objectives: Despoil Dominions, Engage On All Fronts and No Prisoners.

With Abaddon finally taking to the battle field, the Imperial forces swiftly mobilized to halt his attacks. The various space marine chapters available split into three detachments under the command of Marneus Calgar. The Rift Wardens, under Arthurus, crossed the wastelands to the Halos Redoubt. In the wastelands, things started to go wrong. Sandstorms swept up across the deserts and the various chapters became separated and many vehicles became bogged down in the sand.

The Rift Wardens reached their position before dawn. After consolidating their position, the chapter pushed forward to engage the lead Black Legion vanguard. It was reported back to Calgar that surprise had been achieved. However, despite achieving surprise, Arthurus ordered his chapter to wait until other chapters were position before launching a full assault. He even ordered his stormtalons to fall back and await the order.

By the time Arthurus allowed the attack to continue, all hope of surprise was lost. As his tanks began their preparatory assault, Arthurus ordered his forces to attack the Black Legion along the left flank, although these were  now fully alert to the Imperial positions and manning a series of makeshift defences. By the time the main battle had started, over eight chapters had entered the engagement at this time.

Despite their missed opportunities, the fresh reinforcements, and entrenched Black Legions, by late in the day, the Rift Wardens were on the verge of a breakthrough. The chapter captured two lines of trenches but with no reinforcements to exploit this success they could do nothing but hold their gains. The Black Legion forces counter-attacked led by Abaddon himself, forcing the Rift Wardens to fall back in the evening. 

By the end of the first day the chapter had sustained a great number of casualties. The Rift Wardens were forced to fall back to a rendezvous position several miles back. 

The Battle of Darkhold Keep - Vigilus Wastelands

Points: 400.

Mission: Outriders (Solo Game).

Following their recent successes against the Black Legion, the Rift Warden moved against other enemy holdings in the wastelands. The advance was soon repulsed but the initial conflict was extremely successful. Under Arthurus' leadership, the Rift Wardens overwhelmed the Black Legion forces encountered. The fortress of Darkhold was the only Black Legion position that held out and was soon completely surrounded by the loyalist marines. The Rift Wardens were now in a position to threaten the Black Legion holdings in this part of the wastelands.

Darkhold Keep was protected by multiple trenchworks and miles of razor wire to ward off enemy attacks. Inside the fortress, the Black Legion held a garrison of some two hundred legionnaires and Khornate berserkers. For several days, the Rift Wardens bombarded the trenches and walls with whirlwind artillery strikes. As the death toll increased, the Black Legion marines sought to escape the confines and take the fight to the Imperial dogs!

Arthurus began the siege of the fortress with six companies of his battle brothers. After a brief artillery bombardment, ordered a full-scale assault on the fortress. For three days the Rift Wardens attacked and accomplished nothing at the cost of many fallen battle brothers.

Within a week, the Black Legion armies were pulling out of the area and moving towards Mortwald Hivesprawl. At this time, a second siege of Darkhold began. This time Arthurus decided not to launch any frontal assaults, but instead settled on pounding the fortress to rubble with whirlwinds. For the next few days, the fortress was blasted by ceaseless artillery fire until at last it collapsed killing or entombing the traitor marines forever.

Against The Despoiler - Vigilus Wastelands

Points: 400.

Mission: Incisive Attack (Solo Game).

With the arrival of the Vengeful Spirit in the skies above Vigilus, Arthurus' arrogance led him to declare that the Rift Wardens would be the ones to bring low the great despoiler. Gathering around him a small strike force, Arthurus led his battle brothers out into the wastelands on the hunt for the Black Legion.

With the Black Legion making planetfall in the wastelands, Arthurus main military objective was to seize control of one landing site to ensure that at least in one area, the Black Legion would be reduced in numbers. Within two days, Arthurus and his chapter had successfully captured their primary objective.

They had begun by utilising whirlwinds to shell the site prior to launching a direct assault. The small force encountered fire from Black Legionnaires who were entrenched in the ruins and on higher ground. As the engagement progressed, Rift Warden reinforcements arrived from Hyperia Hivesprawl and assistance in the assault. The Black Legion now came under increasing heavy fire and as the day wore on, the Rift Wardens launched a major assault into the survivours and the enemy were finally defeated. The initial campaign against the Black Legion was off to a good start.