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.

Operation: Frostfall - Vanaheim

Points: 585.

Deployment and Mission: Dawn Of War / Fog of War.

Primary Objective: Purge The Foe.

Detachment: Gladius Task Force.

Opponents Detachment: Gladius Task Force.

Operation: Frostfall was an attack by the Space Wolves against Rift Warden positions near the foothills of the Draakensgraab Mountains. At the time, a companies worth of Rift Wardens led by Chief Librarian Uther held those positions, while the oncoming Space Wolves had twice their number. The Space Wolves initially had some success but were soon forced back. The main attack began on the second day, breaking through the Rift Warden lines. The situation looked critical for the Rift Wardens, but the enemy assault was stopped by the arrival of an armoured tank force. The Space Wolves, unable at the this time to handle such a force, were reluctantly forced to fall back across the ice to their own defense positions. Operation: Frostfell was a failure.

Battle Of Revenant's Run - Vanaheim

Points: 1000.

Deployment and Mission: Dawn Of War / Chilling Rain.

Primary Objective: Purge The Foe.

Detachment: Anvil Siege Force..

Opponents Detachment: Champions Of Russ.

The battle of Revanant's Run was an early Rift Wardens operation against the Space Wolves. The first part of the offensive was intended to be strategically decisive by breaking through the Space Wolves defences within 48 hours, with casualties within expected norms. A preliminary attack was to be made by the force under Captain Lorgraine, to capture high ground and divert enemy reserves from the front lines. The main offensive was to be delivered by the larger force on the region known as Revenant's Run. A subsidiary attack was to be made by drop pod assault. The final stage of the offensive was to follow the meeting of the various forces, having broken through the Space Wolves lines, to pursue the defeated enemy forces.

The Rift Wardens attack was tactically successful as their did capture the Space Wolves defences before further attacks were repulsed. Lorgraine's force achieved the deepest advance since the engagement began, inflicting many casualties on the enemy space marines, attracted reserves and captured Revanant's Run. 

Fire and Ice - Vanaheim

Points: 1000.

Mission: Crossfire.

Secondary Objectives: Raise The Banners High, Shock Tactics and Slay The Warlord.

Opponent's Secondary Objectives: Attrition, Engage On All Fronts and Slay the Warlord.

The reason for the war between the Rift Wardens and Space Wolves has been lost to the ages. The archives of both chapters has been purged of this engagement and the lords of the two chapters will not speak of it. Even so, the war between the two chapters on the ice world of Vanaheim lasted for several months before both chapters departed leaving a blasted world in their wake.

Going into battle, the Space Wolves enjoyed two key advantages over the Rift Wardens: superior numbers and a better strategic position. Wolf Lord Danki Frostblade's force enjoyed a numerical advantage of two to one. On the morning of the first day, Danki's marines encountered the Rift Wardens under Captain Gwaine, near the town of Zakilov. At midday the Space Wolves engaged the Rift Wardens and secured a series of vital objectives. By the end of the first day, the Rift Wardens were driven back in disarray.

On day two, the Rift Wardens under Gwaine, tried to continue their advance south, unaware that Danki's forces were laying in wait for them. This second engagement lasted most of the day, well into the afternoon, when the Rift Wardens fell back to their staging area.