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.

Battle of the Trzeller Defence Line - Mortwald

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Tipping Point / High Octane.

Primary Objective: Terraform.

Detachment: Gladius Task Force.

Opponents Detachment: Infernal Lance.

Battle of the Trzeller Defence Line took place during the Vigilus crusade. It was fought along the length of the Trzeller Defence Line, a defensive line of fortifications that stretched out into the wastelands. The battle, lasting roughly twenty four hours, resulted in the complete destruction of the Imperial defenders, but at the same time the Rift Wardens halted the traitor Knight advance, preventing them from breaching the Mortwald walls.

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.

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 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.

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.

First Battle Of Mortwald - Vigilus Wastelands

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Dawn Of War / Minefields.

Primary Objective: Vital Ground.

Detachment: Anvil Siege Force.

Opponent's Detachment: Berzerker Warband.

The First Battle of Mortwald was fought over three days in the wastelands north of Mortwald Hivesprawl. The battle saw forces of the World Eaters advance to fill a gap in the Chaos lines that had formed north of Mortwald during the Imperial offensive there. This advance towards Mortwald was checked by the Rift Wardens short of the World Eater's objective, a spur of badlands overlooking the hive, and were subsequently counter-attacked by elements of the Rift Wardens led by Captain Lorgraine. These attacks were repulsed with heavy casualties, as the World Eaters blunted the Rift Wardens advance, which stabilized the Chaos lines. 

The fighting then largely moved south as the Imperial forces sought to consolidate their positions around the hive, preventing the traitor forces within the hive from being reinforced by the World Eaters.

Battle of Rejuvenus Fortress - Mortwald

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Dawn Of War / Chosen Battlefield.

Primary Objective: Vital Ground.

Detachment: Anvil Siege Force.

Opponent's Detachment: Traitoris Lance.

The battle of Rejuvenus Fortress was a Chaos operation in Mortwald, directed to capture the fortress at the heart of the sector. The operation was led by a maniple of Chaos Knights while other forces continued to battle Imperial forces in the surrounding streets. The storming of the fortress took place during a brief lull in the fighting. The operation resulted in the occupied fortress and the evacuation of the Rift Wardens. 

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.

Battle of Sector Theta 9 - Mortwald

Points: 1200.

Mission: Against The Swarm.

Detachment: Anvil Strike Force.

Opponents Detachment: Traitoris Lance.

Agendas: Head Hunters, Monstrous Targets and Priority Kill Zone.

Opponent's Agendas: Battlefield Survivours and Drive Home The Blade.

The Battle of Sector Theta 9 was the opening attack of a new Chaos assault on the Imperial defenders of Mortwald. Chaos marines, supported by House Vextrix on the flanks, attacked the Rift Warden positions, which defended the heart of Sector Theta 9. The forces of Chaos captured the outer districts with ease and they turned their attention inwards.

A phalanx of Chaos Knights marched into the center of District Theta 9, with three more in reserve behind them. They advanced from one district to another, slaughtering all in their way, and finally reached where the Imperial forces had built up a defensive position. A dark shadow fell across the streets, cutting the advancing war machines from view, just as the Rift Wardens counter-attacked. Meanwhile, the Astra Militarum fell back to higher positions although they suffered many casualties as they did so. The Rift Wardens found themselves locked into a deadly battle. One from which they could not, at this time, extricate themselves. 

A substantial amount of ground had been captured by the Chaos forces, except for some areas on the right flank, where Imperial resistance proved strong. A large number of casualties were inflicted on the Rift Wardens during the attack but they were able to regroup when chapter master Arthurus joined the fight, forcing the Chaos Knights back under his valiant attacks. For the next few days, bot sides made frequent attacks to improve their positions, much hampered by a constant barrage of heavy weapons fire. 

Finally, the Chaos Knights made a full on assault against the Imperial defence lines. At this time, Arthurus declared Sector Theta 9 lost to the enemy advance and pulled his battle brothers out. This proved a controversial act as it left the Astra Militarum defenders to be largely slaughtered by the Chaos forces.

Battle of Morvaal District - Mortwald

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Crucible Of Battle / Chilling Rain.

Primary Objective: Purge The Foe.

Detachment: Gladius Task Force.

Opponents Detachment: Berzerker Warband.

The battle of the Morvaal district was an attack during the defence of Mortwald by the Rift Wardens, where the chapter sought to dislodge a World Eaters force led by Lord Invocatus from the district. The main Rift Warden attack was postponed to combine with attacks by the Cadian 4445th regiment and several small detachments from other space marine forces in the hive.

The attack was to close up the enemy defences between three different sub-districts. The combined attack from the north was also intended to deprive the World Eaters from reinforcements, before the 4445th attacked.

The three targeted sub-districts were captured and many casualties inflicted on the World Eaters. The Cadian 4445th made slow progress however, due to collapsed hab-blocks and ruined structures blocking the streets on their planned route. The Rift Wardens moved north to allow the Cadians more room to deploy their forces but the great quantity of daemonic war engines limited the guardsmens advance. The Rift Wardens under the command of captain Lorgraine advanced deep into enemy territory and left the World Eaters in severe difficulties, particularly when it appeared that Invocatus had been slain.

Blood In The Streets - Mortwald

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Search And Destroy / Chosen Battlefield.

Primary Objective: Vital Ground.

Detachment:  Gladius Task Force.

Opponents Detachment: Berzerker Warband.

While the Rift Wardens engaged the Knights of House Vextrix to the south of the hivesprawl, the chapter was also forced to content with rampaging warbands of chaos marines. This particular force became a focus for the attention of the World Eaters and their master, Angron. As a critical element in the defence of Mortwald, captain Andred ordered that the streets be held at all costs. Three attempts were made but each was broken up by helbrutes or swept away under an onslaught of chain axes. Despite all attempts, the district was captured by the World Eaters and their activity began to decline for reasons unknown. Desolator squads was used to concentrate heavy missile fire against the approaches where the World Eaters were expected to come from. This bombardment was methodical and relentless. One such highway recieved such a concentration of fire that the Astra Militarum soldiers thereafter named it "Dead Man's Road". The Rift Wardens then brought up tanks and artillery in preparation for another counter-attack. 

When captain Lorgraine arrived, he cancelled the planned counter-attack, choosing to focus on a defensive posture, holding the line against the enemy. Under Angron's lordship, the World Eaters launched numerous attacks. Expecting the loyalists to increase their fire, the World Eaters refused to let up on the punishing assault. The Rift Warden defenders were soon cut down and their skulls raised in honour to the Blood God. Lorgaine and Andred led their survivours out of the district, and sought to regroup with the rest of the chapter.

The Walls Are Breached - Mortwald

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Search And Destroy / Targets Of Opportunity.

Primary Objective: Purge The Foe.

Detachment: Gladius Strike Force.

Opponent's Detachment: Traitoris Lance.

Having pushed through the Imperial lines outside Mortwald, House Vextrux smashed through the hivesprawl walls in six separate locations and strode into the city streets. The main force occupied the central highway and held it continually throughout the engagement. The lance's attack upon the defenders positions was postponed until night fell and the great rift hung heavy in the night sky. They then marched upon the positions held by the Rift Wardens. Due to some internal infighting among the Knights, this gave the space marines an opportunity to bolster their defences to some extent. Finally, House Vetrix strode down the streets and assaulted their positions.

House Vextrix' plan called for their forces to attack the Rift Warden defences from the south, advancing in three stages about thirty minutes apart, while further Vextrix forces encircled and came in from the north to attack the Rift Wardens from behind. This initial attack from the north was repulsed however. The preparation for the attack involved a through bombardment with heavy cannons and this lasted for several hours. Small Karnivores and other lesser Knights then crept into no man's land under cover of this devastating fire, and then rushed the space marine trenches. The first stage then assaulted from the south.

The second stage saw Vextrix advance to the edge of the defenders positions, stalking through what remained of fallen hab blocks. The weary Rift Wardens fell back unable to handle the constant hail of fire. The Knights had intended to push further into the city but this was halted by strong resistance from the Rift Wardens in dugouts and armed with heavy weapons, and partly the confusion of rubble caused by collapsing buildings. After hours of constant warfare had reduced one sector to a field of craters, it became virtually impossible to distinguish where the battle lines were.

Battle of the Deinos Trenchworks - Mortwald

Points: 1500.

Mission: Data Scry-Salvage.

Secondary Objectives: Bring It Down, Engage On All Fronts and No Prisoners..

Opponent's Secondary Objectives: Engage On All Fronts, Grind Them Down and Raise The Banners High.

The Astra Militarum forces attempting to defend the outer defences of Mortwald request desperate aid as their lines were being overrun by forces of the Iron Warriors. Despite waging a war of attrition against the traitor forces already within the city walls, a detachment was dispatched to aid in the fight against the Rift Warden's mortal enemy. Lieutenant Aurellius was placed in charge and upon reaching the Deinos Trenchworks he immediately abandoned any idea of a major offensive feeling that such a course of action would come at too great a cost. Instead, he intended to secure the defences and maintain a strong link back to his battle brothers on the walls of the hive city.

To achieve this, the space marines would need to capture portions of the trench works currently held by the enemy. The plan was to attack the Iron Warriors with everything at his disposal while the Astra Militarum fought to keep further enemy reinforcements arriving to bolster their numbers. As with most Rift Warden attacks the initial attack was impressive but achieved little. The trenchworks were obscured by mist and smoke from the battle, while the Iron Warriors had ample opportunity to prepare for the Rift Wardens arrival.

One detachment attempted to capture the trenches with a determined assault but the attack collapsed as they were confronted by strong-point and artillery fire. As a consequence when the main force arrived they found themselves under heavy fire from obliterators higher up the trenches who were all too accurate with their attacks, The Rift Wardens retreated, still pouring bolter fire into the enemy positions.

As evening began to fall, Aurellius led his battle brothers forward, scouting out into the desert wastes in an attempt to out flank the Iron Warrior positions. By this time the air was thick with mist and smoke from the battle so they had little idea of where the enemy was located. Unfortunately, the marines ended up being easy targets for the obliterators and enemy tanks. The advance was halted and the space marines went to ground in the ash dunes. The battle to dislodge the Iron Warriors was going to be harder than first imagined.

The First Battle of Djodrolev Hivestar - Mortwald

Points: 2000.

Mission: Conversion.

Secondary Objectives: Engage On All Fronts, No Prisoners and Raise The Banners High.

Opponent's Secondary Objectives: Despoiled Ground, Fleeing Vectors and Spread The Sickness.

The approach towards the Rift Wardens command base within Mortwald was made through the twisting confines of the narrow hive streets. The Rift Wardens had outposts at three surrounding and protecting the approaches to their base of operations. There was a four outpost to the far north otherwise isolated from easy reinforcement. All of these would need to be cleared by the Death Guard vanguard before the main assault could proceed forward. 

In a swift operation, the Death Guard cleared the four outposts with relative ease. Fighting was heavy as the Rift Wardens had fortified their positions and occupied with heavy intercessors, providing superior firepower against the attackers. The Death Guard were victorious but the fight had left them running behind schedule and the main command base had been alerted.

Three companies of plague marines with daemon engine support advanced through the hive, reaching their designated positions as night gave way to dawn. This put them roughly 500 yards from the Rift Wardens. The fourth company became lost in the sprawling hive streets and never arrived. 

The attack was the main element in a wider offensive against Imperial positions in the Hive. As the sun rose over the city walls, the Death Guard charged into the incoming defensive fire. The battle was brutal and both sides took huge casualties. Victory went to the servants of the plague god.

Battle of New Vitae Docks - Mortwald

Points: 2000.

Mission: Tear Down Their Icons.

Secondary Objectives: Bring It Down, Engage On All Fronts and Raise The Banners High.

Opponent's Secondary Objectives: Behind Enemy Lines, Exalt The Dark Gods and Warp Ritual.

The battle of New Vitae Docks was a Rift Wardens counter-attack against the Word Bearers occupying the site. New Vitae Docks was positioned on the eastern side of the hive sprawl. A large portion of the Rift Wardens had withdrawn to this position following frequent attacks by the Word Bearers and their daemon engines. Following the traitor marine assaults at Electros Hive, the Rift Wardens withdrew to the eastern walls. This allowed the Word Bearers to occupy New Vitae Docks unopposed. 

With the Word Bearers capturing territory this prompted a Rift Warden counter-attack to retake the docks. The chapter's librarians flooded the aether with psychic interference to impede enemy communications. The Word Bearers constructed a ring of defences around their forward positions. The Rift Wardens force of company strength attacked and was repelled after suffering significant casualties.

The space marine assault was conducted simultaneously on two enemy held positions. The Word Bearers has constructed numerous entrenchments and fortifications in preparation for the  Rift Wardens attack. A number of infantry assaults against the Word Bearers positions were carried out but each failed and after which the chapter withdrew.

The result of the battle was a successful Word Bearers defence in the region around the docks.It consolidated chaos marine control in the region and allowed further pushes towards the interior of the hive sprawl. Following this battle, Arthurus requested Imperial command that his chapter stop being spread so thin across the warzones of Vigilus as the chapter was suffering untenable losses fighting multiple opponents on multiple fronts.

Second Battle of Electros Hive - Mortwald

Points: 1500.

Mission: Tide of Conviction.

Secondary Objectives: Assassination, Retrieve Nephilim Data and Shock Assault.

Opponent's Secondary Objectives: Exalt The Dark Gods, Rise To Glory and Warp Ritual.

Chapter Master Arthurus ordered the streets of Electros Hive swept for enemy forces. During the sweeping, Lieutenant Agrippa, began the unopposed landing of fresh battle brothers in two groups. One at the ruptured gates of the Hive where the Astra Militarum fought to contain the enemy. And the other deep within the Hive close where they last engaged the Word Bearers. By evening of the next day, the Rift Wardens had deployed almost their entire chapter to the Hive, bar the scouts who were occupied fighting out in the wastelands. By noon on the third day, Arthurus ordered his chapter to march on the enemy positions. Well concealed defenders quickly broke up the advance. The fighting soon turned into skirmishing among the ruins and bitter street fighting. Agrippa, leading several squads of Eliminators, made good progress, capturing several vital locations. But by then, the advance had been stopped. The Word Bearers had scattered and isolated many Intercessor squads, and those marines were soon forced to fall back and regroup, giving up ground hard fought for.

A host of cultists loyal to the Word Bearers soon arrived and although not a major threat, their presence gave the traitor marines an increase in massed small arms fire. The Word Bearers commander attempted to envelop the Rift Warden squads, launching brutal assaults into the loyalists as they fell back. At least three hundred battle brothers were slain during this phase of the engagement.

The Walls of Mortwald - Mortwald

Points: 1500.

Mission: Death And Zeal.

Secondary Objectives: Bring It Down, Engage On All Fronts and Retrieve Nephilim Data.

Opponent's Secondary Objectives: A Fitting Challenge, Grind Them Down and Ruthless Tyranny.

On this occasion, a force of Chaos Knights arrived at the outer walls of Mortwald in response to the heretic astartes breaching those same walls to occupy parts of the city. Despite a strong Astra Militarum presence who sought to stop them, the Knights breached the walls and proceeded to disperse, occupying multiple city districts, as more of their number were detected on the horizon. With their arrival, the breach in the walls were isolated and vulnerable to attack by the titanic walkers.

The Rift Wardens were hurriedly dispatched to reinforce the beleaguered defenders. Three companies supported by tanks and dreadnoughts entered the battle that now spread through the streets. The Knights immediately turned their attention to the space marines and the savagery of their counter-assault surprised even the space marines.

The defenders began engaging the smaller karnivores that stalked the empty streets when the larger knights appeared from the southwest. As night fell and the great rift became visible in the night sky, fighting intensified with the enemy reinforcements. Enjoying their supremacy over the ground troops they faced, the Chaos Knights struck the flanks of the Rift Wardens, who had lost the capacity of breaking away from the engagement. They did achieve several small victories but the Rift Wardens and the depleted Astra Militarum forces were soon scattered.

By morning, the Chaos Knights attempted a second assault but were forced to retreat after a handful of loyalist knights arrived to bolster the defenders and were able to take down several of the larger enemy walkers. This unexpected aid allowed the Rift Wardens and surviving guardsmen to retreat to safer ground, leaving more of Mortwald in enemy hands.

Battle of Electros Hive - Mortwald

Points: 1500.

Mission: Data Scry Salvage.

Secondary Objectives: Assassination, Grind Them Down and Retrieve Nephilim Data.

Opponent's Secondary Objectives: Exalt The Dark Gods, Rise To Glory and Warp Ritual.

When the invading forces of Chaos turned to face the Imperial forces, they held one of the most important locations on Vigilus. Mortwild Hivesprawl was the primary food source for the population on Vigilus. Unless the hive was recovered then the billions would starve to death. A force of Word Bearers settled themselves in the path of the Rift Wardens within a blasted collection of ruins covering an advance where the space marines had little concealment. The Word Bearers commanded a wide field of fire.

Under the cover of dense smoke from burning buildings, most of the Rift Wardens advance force approached the Word Bearers position. Contact was soon established with the enemy, and the Rift Wardens made negligible progress beyond this position. Under the cover of thick smoke, a small force led by Arthurus himself, advanced through narrow streets up to the traitor's position. When the Word Bearers detected their approach, the Rift Wardens were mercilessly raked by massed firepower. The main Rift Wardens force fared little better.

It soon became clear that neither side could budge the other and since neother chose to retreat, the impasse hardened into a stalemate, that would lock the two antagonists into a relatively narrow stretch for the next four weeks. Arthurus ordered his battle brothers to to entrench as much as possible within the ruins. The marines dug in and prepared for a lengthy siege. 

Siege warfare was an unexpected option for the Word Bearers who preferred a more straight forward battle plan, but they adapted quickly. They used powerful daemon engines to unleash a constant stream of firepower into the Rift Wardens location to both hold them in place and to inflict heavy casualties.

The early loss of their dreadnoughts and tanks handicapped the Rift Wardens. Only some relic deimos pattern predators were powerful enough to shell the enemy positions and they proved inferior to the daemon engines. Reinforcements were requested and rushed to their side but for now the two forces were locked into their stalemate.