--------------
Interlude
--------------
"Tarnation, Harker!" bellowed Colonel "Iron Hand" Straken, pulling a pair of warn Magna-Goggles from his eyes. "How did those Xenos get a glowing bone-door out here without anyone seeing anything?! Are our scouts blind?!"
Sergeant Harker scratched his head with the edge of his Catachan knife, "Dunno, Colonel. Looks like Xeno-tricks to me."
Straken growled, "Tricks. Eldar tricks. Well, let's see them out-trick a Storm-Eagle Rocket."
The Colonel gestured and the ground shuddered as three enormous rocket-laden tanks rolled into position. Manticores. One of the most deadly weapons ever devised by the Imperium, armed with specialized Rockets that (especially in the hands of the Catachan), could tear an entire fortress asunder.
Hoots and hollers broke out amongst the mass-swarm of burly-armed men around the officers. A great mob of Catachan warriors were ready for a fight, betting on how many pointy-ears they would be able to string up on the barrack's wall.
Straken nodded. The Eldar had to come to them. They were good at running away. Now that they had real men to fight, the spindly-armed freaks would fold faster than a Cadian on hot chili night. All they had to do was wait...
---------------------------------------------------------------------
"By Khaine's blood, Lady Lennara, that's... a lot of Mon-Keigh."
Warlock Belgen held the holo of the horde of Imperial Guard nearly surrounding the Webway Portal. Although they were racing at top speed towards their objective, it was clear that the Imperials had made it there first.
"Belgen, you worry too much," chuckled Lady Lennara, her crimson hair fluttering in the breeze. "The Mon-Keigh may outnumber us, but we will win the day, even if some of us may not live to see the end."
"A pity, that," came to the minds of both Saim-Hann Eldar.
Lennara frowned, for it was the familiar, but grating tone of Farseer Dunkas.
"Indeed a pity that more of the dying race must be sacrificed due to the poor planning of Saim-Hann," continued the Farseer. "Perhaps it is a sign that we should turn back from this foolish endeavor..."
"Dying? Yes, Dunkas," growled Lennara, "But not yet dead. And let us not compare our numbers to the vermin of the Mon-Keigh. Do you know that that in a mere hundreth of our gestation time, they can ferment out a half-dozen of their ilk? How could we possibly keep up with that?"
The Farseer intoned, "One would think that if more of our kind knew it best when to procreate then..."
"Oh, yes, yes, let us speak of that," interrupted the Autarch, "Because truly the enormity of gestation and the responsibility of the next generation should fall on the shoulders of a single parent, let alone the mind-bending trauma of the birthing time itself. Can you even conceive of such torment? Such..."
"Pardon me," whispered Belgen, "But... We've arrived."
Lennara twisted her head to the side and Belgen released a breath he didn't realize that he had been holding. Perhaps it was true: The greatest threat to the Aeldari were themselves. Belgen was just hoping he wouldn't be there when things fell out.
----------------------------------------------------
------------------
Turn 1: Eldar
------------------
There was a flicker of light in the dawning sun as the brightly coloured Jetbike duo raced into view, lead within a hand's breath by two equally fast Wave Serpents. By human standards, such a feat would have brought out gasps of surprise for such a feat of skill, but by Eldar standards it was a sub-par effort driven on by a sense of desperation.
"Autarch," gasped Warlock Belgen, "The Mon-Keigh have infiltrated the ruin. They are within striking range of the Webway Portal!"
Lady Lennara nodded, "Good, then we have them right where we want them. Dunkas, do you still run with that pack of Guardians you bring around everywhere?"
There was a pause before the reply came back telepathically.
"Yes," said Farseer Dunkas, "The Guardians are there as my rear-guard, carefully secreted away in the Webway. Why do you..."
"Excellent," interjected the Autarch, "Tell your basket-weavers to get their shuriken throwers ready. They're going to have a new set of orders..."
---------------------------------------------------------------
Thankfully, I have first turn, so I might as well make the most of it.
I move the Wave Serpents up the right flank keeping the Jetbikes between them.
I open up the Webway and take out the big pack of Guardians, who look menacingly at the center. One Swooping Hawk unit comes down, dropping grenades on the far right flank of Guardsmen.
Psychic phase has Quicken go off on the Guardians, who go pretty much all up the center, getting nicely within range of threatening the entire center.
Shooting has Lennara "threading the needle" and dropping a Reaper Cannot shot between the eyes of Harker in the backfield (that Eldar Warlord trait is great), dropping the big man and gaining me First Blood.
The Wave Serpents open up and take down one Sentinel and the Hawks chip away the right flank as the Rangers do some wounds, most importantly nearly killing the Astropath who is right next to the Lemun Russ.
The Guardians fire on the center-most Infantry squad just behind the screen they are facing, felling it with more than 2 dozen wounds (!).
Then to assaults: The Guardians declare a charge on the Astropath and the Infantry squads in front of them. My opponent declares Grenadiers strategem, but I declare back Celestial Shields. So its mass frag grenades vs 4++ shield, which in the end means I take hardly any damage going in. I chew apart the last of the right-most Infantry squad, down the Astropath and surround the Infantry squad that is knocked down to about half. The beleagured Guardsmen hit back, but I've got a big squad left that most importantly consolidates into the Lemun Russ and both Sentinels, basically stalling the entire forward advance.
Picture Caption: Release the GUARDIANS! . .. ... Wait, what?
-----------------------
Turn 1: Imperial Guard
-----------------------
"What... the?" sputtered Straken, his cigar flying from between his lips in surprise. "The damnable Eldar are assaulting? Inconceivable!"
"Harker!" continued the Colonel. "Harker!"
When no response came, Straken threw a glance back at the window his Sergeant was standing behind to see a massive chasm still sparking with Xenos energy.
"Damnation!" growled the Colonel, "Do I have to do everything myself? Catachans! Ready your Fangs! Let's show those Xenos how to do this right!"
--------------------------------------------------------------
Bellowing about how he has to do everything himself, Straken moves the rest of Infantry squads up with himself and the Priest.
The Stormtroopers deep strike in, but are out of 12" due to the Guardians and Rangers from my Serpents.
Psychic phase has a +1 save go on the Lemun Russ, who, with the Sentinels, fall back out of combat.
Sadly, the surrounded Infantry squad keeps the Guardians locked in combat, but that doesn't deter Straken, who orders Fix Bayonets, so the Guardsmen get a bonus fight phase (!), this time with Priest and Straken support. They do some damage, but not enough to really put a big dent in the Guardians.
Shooting has the Stormtroopers fire at the nearest Wave Serpent, but as they're not within 12", even with orders their damage is rather limited. The Manticores then open up, but I bring out Lightning Reflexes (a great 2 CP strategem) that gives the already -1 to hit Serpents a bonus to -2... Needless to say, the Manticores are forced to switch targets with one basically wasting it's payload. The other two fire on the second Serpent, but thanks to the Wave Serpent shield, the tank takes only minor damage. Some shooting is thrown the Hawk's way, but they get by fairly ok as most of the Mortars moved up with their squads.
Everything is looking pretty rosy for the Eldar... until the Assault phase.
Basically all of the Infantry (including Straken) pile in on the Guardians and wipe them out pretty much to a space elf. I decide not to pay for the morale check and off they go...
------------------------------
Turn 2: Eldar
------------------------------
Warlock Belgen cried out in alarm as he swung his Jetbike to a stop. The Guardian assault had seemed reckless to begin with, but now the Mon-Keigh had fallen upon them and the Craftworlders had fallen apart like a shattered Soul Stone.
Clearly, they were in dire straits. Belgen thought for a moment about retreating, then heard a haughty laugh.
He twisted in his saddle to see Lady Lennara readying her Laser Lance, a smile across her lips.
"Dunkas!" laughed the Autarch, "Get out here with your skull-faced handmaidens. They took the bait! Soften things up so I can get stuck in!"
Belgen saw the Wave Serpents ramps swing open and Farseer Dunkas tramped down with a mixture of irritation and defiance.
"Very well Lennara," intoned the Farseer, "But know that I do this for the good of all Aeldari, not just for your personal glory-seeking."
The Farseer gestured and mystic runes floated in the air. Belgen gasped as he saw one of the most complicated Rune-weavings he had ever seen. He had read about it, but to see such work done in an almost casual way was almost unbelievable. But, Belgen knew what it was: DOOM.
The Mon-Keigh tank barely knew what hit it as fusillades of Dark Reaper fire tore it nearly asunder, once powerful armor folding like so much paper.
Dunkas nodded to himself, self-satisfied, then growled as he heard a familiar, but still-annoying polite cough.
He turned his head to see Lady Lennara waiting with mock patience, twirling her Lance in the air.
"It's not polite to make a Lady wait, Dunkas. Surely you aren't having... performance issues?"
In response, the Farseer traced a violent rain of runes that culminated in an explosion of lighting that tore into the Mon-Keigh nestled in the ruins, tearing them off their feet.
"Thank you," bowed Lennara mockingly, before charging into the fray.
Dunkas was about to respond, then watched in surprise as Lennara pitched her craft forward, letting momentum carry herself over the crowd of armored Mon-Keigh. Before landing, she let go a fusillade of nearly impossible shots, each hitting their target and felling each Imperial as easily as waving a hand. In the same motion, she landed and skewered a quartet of the black-clad Mon-Keigh in a single run of her lance, knocking them prone and leaving only a single survivor.
The Mon-Keigh stumbled to his feet, trying to train his Laspistol on the blur of motion and death before him. It swung at the Autarch, who batted the blow away as if admonishing a child. There was another blur and the Lance was at the throat of the Stormtrooper, who winced, waiting for the killing blow... that didn't come.
"Mon-Keigh, I give you your life, for you are the lone survivor who will tell all that this day was won by the mighty Autarch, Lady Lennara. Now remember that name well, for this day will be burned into your mind for the rest of your short life..."
---------------------------------------------------------
As my opponent is still stuck in the center away from the Relic and out in the open, it's time to press the advantage!
I unload both Serpents and then swing the hover tanks further to the right. The Hawks move up. Lennara moves up to the Relic and the Warlock moves to the right with the tanks.
I bring the other Hawks in on the left flank and the Spears on the right from the Webway.
Quickness goes out on the Spears, who get a bonus move with advance and dive in behind the Manticores. Jinx and Doom hit the Lemun Russ. A casual smite also hits some of the Stormtroopers, whittling down some of the closest squad.
Shooting is pretty brutal, with the Dark Reapers earning their fill, nearly destroying the Russ and taking out an Infantry squad with their Tempest Launchers. More shooting from the Serpents piles in on the Sentinels destoying one. The Rangers put the Priest down. The Hawks pummel more infantry squads, leaving just one left at full strength! The Spears heavily damage one of the Manicores. Lennara shoots down the Tempestus Prime and takes apart the remainder of the heavily damaged Tempestus Command Squad.
In assault, the Autarch hits the last Stormtrooper squad, killing 4 and the last legs it (pretty wisely so). The Hawks tie up the Infantry squad in the back pushing them back against the Manticores. And the Spears (thanks to the Saim-Hann Strategem) hit the damaged Manticore, killing it and then consolidating into the tanks next to them.
Picture Caption: Wow Eldar. Just wow. Lennara just wiped out basically all of the Stormtroopers by herself??
-------------------------
Turn 2: Imperial Guard
-------------------------
Private Sanders licked his lips from high atop his Sentinel. Things were getting messy now. The Xenos had come for a fight and things were blowing up on all sides. Not the bloody noses and easy victory that had all assumed, but a good fight was a good fight none-the-less. Then, he saw opportunity come his way.
The Xenos general, a woman of all things, glided in front of him, killing nearly all of the Stormtroopers with ease. Sanders almost felt bad for the kill-stealing Silver-spooners, but now it was his time to strike. Taking down the leader of a whole pack of Eldar would earn him bragging rights and maybe a promotion or two.
Howling, he charged forwards, spewing out flame from his Heavy Flamer and flailing wildly with his Sentinel's feet. He hit something hard and then paused, trying to hear the Xenos' death wails. Instead, he heard something else odd: Laughter.
Lady Lennara rose out of the smoke and ash, throwing aside the Sentinel with a casual gesture of her Lance and swung out at the cockpit, making the machine dance back lest it be cut in twain.
Sanders licked his lips again and began trying to circle the damnable alien, who was wearing some kind of glowing cape that made his eyes water. He could swear... no, thing was mocking him, gesturing for him to come get some.
Well, get some he would...
---------------------------------------------------
Straken decides that he needs to basically, yes, do everything himself again.
He orders Move, Move, Move on the last Infantry squad, who moves into the ruin with the relic. The Sentinel moves up to challenge Lennara.
Straken tries to move up towards the Hawks, but he's a bit out of range.
Shooting has the Sentinel try to hurt the Autarch, but fails. The really damaged Lemun Russ fails to hit anything. The Primaris fails to get his power off.
Assault has the Sentinel try to hurt Lenna, but no damage is really done either way. The Spears, Hawks, and the IG they're fighting trade blows, but they're still stuck in.
Picture Caption: Man, things are getting ugly!
------------------------
Turn 3: Eldar
------------------------
The Autarch moves back and the Eldar move a bit towards the remains of the IG.
Shooting has the Sentinel go down and a big chunk of the last IG squad goes down thanks to the combo of Doom and Jinx again even with the IG Take Cover strategem.
The Lemun Russ also falls. The Hawks and Rangers take out the Primaris.
Assault has not much being done again.
------------------------
Turn 3: IG
------------------------
Straken moves to the back and gives off orders, trying to take out the last of the Hawks. The very few remaining Guard finally do a number on the Hawks and whittle them down severely. The remaining Hawks flee.
-----------------------
Turn 4: Eldar
----------------------
The Wave Serpents that I have been sneaking up the backfield take their opportunity and dive into the fight, shooting down the last of the Infantry in the back and then lock up the Manticores.
I shoot at Straken with basically my entire army and even with the IG Take Cover Strategem, the Iron Hand finally falls.
-------------------------
Turn 4: IG
-------------------------
With only Manticores left that are locked up perpetually forever, my opponent concedes.
-------------------------------------------------
---------------------
Result: Eldar Victory!
-----------------------
Post-Game Notes: Well, that was pretty brutal. It looked much more straightforward than it felt, as the Eldar felt very fragile once you came to blows with them, but really hard to hurt at range and so very mobile with their AMAZING firepower.
So... let's do this proper.
Autarch Lennara: A+
Really, she held the game together and took the center pretty much by herself. The combo of Reaper Launcher, able to target Characters Warlord trait and enough Weaponry to give a Lemun Russ pause makes her so very deadly on a mobile platform that basically never misses. The Saim-Hann trait makes her fire with no penalties and I can be extra cheeky and have her assault after an advance if I want to.
Farseer: A
Not as in-you-face stellar, but wow is Doom amazing. Done well, you never really expose yourself and the Eldar army with it's powerful but not really high rate of fire loves this power. Just great support all-around.
Warlock/Spiritseer: A-
Very good and provided much needed abilities.
Quickness basically is god-like for it's ability to let you reposition basically whenever and wherever you want and get assaults and penetrate screens like nobody's business. Oh, and Jinx is quite good and making even really defended enemies fall down. It's just that their low wounds makes them feel dangerous for perils, so I was lucky that I didn't need to spend a boatload of CPs to make sure their powers went off.
Rangers: B
Not amazing, but they provided much needed drop defense and added shots to take down damaged enemies. My opponent basically never shot at them as they were -2 to hit almost all the time and didn't threaten anything at the moment.
Guardians: A
Yeah, these guys are gold. Being able to drop in a big blob and then move them forward to mess up screens and hold a pivitol point is really what the Eldar need.
They don't hurt anything REALLY bad in assault, but they are hard to hurt with Guardian Shield and just need a massive amount of removal, thus holding up the advance of your opponent. And in an army that really can't take too many shots to the face and keep ticking, the Eldar need that advantage to keep flying around and doing damage.
Wave Serpents: A
My... goodness. Wave Serpent shield knocks down damage by 1 and are -1 to hit with more than a dozen wounds? Yeah, I'd say they're pretty good. Mobile bunkers that hit with a bit of a punch and aren't overly priced for what they do. Really great overall.
Dark Reapers: A+
Ok, yes. Reapers do what they do best: Kill things. Big things with the Launchers and small things with the Tempest Launchers. Bolstered with Doom and Jinx, they just erase units or cripple them, which is just what the Eldar need. Perhaps a bit OP, but man are they powerful.
Shining Spears: B+
Not the most killy, but they can take out a tank and are just sturdy enough to stay stuck in and can go to those hard to reach places and keep the hurt on. My opponent couldn't believe how fast they were and the Saim-Hann trait basically lets them charge anything they please.
Swooping Hawks: B
Not bad, but they do whittle down their points in Guardsmen easily and can be annoying in assault. I liked them, but they were good speedbumps for their points and were great for finding those moments to hit a weak flank. If my opponent had say... medium or heavy infantry, I think it would have been much worse for me.
-------------------------------------------------------
----------------
Epilogue
----------------
Farseer Dunkas sighed, watching the last of the Mon-Keigh fade out of view. The Webway Portal had been secured and all of the survivors and the injured were safely stowed away. Now it was time to have it out.
Wheeling around on a heel, the Altioic leader marched forwards, tracking the familiar laughter that was filling the air. There, nestled with her other crimson-clad fellows was Lady Lennara, clad in sweat and sharing libations that were clearly unnecessary.
The Autarch looked up with grin.
"Dunkas. I see you found me. How did you like our first victory?"
"Victory?" spat out the Farseer, "You call that a victory? I call it a needless waste of life. Aeldari life lost for what? A mere distraction? The Imperium will take the planet back in a matter of hours. We gained nothing here."
With a sigh, Lady Lennara rose to her feet. "Dunkas, Dunkas, Dunkas. You haven't changed. Don't you realize that we did more than just exterminate some Mon-Keigh? We showed them the might of our people. I... We proved the honour and pride of the Craftworlds were more than just stories told to scared children. Look at your people, Dunkas. Can't you see that they loved it just as much as I did? As much as... you did?"
The Farseer was about to respond when he heard something. Something odd, yet vaguely familiar. From all around him, the Craftworlders were singing. The old songs. Songs of victory. Songs of... hope. Perhaps there was truth to Lennara's words. Some truth at least.
"Come on, Dunkas," said Lennara, looking up at him with a smile, "Have a drink with us. I've brought the good stuff."
Something about the whole situation pulled at Dunkas. He shouldn't do it. He should be the puritanical symbol of his Craftworld. He should... have been a better husband. A better father... Perhaps it was not too late.
With a gesture, the Farseer removed his helm, and let his raven hair fall around his shoulders. Lennara clapped with girlish glee and handed him a cup. Dunkas took a sip and was genuinely surprised when Lennara took the opportunity to tilt his head towards hers and the two looked into each other's eyes.
It was hard to say from those watching who kissed the other first, but all who stood near knew one thing: This would be the beginning of something amazing.
---------------------------------------------
