Five Armies Campaign: Dark Angels Librarius versus Windrider Host

Mission: Big Guns Never Tire
Hammer and Anvil



Battle was joined between the two Psyker-heavy armies, with the Eldar - as usual - winning the initiative and going first.

The Eldar sought to use the ruined remains of an industrial complex to close unseen on the Imperial forces, but were unable to inflict any serious damage upon them (due to the shielding they enjoyed, and a poor run of shots - a plague that would bedevil their efforts all through the battle).

The Dark Angels - supported by an Imperial Knight Crusader - were able to score first blood by knocking out one of the Eldar Falcons (thereby establishing an early lead)...

However, the Eldar were now able to reap the rewards of their careful advance, firstly by calling on the assistance of a squadron of Crimson Hunters (which established a vice-like hold over the skies) and secondly by assaulting the Crusader with their Seer Council, reducing the Knight to a single HP.

The Council's failure to finish off the Knight would, however, prove to be decisive; for the Librarius, embedded within a squad of Ravenwing Black Knights, now countered its efforts. The Crusader was protected by an Invisibility spell (as were the Librarius and attached Black Knights), and the Seer Council was gradually whittled down - with the Eldar warlord being the last to die.

Still, the tide of battle seemed to favour the Eldar. The Crimson Hunters were able to eliminate two Razorbacks and the Tactical Squads that had been embarked upon them; a lucky shot finally eliminated the invisible Crusader; and the expected late charge of Eldar jet-bikers threatened to wrest victory by stealing control of the key mission objectives that the Angels had sought to defend.

However, freed from the melee against the Council, the surviving Librarians and Black Knights exacted a terrible revenge upon the insidious Eldar. With Psychic mastery now effectively in their grasp, the Angel Librarians Terrified and Shrieked their way through the flimsy jetbike units, denying the Eldar the ability to hold the mission objectives needed for victory. Instead, the last surviving Librarian rode through a hail of fire to seize a crucial objective, decisively regaining the initiative for the Imperium.

The coup de grace was delivered by the Black Knights, who intercepted and destroyed the second Falcon, seizing a second objective in the process. The Crimson Hunters continued to circle - but for once, mastery of the sky was not enough to turn the battle their way. The Angels carried the day, and dedicated their victory to the slain Grand Master of Librarians, Ezekiel - whose body was spirited away for, ahh, sacred ministrations aboard the Rock.

Dark Angels 6 - First Blood, Slay the Warlord, 2 Heavies, 2 Objectives

Eldar 3 - 2 Objectives, Linebreaker

For the Lion!