40K Crusade - The Neltharion Schism - Narrative Campaign - Chapter 1

The Neltharion Schism

Welcome to the very first Blog Post covering a 40k Crusade ‘gathering’ I have named The Neltharion Schism. This is not a true campaign, or ‘tale of painters’ style event as I instead wanted to gather together a group of friends who were interested in playing the new Crusade system. So, with this in mind, there is no requirement to paint models or play games at all, people taking part are free to play as many or as few games as they wish and paint whatever appeals (or simply use a fully painted army). This also means players are free to switch armies if needed, they simply start with a blank slate.

I feel the Crusade system allows this freedom, while encouraging different aspects of the hobby by the strength of the rules presented in the new 40k Rulebook.

I will be putting together a monthly blog which will develop the overall background story to the conflict and will be influenced by the Narrative actions of the players taking part. The monthly blog will also include updates on how each players Crusade force develops, and I will share photos of newly painted model, games, terrain – whatever the players produce.

My hope is that this inspires other readers to start their own Crusades while also keeping a record of the memorable events created by the players taking part.

As I am writing this quick introduction, I am already incredibly pleased as numerous players have provided a piece of lore behind their army - this was not a requirement and has happened naturally!

We are also running this alongside the Ashes of the Imperium Podcast’s #KeepCalmandCrusadeOn initiative on Twitter, so make sure to follow the hashtag and our Twitter for plenty of updates over the coming months.

Until next time,

Matt

Chapter 1

Starships drift in space like puppets with no strings. Klaxons and all manner of alien warning systems blare on spacecraft unfortunate to be caught by the gravity wells of planets as they fall to their doom, or collide spectacularly with other vessels.

In less than 10 cycles the twin core worlds of the Neltharion system had fallen silent and the Imperial rule in the system had begun to dramatically deteriorate as Xenos, Rebels, and Insurrectionists rose to claim power. Cities burned.

Finally, without warning, a spatial anomaly rippled across the sector. Almost every form of sentient life or piece of technology caught in the anomaly’s wake ceased to function, soldiers collapsed to the ground like dead weights at the same moment their weapons ceased to fire.

Your forces have either survived the anomaly by some small miracle, or you have arrived in-system just after the event. Whatever your circumstances, you recognize the opportunity now presented.

The stage is set, now play your part.

 

Matt Darkins

Army: Astra Militarum

Faction: Unknown

Warlord: Lord Van de Vuth - lord commissar of Cadia

Lore

Stuck on a desert planet when it exploded. Veterans back for vengeance and to slaughter any mother f£&ker ok their way.

HQ

Lord Van de Vuth - lord commissar of Cadia [PL: 4]

Tank Commander [PL: 12]

TROOPS

Infantry squad x 10 [PL: 3]

Infantry squad x 10 [PL: 3]

ELITES

Command Squad x 4 [PL: 2]

Bullgryns x 3 [PL: 7]

HEAVYSUPPORT

Leman Russ Battle Tank [PL: 10]

Heavy Weapons Squad [PL: 3]

TRANSPORT

Chimera [PL: 6]

 

James

Army: Angel's of Hera

Faction: Space Marines (Salamanders Successor, Master Artisan & Stealthy)

Warlord: Captain Malcom Reynolds

Lore

So this is it........months of grueling fighting, wave after wave crashed against our walls and  still we stand.  I swear last night I saw Lord Commissar Van Der Vugh stood atop the gigantic gates screaming orders and firing his Las pistol into the dark before being dragged back by his men as the order to retreat into the inner sanctum rang across the battle field.

So this is it.....rations are gone. Maybe 200 men held up in this monument  to the god king. Untold hordes of horrors outside the doors. The screams...oh the screams....

So this is it....the place where we cry for the Emperor one last time, one last charge. For what? All we know is war.

Suddenly silence. The only way I thought I'd ever hear defending silence again would be in death.  Was this some sort of chaos trick, some unholy rule of the warp to lure us out?

So this is it... bolter fire erupts in the distance, the sound of chainswords ripping through armour and putrid flesh. Melta blasts fizzing though the air. I run up the rampart scrambling over the swath of wounded lying anywhere they can lay their head. The stairs seem to go on forever but for the first time in years I have this strange feeling,  foreign, unrecognisable at first. Then as I reach the top I see them.  Striding forward, always forward, like deamons in their own right clad in armour they tear through everything that stands in there way.  Hope, that's the feeling, hope.  Who are these towering artisans of war. I'd heard of there stature. Even fought in battles where chapters of the space marines had fought in distant, far more strategic theaters of war, but these marines stood taller, 3 foot taller.  Adorning power armour suits of green and ocher they seemed as gods. Then just as quickly as they appeared they were gone. Disappearing in the smoke and flames of war. Who were these men. These Angel's of Hera.

Excerpt from sergeant Van Der Beek. Guardsman of the 31st. First recorded sighting of the mysterious 'Angel's of Hera'. Founding chapter unknown.

HQ

Primaris Captain Reynolds [PL: 5]

Primaris Chaplain Book [PL: 4]

TROOPS

Assault Intercessor Squad × 5 [PL: 5]

Assault Intercessor Squad × 5 [PL: 5]

ELITES

Primaris Apothecary Tam [PL: 3]

Redemptor Dreadnought Cob [PL: 7]

HEAVYSUPPORT

Eradicator Squad x 3 [PL: 5]

Hellblaster Squad x 5 [PL: 6]

TRANSPORT

Impulsor [PL: 4]

 

 

Rich Belfield

Army: Drukhari

Faction: The Thrill Kill Cult

Warlord: Mesravelle

Lore

Founding of the Thrill Kill Cult.

Succubi twins Mesravelle and Mesrathera, existed as subordinates to a lesser noble from the Cult of Strife. Tired of the arenas and constant bickering of the other fighters about plan to leave Commoragh, they scheme with their strongest and most loyal followers and plan their exodus. 

The sky over Commoragh was dark as the twins met at the doorway to their lords keep, silently they moved through the shadows slicing the throats of all the lords guards until they reached the masters bedroom. She opened the door which moved slowly with her efforts and a scrape however the room was revealed to be empty.  The surprised Mesravelle strode into the room when an arm clad in full Kabalite armour struck from behind the door and caught her in a headlock. The arm squeezing harder and harder as her eyes slowly rolled backwards as she lost consciousness, she caught her brothers gaze. Instinctively she understood the meaning of the glint in his eye and wrenched her head to the side in time for Mesrathera's Agonizer to wrap round their Lords throat, he released Mesravelle and grabbed the whip, desperate for breath and to escape the pain running through every nerve. Mesravelle turned, looked their Lord in the eye and simply stated "we're leaving" before plunging her blade between the joins in his armour and piercing his heart.

That night they decided they would lead their own cult, no rules, no order just the thrill of the kill. Together with other outcasts of lesser Kabals and Cults or those deemed too crazy or too disobedient to live with others; they left to blaze a trail of pain across the universe.

HQ

Succubus Mesravelle [PL: 4]

Succubus Mesrathera [PL: 4]

TROOPS

Wyches × 10 [PL: 4]

FASTATTACK

Reavers × 9 [PL: 10]

Reavers × 9 [PL: 10]

Scourges × 10 [PL: 8]

TRANSPORT

Raider [PL: 5]

Raider [PL: 5]

 

Rich & Tristan

Race - Necrons

Dynasty - The Shadow Emeralds

Overlord - Zoltek the Comprehensioner

Lore

Zoltek tensed raising himself up to his full height in front of a hologram of the very universe itself.  Billions of worlds each with their own marker to identify their allegiance blinkered at the edge of vision.  Many had the sign of the aquila but the double headed eagle appeared dark as night, not golden at all.  

As Zoltek conversed conspiratorially with his lieutenants, they bowed their heads in reverence to his wisdom.

"The Emperor and his fools are the darkness but fear not, for we are the light.  There is no shadow my light cannot reach and bring the truth of order to.  I must confess that I take no joy in the destruction that we must deliver but know this.  The weeds must be burnt away if life is to flourish.  And it is our duty to bring peace to this universe.  An eternal peace that can only be achieved if these younglings either accept true enlightenment, or their extinction."

HQ

Overlord Zoltek the Comprehensioner [PL: 5]

Royal Warden [PL: 4]

Plasmancer [PL: 4]

Skorpekh Lord [PL: 7]

TROOPS

Necron Warriors × 10 [PL: 6]

Necron Warriors × 10 [PL: 6]

ELITES

Skorpekh Destroyers x 3 with Plasmacyte [PL: 7]

Cryptothralls x 2 [PL: 2]

Canoptek Reanimator [PL: 5]

FASTATTACK

Canoptek Scarabs × 3 [PL: 2]

Canoptek Scarabs × 3 [PL: 2]

 

Ben Smith

Army: Space Marines

Faction: Widowmakers

Warlord: Unknown

HQ

Primaris Captain [PL: 5]

Primaris Chaplain [PL: 5]

TROOPS

Assault Intercessor Squad x 5 [PL: 5]

ELITES

Aggressor Squad x 3 [PL: 6]

Redemptor Dreadnought [PL: 9]

Bladeguard Veterabs x 3 [PL: 5]

Reiver Squad x 5 [PL: 5]

Reiver Squad x 5 [PL: 5]

HEAVY SUPPORT

Eradicator Squad [PL: 5]

 

James Everleigh

Army: Necrons

Faction: Unknown

Warlord: Unknown

HQ

Overlord [PL: 6]

Royal Warden [PL: 4]

Plasmancer [PL: 4]

Skorpekh Lord [PL: 7]

TROOPS

Necron Warriors × 10 [PL: 6]

Necron Warriors × 10 [PL: 6]

ELITES

Skorpekh Destroyers x 3 with Plasmacyte [PL: 7]

Cryptothralls x 2 [PL: 2]

Canoptek Reanimator [PL: 5]

FASTATTACK

Canoptek Scarabs × 6 [PL: 4]

 

Henry Poor

Army: Chaos Space Marines

Faction: THALLOS’ EMBITTERED

Warlord: Thallos the Blackheart

HQ

Chaos Lord Thallos the Blackheart [PL: 5]

Sorcerer Phosis Rhan [PL: 6]

TROOPS

Chaos Space Marines × 10 [PL: 8]

Chaos Space Marines × 5 [PL: 4]

Chaos Space Marines × 5 [PL: 4]

ELITES

Khorne Berzerkers × 5 [PL: 5]

HEAVYSUPPORT

Forgefiend [PL: 8]

Obliterator [PL: 6]

TRANSPORT

Chaos Rhino [PL: 4]

 

Carl

Army: Space Marines

Faction: Spears of Macragge

Warlord: Captain Vargis

Lore

Captain Vargis looked down on the tactical holo map and surveyed the data in front of him. There seemed to be a blank spot that none of the equipment could get through, which means scouting on foot. Not that it mattered, the Spears of Macragge were forged for such missions as these. Calling in Lieutenant Madris, a hero of a hundred battles, recently elevated to his new position, Vargis gives him the order to take what he feels is best for the mission and terrain and unmask that blank spot. As Madris is about to leave, Vargis remembers a request from the chapters Chaplin, Targus. He had an apprentice that needs further experience, and this should be a fitting mission for them. With that Madris goes to gather the forces and make ready for war. 

Total PL: 49

HQ

Primaris Lieutenant Madris [PL: 4]

Librarian in Phobos Armour [PL: 5]

TROOPS

Assault Intercessor Squad x 5 [PL: 5]

Assault Intercessor Squad x 5 [PL: 5]

Intercessor Squad x 5 [PL: 5]

ELITES

Judiciar Sarguim [PL: 4]

Redemptor Dreadnought [PL: 9]

FASTATTACK

Inceptor Squad x 3 [PL: 6]

Outrider Squad x 3 [PL: 6]

 

Jan

Army: Sisters of Battle

Faction: ORDER OF THE EMERALD SIREN

Warlord: Unknown

HQ

Canoness [PL: 3]

Celestine [PL: 8]

Missionary [PL: 2]

TROOPS

Battle Sisters Squad × 5 [PL: 4]

Battle Sisters Squad × 5 [PL: 4]

Battle Sisters Squad × 5 [PL: 4]

Battle Sisters Squad × 5 [PL: 4]

ELITES

Arco-Flagellants × 3 [PL: 2]

Repentia Superior × 1 [PL: 2]

Sisters Repentia × 4 [PL: 2]

Geminae Superia × 2 [PL: 2]

FASTATTACK

Seraphim Squad × 5 [PL: 4]

HEAVYSUPPORT

Retributor Squad × 5 [PL: 6]

TRANSPORT

Sororitas Rhino × 1 [PL: 3]

 

Chris Tomlin

Army: Harlequins

Faction: Xenon Eclipse

Warlord: Unknown

Total PL: 50

HQ

Shadowseer × 1 [PL: 6]

Troupe Master × 1 [PL: 4]

Troupe Master × 1 [PL: 4]

TROOPS

Troupe × 5 [PL: 5]

Troupe × 5 [PL: 5]

ELITES

Solitaire × 1 [PL: 5]

Death Jester × 1 [PL: 3]

FASTATTACK

Skyweavers × 2 [PL: 5]

Skyweavers × 2 [PL: 5]

TRANSPORT

Starweaver [PL: 4]

Starweaver [PL: 4]

 

Tom Hewitt

Army: Tyranids

Faction: Unknown

Warlord: Unknown

Lore

You stir.

You've been asleep for so long, your surroundings feel unfamiliar. The world has changed since your sleep began.

The voice. That's what roused you from your slumber. The connection. You could feel it once more.

"My child, it is time."

The sweet sounds of it's soothing voice are beyond comparison, your life belongs to it now.

"Find it for us... we need it. The shard, it beckons to us, get it for us."

Your calling. It was time. You must unearth yourself and begin the hunt. Nothing will stand in your way, you will devour everything in your path...

... And you are HUNGRY.

The Hive. After generations of dormancy... it had awoken.

Total PL: 49

HQ

Broodlord [PL: 7]

The Swarmlord [PL: 14]

TROOPS

Genestealers × 5 [PL: 4]

Genestealers × 5 [PL: 4]

HEAVYSUPPORT

Trygon Prime [PL: 10]

Tyrannofex [PL: 10]

 

Matt Lyons

Army: Space Marines

Faction: Blood Angels

Warlord: Captain Castiel

Aquistion Poins: 2 (-1 for Warlord Trait, and -2 for 10 PL increase)