An Apocalypse/Cities of Death Campaign

Welcome to the second part of our Warhammer 40,000 campaign! Will Inquisitor Ilthamans plan to defeat Warlord Ptar succeed, or will his gamble cost the Imperium another world to the forces of Chaos?

ast month, in the first part of the Cities Shall Fall campaign, we presented the battle of the 13th Parallel, in which the hordes of Chaos surged into the city of Cor Hydrae. The Imperial forces high commander, Inquisitor Ilthaman, planned to draw the forces of Chaos into the heart of the city, where his armies could grind them to dust amidst the dense terrain, before the Inquisitor himself would join the fray and take on Warlord Ptar in single combat. If Ilthaman could entrap the Chaos horde in his city, he could surround them, and destroy them utterly. Or so he planned

Ilthamans Gambit
Even as the Shock Troopers of the Cadian 74th A, B and E companies sold their lives dearly at the 13th Parallel, the remainder of the regiment redeployed further towards the centre of Cor Hydrae. The manoeuvre was a trying one, for an orderly retreat in the face of an enemy is amongst the hardest of military endeavours. But these men were Cadians, and death held no fear for them. With the sounds of the Chaos hordes giving chase behind them, the Cadians fell back to their prepared positions at Martyrs Square.

This campaign uses both the Cities of Death and Apocalypse expansions for Warhammer 40,000. An expansion gives you all the rules and information you need to play games in different and exciting new ways like fighting in a dense urban environment or using truly massive armies.

Having manned the defences prepared for them mere days before, the Cadians prepared to hold the square until ordered to fall back once more. Few men of the lead companies expected anything other than to stand and die, just as the other companies had at the 13th Parallel. They saw this action as a fitting repayment to those who had died that day. Watching tensely across the wide square for the first signs of Chaos forces, the Cadians were surprised to see a single Rhino crash through a ruined wall and head towards their lines. As the transport slewed to a halt in front of the Cadian positions, heavy shells began to fall, massive explosions wracking the square and scarring it with ragged craters. The Rhinos ramp slammed down, and the Cadians were astonished to see a Space Marine Chaplain disembark. The Cadians gave voice to a mighty cheer as another figure emerged. It was their commanding officer, Colonel Kaze. He had somehow survived the action to draw the forces of Chaos across the 13th Parallel, and had led the lead elements of Ptars force directly into the killing ground of Martyrs Square. Even as the Colonel was greeted by his jubilant men, battle was joined

Inquisitor ilthaman
The high commander of the Imperial forces on Malins Reach, Inquisitor Ilthaman is a man noted for his ruthlessness, even amongst his peers in the Ordo Malleus. He has faced Warlord Ptar, the so-called Execrator of Dolonis VII, on several occasions, and the two harbour a grudge for one another that has yet to be settled. Ilthaman is prepared to go to any extreme to defeat his nemesis, even to sacrifice an entire world to entrap and destroy the Chaos warlord. Ilthaman intends to surround Ptar and his forces in the heart of Cor Hyrdae, and to face the warlord in single combat. Only then, having slain Ptar by his own hand, will Ilthamans mission be complete. Ilthaman will take to the field in Mission 3 use an Inquisitor model from the Witch Hunters or Daemonhunters ranges, and follow the rules from the appropriate Codex.

warlord ptar
The Execrator of Dolonis VII has carved a bloody path across at least a dozen of the Imperiums worlds, and has the blood of millions on his hands. Following the victory at Dolonis, Ptars horde grew still larger, and he dared to imagine himself worthy of the greatest of rewards a loyal servant of the Ruinous Powers might receive apotheosis to Daemonhood. To that end, Ptar has sealed a terrible pact with his patron gods. He will offer up to them the world of Malins Reach, and he, in return, shall become a Daemon Prince of Chaos! Warlord Ptar will take to the battlefield in Mission 2 the Battle of Martyrs Square, and Mission 3 the Battle of the Pious Heart. If you wish to field him, then you could use the new plastic Chaos Lord in Terminator Armour model and the rules from Codex: Chaos Space Marines.

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Imperial deployment zone

OBJECTIVES

Artillery deployment
ST JERRONS HILL

Brother Lysil of the Blood Angels Chapter gazed out across Martyrs Square. He knew the enemy would soon come into sight. He could almost smell their evil upon the hot, corditelaced winds. Sir? Lysil turned to face the man who addressed him. It was a trooper of the Malins Reach Planetary Defence Force. Speak, trooper, Lyslil replied. Sir. If we survive this, my lord, what will become of us? Lysil considered the mans question for a moment. Across the square rose the crump of explosions and the grinding sound of tracks crushing rubble. What matter if we survive this? the Blood Angel answered, hefting his bolter and checking the sights in readiness for the inevitable assault. What matter? the trooper replied, confusion writ large across his face. Yes, trooper, Lysil replied. So long as we do our duty to Emperor and Primarch, our deaths shall be a glorious thing. The trooper nodded, and lifted his own weapon to his shoulder. Space Marine and Defence Force trooper stood side by side as the forces of Chaos advanced into the open. As battle was joined, the bark of Lysils bolter and the sharp crack of the Imperial Guardman's lasgun merged into one.

No-mans Land
Chaos deployment zone
MARTYRS SQUARE

Scenario 2: The Battle of Martyrs Square

The Battle of Martyrs Square was the second of Inquisitor Ilthamans bold actions to draw the forces of Warlord Ptar into the centre of Cor Hydrae. The Chaos forces were forced to cross the wide-open space of the square before getting to grips with their foes; the Cadians fire taking a fearsome toll upon them as they did so. The Shock Troopers knew that they had to hold the line and not give an inch, so that the enemy might be punished for every step of the Imperiums city they gained. Despite their fate, the Cadians knew that they were fortunate indeed to have a detachment of Space Marines bolstering their lines. The example of these stoic defenders of Humanity was one the Cadians would emulate even as the enemy bore down upon them. Each man prayed not for survival, but that he might do his duty to the Emperor and take with him enough of his foe to save Cor Hydrae, and Malins Reach itself. Guard artillery pieces such as Basilisks, or any of the Forge World models capable of indirect fire. The Chaos army should be of an equal size (approximately 7500 points). In addition, the Chaos army has a further 2000 points of units held in Strategic Reserve, dispatched by Warlord Ptar to replace the inevitable casualties his force will take crossing the open ground of Martyrs Square in the very teeth of the Cadian gun positions.

Time Limit
Agree on a time limit appropriate to your group. You should be able to play this game over the course of a single day, but be prepared to run into the evening.

The Chaos Space Marines also have 30 minutes to set up. Any number of units may be held in Strategic Reserve, but only those able to Deep Strike may enter play on the Saint Jerrons Hill table.

Cityfighting Stratagems
Imperium: Fortifications on the Martyrs Square table, Obstacles on both tables. Chaos: Deep Strike on both tables.

Objectives
Just as in the first battle, the objectives are all set up on one side of the table, as shown above. There are six in all, and they are captured in the manner described in the Apocalypse expansion. Note that there are no objectives on the Saint Jerrons Hill table the motivation for fighting there is explained in the Special Rules below.

Apocalypse Strategic Assets

Imperium: Minefields on the Martyrs Square table, Disruptor Beacon on the Saint Jerrons Hill table. Chaos: Strategic Redeployment and Blind Barrage on both tables.

The Battlefield
This battle is fought on two tables. One represents Martyrs Square, while the other represents Saint Jerrons Hill, on which the Cadians have emplaced their artillery in support of their units in the square. Martyrs Square should be set up on a 6' x 8' gaming area. The photo above provides an example of how to set up the battlefield, though you will need to adapt this according to your own terrain collection. Most importantly, the City Ruins are only placed around the table edges, leaving most of the table open. Saint Jerrons Hill is located only a mile or so from Martyrs Square, and the summit of the hill is represented by a 4' x 4' table, which you should set up near to your main table. This battlefield should use any urban terrain you have available, and may be set up by the Imperial side.

Deployment
The Imperium must set up first, in the areas indicated above. They have 30 minutes in which to do so. The Imperium deploys its main force in its deployment zone in Martyrs Square. No Imperial Guard indirect-firing artillery (such as Basilisks) may be set up in the square these must be assigned to the Saint Jerrons Hill table. The Imperial side may assign up to 1000 points of its army to defend the artillery at Saint Jerrons Hill, and these are deployed along with the artillery there, in the area shown. The forces assigned to Saint Jerrons Hill are also set up at this time, within the deployment time limit.

Who Goes First?

The Imperium has the first turn.

Special Rules
Fire Support: The artillery placed on Saint Jerrons Hill may fire upon the Martyrs Square table. If any Imperial Guard Command Squad containing a vox or master vox has line of sight to a target, then the scatter dice may be re-rolled.

Armies
Defending the positions hastily erected across Martyrs Square is a mixed force of Imperial Guard and Space Marines. The Imperial Guard army should amount to around 5000 points, and the Space Marines around 2000 points. In addition, the Cadians are now in range of their medium heavy artillery. This consists of up to 500 points of Imperial

Victory or Defeat
If the Imperium wins, every model in the army will be Stubborn in the next game. If Chaos wins, they gain the Ambush asset next game.
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Colonel! Kaze turned at the shout. Duck! He did so without thinking, trusting the instincts of the trooper who had called his name. As he slammed to the rubble-strewn ground, he felt something impossibly hot pass overhead, the hairs on the back of his neck beginning to melt in its backwash. Forcing himself to open his eyes, Kaze rolled back over. Whatever had passed overhead was gone, but it had left a boiling contrail through the air, leading all the way back to the centre of the Imperiums lines. And there, on the steps of the Chapel of the Pious Heart, Kaze saw Ilthaman locked in combat with a beast from a terrible nightmare. Rearing above the Inquisitor was a winged giant, its face leering and demonic, its claws were mighty blades from which roiling energies spat. Kaze could see that the Inquisitor had but minutes to live. To me! he bellowed above the roar of battle. Cadians! To me! In moments, a score of men surrounded him. He spared an instant to look each in the eye, before pointing towards the chapel and the titanic battle being played out on its steps. Twenty pairs of eyes followed his gesture. The colonel and his men stood, all understanding what must be done. Kaze knew that no hollow speech was required. These men would follow him into the very Eye of Terror, for they were Cadians, beyond reproach, loyal to the last, with fire in their hearts. Charge! bellowed Kaze. The colonel and his hastily formed detachment broke from cover, running oblivious to the bolter and las-fire around them towards the Inquisitor and the vile monstrosity. None made it to the chapel, but Kaze had never been more proud of his men.

Scenario 3: The Battle of the Pious Heart

Following the Battle of Martyrs Square, Ilthamans forces were successful in drawing Ptars hordes into the centre of the city, at terrible cost to both sides. The Inquisitor Lord himself took to the battlefield, determined that he would face the vile Chaos warlord in combat, and defeat him once and for all. Every last warrior in the city gathered to do battle at the Chapel of the Pious Heart. Ilthaman deployed the bulk of his forces around the chapel, while keeping the remainder back to encircle his enemys army. Here, in the very centre of Cor Hydrae, the decades-old battle between the Inquisitor and his nemesis would be settled, one way or another.

Apocalypse Strategic Assets

Imperium: Flank March, Null Field Generator (the altar) Chaos: Supreme Headquarters, Vortex Grenade (Ptar).

Special Rules
Apotheosis! If Ptar comes in base contact with the altar in the Chapel of the Pious Heart, then at the beginning of the following turn, the model is replaced by a Daemon Prince. Grey Knight Intervention: The Imperiums Grey Knights are held in Strategic Reserve, and will deep strike onto the table at the beginning of the next Imperial turn after Ptars apotheosis is achieved. They will deep strike to any point within 12" of him, and will not scatter.

The Battlefield
You will need a 6' x 8' gaming area. The photo below provides an example of how to set it up, though you will need to adapt this according to your own terrain collection. If you have appropriate terrain to represent the Chapel of the Pious Heart (such as any Sanctum Imperialis or Chapel of Sanctuary pieces), these should be concentrated in the centre of the table. A suitable terrain piece, or some manner of counter, should be used to indicate the altar of the Chapel of the Pious Heart.

Deployment
The Imperium must set up first, in the area indicated above. They have 30 minutes in which to do so. The Chaos Space Marines also have 30 minutes to set up, in the areas indicated on the map.

Objectives
Ptar is attempting to seal his pact with the Ruinous Powers by enacting a ritual of desecration at the altar of the Pious Heart. To do so, he must move into base contact with the altar, and will then achieve apotheosis as described in the special rules, right. If Ptar has achieved apotheosis and is alive at the end of the game, Chaos wins the game, and the campaign. If Ptar has not achieved apotheosis or has been killed, then the Imperium wins the game.

The End?
So, did Ptar succeed in his blasphemous ritual and become a Daemon Prince of Chaos? Or did Inquisitor Ilthaman finally kill his enemy, thus ending his lifetimes obsession? Either way, we hope that youve enjoyed this simple campaign, and feel inspired to create one for yourself. The obvious place to start is to continue the story. If he survived, what foul deeds will the new Daemon Prince perform in his service of the Ruinous Powers? And if Ilthaman survived, what terrible steps will the Inquisitor Lord be driven to in his quest to stymie Ptars ambition? Over to you!

Time Limit
Agree on a time limit appropriate to your group. You should be able to play this game over the course of a single day, but be prepared to run into the evening.

Armies
Both armies are of the same size use as many models as you can get your hands on! In addition, the Imperium has a single squad of Grey Knight Terminators, up to the points value of any such models you have available.

Cityfighting Strategems
Imperium: Obstacles, Booby Traps, Sacred Ground (the Chapel). Chaos: Deep Strike, Infiltrate, Sewer Rats.

Who Goes First?

Roll a D6 to determine which side gets the first turn the winner decides.

Imperial deployment zone

OBJECTIVES

No-mans Land

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Chaos deployment zone

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