An Apocalypse/Cities of Death Campaign

In the first part of our brand new Warhammer 40,000

campaign, the Imperium’s beleaguered cityfighters must hold
the line against the dread forces of Chaos.
t the close of the third century of the

A fortieth millennium, the Eye of Terror

opened and the defenders of a
thousand planets trembled. Like a
to dig in around his major cities and await
the inbound reinforcements. Even as the
approaching Chaos armies razed the
outlying regions, the first Imperial vessel
streaking comet foretelling the doom of an
arrived at Cor Hydrae. D’Ludis himself
entire world, the forces of Chaos lanced
stood upon the landing apron and watched
through the tumultuous void, their target:
as the jet-black lander touched down. He
the world of Malin’s Reach. The entire
watched as the vessel’s ramp lowered, and
region held its breath, fearing a full-scale
a tall figure strode through the vented
crusade through the Cadian Gate. Yet no
gases. It was at that point that d’Ludis
more fleets came; it appeared that Malin’s
realised that his hopes for a short war were
Reach would bear the brunt of the
to be dashed. For the visitor was not some
Ruinous Powers’ attentions.
high commander of the Imperial Guard, or
As the skies of Malin’s Reach burned
a Chapter Master of the Adeptus Astartes. It
with the contrails of a thousand Chaos
was an Inquisitor, a sinister agent of the
drop ships, the Planetary Defence Force
Ordo Malleus.
mustered in the world’s largest city, Cor
The Inquisitor was the feared Lord
Hydrae. Imperial Commander Sahak
Ilthaman, a man known, even in the ranks
d’Ludis transmitted a plea for aid, for he
of the Inquisition, for his ruthlessness.
saw that his forces would be hard-pressed
Ilthaman’s first words were to dismiss
to stand before the sheer numbers of
The story of this campaign D’ludis as commander-in-chief of the
attackers bearing down upon his world.
centres around the battle Malin’s Reach Perimeter Defence Force,
The 74th Cadian answered his call, for
of wills between two old and order him to be placed under house
adversaries – Inquisitor they were traversing the reach en route for
arrest pending trial for cowardice in the
Ilthaman and the Chaos duty in the Cadian Gate. Against all of
face of the enemy. Within hours, Inquisitor
Warlord Ptar. These d’Ludis’ hopes, the Space Marines, too,
Ilthaman had complete control of all the
mighty lords will take to answered his plea, with detachments from
forces on Malin’s Reach. Over the next few
the field in the final battle the Blood Angels, Salamanders, Mentor
of the campaign, and we days the Cadian 74th and the Space
Legion and a dozen more chapters
used the two models Marines arrived, and even as the Chaos
diverting for Malin’s Reach.
shown above to represent forces closed on their targets, Ilthaman
Daring to hope his world might be
them in our battles. stood ready to repel the invaders, no
spared the worst, d’Ludis ordered his forces
matter the cost.

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 “He is here?” Ilthaman asked
of his astropath.
The Campaign Campaign rules
“He is here, my lord. “Cities Shall Fall!” is a series of three system: the Chapel of the Pious Heart in The campaign has a few rules regarding Scenarios
He walks upon Malin’s linked games. That may not seem like a lot the very centre of the city. Ilthaman has the order in which the scenarios should be
Reach.” There are three scenarios in this campaign,
of games to play in a campaign, but that’s briefed only his most senior commanders, played and what Cityfighting Stratagems
“And his target?” and each game you play furthers the story.
because this campaign is special. All three for he knows that the rank and file would and Apocalypse strategic assets can be
“The tarot reads as you The scenarios are played in this order:
of these games use the rules from both the fail in their resolve were they to know the used. These guidelines help you to tell the
yourself said it would, my Cities of Death and the Apocalypse truth. And that truth is brutal: every warrior campaign’s story.
lord.” The astropath’s skeletal expansions. This article presents the first is expendable in the fight for the city, for 1. The 13th Parallel
hands spread wide to indicate scenario of the campaign, in which the the hordes of Chaos must be bled unto the forces 2. The Battle of Martyrs’ Square
the cards arrayed before him. Imperial side is ordered to hold the “13th death so that as they close upon their The first point to make about these three 3. The Battle of the Pious Heart
Though the astropath, like
Parallel”, across which not a single servant objective they may be destroyed utterly, by scenarios is that, although they are
all of his kind, was blind,
of the Ruinous Powers must cross. Next Ilthaman in person. presented as a series of battles fought
he saw far more than most
men ever would. month, we’ll present the remaining two between the Imperium and Chaos Space Winning the Campaign
“Good.” Ilthaman turned battles. Simply play through the three Chaos Marines, you should feel free to use them
The winner of the final battle wins
from the astropath to address battles using the rules provided. The At the head of the Chaos invasion stalks with any forces you have available.
the campaign. However, your chances
a group of officers waiting winner of each scenario will gain some the vile warlord Ptar, known to some as the Although in Warhammer 40,000 the
of winning that scenario will be greatly
patiently behind him. One bonus in the next battle. “Execrator of Dolonis VII”. Ilthaman and distinction between the “good” and “bad”
enhanced or reduced depending on how
was a grizzled veteran Ptar have faced one another before, and guys is intentionally blurred, you shouldn’t
The Imperium well you perform in the preceding games.
commander of the Cadian each holds both an abiding hatred and a have any particular trouble using different
Finally, each scenario contains a “Victory
Defence Forces, while the Ilthaman’s orders to his commanders are grudging respect for the other. Ptar seeks armies. The part of Chaos could easily be
or Defeat” section, which details the effects
other three, towering above simple. They must draw the Chaos horde upon Malin’s Reach the consummation of a filled by Orks, Tyranids, Necrons, Dark
that winning or losing a battle have on the
the first, were veteran into the dense urban terrain of Cor Hydrae, diabolical pact with the fiendish denizens Eldar and the like, while the Imperium
Space Marines. campaign.
and there destroy them utterly. But of the Warp. At the Chapel of the Pious could easily be replaced with Eldar or Tau.
“Gentlemen,” Ilthaman Ilthaman himself knows his foe well, and is Heart, he plans to enact a blasphemous Having decided on your army, you’ll
addressed the group. “It falls well aware of his enemy’s intentions in ritual and bring about the summoning of a need both the Cities of Death and the
to you to take battle to our coming to Malin’s Reach. He knows that legion of Daemons. With his side of his Apocalypse expansions. This is because all
foe. Your orders are simple. the Chaos hordes will seek not territory or bargain with the Ruinous Powers three of the scenarios are big, big battles,
Your forces are to be used plunder, but the desecration of the most completed, Ptar will condemn Malin’s and they’re being fought in the ruined
to draw the enemy towards potent symbol of Imperial faith in the entire Reach to a cruel and savage death. streets of Cor Hydrae.
the city centre. They must
bleed the enemy dry,
regardless of casualties to
themselves. When Ptar’s
forces reach the Chapel,
we’ll surround them and
destroy Ptar once and for
all. Is that understood?”
The Space Marines
simply nodded grimly, while
the Cadian officer cleared
his throat.
“What is it, Colonel
Kaze?” Ilthaman said. “Speak
your mind.”
“My men, sir,” The
Colonel said. “Am I to
understand that in this
matter, the Cadian 74th are
to be considered
expendable?”
Ilthaman regarded the
man through narrowed eyes
before replying. “Your orders
are clear. Do you object?”
“Object, my lord?” Kaze
replied, a glint in his eye.
“Of course not, sir. We
Cadians always fight better
when we’re all expected to
die. We take it as a
challenge, if you catch my
drift, my lord.”
Ilthaman remained silent
as the group filed out of his
office. “I hope you are right,
Colonel Kaze,” Ilthaman
muttered. “For all of our
sakes…”

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 Imperial Deployment Zone

Colonel Kaze gritted OBJECTIVES

his teeth against the
shuddering force of
a super heavy shell
exploding somewhere
nearby. Fragments of
masonry pattered all
around as he rose, dusting
himself off.
“Vox!” Kaze yelled, Citadel Roads
looking around for his We used the new Citadel
orderly. Roads to represent the
A violent coughing 13th Parallel. By laying
told Kaze his vox-officer two strips side-by-side,
was nearby, and still alive. an instant battle line was
A moment later, the man drawn on the tabletop.
heaved himself to his feet
from amidst a pile of
rubble. ‘Sir.’
“Get on the regimental
net,” Kaze growled. “Tell
Maken to be ready for an
assault as soon as this
bombardment lifts”.
Not waiting for his
orderly to acknowledge his
order, Kaze turned to the
ruined window of the shell
of a building in which he
had established his
command post. The scene
without reminded him of
the eschatological paintings
that decorated the Basilica
Gaur back home. Black,
skeletal ruins were
silhouetted against a livid Chaos Deployment Zone
red sky, their windows
glowing infernal orange
like the eyes of angry
daemons. And through
those ruins, Kaze knew
that the ultimate foes of
scenario 1: the 13th parallel
Mankind stalked towards As the Chaos forces launch their assault should make a great team game, with one Cityfighting Strategems Objectives
his regiment’s lines. upon Cor Hydrae, the Imperial Guard dig or two Imperial Guard players manning the Imperium: Every City Ruin adjacent to the Unlike a normal Apocalyptic battle, the
Snapping out of his in at the 13th Parallel, a line on the map parallel while any number of Space Marine 13th Parallel is Fortified. One of these objectives are all set up on one side of the
musings, Kaze realised that denoted by a wide thoroughfare that players launch counter attacks where should be designated a Command Centre, table, as shown above. There are six in all,
something was wrong. It bisects the city. Their orders are brutally needed most. one a Medicae Centre and up to three as and they are captured in the manner
took him a moment to simple: hold the line, no matter the cost. The Chaos army consists of 7000 points Ammunition Stores. In addition, the described in the Apocalypse expansion.
register what had changed. Warlord Ptar knows that his forces will of Chaos Space Marines, drawn from a Imperial players may place as many
“The bombardment’s be made to pay for every metre of the city variety of warbands. The Chaos army is lengths of razorwire, tank traps and Who Goes First?
lifted!” Kaze bellowed. In that they take, and that crossing the 13th intentionally larger than the defenders’ barricades on their side of the parallel as The Chaos Space Marines have the
a single stride, he crossed Parallel will be one of the most costly force, as it is expected to be taking they wish. first turn.
to his orderly and grabbed battles of the war. However, Ptar is driven substantial casualties crossing the parallel. Chaos: Deep Strike, Infiltrate, Siege Shells.
the vox handset. by his daemonic pact – he must cross the Victory or Defeat
“All companies,” Kaze The Battlefield Apocalypse Strategic Assets
parallel if he is to capture the Chapel of the If the Imperium wins, they gain the
yelled into the vox, “To
Pious Heart. You will need a 6' x 8' gaming area. The Imperium: Hold at all Costs, Recon, Ambush Apocalypse strategic asset in the
your final fire positions!
Enemy assault imminent!” And so, as the defenders man their photo above provides an example of how Scheduled Bombardment. next game. If Chaos wins, they gain the
Even as he issued his defences on their side of the wide to set it up, though you will need to adapt Chaos: Tunnels, Blind Barrage, Orbital Flank March asset next game.
order, the handset dropped thoroughfare, the first shells scream down this according to your own terrain Bombardment.
from his grasp to the among them. All know the importance of collection. The most important feature is
Deployment
floor. Through the ruined
portal, Kaze saw movement
the outcome, but also that that their lives
are expendable in this, the battle for the
the 13th Parallel itself, which takes the
form of a road, 18" wide, running from one The Imperium must set up first, in the area NEXT MONTH
against the angry skies. 13th Parallel. short table edge to the other. indicated above. They have 30 minutes to In issue XXX, we present the last two battles of the campaign, in
What he had at first do so, but no units may be kept in reserve, which Ptar will penetrate the centre of the city, and close in upon his
glance taken for a ruin, Armies Time Limit so any not deployed within the time limit ultimate target: the Chapel of the Pious Heart. Will Inquisitor
stark against the flames, On the Imperial side of the 13th Parallel is Agree a time limit appropriate to your don’t make it to the battle! Ilthaman’s callous plan to weaken the Chaos hordes before delivering
was now moving a 3000-point Imperial Guard army, plus group. You should be able to play this The Chaos Space Marines also have 30 the deathblow succeed, or will the Chaos Lord summon forth the
ponderously forward. another 2000 points of Space Marines game over the course of a single day, but minutes to set up, and also may not keep dread powers of the Warp and decimate Malin’s Reach for all time?
drawn from a variety of chapters. This be prepared to run into the evening. any units in reserve.

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