Difference between revisions of "Crusade of Fire"
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{{Battle3 | {{Battle3 | ||
|Name =Crusade of Fire | |Name =Crusade of Fire | ||
| − | |Image = | + | |Image =Crusade of Fire.PNG |
|Image caption= | |Image caption= | ||
|Conflict = | |Conflict = | ||
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|Combatant2 =[[File:Chaos.png|30px]] [[Servants of Ruin]] | |Combatant2 =[[File:Chaos.png|30px]] [[Servants of Ruin]] | ||
|Combatant3 =[[File:DarkEldar.png|30px]] [[Prophets of War]] | |Combatant3 =[[File:DarkEldar.png|30px]] [[Prophets of War]] | ||
| − | |Commanders1 =[[File:Astra Militarum Symbol.png|20px]] [[Lord Militant]] [[Arian Vois]]<br>[[File:Spacewolvesymbol.png|20px]] [[Jarl]] [[Sigvald Deathgranter]]<br>[[File:IFsymbol.png|20px]] [[Captain]] [[Darnath Lysander]]<br>[[File:Flesh Tearers Livery.jpg|20px]] [[Chapter Master]] [[Gabriel Seth]] | + | |Commanders1 =[[File:Astra Militarum Symbol.png|20px]] [[Lord Militant]] [[Arian Vois]]<br>[[File:Spacewolvesymbol.png|20px]] [[Jarl]] [[Sigvald Deathgranter]]<br>[[File:IFsymbol.png|20px]] [[Captain]] [[Darnath Lysander]]<br>[[File:Flesh Tearers Livery.jpg|20px]] [[Chapter Master]] [[Gabriel Seth]]<br>[[File:Howling Griffons Symbol.png|20px]] [[Captain]] [[Xerxes]] |
|Commanders2 =[[File:Nurgle mark.png|20px]] [[Anathrax the Foetid]]<br>[[File:World Eaters symbol.png|20px]] [[Bane (Chaos Lord)|Bane]]<br>[[File:Tzeentch mark.png|20px]] [[The Changeling]] | |Commanders2 =[[File:Nurgle mark.png|20px]] [[Anathrax the Foetid]]<br>[[File:World Eaters symbol.png|20px]] [[Bane (Chaos Lord)|Bane]]<br>[[File:Tzeentch mark.png|20px]] [[The Changeling]] | ||
|Commanders3 =[[File:DarkEldar.png|20px]] [[Archon]] [[Viscount Rex]]<br>[[File:DarkEldar.png|20px]] [[Duke Sliscus]] | |Commanders3 =[[File:DarkEldar.png|20px]] [[Archon]] [[Viscount Rex]]<br>[[File:DarkEldar.png|20px]] [[Duke Sliscus]] | ||
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<br> | <br> | ||
| − | The '''Crusade of Fire''', originally known as the '''Crusade of Light''', was a major [[Imperial]] [[Crusade]] launched in [[M41]] to reclaim the worlds of the [[Corvus Sub-sector]].{{Fn| | + | The '''Crusade of Fire''', originally known as the '''Crusade of Light''', was a major [[Imperial]] [[Crusade]] launched in [[M41]] to reclaim the worlds of the [[Corvus Sub-sector]].{{Fn|1x}} A large-scale operation, the Crusade of Fire was the largest Imperial Crusade since the [[Macharian Crusade]] of the early 41st Millennium.{{Fn|1a}} |
==Prelude== | ==Prelude== | ||
| − | After nearly a thousand years, the [[Warp Storm]]s that had isolated the Corvus Sub-Sector finally subsided. A Crusade to reestablish Imperial rule was immediately launched under [[Lord Militant]] [[Arian Vois]] and accompanied by no less than a dozen [[Space Marine]] Companies and a hundred [[Imperial Guard]] [[Regiment]]s. However, as the first ships emerged from the [[Warp]], Lord Vois' worst fears were confirmed as much of the Sub-Sector lay in chaos and madness. Worse still, much of it was overrun by [[Chaos Space Marine]]s under the [[Daemon Prince]] of [[Nurgle]] [[Anathrax the Foetid]] who had already sacrificed entire planetary populations in a dark ritual that would cast the sub-sector back into the Warp.{{Fn| | + | After nearly a thousand years, the [[Warp Storm]]s that had isolated the Corvus Sub-Sector finally subsided. A Crusade to reestablish Imperial rule was immediately launched under [[Lord Militant]] [[Arian Vois]] and accompanied by no less than a dozen [[Space Marine]] Companies and a hundred [[Imperial Guard]] [[Regiment]]s. However, as the first ships emerged from the [[Warp]], Lord Vois' worst fears were confirmed as much of the Sub-Sector lay in chaos and madness. Worse still, much of it was overrun by [[Chaos Space Marine]]s under the [[Daemon Prince]] of [[Nurgle]] [[Anathrax the Foetid]] who had already sacrificed entire planetary populations in a dark ritual that would cast the sub-sector back into the Warp.{{Fn|1x}} They had also discovered that a [[Dark Eldar]] raiding party known as the [[Prophets of War]] under [[Archon]] [[Viscount Rex]] was active in the sector, looking to acquire massive amounts of fresh slaves in the chaos.{{Fn|1a}} |
==The Crusade Begins== | ==The Crusade Begins== | ||
| − | Launched amid great fanfare and a 14 day opening parade, the Crusade of Light set out to reclaim the Corvus Sub-sector. The basic plan was to land [[Administratum]] survey teams on every world who would make contact with the native populations and re-evaluate their ability to be integrated into the Imperium. Upon contact with hostile forces, Space Marine and Imperial Guard forces would forcibly take control of the planet. But no sooner did the Crusade fleet emerge from the Warp than the error of its intended plan was made clear. The Crusade of Light was too late: the [[Servants of Ruin]] stood ready for them with a fleet of [[Battleship]]s. Thus it was that the Crusade of Light had become the Crusade of Fire.{{Fn| | + | Launched amid great fanfare and a 14 day opening parade, the Crusade of Light set out to reclaim the Corvus Sub-sector. The basic plan was to land [[Administratum]] survey teams on every world who would make contact with the native populations and re-evaluate their ability to be integrated into the Imperium. Upon contact with hostile forces, Space Marine and Imperial Guard forces would forcibly take control of the planet. But no sooner did the Crusade fleet emerge from the Warp than the error of its intended plan was made clear. The Crusade of Light was too late: the [[Servants of Ruin]] stood ready for them with a fleet of [[Battleship]]s. Thus it was that the Crusade of Light had become the Crusade of Fire.{{Fn|1x}} The Lord Militant ordered the immediate deployment of the Space Marine forces accompanying the Crusade en masse, and dozens of [[Thunderhawk]]s carrying the Space Marines landed on key worlds even as other Astartes forces assaulted the Chaos fleet with [[Boarding Torpedo]]es.{{Fn|1a}} |
==Junkatta== | ==Junkatta== | ||
The factories of [[Junkatta]] were listed as a top priority of the Crusade and a combined force of [[Space Wolves]] and [[Imperial Fists]] quickly landed to secure key locations. However, they soon came under an ambush from [[Traitor Guard]]. [[Sigvald Deathgranter]] of the Space Wolves attacked the traitors' command section while the Imperial Fists bore of the brunt of the attack, which was led by a gigantic [[Soul Grinder]] that quickly killed the Fists' [[Master of the Forge]]. Worse still was yet to take place, as the Space Wolves soon turned their [[Bolter]]s on their allies. Only as Deathgranter's axe beheaded the Traitor Guard [[Colonel]], was the [[Changeling]] revealed and his spell undone. Their leader slain, the Traitor Guard lost the will to fight but the toll they inflicted upon the Space Marines was great. The Imperial Fists called in reinforcements and began to reclaim and refortify the central [[Hive]] of the planet.{{Fn|1b}} | The factories of [[Junkatta]] were listed as a top priority of the Crusade and a combined force of [[Space Wolves]] and [[Imperial Fists]] quickly landed to secure key locations. However, they soon came under an ambush from [[Traitor Guard]]. [[Sigvald Deathgranter]] of the Space Wolves attacked the traitors' command section while the Imperial Fists bore of the brunt of the attack, which was led by a gigantic [[Soul Grinder]] that quickly killed the Fists' [[Master of the Forge]]. Worse still was yet to take place, as the Space Wolves soon turned their [[Bolter]]s on their allies. Only as Deathgranter's axe beheaded the Traitor Guard [[Colonel]], was the [[Changeling]] revealed and his spell undone. Their leader slain, the Traitor Guard lost the will to fight but the toll they inflicted upon the Space Marines was great. The Imperial Fists called in reinforcements and began to reclaim and refortify the central [[Hive]] of the planet.{{Fn|1b}} | ||
| − | Fighting continued in the manufactorum hives of Junkatta, where [[Space Marine Captain|Captain]] [[Darnath Lysander]] led the [[1st Company (Imperial Fists)|Imperial Fists 1st Company]] in a desperate bid to cleanse the city of a force of [[Gladiator Group 138]] [[World Eaters]] under the [[Chaos Lord]] and former [[Chapter Master]] [[Bane (Chaos Lord)|Bane]]. Deploying a wall of [[Storm Shield]]s that not even the World Eaters [[Terminator]]s could breach, Lysander's Veterans held form and completed the fortification of their city.{{Fn| | + | Fighting continued in the manufactorum hives of Junkatta, where [[Space Marine Captain|Captain]] [[Darnath Lysander]] led the [[1st Company (Imperial Fists)|Imperial Fists 1st Company]] in a desperate bid to cleanse the city of a force of [[Gladiator Group 138]] [[World Eaters]] under the [[Chaos Lord]] and former [[Chapter Master]] [[Bane (Chaos Lord)|Bane]]. Deploying a wall of [[Storm Shield]]s that not even the World Eaters [[Terminator]]s could breach, Lysander's Veterans held form and completed the fortification of their city.{{Fn|1d}} |
==Corvus Majoris== | ==Corvus Majoris== | ||
| + | [[Image:Corvus Majoris.PNG|thumb|right|250px|The [[Howling Griffons]] fighting the [[Alpha Legion]] on [[Corvus Majoris]]{{Fn|1b}}]] | ||
On [[Corvus Majoris]], the [[Howling Griffons]] were the first to engage the enemy forces after coming under [[Alpha Legion]] ambush. Putting up a vicious resistance, the Griffons drove back the Alpha Legion [[Chaos Chosen|Chosen]] and [[Forgefiend]]s and won the day.{{Fn|1b}} | On [[Corvus Majoris]], the [[Howling Griffons]] were the first to engage the enemy forces after coming under [[Alpha Legion]] ambush. Putting up a vicious resistance, the Griffons drove back the Alpha Legion [[Chaos Chosen|Chosen]] and [[Forgefiend]]s and won the day.{{Fn|1b}} | ||
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==Voidspan Point & Savrap== | ==Voidspan Point & Savrap== | ||
| + | [[Image:Voidspan Point.PNG|thumb|right|250px|[[Howling Griffons]] fight [[Word Bearers]] and [[Dark Eldar]] at [[Voidspan Point]]{{Fn|1c}}]] | ||
At [[Voidspan Point]], the Dark Eldar warlord [[Duke Sliscus]] immediately took control of the vital station and used it to his advantage by immediately leading a raid on the [[Jungle World]] of [[Savrap]], seeking the treasures that were rumored to lay within its depths. However, the Dark Eldar forces quickly ran into the [[Flesh Tearers]] under [[Reclusiarch]] [[Carnaevon]] who led a [[Death Company]] into the xenos ranks alongside a [[Deathwatch]] [[Kill-Team]]. But Sliscus soon showed his own hand, deploying his [[Necron]] allies who forced the Astartes to withdraw.{{Fn|1c}} | At [[Voidspan Point]], the Dark Eldar warlord [[Duke Sliscus]] immediately took control of the vital station and used it to his advantage by immediately leading a raid on the [[Jungle World]] of [[Savrap]], seeking the treasures that were rumored to lay within its depths. However, the Dark Eldar forces quickly ran into the [[Flesh Tearers]] under [[Reclusiarch]] [[Carnaevon]] who led a [[Death Company]] into the xenos ranks alongside a [[Deathwatch]] [[Kill-Team]]. But Sliscus soon showed his own hand, deploying his [[Necron]] allies who forced the Astartes to withdraw.{{Fn|1c}} | ||
==Sovven== | ==Sovven== | ||
| − | On the irradiated world of [[Sovven]], having escaped from the pits of Commorragh, Sivgald Deathgranter led the Space Wolves into battle once more against the Alpha Legion, who had claimed many shelters on the surface. The Legion struck on many fronts, wrecking the Space Wolves' tanks while the Wolves [[Grey Hunter]]s were busy gunning down their [[Cultist]] allies. After a fierce day's battle, as darkness fell, the Alpha Legion were forced from a key bunker.{{Fn| | + | [[Image:Sovven.PNG|thumb|right|250px|[[Howling Griffons]] fight [[Red Corsairs]] at [[Sovven]]{{Fn|1d}}]] |
| + | On the irradiated world of [[Sovven]], having escaped from the pits of Commorragh, Sivgald Deathgranter led the Space Wolves into battle once more against the Alpha Legion, who had claimed many shelters on the surface. The Legion struck on many fronts, wrecking the Space Wolves' tanks while the Wolves [[Grey Hunter]]s were busy gunning down their [[Cultist]] allies. After a fierce day's battle, as darkness fell, the Alpha Legion were forced from a key bunker.{{Fn|1d}} | ||
| − | Even as the Alpha Legion were forced to abandon their Cultists to take the battle to the newly arrived Flesh Tearers for an ancient relic, the Alpha Legion would not relent. Their warlord, going by the common Alpha Legion alias of [[Alpharius]], drove wave after wave of Chaos Marines into the poisonous sludge that hid the relic, nearly a dozen succumbing to its toxicity. The Alpha Legion [[Hellbrute]] was destroyed by a lucky shot from [[Epistolary]] [[Vekt]]'s [[Plasma Pistol]], but a nearby Forgefiend survived repeated Astartes attacks to obliterate much of the Flesh Tearers forces. In the end, Alpharius was slain in a challenge with Vekt, but his warriors took advantage of the chaos to escape with the relic.{{Fn| | + | Even as the Alpha Legion were forced to abandon their Cultists to take the battle to the newly arrived Flesh Tearers for an ancient relic, the Alpha Legion would not relent. Their warlord, going by the common Alpha Legion alias of [[Alpharius]], drove wave after wave of Chaos Marines into the poisonous sludge that hid the relic, nearly a dozen succumbing to its toxicity. The Alpha Legion [[Hellbrute]] was destroyed by a lucky shot from [[Epistolary]] [[Vekt]]'s [[Plasma Pistol]], but a nearby Forgefiend survived repeated Astartes attacks to obliterate much of the Flesh Tearers forces. In the end, Alpharius was slain in a challenge with Vekt, but his warriors took advantage of the chaos to escape with the relic.{{Fn|1e}} |
==Illias== | ==Illias== | ||
| − | On the labyrinth-like world of [[Illias]], the World Eaters warband [[Gladiator Group 138]] were able to gain the upper hand against the [[Howling Griffons]]. However, the tide turned when a combined assault by Captain [[Xerxes]] and [[Chaplain]] [[Strabo]] caught the World Eaters' line in a pincer. The final straw to the World Eaters defeat came when [[Khorne]] "gifted" the World Eaters' Chaos Lord with the dubious reward of [[Chaos Spawn|Spawndom]]. Their leader reduced to a dribbling beast, the World Eaters withdrew to the ruins.{{Fn| | + | On the labyrinth-like world of [[Illias]], the World Eaters warband [[Gladiator Group 138]] were able to gain the upper hand against the [[Howling Griffons]]. However, the tide turned when a combined assault by Captain [[Xerxes]] and [[Chaplain]] [[Strabo]] caught the World Eaters' line in a pincer. The final straw to the World Eaters defeat came when [[Khorne]] "gifted" the World Eaters' Chaos Lord with the dubious reward of [[Chaos Spawn|Spawndom]]. Their leader reduced to a dribbling beast, the World Eaters withdrew to the ruins.{{Fn|1d}} |
| − | Later, the Flesh Tearers arrived on Illias and jumped into the fray in a fierce counterattack. Their [[Tactical Marine]]s digging themselves up as their [[Assault Marine]]s and [[Sanguinary Guard]] tore into the World Eaters' [[Berzerker]]s, the World Eaters Terminators launched a fierce counterattack which nearly turned the tide. However, the day was won by the Flesh Tearers Chapter Master [[Gabriel Seth]], who leapt from his [[Stormraven]] and carved apart Bane, the World Eaters warlord.{{Fn| | + | Later, the Flesh Tearers arrived on Illias and jumped into the fray in a fierce counterattack. Their [[Tactical Marine]]s digging themselves up as their [[Assault Marine]]s and [[Sanguinary Guard]] tore into the World Eaters' [[Berzerker]]s, the World Eaters Terminators launched a fierce counterattack which nearly turned the tide. However, the day was won by the Flesh Tearers Chapter Master [[Gabriel Seth]], who leapt from his [[Stormraven]] and carved apart Bane, the World Eaters warlord.{{Fn|1e}} |
==Unctious== | ==Unctious== | ||
| − | On the [[Daemon World]] of [[Unctious]], the [[Word Bearers]] and their Cultist slaves gave themselves willingly to [[Daemon]]s, creating hordes of savage [[Possessed Marine]]s and Cultists that hurled themselves at the newly arrived Space Wolves alongside [[Rhino]]s and [[Maulerfiend]]s. Even as the mighty Deathgranter slew a squad of the Traitor Marines, [[Canis Wolfborn]] was pulled from his [[Thunderwolf]] by a swarm of possessed Cultists. However, Wolfborn survived, his claws carving a path through the traitor masses.{{Fn| | + | On the [[Daemon World]] of [[Unctious]], the [[Word Bearers]] and their Cultist slaves gave themselves willingly to [[Daemon]]s, creating hordes of savage [[Possessed Marine]]s and Cultists that hurled themselves at the newly arrived Space Wolves alongside [[Rhino]]s and [[Maulerfiend]]s. Even as the mighty Deathgranter slew a squad of the Traitor Marines, [[Canis Wolfborn]] was pulled from his [[Thunderwolf]] by a swarm of possessed Cultists. However, Wolfborn survived, his claws carving a path through the traitor masses.{{Fn|1e}} |
| − | The largest and most decisive battle of the Crusade soon developed on Unctious, as both loyalist [[Titan]]s of the [[Collegia Titanica]] and Chaos Titans of the [[Traitor Titan Legions]] arrived to do battle.{{Fn| | + | The largest and most decisive battle of the Crusade soon developed on Unctious, as both loyalist [[Titan]]s of the [[Collegia Titanica]] and Chaos Titans of the [[Traitor Titan Legions]] arrived to do battle.{{Fn|1f}} |
==Crusade Forces== | ==Crusade Forces== | ||
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*'''Space Marines''' — Elements from the [[Howling Griffons]], [[Space Wolves]], [[Imperial Fists]], [[Flesh Tearers]], and [[Deathwatch]]{{Fn|1a}} | *'''Space Marines''' — Elements from the [[Howling Griffons]], [[Space Wolves]], [[Imperial Fists]], [[Flesh Tearers]], and [[Deathwatch]]{{Fn|1a}} | ||
*'''Imperial Navy''' — A [[Battlefleet]]{{Fn|1a}} | *'''Imperial Navy''' — A [[Battlefleet]]{{Fn|1a}} | ||
| − | *'''Collegia Titanica'''{{Fn| | + | *'''Collegia Titanica'''{{Fn|1f}} |
===Chaos=== | ===Chaos=== | ||
| Line 77: | Line 80: | ||
==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
| − | * | + | *1: [[Crusade of Fire (Campaign Book)]] |
**{{Endn|1a}}: pg. 15 | **{{Endn|1a}}: pg. 15 | ||
**{{Endn|1b}}: pg. 40 | **{{Endn|1b}}: pg. 40 | ||
| − | **{{Endn|1c}}: pg. 50 | + | **{{Endn|1c}}: pg. 46 |
| − | **{{Endn| | + | **{{Endn|1d}}: pg. 50 |
| − | **{{Endn| | + | **{{Endn|1e}}: pg. 60 |
| + | **{{Endn|1f}}: pg. 67 | ||
| + | **{{Endn|1x}}: {{CME}} | ||
[[Category:Battles (Astra Militarum)]] | [[Category:Battles (Astra Militarum)]] | ||
Revision as of 02:00, 5 December 2025
|
This article is about the Imperial Crusade; for the rulebook, see Crusade of Fire (Campaign Book). |
 | ||
| Date | ???.M41 | |
| Location | Corvus Sub-sector | |
| Outcome | Ongoing | |
| | ||
 Imperium
|
 Servants of Ruin
|
 Prophets of War
|
| | ||
 Lord Militant Arian Vois Jarl Sigvald Deathgranter Captain Darnath Lysander Chapter Master Gabriel Seth Captain Xerxes
|
 Anathrax the Foetid Bane The Changeling
|
Archon Viscount Rex Duke Sliscus
|
| | ||
100 Imperial Guard Regiments Elements from 5 Chapters Imperial Navy Battlefleet Titan Legions
|
Servants of Ruin
|
Prophets of War
|
| | ||
| Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
The Crusade of Fire, originally known as the Crusade of Light, was a major Imperial Crusade launched in M41 to reclaim the worlds of the Corvus Sub-sector.[1x] A large-scale operation, the Crusade of Fire was the largest Imperial Crusade since the Macharian Crusade of the early 41st Millennium.[1a]
Contents
Prelude
After nearly a thousand years, the Warp Storms that had isolated the Corvus Sub-Sector finally subsided. A Crusade to reestablish Imperial rule was immediately launched under Lord Militant Arian Vois and accompanied by no less than a dozen Space Marine Companies and a hundred Imperial Guard Regiments. However, as the first ships emerged from the Warp, Lord Vois' worst fears were confirmed as much of the Sub-Sector lay in chaos and madness. Worse still, much of it was overrun by Chaos Space Marines under the Daemon Prince of Nurgle Anathrax the Foetid who had already sacrificed entire planetary populations in a dark ritual that would cast the sub-sector back into the Warp.[1x] They had also discovered that a Dark Eldar raiding party known as the Prophets of War under Archon Viscount Rex was active in the sector, looking to acquire massive amounts of fresh slaves in the chaos.[1a]
The Crusade Begins
Launched amid great fanfare and a 14 day opening parade, the Crusade of Light set out to reclaim the Corvus Sub-sector. The basic plan was to land Administratum survey teams on every world who would make contact with the native populations and re-evaluate their ability to be integrated into the Imperium. Upon contact with hostile forces, Space Marine and Imperial Guard forces would forcibly take control of the planet. But no sooner did the Crusade fleet emerge from the Warp than the error of its intended plan was made clear. The Crusade of Light was too late: the Servants of Ruin stood ready for them with a fleet of Battleships. Thus it was that the Crusade of Light had become the Crusade of Fire.[1x] The Lord Militant ordered the immediate deployment of the Space Marine forces accompanying the Crusade en masse, and dozens of Thunderhawks carrying the Space Marines landed on key worlds even as other Astartes forces assaulted the Chaos fleet with Boarding Torpedoes.[1a]
Junkatta
The factories of Junkatta were listed as a top priority of the Crusade and a combined force of Space Wolves and Imperial Fists quickly landed to secure key locations. However, they soon came under an ambush from Traitor Guard. Sigvald Deathgranter of the Space Wolves attacked the traitors' command section while the Imperial Fists bore of the brunt of the attack, which was led by a gigantic Soul Grinder that quickly killed the Fists' Master of the Forge. Worse still was yet to take place, as the Space Wolves soon turned their Bolters on their allies. Only as Deathgranter's axe beheaded the Traitor Guard Colonel, was the Changeling revealed and his spell undone. Their leader slain, the Traitor Guard lost the will to fight but the toll they inflicted upon the Space Marines was great. The Imperial Fists called in reinforcements and began to reclaim and refortify the central Hive of the planet.[1b]
Fighting continued in the manufactorum hives of Junkatta, where Captain Darnath Lysander led the Imperial Fists 1st Company in a desperate bid to cleanse the city of a force of Gladiator Group 138 World Eaters under the Chaos Lord and former Chapter Master Bane. Deploying a wall of Storm Shields that not even the World Eaters Terminators could breach, Lysander's Veterans held form and completed the fortification of their city.[1d]
Corvus Majoris
On Corvus Majoris, the Howling Griffons were the first to engage the enemy forces after coming under Alpha Legion ambush. Putting up a vicious resistance, the Griffons drove back the Alpha Legion Chosen and Forgefiends and won the day.[1b]
Alfrost
On Alfrost, the Space Wolves were attacked by a Dark Eldar raiding party that emerged from a Webway Portal. As the Space Wolves vanguard was slain by Wyches and their tanks destroyed by overhead Razorwing Jetfighters, the tide turned as Long Fangs activated a Skyfire Nexus, their rockets reducing the sleek jetfighters to debris. Deathgranter joined battle with the Dark Eldar Succubus and though he slew her, her handmaidens brought the Space Wolf down and managed to drag him back to Commorragh.[1b]
Voidspan Point & Savrap
At Voidspan Point, the Dark Eldar warlord Duke Sliscus immediately took control of the vital station and used it to his advantage by immediately leading a raid on the Jungle World of Savrap, seeking the treasures that were rumored to lay within its depths. However, the Dark Eldar forces quickly ran into the Flesh Tearers under Reclusiarch Carnaevon who led a Death Company into the xenos ranks alongside a Deathwatch Kill-Team. But Sliscus soon showed his own hand, deploying his Necron allies who forced the Astartes to withdraw.[1c]
Sovven
On the irradiated world of Sovven, having escaped from the pits of Commorragh, Sivgald Deathgranter led the Space Wolves into battle once more against the Alpha Legion, who had claimed many shelters on the surface. The Legion struck on many fronts, wrecking the Space Wolves' tanks while the Wolves Grey Hunters were busy gunning down their Cultist allies. After a fierce day's battle, as darkness fell, the Alpha Legion were forced from a key bunker.[1d]
Even as the Alpha Legion were forced to abandon their Cultists to take the battle to the newly arrived Flesh Tearers for an ancient relic, the Alpha Legion would not relent. Their warlord, going by the common Alpha Legion alias of Alpharius, drove wave after wave of Chaos Marines into the poisonous sludge that hid the relic, nearly a dozen succumbing to its toxicity. The Alpha Legion Hellbrute was destroyed by a lucky shot from Epistolary Vekt's Plasma Pistol, but a nearby Forgefiend survived repeated Astartes attacks to obliterate much of the Flesh Tearers forces. In the end, Alpharius was slain in a challenge with Vekt, but his warriors took advantage of the chaos to escape with the relic.[1e]
Illias
On the labyrinth-like world of Illias, the World Eaters warband Gladiator Group 138 were able to gain the upper hand against the Howling Griffons. However, the tide turned when a combined assault by Captain Xerxes and Chaplain Strabo caught the World Eaters' line in a pincer. The final straw to the World Eaters defeat came when Khorne "gifted" the World Eaters' Chaos Lord with the dubious reward of Spawndom. Their leader reduced to a dribbling beast, the World Eaters withdrew to the ruins.[1d]
Later, the Flesh Tearers arrived on Illias and jumped into the fray in a fierce counterattack. Their Tactical Marines digging themselves up as their Assault Marines and Sanguinary Guard tore into the World Eaters' Berzerkers, the World Eaters Terminators launched a fierce counterattack which nearly turned the tide. However, the day was won by the Flesh Tearers Chapter Master Gabriel Seth, who leapt from his Stormraven and carved apart Bane, the World Eaters warlord.[1e]
Unctious
On the Daemon World of Unctious, the Word Bearers and their Cultist slaves gave themselves willingly to Daemons, creating hordes of savage Possessed Marines and Cultists that hurled themselves at the newly arrived Space Wolves alongside Rhinos and Maulerfiends. Even as the mighty Deathgranter slew a squad of the Traitor Marines, Canis Wolfborn was pulled from his Thunderwolf by a swarm of possessed Cultists. However, Wolfborn survived, his claws carving a path through the traitor masses.[1e]
The largest and most decisive battle of the Crusade soon developed on Unctious, as both loyalist Titans of the Collegia Titanica and Chaos Titans of the Traitor Titan Legions arrived to do battle.[1f]
Crusade Forces
Imperial
- Imperial Guard — 100 Regiments[1a]
- Space Marines — Elements from the Howling Griffons, Space Wolves, Imperial Fists, Flesh Tearers, and Deathwatch[1a]
- Imperial Navy — A Battlefleet[1a]
- Collegia Titanica[1f]
Chaos
- Servants of Ruin — Included Chaos Space Marines from the Word Bearers, Alpha Legion, Red Corsairs, and Gladiator Group 138 as well as Cultists, Traitor Guard, and Daemons.[1a]
