Dark Crusade (Charydis Sector)

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The Dark Crusade occurred in late M41, when the Imperial Charydis Sector was invaded by an allied force of Chaos, Orks and Drukhari.^[1]

History

The Astra Militarum were sent to aid the Sector and the Dark Angels Chapter joined them, due to rumours that the Fallen were among the invading Chaos forces. The Ulthwé Farseer Eldrad Ulthran also answered a distress signal sent from the Charydis Sector and felt it was vital for the Aeldari to aid the Imperium's forces. However Ulthran did not ask Ulthwé to take part and instead he dispatched envoys to the nearby Miel Carn Craftworld for their assistance. The Craftworld agreed to do so, for their own reasons and sent their forces to fight beside Ulthran, including Miel Carn's Avatar of Khaine. The Craftworld Saim-Hann also took part in defending the Charydis Sector and fought beside the Imperium and Miel Carn's forces. However, the Tyranids invaded the Sector as well and attacked everyone within it.^[1]

Once such battle took place on an Imperial world, that housed a nearly complete Warlord Titan in a space port/Imperial Titan construction site. Abaddon the Despoiler sought to claim it and personally led his Black Legion forces in invading the world, alongside their Ork and Drukhari allies. The Warlord Titan laid behind the Imperial's battle lines, which consisted of the Astra Militarum and the Dark Angels, who were led by their Grand Master Azrael. The Imperium's forces were also bolstered by their Craftworld allies. In order to succeed in his plans, Abaddon had to rely on^[1] Archon Shadowlord's^[2] Drukhari and the Ork hordes of^[1] the Warboss Ghazghkull Thraka and the Warboss Oggli Biggobb,^[2] to lure Azrael away from the Titan. Once they did so, the Despoiler's Black Legion forces moved to seize the Titan. Once it was in their control, the Black Legion would use the Warlord Titan to wreak havoc on the Imperial forces' unprotected backs. This would also likely cause the world to fall into the invaders' hands.^[1]

As the battle was waged, though, the blood spilled allowed the Chaos God Khorne's Daemons to appear and they aided Abaddon. Moments later, the Tyranids invaded the war-torn Imperial world as well. In the mayhem that followed, a Dark Angels Librarian sensed Ghazghkull Thraka's presence and led a group of Dark Angels to the Ork Warlord. In the battle that followed, each Dark Angel attempted to claim the infamous Ork's head, but Thraka and his personal retinue were able to kill all of the Space Marines. However, the last surviving Dark Angel was able to severely wound the Warlord, before he was slain. The injuries inflicted upon Thraka, though, would soon take him out of the battle completely. Meanwhile, the Black Legion's attack on the spaceport/construction site and wiped out the Imperial and Craftworld forces that were defending it. With no one left nearby to stop them, the Black Legion is then able to claim the Warlord Titan.^[2]

Elsewhere, the Craftworld Miel Carn suffered heavy casualties against the Shadowlord's Drukhari. However the loss of their Wraithlord, broke the will of most of the Craftworld's forces and they began to retreat. The Craftworld's forces likely would have been routed by the Drukhari, if Miel Carn's Avatar of Khaine and Fire Dragons had not barred the Shadowlord's path. Even so, the Archon was able to deal several wounds to the Avatar. By that time, the Black Legion had control of the captured Warlord Titan and the Imperial and Craftworld forces knew the battle was over. However, when Grand Master Azrael spotted several Fallen near Abaddon the Despoiler, he led the Dark Angels in a charge. They then ran towards the Despoiler, despite the Ork hordes of Warboss Oggli Biggobb being nearby as well. Once the battle was joined though, Biggobb shockingly turned upon Abaddon and the Black Legion. The Warboss had always sought to be the sole victor of the battle, but had been prevented from attacking the Black Legion, due to Ghazghkull Thraka's presence. But when the Warlord's injuries took him out of the battle, Biggobb was finally able to take action.^[2]

As the three forces fought each other, Azrael clashed with Abaddon and the two commanders tried to finish the other off. Neither could inflict a fatal blow though, until the Fallen intervened and attacked the Grand Master. This allowed the Despoiler to strike Azrael down, with a blow from his Daemon Sword Drach'nyen. As their Grand Master fell with a wound to his chest, the Dark Angels protected Azrael as they stubbornly fought on. But while the Space Marines were able to kill many of the Orks and Black Legion, they were unable to break the Despoiler's resolve. This forced the Dark Angels to admit that they could not win the battle and they retreated with Azrael. As they did so, the Black Legion and Dark Angels swore vows of undying vengeance upon each other. With that, the surviving Imperial and Craftworld forces fled from the world and Oggli Biggobb's Orks retreated as well. Each side had suffered horrific causalities, but it was Abaddon and the Black Legion who would ultimately emerge victorious. Much blood had been spilled to the Chaos Gods and with the captured Warlord Titan in his hands, much more would fall as well.^[2]

Known Forces

Allied Invaders

• Black Legion - Led by Abaddon the Despoiler^[1]
• Ork hordes of Warlord Ghazghkull Thraka^[2]
• Ork hordes of Warboss Oggli Biggobb^[1]
• Ork hordes of Warboss Gratchnack Throwbri Atkongk^[1]
• Iron Warriors - Led by an unknown Daemon Prince^[1]
• Drukhari - Led by the Archon^[1] known as the Shadowlord^[2]
• Khorne Daemons^[2]

Non Allied Invaders

• Tyranids^[1]

Allied Defenders

• Dark Angels Chapter - Led by Grand Master Azrael^[1]
• Astra Militarum^[1]
  • Forces led by Colonel Amking^[1]
• Miel Carn Craftworld - Led by the Ulthwé Farseer Eldrad Ulthran^[1]
• Saim-Hann Craftworld - Led by an unknown Wild Rider Chief^[1]

Trivia

The following information is not to be regarded as officially sanctioned and/ or is not written from an in-universe point of view. A detailed explanation of the term "Trivia" as used in the Lexicanum can be found here.

• The Dark Crusade campaign was organised by the Games Workshop employee Bo Tolstrup, who gathered other players to take part in it. These players included Jonas Faering, Mikkel Morrild, Martin Kragh, Michael Andreson, Claus Jørgensen, Paul Bridge, Floris Housart, Gil Surepi, Jesper Nørh and Michael Braemer Nielsen. The defenders and invaders each had five players per team. The Tyranids player Claus Jørgensen, remained unaligned with either side.^[1]
• Bo Tolstrup played as the Black Legion.^[1]
• Jonas Faering played as the Ork Warboss Oggli Biggobb.^[1]
• Mikkel Morrild played as the Ork Warboss Gratchnack Throwbri Atkongk.^[1]
• Martin Kragh played as the Iron Warriors.^[1]
• Michael Andreson played as the Drukhari of the Archon^[1] Shadowlord.^[2]
• Claus Jørgensen played as the Tyranids.^[1]
• Paul Bridge played as the Dark Angels Chapter.^[1]
• Floris Housart played as Colonel Amking's Astra Militarum forces.^[1]
• Gil Surepi played another unnamed Astra Militarum force.^[1]
• Jesper Nørh played as the Craftworld Miel Carn.^[1]
• Michael Braemer Nielsen played as the Craftworld Saim-Hann.^[1]
• Ghazghkull Thraka's player was not named.^[2]
• The Khorne Daemons' player was not named.^[2]

Sources

• 1: The Citadel Journal 46, pgs. 31-38 - Dark Crusade: Part One
• 2: The Citadel Journal 47, pgs. 34-38 - Dark Crusade: Part Two