Argovon Campaign
The Argovon Campaign is a battle being fought by the Indomitus Crusade's Battle Group Kallides within the Pariah Nexus' Argovon System, against the Szarekhan and Oruskh Dynasties. It is part of the greater Pariah Crusade.[1a]
It was spearheaded by High Field Marshal Janred Remko Hynflaager's Task Force XI and was tasked with destroying the Noctilith Pylons within the System.[1a]
Contents
Overview
The Argovon System lies in the southern region of the Pariah Nexus and was a target by the Indomitus Crusades Battle Group Kallides. Once entering the Nexus, the Imperials were wracked by feelings of paranoia, exhaustion, and lethargy that has since become known as "The Shattering". The only known safeguard to this effect was faith in the Emperor. Despite much suffering, the Imperials scored a number of victories at the Battle of the Gates, the Death March of Paradyce II, and the Vie Almnus Counter-Push. Groupmaster Marran planned for a wider reconquest of the wider Pariah Nexus, intending to advance methodically through the region and not commit significant drives unless he could be sure systems and worlds to their rear were purged of the Necrons.[1a]
The Imperials detected no pleas for aid within their advance save for the Argovon System, leading Marran to dispatch a Task Force to deal with it. Argovon had a high Ecclesiarchy presence and could thus serve as a vital staging post or safe zone for refugees. When it was revealed by the Mechanicum that the System was also home to a Blackstone mining site on Foronika, Task Force XI was quickly formed. It fought and suffered in a number of battles such as the Hive Bhorik Consumption, where a dozen Imperial Guard Regiments disappeared in the city's Underhive, the Collapse of the Ingaard Bridge which saw thousands of armoured vehicles of the Touzen Tank Korps plunge into the ocean, and the Night of the Gnashing Teeth.[1a]
Eldar forces have also been observed in the region. 4,000-5,000 Imperial Guard personnel were executed for spreading "malicious rumours" for reporting the sightings of these enigmatic creatures. It is believed the Eldar are from Craftworld Alaitoc and the Harlequin Masque of the Dreaming Shadow.[1a]
Notable Actions
Foronikan Apocalypse
At Foronika, the Imperials fought against the Necrons over Blackstone forgeshrines[1a][2f][2g] in a war so vicious that it became known as the Foronikan Apocalypse.[2h] Imperial forces were led by Major General Oyer Valdu, who was joined by Archmagos Archeogeologor Akuminor Xor.[2f]
Despite the presence of tens of millions of Imperial Guardsmen, the war on Foronika ground to a bloody stalemate.[2f] One of the most infamous actions was on a series of hills known as the Humps of Kafusa: it took eight months for Imperial forces to seize this high ground at the cost of two million lives. Even then it was only possible thanks to the Tome Keepers' 3rd Company and Knights from House Boros.[1a]
Hishrea
At Hishrea Governor Oponidas Phlax was quick to respond to Necron incursions and provided as much aid as possible to Task Force XI. In one notable engagement the local Hishrean Mountainmen PDF set off explosives on the underside of a frozen lake. They then lured thousands of Necrons onto the surface before springing the trap, sending the xenos into the depths.[1a] Despite their successes, however, the Imperials suffered heavy losses - not just to the invading xenos, but to the harsh conditions (with reports indicating that around a third of casualties were due to climatic causes).[2a]
One of the most notable actions of the campaign on Hishrea was the Assault on the Nurtheos Shore, which saw Imperial Guard forces (supported by Space Marines of the Obsidian Jaguars and Tome Keepers Chapters, Battle Sisters of the Order of Our Martyred Lady and Knights of House Miranor) lead an attack on a pair of Dolmen Gates that the Necrons were attempting to construct there. Victory took several months, but both gates were destroyed.[2c]
The tide of the war changed, however, with the arrival of vast numbers of Necron reinforcements and the leader of the Imperial forces, Admiral Archibalda Tansk, was reluctantly forced to withdraw, leading to overall defeat for the Imperials. Tansk was heavily criticised for her decision, although she maintained that the numbers of Necrons simply would have made victory impossible. She was later executed by Task Force XI High Command.[2a][2b]
Other
At Sarronik the 19th Irikidan Hastati and the 3rd Irikidan Ballistas alongside the Battle Sisters of the Order of the Ivory Blade were surprised when they encountered Necrons on the shores of Lake Chirel due to the presence of a Dolmen Gate. The Battle of the Chirel Shore was an act of containment that went on to involve dozens of Regiments as well as elements from several Sisters of Battle Orders.[1a]
At Argovon, the Imperials encountered a significant Genestealer Cult Presence.[1a]
At the System capital and Shrine World of Argolish the Imperials found the effects of The Stilling at its weakest, but it still was invaded from Necrons who emerged from a Dolmen Gate. The 811th Veolan Black Guard won renown for their 100 day running battle through the Great Gardens of St. Bartholema the Pure Heart. They were aided by a Terminator assault from the Adamantine Lions, who slew a Necron Lord. This confusion bought time for the 82nd Varhian Jackals of the Militarum Tempestus to evacuate the priceless mosaic of the Emperor.[1a]
At the Agri-World of Iaso Battle Sisters from a number of Orders such as the Order of the Argent Shroud, Order of Our Martyred Lady, Order of the Wounded Heart, and Order of the Sublime Adoration deployed to the planet in droves alongside Frateris Militia and Imperial Guard Regiments. They found themselves battling in the grip of a Tomb World's awakening.[1a]
Order of Battle
Imperial
- Imperial Guard - Under High Field Marshal Janred Remko Hynflaager, Major General Oyer Valdu, and Lieutenant Commander Hansk Yurne[1a] (numbers highly approximate[2i])
- Infantry Elements:
- Athonian Tunnel Rats[2a]
- Anvarsian Ice Rangers — 4 Rangings[1a]
- Black Torus Scouts — 6 Companies[2h]
- Cadian Shock Troopers — 3 Regiments[1a]
- Foronikan Offworlder Veterans — 143 Regiments[2h]
- 42nd Foronikan Offworlder Veterans[2i]
- Haephosian Tritons — 23 Companies[1a]
- Kanak Skull-takers — 15 Regiments[2h]
- Lannari Hadesguard — 10 Regiments[2j]
- Miasman Redcowls — 41 Regiments[1a]
- Mordian Iron Guard[2j]
- 721st Mordian[2j]
- Necromundan Guard[2j]
- Nunciar Chevlariks — 32 Regiments[1a]
- Palladion Rifles — 21 Regiments[2h]
- Sashani Patrollers — 19 Companies[1a]
- Savlar Chem-dogs — 13 Regiments[2h]
- Tallarn Desert Raiders — 6 Regiments[2h]
- Tallarn Molerats — 9 Infiltration Battalions[2h]
- Truskan Snowhounds[2c]
- Umbra-Thelloxian Gloomguard — 24 Regiments[2h]
- 17th Umbra-Thelloxian[2j]
- Valhallan Ice Warriors — 15 Regiments[1a]
- 2398th Valhallans[2d]
- Vastadt II Expedrines — 18 Sabot Groups[2h]
- Vastadt III Expedrines — 26 Sabot Groups[1a]
- 45th Vastadt III Expedrines sabot group[2g]
- Ventrillian Nobles — 3 Regiments[2h]
- Vuxorian Venators — 27 Regiments[1a]
- 56th Ghobyan Assault Guards[1a]
- 128th Pontic[2j]
- Armoured Elements:
- Dragoons Exemplar — 12 Echelons[1a]
- 102nd Dragoons Exemplar[2j]
- Graskiuhn Steelflanks — 18 Treadcohorts[2h]
- Ikarran Kataphracts[2c]
- Kharbys Iron Cavalry — 22 Regiments[2h]
- Lascreen Thunderers — 27 Spearheads[1a]
- Mephiteion Crimsoncogs — 53 Regiments[2h]
- Nunciar Chevlariks — 15 Regiments[1a]
- Pluthern Ironclads[2c]
- 12th Pluthern Ironclads[2c]
- Praetorian Hussars — 4 Regiments[1a]
- 1st Praetorian Hussars[2b]
- Sondoran Gearheads — 9 Regiments[1a]
- 90th Sondoran Gearheads[2b]
- Touzen Tank Korps — 32 Regiments[1a]
- Bergundian 63rd[1b]
- Dragoons Exemplar — 12 Echelons[1a]
- Artillery Elements:
- Chancyllian Cannoneers — 6 Regiments[1a]
- Dremian Carronademen — 11 Regiments[1a]
- Formund Scorpions — 14 Regiments[1a]
- Helqun Doombringers — 18 Regiments[2h]
- 1st Helqun[2j]
- Klighayan Mangonels — 22 Regiments[1a]
- Kraddian Thunder Legions — 32 Regiments[2h]
- Sarronikan Trebuchets — 19 Gunhosts[1a]
- Xomoni Blasthounds — 37 Batteries[1a]
- 810th Xomoni Blasthounds[2d]
- Infantry Elements:
- Tempestus Scions:[1b]
- Other
- 213 Formations of Censerhosts[1a]
- Unknown numbers of Pilgrims of Foronika the Brave[1a]
- Ghorik Underhivers[1a]
- ~2,000 Faith Battalions of Argolishian Creedsmen[1a]
- 47 squadrons of Iasoni Outriders[1a]
- 389 Brigades of Argovonian Militia[1a]
- 167th Abhuman Auxiliary Corps[2c]
- Anark Zeta Abhuman Auxilia — 7 Detachments[2h]
- Lafar Hegumon Ogryn Auxilia — 24 Detachments[2h]
- Tagax XIII Ogryn Auxilia — 14 Ogryn Brute Regiments[1a]
- Attilan Rough Riders — 32 Regiments[2h]
- Gantor Rough Riders — 11 Regiments[2h]
- Kya Thine Adepts — 8 Clades[2h]
- Elcsheer Bronzeclads[2j]
- Raddai Groundcrushers[2g]
- 6th Cimbran Gunhaulers[2j]
- 438th Ynmaran Ironsides[2j]
- More than 600 Penal Legions[2h]
- Local Defence Forces[2h]:
- Foronikan Nomads — 107 Tribes[2h]
- Hishrean Mountainmen — 219 Scratch Battalions[1a]
- Space Marines[1a]
- Adamantine Lions[1a]
- Tome Keepers - Under Captain Nasiem bal Tergu[1a] and Lieutenant Gadatas bal Nurval[2c]
- Obsidian Jaguars - Under Captain Xiopa Ahuitz[1a] and Chaplain Kawil Ichwel[2c]
- Atlantian Spears - Under Lieutenant Auxitius Palamas[1a]
- Deathwatch - Elements from Fort Prescience under Watch Captain Argustus Kastor[1a]
- Sisters of Battle - Under Canonesses Gizella and Celiya[1a]
- Imperial Navy - Under Admiral Ashenzar Kinra from the Oberon Class Battleship Doom of His Foes[1a]
- Aeronautica Imperialis Elements - Under Air Commodore Balak Surpara[1a]
- Adeptus Mechanicus Elements - Under Archmagos Archeogeologor Akuminor Xor of Mars[1a][2f]
- Asterius Evictus — Ark Mechanicus.[2f]
- Skitarii from Mars[2f], Ryza[2a] and Voss Prime[2a]
- Inquisition Elements - Under Inquisitors Allexei Macara, Selen Thakra, and Tholome Marcs.[1a]
Necrons[1a]
- Szarekhan Dynasty - Largest presence
- Oruskh Dynasty
Eldar[1a]
- Alaitoc forces
- Harlequins of the Masque of the Dreaming Shadow
Genestealer Cults[1a]
Sources
- Battles (Adepta Sororitas)
- Battles (Adeptus Mechanicus)
- Battles (Astra Militarum)
- Battles (Cadian Shock Troopers)
- Battles (Craftworld Eldar)
- Battles (Deathwatch)
- Battles (Genestealer Cults)
- Battles (Harlequins)
- Battles (Imperial Navy)
- Battles (Imperium)
- Battles (Knights)
- Battles (Necrons)
- Battles (Valhallan Ice Warriors)
- Indomitus Crusade
