Ophelian Crusade
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The Ophelian Crusade was a battle of the early Indomitus Crusade waged on the Imperial Shrine World of Ophelia VII.[1a]
Overview
The battle came after successive attacks on Ophelia VII had already been launched by the Tyrant of Blueflame. Already weakened, the worlds Sisters of Battle, Black Templars, and Frateris Militia forces proved vulnerable to a sudden attack by the Night Lords Chaos Lord Kol Rakhul. The Night Lords quickly captured the cathedral and reliquary to Saint Athenasia[1a] (later revealed to have been Kol Rakhul's long-lost sister).
Reinforcements eventually came in the form of Abbess Morvenn Vahl and the Order of the Argent Shroud, though their Battlecruiser Lux Dominus was quickly assaulted upon entering the system. Ultimately, the Captain of the Lux Dominus destroyed his ship via reactor overlord than let it fall into Heretic hands while Vahl and her sisters escaped to the surface.[1b] Once on the surface, Vahl was able to link up with Black Templars forces under Marshal Montfort and Castellan Aymar Tancret. Tancret has assumed temporary command after the grievous injury of Marshal Montfort. While initially planning for a direct assault on Kol Rakhul's stronghold, Vahl frustrated the Templars by diverting her own forces to instead launch a subterranean assault in order to rescue a group of remaining Battle Sisters, pilgrims, and the relic of Saint Athenasia near a cathedral.[1c]
Leading her Celestians, the Sisters navigated the desecrated catacombs beneath Ophelia VII before emerging at the cathedral to defeat a Heldrake. Vahl is shaken when Cultists kill Sister Aleyna, who had earlier exhibited miraculous abilities.[1d] This combined with the death of Castellan Tancret causes a major setback for the Imperial defense. Vahl is nonetheless able to organise the defenses of Convent Sanctorum for a final stand against the Chaos hordes. In the ensuing battle, she personally faces down Kol Rakhul who has set the entire Convent Sanctorum to explode as penance for the loss of his precious slave Lethe. While badly wounded in the battle, she is able to impale the vengeful Chaos Lord with her lance before the bombs could be detonated.[1e]
