A Tangled Web: Introduction and Army Lists

Dr’zzlah carefully checked her bedchamber for any sensors or recording devices. Given the paranoid and psychopathic nature of her father/lover, Syryx Lynatharr—Archon of the Ozone Scorpions—it paid to be extra cautious. Once certain that the chamber was clean, she walked to the wall beside her bed and placed her hand on a hidden keypad. She activated the code, known only to her, and a secret panel popped open, revealing a hallway beyond. Stepping into the short hallway, she secured the secret panel before silently walking down the hall to a trophy case mounted on the wall.  Lowering her head to eyelevel with the sensor by the lock, her retina was scanned and the door of the case opened. 

Inside the case were two small figurines: one, a small, blue, grinning mannequin; the other, a dark green gargoyle. Reaching into her tunic, she withdrew a small black stone figure resembling an owl with its wings clasped behind it back. She gingerly placed the figure in the case and thought of the effort it had taken to acquire it. After months of scouring trade documents of merchants that dealt in esoteric objects, she had found references to the figure among the inventory of a certain mon-keigh Rogue Trader. After the numbingly tedious work to locate the object, the ease with which the trader was apprehended and tortured and the object acquired was almost a disappointment. She smiled quietly to herself, remembering the fine elixir made from the spinal fluid of the merchant. Shaking herself from her reverie, Dr’zzlah closed the case and reactivated the security mechanism. Only one more figurine of power, and she could begin her plan to take over the Kabal of the Ozone Scorpions.

In another part of the Ozone Scorpion’s lair, Syryx Lynatharr sipped a syrupy potion designed to keep him lucid and calm. It tasted awful. He lounged in his throne with one leg draped over an armrest and his clawed, mutated hand dragged the base of the dais the throne rested upon. Dr. Jheste, his personal Haemonculus, stood nearby to attend the Archon should the potion have an undesired effect.

“Has Dr’zzlah hidden her latest trinket yet?” Lynatharr drawled, eying the contents of his goblet with distaste.

“Yes, milord. My spies report that she snuck into her bedchamber a few hours ago. She seemed quite agitated.”

“Good.” Lynatharr dipped one of his long, black fingers into the goblet and licked the syrup off it with his spotted, forked tongue. “Do we know the location of the last figurine?”

“Yes, milord. That information has been known to us for some time. It will be quite difficult to procure.”

“That matters not to me.” The Archon shifted so that he was sitting upright in his throne. “Make sure that Dr’zzlah finds out this information in some method that she will not suspect we are providing it. Can you do that, my good doctor?”

“As you wish, sire.” He hesitated, “But I do not understand why you are actively aiding her in her plans for rebellion.”

Lynatharr smiled a shark-like grin. “Come now, doctor, surely you know all too well.  How can one show how magnanimous they are unless they are betrayed by those they love?” Shifting his gaze to the syrupy goo that remained in his goblet, Lynatharr raised his mutated hand and patted the side of the cup as if it were hair. “There, there dear.  Daddy knows that you still love him, even though you wanted to see him encased in a stasis field for all time…” he said, his voice becoming more shrill and agitated. “…which NEARLY KILLED HIMMM!” His clawed hand crushed the crystal goblet. 

Returning to calm, Lynatharr smiled at Jheste. “Doctor, it looks like I will need another dose.” And then he laughed.
 

Far away on the planet of Haven’s Rest, Canoness Marian Tressant walked alongside her host, the good Abbot Piotr Dworkin. After the losses her Commandery had suffered at the hands of the Kurindans, she had sought refuge in the closest friendly planet she could find. It was also well known within the Ecclesiarchy that the waters of the monastery of Haven’s Rest had wondrous curative powers. 

Upon asking the Abbot about the source of the myths of those waters, the kindly friar had smiled and led her through the complex to a small chapel, which they now entered. The chapel was carved in white marble, with several ornate pillars and a large pool in the center. Cool blue water glistened in the pool, and at the head was a statue of a woman in simple peasant’s clothes. In her right hand, she held a pitcher from which water poured into the pool; in her left hand was a bright red stone, shaped something like a fish, which the water poured over.

“That,” the Abbot said indicating the stone, “is the source of the water’s powers”

“But what is it?” the Canoness asked stepping forward to get a better look.

“We believe it is some kind of Eldar spirit stone. No matter what its function before, it now is used for good.”

“But how does it remain here, relatively unprotected. I mean no offense, but surely the enemies of the Imperium would crave such an artifact.”

“They do, indeed. Many have there been that have tried to wrest the stone from Our Lady’s hand. They all have failed, of course.” The Abbot came up behind the Canoness and placed his hand on her shoulder. “You see, those that have had the benefit of these healing waters are also then indebted to defend them, at any time, should the need arise.  In this way are defenders always at the ready to ward off any incursion.”  The Abbot patted her shoulder for effect, and quietly strolled from the chapel.

Marian Tressant sat by the edge of the pool and looked into the glistening water. She wondered how soon it would be before she would be asked to repay her debt. 

Fiction by Patrick Eibel

Mission: Hold At All Costs
Points per Player: 2500

Kabal of the Ozone Scorpions (2499 points) by Kenton Kilgore
My Dark Eldar collection has a lot of Troops, so to get to 2500 points, I had to bring more than a standard Force Organization would allow. Hence, I built two detachments, one headed by Dr’zzlah, treacherous daughter of Archon Syryx Lynatharr; and the other led by her silent accomplice, Vulnayvya. Taking two detachments also allowed me to bring another Talos (a Heavy Support choice) that I had recently acquired.

• Dr’zzlah. Dracon w/ Reaver jet bike, power weapon, gruesome talisman (87 points)
• Vulnayvya. Haemonculus w/ stinger (30 points)
• The Silver Scorpions. Succubus Blygos w/ splinter pistol, agonizer, and trophy rack; two Wyches w/ shredders and wych weapons; seven Wyches w/ wych weapons (183 points). Sky Scorpion. Raider w/ disintegrator (60 points)
• The Handmaidens. Succubus Phaedra w/ splinter pistol and agonizer; nine Wyches w/ wych weapons (158 points). Sky Scorpion. Raider w/ disintegrator (60 points)
• The Ring of Honor. Succubus Eklavdrah w/ splinter pistol, agonizer; and trophy rack; two Wyches w/ shredders and wych weapons; seven Wyches w/ wych weapons (183 points). Sky Scorpion. Raider w/ dark lance and horrorfex (60 points)
• Beastmaster Wormwood w/ splinter pistol and agonizer; five Warp Beasts (75 points)
• Squad 0. Twelve Warriors w/ splinter rifles; two w/ splinter cannons; two w/ shredders (168 points)
• Squad 1. Eight Warriors w/ splinter rifles; one w/ splinter cannon; one w/ blaster (95 points). Sky Scorpion. Raider w/ disintegrator (60 points)
• Squad 2. Eight Warriors w/ splinter rifles; one w/ splinter cannon; one w/ blaster (95 points). Sky Scorpion. Raider w/ dark lance and horrorfex (60 points) 
• Squad 3. Seven Warriors w/ splinter rifles; one w/ splinter cannon; one w/ blaster (87 points). Sky Scorpion. Raider w/ dark lance and horrorfex (60 points) 
• Squad 4. Seven Warriors w/ splinter rifles; one w/ splinter cannon; one w/ blaster (87 points). Sky Scorpion. Raider w/ dark lance and horrorfex (60 points) 
• Squad 5. Eight Warriors w/ splinter rifles; two w/ dark lances; two w/ blasters (126 points)
• Squad 6. Six Warriors w/ splinter rifles; two w/ splinter cannons; one w/ blaster; one w/ shredder (115 points)
• Reaver Squad 1. One Reaver w/ splinter rifle; two Reavers w/ blasters (95 points)
• Reaver Squad 2. One Reaver w/ splinter rifle; two Reavers w/ blasters (95 points)
• Four Taloses (100 points each)

Sisters are, however, really, really good at short-ranged firepower, so to counter that, I would send in my Taloses first: as they are Monstrous Creatures, they would block line of sight to my vulnerable Warriors and Wyches, who would tear through the Sisters. At least, that was the plan.

Sisters of Mercy (2501 points) by Patrick Eibel
Like Kenton, my army uses two detachments: Canoness Marian Tressant is joined by Palatine Phillipa Maracher, and together they lead the rest of the Sisters into battle. Also like Kenton, taking two detachments allowed me an extra Heavy Support choice, which is never a bad thing.

• Canoness Marian Tressant w/ bolt pistol, blessed weapon, rosarius, Mantle of Ophelia (116 points). Celestian Squad Sapristi. Veteran Sister Superior w/ power weapon; one Celestian w/ heavy flamer; one Celestian w/ flamer; one Celestian w/ imagifier; five Celestians w/ bolters (155 points). Rhino w/ extra armor and smoke launchers (58 points)
• Palatine Phillipa Maracher w/ bolter-flamer, Book of St. Lucius, meltabombs (55 points). Celestian Squad Croise. Veteran Sister Superior w/ power weapon; two Celestians w/ flamers; one Celestian w/ imagifier; five Celestians w/ bolters (169 points). Rhino w/ extra armor and smoke launchers (58 points)
• Sisters of Battle Squad Croyance. Veteran Sister Superior w/ Book of St. Lucius; one Sister w/ heavy flamer, one Sister w/ melta gun, seven Sisters w/ bolters (147 points). Rhino w/ extra armor and smoke launchers (58 points)
• Sisters of Battle Squad Clemance. Veteran Sister Superior w/ Book of St. Lucius; one Sister w/ heavy flamer, one Sister w/ melta gun, seven Sisters w/ bolters (147 points). Rhino w/ extra armor and smoke launchers (58 points)
• Sisters of Battle Squad Piete. Veteran Sister Superior w/ storm bolter and Book of St. Lucius; two Sisters w/ storm bolters, seven Sisters w/ bolters (149 points). Rhino w/ extra armor and smoke launchers (58 points)
• Sisters of Battle Squad Esperance. Veteran Sister Superior w/ storm bolter and Book of St. Lucius; two Sisters w/ storm bolters, seven Sisters w/ bolters (149 points). Rhino w/ extra armor and smoke launchers (58 points)
• Seraphim Squad Belliceaux. Veteran Sister Superior w/ power weapon; two Seraphim w/ hand flamers; eight Seraphim w/ bolt pistols and close combat weapons (254 points)
• Dominion Squad Demene. Veteran Sister Superior w/ bolter-melta, Book of St. Lucius; one Dominion w/ imagifier; four Dominions w/ melta guns (180 points). Immolator w/ twin heavy flamers, extra armor (70 points)
• Immolator w/ twin-linked multi-meltas, extra armor, searchlight (91 points)
• Croix d’Mort. Exorcist w/ extra armor (140 points)
• Bapteme de Feu. Exorcist w/ extra armor (140 points)
• Retributor Squad Revanche. Veteran Sister Superior w/ Book of St. Lucius; four Retributors w/ heavy bolters; five Retributors w/ bolters (191 points)

Setting Up by Kenton Kilgore
Pat and I had decided beforehand that we wanted to do an unusual mission; I suggested that “Hold At All Costs” seemed to fit very well with the fiction piece that Pat had written before the game, and Pat agreed. We played at my house, on a 4' x 8' table with a river, a smidge of trees, and a piece burrowed from my Nativity set, to represent the chapel that both sides were trying to claim. We agreed that trees were area terrain (of course), conferring a 5+ save; green areas on the board were high grass that counted as difficult terrain and gave a 6 save, and brown areas were open terrain. 

As Dark Eldar are always the Attackers, Pat’s Sisters, as the Defenders, were obligated to set up first. He placed all of his Rhino-mounted Troops, the Retributors, the Exorcists, and the Immolator with the multi-melta on the table, within 12" of the chapel. According to the mission parameters, the entire Attacking army would go first, coming on from the table edge on Turn 1. 

Posted November 2007
 

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