Fluffy battle report of a recent 1500 point game I had as part of our ongoing Narrative League. It was my Emperor’s Children Chaos Space Marines against Derek’s Space Wolves. I’ve written this from the point of view of Derek’s Venerable Dreadnought, with particular focus on his Vindicare Assassin that can’t seem to do anything right.

Ulf was restless. He has fought for the Emperor for centuries as an Astartes of the VI Legion, the Space Wolves. And even in death, he still serves, entombed within a Venerable Dreadnought. After countless battles and innumerable wars, today’s skirmish seemed unremarkable. His assignment in this engagement even less inspiring.

His detachment responded to a distress call from the planet Vogen, which was besieged by Xenos and Heretic invaders. Ulf felt the Space Marines would be best used to strike at the heart of the enemy. Instead his detachment  was sent to defend an unremarkable ruin called “SW1”. Reports were that despicable traitors from the Emperor’s Children Legion were advancing on the area. Hardly seemed memorable. Even worse, Ulf was ordered to hold the backfield to prevent flanking. An important tactical role, but he itched for glory and honour. 

Ulf watched with a tinge of jealousy as his brothers advanced on Thunderwolves, bikes, and abroad Rhinos. He saw Wolfen advancing on the opposite flank leaving him alone. Well, maybe not as alone as he thought.

His heightened senses alerted him that he was not alone. He couldn’t see it, but he could hear and smell something atop a tall piece of machinery. He was curious why his Battle Leader had not noticed. Or maybe he did.

Ulf shifted cautiously and readied his great axe. He voxed the Battle Leader.

“I am not alone.”

In a terse response, the battle leader merely replied: “It fights for the Emperor too” and terminated the line. 

Rather put aback, Ulf focused the oculus sensorium of his suit to discern more about this hidden “ally”. It was well-hidden, but Ulf was experienced enough to recognize an Exitus Rifle, the signature weapon of a Vindicare Assassin. 

His younger brethren would consider such a creature to be cowardly. Ulf was more pragmatic, and expected their hidden sniper to contribute.

The din of combat drew Ulf’s attention back to the battle. A Dreadclaw Drop pod descended upon the ruin of a large structure in the centre of the battlefield. Ulf strained to see what was occuring. A unit of Blood Claws, a squad of Incursors, the Chaplain, Wolf Leader, and Librarian all entered the melee. In the midst of the carnage a monstrous figure dominated the melee, laying low the entire squad of Incursors. It was larger than a dreadnought, had a large wingspan, and a terrifying grin. Ulf was sickened by the sight of the Daemon Prince.

Despite its suppressors, Ulf heard the Vindicare Assassin fire at the Daemon. Ulf looked on expectedly, but was disappointed to see a bullet harmlessly impact a ruined wall. He was even more disappointed to see the Daemon Prince dismembering an entire squad of Blood Claws single-handedly. 

“I will join the fray!” Ulf voxed to his Battle Leader, preparing to rush towards the fighting.

“Hold position!” Was the brief reply from the Battle Leader. His voice ragged, and the sound of grinding and carnage evident in the background. 

Across the battlefield, a fellow dreadnought had taken significant damage from several well-placed meltagun shots. The Daemon Prince emerged from the ruin, and as it flew by, finished the dreadnought with a casual shot from its Warp Bolter. Ulf was incensed.

He looked up unexpectedly at the hidden assassin, willing him to do something, anything.

Another shot was levelled at the Daemon Prince. This one finally striking true, but stopped by the creature’s master-crafted armour. Ulf’s disappointment continued to rise. 

He saw the Daemon Prince tear into a squad of Intercessors on the other flank. He wished he was in range to claim vengeance on behalf of his brothers. He would soon have other things to worry about. 

In a burst of Warpflame, a unit of Warp Talons tore into reality close to Ulf. He hefted his shield, finally ready to draw heretic blood. To his consternation, the airborne heretics descended upon the hiding place of the Vindicare Assassin. After a brief pause, Ulf charged forward to intervene in the fray. 

The sniper was an ineffective fighter, using the butt of his rifle to try to swat away his assailants. Ulf sliced down the Warp Talons, one after another, cleaving his way towards the besieged assassin.

After taking some vicious blows from the enemies lightning claws, the Vindicare Assassin had enough space to draw his Exitus Pistol. If Ulf still had eyes, he would have rolled them because the sniper missed his attackers at point blank range. Moments later, the assassin fell to the swipes of razor-sharp talons. 

Ulf finished the last of the intruders. He surveyed the battlefield, overrun with Heretics and unable to spot his brethren. The battle had been lost, but now it was finally time for him to extract some vengeance upon the attackers. He fired up his flamethrower, hefted his axe, and charged at the nearest opponent…