Warzone: Borhelia - a mini-campaign on the planet Boreliah in the Esenie system!
The fortress was almost throbbing. A constant pulsating and humming made the place feel extremely disturbing. It was the Fortress of Filth. Lord Entragian had taken over and … improved… an Imperial fortress in a daring raid some months ago. The foolish Imperium had no idea the takeover even had taken place as the Traitor guardsmen had speedily just stepped in charge of all communication and reporting. It was a smooth strike which had given Entragian a safe haven. For how long he couldn’t say, but there had been no sign of enemy movement in the near areas. The Fortress of Filth had become almost a home to Entragian in the short period he had lived in it. It was even better than his own battlecruiser, more... “down to earth”. The Inquisition would certainly add things up soon, but hopefully he would have the book by then.
The chamber was dimly lit and the chanting from the cultists was hypnotizing. There was a strange smell of aether and musk, combined with the filthy smell of rot. Lord Entragian stod in the middle of the chamber and inhaled the smell. It felt good, soothing and invigourating. It was … sheer bliss! As Entragian stood there, he suddenly felt a strange sensation in his head. He turned his thoughts inwards and reached inside himself… someone… or, rather… something was coming. He could feel it. He fingered on his Tarot deck and felt it at an instant; Ahriman! Not even Ahriman, had ever been this close to finding the lost books he had been searching for so ling... Ahriman! He can’t know! He mustn’t!! He’s been asking about Entragian. He wants Gulibus’ library too. Badly. He wants it as badly as Entragian! He mustn’t. Entragian was suddenly very anxious. Ahriman was sneaky and had tricks up his sleeve. Hell, he was a fragging Tzeentch legend for Nurgle’s sake! Nurgle hated Tzeentch and Entragian hated Ahriman. And Ahriman hated Entragian. And Ahriman was on his way! Here to Esenie! To steal the Liber Magii, no doubt! And find the way to the library. That was not an option. Entragian had to get his hands on the book… now!
-Ever! Ever!! Any news about the Magii?
Entragian addressed the sorcerer in the middle of the chamber. Ever was surrounded by seven cultists and in deep trance. But Lord Entragian couldn’t wait any longer. He had to know now. For every second that passed that Tzeentch abomination was getting closer.
-Ssssshhhh…. The sorcerer opened his eyes very slowly. They were all white. He was silent for what Entragian felt was like an eternity, then spoke:
-Ssssshhhh…. The book, yes… the red have it… handed from the black… after fighting the green…
-The red, the black, the green? What are you talking about? What…
Entragian suddenly understood. A couple of days ago he had heard about a major battle between the pitiful humans and the erratic Orks. The Black Ravens, as they were called, had fought a large Ork horde at Ornheim and had won. Could they have found something? But who were the red? And why did they… or… it… have the book.
-The red… yeeessss… My lord wants to know… the sorcerer eyeballed Entragian with an empty expression.
-A new player in this game it is. New, but old. The ones responsible it is.. for the book…
-Fool! You talk in riddles! I want to know where the Magii is and who's sorry limbs I’m going to rip it from!!
Entragian was losing his already bad temper.
-You will tell me now, or I…
-ENTRAGIAN IS EAGER!!!
The sorcerer suddenly screamed, and Entragian froze, flabbergasted! Then Ever said in a calm voice;
-You should study more, my lord...The red is also known as Crimson Templars, my lord. Gulibus was a red librarian once… these are his children…
-The Crimson Templars! Gulibus…
This was almost too much for Entragian, but now he had something to work with... He could make a plan.
-Where are they, Ever!? Where ARE they!?
Ever the sorcerer fell silent for a minute, probing his own psyche, and then spoke calmly;
-You must go to Karditsa. The red ones is at Karditsa! You will take the forbidden tome at Karditsa! You...
Entragian didn’t wait for Ever to finish his ranting and ran out of the chamber. He had work to do!
***
Karditsa looked like a dog's poop in a neat garden; out of place! And with all the Space Marine forces in and around it, it looked even worse. Lord Entragian spat out a green-yellow slime-ball on the ground before him. This would be swift. Because it had to. But he had done ambushes before and knew what to cripple first; the head and the tail of the enemy column. All units were in position and all he had to say was; go! He just wanted to make sure no one would get out of his trap:
-Grohl, give me the status on the Orks. Will they hold the line?
Entragian had struck a deal with a large warband of Orks. Orks were always a gamble and there loyalty was either make or break. If they did what they were supposed to do Entragian would get the Liber Magii without problems.
-The Orks are in place… but they’ve turned around… Oh, my lord… there’s a huge human army approaching; guardsmen! The Orks are moving to intercept them…
Grohl's voice disappeared in static noise. Entragian considered what he had heard. The Guard had, of course, intentions of relieving the Crimson Templars. Fools! Entragian was sure that an army of Orks would keep the filthy humans occupied long enough. He had enveloped the Crimson Templars from four different directions and nothing… nothing could help them now! He was just about to put down the vox when there was a sudden roar, now from the south.
-This is Entragian! What’s that noise? Report!!
But Entragian already saw what made the noise. A huge column of Imperial Guard tanks slowly advanced from the south. Where in Father Nurgle’s name did they come from? Well, it didn’t matter. The Orks got what they came for – a slaughter of humans, they would fight like they always did – hard. And the southern flank just had to hold on long enough for Entragian to break the Crimson Templars. Nothing would stop him from getting his hands on the book!
***
The attack on the village road through Karditsa was perfect and worked like a charm. Entragians Plague Marines together with a Predator charged in from the west, Nraakh, the Daemon Prince of Khorne and a squad of Thousand Sons, under command of the sorcerer Tork attacked from the east. From the south Brek’s Berzerkers stayed embarked in a Land Raider as it shot at the Crimson Templar Land Raider. And from the north Uri’s Nurgle Terminators slowly advanced firing in the rear of the Marine vehicles. The Crimson Templars force was taken by complete surprise and several of the red Marines didn’t make it out of their vehicles before they were either destroyed or damaged. The Plague Marines in their Rhinos and the Predator destroyed a Marine Predator with their first shots, The Khorne Land Raider wrecked the Crimson Templar Land Raider before it had the chance to react. And “Pure Filth”, Entragians beloved Plague Reaper, killed a large number of Terminators with its Pus Cannon. The few remnants of the Crimson Templar Marines disembarked to seek cover and find targets.
***
There were problems in the south though. An armoured Company under the command of von Dentafloss himself roared into view. Entragian swore and prayed at the same time. This could be tight, he thought. He had seen Imperial Guard tanks wreak havoc before and it usually wasn’t pretty. Entragian had put two units of the Black Legion to face the oncoming Imperial Guard, accompanied with a unit of Plague Marines, a Vindicator and a Defiler. Would it be enough?
The Guard tanks and artillery, under the stern glance of von Dentafloss, who was on foot today, hit home with everything they got! The fire took a heavy toll on the Chaos Marine forces. And what’s worse; the Plague Reaper got hit in its rear and dramatically exploded in a huge ball of fire! Entragian made a quick prayer – they must hold!
***
The Orks, the Blood Axes of “Da Sevennty Furrst Reggament”, cheered when they saw the massed infantry coming over the hill. This would be a grand fight! Noshreg, their leader smiled defiantly towards the humans and screamed:
-We ‘ave da big ‘un! Har har!! Now take dis…
Noshreg was interrupted by a gigantic explosion, as the Stompa was hit and started, slowly, falling to the ground. He looked towards the metallic failure and roared:
-Wot? Wha’s dis? Fraggin oomans!! Kill dem lads! Kill dem!!!
Noshreg hollered and pointed towards the Imperial Guard. All of his army started moving towards the guardsmen.
***
The Thousand Sons, the Nurgle Terminators and the squads of the Plague Marines closed in on the Crimson Templars in the streets of Karditsa. Nraakh charged in the side of a Rhino and toppled it with ease. There would be a hard hand-to-hand combat now, as the Marines crawled out of the wrecked or immobilised Rhinos. Nraakh fell upon an unfortunate Marine and ripped the head of him. At the same time the Thousand Sons charged another Marine squad. It was a terrible fight, but the silent Tzeentch Marines were getting the upper hand. Two units of Plague Marines fell in from west. The Berzerkers finally disembarked from their Land Raider and charged into another Marine squad, who was frantically redying themselves for battle on the southern outskirts of Karditsa. Their time was up though when the Zerkers howled and waved their buzzing chainsaws as they tore into the Marines in a frenzied attack, severing limbs and heads from their bodies. The Marines held at first, but the onslaught was so ferocious that they could not withstand it and were wiped out. Nraakh had spotted a Marine Captain and charged into him. The Thousand Sons saw a librarian in terminator armour and Tork instantly felt that this librarian was what all this battle was about; the bearer of the Liber Magii! Tork felt it, wanted it… so he charged!
***
The Orks were hard pressed, but somehow the Imperial Guard attack had lost its momentum and Noshreg felt it was time to take part in the carnage himself. The Bikers were decimated but still held on. Good! The Orks had the humans engaged on several places… except one. A Chimera had sped through the Ork defence and dislodged a squad of Ogryns, dangerously close to Lord Entragian himself. The Ogryns lifted their Ripper Guns and fired, hitting the astonished Lord of Nurgle twice. Large chunks of his body was thrown away with an disgusting sound. But, Lord Entragian was no school-boy. He quickly directed two Obliterators towards the Ogryns and pointed towards a group of Orks to engage the Ogryns, which they happily did. That stopped the Ogryn assassination attempt on Entragian.
***
Von Dentafloss hammered the Chaos forces with all he got. The boys were in good form today, he thought, as he saw shell after shell hit home among the heretic marines. A Valkyria that had flown to close to the Chaos lines was then suddenly shot down, but the passengers, a squad of Storm Troopers amazingly emerged unscathed and started shooting at a squad of Black Legion Marines, which fell back after heavy losses. The whole Chaos rearguard was losing rapidly now and von Dentafloss had no intention of letting them go. He directed his troops with great skill and the Chaos forces crumbled before his armour. It was an ecstatic sight! But, would they be in time to save the Crimson Templars. Von Dentafloss was worried. Things didn’t look too bright at Karditsa…
***
Nraakh finally got the better of his opponent and skewered the Terminator Captain, who fell in two parts. Nraakh roared and looked for new adversaries, but could only watch as Tork, the lowly sorcerer of Tzeentch found an opening and chopped the head off the Crimson Templar librarian! Tork quickly searched the fallen librarian and found it! The Liber Magii!! The whole battlefield seemed to slow down, as everybody realized that mankind was now in for a rough and uncertain time… Tork quickly put the book inside his robes and dashed for a nearby Rhino. Entragian watched with joy and worry at the same time. If Tork managed to stash the Liber Magii for himself… and Ahriman, then all this had been for nothing. He moved towards the Rhino with great speed and voxed: “Tork, hold that Rhino! I’m coming aboard!!”
***
Inquisitor Ellen Ripley trembled with fear. Lord Entragian had the Liber Magii and Daemons were coming out from the Warp Gate at Esenie IX in greater numbers. If Entragian was given enough time he would understand Gulibus book and most probably find the way to the lost library. That couldn’t happen!! She tapped her inter-vox and typed the secret access-code;
-Inquisitor Eisenhorn! I… I’m afraid I have bad news. Lord Entragian wasn’t fooled this time. He found out about the Crimson Templars and crushed them at Karditsa! He… my lord… he has the Liber Magii!
She waited for an outburst from the famous Inquisitor. But it never came.
-Ripley, I understand! Entragian has grown powerful and has become a serious threat. You must launch an attack on his stronghold. Ripley, this is no child’s play no more… you must attack and destroy his stronghold … you must destroy Entragian and retrieve the book. Otherwise… well…
-Inquisitor, I will try… no, I will succeed… in getting the book. Because I have to. I know where his filthy Fortress is. I will do what’s necessary. Forgive me, my lord….
-You are forgiven, child. But get that book!!
-I will Inquisitor! Nothing will stop me!
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Written by Tony Melander (2010)