The Saga of the Wolves of Eridani

Eniola's Prospect

First Walk

We are so close to home now. My loyal Sacrastan, Frodleikr, pointed out which star in the sky belongs to Skogheim. I can see her now from where I sit and write. The Cicadrix Maledictum lies behind me, and it is pleasing to see her so far and free from the horrors we witnessed on Cadia.

Samalut was tedious and long, and a frustrating appointment to have some so far, and be back within communication with the House once more. A torment indeed, but Aunt Rúna was right to stay and support our sword brethren in the Cadian 177th.

This new campaign seems to be a new flavour of the same torment. Konungr Aki sent us a new ship, to replace the one lost in the skies of Cadia, and we were free agents once more. Once the crusade upon Samalut was concluded, we plotted a course for home at last, but have been diverted to the world Eniola's Prospect, also known as IOL-910. Aunt Rúna says she knew of it, we had petitioned for mining rights many years ago, but they had been won by a great Trading Dynasty called Pretorius.

The request for aid came from the Departmento Munitorum of the Imperium, but Konungr Aki also asked us to attend. Our assistance now could secure political advantage. I fear how weak House Ulfir has become if three Armigers and one Questoris is considered a force worth deploying. Is it possible that this is a political move by the Konungr to keep Aunt Rúna from returning to Skogheim? She will be his strongest ally, but does he fear her as his strongest rival?

The 177th have been deployed as well. We had invited them to join us at Skogheim and feast in the halls of Vestrfjall to celebrate our shared victories. As such they were nearby, and thus the Departmento Munitorum redirected them. We can do nothing less than fight beside them. I understand some other Imperial forces have also been mobilised.

Eniola's Prospect is a mining world, recently settled. It has been invaded by Orks. I am pleased to be fighting Xenos filth, rather than traitors and heretics. It is pleasing to always be able to tell your enemy from your allies. The treachery of the Volscani Cataphracts haunts me still.

My first deployment was alongside Vei Bjartr and Vei Danr, Captain Founder and the 2nd Company of the 177th, and elements of Eniola's Prospect’s militia. We were sent to engage a force of Ork walkers assaulting a refinery and to destroy or hold them, however Aunt Rúna also asked if we could try to preserve the facility and recover any fuel reserves for political advantage.

I was not fully prepared for the swarm of Orkoid walkers, the Orks on Samalut tending to prefer trukks and battlewagons when they weren’t sneaking around. Our initial hopes of sallying forth into the Ork hoard we quickly checked when we realised we would be badly outnumbered and dragged down. Instead we opted to winnow them at range (always Danr’s preference anyway) before we engaged.

It was somewhat successful, we took out most of the walkers with lance and cannon, then when the reached the lines of our Guard allies, we charged in to defend them. In that regard at least, we were successful, however amongst the walkers was a massive Ork, so large and heavily armoured we had not been able to pick him out form amongst the smaller walkers, but far, far more deadly.

I was forced to quit the field, having taken damage from crude but powerful rockets and up close when dispatching walkers in melee, I was too slow to prevent the Ork Warboss (as I assume he must be) from getting behind me and breaching my reactor.

Whilst I was engaged with the primary threat, an airborne force of Orks descended upon the left flank. I understand that Captain Founder and Lieutenant Wright were heroic indeed, holding back the Orks as casualties were evacuated.

Technically we achieved the aim of destroying all the walkers, but the battle was unquestionably a defeat, we took many casualties and forced to quit the field, all the Armigers were badly mauled and Captain Founder has been in emergency surgery for hours.

Outpost 14

A new regiment, the Nightfall 31st, has been deployed to Eniola's Prospect. They appear to be primarily a scouting specialist regiment, and are being used as such, but I don’t think I understand the tactics. Individual platoons have been spread about various locations bordering the territory controlled by the Orks.

A single platoon is not nearly strong enough to resist any Ork incursion, so they are capable of doing little more than observe the Ork movements and report them in. But it is too big to avoid notice in the way that one or two men with a radio might, and too far from other platoons to be reinforced, so once they have reported in they are almost certainly doomed.

One such unfortunate unit was L Company, 2nd Platoon, guarding Outpost 14. We heard their report, dozens of Orks swarming towards their position supported by walkers and airbourne elements. It was clear from their report that they were expecting to die, and they certainly had a different attitude to this compared to the Cadians I have grown used to.

Aunt Rúna checked the map, and we started running. We informed the Nightfaller signalman of our intent, but either he didn’t understand, or he didn’t believe us. As we approached we could see the fight beginning. Just outside the walled compound a squadron of Sentinel Walkers, a little smaller than Glymja with ranged weapons built into the torsos and no arms or melee weapons opened fire upon the foe just out of my sight. As we came around the side of a hab block I could see the wreckage of multiple Ork walkers.

Aunt Rúna told me later that from her higher vantage she had seen the Sentinels bursting out of ambush and unleashing all their fury, including a salvo of single use missiles, upon the enemy, destroying four out of six of the smaller walkers. She then announced our presence to all parties; obliterating the largest Ork walker, a “Deff Dredd” in the Ork parlance, with her thermal cannon whilst obliterating the remaining smaller walkers, “Killa Kans”, with a salvo of stormspear rockets.

We moved to engage the Ork war leader, but were arrested by the arrival of the Ork airborne contingent. Three rotor-bladed flying contraptions swept from the sky, unleashing a barrage of rockets upon mighty Striiguth, before swooping in upon the Sentinels. The Sentinel leader, his hull proclaiming his vehicle to be named Shade Weasel, destroyed one of them with close range fire, I claimed another for myself and Striiguth simply knocked the third from the sky with the flat of her axe, as if swatting a pesky insect.

Nevertheless this gave time for the Ork warleader, a grossly oversized beast wearing so much armour he appears to be a walker himself, to charge Aunt Rúna. She was not surprised by such underhanded treachery, and landed two solid shots upon the monster with her thermal cannon, and yet, unbelievably, the monster was not obliterated. It emerged from the steam, it’s armour glowing red hot in places, completely melted off in others, and surely continuing to burn within its own armour.

It beset Striiguth with it’s mighty axe, smashing through her shin plate and shattering the ankle pistons, before mangling her knee bearing, however Aunt Rúna was able to stay on her feet by applying emergency locks to her leg before it collapsed under her (potentially fataling bringing her cockpit within striking distance). She hammered her axe into the thing from above, smashing straight through the massive crude engine powering it’s armour, and then for good measure she kicked the beast back towards whence it came from. I trust the last we’ve seen of the creature.

We had overcome all foes set against us, but they had delayed us terribly. Once I was able to get past the wreckage, I ran full tilt to the aid of the surviving Guardsmen. Inhibited by the very defences that the Guardsmen were sheltering behind, I had to run all the way around the perimeter to engage the Orks swarming in the front. I managed to slaughter half a dozen of them, but was not fast enough to catch them all and could do nothing but look on in horror as just a handful of Orks, refusing to stand and face me, swept through the gates of the compound where I could not follow and slaughtered the remaining Guardsmen.

Striiguth strode right over the survivor of one squad, eradicating his pursuers, but was only able to take furious revenge upon those that escaped me, too late to protect the remaining Guardsmen. All told there were five surviving foot soldiers, just one unwounded, plus the three sentinel pilots. We slaughtered the Orks for their transgressions, and saved Outpost 14, but at great cost.

I could have done better. My previous encounter with the Orks left me over-cautious, sticking too close to Striiguth where the close confines of the hab-buildings confined us. Had I moved ahead and deployed on the other flank, leaving Aunt Rúna to fight alone as she was so clearly very capable of doing, I could have protected more of the Nightfallers. Or once freed from conflict if I could have moved faster around the compound… My actions here, my failings, have cost lives of noble Nightfallers. This day’s victory rings hollow.

We feasted the surviving soldiers, gave thanks for their service and congratulations for their victory and skill at arms. I asked the sentinel leader what manner of beast a shade weasel is, for surely it is a noble predator for him to choose to bear it as his livery. I appear to have quite misjudged the situation. The shade weasel is a disgusting vermin, and the pilot expressed his loathing of them in no uncertain terms. Clearly the cultural divide is wide here.

Aunt Rúna has lodged a formal complaint to Imperial Guard high command about the disposition of the Nightfallers. Dozens of good men and women have died in vain because of their questionable tactics. Whilst she has no official authority, the word of Yarl Rúna of Vestrfjall, Jafnather of Konungr Aki of Ulfir is not to be ignored lightly.

Assault on Dhihabi

It seems the Guard forces are to be withdrawn. There is war brewing in the Graiae, on the far side of the Rift, more important to the wider Imperium than this unfortunate world. It is unclear to me what the honourable thing for us to do here is. We have been requested to accompany the Guard. Do we abandon the people of Eniola's Prospect to the Ork, or do we abandon our striithkyn to Cadians, and our new friends the Nightfallers to fight the more important war without us?

Lord General Batiatus commands the Imperial forces on Eniola's Prospect. He is being left behind to continue the war here, with just the local defence force and hastily raised civilian militia. He has come up with a plan, a last ditch offensive using the Guard whilst he has them, and if it succeeds the PDF should be able to hold the Orks at bay, using the Pretorian Canyon as a natural barrier and chokepoint. For it to work, we must take and hold the town of Dhihabi.

The mission began with a breakthrough assault on the town. Fast moving elements of the Nightfaller 31st and Cadian 177th assaulted a weakly defended side of the town. Myself and the other Armigers accompanied, with the slower Striiguth following up with the slower second wave that would move in to take advantage of the hole we punched in the Ork defences using speed and surprise.

Unfortunately, the Lord General’s intelligence was lacking. As we smashed into the defences but before we had fully overwhelmed them, a fast moving horde of Orks assaulted us from the rear, something that the Lord General had assured us would be impossible. These new Orks predominantly wear red, rather than black, and seem to favour fast moving vehicles over brute strength.

The Imperial forces had halted just outside of the town, and commenced fire. The commanders knew they would outgun the Orks, and the brutes would be forced to rush out of cover into the teeth of their guns. This was largely successful, with the fastest Ork units on the right flank smashing into, and largely rebounding off, the Ogryns.

For my part I was on the left flank. I accounted for some Ork ornithopters, and slaughtered many foot soldiers, but was swarmed as I defended our friends in Shade Weasel squadron. Had I pulled back, I would have left the much weaker Sentinels vulnerable, but in retrospect that might have been the wiser move.

Hidden amongst the mob of Orks assaulting me with axes and other crude weapons, was a leader wielding a power claws. I saw him coming, but failed to pick him out from amongst the green tide of bodies. He managed to climb up my right side and ruptured the fuel cell on my thermal lance. The resulting explosion crippled not just Glymja, but the already damaged Vapnburtha and several nearby Guardsmen. The fact it also vaporised multiple greenskins was of little consolation.

As I quit the field, I saw Sverthsegg rushing off to intercept the red Ork reinforcements. They managed to avoid him, but as they closed with the rest of our group and slowed for combat, he charged in behind. He was able to destroy one truck full of Orks, whilst the hastily reformed Guard gunline focussed on the heavily armed bikers. The last I saw was the Cadian’s tame witch casting her witchfire at the red Ork leader.

Undoubtedly we won the battle, but the surprise appearance of these unexpected Ork reinforcements places the overall campaign in jeopardy. The Sacristans say it will take some time to restore Glymja to a battle worthy state, so I must sit the next battle out.

Battle of Dhihabi

How I curse that Ork that ripped open my thermal lance. That was my greatest regret from yesterday’s battle. My second greatest mistake was referring to Aunt Rúna as Aunt Rúna in front of the Ogryns. They have taken to referring to Striiguth as Aunt Roona. I’m not actually sure that they understand that there is a person inside the Knight piloting it. They have also taken a great fondness to her, indeed bizarrely they seem protective of her despite her huge size and power.

I am given to understand that the battle to hold Dhihabi has not gone well. Despite the unexpected Ork reinforcements, Lord General Batiatus refused to engage the artillery, wishing to hold it in reserve so that it may be used later to shell the Orks and prevent them from rebuilding the bridge. Aunt Rúna (Yarl Rúna in public from now on) has privately hypothesised that he was willing to spend the lives of the Guardsmen who will soon be departing, rather than risk the assets that will remain with him.

It was, I am told, a close run battle. So close I can’t help but feel I may have made the difference had I been there. The Ork Warboss from Outpost 14 returned, apparently still alive despite everything she did to him previously. It seems this monster is impossible to kill. The combined firepower of a platoon of Guard and their support vehicles stripped him of his bodyguards, and Striiguth closed in for the kill. From what Rúna says, she battered him repeatedly with her axe, but he refused to die.

I’ve seen this blade cut through tanks in one blow. The Ogryns rushed in to help, pinning him in place between their shields, and still he would not die. She swears she dealt him half a dozen blows, any one of which should have killed him. All the time, he was was smashing into her weak points. The beast was canny, as well as tough, and hammered into her vulnerable joints.

She called off the Ogryns, stepped back and hammered it with her thermal cannon, (again, a weapon of tank-killing proportions) then re-engaged. She only stopped once the creature was beaten into a hole the ground and no longer moving. If she could have dug him out of the rubble and ensured the job was finished she would have done so, but he had done for her as much as she had done for him, and the Sacristan Crawler had to haul her away before the position was overrun.

On the opposite flank, it was less of a brutal brawl, and a more spread out battle. Sverthsegg took a flanking approach alongside Lieutenant Raan and some Nightfallers. They ambushed some red Orks in a truck, destroying the vehicle and most of the Orks, but there was another Warboss amongst them. He managed to defeat Sverthsegg and I understand Lieutenant Raan is now MIA.

Overall the Guard were unable to hold against the Orks, there were too many Orks and not enough support. They have been recalled to the landing craft, and we are going with them. The Assault on Dhihabi taught me that doing the honourable thing in the moment can be more costly overall, and one must consider what is more important in the bigger picture. A hard lesson.

Recalled to Skogheim

It’s been an eventful time. Glymja was repaired during the transit to Lachesis, and I took a full part in the war against the archenemy. Since then we returned to Eniola's Prospect to assist with finally driving out the Orks. The planet has fared poorly in our absence, but I think of all that happened on Lachesis and must admit our presence was more needed elsewhere.

With the bulk of the Orks fleeing, the remaining Imperial reinforcements that have been pouring in post-Lachesis were split up to hunt down any remaining Orks and purge them. Our pack, along with our friends the Cadians, were sent to the fourth planet. It has no Imperial settlement as yet, it being deemed far less valuable than the fifth, but it does have an atmosphere and ecosphere.

Strangely, instead of Ork, we found Aeldari. Lieutenant Wright was the first to find them, and we were called in from the flanks to support. We arrived quickly and closed in on both flanks, trapping the Aeldari and slaughtering them before the remainder fled. They had been trying to do something with some artificial structures of an unknown metal. The ways of the Xenos are mysterious, and Aeldari are not to be trusted, so the structures were destroyed by melta lance. I can claim to have killed one of the Aeldari walkers in a similar weight class, along with some half a dozen infantry.

But my contributions have paled in comparison to those of Bjartr. I had always considered that his lack of respect towards his betters would hamper him. I had hoped that with battlefield experience I would improve my combat skills to match his already excellent abilities, whilst his lack of respect would show to his detriment.

It seems I have been quite wrong. I still don’t know why I survived Cadia when so many of my betters fell, and nothing I have done since then has disillusioned me of the view that all I have to recommend to me so far is luck. Luck which can evaporate overnight, whilst my skill at arms remains simply passable.

Meanwhile, Bjartr has not only continued to improve his skill at arms, but extended combat experience with Aunt Rúna has also taught him, finally, to respect his elders. It can be of no surprise therefore to find that as we are at long last heading back to Skogheim he has been invited to attempt Vargaeld.

It has been a long time since I saw Skogheim. It seems a lifetime ago, I was a different person when we left. Young, eager, arrogant. Inexperienced. So many of us departed, as a glorious host, and now some few return as battle-damaged dregs. Will I even recognise my home? Will my remaining kin recognise me?

Ritual of Becoming

He made it, of course. Looking into my soul I am relieved to find I am pleased for him. Jealousy is unbecoming of a Knight, and I am glad to be happy for him. He has taken command of the Knight Breithux. She is an old steed, long confined to the vaults of Vestrfjall. Since the loses on Cadia, the house Sacrastans have been recommissioning her.

In other news, our pack is to be reinforced. Upon our return, Aunt Rúna headed straight to Setja to speak with Konungr Aki. I know he is young and inexperienced, so it does seem strange he has been so willing to allow the most experienced member of his Exalted Court to stay away so long when we were so close. The only member of his father’s court to return from Cadia, she could surely be the most influential Knight in the whole house at this point, but perhaps he sees her instead as a threat? He does not know her like I do.

She won’t tell me exactly what they spoke about, but it must have been deeply political. Now that Bjartr is no longer using Sverthsegg, she needs a new Veitha. But instead of one of clan Vestrfjall taking up the duty, she will be piloted by none other than Asta Ulfir, the Konungr’s younger brother, who will join our pack. Is he here to keep an eye on us, or is he some kind of a hostage? Perhaps a little of both. It is to be hoped that Konungr Aki will have an heir of his own soon, but for now Asta is next in line.