Board Thread:Roleplaying/@comment-1734134-20190911202955/@comment-1734134-20191124234514

(I apologise for my delayed reply, I was having to finish an essay. Cyradon rolls 23 out of the 8 required for distort vision. One miscast, rolling on the Psychic Phenomena table. Dion rolls a 24 out of the 6 required for Inspiring Presence. One miscast. Rolls on the Perils of the Warp Table.)

There is something strange in the air; as Cyradon summons his psychic abilities, noises seem to echo and sounds seem to repeat. Guardsmen and Partisans inspect their positions, unsure of the source of the sound, while Tau troops inspect their comms, unsure what to make of the strange phenomena. Whatever the case, his power leaves the area around him filtered from the Tau’s line of fire, as the incoming Fire Warriors focus their waves of pulse rounds into the troops around the Space Marines, unsure how to handle the strange visual illusion. Waves of red armoured Fire Warriors march under the supporting fire of Broadsides, who’s waves of missiles level chunks of the forest, forcing the Imperials to duck and weave beneath collapsing, burning trees. The Tau march in disciplined waves, slinking beneath whatever cover they can find while picking off disintegrating Imperial units.

The Valkyrie takes off, instantly harassed by a pair of Tau fighters as it begins to move from the campsite. Some Partisans attempt to draw the alien fighter-crafts attention, but the Valkyrie is quickly hit, beginning to smoke and sputter as it drifts away for the sight of the battle.

The Guard appreciate Hen’s assistance, offering him lo-sticks in appreciation for his help. They recognise his authority and give him thanks as they dig into the dirt, while the autocannon rips up whatever cover the Fire Warriors and Pathfinders might make use of, blasting apart chunks of rock and the charred, brittle remains of knocked out vehicles. Other Guardsmen and Partisans take pot-shots, exchanging fire with the Tau at extreme ranges.

The Tau assault begins to slow and waver; the Partisans and Guard have survived the opening barrage far too intact for the aliens liking. Wishing to avoid causalities, they keep their advance slow and steady, but as Dion inspires the men around him to greater feats of fanatical violence, something terrible occurs. Instantly a dark pall falls upon the field; the Tau are staggered but not nearly as shaken as the Imperials as the scent of copper and brimstone grows strong. A hot, wet, rip resounds through the air as something steps into existence; a Daemon. It is tall and limber, snarling and hissing as it draws its great burning sword, its horned, sinuous frame emerging at the rim of the forest. It sets its eyes upon Dion and screams something vile as it lops forward. The Guardsmen panic, beginning to pull away at the sight of it, while the Tau are staggered by its sudden appearance.

Attano’s anti-air fire forces the nearest Tau fighter-craft to duck and weave, forcing them from away from the column of Tau vehicles. His cannon blasts a smattering of Tau troops to smithereens, while the Tau armour and Broadsides begin to reorganise and deploy, drawing their fire from the Imperial forces in the forest. Confusion reigns as the Tau realise they have been outmaneuvered, while Guardsmen and Partisans cheer at the sight of the incoming Knight.

As the Scions take up position, they are witness to the arrival of the Bloodletter, but they are also witness to another sight. A glint in the sky heralds their arrival – Battlesuits. Half a dozen of the bipedal machines begin to rocket down towards the Imperial lines, spraying plasma and pulse fire as they descend. The Fire Warriors rush forward as they realise their vanguard has finally arrived, the red armoured aliens drawing closer and closer to the forest, the weight of their small arms growing greater with every moment.