Topic: "To defy Fate" Eldar vs Tyranids 1200pts

[Draza]

To defy Fate Pt1/3

Farseer Ariel stood in a trance, as burning runes and mystic images flowed around her. Without the assistance and safety of the infinity matrix, the future was a blur to her. The future was never bright, but this time she could not make sense of her visions. Struggling harder, the protective runes floating around her body burned out entirely, forcing Ariel to stop the casting. Unhappy with her failure Ariel re-collected her thoughts and started her preparations for the coming missions
Pathfinder Alaxis and Spiritseer Tartera were waiting for Farseer Ariel, ready to discuss the current battle.

“So Alaxis, before we begin, I would like to thank you for your current and your men for joining us this day. Craftworld Aetha has suffered horribly over these centuries and now even our dead fight for us now.” Ariel spoke in a calm manner.

“Our craftworld will always be our home and I see it as an honour to fight for it” Alaxis replied in return.
“My men have scouted the area. Your relic is a bit further from the Wraithgate than we would like, bit it is in perfect condition. Unfortunately this Imperial world is infested with the mon-keigh, although they are in retreat from a Tyranid swarm.”
“These tyranids I did not count on, my visions did not foresee this. We need not worry about defeating them, how many roam our path” said Ariel.
“A small force is roaming between us and the objective Farseer. Only a single Tyrant was seen, which leads us to believe he is the only synapse conduct in the area” Alaxis responded.
“Good, then our mission carries on as instructed. Priority is to be given to assassinating this Hive Tyrant and have control the area. Tartera awaken the Wraithguard and the Wraithlords, we make way for battle” Ariel Commanded before turning away, to prepare for the battle herself.

Craftworld Aetha

Farseer “Ariel”
-Doom
-Fortune
-Spirit stones
-Runes of Warding
-Witchblade

6 Harlequins
-5 Harlequins with kisses
-Shadowseer with a kiss

6 Pathfinders

4 Jetbikes
-3 twin linked shuriken catapults
-1 Shuriken cannon

11 Wraithguard squad
-10 Wraithguard
-Spiritseer “Tartera” with conceal and witchblade

Wraithlord “Virgil”
-Wraithsword
-scatter laser

Wraithlord “Raelis”
-Scatter laser
-Eldar missile launcher

Tyranids

Hive Tyrant
-Scything talons
-Venom cannon
-Ballistic skill upgrade [possibly]
-2 Tyrant Guard

3 Lictors

16 Termagaunts
-Fleshborers

16 Hormagaunts
 
8 Genestealers

Carnifex
-Barb stranger [twin linked]
-Carapace armour [possibly]

3 Zoanthropes
-psychic scream

Secret Objectives

Eldar
Assassinate HQ [Hive Tyrant]
Table quarters

Tyranids
Hold their own objective
Table quarters

Mission: Timestorm
*At the start of every turn, roll a D6 for each unit. On a 1 they are removed and automatically deep strike anywhere on the table”


The battle was about to commence. Years of foreseeing the future had left Ariel with the passive ability to see short glimpses of the future, a one that revealed Tyranids emerging from the bushes. Ariel instructed the Wraithguard to hold their position, although Raelis began to break position.
Ariel sensed that something was wrong, as the world began to blur. Something was wrong; they were in some kind of psychic storm. The Wraithlord Virgil disappeared from view, only to appear in front of her. This worried the Farseer, this storm ruining any chance of tactical planning she had prepared. Lucky for her, the dead feel no fear nor any notice of tactical planning.
Then the rustles started, as the Tyranids charged from their cover. A swarm of Gaunts flowing from the battlefield. Giant Zoanthropes floating forward, Genestealers moving from one flank and Hormagaunts from the other. These aliens were trying to flank them. Ariel kept her cool, feeling confident the Wraithguard would be resilient enough to hold off there attackers. The Farseer was soon alert to a disturbance of the warp. The enemy was trying to use cast psychic powers. Defending her army, Ariel threw a dozen runes into the air, watching as they burned and shimmered. She knew they were taking effect, as no harm was done to her troops.

The magical warp storm took effect once more, this time catching the enigmatic Harlequins and sweeping them closer to the Tyranid battleline. Wary of the enemy, the Harlequins began to retreat. Fortunately for them, a squad of jetbikes came to support the Harlequins, flying past them and unleashing shurikens into the nearby genestealers behind a hedge. The casualties were minimal and they began to retreat.
The two Wraithlords looked upon the flowing mass of Gaunts, deciding to fire as many lasers into them as possible. Raelis despite this heavy weaponry was more than willing to crush the bugs with his feet and hands. The animalistic creatures managed to get away from the towering giant, who was too slow to react.
Alaxis had the giant Carnifex within his scope and ordered his men to fire. Only single shot good enough to pierce his hide.

The magical warpstorm influence the battle once more, shifting the Hive Tyrant from one flank to the other. The two Monstrous creatures began aiming their weapons at the Pathfinders in the forests.
“Alaxis, how can they see us?”
“Our shots must’ve scared the creatures. Don’t worry; no one is hurt for now”

The Gaunts closed in one the Wraithguard, who just stood idle. There expressionless heads showing no emotion or fear. Hundreds of worms and small creatures exploded upon the Wraithbone constructs. Unable to chew into the hard substance, they simply fell off. Then the Hormagaunts crashed in with such ferocity that they actually hurt themselves. Talons were broken off and chitin was heard cracking, as they ran into immovable objects. Reverting back to animal instincts, they were cut down as the Wraithguard began their march towards the enemy.

The jetbikes were not so fortunate. Under-estimating the speed of the Xenos, the stealers leapt into the air, bringing the squad down.

Through the veil of tears, the Shadowseer watched the events of the Genestealer massacre. The veil of brought down, as the dancing clowns came into clear view. Shuriken pistols and grenades cut apart the Genestealer brood before the oncoming furious charge. All but one genestealer was impaled, the last tricked into slicing thin air from their holo-fields. It didn’t take long for the rest of the troupe to cull it.

The Undead host prepared itself for the coming assault, Tartera psychically giving orders. Much to her frustration, Virgil found himself teleported across the battlefield. In support of the Wraith-host, the Pathfinders readied their sniper rifles at the Carnifex. With steady aim, the snipers brought it down, it’s armour no protection from their guns.

The Wraithlord Raelis found itself in combat with a lone Zoanthrope, but faltered in his attack, unable to kill the creature, it’s toxic miasma affecting the combat skills of the towering construct. The story was much different for the Wraithguard, who beat the Termagaunts into the ground.

The Eldar once again felt the cruel hand of fate play it’s hand, as the timestorm swept the Zoanthrope away from Raelis clutches and into safety. Hidden within the shrubs, Lictors began to appear. With support from the Hive Tyrant and his Guard, the Tyranids charged into the block of Wraithguard. The creatures found the Eldar much tougher than expected and few Wraithguard were damaged in the exchange. In return, a Lictor was beaten to death. The other fled from the melee, from what looked to be it’s own accord.

Outside of the battle, Alaxis found his men under attack, a psychic blast killing one of his men. He had seen worse, though it didn’t mask of the pain of the loss. Ariel’s runes were working overtime, with one set burning out. In the distance, a lone Zoanthrope found itself with half a head, dead on the ground.
Caught off Guard, the Harlequins found themselves under attack by a Lictor. Driving it’s flesh hooks into a Harlequins, the clown had no chance of escape. Two troupe drove their Kisses deep into the creature, turning it’s organs to goo, but it was too late for their companion.

The Wraithlords found themselves alone, but kept their composure. No distracting images distorted their actions. Both took aimed at the exposed Lictor out in the open, although none could find their mark. Even the Pathfinders struggled to hit the camouflaged creature, the Lictor doing it’s best to hide itself.

The Harlequins decided to play their hand, as they flanked the Tyranid monstrosities from the rear. Ariel and Tartera's directed their squad to fight the Tyrant, before casting her magicks.
“I cast my judgment, you are dooooomed!”
The Harlequins made quick work of the Tyrant Guard, leaving the Wraithguard to cripple the Tyrant.

Just when the battle was going to plan, the timestorm played it’s final trump card, as the Hive Tyrant disappeared from battle. The fight was over, the Eldar controlled the territory. The Farseer felt cheated. True victory was so close. If not her companion Tartera, her anger may have been vocal.

Result:
*5 turn game
*Eldar win via secondary objective [table quarters]

It had been several hours since the battle, Ariel chanting incantations to replace her previous runes of warding, which had been put to good use. Spiritseer Tartera walked as close as possible to the Farseer, her actions indicating that he wanted to talk.
“Go on Tartera, if you have words to speak, then they may be spoken”
“Farseer, today was not normal. What was that psychic storm that consumed the battlefield? Why has it stopped? Why were Harlequins of the Laughing God present?”

The air started to shimmer, as the form of a Shadowseer stepped out into reality. It’s face blank except for a few spots, that constantly changed shape and positions.
“I hear voices of our troupe. Have you come to talk about our beautiful dance of death” the Shadowseer spoke from a hidden mouth.
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE HARLEQUIN, you have no business here” shouted Tartera.
“Quiet your tongue Seer, we shall give this Harlequin the chance to speak. So Harlequin, what brings you to this mon-keigh world”
“Why Fate of course. The Laughing God has sung songs of it. How fun, how mischievous, how cruel. You see Fate is order, an order so perfect than one cannot defy it, change it or manipulate it. For all your meddling, you will arrive at the same destination.”
“So what your saying is that our mission is meaningless”
“My message is always lost in words……I prefer dance to words. To defy Fate is to deny Order. Your path is outside of lines of fate, you walk in the Uncertainty of Chaos."

“Chaos….Chaos. I should have known, the Timestorm had to be the work of Chaos. They are here on the planet.”

"Yes Chaos, the great enemy. We dance of the stories of Eldar past and future. We come to play our role"

"Then you are free to join us. If the forces of Chaos do show up, then your help will be appreciated."

The air began to shimmer again,with gravity itself becoming lighter. Words echoed for several minutes
"We will play our role"