This go-round we'll be jumping straight into a mission.
Khepra is asking for our help for the first time, and is offering some fantastic rewards.
We'll be getting our first new troop type, the Skitarii Vanguard...
... along with the ultimate prize, a new Tech-Priest!
The loadout is the same as we've always used, but our Servitors have been upgraded with slightly higher HP and attack, and a new taunt ability that also confers a temporary +1 bonus to both armors.
The goal for this mission is to destroy several key passageways the xenos are using to make life difficult for the Skitarii.
There's only one way forward to start.
You know for a bunch of dudes who supposedly worship technology, we sure have a lot of shitty, non-functioning equipment. Anyway, options...
Replace: Use a replacement detonator and hope this new one isn't defective.
Use Force: Detonate the charge with gunfire.
Repair: Attempt to replace the corroded parts.
There's not much guidance on how to proceed, but despite my previous comment, I think as men of science we surely are prestigious enough to fix a simple detonator. Repair!
I'm glad to see my faith wasn't misplaced.
The road forks here. There's no indication which way might be better, so I take a right in order to stay on the shortest path.
Khepra advises us to linger here a moment and survey the scene.
Options...
Avoid the hands of fate: Find another way around.
Observation protocols: Carefully examine the damage to look for a weakness.
Blow off steam: Test out our demolition charges and try to bring it down.
We'll take Khepra's advice and pause to observe.
These little injuries to Servitors are annoying. At full health they can tank a hit from a necron, sometimes two. But with only 4 HP they'll probably go down in one shot.
Anyway, another fork. Let's stay on the quickest route to the target.
Tiresus pipes up prior to the next event.
Options...
Erase records: Destroy this blasphemy.
Examine: Thoroughly examine the inscriptions.
Archive: Record the inscriptions in pictures, then keep moving.
I know we should burn this bullshit and keep moving. What do xenos know about anything? Unfortunately this time my curiosity gets the better of me, and I choose the Archive option.
I can't tell if Tiresus is annoyed at us, at himself, or at the situation. But I'm resolved not to entertain anymore of this necron hocus-pocus from now on.
One more stop before we reach the main chamber.
Options...
Inspect the globe: Check the globe in the center of the room.
Examine the faces: Look at faces on the walls.
No xeno tech for us: Move quickly and ignore the decorations.
Like I said... fuck all this xeno stuff. Keep moving.
Meh, whatever. If we had stopped then something even worse probably would've happened.
The battle is next, so time to go to work.
Starting off, the enemy force consists of three scarab units and one necron. The goal is to "survive 3 rounds" so we can expect at least one or two rounds of adds.
I deploy one Servitor to start, activate his "Provocation" ability, and place him in the middle of the scarabs to hold them in place.
I am planning for Lukaboy to attack the scarabs on the right with the Arc Scourge, which will do lesser damage to the unit in the middle. So the Servitor attacks the middle unit to weaken it.
Lukaboy moves into position and unloads with the Arc Scourge, blasting two scarab units into dust and delivering his favorite catchphrase.
Andnjord rushes the necron and begins hacking away with his axe.
However the necron manages to tank a direct hit and an AoO, and steps back to blast Andnjord from point blank range.
A platform rises up with two more necrons on board. We need to swarm these guys before they start blasting, so I deploy the rest of the available Servitors.
Two of the newly deployed Servitors immediately rush the closest necron on the platform, engaging in melee and striking for scratch damage.
Our first Servitor has a machine spirit charged, and uses it to one-shot the last unit of scarabs. Then he moves in to place a third meat shield on the platform.
Lukaboy takes a brief detour to pick up a Blackstone drop on the lower end of the map.
Andnjord uses his curatio to restore half the HP lost from his wound.
With the first necron on death's door from Andnjord's early onslaught, the fourth Servitor is able to finish the job.
Another platform pops in with two more necrons. This one is a bit more difficult to reach.
Lukaboy heals Andnjord, bringing him back to full health.
Andnjord and the Servitors pile onto the first set of adds, killing them both.
But one of our Servitors is in range of the more distant necrons, and gets blasted to death.
A third and final pair of necrons joins the battle. Unfortunately the terrain favors the xenos here because there's not really a safe way to close the distance with them.
Lukaboy is our only ranged attacker. He can take shots at the necrons and then retreat out of range.
I decide to pull everyone back and regroup, but as I mentioned, there's no cover between us and the necrons. Andnjord is fast enough to close the distance in one turn, but the Servitors aren't.
There's no choice except to fully commit to using the Servitors as meat shields. At least their new shield ability helps them to tank better.
Lukaboy continues to do damage on the right flank.
Unfortunately, with no cover to hide behind our Servitors are being shot like fish in a barrel.
What the xenos don't know, though, is that Lukaboy is about to pop the fuck off.
First he unleashes a machine spirit charged Arc Scourge, obliterating the enemy's left flank.
Then he steps forward and lasers one of the necrons on our left.
Finally, he uses his servo-skull to execute the lone necron who survived the Arc Scourge. I guess that small damage buff came in useful after all.
However, with no meat shields to protect him Andnjord is forced to soak another hit. But he's a good sport about it, and the curatios will quickly fix him up.
Lukaboy steps in and let's loose another shot. The goal is to soften the necrons up so Andnjord can rush in finish the job before they attack again.
I can't recall if the rules allow Andnjord to make an AoO on both of these guys in a single turn. I decide to gamble on yes and elect to attack the higher HP one. If it works, then they'll each be killed on their next move as they try to escape engagement.
Unfortunately, it doesn't pan out. Andnjord knocks one of the necrons down with an AoO, but the other one gets away scot-free and shoots him. He's wounded for a third time this mission, and probably wondering why the Omnissiah would curse him with such a shitty commander.
Lukaboy blasts the downed necron to kill it for good. This wasn't necessary, but I felt like giving the xenos an FU.
Luckily for Andnjord, the only thing that surpasses my dumbfuckery is the Omnissiah's power and benevolence toward his followers. I use the Litany of Life canticle to bring Andnjord back to full health once again.
Now all that's left is to deliver the final blow on this last necron. Andnjord lets it fly and as always, his axe finds its mark.
And with that it's finally over.
Khepra is grateful for our help, and confesses that she wasn't sure if the Tech-Priests would be too keen on helping the Skitarii.
Faustinius rebukes this and affirms that everyone is part of the team. Hopefully he doesn't find out about all the Servitors that just got slaughtered on my account.
Debrief
We also unlocked a ton of canticles, so I'll have to start thinking carefully about which ones to bring into battle.