Warzone: Dardanus

Warzone Dardanus: Degrees of Loyalty

The battle of Dardanus is a good illustration of the multi-layered and complex relationships between forces during the War of the False Primarch. While the sides are generally simplified to 'Orthodox' and 'Partisan', in truth there were dozens, perhaps hundreds, of degrees of support or opposition to the 'Primarch' and the High Lords.

Entire planets stood out as third parties, unwilling to throw their lot in with a possible fraud; but unable to pay the Tithe. Virtually every element of the Imperium, from Navigators to the Inquisition, were divided on the best course of action.

The Feudal world of Dardanus was a peculiar example of how the fog of war resulted in the destruction of potential allies – for the battle saw Partisan elements engaging each other. Not simply gulled or hoodwinked by Vigilant forces (although a small amount were present), the newly-Partisan Star Wardens were engaged by Inquisitorial elements sympathetic to the Primarch who simply did not recognise the Wardens as loyal to Volnoscere. Likewise, the zealous Star Wardens brooked no aggression – once battle was joined, they ended it.

[//Ebo Haar and his Kill Team engaging Pentarchy assets+]
[//obben/@ruinstorm_militia+]

Belligerents

[//Princip. belligerents={Orthodox alliance}//] +Vigilant elements+]

[//Princip. belligerents={Partisan}//] +Star Wardens+ + Benedictors+]

+++inload credentials+++

WELCOME, INQUISITOR

+++DATA SPOOL LOADING+++ 

[//Star Wardens, 5th Cadre+]
[//james_h/@inky.beard+]

+++INTERROGATION LOG//DARDANUS IV//INQUISITORIAL HENCHMAN:OCF1189 “GRIPPEN”//

“I remember Dardanus IV. Bolter fire still echoes in my head to this day. The locals screaming. The monstrous gibbering. The sickening sound of chainblades tearing through flesh. Have you ever seen them fight? Astartes, I mean. You ever heard it? Felt it?” the man asked, strapped to the chair, his blind, bleeding eyes trying to track the others in the room.

Whack! 

“You will address the Inquisitor as 'his lordship' you snivelling wr-”

“Thank you, savant. No, Grippen, I have not. Nor is it relevant. Tell me how your master was killed”.

[sotto voce] “Their armour growls, deep enough to make your gums bleed. The bolters roar.  [louder] They scream and crash. It is nothing like las-fire, or solid shot. Nothing. So loud my chest hurt. And the blades. They rev them as they charge. The feet pounding like drums, the sword and axes screaming. [sotto voce] We heard them hunting the monsters in the dark. The blades revving and biting into flesh. Grinding and tearing. We saw two hammer past. Merrick pissed himself when one of them looked at us. [directly] But that wasn’t the worst of it. Want to know what was the worst?

“Grippen, this is most enlightening, but tell me how your master was killed”. 

“I am trying to. He stood there. Bold as brass. Back ram-rod straight. Told them he was an Inquisitor. Showed them the Rosette. He told them they would answer him.” The man paused. A bloody tear crawled down his cheek.  

“That was the worst. The laughter. All of them, distorted through their helms. He told them to answer him. He told them he knew no authority but the holy God-Emperor of Mankind himself. The sergeant took the Rosette. Throne, he was so fast. He said in a voice like thunder; like waves pounding against a cliff, 

‘We have that in common, Inquisitor,’ and crushed the Rosette.”

“Then the killing began.”

*** 

The Benedictors

[//Benedictors Chapter icon+]

Recruited as part of the Annulus Umbra, the Benedictors – otherwise exemplary members of the group – used their privilege to clandestinely move a handful of selected veterans into the region. Their initial motives for this are entirely unknown. After seemingly making contact with Volnoscere, they gradually trickled their 8th company in its entirety into the region in support of the False Primarch. Whether they were acting on the orders of the Chapter Master, against his will, or simply beyond his sight is unknown.

[//Mendicant Killteam Grimaldus of the Benedictors chapter+]
[//gunnar_l/gunnarlopez08+]

Led by Sergeant Grimaldus (Red helm and chainsword), Edda (Lightning Claw), Beorus (Stormshield and Power Sword), Eccelstan (Xeno weapon and Storm Shield), and Falk (Bolter) were involved in the assassination of Cardinal Wendala of Dardanus and the defense of Tarentus. 

While the other ‘rogue’ elements of the chapter were typically seen bolstering the Caldrassian regiments in battle, Killteam Grimaldus was noted as remaining close to the Primarch's own battlegroup, except when specifically tasked under his orders.

***

'Forget the promise of progress and understanding.'