How It All Began...

Today we have entered the tenth week of our campaign and so far I have been able to play eight games for the campaign (which is rather much for my gaming group since we live far apart and don't get to see each other very often), seven of which were victories, one of which was a tie (the only one I played with a non-biker force).
A lot has happened within this time, not only has a new player joined our regular gaming group with Orks, there's also been many shifts on the campaign map (the territory summaries are provided in my blog's weekly updates) and there's been quite some things going on on the planet and in the system.


Campaign Background

Duglum was an unremarkable double-star system in the Vidrir subsector of the Finial sector in the segmentum Obscurus, always paying its tribute duly. But the government of the system's main world -Duglum XIII- under Marcus Marellius had long been undercut by Chaos cults.
When General Thadeus Argentis, leader of the Black Legion splinter group Thadeus' Black Hearts, brought his fleet from the Warp the cults became active and took over the planet with little resistance.

A mass immolation of at least ten million souls produced a psychic cacophony that could be intercepted by other factions throughout the subsector, including the Hive Mind of a splinter group of one of the tentacles of swarm fleet Tiamet, the Librarium of the Nebula Raider Space Marine chapter, and the Necrons slumbering in their tombs deep below the surface of Duglum XIII, unsuspected by its living inhabitants, but slowly awakening to collect their harvest.


The Nebula Raiders' Battle for Duglum XIII

Master-Librarian Nestador reported the psychic disturbance he had perceived to the Chapter Council, and it was decided that the matter shall be investigated. When the Nova-class frigate Dagger returned from its reconnaissance mission in the Duglum system it carried data on the heretic rebels and a strange energy source which seemed to originate deep below the surface, far from the hive cities, and appeared to become continually stronger.
The Nebula Raider Attack Fleet was sent to the Duglum system while the Chapter Council confered with Terra by means of the Adeptus Astra Telepathica, but the Imperial Navy had no disposable forces in the vicinity. The Nebula Raiders, facing a planet where all hope was lost and a very strong enemy, proposed an Exterminatus, but Imperial Command wanted the planet intact. The Chapter Council thus ordered the entire chapter to the Duglum system and prepared for a long and tough campaign until a relief force would arrive in a few months...

One of the Nebula Raiders' biggest concerns was the sealed-off hangar of the Warlord-class titan "Glamor of Duglum" where several members of the Black Mechanicus were sighted trying to breach it. Due to heavy defenses against orbital strikes the Space Marines had to find a way to get there in time, while of course saving as many souls as possible was their primary mission.
Chapter-Master Tanadir gave the following speech on day zero of the Duglum campaign:
"Brethren - Mankind is lost on Duglum XIII. We cannot hope to evacuate all those untainted, nor can we singedly purge every heretic, traitor and xeno on the planet, as we number too few and their masses are too vast. It is thus that the Chapter Council has - though not light-heartedly - decided to strike the planet with an Exterminatus.
But the so-called Administratum, the bureaucrats of Terra with the impudent claim of heirdom to the throne of so great a man as the Emperor, have interdicted our plans. Not for the sake of the planet’s inhabitants, but for its industrial power. They care not about victims or casualties, for warriors and workers are infinite to them, whereas manufactorial worlds and economic potential are limited and - in their small minds - highly-prized resources. Yet, their mighty battle-fleets dwell far away and it will be months ere they arrive. Precious months. Time we cannot spare if we are to save but a single soul on Duglum XIII.
The burden thus rests yet again upon our power-armored shoulders. Yet again are our bolters called upon to accomplish the impossible. Yet again it is our lives that must be given to protect the innocent. We will descend upon Duglum XIII and fulfill our duty! Our foremost concern is finding and supporting the surviving loyal troops of the Duglum Shieldbearers, while we must do all that we can to forestall the awakening of a slumbering beast - a mighty Titan sealed in its hangar that the heretics are about to breach..."


This is how it all began. And if you want to know how the story has evolved from there you will have to be a little patient and keep your eyes peeled for my next blog entry!

Thanks for reading. Regards to all fellow players out there!