Iron Warriors return to Tarlius II

Following the successful operation to take Tarlius I from the crusade, the Iron Warriors resolved to return to Tarlius II, which had been so recklessly lost by the Thousand Sons - at least according to Stahl. This time Stahl decided to land in the northern hemisphere, largely unopposed, as he was now supported by the Grand Fleet of Lord Tragean of Kendrenec, who had offered to station his fleet at Tarlius for a share of the spoils.

The main force landing on Tarlius II, unfortunately for the Novgorod defenders, was the "Covenant of Rust", an element of Stahl's warhost which had been increasingly seen in engagements with the Iron Warriors. Keen to avoid losing valuable astartes to the hordes of guardsmen employed by Patreus on Tarlius II,  Warsmith Stahl responded with his own horde, a plague of disgusting, shambling poxwalkers.

The Novgorod Guard attempted to mow down the horde of diseased and bloated cultists as they advanced on the Imperial lines, but the more they killed, the more simply re-animated as hideous parodies of living flesh, willed on by the force of Nurgle himself. Very soon the Imperial lines were in disarray, as they were overrun by a seemingly endless tide of rotting flesh, and Patreus, shocked, ordered a retreat. Now the central snowfields of northern Tarlius II were once again occupied by the forces of chaos, and a plague of disease swept through the General's forces, putting further strain on his resources. Cut off from reinforcement, things looked bleak for the Imperium at Tarlius II.