Paradorn on the brink

With the Sky Lords forced to withdraw it fell to the massed Novgarod regiments of the Imperial Guard to repel the Eldar onslaught. When mounted scouts identified an Eldar warhost that had slipped through the Imperial sensor net onto the surface of Paradorn III the Novgarod wasted no time mobilising and massed ranks of infantry supported by batteries of artillery moved to crush the interlopers. Accompanying them were roving bands of religious fanatics, flagellating themselves and crying their praise to the God Emperor of mankind as their priests whipped them up into a mindless frenzy.

The Eldar warhost could not hope to oppose such numbers, yet held its ground anyway. As the hordes of infantry stormed forward the Eldar met them with an equally aggressive counter attack and fierce close quarter fighting erupted. The pilgrims were cut down in the opening seconds of the engagement, massacred by massed shuriken fire or roasted alive by prismatic flame. With deafening psychic shrieks Howling Banshees burst through the gaps in the line and Warp Spiders materialised to cut down their prophets and priests.

Despite the Eldar's success the casualties they were taking were unsustainable, yet still they pushed on. Tarquil himself strode into the centre of the fray, lending the full potency of his psychic might. Spitting arcs of warp lightning slew guardsmen all around as the Farseer's ghostly projection stepped forward to cut down even more. With the human tide held back for the time being Tarquil turned his efforts to more esoteric matters. The runes on his armour glowed hot, imbued with power from his seer council as he inscribed ancient sigils into the air before him.

Finally the dam holding the massed guardsmen back broke. As the last aspect warriors were slain about him Tarquil found himself surrounded by mon-keigh who jabbed and pawed at him with bayonets and rifle butts. His magical wards held back the worst of the assault but it was too much. Finally the officer leading the humans stepped up and thrust his sword into the ancient Farseer, but the last laugh was Tarquil's as the phoenix gem he wore exploded, taking with it his attackers and the proud Novgarod commander. When the mist of blood cleared Tarquil had vanished and the remnants of his warhost began to withdraw.

The Novgorod raised a cheer, believing they had won the day but then universe seemed to split in two in front of them and in a blinding burst of light the first Phantom Titan stepped into reality. Tarquil had succeeded in opening a long sealed webway portal that lay on the planet allowing the full might of the craftworld's warhosts to pour onto the planets surface.