Tombs reawaken on Calliden

In the latter half of 024M42, the Perseus Deeps, an ancient and foreboding region of the galaxy, had become the focus of a brutal multi-faction conflict as the Imperium, the forces of Chaos, and the Alliance clashed with the recently awakened Necrons in the region. Though the Imperium had secured a foothold on Gamador early in the campaign, the subsequent reawakening of Necron tomb worlds across the sector dramatically altered the balance of power. The enigmatic Skarreth Dynasty then intervened, showing a sudden, intense interest in reclaiming key worlds—an interest whose purpose remained unknown but was met with speculation, given the dynasty’s reputedly inscrutable motives.

The ancient Necrons made their intentions felt most strongly on Calliden, a barren tomb world with a dark, labyrinthine landscape, now controlled by the forces of chaos. The Skarreth Dynasty’s forces arrived in early 11.024M42, catching the Death Guard’s House of Eschar garrison entirely unprepared. The Necrons wasted no time advancing on Zaraphan, Calliden’s principal city and a central Chaos stronghold. The Death Guard scrambled to mount a defense, yet they quickly found themselves in a nightmare of near-phantasmic tactics as the Necrons deployed forces that seemed to shift through reality itself.

The Skarreth Dynasty’s warriors appeared disconcertingly out of phase with physical reality, teleporting across the battlefield in a series of lightning-strike manoeuvres that left Chaos forces reeling. This deadly precision was augmented by swarming scarab constructs, which acted as both scouts and saboteurs. These seemingly autonomous scarabs scoured the battlefield, systematically disabling Nurgle entrenchments while relaying vital intelligence to their Necron masters.

Desperate to gain an upper hand, the Death Guard launched targeted attacks against the scarab swarms, hoping to disrupt Necron coordination. However, even the resilience of Nurgle’s legions faltered against the fluid adaptability and relentless efficiency of the Necrons’ assaults. The Death Guard’s tactics, formidable against mortal foes, proved ineffective against the technologically advanced, incorporeal-seeming Necron strike forces. After brutal fighting, the Death Guard were forced to abandon Zaraphan, retreating from the city and conceding control of the sector to the Skarreth Dynasty.

With the city secured, the Necron dynasty delved into the tomb complexes beneath Zaraphan. The true nature of their objective remained shrouded in mystery, but some Imperial savants speculate the dynasty might be preparing for a larger campaign in the Perseus Deeps. The Skarreth Dynasty’s return to Calliden has reshaped the region’s power dynamics, and Imperial and Chaos forces alike now face the grim prospect of an expanding Necron resurgence. Whether this is a fleeting interest or the beginning of a protracted conflict across the Perseus Deeps remains to be seen.