Celestial Lions - 2000 points against a codex Space Marine army

Been a few weeks away while playing with Chaos Space Marines (and Diablo III) and now it is time for Sisters of Battle to take to the battlefield once more.  I also just started a repainting project and will have a DIY Order once completed.  There are a few purple robed models on the table but most are either in the red and black for the Order of Our Martyred Lady or still sporting their black or white primer.


On this occasion, the Adepta Sororitas were charged with delivering a censure to the Celestial Lions for a reason only know to the High Lords of Tera.  One does not ask why, one only does the will of the Emperor.




The Astares were bivouacked in force valued at 2000.  The Sororitas were to respond in kind.

Cato Secarus lead the Celestial Lions forces which contained the following.
Devastator Squad of 10 Marines supported with 4 Plasma Canons
Devastator Squad of 10 Marines supported with 4 Missile Launchers
Two Combat Tactical Squads of 5 Marines supported with a Lascannon
Two Combat Tactical Squads of 4 Marines and a Sargent armed for close assault, each riding in the safety of a Rhino.
Two Squads of 5 Marines in Tactical Dreadnaught Armor, one supported with an Assault Canon, the other with Cyclone Missiles
And possible reason for the censure, the Astares were also lead by a  witch  Librarian classified as a Level 3 Psyker.

The Sisters of Battle took to the field under the direction of Saint Celestine.
Uriah Jacobus attached to a unit of 3 Crusaders and 6 Death Cult Assassins deployed in their Rhino.
Two Battle Sister Squads armed with two Meltaguns deployed in Rhinos.
Battle Sister Squad armed with two Flamers deployed in a Rhino.
Seraphim Squad of 10 Sisters supported by two Sister's weilding dual hand flamers and a Superior armed with an Eviscerator.
Two Dominion Squads armed with two Meltaguns and a Combi-Melta deployed in Immolators caring Twin-Linked Multi-Meltas.
Two Exorcists Tanks.
Retributor Squad of five Sisters carrying 4 Heavy Bolters.
The Retributors allowed their Rhino to be used by 5 Sisters seeking absolution as Repentia and their Mistress.


 The Sororitas had the initiative despite Cato's efforts to seize it at the last moment as he has been known to do.  The Dominions were armed for hunting armored vehicles, yet with only 2 Rhinos -- one of which was well hidden in a corner -- there was little choice in what they should do.  Dominion Squad Alpha scouted forward towards the exposed Rhino while Domion Squad Beta slipped closer to a tac squad hiding in the trees.  Exorcist fire managed to do little more than a few marine casualties.  Alpha Squad bailed from their Immolator and opened with close ranged melta against the Rhino target succeeding in only immobilizing it in place.   The Seraphm surged forward and Saint Celestine flew to the middle of the field where she had good position to see the fray and to respond accordingly.  The Retributors did not respond to the signal to lay on and missed their first chance of firing. ((I forgot to shoot my heavy bolters))

The Celestial Lions responded with plasma fire, cause heavy losses for the Seraphim.  Missiles rocked one Exorcists stunning the crew while lascanons destroyed the launcher system of the other.  The immobile Rhino retaliated by firing its Hunter-Killer missile into the rear of the Immolator causing it to explode where it stood.  Cato emerged from the malfunctioning Rhino directing his squad to fire on the Dominions, killing all but one.  The Last Dominion broke and ran, spending the rest of the engagement fleeing for safety.  This Dominion will be punished at a later date; we suggest remanding her to the custody of the Mistress Repentia and allow her to seek absolution for her failure through blood in acknowledgment of her previous service. At this point, the winds of war seemed to be blowing in favor of the Celestial Lions, yet faith would not yield so easily.

 Saint Celestine and the remainder of the Seraphim worked to clear the marines form thir forest position.  Flames from both of the jumppack enabled forces put an end to all but one marine who then fell under the close assault of the Seraphim.  The surviving Dominion squad made its way aroubd the fortified position held by the lascanon and the missile equipped Devastators.  

The Retributors in the ruins opened up with Heavy Bolters on Cato's squad with minimal results, yet one fewer marine was alive for their efforts.

Jacobus finished his drive along the southern flank getting into position to counter Cato's strength.  The Repentia -- now securely embarked in the Rhino -- made their way to midfield where they could be used as counter assault troops in support of the Battle Conclave.  Although casualties caused were not stellar, the Sisters were gaining tactically advantageous positions.

Cato's homing beacon assured the arrival of the first terminator squad, bolstering his position in front of the coming Sisters' hammer.  It was at this point when the fickle winds of war changed direction.  Plasma canons did manage to wound Saint Celestine and truth, we thought her dead.  Yet the missiles and lascanons failed to harm the remaining vehicles, nor was Cato successful ing doing more than immobilizing Jacobus' Rhino after it had successful delivered its cargo to the battle.  Cato charged with his squad yet still the Rhino defied his attacks, keeping its occupants safe.

 Jacobus quickly took advantage of the forttude of the Rhino and safely disembarked on the protected side.  Heavy Bolters claimed another from Cato's squad while the Battle Conclave circled around to catch Cato in close combat.

Saint Celestine made known why she is called the living Saint when she rose up from her previously received grevious wounds only to join the battle once more.  Flames from her blessed weapon swept the Devistators while supporting fire from the Dominions helped finish the job and secure the fortifications on the hill.  Although Marines still managed to hold out on the hill, their numbers were few and their ability to fire on the Sisters was minamal.

Seraphim moved forward to engage the last tactical combat squad even under fire from the plasma canons in the ruined factory. Their faith in the Emperor guided there attacks with bolt pistols and flamers causing massive wounds on the marines whose armor than failed to protect them. 

The remaining Exorcist had recovered from the stunning hit they had taken and opened fire, sending missiles at the entrenched marines but failed to breach the safety they had behind the walls.

Repentia and Death Cult alike tore into Cato's weakened squad and finished him quickly.  Both units moved to confront the marines in TDA who had appeared on the battle field just before the assault.

The Celestial Lions tred to reenforce the side of the battlefield they most controlled -- that side with the plasma cannons in the cover of the ruined factory.  The second squad of terminators arrived and the remaining rhino moved forward along the northern edge of the field.   The plasma weapons rained down over the Seraphim while the heretic Librarian managed to prevent the Emperor from Shielding His Faithful such that the Sister were not allowed to save from the armor melting plasma blast.  When the vapor settled, the Sisters Seraphim were no more.  On other fronts, the Marines were less effective.  The northern flank fired on the Battle Sisters reserves in their Rhinos managing merely to shake up the crew of a single transport.  The southern terminators fired into the conclave managing nothing more than to see their bots absorbed on the shields of the Crusaders or dodged by the single Assassin who threatened.  Having no other choice, the Marines in TDA closed for hand to hand with the conclave.  Two terminators managed to survive contact while none of the Adepta Sororitas forces were lost.

The Sisters pressed their advantage.  The Living Saint and the the Dominions swept any remaining marines from the hill.  The Immolator spun and moved towards the Librarian with Multi-Melta blazing.  The superheated weapon burned the heretic where he stood.  On the south, the Repentia charged in screaming while Jacobus urged the Battle Conclave to quickly finish off the last two terminators.  On the north, two Battle Sisters fired their melta guns from the fire ports of the Rhino, kiling a terminator each.

Rather than face the complete destruction of the Celestial Lions (and seeing as the witch was dead anyway) the final marines surrendered the battle at that point.

What Worked:
I got good results from just about every unit.   The Battle Conclave preformed wonderfully as usual.  Seraphim flamers with double template hits and re-roll to wound were again key to reducing infantry numbers even if the targets are in power armor.

What Didn't:
Seraphim in the open.  Twice I left them in the open with no cover and not locked n combat and twice they were hammered.  They are sort of the glass cannons of the list being able to generate a large number of wounds in close range shooting but fragile both to incoming fire and close combat assault.   The Repentia never had a chance to swing.  I had originally thought I would be faceing a few dreadnoughts and wanted a small unit of Eviscerator wielding Repentia to keep my Battle Conclave from getting stuck in close combat with a machine they can not harm.  ((Besides just being "fluffy" I think they also do have a tactical usage))  Once I saw that was not going to be the case, I believe they would have been better used to help support the Seraphim.  Maybe so, maybe no.  They are no where near as mobile as Seraphim and I am unsure if the Repentia would have even been able to support them.  We'll see.  I will need to try it out some time.