Preperations

"Blood for the Blood God! Skulls for the Skull Throne!"

These words left the lips out of every present warrior of the Ashen Onslaught as the Forged Blades Chapter unleashed their ambush onto the Khornate warriors and their Apostate Guardsmen allies. Imperial Space Marines supported by Razorbacks and a Predator emerged from their hiding places and fired their bolters into the columns of marching heretics and Chaos Space Marines, felling a number of heretics and a few of the Khornate warriors. Imperial Biker squads quickly followed the aftermath of their forces's ambush and rode through several ranks of heretic guardsmen. Utilizing their chainswords, a dozen renegade guardsmen were cut through like a knife going through butter.

It took several moments for the Turmos Apostates and the Ashen Onslaught to rally against the Imperial ambush but when they did, bloody retribution would be returned against the servants of the Corpse Emperor. Havocs and heretics manning las-cannons supported by Devil Dogs reduced the Imperial vehicles to burning wreckage in mere seconds. Despite the initial success of their ambush, Space Marine Vanguard and Bike squads quickly found themselves overwhelmed by the sheer volume of return  gunfire from the renegade guardsmen and Khorne berserkers. Even the mortal leader of the Apostates, General Ardent Kull threw himself into melee against two Astarates and slew them singlehandedly much to the amusement of the Khornate warriors.
Warlord Haargroth the Blood Bathed riding atop his Skullcrusher smashed through the  city ruins with his demonic mount, picking up the scent of his prey. The Forged Blades Space Marine Captain did not have a chance to react as his hiding place was compromised by the charging Juggernaut of Khorne. The brass beast slammed its head into the Forged Blades's Captain, slamming him into a nearby wall. Before the Captain could retaliate, Haargroth raised his two-handed chain axe over his head and brought it down onto the Imperial. The reviving chain-axe bisected the Captain in two, covering Haargroth and his mount with blood and gore.

With the death of their captain, the Forged Blades ambushers fell back to minimize their devastating losses. Khorne Berserkers gave chase to their prey, but howled with fury that the fleeing prey eluded them. The short, but bloody skirmish was won by the forces of Chaos. The skulls of the fallen were being collected by the warriors of the Ashen Onslaught while Haargroth held the head of the slain Forged Blade’s captain in his grisly palm. The Gal Vorbak stared down at the head he held for what seemed like an eternity until the Bloodletter inside him, Khargus Wrathrider broke its silence.

“The Blood God is pleased with the blood you have spilled thus far. You must have slain one of their worthy champions. Now your allies see your strength. Claim dominance over these mortals and the other servants of the weaker Gods on this world. Offer this skull to Kharneth and claim your destiny Haargroth.”
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Outside of the borders Forged Blades’s base, the armies of the Turmos Apostates and the Ashen Onslaught gathered around a hill of skulls of the slain that was erected by the followers of the Blood God. Warlord Haargroth looked upon his warriors and their mortal allies before grabbing ahold of his vox. Several of the Dark Mechanicum mercenaries that were in the employ of the Ashen Onslaught were manning the vox machine would broadcast Haargroth’s message to the entire planet. Every vox machine or communication construct commandeered by the forces of Chaos, Imperials, and even Xenos could pick up the public message as there was no encryption protecting it.

“The blood of the servants of the False Emperor begins to spill. A hill of the skulls of your fallen has been made, the first of many to come. I am Warlord Haargroth the Blood Bathed of the Ashen Onslaught. Despair, for the heralds of Khorne have come upon this world.

 With the blessings of Khorne, I declare myself Exalted Overlord of the armies of Chaos on this world. All who wish to preserve themselves must bow before me and the Blood God. Those who do not will be crushed beneath us! Even the forces of the other Dark Gods are not safe from my proclamation should they choose to defy me! Let this world drown in the Goretide!”

With that, Haargroth ended the global vox message. One of his Bloodbound bodyguards approached the Warlord to speak.

“Overlord, Apostate scouts report that an army of the Corpse Emperor’s Bodyguards, the Custodians are coming for us. Your command?”

Dark demonic laughter erupted from the Gal Vorbak.

“Then we shall bring battle to them if they are so eager for it.”

~Meanwhile in the Custode Camp~

"Did they take the bait, Nicodemus?"

"It is as you said, Lockwarden."

Zeus stood with helmet off for a brief moment. His steely eyes locked on the horizon. Beside him another Custodian stood with his Castellan Axe ready. With a nod from the Lockwarden he ran to prepare.

 It was true on average that the Custodians had lost some of their strategic edge. Zeus had proven in the past century that he was as sharp as any.

The Forged Blades had been pushed back. This had not been ideal, but he was ready for this.

What was left of the Astarte force, plus Zeus own shield company had gathered. He had sent a force to make his presence known. Those that served Khorne would quickly take the bait he thought... Nicodemus' report  proved his calculations correct... The Emperor's tarot had shown him what this day held for him... He just had to see this day through.

He looked to the handful of Custodian standing with him, and then to the Marines that had joined their side... He only said two words.

"Stand ready."

He put his helmet back on and leaned on his Keeper's Axe then turned after a moment to help prepare their position.

These sons of Lorgar would soon face a victor of the blood games.