Stop the Ritual
Corrupt minions of Chaos are seeking to summon a being of immense power onto the material plane, and the only thing that stands in their way is a small force of Daemonhunters.
Attacker's Overview: You have detected an unusually strong Chaos presence about to be disgorged from the Immaterium into reality, and must stop it at all costs. Survival is secondary to the disruption of the summoning ritual and destruction of those foolish enough to traffic with Daemons!
Defender's Overview: The summoning ritual, decades in the preparation, is mere minutes from completion. Those who would seek to hinder this great work must be exterminated. All other considerations are secondary to the ritual's successful execution, for surely none can stand against a manifestation of Chaos in all its glory.
Scenario Special Rules
Stop the Ritual is a Raid scenario and uses the Random Game Length, Infiltrators, Reserves, Sentries and Deep Strike rules.
Set-up
Diagram: Table diagram showing a dashed circle of radius 18" centred on a point (the ruined temple), with a dashed short table edge line 6" from the circle's edge.
Set up the terrain in any mutually agreeable manner. Ideally a ruined temple, mausoleum or other building should be placed in the centre of the table.
The defender sets up his forces anywhere within 18" of the ruined temple. He must set up at least one unit in a circular formation (all models in the unit form the circumference of a circle, the size of the circle is not important). Models may not be deployed or move within this formation. Any unit set up in this manner is considered to be incanting the summoning ritual and may not move or shoot unless it is forced to do so (falling back, piling in during a combat, etc) although they may fight if they are assaulted, and may move to retain unit coherency in order to maintain the circular formation. Any number of units may be set up in this manner. There must be at least five models in each circle. Any models in such a circle count as having a 5+ cover save due to the coruscating energies swirling around them, and count as being in cover in all respects.
The defender then deploys sentries (see the scenario special rules in the Warhammer 40,000 rulebook). These sentries do not cost any extra points. They are placed anywhere on the table which is not within 12" of a short table edge.
The attacker then chooses a short board edge and deploys as much of his force as he wants anywhere within 6" of it. Any units not deployed are in reserve. If the attacker has any infiltrators he may deploy them up to 12" onto the board from the short table edges.
Roll for who gets first turn. Highest score may choose whether to go first or second.
Mission Objective
The defender must ensure that at least one of the summoning circles is intact (still in a circular formation, in coherency and at least five models strong) at the end of the game. If this is the case then the defender wins as the ritual becomes complete and all hell breaks loose. Note that if a circle is broken it can be reformed provided the unit is at least five models strong, in a coherent circular formation as described above, and is not falling back.
The attacker is attempting to stop the ritual by breaking the summoning circles in the enemy camp. This can be done by reducing the number of models in a circle to less than five, or by forcing them to move (fall back or pile in during combat). If there are no summoning circles intact at the end of the game, the attacker wins as the gateway to the Warp closes forever and all daemonic intrusions become impossible.
Reserves
When the attacker's reserves become available they will enter from the same table edge as the attackers chose during their deployment, or by Deep Strike if they are able to do so.
Game Length
The game lasts for a variable number of turns.
Line of Retreat
The attackers retreat towards the short table edge which they chose during deployment. The defenders will retreat towards the opposite short table edge. The normal Fall Back rules are used.