Whispers in the Dark: Act I Midpoint Report

[BEGIN VOX TRANSMISSION – ORIGIN UNKNOWN]

ssshhhkrrt …Hive Mordigan… falling… faster than [crackle] …whole sectors gone… overnight. We… don’t even know… who we’re fighting.

The enemy… [pop-hiss] …everywhere… nowhere. Lines hold… then break… like the ground itself… against us.

Worst part… banners I saw… kkrrsshhht …turning guns… same ones I marched with… last [unintelligible static].

Don’t know if it’s… betrayal… or something worse. Feels like shadows… wearing faces of… allies.

If this… reaches Command… Hive Mordigan is… [garbled static] …lost. If you see… friendly colours… check twice… before you trust…

ssshhhkrrt …end…

[TRANSMISSION TERMINATED]

We have just hit the halfway point of Act 1 with 21 games being played thus far, as alliances have started consolidating their control over the initial territories. Here’s a quick look at where we are in the grand scheme of things.

We hope everyone is having fun so far and getting to know their team mates. As you know the Fires of Treachery isn’t just called that because it ‘sounded cool’ (although granted that is a little bit of it). But there is a lot more going on in the background both narratively and in the wider campaign.

Also I finally got round to adding a Requisition Points page! It’s worth checking what you can use those few RP points on before someone tries to steal them!

Here’s where things currently stand in the Crusade:

The Tomb of Umberto II

The Tomb has become one of the most hotly contested fronts of the campaign. The Aquilae Liberatii cling to their foothold at 4%, their banners still flying despite mounting pressure. The Seduced Panoply have surged forward, increasing their claim to 13% after victories led by the Thousand Sons and supported by Votann forces drawn from rival clans. Their combined strength has tightened the grip of the Panoply across the catacombs. Yet new threats now stalk the sepulchre, as both the Crimson Pack and the enigmatic Shadow Alliance have made their first inroads. What was once a bastion of the dead is fast becoming a crucible for the living, with no end to the struggle in sight.

Hive Mordigan, the Black Sepulchre

The struggle for Hive Mordigan has only deepened, with the Shadow Alliance emerging as a mysterious new force in the battle for the necropolis. Whispers speak of hidden hands at work, yet none can say for certain who they are, what they seek, or how their influence spreads. Still, their presence is undeniable, with reports placing their control at 31% of the hive. How they gained such ground so swiftly remains an unanswered question, fueling suspicion and fear across the warfront.

The Shattered Veil Alliance has also made gains, pushing their hold to 15% after two hard-fought 2v2 victories over Da Dread Mob. Meanwhile, the Bug King’s Alliance continues to grind forward, raising their control to 9%. With multiple factions now entrenched, the Black Sepulchre grows ever more dangerous, its labyrinth of tombs echoing with fresh battles each day.

The Mire of Saint Veyra

After its bloody opening, the Mire remains eerily quiet. The Bug King’s Alliance still holds its initial claim, their banners rotting in the swamp air, but no further battles have been fought to shift the balance. Whether this silence is a temporary lull or the prelude to something darker is yet to be seen.

The Silent Dockyards

The Silent Dockyards have lived up to neither their name nor their reputation for stillness. Running battles rage across the gantries and rusting platforms as multiple factions claw for dominance. Da Dread Mob continue to expand their influence, hammering fresh stakes into the twisted metal. At the same time, the Aquilae Liberatii have secured a foothold among the ruined docks, planting their banners where voidships once moored. Most disturbing, however, is the appearance of the Shadow Alliance here as well, their unseen hands tightening their grip on yet another front of the war.

The Shadow Alliance

Whispers of the Shadow Alliance grow louder with every passing battle. Their banners have been sighted at both Hive Mordigan and the Silent Dockyards, and there are rumours of their influence stretching even into the Tomb of Umberto II. Yet no one can say with certainty who they are or what unites them.

What troubles commanders most is the manner of their advance. Control shifts in their favour without explanation, as though unseen hands are moving pieces across the board. Some suspect infiltration, that agents of the Shadow Alliance have already burrowed into other alliances, twisting victories from within. Others claim that traitors have made secret pacts, trading loyalty for promises of power.

The question hangs over every war council and every oath of brotherhood: how much of your ally’s strength is truly theirs, and how much belongs to the Shadow?