Cataclysm in the Abyss

ENDFALL: Grande Finale

The far reaching struggle around Malik's Damnation, Threnos, and Mara now converges into a single last engagement. Phase 3 control, Endfall bonuses, and the rising Psychneuein threat all feed directly into the closing battle on July 11th.
Back to Main Phase 4: Endfall Event Details Mission Setup Psychneuein

Current Status

The campaign position entering the finale and the battlefield conditions created by Phases 3 and 4.

Campaign State

  • Phase 3 outcomes
    • Fated Convergence captured Malik's Damnation and gained a foothold on Mara.
    • Ultima Impetus secured Threnos, but only narrowly.
  • As a result, Fated Convergence has been embedding a Forbidden Lattice (a crystal matrix of unknown origin/purpose) into Mara's terrain, supported by defensive works.
  • Phase 4 involved continued fighting on Mara, with teams documenting:
    • Wins/losses
    • Successful Battle-shock tests
  • These phase 4 results provide bonuses in the finale.

Finale Event Details

Scheduling, attendance assumptions, and list requirements for the closing battle.

Scheduling

  • Date: July 11th, 2026
  • Start time: 2:00 PM
  • Duration: 5 turns, more if tied
  • Players do not have to stay the whole time: we will have mechanics for entering / leaving the game

Attendance-Driven Format

  • The exact match structure depends on how many players show up.
  • Crusade scoring includes:
    • Participation points for each team
    • Additional scoring for a win
  • The outcome determines the final fate of Malik's Damnation and the arcane latticework on Mara.

Army List Requirements

  • Each team should have lists prepared for each player at:
    • 1,000 points
    • 1,500 points
    • 2,000 points
  • This supports flexible pairing based on attendance.

Mission Setup

Core battlefield structure, objective logic, and how Fated Convergence's current holdings affect the table.

Table and Objectives

  • Played on one large table with two deployment zones.
  • Nine objective markers will be used.
  • Goals:
    • Fated Convergence: complete the matrix connection between objectives, harnessing the power of Malik's Damnation to bring pre-built lattice nodes onto the battlefield.
    • Ultima Impetus: prevent completion of the matrix and destroy the enemy.
  • Primary Scoring: Lattice Uplink
    • For every two adjacent objectives, score 10 VP for completing/severing the link.
    • At the end of the game, score 25 VP for holding each of the two Fated Convergence placed objectives.
  • Secondary scoring: [REDACTED]
    • Additional secondary objectives will be included beyond primary scoring.
    • These will be revealed on game day.

Fated Convergence Placement Advantage

  • Because Fated Convergence currently controls Mara and Malik's Damnation:
    • They may place 2 of the 9 objective markers after the other objectives are placed.
  • Deployment and exact objective placement details will be provided in the game packet on game day.

Psychneuein Rules (Mara Strain)

The finale version of the Mara Strain escalates from a phase effect into an active battlefield threat.

Profile

  • Toughness: 14
  • Wounds: 10
  • Save: 4+ invulnerable
  • Ranged weapons: none
  • Melee: 9 attacks, auto-hitting
    • Strength: 16
    • AP: -4
    • Damage: 4
  • OC: 0
  • Auto explodes 6" 3+D3 damage

Movement

  • If no Characters or Psykers are within 15":
    • Moves 4D6 using a scatter die.
  • If a Character or Psyker is within 15":
    • Moves 4D6 toward the closest such model/unit.
  • Psychneuein do not charge and can move into engagement range, always counting as if they charged in every fight phase.

Targeting and Combat Restrictions

  • Can only be charged by Characters and Psykers.
  • Can only be attacked in melee.
  • Can only be targeted by Characters and Psykers.
  • Can If no Characters or Psykers are in engagement range during the movement phase, they will move as normal.

When They Appear

  • None begin on the board at game start.
  • A Psychneuein spawns 3D6 away using a scatter die when any of the following occurs:
    • A unit fails a Battle-shock test
    • An objective is taken (not held)
    • A Character uses a datasheet ability
    • A Psyker uses a psychic datasheet ability or attack
  • When measuring spawn distance from multi-model units, use the model with the highest Ld.
    • If all the models have the same Ld, use the best looking model as determined by the closest enemy player.
  • Hard cap: No more than 9 Psychneuein may be on the board at any time.

Phase 4 Bonus: Battle-shock Modifier Pool

Successful Battle-shock tests from Endfall carry forward as a team-wide resource in the finale.

How the Tally Is Used

  • Phase 4 successful Battle-shock results generate a team-wide pool of modifiers usable in the finale.
  • Teams choose when to spend these modifiers to influence Battle-shock tests.
  • Phase 4 modifiers affecting Leaders and Psykers for Battle-shock tests still apply.

Example Usage

  • If a team has 4 points in its pool, and a unit with Leadership 6 would suffer -2 due to circumstances (e.g., under half strength and Character-related effects):
    • Spend 2 points to negate the -2, testing on the printed value.
    • Or spend all 4 to improve the test to an effective 4+.

Team Play, CP, and Ruleset

The core rules assumptions for how the finale functions as a multi-player team event.

Team Operates as One

  • Teams function as a single side for gameplay purposes.

CP Generation and Stratagem Limits

  • CP is generated for each army present per turn.
  • Stratagem restrictions apply as normal.
    • Example: Insane Bravery remains once per game for the team as a whole.

Notables

  • 11th edition rules and restrictions will be used for army construction.
  • Sticky objective abilities cannot be used.
  • Battle-shocked units cannot take or hold objectives.
  • Armies must be 100% Bolters Ready to play.

Player Items / Event Rewards

Logistics and player support items for the finale itself.

Event Support

  • All participants receive a Cataclysm in the Abyss tote (while supplies last).
  • Purchased t-shirts will be available for pickup on July 11th.