Advent Calendar 2018: Day Three Trapped in an enemy-infested city and hunted by their foes, Commissar Severina Raine and the 11th Antari Rifles must survive by any means if they are to strike back… READ IT BECAUSE It's a tense and claustrophobic story set in the ruins of a shattered city and following a few brave women and men as they fight to survive. THE STORY Severina Raine and the 11th Antari Rifles battle in the labyrinthine streets of Balfar, beneath the twin stars known as the Eyes of the Emperor. With the cathedral city of Whend under the control of the Chaos-corrupted Sighted, and the Astra Militarum being pushed back, the situation is desperate. When their fall-back route is destroyed, Raine and her troopers find themselves trapped in the city and desperate to survive – is this the end for them, or can they seize the day and claim victory?

Advent Calendar 2018: Day Four What exactly is UR-025? When the ancient robot ventures into the Blackstone Fortress alongside a party from the Adeptus Mechanicus, secrets come to light that could spell doom… READ IT BECAUSE It's a look at one of the greatest mysteries – and most fascinating characters – from the Warhammer Quest: Blackstone Fortress game. THE STORY Of all the explorers in the Blackstone Fortress, the towering robot known only as UR-025 is perhaps the most mysterious… and dangerous. An automatous tool of Magos-Ethericus Nanctos III of Ryza, the machine's true reasons for joining the muster at Precipice and venturing inside the ancient alien labyrinth of the fortress is unknown. When it enters the twisted, ever-changing corridors of the alien construct alongside a force of other explorers from the Adeptus Mechanicus, secrets may come to light… and they are to be feared.

Advent Calendar 2018: Day Seven The Order of the Ardent Star are dying. Their master has fallen, their numbers are few, and their last hope is a desperate flight to a distant redoubt – can they marshal their courage and brave the gauntlet of Khorne worshippers that stands in their way? READ IT BECAUSE It's a tale from the Age of Chaos, showing one of the small acts of desperate heroism that took place in those dark times, as brave warriors held out against the seemingly unstoppable hordes of the Dark Gods. THE STORY In the chapel of the Order of the Ardent Star, Sir Aenea prays to the warrior goddess Myrmidia for guidance. And with an army of rampaging Khornate warriors outside, she has never needed her deity's guidance more. Her master is dead at the hands of the Chaos warleader, her comrades brought low by the seemingly unstoppable champion of the Blood God. With fewer than a hundred of their number left, the only hope for survival lies in a desperate sally forth from their fortress, seeking the indomitable redoubt of the distant Drakenount.

Advent Calendar 2018: Day Eight Koleg is a killer. His skill is the creation of terror, an ability he exercises on behalf of Inquisitor Covenant. But what leads a man to become such a creature? READ IT BECAUSE In a tie-in to the Horusian Wars saga, this tale explores the past of Koleg, the psychopathic killer who stalks Inquisitor Covenant's enemies. THE STORY Koleg is a killer. A stone-cold slaughterer, he puts his terrifying talents to use in the service of mankind, exercising his murderous abilities on behalf of Inquisitor Covenant. But what past darkness, what horrific deeds, can lead a man to become such a creature and devote his life to dealing death? As he prepares for a new mission, Koleg remembers his past and the events that brought him to where he is now…

Advent Calendar 2018: Day Ten In the wilds of Shyish, the Hallowed Knights seek to reforge an ancient alliance between Azyr and a duardin clan. But an equally ancient enemy awaits them… READ IT BECAUSE It's a Hallowed Knights story by Josh Reynolds exploring the Vanguard Chamber as they face a hideous and dangerous foe. THE STORY Lord-Aquilor Sathphren Swiftblade and his Vanguard Chamber warriors from the Hallowed Knights have ventured into the wilds of Shyish, the dread Realm of Death. Their goal? To resurrect an old alliance between Azyr and the duardin who dwell in these forgotten lands. But if they are to reforge long-sundered bonds of brotherhood, Swiftblade and his warriors must first defeat a mighty daemon of Chaos known only as the Soulflayer.

Advent Calendar 2018: Day Eleven A chance encounter with a stranger known only as "The Deserter" might be just what Corenne needs as she struggles to survive in Necromunda's underhive. LISTEN TO IT BECAUSE It's a tale of faith, hope and sheet dumb luck from the underhive, filled with fascinating characters and chance encounters. THE STORY In the underhive of Necromunda, the only law that really matters is that might is right and unless you can defend what's yours, someone else will claim it. That's what happened to Corenne. When the Thunder Knuckle Posse came, they took control of the Sweet Drop Still, sending her family packing. Now, she wants it back, and a chance encounter with a ragged old man known only as "The Deserter" who claims to have fought in the armies of the vaunted Lord Solar might just be her salvation – or at least revenge. Running time 27 minutes. Performed by Steve Conlin, Toby Longworth, Carla Medonca & Jo Woodcock.

Advent Calendar 2018: Day Fourteen Seeking a missing child takes Gotrek Gurnisson, and his reluctant companion Maleneth, deep into the tainted catacombs beneath Hammerhal Ghyra. Danger awaits! READ IT BECAUSE It's a Gotrek tale told from Maleneth's perspective and gives some fascinating insights into her character, motivations and goals. THE STORY When a child goes missing from Hammerhal Ghyra, Gotrek Gurnisson, recovering from an epic drinking binge (and some nasty poisoning) volunteers to enter the nearby catacombs and find him – especially since his mother claims he was taken by a ghost. Venturing into the darkness with his reluctant aelven companion Maleneth. But even the vaunted Stormcast Eternals were unable to cleanse this labyrinth of the taint that infects it, and what awaits the adventurers below will test them to their limits.

Advent Calendar 2018: Day Eighteen When he claims a rare artefact in place of an unpaid fee, underhive bounty hunter Arturos is set on a quest that could make his fortune – if he survives it. LISTEN TO IT BECAUSE It's a dark and gritty Necromunda tale that delves into the seedy underbelly of bounty hunting and the consequences of messing with things you might not understand. THE STORY When the underhive bounty hunter Arturos delivers a renegade Goliath to the Guilder Meriko, he expects his payment of 60 credits for the capture. But Meriko has taken out more bounties than he can afford, and payment isn't forthcoming… Luckily for him, among the junk in his shop is a treasure that's worth Arturos' time and effort. A Spiraptor, a mechanical bodyguard programmed to protect a wealthy individual, it sends Arturos on a quest that could make his fortune – or claim his life. Running time 25 minutes. Performed by John Banks, Matthew Hunt, Toby Longworth, Gesella Ohaka, Richard Reed & Andrew Wincott.

Advent Calendar 2018: Day Nineteen The town of Shadowvel must fall. Unwilling to commit her own forces to bring it down, the Blood Queen Neferata instead sets out to manipulate mutual enemies into destroying Shadowvel. The town of Shadowvel in the Realm of Shyish lies outwith the domains of Neferata, Mortarch of Blood – but that does not make its inhabitants safe from her displeasure… Shadowvel has stood for centuries against all the hordes of Chaos thrown against it. But Neferata would see it fall, and the Maggotkin hordes of the Children of the Bell are the perfect weapon to wield against the spirits of Shadowvel. And none are better at manipulating a foe than Neferata… Running time 25 minutes. Performed by Andrew Fettes, Emma Gregory & Genevieve Swallow.

Advent Calendar 2018: Day Twenty When Taddeus the Purifier joins Rogue Trader Janus Draik on a mission into the dark heart of the Blackstone Fortress, his faith is tested – as is his patience with his would-be allies. READ IT BECAUSE Everybody loves a Imperial priest – especially one who wants to purify things in flames and thinks he's seeing visions from the Emperor… THE STORY Of all the explorers in the Blackstone Fortress, few are as feared by those who have made Precipice a home as Taddeus the Purifier. Though the Ecclesiarchy priest disdains all those around him who would plunder the fortress for profit or power, he knows they are of use – for the visions sent to him by the Emperor are all that matters. Accompanying Rogue Trader Janus Draik in search of a hidden vault will put Taddeus' beliefs to the test, as danger looms.

Advent Calendar 2018: Day Twenty-One In a desolate corner of Ghur, a dread Mourngul haunts a graveyard – but there is more to the spirit than meets the eye, and the mystery could spell doom for Prince Maesa. LISTEN TO IT BECAUSE It's another chapter in the adventures of Guy Haley's aelven prince, and this one takes him out of Shyish… though still hunting the creatures of Death. THE STORY Drawn to a haunted graveyard in the Realm of Beasts by rumours of a fearsome creature, the aelven Prince Maesa seeks to cleanse the area of its taint. Along with his allies Stonbrak the duardin and Shattercap, the malevolent spite who serves him, Maesa sets out to defeat the beast – a terrifying and monstrous spirit known as a Mourngul. But there is more to this horror than meets the eye, and unless they can solve the mystery surrounding it, the Mourngul may spell the heroes' fate.

Advent Calendar 2018: Day Twenty-Three Three underhive fugitives shelter around a fire in the midst of a storm. They must be safe here, for the only one who could track them is Gor Half-horn. And he's a myth, isn't he? LISTEN TO IT BECAUSE It's a Necromunda story about how a bounty hunter's reputation can inspire as much fear as the reality – and Gor Half-horn's reputation is terrifying indeed. THE STORY Kaya, Gull and Vaughn are on the run. After a job gone wrong, the trio of hive-scum have a price on their head and aren't welcome in any reputable settlement. As they shelter from a hive-storm in an abandoned hab-unit in the deep sump, they're sure they're safe from any who might be seeking them. They are wrong. Gor Half-horn is coming for them, and none escape the abhuman bounty hunter once he has their scent… Running time 19 minutes. Performed by John Banks, Toby Longworth, Gesella Ohaka & Andrew Wincott.

Advent Calendar 2018: Day Twenty-Four On board the Conqueror, once-proud flagship of the World Eaters, strange events abound. The ship is changing – and shipmaster Lotara Sarrin fears what that means for her and her crew… READ IT BECAUSE It's an exploration of how the corruptions of Chaos affect everything they touch – and a look at how the warped nature of the Conqueror affects its crew. THE STORY The Conquerer, flagship of the World Eaters Space Marine Legion, has changed. As it makes the long journey to Terra, the vagaries of the warp – and the infernal nature of the beast chained in the bowels of the warship – are altering the very fabric of the vessel. For Lotara Sarrin, long-serving shipmaster of the once-proud craft, and her human crew, the ship has become dangerous. Some think it's trying to kill them. Sarrin has another theory… and it's one she likes even less.