The necrons descend upon the maiden world of Carnac. The deathless legions march across the verdant plains of the eldar world, bringing destruction to all in their path. With the skeins of fate clouded and the future uncertain, Farseer Eldorath Starbane unleashes the hosts of Alaitoc upon their ancient enemy. In an attempt to end the war at a stroke, Starbane sends Illic Nightspear and his rangers to assassinate the necron overlords – but when the mission goes wrong, it falls to an embittered and nihilistic Crimson Hunters exarch, an ambitious autarch and the long dead of the craftworld to try and save Carnac... or to hold off the necrons long enough for the world's inhabitants to escape.