+ inload: Iron Warrior Siegemaster +

+ inload: Episcopi Artabas +


+ Iatayu Artabas, who met his end during the Siege of Terra was a polymath, a pragmatist and an amoral monster from the planet Kush Tertial. While he was a capable warrior – he was, after all, and Astartes – his rise through the rank to become a leader of men was due more to his pathological obsession with minuteae than charisma or ferocity. In any other Legion, he would have made a capable Line Officer. In the Iron Warriors, his detail-led approach gave him an overview that saw him command battalions. +



+ A rank specific to the IVth Legion, Episcopi were roughly equivalent to Lieutenant-Commanders, with a similar breadth of roles. Senior to the line Centurions, an Episcopus was a special designate who operated alongside a Grand Battalion; though with no special connection with it. An Episcopus could expect to be sent where he was most needed; where his abilities best suited the Legion's need. They included linebreakers, siegemakers and medical, morale or technical specialisms. Artabas excelled in all aspects of planned warfare, making him a vital cog in planning the assault on Terra. +



Pictured with his armament of choice – a simple power bludgeon and umbra-pattern bolt pistol – immediately prior to the assault on Pradesh Novum, Artabas limped out of this engagement, only to fall mere weeks later. A temporary tilt shield bears a simple stripe marking him as attached to the 242nd. His armour is otherwise unremarkable, save for the enhanced optics and data-gathering upgrades to his helm and powerpack. +



+ The most striking feature of this understated officer's appearance was his vulture familiar, Sampatu. Startled during a clash between the Iron Warriors and an infestation of Hrud, the bird rose up and spoiled the aim of an infiltrated hrud fusilier – an act which likely saved Artabas, though its perforated wing rendered it flightless. In a peculiar act of charity, Artabas recovered the bird and spent many months training it and assisting its recuperation using flight-recovery technology usually reserved for psychic cyber-familiars, servitor-putti and the like. larger, stronger and more resilient than the extinct Terran vultures which it closely resembled, the avian became both a totem and a preternaturally fast and vicious helper to Artabas. +


+ Artabas was an unusual choice to oversee the Officia Monstrosa, but then the very nature of the task – to subdue and capture a Primach during one of the greatest and most complex campaigns before or since – required something quite unique. +

4 comments:

Lasgunpacker said...

Great work as always. Any comments on how he was constructed? Sometimes the original vs. bitz is hard to pick out for those of us who watch the Heresy on the sidelines.

apologist said...

Oops, sorry! Quick rundown on parts: Helmet from FW Master of Signals; shoulder pads from Master-Crafted miniatures; arms and torso from GW Grey Knight Terminators; legs from GW Cataphractii; vulture from GW Ogre Kingdoms Rhinox(?); backpack from FW Rapier gunner; pouches and pistol from space marine kits – possibly the new Mark III(?); power maul from FW Mark III weapons set; tilt shield from Bretonnian men-at-arms sprue.

Lasgunpacker said...

Thanks! Very helpful. I have aspirations of doing a HH force sometime, but even with the plastics it would be a costly undertaking.

Joe B said...

Awesome work on him and I love all the extra back story.