+ If you'd like to have a go at building some 'truescale' Terminators, the tutorial is in this inload [+noosphericinoadlink embedded+]. Please do feel free to share your results on the + Death of a Rubricist + Facebook group or on instagram with the #alienwars tag too – it's always nice to see how other autoscribes and datinloaders develop and push ideas in new (and improved!) directions. +
+++
+ A bit of a clear-out last night – some models have languished near-finished for far too long on my station, so a dedicated push saw a few things finally ticked off. First off; Blood Angels Terminators for The Alien Wars.
+ Squad Redemptor, First Company +
+ Known more formally within the Chapter as 'Sustainers; First-amongst-equals of the War Eternal under Master Formosus, Lord of the Host, Master of the divided Legion and heir of Sanguinius', Squad Redemptor are the elites of my Blood Angels force. +
+ The minor tweaks are simply embellishments to the underlying shape, which have been in place for ages. +
 |
| + [REDACTED] + |
 |
| + Brother Lesandro (Caranial 6:18) + |
 |
| + Brother Martial (Agshekolah 2:09) + |
+ A size comparison, showing the size of the Terminators next to a Primaris-sized model. +
+++
+ Chapter Master Formosus +
+ Or, to give him his full title: Master Formosus, Lord of the Host, Master of the divided Legion and heir of Sanguinius. Leonid Castivarus is the Chapter Master of the Blood Angels in M35.400 – so who's Formosus? Well, he's my own invention. The Rogue Trader-era Terminator Captain was an iconic model for me, though I never had one myself. This was a fun opportunity to give it a go myself. +
+ Since Formosus is suceeded by Castivarus, Formosus will have to die (or get lost) during the Alien Wars. That suits me. It's nice to create a character with a set 'end date', as it builds its own mini-narrative through gaming. +
+ The colour text below was how I introduced him:
+++
Puglius bears a warning. "The Shint. The Confederacy of Muspa. The bone-eating Brachiacy. The Q'orl. The denizens of Angelis." The Chaplain-sabatine looks out across the vast table at the scanty gathering, which represents the voice of the Chapter. Many seats are empty.
"All recorded extinct since the time of Master Concio." Puglius goes on, his gaze level. "All have appeared in scryomantic reports from the Tower of Buto since the Kolonio last changed."
The Exortio leans forward awkwardly in the Siege Recorda, the throne reserved for the representative of the Librarius at Chapter Meetings. "It is no mark of disfavour that such beings return; my lord – rather it is more likely a mis-classifi-"
He is cut off by a curt bark from the lone librarian still present in the Monastery, a lowly – and clearly resentful – Lexicanium who looms to one side and slightly behind the oversized throne.
"That remains to be seen."
The Exortio, a serf representing the Librarius at this Chapter meeting in the absence of the Chief Librarian and his Epistolary lieutenants, is uncomfortable, and poor at masking his turmoil. He squirms in the throne, attempting to address the librarian politely without turning his back on the gathered representatives, his face a mass of tics – and his voice an awkward, blurting mix of indignation, frustration, and no little wariness.
"With respect, Lord -"
"Then grant me that respect; serf, and be silent." The librarian intones. It is clear from his tone that this is a well-worn argument, however new the topic. The Exortio turned back, his face pale and drawn, as the Lexicanium steps forward and addresses Puglius directly. "Xenos are gathering, Chaplain-sabatine, and this is a mark of the Emperor's disfavour-"
"Be silent!" yells Formosus, crashing his fist down on the ancient durwood table. In the hush that follows, Formosus rises to this feet. "This is not a matter of spirituality! This scholastic debate ends here! Now!" His breathing is heavy, his eyes ablaze. "For too long, the Chapter has mired itself in sophism and semantics, shying away from decision and duty."
Tycho of the Third and Abelard, the brevet-Captain of the Fifth, bristle. The Episcopate military-ordinaries who stand in for the eight absent Captains, remain impassive.
Accompanied by a dismissive gesture at the Siege Recorda, whose incumbent shrinks within his robe, Formosus' voice drops to a growl. "On one hand, I am served by withinlookmen, polemicists and navel-gazers." Here, he waves to the librarian, who removes his hands from the table as though it has suddenly become red-hot. "On the other, by intellectual fanatics and firebrands, who would have me turn on the Imperium itself."
The Lexicanium straightens, appears about to speak, but is silenced with a glare as the Chapter Master continues.
"How would you have the Children of Sanguinius serve? That is the question here. That is the only point of relevance. I am not ignorant of the risks and challenges of the twin Imperium; nor am I convinced by either side of the argument. No." His eyes narrow. "We do not shy from risk. We do not avoid challenges. We are the Blood Angels; with a proud history that dates back to the very formation of the Emperor's realms. We stand above these petty arguments; as symbols of something better."
He leans over the table.
"I have reached my decision."
The others, brethren and servants alike, are silent.
"We go to war."
The expressions on the gathered faces are varied; concern, anger, hope.
"I grow not hot with love for the denizens of Terra, nor still Nova Terra – we will not move against them. Nor still do we involve ourselves with the debates of the Ophelian and Terran Churches, however strongly some of you will it one way or the other. No. The place of the Blood Angels is not to determine the path of mankind – neither in spirit nor in body. Our task is to serve. I will not suffer humanity to huddle in its bastions and fastnesses, preparing war against each other; not while the Emperor's realm is cut and torn and raided from outside. Such decisions are not ours to make. Let righteousness lead mankind; and strength gird whichever side is in the right."
Formosus appears poised.
"Our duty is to war against the Alien, as He-on-Earth willed it. We will make a new war; and re-carve the borders of the segmentum. Too long have we fought guardedly, hindered by uncertainty and riven by internal debate. Now we shall fight gloriously."
He glares around the table.
"Such is the will of the Master of the Chapter of the Angels of the Blood; and through him the will of the Old Masters, and the First Angel; and through him alone, the Emperor. If you want an answer to the question of humanity's soul, you will obey me, as we lead by example. We will cast back and darkness and see which Imperium – old or new – and which priests, whether of Terra or Ophelia, follows us in our Emperor-appointed task."
"Thus, I declare the Alien Wars begun."
+++
8 comments:
Great stuff. I like marines arguing over important matters rather than bellowing oaths and bemoaning lack of glory. There's an awful lot involved in a marine chapter and it's insular enough that the people responsible all know each other.
Nice to see a chapter master trying to wrangle his charges with the shared goal of killing all the aliens.
Looks great so far.
Going back and looking trough your tutorial again (I often read them a few times anyway!) Would the plastic Allarus armor work for a true-scale terminator conversion? The torso seems to have more cruft that would have to be cut away, but surely the size is correct? Three for $50 USD would not be so terrible...
Fantastic. I too have spent many years looking at that old photograph ;)
Ta! I agree; I like there to be some colour text that shows the more introspective and thoughtful side of 40k. The Dark Millennium 2nd ed. supplement had two of my favourite stories: one of a tank crew telling stories, and one of a Thousand Son sorceror sorting out his memories.
Presumably so. I haven't given it a go myself, but the proportions would probably be fairly similar. One of the things I always try to encourage is running with an idea. Whether it looks like the models above is bit by-the-by if you make something cool :)
Glory days! :)
Absolutely gorgeous. I'll try to replicate your method at some time, your work on these are simply amazing.
Thanks Suber! Would love to see your take.
Post a Comment