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My place for all things Space Marine! I have started to built a small force for the Horus Heresy, after having abandoned Space Marines for almost a decade now. The Nuncio Vox in the new MK6 kit looks too 40k in my eyes , so I have built my own version, for my two tactical squads.

DOWN IN FLAMES ADEPTUS ASTARTES: FIRE HAWKS PROLOGUE: This is it, old friend. For those times we saved each other, shed our blood and sweat under the roar of guns and upon the strange tides of war. To now stand unrecognisable and unrepentant of our choices, blades drawn and bloodied by the bodies of our brothers, and the corpses of our sworn oaths. All we have cherished, what we gave our lives to, broken down with our own hands. How did it all come to this? Is it only now, that we realise both of us are lost?

++ ECHIDNA’S CHILDREN ++ 1: LAUGHING HEADSMEN Theoretical. A term used by the Primogenitors, and before them, the XIII Legion, a rhetorical device to prepare the mind for action, for the execution of a preferred eventuality. Tirian Mahlo found the latter disproportionately amusing, since it succinctly underscored his current predicament. The chainaxe bit into his shoulder. Scarlet runes in Mancoran Dialect helpfully informed him of the Practical as adamantine teeth driven to a blinding whirr, made contact and began to harrow his alabaster warplate. He couldn’t hear the weapon growling, since Khymara IX was utterly devoid of atmosphere, but he did notice the grey-green dust from the world’s surface clogging where it mixed with Astartes blood from previous victims. He had about three seconds to live. Then again, so did the bastard trying to kill him. With a jarring parry, Mahlo knocked the weapon back with his elbow, provoking sparks and flecks of ceramite to skitter across his visor before pinging off to oblivion in the low gravity. The clack-slam of his Reductor went right through the flexsteel of the Executioner’s neck, aimed at a point Mahlo was all too familiar with. Behind it lay the arteries and meat of the Space Marine’s absurdly well-designed neck, but also the fleshy gobbet of a single Geneseed cluster. The sickening noise as Biscopean cartilage parted for the invading metal never failed to force clenched teeth, when he powered through, severing the cervical vertebrae and the vital nerve clusters. A rune spoiled his vindictive moment with a green pulse to indicate the death-blow, and incidental geneseed recovery, was successful. It was a first. He used the corpse as a shield to hide from supporting fire given by the Scions of Dorn who called the meatbag comrade. More Astartes plate was turned into flinders by the hurricane of fire as they tried to bring him down; just as aware as Mahlo that the man he was holding was dead. This was an utter shambles, the Howling Griffons stationed here called for recovery of their wounded, and Mahlo was forced to leave the protection of his Rhino APC, clearly marked as an Apothecarion Transit, to enter the bunker complex which comprised of four stations, housing an augur array, telecoms units, and a remote surveillance drones. What was left of them. He fought the Executioners with bursts from his Umbra-Ferrox bolter, mindful of ammunition consumption, the bolt hammering a predictable chugging that tallied in his mind along with the cortical-interface in his visor. The enemy were clad in almost as motley a panoply as his own Brothers were, some in gleaming blue-steel, others marked with dark lozenges of Codex disruptive patterns, more still in the blue-white lunar amoeba. His fashion sense was abandoned when his power plant hit the door sill leading to the under-complex. Abandoning his erstwhile, now limbless shield, he banged twice, tossing a krak grenade out with the corpse. A blast of displaced grit and pressure warnings eclipsed as the door opened to admit him, staring into the muzzles of two bolters clasped by Griffons he didn’t know. + Peace, brothers,+ he assured, although it was both hollow and pointless, since his Cerberus IFF would have already painted him as friendly. Perhaps this was the bedside manner Kordus was so keen for him to develop. ++++++++++++ Just a quick blurt that was supposed to launch into another short-story, but I couldn't get my teeth back into it. Can't remember if it's in the Google Drive, but at least it's on the board for perusal.

BELLIGERENTS of BADAB HOWLING GRIFFONS One wound of many. So, I'm not painting a lot of Space Marines these days, between my Tau Crusade Army and fun I've been having over in BFG. That didn't seem right. Now, I can't commit to a major project, but I can certainly muck around with single models, right? So begins BELLIGERENTS of BADAAAAAAAAAAB!! The crowd goes wild. Wanted to start out with something fiddly, so I've knocked out a Howling Griffon. Not just any Howling Griffon, however, this is a highly specific little conversion... You should see the other guy. Now, I'm not going to promise to do every model like this, being directly based on one of the original pictures, but some certainly will be. It's fun! I don't have a full army in someone else's scheme in me, I'm not built that way, but I can do a model in an existing style. Also, great excuse to try out some more freehanding! Now, I need to decide who's next...

CLAWS IN OUR STARS ADEPTUS ASTARTES: ASTRAL CLAWS PROLOGUE: To be lost is an error in judgement - old friend. We chose the path of honour against an uncaring Imperium. What right does anyone have to question our strength? Why do you not see? You thought as I. The Strong, are Strongest...Alone.

In the Ashes of the Thorns And who are you, the Tyrant said, that I should bend the knee Twelve high Lords on a far-off world, ‘tis all that I can see By a gilded seal, or a silver’d one, a Lion has his Claws And mine are cruel and sharp, my Lords, more cruel and sharp than yours. And so it came to pass, that in the 903rd year of the 41st millennium, a century before the Imperium would be shaken to its core and everything forever changed, Lugft Huron, Lord of Thorns, Chapter Master of the Astral Claws, and self-proclaimed Tyrant of Badab, did declare "just seccession" from the Imperium and, in so doing, ignite what was then the greatest conflict of our age. Alas, such was not to be, and if we could have seen what was yet to come within the next, darkest millennium, we might have counted ourselves lucky to be spared the horrors that came after Badab. Brother fought brother in a decade long war that saw seventeen warrior-brotherhoods of the Adeptus Astartes clash against each other in open conflict. Billions died and entire Chapters of Space Marine were condemned to crusades of Penitence, and even now, considering the horrors they would have to confront before that term was ended, it is impossible to say whether or not they survived. The war was brutal and bloody, with countless tales of equal parts valor and dishonor. These stories are too numerous to be told in full here. But even among every engagement throughout the war -- the Fires of Sacristan, the Angstrom Incident, Crow's World, and numerous others -- there is one that stands head and shoulders above the rest by the sheer measure of its violence and the gravity of its consequence. I speak, of course, of the final battle, the Siege that ended the War. I speak of the moments after the Tyrant found himself to stand alone among his manse in defiance of the Imperium of a Million Worlds upon his shadowed Throneworld. I speak of the Siege of Badab Primaris, and the Fall of the Palace of Thorns, when Lugft Huron, the Lion of Badab, died, his Claws with him, and something terrifying and black-hearted born into his place. Badab Primaris 913.M41 Long and hard had been the war, and many had already died among the Chapter. Yet more would die before the end. The smoke rising from the south meant that Surraek’s force had encountered the enemy. Most likely he and his charge of the Chapter now numbered among the honored dead, if the reports of the ferocity of the Carcharadon Astra were to be believed. Bashar Reyne glowered at this realization. This meant that unless the unlikely happened and they were reinforced, or the impossible happened and Surraek had actually survived the assault, he was the ranking officer in this sector. Turning away from the spiked parapet he stood at, he faced his command. Two depleted Tactical Squads lay at his disposal, his own and Cinnebre’s. Not enough. Not nearly enough, he thought. The Sharks had been reaping across Badab for days now, leaving a red wake behind, and they would be here in a matter of hours. The Claws would die here, he knew. There was no escape. Not now. Perhaps years ago, in the early days of the war, there might have been the possibility. But after ten years of fighting those loyal to the High Lords, ten years, brutal and bloody and restless, there was no return. The die had been cast and nought would change the number it showed upon its upward facing, save for the sweet release of death. So here the Astral Claws would make their final stand – upon the surface of their home – and so here they would die, but not before they reaped a terrible price from their attackers. A feeling came over Bashar Reyne then. Throughout the brutal centuries of his life, from the day he was first chosen to be a Neophyte of the chapter, through his days as a Marine of the Line in Tactical Squad Kherradan, through Veterancy and through his days serving first as a Sergeant, and later the honor of Veteran Sergeant, it was a feeling he had never known throughout war and strife. Peace. Reyne very nearly smiled at this realization, that he had accepted his final fate, but outwardly the grimace upon his face may well have been chiseled from stone from all it showed. A careful observer might have noted a slight shift in his eyes with this thought, but been unable to recognize it. Such a thing requires context, after all, and Bashar Reyne was not a Space Marine known for levity, but rather harshness and ill-compromise. To his men, only one thing he had to say before the end. “Die well.” It was a promise, as much it was an order. As the lights of hive spires began to go out as a wave approaching, heralding the arrival of some great cthonian marine predator, and a deathly silence began to replace the sounds of gunfire in the distance, Bashar Reyne ignited his power maul and awaited his end. Requiescat in Pace Veteran Sergeant Bashar Reyne of the Astral Claws Depicted as he was after taking overall battlefield command after the death of Tyrant's Centurion Surraek, Badab Primaris <urban combat//Zone Mortalis>, 913.M41. Confirmed KIA. Body found dismembered.

With the Space Marine Kill Teams rules firmed up (link goes to the last version I posted, though a few minor tweaks are described in multiple replies), it's time to expand. One of my favorite events in the setting, and one that has a definite focus on the Adeptus Astartes, is the Badab War (coincidentally, one of my favorite Chapters, the Exorcists, took part in that campaign). So here's my initial stab at Chapter Honours and skills for the various Chapters that participated in the Badab War. For the most part, I took the 6th edition Chapter Tactics that Forge World provided for these Chapters, and I adapted them to Shadow War: Armageddon. For Chapters that have identified Legion lineage, I used the skill progression from those Chapters as a baseline, though I tried to apply some tweaks here and there in order to introduce some (very minor) differences. A few of the Chapters simply use their predecessors' Chapter Honours (e.g., the Novamarines are among the Primogenitors, so I reasoned that they follow the Ultramarines rules exactly). Others are very close to their predecessor, but have minor adjustments to Chapter Honours or skills or both. And some were very distinct (e.g., the Executioners are almost nothing like the Imperial Fists). Page 1 (introduction and timeline) Hidden Content Page 2 (skills - Astral Claws, Carcharadons Astra, Executioners, Exorcists, Fire Angels) Hidden Content Page 3 (skills - Fire Hawks, Howling Griffons, Lamenters, Mantis Warriors, Marines Errant, Minotaurs, Novamarines, Raptors) Hidden Content Page 4 (skills - Red Scorpions, Sons of Medusa, Star Phantoms) Hidden Content Page 5 (Chapter Honours - Astral Claws (includes rules for Tyrant's Legion kill teams)) Hidden Content Page 6 (Chapter Honours - Carcharadons Astra, Executioners, Exorcists, Fire Angels) Hidden Content Page 7 (Chapter Honours - Fire Hawks, Howling Griffons, Lamenters, Mantis Warriors, Marines Errant, Minotaurs) Hidden Content Page 8 (Chapter Honours - Novamarines, Raptors, Red Scorpions, Sons of Medusa) Hidden Content Page 9 (Chapter Honours - Star Phantoms) Hidden Content I've tried to keep balance on par with the main Space Marines Kill Team rules, but I'll need other eyes to help me with that. I have an idea that these rules might include campaign rules, at the very least a series of scenarios to play out shadow wars (i.e., squad/team level skirmish battles) within the setting of the Badab War. These might potentially include a modification of the Shadow War: Armageddon campaign rules (though that might be nothing more than changing "Promethium caches" to "victory points" or "campaign points" or somesuch. That's way down the road, though. For now, the focus is getting these rules accurate and balanced. Any input is appreciated.

Thought of the Day: “Death Shall Hold Dominion and Silence Fall; Consider.” War. If there is a single defining truth of the dark and terrible age in which we live, it is war, red and bloody. The ceaseless battle between Mankind and the alien, between the divine truth of the God-Emperor and the falsehoods of Chaos, between brother and brother, between light and dark, life and death – war is all. This treatise concerns but one war among many, but a war whose nature and secrets render it quite exceptional. It was a conflict that rose up to plunge a score of star systems into savage strife. A war which turned entire armies of the Imperium’s most powerful warriors against each other and in doing so swept millions to their deaths in its turbulence. I write of course of one of the most insidious and dangerous internecine conflicts to wrack our beloved Imperium in many centuries: the Badab War. - Inquisitor-Ordinate Talon Encarmidus, Ordo Hereticus, 5137933.M41 [imperial Armour IX: The Badab War - Part 1] =][= INTENT Welcome, brothers and sisters, Loyalists and Separatists, to another edition of “Back to Badab”: a thread that will serve as a loose framework to enable fellow Badab War enthusiasts to gather and share pictures and stories of their Badab War projects, and provide each other with ideas and feedback, while generally have a good time in dangerously close proximity to the dreaded Maelstrom. Since most of us are hobby butterflies, the main focus of this thread will be creating “kill teams” set in the Badab War conflict as these are far cheaper and easier to make than a full army, and can be used on the tabletop with the official Kill Team rules or a number of unofficial fan-made rule sets. However, after an excellent suggestion by @AHorriblePerson, I also strongly encourage people to create models for the various Badab War characters that were never granted anything more than a passing mention or, at best, a datasheet in one of the two Imperial Armour: Badab War books such as Elam Courbray, Anton Narvaez, and Tarnus Vale on the Loyalist side and Corien Sumatris, Thulsa Kane, and Ahazra Redth on the Secessionist side. GUIDELINES Please note that while the Badab War was an Adeptus Astartes conflict first and foremost, many other factions contributed to the conflict so if you would like to come up with a Kill Team representing one of those underrepresented factions (for example: the human, mutant, and xenos raiders and pirates that plagued the shipping lanes of the Maelstrom Zone, the human elements of the Tyrant’s Legion, the heretek scavengers that Huron used to recover a buried weapons store on Cygnax, the Mechanicus of Angstrom, or even the dreaded forces of the Ordo Hereticus and Inquisitor-Ordinate Talon Encarmidus himself) you are free and very much encouraged to do so. Also note that I strongly encourage you all to post some accompanying lore/story when you post pictures of your models. We are not looking for award-winning writing but adding a bit of flavour to your pictures will enhance the experience for all involved and really cement the idea that your models are part of the tragic Badab War. Finally, Primaris Marines as such have no place here as the Badab War is set in the first two decades of 900.M41, long before the events of the Gathering Storm, the Cicatrix Maledictum, and the Indomitus Crusade. That said using Primaris Marine models for true/art-scale conversions is, naturally, authorised. VOWS OF FEALTY For those of you who would like to “officialise” your commitment to this project you may copy and paste the text below, filling in the blanks while you’re at it to reflect your project, and post it for all to see your fealty to the cause of the Loyalists or the Secessionists. This is non-complusory and only here to help motivate people to get their project done by providing them with a deadline mechanism. MARKS OF AFFILIATION You’re encouraged to include the appropriate "faction" banner in your signature to show your participation and affilitation, though please keep in mind the forum rules regulating the use of signature space. 300x100 px http://bolterandchainsword.com/uploads/gallery/album_12339/gallery_45765_12339_50558.png 300x100 px http://bolterandchainsword.com/uploads/gallery/album_12339/gallery_45765_12339_12035.png RESOURCES For information and inspiration: Lexicanum entry on the Badab War Back to Badab, the original thread Badab War community log by @The Yak Index Astartes Resources, where you can find decals and such for some of the Badab War Chapters Shadow War: Badab, a B&C community effort to give the Badab War Chapters their own rules for the Shadow War: Armageddon game instigated and led by @Brother Tyler To the Bitter End, an Astral Claws log by @Noctus Cornix Truescale Badab War Kill Team, a mixed Loyalist/Secessionist log by @Brother Dallo Clawthorn, an Astral Claws log by @apologist Executioners Kill Team/Raider Group, an Executioners Primaris log by @Crusader of Dorn A Roar amongst the Thorns, an Astral Claws log by @TheTrans The Murderclowns' Lament, a Lamenters and filthy xenos log by @Kinstryfe LM's Lab, a Lamenters log by @Mr Yellow Art Scale Carcharodons, a Carcharodon Astra log by @Trysanna From the Dark they came, a mixed Loyalist (mostly Carcharodon Astra) log by @The Observer In the Ashes of the Thorns, an Astral Claws log by @Soldier of Dorn A reckless disregard for the Codex Astartes, a Raptors log by @The Yak Sanctioned Fratricide, a Minotaurs log by @Freakiq The Space Marine Secret Police!, a Minotaurs log by @Caillum Lucifer's W.o.S.P., a Raptors Primaris (these days at least) log by @Lucifer A Reimagining of the 5th Tyrant's Legion, an Astral Claws log by Mantis Warriors Reborn, a Mantis Warriors Primaris log by @Naryn Sons Of Medusa Blog, a *drumroll* Sons of Medusa Primaris log by To the Bitter End, an Astral Claws log by @Noctus Cornix The Vega III Incident, a mixed Loyalist/Secessionist group project Vengeance is our Redemption, a Mantis Warriors log by @The4thHorseman The Tip of the Claw, an Astral Claws/Tyrant's Legion log by @Leviathus Raptors Taskforce, a *drumroll* Raptors log by @Seathal Siege of the Palace of Thorns, a Tiger Claws log by @Dark Brotherhood The Sons of Medusa, a *drumroll* Sons of Medusa log by @Grey_Death ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS A special thanks to @The Yak for the original incarnation of this concept that was created and run back in 2015. You can find it here. And, of course, none of this would be possible without the lore genius that was Alan Bligh and his fantastic team at Forge World. Emperor bless their souls. Ave Imperator!

View File Down In Flames (A Fire Hawks Short Story) The Lycanthos Drift Campaign is almost over. To secure the Widowmaker Bastion, a force of Space Marines from the Fire Hawks Chapter is given the honour of subjugating the outlying Sentinel Fort. Infested with Chaos Space Marines of the Bleak Brotherhood and their traitor guardsmen, the Fort's existence prevents heavy siege guns being laid by the men of Krieg, and threatens the right flank of Lugft Huron's assault. As part of the task force, Knight-Sergeant Emeryk Zann is keen to win glory and honour for his Chapter and the God-Emperor, but as he discovers, this assault is little more than a deadly Forlorn Hope - one that even his Chapter Master, the gruff Knight-Commander Stibor Lazaerek wants to fail... Submitter Mazer Rackham Submitted 04/12/23 Category Background (Lore)  

Well, I started a thread on the 23rd of July but with the DB crash and roll back dogs ate it along with my homework. The beauty is you now will get a lot of WIP pictures like some rapid time lapse across a fortnight without my inane rambling. That won't last The downside is there will be lots of pictures in one post, but not much I can do about that as I am having to play catch up. The Wall of Bronze Beasts Printed scans from my copies of the IA books for inspiration and direction. The First Five Gotta start somewhere and as I want half in Mk VIII a squad in my take on that armour was the obvious starting point. At this point I was pleased. Mk VIII Chests How I did Mk VIII chest so the abdomen cables aren't exposed. I obviously could only do so many before I ran out so you'll start to see white bits as I lifted a cast of my modified chest plates. Losing Focus Rather than staying on point I wondered what the second squad in MK VIII would look like as I intend to give them Tigrus bolt guns. Great but still not one squad built Focus still lost... And what they would look like with a plasma gun, Ryza pattern of course. Second squad again, still off with the fairies... Standing on things is cool Lorenzen said so (at least I think he did long ago). And he is right. And he is doing Minotaurs too! Although I won't have bare flesh anywhere on mine, too page 3 exposing themselves and helms are more menacing. Note I went back to squad one again at this point. I was going to make this guy the combat squad leader but didn't which has led to problems (see later). Arguably you could say I'd regained my focus... Captain who became Sciron ...but you'd be wrong. An idea that escaped and broke focus. On the original thread the consensus was the name Sciron suited him more than Carcinus. When I say consensus like one person responded. Both are spare names from the FW brass etch sheet. I like him, pity I'll hardly ever use him. He is more progressed now and I will finish him for Grotsmasha;s challenge as a "funsies". Finally the Heavy I stopped procrastinating and prevaricating and finally built the squad heavy weapon. Quite happy with this, so I put all my avoidance energies into the special weapon bloke. Sons of Medusa No, really. Whilst avoiding doing the flamer I started fiddling with Sons of Medusa. I should write a book called Focus Lost or something. Flamers need bunkers to burn So, Armies on Parade and themed terrain is well important, more so than having an actual squad built, so I am doing this in tandem. Big, isn't it? Note I will be attacking this as Minotaurs so it'll be ouch time for me. Fits with them perfectly of course thus me doing it. And the fact I had the FW Siege of Vraks moduler resin trench stuff lying about gathering dust. More on this later but I'll be picking up the foam board and ply tomorrow. The gang is not all here Nine. Sort of like the Nazgul except not. Flamer guy all sinister on the right side. Missile launcher man strangely giving out quests. Sinister Close up of too many to be a combat squad and not remotely loaded right even if they where. Dexter And too few for a combat squad but at least a close up of elusive flamer chap. Note I cannot make my mind up on the last bolter man, who may also be squad leader, so I'll make another nine and then decide which one goes with these guys and then give the others Tigrus, then vacillate for ages over who gets to be Sergeant Aristophane, and then avoid building their plasma gunner and heavy bolterer for ages whilst building a full 6 ft. by 2 ft. trench system. However tonight is gym, then selling my FW Reaver on eBay, and then adding bulbs to all their ankles.

Hello Fraters, This is a public release to advise that the Cabal of Dead Ink will hopefully be publishing its first PDF project for general availability through the Downloads section soon. (Pending Admin approval etc). The release will be an original short story set in the run up to the Badab War, featuring new or barely known characters, and will hopefully be the first in a series from different perspectives and POV of both the Loyalists and Secessionist forces. It will also contain original artwork (covers and maybe interior art) of the same subject. It will not be a graphic novel product. You can rest assured that all artwork will be board and subject appropriate. The reason for this notice is to not only create interest, but also to prevent any concerns of improper use of the artwork. You can see one of our previous Notices of Interest for Graphic Designers/Digital Artists. We have sourced work from a professional artist called Dan Morison, who has been very generous in allowing us to use his art for this purpose, without remuneration as per GW IP Policy. We have permission to use it, and an email chain to provide evidence of what was agreed. Further, he will receive proper accreditation in the publications we make. The Cabal of Dead Ink would like to use this opportunity to highlight Dan's great style, and to give our public thanks to him for his trust and support. We would encourage anyone interested to go and see his stuff. We are still continuing with our plan in creating a BL Submissions Anthology, which will showcase the work of those who gave their shot to the recent Open Submissions window, but may have been declined, missed the window, or decided not to proceed for whatever reason. We are also working with Fraters within this forum to enhance and support our work with formatting and artistic skills, such as @TheTrans We look forward to discussing this further with any interested parties. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to PM me, or respond below, and I'll reply as soon, and as fully, as I can. I would also like to thank the help and support of the Cabal with getting us all this far. A lot of work goes on behind the scenes, for which I am eternally grateful. The Secession, and our Story, continues. Maz.

Dan Morison, aka Dark Mechanic, has merged all his illustrations from the Badab War series, and put all of them into a downloadable booklet of just 44 pages (42.1 MB). Every colour scheme, every chapter, color and B&W, as well as some rejects and extra stuff. The title is Oath breakers, Traitors, Secessionist. In summary, we have in a booklet, some artwork for 17 chapters, from both contemporary and retro time periods, as well as some rough pencil work. And you can get it for free on his Gumroad page. And if you want, you can make him a donation. And here is his Twitter profile

An ongoing project to knock up some kitbashed standalone minis from the chapters engaged in the Badab War, because Badab is cool and kitbashing is probably the part of the hobby I enjoy the most. I had intended to start out easy with just my idea of what a standard tactical marine from each chapter might look like and I did do a few of those already (pics to follow) but a particular combination of parts gave me an idea and so I went with it. Here's my rendition of Old Night himself, Thulsa Kane of the Executioners. The basis is Tortuga Bay Studio's Myroslav Kado mini, with arms and axe from their Fortress Destroyer model. The head is from the new GW Terminator Chaplain, tilt shield from Fafnir Rann. There's also a dagger in a skull-encrusted scabbard from one of the GW limited edition webstore minis because "needs more skulls" was a definite consideration i had while assembling him!