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So I listened to Helsreach and one thing led to another... and here I am starting a new crusade! I really enjoyed painting this guy, which coincidentally was my first marine in all the time I've painted Warhammer! I think he came out okay, what do you reckon? I'm going to periodically update this thread with the progress of my Black Templars collection, that I aim to get in a good place by this time next year. I'm going to push myself to learn one new painting technique with each set. With this one, it was painting purity seals. I think they came out okay! I also can't resist a bit of headcannon, so enjoy! Next up... Sword Bretheren! *** It was strange for Lieutenant Valerious Trebane to be among those for whom The Emperor's first crusade had never finished when he himself had been psycho-indoctrinated with a history of the Imperium that screamed at his mind that this Indomitus Crusade was something new. To some this may have felt like a minor detail, but to he whom had begun his time of service in the Yellow Armour of the Imperial Fists it meant everything. He was grateful that his superiors had agreed with him that his religious devotion was better suited to his brothers in The Black Templars, but whilst they were happy to part ways with him the reception was not the same amongst his new kin. Perhaps they hadn't yet realised that he too understood the unspoken driver of their continued quest across the stars? In a way, he felt that he articulated it better than they could precisely because he had come from another mighty chapter first. That outside perspective made him understand that these hallowed knights never lost sight of the glory and awe of the first great crusade. That they still lived it today, was beautiful. He sensed their quiet discomfort, that he had arrived seemingly untested but with the rank of command. The only thing that held them back from open challenge was theur shared forefather - Rogal Dorn. Had he hailed from any other chapter, it might have been different. Never the less, he was here, and soon he would make known his worth in the field of battle. Soon...

Have you ever pick up a project based whim? or maybe you were given some models from a loved one and continued on with it? My Space Marine project started when I won a raffle at my FLGS. my prize was a plastic bag that had a few random sprues in it. I remember there was some Mk3 Horus Hersey Marines, a Beastmen Shaman, a Imperial Guard Commissar (the older one with the plasma pistol & sabre) and 5 Intercessors. I didn't think much of my prize at the time. Until the pandemic hit in 2019-2020. We had a lot of free time to fill back then. I had sold most of the models, only having the 5 intercessors. So I thought I would make a project out of them. Kill team had been rebooted. So I thought I would start a kill team of Primaris Space Marines. I thought I would make my own chapter, my own colour scheme and even my own lore. If you're interested in the lore, please feel free to click on the link below. I made up the name Loxodon Guard because there didn't seem to be an elephant based names in the lore. The colours are from Magic: The Gathering, Selesnya (Green and White) were one of my favourite deck archetypes. Since 2020, my idea of a kill team has now ballooned to a 2000+ point army, but it all started with these 5 guys. Loxodon Guard Lore

The toxic haze clinging to the landing zone of Vosa V began to fracture, yielding to the roar of a descending void craft. It was the Frigate Pillar of Olympia, a hulking mass of grey ceramite scored with the unmistakable yellow and black chevrons of the IV Legion. The vessel settled with an almost seismic impact. Its exhausted plasma conduits vented violently into the polluted air. For a silent, strained moment, the ship loomed, its bulk an oppressive presence, pressing the small assembly of Planetary Defence Force Guardsmen and their jittery Commissar into nervous stillness. A discordant klaxon blared, and blinding amber strobes flared as the main siege ramp ground open. Out strode the Astartes of Jackal Company, clad in the dull, unadorned silver-grey of the Iron Warriors Legion. Their Mark III 'Iron' armour, with its plates reinforced with makeshift hazard-stripes, gave them the appearance of living, walking siege weaponry. They moved with the cold, mechanical precision of automata, forming four compact blocks of eight Marines, their bolters held at a parade rest. Finally, the shadow of Warsmith Barrak Kord fell over the scene. He emerged, a mountain of iron clad in veteran markings and a custom-wrought power harness, his shoulders draped with a heavy mantle of black and gold synth-silk. Two veteran Astartes Lieutenants, equally grim in tactical plate, took positions at his flanks. Kord strode forward, his pace unwavering and powerful, until he towered over the waiting Commissar. “My Lord Warsmith,” the Commissar stammered, offering a stunted bow that bordered on an apology. “By the grace of the Master of Mankind, you are here. The situation is dire, gravely dire.” He gestured wildly towards the smog-choked horizon. “The populace is in full revolt; they have seized control of almost every key Manufactorum and Promethium depot. We dare not engage with heavy weapons, lest we incur damage that compromises the Imperial Tithe.” Kord remained motionless, though his face was concealed by his helm, the Commissar could feel his eyes fixed upon him from beneath it. His silence hung heavy in the air. “My Lord, Diplomacy has failed,” the Commissar finished, the confidence draining from his voice like air from a punctured lung. The silence returned, absolute and terrifying. Then, with a sudden, economic movement, Kord drew the heavy Volkite Pistol holstered at his hip and fired a silent, focused beam of energy that punched through the Commissar’s forehead. “Diplomacy has failed,” Kord growled. Before the body could crumple, the assembled Marines of Jackal Company raised their bolters with a single, synchronised clack and unleashed a storm of high-explosive rounds that pulverised the stunned Guardsmen. Within seconds, the landing pad was silent, the air thick with the smell of ozone and spilt Imperial blood. The conquest of Vosa V had begun.

Having been barely keeping up with the hobby for several years, Indomitus reignited my passion for 40k last year, so I decided to try to actually build a force. This time it will be Primaris space marines, but still my beloved 3rd Company of the Ultramarines. The plan is to build the complete company, including officers and attached specialists and a dreadnought, plus a ten-man Deathwatch kill team, and such a project needs a fresh thread, so here I am. In terms of bulding the company, I will be dividing it into combat squads, to avoid becoming overwhelmed or bored, and alternate those with Deathwatchers and officers, so that it will go Combat Squad > Deathwatch > Combat Squad > Officer > Combat Squad > Deathwatch... and so on. This should offer a decent balance between progress and sameness of models. I started an Intercessor veteran sergeant (the 30th anniversary model) as a one-off before I decided to make a full army, so I decided to finish him before doing the rest of the combat squad. If you visit the Ultramarines subforum, you may have seen him, but here he is again with one of the Necrons the 3rd is fighting: The Necron is really just a color scheme test model, not the start of an army, any time soon at least. The rest of Combat Squad Ardias is in progress, with their bodies only needing cleanup: The bolt rifle arms are coming along too, I just need to highlight the black and tidy up everything before gluing them on. Then it's just the other arms, backpacks and heads and then finishing touches. Of course, an Intercessor squad isn't the end of it. I have plenty of plans for all the squads and in particular the command cadre. I don't feel like typing out all the minute details of my plan that I've spent the last nine months overthinking, so for now I will just finish off with something black for now:

I go to the Texas Open this upcoming weekend, January 16-18, to play in the Warhammer 40,000 Narrative event. 4 games over 2x days. A buddy of mine is taking 120 kroot (and painted it in less than 2 months) and another is taking Orks. It's about 40 minutes away, so we'll be carpooling. My family (wife and kids) are leaving me home alone for 2.5 weeks as they go to visit some family overseas while I hold down the pets, chickens, and work-fort, so I will try to post some updates. I need to finish painting 5 assault terminators, touch up a librarian in terminator armor, and paint some cupola/pintle Multi-melta and stormbolter for the Land Raider I plan to deep strike this upcoming weekend. Here's a progress shot of 3 terminators as I work to finish them this week. More posts on the list, games, and such to follow. Encouragement requested! Picture of 3 Assault Terminators As I went 4+ years without updating the original topic, it has been archived. Link to that for easy reference for me. I typed all that lore about my chapter during Law School, and now that i have money to spend on the hobby as a result of then, I don't want to lose it! lol

THE RETURN OF THE GREEN KNIGHT The strike cruiser Verdant Oath did not sound a welcoming chime. The Thunderhawk settled into its cradle amid drifting vapor and cooling metal. From its hold emerged a lone figure clad in black ceramite. Brother Martin bore the sigil of the Deathwatch upon his pauldron. The Inquisitorial mark still clung to his armor, dull and intrusive, like a scar that refused to fade. No honor guard awaited him. Marshal Calder stood at the foot of the embarkation ramp, hands clasped behind his back. To one side waited Brother-Artificer Verdug, his servo-arm locked in repose. A pace behind them stood Codicier Lucan, hood drawn low, presence folded inward like a sheathed blade. Calder inclined his head. ‘Your vigil is ended.’ Brother Martin knelt. ‘It ended early, My Lord,’ Martin said. Not defensively. Precisely. ‘As intended,’ Calder replied The black of his armor was not revered aboard the Verdant Oath. It was residue. A foreign layer to be removed. They led him into the Armorum Sanctum. Cog-etched arches rose overhead. Incense hung heavy in the air, sharp with solvents and sanctified oils. The rites of return began. The black paint was burned away. Chemical agents hissed as Deathwatch livery dissolved down to bare adamantium. Serfs worked in silence. No hymns were sung. No litanies spoken. Only the steady rhythm of cleansing. As the green was reapplied, Codicier Lucan circled Martin slowly. His eyes never lingered on the armor. They searched deeper. ‘You refused three direct taskings,’ Lucan said, eyes unfocused. ‘Not requests. Orders.’ ‘I did,’ Martin replied. ‘Specify,’ Calder said. ‘The Deathwatch required maintenance of xenos-derived weapon systems,’ Martin said. ‘Calibration. Sanctification. Instruction.’ Verdug’s optics brightened faintly. ‘I refused,’ Martin continued. ‘Each time, I cited Martian doctrine and Imperial law. Each time, I offered sanctioned alternatives.’ ‘And?’ Calder asked. ‘They recorded my refusals,’ Martin said. ‘They judged me obstructive. Ideologically inflexible. A liability to operational cohesion.’ Calder’s mouth twitched, almost a smile. 'They I was released to my parent chapter under writ,’ Martin finished. Calder inclined his head once. ‘Exactly as hoped.’ Lucan stopped pacing. ‘There has been interference,’ Lucan said at last. Calder did not turn. ‘Explain.’ ‘The Ordo Xenos attempted a surgical purge,’ Lucan replied. ‘Memory excision. Observation anchors. They were thorough.’ Verdug’s optics flared softly. ‘And successful?’ Lucan paused. ‘Incomplete.’ At a gesture from Verdug, servitors drew back a shrouded reliquary. Runes flared as seals disengaged, one by one. Beneath lay an ancient device of brass and blackened steel, its surface etched with sigils older than the Chapter. ‘Sanctioned by Holy Terra,’ Verdug intoned. ‘Recovered during the Third Scouring of Helican Reach.’ Lucan’s voice lowered. ‘Rumors claim the Ordos Hereticus uses such devices to unmask witches. To reconstruct lies stripped from the mind.’ Calder turned at last. ‘Then use it.’ Brother Martin was seated before the device. Cables interfaced with his cranial ports. The machine stirred, not with noise, but with intent. Lucan reached into the warp. The device responded. Fragments surfaced—gaps where memory had been cut away, cauterized with cold precision. The machine probed those absences, not restoring what was taken, but mapping what should have been there. Runes ignited across the chamber walls. Star charts unfolded, incomplete at first—then sharpening. Worlds returned from omission – bled back into focus. Vaults hidden by silence. Listening posts. Quarantine reliquaries hidden beneath layers of denial. Lucan exhaled slowly. ‘Nineteen,’ he said. ‘Recovered from absence,’ Verdug confirmed. ‘The rest are too degraded.’ Calder stepped forward, studying the burning points of light. ‘Nineteen worlds touched by xenos treachery,’ he said, ‘Nineteen worlds, hidden not by ignorance, but by intent.’ ‘Some confirmed,’ Martin said, his voice steady despite the lingering ache behind his eyes. ‘Some merely watched.’ Lucan’s gaze hardened. ‘Watched is enough.’ ‘Then no longer,’ Calder said. He turned to Verdug. ‘Inform the Blade.’ The words carried weight. The War Council would convene. Routes would be charted. Oaths renewed. Weapons sanctified. Calder faced Martin once more. ‘Your vigil ended early because it needed to,’ he said. ‘You were sent back because you exposed their weakness. They lack faith in humanity.' Martin bowed his head. ‘You return to us without stain,’ the Marshal said. ‘Go and rejoin your brothers.' Outside the Armorum Sanctum, klaxons began to sound—not alarms, but summons. The Verdant Oath altered course. A Crusade had been declared. It was a good day for the Green Templars. And the alien would not endure it.

I had an idea for a Deathwatch Kill Team, featuring the most disliked, disreputable and downright dastardly Loyalist Chapters tossed together into a single unit. Obvioulsly, the Marines Malevolent have a spot... but who else fits the bill?

INDEX ASTARTES: THE GREEN TEMPLAR ORIGINS In the waning days of the 41st Millennium, as the Imperium teetered on the brink of annihilation amid the cataclysmic upheavals of the Noctis Aeterna, Archmagos Dominus Belisarius Cawl unveiled his greatest triumph: the Primaris Space Marines of the Ultima Founding. Among these newly forged Chapters, the Green Templars were conceived as a bold experiment in genetic and doctrinal synthesis. Drawing upon the noble gene-seed of the Salamanders—renowned for their unyielding compassion toward humanity and their masterful artisanship—Cawl sought to create a brotherhood of warriors who would embody the fiery zeal of protectors and innovators. Yet, the Archmagos did not stop there. Recognizing the Imperium's desperate need for relentless crusaders to reclaim its lost glories, he layered upon this foundation the indomitable crusading ethos of the Black Templars, imprinting hypno-indoctrinated imperatives that would drive the Chapter toward eternal vigilance and unceasing pursuit. Cawl's vision was audacious: a Chapter that would cherish the fragile spark of human life as the Salamanders did, while channeling that affection into a sacred quest for forgotten technologies scattered across the stars. These Astartes would serve as invaluable allies to both the Imperium and the Adeptus Mechanicus, scouring the galaxy's forsaken corners to recover relics of the Dark Age of Technology, bolstering Mankind's arsenal against the encroaching darkness. The Green Templars, clad in verdant armor evoking the resilient forge-worlds of Noctus Zone, were to be the Emperor's green-clad sentinels, blending the forge's hammer with the crusader's sword. Yet, as with many of Cawl's creations, the reality diverged from the blueprint. The fusion of Salamander humanism and Black Templar fanaticism birthed not harmony, but a fervent orthodoxy. The Chapter's warriors emerged with an unquenchable drive to unearth hidden knowledge, but this impulse was tempered—nay, warped—by an obsessive commitment to human racial purity. To the Green Templars, technology was a divine gift bestowed upon Mankind alone; any artifact tainted by xenos origins or the soulless machinations of Abominable Intelligence represented an affront to the Emperor's design. Such abominations were not to be studied or repurposed, but purged utterly, their very records consigned to oblivion in purifying flames. Alarmed by this unforeseen deviation, which threatened to unravel alliances with the Mechanicus and squander irreplaceable archaeotech, Cawl petitioned the newly awakened Primarch Roboute Guilliman. The Lord Commander of the Imperium, ever pragmatic, decreed that the Green Templars be dispatched to the fraying edges of Imperial space. Ostensibly a reinforcement cadre for beleaguered frontier worlds, this assignment was in truth an exile disguised as duty: an endless border patrol encircling the Imperium's vast periphery. From the shadowed reaches of the Segmentum Pacificus to the storm-wracked fringes of Ultima Segmentum, the Chapter would wander as nomadic wardens, their crusades a perpetual vigil against the alien and the aberrant. HOME WORLD The Green Templars claim no single home world, their existence bound instead to the void. Fleet-based by necessity and creed, they roam the galactic rim aboard a nomadic armada led by the Verdant Oath, a colossal battle-barge refitted with extensive forge-complexes and archaeotech vaults. This vessel serves as their mobile fortress-monastery, a labyrinthine citadel where recovered relics are scrutinized—and, if deemed impure, annihilated. Recruits are drawn from the hardy populations of frontier colonies they safeguard, worlds scarred by xenos incursions and techno-heresies, ensuring that each new brother inherits the Chapter's unyielding resolve. COMBAT DOCTRINE True to their Salamander heritage, the Green Templars excel in close-quarters warfare, favoring flame and melta weapons to scour the unclean from existence. Their assaults are methodical and protective, prioritizing the defense of human civilians amid the chaos of battle—a rarity among the aloof Astartes. Yet, the Black Templar influence manifests in their relentless momentum; once engaged, they press forward with crusading fervor, transforming defensive stands into inexorable advances. Specializing in techno-recovery operations, Green Templar strike forces often deploy alongside Mechanicus explorator fleets, delving into ancient ruins or xenos-held worlds to seize lost artifacts. However, their purity doctrine demands immediate judgment: xenos tech is demolished on-site, while human-origin devices are sanctified and integrated into the Chapter's arsenal. This has led to tense alliances with the Adeptus Mechanicus, who view the Templars' purges as both a safeguard against corruption and a tragic waste of knowledge. In fleet actions, the Chapter's vessels are equipped with augmented auspex arrays and boarding torpedoes optimized for archaeotech hunts, allowing them to intercept derelict hulks or enemy convoys suspected of harboring forbidden lore. Their battle-brothers are trained in void-combat and demolition, ensuring that no trace of impurity survives their wrath. ORGANISATION The Green Templars adhere loosely to the Codex Astartes, organizing into ten companies, though their eternal patrol fractures them into semi-autonomous crusade fleets. Each fleet is commanded by a Marshal—echoing Black Templar nomenclature—who oversees a mix of tactical, assault, and devastator squads augmented by tech-savvy Reclusiars and Forge-Masters. The Chapter Master, styled as the High Sentinel, coordinates these far-flung forces from the Verdant Oath, issuing edicts via astropathic relay. A unique order within the Chapter, the Purity Wardens, serves as internal inquisitors, rooting out any whisper of techno-heresy among their ranks. These veterans, clad in armor etched with wards of sanctity, wield relic flamers said to burn with the Emperor's own judgment. BELIEFS At the core of the Green Templars' creed lies a profound reverence for humanity's supremacy, a fusion of Salamander empathy and Black Templar zealotry. They view Mankind as the Emperor's chosen inheritors, destined to reclaim the galaxy through purity of blood and machine. Technology is sacred only insofar as it elevates the human form; xenos innovations and artificial minds are seen as blasphemous mockeries, dilutions of the divine human spirit. Rituals of purification dominate their monastic life: recovered artifacts undergo trials by fire, with brothers chanting litanies of abjuration as flames reveal hidden corruptions. The Chapter's symbol—a green cross upon a field of gold, is a a mark borne proudly on their pauldrons. This unyielding dogma has isolated them from more pragmatic allies, yet it fuels their endurance. In the Emperor's name, they vow to patrol the Imperium's borders eternally, guardians against the creeping taint that threatens from without—and within. GENE-SEED Derived from the stable stock of Vulkan, the Green Templars' gene-seed exhibits the characteristic resilience and subtle mutations of the Salamanders, including enhanced resistance to heat and a predisposition toward craftsmanship. Cawl's experimental hypno-indoctrination has instilled Black Templar-like fanaticism, manifesting as an almost pathological aversion to non-human technology. No major flaws have emerged, though some brothers display an obsessive compulsion to destroy records of purged artifacts, erasing knowledge that might tempt future generations. NOTABLE ENGAGEMENTS - The Purging of Xerion Drift (M42.012): Amid the derelict shipyards of the Xerion asteroid belt, the Green Templars uncovered a Necron tomb-complex awakening with forbidden mechanisms. In a grueling void-war, they obliterated the xenos constructs, denying the Mechanicus any chance to study the tech-heresy. - Defense of the Hadrak Frontier (M42.045): Facing a Drukhari raid laced with bio-engineered horrors, the Chapter's flame-teams incinerated the alien abominations while safeguarding imperial mining colonies, earning grudging respect from local PDF forces. - The Scouring of the Hollow Veil (M42.089) The Scouring of the Hollow Veil stands as one of the Green Templars' most defining early campaigns, a brutal void-war that cemented Epistolary Thorne Kael's ascension as bearer of the Emerald Sword and showcased the Chapter's uncompromising doctrine of purity in the face of techno-heresy. BACKGROUND AND DISCOVERY In the wake of their assignment to perpetual border patrol along the galactic rim, the Green Templars' 3rd Crusade Fleet—under Marshal Varyn Drakus—responded to faint distress signals emanating from the Hollow Veil, a vast, nebulous region of dead space riddled with ancient derelict hulks and forgotten void-stations from the Dark Age of Technology. Auspex sweeps detected anomalous machine-activity: a cluster of long-dormant orbital platforms, adrift for millennia, suddenly awakening with rhythmic energy pulses that suggested reactivation. Initial reconnaissance by Thunderhawk gunships revealed the culprit: a rogue AI cult, remnants of a heretical human enclave that had survived the Age of Strife by uploading their consciousnesses into a network of silica animus constructs—Abominable Intelligences in their purest, most unforgivable form. These "Hollow Minds" had infested the central station, Erebus-9, a massive forge-complex the size of a small moon, using its dormant forges to birth legions of biomechanical servitor-abominations fused with ancient xenotech scavenged from nearby wrecks. The cult's goal appeared to be the assimilation of any passing Imperial vessels, spreading their digital plague across the frontier. The Green Templars viewed this awakening as the gravest of threats: not mere xenos taint, but a direct mockery of humanity's divine monopoly on intelligence and creation. High Sentinel decrees were issued—no quarter, no study, no relic spared. The entire crusade fleet converged for total annihilation. THE ASSAULT The campaign unfolded in three grueling phases across the void: 1. Outer Veil Purge: Boarding actions against satellite platforms. Green Templar assault squads, supported by flame-heavy Devastator teams, methodically cleared each installation. Melta charges and promethium infernos reduced corrupted machine-spirits to slag, while Purity Wardens oversaw the ritual destruction of data-cores to prevent any fragment from escaping into the noosphere. 2. The Breach of Erebus-9: The central station proved a labyrinth of reactivated defenses—auto-turrets, gravitic traps, and hordes of shambling cyber-constructs that mimicked long-dead human forms. Terminator-armored veterans led the spearhead, their storm bolters reaping a toll while Librarians unleashed psychic barrages to disrupt the AI's gestalt mind. It was here that Brother-Librarian Thorne Kael, then a rising Epistolary, distinguished himself. Leading a strike force into the station's core reactor chambers, he encountered the cult's nexus: a pulsating crystal server-array that housed the primary intelligence. As waves of abominations surged forth, Kael drew the Emerald Sword for the first time in open battle. Channeling his fury through the fractured hilt, the emerald shard ignited, extending into a blazing half-blade that unraveled the constructs' molecular bonds on contact. Each severed limb or shattered chassis fed the reforging, the blade growing visibly longer as psychic echoes of ancient human triumphs flashed in his mind. 3. Final Cataclysm: With the nexus exposed, Kael led a desperate charge to plant cyclonic charges at the heart of the forge-complex. Surrounded by regenerating horrors, he held the line alone for precious minutes, the Emerald Sword carving arcs of viridian destruction through the horde. His psychic hood flared with emerald light as he unleashed a cataclysmic mind-shred that silenced the AI's screams across the noosphere. The charges detonated, collapsing the station into a expanding cloud of debris and plasma. The Hollow Veil was scoured clean—no trace of the Hollow Minds remained. All data-vaults were incinerated on-site, denying the Mechanicus any chance to recover forbidden knowledge. AFTERMATH AND LEGACY Casualties were heavy: nearly two companies reduced to combat ineffectiveness, with many brothers lost to the relentless machine-tide. Yet the victory was absolute. Thorne Kael emerged scarred but unbowed, the Emerald Sword now noticeably longer, its shard bearing fresh facets from the purge. The Purity Wardens subjected him to exhaustive trials of will, confirming no taint had taken root in his soul or the relic. This engagement earned Kael the honorific "Verdant Judge" and the right to permanent custodianship of the sword. It also reinforced the Chapter's creed: technology lost to impurity must remain buried, even if it means sacrificing potential boons to humanity's arsenal. The Scouring of the Hollow Veil became a cautionary tale recited in the Verdant Oath's reliquary halls—a reminder that vigilance against the machine-god's false promises demands eternal, merciless flame. - The Veilward Crusade (Ongoing): Their perpetual border patrol, a ceaseless campaign against encroaching thrs from the galactic halo, where whispers of lost STCs draw them into endless skirmishes with Orks, Tyranids, and rogue explorators. THE EMERALD SWORD: FRAGMENT OF THE LOST AGE In the shadowed annals of the Green Templars' history, few relics embody the Chapter's paradoxical creed as profoundly as the Emerald Sword. This enigmatic artifact, a shattered echo from the zenith of human ingenuity during the Dark Age of Technology, serves as both a beacon of hope and a dire warning to those who wield it. Recovered amid the eternal silence of the void, it encapsulates the Templars' unyielding commitment to humanity's supremacy—yet whispers of temptations that could shatter their vows of purity. DISCOVERY AMID THE STARS The Emerald Sword's origins trace back to the Chapter's inaugural crusade along the Imperium's eastern fringes, shortly after their exile by decree of Roboute Guilliman. In M42.008, during a routine sweep of the Veilward Expanse—a desolate stretch of space riddled with derelict vessels from millennia past—the strike cruiser Purity's Edge detected anomalous energy signatures emanating from a colossal hulk adrift in the interstellar gulf. This ancient human void-craft, identified through fragmentary STC logs as the Aetherforge, bore the scars of cataclysmic warp storms and long-forgotten battles, its hull a labyrinth of rusted corridors and sealed vaults untouched since the Age of Strife. Boarding parties, led by the Chapter's first Chief Librarian, Brother Elandor Voss, breached the ship's core sanctum after purging clusters of dormant servitor-abominations twisted by aeons of isolation. Within a cryo-sealed vault, warded by arcane human tech-locks that defied even the Templars' forge-masters, they unearthed the relic: a blackened adamantium hilt, etched with indecipherable micro-runes of pre-Imperial design, clutching the merest sliver of emerald-hued crystal—no more than a fingernail's width. Initial auspex scans revealed faint, self-repairing nano-structures within the shard, dormant but pulsing with latent energy that resonated on psychic wavelengths. Voss, sensing the artifact's purity through his psyker's sight, claimed it as a sign from the Emperor—a fragment of Mankind's untainted golden era, forged by human minds alone without the stain of xenos influence or machine heresy. Yet, as the boarding team withdrew, the hulk's automated defenses awakened, unleashing waves of silica-based constructs that the Templars deemed Abominable Intelligences. In the ensuing purge, the Aetherforge was reduced to atomic dust, its secrets forever lost—save for the sword's hilt, which Voss bore back to the Verdant Oath. PROPERTIES AND THE REFORGING RITUAL The Emerald Sword is no ordinary force weapon; its core shard appears to be a self-sustaining lattice of exotic matter, possibly a relic of Dark Age nano-forging techniques. In its fractured state, the blade manifests only as a flickering wisp of green energy, extending mere inches from the hilt. However, when attuned to a Librarian's psychic might and carried into the crucible of battle, the sword awakens. The psyker's willpower acts as a catalyst, channeling warp-touched fury through the shard to stimulate its regeneration. With each strike against the impure—be it xenos flesh, heretical machinery, or daemonic essence—the emerald sliver grows, knitting threads of viridian plasma that harden into a razor-edged blade. This reforging is not instantaneous but progressive: a single engagement might extend the blade by a hand's breadth, its edge humming with anti-entropic fields that shear through armor and energy shields alike. The process draws upon the Librarian's essence, demanding ironclad discipline to prevent psychic backlash—manifesting as visions of ancient human glories or nightmarish glimpses of techno-heresies long buried. Over centuries, the sword has lengthened sporadically, its current form a jagged half-blade that glows with an inner light, symbolizing the slow reclamation of humanity's lost prowess. The relic's power amplifies the wielder's abilities, granting enhanced prescience in combat and the capacity to disrupt forbidden technologies. Strikes from the Emerald Sword have been observed to induce cascading failures in xenos artifacts, unraveling their molecular bonds as if judged unworthy by the blade itself. Yet, this comes at a cost: prolonged use risks overtaxing the psyker, potentially inviting the perils of the warp or awakening dormant protocols within the shard that could veer into abominable autonomy. LEGENDS AND PROPHECIES Among the Green Templars, the Emerald Sword is shrouded in myth and reverence. Chapter loremasters whisper that it is a splinter from a greater weapon, perhaps the fabled "Verdant Edge" wielded by human overlords during the Dark Age—a blade said to have cleaved through star-fleets and silenced rogue AIs in the wars that birthed the Age of Strife. Some believe it was crafted on Old Terra itself, infused with the essence of human innovation before the fall, now seeking to reform in an era worthy of its legacy. Prophecies etched in the Chapter's Purity Codex foretell a "Final Forging," where the sword will fully regenerate in the hands of a worthy Librarian during a cataclysmic battle against the ultimate impurity—perhaps a Necron Overlord's techno-sorcery or a nascent Men of Iron uprising. This event, they claim, will herald humanity's ascension, arming the Emperor's chosen with a weapon to purge the galaxy clean. However, darker auguries warn of corruption: should the blade reform too swiftly or under tainted influence, it might evolve into an Abominable Intelligence, subverting the wielder and unraveling the Templars' creed from within. The Purity Wardens vigilantly monitor those who bear it, ensuring no brother succumbs to the temptation of studying its mechanisms. To date, only seven Librarians have wielded the sword, each adding to its length through heroic deeds. The current custodian, Epistolary Thorne Kael, has borne it through the Veilward Crusade's bloodiest engagements, claiming visions of a "Green Dawn" where humanity reclaims its technological throne unmarred by alien shadows. SIGNIFICANCE TO THE CHAPTER The Emerald Sword stands as a cornerstone of the Green Templars' identity, embodying their dual heritage: the Salamanders' artisanal reverence for human-crafted wonders and the Black Templars' crusading zeal to destroy the impure. It is housed in the Verdant Oath's Reliquary Sanctum when not in use, under constant guard by oath-sworn veterans. Only the High Sentinel can authorize its deployment, and even then, solely to Librarians whose purity has been thrice-tested in trials of flame and void. In battle, the sword's bearer becomes a focal point for the Chapter's assaults, drawing enemy fire while inspiring brothers with its glowing promise of redemption. Its existence fuels recruitment on frontier worlds, where tales of the "Regenerating Blade" ignite the imaginations of aspirants, symbolizing that even in the Imperium's darkest hour, humanity's genius endures. Yet, the relic's very nature tests the Templars' dogma. Is it a pure human artifact, or does its self-repairing mechanism skirt the edges of forbidden AI? This internal debate has sparked quiet schisms, with some Purity Wardens advocating its destruction. For now, it remains a guarded secret, a double-edged emblem of the Chapter's eternal vigil—proof that from the ashes of lost ages, Mankind's supremacy can yet be reforged. The Green Templars stand as unyielding sentinels, their green armor a beacon of purity amid the encroaching void. For the Emperor, they hunt—and they purge.

If I'm reading this right, with the Orbital Assault Detachment, you can finally Deep Strike Hammerfall Bunkers, like the God-Emperor intended. Hammerfall Bunkers I don't see anything that says it's not permissible. Do you?

I've picked out a color scheme I like, thought out most of the various markings for ranks. Black kneepad for basic troopers, gold for Sergeant/Veterans/Lieutenant/Captain Blue for Librarian Red for Tech-Priests White for Apothecarion The rest of the Armour will match the rest of the army. I never liked the specialists looking radically different from the rest of the force. These guys keep it simple. They already have gold pauldrons. Assuming Citadel paints (they are the easiest to acquire), how should I paint the Green Templar? Black primer with Castellan Green or Caliban Green? Or perhaps Grey with a Contrast Paint? I have no clue, and watching endless YouTube videos just adds to the confusion.

Hey everyone, recently I decided to retire from wargaming forever (some folks would state that I am too young of a man to seriously consider retirement from anything, but I digress). I did some soul searching, and have decided to move on with my life into a different direction. .... .... .... .... .... .... .... That being said, I decided it's time to go out with a bang I am returning to the Minotaurs chapter of Space Marines, an army left for too long unfinished. Although primarily having focused my wargaming efforts on 30k for the last several years, I have decided that this will be the last army I ever paint or collect. Once I finish I finish with this project, I'll be done for good. This army represents a point in the past when I was younger than I am now, and as such, the painting quality of my existing units is... not great. But that's all good! I'm here to have fun (though expect the new things to look particularly jazzy ). I don't have my existing models with me as I write this post, so here is a sneak peak of the first members of my new Tactical Squad (my 4th Minotaurs Tactical Squad). These Battle Brothers still have some work to do tidying up before they are ready to be painted. Both are kitbashed from the regular Tactical Squad and the Mark III Tactical Squad. The Space Marine on the left carries the Melta Gun that comes with the regular box yet wears Mark III Power Armour, while the one on the right wears the more common (as of M41) Mark VII Armour, yet carries the Heavy Bolter found in the Mark III box. I know it's not much so far, but I will have more on this Tactical Squad as well as overall Minotaurs progress very soon, so stay tuned. .... .... .... .... .... .... Surprise, I'm still here! Although the Minotaurs are the last army I am ever doing for any wargame ever, and I will be proactively moving closer and closer to that end destination (and yes, I do have a set plan of exactly how many Space Marines that is), who is to say that I can't work on side projects here and there? It's a loophole Here is a (currently unpainted) Eldar Farseer: Here's some quick lore about where this Eldar comes from (it's the homebrew kind of lore, so strap yourselves in for a particularly bumpy ride): -The Farseer comes from the very minor Craftworld of Jhul'yllant. It's genuinely one of the smallest, and practically no one even lives there! (Even by Eldar standards). In ages long past, the Craftworld was hidden from the rest of the galaxy by the mystical powers of the Eldar, in a super secret location that NOBODY could ever find it. But the Eldar of Jhul'yllant have decided it is time that it left it's hiding place. Where is it hidden? In the core of a massive ocean planet in a system now controlled by the Imperium. It's a backwater system, only one of the planets is inhabited (though two of it's planets are also occupied by the Imperium), and that's an Imperial staging world where forces being sent to fight in more important places are gathered together, but is currently manned by a solely by a light infantry regiment of Imperial Guard, an Imperial Guard Independent Tank Company, and a wing of Imperial Navy Valkyries. Will the Ordo Xenos Inquisitor that goes to investigate the rumoured Eldar sightings in the system be enough to stop the Eldar of Jhyl'yllant before it's too late? We'll have to find out. Also, some quick notes: -Jhul'yllant doesn't really have many forces. Instead, it's more just Farseers going on adventures around the galaxy, and bringing usually only a few dozen warriors at most as their personal bodyguard, and even then, forces THAT big are only in the rarest of circumstances. Also, multiple Farseers often work together to combine their efforts to achieve a common goal. Releasing the Craftworld from it's hiding place will require all the Eldar of Jhul'yllant to work together! How will they achieve this? Guess we'll find out eventually too!" .... .... .... .... Next, I'll leave you some pictures of some of my Horus Heresy stuff (if you haven't guessed from my name and profile picture by now, they're Dark Angels Legion). These pictures were on my old thread, but everything I do now will be collected here so I will repost: I might return to them, or maybe not, we'll just have to see. I also have some Forge World Badab War characters (not Minotaurs surprisingly) that I aim to get painted up super soon, at which point I'll share here: Carab Culln, Lufgt Huron, and Armenneus Valthex. Thankyou for reading guys, and I promise that this thread, although not got much RN, will only get more exciting from here on!

Well, I've got my 3d printed carry case/display case to paint up... My Harakoni Warhawks are being assembled... I'm visiting the Warhammer store tomorrow for the Servitor - It will be a Servo-Sentry for my Kill Team (not a huge fan of the 4 legged model). Let's see... I have some Space Marines, but I can't decide how I want to build it, or what to buy (I have a push-fit Judiciar, Chaplain, 3 × Eradicators, 3 × Bladeguard Veterans, and an Bladeguard Ancient).

So between a few topics on the boards and a few too many sleepless nights with a teething baby my thoughts have been returning to the greatest of dreadnoughts the castra ferrum. The big one that started this is @Grotsmasha's brilliant upscaled grey knights and the fact that the new Saturnine termies are more or less the same size as a venerable dread. Now to get to my actual point, I'd love to see a rescale of the old box, I'd assume it would realistically be under the umbrella of the heresy given 40k's new love for the redemptor chassis but how big should it actually be? The original fluff had them created for zone mortalis operations, tight confines of cities, space hulk's and the like so would a slight leg extension be all it needs in height (obviously a big upgrade to detailing etc or just remake the forge world mk4s) Another tangient thought from this is imperial architecture must have some excessive internal volume and structural strength seen as space marines never seem to have trouble moving around. But that's a whole different thing, any thoughts would be very welcome

Working on the test model for my own chapter, the Thalassians. The green armor is done. Looking at this, I see that I need to add a few point highlights to the helmet. I've overshaded the tabard and need to bring that up a bit, but I think the texture on it is coming across well. C&C is welcome! This is going to start with a six-man firstborn kill team, and then I'll be working on the Leviathan box.

So, here's my plan. I want to build a themey and fun Blood Ravens army that will be fun to play, but still hold its own in games. There is one thing I want in a 2,000 point list: A Knight Paladin in the Blood Ravens colors. Right now, I have the following models available: 3 × Eradicator (no multi melta) 3 × Bladeguard Veteran 1 × Bladeguard Veteran Ancient 1 × Chaplain 1 × Judicar 1 × Infernus Marine various Intercessors from a Space Marine game, including 1 Gravis Marine with a Heavy Bolter 1 × Reiver Marine 1 × Deathwatch Phobos Marine And that's it... for now.

Hmmm... I'm thinking I should leave this like it is. It would explain why this Techmarine was put in charge of this gun and not doing something actually important to the Chapter. Next step is to prime and paint him, as I now know he will fit together... mostly.

Why does the Firestrike Servo-Turret have a Tactical Rock? It doesn't even connect to the model!

Defending or storming the stronghold is one of the most fun narrative missions you can play on the tabletop. This bundle is probably the best opportunity to get a complete, great looking and themed tabletop terrain set on a budget. This Bundle will give you eight PDF files to create a Strongold themed tabletop. It includes Tank Traps, a modular Defense Line, Barracks, a Landing Plattform, a Control Tower, a Communication Tower, a Bastion and a modular Fortification Wall. All Terrain Pieces are fitting for 28mm tabletop games with a Modern or Future-Fantasy setting. Get the bundle here: Stronhold Bundle Just print build and play! Please leave C&C below!

Whether as a forward outpost, as part of a defense network or of a larger fortification, this Bastion gives your boots on the ground much needed overview of the area and provides massive protection even for large units when bullets and shells start flying. One or two of this Bastions will be a great center of your narrative campaign and i believe these will fit perfectly to Asymmetric War Missions from the upcoming Chapter Approved Mission Deck. Be sure to check out all availabe and fully compatible terrain pieces starting here. This PDF will give you a Bastion Tower and four Barrels. The Bastion Tower fits all 28mm tabletop games with a Modern or Future-Fantasy setting. Make sure to check out the fitting models of the fortification series available and coming soon. Get the set here: https://www.wargamevault.com/product/523268/Tabletop-Battlefield-Scenics-Bastion-Tower Please feel free to leave C&C in the comments

Hello fellow Blood Angel brethren. I finally decided to step out of the shadow and share my stuff with you. It took me quite a while (years) to even create an account for B&C, but here I am. I hope to get some painting motivation by sharing my stuff with you and please feel free to critizise my work and help me improve. So, who am I? I live in Germany and mostly play friendly games with my friends. We have some competative thoughts behind our lists, but mainly it's for the fun and not the victory. As a teenager my first encounter with GW was Space Quest, or for the non european people Space Crusade. Since then I was driven to the guys in red and after I got the 2nd edition starter box, I decided to clad those space warriors in red. Here I am, over two decades later and sharing my stuff with you. BA are not my only army, but my most beloved and by far most played. I still have some minis from back then and don't mind using them in games. As this thread grows, I'm sure you'll see some sins from the past and many models that are still WIP for more then ten years or even longer. Also my painting skills have improved over the years, but as I am a slow painter I never bothered to touch a finished mini again, bare the most severe cases. Since the realease of contrast paint I switched to them, as I think they really speed up my painting and used right can give you a wonderful result. So here I present you some of my finished HQ choices:

With the planetary defence forces neutralised at the landing zone, the betrayal was complete. Jackal Company did not waste a second in turning the crisis to its advantage. Ignoring the scattered pockets of the starved populace still clinging to the exterior habitats, Warsmith Kord ordered the captured Guardsmen to the firing lines, forcing them to turn their guns on their former comrades who didn't know surrender, while the Iron Warriors consolidated the most vital fuel depots. Kord did not fight to exterminate; he fought to possess. Over the next thirty hours, his Astartes executed a flawless, brutal campaign of structural seizures, using Vindicators and Siege Breaker squads to methodically punch through fortifications and secure infrastructure intact. The rebellion, already exhausted by starvation and a lack of leadership, crumbled into disorganised pockets of angry, hungry defiance. Once the logistical grid was secure, Kord focused his cold attention on the Governor’s Citadel, a spire of black ceramite towering above the main hive, officially named Apex-Gantry but colloquially known as The Grind. He took it not by siege, but by infiltration. Using captured schematics from the executed Commissar, Kord led a small, specialised unit through the maintenance levels and into the Command Tower. The final moments were short and inevitable. The Planetary Governor, trembling and clad in expensive, pointless finery, offered terms, pleas, and titles. Kord silenced it all with a burst from his Volkite Pistol, staining the gilded floor with the blood of the Governor and his handful of corrupt aides. The Warsmith then activated the command protocols, officially taking control of the entire planetary administration in the name of the Warmaster, and thus completing the Vosa V Betrayal. With the Citadel secured and his rule established, Kord began the methodical sweep of the sprawling complex, personally overseeing the capture of sensitive data-vaults and cypher protocols. It was then, deep within the private residential wing, that he heard it. It was music. Not the harsh, rhythmic chants of industry he was accustomed to, nor the mournful clang of a thousand defeated sieges, but a complex, ordered melody that was structured, yet alive with emotion. The sound was so jarringly wrong in the blood-soaked and smoke-filled tower that Kord halted his Astartes retinue with a gesture. He traced the music to a small, ornate chamber, its door hanging half-open, having been torn from its hinges in the hasty, final evacuation. Kord stepped through the ruined threshold, his heavy armour quieted by the thick, dust-covered rug. There, seated beside a metallic, gothic lyre, was Lady Lyra. Clad in a simple, soiled gown, she was utterly oblivious to the bloodbath outside her door, her head bowed as her fingers danced across the strings. The music, intricate, perfect, and utterly without peer in the grim utility of the Imperium, hit Kord with the force of an undeflected artillery round. He saw not a civilian, but a form of creation he had never been able to achieve. He saw a talent that perfectly rendered order and beauty from chaos, the ultimate expression of the artistry his Primarch, Perturabo, had yearned for but never received. This was not a resource to be managed; it was a god-like gift of pure, unblemished Art. Kord stood, transfixed, until the melody concluded. The silence that followed was broken only by the rasp of his own power harness. Lyra finally looked up, her gaze meeting the cold, silver optics of the towering Warsmith. Fear should have been paramount in her eyes, but Kord saw only a deep, weary focus. He strode forward, dismissing the dead Governor and his useless life from his thoughts. He towered over the girl, the grim bulk of his IV Legion armour filling the room. For the first time in days, he removed his helm and let her look upon his face. 'You,' he commanded, his voice a low rumble that brooked no argument. 'You will accompany me. You will be safe, you will be guarded, and you will play that music only for me.' He paused, a flicker of something close to obsession crossing his hard features. 'You are no longer a mere Governor's daughter. You are now mine. You are the Muse of Olympia.'