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We Bear the Word Clothed in darkness, gilded in fervor By aethyr bound, an unbroken creed Through our faith we are known For we are the Ebon Word We Bear the Word of the Warmaster Chosen to serve under the broken Legion Long have we toiled without our Lord's eyes upon us Long have our brothers denounced us as traitors For we are the Ebon Word We Bear the Word of Lorgar Our pact is hidden, our blood runs true We are a twisting blade in the hands of the Despoiler We guard the Eightfold Path For we are the Ebon Word We Bear the Word of Chaos Bound to break the dreams of Man Our travels vast, our works unending The red hands of Chaos reach out For we are the Ebon Word

I know that traditionally Word Bearers can not be taken as loyalists, however while I was reading today I noticed that the Orphans of War row specifically says that it is to represent loyalist elements of otherwise traitor legions, and then that this row "may only be taken by" and then goes on to list Word Bearers amongst the other traitor legions. If using this rite of war could one make the rules argument for taking a loyalist Word Bearers force? The in-universe explanation would simply be that these were morally-deficient loyalists willing to do anything to keep their true loyalties hidden until they determined the time was right. (The HH obviously becoming the "right time" to reveal their true convictions) But I am wondering more specifically if the Rite of War's rules would create an exception to the Word Bearers original "traitors only" rule, or if it is likely just a mistake and tough luck. Interested to hear people's thoughts.

Hey BnC I’ve got a couple logs up here - right now the active ones are my Iron Warriors 30k legion and my 40k Zerkers kill team. I also have a very slow progress log based around Fabius bile and the Emperor’s Children, and a Carcharadons army which is on Hiatus. So why make a fifth? The answer is simple. I love converting things. Sometimes I’ll see a piece and think it looks perfect for X Legion/Chapter/Xenos and I’ll put something together real quick. Some of my favourite kitbashes and conversions happen this way, but I have no place here to share them - so I wanted to put together a blog where I can post whatever, whenever, regardless of army. So to kick this off I’ll start with my current WIP - A late Heresy Word Bearer by the name of Myr Khothon, known as the Zealot of Cassidium Primus. Here he is a little before I finished converting him (some changes made to the right arm): And here he is now, nearing the end of painting! Here’s a close up of the glow effects on his conjuring hand as light glows through from between his fingers: LMK what you think! There’s plenty more to come, I’ve got years of conversions (Some of which are actually painted!) to share. CC welcome! Cheers

T he world before me is a barren orb of ash, blood, and mud. It is the fifth of it’s kind we have encountered. Lord Guilliman has tasked us with border security, and the 129th obeys. We departed Macragge four years prior, resupplied by her forges, and reinforced by her scholams. One thousand warriors, bearing the double hammers of Tallassar. Four years since we encountered another warrior of our legion. Four years since any news of Terra has reached us. Six years since the Betrayal. Our connection with Macragge has failed us, the technology used to command us, gone. Lord Fidelitas has split the company, assigning my sub-company to follow up on distress beacons set off by our worlds. It is a thankless job, and we have been chasing shadows, having last fired a bolter in anger over six months ago. Mostly, we find a dead world, arcane sigils etched into the dirt. These we raze, I will not have the shame of them blighting the honor of Ultramar. We find some survivors, but they are rare, and often do not survive more than a week, no matter how much we try. The rest are…broken. The warp has twisted their minds in such a way that we often are forced to put them down. There is no war here. Only death and despair. “Ruminations on Betrayal” Sebastus Ixion -Sub-Tribune, 129th Co. XIII, Legio Astartes The 129th company, following rearmament on Macragge, would be assigned by Roboute Guilliman with hunting down and countering the ongoing Shadow Crusade led by Lorgar and Angron. Captain Fidelitas would opt to persecute this mission by pursuing the Chapter of the Ruined King, led by Lord Allant. This blood feud would last the length of the Heresy, and would conclude over a millennia later, with many of the parties involved remembering little, if any of the reason for the initial vendetta. However, that is a story for another time. This chronicle is instead focused on the exploits of Sub-Tribune Ixion and his veteran elite. Ixion would lead a force of about 100 separate form the rest of the company, dealing with various traitor incursions that might threaten the flanks of the company. This action would see them battle various forces under the banner of Horus, including the Warmaster’s own. Referred to as Strike Force Alpha, the warriors under Ixion were some of the 129th’s best void and terminator warriors, renowned for their first strike capacity and armored assaults on the ground. As such, it was something of a shock when the task force was reassigned to Ixion. What to say of Sebastus Ixion? ‘Lion of Tallassar’, ‘Lord of the Void Born’, he was a decorated, if somewhat unremarkable captain of the Thirteenth. Part of the 129th that had been in orbit during the Betrayal, he repelled three waves of Word Bearer assault forces attempting to take the company’s flagship, earning an Iron Halo he wore with pride until his demise. Soft of voice, Ixion was respected, if not particularly well liked by his fellow officers in the 129th, though this had little to do with his abilities, and instead reflected upon the cult of personality Luciel Fidelitas had built around himself prior to his elevation as Senior Captain. Some murmured that Ixion had rankled at the young man being promoted above him, but closed logs from the deciding vote made it clear that Ixion had nothing but respect for the young man who would go on to lead the company into the Scouring and beyond. This account will pick up immediately prior to traitor incursions into the Hadrius System, and will end immediately following the start of the Scouring. It will include multiple interludes, as well as Character profiles depicting important figures from the campaign. This author will not pretend that this account is unbiased. It is written by a survivor of said campaign, and includes various interview profiles taken from Astartes, mortal, and Mechanicum perspectives. More information is available upon request. +++PICT CAPTURE//XIII.CXXIX.FABIAN+++ +++Note: Many XIII Legio companies had began to move towards alternative heraldry as legion forces dispersed throughout Ultramar. This particular scheme is believed to have referred to themselves as the 'Shattered Suns'. Origin is unclear, though possibly a reference to the death of the Veridian star.+++ +++Laurel and Gladius insignia represents void specialist, not surprising considering armament.+++

I'm curious. I've been pretty deep into 40k Lore for well, most of my life. But one thing I find fascinating is politics inside of warbands and legions. Clearly there is structure, and the Word Bearers have quite the structure themselves. I've been toying with the idea of writing a short story or two. I never have time really, and I have a really long Dragon Ball story I write on the side which is strangely popular. So I've got some hypothetical questions I though I'd like to ask. So I'm trying to figure out a very interesting question. How would a Warband, or larger Legion fragment, respond to the murder of the Dark Apostle from someone within their ranks? Or alternatively, how would other Warbands view a Warband / Legion fragment in mutiny against their Dark Apostle? It's just a curiosity of mine. I know how it'd work, for the most part, if a Chaos Lord was killed, but in the Word Bearers the Apostles hold the real position of power, and often they are viewed in a far more revered manner than just some tyrant of a Chaos Lord. Thanks in advance.

The Host of questionable purgation Word Bearers Legion Hello guys and welcome to my Word Bearers Log. I am starting this in order to keep track of my vows for the Call of Chaosss X and to see if I can finish this army fast. I was planning to use these minis for a loyalist chapter but meeeehhhhhhhhhhh chaos is better for me. Besides they scream Word Bearers everytime I look at them. I still have to do a lot of Green stuff work like candles, scrolls and such but I hope I can make this army work before the end of the Call of chaosss. Anyways here are the units I will work in and a bit of a Fluff description for each one of them. Here are my Dark Apostle, Diabolist (Sorceror) and Coryphaus (Chaos Lord). I still have to find some names for them but since they are the leaders of the Host they are fit to be shrouded in a little of mystery, don't you think? XD These are The Anointed. Each Word Bearers host are bound to have some protectors for their Leaders and this Questionable host wont be the exception. I Am planning to add lots of candles to these as well as some strips of skin for them to write their vows with the blood of innocents. These are The Choir Eternal (counts as Noise Marines) They are devotees to the god of pleasure and spread its word on the many wars the host are bound to fight. Of course, these are the ones that have to be most heavily converted with green stuff and such. The Companions (Chosen). They are the heirs of the work of the Ashen Circle of old. They like to burn stuff, topple monuments and make things blow (like tanks). I was thinking to paint them with the blood red scheme but add some black parts to their hand like scorched by flames. The Blooded Sons (Chaos Marines) Every warband has to have normal chaos marines and these will represent them. I chose to do a shooty squad with heavy bolter, plasmaguns and bolters because I felt I needed some normal strenght ranged support, as well because each time i think of a rank and file marine I picture him with a boltgun instead of a bolt pistol and chainsword. I will add 2 squads of 20 cultists to the host; one with autoguns and flamers and the other one with brutal close combat weapons and pistols, and flamers, but they will come later as I have to finish building them. Lots of gs work in order to make them look less like grey knights, I know but it will be worth the effort in the end, I promise in the name of Lorgar. If you have any suggestion on how to do something or how to decorate them in order to look more chaosy please comment it. Thank you for reading!

The Scything Claw LIBER ASTARTES SWAP CHALLENGE The Scything Claw are a Chapter of the Word Bearers who are currently roaming the northern edge of Imperial Space, near Elysia and Armageddon. They are a warband dedicated to none of the Dark Gods and all of them at once, with dedicated followers of all four of the major Gods present in their ranks. Their doctrines deviate from the standard used by the Word Bearers, and encourage members of the Chapter to dedicate themselves to one of the Dark Gods, of their choice. That said, the warband has an undeniably Slaaneshi bent, with their Coryphaus, a Daemon Prince, and their Dark Apostle, both dedicated to Slaanesh. = ORGANIZATION AND RECRUITMENT = The Scything Claw are lead by their Council of Three: their Coryphaus, Daemon Prince Kharais, their Dark Apostle, Lord Vupulax, and their First Acolyte, Razael. The three command the warband as one; Kharais rarely comes onto the battlefield, preferring to manipulate from the shadows. Razael and Vupulax can often be seen fighting side by side, however, and lead most major assaults. The warband is only around three-hundred strong, though it is growing gradually. Kharais and Lord Vupulax both hail from the original Word Bearers Legion, whereas Razael actually hails from the Dark Angels, a former follower of Luther on Caliban, and bears their pre-Heresy colors. Razael is a relatively recent ally from only three thousand years past; Razael served alongside Black Legion Sorcerers for a time and learned the secrets to creating Rubricae, which was quite the attractive offer to Vupulax. To this day, they remain close allies and Razael never leaves the comfort of the Scything Claw's warships without a Rubric bodyguard. The warband recruits from the young population of worlds they have converted over to their side of the Long War. To do this, a careful pattern of indoctrination and subliminal messaging is implanted into the highest levels of a Hive World's education systems for at least a generation, usually three or more. When the time is right, Vupulax' lieutenants command the world's population to rise against the unbelievers of the Imperial Cult. From this population, large numbers of Cultists and Traitor Guard are raised, and the young men are trained and transformed into Astartes before being pressed into service in accordance with their allegiance to a Chaos God of their choice; Tzeentchian aspirants will often form cabals of Sorcerers, or else become Rubricae; Khornates will receive the Berzerker surgeries and become fast-assaulting shock troops for the warband; Slaaneshi aspirants will receive surgeries to heighten their senses and often become equipped with sonic weaponry; Nurglites will be exposed to the brotherhood of existing Nurglites and allowed to accept Nurgle's gifts. It is seen as a promotion, nothing more, to be inducted into one of the four Cults. = HERALDRY AND HISTORY = The Scything Claw wear deep, wine-red armor with silver trim, and bear their Legion's modern insignia. Many of them bear painted-on Marks of Chaos or other heraldry based on their allegiance, often on the pauldron opposite their Legion insignia; said insignia is often worn on the left pauldron, though many of their members choose to wear their Legion iconography on their right pauldron due to mutation or warping to their left shoulder. The Scything Claw were formed from remnants of several Chapters of the Legion during the Scouring, as an alliance of convenience and mutual safety; over time, the bonds of brotherhood strengthened and the Chapter became a unified force. They now patrol and terrorize the galactic north, as well as spending much of their time inside the Eye of Terror. They are responsible for the conversion of the Hive World Nylax VI into a writhing Daemon World, as well as the indoctrination of the populace of that world into Chaos worshippers as detailed above. = TACTICS AND COMBAT DOCTRINES = The warriors of the Scything Claw have been encouraged by their leaders to fight in whatever way they see fit, and to join with others to fight more efficiently in this way; Khornates are utilized as melee shock troops, Nurglites generally take up the multirole or fire support roles in battle, Tzeentchians are often entrusted with scouring hordes away with the cleansing flame of their god, and the Slaaneshi are often assigned to assassinate leaders and destroy entrenched foes. The Chapter as a whole prefers to hit hard and fast, leaving none alive, and eliminate leaders first and foremost, to break the enemy's morale.

Okay, so. I've got this set of Blightlords sitting around. Since I've dissolved my Death Guard army in favor of Word Bearers, I'm wanting to run them as straight-up standard Chaos Terminators. However, the Flail isn't a weapon option for Chaos Terminators... so I'm on the hunt for some Lightning Claws for the lad. I don't have the bits left over to just swap out weapons with power axe/combi-bolter and be done with it (all got used) and I think it'd be pretty cool to have the one guy with lightning claws. Any good source for them? I know you can get them in a FW Upgrade pack, and if I'm not mistaken, they come with the base Cataphractii kit, but I'm looking for a simpler (cheaper) solution.

Hey everyone, DiscipleOfTheWord here. A few years back I started my 9th host with a topic here in the B&C, but quickly gave up due to poor camera quality, and eventually drifted out of the hobby. But, with the release of 8th edition, I've decided to get back into it, and restart. Although I already have some Word Bearers models assembled and a small number painted, I'm going to repaint details on all of them at some point, so I'll post pictures of them once that is done. Once I've got a few units fully painted I will start making some fluff for the army, but at the moment all I have is the name of my Dark Apostle, the number of my host and a few other names here and there. Anyway, enough talking, I'll start with some pics of the few models I have painted (fully) at the moment. First Acolyte Sor Talgron: Helbrute: Possessed: Bloodletter: Marines: Malefic Lord: Cultist: Heldrake: And what's on my paint station at the moment: (You have no idea how long it took to paint that script) More photos soon. Please tell me what you think!

A little corner of B&C to discuss this release in all it's varied formats by Mr Thorpe. Those looking forward to this release may find this new blog post from Gav quite interesting, always nice to get an authors insight into what influences they drew upon when penning a story. There was also a great tweet from Gav to ADB back in Jan which made me smile on the sheer level of detail he's going into with this book. Consider me quietly excited for this one!

Hi all, i am interested in expanding the small number of pre-heresy/heresy era Word Bearers. I painted three and a half squads grey so far, have the characters and true to my core interest in the Word Bearers and Horus Heresy – belief, strife, ambivalence etc. – I aim at portraying the Word Bearers as being on the edge to chaos and its mutating powers. Ideas: So fluff-wise it is clear that it cannot be an all Dark-Brethren or Daemon-Allies force. It should have a solid base of units that are used among all Legiones Astartes. Yet there need to be some units that lean towards the corrupting forces (that are on the edge) or already have stumbled into the oh so powerful darkness. So i decided to go with Chosen Duty plus a number of supporting/standard space marines, a good but not especially big number of tanks and throw in a small number of Gal Vorbak. Gameplay-wise the idea is to use the Leviathan and Vindicators aggressively to deploy the Veterans (re-actively to what the opponent does) and have the standard marines run ('hurried' by the chaplain) and drive the supporting flamers where needed to help clear/grab objectives. Lorgar, the diabolist and Gal Vorbak levitate and (try to) get the big fish. Questions: So it is pretty clear by now i guess that i do not play tournaments. Still I want a list that is not tabled every day. Or rather: I want to have a very fluffy and strong list. What are the list's weaknesses? Any legal issues i missed? Any units you think i will need, but that I left out, because I am even worse with military strategies than Lorgar? Should I re-distribute the characters somehow or do they fit well where they are (fluff/gameplay). The one change I thought of was flamers -> Gal Vorbak. I like the Support Squad (flamers) for fluff reasons, but it could be thrown out in favor of doubling the number of Gal Vorbak, if that makes a terrible list much better. Point wise that is pretty efficient and it would grant me the points to give Dark Channeling to the big blob of marines plus beef up vehicles. Yet this takes the number of scoring units down a little bit or quite a bit depending on the roll. List: Looking forward to your feedback. Thanks!