Angels_Blade Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 Allow me to introduce to you Ancient Horatius, The latest edition to my ever growing Steel Scorpion army. Once Captain Iacton former chapter Master of the Scorpions, Now ... Ancient Horatius http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o138/mustanguk/P7130012.jpg http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o138/mustanguk/P7130010.jpg http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o138/mustanguk/P7130009.jpg Hope you all like him. My friend Joe liked him so much he decided to write some fluff about him and a scenario for Inquisitor. Bare in mind this story conflicts with the existing fluff for the chapter that can be found in the Librarium but i was so impressed i had to post it for your entertainment. “The Steel Scorpions Chapter are noted for diverging from the Codex Astartes not in their combat doctrine, but in their organisation. In many ways, they take the logic expressed in the creation of the Astartes Chapters to the extreme – for whilst the breakup of the Legions into Chapters was intended to ensure that no one individual could wield the power of a Marine Legion, so the Steel Scorpions operate as a number of almost totally independent battle companies rather than a single chapter. Each battle company maintains its own strike cruiser and auxiliary fleet, has its own veteran units (including a number of suits of Dreadnought and Tactical Dreadnought armour), and manages its own recruitment from scout-novice squads which are raised as an integral part of the company. Whilst different companies do co-ordinate their activities, the Steel Scorpions have no battle barge flagship, or known fortress-monastery, and the chapter's higher command is simply a matter of seniority between company captains – much as with the Salamanders Chapter, the chapter master and first captain are one and the same. It should be noted that there is no detectable antipathy to the concept of companies acting in coalition, but opponents requiring the attention of two or more reinforced battle companies of Space Marines are few and far between. Precisely why the Steel Scorpions shun the use of a central base is unknown, but those forces which fought in the Swerle Crusade that began in 443.M36 adhered rigidly to the Codex Astartes, and it is known that they did possess at least one battle barge – the Undying Faith – as Navis Nobilite records show a Guild Navigator being assigned to the ship in 229103.M37 as its pilot. The Undying Faith is not recorded as being destroyed in any known campaign or fleet action, though, and was never listed as being lost during warp transit. It's fate, and the reason it has never been replaced, remains a mystery to all but the Steel Scorpions themselves...” 'Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes', A Most Secret Report Compiled For His Most Supreme Excellency The Paternoval Envoy By His Humble Servant Maximus Pliny Horatius at the Bridge The loss of the Undying Faith, the command ship of the Steel Scorpions Chapter, in 4.476302.M37, occurred shortly after loading supplies from the munitorium depot world of Praesis. It came, not from an attacking fleet, or a failed warp jump, but from within. Unknown to the Imperium, the cargo-docks of Praesis were infested with a pernicious genestealer cult, that had begun to spread its taint across much of the sector (Praesis itself would be cleansed by exterminatus less than twenty years later). Amongst the tonnes of food and supplies and volumes of fuel and oxygen transferred to the Undying Faith were several hundred stasis chests that concealed not meat or wine but genestealers and their hybrid minions. The stasis locks on these chests were time-sealed, and disengaged only a few weeks after the Undying Faith broke Prasis orbit. The genestealer incursion on the Undying Faith took hold of the lower decks rapidly – many of the chapter serfs that formed the crew being infected in the few days before the Astartes realised what had somehow boarded their ships. Most tragically, the training halls and dormitoria that housed the Chapter's Tenth Company were infiltrated as well, and during the bloody engagements that followed, over 80% of the scout-novices and aspirants proved to be under the thrall of the genestealer cult, and were executed by those same marines who might one day have been their battle-brothers. With the next generation of the Steel Scorpions – the chapter's very future – at stake, the marines fought desperately to save those who could be evacuated once it became clear that the Undying Flame's defenders were being overwhelmed. As the surviving Astartes fell back towards the ship's cavernous launch bays, thunderhawk gunships shuttled back and forth between the Undying Faith and its escort ships, ferrying those free of the taint to safety and withdrawing the sacred relics and fighting strength of the veteran company as soon as they could be disengaged. At length, the final cordon around the launch bays was held by only a handful of marines – the outer line consisting of the veterans of Squad Titus and Squad Lartius, and the final guardian in the form of Ancient Horatius, one of the Chapter's living dreadnoughts. Between them, they held against the impossible odds of the swarm long enough for the evacuation flights to be prepared, and the launch rails and remaining transport craft rendered useless so none of the xenos could pursue or escape. Ancient Horatius Once First Captain of the Chapter, Ancient Horatius was almost killed facing the Chaos assault into the Swerle Drift. His massively wounded body was found during the Steel Scorpion's counterattack, surrounded by the remains of his command squad, atop a mound of bodies – the broken remains of traitor Astartes possessed and warped by daemons. Still living – if only barely – the first captain was reverently entombed within a mighty Contemptor-pattern dreadnought, and could soon once again be found at the heart of the Chapter's fiercest battles. Whilst many ancient dreadnoughts sleep away the time between battles, Horatius did not, instead taking a close interest in the training of the chapter's proteges in the scout company. It is because of this that he was aboard the Undying Faith at the time of the incursion, and it is only through his staunch defence of the launch bays – the last secure area of the Battle Barge – that enough time was bought for the few untainted survivors of the scout company to be evacuated. Had Horatius not held so long as he did, it is questionable if the Steel Scorpions would exist today as a chapter. Hope You enjoyed that! Cheers AB Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/142663-ancient-horatius-of-the-steel-scorpions/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
blood_raven_240 Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 Nice! Like the helmet conversion, and the painting is awesome =] Fits in well with the rest of your RS army (just checked 'em out there), and that's a good thing too =] Is the tabard with the scorpion and the text all done freehand? Cause if it is, you've got skills =] Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/142663-ancient-horatius-of-the-steel-scorpions/#findComment-1650922 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angels_Blade Posted August 2, 2008 Author Share Posted August 2, 2008 Thanks Blood Raven, The script work is free hand but alas the photo makes it look much better than it is! Got another tactical Sqd to do next then on to the command sqd! No rest for the insane! Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/142663-ancient-horatius-of-the-steel-scorpions/#findComment-1650937 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iacton Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 Haha! I am old and nearly dead....but not quite!! B) Great work AB, funny enough your base has caught my eye, again!! Thanks for the dedication ;) Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/142663-ancient-horatius-of-the-steel-scorpions/#findComment-1650943 Share on other sites More sharing options...
blood_raven_240 Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 No rest for the insane! B) Insane is aWeSoMe =] But, seriously, the freehand is really cool =] Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/142663-ancient-horatius-of-the-steel-scorpions/#findComment-1650968 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ardus Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 Nicely done. Great centre piece for your army. Ardus. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/142663-ancient-horatius-of-the-steel-scorpions/#findComment-1650985 Share on other sites More sharing options...
ImperialTemplari Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 I agree with all the previous comments, a dread to be proud of, really like the little red scorpion on the groin banner, maybe some darker shadows on the gold though, very nice. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/142663-ancient-horatius-of-the-steel-scorpions/#findComment-1651115 Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarKHaZZ13 Posted August 3, 2008 Share Posted August 3, 2008 I love the literugy (sp) - the paper/parchment its adds a certain reverance to the model and makes it look ancient (in a good way) overall it is NICEEE! Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/142663-ancient-horatius-of-the-steel-scorpions/#findComment-1651129 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sons of Horus Posted August 3, 2008 Share Posted August 3, 2008 that looks very very nice. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/142663-ancient-horatius-of-the-steel-scorpions/#findComment-1651348 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angels_Blade Posted August 3, 2008 Author Share Posted August 3, 2008 Thanks everyone, I really feel like this army is coming together and at a pace i'm unoccusmed to! Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/142663-ancient-horatius-of-the-steel-scorpions/#findComment-1651656 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prot Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 Wow. Very striking. I love the subtle conversions. He's a great center piece for the army. Keep up the good work. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/142663-ancient-horatius-of-the-steel-scorpions/#findComment-1651918 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeller Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 Quite striking! Those searchlights were a great idea seeing as how the dread has a distinctly unique appearance. *ponders ideas* Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/142663-ancient-horatius-of-the-steel-scorpions/#findComment-1653027 Share on other sites More sharing options...
nurglespuss Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 ooooh yes I'm sold!! gread conversion and backstory, truly original! Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/142663-ancient-horatius-of-the-steel-scorpions/#findComment-1653037 Share on other sites More sharing options...
NemFX Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 Good way to make a regular dreadnaught into something unique.. But it's a chapter master that only has the basic weaponset? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/142663-ancient-horatius-of-the-steel-scorpions/#findComment-1653111 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joasht Posted August 6, 2008 Share Posted August 6, 2008 Whilst many ancient dreadnoughts sleep away the time between battles, Horatius did not Really nice model, but I just quoted that line from your fluff because if I remember correctly, part of the reason why Dreadnoughts are kept slumbering is to preserve their sanity. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/142663-ancient-horatius-of-the-steel-scorpions/#findComment-1654646 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzza Posted August 6, 2008 Share Posted August 6, 2008 Great model, real inspiration for my red scorpions. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/142663-ancient-horatius-of-the-steel-scorpions/#findComment-1654658 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terminatorinhell Posted August 6, 2008 Share Posted August 6, 2008 how did you integrate that termie torso on the dread so smoothly? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/142663-ancient-horatius-of-the-steel-scorpions/#findComment-1654702 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prtyjedi Posted August 6, 2008 Share Posted August 6, 2008 Fantastic job! The gold I like. It's a nice contrast to the cold steel elsewhere. The sword on the left shoulder(?) seems a bit disproportioned, but that doesn't really matter. Coolest Dread' I remember ever seeing Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/142663-ancient-horatius-of-the-steel-scorpions/#findComment-1654726 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubernator Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 Fantastic dread :) I just love it all. It's just awesome :blink: Nice job on it :blink: Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/142663-ancient-horatius-of-the-steel-scorpions/#findComment-1655814 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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