The Dark Hunters

[Decadent]

Commencing: Project Artemis

 

The planet of Balios VIII

The eighth planet of the nearest system to the fabled and feared Ghoul Stars, one of the last systems to be conqured by the Great Crusade, a planet that the Emperor Himself is said to have set foot on. However, because of it's location, a prime target for the chaos marines of the Ghoul Lords and their dire allies. Their fell leader has sent a representative and a full third of his vast forces to conquer this system.

While not a key system by any stretch of the imagination, the worlds of the Balios System, particularly VIII, hold priceless relics of the great crusade, as well as a few of the Imperium's dirty secrets. Also, VIII is where this representitive has made his base, as well as the leaders of the other factions of this great force of Disorder.

It is to this system that three companies of the little-known "Dark Hunters" Chapter, as well as a few of the agents of the Inquisition, have been sent. The reason for there presence, the assassination of key targets within this force of Disorder, the disruption of supply lines, ensuring that the enemy doesn't acieve certain objectives and securing various important relics. So far, it has been three years, and the reinforcements have, thus far, failed to apear. Still, across VIII, the second company has continued its work, as have the other two chapters on two other worlds in the system, all waiting for the day when the Imperium takes back what is theirs.

 

So, i'm working on a very large project at the moment, that being a Grand Force of Disorder, with all different flavours of nastiness going on. This is a sub-project of that, a force of marines that exists to oppose that grand force, primarily so i have something to play with when i feel like not being evil.

The idea behind this army is that it's going to be low-tech (for marines anyway) and reasonably stealthy. The Dark Hunters, as later fluff will indicate, are about as far from being a codex chapter as you can get without going renegade, and being Raven Guard successors, they appreciate that sometimes stealth is a necessity for survival. Unlike other chapters, they ally quite readily with the Inquisition due to an honour thing that i have yet to figure out, and usually have some sort of Ordo Xenos presence in their armies.

 

With this in mind, i hereby commence Project: Artemis (yes, i name my projects, so sue me) with a little display of what i'm going to be using for the initial part of the project, bearing in mind that if i enjoy it enough, this little force will get boosted up to full company-strength, and i will start writing short stories about them.

 

First up, the old guard, models i've managed to salvage from old projects to boost numbers. I apologise for the poor quality of the images, the lighting here isn't fantastic.

 

Converted plastic Sternguard:

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m258/despoyler/Space%20Marines/SAM_0028.jpg

 

Tactical Squad:

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m258/despoyler/Space%20Marines/SAM_0029.jpg

 

A rhino that's been to hell and back...

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m258/despoyler/Space%20Marines/SAM_0032.jpg

 

and...this guy

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m258/despoyler/Space%20Marines/SAM_0030.jpg

 

There's a few other models lurking about that might well get thrown in at a later date, but for now, i present...the stuff that i'm prepping for this project:

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m258/despoyler/Space%20Marines/SAM_0031.jpg

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m258/despoyler/Space%20Marines/SAM_0037.jpg

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m258/despoyler/Space%20Marines/SAM_0035.jpg

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m258/despoyler/Space%20Marines/SAM_0036.jpg

Two of http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m258/despoyler/Space%20Marines/SAM_0034.jpg

 

and finally, http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m258/despoyler/Space%20Marines/SAM_0041.jpg, which are going to be used as a tac squad, but adds a little ordo xenos flavour to the force

 

As previously mentioned, this is going to be a pretty low-tech force, due to the relative newness of the Chapter, and the limited resupply capability, so no tanks more complex than a razorback, possibly a vindicator, no jump packs, one squad of termies at most etc

 

C&C on the idea, encouragement, comments on my probable insanity, all are welcome, throw them my way.

 

Deca out

[Decadent]

Five days later and the first model is done...i need some serious motivation >.<, so...

 

Project Artemis: part one

 

Ceruth "Fang" Antillidor

The captain of the Second Company of the Dark Hunters, and leader of one of the three that was sent to the Balios system. He is well known for being one of the most approcable captains of the Chapter, understanding and responding well to his men's needs, as well as serving as an inspirational figure devoted utterly to the Emperor. So much so, in fact, that the Chapter's Chaplaincy had their eye on him for many years up until the "Fenris Incident". This is only, however, outside combat.

When in combat, he becomes another person, all understanding is put aside, and his focus is purely on making the foes of the emperor die, preferably painfully and almost always messily. He has made sure that his retinue is equipped to be able to keep up with him, so much so that his Company's banner is almost always left at the fortress-monastary, and the standard bearer equipped with something more portable, but just as inspiring (usually a relic-weapon in the form of a polearm).

Ceruth is inseperable from his sword, and has never turned it in for repairs, something that definately shows on the blade, the monomolecular edche is pitted and scarred from the hundreds of battles Ceruth has used it in, and yet it still somehow has the same cutting power as it always had.

 

 

Here's the leader. I'm going to make it a rule that everyone in this force is going to be wearing a helmet. You don't want to be running around on a war-torn planet without something on your noggin

 

As the leader, it made sense to give this guy a helmet with some funky bits on it to help him see the enemy better

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m258/despoyler/Space%20Marines/SAM_0047.jpg

 

Here's the somewhat beaten up sword

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m258/despoyler/Space%20Marines/SAM_0049.jpg

Pic's a bit blurry, but it's made from the bionic arm/chainsword, and an ungor sword from WHFB beastmen

 

And finally the backpack, i didn't really care for that eagley confection that comes with the kit, so i improvised this from a chaos backpack...it needs a little work though

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m258/despoyler/Space%20Marines/SAM_0046.jpg

 

C&C on everything so far would be most welcome, thanks in advance

 

Deca out