Knights of Draconis 1st Company

[DRommel]

My greetings to Bolter and Chainsword!

 

A foreword. This is my 3rd army project (after Goff Orks and Savlar Chem-dog IG), and just like with previous ones, I'm concentrating efforts on giving the army a unique look, with as many conversions as possible. And while the Marines aren't as easy to customize as Orks or Guard, I still found it very much enjoyable. I hope you like it too.

 

Knights of Draconis is a fan-made chapter started by few enthusiasts of Moscow and St. Petersburg as a knightly marines that are nowhere near those average knightly marines.

To summarize their fluff, they are separatists (think of 'good' Astral Claws), venerate a female saint and love saving civilians from rampaging zombie hordes.

 

 

First, a couple finished models. Father Januarius and a random AC-wielding buddy of his.

http://hos.samods.org/chap_.jpg

 

The company banner (collab project of Demien (picture of the saint), HandClaw (crux) and me (editing and layout)

http://hos.samods.org/ban2.jpg

 

Now, the WIPs.

 

Kay Lacitis, Company Commander

http://hos.samods.org/kane.jpg

 

Sir Mortimer, (Venerable) Dreadnaught

http://hos.samods.org/dread1.jpg

 

Unnamed second Dreadnaught body

http://hos.samods.org/dread2.jpg

 

A few Terminators (missing storm shields)

http://hos.samods.org/termies1.jpg

 

Test Tactical Marine paint (bolter and shield unpainted)

http://hos.samods.org/test_marine1.jpg

 

And a few adversaries for the diorama base.

http://hos.samods.org/cultists1.jpg

http://hos.samods.org/cultists2.jpg

http://hos.samods.org/zombies3.jpg

 

Thank you in advance for C&C, updates will follow ^^

[GooseDaMoose]

Hot diggity! Very cool, I love Knightly Orders though, so I was impressed even before seeing pictures :D Having seen the pictures though: wow, sir, these are fantastic. Perfect choice of helmets for the Terminators, where are they from?

 

Small bit of critique though, the bolteraxe marine.. was that meant seriously; like is he shooting through the axe handle?? And the colours look a bit similar to the Astral Claws, which you already mentioned were similar..

 

But the banner! Brillliant. This is great, I like the background aswell - so far - will there be more? I'm intrigued by the seperatist thing in particular.

 

Also, do you have a link to your Sevlar Chem Dogs? I'd like to see how you did them, if you don't mind?

 

Anyway, I'm looking forward to more!

[DRommel]

(oops, posting links to dakka was not a good idea)

 

Anyway, thanks for your comments.

Regarding the fluff, here's what I can recall on the fly (they have a very detailed backstory, but all of it is in Russian)

 

Knights of Draconis are a chapter of relatively recent foundation. They are believed to be a successor of Salamanders but they lack the black skin of their progenitors. Unlike most chapters, they do control their own piece of space - the Draconis subsector. Unlike many, they also work closely with other branches of power in the subsector, which more or less willingly accept their dominance as the protectors of Draconis.

While nowhere tainted, they are, however, subtly heretical in the eyes of those who'd dig deep - Knights stick to a heavily modified version of Imperial Creed, which puts loyalty, protection and hope over hatred and zeal (in other words, being feudal and semi-Christian in a way). While not openly, they honor the chapters that rebelled in the Badab War, considering them acting out of better intentions. They also venerate Zanthia, a saint accepted only in Draconis as the rest of ecclesiarchal authorities consider her next to a heretic - a planetary governor who ordered to evacuate civilians over revered relics and died, not leaving the planet before the evac was complete. Highly idealized, she is now the Lady for the Knights, a mix of Athena, Joan of Arc and Lady of the Lake.

Knights of Draconis never denied the Imperium, but they had many confrontations with other chapters, namely the Blood Ravens. They also have a bitter hatred for the Alpha Legion which tried establishing foothold in Draconis for long. Also, their subsector suffered a major outbreak of Nurgle plague, which was stopped only by the heroism of the First Company, its Commander giving the vow not to leave the planet before every citizen is safe - as did Zanthia. They fought for years in nearly daemonworld environment but managed to destroy the source.

 

Their color scheme was invented long before Badab War IA was published, though it's a nice coincidence. Difference is that all Knights of Draconis wear tabards, and also don heavily ornate armor and knight-syled helmets, in addition to rare pattern weaponry as well as modifications (they have some top artificers, after all).

 

The bolter-halberd design was inspired by Hellsing crusader rifles. I'd say it's pretty good, giving the tactical marines the look of second line infantry, securing the rear (which fits well for las-plas squads in a terminator force)

[DRommel]

Since the photo of the banner is not top quality, here's the original picture.

Made exclusively for Knights of Draconis project by Demien Van Cope and Arthur 'HandClaw' Lorenz, please ask permission before using it anywhere.

 

Vasquez name on the chest reflects the legend that Governor Zanthia fought, wearing the armor of her fallen bodyguard Vasquez. It became the symbol of the Guard's sacrifice in that conflict and is usually depicted as ornate carapace armor though originally it was most likely a common flak vest.

 

http://hos.samods.org/banner_watermark.jpg

[GooseDaMoose]

Cool I like the fluff. But you didnt write it?

 

Either way I look forward to more Knights of Draconis!

[cathar the great]

I'm a fan of your chem-dogs on Dakka, and I'm really looking forward to this army, too. What you posted so far is already really great and inspirational.