++ Hexfleet Virules ++ (Nurgle CSM, Daemons, and R&H)

[Lagrath]

This is my army log for Hexfleet Virules, a large and primarily Nurgle-themed Chaos army that spans Chaos Space Marines, Chaos Daemons, and Renegades and Heretics. The models in the army are a mix of GW parts, sculpting, Forgeworld models, and bits and bases from many different companies around the world. The background for the army as a whole is based on new fiction and lore developed and written by me. This thread contains a mix of WIP pictures and short stories for the models in my collection.

 

Click below to follow Hexfleet Virules on Facebook for weekly pictures, rumors, battle reports, and updates!

 

 

Direct URL: https://www.facebook.com/hexfleetvirules/ 

 

 

I am also now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRHoFOxmDJBw6uUHgWpN3GQ

 

And Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hexfleetvirules/

 

Edited December 11, 2018 by Lagrath

[Lagrath]

[Original short story]

 

Roots of the Infection: A History of Hexfleet Virules

 

I. A Betrayal Within:

 

Scattered Imperial records say that, several hundred years ago, a relatively young and small Space Marine chapter near the Eastern Fringe struggled to survive, carrying out out its operations almost entirely without Imperial support. Atypically, the chapter’s Chief Librarian had always served in a dual capacity as the Chapter Master of the entire order. This tradition may well have explained the chapter’s near-isolation, as the Ultramarines and other more orthodox Imperial groups near the Eastern Fringe have long frowned on such a major deviation from the Codex Astartes. Placing a Chief Librarian in uncontested command of an entire chapter may frequently expose a figure more needed for foresight and counsel to the dangers of daemonic possession or the corrupting touch of the Warp. This chapter’s sorry tale would go on to prove that such fears are well-founded.

 

Although the vast majority of details—even the name of the chapter itself—have long been purged from Imperial records by the order of the Inquisition, surviving primary andn secondary sources indicate that the chapter’s last Chapter Master was an unusually gifted psyker known as Virilian. While Virilian was said to have possessed martial prowess and tactical acumen that were average at best by the extraordinarily high standards of a Space Marine Chapter Master, both his ability to directly channel the powers of the Warp as well as  his gifts of divination were among the highest levels ever recorded in the chapter’s history. While one tale found in the memoirs of a long-dead Rogue Trader hints that Virilian’s ability to foretell the future spiked shortly following the capture of an Eldar Farseer, no other evidence exists to corroborate this a dark accusation.

 

What is known is that Virilian would eventually go on to commit an unprecedented act of heresy so grave that any discussion of the event itself was outlawed on pain of death throughout much of Imperial space. Whether he saw glimpses in the strands of time that his dying chapter was doomed to extinction or whether he simply acted out of pure self-interest, Virilian the Librarian ultimately made a choice unimaginable to the self-sacrificing and noble character of most Adeptus Astartes Chapter Masters.

 

After issuing an order for the recall of every surviving Space Marine in his chapter currently out on operations, Virilian waited until the last member of his order returned before announcing an immediate gathering of every single battle brother in the fortress-monastery’s hallowed and enormous chapel. This chapter summit included the collection and delivery of all crucial chapter assets. The chapter’s Chaplains and Apothecaries were forced to gather every sacred relic and the entirety of the Gene Seed bank, transporting everything to the nave of the chapel hall. While this new pronouncement generated confusion and among the ranks, Space Marines are trained from the start to obey their masters. Many of the chapter’s higher echelons suspected that the gathering of chapter members and property signaled a decision to relocate the ill-fated chapter to a different system.

 

Although only one person alive today can say for sure what truly happened next, the event that ultimately occurred inside the chapter’s chapel injured or killed Imperial astropaths and psykers across a vast swath of systems located in adjacent regions. Those strong enough to have survived the bursting of blood vessels or sudden eruptions of pestilence babbled with mad ravings of a noxious betrayal on a scale rarely seen since the dark days of the Horus Heresy.

 

In the most sanctified chambers of his order, Virilian called out to Father Nurgle and offered up his chapter root and branch. Planes of reality overlapped in a violent wave and the dutiful Astartes soon found themselves trapped in place within the deepest bogs of Nurgle’s Garden. Chapter Librarians are also keepers of collected lore and wisdom, and Virilian was well-versed in the mighty favors the deities of Chaos bestowed on space marines willing to forfeit their souls. Whereas Typhus had once elevated himself by damning his entire chapter, Virilian surpassed even this abominable ceiling of betrayal by offering unto Nurgle the live sacrifice of every member and every piece of Geneseed of his chapter save his own. In a sense Virilian died that day as well, for from among the collapsing and fetid ruins of the fortress-monetary strode Virules, newfound favorite of Nurgle.  

 

 

II. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice:

 

In return for the most unimaginable of acts, Virules demanded the most unimaginable of prices. For his allegiance, the former Librarian gained the Mark of his new master and the chaos-infused blossoming of all his former physical and psychic gifts. For the feeding his entire chapter’s Geneseed to the Great Lord of Decay, Virules insisted on another gift just as great: personal and eternal dominion over a Great Unclean OneThe Garden of Nurgle roiled in turmoil when their patron answered with gurgling mirth.

 

Papa Nurgle is nothing if not generous with his followers, and for the sacrifice of Virules’ charges, Nurgle sacrificed a child of his own in return. Among the truly noxious of Nurgle’s most powerful servants there was one that the Lord of Disease had personally raised to greatness since Nurglinghood, a rearing that took place before even the oldest memories of the ancient Eldar. This Great Unclean One had grown complacent in its favored status, thinking its noble ranking could be maintained in perpetuity without merit or service to Nurgle. With the foul deed offered up by Virules, Nurgle saw an opportunity to teach the whole of his servants that the favor of Chaos is a thing that must be constantly earned, not a gift to which one is entitled. Nurgle reached deep into the Garden, rousing the Greater Daemon’s gigantic mass from out a smug slumber within the former favorite’s colossal green palace. Crafting hexed shackles of poisoned vines, Nurgle chained the great monster with colossal ethereal links. Hurling the bellowing beast across time and space, Papa Nurgle touched the mind of Virules and spoke the True Name the Great Unclean One had been given at his birth as a Nurgling.

 

Crossing a peasant’s field near his ruined fortress, Virules stooped in the hay to lift up a crooked, makeshift farmer’s scythe. Within this splintering and nearly broken instrument, Nurgle deposited the similarly broken presence of a spirit so foul the ground began to wither and decay below Virules’ feet. The once-Librarian stripped the Greater Daemon of its ancient name, dooming the wretched entity to be known forever simply as The Shadow of Virules. From then on, Virules could draw on the power of the great daemon without restriction or barrier, channeling its huge reservoirs of power through the empowered scythe or through foul spells, or even by conjuring the physical manifestation of the daemon’s form into realspace.   

 

Emboldened by his elevation to nearly demi-God levels, Virules traveled the stars alone for an indeterminate amount of time. What he sought or accomplished during this period remains unknown to any true and loyal servant of the Emperor. What is clear is that, at some point, Virules made contact with the roaming plague fleet led by Typhus.

 

Bolstered by The Shadow’s vivid and putrid presence, Virules strode to the command throne of the Terminus Est and formally requested that the Traveler take on the former loyalist as a sorcerer’s apprentice. The Traveler would have been well within his rights to order his host to behead the intruder, or to slay the upstart himself. However, one who came bearing such clear and unprecedented favor from their mutual patron could not be so easily dispensed with or ignored by the gathered ranks of Death Guard. What’s more, experienced Chaos great warlords such as Typhus have long maintained and grown their influence by prioritizing opportunity and cunning over simple pride.

 

By adopting a powerful ally, Typhus saw an opportunity to more easily further his own myriad of schemes and acquisitions. Although uneasy at the thought of taking on a follower whose psychic potency so closely rivaled—and perhaps even surpassed—his own, the Traveler ultimately saw little threat by the addition of a sorcerer who entered the ranks of the Death Guard without a single friend or ally to his name. Whereas the name of Typhus had been whispered with fear across the galaxy since ten thousand years, the young wizard of Nurgle possessed virtually no pacts or reputation among the legions of Chaos. The benefits clearly outweighed the risks. A dark pact was made, and Typhus agreed to adopt Virules into the plague fleet’s ranks of Nurgle sorcerers.

 

 

III. Rise of the Plaguelich:

 

The two sorcerers of Nurgle warred together for an unknown amount of time, causing untold destruction in their mutual quest for material power and infernal knowledge. Virules proved an apt apprentice, absorbing knowledge both sorcerous and tactical with an ease unmatched by any others in the Traveler’s inner circle. At first these lessons were received with gratitude, the corrupted Librarian almost delighting in the opportunity to demonstrate newly-mastered proficiencies before Typhus and his roaming host of Plague Marines. Many in the Death Guard grew jealous and spiteful and the upstart’s favored position and seemingly-endless talent—a festering resentment that Typhus carefully nurtured to keep his student isolated and in check. Eventually, however, the gratitude faded and the tone of the apprentice grew ever more insolent. A former chapter master and chief librarian had only so much left to learn, even from an ancient psyker and warlord such as Typhus.

 

Just as Typhus felt his patience coming an end and the great warlord finally saw no further use for his reckless charge, Virules fiendishly outraced his teacher to the pair’s inevitable mutual betrayal. As the Terminus Est and the rest of its fleet rode in the Warp, the command bridge instantly blared with unexpected warning sirens. Like rotten bark peeling from a great corrupted tree, a significant minority of ships suddenly splintered off-course and away from the bloated host. While comprised mostly of smaller troop carriers, this mutinous detachment contained several mid-level ships and even one of the Traveler’s most ancient and largest vessels. Just as the main fleet’s cannons could be brought to bear, Virules used drew on the The Shadow’s daemonic powers to momentarily rip open a Warp rift that directly emptied into a random location in realspace. The twice-betrayer and his new host instantly vanished into the unknown with the sickening sound of a popping boil.

 

Over the next several decades, putrid monuments erected on worlds throughout a vast spectrum of systems announced the new kingdom of Virules, the Plaguelich. While most within Typhus’ Death Guard had despised or looked down on the young sorcerer, a few enterprising captains and their Plague Marine sub-factions had sensed that new opportunities could be had in following a daring upstart with such clear talent and ambition. Among Sorcerers of Nurgle in particular, many were willing to hitch themselves to a rising star from which new spells and favors of Nurgle might spill forth like rotten fruit. It would emerge that these risk-takers had made a fortuitous gamble, for Virules had kept his greatest sorcerous invention a careful secret from his teacher.

 

The strongest and most recent plague devised by the Host of the Destroyer Hive, feared throughout both Imperial and Xenos space, was known as the Zombie Plague. A pestilence both incomprehensible and seemingly impossible to replicate, the Zombie Plague stood as blasphemous testament to the Traveler’s perennial status as Nurgle’s favorite mortal vessel of disease.

 

 Unbeknownst to all, Virules had been able to tap into the vast and revolting knowledge possessed by his enslaved greater daemon so as to devise a way to reverse-engineer the Zombie Plague. By inserting his own ingredients into the strain and impregnating a small fragment of The Shadow’s vast psychic presence, Virules managed to birth a mutated strain he announced as the Hex Plague. As much spell as biological infection, carriers of the Hex Plague warped not only their physical bodies, but also the realspace around them.

 

All the ranks of the inchoate “Hexfleet Virules” were enthusiastically infected with the new Hex Plague, causing the armies of the Plaguelich to warp the very ground upon which they strode. Beneath a Plague Marine in Virules’ host, the earth rots, maggots spill forth, poisonous fungi erupt, and Nurglings emerge from putrid pools of slime. For those innocents who had not sworn allegiance to Nurgle prior to infection, the Hex Plague withered their mortal frames, sapping agility even while infusing unholy durability. Humans who are infected become psychically linked to the Plaguelich as the splinter shards of The Shadow replicated with the disease. Virules therefore not only gains a new followers with every planet infected, but also feels his psychic might swell as the essence of his bound slave is copied over and over again ad nauseum.

 

Bolstered by his newfound strength and status, Virules has recently taken the final step marking his rise as a true Chaos Warlord: forging new infernal alliances with outside factions and daemons. While news of the Hex Plague has brought numerous Obliterator Cults and daemonic engines of Nurgle to join the Plaguelich’s ranks, Virules has reached outside his own patron deity to strike a bargain with minor barons of Slaanesh. Although the details of the deal remain shrouded in mystery, as of late two Keeper of Secrets have begun accompanying Hexfleet Virules. This male and female pair of Keeper of Secrets have brought with them their own armies of lesser Daemonettes and Seekers. While the essence of Slaanesh makes them immune to the Hex Plague’s effects, these daemons are inevitably infected as carriers of the disease. The Plaguelich’s infernal concoction is thus transmitted more quickly than ever through the rapid claws and hooves of the Hexfleet’s Slaaneshi allies. There are even rumors that Virules has managed to capture a weakened Lord of Change and the daemon’s small cohort of Horrors.

           

All the while, Typhus continues to search the galaxy in a quest to wreck vengeance on his former apprentice, making an apocalyptic clash between two great champions of Nurgle and their allies virtually inevitable…

Edited December 14, 2014 by Lagrath

[Lagrath]

Hexfleet Virules Units: Bile Magos Obliterator Cult

Background: In more recent years, new Obliterator Cults have been lured to the Plaguelich's ranks through the promise of Warp-enhanced gifts and a share of the technogical spoils in the Hexfleet's ongoing wars of infection. Among these new allies are even some of the most elder and famed Cults, previously unaffilated with any Chaos god but now lured to Nurgle after seeing the effects of the Hexplague enhancements on their fellows. The oldest and largest of these Obliterators have since become the playground of mischevious Nurglings, who are more than happy to traverse the battlefield from atop their new and deadly rides.

http://i.imgur.com/PTzA1Nz.png?1

 

http://i.imgur.com/F6OFDaA.png?1

 

http://i.imgur.com/m9unaq8.png?1

 

http://i.imgur.com/fnO3ne5.png?1

 

http://i.imgur.com/8UlnQPK.png?1

 

http://i.imgur.com/M8U5RYB.png?1

 

http://i.imgur.com/8IPjhsL.png?1

Edited December 14, 2014 by Lagrath

[Brother Anvilus]

Love the background!! nothing over-the-top-unbelievable but always just that one toe in the realm of 'SRSLY?'

 

The oblits don't really look 'nurgley', but I guess that will be explained with their background no?

[disease]

Nice start, agree with the above - oblits could do with a touch more nurgle green stuffing -at the moment the models don't tie completely in with the bases or nurglings.

I'm going to follow this thread, I think you have some good ideas.  What's next anyway?

[Lagrath]

Thanks for your feedback guys. I think you are both right- I am going to go back at some point to add some more Nurgle touches to this squad. I was hesitent to do so since the miniatures come so highly detailed, but after doing the rest of my army I think I know how to spice them up the right amount.

 

As to what's next- I actually have a huge amount that is almost ready to share. Like I said, my army is almost entirely built. I've played some games already. However, I built everything knowing I would have to go in with greenstuff to fill in gaps, secure models to bases/secure joints, and add details. I can probably finish a huge amount in just 1 day, but today I'm painting things for an Austin-area tournament tomorrow where I am playing Dark Angels and then the next few days after that I am getting settled with securing a jump-start on my school work (second year of law school started last week). End of next week I expect to make a huge push and post a ton of finished (albeit unpainted) squads!

Edited April 4, 2014 by Lagrath

[Lagrath]

Love the background!! nothing over-the-top-unbelievable but always just that one toe in the realm of 'SRSLY?'

 

The oblits don't really look 'nurgley', but I guess that will be explained with their background no?

 

 

Nice start, agree with the above - oblits could do with a touch more nurgle green stuffing -at the moment the models don't tie completely in with the bases or nurglings.

I'm going to follow this thread, I think you have some good ideas.  What's next anyway?

 

Ask and Papa Nurgle shall deliver!

 

Hexfleet Virules Units: Death Guard Obliterator Cult

 

Background: After the Sorcerers, Obliterator Cults were the next most enthusiastic group in Typhus' Death Guard fleet in literally jumping ship to strike out with Virules and his offsheet flotilla. Promised that infection with the Hexplague would great them ever-greater destructive firepower and a closer affinity to their pestilent father, these Obliterators sold their services to the Plaguelich in exchange for the Warp-infused disease devised by the young prodigy. Among all his lost soldiers, Typhus may resent and regret the defection of these long-serving and elite Death Guard the most, for some of them had fought at his side ever since their heavy weapons first dented the gates of the Emperor's Palace so many millenia ago... 

 

 

Pictures:

 

http://imageshack.us/a/img849/1317/4im4.jpg

 

http://imageshack.us/a/img513/8118/qvek.jpg

 

http://imageshack.us/a/img12/6571/qlku.jpg

 

http://imageshack.us/a/img19/6871/irzj.jpg

 

http://imageshack.us/a/img96/4346/ngqb.jpg

 

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/6704/f0l3.jpg

 

http://imageshack.us/a/img850/5494/idp.jpg

 

http://imageshack.us/a/img32/4339/5fsl.jpg

 

http://imageshack.us/a/img31/8885/sq0f.jpg

 

http://imageshack.us/a/img716/139/bw51.jpg

[disease]

How's it going dude? Did you get your spellcrow parts?

[Lagrath]

Like Plague Zombies, this thread rises from the dead!

 

 

http://i.imgur.com/8xnKdSv.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/0RkGuhk.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/3k9bH7w.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/HIAjV3P.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/tSlFcBc.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/sqmXlMG.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/VGJYwFN.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/YWy5V4R.jpg

[Chaeron]

That's how you bump a thread! Superb stuff mate - lovely subtle conversions.

[Lagrath]

Thanks! Here are pics of the two test Plague Marines I've converted up so far:

 

 

 

[disease]

good stuff, we look like are models are part of the same force!

[Kharnaak]

The Grandfather is pleased!

[Lagrath]

Thanks for the feedback! Here is the next piece:

 

Hexfleet Virules Units: Shadow of Virules (Daemon Prince/Great Unclean One)

 

 

 

 

 

[Chaeron]

Looks great! The Nurglings are fantastic too - great positioning!

[Lagrath]

We resurrect this thread to bring you...Plague Zombies!!!!

 

http://i.imgur.com/UOySwaO.jpg

[Lagrath]

Updated the project log. I have a big deadline start of next week for school, after which I have some huge updates for all the models I've been working on the past year, a new short story, and more.

 

I have also re-written and updated my original background lore for the origins of Hexfleet Virules (above).

Edited December 3, 2014 by Lagrath

[Lagrath]

Hexfleet Virules Units: Nurgle Maulerfiends

 

http://i.imgur.com/jFd8Va5.png?1

 

http://i.imgur.com/8TV6I33.png?1

 

http://i.imgur.com/G4fjEAn.png?1

 

http://i.imgur.com/MNwdgcM.png?1

 

http://i.imgur.com/SLWIPnG.png?1

http://i.imgur.com/R6yCRjU.png?1

 

http://i.imgur.com/g0ox4Ju.png?1

 

http://i.imgur.com/Z2ABNCj.png?1

 

http://i.imgur.com/SipHZUo.png?1

 

http://i.imgur.com/PIUWwLq.png?1

http://i.imgur.com/nygo1Dj.png?1

 

http://i.imgur.com/MKk3pBg.png?1

[disease]

Great job on the maulers!  Really like that

 

- also, where are the last batch of zombies from?

Edited December 13, 2014 by disease

[Lagrath]

Great job on the maulers!  Really like that

 

- also, where are the last batch of zombies from?

 

Thanks a bunch! Really happy they turned out exactly how I wanted, but bummed that it took a couple days of vacation time to do these (so many hours of work...)

 

I'll post better pics of the zombies once I greenstuff all the feet to the bases for security, but they are the new sci-fi Plague Zombie models from Mantic (obviously the company is savvy about filling a hole in the market....)

 

http://www.manticgames.com/mantic-shop/deadzone/plague/product/plague-zombies-20-figures.html

[Scribe]

Buddy, these models are awesome.

[Kythnos]

Wow, these Maulerfiends are extremely great conversions - I'm really impressed!

[Vassius]

Awesome army. Can´t wait to see them painted.

[Ammonius]

Excellent work!! I'm so happy to see that the Maggoth-Maulers work out so well. Keep on keeping on!

[Lagrath]

Thanks for all the wonderful comments! It is a real encouragement to keep working. In fact, here is my latest creation:

 

Hexfleet Virules Units: Catarrh, Champion of Virules (counts-as Zhufor the Impaler)

Background: A hulking monstrosity of flesh, disease, and terminator armor, Catarrh serves the Hexfleet not only as one of its generals, but also as the personal Champion of Virules. Though possessed of the intelligence and tactical acumen characteristic of all loyalist and traitor space marines, these abilities are often underemployed in favor of Catarrh's primary virtue: sheer violence. Dwarfing all save his daemonically-enhanced master in size and strength, Catarrh typically leads from the front and can most often be found carving a bloody path through enemy infantry, tipping over tanks, or even hacking through the legs of Imperial Knights like a grotesque lumberjack.

 

Scattered Imperial records testify that Catarrh should have fallen in battle many times over, with pic-recordings showing the enormous general shrugging off mortal injuries from lascannon blasts and thunderhammers alike. With even most of his fellow Plague Marines keeping a safe distance, Catarrh usually fights within the midst of a huge Hex Zombie horde, where his propensity for collateral damage will matter least. In addition to his own guardsman-sized powerfist, Catarrh also wields a two-headed axe of Khorne taken from a Skulltakers warband leader he slew in single combat. As the Hexfleet travels the galaxy, even the Xenos are not safe from the Champion of Virules: the general holds a unique position in the collective memory of the Tyranid hive-mind as the only "human" ever to charge a Carnifex and trample it underfoot.

 

http://i.imgur.com/PVdPlME.png?1

 

http://i.imgur.com/w5QUbQp.png?1

 

http://i.imgur.com/tDQGIRG.png?1

 

http://i.imgur.com/88uD6Co.png?1

Edited December 14, 2014 by Lagrath