A Lesser Son of Greater Fathers: Dabbling in Epic

[Morngrym]

The listening post and messenger pod are really great ideas for markers and also well-executed.  Again, very impressed with what you have done here - worthy additions to the force!

[hushrong]

Still looking beautiful!

 

Those objective markers alone easily put my marines to shame.

[Captain Mike]

Just read through this whole thread, your paint jobs are fantastic! It's also good to see Ultramarines stripped of some of their regalia and superiority, but who still at least look like Ultramarines. I was worried this might descend into them basically being another Legion; one of the "darker and edgier" ones. 

 

The fluff is also very well written. Introspection pieces can sometimes become a little pretentious, but I think you did a good job of keeping it grounded. 

[BrotherCaptainArkhan]

Thanks, lads and ladettes. Really appreciate the feedback, especially the queries and suggestions for improvement, I find those really useful.

 

 

the models are fantastic, some definate ideas i plan on borrowing.

 

one thing from a fluff perspective, not sure if this has been covered, how do these fit in to the current fluff around the red marked in your mind? are they the same thing or are these guys the red marked after they have returned to macragge for judgement?

 

When I first came up with the concept of the censuria company (essentially a unit where 'no-hoper' Marines were assigned to, those who were irreconciliably incompatible with the rest of the Legion and good for nothing but dying) the only mention of censured units was in Know No Fear and the anthology stories featuring Aeonid Thiel. I haven't actually read the Red-Marked, but I understand the concept there is closer to a 'Last Chancers for Space Marines' unit - everyone's a renegade or maverick and therefore ten times cooler than actual uncensured Ultramarines...? Right... With the Black One Hundred, the point is that these guys are not 'special'. There is no second chance for them. They failed as Ultramarines. They may cling to the hope that some chance of re-inclusion or redemption exists, but the reality is that Guilliman's Legion has no place for them.

 

Where they turn once they eventually realise that, probably after the Shadow Crusade has left Ultramar in ashes, is anyone's guess. I'm not totally against the idea of the Hundred eventually splitting down the middle and more than a few of them going down the path of the Blackshields.

 

Simply going from strength to strength here Brother Captain. I never thought id see the day when an Ultramarine army was one of my favourite things in 30k, but that's a testament to the thought and quality you are putting into these guys. That bleak, almost washed out blue you're using is wonderful, and off-setting it against the mostly black armour is a great idea - does a perfect job of making the Ultramarines not as cartoon as they can sometimes appear. 

 

Oh and Pankrator's sergeant is a total boss. Easily my favourite of all the Astartes you've done so far.

 

Honoured by your praise, Jack! I really appreciate the comments, and I agree - I never thought I'd even do an Ultramarines army, haha. Glad you like Nestor (Pankrator sergeant). I really had a fun time with him.

 

Out of interest, what do you think about the balance between blue/black armour? Painting the Rhino, I started wondering if I'd gone too light with the black and maybe I should have introduced even more black?

 

Or maybe it's one best left for the 'later' depictions of the Hundred - as the Heresy progresses and they edge closer to isolation from the Legion, so does their armour begin to shift towards black? That way the visual distinction between those who wish to remain with the Legion and those who feel ambivalent towards a Primarch who no longer wants them would be visually apparent. Would appreciate your thoughts.

 

The listening post and messenger pod are really great ideas for markers and also well-executed.  Again, very impressed with what you have done here - worthy additions to the force!

 

Cheers Geostryke! :)

 

Still looking beautiful!

Those objective markers alone easily put my marines to shame.

 

Cheers hush! The objective markers were a fun addition to the main project. Recommend taking a bash at them yourself, you might be surprised how much fun they can be :)

 

Just read through this whole thread, your paint jobs are fantastic! It's also good to see Ultramarines stripped of some of their regalia and superiority, but who still at least look like Ultramarines. I was worried this might descend into them basically being another Legion; one of the "darker and edgier" ones. 

 

The fluff is also very well written. Introspection pieces can sometimes become a little pretentious, but I think you did a good job of keeping it grounded. 

 

Thanks a bunch Mike. I'd be interested to hear what you think about my replies to Millest and JackDaw above. The reality is that they still cling very much to the identity of the XIII Legion and see themselves as Ultramarines; the rest of the Legion, however, may not share that view of them. After the Shadow Crusade finishes, there might be an unpleasant moment of realisation that actually there's not much room for the Hundred in Guilliman's Legion. I'm mulling over an ideological split within the Hundred for when that moment occurs. Be keen to hear your thoughts.

 

I agree fully on the dangers of introspective writing. I think it's one of the bigger character flaws in the HH series when introspective passages intersect clumsily otherwise fast-paced segments (Know No Fear is an offender - I lose track of the number of times the emotional impact of 'a brother's betrayal' is rammed down the reader's throat. Sometimes telling the reader repeatedly that they should be feeling an emotion has the opposite effect of what was intended).

[Dantay VI]

I actually quite like the introspective style of writing as it allows you to empathise more with the characters and the models.

 

For faster paced segments, maybe just make it sound like a verbally official report, something a legionary passes on to his superiors, could be in a weary almost numb, as if repeated verbatim or by rote(? not sure if that is the correct phrase). Drop all the "I was shocked" stuff.

 

A war weary survivor recounting his trials and tribulations.

 

Would it be possible that the officer cadre of the 100 would keep the fact that the Ultramarines no longer want them, from the rank & file? Maybe concerned that by telling them would derive many of them a reason to continue fighting. Or atleast of hope, even if it is a false hope.

 

The blue/black is awesome by the way, I think the balance is about right. You could maybe put more black into the commanders, as they learn the truth, they shed away the colours of their legion, s the black could be a signifier of rank?

[millest]

BCA, thanks for the reply, that makes sense. would love to seem them founding their own chapter (or being used to bulk out one of the new chapters) as something of a halfway house, the Ultras dont want them but Guilliman cant/wont waste the resource - Doom eagles or mortifactors might be a good fit

[JackDaw]

I think the balance between the blue/black is just right at the moment. They still look, at heart, like Ultramarines for all their in-character faults. The idea that as the storyline progresses they loose more and more of the blue as they become more and more disenchanted with their place in the Legion and the fact they are always left behind is a great one - it can be tied to actual logistics as well, as in they're so far down the line of importance that their resupply of armour pieces aren't even shipped with the right Legion colours on. The final insult that breaks the camels back and could lead to the in-story shock of the first unit or character to entirely abandon the Legion blue.

[BrotherCaptainArkhan]

Still mulling over the blue/black thing. I think, as has been aptly suggested by JackDaw and hinted at by Dantay, that the company will move towards black as the Heresy develops.

 

For now, it's been a while since an update and there's a couple finished units to post up, but no photos. For now here's a teaser of a couple different units, but particularly something big I'm working on and my first time building...what?

 

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj598/Mjolnir771/13693039_10154147591360546_4451284491807352664_o_zpsnts6p8hy.jpg

Edited July 21, 2016 by Brother-Captain Arkhan

[hushrong]

Ohhhh, are those rapier batteries you are cooking up?

 

How did you go about putting those together? Did you use that tread/tank servitors from the adeptus mechanicus? I definitely want to take notes as I want to try those out on the table top.

 

And I am to guess the rocks, those boards, and a torn apart rhino will be a base of a collapsed building crushing said rhino? For a Big ol' Titan?

[BrotherCaptainArkhan]

Ohhhh, are those rapier batteries you are cooking up?

 

How did you go about putting those together? Did you use that tread/tank servitors from the adeptus mechanicus? I definitely want to take notes as I want to try those out on the table top.

 

And I am to guess the rocks, those boards, and a torn apart rhino will be a base of a collapsed building crushing said rhino? For a Big ol' Titan?

 

Good eye :) Yep, there's a battery ready for painting, see pics below. The gun carriages are a straight conversion based off the Kataphron Breachers/Destroyers, and it really couldn't be easier, took 5-10 mins from sprue to assembled carriage. I left off most of the armour plating from each carriage to represent the fact that these are not actual Rapiers - they're retrofitted Militia Imperialis pieces 'appropriated' by the Hundred for field support. It makes sense that the Hundred wouldn't have access to a lot of up-to-date armour and tech and what they do have would be second-hand or in need of serious repair. Gamewise of course they function as Rapiers.

 

So, some closer pics of the Rapiers, and of some tech-thralls I've had assembled for a while who will soon see paint - these are the second half of a unit I started last year (!). I have the bits for a small allied Mechanicum force lying around somewhere, just have to dig out those Thallax...

 

XIII

 

Rapier Weapons Battery Tempestatis

 

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj598/Mjolnir771/IMAG1703_zpssqem6jpc.jpg

 

___________________

 

And the thralls...

 

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj598/Mjolnir771/IMAG1702_zpsgr1xrd7y.jpg

[Reyner]

Oooh nice! I was looking at getting some Kataphron servitors to use as Rapiers but I still need to figure out a source of quad mortars to go with them. 

[Soldier of Dorn]

I'm liking the crew a lot. Great posing as always, Arkhan. :tu:

[Monstra Sumus]

This force is coming on wonderfully BCA. I'm very impressed and glad I caught up! 

 

A long time between my last reply but I'd love it if you could send me a few of those photo backgrounds via PM some time. 

[hushrong]

Yep! I am definitely going to use your take on the rapier.

 

Looking forward to seeing them painted up and seeing some of their AM allies.

[jimbo13]

He's back at it!!! Yay. Love the rummaged gear look!!! Also, ad mech allies, eh? Not what I would've thought. Would love to hear the reasoning.

[BrotherCaptainArkhan]

Cheers, fellas! :) Hopefully get some painted updates in here soon, there's a fair bit to post up.

 

 

Oooh nice! I was looking at getting some Kataphron servitors to use as Rapiers but I still need to figure out a source of quad mortars to go with them. 

 

Absolutely. With these platforms I managed to magnetise the gun itself; I'll post a pic in a future update, it's dead easy and gives you the option to switch weapons.

 

This force is coming on wonderfully BCA. I'm very impressed and glad I caught up! 

 

A long time between my last reply but I'd love it if you could send me a few of those photo backgrounds via PM some time. 

 

Cheers mate! Sorry if I promised that previously and didn't get around to it - have spent the last month or two moving house (and country) so it's been a bit busy for me. WIll pop you the links tonight.

 

He's back at it!!! Yay. Love the rummaged gear look!!! Also, ad mech allies, eh? Not what I would've thought. Would love to hear the reasoning.

 

Cheers Jimbo, you're right not what I'd have thought either, in fact (shock horror) I don't think they will end up allies, not sure they really match the theme - unless I can come up with a good reason to include them. However, they're 30k, so they went here, for now ;)

[Monstra Sumus]

Thanks bro, no rush man. It's been a hot mess if a year for me too so I totally get it.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Impressive work, thus far.

[BrotherCaptainArkhan]

XIV

 

Diocletian

 

It shouldn't have been Diocletian.

 

I couldn't stop thinking about Vandenhold on the way down to the lower decks, where Cestarion and the other Techmarines were performing the final rites of awakening upon my old friend's new form. Ironform, I was meant to say now. It sounded strange to use the word about a man I'd known, loved as a brother, fought beside for over a decade. I'd become used to the ironforms being distant, ancient warriors separated from us as much by their great age as by the iron carapace that now served them as a body.

 

Vandenhold. The annihilation of my old company and the deaths of Diocletian, Aurelius, Varas, Arminian and that bastard Lepidus. At least he was certain not to return to us. That'd been seen to.

 

I hadn't believed it, at first. I'd stared at the Techmarine in utter disbelief when he had told me that not only had Diocletian not died that day as I thought he had - his brain-pan opened by energy weapons and his face ripped away by savage claws - but they'd taken him, in secret, and returned him to us only when they'd crushed his mind and body a second time by entrapping what little was left of it within the ironform of a Contemptor.

 

Battle-brother or no, I'd have struck down the man who kept Diocletian from death's repose, had I discovered who'd given the order to inter him. I owed my friend that much. He didn't deserve to see what became of us after Vandenhold.

 

When the lift doors opened, and I entered the ironform arming chamber, Diocletian's form was the first thing to greet my sight. A battered, warped Contemptor shell that looked closer to a wreck than to a working, half-living Dreadnought would be my friend's new home. I scanned the slate handed to me by Cestarion. Contemptor-Cortus, the official designation read. A half-shell. An imperfect ironform.

 

An insult, both to my friend's memory, and to us. We only received the most battered of iron carapaces in which to inter our fallen warriors, and they would be Cortus-pattern, imperfect and degrading to the pilot and dangerous to those he fought beside.

 

As my rage at this injustice grew, the chamber lights dimmed as Diocletian - saviour of six worlds during the Great Crusade, hero of the Seventh Chapter of the Thirteenth Legion Astartes, a man who gave his life for his battle-brothers without a second thought, whose only sin was to disobey the orders of a madman - woke to fight upon the mortal plane once more.

 

And when I heard the slow, keening wail that echoed from the ironform that had been my battle-brother, the rage in my heart stilled and a chill crept over me.

 

'How long will it last?' I asked of Cestarion. I meant the pain. The pain of reawakening as a cold, body-deprived shell of iron and steel. The pain that the Apothecaries told us was unimaginable for the first weeks of life as an ironform. The Techmarine shook his head, his expression hidden by the grille-visor of his helm.

 

'I will not lie to you, brother-captain. The rite was perfomed without care by the Mechanicus, and the shell was constructed with obvious disrespect. I and my brothers in the armoury have done what we may, and Commander Diocletian is out of immediate danger, but he is not the man you once knew. He may not remember any of us.'

 

And, as I heard my friend's moans turn to screams, as his ironform began to thrash in jerking feedback from the immense pain felt by its pilot, the grav-harnesses around him re-locking him in place once more until he could be sedated, I swore that I would have a measure of reckoning for this insult.

 

Not the insult to me. Not the insult to the Hundred, men for whom no insult could be greater than the shame they bore.

 

The insult to the memory of a good man who fought and died for his brothers, whose only reward was to be stripped of soul and identity and recast as an broken, shackled slave by uncaring masters.

 

-from the journal of Brother-Captain Ludvic Augustus, Master of the Black One Hundred (scribe's note: this extant text was placed in chronological order prior to the Armaturan Relief Drop - note passage of time between this and next entry - possible reason for shift in lexical tone? Memo to self: review passage in wider context)

 

 

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj598/Mjolnir771/13691025_10154157691945546_7073824290575844813_o_zpspuudqjvf.jpg

 

 

Fluff aside...whaddya know, it is indeed possible to repose Betrayal at Calth Contemptors! Not too bad a job but still lots of work required, I was just excited and wanted to post a WIP and flavour text up now. Any thoughts on the pose more than welcome. The arms are, of course, magnetised, but a double-grav-fist loadout is more than likely what I'll run for most of Ancient Diocletian's appearances.

 

I will add a lot more weathering and some decoration before this ironform sees the painting decks...

Edited July 25, 2016 by Brother-Captain Arkhan

[jimbo13]

Lovely fluff as always Arkhan. For the pose, my suggestion would be a roaring rage into the sky. Arms out, knees slights bent with the back curved slightly back with head towards the sky.

 

Only a thought, the pose he's in now looks more like it should be in the XII.

[Khornestar]

That is a proper angry dreadnought pose. Running right atcha!

[MagicMan]

Thosd Rapier batteries are badass!! Are they built entirely from the Kataphron (or whatever theyre called) Mechanicum kit? The tracked heavy weapon guys.

 

 

That Contemptor is also looking brutal.

[KrautScientist]

Fantastic pose on the Contemptor -- I think the fact that he seems like a XII legion madman is really rather deliciously ironic, given the whole matter of Armatura. The background piece is also excellent, as usual!

[Soldier of Dorn]

Nice to see Diocletian get a model! Even though it's still an early WIP, I look forward to seeing him completed. For the pose, I think he's fine as is. Perhaps a slight twist in the waist would be nice, but he looks good.

[Reaver Lord Soul]

Hey Brother-Captain, I was just want to say how awesome this thread is and how inspiring it is especially for someone like me who is in a major hobby rut at the moment. I can`t wait to see more of the Black One Hundred :D