Ashen Claws, the early XIXth, and the Mechanicum

[Paradigm]

So I'm finally getting into spirit of Heresy. I've settled on the Ashen Claws as the primary force. However, I have 15 Thallaxii and Three Vorax, so I'm taking a praevian, and using a bunch of the Thallaxii as heavy support. 

However, I want the color schemes to make some sense. 

Since the Ashen Claws are descended from Terran Raven guard (and potentially treasonous Night Lords post scouring) what mechanicum forces could be present? I figure anything would likely originate from Gryphonne IV, or Kiavahr, but I have no clue as to the color scheme for either the forgeworld, or Corax's vassal. 

 

Since whatever mechanicum assets still in the force would likely be rogue, they may not retain their original heraldry either, but I'd like the possibility of doing so, or something derived from it.

The Google hasn't been helpful, though I read someone, who said the symbol was an eagle with cogs for wings, I haven't found any examples.

 

The other option is something the Night Lords might've had. It certainly seems like the Ashen Claws got the bulk of their leavings. However there aren't any forgeworlds I can see near the ghoul stars.
 

Also, since the pictures make it look like the Ashen Claws still use Raven Guard tactical markings, what should the praevian have? Some cog or the special unit maelstrom thing?

 

Any help is very much appreciated. I know it's a ton of questions but all this semi-loyalist fluff is making it tricky for me to navigate.

[Sandlemad]

Have you considered a covenant-force of the Ordo Reductor? It would fit the Thalaxii to a tee. There's something about a roving mendicant order of siege experts that would fit well thematically with a fleet of RG, particularly if it's a group of semi-exiled Terrans sent out as part of a predation fleet. If they turn rogue, it also means you're not as tied to the background of a particular forge world (and the Reductor seem a bit more amoral than their settled brethern).

 

Scheme-wise, it sidesteps having to track down or invent a whole forge-world's (or Kiavahr's) livery. The Reductor covenants are also noted as incorporating heraldry of legion forces they fight alongside more than other parts of the Mechanicum. I realise this isn't a very concrete answer but it's a possibility.

[Paradigm]

This helps a lot more than you might think. I don't really understand the fluff on the Ordo Reductor. I thought they were still a part of specific forges. Which book is the ordo reductor fluff in?

Just pulled up their info on lexicanum and the 40k wiki. Very, very good solution.
 

Any thoughts on the praevian? I'm leaning on just halving the "maelstrom" device with the ordo reductor's tower. As if the praevian has been working with them so long, he feels like a part of them.

[Sandlemad]

Mostly in Extermination but a good chunk of it was deposited on the 40k wiki here.

Short version is that they are wandering shipborn orders of techpriests founded at the joining together of Terra and Mars (hence the very Imperial-style title 'Ordo') specifically to serve the great crusade. They move in small forces as part of the expeditionary fleets, working as advisors and siege specialists to imperial commanders and primarchs (fitting into a relatively unfilled niche for the RG?). They are officially outside the usual byzantine politics of the forge worlds so those tech priests who wind up as part of it tend to be either exiles or weirdos who don't fit into the main hierarchy. This also means they can't draw on typical forces like the Martian skitarii or the feudal musters of the taghmata, so they developed the thalaxii, which they sort of 'rent out' to the legions and other Mechanicum bodies.

They're cool.

[Soldier of Dorn]

I notice that you're in the Seattle era, so just thought I might mention that we have a pretty active FB group called Northwest 30k that could also help with this (assuming you've got a Facebook account) and any other questions about the Heresy. I'm not saying it'd replace the B&C, but it'd gain a wider audience.

 

I agree with Sandlemad, though, that Ordo Reductor would be a neat tie-in. Since Reductor forces, in more than a few of the illustrations we've seen, repaint their armor to match the forces they are allied with, it'd also give you a reason to stick to a consistent color scheme across the whole of the force.

 

The combined device for the Praevian between Ordo Reductor and the traditional Praevian marking sounds cool! I'd definitely like to see your take on that. :tu:

[Paradigm]

Thanks for the heads up about the facebook group. I sent an add request. 

I appreciate the help quite a bit. I'll be sure to post as I finish a few models. I just have the color test model done now, and am finishing up the praevian. 

I think this fits the Ashen Claws far better than any specific forgeworld, or Kiavahr, as Corax is unlikely to send his bastard sons off with anything more than spare resources.

 

Since the reductor is full of outcasts and rogues of the mechanicum, it isn't too large a stretch that whoever left with the predation fleets would remain loyal to them over the imperium. Especially since we have ordo reductor examples that side with Horus. 

[Paradigm]

 

Praevian Occidax, The Jovian, The Phosphex Phoenix, The Iron Nomad.

 

A hero of Lysithea, if such a thing exists. Occidax was there a vigilator of the XIXth legion. Acting as forward spotters for newly commissioned Ordo Reductor allies, his unit was overrun by the vile xenos that had infested the jovian moon. Consigned to death, he ordered his own position bombarded with phosphex. His unit was doomed, but he prevented the envelopment of the bulk of his legion's support. Such a herald of blessed ruin was lauded by the Ordo, who pulled him from the ashes and rebuilt his horrific, disfigured body in their image.

 

Like many who're no longer suited to other duties, Occidax was tasked to the armory as a praevian. Unable to speak without a vox, and no ability to show emotion has rendered him a hardened warrior who counts only his modified vorax automata and the thallaxii and magi of the ordo reductor as true brothers. Far more machine than man, perhaps it is with good reason. 

 

Still a vigilator at heart, he is often first into battle, a warrior fighting beside iron brethren. While he is frequently gunned down completing his mission, he somehow always cheats death. His automata carrying off his wrecked form, to ensure he is rebuilt by his adopted kindred. 

 

As with many of the terran XIXth, he was marginalized to an ever greater extent after the coming of Corax. After Gate-42 he departed with the bulk of his kind into the abyss beyond the galactic plane.

 

Treated as a wayward, but trusted brother by the the Ashen Claws, he is valued for both his long years of service and his steel resolve. 

 

 

Here are some work-in-progress shots. I think I'm going to replace the left arm with an augmetic from a mechanicus kit. I also want to rebase him. I mixed in a white pigment that kind of ruined the effect I was going for when it was all mixed in. Otherwise, I just need to finish his battle damage, and swap my janky-converted combi-flamer with the forgeworld one that I've ordered. Oh and I'm saving that clean kneecap for a jovian rune, surmounted by a numeral X.

 

http://i67.tinypic.com/2442vi9.jpg

 

I forgot to take a picture of the tactical marking before I scraped up the shoulder pad, but you can still see it to some extent in one of the images.

 

http://i64.tinypic.com/16c2q2w.jpg

 

He carries a combi-flamer, because why wouldn't someone horribly disfigured by fire want to do the same to his enemies. I figured it takes a special sort of personality to think that way. (Also It works pretty well with the praevian rules.)

 

http://i68.tinypic.com/2rpviqg.jpg

 

That backpack mold line is badly annoying me. You can only see it in the photos, but still irksome.

[Luna707]

Looking good so far!