Siege of Terra; IX Legion, 83rd Company "Crimson Thorns"

[OakRiver]

Legionnarie Alexios, Veteran Sergeant Mikhail's Assault Squad

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Archivist's Note: Subject equipped with early pattern MKVII leg power armor. Available data suggests that only the helm, right pauldron and chainsword are Subject's original war gear] 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Alexios was another veteran of Mikhail's squad. A surly Neptune born Legionnaire, he would wax lyrical of the days when he was one of the "Eaters of the Dead", and the days of the Unification Wars. He was among those elevated into the Legion when it was at its worst regarded, and it was rumored that he had been taken part in the events that lead to our Legion's the censure following Yarant. His vicious chainsword, with its exposed rear teeth were a reminder of those days when he kept in closer company with the War Hounds. After we were reunited with The Angel, Alexios rebuilt the guard and hilt of his weapon so it better represented the new direction of our Legion, as he changed to match the new expectations of our Father.

 

Among the 83rd he was well regarded as a capable warrior, but not known for his warm company. He was workman like in his approach to war, neither seeking favor nor advancement, he was content in his role. Mikhail could always trust that, no matter what was asked, Alexios would do everything in his power to fulfill his duty.

 

By the time we reached Terra the only piece of armor Alexios retained from what had been issued to him was his helm. The rest had been repurposed from those who had no more need of it. In some cases Alexios had, unceremoniously and dispassionately, recovered pieces of armor from the recently fallen during lulls in the fighting. We would joke that we knew our time had some if Alexios got to us before one our the Apothecaries." - Veteran Sergeant Alessio

Edited April 19, 2020 by OakRiver

[OakRiver]

Legionnarie Cocidius, Veteran Sergeant Mikhail's Assault Squad

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Archivist's Note: Subject's right pauldron shows battlefield modification, in the form of reinforced metal banding riveted in place. Legionnaires of the IXth Legion typically had more ornate examples of reinforced plates]

 

 

[Archivist's Note: Subject bears emblems/honorifics more commonly associated with IXth Legion, 83rd Company, 47th Recon Squad, 'Viper 7', however, records do not show subject served in this unit]

 

 

"Of all the members of The Retributors, I believe that only Cocidius was not accustomed to flight. While Hestaphon spread his wings and protected our transport craft in his Xiphon, and Edoardo and others served in our Landspeeders, Cocidius was found prowling our flanks in his Sabre, hunting down enemy armor and harassing the enemies supply lines.

 

His tank destroyed as he fought in vain to stem the advance of the Traitors to our evacuation site, he had joined Mikhail's squad shortly before we reached Terra, taking the place, and much of the war gear of Tulio, a member of Viper 7. With so little time to get accustomed to a new way to fight, he was less than graceful with his movements. While other Retributors could incorporate their jump packs to amplify their movements in close combat, he used his jump pack to keep pace with his brothers before charging into the enemy, or laying in wait to ambush the unwary.

 

Outside of combat, he retained his independent nature, ever the lone hunter." - Veteran Sergeant Alessio

Edited April 19, 2020 by OakRiver

[Pearson73]

Great posing and sense of momentum with these Assault Marines.

[OakRiver]

Great posing and sense of momentum with these Assault Marines.

Thank you. I had to put together this squad with a 5 man Assault Squad box set, and my leftover bitz, so I'm more than happy with how the all turned out.

 

Only two more members of The Retributors left to paint, one of the few Legionnaires with full MKVI armour and The Penitent. Then just the Choom Legion Support Squad, a Techmarine, and a converted standard bearer/Librarian, and that is all the minis I currently have for the 83rd.

[BadgersinHills]

Good to see this plog back. :) Inspired me to start Siege of Terra Blood Angels force but sadly that went nowhere. 

[OakRiver]

Good to see this plog back. Inspired me to start Siege of Terra Blood Angels force but sadly that went nowhere. 

 

Thank you, I'm glad that my (poorly photographed) minis helped inspire you. If it hasn't gone anywhere yet don't force it, your muse might return later. I hadn't realized how long it had been since I last posted here, between laziness in not ordering more paint, working full time, and doing my Master's degree I just didn't find the time to make much progress. 

[Dosjetka]

The latest two members of Mikhail's squad look great; the posing is superbly dynamic and the reds look gorgeous. The battle damage is well-done, too. :tu:

 

With regards to the red, has your recipe changed, have you used different lighting, and/or a different camera? Oddly enough the red looks less washed out than in previous pictures of other models. I actually prefer this new shade of red, if indeed it is new. :)

[OakRiver]

The latest two members of Mikhail's squad look great; the posing is superbly dynamic and the reds look gorgeous. The battle damage is well-done, too.

 

With regards to the red, has your recipe changed, have you used different lighting, and/or a different camera? Oddly enough the red looks less washed out than in previous pictures of other models. I actually prefer this new shade of red, if indeed it is new.

 

I'm using the same camera, and red recipe (Abaddon Black->3 thin coats of Mephiston Red->Agrax Earthshade wash->3 thin coats Mephiston Red->1st highlight: Evil Sunz Scarlet->2nd highlight: Wild Rider Red->weathering), but I have switched up the background and lighting, so I think that has helped get better pictures of the minis.

[Majkhel]

Hey brother!

Lovely fluff pieces! I like Alexios' especially with his story going way back to the Eaters of the Dead :)

[OakRiver]

Hey brother!

Lovely fluff pieces! I like Alexios' especially with his story going way back to the Eaters of the Dead

Thank you. Every time GW updates the lore I try to keep my force more current with it by dropping references in the backstories for the 83rd.

[Sagentus]

the poses on the assault squads are epic!!great work all round :)

[OakRiver]

the poses on the assault squads are epic!!great work all round

Thank you. At some point I'd like to add some FW Marines to this squad, just to add some armor diversity. I really wish that GW would have released more plastic kits of each mark of armor, but that might be a stretch as we see more Primaris being released. 

[OakRiver]

Legionnaire Venaticus, Veteran Sergeant Mikhail's Assault Squad

 

 

 

[Archivist's Note: Subject is unusual among the Legionnaires of IX Legion, 83rd Company, as he is wearing almost full MKVI armor]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"As a member of Mikhail's squad, it was perhaps the only time that I had witnessed Brother Venaticus in his true splendor, accolades and finely wrought ornamentation he had crafted, affixed proudly to his armor. Signs of respect among brothers, signs that our foes should be wary.

 

Venaticus was another member of Mikhail's squad who was folded in as we lost more of our Company to attrition. Among the 83rd we had precious few newer sets of armor, aside from individual pieces of prototype armor that our Mechanicum allies could craft to replace that which could no longer be repaired. In those rare when full sets of newer marks of armor were received, they were assigned to those units who would gain the most benefit from them. I was fortunate enough to receive a MkVI helm after my own was damaged beyond repair in the Amaranthine Campaign. In the case of the Corvus armor, as these had reduced heat signatures and other enhancements that made the wearer harder to detect, these were given almost exclusively to our recon squads. 

 

During his time in our recon cohort, Venaticus learned his craft well, and was known as an excellent saboteur and assassin, able to hunt his prey and get in close to neutralize them. Those skills served him well, as once Mikhail's squad closed with the enemy, Venaticus would quickly dispatch his foe, before finding an unwary opponent to quickly overwhelm. Unlike some other members of the Retributors, who came from other formations, the loss of Independence and change in style of warfare did not seem to rankle our brother. He took everything that the galaxy, and the Traitors, could throw at him without complaint, choosing instead to quietly go about his work, as his chainsword could easily testify."   - Veteran Sergeant Alessio

 

 

 

 

Only one member left of Mikhail's squad. I had hoped to finish him tonight, but I was working with a lot of smaller areas of detail, and I could feel myself rushing through and could see myself making mistakes, so he will wait for another day. 

Edited April 29, 2020 by OakRiver

[OakRiver]

The final member of Mikhail's squad: The Penitent 

 

[Archivist's Note: Subject is wearing an additional layer cuirass armor, of an unknown pattern. Available data does not show this item in use by other members of the IXth Legion, 83rd Company. Purpose and meaning unknown]

 

 

[Archivist's Note: Subject's left pauldron has items affixed to it, seemingly deliberately, to obscure the Legion icon. This is not known to be a common practice among members of the IXth Legion, 83rd Company. Purpose and meaning unknown]

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Archivist's Note: Subject's right pauldron has parchment affixed to it, again seemingly deliberately, this time to obscure where honorifics are typically displayed. This is not known to be a common practice among members of the IXth Legion, 83rd Company, as honorifics were typically displayed prominently by Legionnaires of this Company. Purpose and meaning unknown]

 

 

[Archivist's Note: Subject is armed with a bolt pistol that has only a bare metal housing, atypical for members of the IXth Legion, 83rd Company]

 

 

[Archivist's Note: Subject's helm appear to be of a unique design. While it bears superficial similarities to the formation known as 'Angel's Tears' it is markedly distinct. Purpose and meaning unknown]

 

[Archivist's Note: Subject's armor, armament, and ornamentation does not match any Legionnaires known to be operating with the IXth Legion, 83rd Company prior to the conflict on the VIIIth Legion vessel 'Harbinger's Wake']

 

 

 

Sergeant Alessio stood at attention, in his designated position. Like almost all the other officers of the 83rd, he was in full war plate, helm affixed, the eyes of his MKVI helm staring straight ahead. Those assembled formed a corridor, ordered by rank, leading from the imposing iron oak doors at one end of the passageway, with Mikhail and the noble warriors of The Saints, fully enclosed in their imposing cataphractii terminator armor, closest to the ornate doors of the Chamber of Judgement. Beyond those doors Brother, no, Captain, Ennius waited.

 

It was scare hours since they had escaped the Night Lords, with Captain Eco's battered form. Now barely clinging to life as the apothecaries fought valiantly to heal him. Tobias had been the first to reach Eco to tend to his wounds. For that he lost an eye. Vizioso had borne Eco back, cradled in his arms. He had not left Eco since then. Alessio had to admit that he was impressed that his brother had kept his humors in check enough to permit the apothecaries to tend to their master. However, the fact that he had net yet heeded Ennius's orders to attend for the matter before them was not a good sign. 

 

As they waited, Alessio fought to control the turmoil inside, and permitted his mind to consider the circumstances. When Eco had fallen, laid low by cur bastards of the VIIIth Legion, command of the 83rd had passed to Ennius. And already he found his leadership tested. After the Night Lords had been driven off, and Eco's barely living body recovered, Ennius had given the order to fall back. One of our number saw fit to disobey that order. That decision cost the lives of his brothers. He had betrayed the trust that he had been given as a leader. He was now being called to answer for that.

 

The iron oak doors swung open abruptly, and Alessio snapped back to the moment. He dared not move his head. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a figure coming closer, clad in the crimson plate of the IXth Legion. His smirking face betrayed his identity: Vizioso. The venerable warrior sauntered the length of the assembled officers, glaring the entire while. His displeasure at being forced to leave Eco's side was palatable. Taking his place opposite Mikhail, he begrudgingly affixed his helm.

 

In truth, Alessio admitted to himself, he did not envy Ennius. Not only was he faced with what to do with an insubordinate officer, whose intemperate decision had cost the lives of others, he now had to contend with the recalcitrant Vizioso. 

 

The doors opened a second time, and this time ... the prisoner ... Ennius had forbidden those present to speak of his name, stepped through the portal. Unlike the officers before him, he wore a simple training garb. His hands were unbound, and he wore no shackles. Alessio wondered to himself if those would even be necessary given the circumstances. On his shoulders the prisoner seemed to be bearing the weight of the crimes. He walked, head bowed in shame, down the line of those once considered his peers, towards the waiting judgement. Behind him marched the skull masked Warden Vespucci. As the prisoner walked past, Alessio kept his helm pointed forwards, but allowed his eyes to stray. The surplice worn by the prisoner, while still bearing the legion's icon, had the honorifics and all personally identifying details removed, as the loose threads attested.

 

After the prisoner had entered the chamber the officers filed in, lead by Niko and The Saints.

 

Captain Ennius stood before us. Clad in his cataphractii terminator armor, still freshly scarred from the battle with the Night Lords, he was an imposing figure. In front of him was placed the shattered remains of Eco's blade, the symbol of office for the lord of the 83rd. Those of the 83rd considered Ennius, almost universally, to be aloof and dour, more often than not cool and clinical, even in the heat of battle. In that moment before the assembled cohort, each person there cold not help but see the anger that burned bright in his eyes. Once Vespucci escorted the prisoner to his place before our captain, Ennius addressed the room. He read aloud the names of those the prisoner had lead to their deaths, and the many honors that they had each earned. He then laid out, in painstaking detail, the charges the prisoner faced: the acts insubordination, the decision that cost his brothers their lives, the lives wasted that could have been better served stopping the Traitors. The prisoner was made to recite the oath he had taken when he was chosen to lead his men, and asked before all assembled whether he had been faithful to those oaths.

 

At that, the prisoner raised his head for the first time, and looked our new captain in the eye. He had failed. He had broken his oaths to the Emperor, to the Angel, to Eco, and all his brothers. He would offer no excuse. He would accept whatever judgement would come to pass.

 

Silence filled the chamber.

 

After an eternity Ennius issued his judgement. The prisoner was to die. In name alone, until such times as he had regained his honor and died a noble death in battle. Stripped of his rank, all honorifics, bar the legion icon, were to be removed from his armor. In their place, writs of censure would be affixed. On his left pauldron he would bear the names of the brothers he had failed. He was to carry their names with him until such a time as he would rejoin them. He would bear a jet black curiass, his mark of shame, setting him apart from the rest of our company.  His helm was replaced with a porcelain death mask, for to the rest of the 83rd he was already gone. Now he existed as a wraith, fit only to punish the enemies of mankind. Finally, he was assigned to Mikhail's squad, and in this manner he would come face to face, and blade to blade with the enemy, and be given the opportunity to test himself and prove his worth. He would be known only as The Penitent.

 

Judgement now passed, we stood as The Penitent was escorted from the chamber. As the rest of us turned to leave Ennius spoke once more:

 

"Vizioso. I would speak with you, my brother."

Edited May 2, 2020 by OakRiver

[Majkhel]

Great stuff! 

[OakRiver]

Great stuff! 

Thank you! I have been so fortunate with the parts that I have kicking about, and so many of my conversions and ideas happen in an almost organic way. The Penitent was helped by having run out of Mephiston Red for so long. Originally we has going to have a bare head, but the more I kicked around the concept of someone stripped of all rank and ostracized, the less that a bare head made sense. Then I saw a Sanguinary Guard head, did some trimming, and that was the missing piece.

 

I also found out that I like Vallejo white much better than White Scar.

Edited May 2, 2020 by OakRiver

[Majkhel]

I completely agree on Vallejo MC White - it's a go-to white for me. Perfect both pure and as a mix. Same goes for Vallejo MC black.

[OakRiver]

I completely agree on Vallejo MC White - it's a go-to white for me. Perfect both pure and as a mix. Same goes for Vallejo MC black.

I have the black, and the last time I used it I thought it was too glossy. Maybe I didn't shake it enough. I am using Abaddon Black, but without much enthusiasm. When I add water it doesn't cover well, and if I use it thicker it can come out clumpy. Same with Dark Reaper. 

[OakRiver]

I have almost completed a Legion Support Squad, with volkites, but I want to wait to get the cables in place before I upload any pictures of the squad.

 

In the meantime, I have worked on a Techmarine:

 

Older members of the 40K community may recognize the torso from the 3rd Edition Blood Angels Command Squad boxed set. He was originally bought in the halcyon days when GW let you order parts, not just full kits. He was sitting around since 3rd Edition for me to do something with him.

 

With the Techmarine having a specialized role, I wanted him to stand out, so the red recipe is different too. From a basecoat of black-> Khorne Red -> wash Druchii Violet -> 1st highlight Mephiston Red -> 2nd highlight 50/50 Mephiston Red Bugman's Glow -> 3rd highlight Bugman's Glow -> final highlight Cadian Fleshtone

[Yosef Hausakluif]

As always GREAT back stories and detail for all of your models. Truly a pleasure to view your finished works and read the accompanying pieces too! Looking forward to more stories surrounding your Blood Angels defense of the palace! Edited July 8, 2020 by Yosef Hausakluif

[Nomus Sardauk]

Ah that old Honour Guard Techmarine brings back so many memories, I can't wait to see what you do with him Oak!

[OakRiver]

As always GREAT back stories and detail for all of your models. Truly a pleasure to view your finished works and read the accompanying pieces too! Looking forward to more stories surrounding your Blood Angels defense of the palace!

 

Thank you.  Part of what keeps me coming back and picking up the brush is the chance to add more backstory to the 83rd. Thanks to the great work of GW, and many narrative blogs here, I've had a lot of inspiration, and a great deal to live up to.

[OakRiver]

Ah that old Honour Guard Techmarine brings back so many memories, I can't wait to see what you do with him Oak!

 

Thanks. I don't remember why I bought him, or at least the metal parts, all those years ago, but when I started this plog and wanted to include a Techmarine I thought back to that old sculpt. The prices on Ebay were a little too rich for my blood, but when I was home visiting family over Christmas I found him, and made him a part of this project.

 

I am considering a conversion based on Ferrios for the 83rd. I want to change him up so it looks like he is in Cataphractii armor, adding the appropriate shoulder plates, and maybe doing something to bulk him out a little. 

 

I am no further forward with my standard bearer/Librarian. I have the parts for a standard bearer, but I like the thought of a Librarian, and the narrative tension between him and the Sable Brotherhood.

[Lovecraft0110]

As always GREAT back stories and detail for all of your models. Truly a pleasure to view your finished works and read the accompanying pieces too! Looking forward to more stories surrounding your Blood Angels defense of the palace!

Couldn't agree more with the above. Keep it coming, OakRiver!

[OakRiver]

Techmarine Artolomei

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Where is he!"

 

The question roused Artolomei from his silent invocations to the Omnisiah, and he looked up from the large, multi-barreled weapon he had been examining. He looked at the Astartes before him. He was clad in his crimson war plate, still scarred by recent battle. Looking into the face before him he could see an explosive mixture of anger and sorrow. With every millisecond that passed the anger seemed to overtake the sorrow. The emotion distracted him momentarily from recalling the warrior's name from his memory.

 

A fist hammered the workbench,

"I said WHERE IS HE!"

 

The name came to him: Vizioso. He has seen the warrior leave only a short time ago. He wondered what had transpired to make his legendary black mood even darker.

"Master Furiere is tending to the chasis which will house Captain Eco"

 

Vizioso turned and stalked away to find his quarry. Artolomei could have shouted after him that Master Furiere should not be disturbed, that preparing a Contemptor class chassis for a host was an arduous and difficult process, that required a great deal of ministration to the Machine God. He could have, but he knew it would be a waste. Not only would his foul tempered brother not listen, it was also not necessary.

 

Before Vizioso could reach the large iron door, with the Mechanium's cog symbol, they parted, and Master Furiere, in his own hulking war plate, stood before him and began to admonish him.

 

Artolomei returned to his labors and ignored the scene. It was a distraction. As he completed his work he recited the incantation of timing, and an invocation to the weapon's machine spirit to ward off malfunctions.

 

He admitted to himself that some days he barely recognized his members of his own company any more. He had been sent to Mars for specialist training following the Amaranthine Campaign, and had not rejoined the 83rd until after the events of the Signus Cluster. The squad that he had been promoted from did not leave that place, a small number of the casualties the IX Legion suffered against the Neverborn. Of those few brothers that would speak to him of what happened there, there was a curious mixture of reactions. Nothing overt, but he could see from their body language and reactions that there were some who were glad he was not present to see the things that they had seen, while there were others who, as small as it was, showed an undercurrent of anger that he had been absent while they had fought those things.

 

As he placed the assault cannon aside to be inspected, and the final rites delivered by Master Furiere before the weapon was affixed to the chassis designated for Eco, Artolomei wondered what would lie ahead for his brothers as they answered the Angel's call to return to Terra.

 

 

The newest member, but also oldest mini, of the 83rd, Techmarine Artolomei. From the detail on the metal components, I am very grateful that I did not attempt to paint him in my younger years, because there is no way that I would have done the sculpt justice. I barely feel I was able to do it justice now. Because of the plastic legs I had used for him, the mini looked like he was newly promoted to his role, with a significant portion of his armor not yet modified, and still original to his previous role in the legion - paint color aside. With this force being assembled more for fun and narrative, and without any rule books to drive its construction, I envisioned Artolomei in a combat engineer role, working closely with the infantry to clear obstacles and obstructions on the battlefield with his combi-melta, meltabomb and servo-arm