The Orphean Crusade

[Castellan Cynebald]

http://i.imgur.com/CezEHQ0.png

++Imperial Celestial Wave Band Extend++

++Clearance Osiris Black++

++Astropathic Duct available++

++Realspace Signal Priority Imus++

++Clearance Granted++

++Cypher Unlocked++

++Message Begins++

I can still taste the blood in the air High Marshall. I can still hear the sound of the screams as men and women are torn apart by those fell lightnings. I still feel the fury and shame that my brothers and I suffer from the order to mobilise from the Deluvian Sub-sector. I crusade at the behest of your will Lord Helbrecht, and I will continue to do so until the Imperium has no more need of the breath in my lungs, the strength in my arm and the anger in my heart.

Your orders were followed to the letter, but I wish to convey to you that we will seek penance in the fires of battle as we return to your side, for the Orphean Crusade has indeed met failure. Failure in our abandonment of one last bastion against the Necron onslaught. We held orbit around C'syn'ad as you wished, the Astropathic Choir a fitting witness to our mighty stand, the unliving legions poised to snuff our voices from the sector traffic. But we are Black Templars. Our voices are not easily silenced.

This you know from Armageddon. From Cadia. From a thousand worlds and a thousand battles.You know our pain, felt yourself at the conclusion of the Ghoul Stars Crusade. I speak not from temerity but from a need to convey why we must repent. It is not in a brother of the Black Templar's nature to retreat, to leave the field without victory or at least death. But we come. We come but a shadow of our original number, Marshall Roland is dead, the black from his ceramite stripped by the tide of undead bastards. Our oldest brother Meginhard has been interred in a Dreadnought, his gall in the face of an enemy honour guard keeping him alive enough for our Apothecary to reach him. Many brothers and allies dead.

We will be returning with Major Godefroy, Commander of the 14^th Armoured Regiment, 17^th Line Korps of Krieg. He has been 'attached' to my command, I am unsure as to what aim, but after witnessing the bravery in him and his men I am loathe to deny them their goal to board the Einhard and leave system.

We will return to your side my High Marshall, the Imperium demands that we be the cliffs against which the waves of darkness crash. This darkness will be met by a host of black plate, armoured in faith and armed in zeal we shall strike back. The crusade is eternal, and there will be plenty of time for us to earn our victory.

Glory be to The Emperor!

Castellan Turold Cynebald

Interim Commander of The Orphean Crusade

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The Orphean Crusade will be my way of showcasing my Black Templars primarily, with a bit of Death Korps and Imperium allies. It will be mainly a fluff/WIP post with some occasional battle reports!

I am woefully behind on painting what I have assembled so far, and a lot of the models were painted with a very rough scheme for a tournament. This post will hopefully motivate me to finish more models as I am very slow.

However the crusade is eternal...

Pict-capture of Parade Grounds (Full Army as at 19/04/2017)

Veterans of the Einhard (Assault on Black Reach set painted)

The Clearance of Vodnir Square (First Killteam game)

The Breaking of the Vodnir Line (First large multiplayer game)

Let No One Pass (Killteam BT & Salamanders vs. Skitarii & Thousand Sons)

The Scouring of Nephilim VI (Killteam BT, Salamanders & Skitarii vs. Eldar & Thousand Sons)

Training Day (First Battle Report Video)

Excerpt from Brother Otuel's Ascension Part One

http://i.imgur.com/LRRYaPF.png

Edited August 11, 2019 by Castellan Cynebald

[Bjorn Firewalker]

The backstory is good. The unit emblem is good, but what does the brazier (what I assume the thing with the Aquila is, instead of a Torii gate) symbolize? That the Templars' fiery spirits will not be easily snuffed? Will they ritually brand themselves in penance after a battle, like the Salamanders?

[Castellan Cynebald]

The backstory is good. The unit emblem is good, but what does the brazier (what I assume the thing with the Aquila is, instead of a Torii gate) symbolize? That the Templars' fiery spirits will not be easily snuffed? Will they ritually brand themselves in penance after a battle, like the Salamanders?

The symbol of the Orphean Sector is The Lantern, thought to be Arica Orpheus' personal heraldry who was the rogue trader who founded the area. Upon Helbrecht's orders to mobilise the Strike-Cruiser Einhard to reinforce the forces embroiled in the Necron invasion the Crusaders took the brazier as their emblem, lighting their way in the darkness, much as Arica did Millenia before.

 

So I guess it's just a thematic thing around light.

 

I do like your interpretation though... might have to work that in, us Templars do indeed have fiery spirits. Working on some photos of what I currently have model wise.

Edited April 15, 2017 by Castellan Cynebald

[Marshal Mattias]

I love the introduction, can't wait to see some units ;)

[Castellan Cynebald]

As promised here is the contents of the Strike-Cruiser Einhard so far:

 

The Orphean Penitent Crusade Pictures

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Beautiful models. I notice one of them is obviously based on Guts, from the 'Berserk' manga and anime. Does he count as an Inquisitor, a Grey Knight, a Deathwatch member, or...?

[Castellan Cynebald]

Beautiful models. I notice one of them is obviously based on Guts, from the 'Berserk' manga and anime. Does he count as an Inquisitor, a Grey Knight, a Deathwatch member, or...?

 

Thanks! He is an Ordo Malleus Inquisitor with Daemonblade and Powerfist, he's with a delegation that includes three Deathwatch witches.

Edited April 16, 2017 by Castellan Cynebald

[Othniel's Blade]

Rough Riders! Now I need to find some bretonnians to counts as out of jealousy!

[Castellan Cynebald]

Next step is to catch up all models to one unified base-coat, Black Templars and Knight in black, Death Korps in a navy-blue. Will post pics once army is base-coated with the airbrush ;)

[Castellan Cynebald]

Airbrush is broken *sigh* so I don't know what the next step is haha, back to spray-paints?

[Castellan Cynebald]

I also need some advice brothers, based on what I have what models should I get next? The game is my biggest love so should I be getting more Land Raiders? More flyers? What do you guys reckon?

[Brother Christopher]

A nice collection of models you've got there. I'm looking forward to seeing more of them painted.

 

However, if you want to get more models first, maybe some Rhino-based vehicles? Some transports for your Crusaders or Vindicators/Predators (I personally prefer Preds, but Vindicators have a large fear-inducing factor to them).

[Castellan Cynebald]

A nice collection of models you've got there. I'm looking forward to seeing more of them painted.

 

However, if you want to get more models first, maybe some Rhino-based vehicles? Some transports for your Crusaders or Vindicators/Predators (I personally prefer Preds, but Vindicators have a large fear-inducing factor to them).

 

Haha painting is my Achilles heel, I HATE doing it because I'm impatient, Rhino chassis vehicles is probably wise.

[Castellan Cynebald]

I need to get two more stamps to buy the store opening Chaplain in my area, which of the following should I get:

 

2 x Land Raider

 

3 x Vindicator

 

1 x Land Raider

1 x Stormraven Gunship

 

1 x Devastators

1 x Assault Marines

 

I'm pretty torn on what to add to the force, kind of leaning towards 2 x Land Raiders due to then being able to run the Spearhead plus more transport!

 

What do you guys think?

[Marshal_Roujakis]

Though it's hard to get wrong with 3 Raiders and Templars... it would entirely depend on what you want your army to work with...

 

If you need some more Ordnance or if you didn't bring your Guard force, then 3 Vindicators would be better...

If you feel like you'd rather have air support, then Stormravens would be better...

[Castellan Cynebald]

Though it's hard to get wrong with 3 Raiders and Templars... it would entirely depend on what you want your army to work with...

 

If you need some more Ordnance or if you didn't bring your Guard force, then 3 Vindicators would be better...

If you feel like you'd rather have air support, then Stormravens would be better...

 

I just feel like I don't have enough heavy stuff, big guns, big vehicles. I was also considering Baneblade variants for the guard. I play primarily against Eldar in my meta, my flatmate has a Lynx which popped my Land Raider in one turn so want some heavy stuff to get my Crusaders in close, noone in my house has flyers however... 

 

To be perfectly honest I don't NEED anything new but I really want that Chaplain... I also think I may have an addiction to the plastic crack.

[Brother Christopher]

 

A nice collection of models you've got there. I'm looking forward to seeing more of them painted.

 

However, if you want to get more models first, maybe some Rhino-based vehicles? Some transports for your Crusaders or Vindicators/Predators (I personally prefer Preds, but Vindicators have a large fear-inducing factor to them).

 

Haha painting is my Achilles heel, I HATE doing it because I'm impatient, Rhino chassis vehicles is probably wise.

 

 

Oh, I know the feeling too well probably. Plus, I have a bad habit of scratch building stuff, so over the last couple of years I amassed so much stuff that I don't even hope to get it done in 3-5 years time.

 

I need to get two more stamps to buy the store opening Chaplain in my area, which of the following should I get:

 

2 x Land Raider

 

3 x Vindicator

 

1 x Land Raider

1 x Stormraven Gunship

 

1 x Devastators

1 x Assault Marines

 

I'm pretty torn on what to add to the force, kind of leaning towards 2 x Land Raiders due to then being able to run the Spearhead plus more transport!

 

What do you guys think?

 

From those options, I'd vote for... I can't decide, but I suppose I'd advise you to get more transports. So 60% of my vote for the Land Raider and Stormraven (for variety) and 40% for the two Land Raiders (for the rule of cool, as I don't believe in viability of Land Raiders at the moment).

[Castellan Cynebald]

Painted my Emperor's Champion up for the Walls Fail, Fists Do Not challenge:

 

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

 

Champion Otuel, anointed at the Battle of The Choir.

[Castellan Cynebald]

I also have some pict-captures from recent notable battles of the Orphean Penitent Crusade:

 

The Clearance of Vodnir Square

The Breaking of the Vodnir Line

 

In the Killteam game (our first) I took a Crusader Squad and my Sword Brother bolt-pistol-executed two enemy leaders, gives me the warm fuzzies I tell ya!

 

The big game vs. Necrons and Eldar we (my friend with Salamanders) got completely rinsed, my Knight got gaussed to death and the Lynx nuked the Land Raider turn one. The Crusader Squad with Champion Otuel attached managed to wreck a unit of Wailing Banshees in the assault though... Otuel himself cleaving through three with one swipe! Hero of the match was definitely the Deredeo! That thing pumps out the (forgive me for using filthy xenos terms) dakka en-masse!

Edited April 18, 2017 by Castellan Cynebald

[Marshal_Roujakis]

I perfectly know how you feel... though I don't have a Guard regiment with my Templars, I have amassed about 200+ Knights on my Crusade... with 45% of them still waiting to be cut out from the sprue...

 

Eldar can be tricky if you only have very few armor... but can be easily taken care of if you have too many targets for them to neutralize... for kicks and giggles, make a Redeemer... Dark Eldar transports hate anything with a Template attached to it...

 

Another thing to consider is that you only really had 1 Land Raider for the DE to take care of... if they had other targets for their anti-tank which was a higher priority target, then they would have shot that one first instead... a great example is the Vindicator... nobody wants to be at the end of that S10 AP2 Large Blast....

[Castellan Cynebald]

I perfectly know how you feel... though I don't have a Guard regiment with my Templars, I have amassed about 200+ Knights on my Crusade... with 45% of them still waiting to be cut out from the sprue...

 

Eldar can be tricky if you only have very few armor... but can be easily taken care of if you have too many targets for them to neutralize... for kicks and giggles, make a Redeemer... Dark Eldar transports hate anything with a Template attached to it...

 

Another thing to consider is that you only really had 1 Land Raider for the DE to take care of... if they had other targets for their anti-tank which was a higher priority target, then they would have shot that one first instead... a great example is the Vindicator... nobody wants to be at the end of that S10 AP2 Large Blast....

 

Target saturation, will make them pick what to murder haha, I like it!

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Excellent work on the Emperor's Champion.

[Honda]

Because you have a lot of figures and painting isn't what draws you, consider the following:

 

1. Black base coat

2. Lightly drybrush a grey over your figures.

3. Consider doing 500 point blocks to keep it manageable.

 

In the good ol' days, back when we had to mix our own paints from artist chalk and spit, we would focus on small blocks of points (or units) and see how that would go. We wouldn't get too ambitious, because believe it or not, you're not the only one who's wallet works faster than their paint brush.

 

Your EC is a nice start and is definitely a nice standard to base an army around. Just remember that it's a marathon, not a sprint.

 

The reason I am suggesting this is that you have a lot of really cool figures and it pains me not to see some color on them. :)

 

You can do it.

[Castellan Cynebald]

Because you have a lot of figures and painting isn't what draws you, consider the following:

 

1. Black base coat

2. Lightly drybrush a grey over your figures.

3. Consider doing 500 point blocks to keep it manageable.

 

In the good ol' days, back when we had to mix our own paints from artist chalk and spit, we would focus on small blocks of points (or units) and see how that would go. We wouldn't get too ambitious, because believe it or not, you're not the only one who's wallet works faster than their paint brush.

 

Your EC is a nice start and is definitely a nice standard to base an army around. Just remember that it's a marathon, not a sprint.

 

The reason I am suggesting this is that you have a lot of really cool figures and it pains me not to see some color on them.

 

You can do it.

 

Good advice! I am honored Reclusiarch! I will update this post with the progress but I agree, too long have the Sons of Dorn gone without their colours!

[Marshal_Roujakis]

A usual cover of Black, then a quick drybrush of grey and white then a quick wash of Nuln oil usually does a good enough trick for a 3 layer paint... then occasional red afterwards for eye lenses and purity seals does it for me...

 

Also, drybrushing and washing models have got to be the easiest painting method for really quick highlights...

example:

 

http://i1151.photobucket.com/albums/o622/Marshal_Roujakis/DSC_0236_zps99b7d87a.jpg