Rymr 1st Thunderers

[SvenIronhand]

"Vengeance for the Homeworlds!"

-Battle-cry of the Rymr 1st

"The pyre was burning / The Strongholds died.

And all along, they said / Help's on the way.

But it never came / It never came."

-Lament for Rymr
 

Well, my Ultras have reached a point where I'm ready to move on for a while. So I'm working on a new army. Namely, Squats, run as Astra Militarum. These guys have a backstory doc, which you can read here. The Ashimar Nova Guard mentioned in the doc are one - if not the most popular - of the most popular Guard homebrews, and they belong to a friend, Will. His wiki page for them is here. In addition, here's some of his models.

Here is the "first of the 1st", Warlord Ivaldi Wootz. Him and his Brethren are Einherjar, from Wargames Atlantic. These are great models, and fit the part well.



EDIT: Here's the basecoats on some of the infantry. 



Originally, they were going to be closer to Nova Guard colors, but I picked up the wrong paint and decided to stick with it, so they're light blue-grey and navy blue now. 

Edited January 17, 2021 by SvenIronhand

[WarriorFish]

This is a good start, the models work well too with a good scale :tu: I think the colours work too, reminiscent of old school Guard which fits the theme :)

[SvenIronhand]

This is a good start, the models work well too with a good scale I think the colours work too, reminiscent of old school Guard which fits the theme

Thanks. Like I said, they were originally going to be closer to the Nova Guard's colors.

 

I'd like to pose a question to the Fraters, while I'm at it. What doctrine should I go with? I'm tempted to go with Catachan, because theirs rewards infantry, and I gave my 1st Infantry Squad a flamer. But Cadian is good for shooting, too. I'm also slightly considering Armageddon, but I don't see much utility from it.

[Diagramdude]

If you’re gonna go mass infantry, wilderness survivors + disciplined shooters or wilderness survivors + lords approval.

[SvenIronhand]

Well, my first Infantry Squad is done, so here's a family photo. The rightmost guy is a Hearthguard Hazkal, the equivalent of a Platoon Commander. 

 

[SvenIronhand]

"The Tyranids brought us to our knees, and now we face a greater trial before us, Troopers of the Rymr 1st. For those of us that remain, there is but one choice. We must fight! To victory - or death! For the Imperium! For the Ancestors! For the Allfather!" 
-Durgrim Fell-Handed, Squat Priest, before leading the climatic bayonet charge of the 2nd Battle of Tar-Namib. Fell-Handed personally slew several of the wayward Sons of Horus in the melee that followed. 

 

I decided to go Catachan. S4 is a big draw, and the idea of a bunch of Squats punching a foe to death is metal as :cuss. Hence the Priest before your eyes. I imagine Durgrim here as being one of the charismatic leaders that keeps the 1st together, along with Lord Commissar Kragg. 

[SvenIronhand]

Lord Commissar Kragg stepped into the 1st’s dimly lit command post with his usual bodyguard of six Ironbreakers, three flanking him on either side. His steely gaze swept over the assembled officers, and his face did not move a single inch. He was well-practiced in the art of showing no emotion. Durgrim Fell-Handed was there, at the map table, as were Warlord Wootz and Brokr Braggsson. Their eyes were on him, expectant and breathless. In him, they sought surety.
 

“Gentlemen, I will not lie for a moment.” Kragg was an outsider. He had not been born on Rymr, like the rest of the Regiment. He had been taken from far-off Svartalheim, as a babe, to train in the Schola. But he, too, knew the bitter pain of exodusting far from home as well as any Squat of Rymr. “We have a hard fight on our hands, here on Tar-Namib.”
 

“That’s an understatement if I ever heard one.” Ivaldi Wootz was first to speak, out of the three of them. His tone was sharp, but he dared not raise his voice at the Lord Commissar. Anyone with half a brain knew what that would bring. “These green-clad traitors - they know no fear.”
 

“And neither should you, Warlord.” Kragg’s answer was quick in coming, snappy and sure. His sonorous tones reverberated through the tent. “You are not a mere feeble Man, no. You are a SQUAT! Forged and tempered by the Homeworlds, a son of the Strongholds! Faithful and strong!”
 

“Indeed, Warlord.” Durgrim rejoined. “The Ancestors look on. The Allfather looks on. They will not brook with dishonorable conduct here!” He implored him, leaning on his great Chainsword as he spoke. A grazing hit from a bolt shell had fouled his left leg, but the Priest still led the men into battle, all the same. The power of faith, Kragg noted. “What lies before you is a chance to avenge the sin of the Great Heresy War!”
 

“Honor.” Ivaldi muttered to himself with a lowered head, convincing himself of the rightness of his course. It was good to see, Kragg thought. “Honor and duty. Very well.” He raised his head, and looked Kragg in the eyes. “How’s morale?”
 

“Like I said, I will not lie. The situation is bleak.” Kragg responded to his question, downcast by their losses. “Between the scouring sandstorms and enemy action, our ranks have been reduced by - say - thirty percent, leaving us with about fifteen hundred Troopers.” He paused here. “But to our relief, the enemy has yet to summon Daemons. They seem reluctant to do so.”
 

Wootz groaned, scratching his bearded chin and turning his back to the Lord Commissar.
 

“Fifteen hundred Squats versus a full Company of Astartes. It is grim arithmetic, no matter how you slice it. But we have the benefit of being entrenched. They have not struck a decisive blow to our force. We can still fight back - and we must!”
 

“Your orders, Warlord?” Brokr asked eagerly. His eyes were alight.
 

“Have your Company’s Heavy Weapon Teams set up on the ridge nearby the camp. When the enemy comes - and he will - level your Heavy Bolters at them. They are Astartes, but they can still die. Kill as many as you can, then withdraw to the camp. We will make our stand here.”
 

“A fine plan,” Kragg noted. “Let us hope it survives first contact with the enemy.”

 

This guy isn't a Squat, but he's an important part of the Regiment nonetheless. Lord Commissar Kragg, a alumni of the Schola Ashimar, finds his job relies less on fear than negotiating the Squat psyche. By the Emperor, it will be done!

Also, this is a WIP.

EDIT: He's done! 

Edited January 24, 2021 by SvenIronhand

[SvenIronhand]

Well, I have a WIP for you guys. 

 

As the war for Ashimar wore on, the Troopers of the Rymr 1st found themselves sharing the limited supply drops the Imperium could make to that beleaguered world. As such, vehicles, painted light-years away on distant Forge Worlds, in Ashimar colors were a common sight on the front lines. However, the 1st did its best to distinguish their livery from that of their trusted Umgi allies. This Sentinel, for example, bears the clan colors of Clan Nornsson. 

IRL, the white field and red stripe pattern is inspired by those seen on 20th century British tanks. 

EDIT: And, done!

Edited January 28, 2021 by SvenIronhand

[SvenIronhand]

I've started work on the Ironbreakers, pending arrival of Hellgun bits. For those of you who haven't read my background doc, those are the "regimental" stormtroopers. These guys turned out less elaborate than I originally intended. In their current state, they're just a headswap using GS and Oathmark Dwarf heads. No carapace bits or anything like that. Anyhow, I plan to paint these guys' armor as a metallic silver. 

Edited January 28, 2021 by SvenIronhand

[Inso]

Looking good so far :) . Those Einherjar are pretty cool (I've bought some too) and will look great as a Squat army. My one bit of concern is the large size of some of the weapons... 

[SvenIronhand]

One of the most pivotal battles for the 1st on Ashimar was at Ourios Base, in the deserts of the planet. Think of this hilltop FOB as a Khe Sanh, or a Wanat of sorts. When the Hellguard encircled the position, it was hard, bloody fighting for the 1st and their allies from the Ashimar 22nd Infantry "Desert Hunters". Amongst the casualties of the battle was Lord Commissar Kragg, who had become beloved of the 1st.

Ourios Base

They both ran down the tarmac of Ourios Base, side by side, the orange sunset sky lit up by the perimeter spotlights. It had been five months on the top of this thrice-damned hill, five months of waking up to artillery barrages, and five months of constant battle. Tevildo had counted the days at the beginning of the siege, then stopped. He still remembered Alberich, screaming in agony, his legs drumming the ground as he died. Were they ever going to get off of this damned hill?

 

Such thoughts were dispelled when the four Valkyries came in hot over the horizon, two Navy Thunderbolt escorts each at their flanks. It was the third day in a row, wasn’t it? That meant resupply. Fresh power packs for his Hellpistol, food, all the bare necessities. He could live with just that, he thought to himself. He’d done it before on long-range recce patrols through Ashimar’s deserts. That was different, though - not just one place.

 

He wasn’t able to greet the resupply convoy, though. “Contact!” One of the Ashimar Nova Guard nearby, resting his Lasgun on the sandbag barricades lining the perimeter of Ourios, roared into the cold dusk air. Torsson rushed over, Kragg at his side. “Sappers, rushing up the hill!”

 

“Lay down suppressing fire, Hunter!” Lord Commissar Kragg, back to the sandbags, ordered the Guardsman. Doing as he was told, he opened up on the blue-and-pink dots down the hill. Turning his head to the left, Kragg barked and growled. “Where’s that damned Heavy Bolter? I’ll have Galen’s head for this! Get me some real firepower, people!”

 

That was when the enemy Basilisks lit up, right on schedule. The drumroll was deafening, even in his Omnishield Helm. No explosions came this time, though. White, thermally-opaque smoke filled the air in front of them, and Kragg cursed as the Guardsman ceased fire. “It’s an attack!” Torsson rose to his feet, making the obvious statement.

 

“Your orders, milord?” The Hunter was snappy, to the point. They were fierce fighters, Tevildo thought to himself. A real good outfit.

 

“Gather your men and circle around the back and sides.” Kragg ordered. “If they want to flank us, they’ll try to break through the side gates first. Torsson - “ He pointed to Tevildo, who stood at attention. “Get your Ironbreakers together. I want a quick reaction force ready, y’hear?”

 

“Understood.”

 

“Excellent.” Kragg clapped him on the back with a cold, metallic cybernetic hand. Tevildo winced a bit at the force of it. He was still getting used to the augmetic. “Chin up, Tevildo. We’ll leave this hill alive, yet.” That would be the last time he saw Kragg alive. The next time would be with the 22nd dragging his body back to the perimeter, desperately trying to revive the Lord Commissar. In the two months that followed before the Hellcats and Utanian Skystrikers relieved them, Torsson would be forced more and more into operational control. But he never quite felt like he filled Kragg's boots.

Here's my Ironbreaker Prime, Tevildo Torsson.



 

 

Looking good so far . Those Einherjar are pretty cool (I've bought some too) and will look great as a Squat army. My one bit of concern is the large size of some of the weapons... 

Thanks! They are great, yeah. As for the weapon sizes, the only one that really stuck out to me was the Plasma Gun. 

Edited January 29, 2021 by SvenIronhand

[Slave to Darkness]

Weird how WGA drops these badboys on us as I crave the glory days of 1st ed. Might grab a box and build an army just for playing Rogue Trader. 
Any thoughts about adding Exo Armour to your force? Or would that be hard considering your running them as Guard? 

[SvenIronhand]

Weird how WGA drops these badboys on us as I crave the glory days of 1st ed. Might grab a box and build an army just for playing Rogue Trader. 

Any thoughts about adding Exo Armour to your force? Or would that be hard considering your running them as Guard? 

I've considered running them as Bullgryns. Either by buying Mantic Forge Guard and putting those on 40s, or just converting the Paragon Warsuit.

Edited January 30, 2021 by SvenIronhand

[SvenIronhand]

"This dry dock is impenetrable. They wouldn't dare an attack." 

-Unidentified Traitor Admiral, minutes before the Ironbreakers of the Rymr 1st rammed the explosives-laden Ancestor's Fury into the star fort Atherstone Station, over Ashimar. Disgorging from Arvus Lighters, the Ironbreakers proceeded to breach the traitor-held star fort, clearing it of the enemy. 

 

Here we have the rank-and-file Ironbreakers, minus a plasma guy I did earlier as I had the bits on hand. 

Edited February 1, 2021 by SvenIronhand

[Slave to Darkness]

Not sure if your interested, but I did find these Exo Armour Eggbots. 

 

https://www.wereweevilminiatures.com/product-page/imperial-eggbot-set-5-figures

 

 

What Dwarf heads did you use, normal or the heavy armoured ones? Couldnt find any decent pictures of the sprues online. 

Edited February 19, 2021 by Slave to Darkness

[The Pounder]

Loving your beardy dudes! Will make for a very characterful and unique force!

[SvenIronhand]

I've kind of had this force on the back burner for a while now, mostly because other projects captured my attention. However, I recently am working on a command squad.

Here is the Regimental Standard Bearer.

[SvenIronhand]

The descending transport was a familiar type to Ivaldi Wootz. He had seen its form in the Rymr shipyards plenty of times as a younger man. Tanngrisnir-class, if he recalled correctly. An older type. Its slab-sided hexagonal form had many hard angles; the pragmatic nature of Squat ship design was an acquired taste. From its bottom, jutted two great landing struts. As the Tanngrisnir-class landed, a great hammer flanked by bolts of lightning was plainly seen, emblazoned on its upper right side alongside three Cs in Gothic numeration. 300 worlds. He knew what it meant. Warlord Wootz rubbed his hands together in mixed apprehension and anticipation. 

 

He knew one thing. It was a Squat transport, its owners clearly from the League of Thor. The Regiment had operated under the assumption that the old Stronghold alliances had been sundered, destroyed. The Squats of Rymr were adrift in the universe, and the ties that bound them were fool’s gold in this conception. One could only really rely on his or her Stronghold-mates. Yet, to their aid, came a Thor-ship. This complicated things; he was not sure how to proceed.

 

Grimly, in confusion, he watched as a landing ramp descended from the lower right side, the side facing him. What would come down, he wondered? Would it be friend or foe? Well, he could probably bank on it being a friend. Tanngrisnir-class transports were assault landers; they could easily vaporize a Regiment of Squats so densely packed. Magna-melta arrays lay inactive in their sponsons, ventral lascannons were silent.

 

Footfalls, the heavy steps of many hundreds of Squats, sounded out from the depths of the mighty transport ship. From within, their brethren came. A cacophony of sounds followed them. Hoots and hollers. Shouted oaths. A chant of “Ein, Zwei” was loudest amongst these, a marching cant. Each Warrior that descended wore the red, yellow, and green colors of the Stronghold Grindel. 

 

“Hup-hey! Hup-hey! Hup-hey!” A broad-bellied woman (how strange, he thought) at their head repeated in tune to the “Ein, Zwei” of her subordinates. Finally, once the entire host was off the ramp and assembled before the Regiment, she stopped. “Hail, O Squats of Rymr! The League of Thor sends reinforcements, for the sake of our people!”

 

It was a good day. For once, they were winning a clear victory.

Bought a new box of Einherjar. 

[SvenIronhand]

Some complete Squats, and a WIP one. If you look at the original color schemes and models for the Squat range, it is not uniform. This carried over to the lore describing the Brotherhoods - the mercenary-slash-professional military of the Strongholds. Credit to apologist for collecting quotes like this in this thread.

 

Helmets are issued as standard[...]some prefer to wear soft caps or no headgear at all[...] there are no strictly-enforced uniform rules and personal decoration of equipment is common. Personal motifs can be seen on most of the helmets in the picture and the squad leader [...] has had his head tattooed – a common practice among veteran Squats.

So, I chose to stick to this rule. There are some common elements, like the red Flak Armor and the choice of colors. But by and large, the Grindel Squats are not uniform - their colors are their own. Their wargear bears personal marks and Khazalid runes.

(Note: I made a lore mistake in assigning Grindel to the League of Thor; but let us presume that Leagues are not fixed entities. In the wake of the Great Calamity, old grudges are forgiven, and survival of the species has become an overriding priority. The Squats are, by and large, fighting against the odds and need all the unity they can get.)

[SvenIronhand]

3/4th of a Command Squad w/ Regimental Standard Bearer. Going to use the guy further up the thread as Color Sergeant Kell. Cadians seem like a good choice rn for Infantry Guard, and I'm not married to the Catachan S4. 

 

[SvenIronhand]

Taranis felt the Heavy Bolter buck and kick as he fired, sweeping its thunder across the sands. The heretics shot back when his shots hit home, its .75 caliber mass-reactive shells tearing apart their power armor. The Squat smiled toothily. “Go big or go home,” He murmured to himself, chortling emphatically at his own joke. “No mucking about with lasguns or grenade launchers. Just tear them in twain with a shot from this baby!”



Finally finished one of those HWTs from forever ago. Going to use this one attached to the Grenade Launcher Infantry Squad.

EDIT: Added some lightning-bolt freehand.

Edited January 19, 2022 by SvenIronhand

[SvenIronhand]

“Who dares, wins, fellas.” The young warrior told his departing fellows, as they stomped out of the firebase for another foot patrol. The phrase had entered the Ironbreakers’ common parlance, ever since they had seen it on a disused, rusty rearmament capsule buried in the swirling sands. He watched them go and turned to Prime Tevildo, shaking his head. “Did you see them?” Ubbas asked his superior incredulously. “Some of them had shaved. And that strange getup! The desert is the great changer, alright.”

[SvenIronhand]

“C1: Rymr Thunderers “Ironbreaker”, Tar-Namib Campaign

The grueling campaign for the Desert World of Tar-Namib led to a loosening of the once-rigid dress codes of the Ironbreaker regimental stormtroopers. This Ironbreaker has shaved and wears a cap comforter instead of his Squat-make helmet. He bears a Plasma Gun, a valuable relic whether it be Squat or Imperial in manufacture, into battle.

C2: Rymr Thunderers “Ironbreaker Alpha”, Tar-Namib Campaign

Many amongst the Ironbreakers adopted the native styles of dress. They also “requisitioned” supplies from the local Manufactorums on Tar-Namib to replenish their dwindling stocks of Hellguns with patterns made there. This squad leader wears a kefyah turban, as favored by the desert tribes.”
 

-Color Plates descriptions, Fighting Men Of He On Earth, Volume 10: Storm Troopers

[SvenIronhand]

Mortars are, in most cases, amongst the heaviest indirect-fire artillery the Rymr 1st can bring to bear. Their indirect fire capabilities are a far cry from the peak precision and range of the Mole Mortars once ubiquitously used by the Brotherhoods. But when it comes to putting appalling amounts of shrapnel in the air, the Squats will swear by no other. 

[WarriorFish]

Mortars may not be the best, but I've always enjoyed them :)