Watch Fortress Sentinel IX

[Smoke Frog]

Moving on to the second squad of eliminators, these marines are all from Dark Angels successors.

Starting up with Brother Dors of the Penitent Blades:

The Penitent Blades hail from a world composed of a myriad of floating landmasses suspended kilometers above acidic oceans. The science behind this phenomenon remains a mystery, however it has ensured the Penitent Blades have mastered the arts of aerial combat. Unlike other chapters of the Unforgiven, the Penitent Blades 2^nd Company has a total of four oversized squads who provide a strong corps of gunship pilots, rather than the more traditional two.

Marine Name: Brother Dors

Duty Position: Phobos Eliminator armed with bolt sniper rifle and camo cloak

Chapter Name: Penitent Blades

Successor of: Dark Angels (scant records can be attributed to prior to the Ultima Founding)

Homeworld: Unnamed world known to comprise of many floating continents

Pretty simple to paint this guy, as it wasn't worth making a transfer for three swords on his knee. Based on the chapter's lore I hope to make an Inceptor from this chapter at some point.

Brother Nadarte of the Guardians of the Covenant:

From their mountain-top, cloud piercing fortress-monastery, the Guardians of the Covenant follow an even more monastic regime than their fellow Asartes. The battle-brothers of the chapter devote as much time to intellectual study and the scholarly arts as they do training for battle. Indeed when assigned to service on the Long Watch, this has lead to a proclivity for seeking out lost or hidden knowledge amongst the datastacks and archiviums during missions, discovering many useful secrets for use by both the Watch Fortress and their own, unknown purposes.

Marine Name: Brother Nadarte

Duty Position: Phobos Eliminator armed with bolt sniper rifle and camo cloak

Chapter Name: Guardians of the Covenant

Successor of: Dark Angels (unknown founding)

Homeworld: cathedral fortress on Mortikah VII

Another simple chapter symbol to paint. Technically should be black on white but I think the dark green looks better. Also this chapter's lore really lends itself to a Deathwatch spectrus kill team.

Also I am happy I was able to give (most) of this batch of eliminators hoods, as befitting their Dark-Angels lineage.

Brother Vastor of the Angels of Absolution:

Among the histories of Watch Fortress Erioch is a curious tale regarding the master-crafted Astartes power sword cryptically named Redemption’s Lament. It was brought to the fortress in the wargear of Battle-Brother Raguel of the Angels of Absolution chapter. Histories tell that when Raguel returned to his chapter, he refused to bear his blade with him, saying that its fate no longer dwelt with his brethren. A passing footnote in the annals of the Deathwatch comments that Ragual’s Vigil concided with the Angels of Absolution ceasing to use the cryptic designation of “Unforgiven” for the members of their Chapter.

Marine Name: Brother Vastor

Duty Position: Phobos Eliminator armed with bolt sniper rifle and camo cloak

Chapter Name: Angels of Absolution

Successor of: Dark Angels (2^nd Founding)

Homeworld: Allhallow

Neat chapter, and I am glad the transfer worked.

If I was to do an army or kill team of Dark Angels successors, these would be my top choice only because I wouldn't want to do another black-armored army (Angels of Vengeance still my favorite of course).

Last up for this squad is Brother Batariel of the Angels of Vengeance:

In M39, the recruiting world of Grymm’s Landing fell into civil war after rebellion had been incited by operatives of the Night Lords and Alpha Legion. The Angels of Vengeance responded, fighting waves of renegades, cultists, and madmen. Despite the massive casualties, the marines suffered no traitor to live, and exterminated every living thing on the surface of the planet. On the surface of the present day Dead World remains a single monument amongst the ruins in the form of a towering, cowled Angel of Darkness, standing as a fitting reminder to any who would bring the wrath of the Unforgiven upon them.

Marine Name: Brother Batariel

Duty Position: Phobos Eliminator armed with bolt sniper rifle and camo cloak

Chapter Name: Angels of Vengeance

Successor of: Dark Angels (2^nd Founding)

Homeworld: Unknown, recruits from various feudal worlds such as Nachtwald

So happy the transfers for these guys was so tiny, it fit perfectly on the kneepad.

That rounds out all the eliminators I had finished up, glad they are complete! I am looking forward to painting up the phobos infiltrators as well, so I can have at least two spectrus kill teams stacked with snipers!

Here is the full second squad along with their previously-painted leader, Sergeant Tournuvial of the Disciples of Caliban:

Final photo for the day of all eleven eliminators I have painted up for the Deathwatch!

[Gamiel]

Really good as always.

 

Chapter Name: Blood Ravens

Successor of: Unknown, theories abound of traitor Thousand Sons gene-seed origins

If that text is supposed to be IU should the mention of Thousand Sons not be there, since the speculation that they are TS successors have not been mentioned IU only OoU. And the lack of anything similar to the flesh-change among the BR point to them being TS successors very unlikely.

[Smoke Frog]

Oh gotcha (took me a second to realize IU was in universe and OoU is out of universe. 

 

Most of the notes I have written from an out of universe perspective so I can tell the difference between the chapters, see the flavor and highlight some of the cool info on hand for the chapter. I would consider the lore blurbs (the italics) to be mostly from an in-universe perspective. 

 

I am still a big fan of the theory that the Blood Ravens are Thousand Sons successors; specifically an offshoot/successor of the Corvidae Cult who were the seers/precogs of the legion who would look into the future to determine the best path for the legion to take. 

[Gamiel]

It's a fun fan theory (even if I think a bit to many people seems to think it's established canon) but it have never (to my understanding) been mentioned IU. Personally I like the joke theory that Trazyn is the BR's primarch :P 

[Smoke Frog]

It's a fun fan theory (even if I think a bit to many people seems to think it's established canon) but it have never (to my understanding) been mentioned IU. Personally I like the joke theory that Trazyn is the BR's primarch

Hilarious, I had never heard of the Trazyn angle before!

~~~

Still working on my infiltrators, but here is my progress on my phobos captain and my second contemptor dreadnought.

Still not sure if I should make him a sashimono?

Second contemptor dreadnought is coming along, lots of highlighting to do next. Now that his close combat fist has arrived (took almost two months!) I can finally finish him!

[Gamiel]

On 1/20/2022 at 10:45 AM, Gamiel said:

Another possible kitbash suggestion: Cities of Sigmar's Dark Riders' shield have all a symbol that is simlar to the symbol of the Black Consuls, White Consuls, Raptors, Necropolis Hawks, Mentors, Solar Hawks, Emperor's Storm, Iron Hawks, and Liberators - maybe that's a way to make one of them stand out?

In similar vein so do the Dreadspears have shields with a symbol that is simlar to the symbol of the Silver Skulls (or any fanon chapter using the SS pauldron from the Deathwatch veterans kit).

[Smoke Frog]

It has been some time! I have a few more phobos marines complete, so will post them over the next few days. Hopefully I can figure out how the shiny new forum works for posting images!

Here are my three new Helix Adepts to add to the Deathwatch:

First up is Brother Gunthem of the Excoriators Chapter:

Upon conclusion of the Horus Heresy, the Imperial Fists set upon building numerous bastions, gauntlets, and cordons about the Eye of Terror to defend against the incursions of the Traitor Legions. Many of the marines charged with these missions were later honored for their stalwart defenses by becoming the nucleus of the new Excoriators chapter created during the Second Founding, and were likely one of the driving forces during the organization and consolidation of the Asartes Praesus. 

Marine Name: Brother Gunthem

Duty Position: Phobos Infiltrator armed with marksmen bolt carbine and helix gauntlet

Chapter Name: Excoriators (Asartes Praeses)

Successor of: Imperial Fists (believed 2^nd Founding)

Homeworld: Eschara in the Segmentum Obscurus

This Spectrus Kill Team is going to be made up of all members of the Asartes Praeses (the marines tasked with guarding the Eye of Terror). This one has a transfer I made myself, though it faded a bit during application. 

Fun fact, to “excoriate” means to denounce and berate severely, flay verbally. Also to strip off the skin from just using your words. Pretty intense, makes me wonder if this squad medic can heal his fellows just by yelling at them.

 

Second Helix Adept is Brother Paulos of the Storm Lords. 

"There is no greater glory than being the first warrior to spill the foe's blood." - Sergeant Vayren, Storm Lords 3rd Company

Marine Name: Brother Paulos

Duty Position: Phobos Infiltrator armed with marksmen bolt carbine and helix gauntlet

Chapter Name: Storm Lords

Successor of: White Scars (2^nd Founding)

Homeworld: Unknown

This guy is my favorite of the bunch. Named tangentially for my brother, because once upon a time my brother painted a space marine rhino with a half red/half white color scheme. Retroactively I discovered that the Storm Lords also had that color scheme!

I enjoyed converting up this guy, and love his pose and how he went together overall. Just need to learn how to paint smoother white armor!

 

Third Helix Adept marine is Brother Zuul of the Star Phantoms:

Many of the Star Phantoms earliest campaigns were waged against now-extinct xenos monstrosities. The Chapter frequently operated on their own and far from the support of other Imperial institutions. This situation is often cited as the main reason for the Chapter’s isolationist outlook, though others have advanced the notion that the cause is rooted in the Star Phantom’s shrouded genetic heritage…

Marine Name: Brother Zuul

Duty Position: Phobos Infiltrator armed with marksmen bolt carbine and helix gauntlet

Chapter Name: Star Phantoms

Successor of: suspected Dark Angels (23^rd “Sentinel” Founding) but vehemently denied by both the chapter and the Dark Angels themselves

Homeworld: Haakoneth (destroyed during Hrud invasion), believed to reside on Jahga or within chapter battle-fleet

While one of my spectrus teams is going to be all Astartes Praeses chapters, this one is going to be all Dark Angels (or alledged) successors. 

I like to think the old homeworld of the Star Phantoms looked a lot like the Harkonen homework from Dune. 

This marine was the hardest of the three to paint sadly, as I really messed up the face. It was supposed to be a female space marine head... but wound up being painted accidentally to look like a dude!

Here is what I mean. Next time I will take it more slow and ensure I don't cake the paint on as thick.

 

Parting shot with all three Deathwatch phobos helix adepts, along with my phobos apothecary painted some time ago from the Vultures chapter!

Edited July 2, 2022 by Smoke Frog
spacing was really off!

[Gamiel]

34 minutes ago, Smoke Frog said:

I like to think the old homeworld of the Star Phantoms looked a lot like the Harkonen homework from Dune. 

Haakoneth do look like a Finnish-ish name and Harkonnen comes from the Finnish name Härkönen so I can see the thread

[Smoke Frog]

Next three phobos marines are my communications specialists:

Because I enjoyed painting white armor for my helix adepts so much, I decided these specialists also needed a splash of color to break up their black deathwatch armor. Hence the orange right arms, which harken back to my Watch Fortress's connection to Forgeworld Ryza.

First of the bunch is Brother Sinod of the Crimson Scythes.

To the east of the Emperor’s realms lie damned worlds, a reach of cold stars and domains of death. The fires of war shall light these benighted planets, some ignited with faith, others devoured by darkness. Foes strike from within and without, all ignorant of the Dark Patterns waiting to arise and destroy until nothing remains but oblivion. Only those who stand watch in the depths of night may tip the balance. – Prognostication of Venerable Prophet Satarrion, 744.M33, concerning the Dark Pattern within the Jericho Reach

Marine Name: Brother Sinod

Duty Position: Phobos Infiltrator armed with marksmen bolt carbine and comms array

Chapter Name: Crimson Scythes (Astartes Praeses)

Successor of: Unknown

Homeworld: Unknown, presumed to be located in the Segmentum Obscurus near the Eye of Terror

So nothing is known about this Astartes Praeses chapter, to include the chapter symbol. As the spectrus kill team I am planning is centered around the Praeses, and I had a set of white scythe transfers, I figured I would bring this chapter to life as a member of the kill team.

I originally considered making the transfer look like this example though. 

Very happy with how this guy looked, I believe the antenna on his backpack was leftover from the vindicator kit. 

Second comms specialist is Brother Al Mawt of the Storm Falcons.

The Storm Falcons are descendants of the Ultramarines, and therefore follow the Codex Asartes to the letter. Any deviation from the holy writ is considered the first step on the road to heresy.

On their homeworld, the Storm Falcons are worshipped as gods by the native human population. They too share this belief, considering themselves and all other space marines to be gods, worshipping the Emperor as the “god of gods,” and the supreme lord of all creation. This belief system has caused problems with dealing with other organizations within the Imperium, from ranking members of the Imperial Guard to the Sorotitas, for the Falcons will brook no disrespect from whom they consider to be mere mortals.

Marine Name: Brother Al Mawt

Duty Position: Phobos Infiltrator armed with marksmen bolt carbine and comms array

Chapter Name: Storm Falcons

Successor of: Ultramarines

Homeworld: harsh desert world, identify unspecified

This chapter is the creation of Bolter and Chainsword member Mortarion and his glorious Egyptian-themed space marine chapter. The skin tone turned out much more peachy that I intended, but looking back at his blog is not too far off from the originals. Had fun painting the chapter symbol as well as the tiny yellow hieroglyphs on his kneepad.

Links to Mortarion's Storm Falcons threads for firstborn and primaris, super love how the chapter looks in all its hieroglyph-ed glory!

Third and final comms specialist I have named Sister Antiope of the Angels of Vigilance. 

The waning days of M41 saw the Angels of Vigilance spread thin fighting in many conflicts across the galaxy. It is known the Angels committed no less than six companies to the Third War of Armageddon to lend their support against the Beast, but as rumors of invasion grew within the Eye of Terror the chapter quickly pivoted and fully threw its strength into the defense of the Cadian sector and against the 13^th Black Crusade. No less than five companies were recorded as having fought against Abaddon the Despoiler’s forces on the surface of Cadia itself right until its destruction. It is unknown if these companies were able to evacuate before the destruction of the planet, however the Angels of Vigilance remain one of only four known Space Marine chapters to bear the distinction of fighting in both the Third War for Armageddon and the 13^th Black Crusade campaigns.

Marine Name: Sister Antiope

Duty Position: Phobos Infiltrator armed with marksmen bolt carbine and comms array

Chapter Name: Angels of Vigilance

Successor of: suspected Dark Angels (sources vary widely between 2^nd Founding and 25^th Founding)

Homeworld: Orbital dock above Pervigilium, just outside the Cadian Gate

Little-known Dark Angels successor with a cool symbol that makes me think Ancient Greek pottery. The chapter symbol for this marine is a custom transfer I printed out myself. 

Also Antiope is the name of an Amazon from Greek mythology. 

Originally this was the model that was supposed to have the female head but swapped it at the last minute with the marine who became Brother Zuul of the Star Phantoms instead. 

Apparently the name of their chapter fortress “pervigilium," means wakefulness and mild insomnia, and is also the name of a 2^nd-4^th century poem. 

Parting picture of all six phobos specialists!

 

[Smoke Frog]

One phobos incursor complete, the most heavily converted one:

I give my body, heart, and soul, to the Emperor. No plea for help shall find me wanting. No obstacle will stand before me. No evil will taint the lands bequeathed unto me. When the clarion call is sounded, I will ride out and fight in the name of Primarch and Emperor. That which is sacred, I shall preserve. That which is sublime, I will protect. That which threatens, I will destroy, for my holy wrath knows no bounds. Honour is all. Chivalry is all. Rejoice, for we, the Knights, will be your shield! – excerpt from the vows of the Knights Unyielding

Marine Name: Brother Bedovard Dragon-hewer

Duty Position: Phobos Incursor armed with occulus bolt carbine and paired combat blades

Chapter Name: Knight’s Unyielding (far-flung crusade of the Chevaliers de Imperator, stationed on the marches of the Eye of Terror)

Successor of: presumed Imperial Fists stock, by way of the Black Templars

Homeworld: Unknown, originally hail from Brettoncourt IV

When I was trying to figure out the twelfth marine chapter to use out of the Astartes Praeses the remaining chapters did not have any heraldry attributed to them. Crimson Scythes were an easy add thanks to the transfers I had on hand, but when I came across the name “Knights Unyielding” my mind was immediately thrown to the Bretonnian-inspired marines of Matt over on the Thousandth Son website.

Per the fluff, the Chevaliers de Imperator have their roots on the verdant feudal world of Brettoncourt IV. In my head canon the Knights Unyielding are a long-departed crusade of the Chevaliers, permanently stationed alongside the Eye of Terror on a mission of defense against some of the greatest enemies of the Imperium. Whether this means they are stationed on another Bretonnian look-alike feudal world (perhaps a tad twisted by the lurking presence of chaos, with its population constantly beset by beastmen-mutants) or constantly on the move in their crusade fleets I never decided, so unknown is good enough for now!

The Knights Unyielding have their details listed as “unknown” in all the fan sites, so their heraldry is open to interpretation. I am taking the angle that each battle-brother of the Knights Unyielding chapter wear their own personal heraldry into battle. After each battle-brother has proven themselves worthy in the chapter’s 10^th company they are given the opportunity to depict their emblazoned coat-of-arms on their power armor, whether this is a family heraldry or their own personal coat. Recurring symbols are lions, griffons, stags, as well as the grail and the fleur-de-lys, harkening back to their lineage as descendants of the Chevaliers.

Very happy with how this guy turned out, makes me wish Bretonnia was still around.

Long Live Bretonnia!

 

 

[Smoke Frog]

Next up is a phobos infiltrator sergeant, Sergeant Deimos of the Invaders chapter.

The Invaders are most skilled in the art of subjugating an entire world to the Emperor’s will, first crushing all major resistance using powerful orbital bombardment followed by massed aerial attacks from the Chapter’s fleet of Thunderhawks. Delighting in the carnage following massed aerial and orbital attack, the Invaders have proven their prowess again and again in rapid conquest of planetary governments.

The crowning achievement of the chapter was the destruction of Craftworld Idharae in 852.M41, now just a desolate hulk drifting in open space. Despite this victory the chapter suffered terrible vengeance at the hands of the raiders of Alaitoc, who destroyed the Invader’s homeworld of Ogrys 43 years later.

Though so reduced by the battles of the last century, it comes as a surprise that the Invaders still spare any Battle-Brothers to stand the Long Watch. Yet, despite the near extinction of the chapter at the hands of their enemies, the Invaders continue to fulfill their ancient compacts sworn at the Apocryphon Conclave of Orphite IV when the foundations of the Deathwatch were first laid down. It is noted many of oaths taken up by the Invaders Battle-brothers within the Watch relate to hunting down the Aeldari, regarding these duplicitous xenos with a special hatred. 

Marine Name: Sergeant Deimos

Duty Position: Phobos Infiltrator Sergeant armed with marksmen bolt carbine

Chapter Name: Invaders (5^th Company)

Successor of: Imperial Fists

Homeworld: formely Ogrys (destroyed), now fleet-based

Pretty straightforward conversion here for my infiltrator sergeant, I wanted some xenos weaponry and enjoyed both putting together his pose with reiver bits, and the suppressor helmet. 

I have a ton more infiltrators on my painting desk, to include these two (displayed here in WIP state):

[Smoke Frog]

Two more infiltrators from the White Minotaurs and Vorpal Swords chapters!

First is Sister Xenia of the White Minotaurs chapter.

Within the Imperium, crime can be so prevalent that entire worlds are given over to the dumping of humanity’s dregs. Inmates- or just plain unlucky inhabitants- scrape by on worlds that barely support indigenous life, let alone the tide of humanity marooned upon it. The penal world of Caphtor is one such planet.

Since its inception the labyrinthine world has been fertile recruiting grounds for the White Minotaurs chapter. From the human refuse of criminals, gangsters, zealots, and madmen the chaff is separated from potential recruits, made to fight grueling trials at the limits of human endurance. Those few truly exceptional individuals who survive are ultimately selected for transformation into superhuman, psychopathic killers dedicated to defending humanity in the Emperor’s name. 

Marine Name: Sister Xenia

Duty Position: Phobos Infiltrator armed with marksmen bolt carbine

Chapter Name: White Minotaurs, 10^th scout company infiltrator

Successor of: Unknown

Homeworld: Penal world of Caphtor

I had fun coming up with fluff for this chapter. Since the original minotaur was stuck in the labyrinth, hence my idea for a chapter drawn from a world-wide prison.  I figure they would share some similarities to the original Luna Wolves drawn from the ravaged gang-infested Cthonia. The name Capthor is an ancient and one of the earliest names for Crete, and happens to look a lot like “captor” further harkening back to the penal-chapter angle.

Naturally the look of this marine is inspired by the great Pale Longinus and his custom chapter of white-and-red armored marines. I really wanted to use the Void Hunters chapter symbol but had a hard time replicating the logo, so I switched gears while painting the model to a transfer I had on hand.

Next up is the veteran from the Vorpal Swords.

The Vorpal Swords were among the astartes chapters known as the Judged- no less than thirty chapters condemned by Saint Basillius the Elder to embark on a penitent crusade into the Eye of Terror. Chapter after Chapter fell to perils in the Eye, for the Abyssal Crusade, as it came to be known, had entered a hell from which very few emerge unchanged. Most of the tales of the chapters of the Judged ended in tragedy and sorrow. But this was not so with the Vorpal Swords.

Having purged more than 400 worlds within the Eye of Terror, the survivors of the Vorpal Swords and the Abyssal Crusade returned to imperial space in 112.M38. Without pausing to claim honors due for such a successful mission, Chapter Master Konvak Lann of the Vorpal Swords declared the now ancient Saint Basillius a false idol, and that adoration of him was tantamount to betrayal. In less than a standard year, every known sepulcher and shrine dedicated to the false saint was destroyed. Upon his summary execution, his bones, along with countless relics, books of doctrine, and thousands of living worshippers were placed on a derelict bulk-freighter and launched into a star.

Marine Name: Brother Venk

Duty Position: Phobos Infiltrator armed with marksmen bolt carbine

Chapter Name: Vorpal Swords

Successor of: Posited to be Imperial Fists successors (8^th Founding)

Homeworld: Originally Aurvad III prior to the Abyssal Crusade, earned right to new homeworld of Vryreus IV in M38 (Agramento Sector)

The fluff information for this chapter is based on the work of Thurservor, both on fleshing out the lore of the chapter but also including them in the brilliant campaign the Corvus Cluster

Many more infiltrators to go!

[Smoke Frog]

The Deathwatch forum has been quiet for some time!

 

I have been having fun painting a bunch of different stuff the past few months, most recently some Infinity models for Haqqislam. That being said I was inspired this weekend to finally finish off a few phobos-armored marines that have been sitting on my paint desk tray since July.

 

[Smoke Frog]

Four Dark Angels successors complete for my Spectrus kill team, starting with Sergeant Caspar of the Angels of Redemption:

 

 

Remember brothers, our mission is to hunt those who have betrayed our Father. Nothing shall prevent us from this task. Nothing shall dissuade us. We shall track them to every corner of the galaxy, search every planet, every city, every desert. Amongst the alien and the heretic they may hide, or they might hide within plain sight unknown to those around them. But thanks to us they will know they have no place they can truly hide.

 

– Admonition of the Angels of Redemption Master of Sanctity, speaking to members of the chapter inner circle.

 

 

Marine Name: Sergeant Caspar

Duty Position: Phobos Infiltrator Sergeant armed with marksmen bolt carbine

Chapter Name: Angels of Redemption

Successor of: Dark Angels (2nd Founding)

Homeworld: Unknown

 

 

Next, Brother Oramal of the Consecrators:

 

 

The Firewing was one of the six wings of the hexagrammaton that existed during the Great Crusade and the Horus Heresy. Its purpose is not currently known, having been completely lost to the mists of time. There are, however, intriguing heraldic links between the Firewing and the sigil of the Consecrators, a successor chapter of the Dark Angels. If the chapter is in fact the descendents of an ancient organization within the original legion, this could go a long way to explaining the large amount of older variants of power armor kept by the chapter, as well as their close resemblance to the Dark Angels legion before the Horus Heresy and the Second Founding.

 

 

Marine Name: Brother Oramal

Duty Position: Phobos Infiltrator armed with marksmen bolt carbine

Chapter Name: Consecrators

Successor of: Dark Angels

Homeworld: presumed fleet-based; chapter’s mobile fortress-monastery is their flagship, the ancient battle-barge Reliquaria

 

 

Third is Brother Asmago of the Blades of Vengeance.

 

 

We shall throw our full strength into the Crusade, liberating those deemed worthy and putting those beyond salvation to the sword. In this way the Traitors shall be forced out into the open, and when hunted down finally brought to justice.

 

–attributed to the Blades of Vengeance during the height of the M42 War of the Beasts, Planet of Vigilus, Dontoria Hivesprawl

 

 

Marine Name: Brother Asmago

Duty Position: Phobos Infiltrator armed with marksmen bolt carbine

Chapter Name: Blades of Vengeance

Successor of: Dark Angels (Ultima Founding)

Homeworld: Unknown

 

 

Fourth and final member of the squad, Brother Jeramine of the Angels Redeemed.

 

 

All ye who failed your oath

And whome your brother’s loath

All ye who failed to show!

And ye who did but could do more

Wil you follow the road to heresy

And be denied the Lion’s mercy?

Will you show by your action

That you tread the Path to Redemption?

 

 

Marine Name: Brother Jeramine

Duty Position: Phobos Infiltrator armed with marksmen bolt carbine

Chapter Name: Angels Redeemed

Successor of: Unknown according to official records

Homeworld: Unknown

 

 

All four together!

 

 

 

[Smoke Frog]

Had fun painting this guy, and I love his pose. Brother Batu of the Void Panthers:

 

 

Emperor… I have never prayed to you before. I have no tongue for it. No one, not even you, will remember if we were good men or bad. Why we fought, or why we died. All that matters is that we stood against many. That’s what’s important! Valor pleases you, Emperor… so grant me one request. Grant me revenge! And if you do not listen, then… to HELL with you!

 

–quote attributed to battle-brother Kronan of the Void Panthers

 

 

Marine Name: Brother Batu

Duty Position: Phobos Infiltrator armed with marksmen bolt carbine

Chapter Name: Void Panthers

Successor of: Unknown, possibly Space Wolves

Homeworld: Primordus

 

I really loved the purple used by the space wolf’s Void Panthers, so much so I decided to add one to the ranks of my deathwatch force. In truth the heraldry should be a red symbol on a black field, but I played around with it a bit because I was thinking purple would look better on Deathwatch black.

 

 

I enjoyed the fluff snippets we have gotten for the chapter so far, and I love the chain imagery the chapter is using too.

 

Edited October 24, 2022 by Smoke Frog
fixing text alignment

[Smoke Frog]

Here is my new Phobos Captain: Captain Otomo Kuniyoshi of the Jade Tigers.

 

 

Most veterans seconded to the Deathwatch will return to their parent chapter upon completion of their service obligation. This was not the case with Otomo Kuniyoshi of the Jade Tigers, who technically holds the title for longest-serving member stationed at fortress Sentinel IX outside of the dreadnought corps. Records place Otomo’s arrival at the Sentinel IX over 3000 standard Terran years ago, but thanks to a long-forgotten campaign against a time-warping xenos foe he was flung into the future, where he encountered the current state of the Imperium in the 41^st Millennium beset on all sides by xenos incursions

 

 

Solitary in nature, even to this day, Otomo’s first task as a Kill Marine upon his arrival in the present was on the distant world of Ak-Upsilon LXII. Otomo single-handedly overthrew the planets alien overlords by systematically hacking and slicing his way through their cybernetic horde of insectoid shock troops. His later assignments against the shape-shifting xenos species known as the “Lords of Sorrow” are also well documented in fortress records, as are his exploits against numerous other alien species.

 

Though he has rarely ever served as a member of a kill team, he has recently been tasked with leadership of the 3^rd Company in order to bring his vast experience in xenos-hunting to bear in the current campaigns being conducted by the watch fortress.

 

 

Marine Name: Watch Captain Otomo Kuniyoshi

Duty Position: Captain of Watch Company Tertius (3^rd Company), Watch Fortress Sentinel IX

Chapter Name: Jade Tigers

Successor of: Unknown, possibly White Scars or Ultramarines but this remains unconfirmed

Homeworld: Unknown

 

 

While I was originally thinking to make the backstory of my Black Templar Librarian be due to a time-displacement, I decided that storyline would work better for my space marine captain with a backstory inspired by Samurai Jack instead.

 

The Jade Tigers were created by Mark Donelson and won a Golden Daemon back in 2006, 2^nd place for a 40K squad. Really clean and crisp marines that have been in the back of my mind since I saw them while I was first really getting into the hobby.

 

 

Here are the latest six marines to add to the watch fortress!

 

 

 

[Gamiel]

Looking nice as usuall. How did you do Otomo Kuniyoshi top knot?

 

This is personal but I don't like the idea of the Angels Redeemed being DA successors since that would take away them as example you can point to of a non-DA chapter that uses a similar heraldry as DA (like the Red Wolves with the SW symbol and the Iron Fist have the IF symbol) to show that you don't need to be of the same gene-line to use a similar symbol.

 

 

[Smoke Frog]

On 10/26/2022 at 4:58 AM, Gamiel said:

Looking nice as usuall. How did you do Otomo Kuniyoshi top knot?

 

 

Thanks!

 

The top knot is just two tiny pieces of milliput. First one was a little ball squished roughly on the center of the back of his scalp, and the second one was a little cylinder glued on the back at a jaunty-samurai angle!

 

On 10/26/2022 at 4:58 AM, Gamiel said:

This is personal but I don't like the idea of the Angels Redeemed being DA successors since that would take away them as example you can point to of a non-DA chapter that uses a similar heraldry as DA (like the Red Wolves with the SW symbol and the Iron Fist have the IF symbol) to show that you don't need to be of the same gene-line to use a similar symbol.

 

 

That is a good point, I never considered the implications of that train of though. 

 

To be transparent my choice of Angels Redeemed spawned from my realization I already had one Dark Angel in my force (an aggressive member of the Deathwing), plus I wanted to break up the color of my (allegedly) all Dark-Angel-Successor spectrus kill team by adding some red for variation. Angels redeemed suited the bill thanks to me being able to use the same transfer I was already planning to use!

 

 

I do plan to make a squad of tartaros terminators in the (hopefully) near future, one of which will be a dark angel from the not-First company so I can use the standard dark-angels-green color the chapter normally sports. 

 

***

 

Some more pictures of my most recent Spectus Kill Teams finally assembled and painted up. 

 

Spectrus Kill Team Caspar

 

 

Top row: Angels of Redemption, Consecrators, Blades of Vengeance, Angels Redeemed, Star Phantoms, and the Angels of Vigilance.

Bottom row: Disciples of Caliban, Penitent Blades, Guardians of the Covenant, Angels of Absolution, and the Angels of Vengeance. 

 

 

I should have remembered to take a picture with my Angels of Vengeance Watchmaster Chorazin. 

 

My lore theory for this kill team of alleged-or-suspected Dark Angels successors is that they have been secretly assembled as the Watchmaster's personal hit-squad that doubles as a Fallen-seeking squad when they are not doing their public day-job of hunting xenos. 

 

And here is my second spectrus team, Kill Team Deimos:

 

 

Top row: Invaders chapter, White Minotaurs, Vorpal Swords, Void Panthers, Storm Lords, and the Storm Falcons

Bottom row: Raptors chapter, Space Wolves, Angels Encarmine, Koi chapter, Space Sharks, and the Emperor's Shadows. 

 

 

Glad these two kill teams are done, got one more spectrus kill team to do (infiltrators and incursors) along with a last batch of five eliminators with las-fusils. 

 

[Gamiel]

On 10/27/2022 at 8:28 PM, Smoke Frog said:

To be transparent my choice of Angels Redeemed spawned from my realization I already had one Dark Angel in my force (an aggressive member of the Deathwing), plus I wanted to break up the color of my (allegedly) all Dark-Angel-Successor spectrus kill team by adding some red for variation. Angels redeemed suited the bill thanks to me being able to use the same transfer I was already planning to use!

Do you know of the Demon Avengers from the old “Design a space marine” competition from WD#210 (1997) ? They seems to be using a red version of the DA symbol on yellow. 

 

The text in the scaned pages indicate that many of those chapters were given lore by the people creating them but the pages only show pictures, and I have not seen any of those chapters appearing among any of the pictures or lorepages of fan created chapters, so I'm working with the thesis that those chapters have been abounded by their creators, giving us who want free reins to creat our own lore if we want to use the name and colours. I have written a short point-writeup about the Demon Avengers (and the Pathfinders) in the Random Chapter Inspiration Thread.

 

[Gamiel]

Another possible kitbash suggestion: we know of at least three chapters with a serpent theme - Iron Snakes,  Blood Vipers, Rift Cobras, Vipers Penitent, Viper Legion and Howling Serpents, and two that has gone renegade ( Steel Cobras and Serpents of Light, the later now known as the Predator Legion),  but that could have some surviving loyalist members or was recreated during the Ultima founding - and the Seraphons have lots of snake based standards, bling and other bits, and that's something that could be used to personlise chapters with a snake theme. There also The Splintered Fang, and you don't need to be Alpha Legion to use the snakey Alpha Legion upgrade kits parts for your serpentine chapter. And the Black Ark Corsairs has some snake standard "heads" and transfers. 

Edited February 15, 2023 by Gamiel

[space wolf]

Just saw this a few days ago! Super honored that you picked my chapter. Looks super good!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Smoke Frog]

It has been some time since I visited these halls! Painting Infinity minis has kept me busy.

 

@Gamiel those classic space marine schemes are insane. I really liked the voodoo-inspired "Dark Circus" marines on the last page, really cool color scheme! Not something I have seen before.

 

@space wolf Thank you so much for checking that marine out! I really enjoyed painting him and the purple shoulder pad in general. And I had fun switching up the Conan the Barbarian quote for his lore blurb too 

 

I haven't worked on Deathwatch for some time, but in the past two days I decided to revisit my collection that has yet to be painted, and started working on my second Contemptor Dreadnought again. Last night I added some transfers!

 

 

He is going to be from the lost Lions Sable chapter, a Dark Angels chapter that was stricken from the record books. 

 

Those old Bretonnian transfers are coming in handy!

[Gamiel]

31 minutes ago, Smoke Frog said:

He is going to be from the lost Lions Sable chapter, a Dark Angels chapter that was stricken from the record books. 

I actually have an underworked chapter that is a later DA successor that was given the honour of carrying the lost chapter's name, funny that we both thought about using black lion on yellow as symbol. If you are interested can you read my thouhgts about them here: 

 

[Smoke Frog]

Those are some good ideas! I like that the lion heraldry you found from a real-world source has the same colors too! I also really like the Bulgarian influences, not something I have seen before either. 

 

I am planning to name this dreadnought "Harun Abbas"- two different words for Lion in Arabic (they also have other meanings too) as I was originally thinking to give the chapter a vaguely-Arabic or Mamluk feel, think Saladin in the era of the 3rd Crusade. But now that he is painted and nearly complete I am getting much more of a knightly-European vibe. My mind is going to Reconquista-era Spanish kingdoms with a heavy dosage of Islamic influences thrown in (because I really like the name I came up with for him!).

[Smoke Frog]

My second Contemptor Dreadnought is complete!

 

Ancient Harun Abbas of the Lions Sable chapter:

 

 

To his battle-brothers of the Deathwatch, the ancient Harun Abbas is a mystery. Clad in a midnight-black armored sarcophagus, the marine within the Contemptor Dreadnought rarely speaks when out of hibernation save to impart specific knowledge on xenos and campaign tactics.

 

 

No records exist of his deeds prior to secondment to the Deatchwatch, nor his first few centuries of service, nor his ultimate internment as an unliving warmachine. Some of the librarius of Sentinel IX posit that his records were deliberately expunged, as to erase all knowledge and ties to his true origins. In any case, the only remaining link to his past is the black lion emblazoned on his dreadnought armor; itself an unknown symbol of a chapter long lost to the history of the Imperium…  

 

 

Dreadnought Name: Revered Brother Harun Abbas

Duty Position: Ancient Contemptor Dreadnought

Chapter Name: Lions Sable (destroyed, records expunged)

Successor of: Dark Angels (2^nd Founding)

Homeworld: Nachtwald (repurposed/bequeathed to the Angels of Vengeance as a recruiting world, later to the Angels of Absolution)

 

 

The Lions Sable were a 2^nd Founding successor chapter of the Dark Angels who were annihilated during the Forgotten Wars, when the Dark Angels and many of their successors led a succession of disastrous campaigns into the Eye of Terror while pursuing Cypher. The truth of the chapter’s demise were covered up by the Dark Angels, and in the present day the only remaining accounts that survive are buried deep within the dungeons of the Rock, to be read only by trusted members of the Inner Circle.

 

While it is highly unlikely that a member of the Lions Sable would have survived into the 41^st Millennium, especially as a member of the Deathwatch, the idea of this chapter was so cool I had to include one.

 

 

I had so much fun making a new banner!

 

 

The necron is leftover bits from the same lychguard kit I have been using for most deathwatch/xenos/necron weapons throughout this army. 

 

 

He of course has a magnetized banner, as well as magnetized arms so I can swap out plenty of weapon loadouts with my previous dreadnought.

 

Assault cannon:

 

 

Double necron-weapons:

 

 

Double close combat weapons!!

 

 

And here he is with my previous dreadnought, Ancient Jorodin of the Inheritors chapter!