7th Company, Graven Star Chapter - Torbenos' Bearers of the Word

[Torbenos]

 

 

 

And so I return to my 7th company after getting settled in at a new work place. I had a photo of this guy unpainted on the last page, only took me four months. I had a brief stint where I was looking at painting up my Gal Vobak, but there is a part of me that wants to resist and stick to my theme of regular troops. And so here we have a humble Despoiler, let us hope the first of many.

 

[Pearson73]

Looks cracking. Excited for more!

[Torbenos]

 

I am glad to report that the work on the despoiler squad continues at a rather good pace for now. As my traditional Saturday doings were canceled, I spent much of the evening putting together another nine legionnaires for the squad.

 

I continue to strive for the notion that every marine should have some little bit or bob that sets him apart from the others. The goal and hope is that it adds characters to the miniatures, while sometimes the identical lines of marines can add a sense of discipline and power to the Legions I am striving to represent the fervor and religious practices of the Word Bearers through their trophies and marks. Not that these would have been an uncommon thing to any legionary to my mind.

 

So far I am generally happy with the character I feel it has lended to my 7th company, although a friend did recently point out the truism of Invincible fame, if everyone’s super, nobody is. 

 

Inspired by this and admittedly a stint of practical sense I did decide that not every despoiler needed the special touch. The individual will still stand apart by their decals and markings, but the little bitz box I had brought with me to the painting club quickly began to run dry. 

 

I will also, of course, be needing two to four power weapons to go in the squad for the most violent and veteran of their little cohort. I’ve no particular mind as to what they should be beyond the fact I likely want them identical for ease. So I am all ears if anyone would like to suggest what their armaments ought to be.

Edited November 11, 2023 by Torbenos

[The Pounder]

I really like the idea of every man being a hero!

 

Your work so far (judging from this thread) is commendable. 
 

I believe I’ll take this approach into my Dark Angels thanks for the inspiration!

 

 

 

 

[LameBeard]

You don’t see Mk III despoilers that often - these guys are already special just by existing. Tactically, I think the writers have done a good job of balancing the various power weapons. So I say go with axes for the maximum change to the silhouette.

[Torbenos]

 

 

Pict recorded of Squad Ueš leading the assault of the Cykerian Defense Line held by the Carchian Marines.

[Torbenos]

 

Squad Illimu "The Heartsworn"
Despoiler Designation
7th Company Graven Star Chapter
XVIIth Legion "Word Bearers"

[Torbenos]

 

 

And so it continues! While in truth I should be making a sergeant for Squad Illimu as they are currently lacking, fancy took me in the direction of putting together a squad of Seekers this evening. As my force is Zone Mortalis focused (for the moment) it is the only Fast Attack option that is avaliable really, and I did have a little collection of old kraken bolters lying around. 

 

Due to their role of speed, saboutage and infiltration they are the only squad so far that has been awarded with the newer marks of armour. I'm also thinking to lay off much in the way of decoration, severed heads and so on to further enhance their more pratical and finessing role on the battlefield. I also had one of the Space Marine heroes lying around from a whimsical purchase last christmas I think it was, of the tactical marine with the missile launcher taking a knee. So he promptly became a seeker taking aim. I also threw in an augury scanner from an old tactical box to represent well, that.

 

In truth I would probably have liked them more to have nemesis bolters, but I lacked the patience to try and convert a number of them for the squad. Perhaps my opponents will be grascious enough to allow me to run them as that on the occasion.

[LameBeard]

Seekers don’t get relentless and you wouldn’t get the benefit of the range in Zone Mortalis, so I think you’ll be fine with the Kraken bolters.

Edited November 25, 2023 by LameBeard

[Pearson73]

Nice use of transfers and freehand on the Despoilers, adds a lot of character and visual interest. I think Kraken bolters work nicely for Seekers too. 

[Torbenos]

 

Squad Ussu "Achydom"
Seeker Designation
7th Company Graven Star Chapter
XVIIth Legion "Word Bearers"

 

Squad Ussu as pictured here stood apart from much of the 7th Company in their usage of the more modern Mark IV Maximus battle plate. Comprised of veteran legionnaries who had earned merit due to their marksmanship, they were designated as "Seekers" and specialized in infiltration and demolition tactics. In the Graven Star doctrine they would infiltrate enemy strongholds before the deploymeny of the main force, tasked to elimate key enemy officers and destroy vital infrasucture.

 

Squad Ussu is pictured here with modified Tigus-pattern Bolters capable of firing a myriad of specialized bolter munitions to deal with a variety of enagagements. Each legionnary has also been issued a Mark XIX Luficer-pattern meltabomb for demolition purposes. 

 

[Pearson73]

Squad Ussu look sharp, nice poses.

[Torbenos]

Me and a few other locals have decided to try and do a day of narrative gaming, and the work of the actual narrative and missions have largely fallen onto me. The intention is to start small and if it is enjoyable work our way up, and so initially it'll be a day of three missions of around 1.500 points each. It'll follow the fighting over a Forge World seized by traitor elements early in the war.

 

 

 

 

 

It will be this weekend, and hopefully a good time for all involved.

[Cactus]

That sounds awesome @Torbenos. We're all now expecting a write-up afterwards.

[Galron]

Wow, thats some really awesome work! I love the aged and subtle reds you used.

[Torbenos]

Mission I - Assault on Depo XXIV

 

 

 

As the loyalist elements prepare their assault upon the fortress of Cyklo V they have identified the enemy forces stationed at Armour Depo XXIV sixty kilometers to the west. To ensure that the armour stationed there does not move to reinforce the elements holding the city it has been determined as a target for destruction.

 

 

An Iron Hands element stand ready to defend the armour depo against the approaching Dark Angel assault.

 

 

 

The armour of the Dark Angels rumble towards their target.

 

 

Mission II - The Principal Prize

 

 

Having been made aware of the threat posed by the loyalist forces gathering in the orbit of Solvak the traitor forces currently holding the planet have moved to mobilize. As part of this they are looking to secure what scarce titans still remain. They now move to escort the Princep of one such god of war to his god engine, something the loyalists cannot allow to pass.

 

 

 

The Salamander attackers advance upon the Arvus Lighter, seeking to cut off the escape of the Princep.

 

 

Yet it was not enough as the Mechanicum escorted their prize to escape.

 

Mission III - Generator Assault.

 

 

The World Eaters rampage through the halls.

 

 

The dread terminators of the VIth and XVIIth Legion clash.

 

 

 

The event generally went well, with a few hiccups here and there. Only two games were played each rather than the three we had first imagined, but it is easy to be optimistic in regards to time. I myself with my 7th company played Mission III and Mission II, against the Space Wolves and the Dark Angels respectively. The latter being a bit of a walk over as the Armoured Spearhead shot me off the table on turn three without me having done anything other than shuffle around, but I sum that up to list skewing.

 

In general the defenders held line on Solvak, and the loyalists have not yet managed to guarantee victory in their inevitable assault upon the fortress city of Cyklo V.

 

The forces taking part were as follows.

 

Loyalist

Dark Angel Armoured Spearhead

Salamander Pride of the Legion

Space Wolves

 

Traitor

World Eaters

Word Bearers

Iron Hands + Mechanicum

[Torbenos]

Pictured: Magos Kato Cardin

 

I've also started to work on a praetor and command squad. So far I've but the single terminator done, and I am still considering if I need more extra bitz and bobs on them to set them apart from your regular terminator squads. On the other hand there is only so much space to use.

 

[Unknown Legionnaire]

Very lovely ! Which model did you use for the Magos ?

[Torbenos]

12 hours ago, Unknown Legionnaire said:

Very lovely ! Which model did you use for the Magos ?

 

I got him second hand so not 100% sure, but I think it is one if the Forge World titan tech-priests you get them you buy the big boys.

[Pearson73]

Command Terminator looks great with the icon and cloak.

[Unknown Legionnaire]

20 hours ago, Torbenos said:

 

I got him second hand so not 100% sure, but I think it is one if the Forge World titan tech-priests you get them you buy the big boys.

 

Ah, right. I think it's the Calleb Decima / Titan Tech Priest model, just without the machinator array / weapon.  I thought he looked familiar. 

[Torbenos]

 

I had another game against my more regular opponent of Space Wolves vs Word Bearers. This time we played one of the Apex missions (I think they are called) out of the Siege of Cthonia book. I secured a victory as my Word Bearers were able to hold back their charge, indeed I had killed every Space Wolf by the end of the final turn. A few highlights (on my end) was my Centurion killing a Contemptor in a single turn with his Tainted Maul. Double 6s, followed by my opponent's double 1s, followed by double 6s for my 2d3 damage.

 

Also at the very end when his Deathsworn destroyed my own Contemptor and it exploded instant killing his own Centurion after he rolled a 1 on the Armour Save. It just wasn't his day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Battle continues to rage in the orbit of Arexis Prime. The 7th Company lead by Centurion Ikton having been forced to retreat deeper into the depths of the Battle Cruiser "The Righteous Spear", taking up defensive position around Hangar VI. It did not take long for the dreadful howls of the barbarians to echo through the halls. A frenzied wave of grey ceramite emerging from the cramped halls only to crash against the flickering lightning claws of Squad Ueš.

 

 

 

Along the other flank Squad Illimu rushed to meet the charge of a approaching Breacher squad as they blasted their way through he sealed ceramite doors. The barbarian chief snarled a savage growl in challenge, something the brute would come to regret as he was struck down by a roaring chainsword before his power fist could be raised to strike, leading to a disordered retreat back the way they had come.

 

 

The relentless charge of the space wolves would not halt. The darkly armoured Deathsworn charged through the northern halls, making short work of any Word Bearers that dared stand against them. Urmah of the Annunake alone could hope to stand in their way, crushing a number of them in his powered grip before he too was laid low by their power axes. Yet he would not go without vengeance, the machine spirit of his blessed vessel detonating with such force that it slew the commander of the barbarians in its final moment.

 

The charge of the dogs was then spent, and the final remnants of the Deathsworn were undone by a hail of plasma and melta fire, leaving the halls empty and silent except for the remaining men of the 7th company. More Space Wolves were surely nearby, but they would not be able to halt the retreat of the Word Bearers. The night had been a blessed one, the blood of their enemies thick upon the ground.

 

 

 

 

 

[Torbenos]

 

Had another game against another Space Wolf player. The dogs continue to hound my noble seekers of the truth. This time a unit of Vargier slaughtered most of my army alone, the Grey Slayers never even got into melee.

 

 

The battlefield.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[WrathOfTheLion]

Sounds like a lot of fun! I know I've enjoyed playing Word Bearers a lot, both this edition and last.

[Pearson73]

Looks like great fun!