Celebrants Chapter Narrative Campaign - Freeblade Knight (Canis Rex) added!

[Lysimachus]

 

 

 

 

Security level: Amber
Ref: Astartes Assets in the Segmentum Tempestus
Datafile:156174.515/58.wtxn. "Jacinar Campaign"
From: Archivist-Scrivener Edmus Vunt
Dest: Office of the Lord Commander
CC: Adeptus Terra, Segmentum HQ, Bakka
Via astropathic duct: sigma.645.149/823.b
Local date: 180.231+JCM.m41
Crossref: 'Celebrants Chapter' (Ast.ref.163.ultra.8412)
Thought for the day: Service is its own reward.

My Lord Guilliman,

 

This is an after-action report relating to the pacification of the Jacinar Industrial Conglomerate. These six worlds in the Jacinar system (ref.k86t6b.Jacinar.572.sgm.tem) are key providers of raw materials for the An-Var Forge World, which in turn provides war materiel to Imperial forces across the Charal Drift Subsector. In 176.652+JCM.m41, for reasons at that point unknown, four of the worlds of Jacinar jointly declared their intent to secede from the Imperium. Within three months, before any Imperial response could be prepared, their forces conquered the two other inhabited planets in the system and installed Planetary Governors loyal to their heretical Conglomerate.

 

Naval assets from Battlefleet Tempestus were assigned, arriving in-system in 178.988+JCM.m41 and placing a blockade around the Jacinar system, as well as bringing in infantry and armoured regiments of the Astra Militarum from Charal, Volpone and Dag-Tiya, supported by An-Varii Adeptus Mechanicus specialists, with the intent of bringing the traitorous local government to heel. However, key to the loyalist effort was the arrival several months later of elements of the Celebrants Chapter Astartes. The presence of these warriors would shorten the campaign exponentially, returning the Jacinar system to Imperial rule within a year of their arrival. It is upon their heroic actions that this report will primarily focus…

 

 

Pict.capture.143a13t.179.451+JCM.m41.JacinarIV: tentatively identified as Squad Felix, 5th Intercessor Squad, 4th Company, Celebrants.

 

 

 

 

Edited November 29, 2023 by Lysimachus

[Mazer Rackham]

Beautifully executed colours and transfer work.

Edited February 8, 2023 by Mazer Rackham

[Daimyo-Phaeron Lenoch]

That blending of color from red to orange to yellow is ASTOUNDING, brother.

[Reskin]

Cool idea, but could do with some more depth, shading, and edge highlighting, to be honest, the buildings at the back drew my eye more.

[DaBoiKyknos]

I think Iĺl go with what @Reskin said. But I really like the colour scheme with the bases: Flames and ash, well done! 

[Doghouse]

Fantastic stuff, you've done a really good job of those and a Chapter I've not seen very often at all. Great work!

[mughi3]

On 2/10/2023 at 2:30 PM, Reskin said:

Cool idea, but could do with some more depth, shading, and edge highlighting, to be honest, the buildings at the back drew my eye more.

 

 

If he hit them with a wash it would do the trick. the airbrush transition work is fantastic. 

[Lysimachus]

Thanks very much, all!

 

To those who've mentioned shading/highlights:

 

They have had a wash of agrax+lahmian, but I didn't want to risk dirtying the brightness of the armour panels? Plus I think the pics have washed out the visual contrast slightly? On the next squad I'm going to try an agrax+contrast medium wash, which is supposed to do better at sinking into the recesses without tinting the flat bits. If it works, I'll probably go back and redo these guys with the same?

 

Highlights probably do need adding, but I didn't want to use pink to highlight the red (yuck), but also I worried that if I use orange as a highlight colour it will blend the tops back too much with the lower orange areas? Anyone know of other highlight colours I could use for red? I've heard of people using ochre, but I'm not 100%... any advice is most welcome!

 

@mughi: thanks, but no airbrush! (I wish!) Just painting armour by sections and then using 1:1 colour mixes +lahmian to blend them together! 

Edited February 17, 2023 by Lysimachus

[Firedrake Cordova]

I think you really need any wash to be a recess wash painted into the panel joints. Adding Contrast Medium to the GW Shade and/or dampening the area first, should help it pull towards the recesses. For some reason, I seem to think I remember seeing something about adding flow improver to washes for pin washes (I think it was in Rob Ferreira's "Airbrush and Weathering Techniques").

 

Obviously, there's also oil washes and enamel panel liners ...

 

Cult of Paint had a related video which might be of help:

 

On the subject of red, I'd normally say an ochre like XV88 

[Lysimachus]

Datafile:156174.515/58.wtxn. "Jacinar Campaign"

Entry 003.xr.65: One of the more… unexpected… parts of the Jacinar Campaign was the incursion of a large warband of 'Freeboota' Orks under the command of Evil Sunz Captain Badblitza Bludklaw. Though ostensibly hired by the beleaguered secessionist defence, in truth the xenos had simply been drawn to the fighting like lepidopterae to a flame.

 

During the war for Jacinar IV, the Celebrants were able to ensnare the Orks into attacking Refinery-127, which they had secretly prepared as a redoubt. As the xenos raced across the ash wastes towards this inviting target, the Astartes' trap was sprung.

 

Instrumental to the Celebrants' plan were the Hellblaster Marines of Squad Emilian. Their plasma incinerators easily destroyed the Orks ramshackle vehicles, and then with even greater ease obliterated swathes of their occupants that had been forced to advance on foot.

 

 

 

***

 

 

 

(I'm much happier with this squad, so thanks to everyone who made suggestions and pushed me to do better! The Agrax wash mixed with Contrast Medium did a better job of sinking into the recesses, and I did a light edge highlight of Tallarn Sand on the upper red areas, which helps too, I think? Also got the glow on the eyes to work a bit better this time. Finally, did a layer of Averland Sunset between the primer and yellow/orange, which meant a few less coats needed on those areas. Getting there, I think!)
 

Edited February 27, 2023 by Lysimachus

[Lysimachus]

Datafile:156174.515/58.wtxn. "Jacinar Campaign"

 

Entry 004.xr.78: During the battle for Jacinar IV's capital city, the presence of Astartes assets caused the Imperial advance to take place with a speed that shocked the secessionist. Along narrow, cramped streets, Celebrants units equipped for close combat - such as the Assault Intercessors of the 4th Company's 8th Squad under Veteran Sergeant Atticus - tore through defence emplacements and traitor bodies with equal ease. After the battle, Sgt Atticus was given commendation for the personal destruction of no less than five enemy pillboxes, tearing them apart with his deadly power fist.

 

 

 

 

***

 

And just for fun, an 'army' shot so far. I'm really happy with how they look as a larger group, hopefully vibrant and attention grabbing. Other bits to come in the not too distant future include Characters, an Impulsor for the Assault Intercessors, and some Infiltrators who will go very nicely with the Tyranid Hunter Phobos Lt. when the new box comes out!

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 12, 2023 by Lysimachus

[Lysimachus]

Datafile:156174.515/58.wtxn. "Jacinar Campaign"

 

Entry 005.xr.79: Though the Celebrants take great pride in their bold heraldry, they clearly also understand the tactical value of covert operations. Squads wearing Mk X Phobos armour or using other stealth equipment seem to adapt their bright Chapter colours into something more… discreet. Apparently, among the Celebrants brethren these units are colloquially known as the 'Dusk Company'.

 

While battle still raged on Jacinar IV, the Infiltrator Squad under Veteran Sgt. Valerian was inserted onto Jacinar III to begin intelligence gathering operations in preparation for the main Astartes advance. It was Valerian's unit that first uncovered evidence that provided a hint as to the real cause of the Jacinar Secession - the presence of the Dark Mechanicus…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edit: NB: I should say thanks @Brother Cambrius for the idea of doing the Celebrants covert troops in a 'dusk' theme - the Liber Heraldry Dept triumphs again! 

 

Edited August 23, 2023 by Lysimachus

[Lysimachus]

Datafile:156174.515/58.wtxn. "Jacinar Campaign"

 

Entry 005.xr.82: One of the most feared members of the Celebrants' command staff was their Master of Rites, Chaplain Petrus of the Fourth Company.

 

During the battle for Jacinar IV's capital, his monstrous presence and stern yet eloquent litanies convinced an entire platoon of enemy defenders to throw down their weapons and beg his mercy. Petrus accepted their surrender and their contrition… and then pronounced judgement for their crimes. The sentence was death, carried out by his own hand.

 

Among the loyal guardsmen of Dag-Tiya, fighting beside the Celebrants, Petrus came to be known as the Emperor's own Executioner, a skull-faced, black-clad avatar of Death himself.

 

 

 

 

[Lysimachus]

Datafile:156174.515/58.wtxn. "Jacinar Campaign"
 

 

Entry 006.xr.02: Pict-capture of Chaplain Petrus and Squad Emilian dismounting from Impulsor Transport 'Fireflash'.

 

***

 

 

First vehicle for this army! (I'm happy with how the red-yellow fade has worked on the larger scale, I think it will look great on the Stormhawk Interceptor I just got!)

 

[Firedrake Cordova]

The transition looks good on the tank  

[Naryn]

Gorgeous marines! Love that transition. Gives me Badab War vibes :)

[Lysimachus]

Datafile:156174.515/58.wtxn. "Jacinar Campaign"
 

 

Entry 007.xr.62: Acting-Captain Cadmus of the Celebrants 4th Company.

Lieutenant Cadmus took command after the death of the venerable Captain Hadrian, who fell in battle against a pair of renegade walkers during the subjugation of Jacinar III. (ref.t34fd/4553. 'war dog' dx.564.1. Knight House =][=Redacted=][=)

 

Cadmus, recently reunited with the 4th after commanding the successful cleansing of Konig's World, was tested and judged sufficient by both Petrus, Master of the Rites, and the mighty Sergeant Licinius of the First Company. Cadmus' promotion would later be officially ratified by the Celebrants Chapter Command after the successful completion of the Jacinar Campaign.

 

***

 

 

 

And a little extra pic to show off the detail on the sword blade, which I was pleased with the bright blue glow and lightning effect came out!

 

 

 

[Firedrake Cordova]

The blends on the armour really are quite lovely, and I like that you're creating background for them  

[Jagus Kumkani]

These are done really well, great job!

 

[Xenith]

One of those obscure, but amazing looking Chapters, you've done them justice, amazing work with the transitions, and great idea with the infiltrators on the other end of the spectrum also - blue to violet transition matches perfectly. 

Edited August 29, 2023 by Xenith

[Terminatorinhell]

These are absolute eye candy, the blends are ver nice. I've always wanted to see some of these done up. 

[Lysimachus]

Datafile:156174.515/58.wtxn. "Jacinar Campaign"
 

 

Entry 008.xr.04: Pict-capture of Squad Licinius, 3rd Squad: 'the Iron-willed', Celebrants First Company, inserted via teleportarium assault during the final pacification of Jacinar III.

 

 

 

Edited September 20, 2023 by Lysimachus

[Doghouse]

Big fan of these, great work! 

[firestorm40k]

Can't believe I've missed this until now - lovely colour scheme, great work on these! 

[Lysimachus]

Datafile:156174.515/58.wtxn. "Jacinar Campaign"

 

 
Entry 009.xr.55: Venerable Brother Diomed served with distinction in the 4th Company's Devastator squads, and as a support weapon wielder in the 1st Company's Sternguard, before returning to the 4th to act as the Sergeant of 10th Squad. He was critically wounded when Aeldari infiltrators overran his unit's position and was interred within one of the 4th's Dreadnought Sarcophagi shortly afterwards.

 

When Dark Mechanicus forces attempted to retake Jacinar III, Brother Diomed formed a key part of the Astartes defence, his vast experience of using heavy weaponry resulting in no less than three confirmed engine kills amongst the enemy.

 

***

 

Thanks very much for all the comments everyone, you are really keeping me motivated!