Wormwoods' Blood Angel Successor Project - The Sin Eaters

[Wormwoods]

THE SIN EATERS

 

Starting things off with my current (and Leviathan-supported) army project, a Blood Angels successor with a focus on pre-Sanguinius Legion practices. A full in-universe description of the chapter may follow, but for now the basics: An old BA successor from back when they still made those, that has chosen to combat the Red Thirst by delving into the auto-cannibalistic practices of the legion back before the reunification with their Primarch. They make a habit of eating their own dead, and where the Legion once used the eaten memories to quickly train-up new recruits, or let new officers more easily take the position of their fallen predecessors the Sin Eaters have spent the last ~10,000 years getting weird with it. 

 

'Gestalt consciousnesses made of generations of cannibalised space marines living on from body to body' weird with it. 

 

Did this actually control the Red Thirst? Not really! We'll cover the Black Rage when I start working on the Death Company. 

 

For the models themselves, my plan here is to convert or kitbash every model in the army, at least a little. I've chosen a pretty simple, basic-bitch colour scheme, and will be focusing on my freehanding when possible, something I avoided with my last army. 

 

Now! On to the models: My first squad, and the only one I was able to complete before an upcoming move that has seen all my Warhammer boxed up and in transit, is a 5-man Assault Intercessor squad, largely as a test. 

Better lighting conditions will, hopefully, be available at the new place.

 

The models are a mix of easy-build assault intercessors and normal intercessors, with heads from all over my bits-box, plus a few printed bits, mostly helmets and the odd shoulder. I'm aiming for a mix of Firstborn and Primaris marines, or at least armour. Given their taste for resurrection via devouring it's not uncommon for Sin Eaters to 'Cross the Rubicon' by being killed in combat, and being eaten by one of those factory-fresh, hypno-indoctrinated Primaris marines. 

 

I've been learning how to paint more diverse skintones for my GSC army, and will be continuing that here for those few models going helmetless. Not really evident here on the Sergeant, but a reminder to myself. Between that and the freehanding I'm hoping to come out of this with some new skills. 

 

Anyway, that's the start! Let me know what you think, and I'll post the only other finished model when I get some free time. 

 

 

[Torbenos]

It sounds like a compelling narrative, and I enjoy the heraldry on the marines. Scraping the eagle off the chestpiece does open up so much space for patterns and other more unique markings. I look forward to seeing more.

[Wormwoods]

6 hours ago, Torbenos said:

It sounds like a compelling narrative, and I enjoy the heraldry on the marines. Scraping the eagle off the chestpiece does open up so much space for patterns and other more unique markings. I look forward to seeing more.

 

Thanks! Yeah, the chest eagles are nice and all, but the free real estate they hide is hard to ignore. 

 

I'm hoping to do the same with the Leviathan terminators. Unsure if I'll continue to leave the eagle in place for squad leaders?

Edited July 5, 2023 by Wormwoods

[Wormwoods]

LIBRARIUM

The first character model I've finished for the Sin Eaters - going into 10th, it looks like I'll be making quite a few more - is the well-dressed chap above. Not yet named, but a successful enough kitbash. As you can likely tell, it's largely a Judiciar, with some standard Intercessor and Eliminator parts spliced in. The skull-totem is from the Black Templars Crusader Squad kit, which is a lot of fun. Great parts in that. 

 

Looking at it now, I think he needs a touch more detail and heraldry. That shield looks particularly basic compared to what I did with the Assault Intercessors. What do we thing, do I add some checkerboard details, or try a little sculpting to turn it into a proper horned Librarian symbol? I'll note that he pre-dates all about two of the first squad I put together.

 

Librarians are in an odd spot for the Sin Eaters. While experience, memory, and even identity can be devoured from fallen marines psychic power can not. Librarians are, unlike their fellows, largely blocked off from the 'immortality' the rest of the Chapter hopes for, forcing them to focus on more traditional forms of record keeping. When possible a freshly recruited neophyte is found to have enough psychic potential just as a senior Librarian dies, but this is rare enough to be worthy of note. 

 

I've included some WIP images here, too. A simple kitbash, though you can see an earlier attempt at a pose that ended up looking a bit too much like he was dabbing...

 

This is the last model I'll be able to show off for the project for at least a few weeks. I will, however, be working on either the Leviathan Terminators or Ballistus dread when I do come back. We'll see what fun I can have with those, and my bits box. 

Edited July 11, 2023 by Wormwoods
Spelling error.

[Firedrake Cordova]

Interesting idea and a nice colour scheme  

[Wormwoods]

1 hour ago, Firedrake Cordova said:

Interesting idea and a nice colour scheme  

Thank you! I'm looking forward to iterating on it a bit with the Leviathan models, see how it looks on elites.

[Wormwoods]

After much running about and losing of keys I've completed my move, and finished unpacking my hobby materials! I'm easing myself in with a Leviathan terminator, which will also serve as a test case for my planned 1st Company (The Immortals) paint scheme. 

 

Minimal adjustment being made to this first Leviathan model, the removal of the chest symbol to allow for more freehanding, and placement of a tilting shield. I intend to give all 1st Company marines a tilting shield, mostly because they've fun to paint! 

 

Yes, I do have more filing to do to remove the worst of that scoring, but for the life of me I can't find the appropriate tool. Gotta love moving. 

 

[Wormwoods]

The Sin Eaters First Company - Sometimes called 'The Immortals' - are made entirely of those 'brothers' who have assembled themselves through repeated resurrection, gestalt beings that persist through death and devourment. Each Immortal, when slain by the foe, is quickly retrieved so that they may be eaten by a fresh recruit. Where this would usually simply result in the neophyte gaining a portion of the skill and experience of the slain veteran, the psyche of an Immortal quickly subsumes and overpowers the mind of their new body, reborn in unmarred flesh. 

 

Death does not come without a cost, however. Not all of the Immortal will live on due to loss of materials and decay after death, but these gaps are easily filled with the remains of the neophyte's own consciousness. While the Immortal is dominant, the neophyte does live on, after a fashion, as part of the ongoing gestalt. Hardly the worst fate in a dark and terrible universe. 

 

Wow! Painting checkmarks is actually a lot of fun! As you can see, they'll need some cleaning up when I have all 5 models together, but I'm quite happy with the look so-far. These Leviathan terminators are a delight to paint, especially once you get rid of that pesky chest decoration. Lots of nice, flat surfaces for free-handing, and details that take a wash beautifully. 

 

I'll be weathering the models - and actually painting the bases - all together once the unit is complete, largely because I've run out of the 40mm industrial bases, and need to find some. So I may build that Dread while I wait for a chance to get more. 

 

As always, all commentary and input is appreciated.  

[ZeroWolf]

Those look superb!

[Naryn]

Love the concept of this army, and that librarian and those terminators are out of this world. Can't wait to see what you do next.

[Wormwoods]

9 hours ago, ZeroWolf said:

Those look superb!

 

7 hours ago, Naryn said:

Love the concept of this army, and that librarian and those terminators are out of this world. Can't wait to see what you do next.

 

Thank you both! I'm quite happy with the terminators, though I do think I'll touch-up the Librarian soon, he's missing some detail I've since been adding to units. 

 

Next up: More terminators and a dread! 

[Wormwoods]

Two more mostly finished terminators. Once again, minimal conversion work, I've just removed the eagles to make room for more checkerboards, and done some VERY minor pose adjustment. I did, also, find my good drybrush, so the grey is a little cleaner on these two, which is nice. 

 

Looking now, I need to fix the left eye on the unhelmed Terminator, I may also add another colour to his tilting shield, the orange isn't popping enough on its own. 

 

Only the Squad Leader remains, and he's had some extra work done. Best part of 10th ed: Power weapons are a single thing now, so I can give him an axe without needing to worry about WYSIWYG! 

[Firedrake Cordova]

They look great! They're definitely giving off an old-school vibe with the checker-board pattern  

 

48 minutes ago, Wormwoods said:

I may also add another colour to his tilting shield, the orange isn't popping enough on its own

I think the problem is its a reddy-orange shield that's in front of a reddy-orange torso? Maybe an edge highlight would bring the edge out? Or inverting the colours on that half so it's a red blood drop on a white background?

[sitnam]

Really cool work! That checkerboard is awesome, and I love a BA color scheme that's not just red or black.

 

The chapter symbol does.remind me of the Canadian flag

[Wormwoods]

7 hours ago, Firedrake Cordova said:

I think the problem is its a reddy-orange shield that's in front of a reddy-orange torso? Maybe an edge highlight would bring the edge out? Or inverting the colours on that half so it's a red blood drop on a white background?

 

I think I'll swap the orange for the yellow I've used on the first two shields, that seems to have popped better. I'm trying to avoid having white against checkmarks...For some reason, unsure, but that feels like it would look a little off? This is a purely vibes based system.

[space wolf]

Really like the paint detail you're putting into these guys. Gives them a lot of character.

[Wormwoods]

And with that, the Terminator squad as table-ready. As you can see, he needs to tidying and fixing, and a proper base, but I'm quite happy with how he looks. 

 

As stated above, big fan of 10th going easy on power weapons. The axe is from the Sword Brethren kit, just a simple snip-and-trade. 

 

I've begun work on the dread, too. Here's a little taste.

 

[Wormwoods]

The Dread is coming together, with only a minimal amount of gnashing of teeth at it being an easy-build that made my usual 'as many sub-assemblies as possible' strategy misfire a bit. Seen here is the model with full basecoating and block colours before the agrax wash, with details and highlighting to follow. Yes, I do the checkerboard before the detailing, no I don't know why.

 

 

The little shields will be getting a black bar through them, marking the deaths of previous pilots. The main shield up on the front is from DEEP in the bits box, either from Fantasy Empire or Vampire Counts, can't remember. Good size for a Dread-scale tilting shield, I may have to find some without the skellington for the next one I build. 

[Wormwoods]

DREADNOUGHTS OF THE SIN EATERS

Fallen Ennius, attached to the 3rd Company - Ballistus Configuration

The Sin Eater obsession with immortality, or the continuation of being through death reaches an unusual dead-end amongst their cadre of dreadnought-interred marines. The process of connecting a fallen brother to a sarcophagus - and of living for possible centuries within one - renders their memories difficult, or even impossible to digest. While such a marine may live on in this state for many centuries, they are unable to be reborn as their brothers do. Only the strategic necessity of Dreadnought platforms allows their use by a chapter otherwise deeply disquieted by the prospect, and those who find themselves locked away are pitied and exulted in equal measure. 

 

Well! That was a fun one, I really enjoyed painting this up. Not my first dread, but easily my best. I'm finding the Sin Eaters scheme incredibly fun to paint, certainly more engaging than the more subdued, tactical look of my last marine project. These are my best checkmarks yet, largely because I had a lot of room to work! The kitbashing is minor, but I think it worked well enough. The shield is a fun little addition, and I think the extra seals work to pepper some spot colours around. 

 

I continue to work on my freehanding, which is coming along. 'Mors Certa' being Latin for 'Death is Certain' seemed appropriate, and was helpfully short enough to allow for chunky lettering. The crossed-out shields are the personal heraldry of previous pilots of the dread, having either lapsed into an eternal sleep between missions, or been cored without fully obliterating the walker itself. 

 

Next up: Probably some non-elite units! I'm considering turning some of those fire marines into regular intercessors, just so I have some cheap, shooty backline. Some may well stay fire marines, but we'll see. I haven't really looked at the sprue yet, so I may not be willing to waste my time adjusting them. More to come soon!

[ZeroWolf]

Fantastic work, love the detailing you've done. The colours go well together 

[Wormwoods]

INTERCESSOR SQUAD ADRA - SIN EATERS 3RD COMPANY

Prime Fireteam of Squad Adra - Sergeant, Grenadier, Sharpshooter, and Battle Brothers.

 

Despite their eccentricities in recruitment and ritual, the Sin Eaters follow the Codex Astartes to acceptable parameters, at least to a level common to Blood Angel Successors. After the infusion of Primaris Space Marines and adjustment of the codex each Company formed a number of Intercessor squads formed of newly complete Battle Brothers, and those 'veterans' still early in a new life, and not in possession of their full skills and facilities. It is not unheard-of for a skilled 'youngster' to lead a squad that includes a number of quasi-immortals, multi-century old marines recently fallen and devoured to preserve their essence in new bodies, but in most cases a lesser, or even full Immortal will lead most such squads into battle. 

 

Battle Brother Jex & Brother Sharpshooter Tulla.

Elements of older armor-marks are common among the Sin Eaters, as many older marines find solace in familiar equipment from their previous lives. Helmets, shoulders, and plastrons are commonly replaced, with other elements of the MKX plate that makes up most of their equipment modified to allow integration. 

 

Brother Grenadier Marius & Battle Brother Henrik 

Armaments more closely follow the current teachings of the Codex, the various marks of Bolt Rifle having largely replaced the traditional Boltgun. Sin Eater Intercessor squads often mix Bolt Rifle configurations to ensure the squad is able to respond to diverse threats, and to allow Battle Brothers to learn - or re-learn - more specialised modes of combat before being inducted into specialist squads. 

 

Brother Sergeant Lethan, His Third Rebirth

Marked out both by his golden helm, and personal heraldry, Squad Adra is led by one of the lesser Immortals, an Astartes that has been reborn through the eating of his fresh after death into a new body, though due to age and the amount of memory lost during this process, has yet to be considered a full member of the Immortals, and inducted into the First Company. 

 

Sorry for the wait on this one, I wanted to get the first 5 done before posting! Good lord did these 5 come out looking better than their Assault Intercessor friends. Painting up those Terminators really cemented the Heraldry of the Sin Eaters for me. Additional apologies for the image quality, some of those photographs just did not work, did they? Oh well. I'll be taking better shots in less severe lighting once they have bases, which is the next big step! 

 

Models are a mix of Leviathan Fire Marines I cut up, leftover Intercessor bits, a printed helmet and a few shoulders, and the remains of my bits box.

 

Can you tell I like not needing to give every marine in a squad the same Bolt Rifle?

[Firedrake Cordova]

Very nice - I do like that you're adding background  

[Wormwoods]

1 hour ago, Firedrake Cordova said:

Very nice - I do like that you're adding background  

Not much point otherwise, right? All the models, painting, playing battles, it's in support of telling a little story. 

[Wormwoods]

CHAPLAIN VRADEKAR - SIN EATERS 3RD COMPANY

Vradekar, His Sixth Rebirth

The Sin Eaters have an unusual relationship to the twin curses of their gene-line. While the Red Thirst has been largely mitigated by their indulgence in ritualized, and hunger-sating post-battle eating of the dead their management of the Black Rage is less successful. Unlike most among the Sons of Sanguinius the Sin Eaters are not beset by memories of the death of their Primarch, but by their own ends, violent deaths trapped within their psyches with each fallen brother eaten, each death avoided through rebirth. The Death Company of the Sin Eaters, called more often Those Lost do not scream for Horus, but for their own personal killers, most many centuries dead themselves. 

 

 

Note the darkened plate, and lack of the off-white present in the heraldry of the Sin Eaters.

Chaplains of the Sin Eaters guide their brothers both before and after the fall to the Rage, keeping a close eye on those they deem to have been reborn poorly, or who focus too deeply on their deaths. It is the role of a Chaplain to keep such Astartes focused on the present, on their duties to the chapter rather than personal quests of vengeance, viable or otherwise. To the fallen, they offer guidance in their last battles, and the final say on when a marine is ready to don the darkened plate, for the Sin Eaters fall slowly, over decades. rather than all at once in the hours before a battle. A Sin Eater fallen to the Rage may remain a viable soldier for many battles, though their heedless fury makes this unlikely. 

 

Chaplain replace their personal heraldry, allowing themselves to be subsumed within their station in the chapter, even as Immortals.

 

I know, I know, using a Reiver head for a Chaplain conversion is easy-mode, but I have plans for something more involved for a Terminator Chaplain. I'm otherwise quite happy with this one, especially the backpack. Skulls for everyone! 

 

This is also a test for the eventual look of my Death Company, minus some ornamentation, though I've decided to save them for when the BA Codex arrives. No point building them a certain way when we're close to a book that will inevitably mess with those options. I have more than enough marines to paint until then anyway. 

[Terminatorinhell]

The chaplain is awesome. I like the little patterns overall too.