Scions of Colchis: Pre-Heresy Word Bearers

[Vredesbyrd]

And as ye go, preach, saying the Imperium of Man is at hand.

Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.'

 

Excerpt from 'On the Enlightenment of Man' by the Most Enlightened Lorgar, Urizen and Primarch of the XVII Legion of the Adeptus Astartes.

 

Playback initiated...

 

It is a time of legends and a veritable tempest is crossing the galaxy; it is not a tempest of energy but one of Enlightenment. The tempest is the Imperial Truth, and the Adeptus Astartes are its harbingers. These nigh-immortal warriors have been tasked by the Emperor with spreading His Word into the darkness, with reuniting those lost enclaves of humankind seperated by Old Night and to crush those that refuse.

 

Foremost amongst those spreading the Word is the XVII Legion, the Word Bearers.

 

Innumberable warriors form the XVII Legion, and so the Legion is split into several Chapters, each further subdivided into Grand Hosts, each of which contains roughly two thousand Marines. The Hosts are divided into Coteries, each numbering ten Warrior-Brothers and up to ten Oblates - those new to the Legion, or who have yet to attain the rank of Warrior-Brother.

 

This is a record of the 34th Grand Host, the Bearers of the True Word.

 

Each Host is a theocracy, led by a man of great fervour and belief, more commonly known as the Master of Sanctity. The 34th is no exception.

 

Master of Sanctity Sor Talgron, Master and Scion of the 34th

 

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd243/Vredesbyrd_Reed/Bearers%20of%20the%20True%20Word/MasterofSanctitySorTalgronScionofth.jpg

 

Although Sor Talgron is the spiritual leader of the Host, his duties at times preclude him from planning for battle, and directing the Warrior-Brothers in the field. This duty falls to his Coryphaus, the military leader and master tactician of the Host. Outside of battle the Coryphaus is the voice of the Host, leading the responses of the Host in the daily services as well as relaying the mood and feelings of the Host to his Master of Sanctity.

 

Kol Badar, Coryphaus of the 34th

 

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd243/Vredesbyrd_Reed/Bearers%20of%20the%20True%20Word/CaptainKolBadarCoryphausofthe34thGr.jpg

 

The Master of Sanctity is prepared for all eventualities, including his own death. Though far stronger than a normal man a Marine is not indestructible, and the Master of Sanctity knows this. To this end he trains and mentors a replacement, known as the First Acolyte of the Host. As well as being mentored by the Master of Sanctity the First Acolyte leads a coterie in battle and prayer.

 

First Acolyte Jarulek, Scholar-Brother of the 7th Coterie

 

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd243/Vredesbyrd_Reed/Bearers%20of%20the%20True%20Word/JarulekFirstAcolyteofthe34thGrandHo.jpg

 

Though each coteries consists of ten Warrior-Brothers there are times when serious injury or death will restrict the numbers a coterie may field. Normally the death of a Warrior-Brother will result in the elevation of an Oblate, but not necessarily so. Two Warrior-Brother's of the 7th coterie were seriously injured during a recent planet fall, and are currently recovering in the Apothecarion. As well as being led by First Apostle Jarulek, the 7th coterie is accompanied by a Flamer wielding Brother-Purgator, a Marine trained in the use of specialised weaponry.

 

The Glorious Seventh, the 7th Coterie of the 34th Grand Host

 

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd243/Vredesbyrd_Reed/Bearers%20of%20the%20True%20Word/7thCoterie34thGrandHost.jpg

 

Just as the 7th coterie is led by Jarulek, so the 17th is led by Scholar-Brother Khalaxis. Holding a rank above that of his brothers Khalaxis is equivalent to a Veteran Sergeant in the ranks of a more blinkered Legion, such as the Ultramarines.

 

Khalaxis, Scholar-Brother of the 17th Coterie

 

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd243/Vredesbyrd_Reed/Bearers%20of%20the%20True%20Word/KhalaxisChampionofthe17thCoterie34t.jpg

 

Again, like the 7th, the 17th is accompanied by a Brother-Purgator armed with a Flamer, a weapon instrumental in destroying the lies and heresies of the unenlightened.

 

The Hallowed Seventeenth, the 17th Coterie of the 34th Grand Host

 

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd243/Vredesbyrd_Reed/Bearers%20of%20the%20True%20Word/17thCoterie34thGrandHost.jpg

 

At times a coterie will be lost in its entirety. Such is a great loss for the Legion as a whole, and is deeply grieved. Occasionally though one or two Warrior-Brothers may survive and will subsequently be assigned to a newly formed coterie, usual gaining promotion en-route. Sabtec is one such man.

 

Sabtec, Scholar-Brother of the 13th Coterie

 

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd243/Vredesbyrd_Reed/Bearers%20of%20the%20True%20Word/SabtecChampionofthe13thCoterie34thG.jpg

 

Unlike some of the lesser, less enlightened Legions the Word Bearers feel that the best place for their novice Warrior-Brothers to experience battle is alongside the full Warrior-Brothers on the front line. Though some advocate keeping the future of the Legion in relative safety, or infiltrating behind enemy lines to prove their worth in the XVII Legion this is not so. The Word Bearers know that the novices, or Oblates as they are known within the Legion, can only truly learn alongside their betters and so the Oblates of the Legion are attached to individual Warrior-Brothers, who will assume responsibilty for training the Oblates, in matters both martial and spiritual. Thus is the knowledge of the elders passed down, and the traditions of the Legion preserved.

 

Novice Bartok, Oblate of the 17th Coterie

 

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd243/Vredesbyrd_Reed/Bearers%20of%20the%20True%20Word/NoviceBartokOblateofthe31stCoterie3.jpg

 

Each coterie maintains a substantial motor pool, consisting of APCs and aerial tranports as well as heavier battle tanks. The Predator is one of the most commonly seen tanks fielded by the XVII Legion, its arms and armour being perfectly suited to the fast paced warfare preferred by the Legion.

 

Predator Destructor 'Veritas' of the 34th Grand Host

 

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd243/Vredesbyrd_Reed/Bearers%20of%20the%20True%20Word/PredatorDestructorVeritas.jpg

 

On occassion a Warrior-Brother may fall in battle to wounds so grievous that he can no longer fight for the Legion, yet not dire enough to ensure his death. For those so afflicted there is, however, a solution - internment in one of the sarcophagi of Legion's Dreadnoughts. In this limbo the Warrior-Brother can continue to fight for his Legion and Lord. The Venerable Bede was a hugley respected Scholar-Brother who was interred following battle with Orks, in which Scholar-Brother Bede was bisected by an Ork Warboos but retained conciousness long enough to see the Urizen decapitate the beast. Those interred in the sarcophagi become living repositories of knowledge and tradition, and Venerable Bede is no exception.

 

The Venerable Bede, Scrivener-Archivist of the 34th

 

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd243/Vredesbyrd_Reed/Bearers%20of%20the%20True%20Word/TheVenerableBedeRemembrancerofthe34.jpg

 

As the tale of the 34th continues I shall continue to chronicle it. As a Dreadnought of the Legion it is my solemn duty and right to remember and archive our actions.

 

Vocal Signature Recognition Complete. Speaker identified as The Venerable Bede, Scrivener-Archivist of the 34th Coterie of the XVII Legion. M31.

 

Playback Terminates in 3...2...1...

 

And so it begins!

 

As you can see there are quite a few recycled models in here, and a couple of missing ones too. Two models from the Seventh were broken after being dropped and the 13th are waiting on heads from Maxmini. Bartok's hair is courtesy of VESPASIAN and I've nine further Oblates awaiting their heads, but as I've essays for Uni that will have to wait until the end of the week.

 

Other than five more Scouts, a Dreadnought and enough heads for the 13th the modelling part of this army is complete, and so for the first time this will be a plog, with some more modelling to come once I've got this 1,500pts finished.

 

I'm running the army using Codex: Black Templars, hence the amalgamated Marine and Scout Squads. The Coryphaus Kol Badar is to be my Emperor's Champion and Sor Talgron is simply a Master of Sanctity.

 

Alot of the names for the army mainly from the books 'Dark Apostle' and 'Dark Disciple' by Anthony Reynolds, along with a little from 'Battle For The Abyss', 'Thousand Sons' and 'Scions Of The Storm'. There's a little artistic licence in there too, but that's good for the Soul.

[Ani]

Awesome stuff you've got here! You have also inspired me to do something with an old, busted up classic Predator Destructor sitting in my bits box. Question, though - did you shave off the neck ring on the plastic mounting plate to fit the old metal attachment?

 

~Ani

[Vredesbyrd]

Thanks Ani, glad you like them! I did indeed remove the turret ring off of the plastic plate, it took a good hour of cutting, clipping, filing and swearing to get it off. Worth the effort though.

[Marshal Traben]

I have a question:

is Sor Talgron the Warmonger in the Word Bearers books?

[GI Joker]

Really great stuff. I gather you are using them as Black Templars? It is a good match. I am looking forward to seeing them painted.

[Vredesbyrd]

Khairon, he is insofar as can be gathered - he was the Pre-Heresy Captain of the 34th Company, and so it makes sense that he and the Warmonger are one and the same.

 

Thanks GI Joker, I thought the Templars codex was perfect for the Emperor's Finest Religious Nutjobs. :wacko:

[Vredesbyrd]

In an attempt to stop this log falling into complete obscurity I'm going to put up a small post with my next conversion in progress.

 

First up, a poor picture of things yet to come...

 

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd243/Vredesbyrd_Reed/Bearers%20of%20the%20True%20Word/BrotherSpens.jpg

 

This guy is destined to become a Las/Missile Dreadnought, as I've got the bits around I saw no point in going for a standard boxy Dreadnought when I could do something slightly more special.

[Vredesbyrd]

Now I has a question for you all. The more I look at Sor Talgron the more I dislike his helmet. Its too small, and unlike most of the other Maxmini heads, quite cartoony looking. This helmet is supposed to be the one worn by Marduk as Dark Apostle, and as such isn't really fitting as the helm of a great hero.

 

I want to replace it but don't know what to use. I know there's a skull helm in the Chaos Warrior box, but loads of people use that. The skull-like helm from the Chaos Marine box is tempting, as its alot more stylised than alot of other skull hulms, and so more artificery I think.

 

Any thoughts?

[Tyrannicide]

Taking these characters from the Word Bearers series and inserting them in what might've been their Pre-Heresy roles is simply awesome, Vredesbyrd! My favorite is Kol Badar. Maybe because he's also my favorite character in the novels. Either way, I'm looking forward to seeing what else you have planned, and the snippets of background information are an insightful addition.

[Rain]

Great conversions, overall feeling of piety well achieved. I'm sure they will go on to a long and proud history of service to the Emperor, what could go wrong?

[noodlenerd]

Now I has a question for you all. The more I look at Sor Talgron the more I dislike his helmet. Its too small, and unlike most of the other Maxmini heads, quite cartoony looking. This helmet is supposed to be the one worn by Marduk as Dark Apostle, and as such isn't really fitting as the helm of a great hero.

 

I want to replace it but don't know what to use. I know there's a skull helm in the Chaos Warrior box, but loads of people use that. The skull-like helm from the Chaos Marine box is tempting, as its alot more stylised than alot of other skull hulms, and so more artificery I think.

 

I'll have to disagree on the helmet size, I actually think it fits size-wise. However, I do agree that it doesn't really convey the feeling of him being a great hero. To be honest, I'd probably give him a bare head, adds more character.

[Marshal Traben]

Taking these characters from the Word Bearers series and inserting them in what might've been their Pre-Heresy roles is simply awesome, Vredesbyrd! My favorite is Kol Badar. Maybe because he's also my favorite character in the novels. Either way, I'm looking forward to seeing what else you have planned, and the snippets of background information are an insightful addition.

Some of the characters were in HH book Tales of Heresy short story Scions of the Storm.

[Vredesbyrd]

Taking these characters from the Word Bearers series and inserting them in what might've been their Pre-Heresy roles is simply awesome, Vredesbyrd! My favorite is Kol Badar. Maybe because he's also my favorite character in the novels. Either way, I'm looking forward to seeing what else you have planned, and the snippets of background information are an insightful addition.

Some of the characters were in HH book Tales of Heresy short story Scions of the Storm.

 

Indeed they were! I essentially took the names, the idea and ran with it as fast as my tubby little legs would carry me. :)

 

I'm thinking of using Lemartes' head for him, as suggested over on Warseer, as I'm now running Sor Talgron as a Marshal as opposed to a Chaplain Lemartes' helm comes with an in-built Iron Helm like piece, perfect as my Marshal has an Iron Helm. ;)

 

The thinking behind taking a Marshal is that the EC granted Preferred Enemy to everyone, essentially neutering the Chaplains main benefit, and the Marshal brings Ld10 to the table for everyone. He will still be armed with a Crozius-Mace though, something I'l elaborate further on when I get him painted up.

[Gresiloth]

Fantastic work and theme so far. The Word Bearers have always appealed to me in their piety and medieval aesthetics - if I wasn't sworn to Nurgle they would probably be the CSM force I'd collect. In fact, my current aim with my army is to capture the feel of the Word Bearers but devoted to Nurgle. Indeed, we've used a number of similar parts such as the flagellant and Dark Angels plastics.

 

I have to say I was highly amused by the thought of the Venerable Bede being incased in a dreadnaught! Maybe his CC weapon should be a quill? :P What are you studying out of interest? I'm a medievallist so anything that captures that era is cool in my book.

[Walter Payton]

Now I has a question for you all. The more I look at Sor Talgron the more I dislike his helmet. Its too small, and unlike most of the other Maxmini heads, quite cartoony looking. This helmet is supposed to be the one worn by Marduk as Dark Apostle, and as such isn't really fitting as the helm of a great hero.

 

I want to replace it but don't know what to use. I know there's a skull helm in the Chaos Warrior box, but loads of people use that. The skull-like helm from the Chaos Marine box is tempting, as its alot more stylised than alot of other skull hulms, and so more artificery I think.

 

Any thoughts?

 

In the Collected Visions book there is a picture of him with a bare head, and a crown of thorns. I would recommend using Marneus Calgar's (the old PA model), as it is the closest fit, or the devastator sergeant one.

 

If you want a helmet, how about Grimaldus's?

[Marshal Traben]

The name of the Word Bearers homeworld Colchis, was the name of an ancient kingdom in the eastern coast of the Black Sea.

[Brother Aiwass]

Hey Vredesbyrd, nice to see you here too ;)

 

As you know, great stuff. I wish you luck with your head-quest ;)

 

Otherwise, can't wait to see some models painted!

 

Aiwass.

 

EDIT: The next time I've go to Aberdeen I'm glad to take a heavy beer ;)

[Vredesbyrd]

Thanks Maxmimvs, currently though it seems your idea of Lemartes is my favourite, unless someone can suggested something better.

 

I remember someone over on The Great Crusade naming their Word Bearers after figures in Classical Hellenistic literature due to that reference to Colchis. If I had the imagination I'd do it too, but I'm lazy and stealing from the Black Library.

 

Brother-Captain Alecto, I'd thought about Grimaldus but he's a little too 'modern' looking for these guys, his helmet looks like customised Mk 7 based on the picture on the GW site. Other than my Scouts I'm trying to avoid bare heads in this army, as it makes little sense to me for a Marine to be decked out in top of the range armour, just to take his helmet off and expose himself like that.

 

Thanks Gresiloth, I must admit its been a constant struggle to keep this army loyal and not fall to the charms of Chaos. I'm currently studying for an MA in Divinity, and this term have been mainly studying the Mediaeval Catholic Church. Current thinking is to teach RME when I graduate, but I would love to specialise in Byzantium and Orthodox Christianity and lecture if I can afford to do all the stuff along the way to it.

[Brother Aiwass]

Hey, I almost forgot this! It is a very old mini that I made for my WHFB Chaos Army

 

http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/2873/skullj.jpg

 

This is (more or less xD) what I mean about the hooded skull (with more quality of course) and better with jaw :D

[Vredesbyrd]

I've decided to go the stylised skull helm route, using the Chaos Marine helmet previously mentioned, and in this picture pinched from the Bits and Kits webstore. I've ordered two of these helmets from Bits and Kits, because I know I'll fluff up the first attempt at removing that arrow...

 

http://www.bitsandkits.co.uk/bmz_cache/1/11df926de51b6bd60d661edb6361ecef.image.150x135.jpg

 

Also got some Power Fists, Bolt Pistol and Combat Weapon arms, Meltaguns and a few other things on order too.

 

I was going to spend this afternoon working on my Word Bearers, but I forgot that I'd lent a friend my clippers, which makes removing bits from sprues kinda difficult.

 

However, I do have another picture for you lucky lucky peeps. I've managed to get my hands on an old metal Land Speeder for the army, in fact its the main reason I shuffled the list round to fit one in the army... Anyway, its armed with a Multi-melta, but I'm not sure where to put it. I'm thinking of mounting it underslung under the nose of the craft, but then the gunner on the top of the Speeder won't have anything to do, and will have a gap in front of him. Any suggestions would be ace!

 

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3SgMN0fgins/S-COKHkTBgI/AAAAAAAAANY/CFj9j9u9H5w/s1600/Land%20Speeder.jpg

 

(Picture pinched from Saphos' Flickr.)

[Vredesbyrd]

Well then, I got the Land Speeder stripped down to its bare metal, though I forgot to strip the Multimelta, though the paint on that is very thin so its not too much of an issue.

 

I joined Heresy-Online the other day and I've been getting some really helpful feedback there on my army list. Partially because of that, but partially because I found it cheap on eBay, I bought myself another Land Speeder today.

 

Now this one is a Rogue Trader era one, so has an underslung Meltagun as opposed to a Multimelta, but I see no issues in running it as a Multimelta. I do have a bit of an issue though, the pilot and gunner are quite cleaerly in Mk VI helms, but my army is set before Lorgar got the slap across the wrists by the Emperor so Mk VI doesn't exist yet! The problem I have is that I don't really want to take a dremel to RT minis, and if I did I'd not know what to replace them with, what with RT minis being that little bit smaller.

 

Any suggestions would be ace, and the picture is shamelessly nicked from The Warhammer Trader on eBay, the store I bought it from.

 

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd243/Vredesbyrd_Reed/Bearers%20of%20the%20True%20Word/RTLandSpeeder.jpg

[ephrael]

Would the gunner body with the attack bike kit work? You could hack it to bits with a clear conscience.

[Vredesbyrd]

Thanks for the suggestion mikhail, I'd looked into that and it was a possibility. However, one of the regulars over on The Great Crusade? has got some crew spare from the Ravenwing version of the Landspeeder I posted previously so they'll most likely be getting mounted on the Couch O' Doom, and the Mk VI guys will go in the Ravenwing Speeder in a future army. :)

[shakey787]

hi mate nice to see it all coming along

its rob btw