Lord Commander Eidolon

Corvidaen Journal – Fragment on the Choice at Completion Tutelary incursion: moderate–high. Harmonics aligned. Interpretive pressure increasing. (Designation: Aaetpio — attentive, patient, unsettlingly hopeful.) The work upon both engines nears its conclusion. The Fellblade Khatek stands completed in the radiant hue of Tizcan Ruby. Layer upon layer of crimson has been laid by venerable artisans—each coat sanctified by erudite tech-rites, then refined again through precise Prosperine numerology. Fifteenfold, as it must be. The red holds true. It does not fade. It does not rebel. Ancient sigils of power now adorn the mighty hull. The Serpentine Sun blazes across its flank like a beacon of illumination, unambiguous in intent, declaring the Legion’s purpose to any who still possess the wit to read it. —a signal cast into darkness— —who will answer?— The weapons remain untouched by artifice. Their barrels are scorched, their housings worn, their mechanisms oiled and scarred by the memory of a thousand battles. I have allowed this. Such marks are not flaws, but testimony. War remembers its servants, and Khatek wears that memory with pride. Only the final rites remain now: the lenses and sensorium arrays, the last measures of weathering, the reassembly of the tracks that will carry this engine back into history. Karakh, too, stands almost complete. Its sacred ruby lies partially shrouded beneath blackened ash, as befits its Fellowship designation. Where Khatek proclaims, Karakh endures. Soon, both relics of war will stride forth once more—crimson giants reborn. And yet… What of my brothers? —you build monuments— —but monuments do not bleed— The labours of the forge have been unrelenting. They have stolen my hours, consumed my focus, demanded sacrifices I did not fully account for when Magnus first decreed this work. I will deliver what my Primarch commanded—of that there is no doubt. But unease gnaws at me still. A Legion restored in metal alone is a hollow triumph. Flesh must return. Will must return. Brotherhood must return. And here—unexpected, unbidden—a boon revealed itself. Two Osiræan brethren, newly arrived, clad in the fabled Saturnine plate. Relics of a deeper past, walking once more into the present. Their restoration will be slow, exacting, demanding everything I have learned in these months of reclamation. But the Legion grows. —see?— —metal ends— —flesh continues— This is the moment I did not foresee, and yet recognise all the same. The engines stand ready. The forges fall quiet. And the path divides. I must choose where the next labour falls— whether I continue to perfect what already stands complete, or turn my hands once more to the broken, the waiting, the reclaimable. —choice is the last luxury— —use it while it is still yours— Perhaps this is what the skein has been drawing me toward all along. Not completion, but decision. If salvation is possible, it will not be forged from adamantium alone. — Ahzek Ahriman Chief Librarian of the XV Legion Standing between iron and blood, and unwilling to abandon either ++ Completion reveals not an ending, but the shape of the next choice. ++ The Last 20% (or: Death by a Thousand Little Fixes) Work has continued… and as is usually the way, about 80% of the job came together fairly quickly — then the remaining 20% decided to consume all the time. There’s been a fair bit of back and forth: reapplying varnish, dealing with some red leeching through the white, adding oils, removing oils, more chipping, masking things off, reapplying base coats that got peeled away… you know, the usual joys. Add oils. Remove oils again. And somehow I still haven’t even started the streaking yet. The good news is that the metals are largely done now. I’ll just add a few light glazes to push a subtle green hue, maybe a touch of verdigris on the copper elements, and then bring everything together with final highlights. The barrels have also had some heat distortion added — very understated, but I’m really pleased with how they’ve come out. I also had a lot of fun working on the viewports using multiple thin glazes… right up until I realised one of the Land Raider’s windows had a damaged lens. That led to some delicate surgery, followed by a frantic rummage through the bits box to find something suitable to patch it up. Thankfully, it worked out in the end and I’m pretty happy with the result. Next up is fitting the tracks and finishing the weapons, which has involved an unreasonable amount of indecision. The laser destroyer sponsons went through several identities: all white, then white with metal muzzles, then back to white housings again. Naturally, this meant the hull bolters also needed to be white — which would have been much easier if they weren’t already glued in place. Live and learn. Despite all that, the end is finally in sight for both tanks. The trick now is resisting the urge to rush and undo all the careful work by being sloppy right at the finish line. On a brighter note, the Saturnine models have been a very pleasant surprise — I’m really happy with how they’re shaping up. At least I’ll have some infantry finished soon… anything to avoid going back to the tactical marines, right? More soon — hopefully with streaking, final assembly, and at least one model that can be called “done” without qualifiers.

Now that Raptor head certainly takes me back! It actually looks really good on the modern kit! I do enjoy a bit of retro! Shall have to find something similar in my bits box!

Thank you! And yes — it really has been a lot of red layers. Definitely not helped by the back-and-forth or the occasional masking tape betrayal along the way… but it’s getting there at last. A lot of the finer scratches and surface wear sadly don’t show up particularly well on camera, which is always a bit frustrating, but they’re very much there in person. I’ll keep pushing the subtle weathering regardless — it’s absolutely worth it once you see the model with your own eyes. I’ve mostly been focusing on the Fellblade recently, but the Land Raider is actually at pretty much the same stage now. I’ll need to get some photos of it when I get the chance. I’ve just finished the base coats on all the tracks as well, so tangible progress is happening, even if it feels slow at times. Of course, once the tanks are under control, I’ll still need to turn my attention back to the infantry… Thank you, I’m sure you have picked up the earlier entries really do chart all the issues I’ve had with this red over the years. It feels great to finally have it nailed down. In fairness, once you commit to the process, the paint being so thin does help — it dries quickly, and there’s always the trusty hair dryer to keep things moving. The old adage really holds true: get the base coat right and most of the work is already done. Given that red makes up about 90% of these models, it’s definitely worth investing the time. Painful at moments, but completely justified when it all comes together. More soon — hopefully with fewer tape mishaps and steadily fewer excuses to avoid the infantry.

Corvidaen Journal – Fragment on the Looming Fulfilment Tutelary incursion: moderate. Harmonics stabilising. Whisper-density elevated but coherent. Work upon the Fellblade continues apace—for the deadline draws near, and with it the tightening of unseen threads. The Prosperine Ruby is all but complete, now adorned with sacred markings: gold-edged lines traced with esoteric runes, the Serpentine Sun set in its proper aspect, and the hallowed Legion numerals aligned precisely with the layered strata of crimson beneath. Khatek stands revealed at last, a wonder given form through patience, discipline, and sacrifice. —completion approaches— —does fulfilment herald triumph, or closure?— —the red remembers every hand that shaped it— Only the final detailing remains upon its venerable hull before the weapons of war are married to its frame. It has been a labour without mercy, but the will of the Crimson King must be enacted, and enacted without flaw. To deliver less than perfection would be to invite censure—not merely from my gene-sire, but from fate itself. Alongside this undertaking, progress upon the Land Raider Karakh has continued. Another relic of ancient war now nears readiness, its armour clad once more in sacred red. The Legion’s forges have laboured well, their output steady despite the strain placed upon them. —metal answers more readily than flesh— —yet flesh remembers why it fights— My lost brothers remain in limbo. Deadlines press close, and the portents grow increasingly insistent. The forges must be completed at all costs. It troubles me deeply to turn my attention from my brothers, but undue haste breeds carelessness, and carelessness invites catastrophe. I will not repeat the failures that already stain my record. And yet… As I scry the skeins and measure the convergence of possibility, I glimpse shapes forming beyond the immediate horizon—threads long dormant beginning to stir. Ancient brethren. Forgotten paths reopening. Futures that were once sealed now breathing again. —hope is dangerous— —hope is necessary— —choose which truth you can endure— Is it folly to cling to this hope? Or is it the first sign that this long labour—this reclamation of metal, memory, and meaning—may yet bear fruit beyond expectation? I do not know. But the crimson does not lie. And it has not finished speaking. — Ahzek Ahriman Chief Librarian of the Thousand Sons Watcher of converging futures, and steward of what yet may be restored ++ The work is not yet complete, and neither is the reckoning. ++ Gold Lines, Hard Decisions, and Proof That Infantry Exist Alrighty — progress has been made! I’ve now added the gold outline around the pin stripes, and it’s made a huge difference. It really helps break up the red and properly define the stripe, especially in the darker recesses where everything was starting to blur together. I’ve also added a couple more transfers to the front, and I think it’s all starting to look properly finished in places now. After a bit of testing (mostly on the inner sides of the Land Raider where mistakes can hide in shame), I’ve decided oil dot filtering isn’t really adding much value to this scheme. On a candy finish it just doesn’t behave the way I want it to. Instead, I’m going to lightly knock back the shadows with a subtle matte filter to introduce some contrast without killing the gloss. Next phase will be more chipping and edge highlighting to really sell the surface wear and pitting on the hull. After that, I can finally move on to the metallics and tracks, followed by oil streaking and some very restrained rust/verdigris effects. Nothing too grimy — these are still relics, after all — but just enough to show age and use. Hopefully I can get a decent run of progress going now without stopping every five minutes to second-guess myself. And just to prove that I have actually painted some infantry… behold: the mass of tactical marines! Yes, they exist. Yes, they are very red. And yes, I am seriously procrastinating on them. I still need to refine the green-stuffed tabards and paint the cursed white bolter casings — a task I am avoiding with Olympic-level commitment. As if that wasn’t enough distraction, I also got a little sidetracked after a couple of days away and built this bad boy for a Boxing Day bash. A mate very kindly printed me some torsos, and while I didn’t manage to finish it on the day, I’m really happy with how it’s turned out so far. Strong Sekhmet-style vibes, which is never a bad thing. More soon — assuming I finally bite the bullet and paint some white.

Corvidaen Journal – Fragment of the Polished Marble Tutelary intrusion: moderate. Harmonics stable. Interpretive pressure sustained but non-adversarial. The work continues—slowly, reverently. It could never be otherwise. This is no mere engine of war, but an edifice of accumulated knowledge, gilded and shaped by artisans who understand that craft is a form of devotion. The Tizcan hue is sacrosanct. It is not colour alone, but symbol: knowledge made manifest, the eternal striving toward enlightenment rendered in pigment and patience. —uplift? or hubris? —you gild the past and call it progress— The marble has been refined and honed, its veining disciplined until it echoes the hidden geometries once taught in the upper libraria of Tizca. Decals, pinstripes, and sigils have been laid with deliberate restraint. Still, the work remains incomplete. The name Khatek has yet to be inscribed, and until it is, the engine remains unanchored—powerful, yes, but unclaimed. —a name binds —a name condemns— Progress has been slow, but there are truths that resist haste. To rush such consecration would be to invite error, and error is a luxury we can no longer afford. Soon, the finer adornments may begin. The golden Achaean Scarab will be wrought upon Khatek’s hull, not merely as ornament, but as declaration—of lineage, of loyalty, of memory preserved against annihilation. The red sings. It echoes the glory of a bygone age: Prospero at its zenith, when the Legion stood upon the threshold of greatness and the galaxy itself seemed poised to follow us into a higher state of being. —it was never stable —it was always burning— Yet while I have fulfilled my duties as dictated by the Primarch and overseen the rites of the Forge, I have not abandoned my other charge. The restoration of my brothers continues. The Serpentine Sun now adorns the second cohort of veteran warriors. Cult sigils are once more etched into plate that remembers a different era. Mark II and Mark III armour—reclaimed, reforged, purified—stand as living relics of a time before compromise, before fear curtailed inquiry. It is… good to see them again. —memory is a blade —you cut yourself every time you look back— Their armour is all but complete. Soon, ten more brothers will stand in crimson, whole in form if not yet in fate. I allow myself a dangerous thought: that Magnus will see the meaning in this. That the return of these warriors is not coincidence, but sign. That what was nearly lost may yet be salvaged. —hope is dangerous, Ahzek —but it is not yet forbidden— Still, I cannot deny it: something has shifted. The skein resists dissolution. The work answers my hand. The red no longer rejects me. Perhaps this path yet bears fruit. Perhaps reclamation is not defiance, but preparation. Or perhaps this is merely the calm before a greater catastrophe, and I am once again mistaking momentum for salvation. —the red tells the truth —listen to what it whispers beneath the paint— For now, I continue. — Ahzek Ahriman Chief Librarian of the XV Legion Listener to whispers best left unheard Bearer of a hope I no longer trust ++ What is rebuilt with care may yet endure what was fated to fall ++ Marble, Masks, and the End of Analysis Paralysis Alrighty — a little progress at last, and more importantly, the overcoming of some serious analysis paralysis. Following on from The Reddening, I was (and still am) really happy with the red. I mean, there were enough coats of it — fifteen, if we’re being numerologically correct about these things. However, the marble didn’t quite survive the process unscathed. Whether it was red bleed-through from the tape and Maskol, or just the finish drifting a little too grey, it wasn’t sitting right with me. So, while masking off for the pin stripes, I took the opportunity to go back in and refresh the marble sections. Nothing drastic — just a tidy-up to bring the contrast back. And honestly? It’s looking pretty decent now, if I do say so myself. That said, I’m still undecided about what actually goes on the marble panels. Gold tends to get lost against it, and black transfers sometimes disappear into the veining. That’s a problem for Future Me to obsess over. With the marble behaving again, I committed to the black pinstripes. They’re quite subtle, based on the colour plate from Inferno, and I think they work nicely. The plan is to add a thin gold border to them next, just to give them a bit more presence, but first I needed all the stripes and decals down, scratched, and sealed. I really don’t want to be masking over finished paint and transfers again — especially after suffering a few small tape-related mishaps during the striping, despite my best efforts. I’m also flirting with the idea of some light oil dot filtering next… though I’m genuinely unsure how that’ll behave over a candy-red scheme. I’ve got some transparent blue and red oils that might work pushed into the shadows, but this feels like something to test very carefully before committing. While I was in the groove, I also revisited the Land Raider. That one had only seen five or six layers of red originally, so I taped up the black, added more scuffing and highlights, and then hit it with another six or so layers of red. Now both tanks match properly, which is deeply satisfying. And yes — I refreshed the marble on the Land Raider too, because it had suffered the same faint red bleed. Seriously… whose stupid idea was white marble? On the infantry front, I used the decal session wisely and got transfers onto the ten tactical marines as well. I’ll try to grab a photo of them for the next update — not the easiest thing while they’re all perched on corks and painting handles. After that, I really will have to bite the bullet and paint the white/cream robes. You can only put these things off for so long. Oh, and of course I still need to refine the green stuff on those tabards too. Which raises the important question: whose stupid idea was it to give them tabards in the first place? More soon — assuming I don’t invent any new problems for myself in the meantime.

Not at all! Glad the old thread still gets spms love. I’ll have to get around to adding more pics and updating some of the lore aspects. That’s a pretty good question! If memory serves correct it was Vallejo Olive Green with a highlight of Yellow Green, shaded with Agrax Earthshade using an airbrush. I’d have then done the heavy wash of streaking grime over the whole model before removing it.

Thank you! And yes… it was a lot of work. On a single centrepiece model it’s manageable, even enjoyable, but doing the same process across squads of Marines and multiple vehicles? That’s where it starts to feel properly gruelling. Ahriman really isn’t exaggerating when he talks about fifteen layers — it genuinely takes that many to achieve the glossy depth and richness of colour I was chasing. Painful at times, but seeing it all come together makes it worth it. The red finally feels right — and that’s something I’ve been chasing for a very long time. You and me both!! With the red finally locked in, the next steps are starting to crystallise. Decals are up next, followed by the pin striping. I’m now leaning heavily toward black and gold accents inspired by the Third Fellowship — something a bit more ornate, a bit more ceremonial, and hopefully bold enough to stand up against all that crimson and marble. If I go with black pin stripes. On the plus side, I’ve been using the reddening downtime wisely. Another ten tactical Marines are now fully candied up, which means a serious decal session is looming in the near future. It’s genuinely satisfying to see things moving forward — even if I’m still yet to put a single fully finished model on the shelf. Still, we’re getting closer, should have an update soon….

Thank you! I’m glad you agree — the Thousand Sons really should be a little ostentatious. Even in the Great Crusade era, they never struck me as a Legion that treated their wargear as purely utilitarian. These vehicles should feel like relics in their own right, revered and embellished, not just tools of war. In many ways, it mirrors how vehicles are treated in the 40k era, just without the layers of superstition piled on top… at least not yet. If I have one small regret, it’s the white marble. Don’t get me wrong, I love how it’s turned out — but it does rule out the option of white striping entirely. That was always one of the classic Thousand Sons accents, and losing it does narrow the design space a bit. Still, limitations can be helpful, and it’s pushing me more firmly toward black and gold accents to carry the visual weight instead. At this point, it feels less like painting a tank and more like curating a relic. Which, honestly, feels exactly right for the Sons of Magnus.

++ Artisan’s Chronicle: The Crimson Ascension ++ Corvidaen Journal – Fragment of the Whispered Red Tutelary intrusion: severe. Malign harmonics detected across the skein. The Great Work proceeds with unwavering momentum. In accordance with venerable treaties struck in ages past, the forge-lords of Zhao-Arkhad have once more turned their arcane insight toward my labour. Their masteries of alchemical lacquer, spectral lumens, and forbidden metallurgies have refined the process beyond what even I had envisioned. Under their guidance, yet more details emerge upon the Fellblade’s august form—textures layered within textures, sigils nestled between deepening strata of crimson, each one aligned to Prosperine geometry. The ritual unfolds in its sacred cycle: • serfs lay the blessed coats of ruby glaze, • artisans follow, etching, embossing, and inscribing runic impressions, • the sequence repeats—fifteenfold, as Prosperine numerology demands. Only when the fifteen layers are complete may the hue be judged worthy of the Sons of Magnus. —fifteen for the Legion / fifteen for the lost / fifteen for the pyre to come— Now the majestic candy-red of the XV Legion shines resplendent across the venerable chassis. In honour of the ancient tarot of Prospero, the Fellblade Khatek shall stride once more into war—restored, sanctified, its destiny aligned with auguries best left unspoken. Soon, the Captains of the Rehati shall convene in esoteric conclave to determine the sacred runes, the markings of omen and purpose, that must adorn the great engine. These glyphs shall bring illumination to the battlefield and ensure the light of Tizca remains unbowed. For the Fellblade is now replete in true Tizcan Ruby—a colour I had thought irrevocably lost in the burning of our home. Years of toil and study now at last bear fruit. Perhaps enlightenment must be born of suffering— perhaps the hue would not feel so poignant had it come with ease. It is a sight that stirs the soul, awakens possibility. The perfected red gleams upon its armoured shell like captured dawnlight. And yet… even amidst this triumph, unease coils within my thoughts. —pain is the tutor / perseverance the price— —beauty is only ever born in ruin— Yet we stand upon a precipice, and must tread with caution. Will the Primarch and the Legion turn their devotion toward machine and metal— or toward the rebuilding of flesh and brotherhood? To recreate this splendour upon the armour of my brothers will be but a small step. —choose carefully / one path ends in silence / the other ends in fire— My quiet countermanding of Magnus’s decree—my redirection of resources toward the reclamation of warriors rather than war-engines—has borne unexpected fruit: more brothers returned. Souls dragged back from the brink of dissolution. Failures undone. Their armour once more clad in crimson. Humbling… and dangerous. For every triumph strains the skein. But the Legion’s armourers have not allowed their labours to wane. Serfs and armouring-servitors toil without cease to restore another squad of Thousand Sons: • some clad in venerable Mark II plate, veterans of bygone campaigns, • others the returning survivors of ill-fated crusades, their Mark VI armour reforged, purified, and strengthened. They stand ready once more to enter the fray— not for conquest, but for the gathering of knowledge vital to the uplift of mankind. —uplift? or hubris? —rebirth? or inevitability? —the red tells the truth; listen to what it whispers beneath the paint— The Whispered Red has manifested. And with it, a new omen rises. — Ahzek Ahriman Magister Templi Corvidae Bearer of whispered truths and architect of crimson fate ++ In each layer, a memory; in each shade, a legacy reborn. ++ The Reddening Is Complete! After many, many layers of thinned red, the Tizcan hue I’ve been hunting since first seeing the old Forge World Burning of Prospero display has finally emerged. The photos never quite capture it, but in person the colour is far deeper and glossier — a proper shimmering candy coat. That’s what about fifteen layers gets you! Numerology satisfied, Thousand Sons approved. I’m honestly really pleased with how it’s come together, especially since the white marble sections survived the process without any major bleed-through. I went in hard with tape and masking fluid to protect them, and for once the hobby gods rewarded my paranoia. Now comes the fun part: deciding on accent colours. I’m leaning toward the black and gold striping like the scheme I used on the Rhino — it ties things together nicely, and avoids clashing with the white marble already on the tank. That does rule out the Warhammer Community Fellblade style, but between the marble and the sculpted door, it just wouldn’t sit right. If I go with black pinstripes, though, I’ll need more than the simple three lines from the Rhino to balance the larger armour panels. So, with the red singing and the marble crisp, it’s time for stripes, decals, and panel lining. Everything is happening at once — in the best hobby way. I’ve also used the downtime between layers productively: another ten Tactical Marines are now fully candied up and waiting for transfers. A satisfyingly large decal session is in my near future. I will attempt to get some more pics of the mass of marines up, it is just difficult with them all being on corks! It’s great to finally see momentum… though we still need to get an actual finished model over the line! More progress soon — Prospero wasn’t built in a day, after all.

Absolutely — the red really is a labour of love. With it thinned 50/50 (at least), it takes a fair few layers to build up that richness. If I skipped the pre-scratching and edge highlights it’d probably take half the time… but where’s the fun in that? When you’re batching a bunch of stuff at once the pain kind of spreads out anyway. I’ve also been mulling over names — because a Lord of War needs a proper name. In fact, I got so set on it that I actually scrubbed the old name off my Kratos as it didn’t match the theme. I’ve got some non-GW lettering decals ready, and I’m pretty tempted to christen this one Khatek. Sure, it’s technically a Sons of Horus vehicle name from the old Heresy CCG, but honestly? It just sounds too good not to use. Glad the scrapes are appreciated! Sometimes it feels like pure madness when I add another four layers of red and watch them disappear… only for them to ghost back through in the final depth of the colour. But that’s the whole point — suggesting layer upon layer of old scars and accumulated wear. All up, there are about three rounds of scuffs after the first red pass alone!

++ Artisan’s Chronicle: The Crimson Ascension ++ Corvidaen Journal – Fragment on the Crimson Convergence Tutelary presence overwhelming — malignant resonance detected As is above, so is below. Such axioms bind the material and immaterial alike, and now they echo uneasily through my thoughts, shifting like the reflections of distant flames upon a darkened sea. This unexpected challenge from the Cult of Paint must succeed—for so much of the Legion’s resurgence hangs upon it. Or so Magnus believes. Is he correct in the assumption? Is this truly the thread upon which our fate must be suspended? —he believes / you doubt— —but doubt is the first truth you have ever owned— It is not merely a test of craft. It is a portent—one whose full significance lies shrouded from my sight. I did not foresee it, and the absence of foresight is itself an omen sharper than any blade. Still, the Great Ocean shifts, its tides turning without my bidding. I must bend its currents to whatever purpose remains within my grasp. Under my vigilant oversight begins the intricate, sacred labour of applying the Tizcan Ruby. Layer upon patient layer of clear crimson must be laid, each coat blessed by the devoted thralls and applied with excruciating precision by the artisans I have gathered. The process demands patience bordering on asceticism; only through repeated glazing can the hue deepen into its true Prosperine resonance. —layer upon layer / lie upon lie / truth buried beneath blood— When the correct shade at last reveals itself—glimmering with the promise of what once adorned the warriors of Tizca—the armour must be inscribed with gentle scars, the subtle tributes of battle and memory. Only then may it be sealed beneath further crimson, each coat a ritual of renewal, preservation, and devotion. I feel, with each stroke, the weight of remembrance pressing down upon my hands. This is no mere undertaking; it is an enterprise of great pitch and moment. Ordained or manipulated? The fates are a fog to me now. A labour through which our knowledge might shine above the mundane— or a snare into which I walk willingly. In seeking guidance, I gazed once more into the Great Ocean, scrying its shifting currents for a whisper of purpose. And there, half-shrouded in the aether, I saw the alignment of this Fellblade decree—inevitable, immutable, as though preordained by forces whose workings lie forever beyond mortal comprehension. —preordained— —pre-written— —pre-damned— And yet… Still I ask myself: why? What design compels this convergence of timing and circumstance? What destiny is being drawn taut between this crimson labour and the doom that stalks the Legion’s shadow? —you know the answer— —you fear to name it— The truth eludes me. The skein grows silent in my hands. Foresight recoils from the place where this thread leads. But the work must proceed— even if it drains the hours meant for my brothers, even if its completion comes at their expense. A Fellblade will be a boon in the battles yet to come. Or perhaps one more delaying gesture against the unraveling of all we are. —delay is not salvation— —delay is merely witnessing your doom in slower motion— The crimson waits. Destiny stirs beneath each layer of red. And the challenge has been set. The Cult of Paint must not be denied. — Ahzek Ahriman Magister Templi Corvidae Seeker of That Which Cannot Be Found ++ In each layer, a memory; in each shade, a legacy reborn ++ The Reddening Begins (For Real This Time) Well, as entertaining as that accidental Iron Warriors phase could’ve been, the reddening has officially begun! I’m four coats in now — just enough to start building those subtle pre-highlights and the first hints of underlying chipping. The goal here is simple: layer upon layer upon layer, until the wear and tear looks properly aged, lived-in, and befitting a battle-scarred relic of Prospero. It’s a painstaking process — and, as always, one that refuses to photograph well — but the depth it adds in person is absolutely worth it. Only another dozen or so layers to go… easy, right? On the infantry front, I’ll be getting the red down on the waiting Tactical Marines as well. At least that way I’ll have a few actual troops to accompany the very large, very shiny tank currently stealing all the attention.

++ Artisan’s Chronicle: The Fellblade Awakens ++ Corvidaen Journal – Fragment on the Crimson Portent of the Fellblade Tutelary interference at hazardous levels — malign echoes detected And lo, as the voice of Magnus rippled through the hallways of creation and illumination—echoing first from the past, then rising like a half-remembered warning into the present—the labour upon the Fellblade did at last commence. A part of me recognises the pattern, the subtle shaping of events, the quiet pressure of a will more ancient and immense than my own. Another part recoils. Why this work? Why now, when the fires gather at the borders of fate and the Legions close in like carrion birds? —because he sees what you fear to see— —because the ending begins, Ahzek— —because the blade must bleed before the city burns— But my father does not explain. He rarely has. And so I am left to wonder whether this path is truly his design—or merely the next misstep upon the long road to our undoing. The Fellblade is no simple machine of war; it is a relic resurrected, reshaped to bear the Tizcan Ruby in its impossible brilliance. A marvel, yes. A testament, perhaps. And yet, to consecrate such a blessing demands a toll in labour, in material, in attention—souls and hours that might better serve a Legion slipping inch by inch into shadow. Every stroke of the brush, every measured layer, every Prosperine invocation feels like a prayer offered with trembling hands. Precision. Patience. Control. Virtues we once mastered—before they slipped, like so much else, beyond our grasp. —your hands tremble because they know what comes— —red is the colour of ending, not beginning— Thus were the Reddening Rites invoked. And thus did the doubts coil tighter around my thoughts. The colossal chassis was drowned first in the Silver Preshade— a luminous veil, a false purity, a deceptive foundation of light upon which deeper colours might take hold. Only by building upon this illusion may the true crimson rise. The metaphor does not escape me. We lay foundations of brilliance only to bury them beneath blood. We always have. —bury the light— —feed it to the fire— —you know the pattern; you wrote part of it— In defiance of Magnus’s decree—quietly, discreetly, but unmistakably—I altered the orders. I ensured the forges did not sleep. That no resource was wasted. That the materials intended for this engine of doom were diverted instead toward reforging the flesh-and-blood strength of the Legion. He may envision a future of sanctified machines and compliant automata, but I have walked the paths where that future leads. A Legion without souls is no Legion at all. And we have lost too many already. From dust-choked vaults, from the husks of abandoned failures, from wandering brothers who survived by miracle or stubborn will, ten more of the XV Legion now stand restored. Some salvaged from my own misjudgements. Some reborn and cleansed—if such a cleansing is ever trustworthy. Some clad in ancient Mark II plate, their presence like ghosts walking back into the light. Their return brings a flicker of solace. A flicker—nothing more. Even victory tastes of ash these days. —ash is all that will remain— —you taste the future on your tongue— The need for warriors grows with each hour. Prospero’s legacy hangs by a thread. Its wisdom teeters on the brink of oblivion. Its glory dims beneath gathering storms. Its memory trembles in the jaws of those who would see it devoured. So the work continues—unyielding, devouring, inevitable. And though I walk this path willingly, I do so knowing each step carries me deeper into shadow. Still, I will not allow Prospero to fall. I will not permit the light of Tizca to gutter and die. Let others call it stubbornness, arrogance, or the first whisper of doom. I know better. For without knowledge, there is only ignorance. Without memory, only oblivion. Without purpose, only the abyss. And I have stared into that abyss before. —it stared back— —it remembers your name— —it is waiting— — Ahzek Ahriman Chief Librarian of the Thousand Sons Bearer of doubts unspoken, and architect of a destiny drowned in crimson veils ++ For the Crimson King. For the City of Light. For Knowledge Eternal. ++ An Unexpected Detour Into Iron Warriors… Sort Of Well, it looks like an Iron Warriors tank has wandered onto the painting desk — completely unintentionally, I promise! It’s not a bad look at all, just a touch too bright at this early stage for the dour Fourth. Still, getting some paint down really helps show off all the texture work I put in earlier. From here I’ll start layering the red properly, then build in the surface scratches and edge highlights. It’s slow going, but once it all comes together, it’s absolutely worth the time investment. On the build side, I have to say: the kit goes together shockingly well. Barely any gap filling required, which feels like a gift from the hobby gods after wrestling with the old resin versions. I’m still not totally convinced about some of the design tweaks compared to the classic Forge World sculpt, though. The rounded side doors in particular… hmm. If it weren’t for the gorgeous legion-specific ones, I’d be sorely tempted to fill them in and go for clean, flat panels. Meanwhile, I took the opportunity to finish building (and repairing!) another ten tactical marines so I could batch-paint another wave of red all at once. Managed to squeeze in a few simple conversions along the way — a tabard here, a torso swap there — just enough to give the squad some personality. So before long I’ll have twenty very red, very basecoated troops lined up, all silently judging me as I return to wrestling with those cursed tabards. I still need to refine the sculpting and choose the right shade of off-white for them, so a dedicated test model feels like the smartest next step. As always, thank you all for the kind words — genuinely helps keep the hobby mojo flowing!

Now there is a name I remember….. so many of the Old Guard are gone, so good to see you back. impressive work on Khan! Love it, a seamless blend of the kits!

++ Artisan’s Chronicle: The Fellblade Decree ++ Corvidaen Journal – Fragment on the Faltering Revival Tutelary interference escalating — prophetic dissonance detected And so it is revealed—the faltering of the Land Raider was no mere lapse of will, no simple fatigue of the artisan’s hand, but a fracture in the tapestry of fate itself. I feel it now as one feels the subtle tremor before a great edifice crumbles: the skein shifts, and the future recoils from certainty. —it recoils from you, Ahzek— —from what you will choose / from what you will become— I should have foreseen it. I always should have foreseen it. Yet the corvidae sight dims, its once-sharp visions smothered beneath a pall of unspoken omen. What does it mean when even foresight shudders? —it means the future fears to show its face— —it means the thread is snapping— My labours to restore my brothers proceeded in tandem with that of a Land Raider Explorator—meant to carry them into whatever wars remain. A venerable machine, its spirit dormant, its hull a relic of an earlier, more hopeful experiment to resurrect the Ruby of old. Now it sits in stagnation. The ceramite stands resplendent in its first covenant of red, yet unfulfilled—its detailing incomplete, its sacred oil-rites halted mid-incantation. The weathering litanies, half-formed in my mind, now drift like ash through my thoughts. And the Tech-Adept artisans—once devoted, once tireless—have been reassigned by the direct, unmediated word of Magnus himself. Such intervention is no trivial event. —he sees further / he sees darker— —he knows what you do not dare admit— When my gene-sire turns his will upon the minutiae of craft, the strand of destiny trembles. There is purpose in this. There must be. For now the Cult of Paint calls forth a challenge of superheavy consequence—their decree a ripple through the weave of possibility. The Fellblade emerges as if summoned from a buried prophecy, its birth insistent, its timing… ill-omened. Is it meant as a weapon? A warning? A message, encoded in steel and pigment? —it is all of these— —and none— —and more than you fear— The armour plates of the Fellblade lie primed—etched, assembled, sanctified—awaiting their first immersion into Tizcan crimson. The method tested on the Land Raider shall serve again, yet this engine is no mere company relic. It is a Legion asset, destruction made manifest: a monolith of wrath, a symbol of what once was— and what may yet be demanded of us again. But with each stroke of preparation, the whisper grows louder: An army is built upon its sons, not its engines. And how few sons remain. Ten warriors only—ten!—stand in the armouries, their ruby plate gleaming but unfinished, their panoply devoid of the sigils that anchor purpose to form. Their bolters lie unblessed; their tabards unshaped. They wait, silent and patient, for a future they may never be allowed to fight for. Why now? Why this diversion of effort? Why place the weight of prophecy upon hull and gunmetal rather than flesh and brotherhood? —because metal does not bleed— —because metal obeys— —because metal cannot change— The truth circles me like a raven, wings brushing the edges of what I dare acknowledge: This Fellblade— is it a beginning? Or the herald of an ending? Still, I cannot deny the pull of fate’s thread. The portents gather like storm-clouds over Tizca’s drowned towers. Let them come. Let the Cult’s decree be fulfilled. Let the Land Raider rise completed, and let the Fellblade stride forth from the forge like an omen clad in crimson fire. For whether this prophecy speaks of triumph or doom, I will meet it with open eyes. — Ahzek Ahriman Chief Librarian of the Thousand Sons Bearer of forebodings not yet spoken ++ For knowledge. For Prospero. For the Crimson King. + Tiny Steps Forward (and Big Decisions About White Paint) Thanks again for all the kind words — it really does help keep the motivation going! Not a huge amount of progress on the Land Raider this week, but the plan is shaping up. I’m lining up another black pin wash before diving into the metallic sections, and after that it’s straight into the next round of chipping. Before I commit, I’ll probably test a couple of mixes on a spare panel — I can’t decide whether to stick with a classic silver for the chips or experiment with a slightly lighter metallic red. Both options sound good… which naturally makes choosing between them a bit of a nightmare. Meanwhile, on the infantry front, I’ve finally got the red finished on a squad of ten tacticals — and now I just need to actually complete one of them. I’ve been stuck in tabard-colour limbo, debating shades like I’m picking wall paint for a renovation. Painting over Tamiya’s gloss finish is such a chore that I keep putting it off, but I think I’ve settled on a direction: a soft, creamy warm white for the robes, paired with a cooler white for the trim and bolter casings. Call it painter’s block, call it decision paralysis — but I’m hoping that once the first test marine clicks into place, the rest will finally follow. More soon! Because One Tank Clearly Isn’t Enough… Enter the Fellblade And naturally, right in the middle of all this, the shiny new Fellblade dropped and Cult of Paint kicked off their Superheavy Challenge. So of course I had to jump in — who in their right mind sees a massive tank kit and says no? The plan is to carry over most of the techniques I’m using on the Land Raider, but I’m also hoping to pick up a few new weathering tricks along the way. I’ve already tackled the pre-weathering: roughing up edges, adding texture and gouges, and working in some Mr Surfacer to break up those big flat panels. So far I’m more or less aligned with the first video in the series, which means from here on out I’ll basically be painting along step-by-step. The current strategy? Get the Fellblade up to roughly the same stage as the Land Raider, then finish both beasts side-by-side. Which does mean, yes… I may end up with two fully painted tanks and still no actual Marines ready to form an army. Classic hobby priorities, really.