The Unbroken

[Nineswords]

THE UNBROKEN

X X X X X X X X

 

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‘We estrange our fathers and forsake false brotherhoods. The War God cares not from whence we came, only that we fight.’

— Creed of The Unbroken

 

‘The War Hounds died with a strangled yelp aboard the Adamant Resolve the moment the Emperor unleashed Angron and his damned Nails upon the Legion. And you let him do it, as pups desperately vie for the approval of an uncontrolled, rabid dog. You so-called "World Eaters" are not the kindred we left on Nove Shendak, and you are no brother of mine. You are a slave beholden to the Nails, to rage without purpose, and as of now, an unwilling instrument of the Unbroken's unceasing war machine.'

– Cerberak, 'The Filth Hound of Hades', addressing a captured World Eater berserker
 

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[To be updated]
 

I can't wait to get my hands on the new Chaos Space Marine range, and I've been thinking for a while now about starting a brand new modelling project. I'm so inspired by what I've seen on here and on Instagram, I may as well start using the many bits I've accumulated over the years from GW and FW something new.
 
I present The Unbroken, a renegade warband of disaffected Chaos Space Marines from different legions based on the cult of obliteration. I originally wanted to start out with the idea of World Eaters who weren't Khorne Berserkers, but I've got so many bits and different models, I may as well open it up.

Edited May 23, 2019 by Nineswords

[Nineswords]

THE UNBROKEN

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

 

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THE FILTH HOUNDS OF HADES

The Shadow of Annihilation

CERBERAK, ’The Filth Hound of Hades’, formerly of the XII Legion, ‘War Hounds’, Gheere Destroyer squad, 70th Company

OZARK, Herald of Hounds, formerly of the XII Legion, ‘War Hounds’, Gheere Destroyer squad, 70th Company

MEZ BARDOUK, formerly of the XII Legion, ‘War Hounds’, Shivran Tactical squad, 83rd Company

EPIMETRUS, Athanaean Sorcerer, formerly of the XV Legion, 'Thousand Sons', Mesehti Heavy Support Squad

CALCATRIX, Praevian Minoris, formerly of the IV Legion, ‘Iron Warriors’, 133rd Grand Batallion

'THE CAGE'

The End of Justice

KRULL, formerly of the XIV Legion, ‘Death Guard’, Gragin Tactical Squad

NAKAR, formerly of the VIII Legion, ‘Night Lords’, 4th Claw, 48th Company

'THE FURNACE'

The Radiant Fire

MAGARN, 'The Reaper', formerly of the IV Legion, 'Iron Warriors', Talmachon Tactical Squad

GRAULGATHA, formerly of the XVI Legion, 'Sons of Horus', Macadhon Rampager Squad

SORON LEDAKH, formerly of the XVII Legion, 'Word Bearers', Madidus Tactical Squad

AQUILOR, formerly of the XVI Legion, 'Sons of Horus', squad designation unknown, 39th Company

 
 

'THE LOST'
The War God's Chosen

ARMITRON, ‘The Shepherd', Berserker, formerly of the XII Legion, ‘World Eaters', Keth Attack Bike Squad

RHIDDEK, Berserker, XII Legion, 'World Eaters', indentured slave to The Unbroken

SARK, Berserker, XII Legion, 'World Eaters', indentured slave to The Unbroken

TAGAR ESAGEDDON, Berserker, XVI Legion, 'Sons of Horus', indentured slave to The Unbroken

BIRILGI, 'Death that Rains', Berserker, V Legion, 'White Scars', indentured slave to The Unbroken

'RE-FORGED'

Vengeance Thirsts, Arise!

PYRE, Ban-Dakur, formerly of the III Legion, 'Emperor's Children', Asceton Heavy Support Squad, 
Reforged as Pyre, Dionysius-Pattern Attack Bike, Flamer Configuration

ORDO KOINONIA KYBERNĒTĒS 

Lost to the Omnissiah, whose designations are still being translated from Lingua Octaric

DYONYSIUS, Arch-Fabricator Locum of the Cult Mechanicum, Ordo Koinonia Kybernētēs

OTHERS

The Serpent's Children

ALPHARIUS, Specialist, XX Legion, ‘Alpha Legion’

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[To be updated]

Edited May 19, 2019 by Nineswords

[Nineswords]

Edited March 21, 2019 by Nineswords

[Nineswords]

RHIDDEK

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Berserker, XII Legion, 'World Eaters',
Indentured slave to The Unbroken

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'KILL! MAIM! BURN!' – Rhiddek



Rhiddek

THE TICS HAD gotten worse. Every day for what seemed liked years, Rhiddek's ruined face would spasm a little more, as synaptic signals misfired every few minutes, causing a brief pain-ache in his jaw, like a child who had eaten too many sweets.

Was it years, or decades?

Somewhere, beneath the hazy fog of dull pain-ache, in what small part of Rhiddek's lucid cognitive function remained, knew it was the Nails at work. That's what they did. They rewired the neural architecture of an already rewired mind, dulling every sensation of his transhuman physiology, but for the brief moments of hyper-stimulated aggression, when the Blood was upon him. He had no particular sensations of smell, nor taste. Colour had faded into various shades of grey, and food tasted like ash in his mouth.

Rhiddek tried to recall the last time he tasted food. Come to think of it, when was the last time he had taken off his helmet? Slowly, subconsciously, Rhiddek gently touched his face with his scarred hands, like a sculptor tracing the contours of a piece of stone waiting to be carved, but with none of the artisan's dexterity or grace, the motion more accurately resembling the tortured movements of someone succumbing to dementia. It was as if his helmet had begun to merge with his skull, and Rhiddek was having trouble distinguishing one from the other. Why was that?

The brief, curious moment of introspection was interrupted by another tic. The Nails fired again in protest, and the shuddering of Rhiddek's twin hearts pumping began to overwhelm him with its aural assault. He tried to disengage his helmet, hands scrabbling at a seal lock that was no longer there. Fingernails tore off in ragged, bloody shards as he dug in, trying to tear the helmet off; but Rhiddek could only register sharp pain layered with an acute sense of claustrophobia at his futile attempt to breathe without the aid of his armour.

Was it decades, or centuries?

Rhiddek had no particular sensations of smell, nor taste. Colour had faded into various shades of grey, and food tasted like ash in his mouth. He tried to recall the last time he tasted food. Come to think of it, when was the last time he had taken off his helmet? Another tic caused Rhiddek's neck to jerk uncontrollably. Something cracked, and the pain-ache wouldn't stop. If only he could remove the Nails. If only he could take off his helmet. If only he could take off. If only. If. Only.

Tic. Tic. Tic.

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Rhiddek is my first attempt at a Chaos Space Marine since the original Abbadon the Despoiler model came out in the mid 90s. I was 14 and I spent a week painting it. I was so proud and showed my neighbour who then promptly dropped it onto the pavement by accident. Fast forward to a few years ago and I'd acquired the Age of Sigmar starter kit along with years of accumulating random bits from Forgeworld, and it I would be mad to not start kit-bashing everything I had and make it work with the new CSM range, which I absolutely love.

Edited April 5, 2019 by Nineswords

[Brother Cambrius]

Looking really mean and unique! The set up looks to be very special indeed as you work through this! I love how you managed to meld the AoS stuff seamlessly with the Heresy bitz to make Rhiddek's character come through perfectly.

 

The idea of the Unbroken being War Hounds without the Nails intrigues me as well, so you got me hooked (or is that nailed?) to see more of your work! :D

 

Cambrius

[Pearson73]

Oh yes, that's just so brutal and savage. What an excellent combination and assembly of parts.

 

I really like the fluff accompanying Rhiddek too, I think sometimes in 40k we can forget the tragedy of the heresy and the living hell which many of the surviving traitor legionnaires now inhabit.

[Nineswords]

Looking really mean and unique! The set up looks to be very special indeed as you work through this! I love how you managed to meld the AoS stuff seamlessly with the Heresy bitz to make Rhiddek's character come through perfectly.

 

The idea of the Unbroken being War Hounds without the Nails intrigues me as well, so you got me hooked (or is that nailed?) to see more of your work!

 

Cambrius

 

Cheers! My personal belief is that any CSM who hasn't gone utterly insane or worship the gods knows how much they've been duped, and how you survive knowing that the Imperium will kill you as much as other rival war bands.

 

 

Oh yes, that's just so brutal and savage. What an excellent combination and assembly of parts.

 

I really like the fluff accompanying Rhiddek too, I think sometimes in 40k we can forget the tragedy of the heresy and the living hell which many of the surviving traitor legionnaires now inhabit.

 

Thanks, every character will get a flavour piece. Writing is my favourite bit of the hobby so it's a great exercise being able to write for different characters and their motivations.

[Nineswords]

TAGAR ESAGEDDON

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Berserker, XVI Legion, 'Sons of Horus',
Indentured slave to The Unbroken

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'Rejoice, for in death, you honour the Lord of Blood.' – Tagar Esageddon



Tagar

 

HACK. SLASH. CHOP. Thus was the mantra of Tagar Esageddon, the physical expression of a complex combat equation, reduced to its most basic components.

 

When an enemy was unfortunate enough to be within Tagar's killing range, a hack to the chest, driven by the berserker's momentum was enough to dissuade any planned action by the enemy, if they hadn't been split in twain. 

 

Slashing was reserved for creating space in the press of bodies, though for efficiency, a slit windpipe saved a second or two in the fury of close combat. How much blood sprayed out was entirely dependent on the force and angle of the cut; and Tagar had learned that its size was directly proportional to the terror it inspired. In a pinch, the slash also created space to shoot your enemy in the face, point blank. Not the most honourable way to end one's foes, but the Lord of Blood cared not for how, just that it did.

 

In Tagar's considered opinion, the chop was the most subtle of the chainaxe's artistry. The first two relied more on instinct, a reaction and offence honed over centuries of hunting and being hunted. A chop, however, required calculation. Intent. A strike designed to incapacitate or simply kill a dangerous foe: one could literally disarm a potentially weapon, or decapitate at a vital moment. 

 

Any three of these, or complex combinations thereof, had served Tagar well. It was not just the core of his survival instinct, it was also the expression of his devotion to the Lord of Blood, and it would do so until his end.

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I'm on a roll - I didn't think this one was going to work out because of the relatively static pose of the Blood Warrior model. It was only when I positioned the bolt pistol in a way that suggested that Tagar was casually shooting someone did the pose look good. The chainaxe was super easy to put in, though there was a huge portion of the warrior's chest that had been hacked away of the original detail - replaced by some shells and the grenade to cover it up, and a Tartaros shouldered to fit the angle over naturally.

Edited May 16, 2019 by Nineswords

[Nineswords]

BIRILGI

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‘Death that Rains’, Berserker, V Legion, 'White Scars',

Indentured slave to The Unbroken

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'Come! Redfang awaits.' – Birilgi

Birilgi

THEY ALLOWED HIM to keep his helmet. He was told it was a mark of honour, but there was little honour in depriving a warrior of his plate. Unlike the others, who cared little for the maintenance of their armour, Birilgi's obsession with maintaining and polishing his armour bordered on compulsive.

Old habits died hard, he supposed.

The Fifth always took remarkable care with their battle-plate, long ago. Birilgi thought about the Betrayal, as he often did in his brief moments of introspection, and bitterness flooded him once again. The Warmaster had been denied, and a lesser son took his place. How different things may have been if the Khagan had made the right choice? Birilgi had been forced to turn against the ordu. Life had been a ceaseless battle ever since.

The chain-glaive, he refused to give up. It was a finely crafted weapon, and Birilgi had named it Redfang, honouring the glaive's original owner, long dead, after the White Scar had killed him for it. He had not bothered to decipher the Nostraman script adorning its haft. The mechanoid slaves of his oppressors had quickly discovered the literal meaning of the weapon's epithet soon after; it was only when the oppressors intervened, was he relieved of his prize, and the rest of his plate.

Power armour was scarce, and Birilgi had correctly assumed the parts would be scavenged and repaired, before being distributed to someone more deserving. His mysterious oppressors had however, bequeathed him with a well-maintained plasma pistol, and a finely-wrought set of armour, complete with partial power interfacing with his black carapace, and embellished with the Rune of Annihilation. It wasn't as responsive as his battle-plate, but it suited his needs well enough. Unlike the others, he wasn't a blood-crazed murderer. Birilgi was pragmatic. He would bide his time. There would be opportunity enough to acquire another, better, set, earned through toil and blood; and Birilgi would be free.

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Spent part of the weekend building another three for the squad. Happy with the way this one turned out. I remembered reading Paul Kearney's Dark Hunters novel featuring a similar character to Birilgi and riffed on it. Originally he was going to be from another Legion, but the helmet which I had to hand coupled with a last minute axe swap with a really old chainsword made it look more Glaive-like in appearance, and I knew he had to be a White Scar....

Edited April 8, 2019 by Nineswords

[Pearson73]

Liking Birilgi and the nods to various legions he carries, the hanging chains and icons are also very nice.

 

His head looks a little too high to me though, I think the neck area might need shaving down somewhat.

 

Tagar's chainaxe looks suitably brutal, is it from the Sons of Horus Reavers? I like all his extra gear; the grenades and bandoliers, etc.

[Nineswords]

Liking Birilgi and the nods to various legions he carries, the hanging chains and icons are also very nice.

 

His head looks a little too high to me though, I think the neck area might need shaving down somewhat.

 

Tagar's chainaxe looks suitably brutal, is it from the Sons of Horus Reavers? I like all his extra gear; the grenades and bandoliers, etc.

 

You're right, I'll put in the corrected version with my next update. Bits are from all over the place, Sons of Horus Reaver Chainaxes as you mentioned, the rest are bits I've got from Primaris or Sternguard kids I never got round to building. Nothing quite like scavenging and using your enemy's weapons against them...

[Sgt. Blank]

Nice work on converting the blood warriors, you've got my placed them in the 40k.universe and creating some unique characters

[Nineswords]

SARK

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Berserker, XII Legion, 'World Eaters',

Indentured slave to The Unbroken

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'Black, red, no matter. All that matter is the Triumph Rope keeps growing.' – Sark

SARK

THE UNBROKEN HAD carved, or rather, melted, a rough approximation of a fighting pit from an ordnance crater. Its sides were rippled from the melta-guns and fusion beams, transforming the compressed earth into a wall Of black glass. It simultaneously resembled both a dark mirror and a sea wave that had somehow begun to fossilise before it broke. In its centre, the ground had been compacted by tank treads, and littered with debris.

Sark hated the pit fights, as he hated everything for that matter, but he held a special loathing towards his enslavers. There was no honour in killing the chattel offered to him, and the Nails still buzzed their ceaseless chorus after rending his foes apart, dissatisfied with any meaningful challenge worthy of their attentions. How he longed to fight for the Twelfth again, but those days were nothing more than a half remembered echo of the past. The bonds of brotherhood, so strongly forged aboard the pits of the Conqueror and beyond, were as nothing in this new age. Brother turned on brother even within the Legions that stood against the False Emperor, and none were more despised than the Betrayer.

The World Eater spat upon the floor at the thought of the former 8th Company Captain. He looked up. His enslavers lined the top of the pit, staring at his mangled face with barely concealed disgust. Sark could tell, even behind the sulphurous glow of their visors. Such arrogance. With battered and scorched armour, none of his enslavers looked alike, but the bare ceramite and the desecration of their former Legion badges marked them out as faithless heathens. They even claimed that they followed the Blood God in his aspect of annihilation, but how could anyone display their loyalty to the Lord of Skulls without doing the deed by your own hand was beyond Sark's comprehension. The very idea disgusted Sark, it seemed to him as honourless as drip feeding Sark chattel like rodents to a starving dog.

Without warning, a hulking servitor threw in a new contender for the pits, who, astonishingly, had turned a potentially awkward landing into a graceful forward roll. Armoured in a similar fashion to Sark, a chain-glaive was tossed into the pit soon after with casual indifference. Its owner had caught the weapon, one handed, and spun it with horrifying speed into a guard position.

White Scar. A wicked grin split across Sark's ruined face. No more chattel. Things just got interesting.

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Four down, one to go on the Berserker squad. I've actually built a couple more for the tactical squads, but I'm beginning to run out of Blood Warrior bodies to roll with.

Edited April 9, 2019 by Nineswords

[Gamma310]

This is so cool, I need more. You've got me hooked onto this. :)

[Nineswords]

This is so cool, I need more. You've got me hooked onto this.

 

 

More to come, I'm just having a particularly heavy workload at the moment so need to do that!

[Marshal Rohr]

This is an awesome project. Very well done!

[Nineswords]

SORON LEDAKH

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Formerly of the XVII Legion,
'Word Bearers', Madidus Tactical Squad

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'I bring the Word, and the Word is Death.' – Soron Ledakh

 

 

LEDAKH

 

DESPITE HIS ENHANCEMENTS, there were just some things that even increased bone density, enhanced musculature and centuries of warfare could not compensate for: namely a painful tremor that perpetually lanced through Soron Ledakh’s median and radial nerves straight into his brainstem; caused by the syncopated recoil vibration of the heavy bolter Ledakh wielded as his instrument of the Word.

 

Smoke rose off the ancient weapon's barrel, the friction caused by its deadly ballistic load marked the termination of another deadly salvo unleashed against the Death Guard's un-living thralls. Ledakh had deliberately aimed at the lower extremities, confident that the bolter's large calibre rounds would shear through legs before detonating, slowing the oncoming horde. Splintered bone and shredded muscle, however, did little to deter the abominations; strange magicks re-animated what miserable portions of flesh remained, and the recently deceased simply crawled towards him.

 

Despite the carnage he had reaped upon the Plague Lord's pawns, Ledakh's position would soon be overwhelmed by the inexorable advance. 

 

'Cerberak,' hissed the former Word Bearer.

 

'I hear you, Ledakh,' replied The Unbroken's commander.

 

'The enemy is relentless, and I will soon run out of bullets,' said Ledakh flatly over the vox. The pain tremors had flared up again, causing him to grind his teeth in the brief intermission.

 

There was a pause, punctuated by heavy static.

 

'Reinforcements en route. It would appear our erstwhile brothers have changed course, and are converging towards you.'

 

On cue, the tell tale whine of bolter fire chewed through re-animating bodies towards Ledakh. Bloated, hulking silhouettes drifted through a miasma that roiled towards his position. 

 

Ledakh cursed. 'You bastard, Cerberak. You would use me as a distraction?' he snarled, the heavy bolter chattering again as he directed its lethal arsenal into the mist.

 

'No, Ledakh. I'm using you as bait.'

 

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No prizes to see what bit of artwork this beast was based on. Speaking of bases, I had to re-base him to 40mm to match the new Havocs and he does look a lot more comfortable on a bigger base.

[Gamma310]

I love that guy so much. So brutal and menacing. Wouldn't want to fight that guy.

[Pearson73]

Oh he looks brutal, the posing of the legs is spot on for one bracing to bring the heavy weapon to bear. The AoS kits really are a gift to Khorne models.

[Midnightmare]

Some great conversions here, I like Ledakh and Sark especially :tu: As Pearson says, Ledakh looks brutal!

 

I bet you are made up with all the new kits to get stuck in to.

Edited April 12, 2019 by Midnight Runner

[ElDuderino]

Dude, Ledakh is a beast! I love the collar

[Nineswords]

Thanks guys! Sorry I've been a bit lapse in updating. LOADS of new posts to come in 3....2.....1....

[Nineswords]

ARMITRON

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‘The Shepherd', formerly of the XII Legion, ‘World Eaters', Keth Attack Bike Squad

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‘Fight, damn you! Prove to me that you are not the dregs our father polluted to satisfy his vanity!' – Armiton

 

 

ARMITRON

 

THEY HAD BROUGHT Armitron into what he presumed was a command post. It was not, however, a fortress of stone and plasteel. Nor was it a ship's strategium, but a large tent, the kind that might house a travelling cirque troupe; lit by large suspended lumen orbs that glowed with a phosphor haze. Armitron craned his head upwards, even his enhanced vision could not resolve the top of the tent, nor how it was erected without the aid of a structural framework.

 

Opposite him, the leader of The Unbroken stood watching in a patchwork suit of power-armour. It had clearly been scavenged and repaired many times. Even in the low light, Armitron could make out specks of blue and white paint chips that had been scoured or scorched off to reveal bare ceramite. On his right shoulder was a pauldron that bore what might have been the stylised sigil of a large canine, now defaced and faded beyond recognition. As if noticing Armitron's interest, his captor tapped the shoulder pad, before addressing him. 

 

The warleader's voice was measured, though it was tinged with an anger or rage that was contained by sheer force of will.

 

‘We were something once, before our father remade the Legion in his flawed image.'

 

‘The primarch is dead,' replied Armitron.

 

‘Figuratively speaking,' agreed his captor. ‘And so we must make something of ourselves, by our own means. We are free.'

 

Armitron snorted, holding up his hands that were sheathed in an adamantium cuff. 'You are, perhaps. You have taken my armour and my weapons. The skull god laughs at my predicament, War Hound.'

 

The Unbroken's commander took a step towards Armitron, and gestured. ‘Look around you, brother. And see.'

 

In the shadows, illuminated by the soft glow of the lumen globes, Armitron regarded The Unbroken for the first time. A diaspora of warriors from the Legions, and even a few of the Outcast: Iron Warriors, Sons of Horus, Night Lords, similarly attired to the commander. The glint of a polished eagle's wing, unmarked by Fulgrim's ministrations; its defacement was by its owner’s hand and no other. A silhouette of a warrior, cloaked and obscured. A torn and scratched skull wreathed in a spiked corona, free from the corruption of the Unclean.

 

‘You were proud once, and you can be again. We stand apart from the Despoiler and his Black Legion, who consorts with the same infernal powers that led our father astray. We offer you a place in our martial brotherhood. Your trappings will be repaired and returned, and you can honour the War God in the years to come.'

 

'I know you. You're one of Gheere's. Nove Shendak, with the Iron Warriors, yes?'

 

Armitron suddenly found himself staring into the barrel of a bolt pistol aimed at his face. He smiled.

 

‘Gheere’s dead. Now make your choice.'

 

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I bought the Forgeworld Khârn character when it came out. Like a lot of the limited edition and character models, they've been sitting, untouched in their boxes. There's a certain amount of trepidation about hacking a character model because they're expensive. I really liked the original pose of the model, but changed it, so instead of running forward, this champion would be wheeling around before firing his plasma pistol (in someone's face, no doubt). The new Chaos Space Marines Havoc Aspiring Champion made a great head, and I loved his waist band, which nicely slotted into the gap. It's one of the simpler conversions, but I like it for its simplicity. Given his markings, Armitron had to be a World Eater, but I wanted to present a warrior who had clearly despised the Nails, which makes him an effective squad champion to lead the other berserker's into battle.

[queen_annes_revenge]

These look familiar! Its NLS

[Gamma310]

Another top conersion with nice fluff. That is the reason why this plog is so amazing. Keep up the good work.