Death Guard Consul Karthago

Pict capture of XIVth Legion Master of Signal Karthago at an unknown location during the Age of Darkness. As typical for a Death Guard Legionnaire Karthago has sustained a significant amount of superficial damage to his battle plate, most of which does not appear to have compromised the armour functionality.

Karthago is equipped with improved communications gear and an auspex, to support the ranged attacks of his fellow legionnaires. He also carries an archaic thurible of unknown origin, which were used more frequently by the XIVth legion towards the latter stages of the Age of Darkness.

Tally Chaplain Glomerata

Pict Capture of Tally Chaplain Glomerata during the initial stages of the New Diemenslandt invasion.

A Chaplain of the XIVth Legion during the great crusade, Glomerata inspired his fellow Legionnaires in battle more through his deeds than through litany. Always at the forefront of attack, the Tally Chaplain continues this role to the present day.

Seen here armed with an archaic plasma pistol, the Tally Chaplain records the deeds of the warriors about him, and keeps a tally of despair for his dark god.

Death Guard Terminators Done

Blightlord Terminators from the Blighted Path warband deploy in force on the prison colony world of Neu Diemenslandt. The terminators were used by the forces of the Death Guard as shock troops during the initial assaults of the planetary invasion.

This unit is equipped for an anti-heavy infantry role with plasma weaponry, blight launchers and a variety of close combat weapons. 

Trooper Mustaine

A knife fighter without peer on Necromunda, Mustaine made more than his fair share of enemies both outside and within the Death Blades. Upon recruitment into the guard, Mustaine was given a leadership role, but failed to conform to the expectations of regimental command. However his strong survival instinct and unprecedented lethality meant that he was able to avoid the ultimate penalty.
Nevertheless he has not escaped unscathed from sancture, and his wild reputation, prolific combat drug use, and sheer arrogance has resulted in him effectively being relieved of any command duties.
This fact, plus issues associated with the long term use of frenzon, slaught and other combat stimms has resulted in Mustaine withdrawing from the day to day affairs of the regiment, being rarely seen and even more rarely heard during down times. However a reputation for lethality approaching legendary status within the regiment, and having honed his ability to infiltrate and strike from the shadows to extraordinary levels, means that Mustaine remains a valuable asset on the battlefield when the Death Blades engage. 

Test SchemeTerminator

So after about a squillion years I finally painted up one of my Forgeworld Terminator models to see how my scheme would look.

Clash with Reality

It's been a long time since I have added to this blog, a little over six months in fact.

I'd like to say that things in the painting queue have been progressing in that time, but unfortunately they haven't. Not much anyway. Reality trumps hobby sometimes.

But I remain a loyal follower of Nurgle, so let's see how my pledge for 2017 went...

Death Blades Land Speeder

An Imperial Land Speeder assigned to the 9th Necromundan "Death Blades" for recon duties. The land speeders of the Imperial Guard, although rare, are most often used for scouting and reconnaissance where their superior mobility can be utilised effectively. The 9th Necromundan use a variety of different units for gathering intel, including sentinels, specialist infantry, abhumans such as ratlings, light cavalry and land speeders like the one shown here.

As they are few in number, land speeders are most commonly assigned to other mobile formations like assault platoons, rough riders and sentinels where their rapidly deploying heavy weapons act as a valuable force multiplier.

The speeder shown below is attached to F company green platoon, where it provides close heavy support for the grav-chute deploying infantry platoon. This speeder is armed with a multi melta for anti tank duties, and an underslung heavy flamer for anti infantry support. The varied loadout indicates that green platoon were most likely being rapidly deployed into a zone defended by a mixed force.

Note the small arms being used by the crew, indicating that the speeder is about to engage or be engaged at close quarters. Due to the nature of green platoon's rapid deployments all assets are expected to assist with forming a beachhead or breakthrough at close quarters during the stages immediately after a drop. For the former gangers of Necromunda who excel at combat in close confinement, missions such as this are undertaken with a reasonable likelihood of success, albeit at a high rate of attrition.

The Noxious Blightbringer

A noxious blightbringer from the Death Guard forces sighted on the prison colony world of Neu-Diemenslandt.

As typical of Death Guard legionnaires from the Blighted Path, this individual has retained the pre heresy colouration of the Death Guard legion. The armour itself has been highly modified as is typical of plague marines, being in a severe state of decay, and displaying numerous unsanctioned modifications.

The hoses fitted to the helmet are typical, however the mutation displayed on the armour's backpack indicates that this individual is well advanced down the path of damnation.

Other superficial additions to the armour have been added, notably chain mail, heretic iconography and miscellaneous wargear attached to the belt, as well as trophy's and iconography on the pauldrons.

The individual is armed with an archaic plasma pistol that is likely to be a relic of the age of darkness and appears to have maintained its functionality, indicating that the individual has continued to maintain their wargear despite the generally dilapidated appearance, or that the pistol was of a superior design, or both.  The icon carried by the former legionnaire is of unknown origin, and appears to be archaic in function.

Herald of the Blighted Path

A rare pict capture of the captain of the plagueship Harbringer of Woe; the Death Guard Lord Borshak is known by many names; Borshak the Blightlord, Scourge of Exodus, Borshak the Blade, The Ruinmaker. However the most fitting title, and that which is most topical to Imperial forces in the Neu Diemensland system, is the Herald of the Blighted Path. Borshak's path to dark glory is currently in ascendancy, as he cuts a swathe of despair through the Imperium at the head of a army of heresy. Followed by Death Guard legionnaires, heretics, traitors and mutants, his followers numbers swell and their fanaticism grows as the Path progresses.

Hellblade unleashed...

Hellblades are capable air superiority fighters if deployed in high enough numbers. The Death Guard capitol ship Harbringer of Woe carries large numbers of fighters such as these, and they were active in the skies of Neu-Diemensland prior to the deployment of ground troops.

This pict capture was taken during the late stages of the air war, prior to the mass landing of ground forces from the Death Guard.

Gigas The Samarithan

Pict capture of XIVth Legion Apothecary Gigas "The Samarithan" at some stage during the age of darkness. A native of Barbarus, The Samarithan rose quickly through the ranks of the Death Guard, eventually becoming a Primis Medicae in the Legion prior to it's fall. Here he is armoured in a suit of MKIV plate, complete with fully functioning narthecium. Note the extensive battle damage on the armour of The Samarithan, typical of the legionnaires of the XIVth.

He is armed here with a modified bolt pistol, complete with extended barrel (most likely for increased accuracy, with a high probability of a slight decrease in rate of fire) and some form of chemical augmentation, possibly to increase the lethality of fragmenting bold rounds. He also carries an archaic chainsword, ironically dubbed the Emperors Grace. The Samarithan was a brutal battlefield medic, with one of the highest euthanising rates within his legion. Weather this is due to the inhospitable nature of the war zones that the legion often fought in, or simply the fact that Gigas used it as a motivational tool for his troops is unknown. Gigas was also a vocal proponent for conducting unsanctioned gene-seed research, so it is probable that he overzealously harvested his fallen brothers gene seed for his own gene seed experiments within his legion. Irrespective, a "visit by the Samarithan" became a byword for battlefield euthanasia within some chapters of the XIVth.

The Samarithan also continues to display the prime helix symbol on his tabard and right shoulder pauldron awarded to him prior to the events of Istvaan. The left pauldron has been significantly modified, complete with additional reinforcing and some form of arcane technology, possibly for defensive purposes. 

Also of note is the decapitated head hung from the armour. While displaying trophy kills are a rare but utilised practice amongst some legions, this skull has been positively identified as that of a fellow traitor Death Guard legionnaire, further legitimising the claims that the Samarithan used battlefield euthinasia as a tool for reinforcing the morale of those fighting under his command.

Galatea Pax

A consul of the Death Guard Legion during the Great Crusade, Galatea Pax showed a proficiency in brutal close assaults and firefights. Like other members of his legion, he was able to perform any role on the battlefield, but excelled as a destroyer. He often took on the role of Moritat, choosing his own mission objectives as he saw fit. Nimis Zog, his commander, typically allowed Pax to operate with a large degree of freedom, knowing that his abilities were being put to good use wherever Pax chose to apply them.

Here Pax can be seen equipped for a Moritat role, armed with short ranged weaponry and equipped with a jump pack for rapidly re-deploying to engage his target. Pax has chosen to eschew the use of a second plasma pistol in this case, deciding instead to carry the more reliable legion bolt pistol instead. Note the complex custom targeting scope fitted to the plasma pistol, and unusual design, indicating that it is likely to be a relic of the legion. 

Also of note is the lack of unit and honour markings, with superficial damage present on the armour, which the Death Guard legionnaires often chose to allow to accumulate over time. 

Nimis Zog

Pict capture of Traitor Death Guard officer, Nimis Zog, believed to be taken early in the Age of Darkness. Like all Death Guard legionnaires, Zog was skilled in many aspects of warfare. He proved to be a highly skilled consul, excelling at siege breaker and moritat roles during the great crusade. He later went on to be a capable, if unorthodox, field commander. Zog is armed here with a Power Fist and Lightning Claw, a combination that he used to great effect after the events of Istvaan III. It is believed that the relic terran power fist he is armed with was taken from a defeated loyalist Death Guard who had relinquished his legion and re-imaged his armour in the early crusade Dusk Raiders colours that were in use prior to the rediscovery of their Primarch. Zog is said to have beaten the terran to death on Istvaan III with his own fist after first disabling him with a lethal duel plasma pistol salvo that also wounded Zog himself. Zog retained the fist as a trophy, and used it to great effect against the loyalists he later encountered. Zog's armour appears to be a mix of different patterns, typical of "MKV" armour, complete with molecular bonding studs on the shoulder and leg greaves. 

Hanging from his belt can be seen a pendant from the priests of Davin that provided him with additional protection. It was believed that this pendant contained some form of archeotech field generator due to the significant protection that it provided to it's bearer.

Another item of particular note is the retention of an oath of moment on Zog's belt, indicating that he has retained some of the martial traditions of the legions after declaring his loyalty to the warmaster.

The Pledge for 2017

What I said I'd do, what I did and what I say I will do.

In 2016 I pledged that I would do the following:

1. Paint up the 28mm Death Blades models that I currently own. Purchase what bits I need to do this.
2. Paint up the 6mm Death Guard Models that I own. Including the supporting Titan Legion.
3. Purchase and paint some heavy vehicles for the 6mm Death Blades.
4. Paint up some Dark Future models, including purchasing some models on foot.
5. Finish rolling up and modelling my Nurgle Warbands for Realms of Chaos.
6. Find a like minded gaming group and play some games.
7. Keep going with the Old Lead Undead. Hopefully at a faster rate than 1 model per year.

And here is how I went...

Death Blades Valdor Tank Hunter

Pict capture of a Death Blades Valdor Tank Hunter preparing to engage.

Tech Priest

Tech Priest with battle servitors deployed ready for battle.

The time of Judgement is nigh...

Requisitioned into the forces of Het'fjeld as his personal bodyguard and investigators, these Arbites also assist in maintaining order within the Necromundan regiment.

The guardsmen of the 9th Necromundan treat them with outward hostility, thanks largely to the fact that the former gangers of the 9th grew up in a culture of hatred towards the Arbites, who often clashed violently with the hive gangers.

The Arbites themselves care little for the manner in which the Guardsmen treat them, feeling honoured in the fact that they are chosen by Het'fjeld to execute his orders directly.

Epic Battle Report - The're coming to surrender!

I had a fun game of Epic the other day, and I remembered to take some photos! It was bound to happen sooner or later!
It was a 2000 point per side game of Epic Armageddon, between an army of my own creation, the Heavy Mechanised Imperial Guard, and the squats of Thurgrimm's Stronghold.

Green Platoon

Pict capture of elements of the 9th Necromundan F company 3rd platoon, including members of the command section, notably the OiC Lt. Burr and platoon medic.

These troops have been configured for rapid deployment with fully enclosed helmets, and carapace body armour.

Grav chutes appear to have been discarded, which is a common practice amongst units deploying behind enemy lines. The guardsmen are armed with lightweight Ryza pattern lasguns, which appear to have been dramatically overcharged as indicated by the glowing transfer coils underneath the weapons. Unsanctioned modifications such as this render the weapons much more effective, but at a reduced range and increased wear on components, in addition to the higher likelihood of critical malfunction.

Red Platoon Medic

Pict capture of second platoon medic from the 9th Necromundan "Death Blades" F Company. Medics such as these are assigned to the command sections of infantry platoons to improve guardsmen morale, and occasionally reduce battlefield casualties. They are typically found where the fighting is thickest, and this individual has obtained a non standard dueling chain sabre to assist with close quarters engagements and battlefield amputations.
Within the Death Blades medics such as these act as unofficial distributors of combat stimms and other chemical agents, going to great lengths to ensure that supply and distribution within the regiment remains constant. This earns them a certain amount of authority and respect within the regiment, and the position is highly sought after should vacancies arise. Internal disputes with medics are rare, so most vacancies are a result of battlefield attrition or, on occasion, incapacitation due to prolonged substance abuse.