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The Shadow of the Beast

Orba IV station, Trade House Babtiste-Fouqué quarters
Skylla expedition launch: T minus sixty-three hours


The room was dimly lit, the only light coming from the cogitators screen. Two figures, black clad, hunched in front of the cogitator, focused on the information scrolling through the screen. The smaller one, female, brushed a lock of hair from her face and resumed typing in commands on the rune board.

“Hurry up now, Jen.” the male whispered, leaning in behind the female. He looked nervously around the cogitator chamber, but they were still alone in there.

“Shush now, David, let me concentrate.” She typed in rapidly on the rune board and was rewarded with a soft chime like that of a bell.

“There, I’m in.” She smiled briefly at the male before turning back to the screen.

She pushed few command runes and the cogitator, obedient, showed her the schematics she was seeking.

“This is it, the Babtiste-Fouqué bio-research base. Code-name, Skylla.” Jen allowed herself a silent moment of satisfaction for breaking the security of the cogitator. It had been harder than she thought it would be.

“That’s the one.” David whispered, captivated by the schematics in the screen.

“Any info on what the base is researching?”

“Nope, I can’t find any mention of any research in here. I guess they don’t trust that information on these cogitators... I wonder if we could hack into the third level cogitator. That might contain the information.” Jen bites her lip absentmindedly as she scans more and more logs.

“No, that’s too risky this close to the launch. There is somebody always at the third level when they are preparing for the mission. Our contact has to settle for these plans.” David fidgets nervously. “And in any case, he didn’t ask for the research stuff, just for the info on the trip that is being prepared here.”

“Oh, that’s easy enough to pick from here. Soooo... Here’s the flight schedule and flight roster. Looks like the destination is something called Kharybdis, never heard of it.” Jen pushes the command runes again.

“Here it is, Kharybdis, imperial agri-world in the Scythia Minoris sector. Current tithe status is null. Let me see... ah! It was devastated in the ork waagh some thirty years ago. Looks like some ork warlord by the name of Groksnag landed on Kharybdis and pretty much put the planet to ruins. Defence force was wiped out. The estimated population loss was close to 40%. All major cities torched. That’s pretty grim stuff.”

“So the orks control the planet now?” David leaned over Jens shoulder again.

“No. Warlord Groksnag packed everything up and left Kharybdis to join an even bigger waagh going through the sector. A warlord called Grand Arsonist Hugraz was leading that one. The Waagh was stopped at Farson’s World. I guess Grogsnag and his orks didn’t survive that. At least they never returned to Kharybdis.”

“Looks like Kharybdis has been in anarchy ever since. Some of the fisheries and food farms are producing, but not enough for import. Cities are still more or less in ruins and there is no unified government. Some of the food farm collectives have formed some sort of city states, petty kings and that sort of stuff. Actually, if you want to hide a secret laboratory, which you are not that keen for anybody finding, Kharybdis seems to be a pretty good candidate for it.”

“I can’t believe Imperium has left the planet to rot like that.”

“Oh, they are not leaving it to rot. The planet is just so little of importance to the Administratium, that it is lost to the red tape. I would guess that in twenty or so years the wheels of the bureaucracy have turned enough that some sort of re-building plan will be instigated. The planets tithes weren’t that big even before the orks went to rearrange things around. That’s what Babtiste-Fouqué is counting on when they built their research base on Kharybdis.”

“Oh, that’s pretty slick of them.” David mused, “Why Babtiste-Fouqué is organizing this expedition then? Has something gone wrong at Skylla base?”

“I don’t know. Looks like the monthly reports from the base have come in time and everything’s looking right dandy. Something has spooked them though as this expedition is going to cost a bundle for the House Babtiste-Fouqué. They wouldn’t send this for nothing.”

“So, we haven’t got the research information. And we don’t know the purpose of the expedition. What exactly have we found out here?” David started to sound exasperated.
“Well, we know now where the expedition is going. And I can pull the full expedition roster here. Then we know who are going to Skylla.” Jen pushed in a sequence of commands.

“Here it is, Berth 10/36, Rosa Nera. A Rogue Trader ship captained by fellow named Krikham. I can’t find any regular contracts between this Krikham and House Babtiste-Fouqué, so he is probably hired for this mission only. Expendable, I should think. Rosa Nera is a small ship with small crew, good Charter, though.”

“The passenger list looks pretty interesting. The expedition leader and Babtiste-Fouqué representative is no other that Léon Chabot. Isn’t he, like, the third in the succession for the House Babtiste-Fouqué? It’s pretty important stuff in there, if he’s going to take care of things in person. Then we have Amélie D’Aoust, a xeno-biologist. Next are some aides, but nobody really interesting in there. “

“Whoa, look who is taking part in this too! Filipé, that Eldar guy, who is hanging around in Babtiste-Fouqué balls all the time.”
Jen sighs “What’s his real name again? Fiolathian, I think.”

“I’ve seen him. He is a bit foppish, if you ask me. The women adore him, though.” David snarls with a low voice.

“Jealous, are we?” Jen lets out bit of a giggle, but lowers her voice again. “But you’ve got a point. I wouldn’t expect him to be in this kind of expedition. I wonder if there’s more in him than meets the eye... And it looks like he’s bringing an entourage with him. More eldar. It gets curiouser and curiouser.”

Jen continues to flip through the passenger manifest.

“Next entry, hmmm, that’s odd. This just lists them as a party of four, no names and no explanation on why they are part of the expedition. Chabot has approved them, though. There is an attached security picture on the file. I’m calling it in now. Huh?” Jen types in more commands as the picture refuses to open on the screen. “Pretty heavy security on this stuff... A-ha! There, that did it.”

The picture opens, showing four figures, one of them a massive mountain of a man in heavy armour, dwarfing the other three standing beside him.

“Wow! Look at that! He’s a big fellow, isn’t he? Is he an ogryn or something?” David squints at the bad quality picture.

“No, I’ve never seen an ogryn looking like that. Just looking at that picture gives me creeps.” Jen shudders. “He looks like some kind of warrior, though. Perhaps he’s from some heavy grav world. He’s just a muscle, obviously. Perhaps they are Chabots private guards or something.”

Jen closes the picture again and moves down the list. Then she whistles quietly.

“Wow. Looks like Mister Léon Chabot isn’t taking any chance with the security of the expedition. These guys are Iron Bears, security contractors.”

“You mean mercs?” David injects dryly.

“That’s what I said. They are listed as two hundred men, commanded by Colonel Roland Abbadie. The second in command is Major Émilie DeBrosse. I know these Iron Bears, they have pretty impressive rep. “

“House Babtiste-Fouqué has a private army?” David asks, incredulous.

“Oh yeah! All the Trade Houses employ these Security Contractors for their own little trade wars. Well, trade skirmishes more like. As long as the Houses keep the fighting small scale and low key, the Arbites turn a blind eye to them. The Imperium doesn’t care who the top dog in the Trade House hierarchy is as long as the tithes keep flowing. So they let the Houses to fight among themselves these little industrial espionage dash saboteur actions as long as it doesn’t spread to the general population. Few dead mercs and House employees are just the cost of doing business here. And Iron Bears are definitely the experts of this kind of fighting. Well equipped and with good experience in CQB situations. I bet that whatever is going on at Skylla site, the Iron Bears can handle it.”

“Oh. Well, what do you think is happening at Skylla?”

“I don’t know, but since they are bringing this much firepower with them, I suspect it might be some kind of hostile takeover by another Trade House.”

David mused this for awhile and then stood up.

“Is there anything else you can pull from there?”

“No. This is it. I guess it has to be enough for our client. I’ll copy all this stuff and we can get out of here and meet the contact.”



Orba IV station, docks
Skylla expedition launch: T minus fourty-two hours

The docking area of the station was never really quiet. The auto-loaders kept going to and fro, from this ship or that, loading and unloading all hours of the day. It was no wonder then that nobody heard the six sharp cracks coming from a shadowy corridor of a vacant berth. The bodies would go unnoticed for several hours more.

In the shadows of the dimly lit corridor, sprawled two bodies, one man and one woman, both shot two times to the chest and once in the forehead. No identification was found from either of the bodies and there were no clues of the shooters identity. The deaths of these two unknown bodies were to remain mystery for the overworked station security for a long time to come.


Orba IV station, berth 10/36
Skylla expedition launch: T minus one minute

The big docking claws slowly pushed the Rogue Trader ship Rosa Nera from the berth. When they were extended to the fullest, they let go of the ship with a small puff of escaping air and ice. The Rosa Nera igniteded the small manoeuvring engines and started gliding slowly away from the station. After getting beyond the minimum safety distance the bigger thrusters cut in and the ship was on her way out of the gravity well of the planet.

The expedition to Kharybdis was finally underway.

Sorry for the long introduction text. It was the same text I've given to the players of the campaign and it sets up the situation.

Anyway, this is a Broodheim campaign that our gaming group will start next year, after the Jade Vessel campaign is finished.

This campaign is about a Genestealer Brood and it will be based on Mordheim rules that are 40K:ified, thus Broodheim.

The people taking part this campaign and their "gangs" are:

Col Hammer (me): I will co-GM this and play with the two NPC forces as needed. I will build a Genestealer Brood force and the Mercenary NPC force (the Iron Bears) and about five major NPC characters for the campaign. This blog is mostly about my building these figures for the games ahead.

Sickbunny: Will co-GM this with me and will build his own Genestealer Brood horde for the game. He is also in charge of the Mordheim rules changes.

Migsula: Player. Wants to field his Alpharius gang (featured in their own thread).

Northen: Player. Will either field his Syndicate force or build a totally new force. Has not made up his mind yet...
[EDIT] Northern will use his Syndicate force. He promised to do a few new figures for this campaign!

Gurkmannen: Player. Fields his Rogue Trader Krikhams posse.

Migsulas little brother has indicated that he wants to build an Eldar force. If so, they will be taking part in this too.

I will focus this blog mostly in my Genestealer Brood and IronBear mercenaries. If Sickbunny doesn't want to do a blog of his own, I will ask him to post pics of his Genestealer Brood here too.

I like it, it's cool. Good writing, did you write it?

EDIT: Shouldn't this be in the campaign section though?

Yes, I wrote the introduction story.

Shouldn't this be in the campaign section though?

Nope. The long introduction might fool you thinking that, but the blog will focus on the models now. I just wanted to give you a bit backround about the models and why I'm building them.

I need to get some WIP pics here, asap, to make this a modeling blog.

Broodheim? Oh my...first you guys had us blown away with =I=munda, soon people will be talking about "Broodheim"!

Yeah, I know. It's a stupid joke.

I guess I could call still this =I=munda as it is a spiritual descendant of the Jade Vessel campaign, but since this is not about Inquisitors, nor will it use Necromunda rules, I thought a new title was approbiate. Even though it is just a joke.

Anyway, it's the figures that matter the most and I hope to get first WIP pics by monday. I started working on various Brood figs using mainly flagellant and ghoul kits (with various 40K weapons attached). A bigger, meaner Purestrain is on the table also.

I'm hanging to see how you are going to pull off these hybrids.

Genestealer cult players everywhere (they pop up every now and then as IG at tourneys) and =][=munda players will likely be looking to copy your work...

Col Hammer wrote:Yeah, I know. It's a stupid joke.

I guess I could call still this =I=munda as it is a spiritual descendant of the Jade Vessel campaign, but since this is not about Inquisitors, nor will it use Necromunda rules, I thought a new title was approbiate. Even though it is just a joke.

Anyway, it's the figures that matter the most and I hope to get first WIP pics by monday. I started working on various Brood figs using mainly flagellant and ghoul kits (with various 40K weapons attached). A bigger, meaner Purestrain is on the table also.

Well this is very interesting, I will keep my eyes on this. How will you translate the 40k equipment into Mordheim for example? I doubt you will count a Bolter as a crossbow for example.

Let us know what kind of rules/stats you've used during your games. I think that would definitely add something to your game reports, so not only will be then have the narrative but we could also learn how you actually played the game, see it as a tutorial or something!

New Adaptation

"The concept of an "integrated whole" can also be stated in terms of a system embodying a set of relationships which are differentiated from relationships of the set to other elements, and from relationships between an element of the set and elements not a part of the relational regime." Savant Iper Vik of Lerna

The net sifted, fluid, organic, systemic, yet made of self sustainable and independent cells - subsystems. The sift caused a fluid response, the system sensed the opportunity, felt its calling potential.

It was the cloaked Pegasus Surveillance kite, some 14 kilometers above Berdia that relayed a fresh burst of information to its master link located in a massive displacement of nothing in high anchor over Ragoos.

If someone had the means to reveal its nature and decipher its name, it was called Gamma, a hugely powerful subsystem. The nothingness that cloaked Gamma distorted and something considerable parted and leaped between realms.

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/221869.page

Malika2 wrote:

Col Hammer wrote:Yeah, I know. It's a stupid joke.

I guess I could call still this =I=munda as it is a spiritual descendant of the Jade Vessel campaign, but since this is not about Inquisitors, nor will it use Necromunda rules, I thought a new title was approbiate. Even though it is just a joke.

Anyway, it's the figures that matter the most and I hope to get first WIP pics by monday. I started working on various Brood figs using mainly flagellant and ghoul kits (with various 40K weapons attached). A bigger, meaner Purestrain is on the table also.

Well this is very interesting, I will keep my eyes on this. How will you translate the 40k equipment into Mordheim for example? I doubt you will count a Bolter as a crossbow for example.

Let us know what kind of rules/stats you've used during your games. I think that would definitely add something to your game reports, so not only will be then have the narrative but we could also learn how you actually played the game, see it as a tutorial or something!

Like I said before, Sickbunny is in charge of the rules. He has done a total conversion of Mordheim rules into 40K, so a bolter really is a bolter and not just crossbow with different name.

The rules are meant for use as skirmish-40K with a squad of ten Imperial guardsmen as the basic unit what everything else is measured against. But I guess they will bend easily enough for the =I=munda/Broodheim use too.

I haven't had the opportunity to try these rules yet, so I'm greatly interested in how they work!

Since Mordheim is sort of Necromunda 1.5 (or 2.0?) the rules will remain close to Necromunda I should think.

I personally chose Mordheim as the basis of the conversion simply because the rules are smoother and neater and yet, also very personable and intuitive instead of restrictive as the original Necromunda rules were very much a child of both their times and the terrain that was designed to go with it and instead already easily support almost any sort of skirmish gaming with clearly designated heroic characters and also the 'redshirts'... not necessarily the faceless mobs but admittedly not the main characters of the story either.

But yes, once I port the rules from my old computer to a newer one and polish them for general viewing, I can potentially post them if the interest is there. Though they are -heavily- modified from their origins to provide a better difference from Wyrdstone-looting warbands to highly efficient military/paramilitary units performing often specific tasks instead of random roaming in the ruins...

Also, at the moment the rules assume the possession of the main Mordheim rulebook which will not be necessary once I am finished.

Oh I will definitely keep my eyes on this then. You should post your more polished ideas over at the =I=munda thread in the gaming section of this forum. I think that right now there is quite some interest in your projects (this and =I=munda), I just hope that this will catch on and that we will see more people play =I=munda/Broodheim/etc.

I too would definitely be interested in seeing the rules.
Looking forward to following this blog as well.

Sickbunny also needs to start sharing he's awesome models here!! Believe me guys, you want to see them.

Well if an endorsement from Migsula is put to Sickbunny's models they gotta be good! can't wait to see some pics!

Show me the sickbunny!!!



Pretty please with sugar on top...

Finished building the prototypes of Purestrain and two hybrids. Yesterday it was too late at night to start fooling with the camera, so no piccies yet. I'll try to take pics tonight.

The hybrids ended up being a bit small due to my using the flagellant and ghoul kits. I don't really mind it, but I try to think a way to build few more burlier hybrids too as the 1st generation hybrids should be a bit larger. I guess my two hybrids pass for 2nd generation hybrids though. But hey, not all of the humans are the same size either so I think it's good.

I'll try to post the piccies tomorrow. And who knows, perhaps I have time to finish the two Brood Brothers too.

Also on the table is the 3rd generation hybrid-psyker that is the leader of this merry band of brothers.

Ok, my first Broodheim figs are ready for painting. More to follow.

Group shot for size comparison.


1st Generation hybrid (one with claw)
2nd generation hybrid (pistol/chainsword)



2 Brood brothers



Purestrain genestealer

Looks GOOD! Nice GS work and the intro was cool to read! Subscribed!

They look great! I just wanted to say that it's the fourth generation of Genestealers that produce a Magus (psyker) and look fully human. The first three still have Genestealer physiological traits.

Lexicanum wrote: * Purii - Purii are the most recognisable kind of Genestealers and one of them starts the infection cycle. They can infect members of other species through an ovipositor for genetic material located within their tongue. As the infection and infiltration spreads, the first genestealer takes the role of Patriarch and often grows larger than a typical Purii specimen.
* Contagii - Infection Generation - Are the "hosts", members of another species, that have been infected by the "Kiss of the Purii". This causes them to forget the circumstances and the infection itself. As they return to their own societies they begin to have an urgent need to find a mate and to begin a family. The mate also becomes a Contagii. The Contagii are physically indistinguishable from other members of the species, making them the perfect infiltrators. The infection makes them fanatically loyal to their offspring, and to their Patriarch, which typically will re-enter their life all too soon.
* Maelignaci - 1st Generation - As the contagii mate, the genetic material they were infected with passes onto their offspring. The maelignaci are very alike pure Genestealera, possessing many times 3 or even 4 arms. However they are unable to use their host species technology or weaponry. Within the cult they generally regarded as expendable shock troops. They are very clumsy and slow.
* Hybrid - 2nd Generation - The offspring of the maelignaci bear more resemblance to their host species. However no one would be fooled, and they are also unable to use technology.
* True Hybrid - 3rd Generation - The members of this generation could be mistaken for a member of their host species if they wear disguising clothes, or appear in shaded areas, etc. Some of them are capable of using weapons of their host species.
* Primacii - 4th Generation - The Primacii are indistinguishable from members of their host species. Still many sport some tell-tale: many are bald, or something else. Their loyalty always lies with the Genestealer cult. Some rare individuals of this generation have psychic powers and take an important role within the cult as a Genestealer Magus.
* Purii - 5th Generation - Paradoxically, the Genestealers DNA reemerges and the cycle can begin anew, as new Genestealers have the potential to become new Patriarchs in other worlds.

Hey, thanks for that information! I was going with my memory alone and it has been a long time since I last had read the fluff. This helps a lot!

With this new (or old!) information, I need to re-think my plans for the figures a bit. Nothing major though. I think I'm well on my way now.

Dude!!! Those brrod brothers are sexy x2!!!

Way cool. Make sme happy with my plans for a necro gang. Keep up the great work and awesome GS work.

ender502

Awesome.
Brilliant conversions.

Most excellent start. Alpharius is preparing some Hellfire shots and sooo ready for killing hordes of your minis

I've been thinking of how many and which kind of Iron Bears I need to build. They are not all meant to be used at the same time in a scenario, but I want enough variety that all needed "Red Shirt" types are covered...

Thus, my plan is: Bolded means I already have the fig built.

Colonel Abbadie, Iron Bears CO. Major NPC

Major DeBrosse, Iron Bears 2iC. Major NPC

Lieutenant Gorman. IB officer. Pistol armed.

Sergeant Apone. SMG armament

Corporal Hicks. Rifle

Corporal Dietrich. Rifle. Medic (have the fig, but need to convert her to medic.

Corporal Rains. Las-rifle. Scanner and other tech gizmo operator.

Corporal Spunkmeyer. K-9 unit handler. SMG

Private Burke. K-9 unit handler. SMG

Private Wierzbowski. RPG gunner

Private Dillon. Rifle

Private Morse. Sniper (WIP)

Private Bishop. CQB - shield and pistol

Private Drake. SAW gunner

Private Hudson. Engineer. Shotgun

Private Frost. Flamer

Private Crowe. Scout. Shotgun

Private Vasquez. Scout. Dunno 'bout weapon yet.

So far, I think this is a nice spread of different armament. I'll add to the list if I feel something else is needed. (Sorry 'bout the Aliens names... They were only thing that came to mind...)


Genestealer brood will be about this strong...
Again, bolded means I have built the fig or am in process of building it now.


4th Generation Primacii, psychic powers

3rd Generation hybrid, Autopistol/sword

3rd Generation hybrid, Lasgun

3rd Generation hybrid, Laspistol/chainsword

2nd Generation hybrid, 3 arms, Flamer

2nd Generation hybrid, 3 arms, Autopistol

2nd Generation hybrid, 4 arms

1st Generation Maelignaci

1st Generation Maelignaci

(these two have 4 arms and I try to build them bigger and meaner than the hybrids)

Contagii - the Brood Brothers:

BB with shotgun

BB with lasgun

BB with lasgun

BB with Heavy Stubber

BB with Plasma gun

And finally, the Purii

Purestrain

Purestrain


After some NPCs, I figure I need to build around 40 figures for the campaign...!

Pictures dude...pictures!

Interesting to see you using different ranks than the usual 40k ranks for your Iron Bears. Perhaps instead of existing US army terms you might want to come up with your own ranks (count as sergeant, etc). Dan Abbnet (sp?) is quite a genius when it comes to that sort of thing!

The Iron Bears are Private army at best, mercenaries at worst. They can use whatever system they want as they have no connection to IG or PDF.

And, I should point out, 40K IG uses similar ranks.

Guardsman/trooper = Private by another name.

There are no Corporals in the IG codex, but I'm sure GW just want to keep the rules neat and clean and not confuse people with "unneccessary" ranks.

Sergeants exists, so do lieutenants and captains.

I'm pretty sure IG has something between a captain and general, even if the rules do not mention it as those ranks are really out of scope of 40K scale...

So, using the US ranking is not really that different from "official" IG ranks.

The Iron Bear ranks do not play a big role (if they have any role at all) in the campaign. They are just an easy way to point who is in command and who has to clean the toilets...

As for the pictures, I am using older figures that I had built for "Hammers Slammers" 40K army that I then stopped building. The handful of figures that I had done work very well as the Iron Bears. I need to build few more and re-paint everything. I'd rather not take any pictures of them before I have given them the re-paint though.

So there will be pics soon, but just not right away...

Will there be bear like stuff on them such as fur capes or helmets? Or is the bear merely a symbol on the shoulderpad/crest/banner?

Col Hammer wrote:

Is that a "Bounty" on your guys or did you use "Brawny" in the background?

Stuff looks great!

Geez, we're always, and always be one step behind Hammer, Migsula & Crew.. The concept is simply brilliant once again!
I also like the fact that the rules are based on the Mordheim rules (one of the best games I've ever played!). I saw SickBunny is in charge of the rules?
Sick; have you ever seen the rules from World in Arms? It's also a 40K skirmish game based on the Mordheim rules, I really like the rules. Especially because they already have rules for a Genestealer Cult/Brood! They sure would give some inspiration on the basic rules you're creating!

Hammer, very nice fluff! It was a very nice read, I'm really looking forward to some more fluff and of course battle reports with the Hammer-treatment.
Also, very nice gang so far. I'm really a big fan of the Brood Brothers you did. I sure am going to steal... err.. borrow some idea's!

I'll be watching this thread carefully once again!


Cheers!