Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Try Avatar or Morathi (not full names), i have it on reasonable authority they are/know competent artists.

Cant wait for the updates Markillius

Revenent Reiko wrote:Try Avatar or Morathi (not full names), i have it on reasonable authority they are/know competent artists.

Cant wait for the updates Markillius

Thanks bud! Much appreciated!

Sweet mother more moeny than you could throw a stick at!

Intersted as to the development of this - also interested in how the Phobos fit onto the MkIII armour!

SUBSCIRBED

Alrighty, boys and girls, ladies and gentleman, Marines and...... whatever other choice(s) you run.

THIS is THE update YOU absolutely MUST not JUDGE me FOR...

All kidding aside, what you are hopefully about to read is the most solid description for the army that I can muster. It is by NO MEANS FINISHED, all the details still need to go in, but the framework is now set*. (WILLING TO CHANGE THOUGH!!!)

Please leave your comments. They are ALL welcomed.



"In the darkest days of the Horus Heresy, on the forgeworld of Tagrantis IV located in the Taurus Arm of the Segmentum Ultima, there was silence; A silence which would last till the age of the second founding. What once was an invulnerable library of the Imperium was now an impenetrable tomb - dark and forgotten. Locked away beyond the orbital defense platforms which once shielded Tagrantis IV from the eyes of the universe, there existed only darkness. The furnaces which had once filled the skies with brilliant plumes of molten plasma and liquid fire were cold. The machinery which formed the piercing spires and humming opalescent valleys remained still. Stagnant air and pollution fill the atmosphere. On Tagrantis IV, there was no life beyond that of the planets core. Then, in the age of the second founding, Tagrantis IV was lost, presumably when Irona, the forgeworld's closest star, died in brilliance of a supernova. Or so they say."

~Last surviving record of Forgeworld Tagrantis IV


Origins

The Iron Mongers were founded for one purpose; to defend the forgeworld Tagrantis IV. Tagrantis IV was both the testing ground and largest techno-repository in the Imperium. So great was the purpose of Tagrantis IV, all but a dozen records scattered throughout the dusty corners of the Imperium had been wrenched from existence. However, there was no record in the Imperium of the Iron Mongers. The Iron Mongers served as the planets secondary line of defense, the primary being Tagrantis IV's planetary defense platforms which completely encircled it. Since the forgeworld's founding, the defensive platforms had only fired twice; the first was the initial test of their capabilities. The second upon a fleet of unknown origin skirting the tail, as none could know of the world's existence.

As such, the 1,000 strong legion of marines were rendered, as Tagrantis IV's Lex Mechanics put it, "An unnecessary and short lived safeguard." Chapter Master Darrius Elt disagreed.

***

The Emperor's words remained etched into Elt's mind. "One cannot forge peace through weakness. Our charge is to protect the sanctity of this world, this ark of his majesty and untold knowledge. Thus we shall slumber in the bowels of of this world, to rise and defend its sanctity. Dream my brothers. Dream of his glory. His will be done." The legions response was furious, resounding off the walls of the endless chamber: "We shall be the hammer of his majesty, forging the blades with which to reap the unclean from this world, that his tranquility may be everlasting." These were the only words the marines ever spoke, the last words they ever would. Elt initiated the stasis guard, and the marines were locked away in an endless slumber within the core of Tagrantis IV, waiting for the day when they would face the enemies of the Emperor. He sealed the chamber in his wake, and proceeded to the heart of Tagrantis IV, Sector I.

***

Now would begin Elk's longest post. The command console was prepared. Elk stepped onto the platform. "For his Glory," he began, "Prepare subroutine Sigma Delta 1.7 Protector Protocol. Execute." With terrifying speed, the floor of the room fell away, the door disappearing. Mechanical arms wielding snake-like tendrils of coil and sharp, glistening blades appeared. Elk's MK III armor was cut away within seconds as the protector protocol began to fuse his ind and body with Tagrantis IV's mainframe. Elk's last waking memory was the Warning message that appeared on the holoscreen.

**Reactor 12 non-responsive. Critical event in 42 seconds**



Subroutine Sigma Delta 1.7 Protector Protocol outlined three mission critical objectives which could not be violated.

1) Maintain the Iron Mongers chapter
2) Isolate and defend Sector I and Tagrantis IV C.O.R.E facility until Exodus Order received
3) In event of cataclysmic event, transfer all primary power to C.O.R.E. facility and initiate Archimedes Protocol.

*** All other priorities rendered void. Use of all Tagrantis IV assets authorized.***


The failure of Reactor 12 caused a cataclysimic event in which the resulting blast ruptured the pollution transit pipelines which bled the toxicity generated by the Mechanicus' research out through the orbital defense platforms. The toxins quickly filled the atmosphere, choking off all mechanicus personnel unprotected or on the surface of the planet. Those not killed, would die from asphyxiation or starvation, as the Protector Protocol redirected all power to the C.O.R.E facility and it's surface entrance in Sector I. This was the day Tagrantis IV went silent.

As the years progressed, the Protector Protocol did what was necessary to maintain the primary objectives.

OBJECTIVE I - In order to protect the Iron Mongers, clone farms were assembled within the C.O.R.E facility, each maintaining 100 function copies of each marine. As genetic permutations are to be expected from excessive cloning, those bodies with defects which were minor, had the defect removed or repaired with mechanical components and artificial limbs or organs. Those too damaged for use were broken down by the nanites which maintained the health of each clone. The clones were effectively empty shells which the Protector Protocol would direct the marines minds into.

OBJECTIVE II - The protector Protocol isolated the bio-link of Darrius Elk and encapsulated his consciousness within itself. Darrius would know everything and see everything which the Protector Protocol did to maintain the primary objectives, while also isolating Sector I and the C.O.R.E facility from all other contact.

OBJECTIVE III - Archimedes protocol began and has been testing, improving, and applying technological advancements in the assigned area of interest: warfare.


EXODUS DAY - Protector Protocol receives Exodus Order. Double varification necessary. Master Darrius Elk verifies, Protector Protocol varifies. Protector Protocol on standby.


Darrius Elk's longest station was now over. Freed from the bonds of the Protector Protocol, he could now complete the mission. Alas, his body was now permenantly part of the machine. The countless centuries of research and expansion within the C.O.R.E. Facility had demanded his all, even his freedom. He was now permanently housed within Tagrantis IV. Luckily, the Protector Protocol had planned for this, and prepared a suitable replacement body.

***

Darrius Elk stood at the base of the holoscreen of the stasis chamber. The marines stood at attention, just as they had when they were last awake. Only this time, they were staring at themselves. Their metallic portions of their new bodies glistening despite the dim light.

"Brothers" came Darrius Elk's voice, both from the holoscreen and the body standing beneath it. "Today is the beginning of the end. The beginning of our Emperor's triumph. The end to the existence of his enemies. Now you see. We shall be the hammer of his majesty, forging the blades with which to reap the unclean from this world, that his tranquility may be everlasting. His will be done"

The marines shouted the mantra with all their might, the neural links in the clone bodies screaming at maximum. The hall remained silent, all except for Elk's voice.

Thus began the Exodus of Tagrantis IV, and the resurrection of the Iron Mongers.






NOW, a little bit of explanation of the importance of their iconography.

BEFORE the incident with Reactor 12, the anvil was not cracked, it symbolized their purpose, their mission to defend Tagrantis. The Scythe represented what they were defending, the technology to clean the universe of the Emperor's enemies. The gear symbolized the endlessness of their duty, how it continued on forever, and how they were just part of the emperor's master plan, part of his machine.

AFTER the Exodus, the anvil was cracked to symbolize the change in their mission (the failure of their mission some might say) to defend the weapons and technologies of the Imperium. The scythe became more prevalent as it was now the technologies that they had defended and protected which they now utilized to wipe the enemies of the imperium out. (By IMPERIUM, i mean the Emperor's will or vision for what the Imperium should and would be). The gear now symbolizes the same thing, but it also represents how they are part machine now, physically part of the technology intended to defeat the enemies of the Emperor.


So that's what I got. Lemme know what you think. Also, this is a rough, and i do mean ROUGH version of the post Exodus banner they would carry. Thanks!

WOW. Once again, Forgeworld has forced my hand by producing more product that I am unable to resist.

I'm thinking..... 4 sets total? lol

Wow, really like the fluff, you've got a great description going on and the Icon's match the background quite well.

I've never been a fan of the over the shoulder heavy weapons but they do look quite nice

Quick question about the Iron Mongers? While in stasis/cloning the space marines are not going through a codex standard day (weapon drills, field exercises, weapon maintainence etc) wouldn't their battlefield effectiveness be slightly diminished as they wouldn't be up to date with the latest tactic's and weapons? I guess this would give you more options to have older armor and... less orthodox equipment....

Knightley wrote:Wow, really like the fluff, you've got a great description going on and the Icon's match the background quite well.

I've never been a fan of the over the shoulder heavy weapons but they do look quite nice

Quick question about the Iron Mongers? While in stasis/cloning the space marines are not going through a codex standard day (weapon drills, field exercises, weapon maintainence etc) wouldn't their battlefield effectiveness be slightly diminished as they wouldn't be up to date with the latest tactic's and weapons? I guess this would give you more options to have older armor and... less orthodox equipment....

The Protector Protocol kept the clone bodies in 'peak' form through the necessary mechanical adaptations and various biological alterations (genetherapy, muscle stimulants, etc.), but their minds were effectively encapsulated within the system like Darrius Elk, protecting their personalities and memories.

Their battlefield effectiveness would not be diminished because of the neural interface implanted within each clone. The implant serves a two fold purpose, both as a communications device (allowing each marine to communicate almost telepathically with one another, though their are range restrictions, and as a PA system for orders/commands from the Chapter Master Darrius Elk), but it also acts as their link to the Protector (Post Exodus title for both master Darrius and the planetary mainframe/tech-network of Tagrantis IV). This link allows their encapsulated selves to actually inhabit and utilize their clone bodies (think of it like being on one computer, and using the internet to access and run another computer), but once the Protector Protocol received the Exodus Order and released Darrius Elk back into the system, Darrius was able to take full control and begin streaming all relevant information to the chapter regarding the weapons developed, adapted, or changed as well as the necessary battle relevant operations and maintenance data. This is how the chapter remains so updated on what technology they use, shifts in a battle in real time, and also how they came out of stasis in the battle ready condition you find them now.

HOWEVER, they are just like any other marines. They still run through rigorous training routines and practice using the weapons which information has been downloaded into their consciousness. Its the idea of knowledge does not trump experience. Yes, their bodies are in tip top shape, and yes they have all this knowledge, but putting it to practical application is different than just knowing how to do it. Truly, their link to the Protector is like giving a student a library - all the knowledge they could ever want, but they have to choose how to apply it. Because that's the big thing here - They're NOT puppets, they're NOT mindless clones. They are the original 1000 marines charged to Protect Tagrantis IV. Even when their clone body is destroyed, they do not come back in the next clone body as a fresh-blood, they remember and learn just like you or me, the only difference is that after the gunbarrel is put to their face and the trigger is pulled, they come back remembering the face of the one holding the gun.

Hope that answers your questions. Thanks for commenting though!

My biggest concern here is to make the chapter feel 'real'. I mean, i don't want to make a chapter that is just UBER POWERFUL. That's pretty much the lamest thing anyone could do in my opinion. The idea is that they will play just like any other chapter (once i decide which codex to base them off of), just that their look, and playstyle fit this unique background. Part of that is that since they don't die, I need to decide if their playstyle is patience, or just in your face aggression.

What do you think would be a good codex for the army to play by?

Wow Markillius, looking good, really like the fluff
going to have to re read it though because i am hungover to hell and back

Revenent Reiko wrote:Wow Markillius, looking good, really like the fluff
going to have to re read it though because i am hungover to hell and back

I had a bit of "adult beverage" myself last night haha. Nothing else to do until the bits for the Mongers come in. Russian and EU post take FOREVER. But you can't argue with ebay prices!

Hope you're not suffering too bad, and thanks for checking out the blog! Lemme know if you got any suggestions or questions once you're more alert haha.

UPDATE - Been looking around for some potential conversion bits to get, specifically heads, shoulders, weapons that will fit the 'old and bulky' feel of the army. Also, anything that looks good for robotic replacement parts. Here are just a few that I've been looking at.


Lemme know what you think please, as I'm wanting to finish up ordering within the next week.

Are your marines communists or sometthing?

zxwarrior wrote:Are your marines communists or sometthing?

Well, the original concept for them was kind of a 'cold-war' imagining of the enemy. Cold, mechanical, bulky. And yes, what was originally going to be the shoulder emblem was the hammer and sickle. But that was just the humble beginnings. I'd like to think they've developed into a much more unique, and colored chapter versus just a warmachine like I had originally planned them to be.

Well that sounds pretty cool. hope you the best of lluck with it.

zxwarrior wrote:Well that sounds pretty cool. hope you the best of lluck with it.

Thanks! I promise things will start to get more interesting once I get some damn minis delivered. But until then, I suppose I have to make due with refining the fiction and themes.

Hope to see more posts from you!

Well, for those that have kept up with the blog, page 1 has my original idea for painting the army. However, I'm reconsidering because of the potential difficulties in creating legitimate looking battle damage on a washed metallic basecoat. If anyone has any suggestions or ideas, please let me know.

BUT, here are some fallbacks that I'm thinking about. Lemme know what you think.

Oh, i was just gonna order those sweet helmets on the first page. Really liking how the fluff is looking. Can't imagine how you can shell out so much money for a "distraction" army. Insanity.

lunarghost wrote:Oh, i was just gonna order those sweet helmets on the first page. Really liking how the fluff is looking. Can't imagine how you can shell out so much money for a "distraction" army. Insanity.

Lol well, truth be told, this army is hopefully going to be my focus army eventually. Original intention was to start a BA army that was all from my own imagination. Now, same idea, but it's also supposed to test my abilities and help me to learn new techniques, essentially making me a better painter, modder, and just really let me have free reign to make things as wacked out as possible.

My other blog is grey knights, and I love them the way they are standard. Beyond cutting some Techmarine heads/Libby heads off for GK armored heads, there's not going to be a whole lot of aftermarket changes made. Yeah a few here and there, but the end result is to have them look picture perfect.

If the GK's are my baby, then the Iron Mongers are to be the bastard son that returns from the past to reap what is rightfully his.

And OH MY GOD YES! GET THOSE HEADS THEY'RE SICK!!! I'll try to find it, but I saw a sweet job someone did using three of them for Iron Warriors. Very Choice.

And glad you like the fluff!

FINALLY FOUND IT!!!

PLEASE, if anyone knows what kit this comes from or happens to have any for trade/sale, PLEASE LET ME KNOW!!!

it is the nurgle champion's head from the aspiring champion sprue (csm squad), there's only one per box, so you should search over those bitz sites... good luck and keep going!

Ric

brother_camael wrote:it is the nurgle champion's head from the aspiring champion sprue (csm squad), there's only one per box, so you should search over those bitz sites... good luck and keep going!

Ric

YOU SIR ARE A GENTLEMAN AND A SCHOLAR!!! Thanks sooooooo much. I've seen this head in random pics since I started considering starting a custom chapter, and NEVER found where it came from. I OWE YOU ONE!!!


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Well, that was fast.

After I found where that head was from (THANKS AGAIN), found a cheap set of 10 on ebay. Snatched those up pretty quick.

And with that, I'd say I'm about done purchasing stuff for the Mongers. Still waiting to hear more feedback on the shoulders before I place the order on Friday, but what can you do?

Better pic of the Head



Automatically Appended Next Post:
Found this a while back, just never thought I'd need it that much. Sounds a LOT nicer now though haha.



Thinking it will come in handy specifically for the Mongers, but will also prove to be an excellent addition to the toolset.

Oh, and on a personal note, they have some SEXY Thunderwolf Cav. models. Only thing is they're expensive.

ok love the look of the forge world devastators. too bad my scars don't use them. also definitely a fan of the 3 scaled shoulder pads and the heads you've found. Perhaps put a rust red color some where in the paint scheme since they are a older themed. though may come out too chaosy (if that's a word)
As your fluff go perhaps being isolated in containment would make sense to give them out of date tactics and perhaps that would be what makes them deadly. using tactics not seen for thousands of years would regain effectiveness against foes that have never faced them before.



Automatically Appended Next Post:

Markillius08 wrote:

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Found this a while back, just never thought I'd need it that much. Sounds a LOT nicer now though haha.



Thinking it will come in handy specifically for the Mongers, but will also prove to be an excellent addition to the toolset.

Oh, and on a personal note, they have some SEXY Thunderwolf Cav. models. Only thing is they're expensive.

ha ha ha saw this at first and thought they were condoms major wtf moment

Yeah, Robo-Tentacles!(I'm a teen and I get the joke, that's just sad)
Anyways, I really like the whole thang you got goin. Subscribed.
Platymonster

platypuscorps wrote:Yeah, Robo-Tentacles!(I'm a teen and I get the joke, that's just sad)
Anyways, I really like the whole thang you got goin. Subscribed.
Platymonster

Lol yeah, hadn't thought of that and I'm a college student. That's just sad.... =(

But hey, glad I got another subscriber because of it! =)

LOL. But that's not why I subbed. By "Whole Thang" I meant the chapter itself, not the Galaxy of Terror rip-off.
Cheers,
Platy
*sigh* YES, I know about GoT too.............

Alright Markillius08, I finally sat down and got through your most recent fluff update. I like this version much more. I did have a couple questions for you though. The protocol is set in place to keep the Iron Mongers in stasis safe. The Iron Mongers are on the planet to protect some sort of tech. Do we know what kind of tech it is? Was it affected by the reactor melt down? Now that the Iron Mongers are awake can they use the tech? Also, do we know what made the reactor melt down? Was there some sort of heretical action taking place on the planet that nearly cost the entire chapter their lives? Is there an evil plot going on here?


And one of the last things you wrote was about the marines shouting their mantra, yet the hall remained silent. Can they not talk? Or was it silent, right after they shouted?

Sorry if i asked to many questions but I enjoyed the fluff and the iconography quite a bit. I think you could focus on the unknown a bit more to give them a bit more depth but overall good stuff!

I like your choice in pieces for your models as well. I look forward to seeing some of them put together and painted. Of your three examples I like the third one the best, except the unevenness of the coloring.

FINALLY, now we got something.

Came home from work to find.....

15 x MK III Iron Armor Marines
30 x MaxMini Steam Knight Heads!!!

Gonna get to work cleaning and taking pictures. Hope to get you all a taste of what to look forward tonight!

Hi Markillius08
Quite new to 40k but thought any thoughts may help.
Personally, i prefer your 1st revision of the color scheme but the 3rd is just to like normal SMs and is just to light for the theme your going fore.

IceAngel wrote:Alright Markillius08, I finally sat down and got through your most recent fluff update. I like this version much more. I did have a couple questions for you though. The protocol is set in place to keep the Iron Mongers in stasis safe. The Iron Mongers are on the planet to protect some sort of tech. Do we know what kind of tech it is? Was it affected by the reactor melt down? Now that the Iron Mongers are awake can they use the tech? Also, do we know what made the reactor melt down? Was there some sort of heretical action taking place on the planet that nearly cost the entire chapter their lives? Is there an evil plot going on here?


And one of the last things you wrote was about the marines shouting their mantra, yet the hall remained silent. Can they not talk? Or was it silent, right after they shouted?

Sorry if i asked to many questions but I enjoyed the fluff and the iconography quite a bit. I think you could focus on the unknown a bit more to give them a bit more depth but overall good stuff!

I like your choice in pieces for your models as well. I look forward to seeing some of them put together and painted. Of your three examples I like the third one the best, except the unevenness of the coloring.

In order...


1) The tech is vast and varied. Tagrantis IV served as the chief repository of all high value Imperium Tech. The Mechanicus / Protector Protocol served the purpose of maintaining the records integrity and developing, re purposing current and past tech for all war related purposes. IE weapons, transportation, improving energy output while reducing consumption, etc. That was the intended purpose of Tagrantis IV. It was to be the forge of the Emperor's will, where the weapons of his majesty would be created and their secrets kept safe.

2) while there was SOME loss, it was minor and all experimental and - in perspective to the large scale picture - 'EASILY' replaced. All tech records, schematics, and the most stable prototypes are housed within the C.O.R.E facility. All volatile Prototypes are tested on the surface of Tagrantis IV or in orbit.

3) Yes, the Mongers can and already do utilize the tech. The mechanical augmentations to their bodies have all been improved via the Archimedes Protocol's continual research and development. The Protector Protocol originally implemented the tech once it reached a predefined success/fail rate. Their armor, their weapons, essentially everything about them is in some way affected by and utilizing some form of tech developed on or housed on Tagrantis IV.

4) The Reactor 12 Meltdown cause is yet to be deciphered. The information was gathered during the bio-fusion of Darruis Elk to the planets mainframe, so it was given less of a priority and essentially qued for evaluation. However, when the Protector Protocol was activated, it superceeded all que'd actions and data. And since the data did not fall under it's primary objectives and it did not deem them pertinent at the time, it moved them to storage. Over time, the data has suffered some storage degradation, while other portions have been lost completely. However, the data still remains and is a current focus of Darrius Elk, as he has suspicions about Tagrantis IV's purity and the true value it would serve to both the Imperium and the forces of chaos.

So, essentially stay tuned as the story develops!

And the big thing is that the communicators built into their heads serve as a mental relay to one another. They do not need to speak, becuase their thoughts serve to communicate to one another. Darrius Elk is the only one who truly speaks, and even then it's not his voice, it's a replication of it sent thought the speakers in his super bio-mech body. Yeah, that was one i didn't explain real well. Thanks for giving me a chance to explain it.

Hope that answers more of your questions. and THANK YOU FOR RESPONDING!! THESE kinds of questions will make this project so much more meaningful and believable.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

The Black Nid wrote:Hi Markillius08
Quite new to 40k but thought any thoughts may help.
Personally, i prefer your 1st revision of the color scheme but the 3rd is just to like normal SMs and is just to light for the theme your going fore.

Thanks for the feedback! I like the first as well, the third seems more like a special unit or character variation to me. But I'm going to try to get some test paints done this weekend as I just haven't had the time yet haha.

Hi Markillius08. Im quit new to 40k, but just thought that any help I can give you is still help. I prefer your 1st revision of the couler scheme but personally I'd keep the belt as the gold couler. The 3rd I rely don't like, its just to light for the theme your going for and doesn't reflect the background as well as the other two.

The Black Nid wrote:Hi Markillius08. Im quit new to 40k, but just thought that any help I can give you is still help. I prefer your 1st revision of the couler scheme but personally I'd keep the belt as the gold couler. The 3rd I rely don't like, its just to light for the theme your going for and doesn't reflect the background as well as the other two.

I'd agree. They need to be darker, just fits the idea better and the backstory as well. But I'm still not sold on the different colored belt. Maybe if I tone that 'seperator color' down a little earthier or a little darker, it would be better..... hmmmm