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Very, very cool, Pomander! Creative in the extreme and very well executed so far!

Really looking forward to more, and the back story is engaging. In the grim darkness of the far future, pretty much anything can (and does) happen. It also sets up why this army could be fighting against other Imperial forces, who see them as xenos/heretics.

With one hand of the Imperium having no clue what the other hand is doing, especially with the Cicatrix Maledictum in full swing, I can only imagine how many minor civil wars are occurring within the Imperium at a given time.

Thank you folks! You're keeping me encouraged. I also appreciate your thoughts on the fluff, Talizvar. You're onto something with the pragmatic 'pioneer corps', using dispensable imperial subjects. It's lucky for the 414th Cadian that they're considered unreliable, otherwise the Imperium would have used them more effectively. Anyway, update time!

’Lower your weapons’ says Agaricus, ’I come in peace’. The soldiers watch him, unconvinced. He reaches inside his garments, and brings out the folder with Departmento Munitorum papers. The soldiers relax a little; Only harmless people keep their papers in folders. ’I’m your new supreme commander, it’s says so here’. One of the soldiers, presumably the squad leader, chuckles. ’Alright master, come along then’.

The two-legged machine strides off, and the soldiers follow, Agaricus behind them. They’re a little short for troopers, he thinks to himself, distractedly. There’s something unusual about their appearance, certainly, maybe it has to do with the local climate? Agaricus looks around, and notices that one of the soldiers pushes a little trolley, bouncing carelessly over roots and rocks. With rising heartbeat, he takes in what the trolley carries. White stalks, white gills, red caps with white dots.



Agaricus hasn't quite met with these guys yet, but I'll show them anyway.


Enjoy!

Quite nice; I like how you integrated the second crewmember on the HB.

This is one of the coolest projects I've ever seen! I can't wait to see more.

Thank you, CommissarKhaine and Heretic Tom! It’s time for another update.

Agaricus is bewildered: There are mushrooms growing on Procul 83. According to official reports, all fungiform species were eradicated in this solar system, when the Imperial fleet used bio-bombs to drive out Ork invaders, some 200 years ago. What confuses Agaricus more, however, is that the soldiers of the 414th Cadian seem to harvest mushrooms, even before he’s told them to do so!


Hurrying through the woods, they soon arrive at a small encampment. Agaricus notes that some of the soldiers aren’t quite as small and green as the ones he first met, instead they look remarkably tidy and healthy. He also notes that the taller soldiers have different equipment, notably shovels, indicating a different role.

When it comes to human-sized models, I usually glue everything together before painting. This time, I experimented with separated components, and thought it might be interesting.



Here is the finished version.



He has a comrade as well, also equipped with a shovel.



What might their different role be? You tell me!

Actual humans in this blog? Heresy!

Nice paintjob on the 'umies!

He's looking so intensely at the mushroom, it's great!

The humans could be bodyguards in your command squads. The idea of using humans as meat-shields for your obviously more valuable Grot bosses just makes me laugh.

Great work on these. I love the colour pallet, and really well executed.

Pioneers?

There ought to be a prize for this. Once done, you might want to run it by the WH Community channel...

Thanks for your kind words, Khaine, Turtles, Crowe, Not online and Samus. Interesting suggestions too! The role of these slightly taller guardsmen is, in fact, hunting for subterranean fungi, e.g. truffles. That's why they carry shovels. There might be dogs and/or pigs later on.

The story (let's call it Agaricus Adventures) will have to wait a little, but I have pictures for you. This time, I entered the monthly painting challenge, so you might have seen the WIP picture over there. I'll post it here as well, for reference.



Today I finished it, so here's the painted and assembled version! Enjoy! By the way, sculpting beetles is harder than you think. With all the failed attempts, most of them looking like six-legged spiders, I think I could write a little tutorial.



And now, a little sneak peek of the next update, for those of you who miss the shorter members of the 414th Cadian. Have you ever wondered how long you can extend the heavy weapon telescope stand? Let’s find out!

Haha, wonderful heavy weapon team there at the end Remarkable how ell the cadian arms actually fit...

The ML team is brilliant. Better hold on tight when he fires that thing.

ML team is definitely ready to raise hell, they look great!

Nice work Pomander Cask.

Cheers,

CB