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Crimson Thorns

Veteran Sergeant Alessio, IX Legion, 83rd Company.

"We'd come a long way from the Signus Cluster.

We had lost many brothers, in one way or another, to the Warmaster's monstrous betrayal. The Imperial Truth was no more. The Emperor's vision of an Empire of Man thwarted by the son he had entrusted to complete his mission. We were now embroiled in a civil war the likes of which Mankind had never seen before. The galaxy burned as son fought son, and brother fought brother.

In spite of all all our losses, every backwards step we had taken, we were here.

Terra.

We were each veterans of this long war. The 83rd Company was a shadow of what it once was. Captain Eco had fallen before we reached our destination. Slain by a Traitor. He was being interned in the hull of a Contemptor chassis as we entered the Sol System. After he named his successor it was his dying wish to be permitted the chance to fight on. Even in death he wanted to strike out at those who brought us low. He had been born on Terra and served our Legion before we were reunited with our Father. Captain Eco wanted to be there to defend it until all life was truly taken from him. His service to the Emperor started here, and he meant for it to finish here too. Our new Captain Ennius had been born on Baal, one of the first of that breed to be admitted to our Legion, and had been the right hand of Eco. He called the sounds of battle his marching tune. There were few others I would rather have been lead by in those dark days.

The orders for our deployment came from The Angel himself. Our Primarch had chosen us to be his Crimson Thorns. His curse on our enemies. His moniker for us came from one of Baal's few native flora that could survive in the radiation soaked plains. The plant was known to ensnare and entangle the unwary, its envenomed barbs inflicting terrible pain upon those suffering even so much as a graze.

The importance of our sworn task was not lost to us. Neither was the heavy price that we knew each of us would pay in blood. It was an arduous task, but an elegantly simple one. Every Traitor we brought down, or stopped from reaching The Palace, was one less that our Father and Brothers would have to face. Our mission was to slow the invaders down by holding the walls, and when they were breached to fall back in good order and harry the enemy sowing confusion and disarray in their ranks. Like the thorns we were named after we would be an ever present nuisance to our foes, slowing them down, slowly bleeding them, and causing pain far greater than our presence. No quarter was to be given, and none asked. It was a long way from how we typically fought our foes. No longer would we fight as the wrath of The Angel striking down from the heavens. Instead we would be an extension of his implacable will, defying the foe at every turn.

We were to relieve the survivors of a detachment of the VII Legion, the Imperial Fists. Lord Dorn had sent a force to guard a weak point in the defenses in the lower levels by the hab zones. The wall there had the potential to be breached, but the terrain to any opening would be narrow and unforgiving for the attackers allowing only infantry. Their formidable armored units could support their attack, but they could not follow them through any breach. Should a breach be forced it would be so narrow it would be a fatal funnel for attacker and defender alike.

The traitorous Sons of Horus had calculated that because of the limited utility of any breach at that point the wall would be minimally guarded at best. They underestimated the pride and ferocity of the Legion who had built the mighty walls of the Imperial Palace. If the Traitors wanted though they would pay the price in blood.

When we got there the butcher's bill had been steep, yet the walls remained unbreached. Of the hundred or so Imperial Fists scarcely a handful remained who were fit to fight. How any of these Astartes had survived the onslaught was beyond my comprehension. It was only when our cousins spoke of how the Sons of Horus were being aided and abetted in their efforts by siege experts of the Iron Warriors did we understand their determination.

On the eve of battle we were joined by a stranger to us who beseeched Captain Ennius for an audience. He wore our colors and our livery, but he was not of our Company and not known to me from another. After a short while he and our sire emerged, the order came that the stranger would aid us in the fight ahead. Brother Soddu would later claim that he heard the stranger say that he was of our Legion and was an oath sworn brother to the commander of the Sons of Horus contingent that we faced and had come to seek him out to purge the stain from his honor. Some claimed he was another Son of Sanguinius who had served with Amit on Signus, but had become estranged from his Company after the Cathedral of the Mark was toppled. Others claimed that he was of a loyal son of a Traitor Legion and had donned our colors to fight against those he had once called Brother. Whatever the truth was in the days ahead we were grateful for him.

We did not have to wait long for the enemy to present themselves.

To this day I will never know if it was intentional, used as an omen or seeking the favor of some false deity, but the former Luna Wolves attacked by the rising of the moon. Captain Ennius was first to see their furtive advance and he called us to arms;
“For The Angel!! Death to every foe and Traitor!” "


Pic Capt. DZ7120-5-10; Sergeant Constantin seen directing his squad's fire against Traitor elements during the Siege of Terra


Pic Capt. DZ7120-5-11; Note the mixing of armor patterns typical during late Heresy fighting. The majority of Constantin's armor is heavily modified MkIII Iron Armor, with the left arm being MkIV, and the left shoulder being an experimental pattern with reinforcement. Sergeant Alessio's records show that these shoulder pads were produced in limited number, and at Captain Ennius's instructions were given to Constantin's squad. As a plasma gun armed Tactical Support Squad it was anticipated that they would be prime targets for rebel forces.


Pic Capt. DZ7120-5-15; Of note is the Cherub pattern targeting matrix integrated into Constantin's armor. This allowed the bearer to better designate targets for his squad, as well as assisting in calculating target vectors.

'Sergeant Constantin had served the IX faithfully before the Heresy. He rose through the ranks before finding his niche as a specialist serving in the 83rd’s Breacher Squads. Like many Brothers of the IX who preferred close quarters combat to a more ranged affair Constantin was cut from that same cloth. Constantin however preferred bringing his plasma gun to bear in close ranges to devastate the enemy and allow his squad mates to advance through narrow corridors during boarding actions. During one assault on a hostile vessel the hull ruptured and Constantin was blown into the frigid embrace of space, being recovered by the 83rd just before his war plate failed from the battle damage and the trauma it suffered from the rapid decompression. The almost complete failure of his armor caused near irreparable damage to his gene enhanced respiratory system, resulting in a rebreather mask and artificial respiration system being incorporated into his body."


Automatically Appended Next Post:
"The Unknown Brother, known to us as Enigma, was a boon as we fought back against the Traitors at the breach. He found good company in Vizioso's squad where he could add his twin pistols to the close range carnage they dealt. Like a vengeful spirit he carved his way through the opposition, perfectly placed shots slaying our enemies.

What happened to him after the Siege I cannot say. None that I spoke too after remember seeing any sign of him, but we remember the crack of his twin plasma pistols. Whether he was a true son of Sanguinius or not I will never know but he was a brother to us of the 83rd"
- Veteran Sergeant Alessio








Automatically Appended Next Post:
"Gilberto was a thorn in the side of our enemies, just as he swore he would be. As a foe would charge at him to strike a carefully placed bolt round would stagger them so he could crush the life from them with his power fist.

Against the power armored foes it was a perfect strategy. Against the Terminator elite he drew off from the main force it was a death sentence as their heavier armor absorbed his rounds. He gave good account of himself until he fell"
- Veteran Sergeant Alessio
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"Egidio had taken Eco's death on the enemy cruiser hard. He had sworn an oath to be his shield and he had always felt that he failed his lord. All of us who fought in that boarding action knew he could not have fought harder. As we journeyed to Terra he repainted his helm black as a sign of mourning. His war plate had been extensively damaged as he fought with reckless abandon to get to Eco's side. The damaged pieces were replaced with experimental components that had not yet been field tested. While it resembled the armor he would later wear the materials were not as efficient and the servos required additional power which exposed cables provided. In those dark days necessity trumped many other concerns.

I found him when the dust settled Kneeling over Gilberto's remains, his fingers gently closing the eyes of our fallen brother. Together we bore Gilberto's body back to the Palace on Egidio's shield. Over time as we took stock of our losses he carved the names of our dead to the inside of his shield, swearing an oath to avenge each of them."
- Veteran Sergeant Alessio





Automatically Appended Next Post:
Andino "The Boy"


[Archivist's Note; Pic capt shows subject equipped with early experimental pattern of power armored leg pieces which would later be refined and adopted as Mk.VII. This early set appears to be inferior to the adopted model as the heavy damage to the right knee from a relatively minor blow shows. Contemporary sources show that the 83rd's assault element made heavy use of these experimental units to replace armor pieces rendered unfit for kinetic operations. This particular set of armor appears to indicate that the 83rd had contact with Magos Goibniu]








"Andino was the youngest member of the Honor Guard. A native of Baal he found his home in the Legion's Despoiler Squads and from the outset stood above his peers. Eco personally selected him for his retinue after Andino threw himself between his Lord and an Eldar champion, turning aside a blow aimed at Eco's exposed flank and decapitating the foul xenos. He was brave and foolhardy, frequently following in the footsteps of Vizioso as he cut a path through the enemy. Of all of his squad he found most in common with Galterio whose calm demeanor and, outside of combat, gentle nature acted as a teacher to The Boy.
I feared Andino lost to the Traitors as we fell back but I met him and Galterio at The Palace, the venerable warrior supporting the wounded Andino. After the Siege was lifted and we began rebuilding after the Codex Astartes he was selected for the Flesh Tearers Chapter. As he left for his new assignment that was the last I saw of him."
- Veteran Sergeant Alessio


Automatically Appended Next Post:






"In contrast to The Boy Galterio was a native of Terra and like Eco had been inducted into the Legion early in it's history. He never spoke of how he lost his left arm and none that I spoke with could ever remember when that arm was flesh.Outside of combat he was warm and gregarious, always willing to lend his experience to the younger Brothers of the 83rd. As I started my life in the IX Legion his sage advice was most welcome. Once he was encased in his war plate and his helmet was donned it was as if he was a different man; a grim executioner striding the battlefield, his huge axe taking a life with each swing.
After The Siege and the breaking of our Legion into smaller Chapters he volunteered his expertise to train the newest Battle Brothers who were being inducted into the scout forces as we rebuilt our loses"
- Veteran Sergeant Alessio


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Veteran Brother Marcelo, Captain Ennius's Terminator Elite; "The Saints"









"While Brother Captain Ennius was known as The Anvil those who accompanied him were known to the Brothers of the 83rd as The Saints. Each of these mighty warriors was a paragon of what it meant to be a Blood Angel, and each was a hero in their own right. None would leave Terra alive.

Brother Marcelo had won the right to wear the mighty Cataphractii armor after preventing his position being overrun by Greenskins when the rest of his squad was laid low by one of their foul weapons. His actions saved the lives of those who were wounded and allowed the rest of our forces time to reach our beleaguered Brothers. The Legion badge which he wore on his right shoulder was hand crafted on Baal at Eco's request following Marcelo's leadership of a small Expeditionary Force. The halo'd blood drop atop his carapace was for his actions during the Scourging of Amaranth when, separated from the rest of The Saints, he held enemy forces at bay as they attempted to capture a vital bridge, his combi-bolter making a mockery of their armor while his power fist smashed their vehicles to dust.

He met is end during the fighting withdrawal to The Palace. His armor was proof against many of the attacks of the Traitors who attempted to fell him. It was only when they had expended enough of their blood to occupy him while their meltaguns were brought to bear that he passed into legend, a trail of enemies marking his path" - Veteran Sergeant Alessio

"Vizioso was a veteran before Captain Eco became a part of the IX Legion. But that was not his birth name. In the closing days of the Unification War the Emperor's forces brought in new recruits from all across Terra. Some by right of conquest, some as tribute. Vizioso was born into a mercenary band of Keyltes who had plied their trade from Merica to the Yndonesic Bloc. During the Franc Campaign their chieftain pledged allegiance to the Emperor, and as a token of fealty offered his first born son. If Vizioso remembers his Clan name he never spoke of it, instead preferring the name his instructors gifted to him from his combat trials against the other Aspirants; Vizioso, the Vicious One.

The Keyltes were known to be proud warriors who favored devastating short range firefights with their slug casters before charging in with their scian blades, and Vizioso excelled in that role in the service of the Emperor. Because of that it was often felt that he would have been more at home with the Wolves or our Cthonian cousins. His nature allowed him to thrive under the early Astartes training doctrines, adapted as they were from the Thunder Warriors. Throughout the Great Crusade he excelled in shock assaults and close quarters combat. His proud, often unruly nature and unwillingness to advance in rank rankled his former commander, especially when Vizioso turned down the honor of Tactical Dreadnought Armor as he felt that it was too cumbersome for how he fought. His commander in the 147th, Captain Emesto, never forgot that perceived insult. After declining promotion to the Terminator elite Vizioso turned down other opportunities for advancement beyond Sergeant that would have kept him from combat and he quickly fell out of favor, coming close to censure on more than one occasion. Truth be told that was how he came to the 83rd. Following the Purge of Goetha XXI Captain Emesto was on the verge of casting him out for his actions during the campaign until Captain Eco requested his transfer and made him a part of his personal retinue. It was in this role that Vizioso finally found his niche, fighting at Captain Eco's side as they dove into the heart of their foes. When Eco fell Vizioso took it the worst of all the Brothers, believing that he personally had failed to protect our lord, and his already choleric nature deteriorated. As our new Captain began rebuilding the Company Vizioso remained distant spending his days exorcising his ill temper on the training cages, much to the vexation of our Brother Techmarines. Many of us ruminated on what the future may look like for our Brother. Defeat weighed heavy on his shoulders as he bore the shame of loss and our new Captain waded into battle in Cataphracti plate, not descending from the heavens as his predecessor did and Vizioso already had a difficult relationship with him on account of that.

We did not have long to speculate on his fate.

On the third night while Captain Eco was still being stabilized prior to donning his ironform Ennius entered Vizioso’s training chamber in his training garb, ordered the rest of the squad to depart, gestured to the cage and closed the door to the rest of the Company. When they left the room both were bloody but the new found respect for each other was evident. Captain Ennuis’s decree was that Eco had not been failed by his honor guard, and that those members who survived the boarding action were entrusted with the honor of the 83rd in extracting payment from our foes in blood and making the Traitors pay painfully for every breath they dared draw. Vizioso had the look of a man redeemed. This was the task he had been born for.

As much as he deserved the name he was re-born with during his induction into the IX Legion he was an unusual specimen. It always amazed me to hear his almost sing-song voice over the comm directing the most brutal assaults in the heart of the enemy forces. I once spoke with a Remembrancer who said that his voice was typical of the Keyltes; the almost melodic tones at odds with the crimson path he carved in the service of the Emperor and the Angel.

After the Siege was done and the Traitors driven from the Imperial Palace I returned to the wall that we had faithfully defended looking for those who had fallen so that they may honored for their sacrifice. It was on this solemn journey that I found the body of Vizioso. Ever loyal to Captain Eco he stood watch over his chassis’s shattered remains when he suffered his final death delaying the Traitors from pushing further in. At the narrowest point he had lashed himself to a pillar to keep himself upright before he succumbed to his wounds. Chained to the pillar and standing over the remains of his lord at the pass he fought to the last breath, his body covered in a dozen fatal wounds." - Veteran Sergeant Alessio


[Archivist's Note: As with all of this squad note the early variant armor which would become common place in the later stages of the Heresy. As with other examples this armor often has exposed power cables. Following the death of this subject records indicate that the leg armor was 89.76% as effective as the later patterns which saw widespread adoption with the new Chapters]






[Archivist's Note; it is unusual to see the mark cross mark on the armor of a Blood Angel during this time period. Sources from the 83rd (c/ref audio logs gamma 9 through kai 78) suggest that the members of this Company used this as a sign of mourning for the loss of Eco. This symbol would see more prominence after the loss of their Primarch]

Nice work. The flesh turned out great, but you might want to consider another dark wash on the armour, its a little too bright for my tastes.

Thank you. The flesh is a basecoat of Cadian Flesh over a black undercoat, shaded with Agrax Earthshade and then highlighted up using Pallid Witch Flesh.

The shade of red is a little darker and with better defined shadows in real life. Getting a good balance for the red against the other colors for the photos has been a new challenge for me.

My hobby supply drop added so I can start adding some armor variants to the force other than just what is available in the B@C set;



Some MkIII goodness


Automatically Appended Next Post:
The Anvil of the 83rd, Captain Ennius






[Archivist's Note: The upper arm of Captain Ennius shows bionic augmentation not present in what few pict captures we could review prior to the events of Signus Prime. While documentation of the events during that encounter are not permitted to those outside the Chapter it is speculated that his injury was sustained in that compliance action]




"Captain Ennius was widely considered to be distant, cold and ruthless by the Brothers of the 83rd prior to his leadership of our Company. Some of the less charitable saw him as calculating and aloof.

Those few that he let see past his frosty exterior knew a different man possessed of a razor sharp wit and warm to those he trusted.

Eco had trained Ennius since the latter was inducted into the IX Legion, acting as a mentor to him. Captain Eco and he had a bond stronger than that between most blood kin, their personalities and strengths complemented one another’s weaknesses. Were Eco was a natural diplomat who could speak with anyone regardless of their station, Ennius was a natural strategist more focused on the end rather than the means.

He was a veteran of our Terminator elite and he was always at the forefront of their implacable advance into the heart of the enemy. His chainfist making short work of any enemy armor that barred his way, his mind dismantling their strategies with equal ease. He acted as the anvil while Eco was our hammer. In the void over Amaranthe when Eco sentenced the world to death it was Ennius who commanded our flag ship. It was he who gave our supporting Imperial Army ships the order to pull back to prevent synthetic infiltration, scattered the opposing fleet, and who coordinated the waves of reinforcements onto the planet to support the small vanguard that Eco had taken to the surface on the ill fated diplomatic mission.

He spoke with me in private when Eco fell. He came to me seeking Brother Tobias to personally thank him for keeping Eco alive until he could be tended to aboard our vessel. While many Brothers were struck by the lack of emotion he showed with the loss of his friend I saw different. When we spoke that day I could see the silent burden on his shoulders. The man who was like a father to him was mortally wounded and he had just inherited our Company as the galaxy burned and madness raged across the stars like the laughter of mad gods. He knew all too well of his reputation within our Brotherhood, but he also knew the enormity of the task he faced in keeping strong the bonds of our Company. Like the broken blade of Eco that our Techmarine brothers now toiled on to repair the Anvil of the 83rd had to reforge our Company so we would weather the coming storm." - Veteran Sergeant Alessio

Prior to the arrival of the additional MKIII pieces this was the structure for the squads comprising my small force from the B@C set

Squad Laertes;
Undermaned Vet squad
Missle Launcher & Flamer
Laertes as a duelist (sword wielder)
Kul – bolter
Tito (“giant”) - Missle Launcher
Sergio (“attendant”) - assistant gunner
Silvio (“silver”) - grey haired vet
Drago “dragon” - Flamer

Squad Alessio;
Vet squad
Heavy Bolter & ?
Alessio - Powerfist
Tobias – white shoulder pad
Arturo (“strong as a bear”) – Heavy Bolter gunner, “The Bear”
Galterio (“strong warrior”) – assistant gunner
Lanzo (“lance”) – specialist
Orza – demo specialist
Bertrando (“brilliant raven”) – marksman (spent time with Alpha Legion briefly during Kayvas Initiative)
Santo (“sacred”) - boltgun. Skull shoulder pad?
Donatus (“present”) - lobbing grenade?
Aldo “archaic”

Squad Constantin (means firm – background squad acts as bulwark)
3 man tac support squad (undermanned)
Sergeant Constantin – combi plasma
Edmondo (“happy defender”) - plasma
Martinus (“warring”) - plasma

Squad Niko; "The Saints"
Terminator squad (combined from survivors of other squads – 1x assault, 1x tac)
Sergeant Niko
Brother Reuel LC armed
Lucan (“light”) - Heavy Flamer
Raimondo “mighty protector”
Marcelo “hammer”

Squad Vizioso
Sergeant Vizioso - lightening claw & hand flamer
Galterio “strong warrior” - two handed axe
Gilberto “oath” - power fist
Andino “brave” - sword and axe
Egidio “shield bearer” - shield & sword

"Captain Eco was the best of us. When he was laid low it was a crushing blow to our Company, especially in the wake of Signus Prime. When he returned to us resplendent in his Ironform we rejoiced.
For anyone internment in a Contemptor chassis is a burden on mind. body and soul. How could it not be? For Captain Eco he also bore the burden of having to learn how to wage war in his new body. Before he was placed in his sarcophagus he brought war in the manner of the Angel himself, bearing down on foes with his jump pack, his attendants from Vizioso's squad never far behind. It was a small mercy that his inferno pistol, dubbed the Ruin of Amaranth, could be salvaged and form part of his new body. The sword he had carried in life had been shattered by the Traitor who slew him, but it had been recovered with him and at Eco's instructions it was reforged for our new Captain, who dutifully put aside his Cataphracti's chainfist to take up what was now the 83rd's symbol of office." - Sergeant Alessio







Brother Captain Eco, IX Legion, 83rd Company
The Celestial Blade, Savior of Thessia VII, Commander of the MMXXXVII Expeditionary Fleet, Scourge of Amaranth
KIA; Siege of Terra
Notes; Ironform and pilot suffered irreparable wounds fighting rear guard action against Traitor forces after walls breached. Examination of wreckage showed assault cannon ammunition expended with all barrels critical and on verge of failure, close combat weapon showed extensive use and damage to internal components from heavy sustained use, integrated melta weapon recovered and presented to IX Legion survivors.

"And so we found him amidst the ruin and despair of the end of the siege. Perhaps for those who perish it is easier, after all the living must count the cost and take stock of what remains. He had fought bravely until his final death, surrounded by the corpses of his foes. I can imagine him bludgeoning his foes with the assault cannon when it ran dry. Those of us who survived helped bear his remains to where the remnants of our Chapter gathered. As we rebuilt our forces one of our Techmarines presented me with the halo'd blood drop he bore on his chest. I wore it as we prosecuted the remains of the Traitor forces, all the way until the end of my service to the Imperium of Man"

So after an extended break I finally have some progress to share

Veteran Brother Raimondo, Captain Ennius's Terminator Elite; "The Saints"







Brother Raimondo was a veteran of the 83rd's Legion Support Squads. His specialty was in employing melta weapons to devastating effect against enemy armor. He earned the honor of wearing mighty Cataphractii armor during a boarding action while attached to Magos Goibniu's retinue. He and his squad were instrumental in using their weapons to carve a path through the twisting corridors of the enemy vessel. When the foe mounted their counter attack Brother Raimondo directed the defense which allowed the Magos time to retrieve precious STC data from their bridge. In the years following this his tactical acumen was employed to lay low the enemies of The Emperor and devastate their armored capabilities.

The shield he bore on his left shoulder, and indeed the combi-weapon he wielded, was a gift from Magos Goibniu in recognition of his crucial role in the recovery of the STC data. The blood drop on his left shoulder was once a Legion badge, but during the Signus Prime campaign one of the fell beasts tore the wing from it. As we recovered our strength in the wake of that campaign he refused to have it restored to it's former glory as he wanted it kept as a reminder of the Warmaster's betrayal. The laurel was an honor bestowed upon him by Captain Eco for his marksmanship and his leadership of his squad during the Vas'ii Rebellion when his squad's melta weapons were all that stood between the enemies tanks and a decimated Imperial Army force attempting to establish a beach head.

He met his end, like the other Saints, during the fighting withdrawal to The Palace. When Sergeant Niko allowed Brother Reuel to slip his leash and bring death to the Traitors each Saint took to their assigned roles. Brother Raimondo targeted what little armored support the Iron Warriors and Sons of Horus could bring through the breach, harassing their Dreadnoughts until he was overwhelmed" - Veteran Sergeant Alessio


Veteran Brother Reuel, Captain Ennius's Terminator Elite; "The Saints"







"Of all the Brothers of the 83rd none was so deeply affected by Signus Prime as Brother Reuel. Before we ever heard of that accursed place Reuel was known as the Jester, a Brother of great wit and mirth who even in the midst of the most ferocious combat could be heard making light of circumstances and mocking our foes. His bond with his Brothers in Daltoni's Cataphratii squad was legendary and unshakable. On Signus Prime it died. Brother Reuel was the last survivor of his squad with every other member of Daltoni's team laid low by the foul creatures we faced. As we reorganized our forces he was folded into Sergeant Niko's squad to bring them up to fighting strength once again. His relationship with his new squad could best be described as professional.

On the journey to Terra Reuel swore mighty oaths to avenge his fallen brothers and had his oaths affixed to his left shoulder. His mirth gone like ash in the wind he spent more and more time in the practice cages honing his skills. His jovial nature was erased, instead he smoldered with rage always waiting for the opportunity to sharpen his hatred of the Warmaster's forces. The winged skull he bore on the carapace of his armor he fashioned himself to honor his lost brothers, the Sons of the Angel are artists not just of war. His armor was almost a reliquary to the fallen as he stripped off his own honor marks and replaced them with those recovered from his squad.

After the wall was breached and we fell back Reuel begged Niko that as the only member of the squad without a ranged weapon that he be allowed to close with the enemy and meet them blade to blade. Niko granted him his request and allowed him to fulfill his oath. When we recovered his body from where he fell and laid him to rest his face was serene, the rage and pain finally left him as he upheld his oath before being reunited with his Brothers"
- Veteran Sergeant Alessio

Quick proof of life picture;

Very nice painting, I do like the dark grimy red as befits those Angels defending the walls of Terra. I LOVE the fluff tho. I really enjoy when people bring their models to life through stories and a little fluff. I am planning on doing the same with my Mechanicum eventually.

 FabricatorGeneralMike wrote:

Very nice painting, I do like the dark grimy red as befits those Angels defending the walls of Terra. I LOVE the fluff tho. I really enjoy when people bring their models to life through stories and a little fluff. I am planning on doing the same with my Mechanicum eventually.

Thank you. Because this is a long slow project with no real deadline, and my first real project to get back into the hobby, I wanted to take my time with it and flesh out the backgrounds partially to keep be vested and motivated.

Brother Lucan









Aside from Sergeant Niko Brother Lucan was the longest serving member of The Saints. His specialty was with promethium based weapons, and combined with his chain fist it was his honor to take the point in any boarding action to cut through the bulkheads of enemy vessels. Once he had closed with the enemy his heavy flamer wrecked havoc on our enemies.

The winged skull he bore on his armor was granted to him following the events on Murder when he and our erstwhile cousins of the III Legion, lead by Centurion Cadmus, used the fury of their flamers and the bulwark of their armor to hold back a swarm which threatened to overwhelm our landing zone. His shield was reward for his actions on an Ork vessel when his heavy flamer kept reinforcements at bay while Raimundo and his Support Squad used their melta weapons to cripple the ship before it could target escaping civilian vessels. The blood drop on his chain fist was in recognition of another action against the Greenskins and his destruction of a cohort of their clanking walkers.

Like the other Saints he claimed Terra as his grave. Where before his heavy flamer was an asset in forcing breaches or leading assaults it was a liability during our fighting retreat. Brother Lucan instead used it to target enemy specialists to confuse their targeting systems, reducing their effectiveness by causing their weapons to overheat, or using controlled bursts to obfuscate our movements and confound the enemy. When we recovered his remains it was clear that the Traitors had taken out their frustrations at his vexing of them on his body long after he passed. On the Legions who dared perpetrate that grave injustice we brought our fury and fire." - Veteran Sergeant Alessio

I like your choice of figures!

Thanks. With the Betrayal at Calth set, a sprue from the Prospero set and some bitz I'm trying to make each figure as unique as possible and use their pose to help flesh out their fluff.

Brother Sergeant Niko, First Among The Saints.












"Sergeant Niko was the longest serving member of The Saints. So old was he that none living could ever remember him before he wore the indomitable Cataphracii war plate. He and Ennius shared a beyond long before they swore their oaths to The Emperor and The Angel. Both were born into the same tribe on the radiation soaked wastelands of Baal and grew as blood cousins together before entering the Legion at the same time. Both were mighty warriors and Niko's wit served well as a foil to the more serious Ennius.

Even though he was close to Brother Captain Ennius he was a mighty warrior in his own right and his own personal legend was something that he had earned himself. So many were his honors and laurels that I could not begin to enumerate them all; during the compliance actions beside the forces of Queen Morr'ghyn in the Castelleux System he lead The Saints as they boarded enemy vessels, some with mighty protections from before Old Night. Each of these highly prized vessels the Queen then gifted to our Martian cousins as tribute and the bounty of information and new knowledge each contained was beyond imagination. On Amaranthe while Captain Eco fought to hold the hasty beach head we had established and Ennius commanded the fleet in orbit against the synthetics who inhabited the planet Sergeant Niko lead the assault on their capital's primary armor depot, crippling their ability to respond to our orbital assault.

Of all The Saints he was the last to fall. His plasma blaster punished our foes as they fought to close the distance and his lightening claw rending them apart when they finally got close. As each of his brothers passed he sang his tribe's mourning cant for them. I last saw him alive as he made his last stand against the leader of the Traitorous filth that pursued us through the streets of Terra. His noble sacrifice bought us precious time and allowed many of our Brothers to survive who otherwise would have been overwhelmed." - Veteran Sergeant Alessio

Veteran Brother Orza, Sapper, Veteran Sergeant Alessio's Squad










"Orza was one of the Brothers under my command. He was steadfast and reliable under fire, with a keen understanding on how to deploy our krak and melta grenades to create breaches or cripple an enemy vehicle. As we reorganized our squad after the Amaranthe Campaign and we were honored as veterans of our Company I relied on his gift with explosives to be our sapper. He took to his new role with gusto, spending long hours with Raimundo learning all he could from the venerable warrior.

As we fell back to The Palace and obeyed The Angel's orders to harry and harass the enemy Orza rushed to the aid of the beleaguered Raimundo as the iron forms of the Sons of Horus closed on his Brother. Orza could not save Raimundo from the enemy, but his melta charges avenged the loss of The Saint but sealed Orza's fate when the dreadnought's reactor went critical.

We had nothing left or Orza to mourn or return to our Legion but his memory" - Veteran Sergeant Alessio

I love your use of BA parts. Great job!

Thank you. I'm trying to use them sparingly as 30K Astartes generally seem to have less Legion specific bling outside characters, but I want to add some decoration to the minis. For the more 40K parts I'm counting those as early prototypes pressed into service by the 83rd.

Brother Orsetto, Assistant Gunner, Veteran Sergeant Alessio's Squad








[Archivist's note: if is of interest that this subject was using a non-standard power supply, but was also using a prototype load bearing device to transport ammunition for the squad's heavy bolter. Later designs built upon this prototype, but as a feeding device for the specialist wielding the heavy weapon]



[Close up of the shoulder pad. This piece of armor was only produced in limited number, and issued in fewer. Records indicate that Captain Ennius has ordered that these be given to Constantin's Legion Support Squad. It is not known if this piece was salvaged from a fallen brother, or issued to Brother Orsetto due to his critical role in supporting the heavy bolter specialist Brother Arturo]


Brother Arturo, heavy weapon specialist, Veteran Sergeant Alessio's Squad


[Archivist's note: the bare metal war plate of Brother Arturo appears to show recent repairs to heavy damaged components, especially the helmet. This is not an uncommon practice among the savage conflicts during the Heresy as each side invested considerable effort in targeting individuals considered to be force multipliers]



[Archivist's note: as was typical for the IX Legion, and later the Blood Angels Chapter, the armor on Brother Arturo's left shoulder was not merely decorative but was rather heavily reinforced to protect from incoming fire. Vid capts from the Amaranthe Campaign and the Signus Campaign indicate that the ornamentation was added at some point between those conflicts]



"I am honored to be able to call such warriors my brothers. Both Orsetto and Arturo served with me from the earliest days of our service in the Legion all through the dark days of the Heresy. During the Amaranthe Campaign when we were separated from the rest of our Company and fighting our way back to our own lines the lessons we learned helped Captain Eco reconstruct our squad. Previously the 83rd did not have many Brothers serving in a scouting or reconnaissance role, and this was something that was addressed after the planet has been subjugated. Newly honored by our Captain as Veterans of our Company our squad was outfitted to fill the role of reconnaissance and long range patrol. During the short range fire fights on the streets of Amaranthe we relied on Arturo's drum fed bolter to provide suppressive five to allow us to maneuver into position, but it's utility against the light grav vehicles of our enemies showed it's limited utility. To recognize our newly elevated status among our brothers Arturo was gifted a heavy bolter to allow us to properly keep our enemies at bay and to torment any hostile light vehicles. Brother Orsetto immediately volunteered to assist Arturo by carrying the surplus ammunition we would need on extended operations. During The Siege he was instrumental in keeping the heavy bolter barking at the Traitors.

In the days following the breaking of The Siege and the changes to our Legion both of my brothers served in the reserve and scout companies sharing their wisdom and experience on this weapon system and the best practices for it on prolonged deployments" - Veteran Sergeant Alessio

These are great. The captain's cloak, in particular, looks superb.

Man, all that fluff. So tasty. Great models, too.

Inspirational stuff.

Thank you all. I'm slowly plugging away at the pile of plastic on my desk. I have a veteran sergeant for the second squad ready to be undercoated, and an Astartes who is not from the IXth Legion to add to the force.

Brother Martinus - Constantin's Legion Support Squad










Brother Edmondo - Constantin's Legion Support Squad










"Among the Brothers of Constantin's squad there were no more unlikely a pair than these two, known to the 83rd as The Twins.

Both Edmondo and Martinus were natives of Baal, but unlike the kinship shared by Ennius and Niko these two were born to rival tribes who fought for the scare resources of our irradiated homeworld. A part of the same batch of aspirants to our Legion each of them shared the unspoken oath to uphold the honor of their tribe and to prove their worth above their rival. Throughout the trials each of them competed fiercely to prove their worth, and as the trials progressed what started as fierce animosity became begrudging respect. When both were brought into our Company at Captain Eco's request their tribal animosity was gone, instead they acted in concert anticipating the movements of one another, coordinating their attacks with unspoken understanding.

During the fighting retreat The Twins became separated from the rest of the Crimson Thorns. We later found them in the ruins. They had made their last stand together, fighting back to back, protecting each other as they were overwhelmed and brought low.

Long after the Siege has been lifted I had opportunity to journey back to Baal and share with their tribes the tales of their brotherhood and their legend in service of The Emperor. Upon hearing of their shared tale the tribes set aside their rivalry, swearing pacts of loyalty and forgiveness. Many new members born into the newly united tribes bore the names of these heroes, and in turn many new Brothers who were inducted into the Blood Angels Chapter bore these names, all of them upholding the noble names of these warriors." - Veteran Sergeant Alessio

I really like those bolt pistols. The little BA symbol really makes them.

They did a great job with adding characterful details that add a lot to the minis. It's a huge difference from when I started playing in 2nd Edition.

Here is a sneak peak of my current work in progress;

Veteran Sergeant Laertes, Champion of the 83rd














"Among the 83rd we had no finer swordsman than Laertes. Unbested in any of Company's sparring matches or contests, his calm, composed blade work even keeping the fury of Vizioso at bay. A native of Baal he embodied the grace and martial skill that the Angel instilled in our Legion. For decades he stood to the side of Captain Eco as Champion of our Company, and representing our honor at the contests we had with our Brother Companies, and even with our cousins in other Legions. While never as feted as Raldoran or more famous blade masters Laertes was capable of holding his own. His skill with a blade was recognized by The Angel himself, and Our Sire had the left shoulder armor commissioned and bestowed upon Laertes with the honor of bearing the Angel's name on his armor and into battle. I cannot tell if it was mere coincidence or not but when Vizioso entered into service in our Company Laertes had requested to take command of a squad of Legionnaires after their Sergeant, his mentor, fell in battle. Eco granted him this request, but also decreed that he would retain the title of Company Champion. During the long Siege of Terra and the dark days that followed Laertes upheld the honor of our Brothers" - Veteran Sergeant Alessio

What's Laertes' sword made from? He's pretty great.

Thank you very much. The sword was made from using a Death Company chainsword;


Removing the chainblade part of of weapon, and replacing it with the blade of a power sword from the B@C set;

Some actual WIP - Brothers Drago and Tito of Squad Laertes



Armor and battle damage complete. Metals inked and drying ahead of detailing.