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Never done a blog before... but deciding to attempt one to try and get some input. I would love ideas and help.

Basic Premise:

Empire of the Shadowlands is an Empire army that has risen from the grave. It exhists from an ex-cult from the furthest reaches of the empires influence, north of Kislev. It is a highly religious army sent forth by the empire to push back the invasion of the barbaric Warriors of Chaos. Unfortunately as successful as the army was, it pushed too deep beyond the boundaries of the empire. Despite being surrounded on all sides, the army fought valently lead by its Arch Lector and General of the Empire. As the months of intense fighting prolonged the enigmatic Arch Lector ended up building the army into an almost cultish nature. He prophesized that though they would die here, they would return prior to the end of times. Their bravery would not, could not be forgotten by Sigmar. For their belief, and loyalty they would be rewarded with the opportunity to kill the one they will call "The Everchosen".

Now, with the rise of Archeon, the enigmatic Arch Lector has returned from the dead, raising his comrads for one final glorious campaign to yet again earn their forgotten place in the empire's history.

"Together, we venture; Hand in Hand.
Where the weak won't go, And the light can't stand.
In the space outside of the timeless sands.
In the darkest depths of the Shadowlands."
- Arch Lector Lokey

"We believed, we'd live forever and never die
And we received, this holy gift we let pass us by
Now we can see, the angels swallow up all the sky
And we concieved this empty space which we will reside."
-Arch Lector Lokey

"Look into my eyes and I'll change you
Follow me til I die, like I made you
Step into my circle, and I raise you
Take me into the dark and I'll save you."
-Arch Lector Lokey

This is an empire army with undead tendencies, not undead with empire tendencies (aka VC). While I will be using bits and models from VC, I want it to look like these are truely empire soldiers who have simply raised from the dead.

I will be self imposing certain restrictions when fielding this army. Firstly, I will always build this army for the empire army book, and thus I can never use the same models to switch over to VC.
Either an Arch Lector or Warrior Priest must be taken to lead the army. A General/Captain may be taken, but only if an Arch Lector/Warrior priest is already taken as a general.
Due to the highly religious nature of this army, one Flagellant Warband MUST be taken as core.
Due to the dark nature of the army the Lores of Beasts, Light, Heavens, are banned. Shadow and Death is encouraged. Life is only allowed due to the undead theme. Fire and Metal are allowed.

Please, bring some input into it. I'd love to hear your ideas.

Banner:


First models!


First unit done being built and sneak preview of the color scheme:


More to come. Have to magnetize my bases now!


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Coming soon:

about 40 Handgunners
20 Crossbowman
20 Militia (Using zombie bits as arms and heads!)
25 Flagellants
General of the Empire on Pegasus
Captain BSB

Your back story is really cool, nicely done. The warm yellows and reddish-orange work very well with the undead theme, especially if they are worn and dirty looking! The brightness can contrast very strongly with the grime.

One suggestion, if you can see about posting photos with better focus? To me it looks like you might have been too close to the minis, so out of the in-focus are of the camera. It is very easy to do, especially when trying for detailed shots!

Looking forward to seeing what you have next!

working on better photos when i finish the flagellants. They're not going to be converted as those bit sets are already just amazing models and I think I could paint them to be very pale and ghastly already...

Any ideas for conversions? I was thinking of using the black kights as my knights but I hear that the knight itself is attached to the barding for the horse, making it difficult to convert with. I was also thinking of using the base of the menoth vassal of judgement as a war alter for my arch lector but i'm concerned it won't fit on 50x100mm. I already did a corpse cart conversion for my woc warshrine, and while it came out amazingly, I think the model is a little too dark for the setting here.

Stoupe wrote:working on better photos when i finish the flagellants. They're not going to be converted as those bit sets are already just amazing models and I think I could paint them to be very pale and ghastly already...

Any ideas for conversions? I was thinking of using the black kights as my knights but I hear that the knight itself is attached to the barding for the horse, making it difficult to convert with. I was also thinking of using the base of the menoth vassal of judgement as a war alter for my arch lector but i'm concerned it won't fit on 50x100mm. I already did a corpse cart conversion for my woc warshrine, and while it came out amazingly, I think the model is a little too dark for the setting here.

Sounds good, can't wait to see new photos. Flagellants yes, so many are tortured and emaciated looking, so that should be right on!

I just looked over the black knight sprue... weirdly legs are attached to one side of the horse, but not the other. How obnoxious. You could still use them but the feet are weirdly naked and bony. I think you could use the "Empire Knightly Orders" box as a base, but then bitsmash with Skellies for heads/arms/shields weapons, perhaps throw in some zombie parts. The horses are under so much armor that I think you could just go with them as is...

War Altar... Hmm the Mortis Engine thingy may be interesting. If you build the Necromancer version, but place a war altar on the hovering platform... It could almost have the effect of like The Arc in Indiana Jones as a mighty artifact, and the spirits are bound to / powered by / give power to it?

So many options!

The army has moved forth!


As you can see I've added 20 flagellants, 2 crossbowman, and 4 undead free company has been built and based. I cannot take credit for the green stuff work as I recieved those models.

The one painted model is base coat and wash only. It is Kommando Khaki, bolt gun metal, red gore, and of course bleech bone. Base is Dark Flesh. Entire model is doused with ogryn flesh to make for a warm, freshly dead, bloody feeling. I will be highlighting with the original colors and maybe blood red, and chainmail with mithril silver on the sharp edges. Base will get another highlight (covering the white) of dark flesh, then another bit of Ogryn Flesh. It will be highlighted with a bit of scab red and red gore if necessary to make the bricks pop out a little more.

As for the empire knightly orders... I like the knight, I just hate the horse... I wanted to use the new Black Knight horse if I could. My fear is the barding is part of the knight model, which will make for a difficult conversion. As well as an expensive one as I hope to run 15 of them (Thats 3 boxes of each! I'm hoping to cut it down by picking up the battalion at some point but still! all that for just horseys....)

As for the new Mortis Engine... Its a great model but a little too VC for me. I'm looking for Empire with a dash of undead rather then undead with a dash of empire... I know... Its confusing and I'm picky/perfectionist but still. I'm such a freaking perfectionist that I haven't built the Mortar crew because I want to mount the whole thing on an artillery base (when I find the product I'm thinking of) and I want the brick bases to mesh with the brick of the artillery base, haha.

The goal by the end of the week: 5 more free company zombies done. Hit mortar with LGS to smooth mold lines on the shaft. LGS on Halberdier arms. Everything sprayed. Highlights on test model completed.

Bad pictures but a epic and unique idea! I will be following this

I'd love to see some cavalry in your army, because armoured undead horses just sound so good.
Also, you should consider taking your army up to the level of SoM (storm of magic). You could have an undead pact, thus including a necromancer in your army raising converted zombies from the dead.

This looks like a really great concept, I shall be watching with interest. I can't help but feel that the standard is a little too chaos influenced for an undead Empire army, but thats just my opinion.

Keep it up

Stinky

LGS is done on all models. Highlights are completely done on the model. I like how he has turned out. The banner might be a little two chaosy. But I want something to be different. I really wanna get rid of the M:I on the head cause well... even tho the icon is from Mission: Infect, it doesn't fit with my army... Anyone good with photoshop that can help?

A unit of 15 knights are in the plans, but may take some time. I have about 1,200 points and with 21 credits this semester plus part time job, my goal is to build and paint those 1,200 points done painting/building by the end of the semester.
I will not purchase a single extra item unless its like 50% or less than market price.

That being said, here's whats in the plans for the next 3 months:
41 Handgunners
20 Crossbowman
20 Free Company
20 Halberdiers (With Command)
25 Flagellants
Mortar + Crew
Captain of the Empire BSB
Captain/General of the empire on an Imperial Pegasus
Warrior Priest/ Arch Lector
2 Sorcerers




Automatically Appended Next Post:


Finished test model:

Week End Update:

I did not get everything sprayed, but I got alot done! Alot built :-P, and 12 halberdiers basecoated.

Total built:
Mortar
20 Halberdiers
21 Free Company (I accidentally made 1 extra...)
20 Flagellants
16 Crossbowman.
Warrior Priest.

Pics
Free Company Zombies!

Halberdiers

Crossbowman


Flagellants

Mortar


Captain and his BSB

Looking good. We gonna be seeing these guys at Warbands in March?