The Solar Watch, part 7 - Shield Captain Aurelian Valoris Threxian Kallastor.

 

What had once been a cathedral of command and control, tiered cogitator banks, brass-railed balconies, the hanging sigils of the Administratum, was now a hollowed wound of black glass and fused metal. 

The blast had not simply destroyed; it had unmade. Surfaces ran like wax. Stone had flowed. Steel had wept.

Ash drifted in slow, lazy spirals through the airless chamber, disturbed only by the heavy, deliberate tread of auramite boots.

They stood at the centre of it.
Golden figures in a dead place.
The Custodians.

At the forefront, Shield-Captain Aurelian Valoris Threxian Kallastor stood motionless, his guardian spear grounded before him, both hands resting upon its haft. His helm was mag-locked at his waist, his bare head lifted slightly, watching the kneeling figure at the center of their formation.

Around him, his forces held a perimeter without needing to be told. Wardens stood like statues of judgement. Venetarii hovered in silent arcs above the fractured galleries, their wings whispering faintly in the stillness. The Vexilus-Praetor planted the standard into a seam of cracked obsidian, where it stood unmoving, despite the faint, unnatural wind that coiled through the ruin.

And at the heart of it, Prima-Legate Kalimak Augustus Solthnar.

The black-armoured giant was utterly still, knelt with one gauntleted hand pressed flat against the warped floor. The obsidian sheen of his Allarus plate drank the light around him, broken only by veins of molten gold that seemed to pulse faintly beneath its surface. His head was bowed.

Listening. Invisibily Reaching.

The air around him trembled. 

Not to mortal senses. But to those present—those forged to stand in the Emperor’s shadow—it was undeniable. A pressure. A distortion. Like the moment before a storm breaks.

Aurelian watched him, unblinking.
“Report,” the Shield-Captain said at last.

Solthnar did not immediately respond.
When he did, his voice came as a layered thing. One tone was his own—deep, measured, absolute. The other… was not. It echoed beneath the first, like something vast speaking through a narrow channel.

“He lives,” Solthnar said.
A ripple passed through the assembled Custodians. Subtle. Contained. But there.
Aurelian did not move.

“Clarify.”

Solthnar slowly rose to his full height. As he did, the air seemed to ease, like a held breath released.

“Yor’Tar Dawne was present at the moment of detonation,” he said. “At the epicentre.”
His helm turned slightly, as if regarding something only he could see—some imprint left behind in the immaterial.

“He did not die.”

Aurelian’s eyes narrowed, fractionally.
“Impossible.”

"No,” Solthnar replied. “Worse.”
A pause, then the second voice spoke.
“He was taken.”

The word lingered in the ruined chamber like a toxin.
Aurelian’s grip tightened, just enough for the auramite of his gauntlet to creak softly against the haft of his spear.
“Explain.”

Solthnar stepped forward, the heavy tread of his Terminator plate echoing like distant thunder.
“This was not a detonation in the conventional sense,” he said. “It was a breach event. A forced translation point. The destruction you see—” he gestured with one clawed gauntlet to the vitrified expanse around them “—is residue. Displacement. The consequence of something being pulled through.”

“And Dawne?” Aurelian asked.

Solthnar’s gaze lifted.
“Anchored.”
Silence followed.
Cold. Absolute.
“He resisted,” Solthnar continued. “He fought. I can see the imprint of it—the psychic backlash. He wounded whatever reached for him. But in doing so…” He paused.
“He gave it purchase.”

Aurelian took a single step forward.
“Speak plainly, Legate.”

Solthnar met his gaze fully now. There was something in his eyes—not doubt. Not fear.
Recognition.
“Yor’Tar Dawne is no longer within realspace,” he said. “But neither is he lost.”
A beat.
“He has been drawn into the interstice. The space between.”

A murmur of static crackled across the vox-net as several Custodians instinctively tightened their formation.
Aurelian did not react.
“Then he is as good as dead.”

“No,” Solthnar said again, more sharply this time. “He is contested.”
That word landed differently.

Aurelian studied him.
“By what?”

For the first time, Solthnar hesitated.
It was infinitesimal. A fraction of a second. But to the Custodes, it was as loud as a gunshot.
When he answered, the second voice beneath his own seemed to deepen.
“Something that should not be here,” he said. “Something that remembers the Siege.”
The temperature in the chamber seemed to drop, frost crawled along surfaces from around Solthnar's armoured feet..

Aurelian’s expression hardened.
“Then this is a continuation,” he said. “Not an isolated incursion.”

“Yes.”
They stood in silence for a moment, two giants at the edge of comprehension.

Then Aurelian turned away.
“Formations will adjust,” he said, his voice carrying effortlessly across the chamber. “We are not committing full strength to this ruin.”

That drew a reaction.
Solthnar stepped forward, the servos of his armour snarling softly.
“You would withdraw?” he said. There was no disbelief in his tone—only a rising, dangerous intensity. “At the point of convergence?”

“I would refuse the enemy’s design,” Aurelian replied, without turning.

“This is the breach site,” Solthnar pressed. “The anchor point. Every thread leads here.”

“Then it is a lure.”

The two turned to face one another fully now.
Gold and black.
Auramite and obsidian.
Two expressions of the Emperor’s will—aligned in purpose, divergent in method.

“You presume much,” Solthnar said.

“I infer,” Aurelian replied. “From ten thousand years of war.”

“And I know,” Solthnar snapped, a flicker of that other voice bleeding through, “what stirs beyond the veil. This is not a game of positioning, Shield-Captain. This is a wound. You do not ignore a wound.”

“No,” Aurelian said evenly. “You cauterise it.”

A beat.
“Or you allow the infection to draw your hand.”
The words hung between them like drawn blades.
Around them, the Custodians stood utterly still. No one intervened. No one could.
This was not a dispute of rank.
This was doctrine.

Solthnar took another step forward.
“The Ordo Sinister felt this before your augurs stirred,” he said. “We traced the convulsion to this world. The pattern is here.”

“And yet,” Aurelian countered, “the architect is not.”
Silence.
Aurelian inclined his head slightly, just enough to acknowledge the Legate—not as subordinate, but as equal.
“Herath fled Terra to come here,” he said. “Why? To die beneath our blades? No. To complete something.”
His gaze swept the ruined chamber.
“This hive was sacrificed. Deliberately. A signal flare in the immaterium. A declaration.”
He looked back to Solthnar.
“If we commit everything to this corpse of a city, we do precisely what the enemy intends.”

Solthnar said nothing.
But the tension in him shifted.
Minutely.
“What would you propose?” he asked at last.

Aurelian did not hesitate.
“We divide the blade.”
He turned, gesturing with his spear.
“Strike element to descend. Hunt Herath. Confirm the status of Dawne if possible.” His gaze flicked briefly to the Allarus. “They will not fail.”
A slight inclination of helms acknowledged the order.
“Containment force establishes perimeter. Nothing leaves this site. Nothing emerges.”
The Wardens tightened formation, the Vexilus banner snapping once in the unseen wind.

“And you?” Solthnar asked.

Aurelian met his gaze.
“I do not fight where the enemy expects me to.”
A pause.
“I hunt the next breach.”

For a long moment, Solthnar said nothing.
Then, slowly, he inclined his head.
Not submission.
Not agreement.
Acceptance.
“Very well, Shield-Captain Aurelian Valoris Threxian Kallastor,” he said. “We will proceed… your way.”
The second voice whispered beneath the first:
“For now.”

Aurelian gave a single, sharp nod.
“Then we are agreed.”
He turned, his voice rising to command once more.
“Prepare for immediate redeployment. Venetarii—ascend. We take to the upper strata.”

Solthnar paused.
Just for a fraction of a second, as though listening.
A flicker of something—brief, distant, wrong—passed across his senses.
His eyes narrowed.

*****

More Adeptus Custodes....unheard of really.

The Solar Watch reached a milestone recently as i had a week of leave off from work and set down to finish off a few things which have been staring at me part painted*.

We visited Element Games Stockport again and Fraser asked for the army back.

I set too finishing the last bits I needed to, to make the force playable in total.

So, the main focus was Shield Captain Aurelian Valoris Threxian Kallastor.

A Forge World model and a very nice casting at that i must admit.

Once I had gotten into the swing of painting the Solar Watch again, he was very enjoyable to paint and I finished him as the other guys were attempting to play a very ambitious game of Horus Heresy 3rd edition**.

He uses all the techniques I've described through the other posts about the Custodes.

The off-white armour, red and gold detailing, a regal purple cloak to mark him out from his company.

The onnly thing I couldn't do at Element was to add Grass Tufts to the base, but the next time I'm over st Frasers I can do that in less then five minutes.

A close up of his face,  which I was pleased with for how simple it was.

A layer of Palid Wych Flesh and then a wash with Flesh shade and a tiny bit of Earthshade in the deepest recesses like his eyes and mouth.

His hair and the metallic patch on the side of his head was giving me Josh Brolin vibes from Deadpool 2 when he played Cable, if the model would have had a Bionic Eye, I would have painted it a bright yellow to really double down on tbe image.

Finally, before we left Element, I grabbed a few pieces of terrain and organised a couple of army photos, as seen here.

The main bulk of the army with the Shield-Captain, Sword-Champions, Allarus Terminators and a squad of Custodian Guard.

Another small squad of Custodian Guard, a Vexilus-Praetor and a Squad of Custodian Wardens.

And Legate-Prima Solthnar on the far right, contrasting in his Black Armour.

The force isn't quite finished, as there are two more Allarus Terminators and two more Custodian Guard to finish when I next visit.

But the bulk of the remainder, six Ventarii, I still have to work on, so they'll be the focus of the next post on this force.

I also hope to get a few photos of the army without the light bleed from Element Games next time as well.

Until next time, have nice day...

*more varied posts to come soon...I hope.

**I am hoping to take part in a smaller game of 3rd edition HH next time, in a 'learn the rules' type affair.

Once we've done that I'll post my thoughts about it compared to my beloved 1st edition.

Word Bearers Praetor Malach Varn.

 “Ashes of Iax”

The sky above Iax burned the colour of old bruises.

Praetor Malach Varn strode through drifting ash, and the fields of once-perfect Ultramar lay trampled beneath the boots of the XVII Legion. The agri-spires that had fed a hundred systems were aflame, their sacrifices rendered up to thirsting gods of darkness.

His Tartaros Terminator armour growled with each step.

Not the clean whirr of loyalist plate—but a predatory, grinding snarl, as if the ceramite itself resented stillness. Pistons flexed like sinew beneath crimson lacquer. Scripture crawled across every plate in burning runes, lit by the brazier mounted upon his shoulders. Its fire guttered but did not diminish, fed by oils rendered from sacrifices offered before planetfall.

Before him stood the sons of Guilliman.
A shieldwall of Ultramarines advanced through the orchard ruins— Tactical squads formed disciplined firing ranks while a Contemptor Dreadnought strode at their centre, its fists crackling with power fields.

“Word Bearers,” came the vox-hail, calm and clipped. “In the name of the XIII Legion, for the crimes against Calth and Ultramar, stand down and be judged.”

Varn laughed. The sound boomed from his helm grille, layered with a second voice beneath it—something older and wet with mirth, as the brazier burst into renewed flame in challenge.
“Judgement has already come,” he replied.

*****

Having a Horus Heresy moment finishing off this Word Bearers Praetor for a friend.

He'd done most of the work but didn't want to attempt the flames and was going to paint them black as smoke, I offered and the result is here.

When I next visit Duncan, probably for our next Element Games Stockport meet up, I'll have to make sure to take a few photos of his entire Word Bearers Legion, as he's got quite a bit finished.

*****

The Ultramarines opened fire.

Bolter shells struck his armour in disciplined volleys. Ceramite flared, scripture ignited and burned brighter where rounds impacted. The Tartaros plate snarled as it absorbed the punishment, servos howling as Varn surged forward through the storm.

His combi-bolter barked in reply—mass-reactive detonations punching through blue armour, precise and unhurried. An Ultramarine fell.

At thirty metres, he triggered the melta.

Sunfire lanced out. The Contemptor’s torso became incandescent ruin. Adamantium ran like wax; the Dreadnought staggered, reactor screaming, before collapsing into the orchard in a wash of molten slag.

Still the XIII held formation.

Varn met them at the irrigation canal.

His crozius fell.

Warp-flame roared outward in a hungry arc. An Ultramarine sergeant raised his power sword to parry; the blade shattered on impact, and the crozius crushed helm and skull in a single, contemptuous blow. The brazier-fire flared in answer, as if fed by the death.

A second Ultramarine drove a combat blade into the joint at Varn’s waist. The Tartaros armour shrieked in outrage. Varn seized the warrior by the throat and lifted him one-handed. 

He crushed the loyalist’s gorget and cast the body aside.

The remaining Ultramarines closed, disciplined to the last. A bolt round found a candle and extinguished it, a second found a dent in his armour, for a moment, the Praetor staggered.

Wax and blood mixed beneath his boots.

Then the crozius blazed white-hot.

The flames leapt from weapon to brazier, from brazier to the scriptures carved across his plate. The runes ignited like a constellation. The air grew thick, trembling with unseen syllables.

The Ultramarines hesitated.

That was enough.

Fire exploded outward in a halo of empyric heat. Blue armour blackened and split. Three warriors fell at once, their forms wreathed in unearthly flame that did not consume flesh so much as unmake it.

Silence settled over the orchard.

The agri-fields burned.

Praetor Malach Varn stood amidst the dead, armour grinding as he turned toward the distant spires of Iax’s primary hive. The brazier atop his shoulders guttered low, then flared anew as if inhaling the smoke of the battlefield.

“Let Guilliman reap what he has sown,” he murmured.

Behind him, the Word Bearers advanced through fire and ash, chanting litanies that rolled across the dying fields of Ultramar like a second, darker harvest.

*****

Until next time, have nice day...

The Solar Watch, part 6 - Prima-Legati Kalimak Augustus Solthnar.

 

The Incarnadine Angel burned through the void like a lance of gold and ivory. The Custodes aboard were grim and silent — they had seen daemonic incursion upon the Throneworld itself, and now they were racing to the next contagion point in the solar system. Yet what waited for them on Mercury was not mere cultist insurrection.

When the Incarnadine Angel reached Mercury orbit, they found an obsidian gunship already docked at the primary voidlock of the Command Hive. Black as voidstone, marked with faint gold script in High Gothic, the craft bore no Imperial heraldry, only the sigil of the Ordo Sinister, a single Roaring Lion's head rendered in burnished Silver.

From its ramp stepped Kalimak Augustus Solthnar.

He was massive even by Custodian standards — his Allarus Terminator armour black as volcanic glass, the gold of his Auramite gleaming like veins of captured sunlight through obsidian fractures. His faceplate was an archaic design, filigreed and covering his nose and mouth, his eyes bare which glowed with latent psychic energy. When Custodian-Serjant Gallimadean Calax and Vexilla Sanish greeted him in the Docking Hall, they felt the psychic weight of his presence before he spoke.

"Prima-Legati Solthnar, your arrival was not recorded on fleet auspex." Vexilla Sanish’s tone was respectful, but wary.

"It was not meant to be.", The voice that issued from the Terminator’s vox-grille was a deep, harmonic resonance, not entirely his own. The Ordo Sinister felt the convulsion before even your augurs did. The weave of the Astronomican shivered. We have traced the psychic pulse to this world. You will give me your data-streams and command-code access to your auspex relays."

Sanish hesitated. "With respect, the Ordo Sinister is not of the Talons’ chain of—"

"Enough," Solthnar interrupted. "Your duty is to the Emperor’s Will. I am its executor."

Even among the Ten Thousand, there are some whose authority transcends rank. Solthnar was such a being. As Equerry to the Collegia Sinister, he spoke with the voice of the Emperor’s darkest sanction, of which few knew of during the Heresy and fewer still knew of in these dark days of ending.

*****

Fools have asked 'why did the Dark Age of Technology end in the fall of Humanity?', and other fools answer back 'Folly' or 'Pride' or 'The Worship of Progress' as if these things alone have any meaning. 

The reason, the wise know is simple.

It is because finally Humanity had the arts at their disposal to make their dreams reality, and the dreams of Humanity have ever been the darkest things in all creation.

- Introduction to the Emerald Testament - A Treatise of Ancient Psi-Weapons, Suppressed work of Techo-Archaeologist Saran Brooke, M39.

*****

IT's been a while since I visited the hallowed halls of the Custodes, but with a surge of enthusiasm I am working towards clearing things off the paint table and after a rough few days I took an "easy win" option.

Prima Legati Solthnar was mostly finished just after the turning of the year, and has only needed layering up and highlighting to finish.

He is based off of this piece of character concept artwork* I found on Pinterest:

I added flair to my model with a bit of red and silver and the bright blue gems to add a spot of colour against the black, gold and purple:

If I'd have had the spare parts I would have added in the power sword like in be artwork, but I'm happy with the finished model.

More photo's:

The fur is taken from the old Space Wolf Terminator kit and mushed together to make a larger pelt, and the various chains attached to him were a flair I added when kitbashing**.

You may be asking yourself what is the "Ordo Sinister" and why is Solthnar the Equerry to them?

The Ordo Sinister are the most horrific weapons which the Emperor created during the Great Crusade in the Warlord Psi-Titans, piloted by a psychic blank princeps and crewed by enforced psykers who use their souls as ammunition. 

They could only be ordered to deploy by the Emperor's direct command.

As for Solthnar being their Equerry in the 41st Millennium?

The Psi-Titans were secured in their fortresses underneath the Imperial Palace at the end of the Heresy, and to very limited knowledge, they are still there, eating for the Emperor's command, one trustworthy Custodes is given the job of Equerry to the Ordo, to ensure nothing and no-one gains access to the hidden weapons.

He'll just be a standalone character, I may build a second version of the character at some point in the future, see if I can kitbash a bit better, rather then just a quick job which I did here.

I also want to build a Psi-Knight if I can find a decent looking gun arm to 3D print.

Until next time, have nice day...

*Orniris.com does a shedload of artwork like this which can be found in various places on the internet, I just really liked this particular character.

**Originally I had planed on having had him break the chains of the Ordo Sinister vaults in he story, hence the addition of them to the model, then decided to change it up and add it to the ongoing Custodes story I started a bit ago.

Death Korps of Krieg, Lord Marshal Dreir.

 

TRANSCRIBED VOX-LOG

SOURCE: Krieg Line Officer, Trench Delta-Seven

STATUS: Deceased (Confirmed)

RECOVERY: Post-Action Sweep, +3 Days

DATA INTEGRITY: Partial / Acceptable

-----

I am recording this in accordance with regulation.

At 04:16 siege-time, Lord Marshal Dreir advanced past our position at the head of the Death Riders. 

He did not slow. This was efficient. 

The mount ES819 showed structural damage but remained combat-capable. 

The Sabre of Sacrifice was visible and unblemished at that time.

We maintained fire as ordered. One rider was killed by overshoot from our right flank battery. No correction was issued. Ammunition expenditure took precedence.

Enemy resistance increased at 04:18. 

Volume of fire exceeded prior engagements but lacked coordination. Two cavalry elements were lost before contact. Their absence did not alter the advance.

The collision occurred at approximately 04:22. Enemy morale collapsed immediately upon impact. Cultist personnel were neutralised by sabre strikes, trampling, and compression against urban debris. The sounds were consistent with prior close-assault actions.

Lord Dreir did not vocalise commands. He did not hesitate. The Sabre of Sacrifice functioned as intended. I observed the blade destroy several enemy fighters.

At 04:30, the avenue was cleared. Fires continued. The dead obstructed movement and were used as cover by advancing infantry.

Lord Dreir halted at the far terminus of the avenue and turned to face the approach. He remained stationary, I estimate forty to fifty seconds. This observation has no tactical relevance.

We were ordered forward to entrench at 04:44. Shovels were distributed. Where ground was insufficient, bodies were utilised. Enemy and Krieg remains were of equal utility.

I was assigned to the third digging rotation.

-----

ARCHIVAL NOTE:

The officer’s body was recovered in Trench Delta-Seven with entrenching tool in hand. Cause of death: secondary bombardment. The position was lost again two days later.

NO FURTHER ACTION REQUIRED

*****

Just like that we're a week into 2026, and also just like that the first mini of 2026 is finished!

Granted this mini has been part painted since about November, but with a quiet night, I decided to buckle down and get him finished.

Lord Marshal Drier is the named character for the Death Korps of Krieg, a mounted cavalry commander and the regiments equivalent of Lord Solar Leontus*.

Here is the finished mini:

For the greatcoat and armour, etc, I followed my regular DKoK scheme, with Vallejo French Mirage Blue making up the blue-grey colouring of the greatcoat.

He has a lot more colour on him then the regular Death Korps, simply because he is a senior officer, so I went with a nice rich burgundy-purple-pink to contrast well with the drab blue-grey of the main army.

Stupid and unrealistic I know, but this is 40k...

The gas mask for both horse and rider was started with the usual Khaki, but I went different on this one and washed it with Seraphim Sepia, it adds a weathered appearance to me and makes him look more like a veteran**

ES819, the mount, started as Ironrach Skin.

I then used the washes Seraphim Sepia, Ireland Flesh shade and Druchii Violet to shade the mount.

Sepia at the top, Felshshade in the center and Violet below the knees.

I worked fast getting these onto the model, and then used a damp brush to wet blend the colours into each other, the first time I have ever tried to use this technique.

His base got the usual urban theming for Frasers army, and a few broken pipes, when I get another box of skulls, I'll paint a few and go back and add one or two to his base to really fit into 40k***

I Know Drier was in my "Bonus Projects" list for the year, but he was part finished, it was late at night when I managed to sit down to paint**** and he was the first thing on the top of the workbench I picked up.

Doesn't matter, he's finished and another model for Frasers army down.

Until next time, Have nice day...

*I think, I don't play 10th edition 40k.

**I tried this on the infantry I've been working through, but with different shades of highlights and different brown's/Khaki's as basecoats for equipment, it's subtle but i think it shows the different ages of gear on the regiment, as some are newer than others for replacement troopers.

***SKULLS! SKULLS EVERYWHERE! 

****I'm back at work full time now, so whilst hobby time is available, I've got to get back into the swing of sectioning out time for myself around other things at home.

400th post, and 2026 (hopeful) plans.

 

The year turns softly, like a page half-read,

Old doubts grow quiet, loosening their hold.

We carry echoes of the words we said,

But set our gaze on mornings edged in gold.

The clock breathes out, releases what has been,

Its chime a promise more than something old.

Ahead, unmarked, the days wait, clear and clean,

With room for courage, gentler, bright, and bold.

We step together where the future starts,

And find new light still warming patient hearts.

*****

It's 2026, a new year, and hopefully a better year all around for everyone.

Last year, 2025, started hopefully, then slowly dissolved into a long drawn out mess with work and family health issues* taking up time from May onwards.

With the start of a New Year, it's often the point where people say about "New Year, New Me/Army/Project" and then talk about their future plans for the year, etc etc.

I'm aiming for a few small "achievable " things for this year, keeping things simple:

I have Three personal goals for the year:

Goal 1:

To make time to visit Element Games Stockport more often and socialise with my friend group there, and by extension play more games of stuff. 

Just really play more games. 

To that end I am thinking of picking up Talisman next time I go over there, so I can throw that down without too much set up and we can rip through a game.

They are getting into Bloodbowl, which has never grabbed me, but I can get Lion/Dragon Rampant going easily enough, and we've all been bitten by The Old World bug recently...

Speaking of The Old World...

Goal 2:

So, mid December when I visited, we played The Old World, and I have a 1,500 point Warrior of Chaos army built for the same on square bases!

This is only a small section of it, but i have more Chaos Warriors in the wings.

The second goal for the year is to get this all painted up to my tabletop standard, and get it working well on the battlefield.

This is a top project because it's a game which I KNOW I will be able to get games of, whenever I go to Element.

Goal 3:

The third goal, is my Samurai project.

I've faced the fact that the way things are going time wise I won't be able to get the Hail Caesar project off the ground, so I've made the decision to downsize to my favourite rules, Lion Rampant, and drop into Dragon Rampant if I want to field the more mystical Japanese bits I can 3D Print.

Above in the picture is a full size force for Lion Rampant, I just need to print off a suitable Commander figure.

I already have enough troops to put together an opposing force, and all my Sohei can easily be dropped into the game as well.

I would like to get somewhere with this as its a project that's been on and off again for the better part of two years now, and I've an itch to get some gaming in with them.

Bonus Goals:

So the last few things are just projects which have been on the workbench for a while which I would like to see finished.

The first of which is another Platoon and autocannon squad for Frasers Death Korps of Krieg army:

The second is the bits I have collected for my Black Legion army for "Project Eye of Terror", these are an 'if i got the other stuff done' project:

Lastly, a bunch of various characters, Lord Marshal Drier is for Frasers army, the Custodian, Education, Tzeentchian Sorceror and Arbite are all part started which need to be finished, and the orange mini is an oriental type character who could be dropped into the Samurai Dragon Rampant fantasy stuff:

I think these goals are reasonable and more to the point practically achievable** given i don't know what is going to happen time wise this year.

Let's have a good 2026, and I'll post soon.

Until next time, have nice day....

*without too much detail, things aren't back where they were family wise. Personally I hopefully, seem to have fought off most of the Black Dog's influence which dragged me through November and December.

**I could have run through a list of stuff I want to start and would be new projects:

The Red Book of the Elf King and Troll Wars by Lucid Eye.

A 3D printed Leonin force for Dragon Rampant.

Horus Heresy forces.

Crusader and Muslim forces for Lion Rampant.

Warmachine Cygnar, Khador, Llael and Trollblood forces.

Most of this stuff I already have, but no point piling on projects, instead of finishing ones in motion.

Engineer Squad, Black Platoon, H Company, 352nd Death Korps of Krieg.

The Engineers advanced in a crouched line through the shattered avenue, their greatcoats grey with dust and soot, gas masks reflecting the burn of fires in dead windows above. Around them the city screamed. Autoguns chattered from upper stories, heavy bolters thumped somewhere to the rear, and shells fell with the dull, collapsing sound of buildings giving up their last strength. At their centre trundled the demolition drone, a squat tracked machine chewing through the rubble, its auspex antennae twitching as it tasted the poisoned ground ahead.

They halted at the suspected minefield where the street dipped into a cratered intersection. One Engineer knelt, probing with a bayonet while another fed data into the drone’s control unit, his gloved hands steady despite the tremor of nearby impacts. The drone rolled forward obediently, a telltale click echoed, then anothe. Pressure mines, linked and cunningly buried, waiting for the careless or the brave.

The assault surged past them regardless. Infantry sprinted across side streets, tanks ground rubble into powder as they fired point-blank into hab-blocks, and overhead a Valkyrie screamed low, disgorging Grenadiers into the smoke. 

Shrapnel pattered against the Engineers’ armour like rain, and one man fell without a sound, punched through by a round meant for no one in particular. No one broke formation; another stepped into his place, because the mine had to be cleared.

With a final signal, the Engineer at the controls triggered the drone. The explosion was sharp and contained, the ground buckling as the hidden charges were consumed in a controlled fury. Dust washed over the unit, and when it settled the street was torn open but safe. Without ceremony, the Engineers advanced once more into the fire, making a path so others might die further ahead.

*****

An end of year post, things have been a little quiet around here, mainly due to personal,  not hobby, related reasons.

In the gulf of time between Christmas and New Year though, I found motivation and time to hobby again, picking up this unit which has been half painted for quite some time. 

When the Death Korps of Krieg got their army second wave miniatures,  during the Guards 10th Edition Codex roll out, Fraser bought the box and sent it over for me to add to his Krieg army I'm SLOWLY working on for him...le sigh...

I built the Engineers as they were my favourite unit, primed them, basecoated them and then...life got in the way.

So here they are after a couple of hours of highlighting and basing:

All five members are finished, based to match the urban war bases of the previous troops I've finished for his army.

Here's the Sergeant and Flamer:

The Shotgun Engineers:

The Drone Controller and Demolition Drone (affectionate nicknamed the "Roomba" by us):

They have a wealth of details, as most modern GW kits do, and I went in and added even. Ore accessories to them in the form of grenades and pouches...Just because I thought they didn't look like they had enough equipment on them.

If Fraser ever thinks of adding a Chimera to this unit, I've several ideas of how to model it and equipment and storage to add to it.

Finally, I pulled the Commissar (my favourite model FW ever made for this range) and the converted Master of Ordnance to put alongside the unit to keep track of the basing too they match:

And with that, the last models I've painted in 2025 are posted.

Hopefully 2026 will be a better year, with more stability going forwards.  I am hoping to get another swathes of troopers for this army finished soon as they need highlighting and bases to be finished, so I may make that the first priority in 2026 before other projects.

Until next time, have nice day...

Deathwatch additions.

 

“Onyx Blade at the Breach”

The brood-lair pulsed like a canker on the outskirts of Vethros Hive, a swollen mass of chitin and glistening bio-matter that had swallowed entire hab-blocks. Even before Strike Force Onyx Blade reached the perimeter, Lieutenant Albo felt the psychic pressure of the swarm gnaw at the edges of thought.

He raised his power sword, its auric blade crackling with restrained fury.
“Brothers,” he said over the squad vox, “we carve out this rot and we save whoever yet survives. For the Watch. For the Emperor.”

The kill-team advanced.

---

Apothecary Gerhardt – The Living Must Be Preserved

Gerhardt knelt beside a wounded Guardsman as the first spore clouds drifted overhead, stinging like acid rain. His narthecium hissed as it sealed a gaping chest wound.

“You are not dying today, soldier,” Gerhardt murmured, bolter snapping up to blast a skulking Hormagaunt as it leapt. He hauled the man to his feet and shoved him toward the extraction corridor marked by Leto’s covering fire.

“Go. Stay alive.”

Behind him, the brood-lair gaped wide like a jaw waiting to close.

---

Sergeant Marius – The First Breach

Marius advanced with disciplined precision, bolt rifle braced against his vambrace. The first blast from his underslung grenade launcher tore an opening through the resin wall of the brood-lair, spraying steaming fragments across the rubble.

“Breach made. Ancatus, you’re on entry.”

He fired again, cutting down two Termagants trying to slither through the collapsing gap.
“Albo, I recommend rapid penetration before the nest reacts.”

The hive was waking.

---

Infiltrator Ancatus – Shadows Before Claws

Ancatus ghosted ahead, a wraith in Mark X Phobos armour. Smoke grenades burst around him, hiding the route from the synapse beasts overhead.
Inside the lair, heat and wet humidity pressed like a furnace.
He raised two fingers—silent signal. Movement.

A trio of Genestealers crawled across the ceiling, their talons slick with human blood. Ancatus exhaled, bolt-carbine rounds punching upward in a tight staccato until the xenos dropped like butchered spiders.

“All clear—momentarily,” he whispered.

Nothing was ever truly clear around Tyranids.

---

Eliminator Romarich – One Shot at a Time

From the ruins of a shattered manufactorum roof, Romarich had perfect oversight of the kill-team’s advance. His las-fusil whined as he dialed the charge.
A hulking Warrior-strain crested the brood-mound, boneswords raised to direct lesser beasts. Romarich squeezed the trigger.

The beam lanced through the creature’s skull, detonating its cranial sack in a bloom of white steam.

“Synapse node removed,” he reported calmly.

Below, Albo’s team surged into the gap the shot had opened.

---

Heavy Intercessor Leto – The Wall of Fire

Leto strode forward like a living bastion, heavy bolter roaring. The ammunition belt chattered as he swept the kill-zone clear, explosive shells cracking open carapace and flesh alike.
Guardsmen and civilians huddled behind his towering silhouette as he escorted them back through the war-torn streets.

“Stay tight. Keep moving,” he rumbled, even as he stitched a torrent of bolts into an onrushing pack of gaunts.

Once the last survivor was clear, he voxed:
“Extraction complete. Returning to the assault path.”

---

Assault Intercessor Riciardo – Blood and Motion

Riciardo ignited his jump pack, soaring over the writhing bio-tendrils that guarded the brood-lair’s deepest tunnels. He landed amidst a pair of Genestealers, chainsword revving. The first died in a spray of gore; the second slashed, but Riciardo rolled with the strike and fired point-blank with his bolt pistol, blowing the creature’s head apart.

“Entrance secured for demolition charges!” he shouted. “Someone get me a det-pack before more friends arrive!”

Behind him, the tunnel breathed—alive with alien hunger.

---

Venerable Brother Garin – The Emperor’s Oldest Wrath

Terminator armour scraped against swollen organic walls as Brother Garin waded into the heart of the brood-lair. His storm shield bore gouges from a dozen new blows, and his power sword glowed red with chitin-burn. 

A monstrous Broodlord erupted from the darkness, screeching.

Garin answered with a crack of his storm shield that flattened two of its fangs. The Broodlord slashed again, its talons sparks against ceramite.

“You face a son of the Emperor” Garin thundered, impaling the beast through the thorax and lifting it bodily from the floor. “And I do. Not. Fall.”

With a twist, the xenos died.

---

Albo – Closing the Wound

With the Broodlord slain and Romarich eliminating escaping synapse creatures, Albo rallied his brothers at the tunnel nexus.

“Marius, charges to each burrow.”
“Riciardo, hold the choke point.”
“Gerhardt, last sweep for survivors.”

The squad moved with perfect, lethal synchronicity.

When the charges detonated, the brood-lair shuddered and collapsed inward, its flesh-walls imploding in a thunderous cascade of gore and ash. The tunnels sealed. The threat—contained.

Albo raised his sword toward the burning sky.
“Strike Force Onyx Blade. Mission success. The city is secure.”

His warriors gathered amid the settling dust, battered but unbroken.

Another world saved.
Another hive cleansed.
And the Deathwatch walked on.

*****

I can't have been the only one who was excited for Space Marine 2 to be released. I ordered my copy on Steam and had great fun playing it.

Then something exciting came along in a way I would have never guessed.

"Space Marine Operations", a tabletop game mode for 40k which based its gameplay off of the multiplayer co-op missions from the computer game. 
You can play it as Players Vs Environment with a small group of player taking control of one or two marines each, or completely solo with you controlling the entire strike team against the chart driven AI controlled enemies.

FANTASIC!

However, slight problem, I was three models short of the strike team, because they all have different classes and weapon requirements.

A short root through the bits box and I threw these three models together.
Assault Intercessor Riciardo of the Flame Phoenixes chapter.
Venerable Brother Garin, of the Broken Swords chapter.
Brother Leto of the Ultima Consuls chapter.

Not the best photo, but showing again how I freehand the different chapter symbols upon the shoulder pads. 
Riciardo, on the left has a yellow and red phoenix flying from flames as his symbol, and a red on yellow cross device on his tilting shield.
Leto with the Heavy Bolter (taken from a very old Blood Angels kit) has a blue Eagle head on white background and green trim, I also took the backpack from the old Firstborn Marines Devastator squad, cut off the target and angled it to match where he is looking, as it it is tracking his movements and recording everything to be analysed later.

Venerable Brother Garin began life as the free "Model of the Month" from a while ago when GW were giving away a free Deathwing Terminator. I really liked the idea of a Power Sword and the big Stormshield, so I converted the sword with one from the Bladeguard kit (I think) and added a Horus Heresy Vexilla to his back to give him some more presence (not that he needs it).
Just like Riciardo and Leto, Garin follows my Deathwatch black armour colour scheme, the differences begin to come in with the detailing.

I really like the colour Barak Nar Burgundy, and was looking for an excuse to use it again, so Garin got it for his robes and for half his tower shield, the other half is alternating checks in Averland Sunset (yellow) and Mephiston Red (Red...obviously!), as I wanted to play up the knightly aspect and throw some more details in there.

I left the Deathwatch shoulder pad on, as it was moulded on entirely and its really nice. I just say that he is from a chapter called the "Broken Swords" and leave it at that.

And Strike Force Onyx Blade gathered in all their martial glory below.

I originally finished these models off in order to play the Operations game mode at Element Games back in September with Cardboard Fortress and Fraser, but such is life that things got in the way of a meetup and it was put on hold for now.
That gave me time to go back and reread everything, retype it up a little so it flowed better on the page, and to design my own scenario to slot into a three scenario mini-campaign which we could play through in less then a couple of hours (hopefully).

I have a few other things to add to the Deathwatch, one of the biggest things will be filling out Riciardo, Leto and Garin's squads, maybe add a few other characters, like a Techmarine, and I would love to get a pair of Dreadnaughts for the strike force (Who dosen't love a Dreadnaught?), perhaps a couple of vehicles wouldn't go amiss either (I do quite like the Corvus Blackstar!).


Until next time, have nice day...