The Vexus Crusade, Imperial Fists
Thanks very much, wanted the banners to have an almost antiquated feel, preheresy almost, if you will, rather than the standard Chapter symbol.Originally Posted by swifty2
Thanks gentleman, hopefully i won't dissapoint, he will be posted shortly
Update to follow...
The Vexus Crusade, Imperial Fists
Commander Tiberius Vallarn, Captain of the 5th Battle Company and Master of the Siege.
Shown below is Captain Tiberius Vallarn during the Vexus Crusade, Vallarn wears the colours of his company, his veteran status is indicated by the white decoration and laurelled helmet. Vallarn's armour is a suit of heavily modified MkVII 'aquilla' pattern power armour, adorned with gems and laurels, indicating his rank and captaincy. Vallarn's thunder Hammer was presented to him by Inquisitor Lord Karamazov after his actions on the world of Carpath-Delta-Four. Adorning Vallarn's wrist is chapter relic, a Storm Bolter of the same design as that used by Pedro Kantor, Chapter Master of the Crimson Fists.
Due to its massive rate of fire, the storm bolter is belt fed from ammunition clips on the armour's power pack.
Clearly seen here is Vallarn's helmet, adorned with green laurels not only denoting his veteran status, but they are awarded to Marines for great acts of Valour leading to victory in battle.
Upon his right shoulder pouldron Vallarn wears the Imperial Aquila, a sign of his rank and devotion to the God Emperor.
Vallarn wears at his belt a black sash, indicating that he is Captain of the 5th Battle company, this is slightly unorthodox as Captain's usually wear their company colours on a cape or robe.
Character Bio/History
Like all his brethren Tiberius Vallarn is an intolerably stubborn marine and intensely loyal. He judges others how he himself wishes to be judged, by his actions. He is a fiery commander often too eager to get to grips with the enemy, a trait which was won him much renowned within the Chapter despite costing him the tactical advantage on several occasions. Vallarn's critics are all too eager to point out his failings, although none can contest that he is a well rounded combatant with a flair for front line leadership.
Vallarn is often considered a rogue among his fellow Captains; none the less his accolades have won him some allies in high places throughout the years which have certainly helped facilitate his rise through the ranks. Equally his attitude has incurred the wrath of others. On a number of occasions Vallarn has been disciplined for disobeying orders, subsequently many of his critics openly opposed his promotion to Captain, however, none of this concerns Vallarn. Despite his ambitions for further rank and renown he has no time nor skill for Chapter politics, Vallarn is confident he will achieve his goals through actions not by making friends, he is quoted as saying 'he respects the man not the rank'.
It was clear from an early age that Vallarn had the qualities and well rounded skills required for leadership and was considered very early on as squad leader material if he could keep his defiant nature in check. Following events in the Thranx system, Chaplain Lo Chang, then of the 5th Company, noted that Vallarn would go on to do great things in the Chapter. Engaged in fighting Orks in the Thranx System, elements of the Imperial Fists 10th and 5th companies were deployed in the defence of the capital's hive city. Vallarn, his fellow scouts and elements of the task force where assigned a sentry position on the outskirts of the northern approached to the Hive complex. After a minor skirmish with Orks, Vallarn's squad sergeant was killed, despite this minor contact Vallarn became suspicious of the lack of activity in his sector, unable to contact his superiors via Vox communication Vallarn made the decision to take command and disobey his orders, a decision that epitomised his future career and is preciously the type of action which has led to him being labelled a rogue. Leaving his position against orders and leading 14 of his fellow scouts back into the Hive Vallarn risked the success of the defence on a hunch.
Vallarn and his scouts reached the Imperial command post to see it near overrun by Orks, having infiltrated behind enemy lines Ork commandoes had taken the Imperial Commanders by surprise. Vallarn's arrival however, surprised the Orks as much as their arrival had surprised the unprepared Imperial forces. Seeing the Chaplain Lo Chang, his helmet destroyed and his face racked with shrapnel, fighting at close quarters with a huge Ork, Vallarn and his squad riddled the Orks with Bolter rounds, swinging the fight in the Imperium's favour and undoubtedly saving Lo Chang's life. From the momentum of Vallarn’s counter attack Lo Chang was able to rally the Imperial forces and purge the xenos from the command post.
Vallarn's act of insubordination and heroism led to the Master of the Recruits deeming 'that Vallarn could learn no more in the 10th Company', and thus he was inducted into the 6th Tactical Reserve Company as a full Battle Brother. The Master of the Recruits is also noted as jesting that 'Vallarn probably believed no one had anything left to teach him'.
Vallarn views the seven years he spent in the 6th Company as penitence for his failings and certainly the most frustrating time of his military career. An uncharacteristic period of peace in the Segmentum Solar led to very little action for the reserve companies. Whilst many took use this time to hone their skills, it taught Vallarn nothing of patience. Vallarn found himself drawn into confrontations with his superiors regarding the deployment of Astartes and their use as a tool of the Emperor, this was until in his seventh year of service, a Dark Eldar cruiser was detected launching raids against the moon of Gathalamor. With no other Imperial Forces in the system, elements of the Imperial Fist's 5th and 6th Companies rapidly deploying to aid the Imperial mining colonies. The Dark Eldar had struck with such speed that the Astartes arrived to find the Dark Eldar cruiser making ready to leave the system loaded with Imperial prisoners. With no other option available to them the Astartes attempted a highly risky boarding action to liberate the prisoners. After almost 28 hours of nightmarish fighting and huge losses to the Astartes force the cruiser was eventually taken, the mission however was a failure as most of the prisoners were dead, tortured and mutilated by the Dark Eldar. To further compounding the situation the surviving Dark Eldar had vanished. The Imperial Fists had been faced with an impossible task, securing the prisoners in an alien environment whilst engaging the lightning quick Dark Eldar, the mission plagued Vallarn more than any other of his life. Vallarn would go onto to make tougher choices and bare witness to much greater losses but fighting the Dark Eldar had been like fighting a shadow, the lack of control he had over the events of that battle infuriated him and he came to truly detest the Dark Eldar.
Following the boarding actions over Gathalamor Chaplain Lo Chang was promoted to the 1st Company, his last act as Chaplain of the 5th Company was to replenish the Company's losses with the induction of Marines from the Reserve Companies, amongst these Marines was Tiberius Vallarn reassigned to the 3rd Tactical Squad of the 5th Company. Vallarn's exploits and deeds in his beloved 5th Company would define him more than any other events in his life.
Vallarn earliest exploits in the 5th company where attached to the 67th Terrax Imperial guard regiment acting as an elite mobile strike force dealing with the constant menace the Orks posed to the system, during this period Vallarn first started to hone the siege skills the chapter had earned infamy for. Vallarn consulted on the defence of important Imperial positions and took part in numerous defensive actions and prepared assaults upon heavily defended Ork encampments. Over the decade that the 5th company was in standard rotation in the system he continued to hone his well rounded skills proving to be equally effective with a combat knife and a belt full of frag grenades as a boltgun. Vallarn mainly served in standard tactical formation deployed from rhinos, his preferred method having never been entirely comfortable jump packs, nor content with killing his enemies at range. After fighting Orks for the better part of a decade the 5th Company was reassigned, they were to form part of an Imperial task force headed for the Forgeworld of Cypra Mundi in Segmentum Obscurus. The Forgeworld had come under attack from renegade forces believed to contain elements of the traitorous Word Bearer Legion.
During the campaign the 5th Company were involved in securing key locations in preparation for a final assault on the enemy’s strong hold. Sent to secure a forward observation post some 10km from the final objective, the 3rd and 4th Tactical squads uncovered something far more sinister. Besieging the observation post the Marines cleaved into the renegade forces within, with the observation post all but secure the head strong Vallarn, in command of his demi-squad, ignored his orders to hold position and moved into the sub-levels of the structure to clear out any remaining renegades. Within the sub-levels Chaos cultist’s had taken refuge intent on summoning Daemons, fortunately for the Imperial forces Vallarn’s demi-squad interrupted the ritual eliminating the traitors in brutal close quarters combat. Having prevented a potential daemonic incursion the 3rd Tactical Squad were hailed heroes and their names recorded in the Chapter’s records.
Six weeks after the events on Cypra Mundi the Imperial Fists received a transmission that a severely injured Astartes, claiming to be of their Chapter, had been captured aboard a small shuttle near the Cadian Gate. Under the command of the Librarian Epistolary Ellisar the strike cruiser ‘Titus’ with elements of the 5th Company, among them the 3rd Tactical Squad and Brother Vallarn, were dispatched to investigate. Rendezvousing with the Imperial Battleship, Ellisar and the 3rd Tactical Squad boarded to meet their supposed brother, lead to the holding cells by the ship’s Captain, the Astartes were astonished to see, sat before them, Captain Darnath Lysander, former 1st Company Captain and Hero of the Chapter 1000 years prior. All of the Astartes saluted, save one, Tiberius Vallarn, who trained the sights of his Boltgun squarely on the seated Astartes, refusing to lower his weapon until Lysander’s identity could be proven. Epistollary Ellisar was furious and snatched the Boltgun from Vallarn’s grip, dismissing him back to the ‘Titus’. Unknown to him, this encounter with Captain Lysander earned him a great a deal of respect from the 1st Company Captain, seeing much of himself in the tenacious Tactical Marine.
Upon returning to the Phalanx, much of the 5th Company was placed into quarantine, due to their proximity to the chaos taint on Cypra Mundi but and the mysteriously returning Captain Lysander. Meanwhile the entire chapter made ready for war against the encroaching Hive Fleet Leviathan, battles that would cost the Imperial Fists dearly in order to stay the tide of Tyranids in Segmetum Tempestus. Outraged at the accusations of taint and his absence from the war against the Tyranid threat Vallarn came close to blows with the chapter’s librarians and chief apothecary overseeing his screening.
Some 6 months later the threat of Hive Fleet Leviathan had been all but annihilated, only 48% of the Imperial Fists returning from fighting the Tyranids. The 5th Company, under the command of Captain Aggathon, were put back into action against Orks in Segmentum Solar, fighting along the side the Terrax Guard once again. 10 years had passed since his release from quarantine and Vallarn found himself and a number of other Marines summoned to the Phalanx with much urgency. Darnath Lysander had been reinstated as the Captain of the 1st Company and with the aid of Chaplain Lo Chang, had drawn up a list of Marines for promotion to the 1st Company, amongst others was the name Tiberius Vallarn. Vallarn’s 26 years in the 1st Company were served with distinction, having fought on many battlefields and against many foes, most notably; defeating the Ork invasion of Ulani, the purging of Space Hulk Delta-2317 and helping to suppress a rebel uprising on Hive world of Rhanna III. Vallarn was a clear choice for squad sergeant following the death of his the former squad leader. Vallarn’s first assignment as Sternguard Sergeant was on campaign with an Adeptus Mechanicus exploratory force. The Adeptus Mechanicus waged war in a very different style to the Astartes, manipulating allies and enemies alike, both of which made Vallarn uncomfortable. Vallarn’s squad undertook a number of covert missions, retrieving data-cores and long forgotten Mechancum properties. The inherent secrecy and style of this assignment vexed Vallarn; more accustom to direct fights and open engagement.
Vallarn’s time in the 1st Company was uncommonly brief, requesting transfer back to the 5th Battle Company after only 32 years, despite the honour of serving with the Chapter’s elite Vallarn lusted for the simplicities of serving with a Battle Company and the honestly of siege warfare. Vallarn’s transfer was approved, with both Captain Lysander and Captain Aggathon agreeing that Vallarn could serve the Chapter better as the 5th Company’s 1st Sergeant.
Vallarn’s first campaign back with the 5th Company was on the planet of Carpath-Delta-Four, a populated Imperial world plagued by dark religious cults and mutant attacks. Inquisitor Lord Karamazov requested assistance from the Astartes to help bring a close to the situation at hand. After weeks of investigation Karamazov concluded that the Cultists and mutants were operating out of a base in the Theron Mountains, the Imperial Fists, supported by local regiments, were tasked with a search and destroy mission to eradicate the cultists. Forming an armoured convoy the Imperial Fist forces began the arduous task of navigating the mountain roads. The higher reaches proving impassable to armoured vehicles the Astartes advanced on foot, eventually locating a heavily armed fortress in the mountainside. With a vast killing field, bare of cover, an all out assault was near impossible. Electrical storms and heavy ionization in the lower atmosphere made aircraft and orbital assaults far too risky and thus Captain Aggathon was tasked with organizing an offensive from the ground. After careful planning it was decided that A mix of artillery and jump infantry would look to take out the majority of the fortresses defences whilst the bulk of the company advanced on foot to main gate. The ensuing battle was bloody and intense, the thickest fighting Vallarn had seen since Cypra Mundi with the enemy well dug in and the Imperial Fist's assault failing the Imperial Fists were pinned on the now cratered plateau. With his brother's trapped by heavy weapons fire, Vallarn made a foolhardy run for the fortress gate, miraculously dodging gunfire and snatching up a meltagun from a fallen brother on route. Reaching the main gate Vallarn put the meltagun into use, turning the one of the thick plasteel gates into a white hot molten slurry, with the Meltagun's fuel expended Vallarn drew his power sword and began hacking at the second gate. As the second gate fell Vallarn was knocked from his feet by a hail of shells, incapacitated Vallarn was dragged to safety as the Imperial Fists stormed the gate and cleared the fortress within with the support of the Guard regiments. Without Vallarn's actions the offensive would have been wasted and a great many more Battle Brothers would have been lost.
Inquisitor Lord Karamazov remarked that Vallarn’s heroic actions where an inspiration to all, in recognition of his actions Karamazov commissioned the planets armourers to forge a thunder hammer, Captain Aggathon jested that should Vallarn ever again have the need to batter down a gate it would be a more suitable tool that his sword!
After the fighting on Carpath-Delta-Four the 5th Company was deployed back to the Thranx System once again fighting against the ever present Ork menace there. In the few months prior to thwir arrival the Orks were threatening to overrun the system, and if left unchecked could develop in a Waaagh! Forced to defend the Hive on Thranx Prime once again, the 5th Company prepared to break the Ork forces once and for all, facing an impossible battle Captain Aggathon requested further support from the chapter, reinforcements that would take 33 days to arrive. The ensuing battle saw the Imperial forces fighting against a never ending Ork horde, barely maintaining their lines the Imperial Fists held out until the 32nd day. Ork war machines finally broke the siege forcing the fortress defences to fail. Whilst stubbornly trying to hold the line Captain Aggathon fell to a huge Ork, recklessly Vallarn rallied the Command Squad and charged through fray to recover the fallen Captain. With the Imperial Forces overrun and the Orks pouring into the fortress wave after wave, all seemed lost. As night fell on the 32nd day Imperial reinforcements arrived in the form of Lysander and the 1st Company teleporting into the battle, with the Orks thrown off guard Vallarn seized the opportunity and lead the remains of the 5th Company in a counter assault. With Vallarn and Lysander securing the inner fortress, further reinforcements made planet fall, turning the tide of battle.
Captain Aggathon had proved himself a hero of the Chapter, but with his body broken he was destined to be entombed with a Dreadnought. As was tradition a council was assembled aboard the Phalanx where the Company Captains elected a new leader for the 5th Battle Company, to the surprise of all present Lysander gave his backing to Tiberius Vallarn for the Captaincy. After many hours of heated debate, Lysander’s vote for Vallarn was seconded by the Chaplain Lo Chang and the former Captain Aggathon, in light of these venerable heroes support the Chapter Master declared Vallarn, a headstrong rebellious rogue and Captain of the 5th Battle Company.
For the years that followed Vallarn served with honour as Captain of the 5th Company, rebuilding them in his image after the losses on Thranx, Vallarn has bent the teachings of the Codex Astartes to suit his style of warfare, favouring tactical marines over other squad types. Following 4 years of further campaigning against the ever present Ork menace, Vallarn was instructed to make his company ready for deployment to the Vexus system, the system had fallen from the Emperor’s light and was to be retaken. This campaign would be one of the most important Vallarn had undertaken; for the Vexus system was not only important to the Imperium but to the Imperial Fists themselves.
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I have to give special thanks to cpt_baughan for essentially writing this mammoth documentation of Vallarn's life with me, he really deserves the credit for it, i was but a humble servant and editor!
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The conversion work for Vallarn was remarkably simple, he is essentially Pedro Kantor with the arms and Hammer of the Limited Edition Gamesday Captain. The left shoulder pad is taken from the new GW Imperial Fists command upgrade pack.
Hope you all like him, i am now working on my Sternguard Squad, which will act as the 5th Companies command squad
Last edited by Petay1985; 10-04-2010 at 17:55.
I just read the whole story. Impressive, very very impressive!
It gives your Catain (which is a great conversion und paint job by the way) so much debth.
When will we see tanks from you? I'm very interested in you painting the yellow on larger areas.
I'm also looking forward to the Sternguard Squad and maybe an army shot then?
Totally awesome work on the captain conversion dude! man thats sweet! where did the head come from?
Really looking forward to seein your sternguard when they're finished, i liked your deathwatch in your other thread, so am hoping they are similar! It'd be awesome to get an army shot too dude!
Smoke
THAT is an awesome captain Petay!
i really like the use of Pedro's Body and that GD08 thunder hammer! i especially like seeing it all painted yellow.
his background is great and i enjoy how details on the mini show some of his history. overall he is very inspiring!
looking forward to your Sternguard!
Fantastic conversion there, really impressed at how you created such a unique model by just changing a few key components. Keep up the good work.
The Vexus Crusade, Imperial Fists
Tanks will indeed follow, i have planned a Razorback, 2 Rhinos & 2 Predators. I will get an army shot taken once i have finished my Sternguard.
The head is from the GD08 ltd edition captain, not a big fan of the head actually but it worked better with the posing of this model than the others i tried.Totally awesome work on the captain conversion dude! man thats sweet! where did the head come from?
Really looking forward to seein your sternguard when they're finished, i liked your deathwatch in your other thread, so am hoping they are similar! It'd be awesome to get an army shot too dude!
Smoke
I will try not to dissapoint, hoping to get my Sternguard finished for the weekend.
Cheers fella, it was an amazingly easy to convert, the inspiration behind it was the 'The Emperor's Finest' art work by kingmong, i'll post it up in the near future for reference.
The Vexus Crusade, Imperial Fists
1500pts Army List
Small update, this is my 1500pts army list, and modelling/painting goal of this log. I have no doubt that i will do other models and units to suppliment this list, but never straying too far from the theme.
The art in he background is titled 'The Emperor's finest' by a gentleman named Kevin, aka: Deviant Art's 'Kingmong'.
I've also attached the image at the bottom of the post for folks to look at, its an amazing piece and for those of you that aren't familiar; kevin's stuff is well worth checking out!
Further to this tiny update I have painted 3 out of my 5 Sternguard Veterans, photographs to follow in the not so distant future...
...I promise
Awesome army roster dude! kingmong's artwork looks sweet slipped in behind! how did you get the watermark faded effect?
Amazed at how much stuff you fit in 1500 man! awesome stuff dude!!
Smoke
love the captain conversion, great stuff mate, i will be keeping an eye on this army
You never fail to impress me with the effort you put into each update on your logs. Every marine has a story it seems , and you tell it well.
`I wasn’t scared, but I was up there looking around, and suddenly I realized I was sitting on top of a rocket built by the lowest bidder.’ Alan Shepard
Angels Sanguine http://www.warseer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=252009
Eldar http://www.warseer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=250807
The Vexus Crusade, Imperial Fists
Its really easy to do, i just imported the picture into Word, behind my army list and then, there is a feature to 'washout' the picture!Awesome army roster dude! kingmong's artwork looks sweet slipped in behind! how did you get the watermark faded effect?
Amazed at how much stuff you fit in 1500 man! awesome stuff dude!!
Smoke
Glad to have you on board, all support is always welcome!love the captain conversion, great stuff mate, i will be keeping an eye on this army
Thanks fella, i really try, lol, i think project logs are an arena for artistic development and creative output so i like to make the most of mine!!
I have finally finished my 5 Sternguard models
The Vexus Crusade, Imperial Fists
Sternguard Sergeant
Sternguard Sergeant Quintus served under the command of Vallarn in the first company, accepting promotion to squad sergeant on Vallarn's transfer to the 5th Company. Upon Vallarns elevation to captaincy, he requesitioned Quintus as his 1st Sergeant.
Although now 5th Company's 1st Sergeant, in the traditions of the Sternguard Quintus is armed with a MkV 'ultra-pattern' boltgun, the formidable weapon boasts a telescopic sight and larger ammunition magazine. Further more Quintus makes use of various special ammunition types. Note the raised guard on Quintus' left shoulder pouldron, giving extra protection when advancing under fire, also not the laurels on the same pauldron, only given to marines that show acts of valour directly contributing to a victory on the battle field.
The Vexus Crusade, Imperial Fists
Sternguard Veteran 02
Armed with a MkIX 'gryphonne-pattern' Heavy Flamer, this veteran is armed for aggressive close support, ideal for tunnel fighting and clearing bunkers. This pattern of heavy flamer is becoming very popular amongst veterans due to its increased promethium capacity without the requirement for a combersome powerpack mounted tank.
Note that this veteran has painted his MkV studded shoulder pauldron white, along with his helmet, denoting him as a veteran of the chapter.
The Vexus Crusade, Imperial Fists
Sternguard Veteran 03
This veteran is adorned in modified MkVI 'corvus-pattern' power armour, displaying the chapter symbol on his right shoulder pad, the symbol itself circled by the imperial laurels. Like the squard sergeant this veteran is armed with a MkV 'ultra-pattern' boltgun, again the weapon boasts a telescopic sight and larger ammunition magazine than is standard issue. Again note the display of veterancy through the white helmet and the white shoulder pouldron.
The Vexus Crusade, Imperial Fists
5th Company's Command Squad
Under Vallarn's reshaping of the 5th Company, the traditional roles associated with a command squad were ignored in favour of a more direct approach to battle.
Vallarn believes that the company banner and apothecaries have no place on battle field, thus has his command squad select wargear as required for the mission at hand, which in most circumstances facilitates the use of wargear more commonly associated with the 1st Company's Sternguard squads.
Thus the 5th Company Command squad, whilst operating during the siege of the 'Fortress of Sigismund' went into battle armed with 3no. MkV 'ultra-pattert' boltguns and 2no. MkIX 'gryphonne-pattern' Heavy Flamers. A loadout that complimented fighting in the vaults and chambers of the fortress.
A strict requirment of Commander Vallarn is that all members of his command squad must have earnt the laurels, awarded only for acts of valour leading to victories in the field. Although not a teaching of codex astartes, Vallarn believes that acts of valour are an essential part of commanding a company!
awesome sternguard unit petay. they all look great but vet #2 is b far my favorite. i really like the pose.
Awesome stuff, your sternguard are mad awesome! Is the heavy flamer a conversion? i've never seen the double tank one before! Awesome!
You need to follows eltanko's lead an post an army shot dude, awesome stuff! what you painting and posting next dude?
Smoke
Great sternguard squad, your making want to go buy one now
Cracking looking Sternguard, I love the wear and tear on the armour.
Alas, my taste for shemales is hard to satisfy
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