The Leonis Cluster: Forces of the Imperium

[lestat82d]

as ever inspirational petay! I really need to talk you into doing the fluff for my marines :P

[Petay1985]

Thank you for the kind words fella, i am always pleased when the fluff gets appreciated half as much as the models.

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Lions Argent Chapter Honour Guard
Praetorians of the Order | Honour Guard to the Lord of Leonis

Representative of the Chapter’s finest warriors and master tacticians the Chapter Honour Guard are assembled from the foremost heroes that boast the most extensive experience against the myriad of enemies facing the Imperium. In many cases the varied experiences of the Chapter Honour guard often outstrip those of the lesser company captains, likewise honour guard have been known to possess martial skill beyond that of any of their brethren. To serve as a Praetorian of the Honour Guard is to truly be born of battle, an accomplished warrior of undisputed skill and ability.

Further to protecting their liege lord the Honour Guard serve as a council of advisors, so steeped in the theatre of war are they that the Company Captains will take pause to hear their advice, for they speak from a well of accumulated knowledge, surpassed only by the Codiciers and Epistolaries of the Librarium.

The Honour Guard of the Lions Argent are clad in near identical suits of Artificer Armour worked and laboured over for many thousands of hours they are considered to be works of art as well as instruments of warfare. The suits are aesthetically similar and possess a great many integrated technologies only found in battle plate of more specialist purpose or the of the more advanced systems of MkIV Maximus plate. Stylised helms with plumed crests give the honour guard a visually regal silhouette, comparable with that of the Chapter's Captains and Senior Staff. All of the honour guard are equiped with a great two handed axe, a relic blade artificered to a high standard with a woven ornamental chain grip to the most part of its haft, nine of these weapons exist and reside within the Armourium of the Chapter Honour Guard, despite being ideentical manufacture almost all of the component parts show signs of craft and are fabled to have been made by a very skilled Techmarine of a forgotten age. In addition to these war relics the Chapter Honour Guard carry bolt pistols and power swords ensuring their martial dominance in close quarters combat. It is common place amongst Codex adherent Chapters for the Honour Guard to wield boltguns, albeit master crafted examples, a practical philosphy not shared by the Knightly brethren of the Lions Argent Chapter.

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Honoured Brother Boreas Telemachus
Praetorian of the Order | Honour Guard to the Lord of Leonis | Lions Argent Chapter Honour Guard

Formally an accomplished Veteran Sergeant of the 3rd Battle Company, Boreas Telemachus is an individual of peculiar aspect sporting a great many scars. So many infact that his patrician face is near indistinguishable, reduced to a contorted mangle of flesh and trans-human healed tissue, a direct result of a prolonged tour of service attached to the deathwatch in the Ultima Segmentum. A survior of a unnamed world over-run by the Tyranid hordes of an unidentified hive fleet Telemachus considers his scars penance for his failings in the campaign, failings that not even one of the ancient Primarchs could have bettered. However his despoiled face is the least of his injuries the most notable being the violent removal of much of his chest and throat the resultant effect of which is that Telemachus cannot speak with natural means, instead communicating in an artifical electronic voice resembling that of one of Chapter Ancients entombed in Dreadnought Armour. It is often jested by Aeneas Hakon that Telemachus is being mechanically altered to be a dreadnought one organ at a time. The darker side of this injury however has lead to Telemachus rarely speaking, detesting his own voice.

As a warrior of the Lions Argent Telemachus is counted amongst the upper tiers of combatants in the chapter, as skilled with a blade as Captain Dardanus Anarian and as proficient a shot with a bolt pistol as Centurion Nereum Vaalthus of the Leonis Legion. Thus it has come to pass that his unflinching resolve and abilities as a close quarters dualist have made him a favoured Praetorian of Aeneas Hakon and the Chapter Master himself.









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Thanks for looking.

[Captain Brown]

Keep up the good work.

Cheers,

CB

[Petay1985]

Thanks CB, always a pleaure

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Chapter Master Tiberius Vallarn
Envoy of Terra | Praetor of the Leonis Cluster | Vicarius Consul of Elysia
‘Auditorii Imperator’
Grand Master of the Lions Argent Chapter

A warrior of demi-god like skill and a commander beyond comparison, Tiberius Vallarn is a true hero of the Imperium, recognised amongst the greatest legends of mankind he is the bearer of a great many titles, some honorific and some conveying vast amounts of power and responsibility.

Having served the Lions Argent Chapter for almost six centuries prior to being promoted to the rank of Chapter Master Vallarn proved his worth as a servant of the Emperor, leading the Lions Argent’s First Company from one successful campaign to the next and earning every honour the Chapter can bestow upon him. As Chapter Master, a title he has held for a little over two centuries, Vallarn’s most notable achievement was the purging of the Elysia System, securing the system’s shipping lanes and destroying almost all of the pirate and xenos forces taking refuge in the surrounding asteroid filled wilderness space. Prior to Vallarn and the Lions Argent’s intervention in the Elysia System, the Imperial Guard lead campaign had lasted for six years, double the anticipated time, with the joining of the Lions Argent the campaign was reconciled in less that seventeen months with minimal casualties. For Vallarn’s successful leadership of the campaign, which restored one of the four major shipping routes to Terra, he was granted an audience with the Emperor himself, a privilege a scarce few have been afforded. Seen as a saviour by the trading guilds and governors of Elysia, Vallarn was granted the title Vicarius Consul of Elysia.

As Chapter Master Vallarn is an inspiration to his troops and commander of the highest order, as much a politician as a warrior, a trait that is exploited in his position on the council of the Leonis Cluster. Such involvement in system affairs by Astartes is frowned upon by the Administratum and the Ordo Hereticus, noe Astartes having had such involvement since the glory days of Macragge before the Horus Heresy. However with the hostilities growing on a galactic scale transgressions are permitted where mutual interests are seen to benefit. Because of these leniencies Vallarn has acquired by various portents and awards no small amount of political power, holding important titles and having rights of Veto over the System Council of the Leonis Cluster. It is worth noting the only other Astartes to hold such positions in recent history are Marneus Calgar and Lugft Huron, the latter of which has been excommunicated and branded a traitor.

In true reflection of the Chapter’s stereotypical visage Vallarn keeps a council of advisors from which he encourages freedom of speech in private council, their purpose being to ensure that important decision are properly informed and that conflicting opinions are voiced for consideration. The council is made up of two Battle Company Captains and the First Company Captain; these Captains hold the title of Paladin and attend directly to the Chapter Master in almost all circumstances.

Partly due to the attention given by various Thorian factions and partly due to the Chapter’s close ties with the Ecclesiarchy and the Adeptus Sororitas, Tiberius Vallarn is widely venerated as a saint by followers of the Imperial Creed, a veneration Vallarn does not agree with, but does little to dispel. Many supporters who consider themselves Thorians believe Tiberius Vallarn to be an incarnation of the Emperor himself, returned to usher in a new period of light and prosperity for mankind. Vallarn himself, having knelt before the golden throne, is a secretive believer in the Star-Child theory, supporting it’s hypothesis that the Emperor needs releasing form his mortal coil to rise to his full potential and power. The majority of individuals that have openly supported this theory have been excommunicated and cleansed from Administratum records, to speak of the Emperor’s death in such a traitorous manner is deemed to be great heresy punishable by death.

With the recently halted 13th Black Crusade and closing of the 3rd War for Armageddon further leniencies from Terra have lead to great benefit for the Lions Argent Chapter and the fortuitously placed Tiberius Vallarn, expanding his control over the Leonis Cluster in more formalised manner the Chapter Master has been granted permission to take control of all Military forces within the system and subsector, although not the only Astartes commander to be given such power, few hold sway over as strategically important pocket empires such as the Leonis Cluster. As part of this responsibility Vallarn has re-ordered the fighting forces at his disposal creating the Leonis Legion, a human auxiliary force of consolidated guard regiments, imperials navy assets, militia and planetary defence forces. All of these various military powers have been amalgamated into a singular force, ensuing cohesion and focus of purpose, all of which in undertaken under the watchful eye of a great many Astartes Centurion Commanders, all reporting to Chapter Master Tiberius Vallarn.

Tiberius Vallarn is a living legend, his achievements and accolades known throughout the Imperium of man. With a string of successful campaigns and decisive interventions that have had ramifications on a galactic scale Tiberius Vallarn has carved himself a place alongside some of the Imperium’s mightiest heroes; Marneus Calgar, Logan Grimmnar, Lord Inquisitor Hector Rex and even Lord Solar Marcharuis by the reckoning of some. Although in the shadows of the Terran political guilds adepts speak in hushed voices of the similarities between Tiberius Vallarn's military career at that of the recently defeated heretic Lugft Huron, now branded Huron Blackheart. The reality is that Vallarn is the embodyment of everything Huron could have been, a strong commander with confidence and certainty as his allies, not one plagued by doubt or paranoia. Despite the ramblings and rumour mongering of politcal adjutants it is an undesputed fact that Tiberius Vallarn is a master commander and true Hero of the Imperium, the likes of which will be sorely needed to whether the comming tide.

Ungula Leo: Believed to date back to the glorious days of the Great Crusade Ungula Leo is a mighty blade whose origins are shrouded in the veil of time, despite a plethora of legends and theories. Named in an ancient Calibanite tongue ‘Ungula Leo’ translates loosely into High Gothic as ‘Claw of the Lion’ or ‘Lion Claw’. The investigations of the Ordo Hereticus Inquisitor Malek-Loth extrapolated that this could in fact be a miss translation and concluded that the true meaning is in fact ‘Lion Sword’. However this is quite a leap of interpretation and as to whether or not the sword truly is the former sword of the Primarch Lion El’Johnson the truth may never be known. Regardless of the Sword’s origins and former masters the fact remains that Ungula Leo is weapon of supreme craftsmanship, clearly the work of a gifted artificer.













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continued in next post...

[Petay1985]

...continued from last post.

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Chapter Master Tiberius Vallarn and a Mysterious Watcher.




Chapter Master Tiberius Vallarn accompanied by the Chapter Honour Guard and a Watcher.



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Thanks for Looking.

[ChrisMurray]

Stunning, just stunning. he lloks very regal and yet at any moment could rip your head from your body. Great job on him and he looks every bit the leader with his troops.

[razormasticator]

Agreed with above poster. Stellar work here Petay!

[baphomael]

Nice use of Hector Rex's cape there, really suits the model. I always thought that, while being a pretty awesome model, the Huron model could have done with a cloak. Every space marine hero should have a cloak... its like the law, or something.

[Student]

Great work on the chapter master. He looks really cool.

[Petay1985]

Thanks for the kind comments folks very much appreciated, i am really pleased with the Chapter Master.

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+++ Extract from the archives of Inquisitor Lord Iccarus Laan, Ordo Hereticus +++
+++ Extract B7533-DLE7-G1 - recorded by savant 5K-U11, servo skull +++
+++ Subject: Extract from conversation between Inquisitor Lord Iccarus Laan and Chapter Master Tiberius Vallarn +++

“…with respect inquisitor your allegations are unfounded, you are drawing conclusions from the actions of others and levying the subsequent judgements disproportionately. Lugft Huron was a paranoid madman, a tyrant hungry for power and intent on forging an empire for his own glory. I do not doubt that he set out upon his path with the noblest intentions but the end does not justify the means, he kept ill-favoured company and suffered as a result of poor judgement and questionable allegiances. It is without question that he was found wanting in the eyes of the Inquisition and God-Emperor, thus sentence was passed. If you are intent on using the follies and failings of others to condemn me and my Chapter then so be it, your actions will do nothing more than bring embarrassment upon you and your office. The Lions Argent are a proud and loyal chapter, one which fights for the God-Emperor alone and will smite his foes for the betterment of the Imperium, only he upon the Golden Throne can pass judgement upon us, for all we do is in his name. Let us not forget that is by direct order from the Council of Terra that the Leonis Legion was formed and put under my command, the expansion of my Chapter to facilitate this integration of arms is unavoidable and falls well within my martial remit. I will listen to your drivelling no longer, I suggest you make arrangements with the house-master to shorten your stay in Linnaeus, it would be unfortunate if you were to outstay your welcome.”

+++ End of Extract +++

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Next up should be some armour; a couple of Rhinos, a Land Raider and possibly something attached to the Chapter Armourium...

Thanks for looking.

[Petay1985]

Glorium Leonis
Land Raider Prometheus | Command and Control Tank | Transport to Captain Dardanus Anarian, 2nd Battle Company

Attached to the 2nd Battle Company the Land Raider Prometheus Glorium Leonis is an ancient vehicle believed to have been constructed in the early years of M37. The vehicle has been retrofitted with an advanced radar and communications array enhancing the Prometheus' already highly capable systems. Favoured by commanders for it's command control facilities the Prometheus design is a more common sight amongst those chapter's that take pride in tactical prowess, the Lions Argent Chapter being but one example. Although often put into services were it's system capabilities are best utilised the Prometheus is still a fearsome warmachine; frontal assault ramp and two sponson each housing a pair of twin linked heavy bolters make for a brutal anti-infantry tank. Often underestimated by many for it's apparent lack of firepower, the truth of the matter is that the Prometheus is as deadly as many of it's Land Raider kindred in hands of the right commander.











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A really nice kit from Forge World, very impressed. The extra armour was well cast also and required no alterations to make it fit the behemoth. i suspect that a pair of Rhinos will be the content of my next update, hopefully in a few days time...

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Thanks for looking.

[MaxSigmund]

Very nice Land Raider. Apologies if you've already been asked this, but how do you paint your vehicles? Spray, airbrush or good ol'-fashioned bristly graft? I'm going to be starting my own tanks in a similar colour soon, and some inspiration would be invaluable

[eltanko]

Been a while since I have really checked this plog out. Excellent as always Pete, great background to accommodate the models. The land raider with the extra details looks really good, and it's always nice to see ol' Mr Vallarn show his head!!

ElTanko

[Petay1985]

@MaxSigmund - All my tanks/models are painted with good old fashioned brush work. including the application of a wash layer. As with the infantry; Chaos Black Undercoat (spray) Mechrite Red, Red Gore, Blood Red Highlights, Baal Red Wash.

@ Eltanko - A pleasure to have you onboard fella, it has been a while indeed. Of course Tiberious Vallarn would appear... did you ever doubt it?

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RH-IIC-02B
MkIIc Rhino Armoured Personnel Carrier | Attached to the 2nd Tactical Squad, 2nd Battle Company

The ubiquitous Rhino, the mainstay of the Adeptus Astartes force, a work horse and armoured transport of unparalleled design. Any manufactorum or mechanicus forge worth its salt, so to speak, can construct the Rhino using the masterfully crafted STC templates. The Lions Argent, like all other Chapters, utilise the Rhino across their chapter deployments and formations.

RH-IIC-02B is currently attached to the 2nd Tactical Squad of the 2nd Battle Company under the command of Veteran Sergeant Erastus Tychon.











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Really love the Rhino, especially with Forge World extra armour and the Aquilla rear door. The forge world tactical markings for the top doors is excellent, went on with absolutely no problem what so ever!

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Thanks for looking.

[Jo-Jo]

I thought their was something new on that rhino, and it seems it was the extra armour.

Good looking rhino man!

[razormasticator]

Wow you have been busy. The prometheus is gorgeous@

[superdupermatt]

Looking great as always petay, I am very tempted to get the extra armour from forgeworld too

[Petay1985]

Thanks for kind words folks, appreciated.

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RH-IIC-03E
MkIIc Rhino Armoured Personnel Carrier | Attached to the 3rd Tactical Squad, 2nd Battle Company

The ubiquitous Rhino, the mainstay of the Adeptus Astartes force, a work horse and armoured transport of unparalleled design. Any manufactorum or mechanicus forge worth its salt, so to speak, can construct the Rhino using the masterfully crafted STC templates. The Lions Argent, like all other Chapters, utilise the Rhino across their chapter deployments and formations.

RH-IIC-03E is currently attached to the 3rd Tactical Squad of the 2nd Battle Company under the command of Veteran Sergeant Alcon Glaukus.











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Thanks for looking.

[Gorman]

Great stuff - your red never fails to impress, and the white markings are so crisp... Really impressive

[ChrisMurray]

Great work, the lion symbol on the door is very nice.