Having recently lost all my Inquisitor files, including my character sheets (no hardcopies because I don't game), I've been recreating them, sometimes taking a chance to change things. I had an idea for a Space Marine Scout after seeing the Halo ~54mm models, and so made a model for one, with a character based around a partially mutated marine who was unable to grow Progenoids, and so operated alone, not really being part of the Chapter. However, that idea has been dropped, since I never could figure out how I wanted the colourscheme to look, and I've forgotten a lot of it anyway. However, recently I came across something that inspired me to re-write it, and finally get round to painting him.
Sergeant Orjan Hereweald of the Grey Slayers Chapter
The story of the Grey Slayers Chapter is one told in hushed tones, even more so than any other story of heresy and deception. Many Chapter Masters feel that, but for the Grace of the Emperor, they could have followed the path of Master Baldarich, tricked by the forces of Chaos. Protecting important shipping routes around the feral world of Harmalla, the Grey Slayers served with distinction until they rescued the Contemplative, a Chartist Vessel under attack from Eldar Raiders. Having saved the ship and its cargo, the Captain insisted on giving a gift to Master Baldarich, a desk he said he had acquired from a salvaged Trader ship. Baldarich accepted. From here, his fate was sealed. The desk was made to tap into the flow of the warp, and to entrap the mind of those who contemplated the wood and techplastic patterns on its surface.
Within a few years, the desk and the Daemonic influences that came from it had led to the corruption and execution of the entire officer corps of the Chapter, the suicide of Master Baldarich, and the deaths of eight scribes, four members of the Orders Famulous, and three of the Chapter's newly instated officer corps when it successfully possessed the investigating Inquisitor, Sarek Thrax. Following this tragedy, and with the full and out-spoken support of the Brothers of the Chapter, the Grey Slayers became a Penitent Chapter, dedicated to the defeat of Chaos and the protection of others from the same forms of trickery as had been carried out on them. With the support of the new investigating Inquisitor, Inquisitor Emelian, the Grey Slayers spread themselves out, becoming a roaming Chapter that lends its assistance to Witchhunters, Exorcists, Inquisitors, and all those who can lead them to their enemy.
Orjan Hereweald was a Sergeant in the Tenth Company, training Initiates in the battlecraft of the Chapter, until the tragedy of Baldarich led the Grey Slayers to become a Penitent Chapter. Now he mostly acts separately from the main body of the Chapter, sent ahead to find planets where the Grey Slayers can lend assistance, and where they can bring themselves closer to repentance.
WS BS S T I Wp Sg Nv Ld
71 78 93 74 81 79 67 95 78
Hereweald is ambidextrous
Equipment
Harmallan Pattern Scout Armour (Av 5 to Head, Chest, Abdomen, Groin, Legs, Av 3 to Arms, includes Rangefinder, Motion Tracker, Rebreather), Caxel Pattern Bolter (Mk IV Bolter), Caxel Pattern Combat Knife (Knife), Krak Grenade, two Frag Grenades, 30 Standard Bolts, 10 Stalker Bolts
Abilities
Astartes Implants, Hypnoindoctrination, Rock Steady Aim
Basically, at the start of Slaves to Darkness is a short short (short short short) story about Inquisitor Practical Thrax being possessed through the desk of the former Chapter Master of the Grey Slayers, and eating his scribe. I took this little vignette and made it bigger, creating a little history for the story, and an aftermath. In terms of names, the only really "interesting" part is the name Harmalla comes from harmaalla, which according to Google Translate is Finnish for Grey. Photos will follow when 1) my girlfriend's CF card finally arrives 2) I finish painting Hereweald and 3) I find (or remake) his bolter... Its somewhere in my house.
Possessed by a daemonic desk?!?!?!?! Plus one for unexpectedness!
+1 for the imaginative resurrection of ancient hobby lore!
R.
Kick Arse! I've always wanted to see a space marine in scout armour at 54mm scale, having a whole scout army at 28mm.
Also, nice use of background, gives him a reason to be places, working with the inquisition.
My only question is should the Stat's be higher? I realise he dosn't have the boost's from power armour, but should his toughness, and maybe WS or BS be a little higher? He's still a genetically altered Psychopathic Warrior Monk.
I'm using the Mini-Marine rules from DM, and went for a mid point of Scout and Officer. The part I kept low was his S, only adding 35 or so instead of 40 or so. I might boost BS a little bit.
The desk part is fantastic in the original, its covered in these inlaid wood and "techplastic" patterns, and Thrax runs his finger along the sworls, and then turns into... well, imagine a human, crossed with a really ugly deer, crossed with some sort of beetle, covered in gribbliness.
I was re-reading Slaves to Darkness with an eye to rewriting a Malleus Inquisitor, and was thinking "I should paint that Scout... what was his chapter going to be" then saw the name "Grey Slayers"... and it all fell together.
"Inquisitor... Thrax? My Lord?"
In a rush of mandibles and heaving flesh, Inquisitor Thrax feasted.
oh my god. THAT DESK IS COMMING RIGHT FOR US!