So its about damn time I resurrected this blog and showed some actual work. And what better way that to start from the beginning. The XVI Company has undergone a serious fluff and paint overhaul since I last showed anything and hopefully this'll better represent my vision of the III Legion and how I wanted my army to work.
The Story so Far
Under the orders of the Primarch Fulgrim the 8th Millennial had been dispatched to the Terion System alongside Imperial Army support in order to bring the worlds into the Imperial fold. However what was thought to be a peaceful, if archaic system turned out to be under the control of a form of unknown psychic Xenos. With enemy armies controlled by these shady figures similar to a hive mind, the Emperor's Children found themselves fighting a protracted campaign against an unforgiving force that inflicted heavy attrition on the Imperial Forces. It would be 5 Terran years before the fourth and final planet in the system had been brought under Imperial rule, and the Emperor's children had lost no less than 15% of their Legionnaires, whilst the Imperial Army suffered roughly 40% casualties. During this period of isolation, the mood of the 8th Millennial had shifted to one of deep cynicism, criticism of the Warmaster and the Great Crusade was spoken of in hushed tones in the Officer's lodge, and amongst the Imperial Army campaign fatigue had settled in, with many forces requesting colony rights in the new system - something vehemently denied by newly arrived civilian administrators.
It was then with great pleasure Lord Commander Sebastian received news of an approaching Emperor's Children cruiser, fresh from the Istvaan System, bringing the news of the Primarch's latest deeds and presumably reinforcements. When the vessel arrived it hailed the 8th Millennial as brothers in arms and it was agreed a great mustering would take place on the planet of Terion Primus to celebrate victory and presumed redeployment. As the first landing craft began to descend the 8th Millennial arrayed its full might outside the planetary capital below, some 1700 Legionnaires, supported by thousands of Imperial Army men and war machines, their armour polished and repaired, banners weighed down with battle honours and oaths fufilled. At the head of these massed ranks stood Lord Commander Sebastian and his Officer cadre, eager to reacquaint themselves with their esteemed battle brothers.
However those Astartes who emerged from the landing storm eagles was nothing akin to the brothers once departed. Filthy, deformed, corrupt marines strolled out of opening doors, the stench of exotic perfume rolling along the ground like a carpet of pink phosphex. The leader of this force, a mere Centurion by the name of Allois, swaggered at the head of his force, draped in furs and leathers like some strutting peacock. As more drop ships disgorged ranks of traitor humans and chapter serfs Allois approached Sebastian, his arms wide to greet Sebastian in embrace. His warmth was met with cold legion salute and harsh questions. Allois appeared to relish in the shock of his superiors, and explained gladly the events that had transpired at Istavaan III and V.
This cheerful regalement of a story wrought with death and betrayal greatly angered Sebastian, who had held close a number of those brothers who had fallen on Istvaan III. In a fit of rage he drew his arcane paragon blade and separated Allois' head from his shoulders, cutting short his traitorous tirade. Refusing to believe the fall of his beloved Primarch and Legion, Sebastian was further rocked to the core when the arriving force retaliated to the death of their commander en masse, cutting down the 8th's Legionnaires where they stood with a vicious torrent firepower. The ensuing battle was bloody, and many of the 8th were slaughtered like cattle, as companies in full ceremonial formation attempted to organise reactions to the enemy attack. The fight would take nearly twenty hours, and it saw the 8th Millennial eventually every last traitor Legionnaire, war machine and orbital vessel to the sword. The heresy had come to the 8th Millennial, and it had torn them asunder. From its starting 2000 Legionnaires and 200 armoured vehicles there now remained around 800 men and 60 machines, whilst its army support by this stage stood at around 20% of its starting size (some 22,000 fighting men).
Shattered, broken, but not defeated Lord Commander Sebastian Rallied and reorganised his forces into a cohesive fighting unit, assembling the Astartes into the 16 independent battle companies, each outfitted to fight on its own or as part of a larger operation. With this change Sebastian also introduced the new name 'XVI Company' as a show of separation from their old roots and fallen legion. During this period of reorganisation reports slowly leaked into the system of the wider galaxy at war, and the Officer's soon fell around discussing just where the company's loyalties lay. Their Legion, and the Warmaster who commanded them, were denounced as traitors and betrayers, however the Imperium was still referred to as the unwanted taskmaster, who had driven the legionnaires and men into the meat-grinder with no reward or respect. Fears were also raised that, as Sebastian refused to remove the purple and gold livery, their forces may be labelled traitors by their more zealously loyal brothers. With this in mind the company elected to fight as a fleet based operation, using their low numbers and mobility to wreak bloody havoc among Horus' stolen territories - a vengeance for brothers lost...
So the XVI, whilst still Excommunicatus Traitoris, have elected to retain more traditional Legion beliefs and standards, something I'll embellish on as I show more units, however for now enjoy the angel himself:
The new Lord Commander Illustria Angeleon Sebastian; Conqueror of Darin, 'The Winged Astartes'
(On top of the traitor Allois no less)
