+++ The Serpentine Conclave +++

+++_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - _ _ _...+++


...access granted...


+++


+++ Serpentine Conclave +++
+++ End minus 127 days +++
+++ voting +++


It always troubled me. That despite such complexity, such incomprehensible nuance and richness, the solution should be so finite. The irony of what was at stake and the pettiness of this grandiose play.


An honor guard of Inquisitorial Storm Troopers stood attention both sides of the narrow entrance way to the Librarium. I could feel their eyes gazing behind the opaque visors. How they stared at the hour-glass in its infamous splendor, such was it’s reputation, my reputation. I towered over most of them, but then such comparison meant nothing for a man who had walked with gods.


The two female newborns hovered into the auditorium, their vast smoke colored wings barely clearing the high double doorway. In unison the floating cherubs announced my arrival and the litany of my titles in their impossible juvenile voice like every other morning before. Thank Emperor for my seniority. I only had to suffer two more Lord Inquisitors announced after me.


All told, 17 Inquisitors, three of them full Ordos Lords; an Ambassador from Mars; Master Ormas, representative of Lords of Terra; And Venerable Judge Ascars of Arbites made up the conclave. The third such ordeal debating more or less the same subject - the fate of a system and ramifications of apocalyptic scale. With the various retinues, more than three hundred beings filled the ancient hall at the heart of the ship. The Fulcrum, of the Black fleet. Only Silas had turned up alone. That arrogant freak. Usually the most dangerous mind in a system, but today there were a handful of stakeholders for that title around.


There was Lord Demo, heir of Lord Frostschein, and all the blueblood ceremony that came with it. The Terrans did do their traditions well. Inquisitor Alberasac and the aliens. Justus, Riekens and Magdalena Von Mendell, Some Inquisitors I used to consider friends, and a few who in the end might stand as allies. Or die. 


I had brought Jargassor for his ever observant intellect, and to not worry about compiling a report. The four Masks were mostly for show, but one could never predict when the brotherhood needed to earn their pay. I chose to wear full plate on this day, and Janae was standing on my shoulder, it’s head turning to impossible degrees as it too soaked in every single detail of this dress party. Four more cherubs carried my hammer, might as well do my part for the fireworks.


With seven jarring impacts from Judge Ascars’ mace the day started.
...


The small fleet of Inquisitorial vessels, Rogue Trader ships and other space faring equipment was hiding in the astroid field. The smaller vessels hid beneath Fulcrum’s gigantic mass. The ancient Black Ship baring the blunt of smaller astroids to shield the smaller craft. A violent stone splinter the size of a Baneblade had already cost the Conclave Inquisitor Rybikov and his ship, some 700 people all told. But the need for secrecy was paramount.


...


A decision was finally reached. To call it a vote would be criminal to Inquisitorial intricacies - but that perhaps best describes it bluntly, for I have no time to go in to details.


I was utterly exhausted. Full three months the Conclave had argued, lethal minds trying to oust the others - with the stakes so high and the never ending peril of the astroid field omnipresent. Only what was to come would test us harder. For those of us Inquisitors operating on Rhisienne, the perilous and clandestine journey back would further test our character.


I decided to call my ace. I ached for it’s beauty, and needed a brief respite. We rendezvoused in secrecy that made the conclave look like an Imperial parade. 


The filament sail unfolded like nothing else I could compare it with. How something so vast could be so light, so agile, so fast. The slender craft was visible but a for a brief moment out of it’s stealth field as it swallowed the small cutter that had taken us to the Conclave. We raised the sail and swept away without a sound. 




+++


Words are powerful. They perhaps engage the imagination more richly and interactively than lines and color.

These past few years, I've used writing as a creative tool and a way to enjoy the projects a little more. In some ways, my process has sifted into a series of discussions and visions in my head and as pages documents. Wider threads and precise details. It is then always a joy when parts are glued together, and the vision and discussions sift. This is also a point where it is easier for a few other people to become a part of the discussion. A conversion is finished and the stories influence the mood and lighting of the paint job - heavily. They drive it.

There's been a clear sift to "from a narrative vision to models", rather than "from models/parts to additive fluff."

Legionne Activia

Almost there!

With three more Legionnaires.

Unbelievable feeling. Firstly, this will bring my tally of finished models since the move to a pathetic four. (but with lot more to come). Secondly I've proved myself I can replicate the scheme and even stomach the pain of painting three simultaneously. And thirdly, if there ever was a group of models that exemplified everything I love and thrive for in the hobby, the Legion is it.

I've also now received all of the glass domes for the desk. AND have a five day weekend starting tonight. Plan is to first finish these and then shoot them and the desk and share the pictures with you fine gentlemen. I should also order a great macro four thirds lense for my camera. Any recommendations?

Hopefully I'm coming out of sabbatical in gothic fashion this weekend ;)

The Sixth Edition

It is that exciting time again, and this time the additional energy and excitement is much needed.

I remember the release of each of the editions from the 2nd one, which introduced me to the grim darkness of english genius sic-fi stories and art. Happily, over the years those energies have turned into almost as good miniatures. The company, the game and the hobbyist have come a LOOONG way.

There's a ton of rumors floating around the inter web, but none so promising for my project than the "allies". This single sift in the hobby would single handedly liberate and integrate my modeling project into a more rounded hobby and gaming experience.

BOLS recently did an article about the apparent change:

http://www.belloflostsouls.net/2012/06/on-allies-fluff-changes-and-keeping.html

I've recently stopped posting and hanging out in the few forums I used to frequent, in order to scrape together little bit of time to work on the models. Hopefully by the end of the year I would have something together to return with a vengeance and also to build a gaming group of sorts in my new home city.

It's been an amazing 9 months! Less so for hobby results, more so for everything else!

Mini updates from the desk

Ready for paint

Quite a bunch of models:

Quick update

I need to brief you guys more thoroughly, but basically I've decided to do a big push to get the army to playing condition by 6th ed.

Ordering some supplies and reigning down on mental conversions and instead concentrating on Vehicles after this batch.

Nearly there with Breaking Rust!

Pleased to share some pics and findings with you today.

1. I still love painting miniatures.
2. I actually achieved a red that fits the army palette beautifully
3. I have great friends without whom I might have drifted away from the hobby for quite some time
4. More to come: I ordered white spray primer, some new GW paints and the Empire "wagon altar thing" that comes with two gorgeous conversion starting points. I'm nearly ready for paint with three marines and four cultists.

A note to self that in the future I want to be bolder with the direction Ive been going: my conversions be even more technically precise and my painting to be much less so and much more organic.