So I made a small warband of four thunder warriors to play as custodes in kill team. Since that is no longer a legal thing to play, I figured I could build 2 more and play them in Necromunda, as an Elite team of some kind. Here is the background fluff. For all you arbitrators out there let me know if this seems to work. The models for the first 4 are in the modeling section of the forum.
The Betrayed: Thunder Warriors (Elite House Goliath Build)
Millennia before the Imperium as it is known, before the Golden Throne and the endless wars, there were the Thunder Warriors. Created by the Emperor to unify the fractured and war-torn cradle world of Terra, they were beings of immense power and brutal efficiency, yet their creation was a fleeting, violent experiment. As the Unification Wars drew to a close, and the more stable and long-lived Adeptus Astartes were created, the Thunder Warriors were deemed obsolete, their purpose fulfilled. The Great Purge followed, a brutal and systematic extermination that left few alive, and fewer still with their sanity intact. Now known in the shadowed corners of Necromunda as The Betrayed, they are survivors of that horrific culling, monstrous echoes of a forgotten age. They are beings of immense strength, their forms twisted and augmented by desperate, forbidden sciences. To the common eye, they are terrifying visages, hulking figures bearing the crude stitchwork of ancient gene-technologies and the cold, unfeeling gleam of archaic augmetics. Their monstrous form belies a sense of tragedy and danger, their reflexes honed by centuries of survival and their hands stained by the blood of countless battles, both past and present. Yet, beneath the layers of hardened muscle, scarred flesh, and cold steel, lies a profound melancholy. They are haunted by the ghosts of their fallen brethren, the memory of their intended obsolescence a constant ache. The echoes of the Great Purge reverberate in their minds, a betrayal that shaped their every waking moment. They are beings caught between two eras, too powerful and too flawed for the new Imperium, forever yearning for a purpose that was brutally denied.
Their salvation, or perhaps their prolonged torment, came during the cataclysmic Siege of Terra. Amidst the chaos, they scavenged for the means to defy their engineered demise, seizing upon the nascent gene-seed of the Adeptus Astartes. This stolen genetic code became the raw material for their desperate self-modification, a brutal and often disfiguring process that extended their lives but further estranged them from humanity. For ten millennia, they hid in the shadows of Terra's underhives, monstrous figures lurking in the forgotten depths. They witnessed the Imperium rise and solidify, a testament to their own obsolescence. They became contemplative watchers, their long lifespans affording them a grim perspective on the endless cycles of violence and the slow decay of the Emperor's dream. The fear of discovery by the Adeptus Custodes was a constant weight, forcing them into deeper isolation and fueling their bitter reflections on their fate.
Their escape to Necromunda was not a triumphant exodus, but a weary flight towards an uncertain future. They chose this brutal world for several reasons: its lawless nature offered a degree of anonymity, its vast underhives provided ample space to conceal themselves, and, perhaps most crucially, they had become aware of the crude but often effective gene-smithing techniques employed by the Goliath gangs. The Betrayed see potential in these brutal methods for bolstering their own dwindling numbers or even stabilizing their own precarious genetics, a desperate hope to overcome the limitations of their stolen and imperfect biology. They aim to carve out their own domain in this darkness, far from the golden gaze of the Adeptus Custodes, and to unlock the secrets of genetic manipulation that might ensure their continued survival.
The Roster:
· Primarch Traajanus Belisarius: Not a true Primarch in the Emperor's grand design, but a Thunder Warrior of exceptional might and strategic brilliance, revered by his brethren. The title "Primarch" was the original designation for the leaders of the Thunder Warrior legions during the Unification Wars. As the de facto leader of this surviving band, Traajanus has inherited this ancient and potent title, a testament to his authority and their shared heritage. He bears the deep scars of countless battles and the profound burden of their unnatural survival. His eyes hold a world-weariness that speaks of millennia spent defying fate. He was instrumental in gathering forbidden knowledge and orchestrating the raids for Astartes gene-seed. He is a terrifying figure, his form heavily augmented, yet he is haunted by the responsibility of leading these broken remnants of a forgotten age. He gazes upon Necromunda with a strategist's eye, but also with a melancholic contemplation of what their future might hold, forever aware of the precariousness of their stolen existence. Adorning his massive frame is a cloak, a grim tapestry woven from the tattered warbanners of enemies vanquished over the long millennia of their hidden war for survival. Closer inspection reveals fragments of ancient symbols from forgotten factions of the Unification Wars, alongside more recent, chilling additions: the yellow and black of a splintered Imperial Fists contingent, the unsettling organic patterns of a Gene-stealer Cult banner, and even stark gold threads that whisper of a desperate, bloody encounter with the Adeptus Custodes.
"I cloak myself in the mantle of my foes! Make no mistake, I have known battle since aeons past. I have seen radiation storms sweeping the peaks of Layan Mountains...warriors detonating themselves in a desperate bid for victory...Entire people's, slaughtered by the thousands, in the name of peace. I do not blame him for what was done to us. We volunteered to be his warriors: his tools of destruction, for we believed in his cause. And like tools, we were discarded when no longer needed. But we are tools no longer. Millennia we have spent trying to live past the sacrifice we made. And we have finally found a permanent solution. And what do we find? The grand world we hoped to unify, the seat of a crumbling empire. It's Emperor reduced to a living husk. All under the watchful gaze of your kind. Mark this well and tremble, custodian. You have failed...his second sons have failed. We will not."
· Chief Medicae Parmenio Sabayon: Before the Purge, Parmenio was a battlefield medic with a rare intellect, who became the architect of their crude gene-therapies, overseeing the agonizing procedures. The acquisition of Astartes gene-seed both horrified and fascinated him. Over millennia, he has become a gene-wright and bio-alchemist, his augmentations intricate and disturbing, his hands instruments of both healing and horrifying biological manipulation. He carries the weight of every failed experiment, every life twisted or lost in their desperate pursuit of longevity. The heavy bolter he carries feels like a grim counterpoint to his medical knowledge, a necessary tool in a world that fears and misunderstands him. He is a contemplative figure, constantly wrestling with the ethical implications of their continued existence, forever tinkering with the unstable foundations of their altered biology. His augmentations enhance his knowledge and medical abilities, including advanced optical implants and precise cybernetic hands. He views Necromunda with a mixture of apprehension and scientific curiosity, particularly regarding the gene-smithing practices of House Goliath.
"Your god, was not always so. He was once man, and a brilliant one at that. He gave us strength, conviction...a purpose. His greatest mistake was not trusting the sons he already had. Did we have resentment towards what our fate would be? Yes. But he should have known that like everything else, we were forged to endure. We have found our way out of our dark fate, and into a dark universe. Perhaps we can finally bring humanity, some semblance of the light we fought for. Go back to your master Custodian, tell your god he may have been done with us, but like so many things entangled with his fate, it is not up to him."
· Sgt-in-Arms Kiradis Mondoya: A paragon of discipline and brutal efficiency during the Unification Wars, Kiradis is a terrifying warrior, his body a fortress of muscle and hardened ceramite, further reinforced by crude augmentations. The betrayal of the Purge left a deep wound, a haunting memory that fuels his unwavering loyalty to Traajanus. He views Necromunda with a grim determination, ready to enforce order with brutal efficiency, but in his quiet moments, his gaze reflects a profound sense of loss and a contemplation of the purpose of their endless fight. He enforces order within their small group and is a master of close-quarters combat, his augmentations geared towards maximizing his combat effectiveness. He is a stoic warrior, his loyalty solely to Traajanus and their survival, wielding a heavily modified power weapon. He sees the Goliath gangs as potential obstacles or even resources in their quest for a stable future.
"We don't want your life, Custodian...we want your transponder code. We need off this husk of a world. We chose to fight for that man's dream. And whether he wanted us or not, we have not finished our goal. For he entrusted his dream to lesser sons. We will have that code, and once we are off planet, you may continue your mundane existence guarding that husk. For only real humans should be fighting for our race, not some gene cloned monstrosity. Ironic, isn't it, the very thing I disparage, has managed to keep us alive long enough to become that which we despise. Then again, our fate always seemed to be a tragic one."
· Warfare Engineer Zayne Rajuti: A master of siegecraft and a wielder of deadly improvised weaponry during the Unification Wars, Zayne's intellect is sharp, but his appearance is often unsettling, marked by the crude integration of scavenged technology. He finds a grim fascination in Necromunda's technological underbelly, but his discoveries are often tinged with a melancholy awareness of the lost grandeur of the past. He is a more introspective figure, his mind constantly working on solutions, but also pondering the long-term viability of their isolated existence. His skills are now vital for maintaining their archaic technology and securing their enclaves. The grenade launcher he carries is a testament to his ingenuity, likely loaded with нестандартные (non-standard) rounds. His augmentations enhance his technical abilities. He is particularly intrigued by the rudimentary gene-forging techniques of the Goliath, seeing in their brutal efficiency a potential shortcut to stabilizing their own flawed biology.
"He thought we were a lost cause. You thought we were gone, but we proved you all wrong. Just as we proved the warlords that stood against us millenia ago, we will not be beaten. We can be delayed, some of us may die, but we will find victory. As hard a man as he was, your Emperor thought we were too rough...too dangerous, for his new empire. But it wasn't just his. We sacrificed everything for it. So we will go on, and carve a place for ourselves within OUR empire...it is long overdue."
· Thunder Warrior Staaris Valajis: A hulking brute of immense strength, Staaris embodies the raw power of the Thunder Warriors, his form further exaggerated by the crude gene-therapies, making him a terrifying presence. Yet, the process has left him with a clouded mind and unpredictable urges, a monstrous manifestation of their desperate tampering with life. He is haunted by flashes of his past, moments of clarity amidst the confusion. He follows Traajanus with a fierce loyalty born of a primal need for belonging, his future a hazy landscape punctuated by bursts of violence and moments of quiet bewilderment. His augmentations are primarily focused on maintaining his physical prowess. He serves as a heavy hitter, wielding a massive chainaxe and relying on brute force. He senses the raw, unnatural strength of the Goliath and sees in it a reflection of his own altered state.
· Thunder Warrior Smythus Karlorum: Even before the Purge, Smythus's physiology presented unique challenges. The crude gene-therapies and forced integration of Astartes gene-seed have left him in a state of constant decline. His body increasingly rejects the modifications and treatments that once sustained him. Parmenio's medicae skills are perpetually tested as he struggles to counteract the slow but relentless failure of Smythus's augmented systems. Each intervention offers only temporary respite, the effectiveness of past treatments waning over time. Smythus lives with the constant discomfort and the gnawing awareness that his borrowed time is rapidly running out. He is haunted by the knowledge that his brethren's efforts to save him are ultimately a losing battle. Despite his weakening condition, he remains fiercely loyal, determined to contribute what he can before his body finally gives out. He often relies on simpler, more robust weaponry, as his system struggles to interface with more complex or power-intensive devices. The potential of Goliath gene-smithing offers a faint glimmer of hope, a desperate chance for a more lasting solution to his failing body.
For those that made it to the end, any thoughts? Is this an interesting enough hook to keep everything immersive? Or is it too much of stretch?
The Betrayed: Thunder Warriors (Elite House Goliath Build)
Millennia before the Imperium as it is known, before the Golden Throne and the endless wars, there were the Thunder Warriors. Created by the Emperor to unify the fractured and war-torn cradle world of Terra, they were beings of immense power and brutal efficiency, yet their creation was a fleeting, violent experiment. As the Unification Wars drew to a close, and the more stable and long-lived Adeptus Astartes were created, the Thunder Warriors were deemed obsolete, their purpose fulfilled. The Great Purge followed, a brutal and systematic extermination that left few alive, and fewer still with their sanity intact. Now known in the shadowed corners of Necromunda as The Betrayed, they are survivors of that horrific culling, monstrous echoes of a forgotten age. They are beings of immense strength, their forms twisted and augmented by desperate, forbidden sciences. To the common eye, they are terrifying visages, hulking figures bearing the crude stitchwork of ancient gene-technologies and the cold, unfeeling gleam of archaic augmetics. Their monstrous form belies a sense of tragedy and danger, their reflexes honed by centuries of survival and their hands stained by the blood of countless battles, both past and present. Yet, beneath the layers of hardened muscle, scarred flesh, and cold steel, lies a profound melancholy. They are haunted by the ghosts of their fallen brethren, the memory of their intended obsolescence a constant ache. The echoes of the Great Purge reverberate in their minds, a betrayal that shaped their every waking moment. They are beings caught between two eras, too powerful and too flawed for the new Imperium, forever yearning for a purpose that was brutally denied.
Their salvation, or perhaps their prolonged torment, came during the cataclysmic Siege of Terra. Amidst the chaos, they scavenged for the means to defy their engineered demise, seizing upon the nascent gene-seed of the Adeptus Astartes. This stolen genetic code became the raw material for their desperate self-modification, a brutal and often disfiguring process that extended their lives but further estranged them from humanity. For ten millennia, they hid in the shadows of Terra's underhives, monstrous figures lurking in the forgotten depths. They witnessed the Imperium rise and solidify, a testament to their own obsolescence. They became contemplative watchers, their long lifespans affording them a grim perspective on the endless cycles of violence and the slow decay of the Emperor's dream. The fear of discovery by the Adeptus Custodes was a constant weight, forcing them into deeper isolation and fueling their bitter reflections on their fate.
Their escape to Necromunda was not a triumphant exodus, but a weary flight towards an uncertain future. They chose this brutal world for several reasons: its lawless nature offered a degree of anonymity, its vast underhives provided ample space to conceal themselves, and, perhaps most crucially, they had become aware of the crude but often effective gene-smithing techniques employed by the Goliath gangs. The Betrayed see potential in these brutal methods for bolstering their own dwindling numbers or even stabilizing their own precarious genetics, a desperate hope to overcome the limitations of their stolen and imperfect biology. They aim to carve out their own domain in this darkness, far from the golden gaze of the Adeptus Custodes, and to unlock the secrets of genetic manipulation that might ensure their continued survival.
The Roster:
· Primarch Traajanus Belisarius: Not a true Primarch in the Emperor's grand design, but a Thunder Warrior of exceptional might and strategic brilliance, revered by his brethren. The title "Primarch" was the original designation for the leaders of the Thunder Warrior legions during the Unification Wars. As the de facto leader of this surviving band, Traajanus has inherited this ancient and potent title, a testament to his authority and their shared heritage. He bears the deep scars of countless battles and the profound burden of their unnatural survival. His eyes hold a world-weariness that speaks of millennia spent defying fate. He was instrumental in gathering forbidden knowledge and orchestrating the raids for Astartes gene-seed. He is a terrifying figure, his form heavily augmented, yet he is haunted by the responsibility of leading these broken remnants of a forgotten age. He gazes upon Necromunda with a strategist's eye, but also with a melancholic contemplation of what their future might hold, forever aware of the precariousness of their stolen existence. Adorning his massive frame is a cloak, a grim tapestry woven from the tattered warbanners of enemies vanquished over the long millennia of their hidden war for survival. Closer inspection reveals fragments of ancient symbols from forgotten factions of the Unification Wars, alongside more recent, chilling additions: the yellow and black of a splintered Imperial Fists contingent, the unsettling organic patterns of a Gene-stealer Cult banner, and even stark gold threads that whisper of a desperate, bloody encounter with the Adeptus Custodes.
"I cloak myself in the mantle of my foes! Make no mistake, I have known battle since aeons past. I have seen radiation storms sweeping the peaks of Layan Mountains...warriors detonating themselves in a desperate bid for victory...Entire people's, slaughtered by the thousands, in the name of peace. I do not blame him for what was done to us. We volunteered to be his warriors: his tools of destruction, for we believed in his cause. And like tools, we were discarded when no longer needed. But we are tools no longer. Millennia we have spent trying to live past the sacrifice we made. And we have finally found a permanent solution. And what do we find? The grand world we hoped to unify, the seat of a crumbling empire. It's Emperor reduced to a living husk. All under the watchful gaze of your kind. Mark this well and tremble, custodian. You have failed...his second sons have failed. We will not."
· Chief Medicae Parmenio Sabayon: Before the Purge, Parmenio was a battlefield medic with a rare intellect, who became the architect of their crude gene-therapies, overseeing the agonizing procedures. The acquisition of Astartes gene-seed both horrified and fascinated him. Over millennia, he has become a gene-wright and bio-alchemist, his augmentations intricate and disturbing, his hands instruments of both healing and horrifying biological manipulation. He carries the weight of every failed experiment, every life twisted or lost in their desperate pursuit of longevity. The heavy bolter he carries feels like a grim counterpoint to his medical knowledge, a necessary tool in a world that fears and misunderstands him. He is a contemplative figure, constantly wrestling with the ethical implications of their continued existence, forever tinkering with the unstable foundations of their altered biology. His augmentations enhance his knowledge and medical abilities, including advanced optical implants and precise cybernetic hands. He views Necromunda with a mixture of apprehension and scientific curiosity, particularly regarding the gene-smithing practices of House Goliath.
"Your god, was not always so. He was once man, and a brilliant one at that. He gave us strength, conviction...a purpose. His greatest mistake was not trusting the sons he already had. Did we have resentment towards what our fate would be? Yes. But he should have known that like everything else, we were forged to endure. We have found our way out of our dark fate, and into a dark universe. Perhaps we can finally bring humanity, some semblance of the light we fought for. Go back to your master Custodian, tell your god he may have been done with us, but like so many things entangled with his fate, it is not up to him."
· Sgt-in-Arms Kiradis Mondoya: A paragon of discipline and brutal efficiency during the Unification Wars, Kiradis is a terrifying warrior, his body a fortress of muscle and hardened ceramite, further reinforced by crude augmentations. The betrayal of the Purge left a deep wound, a haunting memory that fuels his unwavering loyalty to Traajanus. He views Necromunda with a grim determination, ready to enforce order with brutal efficiency, but in his quiet moments, his gaze reflects a profound sense of loss and a contemplation of the purpose of their endless fight. He enforces order within their small group and is a master of close-quarters combat, his augmentations geared towards maximizing his combat effectiveness. He is a stoic warrior, his loyalty solely to Traajanus and their survival, wielding a heavily modified power weapon. He sees the Goliath gangs as potential obstacles or even resources in their quest for a stable future.
"We don't want your life, Custodian...we want your transponder code. We need off this husk of a world. We chose to fight for that man's dream. And whether he wanted us or not, we have not finished our goal. For he entrusted his dream to lesser sons. We will have that code, and once we are off planet, you may continue your mundane existence guarding that husk. For only real humans should be fighting for our race, not some gene cloned monstrosity. Ironic, isn't it, the very thing I disparage, has managed to keep us alive long enough to become that which we despise. Then again, our fate always seemed to be a tragic one."
· Warfare Engineer Zayne Rajuti: A master of siegecraft and a wielder of deadly improvised weaponry during the Unification Wars, Zayne's intellect is sharp, but his appearance is often unsettling, marked by the crude integration of scavenged technology. He finds a grim fascination in Necromunda's technological underbelly, but his discoveries are often tinged with a melancholy awareness of the lost grandeur of the past. He is a more introspective figure, his mind constantly working on solutions, but also pondering the long-term viability of their isolated existence. His skills are now vital for maintaining their archaic technology and securing their enclaves. The grenade launcher he carries is a testament to his ingenuity, likely loaded with нестандартные (non-standard) rounds. His augmentations enhance his technical abilities. He is particularly intrigued by the rudimentary gene-forging techniques of the Goliath, seeing in their brutal efficiency a potential shortcut to stabilizing their own flawed biology.
"He thought we were a lost cause. You thought we were gone, but we proved you all wrong. Just as we proved the warlords that stood against us millenia ago, we will not be beaten. We can be delayed, some of us may die, but we will find victory. As hard a man as he was, your Emperor thought we were too rough...too dangerous, for his new empire. But it wasn't just his. We sacrificed everything for it. So we will go on, and carve a place for ourselves within OUR empire...it is long overdue."
· Thunder Warrior Staaris Valajis: A hulking brute of immense strength, Staaris embodies the raw power of the Thunder Warriors, his form further exaggerated by the crude gene-therapies, making him a terrifying presence. Yet, the process has left him with a clouded mind and unpredictable urges, a monstrous manifestation of their desperate tampering with life. He is haunted by flashes of his past, moments of clarity amidst the confusion. He follows Traajanus with a fierce loyalty born of a primal need for belonging, his future a hazy landscape punctuated by bursts of violence and moments of quiet bewilderment. His augmentations are primarily focused on maintaining his physical prowess. He serves as a heavy hitter, wielding a massive chainaxe and relying on brute force. He senses the raw, unnatural strength of the Goliath and sees in it a reflection of his own altered state.
· Thunder Warrior Smythus Karlorum: Even before the Purge, Smythus's physiology presented unique challenges. The crude gene-therapies and forced integration of Astartes gene-seed have left him in a state of constant decline. His body increasingly rejects the modifications and treatments that once sustained him. Parmenio's medicae skills are perpetually tested as he struggles to counteract the slow but relentless failure of Smythus's augmented systems. Each intervention offers only temporary respite, the effectiveness of past treatments waning over time. Smythus lives with the constant discomfort and the gnawing awareness that his borrowed time is rapidly running out. He is haunted by the knowledge that his brethren's efforts to save him are ultimately a losing battle. Despite his weakening condition, he remains fiercely loyal, determined to contribute what he can before his body finally gives out. He often relies on simpler, more robust weaponry, as his system struggles to interface with more complex or power-intensive devices. The potential of Goliath gene-smithing offers a faint glimmer of hope, a desperate chance for a more lasting solution to his failing body.
For those that made it to the end, any thoughts? Is this an interesting enough hook to keep everything immersive? Or is it too much of stretch?
