My Return from the Eye...

It's been over a year since I've written any on this blog and I thought it is high time. You may notice some visual changes. While I will always love my Grey Knights, there's something entertaining about going over to the other team and collecting both sides of the equation. My love of Dark Elves morphed into a High Elves army, which was eventually rewarded with a combined army in the End Times, something I had already been working on in my personal army narratives (though, of course, not sure how long it'll last with 9th edition rumors swirling). My love of Khorne since first being reminded of his glorious existence has likewise been rewarded in the form of the new Daemonkin codex. But more about that in a minute.

This all said, I really love designing my army from a narrative perspective. I come to 40k from over 30 years of tabletop, pencil-and-paper role-playing. Beginning with D&D, then Gamma World, Star Frontiers, Top Secret, Boot Hill... on to TMNT and Rifts... and eventually nearly 20 years of the original World of Darkness. And the vast majority of these years was as the DM, GM, or Story-teller (or whatever local label was given to the guy that "forged the narrative"). 

My sojourn into tabletop minis was rocky. Suffice it to say, I didn't start with GW games. I was part of the fanboi base that HATED on GW. Until it was explained to me that I could create my own heroes and lords (and later HQs). That got me looking at things differently. But all this is a story for another day. 

My point is that one fine afternoon, as I was searching the internet for ideas for my Khorne army, I stumbled onto an image. Here it is below:

I can't tell you who painted this bad boy. Or kit-bashed him for that matter. But whomever they are, please take this as a form of flattery. You work lives on in someone else's blog feed!

Regardless, this gentleman is named "Svane Wulfbad". He exists in the GW 40k fluffiverse. As a footnote really, but he's there (my buddy swears there's a Space Wolf book out there with his story somewhere, but he can't find it). Beyond a few paragraphs from an older White Dwarf, quoted on the 40k Wiki, I couldn't find a thing about him. And that intrigued the hell outta me!

So I began to plan. This was about four months ago or so. Well before rumors began to swirl on the Khorne Daemonkin book. Didn't know such a thing was in the works. Needless to say, I was stoked when it suddenly appeared on my radar. 

I had always loved Space Wolves. Always loved Viking lore. But also appreciated the Chaotic bent these Norse knock-offs had in Warhammer Fantasy. It led me to form my own traitor Legion as I began to think about models. The Blood Wolves were born. 

This journey challenged my kit-bashing and "counts as" creativity. Forced me into new and different character development ideas. Forced me, for a time, to figure out how to get a psychic phase into my list without violating the spirit of my army theme. Now it's thankfully a moot point, but I still have the option, especially if they ever redo the CSM Codex and I want to try it out again. Borrowed from my Daemons Fantasy army heavily, that was also Khorne-centric, and started re-basing them all for 40k. Really, I guess looking back, this all started from having too many Fantasy armies and feeling a second 40k army was really in order. 

This process also had me revisiting my metal roots in a major way, delving into a ton of power and viking metal bands with both feet. Even generated a viking metal playlist on YouTube. You'll see some inspiration in my cast of characters... Let's just say, I went all out. 

So, without further ado, I'd like to drop my army theme/background here for you... I hope you enjoy it as much as I have making it. Later, I'll begin posting models and army lists. I hope to really delve into this blog again. 

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The Blood Wolves are a Chaos Space Marine Legion and aspiring Slaughtercult of Khorne, under the tribal-minded and exacting Great Wolf, Svane Vulfbad. The Legion is entirely dedicated to the worship of Khorne, but members retain their stylized iconography and rank markings from their Space Wolf Loyalist roots. Seeing themselves in some way a successor chapter, as well as a marked improvement over the staunch limits of the Imperium, their ancient roots show in the designations used for various units in the army.

SVANE VULFBAD, Great Wolf of the Blood Wolves Legion – called “The Legion Master”

Model: Logan Grimnar with added on Chaos bits

Counts as: Chaos Lord of Khorne in Terminator armor

HÜN REISEN, Second Wolf of the Blood Wolves Legion – called “The Stier”

Model: Kit-bashed space marine on Juggernaut

Counts as: Chaos Lord of Khorne on Juggernaut

HECTOR KHORNESON, Blood Lord of the Hämmeren – called “The Boastful”

Model: Kit-bashed space marine on foot

Counts as: Chaos Lord of Khorne on Foot

TÝR TIWAZ, Blood Lord of the Fjord Hämmeren – called “The One-Handed”

Model: Kit-bashed Chaos biker

Counts as: Chaos Lord of Khorne on Bike

HÂDES BOADICEAN, Blood Lord of the Valkyrja – called “The Blood Eagle”

Model: Valkyrja kit-bash

Counts as: Chaos Lord of Khorne with Jump Pack

THRALL EALDFÆDER, Fell Priest of the Blood Wolves Legion – called “The Slave”

Model: Terminator Sorcerer plastic kit/Wolf Guard bits

Counts as: Chaos Sorcerer of Tzeentch in Terminator Armor

  

DIE HÄMMAREN – Legionnaires of the Blood Wolves

Models: Khorne Berzerker/Wolf Guard mash-up

Count as: Chaos Space Marines, Chosen, or Khorne Berzerkers (as needed)

DIE TROLL HÄMMAREN – Terminators of the Blood Wolves

Models: Chaos Terminators/Wolf Guard Terminator mash-up

Count as: Chaos Terminators

DIE BRYN HÄMMAREN – Heavy Support Legionnaires of the Blood Wolves

Models: Khorne Berzerkers/Long Fang mash-up

Count as: Havocs; Marines or Chosen Special Weapons (as needed)

DIE FJORD HÄMMAREN – Mechanized Legionnaires of the Blood Wolves

Models: Chaos Bikers/Wolf Guard mash-up, other vehicles

Count as: Chaos Bikers, Rhinos, Land Raiders, etc. (what you see…)

DIE VALKYRJA – Aerial Assault Legionnaires of the Blood Wolves

Models: Sanguinary Guard/Wolf Guard/Berserker/Scourges mash-up

Count as: Raptors

DIE ÆSIR HÄMMAREN – Helbrute Legionnaires of the Blood Wolves

Models: Helbrutes with Space Wolf bits

Count as: Helbrutes

DIE THRALLEN – Cultists of the Blood Wolves

Models: Chaos Cultists

Count as: Chaos Cultists

In addition, Svane has secured the allegiance of a Herald of Khorne, known as the Dervish, itself in service to a Bloodthirster of the Sixth Host, known to the Blood Wolves only as Ragnarök. This creature’s forces lend aid from beyond the Warp. This aid takes the form of “die Gängeren,” numerous Daemons of Khorne which enter the fray in a support role for the Blood Wolves. This force includes Bloodcrushers, Skull Cannons, scores of Fleshhounds (possessed wolves from the Blood Wolves’ own stables), and hundreds of Bloodletters and Furies, as well as dozens of Daemon-fueled mechanized vehicles. Further, the infernal lord has granted power to some of Svane’s chosen warriors, resulting in unique Possessed and Spawn. Two Tzeentchian Heralds are, like the Slave, bound to Khornate masters through various pacts and agreements. These sorcerous beings lend the Dervish support in its dealings with the Blood Wolves.

THE DERVISH – Herald to the Blood Wolves Slaughtercult

Model: Herald of Khorne

Count as: Herald of Khorne

ULIYANA – Avatar of Khorne, called “The Darkchylde”

Model: Kit-bashed Dark Elf Witch Elf with Bloodletter bits

Count as: Herald of Khorne

SURT, Daemon Prince – called “The Black Wolf”

Model: Daemon Prince kit, kitbash Black Mace

Counts as: Daemon Prince of Khorne

  

DIE DRAUGAR – Blessed Legionnaires of the Blood Wolves

Models: Khorne Wrathmongers and Warp Talons

Count as: Possessed and Warp Talons

FENRISIAN DAEMON WARGS – Blessed Wolves of the Blood Wolves

Models: Vampire Count Dire Wolves

Count as: Flesh Hounds of Khorne

HÜN’S STIEREN – Gifts of Khorne

Models: Beastmen Minotaurs with Wrathmonger bits

Count as: Chaos Spawn

DER DRAK – Gift of Khorne

Model: Heldrake

Counts as: Heldrake

DIE JÖTUNNS – Gifts of Khorne

Models: Soul Grinders and Maulerfiends

Count as: Soul Grinders and Maulerfiends

DIE GÄNGEREN – Daemons of Khorne

Models: Khorne daemons

Counts as: Khorne daemons

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Next time, I'll share my first Daemonkin list, a basic CAD affair, but something fun to start with - my painting goal for the year. Stay tuned!