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
*****
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!
