For Holy Terra Because space is scary

Red’s Corps Competition – Starters

So, my life is about to change drastically with an addition to the family, which means about the only thing I’m (hopefully) going to get to paint this month is my entry for Red’s Corps’ “Create a Character for the Red Scorpions” Contest.  Here’s the fluff and rules (so far – they may change slightly).

Hat tip to reader Elle for input on the points – I’m closer to your suggestion than my original points.

Commander Sebastos Aran, 8th Company Captain

Click to enlarge

The battle-brothers of the 8th Company of the Red Scorpions are commanded by Commander Sebastos Aran, a warrior who has exemplified the doctrine of swiflty delivering overwhelming force. Already well-known for his hand-to-hand combat skills by the time he was granted power armour, Sebastos truly found his calling the first time he donned a jump pack. His superiors were impressed by his ability to think in three dimensions and view the shifting and chaotic landscape of the battlefield like a massive, quickly-moving game of chess. Aran served a longer than average term in the 8th Company, rising quickly to senior Sergeant and then twice declining promotion to the main battle companies in favor of training newly-promoted battle brothers.

A veteran of over 50 battles before finally accepting promotion to a main battle company, Aran served as a Devastator and Tactical marine as dictated by the Codex Astartes. Such assignments were brief, however, and in short order, he again donned his jump pack and assumed the mantle of senior Assault Sergeant of the 5th Company. He did not remain there long, and is noted for having one of the quickest ascents from reserve to veteran companies in the Chapter’s annals. Earning himself a place in the 1st Company’s Vanguard, Aran again rose swiftly to command his own squad. His courageous service during the Siege of Vraks along side the future Lord High Commander Carab Culln earned him a promotion back to his original reserve company as its commander, where his strategic acumen and rigorous training methods are responsible for a new generation of highly-effective Assault Marines.

During the Badab War, Commander Aran led his reserve company on a number of engagements, relieving beleaguered front-line units and arriving at tide-turning moments to smash traitorous forces.  Not one to sit back and observe the battle lines from afar, he earned much renown for leading by example, streaking over the battlefield at the head of a wave of Assault Marines to rain fury upon the enemy. Once engaged, his forces were often compared to the dervishes of old, spinning from foe to foe with murderous fury and cleaving a ragged path for the second wave to clean up.  Such were the successes of the 8th Company that many of Aran’s charges were promoted directly to the main battle companies.  Aran himself was offered no less than three different promotions in the wake of the Badab campaign, including command of the 4th Company, all of which he declined.

Special Rules

And They Shall Know No Fear, Combat Tactics, Independent Character

Unto the Breach!: As the commander of an all-assault company and former Vanguard Veteran, Commander Aran’s approach to warfare is swift and direct. Content to let tactical companies provide a steady advance and supply lines, he favors a highly mobile strategy and always commands from the front. If your army includes Sebastos Aran, a single Command Squad that you include may purchase Jump Packs at +50 points.

Strike of the Scorpion: The Codex Astartes dictates that Assault Marines should strike hard and fast at the vanguard on an attack, and Sebastos has forged his entire career around that concept. Not content to simply pick a target and annihilate it, he prefers to smash into enemy lines head on and blaze about like a whirlwind, leaving a path of destruction and disoriented defenders in his wake. Sebastos Aran and any unit he joins have the Hit and Run universal special rule.

Wargear

Glimmer: This massive, two-handed sword has a long and storied history within the annals of the Red Scorpion’s Librarium. The details of the forging of the dusky grey blade are unknown, but it has been in the Chapter’s armoury for at least a milennia, passing from chapter hero to chapter hero as such blades are wont to do. Glimmer was granted to Aran upon his appointment to command the 8th Company, and the blade once again sits in the hands of an honoured warrior, carving a swath through the Emperor’s enemies and increasing its own fame. In hushed whispers amongst the Chapter’s techmarines, it is suggested that the sword was forged on Titan and is one of the mysterious Nemesis Force Swords of the Grey Knights chapter. If in fact it is, the Grey Knights themselves must surely be aware that one of their fabled blades has passed out of their possession, but they have made no claim to it. Glimmer is a relic blade that grants Sebastos Aran a 3+ invlunlerable save in close combat.

Sebastos Aran – 180 points