I must confess that, when I began the ‘Euripides’ project, I
had only the vaguest of ideas of what I wanted to do. I certainly had no definite
end product in mind. I knew I wanted to explore the Age of Darkness. I also
knew that the idea of a rag-tag group of shattered survivors appealed more to
me that the full glory of an Astartes Legion in all its strength. Like everyone
who starts a project without a plan, I suffered false starts and dead ends, but
recently I have begun to feel shapes, structure and themes emerging organically
from the chaos.
My last finished model, the Astropath Jaysha Kree, now feels
like a turning point. She is a miniature that grew and evolved and took on a
life of her own. It almost feels like I built her and then worked out what she
is. I fear now I may have been slightly wrong in saying she is of the
Mechanicum. Time to rewrite history, or at least tinker with it.
In the last few days, I built a new miniature and again, I’ve
had to work out what it is I have built. The answer feels like for the first
time, I know what I’m doing.
This is Duke Ko, the Herald of Myleth.
The Knight World Orasto was discovered late in the Great
Crusade. A Mechanicum Explorator fleet made first contact and were welcomed as
long lost brothers. Orasto had been isolated so long that they were surprised to
learn that other humans existed. When these new machine-men were able to repair
ancient, long dormant knights, surprise turned to delight. Treaties were
signed, oaths sworn and the Mechanicum established an embassy in Orasto’s chief
city.
Now, a mere twenty five years later, the Knights of Orasto
find themselves caught up in the wars of the Age of Darkness. Their loyalty is
to the Omnissiah and they eagerly joined the forces who combat the Traitor. Given
the short time that the Mechanicum has been on Orasto, the Knight Houses still
enjoy a large degree of independence. Unlike other Mechanicum aligned houses,
which have become virtual thralls to their Forge Worlds, the men and women of
Orasto regard the Mechanicum as allies and brothers in arms rather than
overlords.
The Euripides found a small group of battered and bloodied Orastian
Knights, survivors of a massacre, and rescued them to fight another day. Their
leader is Yol Myleth and Duke Ko is his herald. Proudly displaying the colours
of his house (now incorporating the symbol of their Mechanicum allies), Duke Ko
announces his leader, reciting the litanies of blessing, the lineage of his
house and the deeds of notable ancestors: all of this amplified through the
speaker of the cyberskull which never leaves his side.
Right now ideas are coming thick and fast of things to
build. I feel like I have to get them started, so painting might be put on hold
for a while as I concentrate on forming plastic and resin into interesting
shapes. I’m really quite excited.
