The Kingbreakers‘ Librarius continues to convene. Inquisitor Hersch and random Epistolary #3:

Backstory

Inquisitor Hersch, on the left, is head of the Inquisition’s continual monitoring of the Kingbreakers. Since the fall of Forestway to the ruinous powers, a small but aberrant number of the chapter’s battle brothers have manifested psychic ability. The Inquisition is understandably concerned about what that might portend. In turn, the Kingbreakers resent the harsh scrutiny much of the chapter received immediately following the planet’s collapse. However, over the course of several battles and campaigns now the two have been forced to fight alongside each other. Over the course of these the two have for the moment developed a tense but workable relationship. In gameplay terms Hersch is usually my standin for Torquemada Coteaz, whom I’ve fielded fairly regularly in 7th edition.

The librarian does not yet have a real backstory. I’ve been thinking though that he’s some sort of itinerant Epistolary, possibly from the Grey Knights, traveling the Imperium to give aid where he can. In gameplay terms he basically makes an appearance when I need a whole bunch of librarians, i.e., the Apocalypse Librarius formation, five psychers that together can open a warp rift on the table.

Models

Both of these guys were put together and painted quickly. Inquisitor Hersch was assembled at 6am, in the dark,  in a frantic rush immediately before a tournament because the models I had been using for Coteaz did not have thunderhammers and I didn’t want any hassle. Both are models from a Grey Knights Strike Squad box with some extra bits, e.g., a Chaos skull helmet and a librarian’s book from somewhere that I converted to be held as if reading.

I’m very happy with the build of both models. Hersch has the weight and dynamic, fighting force appropriate to Coteaz, matching the heft of the standard model and the charater’s statline and equipment. The librarian has a more composed, static feel to his weight, with a great clutter of books and purity seals and whatnot hanging all over. The Strike Squad armor is suitably ornate for these learned veterans, and the psychic hood arch as well as the archaic, warp-tuned backpacks clearly indicate “psyker” as appropriate for both.

The paintjob is nothing too fancy, but very serviceable and was quick to do. They were respectively based black and white, mostly by the vagaries of what spray paint I had on hand when they were primed, but it’s interesting to note that they came out the same regardless. The silver metal is Leadbelcher drybrushed with Mithril Silver and washed with Nuln Oil. The gold parts are a Brass Scorpion base heavily drybrushed with Burnished Gold, drybrushed again more lightly with Mithril Silver, and washed with Nuln Oil for the most part but Gryphone Sepia on the shoulder pads and Hersch’s helmet. Overall this sequence makes for a muted, worn looking gold, rather than the blinged out super shine Coteaz frequently rocks, the former being more in keeping with the Kingbreakers’ general aesthetic.

The bases have been done up very simply and in dark colors to be a simple contrasting background for the relatively shiny metal, and to fit in with the Kingbreakers’ standard wasteland bases theme.