The Artisans of Blood (Heretic Astartes Kill Team)

[Sgt. Rock]

The Artisans of Blood are a small band of rogues and heretics that have been troubling sector after sector for centuries. Though few in number, their skills, viciousness, and devotion to the Dark Gods have made them a terrible blight on the face of the Imperium. Serving no higher master than the Ruinous Powers themselves, the Artisans seek little but to sow destruction and madness, and spill blood for the favor of their dark lords. They are led by Bloodlord Zephyrus Lorikkar, a loyal servant of Khorne and a brutal master of close combat. Zephyrus rules his companions with a blood-soaked iron fist, brooking no insolence, cowardice, or failure. His right hand man is Balemar the Hound, an incredibly violent madman who derives joy from little but the din and blood of war. Balemar's chainsword has gutted friend and foe alike, well aware that the Blood God cares little about whose blood is spilled, merely that it runs in rivers. Xander Nul currently holds the mantle of the warband's best marksman, his bedeviled plasma gun incinerating anything that falls within his sights with the heat of a thousand suns. He claims that his aim is guided by Tzeentch himself, and those who have witnessed his preternatural marksmanship are left with the impression that he may well be right. Little is known about the lunatic Shass, save that he derives unnatural pleasure from setting his foes alight with burning promethium. His post-battle ritual of eating the burnt skins of his victims like pork rinds is sickening even to his compatriots, but none dare interrupt his ecstatic cannibalism, for fear that they may be next on the menu. 

At any given time, the Artisans are followed by an ever-fluctuating pack of mewling sycophants, seeking the favor of the Dark Gods. Zephyrus tolerates them, as their base spaniel fawning pleases his dark masters, and their manic antics amuse him. In addition, they can be useful when their lives are spent properly. Typically, these wretches don't last long, but there is one particularly tenacious worm that has annoyingly managed to stay alive and even prove himself to be valuable enough to keep around. The cultist Dromus Macen has the perfect combination of attributes to survive the brutal lifestyle of the Artisans of Blood; ambitious enough to seek Khorne's favor, sensible enough to know where and when to limit his ambition, and skilled enough (or perhaps, ever so slightly touched by the Lord of Blood himself) to keep up with the ferocious Heretic Astartes his follows into battle.

The Artisans had been ambushed, subdued, and taken into custody by agents of the Ordo Hereticus, and then placed on the Black Ship upon which they currently travelled. The Bloodlord was uncertain why the cowardly lapdogs of the false emperor had chosen to imprison him and his warriors rather than merely kill them. Perhaps they were simply too afraid to do so. In any case, his corrupted soul was joyous, for this was a chance to earn the favor of the Blood God. Clearly, it was his destiny to put every living being on this garbage scow to the blade, alien, loyalist, or otherwise.

(Pics to follow, once I get my models painted)

Roster:

Aspiring Champion - Leader, mark of Khorne, plasma pistol, power sword

Chaos cultist champion - Combat specialist, mark of Khorne, autopistol & brutal assault weapon

Chaos space marine gunner - Sniper specialist, mark of Tzeentch, plasma gun

Chaos space marine gunner - Demolitions specialist, mark of Slaanesh, flamer

Chaos space marine - Zealot specialist, bolt pistol, chainsword, mark of Khorne, Icon of Wrath

Chaos cultist fire team - 2 cultists with autoguns, 1 with autopistol/CCW, 1 gunner with heavy stubber, all with mark of Khorne

Chaos space marine fireteam - 1 with bolt pistol/chainsword & mark of Khorne, 1 with bolter and Icon of Vengeance, and 1 with boltgun and mark of Khorne