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Ben Johnson

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  1. Ben Johnson
    Hi all,
    Here is the story of the first strike of the Knights of Azyr Extremis Chamber followed by a ton of photos of them in all there glory, I hope you like them. 
    "At the same moment as Traylorn was battling the Changeling for control of the the Celestial Compass Dracothions rore could be heard all over the Celestial Realm of Azyr. The great Drakes rore was followed by the sound of a thousand chambers coming to life. 
    First forged for the Knights of Azyr was Lord-Celastant Branatar Drakerider of the Extremis Chamber, once a Wild man in the Realm of Ghur, Sigmar himself heard his plea for vengeance against the Chaos Gods. 
    Branatar himself never speaks of what lead to his hatred of Chaos other than to say he won't rest till all traces of them have been banished from the realms forever. Just as Archaon was instructing his Varanguard, so was Sigmar instructing the Knights of Azyr Extremis Chamber.
    “Drakesworn!... The compass could be our undoing, in the Archaons hand it could cement his victory at the Aightpoints. Find it or destroy it”
    Many battles they fought, over six Realms they campaigned, the Drakesworn Temple Annihulus, many stood in their way friend and foe alike. Nothing could stand in there way not Realmgates, Stormfronts or even Fire and Brimstone. Even in the battles they didn't win they ensured that the enemy were whipped from the field. 
    In the end the Celestial Compass was in the hands of the Spiderfang Big Boss Chitinous Scuttlefang, who tore it from under the nose of Kairos Fateweaver and the Gautfyre Skorch Enginecovens of Clan Skryre before they even knew they were a threat. 
    Chitinous Scuttlefang new not the power or worth of the Celestial Compass, he cared not for the lives that were lost fighting over its control so tossed it into the Arachnarok nests hidden in the Underway. It lays there now hidden from the gaze of Archaon, whose wrath could be heard all around the Varanspire"
    This whole bit of my Stormhost was a complete labor of love to get finished, lots of late nights painting green but it was totally worth it now they are all done. Having played a few games whit them now I have to say they are a brutal force to fight with, Fulminators are very quickly becoming my favourites. They kill Bloodreavers by the hand full. 
    On to the photos.
    The first Extremis Chamber of the Knights of Azyr

    Lord-Celastant Branatar Drakerider.

    Drakesworn Temple Annihulus


    The Dracothion Guard.

    Thunderwave Echelon
     
    Lightning Echelon.

    Tempestors.

    Fulminators.

    Concussors.

    Desolators.

     
  2. Ben Johnson

    Warlords

    By Ben Johnson,

    Hi all,
    Last weekend was the first big Warhammer Age of Sigmar event at the home of Warhammer! It was also live streamed on Twitch, me and @Ben played in round two, I'm sure he will be along to tell you all how it went ?
    I used the Knights of Azyr, a small model army but I have played it a lot and hoped to do well, four wind and a painting nomination put me 5th overall. 
    Lover the weekend I played ten games and learned so much about my list even after so many practice games. It still hates the mortal wound armies. 
    Here is my army laid out over the weekend.

    I was also keen to add more to the background of my Stormhost after the event, enjoy.
     
    And so once again it fell to Lord-Celestant Matthias Hammerstrike of the Knights Azyr, one of the first founding Stormhosts first cast into the mortal realms at the beginning of the Age of Sigmar. The responsibilities of leadership were great on Matthias, greater that even he could have imagined. He knew it would be difficult and that many a soul would need to be reforged once it was over. But the Warlords had to be overcome, Sigmar had asked for it to be so. 
    This was not Matthias first charge into the Mortal Realms, and by now he was a veteran of many a campaign. It was the Knights of Azyr that kept the Celestial Compass from the hands of the Three Eyed King deep in the heart of Gyran, and who had fought alongside the Hammers of Sigmar to drive back Khul and secure the Brimstone Pernintula. 
    With him strode the hulking frame of Lord-Castellant Roth Lightbourne, a huge man, even for a Stormcast Eternal. Long ago Roth had been the beloved leader of his people until the coming of Chaos, he saved as many as he could but he was just a man. Until Sigmar intervened saving Rathe and guiding him on a new path. Many a time Roth had been sound counsel to Matthias offering sage advice or a strong blade when necessary.
    Alongside the Chamber Command fought the Hevavanhost Extremis Chamber with units from both the Lightning and Thunderwave Echelon amongst the ranks. Long range support came in the form of units from Justicar Conclave the Heavenbolt Congress, the air will be filled with the light from hundreds of celestial arrows. 
    Onwards the Knights of Azry pushed not knowing who their first foe would be...
    It was the crazed followers of GorkaMorka that first they faced, the unorganised rabble threw themselves forward into range of the Heavenbolt Congress, one unit at a time they were destroyed but still that came. Chained Mangler Squigs came bounding forward with no thought other that destruction in there mind, awful creatures made worse for the Moonclan fungus brew that are forced to consume, each sip sending them more and more wild and crazy. 
    They were no match for the Sigmerite plate worn by the Thunderwave Echelon, with barely a scratch they emerged, all that remained of the Squigs were discarded chains and a foul smell in the air. Before the Knights of Azyr could savour the victory a dark cloud was visible of the horizon.
    The air grew hot as the Legion approached, a tingle of magic could also be felt seeping through the very ground that the twisted enemy approached on. As the Stormhost formed a battle line, harsh metal creations could be seen approaching, barely containing the daemons bound within. 
    Then without warning the very ground in front of Matthias erupted with a Bailwind Vortex shimmering with magical energy. Landing atop of the vortex came the leathery wings of Drazaroth the Ashen, his entire bode aflame with a fire that seemed to have a mind of its own. 
    The Stormcast fought bravely but the fire and the magic were too much even for them, many a soul would hear the ringing of the Anvil of Apotheosis that night. 
    One defeat cannot stop the army of order not with right on its side and Sigmerite armour on its back. 
     
  3. Ben Johnson
    Hi everyone,
    To go along side my shiny new Stormcast force I wanted some of the new Age of Sigmar scenery for them to fight over. I have always liked making and painting scenery, it real quick to do and can look great with very little effort put in.
    Before I started I needed to have an idea of where this terrain was going to be set, the Realms of Life and Beasts where the front runners and I didn't decide 100% until I got in to the painting. Life won out as I liked the greenery I could add in to it all.
    The more games of Age of Sigmar I played the more I like the freedom of terrain that it allows over Warhammer where you had to allow for ranked up units, you can also get away with 'scatter' terrain that is just to make the place look cool ?
    There was a bit of kit bashing going on with most of my stuff, the new Age of Sigmar terrain kits are very interchangeable with each other and look great with a simple drybush and wash. 
    The brown and gray are painted exactly the same as the bases on my Stormcast (so they look like they are really fighting there) but with a little more foliage added. The spare levels from the tree kit are a cool bit of color and really help hide any gaps.
    Enough rambles from me here are the photos. 


  4. Ben Johnson
    Hi All,
    Here is the next part of the Knights of Azyr's story all based on the game I played against Kev a few weeks ago on the awesome new board at Warhammer World. 
    Deep into Ghyran mighty Sigmar sent the Knights of Azyr with the task of bringing the Fyerslayers of the Beal-For Lodge onto the side of Order. Sigmar looked down as the mighty vaults of Sigmarion were emptied of every last scrap of gold as Sigmar know that the Fyerslayers would be absorbed by their addiction to it.
    The Auric Runemaster Kalforge sensed the presence of the Ur-gold and contained within his lost ancestor god, from many leagues away well before the Hammerstrike’s knew they were close to their quarry, at the same time Auric Runesmiter Belforge was stirring the spirit of Grimnir resting within the lodge's warrior. With glowing Ur-gold and flexing muscles the Lodge emptied the spirit of the long lost ancestor god Grimnir burning within each of them as with white knuckles the gripped the fyersteel of their axes.
    The Drakesworn Temple Annihulus was the first to take the field, not only on the wings of Great Stardrakes but also and for the first time in this already long war, on the backs of lightning wreathed Dracoths. Hard did the warriors of the the Extremis Chamber hit with both Storm Breath and Lightning Hammer.
    Many Beal-For warriors shrugged of wounds that would kill most of the inhabitants of the realm but these Fyerslayers fought on, there Ur-gold runes glowing brighter and brighter with every new wave of attacks. The mighty Drake Clasicx was lost in a blur of Fyersteel axes, his mighty body exploding into a thousand celestial bolds and returning to the Great Drake himself.
    The Helmgart Lliberators found the very ground that were holding to be fraught with fire, every footfall braking the thin surface and sending plumes of lava flowing all over them. Even the iron hard Sigmarite armour they all were wearing wasn't enough to protect them and many of their number were consumed by fire and flame.
    It was only the immovable fire of the Judicators that could slow the rune drenched Fyerslayers, it was at this point that the calming words, that somehow as if aided by Sigmar himself spread through the Fyerslayer ranks like a calming zeffer, of Lord-Castelant Roth Lightborne hit home and the fighting ceased.  
    An uneasy truce was made that day, built on a mutual respect and a large quantity of gold.

  5. Ben Johnson
    Hi everyone,
    Since the release of the Stormcast Eternal back in July last year I have been painting away a few models a week (you will have seen most of them I'm sure) and it's amazing how quickly the Army has grown. 
    Lord-Celastant Matthias Hammerstrike leads his Warrior Chamber into the Mortal Realms, his loyal Comand Chamber following with him.   Hope you like them.   
  6. Ben Johnson
    Hi everyone,
    My first post in here isn't what most would expect from me it's a old fashioned bit of fluff!
    It's something I have been adding to a bit at a time after events and games to give them a bit of a place in the Mortal Realms. Also the campaign we are playing at work gives you points every month for a piece of background ?
     
    The Knights of Azy got their first taste of the Mortal Realms alongside the Hammers of Sigmar and Vandus Hammerhand during the first of Sigmar's tempest's, to regain the Realmgate on the Brimstone Peninsular located in the far off lands of Aqshy, the Realm of Fire. They helped to stem the flow of the Bloodbound reinforcements by holding the Obsidian bridge that crosses the river Magnus. 
    After weeks of hard campaigning and after scores of the Stormhost being returned to Azyr the fight was won. Vanus Hammerhand stood victorious with Matthias Hammerstrike as the remaining Khorne force were scattered into the wind.
    Sigmar looked on, he was pleased with Matthias and his Knights of Azyr, after the reforging was complete they would be tasked with a matter of great importance. The time is right and the the constellations have aligned….
    There first real war of the Knights of Azyr began in Gyran, the Realm of Life. What the Stormcast remembered of the heat and fire of the Igneous Delta had been lost to the Six Smiths and the sound of the Reforging. 
    Lord-Celastant Matthias Hammerstrike lead his Thunderstrike Brotherhood deep into Gyran, in his way where the chittering Masterclan and Skryre hordes lead by the vicious Arch-warlock Quikk-Arkks arkks and the Gray Seer Snichh-Fanng.
    Hard the Stormcast Eternals fought, each yard harder to claim than the last. But the tide of battle was quickly turned with the losing of a single Star Fated arrow and the Beaks and Claws of two loyal Gryph-Hound. These attacks killed Gray Seer Snichh-Fanng and Quikk-Arkks arkks in quick succession. After the loss of their leaders the fighting spirit of the Skaven was quickly lost, leaving a faint smell of fear in the air.
    The Knights of Azyr fortified their position and waited for their next mission. 
    Back to Gyran they were sent reforged and a new, more of Sigmar's finest were added to their ranks in the form of The Knight-Venator Dragnnar Vestied, his soul was taken from the depths of despair after the extermination of his people at the hands of the great sorcerer Tzeentch. 
    A strange figure had appeared at the edge of their village for days at a time unmoving, his face shielded from the light. Then one day he was gone. That night he returned a blur of limbs and blades killing all those that stood in his way, seemingly unstoppable matching then besting the skill of each warrior in turn. He grew a shrank as he fought until finally Dranar was alone his body going cold, the last thing he remembered was a faint song as the figure disappeared into the shadows.
    “Shifting flesh and solid thought, words can harm but weapons naught”
    He joined the Celestine Brethren, Prosecutors of the Angelus Conclave. Swearing to have vengeance in the name of his lost people and to try to ensure the same fate won't happen to others. But Tzeentch is a master of fate and who knows what strings in the great game he has pulled to see to it that Dragnnar Vestied has been forged…
    In the Realm of Death the Knights of Azyr were asked to remove some of their of their own kind, after one of Sigmar's first forged Stormhosts was turned by dark powers, we know not where they came from or to who the are aligned too, we may never now know how or why they were turned. 
    It was with a heavy heart that Lord-Celastant Matthias Hammerstrike called on his brother Lord-Celastant Trembrar to form a host of Skyborne Slayers from the ranks of the Knights of Azyr. Lord-Celastant Trembrar took no joy in the victory but he made sure that the only Stormcast to leave the field this day where one of his brothers, pure and faithful. 

    At the same moment as Traylorn was battling the Changeling for control of the the Celestial Compass Dracothions rore could be heard all over the Celestial Realm of Azyr. The great Drakes rore was followed by the sound of a thousand chambers coming to life. 
    First forged for the Knights of Azyr was Lord-Celastant Branatar Drakerider of the Extremis Chamber, once a Wild man in the Realm of Ghur, Sigmar himself heard his plea for vengeance against the Chaos Gods. 
    Branatar himself never speaks of what lead to his hatred of Chaos other than to say he won't rest till all traces of them have been banished from the realms forever. Just as Archaon was instructing his Varanguard, so was Sigmar instructing the Knights of Azyr Extremis Chamber.
    “Drakesworn!... The compass could be our undoing, in Archaons hand it could cement his victory at the Aightpoints. Find it or destroy it”
    Many battles they fought, over six Realms they campaigned, the Drakesworn Temple Annihulus, many stood in their way friend and foe alike. Nothing could stand in there way not Realmgates, Stormfronts or even Fire and Brimstone. Even in the battles they didn't win they ensured that the enemy were whipped from the field. 
    In the end the Celestial Compass was in the hands of the Spiderfang Big Boss Chitinous Scuttlefang, who tore it from under the nose of Kairos Fateweaver and the Gautfyre Skorch Enginecovens of Clan Skryre before they even knew they were a threat. 
    Chitinous Scuttlefang new not the power or worth of the Celestial Compass, he cared not for the lives that were lost fighting over its control so tossed it into the Arachnarok nests hidden in the Underway. It lays there now hidden from the gaze of Archaon, whose wrath could be heard all around the Varanspire. 
    To be continued...
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