Sigismund Would Like A Word...

"Hi, my name is Sigismund, and I like swords..."

The most recent wave of reinforcements for my 30k loyalists comes to a close with Sigismund, First Captain of the VII Legion Astartes, the Imperial Fists. This is a resin model from Forge World's Horus Heresy character series, featuring sculpts of the Primarchs and a number of other named characters from GW's Horus Heresy setting. 

A view from the top showing some of the rubble from the base.

One thing these Forge World character series sculpts have in common is a determination to have the subject stand on a huge pile of terrain, so they tower over the other models which might be on the table. Sigismund here is no exception, standing atop the wreck of a Sicaran tank. You can detach his smaller 32mm base from the overall scenic base, but the pile of rubble is still there...I sort of regret not ignoring his terrain base all together, but then, given the expense on the model, it felt like an even bigger waste of money not to paint all of that terrain...so here we are...

That is quite a pile of rubble he is perched on...

I could do without the terrain pile, but full marks to the sculptors for the figure itself. The pose is very nice, very well done, very dramatic. The figure looks like he has someone in his sights, an enemy, one who is about to lose a limb or three...

A view showing some of the detail on the rear armour pack.

Sigismund is, shall we say, really a big fan of swords, and is also one of Rogal Dorn's top commanders, although he is out of favour with Dorn by the time the Siege of Terra gets underway. Sigismund nonetheless leads in loyalist fleet actions during the "Solar War", tries to hold back the Iron Warriors from taking the Lion's Gate space port, and participates in other essential actions of the defence of the Imperial Palace on Terra. Dorn seems pissed at him, but still relies on him to rally the defences at key moments.

Here we see the full scenic base, with the wrecked segment of a Sicaran tank.

As the siege of Terra grinds on, Sigismund finds himself trying to reconcile the discrepancies between the Emperor's "official" views on matters relating to warp craft, magic and superstition with his actual battlefield experiences and the clearly visible deamonic aspects of the traitor forces pressing the defences. This progression is marked in repeated encounters with Kharn of the World Eaters. Initially, Sigismund cannot match him, but as he finds himself on the path of faith in The Emperor - and even receives a new sword at The Emperor's behest - he blossoms into an all-out murderhobo, and together with the Templar Brethern of the VII Legion, he racks up an impressive total of kills while inspiring new levels of religious-style devotion among the defenders of the Imperial Palace on Terra. The table is duly set for the Templar chapters in the 40k universe...

Another view from the top, showing the broader rubble collection...

Painting this figure was fun, but again the uselessness of "Agrax Earthshade" was a real problem...it is simply not useful as a pin wash anymore...or as a wash for much of anything, when you get down to it. I'm working through the bottle I have mostly out of a sense of inertia, but the search is on for a replacement.

Ready to inspire the defender of Terra!

Sigismund will make for an entertaining character on the table - maybe less entertaining for the traitor players, though, but still will make for a fun scenario where a small group of Imperial Fists try and hold Horus' followers at bay.