Vastarian: Generic Cultist conversion

Vastarian cultists.

Earlier this month we started an open invitational encouraging people to create Imperial Cults that are at war with each other on the cathedral world of Vastarian. The planet harbors many strange extensions of the Ecclesiarchy’s Imperial Creed. The Church of the Red Athenæum is one such faction. Although we plan to showcase others in the coming months, we thought it would be fun to convert a random citizen of Vastarian, a faithful pilgrim alongside countless others, just to get peoples’ ideas flowing. Looking through our collection of old models, we found one of Brian Nelson’s classic metal preacher models, and decided it would be a fun starting point for a conversion. Having recently experimented with creating one-piece silicone cut molds, we realized we could make the conversion process easier if we first created a mold and cast a resin copy of the model. Having a resin copy would facilitate the converting process, as resin is far easier to cut and work with than metal. This worked out really well and we were able to quickly convert a faithful supplicant of the Emperor using various pieces from the plastic Sisters of Battle range and modeling putty. Furthermore, the initial mold making process was so straight-forward that we created a second mold for the finished conversion so we can easily make copies of the new cultist!

Vastarian: The Church of the Red Athenæum recap

Vivere est pati.

The Cathedral world of Vastarian is home to a vast assortment of strange splinter cults of the Ecclesiarchy’s Imperial Creed. In addition to its presence on Terra, the Church of the Red Athenæum (which we created for Iron Sleet’s Pilgrym event) also has its own cells on Vastarian and has been trying to expand its influence there. The Church is a radical faction of the Imperial Creed that believes suffering is the highest form of veneration of the God-Emperor. Although we originally created the Church way back in 2016, we started to revisit them in more recent years, creating a host of new models, including a Gunfighter, a heavy weapons specialist, a Halfling, and a new Bibliognost of the Church of the Red Athenæum. All of these models are going to be used in the Vastarian setting, where they will be one of the major factions battling for their spiritual beliefs to dominate the planet. Below is a summary of some of the lore behind the Church of the Red Athenæum, which will continue to get expanded as Vastarian continues to develop!

Vastarian - Dreams of the Pious: Open Invitational

Blessed the mind too small for doubt.

Vastarian is a vast cathedral world located within the Totradus Sector, in the southern region of Segmentum Solar. Although it is on a well-traveled route used by the faithful on their pilgrimage to holy Terra, that fact is not what makes it special. Instead, it accumulated its renown from two particular aspects. The first is its many architectural marvels: massive houses of worship, an expanse of stained glass and minarets, labyrinthian catacombs revering the hallowed dead, and cavernous libraries and repositories of holy texts and religious scholarship. The second, and more surprising aspect, is that in an age characterized by intolerance and persecution, Vastarian welcomes thousands of disparate orthodoxies and splinters of the Imperial Creed, where they all live in relative harmony together. Provided the God-Emperor is venerated above all others and His will is promulgated, the Ecclesiarchy turns a blind eye to minor deviations and differing interpretations of the Lectitio Divinitatus. After all, isn't all of humanity a part of His flock, of His Grand Design? While there are some documented instances of schisms that led to bloodshed, most were limited to internecine disputes and selective purges by the ever watchful Ordo Hereticus.

32 - Episode 17: Interview with Trent from Miscast

In the latest episode of 32, Eric talks with artist and YouTuber Trent Holbrook, known as Miscast. We talk about his journey through the hobby and his DIY ethos for approaching it.