Last month, we chased down the talented folks who redesigned the Black Templars miniatures. But the fact is, there are so many awesome models in the new range that we couldn’t fit them all in one article! So, we caught up with miniatures designer Maxime Corbeil a second time – this time to learn about how he brought the Chapter’s most iconic Characters to life.
High Marshal Helbrecht
As Chapter Master, Helbrecht is the ultimate exemplar of what it means to be a Black Templar. As such, he had to stand out from those he commands in battle, as Maxime explains.
“The miniature was designed to represent his status, opulence, and power as Chapter Master of the Black Templars. It really plays on the archetype of the king.”
Helbrecht’s model is covered in subtle details that tell his story, such as his bionic right hand – a replacement for the one he lost at the… ahem, hand of Imotekh the Stormlord. There are other nuances too, as Maxime continues.
“We made the Sword of the High Marshals really big, as it contains elements of Rogal Dorn’s own blade. The spikes on its hilt represent both duty and failure – it speaks of penance and the responsibility that Helbrecht has to uphold the honour of the Chapter and the legacy of Sigismund.
“We took the opportunity to give him a Crusader-style helmet option and designed his armour to echo the Mk II pattern as a nod to the traditionalist mindset of the Black Templars. Even though Helbrecht has crossed the Rubicon Primaris, he's held onto the same armour and had it reforged – Black Templars don't like change!”
Another telling detail is the skull mounted on Helbrecht’s backpack.
“We imagined it to be the skull of the Navigator who first led him to Armageddon,” says Maxime. “He keeps it with him now in the hopes that it will eventually guide him to Ghazghkull Thraka, so he may avenge those who fell.”
High Chaplain Grimaldus
The Chaplain and his retinue were designed to give the feel of a solemn procession with Grimaldus at its head, preaching his fiery oratory. The relics they bear into battle look familiar, but with a few key differences.
“We kept the same relics from Helsreach,” Maxime explains, “but we rendered them slightly differently in order to match the scale of the Cenobyte Servitors, who we made larger to represent failed aspirants of the Chapter.”
“We used the banner to reinforce the idea that Black Templars are all about hate,” he continues. “Mounting the skeleton of a slain psyker on one of their sacred relics is a great way to express the brutality of the Chapter – they’re not carrying the remains of an honoured hero of their order like the Bladeguard Ancient, but a grisly trophy.”
The second Cenobyte Servitor carries a tank filled with holy water on its back, with tubing that links it to the chalice in its left hand. However, there’s more to it than meets the eye.
“If you look closely, you can actually see that the tank contains two reservoirs – one for the pure holy water, and another filled with ordinary water to dilute it. It’s clearly too precious to waste.”
“The third Cenobyte carries a chunk of the Temple of the Emperor Ascendant from the ruins of Helsreach Hive on Armageddon,” says Maxime. “We wanted to make sure it felt big and imposing – he's carrying the weight of the Chapter's history on his shoulders. The eagle represents the idea that the Emperor Himself is looking down on them.”
Emperor's Champion
The Emperor’s Champion is a counterpoint to Helbrecht – an anonymous, undecorated hero of the Chapter, quite unlike the regal and imperious master of the Black Templars.
“His armour is bare and blank, because it's not about him. He's an embodiment of the Crusade,” says Maxime. “All of his personal heraldry, items, and trophies – all the things that make him an individual – are stripped from him. His armour is some of the best the Chapter has, but it's totally functional, designed to allow him the greatest freedom of movement so that he can go toe-to-toe with the biggest foes. He's sacrificing protection for mobility, which ties into his role as a martyr for the Chapter.”
“The armour is designed to look ancient – the backpack echoes the design of the Mk VII pattern,” Maxime continues. “You'll notice leather straps in the vein of medieval plate armour. It would’ve originally been created during the Horus Heresy by some incredible artificer, and it's been maintained and repaired for 10,000 years.
“In terms of his pose, we wanted something that was suitably inspiring. He's raising his Black Sword high, as it's his badge of office and sets him apart. His traditional wreath of laurels also links him to Sigismund as the first Emperor's Champion.”
Thanks once again for your input, Maxime. The updated range of Black Templars units – including Helbrecht, Grimaldus and the Emperor’s Champion – are up for pre-order from next weekend, along with their Chapter’s very own codex supplement, so prepare to launch your own Crusade of Rogal Dorn’s most zealous sons.