For something a bit quicker than Master Lazarus, I’ve been working on the Spider. I love the model and think it’s a great update to the original. For my version I’ve added a bit more hair and thinned his nose a little.

I will be adding video guides on how I have painted him as I go along to the website, with the first to follow just after this post – follow the link below to watch all of them, so far!:

What was the War of the Spider?

The War of The Spider was a multifaceted conflict that showcased the cunning and relentless pursuit of power by the notorious Fabius Bile. At its inception, the war was ignited by Bile’s daring theft of the Ark Cornucontagious from the Death Guard, a move that not only depleted his forces but also put him in the crosshairs of the formidable Typhus. Desperate for allies, Bile crossed paths with Argento Corian of the renegade Brazen Drakes, forging an alliance that would see Corian and his warriors transformed into even deadlier combatants under Bile’s twisted enhancements, unwittingly binding them to his will

The conflict first flared on Limaxis, where Bile and Corian orchestrated a preemptive strike against Typhus’s forces, leveraging the element of surprise to combat the overwhelming might of the Death Guard’s plague ships. Despite the ferocity of their attack and the ingenious use of a cloaking shield stolen from the Dark Eldar, Bile’s forces found themselves outmaneuvered by Typhus’s tactical acumen and sheer resilience. In a series of brutal engagements that saw both sides taking significant losses, Bile’s blend of sorcery, bio-engineering, and guerrilla tactics momentarily held the Death Guard at bay, but the cost was high.

The turning point came on Bairsten Prime, where Bile’s scheming saw him attempting to exploit the planet’s resources under the nose of the Adeptus Custodes and an advancing Imperial retribution force. It was here that the depth of Bile’s machinations became apparent, as he not only faced the might of the Imperium but also further ensnared Corian and his forces in his web of control. Bile’s audacity knew no bounds, capturing and experimenting on Adeptus Custodes and Sisters of Silence, turning the tide of battle with his grotesque creations.

Ultimately, the war culminated in a desperate last stand on Dessah, where Bile’s fortress became the stage for a climactic confrontation. With Corian now a puppet stitched together by Bile’s hand, the Shriven, under the command of their ‘Enlightener’, faced the combined onslaught of the Death Guard and Imperial forces. In the chaos, Bile’s true genius and ruthlessness were on full display as he unleashed neurotoxin-laden Heldrakes and his most deadly creations in a final, frenzied effort to secure his escape.

Fabius Bile’s role in the War of The Spider was that of the master puppeteer, manipulating allies and enemies alike in his relentless quest for knowledge and power. His actions drove the conflict, from strategic alliances and daring thefts to the deployment of horrifying biological weapons and dark sorcery. Even as battles raged and the fates of worlds hung in the balance, Bile’s focus remained on his eternal quest for perfection through the suffering of others. His legacy in the war is one of devastation, innovation, and the cold calculus of survival at any cost, leaving a scar on the galaxy that would not soon heal.

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