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Description

A truly fantastic peek at the more serious side of Shelby's 40k/scifi iteration done by . I simply cannot tell you how thrilled I am to finally have a piece that reflects the "walking tank" aesthetic that she is meant to have as a 'paladin' of the 41st millennium. The lore that I have for my little headcanon area of the setting regarding Shelby, Zoe, and my various armies is something that I've been working on for a while and am not quite ready to share. I also know that nobody really cares about it but me but that's fine!
Regardless, here's a little snippet that I wrote to accompany this piece that goes a little into what Shelby's role is.

As an Acolyte in the service of the Imperium of Man's holy Inquisition, Shelby's job description largely consists of looking tough and intimidating to deter violence from being necessary. She is most often seen silently looming at the side of a diplomat or an ominous adjudicator with a justifiable confidence in her presence as a "persuasive argument." A fire fight is rarely conducive to an investigation after all, so what better way to deter things from reaching that conclusion by having a walking tank twice the size of the largest man at your side in the rare case where a rosette isn't enough.
Thefortunate few who get to know Shelby will swiftly come to find out that this is generally an act, she may look the part of the hulking beastman bruiser but really she's just a maternal cinnamon bun who has to be stopped from trying to make friends with everyone the group comes across. She's more likely to hurt somebody in the process of giving them an over-enthusiastic hug when her surprisingly gentle touch suffers a momentary lapse in concentration. The group mom who always packs a lunch for each party member and fusses over every minor scrape and bruise and embarrasses the entire retinue with her painful jokes, she would never hurt a fly!
Not without reason, of course.
Theunfortunate few who have been on the receiving end of an enraged minotaur know all too well that the implied threat of Shelby's first impression does not have to remain as simply implied. There is a great deal of maternal instinct that drives her towards any lengths necessary to protect those under her care. If all attempts to diffuse a hostile situation have failed or if a danger is presented to her charges, she will not hesitate to put every incalculable ounce of her strength to devastating use. Predominantly she is a defender, her armaments and massive stature afford her the ability to effortlessly withstand an absurd amount of damage as an unbreakable shield for those who cannot. But if need be her protective nature can also harden into a calamitous drive for offensive measures.
Few in the Imperium but the heavily augmented or the post-human are capable of matching a beastman of her size in terms of raw physical power. The steel-shattering impact of a kick from legs like pneumatic pistons or a goring battering ram headbutt is usually more than enough to neutralize any threat that would dare stand between Shelby and those placed under her guard, or the objective of her assignment. And that's even without a power axe the size of a full grown man and a suit of enough reactive plate armor to cover a battle tank.
Among those privy to the open secret of her existence in the Inquisition fortress there are countless whispered rumors of unimaginable acts of heroism, bravery, violence, and savagery at her hands. Many of them border on the mythical and seem to smack of the kind of inhuman accomplishments that are normally reserved for the likes of the Adeptus Astartes. Her direct employer, the reclusive Lord Inquisitor himself, is even said to perpetuate some of these rumors in an effort to maintain a frightening reputation. The truth surely won't come from Shelby herself as she greatly disdains discussing past engagements. She will simply offer you a smile, a snack, and a cheery"It's classified, cariño."
Regardless of any stories, those who have seen her in terrifying action will tell anyone the same thing.

They call her a Beast, but she prefers to be called a Bulwark. To those she protects Shelby is, once you get past her imposing appearance, more than worthy of that. Her comforting, motherly smile will tell you that much in an instant if her many scars and battered armor don't. She will protect you, feed you, tell you a bad joke, and go to lengthsto make sure you get home without a scratch.
To those who would stand to harm the ones she protects, Shelby has no problem living up to her title and her first impression. An intimidation tactic only works if there is the will to make good on the threat. Woe betide any who would cross the Beast of Briggandere Tertius, for the stars quiver under the power of a mother's wrath.

Posted using PostyBirb

Description

A truly fantastic peek at the more serious side of Shelby's 40k/scifi iteration done by . I simply cannot tell you how thrilled I am to finally have a piece that reflects the "walking tank" aesthetic that she is meant to have as a 'paladin' of the 41st millennium. The lore that I have for my little headcanon area of the setting regarding Shelby, Zoe, and my various armies is something that I've been working on for a while and am not quite ready to share. I also know that nobody really cares about it but me but that's fine!
Regardless, here's a little snippet that I wrote to accompany this piece that goes a little into what Shelby's role is.

As an Acolyte in the service of the Imperium of Man's holy Inquisition, Shelby's job description largely consists of looking tough and intimidating to deter violence from being necessary. She is most often seen silently looming at the side of a diplomat or an ominous adjudicator with a justifiable confidence in her presence as a "persuasive argument." A fire fight is rarely conducive to an investigation after all, so what better way to deter things from reaching that conclusion by having a walking tank twice the size of the largest man at your side in the rare case where a rosette isn't enough.
Thefortunate few who get to know Shelby will swiftly come to find out that this is generally an act, she may look the part of the hulking beastman bruiser but really she's just a maternal cinnamon bun who has to be stopped from trying to make friends with everyone the group comes across. She's more likely to hurt somebody in the process of giving them an over-enthusiastic hug when her surprisingly gentle touch suffers a momentary lapse in concentration. The group mom who always packs a lunch for each party member and fusses over every minor scrape and bruise and embarrasses the entire retinue with her painful jokes, she would never hurt a fly!
Not without reason, of course.
Theunfortunate few who have been on the receiving end of an enraged minotaur know all too well that the implied threat of Shelby's first impression does not have to remain as simply implied. There is a great deal of maternal instinct that drives her towards any lengths necessary to protect those under her care. If all attempts to diffuse a hostile situation have failed or if a danger is presented to her charges, she will not hesitate to put every incalculable ounce of her strength to devastating use. Predominantly she is a defender, her armaments and massive stature afford her the ability to effortlessly withstand an absurd amount of damage as an unbreakable shield for those who cannot. But if need be her protective nature can also harden into a calamitous drive for offensive measures.
Few in the Imperium but the heavily augmented or the post-human are capable of matching a beastman of her size in terms of raw physical power. The steel-shattering impact of a kick from legs like pneumatic pistons or a goring battering ram headbutt is usually more than enough to neutralize any threat that would dare stand between Shelby and those placed under her guard, or the objective of her assignment. And that's even without a power axe the size of a full grown man and a suit of enough reactive plate armor to cover a battle tank.
Among those privy to the open secret of her existence in the Inquisition fortress there are countless whispered rumors of unimaginable acts of heroism, bravery, violence, and savagery at her hands. Many of them border on the mythical and seem to smack of the kind of inhuman accomplishments that are normally reserved for the likes of the Adeptus Astartes. Her direct employer, the reclusive Lord Inquisitor himself, is even said to perpetuate some of these rumors in an effort to maintain a frightening reputation. The truth surely won't come from Shelby herself as she greatly disdains discussing past engagements. She will simply offer you a smile, a snack, and a cheery"It's classified, cariño."
Regardless of any stories, those who have seen her in terrifying action will tell anyone the same thing.

They call her a Beast, but she prefers to be called a Bulwark. To those she protects Shelby is, once you get past her imposing appearance, more than worthy of that. Her comforting, motherly smile will tell you that much in an instant if her many scars and battered armor don't. She will protect you, feed you, tell you a bad joke, and go to lengthsto make sure you get home without a scratch.
To those who would stand to harm the ones she protects, Shelby has no problem living up to her title and her first impression. An intimidation tactic only works if there is the will to make good on the threat. Woe betide any who would cross the Beast of Briggandere Tertius, for the stars quiver under the power of a mother's wrath.

Posted using PostyBirb