You have a lot of options available to you, but 1000 pts is very restrictive. Generally speaking a Tantalus is a pretty weak choice, but since you've highlighted that you'd like to play, I put it into some lists for you:
To start with, here's a balanced Tantalus-lacking approach:
Black Heart Battalion:
72 - Archon with Write of the Living Muse, Warlord, Labyrinthine Cunning and Venom Blade.
96 - Archon with Huskblade, Blaster and Phantasm Grenade Launcher (consider using the extra relic Stratagem to give him or her the Djinn blade relic)
47 - 5 Kabalite Warriors with 1 Blaster
47 - 5 Kabalite Warriors with 1 Blaster
47 - 5 Kabalite Warriors with 1 Blaster
30 - 5 Kabalite Warriors
65 - Venom
83 - Raider with Disintegrator Cannon, Shock Prow and Chain Snares
126 - Ravager with 3x Disintegrator Cannon and Shock Prow
126 - Ravager with 3x Disintegrator Cannon and Shock Prow
126 - Ravager with 3x Disintegrator Cannon and Shock Prow
135 - Razorwing with Disintegrator Cannons
1000
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Alternatively, there is the 'Battalion in one Boat' option. The idea is to cram an Archon and your Blaster squads into the Tantalus and deep strike or fly it up the board while the Warlord Archon move up to stays in 6" range of it with the Ravagers next to him too. It's very much a 'all your eggs in one basket' type of list:
82 - Archon with Write of the Living Muse, Warlord, Labyrinthine Cunning, Blast Pistol and Venom Blade.
96 - Archon with Huskblade, Blaster and Phantasm Grenade Launcher (consider using the extra relic Stratagem to give him or her the Djinn blade relic)
47 - 5 Kabalite Warriors with 1 Blaster
47 - 5 Kabalite Warriors with 1 Blaster
47 - 5 Kabalite Warriors with 1 Blaster
30 - 5 Kabalite Warriors
400 - Tantalus
125 - Ravager with 3x Disintegrator Cannons
125 - Ravager with 3x Disintegrator Cannons
999
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