Somewhere the tea's getting cold...

Blood Bath at Orc's Drift - Encounter at Ashak Rise

2012-02-05T15:04:00.000-08:00

Right - slowly getting the show back on the road after another dalliance with Napoleonic era naval warfare. Got sidetracked with sorting out a pressie for my Dad's 60th. Foolishly I'd joked with him last year that I'd depict the whole battle of Trafalgar for such a mile stone birthday having made a smaller scale diorama for his 59th - http://teasgettingcold.blogspot.com/2011/01/came-in-his-majestys-ship-minotaur-of.html

So having spent most of January (pics up when I get them off me Mam's camera - forgot to take mine to the do, and once more it was a bit of a rush to get finished in time!) painting up the British and Franco-Spanish fleets in 1/1200 scale its nice to be back in sunny, war-torn Ramalia for the next installment of Orc's Drift...

Encounter at Ashak Rise

Borinn Fimbul surveyed the scene before him with satisfaction. The riverbank was alive with industry as several groups of Dwarfs busily sifted through the fine silt. He congratulated himself on his decision to desert from the Army of the Grand League and marvelled at how he had been the only one to spy the great riches that lay sparkling in the River Canis. Safe in the knowledge that the road was watched carefully by Dwarfish eyes reddened by Gold fever, Borinn let his mind wander back to when his scheme had been in its infancy...

"Hang on, lads; I've got a great idea"

"What's that then?" whispered Snorinn, furtively looking over his shoulder in case they were heard.
Borinn Fimbull, regarded his son with his sternest of looks, before sweeping his baleful gaze across the rest of the motley gang assembled before him.

"It's a very difficult job and the only way to get through it is we all work together as a team. And that means you do everything I say."

The Dwarfs nodded their assent earnestly and huddled together to listen to the plan...

The night air was suddenly ruptured with a loud explosion. Horses reared and screamed and the shouts of the soldiers soon added to the consternation and confusion. Tent flaps were thrown open and the 52nd Ramalian Foot left the warmth of its bedrolls to see what threat it now faced.

Amidst all this chaos, thirteen shadowy and diminutive forms scurried off into the woods at the edge of the road.

Borinn fetched his son a hefty blow around the head.

"You were only supposed to blow the bloody horse up!"

"But Dad..."

"Nevermind that - at least they won't be after us on horseback now. Right we'd best be off before we're missed."

With that Borinn, Snorinn and their band of deserters headed back up along the river. With a lightness of step and gladness of heart, each Dwarf knew that there was gold to be had - gold a plenty! By the end of the night there was more than a few of the party that had sore heads because they had forgotten the need for stealth and given in instead to the urge to sing an old mining song or two.

Absent-mindedly humming one of said mining songs, Borinn was gradually brought out of his reverie by an insistent ringing noise. Looking around dazedly, the old Dwarf finally came to his senses - the alarm bell. That meant intruders! Intruders who wanted his gold!

Already the others were stashing their panning gear and were concealing themselves along the river bank. Already the sound of baying hounds was ringing through the valley. Borinn's already beady eyes narrowed still further and his knuckles whitened as he tightened his grip on his axe...

The game seemed to be up for the Dwarfs. There was no hiding from these interlopers. Borinn, Snorinn and their party made a dash for the bridge - the only place they were likely to hold off the tide of Orcs pouring up the valley towards them.

The three Dwarfs who had been working downstream from the main party had also seen the danger, and began making their way back towards the bridge.

Nearer to the cabin the prospectors had been using to stash their ill-gotten gains in (and less importantly to eat and sleep in), three pack mules stood passively by. This scene of rural tranquility contrasted sharply with the clamour of the third party of Dwarfs who now scrambled into position. Readying their crossbows, three of them headed for the ditch, which skirted their dwelling. Without a thought for their own lives and their thoughts firmly fixed on getting the all important gold they had collected so far to safety, the two remaining Dwarfs headed for the cabin to begin loading up the mules.

Hagar Sheol drew himself up to his not inconsiderable height and cast his eyes down the valley. There lay the hut the stunties had no doubt holed themselves and their gold up in. All there was to do was to cross the bridge and take it....

With a great roar from their chieftain, the Orcs of the Severed Hand surged forwards. The hobhounds led the way, bounding forward with much snarling and slavering, as Borinn and his men moved to block off the bridge.

Behind them came the main Orc column, flanked by two small groups of archers.

And a small trailing force brought up the rear.

Both units of archers immediately let fly a ragged volley - those on the right had no luck finding their targets, whilst those on the left found their mark and left one Dwarf crossbowman clutching at his belly.

Barely had Borinn, Snorinn and their two clansmen made it to the bridge than the hobhounds were on them. Jaws snapped and ripped but the Dwarfs managed to fend them off. However, caught out by the savagery of the attck they were forced back onto the bridge itself.

As their quarry had now gone to ground in the ditch that ran along the wall, the arrows of the Orc archers on the left failed to find their targets. Those on the right fared only slightly better having found their range - one of the Dwarfs was struck, but was saved by his finely woven chainmail.

Vowing revenge, the Dwarf crossbowmen opened up from their position in the drainage ditch and indeed their comrade was avenged as an Orc archer fell. Behind them, their two comrades readied themselves to begin loading the mules up with their stash of gold .

Just outside the other side of the house, the Dwarf who had rung the alarm bell was about to enter, to begin pulling the cases of nuggets from their hiding place beneath the floorboards.

In the confined space of the bridge, Borinn and Snorinn joined the fray, easily holding the rabid pack off and slaying two of the vicious beasts to boot. Unable to press their advantage of numbers home the combat ended in a stalemate for the hounds.

A bottleneck was beginnig to form as the Hobhounds again failed to push the doughty Dwarfs off the bridge, losing another two of their number. Impatiently the warriors of the Severed Hand queued up for a piece of the action as well as Orcs can!

At least the archers had something to do to keep themselves occupied - the left flank having more luck in killing one of the clansmen there than those on the right.

The Dwarfs on the bridge found themselves pushed back now, as the hobhounds surged forward. There were no casualties on either side but again the sheer ferocity of the dogs attacks forced the Dwarfs to give ground, despite the arrival of the gold panning party from downstream.

Loading had begun as the first cases of gold bgan emerging from the cabin.

And the crossbowmen in the ditch once again scored a hit. However, it was to prove only a glancing blow and only served to provide one happy Orc archer with a souvenirr of the battle!

Encouraged by the hounds progress on the bridge the Orc force advanced a little further along the Linden road.

As their targets had become embroiled in the fighting on the bridge, the archers on the left flank moved over and combined with the archers on the right. That should give them a more unfair advantage in the duel with the Dwarf crossbowmen conealed in the ditch.

Things weren't looking so certain for Grashak Kra and his hobhounds on the bridge. Again they failed to pull any of the Dwarfs down and again they suffered terribly at the hands of Borinn and Snorinn, losing two more hounds.

The now reinforced unit of archers let fly at the Dwarfs across the river and scored two hits but no wounds..

The crossbowmen return fire and again pick off an other Orc archer.

More gold was loaded onto the mules as the three Dwarfs worked feverishly, stopping only to surreptitiously open a case and lonngingly at its contents.

Having worked himself up into a proper gold-fuelled frenzy, Snorinn laid about him, felling another two hounds and sending the rest of the pack packing! With a great cry of "You shall not pass!" ringing in their ears, the hounds ran, whimpering, with their tails between their legs.

However, the Dwarfs' victory cries were soon silenced as the main Orc column took the place of the hounds and crashed into their painfully thin shieldwall.

The archers reformed themselves into an extended line with a most unorcish display of drill and discipline. This precision seemed to follow on into their shooting - bringing their bows up and loosing their arrows in unison, they cackled and howled as the ditch became a ready-made grave for one of the Dwarf crossbowmmen.

Failing to actually wound any of the bridge's defenders and even losing one of their number in the mad charge, the Orcs forced the Dwarfs to retreat or risk being overwhelmed.

Meanwhile, with much yelling, shouting and even biting, Grashak wrested control of his pack back and turned them towards the bridge once more.

The mules were beginning to shift restlessly under the weight as another three cases were brought out and loaded onto them.

Grimly, the sole remaining crossbowman loaded his weapon and picked off another Orc archer.

Undaunnted by the horde of leering greenskins bearing down upon them, the four plucky Dwarfs took back the upper hand in the combat. Led forward by their chief and his son, they felled two more of the brutes and drove their attackers back across the bridge!

Cursing the cowardly wretches around him, Hagar Sheol bellowed out his orders. The trailing force moved forward and joined up with beleagured advance guard. Again, however, the Dwarfs' skill at arms made them tough targets to lay a killing blow on and two more Orcs mixed their blood with the cold, clear waters of the River Canis.

With the added momentum from behind the Orc column acted like a battering ram on the Dwarfs' defensive line. Again Borinn and his clansmen found themselves stepping back over those they had slain but moments ago.

The archers again took their aim at the last Dwarf crossbowman. They had found their range and some of the more enterprising bowmen were attempting to drop their arrows into the ditch from on high. Sadly for the Dwarf one of them found their mark and he slouched down to join his comrades in the mud.

With shaking hands one of the mule loaders took his animal's tether in hand and began leading it towards the Linden road and safety. His two comrades looked on with more than a hint of jealousy in their gaze, before going back inside to get the last of the gold from its hiding place.

Picking their way back through the corpses that littered the bridge and its approach, Snorinn and company were able only to fend off the Orcs' attacks. Unable to gain a breathing space or take a stand, the Dwarfs were again forced back. The Orcs now had a bridgehead and things looked bleak indeed!

Again Hagar pressed home his advantage, spurring his warriors on to drive the Dwarfs back. Despite once more failing to kill any of the enemy and sustaining another casualty, the Orcs won through with strength of numbers again. Visibly shaken at the prospect of losing the gold to these savages, the Dwarfs almost broke, but luckily gold fever had the stronger pull.

Taking advantage of the gap left by the advancing Orc column, Grashak Kra spurred his charges onwards and they too crossed the bridge, followed by the archers, in search of new targets.

Finally the last of the cases of gold nuggets were loaded onto the mules, as the two Dwarfs cast the odd fearful glance at the worsening situation over by the bridge.

That situation was going from bad to worse as Borinn and his clansmen struck back. Beset on two sides, they managed to strike another foe down. Orc blades found their way past the defenses of two of the beleagured Dwarfs. Stepping back over their own dead this time, the Dwarfs again retreated in good order.

The one ray of hope (well for the Dwarf in question!) was that the lead mule team was making good progress towards the road and didn't appear to have any obstacles in its way...

As the Dwarfs are pushed back once more in a bloodless round of combat the archers took advantage of the space and crossed the bridge, opening up into extended line once more. Spying the Dwarf attempting to lead his mule very quietly to safety, they let fly an ineffective volley at long range.

Grashak Kra also spotted the danger and moved his hounds forward to intercept any Dwarfs attempting to escape along the highway.

Beads of anxious sweat joined those caused by gold fever as the two Dwarfs lashed the last of the cases of gold to their mules and began to lead the stubborn animals away from the clamour of battle.

The bitter fighting dragged on between the clansmen and the main Orc force. Two more Orcs were dispatched as the fighting swirled around Snorinn and Hagar.

The big old Chieftain was not one to turn down a challenge from a puny stuny and yet he couldn't quite conceal the look of pained surprise as the little Dwarf's sword rang against his battered helm!

The Orc archers follow on behind, eyes darting this way and that for any targets of opportunity.

The mule train hastily made for the road before it was blocked by the oncoming Orc column. The mule drivers glance worriedly up at the darting silhouettes of the hobhounds on the hill.

Risking one last look back to see how his comrades were faring, the lead mule driver turned and breathing a sigh of relief mixed with sadness and anger. The road ahead was clear and he had gold and the memories of his clansmen and their murderers to keep safe. The sound of battle soon receded as he rounded the bend and began the descent down to Linden.

The desperate struggle between Snorinn and Hagar raged on. This time it was the Dwarf's turn to feel the strength of his foe's arm as the Orc's great axe crashed into his shield.

The Orc archers' advance had paid off as one of thee mule teams lurched out onto the road ahead of them. With much arguing over how big a share they would receive should they bring the overloaded beast down, they let fly their arrows.

As the stricken mule breathed it last and its Dwarfish driver ground his teeth in despair, the Orcs began a new round of arguing over who had actually made the kill...

Not wishing to loose out on any claim to the booty, Grashak Kra spurred his hounds on to attack the third mule. The Dwarf leading it dropped the mule's tether, swung his crossbow up and fired at the oncoming hounds. The shot went wild, but the Dwarf was ready for the onslaught and deftly opened up one of the ferocious hounds' bellies as it flung itself at him. The other dogs were unable to bring the mule down straightaway as it laid about itself with powerful kicks.

Enraged at having lost another faithful hound, Grashak barged into the fray.

Had the Orc packmaster, or indeed any of his foul smelling brethren looked down the road they might have redirected their barbarism. Bathed in the golden light of the setting sun and cutting a rather ill tempered and disconsolate figure was the muleless mule driver - dragging his share of gold to freedom.

Again the Dwarfs succeeded in holding Hagar's horde at bay. Borinn again proving himself to be a real thorn in their side as he slew another two of the monsters. A wide berth opened up around the maddened dwarf and the Orcs fell back before the red ruin he dealt.

And yet the Dwarfs' apparent invulnerability couldn't last. First taking the flat of his axe to encourage the cowering warriors around him, Hagar dealt a mighty blow against Snorinn. A great roar erupted from the now emboldened Orcs as the Dwarf hero sank to his knees, helm cleft in two. Another of his clansmen joined him as the baying crowd closed in once more.

Grashak Kra's snarling hobhounds also finally succeeded in pulling the last mule to the ground. The beast's life blood mingled with the cold that cascaded from its packs into the dirt.

Borinn looked about him and despaired. As his last clansmen was struck down beside him he bowed his head in shame...

Not because he had deserted or gotten his gold through dishonest means...

As he made his last stand and bellowed his last lamenting warcry his only regret was that his gold would be sullied by rough and Orcish hands...

Epilogue

The smell of charred and roasted meat wafted through the cold mountain air as the Orcs sat around licking their chops and gnawing at the last of Dwarfs. Hagar Sheol absent-mindedly rolled a large and mishapen nugget of gold in his hand. The Stunties had fought hard and well for their treasure but to no avail. The Orc chieftain grinned - they would late arriving to the big fight but he was sure none of the other tribes would find this little venture as rewarding as he had already...

So another mauling for the Orcs - not as bad as what the Vile Rune tribe suffered, but still the Severed Hand suffered a fair few casualties and wouldn't be turning up to Orc's Drift till turn 8.

The Dwarfs on the other hand amassed a huge 34.5 victory points for the gold they managed to squirrel off the table and the casualties they inflicted on the Orcs - again characters like Borinn and Snorinn proved to be absolute demons in close combat. They pretty much single-handedly held up the Orc advance and refused to rout despite being pushed back right from the bridge to near their own table edge! It was just a shame more of their party weren't alive to savour their victory in the end!

Next installment - Last Stand at Linden Way

Blood Bath at Orc's Drift - The Battle of Kachas Pass

2012-01-10T15:11:00.000-08:00

Well - belated Season's greeting one and all and apologies for another prolonged silence! Computer troubles this time I'm afraid - the damn thing has spent most of December randomly crashing which has slightly slowed things down. It all seems to be working now (touch wood) and I've got the first scenario done. As the notes I took during the game were necessarily quite brief in order to keep the action rolling along for the players I haven't written up blow by blow accounts of each turn. Instead I've gone for a more narrative style - oh and in case you missed any of my previous posts - the pics have been restaged under better conditions using the rough and ready shots I snapped during the game.

So put the kettle on, read on and let that tea get cold!

The Battle of Kachas Pass
Erdolas gazed out of the window, brooding over the mountain wastes that loomed to the North. A fitting picture to suit his mood he thought mirthlessly. The Elf captain continued to stare into the distance impassively as a series of emotions rushed through his mind like the storm clouds that scudded across the sky. He didn't like the way things were shaping up - first the disgusting Half-Orc spy had been captured, trying to sneak back up into the mountains with goodness knows what information on the Grand League's already beleagured armies. The foul creature had gone on to taunt the Elves with veiled threats that an Orcish war party was headed their way.

But then again Erdolas felt a thrill that the time for action was perhaps at hand. For too long had his self imposed exile in this dreary hill fort dragged on. It was more than time for him to find that glorious death he had been searching for. That glorious death that would silence the whispers of scorn and outrage his fellow Elves had rained down on him at the discovery of his illicit and adulterous affair with the Queen of Fendal Forest.

Well the die had been cast. Erdolas had sent his Lieutenant, Herndil Merl, out with ten archers to search the Pass for intruders. He half hoped his trusty officer would return with good news; that the Orcs had been just a raiding party and easily routed. He half hoped for hordes of the enemy to come pouring out of the mountains and for death amongst the bloody ruin of those he had slain himself...

The lone watchman cast his eyes about miserably. All those wide open spaces, great slabs of rock, towering pinnacles - it was enough to send any Elf mad. He contented himself with watching the wind tearing at the few sad trees clinging to the ground near the entrance to the Pass. It was then that his sharp ears caught the jingle of mail above the gale's roar - was there movement in the Pass?

Soon the rattle and scrape of ill-tended wargear was joined by guttural snarls and voices as the rocks seemingly came alive with a green tide. The Vile Rune Tribe slithered its way down the slopes of the Pass towards the garrison.

Fangor Gripe, Chieftain of the Vile Rune, ran a course tongue over yellowed teeth as his band picked their way slowly through the screes on the left hand side of the pass. Impatience and anticipation coursed through his veins as he yearned to hear the cries of the wounded and dying. Yet he would have to be sly - should the thrice-accursed dog, Silas Meel, escape during the battle there was no doubt that he would run to his masters in the Kwae Karr tribe. And if that were to happen then word of Gripe's refusal to fight at Fendal Plain during the Goblin Wars last year would get out. Fangor growled savagely, causing a young savage to loose his footing in the rocks - there was no way some Half-breed scum was going to give him the chop...

Meanwhile, the alarm had been sounded and Erdolas and what was left of his garrison hurried out into the compound. Erdolas led a section of his archers to the East wall to keep watch on the approaches to the Pass. Another section of archers headed for the storehouse to check on their prisoner - disgusting as he was the Half-Orc was too valuable to be allowed to fall into enemy hands. The remaining archers went out of the main gate to keep watch on the crossroads.

The Orcs continued to make their way down from the Pass - the Tribe spltting like some vile Hydra, as bands of Orcs passed to the left and right of the small wood in their way. Smoke now marked their advance as one unit paused to light fire brands.

Now aware of the danger Erdolas barked out his orders - a flight of arrows soared into the sky but only one found its mark. Unfortunately for the Elves the brutish creature shrugged the missile away and strode on.

Peering through the cracks in the woodwork, Silas Meel saw that his chances of escape were quickly diminishing as his guard detail got closer and closer. A horrible grin smeared itself across his face as the door lock finally failed. It got wider as he savoured the looks of shock on his captors' faces - and jumped the fence! However, he was not home and dry yet as the third detachment of archers turned and petled down the road towards him!

The hillside seethed as the Orcs of the Vile Rune continued their advance - yet only one of the creatures in the lead column fell from Erdolas' bowmen on the East Wall.

Silas, hellbent on escape, ran down the road with the pad of Elven boots close behind. The space between his shoulderblades tingled as he waited for the inevitable arrow to materialise there, yet looking over his shoulder the second detachment of Elves had stopped short by the pallisade wall - cackling, he realised he was worth more alive than dead to them!

As the Elves began to gain on him, Silas found quickened his pace and sprinted up a nearby hillside, spurred on by desperation.

Back in the compound, the spy's original guard detachment had wheeled round, and under Erdolas' orders were now headed for the North wall, to meet the developing threat there...

While the Half-Orc had led more than half of the Elven garrison a merry dance, Fangor had maneuvered his troops into position virtually unopposed! The North wall and stables now looked somewhat vulnerable as half of the tribe and Guthrum Mane, their unusually sober Rock Giant, continued their advance.

The other half of the tribe seemed to be making for the woods by the Merlinas road - no doubt to cover their advance from the so far, rather ineffectual Elvish archery. Seeing that he was in danger of being outflanked and surrounded, Erdolas sent another volley at the lead elements of this Orc column, sending another brute to an early grave. The detachment on the North Wall also let fly only to see their arrows fail to pierce the Orcs' thick skins and mailed shirts.

Suddenly, the Elf Captain's already grim visage paled further. His eyes narrowed to flint-coloured slits as he strained to make out what the Orcs were waving back at them - it couldn't be...

It was...

A low gasp was let out by the archers around him as the news spread along the line - Herndil and his night patrol would not be back to reinforce the garrison. Certainly not in one piece anyway.

Bits of them could be seen adorning many a crude Orcish trophy necklace...

Hearing the cries of horror from their brothers-in-arms, the archers pursuing Silas Meel gave up the chase - they were needed back at the fort now more than ever.

Even as his would-be captors turned, ran and took up new firing positions by the Barracks, the sly Half-Orc stole his way back. Busy in their vengeance, the archers were oblivious to the spy's machinations as they scored three hits on the lead flanking column - two Orcs fell gurgling and clawing at the arrows through their throats.

Meanwhile, things were looking grim as a large portion of the Orc force made it to the perimeter wall relatively unscathed.

Fangor Gripe and his mob rushed over to the back of the stables...

... whilst a second group of Orcs pressed against the West wall of the compound. Guthrum's migty frame also loomed menacingly over the stables.

The orcs bringing up the rear paused to light the tar-soaked torches that they carried.

The Orc's flanking force continued their march into the wood that bordered the Merlinas road.

As if all this wasn't bad enough, many a nervous glance was exchanged between the Elven defenders as the stables began to revererate from Guthrum's mighty blows. Fangor's mob cheerfully joined in the giant's wanton vandalism, despite the fact that their weapons were only able to scratch and scour the masonry. Then smoke began to rise from the West wall as torches were stacked up against the log ramparts....

Faced with a sea of snarling green faces leering through the smoke and flames, Erdolas' detachment lost their nerve and backed away from the pallisade.

Yet did the Elves have some kind of devious plan up their sleeves? Perhaps so, as the archers manning the North wall also pulled back towards the centre of the compound - leaving the pallisades seemingly undefended...

The Elves outside the outpost moved into better firing positions to cover the road to Merlinas, still unaware of their unpleasant stalker. Drawing a bead on the Orcs busy with their fire brands, the elves all found their marks, but only two of the vile creatures fell dead.

Now was the Orcs chance to pounce - The beseigers leapt the still burning West wall and spilled howling into the compound.

Fangor's mob sidled away from the stables towards the North pallisade, ready to exploit the Elves' weakness there.

Eager to mete out revenge on their tormenters, the Orcs in the wood charged down the Merlinas highway, catching the small detchment there by surprise with their swiftness. Behind them the trailing force of Orcs moved up in the hope there would be something left for them.

The Elves, however, soon recovered from their shock and easily dispatched one of the clumsy beasts. In their rush, the orcs failed to spear any of the lithe forms that danced before them, instead pushing the elves back by weight of numbers.

The Elves held their nerve - only to see one of their number struck down in their midst! Whirling round in the direction of the blow, they were greeted with the mishapen visage of Silas Meel - spy, now turned treacherous assassin! Despite this sneak attack the Elves still remained cool and tightened their sword grips for the next round.

Guthrum Mane, thoroughly enjoying his new game, continued to demolish the now distincty rickety looking stables, grinning foolishly and humming a tuneless melody in time to his strokes.

Faced with hordes of Orcs pouring into the compound, Erdolas ordered his archers to form into one rank. Unleashing a volley at close range saw three of the interlopers fall. Undeterred by the hail of arrows the frenzied Orcs hurled themselves at the archers - only to be met with a wall of shimmering steel. Elvish blades saw three more of the creatures slain - two at the hands of Erdolas himself! Shaken by the unexpected resistance the orcs failed to bring any of the Elves down and found themselves pushed back against the pallisade wall they'd just scaled. Only Fangor's terrifying bellows from across the compound stopped the yellow-bellied curs from fleeing!

The Elves' victory cry was soon drowned out by the terrible rending sound of timbers stressed to breaking point and the roar of crumbling masonry - Guthrum stood back wheezing from the dust, but happy with the heap he had turned the stables into!

The Elves' woes were to be compounded further. No sooner had one wave of attackers been repulsed than another swarmed in.

Fangor and his mob had scaled the North wall and now menaced the second line of archers. With their backs to the opposite wall, the Elves prepared to sell their lives dearly. Two Orcs fell to their first volley.

The beleagured Elves out on the road fared no better - although the combat was fought to a bloodless draw, they were once again pushed back by the slavering multitude in front of them.

Silas Meel, now somewhat nervous about the presence of many savage looking Orcs who didn't seem too fussy about whom they bludgeoned to death, broke away from the combat and slunk off in the direction of the cross roads to Orc's Drift.

Back in the compound Erdolas urged his warriors to exploit their advantage, Slaying another Orc, he led the Elves forward, pushing the Orcs further back towards the smouldering log wall. The Orcs in their confusion again failed to kill any of their quarry, now turned hunters.

Yet help was at hand for the green skins - Guthrum Mane charged into the Elven line, closely followed by Fangor Gripe's unit! The fighting was savage to behold on both sides - driven to desperate measures the Elves wiped out the remnants of their original attackers - another three orcs falling to Erdolas himself! In answer to the bloodshed, Guthrum casually crushed one of the wearied Elf guardsman, while Fangor's mob brought down another.

Erdolas' detchment again fought for their lives. Turning on their new attackers the Elves felled another Orc but failed to wound the Rock Giant. The Orcs on the other hand failed to penetrate the finely wrought chainmail of all the Elves but one, and forced the defenders back.

Desperate to aid their brothers-in-arms, the second line of archers levelled their bows, took careful aim... and fired into melee that boiled in front of them! Three orcs were struck but their thick hides and armour saved them. Not so fortunate was the Elf who stared disbelievingly down at the strangely familiar arrowhead that now protruded from his chest! Perhaps ashamed at this terrible deed, the detachment made for the East wall, vaulted it and skulked behind the pallisade!

Noticing a familiar figure slinking sneakily away from the field of battle, Fangor disengaged himself from the fighting and marched over to the now vacated South wall - yes it was that filthy spy Silas... soon Fangor would be free of the worm and the threat he posed to his position and very life....

Once again the Elf detachment defending the road fought their Oricsh attackers off, only to be pushed back again - this time into the hollow of a small hill - now they were surrounded and hemmed in - things did not look good!

Erdolas looked around him, undaunted by the carnage. The crushed remains of the last two of his kinsmen lay dead at the feet of the montrous Rock Giant and the baying pack of Orcs pressed in, eager to taste his blood. As his blade silenced another foe, Erdolas allowed the trace of a grim smile to flicker across his face - it looked like his long yearned for glorious end was at hand...

Slowly and inevitably, however, he was forced to give ground as his attackers stepped over their dead, warily jabbing at him with their rusty and gore-stained weapons.

Locked deep in combat, the Elf hero was in no position to notice the third unit of Orcs enter the compound - whether that would have gladdened his heart or sapped his resolve no-one would know.

Fangor Gripe, meanwhile, stalked over to the gate, glaring balefully at the receding back of Silas Meel. Seeing a chance to redeem themselves, the last detachment of Elf archers once more jumped the log wall back into the compound. Taking aim, they let fly their arrows at the Orc Chieftain's wide and inviting back. Four arrows struck home, the Elves gasped, time itself seemed to slow... and yet the tough old Orc picked himself up completely unscathed!

Spurred on by their Warlord's bloodcurdingly roar of defiance, the Orcs at the base of the hill easily swatted away the Elves' desperate attacks. Slashing and hacking, they tore two of their opponents down, whooping with wild abandon as they gave chase to the sole survivor as he broke and ran up the hill.

Not wishing to tempt fate further, Fangor Gripe dived over the pallisade, away from the keen eyes of the Elven archers, and gave chase to the Half Orc spy. Seeing the danger, Silas gave a pitiful squeak and redoubled his awkard gait into the semblance of a sprint.

Gradually Erdolas became aware of a slackening in the ferocity of the Orcs' attacks. As he wiped the blood and sweat from his brow he was amazed to see the hated creatures backing away, licking their wounds. Then a deep roar came from behind him - Guthrum had claimed the pleasure of gutting the lone Elf for himself. In this brief respite, Erdolas looked around to see a sea of green and savage faces filling the compound as the Orcs of the trailing force maneuvered into position, ready to charge the last remaing archers.

That brief moment of calm was torn asunder as Guthrum's terrible glaive smashed into the ground just where Erdolas had been standing. Recovering from the near miss, Erdolas was unable to find a chink in the brute's tough hide.

Licking his chops in anticipation Fangor savoured the moment as he raised his sword and brought it scything down onto the rapidly slowing and wheezing form of Silas Meel. Gravely wounded, the Half Orc turned on his hunter like a animal at bay. Contemptuously smashing aside Silas' underhand stab, Fangor again raised his sword high. When it fell the only threat to his Chieftainship and life had simply ceased to be...

Casting their eyes at the the two possibe targets in front of them, the newly arrived Orcs in the compound wisely chose to charge the last detachment of Elf archers - rather than the manic Elf champion locked in his death struggle with the giant!

Storming through the hail of arrows unscathed, they hacked down one of the unfortunate defenders for the loss of one of their own. The Elves were forced once more out of their own fort and gleefully the howling mob followed!

Feeling the deadly lethargy of fatgue creeping into his limbs, Erdolas backed away from his towering opponent towards the barracks in the hope of gaining some cover from the giant's wild and clumsy attacks. Again and again the massive glaive came thundering down; again and again the weary Elf dancd painfully out of the way, only to see his well aimed jabs and thrusts turned by Guthrum's tattered chainmail.

Alone on the crest of the hill the routing Elf stopped. A burning desire to avenge his kinsmen raged through his body. Gripping his sword with renewed vigour he turned... and was cut down by the baying pack of Orcs as they came piling up the slope after him!

Over on the West Wall the Orcs continued to push the Elves back in a surprisingly bloodless scuffle - perhaps limbs on both sides were beginning to hang like lead from the rigours of battle - even the surprise flank attack by Fangor Gripe failed to claim any of the defenders' lives!

Epilogue

Yet slowly and inevitably the Elves faltered and one by one the mob dragged them down until there was naught but bloody ruin...

In the shadow of the barracks the last stand was fought out. A green throng soon gathered to watch the spectacle as Elf and Giant fought out their terrible duel.

Cheers went up as the Elf was sent sprawling like a rag doll, caught by one of Guthrum's murderous blows. Cheers went up when the brute let out a bellow of pain when the Elf's blade found a soft spot.

And yet this strange dance could not go on forever. A feeling of tranquility smoothed Erdolas' troubled brow - now was his moment.

With lowered sword, he stepped forward to embrace the release from his shame he had long craved...

Victory Points

Elves - 38

Orcs - 9

So a pyrrhic victory to the Wood Elves of Kachas Pass who earned 38 points for killing all those Orcs! The Vile Rune Tribe only got their paltry looking 9 points for killing 9 Elves by the end of the 15 turn limit I had set - the epilogue is what I felt to be the inevitable conclusion had we played this scenario to the bitter end!

The unexpectedly stiff resistance put up by the plucky Elf garrison meant that the Vile Rune Tribe wouldn't be able to show up at Orc's Drift until turn 10 - a little tardy to say the least!

Next up - when I get the time to rephotograph and write the action up - is Ashak Rise

I can work in these conditions...

2011-12-15T17:00:00.000-08:00

Right - we're in business - got my set-up sorted and I can now start taking pics.

Last day at work before we break up for Christmas too so expect a lot more progress over the weekend...

Here's the opening shots for the Kachas Pass scenario -

I can't work in these conditions!

2011-12-13T16:05:00.000-08:00

Afraid no battle report yet folks - I've hit another small glitch.

Hit a new snag in re-taking the pics under better conditions - my set-up isn't big enough to do it justice!
As my table usually sits nicely in the corner I've been able to get away with blu-taccing the backdrop to the wall. However, I need to add the other fold down leaf of the table to fit everything on, and now the table no longer fits in the corner, against the wall...

Solution - pull it out and build a stand-alone frame for the backdrop that will now stand on the table edge itself!

I will endeavour to get a crack on with things tomorrow....

A prayer's as good as sword on a day like this...

2011-12-08T17:20:00.000-08:00

The stormy weather outside is certainly fitting as war darkens the horizon for the follk of Ramalia...

No battle reprt yet I'm afraid - I managed to postpone the game from last week and got to Recon down in Pudsey - great show as ever and luckily Four A Miniature's new Kev Adams Goblins weren't out yet, so my wallet got off relatively lightly!

The big game is now set for this weekend and I'm just about done packing the 132 or so minis that will be needed. Time of course for a few last shots before the last of the terrain is packed away - especially as I've finally finished the fence and hedge sections I've been dragging my heels over for a while now!

Not especially exciting in themselves so I've set the table up according to the Orc's Drift map - enjoy and hopefully I'll have some battle reports posted in the next week or so...

Last minute subs!

2011-11-27T15:06:00.000-08:00

Well the storm clouds brood threateningly over the lands of Ramalia and the time for great deeds and foul treachery is almost at hand...

... but there's just time to get a few last minute minis painted up!

As some of the Norse members of the Linden Way Militia decided that there fortunes were better served in hotter climes (more of which later...) two more likely lads have been scraped off the tavern floor and been given the King's shilling.

Can't remember (seems a long time ago now!) which kindly member of LAF traded these fine fellows with me but many thanks all the same!

And I must correct an error of mine as well - A few posts back I managed to convince myself that the Wood Elf mini that was co-opted in for Orc's Drift from his usual position, as champion in Oreon's Wood Elf regiment of renown, was strangely intended to be the ill-fated Hendril Merl. He is in fact Fernbreth - the last remaining patient of the Druid Snart that I had been keeping an eye out for... D'oh!!

Anyway - I had to paint him up and restore him to his rightful place, where his small stature fits in just fine with the other minis of a smilar vintage!

And as a bit of a pre-match warmup here he is helping Bertolac fend some attacking Orcs off as Snart makes off with a cart that was part of the barricade, in an attempt to evacuate his patients...

The big game is still planned for next weekend, but I've just realised that it's going to clash with Recon - a great little Wargames show over in Pudsey - link here for any locals - http://recon-wargames-show.blogspot.com/2011/11/welcome-to-recon-show-blog.html

May have to see if I can reschedule...

Sticks and Stones

2011-11-15T15:28:00.000-08:00

Hello to everyone - remember me?!

Well I'm back in the saddle again after a rather frustrating (in hobby terms) couple of months. Work seems to have been sapping all my creative energies and coupled with a dearth of free weekends lately has meant a little pause in proceedings - not to mention this little morale-sapping disaster ...

I knew there might be some problems with shrinkage on an area of this size but didn't expect the cracked ice effect I got! Answers on a postcard if you know of a clever way of rectifying this without stripping all the Woodland Scenics Realistic Water effect off the piece, along with all the painted gravel and sand beneath it....

However, I have good news! Not only have I resumed construction of the last few scenic elements required for Orc's Drift, but I also have a date set to play the scenarios back to back! All being well the weekend of the 2nd December should see Bloodbath played in its entirety with photo-laden reports of each scenario to come out in subsequent weeks - when I get round to fiddling with pics and typing it all up.

To whet your appetite here's a few shots of the now complete terrain for the Kachas Pass scenario - a small border outpost manned by Wood Elvesof Fendal Forest which guards the Kachas mountain Pass.

The idea for the log stockade walls and gate were pinched from the extremely telented Silent Invader from the LAF - so all credit and thanks to him!

The Vile Rune Tribe attack!

Various views of the main gate and compound beyond - I've made a few more of the old card buildings so the same ones don't crop up as scenery in each scenario.

The Elves are beset on all sides!

Close-up off the main gate.

Erdolas Thringal directs the defence...

Silas Meel, the Elves' Half-Orc prisoner escapes!

Fangor Gripe, The Vile Rune Chieftain, looks on as his tribe overwhelm the Wood Elf defenses...

Intensive terraining...

2011-09-25T16:30:00.000-07:00

Well I've certainly been busy since finishing the painting minis side of things!

After I'd written down all the "little" jobs that needed doing to get ready for playing the scenario I soon discovered I was nowhere near out of the woods in terms of work for this project....

Talking of woods, I thought it was about time that I finished off the Woodland scenics realistic trees I bought ages ago and now I have 11 more to make up a veritable forest on my table. While I had the clump foliage out I thought I may as well make a load more underbrush bases too, which you'll spot dotted about in the following pics.

Placed an order with Amera and for under £20 (if memory serves me right!) I got my hands on 2 small and 1 big hill. The big hill is large enough to glue one of the small hills on top to create a 2 tier hill as you can see on the right in the pic below.

I also put a bit of gloss varnish on the river sections which I had forgotten to do earlier...

Talking of Amera - while I like the ruined wall sections I bought from them ages ago, they don't fit together very well to form a well kept boundary - being ruined and all! As I cast about for ideas on making a better stone wall, I remembered the bag of Hirst Arts fieldstone blocks I bought on a whim on ebay for a couple of quid a long time ago. Always pays to hoard stuff away as I had enough bits to make a load of wall sections as seen below!

Also pictured are two carts - also ebay purchases from ages past. Not sure who they're from but they'll do nicely for the final showdown at Orc's Drift...

... as can be seen below - just what Ferndale Snart needs to evacuate his patients!

I've also painted up the mealie bag defenses I got from Redoubt Miniatures (along with some Zulu and Rourkes Drift characters for a future project!) and purchased a set of the brilliant barricades that Ainsty sell to complete the defences prepared by Osrim Chardz's Dwarf engineers.

... and that's not all folks!

Got a few WIPs I thought I'd share -

Log pallisade section test piece for the garrison at Kachas Pass - inspiration taken from SIlentInvaders fantastic ACW log fort on the LAF.

Not terribly exciting this one - just some fencing sections to go round the animal enclosures and suchlike from the scenario...

This next one's proving to be a bit of a head scratcher - I need several sections of drainage ditch for the Ashak Rise scenario. The only way I thought of modelling it was to suggest a depression with the small bank. The only problems are that I'm not sure this will look right on the table and that the sections are going to have to be rather wide for a ditch to fit 25mm slotta bases in them - should any Orcs feel the need to jump in...

Let me know if any of you has any brighter ideas!

The sections, by the way, are being made that short so they fit with the wall sections pictured earlier.

And finally - quite chuffed with this one - is the mountain tarn. Plasticard base, milliput banks and stones out of the plant pots in the front garden! I was going to have a go at adding the water today with the EZ water effect pellets I've got, but chickened out in the end! You have to melt the pellets down and pour it in one go to avoid it setting and creating lines where you don't want them and, as this was a large area with a winding and shallow stream coming out of it, I thought I'd play it safe!

So I ordered a big bottle of woodland scenics realistic water from Antenocitis, which happily is discounted at the mo! I've heard it has its problems with shrinkage and the like, but the beauty of it is that it pours straight from the bottle and is a bit easier to control. Also saw a good vid on making ripples with it so may have a go at that too...

The time for battle draws nearer as the to-do list diminishes!

Jobs left -

finish fencing

add water effect to the tarn

dig the ditches

make a hedge

finish the pallisade

Take me to the River...

2011-09-10T08:46:00.000-07:00

.... Drop me in the water...

Good tune that from Talking Heads and its been doing the rounds in my head all week, while I've been painting these river sections up!

Nice little set this from Magnetic Displays, although I may have overegged the amout of talus and other stuff as all that pva keeps distorting the rubber as it dries and doesn't let the piece sit totally flat on the table. Bit of bending here and there seems to have done the trick in flattening them out mostly...

Anyways - here's the piccies!

The river comprises of 2 curved and 2 straight sections

A bridge section -

... and a ford section.

Next - another water feature in the way of a shallow lake and boggy area...

You mean your only plan is to stand behind a few feet of mealie bags and wait for the attack?

2011-09-01T17:12:00.000-07:00

Just put the finishing touches to the thin red line that is Brommedir's Bows and with that I have officially finished painting all the minis I need to play Bllodbath at Orc's Drift!

Sound the fanfare, beat the drum, cry Hallelujah and get busy with the fizzy - I'm done!!!

Of course there are a few recent acquisitions I'd pegged to replace some minis already painted up in various units cos I liked them better, and obviously I'll be painting up any of the other original character minis if I can lay my hands on them before I get round to playing the scenarios - however as I am now in a position where I can play the damn thing this seemed as good a time as any to wrap the mini painting side of things up.

There are a few bits of terrain I need to get done yet - a lake, some more trees, bushes and fences, and a nice set of rubber river sections I picked up from the Magnetic Displays stand at Vapnartak earlier this year.

Should make a nice change from squinting down my brush at little lead men...

Oh nad mustn't forget the big group shot!

Gotta Kachas 'em all!

2011-08-30T15:00:00.000-07:00

So - another unit done for Orc's Drift!

These five Skarloc's archers complete the garrison of Wodd Elves who guard the Kachas Pass in the name of the Grand League in the first scenario of the game.

And the obligatory group shot - and a little confession... which includes a bit of a spoiler for the first scenario so look away now if you don't want to know!

The Elves I have painted up here form the under-strength garrison guarding the pass - Erdolas has sent out a night patrol of 10 Elves and his Lieutenant Hendril Merl( as featured in one of my early games of Skulldred - http://teasgettingcold.blogspot.com/2010/06/road-to-merlinas.html) to investigate reports of an Orc warband in the area. According to the Elves command sheet the patrol is expected back in the morning - Turn 3.

However, the Vile Rune Tribe's command sheet tells a different story - they have met and slaughtered a 10 Elf patrol during the night and so Erdolas' reinforcements will never turn up!

This made me wonder whether or not I should bother painting up another 11 minis that will never get used - and being pushed for time I've decided not at the moment!

What is all the more surprising about this little twist in the tale is that there was a mini sold as Hendril Merl back in the day! I got hold of one a while back - its the same mini featured as the champion for Oreon's Wodd Elf Archers. The other slight problem is that he is a little diminutive compared to the Skarloc's Archers, so until I get round to making a higher base for him, Merl's ill-fated night patrol will probably remain off the table!

What's that coming over the hill...

2011-08-26T15:35:00.000-07:00

Its only King Fyarr and the Orc tribes of the Northern Wastes off on the warpath!

Apologies by the way for the blurriness in the centre of the pic - couldn't fit this lot into one decent photo so I had to dust off the cd that came with my fairly ancient camera and tinker round with stitching several shots together with the panorama feature - as you can see I'm a bit rusty!

Anyway, certainly feels good to have this little lot done and dusted and as most of them have been sat in the cabinet waiting for the stagglers to catch up I think I'll review the troops once more now I've got 'em out...

King Fy'arr and his Fy'arr Guard (arf, arf!)

King Fyarr's old tribe, the Kwae Karr Orcs (30 warriors and 10 archers) - now led by his successor, Magyar Ironfist (front left) and accompanied by the snivelling shaman, Bagrash (front right)

The Severed Hand Tribe (20 warriors and 10 archers), led by Hagar Sheol (front) and accompanied by Grashak Kra, his faithful Hobhound Handler and his 10 not so faithful Hobhounds

... and finally the Vile Rune Tribe ( 40 Orc warriors), led by Fangor Gripe (front centre), accompanied by Guthrum Mane the alcoholic Rock Giant (the big guy!) and shadowed by the weasly Half Orc spy Silas Meel (front left).

So on with the remainder of the elves - a few of the Wood Elves of Kachass Pass to do and the rest of Brommedir's Bows...

Finally got rune to finishing them off...

2011-08-26T15:17:00.000-07:00

So that's it! All the Orcs are done now I've finished the last few members of the Vile Rune Tribe off. Its been an enjoyable - if fairly unproductive few weeks of holiday but I'm back in the swing of things now!

A few more spearmen -

... Savages - loads of fun to paint!

... and the command group - some of fave Orc minis here!

Especially these two!

Now for the big group shot of the three tribes together...

Gratuitous Vile-ence...

2011-07-04T14:35:00.000-07:00

... is what these big fellas love most!

Another five ladz for the Vile Rune tribe and its looking like this unit is going to cover all sections of Orcish society - we've had the more traditional lot with the savages, foward thinkers with the armour and spears and now these Big'uns!

Pretty speedy paintjobs again and the shields are a bit rough but I'm on the final staight now - 11 more orcs (7 primed and ready for painting) and the rest of the elves to go...

Whistle vile you work...

2011-06-26T02:53:00.000-07:00

... well not really had much time for whistling - or painting, because of work recently. Its beginning to calm down now but I'm going to have to get a shift on to get these last few minis done by the summer holidays.

Finally got the basing and shields done on the five Orc spearmen I basecoated ages ago - the Vile Rune tribe's ranks are slowly swelling...

The next three are some old familiar faces from my original collection - the first two came as crew for a bolt-thrower I can't remember buying, and I think there is another spear wielding orc whose spearhead broke off lurking in a box somewrhere else as well. As for the bolt thrower - only the chassis remains and that has been nicked by my Genestealer cult and had a lascannon lashed onto it!

This chap used to be a standard bearer until I pinched his standard top for my boar boyz (still not finished!) - I replaced his missing standard with a plastic spear - knew those horrible plastic goblin spearmen from 4th ed. would come in handy for something!

The last two are new ebay purchases - plenty more where they came from...

Vile Bodies...

2011-06-12T09:20:00.000-07:00

Onwards and upwards as I trundle towards the end of my Orc's Drift project!

And onwards and upwards with the Vile Rune Tribe - ironically the Orc tribe that features in the first scenario of Orc's Drift - I never was one to do things the right way round!

Finished some more savages and a few of their more "civilised" spearmen colleagues.

The savages were a blast to paint as ever and I've had fun using a number of different references for their warpaint, including Native American Indian, Celtic and Aboriginal.

The spearmen were painted pretty speedily so nowt special I'm afraid - conscious of the 20 or so more I have left to do!

Shield designs were taken from the illustrations of the Vile Rune's banner in the scenario booklet.

The new additions altogether -

... and the tribe so far

- Guthrum Mane, the Hill Giant, and Fangor Gripe the chieftain have been added - as has Silas Meel, with whom all this madness started with!

http://teasgettingcold.blogspot.com/2010/03/orcs-drift-humble-beginnings.html

I make that about 15 months I've been plugging away at this particular project!

Every Dalek has its day...

2011-05-25T14:07:00.000-07:00

A slight change of theme here and yet another LPL entry!

Day of the Daleks was one of my favourite Target novelistions as a kid and I'm not sure whether its a good or bad thing that I still haven't seen the full set of TV episodes, judging by the reviews I've read - must track it down some day...

Anyways the minis are all Black Tree Design - non Dr Who fans will surely recognise the Daleks. The Neanderthal types are Ogrons - a brutal slave race controlled by the Daleks and the poor chap being hunted down by them is a 22nd Century Human Geurilla fighter.

The story hinges on their desperate plot to go back in time and assaninate the 20th Century politician, Reginald Styles, whom they believed caused World War III, thus allowing the Daleks to invade and conquer a much weakened future Earth.

The whole piece dove-tailed nicely together as I'd made up and basecoated a set of ruined houses ages ago (think the brick walls are from Antenociti's?) and had the Black Tree minis lying around!

Erm boss - not sure this egg hunt was such a....

2011-05-25T13:44:00.000-07:00

Another old LPL entry folks - unfortunately these chaps got a good pasting in the voting stakes, up as they were against some rather fine looking and beautifully painted and converted Tintin minis from Mancha - hats off to you sir!

I went for a somewhat tongue-in-cheek Easter theme as it was about that time when I entered them - seems like years ago now!

Thanks to Dolmot again for the excellent gobbo's he furnished me with - Two of the Goblins by the Griffin nest are in fact crewmen from the old Machinerie of Destruction, Skull Crusher - the chap with his hands on his head is a Leadbelcher Crewman.

I painted the loaders stone up as an egg (may paint it back as a stone one day when I get round to procuring Skull Crusher itself...) and filled the nest with some of the Wife's baking beads painted up to look like more eggs - Cheers Love! The other Gobbo's and the Griffin are of course more of Citadel's finest from the 80's.

My daylight bulb went a while back - overuse I think during the 10 week LPL! Forgot I'd taken the above close-ups while it was working so took some more with regular bulbs - hence the change in light quality -thought I'd include them anyway.

Civilized men are more discourteous than savages...

2011-05-23T16:28:00.000-07:00

... because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.

And here's the other half of my only Orc's Drift related Lead Painters League entry - the first elements of the Vile Rune Tribe.

As I've always had liking for the old savage Orcs (and taken the tough decision not to use the 20 or so 90's era savages I have - don't quite fit with the older stuff) I thought I'd make the Vile Rune Orcs a tribe on the cusp of civilisation - relatively speaking!

As the 80's savages seem few and far between on Ebay (just missed a load tonight having said that!) the tribe will be a mix of those Orcs who follow the old ways with a few more progressive thinkers who can see the benfits of things like chainmail and iron weapons!

These are the first batch of savages - a few more to come before we get back into more familiar rusted up and armoured Orcy territory.

Thanks to Dolmot, a fellow LAF'er, who supplied several of these savages and the brilliant Orc wife below - think I'll christen her Boodika...

We deal in lead friend...

2011-05-23T16:04:00.000-07:00

So says Steve McQueen's character, Vin, in the Magnificent Seven, and so friends we deal in lead here too with another of my LPL entries - The Magnificent Sven!

Approached by a desperate old man as he sits drinking in the Packet Inn, in the Lustrian Norse settlement of Iquitos, Sven agrees to set out with what recruits he can find on board his boat to free the town of Vastervik from the cruel yoke of a large rengade Slann warband, under the leadership of the jungle desperado, Gurggl Greenwake.

Starring...

Sven Hasslefriesian (centre), Juggo Joriksonn (left) and the Halfling stowaway. Raidocks Timmowit

Sven was once a member of the Engineers Guild but was expelled for his outrageous ideas of alcohol vapour powered boats (Dwarfs distrust rivers, the sea and anything to do with them). Having emigrated to Lustria to escape the mockery of his fellow Dwarfs, following the humiliation of the "Trouser Legs" ceremony at the hands of the Guild, Sven made his dream reality by building his alcohol powered paddle boat. He named it the Voltsvagn after his Mother and made a fortune operating it as a ferry for the various Norse settlements that had sprung up along the banks of the great Amoco river. Now almost respectable he has become bored and itches for a new adventure.

Juggo "Senseless" Jorikonn, a Norse Dwarf Berserker, is so named for the year and a half long drinking binge he went on having returned as the sole survivor of an ill-fated raid on the Slann Empire. As the once substantial hoard of Slann gold he floated back down the river with has now long since gone, he has been working aboard the Voltsvagn for Sven.

Raidocks Timmowit ran away from home in search of fame and fortune in the fabled jungles of Lustria. In fact all he found was that a fool and his money, most of his belongings and even his clothes (which were far too small to fit anyone anyway!) are easily parted through a combination of gambling, theft and carelessness! He has been washing dishes at the Packet Inn at Iquitos (claiming to be a catering manager in his letters home) until he sees his opportunity to change his fortunes by stowing away on Sven's ship.

Karl Ustracutter (left) and Aygar Mistletaine (right)

Karl Ustracutter (not the original mini - and I didn't really want to cut one his legs off!) is one of the many Norse adventurers who have come to plunder the rich Slann Empire. He had thought his adventuring days were over after his last disastrous escapade, searching for a fantastical Pygmy temple, deep in the jungle. His raiding party was ambushed by no less than a confederation of six Pygmy tribes. Having been captured, he was forced to look on as the remnants of his hearty band were taken one by one to become hearty meals... Eventually after many escape attempts his turn came. However, by then the Pygmy chief had come to rather like him, impressed as he was by Ustracutter's pluck and refusal to grovel. Early in the morning he was taken out and clubbed - coming round later that night he found himself the guest of honour in a feast celebrating his release. Still drowsy he accepted a mug of beer and a chunk of meat from a suspiciously long joint, but curious as to the source of the dull ache in his left leg and an apparent inability to move the limb, he looked under the table - and passed out again when he saw it had gone! Recruited by Sven, Ustracutter is sure there is at least one adventure left in him...

Aygar Mistletaine is the oldest Lustrian born Norseman alive on the continent. His adventuring career had apparently come to an end twenty years ago - when he was fifty. Trapped in a tiny catacomb for two years by a Slann trap, he kept himself alive by collecting water drips and using a "pull a fish from hat" spell, taught to him by an Iquitos fishmonger. Unable to free himself he managed to alert another Norse raiding party with his knocking. After giving his rescuers half his fortune, he became a recluse, advancing his studies of magic - some say his mind and nerves snapped because of his ordeal - Sven can't afford to be choosy with the slim pickings available in Iquitos for his expedition...

Riolta Snow (left) and Kara Lakota (right)

Riolta makes her living as a professional tournament archer, holding the titles of many of the Elf Kingdom's most prestigious contests. Like many other successful "pros" she is alarmingly rich. She is currently holidaying in Lustria and as a female and a Sea Elf she has been allowed to travel freely in Amazonia. Lately she has hired the Voltsvagn for a hunting trip up the river - so far she has bagged several crocodiles, a giant turtle and a brace of Slann. Sven, Juggo and especially Kara were all highly impressed! Sven has even managed to persuade her to go with him on his latest escapade.

Kara is an Amazon whose whole life has been a tale of rebellion, intransigence and laziness. Shipped off to become a sister with the Kalim Devouts at the age of 25, Kara soon came into conflict with her superiors - making her already arduous and exhaustng life more miserable. Eventually she was contacted by an underground subversive Kalimist organisation and recruited into a plot to blow the Amazon Queen up as she visited the venerated Riggs Shrine. However, the plot was uncovered and Kara was forced to flee - after she had stolen a Bolt pistol and several magazines. She wound up in Iquitos but hates it, the Norse and their chauvinistic ways. She has been hired as the guard on Sven's boat.

Gurggl Greenwake's gang - or the start of it anyway!

I reckoned these Slann Braves should get Poison Arrow Tree Frog style patterning on their skin - they don't need to go far for the venom for their blowpipe darts!

Loads more Slann to come eventually (after Orc's Drift!) including Cold One Riders, Warhounds and handler, a slaver and more warriors...

Wait till you see the reds of their eyes...

2011-05-20T17:26:00.000-07:00

Forgot to include my Lead Painters League entry pic with the other shots of Brommedir's Bows in my last post!

More pics of the Greenskins to come once get a few more done...

At one hundred yards! Volley fire, present! Aim! Fire!

2011-05-20T16:39:00.000-07:00

So first of all - apologies for the lack of activity on here for a while - got myself involved in the gruelling, ten week long, painting marathon that is the Lead Painters League on the Lead Adventure Forum and that has, unsurprisingly, eaten most of my time up for the past couple of months!

Managed to post the odd entry here when it had finished competing but lack of time soon began to take its toll so the posts petered out!

Anyway I did manage to get one Orc's Drift related entry in - Brommedir's Bows. At the time I didn't manage to finish Brommedir (the scenario mini replaces the old Jes Goodwin general I was using previously) and his standard bearer, so now they're done I thought I'd get moving with this blog again...

Just got another seven of the old plastic Citadel Regiments box set archers to do to finish this unit off and that'll be another faction completed - just leaving me with the rest of the Wood Elves of Kachass Pass and thirty odd orcs for the Vile Rune tribe to do to finish the minis side of the project.

Then its just a bit of scenery, a few mountains for the table edges (possibly!) and the horses and carts for Ferndale to evacuate his patients in and I'm done... !

Brommedir and his standard bearer -

Beauty and the Beasts...

2011-04-04T15:28:00.000-07:00

Another old LPL entry and a great excuse to rescue these fellas and fella-ess from the lead pile!

Looking forward to making up a daft scenario and names for these and getting a game in some time soonish....

Hasslefree Kalee

Citadel beasties

More men in tights...

2011-04-03T16:49:00.000-07:00

... Well Elves really!

Just a few more shots of the group I painted up the other week now that I've had a minute or two spare - Enjoy!

Wood Elves of Kachas Pass

2011-03-27T15:18:00.000-07:00

Wahey - another Orc's Drfit update!

Managed to combine my Lead Painters League entry last week with my Orc' Drift project and now only have five or so Elves to paint up to complete the force I need for the Kachas Pass episode...

Endolas/Erdolas (depending where you look for the corrsect spelling!) was a lovely mini to paint and thanks again to Hasslefrree for the lovely shields with which to equip the rest of unit! - old plastic citadel shields seem to go for quite a premium for what they are on ebay!

Due to time constraints (most of Friday night/Saturday morning spent finishing the minis off) I was forced to come up with a simple, but effective, shield design - hooray for the old 80's army book and its illustrations of Elven runes/script! Same could be said for the Orc's Drift booklet and its representation of the Kachas Pass Elves' banner desingn!

Soggy Bottom Boyz!

2011-03-20T09:26:00.000-07:00

Right as this team has finished competing in the Lead Painters League on the LAF I thought I'd break the drought of painted minis by sharing the pics with you.

The minis are from 4A miniatures - an excellent new company that is well worth checking out if you haven't already - http://www.fouraminiatures.com/page4.htm

Service is great and I love the weird little minis they make. Oh and Andy, whose venture it is, is a thoroughly nice bloke too - was glad to have a good chat at the Vapnartak show in York a while back.

Anyways heres the minis - I spent as bit more time than normal on these chaps not only because they were for a comp but they're really nice to paint up too.

Scuplted by the legendary Kev Adams (really looking forward to the mounted ones that are in the pipeline...) but with a more aquatic feel than his classic stuff, I thought they'd make good swamp goblins, or Bog Gobs, as Phreedh has christened them - think that'll stick mate!

I have the other 5 goblins 4A released in the paint queue and have a game in mind for them - just need to build a large swamp first...!

Cry Havoc....

2011-03-16T15:44:00.000-07:00

... and get a rather good deal at the moment!

I'm sure some of you will have read my battle reports using this fine rules system and I can't reccomend it enough. It has a definitely cinematic feel especially when you Named heroes are doing their thang during cut scenes and generally causing - you guessed it - Havoc!

Any way thought I'd give you all a heads up as its come to my attention that you can now not only get hold of Havoc in PDF form, which is rather handy, but there are two rather fine Dave Graffam paper buildings free that come with it at the moment!

There's a better explanation on VoodooInk's site as to what is involved in multi-layered PDFs, plus a link to Wargame Vault where you can partake of this excellent deal! Actually if you're interested in trying out the Havoc rules there are also loads of useful updates here as well...

http://voodooink.wordpress.com/2011/03/14/havoc-free-terrain-offer/

Can't wait to get mine built as they look rather nice and as I'll hope you'll agree from my various battle reports - paper terrain can work rather well on the battlefield!

This also means I'm going to have to have a go at the Dangerous Crossings scenario, detailed in the rules, at some point too...

Right now its back to painting up entries for the Lead Painters League on the LAF - and an apology for the lack of posts this past week or so. One of the rules is that you shouldn't post pics of your entries elsewhere, however I'm hoping to enter a new team each week - which will allow me to post pics of the previous week's entry and hopefully get me painting even more!

Escape from the Larder of Doom!!!

2011-03-04T16:40:00.000-08:00

So finally got this epic written up - been battling with the large number of pics among other things...

Play was also slightly delayed last weekend - not by drink but by the after effects of drink!

As you may know A Miner Engagement left our foolhardy Dwarf miners holed up in their newly dug mine shaft, taking refuge from a sizeable hunting party of hungry Orcs...

So here is the long awaited sequel, Escape from the Larder of Doom

The Surviving Dwarf Miners -

The passing Gnome Adventurers -

The Undead Minions of Tim the Necromancer -

The Dwarfs lay fearfully in the pitch black confines of the mine. The roughly cut stone walls had once promised much - now they seemed more like a tomb. A vigil was set up by the rockfall they had engineered for just such an eventuality and for a few days the barbarous sounds of Orcs could be clearly heard.

Yet the miners were not entirely helpless, nor were they idle. Working in short shifts to conserve what little food they had left, the Dwarfs grimly chipped away in the deepest recesses of the their tunnel. While they still drew breath, dank and stale though it may be, there was hope of escape.

After the third day of their imprisonment they awoke to an uncanny silence. No longer did the Orc's bickering and guttural snarls pollute the air at the mine entrance. Instead the sharp ozone tang of magic wafted through the cracks that served them for ventilation. Then the chanting started. Below them...

As they listened, the hairs of their beards prickling with fear, there came a scrabbling at the rockface where they had been digging. Small stones skittered to the floor, soon followed by larger ones, until a dark hole stared evilly at them from the tunnel wall. Tinnyson edged closer to investigate. Suddenly a bony hand shot out snatching blindly at him. The Dwarfs didn't hesitate! Even as the wall began to collapse they turned and ran, the sound of bony feet upon the stony ground ringing in their ears...

Dwarf Turn 1

Tearing aside the rocks blocking the mine entrance the Dwarfs stumble, blinking, into the sunlight once more. Losing no time Piewright and Fletch hurry down to the old barricade they had hastily built in their earlier encounter with the Orcs. In an uncharacteristic burst of speed Feldspar clears it!

Deadeye descends the slope but halts halfway down, turning to cover their retreat. Alfryd Tinnyson and Kanaeri Kandlewicke follow suit, forming a defensive line against the nameless horrors pursuing them.

Further down the valley a comparatively idyllic scene was playing out. A small and well ordered camp lay on the far side of the low hill that sat between the more rugged peaks of the valley head. In it a small band of Gnome Adventurers were lounging about smoking, wondering how much longer Glimtwiss Greenfinger, the Gnomish wizard they were accompanying, would be in his search for the rare herbs and fungi he coveted. Being out of earshot of the commotion that was developing at the mine entrance, they continued smoking and conversing!

Undead 1

Preceded by the sinister clattering of bony feet four skeleton warriors burst out of the mine in hot pursuit!

The first stops dead as the bright sunlight hits it, collapsing into a heap of dust as the eldritch powers animating it suddnely wane (Wild roll - Bound characteristic means it perishes on a Wild action roll - not a good start!).

Blocked by the line of grim-faced Dwarfs the remaining skeletons are unable to gang up on their prey. One foul creature charges into Alfryd but is fought off to a draw. Cackling horribly, the third skeleton leaps from the ledge and falls on Deadeye, pushing the surprised Dwarf back.

Loosing his footing on the scree, Deadeye falls from the ridge. Luckily he is not injured by the tumble but is once more beset by the leering monster...

Further down the mountainside, Tim the Necromancer and the rest of his cursed band emerge from out of the hidden entrance to his catacombs.

The lead skeleton leaps from the ridge to cut off Feldspar's retreat. The rest of the warband advance with an uncanny speed.

Tim, himself stalks menacingly along the ridge, intoning dread words to open up a fiery portal to the Netherworld right in the Dwarf's path!

Dwarf 2

Things look grim for the Dwarfs, but luckily the shouts and clash of steel alert the Gnomes further down the valley. Amazed to see a small horde of skeletons pouring into the head of the Cwm, they quickly make preparations to come to the aid of the benighted Dwarfs.

Griebel peers into the distance, takes careful aim and lets loose a shot at the nearest undead creature. His aim is good and the shot breaks the unnatural bonds holding the foul being's bones together. Trowelson, Slugsbane and Smallmarsh make for the small hill in front of them to gain what height advantage they can.

Greenfinger dashes next to Griebel and, sighting down his gnarled finger, unleashes a magical hail of stone at the approaching skeletons. Unfortunately the energy of his magical attack peters out before it can do any damage.

Back over at the barricade Feldspar takes one look at the oncoming horrors and leaps back over the sandbag wall!

Piewright charges into combat to assist Deadeye, who is now sufficiently recovered to draw his short sword. Together they make short work of the skeleton assailing them.

Fletch hurriedly levels his crossbow and takes a panicked shot at Dimm the Ogre, barely stinging the great brute!

Up on the ridge Alfryd and Kanaeri gang up on the skeleton leering down at them. A well aimed swipe of a hammer takes its legs from under it and the creature falls to its second death at the foot of the crags below.

Undead 2

From his vantage point, Tim scowls at the strong defence the dwarfs are putting up. The lone surviving skeleton from the first wave stood little chance against the two burly Dwarfs stood in its path. With a click of his bony fingers, the skeleton leaps, shrieking, off the ridge and onto the lone Feldspar below! Another word of command sends a second re-animated warrior charging into the luckless Dwarf. The clash is brief and Feldspar was no more. Long and loud were the lamentations of his brother, Piewright...

Alfryd and Kanaeri look on in horror, but are unable to help as a ghastly, green glow begins to emanate from the mine entrance. A chill blast of stale air hits them, bringing up the foul reek of the grave, as a terrifying Wight glides into the cold mountain light.

Frozen with terror, Alfryd is hacked down by the fiend's merciless blows!

Piling on the woe for the Dwarfs, Tim the Necromancer produces a tattered parchment from his sleeve, and in a voice like the rustling of dead leaves, intoned the words that would summon yet more infernal creatures from their eternal slumber.

Slowly a shape forms within the portal, gradually growing and growing until two great skeletal hands wrench its great bulk through into reality. With a mighty bellow, the newly summoned Bone Giant glared around with its balefl, empty eyes-socket.

Meanwhile its smaller brethren move up to finish off the Dwarf survivors, while Dimm, catching sight of Slugsbane atop the hill, lumbers off in pursuit of a little sport...

Dwarf 3

Kanaeri stilled his beating heart and charges into the Wight. Leaping up the slope Piewright joins the fray, pushing the Wight back towards the tunnel mouth. Down below the two crossbowmen unleash a volley at the approaching skeletons. Fletch drops his target, as does Deadeye, slightly evening the odds in the inevitable melee.

Bellowing a stirring warcry, Trowelson leads his Gnome warriors in a brave charge against the Ogre looming over them. The enormous brute bats away their attacks with relative ease however.

Knowing this would be a fight with no quarter given, the courageous Gnomes press home their attack and the combat rolls on - this time they gain the upper hand and down their enormous opponent!

Griebel spots the Necromancer up on the mountainside and takes aim. His shot is frustrated by intervening cover and goes wide.

Dimtwiss ambles forward to gain a better view of the battlefield. A mystical circle of stone unearth themselves as he opens a portal of his own in the path of the Undead advance.

Undead 3

Sacrificing a dredskull, Dimm picks himself up and, enraged at his near defeat at the hands of such puny adversaries, he lashes out in a blind fury. Catching Trowleson with a mighty blow, he roars with satisfaction as the dimunitive champion goes down. However, the indomitable little fellow staggers back to his feet (sacrificing a dredskull of his own), ready for the next round.

Over by the barricade the Bone Giant wheels around and advances on the literally quaking Dwarf crossbowmen.. The two spear-armed skeletons clamber over the undefended barricade, the nearest jabbing ineffectually at Fletch.

The Wight fights back, but in the confines of the mine entrance, it did not have room to wield its cruel blade effectively. Quite at home in such environs the two Dwarfs take the intitiative, crushing the dread creature's skull wit their trusty hammers.

Gnashing his teeth at the demise of the Wight, Tim stalks coldly forward, tearing another fiery portal from the fabric of reality between himself and his two opponents on the ridge.

As he does so the ground beneath Kanaeri erupts in a great explosion as the Necromancer hurls a great gout of flame from his fingertips. The Dwarf is slammed into the rockface and knocked senseless.

Dwarf 4

Shaking his head blearily, Kanaeri is dragged to his feet by Piewright. Fearing the worst from the eldritch flames of the portal that burned in front of them, the two Dwarfs leap from the ridge onto the lesser of the various evils that beset them - the spear tip of the skeleton that waited below!

Their combined weight takes the creature down and they swiftly finsih it off as it writhed horribly at their feet.

Deadeye wipes the rictus grin off the last spear-armed skeleton, leaving only the Bone Giant to contend with. Despite taking careful, Fletch's shot passes harmlessly through the gaps in its ribcage.

The ground once more begins to shake as Glimtwiss' eyes cloud over into milky white orbs. His voice echoes across the battlefield as he invokes the Spirit of the Mountains. The circle of stones forming his portal bursts asunder as a huge Earth Elemental rises majestically skywards.

Trowelson grins grimly as the ominous shape looms over the Ogre's shoulder. Exhorting his comrades to takehear, they battle on, knowing that aid was at hand.

Having far too much fun playing splat the Gnome, Dimm was unaware of the doom that approached him as he smashed poor Smallmarsh to the floor.

Griebel sprints up the hill and casts his beady around for new targets. With only the Necromancer in the distance he snapped off another quick shot, predictably missing!

Undead 4

The Bone Giant leans forward, raining down blows across the barricade at Fletch, forcing him back. Stepping over the sandbags, the Giant presses forward, threatneing Deadeye as well.

Cursing the fragility of his minions, Tim summons forth a ghostly spectre to strike terror in the hearts of the stubborn Dwarfs.

Before they have time to react, the sole surviving skeleton charges Kanaeri, but the combat is a draw.

With the crashing and grinding of living stone growing behind him, Dimm's brain finally registers that he's in a spot of bother! Turning from his sport with the Gnomes he blunders into the Elemental, somehow pushing it back.

The titanic struggle continues as sinew strains against stone, but inevitably Dimm is forced down and knocked senseless by the Elemental's great fists. Sacrificing another Dredskull, the Ogre drags himself up with a growl.

Dwarf 5

Kanaeri struggles on against his long dead opponent, slowly gaining the upper hand and pushing the reeking skeleton back.

Piewright rushes to the aid of the crossbowmen and together they push the towering monster back across the barricade.

Helping Smallmarsh up, the Gnomes see their chance to kick the big guy while he's down! Together with the Elemental, their attack finsihes off the hapless Ogre. Slugsbane, emboldened by his encounter with Dimm, advances on the Bone Giant.

To add insult to injury Griebel's next shot forces the infuriated Necromancer to throw himself ignominiously to the ground! Out of range of Trowleson's guiding hand, Glimtwiss becomes distracted (rolls a wildside action - stupid/absentminded!) and leans over to examine some interesting fungi growing nearby!

Undead 5

Cursing the Gnomish wizard for the loss of his pet ogre at the hands of the Elemental Tim sends a fiery skull screaming towards unwitting sorcerer. Looking up from his toadstools, Dimtwiss is just in time to absorb the evil energy. Chanelling it back at the Necromancer, he engages Tim in a battle of wills. At first it seems as though they are evenly matched but slowly the duel takes its toll on the Gnome. Glimtwiss is the first to weaken and with Tim's triumphant cackle ringing in his ears they shrink as he is turned into a warty toad in a blinding flash!

The skeleton affectionately known as Old Dead Eyes by his nearest and dearest succeeds in downing Kanaeri, as the Dwarf begins to tire.

The Bone Giant's grasping talons fail to find a target as the three Dwarfs desperately defend themselves behind the barricade. Then with a low moan the spectre glides down to attack Fletch. Whirling around the terrified Dwarf flails ineffectually at his insubstantial opponent.

As fear grasped his heart in an icy grip, Fletch turns and runs, barging past Deadeye in his haste to flee!

The tormented spirit turns to pursue but instead comes face to face with Deadeye...

Dwarf 6

Sacrificing their last dredskull, Kanaeri wearily engages his skeletal foe once more, however the brave attempt come to naught as dead hands bring down a rusty axe in a killing blow!

Piewright, with few options left, fights on against the undead Giant, but is again unable to find a chink in its defenses. Deadeye steels himself against the horrifying apparition bearing down on him but is pushed back. Even as he gives ground the spirit glides on after him remorselessly.

And yet, even in their darkest hour, a ray of hope shines through! The Gnomes make their decisive charge. Trowelson, Slugsbane and the Elemental thunder into the Bone Giant's flanks.

Ribs and other small bones cascade down through the air as the Giant topples like a rotten tree under their combined impact. However, this implacable enemy is down but not out - slowly its skeletal form takes shape once more as the shattered bones begin to coalesce into a whole again...

Meanwhile Smallmarsh sprints to avenge Kanaeri's death at the hands of the gloating skeleton warrior. With a triumphant cry he knocks the evil creature's skull clean off its shoulders!

Glimtwiss the Toad hops grumpily over to a nearby rocky outcrop to hide from further reprisals...

Having run as far as his little legs would carry him, Fletch manages to master himself, and rather sheepishly turns back to the battle.

Griebel, determined to get his man, once more takes careful aim at the distant Necromancer. Some evil God must have been smiling on the twisted wretch as yet again the shot went wide.

Undead 6

Howling and moaning, the spectre continued to harry Deadeye, yet the Dwarf was stout of heart and the evil spirit shrank back at such courage - Deadeye's bravery, however, did not extend to pursuing his attacker!

Now completely reformed, the Bone Giant roared in anger, but even as the gnomes quailed in its shadow, the necromantic energies holding the behemoth together began to wane (Wildside roll - bound!). Once more the gargantuan bones tumbled earthwards and this time lay still.

With a great cry of rage, Tim saw that the game was up. Yet in his spite, he had one more trick up his sleeve. Stabbing a cruelly hooked finger at Piewright, the Necromancer chanted the words of the Magia Imperii. Falling under the insidious control of the sorcerer, the Dwarf's eyes rolled back and his mouth lolled open. His comrades watched on in horror as their noble leader drew his sword and angled it at his own throat! The blade drew closer to what passed for his neck but Piewright seemd to regain some conciousness... his eyes darted back and forth as he struggled with himself for control over the weapon.

With a shuddering effort he threw off the Necromancer's enchantment and dropped the blade as though it were fresh from the forge!

Foiled once again, Tim the Necromancer howled a final curse at the Dwarfs and Gnomes trembling beneath him and vanished in an enormous fireball...

Epilogue

Not looking behind them as the spectre slowly faded back into the hillside, the surviving Dwarfs and their new Gnome comrades-in-arms hurried back down the cursed valley.

Although none had found what they sought in the mountains they didn't leave empty-handed.

As the news spread far and wide of their encounter, Piewright acquired a fame of sort - his name would forever more be synomnymous with the worthless mineral, Fool's Gold.

Glimtwiss Greenfinger did eventually regain his old Gnomish shape, but he never did shake off his new nickname - Greenback!

Toadally Ribitulous...

2011-02-23T18:12:00.000-08:00

Apologies for the pun-tastic title - its getting late...

Another magic-related post and another handy mini to have around when their's wizardry about.

This little chap is an old Chaos familiar - I bought him with my burgeoning Slann warband in mind - thought he'd make a nice toadling from which the scouts could obtain venom for their blowpipe darts!

As its the nearest thing I have to a toad, and until Dave adds the rather nice looking toad (toads?) to his Bederken range, it'll have to do for when poor unfortunates find their circumstances somewhat changed due to nefarious hocus pocus...

I suppose the next thing to do would be to come up with some ideas to represent the portals the Skulldred magic system use - unfortunately I won't have time this week as familial duties will keep me away from the painting desk over the weekend, but I hope to play the game on Sunday....

They dun turn-ed him inta a h-h-h-horn-ey-toad

Elemental my dear chap...

2011-02-23T17:21:00.000-08:00

Nearly ready to play the next instalment in my mini-campaign, set in the Ramalian mountains near Orc's Drift!
As you may know I'm looking forward to testing out Dave's magic rules which didn't get a look in during my last game - A Miner Engagement.

To that purpose I surmised that my budding magicians will need things to summon if they're going to do a bit more than chuck fireballs around at each other - so I painted this!

The old citadel Earth Elemental - again another impulse buy on ebay for a few quid! Luckily I had an old scenic base lying around which was rather fun and easy to create the effect of the elemental bursting from the ground - you could tell that's what he was doing right?!

Thought I'd also include a teaser pic from the upcoming game, Escape from the Larder of Doom!!!

Will the Gnomish wizard be squashed by the looming elemental or is he summoning the being to do his bidding... Cue dramatic music!

Can you dig it?!

You know much that is hidden, O Tim...

2011-02-21T16:55:00.000-08:00

... Quite.

I've also been busy with the bad guys - as I haven't tried the new Skulldred magic system it seemed a good excuse to paint up a few minis I've been wanting to get to grips with for a while.

This chap is another ebay impulse buy - mainly because he reminds me of Tim the Enchanter from Monty Python's Holy Grail! No bonus points for guessing where I got the inspiration for my colour choices!

So here is Tim the.... Necromancer!

Not sure where the mini is from - I'm assuming an old C series preslotta evil wizard or something similar?

But how will he figure in The Larder of Doom?

Where have all the Orcs gone?

All will be revealed... when I get round to playing it!

I should also introduce his somewhat unpromising apprentice - Big Tim!

Gnoming me, gnoming you...

2011-02-21T16:37:00.000-08:00

A-haaa!

So I've been totally distracted from the Orc's Drift project again! This time I've been painting a few minis I wanted to use in my next game of Skulldred, now that Dave's tweaked the magic system.

If you remember we left what was left of our Dwarf heroes holed up in their newly dug mine with a horde of Orcs waiting hungrily outside... So I figured the little guys might want a little help if they are to escape and what could be better than - some littler guys!

I landed these wee fellows off ebay ages ago for quite a bargain and they've sat neglected till now -

Glimtwiss Greenfinger - Gnome Elementalist

Dibber Trowelson - Gnome Hero

Allam Smallmarsh - Gnome Warrior

Herb Slugsbane - Gnome Warrior

And finally Griebel Birdscarer - Gnome Shootist (you may have seen him before but he's had a change of hat colour since...)

So its off to do some bedtime reading on the new Skulldred magic rules now!

Hagar the Horrible...

2011-02-20T18:01:00.000-08:00

Well I've reached another milestone in my Orc's Drift project - The Severed Hand Tribe are now complete!

For once I managed to save the exciting character minis till last as a treat, instead of facing endless ranks of ordinary soldiers in a slog to the finish!

And here they are...

Hagar Sheol - Chieftain of the Severed Hand

As you can see I haven't managed to afford the crazy prices the original scenario mini goes for on ebay so I've used Eeza Ugezod of Mother Crushers fame in his place - not a bad proxy I think!

I had fun with his shield design - to tie in with the theme of hands doing various things I thought I'd give Hagar a touch of class with this reproduction of Michaelangelo's famous painting of the Creation of Adam! Unfortunately I couldn't fit both God's and Adam's hands in and as you can't beat a good lightning bolt or three, they finished the design off...

The last two minis that complete the tribe are the drummer and Champion from Harboth's Orc Archers, who will be placed, funnily enough, with the Severd Hand's archer unit - more pics to follow of the now completed Regiment of Renown in my next post...

Of course I had to repeat the archery target emblem on the drums for the musician - how else does he know which bit to hit!

And I may have gone a step too far with daft shield designs for the champion...

What with all the bullseyes around I felt this character would be quite fitting to adorn his shield!

For those of you unfamiliar with the old UK TV show, Bullseye, have a look here and you might just fathom out what on earth I'm on about!

http://www.bullseyetvgameshow.com/

Anyway, back to Orc's Drift - that now leaves me with the Vile Rune Tribe (still purchasing minis for this one!) and the Elves - not far to go now!

A Miner Engagement... Skulldred 2.03 Battle Report

2011-02-15T15:06:00.000-08:00

Ok - so got no painting done at the weekend but I did get round to giving Dave's new version of his Skulldred rules a go - here's the report.
I decided on another "offshoot" scenario to tie it in with Orc's Drift - this time an isolated Dwarf mining expedition encounters an Orc raiding party foraging for food.

The rules were brilliant - simple elegant and definitely playable after a few bevvies! The dice rolls felt right and characters behaved as you would expect. It even played well as a solo game - again I switched sides each turn and put myself in the mindset of each leader in turn.

The Dwarfs

The Orcs

A Miner Engagement

Everyone had thought them mad as the small company of Dwarfs wound their way up the Kachhas Pass, up into the high peaks of the Ramalian mountains, far above the Fendal Plains. Any fool could tell something was afoot - reports of Orc warbands on the move had come filtering in from the many remote outposts and settlements that lay in that farflung wilderness. Massed hordes of Goblins already threatened the towns of Ortar and Palesandre to the East.

Nevertheless, Piewright Sourdough and his brother, Feldspar, pressed on. The small band of miners and Dwarf strongarms they had gathered had nought else in their minds but the mineral riches lying up in that mountain fastness. Indeed, once they had found a promising spot at the head of Dedaend Cwm their initial diggings had looked promising. A rich vein of quartz had pulses racing, but only 40m into the rock face it became clear that it was barren of gold.

Then they heard the hunting horns...

Dwarf Turn 1

The Dwarf crossbowmen lining the ridge that ran along from the mine entrance had heard the Orcs' raucous approach from miles away, but now caught sight of the disgusting rabble emerging at the valley bottom.

Norbert Quarrletips raises his trusty crossbow, taking aim at a particularly nasty looking Orc archer he fires, dowing his target. Cheerfully whistling, he reloads his weapon. Just outside the mine entrance, Deadeye Magrew calls to his subterranean companinons before snapping off a shot at one of the gangs of Snotlings seething across the landscape. Failing to hit any of the miserable creatures, his shot gives them a scare and they dive for cover. Along the ridge Cranequin and Gaffleson also join in the volley of fire, although both shots are ineffective at this long range.

Orc Turn 1

The Orcs are off - following the direction of the fire that had been directed at them. The hounds sprint forward towards the mine - two of them, catching the scent of fresh stunties, race ahead. Garstric Upzet the Hill Troll dumbly follows the cackling mass of snotties towards the low hill that commands a good view of the Dwarf position.

Spurred on by Logdobs guttural cries, one of the archers runs forward to loose a cruelly barbed arrow at Deadeye. Luckily for the Dwarf he manages to duck aside just in time. The rest of the archers dash into the cover of the wood with a plan to sneak forward and bushwack the Dwarfs later on...

Dwarf Turn 2

The crossbowmen once again take aim - Fletch Gaffleson, his view blocked by the ruin lying below him, aims high at Garstrik's great bulk, although his shot goes wide. Cranequin draws a bead on the only viable target in front of him - the foul Dripping Noze gang. Unsurprisingly he doesn't manage to impale any of the spiteful little gits, but the cowardly creatures go to ground with a squeal. Meanwhile, Gaffleson, struggling with a stiff loading mechanism, only has time to relaod his weapon - ready to fire next turn. Nobby, however, calmly takes aim and fires at the lead warhound, Deefer. Again the long range and intervening cover combine to save the vicious brute!

Knowing that to be trapped in the relatively shallow mine workings would mean certain death, the Dwarf miners sally forth to create a defensive perimeter at the valley head. Alfryd Tinnyson and Nipper Shortshanks start work on a makeshift barricade, using sacks and rubble from the slag heap.

Orc Turn 2

The Orc forces surge forward, eager to be out of sight of the keen-eyed Dwarf crossbowmen.

The Snots cower behind the hill, closely followed by Garstrik. Dogbreff ushers his hounds behind the ruins - ready to pounce.

Continuing through the wood the archers abandon their downed and badly bleeding compatriot, earmarking him for the cooking pot later!

Dwarf 3

Nobby quickly reloads and fires again at the snarling Deefer. This time the bolt hits home and the dog goes down. Deadeye also takes aim at the prostrate form of the hound but fails to live up to his name. Fletch and Cranequin are of the same idea but are too busy reloading to lend their hands.

Graywracke, Widelode and Longpockets move to block the bottlenck between the hill and the ruins, hoping to buy the others time enough to prepare their defenses...

Taking advantage of this the miners complete another section of wall.

Orc Turn 3

The Orc archer finally cuccumbs to his wounds ( returning the dredskull counter back to then Orc's active pile to be put to use in a more critical situation.).

The warhounds throw themselves into the fray with the Dwarf advance guard in a blind rage. Nasha bowls into Widelode and throws his considerable bulk back with the ferocity of its attack. Graywracke manages to absorb the impact of Bad Mintun's attack and the combat between thm is a draw. Whipit, however, manages to pull Longpockets to the ground and, ganging up, Fidon't finishes the job, savaging the unfortunate Dwarf.

The Snotz pour over the hilltop like a green tide of... well, er, best not to mention. Garstrik follows demurely behind.

Logdob and his archers pick their way through the woods to take up firing positions flanking the dwarf line....

Dwarf Turn 4

Having watched their companion's fate at the paws of the hounds with horror, Gaffleson and Cranequin co-ordinate a deadly volley of fire on Fidon't, killing the beast outright! Deadeye reloads and fires a potshot at Whipit, forcing him to dart out of the way.

Graywracke hits back at Bad Mintun with his trusty hammer, this time forcing the brute back, swinging himself round to leave a clear shot for the crossbows, should the opportunity arise... Widelode, also gets the upperhand against his opponent, shoving the snapping monster back and dashing round the side to place it between him and the advancing Bogey Boyz!

Shortshanks and Long Tom busy themselves with a few hasty additions to the barricade, while the others grimly tighten their grips on their weapons and ready themselves for the imminent melee.

Orc Turn 4

Whipit, enraged by his near miss with a crossbow bolt, turns and launches himself at Graywracke. The beleagured Dwarf is pulled down and turned to dogmeat (killed outright so no Skulldred to save him!).

Now unengaged, Bad Mintun whirls round and charges Widelode, but the doughty Dwarf fends him off with the blunt end of his great hammer! Fidon't now goes for the jugular but instead gets a face full of said hammer! The dog crumples to the ground with a pathetic whimper.

Deefer, with a shake from his head, finally recovers (sacrificing a dredskull) and charges the flagging Widelode, forcing him to retreat.

With an insipid cheer (best they could manage!) the Dripping Nose Gang dash across the open ground to fling themselves at Feldspar, behind the wall. A combination of the makeshift fortification, the dwarf's fearsome shovel and the Snotz' dismal fighting skills sees them forced back!

The Bogey Boyz follow behind with a chorus of jeers and catcalls at the Dripping Nose's poor show!

Klopps Stinkeye scrambles up the hill to plant his banner, and its grisly warning to the Dwarfs on its summit. Around him the lead archers loose several aimed shots, downing Nobby and Deadeye in an uncharacteristic show of accuracy!

Garstic Upzet continues his amble round the back of the hounds, intrigued by the glint of Dwarf armour up on the ridge. Panting like a dog, Dogbreff finally catches up with his unruly charges and tries to restore the illusion of control.

The remaining archers take up vantage points at the edge of the wood under Logdob's command, ready to rain down volleys of black arrows on the Dwarf lines.

Dwarf Turn 5

Despite the calls from his companions behind the barricade, Widelode fights on. Forcing a draw with Bad Mintun again, he doesn't fare so well against Deefer and is once again forced to give ground.

Nobby and Deadeye dust themselves off (sacrificing two Dredskulls!) and begin reloading their weapons.

Piewright, yelling brusk commands, organises a volley on the lumbering bulk of the Hill Troll. Deadeye, Cranequin and Gaffleson all fire at once, felling the foul creature like a rotten tree. However, a low groan confirms their worst fears - the malodorous behemoth is only down and not out!

Meanwhile, Nobby, now reloaded, succeeds in downing one of the Orc archers swarming the hill (running low on Dredskulls the poor fella is left to die of his wounds).

Once again the miners sit tight behind their barricade, watching helplessly on at Widelodes's plight.

Orc Turn 5

Trading another Dredskull, Fidon't is revived and immediately charges into the ruckus with Widelode. The red mist once more descending, Bad Mintun follows like a good little warhound. Tiring from his efforts at fending off the multitude of snapping jaws, Widelode's hammer slips from his grasp and he is savagely savaged by the rabid pack! (Again killed outright so no Skulldred miracles here!)

At this bloody turn of events Whipit is sent into a frenzy and, as he is the nearest, turns on the downed Garstic! Coming too just at the right moment (God bless those Skulldred counters!) Garstric easily squashes the mad dog! Feeling rather put out by this unprovoked attack, the troll decides to take it out on the Dwarfs guffawing loudly at him from their mountain ridge...

Buoyed up by their large numbers and not wanting to be shown up by the other rival gang, the Snotz charge once more into the breech. The Dripping Nose gang once more throw themselves over the barricade at Feldspar, who, quite calmly, squashes them one by one with the flat of his shovel!

The Bogey Boyz fare marginally better, being fought off to a standstill by Alfyd Tinnyson.

Dogbreff encourages his hounds to come to heel with a well placed boot, ready to send them against barricade.

The archers open up with a rain of arrows in an attempt to dislodge the Dwarf crossbows from their vantage points. Gaffleson is forced to duck aside but survives the volley.

Dwarf Turn 6

Once again Piewright orders a volley on the looming Hill Troll. Again, the troll staggers under the hail of crossbow bolts, and again the Dwarfs chew their beards with despair as the brute dusts itself down (last Skulldred counter for the Orcs!), plucking the missiles from its flanks to use as a toothpick in dislodging an irritating bit of gristle (last night's donkey) from his festering teeth.

Seeing the danger posed by the now pretty irritated Troll, Piewright calls for the miners to form a hunting party of their own, to leave the safety of the wall and kill the creature. Long Tom, ever the impetuous youngset at 87, leaps to attack Garstic on his own - amazingly pushing him back! Nipper and Kanaeri follow behind to lend a hand and Piewright, himself, descends the mountain ready to sell his life dearly.

At the other end of the barricade Feldspar joins Tinnyson - fending the vicious Snotz off and forcing them back.

Nobby draws a bead on the now unengaged hounds, although the bolt whistles by harmlessly.

Orc Turn 6

Logdob again orders his archers to fire on Nobby. They loose a volley off and cackle as the plucky Dwarf falls, doing a great impressio of a pin cushion as he goes!

Another archer joins the band on the hill as they let another volley off which brings down Cranequin (the Dwarfs only have one Skulldred counter left and opt to sacrifice these two brave souls in order to have some backup for the melee at the bottom of the mountain.).

Garstic lashes back at Long Tom in a blind fury, smashing him to the ground and killing him outright.

Dogbreff barks a command at his hounds but they don't need much telling! Shortshanks is set upon and torn to shreds!

The Bogey Boyz, having had a conflab, have come up with a plan. Realising that the barricade is nigh on impregnable to them they try a new tactic - get sneaky! To this end they turn and scramble off towards the end of the barricade in a brave flanking maneuvre - once the hounds have cleared the way...!

Dwarf Turn 7

Piewright's words echo across the valley -

To the mine! Death may await us there, yet it will be a richer end than will be had here in the daylight!

With that the Dwarfs make their fighting retreat.

Gaffleson levels his crossbow one more time at the nearest hound, ending its brutish life. The deed done, he turns and heads for the mine entrance.

Deadeye follows suit- his shot sends another hound scurrying for cover, buying his companions in the valley bottom some much needed space!

The remaining Dwarfs, keeping a beady eye on the enemy and a tight grip on their weapons, beat a retreat back to the mine.

Orc Turn 7

Seeing their quarry in full retreat all Orc forces press forward, the scent of victory, and dinner, in their noses.

Garstic limps forwards but isn't fast enough to catch the fleeing Dwarfs. The Bogey Boyz, however, have had enough and, realising that they will be next on the menu once the Dwarf meat is gone, they run off in a panic!

The remaining hounds, still hungry for Dwarf flesh, leap the barricade but are fended off by Kanaeri as he backs up the mountain path. Dogbreff follows, hefting his mace in anticipation.

As the Dwarfs disaapear into the mountain, Logdob bellows another command at the archers. Despite the volume of arrows skittering amongst the rocks none find a softer target.

Couting up their kills, Logdob was pretty satisfied with the days work - there might even be a few scrap for the ladz back at the camp by the time they got back. With what passed for a smile on his brutish face he began scratching crude letters across the stone the surviving Dwarfs had blocked the mine entrance with...

"Ere, Klopps - Ow do yoo spell Larder?"

A bad case of Toxophily...

2011-02-09T16:10:00.000-08:00

Well here's the last of the archers - just the drummer and champion to go...

Hopefully I'll get time this weekend to put them through their paces, as Dave King, of Bederken fame, has posted up the latest version of his excellent and free rules set - Skulldred - http://skulldred.blogspot.com/

I'm thinking along the lines of a band of desperate Dwarf miners trapped up in the mountains above the Fendal Plains, behind the Orc advance on Orc's Drift.

Cue a roaming band of Orcs on foraging duty looking for their tea...

All a-quiver...

2011-02-07T16:58:00.000-08:00

Just a quick update - painted up a standard for my Orc archers tonight, which I'm quite pleased with -

The unit so far...

The last three archers are base-coated so shouldn't take long now, and then its on to have some fun with the rest of the command group and Ugezod/Hagar Sheol and the Severed Hand Tribe will be complete!

Near the Mark?

2011-02-06T15:05:00.000-08:00

Thanks for the comments chaps - I've decided to go with the design after all...

It may not be the most Orcy of designs but these ladz aren't your typical Orcs. Seeing themselves as somewhat superior to the average grunt who has to march all the way into combat to get stuck in, the archers have decked themselves out in looted Bretonnian uniforms (fancy ragz!) and believe that they look rather dashing and roguish.

The shields also serve a practical purpose as well as looking right fancy - when there's no fightin' going on the boyz can relax with a bit of target practice - usually involving one of the stupider members of the unit standing at the end of the field holding his shield aloft! Things can be made more challenging by strapping one of the shields to the back of an unfortunate Goblin and setting him off running!

Besides I have an idea that will carry on the theme for the unit champion's shield...

See what you think!

Had fun sticking some arrows in a few of the shields - paper clips for the shafts with painted paper flights -

Once I get the last three archers done, along with the champion and drummer I should, as if by magic have completed both archer units for the Severed Hand and Kwae Karr tribes, and ended up with a 21 (got a spare orc from somewhere!) strong unit of Harboth's Orc Archers - pics to follow...

It's a bulllllseye! And here's your host...

2011-02-01T16:16:00.000-08:00

Well its nice to be back in Orc's Drift!

As I haven't quite got the archers all done for the Severed Hand Tribe (nearly complete!) thought I'd kick an idea around for their shield design...

As much as I like these little shields from Hasslefree - I'm not quite up to painting convincing and elaborate designs on the grain of the wood! As I've done the quartered look with Ozrim's Dwarf engineers, I thougt I'd try something different - concentric circles.... or an archery target!

Not sure if I'm 100% sold on it at the moment - a few too many rings perhaps? Anyway, I'd love to know your thoughts on the matter and maybe I could even get this small unit done by the weekend so I can get started on Hagar/Ugezod...

Came in his Majesty's ship Minotaur, of 74 guns, Captain Mansfield, from a cruise, for the purpose of collecting her officers and men, sent in her prizes; she might have taken a great many more, but had no hands to board them.

2011-01-30T15:22:00.000-08:00

Capture of the French frigate la Franchise (called la Francaise by Mansfield)

Copy of a Letter from Captain Mansfield, of his Majesty's ship Minotaur, to Sir E. Nepean, Bart. dated at sea, 30th May 1803.

SIR,

I beg leave to acquaint you, for their Lordships' information, that I this evening saw the French republican frigate la Francaise safe off the Dodman, agreeably to signal made by the Hon. Admiral Cornwallis. She was captured by his Majesty's ship in my command, on the 28th May, in company with his Majesty's ship Thunderer, having chased from the fleet, and during the chase was joined by the Albion, which ship had parted from the fleet some days before in thick weather. The Prize proves to be the Republican French frigate la Francaise, from Port-au-Prince thirty-five days, Captain Jurien. She is pierced for twenty-eight twelve-pounders on her main-deck, and sixteen nine-pounders on the quarter-deck and forecastle, ten of which were in her hold, and had on board one hundred and eighty seven men.

So finally finished my Dad's birthday present - bit of a sprint to the finish to get it done and presented to him yesterday! Unfortunately I didn't get time to put any colours and ensigns on so that will be a little job to do next time we're over. You may (or may not!) notice I have also greatly simplified the rigging - time, skill and failing eyesight were factors in that decision!

Anyway it was certainly well received, which was a relief - only thing is I now have to find a way of topping it next year for his sixtieth! Looks like it might well be the battle line for Trafalgar after all...!!!

Things don't look good for La Franchise (far left), as Minotaur (bottom centre) pulls alongside, supported by Thunderer (top centre) and Albion (far right).

Much as I have enjoyed researching and painting something different to the usual fantasy stuff I am now looking forward to selfishly getting on with some Orc's Drift stuff just for me!

Nice big, chunky, non fiddly citadel goodness ahoy!

Every man is as Heaven made him, and sometimes a great deal worse.

2011-01-15T12:11:00.000-08:00

A great quote from Cervantes' Don Quixote and oh so true in the case of this pair, seen here emerging from the Linden Way's premier nightspot - the Slaan in Space...

Thought I'd better post an update on the Orc's Drift project in case anyone thought I'd forgotten about it - normal service will be resumed in February, once I've finished the naval diorama I'm in the middle of!

These two provided me with a little light relief from the ship building I'm currently involved with and getting back to Cervantes, reminded me somewhat of his eponymous hero and his slow-witted squire.

So may I present the two latest replacements to be press-ganged into the Linden Way militia - after the Norse settlers got drunk and went off on a saga holiday...

A gentleman with delusions of grandeur and nobility, Jon Eochaid (pronounced Yeo Hay!) is the victim of reading too many Estalian romances. Obsessed with the notions of chivalry and questing and believing every word he has read to be true, Eochaid set out in search of adventure with his "squire", Groucho Panzer, a rather gullible and stupid local farmer. With his battered and ancient armour, wonky sword and rustic squire, he didn't exactly cut a dashing figure...

Not two miles out of Palesandre they met with an officer of the Grand League who was gathering recruits for the militia. Mistaking him for a traitorous knight, Eochaid led the charge but soon found himself and his squire badly beaten by an angry mob of new recruits and worse still - enlisted in the militia!

His indignation at his treatment was soon assuaged, however, when Groucho relayed the news that they were there to defend the good people of Linden Way against the slavering hordes of Orcs that were heading their way - a worthy quest for so noble a knight!

Ahoy there!

2011-01-10T16:56:00.000-08:00

I don't normally post pics of unpainted or WIP stuff but as I've been sweating and cursing over this little bugger all night I felt a certain sense of achievement at getting all the bits stuck together in the right place - I think...

This is a 74 gun British ship of the line which will be representing the Minotaur - the ship our illustrious ancestor, Captain Mansfield, commanded at Trafalgar. As I've mentioned in my last post, I'm putting together a diorama for my Dad's birthday - only two more British ships of the line and a French frigate to put together!

Quite looking forward to painting these up as they've been sat in bits in a box since before Christmas - plus as soon as these are done its back to the Orcs!!

Speaking of which - here's Ugezod, who'll be standing in for Hagar Sheol (The chieftain of the Severed Hand Orcs) until I remortgage the house in order to afford an actual Hagar Sheol mini!!! As you can see, despite Ugezod being rather large for an orc, these ships are a bit small - hope I have some sanity by the time I've finished with them...