Chaos Allies - Minotaurs

As my Chaos Allied Contingent grows, I've had to go up to the attic and take photos of them on my scenery table - my small photo set up on my desk is too small - especially when 6 Minotaurs are all lined up together. You've probably seen most of these in previous posts, but this is the first time I've taken a shot of them all together on a movement tray; assembled as part of the Allied Contingent.

Chaos Allies - Chaos Centaurs

This is (I believe) the first time I have shown all 5 of my Chaos Centaurs together and certainly the first time I've photographed them with the rest of the Chaos Allies. They're actually pretty weedy in game terms, but the conversions here make them look more like they have the power of Chaos Knights.

Here you can see them without the distraction of the Beserkers in the background:

And here a sense of depth to them, with the plastic cold one bodies visible:

I used a range of different Chaotic bodies for these; plaguebearer, horror, warrior, beastman and orc. They are undeniable influenced by Tim Prow's Nurgle warband from an early WD:

Chaos Allies - Chaos Dwarf Beserkers

These have been half painted for an age, so I forced myself to sit down and paint over the weekend, as I've had a barren time and little enthusiasm for the paint brush recently. These Marauder Slayer models have been re-purposed as Chaos Dwarf Beserkers to join my Chaos Allied force (the Contingent Commander - visible in the background - can be seen here).

 I love the character of these sculpts, even though there are typical Marauder features with the too large hands and feet and I figured that with a colourful approach to the painting and by tying them in with the basing that they would sit comfortably amongst my other Chaos models. 

I hope I've got a bit of my painting mojo back, but my next few posts will show me adding my already painted Centaurs and Minotaurs to the force whilst I continue painting some of the Citadel Chaos Dwarfs to complete the contingent.

Adventurers Don't Get a Day Off

"Let's go spend our rewards" said the Mantrapper, "a much deserved chance to have some down time and enjoy the spoils of our last adventure". "I hope the people of Little Head-on-Ism are welcoming" added Chadda Blackmane dourly, "I want to rest up for a while".

Unsurprisingly, the town guard were already outside the fortifications of Little Head-on-Ism, awaiting the arrival of any outsiders. "Lo, who approaches?" shouted the Captain, broadsword resting over his shoulder. The insignia of the town's flag snapping in the breeze behind him.

"A weary band of adventurers, looking for refuge and an opportunity to spend some coin - we mean no ill" retorted Nicodemus. The captain looked the approaching band up and down, measuring them up, noticing their weapons and staffs with apprehension and looking for reassurance from his lieutenant. None came. The Chervah chirped up; "Look sir, you may want to examine the beast of burden's sacks they ha...." before Yaztromo quickly interrupted; "It will be to your benefit, my captain, to let us through without incident". The captain could not determine whether this was a threat or a bargaining opportunity and for a moment was caught between two emotions. In the silence his greedy nature surfaced and he held out his hand in anticipation. Expecting it to be crossed with gold as his comrades gasped and he felt the cold weight pressing in his palm, he looked down only to see his hand frozen in ice, unable to move it and now watching in horror as the ice slowly started to ascend and encase his shield arm. The magician's obvious power, deterred any aggressive response from the town's guard who looked from the kindly old wizard's smile to his piercing stare, they parted and stepped back, as did the captain who pleaded with the band to have his hand returned and for the creeping cold to persist. 

The adventurers entered Little Head-on-Ism with wry smiles as the captain tried to warm his hand down his pantaloons.

Clive the aged Barbarian had blunted his axe in the battle of the Privy Ledge and made haste to the blacksmith of Little Head-on-Ism for some sharpening. 

He also noticed a merchant selling his wares in the square and, like a magpie, could not resist the glint of a new handaxe. Coinage spent.

Meeting up with the others who had been scouting out the town for suitable places to eat and drink, the band of adventurers approached the Spotted Dog tavern:

The tavern was dark and dingy and sparsely populated at this early hour, as the patron warily eyes his new customers. Our adventurers ordered a feast of food and a deluge of ale finding an area to sit in the corner of the tavern.

Ale was drunk, a spit roast eaten and old stories re-told with embellishment as time passed. It was Chadda Blackmane that first noticed through his groggy haze, that Gareth Yoztromo has taken quite some time to go for a piss. A fruitless search instigated a few questions aimed at the barman who vaguely remembered the old wizard exiting outside a few minutes ago. The group stumbled outside looking for their companion.

Out in the daylight they were assailed by a sobering wailing noise combined with screams by some of the locals. The interpretations of the hysteria seemed to indicate that a monster was running riot in the old temple... A quick sprint to the site and the adventurers were confronted by a contrite Yaztromo, slightly sweating as his hand wavered in the direction of a lesser demon, held still in mid leap. 

"I came out for a piss and stumbled across this old temple; as I was leaning against the altar I must have awoken this foul beast. Could someone, um, help me please? Nicodemus noticed the damp patch on his colleague's robe with a knowing smile just as Clive unleashed his new throwing axe, spinning through the air and thunking into the demon's forehead. The wailing stopped and was exchanged by the hearty guffaws of Nicodemus' mirth, quickly joined by the other adventurers as they noticed the yellow stain on the front of the magician's robes. He shot them all a withering look. "No need to get pissy" laughed the Mantrapper oh "Piss off" smirked Yaztromo in return. "Some bloody day off" mumbled the morose Chadda Blackmane.

Well done if you stayed with me through my improvised story. I photographed a few set pieces on my new table, with no real story ideas in mind and then arranged them in this order and made up the above story in one sitting. Fun and self-indulgent? For sure.

Housing my scenery collection

I’ve found a quiet, unused part of the house where I can let my geek run wild and I can set up my little soldiers and their houses - the corner of the attic.

It actually works pretty well because it’s a nice long space and I’m out of the way up here. I’ve installed some decent lighting and then set about creating a very low table. The only problem is it’s too easy to smack my head on the beams, so I may need to invest in some foam to put on these.  It didn’t take very long to make and now I can set up my scenery on the table rather than having to store it in boxes under the bed (vying for space with my wife's paraphernalia).

It’s not a perfect space for gaming (but I rarely do this anyway) because of the cramped space, but it’s easy enough to bring it all downstairs if needs be. So for now this will really just be a place for me to collect and set up my scenery and take some photos of my completed models as I go. 

Some MDf was laid out and given some support using the beams that were already along the floor and some extra legs at each end. I was then able to lay down my green cloth and stretch it out. 

The intent is to have my modular gaming boards on one side, have a wall/gate around them so that they can link up the surrounding green fields and hide the obvious step between cobble and green grass. At least another four of those modular boards to go...

From left to right in the photos you can see the modular boards and a couple of White Dwarf town houses as well as the Modelling Workshop ruined temple in the background:

Some of my trees mounted onto Cd's,the White Dwarf Barn, a converted Superplay castle, a church and in the foreground my recent Coaching Inn and Stables:

And finally, in the top right corner; my entrance to the Warlock of Firetop Mountain, a masoleum (with space between that and the church for a graveyard to be made at a later date), a river, a cottage and a tower.

Happy New Year to you all!