Once again, I've been slightly delayed in updating the blog this time around (I haven't got deadlines, just when something of interest happens, I'm posting it) because of heading to London for a Medieval banquet and then back to Essex to try to meet with Sousunou and hopefully Skyjacker. Regardless, got a few things to say, the first of which is that as of Friday night, I am the first to complete all tasks set for this month. I completed the painting of my objective marker and took pictures of it on Saturday morning (about 5am before leaving for London), but left my camera behind, so don't yet have the ability to post them. Stormsoul can vouch for this though ;) Also, Stormsoul changed her mind as to what her objective marker would be, landing on a faerie ornament that she shall use as a statue to represent Ariel (again, pictures when we get back to my camera) and earlier today completed her background information. Alongside this, Skyjacker has pulled his finger out and completed his army list, his unit names and his fluff. Sousunou has managed to complete his colour scheme and naming units/characters and we plan to meet tomorrow afternoon to work out what next month's targets are (I think some scenery would be cool and have some thoughts as to how to go about it, as does Stormsoul. We're also thinking that buying models is currently no problem, but that making and painting them may want to be reserved until the Christmas month so that people may be able to get hold of them that way too... Regardless, we need to come to a consensus and shall agree upon some targets tomorrow, hopefully!).
Sousunou:
Chieftain – Forg one eye
Warlock engineer – Skreetz the mad
20 Clanrats – Led by Zulbag the Backstabber
20 Clanrats – Led by Srekt Red eyes
20 Slaves – The remnants of Clan Yurz
20 Slaves – The remnants of Clan Belig
Warp Lightning Canon – ‘Manned’ by Fischnag
I decided to keep my range of colours fairly limited simply due to the number of models I will end up painting. Having said that, I want each model to look complete and of a high quality. I have had great success with the Citadel Washes in the past and will be trying to replicate that again. While I may have been able to simply use 1 colour and layer a couple of different washes over it I feel that this would not give me the level of control over the final outcome as the method stated below. This will probably backfire when faced with so many models but this is a Skaven army, so I should probably get used to that as well.
Basic Fur;
Base: Graveyard Earth
Main: Bestial Brown
Highlight: Rotting flesh or Kommando Khaki
Washed with Gryphonne Sepia or Devlan Mud
Flesh;
Main: Elf flesh
Washed with Ogryn Flesh
Cloth;
Main: Reds/Blues
Washed with Gryphonne Sepia or Devlan Mud to mute the colours and make them look dirty.
Metal;
Main: Mixed Silvers
Washed with Badab Black and Baal Red to mimic rust.
Wood:
Main: Snakebite Leather
Highlight: Rotting Flesh or Bleached Bone
Slave’s Cloth;
Main: Rotting Flesh or Bleached Bone
Detail: Graveyard Earth
Possibly washed with Gryphonne Sepia or Devlan mud to make them look equally dirty.
Stormsoul:
Wood Elves and Ogres
In the time of Winter, the forest of Athel Loren grows still and quiet. The spirits of the forest sleeping the dark day and night through, but the unknown is too attractive to some. Hordes of Orcs and Goblins ravaged through the vulnerable forest, burning it’s trees and hunting it’s animals. The Elves fought hard, but the unity of the forest was lacking and their numbers were too small for the raging hordes and the big, ugly brutish Ogres which fought alongside. As the ground hardened, the hordes found themselves in the heart of the forest, before the Oak of Ages itself. But the forest began waking with the turning of the season, the morning light revealed the rebirth of the forest. The unity of the Elves and Athel Loren was strong once more. Through the darkness a mighty horn bellowed, packs of hunting animals growled with fury and a massive form burst through the clearing, the hounds at its ankles. The Elves recognised the form as the mighty Kurnous, who challenged the horde. As he charged into them, the Elves found a new power and energy within and with the newly awakened Dryads, the Orcs and Goblins, with their hired Ogres, were defeated.
The Elves would meet the Ogres once more. Over the hills and through the dark forest, the Elves heard the mighty roars of what could only be the sound of Ogres feasting. A warband led by Gwytherc the huntress charged to find the mighty army of Orcs and Goblins attacking travelling Dwarf traders. The Dwarfs were outnumbered, the corpses being feasted upon the ugly Ogres. Never ones to allow evil to corrupt near their lands, for the first time in the history of Wood Elves, they fought alongside the Dwarfs, quickly defeating the Ogres once more and repairing the ancient bond with the Dwarfs.
The Elves of Athel Loren would no doubt once again face the Ogres, whether alongside the Orcs and Goblins or alone, for the forest will never know lasting peace.
Wood Elves and Dwarfs
The growing army of the dwarfs, unopposed in their domination of the old world, headed into the mysterious forest of Athel Loren. With their axes and fire they hacked and destroyed callously all they came across. Mighty Treemen and merciless Dryads awoke to fight the Dwarfs, but the long winter months weaken the forest and the stubbornness of Dwarfs quickly defeated their spirits.
The Dwarfs soon found themselves thrust into settlements, seemingly abandoned. The forest was no match for them, they believed. Suddenly they found themselves attacked with arrows, but no being to have shot them, the arrows came from each direction shortening their numbers quickly. Red-haired warriors fought with devastating dances, so quick and silent the Dwarfs slow reactions were no match and eventually, the stubbornness of Dwarfs was defeated.
The forest was not as it seemed.
The Wood Elves embraced their new home of Athel Loren which in turn accepted them more as protectors and allies. After the time of Ariel and Orion, in the present ruling of Ariel, the Wood Elves’ bond with their home would be tested more and more by the greed of Dwarfs, each time leaving each side with resentment for what had been lost.
But after the Elves of Athel Loren aided the Dwarfs, will the bond be strong enough to overcome the strangest of circumstances and avoid a fight to the deaths.
Wood Elves and Skaven
Long ago, before they became the Wood Elves of Athel Loren, the Elves fought against the Skaven many a time. As a race more interested in backstabbing and plotting against each other, the Skaven were a race the Wood Elves never feared.
In the early Spring, when the forest was waking up from its long winter, a relatively small group (compared to usual) of Skaven headed to the mysterious wood for tools, gullible to the danger waiting for them. They began using their strange contraptions to destroy the trees of Athel Loren, the nearby Wood Elf archers surrounding the scrabbling Skaven. In an instant the Skaven found themselves under attack by arrows. They searched around but their rat eyes were no match for the stealth of Elves. The Skaven did what they do best and began trying to tunnel under the hard ground of the forest to escape the rain of arrows, but the forest was alive and the Treeman pulled the dirty rodents from their hideout, ripping them in two. The Skaven fled the forest, blaming and biting each other on the way.
The Skaven had underestimated the power of Athel Loren and its guardians, they would be more prepared next time – if they ever stop fighting each other.
Skyjacker:
Heroes
Bruiser 130
Heavy armour +4
Enchanted shield +5
Cathayan long sword +8
Cathayan jet +30
2 Sword Knoblars +10
3 Ogre Bulls 105
Light armour +9
Ironfists +15 (keep their clubs too)
Full command +50
Lookout knoblar +5
4 Ironguts 192
Full command +50
Standard of Discipline +15
20 Gnoblar Fighters 40
Groinbiter +2
Rare
Gorger 75
Total points= 750
I also liked the idea of attempting to connect the races to my objective in a feasable manner, if only geographically at this point in time. With the objective vaguely located somewhere on the forest ridden edge of The Empire, this brings the Ogres closer to the other races. I like to think the other races are interested in also seizing this weapon, the Skaven due to its source of power and warpstone potential. Also the Vampire Counts in the hope of manifesting it to increase their influence over the mortal realms. Ogres are neutral, wandering out of curiosity and hunger. The Wood Elves are trying to stop all three races from taking this weapon for fear that it may be used to destroy their kingdom or for some other malicious ploy.
These are the names of the current mob, i won’t add more names of units/characters not in the story yet to avoid confusion. Most of this burly crowd has traversed from the same Ogre Kingdom at this point in time.
Bruiser ‘Big Shadow’ Skullcracker, underling of tyrant lord
Bale Ironskin
Gnoblar Fighters mob are the 'Feeble Laadstragglers’
Bulls= The Dusk Takers tribe
Ironguts = The Bearded Skywreck tribe or simply ‘the Skywreckers’
Bangbore leadbelchers tribe, kin of Ghark
Manhunter duo Thudhammer and Flailcrunch
Slavegiant, simply nicknamed ‘Paddy’
Any Gorgers that decide to turn up are obviously nameless as they are independent and appear at random
“After a hearty belch and thorough finger cleansing of his left nostril, Skullcracker casually discarded the remnants of the unfortunate pistolier that had regrettably refused to answer his earlier question. Angrily turning to face his travelling bull companions, Skullcracker could clearly see that they had become restless in search of food. In fact the entire platoon looked uncomfortable. The several sacks of meat supplies that had been carried by the decadent knoblars had long since ran out. Despite their slightly diminshed ranks due to a few of the gnoblars having looked particularly tasty to the Ironguts, the ogres had somehow held back on either eating or launching the entire unit. Despite their endless bickering, they would prove useful tools in carrying back Big Shadow’s prizes to his Tyrant; the gnoblars would be consumed once the mob had returned home.
Eyes flickered vacantly (though of course hungrily) amongst the warriors; they had been wandering the mountains for days, to have found only the occasional rogue goat or wandering human that that had somehow foolishly made it this far up into the mountains. They had been travelling for several weeks, and were now camped at a mountain side that gave two contrasting viewpoints. On one side, alive with persevering activity, the distant city of Zharr Naggrund, the sky above entrenched in a permanent red black haze of fumes intent on ravaging nature’s grip on the world. On the other side, the ogres gazed upon the desolate sands of the howling wastes, the winds grasping at nothing except the narrow valleys lining the Silver Road.
His ogre mob had travelled far west to this point by order of Shadow’s cousin, tyrant lord Bale Ironskin, on the basis of intel relayed by his loyal maneaters, Thudhammer and Flailcrunch. At the last great feast, they spoke heartily of a deserted ruin on the edge of the Empire rumoured to contain a mysterious weapon that would grant unassuming power to whoever could wield it. For the power crazed Ironskin, this provided too much curiosity for him to just slump back on his soiled throne. His realm was losing influence over the other kingdoms. To boast of unforseen treasures would surely fester feelings of awe and jealousy from the other kingdoms. His finest Bruiser and a mustered legion of whatever he could pull together would do the trick. Naturally, all ogres relished any new opportunity to cave in a puny lesser-race’s skull with new found weaponry. This prospect alone proved enough incentive for bickering ogres to form under the Bruiser’s lead and leave their tribal home. He may have been incessantly thick in the ‘ead, but the sheer stout build of Skullcracker somehow instilled a natural charisma in him to the rest of the ogres.
His ironguts, stallwart in their arrogance, wore crudely formed armour that they had picked up on their many adventures traversing the long since forgotten land of the Skygiants. In tow, encased in thick rusty chains stood a frustrated hill giant, it’s general groaning and stench more overpowering even than that of the ogres. It’s shins had worn away to little more than lumps of blackened deformed skin. Having been repeatedly kicked and whipped into shape by Ironskin, it’s formerly ravenous conviction was now utterly destroyed. Looking further up the mountain, it was clear to see it’s snowcapped peak drenching the west side in a blizzard.
The campfires burned slowly. Skullcracker bellowed loudly in a crude display of rage, unsettling the soot covered leadbelchers in such a way that they ceased the tinkering of their cannons and stood in as formal a formation they could muster. Perhaps this had been Bale’s plan all along… “
So, everyone's now got at least half of the targets done each :D We'll try and get some of the marking done tomorrow after we have finished sorting out the next month's objectives. Hopefully, we'll see the percentages come from Sousunou and Skyjacker for their armies, but I may do it for them (more so that people don't have to work it out for themselves than for the competition). I also think that whilst Skyjacker's reasoning on the Gorgers is good, he could give them a termt hat his Ogres use for them, but that could be me being stingy and pointing out we all named ALL of our units/characters. Then again, Sousunou named unit champions, but not units. Comments about that are welcome ;)
Lastly, I'd like to direct you all to Sousunou's own website, where he has set up a blog that allows us to all update it ourselves (with separate sections and the like), instead of this basic one. I'll still run this one, but that one is likely to be where we all post our stuff and then it gets collated here, so it may well be worth looking over there (especially since we all have a diary there). Since you could do with the link to get there, here it is: http://to4g.dannyjigg.co.uk/
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