Tom Meier Darksword Minis, A New Fantasy Fellowship Forms

 In this post we have a bunch of newly painted figures sculpted by Tom Meier from Darksword Miniatures. Tom has been a long time favorite sculptor of mine from his days at Ral Partha. I painted lots of those minis in junior high. "Behold Ral Partha Minis! Cast when birds and beasts and flower were One with Man, and death was but a dream!" Righto Merlin, you tell em. So anyways, now Im on a mission to collect all of Tom's minis from Darksword. They are truly a prize worthy of Mordor.

So, onwards to some background fluff and some pics!

All across Middle Earth dire portents abound!
The Free Peoples of Middle Earth are stirring from a long period of peace to find that evil may be lurking where they least expect it... err. maybe where it always tends to come from. Some places are just chock full of the dark side of the Force!

Gondor (and Rohan) is under ominous and unknown threats from Moria and/or Mordor. Anybody out there know whats going on?

Rivendell cordially invites a delegation from your people to join the Free Peoples in a democratic council to decide the future of Middle Earth. Please RSVP to reserve a chair at our table ASAP. Sincerly Yours, Elerina the Half Elven, Lord of the Last Homely House East of the Sea

Hobbits volunteer to explore Moria! Here ye, hear ye! The Shire has answered the call to investigate the omens that portend a new apocalypse looming over Middle Earth. Or maybe they just want to find the long lost Book of Bugman's Beer Crafting. Also, do any of the Dwarf colonists still exist in the Dwarrowdelf? Remember when we traded Shire pipeweed for good Dwarven beer? Hobbits sure do miss their larger, fatter, mountain dwelling cousins.

~~~

And so one fine summer day, the Council of Elerina in Rivendell awaited the delegates from other friendly nations. Gondor had spared no expense and had sent their ambassadors via giant eagle priority Uber-Lyft (Lift... because eagles got wings, get it?). With them they had sent the recently acquired Book of Pickles for translation. Rohan came by horse of course, of course. A young Ent of Fangorn Forest came on his own two feet, or roots it seems (stems, if one were a plantling and an Ent). But none of them could reveal the Books secrets by any language or combination of magic words. It was simply a blank book with blank pages except for its cover that read "The Book of Pickles" in the Khazalid Dwarfish language. Many a magic incantation or secret masonic call was given: 

"Annon edhellen, edro hi ammen!/Fennas nogothrim, lasto beth lammen!" 

"ade due damballa give me the power" "Abra Abra Cadabra... I wanna reach out and grab ya"

"by the power of greyskull"   "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" 

"to infinity and beyond"    "beetlejuice beetlejuice beetlejuice" 

But the Book remained blank.

Finally a shy Hobbit from the Shire came forward. Hobbits are a naturally unassuming people and Tuddle was only forced to come because he drew the shortest straw when the summons came from Rivendell to send a representative. Tuddle spoke with a voice that was too high and too trembly, "I solemnly swear I am up to no good" and the book came to life and its pages were magically filled with writings and maps. Most curious was the front inside cover that folded out as a map with a blinking spot where the delegation was taking place - it was the legendary Marauder's Map that was in Pickles keeping. "Lucky guess?", said Tuddle.

A new fellowship was then chosen to plumb the depths of Moria to seek any dwarfs still living there and to uncover any clue as to the new phantom menace that threatens middle earth. 

Left to Right: Mortimer the Brown, Istari Wizard and Shrub Beard, Entling Adventurer

Mortimer the Brown, nodded and waved his hand and a massive firework display in the shape of an Owlbear shot up into the sky to show not only his support but also of the Istari Wizards who wander Middle Earth. It was at his insistence that this council be formed here in Rivendell.
Shrub Beard, an Ent, perhaps cut from Treebeard's line, made a deep rumbling  Hhrrmmmphthhh sound to signal his wish to join. But was he a true Ent or more of a Shambling Mound really?

Left to Right: Lady Elerina, Half Elven Sorceress of Rivendell and Anais, Half Elven Fighter

Lady Elerina, the half elven lord of Rivendell had chosen to go herself. She was considered to both wise and powerful in magic. And unlike her predecessor - Elrond long ago, this time she would personally join this new fellowship. Headstrong she was, and none of her council could dissuade her.
Anais, her personal bodyguard and dutiful handmaiden had insisted to also come to watch over her lady. While slight in build, she was as deadly in combat as any Elven lord in the court. Plus she was handy at making tea for her Lady.

Left to Right: Tuddle, Hobbit Burglar (in training) and Poppy, Hobbit Herbologist

Tuddle, for his ingenuity would represent the Shire. Perhaps he could be useful in solving the many mysteries of Moria.  
Poppy, a Hobbit that had actually volunteered to be part of the Shire's effort in the upcoming adventure. Not only was she skilled in the ways of herbology, she was too brave to be a respectable Hobbit. Even as a child, many in her family had said she was dropped off by Took-ish gypsies as a baby.

Left to Right: Cosette, Rohan Paladin and Kipper, Squire

To represent Rohan, the paladin Cosette proclaimed, "By my life or death I can help you, I will."
And at her side, Cosette's Squire, Kipper also stepped forwards.

Left to Right: Baron Orson, Lord of Lebennin and Haystacks, Fighter from Ringlo Vale

Then the delegates of Gondor came forward to complete the circle. First came Baron Orson, who some said was a shrewd but wise Lord of the Outlands. Others would replace the word shrewd with "opportunistic". But they would do so only in whispers, for the Lord of Lebennin was also a vindictive sort of man.
Finally the friendly warrior Haystacks of Ringlo Vale gave everyone a wide grin and a wink to balance the seriousness of Baron Orson.

And immediately everyone looked to the others around them and were happy that such a fine, wise, and goodly companionship had formed. So Elerina gave her approval with a nod and raised a cup of mead and made a toast, "To the Fellowship of the... Book?" Doesnt have quite the same"ring" to it, does it? Oh yeah, "ring"... get it? *drum roll... Bah Dum Tss*

~~~~~~~

So there's the fluff. 

Next post we will see stats for these new fellows and the scenario details for their first adventure.

So yeah, pre-game details are coming up in a day or two.

Then a battle report either this weekend or next. Maybe both?

 Next post: The Battle of Bugman's Tomb!

Cheers,

Mar