Gnomish Tunnel Fighters

  I bought some Alternative Armies dwarves on ebay, a box called Tunnel Fighters.  I suppose they are OOP, couldnt find them on their website.  There were 10 of them, but only 4 unique sculpts.  So I will keep 4 and sell the other 6.  They are 25mm, so are smaller than my Reaper dwarves, so in my world they are now gnomes.

 Group shot of all 4 gnomes

In the future I want to make a artsy pic of these guys in a proper dark tunnel with lighting appropriate for torchlight.

  The guy on the left is a firepot thrower.  Naptha bombs! I love the smell of burning goblin in the morning.  And I love that lil guy on the right, with his tongue sticking out, he really loves tunnel fighting.

 Here is a comparison shot with a Reaper dwarf.  Sure he is smaller, but isnt short on character.

Another comparison shot with a Reaper dwarf with a lantern in the center.  I think he will be their boss. 

Dark Elves Of The Blackroot Abyss

  Hello again, gentle readers.  Im happy to show off the first adversaries to confront my dwarven expedition...  the Dark Elves!  Dark elves are evil hearted elves who live underground, unlike their forest dwelling good natured cousins on the surface.  In Warhammer they are called Druchii, and in D&D they are called Drow.   I have chosen to paint their skin a purple hue to counterpoint their mostly black armor and cloth.

  Below we have some fluff, and of course some lovely pics with more text to accompany.  Enjoy. 

   Emptiness, then the cold stone of his surroundings.  Reality, then hunger, but not his, and then the all too familiar return of distant ghostly wailing voices.  "Feed us!" His cursed sentient sword hungered for fresh souls to harvest.  Alric was disturbed from his meditation, but not by his blade, something else.  His sharp hearing detected two persons approaching his chamber.  By the weight of her footsteps and the swish of her noble robes, he knew one was the Countess Alyza.  The other he knew by the clinking of various vials, even before he smelled the sharp odor of sulfur and other alchemical agents - Grigori, the Master Of Poisons.  Life as a Drow was a constant dance of politics and assassinations, Alric had been taught as a child.  He turned to face the door and with a wave of his hand, he magically opened it.  The two Drow entered, the Countess with head held high and fangs visible in her disarming smile.  The Alchemist was more subservient, with a lowered head to show his respect.  Alric could feel the hunger within the Countess, an unsatiable bloodlust.  But this time, it was palpable... excited even.  But not directed at him, this was no play for power.  He understood this hunger all to well, felt it mirrored by the sword at his side.  Which meant only one thing.  
  "Intruders in our realm," Alric said simply.  Grigori nodded.  
  "Yes, Lord commander, our favorite," the Countess smiled. "Dwarves..."

 The vanguard of the Drow are the Anti-Paladins, a veritable storm of slashing blades.  In the center is their commander, Alric Of The Cursed Blade.  Alric has a cursed sword, which gives him incredible power, but demands a constant sacrifice of souls.  By his side is High Alchemist Grigori, Master of Poisons, who makes certain all the Anti-Paladin weapons are coated with deadly toxins.

 Countess Alyza commands her personal retinue of warrior she-elves, who are rumored to be addicted to drinking the blood of their enemies.  Born of noble blood, she has forsaken her life in court and chosen to accompany the Drow armies to war.  A master of black sorcery, her bloodlust drives her to slay ever more enemies.  She revels in the slaughter, draining captives and corpses of their soul essence, which in turn fuels her magical arts.

The Shadowfire cultists have taken the high ground where they overwatch their Drow brethren below.  With magic and arrows they decimate their enemies from afar.

Here is a group shot of the entire Drow patrol.

A closeup of some Shadowfire cultists.

Even more cultists, with their leader on the right, Magister Ludi

  Next post, I will try to do a battle report, with either of these rule sets:  Knights & Magick by Heritage, or Song Of Blades And Heroes.  Havent decided yet which to read up on.  I used to play Knights & Magick, so that would be easy to brush up on.  I would prefer to do Song, but I would have to wrap my head around a new and unfamiliar ruleset.  

Cheers,
Mar

An Expedition To Reclaim Moria!

  There are few stories in fantasy that elicit that feeling of "desperate glory" more than the effort to colonize the fallen Mines Of Moria.  The dwarven name itself, Khazad-Dum, evokes a sense of dread but also of mysterious treasures lurking in empty dusty halls.  So these ideas have been burning in my mind of late, an obsessive compulsion like Dreyfuss carving out Devils Peak, first in mashed potatoes, then later in full blown "terrain mode" to fill your living room.   I started this blog with the desire to focus only on 10mm middle earth, maybe dabble in other fantasy subjects, but always in 10mm exclusively.  I cant stick to my miniature size shackles...  not for "the long dark of Moria".  I must, need to return to 28mm. Like Gimli said, "we cannot pass over the mountain.  Let us go under it!"

   The minis are Reaper Miniatures.  Expensive, yet a veritable treasure.  The terrain is Dwarven Forge Cavern Tiles.  An even more expensive treasure.  I spared no expense.  ( Dinos sold separately)
So below are my first 30 Dwarves, and they fall into three groups: 1)civilian explorers who are miners, metal and wood workers, etc..., 2) professional soldiers, and 3) the nobility and their House Guard.  My goal in this project is for every figure to be a unique character "no duplicate sculpts", also only metal minis. 

  Rules wise, I will be using Song of Blades and Heroes.  I will not be refighting Moria exactly.  My lost underground Dwarven Kingdom is hypothetical (fantastically speaking).  Yes Orcs and Balrogs will make appearances, but I wont be limited to Middle Earthian sensibilities.  All manner of foul beasties will inhabit the Moria of my dreams.  This is a far deadlier expedition.  So armor up, friends.  Get your spelunking skills on and I will see you in the caverns/dungeons/mines/what have you...

 "Baruk Khazad! Khazad Ai-menu!"  (The axes of the Dwarves are upon you!)
- Dwarven battle cry

Assemble the hosts! Call forth the legions!  We march to Moria!

Dwarven adventurers, ready to spelunk the caverns.  Let us risk a little light. 

The caverns are a bit slimy in places.  Beware the Watcher in the Water.  Unless you like calamari.

Among them, some thieves for scouting, a forge maiden to keep the weapons sharp, and a chronicler.

 And here are the professional Dwarven soldier class, for when the enemy appears.  Heavy armor and deadly weapons to match.  led by Captain Drogo in the center.

 Although Dwarves prefer glorious close combat, there's no denying the usefulness of a crossbow or two in a fight.

Moving forward, deeper into the mines.

The councillor spots movement in the darkness and sends word to the high commander.

Leader of my expedition, Baron Hawk, gives the order to form up.

 Form up!

The Baron and his close guard with their backs to high ground, where they can retreat to if necessary.

 

Overview of the Dwarven lines.  Civilian explorers on the watery left.  Nobles in the center.  Soldiers on the right.

 Dwarven Forge cavern tiles sure look great.  They are precious to me.  Preciousss...

And there is the post, coming up next?  Foes... but of what variety?  Tune in to find out!

Thanks for looking,
Mar