OWAC VII - Here be Dragons (Leader's month)

 

One of the toughest policies and direst duties of King Caradryel was the abandonment of the Old World colonies. A tragedy for many nobles that still had family ties with those elves that refused to leave the continent. 

Those who flew to the new populated forests of Athel Loren were somewhat safe. But the people of the coast were damned to perish against the hordes of barbarians, orcs and creatures of chaos awoken after the age of elves and dwarves.

It was not an easy task to enforce the recall of elven troops in the diplomatic table. Among the unrested nobles in Ulthuan, there was a risk of disobeyance and unilaterally send aid to the continent, or worse, open rebellion. One of those, Bel-Tebal of Nagarythe, a caring father for the princes of Tor Nimtala in the Tielan coast. It was vital to retain the few nobles that were still loyal to the crown in the ravaged lands of Nagarythe.

Caladryel was pragmatic and an intelligent leader. It was not possible to make an exception with the stubborn veteran Bel-Tebal. Nor undoing his command. But in the audience with the enraged former prince, he choose wisely the words.

"You, as all the people of Ulthuan, has been commanded not to sent your valuable soldiers to the continent. Yet, I cannot forbid the aid of a father to her daughter and his son-in-law. You can march yourself with your mount, take your best blade and fight for them. Your retinue can accompany you, but they will not be allowed to land in the continent..."

A mount. Not a steed.
Bel-Tebal reached the caverns of his tower and pleaded for the aid of his old friend Ymmrrarior. The ancient female great dragon hear that the offspring of his friend was in danger, so she must stay awake from the dragon dream a little bit longer.

The hordes of chaos creatures did not know that they've indirectly provoked the wrath of an ancient foe. Fire and nightmare made manifest. No ratmen could pass her scale armour. No enemy enough powerful to stand the wrath of the old prince and his terrible ally.

A small change of plans for this month. I needed some supplies for finishing a unit I had in the workbench for the wildcard. However, the printed old styled shields couldn't get in time, and I switched to the big guy instead.

I could have completed some of the other planned pieces, and I am unsure if I could finish the wildcard unit in time. Yet the dragon was a safe bet for this month, believe it or not.

I was also wanting to paint some creature. In the meantime I have been toying with some miniatures based on paleontological reconstructions. I despertely needed to put my hands on the dragon!

At first it was going to be based on some blue lizards that will also be in the same chromatic range of much of my army. The belly and wings in a sandy white or slightly ice yellow. But I was starting to paint my other commander, the elf mage, and I felt in love with the pink-grey I made. It was the perfect colour for the belly and wings of the dragon.

I love to put some small patterns in the horns, head and maybe tail or some key areas of the body of my creatures. I went for a slightly light turquoise strips and then the eye firey-motif.

The funiest or oddest reference was the prince armour. I love the colour combinations of the old Saint Seiya armours of the eighties. Unusual choices today, as we barely see more than two colours in fantasy/sci-fi, both western or manga armour designs.

The cloak and clothes have similar patterns like the other, japanese-styled clothes of my army.

Finally, the mandatory elf mage. I am basing each of my mages in a discipline of the Old World winds of magic. I chose a different approach to the lore of life. Instead of the usual greens, the japanese flowers allowed my to mix the pinky-gray tones with the flower pattern over the cloak.

That makes for

1x High elf prince and a great dragon - 760 points

1x High elf mage - 59

And now for the "easy part"? What would be the wildcard month? Stay tuned for the next update

 

Until then,

Adrian's out.

The Old World Army Challenge's 7th edition has just begun! - high elves edition

 

 

 

It's that time of the year again. 

OWAC V April's leader month - Meet King Kazador!

Leader Month

King Kazador stands proudly atop of the dwarf mine while his enemies rout in fear .

Time for the army characters (most of them, I coudln't get Uther in time, but it is probably good to shine with his mighty regiment of renown)

The king slayed one giant orc and finally climbed the small hill where the mineshaft entrance opens. He blowed the mighty horn of Karak Azul while the surviving orcs ran in fear for their lives. 

Another wave have been destroyed, and the dwarf miners and his new allies stood firmly. 

 

"Doc": My lord, the orcs are retreating… there is a large one in the base of the hill, a warlord… Sir, I think I can see Gorfang! 

… 

But he, he’s starting to walk to the rear of the encampent. He seems to be giving orders to a large mob of armoured orcs and trolls while he’s going back.  Is he withdrawing?

Kazador: That scoundrel is getting away! I knew it, I KNEW IT!! ...He will not stand and fight against me, again. 

The king changed from his sudden rage to a sad stance. 

Kazador: Ahhh, forget it. Well, we will reduce that bunch of trolls to a pile of smelly meat. But I will need everyone ready… 

[He stares left and right] Wait, where are Snorri and his lads? That group of thugs and bruisers will come handy and yet they’re loitering somewhere else? 

- My King, they were right before us until we passed that valley where the giant sheepers were, I think they tried to get into a fight with those poor people. 

Kazador: Nevermind, I will blow the horn until they come. Then if they’re not deaf enough they will hear me again for such reprehensible behavior. 

 Vudrimm: My lords, it is not necessary to stress further such magic and ancient artifact, I have a method to call them here in no time. 

 

Let me use some runic magic to bring those thugs here. 

Kazador: Well, then show me. 

[The runesmith opens a portal]

 

[A sudden burst of uncontrolled violence, gunshots and screams!!]

Kazador: Wait, WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON! STOP YOU IDIOTS! 

 

+ Oh, my… my apologies. We thought you were daemons assaulting our ship from this portal. It suddenly appeared in our deck. 

Kazador: DO I LOOK LIKE A DEMON? Who are you? 

+ We are the crew of rogue trader Mrrmalon. Known thugs, mercenaries and pirates in four subsect..[watching how Kazador’s face is getting more and more red]

… I… I think that there is no business for us in here. Have a good day, sir. 

Kazador: OFF WITH YOU! 

 

Vudrimm: I think I did not specify correctly the thugs we were looking for during the invocation. Let me try again, my lord. 

Kazador: No, no, no more portals my dear runesmith or I fear we will lose our minds…and probably our heads too the next time. Keep your forces for the battle. 

I will toot as I please.

And that’s all. 

Two commanders for my force. 

Vudrimm Rumblebrow, Runesmith - 78 points

The dwarf runesmith/scribe came from the recent Ral Partha dwarf range and fits perfectly with aesthetics and size of 3rd ed dwarfs. 

It was a replacement for the missing dwarf warriors as I lost a parcel. Funny enough, the shipment was found several months later and I inted to paint the dwarf warrior before I end the challenge!

 

Pretty fun to paint, especially the old book pages. 

 

King Kazador - 494 points

 

King Kazador in all his glory. 

Nothing else special beside the back banner and drilling a bit the horn. I am not completely happy with the back banner material, as it doesn’t fit perfectly (but the pictures do not capture the back flaps so people do not see the mistakes, haha!). 

I couldn’t get it work if I wanted to paint it separated so it was easiery to make the freehands. 

I will try to something else for back banners for a future project… maybe an OWAC project! [thriller movie music] 

Sadly I couldn’t finish the freehand banner for the dwarf warriors on time as I initially wanted. 

Until next month! 

Adrian’s out.