Die Deutsche Emin Pasha Expedition

[Plynkes]

Or... "Doctor Emin, I Presume?"


The Laikipiak Plateau in East Africa, home to the Laikipiak Masai.


Where the young lads tend to the cattle...

And village life quietly proceeds much as it does the world over...

"Can you believe her at Number 23, carrying on with the milkman as bold as brass?"

"I know dear, shocking, ain't it?"




There are chores to be done.


Time to get the cows in.




A young lad in ritual circumcision costume. He's got too much of a spring in his step to have just been relieved of his foreskin, I can tell you (believe me, I know). I reckon he is fleeing from the ceremony like any sensible fellow would.


Here comes the Laibon to find the naughty fellow. Snip! Snip!

(Didn't have anything really Laibonish, so I went with the least unMasai-like witchdoctor I had. During our game he acquired the nickname of "Simon Laibon" of the band "Moran Moran" (Groan...))




Paying no heed to these scenes of pastoral bliss are the Moran, the age-regiments of the Masai.


For they devote all their time to perfecting their skills...


...in the noble arts of hooliganism and highway robbery.


Was in a hurry to get these done for this week's game, so I cut some corners compared to my usual efforts, in an attempt at speed-painting.


But to be honest they don't look that different to my usual painstaking efforts.


So maybe I shouldn't bother to do that any more, and always paint like this. That's a little disconcerting really. Not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing.



We made a camp fire,
Far off in the distance
A beautiful mountain.


Kill him!
Kill him! Kill him! Kill him!

Kill the savage lion...


...Before the lion kills you.


"Well you needn't look at me like that. That was already here when I arrived."

(This fine fellow was caught up in a nasty case of misbehaving Dullcote this week, along with several others here you may have spotted. Guess I'll have to try again and hope for something less shiny next time.)


Some non-moran archers (the Moran are forbidden to use such a dishonourable weapon as a bow). Could be chaps too young or old to be moran, or allies (or vassals?) from a hunting or farming people such as the Dorobo.

[Plynkes]

Into this pastoral idyll barges Die Deutsche Emin Pasha Expedition.


Its declared mission is to relieve one of general Gordon's beleaguered lieutenants, somewhere in the middle of nowhere. But the "Claim half of East Africa for the Kaiser expedition" would probably be a more honest title.


At the expedition's head, our old friend, that renowned humanitarian and noted philanthropist, old Charlie Peters. He is determined to prove the villain, and has sworn to cut a path through the lands of the Masai on his way to Uganda. A route long closed to outsiders due to the ferocious reputation for violence, robbery and extortion of the locals. Peters believes it is time to cut them down to size and knock them into line, and so conducts an unprovoked attack on a Masai village.


Peters' trusty Somali askari.

Last night we played a game based on this encounter. I'll probably get around to a proper battle report in a bit, but for now here are a few pictures from our game:

Sickers and Wakey moving their Moran warbands.


Masai advance.


Charlie hastily attempts to form a makeshift square.


Trouble for the porters.


"Things is looking pretty bad, Boss!"

Can Charlie triumph against the odds? Will he ever get through to Emin Pasha? Is he beginning to wish he'd booked a package tour with Thomas Cook? Or Perhaps just rented a gîte in the Dordogne for a month instead?

Find out soon, in our next exciting episode!



(Thought as I'm the Colonial Adventures chap, it was about time I contributed something that might provide a bit of inspiration to the cause.)

[Stu]

Excellent stuff!

[Mad Doc Morris]

Wow, very cool! You have a great and well painted collection there. The girl carrying firewood is my personal highlight. I also like your write-up. Well done, sir!

[argsilverson]

Wow, very cool! You have a great and well painted collection there. The girl carrying firewood is my personal highlight. I also like your write-up. Well done, sir!

I second all the above.
At last, we are benefited by one new of your adventures in darkest Africa. It is very inspiring to see your work , Sir. Please continue your excellent work!!

[argsilverson]

Dear Plynkes,

Will you add this excellent report with the photos in your blog??

[Doomhippie]

Nice painting. I'm always impressed by people who manage to paint armies to such a nice standard as your Massai.

[Captain Blood]

Plynkes, if that's speed painting, it's none too shabby.
Lovely stuff. Good old Masai...

Didn't really need to know about your foreskin - but hey, thanks for sharing 

[DFlynSqrl]

Fantastic Plynkes!  I look forward to reading the full report. 

[Poliorketes]

Wonderful!

[Ray Rivers]

Terrific!

I love the Masai warriors.  They are excellent mini's you painted them masterfully.

I have some as well which I haven't tried out yet because the shields seem a bit daunting but I must say yours came out verrrrry well.

Overall, a super collection you have there!

[answer_is_42]

Not much else I can say. Lovely stuff.
How did you build that snow-capped mountian in the first shot? Must've used alot of foamboard for that... 

[Plynkes]

How did you build that snow-capped mountian in the first shot? Must've used alot of foamboard for that... 

Actually we cheated, and took the lazy way out by moving our gaming table to a bit of open savannah on the Kenya-Tanzania border, because building a mountain seemed too much like hard work.

I have some as well which I haven't tried out yet because the shields seem a bit daunting...

They are a bit, aren't they. On the other hand, my extensive and exhaustive Google research into real Masai shields has revealed that actual living Masai aren't ever going to win any Golden Demon awards themselves. The real thing rarely looks as neat and nice as the ones you see in illustrations or on painted figures.

So when they don't come out so well you can just say "Look, it isn't my bad painting, I'm accurately representing some Masai who can't paint for toffee. Don't you think I carried off that shabbily-done look rather well?"

Dear Plynkes,

Will you add this excellent report with the photos in your blog??

Maybe, or I might just put it in this topic. Haven't decided yet. But if it does go on the blog I'll link to it from here.


Thanks for the kind words, all.

[Driscoles]

Hi,

its nice to see one of your new projects. Thanks for sharing.

Björn

[Mosstrooper]

Brilliant looking game ! , what rules are you using ?