Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Gothic Horror => Topic started by: Iain R on December 07, 2021, 10:53:15 PM
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Warning: preamble incoming.
For some years I've always fancied setting the zombie apocalypse in Regency Britain, the idea of the likes of the rough and ready Major Sharpe and Captain Hornblower showing up to save the fops & dandies from the usual regency novels (and doubtless steal their betrothed...) made me chuckle. Then along came Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, and I remarked that that would make a cool game. Of course, as always, Loki was listening, and fast forward a few years and my usual opponent makes me aware of a cool sounding new game, The Silver Bayonet, that sounds right up my street. Into the pre-order it goes.
Now, with said book now arrived and safely squirreled away under the tree (in the vain hope I won't get distracted from my mediaevals), I find myself more interested in using dark British folklore for my inspiration, which is far more relevant to the thinking behind the book.
The idea of the usual Famous Monsters stalking about does nothing for me, zombies, whilst cool, are now somewhat done to death (ahem), and the idea of a giant cosmic horror like Cthulu being in any way an appropriate match for eight blokes with muskets and a magic hat just didn't fly. I'm far more interested in that sort of earthy, local folklore, that spoke of danger lurking just outside the back door, or at the back of the cowshed. The sort of supernatural beings that our ancestors (and the little lead men on our tables) knew were out there...
As such, with a host of beasties from Gaelic folklore already in the stash to chase my mediaevals about in Dragon Rampant, I decided to sketch out my setting initially in the West Highlands, beginning as all good tales do, with some lost visitors...
1810, LOCHABER, NORTH WEST SCOTLAND.
The French, advised of lingering Jacobite sentiments in the West Highlands, have dispatched the sloop Jehanne d'Arc to land gold, arms and agents in Lochaber, seeking to sow dissent and division within Great Britain.
Unfortunately, the sympathetic chief they have been corresponding with does not exist, at least outwith the imagination of the British spymasters. Neither has the presence of their vessel escaped the notice of the Royal Navy. After a vicious game of cat and mouse among the Hebrides, the French vessel finds itself in Loch Sunart, listing badly and taking on water. Making the decision to salvage what they can, the French make landfall, offload the stores, and fire the boat, still hoping to make contact with the illusory chief, and set off into the wild hinterland of Lochaber.
3 weeks later, the few crazed and starved survivors, crying and shrieking at the sky, are discovered by a ghillie in the ruins of an abandoned bothy, the eviscerated remains of their comrades strewn about them. Unable to speak French, the confused ghillie manages to lead the unfortunate Frenchmen to the garrison at Fort William, where their story is eventually coaxed out of them by the incredulous Governor.
They tell a tale of being stalked through the misty nights by an unseen... being, which would shriek and howl at them from the darkness, before charging at the group, taking another unfortunate soul off to his doom. This went on for almost three weeks, before they found the ruins of the bothy, and resolved to make their stand.
Unfortunately their defended position brought no respite, with their unseen assailant turning out to be both numerous and ethereal, their muskets, swords and pistols having no effect. Those that did see what beset them tried to claw out their own eyes, having to be restrained or knocked unconscious by their terrified comrades until daylight brought respite, and darkness closed again for another night of terror, before they were rescued by the now handsomely rewarded ghillie.
Unnerved by the fact that clearly some clan of inbred cannibals (for this was clearly not the work of ghosts) was stalking his area of responsibility, and were now armed with French powder and ball, not to mention enriched with gold and in receipt of useful intelligence, the Governor resolved to tackle the problem and dispatched a patrol from his company of Veteran Battalion men, recently arrived from the Midlands, to resolve the situation, recover what they could, and hang any who they could not return in chains. This was despite the misgivings of the resident Fencible regiment, local men who warned that this sounded like the doings of the slaugh, and that no good would come of provoking them. The patrol, veterans of campaigns in the tropics, India and Flanders, laughed this off as the superstition of backward rustics, and set off in good spirits. They were never heard from again.
Annoyed that these wily old campaigners had probably found the gold and taken the opportunity to scarper with it, the Governor dispatched a further patrol, cursing the admonishments of the Fencibles. When this patrol too vanished without a trace (save a report from the crew of a fishing boat of ragged musketry sounding in the glen), the Governor eventually accepted the council of the Fencibles, and sent word to Edinburgh.
Expecting to be reinforced by a battalion of regulars, the Governor was somewhat surprised, and not a little annoyed, instead to find a handful of mismatched troops, seemingly from every possible corps in the army, led by a civilian (and a lawyer and politician at that!) arrive at the fort. If their uniforms were mismatched, their arms and accoutrements were even stranger; axes, stakes, maces, Nock Volley Guns, and each man seemed well decked in crucifixes and other holy symbols. What was this, some sort of Crusade?!
However on reading the enigmatic civilian’s letter of introduction, the Governor, a veteran of plenty of bloody conflict, visibly paled and simply told his adjutant that the newcomers were not to be interfered with, and any requests they made were to be met, on pain of the lash or cashiering. The matter was in hand...
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:D :D sounds great :D :D
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Good foundation there.
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Great background. Pictures please!
Though not in Lochaber you may want to think of Am Fear Liath Mòr - the great grey man of Ben Macdui. My father and I encountered the spectre near the summit of that mountain 35 years ago. I have not returned to the hills since then.
😉
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Regency Britain
earthy, local folklore
I'm with you there!
Nice idea. The French must have been pretty gullible to believe there was still a credible Jacobite presence in Britain in 1810!
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Excellent! I enjoyed that!
It sounds as though it will be a solo campaign, is that right? Unless perhaps the French are sending a follow up expedition to find out what became of the Jehanne D'Arc and her gold? And perhaps there are representatives from other Continental powers drawn to the stories of strange goings on in the Highlands...
Appetite whetted, I look forward to seeing the miniatures!
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fantastic scene-setting
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Great setting, ripe with narrative richness!
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Great idea to use local/regional folklore. I will thouroughly think about having the infamous franconian Nachtgiger in one of our games... :D
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Good background.
The French must have been pretty gullible to believe there was still a credible Jacobite presence in Britain in 1810!
If not Jacobite, anti-English is possible.
History, even very recent History, is littered with
(even more) examples of credulity.
lol lol lol
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Most excellent. I look forward to reading the AARs.
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Thanks all, glad it was vaguely interesting!
Though not in Lochaber you may want to think of Am Fear Liath Mòr – the great grey man of Ben Macdui. My father and I encountered the spectre near the summit of that mountain 35 years ago. I have not returned to the hills since then.
Oddly enough, I have! There's also a similar sort of beastie on Skye, Baisd Bheulach, between the two I'm working on finding something appropriate to the locality...
Nice idea. The French must have been pretty gullible to believe there was still a credible Jacobite presence in Britain in 1810!
A desperate enemy will believe what he wants to believe, look at some of the stuff we convinced the Germans of in WWII...
It sounds as though it will be a solo campaign, is that right? Unless perhaps the French are sending a follow up expedition to find out what became of the Jehanne D’Arc and her gold? And perhaps there are representatives from other Continental powers drawn to the stories of strange goings on in the Highlands...
No, I was working on the assumption that my usual opponent John will be doing a French band (he’s been looking for an excuse to buy the Perry Retreat from Moscow stuff, and already has a sizeable French force anyway... he’s also not pleased that I’ve used The Maid’s name for a boat...), however on meeting for a blether yesterday, seems he’s also considering Russians or Austrians...
The Companions of St Jude
Full disclosure, I am not at all impressed with the official British unit (less the supernatural investigator and maybe the veteran hunter), though the French and Russian units look better, but even before seeing them had already decided I’d probably just use Perry stuff anyway, as in terms of scope, aesthetics and price, they’re hard to beat, and I already had loads lying about anyway.
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/922/nauKce.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pmnauKcej)
... aka the Society of Dodgy Bastards. A collection of misfits, mongrels and oddfellows from across the British Army and beyond, united by their experiences of the supernatural and unexplainable. Formed under the name of the patron saint of lost causes by Investigator Stanforth Rowley-Birkin to meet the threat of the Harvestmen, and defeat it by whatever means necessary.
First off the bench was my officer, mainly because I had the perfect candidate in mind, figure-wise, in my pile of unpainted shame...
Captain Tristram Fazakerly-Butterworth-Toast
(Officer)
Expelled from Oxford for duelling, young Tristram found himself packed off to the army with an Ensign’s commission, his fiancée’s tears and his father’s old sword. There, a conventional, if eventful, career seemed to be his destiny until a brush with the supernatural in the Peninsula spirited him away from the officers’ mess of the 52nd Foot, and into the shadowy world of the Companions of St Jude.
Now a captain, the affable and brave officer serves as the right-hand man to Rowley-Birkin, an advisor in matters requiring conventional military tactics, and an invaluable liaison between the secretive and unconventional Investigator and the local military leadership they often find themselves assisting, who find it much easier to just work on the assumption that the young officer is the one actually in charge...
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/922/cT1bCV.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pmcT1bCVj)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/922/SNQiYm.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pmSNQiYmj)
Uniform-wise, he’s made the practical choice of swapping his regulation buff breeches for hard-wearing leather-reinforced overalls, and adopted a buff pelisse against the cold (and all the ladies like a Hussar, so...) and I stuck a skull on his base. That's how you know it's a horror game, see? The face isn't one of my better efforts, in all honesty, but equally I don't think it's one of the bothers' better sculpted ones, either.
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'They will rise to join our cause' beliefs influenced decisions numerous times over the course of the Napoleonic Wars.
Jacobites is a great one to add to the list!
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'They will rise to join our cause' beliefs influenced decisions numerous times over the course of the Napoleonic Wars.
Jacobites is a great one to add to the list!
Yep, on both sides, I don't doubt!
Jacobite holdouts might also form the foundation of the cultists, as at the moment I've got nothing better...
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That's one excellent paint-job! Well done!
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Very nice :-* Look forward to the rest.
I like your background v. much, it has given me ideas :)
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I like the setting and will watch with interest. I did a series of games set just after the Jacobite Risings that involved a lot of bad puns, Scottish myths (beings and stories) as well as illegal whisky stills and a fair bit of violence. Whisky was regarded as a healthy breakfast tipple…
By 1760 whisky was being consumed at breakfast by the upper and middle classes, and was beginning to challenge other more fashionable spirits as a after-dinner drink.
By 1800 the spirit was a regular in the punch bowl that according to Steve Sillet; ‘it was being introduced into the punch-bowl at the rate of half a pint per head’ – although gin and brandy were still preferred at gatherings and farm feasts.
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Brilliant, background and painting both.
:-* :-*
I must admit that SB has me thinking of doing a predecessor organisation of my British Interwar anti-Mythos group, M.O.O.S.(E), the Ministry of Occult Studies (England), set in the Napoleonic period.
Nappies always put me off with the straps and buckles (and sheer volume of figures needed!), but a few individuals could be fun.
:)
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"Oddly enough, I have! There's also a similar sort of beastie on Skye, Baisd Bheulach, between the two I'm working on finding something appropriate to the locality"
Please do keep us posted.
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Have you considered Bauchans?
There are several stories of these mythical creatures in Scottish folklore. Bauchans were ambiguous creatures as they could be helpful to people at times though for the most part they were fiercely dangerous.
There is no clear description as to what bauchans actually looked like. According to some sources they were similar to brownies in appearance- small, hairy, with iron teeth. Others claim that they were fearsome monsters, gigantic in size. Exploring the legends of these creatures is the best way of determining what they were like. Here is one tale of a particularly gruesome bauchan who resided in the Highlands.
Known as Coluinn the Headless, this beast was greatly feared in the Highland area of Morar. He haunted the Smooth Mile between Morar House and the river Morar, attacking and slaughtering travelers along the road. The bauchan only attacked men, leaving women and children unharmed. He was also loyal to the family of the house – perhaps his brutal murders were a way of protecting the inhabitants of Morar House? One of the victims of the beast’s attacks was a relative of the MacLeod clan in Inverness. Iain Garbh, son of the chief, swore to avenge his friend’s death. He went to the place the beast stalked and grabbled with him on the Smooth Mile. Iain overpowered the bauchan and held him on the Smooth Mile until dawn. Coluinn the Headless lost his power and, in exchange for his life, swore never to return to the area. He left Morar and went to live in solitude on a hill in the north of Skye.
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Known as Coluinn the Headless, this beast was greatly feared in the Highland area of Morar. He haunted the Smooth Mile between Morar House and the river Morar, attacking and slaughtering travelers along the road. The bauchan only attacked men, leaving women and children unharmed. He was also loyal to the family of the house – perhaps his brutal murders were a way of protecting the inhabitants of Morar House? One of the victims of the beast’s attacks was a relative of the MacLeod clan in Inverness. Iain Garbh, son of the chief, swore to avenge his friend’s death. He went to the place the beast stalked and grabbled with him on the Smooth Mile. Iain overpowered the bauchan and held him on the Smooth Mile until dawn. Coluinn the Headless lost his power and, in exchange for his life, swore never to return to the area. He left Morar and went to live in solitude on a hill in the north of Skye.
Great tale, Alan! I love such stories!
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Great tale, Alan! I love such stories!
Yep, me too, Folklore tales are wonderous things! :)
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super paint-job on that officer.
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Thanks for the tall tales. I look forward to reading more.
Tony
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Cheers folks, very kind! Rifleman to follow shortly, and work has commenced on a Pioneer...
By 1800 the spirit was a regular in the punch bowl that according to Steve Sillet; ‘it was being introduced into the punch-bowl at the rate of half a pint per head’ – although gin and brandy were still preferred at gatherings and farm feasts.
Half a pint of whisky a skull?! Into punch?! Sounds like waste of good single malt to me...
I must admit that SB has me thinking of doing a predecessor organisation of my British Interwar anti-Mythos group, M.O.O.S.(E), the Ministry of Occult Studies (England), set in the Napoleonic period.
The Department for Ethereal Existential Reconnaissance (D.E.E.R.)?
Board of Occult Armaments Research (B.O.A.R.)?
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The Department for Ethereal Existential Reconnaissance (D.E.E.R.)?
Board of Occult Armaments Research (B.O.A.R.)?
I like your thinking.
:)
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Very inspiring background! Looking forward to see the rest of your splendid chaps.
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Thanks all!
Rifleman Holbrook Tamms
(Rifleman)
A poacher by trade, but honest man by conviction, his attempts to explain to the Cheshire magistrates just what it was he happened to be in the right place at the right time to save a parson's daughter from, saw him offered the choice of Bedlam or the green jacket. Thankfully, others were only too aware that more than foxes and badgers roam the desolate English uplands, and his skills and experiences found a new home amongst the Companions of St Jude...
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/924/UrVKtd.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/poUrVKtdj)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/922/flLI57.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pmflLI57j)
Another workmanlike paintjob. I had no idea that John Tams of Sharpe & folk music fame was actually born in a place called Holbrook, that is a genuinely spooky coincidence!
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Sharp paintwork there mate!
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He looks excellent, as does his officer! Keep them coming!
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Sharp paintwork there mate!
I see what you did there...
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The campaign is quite interesting. Please keep us posted.
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Thanks guys!
Got my Pioneer finished;
Private Jethro Wetherwax
(Sapper)
A woodsman from the Durham north country, Jethro's family had long been only too aware of what stalked the old abandoned border towers of the East March, and endeavoured to keep them in check as best they could, lest the disappearance of travellers and wandering poets bring too much attention to the lands of the Prince Bishops. Excess ale one evening and cross words with the local squire saw him thrown from this existence into an ill-fitting red coat, where his knowledge and skills with an axe soon found better employ than the 68th Foot's pioneers...
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/922/Gp0Qyk.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pmGp0Qykj)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/924/ezqQ29.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/poezqQ29j)
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Brilliant! Masterful brush work! Absolutely gorgeous!
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Brilliant! Masterful brush work! Absolutely gorgeous!
My thoughts echo that!
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Thanks folks.
Got my sawbones finished, a basic conversion of a Perry Ensign, with a medical bag added. It's slightly oversized, like some sort of Napoleonic paramedic's kitbag, but then given the setting, that might be appropriate. Painted a regimental surgeon of the 59th (geographically appropriate for the background, and the white faci gs hide the fact that as a medical officer he shouldn't have lace on his jacket), who's decided to swap his black waistbelt for a shoulder one for his sword... he does at least have the correct black plume, though! lol Folk music once again providing ample inspiration for names...
Albermere Monke, Doctor of Physick
(Doctor)
Cursed with a more enquiring mind than country practice as a physician to the rural gentry of Derbyshire could really satisfy, a submitted paper to the Royal Society on some alarming post mortem results saw him quietly inducted into more specialised practice, under the guise of a blameless army surgeon.
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/923/xtoI1d.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pnxtoI1dj)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/923/sWkYI5.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pnsWkYI5j)
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These are wonderful,the doctor is fab 8)
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Wow, the painted minis are a real inspiration!! Keep this coming - i can't wait to see where it goes. Best wishes for the New Year.
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Absolutely stunning! Phenomenal brushwork! Inspirational!
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Absolutely stunning! Phenomenal brushwork! Inspirational!
couldn't agree more.
fantastic style - and I assume usings humbrols as per your avatar.
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Spectacular painting!
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I've been toying for a while and threads like this arn't helping :D
well done
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Thanks for the kind comments all, happy new year!
and I assume usings humbrols as per your avatar.
Yes, indeed. All Humbrol enamels except the metallics, which are a mix of Citadel and Coat d' Arms.
As Jethro Tull once sang... "BEASTIE!"
Made a start on the monsters to go along with the hunters. Behold Cu Sith, the Great Highland Spook-Doggo.
As stated before, I intend to lean towards an earthy British dark folkloric vibe for my games, rather than more exotic “high fantasy” type monsters, as I find this sort of thing far more interesting and unsettling than “Oh, a giant cosmic horror from beyond out understanding did it and ran away”, or just more bloody zombies. The idea that troops have been sent to combat the sort of everyday strange beings that our ancestors knew were sharing their world has always spoke to me as having great potential for a game.
Many of the monster types in the book have a direct local equivalent (more or less), so it’s just a case of changeing the name, others may require a bit of customising and tinkering to really get feeling right. Already having had the seeds of something similar for Gaelic mythology-based Dragon Rampant games, I had a reasonable amount of miniatures to hand to make a start.
First up is an easy one, a straight swap for the Black Dog to its local Highland equivalent.
Cu Sith
The giant green hound of the Faeries, Cu Sith serves to drive human women off to be captured by the Faeries, in order to provide milk for their children. Said to be the size of a calf and able to hunt in complete silence. However, on occasion, it would let out three terrible barks which could be heard for miles. Any who heard it must reach safety before the third bark, or be overcome with terror and die, driven mad with fear.
The sculpt is by DeeZee, and is pretty much spot on for what I envisaged, although if could have done with being a smidge bigger. I've tried to offset that with some fancy basework, which has worked out ok. The effect is only really lost if you look at its face from the front, where the teeth haven't quite moulded properly, and it just looks derpy as all hell.
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/924/IpWlzZ.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/poIpWlzZj)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/924/eJr3lq.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/poeJr3lqj)
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Great stuff. I used an old fantasy wolf figure. And to fight my Romans in my fantasy setting borrowed the cult from Cthulhu Invictus and dressed the worshippers in green dyed wolf skins. The beastie is sometimes described as white with red ears so gave the officers similar pelts. In my version the warriors are Caledonian tribesmen fighting a guerrilla and terror campaign against the Romans. They dress in drab, green colours, and also wear the head and skins of wolves dyed green. They generally fight from ambush, attacking isolated garrisons raiding villas, farms and estates in the south beyond both walls or Romans and Britons alike. They make use of the mythology to strike terror in their enemies. Their descendants may well exist in your setting!
https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=132566.msg1683492#msg1683492 (https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=132566.msg1683492#msg1683492)
(https://i.imgur.com/sersWIA.jpg)
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Nice looking hound and back story. I like the idea of using folklore, I have been working researching a lot of folklore, myths and to include Cryptozoology, for another game that I am working on in the game "Monster of the Week". Basically, a modern-day monster hunting RPG. However, I have been adding and sculpting creatures for that game, that I know will work well for this game.
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As Jethro Tull once sang... "BEASTIE!"
indeed ... as did I at the wembley arena back in '82! :D
you're certainly getting fantastic results with the enamels (and your skill more to the point ...). Nice work on the Hound.
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Thanks guys!
indeed ... as did I at the wembley arena back in '82! :D
A man of culture, I see!
Powering on through the next four of the Companions. Perry Highlander now. Painted as a member of the 79th (Cameron) Highlanders. I do not want to see tartan, a diced bonnet-band or cath-dath hose on my workbench again any time soon.
Private Uilleam Mac Gille Bríghde
(Highlander)
The sole survivor of a recruiting party sent back to his clan lands to raise more men for the Cameron colours, the decision to take a shortcut through a remote bealach had been one he had counselled against, and the headstrong Ensign in charge did not live to regret. Thankfully, his Colonel was only too familiar with why the eerie pass had its evil reputation, and recognised that the skills of a man who could fight his way from such an encounter were in demand in places other than the regular army...
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/922/lBJ934.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pmlBJ934j)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/924/RWLu3B.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/poRWLu3Bj)
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Once again... Bravo! Masterful brushwork!
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Superb work on the kilt!
And that is why I never succumb to the temptation to buy Scottish highlander miniatures.
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tartan is my too
thats realy great work
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Excellent painting, but the back stories are better still.
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Very lovely brushwork.
But there will come a time (a much later time to be sure!) when the tartan will call again.
: 3
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Brilliant work! Highlander tartan and dicing is so difficult, you did a great job.
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Great job! My Grandad was in the Cameron Highlanders in WW2 and my brother now has his old kilt. It is a lovely classic looking tartan in my opinion, but (like all tartans) must be a real challenge to paint (I have never been brave enough to try!).
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flipping heck, you're making me regret selling my pretty complete set of contemp. humbrols last year (second set I've sold!).
but it's not really the paints - rather your skill and style as I've already said (and must remember!).
superb.
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Thanks folks, you're all too kind!
Great job! My Grandad was in the Cameron Highlanders in WW2 and my brother now has his old kilt. It is a lovely classic looking tartan in my opinion, but (like all tartans) must be a real challenge to paint (I have never been brave enough to try!).
Yeah, it's not exactly an accurate scaling-down of Cameron of Erracht, but at 3' away the colour balance is about right. I'm quite happy with it. Whether I can pull the same thing off in 20mm for my Northwest Frontier MWWBK stuff or Battlegroup BEF is another matter....
flipping heck, you're making me regret selling my pretty complete set of contemp. humbrols last year (second set I've sold!).
but it's not really the paints - rather your skill and style as I've already said (and must remember!).
superb.
I think it's largely luck, I get the splodges in the right place... ;D
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This is some great looking stuff!
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Drawing towards the last few figures for the Companions of St Jude, this time a Perry Infantryman painted up as an Artilleryman. The lace and cartridge pouch aren't quite right, but in a game against mythological beasties, I don't think that really matters. Similarly, in game terms he should have a pistol and hand weapon, rather than a musket and bayonet, but I'm getting round that by saying that as a gunner he'd be less practiced in their use than an infantryman, so they just count as a pistol and hand weapon.
Gunner Spartacus Mulligan
(Artilleryman)
A man with an inherent grasp of maths, science and a love of loud explosions, had his family been of greater (or even any) means, he may have found himself at Woolwich, sitting the Board of Ordnance exams to become an officer of artillery. While preparing the vaults of a captured French fort for demolition, his crashing through a concealed trapdoor into a long forgotten crypt brought the staunchly logical Mulligan into contact with something he just couldn't explain, even to himself. Fortunately, there were those who could, and on hearing of the incredulous artilleryman's story, they were quick to secure his release from the drudgery of powder, roundshot and grape...
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/924/QnmRzT.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/poQnmRzTj)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/922/Q97IYT.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pmQ97IYTj)
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Brilliant! Absolutely amazing! Fantastic back story for fantastic figures!
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Thanks, glad you're enjoying my ramblings thus far!
Another couple of monsters done, this time two Brollachan. Shapeless creatures of the night, these will be my Gaelic swap-ins for ghosts from the book.
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/923/9neQIv.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pn9neQIvj)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/923/kPJm7J.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pnkPJm7Jj)
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Lovely work :)
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Top Notch! :-*
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those look good - where did you get them?
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painting and back-stories continue to be an absolute delight.
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Absolutely superb painting and fantastic back story. Looking forward to the next instalment!
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Thanks very much, guys.
those look good - where did you get them?
They are "Shadows" from Otherworld Miniatures.
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Marvelous work! His Majesty would be proud.
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Cheers!
Latest figure is the main man himself, Supernatural Investigator Brevet Captain Stanforth Rowley-Birkin KC, MP, FRS. Not 100% pleased with the overall outcome, but it'll do for the tabletop. From a certain angle (which I've failed miserably to get on camera) he's slightly reminiscent of John Thaw, which was why he ended up with grey hair...
Stanforth Rowley-Birkin KC, MP, FRS
(Investigator)
Son of a distinguished lawyer and the heiress to a now extinct Barony, Stanforth was found as a newborn in his parents' wrecked carriage amongst the shredded remains of the horses, although of his parents there was no sign, other than a snapped smallsword bearing his father's sigil and a bloodstained ladies' hat.
His sharp mind, pugnacious nature and enquiring disposition has led him through the ranks of the legal profession, Parliament and eventually the Royal Society, as he endeavoured to uncover what happened to his parents on that night as they rode to their newly inherited country house in the Yorkshire dales. His work in this field has seen him drawn deeper into becoming something of a troubleshooter for the Government, the Crown and even the Duke of Wellington, having found employ in the Peninsula as an exploring officer on more than one occasion (retaining his brevet rank and attendant sash and epaulettes to confer some sort of authority in military circles).
His conclusions are known only to himself and reputedly the King and a few select ministers, but the continued tolerance and funding of his oft-irregular and always secretive activities, and the existence of his shadowy "Companions of St Jude" hints that whatever he has uncovered, it requires to be kept at bay, by whatever means neccesary...
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/923/EyJuO4.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pnEyJuO4j)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/924/OKjjyG.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/poOKjjyGj)
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he looks just the ticket for an investigator
and thanks for the headsup re the shadows
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Another nice addition.
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great stuff.
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Thanks guys!
Finally, last chap in the Companions of St Jude finished! Thought I was dead smart, finding this figure nestled away in the depths of the Perry naval packs, "Bet no one else finds this guy, I'll save him 'til last and unveil him as a suprise!" Erm, no. I see plenty others have since discovered the epicness that is this sculpt! I swithered over how much of a military look I wanted him to retain, but was inspired by the BBC portrayal of Childermass from Strange & Norrell, so went with this colour scheme (though he has retained his buff leather sword belt, and military hat, albeit exceptionally grubby). The colours were also pleasingly reminiscent of the Doom Slayer, which seemed appropriate.
Sergeant Athelstan Swarbrick
(Veteran hunter)
Late of the 13th Foot, currently listed as missing in action following a disastrous night action on Saint-Domingue remembered by the scant survivors as "The Battle of the Awoken Dead" He remains on the regimental payroll, and the Colonel's wife gets a nice new dress each year. Any attempts to address this irregularity have been brusquely dismissed at Horseguards...
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/924/dhRALX.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/podhRALXj)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/924/kzSeKx.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pokzSeKxj)
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Great sculpt with a great paint job to bring it to life!
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Excellent! What next? ???
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Another excellent addition
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Thanks guys!
Excellent! What next? ???
Currently taking a break from TSB for the time being, but the next thing I do will probably be my replacement for the "Hobgoblin" in the book...
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Currently taking a break from TSB for the time being,
I wouldn't BANK on it. lol lol lol
Great work by the way.
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Great sculpt with a great paint job to bring it to life!
+1
hope you can get going on this again in due course.
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Can't believe I missed this thread.
Great figure selection, epic back stories and brilliant paintwork.
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Thanks guys!
I wouldn't BANK on it. lol lol lol
Groaaaan lol lol
Some Pictish standing stones (Scotia Grendel, IIRC). Originally picked up to add local flavour to games of Lion Rampant, and rebellious activities in the '45, but now slot in perfectly to my Silver Bayonet setting (village of Glendarroch coming soon...), since who knows what ancient Pictish terror lies dormant around such abandoned sacred spaces?
Rowley-Birkin rummaging about for scale. I think the lichen might be a bit garish, but it didn't look right just left grey, so hey ho.
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/922/gNElJo.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pmgNElJoj)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/924/ejV1m1.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/poejV1m1j)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/923/4586Me.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pn4586Mej)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/922/8dLw6a.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pm8dLw6aj)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/922/mK5Q6J.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pmmK5Q6Jj)
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brilliant - great to see more for this.
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Those terrain pieces look great!
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Cheers guys! As long promised, the cursed village of Glendarroch begins to take shape...
Couple of Highland blackhouses, from where I cannot remember. Nicely produced resin casts that practically painted themselves. Full interiors, too, which lazily just hit with some scrappy drybrushing for the most part-
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/923/Se9AVW.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pnSe9AVWj)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/924/qAsctJ.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/poqAsctJj)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/923/jKYawT.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pnjKYawTj)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/923/N9gtMD.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pnN9gtMDj)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/924/knloT8.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/poknloT8j)
Next, a little stone roundhouse from Fogou Midels. Not entirely accurate for a Highland dwelling, but I wanted some variation in the buildings, and thought this would do as a storehouse for valuable provisions, or even a stockade for locking up transgressors...
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/924/vajxFr.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/povajxFrj)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/924/B4S0mI.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/poB4S0mIj)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/924/eRcxv6.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/poeRcxv6j)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/922/O8gfr2.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pmO8gfr2j)
And a quick shot alongside the carved stones for scale...
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/924/ZdCzp6.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/poZdCzp6j)
Next up will be far too much walling...
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Brilliant work! 👍
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It has been a while since I was last in Lochaber, but that Black house looks fantastic.
I was trying to keep away from Silver Bayonets, despite having a lot of Napoleonics, but anything set in the Highlands and including Celtics monsters has to be a big Hook.
Thank you for sharing this. Going to be following and very likely getting drawn into this now.
I can see myself getting a Ghostly Bagpiper to start with.
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Nicely done 8)
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I like that, a lot. Well done.
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The black houses look great, the resin stones are superb and your painting is not too shabby either. ;)
I've really enjoyed your characters backstories throughout this thread. Keep up the good work. I'm looking forward to your first AAR. :D
Cheers
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Great scenery,they look fab 8)
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Great stuff. :-*
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Brilliant.
Probably speaking out of place in all respects - but it's something like this project that Osprey should produce as one of a series of supplements for Silver Bayonet.
Both in terms of the subject / content, and also the modelling excellence.
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Wow your stuff is sooo good! :-*
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Thanks folks! Been working on other things lately, but I shall return to Glendarroch soon. Now that the Companions are done, it's onto the monsters, villains and other fun acillary pieces!
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Lovely stuff.
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Truly wonderful work.
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Excellent work. Incredible painting!
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Nice additions to Lochaber 👍
Thanks for reminding me to dig out my own mystery stones for terrain.
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Superb thread!
I'm just getting in to Silver Bayonet (late to the party, as ever!), and this thread has been very inspirational.
All of the miniatures look fantastic - I really like the Cu Sith and the Brollachan, really pushing the folkloric (is that even a word?!?) over the gothic. Not that the two can't exist together, but I like the approach of leaning into the perhaps more obscure folklore entities over the more trad-gothic ones.
I also have that Perry Naval Party and they are indeed a pretty much 'ready to go' Silver Bayonet unit.
That blackhouse over in post #82 looks like this one, from Total Battle Miniatures:
https://www.totalbattleminiatures.com/product-page/highland-black-house
I also stumbled on this one from Fogou Models, whilst I was looking:
https://www.fogoumodels.co.uk/product-page/rectangular-stone-blackhouse
Not that I'm affiliated with either, mind, just turned them up whilst I was looking for stuff for my own collection.