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Hello!
Some time ago I began to take a serious interest in the history of the early Rus peoples. In no small part spurred on by my fantasy project, the Black Order, I decided I wanted to include some of the cultural themes of these peoples in that project.
But as I read more and more about the early Rus, I realised that no fantasy story can capture how incredibly complex that period of history really is - and certainly not the period surrounding the Kievan Rus and their pagan beginnings. In particular, I discovered the story of Olga of Kiev, wife to Igor of the Rurikid dynasty and mother to Sviatoslav, and her ferocious revenge upon the Drevlian peoples after they captured and executed her husband. (Quick shout-out to the Kings and Generals YouTube channel here, and the artist Rob McSweeney, for their awesome episode on Olga and the early Rus)
(https://i.imgur.com/IbqLHjT.jpg)
Olga herself, flanked by her son Sviatoslav (l) and Oleg (r)
To say Olga's story parallels A Song of Ice and Fire is an understatement. Cersei Lannister couldn't come close to Olga!
I had to commit some of Olga's story to miniature form - and so decided to start a Pagan Rus warband for SAGA led by none other than the Scourge of the Drevlians herself, Olga of Kiev. At the same time, I decided this will be a fairly slow-burn force, so I'm using this as my contribution to Heerschau 2022, the warband-building challenge run by Stronghold Terrain. The rules of Heerschau are simple: build and paint 1 point for SAGA every month for six months.
So without further ado, I've thrown together 12 Rus levy for January's first point - and about half an hour ago I managed to complete them just in time:
(https://i.imgur.com/D8nXWoJ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/oOrt0Xkl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/yNcheMwl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/SPUAJkXl.jpg)
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Great work on those. Looking forward to seeing the whole force come together.
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Really nice figures. I saw a really good Russian film a couple of years ago about the early Rus, any idea what it was called? I'd like to watch it again.
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These look great! Since discovering about a year ago that I am (very surprisingly) a descendent of Olga, I have been fascinated by this story. Admittedly I knew nothing about it before then.
This has also become a to-do project on my list. I have been keeping my eye open for a suitable Olga, and have wondered if some of the new distinguished women in Bob Murch's new 1066 range might work. I've also thought about sending a suggestion to Bad Squiddo - seems right up her alley!
I'll be following this with interest.
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Thanks, chaps!
No Rus models yet, but I have been working on some multi-purpose terrain with a decidedly pagan Rus theme. You might recognise the gods these sigils are affiliated with:
(https://i.imgur.com/FpP7BhXh.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/2njIp0zh.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/x9zG4DEh.png)
What do I put over the door, though?
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Great work as usual mate! Inspirational!
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Very nice
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I look forward to this project. No fiction can compare to the stories found in our past. I recall watching that video of the early Rus and it can be just epic.
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Just found that film, it's called Viking, it's about Vladimir the son of Sviatoslav. It's all the usual treachery between Scandinavian ruling families.
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Where are you finding the Rus figures you are using?
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They look great, my contribution to the Heerschau was actually exactly the same, a point of levy pagan rus. Went for a different concept (and used gripping beast metals rather than plastics) but i really like your approach.
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Nice :)
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Thanks all. My next WIP for this slightly slow-burn project is none other than Olga of Kyiv, scourge of the Drevlians! My submission for April Heerschau will be a slightly fantastical take on Olga herself using Footsore's Guinevere model (she may never have fought historically, but it's too cool a mini not to use) and four of her druzhina. I tried to mix overtly Eastern and Norse influence by mixing up some Fireforge parts with Victrix Vikings.
(https://i.imgur.com/tUPtQO6.png)
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Really like how they look. I expect to have some victrix vikings spare after another project this year, and between you and Koyote I am very tempted to build some pagan rus.
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Nice work!
I look forward to seeing this project grow.
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Fantastic work :-* :-* :-*
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Thanks chaps.
Steaming ahead with this project, I've put together six more Druzhina as well as eight Warriors to serve in Olga's force. Lots of kitbashing went into these guys as well as some greenstuff work to try and emphasise the wintry element...
(https://i.imgur.com/0G8XgQh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/L9Na6oH.jpg)
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Cheating a bit as it's part of my Black Order log as well, but the Pagan Rus are equally cold, grim and Slavic so I think it'll be usable for both forces. Early stages on a display board. Should be enough to hold 6pts of a (mostly infantry) Saga force. 8pts - for Age of Magic and the like - would be a bit of a stretch I think.
(https://i.imgur.com/cckK9PE.jpg)
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(https://i.imgur.com/L9Na6oH.jpg)[/center]
Looking good!
Where did you source these shields?
Nice work on your display board. If you plan to travel via plane with that board, I recommend that you not permanently attach the trees to the display. Instead, you should magnetize or temporarily pin them in place. That way you can bubble wrap a relatively flat board and pack it into your checked luggage, cushioned on a sides by clothing. Then bubble wrap each tree separately and put them in a separate hard case or box, which you can also pack into your checked luggage. This is how I bring my display boards to Adepticon.
Of course, you NEVER want to check your minis. Those, you carry on and guard with your life. ;)
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Great kitbashing! Looking forward to some noble cav :-*
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Finally got some paint on some miniatures. We've started a slow-grow escalation league in my group, full details below. And that means it's time to get some paint on these Rus hearthguard!
(https://i.imgur.com/RO0shGWl.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/g1hzY0Pl.png)
And the first point I've painted for our initial clash - we'll be playing 2pts + Warlord (Warlord generates 2 Saga dice for this round) in a four-player game of Wooden Oaths, which has always looked like great fun.
(https://i.imgur.com/PE1s8h4l.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/V1Hazbvl.jpg)
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Great looking hearthguard. Always liked the idea of a slow grow league, but it's tricky with different painting speeds and life situations.
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Masterful brushwork! Beautiful figures!
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Well, I did it. Got the warband ready for its debut at 2pts for the escalation league's kick-off this Wednesday.
without further ado, Olga of Kyiv and (some of) her druzhina!
(https://i.imgur.com/xZrMJRul.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/7ezN9wVl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/io6rq8bh.jpg)
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Absolutely spiffing, old bean.
:-*
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Brilliant work as usual mate!
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Two points of Rus druzhina finished off! The eagle eyed will notice two Gripping Beast Vikings in the unit - I figured these would represent more recent arrivals from Uppsala, and thus they haven't adopted Rus dress just yet.
These will double for Pagan Rus and Pagan Peoples. Possibly Jomsvikings too.
(https://i.imgur.com/0gGntBi.jpg)
I need to think hard about what's next for this force now. I had my eye on a unit of Shieldmaidens, to be Olga's personal guard, but according to the latest Saga FAQ the !*"£*"! Rus can't take Shieldmaidens any more. A real shame, as Stronghold Terrain's shieldmaidens looked great.
So any bright ideas? More warriors? Steppe nomads? Jomsviking mercenaries?
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My final contribution to Heerschau 2022, and very nearly the end of the Pagan Rus.
I have a lot of thoughts on the Rus, and how they play in SAGA, after having used them for games with the (fast growing) London crowd. However I'll save those for another post as I'm bedridden with COVID at the minute and not really focussing. So here's one point of Warriors, which I'm hoping to grow out to 1.5pts so I can split them into 2x6 for Pagan Peoples.
(https://i.imgur.com/iKaHekY.jpg)
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They look excellent! I like the mud and dirt you put on the lower part of the figures - it gives the armies an ‘on campaign’ look.
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Great painting and inspiration. I'm looking forward to you modelling the flaming birds!
Could make a neat little addition to Olga - perhaps an unlit sparrow on her shoulder as a nod to the story? Or a figure with a cage of birds and another with flaming brand in hand. Represent some kind of magical type of affair for Saga AoM?
For your display board maybe two spruce trees in the background?
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They look great! When it comes to your question of what to add, surely you could make a unit of shieldmaidens and just field them as warriors? If they don't get a banner, that should avoid most confusion from your opponent. Steppe nomads are also a fun choice of course.
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Amazing painting and kit bashing.
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They look great! When it comes to your question of what to add, surely you could make a unit of shieldmaidens and just field them as warriors? If they don't get a banner, that should avoid most confusion from your opponent. Steppe nomads are also a fun choice of course.
Yeah, I think that'll be what I end up doing if I do go down the shieldmaiden route. Definitely easy to just proxy them as warriors or whatever.
Great painting and inspiration. I'm looking forward to you modelling the flaming birds!
Could make a neat little addition to Olga - perhaps an unlit sparrow on her shoulder as a nod to the story? Or a figure with a cage of birds and another with flaming brand in hand. Represent some kind of magical type of affair for Saga AoM?
For your display board maybe two spruce trees in the background?
That's such a good idea on the Olga front. Kudos.
I've finished off four more Warriors to bring this to a unit of 12. I'm so close to 6pts now, just have to push through a Priest, some objectives, and maybe another unit - whether it's Shieldmaidens, Steppe Nomads or Warrior Archers (to double for Pagan Peoples) I'm not sure.
(https://i.imgur.com/R1IrGg2l.jpg)
Squad shot:
(https://i.imgur.com/t9rm5GEl.jpg)
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Looking awesome as usual mate!
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They do look great, in a grubby unwashed hordes kind of way. Inspiring work, as always!
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Awesome work!
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Most excellent paintjobs and great narration of what you are doing there. I really like it! :D
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Lovely work, great miniatures per se, but also beautifully painted and really fitting with these snow bases :-*
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Thank you, guys! Really appreciate the kind words.
Time to add a couple more pics before the final army shot. I completed a Priest, who will feature in either Pagan Rus/Pagan Peoples lists, using Gripping Beast's Rus priest model. I was inspired by Koyote's excellent Pagan Rus log with its custom objective markers, and thought - I should do something similar. So I raided my local Etsy store for Norse-inspired beads, and made four runic stones/staves to populate the Priest's base and act as objective markers. I think the wood/stone effect hopefully comes across. What do you guys think?
(https://i.imgur.com/8CSbNlX.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ACSbSUW.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/WUmU92K.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/v0f7Pmq.jpg)
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Love the markers with the beads, they are excellent. And I think I'll steal that idea.
Like the priest too. Thought he was from GB's Arthurian line?
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Fantastic! Magnificent brushwork! Brilliant eye for detail!
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They look good. A good etsy find.
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Brilliant work mate!
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And that's the Pagan Rus basically done.
Olga of Kyiv proudly leads a force of 12 Warriors, 12 Hearthguard, 12 javelin levy and a Priest, along with 3 custom objective markers.
In truth, I will probably add 12 more bow-armed Warriors to run these as Pagan Peoples from Age of Crusades, but they're game-ready for now. I also have eight Steppe Nomads to paint up, but that's another story. ;)
(https://i.imgur.com/c1SjBOR.jpg)
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What a wonderful warband! The beauty of this shows especially on the group shot, the colours work really well together and the snowy bases look great!
The red shields tie the whole band together! :-*
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Gorgeous! It really all comes together magnificently. 👏🏻
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Lovely warband! Nice base theme!