Vengeance upon the Drevlians - A Pagan Rus Log

[Blackwolf]

Fantastic work

[Knight-Captain Tyr]

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...

[Knight-Captain Tyr]

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.

[Koyote]

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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.

[Hupp n at em]

Great kitbashing!  Looking forward to some noble cav 

[Knight-Captain Tyr]

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!

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.

[Ogrob]

Great looking hearthguard. Always liked the idea of a slow grow league, but it's tricky with different painting speeds and life situations.

[MaleGriffin]

Masterful brushwork! Beautiful figures!

[Knight-Captain Tyr]

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!

[Harry Faversham]

Absolutely spiffing, old bean.

 

[Grumpy Gnome]

Brilliant work as usual mate!

[Knight-Captain Tyr]

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.

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?

[Knight-Captain Tyr]

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.

[Pattus Magnus]

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.

[jon_1066]

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?