Part 2
LORE
Wolfenburg is in ashes, set ablaze during the onslaught by gouts of coruscating flame spewing forth from lesions in the night sky. Sinister conjurations were followed by a throng of beasts from the id, their changeling forms silhouetted against the flames as they crossed the threshold from nightmares to reality.
A.K.A. Where Ian Miller got his aesthetic from
The cruel hordes of the Kurgan had already laid waste to much of the city a year past, crossing the frozen river boundary and turning the fresh snowfall crimson. Surtha Lenk turned his forces toward Kislev however as the final confrontation drew near, and the denizens of Wolfenburg set about collecting the dead. They had only begun to bury their dead in the spring thaw when, in 2522IC, the walls fell to the mutant abominations from the Forest of Shadows.
Now the Storm is over and the first bonfire is lit. Bruno Hauptleiter, mercenary captain of the Star of Victory company, was sent by Count Valmir (paid by promissory note) to relieve Wolfenburg – although arriving too late to save the town, his men evacuated the remaining defenders and as morning broke, drove the remaining monstrosities back into the shadows.
The survivors crowd into makeshift encampments, seeking shelter from the encircling darkness…but too frightened to venture back into the ruins of the town, where screams human and non-human still echo in the night. With few left of sound body and mind, Hauptleiter has assumed responsibility for these refugees. Unwilling to stay in one place too long, but unable to cross the threshold of the forest, they are seeking a place of refuge where a fire can be kept burning until help comes. If it comes.
PAINTING
Day 1 of the Waaaaaagh painting challenge – I have blocked out the colour scheme and done a ton of metals at once so I can change the paint water. The model above is one of the Mordheim warband which I will probably field as templars. Trying to distribute the three main colours (B, W, R) evenly over the model while keeping him dimly lit by the lantern.
Bruno is represented by the Griffin-riding Elector Count model. A wealthy entrepreneur in the military imperial complex, he is more ornate than the Ostlanders. Hauptleiter translates to something like Figurehead Leader – I didn’t come up with this, he’s from WHFRP. His coat of arms was chosen to reflect his regiment’s name: Stars of Victory. A stylised star painted with the wings of Nike. This will be going on a shield later.
These halberd guys are the remnants of townsfolk who have taken up arms to defend their homes, surviving being cornered by a swarm of leechlike mutant creatures (think bloedzuigers from The Witcher) that were driven off by a wave of flame from Bright wizard Bart Zweispitzig – but not before many were drained of their precious bodily fluids. To keep these models distinct without resorting to adding colours, I am focusing on materials techniques i.e. rust, frayed cloth, faded dye, wrinkled and scuffed leather. Time to re-watch some Vince Vinturella. Thankfully, all human hair colours are available to use in this colour space, and individual facial features or expressions can make each model unique.
The wizard is lighting the fires. This posed an interesting challenge as Bright wizards usually stand out from an army due to being coloured Red/Orange/Yellow and lit by flame…but everyone in this army will be coloured that way, so I focussed on contrast of value. The OSL from the firelight is meant to be evocative rather than photorealistic (this is a cope, I am just bad at it).
The first flame is lit, will it burn out or fade away?
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