So I am really on a tear this Bank Holiday weekend.
Finished up my first 750 points of Empire Army forces for the MEGC "tale of 4 gamers" which kicks off next week.
The whole campaign is story based and will be written up by Lee as a story narrative.
The idea was based on an old White Dwarf article and everyone who wanted in was to select a new Fantasy army and start off with 750 points, the only catch they all have to be painted by the time it kicks off!!!
Heres what my forces looked like 2 months ago
This is the finished results
I went with a cavalry based force as I figured it was more in keeping with the nature of the campaign where the race is on to find the treasure and this force was based around a Border patrol force that would theoretically cover ground faster. It also meant I only had to paint 15 miniature!
First up my Grand Master Giorgio Custoras
Giorgio Custoras
Illegitimate bastard of a minor lord
of Wissenland
Custoras rose to prominence when he was
only person of noble blood still alive and not grievously wounded at the battle
of Big Little Horn. While still a pistolier and under the guidance of Dogstein
his outrider mentor they managed to rally the surviving men of the line and
fight a successful rear guard action until relief arrived.
As the only positive outcome from
an ill fated campaign, which was dogged with defeats against the separatist of
the great plains, and numerous logistical nightmares from the start this
“battle” was grasped upon by citizens, bards and town criers alike and this
“victory” of the “Lord of the people” soon captured the popular imagination of the
Empire and Custoras was knighted by Franz himself in a carefully orchestrated
public relations exercise.
Not comfortable with the “Lord of the people”
label because of his ignoble birth Custoras still craves the acclaim of his
knightly peers, often taking commissions to put down peasant revolts to
distance himself from this acclamation. But is growing into this calling as he
understands the political advantage this gives him and his confidence in his
own abilities grows (although he never feels fully at home in either camp).
Men of the line wear red caps to
emulate Custoras and call themselves “Custoras’ Red Caps”, and even the knights
and Gryph knights have emulated this practise by lacquering the head armour of
their mounts red.
Since his true father revealed
himself to Custoras at the age of 14 he has been a trusted lieutenant of his
father as Custoras knows without his support he will soon be forgotten and
overlooked for commands and is often given the dirtier and more covert missions
by his father, which he carries out with a cold resolve as a necessary evil and
gives him a greater understanding then his half brothers of how the true
politics of the Empire works.
His first commissions met with
some success against Elves
here, Orcs
here and Skaven
here, although the Elven encounter was
nearly a political disaster as they were granted a charter of safe passage by
the Count of the area. It was only after a massive bribe was paid to the Count
from the treasure stolen from the Elves that the attack was blamed on a roving
band of Orcs and Skaven, Custoras encountered on the same patrol (whose heads
he presented as evidence) instead but Custoras was forced to accept a
commission as a lieutenant in the 1
st Company, Lustrian
Expeditionary forces until the affair blew over.
During the training of the
expedition forces (which he oversaw), Custoras soon whittled out any
undesirables and ensured the garrison force almost entirely consisted of the
remnants of the forces he had commanded (and become beloved by) at the battle
of Big little Horn.
Custoras also ensured the
contingent of Knights consists entirely of second or third sons of various
lords who have no lands to inherit and therefore are almost entirely dependent
on the expedition (and therefore Custoras) being successful to ensure their
fortune and future, soon earning the nickname “the second sons of Custoras”.
Despite Showing himself a man of
vigour and excellent health for his advancing years, the expedition commander Baron
von Magellan was found dead of a suspected heart attack in his bunk the morning
the expedition was due to set sail, although the Barons personal physician
voiced his belief that Magellan showed symptoms of poisoning and suffocation.
Unfortunately the physician was
found dead in a back alley close to the Imperial offices where he was due to
file his report, believed to be the victim of a robbery.
In order not to miss the tides
Custoras was promoted to expedition commander until the replacement commander arrived
via the second supply ship bringing additional forces. Unfortunately the
replacement commander fell overboard during a midnight stroll of the decks
while on route on the same ship as Dogstein and his outriders (rumours persist
that the cabin door showed signs of forced entry). The event was particularly
puzzling as Baron Von Estellian was from a naval family and was known to be an
excellent swimmer.
Even without finding the fabled
Talisman of Teotiqua the establishment of an Imperial trading post and possible
colony on the Lustrian coast would ensure the fortune of the commander of any
such enterprise. All Custoras needs to do now is stay alive long enough to reap
the benefits!
Heres Marcus Darklore the Wizard (Level 2)
The narrative is that he is slowly going demented as the expedition drives further and further into Lustria.
Same of this dementure will be due to the whole stress caused by the expedition itself but there will
be a whole thing going on about the influence the Skull is having over
Marcus (if any). It was found by Marcus in the remains of a ruined
temple during one of the first battles they had in Lustria and somehow
it channels Marcus' power and was instrumental in Marcus turning the
tide of the first battle in Lustria and allowing the establishment of
their beach head.
Rumours are rife amongst the camp that animated arguments can be heard
coming from Marcus' Tent at night even though his elevated status means
his does not share his tent.
To show this edge to the figure I painted the pupils red. It is a subtle
effect that gives the figure an understated odd effect until someone
points out the red eyes. Is it the eyes reflecting the flare of his fire
spell or something more sinister in nature?
Demigryphs
Was feeling really pleased with myself so made the mistake of setting out the whole 1500 points
and then really wished I hadn't.
For a look at my 1000 point Empire list (with a full break down of the points) please click
HERE
