Scyla, Druchala, and Stampy the Mammoth

   Deep in the Warnasium, in the dungeons of the Home for Incurable Tyrants, the painting forges have been glowing with the tainted lustre of Chaos.  Ancient relics of an antediluvian age have been dredged up and, with dark rituals of colour, they have been reborn. Their names...  Scyla Anfingrimm and Dechala the Denied One.

Scyla Anfingrimm, Champion of Khorne

Dechala the Denied One, Champion of Slaanesh

   Those ancient gamers among you may recall these models as being part of the range of releases for the Warhammer 5th Edition supplement Champions of Chaos, released by Games Workshop back in 1998.

Champions of Chaos

   Interestingly, Scyla has survived multiple editions of Warhammer since then, and has had no less than two newer versions of himself released over the years. I always liked this first version, though. There's something about the snarling dog-like visage that seems very Khorne-like to me.

   Druchala wasn't as lucky, and never returned as a character in the game.  She did, however, enjoy a brief cameo in the novels of the End Times, so I couldn't resist her snaky charms.

   After finishing these two I packed up my cockatrice, Fort Kickass, and the rest of my Chaos army and headed over to Black Knight Games here in Hamilton for a game against my friend Jay Mason-Grant.  We faced off in a Chaos versus Chaos battle of Age of Sigmar.  Challenging the might of Fort Kickass was Jay's Marauder army, led by the mighty and terrifying Forge World War Mammoth Stampy!

Stampy and company versus Fort Kickass

   To celebrate the festive mood of slaughter, a suitable decoration was found for Fort Kickass... Khorne balloon!

Yup... It's upside-down (Shhhh!)

   The game was, like all my Age of Sigmar games, a fun-filled slaughter-fest.  Stampy wasted no time in charging the fort, trumpeting his warcry and stamping all in his path!

RAAAAAARGHH!!!

   On the left flank Scyla lived up to his fearsome and bloodthirsty reputation, single handedly devouring an entire unit of Marauder Cavalry over the course of several turns.

Scyla knows only rage

   Stampy raged against the fort, even as hordes of Chaos warriors and beasts fought back against him.  The Chaos Gods themselves rejoiced in our madness, causing the weirdest gravity-defying cocked die I have ever seen!

I swear this is how it landed!

   Druchala was joined by warriors, a dragon, the cockatrice and others in finally bringing the dreaded mammoth down, but not before Stampy lived up to his namesake and stamped my cockatrice into mushy paste!

Stampy stamps hard

   With Stampy's defeat the Marauders were routed, but fun and laughs were had by all. Thanks again to Jay for a great game, and thank you for taking the time to read about our adventures!

See you soon!
-Andrew

Big Black Cockatrice

   Ever have one of those times when you buy a model kit, and it sits in your closet for a decade or more waiting for love and attention?

   This is one of those times.

   Waiting patiently in my closet has been this dreaded fellow... a Cockatrice!

Bwaaaarkkk!

   This old fellow is a Marauder Miniatures, specifically number 'MM44 - Cockatrice', released in 1990. The poor guy has been sitting in darkness for twenty-fie years, waiting... waiting...

   Why black, you say? Surely a cockatrice is colourful. Well, yes, normally, but I had a special goal. My family crest features a black cock.

Black Chicken of Death

   'cough'.

   Shush!!

   It's a symbol of our Norman roots, commemorating the lands of northern France where our family came from!

   I wanted to paint this cockatrice in colours that echoed my family's heraldry. Looking for inspiration I GOOGLE'd images of 'black cock', and, after a few false starts, I found a picture of this magnificent fellow.

Now that is a shiny black cock.

   My cockatrice didn't really have feathers, as such, but I thought the effect would be similar. I mixed some Army Painter Deep Blue and Matt Black with a hint of Gun Metal, and lightly drybrushed it over a black basecoat to get this effect. I think it turned out rather well. (As a side note, I think I might try this for some Genestealer/Aliens figures.)

Shiny

   The cockatrice uses its powerful magic gaze to turn its victims to stone. To emphasize this I added a poor en-stoned victim to the model's base. This is a Foundry pirate dead guy I had in a bits box. He seemed to fit the bill.

Looming over his kill

   So there it is! Thanks for checking out my black chicken of death! He'll be joining my Chaos army, along with a few more baddies gracing my painting bench right now.

   ...and thanks as always for checking out my mad corner of the web!
-Andrew

Your Authority is not Recognized in Fort Kickass!

   Ever have one of those times when you buy a model kit, and it sits in your closet for a decade or more waiting for love and attention?

   This isn't one of those times.
 
   Last Saturday I attended the Battle of the Scrolls Warhammer: Age of Sigmar event at Black Knight Games in Hamilton. I finally got to throw down with my friend (and store owner) Jay Mason-Grant, in an Empire vs. Empire scrap. I also had the pleasure of being beaten to a pulp by a couple of friendly chaps; namely Davin (and his Skaven) and Mark (and his Lizardmen).
 
   While at the store I fell under the spell of Games Workshop's newest release, the Chaos Dreadhold. This multi-kit scenery set is the 21st century answer to the old Mighty Fortress, with spikes and skulls! There are ten different configurations of this monster kit, ranging from a single tower to a monstrous fortress running in the $1,400CDN price range! Realizing that my poor Chaos Lord needed a home, I broke down and bought the Overlord Bastion set.
 
   Now, a mere week later, I present Fort Kickass!

Fort Kickass!

 

  

You have no authority here!

   This fort is literally covered with skulls. Skulls on the walls, skulls in the walls, even the floors are paved with skulls! Of course, no self-respecting Chaos Lord would have it any other way.

Skulls!

Skulls in the walls! 

Skulls in the floors!

   Like all good scenery pieces the Overlord Bastion comes with plenty of cool rules, including screaming gargoyle heads that can shatter your opponent's bravery, or rain hot death down upon those foolish enough to get close to the walls.

Spikey!

Fear me!!

   My bastion has already faced one assault. An unholy alliance of Connor's Lizardmen and Scott's Dark Elves swarmed (literally) the ramparts with waves of sneaky Skinks and snakes, not to mention more than a few crazed Elf chicks! In the end my defeat wasn't so much about their strength, as it was about my sorcerer angering the Chaos Gods and being turned into dust on the second turn.

Connor and Scott preparing to challenge my au-tho-ri-tie!

   Fort Kickass stands ready to face the next challenge! If you think you have what it takes, bring your little mans to my Warnasium and lets throw down!

And thanks for visiting the Sinclair Memorial Home for Incurable Tyrants!
-Andrew

Warhammer in The Hammer! The Finale!

   With Chaos reinforcements flooding both flanks, our epic game of Warhammer: Age of Sigmar looked as if it was at the end for the forces of Order! And now the finale of Warhammer in The Hammer!

   The right flank of Order's line had been pounced upon by Chaos Knights and even more Chaos Knights. With the loss of their Damsel and her spells, it was a harrowing fight for the Bretonnians. The Grail Knights stood strong and drove off many of the enemy.

Run away, you Chaos Ka-nigits!

   Angered at the Bretonnians tenacity the General of the Dark Army Sent the Ogre Tyrant, a unit of Chaos Warriors and even summoned a horde of deamonic Bloodletters to finish them off!

For The Lady!!

   In the centre Big Jays undead forces swarmed into the fight with Craig's Lizardmen. The skeleton Warriors charged out of the Watchtower while the Zombies swarmed the fields.

Fierce battles for the centre

   The Ogres had cut down all the Skinks save one unit of thirty, which held the Chapel along with a Skink Priest. The Ogres surrounded the small building and began shaking and pounding it, swallowing up Skinks whole as they fell from rafters and windows.

Come out come out wherever you are!

   Out on the left flank Bills Empire army had lost its Cannon, and its unit of Knights, but the brave State Troops, along with Saurus Cavalry, had held against the Slaaneshi rush.

Halberds and Handguns

   This success was an omen for the future. On the right the Grail Knights died hard, taking many Chaos Warriors and Bloodletters with them, and still the Lord on his Pegasus remained...

   In the centre the Ogres could not shift the Skinks from their sanctuary, while each turn the Skinks killed a few more Ogres...

   In the centre the hordes of Undead slaughtered many Saurus Warriors, but in turn they lost an unsustainable number of troops...

Can you spot the last surviving Saurus Warrior?

   As the sun set on this titanic battle, (i.e. we reached our 2am cut off time), The butchers bill of casualties was tallied. Of the 207 Order soldiers that had taken the field, 147 had met their end. Of the foul Chaos and Undead, 152 of their starting 176 models had been killed.

   Order had lost 71% casualties, but Chaos had lost 86%! Order was victorious! Chaos had pounded their enemy, but by summoning so many reinforcements they made it possible for the good guys to kill many more models, thus tipping the scale.

   I hope you've enjoyed our epic game of Warhammer in The Hammer. Since this one I've played a dozen more games of Warhammer: Age of Sigmar, and have lots more to share!


   ...and thanks again for visiting my little corner of the interwebs!
-Andrew

Warhammer in The Hammer! Part III

   With both flanks engaged in combat, and legions of troops flooding into the centre of the board, our epic game of Warhammer: Age of Sigmar was well and truly joined! And now Part III of Warhammer in The Hammer! 

 

 
   On the right flank Andrew's Bretonnian Grail Knights dispelled the ghostly swarms, and his Paladin and Lord carved a bloody ruin through the Chaos Knights, but not before those same knights had run down and destroyed the Lord's loyal retinue of Peasant Bowmen. Just when it seemed that Order had won the battle on the right, another group of Chaos Knights swept in from the rear, running down the poor Damsel of the Lady.
 
 

The tragic death of The Lady

 
   In centre-right John's Ogres plowed headlong into Connor's Skinks and Saurus. The Lizardmen fought bravely, and inflicted many casualties, but the Ogres wore them down, (and ate them up!). Soon only the Skinks fortified in the Chapel remained. All was not lost for them, though... the Chapel's special ability means Order units don't need to take Bravery tests. They fight to the finish!
  

Tastes like chicken!

 
   In the centre-left dusty old Lord Kroak (looking a lot like Craig) lead his Saurus and Kroxigors into the courtyard of the Watchtower, and were immediately slammed into by a host of Chaos Warrior Knights. Jason's Skeletons in the tower and the Zombies by the fence watched on in amusement as the knights began cleaving their way through the Lizardmen. 
 

Red armoured death

 
   On the left flank Bill's Empire Knights charged home against Scott's Dreadspears, and his artillery blasted huge gaps in the Slannesh Cult's line. The Seekers of Slaanesh were overwhelmed and cut down by Empire and Lizardman forces, even as the Dreadlord and his Witch Elves raced to try and join the fight.
 

The Seekers are found... wanting

 
   Order looked poised to wrap up the left flank, but again the General of the Dark Army revealed his cunning, and seemingly limitless supply of Chaos forces. From out of the dust of battle a Chaos Warrior Chariot suddenly loomed, and crashed into the Empire artillery!
 

Where the hell did that come from? Exactly.

 
   It appears that the forces of Order have underestimated their foes, and will now pay the price. Stay tuned next as we chronicle their final, desperate fight against the hordes of Chaos!
  
 

Kill them all!!!

 
     ...and, as always, thank you for visiting my little corner of the web!
-Andrew
 
 
 
 

Warhammer in The Hammer! Part II

   The table was set, and the players were thirsty for battle! And now Part II of Warhammer in The Hammer!
 

 
   Wasting no time the hordes of Chaos and Undeath surged forward. Scott's Seekers of Slannesh revealed their frightening ability to run and charge in the same turn, and crossed the battlefield to engage Bill's stunned Empire Handgunners!
  

Zombies and skellies on the move

  

Turn one, deamonettes in the wire!

 

   The forces of Order pushed back, unleashing cannon fire and a hail of arrows into the foe, while Connor's swarm of Skinks surrounded the Chapel. Craig's Saurus Cold-one cavalry came to the aide of the Handgunners, surrounding the Seekers in toothy death!

 

Order advances

 

Seekers surrounded

 

   The Bad Guys drove further into the field, seizing key ground like the Watchtower. On the right flank a force of chaos Knights and undead ghosties charged the Bretonnians.

 

The Chaos tide

 

Brave Bretonnian archers receive the charge

 

The shadow of death falls over the watchtower

 

The Empire knights are coming!

 

   With both flanks engaged in combat, and legions of troops flooding into the centre of the board, the battle had begun... but who would win?

  

 

 

    Tune in for Part III of Warhammer in The Hammer, and, as always, thanks for stopping by!

 

-Andrew

 

 

Warhammer in The Hammer! Part I

   The Warnasium of the Sinclair Memorial Home for Incurable Tyrants has been silent these last two months. A trip of a life-time to march on the fields of Waterloo, and a brief turn under the surgeon's knife, have kept me away. But, now, the mountain of Hamilton once again reverberates with the roar of laughter and tiny, tiny war. I am proud to present Warhammer in The Hammer!

  

   On Saturday, July 25th, a horde of veteran gamers descended on the Warnasium, bringing with them their collections of Warhammer figures. Our goal was simple; to celebrate the launch of Warhammer: Age of Sigmar with a massive battle, using as many of our Warhammer miniatures as we could squeeze onto my 3.5' x 7.5' gaming table, festooned with freshly painted scenery!

The table, ready for battle

   The forces of Chaos were lead by John Cote fielding Ogre Kingdoms, Scott Kelly with his Cult of Slaanesh, Chris Alten commanding his Warriors of Chaos, and Jason Russell leading a horde of the Vampire Counts. Facing off against them was the forces of Order commanded by Craig Alten and his Lizardmen, Bill Murphy heading up an Empire battalion, Connor Angus with his own swarms of Skinks and Saurus, and my own humble Bretonnians.

The gang, ready for war (and snacks)

   Our army selection system was simple, taken right from the Age of Sigmar rules themselves. Each side could set up whatever they liked, as long as they could physically fit their miniatures in their set-up zone. When we were done putting figures on the table we hand 207 Order models facing off against 176 Chaos troops! The table was packed!

Chaos and Ogres and Cultists! Oh my!!

   Leading the army of Order was the ancient, half-dead slaan Lord Kroak. His many powers, not least his ability to generate re-rolls, would prove critical in the upcoming carnage. Opposing him was the General of the Dark Army, a Chaos Lord on Foot with the terrifying ability to summon endless hordes of Slaves to Darkness.

Lord Kroak - The fat floating frog of doom

The General of the Dark Army, horns and all

   The table was set, and the players were thirsty for battle! Stay tuned for Part II of Warhammer in The Hammer!

...and thanks again for visiting the Sinclair Memorial Home for Incurable Tyrants!
-Andrew