Useless models in an army, but fun to paint. The central model is a slightly converted astropath from the old Talisman range, flanked by two tiny servitors from meridianminiatures.
I still have a few ideas and remaining models on the desk, but the motivation is low. At the very least, I need to paint the White Lady to consider this army complete.
While the Necrologist draws his power from the names of the dead, the flesh and blood of fallen comrades are essential components in the spells cast by the Deflesher.
The Company's second sorcerer is responsible for performing the rite of excarnation. This ancient practice inherited from the Crusades against Araby, was intended to facilitate the return of the fallen to their homeland. The corpses were dismembered, boiled in water or wine, and then defleshed, so that only the bones would be transported back to the Empire. Under the command of the White Lady, this ritual, once reserved for nobles, has been extended to all the soldiers of the Company, ensuring them eternal rest in the gardens of Schädelheim, no matter where in the Old World they might fall.
The discovery of the 'Mos Teutonicus' immediately conjured up images of a cauldron in which all kinds of bones were boiling. Fortunately, at the same time, GW was releasing the Cities of Sigmar and the Alchemite Warforger. Combined with the body of a Sigmar's warrior priest and the head of a Steelhelm, I had my Deflesher.
Half-wizard, half-chronicler, the Necrologist seems to draw his power from the names of the dead of the Company that he has recorded in his registers.
Still working on the assistants...
In the wake of the Cult of the Mourners, the Marblers are sometimes seen, led by a Master Mason or "Maître Tombier" in Bretonnian. Obsessed with death, they work tirelessly on the tombstones and monuments that will celebrate the glory of those who fell in battle for the White Lady.
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| Londres, British Library, Estoire del saint Graal (ca. 1317) |
You will easily recognize the four crew members of the bretonnian field trebuchet, accompanied by an old C46 Militia miniature, "Malin One-Eye", whose arms I swapped with those of one of Zondara's Gravebreakers, and the strongman, another C46 villager.
And the whole band:
This great cannon is one of the (many) warmachines released for the Empire with the 4th edition of Warhammer Battle. As for the mortar, I have tried to link it to the story of the White Lady, by adding some candles and a skull hanging from the carriage.
In terms of painting, it's the same old colours over a black undercoat: the wood received a basecoat of VGC Heavy Charcoal mixed with VMC Chocolate Brown, then highlighted with various mixes of Chocolate Brown and VMC Light Grey. For the metallic parts, I started with a basecoat of VMC Dark Sea Blue and VMC Hull Red, then highlighted using VMC Neutral Grey, VMC Field Blue, Light Grey, VMC Sky Blue, and white.
The barrel of the cannon deserved special attention, as it’s decorated with incredible detail. I can’t help but admire the dedication of the designer—these tiny ornaments are often invisible on dry-brushed models. In any case, I did my best to bring out all these elements on the barrel, which I kept in contrast as dark as possible.
As for the crew, nothing new in terms of painting. The keen-eyed reader will notice that the third gunner is not the original model: I couldn’t find him in my boxes, so I had to convert a beheaded halberdier by trimming his chainmail, gluing a new head, and swapping the blade for something more suitable for loading a cannon. Lucky me, black is great for hiding the imperfections in the conversion.
Just a few shots of the funeral coach and its followers. Ideal for a useless Empire baggage train if I played Warhammer 3rd edition 😝
I'm getting tired of this army, but I still have a lot of unfinished business on my work desk. So... 4 more models.
The bearers of the heraldic candles are two converted crewmen of the second version of the Empire Volley Gun. Really happy with the one holding his hat. As for the other one... let's say that I didn't want to leave it in the cemetary of half-baked conversions. 😐
Seven months have passed since the publication of the post presenting Count Heinrich's last home. Blame the endless painting of my regiment of mounted knights, as well as the apprehension of painting two new horses. Anyway...
The colours are as dull and muted as possible (it's a funerary coach after all). On a black undercoat, the wooden parts are painted with a mix of VGC extra opaque Heavy Charcoal and VMC Chocolate Brown, adding lines of VMA Tire black + Chocolate Brown and VMC Light Grey + Chocolate Brown. You'll recognize on the sides the intertwined brambles and capital letters of Adelarde de Monfort and Heinrich that I have already used extensively on the caparisons of the war horses.
For the metallic parts, the usual basecoat of VMC Dark Sea Blue and VMC Hull Red, highlighted with Formula P3 Greatcoat Grey, VMC Field Blue, Light Grey and white.
The two living characters were painted with the tones of the spearmen for the rider, and of the mourners for the priest. As for the late husband of the White Lady, probably too much time spent on something hidden in the coach 😑
