The Great Oubliette of Shyish, part 5

The Cleavermaws are heading into the Great Oubliette of Shyish to rescue the Adm'rul. So I have rebuilt an old photo backdrop piece that I made years ago, (for a Mordheim campaign - it hasn't been used for anything since). I'll continue the tales of their adventures in Nagash's dungeon underworld using this display to set the scenes.

I have also just finished The Thorns of the Briar Queen to give the Cleavermaws some problems.

(I got these, and about 2 dozen other Nighthaunts, from Mortal Realms magazine - they cried out to be painted for this project!)

The Great Oubliette of Shyish, part 4

The Cleavermaws gathered round the Dead Man's Chest. Thunder rumbled overhead as they trudged through the forest, they followed a narrow dirt path that wound between the trees. Thorny undergrowth tugged at their clothes and gnarled roots tried to trip them.

Kaptain Mogrum followed just behind (the less-than-reassuringly named) Lost Uzzog. The shaman studied his brass aetheric compass and only occasionally hesitated as the crew stumbled and swore behind him.

Uzzog's compass did not point north, it pointed toward the strongest nearby source of magical energies. Mogrum was sure it was a hidden Realmgate, uncovered by the Necroquake.

Sludga herded the rest of the crew forward, silencing most of their grumbled complaints with harsh words and hard stares.

Kaptain Mogrum could feel the magical energies surging through the gravelines in the forest. Lost Uzzog's compass span round a few times then settled again, pointing at a cluster of overgrown stone ruins.

Kaptain Mogrum stepped ahead of Uzzog and signalled for the crew to halt.

"Are we here then boss?" asked Sludga.

"Aye." said Mogrum, simply.

Sludga nodded and started the crew into activity, they began getting the Dead Man's Chest ready and preparing the other equipment they had hauled through the woods for over a week.

Kaptain Mogrum had become a Weirdnob Shaman, when a head injury unlocked the power of Gorkamorka within him, a few years before. He focused his power on the magical energies within the chest and the crew turned the keys to unlock it.

The Realmgate was locked and obscured but the power of a half-dozen Endless Spells condensed into Realmstone was enough to force it open, when focused in the right way. Like a knife forced into a locked doorframe, a crack of light appeared. Mogrum's head felt like it might split as the gate resisted but he pressed on.

The gate opened. 

Mogrum stepped through the gate, into the chill air of another underworld. The Cleavermaws had found a way into the Great Oubliette of Nagash... but now they had to find the Adm'rul and a way out!

The Great Oubliette of Shyish, part 3

I built and painted a photo backdrop out of foamcore card and scenery leftovers in a few days:

And then things... got a little out of hand... I made a second backdrop for photos, by repurposing a Mordheim pit-fighting arena I made in 2011 and adding a lot of leftovers from The Harrowmark scenery.

This is what it looked like before I started the rebuild. It was used for a "sub-game" between the main games of Mordheim in the campaign. Each warband sponsored a pit fighter and got bonuses if they did well. Lots of them died!

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I have raided my scenery bits box to the point of exhaustion!

I've started painting it, so far I have: sprayed rattlecan black then zenithal sprayed Mechanicus Standard Grey. Dry-brushed Ushabti Bone. Agrax Earthshade and Athonian Camoshade washes. Balthasar Gold on the statues and plaque.

I'm going to add a lot more detail and weathering, especially to the metalwork.

I've also taken some more spooky filtered photos...

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The most dangerous part of this project is the ideas it has given me. I am imagining a whole game board made of these boxes, to create an interlocking, modular, 3D game with built-in backdrops. So you would never have to worry about "off-table" objects appearing in batrep photos! It would really suit underhive or Space Hulk settings too....

The Badfangs - Bonesplitterz of Aqshy, part 13. Animosity II

The Beast

In the hills overlooking Dreadfleet Harbour, Urgog, Ersatz and the Badfangs searched for some kind of great flying monster. The warband planned to get to the ur-whale and as it was flying away from the lake they needed to be airborne too.

They'd heard a rumour that a band of Pilgrims had a winged creature and they planned to take it from them and ride it to the ur-whale's back, then attack the corpse of the world-spirit on foot, atop its back.

They moved silently through the darkness, they were experienced and stealthy hunters of great beasts.

Urgog barely needed to say a word to them, they all knew their roles in tracking down and cornering their prey.

Gloomston the Pardoner and a band of Pilgrims were gathered in the courtyard of a ruined chapel. Gloomston at their centre, hissing and gurgling at his flock, who all nodded and growled at each other.

Gloomston saw the Badfangs at the moment they snapped-shut the jaws of their trap; soon enough to warn his followers, but too late to give him time to flee.

The filthy Pardoner stood his ground, not wanting his disgusting band to be slaughtered by the Bonesplitterz.

Howling in a Gorkamorka-addled rage, Urgog charged straight at him! Ersatz was just behind him.

Gloomston ushered his followers forward, who threw themselves at the Bonesplitterz.

Boss Ersatz hacked through the crowds of Crypt Ghouls.

Suddenly Urgog and Ersatz found themselves surrounded, cut-off from the rest of their warband! More and more Crypt Ghouls poured out of the caverns and caves...

But then... the squigs came!

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But the flying beast wasn't exactly what they were expecting...