Army of the White Citadel

Horde of the Day

Every 3,333 years .. the planets align in such a way as to bring into existence a gateway to an ethereal Kingdom known simply as -

The White Citadel

From this White Citadel come warriors who are true of heart, and as brave as lions.

They fight against injustice and oppression, righting wrongs and rescuing damsels in distress .... before the planets once again begin to un-align ... and whereupon the White Citadel fades away for another 3,333 years.

They have been known to appear during several famous conflicts, such as :

• Pretty much any 18th Century battle
• They were at the Berezina during Napoleon's retreat from Moscow
• They appeared briefly at Jena to cover the withdrawal of the Saxons
• They appeared in Berlin during the Kapp putsch, and convinced the Freikorps to head back to barracks.
• They appeared at Rouke's Drift to save the Welsh Choir from being washed on the spears.
• They opened the gates of Palermo to Garibaldi.

This is their story.

Spider Forest and Spiderlings

Scenery of the Day

Today we look at a real simple terrain tile of a horror themed 'forest' . and also a lair for horrific little spiderlings.

The good Magician and his Elven guide

Horde of the Day

Something a little different today ... a magician base for HoTT.

Thomas O'Leary and the Leprechaun - Beastnasters for Hordes

Horde of the Day

Being St Patricks Day and all that, I thought I would share some pics of Thomas O'Leary and the Leprechaun today :)

Voodoo Priest - the battle continues (Part 2)

Horde of the Day

Continuing on with our story ... please read Part 1 if you haven't already !


From the previous chapter, the Marquis de Chenoncoix had managed to press home an attack on the township using skeletal hordes that he summoned up from beyond the Grave.

Despite the enormous odds in numbers arrayed against them, the French and Irish musketeers had managed to hold their line and meet the approaching hordes with musket and cannon fire.

Today then, we continue on with the terrible events that followed .....

The good pastor and his faithful nieces

Horde of the Day

Today we have a useful addition to any field army from pretty much any period from 50 AD through to the present.

The return of the Marquis de Chenoncoix (Part 1)

Horde of the Day

Somewhere in Middle Europe, in the mid-1750's ... as the shadows of the day grow longer, men of the regiments of France take up defensive positions around a hamlet and the surrounding farmlands.

Rumours abound that the infamous Marquis de Chenoncoix  has returned from many years in exile to reclaim his ancestral titles.

A period portrait of the Marquis de Chenoncoix.

It was the year 1708 which saw the Marquis de Chenoncoix at the height of his fortunes - known as a pious man, a kind benefactor  to his people, the Marquis was popular, successful and prosperous in every way.

That year he sailed to the East Indies on a goodwill mission to assist the sick and build a lavish home for orphans in that distant land.

The South Australian Schnargle-Nosed Sand Fly

Monstrosity of the Day

 

The South Australian Schnargle-Nosed Sand Fly.

Scientific Name: Bussirundicus Persistentium

First discovered by in 1824 by Sir Wilfred Carruthers, resident natural scientist on the ship HMS Indulgent. Approaching the Bay of Glenelg, the deck of the HMS Indulgent was set upon by a swarm of Bussirundicus Persistentium, shortly leading to the first recorded fatality from this intriguing insect.

The feature that makes this species of sand fly unique is the very prominent schnargle shaped rotating nose piece. Made from a tough layer of exoskeletal chitin, this unique adaption can rotate independently from the head of the creature, allowing it to bore holes through wood, stone, leather and even tough bone. 

Life sized super sculpy model of the sand fly, showing the schnargle shaped nose attachment distinctive to this species of flying pest.

Since the Schnagle-Nosed Sand Fly only eats dirt and detritus typically found around human settlements, scientists were at first baffled as to what function this unique rotating schnargle shaped nose offered the insect. Whilst the creature routinely drills holes in just about anything it can lay its shnargle shaped nose on, it never uses this for procuring food or assisting in the breeding cycle.

This life-sized model of the sand fly is then painted to match the actual creature, and based on a 40x30mm base to act as a flyer element for a HoTT army.

After many years of intensive study, it was concluded that the function of this biological adaption purely serves to make the insect even more annoying than is usual for a fly.

Like all native Australian insects, the South Australian Schnargle-Nosed Sand Fly is deadly poisonous, and immune to all known insecticides.

A rare Hi-Speed video capture of the Schnargle Nosed sand fly in flight. (Click the image to play the video)

Famous Archers

Horde of the Day

Its always useful to have a few extra figures sitting in the odds and ends pile to experiment with and try out new ideas.

This is a batch of archers that I have had sitting in the queue for months now, gathering dust, which I thought it would be time to finish off.

Orc Behemoth

Monstrosity of the Day

15mm Behemoth element for HoTT.

Just a quick one - a pair of 28mm Orcs on a 40x40 base, to add a Behemoth element to a 15mm HoTT Orc army.

Gold Tooth !

First little foray into this scale - very enjoyable, but obviously a little more work than 15mm. Maybe I can be tempted into getting some Calpe or Eureka Napoleonic 28's soon ???  In the meantime, I have some other 28s coming along for some projects for the shop. Will post that when they get finished off.

Orcish Riders and Knights

Horde of the Day

Some more Orcs finished off today - mounted riders, and chariots including the Generalissimo.

Orcish Warband and Hero

Horde of the Day

Today we have a small diversion ... a small unit of Orcish warband and a Hero / General unit to lead them out of the darkness to raid and plunder quaint 18th Century villages.

Le Grenadiers de la Liberté are called into action.

Horrors of the Day

The unspeakable horror unfolds in this astounding tale of the last stand of the Grenadiers of the Guard de la Libertié.

1783 -During the time of The Reconciliation during the latter half of the 18th Century, trouble brews in the streets of Paris. The crops have been failing, and the farmers resort to superstition to explain their plight.

Amongst their blasphemous utterances, some claim that diseased plants have been growing in the darkest forests .... and spreading out towards the farmlands .. leaching poisonous filth and corruption into the very soil of France. Bespoiling the crops, and providing nesting havens for unwholesome blackbirds.

In the darkest shadows of the night, some townsfolk can be heard to utter the unmentionable name of the infamous Marquis de Chenoncoix ......

A Portrait of the infamous Marquis de Chenoncoix ... a man who is best forgotten for the sake of all that is decent.

It has been over 60 years now since his ghastly demise, and his name has been struck from memory.  All those who fell under his power all those years ago were burnt at the stake during The Change.

Why then does his name emerge once more, like bloated carrion that floats to the surface of an unhealthy pond ?

DBA / HoTT board tiles

Scenery of the Day

Quick and simple modular game board using tiles, suitable for 15mm DBx / HoTT.

Starting my Semi-Historical 18th Century Project, I am going to need some DBx style terrain boards for the smaller battles.

Sodom and Gomorrah

DBA of the Day

Another cupboard find ... an unfinished project.

A 'strictly historical' DBA army, the perfect enemy for the early Hebrew army.

Whats in the Box ?

Philistines

DBA of the Day

Another cupboard find ... a half finished Philistine Army for DBA.

Whats in the box ?

Aztec / Mexican Army

DBA of the Day

Another cupboard find. Today we have an Aztec / Ancient Mexican army rescued from obscurity in the cupboard.

Whats in the box ?

Hittite Army

DBA of the Day

Another cupboard find ... a Hittite Army for DBA.

Whats in the Box ? Lets find out :

Canaanite Army

DBA of the Day

Today we have another cupboard discovery .. an early Canaanite army in 15mm from my long lost collection.

New Kingdom Egyptian Army

DBA of the Day

Today we have an NKE 15mm army that I have rescued from the storage cupboard.  I have a small number of these in storage, and thought its a good time to get some sunlight on them once again.

Its a very fun and educational period to model, as I hope these photos demonstrate.

This is the New Kingdom Egyptian Army, which by the looks of it is an unfinished project. Will have to finish this one off before too long.