Wrong Turnpike

Lucian was tired and hungry, worse yet his tail ached from riding the pitiful animal he was forced to mount after leaving the garrison at Stonespire. His trading with the quartermaster of Stonespire had been very profitable, but the man had been absolutely miserly with trading supplies. The burly man had eagerly counted out two-score gold guilders and a dozen silver after looking over Lucian's tools, it was a small fortune in coin, but when Lucian had asked for dry rations the quartermaster had refused, when he tried to get a saddle for the swaybacked nag he traded his ox for again the quartermaster claimed none could be spared. Lucian shifted his hips against the rough doubled over blanket that he was making do with, two burlap sacks tied with a length of rope served as saddlebags for the young wanderer. Lucian's guts grumbled with hunger.

"Ungh! Curse this whole land!" Lucian wrung his hands on the rope reigns he had fashioned for his mount, if wasn't wearing the simple clothing of a tradesman he thought he would look just like the impoverished pilgrims that occasionally passed through his old home village of Hedgemire.

Lucian had set off back to the east, there wasn't anything worth his trouble further west beyond Stonespire, though he still didn't know where exactly he was heading, in fact he wasn't sure where he had gotten himself to, the path he was on was different than the road he had traveled, more narrow and with more plant growth, it did not seem disused or overgrown just different than the rocky rutted road he had used. Still his mount clopped along the trail as if she knew the way.

As he climbed a subtle rise in the road a turnpike slowly came into view, he knew for sure now that he had not been on this trail before, or at least the turnpike had not been on the trail before. The closer he approached the more he could make out. the turnpike was just a simple felled tree braced on a few crossed spars, the tops of which were sharpened to deter someone from jumping the road block with their horse, not that Lucian's mount could manage a feat like that. Lucian tried to slow his approach but his nag kept walking on at its leisurely pace.

There was a rustling behind Lucian and he turned his head in time to see a couple men move from behind a particularly dense bush.

"Whoa there goodman, there is a toll to use the road." The pair quickly walked towards Lucian, easily able to outpace the nag he was riding.

Lucian tugged at the reigns and his mount came to a stop, bristling a little while whinnying through the rope harness.

"Sorry, this is the first time I've traveled this road... I can pay the toll..."

Lucian's words trailed off as the men came up on either side of him, they looked different than the men he had seen at the garrison, or the cavalry patrol he had encountered on the road before. They both looked the part of soldiers, but gone was the common blue and white livery of the Stonespire garrison. These men were dressed in dark green and faded black, one man was clad in a dark brigandine and the other wore a breastplate darkened with forge scale, a sign that the man's armor was made in a hurry or bought for cheap skipping the polishing process.

The man in brigandine looked up at Lucian from under his wide brimmed helmet, one hand resting on the pommel of a fine sword hanging at his belt.

"What are you doing on the Baron's road?" The man regarded Lucian with a puzzled expression tinted with disgust, like a man might look at unexpected dung he had stepped in.

"I have just finished some business... and was headed east for someplace to rest... I have to admit I do not know where I am exactly..." Lucian felt uneasy as he started to think on the words the man had said, weren't all the roads the Kingdom's roads, who was this Baron?

The man in the brigandine reached out and gripped the harness of Lucian's horse, "These are dangerous roads for a man who does not know the way. It would be best for you if you came with us. Further up this pass is the village of Verdenvale, we have a garrison there and enforce the Baron's law. You would be welcome to rest there if you can pay for room and board."

Lucian shifted nervously on his mount, "I was warned of bandits by a patrol of horsemen yesterday... and... well..."

The two soldiers shared a look before again regarding Lucian, the man in the darkened plate spoke this time, "Aye, these horsemen, did they wear the blue and white livery of the Marches?"

Lucian nodded and unconsciously shifted one of hands to his belt where he gripped the small purse of coins he had cinched there.

"By Mara's tits! Will those thrice damned Brathburn curs never recognize the Baron's rights?" The soldier spat in the dirt and balled his fists.

The soldier in brigandine tried to calm his comrade, "Easy Goadwyn, there is every chance this man knows nothing of the troubles here in the Marches. We are the law here, the Baron is our lord and we do his bidding. Those other soldiers, the ones setting up in Stonespire are the bandits. They charge taxes and tolls they have no right to claim and they attack us any chance they get. That's why we were hidden when you rode up. They have the gall to call us 'bandits' they are the bandits."

Lucian nodded along in agreement feeling completely lost but at the mercy of the two soldiers. "Well I am glad that I am safe now."

"Aye, we will see to your safety traveler, but there is still the matter of the toll. One silver Guilder for the use of the Baron's road with an animal." The soldier in brigandine held out his free hand.

Lucian fumbled with the tie of his purse and quickly produced the coin, at this rate he would expend all his money on tolls and taxes and would end up begging in the streets of whatever place he finally found himself.

The soldier took the coin and pocketed it, "With that settled the three of us can find some rest and shelter in Verdenvale. First round is on me traveler, and you can tell Goadwyn and I about your journey. Come on we can make it before nightfall if we get going."

The odd trio set off towards Verdenvale, and what Lucian hoped might be a better beginning for his new life.

A Rock and a Hard Place

Lucian cursed his luck for the dozenth time, he should have never sold the family business, he should have never come to the Western Marches and he should have never bought the misserable beast refusing to pull his wagon.

"Go! You stinking flea-bitten brute! This would be faster if I pulled the cart and you rode back here."

 Lucian struck out two more times with his rod at the flanks of the ox hitched to his cart with no result other than a plaintive groan from the over-worked beast. The track was uphill and rutted, large rocks protruded here and there, it was not easy going for a wagon laden with tools, pulled by an ox past its prime, and driven by a man with little experience of such things, but this is where Lucian found himself and he'd come too far to back down.

Lucian had inherited his trade from his father, like most men of Wallonce, but he was never a very good smith, his arms lacked the stamina and his fingers the deftness of a craftsman. Unlike his late brother Fredric, Lucian did not try to make up for a lack of skill with toil, hard work was not for him. Thinking of that now he wondered why he had embarked on his undertaking, but then he remembered the fat sack of Guilders he'd been promised if he could deliver the tools of his forge to the garrison of Stonespire. The plan had been simple, and perhaps that was where it was faulty, gather up the tools, anvil, bellows; load everything into the cart, hitch the last ox up and drive it on for a fortnight or so. Get his payment for the forge supplies, and then trade the ox for any old nag he could ride away on and Lucian could set himself up in River Ford or Almsmarch as a pawn broker, gambler, or scoundrel; live a life of wenches and wine.

He should have known better, it had gone wrong as soon as he tried to pack it all up in his home of Hedgemire. The locals had gathered in a mob and demanded that he not dismantle the forge, they needed it, to mend the tools and implements of farming, it was a necessary thing to everyone's livelihood. They had even scrounged up some Guilders to pay Lucian to leave without the tools, but it was a pittance compared to what he could get from the Lord rebuilding Stonespire, by the Western Hells he could have gotten a better price for the stuff in Almsmarch. Lucian spat into the dirt at the thought, why didn't he just go east to Almsmarch, he'd probably only get half what he could in Stonespire but he'd already have the coin in his purse and likely wine in his belly.

Lucian looked ahead on the road past the groaning ox tugging his cart, he could just make out a noise, hoof beats. The sound grew louder and soon he could make out a rising cloud of dust being kicked up by a dozen or so riders. The cavalrymen slowed as they approached the cart obstructing their path. Lucian could make out more of the approaching riders, they carried two pennants, one blue and white, the other crimson with a tower emblazoned on it in black.

Lucian called out to them. "Ho! Are you from Stonespire?"

The riders halted in the road and a single man on horse approached Lucian. He wore heavy plate harness and a bushy black beard stuck out from under his sallet. The rider had a lance held in his right hand and it rested on a hook on his breast plate, he circled Lucian's wagon and regarded him like a carrion hound might gaze at a wounded lamb.

"What's your business on the Kingdom's road?" The booming voice of the rider had Lucian regretting every decision that had led him to this moment.

"I am a blacksmith... that is I was a blacksmith, but I heard that the garrison at Stonespire was to be rebuilt... and well I thought..."

The rider cocked his head as he looked at Lucian, "We've no need of retired blacksmiths at the garrison." The riders seemed to chuckle and relax their postures a bit. "Besides the place isn't really much to look at so I have no idea why you would want to retire there."

Another of the riders dismounted and made his way to Lucian and his cart, the man yanked back the cover over the wagon and began to rummage through the bundles of tools and supplies, Lucian turned in his seat to see what the man was doing when the first rider spoke again.

"We have had troubles with smugglers on this road, and bandits too, but you don't seem like a bandit, the bandits don't normally stammer and piss themselves when we stop them."

The riders burst into laughter and pitifully Lucian tried to laugh along with them.

"The smugglers tend to sweat a bit though, you wouldn't be a smuggler would you? Trying to evade the Kingdom's taxes?"

 As he asked the question the rider tipped his lance into Lucian's cart and took a few exploratory jabs, seeming to be satisfied with the result the rider raised his lance again hooked it back on its rest. The dismounted rider nodded to the first and made his way back to his mount as Lucian tried to answer the question, "I just wanted to make my way to the garrison and sell my tools... so a smithy could be established there."

The first rider nodded, "Well that should be fine, my Lord has been acquiring quite a bit of the needed materials for the garrison, I'm sure you'll find a market there, but there is the matter of the toll. One guilder per draft animal, you do have a guilder on you don't you?"

Lucian struggled with the drawstring of his purse and quickly produced the single silver coin, he thrust his hand out, "Here... no problem at all."

The rider drew closer and took the proffered coin. "Two of my men will escort you the rest of the way, you should be at the fort before nightfall." The first rider spurred his horse and the rest followed flowing around Lucian and his cart kicking up dust and startling Lucian's ox in the process.

Lucian tugged at the reigns till the beast calmed, as he caught his breath he regarded his new escort. One man looked much like the other, almost fully armored in plate harness but one wore a blue and white livery coat with a red gate on his breast.

The rider in the livery coat spoke "Lets get moving goodman, we still have our trade to practice even if you have given yours up." the other rider snorted with laughter as the trio set off towards Stonespire.

15mm High Medieval Minis from Alternative Armies

I've been painting these besides working on my Hussite War minis and the odd fantasy or Italian Wars figures. I've based all these as singles so I could work on my color schemes and heraldic badges, but I have the rest of the units multi-based as that style has grown on me a little.

Sir Roland Hollowell, I think
this fellow
will be the leader of my retinue.

Sir Roland is getting on in years but
he insists on taking to the battlefield
to lead his men personally.

A less common version of a halved
shield design.

I think I'll use mostly muted tones but
with bright splashes like this
crossbowman's red surcoat.

I like the combination of muted green
and yellow on this axeman.

Decided on a striped pattern on this
swordsman, as well as his red
arming cap.

I imagine the ranged troops as being
part of retained garrison for Sir
Hollowell's castle.

As a group I think they have a cohesive feel.

I also have a few peasants that serve
as serfs.

Or maybe even fierce foot as a number
of them have hefty weapons like this
flail.

Either way they are likely to make a
mess on the battlefield.

Sir William Stout.

Recently elevated to knighthood,
Sir William has much to prove and
much to gain from a successful
campaign.

Sir Arnold of Bonen.

Sir Arnold is well traveled and
an avid tourney participant. While
he seeks his fortunes on the field of
honor his estate languishes.

Can't wait to get some more of these painted up so I can have some proper medieval skirmishes. I'll likely take the advice given in Lion Rampant and split the collection of minis in half and enjoy some land disputes between rival lords.

Still thirsty,
Chris

New Year, New Stuff

Once again the calendar is out of days and we roll into another year that is hopefully filled with new hobby projects, minis, games and all manner of exciting things. Here are a few more minis that I've been working on during what was a very busy holiday season for me between work and celebratory obligations.

More 15mm Hussite Spearmen, great
to work on the pavise shields.

My Hussite spear block continues to slowly expand, I just
need to get off my butt and finish my War Wagons to really
bolster their defensive line.

I've started working on a number of earlier 15mm medieval minis, most of these were bought initially to see if they were compatible with my Hussite minis. They scale well alongside my Hussite and Crusader forces but they are clearly more 13th or 14th century in their arms and armor, so I've grouped them together to make a Hanseatic themed high medieval army built along the lines of a Lion Rampant force.

Nifty spearman with a pike a good
little shield to paint heraldry on.

Crossbowman in mail and skullcap,
I've tried to stick to a simple but
bright color pallet.

Brutal looking axeman, clearly ready
to try and break the enemy's line.

Another savage looking combatant,
his arms and armor mark him as a
professional among the levy.

Simple little archer ready to loose
volleys on his foes.

Soldier with a plancon, a vicious
weapon that certainly looks like
it will get the job done.

All assembled with  a mounted knight in the
heraldry of the house of Hollowell.

A better look at the knight, I painted
him based on a coat of arms that I
found online associated with the
name Hollowell. 

I liked the high medieval minis so much that I've got many more on order so I can build a full 24 point retinue for Lion Rampant, but I'm not sure that I have opponents for them, so I may paint about half of them in different colors so I can split the miniature collection down the middle and have some pitched battles till I collect an army of French or Baltic troops to have some proper battles.

I've got quite the backlog of things to paint and I'll endeavor to share them here when I get some decent paint and pictures done. Hoping for another battle soon and maybe a whole week of battles if I can ever get my vacation from work.

Still thirsty,
Chris

15mm Hussite Spearmen

These are from the MiniFigs 15mm Hussite Wars range sold by Caliver Books through their Miniature Figurines website. These are under the listing of German Spearmen without any pictures, so I was very pleased and surprised with the sculpts, good detail, lots of space on their pavise style shield to paint all kinds of medieval design. Like most the minis from this range they do have a bit of flash and the occasional mold error, not for the beginner hobbyist. 

Couldn't not paint a scene of the
crucifixion. 

These guys both have variants of
the common chalice badge of
the Hussite movement.

The figures would be appropriate for
either side of the Hussite Wars, whether
you wanted them to be German
crusaders or Hussites.

I have a number of these that I'm mixing with the other minis I have from Alternative Armies and MiniFigs to make an exciting looking force of Hussite troops. It's nice to have some surface area to do art thanks to their shields, brings a lot of color to what could otherwise be a drab bunch of revolting peasants.

Still thirsty,
Chris

15mm Hussite Houfnice

This is a great little mini sold by Alternative Armies, it's my only multi-based mini for my Hussite forces at the moment but it has a lot of character and was blast to paint. I found it very interesting that cannons and gunpowder were so prevalent among the Hussite armies during the Hussite Wars, it was one of the things that made me want to collect miniatures to use in the setting.

I'm sure this artillery piece will see
off the crusaders.

I debated how to set the crew on
the base for this one.

In the end I decided that two off to
one side while the firer lit the
cannon made the most sense.

I also like how armored the crew
are, makes me think of a medieval
attempt at safety gear.

I have a number of gunpowder units yet to go with my Hussite forces, I even a little handgunner vignette that I'm really excited to get painted up. I'm also planning a scenario around this little beauty that should be quite fun (unless you're a crusading knight), but I have to finish a few more minis before It will see the tabletop.

Still thirsty,
Chris

More 15mm Hussite Minis from Alternative Armires

Still grinding away at the pile of minis that I picked up months ago. I'm not the fastest painter but I try and make these little fellows look as good as I can while I'm working on them. These are all minis from Alternative Armies 15mm Medieval Medus Range. The minis have a lot character and detail but some of them do show their age, but at this point in my life the same is true of me.

Crusaders and Hussites clash in the lands of Bohemia.

A wall of sharp points may change the minds of those
Hussite troops.

A little more ragtag but filled with zeal, the Hussite
soldiers might repel the invaders.

I have a few more of this sculpt,
looking forward to adding
to the wall of spears.

I love the barbute helmet on this
mini.

Sold as Hungarian Man at Arms I
couldn't resist painting this one
with Hungarian Coat of Arms.

With all his plate this little German
looks like he's ready to brawl.

At this stage in the project I have about as many finished models as unfinished ones. Originally I had tried to have team colors between my German Crusaders, being mostly black and yellow, and my Hussite forces, muted red and green, but I have recently started painting my Germans all sorts of colors so I just stick to colors and patterns that I find pleasing. Keep checking back for more progress and hopefully some more fights.

Still thirsty,
Chris