Post by Circus on Mar 30, 2009 6:11:13 GMT -5
Anybody play Mordheim? If not, anybody remember these guys?
I'm doing an army of that. Well, several armies really. I know I have other things I need to be doing (the unassembled Reaver Titan under my bed being a hefty candidate), but this is what's bitten me at the moment and I'm really excited about it. I'll get to the Reaver, trust me
The Carnival of Chaos travels the Old World spreading the taint of Chaos under the guise of a small travelling circus. In the aftermath of the Storm of Chaos, however, the Carnival has vastly grown in size from a small troupe on one cart to a gargantuan behemoth freakshow circus numbering in the hundreds (just over four hundred and fifty, in fact) that is on a constant pilgrimage to convert the populations of the Empire and Bretonnia to the will of the Dark Gods through the subtle art of entertainment.
In total there will actually be four armies set out as follows - although there will probably some model overlap, so I'm not actually going to be able to field them all complete at the same time. They will be taken from various different army books in order to best represent different parts of the circus.
3,000pts - the Core of the Cirque Macabre
Skaven Clan Pestilens
Led by Ringmistress Harietta herself, a powerful dark sorceress (Grey Seer), from the top of her dread coach, her army consists of almost two hundred drafted from the circus as a whole, including her shock troops bodyguard (Stormvermin) and many of the fanatical followers of the circus (Plague Monks) and the workers who keep the show together (Clanrats). It is only when the entire core of the circus takes to war that the Ringmistress shall accompany them, however, lending her prodigious magical strength to their forces.
2,000pts - Clowns and Strongmen
Warriors of Chaos
This part of the circus takes to the concept of war most commonly, and is a large horde of heftily muscled men (Clowns and Strongmen are both Marauders) backed up with performing animals and hunting dogs (Warhounds). This army is led by Number Six, a skilled and reliable wizard of Nurgle (Festus the Leechlord), who is usually accompanied by a bodyguard of the very best strongmen the Cirque Macabre can offer (Chaos Warriors).
2,000pts - The Freaks
Skaven Hell Pit
The monstrosities of the circus, comprising both such bizarre freaks of nature as trolls and minotaurs as well as the obscene ogres from the East (All represented by the many types of Rat Ogre the Hell Pit can take). Their commander is Oliver Octavian, a heavily augmented Ogre (Ghoritch, Castellan of Clan Moulder) who in the heat of battle becomes totally, truly insane. As well as these vaguely humanoid freaks this contingent includes the giant rats that are fed off the chaotic energy of the circus, and smaller plague rats that follow any group of travellers knowing that there is always food - sometimes in the form of a deceased "fan."
2,000pts - The Heralds of the Cirque Macabre
Beasts of Chaos
These men and things move ahead of the main direction of the Cirque Macabre, both spreading the word of its coming and recruiting. "Officially" this army is led by Master Jester (Morghur, Master of Skulls - the Spawn he creates will be giant, evil clowns), but Oliver Octavian also often takes to the battlefield with them, as well as Numbers Seven and Two. The movement is the most varied, as they wish to bring all the delights of the circus with them to all they see, including the clowns and strongmen (here, clowns are Ungors and strongmen are Gors), some of the bigger freaks (Minotaurs), and even a chariot pulled by lions (Tuskgor chariot).
Sources for modelling will be great, including things from the Empire line (state troops and militia), the Ogre line, the Skaven line, the Vampire Counts line (Zombies), the Beasts (Minotaurs) and the Warriors of Chaos line. Even the High Elves are not safe, as they shall of course contribute the aforementioned lion chariot! Pig Iron miniatures will be contacted for gas mask heads for the Stormvermin counts-as...
Oh, and I have actually started this - so hopefully it'll get at least half finished
Introducing: the Dramatis Personae of the Cirque Macabre!
Ringmistress Harietta von Bellanhofen
A dark sorceress the likes the realm of man have never seen, probably the most powerful human female sorceress in the Old World.* It is her black will that now guides the Cirque Macabre, and she displays variation in her powers unusual in a Chaotic sorcerer, both being able to spread contagion as a Nurglitch wizard might yet also to hurl lightning bolts as a Tzeentchian warlock could. She doesn't believe she is necessarily evil, she just likes to see the children play, so happy, and then...
*The Fay Enchantress is the direct representative of a God, she does not count!
Master Jester
His name was lost long ago, but he is a total pariah. He has a grim influence that waves out around him almost palpably, such that even the followers of the circus dislike to be close to him. He is, however, a skilled orator and proficient in obtaining new punters to the shows. And in combat, his dark influence can be turned into a weapon such that the enemy suffer from it.
Oliver Octavian
An ogre who perceives the world differently to most sentient beings. The master of the freaks, he has been heavily augmented with the wonders of modern technology - his right arm is replaced by a gargantuan wyrdstone driven power claw, constructed after the Cirque Macabre's extensive stay nearby the d**ned city of Mordheim, and bolted to his spine are a collection of extra limbs that he can control with his thoughts. Off the battlefield he is calm and composed, almost a gentleman, whilst on it he is a being of rage and violence. His role within the circus itself is to keep the freaks in check and act as a third in command as it comes to the running and talking game, but the majority of the cast prefer him significantly over Master Jester.
The Numbers
These individuals represent various aspects of chaos - fear, narcissism, gluttony, perversion, envy, insanity, greed, wrath and arrogance. The nine are scattered throughout the circus, some in a position of command and some not. Despite their devotion to various Chaos Gods throughout their group, they will all wear black and hide behind unique masks concealing their true identities from the world.**
**No prizes for getting this reference.
Gidean
Gidean is the slave of the Ringmistress, and plays the musical accompaniment to the performances on the grand Hell Organ. When the circus is abroad, he rides on the back of her coach and plays a smaller (but no less enchanted) Organ there.
I'm doing an army of that. Well, several armies really. I know I have other things I need to be doing (the unassembled Reaver Titan under my bed being a hefty candidate), but this is what's bitten me at the moment and I'm really excited about it. I'll get to the Reaver, trust me
The Carnival of Chaos travels the Old World spreading the taint of Chaos under the guise of a small travelling circus. In the aftermath of the Storm of Chaos, however, the Carnival has vastly grown in size from a small troupe on one cart to a gargantuan behemoth freakshow circus numbering in the hundreds (just over four hundred and fifty, in fact) that is on a constant pilgrimage to convert the populations of the Empire and Bretonnia to the will of the Dark Gods through the subtle art of entertainment.
In total there will actually be four armies set out as follows - although there will probably some model overlap, so I'm not actually going to be able to field them all complete at the same time. They will be taken from various different army books in order to best represent different parts of the circus.
3,000pts - the Core of the Cirque Macabre
Skaven Clan Pestilens
Led by Ringmistress Harietta herself, a powerful dark sorceress (Grey Seer), from the top of her dread coach, her army consists of almost two hundred drafted from the circus as a whole, including her shock troops bodyguard (Stormvermin) and many of the fanatical followers of the circus (Plague Monks) and the workers who keep the show together (Clanrats). It is only when the entire core of the circus takes to war that the Ringmistress shall accompany them, however, lending her prodigious magical strength to their forces.
2,000pts - Clowns and Strongmen
Warriors of Chaos
This part of the circus takes to the concept of war most commonly, and is a large horde of heftily muscled men (Clowns and Strongmen are both Marauders) backed up with performing animals and hunting dogs (Warhounds). This army is led by Number Six, a skilled and reliable wizard of Nurgle (Festus the Leechlord), who is usually accompanied by a bodyguard of the very best strongmen the Cirque Macabre can offer (Chaos Warriors).
2,000pts - The Freaks
Skaven Hell Pit
The monstrosities of the circus, comprising both such bizarre freaks of nature as trolls and minotaurs as well as the obscene ogres from the East (All represented by the many types of Rat Ogre the Hell Pit can take). Their commander is Oliver Octavian, a heavily augmented Ogre (Ghoritch, Castellan of Clan Moulder) who in the heat of battle becomes totally, truly insane. As well as these vaguely humanoid freaks this contingent includes the giant rats that are fed off the chaotic energy of the circus, and smaller plague rats that follow any group of travellers knowing that there is always food - sometimes in the form of a deceased "fan."
2,000pts - The Heralds of the Cirque Macabre
Beasts of Chaos
These men and things move ahead of the main direction of the Cirque Macabre, both spreading the word of its coming and recruiting. "Officially" this army is led by Master Jester (Morghur, Master of Skulls - the Spawn he creates will be giant, evil clowns), but Oliver Octavian also often takes to the battlefield with them, as well as Numbers Seven and Two. The movement is the most varied, as they wish to bring all the delights of the circus with them to all they see, including the clowns and strongmen (here, clowns are Ungors and strongmen are Gors), some of the bigger freaks (Minotaurs), and even a chariot pulled by lions (Tuskgor chariot).
Sources for modelling will be great, including things from the Empire line (state troops and militia), the Ogre line, the Skaven line, the Vampire Counts line (Zombies), the Beasts (Minotaurs) and the Warriors of Chaos line. Even the High Elves are not safe, as they shall of course contribute the aforementioned lion chariot! Pig Iron miniatures will be contacted for gas mask heads for the Stormvermin counts-as...
Oh, and I have actually started this - so hopefully it'll get at least half finished
Introducing: the Dramatis Personae of the Cirque Macabre!
Ringmistress Harietta von Bellanhofen
A dark sorceress the likes the realm of man have never seen, probably the most powerful human female sorceress in the Old World.* It is her black will that now guides the Cirque Macabre, and she displays variation in her powers unusual in a Chaotic sorcerer, both being able to spread contagion as a Nurglitch wizard might yet also to hurl lightning bolts as a Tzeentchian warlock could. She doesn't believe she is necessarily evil, she just likes to see the children play, so happy, and then...
*The Fay Enchantress is the direct representative of a God, she does not count!
Master Jester
His name was lost long ago, but he is a total pariah. He has a grim influence that waves out around him almost palpably, such that even the followers of the circus dislike to be close to him. He is, however, a skilled orator and proficient in obtaining new punters to the shows. And in combat, his dark influence can be turned into a weapon such that the enemy suffer from it.
Oliver Octavian
An ogre who perceives the world differently to most sentient beings. The master of the freaks, he has been heavily augmented with the wonders of modern technology - his right arm is replaced by a gargantuan wyrdstone driven power claw, constructed after the Cirque Macabre's extensive stay nearby the d**ned city of Mordheim, and bolted to his spine are a collection of extra limbs that he can control with his thoughts. Off the battlefield he is calm and composed, almost a gentleman, whilst on it he is a being of rage and violence. His role within the circus itself is to keep the freaks in check and act as a third in command as it comes to the running and talking game, but the majority of the cast prefer him significantly over Master Jester.
The Numbers
These individuals represent various aspects of chaos - fear, narcissism, gluttony, perversion, envy, insanity, greed, wrath and arrogance. The nine are scattered throughout the circus, some in a position of command and some not. Despite their devotion to various Chaos Gods throughout their group, they will all wear black and hide behind unique masks concealing their true identities from the world.**
**No prizes for getting this reference.
Gidean
Gidean is the slave of the Ringmistress, and plays the musical accompaniment to the performances on the grand Hell Organ. When the circus is abroad, he rides on the back of her coach and plays a smaller (but no less enchanted) Organ there.
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