Ivan, the Vampire Wizard

The Man, the Myth, the (near) Legend

Of indeterminate age, Ivan the Vampire Wizard is a near - legend among the people of the land. he is rumoured to travel between his many properties (both known and secret) to avoid raids by vampire hunters, vengeance-seeking family members, and specialist lawyers seeking employment.

Ivan, the Vampire Wizard

What these do-gooders (for the most part...) do not realise is that Ivan leads a double life. Nominally a vampire of indeterminate age doing 'vampire things', Ivan has decided to buck the trend. In his fight against the great boredom of being immortal, he has adopted an alternative persona. He secretly dresses in bright colours and attempts to radiate positivity (at night, obvs). It must be said that the latter (often expressed as a forced smile and loudly explained positive slogan) is a terrifying sight to behold!

His greatest joy however is 'giving back to society'. 

Acknowledging that he and his family have prospered off the backs (and necks) of the broader body public, he finds particular joy in taking from the rich to give to the poor. Preferring not to be directly involved in violence ('How distasteful'), Ivan works through a series of (short-lived) henchmen, who he controls and directs through mental domination and persuasive words. 

Most recently, he has a clan of lizard men in his employ. He uses them to rob the wealthy and then sneak through the sewer system of large cities, distributing small bags of coin within poorhouses, orphanages, and retirement homes for tax collectors (he feels a pang of guilt that he has paid no taxes on any of his properties since his early years, when many of the collectors failed to return to their offices). In a nice touch (he thinks), each bag is embroidered with the initials 'I.V.' ('Ivan. Vampire'? 'Ivan the 5th'? Who knows!)

The clan also work as debt-collectors and personal bodyguards when Ivan attracts too much attention and do-gooders appear!

Ivan and henchmen. (A.I. used to remove 
blemishes in the image.)

Ivan and the clan (AI used to remove blemishes
on the image.)

Lizardman hammer wielder

Lizardman swordsman

Lizardman with axe and shield

Lizardman warband

About the models

Ivan, Vampire Wizard, is/ was part of the Reaper Minis 'Dark Heaven Legends' range, #02866. The scale looks to be around 25mm~28mm. 

I was looking for a vampire mini to use in League of Dungeoneers. After all, any good collection of fantasy miniatures needs at least one Vampire - they are the classic 'evil enemy' found across many fantasy settings. Even better, he is a wizard, which presumably makes him even more dangerous! I took a look at various painted examples on the internet, and although it would have been a more classic look to go with a black cloak and darker colours I liked a brighter look. I think all he needs now is some round sunglasses!s

The lizardmen are anonymous 3d prints that I bought from a Chinese discount goods site. Again about 25mm in scale, they will serve perfectly as stock reptilian foes for any party of dungeoneers seeking fame and fortune (or more likely - fortune and fame!). Lizardmen/ Saurians tend to turn up in dungeons, sewers, swamps and other damp places, and every fantasy setting seems to have lots of all three! 

The three basic sculpts shown (swordsman, hammer wielder, sword & board) make for some nice variety and one can imagine the better armed and armoured model as a leader or captain. Their scaly skin makes them a good candidate for using Citadel Contrast Paints, Vallejo Xpress, or any other 'speed paints'. 

I think they all look fine for the tabletop - but perhaps they are missing a little something?

Time to bust out that new pot of 'Blood for the Blood God' technical paint....

League of Dungeoneers: Belinda Merryweather, Halfling explorer

'Belinda brings good luck!'

...or so she claims when asked by enquiring adventurers.

Indeed, word has gotten around the taverns of Silver City (mainly thanks to Belinda herself) that parties she joins do find more treasure. Strong boxes in the dark corners of crypts, antique arms and armour in tombs, secret rooms in dungeons - all seem to be discovered with Ms. Merryweather in tow. Is this due to her halfling good luck, her 'nose for the good stuff', or her focus on joining groups that she feels have a decent plan (and plenty of weapons and magic!)? 

Lightly armed and light on her feet, Belinda knows that she is more useful in exploring than in fighting. However, her small size and ability to dart into (and out of) the shadows mean that many an adventurer has been grateful to Belinda for slipping her blade into their enemy's back at an opportune moment.

Painting Belinda

This is a lovely little metal mini I picked up at auction. Google search tells me it is a 'Female Halfling' made by Alternative Armies.

I used a mixture of Citadel Speed Paints, and Vallejo Game Colour/ Express ranges. I particularly enjoyed the Vallejo 'Phoenix Orange' which is great for doing ginger hair in one coat. It brings a real focal point to the model when viewed from above on the tabletop. 

The lantern was a chance to have another go at 'OSL' (Object Source Lighting) and I think it worked out ok on the sleeves on the front and back of her tunic, closest to the lantern. The back looks better than the front (to me) but I'll leave it as it is! 

Lantern OSL detail (Front)

Great to have a halfling explorer on the roster of Dungeoneers - what will Belinda discover on her next adventure?

Dungeoneers and Dangerous Denizens

The road to League of Dungeoneers

I've focused more recently on boardgames but continue to play tabletop miniatures games - specifically Grimdark Future from OnePageRules. For OPR, I haven't bought or painted any miniatures, preferring instead to deploy my 40K armies of old such as my Tau and (rarely) Black Templars. OnePageRules is a lot of fun and has replaced 40K in my gaming group. There is a lot of love for the granddaddy of grimdark gaming, but OPR is simpler to play, faster, and more flexible, and crucially, with a far lower cost of entry (even just in terms of rules alone.)

On the hobby side I have been painting an eclectic mix of metal and plastic fantasy models from a variety of manufacturers. I've been putting these together with one eye on League of Dungeoneers, a tactical dungeon crawling game lovingly created by Von Braus publishing. 

The game comes with hundreds of awesome cardboard standees, but in keeping with the models I craved in my youth I am attracted to metal and plastic 28mm figures (GW fantasy models just seem way oversized to me now!) I've kept an eye out over the last few months for models that I could use in the game for my party of four, as well as enemies. Along the way, I've picked up models that aren't on the game's list of foes, but have been painting those too.

What is this cast of characters that I have painted? Who are they? What enemies might they face? Just for fun, here are some photos with some backstory. I've noted the actual L.O.D. classes for each.

Dungeoneers

Classic adventurers!

Jack the thief, Gideon the hedge knight (warrior), Belinda the cleric (warrior priest), and Peter the mage (wizard) walk into a bar...

...which would be the start of a great joke, except that each has a hunger in their heart and adventure on their minds.

Thief, hedge knight, sorceress, mage

Belinda, Cleric of the lake

Belinda's beauty, noble bearing (and extensive wardrobe) belie her experience and ruthlessness. Forced to leave her family's estate behind after falling foul of her scheming sister's plans, she now travels in search of riches and rare magical treasures to fund her revenge. The night she fled the estate she stole her grandfather's sword and her father's eagle-headed mace (the symbol of his office). She keeps these weapons close (her family has plenty of money to spend on bounty hunters) and knows she is more likely to survive to get her revenge if in the company of other adventurers (who will protect her willingly, or be sacrificed as necessary...)

Barefoot Peter, Purple order apprentice

In contrast, Peter has no interest in riches or revenge. An apprentice of the Purple Order of Wizards, he occupies the lowest rung of that esteemed enclave - a fact symbolised by being barefoot. He wears a chain to show that he has finished his initial studies and is never far from his books. His notebook is where he obsessively captures his observations, and his spellbook contains the simple cantrips and spells he has learned thus far. These large tomes are always on his person. As befits a wizard in training of the purple order, he dreams of only two things - gaining more knowledge, and the right to become an adept and wear shoes!

'Black Jack' Thief

"Black" Jack is a thief. Always on the run from a failed job and only a step or two ahead of his creditors...

...a man of mystery, he shares little and little is known of him.

Gideon, the hedge knight

Gideon is a hedge knight - brave, but poorly equipped. Aside from his knapsack he has but a dirty padded hauberk, hand axe, and frog-mouthed helm (gifted to him by his grandfather). Surprisingly, his most-prized possession is not the armour or weapons that he and the party rely on, but the yellow scarf around his neck. Dropped at Gideon's feet by a passing noblewoman from high on her horse he tried to return it, but was told 'keep it, young knight!'. This gift (accompanied by a dazzling smile over a pale shoulder), lit a fire in the young man's heart...

...one day, by dint of arms, he will escape this hardscrabble career and rise to greatness, accept service in a mighty house, and wed a noble lady equally as beautiful as the pale lady in yellow.

Our adventurers are gathered, but who else is waiting in the wings?

Loitering in a nearby tavern and ready to join the party should anyone ask (or better yet, pay!) we have Darkwolf the Barbarian (a not uncommon name it seems)!

On stage at the same tavern a summoner (wizard) - Abigail - entertains the crowd with her pet miniature dragon (little do they know this is merely a cover for her true mission!)

In her employ we find the elderly Willard. 

The classic 'Useful man' - he is talented in fetching, carrying, and fixing things. Beware though - as with his employer there is more than meets the eye to this bearded fellow! If cornered he is not averse to stepping out of his current role (and rather dramatically stripping down to his wolf pelt underwear) and reverting to the 'Wild Willard' of old - barbarian battler from the Sharp Hills! As famed for his braids as he was feared for carrying his 'three friends' - Biter (sword), Spiker (short sword), and Headsplitter (axe), the old man is as tough as nails.

Come and 'ave a go then... if you think you are 'ard enough!

Dangerous denizens...

Any dungeon-crawling party needs a plethora of enemies to face, so I also started painting some fearsome foes to fight. These may not all be types featured in League of Dungeoneers, but who knows when they may come in useful?

A genie, a giant, and a dusk troll...

The genie is the brains of the bunch. His immeasurable age and deep-seated anger at being forced to grant wishes to greedy imbeciles over the millennia make him a devious and dangerous foe. Alone, he would be formidable enough, but over the years he has managed to capture a coterie of henchmen in his lamp who serve him in the hopes of one day being released from his magic.

Big Ben the hill-giant (always with his club 'Red Masher' in hand) make an 'impact' wherever he goes. Every worst impulse and bad idea he has is acted upon with little hesitation. He has a terrible habit of listening to the 'little voice' in his ear - not realizing that these whisperings are not from his own 'genius', but rather the whisperings of the insane (and magically invisible) Weezle, goblin master-manipulator!

Big Ben and Weezle

Observers (those who have survived meeting Ben long enough to share their observations) have noted that along with Red Masher he is always to be seen with a rock in his other hand. Unknown to most, this is Ben's hobby. A dedicated rockhound, his hobby goes beyond simply preferring igneous to metamorphic (as evidenced by the quiet conversations he is happy to engage in with the very rocks he carries and is festooned with!)

Run!

Rnnnr-Grrr the dusk troll.

Rnnnr-Grrr (and friend)

Do you know any dusk trolls?

Dusk trolls are a rare and misunderstood breed. Compared to their more common, green-skinned cousins, they are less willing to socialize with fellow green skins or adventure in their company. Unbeknownst to many they have a greater level of intelligence than other types of troll, and are quite happy to avoid violence, favouring cattle rustling instead. This is a pastime they are well suited to. They have an uncanny knack for quiet movement, and their darker skin means they can be difficult to spot as day turns to night. While cattle rustling naturally alarms their neighbours, the cattle are kept as bovine companions and only devoured in times of severe famine - being far more highly valued for their milk and companionship. 

Dusk Trolls are far longer lived than their lesser green cousins. Over their lifespans they tend to accumulate a great deal of knowledge, and are thus sought out by wizards and witches as sources of local information. Dusk trolls have keen senses and know well in advance of the arrival of a visitor, and (somehow) whether they harbour ill intent. Although no-one has ever seen a female dusk troll, those researchers who have spent time studying them theorize that they mate for life. Those brave souls who have visited their lairs note the decor and design are likely to have been the work of the female of the species. They theorize that the partner is hidden away for safety, perhaps watching from the shadows. One popular theory is that those dusk trolls who most engage in cattle rustling do so out of loneliness, rather than spite.

I hope you enjoyed meeting some of the case of characters on my painting table. I hope to post more in the coming days and weeks.

:-)