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"They're just the latest fashion. Everyone, and I mean everyone at the Imperial Court has taken a pair of Chinese bodyguards into their retinue. They're just the most adorable addition to the Castle. They're strong, totally unemotional and just completely uninterested in calligraphy, or the tea ceremony. They just... stand there and....and stare at me, all day long. I tell you, I feel completely safe with Ping-Xi and Pong-Li in my apartment."
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For my entry for "Lust", I admit I was unsure what to prepare. I did have a lovely pair of Games Workshop Chinese (or maybe Japanese) bodyguards based up and undercoated, and a Citadel female Samurai to accompany them. And, Ladies and Gentlemen, the attraction of figures undercoated and ready to paint won the day.
So here we have Ping-Xi and Pong-Li, experienced and no doubt well-travelled Chinese bodyguards brought to the Imperial Court of Japan by Lady Machiko. They'll be perfect for another frivolous game of "When the Last Sword is Drawn", my skirmish game of swordplay in medieval and Edō period Japan. Maybe they'll prove to be dedicated and selfless guardians of Lady Machiko's honour.
Or, just possibly, there might be something in the way that they both look at her as she pours some tea from a beautiful pottery tea service? I always felt there was bound to be some kind of romance lurking with two bodyguards and an attractive female noblewoman. One wonders if Ping-Xi or Pong-Li, or maybe both, have fallen for the unusual allure of Lady Machiko's blackened teeth?
I also added a 3D-printed large Japanese-style tree to the submission. There was no reason for this, other than it gave me the chance to make the submission a little more points-worthy. And, of course, it allowed me to take some ABBA-style "Knowing Me, Knowing You" photos of Ping-Xi and Pong-Li in front fo the tree, looking in different directions before they slaughter each other in a deadly context for Lady Machiko's hand.
The figures for Ping-Xi and Pong-Li are about forty years old, being from the "Oriental Heroes" range originally created to accompany the AD&D "Oriental Adventures" supplement published in 1984. They've spent the years since 1984 in bubble-wrap until I finally painted them. The metal studs on the leather armour of Ping-Xi and Pong-Li were horrifying to paint. All of 58 tiny studs on each of the figures. Good job Lady Machiko did not employ a whole regiment in studded leather armour.
I did remember to paint one base with black edging, and the other in brown edging. Otherwise, Ping-Xi and Pong-Li might get mixed up. I hope Lady Machiko can tell them apart. Or, maybe, its more entertaining if she can't.
And finally, as this is me, here's two more ludicrously self-indulgent character cards to add to your Japanese collection for Challenge XV. And yes, they are different figures in the Characters' photographs. At least I think they are...!
For the points, there's 5 for each 25mm figure. I feel it's a bit unfair asking for the usual points for a terrain addition - so maybe 5 points for a painted tree (and tree roots!) is fair? And 20 points for "Lust".That would all add up to a symmetrical 40 points.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello Sydney!
Sooo beautiful and one of my favourite entries so far!
Your hypothesis of bodyguards Pong-li and Ping-Xi both being in love with Lady Machiko would be an excellent plot point in a Shogun-like series.
I am looking forward to seeing more of this project.
40 well deserved points for you
- Sarah
40 points for you!
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