CopperOracle II. 4. Rank and File 4 - Orc Spearmen

The Severed Hands advanced, a shield-wall of garish yellow and black emblazoned with the Icon of a severed hand, smeared with the blood and desperate handprints of those that had fallen before them. Stepping over the bodies of the dead and eager to add to their number the leaders shouted back to the small shapes that trailed them. Lesser Goblins that were barely any use as fodder and arrow catchers scampered up and dived into the corpses with teeth and blade to start the tally, taking the hands for their larger cousins.

Amid the growing piles of hands a smaller mob moved, the smallest of the brave,  taking their own tally and waiting for a gap in the line to make their move and their own mark, raising the ragged standard of the 'Bloody Fingers!'

Picking up the Orcs I has abandoned in my Wildcard month they still seemed to have carried the uninspired air with them and I couldn't feel them so decided to do some extra's first to get myself back in the mood. 

Eight Alternative Armies Goblins. Citadel Lesser Goblin (from Monster Starter set) Citadel lesser goblin Standard Bearer

I came across a set of goblins I had received free from Alternative Armies,  Nilbogs Backwood Goblin band, and after a test figure I got carried away and went through the whole unit and more! 

Test Goblin

The figures would work as lesser Goblins which still existed in Second edition (before disappearing and becoming `Snotlings in later editions) and I managed to find two citadel lesser goblins I had picked up somehow in antiquity and started on a small horde, the Severed Hands are the smallest fo the three Orc Tribes in Bloodbath so they would no doubt be happy to bolster their ranks with some smaller disposables. 

Nilbog himself does not have an identified figure so I settled on one and made him stand out by giving him some shieldbearers to stand on

Nilbog Backwood

'The Bloody Fingers'

Returning to the Orcs I had a week to go (bit of last minute pressure as extra fuel!) but was back in full swing.

As with the other ten, the figures are a mix of various Citadel era Orcs and Black Tree Designs

Converted one with Green stuff giving him some furs and Chainmail

Full unit test, bases trimmed and positions in bases varied to help them all fit

(Standard to be added next month)

The Severed Hand Tribe

Warhammer Fantasy Battle Second Edition (Ravening Horde) Points Value: 

'Severed Hand' Orc Spearmen - 62.5

'The Bloody Fingers' Lesser Goblins - 22.75

x18 - 1p

Minor Hero - 21

Champion - 2.75

Grand Total so far: 275.25

CopperOracle II | 1. Rank and File Orcs 1

"Time to go collecting Boyz!"

Hagar bellowed across the muddy expanse of the Shouting ground in front of his tent and out to the tribal warriors that had gathered before him. King F'yar had called out to the tribes and the promise of gold and war had convinced him to join up again. 

In his minds eye he could already see new strings of severed and impaled hands, each one a life taken in the heat of battle or in the tribal fighting pits.

"String them up, Severed Hands! Count them up, Severed Hands! "

The tribe chanted as they moved out and towards the distant Ashak Rise...

For this Challenge I am drawing from the Bloodbath at Orcs's Drift scenario pack which lays out the faction forces in a Command cards rather than an army list. This first ten orcs are part of a larger 30 strong unit. As with the other Orc units I had completed previously, they are quite a mixed unit which feels more in keeping with an Orc mob feel. The figures are from various Citadel eras, including some C Series, some from Rugluds Armoured Orcs and some Black Tree Designs Fantasy Orc Barbarians. 

For the paint scheme I used the same as I had with my previous Vile Rune Tribe, with a bit of a tweak and a change in the shield design to match that of their chieftain Hagar Sheol who's image graces the cover of the pack booklet and illustrated by the legendary Gary Chalk

Severed Hand Orcs and one of the Vile Rune Orcs i painted several years ago

(if I have the time I will go back over the Vile Runes so they all match up)

The first ten of 2023

Another comparison between Severed Hand and Vile Rune Orc

     

Black Tree Design Barbarian and Rugluds Armoured Orcs

First Ten completed and with movement tray.

( Awaiting some tufts and I will try and make up the trays for the Vile Runes as well in the coming months!)

Warhammer Fantasy Battle Second Edition (Ravening Horde) Points Value: 62.5

February will be for Hobhounds and their handler, Grashak Kra