Rumble in the ruins ....

The brigands led by Black Jack and the Hook are camped in the the old roman ruins in the outer woods of the Sackwald. 

With the dismounted dragoons lost in the woods,  Lieutenant Becke in charge of the jagers in the absence of Captain Scharfe, decides to attack the brigand's camp while they have the opportunity.

---oXo---

A brigand on look out duty ....

 The jagers close in, a brigand lookout runs towards the camp to raise the alarm...

Jagers start to emerge from the wood taking out another of the brigands' lookouts

The camp has been alerted and the brigands grab their guns and stand to ...

The jagers form up and start firing into the camp ....

More jagers move up to get try and get round the back of the camp .....

The jagers are starting to take a toll on the brigands ...

 Captain Scharfe has arrived, Becke brings him up to date on the situation ....

Shouting to their men to move to the attack Black Jack and the Hook run forward, but only some of the their men follow ....

The jagers have worked their way round the back of the camp .....

with the jagers now behind them the rest of brigands rush out of the camp and make for the nearest wooded area, attacking any jagers in their way with great ferocity ....

the jagers try to hold them off  ....

having broken through the jagers a small number of brigands reach the safety of the woods, including Black Jack and the Hook....

---oXo---

Although the bulk of the brigands were killed or captured, Captain Scharfe is none too pleased that Black Jack and the Hook have managed to escape. He'd catch up with some day he mused ....

Merry Xmas ....

The King and Queen of Wittenberg and the royal family 

wish you a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year

where are those brigands ?

The search for the brigands in the Sackwald continues, dismounted dragoons with some jagers move through the woods...

Scharfe and his small party had travelled back down from the deep woods and had just left the village of Eisern, when they ran into a small group of jagers ....

Jager: We've been looking for you sir. The area where the brigands are camping has been found
Scharfe: Great news, where ?
Jager: In the ruins about 10 miles north-east of the hunting lodge.   Another patrol is looking for a dismounted dragoon column .....

The woodsman agreed to take Lady Karolin back to the hunting lodge; Scharfe said his goodbye's and left with the patrol to join with the rest of the jagers.

---oXo---

 The brigand Hook and his crew had met up with his old friend Black Jack joining with him and his band. They had made their base amongst the old ruins in the outer woods of the Sackwald.

The brigands were a little uneasy in their forest hideaway, after some discussion Black Jack and the Hook decided to increase their number of look-outs.

[to be continued  - the jagers will take on the brigands - game report will be posted after Xmas]

Deep into the woods....

continued from the previous post 

Wittenberg troops have entered the outer woods of the forest - they have had reports from the locals of brigands being seen and some hold-ups and raids near the forest as well. The Kings jagers in a number of separate parties are trying to track down the brigands,

---oXo---

Meanwhile the Woodsman, Karolin and Scharfe continue their journey onto the woods

As they set out that day, the Woodsman told them a little of the forest. Most days it seemed just like any other forest, but as you went further up and further in - it had a feel to it - something magical in the air, a feeling of enchantment. Strange things were seen, there one day and not the next and so on. He had seen the forest change in a day - up a path through some fir trees in the morning, back the same way in the afternoon and they were oak trees around him instead.

After an hour or so they came across a small clearing, with a strange lamp

 The woodsman remarked that he hadn't seen the lamp since five years ago, they pressed on deeper into the forest. They stopped for lunch by a small stream. As they walked on Karolin looked back behind to see the flat trail they had been walking on appeared to be a steep hill.  In the mid-afternoon they reached a clearing, as they moved towards a rise a white hart appeared and stood in front of them blocking the way through....

Scharfe: What now ?
Woodsman: The White Hart guards the way to what is beyond.
Karolin: Can we go no further ?
Woodsman: Lady Karolin, the White Hart will not harm you, he will let you pass. Walk up past him and down the path beyond - you may find what you seek.

Karolin walked up past the White hart and down the pathway between the two big trees. After a short walk she came upon a valley with a fountain. As she stood there there was a sound in the undergrowth and a unicorn trotted forwarded and nuzzled her .....

After some time in the company of the unicorn Karolin returned via the pathway she had gone down and as she did so the White hart moved off into the forest. As the White Hart left the forest seem to close in on them...

Scharfe: What did you find in there ?
Karolin: The unicorn, in a beautiful little valley with a fountain. I was there for hours, I'm sorry you had to wait so long.
Scharfe: You've only been gone about a quarter of an hour.
Woodsman: I think we better go back now, the forest is closing in ....

The party set off back to the village, now that Karolin had completed her quest....

the Woodsman and onto the village ...

continued from the previous post (my strange Xmas sequence of posts continues...)

The little party set out on on their quest into the forest; Scharfe new roughly where the Woodsman would be and they made good time. After about an hour Scharfe recognized the part of the forest they were in and remembered someone who could help them find the Woodsman - they would go and see Big Hans. They arrived at a small house in a little clearing and Scharfe called out 'Are you there Hans?' A little fellow scurried out of the house and jumped up onto a rock waving a small sword..

Big Hans: Who are ya and what do want ?
Scharfe: Remember me Hans - Johann Scharfe, I haven't seen you in a while
Big Hans: Ah young Scharfe eh, aye its you. Haven't seen ya in near 5 years. You're a big lad now eh, What can I do for ye?
Scharfe:Lady Karolin is on a quest to find a unicorn; I thought the Woodsman would be able to help us best, where is he at the moment?
Big Hans: You'll be wanting to go up on the path to the left, about quarter of an hours walk.
Scharfe: Thankyou
Big Hans:  Good luck on your quest Mi'Lady. You'll have to go further in and further up into the forest to see a Unicorn if he's around.

The party took their leave of Big Hans and followed his directions up the path on the left until they arrived at the Woodsman's house.

The Woodsman hearing their approach, turned form cutting wood and Scharfe made introductions; the Woodman, always helpful, agreed to guide them (for a small fee). They stopped for a short while for lunch while the Woodsman packed his kit and then they set off for the village of Eisern .....

---oXo---

 Meanwhile elsewhere in the forest....

Karl: Whats for dinner ?
Trudi: Porridge with nuts
Karl: Oh not again, I'm off to see if can find something more interesting ..

Karl wandered off through the forest looking for something more tasty and sweet to eat. After a while, late in the afternoon,  he wandered into the small village of Eisern to see what he could scrounge up...

Karl: Excuse me do you have anything you can spare, a pie, a cake or some milk and cookies ?
Old woman: No ! Away with ya !

Karl walked on into the village and met the Woodsman with a small party of strangers

Woodsman: Good afternoon Karl ?
Karl: Hello nice to see you, couldn't spare any food could you ?
Woodsman: On the scrounge again then ?
Karl: Yes, all I get is porridge and nuts, I wanted something a little different
Karolin reached into her coat pocket and offered two biscuits to Karl
Karolin: Here you can have these
Karl: thank you. Oh I saw a group of strangers in the outer woods yesterday - one of them had a hook for hand, looked a rum lot - best keep on you watch
Woodsman:  We'll do that.......
After saying goodbye to Karl they walked on up to the tavern where they took rooms for the night.

Arrival at the hunting lodge ...

continued from the previous post...

 A company of the Kings Jagers had recently returned from the Hoflandt in the south-west. They had hoped they'd be back in barracks and be able to have some good times in the local taverns. However they were ordered to assist the local authorities in tracking down brigands.  A special order from the King had resulted in Captain Scharfe being detached and assigned to escort duty at the Kings Hunting lodge. Scharfe was not looking forward to this, although at least he'd be in the Sackwald where he was born and raised. After a short journey Scharfe and private Abel arrived at the hunting lodge.

 

 Later in the morning the coach carrying Karolin and her maid clattered into the courtyard of the hunting lodge...

 After a light lunch Karolin asked to go for a walk into the woods. Scharfe was introduced to her and immediately decided that this escort duty would be very diverting.  Scharfe took her up into the woods and after about a half and hour of walking and pleasant conversation, Karolin heard something unusual - an odd faint singing could be heard. As they neared an opening in the trees they could see a bear singing and dancing across a clearing

They stopped and watched in disbelief and the bear disappeared into the woods

sha-la-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la ....

Abel: Well there's something you don't see very often ..
Scharfe: I was brought up in these woods and have seen many strange things here, its been a while since I've been back. I'll take you to see the woodsman tomorrow Lady Karolin if you like, but we'll have to travel further up and further in to find him - it may be a fair way in so you'll have to stay overnight in local accommodation - do you mind ?
Karolin: Not at all......

Stopover at Totsdorf...

continued from the previous post...

Late in the afternoon the coach stopped in Totsdorf. The officer commanding the escort explained they had made a detour to avoid any potential threat from bandits which had been reported in the area; Black Jack and his crew had already held up one coach and there were rumours that the Hook was in the area too.  They stayed overnight at the local coaching inn, Karolin found the inn's name of interest it was called the Unicorn - a sign perhaps that she was on the right road for her quest to find a real unicorn.

 The next morning Karolin and her maid went for a walk around Totsdorf before setting off on their journey again; they went round the small market square and stopped to look at some pigs, their owner was in conversation with a passer by...

Passer by:  What you be doin' with they pigs Georg ?
Owner: Ah well, this-un's going to be sold at market, this-un's we's gonna keep for breedin', this-un's we's gonna to fatten up for Xmas dinner, this-un's we's gonna give to our cousins and ..
Their was a commotion in the pen and one of the pigs escaped and made a run for it ....
Passer by:  Looks that that-un's making a run straight for your farm ...

escaped pig: wee wee wee (I'm off home)

---oXo---

 
[where are these series of posts going ? I have no idea ....  :) ]

The journey begins ....

continued from the previous post...

 Karolin had been provided with a coach for herself and her maid. A good strong detachent of dragoons made up their escort. They were on their way east to the kings hunting lodge in the Sackwald , a day or so's journey ...

---oXo---

Meanwhile the notorious bandit 'the Hook' had left his usual haunts in the south and had moved north heading for richer pickings. They were about 20 miles east of the capital Wittenberg about to cross a river

 

Bert: Why don't we camp down by this here river

Hook: No No ! much better to be in cover on high ground

The Hook seemed suddenly far away and distracted ; he always got this way near water.

Hook: Can anyone hear a clock ?

Bert: No hookey old mate nothing

Hook: Hmm, come on then, lets get across the bridge and on up into the forest yonder.....

A few minutes after they had gone a large sleepy creature lolloped out of the water by the bridge and lay down; a faint sound emanated from it

 tic-toc tic-toc ....

Impromptu event in the palace grounds

With the mild weather on a sunny day an impromptu event was held in the palace grounds in the early afternoon, with a fancy dress theme, costumes ranged from late medieval to the 17th century. Entertainment was provide, the favourite being Cantor the court inventor with a demonstration of simple magicial illusions

 Later on in the palace King Leopold found his niece Karolin looking at the old medieval tapestries; her favourite was the one of unicorn.

King: Why don't you go up into the forest near my hunting lodge and see if you can find the unicorn ?
Karolin: What a lovely idea
King: The Sackwald is a strange place, I have always enjoyed my visits there. You may see some strange things there even if you don't find the unicorn. I'll provide a suitable escort for you, shall I make the arrangements ?
Karolin:Yes please .....

[ this post will be followed a short series of connected posts in the run-up to Xmas; with a variety of content - some of which may seriously overload the whimsy meter :) ......]

Farm Buildings (finished)

Finished painting the roof and building over the weekend,

roof off, showing the basic interior

Farm buildings (WIP-2)

Having painted the outside of the building I wanted to get some form of interior detail. Since it was a farm building it would be similar to the outside, so I copied the outside walls on my scanner/printer to cut them up and stick them to the inside walls

 Some work done on sticking in the pieces cut from the copies....

 That roof done at last, waiting its paint job...

Farm buildings (WIP-1)

I've been working on some farm buildings.

I started by laying out parts from some old TSS 28mm buildings which I had dismantled ....

 first assembly of the parts and some extra walls made using foamboard (40mm fig+horse shown)

 one end of the larger building gets some steps up to a storage loft (28mm fig shown)

 roof made out of cardboard ....

 adding tiles to the roof, slow work but worth it

after starting with single tiles I started making my own tile strips, tricky cutting the paper strips with small scissors but worth it - much quicker.