Book 3 Thanks.

Here again at the end of this book, this also marks the 80th page in the story.

Three months, over 2000 views and 150 likes. Many thanks again to everyone who read, commented or liked this book. The comments and likes are a massive encouragement!

Special thanks to the fabulous Little Monster Girl. Thank you for the shout out in your Internet Buffet 13/3. A great blog and a hilarious comic, check it out here

And thank you to Warlord Games for their highlight article and their great Pike and Shotte minis!

What’s next?

Strange things can happen when you write, and especially published in a blog, a very serialised way, so whilst I have a rough issue plan I am normally only writing a few pages at a time. As a result I found that the storytelling in book three has taken longer to get though than I expected. Simply put I expected to be further along with the story by the end of book 3 (of a planned 4 books) by page 26 I realised I had a choice… make book 3 even longer (it is already two pages longer than the previous books) or add in another book.

I opted for the latter and now the story will be in 5 books (or issues if you like). I brought book three to a suitable close and we will have to wait for book 4 for Hawksby’s troops to finally make it to Leeds and for Rook to begin to piece together Whitestone’s plot.

On the hobby side of the blogI have the rest of the club men miniatures to post up about and I am going to do a first on this blog, a mini review of Warlord Game’s Pike and Shotte TYW  Supplement.

But I have pages written and illustrated so right back to the story with book 4 page one… watch this space.

 

Click image to download Book 3 Low Res PDF (4mb)

 

Here is the first full issue collected as a PDF (5 mb) download.

Click the image to download.

Here is the second full issue collected as a PDF (4.1 mb) download.

Click the image to download.

The Lion

Gabriel Whitestone

Whitestone is the shadowy agent of the crown, little is known about him, other than his fearsome reputation as a killer. He first came to notoriety during the bloody sacking of Magdeburg. It is said that he led many of the soldiers in the slaughter of the inhabitants and his own death toll for that day was in the hundreds. A true mercenary Whitestone will fight for any side that pays, who is paying him and for what in Yorkshire in 1643 is something of a mystery.

This miniature is made from Warlord Games Pike and Shotte Plastic cavalry sprue. The right arm is repositioned and the left arm is from the Gripping Beast Dark Ages Warriors boxed set. His Head is from Crooked Dice Games.

WIP Picture, showing the assembled mini before painting:

Nehemiah Cross and Joseph Peat

Cross (left) Was originally from Northumberland and drifted into Yorkshire in the mid 1630’s after fighting with Leslie army on the continent in the 1620’s. Cross is a wild an unprdictable fellow, mostly known for keeping himself to himself, and bouts of rage on the battlefield that have been known to frighten both friend and foe. Often seen wielding the Warhammer he famously took from the hand of a cavalry officer he slew during the breaking of the Siege of Stralsund.

Peat (Right) Was the son of a Nottingham tradesman,  who was tried for sedition, and hanged by King Charles’ men. Having sworn revenge on all followers of the King Peat fled to his sisters cottage in Yorkshire. There he joined Hawksby’s regiment. He is an educated man and is of a republican mindset, believing that all Kings are wicked and the rule of the land must be given to it’s people. He is a boisterous rebel rouser and can often be found debating matters of government or religion, with anyone who is willing to argue with him.

Both miniatures are Warlord Games plastic miniatures. From their Pike and Shotte infantry sets. Peat has had a simple head swap with a Gripping Beast Plastic Dark Ages Warrior. Cross is made up from two different Pike and shote musketeers, cut at the waist and joined to get the turing pose, his arms are from the spares box,and the Warhammer is from the Warlord Plastic Pike and Shotte Cavalry boxed set.

WIP shot:

 

Lord Hawksby Himself

Lord Thomas Hawksby Lord of the Hawksby estates in North Yorkshire Lord Thomas is the eldest son of Lord Grantham Hawksby and his wife the honorable Lady Elizabeth Howell.  Hawksby has two brothers and a sister, James, Matthew and Jayne.

Hawksby spent many years on the continent fighting in the religious wars in Germany and fought under Gustavus Adolphus at the battle of Lutzen.

He returned to England when his father was taken ill. Following his fathers death shortly afterwards Hawksby too over the running of the family estates, including the local militia. On the outbreak of hostilities with the king Hawksby rallied to the cause of Parliament, believing that the King has been misled by wicked advisors and has overstepped the bounds of his right authority. Like many of his contemporaries Hawksby hopes the war will remove these evil men and bring the King to his senses.

Thomas is seen here with his loyal Dog Darby and his Squire Martin Bracken.
Both figures are from the Warlord Games Pike and Shotte range. The dog, Darby, is a Crooked Dice Guard dog.

Skirmish (10)

For the full story so far click here (PDF download):

Click the image to download.

Skirmish (7)

For the full story so far click here

Lord Morecroft’s coach

Hawksby’s sworn rival, and the local Royalist leader Lord Morecroft travels in style in his highly decorated coach. He carouses in the back with a travelling companion, while his trusted advisor, Sir Percival speaks to a local official, before entering the town.

The coach and team set seen here is from the Warlord Games Pike and shotte range, with converted plastic figures from that range making the Official, Sir Percival and the cow herder, the Ox is from Perry Miniatures.

A few WIP snaps:

Skirmish! (5)

Lawson Pymm

Lawson Pymm is a life long soldier, the illegitimate son of an army officer Lawson grew up on army camps and billets in various places across Germany. Taking the name of his english mother, a camp follower who died when Lawson was merely 7 years old. Lawson is a tough fighter and experienced veteran. He has been a loyal member of Hawksby’s foote, and fought commendably in the action at Skipwithe village.

 

This miniature follows the rough procedure laid out here for making a plastic kneeling musketeer. The starting point is from the Warlord games plastic AZW infantry, I used the body and head of one of these, and then added plastic Pike and Shotte hat and arms.