Veiled Lantern Society

I have made a bit more progress, painting the optional Dhampir (also a Frostgrave Infantryman for that version of the society), the Sapper and the Old Guard.

I’ve sorted out the snow to somewhere that I am happy, taking a muddy brown base, adding a light grey contrast (apothecary white) to give a frostiness and then Vallhallan Blizzard for the thick snow. It actually smushes down into a quite nice slush effect over the frosty areas.

I have been painting a bit more for the Frostgrave side of the warband and not enough of the Silver Bayonet and there is a reason for that. I built an Infantry, Grenadier, and Old Guard, plus an Irregular to fill some roles in this group. Because I want them to look more grounded, they are all built straight from the kits (French Infantry in Greatcoats and Minutemen for the Irregular), which when compared to the Frostgrave characters, is maybe lacking some imagination for this project. Maybe once they are painted and I see them fitting with the group I won’t mind as they will fit their role, which isn’t to stand out.

Speaking of the painting, I will make the fusilier and grenadier more historical, probably with just a couple of tie-in colours on the Shako. I’ve started on the Old Guard and am adding purple under the blue to balance the fantasy and historical.

Back to Frostgrave for a moment, I know there are rules for musketeers but instead I might see about proxying them as (very loud) crossbowmen.

Maybe a moment more for Frostgrave, I built and painted another Thief (who could fit as a Sailor for SB, like the other).

I used a WGA Minutemen body and arms, with WGA Peasant Levy head and then went back to Warlord K47 firefly hands for a knife and a map. Clearly off to borrow some things from a stranger.

I thought I had taken a before shot but I must have forgotten. Instead, here is the painted model, using his little map to find somewhere he can use his five-finger discount to acquire something for the society.

Ok, why not do a bit more for Silver Bayonet. One straight kit build and one kitbash.

First off, the essential and iconic Sapper, built directly from the Greatcoats kit. A skilled individual whose expertise and loyalty to his commanding officer got him an invite to join the society in a working role on their expeditions.

Second, a Native Scout, an expert in traversing the wild places of Europe. He was recruited following an expedition through the Pyrenees where he assisted an expedition when they were lost during a blizzard. Maybe he’s just a farmer who knew the area well, but they pay well, it’s exciting and the society don’t need to know any different.

I used WGA Minutemen head and hand holding musket, this is on a WGA Peasant levy body and arms, including the pointing hand, which is good for a scout who knows where to go. This is finished with a Frostgrave cultist 3 backpack.

I’ve been gradually getting some paint onto the group, though no more bases yet. I’m still not sure how to finish those so for now its grey with a bit of blue-grey to make them a bit colder. I’ll figure out the ones that are brown already later.

Of course, everyone has a bit of Green or Purple somewhere to tie them into the Society, maybe both for those higher up the pyramid.

Not all of the group will have a place in both systems, so here are a few of the options for the Frostgrave group.

In the middle, a Knight – A bonus to being a member of the society, being drawn from one of the officers’ units for these special missions.

The body, arms, axe and shield are from Victrix Foot Knights, with a WGA Greatcoats Bearskin head to tie back to the other models and group this gent with the higher ranking soldier -class within the retinue.

On the flanks, two Men-at-Arms – Also drawn from the soldiers in the regular army, trusted to join the society in a fighting role. Quite the social climbers.

Both bodies and heads from the Greatcoat kit. On the left, a Warlord Japanese Infantry sword, quality loot from a past expedition. A marching arm from the greatcoat kit and a Victrix Heater shield. On the right, a shield and arm from the WGA Guards and a WGA peasant levy sword. It’s a bit chipped, clearly used in earnest on the long journey to the frozen city.

Next, a couple of Thugs. Nice cheap options to get stuck in.

Recruited from the streets near the Society’s Halls, very useful in keeping an ear to the ground in the “underworld” and occasionally providing some extra muscle on an expedition.

On the left, WGA peasant levy bits and body with a head and pouches from the Frostgrave Cultist 3 kit. On the right, pure Cultist 3 (if it ain’t broke…).

One of the following figures does fill a role in both systems, so I’ll get to them last. The idea is that they will look like explorers, with some colours to tie into the society scheme.

In the middle, Ranger – Works in the employ of a higher ranking society member taking care of the hunting grounds of their estate. The odd expedition here or there adds a bit of variety to this long serving ranger’s responsibilities.

Body, head and sword arm come from the Warlord Japanese infantry kit, with a bow from the WGA Peasant Levy.

On the right, Dog – the ranger’s loyal hunting companion, or just a helpful stray found along the way. From the Warlord Soviet Army Infantry sprue.

On the left;

Frostgrave – Treasure Hunter, a famous explorer in his day, he was invited to the society for his adventuring expertise. There is always time for one last trip to lands unknown in search of treasure.

Silver Bayonet – Doctor – A respected field medic who once served in the army and was invited to the society by an officer who’s life he saved on the battlefield. Now he gets to visit battlefields on the societies behalf, though getting support opening his own clinic in the city as recompense makes it almost worth it.

The body, sword arm and bag carrying arm are also Warlord Japanese Infantry, with the head from the WGA Peasant Levy.

I have used a lot of the Japanese sword arms, maybe there’s a story to tell there around how the society got so many of these weapons. Maybe our Sailor/Thief friend knows something.

Please ignore the bases for now, still working on the snow conundrum. Some more painting progress.

The Knight is very clearly part of the society, with the key Green and Purple colours on display, though the red on the tassel of the bearskin belies his usual occupation in the regular army.

I tied in the thug with some purples mixed into the brown, hopefully they won’t stand out too much from the higher society members.

A little work in progress.

I’ve started painting and realised that for Frostgrave, I sort of need to base for winter. Since a lot of the figures are French Greatcoats, that also fits. It’s not a necessity but it is a new challenge.

Essentially, I tried a home-made snow and am not sure about it.

I also need to improve the lantern… and I seem to have forgotten how to do faces.

It’s that dreaded phase of a project or paint job where things are coming together but it isn’t quite there yet.

Quite happy with the colours that I am using across the models.

The frost effect can be seen on the right base and I think it works fine, its just the snow on top that is a bit odd.

I’ll work it out and keep pushing forwards.

For Frostgrave:

These two can function as Infantrymen with their two-handed weapons and light armour (it’s under their greatcoats…).

For Silver Bayonet:

On the left a Supernatural Investigator with a Heavy Weapon and on the right, if I use the rule for 1 non-faction member, a Dhampir.

They both have bodies from the WGA French Infantry in Greatcoats. The backpack with an added string of Garlic for the Supernatural Investigator was also very fitting.

The head on the left is also from there, but on the right I found a suitably greased back hairstyle on the WGA Peasant Levy sprue. The two handed axe also came from there.

I took the Halbard and coil of rope from WGA Guards and found an open left hand on that sprue too, which connected to an arm from the Greatcoats, giving the impression that they are striding forwards and asking others to hold back while they investigate something (supernaturally).

Frostgrave – Thief

Silver Bayonet – Sailor

I went with a WGA Minutemen body and the top half of a head for the great hat. The rest of the head is from WGA Peasant Levy for the mask. It fits quite well, but maybe needed to be cut more to sit a bit lower.

I used an arm from the levy kit too and added a Warlord K47 Fireflies Knife. For the sack, that was taken from a Warlord Soviet Army Infantry sprue.

These will be the leaders, or at least some of them will be depending on the system. I’ll start in the middle:

From an important family, she is trusted to take a leading role in ventures ordered by the society.

Frostgrave – Apprentice

• Chosen by the Wizard for their aptitude with magic from amongst the elite families.

Silver Bayonet – Officer

• The Name matters more than military rank within the society.

I used Wargames Atlantic (WGA) Minutemen body as the base. The head and lantern arm come from the WGA Guards kit. The sword arm is from WGA French Infantry in Greatcoats.

On the right:

A witch, not normally associated with high society but in this case, a valuable contributor in furthering their goals.

Frostgrave – Wizard (Witch variety)

• One of the inner circle, leads expeditions and carries the secrets of the society.

Silver Bayonet – Occultist

• Part of the underbelly of the society with great knowledge of the occult. Highly valued, if mistrusted, and not usually invited to dinner parties.

I used the Northstar Cultists 3 kit for most of this (Head, body, left arm and belt bits). The other arm (the choppy one) comes from Oathmark Goblin slaves and the little travel cauldron is a cooking pot from WGA French Greatcoats.

Finally, on the left:

They may be from a prominent family, but military service is still important for retaining status, though loyalty to the society is an even higher need.

Frostgrave – Treasure Hunter

• Through leading troops in the military, he gained valuable knowledge in how to pick over a battlefield for shiny things.

Silver Bayonet – Junior Officer

• He may rank highly in the military but he is merely Junior in the society. He’ll have to swallow that pride when working on society business.

This model is pure WGA French Infantry in Greatcoats, its a great kit.