Necrollusc

So we was scavenging in the old ruins and found these old hab blocks that looked pretty much untouched. We started to scope the blocks out, getting excited about our big find when Smash stepped in this trail of thick sticky slime. He couldn’t move his foot. It was horrible and we managed to get his boot out after a few minutes of swearing. The boot started to melt a couple of hours later. Real toxic sludge that was. 

As I waited for Smash to put his boot back on and stop swearing we heard it. This horrible noise like man flu nose only much, much louder. There looking at us was this horrible giant mutant snail. A Necrollusc as the tribal legends call them. We thought they where scare stories but there was this great ugly thing looking at us. It’s eyes popping out on stalks, swivelling this way and that with a hungry look. Weird I tell you. It may be why no one has looted these blocks.

It raised up showing rows of teeth on its underside. What sort of critter has it’s mouth on its foot? Just too freaky. That was it, we legged it. Not too quick at first, I mean just how fast does a snail go? You can walk faster. Not the Necrollusc, this thing was gaining on with us. Panicked we ran quicker and were starting to out run it when two more moved in from side streets in front of us. I guess they must have been trying to catch us in a pincer movement. I thought snails was dumb? Running even faster we just managed to get through the trap. 

We kept running and the Necrollusc’s chased us. Our chests felt like they where going to explode. We didn’t stop until we cleared the ruins and then some. I don’t know when they gave up, but I am glad they did. Smash still has bad dreams of those things chasing him. 

The Necrolluscs are by Thunderchild Minatures as part of their Wasteman range.

Thanks for looking and keep a eye open for Necrolluscs.

The Church of Mutation

Hello and welcome back to my blog Wanderer. Today we are looking at some news from the township of Trashford in the Blasted Ruins.

Wanted ALIVE in the Township of Trashford in connection to the recent spate of murders, kidnappings, abductions and mayhem across the blasted ruins. 

“Mootation is the future, it is the way humanity will receive salvation, it is the way we will SURVIVE! MUTATE AND SURVIVE PEOPLE! MUTATE....AND....SURVIVE! It is the will of the Mattblackgod.” 

This is the Preecher Moot - he wanders the ruins trying to recruit mutants and the unmutated if possible to his cause The Church of Mutation. They dislike the unmutated and worship the more extreme mutations. While the unmutated are frowned upon they have not been seen to actively do anything violent towards them. However there are reports of cult members kidnapping or abducting non mutants. It is not known what happens to the abductees. All that is known is that the cult’s numbers are growing. Trashford while populated largely by mutants are becoming concerned about the cult and missing people.

The reality is that the cult have discovered a vat of mutagenic sludge in a basement in the ruins. They are kidnapping people without mutations or light mutations and dropping them into the vat to cause further mutation. The recruit is left to their own steam to get out of the vat but will be eventually be dragged out if they have been in too long. They are no good dead. As the cult nurse the victims back to “health” they are indoctrinated into the cult’s ways. One lucky side effect of a dip in the sludge is that it causes amnesia. The cult better hope that those they have mutated don’t regain their memories. 

Preecher Moot is a Unwelcome Guest figure from the Wasteman range by Thunderchild miniatures. These rock in at 36mm ish high and tower over 28mm figures. Thankfully this guy is a mutant so I can get away with the extra height. Paint wise I followed the same scheme as the figure on the Thunderchild site. Simply because I don’t get to paint purple very often. I added a heart to his mug as a salute to El Kaptian from the Romantically Apocalyptic web comic.

Thanks for looking and beware the Church of Mutation.

Here comes Claw

Hello and welcome back to my blog Wanderer.

Introducing Claw

Claw wandered into Rubbleborg one day and immediately attracted attention. His mirrored face mask made him pretty sinister to look at. Some combat armour, power claws and laser pistol added a further degree of intimidation. But no one stepped up to challenge him. His kit also caused much speculation. Where did he get such old world artefacts? How does he keep them powered? Just who is that masked man? 

Since arriving Claw has joined the Rubbleborg Irregulars and has more than proved himself in combat. In fact he appears to dance through the melee which is pretty strange. 

Claw is an old 40K Eldar Harlequin from the early 1990’s. 

 

The truth is Claw isn’t human. He is a Genetically Engineered Life Form (GELF) but one so human like most humans can’t tell. Claw is a Fay. The Fay appear human but are more slender, with higher cheekbones, fine looking skin, pointed ears and move with an unusual amount of grace. 

The Fay where originally developed as a pleasure GELF. In the ancient times they where used as artists, musicians, dancers, personal assistants (as they are easier on the eye than Grots) and servants to the wealthy. Sadly this saw many of them abused by their owners. Many Fay ended up working as strippers, prostitutes and personal sex slaves. This has lead to many Fay having a mistrust of humans and often displaying very sadistic behaviour. 

Originally marketed as the Fay - a name based on old Earth legends, these GELFs  came in all human skin tones, plus many others. Pure white, blue, red and pure black skinned where also popular choices for the wealthy). Many Fay pass as lightly mutated humans in the wastelands. Unlike Trogs and Grots they cannot self replicate. They can easily be grown from their DNA using any medical facility (Fay "birthing" colonies are located near old bunkers or hospitals). 

Fay in the wastelands are often secretive about their origins. Often they are on the look out for medical facilities that they can use to propagate their species. Many join raider warbands where their levels of sadism impresses the bosses. As many of them originate in bunkers, labs or hospitals they sometimes carry high tech kit. Some however have reverted to primitive tribalism. 

The question remains, just why is Claw in town? 

This new type of GELF on Mattblackgod’s world is a way to use up the Elf & Eldar figs I have knocking about. Plus it will allow me to have fun with painting some unusual skin tones. 

Thanks for looking and stay safe out there.

The shadow people

Hello and welcome back Wanderer. I told you to keep an eye open for post 501! 

Now for another wasteland hazard - the shadow people.

We found this old tunnel in the hills. Made of concrete like the buildings of old times. Excited we had found a lost bunker or vault we decided to explore. As we crept down this passage these things jumped us out of the darkness. Totally silent, quicker than a gassed up snake. In the panic Donny dropped the lantern and the whole place descended into darkness. You couldn’t see your hand front of your face. As we couldn’t see them we we couldn’t shoot. Not being able to shoot we legged it back towards the light. 

As we emerged they followed us into the light. Ugly black skinned mutants with no eyes. The daylight didn’t slow them. That’s when we let rip, firing every shooter we had. It was hard to hit them as the moved like lightening. But then they paused looking about like they where confused before fleeing back to the hole they came from. That was the first time we came across the shadow people. I hope it was the last, we lost half the crew in that tunnel. 

Found in dark underground places the shadow people are mutants who where once human. Blind, these mutants hunt for food using scent and echo location. The mutants are both feral and territorial. It is common for them to fight each other over food. When encountered your best bet is to stay still. If they start to attack try to make loud noises as this can effect the shadow people’s sonar. It confuses them forcing them to retreat. Gun shots work well. Even better if you can kill the thing while you are at it.

Here we see the shadow people jumping Masher of the Green Valley Hooligans. I think he has got this.

The Shadow people are GW Ur Ghuls from the Blackstone Fortress set - salvaged off eBay. I went for the an all black colour scheme inspired by the future beasts from the Primeval TV series. 

Thanks for reading. Take care out there and keep a eye open for the shadow people.

Green Valley Hooligans

Hello and Welcome back to my blog. This is my 500th post. I can’t believe I made it so far.  So sit back and enjoy next bunch of post apocalyptic miniature goodness. 

The Hooligans started life as a wandering band of bandits. After a decade of wandering the gang discovered a wonderful green valley, unspoilt like a ghost from the distant past. They sent scouts into the valley and learnt that besides the mutant bears and wolves, there appeared to be a group of what appeared to be peaceful tribals. 

Deciding that this could be a great opportunity to settle down. Moving forward into the valley the Hooligans discovered that another bandit clan had attacked the tribals. A small band of the tribals where fighting back with the limited weapons at their disposal. Arriving at the village the Hooligans offered their services on condition that they could settle in the valley. The peaceful villagers had mixed feelings but then having a strong ally who could protect them had it’s advantages. The tribals had problems for years with the bandits. Many of them had been killed and a few women molested. 

The Hooligans moved out and hit the bandits hard, who where expecting badly armed poorly trained tribals not battle hardened bandits. The Hooligans wiped the other bandits out with ease, allowing the abused villagers a chance to execute some captive bandits.

A generation later the Hooligans live side by side with the tribals peacefully and have intermingled with them (and providing a much needed genetic variety to the tribals). The Hooligans are regarded as the warlike element of the tribe. Bandit raids have now become a thing of the past. In addition to patrols and war parties the Hooligans escort trade convoys in and out of the valley. 

Critchlow & Klara 

Critchlow is the Hooligans leader. His calm and ruthless attitude has kept him war party leader and green valley safe. Klara is the gangs second in command. She commands respect and is a fierce opponent. Many of the Hooligans including Critchlow wish was their squeeze but Klara has made it clear she is not interested, backed up by bouts of deadly violence. 

Critchlow and Klara are from Emporium Miniatures. These guys are obviously inspired by the art work of Carl Critchlow in the old GW Dark Future rule book. I decided to name the leader after the artist. 

Mad Dave & Karl

Mad Dave is one of the Hooligan’s close combat specialists probably because he has anger issues. He favours an old rotary cutter which is also handy for cutting into ruins and wrecks for loot, or those rare occasions where an escape is needed. Karl is the Hooligan’s technomancer. He carries a old energy pistol and an energy field generator which is handy for when the gang comes under fire. The field usually allows Mad Dave to take is anger out at whoever is shooting at them. 

Mad Dave and Karl are from the Mini Gangs - Key Chain Mohawks by Ramshackle games. Karl lost his sword tip in a cat invasion of the paint table.

Maz and Broose

Maz is a skilled medic and hacker, skills he learnt from books he found in the library of a school in Green Valley. During a bandit raid Maz was wounded and his arm had to be amputated (by Mad Dave who seemed to enjoy performing the operation). In the weeks that followed Maz grafted an arm from a robot to his shoulder. Although he graft was successful it took him months to train himself to use it. Now Maz’ arm is fully functional plus he can punch through a wall. Broose is the war parties gun man. He keeps enemies pinned with automatic fire while the rest of the gang get close. In battle his trade mark battle cry of “Yippe-ki-ee” can be heard of the rattle of his assault rifle.

Maz and Broose are from the Mini Gangs - Key Chain Mohawks by Ramshackle games. 

Masher

Masher is the Hooligans big un and like Mad Dave like to get up close & personal with enemies. His extra bulk and strength allows him to overcome most wasteland psychos easily and even the bears that prowl the Green Valley. In addition to a large hammer Masher carries an modified industrial rotary cutter inspired by Mad Dave who he idolises. 

 

The figure is Chicken by Ramshackle Games. It lost it’s sword in the same cat related incident as Karl. One of the downsides of resin figures is that they can be fragile and not cat bum resistant. I have lost a couple of other resin figures to those cats. The blade was replaced by a 40K Space Ork weapon. The cutter fits nicely on the hilt of he sword. 

The Hooligans are slightly inspired by the gangs of the Taiga forest in the Metro Exodus computer game. 

That’s all for now. I hope 500th post has entertained. Here’s to the next 500! Thank you for following and reading my posts over the years. 

Take care out there and lookout for post 501.