Project Backlog, Part 12

Greenfather Herktus Whisperleaf

Herktus Whisperleaf was the Greenfather of a hamlet founded deep into Futilia Wood by one of the earliest Dawnbringer Crusades to set forth from the Living City. There, he tended the local shrine garden for years, until the Vermindoom hit. As the Skaven attacked, he tapped into the ley line nexus at the centre of his beloved garden to repel them. But in so doing he felt something, far more devious and subtle than the Skaven, had tampered with the nexus. He tried to pull back, but it was too late. A high-pitched laughter echoed through the aether as a blidning flash of multicoloured light engulfed Herktus' garden. When the light subsided, four pairs of eyes stared at him and the laughter resolved in a chilling voice.
"Welcome to my Tower, Whisperleaf. I trust you'll find its chambers to your liking. But should you wish to leave, just piece together the amulet inscribed with my name, and freedom will be yours..."

A few months before deciding to leave Manchester, I had a half formed idea to create a Warcry warband comprising thirtheen duardin from Ghyran, who would have been known as the Oakenshields, and their Wizard ally. I started from the Wizard, deciding to convert it to match the background and art found on the 3rd edition Core Book.

The body and head are from the Battle Wizard kit, while the arms are the ones holding the gun swab from the Empire Great Cannon. I clipped away the brush and replaced it with the final curve of a Kurnoth Hunter's bow.

The branches, shoulder pauldrons and sprite familiars come from the same kit and perfectly match the appearence of the Ghyranite wizard from the Core Book.

The choice of colours was pretty obvious, although I added yellow as the spot colour to draw attention to the head, sprites and cape frills.

As the only base I had was a Shattered Dominion one, I painted it in the same colours I had used for my Silver Tower models.

That, in turn, gave me an idea for the Wizard's story when, leaving Manchester, I realised that the Oakenshields would not be built for a very long time.

Now that I have a hobby station again, maybe one day Herktus Whisperleaf will emerge from the Silver Tower and the Oakenshields will be joining him...