The Bard-Musician-Storyteller-Newsman

Bill Lavender-Bard Extraordinaire, prepares to perform to a new audience of villagers, who will hopefully give him room, board and coin of the realm for their entertainment. The travelling bard, was a common and looked forward to visitor to any Renaissance village or town. These multitalented performers were a combined newsman, storyteller, musician and singer. They travelled from town to town entertaining the populous with the latest news, gossip, songs and stories. Once the crowds, and money, dwindled as the townsfolk were sedated with his work, the bard would move on to the next village on his route, taking with him the latest news and gossip gained from this town to entertain and inform the next. As it might be as much as a year before the same bard revisited the same town, he was always welcomed with an attentive audience.
 

This is an old Grenadier metal 25mm D&D piece that I painted back in the late 1970's.

Wine-the Soldiers True Friend

Milano Guardia, Capitano Piccolo Granduomo checks the sentries watching over the wine supply for his garrison.

The wine is of crucial importance to the Capitano as he realizes that while an army marches on its stomach it's the wine that makes the march bearable.  The guards will be held accountable for every drop, the Capitano makes that point very clear.

These are all plastic pieces from the older Warhammer Empire line. I painted them (a total of thirteen men) in the late 1990's.

Cold Steel-Iron Arms

Commander Volkham Petrestome, commander of the Holt free Company of mercenaries is renowned for his iron willpower and deadly blade.

Volkham is a plastic piece from Games Workshop that I painted in the late 1990's. He was one of the swordsmen from my Imperial Army and saw lots of action in Warhammer battles.

Eat Hot Lead Sir Knight

Death to the knight in armor-the musket men of the Renaissance.

Armed with a primitive, but deadly, smooth bore musket, these men could send a wall of lead shot that could penetrate any armor at close range. The heavy armored cavalry would remain a staple on the battlefield for two more centuries but the day of the once all powerful elite knights was over.

These 25mm metal pieces are from Hinchcliffe, I painted them in the early 1980's.

Knights of a Feather

Two swan knights, Sir Svane and his cousin Sir Schwan stand guard in the ruined outbuilding of a country manor (destroyed in a serf uprising).

Armored in the latest plate designs and armed with halberds and swords, they feel confident to handle the foul peasants that revolted against their lord and master.

These two knights are 25mm metal pieces from Minifig that I painted in the late 1970's.

Introducing the Marvelous Multiplying Renaissance Knights

One knight in Imperial armor stands guard.

Double the guard is the command now given.

Four are so much better than two.

Doubled again-hey wait-what's that guy in silver doing here?

A full squad of ten in (all correct in gold now) is ready for the lords commands.

Two squads of ten are even better (that silver guy finally found the right unit).

What the heck three squads are even better and can easily handle any situation.

Every company must have an officer in charge.

See I'm fully armored front and back.

The entire company stands ready for review.

These are Ral Partha 25mm metal pieces. I painted them up in the late 1970's when I needed a palace guard for Medieval Battles, D&D and later the original core of my Warhammer Imperial Army (eventually swapped out by larger - and better painted- GW pieces).

Just call me Captain Lenardo

Captain Lenardo, commands the body guard of Duke del Angilos, a minor lord in war torn Renaissance Europe. Captain Lenardo is a plastic piece from Games Workshop that I painted in the late 1990's.

Every Battle goes better with Gunpowder

A group of Italian matchlock men ready their pieces in one of the countless battles among the city states of Italy.

With the early matchlock, gunpowder became a true power on the battle field. Heavy armor could not stop a matchlock ball and soon the day of the heavy armored knight and man-at-arms was coming to a close.

These are 25mm metal figures from Hinchcliffe that I painted in the early 1980's.

Post 300

Shakespeare night and Master Cuthbert Brubage (majority owner of the Globe Theater) is ready for his performance. Not quite a historic miniature but for my three hundredth post I thought I would have a little fun. I did get to play Burbage recently for a Renaissance presentation and this was my costume.






Therri joined me as My Lady Burbage. Romance and love in Renaissance finery. Double click on either photo for a close up view.

Mystery of the Dragon Bones-The Dragon's Lair

The Mon Cheri stands ready to take the Dragon Lady and her secrets where she wishes. In her two story lab are the plans for the "Dragon Bones" that so many nations desire.

French Marines guard the most important areas of the Dragon Lady's Lair. One stands watch over the barracks where two Lewis Guns and a 37mm cannon have been statically placed.

By the barn is a large paddock with heavy iron bars for gates, what secret of the Dragon Lady does it hold?

This is post number four of the Mystery of the Dragon Bones Adventure. The metal pieces are from Renegade and Pulp Figures. I scratch built the houses, docks, river, hedges and stone walls.

Hot Lead Will Ruin A Knights Day

Musket men take deadly aim with their new and improved matchlock pieces.

Single shot muskets would soon spell doom to the heavy armored knights that had ruled the battlefield for centuries. Soon pike and musket armies, supported by fast lightly armored cavalry would be the main warriors for the next century.

These are plastic Warhammer figures from Games Workshop that I painted in the 1990's.

Crossbows--the Great Equalizer of the Renaissance

Three Renaissance Crossbowmen take steady aim from behind light cover.

The crossbow of the Renaissance Era was able to penetrate most armour of the day at moderate ranges. While slower than bow fire, the added penetration power was considered a balanced trade off. But a newer more powerful weapon was in the wings and with the next technological advance would surpass both bow and crossbow-the matchlock musket.

These are plastic Warhammer figures from Games Workshop that I painted in the 1990's.

The Hunter of Witches

In the Dark Days of the 16th century the fear of witches allowed the rise of the Witch Hunter.

Alfred of Helgond is proud of his record of finding, condemning and over seeing the righteous execution of scores of witches and warlocks. Pity is not one of his strong suits, duty and fanaticism on the other hand are.

Alfred is a metal piece from Warhammer that I painted in the late 1990's

Arms Master Carlo da Cutta

The weapons master stands ready to impart his knowledge of warfare to his mercenary soldiers.

Carlo is a metal Warhammer figure I painted in the mid 1990's.

Captain Hiemlik - Mercenary for Hire

Captain Hiemlik is one of the thousands of mercenary officers who sells his skills to the highest bidder. With the constant wars that were raging through Europe he is rarely unemployed for long.





Armed with his trusty pistol and deadly longsword, Hiemlik is an expert at hand to hand combat.
















Hiemlik's Imperial style armour gives him excellent protection and fair maneuverability.





Captain Hiemlik is a metal Games Workshop figure that I painted in the late 1990's, for Tom's Imperial Warhammer Army.