Monday, July 25, 2016

Crowned with the Crown of the King in Yellow

"Then while I stood, transfixed with rage and despair, seeing my crown, my empire, every hope and every ambition, my very life, lying prostrate there with the dead master, they came, seized me from behind, and bound me until my veins stood out like cords, and my voice failed with the paroxysms of my frenzied screams. But I still raged, bleeding and infuriated among them, and more than one policeman felt my sharp teeth. Then when I could no longer move they came nearer; I saw old Hawberk, and behind him my cousin Louis' ghastly face, and farther away, in the corner, a woman, Constance, weeping softly.

'Ah! I see it now!" I shrieked. "You have seized the throne and the empire. Woe! woe to you who are crowned with the crown of the King in Yellow!'

[EDITOR'S NOTE.—Mr. Castaigne died yesterday in the Asylum for Criminal Insane.]"

The Repairer of Reputations by Robert W. Chambers

Sunday, July 24, 2016

Yochlol Handmaiden of Lolth

The Yochlol Handmaiden of Lolth is a creature found in Wizards of the Coast’s Dungeons & Dragons: The Legend of Drizzt. This Board Game was first published in 2011. This hard plastic miniature stands approximately 30mm tall and is molded in grey.

Yochlols can be seen in one of the following forms: humanoid, spider, ooze, and gaseous. In their natural form they are six-foot-tall, and are an eight-tentacle blob of melted wax that emits a foul stench. Each of the four forms has its own forms of attack. All forms “Yochlol are chaotic evil creatures.”

Saturday, July 23, 2016

Diverting of Beneficent Forces into Strange and Dangerous Channels

"I glanced around at the books upon my shelves. Often enough, following some outrage by the brilliant Chinese doctor whose genius was directed to the discovery of new and unique death agents, we had obtained a clue in those works of a scientific nature which bulk largely in the library of a medical man. There are creatures, there are drugs, which, ordinarily innocuous, may be so employed as to become inimical to human life; and in the distorting of nature, in the disturbing of balances and the diverting of beneficent forces into strange and dangerous channels, Dr. Fu-Manchu excelled. I had known him to enlarge, by artificial culture, a minute species of fungus so as to render it a powerful agent capable of attacking man; his knowledge of venomous insects has probably never been paralleled in the history of the world; whilst, in the sphere of pure toxicology, he had, and has, no rival; the Borgias were children by comparison. But, look where I would, think how I might, no adequate explanation of this latest outrage seemed possible along normal lines."

Chapter 14, The Return of Dr. Fj-Manchu, Sax Rohmer

Friday, July 22, 2016

Hoards O Bits Order #5

D&D Legend of Drizzt - Drow Duelist
D&D Wrath of Ashardalon - Orc Archer
Warhammer 40k, Chaos Daemons Plaguebearers of Nurgle - 7x Nurglings
Warhammer Skaven Plague Monks - 16x Rats and 4x Mini Monks
D&D Temple of Elemental Evil- Bugbear
Descent Journeys in The Dark Bits - Goblin Archer

The list represents a recent order from Hoards O Bits. I believe this is my fifth order. There are so many interesting miniatures here representing many board games.

More about individual miniatures will follow.

Thursday, July 21, 2016

A Host of Characters-Dr. Fu-Manchu-Sacred Order of the White Peacock

"The place was utterly deserted again, and we two panting captives found ourselves alone with Dr. Fu-Manchu. The scene was unforgettable; that dimly lighted passage, its extremities masked in shadow, and the tall, yellow-robed figure of the Satanic Chinaman towering over us where we lay.

"You come at an opportune time, Mr. Commissioner Nayland Smith, and Dr. Petrie; at a time when the greatest man in China flatters me with a visit. In my absence from home, a tremendous honor has been conferred upon me, and, in the hour of this supreme honor, dishonor and calamity have befallen! For my services to China—the New China, the China of the future—I have been admitted by the Sublime Prince to the Sacred Order of the White Peacock."

Chapter 13, The Return of Dr. Fj-Manchu, Sax Rohmer

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

A Set of Four, Set Six


German Infantry
Source: Axis and Allies, 1942 Edition
Size: approximately 1/72




Valkyie
Source: Age of Mythology, Norse
Size: 30mm




Blight Force, Baron Gaston Tankken
Source: Rivet Wars
Size: 35mm




03, Infantry, Black
Source: Risk, 2003 Edition
Size: approximate. 20mm

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Vance gets an Assignment

"Get up, Vance," said Mr. Wilde in a gentle voice. Vance rose as if hypnotized. "He will do as we suggest now," observed Mr. Wilde, and opening the manuscript, he read the entire history of the Imperial Dynasty of America. Then in a kind and soothing murmur he ran over the important points with Vance, who stood like one stunned. His eyes were so blank and vacant that I imagined he had become half-witted, and remarked it to Mr. Wilde who replied that it was of no consequence anyway. Very patiently we pointed out to Vance what his share in the affair would be, and he seemed to understand after a while. Mr. Wilde explained the manuscript, using several volumes on Heraldry, to substantiate the result of his researches. He mentioned the establishment of the Dynasty in Carcosa, the lakes which connected Hastur, Aldebaran and the mystery of the Hyades. He spoke of Cassilda and Camilla, and sounded the cloudy depths of Demhe, and the Lake of Hali. "The scolloped tatters of the King in Yellow must hide Yhtill forever," he muttered, but I do not believe Vance heard him."

The Repairer of Reputations, Robert W. Chambers

Monday, July 18, 2016

The Sun Hung Low Above Staten Island

"The sun hung low above the Staten Island woods, and the bay was dyed with golden hues reflected from the sun-warmed sails of the shipping in the harbour.

Brigs, schooners, yachts, clumsy ferry-boats, their decks swarming with people, railroad transports carrying lines of brown, blue and white freight cars, stately sound steamers, déclassé tramp steamers, coasters, dredgers, scows, and everywhere pervading the entire bay impudent little tugs puffing and whistling officiously;—these were the craft which churned the sunlight waters as far as the eye could reach. In calm contrast to the hurry of sailing vessel and steamer a silent fleet of white warships lay motionless in midstream."

The Repairer of Reputations, Robert W. Chambers

Sunday, July 17, 2016

Magnuson Models 1/87 1948 Ford Coupe Kit

Magnuson Models are manufactured by Wm. F. Walthers. These are polyester castings and come two per package. The package also contains a metal detail part, that is, two fenders, and four wheels per model. You can get an idea of the amount detail that is molded in place by viewing the photo. These models will take some careful painting to bring out the detail.


Saturday, July 16, 2016

The Wrath of Ashardalon Grell

The Grell is made from a dense plastic and stands approximately 40mm tall. “Grell are usually found underground and are particularly dangerous and vicious.” Although by its looks alone the Grell would make most, except those with the stoutest hearts faint from fear the Grell has, what looks like a bird beak and adding to their horror, they move along by levitating.

Their olive-colored bodies which are about human size carry a set of tentacles with small spines that inject paralyzing venom into their victims. The Grell miniature is another creature from Wizards of the Coasts, Wrath of Ashardalon board game.

Other Resources

Friday, July 15, 2016

Australian Death-adder

"Merciful God!" I groaned.

Although, in every other particular, it corresponded with that which I held—which I had taken from the dacoit—which he had come to substitute for the cane now lying upon the floor—in one dreadful particular it differed.

Up to the snake's head it was an accurate copy; but the head lived!

Either from pain, fear or starvation, the thing confined in the hollow tube of this awful duplicate was become torpid. Otherwise, no power on earth could have saved me from the fate of Abel Slattin; for the creature was an Australian death-adder."

Chapter 10, The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu, Sax Rohmer

Thursday, July 14, 2016

The Crescent of the Moon Looked Down Upon Us

"Through a temporary rift in the veiling the crescent of the moon looked down upon us. It had a greenish tint, and it set me thinking of the filmed, green eyes of Fu-Manchu."

Chapter 6, The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu, Sax Rohmer

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

D & D Orc Archer

This Orc Archer from the Wizards of the Coast’s D&D Wrath of Ashardalon board game is detailed like the Orc Smasher and stands approximately 35mm. The archer has the following properties and attributes:

If the orc archer is adjacent to a Hero, he will attack the Hero with a punch.

If the orc archer is within 2 tiles of a Hero, he will attack the closest Hero with an arrow.

If the orc archer is more than 2 tiles away he is to move 1 tile toward the closest Hero.

 

Attack

Damage

Punch

+6

1

Arrow

+6

2

 

Miss

1

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

D & D Orc Smasher















The Orc Smasher is a large; it stands approximately 35mm tall, highly detailed dense plastic miniature that is accompanying the  Wizards of the Coast, Wrathof Ashardalon  D & D board game. The Orc Smasher has the following properties:


Movement:       
1 space towards the nearest hero
Attack:                 
9
Damage:             
1
Experience:
2