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More agricultural laborers, these ones more suited to the early modern and modern era. Here is a Midlam Halfling Farmer in a cider orchard, accompanied by a faithful pig (from 77567, Pig and Cart). "Aye, that do be true what they say, one bad apple WILL spoil the whole barrel, right enough. You soon get an eye for the bad ones, and a nose too. But that's what the pig's for." "Spoil the whole barrel. aye, but a bad apple do nowt to a pig save make 'em better eating. Apple's a good food for pork, and the apple wood's good for the bacon in the smokehouse." "Apples within and apple without, as you might say, and then a glass of cider to wash the pork down. That's a good meal of a cold night." Another Midlam farmer, this one human. (This fellow is 28mm scale or so, not heroic scale). Those farming togs could fit in anywhere across three centuries or so. "Been working this land, man and boy, like my father and his father and his father before 'im, as long back as folks these parts can remember. And there's one thing I can tell you..." "...One thing, aye, that'll keep the crops bearing and the well full, and that's keeping on good terms with the Gentry. Nay, not Lord Bastard as lives up in the manor, I mean the Gentry. Them as live under the hill." "Oh, a sharp sickle and manure on the fields, and driving the furrows right, can't do without those, but that's just work as needs doing. No, there's no amount of work will make good if the Old Ways aren't held up. That's why I've called on Brigit here. She'll walk the rows, sing to the soil and the water and the seeds. That's how the Gentry like it." "And then, o' course, stand up Mister Mangel to oversee the work and keep away the crow. New clothes now and then, and new stuffing or a pole now and then, but old Mangel has been here as long as we have. I fancy the Gentry have come to see him as part o'the family, like. They wouldn't be pleased if he weren't out in the field. Not pleased at all." "Aye, Mangel will see to it no harm come to the rows nor the field nor the fences. Always looking out, he." More angles: Bridgit here is one of the May Queens from Crooked Dice. I tried to give her a sheer shift but could probably push it a little more. Tips and advice welcome. Mister Mangel is also from Crooked Dice, and there's a wonderfully sinister aspect to him. Now, I'm a fan of scarecrows, but this here, without bone claws or a face, just has such latent menace. You know that while that sickle is rusted, the edge is still shiny-sharp. And I tell a lie there; you can make out a face pushing out of those rags and tatters, or in the gauze of that veil. And you can imagine the squeak of old twine-bound timber and the soft thudding hopping sounds tap-tapping behind you on a windy night, tap, tap, tap, the sound of rags flapping, the breeze whistling off that sickle's edge, closer and closer, now almost upon you, TAP-TAP-TAP as wheeling crows in impossible numbers fill the air with dark wings and blot out the moonlight, cawing and flapping so no one will hear your screaming if you dare harm the wheat in the fields before harvest time. Which you wouldn't do, of course. But not because you believe such things.

Agriculture is the foundation of settled civilization, and as such a setting needs farmers, gardeners, people who know how to whack at the ground with sticks until food comes out. Here are some peasants--a Village Rioter (77140), making hay after the sun has finished shining, and his colleague, one of the Townsfolk I (77665) with hoe. It's heavy work, harvesting the bigger gourds, and they prefer the cool of the day for it. When the cart is fully laden, it can be harnessed to a hungry sow. The Pig and Cart sculpt is amazing and I love it. Look at those beady eyes! The jowls and wattles! Added a couple of extra prize vegetables from the craft store to top off the load, and removed the pig from its mud base, as it is quite capable of standing on its own and the cart wheels have no such base.

Mini spawn (7) wanted to paint minis with me. out of the stuff I had prepped she picked the cart, as long as she could chose the colors. meanwhile I painted the pig. When she was done I asked if I could do some touch-ups. I had a problem with the color scheme she picked and it was hard to give it the attention I should have, except the sign on the back, that part was a lot of fun. it missed the RCL for March, so i guess it will be my new release for april.