Early Modern Monster Hunters: Boren Backslap and the Verminous Tide

[Rigel]

"So, ye're wondering why as I, a humble rat-catcher, should need such a great monster-jaw of a trap? 'S a fair question. There's some as would say old Boren's CRAZED in the head, a madman! But I ain't."

 

Spoiler

"Look you, it goes back to an experience I had years ago, when I was younger and the Moggett here no more than a kitten. The city had hired me to lay traps in the sewers for there were reports of rats in great numbers. Thinking it easy pay,  I went down the narrow ladder into the main duct, All went well for some hours, until I spotted a breach in the masonry, where some bricks had fell in. And what should I see there but a great fat rat, big as the Mogget is now and bold as brass!"


"I set out some poisoned bait for the cheeky beggar, but it up and scampered back into a passage behind the breach in the wall. And soon enough, out spilled a very tide of rats, all of great size and speed! You may guess the Moggett and I kept busy!"



"But after we'd dispatched them or sent the squeakers scurrying away, I saw summat else. Didn't believe it myself at first--a rat, carrying a torch and standing on its hind legs like a man! Even wearing some kind of clothes like a God-fearin' civilized creature!"

Spoiler

"It looked around, sniffed the air a bit, and made some squittering noises and trotted off back where it hade come from, and me and the Moggett just stood there in shock. We couldn't have seen that, sure! But we had. And I reckon it must have been a scout of some sort, for soon out came three more of the beggars, walking like men and tall as I, carrying weapons and wearing armor! Lucky thing I hid in an alcove, for they started poking around and soon came across the dead rats we'd put paid to already. They weren't too happy about that, if I'm any judge of rats, and I am."



 

Spoiler

"After a bit they turned and went back too, and the Moggett and I got to thinking as maybe we should leg it back to the sewer entrance. And sure enough, before long there came a splashing and a clanking and a slapping-scratching sound as of wet feet with claws to 'em. And I started seeing some shadows cast om a flickering light as I sure weren't holding."

 

"Well, gentlemen, we up and ran for it, and I ain't ashamed to admit it! Ye'd have done the same, and done well to keep your britches unfilled if ye'd seen the tide of armed and armored vermin boiling out of that passage, all yellowed fangs and savage claws and knives all over rust but sharp just the same. I can't pretend to speak Rat-speech, but I'd swear they were shrieking and howling for meat."



"Only took one look back on the way, gentlemen, with their squalling and squealing behind me and the Mogget, fur all on end and tail like a bottle-brush, galloping before me and yowling to wake the dead, but I saw 'em, dozens and maybe hundreds. Saw what must have been their leader, too, a great brute, big as a big man and wearing a helmet what was all knives. Think there was one or two in robes like what a wizard would wear, but can't swear to that with all the confusion and the light flickering every which way. Be that as it may, we sprinted up the ladder, slammed the manhole cover down and rolled a cart atop it, and then got blue-blind paralytic drunk on enough brandy to piss a new sewer. Well, I did, not the Moggett. But it weren't enough brandy to forget, then or ever, and ever since I bring man-traps and bear-traps down with me if I have to go underground. And that's my story, gentlemen, and ye'd be wise to mark it."



 

Spoiler

 

Boren Backslap is an amazing character, with a cloak of rat pelts, a mangy cat bigger than some dogs, and a trap/varmint hutch. He looks like he's settled in the New World and would also work well in a Weird West setting. 

GW makes incredibly elaborate sculpts, and they know ratfolk like few else. The dynamically-posed fellas on the masonry bases are from a Shadespire pack, Spiteclaw's Swarm. They acknowledge no law but the law of the claw. Probably could have punched them up a bit more with weathering and such, but was on a self-imposed deadline. Word to the wise: the lesser ratties can be painted easily enough once assembled, but Spiteclaw himself should probably get the inside of his cape and his backside painted before assembly. Learn from my mistakes!

The little ratling with the torch is from a Pathfinder grab bag. Tail broke off, so I replaced it with a pin, as I've done before ( https://forum.reapermini.com/index.php?/topic/87661-ratsy-and-the-varmint-boys-crooked-dice-plus-50320-50209b-03577 ).

The rubble and additional rats are from a Terraincrate mine pack; the rat swarms are Nolzur's. 

Lastly, the rat-wizards and surly/unmotivated rat soldiers are from Black Tree; part of their Ver'Men line. I love me some rat-men, and the ears and the bent noses were irresistible, even if the sculpts lack the finesse of the Skaven around the feet. 

[Cicciopiu]

Nice job and cool story! 

[Glitterwolf]

That's awesome!

The story is captivating and fun, good job on the minis!

[Iridil]

Great set of minis - and love the story - and shots of the ongoing story!

[ShantyShakin]

I love that you told a story with your painted minis. Thanks! That was fun!

 

I also liked the way you painted the rat pelt cloak so that you could easily see it was composed of a bunch of different ones. Very nice touch. 

[Rigel]

On 10/29/2019 at 3:32 AM, Cicciopiu said:

Nice job and cool story! 

 

On 10/29/2019 at 4:33 AM, Glitterwolf said:

That's awesome!

The story is captivating and fun, good job on the minis!

 

On 10/29/2019 at 8:33 AM, Iridil said:

Great set of minis - and love the story - and shots of the ongoing story!

 

On 10/29/2019 at 9:37 AM, ShantyShakin said:

I love that you told a story with your painted minis. Thanks! That was fun!

I also liked the way you painted the rat pelt cloak so that you could easily see it was composed of a bunch of different ones. Very nice touch. 

Thanks, all. for the likes and kind words! Glad you enjoyed it. I had fun with Boren's 'voice' and story. Particularly pleased with the shadows in a couple of those photos! 
And I figure if the sculptor took the trouble to make all those individual pelts and tails, it's only right I give it similar attention to detail. I appreciate it!