I recently asked folks on my YouTube channel what my next project should be. There was enthusiasm for the Melnibonean force I had assembled over the last couple of years, so I thought I'd give it a crack. My intention was for this to be a small force of mercenaries, refugees from destroyed Imrryr, travelling the land under the leadership of a noble. Much as Dyvim Tvar was when Elric encountered them in The Stealer of Souls. For the leader I had originally selected a Copplestone dark elf rider (most of this force are Copplestone Fantasy Warriors bought from Battlezone Miniatures), but when I saw this lady rider (also on foot below) I thought it would be more interesting to have her in charge of the band. Moorcock needs some better female characters...
The bulk of the figures are the ex-Grenadier Fantasy Warriors high elves, with a few of the debauched dark elves mixed in for flavour. I wanted to give the impression of fallen grandeur and paint grubby elves rather than shiny white ones. I figure the Melniboneans wouldn't know how to look after their equipment without their servants and slaves around to do stuff for them. The oxide on the bronze is Vallejo verdigris which I've had for a while but not really used much. I originally intended to do some on my undead, but didn't like the look. I'm not sure I like it much more here, it's not as green as I would like and I didn't feel like washing it all again. I think my big mistake here was to start with bronze and try to 'rust' it rather than starting green and adding a few bright spots back in.
Moorcock doesn't describe Melnibonean armour much. He says Cymoril's personal guard wear bright blue and describes other soldiers' armour as 'yellow'. I think they're more supposed to be in plate, but mail coats feel more fitting for an army on the road. I've gone with a colour to denote each small unit and purple as a spot colour to tie them together. They are from the many-coloured city after all. I figured each unit would be the household guard of one noble, with perhaps the yellow and black being the general uniform of the city guard. The waspishness is what I think of when I imagine Rodney Matthews' images of Melniboneans.
I'd originally intended to just have archers and spearmen, but at Colours last year there was a chap selling Harlequin miniatures (saves me battling with BTD) and so I picked up some swordsmen to expand the force. This might have been a mistake. My intention was a small group of models I could enjoy spending some time on, but the extra troops made it feel more like an army, more pressure, more to get done. I didn't enjoy it very much, so have spent very little time on them and ultimately called them done without putting in a lot of care and attention. I'm not entirely sure why, they just didn't grip me whilst I was painting, despite listening to some Moorcock to get in the mood. They may end up for sale sometime in the future.
I also hadn't inteded to do an Elric as, like with Star Wars, I find the stuff which doesn't involve the 'main character' to be far more interesting. Give me smugglers in the back streets of Mos Eisley over Jedi duels any day. But Mike kindly gifted me one of Drew's Elrics so it felt rude not to paint him up. I don't give much for the band's chances now Stormbringer is in their midst...
Imrryrian Mercenaries
