The Silver Bayonet "The Deep Ones"

 The Deep Ones, from Khurasan Miniatures are a great set to have, they can be used in many of different game.

The "Deep Ones" are for the most part in H. P. Lovecraft's stories however, there are tales of Aquatic Humanoids, from around the world. 

The Green Clawed Beast of the Ohio River of 1955, where a woman was grabbed by an unseen creature, for which her friend helped her to get away. So, if they didn't see it then why do they call it the Green Clawed Beast? After her attack left a green clawed hand stain on her lower leg that took a few weeks to fade away. The kicker to this story is that exactly one week to the day 50 miles south an event unfolded that is known today as the Hopkinsville Goblins Case or as the Kelly Green Men Case.

The Thetis Lake Monster, Lake Thetis became a conservation area in Canada in 1958. In 1972 there was a report of a large humanoid lizard like creature to have been seen swimming in the area just a few days after that report, came another report of this creature having been seen. It is not known to have had aggressive interactions with humans. However, if it did? Would we ever know?

Lizard man of Scape Ore Swamp, In Lee County in South Carolina are reports of a Lizard Man or many others that maybe roaming the streams and swamps in this area with. It has been described as a large lizard like man with three webbed fingers for each hand, with scaly skin with either red or orange eyes. some reports state it has a short stumpy tail while other claim no tail at all. It is reported that it has caused a lot of damage to property to include that of vehicles as well.

The Kappa of Japan, a strange aquatic reptilian creature habiting the streams and rivers of Japan, that have a taste for Cucumbers and Human entrails. They are described as in small child like stature with turtle features as faces go and a turtle like shell body with long arms and legs with webbed hands and feet. It is said that it can retract one arm back into its shell allowing it to extend it other arm long increasing its reach. It has a weakness, it is said that they have a small bowl like feature on their heads that hold water, the weakness is if this water is spelled or dries up the become immobile.

In the far northern regions living in the ocean under the ice are the Qallupilluit, A humanoid creature with an ugly fish like face and bumpy skin with the smell of that like sulfur. These creatures are known as child snatchers. They lay and wait under the water of an ice-free beach by a village for a child a playing alone to come along and gets too close to the water's edge. It is said that they will follow a child under the ice stocking and knocking on the ice for a thin part of the ice that they can break through. They claim that that when you see the ice rolling as wave push to shore that the Qallupilluit is there also where the water of streams starts backing up due to the oceans water rising that they lurk under the water there.

You can find many tales of humanoid amphibians or even reptile one around the world. If you are traveling around the world check with the locals before taking a dip in the water, you might find the pool at the hotel to be a better idea.

Well, I think this the point where I show my paint work, I had done with Khurasan's "Deep Ones" These are great figures just a little weak in the ankle area.

I have more figures of Deep Ones to paint however I am going to paint them in a differently style. These will be great for terrorizing seaports and fishing villages or anyplace along a coast, they can be great for hiding out in a swampy area with a lake in the middle of the area.

The Silver Bayonet "Ghouls"

Ghouls have haunted our Dreams and Nightmares for centuries. The main origin of Ghouls is believed to come from the Middle East, only because the first writings of Ghouls are mentioned in the Quran. It is thought that in Myths and Folklore that ghouls were once evil Humans or demons who rebelled against Allah. Traditionally in these regions they are evil spirits or Djinns or the lesser version a Jinn.

 However, Ghouls have been around for a much longer time than that of what was written, the idea of what was once a human who consumes the flesh of the dead or living, becomes a hideous creature, has been around for a very long time. The horror of one being eaten alive is one thing of a horror we all feel but, to have one's body eaten after death is another. It up turns the thought of our bodies resting in peace. The idea of placing large stones over the graves came about to keep the dead, dead. It was believed covering a grave with large stones or large slabs of stone was to keep ghostly spirit from haunting one. This method was also used to prevent the horrors of Zombies from rising up from the graves, as well as being used to trapping vampires within their graves as well. Other such ideas is that it would prevent grave robbing. So could it also be believed that graves were covered with these large stones or slabs of stones to keep ghouls from digging up loved ones and making off with their bodies for a feast.   

Ghouls are believed to have some intelligence about them, not like the Wendigo which craves fresh meat of humans and hunts with only hunger as it's guide and attacks without fear. They are also unlike Zombies that just wonders aimlessly without a real purpose seeking flesh with no awareness of its surroundings. Ghouls can and will wait to eat when it safe for them. They will hunt and trap the living as well. Ghouls with their ability to eat the dead, gives them an added advantage of not being caught so quickly, for not all graveyards are protected with cemetery care takers where many had their residence or homes in the graveyard. This gives the Ghouls the opportunity to go undetected for a very long time for in most cases it would have been believed that graves would have been disturbed by Grave Robbers. 

It is by these Myths and Folklore that have Ghouls haunt the cemeteries, hiding in the shadow of darkness of the daytime waiting for the darkness of night to come out to dig up the freshly buried loved ones for their meals. There are some stories of Ghouls wondering the battlefield late at night looking for the dead to carry off and to consume later. This had been believed by some as to the reason why ss many soldiers had gone missing on the battlefield, to never to be heard from or found. There are a few stories of those seeking shelter in empty building from bad weather of running into Ghouls. These travelers explain in their strange tales of how they lost their traveling companions, by franticly escaping the deadly clutches of these Ghouls and not looking back even after hearing the screams of their companions for their help.

Some Myths have that a Ghoul was a wicked evil cruel person who was raised from the dead to walk the earth as a Ghoul for their punishment only allowed to eat the flesh of the dead. Others have it as a transformation of one who eats human flesh that is permanent disfigured and has to hide from the public for their lives. One myth has that a Ghoul cannot be recognized between it or a Human, only after long periods of time in which the ghoul has not eaten does it show, when the Ghoul's skin begins to wither and shrinks, becomes less human like, the only way to fix its situation is to eat. There is some thought that Ghouls may mate creating an offspring. One tale from "A Thousand and One Arbian Nights" of a beautiful woman who spend her days with her husband and hid her nights as a Ghoul from him. had her secret had not been found out could they have had a child. Could this create a Hybrid, half human and half Ghoul, no telling if they could or could not however the story does support the idea that Ghouls are very intelligent.

It is also said from areas of the Middle East that Ghouls are Shapeshifters! That a Ghoul could take on the form of a yet again involving a beautiful young woman to lure wondering lustful men from their travels into her camp, a trap for which other unseen Ghouls wait in hiding to pounce onto their prey, at which the beautiful young woman, the lure that is, changes back to it true form of a hideous Ghoul and joins in on the feast.  

It is said, that Ghouls have a longer life span than humans and can die over time by age however, their life span can be cut short however with human weapons. Some tales have it that only one mighty blow of a heavy sword can kill a Ghoul, failure of such a blow would make the Ghoul invincible to additional attacks. While others stories have it that Ghouls are rather tough and it takes many blows to dispatch one. There are no known stories or folklore of the effects it would have of shooting one. There are stories that sunlight can harm and weaken one, as well as harming or weaking a Ghoul by reading from the Quran in Arabic, much like that of a Catholic Preist reading from the Bible in Latin to perform an exorcist.

This my interpretation of Ghouls from the information out there from the world. There are other such creatures out there that fall in line with those of Ghouls But those would be saved for a later time.

I really hope this information helps inspire your gaming ideas for some great surprises for you and your gamers.

Here are photos of my 15mm Ghouls. They are from Splintered Light Miniatures http://www.splinteredlightminis.com/ghandgh.html listed as Ghouls and Ghast. These are the three main poses from a pack of twelve.

Thanks for looking and comments are always welcome.

Marine "Silver Bayonet" Shore Party

 The Marines stationed on "The Blade of Kore" are hand picketed and commanded by Colonel Nicholas Crow, who shares command and orders with Captain Victor Thender. Colonel Crow leads all the shore parties with a marine detachment when venturing inland whenever the need should arrive.

That is the team, and this is who they are.

Officer

Colonel Nicholas Crow

Speed 6, Melee +2, Accuracy +1, Defense 14, Courage +3, Health 13, Recruiting points 100

Hand Weapon (Silver Weapon), Pistol

Supernatural Veteran, Steady Legs

Silver Shot, Oil and Torch

Junor Officer

1st Lieutenant Garrett Sands

Speed 6, Melee +2, Accuracy +1, Defense 13, Courage +2, Health 12, Recruiting points 22

Fencing Weapon, 2 Pistols

Hard to put Down

Salt Bag

Doctor

Captain Isaac Wilson

Speed 6, Melee +1, Accuracy +0, Defense 13, Courage +1, Health 10, Recruiting points 10

Hand Weapon, Pistol

Medic

Holy Symbol

Supernatural Investigator 

Mr. Fredrick Ward

Speed 6, Melee +2, Accuracy +1, Defense 14, Courage +0, Health 12, Recruiting points 22

Fencing Weapon, 2 Pistol

Supernatural Veteran, Monster Expert

Oil and Torch

Marine Sergeant

Sergeant Lewis Holmes

(Marine Sergeant stats of from the Highlander using Marines Attributes)

Speed 6, Melee +2, Accuracy +1, Defense 13, Courage +1, Health 11, Recruiting points 18

Musket, Cartridge Box

Steady Legs

Silver Shot

Marine 

Corporal Noah Cooper

Speed 6, Melee +1, Accuracy +1, Defense 13, Courage +1, Health 10, Recruiting points 12

Musket, Cartridge Box

Steady Legs

Cold Iron Shot

Marine 

Private Vincent Dayton 

Speed 6, Melee +1, Accuracy +1, Defense 13, Courage +3, Health 10, Recruiting points 12

Musket, Cartridge Box

Steady Legs

Oil and Torch

In Action

Well, that is the whole team, now we just have to see who is going to stay alive!

Cultist Figures Painted

 I finished basing and now have painted the "Cultist" I have converted. They are going to work great in many games. I am looking forward to using them first off in "The Silver Bayonet" games. 

The figures are all from Ral Partha "Sinners" set RPE Miniatures and games, The new Ral Partha Europe Online Store. Overall, they are great figures needing very little clean up and making the conversions was really easy.

The Whole Group

The Arm was Moved

Added New Arm with Sword

Filed the Hood Off

Moved the Head

Cult Leader

Hood was Added

Rest of the Figures Unchanged

Again, these are going to look great on the gaming table. I have just received the Maines sets that are of the Napoleonic era, and they are going to look awesome for Silver Bayonet games.  

Cultist Conversion

 I purchased "The Sinners" from Ral Partha Home (ralparthaeurope.co.uk) and they come in a set of 12 in basically two poses with a leader figure. I wanted a few more different poses then the main two poses. So out came the nippers, razor knife, sanding needles, super glue, files and Green Stuff

Here is the leader.

Here are the two basic poses in the set.

Putting thought to mind, I started off with my ideas having 11 figures to work with is good so if I mess one up is it okay it will end up being a dead cultist.  

Here are conversions of one of the poses.

Original Pose

Made Bald Filing The Hood Off

Relocated The Head

Removed And Added New Arm With Weapon

Here are the other conversions of the other poses.

Original Pose

Arm Relocated

 

Added A Hood

I am looking forward to getting their base finished and painted to use them in many of games Horror, Pulp, Fantasy but, I very much looking forward to using them in "Silver Bayonet" games.

The Silver Bayonet Update #1 (Some Bad Guys)

 Every game has to have "Bad Guys"! There are a lot to choose from in 28mm miniature range, however I prefer using 15mm miniatures. There are a few really good resources out there, such figures Ral Partha Europe has a great selection of figures RPE Miniatures and games, The new Ral Partha Europe Online Store . Splintered Light Miniatures as well has a very great selection of miniatures Splintered Light Miniatures (splinteredlightminis.com) . There are many others manufactures out there as well.

This post will focus on just Ral Pratha figures, I have received today

Starting with figures from Ral Partha, I had attained figures that will fit many of the rolls in the game. The "Death Guard" set of 12, will make for Cultist, I will be dividing these into two groups of cultist in different paint schemes, that can be chased around the world.

 The "Warlocks and Necromancers" set of 3, will make for Cult leaders for these two groups of cultist I will have.

There is a Warband set the "Orc Mob", that has Trolls, Orcs and Goblins. To me it is a good set to get, you get a nice mix 18 figures giving you a couple of trolls to use, a handful of Orcs and the same with Goblins. 

I also bought the "Vampire Coven" set of 3, where I can have different set-ups of vampire groups. Also a set of "Sinners" a set of 12, that will make for a great guard force for the Vampires to protect the vampires as they rest. These too will be divided into two groups as well, with their own paint scheme. I am looking at getting some less vampires as fodder. there is a couple of sets from Splintered Light I can pick from.

A set of 12 "Stone Sentries" that I can use for greater demons and gargoyles

 Also a set of "Familiars" a set of 8, for use as lesser demons.

 And set of "Wolves" containing a set of 5.

These overall are really great for gaming in 15mm. There are more figures to choose from, however these are a great start. these will also have multi uses in other games a well that I like to play as well. I am in the process of basing them all and hope to be painting them soon!

Cryptozoology World Update #1

 My Monster of the Week progress

Adding to the other creatures in my earlier post of "Cryptozoology World". I don't want to fight the same old Vampires and Werewolves kind of thing all the time. I also love looking up such creatures, legends, folklore and myths. A combination of books and that of the internet is my muse for my inspiration. As my book collection on such things is growing bigger, so is my imagination creating the World to which my Players/hunters will be living in and experiencing. With that said here is my latest creations

Coco: Derived from Spain and moved into many South and Central America countries. It is different version of the American Boogeyman. It is said that it comes for boys and girls that misbehave or those that refuse to go to bed at night and fall asleep. That the bad children are stuffed into a bag and taken away to never be seen again or to be devoured. To add to this fear there is a Female version as well, called "Coca". Both in the more traditional description are described as Scarecrows with pumpkins for heads. The other description is clumps of vines for their body and limbs but still again using a pumpkin for their heads. There are other descriptions that say they are shadowy figures or even cloaked figures wearing a hood. In any case it is said that the only real thing that anyone sees, is just their two glowing eyes and their large glowing mouth with very sharp teeth.

Kuntilanak: Is a similar verion of The America's "White Woman" who drowned her children. However, the Kuntilanak is from the Indonesia region of the world and is described as a pregnant woman in a white gown with long hair and long sharp fingernails. It is conceived that she was unable to give birth and died with the child within. She takes her revenge out on men for the most part. It is said that she only appears around the full moons and when a man sees her, he is her next victim. She disembowels her victims with her sharp nails and consumes their organs. Rumor is said that you can tell when she is around, when dogs begin to howl and when she is closer, they begin to whine. That is when one can hear a baby's cry and the smell of a corpse. She finds her victims from the smell of their clean laundry so one should be advised not to leave your fresh clean laundry outside on the clothesline overnight. Tales have it, that if one can drive a nail into the nape of her neck, she becomes a very beautiful woman and a good wife until the nail is removed. It is also said that driving a nail down through the top of her head will subdue her.

Nixies: Moving to the Scandinavian region (Where a good friend of mine lives with his family this is a plug for him) There is the Nixies. In this region they go by many other names depending on one's location. They are Water Spirits both in male and female form. They can be found in lakes, rivers, streams and ponds. Much like the Sirens of Greek Mythology. However, the Nixies are believed to be shapeshifters. Not only being able to take human form but other forms of animals as well. Female Nixies draw their victim to them by the beauty of their singing voice. Male Nixies draw their victim by the beautiful playing of his "Fiddle" with can cause it victims to dance their way to the water. Nixies would be willing to teach one to sing or to play instruments as beautiful as they do for a price. A sacrifice of sorts for payment. It is believed that many historically know musicians paid this price for their fame. A "Blues" player in the USA was claimed by other that this "Blues" play made a deal with "The Crossroads Demon" for his sudden alibies to play the Blues so well that became a Blues Legend. So did he make a deal with the "Crossroads Demon", or a "Nixie". Tales have that such musicians may become overwhelmed and mesmerized in their playing that it will drive them into madness. Those listening to such music are to believe to dance themselves to death unless the music is stopped, or the instrument is destroyed. Predictions of drowning are marked by a very load screaming much like the sound of a Loon, and swimmers can protect themselves by tossing a piece of steel into the water. This will drive them away. Nixies are also known to grab and drag their victims into the water to their death if their spell is not strong enough. Tales have it that by calling out the Nixie's true name it will kill them. The best way to detect a Nixie is that it seems that the hem on their clothing is always wet, however one has to touch their clothing to tell.

The Green Claw Beast; On August 14th, 1955. In Evansville, Indiana, is a report of a woman named Naomi Johnson who was wading in the waters of the Ohio River along with a female friend. When she grabbed and dragged under the water by her ankle. The creature momentary released her long enough for her to surface for a breath of air when if grabbed her yet again. Her friend along with an inner tube was able to intervene and rescue her from this creature. The creature left a Green Claw stain on her leg which could not be washed off and had to be left to fade on its own.  Shortly thereafter She reported that a couple days later a man claiming to an Air Force Colonel came to her door and told her not to ever speak of this event ever again. A week after her attack on August 21, 1955, a family in Hopkinsville Kentucky over 50 miles due south of Evansville. Had reported to have been attacked by a group of creatures which today is called "The Hopkinsville Goblins Case" or "The Kelly Green Men Case". 

The Gadajdu: Dropping down to the Mediterranean region to the islands of Malta (Where another good friend lives with his family, this is a plug for him.) There lives the legend and tales of The Gadajdu, A humanoid predator that hunts though out the caves and tunnels. living in the darkness and on the edge of areas with minimal light. Waiting to leap out onto its unexpecting prey whether it is and animal or human like a trap door spider. This was told to keep children away from the many caves in Malta or was it. Did this Myth start before or after the story with the only evidence to be found that was published in "The National Geographic" magazine back in 1940 or there about. A story about a of a group of 30 students with their teacher had gone missing. With stories shortly thereafter of the sounds of those children heard wailing and screaming under different areas of Malta long after they had been declared dead. Could it be that the government covered up that the fact that these kids could have been taken by a group of Gadajdu. Could it be the wailing and screaming were of those kids waiting their faith? Until otherwise the Gadajdu still lurk in those caves and tunnels and extreme caution should be taken whenever one gets too close to the caves.

I bring these Cryptids, Legends and Folklore all in from around the world, reason being is, living here in The United States will live with many diverse cultures across the country. So, is it possible for many of these Cryptids to have moved here with the people from their home country as they moved here as well? They could have been stowaways hiding in or among the cargo of ships coming to the new world. Or may have been manifested here in the Americas with beliefs so strong that it drew them here, out of one world and into another.