The Wall, Part Two

I am back, seven days and eighty-four miles later, with taped up feet and more blister plasters than I'd care to admit. But I made it back to civilisation, ladies and gentlemen - so it's time to update you on what's next for you Miercenaries!

September's Brythoniaid

First, and most importantly, September's release; I'm working very hard on this and it should be ready for you all by (at the latest) Friday. It's a fairly large one, and half the work is already done, but it will take me a while to get the graphics together in between all the other jobs I need to do.

The Fires of Dyngonwy battle host will contain:

• Hywel Hir, Dragon Bearer of Gwynedd
• Warrior Hywel Hir, Cadben of Gwynedd
• Shieldwall Carys, Uchelwr of Arfon
• Shieldwall Carys, Uchelwr of Arfon [Pin Up]*
• Spears of Dyngonwy, Rherelwr Unit (7x warriors w cmd)
• Warriors of Dyngonwy, Rhyfelwr Unit (7x warriors w cmd)
• Gareth's Brood, Marchomawr Draiglas Unit (3x warriors w cmd)
  
• Crafant's Brood, Draiglas Unit (3x warriors)

Here's a few images to get you excited...

Rest assured, it will be with you this week!

October's Release

As we're on the subject of releases, let's go through the forthcoming release in October, which is closer than I'd care to admit. The Norse are getting their first new miniatures for a couple of years, and like the last one they are for the jötunheimr realm, too; that means trolls! Hálftrolls, to be exact, along with leiptrolls (lightning hálftrolls) and sjøtrolls (sea trolls!)

Guntrún the hálftroll hag

The hálftrolls are half the size of normal trolls, funnily enough, on 40mm bases; but they are just as nasty, and they come as jarl (commander), hag (sorceress) and units with spear and shield and axe and shield. They do also have great axe and two axe versions, but I'm going to keep my powder dry on those - if for nothing else than to reduce my graphics and printer burden.

The leiptrolls have already been released physically, of course, but they have never been released as digital files, so I'm adding those in as they provide a nice little extra.

Two sjøtrolls!

The sjøtrolls... oh, those sjøtrolls! They are utterly superb, and you'll get three of them with spears and ropes (all the better to drag you back with) a bit like the walvax harpooners. They are the size of the other trolls, on 60mm bases, so they also have a bit of punch!

Let's not forget October's monster of the month: it's going to be a new jötunn, similar to Mjagnir, and you're going to love him!

The new jötunn!

I don't know about you, but I am really, really, really looking forward to October!

More Releases!

Why not? Let's go through what more you can expect before Christmas. Because it won't be long, Miercenaries...

• November - Khthones Lískar. Some six-eyed aliens for the win, including a new Pétroyos, a unit of lískar and probably the lískrothar.
• December - Fomoraic Raider - plus tusk hunters, a new chief and maybe some sabretooths...
• January - Infernii Fiend - renewed for a digital age...
• February - whisper it... Jutes and spiders... maybe.
• March - Razh-Vras! Rats riding rats (and I'm going to make sure at least one of them has a rat riding a rat riding a rat). Maybe some vile-vras with them...
• April - Got to be the tuanagh for the Érainn. These guys, with gaemhornagh alternates, plus warhounds and (whisper it) chariots...
• May - Let's go for some Atalantes! Epilektes plus minokolossi plus some kind of small engine.
• June - Anglecynn Gesith - a resculpt of these hearthguard, plus werwulf gesith...
• July - Khthones Gorgonar - these are definitely needing to be done. Should include the gorgothar too...
• August - Ysian bow-drunes plus a hound-horse unit!
• September - Érainn Fen Beast. These could definitely do with a resculpt... new Araigh, new Daghda Lúg, the works...

As always, I reserve the right to change the above if I have a fit of inspiration for something else.

What I Did on My Holidays

So, let's tell you all about my trip walking Hadrian's Wall!

Er. I walked it. The End!

Seriously though - if you ever get the chance to walk it, take seven days, plenty of zinc oxide tape, blister plasters, woollen pants, waterproofs, a light tent, salamis and cheeses, and a map. Definitely don't take an ex-army sleeping bag rated to -10 that seemed a bargain at £15 but was so heavy I wished I'd paid more for a lighter one! Ahem.

It really was a brilliant experience though; eighty-four miles of initially flat land from Bowness-on-Solway through the middle hilly parts (where you will find the actual wall sections, milecastles and turrets that are left) and then back to flatness and the big city of Newcastle. I'd recommend you go half guesthouse and half camp, just to get the full experience without getting too annoyed at wet campsites, and make sure you imbibe plenty of beer when you can - it will definitely keep you going!

The Battle of Heavenfield's cross

A favourite part of mine was seeing St. Oswald's Church and, of course, the site of the battle of Heavenfield, which features in our scenario book Desolate Fields; what the Welsh called Cantscaul, or ‘The Strife on the Wall’. This is where Oswald, king of Northumbria, defeated Cadwallon in 634 AD; unfortunately for that Welsh king, Penda and his Mercians were not there with him (as they had been against Edwin), and he was killed.

Penda had his revenge later, in Oswestry, or ‘Oswald's Tree’... but more on that another time!

Another highlight was seeing Magna Roman Army Museum, which is small but very well managed and has some excellent films and exhibits. Not the least of which is a life-size Roman auxilia cavalryman! It's definitely worth visiting and gives you some great insights into the life of the ordinary soldiers on the wall, as well as their weapons and equipment (more importantly for me).

But that's it for now, fellow Miercenaries; watch out for an update on the Brythoniaid later on in the week!