I got a preview set of the the freebies from the Toughest Girls of the Galaxy 2 "Darkness and Light" (TGG 2) and I'll be painting them up just as fast as I can manage but, even though the freebie set contains Sisters and Lust Elves I really fixed on Executrix Sephea and the Mascot Violet as my first targets.
Its kind of funny that I first got interested in the Kickstarter because of the Sisters of the Chalice/Orphanage and then became completely enthralled by the Lust Elves and now have really started looking hard at the Void and Dark Elves.
The figures are very finely detailed and crisply cast. There are few mold lines and they are generally well placed. After a thorough cleaning I primed up Sephea and Violet and set to work.
The Blood Rain has a very identifiable color scheme and the new Void Elf Shard is going to as well. First things first, Asharah's Void Elves will be the "Vertigo Shard" and will have a lot of asymetric designs worked into the heroes and vehicles... I'm thinking that the Blood Rain will retain the old school Dark Eldar vehicles while the Vertigo Shard will get the new style... we'll see how that plays out for troops but these minis are so inspiring I might go there!
I imagine Executrix Sephea's first meeting with Val'orn Archon of the Hidden Kindred to have gone something like this:
"Dire Lord! The Void Kin vessel approaches as anticipated." whispered the diminutive Communion Familiar.
Archon Val'orn of the Hidden Kindred, vassals of the Blood Rain Kabal, winced. He did not agree with this course of action but the Kabal had chosen this path and he was compelled to obey.
"Dispatch Ar'Rrath" he directed.
"Void Sisters we welcome your arrival and look forward to this exchange. Klaivex Ar'Rrath is on his way to you. When can we expect your Executrix?" the tones of the communion familiar were carefully cultivated... radiating an indifference just short of actual insult... it was unclear, to the uninitiated, whether or not a reply was actually expected.
"You may expect me now." replied a lilting and remotely amused voice from the foot of the command dais. A tall blonde female Void Elf, for no outsider had ever seen a male Void Elf... if indeed any of them existed, clad in brilliant blue and pale rose armor stood gracefully in the single moment before the command deck erupted in furious activity.
Two Incubi clad in the heavy armor, and bearing the signature great blades of their profession, moved rapidly to flank the new arrival.
"How quaint, you actually wear....black... oh, and skulls.... yes there are skulls! I imagine that is fearsome!" mused the newcomer.
"Stay your blades Incubi!" laughed Val'orn "I suspect this is Executrix Sephea... your new Klaivex."
The Incubi came to a sudden, and complete, halt as Val'orn turned his attention to Sephea... "I expect to learn something of that trick as part of this exchange but recommend that you use it with caution while you are among the Blood Rain."
For all his glib demeanor Val'orn was off his guard. The Void Elves had a reputation that was equal parts mystery and terror, even by the standards of the Kabal, but this sparkling gem did not align with his own vision of fear."As you command Dire Lord, although... if I might mention such a trifle... while caution might be useful if simple fear is your desire" a slight pause, a blatantly incredulous eye cast toward the Incubi she was to command, she continued "it's usefulness is substantially diminished when invoking true terror."
"We shall see Executrix... we shall see..." Val'orn retreated within the protective void bubble of his command throne and wondered again about the wisdom of this course.
The story is still unfolding but such an auspicious beginning!
Sephea and Violet, in its role as Communion Familiar. The Mascot "Violet" should probably be renamed to "Indigo" in my service since I painted her that way... but, reduce confusion, Violet she remains!
Sephea seen paired with a rare female Archon from GW.
Oh... before I forget completely!
Painting notes:
Skin: Basic Flesh (Vallejo), Flesh Wash (P3), retouched with Basic Flesh.
Indigo areas: Nightmare Black (Reaper), Deep Sky Blue (Vallejo) highlights, wash Sapphire (Secret Weapon), spot highlights Deep Sky Blue.
Rose areas: Rose Brown (Vallejo), highlights Brains Pink (Reaper), wash Drying Blood (Secret Weapon), retouch Rose brown, spot highlight brains pink.
Designs in the rose area were painted between just before the first wash using Deep Red (Reaper)
I based her on the same Blasted Swamp (Secret Weapon) bases that majority The Blood Rain is based on. I thought about a separate basing scheme for the Vertigo Shard but they may still be used with the Blood Rain quite a lot and it will be more unifying to have the bases regularized.
Oh! before I forget.... Sephea and Violet are both part of the big pile of freebies you get for pledging at the LT. level or higher. It's still possible to join the Kickstarter if you do it before the Pledge Manager opens. Raging Heroes expects this to happen in less than two weeks.
Next up... Nuns with Guns!