Thursday, February 12, 2026

ToTanem Artifex 5

Another crossover with the Wednesday Wizards painting stunt at the Minismith's Forge blog, this time is a new ToTanem Artifex. I had to dig through my painted ToTanem minis to find the previous Artifex minis I've painted. This guy is number 5?!

He was based on a 25mm base because he just seemed too cramped on a 20mm. I used a bit of cobblestone mat that I think came from a cheap Xmas Village line of products to make the base a little fancier.

The painting was pretty straightforward. It had been some time since I used greens for a ToTanem's rock skin, so I thought I should give this guy some greenish--grey skin. I decided to make his hammer some fancy white material- it's magic.


The newest Artifex with a ToTanem Harbinger and young Scribe Shefdu.

This newest Artifex joins the previous Artifexes. The first Artifex was a Reaper female dwarf who, at the time, seemed like a good proxy since there was not yet an official Artifex sculpt. Her lore was that she was a City Dweller Artifex, but just with regular Artifex stats. Next came the ToTanem with the pistol, converted from a regular warrior with a GW pistol. I'm not sure if the Artifex with the anvil or the official Artifex sculpt came next, but I like them both, especially the glowing metal on the anvil.

Thursday, February 5, 2026

Chumwaag, Corruptor of Words

Chumwaag and his pack-rat Nubd travel Ægyptus on a quest shrouded in mystery. Referring to himself as a 'Corruptor of Words,' Chumwaag has exhibited a mastery of twisted versions of some commonly known spells employed by the Masters of Words. This dark reflection of the revered Ægyptian sorcerers is a threat that the Assessors are surely aware of...


First, let's look at the pack-rat, Nubd. This bit has been rattling around in my WarGods bits box for over a decade. It's from a Pathfinder miniature that Crocodile Games produced for a short time. There's supposed to be a goblin rider, but I thought it would make a good mount or pack animal. I used some platic Warhammer bits from various kits for the barrel and bone bag. The bow and quiver are Crocodile Games bits from their weapons packs. 

Nubd was built first with a vague idea that he'd be somehow connected to a Nekharu character. That character was originally going to be a Reaper Necromancer with a Nekharu headswap. But after years of starting to paint that conversion, I finally gave up and decide to make a character from an actual Nekharu mini. Nubd then got painted alongside Chumwaag. I think the pack-rat turned out as feral and creepy as I wanted.



This converted Corruptor of Words (evil Master of Words) started out as a Nekharu stadard bearer. I chopped off the right arm at the elbow and the left hand at the bracer. For the magic staff I used an olde WFB Skeleton spear arm with a resin skull on the top and some banner bit for the banner. Some very sketchy sculpting on the arm and around the banner made the right arm look okay.




The left hand replacement was easier. I have used parts from the olde WFB zombies kit with other Nekharu conversions in the past (mainly the witches), so I knew on of them would work well. The hand I chose gives a good casting feel when combined with the head I chose.


Chumwaag and Nubd have no rules for WarGds, yet. I plan to figure out some way to give Chum a few modified Master of Words spells and maybe a couple of witch and/or necromancer spells too. He's going to be an evil wizard. He may also get a couple of bodyguards too. I like how the plastic spear looked and think some spear armed Nekharu would be cool.


...with the Witch Master and a standard Mancleaver guy.

...with the Scorpion Sorceress and young Scribe Shefdu.

...with a To-Tanem and Heru spearmen.

...with the Nekharu Hero and my converted Nekharu Hero.

Since Chumwaag was finished on a Wednesday, he became the 10th "Wednesday Wizard" over at the sister blog.

Monday, January 26, 2026

The 3rd Pterroman Finished

It had been far too long, but the third of my Forge of Ice Pterromen is finally complete.

This last of the terrible triumvirate of Pterromen is Giagsia, 'glider in darkness.' Another fiendish villain to vex the noble Ægyptians. The first one was here and the second one here, both back in Forge of Ice February of 2021 (?!?!).


I wanted to do something similar to the second Pterroman yet simpler. A mix of purples and blues went well together. I think overall Giagsia turned out okay, but I think Tilhabar is still my favorite of the three. That's likely because the mix of colors on her were unexpected and striking.


The base for Giagsia is again a bit of shelf line that looks like an ancient temple floor. I'm running very low on this stuff and have not been able to find any more of it.


Here we have the three Pterromen together. Alex has said that in his Azor setting, the Perromen are all actually females, so I've started thinking of the as three sister witches. They plot against each other as they work together for a common goal. I think they look good together and can't wait to use them in some game, maybe a WarGods skirmish?

A comparison with a Heru paladin and a humble Khemru Shepherd. And below, Young Shefdu face-to-face with Giagsia.