The Blackwood Company

Lord of Winterfell · **Posted:** Sat Jan 11, 2014 10:51 pm

For those who don't care for long reading - This will be where I will be posting my ranger conversions for a custom robin hood/sellsword style army So subscribe to keep updated!

A small project of mine is turning into quite a large one...It started out as just a display project and not really for gaming...but now it is progressing and I find myself writing fluff/house rules for all the characters...I hope not to be judged too harshly :lol:

(Yes I have been 'inspired' by influences from many fictions and real life...Enjoy)

The Blackwood Company

The Blackwood Company is a company of mercenaries founded by Lord Vexille in the third age that mainly consists of rangers and longbow men. Once nothing more than a group of bandits, they gained a new company commander and they have now risen and are considered the largest and most expensive sellsword company in Middle Earth, pledging allegiance to no single army.

The Company have made their name working with various peoples, having been under the employ of many Chiefs from the far desert lands of the east to the mighty dwarf lords deep in the mountains.

Most who sign on to the company tend to be experienced, professional soldiers or criminals and outcasts who are proficient marksmen. If you are accepted into the Company, regardless of your past, as long as you follow orders and when it is time to fight, you fight like a daemon possessed, there will be gold and position for anyone.

Unlike some sellsword companies which are nothing more than an undisciplined rabble, no better than orcs, the men of the Blackwood Company are chosen for their skill in battle, and their knowledge of surviving in the wild. They have no official stronghold as they are always on the move, setting up camp one night only to be on their way to the next contract a short while later.

Army Special Rules

Sellswords - The Blackwood Company may ally with any Good or Evil army except from Mordor, Angmar or Moria.

A Brotherhood without Banners – As they have no real allegiance to anyone but their own, no member of the Company may benefit from any banner/standfast from anyone who is not included in their army list.

Lord of Winterfell · **Posted:** Sat Jan 11, 2014 11:08 pm

Here is the first model and leader of the company.

- Originally Aragorn breaking of the fellowship
- Given him a goblin shield so he stands out against other 'hero' characters
- Added a dagger hilt to the scabbard
- Given him a flaming sword because...flaming sword
- Planning on giving him an eye patch/facial wound

Lord Hawkwood

He became guard for a group of merchants who traveled across middle earth, Hawkwood learned to survive in the open, to fight in the forests and most importantly, how his lust for gold came to be. One day in the mountains his merchant caravan was attacked by raiders, and even though he fought bravely, he barely survived with his life and was one of the only survivors. Later, his work took him to join up with the Blackwood Company due to his skills as a fighter and his knowledge of coin picked up from the merchants. With the support of his fellow mercenaries, he mutinied against the former commander of Blackwood Company, Lord Vexille, due to the the way they were being lead and the uneven shares of reward they were receiving.

Single combat ensued and although he lost an eye, he was the victor. The men chose him as their new leader after several successful contracts in the east. As Vexille took his eye, the men took his title, and jokingly bestowed it on their new commander. He is a dirty fighter who just wants gold for himself and his men.

Hill-Troll · **Posted:** Sat Jan 11, 2014 11:29 pm

Best excuse for fire sword ever...

slayeroftrolls · **Posted:** Sat Jan 11, 2014 11:58 pm

Ahhh! Whenever I read high quality fluff I get so excited! The conversion looks fantastic by the way!

Gwaryan · **Posted:** Sun Jan 12, 2014 12:16 am

I'm enjoying the ASOIAF influences here, and that's a lovely looking conversion

Lord of Winterfell · **Posted:** Sun Jan 12, 2014 1:05 am

Thanks guys...more miniatures & fluff to come haha

Gwaryan, this is full of them...Here's hoping for Winds of winter ;D

:boromir

Druzhag · **Posted:** Sun Jan 12, 2014 4:30 am

I like how they can only ally with men... i like the models, i recommend some ruffians conversions because they look rough as it is.

Erunion · **Posted:** Sun Jan 12, 2014 5:23 am

Love the conversion and the background! I look forward to seeing your progress on this project!

Gandlaf the Grey · **Posted:** Sun Jan 12, 2014 6:08 am

I love the thought behind this, very original and also fitting with middle earth.
The conversion has been done nicely but I don't think I would have chosen an Orc shield for the leader.
I would have thought something more formal or better still another sword ?

IntLemon · **Posted:** Sun Jan 12, 2014 6:11 am

It's Lightbringer, Stannis Baratheon's sword.

Hill-Troll · **Posted:** Sun Jan 12, 2014 8:04 am

Druzhag wrote:

I like how they can only ally with men... i like the models, i recommend some ruffians conversions because they look rough as it is.

They are able to ally with everyone except mordor, angmar and moria, so they can ally with more than just men...

SuicidalMarsbar · **Joined:** Sun Apr 24, 2011 1:14 am **Posts:** 1712

Me likey the fluff. Is the name inspired by the Blackwood Company from Oblivion?

Lord of Winterfell · **Posted:** Sun Jan 12, 2014 9:22 am

Gandlaf the Grey wrote:

The conversion has been done nicely but I don't think I would have chosen an Orc shield for the leader.
I would have thought something more formal or better still another sword ?

I wanted him to have a shield but be able to use it as an offensive weapon too...

Hill-Troll wrote:

They are able to ally with everyone except mordor, angmar and moria, so they can ally with more than just men...

Yeah they aren't too fussed on who they work with...my original idea was an evil grey company...but then I thought about making them a bit more neutral to be able to fight for anyone...bar the main orcs...no one likes orcs...bad for business by association ;D

SuicidalMarsbar wrote:

Me likey the fluff. Is the name inspired by the Blackwood Company from Oblivion?

Well I thought of the name first without realizing...must have been from my subconscious hehe

Lord of Winterfell · **Posted:** Sun Jan 12, 2014 9:34 am

Here is the second member to join the company!

- Originally Madril ,
- Given him a mace (for smashing in skulls)
- I never liked the 'Calling for a cab pose of the original so I've given him a torch/flame brand using part of the Weathertop Aragorn figure.

Frederickson, Blackwood Captain

Originally a ranger of Gondor, faced with growing conflict from Mordor and the lack of acknowledgement for his skills and prowess in Ithillian led him to seek higher fortunes, so he deserted. Acting as a mentor to young Hawkwood when he first joined the Company, he is now serving as Hawkwood’s right hand man. Frederickson is a ranger with many years of experience fighting throughout the lands of Middle Earth, often giving strategic advice to the Commander on night raids and learning about potential contracts.

Lord of Winterfell · **Posted:** Sun Jan 12, 2014 9:46 am

Next up...

- Originally Blackroot vale banner bearer,
- Taken away his sword swapped it with a ROR heavy axe.
- Removed his banner and given him a bow
- Added a quiver to his back (from the conversion kit)
- Added a two handed axe to his back
- Filed down his hood to look more...hoodish (the banner left a lot of excess metal)

Hood, Blackwood Sergeant (Man)

Hood is a young man in the company who is one of the most recent promotions to Sergeant, he is known only as ‘Hood’ due to the fact that he always conceals his face.

Originally he was an apprentice blacksmith in the Kingdom of Rohan, being trained in the arts of bow, sword and lance. One day he accidentally witnessed his master and one of his lackeys murdering someone….and when he tried to call for help he was rewarded by having his face thrust into the blacksmiths hearth, leaving horrendous, burned scars on his face. He managed to reach for the nearest axe, that he forged, and bury it in his masters neck to return the favour.

The other man ran out the room and cried bloody murder for the death of the blacksmith and the other man. He was just an apprentice, no one would listen to him, so with the pain fresh on his face, he pulled the axe out of his masters torso, and fled…seeking sanctuary with whoever would have him…

Lord of Winterfell · **Posted:** Sun Jan 12, 2014 12:41 pm

And whats an army without a banner to rally behind

Not finished yet but here is the banner bearer so far...

- Originally Faramir
- Replaced bow with different pose
- Given him a new banner arm from a KOMT as I did not have the origional arm (Banner is currently being designed)
- Replaced head with a plastic ranger head
- Replaced quiver/arrows.

Feedback welcome

warrior of the north · **Posted:** Sun Jan 12, 2014 2:41 pm

awesome, love it!!!

skipinnish · **Posted:** Sun Jan 12, 2014 3:58 pm

Loving this, keep up the good work. I'd love to see those burns on Hood's face coming through, difficult to fit in without it looking messy.

Gandlaf the Grey · **Posted:** Sun Jan 12, 2014 4:28 pm

They both look great. Painting next please.

Druzhag · **Posted:** Sun Jan 12, 2014 6:16 pm

i would like to see elves and dwarfs next as well, maybe some eastern men (harad,umbar,ruhn,khand etc.)as well. what type of coins are you using for their bases?

The Blackwood Company

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