Firewalkers Tribe - news and models

Well, after waiting almost a week, my new ogres are here - sort of.  I was hoping to get the majority of my army today, but all I got was a box of Mournfangs.  That's OK, instead of starting with relatively easy Ogres, I'm going to jump right in and start some of the conversions I've been dreaming about for these monster-riding monsters!

First though, some information and history behind the tribe.

-   The ancestors of the Firewalker tribe settled in their current location ~120 years ago.  A small tribe, they mostly survived by staying under the attention of the larger groups of ogres in the area and raiding the thinlings that always seemed to be around – especially greenskins and man-rats.  Roughly 30 years ago, a Slaughtermaster named Sacius Bloodgreed gained a lot of influence in the tribe and over its current Tyrant.  Desiring more power and flesh, Sacius convinced the Tyrant of his superiority and began to lead raids against neighboring Ogre tribes, retreating to the hidden box canyon where the tribe lived when they were pursued.
Soon after the tribe’s rampant raiding began, a wandering Firebelly followed his gut to a dormant volcano and found the tribe, and in the tribe he found Kordich Fellhammer, a mighty Irongut with a fascination for fire and a pyrotechnic streak a lava flow wide.  The Firebelly, named Kraeger Flametongue, took the fledgling arsonist under his tutelage, showing him the wonder of the fire and teaching him of the mighty volcano god, Fire Mouth.
One day, though, Sacius was not quick enough, or maybe he had just become too greedy, but the pursuing Ogres caught Sacius and most of the Ogres of the tribe just as they entered their home.  The ensuing fight was epic in its proportions, and devastating to the small tribe.  Filled with anger at both his Tyrant and the arrogant Slaughtermaster, Kordich Fellhammer bellowed his challenge to both of the leaders that had led to this state of extinction.  Slamming his great obsidian hammer into the ground over and over, the berserk ogre caused a rumble all the way up the mountain behind the canyon.
This mountain was a long dormant volcano, and the ripples of the mighty Kordich’s ground-pounding, Kraeger’s fiery spells and prayers, and the combined pressures building up in its belly caused a massive eruption – flinging magma, rock, and ash in every direction.  The invading force of Ogres was caught completely unaware and was overwhelmed in the lava flow.  Kordich was seen walking on top of the lava crest, so angry and berserk he didn’t even feel his feet burning as he charged into Sacius, slaying him with one blow.  Raising the severed head of the Slaughtermaster, now covered and dripping with lava, Kordich pledged himself to the Fire Mouth, withdrawing his allegiance to that which had almost killed his tribe – the Great Maw – and ate the head of Sacius, lava and all, as a sign of his dedication.
The old Tyrant was never found, and the remains of the tribe feasted for a week on cooked Ogre and spitted Gnoblar.  Kordich was elevated to Tyrant over the tribe and the rituals of Firewalking and Lavacrunching were established to ensure that only the strongest and mightiest Ogres would survive in his tribe.  Kraeger dubbed the now active volcano Mt. Godfire, sure it was an extension of the might Fire Mouth to the southeast.
The raids against neighboring Ogre strongholds hardly slowed, but now with Kordich at the front and the mighty Mt. Godfire at his back, the ranks of the Firebelly tribe have swollen with new warriors, cooked meat, and mighty monsters.

-   Appearance: After decades of living close to the volcano the tribe knows as Mt. Godfire, the Firewalkers’ skin has  become dark grey, reminiscent of old ash.  More and more since the long dormant volcano’s eruption, the hair of the tribe has been a fiery orange.  Tattoos are rare, and each has specific meaning amongst the tribe and has to be earned before being applied by one of the Firebellies.

-   Distinctions: Ironguts gain their position in the tribe formally, by participating in Lavacrunching ritual.  Upon reaching adulthood, all male (and even some female) ogres must participate in the Firewalking ritual.  Failure results in expulsion from the tribe, becoming enslaved, or worse.  Giant beasts are greatly prized, but no Thundertusk has served the Firewalkers in recent memory, being unable to stand the heat of the volcano.  Mournfang cavalry have completed the Lavacrunshing ritual, and then subdued their mighty mounts.

-   Firewalking/”Flaming Foot”: The Firewalking ceremony is the process by which members of the Firewalker tribe become warriors.  All adult males (females are optional) participate in it upon reaching 16 years.  The ceremony consists of bed of obsidian twice the height of an ogre wide being filled with lava.  All prospective warriors must then walk across the lava to the other side.  Failure typically means death, but occasionally entrants back out, or return to the starting point, or in some other way survive their failure.  These failures, no longer known as ogres, become slaves and beasts of burden to the tribe.

Members who successfully complete the ritual are then branded with the symbol of a flaming foot, tattooed with red and orange, and transition into the warrior ranks of the tribe, gaining in power, prestige, and feast position.

-   Lavacrunching/”Fireball”: If a warrior feels so inclined, and desires the highest positions in the tribe, he may attempt to become one of the tribe’s Ironguts.  This is accomplished by a great ceremony performed by the Firebellies, by which a ball of lava the size of an ogre’s head is lifted in the air and the crust allowed to cool.  The hardened ball is then given to the aspirant who bites down, crushing the rock and releasing the molten core into his body.  If he survives, he is sent into the heart of Mt. Godfire to an obsidian flow where he breaks off a chunk of the black rock to be used as his weapon.  Returning to the Firebellies, his weapon is created and infused with the power of the volcano and he is marked with the symbol of the fireball.  The feasting then begins.

If the aspirant does not survive the crunching of the lava ball, the feasting begins sooner.

-   Kordich Fire-eater - Tyrant: Loud, brazen and fascinated by the destructive power of fire, Kordich has been the Tyrant of the Firewalker tribe (even renaming it) since the pivotal battle and subsequent conversion 20 years ago.  His arrogant and heavy-handed tactics have led to many victories over smaller prey, and he is ready to move up in the world around him.
-   Kraeger Flametongue - Firebelly: Coming across the Firewalker tribe just before the devastating eruption of Mt. Godfire, Kraeger has easily and fittingly slipped into the role of head advisor to Kordich.  The ancient firebelly has roamed for many years, and finding a tribe of ogres who worshipped flame as he did was too much for his wanderlust, and he has stayed with the tribe ever since.
-   Jaegumn Blacktooth - Firebelly: Relatively new to the area, Jaegumn is gathering his power to challenge the ancient Kraeger for domination in the fire worshipping tribe.  This eventual betrayal can only help Kordich, and the tyrant is quietly playing both sides of the burning feud.
-   Mawsha Flamerazer - Bruiser: An anomaly in ogre society, the ogress who carries the banner of the Firewalkers is every bit as dangerous and powerful as the Ironguts she leads.  The consort of Kordich, she has proved her worth on the battlefield numerous times, as well as birthing mighty sons increase Kordich’s power.
-   Democ Beastmaster - Hunter: Only loosely associated with the Firewalker tribe, Democ left the restrictiveness of a Tyrant’s rule soon after his firewalking ceremony.  Surviving on the upper slopes of the surrounding peaks, Democ has gathered a small pride of sabretusks as loyal allies.  He returns every few months with some large kill, furthering his reputation as a premier hunter and taking his reward in Dwarf flesh, which he loves and rarely finds on his own.
-   Karnaj Hammerguts - Butcher: Karnaj was apprentice to Sacius Bloodgreed, the Slaughtermaster of the tribe before its conversion.  His standing has taken a tremendous blow with the tribe’s conversion away from the Great Maw, but he still prepares and officiates at the great feasts, even as he schemes for ways to displace the prominence of the tribe’s Firebellies.

Loving the fluff 
Cant wait to see pics!

Well, after working all afternoon, I've realized a few things:
- My imagination definitely is bigger than my skill
- I'm really bad at sculpting, even easy things like fur
- Ogres are a lot of fun to put together - dang that's a lot of bits
- This is going to be a really cool army!

So, I finished putting together my first two Mournfangs (just the cats, no Ogres yet).  They are going to be the leaders of my Mournfang units (not champions, just the centerpiece).  I probably will do more standard assembly for the other guys, we'll see.  They were inspired by this model by anvalous:


And to give complete credit, he has an awesome Gnoblog that was very inspiring, if just to help me think I could convert a complete OK army.

Without further stalling, Mournfang leader A:


Mournfang leader B:


And the two leaders together:


Where you can see black on the bases will be covered in hot glue and painted to look like lava.

Comments/critiques welcome - anything I can do to get better will be much appreciated.

I know it would be REALLY hard to do but this tribe should be barefoot.

Ugh, it took me all day, but the Mournfangs are finished.  I'm letting the putty dry before taking pictures, so I will get those up tomorrow.  But man, it was a chore.  All four arms were repositioned and puttying, had to sculpt muscles and chainmail, and I now have a major headache.

But dang, I have to admit they look really cool!

OK, as promised last night, here's pics of the two finished (assembled) Mournfang cavalry:

Mournfang leader A:


I tried to position his arms and his body (more his arms) as if he had just rocked backed from the Mournfang starting his leap forward (the whiplash effect if you've ever been on a jump animal).  It's .... close.

Mournfang leader B:


He's supposed to be slightly off balance, since his beast just took a big step down and probably rocked to the side.  His arms are positioning to help him maintain balance, and as the Mournfang re-centers, he will catch himself.  Again, it's ... close.

But hey, at least I tried something new, and who knows, maybe after painting them they will look more like I envisioned.  And don't get me wrong, I am happy with them.  I just wish my skill was up to my imagination.

Oh, and just to be clear, I'm worse at sculpting muscles than I am at sculpting fur, which I'm not very good at. 

Got the rest of the army today, except the Stonehorn.  Oh, man that's a lot of Ogres.  It's going to be fun getting everything ready to go and stomp some nasties.  I've been dealing with a migraine the last couple of days, so progress has been zilch.  But I do have the first Mournfang almost painted.  Some highlights here and there and a little bit of metal work, and it's time to move on to the rider.  Should have pics up tomorrow.

OK, he took longer to finish than I expected.  Here's finished pics of the first Mournfang leader:

Mournfang Leader B

Whew, first unit is complete - five ironguts w/ musician and standard bearer, with the attached Firebelly.  All of the bases fit together so it seems like lava is flowing between the models.  I think it will look cool once I get them painted.  Priming tonight, should be able to start painting tomorrow.