Byron's... umm *checks notes* Dark Elf Army... Guess that's what I'm doing

Hello there and welcome to Byron's .... Dark Elf? army for the OWAC. 

To explain the confusion, I had sculpted up an army of gnomes and had anticipated getting them in time for the challenge. However, due to various world-ending plague-related inevitabilities the gnomes are not in my hands in time to start the challenge. Such is life. 

However, I happen to have a drawer filled with appropriate old dark elves that will fit the bill. 

This also means that I have been caught a bit flat footed at the moment and don't have a color scheme lined up. So I have decided to throw myself at the mercy of the internet and have published a painting scheme survey that I will bind myself to for this challenge to make things tougher for myself. Please take the survey. :) I will close it when I start painting my elves for the challenge. 

Survey results to follow in January. 

I didn't really plan out this dark elf army. They are minis from good deals that I impulsively purchased, along with a few extras bought after the fact that were more thoughtful to make the army more interesting. The result is that the army is very shooty. 

Before we get into the brass tax of the armylist: my loose theming for the army is that I'd like them to represent a garrison at an ominously and evocatively named place like "Scorched Pass." Maybe the garrison is in the Old World, a small blockhouse to resupply raiders or collect tribute from nearby old-worlder settlements. Maybe it's in the New World to hold off the Armies of Slann that invariably march north to stem tide the Dark Elf raiders that row southward in increasing numbers. Near this outpost is an old dark elf barrow mound. This is the resting place of the previous warden of the pass. He, clearly, failed in his duty so he has been cursed to protect the pass for eternity. 

I have planned out some terrain to accompany my elves: a small blockhouse and a barrow mound. The blockhouse is meant to be small and in line with the low fantasy vibes of proper oldhammer buildings. So it isn't a smooth spikey spire of later Dark Elf artwork, but a proper timber and stone building. 

The blockhouse is small, only 12x10cm footprint

The garrison is made completely of cardboard, proper oldhammer craftsmanship. None of this newfangled printing or plastic building kits. Nosiree. 

Barrow mound, made of foam, rocks, plaster and sand.
The elf glyphs were found in the 4th ed Dark Elf army book. 

Side pic of the barrow to give a notion of its contours. 

Here is my armylist:

Picture of the whole lot

Characters

Elfy McElfFace, Warden of the Scorched Garrison- Dark Elf level 20 Hero with shield and light armor - 171 points

This is the 2nd edition Mengil Manhide Model

    
Helkate Kithbane, on sabbatical at Scorched Pass - Dark Elf level 15 wizard - 203 points

 This is a 3rd edition elf mage that has been converted to appear like a dark elf sorceress.

Rank and File Models

First Watch of Scorched Pass - Dark Elf Crossbowmen x10 - 130 points

    These are 3rd? edition monopose crossbowmen

Second Watch of Scorched Pass - Dark Elf Crossbowmen x10 -130 points

    These are 3rd? edition monopose crossbowmen

Elfy McElfFace's Slashers/Warriors of the Scorched Garrison - Dark Elf Warriors x14 including command - 176

 These are the 2nd edition Mengil Manhide Dark Elves
with a few similarly equipped oddballs thrown in. 

Repeating Bolt Thrower [sometimes I run out of fancy names] - 58 points

Chaotic Host

Harpies of Bleak Peak - Harpies x 5 - 75 points

 These are wargames foundry harpies. Maybe I need to make a small roost for them too??

   

Ethereal Host

The First Warden of Scorched Pass - Wight - 100 points

This is an old Night Horror Wight model that I will non-permanently convert to appear like an ancient dark elf. Right now he is steeping in a bath of paint remover. 

Final detail. I plan to use these old empire shields for my dark elves. I will file them smooth so they look like the old marauder dark elf shields. I might sculpt some designs upon them for good measure. 

  

Moving right along. I have agreed to sculpt a miniature as the offering for the competition. He is a snakeman based on artwork chosen by our gracious host.