Prologue - The Prophecy
The cave was damp and smoky, its walls covered with green fungus. Three goblin shamans squabbled around a bubbling cauldron, their crooked staffs clacking as they stirred the vile brew.
“Oi, stop shovin’! I wuz stirrin’ first!” snapped Snaggletooth, the runtiest of the trio.
“Shut yer gob!” snarled Snotwort, his eyes bulging. “I ain't got time fer snivellin’ grots like you!”
“Shut it da both o’ ya!” added Grotilda, the oldest and meanest, jabbing Snotwort with her staff.
The cauldron bubbled violently, and all three shamans fell silent, wide-eyed. The green smoke rising from the pot coiled into the shape of a serpent and a deep, cold voice filled the cave.
“Lisssten…” the Wyrm hissed, its words slithering into the shamans’ ears. “Karak Ssskarsssong lies fat with gold, weapons, and meat for the taking. But it will not fall to jusst any brute. No, no... a chosen one is needed…”
The shamans shuddered as the Wyrm’s smoke shifted.
“Find Rugluk Backssstabba,” it whispered, each syllable drawn out like a blade dragging across stone. “He isss the one with fangsss sharp enough to tear down the dwarfss... the one who will bash their gatess, take their treasures, and feast on their ruinsss.”
The Wyrm’s voice deepened.
“But beware…” it hissed, the smoke curling into a dark spiral. “Even the mightiessst fangsss can break when they bite too hard...”
---
Rugluk Backstabba lounged on a pile of bones, sharpening his blade, when a scrawny messenger skidded to a halt.
“Boss! Da shamans sez you’re da chosen one! Da Wyrm picked ya ter bash da dwarfs!”
Rugluk grinned. “Chosen, eh? Bout time someone saw wot's wot! But tell ‘em if dere’s no shinies, dey feels it in dere hides!”
'Ere we go again! OWAC VIII is upon us and the frantic painting is about to start. I've dreamed of painting a horde of orks for some time now and really can't wait to start. However, as I'm sure you agree, there's way more here than I can finish in a single season. The plan is to accomplish painting these in the next two to three seasons.
The Orc and Goblin horde of Rugluk Backstabba
The theme of this project is a besieging horde. This is seen primarily in the large amount of war machines and big guys. My purpose is to delve into Warhammer Siege during this season as a side project.
The exact unit composition will probably vary slightly but I start with the guideline below. Points for gear is not included yet. (Except for the x-bows for some reason.) The army standard bearer is with the Spike-Can Commandos in the pictures.
The list above is subject to minor changes as there might be some small mistakes there. I'm not at home when I'm writing this and had to count the models from the pictures. Also, I'm still waiting for some reinforcements that didn't make it before the start of the season. The missing models contain savage arrers, gobbo wolf boyz, gruntas and some broken orcs to make standard bearers from.
Tom kindly gave me lots of reinforcements to the ranks of Grom's Goblin Guard. Painting these guys is a priority.
Finally and most importantly, I wish all the challengers the best of luck! Let's make season VII, the OCHO, a season to remember.
See you next month with the first painted figures!
