Reaper Bones #9 - Elliwyn Heatherlark, Gnome Bard

In a couple of weeks I'm going to be getting both my first taste of D&D 5e (can't wait) and visiting the classic 80s module Isle of Dread for the very first time.  

American readers may find it surprising that as I'm a 40-year-old virgin when it comes to most D&D modules and I've opined on this cultural peculiarity several times.

When GMing I like the PCs to be a good spread of classes to ensure that every player has at least one set of abilities or skills to ensure they feel engaged.  I'm probably holding a minority opinion here, but my example is always that of The A-Team.  Face had his charisma, B.A. his Strength and Engineering skills, Murdoch was the pilot and Hannibal the brains of the outfit.

However, when playing I prefer a challenge.  I let the dice decide the big stuff and I use my imagination to fill in the subtle details.  My GM accommodated my predelictions and I ended up with a female gnome barbarian with a severe Napoleon Complex.  She's going to be the sort of girl who picks fights in the roughest inns with the biggest guys just to prove that she's not a damsel in distress.  I still have to figure out who she's trying to prove it to...

Elliwyn Heatherlark, Gnome Bard (Derek Schubert SKU: 77164)

Luckily Reaper Bones came to the rescue with a suitable mini, even though she's listed as a Bard, she's not carrying the defacto lute or mandolin and can easily stand in for a plethora of fighter stereotypes.

Main colours blocked out

My painting style starts with a black base coat (usually sprayed on) and then I block out the main colours starting with the face.  I'm making her some kind of forest gnome so her palette reflects summer and autumn of reds, browns and greens. 

My theory is that she gathers fresh local foliage every day to camoflague her shield and clothing much like snipers and she paints her skin and dyes her hair to blend in with the forest just like the hunters in Apocalypto.

Windsor & Newton Matte Varnish... not so matte, but she's well protected

Then it's just a case of adding midtones and highlights to finish her off.  All-in-all about an hours work spread over a few days between filling out job applications and talking to recruitment agents.

I hope to be blogging regular gameplay updates of her progress through the game and my thoughts on 5e, so stay tuned.

Bones Progress 

Reaper Bones: 245 - Painted: 35

Related Posts:

Reaper Bones #1: The Marathon Begins - Where I paint a dozen Giant Rats

Reaper Bones #2: Kobolds, Are They Dogs or Dragons? - Where I paint a dozen kobolds. 

Reaper Bones #3: A Carcase of Skeletons - Where I paint a half dozen skeletons

Reaper Bones #4: A Shuffle of Zombies - Where I paint five zombies.

Reaper Bones #5: Introducing Shaina Coppervein, Dwarven Orc Hunter - First PC mini

Reaper Bones #6: Mimic, Treasure Chest and How I re-base my Bones - Where I paint furniture

Reaper Bones #7: Fire Elemental Meets Novelty Lamp - Where I hack a mini with LEDs

Reaper Bones #8: Flaming Sphere LED Tealight Hack - Another mini LED lighting project