STYGIAN CHARIOTS

Splendid models from Garrison, I really enjoyed making and painting these

Season's Greetings from shadow haunted Stygia.

STYGIAN ARCHERS

Some missile troops for the Stygians from Garrison miniatures. I like the little snake on the front of their helmets.My yacht varnish has started to dry yellowish which is mightily annoying, so I may have to re-paint these at some stage.

STYGIAN SPEARMEN

I'm not sure if Stygian infantry are described in detail in any of the Conan stories (Black Sphinx of Nebthu mentions cavalry, camelry and archers, but no descriptions of them), so here is an offering of Garrison Stygians . I think they should look a bit more Egyptian, but the helmets are rather fun, and round shields make a change.

Royal Armies of the Hyborian Age specify a Black Snake on green as the Stygian badge, so I opted for a turquoise green like faience . The orange trim will tie them in with some Set worshipers based on the followers of Thulsa Doom in the Conan film.

THOTH-AMON

Conan's arch enemy in the later pastiches by Carter, de Camp et al. the two never actually met in either of the two Howard stories that feature the Stygian wizard. He is generally described as a shaven headed giant, muscular and with 'dusky' skin,dressed in plain white, although in later pastiches his evil sorcery begins to take it's toll on his physique.

The first version here is from Garrison, and features Thoth-Amon carried on a litter. Although a lovely figure, I feel that the ascetic and austere Thoth-Amon would eschew such luxuries.

Next we have a perhaps more accurate depiction of the evil sorceror from the Minifigs SS range (I was after this figure for a very long time, and then David Wood (aka The Dozing Dragon) very kindly sent me one, so thanks Dave, he's painted at last. Accompanying the villain is the baboon like demon Thoth-Amon summons in the story "The Phoenix on the Sword" using his serpent ring 

"Blind your eyes mystic serpent

blind your eyes to the moonlight and open them on darker gulfs

What do you see O Serpent of Set?

Whom do you call from the Gulfs of the Night?

Whose Shadow falls on the waning light?

Call him to me O Serpent of Set!"

"...it's outline was not unlike that of a gigantic baboon, but no such baboon ever walked the earth."

For the baboon I used a plastic figure by Britains, so still old school , slightly converted with bigger teeth. I've painted the bases stone colour as they will be used in an urban or temple setting. 

I would also like to get hold of the Archive figure that depicts the comic book version of Thoth-Amon, with the curly horned head dress

the speech bubbles say it all.

CONAN OF THE MONTH NOVEMBER 2014

It's been a while, but here is a rather nice Conan figure from the Minifigs SS range. I painted him up for a desert theatre of war as we will be taking a look at the Stygians in the next post.

BOSSONIAN ARCHERS AND AQUILONIAN ARMY REVIEW

"...Bossonians from the westerm marches, strongly built men of medium stature in leathern jackets and iron head pieces."

Here we have the Aquilonian missile troops

The Aquilonian army as it stands so far. I will be doubling up the infantry I think as soon as the nice man at Garrison fires up his casting machine after the summer holidays.

GUNDERLAND PIKEMEN

Here are some more bold Aquilonian warriors, the Gunderland Pikemen.

Garrison figures as usual

as far as I remember they are described as having sober homespun clothing and plain steel helms and corselets. Royal Armies of the Hyborian Age also mentions  them as being fair haired, so I have given them blond beards too.