Sunday, March 13, 2016

'Risk Taker' from SidneyR - 'The Flemish Cavalier'


One character we’ve encountered on previous themed rounds has been the Flemish cavalier, Antoine de Gautier, one of the young noblemen of the Flanders town of Laarden. He’s an impulsive, rash, proud and headstrong professional soldier whose military service has already taken him campaigning across the Europe of the 1680s. He’s sold his sword and pike across Germany, The Empire, the Northern Crowns, as well to his native Flanders and home town of Laarden. 


He has served mainly as a gentleman volunteer and aide-de-camp, becoming a very accomplished swordsman. He has been taught in the Spanish-influenced sword-style of Flanders, but has also studied hard during his travels to hone his skills in in the fighting schools of Germany and Eastern Europe. However, he has become over-confident – mainly as a result of numerous successful duels (caused by a variety of arguments mainly regarding women, gambling debts and politics). Swollen with the rashness of youth, he has taken to fighting with a wooden dueling sword, deeming all but the most skillful opponents worthy of his fine Spanish steel blade. He dresses ostentatiously, wearing the most fashionable clothes, a ludicrous wig and remarkable hat, complete with ostrich feathers.


We see him here in two characteristic poses. First, preparing himself for an opponent in the back-streets or Grote Markt of his native Laarden. Saluting with his wooden dueling sword (and clearly already having deemed his opponent unworthy of the contest), he is oblivious to the preening cockerel parading before him.



And we also see him on the field of battle, risking all in a typically dramatic and ill-considered charge. He is accompanied by his war hound, Ares, and two retainers from one of the Laarden civic companies of Horse, both dressed slightly more soberly than their lavishly dressed commander. As ever, Antoine is taking a huge risk – living by his wits and his (wooden) sword blade, like any true risk-taker or gambler.


***


In this last themed round, I wanted to add another character vignette set in 1688 and the fictional town of Laarden. I chose the young Flemish cavalier who has already featured in themed rounds 2 and 4 (having his portrait painted along with the Laarden Militia in theme round 2, and declaring his love and a proposal of marriage to Mademoiselle Brochet in theme round 4).

I decided to build out his life-story a little more, giving some context before his rash gamble in battle, attacking his enemies with a frontal charge, armed only with a wooden dueling sword.


In town and in the field, Antoine still wears the outlandish ochre-yellow clothes he was seen in during rounds 2 and 4. In his dueling pose, I’ve tried to recreate his “fashionable” wig from round 4, and also added a wedding ring to his right hand – a sign that Mademoiselle Brochet has melted to the young cavalier’s charms. I thought a preening cockerel (one of the many chickens of Laarden seen in themed rounds 1,2 and 4) parading around his feet was a suitable nod to the arrogance of the young popinjay. 





 The wooden sword was an idea shamelessly stolen from the Syrio Forel method of swordsmanship (for all you “Game of Thrones” fans). A couple of arm swaps (with some old Mordheim plastic swords) gave both figures a weapons downgrade, and I added lots of putty for extra feathers, cuffs, hats and wigs.


For the battlefield mounted version, I’ve given Antoine’s dog, Ares (previously seen in themed round 4), a larger bow – perhaps Mademoiselle Brochet tied it on Ares before Antoine’s departure for battle? The mounted cornet and kettle-drummer each display the Laarden coat of arms, a Pelican, on the trumpet banner and pistol holsters, and the colours of the Laarden contingent deliberately echo the yellow and pale blue civic colours of Laarden’s coat of arms.

34 comments:

  1. what great fun. And superb brushwork to boot.

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  2. Great stuff! As I recall Miyamoto Musashi aslso fought atleast one duel using a wooden sword too.

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    1. Thanks Adam - and a great historical fact! I wish I had known that before I posted! Awesome!

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  3. Wow! That is really something! Great work, Sidney, and I love the story arc you've built up around the events of 1688.

    Well done!

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    1. Thanks Evan! It's been fun, delving into the 1680s. I blame Ray..... ;)

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  4. Incredible submission again, Mr. Roundwood. The colours are incredible - and I'm loving the setting as well. Great work.

    What dog wouldn't want a larger bow, right?

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    1. Indeed, Greg. I did need to restrain myself on the bows ;)

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  5. More gorgeousness Fantastic paint job and well rounded suitably raffish hero

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  6. Outstanding work again Sidney :)

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  7. Lovely, lovely work Sid! I am so happy to see Antoine back on the Challenge, and glad to hear that he has some martial skills. I was afraid that he was strictly ornamental and non-functional. And again with the chickens!

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    1. He has "some" martial skills - but maybe not as many as he thinks! He is more ornamental, I suspect. At least his couturier is happy about that. I've enjoyed adding the chickens, I confess!

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  8. Wonderful vignettes Sidney! I love the cockerel parading at his feet!

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    1. Thanks so much! I thought the cockerel would be fun. A suitable "second"!

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  9. Lovely brushwork Sidney! Another corker.

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  10. Aha, wonderful! What a character

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    1. You're welcome, Phil. And who knows, possibly coming to a gaming event near you later this year...... (drum-roll)

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  11. Stunning work Sidney! I feel as if Antoine is another member of the Challenge (and his hair/wig could serve as another!). I love him with his wooden sword and cockrel 'second'. Lovely stuff.

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    1. Antoine would be DELIGHTED to know that his wig has achieved such notoriety. And maybe, just maybe, there might be one last outing for him this Challenge...

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  12. Superb! Love the wooden sword!

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  13. Staggeringly good and there was a chicken - I am replete!

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    1. Thank goodness for the "Warbases" chickens pack. I've had the Warbases casters hard at work the pat few weeks, I don't mind saying...;)

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  14. Another brilliant theme round entry Sir!

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  15. Great job, Sidney! I've really enjoyed all tour vignettes and this brave fellow with the wooden sword is a great addition to them! ;)

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