What would the Warward wear?

[Rob Parasol]

Hi,

I am new here (although a Donaldson fan for nearly 30 years).
I just have one question maybe some of you can help me with.
For quite some time, I have been working on making small scale models of creatures, peoples and characters from the Thomas Covenant novels- perhaps with a view to doing an Illearth War wargame!
I am planning to make some Warward figures and I thought I would just check a few details of appearence and equipment with you lot.
The descriptions in Lord Fouls Bane are very good- black sleeveless shirts and black leggings / trousers tucked into boots, breastplates of yellow metal and a yellow band around the head. I seem to recall they were armed with short swords and bows.
Am I missing anything? I am fairly sure that there are no mentions of them using spears in addition to other weapons but are there any references anyone can point to, to soldiers of the Warward using shields?
And what about cloaks? I have a mental image of grey woollen cloaks but is there anything in any of the books to back this up?

Any help in fleshing out this picture would be very welcome!

Rob

[High Lord Tolkien]

I always pictured them dressed similar to the ancient Greeks (minus the crazy ornamental helmets, just normal ones).

[Menolly]

Be welcome the the Watch, Rob. Be Well Come and True.

[Relayer]

Yes, welcome Rob. Be sure to head over to the Summonsing forum to introduce yourself.

I'm sure lots of us would love to see some pics of your work, if you're willing to share.

[AjK]

Yes, welcome Rob. Be sure to head over to the Summonsing forum to introduce yourself.

I'm sure lots of us would love to see some pics of your work, if you're willing to share.

I certainly second that, Rob. Welcome! Glad to have you with us...

Andy

[wayfriend]

Hey, Rob.

I thought that the warward uniform included a diagonal black slash across the chest.

This individual was dressed like a warrior, with high, soft-soled boots over black leggings, a black sleeveless shirt under a breastplate molded of a yellow metal, and a yellow headband; but on his breastplate were the double black diagonal marks which distinguished him as the Warmark, the commander of the Wayward, the Lords' army.

...

Only one piece of his apparel was intact. He wore a scarred metal breastplate, yellow under the filth, with one black diagonal insignia across it.

"By the Seven!" Lord Shetra said. "A Warhaft!"

[ninjaboy]

When you make your figures, remember that half are Stonedownors and some are from the Woodhelvinnin. But good on ya! I'm thinking there may have been a mention of spears in the Illearth War, when they're near Doom's Retreat. But then again, I may be wrong. But primarily swords and bows.

[Rob Parasol]

Hi, Wayfriend,
Yes, double diagonal black slashes for the Warmark and, I think, single diagonals for Hafts.

If i ever manage to create something half decent i'll post some pics.

Rob

[Blackhawk]

when you say small scale models do you mean actual "Action Figures or figurines"? say chess pieces even?

Lord foul
Thomas Covenant Or Mhoram = Kings

Elena (fouls army)
Linden = Queens

Ravers
Gravelingas/Hibrand = Bishops

Kresh with Riding urviles
Hile Troy/Quan on Ranyhyn = Knights

Fouls Creche
Revelstone = Rooks

Cavewights/Urviles
Soldiers/Waynhim = Pawns


Im looking forward to seeing what you're making , and welcome to the watch also

[Ur Dead]

I always imagined the Warward wearing cloths fit for fighting. Can't believe they wear tutus and g-strings.

Maybe pantyloon might be acceptable, but not on battle days.

[CovenantJr]

I always pictured them dressed similar to the ancient Greeks (minus the crazy ornamental helmets, just normal ones).

Me too.

[Rob Parasol]

Many thanks for all the replies to this.

I tend to make figures in an approximate 25mm scale (ie an ordinary human would be 25mm tall) and I usually do this by converting commercially available gaming figures etc.

It would be interesting to use these in a chess game - I bet we could wrangle for weeks over what piece each character represents though!

Ancient greeks for Warward? I can't really see that myself (beyond the bronze breast plates).

Hopefully, when i have made sufficient figures I will post photos somewhere- perhaps recreating scenes from the books in miniature.

I have made, so far, four Lords (not particular characters though), eight Cavewights (which still need a bit of work doing to them) and a Griffin (an easy conversion of a toy plastic lion onto which I glued eagles wings from another toy!
I have a large number of suitable wolves which I will paint yellow for Kresh and I have one or two figures which can become Bloodguard with minimal work.
Ur-viles, of course, present a major challenge as i can't find anything which resemble them, to my mind. It might be easier if they were clothed but I am pretty sure that in all the books the ur-viles are naked.

[Blackhawk]

Ur-viles, of course, present a major challenge as i can't find anything which resemble them, to my mind. It might be easier if they were clothed but I am pretty sure that in all the books the ur-viles are naked.

you might try to get one of the area 51 alien bodies for an Urvile, if they have made such a toy...replace the Eyes with Nostrils or replace the head alltogether, not sure with what though...maybe the Green Goblin from spiderman.. use his head with the eyes melted out to resemble gaping nostrils. of course painted black. not sure if thats your image of an urvile though.

[Rocksister]

Welcome, Rob. This group you have joined includes some really smart cookies; you're going to love it here. As far as what you are making, 25mm is kind of small; must be really hard to work with. That's just about an inch, so the eyes and such are tiny. Kudos to you for being able to work in such fine detail. If you look at the top of this page, you will see a link to the Album. Pictures can be posted in there. There is a Laborium that has pix in it, and some of the posters here have massive talent and have put some awesome stuff in these places, a lot of it which has been finalized with comments from other posters. So put your figures' pix out here and we'll look at them and give you some more info as we find it in the book. We are all, I think, constantly re-reading them. I personally read them at least once a year. Yes, every one of them. I have a disease......

[Cail]

What would the Warward wear?

Something fabulous.

[Blackhawk]

What would the Warward wear?

Something fabulous.

[Rocksister]

As to the question, mention of black tunics and gold breastplates is mentioned, but for the rest of it, I'd say leggings of some soft, stretchy material and maybe gloves with long gauntlets made of very soft but strong leather or suede. Boots, same material. Head gear, not sure. For battle, surely the same gold metal would be on their heads. I'm seeing something like LOTR Rohan stuff or something. The tunics were sleeveless, right? Doesn't sound practical for fighting, but these scenes were not battle scenes where the clothing is described. I supposed you can use your imagination. I see Middle Ages or Viking type stuff myself.

[Rob Parasol]

Thanks for the link to the photo albums.

I just painted up the first 8 of my Warward figs today- in traditional black and gold garb.
Another 12 troopers and a Warhaft to go and then I will post up piccies of my first Eoman- possibly in action against a wedge of Kresh mounted ur-viles.

[danlo]

awesome! can't wait!!

[Rocksister]

Anxious to see it, RP. I never get tired of this stuff.....