Saturday 21 February 2015

Shén Prefer Pink!



Top: some sketches of potential additional Shén shield variants.
Bottom: some metal blanks cut from bits of scrap metal found in a drawer.

Last week, or rather, the week before, I sent off twenty shields to be molded and cast. Of those, four were variant Shén shields and one was a Vrayáni slinger's shield. The rest were generic fantasy shields. The sculptor charged me - IIRC - some $40US each for those shields; not much it seems, until work out that the total is $800US! Still not as bad as the Yán Koryáni head-swaps which were only £10 each; that total came closer to £800!

Anyway, while compiling the information about the various Shén mercenary units in my last post I was again faced with a rather large number of units. My initial intent was that the four variant shields - plus the existing design - should be sufficient to use for any Shén unit or warrior one might want. Typing out that information I began to think there might be a need for some more variants. Or if not a need exactly, maybe a "preference". Also I realized that there were additional weapons that are not accounted for: a mace, a battle axe and a short one-handed pole axe.

But I don't have the wherewithal to pay for more variants so my thinking is to try an make them myself.

I started with some sketches - see the top picture above. It should be noted that there is a canon shield design that was not part of the initial commission. That is a sort of hooked shield which otherwise is triangular in shape. At the time I think it was thought the shape might be too hard to make. The other day, however, I stumbled upon the curved metal bit shown in the second picture. It's used in picture framing to hold the picture in place within the frame. A bit from the back of an old Dell computer supplied some metal as well. :-)

As far as weapons go, my thinking is either to do it completely from scratch or make use of the existing weapons to use as blanks. The Ahoggyá mace, for example. I did a bit of cutting and drilling today. Tomorrow I'm going to try my hand with the greenstuff. Not that I've actually done this before or anything like that. :-)

But what's this about Shén preferring pink? Actually a tiny bit misleading, but catchy I thought. While doing my research I happened to glance at the painting guide in the back of the Shén army book. I hadn't really given it much of a look over before as I have always been more interested in the mercenary units and they are all listed in the army book for the nation they serve. Looking at the list I quickly noticed that some of the armour, kilt or trim colours were listed as "pink". Also some of the shields have pink on them. I like it! The Prussian army of the 1700's had several units with pink trousers and vests, as did the Hessians. They make for a very nice looking unit, especially with the dark blue uniform coats. The Shén, with their gleaming black scales, could look quite nice in pink!




Saturday 14 February 2015

The Shén - on sale now!



Painted by Shadowking


Painted by Akársh




Lord Freshsháyu hiTurukén

All our Shén figures are currently on sale:

60% off to Tékumel Club members;
50% off to non-members.

The Shén serve as mercenaries in all of the Five Empires. The unit details are shown below, taken from published sources. The current shield design is based upon an illustration of a Shén in Salarvyáni service at the Battle of Rý. The shield variants are an attempt to accommodate the somewhat vague descriptions given for the other legions. The current shield design can, of course, still be used in many cases if desired. Only a few actually specify "round" shields, for example, and most are not illustrated.

Shén in the service of Tsolyánu:

The Splendour of Shényu; 4th Imperial Shén Auxiliary Heavy Infantry
Kérdu: Mrgág Ss-shrsá;
Based: Béy Sý, now mostly in the West;
Arms: Shén axe-swords, shields*, heavy halberds, full armour, crossbow pistols (2 cohorts);
Strength: 18 cohorts;
Notes: Most Shén who come to Tsolyánu to make money join this legion and serve for varying periods.
 * accompanying illustration shows shield variant: Tek-35a.

The Legion of Gr-gá the Egg Layer; 5th Imperial Shén Auxiliary Heavy Infantry
Kérdu: Gr-gá, Noble of Shényu;
Based: Khirgár;
Arms: Shén axe-swords, shields*, heavy halberds, full armour, crossbow pistols (2 cohorts);
Strength: 12 cohorts;
Notes: This legion was started recently by an up-start Shén rebel who had to flee Shényu. Other Shén legions refuse to fight beside it. It has attracted very tough troops, however.
 * accompanying illustration shows shield variant: Tek-35a.

The Legion of the City of Chrí; 7th Imperial Shén Auxiliary Heavy Infantry
Kérdu: Lord Freshsháyu hiTurukén, a human officer;
Based: Úrmish, but now posted to Thri’íl;
Arms: Pikes, long swords, large shields, heavy armour, crossbow pistols (3 cohorts);
Strength: 7 cohorts, one in training in Úrmish;
Notes: This legion was started by a rich noble who likes the Shén and even dresses in armour which is made to resemble a Shén. The Shén tolerate him. A mediocre and undependable legion.

The Horde of Hŕk-ss, the Eater of Eggs; 9th Imperial Shén Auxiliary Heavy Infantry
Kérdu: Hŕk-ss, a Shén from Xáx;
Based: Sokátis;
Arms: Long spears, maces, large round shields, heavy armour, crossbow pistols (4 cohorts);
Strength: 13 cohorts.
Notes: A Shén mercenary band which has settled in the Empire and which now serves the Imperium.

Shén in the service of Yán Kór:

Baron Áld has been gathering mercenaries for some time secretly. These were recruited via Mu’ugalavyá.

The Horde of the Egg-Eaters of Ss-kü
Ochür: ?  Ss-kü?
Based: Yán Kór City;
Arms: Shén axe-swords, shields, heavy armour, heavy long spears, some crossbow pistols;
Strength: 4000;
Notes: The commander is a Shén mercenary who has seen service in several human wars and armies.

The Victors of Rá
Ochür: Hsú Ssí;
Based: Ke’ér;
Arms: Shén axe-swords, shields, heavy armour, heavy long spears;
Strength: 3000;
Notes: Another Shén mercenary legion but one from an Egg Group which is hostile to the Egg-Eaters of Ss-kü.

Shén in the service of Mu’ugalavyá:

Information upon the deployment of Mu'ugalavyáni forces can be found here:


The Legions of the First Palace

Legion XI: "Pride of Xáx"
Hakkúmish: Ss-qâ Hs;
Based: Technically at Ssa'átis, but now with Legion VI, "Exhalted Flame" of the Third Palace;
Arms: Shén axe-swords, large shields, heavy armour, heavy halberds, some crossbow pistols;
Strength: 4000;
Notes: This legion is raised from the "Nest of Xáx" and is composed entirely of Shén from that region. 

The Legions of the Second Palace

Legion XIII: "Egg-Destroyers"
Hakkúmish: Grg-Msâ Sh'r`r, Prince of Mmatugúal;
Based: Technically at Ssa'átis, but now with Legion IV, "Rise to Strike" of the Second Palace;
Arms: Shén axe-swords, large shields, heavy armour, one-handed battleaxes, some crossbow pistols;
Strength: 5000;
Notes: This is an excellent unit, officered by a fierce princeling of the Shén enclave of Mmatugúal. 

The Legions of the Third Palace

Legion IX: "Iridescent Egg"
Hakkúmish: Fr-Ssâ-Chì;
Based: Technically at Ssa'átis, but now with Legion II, "Ornament of the Empire" of the Third Palace, near Ch'óchi;
Arms: Shén axe-swords, medium shields, heavy armour, short one-handed pole-axes, some crossbow pistols;
Strength: 3000;
Notes: These troops are maintained by Lord Ka'élish Krá as part of his entourage. Most of these Shén are from Shényu itself and are thus excellent warriors. 

The Legions of the Fourth Palace

Legion XI: "Head-Breaker"
Hakkúmish: Dr-Ss-Hrrá;
Based: Ssa'átis;
Arms: Shén axe-swords, medium shields, heavy armour, short one-handed pole-axes, some crossbow pistols;
Strength: 5000;
Notes: This legion is under the personal command of a collegue of Prince Herekúnish Ketláino. It operates as an auxiliary to Legion IV, "The Maroon Battalion" of Mighty Ssa'átis

Shén in the service of Salarvyá:

to follow...