The Second Veruzian War

 Ten years to the day.

Our timeline of events in this chapter is as follows:

EVENT	DATE(REAL)	DATE (ROBERTS)	HISTORY PARALLEL
Holodeck built	December 28th, 2015:	2/5/1866	Oil Production Boom
Rohan annexed	December 30th, 2015:	6/29/1866	Austro-Prussian War
Cold War Alliance Building Superweapon construction	December 31, 2015: Through January 28, 2016:	9/9/1866	Palmerston Forts, Ironclads, Progress!
VE War 2 Start BE-XE-13 VS VE Elves Neutral	January 24th, 2016: (Approximate)	~3/17/1872	Franco-Prussian War
VE War 2 End (PROVISIONAL) VER (Republic form) Founded	February 1st, 2016: (Surrender BE on 31, XE on 1) (Approximate)	~5/23/1873	Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878) Treaty of Berlin (1878)

01-23-2016: View of Xenon Tower

THE VERUZIAN COLD WAR:

The Second Veruzian war was born in the annexation of the Rohan. The people of Rohan were another local population of the island of Veruzia, focused around the middle of the island. They bore a notable resemblance to the Rohan of Tolkien’s world, who themselves were modelled after the pre-Norman Saxons of Britain. While not impossible that a similar German Visigoth-influenced group could have settled Veruzia at some point, it is more likely that the Rohan of Veruzia were closer linguistically to the Morlachs or Vlachs of the Balkans. These were Romanian-speaking peoples living outside of Romania, often in a rural and pastoralist mode of living. This pastoralist lifestyle encouraged a riding culture and martial proficiency similar to that seen by Tolkien’s Rohan, though other aspects remain unlinked. The Rohan could also be connected to the Rohan noble family of Brittany, or improbably linked to the followers of Adam de Rohan. The latter was an Adamite leader of the Hussite wars who preached a variant of Christianity which reportedly encouraged free love, nudity, and a sharing of property. In either case, the Rohan were an officially stateless people living in a rural existence. During the closing days of the First Veruzian War their representatives were offered a place at the negotiating table alongside Veruzia, the Elves, and one of the many Piratecraft iterations of Rome. As an aside, while the many Romes/SPQRs of the server are extremely relevant to later events of Veruzian history, they are not for the First and Second Veruzian wars. It is assumed henceforth that each represents some political variation of Italy.

The annexation of Rohan territory seems to have been largely consensual, as their leaders were given representation in Veruzia and their sparse settlements reinforced with Veruzian defenses. Given the expansion of the Xenon southwords, it is assumed that the Rohan felt threatened and sided with the more urbanly-centralized Veruzians, who themselves would have no issue with maintaining the Rohans’ traditional lifestyle given that their different modes of living precluded any competition for space. Despite this, the growth and reinforcement of Veruzia so soon after the first war raised hackles amongst other powers. But this was not the only cause for alarm.

Vivenheim, with its Elvish foundations and war scars, proved insufficient after the war. It was decided that a new city would be founded, known as Pallivadia. I pronounce it as Pallidavia, in what I can only assume is a regional accent of Veruzia. The city was heavily fortified, including a complex of fortifications dug into the hillside itself. Administration was split between KingRS in the central areas and myself on the outskirts and docks. The city would grow with astonishing speed. By the turn of the 20th century it would even outclass Glasgow in population while nearing Constantinople in density. Migrating Rohirrim of Rohan formed a large contingent of the new city, as well as more waves of Veruzian arrivals from the southern islands. There were many outlying settlements as well, including the central hub of Rohan culture at Dunharrow.

    Much of this rising prosperity can be attributed to technological advancement. WilsonManzer during this time had constructed a reinforced sea-based platform known as the “Holodeck”, which harvested rare resources, perhaps pearls or oil, from the ocean floor. Historically this parallels the sea-based Palmerston forts of the 1860s and the early oil boom of Pennsylvania. Actual offshore oil rigs were still decades out, but in the shallower waters of the coastal Adriatic some form of poulder could potentially be constructed. Coal mines by this point had already reached below the ocean floor when dug from land, for a similar example. Regardless, the Holodeck was a lynchpin of Veruzia's rising prosperity after the first war.

Alongside the Rohan, Veruzia sought diplomatic alliances with the SPQR, who play the part of the Kingdom of Italy, and the Entarian Alliance. The latter was a state which had fought against the 0utlaws as well, being founded with the aid of a former British subject. While not a one-to-one parallel, Greece seems a decent blueprint of the Entarians. Lord Byron is not InventorJohn, but the comparison works in an abstract sense. Veruzia seeking allies from two states directly on its borders, nations which presumably wanted at least some of the land held by Veruzia, might seem odd. It makes sense once the Ottoman and Austrian empires are considered, as both powers would have been greater mutual opponents of all three members of the so-called “Federated Nations Alliance”.

Veruzia was rising again. Faster than before, more advanced, and this time with allies. The unexpected resulted. The Xenon Empire, still playing the role of Austria, asked to join. So too did the 13 Colonies, substituting for America. What was originally a military alliance was shifting into an economic and political block in opposition to the British and Elves, who themselves were only loosely associated at this point compared with the later Entente Cordial. The Xenon however still remained part of the Anglo-Elven “League of Nations”, not the historical organization we know but closer to the Concert of Europe maintained between Britain, the Elves, and the Xenon. Their membership in the FNA was not long however, as they were removed after information about the Entarians was smuggled out to the LoN. These leaked plans set the stage for the final stage of the Veruzian Cold War, the Superweapons arms race.

The Entarians had been producing an “Orbital Bombardment System”, which was in reality a battery of cannons placed at a high mountain altitude designed to fire defensively over incredible ranges into passes and chokepoints. The “Orbital” in the name referred to how the cannons could be rapidly rotated in and out of position on tracks to ensure a steady pace of fire. Despite this, the name and secrecy attached to the project were more than enough to spur the powers of the LoN to action. What separates this arms race from the Dreadnought Rush or the Nuclear race of the 20th century was that no single theme existed, and that few of the projects saw completion. The Entarian system was only half-finished and much less impressive than it seemed, while the dreaded “Elven Bio-Weapon” was in reality a series of munitions and pharmaceutical facilities distributed across several cities. The Elves were the most prolific creators of Superweapons of one sort or another, innovating early flamethrower designs and constructing large artillery platforms in their homeland. These would not see use in the Second Veruzian war, as the Elves did not participate, and would only make a halfhearted effort during the Franco-Prussian war the year before. This resembles the real failure of the Mitrailleuse volley guns France held during that same war. The British meanwhile drew up a plan for “Super Massive Ship”, before scrapping the idea due to cost and technical limitations. Considering the date, it could well have been an attempt at a weaponized version of Brunel’s Great Eastern, which had launched less than a decade before as the world’s largest ship. Only the Xenon actually used a Superweapon in the conflict, that being the infamous Xenon tower. The structure was a monstrous ten story building, built over a decade before the Home Insurance Building would be crowned as the first skyscraper. It rose from a harbour north of Pallidavia, just across the border. Sixty-four cannons peered out from various floors, looming on the horizon of Veruzia’s newborn capital. In basic function it resembled coastal artillery positions constructed throughout the 19th century, but at a scale comparable only to the German Flak towers of the Second World War. This was not defensive, like the system of the Entarians or the Elven fortifications. The Xenon tower was made for one purpose, to bombard the city of Pallidavia. This threat spurred Veruzia to action. Instead of constructing Superweapons the nation worked diplomatically to try and placate the British while founding seven new settlements around Pallidavia, linked with fortification systems and Veruzia’s first railways. Rather than maintaining a strong border as they had tried with the First Veruzian War, now the nation intended to create a ring of defenses around an already heavily fortified core. It had worked before with Vivenheim, it would have to work this time as well.

The Bombardment of Pallidavia

THE SECOND VERUZIAN WAR:

    Veruzia sabotaged itself. The Entarians, who had started the whole arms race with their bombardment system, were removed from the FNA. This was done apparently to expel the more aggressive member of the alliance in an effort to appear less expansionist. It left the bloc with only the SPQR and Veruzia, with the latter handling negotiations. But by this time it was already much too late to try and present the FNA as a commercial partnership instead of a military alliance, and even if the plan had succeeded the Xenon tower was still nearing completion with seven stories finished. The Veruzians had a slim chance of averting war if they managed to calm the British, who could keep the Xenon in check. KingRS took charge of negotiations with the British Prime Minister, CrazyPirate1. In our history, the British PM of the time was Gladstone, who will be important shortly. These last-minute negotiations proved not only insufficient, but actually provided a casus belli to the British after repeated exchanges of threats and insults. In early 1872 the British declared war, followed by the 13 Colonies and the Xenon Empire.

Gladstone’s foreign policy often reflected a preference for democratic systems, as seen with his protests over the German annexation of Alsace-Lorraine without a plebiscite. To this end, the British war goals were to force the abdication of KingRS and establish a Veruzian Republic. The 13 Colonies backed this goal, while the Xenon were lukewarm to the idea and instead only wanted more land and to permanently halt Veruzian expansionism. Considering that the Austrian monarchs themselves were in a fairly precarious situation it is understandable as to why they would not want to set a precedent of removing regional nobility from power. Veruzia meanwhile had no stated war aims, and was never in a strong enough position to decide upon any.

The war began at the top of the Xenon tower. It was not yet complete, but enough guns were in position to begin the bombardment of Pallidavia. The 13 Colonies also bombarded the city from the harbour, although their overall participation in the war was limited. Considering that America did not historically intervene in Europe at all in this decade it makes sense that the only assistance provided would come from a passing ship or perhaps an independent filibuster. Whereas the First Veruzian War was defined by guerilla warfare in greater Veruzia and a prolonged siege of Vivenheim, the Second was, with a single exception, defined by the bombardment of Pallidavia. The Xenon could bring industrial quantities of fire onto the capital, and unlike with Bismarck at Paris a year earlier there was no respite to be granted. The Veruzians had after all, in the eyes of the Xenon, started this conflict by settling the island in the first place. For their part, the British aided in this bombardment and provided ground forces to skirmish around the outer fortifications of Pallidavia and its satellite settlements. But their greatest contribution would be at sea.

The Holodeck was razed by the Royal Navy. This was destruction of a new intensity, where the machinery and structure of the platform itself were fed to a great conflagration before sinking beneath the waves. Before the platform had completely collapsed there was intense fighting both above and below the waves in the many chambers and tunnels of the facility, the Veruzian defenders flushed out before the platform itself was demolished. One member of the Xenon present at the raid, steentje321, would be commended and memorialized in statuary for his actions during this desperate fight. By the end of the battle not a scrap of iron or stone would be left above the surface.

The SPQR did not join in the conflict, seeing which way the wind was blowing and not prepared for another war against the Xenon so soon after 1866. The Elves, likewise shaken by the recent Franco-Prussian War, did nothing to intervene. They did, however, offer sanctuary to Veruzians fleeing the conflict. Whether this was to lay the groundwork for postwar influence or out of pity and guilt for their own war against the Veruzians remains unclear. The SPQR’s abstention left Veruzia alone against two great powers. Pallidavia continued to hold out. The leadership of Veruzia and most of the remaining defenders spent their time in the fortified underground complex they had constructed before the war, listening to the detonations overhead. The inhabitants by this point had either taken up arms to join the defense or left, rendering the city lifeless aside from marching patrols of soldiers and the constant blast of explosions. In the moments between when the tower would fire, nothing at all could be heard.

Pallidavia survived fourteen months of sustained bombardment, taking cover in basements and bunkers while the surface was pounded to dust. In 1873, the Veruzian Empire ceased to exist. KingRS agreed to abdicate, while WilsonManzer took control of the state. No longer an empire, the new Veruzian Republic limped slowly to the negotiating table. Considering the severity of the defeat, the terms were light. All claims to Xenon territory were formally renounced, chunks of the border regions were given to the Xenon, and a neutral zone was established between the two nations to avoid further friction. Vivenheim was occupied and partially demolished by British soldiers during this time, with the resources and manpower going towards the partial reconstruction of Pallidavia. The city would grow in population again, but never prosperity. The old walls would be torn down and instead a vast sprawling settlement would take its place, low and hungry. In time it would be abandoned, but in the immediate period following the end of the Second Veruzian War it stood as a stark reminder of how much had been lost. No more railways would operate, and neither would the Holodeck ever be rebuilt. Previous wars had left Veruzia shattered, it was the curse of the nation, but the Second broke the island of Veruzia in one year what had taken the 0utlaws collective decades to achieve with South Verussi. 

PERSONAL ASIDE:

Piratecraft was not the first time I interacted with other people on the internet. It was, however, the first time I did so like this. Not by sharing resources or making silly jokes, but through conflict and in some instances even in fear of others. My typing style in the following screenshots is rather different than how it is nowadays, and there is an obvious reason behind that. I am not about to claim that being raided on a Minecraft server cost me my youthful innocence, but it did impact me in ways I only appreciated much later. For one, calling it a raid is somewhat underplaying the event. Due to how the siege plugin of the server works, players are required to stay online and alive within claimed land to prevent it from becoming partially destructible. Thusly, whenever an attack was launched we would have to wait for hours at a time underground for the bombardment to dissipate and for the attackers to grow bored or run out of time. I was logging in for afternoon fun and finding myself suddenly embroiled in a conflict for the survival of a nation and people where all I could do was sit and wait for an inevitable defeat by an overwhelming force as all that I had built over so many afternoons of simple fun was put at risk through shot and shell. This is a dramatic description, but subconsciously I was intaking this information. Unlike MMO games or rigid Roleplay servers with an unchanging status quo, Veruzia could have died there, never to be revived. Even though we lost and were changed, the mere act of having avoided that death was something that I felt I had contributed to materially. I was not a player on a stage but a genuine historical figure. This inflated sense of self was probably not helped a few years later when a brief article on the Piratecraft wiki was written about me. Still, a little ego can go a long way. I do not think I would be writing this post if I had not been recognized then. At the same time, there was a sadness to the war as well. New lands had opened on the borders of the world and Pallidavia suddenly felt not only damaged but antiquated and small. Both to get away from future conflict and to explore the new regions of the world I left, remaining a Veruzian but staying outside of the future settlements. I took a few hiatuses on and off but stayed Veruzian through it all. Eventually everyone else was banned or moved on, though I do still see KingRS once or twice a year. Pallidavia was the last time I cohabitated with so many other players on Piratecraft, and now I am standing at the far end of a decade of self-isolation and realizing that I am the last man alive. Well, not exactly, but I am the last self-avowed Veruzian to still play. This is my own fault, I did not work much to grow the crew and when I did I failed to maintain that growth, but few of the new connections I made ever felt like they had before the war. Did I lose something in the conflict or had I just grown out of a phase? It is hard to tell.

Try not to read too much into all of this. The patterns of Piratecraft are limited to one server and not some meta reflection on my whole life up until this point. For the most part, anyways. 

COLOURIZED PHOTOGRAPHS:

12-14-2015: Sunset view of Pallidavia

12-21-2015: Interior of the Holodeck

12-21-2015: Interior of the Holodeck

12-21-2015: Interior of the Holodeck

01-24-2016: Start of Hostilities

01-26-2016: Sheltering in Place Within the Holodeck

01-30-2016: Survey of a Single Day’s Outer Bombardment Damage

    What is next? Uniforms, to be certain. But perhaps after that an exploration of Pallidavian architecture? The state of the Veruzian navy? Maybe even a tour of New Pallidavia. The Great Roman War and the Veruzian Civil War will definitely have to wait for me to recover, though perhaps not for their respective ten year anniversaries.

It is my hope that you have enjoyed this month-long coverage of the Second Veruzian War. Ten years is not so long after all, and yet simultaneously an eternity to look back upon. But until we return to this place, I have only one more thing to leave you with:

Viva Veruzi!

Veruzian Uniform Lament

This tale involves a skin. But thankfully not a human skin, as was the case at Famagusta.

This Minecraft Skin, belonging to PortugalJ, is an extant example of a Veruzian uniform. Specifically, it represents the "Krimzon Guard". In December 2024, in preparation for my first post on Veruzia, I created the following image approximation of what I thought it would look like in real life:

With hindsight, I would say that my instincts were correct even if I went a little overboard. The lines on the torso definitely resemble a Hussar's Dolman jacket braiding, and in the 19th century helmets were generally the exclusive domain of cavalrymen. I think that going for the Pickelhaube-type spike was a mistake, and that a more crested type would probably be more authentic. Still, the boots at least are spot on. The colour scheme of red, white, and black is unfortunate, but when painted clearly as silver, crimson, brown, gold, and black it should not be a concern.

The Krimzon Guard was described thusly around the time of the Great Roman War (2019):

"(Krimzon) Horizon Guard:  All-round full-time soldiers. Able to be deployed using the assets available to them - yet able to commandeer trains, tanks, boats, and all vehicles at their disposal; responsible for defending the nation and expanding it's borders. Must prioritize all Verussian Borders and cities. "

Something important to note here is that the guard is referred to as both the Krimzon and Horizon guard, and that they are expected to commandeer transportation. Given the very decentralized nature of Veruzia this makes sense, but it does leave me wondering if they have to commandeer even their own horses. Still, there being two names hints to me that the Horizon guard would be the regular, or perhaps provincial, infantry of Veruzia compared to the more refined Krimzon guard. But what would the footsloggers be wearing?

Here is a rough map of European and South American uniforms circa 1871. Some are a few years behind where they really were, and a handful may be slightly in advance, but generally this is representative if not entirely geographically accurate. The hearts on the map represent the main locations of Veruzia at the time of the Second Veruzian War, with the Northernmost being where the conflict itself would take place. By looking at neighboring nation's uniforms an approximation can then be established of what the Horizon guard may have looked like in 1871. The Krimzon guard meanwhile will be assumed to have held a similar Hussar-style uniform throughout the century.

Firstly, here is what the neighboring Great Powers of Italy and Austria-Hungary would have worn, as well as the westernized stylings of Serbia and Montenegro. Kepis reign, but the French style greatcoat is not seeing use due to the climate in question. Colours can be both bright and muted. Long pants or boots are the order of the day for legwear.

Uniforms from the Ottoman Empire, Romania, Greece, and Egypt combine both western-influenced assets and local garments. The Black Brandenburgers are also here because their black and silver stylings resemble the Krimzon Guard. These uniforms can be bright, but also much darker in some regards. The Fez appears, as well as the French style backpack instead of a bedroll. Shoe covers appear alongside alternate pant varieties.

Taking these all together, this was my first attempt. In effect, I tried to replicate the Krimzon Guard colour scheme on an infantry figure. I chose the Perry Miniatures Union Infantry in Sack Coats Skirmishing box for this purpose. This was both due to the style of tunic and local availability. Especially interesting was the ability to build a "ragged firing line" with it, which fits the desperate nature of the Second Veruzian War in my opinion. I did not finish this figure, though I did repaint it several times. I tried to make it dark blue, black with blue hints, and lastly fully black but drybrushed grey. None of these worked well enough for me to want to finish the basecoat or go beyond. While a wash can tie together a figure I would like to think of myself as experienced enough to know when something is simply not working properly. What I did like about the figure however was the head and backpack choice. The backpack is from a Napoleonic Hanovarian, though in the future I will need to recast copies and sculpt straps if I wish for more. The head, meanwhile, is from the same Victrix kit that was used for the Turnips and British officer. I am not quite sure how I managed to trim the shako like that, but I am very pleased with the final result. The straps hanging on either side are something I will replicate on future figures as well, since it is both unique and a little unkempt looking, keeping with the Second Veruzian War aesthetic.

While the British are modelled with the Martini-Henry, a gun with cartridges, the Veruzians will still be using muzzle-loaders. Some of the irregular units will probably even be using Flintlocks. As for the colour scheme, I will keep this basic idea for any future Krimzon Guard units, but not for the infantry. Without additional ornamentations I do not think it comes together.

Originally I intended to use a French-style backpack with a curved blanket, but those proved difficult to source. I am somewhat concerned that this backpack will resemble the American uniform too closely even with the unique headwear, so in the future I may change it.

This figure is a second attempt, and one I have not quite given up on yet. I decided to take "Horizon Guard" literally by painting the tunic horizon blue. In real life this colour would be best associated with France in the Great War, so I may make some modifications to the exact pigment to differentiate it. The Baneblade Brown pants I am not happy with, but neither am I entirely displeased. The cap here is covered except for the bill, which is blue. I see promise here, though I would need to properly cut the hat shape for a future figure. The neck would also need to be attached without the awkward holes visible in this figure's case.

This time I tried to make the figure unostentatious to contrast with the Krimzon guard and the British, but I think this was somewhat of an overcorrection. The pants, while a good shade on their own, take what is already a fairly desaturated scheme one step too far. In the future I will want to use that dark blue from the cap's bill as an accent in other places, and probably stripes of grey or white elsewhere to emulate the Veruzian flag and add more pop to the scheme.

Before any of that, however, I should probably ask a few questions of our illustrious leaders to see if that have any input.

Veruzian Irregular

 This is not the first Veruzian, only the first one to be posted.

Some issues have been encountered with creating a basic Veruzian uniform, so I decided to go back to basics. This figure represents a local from the Veruzian countryside. The base figure is a Perry Miniatures American Civil War Zouave, but I have painted it in the style of the Bashi-Bazouks of the Ottoman empire. Their destructive reputation and irregular appearance would match with this figure's nature as an inhabitant of the arid scrub surrounding the main Veruzian cities. Technically, a Fustanella would be somewhat more appropriate, but I am out of unpainted Afghan figures to repurpose towards such an end.

The varied colours of such a scheme allowed me to try out potential recipes for the regular Veruzian army units. I think the blue shows especial promise, but only if I can manage it in such a way as to avoid looking like other armies of the time or some sort of police force. This figure's skin was Cadian washed Reikland highlighted Kislev instead of my normal mix procedure. This was to make it somewhat more tanned. The Blue was Vallejo Field Blue washed Drakenhof and highlighted Russ Grey. The Tassle was Imperial Blue washed and then left, the trim was XV-88 washed Agrax and Reikland and rehighlighted with XV-88 again. The pants were Vallejo Flat Green washed Biel-Tan and highlighted again, the gun and canteen were dryad bark washed Nuln, the light brown bag was Karak stone washed Nuln and Agrax, and the dark brown strap was Doombull washed Nuln. Metal was Iron Warriors washed Nuln and highlighted with Ironbreaker. Red was Vallejo Scarlet washed Carroburg and Highlighted with Wazdakka. Black was Corvus washed Nuln, and the boots and bayonet holder were Rhinox washed Nuln.

The back troubles me somewhat, as the sculpting around the bag is rather ambiguous. Similarly, one of the arm joins has a mysterious ridge. Nonetheless, I think this figure came out very well.

The trick now is simply to take this and create a good uniform scheme out of it.

Last Redcoats

This took twenty-two months.

That was a lie. I am getting better at telling them. In reality, it has been about twenty-two months since I first ordered the Wargames Atlantic Afghan Tribesmen kit. In practice, actual painting time has been much less. For one, at least four of those months were spent travelling or moving, and definitely more time was lost to other projects. Many of those same projects have made their way onto the blog in one form or another. Still, I like the number twenty-two and will stick with it. Even if the figures still need to be based and varnished. And there are also the older ones who still need their collars blackened, and buttons painted, and there are still unbased Afghans lying around, and so on and so forth. I am nothing if not persistent.

This is one of the two leader figures. The flag is a bit of a placeholder until I can photoshop up a regiment flag with the correct numbering on it. His head is from a Victrix kit, the same one used for Turnips. I think that the sculpting on the Perry Brothers heads leaves a little to be desired. Especially the clean-shaven ones. They tend to lack really defined cheekbones, which while probably realistic makes it tricky to properly highlight them. The hair is Mournfang brown washed Agrax, to stand out from the darker brown of the others. The yellow flag tassel is Averland Sunset washed Agrax too. The gold is Retributor Armour washed Reikland.

When a proper flag is added I will go over the edges with paint to deal with the white. Trying to completely cut off those little slivers is a fool's errand.

The scabbard could have been brown, but I made it black. I believe this is closer to how it would have been on the NWF, even if Red coats remain somewhat dubious.

Here is another Officer, this one wearing a cap. The zenithal priming I do smudged out the numbering on the cap, which would normally be 66. This suits me well since it anonymizes the figure somewhat. His leg wrappings and holster are done in the same leather pattern as on the original redcoats from last year.

The Binoculars are Corvus Black with touchups of Iron Warriors and Ironbreaker to give them a slight sheen. I considered doing them in brass, but I do not have the proper paints for it and did not care to mix anything.

Notice how his scabbard is empty. I cut out the hilt within to show that he had drawn his sword. This makes me prouder than it probably should.

When I mentioned that the Perry Miniatures unshaven faces were hard for me to highlight I meant it. This drummer is not the best example I have produced, but it is pretty good by my standards for an unshaven redcoat. The extra straps were a pain as well, I am aware I missed at least one sliver on this figure. The drum was XV-88 for the outside, washed Agrax, and Ushabti Bone, washed Agrax, for the skin. I am not proud of the sides, but the front looks alright.

So many straps to paint, so little understanding of which ones connect to each other.

All the detail on these two figures meant that I forgot to do the handles of their bayonets. This is something I may return to fix, but I may just leave it to eternally taunt me.

These figures are not meant for Afghanistan alone. I intend to use them for the Second Veruzian war as well. Their equipment only partially works for this. Their weapon, the Martini-Henry, had been introduced a year before the war began, but their uniforms are a little in advance of where they should be. Nonetheless, I believe they will suffice for the purpose at hand.

As for the Veruzian forces, I have been working hard to try and get an appropriate uniform. Several test figures have been worked with, but efforts continue to find a good baseline.