Painting Challenge! Plus, how I did over the weekend

   I believe my Trolls are upset with me.  Heading down to the Bay Area last time, my Trolls utterly failed me.  The next week, I went to the LGS and again, my Trolls utterly failed me.  I think they are upset that I'm cheating on them with some Legion, making the "Trollsaken" (Which was submitted to PP for their magazine contest, I should find out tomorrow what happened when the new No Quarter comes out)
   So, we are benching the Trolls temporarily.  The Retribution of Scyrah is calling me!  I pulled them out for 35 points of Tournament on Saturday.  Unfortunately either the day was bad and/or it was short notice and 4 people showed up.  We played round robin, killbox, I used Kaelyssa for the first 2 battles, then Rhan for my 3rd round.
   The first round was against, Kreoss, he had 2 squads of daughters, 2 squads of exemplars who ran at me. I shot one squad of daughters who were flanking with my Mage Hunters, and killed all but one.  The squad that was Defenders warded got a face full of combustion from a Phoenix, and the other half that didn't die, failed their command check and wanted none of the angry elves.  I'm feeling ok at this point, but things are getting closer, so I pop my feat (everything stealthed, models cannot be charged) and see what happens.  My opponent (Kristin who runs Warmahordes for the Vacaville LGS) charged Kreoss forward, popped his feat, knocking Kaelessa down, then one of his special units gave this ability to see through stealth for his Redeemer, 3 shots from him and Kaelessa was done.  But it did take all 3 shots, he completed his assassination run successfully, otherwise I would have had him.  It was a pretty quick game, ended on his turn 2.
   Next Jimmy, one of the local PGers was playing Lord Carver.  I was killing pigglets, and controling where we fought, and went for my assassination run, Kaelessa shooting him stealing fury and damaging him.  He had 2 fury on him, I stole the first one, he used the 2nd to transfer the 6 damage.  Then it was plink plink plink roll under average and do a few points with my next two shots.  It was up to my 4 remaining Mage Hunters to get in and close it out.  But they went plink plink plink, left him alive and he roflstomped me on his turn.
   Finally Nathan.  Now Nathan is one of the better players in the area, and I was facing Xerxes.  I decided to switch it up and play Rhan.  Highlight of the match, I charged a Bronzeback and a Gladiator with my full squad of Halberdiers.  Under their officer mini-feat, they were at pow 14 (+2 Brutal Charge, +2 from mini-feat) and +2 MAT as long as they were in melee range of another squad member.  I destroyed a slightly wounded Gladiator with 3 Halberdiers and the Soulless escort, and I brought the Bronzeback to 3 boxes left with 3 more Halberdiers (after a Force Hammer from Rhan doing some damage and knocking him down).  I admit there was some good charge dice rolling there, they were above average.  But it was a bit of a surprise to Nathan.  I then sent Narn the ninja to finish off the Bronzeback (charge, weapon master, 2 attacks, should kill it).  Plink, 2 damage on the charge, no damage on the 2nd attack.  After such a good turn to that point, I was demoralized and made mistakes and the Bronzeback was allowed to live.  The next turn the Bronzeback thrashed my Pheonix on the flank, and Xerxes moved forward, with Defenders Ward on him, no fury.  Since he was in base to base with another model, he was 15 def/22 arm.  My turn I do Rhan, pop my feat, Force Hammer Xerxes down, and let the Mages do their magic boosted magic thing.  I pull him out of B2B with the first mage so now he is a knocked down 5 def/20 arm and boost damage into him.  I don't kill him, and the next turn Xerxes gets in Rhans face and game over.
  What I learned, I need to play more.  I'm getting it, and I think against weaker players, I would have done better.  I had some moral victories, I was doing the right thing against very good players, they were able to use their experience to overcome my actions.

   To the Painting Challenge:

  Down at the "newer Elk Grove LGS" they are having a free 15pt tournament, and its closer than the Vacaville LGS who is also having a tournament, so I think just on gas spent, the Elk Grove store is winning.  But to challenge myself I'm going to have a fully painted army for the store.

  My plan is to bring the following 15 point lists, fully painted:

Adeptis Rahn
    Pheonix
House Shyeel Battle Mages
House Shyeel Magister
min unit Houseguard Halberdiers

Kaelyssa, Night's Whisper
    Chimera
    Hydra
min unit Mage Hunter Strike Force
    Mage Hunter Commander.

  I believe this is totally doable by working a little at a time each day on these models.  Kaelyssa and the Warmachines are fully painted and based, Rahn is almost finished, the Halberdiers, Mages and Magisters are started.  The MH Strike Force and Commander are primed.

   First up, finishing Rahn, and working on the Halberdiers who have the base armor done, they need flesh and highlighting.

   So expect more pictures this week!