Na Coiltte Dorcha - Ard-Bhanríon Cuileann

 

The Elves of Na Coiltte Dorcha are ruled by their High Queen (Ard-Bhanríon in the tongue of the Elves) called Cuileann.  She has ruled over her kind for as long as any Elf can remember, and many are the wars that she has fought against those who would threaten the Dark Woods - long slipped from the memories of most races are the names of those empires and civilisations she has laid low.

Cuileann will often take to the field of battle to lead her troops against the most dangerous of enemies.  She typically rides at the head of her personal honour guard, made up of her sisters and cousins.  These lethal warriors are skilled with both sword and bow and are mounted upon dark unicorns of ill temper.

First amongst the High Queen's kin is Seamair - who is given the unique honour of carrying the Queen's personal standard into battle.  This banner inspires courage in her people, and fear in her enemies - for it to be sighted is a sign of sure death to all who oppose the Elves of Na Coillte Dorcha.

The High Queen and her kin ride to battle!

(L-R - Seamair and Ard-Bhanríon Cuileann)

These complete the Na Coillte Dorcha project and provide a nice hard-hitting force of Elite Riders (with Mounted Missiles option).  They are from Ral Partha's Demonworld range - where they are called Wood Elf Female Unicorn Riders.  Rather helpfully they come 6 to a pack, which is perfect for Dragon Rampant!

Na Coillte Dorcha - Fuinseog, An Rí Síoraí

 

The surest sign of the intentions of the Elves of Na Coillte Dorcha was the awakening of the incredibly ancient and powerful being known as Fuinseog, An Rí Síoraí.  

When Fuinseog marches to war, the earth itself trembles as if in fear - for this is no mere tree-spirit or woodland faerie; it is the very primordial essence of the Dark Woods itself manifested into a towering tree-like form.  With powerful limbs it strikes at the enemies of Na Coillte Dorcha, sweeping aside lesser creatures Orcs and Goblins and tearing apart the larger Ogres and Trolls.

Revered by the Elves as some deity, Fuinseog channels the emotions of those who have woken it - their unending anger, rage and hatred all feeding it and guiding its actions.

The Union fears this creature like almost no other; it has trampled over scores of its soldiers - their very lifeblood an offering to this dread entity.

Fuinseog, An Rí Síoraí

This is a Tree Shepherd from Ral Partha's Demonworld range - I added some clump foliage to give it some extra volume and texture on top!

Na Coillte Dorcha - The Ruathair

The Elves of Na Coillte Dorcha once kept to the confines of those dark woods - but no more.  Something has changed within this ancient race and they seem no longer content to merely protect their domain - they have begun to stage merciless raids against villages near to the woods.

Striking without warning, often at night, these raids are led by elven warriors carrying both bow and barbed spear - and they are experts with both.  These Elves are known as Ruathair amongst their kind and their cruelty is becoming infamous amongst the peoples of the Union.

Already the villages of Ubrin and Breshbu have been razed - with the inhabitants slaughtered to the last goblin.  The largest settlement to face the wrath of the Dark Woods so far was the Troll and Orc town called Bhuzga Ozdal - all that remains today of that once peaceful and prosperous market town is the charred ground and a small mountain of bones.

The Ruathair

These are from Ral Partha Europe's Demonworld range - they are called Wood Elf Hunters.  In Dragon Rampant these will be Light Foot with the Mixed Weapons upgrade.

Na Coillte Dorcha - The Leanaí Duille

The Elves of the Dark Woods do not claim that domain alone - entities older than even the ancient race of Elves call the Woods home.  Entities that share the hatred that the Elves have for the Orcs and Goblins.

Primordial spirits of nature itself - the very creators of Na Coillte Dorcha - rise to defend their sacred lands.  Having no real form of their own - they appear to mortal eyes as nothing more than small purple-tinged balls of light - these spirits inhabit shells made from the Woods themselves - bark, vine, branch and stone held together by the energy of the spirits.  When in this form they are known by the Elves as The Leanaí Duille - and it is in this form that they are most often found, assisting the Elves to protect Na Coillte Dorcha from harm.

The Leanaí Duille

These are from Ral Partha's Demonworld range - where they are called Shrublings.  They come 6 to a pack, so I bought two packs to use as a single unit in Dragon Rampant - I plan to use them as Heavy Infantry most likely.

Na Coillte Dorcha - Guardians of the Dark Woods

The Dark Woods has long been a place of both wonder and dread to the people of the Union.  Long ago the elves that call the Woods their home had been allies and mentors to the Orcs and Goblins teaching the younger races about the world - but that time is long past and not remembered by even the most scholarly Orc.

The Elves do not forget though...

Now, hundreds of years later, the Orcs and other members of the Union are not welcome in the Dark Woods.  Those who enter generally suffer one of two fates - the lucky walk for days until nearly delirious from thirst and hunger they arrive right where they entered the Woods.

The unlucky ones are met by a group of Elven Guardians and inevitably become food for the trees - a sacrifice to Na Coillte Dorcha.

These bands of Guardians are expert trackers - well-versed in woodcraft and virtually silent to the ears of most, they follow interlopers and engage in all manner of mental torture.  Once their prey's mind begins to break they strike with wickedly barbed javelins - most victims don't ever see the silver-haired Elves before they die.

Seicamar's Guardians 

Dair's Guardians

These are Wood Elf Skirmishers from Ral Partha Europe.  I picked up an extra single mini of the leader so I could run them as two units of Scouts in Dragon Rampant.

Na Coillte Dorcha - The Dark Woods Live!

I knew I wanted a mixed feel to Na Coillte Dorcha - whilst the majority would be Elves, it was important to include other denizens of the Dark Woods, so I trawled the Ral Partha Demonworld range again and found some suitable reinforcements!

First, I got two packs of Shrublings - making a full size unit of Foot for Dragon Rampant.  These woodland elementals can represent the Dark Woods themselves rising up to march to war!

I also picked up a Tree Shepherd - providing a nice centrepiece mini for Na Coillte Dorcha:

It's about 50mm tall - so it'll tower over the rest of the force!

Na Coillte Dorcha - The Dark Woods Rise!

While the armies of UNORP fight a constant battle against the human barbarians, it is not the only threat that assails the civilised peoples - from the Dark Woods a new threat rises...

Hitting up the Ral Partha Demonworld range once more I've started raising an army for my wife to command in battle against my Orcish force.

Of course, every army needs a leader - for Na Coillte Dorcha I've opted for a unit of Wood Elf Unicorn Riders to represent the Queen of the Dark Woods and her personal guard:

I also got a unit of Wood Elf Hunters - providing a mixed infantry/missile unit core to the army:

I also got a pack of Wood Elf Skirmishers - which breaks down nicely into a couple of units of Scouts for Dragon Rampant:

Finally for the Elven part of the force (for now!) I knew I wanted the Badger People! These claw-armed and fur-wearing savage warriors will be perfect as Bellicose Foot in Dragon Rampant:

The minis are, as always with Ral Partha, awesome!

There's more stirring in the Dark Woods though...