From StuartL: Challenge Island Safari Journal - Snow Lord's Peak Challenge

Are you ready brave C.I.S.T.ers? Today is the day when we ascend Snow Lord's Peak to get a view of the whole island.

To help us in our ascent, we have a surprise guest on the tour....

Oda Nobunaga-san (and a couple of his retainers) has agreed to accompany us to the top of the mountain and protect us from any dangers or hazards along the way.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Oda-san, he was born in Nagoya Castle in 1534. At that time, Nagoya was a small city in what was known as Owari Province. The son of a minor noble, Oda-san inherited his father's domain at the young age of 17 and went on to overthrow his rivals and superiors in the region, eventually unifying Owari Province. At the Battle of Okehazama he led an army of 2-3000 men against a much larger force of 25,000 being commanded by a neighbouring lord. Using cunning as much as brute force, Oda-san rapidly became one of the greatest commanders of his generation. Before his untimely death due to a betrayal from one of his inner circle, Oda-san had conquered a large part of Japan's main island of Honshu. His successors, first Toyotomi Hideyoshi (also from Nagoya) and then Tokugawa Ieyasu (born in Okazaki a few miles East of Nagoya) completed his goal of reunifying the country.

Among his other achievements, Oda-san made Nagoya the capital city of Owari Province. Following the end of Tokugawa Shogunate, Owari Province and the nearby Mikawa Province were joined together to form Aichi Prefecture, of which Nagoya remains the capital.

As we reach the top of the mountain, we must bid farewell to our entourage and take a look around before preparing for our descent.

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The miniatures above are all from the Perry's excellent range of Japanese figures. I tried to find pictures of Oda's armour online and copied the colours used from that. As per the Snow Lord's request, I based the mini with a winter theme in mind. Nagoya doesn't usually get a lot of snow, (this year has been surprisingly mild so far), but we do get a flurry from time to time.

Hopefully this offering is enough to please the all powerful ruler of Snow Lord's Peak.
http://thepaintingchallenge.blogspot.com/2020/01/stuartls-challenge-on-snow-lords-peak_9.html

By my count, I should get 20 points for the miniatures (one mounted, two infantry), 30 points for the location and a bonus 10 points for the winter theme for a total of 60.

Now to choose which route to take back down the mountain.

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Stuart, this vignette you've created is wonderful and the supporting history you provide is fascinating (3000 men against 25,000? Now, that is some moxy!). 

I've painted a few samurai in the past and so tip my hat to anyone who bravely takes up the task. The armour's often vibrant colours, intricate details and bewildering knotwork always gives me the sweats. I also like that you sourced the original colours of Oda's armour so that they could be reflected in his miniature, and the snow (while perhaps anachronistic) conveys a mood of steely resolution. Wonderful!

Your calculations are correct, 60 points it is. As a memento of your ascent to Snow Lord's Peak you will receive our favourite cigar-wielding revolutionary, Che, as a prize.

Well done and congratulations!

-Curt