From Curt: Balin's Tomb (75 Points)

Well, we're definitely in the doldrums of the Challenge now. I'm sure many of us are either in the midst of projects, or catching their breath for the final push to the finish. I'm experiencing a bit of both, suffering a little deep-winter malaise, while also creeping forward with a few projects. I hope I can get most of them wrapped up in the next five weeks(!). 

For the Tomb chamber, I decided to do up a few figures and some terrain bits depicting the final stand of Ori and his companions in Balin's Tomb, also known as the Chamber of Mazarbul. 

The fate of Balin and his folk was recounted in the Lord of the Rings when The Fellowship found Balin's Tomb and the Book of Mazarbul.

They have taken the bridge and the Second Hall. We have barred the gates but cannot hold them for long. The ground shakes...drums, drums in the deep. We cannot get out. The shadow moves in the dark. We cannot get out. They are coming.

These are fairly old metal castings, from the release of the 'Shadow and Flame' campaign book in 2003. I'm not a big fan of painting dwarfs, but these models were a pleasure to work with. I also really liked the goblins, who's slight stature came as a nice change from the larger orcs. It reminded me that I really need to get some more of the goblin rank and file so we can get in some of the Moria scenarios down the road.

The tomb and pillars I found as 3D files on Thingiverse (thanks to designers Curufin and jpacek). They painted-up fine using my usual recipe for pale stone of Celestra Grey, Nuln Oil and Pallid Witch Flesh.

For points, hmm, we have 45 for the five dwarfs and four goblins, say 10 points for the terrain bits and goblin drum (about half a cube) and 20 points for the Tomb chamber bonus. So 75 total!

Next, I think I'll head to the Oubliette as I'm fairly positive I can find something quite forgotten in my lead pile to work on.

And a last shot of the group getting an emotional sendoff from Durin's Bane...

- Curt