From NoelW: At the Gates of Dawn : Piper’s Peak (90 points)

Leaving all hat-related disasters behind us, we stride westwards through the night until we reach yet another mountain. There seem to be quite a few mountains on this island. As we climb by the light of the moon, two clear reasons convince us this is not the SnowLord’s Peak. Firstly, it’s where we want to be, and that’s hardly worked for us so far. Secondly, the slopes glinting in the moonlight are strewn with pieces of broken aircraft which perhaps suggests we’re approaching someone who’s a little bit flighty. And surely no Lord of the Snow could be flighty?

We struggle to the tippest tip of the mountain, just as the first morning light strikes it, to show us a place where four roads meet. At the crossroads stands a young lady – well, I say “lady” – who, on seeing us points to each road in turn:

“Exits are here, here, here and here,” she says, “And, for anyone tempted to use the adjective ‘flighty’” – she rests her hand on her sword-hilt - “here.”

At that movement, shadows stir in the scrub, warriors garbed in green emerge, silver glinting on the peaks of their caps and in their hands.

We take the hint.

In the half-light, it’s not clear which of the four paths will lead us towards the SnowLord. Trusting to luck, we head downhill, hoping for the best. The sun is golden. The road seems clear and easy, even though we’re heading west. Things are looking up, at last. I’m beginning to feel that everything is going to turn out well.

Nevertheless, something tells me there’s a big “But…” coming.

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These figures are Perry Miniatures Cape Mounted Rifles. Except they're dismounted, of course. This is one of the units that fought the Xhosa in the Cape Frontier Wars of the mid-nineteenth century. I chose this for Piper’s Peak because the peaks of this unit’s caps were edged with silver and were detachable, so an unusual feature of the uniform.

The Rifles were also uniquely armed with double-barrelled carbines, useful for the short range combat of the bush which made up much of the terrain the Xhosa fought in. Troopers in the unit were both European and mixed race. All of which adds up to an unusual force. 

These are nice figures, and the Cape Wars provide some challenging scenarios, especially for skirmish games. As usual, the Perrys have created some excellent sculpts which I found irresistible but, also as usual, they've been reluctant to find their way to the paintbrush. 

Scoring: 12 x 28mm figures: 60pts; Piper’s Peak, 30 pts = 90pts

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Fine work here Noel - excellent brushwork, but also a pretty unique and original setting and submission, a fine way to visit Piper's Peak (and avoid any pique, but I digress). That is an interesting uniform to be sure - did I understand that properly, the peaks of their caps were detachable? If so, an easy thing to lose while on campaign, I expect! 

Great work on this unit Noel, 90 points for you. 

GregB