by BenF - Curtgeld; Count Kristofer Osváth de Thorna, gentleman at large (40 points)

From the letters and diaries of the Marquis de Montchevreuil, Grand Écuyer to His Highness The King of France, French Flanders, 1688

I first met the Count near the hamlet of Oestveld, while a local blacksmith saw to my horse. His accent and manners set him apart from all that is familiar. He claims to have come from the east, and yet while I have traveled much of the land hereabout in the service of our glorious King, I must confess to ignorance of his origins. His laconic manner and terribly scarred visage, despite his cover of powder, speak of hard service in the wars which have so recently beset the lands to the east. However, his dress is somber and bereft of that ornamentation which is so oft associated with the courts of the east.

From the moment he arrived in the camp, rumours have surrounded the mysterious Count Kristofer Osváth de Thorna. Some say he has travelled in the lands of the King of Tartary, providing counsel and strategy on military affairs to the barbaric horsemen who dwell there. The braggadocio Conte di Fortunato claims that, over a fine claret, the Count confided of his service with the Streletsi guard of enfeebled Tsar Ivan V of Muscovy. Baron Hans von Kroneberg claims he is a scoundrel, and that the Count was known to have served the Prince of Transylvania, leading a band of mountain brigands in barbaric small wars against the Ottoman Vizier.

What is clear is that his eminence the Duc de Luxembourg has taken him into service as a trusted advisor and confidante. It is my opinion that we do well to keep such men as the Count Osváth de Thorna in our employ, if only to deprive the enemy of their use.

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For this entry, my Curtgeld, I've shamelessly created a story set in Sidney Roundwood's fictional Flemish city of Laarden’s campaigns against Louis XIV in 1688 and 1689.  Perhaps it will come as no surprise to hear that this figure has been painted up as the prize for Sid for this challenge. Back in 2018, I visited Rich Clarke and Sid, and was treated to a great game, over half my weight in lager, and a great day with some chums I'd not seen for a few years. As an antipodean, it's not that often that I get over to the UK, so this entry will have to suffice as a thankyou till I can get a chance to buy a few Vino Collapsos or Cooking Lagers to repay Sid (and Rich) in kind.

The figure is one of the excellent Paul Hicks sculpts done for Ebor miniatures, from their GNW kickstarter a few years back. Hopefully his overly modern tricorne and tight cut tunic will not be too much of a shock to the world of Laarden.

Now that the bushfires are out, we've had a 'mini-cyclone' a week or so ago, which resulted in a few trees down, some flooding, and a power outage. Here's hoping that things are back to the normal Australian hot and humid February, so that I can get some more entries posted. Next up will be some 20mm WW2 Figures.

So far as points go, I believe this will bag me 35, 5 for the figure and 30 for the special entry.
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By Paul: 
I love this entry, especially the thought, creativity and story behind it.
Take 40 points good Sir!

PS Glad you are safe amongst the chaos of fire, flood, cyclones and pestilence that our country is enduring of late