From RayR: My Journey to Paradise via the Retreat from Moscow (160 points)

Continuing my journey through Dante's Divine Comedy, I having completed The Abyss, find myself on my way to Paradise, so here are my 5 Sphere's.

First up we have the First Sphere The Inconstant, I had to look the word up.....just to make sure, of course...

First Sphere: The Inconstant
No Ray, not the Incontinent... :) Instead, think of something which may try its best but often falls a bit short.

Its nice how I still get the odd mention in the rules and regs of the Challenge, its usually something to do with Sandbags, Badgers or Budgie Smugglers, never usually about crappin' yourself!

Anyhoo, something that falls short.

It was the look on the first Mules face, he's not gonna budge, even if your'e waving some carrots in his face! But is it the Mule or the cloaked Vivandière who falls a bit short???

I was a little stuck on this one, then remembered these models. I bought them from Col Bill's sometime ago, again for my Haitian Revolution project. But decided, to use them for the Retreat instead.  

The figures are from Warlord Games, Napoleonic range, I added a cloak to the poor lady, I don't expect she's gonna get far though, with all those provisions on the 3 Mules.

These should earn me 20 points for the figures and another 20 for the bonus round.

Next up we have the Second Sphere - The Ambitious

Second Sphere: The Ambitious
A figure that is as keen as mustard, an overachiever (yes, so annoying, I know).

The first ever Napoleonic figure I ever painted was a figure from the Neuchatel Battalion, who unusually wore a yellow or mustard coloured coat, not a red coat like other Swiss regts or blue like every other French unit

So I thought I'd paint up a mustard coated, keen as mustard Officer, I may have to paint up some infantry as well, trouble is they'll probably be wearing a overcoat, so you won't see their mustard/yellow coat??

The Neuchatel Battalion had a bit of a rough time during the retreat, having joined the Grand Armee in March 1812, the regiment included, Infantry, Engineers, Artillery and the Artillery train, from an original 1,027 men, only 13 Officers and 7 men returned to camp at Besancon!!!

Points.... 5pts for the figure, plus another 20 for the Ambitious bonus

Next in line is the Third Sphere - The Lovers.

Third Sphere: The Lovers
This could be platonic love, romantic love, but not love based on lust - that's for the 'other place'.

This pair of lovebirds are once again from pack FN 193 Camp Followers

A wounded Cuirassier and his lady friend, struggle through the snow.

Hoping to make their way home???

The Lovers will give me 10 pts plus 20 pts for the bonus round.

Next we move onto the next Sphere, the 4th - The Wise

Fourth Sphere: The Wise
Something contemplative and sage. Essentially no figure having any kind of resemblance to me. :) Think that's me as well as Curt??

This fine looking chap's from Eureka and comes along with the Napoleon figure I painted up for the Greed bonus round.

This is Jean Baptiste Eblé, a French General, Engineer and Artilleryman. He is credited with saving Napoleon's Grand Armee from complete destruction in 1812.

In 1811, Eblé was put in command of the Dutch Pontoon bridge builders (pontonniers) for the Grande Armee which Napoleon was assembling for the invasion of Russia. Eblé discovered he had inherited a rag-tag collection of boatmen, yet in less than a year he had turned them into a disciplined, highly trained and skilled force who would soon prove indispensable. Besides training, Eblé also issued his pontonniers specialized tools and equipment, the most notable of which were the mobile wagon-mounted forges, that could quickly make any needed but unavailable metal parts or items.

During the disastrous retreat from Moscow in 1812, Napoleon ordered Eblé to destroy the pontonniers' mobile forges, so that these valuable pieces of engineering technology would not fall into enemy hands. Eblé argued with his Emperor, that without the forges his men could not perform their duty and the greater danger to the Armée was to be caught between an uncrossable river and a vengeful, pursuing enemy. Napoleon insisted they be destroyed, but Eblé went against his orders and kept the vital equipment intact.

When the Armée arrived at the Berezina River it found itself trapped, with the Russians fast bearing down and no way to cross. Eblé's men worked feverishly in dangerously frigid water to complete the bridges in time for the Armée to escape. With the way across the Berezina opened, most of the surviving remnants successfully crossed. But the campaign had taken a heavy toll on General Eblé's men and his health. He died in Konigsberg shortly after returning from Russia.

This wise man will earn me 5pts and another 20 for the bonus round

Next I'll call on Sarah the Seraphim to take me along to my last Circle No 8

But instead of the usual female figure fee, I've overpaid and give you 3 female figures

Lula the dog, Cossette and Clementine

The pup is from Front Rank and Cossette and Clementine are from the same pack as the Lovers above.

These 3 will earn 15 points

So onto my final Circle.....

Eighth Sphere: The Fixed Stars of Faith, Hope and Love

Submit a figure depicting any of these laudable themes.

Well I'm going for Hope.....

Poor Nadine, has given up all Hope and cannot move another muscle.

Will she ever rise again?

Probably not.....

Nadine is my last figure from pack FN 193 Camp Followers from Perry Miniatures, she will earn me another 25 points!

So all in all we have....

1st Sphere - The Inconstant 40 points

2nd Sphere - The Ambitious - 25 points

3rd Sphere - The Lovers 30 points

4th Sphere - The Wise 25 points

Sarah's Seraphim 15 points

8th Sphere - Hope 25 points

So a grand total of  160 points!!

TeemuL: Excellent work again Ray, painting lots of bonus points which all contribute to your great Retreat project. I admire you able to keep the focus on a single theme!