What do Witch Hunters hunt?

Witches, of course!

Hello again.

Taking a wee break from the Highland clans theme (although there is no reason why Lagoog cannot actually join the Dun Ringill boys for a scrimash or two), I painted another rat figure I rather like the look of in the form of this Black Rat Witch. Now, we could have her all wrong, and she may well be a healer, soothsayer, midwife or other clean-living type in commune with the good spirits of nature. She may well use the sort of beneficial magic that calms and soothes and prove no threat to anyone other than a bit of plant life she uses in her potions and remedies...

But that would be too easy!

In any case, what sort of high-minded character would have war paint made to look like blood streaming from their eyes? What loyal, law-abiding member of society would have a giant tarantula-esque spider atop her walking staff? What sort of friendly, lovable old dear would see the need for a shimmer cloak to protect her from enemies she would not make in the first place?

But this verminous harridan has all three of the above! Not to mention a bag full of spell ingredients and no doubt a few phials of poison! So Lagoog (with apologies to H. Rider Haggard for the anagram of one of his characters for the name) is anything but wholesome and sweet in my world. She is just the sort of twisted, dangerous, plotting individual that makes you want to go "Mwahahaha" like all good, pantomime villains. She is Abenaazer, the Wicked Witch of the West, Sauron, Nagash and all manner of evil all rolled up into one, handy, rat-shaped, man-sized package. And splashing her with water will not make a blind bit of difference any more than throwing some of her jewellery into a volcano will harm her in any way. The intention is that she is rock hard and dangerous with it!

So, cue some fiddling with the "Burrows & Badgers" rulebook to create something rather nastier and meaner than your average starter mage, with a couple of handy items to make her someone to really watch out for. Without going over the top, of course. This is not the latest incarnation of the bad old days of Warhammer, where every new army made all others largely obsolete, after all! Cue also the makings of a campaign idea or two. All good campaigns need a recurring villain and Lagoog could very well be mine...

And even without the campaign, she will form some nice opposition and point of focus for Rufus and his witch hunting fellowship. All she needs now is some followers/ henchmen/ cannon fodder to accompany her!

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The Oathsworn Miniature entitled "Black Rat Witch" is the source for Lagoog, with just a paint job to finish her off. I do quite like the evil look in her eye from this angle! Her eye looks almost snake-like.

And who would not want a giant tarantula for a familiar? I see her using her staff as a projector of said venomous beastie which would also give her a ranged attack other than spells!



I thought I would paint a few indistinct runes on her cloak to show it has some sort of magical power. I am running with the idea of a shimmer cloak currently, so she appears to be somewhat displaced form where she actually stands, making all attacks harder to hit her.

And her eye from this angle looks as though she is giving someone an evil stare ("You're next!"), backed up by the pointing of her sickle, which is surely a poisoned weapon.