Lord Ipsqueeck's Adventures: Beekse Bergen

 Here we are again, and with a fresh trip during these easter holidays with mommy and daddy!

 

And this weekend, we went to the Beekse Bergen, a zoo right across the Belgian border.

 

I came here last year in a blistering heat, but this time the weather gods wiffed it, and it rained the first and last part of the day.  Luckily, during the undertaking of the walking safari, it was more then okay. 

 

Though daddy first needed to make a pitstop once we arrived...

 

Now, the weather did mean it wasn't uberbusy in the park, and we could watch the animals really well. Like the giraffe's and the zebra's, by far two of my favorite animals!

 

The red panda was also calmly chilling up his tree, not bothered by the light rain at all. 

 

While walking along the park, we also passed by the show with the birds-of-prey, truly majestic birds that flew along the skies, soaring close over the crowd gathered to watch them. 

 

And we got really close to a red vani monkey, as he was minding his business in the trees through the "open walk" area with the monkeys. 

 

And just look at these majestic Secretary birds! 

 

After passing by the tigers, it was time to grab some lunch in the new pancake restaurant, which I approve on tastiness, though the waiting time was a bit long...

 

... and we went to the second part of the adventure, a car safari where daddy had to drive around, trying not to run over various animals! 

 

I tried to smuggle a zebra back home, but daddy said it wouldn't fit in the trunk, how lame! 

 

But I could watch the animals really close, and I was nice and dry in the comfort of my carchair to boot! 

 

So despite the weather, it turned out to be a fun day out, and next time, maybe I want to do the drive in these impressive jeeps for sure! 

 

But now, with a final wave at my beloved giraffe's, I'm signing out for today's adventure.  Until the next one, which will be in about three weeks and involving a famous mouse! 

 

 

The Haul Report 434

 Time for another update on which loot I gathered the past few weeks, so let's get into it!

 

And we start with a little thing I picked up for 8 euro incl shipping for the Warfleets day we are running at the club the 10th of May

 

This Eaglemoss Malon freighter will be a "derelict" objective in one of the 5 custom scenario's I wrote for the day. 

  

I also picked up a second vessel to this purpose in about the same price range, and for the same purpose, with this xxx , as well as the ECS Horizon freighter from Enterprise.

 

From the Benelux Clash IV, where I took "the day off" for once to have a relaxing day of games, I hauled the participant price of alt cards and tokens. 

 

Probably Illegal is labelled as one of the most backstabbing cardgames when it launched it's Kickstarter, and I backed it together with the XXX version extra deck.  Because, I am like that...

 

And I got some actual wargame figures this time round as well, as I had Galadriel, Celeborn and the Mirror find it's way to my doorstep after finding them on Vinted.  Which reminds me I really need to begin painting at my Lothlorien army soon to have it ready for october... 

  

We picked up fresh pin in Bobbejaanland as well from our recent visit, this time opting for one of the Bob Express. 

 

So a nice set of goodies once more this time round, on to the next one! 

 

War Machine

 A recent science fiction movie that appeared on Netflix, this is actually quite an enjoyable one!

 

And it seems to be setting up for a sequel, which I don't mind at all.

 

Released back in march, the movie follows an unnamed staff sergeant who loses his brother during a Taliban ambush in Afghanistan.  As a promise they made when younger, he joins the RASP to become an Army Ranger, enlisting in the harsh training.

 

He and the recruits that made it through basic training start on the final mission, called a "death march" in which they must locate a downed aircraft.  But during the exercise, they stumble upon a strange crashed vessel, which activates to become a giant robot that hunts them down.  Unarmed, they must get through the jungle to safety, but the recruits, who are unarmed, are easy pickings and one by one they are killed by the machine.  In the end, only he and another recuit (who has been like injured and mishandled as such during the whole movie, I guess that bloke wanted that he was killed in the first contact I guess) make it back, only to learn an alien invasion is on the way.

 

This is just what 90s action movies used to be: pure, heavy metal action without to much morality lessons, and not to much relations and drama.  Just guns blazing of a group of soldiers trying to survive something they don't understand, nor can defeat without going far out of the box.

 

The special effects are well done, and yeah, the movie has some serious gore as the recruits are blasted apart in the most spectacular ways possible.  But at times, that is just fine to watch, no frills, just thrills.

 

A good evening watch for certain! 

Warhammer Underworlds wednesday 15th of april

 So, time for the final games before we are off to Maastricht next weekend for the Warhammer Open.

 

An event where I'm going to to get the experience, but don't have much ambitions as I feel like I reached my ceiling in the game, not willing to go to Vassal and the likes to churn out hours and hours of online games.

 

Also, this would be the last time for a year I'll be able to play on wednesdays, as the metro system is closing for 11 months for renovations.  That would mean to long a walk to and from the final stop before the Outpost to make it worth the effort before work... pity I forgot the christmas cards for the guys already... 

 

Facing me in the first game was Wim and Ironsoul's Condemnors, who played Hunting Grounds and Emberstone Sentinels, build around the fact of the inherent unpushability of the Stormcasts.  Last week, his opponent described it as one of the most frustrating games he ever played. And so it would be as well for me, but for totally different reasons...

 

 Both warbands deployed, my "expendables" to the front in order to do some early damage and allow the other two to inspire.

 

Only to have Valyssa immediatly charge deep to Brodus, but missing.  She pinged with her Dark lamprey, but this was immediatly negated by my opponent's Healing Potion.

 

Both Sylarc and Drusylla also charged deep into his half, targetting Tavian before he would inspire and go to two shields, yet once again, all attacks missed and the Condemnors remained unhurt.  I did score Get Stuck In along the way, oh joy!

 

My leader then did her teleport shennanigans and pounced on the isolated Ironsoul herself, striking her with cleave... and missed as well.  So four charges, one ping, zero damage on the board for the Stormcasts... I was in big trouble now!

 

The Condemnors scored their cards along the way though, and the first round ended with 1 to 7 on the score, and this game was lost unless I could quickly take at least one of them out.

 

But to no avail, as the attacks kept missing, and up until my 7th (!!!!) activation, I didn't do any damage on any of his models at all.

 

And then finally we scored a hit, allowing me to score a few cards, but this was by far to little to late as he kept scoring big time along the way.  Round 2 ended with a crushing lead for the Condemnors, 3 to 14.

 

There was no bettership though in round 3, and even though I did now manage to hit a few times, my warriors started to fall to the return blows, Brodus having a field day with his big hammer.

 

I could score some more meagre cards, but this was a crushing 6 to 22 defeat, with a full 4 hits done over 12 activations... at least I wasn't tabled lol, Slythael surviving with 2 wounds left...

 

For the second game, we went up against Thibaud and Mollog's Mob, bringing Realmstone Raiders and Reckless Fury to the table.  A combination I'm also eyeing, but then for my Knives of the Crone.

 

Both warbands set up, the mob clustering together on one side, while I put my two heavy hitters a bit back in order to prevent early raging troll charges.

 

 Sylarc went forward, his crossbowbolt missing Spiteshroom before pinging the toadstool with Dark lamprey.

 

 This was the queue for Drusylla to charge in and get inspired, as she mowed the fungus away.

 

 Mollog and his mob then started to charge my way, as the aelves started to concentrate on Stakagsquig, but the bad attack rolls kept coming and the stone survived the attacks.  At least my leader inspired, that's something...

 

 And this left Mollog in the lead after the first turn, Spiteshroom returned, and a 5 to 6 lead.

 

 In the second round, Slythael snuck up to the troll, wounding him with a Knife to the Heart in order to allow the others to go and inspire against the big one.

 

Sylarc however met his end against the big troll, as his club came crashing down on the aelf's head, and put him out of the game.

 

 A big melee erupted around the center, and Stalagsquig still held on...

 

... before Drusylla finally got him after once more throwing in way to many attacks then normally needed to take out a 3 wound minion.

 

Both sides snuck onto the Aqua Ghyranis tokens, and the second round ended with a 12 to 14 lead still for Mollog.

 

 Now, the third round would as such mean all or nothing, and I decided to go all out after the big guy.  Valyssa led the charge, wounding the beast.

 

 Before he smashed her to a measly pulp once resembling an assassin in retaliation.

 

 But then it was time for the heavy hitters to storm in, and this time hopefully start hitting stuff.  Drusylla chipped away more wound, inspiring Mollog and his minions in the process.

 

But that was to late for the troll, as Slythael, with Great Strength, finished the big beast off at last, and that tipped the score big time into my favour.

 

Some positioning by his minions was all there was left to do, but it resulted in a 21-18 victory for the Shadeborn after a hard fought battle.

 

So, two games more in the pocket and towards my yearly goal of 50 games played, and that meant it was time to get to work.  But not after strengthening the inner person, after training the mind for a few hours first...

 

Now off to Maastricht... and make preparations for a totally different game I'm starting together with Thibaud and Wouter soon, but more on that in due time.