Highlander Badgers
In 2067, a group of wealthy Texas landowners, doctors, and lawyers combined their resources to create an Arp race that would work as groundskeepers and security personnel on their estates. Since all of them claimed some degree of Scottish ancestry and were fanatic enthusiasts of Highland tradition, they decided to build a culture for their Arps based on that tradition. The North American badger (Taxidea taxus) fit the personality traits they wanted for the job, and so it was chosen as the genetic base.
The Badger Highlanders became available in 2078, and proved to be one of the most successful Arp races ever created. They had none of the physical "design problems" many earlier Arps had, and proved to be intelligent, loyal, and protective of their clan leadership - their owners and their owners' families. They were given a great deal of responsibility and were well treated by their owners, and so retain a high regard for humans, if only in memory.
Compared to humans, Highlanders are short (averaging just four feet tall) but extremely stocky. They are also immensely strong; a favorite sport at their clan gatherings is tossing the caber, where a 200-pound telephone pole is thrown for distance. In a variant from the original Scottish sport, the strong Highlanders also catch the caber, competing in two-man teams. While they cannot run as fast as a human, and they arent quite as dexterous, badgers can easily lift four times as much as a normal human. Their sense of smell is slightly more sensitive as well.
The Badgers take their "clan heritage" very seriously, and maintain their Scottish culture strictly, although the highland/lowland distinction has faded with time. The Highland civilization maintains a pre-industrial technological level, with few firearms. They use little machinery beyond water-powered mills and factories, and a few crude steam-powered riverboats.
While some minor conflicts do occur between clans, the Badgers easily band together to repel "invaders," a term loosely applied to any military force approaching their territory. As such, the Highlanders are involved in fairly regular battles, but are usually tolerant of foreign traders or casual travelers.
Militarily, the Highlands organize along Clan lines. They will typically form several units working independently toward a similar goal, since they will not follow orders from an officer from a different clan. Generally, a clan's army will consist of a few squads of elite troops wearing metal plate cuirasses and armed with swords, pikes, and the famed two-handed "claymore" greatsword. The remainder of a clan's troops will be poorly outfitted, usually wearing no more than their kilt and bonnet, and armed with axes or farming implements.
Some clans also maintain a small bird-mounted cavalry unit, used primarily for patrolling their borders. The riding beast that was developed for the Badgers was not as successful a genetic engineering project as the Highlanders themselves. Commonly referred to as "birds," they are a composite of cormorant and roadrunner genes, with an increase in size to almost ten feet at the top of the head. They make poor harness beasts, are difficult to ride, and generally have a nasty disposition. When properly trained, however, they make excellent military mounts, as their large sharp beaks and powerful rear kick make them very effective in combat. They are ravenous carnivores, and birds that have gone feral will prey on deer, domestic livestock, and pets. Some have even been known to carry off small children.
Resources
- Want more unusual figures? Check out the main Off The Wall Armies page.
- Need opponents for the heroic Highlander? Check out Monster Miniatures.
Highlander Sergeant
One miniature.
Price $2.75
Stock number GCC17-2100
Out Of Print – Click here for dealer info
The Sergeant leads his clan into combat. He carries a sword and shield, and wears a cuirass. After the war's end, he could easily become an adventurer, seeking fame and fortune, or a mercenary, selling his battle-honed skills.
Highlander Longbowman
One miniature.
Price $2.75
Stock number GCC17-2103
Out Of Print – Click here for dealer info
Not all Badgers launch themselves into melee. Some prefer a stout longbow and a quiver of arrows. Clad in a studded leather shirt, they also carry a sword and shield for melee.
Highlander Badger Footman
One miniature.
Price $2.75
Stock number GCC17-2101
Out Of Print – Click here for dealer info
The main strength of a Highlander army is in its Footmen, well trained and equipped troops wearing a light metal cuirass or chain mail shirt. Most of these fought with the basket-hilted broad sword and 'targe' or shield.
Highlander Badger with Claymore
One miniature.
Price $2.75
Stock number GCC17-2102
Low Stock
The main strength of a Highlander army is in its Footmen, well trained and equipped troops wearing a light metal cuirass or chain mail shirt. Some of these wielded the most famous of Highlander weapons, the two-handed sword known as the Claymore, which could cut down enemy troops in a wide swath.
Highlander Badger Crossbowman
One miniature.
Price $2.75
Stock number GCC17-2104
Out Of Print – Click here for dealer info
Not all Badgers launch themselves into melee. Some prefer a stout crossbow and a score of quarrels. Clad in cuirasses, they also carry a sword and shield for close combat.
Highlander Badger Footman w/Pike in Cuirass
One miniature.
Price $2.75
Stock number GCC17-2106
Warehouse 23 Only! – click here to order!
The main strength of a Highlander army is in its Footmen, well trained and equipped troops wearing a light metal cuirass or chain mail shirt. These troops sometimes use long pikes for defense against cavalry.
Highlander Badger Commoner with Axe
One miniature.
Price $2.75
Stock number GCC17-2107
Out Of Print – Click here for dealer info
Commoners, or "humblys" as they were known among the Highlanders, would regularly enter combat with improvised weaponry and no armor. The hand axe was a simple weapon that often found use among these badgers.
Highlander Badger Pikeman
One miniature.
Price $2.75
Stock number GCC17-2108
Out Of Print – Click here for dealer info
Commoners, or "humblies" as they were known among the Highlanders, would regularly enter combat with improvised weaponry and no armor. These troops sometimes use long pikes for defense against cavalry.
Highlander Badger Commoner with Lochaber Axe
One miniature.
Price $2.75
Stock number GCC17-2109
Out Of Print – Click here for dealer info
Commoners, or "humblies" as they were known among the Highlanders, would regularly enter combat with improvised weaponry and no armor. A common pole weapon for such troops was the lochaber axe, a two-handed weapon similar to a halberd.
Highlander Badger Light Cavalry Trooper
One miniature.
Price $6.00
Stock number GCC17-2110
Low Stock
In addition to infantry, some Highlander clans maintain a small bird-mounted cavalry unit, used primarily for patrolling their borders. This is an individual Highlander Badger Light Cavalry Trooper, including mount.
Highlander Badger Light Cavalry Officer
One miniature.
Price $6.00
Stock number GCC17-2111
Low Stock
In addition to infantry, some Highlander clans maintain a small bird-mounted cavalry unit, used primarily for patrolling their borders. This is an individual Highlander Badger Light Cavalry Officer, including mount.
Highlander Badger Heavy Cavalry Lancer
One miniature.
Price $6.00
Stock number GCC17-2112
Out Of Print – Click here for dealer info
In addition to infantry, some Highlander clans maintain a small bird-mounted cavalry unit, used primarily for patrolling their borders. This is an individual Highlander Badger Heavy Cavalry Lancer, including mount.
Highlander Badger Heavy Cavalry Officer
One miniature.
Price $6.00
Stock number GCC17-2113
Low Stock
In addition to infantry, some Highlander clans maintain a small bird-mounted cavalry unit, used primarily for patrolling their borders. This is an individual Highlander Badger Heavy Cavalry Officer, including mount.
Highlander Badger Bagpiper
One miniature.
Price $2.75
Stock number GCC17-2116
Out Of Print – Click here for dealer info
Every clan needs a bagpiper. Whether his aim is to rally the troops or frighten the opposition is a question of great debate. Some Highlander bards used bagpipes, also.
Highlander Badger Chieftain
One miniature.
Price $2.75
Stock number GCC17-2117
Out Of Print – Click here for dealer info
The leader of a Highlander clan is known as a chieftain. Alternatively, this well-dressed figure could represent a noble, a wealthy merchant, or an adventuring group's patron.
