The City of Altheim: Part Three - Leopold's Rare Book Emporium

Veering back to Warhammer after my recent Saga-related excursions, I've managed to finish an Altheim character and his home for you to take a look at: This time it's Leopold Kochenheim, owner of Leopold Kochenheim's Rare Book Emporium.

Leopold, in front of his shop/home.

More photos and background after the cut...



Altheim's only Rare Book Emporium, owned by the titular Leopold Kochenheim, occupies a building that was formerly his parent's home. Leopold travelled extensively in his youth, reaching as far afield as distant Araby before eventually returning back to Altheim. Because of this, Leopold affects an accent and wears Arabyan clothing, much to the amusement of his neighbours who consider him a harmless eccentric.

What his neighbours would be less enthused to know about is that on his foreign travels he became a member of the proscribed 'Cult of the Red Crown' devoted to Tzeench, of which he formed the local chapter known as the 'Red Hand'. He also deals in the trade of forbidden books, most of which are stored in a secret room in his extensive cellar.

On Leopold's return from overseas, loaded down with a large collection of rare books he picked up on his travels, he found his parents had died while he was away, inheriting their now-dilapidated home. Short of money, he turned to trading his books, and so turned the house into the shop it is now. The building is now so full of books that he usually sits outside during the day reading his latest acquisitions, squeezing upstairs to a tiny, book-filled room in the loft containing his bed at night, at least on the nights when he's not meeting his Red Hand cultist brethren in the cellar.

Leopold, in front of his store.

Side view: These bill stickers get everywhere.

Close up: Anyone for jousting? Or a book? 

Rear View: Red Hand graffiti to warn off nosey neighbours

Close up: The red hand on the rear gate shows the faithful a safe haven

(Other) Side view: More posters, more dilapidation. 

A proud Leopold in front of his store. 

Close up: Showing some of his outdoor stock, and his reading chair. 

Leopold again, in his Arabyan finery

Leopold in his rear yard. He makes extra cash by renting it as storage to market traders

And another view of the rear yard

Leopold and his shopfront, again. 

Front side view, showing the side entrance and alleyway. 

Side view, again.

Rear view, again

Rear view, again

Anyone for the fayre?

Keep out! (Unless you're a cultist...)

Side view, again

Leopold

Leopold, again. 

Leopold, again again. 

Leopold, again again, (again)

Leopold, conducting a deal for a forbidden book with a dodgy geezer in the rear yard. 

As far as the construction goes, this is one of the original cardboard Warhammer Townscape buildings that I've detailed up to look more realistic. The books are all scratchbuilt out of plasticard, as is the book sign, although the post it's hanging on is an old Mordheim one. The gates all open and are big enough to get a figure on a 20mm base through for playing on it.

The posters are again ones from the Townscape book. If you want them, I've featured these before on an old post, which you can find *here*

For Leopold, I've gone with one of the Marauder MM62 range:

Six for £2.99? I'll take all your stock, shopkeep!

In this case, it's CZ11. I quite liked his rich, exotic-looking clothing, hence the Araby background explanation.

Anyway, I basically plan on doing this sort of thing with all of the Townscape buildings for Altheim, basing each one on a small diorama base and painting up each house's inhabitant(s). I've got a few well on the way to being finished, so hopefully it won't be long until I get some more finished and posted.

Enjoy!