Characters from the Novel "Kim": Teshoo Lama

“He drew from under the table a sheet of strangely scented yellow-Chinese paper, the brushes, and slab of India ink. In cleanest, severest outline he had traced the Great Wheel with its six spokes, whose centre is the conjoined Hog, Snake, and Dove (Ignorance, Anger, and Lust), and whose compartments are all the heavens and hells, and all the chances of human life.”
― Rudyard Kipling, Kim

Teshoo Lama, a Tibetan Buddhist priest, becomes, probably the most important, father figure to Kim in Rudyard Kipling's famous novel Kim. Against all odds, the Teshoo lama and Kim have a lot in common. First, both of them are outsiders to Indian society—Kim because he doesn't totally fit in to any of the castes or groups that he imitates so well, and the lama because he is not from India (he's Tibetan) and he is only traveling through the country for religious reasons.

Since I had already converted figures for Kim and Mahbub Ali - how could I not do a figure for a character that spends more time with him and influences him in the novel. I'm not going to cover those details - I want you to read what I consider Kipling's best novel. So here we go:

After looking, I was not satisfied with any figure based on the descriptions of Teshoo Lama from the book and/or various film depictions of the character. He is a tall man and wears glasses; I'll take tall over the glasses. While browsing through the book seller 2nd and Charles, I happened to see a package of 2 human wizards from the WizKids Nolzurs pre-primed resin figures for D&D. I have found this to be a great source for animals, accessories and figures not only for imaginative gaming, but historical gaming as well.

I decided to use the figure on the left as my Teshoo Lama. I know what you are thinking, that is a small head. I thought the same thing, but I thought by cutting off the turban and adding a straw hat from Warlord Games ECW infantry, it might look okay.

Okay, that looks like crap and the head looks even smaller. The lesson learned (you would think I would know by now) don't start painting until you know what you want. On a positive note, I used some of the same type of bits to add character to the figure that I did with Kim; pouches from Gripping Beasts Viking Hirdmen, household string for a strap, and a blanket role from Games Workshop's Empire (or whatever they are called now) Pistoliers.

Wow. Looks like a turtle neck from the back. I'm sad to say, the figure is now scheduled for beheading and I hoped that I would not make too much of a mess of it to salvage the figure.

Fortunately the scheduled procedure went well. I used an extra head from the Perry Miniatures Afghan Tribesmen box, carefully cut off the turban and trimmed the mustache, and then added a new (the other one was damaged removing it from the wizard's head) straw hat from the ECW box. Ta dah! Yes, you can see that I did not carefully wash the glue on my fingers. I had to go back with a moist clothe to remove the glue and not the paint.

Much better.

Some suggested rules for Teshoo Lama in the game In Her Majesty's Name (US Link and UK and EU link):

Name: Teshoo Lama

Pluck: 3+

Move: 6 inches

Run: 3 inches

Fighting Value: +0

Shooting Value: +0

Speed: + 

Talents: Cold Proof, Erudite Wit (Chanting), Fanatic, Iron Will, Mystic

Basic Equipment: Blessed Quarterstaff

Armor: 7 (Ordinary Clothes)
Points: 46

Special Rule: 

1. If anyone attacks the holy man, whenever that person is targeted add +1 to Fighting or Shooting.

2. If anyone knocks down Teshoo Lama, Kim automatically gains the Berserker Talent.

For The Men Who Would be Kings:

1. Holy Man: Add as an extra model in the unit. For every enemy unit removed from play by this unit while this character ispresent, the player gains +1 victory point. If this special character is killed orthe unit is removed from play, the player suffers -4 victory points. Does not

count as a model in the unit for combat or morale purposes. Adds 2 points to

a unit’s cost, and a player may only field one such model in a Field Force.

2. Escorted Holy Man: Add as an extra model to the unit. More vulnerable in melee than soldiers: killed on a roll of 3–5 when testing for Leader casualties from melee (Leader is still a casualty on a roll of 2). If this special character is killed or the unit is removed from play, your opponent gains 1 victory point; if the character survives, you gain 1 victory point. Does not count as a model in the unit for combat or morale purposes. No additional cost, and a player may only field one such model in a Field Force.

Teshoo Lama and his "chela" Kim.