When working through a box of fantasy miniatures, there’s always a moment when the painter pauses and realizes they’ve reached the last set of figures. That sense of finality can be strangely satisfying and bittersweet. For the Bonds of the Wild expansion, that final stage came with the Deep Elves. While not the flashiest or largest models in the set, they embody something essential about why miniature painting and tabletop gaming remain such beloved hobbies. They challenge the painter with tricky details, reward patience with a striking final look, and bring another layer of depth to the fantasy world of Descent: Journeys in the Dark.
The Bonds of the Wild expansion itself adds a menagerie of heroes and monsters, each offering its own artistic puzzles. Earlier figures may have been more straightforward, but the Deep Elves are different. They are sculpted to feel elegant and menacing at the same time, with flowing lines in their attire and subtle details that reward close attention. Their presence in the game is not just as another enemy to fight; they carry with them the darker tones of fantasy lore, representing mysterious underground societies and cunning sorcery. For painters and players alike, these minis are more than tokens. They are embodiments of story, strategy, and artistry.
Understanding the Deep Elves in Fantasy Tradition
To truly appreciate these figures, it helps to place them in the wider tradition of fantasy storytelling. Deep Elves—or dark elves, depending on the setting—are staples of the genre. They usually live far below the surface, inhabiting subterranean cities carved into stone, illuminated by the glow of crystals or magical flame. Their culture is often depicted as secretive, aristocratic, and steeped in both beauty and cruelty. In Descent, they are a reminder of how this world is stitched together with familiar threads from fantasy but given its own unique pattern.
Painting these figures, then, isn’t just about adding color to plastic. It’s about capturing a mood. Red and gold may not be the most traditional scheme for dark elves—who are often imagined in obsidian black and midnight blue—but this choice is a deliberate one. The bright crimson robes paired with gold trim communicate a sense of power and theatricality. They suggest elves who not only fight but demand to be seen, their presence radiating authority. A painter who chooses such a palette is not simply copying lore; they are interpreting it, adding their voice to the centuries-old chorus of fantasy art.
First Impressions and the State of the Minis
Any painter who has worked with mass-produced board game figures knows the mixed blessing they represent. On one hand, it is exciting to open a box and see a spread of sculpted characters, each full of potential. On the other hand, the reality of production means mold lines, awkward joins, and uneven details. The Deep Elves fall squarely into this category. They are janky in spots, with seams that refuse to vanish no matter how much trimming or sanding is attempted.
This is where patience comes in. Hobbyists often talk about the meditative aspect of painting miniatures, and part of that comes from the acceptance of imperfection. Not every line will be perfectly hidden, not every surface will be smooth. The important thing is that the overall effect conveys the character. For the Deep Elves, that means ensuring their flowing robes and ornate details catch the light, even if a few stubborn seams remain visible.
It is worth reflecting here on the nature of hobby craft. Perfectionism is a trap. The joy lies in progress, in learning how to mask flaws with clever brushwork, in transforming raw plastic into something vibrant. Each miniature becomes a record of skill and persistence, a step forward in a painter’s ongoing journey.
Choosing a Color Palette
When faced with the Deep Elves, one could easily default to the stereotypical dark palette: blacks, purples, and cold metallics. Yet the decision to follow the official character art and embrace red and gold creates a different effect. Red is the color of vitality, aggression, and command. Gold, meanwhile, signals wealth, divine favor, and prestige. Together, they evoke imagery of high courts, sacred rites, and dangerous allure.
The combination also provides practical advantages for miniature painting. Red and gold contrast beautifully with each other, allowing details to stand out at a distance on the tabletop. For the lieutenant figure—a more powerful leader among the Deep Elves—a lighter shade of red distinguishes her, giving her a subtle but important visual cue that she commands more respect and danger than her companions. Such choices enhance both the aesthetic and the play experience, making it easier for players to recognize who’s who during the heat of battle.
The Broader Context of the Expansion
The Bonds of the Wild expansion is not just a random assortment of miniatures. It is a carefully designed addition to Descent: Journeys in the Dark, bringing new monsters, new heroes, and new tactical challenges. Each set of minis within the box adds another flavor to the world. Wolves bring primal ferocity, druids offer mystical versatility, and Deep Elves embody elegance twisted toward sinister ends.
From a painter’s perspective, this variety is both rewarding and demanding. One day you might be painting the fur of a beast, the next the gleam of polished armor, and then finally the silken folds of elf robes. By the time you reach the Deep Elves, you’ve likely already honed techniques for shading, layering, and highlighting across multiple textures. This final step is less about practicing fundamentals and more about uniting them, producing a result that feels cohesive with the rest of the expansion.
Completing the last miniatures in a box is more than checking a task off a list. It is a milestone in a hobbyist’s personal story. Each expansion completed is evidence of commitment, of hours spent at the painting table, of brushes cleaned and paint pots opened. The Deep Elves, therefore, carry symbolic weight. They are the conclusion to this particular chapter, the flourish at the end of a long composition.
In this way, they serve as a reminder of why painting miniatures is not just about having painted figures for a game. It is about the act itself—the patience, the creativity, the persistence. Each expansion finished feels like an accomplishment in itself, regardless of how often the game hits the table.
Challenges and Joys of Painting the Deep Elves
Every miniature painter eventually comes across a figure that resists cooperation. It could be a sculpt with soft details, a piece riddled with production flaws, or simply a design that demands more effort than expected. For the Descent: Bonds of the Wild expansion, the Deep Elves filled that role. They look impressive in artwork and carry an aura of menace in the lore, yet in plastic form they present a gauntlet of challenges that test both technical ability and patience.
Working with these figures illustrates an important truth about miniature painting: it is never only about technical mastery. It is also about resilience, problem-solving, and adapting to the quirks of each sculpt. The Deep Elves remind us that painting is a dialogue between artist and material, with compromise and improvisation as much a part of the process as precision brushstrokes.
The Struggle of Mould Lines
Anyone who has handled board game miniatures knows that mould lines are inevitable. These faint ridges form where two halves of a mould meet during production. In some cases they are subtle, easily removed with a hobby knife or fine sandpaper. In others, they carve across delicate details, ruining smooth surfaces and frustrating even the most diligent painter.
The Deep Elves fall closer to the latter category. Their slender limbs and flowing garments mean mould lines often run along curves, crossing folds in fabric or bisecting ornamental features. A painter may spend significant time trimming and sanding, only to find faint traces remain. At first glance, this might feel like failure, but here is where philosophy enters the hobby.
Rather than obsessing over absolute perfection, many painters accept that some flaws will persist. The goal becomes making them less noticeable, camouflaging them with clever use of color, shading, and texture. A mould line that seems glaring on bare plastic often fades into obscurity once the figure is primed, painted, and sealed. The process teaches patience and perspective: imperfections are part of the hobby, and learning to work with them is a form of growth.
Priming and Preparing the Minis
After tackling mould lines, the next step is priming. Primer is the foundation of any miniature paint job, ensuring that paints adhere properly and colors apply evenly. For the Deep Elves, a neutral primer like gray provides balance, allowing both the vibrant red and reflective gold to shine. White primer could make the red appear overly bright, while black primer might muddy the lighter tones.
This stage is also an opportunity to inspect the figure. Under primer, hidden details emerge, and previously overlooked mould lines might reappear. It can be tempting to dive straight into color, but taking a few extra minutes here prevents frustration later. Good preparation is invisible in the finished product, but it forms the backbone of a successful paint job.
Layering the Robes
The most striking feature of the Deep Elves is their flowing robes, the canvas upon which the painter can unleash creativity. Painting red fabric is notoriously difficult. Too much shading and it looks brown; too little and it appears flat. Achieving a balance requires careful layering, building up color gradually from dark base to bright highlights.
A common approach begins with a deep crimson basecoat, establishing the shadows in recesses and folds. Over this, successive layers of brighter red are applied, each covering a smaller area than the last, creating a gradient effect. Finally, an orange-red or scarlet highlight can be used along the edges of folds, giving the impression of light catching the fabric.
This technique not only adds realism but also drama. The robes look alive, shifting with movement, glowing as if imbued with magical energy. The process may take time, requiring patience for each layer to dry, but the payoff is worth the effort.
Accents of Gold
If red provides vitality, gold adds elegance and authority. Painting metallics, however, is its own challenge. Gold paints often appear streaky if applied too thinly, or lumpy if too thick. The key is patience: multiple thin coats build up a smooth, reflective surface.
Placement matters as well. Gold trim along sleeves, belts, or weapon hilts must be applied carefully, with a steady hand, to avoid bleeding into adjacent areas. A fine detail brush becomes indispensable here. To elevate the metallic effect, some painters use shading washes—thin inks or paints that flow into recesses, darkening shadows and enhancing contrast. Highlighting edges with a lighter metallic tone can further enhance the gleam, giving the illusion of polished, reflective surfaces.
For the lieutenant figure, the lighter red robes contrasted with bold gold trim distinguish her from her peers. This subtle adjustment communicates leadership without requiring dramatic redesign. On the tabletop, she immediately stands out, a clever example of how color choices influence storytelling and gameplay clarity.
Faces and Details
Miniature faces are always delicate, and the Deep Elves’ features are no exception. Their expressions are sharp yet small, making precision essential. Skin tones must be consistent, smooth, and lively. Many painters begin with a mid-tone base, then shade with darker washes and highlight with lighter tones on cheekbones, noses, and brows.
Eyes can be especially daunting at this scale. Some painters skip them entirely, letting shadows imply their presence. Others carefully dot in whites and pupils, creating expressive gazes. For Deep Elves, a compromise approach—suggesting eyes without excessive detail—often works best, maintaining the mysterious, otherworldly aura without risking cartoonish results.
Weapons, jewelry, and other small details complete the figure. Each requires attention, but also restraint. Overpainting can clutter the miniature, while underpainting leaves it unfinished. The challenge is striking a balance: enough detail to make the miniature feel alive, but not so much that it distracts from the overall composition.
Managing Frustration and Finding Joy
Painting janky figures like the Deep Elves can be frustrating, but frustration is not the end of the story. It is part of the journey. Each obstacle—whether a stubborn mould line, a tricky highlight, or a shaky brushstroke—becomes a test of persistence. Overcoming these tests builds confidence, teaching techniques that will make future projects easier.
The key lies in shifting perspective. Instead of viewing flaws as failures, they can be seen as opportunities to practice problem-solving. A rough sculpt challenges creativity, demanding inventive solutions. A poorly defined fold may inspire bolder shading. A misshapen hand may become a chance to practice blending. In this way, the very imperfections that cause frustration also fuel growth.
At the same time, joy emerges from the act itself. Few hobbies offer the same tactile satisfaction as brushing color onto a miniature and watching it transform. The simple act of painting—of dipping brush into paint, of layering colors, of seeing flat plastic come alive—creates a meditative rhythm. Hours pass unnoticed, frustrations fade, and what remains is a deep sense of accomplishment.
The Transformation of the Tabletop
One of the greatest rewards of painting is seeing the figures in play. When Deep Elves, painted in rich reds and shimmering golds, stride onto the battlefield, they change the entire atmosphere. Players respond differently to painted miniatures than to bare plastic. Painted figures carry weight; they feel alive, part of the story.
This transformation enhances immersion. Instead of abstract tokens, the Deep Elves become characters. They inspire awe, dread, or admiration, depending on how they are painted. The lieutenant, with her lighter robes, commands attention at a glance. The group as a whole radiates cohesion, signaling unity and menace. In this way, painting bridges the gap between art and game, between imagination and reality.
Miniatures as a Storytelling Medium
Miniatures are often described in practical terms: tokens, components, or pieces that help players track positions on a board. Yet, for those who take the time to paint them, they become something else entirely. They turn into characters, living extensions of the game’s world, visual storytellers in their own right. The Deep Elves from the Bonds of the Wild expansion are a powerful example of this transformation. Painted carefully, they cease to be plastic models and instead embody menace, elegance, and narrative depth.
Storytelling is central to both miniature painting and tabletop gaming. While the written rules of a game provide mechanics and outcomes, painted figures provide visual cues and emotional resonance. They tell players how to feel about what is happening on the board. A painted Deep Elf in crimson robes lined with gold trim says something very different than a bare gray figure pulled directly from the box. One is anonymous; the other commands attention and respect, whispering stories of ancient magic and sinister ambitions.
From Plastic to Personality
A bare miniature is essentially a sketch—its shape suggests what it might be, but the details remain hazy. Painting fills in those blanks. Through choices of color, tone, and texture, painters assign identity. The Deep Elves, for instance, could have been painted in stark black and icy blues, which would make them appear cold and ruthless, perhaps assassins or spies. Painted in red and gold, however, they feel more regal, as if they are nobles of a shadowy court, warriors who wield power as much through presence as through blade.
This act of assigning personality is where miniature painting becomes deeply personal. Each painter interprets the sculpt through their own lens, influenced by the artwork, the lore, and their own imagination. For one painter, the Deep Elves might represent cunning sorcerers. For another, they might embody martial elites defending a hidden empire. What unites these interpretations is the transformation from object to character, from piece of plastic to bearer of story.
Atmosphere Through Color
Color is one of the most powerful storytelling tools in a painter’s arsenal. Humans instinctively respond to color: red suggests danger, passion, or command; gold conveys wealth, divinity, or arrogance. Together, they shape perception before a single word of narrative is spoken.
For the Deep Elves, the chosen palette sets the tone of the battlefield. A group of crimson-robed figures entering play immediately shifts the mood. The table seems more dramatic, the stakes higher. Their gold accents catch the light, suggesting refinement and superiority. Even without spoken explanation, players sense that these are not mere fodder but significant adversaries, deserving of both fear and respect.
Contrast also plays a role. Surrounded by wolves, druids, or human heroes from the same expansion, the Deep Elves’ vibrant palette makes them stand out. They do not blend into the crowd; they dominate it. This contrast reinforces their narrative identity, ensuring they leave an impression in both memory and gameplay.
Gesture, Form, and Sculpted Narrative
Even before paint is applied, a miniature’s sculpt tells part of the story. The Deep Elves are designed with flowing robes, slim forms, and poised stances. These gestures suggest grace, confidence, and a touch of menace. Painting enhances and amplifies these sculpted cues. Highlighting folds of fabric makes the robes appear to billow, implying motion. Carefully shaded skin tones sharpen facial expressions, hinting at arrogance or focus. Metallic trim emphasizes their wealth and sophistication.
Through these combined techniques, the painter becomes a co-author with the sculptor. The sculpt provides the skeleton of the story; the paint breathes life into it. Without paint, the Deep Elves are incomplete characters. With it, they become storytellers in miniature, capable of conveying history, mood, and intention at a glance.
Immersion in Gameplay
The real magic of storytelling through miniatures happens during play. A painted set of Deep Elves is not just decoration—it changes how players engage with the game. Suddenly, when these figures appear on the board, players lean forward, their eyes drawn to the gleam of gold and the sweep of crimson robes. They respond not just to the mechanics of combat but to the presence of these characters.
Immersion is enhanced when every figure tells a story. Painted Deep Elves facing off against painted heroes create a scene straight out of fantasy fiction. The battle feels alive, as if it were unfolding in a novel or a film. Players project more onto the game, crafting dialogue in their heads, imagining motivations and histories. The line between rules and narrative blurs, creating an experience that is richer, more engaging, and more memorable.
The Emotional Connection
Why does painting create such a strong emotional connection? Part of it is investment. A player who has spent hours painting a miniature naturally feels more attached to it. But it is also about recognition. A painted Deep Elf is no longer generic; it has personality. Players remember its appearance, its colors, and its presence. Even long after a game ends, they can recall the way those crimson robes caught the light, or how the lighter-red lieutenant stood defiantly at the center of the battlefield.
This emotional connection deepens the game’s storytelling potential. Painted figures evoke stronger reactions, whether admiration for their beauty or dread of their menace. The Deep Elves, with their commanding color scheme and elegant details, inspire exactly this kind of response. They linger in memory not only as enemies defeated but as characters experienced.
Shared Storytelling at the Table
Tabletop gaming is inherently social. Players gather to share an experience, and painted miniatures enhance that experience by providing a shared visual language. When a group sees painted Deep Elves, everyone instantly understands their significance. There is no need to explain—they look dangerous, important, and dramatic.
This shared understanding enriches group storytelling. Players might joke about the arrogance of the lieutenant, or shiver at the sight of the elves’ crimson robes. These conversations add layers of narrative to the session, turning what could be a mechanical encounter into a shared memory. Months later, players may reminisce not about a rule interaction, but about “that time the Deep Elves appeared and nearly overwhelmed us.” The miniatures become anchors for memory, holding the story in place.
Storytelling Beyond the Table
The storytelling power of miniatures extends beyond gameplay. For many painters, the act of painting is itself a narrative journey. Each figure tells the story of the painter’s progress—the challenges faced, the techniques attempted, the creative risks taken. Looking at a completed Deep Elf is not only about admiring its current appearance; it is about remembering the hours of work, the decisions made, the patience tested.
Sharing photos of painted miniatures with others continues this storytelling. Fellow hobbyists see not just a figure but an interpretation. Discussions about color choices, shading, or technique become exchanges of narrative, each person contributing to the evolving story of how these figures are understood and appreciated.
The Deep Elves as Archetypes
Finally, the Deep Elves embody timeless archetypes in fantasy storytelling. They are the mysterious nobles of the underground, elegant yet sinister, alluring yet dangerous. Painting them emphasizes these archetypes, making them vivid and tangible. Through color, detail, and artistry, they transcend their role as generic enemies and become representatives of larger themes: the allure of darkness, the corruption of beauty, the tension between surface and shadow.
In this sense, painting Deep Elves is an act of mythmaking. It participates in a long tradition of using visual art to embody cultural archetypes. Just as medieval manuscripts illustrated demons in vivid hues, or epic films costume villains in rich colors, painted miniatures use imagery to tell timeless stories in miniature form.
Reflections on the Bonds of the Wild
There is something uniquely satisfying about reaching the end of a painting project, especially when it involves an entire expansion filled with diverse miniatures. For the Bonds of the Wild set, the Deep Elves marked that finish line. With their crimson robes and golden accents, they stood as the final brushstrokes on a journey that spanned beasts, druids, familiars, and more. In many ways, they symbolize not just the conclusion of a box of miniatures but the culmination of a painter’s growth through the process.
Painting an expansion is not only about having painted figures for gameplay. It is about the incremental victories, the lessons learned, and the satisfaction of bringing a collection to life. The Deep Elves, though janky in sculpt and challenging in detail, highlight why miniature painting remains such a compelling pursuit: it is at once an artistic endeavor, a technical skill, and a personal journey.
The Journey Across the Expansion
The Bonds of the Wild expansion offers variety. Its collection of miniatures ranges from feral beasts with fur textures to humanoid heroes with armor and cloth, each demanding different techniques. Early in the process, a painter might focus on mastering fur dry-brushing or subtle shading on natural forms. Later, the attention shifts to the complexity of robes, metallics, and fine details.
By the time the Deep Elves appear, the painter has already honed multiple skills. They arrive as both challenge and reward: figures that demand everything learned so far but also demonstrate how far the painter has come. Looking at them alongside earlier pieces from the same box reveals growth—brush control is steadier, layering more confident, color theory more deliberate. The Deep Elves may not be perfect, but they represent progress, and progress is the truest measure of success in any craft.
Lessons in Patience and Persistence
If there is one lesson the Deep Elves emphasize, it is patience. From stubborn mould lines to delicate gold trim, they resist shortcuts. Rushing through them results in frustration or sloppy results, while slowing down reveals the joy of watching them gradually transform. This patience extends beyond the figures themselves—it becomes part of the painter’s mindset.
Persistence is equally important. Many hobbyists have moments when they want to set a figure aside, frustrated by flaws or mistakes. But persistence carries them forward, teaching resilience. Even when a mistake happens—a paint spill, a wobbly highlight—it can be corrected, reworked, or simply integrated into the design. The Deep Elves embody this lesson: their flaws forced persistence, and finishing them felt all the more rewarding for it.
Building Cohesion Across a Set
Another takeaway from finishing an expansion is the value of cohesion. While each miniature can stand alone, they collectively form a visual narrative. Choosing consistent basing materials, harmonizing color palettes, and balancing contrasts ensures the set feels unified when placed on the table.
For the Bonds of the Wild, the Deep Elves provide a dramatic flourish that ties the set together. Their regal reds and shimmering golds contrast beautifully with the earthy tones of beasts and the mystical greens of druids. They complete the spectrum, acting as both climax and conclusion. A fully painted expansion is more than a collection of miniatures—it is a gallery, a display of creative choices that tell a story as much about the painter as about the game world.
The Sense of Accomplishment
Completing the Deep Elves, and by extension the expansion, brings a deep sense of accomplishment. Unlike quick projects or single figures, an expansion represents sustained effort across weeks or even months. Each painted miniature is a milestone, and the final figure is the exclamation mark at the end of a long sentence.
This sense of completion carries psychological weight. It reminds the painter that large projects can be conquered through steady progress. It builds confidence to tackle even bigger undertakings in the future, whether that’s another expansion, a different game, or even custom sculpting and conversions. In this way, finishing the Deep Elves becomes both an ending and a beginning: the end of one journey and the spark for many others.
Miniatures as Part of Gaming Culture
Painting an expansion like Bonds of the Wild also underscores the role of miniatures in broader gaming culture. Miniatures bridge the gap between abstract strategy and tangible storytelling. They are physical embodiments of imagination, transforming the tabletop into a stage where stories unfold.
In gaming communities, painted miniatures often become points of pride and conversation. They spark discussions about technique, color choices, and interpretations of lore. They also strengthen bonds between players, as painted figures enhance immersion and create shared experiences that linger long after the game ends. The Deep Elves, with their commanding presence, are perfect examples of how painted figures contribute to culture—not just as art objects but as catalysts for storytelling and memory.
Growth as a Painter
Looking back at the Deep Elves also invites reflection on personal growth. No painter begins with perfect brush control or flawless color blending. Growth comes through repetition, experimentation, and the willingness to learn from mistakes.
Perhaps an earlier miniature from the set suffered from uneven highlights or muddy shading. By the time the Deep Elves arrive, those mistakes have informed better choices. Every brushstroke carries the memory of past attempts. Growth is rarely dramatic in the moment but becomes obvious when comparing early and late figures from a set. The Deep Elves stand as quiet proof of that progress, evidence of improvement made visible in plastic and paint.
The Role of Memory
Miniature painting is deeply tied to memory. Each painted figure is not only a visual object but a record of the time, effort, and experiences invested in it. Years later, looking at the Deep Elves may bring back not just the memory of their crimson and gold robes, but the feeling of late nights at the painting desk, the trial and error of shading, the satisfaction of sealing the final coat.
These memories extend to gameplay as well. Players may recall not only battles fought with or against the Deep Elves but the pride of seeing them fully painted on the table. Miniatures thus become memory-keepers, tangible reminders of both artistic journeys and shared adventures.
A Broader Reflection on the Hobby
Completing a set like Bonds of the Wild also raises broader reflections about the hobby itself. Miniature painting is a unique blend of art, craft, and play. It sits at the intersection of fine detail work and imaginative storytelling, where the tactile meets the fantastical. It rewards persistence but also invites creativity, allowing painters to experiment with palettes, techniques, and interpretations.
In a fast-paced world, miniature painting offers something rare: a slow, deliberate practice that values process over speed. Each figure demands attention, and each brushstroke is an act of focus. It becomes a form of meditation, a way of grounding oneself in the present moment while creating something beautiful and meaningful.
Final Thoughts
Looking back across the journey of painting the Bonds of the Wild expansion, the Deep Elves were not just another set of miniatures. They became the lens through which the entire experience could be understood: the frustrations of flawed sculpts, the triumphs of well-chosen palettes, the patience required to work through setbacks, and the sense of accomplishment that comes with finishing a project of this scale.
The series began with an introduction to the Deep Elves in their broader context—how they fit into Descent, the lore they carry, and the initial impressions they leave on the painting desk. It then moved into the challenges and joys of working with them, highlighting the technical aspects of color, contrast, and persistence. From there, the conversation widened, considering how painted miniatures act as more than decorative objects. They tell stories, enrich gameplay, and forge deeper emotional ties to the worlds we explore on the tabletop.
By the time the fourth part arrived, the discussion had become less about individual brushstrokes and more about the bigger picture: growth as a painter, the cultural significance of miniatures, and the reflective, almost meditative value of the hobby. The Deep Elves were the finish line, but they also became a mirror showing how much progress was made along the way.
In the end, miniature painting is a conversation between patience, creativity, and storytelling. Every painted expansion is more than plastic with paint—it is a personal archive of time spent, skills learned, and stories made tangible. Completing the Deep Elves, and with them the Bonds of the Wild, is a reminder of what this hobby offers: a chance to create, to grow, and to connect—both with ourselves and with the games and people we love.
The descent may continue in new expansions, new projects, and new challenges, but the lessons carried forward remain the same. Pick up the brush, embrace the imperfections, and let the figures tell their stories.