[actual play] Kingdom Death: Monster - Lantern Year 13 - Crimson Fury

Aiakos and Alcestis, elder of the settlement, led Agarve and Emelus on another hunt for a large lion, hoping to have a chance to train the saviour before the return of the Hand. As they followed the beast they discovered scattered broken lanterns. Aiakos and Agarve wept for the dead, while Alcestis are contemplated existence.
Carrying on into the darkness they found claw marks, and then a splatter of glowing blood. Alcestis tasted it, and was overcome with a vision of the beast they hunted.

On the plane of faces Alcestis came upon a stone face that looked like her own, just older and wiser, and as she looked at it a booming voice was heard. All were driven mad by the chilling words spoken.

Travelling further, tracking the lion, Emelus found a stone heart on the ground that pulsed, before the then discovered a lion sculpture. Here the hunter prayed before coming upon the lion. They were approached by refugees who were fleeing the lion. The hnters walked on, and finding the lion they began their ambush, which was perfect thanks to Alcestis' vision.

The lion was feeding on the remains of a monster, allowing the hunter to sneak up on it. Alcestis found a phoenix finger in the remains, as the others attacked. Aiakos displaying his strength and skill, and rending the lion's flesh apart.

Working as a team the hunters played the lion, drawing its attacks to allow other a chance to strike. Aiakos and Emelus together tore are the lion with sword and axe. Emelus hacked off the mane of the great cat, as Aiakos sliced at muscles and tendons.

Yep, Aiakos was typically causing 5 wounds an action!

The butchery over, the lion slain, they returned triumphant, certain the saviour would be able to face the Hand this coming year. Upon returning to the camp the gather children of Aiakos, his pair of twins, tried to prove their worth before their father and saviour brother. They engaged in a triathlon of speed, might and mind. One was unfortunate as his arm was torn off in the fighting portion of the trials. But over all the children were stronger and more prepared for the Hand, for that is who, with Emelus, they were sent to face.

[actual play] Kingdom Death: Monster - Lantern Year 12 - A Saviour is Born

 

Aiakos led Agarve, Aeson and Agron out on the hunt, with a need to train these fresh hunters. It was as they roamed the nightmare landscape they came upon a dead antelope. The scene was chilling for it meant something larger hunted in the dark. However, carrying on their hunt the party found a pool of fresh clean water, and it was there they rested. The next day they continued their hunt and found that the tracks they followed split in two. Had they found a smaller prey?

Sneaking up on the injured antelope, they found that it was grazing near the carcass of some other beast. Taking their chance the hunters ambushed the beast. Working as a team, Agarve and Aiakos tore at the antelope with sword and katar, Aiakos demonstrating his immense mastery with the sword. The other scavenged, ripping up the acanthus plants the antelope fed upon. Startled the beast began to bound around, stampeding and charging, but the hunters moved swiftly to dodge the attacks. The antelope had no more source of nourishment, nor chance to attack easily, and so the hunters lined up ready to counter charge. It was with a savage attack, literally biting at the throat of the beast, that Aeson slew the antelope.

Returning to the settlement the mists had returning, but once more, one of the party bathed in ammonia, help dissipate the mists. With the heroes returned a grand festival was held for the settlement was now very old. Aiakos and Arachne and Alcestis were some of the eldest of the camp, and they swore that they would meet the night with tooth and claw. Only the strongest will ever survive - and that will be them.

The camp was also visited by the Twilight Knight, but the camp had nothing to offer due to all the feasting.

Before the lantern hoard, Aiakos sent his time meditating, praying for more strong children to pass on his gift with swords. He was blessed with 3 more, twins to Arachne and with Alcestis a special child. The child was momentarily taken to the realm of dreams, and returned to the settlement changed. Aiakos and Alcestis looked at their child and saw his eyes blazed crimson. At last, a saviour.

[actual play] Kingdom Death: Monster - Lantern Year 11 - The Hand

Aiakos led Aeneas, Amphityrone, and Aella off to hunt a White Lion, a large on, as they needed more bones and organs for weapons. The hunt itself was rather uneventful, and while the lion put up a tough fight, it was still no match for the skilled hunters, as they sliced the monster apart, taking its tail for the spoils.

The mists that came in as the hunter returned were an ill omen. They used ammonia to help themselves cope with the toxic mists, but as the cloying clouds cleared, a strange regal figure stood outside of the camp. The Hand had arrived. He stood, aloof, atop a large stone face, and beckoned the camp to fight him.

The fight was a unnatural affair, as the Hand moved as an ephemeral being, appearing behind one of the warriors and striking. The feeling of the Hand moving through them terrified them to their bones, and soon enough their numbers dwindled until only Aiakos was the last standing, using his shield to weather the storm of blows the Hand directed at him. Thanks to the foresight of one of his dead compatriots, Aiakos knew that he could not attack, because of the threat of the Hand using a clever poly in return. But at finally, as Aiakos cowered behind his shield, the Hand stood over him, motioned for him to stand, and clapped. The fight was over. The Hand was satisfied. Aiakos was thrown a leather package containing various items and a skull - little did he know that one of those still at camp had been murdered by the Hand.

Aiakos, alone, returned with the gift, the weapons of the fallen, and directed the rest of the camp to the bodies which they tore apart. A new set of leather armour was fashioned, and a celebration was held, with the camp swelling in numbers as many new children were born.

But the Hand would return, and there were only a few years to prepare. Aiakos gathered many of the new survivors and headed out to hunt the Antelope.