[actual play] Kingdom Death: Monster - The People of the Stars - Lantern Years 2-4 - The Tyrant and His Children

Abzu, Abrasax, Aapep and Aaepef set out to hunt once more, seeking to find another lion to slay. It did not take long to once more find a cub that was abandoned by its mother. The hunters slew the creature and set upon by the father as the cub's cries brought the large animal forth. But the survivors had been inspired by their Tyrant lord, and quickly slew the lion, rending flesh from bone, and chopped limb from body with hacking axes. Returning to the camp they were all given nicknames. Some were disparaging, while others were venerable.

Setting out, the same band of hunters went seeking monster they had heard recently. The antelope. They endured a carpet of ticks that bit and scratched at them. But they soon found the antelope, out in the dark plains, and got on with the task of hunting it. They were also lucky to dig up a piece of iron, and were able to smash the dark pillar that also gifted them with a further piece of iron. They knew such pieces would make wondrous weapons in future. The antelope took a serious of wounds, and it was soon vomiting blood as is stampeded about. But with the beast dead, the survivors were soon hampered by the acrid mists that stung at their throats. They eventually returned to the camp, and to their lord tyrant, but were exhausted.

The Tyrant looked upon his people and descended his throne and called for four amongst them to face him in mortal combat. Four came forth, all fresh and who had never faced a monster. The donned their weapons and armour and readied themselves. Ahrimanes, Ai-Hwa, Aida Wedo Gold (gold being a noble name bestowed by the Tyrant at birth), and Agri-Manios, surrounded the Tyrant and attacked. Darts, axe and sword struck the Tyrant, with the Tyrant at times being impressed and bestowing new gifts to his attackers. Though as they attacked, the survivors had to manage the mystical manner in which their lord Tyrant was able to swiftly move. He would teleport, leaving behind a stone statue of himself. Using the spear, one of the surivors was able to smash a statue and appear next to the Tyrant, and used such an opportunity to strike him. The Tyrant was unlike anything the survivors had faced. He was able to attack from a distance. With a pointed finger he send pulverising blasts at his opponents. At other times he was able to summon from the heavens themselves meteorites and burning light. Ai-Hwa eventually fell dead, having bled out from his wounds. But the others were able to land their attacks, with Aida drinking a potion to send him into a wild frenzy that allowed him to deal the final killing blow. With the Tyrant impressed by the skills of his followers, he issued to them fine robes, and marked a number of them mystically. They thought themselves gifted, and Aida now possessed skin that was harder than stone. With the fight over, the heavens opened and an acid rain fell, washing the blood from the stone faces of the ground. While the others went to find shelter, and Ai-Hwa was buried, Aida danced in the rain. They were becoming the blessed people of the dragon. The Tyrant gifted his people with a dark orb, that produced heat, and those who looked upon it and were already touched by the dragon, learnt new fighting arts.

A new hunt was called, and many of the survivors donned their new dragon vestments and prepared for the fight ahead.