The Piratical Kernowek - My Ker-Ys Host List

Once I'd got a good start on my Érainn host I started to consider a possible opposing force.  That way (once assembled and painted etc.) I'd be able to actually get a game going!

A reference in the background of the Érainn to the 'piratical Kernowek' caused me to gravitate towards the degenerates of Ker-Ys.  A quick exporation of the range and the Brutes convinced me it was the right way to go!

The Kernowek are, of course, the Darklands Cornish.  Having felt abandoned by their fellow Britons they turned to darker forces, and the degenerate Ysians (from the mythical city of Ys in Brittany) stepped in, bringing with them dark knowledge and the power of their horned god, Kernunnos.  A nicely brutal and 'evil' (although everything in Darklands is evil to someone else at some point!) army to pit against my proud men and women of Eriu!

Check out the awesome art of a Ker-Ysian Seer-Drune for a glimpse at their style:

Over time I've built up enough for a 2500 gold host - of course, still waiting their turn for assembly and painting:

Carrowek of Carn Dhu
10 Ax-Drunes (veteran)
8 Shadow-Drunes
3 Goad-Drunes
Meat-Hulk (bound)

(host command - think of it as the King's court of closest advisors)
Battle-Drune (host banner)
Seer-Drune (Blades of the Horned God, Blind and Sweet Corruption)
Battle-Drune (falchion - this is a pretend host champion)

Death-Brute
4 Brutes
2 Brute-Corrupters (bound)
4 Brutes (great weapons)
Brute-Corrupter (bound)

Harvest-Drune
10 Ax-Drunes (veteran)
10 Bow-Drunes

Alix of Carn Bran
Bædubera (bound)

Comes to 2499 gold as of the Ysian list v1.26.

A quick note on Alix - she is a sell-sword (of Kernowek origin) who allows you to bring along a monster from pretty much any kindred you like.  I've gone for a Bædubera - a giant axe-wielding bear from the Beornica realm of the Anglecynn as the art is superb and I have no doubts that Mierce will make sure the miniature is at least as good as the art!

Defenders of Eriu - My Érainn Host List

I first got into Darklands with the New Kindred campaign - which launched the Érainn kindred. I hadn't been aware of the setting or the range previously, but I was quickly captured by it. An alternate Dark Ages Europe - with a wide range of kindred to choose from and the best fantasy miniatures I've ever seen. What was not to like?  The premise of man-sized warriors supported by monstrous infantry of various types and even bigger monsters makes for a variety of list building options too.

Of course, the Érainn spoke to a part of my blood - it was the start of my mini-obsession with all sorts of Irish related armies/warbands (more to come on that on the blog in due time!).  Naturally the awesome miniatures helped seal the deal - the fact they had a rather kick-ass Irishwoman (just like my wife!) who I could take as a commander made it a must-do army!

Caitrín is probably one of my all-time favourite miniatures - if you want one of your own (yes, the miniature is true to the amazing artwork) check it out on the Mierce Webstore (no, I'm not affiliated with them beyond loving their quality products!)

Over time I've been building up my Érainn army and have (almost) all of what I need to field a 2500 gold army... although I still have to assemble, prime and paint it all!

Here's what I have planned:

Uí Néill Ri Tuath (helmet)
10 Tuanagh (veteran)
Oak Beast

(host command - think of it as the King's court of closest advisors)
Deais (sword, host banner)
Druí (Gáe Bulga, Life of the Land, Twisting Roots)
Curadh (Corselet)

Uí Néill Taioseach (sling)
10 Maiobhanagh
5 Peat Beasts

Ancient Fen Beast
5 Fen Beasts
Bog Beast

Connacht Taioseach (Axe)
10 Tuanagh
2 Fir Bholg Hurlers (bound)
2 Fir Bholg Hurlers

Coming in (as at v1.17 of the muster list) at 2497 gold.

I'd like to add some Fiannagh and maybe another Druí (with Sleanagh mainstay) further down the line to finish off this army, but for now I've got plenty to be getting on with!

The Argonauts - getting started

My wife loves Ancient Greek history so it was a no brainer to add a Greek style warband to the Broken Legions collection - in the game they are called The Argonauts.  Again, being a skirmish game it's really cheap to pick up a sprue and a few metal bits to make a list.

First up is the Leader, an Argonaut Captain in the game, and I've called her Polyxena, Spear of Athena:

This is an Atalantes Oplites Warrior from the incredibly good Mierce Miniatures Darklands range.  She's taller and more slender than Warlord Games minis - but in a game where there are demigods, maybe she's part divine?

Next we have the rest of the heroes (L-R) Teukros (Heraclean Champion), Icarion (Orphean Champion) and Xuthos (Heraclean Champion):

These chaps are made using bits from the Warlord Games Greek Hoplite sprue and the associated command sprue.  The Heraclean Champions are built with the larger shields and bronze armour to denote their champ status.

Of course, it can't be an Argonauts list without some Argonauts (really, it can't, they are a 1+ henchman choice!).  Here we have (L-R) Hippias, Koinos, Hypenor, Iobates and Danaos:

These are the Warlord Games Greek Command with sword (metal minis) and two linen armoured Argonauts built from the Hoplites sprue (and some bits from the command sprue such as swords and helms).

To give some equipment options we have some spear-armed Argonauts too - (L-R) Agetos, Mydon and Pythios:

These used up the rest of the linen armoured torsos from the Hoplites sprue.  Mydon got a helmet from the command sprue, the lucky chap.

Finally to give some non-Argonaut options we have a couple of Mercenary Hoplites (L-R) Ombrion and Eurybotas:

These make use of the unarmoured bodies from the Hoplites sprue (as the mercenaries have lesser armour in Broken Legions than the Argonauts it seemed to make sense).  I also gave them the shield decorations (I'm sure they have a technical name but despite some searching I can't find it!) to further make them stand out from the Argonauts minis.

Like with the Soliders of the Eagle, I'd quite like a couple of additional minis to give some extra options - a suitable Oracle mini is high on the list and a couple of Cretan Archers would be good to give some mercenary firepower to the list.