Kurgan the Hunter

Imanu was now convinced that this was a land more savage than Naya. He needed to get his people out before they were overwhelmed, and gathered his tribe and attempted to head back to Naya. Their movements attracted unwanted attention however, as a thrash of Viashino lead by Kurgan the Hunter picked up their scent and tailed them. The Hunt Thrash fell on them with all the ferocity of Jund, initially catching the Munashe tribe off guard. Imanu kept his wits about him though, and rallied some Gargantuans and drove the lizards back. The Nayans were expecting a chance to rest, thinking the Viashino would take a chance to regroup. They didn’t. The Viashino hit the Nayan’s straight away, not offering them a moment’s respite. Caught off guard the Nayans were overwhelmed and forced to fall back. Knowing another attack was imminent Imanu gathered the Gargantuans and struck back. Kurgan and his people fought hard, but the behemoths of Naya proved too much, and they were forced to flee.

With the Giants of Naya proving themselves more than a match for the Viashino Kurgan turned round and headed towards the other new land. In particular the members of the Carrion Thrash in his group seemed most eager to explore Grixis. The Grand Necromancer’s rearguard were better prepared for this incursion than the last one, giving the Viashino a tough fight. At one point the dust cleared and the field looked empty, only for Kurgan to watch in horror as all of the fallen Grixis warriors rose again and charged. Undeterred Kurgan rallied his people and struck back, eventually pushing further into Grixis.

In Jund the Grand Necromancer managed to lure both Imanu’s tribe and Kurgan’s Thrash to battle. The opening exchanges saw Kurgan sending his warriors into both sides before the Grand Necromancer gathered his minions and Imanu brought the Gargantuans into play. Eventually all sides put their best into play, Kurgan’s best Viashino stood opposed to a collection of Nayan Gargantuans and a horde of the Grand Necromancer’s minions. The Grand Necromancer was the first to break the standoff, attacking with his Kathari minions at Imanu, believing him weak. He was very wrong, as Imanu channelled the ferocity of a Cavern Thoctar into an enormous Blast of fire straight at the Grand Necromancer. It took all of the Grand Necromancer’s power to keep himself in one piece, holding his skeleton together as the flesh burned away. With his body damaged and his powers drained the Grand Necromancer withdrew. As Imanu turned to face Kurgan all he saw was a massive lightning bolt. With the Nacatl blown aside Kurgan pressed into Naya in search of tasty treats.

In the Jungles of Naya the Hunt Thrash met the Bant army lead by the Aven Captain Rosendo Celestino. In the opening stages of the battle Rosendo had his men form a solid line, but Kurgan put his most powerful warriors on the field and smashed into the Bant line. Rosendo used his magic to banish the powerful attackers time and again, but the Hunt Thrash were relentless and new warriors stepped up to take their place. Slowly the Viashino ground down Rosendo’s force, causing him to sound a withdrawal. Rosendo chose a different course of action, sending forward an aggressive attack, hitting the Hunt Thrash as they were feasting on the fallen. The counter attack caught Kurgan’s people off guard, driving them back. Kurgan amassed a hoard of goblins to strike back, feeding them to his mightiest warrior before sending him into the fray. Rosendo removed the warrior, but Kurgan blasted aside the Bant defenders with blasts of lightning. Bant’s elite swordsmen proved more than a match for the warriors of Jund, carving a path to victory.

Imanu had a target in his sights, a prime training area in Jund where their battlemages can practise. Rallying his tribe he moved in to take it. The Hunt Thrash were tasked with defending it, and determined not to lose their land to these invaders. Imanu’s probing strike was without Gargantuans, which proved costly as Kurgan’s warriors were mightier than the Nayans, and his magic more destructive. Falling back Imanu desperately sought to bring the Gargantuan’s to bare, but Kurgan’s people kept up the pressure, and the Nayans were driven far from the training ground.