Last Hunt
| Previous | Battle of Tears |
| Conflict | War of Life |
| Era | Age of Chaos |
| Location | Realm of Ghyran |
| Outcome | Kurnoth's remains and spear given to Alarielle |
| | |
|---|---|
 Invidian pursuers
|
 Heartwood wargrove
|
| | |
| Unknown | All but a a single Dryad slain |
The Last Hunt is the name given to the journey by a wargrove of Heartwood Sylvaneth as they attempted to bring news of Kurnoth's fate to Alarielle following the hunter-god's death during the Battle of Tears.[1b]
Background
Kurnoth had assembled a mighty Great Hunt to repulse an invasion of the Ghyranite continent of Kurnotheal by Daemons of Nurgle from neighbouring Invidia. As the most devoted to Kurnoth among the Sylvaneth glades and with their capital of Hol'leath on the continent, Heartwood contributed many wargroves to the Great Hunt. When the hunter-god was felled by the invaders, one of these wargroves set off to bring his mighty spear and his remains to his consort, Alarielle.[1b][2a]
Hunters, Hunted
The Nurglite invaders had no desire to see such a potent artefact as the Spear of Kurnoth remain in the hands of their enemies, to say nothing of the foul mischief they could perform with a trophy such as the corpse of a god. The funerary wargrove was pursued in force, and the journey became a running battle as the sylvaneth repeatedly attempt to evade their pursuers by travelling through the realmroots. Each time, they were caught once more when they emerge, and the strength of the wargrove slowly ebbed away as sylvaneth sold their lives to buy the bearers of Kurnoth's remains time to escape. Eventually, a solitary Dryad was all that remained of the wargrove, and it was she who finally reached the Everqueen with the tragic news and presented her with what remained of her consort.[1b][2a]
Consequences
The loss of her consort and the tragic journey of the Last Hunt, the latest in a long series of woeful events, sent Alarielle into a deep depression. She retreated to Athelwyrd, not to emerge again until the Age of Sigmar. When she does and is reborn in her martial aspect, she takes up the last remnant of Kurnoth - his mighty spear - in order to arm herself for the upcoming Season of War.[1a][1b]
Heroism and Tragedy
The sylvaneth of Heartwood come to view the actions of the Last Hunt as exemplifying the martial qualities of their glade. They seek to live up to the example of courage and valour that the Last Hunt set both to pay them tribute and, they hope, revive their fallen god through their courageous actions.[2a]
The tale of the Last Hunt has become well-known throughout Ghyran. Tellings of the tragic journey are often called the Slaughter of the Last Hunt.[1b]
Sources
- 1: Battletome: Sylvaneth (2019)
- 2: Soulbound: Champions of Order
- 2a: Heartwood Glade, pg. 67
