Last week we discussed the Coalition of Thenion. This week we shall talk about the Helian League. With the same origins, one can see that the difference in both units and play style really distinguish light and dark. If one would describe the differences between the two folk, you could say the Helian League is the “Elven” race and the other is the “Dark elf” race of other fantasy settings.
Just as with the Coalition, the story of the Rin began with the Age of Dusk, the Exile of both folk and the finding of new territory to live in. Upon reaching the new lands after a search that spanned decades, they soon found themselves gazing at the sun and felt the warmth on their skin. Just as the Sun Goddess said to the hero that lead them on the great Odyssey, they found bountiful lands to live in. This would become their final home.
They began praising their goddess called Helios-Hiperia and names the lands they found Helian and called themselves Helrin, Rin of the Sun. Building their Cities with monuments of the hero that brought them there and making the cities in bright white stone, to honor their goddess.
They became known as the greatest military force after leading the resistance against the invaders. Still, unlike their darker counterparts, the Rin of the Moon, the Helrin people are more harmonious than something else.
How do the Helian League function?
As we read here, the Helian League is a force to be reckoned with. They would rather base their tactics more on direct action than magic use. They do have their healers and magic wielders, but prefer to be “in your face” for most of the time.
Whereas the others rely more on a mix of magic, stealth and prowess, these “elves” want peace to flow naturally. If not, they will force it upon the enemy with sheer might. Playing a group of Helian League Adventurers is having an armored car with ambulance option armed to the teeth coming at the opponent. If you play it well and the dice roll in your favor for a change, these are literal one hit wonders. In this case, the hit is inflicting pain and not music.
Let’s start with the models and why the Helian League is a faction to consider.
The Helian League Citadel Guard
The name says all, she is there to protect. Her shield blocks -3 incoming Melee attacks to the front, gets a +3 buff on ranged attacks in the front and long melee weapons with a reach higher than close contact get -1 STK. Her attack itself gets armor piercing and delivers stun on impact. Can it get better? Oh yes, since you can’t surprise her and has 360 degrees of LOS. Still want to melee attack this model? Take a -3 attack modifier because she is so skilled.
So, you attack another model in the vicinity of the Citadel Guard? Fine, if you attack from off half her movement, she comes into base contact with you to have some melee next time she attacks. Wasn’t this exactly what you didn’t want? This is one tough as nails lady in armor!
The Flame Shaper
What do you get when your zippo gets excited to fight? The Helian League Flame Shaper! She is the prime example of aggressive tactics. With firing flares at the enemy she is good at ranged, but is also motivated to give some extra damage if she sees success within her LOS. We’re talking about the chain attack. This extra attack is seen as a separate attack and does not consume activation points. Don’t make her more angry than she already is!
The Helrin Expatriate
This is most definitely the killer in the group. As for my personal experience with this model getting it against my adventurers. The one hit wonder, where the theme of the music is pain and plays out loud and with great joy. A true master in its teachings. Because of the affinity for fire, it can burn with touching the model, and has chain attack.
Next to that, it’s a resourceful model, meaning it can receive additional upgrades on top of the ones you already gave this model. With a power of 12 and 2 attacks, this is a true monster in armor and not something to be joyful about when it comes near you in combat. When you by accident land a hit on this model, there is a bit chance of deflecting it with an armor of 6. The model is the mercenary of the faction and can be hired by other factions.
The Helian League Expeditionary Hierophant
The leader, the healer and the hard hitter in one model. As a mage, she has access to the Divine and is insanely good at it. She is able to cast everything up to Skill level. This way she can fully heal, blind, make barriers and remove lingering stats from the models (like Weakened).
Next to that, she enables stratagems and these also heal, but give the models +4M as well. If she casts Divine spells in the active role, she can even re-roll 1 die with her Staff of Light. When she is in the Reactive role, she can use Clairvoyance, which lets her use her awareness instead of her LOS to target enemy models. She can even ignore Blinded and enemy surprise attack if the enemy is within awareness.
Why choose the Helian League in Eldfall Chronicles?
Well, apart from being the easiest, straight forward faction to start with in Eldfall Chronicles, these boys and girls hit like a freight train. They can move like the wind, support each other when attacking and healing when needed. Hard to kill, hit hard and are great at melee, what more could you want?
Well, we do have 2 more models when choosing which models you can use in this faction. The Flameweaver errant can exchange the healing of the Hierophant for fast strikes and ranged fire. The Flameweaver Noble is not one but 2 zippo’s combined in one perfect package. You have choices galore, but also different play styles to choose from.
Want more than just the Helian League?
You can read up everything Eldfall Chronicles on their own site and if you are ready to decide what to get or expand with, you can check what the shop has to offer. You always have the choice of extra’s on top of extra’s with the 2 player starter set. Also, there is the option to take a faction box, but you need to have an opponent then. Not sure what to choose? Why not one model of each faction to see what suits you best?
Next blog is the last of the faction focus blogs, where we look at the mighty defenders against the yearly returning Oni in the cold north. Yes, we are talking about the Empire of Soga. Stay tuned and see you next read!