Actu Conan S4 #6, Red Nails Expansion

[Renand]

The Red Nails novella has been requested almost since the first Conan campaign. We decided it was time to dive into one of the most beloved Howard stories.

Across the 10 brand new scenarios we offer in this expansion, players will face the massive Forest Dragon in the green hell beyond the citadel of Sukhmet, cross the dark and forsaken halls of Xuchotl and take part in a never-ending war between the Xotalancas and the Tecuhltlis.

The Red Nails Expansion comes with:
- 1 Conan miniature
- 1 Valeria miniature
- 1 Forest Dragon miniature
- 1 Crawler miniature
- 1 Techotl miniature
- 1 Olmec miniature
- 1 Tascela miniature
- 6 Xotalanc Warriors miniatures
- 5 Xotalanc Spearmen miniatures
- 5 Xotalanc Spearwomen miniatures
- 5 Tecuhltli Swordsmen miniatures
- 1 Double-sided board map (2 maps)
- 5 Hero Sheets
- 27 Cards
- 1 Rules and Scenarios Booklet (including Solo/Coop rules)
- 24 Unit Tiles
- 23 Tokens

Boards

An expansion for Conan is always an opportunity to discover new lands from the Hyborian Age.

The Jungle

Art by Georges Cl4renko

We journey to the southern regions of the Black Kingdoms, beyond the Stygian borders and the citadel of Sukhmet, where few men dare to venture. Yet, it is in this green hell that Conan and Valeria find themselves fleeing Zarallo and his Free Companions, marking the beginning of the novella "Red Nails."

The dense vegetation and strong river currents make movement difficult, butthe cliffs to the east and south offer perfect vantage points to gain an advantage over your enemies... if you manage to reach them.

Xuchotl

Art by Georges Cl4renko

In the Red Nails novella, after escaping the Forest Dragon, Conan and Valeria find themselves forced to find shelter within the walls of Xuchotl. But they won’t have much time to rest, as the forsaken city is full of dangers and creatures from forgotten times.

Each of the many rooms of Xuchotl can hide either treasure or death for our Heroes. The famous Eagle Door is present, leading to the throne room, and will undoubtedly be highly contested. And such an ancient structure always conceals secret passages...

Miniatures

Conan

This version of Conan is from his time with Zarallo’s Free Companions, where he fought alongside soldiers of fortune -a hard-handed band of killers loyal to anyone who pays them well.

“He was almost a giant in stature, muscles rippling smoothly under his skin which the sun had burned brown. His garb was similar to hers, except that he wore a broad leather belt instead of a girdle. Broadsword and poniard hung from this belt.” (Red Nails, Robert E. Howard)

Valeria

This version of Valeria is also from her time with Zarallo’s Free Companions. At the beginning of the novella, she is fleeing from the mercenaries’ camp after slaying a Stygian officer who tried to take advantage of her.
She remains one of the fiercest sword-fighters Conan has ever come across in his adventures.

“She was tall, full-bosomed and large-limbed, with compact shoulders. Her whole figure reflected an unusual strength, without detracting from the femininity of her appearance. [...] Instead of a skirt she wore short, widelegged, silk breeches, which ceased a hand's breadth short of her knees, and were upheld by a wide silken sash worn as a girdle. Flaringtopped boots of soft leather came almost to her knees, and a lownecked, widecollared, widesleeved silk shirt completed her costume. On one shapely hip she wore a straight double-edged sword, and on the other a long dirk. Her unruly golden hair, cut square at her shoulders, was confined by a band of crimson satin.” (Red Nails, Robert E. Howard)

Dragon of Xuchotl

This huge miniature brings life to one of the most iconic monsters Conan has ever fought. Some describe it as an enormous  reptile, and others claim it is a remnant of a species that has long since disappeared.
In any case, this formidable foe will be the centerpiece of any scenario that features it!

“The head, bigger than that of a crocodile, was further extended on a long scaled neck on which stood up rows of serrated spikes, and after it, crushing down the briars and saplings, waddled the body of a titan, a gigantic, barrel-bellied torso on short legs. The [...] belly almost raked the ground, while the serrated backbone rose higher than Conan could have reached on tiptoe. A long spiked tail, like that of a gargantuan scorpion, trailed out behind.” (Red Nails, Robert E. Howard)

Crawler

Xuchotl was built centuries ago on a large and intricate network of catacombs that run under the whole city. These black tunnels hosted magic rituals that conjured creatures that shouldn’t roam this earth.
One of them is the Crawler, a snake-like monster that the Xotalancas are somehow able to control.

“It was a great serpent which lay there limp in death, but such a serpent as he had never seen in his wanderings. The reek and chill of the deep black earth were about it, and its color was an indeterminable hue which changed with each new angle from which he surveyed it.” (Red Nails, Robert E. Howard)

Techotl

Techotl was the first living being Valeria and Conan encountered in the dark chambers of Xuchotl. Like the other Tecuhltli, his whole life has been dedicated to finding and killing Xotalancas in order to earn the privilege of adding red nails to the black column, one for each dead Xotalanca.
Even though, at first, he seemed to have lost his mind like the other inhabitants of the city, Techotl retained his sense of honor and became a strong ally for Conan and Valeria.

“He was slightly above middle height, very dark{...]. He was naked but for a scanty silk clout that only partly covered his muscular hips, and a leather girdle, a hand's breadth broad, about his lean waist. His long black hair hung in lank strands about his shoulders, giving him a wild appearance. He was gaunt, but knots and cords of muscles stood out on his arms and legs, without that fleshy padding that presents a pleasing symmetry of contour” (Red Nails, Robert E. Howard)

Olmec

Olmec, Prince of Tecuhltli, has led his people in the war against the Xotalancas and will do so until all are dead, or until his own people go extinct. He was a ruthless and cruel leader who didn’t act for the good of his people, but for another reason unknown to Conan and Valeria.

“He was a giant, with an enormous sweep of breast and the shoulders of a bull. Unlike the others, he was bearded, with a thick, blueblack beard which fell almost to his broad girdle. He wore a robe of purple silk which reflected changing sheens of color with his every movement, and one wide sleeve, drawn back to his elbow, revealed a forearm massive with corded muscles. The band which confined his blueblack locks was set with glittering jewels.” (Red Nails, Robert E. Howard)

Tascela

She was Princess of the Tecuhltli, but didn’t share their ferocity against the Xotalancas. She was the only one who was not born in Xuchotl and, strangely, she did not seem to age like the others.
Tascela is the embodiment of beauty and the attraction she has on others is almost hypnotic. But when it comes time to fight, she can be as ruthless as any other Tecuhltli.

“She was tall and lithe, by far the most beautiful woman in the room. She was clad more scantily even than the others; for instead of a skirt she wore merely a broad strip of giltworked purple cloth fastened to the middle of her girdle which fell below her knees. Another strip at the back of her girdle completed that part of her costume, which she wore with a cynical indifference. Her breastplates and the circlet about her temples were adorned with gems.” (Red Nails, Robert E. Howard)

Xotalancas and Tecuhltlis

Born in war, they will die in war. For decades, these people have only known hate for each other, killing and torturing every time they get a chance. Living in this constant state of fear slowly pushed them to madness and savagery.
The Xotalancas even dared to venture in the deepest crypts of the catacombs under Xuchotl where they uncovered forgotten relics of power.