To fight the dead - round 3

[tomcat]

Situation: The companions have entered the barrows with Ceawin. The Master of Sunstead has been waylaid and the companions now face those that inhabit hallows...

BARROW-WIGHTS

Combat Advantage dice:
• Arbogast, Bandy, Esgalwen, Grimbeorn, Idunn, Rorin - all have 1 Success die to use on ANY check while in the barrow.
• Bandy 2 Success dice to use against Corruption or Fear; may extend these dice to other players, through inspiration of their own.
• Grimbeorn 2 Success dice to use against Corruption or Fear; may extend these dice to other players, through inspiration of their own.

Situation Modifiers:
• Company has initiative

Physical Modifiers (complications):
• none

Tactical Situation
• Arbogast - currently engaged with the Barrow King

PC/NPC	PARRY	ARMOUR	HOPE [HATE]	ENDURANCE
Arbogast Bandy Esgalwen Grimbeorn Idunn Rorin	6/9 [woodcrafty] (shield +3) 9 (shield n/a) 6/9 [skirmisher] (shield n/a) 6/9 [great strength] (shield +4) 6/9 [woodcrafty] 4 (shield n/a)	1d (headgear +1) 1d (headgear n/a) 1d (headgear n/a) none (headgear +1) 2d (headgear n/a) 5d (headgear n/a)	9/16 15/18 10/11 6/12 12/15 8/10	5/26 [WEARY] [Wounded] 22/22 25/25 21/31 25/25 34/34
Wight-King Wight 1 Wight 2	7 4 4	2d+10 2d+8 2d+8	6/9 5/6 4/6	43/70 54/54 54/54

STANCE	TN (+parry)	PC / LMC	Options...
Forward - action order 1 Close combat	TN 6+	Arbogast, Esgalwen	Forward Stance maneuvers
Open - action order 2 Close combat	TN 9+	tbd	Open Stance maneuvers
Defensive - action order 3 Close combat	TN 12+	Grimbeorn	Defensive Stance maneuvers
Rearward - action order 4 Ranged combat Must be 2 other PC's in Close Combat May not use if outnumbered 2:1	TN 12+	Bandy	Rearward Stance maneuvers
Any Escape combat Must start in Rearward or roll TN 10 + highest attribute level of opponents		none	May safely flee from the scene of combat

[GandalfOfBorg]

Grimbeorn drops his torch down the hole and jumps in after it, readying himself for an attack.  He stands guard, waiting for the rest of his party to follow.

[Telcontar]

Bandy let's the man pass and then proceeds behind him.

[Eclecticon]

Arbogast lets the others pass him, somewhat awkwardly in the cramped confines of the tunnel.  He has seen how stealthily the wights move, and they surely know the passages of this black warren.  It would not do to be ambushed from behind while they push forward to effect a rescue.  He realises with a sudden start that Idunn is not among them, but none of the others seem concerned, and there is no time in any case to ask about it. 

[tomcat]

The tunnel seemed interminable, but at last the feel of air moving before them spoke of an exit. The sound of chanting also greeted the companions.

Esgalwen felt the ground begin to grade up and suddenly her head was above the tunnel and she could see into another barrow. Her torch revealed the room as round with three alcoves and they were exiting one of them - through another broken sarcophagus. She quickly moved the remaining paces into the chamber to allow her friends to follow. What they saw chilled their hearts.

The three barrow-wights stood over the form of Ceawin, who lay atop another, unopened, sarcophagus. The Wight-king had the Helm of Peace above his head and slowly was bringing it down, as if to crown the man. All the while, the three chanted a horrible cant in the black tongue.

Behind them lay Rorin! He, too, was atop a tomb but the Dwarf seemed unable to move.
I will provide a map shortly. I have to go to a party, right now.

[GandalfOfBorg]

  are we still able to attack this round or do we wait until the next?

[tomcat]

you guys are able to attack this round and you all have initiative.

[Telcontar]

Bandy quickly set his torch down on the ground making sure it didnt go out. Then reached into his cloak to grab on of the clay pots he had liberated from the cairn. Touching the wick to the flame he waited for it to catch and then hurled it at the Wight who already bore the char marks of his last attack.

 

Rolled 1d12 : 10, total 10

Rolled 1d12 : 6, total 6

Rolled 1d6 : 2, total 2

[Telcontar]

Any chance the oil will give me an area of effect even if Bandy misses?

[Eclecticon]

In the half-light, in the terror of the moment, Arbogast spares only the space of a heartbeat to examine the scene.  There is now so little between them and disaster, for whatever purpose the wights have in thus crowning Ceawin can bode only ill for the enemies of the Shadow. 

Wordlessly, he launches himself at the wight king. 



  I'm attacking two-handed again.  Any special success will go towards ripping the helm out of the thing's hands. 

Rolled 1d12 : 3, total 3
Rolled 4d6 : 1, 6, 4, 6, total 17

[Eclecticon]

I didn't say before, but I'm in forward stance.  I'm pretty sure that means I act before Bandy.

[tomcat]

Arbogast charges into the alcove, leaping up on top of the sarcophagus as he did. He straddled over the listless form of Ceawin and swung his axe at the Wight-king, the weapon striking the hands of the shadow along with the helm itself. There was a clangor of metal and the precious treasure flew out of the barrow-wight's hands to clatter on the floor.

Running up to stand next to her friend, Esgalwen held Nimronyn above her head - the blade catching the light of the torches that now lay about the barrow. "HARM NOT OUR COMPANION, FELL-CREATURES! The blood of Númenor is before you and by its strength I shall see you cast down!"
Arbogast does 7 END damage and forgoes the extra damage from his Extraordinary Success, instead knocking the helm from the Wight-king's hands.

Esgalwen makes an Intimidation
TN 20 battle 2d, noble lineage [roll 2 feat, take best], 1d from Bandy

2d12 : 10, 11, total 21
Rolled 3d6 : 3, 3, 5, total 11

[tomcat]

Esgalwen causes them 2 Hate point loss.

Grimbeorn must go and then I will apply the affect of Bandy's attack.

[GandalfOfBorg]

Grimbeorn growls a challenge as he charges shield abreast and axe in hand against the fell creatures with Arbogast and Esgalwen.  Blade and haft come down against the greatest of the creatures as he moves to stand between the Shadow and his friends and Ceawin.

 
Stance: Defensive
Action: Defend Other (Ceawin, if possible)

 

Axes -  1d12 : 4, total 4
Rolled 2d6 : 2, 4, total 6

[Eclecticon]

Get 'em, Bandy!