Spider Siege! - round 10

[tomcat]

Situation: Holed up in the Millfort, the company plans to deal a wicked sting to the Spiders of Mirkwood!

Attercops
Hunters
Tauler

Combat Advantage dice:
• Esgalwen 0 / 2
• Rorin 0 / 2


Situation Modifiers:
• The Company has initiative
• Front door is at 15/60
• Back door is at 18/60


Physical Modifiers (complications):
The Millfort is impregnable save for five locations.

A) Each door has been successfully repaired and has 60 END points each (FRONT 60/60; BACK 55/60). No spiders can get in them until they reduce the doors to 0 END and then roll a Piercing attack that overcomes a 3d armor rating.

B) Each window is a vantage point that allows an attack out (and in). Ranged weapons may be fired out and the defending archer gains the Rearward DEFENSE, but may use the Open ATTACK TN. Overwhelming numbers of enemies do not affect ranged combat while the defenses hold. Melee weapons may be used to attack out (and in) but the defenders gain the Defensive DEFENSE TN rating, but may use the Forward ATTACK TN. Attackers from the outside may return a melee attack through a window, but may NOT enter the fort.

C) The hatch has been successfully repaired and has 40 END points. No spiders can get through it until they reduce the hatch to 0 END and then roll a Piercing attack that overcomes a 2d armor rating.

D) The floor has been successfully repaired and has 20 END points. No spiders can get through it until they reduce the floor to 0 END and then roll a Piercing attack that overcomes a 1d armor rating.

E) The stone roof of the fort is compromised - there is a large hole here. The second floor offers little defense and any PC that decides to fight on the second floor will not be eligible for vantage defenses once spiders come through the hole in the roof. Ranged combat WILL be affected by overwhelming numbers, if the archer positions themselves here, instead of on the first floor.

IF the first floor defenses are compromised, vantage benefits are lost as the spiders enter the room. There will be NO opening volleys, as the things coming in the night are invisible in the trees.

PC/NPC	PARRY	ARMOUR		HOPE		ENDURANCE
Arbogast Bandy Esgalwen Grimbeorn Rorin Bofri	6 (shield +3) 9 (shield n/a) 6/9 [skirmisher] (shield n/a) 6/9 [giant strength] (shield +4) 4 (shield n/a) 4 (shield +2)	2d (headgear +1) 1d (headgear n/a) 1d (headgear n/a) none (headgear +1) 5d (headgear n/a) 3d (headgear n/a)	• • • • • •	10/16 16/18 9/12 8/12 6/10 n/a	• • • • • •	4/26 [Weary - 1,2,3 on success dice are considered a 0] 6/22 [Weary - 1,2,3 on success dice are considered a 0] 17/27 3/31 [Weary - no effect due to Furious trait] 8/34 [Weary - 1,2,3 on success dice are considered a 0] 0/21 [Unconscious]

COMBAT STATUS by PC

PC	ENEMY	PARRY	ARMOUR	END	HATE	NOTES
Bandy	Hunter 4	6	3d	20/25	2/3	• on first floor, spiders must match stance
Esgalwen	Hunter 3	6	3d	5/25	3/3	• on first floor, spiders must match stance
Arbogast	Hunter 6	6	3d	9/25	3/3	• on first floor, spiders must match stance
Rorin	Hunter 1	6	3d	DEAD	2/3	• on first floor, spiders must match stance
Bofri	none	--	--	--	--	• on first floor, spiders must match stance
Grimbeorn	Hunter 5	6	3d	25/25	2/3	• on first floor, spiders must match stance
None	Attercop 16 Tauler	4 8	2d 3d	8/12 41/60	2/2 5/8	• on second floor trying to get to the PC's

STANCE	TN (+parry)	PC / LMC	Options...
Forward - action order 1 Close combat	TN 6+	none	Forward Stance maneuvers
Open - action order 2 Close combat	TN 9+	none	Open Stance maneuvers
Defensive - action order 3 Close combat	TN 12+	Arbogast, Bandy Grimbeorn, Rorin, Esgalwen	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+	none	Rearward Stance maneuvers
Any Escape combat Must start in Rearward or roll TN 10 + highest attribute level of opponents Athletics roll		none	May safely flee from the scene of combat

[tomcat]

A tumble of wood planks and joists fell as Tauler smashed his clawed legs through the floor.

The massive spider's head pushed through and loomed over all of the Company! They were trapped and their bodies were weak.

[Eclecticon]

The gigantic spider crashing through the hastily-repaired floorboards fills the air with flying shivers and the screams of panicked horses.  The torchlight gutters, but Bandy's gem shines, almost intolerably bright in the deep gloom of the fort.  The Fire-watcher is covered in sweat and grime, half blind, half mad, half dead. 

__________

Looking up from the coals, eyes full of trepidation, the young boy asks his uncle, "will I die too?"

The older man shifts the child from his crippled leg to a more comfortable position in his lap.  "Yes, little one, you will.  One day, like your grandfather," he points at the remains of the pyre, "you shall die.  So shall I, so shall your father and your brothers.  All Men who live will one day die, and it's easy to be fearful of that.  Nor is that a bad thing.  A man who dies leaves his family without hands to build, or shear, or protect, or hold in love.  Death is hardly a thing to be sought out." 

He takes the boy's hand in his own, feeling the smoothness of the child's skin against his calluses.  "But I have come to understand, in my years of watching other Men fight and fall, that it comes to us each in turn, and when it does, little one, then you must remember that something better can yet be made of it.  Remember that you have a chance, even at the last, to make your doom mean something to those who will go on without you." 

As he wipes away a small child's tears, he says "I think, in the end, your grandfather came to know that too." 

__________

Though his breath is ragged and his limbs pained, Arbogast finds his voice is strong enough.  A grown man's tears in his eyes, he cries out in the ancient mode and meter of his people. 

"Our doom comes to claim us!
Light fails, the bale-shadows rise. 
But rise too shall we.

United shall we call,
'Be they many and malign,
Still no foes we fear.'

And soon shall it be asked,
'Will you make the sacrifice,
This wide world to ward?'

Hearts shall doubt, pain resound,
Heroes' blood will flood the earth.
And I shall cry 'Yes!'"


I'm going to try to Enhearten the company (as per p 108 of the Adventurer's Companion) – shifting into Open stance to do it. 

Song roll:

1d12 : 3, total 3
Rolled 2d6 : 4, 6, total 10

[Eclecticon]

Close enough!  I'll spend another Hope point to turn that into a success. 

For those without the wherewithal to look up the AC, anyone who isn't Wounded can now ignore the Weariness penalty for three rounds.  I'm not sure we'll last that long, but at least we can give the spiders a decent pounding on the way out. 

[tomcat]

Awesome post, Paul!

Esgalwen moves to Defensive and will use the maneuver Protect Companion for Arbogast. At the same time, she will stab into the Hunter spider that is challenging her.
Seeing her companion step to the fore to challenge the heart of darkness and inspire his friends, Esgalwen felt her heart swell and she quickly jumped to Arbogast's side to defend him should anything befall.

With her courage flaming anew, she shouted to the horrid form of Tauler, "Know this foul creature! Should you continue your pursuit of this venture, none of your brood will leave this chamber alive! None! And you, Tauler the Hunter, shall yourself be pricked with wounds that ye will be wont to forget! Your shell may be hard but these are the weapons of glory and strong hands wield them!"

Nimronyn flashed from the light of Bandy's jewel and struck out at the hunter spider that pressed in on her, even as she challenged the monster above.
TN 18 long sword 3d

1d12 : 4, total 4
Rolled 3d6 : 2, 1, 6, total 9

[tomcat]

Esgalwen will spend a hope to make her attack a 21 great success

Hunter 3 takes 13 END loss

[GandalfOfBorg]

Injured as he is, Grimbeorn is heartened by his friend and continues the defense of the Millfort with renewed vigour.

 
 

Axes Hunter 5 -  1d12 : 8, total 8
Rolled 4d6 : 1, 3, 3, 1, total 8

[disench4nted]

The Woodman's song was new to Rorin's ears, and yet it inspired him all the same. He felt the rekindling of hope spread through the company like a fire. His weary limbs protested, but he forced them to keep fighting. The end to this fight was near and he meant to remain standing at the end of it all.

 

TN 18 Hammer vs Hunter 1

Rolled 1d12 : 3, total 3
Rolled 4d6 : 1, 5, 5, 3, total 14

[disench4nted]

 

Grrrr, one point off.

I'll burn a hope to get the kill. 

[Telcontar]

OOC: If I use Second Wind do I lose my attack?

[GandalfOfBorg]

  Yes, you will lose your attack.

[tomcat]

What Matt said! 

[Telcontar]

Bandy held the gem aloft maintaining the light in the room sword pointed at the eyes of the spider and summoned up the last reserves of strength.

Atheletics TN 14

Rolled 1d12 : 2, total 2

Rolled 2d6 : 4, 1, total 5

[Telcontar]

OOC: not even close.

The Hobbit failed to look intimidating or like anything else short of a snack to the hoary legged spider.

[tomcat]

Spiders attack (rolling random d5 to see who the Attercop and Tauler will pick from the group - Attercop on Rorin, Tauler on Grimbeorn)

Spider outside attacks the front door (basically leaping and smashing its mass against the doors):
TN 10 2d

1d12 : 12, total 12
Rolled 2d6 : 4, 2, total 6

Spider outside attacks the back door (basically leaping and smashing its mass against the doors):
TN 10 2d

1d12 : 10, total 10
Rolled 2d6 : 4, 5, total 9

Attercop 16 attacks Rorin
TN 16 sting 2d6+3

1d12 : 2, total 2
Rolled 2d6+3 : 5, 1 + 3, total 9

3   edge: 10   injury: 14

Tauler attacks Grimbeorn
TN 25 beak 5d6+7

1d12 : 10, total 10
Rolled 5d6+7 : 1, 6, 4, 4, 4 + 7, total 26

7   edge: 8   injury: 18

Hunter 5 attacks Grimbeorn
TN 25 beak 2d6+4

1d12 : 9, total 9
Rolled 2d6+4 : 3, 3 + 4, total 10

Hunter 4 attacks Bandy
TN 21 beak 2d6+4

1d12 : 3, total 3
Rolled 2d6+4 : 1, 4 + 4, total 9

Hunter 3 attacks Esgalwen
TN 21 beak 2d6+4

1d12 : 2, total 2
Rolled 2d6+4 : 2, 4 + 4, total 10

Hunter 6 attacks Arbogast
TN 21 beak 2d6+4

1d12 : 2, total 2
Rolled 2d6+4 : 3, 4 + 4, total 11

6   edge:     injury: 15