Wolves at twilight - round 4

[tomcat]

Situation: While exiting Mirkwood, the companions have been set upon by a pack of wargs (3) and their wolf allies (5)

Wargs and Wolves

Combat Advantage dice:
• Arbogast 1/2 dice
• Grimbeorn 1/2 dice
• Rorin 1/1 dice


Situation Modifiers:
• the Company has initiative as the defenders
• Grimbeorn and Arbogast can attack this round
• the mass combat roll for the farmers, may not engage until round 4


Physical Modifiers (complications):
The rainy day has made things slippery. If a character rolls an    in combat, they must roll a TN 12 Athletics roll or fall prone

PC/NPC		PARRY		ARMOUR		HOPE		ENDURANCE
Arbogast Bandy Esgalwen Grimbeorn Rorin	• • • • •	6 (shield +3) 9 (shield n/a) 6/9 [skirmisher] (shield n/a) 6/9 [giant strength] (shield +4) 4 (shield n/a)	• • • • •	2d (headgear +1) 1d (headgear n/a) 1d (headgear n/a) none (headgear +1) 5d (headgear n/a)	• • • • •	12/16 16/18 10/12 10/12 9/10	• • • • •	26/26 22/22 22/27 WOUNDED 13/31 WOUNDED 24/34

COMBAT STATUS by PC

PC	ENEMY	PARRY	ARMOUR	END	HATE	NOTES
Arbogast	warg 1	6	3d	1/24	3/3	• on hill, may engage
Bandy	none	tbd	tbd	tbd	tbd	• on hilltop, fighting from Rearward
Esgalwen	none	tbd	tbd	tbd	tbd	• on hilltop in melee
Grimbeorn	Saradag	7	3d	5/40	4/5	• on hill, may engage
Rorin	warg 2	6	3d	24/24	3/3	• on hilltop in melee

STANCE	TN (+parry)	PC / LMC	Options...
Forward - action order 1 Close combat	TN 6+	Esgalwen, Rorin	Forward Stance maneuvers
Open - action order 2 Close combat	TN 9+	Arbogast, Grimbeorn	Open Stance maneuvers
Defensive - action order 3 Close combat	TN 12+	none	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 Athletics roll		none	May safely flee from the scene of combat

MASS COMBAT
	One of the Viglundings is slain. If rolled again in the following round, Argil is gravely wounded.
1, 2	The allies are hard-pressed to hold the enemy back. One of the Viglundings is wounded – or, if any are already wounded, then one of them is slain.
3	The Viglundings hold their line and keep fighting.
4, 5	The allies fight bravely, pushing the enemy back. Warg and Wolf blood spills across the hilltop. If this result is rolled twice in a row, then the allies slay one of the wolves!
6, 7	One of the wolves is slain.
8, 9	Two of the wolves are slain.
10	A warg is slain.
	Saradag is gravely wounded.

[tomcat]

MASS COMBAT ROLL

Rolled 1d12 : 6, total 6

[tomcat]

There are no wolves left, so I will consider this a Hold the line

[Eclecticon]

Saradag tears into the son of Beorn with breathtaking savagery, though the mighty Man's thews are strong, and he keeps his feet.  Arbogast slams shield-first into the warg's side, knocking it clear of his friend before it can press its momentary advantage, though another beast is already waiting to take its place.  Once again, Saradag rises, but hammer-blow, axe-blade and feathered arrow have all taken their toll, and its pain is readily visible.  

Before it can either flee or attack once again, Arbogast presses his attack.  He shifts around, bringing both wargs within reach...


Attacking again, still in Open stance.  I'd try to Intimidate them, but I think the best thing we can do at the moment is put Saradag down right here in the mud.  

1d12 : 12, total 12
Rolled 4d6 : 3, 3, 5, 4, total 15

[Eclecticon]

... and lets the Warden's Axe do its bloody work. 

[tomcat]

Running into melee, Esgalwen charges the warg that snaps at Arbogast - her sword high above her head.




Esgalwen attacks
TN 12 longsword 4d, shadow bane +1d
This dice roll has been tampered with!
1d12 : 8, total 8
Rolled 5d6 : 4, 3, 6, 6, 2, total 21
7   edge: 9   injury: 18

[tomcat]

  Results...

• Arbogast hits Saradag with a piercing success for 5 END loss to the warg, plus 4 to warg 1

• Esgalwen hits warg 1 with a 29 extraordinary success for 19 END loss

Warg 1 is slain instantly.

Saradag protection test
TN 18 armour 3d+6

1d12 : 8, total 8
Rolled 3d6+6 : 3, 4, 2 + 6, total 15

[tomcat]

That was not correct - Warg 1 is still alive with 1 hit point.

[tomcat]

As to the All out Attack issue that I asked about in the previous round - I like Paul's point and I agree that it will not happen enough to become an issue. That said, should we see an abuse at some point, we can re-consider any changes.

Second - and I am not going to change anything with the current combat, but I need you all to understand (per the rules) that if you are only being attacked by one opponent, then you cannot make maneuvers that attack two. The opponents must be assigned to you specifically for you  to have a Sweeping Blow, Twin strike, etc. You can't use these maneuvers to attack your opponent and sweep into the melee of your companion. The same goes with your Cleave trait, Paul.

As always, I am willing to hear counterpoints on this issue, if you guys have them.

[Eclecticon]

Running into melee, Esgalwen charges the warg that snaps at Arbogast - her sword high above her head.

<SNIPPED PICTURE>

I always think of Esgalwen when I see that picture.  It's perfect. 

As for the multiple attacks thing, that's a fair call. 

[GandalfOfBorg]

Grimbeorn reels from the vicious attack given him by the Hound of the Shadow.  This time he is sure to end whatever foe stands in his way.

Attacks with Targeted Strike upon Saradag if it still breathes, otherwise Warg 1, and uses a combat die.

Axes -  1d12 : 2, total 2
Rolled 3d6 : 3, 1, 3, total 7

[tomcat]

I agree, Paul - that picture is very much her in my mind, too.

Now if Saradag can avoid Bandy's attack, the warg might escape this and continue to haunt these woods for a long time.  

[Telcontar]

Bandy rattled his quiver to again draw forth another arrow. For the second time in this combat he felt a pang of guilt as the big folk went toe to toe with the beasts and the Hobbit fired arrows from the rear. He knew though that this was the best way to aid his friends.

"I'll send you on your way to meet Bloody Muzzule you foul beast! The SHIRE!"

Rolled 1d12 : 11, total 11

Rolled 1d12 : 9, total 9

Rolled 4d6 : 3, 6, 2, 5, total 16

[Telcontar]

The arrow passed by his friends and ripped into the hoary beast producing a dog like yelp as it buried itself up to the fletching.

[tomcat]

You've seen a lot of    rolls cropping up, Tom! Good thing you have that best of two Feat die trait!

Saradag the "Murderer" is slain.

I will give more in a bit.