Skirmish at the Steading - Round 2

[Eclecticon]

Situation: The Company has brought a raiding party of orcs to bay inside the longhouse in an isolated steading. 

Combat Advantage dice:
• Grimbeorn 0
• Hathcyn 1/1

Situation Modifiers:
• The company has the initiative, as the orcs have had to scramble to arm themselves

Physical Modifiers (complications):
• none
 

PC/NPC		PARRY		ARMOUR		HOPE		END		STANCE
Grimbeorn Hathcyn		4 (shield +4) 4 (shield n/a)	• •	2d (helm n/a) 2d (helm n/a)	• •	5/12 12/13	• •	31/31 29/29	• •	Defensive ??

ENEMY		PARRY		ARMOUR		HATE		END		NOTES
Orcish Chieftain Orc Soldier Goblin Archer Goblin Archer Goblin Archer Goblin Archer	• • • • • •	7 4 2 2 2 2	• • • • • •	3d 3d 2d 2d 2d 2d	• • • • • •	5/5 1/1 1/1 1/1 1/1 1/1	• • • • • •	20/20 12/12 8/8 8/8 8/8 8/8	• • • • • •	fighting Grimbeorn fighting Grimbeorn fighting Grimbeorn outside outside outside

STANCES

Forward - action order 1 Close combat TN 6+ parry Forward Stance maneuvers

Open - action order 2 Close combat TN 9+ parry Open Stance maneuvers

Defensive - action order 3 Close combat TN 12+ parry 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+ parry Rearward Stance maneuvers

From any Stance Escape combat Must start in Rearward or roll TN 10 + highest attribute level of opponents Athletics roll. On success, may safely flee from the scene of combat

[Eclecticon]

The sound of battle carries to the ears of the men waiting at the base of the small mound.  Harhold turns to Hathcyn, his face betraying his fear and uncertainty now that violence is close at hand.  "What are we to do," he asks, and it is clear that the question is shared by the others in the small band. 

As if in answer, the large barn door creaks open, and a band of small orcs bearing long knives starts to assemble.  It is clear from their movements that they are equally unsure whether or not to join the fight inside the longhouse, but it is doubtful that their uncertainty will last for long. 

Inside, there is an all too human scream of terror and a woman, previously unseen behind one of the wooden pillars, emeges.  Her eyes are filled with animal panic, and it is by no means clear what, if anything, she will do next. 

[GandalfOfBorg]

Grimbeorn steps in closer, seeking an opportunity to rid the land of these filth.

 
Stance: Open
Action: Targeted Strike (Chieftain)

 

Rolled 1d12 : 11, total 11
Rolled 3d6 : 6, 5, 5, total 16

[GandalfOfBorg]

  Well isn't that a kick in the junk.   

[Telcontar]

Hathcyn sees the orcs exit the timber door of the barn and look around deciding what to do. Time seems to slow for Longspear and he thinks through what it is he should do. He knows that it is the discipline of wolves that allows the pack to take down a great beast, when to strike and when to wait, this the lesson that they give. He also thinks about the fox, the cunning and the guile, to out think the chickens and coup gate. He decided.

"They are uncertain, let us make their minds up for them. We ride! Lift high the spear, lift high the blade, sweep low the shield. Forward! Forward into the fray and let our iron chill their guts and make their bowels run wet! RIDE!"

The ram horn of the northman rang in the swale and he put his heels to the horse to move forward. As the distance closed he blew blast after blast on the horn and then gripped his spear tight.

He laughed as he did so, "Come Harhold, let us see if we are cavalry or foot soldiers at heart. If nothing else it will get us to the fight faster or being trampled drink this day in the great beyond."

[Telcontar]

  So this is a new one for me. I am looking at Horse Lords of Rohan, page 136.

Charging is a riding test. (Athletics?) TN 16

Rolled 1d12 : 1, total 1

Rolled 2d6 : 1, 6, total 7

If the riding test passes they may make an attack agains their target of choice, if they fail no attack. Let's see how it goes....

[Telcontar]

Niether Hathcyn or his horse trully understood what it was they were trying to do. The northman thundered into the the homestead waving his spear at the orcs he found there. The horse and rider uncertain what to do next wheeled and circled in the open space by the barn. The spear waved in the air and the rider not knowing what else to do leaned from the saddle and screamed in the face of an Orc.

"Death is upon you!"

[Eclecticon]

The goblins scatter before the horsemen, but the charge of the Northmen is disorganised and only a single goblin falls.  As Hathcyn bellows his threat, they are re-forming into a loose mob, while around him his followers hastily dismount.  The goblin who he accosts, its face split in a grin that is half terror, half maddened fury, draws its knife and attacks, all the while yelling "cuts and blood!  Cuts and blood!"

Goblin

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

Inside the longhouse, Grimbeorn batters the shield of the orcish chieftain, driving it back and back and further back, until it stands with its back to the firepit.  His next blow, which would have cloven the foul thing's arm from its chest, fails to land, however, as the orc moves sideways in the blink of an eye.  Then, with a look of evil triumph, it retaliates...

Orc chieftain

1d12 : 8, total 8
Rolled 3d6 : 2, 2, 1, total 5

Orc soldier

1d12 : 12, total 12
Rolled 2d6 : 3, 1, total 4

Goblin archer

1d12 : 12, total 12
Rolled 1d6 : 1, total 1

[Eclecticon]

With a strength that few would credit, had they not seen it with their own eyes, the chieftain takes the iron cook-pot in one hand and throws its contents at Grimbeorn.  The meaty stew within sprays out in an arc, catching several other orcs, but the elven shield proves its worth once again and the great Man's eyes are spared.  The smell of cooked food mixes now with those of smoke and blood, as the contents of the cook-pot soak into the rushes.