Skirmish at the Steading - Round 7

[Eclecticon]

Situation: The Company brought a raiding party of orcs to bay inside the longhouse in an isolated steading, but their attack has gone disastrously awry... 

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

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)	• •	4/12 13/13	• •	18/31 18/29 WOUNDED	• •	Open Open

ENEMY		PARRY		ARMOUR		HATE		END		NOTES
Orcish Chieftain Orc Soldier Goblin Archer Orc Soldier Goblin Archer Goblin Archer Goblin Archer Goblin Archer Goblin Archer Goblin Archer Goblin Archer	• • • • • • • • • • •	7 4 2 4 2 2 2 2 2 2 2	• • • • • • • • • • •	3d 3d 2d 3d 2d 2d 2d 2d 2d 2d 2d	• • • • • • • • • • •	5/5 1/1 1/1 1/1 1/1 1/1 1/1 1/1 1/1 1/1 1/1	• • • • • • • • • • •	0/20 3/12 0/8 3/12 0/8 0/8 0/8 0/8 0/8 8/8 8/8	• • • • • • • • • • •	DEAD fighting Grimbeorn DEAD fighting Grimbeorn DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD fighting Hathcyn fighting Hathcyn

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

[Telcontar]

The spear of Hathcyn Longspear was wet with the ichor of goblins and his own flanks were slick with his own blood. Before him the mutilated bodies of his companions and the tortured moaning form of his friend littered the field.  He stood now by his friend, spear leveled facing his foes. They had rode upon them with promise and high hopes, but the battle had turned. He knew the scion of his lord was still battling in the long house and so would not quit the field and leave him cut off. Better to die. So the man from the north and west of the river, in the saga traditions of his people, began to sing. The weavers of fate would deem it to be a song of victory or of death.

"I shall not lie on a bed of straw
I shall not lie upon the pyre
I shall not lie within the earth

Here I stand
Here I fall

The end holds no mystery for me
I have climbed the mountains with the tods
I have ran in the fields with the pups
I have rolled in the grass with the vixens
I go now to the skulk and death holds no power over me

Here I stand
Here I fall

My bones will bleach the sun
I do not need them
My mouth will lay open
I will no longer thirst
My gear will rust and crumble
War is over

Come join me
Death holds no power"

Rolled 1d12 : 12, total 12

Rolled 2d6 : 6, 4, total 10

[Telcontar]

The fury of the Beorning was unleashed in song and his spear commenced to dance among the Goblins to great effect.

[Eclecticon]

Protection (unnecessary though it is)

1d12 : 12, total 12
Rolled 2d6 : 6, 5, total 11

[Eclecticon]

The goblin dances left and right, but Hathcyn's spear is swifter than its capering, and he pierces its body front and back, leaving it writhing fitfully upon the blood-stained soil.  The remaining goblins eye him warily, torn between their sense of self-preservation and the desire for more Man-flesh.  Both sides of the short standoff are surprised, however, as a pair of bloodied and battered Beornings burst from the longhouse, their eyes wild and their weapons and shields cast aside.  The first makes no pause, but flees toward the west.  The second tarries a moment, fixing Hathcyn with a terror-filled gaze.  For a heartbeat, it seems as if he will say something, but instead he turns and follows his fellow, any thought of Hathcyn and Harhold forsaken. 

The sounds of battle from inside have quieted, and Hathcyn finds himself questioning whether any Man still lives within. 

[Telcontar]

He sees the men run and while there may be wisdom in their feet there will never be pride in their hearts again. If Grimbeorn has fallen then his place is there with him. If the Wolfslayer lives then he must hold the path of his escape.

The warrior had no time to blow again upon the ram horn and instead called into the gloom and the face of his enemies as loud as he could.

"WAR! WAR AND DEATH!"

[GandalfOfBorg]

Grimbeorn is enraged and comes at them all with a might swing.

 
Stance: Forward
Action: Sweeping Blow

 

Axes -  1d12 : 7, total 7
Rolled 2d6 : 2, 4, total 6

[Eclecticon]

With a crash and a cry, the son of Beorn surges forward, his axe sweeping in a massive arc.  It bites orc-flesh and comes to rest in the skull of the goblin that had the temerity to draw his blood, whihc sags to the floor, a befuddled expression still on its ruined face. 

Against such a display of ferocity, a band of Men might balk.  But the bloodlust of orcs runs deep and fierce, and much more death will be required to slake their thirst.  As more creatures advance on him, the way to the door narrows...


The remaining orcs continue fighting. 
Inside:
Soldier

1d12 : 6, total 6
Rolled 2d6 : 4, 1, total 5

Additional Soldier

1d12 : 6, total 6
Rolled 2d6 : 6, 1, total 7

Outside:
Goblin

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

Another Goblin

1d12 : 8, total 8
Rolled 1d6 : 6, total 6

[Eclecticon]

Lashing out, an orcish spear pierces the scales of Grimbeorn's leather coat.  It is a painful wound more than a mortal one, but the great man can feel his arms tiring.  There does not seem to be enough air to breathe in the close confines of the longhouse, and the shadows seem to gather closer. 

Outside the longhouse, Hathcyn sees the first stars, bright and clear, but impossibly far away, emerge over the midnight smear of the forest. 


Grimbeorn takes a further 7 .  Hathcyn takes 5. 

The TN for Grimbeorn to escape is now 15. 

To be clear, I'm not going to lift a finger to save either one of them.  Middle-Earth is a dangerous place, even for hero-types, and there's a strict limit of one miraculous eagle-rescue per person. 

[Telcontar]

  i would be disappointed if this didnt play out as the dice and skill determine. There is no glory without danger.

[tomcat]

Am I missing something?

I see Grimbeorn, scored an 11 on his Sweeping attack that overcomes the orcs TN 10...that should have hit both orcs attacking him for 9 END loss each. Isn't that a kill on both? Also, does Grimbeorn have shield in hand? That makes his defensive TN 14 at Forward, which neither orc overcame.

Not being the nosy 'other" Loremaster, just reading this round and trying to see if I missed something from before.

[Telcontar]

  i believe paul was just highlighting the fact it was getting harder to get away.

[Eclecticon]

Doug, I've already worked Grimbeorn's damage into the orc's remaining endurance above. 

You're right that neither one actually hit him, though!  I wonder how I missed that. 

[tomcat]

Cool! I am not game lawyering or accounting, just wanted to make sure I didn't miss something earlier, myself.

I also want to help my peeps! They look like they can use all the help they can get.