Skirmish at the Steading - Round 9

[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	• •	Forward Open

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

[Eclecticon]

With a swiftness belying his size, Grimbeorn ducks below the bench, steps between the orcs that bear it and then rushes for the door.  The evening air on his face is shockingly cool after the heat and fevered battle inside the longhouse, but there is no time to appreciate it.  Savage howls follow him through the door, and pursuit cannot be more than a few paces behind him. 

But what is this?  Outside, seven goblins have formed a ring around a single man - Hathcyn, he recalls, of the folk across the river.  They move back and forth, staying just outside of the reach of the man's great spear.  Beyond them, another man stands, though for how long is anyone's guess.  Even in the darkness it is plain that both are badly hurt.

Just re-setting the scene.  Grimbeorn doesn't get another action this round, but he's out of the longhouse and safe for a moment or two.  Hathcyn and Harhold are another story.

[Telcontar]

Hathcyn knew fear, the goblins danced around him with glee in there throats and laughter in the evening air. Though he had left a ring of dead goblins around him more stepped up to take their place and they would not retire. His death song complete he waited for the end. It was then that he saw Grimbeorn emerge from the long house.

"Take a horse and fly lord, we shall hold them as long as we can. Sing our song so that we may live eterrnal and drink with our father's fathers."

Hathcyn sought to buy more time for the aetheling of the Folk of Beorn to make his escape now that he was free of the house. One more, thought the Longspear, if he slew one more Grimbeorn could escape and then the length of the fight after that would be meaningless. He lunged and thrust his spear into the encircling mass once more.

Rolled 1d12 : 5, total 5

Rolled 2d6 : 1, 2, total 3

[Telcontar]

Weariness and fear robbed him of his speed and the thrust went wide, accompanied only by the laughter of the goblins.

[Eclecticon]

For a moment that seems long, but likely is not, the Men and orcs hold still, the certainty of more violence hanging in the air like a storm not yet broken.  Then Harhold staggers to Grimbeorn's side and slurs "My lord..." as he takes the young man's arm and tries to lead him away. 

Shrieking with black delight, the remaining goblins fall on Hathcyn. 


Tom, if you're not fully committed to the heroic sacrifice thing, Hathcyn still has an opportunity to escape - TN 14.  I can pretty much guarantee that this offer expires at the end of next round, though. 

Goblins attack:

Goblin

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

Another goblin

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

And another goblin

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

[Telcontar]

  matt, what's Grimbeorn's plan? Are you ready to pop smoke or what?

[Eclecticon]

If he is, it'll happen in round 10 - escaping from the longhouse was Grimbeorn's action for this round.

[Telcontar]

  yeah. Im trying to get some indication of Matt's plan before I go.