The Battle is Joined - Wave 3

[Eclecticon]

Situation:
• The Beornings are making their push to re-take Stánford from its Blood-moon conquerors. 

Objectives:
1.  Breach the stockade
2.  Rescue the hostages
3.  Defeat the remaining Blood-moon warriors
4.  Kill or capture Vidugalum

Relative Strength of Numbers:
• Now through the stockade, the Beornings numbers are telling, and the enemy's morale is collapsing with most abandoning the fight.  The Shadow remnant is overpowered in numbers by the Free Peoples. 

Engagement Mood:
• The battle is a bold assault – 4 endurance loss per failed test

Shadow Threat:
• The Blood-moons are tormenting, requiring two Endurance tests per wave. 

PC/NPC		ARMOUR		HOPE		END		AREA OF ENGAGEMENT		ENDURANCE TEST TN
Grimbeorn Tate Hathcyn Anar Esgalwen Bandobras Arbogast		2d (helm n/a) 3d (helm n/a) 2d (helm n/a) 3d (helm n/a) 1d (helm n/a) 1d (helm n/a) 2d (helm +1)	• • • • • • •	4/12 8/15 12/13 8/8 3/12 MAD 15/18 10/16	• • • • • • •	16/31 25/29 17/29 WOUNDED 11/30 WEARY 17/27 22/22 22/26	• • • • • • •	In Reserve In Reserve In Reserve In Reserve In Reserve In Reserve At the Centre	• • • • • • •	10 10 10 10 10 10 16

[Eclecticon]

I'll hold off on Battle rolls until you guys tell me where you want to position yourselves.  Arbogast is moving (with his followers) into the melee in between the bulidings. 

[GandalfOfBorg]

Grimbeorn leads the way, seeking out the erstwhile king.  "Vidugalam!" he calls.  "Your people flee, dying, or dead.  Come out and end this, spare us all!"

[Eclecticon]

Could you let me know which position you'll be taking?  Your options are:
- In Reserve
- Rear Guard
- On the Flank
- Skirmishers
- At the Centre
- At the Vanguard.

To be clear, any position other than Reserve won't leave enough time to recover Endurance. 

[Telcontar]

Bandy's song roll

Rolled 1d12 : 1, total 1

Rolled 3d6 : 5, 5, 5, total 15

[Telcontar]

Squeaked by on that one.

[GandalfOfBorg]

  Hmm, be pragmatic or be bold.
Eh, pragmatic wins.  Reserve to recover.  Grimbeorn's actions have inspired his people and glory need not be hoarded by him.  Besides if it doesn't end on this round he'll need all the help he can get if there is single combat again.

[Eclecticon]

Cool, I'll work that into the narrative.  Everyone else, where are you going to be?  There's no need for anyone except Hathcyn to hang around Grimbeorn. 

Tom, Doug, just staying put probably puts you either In Reserve or the Rearguard, depending on how close you wind up to the last stand of the Blood-moons. 

EDIT: Bandy has now scored two successes to bring Esgalwen back from her bout of madness.  And, since Anar is NPC-ed at the moment, he'll be staying in Reserve too, to recover a little bit of Endurance. 

[Telcontar]

Hathcyn tucked the haft of his axe into his belt to better carry the banner of the bear. He was young and the heat of battle was upon him.

"I'll go where Grimbeorn goes. The task has fallen to me to mark his place I'll not have it be said that the first bearer of the bear withdrew before the battle was finished. Battle is the great redeemer of men and I'll not be known as both kinslayer and shirker in the great tales of our folk. I have yet still sufficient wine to keep my place and see the day through."

[tomcat]

Esgalwen knew the song. Bandy had sung it many times in the past and so she added in her own voice adding a harmony that roused the others around them. She had not yet stood to her full height, but still appraised the situation around them.

The battle still raged, but it was evident that the Beornings now held the gate and the Blood Moon Raiders were routed. Still, there were holdouts that still maintained their position in defense of the man named Vidugalum.

Esgalwen sang louder with Bandy - her heart swelling with emotion and love for the small Hobbit. What had been clouding her mind of late was deceit of the Enemy, and she knew it. Doubt had filled her, loneliness had made her idle. No more! she thought.

The Ranger stood and Nimronyn shone in her hand. It was time to be the ally that Grimbeorn once relied on. It was time for this Dúnadan to shake off the mantle of fear.
I hope this shit works.... I really want to see her stop fumbling over her own feet and be the bad ass she once was.
TN -- song 2d

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

[tomcat]

Esgalwen sings the crap out of Bandy's tune!!

I am not sure it is worth anything other than a narrative enforcement, but she did well! A 17 success!

[Eclecticon]

  I'll pay that, though it'll take her the rest of the round to recover.  Also, take an AP if you haven't already. 

I assume that Esgalwen and Bandy are staying In Reserve and out of the fight? 

Lastly, do you want to continue being Tate for the time being?

[tomcat]

Reserve is good for me.

And sure, I will run Tate until the battle is over. Then if Ayrn is out for a while, he will go home to Dale.

[Eclecticon]

Battle rolls for this wave:

At the Centre
Arbogast

1d12 : 3, total 3
Rolled 4d6 : 4, 4, 6, 1, total 15

In Reserve
Grimbeorn

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

Tate

1d12 : 6, total 6
Rolled 1d6 : 3, total 3

Hathcyn

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

Anar

1d12 : 9, total 9
Rolled 2d6 : 5, 1, total 6

Bandy

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

Esgalwen

1d12 : 4, total 4
Rolled 2d6 : 6, 2, total 8

[Eclecticon]

Hmm, interesting.  The reserve party has come under attack somehow.  Let's see what the dice say about how the rest of the army is going:

1d12 : 5, total 5