River's Edge engagement [two] - Round 1

[tomcat]

Situation: Moving along the river's edge, the companions come upon the other half of the orc raiders who were not caught unawares.

Combat Advantage dice:
• Arbogast 1d
• Grimbeorn 1d
• Hathcyn 2d

Situation Modifiers:
• The orcs have initiative

Physical Modifiers (complications):
• combat near the river's edge may be hampered due to mud - all PC's will give me an Athletics roll at the beginning of combat. On a failure, they will suffer a -2 penalty to their PARRY rating.

Esgalwen failed (-2 to Parry)

PC/NPC		PARRY		ARMOUR		HOPE		END		STANCE
Arbogast Esgalwen Grimbeorn Hathcyn		6 (Shield +3) 6/9 (in Close) [-2] 4 (Shield +4) 7	• • • •	2d (helm +3) 1d (helm n/a) 2d (helm n/a) 2d (helm n/a)	• • • •	14/16 14/14 8/12 10/13	• • • •	12/26 13/27 26/31 11/29	• • • •	open defensive defensive open

ENEMY		PARRY		ARMOUR		HATE		END		NOTES
Orc cheiftain Orc 1 Orc 2 Orc 3 Orc 4 Orc 5 Orc 6 Orc 7 (archer) Orc 8 (archer) Orc 9 (archer)	• • • • • • • • • •	4 (+2 shield) 4 (+2 shield) 4 (+2 shield) 4 (+2 shield) 4 (+2 shield) 4 (+2 shield) 4 (+2 shield) 2 2 2	• • • • • • • • • •	3d 2d 2d 2d 2d 2d 2d 2d 2d 2d	• • • • • • • • • •	5/5 3/3 3/3 3/3 3/3 3/3 3/3 1/1 1/1 1/1	• • • • • • • • • •	25/25 16/16 0/16 16/16 16/16 16/16 16/16 8/8 8/8 8/8	• • • • • • • • • •	Calling out orders v Arbogast DEAD v Grimbeorn v Hathcyn v Esgalwen v Hathcyn v 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 TN 12+ parry Rearward Stance maneuvers • Must be 2 other PC's in Close Combat • May not use if outnumbered 2:1		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

[tomcat]

I will need everyone to state their stances for this round and at the end of this round and EACH round hereafter, so that I can deal with the Orc initiative.

Once I have your starting stances, I will start this combat round.
The sudden appearance of orcs in the fog left little time for Esgalwen to react. Though her bow was in hand, she quickly pulled Nimronyn from its sheath to defend against the oncoming attack.

[GandalfOfBorg]

  Grimbeorn is Defensive.  He doesn't trust the environs.

[Telcontar]

Ooc: Open Stance

The party was detected by the band of Orcs. They knew, by the cries of the now dead captive, that they were beset by men. Their numbers though were still unknown to them.

Hathcyn's long spear was planted in the river's muck beside him and his lungs filled with the misty air.

He pressed the intricate dwarven carved goat horn to his lips and blew a thundering blast. The shrill sound of the war horn sang out. The nature of the fog caused it to sound deep and low and the blast echoed from the banks of the river.

"Axes and Spears, BEORNINGS!"

[Eclecticon]

Arbogast will default to Open stance, as per SOP. 

[tomcat]

In this initial round, I am assuming the orcs were sitting about waiting on their companions and only 1 orc can get to each PC this round. I will randomly roll where arrows are shot.

Arbogast 1
Esgalwen 2
Grimbeorn 3
Hathcyn 4

archer 1 1d4 : 4, total 4

archer 2 1d4 : 2, total 2

archer 3 1d4 : 4, total 4

[tomcat]

Esgalwen felt her feet sink into the mire and she struggled to keep both balance and defense, but the orcs were on them. Arrows flew in their direction - at her and Hathcyn. This encounter looked as if it would be far more dangerous.

From behind his folk, the orc chieftain called out his orders, "KILL 'EM, LADS! LET NONE ESCAPE AND WARN THEIR OWN!"

[tomcat]

Orc attacks...

broad-bladed swords
5   edge: 10  injury: 14

bow of horn
4   edge: 10  injury: 12

TN by PC broad-bladed sword 3d

v Arbogast 1d12 : 10, total 10
Rolled 3d6 : 4, 4, 6, total 14

v Esgalwen 1d12 : 2, total 2
Rolled 3d6 : 4, 5, 4, total 13

v Grimbeorn 1d12 : 12, total 12
Rolled 3d6 : 3, 4, 5, total 12

v Hathcyn 1d12 : 9, total 9
Rolled 3d6 : 6, 6, 2, total 14

TN by PC bow of horn 2d+2

1d12 : 3, total 3
Rolled 2d6+2 : 6, 6 + 2, total 14

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

[tomcat]

I missed the last bow shot and did not label them... assume them in alpha order:

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

[tomcat]

RESULTS

• Arbogast is struck with a 24 success, for 9 piercing blow TN 14
• Esgalwen is missed
• Grimbeorn is missed
• Hathcyn is brutalized with a 23 success, for 13
• Esgawlen is struck with a 17 success for 9
• Hathcyn is struck with a 17 success for 5 piercing blow

[tomcat]

I will post more in a bit - I was on a conference call and I need to go back over everything and check my work.

[Eclecticon]

We need a 'dislike' button.  Or review capacity: (1 star) Brutally savaged by GM rolls.  Would not play this round again.

[Eclecticon]

More constructively, here's a Protection roll:

1d12 : 7, total 7
Rolled 2d6+3 : 1, 3 + 3, total 7

[Eclecticon]

Arbogast is momentarily blindsided by an orc who looms suddenly out of the mist mere paces away.  The orc's blow thunders down on his head, and only his iron helm saves him from having his skull cloven. 

[Telcontar]

Protection Test

Rolled 1d12 : 10, total 10

Rolled 2d6 : 5, 3, total 8