Dead Men at the Tollhouse - Round 5

[Eclecticon]

Situation: The Fellowship's shadowy foes are attempting to spring their trap, cutting away the rope bridge and stranding three of the four on the tollhouse platform.

Combat Advantage dice:
• Hathcyn 0/2

Situation Modifiers:
• The companions have the initiative.

Physical Modifiers (complications):
• The bridge over the canal has been partially cut away, leaving only a few ropes hanging over the water.  Crossing it will require an Athletics roll and two rounds. 

PC/NPC

PARRY

ARMOUR

HOPE

END

STANCE

STATUS

Arbogast Esgalwen Hathcyn Laeral

• 6 ( +3) • 9 • 7 • 8

• 2d ( +3) • 1d ( n/a) • 2d ( n/a) • 3d ( n/a)

• 13/16 • 11/14 • 7/13 • 10/12

• 26/26 • 10/27 • 29/29 • 28/28

Open Rearward Open Open

normal normal normal normal

ENEMY		PARRY		ARMOUR		HATE		END		NOTES
Root arm Missing jaw Rusted helm Axeman Swordsman		• 7 • 7 • 7 • 3 • 3		• 4d • 4d • 4d • 1d • 1d		• 7/8 • 7/8 • 7/8 • 2/2 • 2/2		• 0/54 • 0/54 • 0/54 • 0/12 • 0/12		DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD

STANCES

Forward - action order 1 Close combat TN 6+ parry Forward Maneuvers

Open - action order 2 Close combat TN 9+ parry Open Maneuvers

Defensive - action order 3 Close combat TN 12+ parry Defensive Maneuvers

Rearward - action order 4 Ranged combat TN 12+ parry Must be 2 other PC's in Close Combat; May not use if outnumbered 2:1 Rearward 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]

For a second time, the night air is rent by the blast of a horn, this time from within the Tollhouse.  It repeats, and is soon followed by the ringing of a hand-bell and what can only be the sound of an iron cook-pot being beaten by a spoon.  All in all, it is a sudden and shocking cacophony. 


Some Awareness rolls are happening, because Reasons. 

Hathcyn

1d12 : 7, total 7
Rolled 3d6 : 1, 4, 4, total 9

Laeral

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

[Eclecticon]

It takes Hathcyn a moment to be certain, but as the din from the Tollhouse continues he fancies that the sounds coming from deeper within the Elven Quarter are not an echo, but the ringing of blades and cursing voices.  There is another skirmish happening not far away! 


Both Hathcyn and Laeral made their Awareness rolls.  Hathcyn can pick up his second Perception AP by tagging his Wary trait.   

[Telcontar]

Tag it jocko!

[Eclecticon]

Done and done, sir.

[Eclecticon]

  This has gone quiet all of a sudden.  Are you guys waiting for anything from me?

[tomcat]

Not me.

Just busy with the holidays, at the moment.

I will post more soon.

[Telcontar]

Hathcyn expected his foe to pay for ignoring him. Leveling his spear he set upon him again.

Open
Attack

Rolled 1d12 : 4, total 4

Rolled 3d6 : 1, 4, 2, total 7

[Eclecticon]

Oh man, Hathcyn just can't catch a break with this guy! 

[Eclecticon]

Visibly unnerved by the disappearance of her former adversary beneath the surface of the lake, Laeral nonetheless turns in time to see the axeman twist away from Hathcyn's thrust.  She does not wait for him to notice her, but drives her own spear in at his exposed side. 

On the platform, Arbogast drops his axe and extends his hand to Esgalwen.  As he does so, he recalls a verse heard now some weeks ago, sung by a merchant from southern lands.  Only now does he grasp its meaning to the folk of Gondor. 

  But lift your eyes now from death
  unto wonder of light:
  The sun's almost gone
  and the moon shall shine soon.
  Silver strands by night,
  golden threads when she sets
  in the west, near our home,
  that the waters did drown.

"Rise, Esgalwen of the Dúnedain," he says.  "I know that you have strength yet within you."



Attack roll for Laeral

1d12 : 5, total 5
Rolled 4d6 : 3, 4, 2, 6, total 15

Song roll for Arbogast (Rally action)

1d12 : 3, total 3
Rolled 3d6 : 1, 6, 5, total 12

[Eclecticon]

Before he can completely sever the bridge, Laeral's spear plunges into the Axeman's chest, brasting ribs asunder to find his heart.  As she withdraws her spear and the dead Man slumps to the timbers, Hathcyn experiences a shock of recognition, for he has known this man!  Skalbrand was his name, he thinks, or Skalbert?  Skalmund?  Skal-something-or-the-other, I am certain!  He is one of Beorn's folk, and worked with us to repair the Road!  How comes he to be here, dying upon an Elven spear? 

The bright moonlight shines eerily on the corpse's visage, throwing its sunken eyes and cheeks into all too vivid contrast.  Not far away, the sounds of battle between parties unknown continue. 


Tom, the shock Hathcyn's just experienced calls for a Corruption test.  Nothing too serious, though - one point if he fails. 

1d12 : 3, total 3
Rolled 4d6 : 1, 2, 5, 4, total 12

[Eclecticon]

And he's passed pretty neatly.  No Shadow points for Hathcyn. 

[Telcontar]

"Firewatcher, how fares Esgalwen?"

Hathcyn called out to his friend as his eyes were transfixed on the dead man.

"There is further combat close by, but I do not see it...Laeral shall we press on and join it or dwell here and see what we may learn of this strange occurrence? This is the Quarter of your people and I'd not blindly wander through it and be taken as a foe."

[tomcat]

It was Esgalwen's voice, though her throat was raw from the abuse taken from the wight, "I am fine, Hathcyn. Just shaken by the dead thing! Go... I will catch up to you momentarily."

The clatter of weapons and cries of combat told the tale that more blood would be spilled this night. The bells that chimed hopefully would bring aid in this endeavor.

With her feet now steady, Esgalwen started to cross the bridge to her friends.

[Telcontar]

"Mind the tollhouse! We know not what they were after!"

Hathcyn moved towards the sound of combat along the quays of Laketown.