Confrontation in the Gloom - Round 5

[Eclecticon]

Situation: The Fellowship has followed the servants of the Shadow to their lair beneath Lake-Town.

Combat Advantage dice:
• Arbogast 1/1
• Esgalwen 1/2
• Hathcyn 0/0
• Laeral 0/2

Situation Modifiers:
• The unseen foes have the initiative. 

Physical Modifiers (complications):
• Footing is treacherous.  Any character struck with a Great or Extraordinary success must make an Athletics roll (at TN 5 + Endurance lost) or fall.  Characters on the raft receive a +4 bonus to their roll.  Characters can also use a called shot (TOR p 178) to perform a Pummelling Attack (Adventurer's Companion, p 111) to automatically knock their opponent into the water. 

The platform ahead is slippery, but broad enough that characters are not in danger of falling.

PC/NPC

PARRY

ARMOUR

HOPE

END

STANCE

STATUS

Arbogast Esgalwen Hathcyn Laeral

• 6 ( +3) • 6 • 7 • 8

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

• 12/16 • 10/14 • 8/13 • 10/12

• 15/26 • 27/27 • 19/29 • 20/28

Open Rearward Defensive Rearward

weary normal normal normal

ENEMY		PARRY		ARMOUR		HATE		END		NOTES
Bowman 1 Bowman 2 Bowman 3 Knifeman 1 Knifeman 2 Knifeman 3 Knifeman 4 Knifeman 5 Knifeman 6 Lake-Beast		• 4 • 4 • 4 • 3 • 3 • 3 • 3 • 3 • 4		• 1d • 1d • 1d • 1d • 1d • 1d • 1d • 1d • 1d • 2d		• 2/2 • 2/2 • 2/2 • 2/2 • 2/2 • 2/2 • 2/2 • 2/2 • 2/2 • 5/6		• 1/14 • 1/14 • 1/14 • 0/12 • 0/12 • 12/12 • 12/12 • 12/12 • 12/12 • 0/32		?? ?? ?? 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]

No more arrows come whistling out of the shadows, but the sound of movement is clearly audible to the companions' side as the unseen bowman seeks a new position. 


The Bowman gets an Athletics roll to see how quickly he can get to his next hidey-hole.  In the meantime, he is making enough noise that any attempt to spot him gets a +2 bonus, or +6 if someone wants to risk a lantern again. 

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

[Eclecticon]

Arbogast points forward with his still-bloody axe.  "Onward," he says simply, "for I fear our task is not complete until we can be certain no threat yet lingers, and there is yet fire in our hearts and strength in our limbs!" 


Arbogast is shifting into Open stance and trying to Rally the companions:
Inspire roll

1d12 : 5, total 5
Rolled 4d6 : 6, 5, 1, 4, total 16

[Eclecticon]

That's three Endurance points back for everyone who's lost any.  With the consent of the group, I'll also tag his Hardened trait, along with the great success, for one last Personality AP. 

[Telcontar]

Hathcyn again held the lantern aloft shooting the beam of light around the underbelly of the town.

Rolled 1d12 : 12, total 12

Rolled 3d6+6 : 4, 4, 6 + 6, total 20

[Telcontar]

  this time apparently I can see the tapestry of the Norns.

[tomcat]

this time apparently I can see the tapestry of the Norns.

    

[tomcat]

It was all that Esgalwen needed to espy the hidden archer. Her sting was ready with arrow, but with the reveal she quickly drew, held her breath as she aimed and then loosed.

She attacks bowman 1 - I will add an Advantage die at need.

TN 16 great bow 3d

1d12 : 5, total 5
Rolled 3d6 : 3, 1, 6, total 10

7   edge: 10  injury: 16

[tomcat]

Advantage die

Rolled 1d6 : 2, total 2

[tomcat]

That is a success for 13 loss.

[Eclecticon]

A third time, the Ranger's arrow flies true and strikes deep.  The last bowman, halfway across a plank and blinded by the lantern light, has no hope of keeping his footing.  Like his fellows, he tumbles from his perch and disappears below the surface of the water, a handful of bubbles the only sign of his passing. 

As Arbogast advances, Hathcyn casts the lantern beam forwards, toward the platform.  There, huddled and shivering, are four more ragged men.  Their hands clutch crude arms - boat hooks, marling spikes and fishing knives, and their eyes (before they turn aside from the light) are wide with terror.  Between them, partly concealed by their rags and limbs, a strongbox sits fastened and locked upon the timbers of the platform. 

From yet deeper in the gloom, a rasping, sibilant voice speaks: "Slay them.  The Eye commands it." 


  It'll take two rounds to pole the raft over to the platform, but the path is reasonably clear and doesn't require an Explore roll to find. 

Matt, Laeral still has an action this round - she can take a shot at one of the ragged figures, pole the raft closer or anything else you think up.   

[Eclecticon]

I'll give Matt a few more hours.

[Eclecticon]

At the sound of the voice, Laeral straightens, and to Esgalwen's eyes it seems that she stands taller still than the Ranger, as if at her rising the whole of Middle-Earth knelt before her.  "Know that I see you for what you are, foul shade!" she calls into the darkness.  "Nor shall all the tricks of your master conceal you!" 

Even as she speaks, her eyes pierce the dimness beyond the platform...


Matt, I've taken over Laeral for just a moment - as soon as we hit next round, she's yours again.  In the meantime, she's rolling an Awareness test:

1d12 : 9, total 9
Rolled 3d6 : 4, 2, 1, total 7

[Eclecticon]

There!  Though it would appear as nothing at all to the eyes of Men, save perhaps a glow fainter than a guttering candle, to the sight of the Firstborn the presence of the wraith is plain.  And now that she has seen it, the next step is plain. 

[tomcat]

Well that is bad ass!