Confrontation in the Gloom - Round 6

[Eclecticon]

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

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

Situation Modifiers:
• The companions 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)

• 10/16 • 10/14 • 8/13 • 9/12

• 8/26 • 27/27 • 19/29 • 20/28

Open Rearward Defensive Rearward

weary normal normal normal

ENEMY		PARRY		ARMOUR		HATE		END		NOTES
The Haunter of the Lakeshore Bowman 1 Bowman 2 Bowman 3 Knifeman 1 Knifeman 2 Knifeman 3 Knifeman 4 Knifeman 5 Knifeman 6 Lake-Beast		• 6 • 4 • 4 • 4 • 3 • 3 • 3 • 3 • 3 • 3 • 4		• 2d • 1d • 1d • 1d • 1d • 1d • 1d • 1d • 1d • 1d • 2d		• 9/10 • 2/2 • 2/2 • 2/2 • 2/2 • 2/2 • 2/2 • 2/2 • 2/2 • 2/2 • 5/6		• 39/50 • 1/14 • 1/14 • 1/14 • 0/12 • 0/12 • 12/12 • 0/12 • 0/12 • 12/12 • 0/32		?? ?? ?? Dead Dead Fleeing Dead Dead Fleeing 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]

In view of the fact that several of the companions have bows nocked and ready, and it'll take a second or two for the knifemen to make contact with Hathcyn and Arbogast, you guys now have the initiative. 

EDIT: To be clear, only Laeral can currently see the Nazgûl.  To everyone else, it's just a feeling of dread that grows the closer you approach. 

[Eclecticon]

"No!" calls Arbogast as he advances on to the platform.  "Fly!  Heed not the commands of the one who is all Men's enemy!"


Arbogast is trying a long-shot Awe roll to see if he can break away one of the knifemen.  This requires a great or extraordinary success to succeed. 

1d12 : 7, total 7
Rolled 2d6 : 6, 2, total 8

[Eclecticon]

That's good, but not quite enough to break the hold of the Ringwraith.  I'll use his advantage die:

1d6 : 3, total 3

[Eclecticon]

And that makes it over the line with a Hope spend.   

[Telcontar]

  i was going to try something of the like too. What is the result of Arbogasts attempt?

[tomcat]

I am not sure if Esgalwen is able to see any of the oncoming foe, so here is a roll to see (if necessary), followed by a bowshot at Knifeman 4.

I will leave it to you, Paul, as to the success of either roll.

Awareness
TN -- awareness 2d

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

Ranged attack on Knifeman 4
TN 15 great bow 3d

1d12 : 10, total 10
Rolled 3d6 : 3, 4, 4, total 11

7   edge: 10  injury: 16

I will use my last advantage die at need...

[tomcat]

If I need the Awareness test, I will use the advantage die if it can potentially attain the TN.

If I am successful at seeing -or- if I didn't need the awareness test, that is a piercing shot for 7 loss, TN 16 protection test.

[Eclecticon]

No need for an Awareness test, Doug - I think Esgalwen can make out enough to find a target.  Let's see how this guy does on his Protection roll:

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

i was going to try something of the like too. What is the result of Arbogasts attempt?

Sorry for not making this clear (or putting any proper narration in - work called me away).  Arbogast was successful against a TN 18.  Was this the best use of a Hope point?  Probably not, but here we are. 

[Eclecticon]

The dark spell over one of the wretched knifemen visibly breaks, and without pausing to draw another breath the man turns on his heel and flees, letting his hook fall to the platform floor.  A moment later, Esgalwen looses another shot and a second knifeman falls with a sob, transfixed by a yard-long shaft.   

Above the heads of those who fight and die, muffled shouts can be heard as the timbers resound with the heavy tread of men. 

[Telcontar]

Hathcyn felt the will over their opponents faltering. He hoped with a slight nudge the rest would flee and they could see what this dark threat before them was. Unknown to Hathcyn was that the foe they now faced was far greater than even the wraith in the Great Hall of the wood that had unmanned him.

"The House of Beorn is not made of frail men! Fly if you wish to live, fly before the spear and Axe of the Wood!"

The Fox Ring of gold glittered like fire in the lantern light and the bellow of the Beorning could be heard like a muffled war cry to the Lakemen above.

  Attempting an AWE roll in the face of a Ringwraith seems ludicrous, but this is the stuff of heroes right. The Dice will tell their tale.

Rolled 1d12 : 3, total 3

 

Rolled 3d6+1 : 2, 6, 2 + 1, total 11

[Telcontar]

  I expected better. Hathcyn you poor bastard.

[tomcat]

Esgalwen hears Hathcyn's challenge and cries out to join him, "Not just axe and spear of the wood, but sword and bow of Gondor! And knife and bow of Beleriand!"

She knew the tales - long had she read the books and scrolls within her grandfather's house of the old days. Days before Númenor. Days before the world was rounded and the lands were submerged. She was not sure if Laeral was old enough to remember those times, or if she carried the treasures of those wondrous places, but she was of their ilk and that blood was powerful.

So, too, were the names that they bore.
Here is a bit of hope... a 50% chance to give him what he needs. I throw my last advantage die for Hathcyn's check.

Rolled 1d6 : 6, total 6

[tomcat]

BAM! Bitches! That should give Hathcyn a 20 success

[tomcat]

Not that she is able to use a Trait for someone else's skill roll, but I am drawing the strength from her challenge above (and her knowledge mentioned) from her Old Lore trait.

I write this just to explain how Esgalwen knows anything of the old days of Beleriand and the fate of the Elves.