Darkness and Desperation - Round 8

[Eclecticon]

Situation: The Fellowship finds itself in the lair of one of the nameless things that gnaws at the roots of the world. 

Combat Advantage dice:
• Arbogast 1/1
• Esgalwen n/a
• Grimbeorn 1/1
• Hathcyn 1/2

Situation Modifiers:
• The Nameless Thing has the initiative. 
• Anyone in a Rearward stance may attempt to climb the tunnel out of the hill - this will require multiple Athletics successes.
• The Nameless Thing may only be attacked by characters who first make a Valour roll against TN 17. 
• Essylt is fleeing and a successful Athletics roll is required if pursuing her. 

Physical Modifiers (complications):
• Unless at least two torches are lit, the TN to hit the Nameless Thing is increased by two. 
• A lit torch must be held, requiring a free hand to do so. 

PC/NPC

PARRY

ARMOUR

HOPE

END

STANCE

STATUS

Arbogast Esgalwen Grimbeorn Hathcyn

• 6 ( +3) • 6 • 4 ( +4) • 4 (Great Strength +3)

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

• 9/16 • 13/14 • 9/12 • 5/13

• 18/26 • 6/27 • 31/31 • 16/29

Open Open Defensive Rearward

normal WEARY normal WEARY

ENEMY		PARRY		ARMOUR		HATE		END		NOTES
The Nameless Thing		• 5		• 2d		• 5/10		• 39/84		• WOUNDED

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]

Stung by the pain of its injuries, the Nameless Thing turns on Esgalwen once more, attacking the Ranger with renewed savagery. 


Another two -s means another Revelation episode.  This time, the Nameless Thing gains the No Quarter ability, which makes it very dangerous to get knocked out.  Fair warning. 

Attack roll vs Esgalwen (TN 15):

1d12 : 7, total 7
Rolled 4d6 : 6, 6, 4, 3, total 19

[Eclecticon]

Like the fabled hammer of the Enemy himself, the Thing slams its bulk into Esgalwen, deigning not to sink its teeth into her flesh but crushing her, smothering her, grinding her into the wall of the tunnel as it crawls past to advance upon Grimbeorn. 


Ye gods, that's a bad hit.  21 Endurance lost, and Esgalwen is Weary (unless Doug has some trick to pull her out of that particular fire).

[tomcat]

damn... no, I have nothing to get out of this one. The dice are telling a brutal story. The only thing I can say is Esgalwen's parry is +9 total due to her skirmishes trait. Didn't help though with two 's.

[Eclecticon]

Arbogast does not give voice to his dismay as he sees Esgalwen vanish beneath the bulk of the foul creature.  She is a warrior, hardened by the world as we all are, he thinks, and she will live or die by her own cunning and fortitude.  Instead, he gathers his courage about him like a cloak and readies the Warden's Axe for a strike, for he sees now where the Ranger's blade has opened a weak spot in the Thing's coat of chitin and brawn...


Valour roll:

1d12 : 5, total 5
Rolled 5d6 : 1, 5, 5, 3, 5, total 19

[Eclecticon]

And now, as it swings its maw towards him following, perhaps, some scent of him in the stale air, he strikes! 


Arbogast is going for a called shot, aiming to break open the Thing's armour (Adventurer's Companion, p 110).  Let's see whether any  -es turn up...

1d12 : 5, total 5
Rolled 4d6 : 3, 3, 5, 6, total 17

[Eclecticon]

Implacably, perhaps unstoppably, the Thing presses still forward, but the Fire-watcher's stroke has cloven open its flank, and from the wound now issue bubbles of ichor and great drips of viscid slime. 


The Thing will spend another point of Hope to shrug off the Endurance loss completely, but its Armour rating is reduced by one die. 

C'mon, Grimbeorn - show us what you've got!

[tomcat]

Okay, Esgalwen will do her best to add to this mess.

TN 17 valour 4d

1d12 : 6, total 6
Rolled 4d6 : 5, 3, 5, 4, total 17

[tomcat]

Nice! Now let's see if her attack can make things happen...

TN 14 longsword 5d (Shadow bane +1d)

1d12 : 12, total 12
Rolled 5d6 : 3, 5, 5, 5, 4, total 22

11  edge: 8   injury: 18

[tomcat]

BAM, BITCHES! How cool is that! No so she does 11 damage, but she gets a blow!

The creature needs to make a TN 18 protection roll... I will roll it here, Paul. Do the call back on the roll if you prefer you roll.

TN 18 armour 2d

1d12 : 4, total 4
Rolled 2d6 : 5, 4, total 9

[tomcat]

The thing was heavy on her and its foul odor rancid, but Esgalwen was not yet out of the fight. In the weak light of the chamber, the Ranger was well aware of her attackers position, as it crushed her down. She reached deep into her will and turned Nimronyn upward to stab into the monster's underbelly.

Arbogast started as the Dúnadan's gilded, Elven-laced blade suddenly pierced through the chitinous body with a crack. The dark form of Esgalwen was suddenly there, too, as the creature drew back its wounded length revealing her from its mass.

The woman rocked on her feet, trying to steady herself, but did not let go of her sword. Esgalwen twisted the blade to cause the monster as much pain as she could.

[GandalfOfBorg]

Grimbeorn continues with the cautious approach given the savage assault it unleashed upon his friends.  "Arbogast, get her out of here!  This thing shows no sign of abate or retreat... go!"

 
Stance: Defensive, Action: Protect Ally (Esgalwen)

Axes -  1d12 : 10, total 10
Rolled 5d6 : 3, 6, 4, 2, 1, total 16

[GandalfOfBorg]

  If this be his hill to die on, so be it.

[Eclecticon]

Just for fun, let's roll another Protection test (TN 18):

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

[Eclecticon]

Also, a retroactive Valour roll for Grimbeorn:

1d12 : 7, total 7
Rolled 4d6 : 3, 3, 2, 4, total 12