Swamp Spiders - Round 3

[Eclecticon]

Situation: Can the Fellowship survive an ambush in the swampy lowlands of Mirkwood, or will they perish far from home and their loved ones? 

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

Situation Modifiers:
• The spiders have the initiative. 
• Arbogast has fallen, and until he rises (taking a round) he receives no bonus to his Parry score from his stance. 

Physical Modifiers (complications):
• N/A 

PC/NPC

PARRY

ARMOUR

HOPE

END

STANCE

STATUS

Arbogast Esgalwen Grimbeorn Hathcyn

• 9 ( +3) • 9 • 4 ( +4) • 4 (Great Strength +3)

• 2d ( +4) • 1d ( n/a) • 2d ( n/a) • 3d ( n/a)

• 7/16 • 9/14 • 8/12 • 10/13

• 14/26 • 27/27 • 20/31 • 17/29

Open Forward Defensive Forward

WEARY WEARY WEARY WEARY, WOUNDED

ENEMY		PARRY		ARMOUR		HATE		END		NOTES
Greenish spider Hairier spider Russet spider Spider with a missing leg Mud-coloured spider Larger spider		• 4 • 4 • 4 • 4 • 4 • 4		• 2d • 2d • 2d • 2d • 2d • 2d		• 0/2 • 0/2 • 0/2 • 0/2 • 0/2 • 2/2		• 0/12 • 0/12 • 0/12 • 0/12 • 0/12 • 12/12		• • • • • • vs Arbogast

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]

A substantially smaller number of attack rolls to do now:

Russet spider (vs Esgalwen, TN 15)

1d12 : 3, total 3
Rolled 2d6+3 : 3, 5 + 3, total 11

Mud-coloured spider (vs Grimbeorn, TN 20)

1d12 : 10, total 10
Rolled 2d6+3 : 2, 6 + 3, total 11

Larger spider (vs Arbogast, TN 12)

1d12 : 12, total 12
Rolled 2d6+3 : 5, 2 + 3, total 10

[Eclecticon]

Webs stream from the spiders towards Esgalwen, who ducks in the nick of time, and Grimbeorn.  Swiftly, for the spiders of Mirkwood are great hunters and masters of their craft, the Wolfslayer finds his sword-arm loosely bound to a nearby branch, and his shield tightly to a root.  Wounded and wary of its wounder, the mud-coloured spider approaches slowly, mandibles chittering. 

The larger spider leaps at Arbogast, seeking perhaps to bear him back down and re-entangle him, but the Fire-watcher rolls aside, leaving his tormentor to make an ungainly landing in a puddle.  Back aching and joints creaking, Arbogast stands, clashing his axe against his shield. 


Arbogast is up, and will go into Open stance.  Matt, Grimbeorn can still attack, but he can't change out of Defensive stance, so Hathcyn and Esgalwen will act first (assuming they don't change either).  Instead of attacking, he can free himself with a successful Athletics roll vs TN 16, and until he does his Parry rating is halved. 

[tomcat]

Esgalwen attacks russet
TN 10 longsword 4d, shadow bane +1d

1d12 : 7, total 7
Rolled 5d6 : 3, 2, 6, 4, 3, total 18

12    edge: 10   injury: 18

[Eclecticon]

Choppy chop-chop!

[Telcontar]

Hathcyn moves to strike the foes besetting the aetheling of the Beornings.

Rolled 1d12 : 4, total 4

Rolled 4d6 : 6, 4, 6, 6, total 22

[Telcontar]

The quiet worn and battered rage of the Beorning has made him dangerous beyond measure. Like a cornered animal that thinks only to bite and kick he sets into the spiders with the leaf shaped blade of his great long spear.

[Eclecticon]

Lets do an Athletics roll to see whether Grimbeorn frees himself:

1d12 : 9, total 9
Rolled 3d6 : 4, 2, 4, total 10

[Eclecticon]

As another spider perishes beneath the spear of Hathcyn, he turns his death-filled eyes upon the last remaining beast.  As his aetheling rips his limbs free, and Esgalwen strides to the side of Arbogast, her blade held ready, the surviving spider backs quickly away, disappearing into the twisted trunks and undergrowth, for the spiders of Mirkwood are crafty, and powerful in their hunger, but value their own lives above all. 


Doug, despite my best efforts Esgalwen hasn't been injured in this fight, which means that she is no longer Weary.  Arbogast regains six Endurance points, since he wasn't Wounded, and nobody else was injured at all.  Nicely done, people. 

[Telcontar]

Hathcyn lowered his spear and the battle fury left him. He was haggard and worn, the skin about his face was drawn and his features looked hollow. Even his skin took on an ashy grey appearance of death and decay and the dirt and grime did nothing to hide the paleness. The only color was the ugly reds and purples of where the spider fangs had sunk into his neck and shoulder.
As the battles intensity left him he seemed to physically shrink and fall in upon his own frame.

He looked about himself.

"I see we are still in the wood. Surely I am alive for I can not imagine one would feel such great weariness and pain in death."

He saw the remains of the bier he was carried on.

"Thank you my friends. I have come back to you again it seems to share your burdens. Hopefully I shall be less of one myself now that I'm awake."

[GandalfOfBorg]

Grimbeorn can't help himself and gives a great roar of frustration, tearing apart the webbing and bits of flesh, hair, etc. with it.  "If I ever get the idea to return here, all of you have permission to knock sense into me."

  Sorry I missed part of this but some of y'all were posting while I was still sleeping

[Telcontar]

The sunken eyes of Hathcyn turned towards his lord.

"No Wolfslayer. You have been given wisdom. We have hopefully bought respite for our people and those of the wood, but it is good that leaders know the true horror that seeks to consume us. If I live to see the light of day I'll never give these beasts rest and the Fox's Tale shall be a shield for our peoples and a place from which we harry these beasts as best as we may."

Grimbeorn looked at Hathcyn closely. He had traveled with him for many miles and many adventures. He had never seen him so close to death and yet so alive. His spirit seemed to shine through his sallow body.

"Longspear, this helm is yours. You have suffered much on this endeavor and the hands of the leader are the hands of the gift giver. I have no ring sword for you, but this relic of the past you have bought dearly. May it be an aid, a boon to you and your house."

In grimy dirty hand he took the helm and turned it over. Seeing the jewel and the working of it and the profile of the metal. It was from a time unknown and lost too him, but even in this mirk it's radiance was apparent. He sunk the foot of his spear into the muck and bowing his head placed it upon his brow.

When his head rose and their eyes locked Grimbeorn spoke again.

"Kinslayer you shall be called no longer. Hathcyn ForestHelm Bannerman of Carrock you shall be."

 

[Eclecticon]

Wow - goosebumps!