Orcs, Wargs and Stones - Opening volleys

[Eclecticon]

Situation: The Fellowship has run a raiding party of orcish warg-riders to ground, only to find that they have Beorning captives in their midst. 

Combat Advantage dice:
• Esgalwen 1/1
• Gwaithlim 0/0
• Hathcyn 2/2
• Luindîs 0/0

Situation Modifiers:
• The enemy has the initiative.

Physical Modifiers (complications):
• The stony ground rises up to the orcs' position several score paces away.  Ranged attacks against the orcs are at +2 difficulty. 
• The orcs are shooting from amid their captives.  Any on a ranged attack against them will hit a captive.
• The Parry bonus of shields is doubled during opening volleys. 

PC/NPC

PARRY

ARMOUR

HOPE

END

STANCE

STATUS

Esgalwen Gwaithlim Hathcyn Luindîs

• 6 ( n/a) • 7 ( n/a) • 7 ( n/a) • 5 ( n/a)

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

• 14/15 • 10/13 • 10/14 • 9/12

• 19/27 • 30/30 • 29/29 • 19/27

Rearward Defensive Defensive Rearward

WOUNDED

ENEMY		PARRY		ARMOUR		HATE		END		NOTES
Sprinting warg Scar-nosed warg Large-eared warg Silent warg Gnashing warg Slope-shouldered warg Whooping orc Torn-mouthed orc Black-helmed orc Thick-muscled orc		• 5 • 5 • 5 • 5 • 5 • 5 • 4 • 4 • 4 • 4		• 2d • 2d • 2d • 2d • 2d • 2d • 2d+4 • 2d+4 • 2d+4 • 2d+4		• 1 • 1 • 1 • 1 • 1 • 0 • 3 • 3 • 3 • 3		• 12 • 12 • 12 • 12 • 12 • 0 • 16 • 16 • 16 • 16		DEAD vs Esgalwen vs Gwaithlim vs Hathcyn vs Luindîs

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]

The companions' approach is met with the howling of wild wargs as the pack descends the hillside with jaws all a-slaver.  As they close, the now-dismounted orcs bend great black bows and loose arrows high into the air. 


The orcs shoot...

Whooping orc (TN 18)

1d12 : 10, total 10
Rolled 2d6 : 6, 3, total 9

Torn-mouthed orc (TN 19)

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

Black-helmed orc (TN 19)

1d12 : 3, total 3
Rolled 2d6 : 4, 4, total 8

Thick-muscled orc (TN 17)

1d12 : 9, total 9
Rolled 2d6 : 6, 3, total 9

[Eclecticon]

Like hammers, the broad-headed arrows fall to tear cloaks and strike sparks from stones where they fail to bite into flesh.  At Gwaithlim's left hand, a Beorning warrior falls without a sound.  Behind the company, arrows find their mark in horses and their shrieks of pain and fear are piercingly loud, for the war-arrows of the orcs are cruelly-fashioned, and the worse for being oft-treated with terrible poisoned brewed in the dark places beneath the Misty Mountains. 

Luindîs at first has no thought of the risk as she nocks her own shaft, but lets out an unwilling cry as an arrow passes close enough to slice into her ear.  There, but for chance, am I fallen! she cannot help but think.  Hands now aquiver and her own blood dripping on to her fingers, she fumbles the nock once and again before at last finding the string, then remembers to run as more arrows arc into the air toward her. 


That's a strong start for the forces of the Shadow!  Luindîs loses nine Endurance, as does Esgalwen, who needs to make a Protection check (TN 14) into the bargain:

1d12 : 1, total 1
Rolled 2d6+1 : 3, 3 + 1, total 7

[Eclecticon]

That's... not great for her.  Doug, do you want to tell us what befalls her? 

EDIT:  And I've miscalculated the Endurance loss, which should've been eight, not nine.  I've fixed it in the table.

[tomcat]

Esgalwen marked the cry of Luindis and she looked to see if her new companion was well, seeing the blood that now smeared down the elf's ear. It was this moment of distraction that left the ranger vulnerable and not paying attention to the dangers that threatened her.

The arrow struck Esgalwen above her left breast, piercing the sturdy leather corselet that she had so long relied upon. There was a terrible scraping feeling, as the arrowhead slid past her collarbone, and then a burning bloomed through her neck and chest - the deadly poison that coated the shaft.

The woman went to her knees, Nimronyn tumbling from her hand. Esgalwen struggled to breath and her sight began to darken at the edges. Only the gleam of her sword kept her focused and she scrambled to grab it, but found her left arm numb and the right needing to support her weight.

[Eclecticon]

Arrow nocked, Luindîs draws and shoots like one in a trance, her heart hammering.  She is barely aware of Esgalwen falling or the rushing ahead of Hathcyn, for all her attention is on the onrush of the wargs and the feel of the bowstring at her lips the moment before she looses her arrow.


Luindîs shoots:

1d12 : 8, total 8
Rolled 3d6 : 4, 6, 6, total 16

[Eclecticon]

Long years of gleeful hunts beneath Mirkwood's dark boughs pay their dues as her arrow finds its mark, sinking down to the fletching in the chest of a great, slope-shouldered beast.  It falls like a stone, its companions leaping over it or dashing around, not even slowing in their charge.  Beyond them, their orcish allies ready themselves for another volley.


By my count, both Esgalwen and Gwaithlim could shoot in this phase, though Doug's narration suggests that the former might not be able to.  I'll leave it up to you.   

[tomcat]

I ended the last thread with her sword in hand, and so that is how we find her here. So, no - she cannot return fire.

I do need to know what the Orc Poison does, though.

[Eclecticon]

We'll leave it for now as mechanically it only comes into play when the orcs get a called shot with a bow (i.e. when a player rolls a and the orc subsequently hits them). 

For what it's worth, your description fits into the effects pretty well. 

[tomcat]

We'll leave it for now as mechanically it only comes into play when the orcs get a called shot with a bow (i.e. when a player rolls a and the orc subsequently hits them). 

For what it's worth, your description fits into the effects pretty well. 

I forgot that about 1e. I am not a fan of the Called Shot rules in this game. As a LM, I am glad they eliminated that in 2e.

[Eclecticon]

Gwaithlim's bow is great, and not swiftly does it leap to his hand, but far indeed will it cast a shaft.  And so, keen eyed and strong-armed, he takes aim at the orcs in the rear... 


Matt, forgive me for grabbing Gwaithlim for a moment - just trying to keep some momentum. 

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

[Eclecticon]

... but, in his efforts to spare the blameless captives, his arrow flies wide of the mark.  Bare seconds later, the wolves are upon them.