Orcs, Wargs and Stones - Round 3

[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 0/1
• Gwaithlim 0/0
• Hathcyn 1/2
• 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.

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

• 17/27 • 30/30 • 27/29 • 20/27

Defensive Defensive Defensive Open

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		• 0 • 0 • 0 • 0 • 0 • 0 • 3 • 2 • 2 • 3		• 12 • 0 • 0 • 0 • 5 • 0 • 16 • 16 • 16 • 16		fleeing, WEARY DEAD DEAD DEAD fleeing, WEARY DEAD Engaged Engaged Engaged Engaged

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]

Though several of their number lie slain upon the slope of the hill, the fight is not gone from the warg-pack.  Both Gwaithlim and Luindîs find themselves fending off jaws hungry for Elf-flesh.



Sprinting warg (TN 14)

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

Gnashing warg (TN 19)

1d12 : 4, total 4
Rolled 2d6+3 : 4, 6 + 3, total 13

[Eclecticon]

Bright steel and willing sword-arms, however, prove more than enough to keep even the fiercest of beasts from coming near.  Luindîs holds her sword high and gives a great cry: "Lacho calad! Drego morn! Flame light!  Flee darkness!" 


She's having a go at intimidating the foes (Awe, TN 14):

1d12 : 5, total 5
Rolled 2d6 : 6, 3, total 9

[Eclecticon]

That's a nice little success, for a total of three Hate loss.  The two surviving wargs facing you are now Weary (as, it turns out, the Sprinting warg should have been since last round). 

Now seems like as good a time as any to make a Battle roll for Hathcyn to see how Gerold and his men have fared:

1d12 : 12, total 12
Rolled 3d6 : 5, 4, 6, total 15

[Eclecticon]

Like the vanishing of the moon behind a cloud, the bloodlust of the wargs melts away before the cold fury of their two-legged foes and, leaving the greater part of their number slain upon the hillside, the pack turns as one to slink away.  Even among the survivors, there are many wounds to be licked as the sun goes down on this day. 

The anger of the orcs higher on the hill, however, has only waxed while the companions and their allies have been about their sword-work.  Harsh throats spit harsher words as they begin, each in their own direction, to stomp toward their unruly former-thralls, and the sharp clanging of a stone against a black iron helm echoes loudly. 


Here's how the next few moments are going to work: at a point determined by a die roll I have already made, the orcs' patience is going to end and they're going to decide that getting all their loot back to their lair is less important than killing people right now. 

Between them and you guys, though, is an expanse of open hillside - say about sixty paces (the Commonwealth citizen in me refuses to use yards).  That's going to take five rounds to cross (remember, it's uphill and there are some large stones to move around) plus one for being in Open stance or two for Defensive, minus one for every success on an Athletics roll. 

EDIT: Hathcyn's Swift trait counts as a single success here, but Tom can also roll.  Being notably fast has its uses when speed is called for.

Alternatively, if you want to stay where you are and vent your frustration on the nearby wargs (which I totally understand) you can do that. 

[Telcontar]

Athletics

Rolled 1d12 : 10, total 10

Rolled 2d6 : 4, 2, total 6

[tomcat]

The wargs broke from the engagement and Esgalwen sagged once more in pain. Setting Nimronyn down, she grabbed the shaft that extended from her collar and snapped it in twain, to alleviate some of the pain of its jostling.

In the distance, she saw the orcs begin to move to their captives with ill-intent. The Ranger wanted to bring her bow to bear, but knew her left arm would not serve her. Instead, scooped up Nimronyn and breathed in deeply, as she stood and then ran after Hathcyn.
based on her stance, Esgalwen will get to the orcs in 7 rounds minus how this roll turns out.
TN 14 athletics 2d

1d12 : 12, total 12
Rolled 2d6 : 6, 1, total 7

[tomcat]

Dude... this is too much! That is a success! I will be on the orcs in 5! 

Although, with these rolls, I am wondering if I am racing off to Esgalwen's cinematic end? We shall see.
As fleet as a doe, the Ranger races behind her friend - Nimronyn shining in her hand, with a light of its own.

[Eclecticon]

Just to be clear, here, you don't have to stay in your current stance! 

Hathcyn, for instance, will cover the distance in two rounds if he shifts into Forward, three if he wants to arrive in Open or four otherwise.  Gerold and his surviving followers, fighting to protect their kinfolk, are going to rush forward as quickly as they can:
Athletics (TN 14)

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

[Eclecticon]

They'll get there in four rounds.

[Telcontar]

Ok, hussle me up then. I dont want people talking sh%t about where Hathcyn was when the West Anduin fell.

[Eclecticon]

Duly noted!

[Eclecticon]

While Matt's dealing with more important things, I'll roll for Gwaithlim (who will shift into Forward stance to match Hathcyn).

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