Orcs, Wargs and Stones - Round 10

[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 0/2
• Luindîs 0/0

Situation Modifiers:
• The enemy has the initiative.

Physical Modifiers (complications):
• Nil

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 • 9/13 • 9/14 • 8/12

• 17/27 • 6/30 • 3/29 • 20/27

Defensive Defensive Forward Rearward

WOUNDED WEARY WEARY

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 • 0 • 0 • 0 • 0		• 12 • 0 • 0 • 0 • 5 • 0 • 0 • 0 • 16 • 0		FLED DEAD DEAD DEAD FLED DEAD DEAD DEAD vs Gwaithlim, WEARY 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]

His hands almost numb with fatigue, Hathcyn raises his gaze from the spitted body of the orc before him.  Few of the once-fearsome warg riders still stand, though much Mannish blood has been shed to bring them down.  The largest of the remaining orcs, its iron helm now blood-spattered, bares its teeth in a show of hateful defiance as it lashes out once again, its sword thirsty for Elven blood.


The Black-helmed orc will attack, quite possibly for the very last time (TN 19):

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

[Eclecticon]

The orc's attack is frenzied, but too weak at the last to break through Gwaithlim's guard.  The foetor of its breath is hot in the Elf's face as it locks eyes with him, its gaze rage-filled.

[Eclecticon]

Anyone can start us off.  Don't be shy!  We're so close to finishing the story!

[tomcat]

The orcs rash attack was futile against the Elf, but it opened an opportunity for Esgalwen to step in and stab. Nimronyn extended out towards the orc's lower back, where its defenses were weak; the Ranger putting what strength she had left into her effort.
TN 16 longsword 5d

1d12 : 11, total 11
Rolled 5d6 : 2, 1, 6, 2, 5, total 16

10  edge: 8   injury: 16

[tomcat]

another ! If you are using the EYE Awareness rules, Paul - Esgalwen just contributed two markers to the mix in her last two attacks. Maybe the dice are reflecting her anger or her struggle with feeling alone?

Either way, she holds nothing back in the attack - stabbing Nimronyn deep with all the adrenaline and anger she has coursing herself.

That is still a success for 16 loss, which I believe is a kill.

[tomcat]

There was a wet sound as she hauled her sword from the orc's dying body.

Esgalwen stepped back, her breath coming hard and pain visible on her face. Black blood was spattered over her leather shirt and garments, her own dark red blood mingling with the ruin of what femininity she might possess. Here eyes were wide with a battle-lust that was upon her, but it too was bleeding away - turning her face ashen, as it did.

The Ranger went to her knees, Nimronyn stabbing into the ground as a crutch that kept her from toppling. Esgalwen looked down to the broken arrow that extended from just below her collarbone, the red rawness of the wound, and her blood, coating the side of her neck and face. The woman leaned into her sword, staked as it was, and held on for fear of passing out. She closed her eyes and heard her rasping breath and the muffled sounds of her companions calling out.

[Telcontar]

The Longspear too was battered and broken. The fight around him ebbing to a close as the living realized they lived and the dead knew no more.

Hathcyn saw the ranger still lived. If he could read her thoughts he would have known how battered she felt and unwoman like. The Longspear saw something else, the pure woman warrior and hearth guardian revealed.

She shone out like a vision of the stories of old. His wounds burned, but she awed him as he saw her in this light. Coming closer he took her hand and raised her up.

"Beornings, hear me speak and know my words as truth. Behold the Sword of the Vale! To long she has gone without a name among us. Her story requires one for so shinning a woman. Ætheldreám I name her!" 

[Eclecticon]

The last living orcs finally break and run, a last one falling as it does with a spear in its back.  The hoarse cry of the Longspear is echoed by the captives now rescued and those among Gerold's men who still stand.  "Ætheldreám, Sword of the Vale!"


'Noble joy'.  That is really, really cool.

[tomcat]

Esgalwen stood with her friend's help, letting him take her sword. His words lifted her and she smiled through her pain, even as she wrapped an arm around his waist for support.

The day was theirs! A fire ignited among the Beornings that would help them slough off the shackles of any would-be invader.

The Gondorian's heart was filled and her smile grew wider, as the strength in her returned.