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With the decision made, the companions set about securing the old Millfort's defenses. Looking around they saw that the windows still had heavy, iron-bound shutters, though the bolts were frozen with rust. There were two entrances into the tower - the main entrance, in which they had come, as well as a back door that led out to what had once been a garden. The trellises that would have once allowed for tomato, or grape vines, have long since collapsed and the area was now overgrown - reclaimed by the forest. Yet among the scrub plants that grew were still the fruits and vegetables that were able to compete, now growing wild.

The doors to the small fort were still present, reinforced by now-rusted iron bands, but were not in good working order. The front doors would not close evenly and one of the back door had come off its hinges. Outside in the garden area, the well still was filled though algae and other plants had grown atop the water. Still, the old pump within the keep drew water when someone of strength was able to raise and lower the lever.

On the second floor, the roof was broken and exposed the daytime sky. The broken stones had fallen through the wooden floor, making the first floor accessible. Still, there was an old hatch cover that could be closed over the stairwell and the old table could be broken to provide wood to patch the second floor.

It was possible that the fort could be made defensible once more  - they had work to do and little time to do it.

---

:ooc: I am going to need a series of rolls from your characters as they try to restore the Millfort's defenses.

Each PC will be allowed to perform up to three tests, which will signify the hours spent doing their part to secure the fortress. All TN's are listed below by skill that may be used - but any PC that has a trait directly related to the skill, and how it is being applied, may reduce the TN  by -2. Each success in an area will increase that part of the fort's defenses by adding that particular reward.

Area

|

Description

|

Skills

|

TN

|

Successes

|

Value per Success

|

Rolled Successes

Doors

|

repair the doors

|

Craft or Battle

|

14 or 16

|

3

|

20

|

3 (60)

Windows

|

enable window hatches to close

|

Craft or Battle

|

14 or 16

|

3

|

vantage

|

3 (3 vantages)

Garden

|

food and water

|

Craft or Lore

|

14 or 16

|

2

|

days

|

3 (6 days)

Second floor Hatch

|

repair the Hatch

|

Craft or Battle

|

14 or 16

|

2

|

20

|

2 (40)

Second floor flooring

|

repair the 2nd floor

|

Craft or Battle

|

14 or 16

|

4

|

10

|

2 (20)

The Values per success are defined as such:
• numeric value - this is the amount of END scored by the repair. Any attacker will need to reduce that Defense's END to 0 and THEN achieve a piercing blow to compromise the defense
• vantage - for each success made, an attack vantage point will be created. Any PC that uses that vantage will gain a Defense score of 9+PARRY no matter what stance they use. Also, ranged combat will be allowed at said vantage (no matter the number of attackers), gaining the Rearward stance Defense score of 12+PARRY.
• days - each success will award 2 days worth of food and water, allowing anyone holed up in the fort that amount of time

If you have any questions, let me know. Also, I am still running through my logic on these mechanics, so somethings might change [if anyone has a suggestion, I would love to hear your ideas].

:ooc: Seeing as Battle is her only real strong suit - Esgalwen will work on busting up the table and then securing the boards to the floor above to strengthen that area. The floor can benefit from a max of 4 successes, so let's see how her three attempts go...
TN 16 Battle 2d

:ooc: A freaking :~~: !

Oh well.

Esgalwen earns 1 success (even with a Hope point, her Heart score is not enough to gain a success on her third roll)  :|

:ooc: Bofri will now do his part working on the doors. His stone-craft trait will reduce the TN by -2.
TN 12 Craft 4d

:ooc: Bofri secures the doors. You guys can focus on other things.

Bandy smiled as his companions went about the defense of the fort. The plan and resources outlined gave each of them something to do and the Hobbit hoped that even if they were to survive one night the spiders would know that they were serious. Apparently they were already known among them, this would grow their reputation and hopefully allow for the road to be opened. As the bigger and more warlike folk set to work the Hobbit looked at the garden.

"Its full of weeds, but this surley is the job for a Hobbit if ever there was one." Bandy tucked the gem in his pocket and set out for the garden.

Lore Tests (Not sure if I can use Clever or not to lower the TN but I am going high and let you decide. )

TN 16



TN16



TN16

Arbogast spends a little time trying to build piles of kindling beneath the windows and before the doors, but the wood he finds is damp and noisome, and far beyond his ability to burn.  As Bofri works with cunning efficiency to restore the doors, the Fire-watcher begins to do the same for the windows, attending first to those on the higher floor, which will provide a better vantage for archery.  He finds himself longing for a stout spear, for an axe (even one as well-wrought as the Axe of Mordinkai) is a poor choice for fighting through narrow confines. 


:ooc: Rolling Battle to get some windows shut:

:ooc: ...and again:

:ooc: Doug, would there be any value in Arbogast using his Natural Watchfulness to get an idea of the nearby terrain - perhaps to predict the spiders' likely direction of approach (which I suspect will be 'from every direction at once', but you never know...)?

:ooc: I am fine with you guys using anything that might be cool and add to our story. Let me think how it might benefit and I will add it to my next narrative post tomorrow.

For now, I am off to bed!

Grimbeorn sets about securing the upper level.

:ooc: Repair Hatch

:00:
:00:
:00:

 :ooc: we said repair the hatch, not destroy the hatch.

 :ooc: Matt, you can spend a hope and gain 1 success from your rolls. Let me know.

 :ooc: Ya I'll use a Hope.

Standing on the dilapidated second floor, Arbogast spies the wood about the Millfort.  As the sun draws toward the shadow of the Misty Mountains, the trees are already heavy with the anticipation of the coming battle, and their branches tremble even in the absence of any wind.  Our foes gather round, he thinks, marking the silence where the evening birds would normally sound their call, but how many?  Has the great beast that was here deigned to return?

Attentive to the slightest detail, he watches, and listens, as the last rays of sunlight fade, little by little. 



:ooc: So, I'm going to try to get an idea of the total forces we're likely to face tonight.  If I can gather any clues that would enable Grimbeorn's Spider-Lore to predict their morale and/or tactics, then I'll do that, too. 
DC 14 Explore 3

Rorin bustled about here and there helping the others with their tasks and doing what he can to shore up the defenses of the fort.

Once the defenses were to his liking he picked up where Arbogast left off and gathered kindling for a fire. After stripping away the damp bark from some of the logs and scouring the area for anything that would burn he managed to come up with enough fuel to keep a small fire going for a good few nights.

 :ooc:

Rorin will invoke his Fire-Making Specialty to get a fire going.

As for his rolls, he will spend one roll one each for the window, the hatch, and the flooring

DC 16 Craft for window


DC 16 Craft for hatch


DC 16 Craft for floor

 :ooc:

Correction, those were all TN 14, but it doesn't matter. I'll spend 1 Hope (Body, favored for 8) on the 2 failing tests push them through.

Updated hope on the sheet. :csu:

From his vantage, the forest looked pristine. Arbogast was moved by the wood that he called home, but still, he knew something was off. The Fire-watcher knew there were eyes looking back at him...many eyes. He was also shaken by the fact that there were no sounds of animals, only the wind through the trees. Arbogast scanned all around, looking up into the fading day, as he did. The only thing he saw was a hawk - or maybe it was an eagle - hanging high, high above on the winds.

The rest of the companions were below, sitting around Rorin's fire that he had built. They were taking food after a long afternoon's labors. Arbogast looked to the hatch that closed the second floor off to the first. It had been secured well, but the actual floor boards were weak. That would be the point of access that would give them the largest threat. He figured he would continue to watch from his place on the second floor - at least until the blanket of night covered all. Mayhaps the spiders would not bother them again, but the Fire-watcher gave little hope in that regard.

Suddenly, a beautiful voice rose from below - one he had never heard before. It was Esgalwen! Her beauty truly extended beyond her visage.

The trees grow there
Great and fair
A timeless seeming land

Of climbing woods
And swift-falling streams
Oh, old Ithilien

Southern winds
Blew moist and warm
Coming from the sea

And Isildur
Set here his house
To thwart the Enemy

But Shadow fell
The King was lost
An age was at its end

Now in silence
The winds still blow
In old Ithilien

Her words ended and Arbogast heard the murmur of other voices - probably that of Bandy asking his many questions. Feeling somewhat solemn, the man looked out once more over the sea of leaves and to his mind rose visions of a king long gone.

:ooc: Just to make it official

Esgalwen
TN 14 song 2d

:ooc:  She can't win for losing...

I will invoke her Fair and/or Old Lore traits to give her the success.

 :ooc: I will have a new post up later.

Her song ended and the Company around Esgalwen could see that her eyes gleamed with tears. Ithilien was far away, and surely this daughter of Gondor loved it most of all. Being the scholar that he was, Bandy broke her memories and asked the ranger about the land under the trees, named for the moon. The conversation was quiet and peaceful, and slowly the sun that cut through both leaves and windows, to shine upon the wall, faded.

Above them, Arbogast drawn from his own reverie of kings of countries he had never seen - men with bright stars upon their brow - started when the woods around him began to stir. Like a pebble that creates concentric rings, ever expanding, the Millfort was the center focus, encircled by a mass of movement.

---

:ooc: Just to reiterate the tactical notes:

The Millfort is impregnable save for five locations.

A) Each door has been successfully repaired and has 60 END points each. No spiders can get in them until they reduce the doors to 0 END and then roll a Piercing attack that overcomes a 3d armor rating.

B) Each window is a vantage point that allows an attack out (and in). Ranged weapons may be fired out and the defending archer gains the Rearward DEFENSE, but may use the Open ATTACK TN. Overwhelming numbers of enemies do not affect ranged combat while the defenses hold. Melee weapons may be used to attack out (and in) but the defenders gain the Defensive DEFENSE TN rating, but may use the Forward ATTACK TN. Attackers from the outside may return a melee attack through a window, but may NOT enter the fort.

C) The hatch has been successfully repaired and has 40 END points. No spiders can get through it until they reduce the hatch to 0 END and then roll a Piercing attack that overcomes a 2d armor rating.

D) The floor has been successfully repaired and has 20 END points. No spiders can get through it until they reduce the floor to 0 END and then roll a Piercing attack that overcomes a 1d armor rating.

E) The stone roof of the fort is compromised - there is a large hole here. The second floor offers little defense and any PC that decides to fight on the second floor will not be eligible for vantage defenses once spiders come through the hole in the roof. Ranged combat WILL be affected by overwhelming numbers, if the archer positions themselves here, instead of on the first floor.

IF the first floor defenses are compromised, vantage benefits are lost as the spiders enter the room. There will be NO opening volleys, as the things coming in the night are invisible in the trees.

Any questions? Let me know. I will be setting up the first round of combat when I get back to the office.

(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/52987685/Millfort_tactical.jpg)

 :ooc: Lets do this!

:ooc: Roll for advantage dice:
TN 14 battle by PC