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Situation: The caravan of Ceawin of Sunstead has been attacked by an unknown number of giant spiders of Mirkwood...

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

Combat Advantage dice:
Rorin 2

Situation Modifiers:
• Company has initiative [even though ambushed, more than half passed their Surprise tests -  :csu: for those that earned AP]

Physical Modifiers (complications):
• Idunn is ensnared, must make an Athletics TN 13 or be held in place and suffer Parry to be halved

Tactical Situation
• Arbogast - has one healthy spiders attacking him (1 has been slain)
• Bandy - has one spider attacking him 10/12 (1 has been slain)
• Esgalwen - has one spider attacking her 7/12 (1 has been slain)
• Idunn - has NO spiders attacking her (2 have been slain)
• Grimbeon - has one spider attacking him with 7/12 damage (1 has been slain)
• Rorin - has NO spiders attacking him (2 have been slain)
• East Bight Men - are currently facing 17 spiders

Mass Combat Status:
• 3 spiders dead

PC/NPC	PARRY	ARMOUR	HOPE [HATE]	ENDURANCE
Arbogast Bandy Esgalwen Grimbeorn Idunn Rorin	6/9 [woodcrafty] (shield +3) 9 (shield n/a) 6/9 [skirmisher] (shield n/a) 6/9 [great strength] (shield +4) 6/9 [woodcrafty] 4 (shield n/a)	1d (headgear +1) 1d (headgear n/a) 1d (headgear n/a) none (headgear +1) 2d (headgear n/a) 5d (headgear n/a)	12/16 16/18 10/11 8/12 15/15 8/10	26/26 13/22 13/25 [WOUNDED, WEARY] 25/31 25/25 34/34
Spiders	4 for all	2d for all	2 for all	12 for all

spider1 (G) dead; spider2 (E) dead; spider3 (A) dead; spider4 (R) dead; spider5 (I) dead; spider6 (B) dead; spider7 (I) dead; spider8 (G) 7/12; spider9 (R) dead; spider10 (B) 10/12, spider11 (E) 7/12

STANCE	TN (+parry)	PC / LMC	Options...
Forward - action order 1 Close combat	TN 6+	Esgalwen	Forward Stance maneuvers (https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/52987685/forward.jpg)
Open - action order 2 Close combat	TN 9+	Idunn, Bandy	Open Stance maneuvers (https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/52987685/open.jpg)
Defensive - action order 3 Close combat	TN 12+	Rorin, Grimbeorn. Arbogast	Defensive Stance maneuvers (https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/52987685/defense.jpg)
Rearward - action order 4 Ranged combat Must be 2 other PC's in Close Combat May not use if outnumbered 2:1	TN 12+	none	Rearward Stance maneuvers (https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/52987685/rear.jpg)
Any Escape combat Must start in Rearward or roll TN 10 + highest attribute level of opponents		none	May safely flee from the scene of combat

MASS COMBAT
:~~:	One of the East Bight-men is slain. If rolled again in the following round, Ceawin is gravely wounded.
1, 2	The allies are hard-pressed to hold the enemy back. One of the East Bight-men is wounded – or, if any are already wounded, then one of them is slain. The defensive circle is being pressed - if this is rolled again, the spiders also slay a horse.
3	The East Bight-men hold their line and keep fighting.
4, 5	The allies fight bravely, pushing the enemy back. Black spider blood spills across the forest floor. If this result is rolled twice in a row, then the allies slay one of the spiders!
6, 7	One of the spiders is slain.
8, 9	Two of the spiders are slain.
10	Three of the spiders are slain.
:g:	Four of the spiders are slain.

:ooc: MASS COMBAT ROLL

Here goes... [<

:ooc: Looks like you guys might have some more work to do!  :x

I modified the combat table again to move things along - 8 out of 12 numbers now yield a positive result. Hopefully I can roll ONE of them next round!

Grimbeorn smiles as his gambit worked as Esgalwen is able cut herself free, but she looks weary and pained.  He understands once he sees the poisoned wound in her side.  "We must stand together! Protect the weak and injured!"

 :ooc: Grimbeorn continues protecting Esgalwen and strikes at a nearby spider.

Axe - 7/10/18

The Hobbit felt a fang of the spider pierce him and draw a wound that oozed blood. He sparred it a thought and hoped that it was too slight to have poisoned himself. In the short term it didnt matter. The Halfling needed this spider dead, and again he stabbed with the ancient blade of Mountain Hall.

The blade of the halfling scored another hit upon the spider, but the strength of the blow was still not great enough to drive the beast away.

OOC: 5 more end.

While the company desperately fight off the spiders, Arbogast frees his axe from the body of the beast before him.  Its death has allowed a brief pause in his own struggle, and the Woodman takes full advantage of it.  Keeping his shield raised between his body and the remaining spider, he calms himself enough to follow the signs of the forest.  Though he has never before seen this part of the Narrows, it is nonetheless not entirely unfamiliar.  He listens, watches, smells, hoping to find signs of somewhere the company might make a stronger stand. 


:ooc: So, as flagged before, I'm going to use Arbogast's Natural Watchfulness ability (pp 112-13).  I'm looking for anything nearby that will even the odds a little. 

DC 14 Explore 3

Quote from: tomcat on Jul 13, 2016, 12:30 PM:ooc: Looks like you guys might have some more work to do!  :x

I modified the combat table again to move things along - 8 out of 12 numbers now yield a positive result. Hopefully I can roll ONE of them next round!

:ooc: I think it makes sense for us to do most of the heavy lifting.  Caewin's party will all be armed, but not many of them will be packing four-dice weapon skills.  The trained fighters will have their hands full protecting the ones that aren't (note that none of them have been wounded since the initial ambush - in a sense, they're doing better than we are!). 

That said, it would definitely help to be able to establish a shieldwall and a rear area - somewhere for the wounded to be safe and for Bandy to do what he does best! 

EDIT: While I'm talking OOC, I'll also point out that I'll spend the round in Defensive stance.  If you need a justification for him being able to be naturally watchful in the middle of a fight, Arbogast is cunning - coming up with ideas on the spur of the moment is kind of his thing. 

 :ooc: the actual positionsof people in combat is somewhat abstract so narratively Caewins people may be in a shield wall. My understanding of why Bandy cant shoot is because of the leaping ability of the spiders and that the two closed the distance to struggle with him. I imagine once the one in front of me is dead I can go back to the bow.
This may be the most challenging fight we have had so far for the group as a whole so I am liking it.

:ooc: I don't have a problem with the abstract nature of the combat - I'm just trying to add a little extra drama ('cause, y'know, we were short on that).  I agree that this is the most challenging fight we've had in a while.  Large numbers of enemies, rather than a single large one, seems to be the way to go there. 

Quote from: Telcontar on Jul 14, 2016, 01:40 AM:ooc: the actual positionsof people in combat is somewhat abstract so narratively Caewins people may be in a shield wall. My understanding of why Bandy cant shoot is because of the leaping ability of the spiders and that the two closed the distance to struggle with him. I imagine once the one in front of me is dead I can go back to the bow.

This may be the most challenging fight we have had so far for the group as a whole so I am liking it.

I will give more narrative as to what the LM characters are up to in battle - sorry guys. I sometimes get lost in mapping out the mechanics of what happened in a round.

And yes, Tom - that is the exact reason you lost your Rearward stance - spiders are able to make those leaps and screw archers up.

Quote from: Eclecticon on Jul 14, 2016, 02:44 AM:ooc: I don't have a problem with the abstract nature of the combat - I'm just trying to add a little extra drama ('cause, y'know, we were short on that).  I agree that this is the most challenging fight we've had in a while.  Large numbers of enemies, rather than a single large one, seems to be the way to go there.  

Is this sarcasm? I don't want anyone finding the game weak of drama or excitement, so let me know if the story is coming off flat. Thanks!

Would you guys like me to provide maps of the combat scenes with PC positions and how they pertain to their stances?

:ooc: I will get a post up in a bit.

Having slain the two spiders who tried to attack him, Rorin strained to free himself from the web that ensnared him. Seeing Bandy struggling with one of the creatures, he ran to the hobbit's side to protect him.

TN 13 Athletics


:ooc:
Am I still allowed to make an attack this turn after the Athletics check?

 :ooc:
I'll spend one point of Hope (Favored Body = +8) to pass the test.

:ooc: Hey Steve, no - you must sacrifice your attack in the round to free yourself.

Rorin Hope  :csu:

Doug,
My thought is that when we start showing the PCs we are going to want to interact with it.

I also think that the drama point was that this feels like more of a dynamic life threatening fight than the other ones we have had recently.

Quote from: tomcat on Jul 14, 2016, 08:20 AM:ooc: <SNIP>

Is this sarcasm? I don't want anyone finding the game weak of drama or excitement, so let me know if the story is coming off flat. Thanks!

:ooc: Definitely!  I can't speak for everyone, of course, but I'm really enjoying the way the story is going.  The fact that we've all basically agreed that Caewin's plan is a terrible idea, but we're following along anyway because of promises we made to other people, is the stuff of excellent narrative.

Tom also makes a good point when he says that this fight feels more dramatic than others we've had.  I find the effect of the spiders using their ensnare ability interesting.  Mechanically speaking, it doesn't seem too bad, but it gets a passionate 'Gaaah!  Nonononono!' reaction (at least, from me). 

 :ooc: Can someone else assist an ensnared teammate? Like how Bilbo frees his companions? Would the test be easier for someone else? Would the test be easier if no one is actually threatening an ensnared person?

:ooc: Hey Ayrn - yea, I have no problem with someone cutting away the webs and freeing a companion. It will be the same TN 13.

---

Esgalwen panted from the strain from cutting her way free of the strands of web. Grimbeorn held his massive shield to cover her even as he sparred with another of the great monsters. Close at hand, Rorin pulled his axe out of a still-twitching spider. The Dwarf and looked around to see the tactical situation as it now stood. Arbogast and Bandy were still engaged with the creatures, while Idunn wrestled to free herself.

Caewin's voice rang out from somewhere. Where exactly? Who knew? It was Mirkwood - there were trees everywhere and it was twilight-gloomy in the middle of the day.  Something crashed through the thin undergrowth nearby. Was it another spider? A horse still trying to escape the confusion? One of the East Bight Men fleeing, or a Fellowship member rampaging against their enemy?

It was Arbogast who saw it. The man, though still beset by a spider, looked about at the woods and the terrain. They needed to create a shield-wall - to gain control of the fight. The spiders were within their ranks, leaping in as they did with horrific efficiency. The Fire-watcher saw her...she was sitting within one of the great trees nearby, her hideous mass bending the boughs. Like a mother controlling her children, the great spider watched the conflict, waiting to pounce.

(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/52987685/spiders02.jpg)

Arbogast knew she was the spirit behind the spiders offense. They had barely escaped from riding into the monsters' nest, not a few hours past - the Hobbits eyes having saved them from the hazard. But she had led them out and now pushed them forward in her silent, menacing way. Perhaps if she were to be slain, would the remaining spiders flee? What if she were to be merely wounded, would she remove herself from the attack and bring her brood with her?

Esgalwen needed the spider to die. Though pain wracked her body, she raised her sword above her head in her two-handed stance and then slashed it down when the spider darted towards her.

Again Ceawin's voice was heard as he shouted a rally to his people, "MEN OF SUNSTEAD, PRESS THE ATTACK! WE MUST BRING DEATH TO THIS SCOURGE!"

The rally seemed to work as the men of East Bight surged forward.

---

:ooc: I am allowing a second MASS COMBAT ROLL, for Ceawin's rally.



Esgalwen attacks:
TN 10 longsword 3d, skirmisher 1d, weary

:dmg: 7   edge: 9   injury: 18

"Ho the Helm," Arbogast calls.  "Our chief adversary sits yonder!" 

He gestures, as quickly as he may, with his axe, hoping that other members of the Fellowship, untroubled by lesser foes, might see and understand. 

 :ooc: Athletics roll to free Idunn...

Wow... that's about as bad as it can get.  :'(

:ooc: Not so!  There's always the :~~: to worry about! 

:ooc: LOL! Yea, that was the epitome of bad dice rolls!

I am not going to keep Idunn trapped still, though, Ayrn. She has spent two rounds trying to get free and has not been impeded, so she is no longer ensnared.

:ooc: Spiders attack:
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/52987685/spider03.png)
TN by PC sting 2d+3




:dmg: 3   edge: 10   injury: 14 special: Poison

:ooc: RESULTS:

• Arbogast is missed
• Bandy is hit for 3 END, but also takes a Piercing Blow TN 14  :csu:
• Esgalwen is hit with a Great Success, but Grimbeorn suffers the blow do to his defense of her;  1 Hope and 6 END loss  :csu:
• Grimbeorn's spider misses the Beorning

Bandy Protection test
TN 14 armor 1d

:ooc: I will assume you will spend a Hope Point, Tom, but please confirm.

Hopin like a mofo

 :ooc: hey man, I have to rescind the Hope option - Bandy doesn't have a high enough Body score.

Bandy is now wounded.