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Situation: The company crosses the ford to confront the slavers that wait there

The Ford Guard (https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/52987685/Ford_guard.jpg)

Combat Advantage dice:
• tbd


Situation Modifiers:
• tbd

Physical Modifiers (complications):
The ford has  a great deal of large stones with algae covering them making things slippery. If a character rolls an  :~~:  in combat, they must roll a TN 12 Athletics roll or fall prone

PC/NPC

PARRY :+~:

ARMOUR :<>:

HOPE :vv:

END :<3:

STANCE

ENEMY

PARRY

ARMOUR

HATE

END

NOTES

Arbogast Bandy Esgalwen Grimbeorn Rorin

• • • • •

6 (shield +3) 9 (shield n/a) 6/9 [skirmisher] (shield n/a) 6/9 [giant strength] (shield +4) 4 (shield n/a)

• • • • •

2d (headgear +1) 1d (headgear n/a) 1d (headgear n/a) none (headgear +1) 5d (headgear n/a)

• • • • •

10/16 14/18 10/12 10/12 10/10

• • • • •

26/26 22/22 24/27 WOUNDED 15/31 WOUNDED 34/34

• • • • •

tbd tbd tbd tbd tbd

• • • • •

tbd tbd tbd tbd tbd

• • • • •

# # # # #

• • • • •

#d #d #d #d #d

• • • • •

#/# #/# #/# #/# #/#

• • • • •

#/# #/# #/# #/# #/#

• crossing the river • crossing the river • crossing the river • crossing the river • crossing the river

STANCES

Forward - action order 1 Close combat TN 6+ parry Forward Stance maneuvers (https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/52987685/forward.jpg)

:<>:

Open - action order 2 Close combat TN 9+ parry Open Stance maneuvers (https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/52987685/open.jpg)

:<>:

Defensive - action order 3 Close combat TN 12+ parry 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+ parry Rearward Stance maneuvers (https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/52987685/rear.jpg)

:<>:

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

:ooc: This seems like a good time for an Awe roll. 

While I'm posting, is Arbogast roped in as a phony thrall?  He's a Northman, like Grimbeorn, but significantly scrawnier, so he'd be plausible either as a captor or a captive. 

:ooc: I am kind of leaving this up to you guys to tell me.

Truthfully, with Bandy's stealth and ranged combat ability, I don't think he should be roped in the mix either.

So maybe just Esgalwen and the Dwarf? Or maybe we re-define the scene?

You are the players, so let me know.  ;D

:ooc: Yeesh, the more I think about it, the more this plan is full of holes.  Never mind hiding weapons - the fact that several of us are wearing armour and carrying shields is going to be obvious as fuck once we get close.  I propose a slight retcon and a refinement of the plan.  Rather than have Bandy roped in with us, we'll have Arbogast there, with Bandy across the river ready to do his ninja sniper thing.  I think our best bet is to get as close as we can, take the orc down ASAP with Bandy's support and then throw everything we have at trying to bring down the hut.  We're going to have to attack first, though, and hope for the best.  There's no way we're getting this orc to let his guard down completely. 

:ooc: Okay, I will let the other three add their input and then I will retcon the intro post. Matt, Tom, and Steve - and even Paul - if you guys want one of you to put the tactical plan together so that it goes more quickly, then sound off as to who you want to do it. You guys will play out your PC's based on the plan.

 :+~:  :<>:

Bandy will sneak in I'll have a post up in a bit.

The Hoobbit parted from his companions while they arranged their gear of war to help facilitate the subterfuge of sneaking into the camp. Bandy nodded when the revised plan suggested that he sneak accross the river before everyone and be in a position to help. The Halfling had nodded, for how could he say no to these great men that already bore wounds.

The Hobbit did not fear the Orc, or the tent, as much as he feared the water. This was not an unnatural fear, such as he had at the barrow wight, this was the fear of drowning. He worried that the ford was sufficient for the men folk, but that the Hobbit would be swept away. Though he had never been to the sea the vision appeared in his head of being rolled along the river and out with the ocean.

Bandy shivered as his feet touched the water, though he had been wet before now he was going to be mostly immeresed in the cold spring run off with llittle chance of a fire to warm himself after. Trusting to his luck  :vv: the Hobbit stepped ahead and made his way across. This was no small feat for the Hobbit and he struggled against the current to keep his feet. Though he loathed getting to the opposite shore it was the one place that he wanted to be.

Picking his way across the ford the sound of the rushing river drowned out the chattering of the Hobbits teeth. As the water level began to drop the Hobbit crouched lower to keep a low profile. Stepping ashore the water dripped from his sodden clothes and he moved forward. He crossed the ford as far upstream of the camp as he could expectign the current to push him downstream. He saw the occupants of the camp and made for the tent where he had seen the prisoners taken.

The Hobbit felt the fabric of the tent and checked the construction to see how best the tent could be taken down. Bandy hoped that the companions were right about the troll and the sunlight....

His hand fell to the hilt of his sword and the blade slid out easily, the water beading on his oiled blade. He set the tip of his blade underr the seam and waited for his friends to cross. While they had asked him for his bow, the troll unable to leave the tent might use the prisoners as hostages or crush them in a rage. His plan now was to cut open the tent and pull the pole down around them and then turn his bow upon the orcs.

:ooc:

I'd say we should have as many people as possible acting as the Viglundings. It doesn't need to be a good impression, just enough to get a little closer and hopefully allow us to get the first swing. So maybe both humans and Grimbeorn should be escorting Rorin across with one of you holding my hammer for me, then we can all ambush him once we're clear of the water.

 :ooc: I would only say that the line should be G, R, E, A with G (shield and R's axe on his back, his axe in hand) and A with Es equipment in hand.  I believe E works better as tribute than escort if we can work up simple disguise.

With Rorin and Esgalwen loosely bound about the wrists and their weapons in easy distance, the quartet stepped into the frigid water of the Greylin river. The water was not deep, but all wondered how the Hobbit had fared in the bitter cold.

The splashing of their crossing brought attention to them by those that stood on the opposite side. One was a large shadow that moved within the crude shelter of stone and wood. The other was the orc that strode back towards the ford to meet the newcomers. He was larger than any orc any of the companions had ever seen.

"Oy! Now who might you be?" came the orc's challenge, directed towards Grimbeorn. "We weren't expecting anymore of you people today...least, that is what your friends said."

Grimbeorn quickly concluded that the orc was making him to be a Viglunding and that he must be part of the band that had left not long ago.

"What have you got for us? Doesn't look like the children that we wanted...in fact, is that a Dwarf!" The orc spat out his last word. "We don't need no Dwarves! Better that I just gut him here and make him food for Todar!"

From inside the shelter came a gurgling laugh, and then a deeper voice, "YEA...LETS ME EAT THAT ONE!"

The companions could hear the soft sound of crying and fear coming from a small group of shapes within the shelter.

---

:ooc: I adjusted the layout of the Combat Round header posts - trying to make things a little more compact. I also added some new icons for you all to use at your discretion.

 :<>: a shield to represent Armour, or whatever you wish it to be.
 :+~: a sword to represent Parry,  or whatever you wish it to be.
 :vv: a icon for Hope. You can't tell but the fingers in the picture are crossed.
 :<3: a icon for Endurance.

:ooc: Tom - you may want to retcon your own post, as the shelter is not a tent. It is a standing structure made of logs and stone.

Quote from: tomcat on Mar 06, 2017, 09:23 PMThe ford also had a large shack that was made of wood and stone. Sitting within its shade on a large boulder, and staring with an evil eye out towards the men was a Hill-troll of unbelievable build.

Quote from: tomcat on Mar 10, 2017, 03:37 PM"We will only need deal with the orcs until the sun has fallen - and these...Viglundings, should they hear us," Esgalwen's words dripped with contempt. "Perhaps our Dwarf friend can discern a weakness to the crude shelter and we can bring it down around the beast, and thus reveal him to the sun ourselves."

Grimbeorn pushed on across the river without invite so they could get closer.  "I am from a different tribe than I guess you normally deal with.  These were caught sneaking across my father's land and I had heard that there were those who traded in such commodities near here.  What are you offering for these, uh, morsels?"

"Oi! I think you'll find this MORSEL to be a bit more than your troll over there could chew. And as for you orc...", Rorin spat the word, "...you are welcome to try your hand at gutting me. Yours wouldn't be the first orc skull to be crushed by these hands."

Ooc: missed that part. What is the roof made of?

The orc ignored Rorin's threat and eyed Grimbeorn with suspicion, "Different tribe? I thought all of you savages held yourselves under the banner of House Viglund."

Again came the chuckle from the shack. The orc shrugged, "No matter...a thrall is a thrall. Where they are going, it doesn't matter where they came from - just how long they last and how much work is gotten from them." He appraised the Dwarf and woman, "I am not much for having a Dwarf around, but still...he can work harder than any man and live longer. The woman," the orc smiled a very ugly smile, "we'll breed her."

Again...a laugh from the shadows.

Arbogast cuffs Rorin on the back of the head.  "Quiet, you." 

The orc's mention of 'breeding' makes him shudder despite himself.  He hopes that it is mistaken for a shiver brought on by the cold waters. 

Grimbeorn's reticent face made for an awkward silence between the two parties.

"Yea, I will pay silver for them," said the orc at last, assuming this was the hold up in conversation. "I will give you 10 silver pieces for the female and 25 for the Dwarf! That is the offer...you don't like it? You can cross back over to your side of the river."

---

:ooc: I want to point out - there will NOT be an Opening Volley round - unless - Bandy takes it on himself to start this engagement. Thus it will be a SURPRISE round. If he waits for the others to act, he will fall in Initiative/Stance order.

 :ooc: sorry guys i have both a digital exercisse and a snow strom going on. Doug, what is the roof of the cabin made of? If it is canvas I may slice a hole in that. If it is straw, probably not. Either way Bandy will climb on top of the roof and string his bow. Once Grimbeorn is out of the water so that they are not hindered Bandy will fire an arrow at the lead orc iniating the ambush. Since I am in place and setting the pace may I make a free SEEK MARK ADVCOMP pg 109 roll taking into account the time Bandy has to study the Orc before he fires?  If that's a yes I wil roll the ttest now and then make my combat roll one you give me the yea or nay. The book does not have a TN, might be in erratta, I'll look after I roll. 
SEEK MARK Awareness Roll TN: ?

OOC: page 107 TN are 14 unless otherwise specified. So if allowed that's a great success (check on Awareness?) which would give me three rounds of -4 to the Orc Chieftans TN. So that would be TN8 plus his parry.

:ooc: Tom, I am fine with your Seek Mark combat option. I updated your sheet for the Awareness success.  :csu:

As to your question regarding the structure, there is no furs, canopy, or any kind of fabrics or leaves. It is literally a stacked stone, crude structure supported and covered by logs. I attached a simple pic of what is in my brain below. The entrance is probably a bit wider and there would also be big rocks, too, like slabs of rock.

Also, there is only one orc here - and his troll companion.

Bandy quickly climbed the rough stone of the structures walls and made his way to the roof. The logs would make it harder for anyone to hear him as he moved about and readied his bow.

He was not there long when he saw his friends begin to cross the river and he strung his bow and took aim at the orc. The passage of time seemed to stretch out as he waited for them to cross and he heard the words that were spoken between the two parties. As they came closer and once Grimbeorn was close enough to rush the orc the Hobbit let fly with an arrow.

TN 8+parry
Best of two

The companions watched as the orc's expression turned to one of incredulity when Bandy's arrow took him in the upper shoulder. The pain came next, but it tapped into the creature's berserker rage. The horrid mouth split into a feral snarl and his hands went to his weapons. A cruel, broad-bladed short sword came from its sheath along with a bearded-axe.

His name was Gaushnol and he was a champion among his folk. He had led many an orc-raid and always had had success, thus his rank among the orcs was quite high. Many feared him and all respected his prowess. His presence at the ford had been purposeful, for the Viglundings knew him, too, for many had died at his hands. The intimidation was enough to make the leader of the East Upper Vale conduct their business respectfully.

But now these newcomers had upset that relationship. They all need to die.

"TRAITORS! ASSASSINS!" screamed the orc. "TODAR, WE KILL THEM ALL!"

From inside the structure, the Troll growled menacingly. Bandy heard the sound of scraping stone, as if something was being hoisted into the monster's great hands.

:ooc: I am calling an initiative roll for this combat, as the situation seems confused. The companions would not have known that Bandy would fire when he did and might be as surprised by the attack as the orc.

So, here goes... we roll an opposed roll between the highest Battle rating in the group and the orc's vocation stat:

Arbogast
TN 14 battle 3d


Gaushnol
TN 14 vocation 3d

:ooc: Ok - I am assigning initiative to the orc and troll.