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Situation: The Fellowship has come at last to Black Tarn Hall, only to find an assault by orcs and trolls already underway.

Combat Advantage dice:
• Esgalwen 0/0
• Grimbeorn 0/2
• Hathcyn 3/3

Situation Modifiers:
• The companions have the initiative.   

Physical Modifiers (complications):
• The orcs have been granted dark inspiration by the sorcery of the Eye.  Their attacks are all considered Favoured. 

PC/NPC

:+~:

PARRY

:<>:

ARMOUR

:vv:

HOPE

:<3:

END

:-X-:

STANCE

:##:

STATUS

Esgalwen Grimbeorn Hathcyn

• 6 ( :-X-: +3) • 4 (:<|: +4) • 7

• 1d (:C|: n/a) • 2d (:C|: n/a) • 2d (:C|: n/a)

• 11/14 • 8/12 • 5/13

• 10/27 • 26/31 • 12/29

Forward Defensive Defensive

WEARY normal WEARY

ENEMY	:+~:	PARRY	:<>:	ARMOUR	:@:	HATE	:<3:	END	:csu:	NOTES
Cackling orc Rusty-helmed orc Sword-wielding orc Thick-handed orc Red-eyed orc Spitting orc Bloody-shielded orc Reeking orc		• 6 • 6 • 4 • 6 • 6 • 6 • 6 • 6		• 2d • 2d • 2d • 2d • 2d • 2d • 2d • 2d		• 1/3 • 2/3 • 0/3 • 0/3 • 3/3 • 3/3 • 3/3 • 0/3		• 9/16 • 16/16 • 0/16 • 0/16 • 16/16 • 16/16 • 16/16 • 0/16		vs Esgalwen vs Esgalwen DEAD DEAD vs Grimbeorn vs Grimbeorn vs Hathcyn DEAD

STANCES

:-X-:

Forward - action order 1 Close combat TN 6+ parry Forward Maneuvers (http://rpg.avioc.org/webimages/lotr/tor/forward.jpg)

:-->:

Open - action order 2 Close combat TN 9+ parry Open Maneuvers (http://rpg.avioc.org/webimages/lotr/tor/open.jpg)

:<|:

Defensive - action order 3 Close combat TN 12+ parry Defensive Maneuvers (http://rpg.avioc.org/webimages/lotr/tor/defense.jpg)

:<->:

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 (http://rpg.avioc.org/webimages/lotr/tor/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

Hathcyn mumbled to himself barely audible. "If this is to be how it goes, then it shall be as it was to be."

He leveled his spear in the courtyard of the Woodmen desolation. He set his face and advanced upon his foes, no longer content to hold ground he meant to advance upon them.

His voice rose up then among the din and clash if the metal songs.

" From times far away the wanderer recalls
The deadly slashes and says,
"What happened to the horse?
What happened to the warrior?
What happened to the gift-giver?
What happened to the wine hall?
Where are the sounds of joy?

Ea-la bright beaker!
Ea-la byrnied warrior!
Ea-la the chiefs majesty!
How those moments went, Grayed in the night as if they never were!"

Open stance Attack

Thats a protection test at least.

:ooc: That it is. 

:ooc: Also, because you've taken the trouble to look up some actual Anglo-Saxon poetry, have a free Rally Comrades roll (TN 14, based on Song):

:ooc: The tradition of the GM rolling well continues - all companions recover three Endurance, and we have a dead orc.  Tom, feel free to let us know how that happens.

:ooc: I HAVE to kill something here and although it would seem best to target the one I already damaged, it might be wiser to try and kill a stronger one who have more :@: to use. I hope this is not another blunder, but she will target Sword wielding orc... I really hope this works out. [<
TN 10 longsword 5d (+1d for Shadow Bane trait)

:dmg: 11   edge: 6   injury: 18

:ooc: Okay! That works.

I hit Sword wielding orc with a 20 :%: success for 17 :<3: loss and he must make a :<>: test TN 18

Esgalwen was battered by the sheer strength of the orcs around her and she knew she had erred in her judgement to race headlong into the battle. But her anger drove her and she could not, would not relent.

Staying within close proximity to her enemies, she made a sudden feint and then brought down Nimronyn on the orc to her left. Somewhere behind her, the sound of Hathcyn singing cleared her mind of the fear that seemed to now always oppress her, and strength returned to her hands.

The Dúnadan's longsword slipped past the orc's defense and she heard a terrible crunch as it slashed into and through its body.

:ooc: I am going to roll the :<>: roll just so I can see if I have removed this guy. If I have overstepped, let me know, Paul.

TN 18 armour 2d

:ooc: I think that should be a kill.  ;D

Let's see if I can withstand the remaining two.

Hathcyn had transcended himself. Much like the night walking he could see but felt absent from his body. The song of grieving and loss fled from his lips and with it the sense of living. Like a specter now his body moved and fought, the death song on his lips. He saw the metal twist as the spear pierced the armor of the orc, and he saw the ichor flow and splash across the shaft. Part of him wondered at the sight of it. Would the spoor splatter of the blood match that of his wedding sacrifice? Would the wine of this own body splatter the ground and mingle with the orcs? Would he see Aestid again or the serving hounds of the hall?

All these thoughts passed like an eternity in his mind. While the spear tore free and his limbs worked in battle.

"Ea-la light of hall
Ea-la lord and cup giver..."

He sang and slew, he sang and bled.

Battle and blood, friend and foe alike, surrounds Grimbeorn.  The orcs and men are at a stand-still, hacking and jabbing, piercing and slashing.  He hears above the din the sound of his best friend's voice and is heartened.  A feral and fay grimace spreads across his face as the song of his people is sung by his standard bearer.  The hair upon his body bristles and the pupils of his eyes almost go black.  He knows they are in the thick of it now and must conserve himself and look for the opening against these vile creatures so he can take an advantage and rally his forces.


Stance: Defensive
Action: Defensive Fighting (-2d, +4 Parry)
+1d Advantage die

 :00:

 :ooc: Target is the same orc as before, thick-handed.

:ooc: You guys are cranking out the piercing blows this round!  Protection test (TN 18) for Thick-hands:

There!  The aethling of the Bear-folk sees his foe falter as orcs fall upon the left hand and the right.  Like the head of a ram he surges forward, the thick hands of the orc clutching vainly at his shield as the thrall of the Shadow is borne over and Bear Claw splits mail and breast-bone alike, rising again slick with gore.   

Esgalwen feels, rather than hears, the passage of an unseen orcish sword by her ear, but by the time she hears the piteous cry of its victim, the current of the battle has already carried her away and she sees only a flash of bright hair falling as a shieldmaiden of the Woodmen is cut down.  Hathcyn is able to behold for a moment Oderic, his axe swinging in great arcs, drive an orc four paces backward before it blocks his blow and the two are locked together body to body.  Then nearer foes, shaken by the ferocity of the Mannish onslaught, are striking back. 


:ooc: The orcs fight on (though the number of dice I'm rolling is a lot more reasonable now):

Cackling Orc (TN 15)


Rusty-helmed Orc (TN 15)


Red-eyed Orc (TN 24)


Spitting Orc (TN 24)


Bloody-shielded Orc (TN 19)

:ooc: A somewhat more bearable result - four Endurance lost by both Esgalwen and Hathcyn, who needs another Protection roll (TN 12):



Not only does Grimbeorn come through the round unscathed, but I've realised that I didn't factor his defensive fighting into his TN last round, so he didn't lose the four Endurance I docked him last time.  I've put it back on.