So, to recap, Bofri is down and his current status is unlikely to be good.  Arbogast and Grimbeorn are Weary and will go down with a direct hit from a peashooter.  Rorin and Bandy are both fighting like bosses, but both will be Weary with another good hit or two and Bandy isn't exactly in his element in hand-to-hand combat.  It looks like Esgalwen's going to have to do most of the heavy lifting from here on in. 

My idea of using Bandy's magic gem as a distraction when Tauler smashes his way in here still stands.  We don't even need to let him eat it - there may be some weak spot in his carapace that he'll expose accidentally...

I was saving this post for when things were down to the most desperate hour, but you guys already picked up on the cues... anyway.  

This was a clue that I had placed in the game back in the Shore Up the Defenses thread:

QuoteFrom 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.

---

Gwaihir the Windlord had hung on the thermals that rose from the earth for the better part of the day and into the early evening. The Misty Mountains were home to the eagle lord but oft did he like to look upon the Greenwood of old. His eyes were keen and he could see much from his height, even though there was a canopy of leaves below. There was a darkness moving in the forest, seeming to be focused on one point - an old Dwarven fortress. Gwaihir knew this small castle and the road that had once ran alongside it. As keen as his eyes were so, too, was the memories of the Eyrie - the home of Eagles through generations back to Thorondor.

Atop the broken fortress was a man and Gwaihir wondered at what mischief might be afoot to cause the Shadow to be drawn to the ruin. Men, the Eagle thought, always finding trouble for themselves. Still, the moving darkness was great and the Windlord could now see it was a host of spiders - many spiders and all led by the foul one named Tauler. No matter what their actions, the Men of Mirkwood could not possibly deserve or know that they would be assailed so, by such a host.

With a twitch of his pin feathers, Gwaihir changed his course so that he would fly in a large arc back towards the mountains so that he might summon aid along the way.

The battle at the Millfort was all but won. Tauler knew that he and his brood would feast this night upon the remains of these Men and Dwarves. The one that had challenged him now stood low. It would only take one more stab of the giant spider's fangs and the Beorning would know oblivion. Once done, they would draw the bodies to the center of Mirkwood and display the husks - murderers! Killers! The pleasure it would create within the parliament of spiders would make for a massive feeding spree across the forest, as the spiders would celebrate with death.

Tauler re-positioned for another attack on the weakened man.

Though he was weary, Grimbeorn found the means to move quickly from Tauler's new attack. The Beorning dove for the hatch, rolling as he did through its opening and down onto the the steps. Esgalwen reached for the handle and pulled down the hatch, which shut with a bang, even as Tauler made to bite her.

The giant spider was now no longer an immediate threat, but still the chamber was active with melee.

---

Okay ... PC results...

• Bofri is unconscious

• Grimbeorn rolls through the hatch with the use of a Hope  

• Rorin cleared webs for Grimbeorn

• Esgalwen closed the hatch

• Bandy stabbed Hunter 4 with a   success for 5 END loss

• Arbogast may spend a Hope if he wants to make his attack a success

Now... the spiders get to go

Much as I would usually say that there's no point dying with Hope still left, my total was only 9 due to Weariness.  Spending a Hope point won't bring that up to something useful. 

Also, did I miss something, or does Bandy's hunter need to make fail a Protection roll?

Darn - I forgot to check again.

I also forgot your weariness making the 1-3 rolls a zero, so yea, that makes sense to not use Hope

Lastly, I did forget that Bandy got a piercing blow...

spider attempts to defend
TN 14 armour 3d

1d12 : 10, total 10
Rolled 3d6 : 1, 3, 5, total 9

Spiders attack...

Spider outside attacks the front door (basically leaping and smashing its mass against the doors):
TN 10 2d

1d12 : 7, total 7
Rolled 2d6 : 6, 6, total 12

Spider outside attacks the back door (basically leaping and smashing its mass against the doors):
TN 10 2d

1d12 : 3, total 3
Rolled 2d6 : 5, 2, total 7

Hunter Spider damages:
6   edge:     injury: 15

Hunter 4 and 5 move to attack Bandy
TN 21 beak 2d6+4

hunter 4 1d12 : 9, total 9
Rolled 2d6+4 : 5, 6 + 4, total 15

hunter 5 1d12 : 7, total 7
Rolled 2d6+4 : 4, 5 + 4, total 13

Hunter 3 attacks Esgalwen
TN 15 beak 2d6+4

hunter 3 1d12 : 2, total 2
Rolled 2d6+4 : 3, 5 + 4, total 12

Hunter 1 attacks Rorin
TN 16 beak 2d6+4

hunter 1 1d12 : 3, total 3
Rolled 2d6+4 : 4, 3 + 4, total 11

Hunter 6 attacks Arbogast
TN 21 beak 2d6+4

hunter 6 1d12 : 2, total 2
Rolled 2d6+4 : 2, 1 + 4, total 7

Tauler attacks the damaged floor repairs
TN 10 3d

1d12 : 11, total 11
Rolled 3d6 : 2, 4, 6, total 12

Spider attack results...

• Front door takes 11 END loss

• Back door takes 5 END loss

• Tauler smashes the floor for 14 END loss

• Arbogast is missed

• Esgalwen is missed

• Rorin is missed

• Hunter 5 misses Bandy

• Hunter 4 hits Bandy with a 24 great success for 10 END loss

Quote from: tomcat on Jan 03, 2017, 10:53 PM Darn - I forgot to check again.

I also forgot your weariness making the 1-3 rolls a zero, so yea, that makes sense to not use Hope

Lastly, I did forget that Bandy got a piercing blow...

Not a problem.  There's lots and lots of moving parts for you to keep track of in this fight.