Book 2: Act 1 - Words of the Wise

[Eilandor]

As if in slow motion, Wren watches the arrow as it strikes down Thorismund. "No!" Wren turns his focus to the three goblin archers, draws his own bow and returns fire.

[TetNak]

Aerth already has his bow out and ready. He hops up onto a log, takes aim, and let's loose an arrow in one of the orcs' direction. He specifically aims for one of the archers, knowing they can shoot back, and that could be a problem if they are allowed to pin them down.

[Muskrat]

Varuthil rushes forward. She does not immediately reach for her bow, however, but heads for the wounded. If they are in dire straights, she kneels on the ground, doing what she can to staunch their wounds, indifferent to her own safety. If she judges they may live a while longer without immediate attention, then she draws her bow and fires at the orcs.

Display

I can't immediately find anything in the rulebooks addressing first aid, etc. in the middle of battle, so I'm not sure how this works.

If those wounded and lying on the ground are in immediate danger of death, then use Healing 2, plus Hope if necessary.

If they can survive to the end of the battle, then reward stance, Bow 2, use Hope if necessary. Do we get to roll the Battle skill for extra dice in this encounter?

[Vardaen]

Initiative

Due to the situation it is unclear who hold the initiative, so we have an opposed Battle test. Your highest member vs the Orcs. Since Varuthil, Wren and Borir all tie at 2, Wren actually has the higher Heart of 3/6 and he has the Horn, so ruling he makes the check. I guess it doesn't matter too much in the end as its a group thing.

Battle 2: 10,6t,1 = 17
Orc Battle 1: 4,6t=10

You have the initiative and the advantage. You are allowed to make Battle Rolls for gaining Combat Advantage.

Battle TN 12

Aerth: 10,2 = 12, 1 Success
Borir: 6,6t,1 = 13, 2 Success
Pipkin: 3 = 0, 0 Success
Varuthil: 7,1,4 = 12, 1 Success
Wren: "Gandalf Rune", 1 Success

Heroes may spend one bonus Success die to add it to any one of their rolls made during the ensuing confrontation (to boost an attack roll for example) or he may give it to another hero to spend it on one of his own rolls (the hero who receives the die must spend it immediately when his turn to act comes). A player may only spend one die per turn. Players are free to describe the advantage granted by a free Success die in any way they see fit, but should conform to the description of the battleground given previously by the Loremaster.


Due to he forest cover, and the overall situation of the Orcs position within Mirkwood, there is no opening volley to be had.

Round 1: Aerth, Borir, Pip, Varuthil, Wren, Enemies

Remember you act based on the order of your Stand, Forward, Open, Defensive, Rearward. The book also mentions plenty of other options for actions based on your stance, and of course called shots starting on page 161 in the Adventurer's Book.


Stances: Borir Forward, Varuthil Defensive, Aerth Rearward, Wren Rearward

Its absolute chaos when the orcs are spotted. The hatred for the foul mockeries of life spills out of several of the company and all tactics are thrown out the window. You charge head long out of the trees into the minor clearing where the Woodmen are being cut down with Borir urging you forward, his axe in his hand as he charges into the first of the Orc soliders that outnumbers Almaric. Dwarves are known to be stout, hardy, and enduring creatures. Not many would name them nimble and acrobatic. Borir shows why, he's not but two feet into the clearing when he trips on a root and tumbles to the ground rolling to a stop as he smacks into a tree before collecting himself.

Aerith and Wren, both with long bows of very different designs step into the clear. Aerth leaps atop a fallen log and fires off an arrow. Only a second behind him is Wren, who takes a few breaths longer to line up the perfect shot. The twin whistling of their arrows are met with heavy thuds and loud goblin screams as the enemy are hit dead center, both of them. Two of the goblin arches topple to the ground with a splash of black arrows and a crash of leaves and branches.

There is only one archer left now as Varuthil races to Thorismund's side. The man, closest of the Woodmen, was just shot, but the elf maid can see its not a terrible wound, not yet. She works to remove the arrow, and she packs the wound with a bandage. Putting pressure on the wound, she prevents any sort of bleeding out for the unlucky Woodman.

Pipkin watching the fight...

Roll

Borir: Forward Stance vs Orc #1: "Sauron Rune" Miss!!!

Aerth: Rearward: Shoot Archer #1: 1,4,6t=11 + Bonus Success Die 6t = 17 Extraordinary Success, 5+8 = 13 Endruance Loss = DEAD Goblin

Wren: Rearward: Shoot Archer #2: 7,1,6t,2=16 Great Success, 5+4 Endurance Loss = DEAD Goblin

Varuthil: Defenseive Stance: Thorismund TN14: "Gandalf Rune!" ,1, 5 = Success! You save his life. He'll live but he's going to need much more than just some first aid to recover.

Map

Close Combat
Almaric
5 Orc Soldiers
Borir

Ranged Combat
1 Goblin
Aerth
Wren
Pipkin?

[Trogdor]

Pipkin is aghast at what he sees. Real, live goblins, and threatening his new friends. He stands paralyzed for a moment as his companions take action. But seeing them move spurs him into action of his own. Raising his bow, the hobbit nocks an arrow, takes aim, and fires at one of the goblins.

Action

Stance: Rearward
Action: Fire bow at goblin

[Vardaen]

Initiative

Round 1 Aerith, Borir, Pipkin, Varuthil, Wren, Orcs, Goblins



Round 2 Aerith, Borir, Pipkin, Varuthil, Wren, Orcs

Battle Lore Advantage Points: Borir 2, Var 1,Wren 1

Pipkin is aghast, his heart full of fear and shock he stands there a moment watching. As his friends are shouting and the reality of the battle sets in he grabs up his bow and fires. The luck of the Shire is with him as his arrow lodges itself in the chest of the last of the goblin archers. The goblin falls off his perch and is lost in the foliage of the underbrush and never resurfaces.

The orc soliders, engaged with what's left of the Woodmen press their attack and charge at the newly arrived fellowship. Almaric remains standing over his brother, one of the Orcs engaged with him. The Woodman leader parries the curved blade of the orc with a spark. He looks to the side as you have arrived to his horn blasts but doesn't have time or the thought to offer you a greeting.

Two of the orcs pounce on Borir, their hatred for the dwarves true even in the Forest of Mirkwood. "Killll the dwarf!" They leap at him and he is soon overwhelmed as he's stumbling to recover from the roots that seemed to have reached up and tripped him. He manages to avoid one blow but at a cost to his endurance and position against the other. The second orc brings its bent sword down on Borir's chest with a resounding BLANG that rings out through the battle. If that strike had hit Pipkin, or Amlaric or any of you your much lighter armor would have been no protection against it. However, the dwarf's mail turns a deadly slight into a bruising blow. Weary, and fatigued already Borir faces off against two of them.

The other two Orcs leap at Varuthil who is kneeling to help the wounded. They charge at her, bur she rolls to the side, then springs to her feet just barely dodging the wild swings of the slobbering and shouting Yrch.

The fellowship, hoping to turn the tide against the engaged Orcs....

Roll

Pip: Rearward: Shoot Archer #3: 9,5,6t = 20 Great Success, 5+3 = 8 DEAD
O1: Attack Almaric vs Defensive 13 Miss

O2: Attack Borir vs Forward 15 vs TN 14 Hit for 4 Endurance Loss
O3: Attack Borir vs Forward "Sauron Rune" + 6t,6t!!!! Extraordinary Success = 10 Endurance Loss, Weary, Piercing Blow: Protection Test: 1+2,3,1,2,2+1 Helm = 12 vs TN 12 Success! Not Wounded

O4: Attack Varuthil vs Defensive 16 vs 18 Miss
O5: Attack Varuthil vs Defensive 15 vs 18 Miss

[Shurijo]

Borir is seemingly very upset at the moment. Having the ground reach up and trip the dwarf coupled with the hefty blow struck by the orcs, which tarnished his newly polished hauberk, the dwarf rears back and swings his axe with all of his strength.

"Baruk Khaz'd!" The dwarf shouts as he leaps several inches off the ground and begins to swing the axe over his head and towards the orc.

Action

Stance: Open
Action: Attack Orc2
Spend point on Attack vs O2

[Muskrat]

Varuthil hisses like an angry cat at the orcs--she hates them too much for words. Hastily, she draws her sword and seeks to strike out at the orcs, while defending herself from their attacks. Since she was unarmed before, she tries to take full advantage of that, faking that she is about to flee before drawing and striking with her sword.

Display

Sword 1, Open Stance. Use Battle Die (faking fleeing) and (if necessary) Hope.

I'm assuming that with the orcs directly attacking me, there's no hope of adopting a Rearward Stance and using the bow.

[Vardaen]

Initiative

Round 2 Aerith, Borir, Pipkin, Varuthil, Wren, Orcs

Varuthil hisses as she rolls to her feel, the bleeding Woodman she's saved laying there unconscious. She looks around, a glance of panic on her face and she starts to take a few steps to flee. Laughing the orc lowers his guard and starts to say something just as she spins, her long slender elven blade in her hand suddenly. She shoves it into the Orc's belly pushing through its armor as best as she can half way up the blade. The coughing orc's laughter is over and it looks about to topple over, barely standing, grabbing at the wound as Varuthil yanks her blade free.

Borir on the other hand, weary and in pain throughout his chest, bring his axe up, and attempts to leap into the air for a more powerful down stroke. It doesn't happen, he can't get himself airborn, and can hardly keep his feet as his body is struggling to draw air, the blow to his chest still keeping the air from his lungs as he gasps to collect himself.

Roll

Varuthil: Open Stance: 1 Battle Point, Attack Orc 4: 3+6t,3=12 vs 13 Fail + Hope 6 = 18 Great Success: 11 Endurance Loss

Borir: Open Stance: 1 Battle Point, Weary, Attack Orc 2: 6+ 3,3,1,1 (None of those count) = 6 Miss. Even a hope would have you miss by 1 point still.

[TetNak]

Seeing Borir set upon, Aerth turns his attention to the orc nearest to the dwarf. He wheels about, quickly pulling an arrow off his back, setting it against the shepherd's bow's string, and draws the strang back. He pauses for a moment, aiming, and then lets go. The arrow lurches in the creature's direction ...

Action

Rearward Stance
Shoot Orc attacking Borir