Hwyll ~ A Ranger of Shadow Deep

Welcome to the first post of my new blog...

This was my first game of Rangers of Shadow Deep. I didn't know what to expect and thought it would be a bit dumb playing a game by myself. How wrong I was. I got totally caught up in the game and the narrative. The mechanics keep it steady and a bit unpredictable whilst also being clear enough to keep it moving apace.

After a couple of turns I was getting through the turns fairly quickly and I'd say that the game took about two hours (I wasn't really counting). It would have taken about 90 minutes if I didn't keep stopping to take photos. Then again, that's all part of it for me. I want to write up the games to build a narrative. I mean: What else are we gonna do if we're locked up inside all day?

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Hwyll ~ The Autumn Elf is my ranger. A stranger from far off Carterhaugh, an elfin fastness in the mist shrouded mountain vales. He has come to lend his aid in this time of need and taken up the Young King of Alladore's Silver Star as a token of his commitment against the Shadow Deep. Hwyll is skilled with both sword and bow as well as other skills that can aid him in the wild lands. He can also command in some minor magics as well as some knowledge of ancient & arcane law.  

His current companions are: 

Mouni - a tracker from the borderlands,

Osimund - A conjurer and practitioner of the mystical arts,

Vlaka - A rouge of some dubious talent, 

And two tough guardsmen from the king's regiments: Joco & Malaka

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Mission 1: The Missing
Scenario 1 - The Deserted Village

This is the beginner mission from the main rule book.

Hwyll and his companions stood at the center of an eerie deserted village. They could smell death and decay and giant rats were creeping amongst the ruins. Even more worrying were the animated corpses that now surrounded them.

Hwyll acted first. He thought he saw something laying in a small hut. He inspected it and found a bundle that he took with him for future examination (it was a clue that turned out to be a treasure token).

Osimund moved forward towards a zombie and speaking a mystic phrase sent a bolt of magical energy at the creature. The hellish, undead vitality drained from it and it crumpled to the ground (he cast a Magical Bolt spell - a +5 Shooting attack).

And Joco the guardsman advanced only to have a giant rat charge at him and try to chew his leg off. He managed to fend the creature off but was finding it a difficult target for his long spear.

Prior to the first turn one character got make a perception roll. I chose Vlaka (+2 Perception). Because he passed, one of the clue tokens was moved 6" closer to him. So he moved up and found a crate containing a sheaf of dried out leaves. They smelled refreshing so he took 'em (Nightlock Leaves as it turned out).

 Malaka and Mouni moved in to take care of some other lurking pests.

Osimund, flushed with his success in smiting one zombie, thought he's try his hand at smiting a pair and saving Joco from their biting teeth. He cast a Burning Light spell (+3 Shooting attacks at all undead within 8") but it fizzled out doing only minor damage to one of the zeds.

The above action was the first part of turn two - I forgot about the Event Phase. So I did it now. I drew a card and it was TERROR!!! The character with the lowest Will score had to beat a TN16 test. (TN = Target Number & he needed 16). That character was Vlaka as he has a will of +1. He rolled a 15 & only just made it and his terror passed.

The cards below were left by my dad (we're Welsh). When I had to clean out my parents house this time last year I found them and I've been looking for a use for them because I'm not a card player. Anyway, I have now found a place for them to do their thing.

 Hwyll saw what was happening and left his searching to smite one of the zombies. Giving at a second death for it's time on Earth.

Malaka killed a giant rat but was bitten pretty seriously. But he did avoid infection. Meanwhile Mouni dispatch the zombie she was fighting.

While the undead and the giant rodents were distracted Vlaka made his way to a second clue - This one was a body with mysterious bite marks that he had not the skill to recognize (failed a Survival Roll - TN6).

A lone zombie threatened Osimund and Joco but their blows seemed to have no effect on the undead creature (bad combat dice rolling). Hwyll moved in to help thinking the zombie threat was over. But was it. What are those figures creeping closer...?

Osimund moved to search the main building. The door was locked but he bypassed the crude mechanism and pushed the door wide. Only to be met by the one of the former occupants living the un-life of the undead! (one of the Clue Tokens turned bad!)

Despite his lack of fighting skill he managed to fend off the creature and put some distance between it and himself. It moved up again in it's own time but again, he managed to keep it at bay.

But just as the conjurer's luck was about to run out, Mouni the tracker came to his aid and put the monster to it's final rest.

With all the action happening in the village yard, Vlaka tempted to sneak to the next clue without being noticed.

Stopping to examine the undead corpse, Mouni was set upon by a giant rat from behind and was unable to stop it before it gave her a nasty wound.

Another zombie threatened, but Hwyll stood his ground and stopped it from coming any closer.

With the zombie distracted Hwyll ordered Joco to inspect the nearby rocks where he suspected some clues may lay. He was right! Joco found the corpse of Aventine the missing ranger, dead and rotting in the rough ground where it looked like he made his last stand. Joco's knowledge of weapons also helped him recognise Aventine's magical weapon (passed an Armoury Roll - TN6).

Hearing a cry for help from Vlaka as a zombie noticed his movements and moved get him, Mouni once again raced to the rescue of one of her companions.

But this time the zombie struck too fast and took her out of the fight.

Meanwhile, Hwyll was also finding his opponent difficult to destroy. His blows seeming to stop the creature not at all. (Bad dice rolling). Enraged at finding the corpse of the good ranger Aventine, Joco the guardsman charged and ran his two-handed spear straight through the foul creature and knocking the un-life from it.

More rats to take care of...

Mouni's sacrifice gave Vlaka the chance to search out his next clue which turned out to be some Strange Tracks that lead off into the wilderness. But he saw Mouni go down and rushed to her aid as did Malaka from the opposite direction. But Vlaka is no fighter and the guardsman was seriously wounded and only Hwyll, with a burst of speed (Dash heroic skill), could get them out of danger.

In the background the pigsty crashed to the ground no doubt caused by rats gnawing the uprights.

The final clue waited and Osimund searched and found a survivor of the village folk. He began to escort her from her place of hiding when more zombies shuffled into the area. Only by the nearest margin did he manage to escape and take the victim to safety. (Moved off board).

Now the undead were closing in. Hwyll had sent Joco back with the sword of Aventine earlier and now only Vlaka, the wounded Malaka and the elfin ranger remained. The plan was to make a break for a gap in the fence and escape the area. Vlaka lead the way followed by Malaka whilst Hwyll fended off the living corpses (I remembered he had the Parry heroic skill...).

In the end only Hwyll remained and the undead closed in on him. But using his skills and his natural abilities to made a final dash for freedom. (again using his Dash skill and it was also Turn 8 - End of Game).

Aftermath:

Mouni and Malaka had to make Survival Rolls after the game. Both made full recoveries. They also had to make rolls for Disease because I pulled the Disease Event Card. Both came out okay. In the event they didn't the leaves Vlaka found were Nightlock Leaves which heal diseases. I now have these for later if needed. The first clue turned out to be a magic cross-bow. A shame I rolled a 4. If I'd rolled a 3 it would have been a regular bow for Hwyll to use. I don't know what effect the successful TN roll for the Strange Tracks has on any following games.

Hwyll the ranger managed to do some heroic deeds and helped to save his various companions a few times.  I earned 112 Xp which was enough to raise Hwyll to 1st level and increase some of his skills.

Huzzar!

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Conclusion: 

I really did like this game and I can't wait to get on to the next scenario (or is it a mission - I haven't quite come to terms on which is what at this stage). I got myself some toy spiders for the next game. Luckily the packet of spiders also came with a packet of flies. I know there are giant flies in future games so these will come in very handy.

I set this up in my garage using a 3' x 3' board I made several years back. The area on the right hand side covered with some teddybear fur got damaged last year when it slipped in front of my car as I was parking. I think this little board is going to come in handy for RoSD so I should repair the damage. The village is a Dark Ages steading/farm that made a couple of years ago.