Mission 2 - The Tower Part 1

Travelling as fast as caution and stealth allowed Hwyll and his companions delved deeper into danger. With the hound Hrolf leading and sniffing out enemy patrols, the party managed to keep out trouble and close to their path until, eventually, they came to the beacon tower of Tor Varden.

Mission 2 - The Beacon Tower

Scenario II - The Lower Levels

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Standing on a rough path before the gates of the tower, the companions prepare to enter the tower of Tor Varden. Taking the keys found at the river camp Hwyll tries the great lock and it turns smoothly with only a soft clunk. From inside coarse laughter can be heard as the thick oaken doors are pushed wide on silent hinges (Target Number 10 - TN10 - Stealth Roll - Easily passed by Vlaka the Rogue). Hwyll and his companions enter with arrows knocked and ready...

This scenario has same party as the previous one with the inclusion of  Hrolf the

mistreated hound found lurking at the river camp. With Hwyll is Osimund the conjurer, Mouni the tracker from the borderlands, Vlaka the rogue, Malaka the guardsman and Gawne the young archer still recovering from the loss of an eye (and his good looks). 

The first through the door were Hwyll, Mouni and Gawne, determined to prove himself this time around. This was the tower's storeroom & stables. All manner of crates, barrels and sacks filled the floor space. And standing, stunned, amongst this abundance were a pair of beast men - Gnolls, Mouni named them - Hwyll called them Orcs! Three arrows flew and the companions leaped into action.

Gawne took up a position loosed and arrow which went wild. Hwyll's arrow found it's mark wounding the enemy. He then drew his sword and charged. 

Mouni's arrow also missed but she advanced and took up a defensive stance as an orc charged towards her. From the shadows another pair of orc warriors emerged looking for blood. 

Hwyll's foe lunged and the Autumn Elf struck him down but was immediately beset by another of the evil creatures. Gawne took aim at an orc looking undecided in the center of the room. He knocked an arrow and drew his bow...

The rest of the party entered the tower ready to do what needed to be done but, as yet, unsure where they were needed.

Gawne's arrow flew true and his enemy fell with an arrow in it's yellowed eye (20! Critical Hit).  He the drew his sword and ran to the aid of Hwyll who was having trouble with a slippery opponent who's spear got past the ranger's defences drawing blood.  Mouni's foe had the better of her and struck a vicious blow wounding the doughty tracker, as the rest of the party entered the tower ready to leap into action.

Mouni was hard pressed by a tough opponent taking another strong blow from an iron shield boss. Malaka, took immediate stock of the tracker's danger and charging in with his two handed spear leveled, skewered the orc right through it's hairy belly. Osimund raced to the tracker's aid casting a spell of healing.

Seeing his new master in danger Hrolf raced into the melee. Clearly afraid of the hound the distracted orc let it's guard down and Gawne's blade slipped beneath it's guard and between it's ribs. 

Avoiding the fighting taking place all around, Vlaka rushed forward looking for hidden foes and any clues to aid their mission. Both he and Osimund found items of treasure -But time to determine their worth later...

As the party gathered at the door to the next room Hwyll looked to Mouni's wounds and cast his own elfish healing spell, restoring the tracker to full health. Vlaka prepared to hurl the door open with the others ready to rush through... (Game wise they did manage to open the door with the very last action of turn 4. This prevented "the penalty" that might have occurred in the next room).

The door was drawn revealing a darkened but well stocked armoury.

 And more orc folk!

Like a shadow Vlaka rushed silently in taking refuge behind a pillar. Hwyll bound in right behind the wily rogue with an arrow knocked. He loosed but the arrow thudded into a red painted shield.

An orcish archer at the far end of the room took aim at Hwyll but Gawne, next into the room, quickly loosed his own dart at the orc. The arrow missed but it spoiled the enemy's aim and the dart meant for the elf's heart instead ricocheted off a stone pillar. (Two bad shooting rolls)

Not waiting for the heroes to knock any more darts the orc warriors charged. The force of their charge shocked the elf and the archer but neither received any wounds (luckily due to low dice rolls all around).

The others'  burst into the room. Hrolf immediately ran to his master's aid and tore at his foe causing serious wounds. The orc tried to back off but the mistreated hound kept the pressure on the evil creature.

Mouni and Malaka rushed in to the aid of young Gawne who was proving his mettle this time around. Malaka delivered the killing blow but not before the orc's slashing blade bit into Mouni and she was wounded once again. Using the distraction of the melee, Osimund slipped into the room looking for clues and taking what cover he could.

Both elf and hound fought a determined foe which, in it's fear found a renewed strength. With a mighty swing of it's shield the orc caught the hound hard in the chest and a cracking sound could be heard as the brave beast slumped, un-moving to the stoney floor. 

Seeing the orc archer knocking another arrow, Malaka once again leveled his spear and charged into the fray. But this foe was more agile than the last and it skipped to one side drawing a long knife and slashing at the guardsman, opening a shallow cut to his side.

As the fighting continued, Vlaka unearthed another clue. Or was it... Ha! It was a jar of beer. And not just any beer but the famous Golden Beer of great renown.

Vlaka peered from the shadows as the orc archer and the guardsman fought. As he watched the orc's long knife flicked forth once, twice.. Each time cutting the guardsman. No particular wound looked serious but the orc was wearing the soldier down by degrees. There was nothing for it. Drawing his own blade the rogue leaped form the shadows at the orcs back and drove his blade into it's rib cage. The orc fell with a sighing grunt (20! Critical Hit for Vlaka). 
"Here," he said to the guardsman, offering him the Golden Beer. "You look like you need this." ...(The Golden Beer acts as a healing potion restoring 2 Health Points).

In the corner Osimund saw a glitter. An almost unearthly glitter. He reached out and found a tiny bottle. He knew what this was - A  Phial of Fairy Dust (applied to a weapon it will make the weapon count as magical for one whole scenario).

After a long fight, Hwyll slew his orc. He looked to Hrolf and found his friend wounded but still breathing. He would survive but would be of no help in the near future and must rest. Speaking a mystic word and running his hand over his blade (Enchanted Steel spell +1 magic weapon until the end of the scenario) Hwyll stood. With his companions behind him, wounded but still determined, Hwyll ordered Osimund to throw open the next door from which loud voices and the cries of men could be heard.

And beyond was a chamber of horrors. The orcs had brought their favorite toys... Machines of torture!

By the light of a large fire at the far end of the hall orc guards stood by as a huge orc chieftain brutalized a cowering figure in the center of the room. (Once again the party had the time to open the door at the end of Turn 4 and avoided "the penalty" for this room - And a good thing too as it turned out.)

For the third time this day Hwyll ran in, bow in hand. His aim was true and the first torturer fell clutching at the arrow in it's throat (20! another Critical Hit). 

Holding his staff aloft Osimund muttered a magical word and a bolt of magical energy struck towards the orc chieftain (Magic Bolt spell). But the this orc was shrewd and held out his cruel sword dispersing the magic with cold iron (Osimund rolled a 2 - The Chieftain rolled a 20).

Seeing the Chieftain distracted the soldier gained his feet and prepared to fight back as the evil creature gave a halfhearted sword thrust. Mouni, seeing the brave man rise defiantly, ran to his aid with her staff held high for a killing blow. 

But too late, a third guard came from behind and thrust his spear into the soldier's back with a loud bellow of laughter. As the man fell the orc stabbed again and again making sure his work was done.

Gawne saw an opening and shot an arrow which flew off into the darkness and clattered on the stones. Another arrow followed but the darkness was thick and his aim was poor. (This was the start of the Ranger Phase and although it doesn't show in the pics, Gawne ended his turn wihin 3" of Hwyll thus allowing another shot almost immediately).

Seeing that the light was too poor for shooting and following Hwyll's heroic dash, Gawne moved in to help Mouni. (As Hwyll has the Heroic Skill - Dash giving him extra movement, but as he moved into contact with the Chieftain the other orc which was within 1" of him snapped into contact and became part of the fight). 

With blades and spears thrusting & swinging it was Mouni who once again felt the bite of cold steel on this day. She stumbled, sorely wounded but managed to keep to her feet.

Looking for an opening Malaka entered the melee and his spear brought down the orc guard. It was a close fight for the guardsman but the heft and strength of his long spear brought his enemy to the ground (it was only the +2 two handed weapon damage that killed the orc).

This orc chieftain was cunning and tough. Hwyll knew it would keep fighting to the end and hope to take as many of his enemies with him on his way to the underworld. As he drove of the attacks off both Hwyll and Gawne with his sharp blade, he reached out a dirty clawed hand, grappled Mouni and drove his iron helm into her face for a fierce headbutt with a guttural laugh. Hurt but still standing the tracker staggered and pushed the brute back with her staff. (Mouni was now down to 1 Health Point. It was only because I finally remembered that her staff has a -1 to damage inflicted bonus, that kept her standing. If I'd remembered this earlier she wouldn't have been so badly injured. At least I remembered in time so she didn't get down to zero.).

With a quick flick of his spear Malaka finally got under the Orc Chieftains guard causing a cry of pain. It was only a small cut but it was enough to distract. Hwylls blade swung and bit deep, hewing the neck of the mighty foe. It staggered, still on it's feet and pouring blood and belligerence when Gawne's blade found it's back heart and the brute fell like a great ox to the tower's filthy floor.

Forgotten in all the fighting, Vlaka seached a darkened corner and found a hastily written note. What's this? Nothing important is seems. He thew it back to the floor. (He failed a TN5 Peception Roll with a dice roll of 1).

Osimund found a small parcel that looked to contain Fury Leaves. Good for fighting but they also reduced a mans will power. A search of the Chieftain revealed that he was carrying the log book belonging to the Captain of the Tower. maybe this could be useful.

Collecting themselves and looking to their wounds the companions prepare themselves for the next step of their mission - The beacon tower itself! Leaving an injured and sorry Hrolf to look after the injured prisoners, Hwyll leads the way up a winding stair to the very top of the Tower of Tol Varden.

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Conclusion:

Another nail-biter. I thought this one would be hard and it was. Most of the party pulled through pretty well intact but Mouni took a battering. Gawne the archer performed better than last time.

Due to the nature of this scenario I wasn't certain of what to expect which was good. I was hoping to draw the card for the Shaman's Workshop. I even got my flesh golem figure ready for it's first outing.. But alas, it didn't turn out that way - Probably for the better. That Orc Chieftain (Gnoll Sergeant) was tough enough.

Yes, as you may see I once again used orcs/goblins instead of gnolls, because I don't have any gnolls. Doesn't matter they did the same job.

The failed TN 5 Perception test by Vlaka - It was a scribbled note giving vital info (and thus extra attack damage!) for the next scenario. I was sorely tempted to cheat this one... "Should I have rolled that straight away?" - "Can Hwyll use his Focus Skill (+5) for this?" ... But no. I want to keep it honest but it was certainly a test of my resolve. Good to see I passed my own TN Roll!

Book Keeping

Before they continue on their mission I had to roll for the treasure the party found:

A Staff of Elemental Strike (3) - Mouni or Osimund can use this but it will go to Mouni (she needs all the help she can get at this stage).

A bag of Gold and Jewels - Not much good but... It can be exchanged for 10 experience points or +1 Progression Point to one companion. After tallying up Hwyll now has 303 xp. I can boost this to 313 but I think I'll boost a follower - Mouni +1PP (she is down 1pp due to going to zero in the Infected Trees scenario.

Hwyll has gained a level and the result is +10 Recruitment Points. In this situation I don't think I can recruit more followers (and by my own rules I won't do it anyway). But... I can pay another 10RP to make Osimund a three spell conjurer. I think I might need some more magical help soon. So this is what I will do!

This is a shot of how the table ended up looking. All the rooms started blank and I didn't know what was behind each door. So I had to have all the pieces ready for any eventuality - Yes that's my flesh golem sitting next to the big golden cauldron full of green bubbly stuff.

You can see the preparation I did for this scenario on my other blog here: This 28mm Life