Mission 3 ~ Into the Swamp

Battered and hard pressed, Hwyll and his band of rangers pressed onward down the winding stair further, and further into the heart of the Shadow Deep.  Mourning the loss of their companion the tired group stopped only occasionally to take what refreshment they had and to fall into uneasy, fitful sleep.

The giant flies and other foul creatures and the very air of this forbidding land continued to harass them on their descent. On the second day, the tracker, Mouni and Hwyll scouted forward and found that the stair ended with a small jetty that thrust out into dark forbidding waters beyond which lay steaming, fetid swampland. 

They returned to the others and prepared...

Mission 3 ~ Descent into Darkness

Scenario 2 ~ Swampland

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Standing on the short, dilapidated jetty, the rangers surveyed the water. It looked unclean and a smell of putrescence filled the air. Things in human form crawled trough the morass of weeds and foliage on the other side of the water proving that, at least, the land must be more solid over there. 

They had prepared themselves as best they could. None were strong swimmers so they chose to revert to magic to get them through the worst of it. Now there was nothing for it but to enter the foul waters, strike out and hope for the best.

From the previous scenario Hwyll went up a level (level 4). As a result he gained a new Heroic Abilty - I chose Split Cast to enhance his spell casting capacity. I also chose to swap out one of his spells: Enchant Steel for Amphibious. With Split Cast he would be able to cast Amphibious on two members of the group. Osimund also took one Amphibious spell.

So, there are six companions left. Hopefully they're well prepared and they can all make it through to the next scenario and the finale to their mission. Prior to the start of the game all characters had to make a TN10 Will Roll or Survival Roll or suffer 2 pts of damage from the Foul Vapors in the air. Mouni, Osimund and Vlaka all failed. I made sure Hwyll passed by using his Focus ability to gain a +8 to his Survival Skill ~ He would only fail on a roll of 1. He rolled 5 so the +8 it was worth it.

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The band surveyed the dark sullen vista before them. Hwyll spoke an elfin rune and Mouni & Malaka immediately felt an affinity with the water. As if they could move as freely as an creature born in it's depths. The elf then spake: "I shall see you on the further bank." and he then sprang forward with a great leap into the deep. (He cast Amphibious on both Mouni and Malaka because it would be best to get them to the other side quickly. Also Malaka's armour would really affect his Swim Roll. Hwyll then used his Heroic Ability - Dash, to leap 6" forward almost making it to the far bank.). 

 Following Hwyll, Mouni and Malaka move through the deep water with ease.

From the far bank a figure emerged from behind a bush. It was a dead and rotting thing, running with foul water with rank weeds hanging from it. A Swamp Zombie. It lumbered forward towards Hwyll and attacked. (One of the randomly placed, initial zombies got "randomly placed" right near the shore and it attacked immediately).

Vlaka swam up with powerful strokes and the zombie made a lunge at him. (He moved within 1" so the zombie snapped into contact but couldn't attack yet.)

Before stepping off, Osimund the mage cast his own Amphibious spell on the young archer Gawne to help him get to the far bank in fighting shape. However, the mage himself had difficulty in the water. (I got a bit confused here... He failed his swim roll but he was still on the jetty. So I gave him a half move into the water and he suffered the 2HP damage penalty).

In front of Malaka there was a great surge of water and one of the walking dead erupted with outstretched claws reaching for his throat. (Event Card - Place a swamp zombie in contact with a random character).

Seeing more zombies heading their way, Hwyll swam the last few yards to the bank and hauled himself from the water. Better to meet the creatures on the shore rather an in the water. He shot an arrow at an approaching beast but it failed to hurt the creature. The wet conditions were not ideal for shooting.

And, as if the Shadow Deep itself was listening and laughing at the elfs thoughts, a crack of thunder smote their ears and the dark clouds above released a deluge onto this already sodden land.

With the raid slashing at her face, Mouni, with her magical ability to swim went to the aid of Vlaka. She pushed away the  zombie attacking the rogue with her staff. However the undead thing lashed back trying to drag her under (Mouni won the fight and pushed the zombie back. In the Monster Phase it came back at her and she lost the second fight with no damage each time to either side). Malaka, taken by surprise was hard set to hold back the zombie trying to force him to the river bed below.

On the bank Hwyll was assailed by the undead. As Gawne made his way on the bank the elf struck the creatures' head from its neck and the lifeless body crumpled to the ground. Before he could ready himself fully the archer loosed a dart at another of them but the conditions went against his efforts.

Osimund, now with his swimming under control got to the shore and quickly cast a spell. From his staff a bright & pure light flashed out lashing the zombies with it's cleansing fire. (He cast a Burning Light spell. It didn't kill any of the zombies but it did damage them).

With the zombie facing Mouni and Vlaka out of the way (pushed back) the tracker managed to make it to the bank as Malaka slew his enemy and surged forward again to protect the rogue,Vlaka.

Now that he was free to escape, Vlaka stumbled onto the shore and into another of the walking corpses.  Spying a bundle behind a nearby bush, Mouni stooped to pick it up. 

It seemed that all the companions would make it to safety when Malaka was dragged under by an unseen foe (Event Card - A sinkhole opens up and drags a random character down, or vines grab them or whatever). 

Unable to aid Malaka in his plight, Hwyll cut down the zombie assailing Vlaka. 

In the water Malaka was nowhere to be seen. The zombie attacking him was pushed from below as the captain of the guard broke the grip of the vines dragging him under. But he was weakening and sorely pressed as he gulping down a desperate breath. (Only Osimund was within Hwyll's 3" command radius to help Malaka and he couldn't have done anything. The zombie attacked in the Monster Phase before the Companion Phase. Malaka was now down to 1HP). 

Attracted to a strange crimson glow in the dreary landscape, Gawne runs alone into the gloom to investigate. He finds a flower of unnatural origin.

Malaka made one last effort to get to the shore but his attack was unfocused and the zombie dragged him under the tainted waters once again. When the zombie rose up Malaka was nowhere to be seen.

A cry from Mouni and the elfin ranger spun around. Quicker than the eye could see, his bow was in his hands and an arrow flew towards the zombie. It sunk with the dart embedded in it's skull bone. 

As the campanions waited the valiant captain did not resurface. With reluctance they moved further inland to survey their surroundings.

But danger lurked unseen...

Seeing something metal beneath an overhanging tree, the  tracker from the north investigated and found the corpse of a dead Lorenthian soldier. She took a signet ring from it's finger. Maybe she would be able to return it to the man's family, if she returned from this doomed expedition.

Ahead, Gawne sees movement but cannot be certain of what the rain and shadow hide. (Event Card - Random swamp zombie).

All around the only sound that can be heard is that of wind and splashing rain. 

From around a nearby ruin another zombie shambles forward. 

Whilst from the direction of the jetty comes a familiar buzzing drone.

Both Hwyll and Gawne unloose arrows but in this foul weather they are ineffective and the undead walker attacks the archer with tearing claws that rake the young man's neck and scalp.

The buzzing fly moves forward with unerring accuracy. Mouni moves to protect her compatriots and shoots her own ineffective arrow. Osimund, hoping to preserve his final spell decided to call forth it's power. With a word and a gesture, an arc of magical energy flashed from his staff striking the fly from the air and into the fetid marsh. (Magic Bolt spell).

With the archer trying to fend off the attacking corpse, Hwyll moves forward but his legs were gripped by the grasses and vines as if they possessed a life of their own. (Event Card - Another sinkhole). He broke free but his attack against the zombie was ineffective. With a desperate trust of his blade, Gawne skewered the zombie's head from below the jaw as it's gaping maw sought his throat. (20! Critical Hit from Gawne.)

Once more a quiet fell on the land. Hwyll healed Gawne's wound but he could see there was still something ailing him. They then both moved forward to investigate the shadow they saw before the zombie attack. It was yet another of the creatures but this time their shooting was effective and they brought it down quickly. (This zombie was beyond Line of Sight due to the rain - 8" LoS only. With it's random movement it kept trying to leave the table. So it just stayed still and lurked in the distance.)

Vlaka saw another zombie behind and informed Mouni. In a fey mood, the tracker doubled back, took aim with her water logged bow and sent forth a shaft. It lodged in the creature's chest but but the undead spirit inside the corpse ignored the wound.

Sensing something in the air, Vlaka moved up and threw a knife. It too struck the demon but had little effect as it stood shaking as if a charge of power surged through it's very being. (Event Card - Frenzy! - All evil creatures get +2 Fight for this turn - Turn 10 as it turns out).

Sensing the same surge of magic in the air. Hwyll tells the companions to move closer together.

The swamp zombie broke forward in a frenzied attack on the tracker. Under the weight of the assault she is driven back with a long severe wound in her flank.

Trying to defend herself, Mouni is driven to the ground by the infused zombie, badly wounded and vulnerable. With a mournful cry and a valiant heart Vlaka strikes a desperate blow...

20! Critical Hit

As the rain continues to fall and with the sound of buzzing once again in the air, Hwyll picks up the body of Mouni and the companions leave this forsaken place to the corpses who continue to live here.

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The companions trudged further into the marshland until they found a ruin that was relatively dry and offered some safety. Mouni, regained consciousness and under the healing hand of Hwyll was on the road to recovery.

Standing guard at a broken window, Vlaka saw movement outside. A shape emerged and he could see that it was Malaka. Drenched and weary, the guard captain explained that he had been dragged down river and escaped the zombie attack. He had been wandering and had not expected to find his friends again. Other than some minor wounds he was hungry and cold but otherwise hale and healthy.

Gawne, on the other hand was unwell. Although his wounds were healed he had a sickly pallor and shivered even when close to the small fire they had dared to light. The other companions were all in good health despite the weight on their spirits. 

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Game-wise: Mouni and Malaka rolled the dice and they were in in good shape - Full Recovery. For Malaka I rolled a cocked dice - it could be 10 or 12. Both good rolls, but cocked is cocked so I re-rolled, hoping that I wouldn't roll worse. I rolled 14. Even better. Mouni rolled 17: better still!

Those dice rolls were pretty nerve-wracking.

Vlaka is Infected. An event card - Random character rolls for infection. He failed the TN16 test and now he's sick for the next scenario (-3HP and -1 for all rolls).

Hywll gained enough experience to hit level 5 by only 4 points. The treasure found by Mouni turned out to be Gold a Jewels - I could either take +10XP for Hwyll or 1 Progress Point for one companion. I chose to give the PP to Gawne to raise him to 10PP. This gave him +1HP so that will offset the infection a little bit for the next scenario. 

Hwyll gained 5 point to add to his Skills. He will also swap out one of his spells again - delete Amphibious for Enchanted Steel again. With Split Cast he can enchant two weapons.

It was  a weird game. I thought I had a pretty good chance using the Amphibious spells. I thought the armoured characters would get through that water pretty easily. Most did but, because one of the zombies got randomly placed almost on the water line at about 11 o'clock to the crossing point, the party were under attack from turn 1. 

It took 5 turns before they were all out of the water (Malaka went down at the end of turn 4). After that the party could have pretty much walked off the table but I made them hang around to deal the the couple of zombies that were still around. Which was almost fatal, as it turned out.

Terrain:
If you're wondering about the terrain, most of this stuff is my jungle terrain that I made several years back for a King Kong pulp adventure. The base board is the new double sided 3'x3' table I made  few weeks back (Link). The river/water is just a couple of stone coloured vinyl floor tiles with one end cut a bit unevenly with a layer of Gladwrap taped over the top to create ripples.

I took a bit longer to get to this game because I took the time to make some ruins for some solo Frostgrave. I then decided to use some of these new ruins in this game. They came out okay.

So, next it's onto the Grand Finale. I wonder how that one is going to pan out.