After searching for a path Mouni’s tracking skills find signs where troops have recently passed by. Hwyll believes that this is the best option but on setting out they group has found the going slow. Gawne the archer has been badly wounded and is also carrying an infection caused by the bite of a giant fly. Because of this he need to be half carried and needs to rest frequently.
By the second day of following the trail, the companions have come across a troop of orcs escorting a small wagon. They are still within the boarders of the Shadow Deep and seem somewhat unconcerned of danger. If the rangers can overcome the guards, the wagon will make it much easier to get their wounded companion back to safety and rest.
Mission 3 ~ Descent into Darkness
Scenario 4 ~ Retreat from the Shadow Deep
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The final scenario of the missions in the main rule book left a few loose ends. The rangers could have returned to the Kingdom of Alladore just because the mission ended. But I didn't like that. Part of the reason I like this game so much is because of the narrative (which is why I'm writing this blog). So I thought they need some sort of return journey.
I took the Guarded Bridge scenario and did some modification to accounted for the badly injured archer character, Gawne. So what I came up with is a forest path. A wagon. Orcs (because I don't have any gnoll figures). And a few other nasty creatures.
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Hwyll and his companions have taken on some new members: The two survivors of the previous scenario: Carryl one of the civilian women who is now a Recruit and Barse, the archer.
They have the option to be sneaky in this scenario but they are also running against the clock so maybe direct action is required. In the center of the board is a wagon that the group need to get Gawne to safety. The wagon will move 5" up the path in every Event Phase. It is driven by a human slave. If a character is in contact with the wagon during the event phase they can halt it's movement.
Before the game begins, one ranger may make a TN8 Tracking roll for 3 characters to move forward 6". Mouni succeeded so herself, Vlaka and Malaka all move forward. Another character may make a TN8 Traps roll to move one orc 6" in any direction. Vlaka rolled and failed (roll 2 +5 for 7!).
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From behind, Hwyll shoots at and orc but the shot misses. He and his new recruit Carryl move off into cover as the orcs move onward unaware they are being stalked.
Barse the archer steps onto the road and loses and arrow that fails to hit. On the other side of the road, Mouni the tracker and Vlaka the rogue make their way forward through the cover of the rough ground. Mouni understanding that they won't be able to remain undercover stops to take a clear shot at an orc and kills one of their number.
As Malaka moves forward towards a shallow gully he sees that the place has been defiled by a giant spider nest tree. He sees movement as a pair of giant arachnids descend looking for new victims. (Event Card - Nest Tree with two spiders and a treasure token).
Heeding a call from Malaka, Hwyll moves up and shoots at a spider. His shot misses and the many-legged beast dashes up to him only to be met with the point of a steel blade pinning it to the ground.
Malaka isn't as lucky. He kills the creature but receives a venomous sting for his efforts. (He is poisoned and will now be reduced to 1 action when he activates).
No sooner has Hwyll dealt with the giant spider, than he hears pounding footsteps behind and turns to find an orc bearing down on him with its spear lowered. Blows are exchanged and both the elf and the orc are wounded. (The combat result was a draw, so both parties took damage.)
Seeing the archer Barse behind them, one of the orc warriors charges down the road to deal with him. The archer took aim and put an arrow into the slavering creature wounding it & then took to his heels to get away to safety.
Mouni and Osimund attract the attention of the chieftain leading the orc guards. Mouni shoots but the orc captain catches the tracker's arrow on his shield (a hit but nil damage). As the tracker moves off Osimund utters a magic word and a bolt of magical energy leaps forth staggering the orc chief. As the mage followed Mouni he saw the big orc dust itself off and start forward again. (Magic Bolt spell, +5 Shooting attack that wounded the orc chief).
Without waiting, Carryl charges into the fray to aid Hwyll, only to be met by a quick and skillful thrust of an orcish spear that penetrated her leather armour causing a grave wound. (9HP damage taking her strait to 1HP.)
Meanwhile, unbeknownst to the ranger and his companions, a troll crawls from under the bridge to meet the wagon and its guards. Hearing the sounds of fighting close by the lumbering beast crosses the bridge. (Another Event Card.)
Hwyll quickly dispatches the orc that wounded Carryl and casts a healing spell that heals himself as well as the recruit. Warning her to be careful and to stay out of danger he sends her forward under cover to stop the wagon. (Hwyll has the Split Cast Heroic ability enabling him to cast two instances of the same spell.)
As Carryl moves off an orc archer takes aim at the elf. The black shafted arrow misses but at least it has been distracted and has not seen the recruit sneaking around to get behind.
Barse is not so lucky and the enemy he was trying to avoid leaps at him from behind a rock. A quick fight ensues and the archer's sword finishes what his arrow started and the orc fall to the ground dead.
The orc chieftain catches Osimund but the mage manages to fend off its slashing blade. An orcish arrow streaks towards Mouni but the shaft misses it's target. Mouni has a choice to make and quickly decides to aid the mage. Wielding her staff with deft skill she strikes the orc captain dead with a decisive blow.
Slowly moving forward, Malaka make his way to Hwyll and picks up a trinket along the way (Treasure token beside the nest tree).
Vlaka has managed to sneak forward far in advance of his compatriots. He's sees the troll cross the bridge and hatches a quick plan. Calling out and capering about he attracts the troll's attention. At least the wagon has temporarily been stopped by the presence of the troll.
From behind an orc patrol steps from the trees. Only Barse who has become the rear guard sees them. (Event Card - Two orc archers appear from behind).
Hwyll shoots at an orc archer but his shot goes awry. Instead he charges into the fight and calls Malaka to his side. The orc wounds the Elf and presses it's attack before the guard captain can come to the ranger's aid.
Vlaka's ruse works and the troll follows him, beating the ground with it's great fists and bellowing a fearful cry. (Vlaka was the only ranger in line of sight for the troll so it was compelled to move towards him.)
Mouni now deals with the orc that has been shooting at her. Her arrow misses so, like Hwyll before her, decides to charge into combat.
Vlaka continues to taunt the troll hoping to lead it into a trap. Calling out to Osimund the pair concoct a quick scheme to lure the the troll until the mage can fire a spell at it and, hopefully destroy the brute.
With everyone distracted Carryl makes her move. From her hiding place she rushes forward and grabs the reigns of the cart horses, halting the wagon before it can reach the bridge.
Waiting for the troll to fall into their trap, Osimund is unaware that a second orc patrol has come up behind him. (Event Card - 2 orcs appear on a random table edge.)
Having dealt with the orc Archer, Hwyll moves towards the bridge in a moment of indecision. Whilst Malaka goes to the aid of Mouni who is still fighting the other orc archer.
At the rear of the party, Barse became the target of the orc patrol. Their first shots flew and the Lorenthian archer was wounded by one of their shafts. He shot back in retaliation and took one of the enemy in the throat before retreating back up the track to the rest of the companions with the remaining orc in pursuit.
Vlaka had lured the troll right where he wanted it and now it was up to Osimund to unleash his spell. But where was Osimund and why was the troll still coming at him?
The answer was that the second orc patrol rushed in with weapons and shields raised preparing to take the mage's head as a trophy. Hearing them coming he stood his ground and prepared for the attack. (They couldn't attack this turn because it took the orcs two moves to reach him but Osimund was locked into combat.)
The orc archer fighting Mouni was obviously a veteran of many battles and was not easily overcome. The wily creature dodged and wove in defence and struck out hard and fast at Malaka when on opening became available, sending the guard captain to the ground clutching a severe wound. (The attack was randomly rolled & Malaka took the attack.)
Barse took aim at the remaining orc and his arrow struck home. But the tough and rangy creature broke off the shaft and lifted while the Lorenthian retreated further back.
Still the orc archer evaded Mouni's staff as both combatants moved and fought, each trying to gain an edge on their opponent.
Against the odds, Osimund not only managed to win his fight against the two orcs but he also managed to wound one of them. As the orcs stood by looking stunned, the mage stepped back and cast a spell that teleported him out of their way but not out of danger.
With the troll still lumbering towards him Vlaka moves into hiding. But unless something happens he's going to be trapped if the troll keeps coming his way.
A familiar and unwelcome buzzing fills the air once again as, form the other side of the river several giant flies come forward. With an arrow ready, Hwyll takes careful aim and shoots one of them from the sky. He makes his way to the bridge to hold them off giving Carryl an order to go and aid Mouni. (Hwyll used his Steady Aim Heroic Ability to make sure he got one of the flies - there were 3 of them - and he got a +5 Shoot bonus.)
Carryl raced to Mouni's aid and, with a swing of her blade, wounded the elusive orc archer. Seeing it now had an enemy behind the orc lunged forward with a last ditch attack. The tracker was almost taken by surprise but a powerful thrust from her staff combined with the orc's momentum saw it finally fall to the ground dead.
The dice roll was 20 v 20. You don't get much closer than that!
The giant flies close in on Hwyll and he manages to wound one of them. Osimund see's the troll stop in bemusment as it loses sight of Vlaka. But the beast turns and catches sight of the mage...
The stalking game continues as the orc archer facing Barse takes aim. It looses its black arrow and the Lorenthian is too hurt to avoid the dart. It penetrates his armour and the man falls to the ground to the sound of orcish jeers.
With the enemy to her front taken care of the orcish patrol at the tracker's back now strike, The leading orc isn't able to take her in a fair fight and the sent backwards with a bleeding head for it's efforts. But it's companions darts in from the side with a wicked spear thrust that lays the mighty tracker on the ground wounded and bloody.
The troll lumbers towards it new target - Osimund the mage. Backing off, the spell caster prepares to use the magic ring that he was recently given. The spell contained in the ring is a Fireball. He holds his hand out to discharge the spell but sees the new recruit, Carryl confronted by a pair of slavering and bleeding orcs. At the last moment he unleashes the spell in their direction and one of the orcs incinerated in a ball of flame. The other, charred but still alive stares stupidly at its feet.
Shaking its head to clear it and with a snarl of defiance, the orc sweeps back it's arm preparing to hurl it's spear, when all of a sudden the earth erupts beneath it.
The orc disappears into the maw of a giant burrow worm that erupts beneath it feet. The thing thrashes and writhes as it gets the scent of blood in the air. (Event card).
It's a day of doom. With the burrow worm and a troll to contend with Osimund makes a decision. He casts a Swat spell to be rid of one of the giant flies, hoping that Hwyll can kill the other and come to their aid. With that, the mage moves up to face the troll in combat. But, no sooner doe he get there than Hwyll is at his side ready to combat the beast.
(Osimund cast a Swat spell and then moved forward into combat. Hwyll killed the other giant fly then used his Dash, Heroic Ability to leap at the troll. He couldn't get to the worm so the troll was the better target.)
Recruit Carryl stands her ground facing the burrow worm. It strikes at the lone human knocking her to the ground but she gets back to her feet and prepares to sell her life dearly. (The worm attacked and she was lightly wounded.)
The troll attacks Hwyll and Osimund and it is lightly wounded. Vlaka, out of hiding and now stalking the troll rushes in for his favorite attack. A swift knife in the back. He doesn't have much hope but...
20 Critical Hit! - The great lumbering beast unleashes a bemused bellow and falls to the ground with a mighty crash. Hwyll, Osimund and the rogue all look at each other in stunned silence.
Until a hungry giant spider leaps from the undergrowth and attacks the unwary trickster. (Another event card).
With little time to spare Hwyll rushes to Carryl's side. With a mighty swung, his sword slices deep into the flailing worm. Guts spill out and it writhes. But it still has a will to live and to eat and it lunges at the recruit. She thrusts with her short sword and skewers the worm but its bulk falls on her as she falls to the ground. (Hwyll almost killed it with one hit but it still had 1HP. In the monster phase the worm attacked Carryl for a draw. So they both took damage.)
In all the commotion the wagon was almost forgotten but Osimund, ever the clear thinker, runs to the bridge and stops it at the last moment. "Is that something glittering in the dirt down there? Never mind we'll look later."
An orc arrow thuds into the wagon just inches away from the mage's hand.
And a weary and bloody Ranger of the Shadow Deep, bow in hand and an arrow nocked, steps out onto the path and takes aim.
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Hwyll, Vlaka and Osimund, tend to the wounded. All are more dazed and bruised than anything else except for Malaka. The brave guardsman who became a captain only a day before he marched into the Shadow Deep has drawn his last breath. The wound in his side was too much and it looks like other wounds were delivered to his prone body by the orcs as he lay helpless. He never seemed to regain his former capacity after his near drowning in the swamp.
He will be placed in the wagon with Gawne and given a burial with all the proper rites when the companions get back to civilization so that his shade may rest easy. Vale Malaka!
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Well, I can't complain. I wrote the scenario and I made it hard. I didn't think there was much to be had if I made it easy. If it was easy I may as well not have bothered. It's a shame that Malaka died. He had a good story arc. He started as an expendable footslogger and through the benefit of some good dice rolls achieved some really impressive and brave deeds. So he got promoted and given a nicer figure.
But anyway... Hwyll and his companions have made it back to Alladore. Gawn will recover and the new guys may stay on or they may be replaced. It all depends on what happens. As it is they can have a rest for a week or two as I work out where they'll be heading off to next (most likely it will be The Burning Light Mission and I may need to make some terrain).
The shining item the Osimind saw but was not picked up was a Silver Star of Alledore badge. Hwyll could have got a bit more experience if they had have picked it up and examined it. But it was the end of turn 8 and the game finished.
Thanks for reading.
That was a close one - lots happened and your table looked fantastic. Thank you again for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dutch, It was close and I did make it difficult. Almost too difficult.
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