(01) The Approach

[waysoftheearth]

The Ambush!

working on it...

[rredmond]

Now we can be loud

[waysoftheearth]

The leading guards round the tree precisely as anticipated, right into Thanis, Witherun, and Flin's sights. By the time they spot the shooters, 30 yards yonder, missiles are already in the air.

Thunk! Thunk! Baff!

Arrows pierce throat and heart; Flin's hammer cracks a man's skull like tolling thunder. In the moment the two archers nock fresh arrows and the perilous hammer flies back to Flin's hand, three dead men hit the ground.

"Traaaap!" yells the next, but it's too late. Stern and Garamon lead the ambush party as they crash into the exposed flank and hack them down to the man before they can even turn to face. The trap is brutally effective. almost as soon as it is begun, it is all over.

Do the players surprise the guards (4 in 6 likely): 1d6=5, so yes.

This is an unusual "two part surprise" situation. I'll run the missile group first, and then then melee group. All will have surprise.

Individual missile fire, even at normal types, is handled per fantastic combat. I.e., one throw at best FC.
Thanis (stealthy hero; THAC2 14): 1d20=7+2+1 = 10 vs AC 6 is exactly a hit. 1d6=5 hp damage. Dice for hp: d6+1 = 4; dead.
Witherun (agile hero; THAC2 14): 1d20=16+2+1 vs AC 6 is a hit. 1d6=6 hp! Dice for hp: 1d6+1 = 6; dead.
Flin (strong hero-1; THAC2 15): 1d20=19+2+1 vs AC 6 is a hit. 1d6+2=8 hp!! That's a kill without rolling for hp.

Melee combat vs normal types is handled as normal combat. I.e., one throw as a normal man per man of FC.
The players get an unanswered round of blows in the surprise segment, are attacking with surprise (+2) and from the flank (so discounting shields).
Stern (strong hero, +1 sword; 5 men @THAC2 17): 5d20=17+2+1, 8, 19, 12, 5. vs AC 7 flank. 3 hits. 3d6=6,3,1 +1 (strong)=11 hp.
Garamon (hardy hero, +1 spear; 5 men @THAC2 17): 5d20=15+2+1, 6, 18, 8, 14. +2 surprise. vs AC 7 flank. 3 hits. 3d6=5,4,4 =13 hp.
Goldwen (sagacious abbess; 2 men @THAC2 17) 2d20=16+2,9 vs AC 7 flank. 1 hit. 1d6=6 hp.
Wraislin (intellectual conjurer; 2 men @THAC2 17) 2d20=13+2,17 vs AC 7 flank. 2 hits. 2d6=4,4 =8 hp.
Total 38 hp dealt, among 5 men remaining is an average of 7.6 hp per man. Given 2-7 hp per man, they can't survive, so the ref doesn't even need to roll their hp.

Possibly, that was "loud"

What now?

[sully]

Thanis wastes no time on the dead.

Spread out. Move up.

He nocks an arrow and walks briskly toward the moathouse. He will pause to loose an arrow at any man who shows his face and is within range.

[Tonneau]

Wraislin apes the moves and grunts of fighters as he watches the slaughter from behind a bush.

When it is all over, he scans the path to the holdfast, the first arcane terms of a charm person spell on his lips.

[zygarti]

As the Axe returns to Flin's hand, he begins cautiously moving towards the moathouse with the others, ready to throw it at any guards he sees

[mgtremaine]

Tass wanders out from the trees and inspects the carnage. "Sorry fellows, you should have not chased me". He then proceeds to give them a quick search.

[rredmond]

Garamon takes the lead with Sturm, now that stealth isn't necessary. Regular spear at the ready, for throwing, magic spear in hand for the charge. He'll guard the others as they search, ready for the off when it's time to move forward.

[ehiker133]

Goldwen takes the briefest of moments to say a quick prayer for each as she helps Tass search the bodies for anything of importance.

(Importance includes: if it sparkles, glitters, glows, shines, clinks, looks sharp, or is a document or scroll or unusual in any way.)

[acodispo]

When Witherun sees Tass & Goldwen pausing over the bodies, he nocks another arrow and waves Garamon onward.

"Go on, go on, I'll wait for them!" Then to the searchers: "Come on, we'll check them later, we mustn't loose the element of surprise!"

His goal is to hurry Tass & Goldwen ASAP, but if they linger he'll stay to guard them. Once they are on the move he'll join the assault on the moathouse in whatever way seems most effective.