Post
by waysoftheearth » Mon Nov 21, 2011 1:08 pm
waysoftheearth wrote:
The crush and noise of the melee is unbearable! Miodvitnir and Deorwyn urge the panicked mounts to crash right into the combat as blades and maces slick with blood -- red indistinguishable from black -- stab and hack violently, clanging upon shield and arms, and flinging out gruesome gore. In the mouth of Hollin Gate Arbenbard hastily spills a flask of lantern oil and has his Man, Nat Pickthorn, kneel to strike a spark to it with splint and steel as the fighting din roars on...
The Orcs in the camp have suffered a cruel reverse (1d6=6!) but their lust for vengeance holds, still believing their superior numbers will prevail. And they might yet.
Simultaneous attacks are resolved.
The six Orcs remaining in the camp attack (randomise targets 6d30; 1=Baraglin, 2=Dernfara, 3=Elindir, 4=Eohild, 5=Eremin, 6=Largo, 7=Norin, 8=Sili, 9=Telthalion, 10=Vestri, 11=Miodvitnir, 12=Hrok, 13=Oin, 14=Glorban, 15=Yori, 16=Dalain, 17=Balain, 18=Hallam, 19=Sutherland, 20=Deorwyn, 21-30=Horses; 6, 3, 4, 2, 22, 16)
Dernfara (1d20=13), Elindir (1d20=3) and Largo (1d20=10) deftly defend themselves, but Dalain (1d20=20!) is struck a dastardly axe blow (4dd=5,4,3,3) to the back of the skull for 6 hit points and is slain! The horses and mules run shrieking into the tumult (1d20=2) but by some miracle are unharmed. Eohild too is targeted as she crawls away (1d20=16), but at the last moment Lomeluin interposes himself between the stricken lady of Rohan and her would be assailant, taking the threat (1d20=16) upon himself. The brunt of the fell mace blow (2dd=3,6) that might have ended Eohild's life crashing upon his shield of Lorien, and its white timbers dashed apart!
Now the main press against the wall of fighting-Men comes (Randomise targets; 1=Largo, 2=Balain, 3=Baraglin, 4=Dernfara, 5=Dalain, 6=Elindir, 7=Glorban, 8=Legandir, 9=Hallam, 10=Hrok, 11=Lomeluin, 12=Oin, 13=Eremin, 14=Soval, 15=Sili, 16=Telthalion, 17=Sutherland, 18-20=mounts. 20d20=15, 18, 12, 12, 14, 13, 17, 17, 20, 18, 11, 14, 6, 5, 1, 14, 15, 13, 5, 4).
The ringing attacks fall thus; Largo (1d20=1), Elindir (1d20=2), Lomeluin (1d20=10) twist away from attacks unharmed, and Eremin (2d20=5,8), the wily fellow, somehow evades two crunching blows. Alas that Dernfara is sorely beset (1d20=14) and hit again (2dd=3,4) for 4 hit points and now his wounds are critical. Poor Dalain, who is already slain, (2d20=6,16) is run through from behind as he staggers to his knees (2dd=1,4) suffering another 4 (pointless) hit points. The grievous tide rolls on as Oin the Dwarf is hatchetted repeatedly (2d20=9,14) for (2dd=6,6) a very messy 12 hit points and woe! Oin is slain!
Soval takes the brunt of the Orc thrust, (3d20=7,11,4) but he masterfully repels three simultaneous attackers. Soval is the rock, battling on defiantly with but 2 hit points! Sili the Dwarf takes his share too (2d20=7,19) and is pierced once more for (2dd=2,3) 3 hit points, and now his hurts are many also.
Sutherland the mercenary fighting-Man (2d20=3,14) is hit, but he allows his shield to be dashed apart to avoid injury, and (3d20=12,9,3) one of the mounts is hit by a cowardly Orc. (Randomise which mount is hit; 1=Rohemnet (Lomeluin's Rouncy), 2=Frosti, 3=Snod, 4=Tug (Sili's mules), 5=Ned (Soval's mule), 6=Gleowine (Eohild's Rouncy), 7=Deor (Dernfara's Courser), 8=Piglet (Eremin Sulk's Courser), 9=Ladybird (Baraglin Banks' mule), 10=Doloris the old Nag (Largo Harfoot's pony); 1d10=6). It is Eohild's mount Gleowine that is struck for (2dd=1,5) 5 hit points, but it is not a fatal blow.
And in retribution for these hurts the company fights back!
(1d20; Largo=19, Balain=1, Baraglin=1, Dernfara=6,4, Dalain=15, Elindir=1, Glorban=6, Legandir=15, Hallam=11, Hrok=2, Lomeluin=15, Oin=11, Eremin=15, Soval=7,18, Sili=13,11, Telthalion=9, Sutherland=5).
But by whatever awful fate, in the darkness and confusion Balain, Baraglin, Dernfara, Elindir, Glorban, Hallam, Hrok, Oin, Telthalion and Sutherland cannot pierce the enemy's defenses nor his mail; their blows are checked and go unheeded.
But there are others in the line yet, and they thrust and slash fiercely raining mortal wounds upon the foe amid the carnage. Largo deals (2dd=5,6) 6 hit points, Dalain jabs an Orc for (2dd=1,2) 2 hit points before he is butchered. Legandir slashes another Orcish throat with Morfil for (2dd=4,5) 7 hit points. Lomeluin likewise hits for (2dd=6,4) 7 hits points. Eremin guts an Orc for (2dd=2,6) 6 hits points, while Soval (2dd=6,2) disembowels another for 9 hits points. Sili's rage is without measure, and the fearsome Dwarf Hero splinters Orcs all about, dealing two savage hits for (3,6 and 3,5) 9 and 8 hits points.
Utter carnage!
[f=32]
Golgildir the Elf Medium (MV 12", AC 9, HD 1, hp 1/1, AL N) great cloak,
lantern; spells: color spray; scrolls: sleep, sleep, charm person
Hirelings: Georges;
torch[/f]