Scenario 1 - The Bridge Guards
Only hours after you arrived back from destroying the nest of spiders, you received a message from your commanding officer. There is fighting all along the old Lorenthian frontier. Contact has been lost with the beacon tower of Tor Varden, and it is presumed to have been overrun.
You are commanded to round up what men you can and proceed with all swiftness to Tor Varden to ascertain the truth. If the tower has fallen, learn what enemy forces now occupy it and harass or eliminate them as opportunity presents.
Scenario 1 - The Bridge Guards
As you make your way towards Tor Varden, the gentle, rolling hills slowly give way to rocky plains, and finally into the boulder-filled maze of woodland known locally as ‘the Scree’. Although no source of danger in better days, you realise that this is now the perfect site for an ambush, as the large rocks and the thickets cut lines of sight down to just a few yards in most places.
Proceeding cautiously, you eventually hear the Enthel River, which you must cross to reach Tor Varden. As you approach, however, you hear other noises as well, nearly drowned out by the river. Voices, of some inanimal type, a language filled with whines and barks. Climbing to the top of a large tree, you get a clear view down to the river. There, standing astride the old stone bridge is a pack of Hu-Mans. Judging by the large cooking pot they have set up over the fire, these barbarians are camped here, likely to guard the bridge.
The only other place to cross the Enthel River is a ford, in sight of the bridge, otherwise, it will take a least half a day to reach another crossing. There is nothing for it, the Hu-Mans will have to be eliminated...
The usually bright flowing Enthel River, which has its source in Lorenthia, has already been turned by the close proximity of the Jungle Deep, into a turgid flow of green and brown waters. All thoughts of swimming across it are quickly dashed at the sight of some beastly water-dweller that suddenly crests it surface.
Author's note : unusually, unpainted lead is on the table, as my youngest hasn't finished painting her guys. I figured getting them onto the tabletop would be encouragement : )
No sooner had eveyone moved out, than heavy rain began to fall. It was both a blessing, as sneaking up on the enemy had just become easier, and a curse, as The Twins could no longer see the enemy camp from their position. Nonetheless the bridge was in plain sight.
A cold and pale wind was also blowing in gusts, and as it momentarily drove away the rain, the company discovered they had some help. A rabbit, wearing the colours of the Border Guards of Alladore, could be seen far off, peering from behind a petrified tree trunk.
The companions edged forward, eliminating a couple of the Hu-man archers on their side of the river, One of them put up a valiant fight, greviously wounding both Pattashin, and less severely Jabir, which needed the attention of Akriss' and his healing spells.
The other Hu-mans patrolled aimlessly in the driving rain, most of the
bridge guards and their captain finally heading back into their camp to get out of the storm.
On the left flank, some misdirection kept the guards away [the Stealth Roll allowed by the scenario to direct one enemy, ndlr]. However, cries went up and the alarm spread as Keila was spotted. The Battle Ram charged into action from its prepared position, but was slain by a blow from a Hu-man club. Akriss sent his cobra into the fight, but it too was knocked down by an enemy swipe. The Rangers were discovering that Hu-mans live up to their reputation as tough opponents.
Worse yet, although Keila effectively put an archer out of the fight with a mighty swing of her axe, she went down to another club blow
Things were fortunately less grim elsewhere on the battlefield. The archers and soldiers who had remained close to the bridge were dispatched, allowing the company to cross, Bohwihsh out front. The unknown rabbit ally had even managed to severely wound and draw off a Hu-man warrior, that she later put out of his misery. A Hu-Man archer had ranged in on The Twins, but had very little success, what with driving rain in his eyes, an increasingly sodden bowstring, the thick tree canopy and the giddying height to which The Twins had climbed, thanks to their Insect Climb ability.
The Hu-mans that had collected in the camp belatedly realised the danger they were in, as enemies suddenly came out of the swirling rain. As Bohwihsh thundered through the camp picking up clues and treasure, fierce fighting swept through and over the tents. It took the combined efforts of Akriss, Jabir and Pattashin to bring low the mighty Hu-Man Champion.
A raucous cry stopped everyone in their tracks, as a young Pteranodon appeared to the north, flying straight towards Tor Varden, obviously to deliver some message. As it flew over the perched Twins, it took a crossbow bolt to the belly. A difficult shot but perfectly executed [with a beautiful 20, ndlr]. The broad-winged creature, reminiscent of the dragons of old tales, crashed into the river, the gout of slimy green water it raised sending a jagged elation of victory through the tired and soaked company.
That was enough for the surviving Hu-mans, who ran off into the jungle.
The companions were finally able to shake paws with their unknown ally. She introduced herself as Katniss, explaining in a grim voice that Tor Varden had indeed come under attack, from some cruel sorcery. At the beginning of the assault, she had volunteered to run a message to the King and the Rangers. Since they had already arrived, she would lead them back to the tower.
The company made the most of the sputtering fire and the provisions their enemies had left behind, and grabbed a little rest out of the rain. Once it died off, they gave quick funeral rites to the Battle Ram, grabbed their gear and began the long walk to Tor Varden.
Both Keila and the Cobra had their Health reduced to 0 in this encounter, but the Survival Table indicated full recovery, their assaillants too badly wounded to finish them off. The Battle Ram was, on the other hand, less fortunate and was killed outright.
The Rangers add up their XP. We have decided to implement a house rule : instead of Rangers getting equal XP, each Ranger gains XP for what s/he and his or her companions achieved, which is then doubled (as we have 2 Rangers). This doubling is not applied to XP gains that, by nature, benefit both rangers.
The Twins and their companions (played by Agathe) killed off 2 Hu-mans and the Pteranodon. Bohwihsh both found the clue - the Key of Tor Varden - and had time to run off into the jungle to avoid surprise from any further patrols, but points for both achievements are shared. Hence, The Twins received 9 x 2 = 18 XP, plus 20, for a total of 38 XP bringing them to 248.
Akriss and his companions (me) took out 5 Hu-Mans, and shared in Bohwihsh's exploits for a total of 15 x 2 = 30 XP, plus 20, for a total of 50 XP. Akriss reaches Level 2, gaining +1 Will. He retains his spells.
All Companions gain 2 Progression Points, except Keila and the Cobra who gets only 1. We are also trying another House Rule : a Companion gets an additional PP for each 10 XP [FRD] he personally acquired for the Ranger.
This means an addition 1 Progression Points for Jabir, who personally slew four Hu-Mans; and +2 for Bohwihsh, whose rapidity once again proved crucial in achieving the company's goals.
This takes Bohwihsh to Level 1, and he gains +1 Health.
All Heroic Abilities and Spells used are regained.
Bohwihsh's new shiny treasure turned out to be a jerkin inlaid with a magical spell of protecion [Light Armour Blocking (1)], which he promptly presented to Keila, cheering her up immensely.
The company did not redistribute any other gains from the scenario or previously.
Akriss has a Spellbook, into which he inscribes his Slow spell, having cast the previous Heal from the book.
This is the end of a scenario, so there is no reorganisation; however Katniss joins the company, under the orders of The Twins.
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