Scenario 1 - Rear Guard

Armies are marching. In the east, the forces of the Jungle Deep have swept all before them, destroying villages, burning farms, and crushing what little resistances the forces of Alladore have been able to mount. Now, the king has dispatched a new army, under the command of his cousin Lord Arklin, to form a new line of defence anchored on the Scree. His first task is to stop the advance of evil, and then counterattack, hoping to drive them back into the dark. Numerous ranger companies travel with the army, operating as scouts and messengers, finding safe routes of march, and fighting small skirmishes with advance parties of Hu-Mans.
Meanwhile, within the dark realm of the Jungle Deep, more experienced rangers have been tasked with attacking the enemy supply lines in an effort to prevent reinforcements from moving to the eastern front. The more damage that can be done, the more men the enemy will have to commit to protecting its lines of advance. It is a dangerous game of cat and mouse, and, every so often, the rangers come across something that they have never seen before.…

Scenario I - Rear Guard

Lord Arklin has drawn up his battleline on a gently rolling plain. To the south, his line is protected by the swift-running river Yorris, a tributary of the Enthel, and to the north, by the broken, rocky fields that characterise the Scree. You and your companions have been posted in the ruins of an old barn, on a low outcrop, just to the north and behind the army. In the distance, you can just see the long line of yellow-clad warriors, and the dark, ragged line that approaches it. Your duty, however, is to look the other way; to guard the northern flank and report the movement of any force that might try and outflank your army.

As the morning sun reaches its height, the first horns are blown, and a mob of Hu-Mans charges forward, crashing into the Alladorean line. Even at this distance, you can hear the clash of metal, the horrible barking voices of the Hu-Mans, and the screams of the dying. The initial attack is repulsed, as are two more. As the late afternoon sun descends toward the horizon, your line still holds firm. Piles of dead lie in front it.
Then, one of your companions grabs your arm, and points away to the north. Little flickers of pinkish light can be seen moving over the rocks. They are much too fast to be human. As they grow closer, a horrific wailing cuts through the air. You see them now, ghastly demons, seeming to hover above the ground, their long arms outstretched before them. Hurriedly you blow your horn, desperate to warn Lord Arklin. Then you draw your weapon and prepare to fight. 

In an instant, the creatures wash over you. They run too fast to strike, almost flying, and despite the few arrows you fire, they ignore you completely. On the plain below, you see the end of the Alladorean line turn to face whatever new threat is coming, but even as the manoeuvre is completed, the demonic horrors crash into the warriors, bowling them over, dashing them to the ground. At the same instant, a new group of heavily armoured Hu-Mans surges forward at the point where the line has turned. Suddenly attacked from two sides, the line crumbles in an instant. While Lord Arklin manages to rally the southern half of the army, the northern is routed, with men fleeing in all directions. Your duty is clear: you must join the fight, and provide as much protection as you can to give the fleeing soldiers a chance to escape and regroup.

In the rout, the various companies of Alladorean soldiers had become hopelessly mixed up, making vain any attempt at rallying them.  The Rangers and their companions sprinted into the fray and engaged the enemy in a flurry of throwing daggers and sword sweeps.

Whilst not particuarly strong, the resistance of these demonic Pink Horrors to ordinary steel was quickly apparent.  Combats were dangerously long, exposing the heroes to the consequences of the slightest mistake.  Stationed in the ruined outhouse, Jabir was struggling to use his crossbow to good effect, as the enemy moved fast and in an otherwordly, unpredictable way.

 

Both Ace and Tazabeth remained in reserve, directing the Alladoreans to safety, but as more Pink Horrors appeared on the flanks, both were forced into the maelstrom of fighting.

Lucky, who had moved to help an Alladorean carrying a body across his shoulders, was shocked when she recognised the dead as one of her best friends.  Grabbing up the half-finished and blood-stained letter the soldier had written to his wife, Lucky pressed forward into the fray, only to go down under the claws of a Pink Horror.

Aka Morumotto was badly wounded, and was grateful for the presence of Kiara and her healing spells, as well as the sword skills of G.P. 

 

On the other flank, Tazabeth was now fighting desperately against two demons and a Hu-Man champion who had happened into the fray.  Kiara's "Slow" spell proved useful in buying her time, until Ace and Trig came to her aid.

By strength of arm, the company slowly overcame the evil tide, and all but one wounded soldier had by now made it to safety.  The death screeches emitted by the creatures had little effect on the courageous fighters.  Two more soldiers appeared, but the Pink Horror chasing them was pinned down by Kiara's summoned Ibis, who actually managed to kill the creature.

The tide of battle ebbed.  Nine out of ten Alladoreans had been saved in this sector of the battle.

Lucky lived up to her name, and made a Full Recovery.

In this adventure, characters return to full Health at the end of each scenario.

We use our house rules for XP acquisition for Rangers and PPs for Companions.

Aka Morumotto's company did the bulk of the slaying, banishing seven demons and the Hu-Man champion.  With the shared 45XP for saving nine out of ten Alladorean soldiers, Aka picked up 133 XP, rising from Level 3 to Level 5.

Kiara's companions, although just as involved in the fighting, did less killing with four demons downed.  Lucky however picked up the half-finished letter, and Ace also found a mysterious ring that a slain Alladorean had let fall to the ground.  With the 45XP, Kiara gained 141 XP, coming very close to Level 6.

All of Aka's Companions survived and, using our house rules (+1 PP for each 5 XP acquired by that Companion for the Ranger), this meant that all gained 3 PP.  Now at Level 2, Jabir is becoming very deadly with his crossbow (+3 Shoot).  For Kiara's companions it was the same, for although Lucky was downed during the scenario, he had both recovered the letter (8 XP) and slain a Pink Horror.

All Heroic Abilities and Spells used are regained.

No treasure was discovered.

No new equipment was picked up, but Aka Morumotto handed the Farlight Leaf he had from a previous mission, to Jabir.

In this mission, reorganisation occurs at the end of a scenario, but very special rules are applied to it.  You will have to wait for the next adventure, to find out who then stands alongside Aka Morumotto and Kiara....