Tales from Rhovanion – Session #3

This is a write-up of the third session of our The One Ring: Adventures over the Edge of the Wild campaign. I’m basing the initial part of the campain on Studio 9′s Caran Gaur campaign (published in the free French RPG Magazine Le Maraudeur), although the majority of this session is a fairly significant departure from it. John H played Malaric, Emma S played Grunehild and Ben C played Grimald. This session is from July 2013.

*** SPOILERS – CARAN GAUR CAMPAIGN FROM LE MARAUDEUR MAGAZINE ***

Chapter I, Part III

Grunehild and Grimald silently despatched the two sentries and then, on a signal, the group charged the Goblin camp. Caught unawares, the Goblins were slain before they knew what was happening. Only the Orc leader put up a fight, injuring Rodegar with a hefty sword blow, before Malaric finished the creature with a mighty spear thrust.

The captives were saved. Two of them, an old man and a teenage boy, were badly injured and only survived thanks to Grimald’s skill at healing. The other three were battered and bruised but largely unhurt.

[COMMENTARY: Fellowship status prior to post combat recovery was: GRUNEHILD 26 of 29 END; MALARIC 18 of 29 END + Weary; GRIMALD 10 of 24 END + Wounded + Weary.]

After expressing their gratitude for the rescue, the captives revealed that a much larger force of Goblins had been seen moving down through the hills towards Hirtherd. An attack on the village was imminent.

Having been wounded in the rescue, Rodegar was persuaded to remain behind to protect the freed captives while the others attempted to get back to Hirtherd with a warning. The stalwart Northman was reluctant to stay but recognised the need for haste. The others would travel faster without him.

It was dusk by the time Malaric, Grunehild, Grimald, Mundovald and Raganhildis left the others sheltering in a nearby thicket and set off through the woods for Hirtherd. They travelled as quickly as they could but, with night falling, the forest grew ever darker and their progress was slowed.

When they finally drew near to their destination, they could hear many raised voices howling and jeering in the darkness and, as they crept closer, they were able to see that they had arrived too late. Hirtherd had been encircled by a force of perhaps three-hundred Goblins, Orcs and Wild Wolves.

The Goblins worked themselves up into a blood-frenzy, yowling threats and angrily brandishing their weapons, while a group of Goblin archers bombarded the village with a rain of arrows.

Watching from the trees, the five companions debated what they could do against so many. With every minute, more and more arrows fell on the Northmen inside the village.

Something had to be done, so the five brave warriors gathered themselves and charged into the rearmost ranks of the Goblin archers, hoping to inflict as much damage as they could and perhaps bring an end to the hail of arrows.

Catching the Goblins completely by surprise, the companions scythed through them, sowing panic and confusion. A few fought back but many were dead before they knew what was happening.

With the constant hail of arrows lifted, some of the archers from the village also began firing into the Goblin ranks and, under the combined onslaught, the Goblin archers crumbled and broke, fleeing screaming into the trees.

[COMMENTARY: Malaric killed seven but was weary and close to collapse, Mundovald killed seven and was wounded, Grunehild killed five and was unharmed, Grimald killed five and was still wounded and weary, and Raganhildis killed none but was unharmed.]

[COMMENTARY: Fellowship status at this point was: GRUNEHILD 26 of 29 END; MALARIC 2 of 29 END + Weary; GRIMALD 7 of 24 END + Wounded + Weary; Mundovald wounded; Raganhildis unharmed.]

The attack had been more successful than the small band could possibly have hoped for but, in its wake, the surrounding Goblins realised what was happening and turned angrily towards them.

“Run!” yelled Malaric.

The five companions sprinted for the village. Either side of them a horde of Goblins, Wild Wolves and Orcs gave chase.

As their pursuers began to close, Northmen along the fence frantically urged them on, firing arrows into the throng to try and slow them.

Grunehild and Raganhildis made it to the gates and the villagers pulled them through. Malaric, Grimald and Mundovald were just behind. But with Wolves snapping at their heels, it was clear that they would not make it.

Suddenly Mundovald turned back and their pursuers swarmed over him, dragging him to the ground. He was gone but he had given Malaric and Grimald the moment of extra time they needed. Hands dragged them inside and they collapsed, exhausted. The gates slammed shut behind them.

They had made it, but somehow they still had to hold out and survive the coming battle against the Goblin army.

[COMMENTARY: I decided the Fellowship had earned a post combat recovery, so allowed one at this point.]

END.

[END OF SESSION STATUS:
MALARIC – Hope: 9 of 13, Shadow: 0, Endurance: 7 of 29END + Weary, Fatigue: 18 (incl. 0 Journey Fatigue);
GRUNEHILD – Hope: 12 of 13, Shadow: 0, Endurance: 29 of 29END, Fatigue: 18 (incl. 0 Journey Fatigue);
GRIMALD – Hope: 9 of 14, Shadow: 0, Endurance: 7 of 24END + Weary + Wounded, Fatigue: 14 (incl. 0 Journey Fatigue).]