Middle Earth FA63 D&D Game, the Second Adventure, Scouting Ered Lithui

Theogrim will take up position next to Gwaelur.

Ouch! Thoroncir will keep up longbow fire as long he can, then drop his bow, draw his sword and have at them, keeping Renee to the rear.

Deor will keep ten or twenty feet behind the fray, ready to cast Sleep on the cross-passages if too many orcs for the front line to handle show up, and keeping a wary eye behind us.

Looks like Gwaelur is in position. Let’s tussle. :cool:

Provided he can do it safely, Ghân uses 4 Goodberries on Thoroncir.

“I am much obliged to you, my friend,” Thoroncir says to Ghan, leaving unsaid his wish that Renee had healed him instead. :stuck_out_tongue:

Stay back from the intersection. Gwaelur, Thoroncir and I will toss some choice epithets in the enemy’s direction: “Remember Pelennor Field! Remember Nanduhirion! Remember the Battle of Five Armies! Come and be slain!”.

If that doesn’t draw them, I want Mulligan to pass me some smoke capsules. We’ll pick which side looks weaker, smoke that way, charge the other. Brin, Ghan and I will deal with anyone who comes out of the smoke while the heavies get stuck into the Orcs. But we’ll give the enemy a chance to lose their tempers first.

Gwaelur backs off from the intersection. The elf is not full of the blood lust and is probably showing good judgement in this case.

Ghân can cast Obscurement, which creates a mist reducing visibility to 5 feet for over 10 rounds. Unfortunately it has to be centred on Ghân himself - so he assumes it’s better for a retreat than being used here?

If the orcs don’t react to insults, could we throw some money?!

Use a Whistle to try to get some attention from the orcs.

A loud noise like a sword on shield is heard from the left, then an answering 2 bangs from the right and finally 3 from straight ahead. A 15 count later, bangs are heard from all three directions and orcs come charging at full out runs, shields held if front.

Quickly checking determines that there are two from the left but over a dozen from ahead and a dozen from the right passage.

Deor prepares his sleep, trying to time it for maximum affect. Ghân stays alert for a spell caster with his Summon insects. He knows it is good for a 30’ in here.

Renee sensing this is probably the big battle begins her Song of Estë that gives all of her friends a +1 Save and -1 to be hit and damage and will discourage others from attacking Renee even more. It lasts as long as she sings. This will be until she needs to cast a cure light instead.

…First round to follow shortly …

The positions in the passage:
Theogrim . Gwaelur . Thoroncir
. . . . Brin . . . . . . . Gil-Gandel . . . . . . . Ghân Fang
Deor . . . . Renee

The orcs come rushing the front line prepare shields and weapons and brace for the charge.

Brin & Gil-Gandel fire, they both hit and two of the lead orcs go down, slowing down the crowd for ahead. Gil-Gandel determines they number 17 now.

The two from the left burst around the corner, but Theogrim was ready and swings hard and low on the closest. The blade bites deep and leaves a ragged wound.

Gil-Gandel hits the other close up as he sings out, to hold and not be drawn out. This orc drops. The injured one swings and misses Theogrim.

As the orcs close in, Brin fires, hits and drops an orc in leather.

As 16 orcs are now in perfect position for Deor, he casts sleep just past the injured orc. He sleeps 12. This take the heart out of the charge and as the remaining 4 orcs actually stop, Gil-Gandel shoots the heart out of one. Leaving 3 confused and frightened looking orcs to pivot and start running back the other way.

The dozen from the right now hit upon the front line. There are two each on Gwaelur and Thoroncir and one more for Theogrim.
These orcs are all in ring mail and using short swords.

Thoroncir hits with his long sword and one of his foes drop. The orc hits a hard blow on his shield, but the shield holds. Another is stepping up.

Gwaelur hits with both his Battle Axe and his War Shield and drops both. He loves fighting orcs and encourages the next two to step up.

The orc on Theogrim misses.

There are 9 healthy orcs and one badly injured on the party.

I’ll hold- the party can handle this easily (only one little injury so far), and it’s best to save spells for later, especially since it would be difficult to cast Sleep on orcs without catching allies in the spell. Keep a watch out behind, and keep my head down, now that I’m not Invisible. And give my Goodberries to whoever needs them if anyone gets injured and drops back, leaving Renee free to keeping up her Song.

Ghân is calm and confident the party are doing as well as they can.
He keeps the light up and has ready:

  • Summon Insects for casters (or Hunter-Killers)
  • Cure Light Wounds for our Fighters
  • Faerie Fire for any orcs with better Armour

He keeps an eye on the rear part of the time and can command Fang to attack there if necessary.

His ears ringing with Renee’s sweet song, his heart leaping with the joy of battle, Thoroncir swings his longsword at the nearest orcs with a vengeance.

Each of the front 3 has two orcs on him.

One of the ones on Theogrim drops to the ground from his wounds.
Theogrim hits again and this orc drops.
Gwaelur again hits twice and two more die.
Thoroncir hits again and drops another.
Gil-Gandel shoots one and it is badly injured.
Brin hits one and it drops.
The healthy one of Thoroncir hits for 3 points.

A large orc dress strange black leather wearing a silver medallion of Sauron’s Eye comes around the corner and begins casting.
Ghân hands the bauble to Renee and begins his Summon Insects , it takes a full round. Deor tries casting a quick Bee cantrip, but it has no affect.

Gil-Gandel fires but there is a spare orc in the way. The orc conveniently dies at least.

Just before Brin can fire his second shot of the round, the Shaman’s Hold Person Spell goes off on Thoroncir, Gwaelur and Theogrim. Thoroncir saves but only with the help of Renee’s song & a magic item he wears. Gwaelur has a huge bonus and saves with ease but alas Theogrim misses and is held.

Brin’s arrow now lets loose and plunges into the Shaman for 12 points. Shortly after Gil-Gandel fires his last shot and hits the Shaman for another 7 points. Ghân’s Summon Insects causes a swarm of red ants to crawl and bite the Shaman, he is twisting in agony and trying to swat them off (another 2 points)

Gwaelur moves in front of Theogrim to defend him. Deor has his staff out and prepares to offer some defense of his older brother.
There are but 3 orcs and the Shaman left and one orc is very injured and the Shaman seems to have a new hobby consuming all of his time.

If Ghân has a clear shot at the Shaman, he fires his blowpipe (2 missiles per round) at him for two rounds.
If he’s not paralysed or dead by then, use another Summon Insects on him (just before the first one runs out)

If Theogrim, Ghân or the rear is menaced, command Fang to attack.

(DM, how did the Shaman apparently move and cast in the same round?)

Oh, Ghân assures the party the Shaman cannot cast or fight while the Summon Insects lasts (3 rounds).

If he can, Thoroncir will charge the orc shaman with his longsword, crying, “Elendil!”

Deor bats the injured orc off of his brother; he amazingly hit the orc over the head and dropped it.

Gwaelur hits the remaining orcs before they can do anything and drops both.

Thoroncir charges the Shaman, crying, "Elendil!"He swings a well timed blow as the Shaman is trying to fight off the ants and delivers a deep cut for 10 more points. (31 total)

This is followed by a shot for Gil-Gandel and then Brin. The Shaman dies.

Gwaelur sees that there is a fire about 85’ to the left and probably another chamber. He sees nothing to the right.

It looks like there will be at least a brief pause.

Theogrim is held, Thoroncir is injured and 12 orcs lay sleeping in the hall. Renee is still singing.