Think We're Alone Now

[Brian]

Breaking away from the main group with the newly christened "Rez's Roughnecks", Nathan finds himself in command of the soldiers Phil ordered to follow him, the scouts winging ahead after handing out the storm-cloaks (colored like dirty snow) and flour to toss into hair.  Those days-of-hard-travel without being able to wash provide the grease neccessary to get the flour to stick, and a few people mix some form of woad in small pestles, painting their faces, as well.

Thinner white cloths are used to wrap hilts, sheathes, and cover other blades before you begin trudging south, the most visible of the group walking carefully in the bottom of the valley carved by the Dreadmarch's passage.

[Rezantis]

Nathan and the group continue hiking until one of three things happens:

(A) One of the scouts comes back to report something;
(B) He notices something of interest;
(C) Something else occurs to get his attention.

[Brian]

You proceed south for a ways, the majority of the men keeping to the valley.

After a few hours -- you're not really sure how long -- the scouts come back, and warn that there's some bad news, and some worse news.

The bad news is that there's no supply caravan or anything ahead of you; you're right on the verge of clashing with their main army, and your force of one hundred skirmishers doesn't have a chance against the three million Dreadmarch soldiers ahead of you.

The worse news is that even though everyone was trying to be subtle, you've been spotted by rearguard scouts, and a group of about two hundred and fifty Dreadmarch soldiers is going to be upon you in about thirty minutes.

[Rezantis]

Rez calls his group to a halt, asks the following pertinent questions of the scouts (after saying some very bad words. Bad Rez):

"Where are they exactly, how fast are they moving, what's the force made up of, and what kind of notable terrain have we got around here?"

[Brian]

They're south of you, heading north on the east side of the valley cut into the snow.  The force is made up of ten of what they call 'ogres', about ninety orcs, and the rest they call horde-lings.

You have no idea what the majority of these things are.

At your blank look, they explain that the ogres are carrying large clubs, the orcs have bows, and the rest are armed with whatever came at hand.

There is no real terrain here, to speak of.  Just the endless and slightly undulating snowy plains, broken occasionally by a brush of scrub (now that you see the ice, do those things just grow out of the snow?) the mountains in the far distance to the south and north, and the trench through the snow that the majority of your force is hiding in.

[Rezantis]

Rez casts his eyes around the area and starts thinking.

"Alright. This pretty much clinches the fact that we aren't going to be doing any damage the way we were intending, so that puts us back to our secondary objective.  If we can work on convincing them that the main body of our forces is trying to wreak havoc here, it'll hopefully stop them from concentrating on where they actually are.  So.," Rez pauses, "that pretty much means we have to make a fight out of this, at least enough of a showing to convince them that we're serious."

"Ideally, the trick here is probably to get within melee range.  Best way as I can see for that is that we have some natural cover here," Rez waves at the trench, "which'll at least protect us from arrows.  If we conceal the axemen here and let them run into a 'patrol' marching south, they'll engage it and hopefully follow them right to us.  That's the basic plan. If we retreat right now, we'll be tracked back north.  If we can make a mess here, and get away with it, we can get them shaken up - and if they're paying attention to us, they're not just distracted from what our main army is doing up north . . . they're less likely to notice our noncombatants as they make their way.  If I go down and we're still around after the battle, the orders are simple: send the wounded north, break into small groups, then hunt down and kill dreadmarch scouts until, in your judgements, it gets too dangerous to do so.  Getting advance information to Lord Bloom about any forces they send north is, of course, absolute priority.  Thoughts, people?"

[Brian]

No one has any objections to your plan, and everyone gets into position quickly.  You can see the approaching forces in the distance.

[Brian]

Code Select Expand

<@Brian> roll 2#3d6 general archer accuracy (storm-riders)
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... :  2#3d6 general archer accuracy {17}, {7}
<@Brian> roll 3d6 general archer accuracy (orcs)
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 general archer accuracy (orcs) {5}
<@Brian> roll 5#3d6 stealth
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 5#3d6 stealth {8}, {17}, {16}, {8}, {9}.

The orcs take one scattered shot, one more-focused attack, and then fire a relatively effective salvo of their own -- two of your archers go down, and a handful more take arrows, but keep running back anyway.  They've got their hands full helping their wounded along, and don't have time for pot-shots, but at least the orcs can't fire back, either.

The entire force is still rushing your emplaced soldiers; either they don't see you, or they don't think you're a threat.  You're staring down their forces, now.  The orcs are what you'd expect -- man sized, and roughly shaped.  The horde-lings are cruder mockeries of human, smaller, and with spindly limbs.  You think 'goblin' when you look at them.  The trolls are bigger brutes, burly, and outfited in some form of plated armor, wielding clubs that looks like entire tree-branches.

[Rezantis]

Fuck. What AM I doing here?

Muttering a brief prayer, Rez steels himself - and the moment one of the enemy gets close enough he throws himself upwards with an incoherent roar, sword whistling as it arcs towards his foe, as his fellow stormriders up and do the same . . .

[Brian]

Code Select Expand

<Rez> roll 3#3d6 for footmen effectiveness
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 3#3d6 --> {11}, {8}, {6}.
<Rez> roll 3d6 FOR SMACKDOWN
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 3d6 {8}.
The storm-riders spring up suddenly, getting a few attacks and slaying about 80 enemy before they even realize what's going on.  At that point, the archers have reoriented themselves, turned about, and loosed a few extra volleys of arrows.

Code Select Expand

<Rez> roll 3#3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 3#3d6 --> {9}, {13}, {10}.
This puts down another sixty or so foes, and then everything breaks down into a messy melee, and you find yourself and an axeman facing off against a pair of ogres.

[Brian]

<Brian> Rez, you're standing right atop the snowy slope, facing off against a three-meter tall ogre.  It's got slavering jaws, a bad attitude, and worse breath.  Behind you, an axeman faces off against another ogre, around you, everyone else is embroiled in their own battles.
<Brian> No one has any held actions, so we're going to go in speed order.
<Brian> Segment 4, Rez, that's you.
Rez lunges forward, slashing at the ogre's legs.
<Rez> Both points to OCV, normal attack.
<Rez> I'll try and push my str, if I can.
<Brian> Called shot, -4 OCV for that target.
<Brian> Please roll 3d6 for ego to push your strength.
<Rez> roll 3d6 for EGOTISM!
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 3d6 for EGOTISM! --> [ 3d6=12 ]{12}
<Brian> You do not push your strength.  Or pay extra endurance.
<Brian> Go ahead and make your attack roll.
<Rez> roll 3d6 for SMACKDOWN
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 3d6 for SMACKDOWN --> [ 3d6=7 ]{7}
Rez nods.
<Brian> That's a hit.
<Brian> Go ahead and roll your damage.
<Rez> roll 2d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=5 ]{5}
<Rez> roll 1d5+2 for stun
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 1d5+2 for stun --> [ 1d5=4 ]{6}
<Brian> You stagger your foe!
<Rez> Rocking.
<Brian> His armor appears to have absorbed most of the impact of your blade (he's still standing), but he's also apparently Dazed.
<Brian> Segment 6.
<Brian> Axeman.
<Brian> roll 3d6 for war cry
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 for war cry --> [ 3d6=6 ]{6}
<Brian> (Ouch)
<Brian> roll 3d6 to hit
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 to hit --> [ 3d6=13 ]{13}
<Brian> roll 4d6 for damage
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 4d6 for damage --> [ 4d6=12 ]{12}
<Brian> roll 1d5+2 stun multiplier
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 1d5+2 stun multiplier --> [ 1d5=3 ]{5}
<Brian> roll 3d6 for hit location
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 for hit location --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> The axeman plants his axe pretty deep in the collar bone of the ogre.  It appears stunned, but his axe is also stuck.
<Brian> Your ogre recovers enough to try and swing at you, Rez.
<Brian> Do you want to abort to block?
<Rez> Yes.
<Brian> Alrighty.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> Good thing you're blocking.  Make your block roll.
<Rez> roll 3d6 for blockage!
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 3d6 for blockage! --> [ 3d6=16 ]{16}
<Brian> Please roll your normal damage for your weapon, and multiply it by two.
<Rez> roll 2d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=6 ]{6}
<Rez> 6 x 2 = 12
<Brian> That's more damage classes than the club can take; it shatters into a cloud of splinters, and your sword is now humming, vibrating very slightly in your hands.
<Brian> The ogre looks a little put off by this.
<Brian> Segment 12, everyone acts, dex order, Rez first.
Rez slashes at the ogre in front of him.
<Rez> Both +1s to OCV, still.
<Rez> roll 3d6 for a proper thrashing
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 3d6 for a proper thrashing --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> You hit, roll your damage.
<Rez> roll 2d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=7 ]{7}
<Brian> roll 3d6 for hit location
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 for hit location --> [ 3d6=11 ]{11}
<Brian> 11 -- chest.  Center of mass.  You've struck his breastplate.
<Brian> Roll your stun multiplier.
<Rez> roll 1d5+2
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 1d5+2 --> [ 1d5=4 ]{6}
<Brian> You've staggered him, and unarmed, he turns to flee.
<Brian> The axeman.
<Brian> roll 3d6-5
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6-5 --> [ 3d6=9 ]{4}
<Brian> He wrenches his axe free, causing his ogre to wobble around a bit, but not fall down.
<Brian> Post-segment 12, everyone gets a recovery.
<Brian> Segment 4, speed threes.
<Rez> I turn, since my foe is staggering backwards, take three steps and swing my sword as hard as I can into the axeman's ogre (haymaker).  Both points to OCV.
<Brian> Roll for your attack.
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : for your attack. --> error: malformed expression
<Rez> roll 3d6 for SEVERE smackdown!
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 3d6 for SEVERE smackdown! --> [ 3d6=11 ]{11}
<Brian> roll 3d6 for hit location
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 for hit location --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> Chest, again.  This one had more power than the last, and was already pretty badly wounded by the axeman -- that finished him off.
<Brian> Phase 6, speed 2s.
<Brian> The axeman goes after the unarmed ogre you left behind.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> roll 2d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=7 ]{7}
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=12 ]{12}
<Brian> Stomach shot.
<Brian> roll 1d5+2 stun multipler
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 1d5+2 stun multipler --> [ 1d5=3 ]{5}
<Brian> The ogre goes down.  Isn't dead yet, but the combat is over.

[Brian]

Code Select Expand

<Rez> roll 3d6 for Footman Effectiveness
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Rez ... : {9}
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Rez ... : for Footman, SMACK! {13}
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 3d6 for Footman, SMACK #3! {9}
<Rez> roll 3#3d6 for l337 archery skillz!
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Rez ... : 3#3d6 for l337 archery skillz! {11}, {14}, {11}.

Well, after all is said and done, you wouldn't call it a victory.

Code Select Expand

<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Rez ... : Go into the light! {5}

You've lost exactly half of your forces, and a lot of what's left is too wounded to fight.  For what it's worth, your eight able archers, and seven intact axemen (including your dance partner at the ogre ball) are able to ensure that there's no enemy survivors, at least.

But your forces aren't up for another fight; you need to get your troops somewhere they can rest and heal up, and soon.

[Rezantis]

"Fuck," Rez sums it up succintly.

Surveying the carnage, he winces.

"Right," after gathering his able men he starts giving more orders, "Pull most, but not all, of the supplies off our fallen.  When they investigate here, I want them to think we had very little with us and that we didn't go through and retrieve any, so they'll hopefully deduce we have a camp nearby. The wounded need to head north along this trench back to the original camp and from there to link up with the rest of the main group, I want you," he points out three of the archers and four of the axemen," with them.  It should be tricky to track you over this ice, so apart from forward scouting I want at least three of you playing rearguard at all times, eliminating what traces of the trail you can."

"You and you," he continues, pointing out another archer and axeman, "are going north with them for a couple of hours march, then I want you concealed on the rim of this mess.  I need you to stay there for a few days at most - your orders are very simple. Don' get spotted, and if you see any evidence of the dreadmarch moving north in force, I need you to get word to Lord Bloom as fast as humanly possible."

"The remainder of you," Rez concludes, gesturing at the remaining four archers and two axemen," are coming with me. We're moving east and we're going to leave a trail for their to follow.  We don't have much time before they come to find out what happened to their force, so we need to be well out of sight by then.  Any questions?"

[Brian]

The soldiers shake their heads, the wounded being escorted north quickly, as you head out east.

After an hour or so of laying the false trail, you're starting to get a bit tired, and one of the bowmen says he sees something on the horizon.  It's getting close to moonset, so your light's going to get even dimmer very soon.

When you look, you see one very large group of moving objects south of you, and a much smaller group of moving objects directly east of you, headed north.

By your map, you're not too far from that little fort you stayed at.

[Rezantis]

Rez eyes off the party to the east and frowns, a plan forming as he calls his small group to a halt.

"Interesting.  Alright . . . I know there's a small fort to the east, past that group.  Once whoever that is has moved out of our line, we'll go.  If we can lay a trail to that, we could have ourselves an amusing show to watch, because I know the soldiers in it turned it into a deathtrap before we left.  After we've laid a fairly obvious trail to the area, we'll move into the hills, find somewhere safe to get some rest and sleep, then circle back west again and start trekking north."