Dwarf Quest 3 - Island of Mirdorog-Naht Part 2

Battle For The Door Of Night

Combat begins with the fate of Middle Earth at stake.
The forces of Evil have set in motion their plans within plans to get Morgoth out of prison!
They must defeat Balin and use him to open the Door Of Night.

We take you now to the action...

With a bestial roar, the minotaur known as Ox-Roar the Chaos Champion of Ultimate Slaughter charges into the Dwarves.
In savage melee, the Dwarves prove their mettle.

Bugman has 3 wounds, 3 attacks and an Axe of Cleaving +1 Str and Fury +1A
His Beer Tankard regains a lost wound per turn to either Bugman or a friend in contact.
The Dwarves wisely decide to keep him in the center to tank those enemy attacks!

Balin also has 3 wounds, but has 4 attacks.

Mad Furrikson has Frenzy which gives him an extra attack but also means he has no choice but to charge enemies within charge range.

Napper Grundin has extra point of Toughness.

Guts has 2 wounds and 2 attacks.

The fight with the Minotaur is a back and forth, with the Minotaur wounding a Dwarf, and Bugmans Beer Tankard healing the wound!

In one exchange the Minotaur causes 2 wounds!  So 1 wound breaks through the Beer Aura and hurts Balin.
As the fight progresses, the Minotaur is slowly bled to death.
But at the last, the Minotaur causes 3 wounds before it collapses in a bloody furry heap.
Bugman is wounded, and the Minotaurs last attack... slays poor Napper Grundin!
Balin, grits his teeth as one of his companions from the 1st expedition to Moria falls.
Oh pot bellied Napper, we shall avenge you!

Meanwhile, King Al-Pharazon and the Melniboneans charge into the Chaos Thugs.
Al-Pharazon is a beast!  A savage whirlwind of death.

The Chaos Thugs are unfazed and run screaming and leaping over rocks and try to attack the Numenorean King from the flanks.
The Melniboneans rush in to defend Al-Pharazon!

Other Thugs head south and skirt around the tree line.
Will they circle around to flank the other side?
Or are they heading elsewhere?

Finally, Al-Pharazon has pushed his way towards the Champion of Nurgle!
Nurgle's blessing has made the Champion an extra tough nut to crack.

Turns out the Thugs from the south have doubled around and attack the Melniboneans from the rear!

For the albino Emperor! For the Dreaming City of Imrryr!

The Dwarves begin their ascent!
Climbing is an initiative test +2 where ladders are present, so of course they use the ladders!
Falling is d3 hits at Str equal to the height of the fall in inches.
So lets avoid any unnecessary scrapes and ouchies, shall we?

Lobelia must suppress an urge to use her broom and dust off the ladders!

Lobelia:  I dont think anyone has tidied up this place in centuries!

Pickles:  Im getting readings from in front and behind!  Look im telling you, there's things moving and it aint us! Tracker is off the scale, Theyre all around us!

Bugman:  Well you aint reading it right!  How long until we can expect a rescue?

Guts: 17 days? I dont want to rain on your parade, but we aint gonna last 17 hours!  Why dont you put her in charge!

Lobelia:  Why dont we build a campfire and sing a couple of songs, huh? Why don't we try that?

Guts: In space, no one can hear you scream!

Bugman:  Alright, marines!  I know we are all in strung out shape but... stay frosty!  We cant afford to let one of those bastards in here!

Dwarves:  Hoo Ahh!

Bugman and Guts stay on the 2nd level and hold off a skeleton attack.

Balin and Mad Furrikson go up on the 3rd level and encounter another group of undead.

Pickles and Lobelia sneak towards the North East objective!

Bugman:  By this Beer, we shall crush you bags of bones into dust!

Guts:  Hammer time!

Pickles was right afterall, more enemies spawn below them at the East edge.
Chaos Champs of Slaanesh!
Slaanesh the Lord of Pleasure sends his greetings and love...
Glam rock never looked so good!

Mad Furrikson smashes his way too far ahead because of his Frenzy!

Balin:  Dont get so far ahead, Mad.

Pickles:  You take it Lobelia and get out of here!  Make your way back to the Melnibonean sorcerer.

Lobelia:  Pickles you are such a gentleman!  Err.. Dwarf.

As Lobelia carries the treasure down, Bugman and Guts have cleared the level.

Bugman:  Where are the others?

Lobelia:  Pickles went to help Balin and Mad Furrikson.

Bugman:  I will go get them, we should be getting back soon!  That Elf sorcerer should have his teleport spell ready at any time!  Guts, you escort Lobelia out of here!

Guts: Aye, boss!

As Pickles turns the corner, he sees Balin.
And he hears Balin's low murmuring which he first thinks is a tender whisper.
But then he realizes Balin is crying... but its a frightening sound!

Mad Furrikson had smashed the last skeleton and captured the second objective.
He had just picked up the treasure and turned to face Balin with a smile on his face when suddenly...
He was blown apart by a magic missile of some sort.
Ghostly bird-like forms made of magic energy came screeching down from the sky and ripped through the hapless Dwarf!

High above at the third objective, Grima smiles as his spell - The Crows Feast slaughters Mad Furrikson and wounds Balin down to his last wound!

Thuringwethil:  Well done, Grima!  Good shot!  They are bound to attack us now on our high ground.  But we will pepper them with spells as they come!

Lobelia and Guts hit the ground level and see no enemies around.
Which is good for them!
But where did those 2 Slaanesh Champions go to?

Meanwhile, down at the South East corner, the Melnibonean sorcerer Yrkoon is busy readying his teleport spell.

Yrkoon:  I think I heard something, guard...  go check it out!

As the guard peeks around the corner, he sees the eager smiling faces of the Slaanesh Champions!
They have come for the ultimate sensation... pain!
Eager to cause pain, yearning to feel pain!

What can one lone guard do against such odds?

Yrkoon sends out a psychic message to all the heroes.

Yrkoon: Im still preparing my spell, but Im under assault!  Dwarves! Melniboneans! Al-Pharazon! She-Hobbit! Aid me...  Alamo, Alamo!  Everyone to the Alamo for a last stand!

Even more bad news!  5 Chaos Warriors of Khorne appear in the East!
If Al-Pharazon and his Melniboneans are still alive they wont last long with these latest foes!
These are no mere Chaos Thugs approaching... these are full blooded Chaos Warriors!

But instead of sticking around to face the followers of Khorne, Al-Pharazon and his last remaining Melnibonean finish off the Thugs and double back to make a last stand with Yrkoon.

The Chaos Champions scream in delight as they are fighting.
What freaks!  They are actually enjoying the pain of being wounded!
The Melniboneans are no stranger to perverted delights, but they are certainly outdone by the Slaaneshi.

I'm an alligator, I'm a mama-papa coming for you
I'm the space invader, I'll be a rock 'n' rollin' bitch for you
Keep your mouth shut, you're squawking like a pink monkey bird
And I'm busting up my brains for the words

Keep your 'lectric eye on me babe
Put your ray gun to my head
Press your space face close to mine, love
Freak out in a moonage daydream oh yeah

Al-Pharazon obliges them, and sends these strange Chaos worshippers to the afterlife with contented sighs.
At the end of the battle, both Slaaneshi are slain, but so too are the last Melniboneans. 
Only Al-Pharazon stands there.

Lobelia and Guts arrive to see Al-Pharazon and Yrkoon nodding to each other.

Yrkoon:  My spell is nearly ready.  Prepare to leave!

Al-Pharazon:  I hate to leave, but we must depart before we are overwhelmed.  We will come back with a full and proper army!

Lobelia:  Wait! We cant leave until Bugman and Balin and Pickles get here!  If the Pale Lady and Grima get ahold of Balin, they will unleash Morgoth!

Al-Pharazon:  We will wait for a little longer then!  But you best pray they get here soon.

Enemy spells fizzle around the Dwarves, as their natural Spell Resistance defends them against another barrage of enemy firepower...
But how long will their luck hold?

Bugman:  Wait Balin!  We must go! 

Balin:  Come with me, Bugman!  Let us slay that traitorous wizard and that vampire.

Bugman: We are both down to our last wounds, we wouldnt make it up there!

Balin: I will die trying!  Are you with me!?

Bugman: (turns to Pickles) Buddy, you take that treasure objective and head back!

Pickles:  No!  If you and Balin go, Im coming with!  In either direction, back home to Moria or up there to certain death... lets all go together!

Blood for the Blood God!
The war chant of Khorne resounds across the valley!
Fearsome visages of twisted metal and demonic horns, the Warriors of Chaos howl for blood!

Against such bestial fury, who will stand against it!?

Al-Pharazon salutes the enemy and charges them!
Against the Chaos chants, the heroes reply with their own.

Numenor!
For Melnibone!
Moria and the Blue Mountains, Forever!
For the Shire!

As battle is joined, two figures crest over a hill...
Its Balin and Bugman!
They changed their minds and have come to help!

Balin:  Vengeance can wait, Moria must come first! 

Bugman:  Let us join the attack!  For Beer and Roasted Meats!

Every die roll means life or death as nearly all the heroes are down to 1 wound.

As Pickles watches the battle rage, Yrkoon takes a wound.
Lobelia gasps, if the sorcerer dies we cant go back home!
Then Pickles remembers something... something in his pocket.
Something round and safe.
No he cannot use it here, its precious!
And the Lady of Ost-In Edhil made him promise only to use it in the direst of emergencies! (See Tales From The Beercart here:  http://mars-miniatures.blogspot.com/2016/08/tales-from-beer-cart-part-1-lost-in.html)
Pickles thinks to himself that having a ring of power (even such a minor one) carries such a burden of responsibility!
Still, its good to know they have a Plan B!

Death and Glory!  A battle that the bards will sing of for ages to come!
The song is of how Bugman the Brew Master fell in battle for the Door of Night.
And how Guts the Adventurer died beside him in that cursed island of Thangorodrim.
And lets not forget Napper Grundrin and Mad Furrikson, companions of Balin.
And finally to the Melnibonean soldiers who answered the call to action on that fateful day.
Where others would have run away, these brave few ran towards the sound of chaos and mayhem!

Lobelia and Pickles wipe away their tears as Balin sings in a low voice... an old Dwarven song of farewell.
Al-Pharazon salutes with his sword held high to the honored and glorious dead.
Yrkoon intones his teleport spell and the heroes (both dead and alive) are whisked away...

Thuringwethil:  They have escaped!  We have failed!

Grima Wormtongue:  No matter... this is just a delay.  We must find a Dwarf King somewhere. I hear they are all at Moria.  Hmm, lets wait until the Balrog softens them up first!  And remember, we only need to kidnap one little King...


~~~


Lets have a moment of silence for the honored dead and pour some Bugmans Brew upon the ground.

While I would like to express some after-battle thoughts, I will save them for the next post where we summarize the Dwarf Quest Finale with a fluff piece in Moria.


But I will say...
Yeah, I kinda wanted Morgoth to be released to show off the old school Citadel figure Im going to use for him.
Also, I didnt want so many heroes to die!
Thats how the die rolls went though, and we must honor the Dice Gods...
But what did I expect?  There were 4 Chaos Champions , 4 Chaos Warriors, 8 Chaos Thugs, a Minotaur, and 10 Skellies, not to mention the evil spellcasters blasting the heroes from up high...
The forces of good did way better than they should have, really!
Al-Pharazon was the MVP of the game.
Of course he is powerful as befits the Last King Of Numenor.
Afterall, he challenged the gods themselves!

What price was paid to delay Morgoths return?
And what sort of magical treasures were recovered?
The answers to these questions will have to wait until the next post.


Next Post:  The Heroes Return To Moria

Dwarf Quest 3 - Island of Mirdorog-Naht Part 1

Welcome to the long belated Dwarf Quest 3, an Oldhammer skirmish battle report.
When last we left you, 3 teams of Dwarf adventurers teamed up with Gondorian Wizards to teleport to 3 islands located to the west of Middle Earth.
This is the tale of team 3 led by Balin and Bugman, mighty heroes of Dwarvenkind.
We take you now to the action as our doughty adventurers materialize in a bright flash of light to find themselves on a somber rocky island...

Left to Right: Foaming Mad Furrikson, Balin, Napper, the Wizard Otto, Lobelia the Hobbit, Pickles the Master Mapper, Master Brewer Joseph Bugman, and Guts the Adventurer

Left to Right: Pickles, Master Brewer Joseph Bugman, and Guts the Adventurer

Bugman:  My psychiatrist tells me I should have a more positive outlook on life!  This place must be important!  I can feel it.

Pickles: (squints at his map) I think.... this might be Valinor!  The Blessed Isle!  OR... it could also be the... errr...  the Valley of Ultimate Darkness?  Now it says... we are in Hobb's End! 

Bugman: What is wrong with your map?

Pickles:  Ever since those Wizards came to Moria my map has been acting wierd.  Then again there must be spotty reception out here in the middle of nowhere.  My map is only showing 1 bar!

Guts: I dont think this is the Blessed Isle, where are the Valar - powerful majestic angelic beings?  And all the haughty hoity-toity Elves?  I got a baaaad feeling about this...

Bugman: Did George Lucas write your dialogue?

Left to Right: Wizard Otto, Lobelia the Hobbit

Lobelia:  So let me get this straight... you are the only one with the gizmo that can send us back to Moria?

Otto:  Yes, this Portkey is our only escape, and Im the only one who can use it.

Lobelia:  Guard the wizard at all costs!

Left to Right: Foaming Mad Furrikson, Balin, Napper

Balin:  Something whispers to me...  there are fell voices in the air.  Be on guard...

Chaos Dwarves:  Yes, milord...

A tall slender woman appears before our heroes

Bugman: Ahh, hello Lady of this lovely land!

The Pale Lady:  Welcome adventurers, you have journeyed far and are weary.  Follow me to your destiny...

Bugman: (to his fellow Dwarves)  See, what did I tell you negative nellies! 

Pickles: (scratches his chin and whispers)  ...the Isle of Mirdorog-Naht.  Thats where we are! I dont like the sound of this place at all...

Bugman: Nonsense, look we have a guide to escort us to our destiny!

The Pale Lady:  We have waited for you to arrive for a very long time.  Let me roll out the red carpet for you...

Bugman:  See!  Red Carpet treatment!  How grand!

Lobelia:  I think this red carpet is... red with blood?  I think this is a trap!

Bugman:  Nonsense!  Dont insult our kind hostess.

Lobelia:  (turns to see Balin looking disturbed)  Are you alright there Lord Balin?

Balin:  Do you hear the voices too?  The Raven King is here... has been here... is with us!  Im fine, Hobbit!  Its just beer withdrawal.

Lobelia:  (tugs Balin's sleeve) Umm, c'mon Mr Balin, the others are going that way, lets not get left behind now.

The Pale Lady leads the party to a stone door in the mountainside.

Bugman:  Hmmm... how do we open it?  I cant seem to do it.

The Pale Lady:  One of you can do it, it is foretold...

Bugman:  C'mon fellows, everyone line up and take turns trying to open it!

Guts:  Nope, I cant open it.

 Bugman:  Seems to be some inscriptions around the edges... ancient Dwarven!  I think it says "Welcome Angband emergency service entrance #66"  I wonder what that means?

The voices in Balin's head grow louder!
At first it was just the Raven King, promising him power and immortality.
But now, Balin the Lord of Moria can feel and hear whispers, and clawing, and gasping of countless beings behind the Door!
But something else is behind the door...  someone...
The Door of Night...
The Lord of Night...
It whispers... I will grant you all of Middle Earth, while I assail the Gates of the Valar itself!
Just open this small door...

Suddenly, a flash of light appears to the west!
As the light of teleportation fades, 5 warriors of Melnibone appear!

Citadel Code:  EC01 - Melnibonean Infantry

In the center is Yrkoon, sorceror noble of the Dragon Isle.
It is said he is the cousin of the albino Emperor of Melnibone.
Is he here as pennance for his crimes against his Emperor or is he here to gain something to use in his conspiracy against the rightful ruler of the Dragon Isles?

Yrkoon:  Someone has tripped our sensors!  Intruders upon the island!

Next to the Melniboneans, a legendary figure sits atop his noble steed.
It is Al-Pharazon, the Lord of Fallen Numenor!

Citadel Code: ME-81

It was his misdeeds which caused the great sinking of Numenor, the great island of the Dunedain which was also known as Atalante the "downfallen".
It was Sauron who poisoned King Al-Pharazon's mind to take Aman by force from the Elves and the Valar.
The Valar called upon Eru himself, who sank Numenor beneath the waves.
But a faithful remnant of Numenoreans led by Elendil and his sons Isildur and Anarion survived by sailing to the mainland of Middle Earth and founding Gondor and Arnor.
His people are in stasis awaiting the day when they are forgiven for their arrogance.
Only one of them has been awake all this time...
Lord Ar-Pharazon who has all this time been meditating and repenting in the Caves of the Forgotten, readying himself for the day of Dagor Dagorath.

By fighting Sauron once more and helping the Alliance he can earn forgiveness for his people and their awakening.
Today is the beginning!
Al-Pharazon and his elf allies are here because of rumors that evil has returned to threaten Middle Earth.

The Pale Lady: (turns to Otto the Wizard) Complications have arisen, but we must prevail in our plan!

The Pale Lady throws her head back in an evil maniacal laugh! 
And proceeds to do her big villain monologue reveal.
For the Pale Lady is Thuringwethil - The Vampire Countess of Tol Sirion!
Before the Mouth of Sauron was born, she was the herald of both Morgoth and Sauron.
Her name means "woman of the secret shadow".
Luthien disguised herself as Thuringwethil when she infiltrated Angband.

"Thuringwethil I am, who cast
a shadow o'er the face aghast
of the sallow moon in the doomed land
of shivering Beleriand."

Lobelia: (turns to Otto)  What does she mean?

Otto:  Im afraid my name is not Otto, little Hobbit.  My real name is Grima Wormtongue, the Raven King!  Balin!  Hear me!  For it was I, who called upon the powers of Chaos to resurrect you and your kin in Moria.  The Lords of Evil: Saruman, Sauron, and Morgoth wish you Dwarves no ill will!  In fact if you free Morgoth who lies behind this door, they will grant you the right to rule Moria as well as all your ancient strongholds. This prison was created by a Dwarven runesmith, an Elven sorcerer, and a Human Cleric when Morgoth was overthrown.  No one but a Dwarf, Elf, or Human of Kingly blood may open its seal.  You are of Durin's blood!  Open the Door of Night... and embrace your destiny! And the destiny of your people!


Bugman:  Dont listen to him, Balin!  Morgoth cannot be released! Not even for all of our fallen strongholds, nor the 7 Dwarven Rings of Power!  Balin stop walking towards that Door!

All the Dwarves lay hands on their weapons, but are unsure if they are drawing them to use on the evil wizard, the vampire, or even....  Balin himself!?  For it looks like he will succumb to the temptation of evil!  But at the last, Balin shakes his head and draws his axe up high!

Balin:  (turns to Grima Wormtongue) You!  You are the one who has been whispering evil thoughts into my mind!  I refuse your offers and the offers of your evil masters!  It is the might of the Dwarves and good Dwarven steel that will prevail!

Grima Wormtongue: Damn the stubborness and magic resistance of Dwarves!

Before Balin can slay the Wizard formerly known as Otto... he and the Pale Lady Thuringwethil disappear in a blaze of light.

Pickles:  (slaps his own face)  Mirdorog-Naht!  NO! It was just spelled backwards... WE ARE IN THANGORODRIM!!!!  The island prison fortress of Morgoth!  The Great Enemy!  You know... Sauron's master!

Overview of the board

Grima and Thuringwethil have teleported to the high point in the Northwest corner.

The heroes have banded together in the center.

There are 3 objectives which mark locations where hidden treasure might be found!

The first one is at the North East corner of the board.
Which is above the hidden door to Thangorodrim.

The second objective is in the north, next to a copse of trees!

The third objective is in the North West corner, high above where dark crystals hum with magic power. 
Do they power the prison that holds Ultimate Evil at bay?

Grima Wormtongue sends up a death eater symbol into the clouds!
An evil omen, and surely a beacon for evil forces to converge upon.

With Otto/Grima Wormtongue suddenly revealed as a traitor, the heroes have no way to escape the island as he was the only one with a Portkey.
So the Melnibonean leader Yrkoon must be kept alive while he powers up his spell to teleport all of them out.
He takes up a defensive position in the South East corner of the board with a little wall and one Melnibonean to guard him.
After 4 turns he rolls to see when his spell is completed.

In the meantime, the Dwarves decide to go treasure hunting and grab as many objectives as they can.

While Al-Pharazon and 3 Melniboneans head to the center of the board as a reserve.

The first evil reinforcements arrive! 
In the center is a Nurgle Chaos Champion, who is leading Chaos Thugs!

Overview of the Chaos Champion and his 8 thugs.

Plague for the Plague God!

Thuringwethil casts her own summoning spell and ancient skeletons appear in the center objective!

These old bones have lain here since before the sinking of Beleriand!
Time to rise again and trouble the world of the living!

Thuringwethil and Grima look down and see their plan unfolding.

Thuringwethil:  If Balin will not open the Door of Night willingly, he will be forced to do so!

Grima:  More forces of Chaos will appear every turn, our plan will not fail.

And right before the game begins proper, another die roll brings one more minion of evil to the table!
A Minotaur!


~~~

So the pre-game fluff is done.
The scenario is laid out.
The battle is coming!
Prepare for death or glory, maybe even some glorious deaths!

But yeah, Al-Pharazon is on the blog! 
Thuringwethil too.
Lots of Silmarillion goodness is being woven into the campaign.
You never know who else will be popping up!
Did someone say Stormcast would make great Valar? 
I certainly didnt say it....  ;p
Oh and dont get me started on Earendil the Mariner and his flying skyship!
Arkanaut Ironclad Im looking at you!
Oh and how bout that reveal?  Otto was Grima Wormtongue and is the Raven King.
He is most certainly a Mentat of House Istari and also the orchestrator of the plan to open the Door of Night.
He has certainly lived up to his name so far!


Next Post:  The Battle for Thangorodrim Begins!

Cheers,
Mar