Hobbit Holiday Shrubbery

 Im on a roll with the ambient music vids. So I might as well capitalize on it. Make the most of the time you got, or so they say. So here is another pic and music vid. This time not an exercise in low light photography, but bright, joyous, happy light! Its the Hobbit Holiday Special. Wherein the Hobbits share some good holiday cheer even in the face of probable upcoming catastrophy of Cthulhic proportions. 

The piece of music was called Celestial Processions and I dont know why. Im sure it meant something at the time after I composed it. Its light and airy and got a little jazzy horn thrown in there. Im sure its the Rohan Hornburg horn section. At any rate, the name and the sound textures fit perfectly with the pic. And yes, its cheesy but I added some 3d snowflake effects. Shoot me, Im feeling nostalgic for some good simple cheer, so I made a Hobbit snow globe. 

Oh and that little shrub is from my Dwarven Forge Wildlands kickstarter starting to trickle in. This one was a small box with the Forest Master Stretch Goals. I got the Heart of the Wild. Which is all 3 biomes - forest, mountain and swamp. How could I afford that? I cant really, but its a long story. So I will be showing off the new terrain as they come in. In the meantime, enjoy the music vid and dont forget the pic and fluff that follows below, where Poppy has a gift to share!

Tuddle and Poppy gather around their little Hobbit Holiday Shrub, as snowflakes bring cheer to the halflings.

"Even small things can make a big difference" - Lady G.
(and no, G doesnt stand for Gaga!)

 

 

Poppy: Here is my gift to everyone...

 

 Poppy: Ta Da!

Tuddle: Its two sticks in the ground and a piece of string. What is it?

Poppy: Something my Gammy taught me when i was little... or littler - on how to catch coneys. Or bunnies as the big folk call em.

Tuddle: Oh I hope we catch some soon then, Im hungry. They are good eating with taters. Or po-ta-toes as the big folk call em.

Anais: Good one, She-Hobbit. You got mad trap-making skills. Should come in handy in our next mission. Might trap coneys sure, but Im hoping it might trap something bigger. Like  Mythos monsters big. Well, one can only hope.

 

Brillig On A GrimDarkSouls Eve

 Seasons Greetings from the GrimDark~! I got another low light pic and music comp for your perusal. This piece of ambient music was called Apparitions of Ionielle and was probably made this time last year. Yeah I was going for a theme thing with Lamentations of Itriya.

Its that time when I guess I must get preachy about my hobby manifesto. Dont worry, it dont happen often. But here goes...

Here on this blog, we know what grimdark is really about - so grim, so dark as to become elevated to the point of absurd. Just like any Monty Python/Gilliam movie. The end of Time Bandits for instance... the kids parents explode from the essence of pure undiluted evil in their toaster oven! Warhammer was that too in the 80s. Well maybe the exploding evil part too, but... At any rate, Id like to think I am the firekeeper at the bonfire of absurdity. yes that is a Dark Souls reference, which might not intentionally be quirky fun. But really you must have a sense of humour to play a game where you are constantly looking at a screen that says "YOU HAVE DIED." Embrace the horror. And that is our manifesto here... beautiful mad absurdity. And that brings us to our present post...

The Red Queen has sent the Black Knight to capture Mad Alice. Her sentence is death by torture... or rather tart-ture.

 `No, no!' said the Queen. `Sentence first--verdict afterwards.'

`Stuff and nonsense!' said Alice loudly. `The idea of having the sentence first!'

`Hold your tongue!' said the Queen, turning purple.

`I won't!' said Alice.

`Off with her head!' the Queen shouted at the top of her voice. Nobody moved.

`Who cares for you?' said Alice, (she had grown to her full size by this time.) `You're nothing but a pack of cards!' 

 Music video on youtube follows...

 

Battle of Hollin Gate - Scenario and Pre-Game Fluff

 Pre Battle Fluff

 As our new Fellowship gets closer to the west gate of Moria, Tuddle the Hobbit finds a new page in the Book of Pickles. "This is a warning and a plea to all heroes of Middle Earth. Do not enter Moria. It has now become a portal to the Mythos Zone - the darkest of all dimensions. Save yourselves and save your world. Stop those who would open the west Gate of Hollin, the upper Gate of Zirak-Zigil, and the east Gate of Dimrill Dale. The Mythos Gods are clever and they may find other ways and locations to creep into this world. Find them, stop them and their cultists! Look to your allies for support! The wisdom of the Wizards, the discipline of the Elves, the strength of Men, and the humble bravery of the Hobbits. We bequeath our heirlooms to our smaller cousins - the Hobbits. The map in this book will guide you to quest locations. This map can also help you to find Dwarf artifacts of power that will help guide you in the coming darkness. Farewell, dear Hobbits! And if you should ever reach the places where I or my Dwarf brethren lay in their eternal resting places... raise a full glass and then turn down an empty glass! Good luck and 'Zyor Round! These are the final words of Pickle the Dwarf..."

 With this great and grim Dwarven commission to all heroes everywhere, we begin the next stage of investigating and stopping the Mythos cults around Middle Earth. As the PCs arrive at Hollin Gate, they see a ritual taking place by a Medusa and her Melusai guard. And a pack of ravenous Ghouls. They have opened Hollin Gate with dark magics! They must be stopped at all costs!

Mortimer the Brown: Azer Chief, you and your fellows dont have to stay here with us. This isnt your world, its ours to defend.

Rupert the Azer Chief consults with his Azer Fyreslayers and comes to a decision...

Rupert the Azer Chief: Heroes, we Azers know of these Mythos creatures and their Dark Dimension. They are also our greatest enemy in our world. We are duty bound to fight them. Looks like they have probably slain our Dwarf cousins in this dimension... but we will avenge them! Our people were never numerous and the sun is setting for our kind - there are few of us left. But I will call the AFCL (Azer Fyreslayer Council of Lodges)  to send all available Azers here! 

Poppy: Hey, Tuddle, do you think its too late for help to arrive? I wish we could call on our Shire Hobbit Militia! Im sure my Gammy would bring the Tuckborough Cook Brigade and their trademark frying pan weapons.

Tuddle: By the time they get here, Im thinking this will all be over... one way or the other. And considering with what is coming our way... and Ive seen these Mythos creatures, I dont know if our Hobbit friends can do all that much to help.

A short time later, the Dimension Door opens... and Azers step through.

Rupert the Azer Chief: The Force be with you, Bob! Welcome back! Great Eye of Providence, you have mustered our entire order! And I see you now have a sharp pointy spear.

Bob: Mahabone, Chief! Here are all the remaining Jedi, I mean Azers. The Azer Temple is at your command.

Rupert the Azer Chief: Last charge of the Azers...

Bob: I guess this world is as good a place as any to make a last stand. Is the word given?

Rupert the Azer Chief: The word is given.

 
Lady Elerina of Rivendell: *turns to the assembled Fellowship and their Azer allies* Light of the Valar be upon us all! The darkest of hours is here and fell deeds are at hand! Songs of our glorious triumph or doom will be made by our actions today. Remember, what we do in life... echoes in eternity. Prepare for the battle of your lives!

 Tuddle: *to Poppy* Good speech, eh?

Poppy: Aye, reminds me of my Gammy's speeches. Every autumn we had to fend off those varmint foxes from eating our chickens. Oh those were simpler days. Huh... I actually wish I could see the Shire a last time. What do you wish for Tuddle?

Tuddle: The same. I wish I could have an evening brew beside by my fireplace and look at my garden one last time. I bet the Bugleweeds are in bloom by now!

Poppy: If wishes were Chocobos, we would have an army of my Gammy's chickens!


Here follows the Game Scenario Sheet for this battle...

 
THE BATTLE OF HOLLIN GATE

Scenario Summary
The Gate can only be opened for a short period of time every night. The Medusa has used her powers to open them already. The Fellowship must defeat the Medusa and her Cult and all Mythos creatures that come through. The Fellowship and their Azer allies must save Middle Earth from an extra dimensional tentacle filled invasion!

Starting Deployment
Use a 44x30 board with the north edge at a 30" end. Place a Gate in the center of the north edge. The Medusa is in a summoning circle or building 22" in the center from the north edge. Place 5 Melusai with Bows up to 3" from Medusa. Place 5 Melusai with Spears up to 9" from Medusa. Place 9 Ghouls up to 12" from Medusa.

The Fellowship start within 3" of south edge. Rupert the Azer Chief, Bob the Azer and 10 Azers can deploy with a teleport gate anywhere on the board, but not within 12" of an enemy.

Reinforcements
On the turn they arrive, reinforcements are placed in base contact with Gate and may not move or do any action until their next turn.
On Turn 1 - 3 Night Gaunts arrive.
on Turn 2 - Dagon and Moonbeast arrive.
on Turn 3 - 3 Gugs arrive.
on Turn 4 - Starspawn and Dark Young arrive.

Victory Conditions
There is no Turn Limit. Game ends when one side is completely eliminated or Routed. Hero side will not Rout.
The Fellowship must slay enemies. Slaying the Medusa will cause all Melusai and to Rout. Mythos creatures fight to the death and never Rout.

 

And here follows the unit stats for heroes and villains...

 

HERO STATS

Lady Elerina, Lord of Rivendell  Move 5 Health 4 Save 4+ Leadership 2+
- Melee: To-Hit 4+, Attacks 1, Damage 1
- Fury of the Forest, Spell: To-Cast 4+, enemy model in LOS in 18" suffers 2 wounds.
- The Twillight Host, Spell: To-Cast 5+, friendly unit in 18" causes Fear.

Anais, Bodyguard of Rivendell  Move 5 Health 3 Save 4+ Leadership 3+
- Melee: To-Hit 4+, Attacks 2, Damage 1

Tuddle, Hobbit Burglar  Move 4 Health 2 Save 5+ Leadership 4+
- Melee: To-Hit 5+, Attacks 1, Damage 1

Poppy, Hobbit Herbologist  Move 4 Health 2 Save 5+ Leadership 4+
- Melee: To-Hit 5+, Attacks 1, Damage 1
- Herbalist: Use herbs on self or friend in contact to heal 3 wounds per game.

Mortimer the Brown, Istari Wizard  Move 4 Health 3 Save 5+ Leadership 3+
- Melee: To-Hit 4+. Attacks 1, Damage 1
- Rain, Spell: To Cast 2+, one enemy in 36" has a -1 To-Hit to its cast/range/melee rolls.
- Illumination, Spell: May stack twice on a model, To-Cast 5+, one model in 12" gains +1 melee attack.
- Piercing Bolts, Spell: To-Cast 4+, one enemy in 24" takes d3 Rend -1 wounds.

Shrub Beard, Entling Mound Move 5 Health 6 Save 4+ Leadership 4+
- Melee, Branch Fists: To-Hit 4+, Attacks 3, Rend -1, Damage 1
-  A Bight Of Terrors, Ability: Shrub Beard causes Fear.

Cosette, Rohan Paladin  Move 4 Health 3 Save 4+ Leadership 3+
- Melee: To-Hit 3+, Attacks 2, Damage 1
- Banner of Valor. Item: Self and friends in 12" may reroll a failed LD test.

Kipper, Rohan Squire  Move 4 Health 2 Save 6+ Leadership 5+
- Melee: To-Hit 4+, Attacks 1, Damage 1

Baron Orson, Gondor Lord  Move 4 Health 3 Save 5+ Leadership 3+
- Melee, Poisoned Blade: To-Hit 4+, Attacks 2, Damage 2

Sir Haystacks, Ringlo Vale Knight  Move 4 Health 4 Save 5+ Leadership 3+
- Melee: To-Hit 3+, Attacks 3, Damage 1

Azer Move 4 Health 3 Save 4+ Leadership 2+
- Melee: To-Hit 4+, Attacks 2, Rend -1, Damage 1
- Range, 6": To Hit 5+ Attacks 1, Rend -1, Damage 1

Rupert the Azer Chief has same stats as Azer but also:
- Volcano's Call, Prayer: Once per game, place a token. All enemies within 6" of that point suffer 1 wound at start of Hero Turn (Saves can be used). Lasts for the rest of the game.

Bob the Azer has same stats as Azer but also:
- Wyrmslayer Javelins, Range 12": To-Hit 4+ Attacks 1, Rend, Damage d3 

CULTISTS OF THE MIDNIGHT FANG

Medusa Queen: Move 5" Health 6 Save 5+ Leadership 3+
- Turn To Stone, Ability: One target in 10" and LOS must test Ld at -1 for be paralyzed for 1 Turn.
- Melee: To-Hit 3+, Attacks 4, Damage 1

Melusai with Bow: Move 5" Health 2 Save 5+ Leadership 4+
- Bow, Range 18": To-Hit 4+, Attacks 1, Damage 1
- Melee: To-Hit 4+, Attacks 1, Damage 1

Melusai with Spear: Move 5" Health 2 Save 4+ Leadership 4+
- Melee: To-Hit 3+, Attacks 1, Damage 1

Ghoul: Move 6", Health 1, Save 6+, LD 4+
- Melee: To-Hit 5+, Attacks 2, Damage 1

THE MYTHOS

Dagon, Avatar of: Move 5", Health 3, Save 5+, LD 3+
- Melee: To-Hit 4+, Attacks 2, Damage 1
- Psychic Drown, Ability: All enemies in 12" must test LD or lose 1 Wound and lose 1 Turn
- Fear, Ability: All enemies must pass a LD test to Charge

Dark Young: Move 3", Health 7, Save 4+, LD 4+
- Melee: To-Hit 4+, Attacks 5, Rend, Damage 2
- Terror, Ability: All enemies must pass a LD test -2 to Charge or begin a Melee Attack.

Gug: Move 5", Health 4, Save 4+, LD 4+
- Melee: To-Hit 4+, Attacks 3, Rend, Damage 2
- Fear, Ability: All enemies must pass a LD test to Charge

Moonbeast: Move 3", Health 6, Save 5+, LD 2+
- Melee: To-Hit 3+, Attacks 4, Rend, Damage 2
- Telepathic Cloak, Ability: All Ranged Attacks suffer -1 To-Hit against Moonbeast.
- Psionic Blast, Ability: Two targets in LOS and in 18" must test LD at -1 or suffer 1 wound.
- Enslave, Ability: One Target in 18" must test LD at -1 or be controlled by Moonbeast for its next Turn.
- Fear, Ability: All enemies must pass a LD test to Charge

Nightgaunt: Move 7", Health 2, Save 3+, LD 5+
- Melee: To-Hit 4+, Attacks 1, Damage 1
- Fear, Ability: All enemies must pass a LD test to Charge
- Fly, Ability: Nighthaunt may fly over terrain when moving and may escape base contact with enemies without having to roll LD test.

Starspawn: Move 6", Health 5, Save 4+, LD 3+
- Melee: To-Hit 3+, Attacks 3, Rend, Damage 2
- Send Waking Dreams, Ability: One target in 24" must test LD at -2. If failed roll a d6: 1-2 Cause Madness (Lose next Turn), 3-4 Self Mutilate (Lose d3 Health), 5-6 Dominate Mind (be controlled by Starspawn for its next Turn)
- Fear, Ability: All enemies must pass a LD test to Charge

~~~~~~~

Well there is the pre-game, Again, Im hoping this isnt a TPK, but everytime I write a scenario I think that it will be.  But this time, look at the stats on those Lovecraftian beasties, and now maybe it will be curtains for the heroes... Im afraid the odds are stacked against them this time. Sure they got a dozen Fire Dwarfs, but that Moonbeast and Dark Young are just plain nasty. Well, we will see, wont we? Our heroes will really have to earn it this time. See you all on the other side of the game! I think this quote sums up my feelings for this upcoming battle...

"You can edit this one from the inside, looking out. It's funny, isn't it? For years, I thought I was making all this up. But they were telling me what to write...giving me the power to make it all real. And now it is... All those horrible, slimy things...trying to get back in? They're all true. Come. See the instrument of their homecoming." - Sutter Cane

 

Cheers,

Mar

 

 

 

Mythos Nightmare Creatures... and a Hobbit

"That is not dead which can eternal lie, And with strange aeons even death may die." - HPL

The last post we teased a few tentacled beasties, namely an Aboleth and some Yog-Noths.  So I might as well reveal the rest of them. Step right up, folks! We got some Mythos creatures of different sizes and shapes. And for scale, we have a tiny Hobbit to stand bravely next to each type.

Take it away, Rod Serling!

Narrator: Meet Tuddle, a wholly unremarkable Hobbit, who had planned to live an unremarkable life in an unremarkable hole in a hill. But one night, as he was reading his book by the campfire, he drifted off to sleep. And not just any sleep. What you are about to see here is a Hobbit's journey through space and time, a journey not only of sight and sound, but of mind and mindflayers, a journey to another dimension of nightmare imaginations. That's a signpost up ahead, Tuddle - you've just crossed over... into the Mythos Zone! Dun-dun dun!

Tuddle: Oh sweet baby Valar! Is that Non-Euclidean geometry in the architecture behind me? Where am I? Dont you just hate it when bad things happen to good Hobbits?

A flock of Night Gaunts descend from out or nowhere.

Tuddle: *flips through the book* There's got to be something in this book to get me out of this pickle! (Book of Pickles, I get it. - editor) Some... magic words to speak? An incantation... um, sure why not?

The Night Gaunts wish they could make a sound - but they stand there silent and unmoving. They have no mouth and they must chitter!

Tuddle: Ah! How bout... Goblin King, Goblin King... wherever you may be, take this child of mine far away from me!

And Tuddle is whisked away from the Night Gaunts, and thankfully not by the codpiece wearing Thin White Duke.

The Hobbit finds himself at the center of a gaggle of Gugs! A cacaphonous crescendo of roaring Gugs!

Tuddle:  What now?! Why so loud, beasties? Ugh! Gug saliva! Any dungeon's natural solvent. Ive been slimed. Oh could that be the magic words to get me away from here? Let's try it... Who you gonna call... Ghostbusters!

Narrator: Hey! We are going to have to pay Huey Lewis royalties for that!

Out of the pan into the Starspawn of Cthulhu fire!
Its a Star Spawn! A Baby Cthulhu! It might be cute be it does bite! Charlie bit me! That really hurt Charlie....
And beside it... thats no Deep One, oh no! Thats an Avatar of Dagon! Quick call Arnold, Grace Jones and Wilt Chamberlin! They know how to deal with this fish!

Tuddle: You're gonna be o-kay... say it with me. Say the words. *nothing happens* Maybe its this one...  Toby? Toby Wong. Toby Wong? Toby Wong. Toby Chung? Fucking Charlie Chan.

And before the watery Ryleh dwelling creatures can feast on Hobbit flesh, Tuddle is once again saved in the nick of time!

Things just keep getting worse! Its a Shoggoth and a Moon Beast! The Shoggoth sends ripples of madness and incalculable terror, while the Moon Beast sends telepathic commands of Enslave Mind.

Tuddle: Toto, Ive got a feeling were not in Kansas anymore. There's no place like home.

Its a Dark Young of Shub-Niggurath, the Black Goat of the Woods with a Thousand Young!

Tuddle: Excuse me, Mr Dark Young, sir... would you be interested if I read you a book so you can go night-night? Ok? Lets see here... And the wild things roared their terrible roars and gnashed their terrible teeth and rolled their terrible eyes and showed their terrible claws.

And finally, Tuddle came face to face with Nyarlathotep the Crawling Chaos. And Tuddle actually felt that his face might melt with utter fear. And where Nyarlathotep went, rest vanished, for the small hours were rent with the screams of nightmare

Tuddle:  Private Snowball, you're fired. Private Joker you're promoted to squad leader. Disappear, scumbag! *to self* Remember, this was all just a bad dream, fat boy!

```````

So Tuddle returns to the land of the waking.  Surrounded by his fellow adventuring heroes, he feels safe again.

Dreams make good stories, but everything important happens when we’re awake. - D. Idaho

Except for the fact that Tuddle's dreams were indeed  real. And soon he and his heroic friends will discover that there is an abyss of agonizing cosmic horrors being summoned in their near future - stark, hideous and maddening. Right here on this blog, stay tuned to... the Mythos Zone!

Cheers,

Mar

P.S.

While taking these pics, I played  Chopin's Posthumous Opus 69 Nr 1 in the background on repeat. Yes, the Midi Soundblaster version from Alone in the Dark!  Which you can find on youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fh6uTSzhw6Y

Champions in the Nameless City

 So the low-light artsy pic and music compositions continue. This time a little background fluff accompanies them as well.  I forgot to mention that the last music composition name of "Lamentations of Istriya" was written long before the Istriya miniature was painted. So in fact Istriya the miniature was named after a piece of music I had composed at the start of the year. Although music is a rough term for a piece of ambient sound texture. This next fragment of sound was unnamed, so its now called "Champions of the Nameless City". Whereas, the Istriya sound is wistful, reflective and somber... this Champions sound is more action oriented, perhaps frantic (and claustrophobic?).  Also i guess this is a prequel story of sorts. We learn that Haystacks of the "new Fellowship" and Bortai of the "Rogues of Rhun" were once adventuring companions of an ill-fated expedition in the vast eastern lands of our campaign world.

So, onwards to pics, fluff, and the music vid at the end...

In the days before Sir Haystacks of Ringlo Vale was knighted, he traveled far into the East past the lands of Rhun with an adventuring party looking for treasures. He befriended a fellow adventurer called Bortai the Archer. Together they explored the nameless deserts, where an old hermit told them that these Jundland Wastes were not to be traveled lightly. But they heeded him not. Until at last, they came upon the Nameless City. A fabled and infamous place that no man had stumbled upon since the days of Abdul Alhazalred the Mad Arab. One by one, the adventuring party were taken by the horrors that dwelt in that city of the damned. Taken and infected, until new horrors sprouted from the bodies of their friends. And it was there that Haystacks and Bortai came to know the true meaning of despair and of the madness that lies in the dark corners of the earth. Best to leave these mindless gibbering nightmares slumbering in the forgotten decay of ancient ruins...

Haystacks: Those others are still alive. Their signs are real low, but they aint dead.

Bortai: You cant help them. Right now they are being cocooned just like the others. Haystacks, Im not going to wind up like those others. You'll take care of it wont you, if it comes to that.

Haystacks: If it comes to that, I'll do us both. Let's see that it doesnt.

Bortai: They have taken the bridge and the second hall. We have barred the gates, but we cannot hold them. We cannot get out. They are coming...

 ~~~~~

The music vid:

 

 

The Lamentations of Istriya

 Why is Istriya lamenting? Well, she is the orphan witch of Pinnath Gelin. 

Havent really dug into her backstory much beyond that. 

But she does wear Dr Marten boots with their trademark yellow laces. Pretty cool, right?

And, she now has a Dryad follower and an Owl familiar. She should be thankful for that. 

Shes got a band of like minded mercenary friends. So, why so sad, Istriya?

Must be the atmospheric ambient, light goth music that is titled "The Lamentations of Istriya" attached to her pic below... problem solved.

But really I intend to put Istriya into an RPG adventure inspired by Lamentations of the Flame Princess, at least sometime in the near-ish future.

So Istriya isnt really Lamenting, just about to go RPG Lamenting...

~~~

So we have some artsy music and an artsy pic in this post.

I tried to experiment using low light photography. But I really know nothing about the finer points of it. Probably should try reading up or watching some photography "how-to's".

And I coupled the pic with an original music score made with Bandlab's Cakewalk. Which was once Sonar? I dont know, I was always more of a Reason user from Propellerhead.

So the pic and the music video follows...

 

 

And the music vid...

Bonus pic:

Town Defense of East Bight - Battle Report Part 2

 The conclusion to the Battle of East Bight...

With Daemonettes and the Nurgle Blightkings making their way into the City Gate, Alpha must decide about using his grappling hook and getting out of there or to stay against all odds and call in one more Hobbit Artillery strike. And unlike his usual mercenary outlook on life... for once, he surprises himself and the rest of the team and chooses to do something different ... he makes a heroic last stand. Today we see the birth of a hero in the making. But will it also be the first and last day for our new hero?

Alpha: Here I remain! Go tell to Sparta, thou who passest by, that here, obedient to her laws, we lie.

Alpha decides to stand at the top of the northern building edge and engages the 3 Daemonettes trying to come up. He salutes the mindless demonic furies and strikes 2 of them down!

Alpha: And... stay out! *gets on the Hobbit field radio handset* Redleg, Redleg, Ripper Bravo Two actual. Be advised we got chaos daemons in the wire. For the record its my call. Dump everything you got on my pos. I say again, expend all remaining in my perimeter. Its a lovely effing war. Bravo Six out.

Redleg Artillery Station: Copy that Alpha... artillery is away... Danger close. May the Force be with you!

Solaire: We should sally forth and help Alpha and make a heroic last stand at the City Gate!

Goldberry: Not yet. You wont make it there in time anyway. Hold your ground, brave knight. Alpha's fate is in the hands of the dice gods now. The fight will be coming to us soon enough. This Beer Fountain must prevail at all costs or all is lost.

The Hobbit Artillery makes a great splash! 3 wounds on the Chaos warriors which kills one and brings another down to 2 Health.

Stroika sizes up the situation at hand. The Tzaangors can withstand alot of punishment with 4 wounds a piece, but they are ranged based and will most likely stay at distance and snipe them.
Stroika emerges out of the southwest building and makes a seemingly suicidal charge into the Tzaangors. From above, Xanthia watches the Kislevite's conviction. Sigmar help her.

Stroika: For Kislev! Ice for the Ice Gods!

Xanthia: C'mon, Hobbit Bobo! Let's give Stroika some fire support!

In the north, Zoltar fries another Daemonette with a Fireball. Hobbit Bumbo totally misses. Goldberry casts Banish and one Daemonette moves back 6". Kano prepares for ground assault!

Another 2 Chaos Warriors move towards the Beer Fountain. Beside them, 3 Daemonettes move towards Kano and the building where Zoltar is. With another Daemonette not far behind them.

Chaos surges forwards! One daemonette and 2 Nurgle Warriors attack Alpha who defends the City Gate. 

The Daemonette hits Alpha with a Rending hit, but Alpha's armor saves him from damage. But the 2 Chaos Warriors strike Alpha with 4 hits. But with no Rend, 2 hits are saved and 2 hits wound Alpha - leaving the heroic merc with one last remaining wound! He has survived this turn, but will he survive 3 more Turns?

In the south, 2 Tzaangor beastmen and the Shaman move forward to get a better shot at Xanthia. 2 Tzaangors decide to remain locked in melee combat with Stroika.

Xanthia wounds and freezes a Tzaangor. Bobo misses.
Stroika causes 2 wounds to another Tzaangor.

The Tzaangor Shaman casts Glean Magic on Xanthia and succeeds. Xanthia forces a reroll with the Bad Luck spell on the Shaman. But the Shammy succeeds again! So he is able to use Xanthia's Ice Blast Spell starting next turn.
A Tzaangor arrow misses Xanthia, but another slays poor Bobo the Hobbit. Only one Hobbit remains - Bumbo who is with Zoltar in the northwest building.

Stroika is wounded and is down to 2 Health.

Alpha grapple hooks down from the Gate and attacks one of the Nurgle Warriors below him. He may survive this battle yet!

And while the enemy on the vacant upper floor look around...

Zoltar goes for a Hail Mary and casts Vorpal Bunny... and succeeds! One of the Nurgle Warriors on top the Town Gate is struck for an amazing 6 wounds! A Critical Hit and the summoned Vorpal Bunny leaps and tears off a Blightking's head clean off with its sharp pointy teeth! Just look at the bones~! This couldnt have gone any better or at least more cinematic than if it was planned.

With Alpha on the ground level, the Beer Fountain defenders are in range to help this time.

Goldberry: Now! Charge forth brave warriors! 

Solaire charges the Nurgle warrior that Alpha is attacking from behind. And Rattlebones charges the other Blightking that is already down to 2 wounds.

And nearby, Kano charges 2 Daemonettes.

Bumbo the Hobbit actually hits a Daemonette who fails her Save. Score another one for the Shire! Now only 2 face Kano. Well another one is coming up not far behind.

Kano makes 2 hits and the Daemonettes fail both hits and are slain! The north looks pretty much won.

Goldberry has a decision to make. Try to cast that 5+ Kindle Hearts Spell to heal Alpha. Or the easier Banish 3+ Spell to drive off 1 attacker? She goes for the easier Spell and Banish succeeds. But on which one? If she targets one of the ground warriors they will simply charge back into combat on their turn. So either the Daemonette or the Nurgle Warrior on the 2nd floor of the City Gate will be driven back and wont make it into combat this turn at least. But which one? The Daemonette has Rend and 2 attacks. Or the Nurgle Warrior with 3 attacks but no Rend. She Banishes the Daemonette.

Rattlebones hits twice but the Nurgle Warrior's armor makes both Saves. Solaire ignites his sword but because of the Nurgle Blightking's Cloud of Flies his hits are at -1. Only one hits and gets through the Chaos armor, but it causes 2 wounds. So the Blightking is down to 2 Health. Alpha is able to cause another wound which brings the Chaos Warrior to 1 Health.

So a Blightking attacks Alpha from behind hits twice... and Alpha makes both Saves! He lives another turn!
The other Blightking attacks Solaire and misses all 3 attacks.
Rattlebones takes a wound and is down to 3 Health.

The Tzaangors remember the game Victory Conditions and decide to rush Goldberry and the Beer Fountain, hoping to hold it to win the game. One is still at a full 4 Health, the others are at 2 and 3 Health. And the Shaman is still at  6 health! And he has the stolen Ice Blast Spell from Xanthia. But he is still under Bad Luck. 

The Tzaangors blast Goldberry with arrows and spells. The Tzaangor Shaman casts Ice Blast on Goldberry, but fails the reroll due to Bad Luck. # Tzaangors fire arrows at Goldberry. 2 hit and get through her Save. Goldberry takes 2 wounds and is down to 4 Health.

Goldberry also knows the victory conditions and attempts to block the Tzaangors from getting closer to the Fountain. If they charge her, she causes Fear and they must test their LD. Seeing what Goldberry is doing, Zoltar bades Bumbo the Hobbit to help form a chain around the Fountain.

Zoltar: Dont worry, young Hobbit. We can be heroes... just for one day.

Bumbo: What, me worry?

Stoika takes a wound from the 2 Tzaangors still facing her. Which leaves her with 1 Health! These Tzaangors might be weak in melee but they have alot of Health and are slowly choking Stroika in a Jiu-Jitsu Death Grip. These Tzeetchian Beastmen play the long game!

Stroika kills the wounded Tzaangor facing her. So now just one other Tzaangor at full strength.

Kano kills another Daemonette, leaving him free to help out in the center, or to go to the Fountain.

Solaire is able to hit twice and both get through the Blightkings armor, slaying it. Rattlebones is able to hit his enemy and gets through its armor with Rend and is able to cause 2 damage with his 1 hit which kills the Nurgle Warrior. Rattlebones might only have 2 attacks but when he hits... he hits with high damage!

And Stroika is hit by the Tzaangor facing her. She fails her Save and is slain!

The Tzaangor Shaman casts Flickering Fire and succeeds. Then succeeds again despite Bad Luck, which causes another wound on Goldberry. A Tzaangor archer also succeeds in causing a wound on Goldberry and she is now down to 2 Health!

And in the last turn, with no hope of winning, the Forces of Chaos can only hope to slay as many heroes as possible - out of spite. But the heroes slay the last Daemonette and another Tzaangor. The Tzaangor Shaman attempts to charge Goldberry but fails its LD test! So he instead casts his Fire Spell again and succeeds twice! Goldberry is down to 1 Health! The Forces of Chaos may not win but they might slay Goldberry! One Tzaangor archer misses, the other... also misses! Oh wait there is a 3rd archer. The one who killed Stroika makes the final To-Hit roll of the game. Will it hit Goldberry? The Tzaangor rolls a 1! Goldberry breathes a sigh of relief and the game is over and won. But at what cost?

Because the Heroes won, any fallen PCs get to roll a 3+ to survive.
Stroika survives. As does Bortai and the Hobbits Bingo and Bobo. But the Scoutmaster himself, Jumbo is slain. Rest in peace, Hobbit. May winged Sprites carry you to Hobbit Heaven where Hotpot Soup and Meat Pies await you!

Group photo of the valiant defenders of East Bight.

Goldberry: Well done, heroes. By protecting others, you have saved yourselves! If you only think of yourself, you'll only destroy yourself. The Hobbits of East Bight have prepared a feast of Meat Pies and Laketown Beer.

Bumbo: Miss Goldberry! Im sorry to say this is no time for celebration! The Hobbit refugee camp in the Brown Lands has been pillaged and burned! Vengeful Snake-Women have defeated and slain the Dryad and Hobbit defenders! They have taken Hobbit and Tree-kin hostages, who are being held in a slave labor camp!

Alpha Fett: Lady Goldberry, I think I speak for the others when I say "Im ready for another mission"

Goldberry: Very well, you men (and women) have an "uncommon valor"... a bond and loyalty only shared by those who have faced death in battle, together. I will recreate a mock prison camp that we can practice our rescue mission on.

~~~

So these are actual in game shots, this time around. I usually recreate the battle afterwards with better shots and a better script. I didnt spend too much time on this AAR, and Im sure it shows. Sorry for the wound dice in the pics and some of the pics may not match the words at the time they were taken and vice versa.

At any rate, another battle where the Hero side won a Decisive Victory. Except for Scoutmaster Jumbo's sacrifice. Maybe im getting soft in my old age. Im just not designing scenarios with much chance for a TPK anymore. Im sure I will over compensate and get all our heroes killed at some point in the near future. OR perhaps, our heroes, are really that... Heroes. The Force was with them (or the Dice Gods). I like Alpha's character arc. Im pulling for him in the future battles to come on this blog. Just like the other teams, I got my favorites - Haystacks (oh sorry "Sir" Haystacks) and Istriya the Witch. And Aly the Elf! But now that Ive named them, they are sure to meet some grisly and terrible fate... never get too attached to anything in a game, kids. Especially pets! Those things die, they do! Its a wargamer rule, as old as time... paint something nice and its the first thing to die in a game!

Cheers,

Mar

Town Defense of East Bight - Battle Report Part 1

 Last Minute Amendments And Clarifications

8 Game Turns might be excessive for such a small board, so let's drop it down to 6 Turns.

Goldberry's Banish Spell has a 12" range and needs LOS.
Her Kindle Hearts Spell also has a 12" range.

The Chaos forces also have 5 Tzaangor beastmen with bows.

Tzaangor with Bow: Move 6" Health 4 Save 5+ LD 4+
- Melee: To-Hit 5+, Attacks 1, Damage 1
- Bow, Range 18": To-Hit 4+, Attacks 1, Damage 1

Attacking Buildings
An attacking model may move unto the 2nd floor of a building if at the start of its movement it is already in contact with the building. However, if there is no room for the model to be placed on the 2nd floor, it must remain on the ground floor. Adjustments must be made to accomodate the attacker to fit on the 2nd floor as best as possible to ensure "good form".
If an attacker on the ground floor is in base contact with a building with a 2nd floor he may make upward melee attacks with a defending model in it at -1 To-Hit. The defending model attacks as normal to the lower model without penalty.

Ranged attacks that target defending units on a 2nd floor are made at -1 To-Hit. Ranged defenders may fire without penalty to units below that are not in cover.

 ~~~

So the Battle of East Bight is upon us.

Why did Hobbits decide to build a town on old ruins - some ancient Easterling settlement of some sort. Probably Wainriders. This ruin is close to Dol Goldur and Mordor and was once a forested area and part of Rhovanion Forest (Mirkwood) until the settlers started the deforestation of the area. Perhaps it was rampaging Orcs who ended their civilization. Or perhaps the environmentally minded Elves of Mirkwood. Or those Rohirrim who once lived in the northern banks of the Anduin, before they were gifted lands to the east of Gondor. Whoever ended the civilization here, it was long ago. But in the recent events of the last age where Sauron and his master Morgoth were defeated, and the recapture of Moria by the Dwarves and their eventual disappearance (again), Hobbits have flourished and pushed their colonies and borders ever further into the political voids left by the races of Middle Earth. Those simple minded Hobbits thought that Middle Earth was theirs for the taking and the forces of Orcs, Trolls, Wraiths, and Corrupted Men were gone forever. Then the Chaos Gods began encroaching from the edges of the Known World. And their first push from the East fell right on this fledgling Hobbit town - East Bight! The Hobbit citizens were evacuated into the (Not So) Brown Lands, for the Entwives had returned and turned that area into a garden again. And the Hobbit refugees were welcomed by the Dryads and Tree-Kin there. But a dedicated few remained - the Hobbit Scout Militia. The Hobbits pooled their money together and searched for heroes to help defend their town from the coming of Chaos.

The Hobbit Militia (Left to Right)
Scoutmaster Jumbo and 3 scouts - Bingo, Bobo, and Bumbo

The Hobbit scouts set their traps while their scoutmaster manages things from atop the city gate.

So 3 areas that are laden with traps are: 1) just outside the City Gate, 2) To the Southeast between the Gate and the Southeast building, and 3) in front of the Beer Fountain.

Goldberry Nimrodel is here to defend the Fountain.

Bumbo the Hobbit: Excuse me, Lady Goldberry, but are you sure these "heroes" are good enough to defend our town? I hear they are simple mercenaries for hire and not proper heroes.

Goldberry: They might not be the heroes you deserve, but they are the ones you need. *Bumbo gives her a meh face* OK... fine. And also, they are the only ones who answered your Craigslist ad.

Bumbo: That info doesnt inspire me. -_-

Upperfloor, above the City Gate... Bortai, Bingo the Hobbit, Alpha, Scoutmaster Jumbo

Scoutmaster Jumbo: We have a ruined gate but no walls, we need to have some words with our City Planning Commissioner. And these windows are too high for a Hobbit defender. This is supposed to be a Hobbit sized town! 

Alpha: Should I get you a crate for you to stand on?

Upperfloor, Southwest building... Xanthia with her cat Buttons on her shoulder, and Bobo the Hobbit.

Upperfloor. Northwest building... Zoltar and Bumbo the Hobbit.

Zoltar: Dont you worry, young Hobbit. I will summon Vorpal Rabbits to lop off enemy heads. Just you watch!

Goldberry, Sir Solaire, and Rattlebones guard the Beer Fountain in the Town Center.

In the background, Kano is standing guard outside Zoltar's building.

Sir Solaire: Praise the Sun! The day dawns on a battle day!

Rattlebones: This is the job. Dont wait for it to happen. Dont even want it to happen. Just watch to see what does happen.

Goldberry: Well I cant wait for this fracas to be over, so I can go take a nap by the river Anduin. Who else wants to go river-napping?

Below Xanthia's building, Stroika hides in the shadows, waiting to ambush any enemy who ventures too close.

The starting deployment. The Forces of Chaos enter from the East.

An over the City Gate view... facing East.

Scoutmaster Jumbo: Oh... those are Blightkings of Nurgle! And Tzeetchian Beastmen! And Daemonettes of Slaanesh! They just ran through our advance guards earlier this morning!

Alpha: Steady boys... The army doesnt like more than one defeat per day. Looks bad in the newspapers and upsets civilians at their breakfast.

Scoutmaster Jumbo: They literally ate our Hobbit scouts for second breakfast! I should think a little panic is in good order.

Slaanesh Daemonettes. These cavorting and frolicking lady daemons are glass cannons. They hit hard and can cut through armor easily. Those are Rending claws.

Blightkings of Nurgle. They are plague infested Chaos Warriors who might not have Rending, but they do have a good Save and lots of Health points. (Ironic, I know...)

Tzaangor Beastmen Archers and a Tzaangor Shaman. They pack the Ranged attacks for the Chaos Force.

Another overview of the table before the battle starts.

And the battle begins with... Scoutmaster Jumbo sending up a signal for the offboard Hobbit Hotpot Artillery to begin firing.

Scoutmaster Jumbo: Redleg, Redleg, Ripper Bravo Two actual. Fire mission. Grid 6-4-9-4-0-2. Direction 6-1-0-. Adjust fire, over.

And the first salvo of Hobbit hot soup aims for the Nurgle Chaos warrior center - it goes awry and misses.
Alpha uses his one Disintegration Shot ammo and fires at a Nurgle Blightking. It hits! But even with Rend, it fails to breach the Chaos armor.
Bortai and Scoutmaster Jumbo hit, but also cannot penetrate their armor.
The Hobbit Bingo finds his mark and it scores a wound on a Blightking! Figures... if anything hits at all, its a simple Hobbit bow that does. Still the Nurgle warrior laughs - its down to 3 Health... Still first blood for the Shire!

Tzaangors move forward up to a ruined wall.

Xanthia successfully casts Bad Luck on the Tzaangor Shaman! So now, once a turn, every turn, any one successfull die roll made by the Shaman must be rerolled.

Xanthia: *to the cat on her shoulder* We got him, Buttons!
Buttons the cat: *meows in approval*

The Nurgle Blightkings move up the center towards the City Gate and one Nurgle Warrior is wounded by a trap!

The Daemonettes move up to a northeast building. Will they move forward and attack Zoltar's building, the Beer Fountain, or the City Gate?

Another overhead view

The Beastmen let loose a volley of arrows and one finds its mark and kills poor Bingo the Hobbit. At least he wounded a Nurgle Blightking before he died.

Bortai: Sleep well under Shire hill, little Hobbit. Yours was an honorable death.

Three Daemonettes attempt to climb the north side of the City Gate.

While the rest of them head towards Zoltar's building.

Zoltar casts a Fireball and slays one Daemonette in a fiery inferno.

The Nurgle Warriors are just 1 inch shy from the City Gate. Looks like there will be more fire poured upon them before the Gate is sieged.

The Hobbit Hotpot Artillery strike hits true and causes 3 wounds on the Chaos warrior center. One Blightking is brought down!

Bortai misses, Alpha hits and scores a wound and so does Scoutmaster Jumbo! 2 more wounds on the Chaos warriors. That brings a chaos warrior down to 1 health.

One Tzaangor is wounded from a trap.

Bortai is wounded from a Tzaangor beastmen arrow and is down to 1 Health.

Xanthia casts Ice Blast which wounds a Tzaangor Beastman and freezes it, causing it to lose its next turn.

The Tzaangor Shaman successfully casts Boon of Tzeentch, but because of Xanthia's Bad Luck Spell he rerolls it and this time fails!

Buttons the Cat: *snickers*

The Daemonettes attack in a flurry of claws! Bortai and Scoutmaster Jumbo are slain! Alpha is wounded and down to 2 Health and is the last remaining PC atop the City Gate! The Daemonettes are terrifyingly vicious and the Nurgle Warriors watch the slaughter with disapointment. Leave something for us to kill, they say with pox infested lips.

~~~

The battle continues in Part 2 coming soon...