Last night we played through the third session and it consisted of essentially two events: an extended combat in the ruins of Griffinwatch followed by a negotiation.
Sometimes a game is best summed up by the story. This time the session revealed a number of key surprises both in terms of the unfolding tale but also from the game system itself. This post aims to highlight some key lessons as well as the key events.
Battle is joined!
When last we saw our heroes, they were charging (invisibly) into battle. As the Orcs by the gateway walked back into the courtyard behind them, pointing up at the fleeing Lothmyr running across the rooftop to the north, the main party was advancing under cover of the Lesser Invisibility and Silence spells cast last session.
The noise of the Fireball spell and the shouting of one of the guards has alerted the Orcs in the fortress to an attack. Brakka is the first of our heroes to attack, breaking his Invisibility spell, and seriously wounding the Orc nearest the causeway – a shattering blow to the creature’s weapon arm that leaves his reeling in pain, stunned.
Not for the last time this session, we once again realised the dangerous power of attacking a foe from Invisibility: they have no defence and can be quickly knocked out of the fight (if not killed outright, as Lothmyr did last time).
Seconds pass as the party advances and the Orcs begin to react to the Dwarf… and next comes Ezra’s attack from Invisibility – the same Orc, another blow to that weapon arm but not enough to put him down… and the Orc makes the Endurance roll again. Stunned but not falling.
Enter Krezznak!
The gate on the far side of the courtyard squeaks open and through it steps a massive Orc – an Orog – booming, “What’s going on ‘ere? Who dares invade me keep?”
Behind him the heroes spot a humanoid wearing red robes edged with yellow flame motifs from head to toe, with the cowl covering the head completely. The figure is above average in height and appears bulky under the robes. Just behind him is the slim and familiar green-brown form of Aoth, a character the party has not seen in more than a month.
This was a moment – the “Aoth moment” – when the group realises that one of their former compatriots is apparently on the side of the Orcs they are attacking. It’s hard to convey the mood… just suffice to say, as Games Master, it was delicious…
Brokki steps forward, throws the stone upon which he earlier cast Silence forward into the yard, and then begins to cast the Entangle spell. The others in the party advance on the now-turning Orcs in the courtyard, while the fleeing Orc reaches his master and blathers something about attackers, pointing behind him.
The spell falls around the advancing form of Krezznak the Orog Warchief, the mysterious figure in robes, Aoth, and the Orc guard. Their legs are grabbed by the writhing bushes and wild grasses that suddenly animate around them in a 20-foot radius, slowing their march.
The creatures resisted the spell but nonetheless have movement halved. This proves to be a highly effective spell that begins the shift towards a heroic victory… and nevermind not immobilising these enemies – for a Rank 1 spell, it’s an amazing effect!
Thallan’s Turn…
Arrows rain out from the tower near the little gate, to little effect, and the party begins to engage the two Orcs trying to form a two-man shield wall in front of the gateway. Up steps Thallan, the Elf Fighter-Mage, casting a Charm… bringing one of the two Orcs under his spell and completing the second shift towards victory.
The Charm spell is great – 1 week of becoming your foe’s ally. Oh, and all your allies are treated as friends too. During the remainder of the battle, this Orc was mostly confused as his friends seemed to be getting shot at by other Orcs who he always thought were part of the Clan. Effectively, this was one Orc neutralised.
The Orc beside Thallan’s new friend is bewildered as his compatriot greets the Elf. Just enough time for Thallan to cast a Magic Missile, step around for a clear shot, and then take this Orc down.
I think the player, Brian, loved this moment: Magic Missile bypasses armour and delivers 1d6+1 damage to a random location. He struck the Orc and put him down with a Serious Wound, causing the creature to pass out from the pain. Nice and easy.
What’s that robed figure doing?!
The red-robed figure drew a broadsword and shifted a shield from his back. The design on the humanoid’s shield displayed the same Dragon Tongue rune that Aoth’s Dragon Shield bears. The figure then brings the blade to his mouth and appears to lick the length of the broadsword to deposit a thick ichor along it. Then, shedding the robes to reveal the copper scales of his dragon-like head shining in the light while the rows of sharp teeth protrude from the sides of the Dragonman’s muzzle, the creature appears to launch into the air – wings rising from its back to glide forward out of the effect of the entangling undergrowth.
This was priceless! Their faces… priceless! And Dave, playing Aoth, caught my eyes… smiled… priceless.
The field of battle as the Dragonman (white figurine) glides forward…
Orc Archers!
To the south, in the tower, Orcs with bows popped forward to shoot at the two Dwarves. The fight shifted towards them as Glar, still invisible and waiting to strike, dithered around the battlefield… to be fair, he was seeking a worthy opponent. Glar was heading for the Dragonman right up until the copper-leaf devil also went invisible…
The players will, I think, have to admit that this was a moment of doubt for the party. They handled it well, but it was cool to remove the miniature of the Dragonman and begin tracking him off-table…
As the fight continued, the Dwarves engaging the Orcs to the south, the balance of the fight felt tense and uncertain.
Krezznak’s Charge
Yelling a challenge, finally fed up with walking slowly across the entangling yard, Krezznak decided that enough was enough. Sprinting full-pelt at Ezra, the Orc had murderous intent. Half the distance was closed in the first action…
Seeing his opportunity, Glar shifted towards the obvious path of the charging Orog. Yet, Ezra (unable to see the invisible Glar) decided to run at the Orcs to the south and join the Dwarves. This changed the vector of the Orog who ran wide of the stalking Glar… and straight up to Ezra, who had turned his back.
The Orc’s two-handed sword glowed as it struck Ezra in the head and felled the barbarian fighter. Not dead, but seriously wounded… and the Orc bellowed in victory…
Thallan threw another Magic Missile, this time at Krezznak and striking him in the lower back… but not enough to fell the enraged warrior!
And then Glar, having moved behind Krezznak, struck out and broke the Invisibility spell. Glar’s two-handed sword was aimed straight at the Orog’s right leg and impaled the warrior. In a single moment, one thrust of a sword, it was over. The Orog began to fall forward…
We learned two things: the charge is horrendous to receive, especially from behind; impaling a creature with a two-handed sword incapacitates that creature, no ifs or buts. Honestly, it makes sense… but it was a surprise for me. The player, Ian, had done what all good players should do: he’d read the rules, thought about it, and come up with a plan to combine the Invisibility spell’s free attack with the brutal effect of an impale attack with a 2-handed sword. Well played, that man!
Aoth’s Shout
This was the point that Lothmyr, having climbed down from the rooftop and spotted Aoth, decided to find out what the heck the Half-Elf was up to. Was he a traitor? Running over (invisibly) to Aoth, the thief spoke… Aoth recognised his voice and told him: “I am here to meet with the Dragon Knight. Stop fighting!”
Aoth’s shout was heard across the courtyard: “Adventurers! Stop fighting! The Dragon Knight is here to negotiate!”
The players didn’t really come prepared for this moment. Glar’s player, Ian, wanted to kill the Orcs and take that glowing two-handed sword off Krezznak’s bloodied corpse. Others saw that they were outnumbered and that victory was tenuous. Dithering and bellowing of defiant words ensued…
And then the Dragon Knight re-appeared before Glar, pushing his blade to the man’s weapon arm and demanding he stop fighting. Glar bellowed some expletives and refused. The Dragon Knight threatened some more. Glar blustered. The Dwarves rushed to aid the bleeding-out Ezra. Thallan urged calm. Lothmyr’s voice decided the outcome: “Stop fighting!”
Pushing him to the rear of the group, the heroes mustered around Glar. Aoth and Lothmyr (now visible) stepped up to talk. And the fight came to an end.
Negotiations
I don’t remember all the details of the negotiations – I was very busy roleplaying the Dragon Knight and Krezznak – but the outcomes were surprising.
Firstly, the party has agreed to trade the heads of the dead Orcs and a promise to relay a message to the Dragon King in return for accepting a mission from the Dragon Knight. They are to return to Woodfell and then travel to Mystamyr Castle in search of the lost Consort of the Dragon King, a being named Belsepeth. If they can return her safely, Lorkhann Perial (the Dragon Knight) has agreed to relay the party’s request to the King: safe passage to the Fire Citadel and the return of the head of Karden Nord.
Interesting times.
The session drew to a close as the heroes allowed the Orc Shaman to treat his Warchief, the Dragon Knight allowed Glar to retrieve his sword, and the party took a breather in the courtyard. Next session promises a hike back to Woodfell and the beginning of the Moonspike Maruaders alliance with the Dragon Knights.
Interesting times indeed. Game on!
Still think Glar will try to remove dragon men heads before the end of the campaign – hates the idea of being sided with them.
Trouble ahead for the strong man turned adventurer and knight of the realm!
I suspect that grudges run two ways, my friend… 😉
Casually dropped the bit about the Dwarf fighter Brakka fleeing before what we’re apparently overwhelming odds as the Dragon knight and Orok advanced, (aided by archers and the other threats unseen) before his brother coaxed him back. Apparently care for his brother’s safety was more important than loyalty to clan Zirazund’s ancient grudge against the Dragon Kings.
In the final analysis, Brakka’s cowardice had few consequences… at least, not on the battlefield. 😏
From a PC point of view, Glar has no fear of the Original, as he feels he can deal with the beast like any other fighter. Having took on Ogres and Ettins, Glar feels he knows the type of creature he faced.
As for the Dragon Man, the poisoned strike by the creature was strong, but manageable. He only wonders on what other things the creature can do and how hard it’s armour is.
The fact that it seemed to poison it’s blade, makes Glar detest the creature, and feels like it needs to be put down at some stage.
As for the future, Glar will tell the knight in Woodfell all that has occured – he is a knight of the realm after all. And he may feel that rescuing a consort for a possible enemy of the state may need a different solution – recapture to his own king as a token to threaten the Dragon King, or even death if the consort is evil.
Whatever happens, at the moment Glar sees the dragon kings as enemies, and may go out in a burst of heroic rage. In fact, he may not go to rescue the consort, but plan to attack Griffinwatch Tower again, and remove the threat once and for all! This deal is so against his views, it hurts him. Further instructions from king and lord are needed before he moves on, as he feels his name and honour are on the line.
The move by Aoth really worries Glar, and Aoth is on a very thin line – one wrong step, and he may remove the worry once and for all…
Should say no fear of the Orog!