Breakout Success, or...

 As the lines closed and the fighters clashed, the Hárjánáz, Ulvárth and Alward tried concentrating on the Adun-Man and accepting attacks from his troops in exchange for taking him down. And almost succeeded (good rolls in Rolemaster, and especially good Critical Rolls, makes a difference); he was hurt and being pushed back with a broken bone in his shoulder, when the singing of the Priestess gave him renewed strength to push on. Meanwhile, Áthánáric was engaging in a two-handed weapon duel with a Dunnish berserker and hurting him, before being obliterated by mighty swings of the two-handed battleaxe and falling unconscious, bleeding from a deep cut to the thigh. before a spear from one of the older warriors skewered him.

As the Adûn-man staggered back, Ulvárth caught his breath, and surveyed the battlefield during a brief lull in the blizzard (Rasmus rolled a good perception check). He saw that they had created a brief hole in the line of enemies, but that reinforcements were coming up to close that, even so as to weaken the enemy's right flank slightly. But that it was only a brief reprieve, as there was pressure everywhere else. He saw Hóllr-Folk pushing through the hedge to the north and attacking the fleeing refugees, who were only protected by ten horsemen. And he saw Theneslág and his Hird running up to support him and his friends, and directing the remaining horsemen to break through to the south. In a loud voice he then proclaimed; 

"Hlakkar már of höfði

hér mínu nú sára,

krefr unda valr augna

ósýnna hér minna;

veizt, ef hrafn ór höfði

höggr brúnsteina mína,

launar unda valr Ekkils

illa marga fylli."

“The Raven is Hungry for my bloody head. The eager bird thirsts for my unseeing eyes. You know, if The Raven Pulls The Eyes from my Head, that carrion bird repays me badly for the feasts I have fed him.

He then shouts at the youngsters to get out, and as the blizzard intensifies in force; he and his Hird engages the throng of enemies to buy time. And the heroes disengage, pick up Áthánáric and runs for the northwest. Seperated from everyone they know by the chaos of combat and blizard. The last thing Ulvárth saw was Áthánáric's farther being skewered from behind by a Hóllr-Man warrior.

The heores made their way to the Northwest, struggling through the blizzard with the help of a riderless horse caught by Ulvárth, with both Rangers making a difference for their survival and comfort. With Hárjánáz struggling with his divided and smarted feeling over Theneslág, who had taunted and denigrated him- challenging his Drengrskabr, but still died a hero before Hárjánáz could get redress; a knot that could never be tied for him. Ulvárth also had much to ponder; why did the Adùn-Man hate him in particular? Why was he so intent on killing Ulvárth? These questions were still unanswered.


And maybe they shall never be. Two players will be very busy over the next couple of months, and on the 1st of August I start a new job in Høje Taastrup, and will only be in Randers on weekends. Where two players are unable to play.

We need to see what happens, and what solution we can come to. And we all hope Sascha's car will get fixed cheaply as it broke down on the way to the game.

The Breakout

After an evening of healing, trying to cope with trauma and attempting to make new friends, our heroes prepared the organised breakout planned for the day. They and the other inhabitants of Heimstedr has gathered into one group, preferring to break out with people they know, and has been joined by Derven and his guards after some negotiations by Hárjánáz the evening before. Dunuet on the other hand, did not let Athanarig convince her to join them.

But, as mentioned; just as the first group was ready to leave, 150- 200 Dunmen (Dysterlændinge) and Hillmen (Hóllr-folk) advanced up the road from the south/south-west and erected prepared wickerwork palisades and sharpened stakes around that area of the town. Blocking that route of escape. Walvoric and Theneslag started planning how to open the route, Walvoric guessing that an ambush waited to the north if they went that way, but far too soon- around midday- a force approached from the north. They run up to see a force of 300- 500 Orks and Hóll-folk approach from the north, accompanied by something large that noone can put a name to, as they had not seen anything like it before. A large figure looming in the snow, as a house in height and length, but moving, longer, more slender, like a giant predator, snakelike, but with legs; covered in grey, white and blueish scales, with long teeth in a great, gaping maw. Teeth like swords, to rend and tear and crush, claws like steel to slash open unprotected bodies, red-golden eyes burning in the giant head. Everybody is stunned for a few seconds till Withberht shouts; "Gerse protect us, they exist! A Wyrm! A Wyrm of The Great Enemy! Gerse protect and shelter us!" It is a dragon directed by a woman you assume is a Hóll-folk priestess, with the Adûn-Man and at her side.

þeneslag and Walvoric, exchange a few words, before Walvoric swaps axes with his son, who then comes running, shouting, "Come on younglings; gather other youngsters! We must break out through the Hóll-folk to the south-west to save as many young people and civilians as possible! TO ME WUlFINGAS! TO ME!" And starts gathering a few warriors and Hirdmen. 

In total he gets the PCs with Sidroc, Verigar and Alward, and 12 other Heimstedr men, 3 Huskarle (his friends), 12 warriors, 11 levy, 16 archers, and 29 riders. þeneslag will lead the local troops out, supported by archers, the Heimstedr group will go in next, attacking either flank (either push through a hedgerow to the north against little resistance or go in to lock the left/south flank for the cavalry to hit), the riders will then move in to break the enemy formation and the civilians push through before enemy reserves move in. The surviving fighters are then to hold as long as possible before fleeing themselves or go back into the town to try and get more civilians out.

    Hárjánáz and Ulvarth decides to move to the left against strong Dunnish resistance, not to the north where the less formidable Hillmen hold the hedgerow, and so they do. As the first Dunmen and Norse fall to blows and arrows, The Dunnish leader comes in with his reserve to hold, while the Hillmen starts pushing through the hedrerow against no resistance to harass and attack the civilians as they emerge from the city- killing many. But before they get through, the cavalry rides past to hit the Right Dunnish flank and leave the Dunnish leader standing alone, defending with his big battleaxe, before Ulvarth's arrow flies in from behind, penetrating his knee and shattering it. This is where the civilians come out and the heroes book it towards the west, also noticing enemy reserves move in from North and South, the north force led by the Adûn-Man, who seems to be running directly for Ulvarth, cutting off their escape. The heroes get ready to make a stand, buying time for the civilians. But as the Adûn-Man comes closer, he stops for a moment to stop, point at Ulvarth and shouth; "You again! I know who you are! This time I shall ensure that you do not rise again!" Dropping his warbow and running towards Ulvarth on snow-shoes with his Two-handed sword.

Most of the locals, Derven and the Men of Heimstedr, wants to go south-west towards Amon Sûl (Weathertop), then to The Cantons of Feötar in North-eastern Cardolan with Derven and his guards wishes to go from Weathertop to Bree. The party has decided to go Northwest then West towards their kinsmen in the West instead of those in Feötar.

And the world Crumpled

 We played today and 15 days ago, but paused mid-battle so it took two sessions.

The young heroes immediately told the Northwa Rhaglaw warriors to follow them, and charged up the hill, intending to try and reach and reinforce the refugees before they were surrounded, but as they were further away, a group of Hóll-folk cut them off and two seperate fights start. The Wuffingar are outnumbered and most fight defensively, except the youths, who go all in. Ulvarth got seriously wounded by an arrow from the Adûn-Man, gets patched together by Jádwigá, then cuts the head of a Hóll-folk youngling, before charging the archers behind and catching three more arrows from the Adûn-Man before going down. Jadwiga storms to his rescue, but a Hóll-folk Hunter drops his bow to attack her with a dagger. She eventually drops him, but cannot help her fallen friend as another hunter starts loosing arrows on her. Meanwhile the fight between the refugees and the pursusers is a bloodbath.

The fight swings back and forth with combatants falling on both sides, until a lone rider on a warhorse charge up the hill to hit the group fighting the heroes, in the rear; making them crumble. The Adûn-Man takes down the warhorse with a single shot and Dunhuet does not succeed to roll free, so she takes a lot of damage from the fall and getting squezed under her horse. She eventually gets free, but at this point the evil forces are fleeing.

Athanarig, Jádwigá and Hárjánáz walks amongst the wounded and scared refugees and learn that most of their close family and friends are dead. The house of Aslak was a particular target, so noone survived, and of their parents and loved ones, only Athanarig's nasty father survived. Everybody else is dead.

The heroes, warriors and refugees starts to patch up as Dunhuet puts down her wounded and screaming horse, and Jádwigá starts her work to help everyone. Three cannot be saved, and an experienced soldier puts them out of their misery, before heading back to Northwa Rhaglaw. There they report to Walvoric, and Hárjánáz gets invited to a council meeting to decide the best cause of action. Here, despite the protests of þeneslag and Walvoric, it is decided to evacuate the town and leave a small force behind to delay the enemy. 

Groups of 40- 50 civilians and 5- 10 warriors are to leave with 30 minute intervals with a screen of riders before the first and behind the last. It will take all next day to organise this however, and before it can be done, at midday, a force of 100- 200 Hóll-folk, Dunlendings and Orks arrive to block the main road out towards southwest with field fortifications while it starts snowing and a blizzard approaches. And as the leaders of the village meet to discuss options, the alarm is called in the north. They run up to see a force of 300- 500 Orks and Hóll-folk approach from the north, accompanied by something large that noone can put a name to, as they had not seen anything like it before. A large figure looming in the snow, as a house in height and length, but moving, longer, more slender, like a giant predator, snakelike, but with legs; covered in grey, white and blueish scales, with long teeth in a great, gaping maw. Teeth like swords, to rend and tear and crush, claws like steel to slash open unprotected bodies, red-golden eyes burning in the giant head. Everybody is stunned for a few seconds till Withberht shouts; "Gerse protect us, they exist! A Wyrm! A Wyrm of The Great Enemy! Gerse protect and shelter us!" It is a dragon directed by the Adûn-Man and a woman you assume is a Hóll-folk priestess.

þeneslag and Walvoric, exchange a few words, before Walvoric swaps axes with his son, who then runs to you and shouts, "Come on younglings; gather other youngsters! We must break out through the Hóll-folk to the south-west to save as young people as possible! TO ME WUFFINGAS! TO ME!" and starts gathering a few warriors and Hirdmen.

Timeline

9^th Hithui (November) Party sets off

11^th First snow

12^th Ambush, arrival at Nothwa Rhaglaw

14^th Ritual, Rhudaur’s army starts from Cameth Brin after a like ritual.

15^th Attack on Heimsted

17^th Battle on the Hill

17^th Late evening, refugees arrive at NR

18^th Midday Siege of Nothwa Rhaglaw starts

We played on the last day of February, all were present. I had slept too little for a few days and was giving in to exhaustion, and not at my best, but it was fun. My apologies.

þeneslag Walvoricsson

Walvoric Asbjörnsson

Withberht The Priest of The Shrine of Gerse

The youngsters reached Nothwa Rhaglaw and were heartily welcomed by Walvoric the Thegnongar of Nothwa Rhaglaw, who accepted Hárjánáz' service as he had his father's by accepting the gift offered at the table in the hall. Here they told their story to the derison of þeneslag Walvoricsson, who does little to hide his lack of respect for the "beardless children", though he does nod appreciatively when they relay how they killed the Trolls. Apart from father and son, the family consists of Tarjun the mother, Gunnhild Walvoricsdottir the 14 YO sister, and some smaller cousins of þeneslag. Hárjánáz is seated across from Walvoric, Ulvarð across from Theneslag, Jádwigá across from Tarjun, and Áthánáric across from the younger nephews and nieces who he regales with tales of his heroism killing the Trolls (much to the disgust of Theneslag). Tarjun and Jádwigá talk weaving, tablet-weaving and sewing, and Tárjun offered to show her special loom from the Adûn-folk in the west. She is from your kinsmen living on the border with them, hence her strange name and a loom of their construction.

They learn

þeneslag dislikes them, though they do not know why.

An Adûn-Man and three Elves passed through the Village (bygð) four days ago and went north. The Hunters could not track them much outside the further farms "because of the snow-cowered ground".


Walvoric decides to send a patrol towards Björnisteðr and Heimsteðr both, and put maximal guards on the town.


Next day, the heroes are woken before daybreak (which is late at this time of year), Jádwigá goes to talk to Odelárd the Healer (I mistakenly called her Bessandis in my exhaustion) who rued that there was no time to talk about enhancing herbs by using the magic of nature and to outright heal by it. Ulvarð talked to Geir Bairhið the leader of the Hunters' Lodge/Guild. Aþanaric went to the town smith to sell the Kite Shield and Greatsword they had found, but the smith- showing Drengrskabr- would only buy the shield, as the greatsword was too expensive for him to afford to pay them.


They then set out with the patrol going for Nothwa Rhaglaw. And around midday on the second day, they meet some of the families of the outlying farms of Heimsteðr fleeing for their lives, as they had spotted the village burning and Hóllr-Folk overrunning its defences. The heroes and men of Nothwa Rhaglaw hasten on with sinking hearts, aand as they come out of a small copse, they spot a group of around 40 people fleeing around 50 Hóllr-Folk and some crokked-looking humanoids towards a hill to make a stand. The 20 or so Humanoid figures with the Hóllr-folk are not as tall as the latter; with thick, strong, bowed legs and long arms. Their torsos are massive and strong and their long arms hang almost to the ground with big, claw-like hands and nails at the end. Their faces are large, foul, and animal-like - like a parody of Humans; hairy and almost furry, large, hairy ears and red eyes. In their mouth their canines has grown to the fangs of a predator. The creatures of your nightmares; Orks, and all of them under the command of a large, broadshouldered figure fitting the description of an Adûn-Man.

As the youngsters watch in surprise you watch arrows cut a fighter down, and the Orks catch up as he struggles to rise and hew him again and again till he is still- and then some.

The Adûn-Man

The hill of Battle

Experience Points 350 each

We played our second session on Feb 8th over that session and the first the youngsters of Heimstedr travelled from their home to Nothwa Rhaglaw to exchange oxen with goods and supplies they could not produce themselves. During the journey an early snowfall made travelling miserable, but they are used to that. What they are not used to was the Troll hole close to their last camp, whose inhabitants they had to kill in self-defence, nor were they prepared for the attack of a group of Hóllr-Folk raiders who immediately killed Widar Zuison and drove the youngsters off; leaving them floundering in the snow. Fortunately they saved the Trolls' treasure, which consoled them while they made their way to Nothwa Rhaglaw; cold, wet, bruised, bleeding and exhausted.

The Ambush site

Around Nothwa Rhaglaw scattered farmsteads started to appear out of the gathering darkness. Their dark silhouettes and the warm orange light glowing out from a door or shutter or smoke-hole here and there taunting the defeated youngsters of Heimstedr. They then spåot the palisade and guard towers ahead, and is hailed by guards with axes, shields bows, spears and gleaming helmets, all three well huddled in wool and furry cloaks.

Welcome to Nothwa Rhaglaw.

Experience

Jadwiga             4100

Harjanaz           4100

Athanaric          3600

Ulvar                  4100

We start the session by you spending half your Development Points to improve a bit.