Boztun Badlands, Ax-Bow Bridge, Klos 15th, 350AC, 14:29 (sunny, 37 degrees, new moon)

[audio:https://gwevolution.netfarious.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/mktechno1.mp3|autostart=yes]

The chowzers and choo-wugs charge down the bridge, as Arvak hurls a grenade, and Ragnor tries to reach the bridge to use his shotgun.  The chowzers are very fast, and are on the move before anyone can act (land speed = 36!).

Arvak throws the grenade when the chowzers are about 1/2 way down the bridge.  The throw (15): 7 2 = green.  It hits just in front of the center walls and detonates.  (BOOM!)  Chunks of metal fly, and a bunch of snow falls off the walls to show that they are actually made of piled rock.  The grenade gets an attack roll against each target in range, which includes the hoops and choo-wugs (the chowzers are effectively out of range by the time it detonates).

Grenade vs. hoop 1 (X): 9 2 = orange.  BD 8 – 2ac = 6 x 4 = 24 points of damage + stun.  Grenade vs. hoop 2 (-4 columns and -2RF due to rock wall: 18): 4 3 = blue so no hit.  Grenade vs. hoop 3 (also behind wall: 18): 6 6 = green so no hit.  Grenade vs. hoop 4 (X): 9 2 = orange.  24 points of damage + stun.  Grenade vs. choo-wug 1 (X): 0 9 = white.  Grenade vs. choo-wug 2 (X): 1 6 = white.

Several of the hoops are blasted by the shrapnel. 

Ragnor gets almost up to Arvak’s position, when the chowzers are closing to melee.  Chowzer 1 and 4 are leaping at Arvak, 2 and 3 at Ragnor.  Ragnor fires his shotgun.  (A sawed off shotgun could hit both equally, but not a combat shotgun.  I’ll use the “collateral damage” rule here.  Chowzer 2 is the prime target.)  Ragnor’s shotgun roll (20): 80 9 = orange hit.  BD 18 – 2ac = 16 x 4RF = 64 points of damage + stunned.  The chowzer loses 75% of its hit points in one strike, so is further at -2CS due to pain.  The second roll vs. chowzer 3 (17): 10 9 = white which counts as a blue hit.  BD 18 – 2ac = 16 points of damage.

Chowzers 1 and 4 charge Arvak, leap off the ground and attempt to body slam him.  Chowzer 1 (19): 5 8 = green hit.  Arvak’s kinetic negation (12): 0 9 = white.  BD 10 -4ac = 6 x 2RF = 12 points of damage.  Chowzer 4 (19): 9 2 = orange hit.  Kinetic negation (12): 2 6 = white.  BD 10 – 4ac = 6 x 4RF = 24 points of damage.  Arvak’s PS saves vs. slam (11): 3 7 = blue so knockdown.  Second roll (11): 0 1 = black which is a knockout!  OH NO, Arvak is body slammed in the chest and head by the two chowzers.  He sprawls backwards and onto the ground, unmoving.  His heavy hammer thuds into the snow nearby.  Down to 92 hit points and knocked out for an unknown amount of minutes.

Chowzers 2 and 3 (just blasted and stunned) similarly attack Ragnor.  Chowzer 2 (8): 0 9 = white.  Chowzer 3 (10): 1 8 = white.

The choo-wugs continue forward, making it over halfway down the bridge.  The hoops fire their bows again.  (Targets 1-5 Phallon, 6-9 Ragnor, 0 Zeebo: 1, 1, 10, 2 = all at Phallon again).

Hoop 1 (8): 30 0 = white.  Hoop 2 (15): 60 9 = green – 1RF, so BD 8 -4ac = 4 points.  Hoop 3 (15): 30 0 = white.  Hoop 4 (8): 70 4 = blue so miss at medium range.  Phallon down to 107 hp.

Phallon moves closer to the bridge and uses fear generation on chowzer 4 (14): 70 8 = yellow.  MS save on the fear table (17): 4 5 = blue.  The chowzer’s actions are at 1/2 for the next 5 turns.

Zeebo also moves up and fires his bow at chowzer 1 (13): 5 0 = blue (short range for a compound bow).  BD 13 – 2ac = 11 points of damage.

Initiative 

• Hoops/Choo-Wugs  8
• Zeebo        3 + 1 = 4, tie breaker 8
• Phallon     2 + 2 = 4, tie breaker 7
• Ragnor      1 = automatic loss, tie breaker 6
• Chowzers  1 = automatic loss, tie breaker 5
• Arvak        unconscious

Boztun Badlands, Ax-Bow Bridge, Klos 15th, 350AC, 14:29 (sunny, 37 degrees, new moon)

 

Arvak strides forward about 15 meters, drawing close to the edge of the bridge.  He hurls an iron spike at chowzer 1 (about 20 meters away, so well within short range -that’s crazy for a thrown item!).  The throw (15): 2 7 = white.

Phallon moves about 9 meters towards the bridge, and fires his laser pistol at chowzer 3.  (about 40 meters away, so medium range)  The shot (8): 70 2 = blue hit.  +1RF for laser, -1RF for range so evens out.  BD 10 – 2ac = 8 points of burn damage.

The chowzers regroup at the opposite end of the bridge.  They give off a series of loud shrieks and turn as a group towards you.  They gnash their teeth.  The choo-wugs shake their weapons.  The one with the morning star twirls it over his head and points a stubby clawed paw down the bridge.  And they start to charge…

Ragnor moves up about 17 meters, getting closer to the bridge.

The hoops fire another volley of arrows.  Some of them are hopping straight up in the air (booinnng!), appearing over the rodent rabble for a second, to fire.  Target selection:  1-3 Phallon, 4-6 Arvak, 7-9 Ragnor, 0 Zeebo:  1, 1, 70, 8.

Hoop 1, medium range at Phallon (15): 40 3 = blue.  No hit at that range. 

Hoop 2, medium range at Phallon (15): 70 0 = green – 1RF.  BD 8 – 4ac = 4 points of damage.  Hit points now at 111. 

Hoop 3, medium range at Ragnor (15): 70 0 = green – 1RF.  BD 8 – 6ac = 2 points of damage.  Hit points now at 115.

Hoop 4, medium range at Ragnor (15): 30 9 = white  Miss!

Zeebo casually walks 8 meters towards the bridge, and fires an arrow at chowzer 1, who is about 70 meters away = medium range.  The shot (13): 4 5 = blue.  -1RF due to range so no hit.

Initiative

• Chowzers:    0 = automatic win, tie breaker 9
• Ragnor:        0 = automatic win, tie breaker 4
• Arvak:          7 + 1 = 8
• Hoops/Choo-Wugs:  7
• Phallon:       2 + 2 = 4
• Zeebo:          1 = automatic loss

Boztun Badlands, Ax-Bow Bridge, Klos 15th, 350AC, 14:28 (sunny, 37 degrees, new moon)

The chowzers, suddenly flushed from their hiding spots, turn and run towards the bridge.  They are very fast (land speed of 36), and seem to be able to run on the surface of the snow without sinking much.

chowzer 1 dodge (17): 7 2 = yellow, chowzer 2 dodge (17): 7 2 (again?!) = yellow, chowzer 3 dodge (17): 6 0 = green, chowzer 4 dodge (17): 9 5 = orange.

Ragnor moves up, shotgun at the ready.  His potential target (chowzer 1) dodges erratically and gets much further away.  Ragnor saves his shot for a better opportunity.

Zeebo fires his compound bow at chowzer 1.  Short range, but needs an orange to hit due to the dodge.  (13): 2 0 = white.  Lots of hoop arrows flying through the air, your arrow flies the other way, like a salmon swimming upstream…

Arvak moves to strike chowzer 1 with his hammer, but is unable to get into melee range.

The chowzers run onto the bridge, with x2 and x4 nearly reaching the end.  One of the choo wugs starts shouting at them in some sort of rodent language made up of squeaks, squeals, and grunts.  The hoops pick their targets (1-4 Phallon, 5-8 Arvak, 9 Zeebo, 0 Ragnor): 1 1 2 40    All hoops target Phallon, who is at medium range.  Phallon did not declare an action for the turn.  He stands, staring at the fleeing chowzers, until a hail of arrows startles him from his trance.  He dodges (8): 10 5 = white.

Hoop 1 fires at medium range at Phallon (15): 30 2 = white

Hoop 2 fires at Phallon (15): 60 1 = green

Hoop 3 fires at Phallon (15): 50 8 = green

Hoop 4 fires at Phallon (15): = 30 7 = white

Two green hits, -1RF due to range.  BD 8 – 4AC = 4 points of damage for each hit.  8 points total.  Phallon down to 115 hp.

Initiative

• Arvak        0 = automatic win
• Phallon     8 + 2 = 10
• Chowzers 7 + 1 = 8
• Ragnor      2 + 2 = 4, tie breaker 7
• Hoops, Choo-Wugs  4, tie breakers 6, 6
• Zeebo        2 + 2 = 4, tie breakers 6, 1

Boztun Badlands, Ax-Bow Bridge, Klos 15th, 350AC, 14:28 (sunny, 37 degrees, new moon)

 

The hoops pick their targets:  1-3 Phallon (at med range), 4-6 Arvak (lined up on road at long range), 7 Zeebo (long range), 8 Ragnor (distant range)  4, 8, 8, 7

hoop #1 fires at Arvak (15): 30 6 = white.

hoop # 2 fires at Ragnor (15): 60 7 = green, but -4RF so misses.

hoop # 3 fires at Ragnor (15): 00 4 = white (barely!)

hoop # 4 fires at Zeebo (15): 10 3 = white.

The choo-wugs move up to the head of the bridge, guarding it and grinding their teeth (yuck).  They drop from bipedal to on all-fours.

Arvak swings his hammer around and sends out a telekinetic force wave into the snow (10): 0 9 = white, but this is essentially a “don’t get a black” automatic action.  Counts as a blue result.  The deeper fluffy snow is blasted away down to the frozen ground in a 10 meter radius from the hammer.  However the rest of it puffs up in the air a bit, or crumbles/collapses.  Three other chowzers give off a squeak and leap up from their hiding places.  They are suprised, and do nothing useful this round.

Phallon moves about 9 meters towards B3 (can only move 1/2 distance and still attack), and fires his laser pistol at the original chowzer.  That chowzer’s action for the round is to dodge (17): 8 7 = orange.  Laser pistol (8): 10 0 = white.  Zark!

Zeebo kneels and fires his bow at that same chowzer.  (13): 5 1 = blue, not good enough for that dodge roll.

Ragnor moves about 17 meters towards Zeebo.

Initative

• Chowzers  9 + 1 = 10
• Ragnor       5 + 2 = 7
• Zeebo         4 + 2 = 6
• Arvak         4 + 1 = 5, tie breaker 9
• Hoops/Choo-Wugs   5, tie breaker 4
• Phallon      2 + 2 = 4

Boztun Badlands, Ax-Bow Bridge, Klos 15th, 350AC, 14:27 (sunny, 37 degrees, new moon)

[audio:https://gwevolution.netfarious.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/ukrul.mp3|autostart=yes]

Phallon tries to mental blast hoop 1.  At 50 meters away, the hoop is at “extreme range” and requires a red result to hit.  Attack roll (10): 70 1 = blue.  No effect.  Phallon can defend against unarmed, melee, or thrown missile weapons, but without the defending talent, he cannot attempt to block fired arrows.

Zeebo drops his pack, and is now “burdened”.  His movement increases from 8 to 17.  He trudges forward into the field of churned-up snow.  This snow seems to be lighter and much deeper, sometimes coming to above Zeebo’s knees.  His dodge roll for the turn is (13): 3 4 = white.

The choo-wugs continue to squeal and shriek out taunts.  Unlike the hoops, the choo-wugs don’t wear any clothing.  One brandishes a battle ax, the other starts to twirl a wicked-lookin’ mornin’ star.

The hoops fire off another volley of arrows (twang, twang!).  Target selection: Phallon closest, Zeebo charging, Arvak starting to move up, and Ragnor hunkered down in the rear.  1-3 Phallon, 3-6 Zeebo, 7 Arvak, 8 Ragnor.  7, 3, 6, 8

Hoop #1 fires at Arvak (15): 70 9 = yellow  -2RF for long range.  Arvak’s defend (8): 3 8 = white.  Arvak’s kinetic negation (12): 4 8 = blue.  3 points of damage negated.  BD 8 – 4AC x 1RF = 4 points of damage, then reduced to 1 point of damage.  hp down to 128.

Hoop #2 fires at Phallon (15): 50 0 = blue.  Needs a green for medium range, so misses.

Hoop #3 fires at Zeebo (15): 90 6 = orange  Zeebo’s displacement (9): 6 5 = blue.  Zeebo blinks out and re-appears about 20 meters south, on the path behind Arvak. 

Hoop #4 fires at Ragnor (15): 00 7 = white.  Arrow falls nowhere near its target.

Another puff of snow shoots up, and a vicious looking 6′ long black and grey hamster with glowing red eyes burrows up from the snow and lunges at the spot where Zeebo just was.  It stops as there is no target and looks around.  Your characters recognize it as a Chowzer, another blood-thirsty race from the village of Big Ax.

Ragnor lightens his load, crouches down, and observes.

Arvak takes some long strides and moves up quickly, churning through the snow, then the path.  At the end of the round, when he and the Chowzer see each other, they are about 12 meters apart.

Initiative

• Hoops, Choo-Wugs  0 = automatic win
• Arvak                            9 + 1 = 10
• Phallon                         5 + 2 = 7
• Zeebo                            2 + 2 = 4, tie breaker 8
• Chowzer                       3 + 1 = 4, tie breaker 6
• Ragnor                          2 + 2 = 4, tie breaker 5

 

Boztun Badlands, Ax-Bow Bridge, Klos 15th, 350AC, 14:27 (sunny, 37 degrees, new moon)

 [audio:https://gwevolution.netfarious.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/deathstalker.mp3|autostart=yes]

Zeebo’s dodge for the round (13): 1 0 = white. 

Arvak can try to defend against two attacks.  One with his hammer, one with his armored arm.  Normally with two actions, a character gets a penalty of -2CS with the dominant hand, -4CS penalty on the other.  I’m modifying the rules in that those PC’s with the defending talent have the penalty at 0/-2CS for defending only.  And yes, if that PC were ambidextrous there would be no penalty.  Defending against arrows is at half columns.

Defending 1 (8): 3 2 = white.  Defending 2 (6): 1 9 = white.  Those arrows come in too fast!

Hoop #1 fires his short bow at Phallon.  Medium range so he needs a green (15): 80 3 = yellow hit.  -1RF to damage due to range.  BD 8 – 4AC = 4 x 2RF = 8 points of damage.  Phallon down to 123 hp.

Hoop #2 fires at (1-2 Arvak, 3-4 Ragnor, 5-6 Zeebo: 1) = Arvak.  (15): 00 0 = red hit.  Attack at long range so -2RF.  BD 8 -4AC = 4 x 3RF = 12 points of damage.  Arvak’s kinetic negation roll (12): 1 4 = white, so no damage reduction.  CN save to avoid complications (9): 8 3 = green result.  Arvak is down to 129 hit points.

Hoop #3 attacks (5) Zeebo.  (15): 50 4 = blue result, but needed a yellow due to long range attack.  The arrow falls far short and disappears into the snow.

Hoop #4 attacks (1) Arvak.  (15): 00 4 = white result.

Zeebo heads towards the bridge, crunching through the snow.  At heavily burdened speed, this could take awhile.  Cue Sir Lancelot storming the castle drum roll…

Phallon uses fear generation on hoop 1.  Connecting with a mind at this distance is much more difficult (BR of mutation = 14, so the hoop is at distant range.  Phallon needs an orange result).  (14): 20 7 = white.  His mental blast mutation is within the same brain as the fear generation so he cannot use it the same round.  The other brain, not distracted by combat notices the following:  the bridge is made of ancient pitted metal, its guard-rails are dented and dull.  It sits about 10 meters above a churning red-brown river.  The banks are steeply sloped rock.  Its about 25 meters to the other side of the “chasm”.

Ragnor crouches down and backs away, very slowly due to his heavy pack and the snow.

There is kind of an “explosion” of snow behind the hoops and their walls.  Two nearly-Arvak-sized guinea pigs rise up and glare in your direction with their red eyes.  They squeal some sort of war-cry, and one of them shakes a battle ax above its head.  You know (either by memory, or by reports from your scouts and allies) that they are “choo-wugs”, a brute race that live in the village of Big Ax.

• Phallon 0 = automatic win
• Zeebo    4 + 2 = 6
• Hoops and Choo-Wugs  5
• Ragnor 1 = automatic loss, tie breaker 8
• Arvak   1 = automatic loss, tie breaker 2

 

Boztun Badlands, appoaching Ax-Bow Bridge, Klos 15th, 350AC, 14:27 (sunny, 37 degrees, new moon)

Bows twang and arrows sail out from across the bridge towards your group!

Phallon is nearing the edge of the chasm, and sees a group of hoops pop their heads up from the walls, their long furry ears are twitching rapidly.  One of them (#1 on the map) leans sideways from the snowy wall and fires directly at him.  The other hoops are lobbing arrows at the bunched group of Arvak/Ragnor/Zeebo.

Arvak, Ragnor, and Zeebo can also see the hoops popping up and down from behind the walls, although they are tricky targets with so much cover.

Declare your actions.  The hoops go first (their attack).

Initiative (probably not needed, but lets use it, its been too long)

• Hoops go first
• Zeebo: 0 = automatic win
• Phallon: 6 + 2 = 8
• Arvak: 3 + 1 = 4, tie breaker 0
• Ragnor: 2 + 2 = 4, tie breaker 7

Boztun Badlands, appoaching Ax-Bow Bridge, Klos 15th, 350AC, 14:26 (sunny, 37 degrees, new moon)

 Arvak strides forward, slowing down to let Zeebo keep pace.  They move forward about 30 meters and are now currently at the edge of the disturbed snow.  Arvak has the urge to valiantly stride across the bridge.  Zeebo wants to “search for traps” but is faced with fields of churned up snow on either side of the road.  What next?

Phallon and Ragnor move to the left, trying to flank the bridge and get a better vantage point.  No problems so far, and they are currently headed towards A4, and beyond to A3 at the edge of the chasm.

Ragnor, Zeebo, see your private posts.

 

Boztun Badlands, appoaching Ax-Bow Bridge, Klos 15th, 350AC, 14:25 (sunny, 37 degrees, new moon)

Your group halts about 80 meters from the bridge, discussing how to proceed.  You can use the following map to plot your next move…