It hadn't taken them long to settle into life out here, in the fringes of civilization. Lem was surprised at his ability to adapt. He supposed the potent brew the rangers out here made helped him acclimate somewhat. A week had gone by since the ogre attack. From what they were told, it was far from the first time that the settlement had been under siege. Each time, they said, the ogres came back with more forces and darker magic. Lem could see where this was going. He and Valeros had already made preparations to scout the surrounding wilds in the hopes of ending the threat at its source.
Lem
Card Feat: Spell x2
Skill Feat: Charisma +4
Power Feat: Recharge a card to add 1D4+2 to another character’s skill check at your location.
Starting Deck
Heavy Crossbow
Burglar
Toad
Acolyte
Sihedron Medallion
Medusa Mask
Haste
Frost Ray
Toxic Cloud
Lightning Bolt
Holy Light
Cure
Blessing of Shelyn
Blessing of Erastil
Blessing of Pharasma x2
Blessing of Desna
Valeros had been welcomed warmly by the rangers that dwelled in the wilds here. They saw in him a kindred spirit and comrade-in-arms. He had spent long hours speaking with their leader about the ogre encroachment on their lands. It appeared that the foul ogress they had slain was not the leader, but just one of many lieutenants in a larger army. How large the ogres ranks were, the rangers could not say. Only that they had slain many, and it had not slowed the attacks on the settlement.
Valeros
Card Feat: Item, Blessing
Skill Feat: Strength +4
Power Feat: Hand Size 5, 1D4 to another character’s combat check at your location
Starting Deck
Impaler of Thorns
Scythe+1
Icy Longspear+1
Shock Longbow+1
Warhammer+1
Belt of Giant Strength
Staff of Minor Healing
Burglar
Grizzled Mercenary
Magic Leather Armor
Magic Shield
Magic Half-Plate
Blessing of Torag x2
Blessing of Sarenrae
Blessing of Gorum
Valeros was in just such a meeting, poring over some rough maps with some of the rangers, when he noticed a fort that was sketched some distance from the small settlement they found themselves in.
"What is this fort here? Did the ogres build it?" He asked the men.
"Nay, it was once ours. We built it high on Hook Mountain, hoping to establish a foothold deeper inland. We were not prepared for the ogre's attack, though, and it was taken from us. We have not the men nor the resources to take it back." One said, an expression of shame on his face.
"Well then, I guess I know what I'm doing today." Valeros said matter-of-factly. "Mind if I take this?" He pointed to the map.
The men were speechless, and the one who had spoken shook his head no. Valeros rolled up the map and went out to meet Lem.
They set out that very afternoon, hoping to reach the fort by nightfall. To most, attacking a fortress occupied by ogres would be suicide. To Lem and Valeros, it was a Saturday. As the sun dimmed behind the high-peaked mountains, they caught sight of the fortress. It was impressive in size, considering it was built by a relatively small band of rangers and settlers. Large wooden poles created a square wall that surrounded the fort. Guard towers stood in each of the four corners, and in the center stood a great wooden structure that served as the garrison.
It was in decent condition as well, given that it was occupied by ogres and their kin. Though they could not see any ogres surrounding the fort their crude banners flew along the walls, announcing their ownership. Valeros and Lem crept closer to the walls. As they neared, they could see movement within the guard towers. Valeros unslung his bow, and nodded to Lem, who readied a spell.
On Valeros' signal, they attacked. Valeros let loose an arrow of lightning from his magic bow. Lem followed suit, unleashing lightning of his own. The guard tower burst into flames and they could hear the screams of the ogres inside. As the commotion inside the tower increased the tower began to sway. The hulking form of an ogre leapt from the tower before it crashed to the ground.
"Well, we knocked and now it's time we let ourselves in." Valeros said with a wolfish grin.
Turn 1
Lem – BoIrori
Guard Tower
Summon and encounter Bandit Henchman – Recharge a card - Strength + Valeros + BoShelyn = 3D4+1 = 10 = Success
Jaargrath Kreeg – 1 damage to Valeros – Recharge half-plate
1st check - Lightning Bolt + Valeros = D10+5+3D6 + 1D4+1 = 21 = Success
Recharge Lightning Bolt = Success
2nd check – Valeros – Reveal and recharge Shock Longbow+1 + Lem BoErastil + Lem recharge = D8 + 2D8 + D10 + D4+2 = 28 = Success
Location closed
Jaargrath shuffled into another location
Valeros ran to the gate, trading his bow for his warhammer. Lem followed closely. They could hear ogres shouting in their harsh native tongue inside the walls as they tried to snuff out the fire that threatened to spread through the fort.
Turn 2
Valeros – BoIomedae
City Gate
Potion of Healing – Intelligence – D6 = 4 = Fail
They found the gate to the fort closed, but the gap was easily wide enough for Lem to squeeze through.
"I'll distract them here. You get inside that garrison and take out their leader if you can. They'll never know what hit 'em." Valeros said to the halfling. Lem nodded, finding it disturbing that he was so certain that they would be successful on what most people would consider a suicide mission. He and Valeros weren't most people.
He entered the gates, sneaking through the open ground to the large wooden structure in the center. The yard was littered with bones and ogre-filth. Disgusting, Lem thought. He would be happy to rid this place of the ogres that defiled it. He neared the building, and noted only one sentry outside. A bugbear, by the looks of him. Lem whispered arcane words, and watched a ray of frost that extended from his hand consume the creature without a sound.
Turn 3
Lem – BoDesna
Garrison
Bugbear – Frost Ray – D10+5 + 2D6 = 16 = Success
Recharge Frost Ray = Fail
Haste Explore – Glaive – Auto-Fail
Recharge Haste – Success
Valeros was watching from the gate. Once the sentry was down, that was his cue. He kicked open the large gates of the fort with a loud bellowing battle-cry. He used his hammer to brain a poor nearby goblin, just for good measure. That ought to get their attention, he mused.
Turn 4
Valeros – BoG
Goblin Warrior – Warhammer+1 + Belt of Giant Strength = D10+7 + D8+1 +1 = Auto-Success
Grizzled Mercenary explore – Shortbow – Banished forever
Lem crept inside the structure. The commotion outside was more than enough to drown out any noise he might have made. Inside, torches lined the walls, and he could see that this was where the ogres slept. Their crude bedding lined the walls. No sign of any ogres just yet. He wondered if there was anything here worth taking.
Turn 5
Lem – BoCalistria
Scimitar – Auto-Fail
Valeros readied himself, but an attack never came. These stupid ogres didn't even notice him! They were too busy trying to put out the fire from the fallen guard tower. Valeros started towards them when he heard a whisper from nearby.
"...help...please." came the rasping voice. Valeros turned and saw a young man chained to the wall of the fort. How long he had been there, Valeros could not say, but he appeared to be near-death. Valeros went to him and cut the ropes that held him to the wall. The boy collapsed to the ground, and Valeros feared that he might have died right there. Slowly, the boy struggled to his feet.
"Thank you, stranger. You are a godsend." The boy coughed, sinking back to the ground. Valeros handed him his waterskin and turned back to the ogres.
"I'll be back, and we'll get you home. Rest easy."
Turn 6
Valeros – BoTorag
War Razor +1 – Melee = D10+7 = 10 = Success
BoSarenrae explore – Kaven Windstrike – Diplomacy + BoTorag + Lem BoPharasma = 3D6+2 = 13 = Success
Summon and defeat Bandit Henchman to close – recharge a card – reveal and recharge war razor+1 + Belt of Giant Strength – D10+7 + 3D4+1 +1 = Auto-Success
Location closed
Inside the garrison, Lem had found another chamber adjoining the one he had been searching. It appeared to be a war room of sorts, with a large table in the center. At the back wall was a huge ogre-sized chair, and on it sat a smoking ogre being tended to by his kin. This must have been the one that escaped the tower before it fell. From the shadows, Lem conjured a poisonous cloud, and followed up with a bolt from his crossbow. The ogres surrounding the one in the chair fell to the floor sputtering, and Lem's bolt was true, hitting the thing in the chest.
To Lem's dismay, the ogre rose and charged directly at him. He tried to back out of the things way, but it was too late. It picked him up by the shirt and threw Lem through the wooden wall. Lem nearly blacked out from the impact. He struggled to get to his feet, but it was no use. Something was broken.
Turn 7
Lem – BoG
Jaargrath – Toxic Cloud + Heavy Crossbow = D6 + D8 + D10 = 10 = Fail = 5 Damage = Sihedron Medallion and 1 damage
Recharge medallion = Success
2nd check = 14 = 7 damage
Recharge toxic Cloud = Success
Outside, Valeros impaled another minion on his spear, wading into the crowd of panicking ogres.
Turn 8
Valeros – BoErastil
Fort Rannick
Wooden shield – Banish forever
BoTorag explore – Mercenary – Icy Longspear+1 + Belt of Giant Strength = D10+7 + D8+1 +1 = 15 = Success
Lem was shocked to see that the ogre had not followed up on his attack. Lem could no longer see him, and thanked the gods. He muttered a quick prayer of healing before frying a nearby goblin snake that had hoped for an easy meal. He hoped Valeros was having better luck than he was.
Turn 9
Lem – BoGorum
Cure – 2
Recharge cure = Success
BoAbadar – Auto-Success
Toad explore – Goblin Snake – Fail Con check – Lightning Bolt – D10+5 + 3D6 = Auto-Success – Banished forever
Valeros was spinning and thrusting with abandon amidst the pack of ogres. There was too much confusion in their ranks to be able to counterattack effectively. Valeros was knee deep in their bodies before the survivors turned to flee. It was then that he saw a massive ogre stride towards him from the nearby garrison. The hulking thing was still smoking from a serious burn, and bleeding from a crossbow bolt to the chest, but these appeared to be minor annoyances to the creature. This ought to be fun, Valeros mused.
Turn 10
Valeros – BoIomedae
BoG – auto-Acquire
Discard BoG explore – Battered Chest – Burglar + Melee = 2D10+7 = Auto-Success
D4 items to hand – Holy Candle and Potion of Hiding
Holy Candle – 1
Discard BoGorum explore – Kreeg Ogre – Icy Longspear+1 + Belt of Giant Strength = D10+7 + D8+1 +1 = 24 = Success
Strength 8 to close = D10+4 = 13 = Success
Jaargrath is only card left there
Lem brought himself to his feet, legs still shaking. He moved to the door in time to see his partner face off against what must have been the ogre leader. He held his breath and prayed for his friend.
Turn 11
Lem – Boiomedae
Ghost – Holy Light – D10+5 + 2D12 = 22 = Success
Recharge Holy Light = Fail
BoDesna explore – Scimitar – Auto-Fail
Valeros saw Lem behind the ogre, and watched as a poisonous cloud formed from the halfling's hands and descended upon the creature. It barely seemed to notice, but every bit helped, Valeros supposed. He readied his spear as the thing charged towards him. Even braced for impact, Valeros knew that this was going to hurt. The ogre crashed into him with such force that it knocked Valeros from his feet. He skidded backwards as he hit the earth.
The ogre had not escaped unscathed, though. Valeros' spear had impaled it, running cleanly through it's belly. It snarled in rage as the magic in the spear drained the life from it. Valeros wasted no time, unsheathing his other spear and throwing it like a javelin directly at the ogre's head. With a terrible, wet sound, the spear lodged itself in the skull of the monster. It collapsed in a cloud of dust, a pool of blood forming around the corpse.
Turn 12
Valeros – BoAbadar
Jaargrath – +2 difficulty for human trait – Lem Toxic Cloud
Lem temp close – Summon and encounter Bandit henchman – Recharge a card – Lightning Bolt = D10+5 + 4D6 = Auto-Success
1st Jaargrath check – Reveal and recharge impaler of thorns + Lem recharge + Toxic Cloud + Belt of Giant Strength – Difficulty -2 for encounter – D10+7 + D8+2 + D4+2 + D6 +1 = 32 = Success
2nd Jaargrath check – Icy Longspear+1 + Lem recharge + Belt of Giant Strength + Toxic Cloud = D10+7 + D8+1 + 1 + D4+2 + D6 = 25 = Success
Lem limped out to join his companion, looking around at the courtyard full of corpses.
"Not bad, for an afternoon." he mused, fixing his companion with a lopsided grin. "Who's that?" he said, pointing to the young man who had slumped against the wall of the fort.
"Not sure yet, but maybe someone back in Turtleback knows him." He eyed his companion "You don't look so great either. Why don't I go get some of the rangers and bring 'em back here. You stay with the kid."
Before Lem could answer, Valeros was moving towards the gate. Probably just as well, he thought. Valeros could move faster on his own. Sure enough, it was not long after nightfall that Valeros had returned to the fort in the company of a half-dozen rangers. They marveled at the sheer destruction that Lem and Valeros had wrought within the fort, but they were grateful that the fort was now back in their hands.
By morning, nearly all of the rangers had moved into the fort. It had transformed literally overnight from a squalid ogre-nest to a fortified human dwelling. They had dealt the ogres a serious blow by taking the fort, but they both knew that they still had a long way to go before the threat was ended.
Scenario reward – Card Feat
Lem – Blessing
Valeros – Weapon
Post-Game Analysis
Another quick and easy session under my belt with this one. Not too much in the way of new boons, but I somewhat expected as much. I closed a lot of Locations fairly quickly, but fortunately there wasn't much in those stacks worth having. Slowly but surely, I'm banishing those Basic cards, and I couldn't be happier about that. I kind of feel like I'm just going through the motions until these guys get their role card at the end of this adventure deck, but that's how it goes. I still feel like these guys are more than powerful enough to take on whatever is thrown at them. It's that kind of hubris that gets characters killed, though :)
Till next week!
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