Cyril crouched behind a boulder, a silent nod to his men sent them scurrying into the woods surrounding the clearing, the king and princes men readying their spears and crossbows. His men wielding their signature bows.
Begin the hunt. Using a drawing and splitting technique to lead small groups into an ambush.
Standing Tactics for ArchersSplit Troops: +2 Difficulty
Conserve Troops: +2 Difficulty
Feign Retreat: +2 Difficulty if not on the defensive
Richard: -1 Difficulty from partial leadership
Must beat 1-5 on tactic rolls, depending.
Archers: 1 Str, +1 defensive, free first attack in surprise round. +2 general str from Cyril, +1 vs worgs from Albert, +1 Tactics from Richard.Worgs: 2x ? Str, ? Bonuses, No terrain advantage.[Surprise Round: No Tactics Roll Needed]
[
3+2 vs
1] Cyril's archers draw back their bowstrings from hiding and the first the worgs realise of the attack is the hail of arrows thudding into their flesh. The huge alpha female howls in pain as many of the arrows go into her flanks. One of the packs quickly falls, a second being shot down before they even reach the thicker woods where the men stand. The worgs go straight for the archers in retaliation.
[Tactics (Conserve): 2/1]
You pull back your archers, getting ready to rain cover fire as the worgs hurtle towards the waiting spearmen-
[Enemy Tactics (Conserve, Ambush, Flank!): 6/4]
Ambush: +2 Diff, troops with the Ambush special emerge from hiding! Other Ambush units can fight in this battle, even if they have already been seen.
Flank: Troops surround a rival unit for a bonus to attack!Nobody hears the second pack of wolves until they are right on your tails, snapping at the heels of spearman and archer alike! Unfortunately, your tactics weren't quite good enough to counter this, so you are forced to battle both at once.
Archers: 5 Defensive Strength (4 Offensive)2x Worgs: 3 Offensive Strength (2 Defensive Strength)
Heavy, Berkserker, Ambusher, Tactician units[
5+5 vs
1+6+2+1] Taken completely by surprise, the flank turns into a vicious melee as your archers try to pull out and the spearmen take point to drive off the attackers. The unit takes losses, but holds its own.
Albert is at the fore of the fight, cleaving through worgs with his longsword as his Bravos fight alongside him. Cyril and Richard both turn from reloading their bows to the sound of a massive howl in the midst of the battle. A great alpha female, near twenty feet in length, has reared up in front of Albert. The wolves around her snarl and back away, as if giving her space to fight.
Albert: 6/6hp, +2 Weapon, Armour, +2 Monster-SlayingRichard: 3/3 hp, +2 Crossbow vs Alpha, +3 Weapon/Armour vs other worgs.Cyril: 3/3 hp, +2 Crossbow vs Alpha, +3 Weapon/Armour vs other worgs.Alpha Worg: 6/6 hp, +1 Claws, +1 Strength, +1 Hide, +1 Speed[
3+2 &
2 &
3 vs
2+2] The alpha worg continues to rear for a moment, then slams down with her mighty paws where a moment before Albert had been standing. Arrows whistle through the air past her as she tries to bite the king, but he steps to the side and slashes her in the forelimb. [5/6hp Alpha]
[6+2 & 5 & 2 vs 4+2] Arrows actually strike the worg's hide and bounce off as she launches a second time at Albert, aiming to crush him via sheer force. Again, Albert steps to the side in anticipation of the beast's tactic and lands another deep stroke in her other forelimb. [4/6hp Alpha]
The alpha howls and the worgs fight with renewed frenzy. Richard and Cyril find themselves beset by individual worgs of their own whilst Albert continues to fight the Alpha Worg.
Lesser Worgs: 1/1 hp, +1 Claws, +1 Hide, +1 Speed
[
1 vs
6] The Alpha moves once again to rush for the king and he steps to the side - only to realise at the last moment the feint in store for him! The Alpha drags her head sideways at the last moment, knocking the king into a mass of lesser worgs. A trio of Bravos drag him out of the frenzy and fight them off, only for the Alpha to physically rend one of them in half with her jaws and smack the other flying into the worg frenzy, where he is set upon by half a dozen wolves instantly. [4/6 hp Albert]
[
3 vs 5] Richard desperately tries firing an arrow at the worg attacking him, but the sly beast ducks and grabs onto his arm, leaving deep wounds. [2/3 hp Richard]
[
2 vs 6] Cyril suffers a similar misfortune as his arrow flies past and a worg bites hard into his leg. [2/3 hp Cyril]
[3 vs 1] Albert, frenzied with rage, charges at the Alpha. She tries to move to dodge him, but despite the pain of a probably broken rib the king leaps onto the worg's back and clings there, hacking at her body wherever he can. The Alpha finds herself in so much pain that she is, for a few moments, unable to direct the battle. [3/6hp Alpha]
[2 vs 4] Richard tries to make another shot with his bow, but fails to pull it taut as the wolf begins savaging his arm horribly. [1/3 hp Richard]
[6 vs 1] Cyril disregards his bow for a moment and grabs a dagger at his belt, plunging it into the wolf's skull. The wolf's jaw relaxes and he kicks it away - then immediately regrets the pain that follows. [Worg eliminated.]
[Tactics (Conserve, Split, +1 Wolf, -1 Richard): 6/4]
[Enemy Tactics (Conserve): 1/2 - Failure, -1 to combat]
[5+5 vs 2+3-1] The archers rally at the cry of dismay from the Alpha Worg, reorganising and splitting the two packs of worgs again. They fire a series of ruthless, regular volleys at their targets and the packs drop like flies. They round and prepare to attack the last pack.
[
2 vs
2] Richard holds on for dear life to the Alpha's back as the worg tries desperately to shake him off.
[
1 &
3-1 vs 1] Richard struggles desperately with the worg tearing apart his forearm, trying to stab at it with a dagger, when an arrow smashes clean through the worg's throat. The jaws relax and Richard looks up to see Cyril's bow in his direction. The Marquis gives the Prince a nod, then nocks a fresh arrow for the Alpha. [Worg eliminated.]
[
5+2 &
1 &
6 vs
4+2] Fresh arrows fly at the Alpha from Richard and Cyril, though Richard's flies off due to his near-broken arm. Cyril's simply sticks in the worg's thick fur, but it gives Albert the distraction he needs to land a heavy cut in the back of the Alpha's neck. Not enough to kill her, but she howls in fresh agony. [2/6hp Alpha]
[
2+2 &
3 &
3 vs
1+2] Further arrows stick into the worg's fur but Albert begins sawing methodically at the ligaments in the worg's neck, trying to get at the critical spine beneath all the layers of muscle. The Alpha thrashes with wild abandon, trying to dislodge the king on her back. [1/6hp Alpha]
[
4+2 &
6 &
2 vs
3+2] An arrow, fletched with Prince Richard's colours, strikes the Alpha in the eye. The beast shrieks in pain and Albert brings back his blade for one mighty hack. When the blade connects such is the force of his fury that the Alpha's head is completely severed, rolling to the ground and spraying the combatants on both sides with a wave of hot, crimson spray. [Alpha eliminated. Worgs lose tactical bonus.]
[Tactics (Conserve): 5/2]
[Enemy Tactics (Conserve): 6/2]
[3+5 vs 5+3] The fight grows bitter even as the worgs lose their leader, with casualties mounting on both sides.
[2+4 vs 4+2] The worgs make an attempt to flee, chased by the archers in high pursuit.
[3+4 vs 5+2] The chase continues for a good five minutes as arrows fly through the forest in pursuit of the distancing beasts.
[3+4 vs 1+2] Finally, though, the last of the worgs lies dead with stout War's End arrows in their flesh.
Despite the many injuries, most of which will leave lasting scars, the hunt was a success - if one that proves how dangerously cunning worgs can be. Worg pelts are rare, but the collected skins will sell well on the luxury market [2*2] of which
0.4 ducats is made available to the Marquis, Prince and King to divide as they say fit. The rest of the spoils go to the soldiers who took part.
There are other benefits. The survivors of the hunt are rightly proud, and their loyalty to Marquis and Crown has been reasserted today. They have also learned well from the fight and from the sound organisation of the Worgs - Cyril's personal guard gain the
Tactician upgrade for free (upkeep still increases by 0.5d/year).
The day after the hunt, when all have had time to rest and set what bones they may, a great feast is held in honour of those who slew the Alpha Worg, and Albert is able to return home with a mighty new trophy for his throne room.
Author
Topic: You are King III: Spring 938 AAL (Read 131413 times)