Chapter 1 : Humble beginnings
It was on a warm day in the summer of 779 that the legionnaires of the 9th Legion were pulled from their passive existence as useless freeloaders living off of royal taxes and thrown into the harsh reality of war. Their first step in a long and arduous journey.
The courier had arrived shortly after dawn, wild-eyed and exhausted. He was greeted by whichever of the previous night's watchmen wasn't asleep at his post and quickly brought into the commander's chambers.
His arrival had caused enough commotion that some of the legionnaires had begun to suspect that his message was a little bit more dire than last month's riot. (The event was jokingly referred to as a riot, when everyone knew that it was just a little bit of unrest in the local town's square about the price of beets, or some such nonsense.)
Their suspicions were confirmed when Commander Lukevic mustered the men and, after a quick speech about their (not his) duty to the Queen and the kingdom, led them towards the nearby town of Vanth, arguably the largest settlement in the immediate region.
When the legion had arrived they were greeted by a horrible sight, the usually quiet town of Vanth was in chaos, people were streaming out of it with whatever belongings they could carry while behind them the town burned. In the confusion, among the screams and smoke which filled the air, the sound of horns could be heard, not the clear tones produced by the brass trumpets used by the Legion to call for the morning musters, but something far more guttural and crude.
Turn 1The Legion made for the main gates, pushing their way through the throng of refugees until they crowded a small plaza with a well in the middle, usually, in more peaceful days, it was used as a market place.
All of a sudden, with a loud thundering of hooves, a stampede of fur, horns and steel descended on the legionnaires. No one had the time to marvel at the beastmen as they engaged the soldiers.
KaladinYou were among the first to enter the town, thus you were among the first to cross blades with the beastmen.With a rallying cry you charged, your spear crashing into the ugly goat-headed creature before you. It collapsed to the ground with a moan. You did not have the time to celebrate your kill as another beastman appeared before you. This one was quicker than the last and his crude flail connected with your chest, winding you and sending you flat on your back. You rolled to the side, dodging his next attack and, spotting an opening from where you lay, thrust your spear into its belly, doubtless hitting something vital for it dropped to the ground with a groan. You felt yourself pulled back by someone behind you and, before you knew it, you were back within your own ranks, standing shoulder to shoulder with another legionnaire, tying a quick bandage around your forehead.
Outcome: Success. (+2 to roll for overall battle since your survived and have the
LEADER trait)
Status: 1/1/1/2
Winded (-1 to ATK for next battle phase)
You shouldered your crossbow and fired into the fray, his bolt flying true and downing a beastman.
OBSERVANT: You notice a larger, bull-like beastman trying to break down the door of a nearby house, the house is slightly away from the main fighting and you can hear screaming coming from within. The door will not last long. If you wish to act, you must do so now. You make your way closer to the vanguard to get a better shot. You aim, exhale, and twang! Your bolt flies true. You reach for your quiver to get another bolt, but the beastman suddenly disappears from view as another legionnaire tackles it through the door it was trying to break down.
Outcome: Success (+1 to overall battle roll)
Status: 2/1/1/2
While you gracefully sidestepped the beastman's wild attack, leaving it with a deep gash, you did not expect how fast it would recover and the butt of his flail connected with your shoulder, something either cracking or displacing within. You brought your sword down on its head, watching it roll on the paved street was little consolation for the pain you felt.
OBSERVANT: You notice a larger, bull-like beastman trying to break down the door of a nearby house, the house is slightly away from the main fighting and you can hear screaming coming from within. The door will not last long. If you wish to act, you must do so now. You decide to run towards it, your sword at the ready. A crossbow bolt whistles past your head, burying itself deeply between the beastman's shoulder blades. It turns around, looking past you with enraged eyes. Its rage quickly becomes surprise when you collide with with it, the two of you crashing through the door, your sword embedded deeply in its side. It thrashes under your for a little bit and then lays still. You gaze up and see that you are in a moderately large house, a group of citizens that were hiding within are looking at you with a mix of awe and fear.
YOU HAVE BEEN DISPLACED FROM THE MAIN BATTLE AND WILL NOT BENEFIT FROM ANY BONUSES WITHINOutcome: Success (+1 to overall battle roll)
Status: 1/0/1/1
Fracture (-1 to DMG)
The beastman standing before you had no time to react before your hammer crushed its head. The next one had no better luck, your hammer smashing into his ribs, some of the bones protruding from its chest.
INNATENTIVE +
DISTRACTED : Carried by your determined extermination of the furry enemies, you did not notice how you broke the line and soon ended up surrounded by beastmen.
Seeing you isolated, they collapsed on you, trying to drown you with their numbers. After two more crushed skulls, they decided to back off, leaving you a wide berth.
Outcome: Success (+1 to surrounding battle)
Status: 2/0/3/3
Feared – (The beastmen flee before your onslaught, inspiring the men around you +1 ATK to you and to those around you)
While your frame is not imposing, your strength cannot be denied, your flail connected with a beastman's jaw, sending him flying. With a loud, inhuman cry another beastman took the opportunity to flank you, only to be met by your shield and then your mace. With blood streaming from its ears and nose, it fell at your feet. Dead.
Outcome Success (+1 to surrounding battle)
Status: 2/2/1/1
The battle seemed to be going well, while there were losses among the legionnaires, they paled in comparison to the amount of dead beastmen which lay around the loose legionnaire formation. There suddenly came a lull in the battle and eyes turned to commander Lukevic for orders. The commander gave no orders, in fact he said nothing at all, he simply stood in the middle of the formation with a terrified expression on his pale face. Seeing no more point in wasting time on him, the legionnaires returned their focus to the battle which was once more picking up.
TURN 2 WILL BE CHAOTIC, THE COMMANDER HAS GIVEN NO ORDERS SO YOUR ARE FREE TO ACT AS YOU SEE FITThere are no special rules for turn 2.
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9 (56.3%)
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Topic: Adventures of the 9th Legion (Game Thread) (Read 4080 times)