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Jubilex
The Faceless Lord of Chaos
Posts: 722
(1/8/03 11:31 am)
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The Ambush
GM Note: The ambush and, hopefully, the subsequent defeat of the broo warband is yours to plan and execute. Normally I won't spell things out like this but 1st level PCs are so easy to kill I thought it might help.
A large group of broo like the one approaching Werthyn is way off the chart in terms of Challenge Rating for this party. So, procede with caution, have a plan, and make use of the resources available.
Here is a more detailed map of the area:
www.jubilex.com/moagara/werthyn.jpg
I hope it isn't too confusing. I've included the trail of Elkhead's band from two days ago for reference.
Edited by: Jubilex at: 1/8/03 8:33:12 am
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mikedobbs
Yimris
Posts: 93
(1/8/03 1:54 pm)
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Re: The Ambush
The map looks fairly clear to me at least. I'm going to assume that there aren't any useful terrain features such as hills or even large boulders?
Could I get a quick overview of which party members are good at sneaking around and which ones are armed with ranged weapons? Some part of that group should probably be forward of the main ambush to allow for forewarning, and a possible surprise attack.
I was thinking of something like this:
XXXX Sneak XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Sneak XXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Sneak
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Main XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
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Jubilex
The Faceless Lord of Chaos
Posts: 724
(1/8/03 2:07 pm)
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Re: The Ambush
[There are scattered rocks and large boulders throughout the "broken hills" but they are not so common in the forests.]
"That's not a bad start Yimris," Tagra begins. "Looks to me like we have some bows and crossbows here. That's good." Tagra stands and walks around the table, stopping at each person to lean over and smell them. He follows this odd behavior by proclaiming, "aye, none too clean. I can hide this bunch alright, ana broo could walk right oerem and not know."
Edited by: Jubilex at: 1/9/03 7:00:10 am
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doggius
Kezib Ahitub
Posts: 126
(1/8/03 2:24 pm)
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Re: The Ambush
"An unknown size of broo, verses us?"
Kezib says, looking around the group with an smirk.
"Thats an unfair advantage, and with us springing a trap? Damn, hate to be them broo!" Kezib says with a chuckle.
"Seriously, we have a lot of planning to do. Lets try to clear our heads and get to the task at hand"
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Ruglan
Ruglan
Posts: 46
(1/8/03 2:27 pm)
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Re: The Ambush
"I'm not skilled at sneaking about," Ruglan says. "They sure can run fast too.. I would suggest having some people block any ways of escape in case the beasties decide to fall back."
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doggius
Kezib Ahitub
Posts: 127
(1/8/03 2:47 pm)
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Re: The Ambush
"How many of the towns folk/villiage people are willing to join us in this "war"?
[Who are you asking? -GM]
Edited by: Jubilex at: 1/8/03 11:52:04 am
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Halle Dunn
Atan Finith Ring
Posts: 170
(1/8/03 3:18 pm)
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Re: The Ambush
"Since we are throwing around ideas......the heavy forest to the south is a little over 3 miles, that's probably 40 minutes at a decent pace. Fighting in the heavy woods gives us good concealment. Once there we can scout around and find a good spot. Ideally maybe even find successive ambush areas. One after the other. Give them a quick rabbit to chase just to make sure they come to us and then utilize ranged attacks. Hit them, fall back to the next spot and then hit 'em again. Do we have any spells that may slow their pursuit? I think punji spikes ("punji" is the elven word for pointy) would work, caltrops would be better. All we need is a quick rabbit volunteer who doesn't have ranged attacks, can move quickly......and is bald." Atan looks slyly over at Kazib.
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doggius
Kezib Ahitub
Posts: 128
(1/8/03 4:02 pm)
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Re: The Ambush
[I was asking everyone in the group, that were sitting around discussing the ambush]
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doggius
Kezib Ahitub
Posts: 129
(1/8/03 4:06 pm)
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Re: The Ambush
Upon hearing the last comment from Atan, Kezib looks at Atan and says with a sarcastic grin "Wow, thats awfully nice of you to volunteer, but I think I would be a better suited person for this."
With a little chuckle Kezib looks at the group and says "This is fine. By Yelms grace I shall make it back, but if not, may my death not be in vain. In all honesty, upon hearing the plan I had intended on volunteering to be the sacrifice for the better of the good, but" turning to Atan with a smile, "he beat me to it."
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Jubilex
The Faceless Lord of Chaos
Posts: 725
(1/8/03 4:08 pm)
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Re: The Ambush
[In that case...]
"We are not soliders, Kezib," Hegi explains. "Any of my people that joined you against the broo would be nothing but a hinderance. Nrulias, Bulh and Kashan are all we have to defend these lands and they will be needed in the village. If you fail, and the broo do come to Werthyn, we will have to be ready for them."
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doggius
Kezib Ahitub
Posts: 130
(1/8/03 4:30 pm)
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Re: The Ambush
Looking at Hegi intently, Kezib then smiles understandingly.
"I pray that your fine people will not have to defend against much, if at all"
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Halle Dunn
Atan Finith Ring
Posts: 171
(1/8/03 5:42 pm)
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Re: The Ambush
"Sacrifice? No, no, no. You will be bait!" Atans sarcastic grin appears. Placing his hand on Kazibs shoulder, "This will be ugly and I am afraid a number of us may not see the sun set."
Looking down, he kneels and sketchs his idea, "Rabbit draws the main body into a clearing or area that we choose. In that area is a field of camoflagued punji stakes......alot of them. As many as we can build. We can shape the field like a funnel so that after the ambush is sprung, flankers will encounter them. Missliers take the high ground or go to the trees. Those of us on the ground attack once the main body is sucked into the field and are hobbled by the stakes. We kill as many as possible then before getting overwhelmed we can pull back to the next spot. That is if we have enough time to prep another area."
----------------------S-Mn---------------------------
------------------Rg-XX-XXR--------------------------
----------------X---X-X-X-X--X-D---------------------
--------------A---X-X------X--X-M-X------------------
---------------X---X---------X---X--------------------
-------------T-X--X------K-----X---Y-X---------------
-------------X---X-------------X--X-------------------
----------------X----------------X--X-----------------
-------X-X-X-X-X-----------------X-X-X-X-X-X--------
X=punji
each symboly is 5 feet approximately
"So Kazib goes right up the middle where Ruig, Ruglan, Sangraal and Menelos are waiting. Madragar, myself, Targa and Yimris on the flanks up high putting missiles into them as long as possible. Punji pits are only 1 -2 feet deep so shouldn't take to long to build. The funnel mouth is about 100 feet wide and narrows to 20 at the end. Oh, and I haven't taken into account what spells we have cause I am not sure of the spellcasters capabilities. I am also assuming that once the Broo see us they will charge forward."
Still kneeling Atan wipes his now dusty hands on his pants and looks up at the party, "So what do you think? As a rough draft?"
Edited by: Halle Dunn at: 1/8/03 3:02:01 pm
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doggius
Kezib Ahitub
Posts: 131
(1/8/03 5:55 pm)
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Re: The Ambush
"Im assuming that the pit wont be too long? My thoughts are, if I am running I will probably have a few right on my tail, taking the same route I take, if there is a path between the, what do you call them, Punji, the stakes. So one or two may follow through. I think, what we should do is create a simple pattern in the stakes, so that I can run through, relatively easy but still, by Yelms smile, hobble the broo that are close to chasing me.
Another thing that came to mind is what if they have bows? In that case I shall become the pin coushin of the century."
[s=stake x= clear ground
ssssssxxssssssss
sssssxxsssssssss
sssssssxxsssssss
sssssssssxxsssss
ssssssssxxssssss
"Or something as such" as Kezib stands after drawing a rude map of his idea in the dirt.
"My idea is something that they will be running in a full force straight ahead, not thinking of whats in the ground. If I follow the appropriated course, I would be able to avoide the stakes, not having to alarm them by jumping over the pit, but continuing to run as fast as I can and just run in such a direction that they wont really notice the difference"
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Halle Dunn
Atan Finith Ring
Posts: 172
(1/8/03 6:00 pm)
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Re: The Ambush
"I see what you say. But all you have to do is run straight up the middle. See, it is clear." Atan draws for emphasis the lane through the stakes.
"Maybe we could get horsemen to do this. It would be much trickier for him to avoid the stakes at the end but he could certainly jump the 10 feet needed."
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Meneloss
Meneloss Erednim
Posts: 222
(1/8/03 6:05 pm)
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Re: The Ambush
Meneloss listens to all these ideas. He nods his head in agreement mostly, but after Atan finishes, he clears his throat: "The Broo will come straight for the closest farm. That is the best bait we have, a farmstead. In the forest, we may not be able to keep track of all Broo, but in the open, we will see all of them. We know that they are looking for prey and no offence Kezib, a farmstead is more desirable than a skinny bald man. So I suggest the farmstead closest to the forest be our chosen ambush site. All of our traps can be set in fields, and the house may defended as well."
He continues, "Kezib and I both are skilled at moving without being heard, and hiding without being seen. My magic will only incapacitate them, not kill them so It will only be usefull once the fighting starts."
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doggius
Kezib Ahitub
Posts: 132
(1/8/03 6:05 pm)
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Re: The Ambush
"Straight down the middle is fine. My thoughts are this. Broo are not dumb. If they see an animal or human running then leap a distance, they may figure out that there is something on the ground.
Also, we should wait with the arrows, until they are within the stakes. My idea was to make the stakes as un-noticable as possible so that the broo, wont think of a trap but run full force. Straight down the middle is fine, make it thin. (OOC: I am pretty dexterous, so I should be able to run a think straight line, easier than the Broo) I want to be able to eliminate as many as possible with as little work as possible. Granted holes in their feet, probably wont stop them but it will definately slow them down. We should try to prepare numerous traps, as you have stated before."
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doggius
Kezib Ahitub
Posts: 133
(1/8/03 6:08 pm)
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Re: The Ambush
Rubbing his flat stomach Kezib looks hurt at Menloss "You mean to tell me this isnt desirable food?"
With that he lets out a hearty laugh. "No offence taken Menloss. You might be right about them going straight for a farm, but an army of Broo are obviously on the move for something. Maybe they are moving towards the tower? Maybe the Elkhead needed something else to be able to release something, maybe?"
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yucatanyeti
Sangraal
Posts: 171
(1/8/03 10:38 pm)
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Re: The Ambush
Sangraal speaks to the group.
" If we have the resources of the town, lets use them. These are farmers strong men, use to working the soil. Why do'nt we have them build a makeshift defense or a pit in the field? Its fall and the harvest is taking place. We could cover the pits with the chaff. They have the tools and the manpower. Also have the women and children collect wood to make bonfires and torches. We might need the light."
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Halle Dunn
Atan Finith Ring
Posts: 173
(1/8/03 10:46 pm)
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Re: The Ambush
Atan shakes his head slowly, " I am not sure if these Broo are bent on plundering. They did march through the night the day after fighting a pitched battle. They are moving with a purpose and I would bet a strong leader. Maybe Grugni's is the ultimate aim? Either way I am reluctant to take defense in a farmhouse, Werthyn would be better. Also a pitched battle is not what we want, especially not in the open. In an open field they have speed and numbers. In the woods both of those advantages are limited, albeit not greatly. I am suggesting that we gnaw at those advantages. What do you others think?"
[Kazib, there is a 5 foot space between the pits at the end of the funnel. No jumping required.]
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Kenner
Draxim
Posts: 192
(1/8/03 11:19 pm)
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Re: The Ambush
" I agree with Atan. We definitely don't want to fight them in the open. I can sneak around pretty well, but I'm not exactly the one to bet on in a foot race." He shakes a stubby leg at his companions. As I said before, if we can't be reasonably sure that we can retreat in good order back to Werthyn, I think we should just stay here to begin with. I think that it would be better to just lay traps, and use you fast young fellows," he winks at Ruig, " as bait to lead them to their dooms. If we engage them directly, we will never outrun them in retreat. If we could fire on them from some high ground that would provide us with time to escape back here before they could climb up and get us then let's do that. We need to be very careful of our position. The pugel stick idea is a good one, but if there are 50 of them, we shouldn't even stick around. Perhaps we could come up with some very basic signals to indicate the actions we should take..."
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Jubilex
The Faceless Lord of Chaos
Posts: 726
(1/9/03 8:33 am)
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Re: The Ambush
Tagra rubs his chin. "The pits aren a bad idea. If we all Merek Lek it would be simple ta just fire, retreat, an draw em inta the ambush. But the dwarves... we won't be movin once the battle is joined."
The old woodsman cocks his head to one side looking over Atan's diagram.
"Maybe we don't funnel. They don't see the funnel anyhow. Maybe we make hard points with pits in front and archers behind. Then we can hack the broo when they fall down from the punjis. Like this maybe..."
Tagra draws:
--oo-----------
-xxxx----oo---
--------xxxxx--
----------------
----------------
--b--b--b--b--
"Problem with funnel is we don know right where they come from. So many pits hard to dig in short time."
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