[HQ Ignorance] Scene 112: The Great Mouth

[Lev Lafayette]

*ding* *ding* Round II...

A slightly glued trollkin known as The Fourth is up on a ledge as
crawling mouths make their way up the steep incline towards him. Down
below Aalmon The Far Rider hacks his way through a mass of cultists and
mouths as he makes a path to the Great Gaping Mouth. (1)

The action starts with The Fourth making a daring leap into the fray as
glowing nets are thrown at him narrowly missing the trollkin. The Fourth
provides a much needed bonus to the beleaguered courier using his
swordstaff and martial skills to protect Aalmon's back. "I did this once
in a HeroQuest", he calls out, "protecting the Emperor of the Sun,
Praxelites... Against trolls" (2)

"I hope they weren't wielding this sword", Aalmon responds, wounding
three more cultists with l'épée bâtarde (3) and pushing past each before
he leaps into the Gibbering Mouth itself!

Whilst The Fourth fights valiantly, the sheer weight of numbers begins
to wear down on him. The horde of cultists throw themselves one after
another, and the sticky Trollkin finds it difficult to escape. One
cultist he stabs with his swordstaff; as another bites into his shoulder
he punches the face and then a third overwhelms him pushing him to his
knees and then a fourth, and a fifth, and a sixth......



1) Conflict is between Aalmon and The Fourth against six cultists; 3 on
each, plus three who were aiming spells at The Fourth!

2) Aalmon attacking with unfamiliar weapon 2W down to 17. Was augmented
by Tactics but under HQ (II) rules a new augment must be chosen each
action; choose Survive Battle @ +3, plus augment from Mean Spirit ,total
20 Greatsword gives an additional 2W - so 2W20, but facing three
opponents, so 2W11.

The cultists have now had the opportunity to cast their magics, so
they're primarily using Venom Bite at 17 augmented with their daggers at
+2, so 19.  

The Fourth has switched to melee with the Swordstaff 5W2, which he can
combine with martial strikes +8, and Bull Helper's +6 so 18W2, but
facing six opponents so 1W2, and is a bit sticky an additional -10, so a
total of 11W. 

He is facing three mad cultists as above, plus three casters who are
casting True Net at 17, but at -5 because of The Fourth's surprising
action, so 12.

3) The glorious details; 

Aalmon rolls 16, a failure, bumped to a critical. Crazed Cultist #1
rolls 16, a success. Aalmon spends a 1HP and makes it a failure. The
cultist is heavily wounded and is pushed aside.

Aalmon rolls a 3, a success, bumped to a critical. Cultist #2 rolls a 6,
a success, bumped down to a failure. Aalmon wounds the cultist and
presses ahead.

Aalmon rolls a 14, a failure, bumped to a critical. Cultist #3 rolls a
9, a success, bumped to a failure. The cultist is wounded, but Aalmon
spends another Hero Points. That's a total of four for this combat so
far!

The Fourth faces the flight of three glowing nets heading his way as he
jumps into the fray. These are 17, 16, 16 - each a failure. In response
the Fourth rolls a 9, 7, and 13 - two successes and a failure, bumped to
two criticals and a success with the mastery, which means a clear
victory.

When he lands The Fourth faces the three cultists, like Aalmon.

The Fourth rolls a 8, a success, bumped to a critical. The Cultist rolls
as 17, also a success, but with an overall victory to the Fourth, as the
latter causes a serious wound.

On the second, The Fourth rolls a 14, a failure, bumped to success. The
Cultist rolls a 1! A critical! The Fourth is seriously wounded, but also
managed to wound the cultist..

On the third, The Fourth rolls a 12, a failure, bumped to a success. The
Cultist rolls a 2 - this is bad. Although causing a light wound, the
Fourth suffers another serious defeat, and is now overwhelmed by the
sheer numbers.