At Dawn, Look to the East (Anglia Hobbit Community): Battle Companies: Intro and first scenarios

Hey all

The latest idea that we had for long term campaigns is a big Battle companies campaign. We have gathered five good and evil players each, who will play through the Narrative campaigns from the latest Battle companies rulebook and 'the Search for the Stone' from White Dwarf respectively. We will start with the first narrative scenario, which every company will have a 'free pass' for (no rolling for injuries or death). After that, they will be at the mercy of the dice. Between each narrative, each company will play two scenarios against other companies. I will write up a narrative for my own company's journey.

Let's meet the companies (some have added backgrounds for theirs).

Note: We are using Battle Companies Manager for this and find it an incredibly useful tool.

https://battle-companies-manager.com/

GOOD

The 2nd Battalion of the Fancy part of the Fiefdoms of the South of Gondor, of course

Player: Sam H

Faction: Fiefdoms

Leader- Ser Tiber (Knight of Dol Amroth)

Sergeant- Beady-Eyed Arvia (Blackroot Vale archer)

Sergeant- The Ungrateful Grandchild (Man-at-arms of Dol Amroth)

Other members- Dolfe (Blackroot Vale archer), Gromm (Man-at-arms of Dol Amroth) and Terrens (Man-at-arms of Dol Amroth)

Background

In the years following the destruction of Sauron, relative peace had settled over Middle-Earth. But it was not entirely untroubled. Rumours were spread about groups of orcs in the North forming and packs of beasts gathering.

Under the instructions of the Steward, Prince Imrahil gave orders to one of his most senior Knights, Ser Tiber, to gather small party and head up to Bree. There they would make contact with a witness and make decisions on where their path should take them.

Ser Tiber chose two men to accompany him. Beady-Eyed Arvia, a renowned marksman from the Blackroot Vale who brought along his friend, Dolfe, who was showing similar prowess.

And a trusted man, who sadly had a bit of a reputation for his overdeveloped sense of entitlement, known as 'the Ungrateful Grandchild' after a loud rant in a tavern about the lack of inheritance he received compared to his brothers. Regardless of this shortcoming, he has been shown to be a brave fighter. He brought along two of his comrades, Gromm and Terrens, a gruff pair often found prowling for Hobbit Pipeweed, which had become evermore prevalent since a Halfling had taken residence in the Citadel.

With the warband created, they departed on their adventure.

The Cair Andros Garrison

Player: Josh

Faction: Minas Tirith

Leader- Turgon (WoMT w/ Shield)

Sergeant- Belecthor (WoMT w/ Bow)

Sergeant- Beregond (WoMT w/ Bow)

Other members- Egalmoth (WoMT w/ Spear and Shield), Eradan (WoMT w/ Spear and Shield), Beren (WoMT w/ Shield),

The Saga of Erik Blunt-Axe

Player: Jason

Faction: Moria Expedition

Leader- Erik Blunt-Axe (Dwarf warrior w/ Shield)

Sergeant- Gimolas (Dwarf ranger w/ Longbow)

Sergeant- Rolof the Bear (Dwarf warrior w/ 2h)

Other members- Jark Many-Axes (Dwarf ranger w/ T. Axes), Skald the Stern (Dwarf warrior w/ Dwarf bow) and Hardlore the Wise (Dwarf ranger w/ 2h)

Pippin's Crew

Player: Will

Faction: Wanderers in the Wild

Leader- Pippin (Hobbit Militia)

Sergeant- Nearamir (Ranger of Gondor)

Sergeant- Youareamir (Ranger of Gondor)

Other members- Elfindel (Wood Elf), Halone (Wood Elf w/ Bow), Ibun (Dwarf Ranger w/ 2h) and Khim (Dwarf Ranger w/ T.Axes)

Background

It was two years to the day that Pippin’s quest had ended, and for two years Pippin dwindled in his Hobbit home built on the peak of Minas Tirith. His legs tapped restlessly as his eye’s gazed upon the bodyless corpse of Shagrat, displayed upon the mantlepiece of his lounge. Life in the Citadel grew dull. It was time for another adventure, and he knew of two Captains of Gondor to join him.

Nearamir, son of Cinatit, was the middle son of three brothers. It was he, who of the three brothers had defended the Walls of Minas Tirith during the great siege, but at great cost. His sword hand was left scarred, never again would he wield such skill. He now sought a new path.

When the White Wizard rescued him from his own elder brother, it had inspired him. He would follow Gandalf’s footsteps and become a wizard! Stealing Gandalf’s staff before the Battle of the Black Gate, Nearamir vowed only to use it, when he deemed himself worthy.

The second Captain and youngest of the three brothers was Youareamir. Unlike his brother, he did not fight at the great siege. His orders placed him in reserve, even as the lower walls had fallen. Youareamir had cast doubt upon himself, maybe he was not the warrior that he thought himself to be.

Desperate to prove himself a worthy Captain of Gondor, he joined Pippin’s new adventure. The three heroes of Gondor travelled to the new realm of Great Mirkwood, where man, elf and dwarf were united under the rule of King Legolas. Rumour had it that the King had work for adventures to rid the world of evil men and a new breed of cunning spider, which threatened his realm.

Black Gate Survivors

Player: Sam P

Faction: Men of the West

Leader- Merenor (Knight of Dol Amroth)

Sergeant- Caedor (Warrior of Minas Tirith w/ Shield)

Sergeant- Baralindir (Warrior of Minas Tirith w/ Spear and Shield)

Other members- Traston (Knight of Dol Amroth), Grimgel (Warrior of Rohan w/ Shield) and Heruthain (Warrior of Rohan w/ Throwing Spears and Shield)

Evil

Fangs for the Memories

Player: CJ

Faction: Denizens of Mirkwood

Leader- Incy (Mirkwood Spider)

Sergeant- Wincy (Mirkwood Spider)

Sergeant- Gromit (Fell Warg)

Other members- Spot (Fell Warg) and Muttley (Fell Warg)

Background

Once upon a time, a little pack of beasties containing Incy, Wincy, Gromit, Spot and Muttley, did decide to fuck shit up in a quest for shiny trinkets that they couldn't use.

Aedin's Reavers

Player: Mitch

Faction: Dunland

Leader- Aedin, Son of Madrach (Dunlending warrior w/ Shield)

Sergeant- Breaval of Tunum (Dunlending warrior w/ Bow)

Sergeant- Truis the Butcher (Dunlending warrior w/ 2h)

Other members- Domnar (Dunlending warrior w/ Shield), Soroth the Thief (Wildman of Dunland), Lon the Feral (Wildman of Dunland), Vron, Brother of Lon (Wildman of Dunland) and Rurik the Unclean (Wildman of Dunland)

Prince Bangizwe's Host

Player: Jonathon

Faction: Far Harad

Leader- Prince Bangizwe (Mahud warrior)

Sergeant- Mthunzi- The Shadow (Mahud warrior w/ Blowpipe)

Sergeant- Gwazi- The Protector (Mahud warrior w/ Spear)

Other members- Gazini (Mahud warrior), Ingwe (Mahud warrior w/ Blowpipe) and Elethu (Mahud warrior w/ Spear)

Uthan's Marauders

Player: Jarnan

Faction: Harad

Leader- Uthan the Stout (Harad warrior w/ Spear)

Sergeant- Yanith the Fierce (Harad warrior w/ Spear)

Sergeant- Hufor the Keen (Harad warrior w/ Bow)

Other members- Tas'on (Harad warrior w/ Spear), Dukrar (Harad warrior w/ Spear), Ju'ni (Harad warrior w/ Bow), Murab (Harad warrior w/ Bow) and Mashil (Harad warrior w/ Bow)

The Black Sons

Player: Matt

Faction: Khand

Leader- Lee (Khandish warrior)

Sergeant- Shang (Khandish warrior)

Sergeant- Hua (Khandish warrior w/ Bow)

Other members- Chien-Po (Khandish warrior), Ling (Khandish warrior), Yao (Khandish warrior) and Cricket (Khandish warrior w/ Bow)

Narrative 1- Skirmish in Bree

The Men of the Fiefdoms see the Ruffians closing in on them from all sides. Arvia draws his bow and shoots one down as the rest start to run. Tiber leads the escape, Gromm manages to stab another Ruffian as Arvia follows on and slashes another aside. With the opening made, the company flees out the gates of the town. Only noticing after that The Ungrateful Grandchild had managed to snatch a barrel of dwarven brew and was probably the cause of the aggression.

Fiefdoms victory!

Round 1- A daring rescue (v Dunlendings (Mitch))

While camping in the woods, a Dunlending scout, Truis, was caught trying to make off with the Dwarven Brew. Not taking kindly to this, he was seized and bound. Leaving it for morning to decide his fate, the company prepared to rest for the night. But they were awoken late as Dolfe, who was on watch, spotted men sneaking through the woods towards them. Truis' friends had come to rescue him.

As Arvia and Dolfe started firing at the Dunlendings, Breaval returned fire and landed an arrow in Arvia's quiver then another in Tiber's newly acquired horse. Truis manages to crawl away as his ally Domnar shields off four of the Fief men when Tiber attempts a heroic combat to catch up.

The Dunlending chief, Aedin, slaps Arvia's sword aside before bringing his axe down and landing a deep wound in his bow arm. Tiber slashes Domnar, injuring him and forcing a retreat and slams his shield into Rurik's nose, breaking it. They see Truis escaping with his brethren and hear a cry. Turning too late, they see Soroth the Thief pulling his dagger from Dolfe's back and watch their archer fall and die. The Dunlendings win and the Fiefs mourn their first loss. To further their misery, they realise that the Dunlendings had also stolen a large portion of their supplies.

Dunlending victory!

The Fiefdoms Battalion are attacked by Aedin's Reavers on their rescue mission

Round 2- Plunder the Camp (v Moria Expedition (Jason))

After days of wandering and supplies running low, Arvia scouts ahead and discovers a dwarf camp. While they have no bad blood with the dwarves, desperation is forcing them to raid for food. They sneak their way over under the cover of the trees and then rush into the camp.

Hardlore is the first to react and he throws an axe, which embeds itself in Tiber's shield. Erik Blunt-Axe then leaps onto his horse and charges the Ungrateful Grandchild (UGG) and Gromm but the men of the Fiefs manage to knock him from his horse as the mount panics before the pikes. Gromm and Arvia rush past the dwarves and start stealing supplies as Tiber knocks Hardlore unconscious before charging into Jark and wounding him too. Stroll, Rollof and Erik try to fight the superior numbers but are beaten back and soon Erik is the only one left. Though he manages to knock Arvia down and slash Gromm across his flank. Seeing that all is lost, Erik grabs Hardlore and carries him away.

Fiefdoms victory!

As their travels continue, they come across a brawny warrior named Fregar (Clansman of Lamedon), who joins them.

The Black Sons push their way through the Dwarf ranger blockade

Narrative 2- Ruins of Annuminas

With their supplies now restocked, the company makes their way north and eventually comes to some old ruins by the shore. They make camp and celebrate the recovery of Arvia's bow arm and their victory, as well as the fact that they did it without having to kill any of the dwarves, by drinking the dwarven brew from Bree. As they enjoy their rewards, they notice a chill in the air and the shrieks of orcs...they are not alone.

The company arms themselves and starts to patrol the ruins. Before long the UGG, Gromm and Terrens find some orcs. As Terrens and Gromm slay one in a doorway, UGG impales another through a window and climbs in. In the centre, Tiber runs down and lances two orcs. Arvia is failing to kill with his bow as he must be out of practice.

Tiber leads the way further in and clears another ruin as Fregar joins the others and cleaves an orc spear. Things start to take a turn as Tiber charges into a group of orcs but his horse stumbles and he is beaten and clubbed into submission. Gromm and Fregar are caught off guard as the group redirects into the rest of the company. The UGG takes the lead and slays another orc, breaking them and causing many to flee, while those who stay are slain by the remaining company.

The orcs are all gone but a haunting voice goads them deeper into the ruins, as they enter the last ruin a Barrow-Wight unveils itself. The UGG, Arvia and Terrens, spurred on by the dwarven brew, rush and attack their foe. As Terrens and Arvia distract the ethereal being, the UGG takes an almighty swing of his sword and destroys it. A small shard of pure black stone clatters to the floor at Arvia's feet....could it be a piece of a palantir? Arvia takes a liking to it and stows it in his pocket.

Fiefdoms victory!

In the ruins, they find two prisoners of the orcs, who had been captured while hunting. These men are called Mr Farley the Dentist and Chuck Norris. They agree to join the company and are equipped with armour and swords from the dead orcs as well as pikes found in an almost empty armoury.