Rangers of Shadow Deep: The Beastie Boys

(Please note: this game was played virtually and as such I don’t have any photos to add just yet. Also, as I haven’t got time to write these up properly, this report consists largely of the notes taken during the game by Alan.)

“May the Gods guide you through the Veil and welcome you to the great hall, oh faithful companion…”

‘Holy’ Moses made the Sign of the Departed over Baldrick’s ashes and bowed, before rising up off his knees and burying the recruit’s dusty remains in the dark soil.

“It is a sad thing that we must burn you, rather than bury you whole as is the custom,” he sighed. “But at least you will not rise again at the bidding of the dark powers that assail us.”

Making the Sign once more, he re-joined his remaining comrades, finding them in a state of some agitation.

“We’ve found something,” said Ethan, face flushed from the exertions of his scouting. “That ambush? I don’t think it was intentional.”

He grinned.

“For once, I think we have the advantage…”

Time for another online bash at ROSD! This time Alan, Giles and I (Rita being unavailable) took on the second scenario from the Menagerie supplement: Counter Ambush.

This saw our heroes; with an extra companion each due to there being less rangers (two for Ethan and Felton and one for Moses as he lost Baldrick last time) discovering a scene of pandemonium. Gnolls and cultists were struggling with a crashed wagon, roars and screams echoed throughout the forest and, in the confusion, we surrounded them and made ready to attack…

As usual, each paragraph describes one round of action, firstly the Rangers, then enemy and creatures, then Companions, and finally an event.

Recovering from the night melee with Gnolls and wild beasts, the Rangers decided to follow the enemy’s tracks to find out what was going on. However, Bronwen was taken ill with a fever so Yarra escorted her back to base, and fortunately encountered some more Companions, who hurried to join the Rangers. The party now comprised Holy Moses and Hawkeye, a Tracker (Jon), Felton with Shelley and Vernon, a Rogue, (Giles), and Ethan Jugge with Hubert the wounded Man-at-Arms still suffering from Hunger and Thirst, and Roderick, a Swordsman (Alan).

The enemy tracks led to a clearing, in which a chaotic scene was unfolding. Five carts, two manned by Temple Guardians, were circled around a sixth cart which had tipped over and smashed to pieces. Inside the circle four Gnoll Beast Handlers inspected the wagons while outside three Temple Guardian Archers kept watch. Seizing the opportunity, the Rangers crept stealthily forward from three sides, before launching a devastating surprise attack.

Holy Moses used Magic Bolt to kill one Temple Guardian wagon driver before advancing to the wagon. Felton stealthily approached the other wagon driver, knocking him off the wagon. Ethan shot at a Temple Guardian Archer then ran to the nearest wagon, out of sight of the Gnolls inside the wagon circle. Felton was wounded and pushed back by the wagoner, but managed to beat off a Gnoll. Holy Moses was attacked by a Gnoll but cut it down. Two Temple Guardian archers fired at Ethan but missed, before a Gnoll Beast Handler rushed to attack. Hawkeye fired at a Gnoll but missed, as Hubert cut down the Gnoll attacking Ethan and Roderick killed an archer. Vernon the Rogue rushed to help Felton and stabbed a Temple Guardian to death, and Shelley pinned another Gnoll. One of the wagons burst into flames.

Holy Moses picked the lock on one wagon and freed a pair of emaciated captives, then rushed to pin an archer. Ethan charged another archer, but was repelled. Felton drank a Healing Potion and moved up support Shelley against a Gnoll. The archer fighting Holy Moses was cut down, while Ethan displayed his fighting prowess by slaying both the Gnoll Beast Handler and the Temple Guardian Archer who attacked him. The last remaining Gnoll fell fighting Shelley, allowing the two freed civilians to flee to safety. The Companions began investigating the rest of the wagons. Hubert’s crushed arm inhibited him from opening a wagon, but Roderick smashed his way in to discover a cache of papers including a Spell book. Vernon opened a wagon to find various animal body parts of use to a spellcaster, but a Bear appeared behind him.

Holy Moses forced open the doors of another wagon, to find a troop of monkeys within, one of which he took as a Companion. Ethan broke into the last undamaged wagon, which was full of snakes, causing him to freeze in horror momentarily. Felton shot the Bear, wounding it, then rushed to defend Vernon. The Bear’s wounds were severe enough for Holy Moses to easily ward off its feeble attack and kill it. A Gnoll Beast Handler returned to threaten Hubert and Roderick.

Ethan rushed to his companions but was wounded by the Gnoll, as was Holy Moses. Felton retrieved animal parts from the wagon discovered by Vernon, before passing a Healing Potion to Holy Moses. The Gnoll attacked Hubert but failed to penetrate his armour, and paid for it when Roderick hacked him down. A Boar appeared.

Felton shot the Boar dead, while Holy Moses drank the Healing Potion and Ethan cast Heal on himself. A friendly Tiger appeared.

As the Rangers drew breath, three Giant Flies flew into the clearing, but two were quickly incinerated by Ethan’s Fireball, and the third one was brought down by Hawkeye’s archery. A less friendly Tiger crept up on Felton.

The Rangers loosed a hail of arrows at the Tiger to bring it down. Yet another Gnoll crept out from under a wagon by Hubert and Roderick.

Holy Moses leapt into action and slew the Gnoll. A Giant Snake slithered out from under another wagon, but it was quickly finished off by another arrow storm.

After the initial frantic melee this proved to be an easy victory for the Rangers, who were able to bunch together and swarm any creature that appeared. The forces of Alladore therefore inflicted a telling blow on the Shadow Deep, but would their next encounter be so easy?