Decembork Final Results

The great horn of Blattmore sounds at midnight on December 31st and the Dread Lord grins a terrifying smile.  His warchiefs have done him proud.  Although a few would-be Crusader Kings have taken up residence in the ruins of orc villages nearby - the destruction of which might have earned an orc chief a few bonus points - what worry is that set against significant losses by the elves to the south, the thorough looting of those snooty dwarves up north, and the sacking of the human city to the west?

On January 1st, his agents comb through the Steppes taking stock of the forces left in the field.  The orcs dutifully submit their final tributes in the form of gold and slaves and warriors either on the road or at home, and points are scored accordingly.

In order of least to greatest, here are the final tallies:

Oghma: 0 points - the first to fall, he never really stood a chance

Lorem Ipsum: 38 points - dead early in the month, his loyal forces scored a few points in his name

Grimdark Morbad: 61 points - Had a good run, and at one point probably had enough loot to win the whole thing, but had it all stripped away.  He will long be remembered as a worthy foe.

Klon Grushnag: 93 points - A steady and stalwart chief who fell to one of the great orc alliances.  His last few orcs, holed up at home, are found protecting 1,000gp and wondering what happend out there.  Klon's name will be etched in the standing stones of the fallen as a great leader.

Sivor Khalid: 113 points - Finishes the month with 420 assorted troops, 2,200 gold, and 80 humans.  Not bad for a player who was generally quiet due to some real-world distractions.

Kris Karnhell: 116 points - Finishes the month with 330 assorted troops, 3,325 gold, and 220 humans.  One of the best pinkbelly killers in the steppes, his late push and role in the devastation of Carnatium will serve him well in the coming wars against Law

Garek Bloodtide: 119 points - Finishes the month with 580 assorted troops and 500 gold in his possession.  While the point tally is low, his large number of remaining troops testifies to Garek's methodical and efficiently effective approach to war

Kul of the Dripping Blades: 158 points - Finishes the month with 500 assorted troops, 4,325 gold, and 160 humans.  As one of the destructors of Carnatium, he surely earned a high place in the WarLord's retinue

Khaleb Ghines: 165 points - Finishes the month with 500 assorted troops, 4,200 gold, and 150 humans. As another of the principal players in the destruction of Carnatium, he has earned a high rank in the coming war.

Hollyfelled: 181 points - Finishes the month with 380 assorted troops, 1,025 gold, and 70 humans.  Hollyfelled had a great plan for preventing the Porcus steamroller from finishing the game strong, but just couldn't put the right team together to make it happen.  Even so, he threw himself at the Big Dog, and deserves credit for the attempt.

Porcus Orcus: 304 points - The Goblin-Betrayer ironically ends the game with the only goblin slaves in tow, 410 of the little buggers.  He also finishes the month with 1,010 assorted orc troops, 1,729 gold, and 210 human slaves ready for service.  It would have been more but for a late push by Hollyfelled to prevent Porcus from cashing out.  Had that last loot wagon gone through not only would Porcus have been able to raid Carnatium one last time, he would have added another 110 orcs to his forces for the final tally.

 

Congratulations to WarLord Porcus Orcus.  The Dread Lord bestows upon him the sacred Purple Pimp Hat of Command.

For his effective use of treachery, planning, and sheer dumb luck the Dread Lord is honored to name him first among orcs and appoint Porcus as the WarLord in the coming crusade.  He will command over 3,500 orc troops including numerous shamans and subchiefs, as well as more than 600 goblin warriors.  He will command the services of 2,740 human slaves, and a warchest of 81,860 gold!

December 31st: Results

Weather: Blustery and cold, with clear blue skies

Hollyfelled rounds out the month with one last delivery via the Magic Stone Portal.  He drops off 5,400gp and 520HD worth of human slaves, for a total of 76 points.

Random Encounters

None

Carnatium

The Triple Alliance strikes Carntium itself.  It's Kul, Kris, and Khaleb, working together without the benefit of an acronym.  Kul brings 360HD of attackers, Kris brings 380HD, and Khaleb brings 470HD, putting them well over the 1,000HD required to crack the walls of the mighty city.  

Kris and Kul get seven dice on the attack table, and Khaleb earns nine:

• Kul: Loses 130HD of orcs but wins 1,600gp and adds 90HD of human slaves to his larder
• Kris:  Loses 140HD of attackers, but 20HD of those are mere goblins.  He manages to pull 1,200gp and 130HD of human slaves out of the city
• Khaleb: The big winner only loses 90HD of orcs in exhange for 3,100gp and 40HD of human slaves

This also means that the suburbs are empty and no further raids can occur in the human quarters.  Since this is the last day of the fight

BUT!  So pleased is the Dread Lord to see his boys effectively assault a fortified human city, each of the attackers scores 5 bonus points!

Kor Torrigan Raids

Kor Torrigan gets hit from three directions!  

[Note that Sivor's forces count as two separate raids.  The dwarven mountain is not an open hex, but one that forces have to leave by the hex they entered.  It is a warren of tunnels, and Sivor's forces cannot make contact or co-ordinate their attacks.]

Garek hits the place with 420HD worth of troops, and Sivor launches two raids - his warg riders from the south with 60HD and he hits them from the southwest with 90HD.

But the dwarves only have so much gold left to loot.  The warg riders have to ride two days to reach the place, so they will be the last to raid the mountain, if anything is left.  Which leaves us with a simple initiative roll to determine which of the other two forces gets first crack at the dwarves.  Sivor wins the roll and cracks a vault containing with 900gp, losing 10HD worth of orcs to dwarven stone traps.

Garek's forces enter the near-empty mountain and to resolve this dice are rolled one at a time until all the gold is gone.  His troops manage to scrounge 500gp without loss of life, and the mountain has been cleared of dwarves.  As the chief responsible for the final clearing of the mountainhome, Garek scores three bonus points!

The warg riders show up expecting to raid, and instead find a massive celebration going on in the Dwarven King's hall, with the forces of Sivor and Garek sharing a feast to end the year.

The Dread Lord breathes a sigh of relief, as that festering pustule of Law will trouble him no more.

Goblintown Raids

None

Nirumbee Encounters

None

Map Moves

 

Leaderboard

Here are the final points scored via delivery to the Dread Tower, and a few bonus points for the destruction of the Dread Lord's nearby enemies.  Full, finalized, results will be posted tomorrow!

Porcus Orcus: 156 points

Hollyfelled: 130 points

Klon Grushnag: 79 points

Khaleb Ghines: 66 points

Grimdark Morbad: 61 points

Kul of the Dripping Blades: 59 points

Garek Bloodtide: 56 points

Sivor Khalid: 45 points

Kris Karnhell: 39 points

Lorem Ipsum: 38 points

December 30th: Results

Weather: Blustery and cold, with clear blue skies, and scattered heavy snows

No deliveries today, but the Dread Lord is content - his coffers are full and his orc forces are whipped into a fine frenzy

Random Encounters

Both of Sivor Khalid's forces are hit by human witchfinders - more of those crusaders who have taken up residence in nearby villages.  The warg riders have no witches with them, and are left unmolested.  The main force of Sivor's orcs does have a spellcaster, whom the crusaders attack on site.  Though the crusaders are outnumbered two-to-one, they fight well and Sivor is forced to retreat one hex, leaving 10HD worth of orcs rotting in the fields behind.

Carnatium

A massive orc force sweeps through the northwest suburb including Khaleb Ghines' force.  They meet no resistance and do not pause to loot.

[Note: Khaleb Ghines cannot raid today as he is still reorganizing his captives and treasure from yesterday.  The other two orc leaders could, but they have a bigger squig to fry.]

Kor Torrigan Raids

None

Goblintown Raids

None

Nirumbee Encounters

None

Map Moves

Once again, the Stone Portal is the site of a terrible battle.  The place must be cursed.

Hollyfelled, seeing a slim chance of grasping victory, launches a desperate plan.  Yesterday, his forces rode south with Porcus Orcus toward the portal.  Today, as the forces make ready to use the portal, Hollyfelled's shaman summons forth a terrific blizzard that stops all movement of the wagons.  Amid white-out conditions, Hollyfelled's orcs fall upon their allies, but Porcus Orcus is no fool - he was prepared for such treachery.

Hollyfelled's force of 380HD attacks Porcus Force's 920HD, leading to a roll on the 1:2 table.  This should have been an even fight, but Hollyfelled's expected ally never shows up.  The result is a 6, the best he could have hoped for.  Porcus manages to free his wagons and cut his way clear of the fight and the blizzard.  He makes his way back north to the ruins of Grimdark Morbad's home hex.

Hollyfelled gathers his forces after Porcus is gone, and finds himself 10HD worth of orcs lighter.

[Note: going by the CRT table, the enemy - in this case Porcus - has to retreat.  That takes precedence over the weather spell, and it allows Hollyfelled at least a partial success for his trouble.] 

Leaderboard

Porcus Orcus: 156 points

Klon Grushnag: 79 points

Grimdark Morbad: 61 points

Khaleb Ghines: 61 points

Kul of the Dripping Blades: 54 points

Hollyfelled: 54 points

Garek Bloodtide: 53 points

Sivor Khalid: 45 points

Lorem Ipsum: 38 points

Kris Karnhell: 34 points

December 29th: Results

Weather: Blustery and cold, with clear blue skies

The boys who serve subchief in charge of Porcus Orcus' treasure caravan finally get him sobered up enough to recognize the situation - he immediately hitches up the wagons and lurches into action.  He deposits 6800gp and 680HD worth of human slaves to the Black Tower for a total of 102 points, the largest deposit to date.

Sivor Khalid's warg riders deliver 1,500gp to the tower, earning him 15 points as well.

Random Encounters

A small band of 50HD worth of orcs appears before Hollyfelled.  They have heard tidings of great war and journeyed far to join in the fight.  They enlist in his band and are welcomed with open arms.

[Note: This random event occurred in hex (4,7) and these orcs had a 50-50 chance of joining Hollyfelled or Porcus Orcus.)

Carnatium Raids

Khaleb Ghines hits the southwest suburb of Carnatium in a massive raid.  They manage to drag away 4,400 gold a 450HD worth of slaves but leave behind 70HD of their own to the stout defenders.  A small sally of 50 knights arrives at dawn, but even with the column shift on the CRT can do nothing when the result is a 6.  They die valiantly without inflicting any additional casualties.

Kor Torrigan Raids

None

Goblintown Raids

None

Nirumbee Encounters

None

Map Moves

A quiet day out on the steppes.  Can it last?

Leaderboard

Porcus Orcus: 156 points

Klon Grushnag: 79 points

Grimdark Morbad: 61 points

Khaleb Ghines: 61 points

Kul of the Dripping Blades: 54 points

Hollyfelled: 54 points

Garek Bloodtide: 53 points

Sivor Khalid: 45 points

Lorem Ipsum: 38 points

Kris Karnhell: 34 points

December 28th: Results

Weather: Blustery and cold, with clear blue skies

For a third day the large treasure convoy flying the banners of Porcus Orcus sits within the shelter of the Dread Lord's patience, and he wonders if he needs to go out and get it for himself...

Random Encounters

None

Carnatium Raids

None

Kor Torrigan Raids

Sivor Khalid hits the dwarves again, with a smaller force of 110HD worth of orcs and comes out of their hole 10HD worth of orcs lighter, but 1,100gp heavier - a solid trade!

Goblintown Raids

None

Nirumbee Encounters

None

Map Moves

The Porcus-led alliance strikes at Grimdark's home hex with 2,090HD worth of combined troops, against a stalwart defense of 520HD, after accounting for the walls.  Without the expertise of Garek that still amounts to a 4:1 ratio and with a roll of a 5, the defenders are killed to the last orc.  They manage to inflict 50HD worth of casualties on the attackers (ten percent of the defender's numbers) before they succumb.

The defenders split the 100gp evenly this time, for 25gp each.  Don't spend it all in one place unless that place is the Tower.

[GM note: GrimdarkTown is not yet razed.  It now houses four allied Chiefs who sit on piles of plunder.  Until only one remains in the hex, or all who do agree on which chief shall claim it - and submit orders to that effect - it remains neutral ground.]

Leaderboard

Klon Grushnag: 79 points

Grimdark Morbad: 61 points

Khaleb Ghines: 61 points

Porcus Orcus: 54 points

Kul of the Dripping Blades: 54 points

Hollyfelled: 54 points

Garek Bloodtide: 53 points

Lorem Ipsum: 38 points

Kris Karnhell: 34 points

Sivor Khalid: 30 points

December 27th: Results

Weather: Kings are on the move, seeking the King of Kings, and an uneasy Dread Lord shudders

Again the large treasure convoy flying the banners of Porcus Orcus sits there, taunting the Dread Lord with its haul of treasure for the cause.

Garek Bloodtide cheers up his Dread Lord by cashing out 100HD of human and goblin slaves and 1,600gp, scoring him 21 points.

Random Encounters

None

Carnatium Raids

None

Kor Torrigan Raids

None

Goblintown Raids

None

Nirumbee Encounters

None

Map Moves

The Porcus led alliance is not done with Grimdark Morbad.  They move into his home hex, but are weary from the previous days' fighting and marching. 

[GM note: You can't raid twice in a row.  These armies will attack at dusk tomorrow.]

Leaderboard

Klon Grushnag: 79 points

Grimdark Morbad: 61 points

Khaleb Ghines: 61 points

Porcus Orcus: 54 points

Kul of the Dripping Blades: 54 points

Hollyfelled: 54 points

Garek Bloodtide: 53 points

Lorem Ipsum: 38 points

Kris Karnhell: 34 points

Sivor Khalid: 30 points

December 26th: Results

Weather: Kings are on the move, seeking the King of Kings, and an uneasy Dread Lord shudders

A large wagon train flying the banners of Porcus Orcus sits just a few miles from the tower.  It should have arrived today, but it just sits there...waiting for something.  The Dread Lord scowls in unfulfilled expectation.

Random Encounters

30HD of human crusaders move into Lorem Ipsum's abandoned village.

Khaleb Ghinez discovers something strange out in the grasslands.

Carnatium Raids

None

Kor Torrigan Raids

None

Goblintown Raids

None

Nirumbee Encounters

None

Map Moves

The heavily laden treasure wagons of Grimdark, Rockbrain, and Klon race for the magic portal and the safety of Malturrim.  It will be a near-run thing, but with their head start, they should reach the portal with time to spare.  The allied force from the north must see this, and still they race south for the portal.  It makes little sense to the three orc chiefs until they remember what power Holleyfelled possesses.

That small force on the far side of the magic portal sits and waits patiently until the time is right, and then their shaman opens his bag of north winds.  All the freezing hate of the far, cold north pours forth, and along with it great and powerful blasts of snow and ice.  The entire hex is consumed in a furious storm of arctic proportions, and the treasure wagons grind to a painstaking halt, less than a mile from the magic portal.

[GM Note:  The way we have used weather effects to date, they prevent the movement of treasure wagons, and not raiding forces unencumbered by loot.  Hence, the attackers can close in on, and attack the treasure wagons.] 

Which paves the way for a force of six orc warbands totalling 2,310HD worth of troops to hit the defenders.  With just the three defenders totalling just 850HD, that's a 2:1 advantage, but wait!  What's this?  The remnants of Lorem Ipsum's band - one subchief and 150HD worth of troops who have been riding with Garek Bloodtide for days - turns on his ally and throw in with Grimdark's alliance!  That makes the totals 2,200HD vs. 960HD.  It's still a 2:1 advantage for the attackers, but depending on the outcome, that little bit of extra oomph could make a big difference.  With Garek Bloodtide, and experience BattleMaster, on the field the odds tilt to 3:1 in favor of the attackers.

It all comes down to one die roll on the combat CRT.

Which, in retrospect wasn't designed for this.  The combat CRT is an all or nothing proposition to deal with random encounters and patrols of humans and elves.  It wasn't designed to determine the fate of entire armies.  To keep the game from blowing up to early, these fights should have been determined using the Siege CRT or some equivalent.  But the rules are what the rules are, and we're too deep into the soup to tinker now.

One single die roll.

Six!

The enemy - meaning the guys with the treasure - is eliminated!  And worse - half their boys (400HD) see the writing on the wall and save their green hides by agreeing to fight for the victors.  

• Klon is killed in the action, killed atop a massive pile of his enemies, as is his subchief and shaman present at the battle.  His last subchief still commands a large home defense force, but cannot leave that hex without forfeiting the ability to gain reinforcements.
• Rockbrain and Grimdark remain in the game, but they have taken a terrible blow.

The victors divide the spoils in equal measure to the forces that they brought to the fight.

Leaderboard

Klon Grushnag: 79 points

Grimdark Morbad: 61 points

Khaleb Ghines: 61 points

Porcus Orcus: 54 points

Kul of the Dripping Blades: 54 points

Hollyfelled: 54 points

Lorem Ipsum: 38 points

Garrek Bloodtide: 32 points

Kris Karnhell: 34 points

Sivor Khalid: 30 points