... and here's the ending - split the post up to make it easier to post!
As I've played earlier versions of the game I had a fair idea but just reading through the rules for an hour or so and feeling my way through the game was more than enough - they're really simple but fantastic rules!
Dwarf Turn 5Despite the calls from his companions behind the barricade, Widelode fights on. Forcing a draw with Bad Mintun again, he doesn't fare so well against Deefer and is once again forced to give ground.
Nobby and Deadeye dust themselves off (sacrificing two Dredskulls!) and begin reloading their weapons.
Piewright, yelling brusk commands, organises a volley on the lumbering bulk of the Hill Troll. Deadeye, Cranequin and Gaffleson all fire at once, felling the foul creature like a rotten tree. However, a low groan confirms their worst fears - the malodorous behemoth is only down and not out!
Meanwhile, Nobby, now reloaded, succeeds in downing one of the Orc archers swarming the hill (running low on Dredskulls the poor fella is left to die of his wounds).
Once again the miners sit tight behind their barricade, watching helplessly on at Widelodes's plight.
Orc Turn 5Trading another Dredskull, Fidon't is revived and immediately charges into the ruckus with Widelode. The red mist once more descending, Bad Mintun follows like a good little warhound. Tiring from his efforts at fending off the multitude of snapping jaws, Widelode's hammer slips from his grasp and he is savagely savaged by the rabid pack! (Again killed outright so no Skulldred miracles here!)
At this bloody turn of events Whipit is sent into a frenzy and, as he is the nearest, turns on the downed Garstic! Coming too just at the right moment (God bless those Skulldred counters!) Garstric easily squashes the mad dog! Feeling rather put out by this unprovoked attack, the troll decides to take it out on the Dwarfs guffawing loudly at him from their mountain ridge...
Buoyed up by their large numbers and not wanting to be shown up by the other rival gang, the Snotz charge once more into the breech. The Dripping Nose gang once more throw themselves over the barricade at Feldspar, who, quite calmly, squashes them one by one with the flat of his shovel!
The Bogey Boyz fare marginally better, being fought off to a standstill by Alfyd Tinnyson.
Dogbreff encourages his hounds to come to heel with a well placed boot, ready to send them against barricade.
The archers open up with a rain of arrows in an attempt to dislodge the Dwarf crossbows from their vantage points. Gaffleson is forced to duck aside but survives the volley.
Dwarf Turn 6 Once again Piewright orders a volley on the looming Hill Troll. Again, the troll staggers under the hail of crossbow bolts, and again the Dwarfs chew their beards with despair as the brute dusts itself down (last Skulldred counter for the Orcs!), plucking the missiles from its flanks to use as a toothpick in dislodging an irritating bit of gristle (last night's donkey) from his festering teeth.
Seeing the danger posed by the now pretty irritated Troll, Piewright calls for the miners to form a hunting party of their own, to leave the safety of the wall and kill the creature. Long Tom, ever the impetuous youngset at 87, leaps to attack Garstic on his own - amazingly pushing him back! Nipper and Kanaeri follow behind to lend a hand and Piewright, himself, descends the mountain ready to sell his life dearly.
At the other end of the barricade Feldspar joins Tinnyson - fending the vicious Snotz off and forcing them back.
Nobby draws a bead on the now unengaged hounds, although the bolt whistles by harmlessly.
Orc Turn 6Logdob again orders his archers to fire on Nobby. They loose a volley off and cackle as the plucky Dwarf falls, doing a great impressio of a pin cushion as he goes!
Another archer joins the band on the hill as they let another volley off which brings down Cranequin (the Dwarfs only have one Skulldred counter left and opt to sacrifice these two brave souls in order to have some backup for the melee at the bottom of the mountain.).
Garstic lashes back at Long Tom in a blind fury, smashing him to the ground and killing him outright.
Dogbreff barks a command at his hounds but they don't need much telling! Shortshanks is set upon and torn to shreds!
The Bogey Boyz, having had a conflab, have come up with a plan. Realising that the barricade is nigh on impregnable to them they try a new tactic - get sneaky! To this end they turn and scramble off towards the end of the barricade in a brave flanking maneuvre - once the hounds have cleared the way...!
Dwarf Turn 7Piewright's words echo across the valley -
To the mine! Death may await us there, yet it will be a richer end than will be had here in the daylight!With that the Dwarfs make their fighting retreat.
Gaffleson levels his crossbow one more time at the nearest hound, ending its brutish life. The deed done, he turns and heads for the mine entrance.
Deadeye follows suit- his shot sends another hound scurrying for cover, buying his companions in the valley bottom some much needed space!
The remaining Dwarfs, keeping a beady eye on the enemy and a tight grip on their weapons, beat a retreat back to the mine.
Orc Turn 7Seeing their quarry in full retreat all Orc forces press forward, the scent of victory, and dinner, in their noses.
Garstic limps forwards but isn't fast enough to catch the fleeing Dwarfs. The Bogey Boyz, however, have had enough and, realising that they will be next on the menu once the Dwarf meat is gone, they run off in a panic!
The remaining hounds, still hungry for Dwarf flesh, leap the barricade but are fended off by Kanaeri as he backs up the mountain path. Dogbreff follows, hefting his mace in anticipation.
As the Dwarfs disaapear into the mountain, Logdob bellows another command at the archers. Despite the volume of arrows skittering amongst the rocks none find a softer target.
Couting up their kills, Logdob was pretty satisfied with the days work - there might even be a few scraps for the ladz back at the camp by the time they got back. With what passed for a smile on his brutish face he began scratching crude letters across the stone the surviving Dwarfs had blocked the mine entrance with...
"Ere, Klopps - Ow do yoo spell Larder?"
02 May 2012, 02:09:28 AM