Post by Father on Jan 21, 2020 15:28:13 GMT 1
Passing through Darry lands is easy enough, and the Brackens did not anticipate a force of this size circling around to the east, it's fields and villages span out before the Blackwood band, there are only a few defenders save for the Garrison of Stone Hedge, at first this ought to be easy, but when the smoke from burning stores and refugees flock to Stone Hedge in the hope that Lord Bracken will open his winter stores to feed his smallfolk, not to mention the acts of broken men given no choice than to steal from those left with corn and turnips to eat, the Brackens must call back forces from north of the Fork, to protect against further attacks and to keep order.
Step 1: Slash and Burn
Foraging is such a polite word for company that might be faint of heart, a young lady might envision the men scouring the forest for berries. Though as Ser Simon Tarly so candidly put it with his customary eloquence, it involves taking all the farmer's food, rape his daughter and burn everything one can't carry, sometimes this includes the farmer but that is such a waste as you'd want your enemy to have as many hungry mouths to feed. The other Knights of Horn Hill oft have the honor to spare that of farmer's daughters, but they are ruthless when it comes to winning war all the same. In this case, the raping is optional, the pillaging will be dispensed with, this time, the burning is the entire point.
Warfare (command) TN 9
Warfare (strategy) TN 9
Warfare (tactics) TN 9
-Succeed on all tests: -2 Bracken Strength
-Per DoS: -1 Bracken Strength.
-Before rolling, you may accept up to 5 counts of war crimes, for each point taken, the gain is increased by a third (round up, so 3 counts of war crimes means double the effect).
-Before rolling, you may accept +3 TN by forbidding rape and needless cruelty, if you do, gain +1 chivalry if you accept no war crimes.
-Per Critical failure: All gains are halved (round down).
Step 2: Pull the beast by it's own tail.
Ravaging Lord Bracken's lands is bound to provoke a response, setting his own men out in pursuit, hoping to force the raiders to give battle against his superior numbers. But a small and swift force can always outmaneuver a larger and more cumbersome one, and there are always places that are unprotected, or small bands that break ranks with the larger host that might be surprised and overwhelmed, with their assailants gone before relief comes to do naught but collect the bodies.
Warfare (command) TN 12
Warfare (strategy) TN 12
Warfare (tactics) TN 12
-Succeed on all tests: +1 glory, -4 Bracken Strength.
-Per DoS: -1 Bracken Strength
-Per additional +3 TN accepted, any rewards are granted an additional time.
-Alternatively, one may retreat at -3 TN, there will be no gains from this step, but step 4 is skipped if succeeding on all tests.
-A Critical Failure: skip step 3 and 4, proceed directly to step 5.
Step 3: A daring piece of stratagem
With most of the Bracken men south of the Red Fork on the Blackwood warband's trail, now reinforced by Lord Walgrave Oakheart and his four most trusted knights, each commanding a force twice the size of their quarry, Stone Hedge itself makes for a tempting target, though not one they can hope to actually capture or hold, but a sufficiently fast strike in and out could hold off the garrison while a small group ventures within the private quarters of House Bracken to take whatever of value they might find. In terms of body count at Battle Valley, or negotiating positions afterwards, such a raid makes little strategic sense. However, morale can count as much as numbers, and Davos would not be the first knight to put his own prestige and interests above the cause he supposedly serves.
Optional:
Warfare (command) TN 15
Warfare (strategy) TN 15
Warfare (tactics) TN 15
-For each test, roll 1d4-DoS scored, suffer that many strength point worth of casualties.
-Succeed on all tests: Gain +2 Glory, it is likely that some sort of bonus will be granted at Battle Valley because of the prestige involved.
-A critical failure: Null all gains from this event, skip step 4 and go straight to step 5, except now this happens inside Stone Hedge, complicating matters considerably.
-Per DoS scored: Gain points with which you might select among the following:
--Gain 3D6*10GP worth of valuables in plunder (costs 1 point)
--Capture a Bracken niece, worth 1 VP and you may claim the ransom (2 points)
--Steal Barba Bracken's fabled golden necklace a gift by the king when he took her as his mistress. +1 Blood, worth a scion's ransom, or might just be the perfect gift for a Great Bastard. (3 points)
--Steal Barba Bracken herself, +1 Blood, may claim ransom, worth 2 VP as a hostage, may offer the possibility to taunt Bittersteel in future encounters to come. (3 Points)
--Steal Lord Bracken's personal storage of correspondence, perhaps of little interest to most knights (5 points), a single character may make use of this trove, gaining 1 Blood point per four ranks in knowledge and streetwise (minimum 1), the ranks of a character with the connections benefit counts as double for this purpose.
Step 4: Hunter and the Hunted
As the fires dance across the banks of the Red Fork, Ser Davos and his men are attracting attention, one can only outmaneuver so many enemies before one's options are limited to stand and fight or retreat to safety. And the man that willingly would give battle to the Bracken host under the command of Lord Walgrave Oakheart with the men Ser Davos has with him would relegate Butterbumps to the dubious rank of only being the second greatest fool of Westeros. There were a time when knights would have charges straight into the fiery breath of dragons, but it is difficult to think of anything else more idiotic.
Chance TN 7, +2 TN if step 3 was attempted.
-Success: The Blacwood force evades it's pursuers.
-Simple Failure: Make the following opposed tests against the enemy commander, they receive +1 to their tests for each point you missed the TN on the chance test:
--Warfare (Command, Strategy and Tactics) TN 9, on each test, each DoS the enemy commander scores more than you: -2 Blackwood Strength.
-Critical Failure: Proceed to step 5.
Step 5: Retreat cut off.
Raiders are rarely conquerors, and rarely do they have the strength to withstand an organized defense, mobility is their weapon, surprise is their ally, a waiting shield wall is a sign that it is time to retreat. When it stands between oneself and the escape to freedom, it usually ends badly.
Simple battle scenario trying to break through an encircling horde of angry Brackens.
-Up to 20 (minus any casualties from step 3) Blackwood strength might be lost.
-Other gains from this event might be diminished or lost.
Consideration for qualities:
Nemesis: Naturally, Walgrave will feature as the opposing commander in steps 4 and 5.
Lascivious:
1. Attempts to compel taking the necklace with the intent to give to Mya (Triggered by scoring sufficient DoS, does not compel undertaking step 3).
2. If taking Barba Bracken captive, she will attempt to use her charms to distract Davos (4D+2B), should she so succeed, he fails to notice her attempt to drug him with sweetsleep (one pinch), if he falls unconscious, she slips away into the night and the step 4 chance test is at +1 TN.
Step 1: Slash and Burn
Foraging is such a polite word for company that might be faint of heart, a young lady might envision the men scouring the forest for berries. Though as Ser Simon Tarly so candidly put it with his customary eloquence, it involves taking all the farmer's food, rape his daughter and burn everything one can't carry, sometimes this includes the farmer but that is such a waste as you'd want your enemy to have as many hungry mouths to feed. The other Knights of Horn Hill oft have the honor to spare that of farmer's daughters, but they are ruthless when it comes to winning war all the same. In this case, the raping is optional, the pillaging will be dispensed with, this time, the burning is the entire point.
Warfare (command) TN 9
Warfare (strategy) TN 9
Warfare (tactics) TN 9
-Succeed on all tests: -2 Bracken Strength
-Per DoS: -1 Bracken Strength.
-Before rolling, you may accept up to 5 counts of war crimes, for each point taken, the gain is increased by a third (round up, so 3 counts of war crimes means double the effect).
-Before rolling, you may accept +3 TN by forbidding rape and needless cruelty, if you do, gain +1 chivalry if you accept no war crimes.
-Per Critical failure: All gains are halved (round down).
Step 2: Pull the beast by it's own tail.
Ravaging Lord Bracken's lands is bound to provoke a response, setting his own men out in pursuit, hoping to force the raiders to give battle against his superior numbers. But a small and swift force can always outmaneuver a larger and more cumbersome one, and there are always places that are unprotected, or small bands that break ranks with the larger host that might be surprised and overwhelmed, with their assailants gone before relief comes to do naught but collect the bodies.
Warfare (command) TN 12
Warfare (strategy) TN 12
Warfare (tactics) TN 12
-Succeed on all tests: +1 glory, -4 Bracken Strength.
-Per DoS: -1 Bracken Strength
-Per additional +3 TN accepted, any rewards are granted an additional time.
-Alternatively, one may retreat at -3 TN, there will be no gains from this step, but step 4 is skipped if succeeding on all tests.
-A Critical Failure: skip step 3 and 4, proceed directly to step 5.
Step 3: A daring piece of stratagem
With most of the Bracken men south of the Red Fork on the Blackwood warband's trail, now reinforced by Lord Walgrave Oakheart and his four most trusted knights, each commanding a force twice the size of their quarry, Stone Hedge itself makes for a tempting target, though not one they can hope to actually capture or hold, but a sufficiently fast strike in and out could hold off the garrison while a small group ventures within the private quarters of House Bracken to take whatever of value they might find. In terms of body count at Battle Valley, or negotiating positions afterwards, such a raid makes little strategic sense. However, morale can count as much as numbers, and Davos would not be the first knight to put his own prestige and interests above the cause he supposedly serves.
Optional:
Warfare (command) TN 15
Warfare (strategy) TN 15
Warfare (tactics) TN 15
-For each test, roll 1d4-DoS scored, suffer that many strength point worth of casualties.
-Succeed on all tests: Gain +2 Glory, it is likely that some sort of bonus will be granted at Battle Valley because of the prestige involved.
-A critical failure: Null all gains from this event, skip step 4 and go straight to step 5, except now this happens inside Stone Hedge, complicating matters considerably.
-Per DoS scored: Gain points with which you might select among the following:
--Gain 3D6*10GP worth of valuables in plunder (costs 1 point)
--Capture a Bracken niece, worth 1 VP and you may claim the ransom (2 points)
--Steal Barba Bracken's fabled golden necklace a gift by the king when he took her as his mistress. +1 Blood, worth a scion's ransom, or might just be the perfect gift for a Great Bastard. (3 points)
--Steal Barba Bracken herself, +1 Blood, may claim ransom, worth 2 VP as a hostage, may offer the possibility to taunt Bittersteel in future encounters to come. (3 Points)
--Steal Lord Bracken's personal storage of correspondence, perhaps of little interest to most knights (5 points), a single character may make use of this trove, gaining 1 Blood point per four ranks in knowledge and streetwise (minimum 1), the ranks of a character with the connections benefit counts as double for this purpose.
Step 4: Hunter and the Hunted
As the fires dance across the banks of the Red Fork, Ser Davos and his men are attracting attention, one can only outmaneuver so many enemies before one's options are limited to stand and fight or retreat to safety. And the man that willingly would give battle to the Bracken host under the command of Lord Walgrave Oakheart with the men Ser Davos has with him would relegate Butterbumps to the dubious rank of only being the second greatest fool of Westeros. There were a time when knights would have charges straight into the fiery breath of dragons, but it is difficult to think of anything else more idiotic.
Chance TN 7, +2 TN if step 3 was attempted.
-Success: The Blacwood force evades it's pursuers.
-Simple Failure: Make the following opposed tests against the enemy commander, they receive +1 to their tests for each point you missed the TN on the chance test:
--Warfare (Command, Strategy and Tactics) TN 9, on each test, each DoS the enemy commander scores more than you: -2 Blackwood Strength.
-Critical Failure: Proceed to step 5.
Step 5: Retreat cut off.
Raiders are rarely conquerors, and rarely do they have the strength to withstand an organized defense, mobility is their weapon, surprise is their ally, a waiting shield wall is a sign that it is time to retreat. When it stands between oneself and the escape to freedom, it usually ends badly.
Simple battle scenario trying to break through an encircling horde of angry Brackens.
-Up to 20 (minus any casualties from step 3) Blackwood strength might be lost.
-Other gains from this event might be diminished or lost.
Consideration for qualities:
Nemesis: Naturally, Walgrave will feature as the opposing commander in steps 4 and 5.
Lascivious:
1. Attempts to compel taking the necklace with the intent to give to Mya (Triggered by scoring sufficient DoS, does not compel undertaking step 3).
2. If taking Barba Bracken captive, she will attempt to use her charms to distract Davos (4D+2B), should she so succeed, he fails to notice her attempt to drug him with sweetsleep (one pinch), if he falls unconscious, she slips away into the night and the step 4 chance test is at +1 TN.
