The Company are attempting to reach safety, but the banks of Anduin the Great swarm with orcs. On finding a consignment of empty barrels, they do not have time to make rafts or do anything other than take to the water individually and hope that the current will carry them far enough ahead of their pursuers. In the meantime, Gandalf and Ragagast are coming north upstream with forces from Lothlorien and Rivendell, and some of the Great Eagles are searching for them too. Rough rules - the river is winding but flows fast, forcing pursuers to run, take shortcuts in order to intercept the Company. The wizards and elves are a small force but formidable. Have a couple of Great Eagles searching. The company cost their normal allowance. Pile on lots of orcs, hunters and wargs on either bank. Gandalf & Co start off the table, with just the eagle scouts searching (they are not aware that the company is afloat). For each dwarf in a barrel, roll a die at the start of each turn - on 1 or 3 they veer 1 inch left, on 2 or 4, one inch right, on 5 or 6 they follow the current at full speed without deviation. If they hit the riverbank or an island in the river, roll a die - on a 1, the barrel runs aground and they have to disembark on whatever shore they are closest to. All other rolls, the barrel continues to float and they will be carried downstream. Roll dies to determine if the eagles spot the Company and one of them summons Gandalf and the elves - it can be infantry of cavalry or a mixture, entirely up to the amount of points you want to invest. To spice things up, throw in Gollum after the Ring and Beorn after the orcs. For more variety, if they are far enough south, it could be Rohan to the rescue. Or maybe they are too close to Dol Guldur.... Have fun. Just remember, you don't want to go over the Falls of Rauros in a barrel.
_________________ Published ebooks: Instrument of the Empire A Note of Defiance Phantom Ships, Ghost Flotilla More to come!
|