Scenario 11: Battle of the Greenfields

The Shire was a place of peace, few others knew of the Hobbit's existence let alone where they called home. A place that war had never touched since they dwelt there. Though unaware to the Hobbit's themselves they were protected by the Dúnedain who kept watch over their borders and stopped almost every attempt of anyone to invade. As the years progressed for the Shire there was once such invasion the Dúnedain couldn't stop. An amas of Orc's and Wargs lead by Glorfimbul attacked, the Hobbits despite being unaccustomed to war still rose up against the invaders. Lead by a giant (for hobbit standards) Brandobras Took engaged in a battle that would forever be known in Hobbit history. 

Forces of Good:

Bandobras Took

3x Ranger of the North
8x Hobbit Militia
4x Hobbit Archer
4x Hobbit Shirriff

Forces of Evil:

Golfimbul, Orc Chieftain on Warg

12x Warg Riders (4x Shield, 4x Throwing Spear and Shield, 4x Bow)

Additionally, the following rules are in play:

• Should Bandobras or Golfimbul be slain their respective troops must pass a courage test each turn or flee the battle. (The rangers of the North will not take these as they are their own force)
• Before the battle starts the Rangers can make a free shooting attack each targeting any foe expect Golfimbul.
• The Rangers must stay hidden behind the tree-line and may not move beyond it, should they end up so they must move back.

The Scenario ends on either of the following victory conditions:

• If the forces of Evil are reduced below 25% of their starting number at the end of a turn the forces of Good win!
• If the forces of Good are reduced below 25% of their starting number at the end of a turn the forces of Evil win!
• If both sides are reduced to 25% on the same turn it is a Draw!

Deployment

The Hobbits formed up against the oncoming Orc invasion, their archers taking the high ground to better shoot from. The Sherriff's flocked to Bandobras as his bodyguard. Meanwhile the Orc's were scattered around unaware of the Ranger presence between their line at present.

Failed Ambush

The three Rangers fired off a shot each before any of the Orc's managed to move beyond the trees or were aware of their locations. However, each shot was a glaring miss failing to hit or wound any of the Orc's while giving away each rangers position.

Knowing the Hobbits were the weaker of the threats faced the Warg Riders turned about and charged all the Rangers they now saw. The Hobbits meanwhile held their positions knowing the Orc's would come. The Rangers completely outnumbered fought the best they could but were unable to deal the combination of Orc and Warg in this number and two of the company fell, the third able to live but barely.

It is the Small Things

The Warg Riders push forward with both sides letting off a volley of arrows at each other which again fail to cause any wounds. The surviving ranger does keep three riders in check to deal with him, lessening the force attacking the hobbits and slowly dealing with them slaying the first rider but the Warg stuck around.

Both sides are now close enough to charge but the Warg Riders seize the initialize and pile into as many hobbits as they can. Bandobras charged in to lessen the impact these Wargs would do on his friends and calls a heroic combat to lead them around. Bandobras succeeds in slaying two Warg Riders and the remaining hobbits slay two more as well as two riders but each time the Warg stays. But six hobbits were slain in response from the charge. Meanwhile the Ranger still keeps the back most forces of a Warg and two Warg Riders busy.

The Ranger was unable to distract the whole back force any longer and two of their number left to change towards the Hobbits After another round of combat ensued with the Warg Riders again charging in first. Bandobras was wounded alongside five of his Hobbit allies falling and the remaining Ranger giving his life. In response another two warg riders were felled. 

Heroic Duel

The Warg Riders again took priority and with two throwing spear kills the battle was about to end as a win for the forces of Evil, to rub salt in the wound Golfimbul finally charged Bandobras and a challenge was called for them each to duel. 

As the remaining Hobbits around him fell Bandobras attempted to slay their leader, hoping that would be enough to break the force and limit any future damage they could do to the shire. Multiple rounds of combat went by, each time Bandobras was able to win but never able to wound the Orc Chieftan. Then finally, Golfimbul succeeded in besting the tall hobbit and thanks to the earlier wound done was able to take out their leader and only remaining Hobbit on the battlefield.

Though the Orc's would be repelled as a lot of their force had been defeated, the Dúnedain were aware of their attack and there were a lot more hobbits within the Shire, they no doubt inflicted great damage and worry into the hobbits. Sadly based on how this campaign went there would be no invention of Golf by Bandobras for the Hobbits nor would the Shire know it's time as being fully protected was over.

Review

This was the quickest scenario I think I have done so far only lasting six turns plus the heroic challenge until someone won at the end. We ran through it twice and both times Evil won very convincingly, the movement and knockdown on the charge is just a little too much for the Hobbits to deal with. We spoke about it after and some of the Warg Riders being replaced with Wild Wargs. 

Its one of those scenarios that has a cool rule about the leaders dying but due to how severe this is they need to be safe. Also Rangers only being one attack and one wound even with a fate point is not enough to survive multiple wargs charging them, they fall too easily.

Evil win but due to the damage done to Golfimbul's warband and many hobbits still around in the Shire I expect they no doubt would have still repelled the forces of the Orc's. The next upcoming scenario will see the return of the Rohirrim now their kingdom has been established and how they fair under Helm Hammerhand's rule when under attack by Dunland.

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