Scenario 31: An Enemy Revealed

With Héra now missing the remaining members of the company followed the tracks left behind once Olwyn had recovered enough. Héra being of the utmost importance meant they did not have chance to recover. Héra had been skirted away to Isengard where Targg introduced her to their leader, someone she knew all too well, Wulf who had now returned ready to wage war against the Rohirrim. Once again Wulf asks for Héra's hand in marriage to avoid this situation but being again spurned he commits to revenge. Locked away Héra looks around for what information she can and if escape is possible but creeping in under the cover of night are both Fréleáf and Olwyn while Lief is positioned away ready with the horses to make an escape. Though no one knows they are there and the darkness makes it hard to see they need to discover where Héra is, get her out and to the stables all without raising the alarm and should the army be alerted there would be too many for them to stop.

Forces of Good:

Héra, Daughter of Helm 3/2/3 2w
Fréleáf, First Marshal of Riddermark 2/3/3 3w
Olwyn, Shieldmaiden of Rohan 1/2/0 1w

Forces of Evil:

Wulf, High Lord of the Hill Tribes
24x Hill Tribesmen (2x Light Shield, 2x Flaming Brand, 2x Flaming Brand and Light Shield, 4x Spear, 4x Two-handed Weapon, 8x Bow)

Additionally, the following rules are in play:

• The Scenario takes place and night time and Evil models follow thr rules for sentries*.
• Héra does not take part until she is rescued, in order to free her Fréleáf or Olwyn must be in contact with the north or south side of the central building. Héra is then placed in contact with her rescuer and the alarm is automatically raised. 
• Héra is unarmed for the duration of this scenario.
• Once the alarm is raised Wulf is placed in base contact of the central building the opposite side to where Héra was rescued, if the alarm is raised before this he is placed on the north side.
• On the First turn Good get to choose which side has priority rather than they have it.
• Due to Good winning the previous scenario they are allowed to make one Evil model reroll their sentry roll once per turn.

The Scenario ends on either of the following victory conditions:

• If Héra is able to escape by getting to the stables the forces of Good win!
• If Héra is slain the forces of Evil win!
• If Héra escapes but Fréleáf and Olwyn are slain then the result is a draw.

*The Sentry rules are each model is chosen and a d6 is rolled, on a 1 they stay where they are, 2-3 the opponent in this case good player moves them half their movement in any direction, 4-5 the controlling player (Evil) moves them half their movement and on a 6 the controlling player (Evil) moves them their full movement.

Deployment

The Hill Tribesmen were scattered around the encampment, though they were on guard there was little they had to worry about in this place so mostly huddled together in small groups nearby their tents or fires.

Fréleáf and Olwyn however decided there best move would be to take out several of the guards 1 by 1 first while searching for Héra to better allow movement around without any chance of detection.

Rescue Mission Begins

Many of the guards held position but others scattered around, several groups were maintained and formed. However, Fréleáf and Olwyn saw their first opportunity to eliminate a guard who had gotten to close and took him out before he could make a sound alerting anyone else.

Sensing the were now out in the open the duo quickly moved to hide behind the nearby tent which thankfully was empty of Hill Tribesmen and waited to see if any other guards would move nearby alone or in a pair that they could feasibly take out without issue. Olwyn still carrying her wounds from the Mumakil engagement meant they had to be especially careful.

As they crept round the side of the tent another lone guard approached which they were again able to eliminate without issue. However, they were now both out in the open with several guards nearby that could wonder nearby and detect them.

Disaster did occur and two guards did walk over nearby. One was able to spot the duo and the other was in range of his fellow guard to see what happens. However, Fréleáf and Olwyn could only reach one of them directly. Getting caught now would spell disaster so they charged the first and a Heroic combat from Fréleáf was able to silence the second guard.

Reaching Héra 

The pathway to the middle building was now clear and tbe duo agreed it was more likely Héra would be held there than in any nearby tent. They moved up to the southern side of the building managing to avoid all the remaining guards, however some were now close. Though they had reached Héra and they now had to just make it to the stables the alarm was now raised. All the remaining guards were alerted to their location and Wulf, furious at this outcome joined the fray.

The Hill Tribesmen took the opportunity to engage pinning the three together back to back after they started their run towards the stables. Wulf directed his nearby guards to join him swearing to slay the intruders himself and reclaim Héra. Owlyn and Fréleáf were able to take out their opponents however Héra being unarmed was beaten back and wounded.

With Wulf now approaching both sides felt it came down to who was able to take the moment and get away first. Chance however smiled upon Wulf as he was able to pin Fréleáf in place his his nearby guards engaging Héra and Olwyn. Wulf furious at seeing Fréleáf here and knowing his fall would be a great impact for his cause challenged Fréleáf who agreed thinking the same. However Wulf was not one to fight fairly or alone and risk defeat. Despite forcing Fréleáf back neither him or his assisting guards were able to put a wound through. Both Héra and Olwyn however were able to take out the guards fighting them.

Rush to the Stables

Though they were still surrounded the trio were still able to edge closer to the stables with only a few guards standing now between them and it. Though many more were on the way from the other side of the camp. They get charged by several Hill Tribesmen and Wulf was engaged Fréleáf as they had agreed to the duel.

Héra and Olwyn again held their own and each slew their opponents. Wulf however sensed they were too close to escape at this point and in his fury was able to take slay Fréleáf. The Marshal putting up a good fight but Wulf was more than a match alone and the assistant of several other Hill Tribesmen overwhelmed him.

Now that their only defender against Wulf had fallen as neither Olwyn in her condition or Héra being unarmed and armoured. They had no choice but to prioritise escape above any further fighting. Both Olwyn and Wulf pushed to move first to avoid a fight and pin them down respectively but Olwyn was able to push Héra through first. 

Within touching distance of the stables now the focus was on Héra escaping even if it cost Owlyn her life as she took on the bulk of the forces including Wulf. Despite her condition Olwyn was able to push them back and Héra also was able to beat back the Hill Tribesmen fighting her.

In the final moment both Olwyn and Héra were able to just move first and slip through the remaining guards to make it to the stables and escape, grabbing a hurt Fréleáf on the way out who thankfully was still alive despite being so wounded. Héra had uncovered useful information while remaining imprisoned and new that Wulf had additional allies. However, when they arrived back to Edoras Helm would ignore Fréleáf's pleas to avoid a direct fight currently having seen the side of Wulf's host and worse still would dismiss him back to his province losing both a seasoned commander and a large size of forces.

Upcoming will be Helm Hammerhand leading his troops into a charge against Wulf and his horde of Hill Tribesmen plus whatever other allies may have come up.

Forces of Good recovery:

Héra, Daughter of Helm 1/2/2 1w (alive and gets a long rest) - 1 Kill
Fréleáf, First Marshal of Riddermark 0/3/0 1w (alive-survived and gets a long rest) - 6 Kills
Olwyn, Shieldmaiden of Rohan 0/2/0 1w (alive and gets a long rest) - 4 Kills

Forces of Evil recovery:

Wulf, High Lord of the Hill Tribes 0/3/3 3w (alive and gets a long rest) - 1 Kill

Review

Sentry rules are always a rough type of scenario to judge. The randomness of it just allows the scenario to go completely in either direction based on who gets control because a few good rolls means evil can find you straight away where as on the other side bad rolls mean no one gets close. I think in future id like to use a scatter die and a d6 to avoid models moving back and forth in a straight line when each turn the control flips.

We did play this twice, first time being what was listed above, the second time the hero's went more for a eliminate as many guards as possible which made it a more boring game of cat and mouse but also after taking out 6 guards they got caught and at that point getting to Héra and then out was impossible as no one can really stand against Wulf unless Freleaf gets lucky.

It's a fine scenario to try and capture what happened in the film but I dont think I would mind not playing this again in its current state. However, with Héra being rescued and Fréleáf surviving there is a chance this campaign does proceed in the way you expect. But war now comes to Rohan and we will have to see if they can survive it.

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