Rangers of Shadowdeep: The Missing

The adventure begins!

Left to Right: Goliath, Podricka, Grimjohn, Honoria, Vicaver, Fang, and Echo

Through the dim light and twisted boughs of trees, dark buildings began to appear through the soft morning mist. The tall blonde bearded ranger in the lead suddenly halted, lifting a hand to signal that the rest of the silent group should stop. A soft subvocalized growl reverberated from the gigantic brown dog at his side as both of their focused upon the village.

"What is it?" whispered Vicaver, his surcoat of grey-blue cloth and gleaming steel shield at odds with his companions, eyes clearly scanning the treeline for some sign of what had spooked his companion.

Stepping past the soldier, Honoria muttered a soft prayer and touched the simple silver holy symbol of her order rest just under her heavier winter garb "It's not what he see's... it's what he doesn't. There should be movement. Voices. Livestock. There's..."

"...Nothing. " agreed the final member of the ranger band, a young hedge witch clad in the leather skins of the deer. She closed her eyes, looking within for a moment before blanching, the movement causing the dull red pseudodragon upon her shoulder to hiss and flutter is clear agitation.

"Keep quiet. We have a ranger to find." grunted Grimjohn before unshouldering his bow.

This wasn't going to go well. 

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Scenario 1: The Missing Village

Our intrepid explorers have found themselves in a small, nameless village
deep in the woods while looking for the lost Ranger Aventine. 

The grim band of rangers surrounding the village stump (joined by Echo's
Pseudodragon Iri) as they realize they aren't quite alone!  

The twisted undead forms of the former villagers and
grotesque giant rats are here...

... and on all sides!

The first event has the large two story building collapsing, narrowly missing
a nearby undead villager. 

Echo and Iri fight off a gaggle of rats with first the ranger killing one...

...then Iri killing the next...

...before the brave pseudodragon is pulled out of the sky by it's neck!

Another rat manages to take down Goliath near the center tree just
before Podricka can save him, striking the rat down soon after.

Ranger Honoria picks the lock into one of the buildings, discovering
a clue token to reveal strange spider-like tracks all over.

Uh-oh! The dead are following her. She'll squeeze out a window
in just a moment to give the undead the slip.

The rat who killed Iri manages to overwhelm Podricka with a natural
20, before luckily succumbing to a magical bolt from a vengeful Echo.

In the T-shaped building, Grimjohn opens the door before tangling successfully
with the undead villager within. 

Using 'Blend into Shadows' Honoria allows most of the horde to head towards
the rest of her team while rushing towards the final clue token.

The Rangers with Varryn the Merchant stare down the oncoming horde...

... just in time for Echo to throw down smoke to confuse the dead and
give the rangers time to head inside, Vicaver and his loyal Fang
taking up a rearguard.

Good news? The horde turn to head to the nearest clue marker as the smoke
obscured the team's line of sight from them. Bad news? That meant they were
all coming towards Honoria!

Finding the last clue, Honoria sadly identifies the lost ranger's body by his
 beautiful sword- soon after winning the scenario.  

Post Game Results:

Found a Potion of Toughness

Goliath- Alive, but diseased
Podricka- Alive, but with Psychological Scars
Iri- Dead, torn apart by a giant rat.

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Scenario 2: Infest Trees

Following the tracks, the party finds themselves in the deepwoods.

"This doesn't feel quite right" mutters Honoria, passing a skill test and
removing one of the spiders lying in wait.

A good thing too! The forest was crawling with them.~

The four web-covered Nest Trees. Ignore the strange warp incursion happening
right behind the edge of the 'world'.

The forest floor is covered in web cocoons holding the poor
villagers- some might be alive!

The first cocoon indeed has a survivor, the Merchant's wife
from the village.

Poor Goliath! The next cocoon held a reanimated villager
who quickly dispatched the diseased dog.

Podricka and Honoria cut down the abomination even as Grimjohn saves...
the Merchant? He must've gone back into the woods looking for his wife!

Vicaver, Fang, and Echo defeat several spiders and another
reanimated villager. 

Right before reaching the Nest Trees, Grimjohn finds himself
covered in webs for the round before breaking free!

Podricka is charged with escorting the Merchant and his wife to safety.

Just as the end of the scenario was looming, another Nest Tree (and
it's giant spider) reveals itself.

Between Grimjohn and Honoria, the last two trees are burnt down!

Threat contained for now, the entire band and the two survivors
make their way back to their base with the terrible news of Aventine's fate.

Post Game Results:

Harvested a dose of Farlight Leaf.
Found a Philtre of Fairy Dust
Saved two townsfolk.

Goliath- Alive, just knocked out.

-------------------------------------------------

Podricka heaved a great sigh as she trudged through the heavy undergrowth towards where she knew the old realm road would begin to take form within the hour. She had been overjoyed at first when in the heat of combat against those wretched eight-legged beasties she had been given the honorable task of protecting the survivors and leading them to safety.

Then?

They had started talking. Honestly, it was more that they had started bickering. Husband and wife they may be, but did they have to bicker here? Now, with the smoke of those infested tree's filling the air with that sickly sweet corruption? What she could tell, it was all Indrian's (the puffing, red-faced merchant) fault that they were even in this mess. That she told him they should have pushed on to a proper Inn. He responded by offering Podricka a handful of gold to put her back in a cocoon so he could have a moment's rest.

She would have fought a hundred spiders before being subjected to this again. Maybe even a... a rat! Maybe not. In any case, she was going to have words with Honoria when they reconvened at the campsite.

Next time SHE could watch the townsfolk...

Rangers of Shadowdeep: The Party

Picture taken before all painting had been completed.

The call has gone out, and some of the realm's bravest have rallied to the Realm's borders to fight back the Shadowdeep!

What we have here is a four player Rangers of Shadowdeep campaign, just some good ol' kitchen table fun. I don't promise the coolest tables or the best painted miniatures, but it still might be fun to go on a bit of a journey! I should say for those of you who don't read the scenario's ahead of time, the whole series will be minorly spoilery, but I imagine you'll forgive me. So without further ado, the dream team!

My Ranger lass. 

Name: Honoria Constantos
Role: Skill-Focused (Rogue)
Background: Member of the Holy Order of St. Satine, a religious group venerating a long lost martyr said to have given her life to holding back the Shadowdeep and it's dark minions. More of an expert than a warrior.
Stats: +1 Move, +1 Shoot
Heroic Abilities: Halt Undead (through her faith), Blend into Shadows, Hand of Fate
Skills: 5 points into skills
Starting Companion: Podricka the Ranger Apprentice.

Painted for a friend, Nate.

Name: Vicaver
Role: Melee/Buff Tank Ranger
Background: After years of service in the Realm's army, Vicaver grew disquieted with the lax attitude amongst the noble-born officers when it came to the looming evil. So even as the portents turned dark, he left the army to wield his sword for the Realm's Rangers.
Stats: +1 Fight, +1 Health
Heroic Abilities/Spells: Parry, Enchant Steel, Shield of Light, Powerful Blow
Skills: 3 points into skills
Starting Companion: Fang, the loyal warhound.

Painted by my younger brother, Colin.

Name: Echo
Role: Mage Ranger
Background: Trained for years as a hedge witch, Echo cares as much for the natural world as the people who live upon it. Driven nearly to madness by the creeping horror of the onrushing Shadowdeep, Echo does her best to defend her home.
Stats: +1 Move, +1 Shoot
Heroic Abilities/Spells: Evade, Magical Bolt x2, Smoke, Heal
Skills: 3 points into skills
Starting Companion: Iri, the aging Pseudodragon (counts as Raptor)

Painted by my father, Rich.

Name: Grimjohn
Role: Classic Bowman/Woodsman Ranger
Background: Born and raised on the realm's borders, Grimjohn is no stranger to danger and the strange creatures of the deep woods with no use for king's or their laws. It's only now that the true nightmares are revealed that he has answered the call to serve.
Stats: +1 Move, +1 Shoot, +1 Fight
Heroic Abilities: Focus, Deadly Shot, Evade, Steady Aim, Dive for Cover
Skills: 2 points into skills
Starting Companion: Goliath, the big doofy warhound.

Nemesis: Painted Board Game

In the Darkness of Space, only your friends can hear you scream.

Awoken from hibernation, confused and turned around you only know one thing- you are not alone on this ship. Luckily, all of the monsters are now painted!

I knew from the moment I saw the sculpts on kickstarter I wanted to paint these alien menaces from Awaken Realms, and now I have the whole bunch ready and colorized for horror in space- just in time, because honestly we're loving this game so far!

The Star of Show, The Queen and her horde of larva streaming forwards
out of the goop below. She was an absolute treat to paint. 

The whole host of alien beasties looking to swarm over the crew.

Adults, creepers, and larva's to the left.

With terrifying Breeders taking up the flank with more smaller
intruders on th right. 

Glistening green goop! Sewage? Coolant? Royal Jelly? Who knows. 

These boys are so BIG compared to the poor crew. 

The crew of the Nemesis, ready to fight Intruders and their own
traitorous impulses. 

I opted to keep a green uniform on all of the members except for the
soldier who has on an extra protective suit. You can see even the scientist has
the same uniform underneath his lab coat. 

Pilot, soldier, scout. 

Scientist, Mechanic, Captain. 

2000pt Doubles match Greywatch v. Deathwolves

ITC Scenario: What's Yours is Mine (Control Both Objectives that you placed at the beginning of the game)

Team 1: Greyknights/Deathwatch 2000 pts (1000 each)

Secondaries- Reaper, Old School, Ground Control

Greyknights-

Vanguard Detachment
- Castellan Crowe, Warlord
- Purifier Squad, x4 Force Glaives, x1 Psycannon
- Purifier Squad, x5 Force Glaives
- Rhino
- Paladin Ancient, Banner of Refining Flame

Vanguard Detachment

- Grandmaster in Nemesis Dreadknight w/ Heavy Psycannon + Nem. Greatsword
- Purifier Squad, x4 Force Glaives, x1 Psycannon
- Purifier Squad, x5 Force Glaives
- Dreadnought

Deathwatch

Patrol Detachment
- Watchmaster, Warlord
- Veteran Squad x1 Sgt. w/ Bolter + Power Maul, Vet w/ Bolter + Power Sword, Vet w/ Frag Cannon, x2 Vets Bolter + Stormshield, Vanguard Vet w/ Powerfist + Stormshield
- Veteran Squad x1 Sgt. w/ Bolter + Power Maul, Vet w/ Bolter + Power Sword, Vet w/ Frag Cannon, x2 Vets Bolter + Stormshield
- Hellblaster Squad, x5 Plasma Incinerator
- Hellblaster Squad, x5 Plasma Incinerator
- Venerable Dreadnought w/ Lascannon + Missile Launcher
- Razorback w/ Assault Cannon

Team 2: Deathguard/Space Wolves 2000pts

(As this wasn't my team, I'm less exact about the breakdown of the opposing force)

Secondaries- Kingslayer (Grandmaster in Dreadknight), Big Game Hunter, Recon

Deathguard

Battalion Detachment
- Lord of Contagion, Warlord
- Malignant Plaguecaster
- x10 Pox Walkers
- x10 Pox Walkers
- 7 Plague Marines with x2 Flails
- Rhino
- Rhino
- Blight Drone w/ Fleshmower
- x2 Foul Blightspawn
- Noxious Blightbringer

Space Wolves
Battalion Detachment

- Wolf Lord w/ Thunderhammer + Stormshield, jump-pack and Armor of Russ, Warlord
- Wolf Guard Battle leader w/ Jump-pack, thunder hammer + storm shield
- Rune Priest w/ jump-pack + Black Death
- x8 Wulfen
- x5 Bloodclaws
- x5 Bloodclaws
- x5 Bloodclaws
- Rhino

Set up. The Deathwatch set up their gun line in the middle. Across the map the
Space Wolves cluster in the ruins next to a rhino full of plague marines. The Deathguard
spread themselves across the field with the poxwalkers around the right objective and a
Blight Drone out front to eat fire. 

Greyknights go heavy to the right of the Deathwatch, with one squad
of Deathwatch veterans in deepstrike.

Hellblasters in the ruins, the Watchmaster doling out rerolls all around- the first
turn will see almost the entire Greywatch firepower directed into killing
the Blight Drone. 

The Greyknight's plan is at this point to rush the left and take that objective
from the pox walkers while putting pressure on the center and protecting
the Deathwatch gun line. 

The Space Wolves are hampered early on by some bad run rolls, leaving
the Deathguard to get pounded the first two rounds of shooting.

Note the Noxious Blightbringer in the center, he'll be showing up again. 

Greyknights begin to surge down the right flank...

Occupying the ruins and gunning down the first squad of pox-walkers.

In the center the Deathguard Rhino holding two Foul Blightspawn
and the Malignant Plaguecaster is destroyed and combined fire
and psychic abilities drop most of the inhabitants

In a huge explosion (brought on by a command point) that Deathguard
Rhino kills two Deathwatch Veterans before all but a single Blightspawn remain.

Turn two sees the teleporting Deathwatch Veteran squad appearing behind
Deathguard lines to threaten the pox-walkers and their objective.

The Space Wolves counter Attack hard, Wulfen and blood claws cutting down the
remaining Veterans and Purifiers in the center. 

With overlapping auras and a million attacks the forces of the Inquisition
are outmatched in the combat phase, the Space Wolves saving the two
Deathguard characters in the center.

The next turn has the smites from the Purifiers and Hellblaster fire
killing the Bloodclaws and the Wulfen. 

The Greyknight Rhino rolls up to add some flanking support as well as
killing the few remaining pox walkers. 

The Gunline is exposed! The Lord of Contagion teleports in while the Plague Marines
counter pile out of their destroyed Rhino to support him. The desperate Watchmaster
charges forwards...

... and kills three of the Plague Marines before being overwhelmed by their flails. 

The Grey knights form up to withstand the meat of the Space
Wolf characters charging them. 

The Lord of Contagion executes a squad of Hellblasters before
consolidating into the Dreadnought. 

The Heroes of the Space Wolves rush over to the Greyknight line, smashing another
Purifier Squad, killing the brotherhood ancient, and taking six wounds off the Grandmaster!

The Greyknight Rhino and Deathwatch Veterans (making sure to continue
holding the objective) rush forwards to reinforce the main line. 

The next turn is decisive. The Frag Cannon blows apart the Wolf Guard
Battle Leader, Smites from the Greyknights kill the Wolf Lord, and the
Grandmaster finishes off the Rune Priest in close combat.

A Squad of Bloodclaws tasked with holding one of the objectives. 

State of the Deathwatch gunline at the end. The Venerable Dreadnought is
holding at one wound, with the Watchmaster and one of the squads of
Hellblasters dead.

The other has been mauled, about to flee from combat with some blood claws.

Despite the gunline's collapse, going on turn 5 the Inquisition's position
is very strong, with a lead on points that will only grow from there.

Sitting alone an exposed on the center objective, the bellringer tolls  as the Space Wolf/Deathguard
players decide to concede. Victory for the Greywatch! 

It was a great game! Not knowing what exactly we were fighting against when list building led to a surprisingly hard counter to our opponents melee heavy army. The Deathwatch Hellblasters with Watchmaster rerolls were devastatingly effective for the first three or so turns and the purifiers low smite range was compensated for by the fact the enemy wanted to run right at them. Still it was really close with lots of pushes and pulls of luck but in the end our opponents just couldn't quite grab the secondaries as fast as they needed.

Great fun and I can't wait to play again!