Mission 3, Scenario 3: The Defense of Sanguine Abbey

As the Ranging Party emerged damaged and bloodied from the bog lands, they became alarmed by screams in the distance.

As the Rangers drew near, they realized where they were. Despite all the foul corruption spread in the lands, the Sanguine Abbey still stood. However, God only knows what lies within. 

The Ranger's split up to over the major entrances of the Abbey. 

To the Ranger's surprise, a few monks and Lorenthian Soldiers still lived and defended the Abbey. Their faces were grim and hope had faded from their memories. 

 Valerian, Cornelius, Alaric, and a Lorenthian Knight named Balerius held the Northern flank and clashed with zombies while Quintus made way to treasure in the distance. 

As combat erupted throughout the Abbey an un-welcomed screech came from the Shadows. It took the deaths of a Lorenthian Archer and monk to bring down the wicked TWO-headed troll. Not to mention Rogvaldas had one last remaining bit of vitality before getting healed by Valerian.

The defenders regrouped around and in the Abbey as the night was still young.

The marauding Orc Hunting Parties had now arrived in significant numbers.

Two foul spiders emerged from within the Abbey and surprised the defenders

As day began to break the remaining Orcs fled the area, the Abbey had been held. The Ranger and Monks took what books they could carry back to Alladore, as the Abbey would now be undefended against the corruption of the Shadow Deep. 

Mission 3, Scenario 1 and Scenario 2: Descent into the Shadows

Sadly, I failed to take sufficient pictures of the action. Probably due to the fact that these two scenarios gave me more difficulty than all the prior scenarios and simultaneously felt underwhelming and anti climactic. These two were definitely my least favorite scenarios from the initial campaign. I also swapped Lukian the Hound for a Guardsman named Alaric as Valerian had gained a level and some recruitment points. 

Alaric was the descendant of Northmen who had fought as auxiliaries in the Aquilian Empire. After the fall of the Aquilian Empire these Northmen were integral in the formation of Alladore's standing army. Alaric's family had a long tradition of serving as officer's in Alladore's Army. 

Alaric was the commander of Tor Varden in the months prior to Lorenthia's engulfment by the shadow deep. He had now seen the evil of the shadow deep first hand as he was the poor soldier tied to signal pyre at the top of Tor Varden. He watched helplessly as the Shadow Deep's corruption took hold of the ancient tower.

The Rangers followed the trail of Shadow from Tor Varden, taking them to the precipice of the Shadow Deep. The Ranging party descended into a rocky chasm unsure of what lay ahead. 

the trail ahead was windy and treacherous. The party would have to move slowly and surefooted to prevent any misteps.

Valerian lead the way with his Northmen companions in toe. Odd flying creatures had quickly become aware of the Ranging party and assaulted the Rangers.

Melee broke out but these bizarre floating creature's were no match for the combat prowess of the Rangers

And here the pictures stop... Varus the Rogue was knocked out by falling boulders in one hit, and the rangers had to slowly scale the scree as they made way to the bottom of the path. Many "Shadow Flies" were killed and they were underwhelming foes. 

At the Bottom of the stairs there was a foul mist and stench. A deep pool of dark water had formed and surrounded the bottom of the stair case. If the rangers wished to move forward they would have to wade through the pool. God only knows the creature's lurking within the waters. The ranger's became tense as the unknown was thrusted upon them. 

The Rangers swam forward, but Cornelius lagged behind as the foul water gave the Arkanist great difficulty.

And again the pictures stopped as aquatic zombies swarmed the party as they were about to reach the shoreline. The party was stuck in the water longer than I would've liked. Besides a swarm of Zombies an Orc patrol appeared in the distance and the Orc archers took advantage of the harsh marshland and shot Rogvaldas. The party was beginning to take casualties in amounts previously not suffered.

Mission 2 Scenario 3: The Top of Tor Varden

The heroes entered the top of Tor Varden through a small hatch. They were unseen as they emerged single file from a small hatch. A large signal pyre occupied the center of the Tower. A man was chained to the pyre top, likely as a sacrifice to the Shadows.

A Shadow Knight had taken hold of Tor Varden. Its plan was to light Tor Varden's pyre with fell magic, strengthening the shadow deeps hold on the territory.

The heroes gather strength before confronting the darkness

They make way unseen

The rest of the party emerges, except Lukian whom was left to guard the wounded soldiers in the lower levels. 

The orc was killed when the Heroes charged in. The Shadow knight would not go down easily. Luckily ,Valerian had recovered a magic blade in the Orc encampment on the Ethel River, Gaius and Rogvaldas were proving incapable of combating the Knight. 

The rear group split up, with Varus making a sprint for cover while Cornelius and Quintus took position at the walls and prepared for oncoming archer fire.

The Shadow Knight had knocked all the toughest rangers to their knees, but Valerian and the Shadow Knight remained locked in combat, man to man.

My pictures fall short here, Varus through an exploding cocktail at an Orc archer with no effect. Quintus and Orc archers exchanged arrows, until he and Cornelius charged out and finished the job. Most importantly, Valerian killed the Shadow Knight, before the risk of lighting the Pyre was imminent. 

Valerian charged out of the tower walls to bring the fight to the Orcs. Of course they were no match for the Ranger Captain. 

The ancient tower of Tor Varden was cleansed, and now offers a beacon of hope to the Kingdom of Alladore.

For those curious about the walkways: (1) Foamcore board with the paper peeled off on the side that is carved (2) draw lines into the foam with a pencil and a ruler (3) GENTLY score the wood panels with a wire brush to create a wood effect and brush off the created foam dust (4) paint with your preferred wood colors.

Mission 2, Scenario 2: Entry into Tor Varden

Tor Varden stood as a relic of times past. For centuries it watched the north eastern border of the Aquillan Empire. After the dissolution of the Empire, Tor Varden remained in use by Alladore and stood as a reminder of the great strength of ages past. Now, it has been overrun by the forces of Shadow, and its occupation is a festering and existential insult to Alladore.

Now that the Ethel was crossed and the occupied territory was successfully infiltrated, Valerian decided to scout Tor Varden. If Tor Varden could be cleansed, Alladore would surely find new strength and courage against the Shadows.

The rangers enter the tower unnoticed into a room of torture and death.

An unarmed soldier stands in the middle of the room, being beaten by an Orc brute. Two more prisoners moan in the distance and are chained to the far wall. 

Valerian charges the nearest orc allowing Quintus and Gaius to charge the Orc brute. Sadly the rangers were unable to stop the Brute, and the prisoner was killed in one hit.

The fighting continued as the rest of the ranging party entered the chamber

The room was clear and a clue was found beneath the brute.

The forces of shadow were still unaware of the ranging party, and the rangers made haste into the next room.

Tor Varden's storage room.

The battered team sprang forward

The wounded rangers held the rear

The remaining orc was swarmed and the room was cleared without the alarm being raised.

The rangers entered the final room of the lower complex. The room seemed to have some forgotten arcane purpose. It was now being corrupted by an Orc shaman performing some putrid ritual.

The rangers charged forward into the two orcs standing guard.

Lukian was wounded in the fray and the shaman rushed in to fight the rangers.

The party swarmed the shaman and cleared the final room of the lower complex.

The upper level awaits!

Mission 2 Scenario 1: Crossing the Ethel

Got my third game of Rangers in. My wargaming has been at an all time high now that I can game on my own. 

After returning from the foray into the Osterwald, Valerian was quickly given a new assignment. Orcs had been penetrating from beyond the Ethel River into Alladore. Reports suggest that the Orcs have secured the Ostmark crossing and the Tower of Tor Varden. Valerian was given the task of scouting the area, and if possible to retake the ancient Tower. 

Quintus Falco was sent ahead to scout the terrain and observe the Orc position. The Orcs did not seem to know of the Rangers presence. The Rangers moved forward cautiously and split up.

 The filthy Orcs, were busy running a muck and scuttling about their camp. 

Valerian, Luke, and Rogvaldas moved up the Eastern flank slowly, as an Orc sentinel was near. 

On the western flank, the wily Varus sprinted forward to cover while Cornelius Gaius and Quintus advanced along the rocks. 

Valerian decided to take his group and spring into action. They quickly felled the scout without raising any awareness

The Orcs continued to move about chaoticly in their camp

As Valerian and crew dispatched the first Orc sentinel, they had been spotted by an Orc Scout to their rear. The Orcs raised the alarm and the scout took aim and missed

Cornelius and Gaius charged an unsuspecting Orc Scout. 

Valerian, Rogvaldas, and the hound moved into dispatch the scout.

Cornelius was badly wounded in the fray....but the western party pressed on.

The Orcs in the camp had caught site of Valerian from across the bridge charged forward.

Two orcs stayed behind to guard the camp.

The Orc Chieftain however, was eager for blood.

Two Orcs approached from the crossing and charged wildly at Luke

Valerian and Rogvaldas formed up to meet the Orcs with steel.

After dispatching the Orc scout, Varus and Gaius made way to Valerian

The first Orc was killed but the second came seconds later, and seconds later he was killed

As the group killed the second Orc the chieftain closed in 

Gaius came to bolster the line, and the Chieftain was felled

The group advanced and were ambushed by a sneaky Orc.

A soldier scout from a nearby garrison had come to the crossing alone... but his presence was welcomed by an Orc archer taking aim and missing.

The Soldier charged the archer, and Varus and Quintus rushed to his aid.

Valerian got to the bridge and was met by an Orc 

Raven scouts from the shadow deep had arrived to the rear of the ranging party. The Ravens were too late as the rangers had already established a strong footing on the Northern bank of the river.

The Ravens dispersed as they would not be able to get to Tor Varden Tower in time to warn the Orc Occupation

With the Ostmark Crossing secured, the Ranging party advanced to the ancient watchtower of Tor Varden.