[WFRP] The Bloody Crown XIV

[RossN]

Jarla

In the unlikely event we both survive this I'll have to talk to you about tactics Sieghard, Jarla thought.

With a sigh she lifted her second pistol and shot at the pikemen, then drew her blade. "Civilians! If you want to fight grab anything that works as a shield! These Tilean scum will die hard!

Spoiler: OOC:

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Aim (Half-Action)
Missile Weapon Attack (Pistol): (1d100)[77] vs 77
Damage (if it hits): (1d10+5)[7] or (1d10+5)[9]
Holster pistol/Unsheathe Sword

[Thragka]

Urgrim

Urgrim put his right foot back and shifted his weight as the pikemen bore down on them. "Well, Jarla Schreiber," he said, "it's an honour to fight with your clan again."

Spoiler: OOC

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Urgrim is in Defensive Stance while the Iron Company act (from the bottom of the previous round). On his own turn, he'll act conditionally. If either he or Jarla have been attacked by the pikemen, Urgrim will make a Guarded Attack against the nearest attacker. If neither of them have been actively targetted, but on the assumption that the Iron Company do close the gap in their NPC turn, Urgrim will Manoeuvre in an attempt to step past the nearest oncoming pikeman and inwards relative to their square, and then adopt a Parrying Stance with his remaining half action.

Some rolls which may or may not apply:
A Weapon Skill test: Base WS 65 - (1d100)[61]
A Damage roll, including Urgi's Strength Bonus: Damage - (1d10+4)[6]

[rax]

Bardhyl, 24th Sommerzeit

“Your plan worked,” he said, quiet enough not to disturb her grief. “A few losses, but none of the soldiers got away. Half of them went down fighting, the other half are prisoners.” He looked around the hall again, his eye roaming over the bodies that lay scattered across the floor. They didn’t seem to trouble him. “Morr’s Seat is ours again. What do you want to do with it?”

"Right now? See that the dead and wounded are taken care of. Find some place to hold the prisoners until I can interrogate them. Recover all the taxes these bastards have taken and return them to the people, or at least distribute enough so that no one needs to go hungry for a while. Get everyone roaring drunk, celebrate today's heroes, and remind our people what we can do when we stand together!" Bardhyl shot back, keeping his voice as low as Wadim's, but speaking with far greater intensity.

"After that, the really hard work begins. For that, we'll need all the vrani, not just Morr's Seat, so you might as well send word to the Karvan chiefs right away that I need to speak with them. The next thing we need to do is deal with Sforza's tax caravan. I reckon we have a couple of days at most before they're knocking at our gates and I want to be ready for them when they get here. The chiefs can help by setting scouts to watch for them," he added. "But we can talk more about this once we've dealt with the more immediate matters," he said, glancing back at the dead and wounded, and the prisoners.

[LCP]

Morr’s Seat, 24th Sommerzeit

Wadim grinned his crooked grin. “Sounds good to me,” he said. “Very good indeed.”

There was a sound of splintering wood from the back of the hall, as someone lost patience with a locked door to which they couldn’t find the key. It was the door to the store-room, and behind it, all the food, gold and iron Orso and his men had hoarded for the tax collectors was stacked in orderly piles. Cheers went up, and the vrani began rushing through the open door, emerging with sacks of barley and wheels of goat’s cheese held like trophies over their heads…

OOC:

Spoiler

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I think we can break out of doing everything blow by blow here. I’d like to see how Bardhyl handles the immediate aftermath that he describes in the first para of your post, particularly speeches and celebrations, and any interrogation of the prisoners. You are in charge here now, so feel free to move things on and set the scene yourself!

Beyond that, if you want to work up your longer-term plan and either put it up here in the OOC, or send it to me by PM/discord, we can try and catch this timeline up to the Manann’s Keep one (probably overtake it actually, with the size of the Raven Hills it’s gonna take more than 2 days for the outside world to start reacting!).

---

Manann’s Keep, 26th Sommerzeit

Outside the square

Jarla’s shot slammed into the breastplate of one of the pikemen in the front rank, denting it but failing to pierce the hardened steel. In another moment, the line of pikes was on them.

Raising his shield over his head, Urgrim tried to force his way forward under the thrusting points, but was driven back, his boots skidding in the dust. Jarla twisted nimbly out of the way of a thrust that would have speared her through the neck, and nearly ran into another at the height of her heart. Only her dancer’s agility kept her from being skewered.

The farmers around them had neither Urgrim’s shield nor Jarla’s skill, and their shouts were turning rapidly from anger to terror as more of them fell. Not one of them had successfully reached the soldiers behind the wall of spear-tips, and the bodies of those who had tried were being trodden under the Iron Company’s boots as they advanced. The Tileans’ line was bending around Urgrim, the sole point of resistance that wouldn’t give - but smelling panic on the air, they pressed the attack all the same. The mob was ready to break.

Inside the square

Weathering his attackers’ blows, Sieghard lashed out with furious strength, striking one of the Tileans a bruising blow in the arm. The man staggered back, but his comrade stepped up, driving Sieghard back with a vicious stab at his throat.

Fighting Sforza’s veterans was very different to Rorik’s wild men, or the shambling army of the dead. Sieghard was sure he could take either of these men, given time - but time was what he didn’t have. Over the heads of the soldiers surrounding him, he could hear the cries of fear and pain as they did their bloody work - and just behind him, Corrado was still stumbling with one hand to his dented helmet, slurring incomprehensibly as he tried to form a command. It couldn’t be too long until the sergeant regained his senses.

OOC:

Spoiler

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Corrado has 1 full round of being stunned remaining.

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard

Bastards, Sieghard thought. Bandits. Butchers. Despite his efforts to ignore it, the screams from the crowd were starting to get to him. For the first time in years, he thought of his youth and the village brought to ruin by men no better than these. He remembered Caerfort and the people he failed to save. He couldn't afford to let it distract him.

He could feel the panic in the air - the farmers wouldn't hold long. Maybe this truly was inevitable and nothing he could've done would've stopped it, but there was one thing he could do. He sidestepped the swordthrust and forced the man back with the edge of his shield, then used the opening he had created to turn on Corrado.

You ordered all this death. Only fitting that you die with them.

Spoiler

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Swift attack, prioritizing Corrado first, then Mr. 8 wounds second.

(1d100)[70] vs 86 (61 WS + 5 Best Quality Sword + 20 Corrado Stunned)
(1d10+7)[15] Damage

(1d100)[44] vs Probably 66
(1d10+7)[11] Damage

(1d100)[59] vs Probably 66
(1d10+7)[12] Damage

[RossN]

Jarla

Jarla felt her heart sink as the shot - admittedly not her best - didn't even make one of the pikemen blink. Still she was commited now.

"Someone run and get and get the archers at the camp. Tell them these Tilean dogs are going to kill their commander - if they don't hurry!"

She probably could have raced there fastest herself but Jarla doubted the civilians would last if she left. They might not even last if she stayed. Gritting her teeth she thrust with her sword, trying to duck under and around the pikes where hopefully the Iron Company men could not easily attack her - though of course they still had armour. She tried to hold next to Ungrim or as near as she could so at least they could fight together.

OOC:

Spoiler

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Jeepers.

Swift Attack:

#1 (1d100)[96] vs 51 - Spent Fortune Point to re-roll (41)
Damage: (1d10+4)[14]

#2 (1d100)[10] vs 51
Damage: (1d10+4)[10]

Parrying Stance

[Thragka]

Urgrim’s shield bashed a pike-head away from a trajectory towards the dwarf’s throat, while the side of his axe deflected the shaft of another.

”We’re enemies, umgi?” he bellowed. ”You’re making a lot. The Rock and the Vale!” Once again, he smashed axe on shield, then quickly resumed his low, defensive stance.

Spoiler: OOC

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Alright, Urgrim’s not Manoeuvring anywhere fast with these layers of pikes, but if he’s providing a point of resistance, even temporarily, let’s try to make the most of that. With the crowd already nearly buckling, I don’t expect this to work, but it just might work. A Public Speaking Charm roll to make it seem like heroes do exist and maybe this ragtag band of do-gooders will win the day if they all pull together.

Fellowship 32 - (1d100)[97], Fortune - (1d100)[63] hahahahaha nope

After that, I’ll use the other half action for Defensive Stance.

[LCP]

Manann's Keep, 26th Sommerzeit

Outside the square

No-one was listening to Jarla. No-one was listening to Urgrim, either. As the march of the pikes pressed mercilessly forward, all they could hear was the screams of those trapped in front of them. The rout came like a river breaching its banks - first as rivulets, then a flood. All along the face where Urgrim and Jarla were fighting, the crowd broke and fled back into the camp, some of them knocking each other in the rush to escape.

The Iron Company held their line, letting the peasants run. They had blood on their boots, and on the tips of their pikes, but nowhere else. More of those bloody pike-tips now swung round to bear on Urgrim and Jarla, holding them in a semicircle of sharp steel points.

"Getta le armi!" barked one of the men in the front rank, jerking his pike down to indicate that the defiant pair should drop their weapons. "Ora!"

Before he could act on his threat, a scream rang out from somewhere behind the line. The Tileans' pikes wavered as those in the back rank turned their heads to look - for a moment, their attention was not on their opponents.

Inside

Sieghard's sword struck like a viper, downing first the stumbling Corrado and then his latest attacker in bright sprays of blood. His remaining attacker shifted to the back foot, clearly re-assessing how dangerous Sieghard was.

<The sergeant's down!> he yelled, taking a probing thrust at Sieghard. <The lordling's killed Corrado!>

All around the inside of their formation, the heads of the Iron Company began to turn. On the face of the square to Sieghard's left, and behind him, in front of the mill, all resistance seemed to have folded. Ahead of him and to his right, the square still seemed to be under pressure, and the thin-stretched lines of pikemen could not look away for long. Still, for better or worse, he had their attention now.

OOC:

Spoiler

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Standard Attack + Parrying Stance from the Iron Company man.

(1d100)[77], (1d10+4)[7]
Sieghard_Parry - (1d100)[63]

Nope.

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard

Sieghard's eyes darted from one group to the next. It was far too many for him to handle all at once. He spotted a place where the Iron Company ranks were thinnest and darted towards the mill. Even if it wouldn't give him a route to freedom, at the very least it would provide a choke point and a narrow enough space that their pikes would be worthless.

Spoiler

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Mill it is. If a double move will make it, do that. Run if necessary. Slam the door to preventa follow-up charge.

[RossN]

Jarla

Sieghard moving to the mill door decided things for Jarla. She hated to cut and run but beyond surrender - and she was not willing to that - it seemed the only option was to withdraw and regroup so they could perform a rescue.

Holding her blade before her she began an elegant dance of footwork that she hoped the lumbering pikemen could not keep up with. Once out of range of those pikes it would be time to sprint for the camp and the Thorns.

"Farewell gentlemen."

OOC:

Spoiler

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Jarla Disengages and begins moving towards the camp and the Thorns.

[LCP]

Manann's Keep, 26th Sommerzeit

Outside the Square

Defended by Urgrim's raised shield and Jarla's dancing blade, the two holdouts managed to put some much-needed breathing space between themselves and the pikes of the Iron Company. The Tileans didn't follow them. Already stretched thin, they held their formation, redressing their ranks. Only their eyes followed the pair as they made their escape into the panicked crowd. Her parting glimpse of the soldiers' scarred faces made Jarla wonder what Giovanni Carraciolo would make of the news that she had crossed blades with his men...

OOC:

Spoiler

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The Iron Company aren't giving chase - you're free from combat time.

Inside

Raising his shield, Sieghard charged like a bull for the doors of the mill. Swords swung at him as he passed, making him duck and weave. One jarring blow struck chips of wood from his shield's face, but failed to break the seasoned timbers. In another moment, he was at the doors. He crashed through, slamming them shut behind him.

The uproar from the soldiers he had left behind him was instant. With a bang, the doors swung back open, armoured figures pouring through. The doors were only wide enough for two Iron Company men to fight abreast, and so it was two Tileans who came at him, swords flashing.

OOC:

Spoiler

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Two Iron Company men make half action moves, open the doors, and make Standard Attacks. There are more directly behind them, but for now Sieghard has them in a choke point.

(1d100)[65]
(1d10+4)[11]

(1d100)[33]
(1d10+4)[8]

With +20 from Standard Attacks and 2:1 that's 2 hits, but Sieghard's Dodge (rolled in the OOC) will block the first and his soak will stop the second.

The inside of the mill is dark: Sieghard only gets the broad details as he rushes in from the broad daylight outside, before the Iron Company force him to turn back to face them. What he can immediately see is:

• The central windshaft descending to the millstone, which stands in the middle of the floor.
• A steep, ladder-like staircase going up to a higher level.
• A lot of clutter on the ground in the shape of sacks and barrels - the stores the farmers have been protecting?

He cannot see any bright source of light that would indicate an open back door or window. He can make a Perception test to try to get a better read on his surroundings, and he can get a +20 if he spends a half action on it.

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard

Sieghard only had a moment to look around before the soldiers were upon him again. Sword still at the ready, he hacked at the first man through the door.

Spoiler

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Half action single move probably isn't worth it, so remaining half action for a standard attack. If the surviving soldier Sieghard was already fighting is one of the two through he's engaged with now, that's Sieghard's target.

(1d100)[11] vs 61 WS +10 Standard attack +5 Best craftsmanship sword = 76
(1d10+7)[8] Damage (Boosted to 13 by DoS)

[Thragka]

Urgrim pulled back with his shield raised until he was sure he was out of range of the pikes, and then turned and ran after Jarla. The individual voices of soldiers and protesters dulled into a background hubbub as they pulled away from the mill. Urgrim kept a steady pace until he was close enough to the small detachment of the Thorns to identify Hanna.

"Sieghard's done a stone-headed thing," he said, the connotation ambiguous. "He's fought the Iron Company's commander, and holed down in the mill." A pause. "It's not a good situation."

"Not tellin' you what to do, but I think you folks need to decide quickly what your next move is. Either try and get him out of there, or pull back to Painford and regroup." Information delivered, Urgrim pulled himself straight and sucked in a few deep breaths to quell his panting.

[LCP]

26th Sommerzeit

Sieghard

Sieghard's first opponent in the doorway evaded his swing, nimble on his feet despite the cramped conditions. More were pressing in behind, and Sieghard knew he couldn't hold them back for long. Booting the second soldier back with a well-placed kick to the breastplate, he grabbed hold of one of the barrels of grain - it was lighter than he expected - and hurled it at the pair of them, knocking them back into their brothers behind in a tangle of limbs and clattering armour. Angry Tilean shouts pursued him as he turned and ran for the ladder. That was a lot better than angry Tilean men.

Heaving himself up onto the floor above, Sieghard took in what he could see. A large wooden gear-wheel was mounted here to the shaft of the mill, coupled by another wheel to a loop of thick iron chain that passed through the ceiling above. Right now it wasn't moving - but against the far wall, beside a chute that descended from the upper levels into some grain bins, he could see a large wooden lever that looked like it might change that. To its right was another window, larger, and with the shutters open. From what he could see through it, Sieghard guessed it was five or six yards off the ground. Finally, another steep ladder led up to the third level above.

He heard steps thudding on the ladder below him, and the voices of the Iron Company growing louder. Whatever his next move was, he had to make it quickly.

OOC:

Spoiler

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Sieghard's Successes: 1/3
Iron Company Hot On His Tail: 2/4

Choices here:
Cogs in the Machine: Activating the windmill's machinery would make this into a hazardous environment, which Sieghard could use to thin the ranks of his pursuers and buy himself more breathing room. This would be an Intelligence test at -10. I'll lift the penalty if Sieghard can think of any particularly smart way to use it - maybe even a bonus if it's super smart.
The High Ground: Sieghard can keep trying to win the foot race up the ladders to gain more ground, though of course the higher he gets the more dangerous any jump from a window will be. A straight Ag test will do for this.
All I Gotta Do Is Jump: Sieghard can just take a running leap for the window. He can't see what's under the window, and stopping to check will cost you this round and allow 1 Iron Company man to gain on you. If you're happy to make a leap of faith, however, give me the Ag rolls for a fall high enough to be worth 2 checks.

Jarla & Urgrim

Hanna and her Thorns were waiting on the edge of the camp, keeping out of the way of the now-terrified peasants running from the scene of the massacre. Nobody wanted to see another uniform, and for those in uniform without the benefit of armour or a hedge of pikes to hide behind, they didn't particularly want to be seen either.

"Ranald's bloody balls," said Hanna, when she heard Urgrim's report. "Shallya save us... Sigmar's sausage on a ****ing spit." For all that, she didn't seem to lose her head. Turning, she motioned quickly to two of the Thorns. "Tomas, Ehrl - run back to Painford and tell Herr Stubbs and the others what's happening. Stick together, and don't let any of the Tileans see you. You understand?" The two soldiers nodded and took off at a sprint. "The rest of you, come with me."

She paused for a moment, looking back at Urgrim and Jarla. "You can go with them, or come with us - but we're not leaving the commander behind."

[Thragka]

Urgrim and Jarla

Urgrim indicated after the departing Tomas and Ehrl to Jarla. “You’ve a horse, Schreiber? You could speed things up by giving one of them a ride. I’ve a mule, but I doubt it can carry both me and another.”

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard

Sieghard didn't have time to look around. With the sounds from below getting closer, he'd have to improvise. He made a dash for the lever and tried to make sense of which parts would start moving in which way.

Spoiler

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(1d100)[38] vs 51 Base int =/- modifiers

Safe to say that chain will start moving pretty soon. The first thing to come to mind is would it be possible for Sieghard be able to use what's around to either
a) Attach something to it that would create tension in such a way that when the force becomes to much, it goes flying in the direction of the staircase/Tileans
b) Get whoever is unfortunate enough to be the first up the staircase caught on the chain and let physics do the rest.

I'd probably need more specifics about what's on the second floor if you want details on how he'd accomplish either.

[LCP]

Sieghard, 26th Sommerzeit

The wooden lever thudded down. A deep, slow groan of timber breathed through the mill, as somewhere out of sight above him, some great tension was released. Nothing moved at first, though - nothing until, with a loud clack, the iron chain shifted by a single link.

The first Iron Company man mounted the top of the steps, his sword quickly in his hand as he laid eyes on Sieghard again. Clack. <There he is!> he shouted to the others close behind. Clack. Clack. <He's trapped! Don't let him get away!> Clack. Clack. Clack.

Still, he waited for his fellows to join him before rushing at Sieghard. Watching the accelerating linkage, Sieghard seized up a loose board and jammed it between the great gears of the shaft. The mechanism growled and seized, the tension building again as it fought against the blockage. Another Tilean reached the top of the ladder, and then another.

<Together, now!> said the first. <At him!>

With a united yell, the soldiers rushed forward - and with a crack, the board broke, sending its pieces flying across the room like splinters from a cannon-shot. The Tileans fell back, yelling in surprise and dismay - Sieghard had bought himself a moment more.

OOC:

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I think you've already got a plan, so I won't bother presenting you with more alternate options, particularly since Sieghard hasn't changed his position.

To do what you were discussing OOC, I think it'll be an Ag test to leap out of the window, and a S test to hold onto the turning sails. Fail the Ag test and you're into a 6-yard fall; fail the S test and it's a 3-yard fall. In the event of a fall, Sieghard can test Ag to control his descent in the normal rulebook way.

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard

As the soldiers picked themselves up, Sieghard glanced out the window. With no chance of getting back to the ground floor, it was likely the best option he had to escape. He took a step back and before the Iron Company could reach him, threw himself outside.

Spoiler

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(1d100)[49] vs
(1d100)[24] vs 57 Ag for the initial jump
(1d100)[88] vs 61 Strength to grab the sail

(1d100)[61] vs 57 Ag rolled preemptively to control the fall incase of a fail.

[LCP]

Sieghard, 26th Sommerzeit

Outside the window, Sieghard could see the sails of the mill turning, tantalisingly slow. He could hear the Iron Company regaining their feet, closing in behind him. Clambering up onto the windowsill, he waited for the last possible moment to jump.

He hit the turning sail square on, taut canvas tearing under his hands as he tried to catch hold. His fingers caught at one of the beams beneath, but the grip was poor, and his armoured weight was too much. As the sail continued to turn, the beam slipped out of his grasp, and he fell the last few yards to the ground.

OOC:

Spoiler

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Sieghard takes a hit for (1d10+3)[11] damage, ignoring armour but not TB.

Up above him, the angry faces of the Tileans appeared in the window. They weren't about to try the jump themselves, but yelled out for their brother's on the ground to give chase. The crowd of peasants had long since fallen back from the foot of the mill - if Sieghard wanted to outpace his pursuers he needed to run.

OOC:

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The camp surrounds the mill on all sides, and gives way to farmland beyond. Sieghard can try to simply outrun the Iron Company (there's probably a limit to how far any pursuers will want to follow him from the main company), he could try to lose them amidst the tents and other concealing obstacles, or he could try to blend into the mass of peasants fleeing the massacre. The trsts for each of those would be Ag, Stealth or Fellowship, respectively. The Ag test for a straight foot race will be opposed.

[RossN]

Jarla

Jarla hesitated a long moment, obviously reluctant to loan Countess to another, but she could see an actual Thorn delivering the message would have more authority. Calling after Thomas and Ehrl she yelled: "If one of you can ride take my horse - but I'll want her back in one piece!"

Turning back to Hanna and Urgrim she started reloading her pistols. "I'm with you helping Sieghard. I've burned my bridges already."

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard

Sieghard picked himself up. He was sore and probably a bit bruised, but nothing seemed to be broken. Not wasting any time, he sprinted away from the mill.

Spoiler

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Run it is. As he goes through he camp, could Sieghard knock things over to make things more difficult for his pursuers?

(1d100)[39] vs 57 Ag

[Thragka]

Urgrim and Jarla

Urgrim nodded. "We're with you," he confirmed to Hanna. "Kazakit-ha!"

[LCP]

Manann's Keep, 26th Sommerzeit

Keeping to the cover of the tents, the Thorns cut back towards the mill along an oblique line, trying to avoid the notice of both the Tileans and the fleeing peasants. It wasn't long before they heard the sounds of a commotion coming their way. Peering round the corner of an upturned handcart, Jarla saw the cause - there was Sieghard, running as fast as he could away from the mill, and about twenty yards behind him, perhaps a dozen Iron Company men, sprinting after him...

OOC:

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Over to you guys - to end the chase here you'll need to think of a way to stop the Tileans' pursuit long enough for Sieghard to get out of their sight. Whatever you decide to do, try to think of what stat or skill test could represent that, and roll it - if you don't, I'm probably just going to ask you to make one anyway, unless the idea is so brilliant it'd obviously succeed on its own (and in that case, no harm in a wasted dice roll).

The campsite is busy and cluttered, so I'm not going to try to give you an exhaustive description of your surroundings, but instead invite you to imagine it - tents, livestock, pots and pans, everything a rag-tag bunch of peasant farmers would have brought along to camp out at this place knowing they'd be there for a fair while. There are clear avenues like the one Sieghard's running down, but not because anyone planned it that way - it's grown up incrementally. If you can imagine something in this kind of scene that you think might be useful and that would reasonably be there - a smoking firepit, a hutch of chickens, a big coil of rope - then as long as you give me the test to use it, you can assume there's something like that in the zone Urgrim and Jarla can reach before the Iron Company reach the Thorns. There's certainly plenty of cover if you want to set up any kind of ambush.

Sieghard is a bit more constrained in that he's running and can't stop, but if he wants to try to topple obstacles in the path of his pursuers, he can make a Strength check as I mentioned in the OOC.

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard

"Persistent bastards..." Sieghard muttered. He weaved between an abandoned cart and a row of animal cages, then paused to try to overturn the nearest cage.

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(1d100)[86] vs 61 strength

If this fails, I do have an alternate idea. Presumably, Sieghard's pursuers had to leave their pikes behind to chase after him. Can't imagine it's easy to sprint carrying something so long. How many from the crowd are nearby? Maybe they would like to have it pointed out that this group of Tileans have split off from the rest.