Warglory, Liberators

[Benejeseret]

It may not be heard over the gunshots, but a very disgruntled dvergr is kicking a wall over and over again swearing up a thick brogue. He stares sideways at the infernal device before checking his orders with the ranking officer (walking over to be heard if needed)

"Sir!, the caller's on the fritz. Fixin' it goinna take a good minute or more. Do ya want me worken' it or aimin' a gun?"

[Shirocco]

Dudhugger swears a good one, but he's not half as upset as Ragdar.

"Fix it if y'can, Ragdar - just be ready to drag what's left into the APC." says Hugger.

(Random, you don't need to roll for a fourth shot - this is three turns worth of Careful Aim shots, meaning one shot for each turn. Shooting at full speed would be a waste of ammo at this range.

Dragging Paladin5... ))


Ghost slams home an AP round. "Gun ready!"

((Szil, take a shot D5))

[Suzuro]

Stiff runs into the trench, keeping his head low.

Sorry, sir! I...I got lost!

He hunkers down next to Negvar and begins to fire at the incoming infantry.

(1d8)[6]

-Suzuro

[Paladin5]

After loading another AP round into the human field gun - a task that he is finally getting a hang of -, Ghost takes a moment to survey the scene of the battle. Noting how close advancing tanks and infantry are getting, he mutters a small prayer to the gods that Pie will actually hit something this time.

Spoiler

Show

Sorry for the late post, I was out of town for most of the day.

[Shirocco]

The rifles sound off. It's hard to say at this distance, but you're pretty sure some men were hit. Dvergr rifles are exceedingly loud, drowning out the sound of the stolen Houten rifles.

And you arn't the only ones. All along the 1st trench line, other dvergr platoons have picked themselves up after that heavy arty shelling and cleared their trench sections. The throaty bangs of shotguns are replaced by the loud crack of dvergr rifles from many points along the line. At this range casualties in the Houten ranks are light, but that won't last. Houten infantry take cover in the wake of the tanks, making them very hard to hit - you can't even see most of them with the tanks in the way. For now the armour is still advancing... the Houten commander is being aggressive.

For now there isn't a lot the dvergr can do to answer that, it's only 2nd company - at about half strength thanks to Houten heavy arty - holding the newly won ground while the body of the dvergr forces are not even through the world root.


You're in minimal danger until the Houten have made some ground. At their speed that will take quite a while; as such we're taking a multi-turn to represent the next 3 minutes. That adds up to 60 turns... but i'd rather not roll that many dice for every gun.

Stiff, Thorson and Negvar are each to roll 15 D12 dice. Your number of hits will be counted and multiplied to calculate your success over the 3 minute period.

Ragdar has very few dice rolls. He must first try his own resources with that radio (Prof. Radioman check), and in case that roll fails i suggest rolling two extras to attempt to scrounge parts from the human radio and then again to repair. Lastly, do a fourth roll to get a line to company HQ again.

Ghost only needs to roll 5 D8 dice, as after that he'll have his eye in and be reloading in one round consistantly.

Pie-eater should roll 15 D4 dice. Much like the rifles, the number of hits will be doubled to represent his efforts with the field gun. He may only target tanks at this stage.

Clear on all that? Just trying to move things along, we could be in this part for weeks otherwise.

[Szilard]

Earlier, I meant HE, but whatever.
(1d4)[2]
(1d4)[2]
(1d4)[2]
(1d4)[1]
(1d4)[1]
(1d4)[3]
(1d4)[2]
(1d4)[1]
(1d4)[1]
(1d4)[4]
(1d4)[4]
(1d4)[2]
(1d4)[1]
(1d4)[1]
(1d4)[2]

[RandomLunatic]

Still more long-range fire
1d12=1
1d12=8
1d12=7
1d12=3
1d12=7
1d12=10
1d12=3
1d12=10
1d12=3
1d12=12
1d12=3
1d12=5
1d12=5
1d12=8
1d12=7

[Paladin5]

(d8+3)[11]
(d8+4)[12]
(d8+5)[11]
(d8+6)[11]
(d8+7)[12]

[Benejeseret]

"Aye," he replies and sees to the equipment.

{the three repair checks in order (1d20)[17], to scavenge (1d20)[8], and fix again (1d20)[6]. And then to contact HQ (1d20)[7].}

[Suzuro]

Let's giv' it to 'em!


(1d12)[2]
(1d12)[12]
(1d12)[3]
(1d12)[6]
(1d12)[12]
(1d12)[4]
(1d12)[7]
(1d12)[2]
(1d12)[9]
(1d12)[6]
(1d12)[7]
(1d12)[6]
(1d12)[7]
(1d12)[1]
(1d12)[5]

-Suzuro

[Shirocco]

Pie and Ghost with the field gun make an unimpressive effort. Maybe the sights are off, maybe Pie's aim is, but whatever the reason he achieves only four direct hits. Two are shrugged off. Still, the cost to effect ratio of a field gun killing two tanks is not bad - especially as it's the Houten's own gun!

Ragdar gets the radio going with his own parts, not needing to risk it with Houten components - just a blown fuse, he doesn't even need a soldering iron. Getting a line to company HQ isn't quite so simple, but he gets there.

"...facines, over!" says someone. "Good, keep ad... *static*"

Connection's still pretty scratchy. Blasted thing just dropped out again.


Torcha, Nevgar and Thorson along with the rest of the rifles have little effect as expected but some losses are inflicted. Under fire from all the rifles of 2nd company the Houten ranks are thinned by a fifth.

The tank guns of 2nd company have more effect, and combined with the breakdowns and throw tracks a third of the Houten tanks are knocked out of action.

Then the Houten tanks come to a halt. There is a moment's pause before their guns give a belated reply, and clouds of dirt rise before you. They are at 300 meters when the Houten infantry come out from behind the tanks and charge. It is brief. Heavy machine guns mounted in dvergr tanks and APCs open fire at last, and with your rifles in support the men have little hope. They are cut down by HMG fire sweeping along their sides, there are simply not enough of them. You watch as in their hundreds they fall dead in the mud. It's over in less than a minute.


Third company pulls in. You can hear their many vehicles squeeling to a halt. The thunder of their cannons rolls forth with the rise of the dawn, and the Houten armour is outgunned. Their counter attack is doomed, but they hold position anyway.

A tank of 3rd company dumps it's nose into the crater not far to the right of Negvar. It's engines roar as it hauls itself out then rumbles to a halt. There's a moment's quiet from the metal monster before the hatch atop the turret opens and a grizzled fellow sticks his head out. "You lads come on! We're advancing, keep the bastards off us!" calls the tank commander. Dudhugger has no objections. "Over the top lads! Follow the tank!" he orders and the rifles scramble from the trench. The tank commander gives a nod and pops down into his tank again, closing the hatch.

A great rumble of engines is heard all around and the mechanized companies lurch forward. Left and right you can see dvergr platoons emerging from the trenches to follow behind the heavy armour. The frontline is pushing forward.



You are now escorting a tank, walking behind it. It is heavily armed with cannon and machine gun, but has a blind point to the rear. That is where you come in. Not all of the Houten infantry will be dead, there are men likely hiding in no-man's land - they are called tank stalkers, for they follow tanks in their blind spots and wait for them to break down, then see to killing the crews with everything from demotion charges to petrol through vision slits and burning rags right after. You must keep your eyes peeled for traps as the heavy armour advances.

((awareness checks everyone, even Ragdar. Be advised, most of the squad's rifles are now low on ammo until they rearm at an APC.))

[RandomLunatic]

Negvar grips his LMG while keeeping an eye out for trouble.

Awareness while following armor (1d20+9=13)

(Out of curiosity, is this tank another upsized Mk VIII Male?)

[Suzuro]

Awareness: (1d20+6)[26]


Damned tank hunters! Argh!


-Suzuro

[Shirocco]

((Heh heh. I'm glad someone else takes an interest. It has more in common with the TOG, albeit longer and wider.



I can't find a good picture of it though as the British stripped the sponsons during development, and the Mark VIII picture gave excellent comparisons to help people understand the scale.))

[Paladin5]

Hearing the command to go over the top, Ghost mutters "'bout time" to himself before grabbing his rifle from his back and loading a new magazine into it. After checking to see that a round is chambered, Ghost sprints outside to the advancing tank that the rest of his squad is escorting. Making sure to stay as concealed as possible despite the fumes, Ghost carefully scans the area for ambushes as the tank advances.

Awareness: (d20+10)[24]

[Szilard]

Awareness - (1d20)[14] .

[Benejeseret]

Ragdar scrambles to collect and detach his equipment. He grabs the Houten radio and receiver as well if they can be tied to his pack kit and rushes to the rear of the tank.

In his hustle he is not currently paying too much attention and instead ensures his shotgun is loaded and readied.

{Not sure if he ever had a chance to reload. Since he needs to collect up the equipment and the like I assumed he was slower and thus more distracted than the rest initially. If the awareness is a free action or you want one anyway happy to oblige at (1d20)[17] }

[Shirocco]

((That's a fixed radio set. It's too big. With your repairs complete early though i'm happy to assume you reloaded in the leftover time. As to the Awareness check, that will cover your first encounter with tank stalkers once out following the tank.))

[Suzuro]

Stiff pulls out his trench gun and puts his rifle on his back.

He turns to the people to either side of him. Better for shootin' the buggers up close an' personal like

-Suzuro

[Shirocco]

You fall in with the tank, squads doing the same with other vehicles to either side of you from your platoon. You're pretty sure you can see the LT over to your right - he's still alive then. So are most of 1st platoon.

The tanks progress without too much trouble, it wasn't a long shelling and they generally avoid the craters. Off to the far left you see one of them throw a track - it stops shortly thereafter, and won't be moving again in a hurry. It's a staggered advance, wherein 3rd company fires upon the Houten armour while 2nd company's vehicles advance some fifty meters and stop. Then they open fire as 3rd company advance past them and the process is repeated. It's very similar to what you as infantry do when attacking across open ground.

The Houten are stubborn but it does them no good. Half of their tanks are burning by the time they begin the retreat, but their new engines give them reasonable speed - you're not sure you could run as fast as they're now moving, but if Pie-eater put an effort in he might manage it. Sputtering MG fire from the Houten vehicles prevents anyone trying such foolishness.

Your own vehicles continue the staggered advance, dogging the Houten armour all the way. Things are going well when Ragdar notices a supposedly dead Houten beside a crater 20 meters to the right has eyes that follow you...

((Ragdar is the only one to notice. He must shout warning. Once he's done that you can shoot at the man, D4 as he's lying prone. Ragdar knows which "corpse" the man is exactly, but everyone else will need to roll a D6 with a 4+ to identify which "corpse" he means.))

[Szilard]

Pi-eater rushes after the Houten engines. I think.

[Benejeseret]

"We got a breather! Abouts 20 meters to the right crater"

The readied shotgun unloads on the area to help guide those nearby.

{ heavy shotgun pumps (2d4b1)[2], (2d4b1)[2], (2d4b1)[4]. If he clearly hits the man he will attempt his trained hands from unloading further shots. }

[Shirocco]

((Ooooook... are you sure on that one Szil? Run out into the open, on your own, heroicly charging a line of hostile tanks....?))

Ragdar's first couple shots are off despite the odds, the man goes for his rifle. Hooky and Splinter catch on as Ragdar fires his second shot - splinter fires a burst on the wrong target, Hooky picks it right and nails the man. Ragdar, Hooky and Splinter cease fire.

Dudhugger nods to Ragdar "Good eye, keep 'em open."

The tank comes to a halt along with the rest of 3rd company. You can see the turret and sponsons taking aim, Houten armour is 150 meters away now. 2nd company armour is moving forward, it will pass you in a few seconds.

Awareness checks all.

[RandomLunatic]

By the tiem Negvar raises his LMG into firing position, the would-be hero has been killed. He cast a nerwly critical eye on the 'bodies' nearby. Where there was one, there was bound to be others...

More tank hunter spotting (1d20+9=17)

[Szilard]

((I'm not sure, just going with the flow...))
(1d20+10)[13]

[Shirocco]

((the flow are behind the tank, Szil... you were talking about going out on your own into clear ground. If you reallllly want to, no problem, but are you sticking with the squad or really gonna try and charge a Houten tank head on?))

There are the scattered bodies of a houten platoon off to your left, 30 meters. There are more where the one you just shot was lying, 20 meters to the right. A Houten wrecked tank is comming up on the right as soon as your tank starts moving again, but right now it's cannons sound off instead. Magazine hit on another Houten tank 150 meters ahead, it blows up movie-style. Bits of men and metal go flying through the air, some dvergr in other squads can be heard cheering.

The attack's progressing well. Older heads may say too well.

((still need awareness checks from most of you, i see Szil and Random's so far.))

[Benejeseret]

Ragdar keeps his barrel up for an extra second, scanning over the other bodies. He then chuckles while he gives a wave and a thumbs up to Hooky.

{awareness (1d20)[6] plus modifiers}

[Szilard]

((Stick with the squad.))

[Suzuro]

After seeing how they lie in wait, Stiff becomes much more cautious. Scanning the field for any possible tread fethers...

Awareness: (1d20+6)[15]

-Suzuro

[Shirocco]

Even over the rumbling engines and squeeling tank tracks, you guys hear the charming and unforgettable whine of mortar shells descending.

"Mortars! Geddown!" shouts Hooky. All hit the deck, two shells impact in your general area. Off to the left some unfortunate dvergr takes a direct hit, turning him into red mist. Right then your tank begins to advance again, along with the rest of 2nd company.

"Get up! Stay with the tank... ahr, hells" says Dudhugger. Looking back you see his right leg's a mess, he copped shell fragments in the knee joint. If it's as bad as it looks he won't be walking soon - or ever if unlucky. He looks at Kord and he's no better, the shell landed right next to them. The rest of you are luckier, without serious injury.

Dudhugger looks at Ghost - the oldest one here. "Corporal Ghost, you're it! Just make sure they send pickup for us!"



Paladin5's character is now squad leader. All player characters are face down in the mud, your tank is advancing. Pie-eater and Ragdar were close to mortar blasts and must take a Fort check to shake off the shock before moving - others can grab them and drag them to their feet, doing so makes their checks much easier.