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Time to level up our first promoted brother,
Lhynn . His progression rolls are a bit underwhelming, but we'll make do.
Max Fatigue and Melee Skill are givens, and our need to survive for a while before real armor becomes economically feasable makes HP an attractive third choice. Had Melee defense been a +2 instead of +1, I might have chosen it.
The very first perk selected is also a fairly easy choice. The first tier doesn't offer amazing options for bros who are to be a part of the shieldwall. Still, I'll run through them:
Fast Adaptation: Flat +8% chance to hit for every miss, resets on hit. Falls off hard since melee skill should be improveed wherever possible.
Crippling Strikes: 33% lower threshold to deal injuries. Not Lhynn's job but an ok perk. Slightly underwhelming since AI parties immediately heal to full after every battle, so dealing injuries without killing is next to useless.
Colossus: 25% increased hitpoints. Useful early on, falls off as armor levels rapidly increase.
Nine Lives: The first killing blow is ignored. Since you're still left with minimal hp and likely already battered, it would be better to take perks to help prevent this situation in the first place.
Bags and Belts: 2 extra bag slots. I'm sure someone uses this, but I can't figure out why.
Pathfinder: -1 AP cost per tile moved, fatigue cost of movement halved. Very good on units who need to move, not so much on a bro who will be the center of our shieldwall.
Adrenaline: Unlocks a skill that makes you go first next round. Not something I'm looking to build around.
Recover: Unlocks a skill that reduces accumulated fatigue by 50%.
Student: +20% XP gain, +1 perk at 11th level. No brainer for first level.
With our stationery duties out of the way, it's time to go looking for a new job. With nothing being offered in Sundheim, we need to travel to the nearby towns in search of coin. We head to Harkensee, a nearby fishing village, where the locals interested in joining are too malnourished and dull to be of use to us. Still, Gothart the Councilor has put word out that he needs a mercenary company, so we shall seek him out.
A task we are more than up for, even the meager pay won't deter us from fast work.
The brigands with the stolen property have fled the town to North, and so we give chase.
We stumble upon the thieves themselves as dusk approaches, and a dilemma arises: Shall we pursue them, possibly engaging during the night, or wait until dawn? Our two ranged bros suffer horribly in the night, and it appears we will be outnumbered as well.
Given that
Jinn still needs to finish repairing his equipment, I err on the side of caution and wait for morn. As the dawn arrives, we move to engage the thieves.
The stage is set, it comes time to once again show that I am a competent leader, and for all of you to show that you are competent fighters.
The first round of combat proceeds essentially as expected. They charge, our ranged bros take a few potshots and cause minor damage, but now the melee is in full chaotic control of our lives.
When the third round is able to begiin, the odds have already swung into our favor massively.
Steve (
RK47 ) and
Jinn cut two of our adversaries down,
Skittles and
Lhynn have dealt massive damage to two others.
The fourth round begins, Skittles and Lhynn have slain two more, and the open wounds from Lhynn's cleaver cause another to bleed to death. Only two of the initial 7 thieves remain, one horrifically wounded and cut down by Steve's pitchfork.
The final, lone thief is allowed to flee with his life, because...
We have what we really came for: the stolen coin collection for the Councilor.
The fight itself led to promotions for everyone else, but the loot left much to be desired, with nothing of value being acquired, only a weapon and small shield.
After the battle, I see an opportunity to address the bros, and explain my aims of not simple existing as a ragtag band of fighters, but eventually having our names known to all throughout the land and recorded in the history books as the finest there ever was.
The obvious next step would be to refill our roster. More hands makes the work easier on each individual. This is what I tell our bros, and with murmurs of agreement it is decided: we shall search for able recruits to increase our company's size.
Our return to Harkensee is quiet, the peasants unsure of why fighting men would be visiting their small, quiet, town. I seek out Gothart to inform him of our success.
With the new coin from the Harkensee administrator, it comes time to do some promotions.
Skittles is first, taking
Student and points in Melee Skill, Defense, and Maximum Fatigue.
Jinn also takes
Student, and points in Melee Skill, Defense, and Initiative.
Steve will also take points in Melee Skill, Defense, and Fatigue, and
Student.
Drew takes points in Ranged Skill, Defense, and resolve. And
student, but seriously, isn't that a given?
The unclaimed bro takes points in Ranged skill, maximum fatigue, and initiative. And of course,
student.
were in vain?
