However, there are five riders close behind, and they may well find the ford held against them.
The Quest of the Ringbearer finally gets underway again after a five month hiatus caused by purchasing, painting and just doing other things.
We are now at the final step of Book 1 of The Fellowship of the Ring, the Flight to the Ford, where Arwen (supported by Aragorn and the Hobbits) must get Frodo across the river whilst being chased by all nine Ringwraiths.
Matt was delighted to find out that this scenario saw the return of random movement for the Black Riders exhausted horses (with a 1 in 6 chance of them collapsing) and similar chance that four of the Nazgul don't even show up in trying to cut off escape from the flanks.
In addition, the Ringwraiths all had two less Will points each, dramatically shortening their shelf life, but this was countered by Aragorn, Frodo and Sam losing their Might points (although Aragorn still had his bonus point per round) and Frodo was down to zero Fate after being stabbed at Weathertop...even though he wasn't.
The heroes needed to kill all nine Ringwraiths, whilst the servants of Mordor just had to kill Frodo.
Turn 1
A thundering of hooves signalled the arrival of the chasing Wraiths and with a cry of, "Noro lim, Asfaloth!" Arwen spurs her noble steed to race off towards the ford.
Aragorn and the Hobbits valiantly give chase, but are unable to keep up. However, two of the Nazgul turn and attempt to transfix Aragon, but fail.
Turn 2
Arwen gallops off even further into the distance, looking like she is going to get Frodo across the river with ease.
Aragorn charges into the two Riders that attempted to transfix him, easily defeating them in combat and cutting down one.
Meanwhile, two more Nazgul appear from the south, attempting to cut off Arwen's escape.
Turn 3
Sauron's minions gain the initiative for the first time and I make a potentially costly decision to not call a Heroic Move with Arwen's single point of Might, allowing the Witchking to get close enough to successfully compel Arwen to drop her sword and turn her horse around to face him.
"Come back! To Mordor we will take you."
In the ensuing combat, Frodo and Arwen actually prevail (using Arwen's Might), but stand very little chance of hurting the Lord of the Nazgul.
Turn 4
"Put on the Ring!"
Frodo is compelled by the Witch King, causing Asfaloth to flee, dumping the Hobbit and the Elf onto the ground (also causing Arwen to turn into Glorfindel).
The ensuing charge is robbed of some potency when on of the black horses collapses, but Arwen and Frodo are pulled into separate fights which they somehow both win, proving that there are other powers in the world, besides the will of evil.
Meanwhile, Aragorn called a Heroic Move allowing him to catch up with and despatch another Ringwraith.
Turn 5
The forces of good gain the initiative and Frodo musters the courage to remove the Ring and head for the safety of his friends, whilst Arwen bravely charges the Witch King to keep him out if the fight.
However, three more Nazgul home in on the Hobbit, with horses collapsing under them as they arrive.
Charged from behind, Arwen succumbs to the power of the Witch King, and Frodo is wounded but one of the Nazgul is dispelled as it ran out of Will.
Howevet, with Aragorn now in striking range, the tide was about to turn.
Turn 6
Despite losing the initiative, Aragorn frustrates the Nazgul by calling a Heroic Move and allowing Frodo to get behind him.
Short on Will the Ringwraiths move in, desperate to inflict a final wound on Frodo, but perennial 'Fool of a Took' Merry defies expectations and bravely charges the mounted Nazgul, evening the odds for his cousin.
In a puff of frustration, the crowd of Ringwraiths dissipates in a final expenditure of Will, leaving a thin black line between the heroes and the ford.
Turns 7+
Without enough remaining Will to directly confront Aragorn (or even the Hobbits), but only needing to inflict one more wound on Frodo, the Nazgul try a less direct approach.
Moving round the flank they attempt to hit the Ringbearer with black darts, but fail in quick succession and dissipate.
Only the Witch King now stood in the way, and with a single Will Point the game was up.
Aragon and the Hobbits made it across the Ford to Rivendell, where the ranger was about to face some awkward questions from Elrond as to the whereabouts of his daughter.
In terms of the campaign, Rivendell is a rest point and so all of the characters will be back up to full health. Frodo was definitely the bravest companion and I suppose that Arwen was the 'Fool of a Took', being compelled, disarmed, dismounted and defeated in quick succession.
So far things seem to be going to plan. Just like in the books, Frodo has only been stabbed once, although it was crossing the Brandywine rather than at Weathertop.
Upcoming adventures need me to procure a pack of playing cards and a whole host of Wargs, and so the next outing to Middle Earth will involve a return to Rohan, but not in the way you might expect.
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