Scenario 1 - Durin's Folk

The Squalin and his dwarves are the first to start their trek through Mirkwood and begin in the northwest portion of the map. Their opposition emerges from the trees in the form of two Giant Spiders, two Wild Wargs and one Bat swarm. Here is the board at the beginning of the game. The rules for the scenario can be found here.

South to north

North to south

Turn 1
The dwarves largely hold their position this turn, with the residents of Mirkwood taking up the hunt. The closest spider charges Kilur, its fangs twitching menacingly.

Disaster strikes early, as the spiders fangs bite deeply into Kilur's arm, and the dwarf goes down.

Turn 2
Here is the board at the beginning of the turn.

The dwarves move forward, engaging the spider that felled Kilur and skirting between it and a pile of rocks.

The beasts retaliate with one of the wargs charging Twiggi the archer, the bat swarm swarming Duri and the second spider charging Bofin.

Combat goes decidedly against the dwarves this turn. Bofin is driven back, narrowly avoiding the fangs of a spider and Duri is enveloped in an angry, squeaking cloud of wings and fangs, though his armor protects him. Twiggi also loses his duel but manages to dance back from the snapping jaws of the warg. Squalin does not fare as well as his fellows and falls to the ground with spider venom coursing through his body.

Turn 3
The turn opens with the dwarves almost surrounded by the beasts.

Most of the dwarves throw themselves into combat, but Twiggi strikes out through the dense patch of trees.

One of the wargs races around the large pile of rocks, looking to cut off the escape of any dwarves that broke through. The other joins the combat against Filur.

This turn, the fighting is inconclusive. Bifin and Bofin lose their duel with a spider, but neither is injured. Similarly, Kilur loses to the Bat Swarm, but continues to avoid injury. Filur defeats his foes, but his axe blade is deflected by a waving spider leg.

Turn 4
 Here is the board at the beginning of the turn, with the dwarves bracing to fight for their lives.

Twiggi comes down to join the fight against the bat swarm, and the flanking warg races around to capture his attention.

Twiggi fights off the warg, but his bow fails to more than bruise the creatures hide. Duri again loses to the bats, but continues to keep his skin and beard intact. Filur is overwhelmed as the spider pounces and slams him to the hard floor of the forest. The other spider snaps at Bifin, but the dwarf danced back out of the way. Bofin swings his bow at the second warg and it falls back, eyes blazing with rage.

Turn 5
The dwarves grit their teeth, desperate determination on their faces.

Twiggi and Duri strike out again through the trees, and Bifin and Bofin try to buy them some time by attacking the bats and one of the spiders.

The unengaged spider and warg charge Bifin and Bofin respectively, while the other warg attacks Twiggi.

Twiggi loses his duel with the warg, but the beast's teeth bite only armor. Bifin expends a point of Might, and defeats the bats and spider pressing him. A savage bash from his bow leaves an ichorous rent in the spider's carapace leaving it with one remaining Wound. Bofin has no such luck, but avoids any serious harm from the other spider and warg.

Turn 6
 The dwarves redouble their efforts, Twiggi and Duri charging the warg, and Bofin and Bifin charging the bat and a spider, respectively.

The unengaged spider and warg charge back in, and the combat for the turn continues.

Duri and Twiggi defeat their warg but are unable to cause any wounds. Bofin expends a point of his own Might to defeat his opponents and causes a wound to the spider. Unfortunately, Bifin's luck (and Fate) run out and he falls to the spider.

Turn 7
The situation for the dwarves is bleak as the turn opens.

Bofin attacks the bats, while Duri and Twiggi run as fast as their legs can carry them.

Sadly, dwarven legs are no match for those of wargs or spiders, and they are brought to battle.

Dwarven fortunes go from bad, to worse. Bofin falls to the snapping jaws, waving legs and squeaking fangs of the beats. Duri drives back the warg harrying him, but is unable to slay it. Twiggi is brought down by the spider and his flight comes to an end.

With Duri being the sole remaining member of the party, we decided that the game was basically all over except for the dieing, and he was removed as the final casualty. Thus the first half of Scenario One comes to a brutal close. Next up, are the forces of the Fist of the Eye. Stay tuned...