MENE. Round 2
Ardagor Terror Cardolan v Lord Denethor Captains of the West
13 v 32 (originally 13 v 27, doubled 3 faction MP and 2 ally MP; 11 item MP with Legacy of Smiths)
game time: 2.5 hours
We rolled ties for who starts the game first. Lord Denethor went first.
TURN 1
Lord Denethor came into play worried that his firstborn son, Boromir, was in peril. He was
captured by nasty orcs at the Cross Roads. Someone had the map upside down of how to get to Imladris.
Boromir went south and east. A big mistake.
Lord Denethor, now in play, sends Faramir to prove his worth and seek for Boromir. The second born son
goes to Dead Marshes since in hand were Escaped slaves. Not the best first site to visit,
but was hoping to draw a major or greater item weapon. No luck. War Preparations were drawn.
However, a Ranger named Thorongil was in the company. He was a Trusted Counsellor.
+
The Troll-lord enters play.
Ardagor moves his minion men of Perchan and Uchel to Dunnish Clan-hold. The desolate waste
of Eriador is littered with cairns and barrows. More will be added. Plague of wights was played.
Mewlips crept out of the river when the men crossed the Greyflood to reach Dunland. Perchan was killed.
Many dead inhabitants of old Tharbad were awakend and Stirring Bones killed Uchel. It was made by the Dead
and the Dead keep it.
TURN 2
Lord Denethor now has Rescue Prisoners, Escaped Slaves, and Lock Nor Bar May Hinder in hand.
Longbottom Leaf shuffles Captain of the Guard and True Hearted Man, while the avatar taps to send cards to the discard
pile including Boromir. Darkness fell. Doors of Night was in play along with the Plague of Wights.
Lo! in the only backpack east of the Misty Mountains was a Star-glass, a trinket bought at the market in Gobel Mirlond,
forgotten until this time of peril. That item was tapped to drive away the automatic-attack.
Mablung taps to play Glamdring, a sword lost when its bearer died during the Battle of Dagorlad in another age.
Prisoners were rescued when Faramir, alone faced the spider guardians; two, ugly spider strikes.
Then Escaped slaves were found among the webs. Thorongil was able to gain their trust and commanded them to follow.
Ioreth saw a gloom in the distance and played Marvels Told to remove Reaching Shadow. But Dark Designs of Mordor was
in play by Denethor, which should of been the target.
+
Ardagor finds Morvan at Cameth Brin and moves his troop to a Ruined Signal Tower on the coast of Cardolan. A High Helm
was discovered in the cellar.
TURN 3
Ioreth learns her lesson of speaking too much. She plays Marvels Told this time to discard Dark Designs of Mordor since
Ardagor appears to not face the regions affected by Angmar Arises, which comes to be true.
Beregond was played at Minas Tirith. Unused General Infuence was getting thin.
Among the prisoners is Boromir! Lock Nor Bar may hinder this stout man. Hope was renewed by all. But Thorongil pressed
for the group to use their luck to find any news of war. They traveled south along the Mountains of Shadow to Imlad Morgul.
Rumuors of Danger were discarded twice by this time in hope that creatures of shadow/dark were few.
Wild Trolls first stopped them. Faramir Dodged one of them. At Cirith Ungol, Gorfaur the Lame greeted them, but Faramir
Dodges the troll's strike with a 11 roll! Orcrist was found in the treasury after the guards were dispatched.
But it was a dear price. Boromir fell in the courtyard covered with arrows not tapping to face his strike. Faramir was distraught.
Damrod was wounded. Glamdring should of been given to him.
But bad luck continued when a Searching Eye fizzled War Preparations. Knowledge of the Enemy was left in hand.
+
Ardagor moved to Dunnish Clan-hold on his own. Old Troll stayed at Creb Durga - a Warlord's Lair.
TURN 4
The company at Cirith Ungol splits. Thorongil takes Anborn to Pelagir hoping to draw Men of Lebennin.
Faramir and Damrod move to Minas Tirith. The slaves went with Thorongil to a non-haven site. All was quiet.
Safe From the Shadow stored War Preparations.
+
Ardagor moves to The WIllow Dingle for his hoard. But they had to pass near to the Barrow-downs. chill Douser
taps many. Then Stirring Bones wounds Tuma and Ardagor. Nothing is done at the site.
TURN 5. mp (Ardagor 10, Denethor 12)
The men are healed. All but Lord Denethor, Ioreth move to Lugular in Chelkar. Wild Trolls again were faced.
But Damrod was wounded when they all Escaped. Now at the castle in the shadow of the mountains, the men automatic-attack
was faced by Faramir again tapping twice using Orcrist. He sang was his cleaved the guard. Doors of Night and Minions stir
enhanced the second automatic-attack of orcs. But it was luck again when the Orc Football League championship tournament
was on the tele. The fans of the losers attacked the fans of the winners through Dark Quarrels.
The castle was quiet. Knowledge of the Enemy was gained that help find the elf Khelegin-hurt from his tortures. War Prepartions
this time were found. Rescue Prisoners and Ungolcrist in hand now.
+
Ardagor with wounded and a weak company retreats to Creb Durga. Doors of Night and another Plague of Wights follow from the Downs.
Stirring Bones does not kill any. But Corsairs of Umbar were on a scouting mission up the Greyflood and attack. No troll was killed.
At Dunnish clan-hold, Morvan, Wolf, and Freca south to enter the town. But Sons of Kings taps them all.
TURN 6
Hirgon is played at Minas Tirith. Politics is played on him, which is a good thing.
Sworn to the Lord was fetched to now have 6 SP. Then Legacy of Smiths was played for +4 MP.
Faramir was in rage still of his brother's death. Now, news of war creased his face with vengence.
The five men moved to Minas Morgul with news of Mace of Anarion hidden there. Knowledge of the Enemy and Rescue Prisoners
were also in hand. They entered the City of the Moon hot with wrath. The dead fled them. Thorongil found the Mace
in the tower. But no more could be done with Greed entering their hearts. Beregond was corrupted, running away in fright.
He may be found again. But his leaving will help Thorongil's influence attempt on the Men of Lebennin with the playdeck running
low on cards.
+
Ardagor moves with Tuma, Forest Troll and Brutal Retinue. Doors of Night and Plague of Wights again overtake the land.
Chill Douser kills Tuma. Mewlips from the river kills Forest-Troll.
The men are at Dunnish Clan-hold.
My deck exhausts.
TURN 7
The company of men splits. Faramir goes to Druadan Forest with Damrod and Mablung.
Hirgon goes to Pelargir. Thorongil and Anborn go to Minas Tirith and Anborn uses Escapes with angry Olog Warlords.
Hirgon plays the Men of Lebennin after Withdrawn to Mordor discards the On-guard card.
Faramir taps to play Noble Hound.
Lord Denethor is distraught and plays the palantir-no greed.
+
Ardagor and Brutal Retinue move to Creb Durga, but two Mewlips attack. He later plays Great Troll.
Ognor and another troll Hide in Dark Places at The Willow Dingle and search the hoard well for Bone-hilted Broadsword,
but no timing was found.
Morvan, Wolf, and Freca entered Dunnish Clan-hold but had to deal with Fear Fire Foes. Only Morvan was left untapped.
But Foolish Words was On-Guard, but matter little with a bad roll.
Game ended. corruptions checks made.
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Summary. Lord Denethor saw only three creatures and two were canceled with Escape.
He had four site phases with an AA
*Dead Marshes (starglass)
*Cirith Ungol (orcs faced)
*Lugular (men faced, orcs(Dark Quarrels)
*Minas Morgul (starglass)
Some more creatures would of slowed the playing of MPs greatly.
I did not use War P to fetch a faction since I had Hirgon in play and my deck was soon
to exhaust drawing a faction.
House of Mardil was not used to fetch any card. I forgot about the use of command cards,
but GI was an issue. I discarded Captains of the West I think on Turn 3. Boromir may have lived with I'll Report You.
Fetching Sworn to the Lord allowed the play of Legacy of Smiths (6 SP needed). Else
I would of moved to Edhellond for the stage point.
Glamdring, Orcrist,and Mace of Anarion may have scared away creatures.
I mistakenly discarded an Archer of Ithilien on Turn 1, but I think that was smart due to GI limits.
Great Road was drawn twice I think on Turn 4. I did not want to use them and have my opponent
draw so much. He ended the game with Lost in Free-Domains in hand.
More corruption cards against me would of hurt when Greed was played. I rolled threes and fours for corruption checks.
Hazards were only good for undead creatures. I needed Double Wilderness for Mewlips. They killed two characters.
No Barrow-wights or Ghouls were played. I think he killed only one of my creatures.
***Reading Ardagor's deck now***
He had Coastal Sea creatures. I only moved into one CS, which frightened me.
Avoiding Shadow-holds after Dead marshes kept me alive. maybe add Watchers at the Gate instead of Gorfaur?
My hazard limits were high for three turns. I moved the squatting company last to avoid permanent-events.
The West Wind comes walking, and about the walls it goes.
What news from the West, O wandering wind do you bring to me tonight?
Have you seen Boromir the Tall by moon or starlight?
search for online: youtube Karliene Lament for Boromir.
But you came not from the empty lands where no men are.