Quest 10: Into the Pit

Victory on the 8th attempt!

The Deck

I want eagles! I want horses! I want dead heroes! I want elves who are more efficient marksman due to the sword they are wielding! And I want them riding a horse! Because...

This Deck Is Unthematic

Heroes
Legolas
Eowyn
Bard the Bowman

Allies
Descendant of Thorondor x2
Eagles of the Misty Mountains x3
Lanroval x2
The Riddermark's Finest x3
Vassal of the Windlord x3
Winged Guardian x3
Radagast x3
Escort from Edoras x3

Attachments
Rohan Warhorse x3
Rivendell Blade x3
Black Arrow x1
Unexpected Courage x2

Events
The Eagles Are Coming! x3
Fortune or Fate x2
Elrond's Counsel x3
The White Counsel x3
Hands Upon the Bow x3
A Test of Will x3
Power of Orthancx3

Sets Used
Core
The Hunt for Gollum
A Journey to Rhosgobel
The Hills of Emyn Muil
The Dead Marshes
Return to Mirkwood
Road to Rivendell
The Watcher in the Water
Shadow and Flame
On the Doorstep
The Voice of Isengard
The Dunland Trap

This deck was purely to poke fun at the way eagles in Moria rile some people up (and it's nice to have a calm before the storm of dwarfs). The first version had Beorn and Frodo teaming up with Legolas. Having not done this quest for a while, and having it been a breeze the last time, I was a bit surprised by the questing and combat needs present here. Frodo was given three chances to prove his worth, but was swapped out for Eowyn. I didn't want to resort to her, having just used her in Return to Mirkwood, but massive questing is what I required. Beorn himself was seen as a weak link, so I went in search of a two willpower Tactics hero I haven't used before (and who might fit the "unthematic" theme). Bard the Bowman was chosen over Brand Son of Bain to get the extra hit point. Bard was only thrown in for the last attempt, so I would have liked to tweak the deck more if the attempt didn't quiet pan out (such as adding in Great Yew Bow). But he did his part just fine as is...


The Journey

I'll be honest: I was a bit nervous going into this quest. Not because the quest itself intimidated me (in fact, I underestimated it), but because of the recent history of mistakes on Conflict at the Carrock. Let's hope no glaring errors appear here!

Player Setup
Set starting threat to 29
Draw: A Test of Will x2, Winged Guardian, Power of Orthanc, Landroval, Vassal of the Windlord
Tough. I like this hand, especially with A Test of Will x2 and Power of Orthanc to help mitigate some of the nasty treachery surprises in this quest. But I would like to see some of my heavier questers here (Radagast, Eagles of the Misty Mountains, Escort from Edoras)
Mulligan: The Eagles Are Coming, Winged Guardian, Power of Orthanc, The White Council, A Test of Will, Eldrond's Counsel
Still no heavy quests, but The Eagles Are Coming may be able to pull something good. Nice to still have one A Test of Will and Power of Orthanc. The White Council should come in handy for helping Bard quest and attack once. I'm happy about the threat reduction and willpower boost of Eldrond's Counsel.

Encounter Setup
Make East-gate the active location
Attach Cave Torch to Eowyn
Advance to stage 1B
Reveal: Dark and Dreadful (no effect)
Happy to see a clear staging area. A clogged staging area has been part of my downfall the past few attempts.

Round 1
Resource Phase
+1 Legolas (1), +1 Eowyn (1), +1 Bard the Bowman (1)
Draw: Rohan Warhorse

Planning Phase
Play: The Eagles Are Coming!
Look at the top 5 cards of the player deck. Move Winged Guardian and Eagles of the Misty Mountains to hand
Fantastic! A good quester to work with

Quest Phase
Commit: Legolas, Eowyn, Bard the Bowman to the quest
Total willpower: 7
It's a bit risky leaving no one up to defend, but Goblin Follower should be the only thing posing a threat to me this round. I'll have to take his damage undefended if he comes up.
Reveal: Patrol Leader
Total threat: 3
Play: Elrond's Counsel. Lower threat to 26 and raise total willpower to 8
Place 5 progress on East-gate (5/7)

Travel Phase
None

Encounter Phase
None (due to East-gate's effect)

Combat Phase
None

Refresh Phase
Ready all
Raise threat to 27


Round 2
Resource Phase
+1 Legolas (2), +1 Eowyn (2), +1 Bard the Bowman (2)
Draw: Rivendell Blade

Planning Phase
Play: Winged Guardian (Legolas -1, Bard -1)
Play: Rivendell Blade (Legolas -1). Attach to Legolas.
Play: Rohan Warhorse (Bard -1). Attach to Legolas.
I know! After all that fuss about needing a good quested. But Legolas needs a Rivendell Blade if he and Bard are going to take out the Patrol Leader in one hit, which is what I hope to accomplish.

Quest Phase
Commit Eowyn and Bard to the quest.
Total willpower: 6
Reveal: Stairs of Nain
Total threat: 5
Discard Winged Guardian to trigger Eowyn's ability, raising total willpower to 7
Place 2 progress on East-gate, exploring it an adding it to my victory display
Place First Hall in the staging area

Travel Phase
Travel to First Hall, raising threat to 30

Encounter Phase
Engaged Patrol Leader
Play: The White Council (Eowyn -1). Ready Bard the Bowman

Combat Phase
Add shadow card to Patrol Leader
Patrol Leader attacks. Winged Guardian defends. Shadow: Goblin Tunnles (+3 attack to Patrol Leader). Winged Guardian is destroyed.
Legolas and Bard declare an attack on Patrol Leader. 6 attack vs. 1 shield (due to Rivendell Blade) = 5 damage. Discard: Cave In (no effect; damage is not removed from Patrol Leader). Patrol Leader is destroyed.
A shame I will just have to find and kill one of them again during stage 2B, but I'm too far away from there at this point to keep him around
Place 2 progress on First Hall, exploring it an adding it to the victory display
Place Bride of Khazad-dum in the staging area
Exhaust Cave Torch. Place 3 progress tokens on Stairs of Nain.
Discard: Goblin Swordsman. Move Goblin Swordsman to the staging area.

Refresh Phase
Ready all
Raise threat to 31


Round 3
Resource Phase
+1 Legolas (1), +1 Eowyn (2), +1 Bard the Bowman (1)
Draw: Rohan Warhorse

Planning Phase
Exhaust Cave Torch. Place 3 progress on Stairs of Nain, exploring it.
Discard: Branching Paths (not added to staging area)

Quest Phase
Commit Eowyn to the quest
Total willpower: 4
Reveal: Crumbling Ruin
Play: A Test of Will (Eowyn -1)
Total threat: 4
No progress placed

Travel Phase
Travel to Bridge of Kazad-dum

Encounter Phase
Encounter Goblin Swordsman

Combat Phase
Deal shadow card to Goblin Swordsman
Goblin Swordsman attacks. Bard the Bowman defends. Shadow: Zigil Mineshaft (no effect). One damage placed on Bard the Bowman.
Legolas declares an attack on Goblin Swordsman. 3 attack vs 1 shield = 2 damage, destroying it.
Place 2 progress on Bridge of Khazad-dum (2/3)

Refresh Phase
Ready all
Raise threat to 32


Round 4
Resource Phase
+1 Legolas (2), +1 Eowyn (3), +1 Bard the Bowman (2)
Draw: Landroval

Planning Phase
Play none
Due to Bridge of Khazad-dum's effect

Quest Phase
Commit Eowyn, Bard the Bowman to the quest.
Total willpower: 6
Reveal: Many Roads (return Zigil Mineshaft, Stairs of Nain, Branching Paths, Goblin Tunnels to encounter deck and shuffle). Surge.
Reveal: Goblin Tunnels
Total threat: 2
Place 1 progress on Bridge of Khazad-dum, exploring it and adding it to the victory display
Place 3 progress on stage 1B

Travel Phase
Travel to Goblin Tunnels
Between the Cave Torch and questing, I should be able to get rid of this fairly quickly. I would like to have a clean staging area, if possible.

Encounter Phase
None

Combat Phase
Exhaust Cave Torch. Place 3 progress on Goblin Tunnels (3/7)
Discard: Branching Paths (not added to staging area)

Refresh Phase
Ready all
Raise threat to 33


Round 5
Resource Phase
+1 Legolas (3), +1 Eowyn (4), +1 Bard the Bowman (3)
Draw: Rohan Warhorse

Planing Phase
Play: Eagles of the Misty Mountains (Legolas -2, Bard -2)
Having the hero-saving ability of Landroval is tempting, but I really want to go for the extra questing power here. 

Questing Phase
Commit Eowyn and Bard to the quest
Total willpower: 6
Reveal: Signs of Conflict. Increase threat to 35. Surge.
Reveal: Burning Low (no effect)
Exhaust Cave Tourch to place 3 progress on Goblin Tunnels (6/7)
Discard: Crumbling Ruin (not added to staging area)
Place 1 progress on Goblin Tunnels, exploring it
Place 4 progress on stage 1B, exploring it
Proceed to stage 2A, flip to 2B
Search through encounter deck add Patrol Leader to the staging area

Travel Phase
None

Engagement Phase
Engage Patrol Leader

Combat Phase
Deal shadow card to Patrol Leader
Patrol Leader attacks. Eagles of the Misty Mountains defend. Shadow: Goblin Scout (no effect). Two damage placed on Eagles of the Misty Mountains.
Legolas declares an attack on Patrol Leader. 3 attack vs. 1 shield (due to Rivendell Blade) = 2 damage (2/4). Discard: Zigil Mineshaft (no effect; damage is not removed from Patrol Leader).

Refresh Phase
Ready all
Raise threat to 36

Round 6
Resource Phase
+1 Legolas (2), +1 Eowyn (5), +1 Bard the Bowman (2)
Draw: Eagles of the Misty Mountains

Planning Phase
Play: Eagles of the Misty Mountains (Legolas -2, Bard -2)

Quest Phase
Commit Eowyn, Eagles of the Misty Mountains (damaged) to the quest
Total willpower: 6
Reveal: Goblin Follower. Discard Goblin Follower (due to stage 2B text)
Total threat: 0
Place 6 progress on stage 2B

Travel Phase
None

Encounter Phase
None

Combat Phase
Deal shadow card to Patrol Leader.
Patrol Leader attacks. Eagles of the Misty Mountains defend. Shadow: Watchful Eyes (no effect). Two damage added to Eagles of the Misty Mountains.
Legolas and Bard the Bowman declare an attack on Patrol Leader. 6 attack vs. 1 shield (due to Rivendell Blade) = 5 damage. Discard: Dreadful Gap (no effect; damage is not removed from Patrol Leader). Patrol Leader is destroyed.
Advance to stage 3A, flip to 3B.

Refresh Phase
Read all
Raise threat to 37


Round 7
Resource Phase
No resources added to heroes (due to stage 3B text)
Draw: Radagast

Planning Phase
Play none
For some reason, which I can't figure out going back through my notes, I thought Eowyn only had four resources at this point. I totally would have played Radagast. But oh well!

Quest Phase
Commit Eowyn, Bard the Bowman, Eagles of the Misty Mountains to the quest
Total willpower: 8
Reveal: Goblin Follower. Goblin Follower engages me.
Discard Radagast to trigger Eowyn's effect, raising the total willpower to 9
Guess I'm not going to play him now...
Total threat: 0
Place 9 progress on stage 3B (9/12)

Travel Phase
None

Encounter Phase
None

Combat Phase
Deal shadow card to Goblin Follower
Goblin Follower attacks. Eagles of the Misty Mountains defends. Shadow: Goblin Tunnels (+3 attack to Goblin Follower). Eagles of the Misty Mountains are destroyed. Place Eagles of the Misty Mountains face down under second Eagles of the Misty Mountains.
Legolas declares a attack on Goblin Follower. 3 attack vs. 0 shield = 3 damage (3/4)

Refresh Phase
Ready all
Raise threat to 38


Round 8
Resource Phase
No resources added to heroes (due to stage 3B text)
Draw: Eldrond's Counsel.

Planning Phase
Play none

Quest Phase
Commit: Legolas, Eowyn, Bard the Bowman, Eagles of the Misty Mountains to the quest
Play: Elrond's Counsel. Lower threat to 35. +1 willpower to Eowyn.
Discard Rohan Warhorse to trigger Eowyn's ability
Total willpower: 11
Reveal: Goblin Follower. Goblin Follower engages me.
Total threat: 0
Place 11 progress on stage 3B, clearing it and winning the quest.


Final Scoring

7 completed rounds x10: 70
Final threat: 35
Damage on heroes: 1
Threat cost of defeated heroes: 0
Victory Display: -4
Total Score: 102


The Recap

Eight tries. Wow. I did not expect that. Now, that was mainly because I chose to stick with this particular deck and make it work. Once I saw the questing and combat demands of the quest, I could have created a new deck for a much quicker win. But, as I said, the "unthematic" theme was fun to stick with.

For attempts 1-7, Watchful Eyes was my worst enemy. Having 1-2 cards (I often drew both) added to the staging area each turn really took the momentum out of my fight.

I like this quest. Good challenges for the solo player and a nice amount of variety in the stages. This is right around the difficulty level I like to play at.

Now, deeper into Moria we go...