MEE-S4E2: Eriador/Concerning Archers (conclusion)
May 11th, 2965: Lorig moved amongst his companions tending wounds. Till Mud happened to notice the small face peering from the escape tunnel. That just as quickly withdrew from sight. Soon followed by the echoing noise of Orc voices.
Vogar (Bill) Dwarf
Warrior… Shadow Weakness
(Resentful) |
Zim (Tony) Hobbit
Treasure Hunter |
Ricfried (Brian) Woodsman
Warden…absent |
Lorig (Matt) Dwarf
Scholar |
Mud (Duane) Wood
Elf Wanderer |
Axel (Geoff) Rohanian
Warrior |
Vogar stood ready to confront the eventual Orc swarm, when Mud
announced, “Over here! There’s another passage beyond the Palantir room.” Zim
took the lead as scout while Axel held onto Mud’s shoulder who guided him thru
the darkened passages. The dwarves brought up the rear, pausing to listen to
the progress of the Orcs, “Sounds like they’re delayed clearing that escape
tunnel.” Single file down steps that opened unto natural caverns. Fetid smells
assaulted their noses as they continued with hope… and growing exhaustion.
Pausing to nibble elven Lembas bread (or drink doses of Miruvor) for renewed
vigor.
Miles/hours they continued in the darkened passages. Their
footsteps echoed thru the deserted tunnels, long silent as if the surroundings
a tomb. They all ran into Zim paused inspecting a battle site, “Human,
hobbit-size bones and armor, and even the misshaped skulls of Orc. The Green
Company MUST have come this way!” Guarding their rear, Vogar chastised, “This
ain’t a time to reminisce. Collect some evidence but MOVE on!” Mud called from
further up the tunnels, “Fresh air! There’s a blocked airshaft that might prove
to be our exit.” Axel joined the elf jabbing swords up into the shaft as Lorig
(stonecunning) pointed out weak spots. They dodged falling stones as more and
more air flowed.
Finally, they lifted Zim who climbed out, into a moonlit dell.
Next Mud then Axel who barely squeezed thru. “We need to make it wider for the
dwarves. Especially for Vogar.” Vogar waited impatiently below as stones
clinked off his helm. Till he saw hands reaching down. Grunts and strained
muscles accompanied the dwarf’s assent into the night’s vista. Lorig spoke up,
“Best I can tell, the tunnels led north. We are well outside the walls of the
old Fornost city.”
A strange chill raised his arm-hairs. Zim was the first to sound
warning when he saw a bluish form emerge from a foggy haze hovering over the
dell. His caution turned to excitement when he heard singing as more short
ghostly forms coalesced before him. “It’s the Green Company!” Zim pulled out
his bagpipes and played along with the tune.
“Hobbits go marching north to war, The Shire! The Shire!
Longing for our hearth so warm, The Shire! The Shire!
We go to serve and lend our bows, and off to face the northern woes!
And stop the Shadow; Hobbit go marching north!
And slay the darkness; Hobbits go marching north!
Crying aloud with shaft to string, The Shire! The Shire!
The Enemy shall feel our sting, The Shire! The Shire!
Yet we long to turn away, we know the cause to which we stay!
Sing one last song, Hobbits go marching north!
Sing our last song, Hobbits go marching north!”
And that’s when one of
the spirit Hobbits approached Zim, “That is the
song we sung, when we came to Fornost in the service of King Arvedui. We still
sing it, lamenting that we will never again see the hills of the Shire. My name
is Rufus Took; I was Captain of the Green Company. Long ago, we left our homes
in the Shire to come to the aid of the King of Fornost. We gave our lives so
that King Arvedui could escape the city. I was the last to fall, here in this
very place.”
Rufus became somber as
he explained a curse laid upon them. “Cursed by the evil usurper who captured
the city long ago. As if our souls are being tainted with hatred toward all
living. I beseech you. Find my bow that ties us to this cursed city. Wield it
against the Shadow once more such that HE may fear us for a change. Brass plate
with my initials. I fell somewhere up here in the dell.
Appropriate tidings considering Zim’s bagpiping along with the sung Hobbit chorus announced their whereabouts. Orcs, goblins of Mount Gram, and Hillmen of Rhudaur swarmed north from the distant hills. Snaga Trackers led the way. Zim implored Rufus, “Can your company aid our defense?” Zim played his bagpipes to lead their attack. The answer was another chorus of the Hobbit battle-tune punctuated with a hail of bluish arrows that melted into the enemy charge. Such that a few goblin and Orc became speedbumps for the onrushing horde. Longer elf arrows impaled a few more as the remaining quickly closed into melee.
The sight of Vogar’s Helm-of-Awe
combined with his dwarven battle-cry caused two goblins to flee. But the
chanting of the Hillmen of Rhudaur weakened the group’s resolve [increased
Shadow points]. And that’s when the fellowship caught sight of the brutish Orc
leader! A large, gnarled Orc with a broken tusk and metal ring on his lip.
“Gishak” according to the other Orc and goblins chanting his name as he let
them be the first to fall upon the fellowship’s blades and warhammers.
Mud tried to melt into
the woods to continue with barrage of arrows but was soon found by 3 Orc. He
alone to handle his assailants as his companions themselves were being
surrounded. Zim tried to hide among his friends till the goblins found him.
Forcing the Hobbit to use his blade versus pipes. Vogar tried to guard Axel
with his tall-shield till Gishak stepped forward to engage the Rohirrim
firsthand.
The battle was fierce
considering THESE Orc and enemy came armored. Blades sparked off their armor
more times than not. Gishak’s tusky grin widened as he saw his foe failing to
turn aside the attack. Lorig taken out of the fight, having to heal his allies.
But that’s when Zim managed to hide within the closed ranks of his foe. Thus,
unleashing a deadly barrage of arrows [plus sneak-attack damage]. Hillmen were
the first to fall, silencing their haunting chants. And that’s when Vogar
pushed Gishak back as the dwarf stepped forward between the leader and the
badly wounded Rohirrim. Which caught Gishak offguard. His grin replaced with a
snarl as he put his full strength behind his next swing. Vogar staggered
backwards [hit for half his HP], but was propped up and leaned back into the
fight by Axel and Lorig both.
And that’s when the
company changed tactics. Attacking the goblin and Orc who had less armor than
their leader. Such that the once outnumbered fellowship faced even odds. It was
not surprising when Gishak fell, his remaining force fled. TRIED to flee. Cut
down by bluish arrows, Lorig’s Warhammer, and Zim’s carefully aimed arrows.
Axel
knelt beside Gishak to search his pockets. Lorig read the Orcish parchment,
“Order from Mormog to raid Bree and the Shire. I wonder if this is but
distractions for his tunnel operations?” And that’s when Mud called out, “Found
it! RT. Zim, I found Rufus’ bow. Still strung and fresh as if he dropped it
minutes ago.” The bluish form stood behind Zim who tested the bow before handing
it over, “I hope now you can journey to the Great Banquet beneath the Shire.”
Rufus smiled before instructing, “The bow is yours to wield against the
darkness. May the Witch King and his evil faulter against your might. You have
chosen wise allies who will champion your cause.”
All
stood in silence as the Green Company formed ranks, began their tune, and
marched over the boulder before them. Never to be seen again as they faded into
the mist that slowly began to burn off as the sun began its morning rise. Axel
was the first to speak up, “Let us return south to find Talendil and our
horses. He can show Gishak’s orders to the other rangers as we ride for Bree.
I’m sure there are more Orc and goblins within Fornost that will be delayed as
they ‘elect’ a new leader. We can hope for a long, drawn-out election for if I
understand correctly, the candidates’ debate is till last-Orc standing.”
May 12th-16th: [Embark-7] You’d think victory
would bring good tidings. Instead, the trudge back to Bree was thru foul
weather. Bone chilling rain. Zim’s bagpipes sounded more like someone spitting
as Vogar complained, “Give it a rest Hobbit! If I have to listen to one more
refrain of “The Hobbits go marching north… “ But Zim was unfazed, “Thanks for
listening. Keep me honest with the words as I want to teach the Shire the tune
for posterity to honor the Green Company.”
May 16th: [Arrival-4] It was still raining
as they approached the northeastern Bree gate after dusk. Closed and locked.
Zim stepped forward with his ‘toolkit’ but was interrupted by a face peering
out of a sliding porthole, “Can’t you read the sign? Closed for the night.” Zim
looked up puzzled, “Sign? What sign?” And that’s when Mud approached to offer
the universal unlock as he slipped a gold coin thru the porthole. Soon the gate
creaked open, and the fellowship led their horses inside. Mud flipped the man
another coin, “For your troubles. Stay warm my friend.”
They
found the Prancing Pony almost empty. A waste to Mud’s offer, “Drinks all
around.” Young Barliman soon brought a tray of mugs as Hilda stoked the hearth
fire. And Zim climbed upon the stage to perform after unloading his backpack
full of ancient Hobbit bows and arrows. “Let me sing you a soon-to-be famous
Hobbit marching tune.” Vogar was caught in a quandary: cover his ears or drink
faster. “More Ale! Keep em coming! I fear a LONG trip as we ride back to
Rivendell. And if my allies don’t interrupt, there will be one more short
bluish figure haunting Eriador.”
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