Battle - Round 7

[tomcat]

OOC: Rounds 5 and 6 (1 hour) were spent in re-organization. The new round has been posted to the Home page. Enjoy! :D

Arrows were loosed in the great arcs and they flew high and then fell back towards the earth and the charging orcs. Some found nothing but dirt and snow while others bit deep - the carnage that was created was dramatic indeed. Orcs bearing burning tinder and those that bore oil fell under the rain of shafts and a great WHOOSH went up as torches lit the now spilt fuel. The spawn of Morgoth broke rank, if that was what it could be called, as they dodged both arrow and fire.

Still they came on uncaring for their fallen and those who screamed as they were consumed by flame. They made the bridge and struggled as they climbed over the piled remains of their fellows and the orcs in the fore, with small clay pots in hand, sacrificed themselves to both Dúnedain sword and shaft just to splash their burden's content on the barricade of the keep. Most died. Others were unsuccessful in their attempt and the oil either splashed harmlessly in the moat or on the draw bridge itself. Some achieved their goal.

Oil soaked into the barricade and torches were hurled from the orcs that followed on. As each discharged their flame, they drew cruel scimitars and knives. Fire leapt up where it made contact with the oil and now the Men of Fornost were hard pressed to put out the flames and hold back the enemy, for still they came, leaping over the wooden fortification through the very fire that they had started.

Eradin, with the two Dwarves at his side drew his blade and began to melee with the onrush of orcs. His weapon clanged against a serrated scimitar and he could see that the cruel weapon was slick with poison. Nain and Lûnduf also jumped into the fray and the second battle for Eldanar began in earnest.

As they fought side-by-side, horns began to blare from behind them and Men called out, "ORCS! ORCS! THEY ARE WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE WALLS!"

Eradin's mind raced, "How could this be so?!?"

But then the Dúnadan commander, who had become a brilliant tactician in his own right, realized his error. They were in a castle that had been under the command of the Enemy for over three hundred years; the Enemy had certainly either found its long lost secrets or created some of their own! The orcs had come under the moat, most likely through tunnels like the rats that they were. He then realized that the circling unit was a decoy to keep his men's eyes upon them as their fellows undermined his defenses!

[sdrotar]

OOC: Oh, s***.
How far are we away now - and how far are we ahead of the siege party?

[tomcat]

OOC: Oh, s***.
How far are we away now - and how far are we ahead of the siege party?

You guys can see the glow of the fire on the horizon, so (and I am terrible at judging this stuff) I am gonna say you are about 1 to 2 miles from the keep. Does that sound about right?

[Stefan]

Knowing that the danger the orcs inside the wall posed to them was far more than the fire on the gate Nain grabbed Eradin's arm.

"Go, take your men and secure the keep, Lunduf and I can hold the gates."

He then turns and begins swinging his axe at the orcs as they come through the flames, slamming them backward into the fire that they had set. 

Round 1
# of Orcs - 3

Nain attacks Roll(3d6)+0: 4,5,1 - he kills 2 orcs

Orc attacks Roll(2d6)+0: 3,3,3,6,5,6 - 0 orc hits

Round 2
# of orcs - 1

Nain attacks Roll(3d6)+0: 4,1,1 - he kills 3 orcs

Orcs attack Roll(2d6)+0: 4,4 - no orc hits

Nain Stamina Test TN 10
Stamina +4, Hardness of Body +2, Dazed -1
Roll(2d6)+5: 6,4,+5 Total:15 SUCCESS

[sdrotar]

The riding party could see smoke begin to rise from Barad Eldanar.
Dirnhael's heart leapt in his chest, and he cried out to his friends.
"We are but few against the Orc rabble, but we will make them pay dearly in the taking of the keep! Ride now!"

He leaned close and whispered softly into his horse's ear. It seemed as if the animal understood, for it leapt forward with a speed unexpected after so long a journey...

Ride (Horse) +8
Roll(2d6)+8:1,4,+8 Total:13

[Palandil]

Hearing the words of Dirnhael, Fengel yells, "Hold tight Lord Camentir!".  Fengel then gives a war cry in Eothrik, and his horse acknowlegedes and charges forward.

Ride (Horse)+9
Roll(2d6)+9:4,6,+9 Total:19

[Wiseman]

"FOR THE GLORY OF THE ARTHEDAIN!"  Daelhun shouts as he too prods on his steed, the powerful beast under him responding with great speed and power.  Daelhun pulled his spear from its holding position and prepared for the charge...

Ride: +8
Roll(2d6)+8: 2,4,+8 Total:14

[GandalfOfBorg]

Though both weary of the road, Durgil spurs his faithful mount on to follow the charge of his comrades.  He pulls his bow ready to fight from horseback if need be.

Ride - (5+2)+4+2=13

[tomcat]

Round 1
# of Orc's attacking: 1

Lunduf attacks: Roll(3d6)+0: 2,5,4 - Kills orc

Orc attacks: Roll(2d6)+0: 2,5 - 1 Hit

Damage to Lunduf: Roll(2d6)-7: 6,3,-7 Total:2

Round 2
# of Orc's attacking: 2

Lunduf attacks: Roll(3d6)+0: 2,6,3 - Kills 2 orcs

Orc attacks: Roll(4d6)+0: 6,5,6,5 - 0 Hits

Lunduf Stamina Test TN 10
Stamina +3, Hardness of Body +2, Tireless +4, Injured -3
Roll(2d6)+6: 4,3,+6 Total:13 SUCCESS

More to come...

[tomcat]

The gates had become chaotic with men trying to fend off the attackers while others ran buckets of water from the well to try and dowse the fires that were beginning to engulf the wooden barricade. Lûnduf stood alongside Nain, smashing into the orcs as they overtopped the fire seemingly endless in their number. The Dwarf began to fear for their chances of escape as he watched the bridge itself burning. The icy moat would trap them in here as sure as the army about.

Lûnduf hefted up his notched shield to parry away an attack but then cringed as he watched the orc roll off his defense only to stab a Dúnadan warrior in the back. The man did not know the attack was coming as he received the bucket from one of his fellows - both he and the valuable water fell to the ground.

Sparks and fire burst up and towards the two Dwarves as a great shape smashed through the barricade leaving the defense all but impotent. It was a large Troll and both Nain and Lûnduf took a step back as it whirled around its great mattock. Behind the large fell-creature, orcs coursed through the opening and the Men of Arthedain abandoned the defense and took up their weapons to hold off the onslaught!

The five companions charged the distance, limbs re-gaining their strength from the adrenaline that began to course - they would be engaging the Enemy very soon. The mile and a half was quickly covered as they rode around the eastern side of Barad Eldanar trying to make for the glowing light that haloed the south end of the keep.

The orc warriors and the Easterling archers were all engaged and paid no heed to the oncoming riders, but Durac sitting atop his mount became interested in the five horsemen. He gave a shout and ten of his riders broke off and rode to the fore.

"Find out who they are, kill them if they are not of Angmar or part of any of our brethren's host."

Their order received, the ten Easterling horsemen rode fast and hard towards Dirnhael and his companions, their weapons drawn and ready.

Durac sat and watched them ride away. He was not going to let anyone interfere in his taking of the keep, and he would take it. "By morning, we will have Eldanar scoured of the Dúnedain rabble!" he said to no one in particular.

He had flown from the mountains to finally answer the Witch-king's request. Like a horrific shadow in the night, his great shape soared through the sky over Rhudaur and his far-seeing eyes could already see his target. It glowed brightly in the distance, brighter than all of the other small pinpoints of light below. All of them were gatherings of those that went on two legs and in his heart he would love to be able to torment each, but he didn't have the energy to take on such a task.

Instead Scatha would do this 'favour' for the wraith-king and then he would settle... either in the mountains from whence he had just come or somewhere within the lands below. Perhaps he would find a suitable domain where he could gather his hoard.

[sdrotar]

Dirnhael saw riders break off from the main group and head in their direction - it looked to be nearly a dozen of them.
The battle - for them - would be joined here, and there didn't seem to be any recourse but to fight their way through it.

He pulled Anduring from it's scabbard - the steel glinting even in the light of the moon, and called back to Edrahil.
"We could use more of your majesty, my friend!"
He didn't know what, if anything, the Elf could conjure, but something was better than nothing. They had to find a way to get Camentir on his own mount.

He spied the lead rider and surmised that his steed would be suitable.
Dirnhael shifted his blade in his hand as he sought to take it from it's vile owner...

OOC: Could Dirnhael's Siege-craft (Unit Leadership) have any role in this battle?

[Stefan]

Startled for a moment by the flying embers and the appearance of the hulking troll, Nain steps back but quickly regains himself.  His arrogance wouldn't let him quail in front of the humans in the face of this stupid beast.  He steps back up into the hole that he had left to stem the tide of orcs that had been let through and to face the troll before it ended the battle for them.

"C'mon ye stupid beast.  Come and feel the bite of dwarven steel."

Attack Roll
(2d6) 2,5 +6 = 13
DMG (2d6)+9 1,4,+9=14

Second Action Dodge/Parry

[GandalfOfBorg]

OOC: Are the enemy riders within range of my bow?

[tomcat]

OOC: Hey Matt, yes... the oncoming Easterlings are in range of your bow.

To everyone,

I am going to start two new threads for these separate combats - 1 for the Dwarves and 1 for the Riders - that will inclued Situational and Physical Mods. and any Mook Rules for your opponents.

They will be up tonight and we will conduct combat as we usually do with a new thread for each round (for each combat).

Stefan, I will move your attack over to the new thread as soon as I have it ready to post. As far as the combat rolls that you have been making (fast-combat) - those will no longer be necessary but the effects from the previous combat rounds will be in effect (i.e. Weariness and Wound penalties).

Lastly, I moved the Dice Roller Button on the Lord of the Rings Home Page. It is now on the banner and must be clicked twice to activate. I love the look of the ST site, but I am not real keen on my LOTR function pages. Please repond to the poll in the General Discussion section so that I may make future considerations on how I set up my game sites: