Scene 2 - Stalwart Defense

[tomcat]

Now a few leagues to the south, Eldanar was abuzz with preparation. Nain and Lûnduf and the men of Eradin worked feverishly to make the castle more defensive and to enhance their ruse.

Nain had men shore up walls that showed weakness; he had the great vines hacked from the walls so as not to allow an avenue of attack - one which he and his comrades had taken a great advantage of; and he spent time at the forge repairing and sharpening their gear. While he did this, Lûnduf's hands were not idle. The Dwarf of Khazad-dûm spent hours collecting old gear and emptying the armory of the castle. He prepared dummies of straw stuffed clothing and stood them up using pieces of wood along the towers and battlements of the outer wall and the donjon. To these dummies he added shields and spears creating ever present sentries to deceive their foes.

While the Dwarves did their part, Eradin's men did theirs by preparing discreet but deadly weapons about the keep - oil was poured onto the fields and crude caltrops were made. They spread these weapons as best they could but left a lane open for their own escape. The men also saw to the chopping of the iced moat. Using picks, axes and the strength of the horses, they broke up the ice around the castle to afford themselves the additional defense from the moat.

It had been two steady days of labor and Nain and Lûnduf looked about themselves at how their efforts were paying off and both smiled to themselves.

"It almost seems a shame to have to abandon this keep," thought Nain. It was beginning to look like a place that could hold off any horde the Enemy might throw at them.

His revelry was suddenly swept away as a shadow seemed to blot the sun and he was seemingly smote by a wave of pure terror! The Dwarf hesitantly looked to the top of the donjon to see a great winged beast, like a huge hairless bird, roosting upon the crenellations. Mounted atop the creature was an even greater shadow!

OOC: I need the two Dwarves to roll a Willpower Test against the following Terror Roll or suffer the fear effect:

Nazgul Terror - Intimidate (Fear) +15, Bearing +5 / 2 = +10
Roll(2d6)+10: 4,3,+10 Total:17

Remember here that the Free Peoples do not yet know that the Nazgul have returned to Middle-earth.

[Stefan]

Willpower Test TN 17
Roll (2d6) 4,1 +1(willpower) +2 (Hardiness of Mind)= 8 Complete Failure

Fear overtakes Nain as the creature tops the crenelations.  It is fortunate that he had just emptied his bladder or it would have deserted him before his feet did.  He ran from the battlements with reckless abandon, down into the donjon, looking for the deepest darkest place that he could find to hide from the horrible beast above.

[tomcat]

He had achieved his goal. On his return flight to Carn Dûm, the Witch-king had decided to stop at Barad Eldanar and see for himself if the visions within his stone had been true. His great helmed head turned left and right and both Men and Dwarves quailed from his presence and gaze. He saw a host... a great host of Men and he knew that they did not serve him. They defied him! They had taken one of his most important fortresses and now they worked to strengthen it to oppose him. He would not let this be, Eldanar would burn and these upstarts would be slain and their dead bodies displayed along the borders of his country to show the penalty for attempting to bring war to his realm.

The great featherless creature reared back as he drew upon the reins and the Witch-king took one more quick glance about him. Then with a foul stench, the Fell-beast took to the air and bore the Nazgûl away.

[Stefan]

After a time the fear lifted as if it had only been a distant memory.  Nain stood and brushed himself off.  He was angry with himself for running and he was still cursing to himself in dwarven when he got back to the foyer of the Donjon. The crisp morning air was clear and cold but there was no sign of the horrible beast that had struck fear into his heart.  He went back o the forge and continued working, even more gruff than before because of his  anger.

"Back to work ya layabouts, apparently the foul beasts know we're 'ere.  Get back to work, we'll need to move double quick now."

[Lunduf]

Roll(2d6)+3: 6,1,+3 Total:10 (complete failure)

Proceeds to run into a doorway and cower under his shield  for the period of time that the creature remains closeby.  It is not until long after that he comes out and even thinks about what that might have been.  Too small to be a dragon,  and no sort of bird. . .

[tomcat]

OOC: The italic section is from character post...

It was gone. The Dwarves and Men began to recover from their despair. Nain stood and brushed himself off. He was angry with himself for running and he was still cursing to himself in dwarven when he got back to the foyer of the Donjon. The crisp morning air was clear and cold but there was no sign of the horrible beast that had struck fear into his heart. He went back to the forge and continued working, even more gruff than before because of his anger.

"Back to work ya layabouts, apparently the foul beasts know we're 'ere. Get back to work; we'll need to move double quick now."

Around him, the castle began to get back to work. It was the second day of their efforts and they still had at least five days to go until the two Dwarves would feel that the fortification was sufficient to hold off a formidable attacker. Little did they know that they had less than four.

[tomcat]

Hey you guys,

I will add little snippets of what is going on over the next couple of days but for the most part you guys are very busy with the work that you are doing with your extended tests.

The five riders are under attack and I do not want you to feel left out, but don't worry, there will be soon some for you guys too!  :twisted:

[Lunduf]

OOC: just wanted to say that I'm going on a family trip till saturday.  I should be able to post by late afternoon of that day but if something is needed quickly Doug, you may do it.  Also I'll probably be indisposed (moving back into college dorm in Atlanta) the weekend of august the 6-8th