Board Thread:Fun and Games/@comment-25344655-20141025230340/@comment-25544410-20141029033519

About a month and a half ago [currently in the roleplay]...

Amanntai and his men were travelling the Lone-Lands to Rowanwood, when they come across a Ranger encampment. "Hail, travelers! You've come a long way from Gondor it seems." said the Ranger Captain.

"Indeed, we received summons to Rivendell. A threat rises in Dol Guldur."

"We've heard more: Dul Guldur has ruined Durin's shrine, and Dwarves from all Middle-Earth are rallying to assault Mount Gundabad."

"Really? The council at Rivendell must have already dispersed then. We must make to intercept the Dwarves before the assault on Gundabad. Thank you for the help, kindly Ranger."

"The men of Arnor are are always are always willing to help the men of Gondor."

"Come men, we'll cut through Moria, now that the Dwarves have reclaimed it, and head North to Gundabad."

Three weeks ago...

Arvegel and the rest of Amanntai's tropps that had been left behind had reached Cirith Ungol two weeks before, and since then been under almost daily attack by the Orcs of Dol Guldur. A week ago the forces of Moria had joined them, the siege had begun again, and no forces could leave or enter Cirith Ungol. The garrison was running thin, and supplies were short.

"We need more arrows for the archers." said Derufin to Arvegel.

"There are no more among our supplies, I'll ask the garrison if they can spare some." said Arvegel wearily.

"I already asked. They ran out four days ago, and all units except the Galadhrim force that arrived 10 days ago has run out as well." said Derufin. "I must admit the archers of Lorien are better than me, I would not deprive them of their arrows."

"I'll retrieve some." Orodreth spoke up. "My men will go smash the skulls of Orc archers and bring their arrows back."

"Orodreth, it's to dangerous. I can't let you go on a suicide mission like that" said Arvegel.

"Suicide? It's suicide staying here, with no arrows!" Orodreth exclaimed "We are all going to die at this garrison, just like the soldiers at the Black Gate! I'm retrieving arrows, or dying trying to get them!" Orodreth stormed off, taking nine of the other soldiers with him.

"And I thought he was the jocular one." Derufin whispered. "If even he has gone over the edge, we are losing our nerves."

Orodreth and his small band, all armed with Gondorian warhammers, climbed down an abandoned Orc siege tower to the outside of the walls. Once there, they moved swiftly and stealthily towards the orc lines. Hearing a noise behind him, Orodreth turned.

"Derufin? What are you doing here with your archers?"

"It's our arrows, it's only fair if we help you retrieve them. Besides, thirty men are more likely to survive than ten." Derufin replied.

"We'll break through the lines, your men kill the archers. For Gondor!" Orodreth replied, charging into battle with his men.

"Die Morgul scum!" he shouted, smashing an Orc's head in with a blow from his hammer. "Outta my way!" The soldiers battered the Orc lines back, and soon made an opening for the the Gondorian archers to reach the Orcish Archers.

Derufin used his dagger to slit an archer's throat, and grabbed the Orc's quiver. Slinging it over his shoulder, he turned around and ran, only to be shot in the upper back by another Orc. "Ahh!" shrugging off the pain, he continued, as the hole in the Orc lines was drawing closed again.

"Derufin! HELP ME!" Derufin turned to see one of his own men, one leg hacked off by an Orc scimitar, struggling after the retreating Gondorians.

"Take this." He said, handing the quiver off to another archer.

"Derufin, no." said Orodreth. "You're wounded. I'll get him." Orodreth turned and charged back into the fray, allowing the wounded soldier to grab his Shoulder for support, and fought back towards the Gondorians. Derufin turned and ran with the others, the Orcs were trying to surround them and stop them from returning to the walls. Derufin saw several men fall to Orcish arrows, and dismayed when he saw the Spider riders cut off all hope of escape.

"For Gondor!" The cry came up from behind the Spider riders. The banner of Gondor was raised, and the Mordor Spiders fell before an onslaught of Gondorian troops.

"Arvegel! You came!" Derufin cried, embracing the banner bearer.

"I couldn't let my comrades die. Quickly now, back to the walls!" The newly-strengthen troops fell back to the fortress walls, to the safety of Gondorian troops and Elven bowmen. Derufin looked around and took stock of the troops that survived.

"I've lost half my archers... and Orodreth's troops are nearly gone. Where is Orodreth?" Derufin looked around, but could not find him.

"Look! The forces of Mordor raise the severed heads of our comrades upon spears!" a soldier cried out. The troops gasped, Derufin wept, for Orodreth's face was among the disgraced.