In respect for those who died, the battle for Edoras has been
told as it happend.
-Prather a Minstrel
Waves flowed over the grasslands in response to the soft
breezes as Crusaderr the dunedain scout watched the mare from
the rocky vantage point behind his camp. She was a the finest
steed he had ever ridden and the bond between them was as close
as that between a man and woman. As he watched, she raised her
head from her grazing and a shiver ran over her as she looked west
toward Edoras. Crusaderr stood and follower her gaze, thinking
perhaps there was a predator hidden in the grass. At the time, he
didn't realize that the danger was far worse than a hungry cat or a
pack of wolves, far worse indeed.
To the north, moving quietly through the Mirkwood, a lone
ranger passed though the forest, an elf who was called Valdamir.
He was troubled by an unnatural silence that had followed him all
morning, and by the number of orc scouts he had been forced to
avoid as he made his way south to the trainer in Edoras.
Something was happening.
A bit farther up the trail, Toodle also felt a sense of unease
as he move south from the forest into the grass lands. The
foreboding he felt was almost immediately confirmed by the
sight of the circling and dipping ahead. Moving off the trail and
creeping up to where the carrion eaters were feasting, he found a
dead horse and a few feet away the rider who had been
beheaded. In the fist of the rider a varnished, red messenger
arrow was still clutched. Toodle muttered to himself headed south.
Greasy dark clouds roll toward the city of Edoras, covering
the late afternoon sky. A pair of gate guards stand in confused
awe as a massive walking oak tree, Treebeard, oldest and most
powerful of the Ents of Fanghorn, strides up to the gate and
with a voice reminiscent of bear growling in a hollow log.
speaks to the guards.
"HUROOM HMM! TODAY THEY WILL COME AND SOME OF US
MUST BE HASTY. HUROOM HMM!"
Randymac, Goatboy and Sigurd the warrior were among the
first to answer the horns of the Valar. As they stood at the gate,
casting nervous glances at Treebeard, Toodle came up the path,
accompanied by a full grown wildcat which was snarling its
displeasure at being charmed by the ranger.
From the direction of the city, though the gates came Falcav,
Valdamir and Darksaber the elvin spell caster. Together they
stood in the silence of the gathering darkness as the wind
brought the faraway sound of war drums in the distance.
Aaronar the assassin slipped from the shadows of the wall to
join the group. "Pitched battles are not what I do best," he
grinned, "but we all do what we can!"
He seemed about to say more when Treebeard bellowed,
"MY FORCES, FALL BACK INTO THE CITY AND WE
WILL MAKE A PLAN."
The street slants steeply upwards towards the south.
A fast flowing stream of water runs downhill in a stone
channel by the wayside. To the east and west are small
buildings that have the look of shops. The sky is black
with the heavy black smoke that covers everything like
pall. Night has fallen.
Voices come from the north. "Here?" questions Elmfyre.
He is answered by a muttered curse from siguard, "What the
hell is going on? I can't see a thing."
Treebeard chuckles deeply, " HRRRRUUMM! A WAR.
HURRRUM! YES, A WAR!" He looks at Siguard.
SOMEONE SHOULD PROTECT THE LITTLE ONE THAT
HE DOES NOT BITE DEATH TO QUICKLY."
Valdamir shuffles his feet anxiously as the pound of the Orc
drums fills their ears. He checks his weapons and armor for the
tenth time.
Falcav is wearing a wooden shield and wielding a small
knife. With a tremor in his voice, he remarks to no one in
particular, "Well... looks like it's gonna be the temple for me
pretty soon."
Sigurd says: Oh my God ... I'll die from the suspense ..
Elmfyre laughs nervously, "I hear that Sig."
Coming up the road what looks like a solid wall of orcs
approaches. From behind them, over the beating of the drums
comes bits of orcish as the War Lord commands his troops.
Treebeard mutters softly, "By roots and bough..."
Falcav raises his shield, "Bye y'all!
Elmfyre trembles in anticipation. "See ya on the other side,
everybody!"
Suddenly Orcs attacks you! Suddenly Orcs attacks you!
Suddenly Orcs attacks you! An Uruk-Hai bodyguard wades
into the mass of struggling bodies in front of you. Pain from a
blow you never saw staggers you but you turn and swing your
sword.
The terrified scream of a horse in pain echoes across the
field of battle. Crusaderr, laying about him with a huge claymore,
rides from behind the ranks of the orcs, trampling them even as
the magnificent horse he is riding takes a spear deep into her side.
Beside him is a sindar called Javagold. As the Crusaderr's mare
falls, he leaps free and joins the rank next to Treebeard.
Crusaderr hits Orc hard. Javagold hits Orc.
The first charge is broken and the orcs retreat. All but
Crusaderr and Javagold flee south to regroup but these two
hold their places, beside the fallen horse which is dying.
From somewhere the voice of a minstrel sings "When
the times are hard and hope is bleak, come out and fight. Do
not be meek!" A cheer erupts from the survivors and they
move north to the battle lines.
A Uruk warrior growls as he attacks.
Elmfyre, "YEAAAHH!"
Falcav says, "I got a knife, and a wooden shield...
my guess is about 4 seconds."
Javagold looks at the Uruk, "Wow!"
Valdamir screams out a fierce battle cry
Treebeard says, "DEFEND THE CITY MY FRIENDS!"
Falcav takes the backstroke of the Uruk's sword
full across his face and his ghost floats free as his
body crumples, uncaring, to the ground.
Valdamir has hp: 1/80 but he continues to attack.
The Warlord shouts in some strange tongue,"Asharg
orgort wort kazquant torug, gart," as he stumbles under
Cursaderr's blade.
Valdamir is unconscious and Prather goes down,
bleeding to death. Siguard quickly bandages Prather,
pickup up his sword and rejoins the fight.
"FIGHT ON NOBLE WARRIORS! HUROOM HMM!"
Stromgald, Jingles and Bladez enter and the Uruk hits
Treebeard very hard and with a mighty crash, the Ent
falls to the ground.
Cursaderr looks around at Elmfyre, Valdamir and
Javagold. "We're the last four!"
A voice cries "Onward we fight and some we lose,
but the fate you lead only you can choose. Fight on,
my friends, fight on."
Crusaderr shouts "The Warlord, kill the Warlord!"
Treebeard creaks slowly to his feet, "HURUMMMM!
HEH! I DON"T DIE THAT EASYLY!
Orc warlord batters Valdamir's shield into his face and he
goes down, bleeding. Crusader bandages him.
Crusaderr grins as another orc's head falls.
Javagold hits Orc warlord very hard.
"FIGHT on valiant defenders FIGHT On!"
Treebeard says: "CONCENTRATE ON THE WARLORD!
HUROOM HMM!" He crushes the Warlord into the ground
with his massive branches and with a curse, the Orc warlord dies.
A Nazgul shouts,"All kneel before the Lord Sauron!"
Kelthang shouts: NEVER!!
Elmfyre shouts: "Ill die first!"
Treebeard says: "NAZGUL!? I SHALL SEE ABOUT THAT.."
Elsewhere, the battle goes poorly. Facing north towards the
doors is a dais with three steps leading up it. Atop the dais is a
huge throne, from which the king could survey his hall. Behind
the throne, set in the wall, is a great stained glass window which
casts glorious colors upon a scene of carnage. A child of Edoras
hangs here, crucified to death. The Nazgul Commander stands
before you, flanked by three Uruk-Hai bodyguards!
Goatboy whispers, "Do we attack Nazgul?!"
Randymac wields a flail and Toodle lunges at the Nazgul
Darksaber says: "Kill it!!"
Nazgul shouts: "Edoras is mine!" Both Elmfyre and Valdamir
fall under the Wraith Sword of the Nazgul. Darksaber bandages
Elmfyre but before any can get to Valdamir, the Nazgul's eyes
light up with insane glee, and the Wraith Sword glows blood red,
as it comes slicing down through the air. The Nazgul cackles
insanely as he decapitates Valdamir. Valdamir is dead.
Bladez bares his teeth. Nazgul shakes its head as Bladez
attacks with a fireball. Nazgul says: "I will take your leaders
first!"
Toodle says: Here we go!!! Prather takes a desperate swing a
the Nazgul who takes Prather out with a single blow. Jingles
reaches down and bandages Prather.
Bladez smashes Uruk with an impressive blow. Hades hits Uruk.
Nazgul rends Acedog's
soul with the Wraith Sword. A blast of fire shoots forth from
Randymac's hand, striking Nazgul!! Nazgul inflicts massive damage
to Randymac. Randymac falls to the ground bleeding to death.
Prather stops the bleeding.
Jingles shouts, "Dang, Randy! GET OUT OF HERE
Gorlim wounds Nazgul splattering blood everywhere!
Nazgul rends Gorlim's soul with the Wraith Sword.
Stromgald dives under the Nazgul's guard and kicks the sword
from his grasp. "He is disarmed!!"
Treebeard and Crusaderr enter from the side door and attack.
Treebeard hits Nazgul very hard.
Crusaderr smacks Nazgul REAL hard and Jingles hits Nazgul hard.
Treebeard massacres Nazgul with incredible force!
Crusaderr wounds Nazgul splattering blood everywhere!
Nazgul's head is splattered across the ground by a deadly flail!
Nazgul has died.
Treebeard sits back to catch his breath. "EXCELLENT FIGHT
MY FRIENDS!" The ghost of Aaronar drifts in and chants something
over the corpse of the Nazgul.
Crusaderr spits on the corpse. There are tears in his eyes,
"They killed my mare. Every orc attacked my mare when I rode
through them entering Edoras."
Javagold starts to sway and chants die orcs die, die orcs die!
Gorlim frowns as he tenderly removes the bodies of the crucified
children and lays them next to the throne, crossing their arms over
their skinny chests. In the background the sound of the drums
fade until they can no longer be heard. Outside, a soft rain
begins to fall, cleansing the blood from the soil and the smoke
from air.
The battle at Helms Deep
A battle was fought, this day, beyond the Fanghorn forest,
before a tower known as the Orthanc, a 200 meter spire of
rock the color of a crows wing. As all historic battles, there
were heroes and cowards. There was also confusion and betrayal as
two great evils sparred for the final right of conquest.
It began with Treebeard, the oldest of the ents, who requested
the aid of a few stout hearts to join him in removing a canker from
the edge of Fanghorn Forest. This is a tale not only of those who
showed great bravery and dedication but also of about cowardice and
greed.
Berenii arrived early... and became the first to die. Treebeard
and Saruman were still arguing before the tower when Berenii began to
suspect that sizable force was hidden behind the iron doors of the tower.
When he rushed in to expose the trap, he was assailed by an wave of
orcish attackers lead by an enormous warrior wearing the insignia of a
captain in the Mordor army. As he smashed Berenii with a huge mace, his
warty, tusked face broke in jagged grin and his eyes gleamed. Treebeard
boomed that the battle should be joined outside the tower where the ents
could maneuver but by then Berenii was already near death and as the
battle joined before the massive doors, he fell, still protecting his
fellow Valacircans. Treebeard, with Humes help, finally finished the orc
captain and the ents made quick work of the rest, but Saruman fled into
the tower.
Slate, Daekam, Erg and Fjant joined the forces of evil
but the first battle was over so quickly that they were more
spectators than participants and were careful to stay out of reach
of the ents deadly boughs. Then came a second attack and again the battle
was joined. The lovely Fanuc, her hair a river of gold flowing behind as
she galloped west, found a second group of attackers under the leadership
of The Witch King, the commander of the Nazgul. Twice she futilely
attacked the ringwraith, swinging at the invisible head below it's crown.
On her third pass the ringwraith it drove the Wraith Sword deep into her
stomach and as she realized here fate and began to scream, the evil king
threw back it's back and I heard it's laughter, "MUHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!" Fanuc
was dead.
Though I name myself a coward, I ran, down the a winding path
along the circuit of the wall, safely working around the great pools
and up to the tower where the rubble and shrapnel of the battle mingled
with cracked and unsteady stones that threatened to drop me into deep,
water-filled fissures. Here I found Humes, Darth, Darkspunk, and Dar
the sindar Wizard. With them was the Warrior Mellonaug about whom I
will have more to say, later. Humes and Darth left to rejoin the battle
still raging to the northwest as Allusion (hp: 2/130) staggered over and
slumped to the ground.
Belgarel and Rekkan paused long enough to catch their breath
and then headed back into the fight that raged before the shining, black
tower. From where I stood, the only damage caused by the fury of ents
was a few scorings, and some small, flake-like splinters at its base. For
a moment I thought I saw Saruman, his robe an uncertain color that seemed
change each time he moved but then he was gone, behind a screen of
yelling orcs.
Darkspunk says, "I've killed 2 orcs!"
Allusion sighs with a bubbling cough, "I guess I could use a heal."
He glanced at me and mumbled something about songs but the sound of the
blood bubbling in his lungs from a chest wound made his voice hard to
understand.
Berenii returned! He had come directly back to the battle, only
stopping long enough to arm himself from the Valacirca armory. There were
some cheers and I could see morale soar. I thought to myself, "What a
hell of leader!"
Fitz shouted for help, "I just ran into a BAD bunch!"
Moonglum raced in. "Where and who are we fighting?"
Belgarel says, "Orcs."
Allusion pointed to the northwest," -- Saruman!"
Moonglum, Beav, Darth and Hafgan headed into the battle.
Through all of this, Mellonaug sat patiently, his back against a
flat piece of rubble, listening and watching. "I think Saruman is
dead," he said.
Allusion smiled.
I looked up and saw The Witch King, standing there looking at
past us at the tower. Slate, Daekam and Erg were with him, followed by
Greger and Anaiya. Darkclaw entered behind them and I began to feel a
little outnumbered. I made the mistake of running northwest, into the
battle.
The Witch king shouted, "Saruman!...we've come to punish your
transgressions against our Lord!"
I was thinking about that and starting to figure out that there
were THREE groups here instead of two when six orcs pounded
me into the hamburger and I watched one of the other players calmly
loot my corpse.
Orc warrior inflicts massive damage to Aquila.
Someone says: shit
Orc captain massacres Aquila with incredible force!
Aquila cuts Orc warrior's arm leaving several bruises
Orc warrior inflicts massive damage to Aquila.
Aquila has died.
I'm drifting as a ghost, watching AULE whip on some orcs!
Orc warrior misses Aule. Orc warrior hits Aule. I can't believe my
eyes! This is impossible!
Sult shoutd to other immortals,"Hey Mandos... cool battle going on,
I'm whopping ass!"
Mandos:"122 players???? WOW!"
The noise dies down and the battle stops. There are piles of
corpses and bits of armor everywhere. The ghost of Rekkan drifts past
and I can see Allusion's body across the decapitated corpse of an Orc
warrior. The Witch king kicks a jar of Ent Draght as he searches through
the corpses for Saruman. Three ents are still alive but they seem to be
taking their time, thinking about what to do.
Suddenly, Daethalion attacks an ent from behind and the battle starts
again! Daekam stabs wildly at an Orc warrior. Darkclaw knocks an Orc
warrior back, with a powerful strike. Daethalion massacres an ent with
incredible force! An ent hits The Witch king. A Pair of Orc warriors
massacres Anaiya! The Witch king switches to one of Saruman's Orcs and
cuts it nearly in half. Slate grazes Orc warrior. Daethalion critically
hits an ent with decimating force and it died. Darkclaw crushes an Orc
warrior's leg, nearly dismembering it! The Witch king's eyes light up
with insane glee, and the Wraith Sword glows blood red, as it comes
slicing down through an ent. The ent died. The Witch king throws his head
back and cackles with glee as the ghost of Rekkan drifts southeast.
The battle clears again and only Treebeard is left among the
broken ents. The bodies of Aquila, Rekkan, Prather and Allusion sprawl
haphazardly in the rubble.
Mellonaug enters.
Mellonaug gets a black-bladed Orc sword into an Orc courier pack.
Mellonaug gets a black steel Orc helm into an Orc courier pack.
Mellonaug gets a jar of ent draught (empty) into an Orc courier pack.
Mellonaug gets a black-bladed Orc sword into an Orc courier pack.
Mellonaug leaves southeast.
Jarem has gone into battle shock. He is swaying back and forth
chanting, "KILL ORCS EAT PICKLES, KILL ORCS EAT PICKLES!"
Stele, Humes and Berenii together attack the last orc and it falls.
Of the original force commanders, only Treebeard and The Witch King are
still alive and they taunt each other as Mellonaug, running a macro so
he doesn't have to risk any combat, enters and loots more corpses.
The Witch king sneers, "Do not doubt the power of Saurons chosen!"
Treebeard shakes his head sadly, "I am older and wiser than you,
Nazgul! I shall not die.
Berenii asks."Treebeard, how can we succeed?
Daethalion says,"Berenii, you cannot!"
Fitz says,"...but nor can you, Daethalion"
Berenii sigh,"Perhaps not, Daeth...but we can continue to fight."
Belgarel mutters,"DEFEAT THE EVIL,"
Treebeard rumbles at The Witch King, "Go Back! Go Back to Mordor,
King of Nothing!
Ismandor punches Belgarel in the face, spattering blood everywhere!
Daekam says,"Do that again and you will die.
Berenii says: Hold, all...
Slate empties all the kiwi fruits from Prather's bag and eats them.
The crown above the Nazgul's armour tilts, as if the unseen
head were listening. With a final sneer at Treebeard, he say, "My Master
calls, I will leave now." The Nazgul leaves, southeast.
Mellonaug enters.
Mellonaug has hp: 180/180 and end: 180/180
Mellonaug looks at The decapitated corpse of Orc captain.
Mellonaug gets A large elven blade into an Orc courier pack
Mellonaug gets a huge, lead-weighted mace from corpse of Orc captain
Mellonaug leaves, southeast.
Stele gets an ivy wreath and drops it on the body of one of the ents.
Slate says,"It's over."
Prather's ghost drifts southeast.
This day was fought a battle before the Tower of Orthanc.
As in all battles, there were those who fought and won personal
victories. There were those who fought and died bravely. There
were a few heroes, and fewer villains. And there was Mellonaug.
Prather, a minstrel