Elendor
Behind Enemy Lines
A Gondorian ranger (Amrundirn) wanders into the Mordain encampment in Ithilien, waking the uruk-hai Bugdobuuk from his nap. A brief battle ensues, and the Gondorian is badly wounded. Hash tries to strangle the human on her own, but it seems that she's no match for him. Ooblog (Ceredir alt) comes to the rescue, and shortly after Endaerion and his cavalry come to find Amrundirn.
Sort Date: no date set
Location: South Ithilien Road
IC Time: Dawn
Weather: Dark, cloudy
Description: [Bugdobuuk(#29647)]
Dawn in Ithilien means a few rays of sunlight have managed to break through the eternal cloud and shadows that hang over the looming Mountains of Shadow. The trees stand like pillars over the road, their branches forming a high roof. It is here that the Uruk Camp has stopped in it's journey.
A large boulder leans precariously over the outermost tent of the camp. On the opposite side of the rock, a black and red clothed figure lays silently in the grass. An ancient scimitar sits on his lap, and a shield rests next to him. If it were not for his snoring, it would appear he is awake, but he possesses the rare gift of sleeping with his eyes open.
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
There is movement to the south.
A rustling in the dense bushes underneath a young oak not far from the waking sleeper, half a hundred yards perhaps -- and there is more movement a croaking noise and the loud flapping of heavy wings as a large bird takes flight.
An eerie peace settles only a moment afterward an almost hushed silence.
[Bugdobuuk(#29647)]
The Uruk-hai turns on his side. His scimitar falls beneath his body. "No Grundbarg," he murmurs, "The squirrel's in...the third tent from the opossum..." And whatever dream the Uruk is having remains interupted.
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
'Tis no fox that appears a moment later, scurrying at a sort of crouching run from one cover to next -- a waist-high rock next to a fir tree, with patches of high grass that grows from within the dry cracks of the earth all around not good cover, but decent in the very least one would be in part visible behind for the wary scout -- but a man sword in hand, shield slung over one shoulder, and with a face hid behind a black mask for all but his cold grey eyes and weathered brow.
His footfalls are silent, very much so, despite the somewhat irregular limp on his right foot.
[Bugdobuuk(#29647)]
"Oh Grundbarg, you scum..." Bugdobuuk whispers, "I told you, the elf is on top of the-," at this moment, whether by fate or by a gust of wind, the orc's shield falls and makes a soft pang as it lands on his face. In an instant the orc on his feet, his eyes blazing. "Gah! This piece of trash! Wait 'til I throttle those snot-nosed buggers!" The Uruk turns angrily...and grins evilly.
"Thought you'd disturb my nap?" he asks Amrundirn angrily, picking his scimitar up from the ground.
Scrounging around madly amongst the bushes safely away from the uruk-hai, a slave orc attempts to find a small meal for itself, appearing impoverished as if it has not eaten more than a few scraps of leftover food in the past week. Of course, in doing so, the slave orc makes a rather loud rustling sound in the bushes, scaring off a squirrel more than once while it searches for berries within the branches and leaves, partly concealed from view. Upon hearing the loud 'pang' from Bugdobuuk's shield, the she-orc immediately jumps back out from the bushes, thinking the uruk-hai had been talking of throttling the servant orc's neck. Seeing that this was not the case, Hash's one eye darts in the direction of the newcomer whom Bugdobuuk is talking to.
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
"I admit," The same man answers quietly, "The thought had crossed my mind." Amrundirn's voice carries a wryness about it -- annoyance even.
He rises fully, backing up a step as he dares a quick eye on Hash meeting the she-orc's glance for an instant, 'ere his return to Bogdobuuk. "Have a care," He says, "The Lord Steward forbids passage in these land -- I don't suppose you and your compatrios have his permission?"
[Bugdobuuk(#29647)]
"Your lord," Bugdobuuk sneers. "Our Lord is ruler of heaven and earth. It is by his permission we enter these lands, and it is under his watcful glance that we complete the task we were sent here to do." The blade is raised a quarter of an inch, and the orc moves forward slowly. It appears he does not see the she-orc.
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
"Pray tell," The man retorts as he brings the shield about mid-stride, holding for a moment longblade and roundshield in the same hand as he slides an arm into the straps on its backside. "What may that task be?"
The next backward step is halted by a gnarled root, and the Ranger for that is what he must be, stumbles half a step in regaining his balance a brief glance surveying the soil at his feet as he does so.
The she-orc shrinks back from the masked visitor when he offers a brief glance towards her. The expression on her face almost turns into a sort of snarl, although the small orc understands only bits and pieces of the words they exchange with each other. Watching the intruder stumble as he backs away, Hash utters a low hiss directed at the uruk-hai, "Don't let him get away! He'll make for a good meal tonight." A grin crosses the she-orc's lips.
[Bugdobuuk(#29647)]
"Aye he would," Bugdobuuk whispers. "Our task?" he asks louder, raising his blade above his head, "Is to kill scum like YOU!" With amazing speed the beast leaps forward and takes a swing at the human's belly, his armor jingling as he moves.
Bugdobuuk attacks Amrundirn with his Scimitar, but he misses by a handspan.
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
That jingle, perhaps, is what saves Amrundirn's life. "Well," he almost grunts as he moves backwards to the side quickly thus avoiding the blow fully, but narrowly, "I will just have to stop you, then."
Forward now, one pace only, but it is enough for the longsword's reach hewing at the Orc's shield-hand shouler.
Amrundirn attacks Bugdobuuk with his Longsword, but he misses by a mile.
[Bugdobuuk(#29647)]
With his shoulder in tact, the uruk-hai moves out of the way and snarls. "Good luck," the orc retorts, "I've battled trees that are better with the sword than you." With a grunt, Bugdobuuk swipes towards the man's neck.
Bugdobuuk attacks Amrundirn with his Scimitar and moderately wounds him!
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
The blow connects, not with the neck, but the chin.
The mask is knocked off flying off to the side somewhere. The cut underneath is quite clear to see running just across the tip of Amrundirn's chin, akin to a second mouth. Though, by far, not as wide or deep. It bleeds quite freely.
The ranger stumbles back a step, and another, his longsword swung blindly at Bugdobuuk's outstretched limb more as a distraction than anything else.
Amrundirn attacks Bugdobuuk with his Longsword, but he misses by a hair.
[Bugdobuuk(#29647)]
But the orc is ready. He turns and lets the blade swing at the air above him. "You'll have to do better than that!" he screeches, swiping at the man's left shoulder.
Bugdobuuk attacks Amrundirn with his Scimitar and moderately wounds him!
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
This time the blow doesn't seem so severe and yet in connects all the same, despite Amrundirn's attempts to avoid it, leaning under it. It rends his cloak, and mayhaps the leather armor underneath 'ere he twists away from it there is no telling if the blood on the curved sword is from this blow or the one before.
"Very well!" The man responds through gritted teeth, slashing now at the greatorc's armored belly.
Amrundirn attacks Bugdobuuk with his Longsword, but Bugdobuuk parries the attack with his Scimitar!
[Bugdobuuk(#29647)]
Metal scrapes metal with a sound that echoes off the trees. Pulling his blade away, the orc reveals his two rows of discolored fangs. "This is like target pratice," he jeers, "Why don't you start actually start fighting?" With a wicked laugh, Bugdobuuk's turns and dramatically swipes at the human's left arm.
Bugdobuuk attacks Amrundirn with his Scimitar and badly wounds him!
The thin slave orc has, for the time being, been watching all the action from a very safe distance, having run off to hide by a tree nearby. Perhaps Hash has gone back to scrounging around for food, or has been taking a nap all this time. The latter seems unlikely, though, as just when the uruk-hai aims to hack off the human's arm, Hash has lightfootedly wandered back towards the fighting duo, discreetely snatching a good handfull of dirt cupped in her hands, before climbing partway up a tree behind the Gondorian, trying to elevate herself to his height.
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
A grunt, the blow connects with the Ranger's shoulder just above the shield a thin arc of blood splattering onto the trunk of the nearest tree, bleeding him further.
Amrundirn's shieldarm is raised under the scimitar at that moment a moment too late, perhaps, and his sword lowers. "That will have to wait," He snorts. And then the longblade is moved but not at the orc himself, but a much more easy target: dirt. The tip of the sword burrows down quickly.
And a handfull is flung at Bugdobuuk's head by the flick of Amrundirn's wrist a thin mist of dry dust forming in the wake of that far from solid projectile.
The man turns about on his heels, cloak billowing about him, a long step taken in the attempt to dash away towards whence he came, southward seemingly completely unawares of Hash's manouvres.
Balancing herself upon a large branch hanging over the ground near the two below, and having placed the dirt safely within a sort of pouch she's made from the rags she wears, Hash hurridly leans forward just enough so that she won't fall over, and thrusts the bunch of dirt down at the fleeing Gondorian, aiming for the dust to fall into the Ranger's face and eyes. "Ergh!" Some effort is made to remain upright upon the branch, having one both legs wrapped around it and for a second, both hands free to throw the dirt with all her strength. "Arghhh!" The uruk apparently loses her balance, and moments later after this 'attack', Hash begins falling forward out of the tree, heading for a crash on the ground below.
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
At the very last moment Amrundirn's glance fleets upward at the dangerous balancing act -- the shield is raised over helm and head a dustcloud enveloping his shoulders.
As fate would have it, however, the little uruk's landing comes sooner than expected -- the man's front knee seems to buckle and bend under the sudden weight, and he moves sideways, stumbling over an old log as the shield slips from his grasp, forfeited to the ground with dark leather cover, she-orc, leather straps and all.
Yet, somehow, the man is still afoot if unsteadily so, and not blind but momentarily halted.
Momentarily.
Amrundirn removes Fin's shield.
Amrundirn puts down Studded Leather Shield.
[Bugdobuuk(#29647)]
"You ready to forfeit?" Bugdobuuk asks from behind the human, shaking his head at Hash. "When I get my hands on you snaga..." he hisses, "You can't even balance yourself on a tree branch." He spits in Hash's direction, then turns back to Amrundirn. He holds the scimitar, but something...some unseen force...keeps him from attacking.
This all seems to happen too fast for Hash to comprehend what is happening - she hits Amrundirn's shield with a loud 'thud', and slides off the metal plate while making making a horrible screeching sound, almost as if the orc were screaming as she hurtled towards the ground. Shortly after, the she-orc scrambles back on to her feet, her eye darting about to see where she is while clawing blindly at the surrounding air. "Where'd ya go?!" The orc hisses in black speech, and upon seeing something like a shadow through all the cloud of dust, she lunges towards the figure, aiming to grab it, whatever it may be.
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
The man does not waste the hesitance -- or ill-tempered mockery, or whatever it is that stays Bugdobuuk's hand.
He makes a run for it darting sideways to avoid Hash's blind raging charge.
[Bugdobuuk(#29647)]
"Come back here!" Bugdobuuk roars, beginning to go after the human before tripping blindly over Hash. "Gah! You waste of space!" he screeches as he flies head over heels into the dirt. He struggles to get up after the departing man.
Hash then winds up face-first on the ground with a mouthfull of dirt, having missed the target. The she-orc utters a low growl, pushing herself back up. At that same time, the small creature is then knocked back over by some unknown entity. "Aghhh! NO!" She tumbles over, ending up lying on her back near Bugdobuuk, and for a moment wondering if it was actually the Gondorian tripping over her. "Wait! I think he just hit me!"
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
The Ranger Amrundirn picks up pace now less burdened, speeding away from the pair. His voice rises from over yonder, ten yards -- now fifteen, now twenty:
"I'll be back!"
Amrundirn tries to flee from Bugdobuuk, but he fails!
[Bugdobuuk(#29647)]
Regaining his balance, the Uruk-hai darts through the trees. He closes the gap between him and the human, although he is still far ahead. Along the way he almost drops his shield, which goes clattering on the ground behind him as he pursues the lowly man of Gondor/
Bugdobuuk removes Gundurub.
Bugdobuuk puts down Metal Shield.
"I have him! I've got him!!" The small uruk screeches, shoving herself back onto her feet, just then realizing that the Gondorian has now fleed far away from the area, hearing the faint trace of his shout. "URGH!" Hash wastes no time in pursuing the now quickly fading Amrundirn, her knees and ankles burning with pain from both the treefall and from being knocked over by the uruk-hai.
Amrundirn heads south along the road.
Amrundirn has left.
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
Thump thump-thump the quick rythm of the Ranger's feet on the hard, dry soil rises audibly not loudly, but well within range of hearing all the same. It has grown highly irregular now his right foot not quite holding the left's pace, slowing him down. Amrundirn ducks under a branch, daring a glance over his shoulder to the pursuers: the Uruk-Hai with one lesser in tow.
They are close, very close.
He stops suddenly, his boots sliding a short distance on the dirt without loosing their hold slamming the longsword still firm in his grasp back at Bugdobuuk a shoulder-high swing!
Amrundirn attacks Bugdobuuk with his Longsword and lightly wounds him!
[Bugdobuuk(#29647)]
The sword breaks through armor and hits flesh. Bugdobuuk winces and watches as warm blood trickles down from his shoulder. "Guess you learned a thing or two from me!" The uruk howls, thrusting his scimitar towards Amrundirn's face.
Bugdobuuk attacks Amrundirn with his Scimitar, but Amrundirn parries the attack with his Longsword!
"Eeeaghh!" With a quick re-footing, the she-orc moves away from the two, avoiding any danger. Without much time to think, Hash runs ahead, or behind Amrundirn, planning another sneak attack up ahead. She runs far, ending up at least five yards away in a matter of moments.
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
The blades sing as they meet long and curved blades both, as Amrundirn lifts his to deflect the blow. "Persistance if anything," he growls for an answer as, for the briefest moment, he looks levelly at great-orc's face over the two swords locked thus.
He swings in turn, at Bugdobuuk's shieldarm.
Amrundirn attacks Bugdobuuk with his Longsword and moderately wounds him!
[Bugdobuuk(#29647)]
The arm is now rendered useless. Blood spurts from the wound and the arm shatters. Gritting his teeth, the Uruk grips the blade with his right hand. Although not as strong, it could be just as deadly. Without a word, he slices towards the human's stomach.
Bugdobuuk attacks Amrundirn with his Scimitar and moderately wounds him!
Hash suddenly stops under a tree, jumping up to grab the lowest branch with her two hands, and with a pained effort the she-orc pulls herself up into the tree, figuring this may be the safest plan. No more sneak attacks with dirt, apparently her hands are empty, but not for long. The snaga reaches out to attempt and pull a jagged, strudy branch just an arm's length away.
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
Sweatbeads glitter on the Ranger's brow: his breath is quick, and he bleeds -- he looks tired. Unyielding yet, but tired.
So it is that he is too slow, although he tries to back away from the curved sword. The by now dried scimitar is dyed with fresh red about the outer edge: the wound must be small. But many small things...
He takes a step to the left, but his cut at Bugdobuuk's leg comes from the right.
Amrundirn attacks Bugdobuuk with his Longsword, but he misses by a mile.
[Bugdobuuk(#29647)]
Blood flies through the air, but Bugdobuuk's mind is racing. " You snaga! If I hit him now you try to hit him with that branch there and I won't kill you!" Grinning slyly, the Uruk pauses, slashes, and then sends his scimitar heading for the man's left arm once more.
Bugdobuuk attacks Amrundirn with his Scimitar, but he misses by a hair.
With a snap, and a cracking sound, the rather large branch is pulled from the tree by the snaga, who this time has a firmer balance within the tree by leaning against the trunk for support. A very quick nod is offered in the uruk-hai's direction at his instruction.
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
Back now dances the ranger by a stroke of luck more like than anything avoiding Bugdobuuk's fell swoop -- the crackling of the tree branch widening his glance for a moment but he dares not look.
Instead he hews, forward, at the Uruk-Hai's swordarm.
Amrundirn attacks Bugdobuuk with his Longsword, but he misses by a mile.
[Bugdobuuk(#29647)]
And the uruk dodges, and spits. A smile suddenly crosses his face. " Snaga! I'm going to run around this tree. When I do, you hit him!" The Uruk goes around the tree...
But he doesn't stop. Laughing wickedly, the orc takes off at a great speed, attempting to cut through the thick woods and make his way north to the Uruk Camp.
Bugdobuuk dodges aside Amrundirn, and manages to escape!
A wicked grin runs across the snaga's expression, as she wields the pointed branch slowly, not wanting to rustle the leaves and give away her position. Silently, the she-orc changes positions to prepare for a downward swoop to reach the oncoming victim.
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
Bewildered, Amrundirn limps another step forward looking after the departed Bugdobuuk -- an eyebrow arching over his unmasked face.
A sigh, and his glance narrows: he spins about, eyeing the thickets and trees and bushes for any sign of the other --...
...But he does not look up.
Yet.
The snaga's grin grows wider as the Gondorian seems oblivious to her location. A moment of total, dead silence passes before the orc jumps backward and off the branch, swooping her feet in a forward motion for momentum, aiming to hit the Gondorian square in the face, while swinging the branch as if it were a spear with its point directed at where his eyes should be. The uruk remains on the branch only by hanging on with her own free arm at first, but then letting go and hurtling with full force towards Amrundirn.
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
The hood of the cloak is swept off the leather helm sent tumbling off in the underbrush, and the Ranger himself is knocked off his feet with a groan that is broken off, not as he hits the earth, but as the littler orc falls ontop of him.
For a moment, he can do nothing doubled over.
Finally, she's got him off guard! Reaching back for the branch, Hash then attempts to scratch the man's eyes out both by trying to scrape him with the branch, and reaching to claw at his eyes with filthy nails. "I've got you" She cackles, stepping with her foot on the man's sword arm and pressing down firmly.
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
The morning is quiet sun's rays blocked by the great shadowy mountains near at hand to the east. There isn't a birdcall within earshot and not strangely, for only moments hence the clamor of swords were heard under the eaves of Ithilien where once a high folk dwelled.
Thither, under a lofty tree, a pair struggles -- one man, bleeding from many wounds and an orc, a small creature, hand to hand.
Or hand to branch, as it were.
The latter is swept aside by the same hand that grips the wrist attached to those clawing fingers and the grip is not light. Not light indeed.
Through gritted teeth, Amrundirn answers in a voice short of breath: "And now what will you do? Your friend has abandoned you."
The smaller creature throws a forceful kick towards Amdurndirn's chest area, and another, with the other foot, lower down. Hash will not give up as she tries to wrangle free from the man's grip, to no avail. No answer is given to the ranger the lowly orc not having thought of what she would do next. Seeing the graveness of her situation, Hash throws her head forward in an attempt to hit the man's forehead, at the expense of a serious cranial injury to the she-orc.
"A friend in need is a friend...who'll wind up dead unless they share their meat with meeeeee!!"
With that high-pitched cry, a squat-looking orc wiht a scrunched in nose, Oooblog by name, jumps down out of the trees, looking to jump on top of the man struggling with Hash, but possibly landing on Hash's head instead. A sword blade, too long, hangs by Oooblog's side, and it scrapes on the ground as the orc moves.
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
Free!
The swordhand is free at last. It does little good, however the man is busy about other things. His grip falters momentarily, the lapse of strength caused by either kick to chest or belly or perhaps both enough that her wrist slips through, and his hand by chance or reflex is raised -- rendering neither with headinjuries. Well, not any more of them, anyway. Yet.
Amrundirn rolls sideways to get his knees underneath him at the same time as he pushes Hash's head away -- or attempts to do so, in any case.
"Where've ya been all this time?!" Hash hisses in orc-speech to Ooblong, just after her head has been shoved away by Amrundirn's hand. Uttering a somewhat high-pitched growl, almost like that of a small dog's, Hash reaches with one hand for the ranger's wrist, and another for his neck, trying for a chokehold. Several more kicks with her knees are delivered - but they may be blocked - towards the man's torso area. Her feet, she attempts to place on the ranger's knees to try and climb the Gondorian.
[Ceredir(#1394)]
"Quit hogging him for yerself!" Oooblog snarls. Sword dragging on the ground, the orc turns, trying to grab one of the Ranger's legs--as if somehow he will be able to drag the live, struggling man northwards or into the surrounding lands. "An' none of your business where I was!" Oooblog continues. "What are you doing out here all by yerself anyhow? Who told you you could come here?"
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
Climb as she might, Hash's endeavors have some unexpected assistance, as the ranger pushes himself to his knees. The snarling of the orc-speech is not far from the sound that emmanates from Amrundirn in this moment, his left hand struggling against the grip about his as he lashes out, the longblade, still held fast, hewing at the hands that grasp for his leg.
"-I- was ordered to attack him by the Za-Sharkuun, Bugdobuuk - the human was sneaking around the camp earlier. Didn't ya hear all the fightin'?" Hash hisses, her voice flatering sometimes while she tightens the grib with her right hand on the man's throat, letting go of his wrist and instead hanging onto Amrundirn by the throat with both hands, trying to press her thumbs into his windpipe. "Grraghh! Ooblong, I should report you to the High Shaman for wandering away from camp!" She assume this is the reason why he did not become involved in the fighting earlier. All this, is of course, spoken in the native orcish tongue.
[Ceredir(#1394)] "Stop that! Stop that!" Oooblog snarls in the common tongue as the man tries to smash his hands with his longblade. "Ow!! Ouch!" With a hiss, the orc's hands suddenly slip free of the man's leg as Oooblog shakes out an injured hand. And then the squat orc lunges for Hash, trying to jump on her back!
"Did not! Liar!! I didn't steal nothing!!" All this harshly spoken in the common tongue, then Oooblog slips back to the black speech of Mordor's orcs. "I was spying on th men camp. Yes, yes I was!"
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
The Ranger wrenches one hand from his throat then elbowing for Hash's middle, and as Oooblog assaults his compatriot, Amrundirn he lounges forward up on his feet wether his involountary backpack hangs on or no.
"Ooblong, stop!! Whaddya think yer doin'?! Ooff!" The squat orc manages to grab hold of her back, dragging her further down Amdundirn, yet she still holds on with singlehandedly to the man's throat, although her grip seems to be loosening. With that final elbowing to her ribs, the she-orc lets out a growl as she lets go of the Gondorian, digging her fingernails into the skin of his throat as she slips off the man, landing on Ooblong behind her.
[Ceredir(#1394)]
"Ow!! Get off me!! Off!! Now!!" Oooblog howls and howls as if he has been run through with a scimitar. It might have something to do with his sword, which has twisted behind him as he fell and is now sticking him in the back. "Get the man!! The tark, get him, you imbecil!"
[Endaerion(#30487)]
Out of the North comes an approaching silence there's little apparent to either their number or whereabouts, but they emerge quickly and stealthily from behind the trees. They are men of Gondor, pale of face and bearing the livery of the Rangers who patrol these borderlands. Swords and spears they wield, and they quickly make to secure the safety of their comrade.
Little noise do they make at all from behind the green cloth that covers their face, but one has the look of a Lord in his eyes, and he issues his command. "Flee, thralls of the Enemy!" It is Endaerion, and he brandishes his sword in threat.
[Combat(#13388)] Endaerion draws his sword from its sheath with a steady hand.
[Combat(#13388)] Endaerion puts on Studded Leather Shield.
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
Thus scratched, clawed and cut and rent, Amrundirn Ranger staggers as he turns slowly to his twain torturers towering over them despite his disposition -- his shoulders are slumped and his head is bowed, curtained by a mess of raven hair soiled with blood and dirt his attire and armor torn asunder, sword, now driven tip first a foot into the ground for support, blackened by the blood of his enemies. He makes a sore sight indeed.
In truth, it is a wonder that he still stands.
His bloodshot eyes blink hard stare fleeting quickly from the two orcs tangled with themselves before him -- to the Men! Allies. "Over here!" He sighs voice unable to carry.
He sinks to one knee.
"I can't!! You idiot, I had a hold on him! Ya had to go and leap onto me fer no good reason!" The lighterweight orc tries to shove her sword-wielding companion in anger, snarling and revealing sharp, pointed teeth. "No!!" The she-orc spins around to face the voice of the oncoming Gondorian and his accompanying cavalry. Just to spite the Gondorian, Hash sends a flying fist towards the wounded ranger's stomach area, while the others are still far enough away. Shortly after this, though the she-orc must admit defeat. "We're outnumbered! Head back to camp!!" Hash then wastes no time in running around Ooglob and fleeing as fast as her feet can take her back towards the orcish campsite.
[Ceredir(#1394)]
Oooblog is slower to get up, but he is now fool: Grabbing his sword out from under him, he unsheaths it, though it is halfway out of its scabbard already. And then he brandishes the too-long sword toward the oncoming Rangers--and turns tail and runs. He's clumsy, though, tripping over the sword and struggling to retain his balance.
[Endaerion(#30487)]
The Rangers quickly spread out and attempt to assail the attacking Uruk. Endaerion, however, crosses over to Amrundirn and kneels before him. Despite the heavy gauntlets he dons, he attempts to assess the Carmayar's condition. "Be still," he says in a commanding voice, "we will get you out of here."
Dunedain eyes seek after the orcs' retreat, however, and a cold fire burns in them.
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
The last of Hash's hail of kicks and blows leaves Amrundirn slouched over the hilts of his sword gasping for breath.
It is so Endaerion finds him.
"They've a camp, northward over yonder," He rasps the otherwise lithe voice hoarse and cold, weak. "Under our very nose, brother!"
[Endaerion(#30487)]
"Yes, very good. Be still." Endaerion then commands two of his nearby brethren to aid Amrundirn. "We have to get you from here quickly. There may return with greater numbers." Then as the two begin to offer assistance to the fallen Ranger, Endaerion maintains a vigilant guard.
Hash for the moment continues fast on her feet, in comparison to the Gondorian ranger she is relatively unscathed having suffered only minor scratches and bruises from climbing and falling from trees for the sake of surprise attacks. Now quite a distance away from the group of Rangers, the lithe uruk makes a turn, running behind some bushes so as not to be spotted as easily. The she-orc continues on her way northward, but for the most part concealed from spying eyes, or so she thinks.
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
"I doubt it not," Answers the Carmayar, leaned in a moment on the shoulder of one aid, while the other takes the sword. His voice grows more and more quiet but he manages a slow walk all the same.
"They will come."
[Endaerion(#30487)]
"Then let us make haste." Endaerion cautiously leads the four back towards the Gondorian camp.
[Ceredir(#1394)]
Likewise, Oooblog takes off into the undergrowth, scurrying like a scared rabbit, sword dragging behind him, slowing him down. He doesn't stop to look behind to see if he is pursued.
Dawn in Ithilien means a few rays of sunlight have managed to break through the eternal cloud and shadows that hang over the looming Mountains of Shadow. The trees stand like pillars over the road, their branches forming a high roof. It is here that the Uruk Camp has stopped in it's journey.
A large boulder leans precariously over the outermost tent of the camp. On the opposite side of the rock, a black and red clothed figure lays silently in the grass. An ancient scimitar sits on his lap, and a shield rests next to him. If it were not for his snoring, it would appear he is awake, but he possesses the rare gift of sleeping with his eyes open.
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
There is movement to the south.
A rustling in the dense bushes underneath a young oak not far from the waking sleeper, half a hundred yards perhaps -- and there is more movement a croaking noise and the loud flapping of heavy wings as a large bird takes flight.
An eerie peace settles only a moment afterward an almost hushed silence.
[Bugdobuuk(#29647)]
The Uruk-hai turns on his side. His scimitar falls beneath his body. "No Grundbarg," he murmurs, "The squirrel's in...the third tent from the opossum..." And whatever dream the Uruk is having remains interupted.
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
'Tis no fox that appears a moment later, scurrying at a sort of crouching run from one cover to next -- a waist-high rock next to a fir tree, with patches of high grass that grows from within the dry cracks of the earth all around not good cover, but decent in the very least one would be in part visible behind for the wary scout -- but a man sword in hand, shield slung over one shoulder, and with a face hid behind a black mask for all but his cold grey eyes and weathered brow.
His footfalls are silent, very much so, despite the somewhat irregular limp on his right foot.
[Bugdobuuk(#29647)]
"Oh Grundbarg, you scum..." Bugdobuuk whispers, "I told you, the elf is on top of the-," at this moment, whether by fate or by a gust of wind, the orc's shield falls and makes a soft pang as it lands on his face. In an instant the orc on his feet, his eyes blazing. "Gah! This piece of trash! Wait 'til I throttle those snot-nosed buggers!" The Uruk turns angrily...and grins evilly.
"Thought you'd disturb my nap?" he asks Amrundirn angrily, picking his scimitar up from the ground.
Scrounging around madly amongst the bushes safely away from the uruk-hai, a slave orc attempts to find a small meal for itself, appearing impoverished as if it has not eaten more than a few scraps of leftover food in the past week. Of course, in doing so, the slave orc makes a rather loud rustling sound in the bushes, scaring off a squirrel more than once while it searches for berries within the branches and leaves, partly concealed from view. Upon hearing the loud 'pang' from Bugdobuuk's shield, the she-orc immediately jumps back out from the bushes, thinking the uruk-hai had been talking of throttling the servant orc's neck. Seeing that this was not the case, Hash's one eye darts in the direction of the newcomer whom Bugdobuuk is talking to.
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
"I admit," The same man answers quietly, "The thought had crossed my mind." Amrundirn's voice carries a wryness about it -- annoyance even.
He rises fully, backing up a step as he dares a quick eye on Hash meeting the she-orc's glance for an instant, 'ere his return to Bogdobuuk. "Have a care," He says, "The Lord Steward forbids passage in these land -- I don't suppose you and your compatrios have his permission?"
[Bugdobuuk(#29647)]
"Your lord," Bugdobuuk sneers. "Our Lord is ruler of heaven and earth. It is by his permission we enter these lands, and it is under his watcful glance that we complete the task we were sent here to do." The blade is raised a quarter of an inch, and the orc moves forward slowly. It appears he does not see the she-orc.
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
"Pray tell," The man retorts as he brings the shield about mid-stride, holding for a moment longblade and roundshield in the same hand as he slides an arm into the straps on its backside. "What may that task be?"
The next backward step is halted by a gnarled root, and the Ranger for that is what he must be, stumbles half a step in regaining his balance a brief glance surveying the soil at his feet as he does so.
The she-orc shrinks back from the masked visitor when he offers a brief glance towards her. The expression on her face almost turns into a sort of snarl, although the small orc understands only bits and pieces of the words they exchange with each other. Watching the intruder stumble as he backs away, Hash utters a low hiss directed at the uruk-hai, "Don't let him get away! He'll make for a good meal tonight." A grin crosses the she-orc's lips.
[Bugdobuuk(#29647)]
"Aye he would," Bugdobuuk whispers. "Our task?" he asks louder, raising his blade above his head, "Is to kill scum like YOU!" With amazing speed the beast leaps forward and takes a swing at the human's belly, his armor jingling as he moves.
Bugdobuuk attacks Amrundirn with his Scimitar, but he misses by a handspan.
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
That jingle, perhaps, is what saves Amrundirn's life. "Well," he almost grunts as he moves backwards to the side quickly thus avoiding the blow fully, but narrowly, "I will just have to stop you, then."
Forward now, one pace only, but it is enough for the longsword's reach hewing at the Orc's shield-hand shouler.
Amrundirn attacks Bugdobuuk with his Longsword, but he misses by a mile.
[Bugdobuuk(#29647)]
With his shoulder in tact, the uruk-hai moves out of the way and snarls. "Good luck," the orc retorts, "I've battled trees that are better with the sword than you." With a grunt, Bugdobuuk swipes towards the man's neck.
Bugdobuuk attacks Amrundirn with his Scimitar and moderately wounds him!
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
The blow connects, not with the neck, but the chin.
The mask is knocked off flying off to the side somewhere. The cut underneath is quite clear to see running just across the tip of Amrundirn's chin, akin to a second mouth. Though, by far, not as wide or deep. It bleeds quite freely.
The ranger stumbles back a step, and another, his longsword swung blindly at Bugdobuuk's outstretched limb more as a distraction than anything else.
Amrundirn attacks Bugdobuuk with his Longsword, but he misses by a hair.
[Bugdobuuk(#29647)]
But the orc is ready. He turns and lets the blade swing at the air above him. "You'll have to do better than that!" he screeches, swiping at the man's left shoulder.
Bugdobuuk attacks Amrundirn with his Scimitar and moderately wounds him!
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
This time the blow doesn't seem so severe and yet in connects all the same, despite Amrundirn's attempts to avoid it, leaning under it. It rends his cloak, and mayhaps the leather armor underneath 'ere he twists away from it there is no telling if the blood on the curved sword is from this blow or the one before.
"Very well!" The man responds through gritted teeth, slashing now at the greatorc's armored belly.
Amrundirn attacks Bugdobuuk with his Longsword, but Bugdobuuk parries the attack with his Scimitar!
[Bugdobuuk(#29647)]
Metal scrapes metal with a sound that echoes off the trees. Pulling his blade away, the orc reveals his two rows of discolored fangs. "This is like target pratice," he jeers, "Why don't you start actually start fighting?" With a wicked laugh, Bugdobuuk's turns and dramatically swipes at the human's left arm.
Bugdobuuk attacks Amrundirn with his Scimitar and badly wounds him!
The thin slave orc has, for the time being, been watching all the action from a very safe distance, having run off to hide by a tree nearby. Perhaps Hash has gone back to scrounging around for food, or has been taking a nap all this time. The latter seems unlikely, though, as just when the uruk-hai aims to hack off the human's arm, Hash has lightfootedly wandered back towards the fighting duo, discreetely snatching a good handfull of dirt cupped in her hands, before climbing partway up a tree behind the Gondorian, trying to elevate herself to his height.
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
A grunt, the blow connects with the Ranger's shoulder just above the shield a thin arc of blood splattering onto the trunk of the nearest tree, bleeding him further.
Amrundirn's shieldarm is raised under the scimitar at that moment a moment too late, perhaps, and his sword lowers. "That will have to wait," He snorts. And then the longblade is moved but not at the orc himself, but a much more easy target: dirt. The tip of the sword burrows down quickly.
And a handfull is flung at Bugdobuuk's head by the flick of Amrundirn's wrist a thin mist of dry dust forming in the wake of that far from solid projectile.
The man turns about on his heels, cloak billowing about him, a long step taken in the attempt to dash away towards whence he came, southward seemingly completely unawares of Hash's manouvres.
Balancing herself upon a large branch hanging over the ground near the two below, and having placed the dirt safely within a sort of pouch she's made from the rags she wears, Hash hurridly leans forward just enough so that she won't fall over, and thrusts the bunch of dirt down at the fleeing Gondorian, aiming for the dust to fall into the Ranger's face and eyes. "Ergh!" Some effort is made to remain upright upon the branch, having one both legs wrapped around it and for a second, both hands free to throw the dirt with all her strength. "Arghhh!" The uruk apparently loses her balance, and moments later after this 'attack', Hash begins falling forward out of the tree, heading for a crash on the ground below.
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
At the very last moment Amrundirn's glance fleets upward at the dangerous balancing act -- the shield is raised over helm and head a dustcloud enveloping his shoulders.
As fate would have it, however, the little uruk's landing comes sooner than expected -- the man's front knee seems to buckle and bend under the sudden weight, and he moves sideways, stumbling over an old log as the shield slips from his grasp, forfeited to the ground with dark leather cover, she-orc, leather straps and all.
Yet, somehow, the man is still afoot if unsteadily so, and not blind but momentarily halted.
Momentarily.
Amrundirn removes Fin's shield.
Amrundirn puts down Studded Leather Shield.
[Bugdobuuk(#29647)]
"You ready to forfeit?" Bugdobuuk asks from behind the human, shaking his head at Hash. "When I get my hands on you snaga..." he hisses, "You can't even balance yourself on a tree branch." He spits in Hash's direction, then turns back to Amrundirn. He holds the scimitar, but something...some unseen force...keeps him from attacking.
This all seems to happen too fast for Hash to comprehend what is happening - she hits Amrundirn's shield with a loud 'thud', and slides off the metal plate while making making a horrible screeching sound, almost as if the orc were screaming as she hurtled towards the ground. Shortly after, the she-orc scrambles back on to her feet, her eye darting about to see where she is while clawing blindly at the surrounding air. "Where'd ya go?!" The orc hisses in black speech, and upon seeing something like a shadow through all the cloud of dust, she lunges towards the figure, aiming to grab it, whatever it may be.
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
The man does not waste the hesitance -- or ill-tempered mockery, or whatever it is that stays Bugdobuuk's hand.
He makes a run for it darting sideways to avoid Hash's blind raging charge.
[Bugdobuuk(#29647)]
"Come back here!" Bugdobuuk roars, beginning to go after the human before tripping blindly over Hash. "Gah! You waste of space!" he screeches as he flies head over heels into the dirt. He struggles to get up after the departing man.
Hash then winds up face-first on the ground with a mouthfull of dirt, having missed the target. The she-orc utters a low growl, pushing herself back up. At that same time, the small creature is then knocked back over by some unknown entity. "Aghhh! NO!" She tumbles over, ending up lying on her back near Bugdobuuk, and for a moment wondering if it was actually the Gondorian tripping over her. "Wait! I think he just hit me!"
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
The Ranger Amrundirn picks up pace now less burdened, speeding away from the pair. His voice rises from over yonder, ten yards -- now fifteen, now twenty:
"I'll be back!"
Amrundirn tries to flee from Bugdobuuk, but he fails!
[Bugdobuuk(#29647)]
Regaining his balance, the Uruk-hai darts through the trees. He closes the gap between him and the human, although he is still far ahead. Along the way he almost drops his shield, which goes clattering on the ground behind him as he pursues the lowly man of Gondor/
Bugdobuuk removes Gundurub.
Bugdobuuk puts down Metal Shield.
"I have him! I've got him!!" The small uruk screeches, shoving herself back onto her feet, just then realizing that the Gondorian has now fleed far away from the area, hearing the faint trace of his shout. "URGH!" Hash wastes no time in pursuing the now quickly fading Amrundirn, her knees and ankles burning with pain from both the treefall and from being knocked over by the uruk-hai.
Amrundirn heads south along the road.
Amrundirn has left.
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
Thump thump-thump the quick rythm of the Ranger's feet on the hard, dry soil rises audibly not loudly, but well within range of hearing all the same. It has grown highly irregular now his right foot not quite holding the left's pace, slowing him down. Amrundirn ducks under a branch, daring a glance over his shoulder to the pursuers: the Uruk-Hai with one lesser in tow.
They are close, very close.
He stops suddenly, his boots sliding a short distance on the dirt without loosing their hold slamming the longsword still firm in his grasp back at Bugdobuuk a shoulder-high swing!
Amrundirn attacks Bugdobuuk with his Longsword and lightly wounds him!
[Bugdobuuk(#29647)]
The sword breaks through armor and hits flesh. Bugdobuuk winces and watches as warm blood trickles down from his shoulder. "Guess you learned a thing or two from me!" The uruk howls, thrusting his scimitar towards Amrundirn's face.
Bugdobuuk attacks Amrundirn with his Scimitar, but Amrundirn parries the attack with his Longsword!
"Eeeaghh!" With a quick re-footing, the she-orc moves away from the two, avoiding any danger. Without much time to think, Hash runs ahead, or behind Amrundirn, planning another sneak attack up ahead. She runs far, ending up at least five yards away in a matter of moments.
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
The blades sing as they meet long and curved blades both, as Amrundirn lifts his to deflect the blow. "Persistance if anything," he growls for an answer as, for the briefest moment, he looks levelly at great-orc's face over the two swords locked thus.
He swings in turn, at Bugdobuuk's shieldarm.
Amrundirn attacks Bugdobuuk with his Longsword and moderately wounds him!
[Bugdobuuk(#29647)]
The arm is now rendered useless. Blood spurts from the wound and the arm shatters. Gritting his teeth, the Uruk grips the blade with his right hand. Although not as strong, it could be just as deadly. Without a word, he slices towards the human's stomach.
Bugdobuuk attacks Amrundirn with his Scimitar and moderately wounds him!
Hash suddenly stops under a tree, jumping up to grab the lowest branch with her two hands, and with a pained effort the she-orc pulls herself up into the tree, figuring this may be the safest plan. No more sneak attacks with dirt, apparently her hands are empty, but not for long. The snaga reaches out to attempt and pull a jagged, strudy branch just an arm's length away.
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
Sweatbeads glitter on the Ranger's brow: his breath is quick, and he bleeds -- he looks tired. Unyielding yet, but tired.
So it is that he is too slow, although he tries to back away from the curved sword. The by now dried scimitar is dyed with fresh red about the outer edge: the wound must be small. But many small things...
He takes a step to the left, but his cut at Bugdobuuk's leg comes from the right.
Amrundirn attacks Bugdobuuk with his Longsword, but he misses by a mile.
[Bugdobuuk(#29647)]
Blood flies through the air, but Bugdobuuk's mind is racing. "
Bugdobuuk attacks Amrundirn with his Scimitar, but he misses by a hair.
With a snap, and a cracking sound, the rather large branch is pulled from the tree by the snaga, who this time has a firmer balance within the tree by leaning against the trunk for support. A very quick nod is offered in the uruk-hai's direction at his instruction.
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
Back now dances the ranger by a stroke of luck more like than anything avoiding Bugdobuuk's fell swoop -- the crackling of the tree branch widening his glance for a moment but he dares not look.
Instead he hews, forward, at the Uruk-Hai's swordarm.
Amrundirn attacks Bugdobuuk with his Longsword, but he misses by a mile.
[Bugdobuuk(#29647)]
And the uruk dodges, and spits. A smile suddenly crosses his face. "
But he doesn't stop. Laughing wickedly, the orc takes off at a great speed, attempting to cut through the thick woods and make his way north to the Uruk Camp.
Bugdobuuk dodges aside Amrundirn, and manages to escape!
A wicked grin runs across the snaga's expression, as she wields the pointed branch slowly, not wanting to rustle the leaves and give away her position. Silently, the she-orc changes positions to prepare for a downward swoop to reach the oncoming victim.
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
Bewildered, Amrundirn limps another step forward looking after the departed Bugdobuuk -- an eyebrow arching over his unmasked face.
A sigh, and his glance narrows: he spins about, eyeing the thickets and trees and bushes for any sign of the other --...
...But he does not look up.
Yet.
The snaga's grin grows wider as the Gondorian seems oblivious to her location. A moment of total, dead silence passes before the orc jumps backward and off the branch, swooping her feet in a forward motion for momentum, aiming to hit the Gondorian square in the face, while swinging the branch as if it were a spear with its point directed at where his eyes should be. The uruk remains on the branch only by hanging on with her own free arm at first, but then letting go and hurtling with full force towards Amrundirn.
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
The hood of the cloak is swept off the leather helm sent tumbling off in the underbrush, and the Ranger himself is knocked off his feet with a groan that is broken off, not as he hits the earth, but as the littler orc falls ontop of him.
For a moment, he can do nothing doubled over.
Finally, she's got him off guard! Reaching back for the branch, Hash then attempts to scratch the man's eyes out both by trying to scrape him with the branch, and reaching to claw at his eyes with filthy nails. "I've got you" She cackles, stepping with her foot on the man's sword arm and pressing down firmly.
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
The morning is quiet sun's rays blocked by the great shadowy mountains near at hand to the east. There isn't a birdcall within earshot and not strangely, for only moments hence the clamor of swords were heard under the eaves of Ithilien where once a high folk dwelled.
Thither, under a lofty tree, a pair struggles -- one man, bleeding from many wounds and an orc, a small creature, hand to hand.
Or hand to branch, as it were.
The latter is swept aside by the same hand that grips the wrist attached to those clawing fingers and the grip is not light. Not light indeed.
Through gritted teeth, Amrundirn answers in a voice short of breath: "And now what will you do? Your friend has abandoned you."
The smaller creature throws a forceful kick towards Amdurndirn's chest area, and another, with the other foot, lower down. Hash will not give up as she tries to wrangle free from the man's grip, to no avail. No answer is given to the ranger the lowly orc not having thought of what she would do next. Seeing the graveness of her situation, Hash throws her head forward in an attempt to hit the man's forehead, at the expense of a serious cranial injury to the she-orc.
"A friend in need is a friend...who'll wind up dead unless they share their meat with meeeeee!!"
With that high-pitched cry, a squat-looking orc wiht a scrunched in nose, Oooblog by name, jumps down out of the trees, looking to jump on top of the man struggling with Hash, but possibly landing on Hash's head instead. A sword blade, too long, hangs by Oooblog's side, and it scrapes on the ground as the orc moves.
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
Free!
The swordhand is free at last. It does little good, however the man is busy about other things. His grip falters momentarily, the lapse of strength caused by either kick to chest or belly or perhaps both enough that her wrist slips through, and his hand by chance or reflex is raised -- rendering neither with headinjuries. Well, not any more of them, anyway. Yet.
Amrundirn rolls sideways to get his knees underneath him at the same time as he pushes Hash's head away -- or attempts to do so, in any case.
"Where've ya been all this time?!" Hash hisses in orc-speech to Ooblong, just after her head has been shoved away by Amrundirn's hand. Uttering a somewhat high-pitched growl, almost like that of a small dog's, Hash reaches with one hand for the ranger's wrist, and another for his neck, trying for a chokehold. Several more kicks with her knees are delivered - but they may be blocked - towards the man's torso area. Her feet, she attempts to place on the ranger's knees to try and climb the Gondorian.
[Ceredir(#1394)]
"Quit hogging him for yerself!" Oooblog snarls. Sword dragging on the ground, the orc turns, trying to grab one of the Ranger's legs--as if somehow he will be able to drag the live, struggling man northwards or into the surrounding lands. "An' none of your business where I was!" Oooblog continues. "What are you doing out here all by yerself anyhow? Who told you you could come here?"
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
Climb as she might, Hash's endeavors have some unexpected assistance, as the ranger pushes himself to his knees. The snarling of the orc-speech is not far from the sound that emmanates from Amrundirn in this moment, his left hand struggling against the grip about his as he lashes out, the longblade, still held fast, hewing at the hands that grasp for his leg.
"-I- was ordered to attack him by the Za-Sharkuun, Bugdobuuk - the human was sneaking around the camp earlier. Didn't ya hear all the fightin'?" Hash hisses, her voice flatering sometimes while she tightens the grib with her right hand on the man's throat, letting go of his wrist and instead hanging onto Amrundirn by the throat with both hands, trying to press her thumbs into his windpipe. "Grraghh! Ooblong, I should report you to the High Shaman for wandering away from camp!" She assume this is the reason why he did not become involved in the fighting earlier. All this, is of course, spoken in the native orcish tongue.
[Ceredir(#1394)] "Stop that! Stop that!" Oooblog snarls in the common tongue as the man tries to smash his hands with his longblade. "Ow!! Ouch!" With a hiss, the orc's hands suddenly slip free of the man's leg as Oooblog shakes out an injured hand. And then the squat orc lunges for Hash, trying to jump on her back!
"Did not! Liar!! I didn't steal nothing!!" All this harshly spoken in the common tongue, then Oooblog slips back to the black speech of Mordor's orcs. "I was spying on th men camp. Yes, yes I was!"
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
The Ranger wrenches one hand from his throat then elbowing for Hash's middle, and as Oooblog assaults his compatriot, Amrundirn he lounges forward up on his feet wether his involountary backpack hangs on or no.
"Ooblong, stop!! Whaddya think yer doin'?! Ooff!" The squat orc manages to grab hold of her back, dragging her further down Amdundirn, yet she still holds on with singlehandedly to the man's throat, although her grip seems to be loosening. With that final elbowing to her ribs, the she-orc lets out a growl as she lets go of the Gondorian, digging her fingernails into the skin of his throat as she slips off the man, landing on Ooblong behind her.
[Ceredir(#1394)]
"Ow!! Get off me!! Off!! Now!!" Oooblog howls and howls as if he has been run through with a scimitar. It might have something to do with his sword, which has twisted behind him as he fell and is now sticking him in the back. "Get the man!! The tark, get him, you imbecil!"
[Endaerion(#30487)]
Out of the North comes an approaching silence there's little apparent to either their number or whereabouts, but they emerge quickly and stealthily from behind the trees. They are men of Gondor, pale of face and bearing the livery of the Rangers who patrol these borderlands. Swords and spears they wield, and they quickly make to secure the safety of their comrade.
Little noise do they make at all from behind the green cloth that covers their face, but one has the look of a Lord in his eyes, and he issues his command. "Flee, thralls of the Enemy!" It is Endaerion, and he brandishes his sword in threat.
[Combat(#13388)] Endaerion draws his sword from its sheath with a steady hand.
[Combat(#13388)] Endaerion puts on Studded Leather Shield.
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
Thus scratched, clawed and cut and rent, Amrundirn Ranger staggers as he turns slowly to his twain torturers towering over them despite his disposition -- his shoulders are slumped and his head is bowed, curtained by a mess of raven hair soiled with blood and dirt his attire and armor torn asunder, sword, now driven tip first a foot into the ground for support, blackened by the blood of his enemies. He makes a sore sight indeed.
In truth, it is a wonder that he still stands.
His bloodshot eyes blink hard stare fleeting quickly from the two orcs tangled with themselves before him -- to the Men! Allies. "Over here!" He sighs voice unable to carry.
He sinks to one knee.
"I can't!! You idiot, I had a hold on him! Ya had to go and leap onto me fer no good reason!" The lighterweight orc tries to shove her sword-wielding companion in anger, snarling and revealing sharp, pointed teeth. "No!!" The she-orc spins around to face the voice of the oncoming Gondorian and his accompanying cavalry. Just to spite the Gondorian, Hash sends a flying fist towards the wounded ranger's stomach area, while the others are still far enough away. Shortly after this, though the she-orc must admit defeat. "We're outnumbered! Head back to camp!!" Hash then wastes no time in running around Ooglob and fleeing as fast as her feet can take her back towards the orcish campsite.
[Ceredir(#1394)]
Oooblog is slower to get up, but he is now fool: Grabbing his sword out from under him, he unsheaths it, though it is halfway out of its scabbard already. And then he brandishes the too-long sword toward the oncoming Rangers--and turns tail and runs. He's clumsy, though, tripping over the sword and struggling to retain his balance.
[Endaerion(#30487)]
The Rangers quickly spread out and attempt to assail the attacking Uruk. Endaerion, however, crosses over to Amrundirn and kneels before him. Despite the heavy gauntlets he dons, he attempts to assess the Carmayar's condition. "Be still," he says in a commanding voice, "we will get you out of here."
Dunedain eyes seek after the orcs' retreat, however, and a cold fire burns in them.
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
The last of Hash's hail of kicks and blows leaves Amrundirn slouched over the hilts of his sword gasping for breath.
It is so Endaerion finds him.
"They've a camp, northward over yonder," He rasps the otherwise lithe voice hoarse and cold, weak. "Under our very nose, brother!"
[Endaerion(#30487)]
"Yes, very good. Be still." Endaerion then commands two of his nearby brethren to aid Amrundirn. "We have to get you from here quickly. There may return with greater numbers." Then as the two begin to offer assistance to the fallen Ranger, Endaerion maintains a vigilant guard.
Hash for the moment continues fast on her feet, in comparison to the Gondorian ranger she is relatively unscathed having suffered only minor scratches and bruises from climbing and falling from trees for the sake of surprise attacks. Now quite a distance away from the group of Rangers, the lithe uruk makes a turn, running behind some bushes so as not to be spotted as easily. The she-orc continues on her way northward, but for the most part concealed from spying eyes, or so she thinks.
[Amrundirn(#29212)]
"I doubt it not," Answers the Carmayar, leaned in a moment on the shoulder of one aid, while the other takes the sword. His voice grows more and more quiet but he manages a slow walk all the same.
"They will come."
[Endaerion(#30487)]
"Then let us make haste." Endaerion cautiously leads the four back towards the Gondorian camp.
[Ceredir(#1394)]
Likewise, Oooblog takes off into the undergrowth, scurrying like a scared rabbit, sword dragging behind him, slowing him down. He doesn't stop to look behind to see if he is pursued.
Players: Ceredir, Amrundirn, Hash, Ithilien, Bugdobuuk
