Elendor
Skirmish in the Forest
Scouts and Rangers of Ithilien ambush a logging party from Umbar.
Sort Date: no date set
Location: South Ithilien
Game Date: October 3046
IC Time: Afternoon
Description: South Ithilien, Forest Edge
The forest here is still, as if the dark trees themselves hold their breath in anticipation. Tall and ancient, of ruinous age, moss-covered oak, birch, pine and cedar grow in groves, and the forest floor is a maze of ivy, thorn and undergrowth. Several strange paths crisscross the wood, though whether made by beast or man it is not clear. Eastward lie the dark Ephel Duath, and to the north begin the rolling hills of Emyn Arnen. To the south the terrain grows brighter, as deep forest gives way to open field and the soil becomes more sandy. Even the birds are silent in this watchful land. It is daytime.
[Eruphel(#20109)]
The autumn afternoon is clear and cloudless, with a slight bite to the breeze, but the sun is warm on the skin. Here in the forest, the leaves on the trees are starting to turn, providing a colorful canopy overhead, and a few have begun to fall giving the ground a dry, rustling padding. But here at the forests edge, there is a great activity as scads of Southrons are plying axes and hatchets, Mumak with harnesses and great thick ropes pull at the fallen logs, and the branches are being hewn off the trunks. The woods echo the stacatto report of each fall of the axe, though there is no rhythm, like a flock of woodpeckers has descended upon the trees with a vengeance.
[Thingalad(#32030)]
A small patrol of Gondor stealthily moves through the dark trees to the north. They go forward silently, their fieldcraft evident as they are drawn on by the echoes of the work of the Southrons. Clad in forest colors, these rangers all wear masks as they go forward with deadly intent in their grey eyes, one of their leaders at their head bearing a great war hammer.
Moving carefully among the trees so that his garb, the colors of the forest, might allow him to blend in, Ceredir glances toward the patrol leader and then back in the direction of the noise from the Southrons. Behind his mask, his eyes narrow with the frown on his face. He points to himself and then to the Southrons, as if to ask the patrol leader if he should try to move closer, yet he speaks no words and makes no noise.
[Thingalad(#32030)]
The masked Thingalad looks over and nods slowly, giving his approval.
[Eruphel(#20109)]
Eruphel is in the midst of it all, overseeing the cutting of the trees, and yet...not. That is the work of clerks and surveyors and scribes. She also watches over the military movements, and notes there is a changing of the guard even now. But that is not her job either, and it is left to the Captain of the Watch. But everything seems to be going reasonably well, one might assume.
Suddenly, one of the trees makes a thunderous crack, and begins to waver. There are cries of alarm at first, and then terror as the mighty oak falls toward the open plain, and though some thought themselves out of its range, the treetop descends upon them, though they flee. The alarm is raised, and others begin to flock to the tree to cut away the limbs and rescue those underneath. Eruphel just watches it all, with only slight disapproval in her eyes. Then she walks away from the small disaster to find the Captain of the Watch, to speak to him.
[<#32030>]
Thingalad watches this scene from his place of concealment and he looks over to where Ceredir is nearby. The scout hisses a command that is covered by the cries of the Southrons as they work to save their comrades. " That woman who is overseeing. We will take her as a ******* to learn their plan!"
At the signal and the words from Thingalad, Ceredir slowly moves forward. The noise and confusion of the falling tree offers him the chance to get far enough to position himself in a small stand of trees and bushes--and offers, too, cover for the gasp that he gives when he sees--and recognizes--Eruphel. He holds his breath, frowning, then slowly turns back to look toward Thingalad, hand reaching for the hilt of his dagger.
[Eruphel(#20109)]
Eruphel can be heard speaking to her Captain, but in her native tongue. "Nothing, yet? 'Tis passing strange. I have to think that your scouts are blind or deaf. Its been two days of this racket. I cannot imagine they do not know we are here."
The Captain winces slightly, but is insulted as well. "I assure you, I have been using only the best scouts."
"Well redouble their efforts. They are missing something, I think."
[Thingalad(#32030)]
Thingalad whistles like a bird and the troop moves forward behind Ceredir. With their leader at their head, they fall out in a skirmishing line and move towards the perimeter of the Southron camp. Within moments, the diversion begins as a few of the most isolated of the Southrons on patrol are engaged in battle by the soldiers of Gondor.
[Eruphel(#20109)]
And, as if on cue, different shouts can be heard from the tree line, in the other direction for the cutting. Both Eruphel and the Captain of the Guard snap their heads to look. "Perhaps they've found something now..." the Captain says, his hand going to his sword.
"Alarm!" Eruphel shouts, placing her hand on the hilt of her blade as well. "To the trees!" she calls, and she, with a number of other men, begin to run toward the sounds of altercation.
Ceredir, though, has moved his position so that he is parallel to Eruphel, and as the woman starts to run past, he darts suddenly out of the trees, trying to take the woman down, put a knife to her throat, and also press his black-gauntleted hand to her mouth to stop her from screaming. For the moment, he pays no heed to Captain of the Guard that is nearest to Eruphel, trusting, perhaps, that either the man will not notice Eruphel falling in the confusion or that one of the troop of Rangers will take him out.
He hisses something harsh at the Southron woman as he rushes forward. "On my life, I swear you will get out alive."
[Thingalad(#32030)]
Thingalad is trailing Ceredir to see if he runs into any trouble and ready to back him up. The scout watches as the other scout moves forward towards the woman and then attacks and misses. Thingalad frowns and moves forward to assist and cover Ceredir's back in case the captain does notice.
[Eruphel(#20109)]
The captain...and a few others, do notice the surge of men advancing from cover on their flank, and the sound of swords drawing is nearly as one, as a new cry rises from their lips. But the first man to attack went straight for their lady, and she only barely sees him in her peripheral vision before she is tackled to the ground with a startled cry. She begins to wrestle right away to pull her sword from its sheath, which is nearly impossible with the man pressing down on top of her, covering her mouth. She gives up on the sword, reaching instead for her hidden stiletto.
Around her, the men cry out "Rally around our Lady!" But already other men are there, engaging them. The Captain himself finds himself on the other side of Thingalad. Growling, he hunkers down to lower his center of gravity, then charges, swinging his sword first, but following up with an attempt to ram his opponent with his shoulder.
Eruphel whispers, "at first there is terror and anger in Eruphel's eyes, then a moment of recognition after you speak, then she starts her struggles once more to throw you off, though perhaps lacking the desperation of before."
The Southron woman is strong and unexpectedly wirey, for though Ceredir has managed to tackle her, his grip on her is tentative at best. He struggles with her on the forest floor, warily eyeing that stiletto and trying to keep his ever-loosening hold on her. And as he struggles, he hisses angrily. "News..later..." Then another exhaled hiss of breath. "Stab me with that. Try not to maim me."
[Thingalad(#32030)]
Thingalad meets the captain of the guard head-on. He raises high his hammer and blocks the attack and then pulls away to swing at the man's gut. The scout is in turn parried by the captain, but he has a trick up his sleeve as he pulls back and then catches the man off-balance. He smacks the captain across the face with the head of his hammer, a glancing blow, but enough to send the captain sprawling, dazed.
[Eruphel(#20109)]
Though Eruphel's eyes flash, her face is unreadable and hard as she struggles to dismount the scout who has her pinned to the floor. The her hands slip behind his back, and she makes some upward jabs at his back, near his shoulder blade. "Impudent swine!" she shouts in the common tongue, pulling the man down with one arm suddenly, while the stiletto reverses in her hand, and she plunges downward toward herself, piercing the meaty trapezius just above the top of Ceredir's armor. The blade is thin, and sinks in deep.
[Eruphel(#20109)]
The captain flies to the side, his body lead by his head as the glancing blow does a number on him. He falls in a crumpled, sprawling heap, unconscious at best. But near him is another guard who sees his comrade fall, and runs forward to address his assailant.
In the camp, an entire horde of Southrons seem to be charging now toward the altercation, many of those cutting the trees putting the task aside for now. They run in a dense line, axes swaying back in forth as counterweights to their elongated stride.
"Orc! Fiend!" Ceredir answers in return, but his curses are cut off by a sudden scream of pain as the stiletto pierces into his flesh and he jerks back suddenly. The knife is still at Eruphel's throat, and it jerks with Ceredir so that the blade might scrape along the woman's throat, cutting it if she is unlucky. Still, Eruphel's attack is enough to momentarily lessen Ceredir's grip on her as he is blinded with pain.
[Thingalad(#32030)]
Thingalad sees that his plan has gone awry. He calls out quickly for the retreat into the forest as he himself deals with the guard coming toward him. In the common speech, he calls out, "Leave her! Do not risk yourself if she is too masterful for you!"
[Eruphel(#20109)]
The Seaward lady releases her unkind embrace, but leaves the stiletto there for him to try to pull out himself. At the lessening of his grip, she thrusts a hip up to try to topple him to the side.
[Eruphel(#20109)]
In the frenzied fighting, Eruphel feels the bite of the blade as it drags against her throat. But it is a hot, burning cut that produces much blood, but not the dark arterial blood of a mortal wound. Blood flows onto her armor freely, and onto the dry leaves of the forest floor.
The Master Scout goes falling sideways, slashing out with his dagger toward Eruphel's face as he does so, but it's a wild, desperate attempt that hits only air as he falls out of the way. Thingalad's shout drawns a pained grunt of acknowledgment from him and he scrambles to his feet, though unsteadily, trying to back off into the woods again.
[Thingalad(#32030)]
Thingalad sends the latest guard scurrying on all fours trying to get his footing before he slips and falls. The scout grunts as his enemy is down and then turns to see Ceredir fall away and try to get going. "This way, this way!" All around, the scouts of Gondor are already slipping into the trees, quickly vanishing into their element.
[Eruphel(#20109)]
Finally unpinned from the ground, Eruphel rolls away in the opposite direction, rising to her feet with labored breath and flushed face. The stain of blood creeps downward quickly, soaking her clothing on one side under her armor. She thinks momentarily to put a hand to the wound, then remembers the stiletto she left in Ceredir's neck. Even now as he backs away, she considers charging after him. After only a moment's thought, she runs toward him.
But Ceredir does not see this sudden change of direction from Eruphel: He is running as best he can into the woods, hampered by the knife in his back so that it would not be too difficult for the woman to catch him.
[Thingalad(#32030)]
Thingalad moves to intercept Eruphel! "Go on, go on!" He raises his war hammer high as he approaches Ceredir and moves to either scare off the man's pursuer or to catch her himself if she does not turn back!
[Eruphel(#20109)]
Eruphel runs after Ceredir with all the speed she can muster. But the pursuit takes them further into the woods than she would like, and even though some of her men follow far behind, her instincts are haywire with alarm. And to one side, she sees and hears the hammer-wielding Stone-man coming at her, and she gives up the chase reluctantly. She does not even wait a moment though until she turns and runs back toward her fighting force.
Having made it safely into the cover of the woods, Ceredir falls to his knees, unable to go any further for the moment with the stiletto still in his back. He reaches behind with one hand, flicks at the knife, which has partially worked its way out, and lets it fall to the leafy ground. There he sits for a moment, catching his breath until he picks up the knife and stands.
[Thingalad(#32030)]
Thingalad sees Eruphel move off and he shrugs as the opportunity is lost. Turning, he helps Ceredir move off into the darkness of the forest. As the man falls to his knees, he stands ready to halt any pursuit.
The forest here is still, as if the dark trees themselves hold their breath in anticipation. Tall and ancient, of ruinous age, moss-covered oak, birch, pine and cedar grow in groves, and the forest floor is a maze of ivy, thorn and undergrowth. Several strange paths crisscross the wood, though whether made by beast or man it is not clear. Eastward lie the dark Ephel Duath, and to the north begin the rolling hills of Emyn Arnen. To the south the terrain grows brighter, as deep forest gives way to open field and the soil becomes more sandy. Even the birds are silent in this watchful land. It is daytime.
[Eruphel(#20109)]
The autumn afternoon is clear and cloudless, with a slight bite to the breeze, but the sun is warm on the skin. Here in the forest, the leaves on the trees are starting to turn, providing a colorful canopy overhead, and a few have begun to fall giving the ground a dry, rustling padding. But here at the forests edge, there is a great activity as scads of Southrons are plying axes and hatchets, Mumak with harnesses and great thick ropes pull at the fallen logs, and the branches are being hewn off the trunks. The woods echo the stacatto report of each fall of the axe, though there is no rhythm, like a flock of woodpeckers has descended upon the trees with a vengeance.
[Thingalad(#32030)]
A small patrol of Gondor stealthily moves through the dark trees to the north. They go forward silently, their fieldcraft evident as they are drawn on by the echoes of the work of the Southrons. Clad in forest colors, these rangers all wear masks as they go forward with deadly intent in their grey eyes, one of their leaders at their head bearing a great war hammer.
Moving carefully among the trees so that his garb, the colors of the forest, might allow him to blend in, Ceredir glances toward the patrol leader and then back in the direction of the noise from the Southrons. Behind his mask, his eyes narrow with the frown on his face. He points to himself and then to the Southrons, as if to ask the patrol leader if he should try to move closer, yet he speaks no words and makes no noise.
[Thingalad(#32030)]
The masked Thingalad looks over and nods slowly, giving his approval.
[Eruphel(#20109)]
Eruphel is in the midst of it all, overseeing the cutting of the trees, and yet...not. That is the work of clerks and surveyors and scribes. She also watches over the military movements, and notes there is a changing of the guard even now. But that is not her job either, and it is left to the Captain of the Watch. But everything seems to be going reasonably well, one might assume.
Suddenly, one of the trees makes a thunderous crack, and begins to waver. There are cries of alarm at first, and then terror as the mighty oak falls toward the open plain, and though some thought themselves out of its range, the treetop descends upon them, though they flee. The alarm is raised, and others begin to flock to the tree to cut away the limbs and rescue those underneath. Eruphel just watches it all, with only slight disapproval in her eyes. Then she walks away from the small disaster to find the Captain of the Watch, to speak to him.
[<#32030>]
Thingalad watches this scene from his place of concealment and he looks over to where Ceredir is nearby. The scout hisses a command that is covered by the cries of the Southrons as they work to save their comrades. "
At the signal and the words from Thingalad, Ceredir slowly moves forward. The noise and confusion of the falling tree offers him the chance to get far enough to position himself in a small stand of trees and bushes--and offers, too, cover for the gasp that he gives when he sees--and recognizes--Eruphel. He holds his breath, frowning, then slowly turns back to look toward Thingalad, hand reaching for the hilt of his dagger.
[Eruphel(#20109)]
Eruphel can be heard speaking to her Captain, but in her native tongue. "Nothing, yet? 'Tis passing strange. I have to think that your scouts are blind or deaf. Its been two days of this racket. I cannot imagine they do not know we are here."
The Captain winces slightly, but is insulted as well. "I assure you, I have been using only the best scouts."
"Well redouble their efforts. They are missing something, I think."
[Thingalad(#32030)]
Thingalad whistles like a bird and the troop moves forward behind Ceredir. With their leader at their head, they fall out in a skirmishing line and move towards the perimeter of the Southron camp. Within moments, the diversion begins as a few of the most isolated of the Southrons on patrol are engaged in battle by the soldiers of Gondor.
[Eruphel(#20109)]
And, as if on cue, different shouts can be heard from the tree line, in the other direction for the cutting. Both Eruphel and the Captain of the Guard snap their heads to look. "Perhaps they've found something now..." the Captain says, his hand going to his sword.
"Alarm!" Eruphel shouts, placing her hand on the hilt of her blade as well. "To the trees!" she calls, and she, with a number of other men, begin to run toward the sounds of altercation.
Ceredir, though, has moved his position so that he is parallel to Eruphel, and as the woman starts to run past, he darts suddenly out of the trees, trying to take the woman down, put a knife to her throat, and also press his black-gauntleted hand to her mouth to stop her from screaming. For the moment, he pays no heed to Captain of the Guard that is nearest to Eruphel, trusting, perhaps, that either the man will not notice Eruphel falling in the confusion or that one of the troop of Rangers will take him out.
He hisses something harsh at the Southron woman as he rushes forward. "On my life, I swear you will get out alive."
[Thingalad(#32030)]
Thingalad is trailing Ceredir to see if he runs into any trouble and ready to back him up. The scout watches as the other scout moves forward towards the woman and then attacks and misses. Thingalad frowns and moves forward to assist and cover Ceredir's back in case the captain does notice.
[Eruphel(#20109)]
The captain...and a few others, do notice the surge of men advancing from cover on their flank, and the sound of swords drawing is nearly as one, as a new cry rises from their lips. But the first man to attack went straight for their lady, and she only barely sees him in her peripheral vision before she is tackled to the ground with a startled cry. She begins to wrestle right away to pull her sword from its sheath, which is nearly impossible with the man pressing down on top of her, covering her mouth. She gives up on the sword, reaching instead for her hidden stiletto.
Around her, the men cry out "Rally around our Lady!" But already other men are there, engaging them. The Captain himself finds himself on the other side of Thingalad. Growling, he hunkers down to lower his center of gravity, then charges, swinging his sword first, but following up with an attempt to ram his opponent with his shoulder.
Eruphel whispers, "at first there is terror and anger in Eruphel's eyes, then a moment of recognition after you speak, then she starts her struggles once more to throw you off, though perhaps lacking the desperation of before."
The Southron woman is strong and unexpectedly wirey, for though Ceredir has managed to tackle her, his grip on her is tentative at best. He struggles with her on the forest floor, warily eyeing that stiletto and trying to keep his ever-loosening hold on her. And as he struggles, he hisses angrily. "News..later..." Then another exhaled hiss of breath. "Stab me with that. Try not to maim me."
[Thingalad(#32030)]
Thingalad meets the captain of the guard head-on. He raises high his hammer and blocks the attack and then pulls away to swing at the man's gut. The scout is in turn parried by the captain, but he has a trick up his sleeve as he pulls back and then catches the man off-balance. He smacks the captain across the face with the head of his hammer, a glancing blow, but enough to send the captain sprawling, dazed.
[Eruphel(#20109)]
Though Eruphel's eyes flash, her face is unreadable and hard as she struggles to dismount the scout who has her pinned to the floor. The her hands slip behind his back, and she makes some upward jabs at his back, near his shoulder blade. "Impudent swine!" she shouts in the common tongue, pulling the man down with one arm suddenly, while the stiletto reverses in her hand, and she plunges downward toward herself, piercing the meaty trapezius just above the top of Ceredir's armor. The blade is thin, and sinks in deep.
[Eruphel(#20109)]
The captain flies to the side, his body lead by his head as the glancing blow does a number on him. He falls in a crumpled, sprawling heap, unconscious at best. But near him is another guard who sees his comrade fall, and runs forward to address his assailant.
In the camp, an entire horde of Southrons seem to be charging now toward the altercation, many of those cutting the trees putting the task aside for now. They run in a dense line, axes swaying back in forth as counterweights to their elongated stride.
"Orc! Fiend!" Ceredir answers in return, but his curses are cut off by a sudden scream of pain as the stiletto pierces into his flesh and he jerks back suddenly. The knife is still at Eruphel's throat, and it jerks with Ceredir so that the blade might scrape along the woman's throat, cutting it if she is unlucky. Still, Eruphel's attack is enough to momentarily lessen Ceredir's grip on her as he is blinded with pain.
[Thingalad(#32030)]
Thingalad sees that his plan has gone awry. He calls out quickly for the retreat into the forest as he himself deals with the guard coming toward him. In the common speech, he calls out, "Leave her! Do not risk yourself if she is too masterful for you!"
[Eruphel(#20109)]
The Seaward lady releases her unkind embrace, but leaves the stiletto there for him to try to pull out himself. At the lessening of his grip, she thrusts a hip up to try to topple him to the side.
[Eruphel(#20109)]
In the frenzied fighting, Eruphel feels the bite of the blade as it drags against her throat. But it is a hot, burning cut that produces much blood, but not the dark arterial blood of a mortal wound. Blood flows onto her armor freely, and onto the dry leaves of the forest floor.
The Master Scout goes falling sideways, slashing out with his dagger toward Eruphel's face as he does so, but it's a wild, desperate attempt that hits only air as he falls out of the way. Thingalad's shout drawns a pained grunt of acknowledgment from him and he scrambles to his feet, though unsteadily, trying to back off into the woods again.
[Thingalad(#32030)]
Thingalad sends the latest guard scurrying on all fours trying to get his footing before he slips and falls. The scout grunts as his enemy is down and then turns to see Ceredir fall away and try to get going. "This way, this way!" All around, the scouts of Gondor are already slipping into the trees, quickly vanishing into their element.
[Eruphel(#20109)]
Finally unpinned from the ground, Eruphel rolls away in the opposite direction, rising to her feet with labored breath and flushed face. The stain of blood creeps downward quickly, soaking her clothing on one side under her armor. She thinks momentarily to put a hand to the wound, then remembers the stiletto she left in Ceredir's neck. Even now as he backs away, she considers charging after him. After only a moment's thought, she runs toward him.
But Ceredir does not see this sudden change of direction from Eruphel: He is running as best he can into the woods, hampered by the knife in his back so that it would not be too difficult for the woman to catch him.
[Thingalad(#32030)]
Thingalad moves to intercept Eruphel! "Go on, go on!" He raises his war hammer high as he approaches Ceredir and moves to either scare off the man's pursuer or to catch her himself if she does not turn back!
[Eruphel(#20109)]
Eruphel runs after Ceredir with all the speed she can muster. But the pursuit takes them further into the woods than she would like, and even though some of her men follow far behind, her instincts are haywire with alarm. And to one side, she sees and hears the hammer-wielding Stone-man coming at her, and she gives up the chase reluctantly. She does not even wait a moment though until she turns and runs back toward her fighting force.
Having made it safely into the cover of the woods, Ceredir falls to his knees, unable to go any further for the moment with the stiletto still in his back. He reaches behind with one hand, flicks at the knife, which has partially worked its way out, and lets it fall to the leafy ground. There he sits for a moment, catching his breath until he picks up the knife and stands.
[Thingalad(#32030)]
Thingalad sees Eruphel move off and he shrugs as the opportunity is lost. Turning, he helps Ceredir move off into the darkness of the forest. As the man falls to his knees, he stands ready to halt any pursuit.
Players: Eruphel,Thingalad,Ceredir
