The West and the East

[Bor(#30834)]

Osgiliath, once nigh indefensible due to constant reproach, has regained some of its glory a fell glory indicated by the ominous fortifications constructed hastily by the garrison therein. Soldiers of all rank and affiliation patrol the length of its rebuilt walls, torches in hand and vigilant eyes narrowed into outward darkness.

The night is cloudy and quiet, the nerves of the land’s defenders yet on edge. Upon a masterful stead is seated the Bragollach Knight-Captain, steering the beast left and then right behind the walls. At last he comes to a stop and pats the horse on its body, whispering a few words into its ear.

[Maeglach(#31899)]

Not far from the Knight-Captain the Ranger Maeglach stands atop the wall, keen eyes cast into the night. His greens and browns are dusted down with earth from the fallen capital, letting him ease into the backdrop of shadows and fallen marble. On his back rests the Cuthalion\'s great hammer, in his hands a tall longbow.

At the gate, too mounted as his fellow Swansman, rides the Lord Isilrim.  Yet he and his destrier remain still: the steed points its rider eastwards, where the gaze of its master haunts wordlessly from under his helm.  The steed also stands without noise, offering no perturbation common to beasts.

[Grox(#31869)]

Perhaps those steadfast defenders of Gondor might hear the low rumble. Perhaps they feel the earth tremble with fear. Perhaps, even, those keen of sight might glimpse the mighty shadow to the east, shifting between a pair of mismatched trees.

Or perhaps not.

From the east, there is but silence and stillness for moments immesurable. The night grows ever darker, until finally, the climax has fallen upon the ruined city, and night is at it\'s deepest. It is at this moment that the enemy decides to advance, their harbringer part of one of the ruined walls a veritable boulder hurled at the defenders of the West.

It\'s downward spiral leads it ever onward. It\'s path taking it in an arc. Behind, heavy footfalls herald the coming of a great foe, and mayhaps plenty of smaller. Twain drops of crimson come into being, and soon after, the glint of metal. From behind these, the form of Grox \'Shield-Breaker\' arrives, his mighty roar splitting the battlefield.

And the boulder descends upon the Knight-Captain himself, and his steed.

[Combat(#13388)] Grox unwields Troll Battle Axe.

[Combat(#13388)] Grox wields Boulder.

[Combat(#13388)] Grox throws a boulder...

Grox\'s boulder throw hits Bor, badly wounding him!

The boulder lies now upon the ground now at his feet.

[Grundel(#24443)] A loud howl rises in the night. Behind the line of metal the howl becomes loud and then stops suddenly. A large wolf behind the line and on top sits a rather nasty looking orc. He pulls an axe out and raises it high. He cackles into the darkness and shouts out a chant for the Eye. The menacing steed stops and looks hungrily towards the army before it.

[Bor(#30834)]

The boulder smashes through the Knight-Captain and crushes his horse beneath its weight. Bor is thrown from the stead and crumbles to the ground.

He does not move...

[Daerien(#21777)]

Daerien has been absent for a long while from the hosts of the Stonelenders. Off in the relative safety of the training fields and amongst the villages of his distant home range. Only now, this very evening has he come back again to the ruins of Osgiliath, clad in mismatched and ill fitting armor. A sword held with some familiarity if not skill in his right hand as he steps lively through the shadows, arriving late to the field he stops behind the lines of the fortifications to allow his eyes to roam the carnage the has already begun.

[Gurtir(#30678)]

Rhythmic footsteps echo in the ruins of Osgiliath a small detachment of the Seven Stones Company comes in patrol from the Western parts of the city, bringing torches and steel, led by none other than its Captain.

Then the noises from the East.

The flying boulder.

The fallen Knight Captain.

\"Battle formation!\", Gurtir calls even as he falls into line, spear tip glinting, shield linking with the men. Thus the Hostmen speed up to where Bor is.

A horn rises to the Isilrim Lord\'s lips: three blasts, quick and doughty, rumble across Osgiliath\'s walls and they are answered by many others, in interval upon the ramparts, as Gondor awakes to war. But the Enemy finds privilege in his own herald--

The Knight Arathis heaves himself from his own mount, landing into a stride in nigh the same motion. Soon, he is by his fallen kinsman he bends and scouts swiftly over him, ere moving his hands to the Captain\'s shoulders and probing to lift him again to his feet.

Gardirion comes out of the rubble-strewn entranceway and towards you.

Gardirion has arrived.

Ulaire_Cantea has arrived from the east...

Ulaire_Cantea has arrived.

[Maeglach(#31899)]

Horns echo through the night as the sound of armour on the move suddenly rises to a cresendo, but Maeglach is already moving. The rock flies over him and into the Knight-Captain, but the Ranger hardly blinks. He takes command of the Men of Ithilien around, his loud voice easily carrying over the field as he barks orders in swift succession. \"Men of Ithilien: Draw, Aim, Loose!\"

A grey-fletched arrow is drawn, pulled taught and let fly towards the towering Olog which leads the Mordain assault.

Maeglach launches an arrow...

Maeglach\'s arrow flies wide, doing no harm.

[Bor(#30834)]

The Knight-Captain opens his eyes slowly and, with the Isilrim\'s help, is able to regain his feet. He picks up his sword from the ground.

\"I\'m fine. Go.\"

[Ceredir(#1394)] \"Sir...\" Ceredir has come up near to Maeglach, with the rest of the men of Ithilien. He has a dagger in his hand, but his bow hangs across his back. \"I can try an arrow at the thing?\".

[Gardirion(#19642)]      Gardirion Cuthalion, scout of Ithilien, trots in from the west, longsword already drawn and held firmly within his right hand. Upon his left arm a shield rests, securely strapped to his arm to prevent it from bouncing as he runs along. As he nears the scene of the battle, he looks to the walls and the Men of Ithilien stationed there with their bows. Gardirion immediately makes way for that location, he was obviously without a bow, so instead he moves to protect the archers should the need arise. He is his usual quiet, stoic self as he looks on the scene from behind the human shield of archers, blade and shield standing by..

[Raugsaul(#29253)] There is sound of wings upon the air a solid flap their maker must be rather large and a call or screetch of an eagle breaks the air. The Lieutenant Marshal of the eyries Raugsaul quickly approaches the sound and view of battle the towering form of the troll. He seems healed back to health from the previous battle and animal eyes full of rage at the enemy.

[Grox(#31869)]

Laughter echoes over the battlefield as Grox continues his advance. Screams of rage and challenge emit from the creatures at the flank of the behemoth as he continues onward. Then, pausing to heft up another fallen piece of building, the monstrosity grins wickedly, glancing about.

\"Your precious ruins shall be your Doom, humans!\" roars the Olog-Hai. \"It has turned against you, and now you shall feel it\'s sting!\" Laughter erupts yet again, and the piece of stone is hurled high into the air, aimed to drop amidst the gathering of defenders.

And as fate would have it, this time, the rock descends towards Maeglach.

[Combat(#13388)] Grox unwields Troll Battle Axe.

Grox hefts the large boulder up over his head.

[Combat(#13388)] Grox wields Boulder.

[Combat(#13388)] Grox throws a boulder...

Grox\'s boulder throw hits Maeglach, moderately wounding him!

[Combat(#13388)] Grox hefts up a wickedly curved, double bladed war axe. A more terrifying image can only be seen in the wielder of the vicious blade the great Olog-Hai. Fear! ...And you may yet live.

[Ulaire_Cantea(#28944)] Behind the dark, stony hulk, a shadowy black cloud appears. The cloud is tinged with something blacker, even, than night, and it seems to shimmer, as if with lightning, but the sound that surrounds it is more like a cackle.

[Grox(#31869)]

Arrows are loosed, and sent hurtling at the mighty figure of Grox, yet most bounce harmlessly off his stone hide.

In a fluidity bespeaking his manège, the Isilrim Lord flies atop his destrier and bids it with all haste into a charge. His blade flurries nigh simultaneously as he gains his saddle and reins, the warhorse beneath speeding the extended steel in a passing, diversionary attempt for the Olog\'s underbelly, even as the Enemy heaves another fell stone.

You attack Grox with your Longsword...

[Combat(#13388)->Arathis]

Grox dodges your attack.

[Grundel(#24443)] A laughter rises from the rider and another howl emits from the warg. He swings the axe above his head and the warg begins to rush forward. However, the two, both rider and warg, see the black cloud and begin to stear clear of it. Then charging around to flank the Olog-hai\'s prey, the rider screams, \"Doom has come, human. I wonder how will they taste, hmm Gagoz?\"

Gandalf comes out of the rubble-strewn entranceway and towards you.

Gandalf has arrived.

[Daerien(#21777)]

With a calmness and diffidence he doesn\'t feel, Daerien stalks down towards the lines, trailing a few steps behind Ceredir. Dodging sharply even though the boulder was thrown nowhere near him. He casts something far less then an unhurried gaze to the heavens in case the clouds overhead are looking to unleash yet more boulders from heaven. The left corner of his lips lifted to a whistled snarl as he darts under the relative security of the hastily erected brestworks. His thumb slowly brushing over the bladed edge of his longsword testing the edge before lifting his head up and over to look over and down towards where the badly bathed hordes of Mordor are.

[Combat(#13388)] Gandalf draws from its sheath a sword and O, such a sword as is seldom seen in these younger days.

[#1531] Gandalf unsheaths Glamdring and it blazes to life with a pale blue glow!

[Ceredir(#1394)] Ceredir does not wait for a reply as the Ranger is hit. Dagger sheathed, he pulls his bow off his back, sets an arrow to it and looses. But the Scout\'s aim is poor--a cackle sounds through the air and his arm shakes as he shoots.

[Combat(#13388)] Ceredir brings a finely crafted bow to a combat ready position quickly knocking an arrow to the string.

[Gurtir(#30678)]

\"Hurl!\"

Thus Gurtir cries, and the detachment of the Seven Stones Company throws its spears at the approaching Olog-Hai. Continuous motion, blades are drawn. At first their hold and march is steady... yet something beyond human control grips the heart of men: steel trembles, feet freeze, eyes show nothing but fear.

\"Hold!\", the Captain cries, his bearings only held on account of the Dunadan blood flowing in his veins- he is not happy, he is not confident. But the strength behind his command keeps the men from fleeing.

[Combat(#13388)] Gurtir throws a spear...

[Combat(#13388)]

Gurtir\'s spear flies wide, doing no harm.

[Maeglach(#31899)]

\"Fire at wi--!\" Maeglach\'s voice is cut off as a boulder smashes into the wall he stands on, bits of rock slamming into him and knocking him from his post. He begins to rise unsteadily, his cloths dark with blood at points. But then the shadow falls over the battle field and even the Dunadan quails for a moment, clinging to the ground.

Then he rises, his face yet pale, and Maeglach\'s voice raises once again. \"Stand, Men of Gondor!\" His longbow lost, the Cuthalion Ranger wields his hammer and strides to stand once again at the head of the archers to stay the approach of the Troll. With a yell he hefts his Maul Hammer at the mighty Olog.

[Combat(#13388)] Maeglach wields a Maul Hammer.

Maeglach attacks Grox with his Maul Hammer and mildly wounds him!

[Gardirion(#19642)]      Gardirion remains behind the line of archers, staring ahead with his shield and blade still at the ready, but with the sound of a cackle, Gardirion\'s gaze elevates to the skies above. The dark shadow shakes Gardirion to the core, he quivers for a long moment before the shouts and commands of his leaders seem to give him the little nudge he needs. Gardirion lifts his shield and sword into the air and gives a loud, incoherent shout in defiance..but by his stance, he seems almost ready to not move..

[Bor(#30834)]

What command Bor regained of his body is shattered by the shrill scream. He is bowed to his knees and places his hands firmly over his ears.

[Gandalf(#31993)]

Clad in grey and wearing a tall blue hat upon his head the figure of stooped old man appears out of the ruins. Where he came from is unclear, but appear he has. He surveys the battle with his coal black eyes. His mouth tightens as he sees the massive form of the troll and his eyes once cold now spring flaming to life as he sees the shadowed apparition appear. He reaches the sword that is strapped to his waist and draws it forth and it begins to glow a brilliant blue in color. He begins to stride forward purposefully with a sword in one hand and a staff in the other.

[Ulaire_Cantea(#28944)] The shadow moves closer to the ground, hovering, to the right side of the troll. And the cloud begins to coalesce, forming into the shape of a hooded man, slowly, carefully.

[Raugsaul(#29253)] \"Back to your pits, and holes.\" the eagle spits in response to the battle. His flight in glide something catching his attention or perhaps a feeling from the ground. Raugsaul tlits his head quickly spinning lower to the ground though he hesitates waiting to get a clearer picture of what the new form is.

[Daerien(#21777)]

Not knowing where he is most needed, or even if he is, Daerien holds back, ready to do his part if called upon, or again drag the injured from the field of battle. His face as white as a sheet, his jaw clenched and the fist around his longsword shaking as he stares down at the troll, but it is not the orcs, or the ologs who have so set the typically reserved scout to trembling, rather it is that sense of presence, the overwhelming gut wrenching terror that leeches into his body. And it is only with an internal battle within himself that he does not flee gibbering or lose control over his bowels, but his feet seem to be taking root.

[Grox(#31869)]

Stepping swiftly back, the Olog-Hai manages to evade the galloping pass of Arathis, his massive gut sucked in. Laughter spews forth from his lips, though not for long. For even the Olog-Hai--mightest of warriors amongst those sent by the Dark Lord in these woods--is humbled by the materializing form coalescing beside him.

However, little thought is given the hooded form. Instead, a mighty hammer strikes true, catching the behemoth on the left flank. A growl is delivered as retort, and soon his axe is swept across, aimed to cleave as many of the Archers in twain as possible even as spears bounce off his stony hide.

One in particular lodges in a joint, but the movement of the creature, and his complete disregard of the protruding shaft causes it to splinter and become no longer a hindrance.

And in the massive, sidelong swipe, Grox aims to strike at Maeglach amongst the archers.

Grox attacks Maeglach with his Battle Axe, but he misses by a mile.

[Gardirion(#19642)]      With the sight of the Nazgul seemingly materializing on the battlefield, Gardirion\'s nerve breaks. His hands go to his head, his longsword and shield gripped tightly within them as he simply shouts, head bowed forward as he seems to move about in a random path left, left, right, left, right, right, right..and with one-too-many rights, Gardirion moves before the line of archers, and with what could only be considered misfortune..Gardirion, in his panicked state, rolls over the wall to the awaiting ground below. With a loud thud, Gardirion lands on his side, the shield upon his left arm landing beneath him.

The steed of the Isilrim Lord falters at the black shriek its steps are suddenly uncertain, and it cants as if overburdened. Whatever strength remains with the Dunadan diverts entirely to keeping his destrier aloft, and he heaves its reins thus inwards with his shield-arm. Yet the attempt is vain: the origin of the shriek emerges nearby, and the warhorse casts its rider.

Albeit he lands roughly, his footing is swiftly regained. Soon a cry issues from him, in defiance of the Enemy before him: \"Amroth for Gondor!\"

He attempts however instead for the Olog, darting to its flank and thrusting again for the beast\'s underbelly.

You attack Grox with your Longsword...

[Combat(#13388)->Arathis]

Grox dodges your attack.

[Grundel(#24443)] The warg bucks and growls, howling and begins to make hard for the one that had fallen off the wall. \"Where are you going Gago....I see. Kill, eat, murder!\" The warg howls in response and goes full bore. As he begins to pass and square up, Grundel swings hard with his axe at Gardirion.

Grundel attacks Gardirion with his Battle Axe, but Gardirion parries the attack with his Longsword!

[Bor(#30834)]

Only when his eyes catch sight of the old man walking amidst the ranks of Gondor does Bor pulls his hands from his ears. His sword is raised and his steps follow in stride behind the wanderer. The Knight-Captain returns to battle.

[Ceredir(#1394)] Somehow, Ceredir has wound up in the dirt on his knees. The bow is still in his hands, but no arrows are fired, as the young man quakes in fear. A voice, then, breaks through the crushing fear--Maeglach, rallying the Scouts. It reaches Ceredir, and he stands, though shaking still, loosing another arrow that flies crooked.

Ceredir launches an arrow...

Ceredir\'s arrow flies wide, doing no harm.

[Ulaire_Cantea(#28944)] There is a low, loud noise that starts at the far edges of the human range of sound and moves, cackling louder and louder, emanating from the core of the hooded creature until it culminates in a loud shriek.

[Maeglach(#31899)]

The bold Ranger dashes back, avoiding the Olog\'s mighty axe but here he freezes. Behind his leather mask, bright eyes dim as they fix on the figure materializing some meters away from him. Maeglach stands fighting his own courage for several moments, leaning heavily on his hammer as he shakes. And, as the shriek rises, a hand leaves his hammer to claw at his ears.

Maeglach tries to heft his hammer, but his muscles fail. Even so, the Dunadan holds his ground and, at first hoarsly, but slowly louder and louder, his own cry joins with that of Arathis, \"Ithilien! Ithilien! Ithilien for Gondor!.\"

[Gardirion(#19642)]      Gardirion begins to climb to his feet after his fall, he shakes his head quickly, the studded leather helm atop his head shifting slightly with the motion. But his moment to orient himself once again is lost as the sound of rapidly approaching feet, growling, and other feral sounds erupts near him. Gardirion turns just in time to witness a warg bearing down upon him, sidestepping and blocking with his shield for any sweeping paw or bite, Gardirion also swings his longsword at the rider. Deflecting battle axe of the rider away, Gardirion screams out..not in fury, or rage, but in fear as the presence of the dark rider who had appear on the battlefield continues to effect him. Back to a wall, and an enemy before him, Gardirion\'s only option is to fight and fight he does. After correcting himself from the block of the axe, Gardirion attempts to stab at the rider of the warg with the point of his longsword as he jabs upward.

Gardirion attacks Grundel with his Longsword, but he misses by a mile.

Gandalf pays little attention to anyone besides the newly coalesced form beside the Troll. He wades through battle giving a stroke of his sword or staff when the opportunity presents itself. As soon as he is within range of the apparition he calls out in a loud clear voice, \"You have come to the wrong battle, shade of evil!\" He sets himself squarely in front of the spirit so as to protect the Gondorians around him.

[Ulaire_Cantea(#28944)] The shadowy figure seems to quiver with amusement and the voiced response is tinged with a low serpentine hiss. \"You think to intimidate that which belongs to the Master with....that?\"

[Grundel(#24443)] The warg sees the sword coming down and jumps out to the right. It then growls in what seems to be a laugh. It barks loud in the face of the fallen man. Grundel then brings his axe down to bear on the man. A cackle rises in the presence of the cackle of the dark spirits arrival, \"Shall you die from the shrieks, Gagoz\'s bite, or my axe? Let us see, tasty one!\"

Grundel attacks Gardirion with his Battle Axe and badly wounds him!

Raugsaul another piercing screeetch breaks the air and the eagle is in a step dive coming in from the side of the dark shape another form near it catches his eye for a fleeting moment. \"Flee from the light.\" he calls wings spread wide and sharp swordlike talons reach for the dark figure much more smoke like than true form to him.

Raugsaul attacks Ulaire_Cantea with his Eagle Beak, but he misses by a mile.

[Gandalf(#31993)]

\"Perhaps this will indeed be enough, but this is not my only weapon.\" This time it is Gandalf\'s turn to grin slyly. He looks around him and cries loudly to the hosts of Gondor. \"Men of Gondor, rise up and show yourselves to be the sons of Numenor! For the Steward!\" He then glances back to the shadowed figure. \"You are not the only one that has influence upon men.\"

[Gardirion(#19642)]      Gardirion draws his blade back after the miss, but his shield arm is certainly too focused upon the warg, because the Ithilien scout is struck across the chest by the battle axe. Gardirion stumbles back and away from the orc warg rider, landing on his backside at the base of the wall. His shield and sword remain at his side, and Gardirion Cuthalion simply looks up at the orc, pain evident upon his visage even as the studded leather jerkin upon his torso splits and bleeds. With the taunting, the mocking, Gardirion Cuthalion knowing that he was doomed if he remained seated, Gardirion yowls in pain as he pushes away from the wall and rushes back at the orc warg rider once again with a hasty swing of his blade.

[Grox(#31869)]

Shifting to his left--unconciously gaining more distance from the Dark Rider--Grox is slower to capitalize upon the opportunity of the cowering man than usual. Slower, but not halting.

Hefting his mighty axe, the Olog-Hai focuses his attention once more upon the form of Maeglach. Chuckling low, he murmers, \"Doom has come to you, man of the West. Pray to your Gods, for you go but to the abyss where Mount Doom is formed.\" And with that, the mighty axe descends.

Grox attacks Maeglach with his Battle Axe and moderately wounds him!

Gardirion attacks Grundel with his Longsword and lightly wounds him!

As another black shriek emanates from the fell figure before him, the Isilrim Lord freezes: a terror unknown contorts his features, and a tremble overtakes his shield-arm it is as if the only way to overcome himself is through the pulse of an attack--

Thus the Dunadan Knight raises his blade in unison with the words of the Wanderer, and steels for a strike upon the Black: it is a plain blow, levied with the entirety of the man\'s strength, in direct attempt for the shades before him.

You recklessly attack Ulaire_Cantea with your Longsword...

[Combat(#13388)->Arathis]

Your attack against Ulaire_Cantea mildly wounds him!

[Ceredir(#1394)] Some light has broken through the darkness that clouded Ceredir\'s mind, and as Gandalf calls to the men of Gondor, the Scout comes out of the terrified motionless that had enveloped him. Slowly his eyes focus again, and, arrow now on his bow once more, he stretches back the string and looses. His aim, it seems, is toward the warg and rider attacking Gardirion.

Ceredir launches an arrow...

Ceredir\'s arrow flies wide, doing no harm.

[Gurtir(#30678)]

The detachment of the Seven Stones Company shily resumes its march, yet a shriek pierces through them worse than arrows could have had. Yet the men don\'t leave their lines and steel clatters-- the soldiers fall to their knees on the spot and their tall shields hit the ground.

This time, even Gurtir is taken aback, even his muscles refuse to answer. Yet the Grey steps in front of the hooded being, and he can call at his men, \"On your feet! Survival through every hardship!\"

They stand. They pick their weapons back. Then Gandalf speaks and they cheer, echoing their Captain\'s call: \"Survival throught every hardship!\"

On they march. And Gurtir swings his sword at Grox as they near the behemoth.

Gurtir attacks Grox with his Longsword, but he misses by a long shot.

[Daerien(#21777)]

Heartened for some reason, though he could barely hear anything over the blood rushing through his ears, the rapid thud of his heart beating, but at least he is able to pull himself up and over the ramparts to land lightly on the uneven ground against the wall. His hunting bow left in the westlands as he moves to try and defend his comrades hard pressed by the attackers. \"For the Steward!\" he attempts to shout though it is more a squeak then a bellow.

[Grundel(#24443)] The orc howls in pain, and suddenly the warg looks as if it is about to attack its rider, but a hard punch brings the warg back in line, \"Look, he protects the elves! They taste better than me!\" The warg turns and eyes the one before them, and Grundel hooks his axe down and arcs it up trying to hack and pull him into the air with the shot.

Grundel attacks Gardirion with his Battle Axe and severely wounds him!

[Ulaire_Cantea(#28944)] Ignoring the pinprick of the claws and the sword for the moment, the hooded figure concentrates on the man with the staff. The gesture forces it back a couple of steps and the hiss becomes still louder. \"They are not men. They will never be anything but wormfood so long as they serve your kind...\"

[Maeglach(#31899)]

The Olog-Hai\'s blade bites deep, easily carving the Ranger\'s leather armour and finding flesh beneath. But the blood which flows in Maeglach\'s veins is indeed ancient and with the arrival of the cloaked old man, he steps forward against the darkness.

\"You know not of what you speak. Filth of filth, lowest of low. The abyss of Mount Doom is naught the void shall be your abode.\" With another loud yell the Dunadan Ranger launches himself at the towering stone monster.

Maeglach attacks Grox with his Maul Hammer and moderately wounds him!

[Gardirion(#19642)]      A shout of pain erupts from Gardirion as the battle axe strikes him, immediately his left arm goes limp, and the body of the scout of Ithilien slumps forward, almost leaning against the wargs body. Gardirion stares up at the orc, weariness present upon his features as he takes a nearly stumbling step back, his sword arm swinging wildly once again, the fingers around the blade loose as Gardirion swings it, nearly threatening to hurl the point of the longsword at the orc from point blank range. The Man of Ithilien, the simple scout holds his shield as best he can up to at his left side, trying to angle his body to protect himself from the warg while he makes his hasty, wild swing at the warg rider.

Gardirion attacks Grundel with his Longsword, but he misses by a mile.

[Ceredir(#1394)] \"Gardirion!\" Ceredir\'s cry is lost in the clamor of the battle, but recoginizing his fellow Scout now, he quickly lets fly with another arrow.

Ceredir launches an arrow...

Ceredir\'s bowshot hits Grundel, lightly wounding him.

[Gandalf(#31993)]

Gandalf watches as Arathis strikes at the appirition with little seeming effect. \"Better wormfood then eternally damned like poor souls that have been fooled by their traitorous master.\" His voice oozes with contemp and his dark eyes now gleam with an internally blazing fire that mirrors that given off by his blade.

[Grox(#31869)]

Cracking into his shoulder, Grox howls as pain lances down his left arm. Maul hammer has connected, and the behemoth stumbles back a step, out of the swinging blow of Gurtir\'s blade. Yet, the spirit of the mighty Grox is not broken yet.

\"Well placed.\" states the Olog-Hai, whilst rolling his left arm an instant to calculate the usability of the appendage. However, the hearts of men may faulter as Grox once again places his left palm upon the shaft of the massive weapon he wields.

\"Now, I shall no longer be lenient on you or your ilk.\" His words are a feral growl, and he raises his deadly battle axe. \"BOW BEFORE ME!\" And with these words bellowed across the battlefield, the axe descends, aimed for Maeglach\'s crown.

Grox attacks Maeglach with his Battle Axe, but he misses by a mile.

[Grundel(#24443)] \"Feast Gagoz, FEAS..\" An arrow flies and hits Grundel in the arm. He looks to the far side and sees the man with a bow and arrow. The warg looks and makes an odd scary smile and laughs. It begins to bark and growl in what seems like a language, and then bucks its head at the dying man before them. \"Understood, your next man flesh!\" Grundel points at the Ceredir and then smiles as he cleaves down with his axe at the one at his feet.

[Raugsaul(#29253)] The first attack by the eagle is a miss. Raugsaul squaks as he circles back in the air. The eagle perhaps fool hearted seems angerd at the mear sight of this new presense. \"Manwe judge you!\" he calls diving back against the dark figure. His eyes concentraed raking out at the figure once more.

Raugsaul attacks Ulaire_Cantea with his Eagle Claws and mildly wounds him!

\"Gandalf!\" cries the Isilrim Knight, well ignorant of the kind of this man, \"You stand under the protection of the Prince Imrahil! Return to the gates, friend, lest his fell tongue seize upon you!\"

Thus Arathis steels for another pass upon the Black: a tremble marks his steps, but they are yet measured in curve upon the Enemy. A twain of steps carry the Dunadan Lord aside then, and his steel flurries in swift arc for the midst of the shade.

Grundel attacks Gardirion with his Battle Axe and moderately wounds him!

You attack Ulaire_Cantea with your Longsword...

[Combat(#13388)->Arathis]

Your attack against Ulaire_Cantea mildly wounds him!

[Gurtir(#30678)]

The numbers of the detachment of the Seven Stones Company has diminished still, they fight one with still some resemblance of organization. Gurtir growls as his blow misses Grox, yet even as he scans the battleground, his eyes spot something which infuriates him more: the warg-rider hitting a fallen man.

Thus the Captain makes it for Grundel with a sword thrust.

[Ceredir(#1394)] Ceredir returns the warg-rider\'s stare, but the Scout is too far away to come to Gardirion\'s help. Instead, he looses one last, desperate arrow just as Gurtir, too, moves to engage Grundel in a fight. Then the Scout turns to seek other targets.

Ceredir launches an arrow...

Ceredir\'s arrow flies wide, doing no harm.

[Gardirion(#19642)]      Gardirion stumbles back from another blow, although this one is quite minor compared to the many others previously. Gardirion gasps in a quick breath, his back to the wall once again. The man breathes and bleeds, staring at the orc and his warg mount with heavy eyes before he once again pushes forward toward the orc, a shout rising to his lips, \"Gondor will fight forever!\", Gardirion shouts in what could almost be considered a warning as the breathless, chew-toy of a scout fights back. Even as the arrow sails in from nowhere that Gardirion cared to look at the moment and strikes the orc, cutting off his words to the riders\' warg. As the arrow plunges into the orc seemed to be enough to keep Gardirion fighting on, the orc could be wounded, and the arrow was his proof. Gardirion steps forward, ttempting to swing his left arm to the side in an attempt to bash the head of the warg aside should it attempt to bite at him, while his right hand turns over, attempting to stab at the orc rider once again, aiming for his midsection.

[Ulaire_Cantea(#28944)] There is another long, low swirling cackle, surrounding the hooded figure, ending in a high shrieking note. \"You do not serve the True Lord. You have no power over me and mine. You...\" The hissing, serpentine voice drips with venom, \"should go back to whence you came.\"

Gurtir attacks Grundel with his Longsword and badly wounds him!

Gardirion attacks Grundel with his Longsword and badly wounds him!

[Maeglach(#31899)]

\"We will never bow, we will never surrender!\" Cries Maeglach, the Piercing Flame, dancing aside from the crashing axe. Dust raises from the gash left in the ground, but the Ranger has dashed on, swift in the battle though blood flows from his wounds. \"You will have us dead, or not at all - Ithilien, the Troll! Gondor, Gondor!\"

The cry raises against the darkness of the night and Maeglach\'s great hammer arcs through the darkness in the fallen City of Stars once more.

Maeglach attacks Grox with his Maul Hammer and mildly wounds him!

[Gandalf(#31993)]

\"This is not your fight brave Dunadan Lord.\" Gandalf shouts above the din of battle. \"I know the strength that flows in your blood, but this foe is beyond you. See to your men, worry not about an old man.\" To protect the brave Swan Knight and forstall anymore foolish attempts to protect him Gandalf springs into furious action. He ignores the response of the fell creature as if its words hold no more interest for him. His sword descends toward the swirling shadow that stands before him in a blue blur.

Gandalf attacks Ulaire_Cantea with his Longsword and lightly wounds him!

[Ulaire_Cantea(#28944)] The sword finds a home briefly in the cavernous robe and the creature shrieks, loudly, an unearthly cry and from the depths of the robe, a mace appears with indecent haste, hurtling towards the older man in grey.

Ulaire_Cantea attacks Gandalf with his Mace and moderately wounds him!

[Grox(#31869)]

Eyes narrow, peering through the risen cloud of dust. Yet, as vision clears, Grox narrows his gaze even further at the miss, even as the Ithilien man\'s words ring out.

Bellowing in pain, the hammer strikes him yet again. This time, his back is struck, and the blow causes him to stand up straighter, his gut thrust out due to the pain in his lower back. Yet, this also lends to the prowess of the mighty Overlord.

Without a word--indeed, narry a thought is given reactions take over--Grox tears the battle axe out of the sodden earth, causing soil to erupt in all directions. In the same, fluid motion, the Overlord thrusts the butt spike behind him, it\'s aim to skewer the chest of the Ranger of Ithilien, and find purchase upon the human who plagues him.

Grox attacks Maeglach with his Battle Axe, but he misses by a mile.

[Gandalf(#31993)]

The mace too finds a home on the old mans person but it was glancing and he simply grunts with the pain of it before lashing out with his sword again.

Smokey clouds from the east fill the sky, blotting out the sun, and leaving the day in a dark gloom.

Gandalf attacks Ulaire_Cantea with his Longsword and lightly wounds him!

[Maeglach(#31899)]

Dirt and debri fly wildly about, but the Ranger holds his cool amidst the storm. He sidesteps the giant axe and its thrusting spike, dashing in close to his opponent. For a moment Maeglach\'s bright eyes rest on the shadow of a man some meters away and he falters but then moves on.

Now the Ranger\'s hammer rises, and as it falls in the night it falls towards the Olog\'s massive stone feet.

Maeglach attacks Grox with his Maul Hammer and mildly wounds him!

[Grundel(#24443)] Staring hard at the two hard hits into his body, the orc screams. Blood begins to pour from his wounds, he looks at the warg and then at the two men, it seems he fears the warg more than they. \"I am Grundel, man flesh, I will find you and we shall feed on your flesh. Gagoz get us the hell out of here!\" The warg looks just as scared as the orc and bucks high, Grundel holds on for dear life, and then tries to run into the orc line and flees.

[Combat(#13388)]

Grundel tries to flee from Gurtir, but he fails!

Raugsaul strikes this time, but like smoke it seems to do little as the humans seem to need more help. \"Go back mockery.\" He turns quickly wings flapping gaining wind under him. The knight of the king comes around against the massive troll swooping down his claws reaching out to rake at the trolls tough hide.

Raugsaul attacks Grox with his Eagle Claws, but Grox parries the attack with his Battle Axe!

[Ulaire_Cantea(#28944)] The bright sword stabs at the dark fabric of the creature and he cackles. \"I am not so easy to destroy old man! The will of the Master runs through me.\" The mace comes out again, aiming for the grey-cloaked man\'s arm.

Ulaire_Cantea attacks Gandalf with his Mace, but he misses by an arm\'s length.

[Gurtir(#30678)]

\"Back off, Scout!\"

Gurtir calls to Gardirion even as they hit the warg-rider, attempting to protect the man with his tall shield. And as the Captain prepares another blow at the fleeing creature, the ruins of Osgiliath betray him be it the malice of the hooded being, be it the turmoil Grox pacing causes, the fact is that a stone frees itself from the wall, landing square on the Captain\'s head.

Temporarily knocked down, Gurtir falls to his knees.

[Gandalf(#31993)]

\"Perhaps it does shade of evil but not today.\" Gandalf says between clenched teeth as he sways out of the reach of the deadly mace. He then swings again with his shining blade.

A terror veins through Arathis as his steel lands upon the shades before him: He freezes, a chill taking to his fibers. So he stands for some moments still aside the Black Rider.

It is only upon the attack of Gandalf that the Dunadan thaws. Terror is writ well upon the entirety of his features he gives way before the old man, and retreats some steps.

Wordless, he goes to regain his mount.

Warg has left.

Grundel takes Warg.

Grundel goes east.

Grundel has left.

Gandalf attacks Ulaire_Cantea with his Longsword and lightly wounds him!

[Gardirion(#19642)]      As ordered by the Captain of the Seven Stones, Gardirion steps back, nearly stumbling back onto his rump as he backpeddles. But as the large piece of masonry falls and lands upon Gurtir\'s head, Gardirion is rather slow to fall forward and check that the Captain was still alive. Finding that he was, Gardirion grabs hold of Gurtir, the Captain\'s, arm and attempts to pull him along as Gardirion makes to approach the gate built into the wall so that the injured scout, and the unconscious Captain could get to relative safety.

[Grox(#31869)]

Attention captured by the diving Eagle, Grox bats at it\'s claws with his battle axe even as the Ranger\'s maul descends upon his unprotected foot.

Howling in agony as the foot is dealt a solid blow, the Olog-Hai stumbles aside, his gaze--full of rage and hatred now--descends upon Maeglach. \"You will DIE for that, Human!\" roars the behemoth, even as his axe is brought to his side. Swiftly, putting little pressure upon his left, wounded foot, Grox thrusts forth with the top spike of his battle axe, aimed to pierce the heart of the Dunadan.

Grox attacks Maeglach with his Battle Axe and moderately wounds him!

[Gurtir(#30678)]

As Gardirion grabs hold of his arm, Gurtir is already coming back to consciousness, \"I will be fine.\", he tells the scout, shaking his head to get rid of the blur that covers his arms, \"Go seek healing I have a detachment to look after here.\"

This said, the Seven Stones Captain parts ways with Gardirion, returning whence he came. And as he finds himself amidst his men, again his blade seeks out Grox.

[Ulaire_Cantea(#28944)] The sword rips at the robe\'s fabric again and this time, the creature\'s voice is tinged with pure anger. \"You have breathed your last breath, agent of the Enemy!\"

Ulaire_Cantea attacks Gandalf with his Mace, but he misses by a mile.

[Bor(#30834)]

Bor, injured as he is, fades away from the battle to gather what reinforcements he can.

Gurtir attacks Grox with his Longsword, but he misses by a mile.

[Gandalf(#31993)]

\"Yet I continue to breath and ever will I as long as there is good to stand against foul evil.\" Gandalf says as he side steps the stroke of the fell mace. He raises his own glittering sword and lets it descend its own deadly arc.

Gandalf attacks Ulaire_Cantea with his Longsword, but he misses by a mile.

[Gardirion(#19642)]      The scout of Ithilien, Gardirion Cuthalion, pauses with the words spoken by the Captain of the Seven Stones. Gardirion stares at the man in bewilderment, nodding once as Gardirion turns and begins to trot toward the gates and relative safety. His shield hangs from his left arm, and his longsword rests gripped loosely within his right arm as the scout drags his feet in his desperate attempt to reach the gates.

[Maeglach(#31899)]

Maeglach dodges but still catches some of the Olog\'s blow, a deep gash forming on his side, crimson blood blossoming and falling to water the ever-thirsty ground. \"Do your worst.\" He growls, hefting his hammer once more, \"You are still lower than low, a twisted creation destined for judgment.\" The Ranger spares a moment in his battle to rally his men once more.

\"Take heart, Men of Gondor - we still hold the wall, we still stand against the darkness!\" Now the great Maul Hammer, black with the blood of the Overlord of Dol Guldur, falls like lightning from the sky towards the Olog\'s second foot.

Maeglach attacks Grox with his Maul Hammer and moderately wounds him!

Raugsaul misses in his attack seems not to be this raptor\'s fight. He does however come back up and around from the sky it is a moment in time but the large avian. With wings folded back the eagle swoops back down taking another swipe at the troll

[Ulaire_Cantea(#28944)] The creature hisses again. \"You see? You serve the wrong Master. You cannot hurt me.\" The creature shrieks loudly enough to encompass much of the battle as he swings the mace again, this time towards the man who had the chutzpah to attack him.

Ulaire_Cantea attacks you with his Mace!...

...and he hits! Ouch!

ARB: You\'ve been injured for 15 hp\'s by Ulaire_Cantea\'s attack...

...you have 80 left. Please RP this injury accordingly.

[Gandalf(#31993)]

\"We shall see foul one!\" Gandalf says simply as he steps to the side to maneuver between Arathis and the mace wielding shadow. \"Get free of this place.\" He says heatedly back to Arathis before he slashes out with his sword once again.

Gandalf attacks Ulaire_Cantea with his Longsword and lightly wounds him!

Gardirion picks his way over rubble and vegetation, and walks towards the ruins of Osgiliath.

Gardirion has left.

[Grox(#31869)]

Again Grox\'s attention is drawn upwards, and he shields his eyes yet again with the massive weapon he wields masterfully well. And yet again, the maul hammer descends, this time causing a resounding \'CRACK\' to echo through the battlefield. Screaming in agony, Grox stumbles backwards, grimacing with every bit of pressure he puts upon the left foot, but only putting but a moment\'s pressure upon each step with his right now.

Sweeping his great axe across in an attempt to fend the Maul wielding Ranger back, Grox continues his backwards hobble, beginning his slow withdrawl.

Grox attacks Maeglach with his Battle Axe and moderately wounds him!

Yet even as the Lord Isilrim attempts to depart, in heed of the Grey\'s command, he is struck hard by the Black. An uncompromising frost riddles him: whether from the Enemy\'s shriek or the blow, he is thrown back and bowed, unable to rise for some minutes. No cry escapes his lips then at most, he paws to recover himself.

[Combat(#13388)->Arathis]

You forego your chance to attack.

[Ulaire_Cantea(#28944)] The creature\'s soul fabric takes one more small tear, but it is not enough to stop it from bashing the mace down towards the older man one last time. \"You will learn, yes..\"

Ulaire_Cantea attacks Gandalf with his Mace, but he misses by an arm\'s length.

[Gurtir(#30678)]

Seeing Maeglach\'s strike against Grox\'s feet, Gurtir attempts to stab at the troll\'s knee-- the back of it.

\"_You_ will bow, foul beast! You face men of Gondor here, heirs to the Westerness, not pitiful slaves!\"

[Maeglach(#31899)]

The great axe bites deep once more, and Maeglach stifles a scream. Blood flows down his leg, now nearly all of his uniform stained a dark glistening hue. Even so the Dunadan endures, limping after the retreating Troll, \"Fly! Lick your wounds and remember that some strength yet remains in Gondor!\"

The Ranger swings his hammer higher now, working his way up Grox\'s body. \"Gondor!\" He booms once more.

[Gandalf(#31993)]

Again the fell mace mace misses the impossibly elusive target that is the old man. A cry escapes Gandalf\'s mouth as he watches in horror as the creature\'s mace strikes Arathis. His gaze is molten fire as he gazes back at the deadly shadow and strikes out with his sword at the wraiths outstretched arm.

Maeglach attacks Grox with his Maul Hammer and moderately wounds him!

Gandalf attacks Ulaire_Cantea with his Longsword and moderately wounds him!

[Ulaire_Cantea(#28944)] This last indignity is too much for the shadowy creature to bear. \"We will meet again, creature of the light, and next time, you will be the one who will vanish.\" And, with a last swipe of the mace towards the man with chutzpah, the creature fades back into the cloud from whence it claim, only a lingering cackling remains.

Ulaire_Cantea attacks you with his Mace!...

...and you parry his attack with your Longsword!

Raugsaul misses yet again with his claws instead of flying back up he circles quickly this time. The huge avian still in range moves to peck at the troll with his wicked curved beak

[Combat(#13388)] Raugsaul wields Eagle Beak.

Raugsaul attacks Grox with his Eagle Beak and lightly wounds him!

[Gandalf(#31993)]

\"Perhaps you are right damned soul of a more damned master, we will meet another day and settle this.\" Gandalf says with a deep rumbled. He then turns to the fallen Lord Isilrim and reaches down and grasps the man\'s mailed shirt and drags him unceremoniously from the field of battle to safety.

[Grox(#31869)]

Indignity upon indignity is heaped upon the heads of Mordor, for Grox once again is battered by the damnedable hammer, and this time manages to miss the incoming assault of Raugsaul, taking that full brunt as well.

Howling in fury and pain, the behemoth spares no more words, instead spinning about on his semi-good foot, stumbling a little in the process, before he makes a mad dash in an attempt to flee from the Gondorian lines. \"Fall back!\" he roars as he retreats.

Even from the dirts, sullied amongst his own bloods, does the wielder of the Star-Sword seem to cognize the coming of the Black. Some movement marks him: in a flurry that blade lifts to confront the arm of the Enemy, saving Arathis from another blow.

But he has no strength to retort, merely dropping again and observing the pass of the Rider. No resistance is fielded as Gandalf drags him away, though some words do manage to escape him:

\"Ah, my horse...\"

[Maeglach(#31899)]

\"Remember - strength yet remains in Gondor!\" Maeglach booms after the retreating Olog-Hai. And he stands, tall against the darkness, a dim image of a long lost glory. Till at last he reaches to his side and pulls out a horn, sounding it long and loud into the inky blackness.

Baroooooooooom! \"Hold the wall, Men of Gondor! Do not pursue!\" Barooooooooom! The note is clarion clear, lifting hearts as the shadow disperses, bringing hope. Gondor has held the night.

[Gurtir(#30678)]

Turning to Maeglach, stormy gray eyes scanning the crimsom wetness of the Ranger\'s garment, Gurtir tells him, \"Go to the healers. I will secure our position here until reinforcements have arrived.\"