Poros River Attack! (Part 2)

-------------- Continued from Part 1--------------------

[Angiest(#19936)]

Leading up them Company of the White Tree, Angiest holds up his sword high over head. \"For Gondor! For the White Tree!\" he cries, his strong baritone carrying over the din. And

lo! Even as he leads his men forward the Lord Erhenrandir is felled! An arrow flies through the air and pierces him in one of the few places where steel does not protect him.

The evil arrow hath lodged itself in his right knee. With a cry he falls to the ground.

[Erutirn(#17520)] The second shrill cry of the night sounds loud across and Erutirn seems shaken. The knight stands still for many moments, but then snaps back into reality as

an orcish scimitar begins to fly towards his head. The knight throws up his shield and while he manages to block the attack, but is knocked off balance and is forced to counter

by trying to hit the orc with his shield.

[Herunumendil(#15552)] The chill, chill scream of the Nazgul sets his raging blood to cool as Herunumendil dispatches an Uruk with his greatsword, holding his killing stroke for

but a moment before he grants steels hard mercy look

[Dorionn(#27533)] Twisting his body to attack the orc in front of him, Dorionn more lifts and drops the greatsword upon his enemy than actually swings it. Fortunately, for him,

his opponent has already been wounded by Drenlyn earlier, and he is able, almost by fluke to land the blow right at the unarmoured junction of the orc\'s neck and shoulder. It\'s

hard to tell whom yells louder at the fountain of black blood that ensues, orc or boy.

[Alanya(#17244)] Bellas has gotten so close, in fact, that Alanya can reach up with a hand and drag him to the ground next to her. \"You\'re hit,\" she says, reaching down to tear

off a piece of her skirt at the ankle. \"Stay down. Those are orcs, not men. They won\'t have mercy on non-combatants.\"

[Boromir(#19834)]

No small number of Southron darts have fallen among the southern forces of Gondor on the field, yet they seem to have far less effect on these men than the shrill cries from the

North. Still, the Captain-General holds his men together, leading them only a short ways forward, covering the witdrawal of the archers and setting to accept the Southron

advance at the edge of the poled torches. There they stand, Boromir marching to their fore, waving his sword at the approaching enemy and shouting the taunts he took such

delight in learning in their own tongue as a boy.

[Kayle(#2779)] As the Gondorian footmen steps forward, Kayle takes one step away from the Haradrim lines. He reaches over his left shoulder and draws forth his scimitar. He then

takes another step and starts to walk towards the approaching enemy. His aid runs up to his side with a look of horror and cries out, \"Cyrus, what.......\" but his words are

taken when an arrow strikes him in the throat. Kayle seemingly doesn\'t even notice the fall of his aid although a splash of blood hits his face.

The rest of the mercanary band looks towards their moving commander with dismay before one and all start to follow their leader. Kayle seems to sense his company\'s movement

behind him, because suddenly he leaps foward, charging across the field towards the approaching Gondorian footmen.

[Kayle(#2779)] Kayle\'s Band takes up a cheer suddenly, \"DEATH!!!\", as they charge after their commander across the field.

Imbrahan finds himself at the edge of the mercenary charge, and shrugging to himself, amid the confusion, falls in with them, his right foot dragging a little in the sand,

getting closer... closer.... an arrow narrowly misses him, and his blood runs cold, but it is too late to turn back now...

[Arali(#20995)] The Lady Arali of Farside, her chain mail glittering in the torchlight, pays no heed to Boromir\'s taunts, or the fall of her cousin, or the cries of her men and

the clash of steel. The endless shrieks of the wraith-lords surrounds her and distracts her from her purpose the way no Gondorian foe could. For a moment she hesitates as she

cuts a bloody swath through the Gondorian lines, a wave of panic running over her. She is vulnerable, her eyes travelling to the desert. The brave Lady of Farside would do

anything to be away from the shriek of the wraiths.

Talan leads his Army in a direct charge, perhaps with the idea in mind of engulfing the Gondorians smaller forces in sheer numbers. His Black Paladins lead the charge

fearlessly.

\"For Umbar!!\" The Lord of Black shouts.

\"For the Black Tower!!\" His troops echo as they race towards their enemy!

[Fotud(#24579)] A third shrill scream laden with horrors unimaginable pierces the night, cutting through to strike Fotud like a blade of ice through the heart. He falters for

but a moment, halfway up the northern bank of the river, dark eyes closing as a shudder wracks his large frame. Then, he scrambles the rest of the way out of the Poros, dripping

water upon the bank as he moves forward. Spurred on by the terrible cries of the Wraiths, he redoubles the speed of his charge, teeth bared in a silent scream of rage and pain.

Touched by the Nazgul in a way few can fathom, Fotud ben-Arawn al-Hassad seeks blood to spill.

[Bregedur(#22134)]

The black tide presses closer now Bregedur, the Ranger, glances up at the approaching enemy--picking out one in particular who wades through the stream, ever nearer. Casually,

he unslings his bow.

[Vrael(#21062)] The cloaked figure that wields a scimitar of ill make and ill care continues to advance with the Southron forces, his breathe heavy and his mind still tormented

by the high shriek of the wraith but moments earlier. \"I must not falter...\" the Harbour Master states to ease his thoughts, \"For Umbar!\" He then cries, raising the blade that

curves so deeply and charges now with haste to meet the enemy.

[Bellas(#29722)] \"Stop it! The wound means nothing now.. it is not hurting me.. We need to get you out of here.. Alanya, listen to me!\" Then he gazes back at where Angiest once

stood and he sees the shadow of something on the ground, \"Oh no! Father! Please no!.. \" Quick Bellas turns to Alanya and in a whisper filled with pain and sorrow he speaks,

\"Stay here, dont move!\" Then he jumps up from the stone and runs toward his father as the arrows hit the ground near him.

[Boromir(#19834)]

Their smaller size made up for in discipline and steel, the Gondorians stand with shields linked and spears at the ready, exercising the True soldier\'s right to be patient, even

in times of dire distress such as these. They hold their ground as the archers form up behind to lay another volley of shafts into the second wave of approaching Haradrim.

Alone among the men does the Son of Denethor seem untroubled by the distant shrieking of the Nazgul, and still wherever he passes amongst the men, their hearts lift. His visage

is fell and death whispers in the cold, impatient swings he makes with his blade in the final moments before the armies meet in a roaring crash.

Alanya looks behind her as Bellas disappears, trailing blood, into the gathering darkness. Again she looks forward. The arrows no longer rain over her position, but still she

remains, crouching in a shadow, bright-yellow hair the only indication that a person sits behind that rock. Alone.

[Arali(#20995)] The Lady Arali\'s moment of hesitation doesn\'t go unnoticed as several quick-thinking Gondorians descend on her, seeking to strip her from her horse. They succeed

and the Lady tumbles into a thicket of men and arms, some her own, some the enemies. The moment she falls though, her wits return and her scimitar lashes wildly about, seeking

to clear some space and push the Gondorians back.

[Adunaphel(#29611)] Felt first from the north, then from the west it came again. But... then it shifts once more, and a cold dread washes up from the south, licking at the backs

of the necks of the Haradrim forces, urging them forward and into their foes eagerly, hungrily. It rolls inwards, almost like a fog slipping in from the gently rolling river.

But there is no fog, just the darkness.

Which just gets darker...

Kayle leads the charge into the front lines of the waiting spears of the Gondorians. His shield takes one of the waiting spears full brunt and a grunt escapes from his lips, and

then he is down fallen to the ground before the shield wall. His body disapears as his men swarm over him crashing into the shield wall, many of them charging in to their

immediate deaths.

Behind the hastily constructed -shelter- Lady Aearwen and the contingency of healers work to staunch the bleeding of those brought from the battle. Two of the male healers,

dressed in full battle armor prepare to carry the litter and gather another fallen man from the fray. Two guards, longswords drawn against the enemy, fight to protect these

healers from harm. The tight, harsh face of these guards can be seen as time after time the glint of steel rings out. The shrill cry of the Haradrim becomes a sound of normalcy

as those dedicated to saving lives concentrate on their duty.

Kneeling beside one man, Aearwen presses a thickness of white cloth against a viscious wound to the chest, the cloth quickly flowering red with the flow of blood. Calling out

she orders, \"Get a pouch of woundwort over here. Now!\" Quickly a healer runs to do her bidding and the nauseous smelling herb is sprinkled into the cut to immediately staunch

the flow of blood.\"Take him to the healers tent and have him stitched.\" Rising to her feet the healer moves to the next injury.

[Bellas(#29722)] Now standing above the silent body of his father Bellas\' face turns white and filled with anger. \"Why! thou clay brained guts! thou knotty pated fool! thou

whoreson obscene greasy tallow catch!\" He screams in the darkness like if he was trying to hurt the person who shoot the arrow sending his father to the ground. Then he bend

down and his muscles tightens as he starts to pull his father over the sand, a weak smile forms on his lips as he hears Angiest cry in pain, at least he is alive...

From afar, Arali whispers, we\'re all talking on the Umbaradmin com about how much your healing RP rocks.

Fotud does not so much as slow in his advance as more feathered shafts cut through the darkness, a few glancing off his helm, shield, and mail. Compelled by a terror he had

foolishly thought banished, the Farside Captain drives ever forward, toward the foe.

The darkness felt behind, to the south, closing in from the far side of the bloody river, serves to hasten his charge and further set his heartbeat thundering within his ears.

[Boromir(#19834)]

And the fear pushes the foes onto the spears of the Gondorian shield-wall. Yet not all of those solders remain unscathed. The new nearness of the fear is too much for some, and

they break, running before the charge even arrives. Then come down those who have been frozen in place by the dark icesickles of fear, and lastly, even some of those who still

have the will to fight fall. The Son of Boromir is among none of these groups.

The ancient blade of Angring lifts high above his head and swings downward toward a hapless Haradrim dismounted by the shield-wall. Where the Son of Denethor stands, the lines

hold firm, an on his sword there is a light and in his eyes the same fire burns. He focuses it now upon his enemy, a fell gaze of doom.

Imbrahan rushes the hole made in the gondorian line by the mercenary charge, then spots the leader struggling to rise.. he moves to his side and drags him clear of the bodies

that have fallen on him, then rises again, and readying his spear, rushes through a hole in the lines...

[Bregedur(#22134)]

Tracking this figure darting through the lines is the leather-clad Ranger, who nocks a swift arrow to the string of his bow and sights along it. Leading his target, he looses

the shaft.

[Arali(#20995)] Fighting furiously through the mob of Gondorians, the Lady Arali is pushed about like a a piece of driftwood tossed on the ocean. It is thus that she finds her

way to Boromir, and with a cry, \"Courage my men!!\" lashes out with her scimitar, seeking to strike at the joints, where the armor parts. Maybe it is bravery, or foolishness, or

simply the power of the Nazgul, but the Lady does not shrink before the son of Denethor.

Arali attacks Boromir with her Scimitar and mildly wounds him!

[Bellas(#29722)] Finally Bellas reaches the rock where Alanya hides.. Now they seem to be forgotten and hidden in the darkness.. The fight is elsewhere now.. \"Please help me,

milady! Help me to bring my father to the healers tent..!\" His voice is low and the words contain both an order and a prayer as his salt covered eyes look at Alanya, \"Please

help me! I cant handle it myself.. My side hurts!\"

[Imbrahan(#17945)] Shocked by the sudden pain, Imbrahan drops to one knee as an arrow pierces his shield and his arm... He closses his eyes, and drop shis spear. Then steeling

himself to the pain, lashes out with his fist, snapping the shaft of the arrow... freeing his arm to move again... \"I\'m not dead yet Nenkel\" he murmurs, and then he spies his

tormentor... picking up his spear again, he dodges behind a tent, then closes...

Kayle takes Imbrahan\'s offered hand and nods his thanks as he comes to his feet. He shakes his head seemingly to clear the cobwebs and then ducks quickly to dodge the swinging

blade of the enemy. His scimitar swings out while he turns on his heels and his blade takes the attacking gondorian at the back of his right knee. The Gondorian cries out in

dismay then and crumbles to the floor, yet Kayle is already leaping over him charging to follow his men into the lines.

[Alanya(#17244)] \"Stay here and don\'t be a fool,\" Alanya tells Bellas, \"I can move him.\" And she can. Still crouching, she moves behind the prone man, and hooks her arms under

his shoulders. She flags down a passing healer. \"Grab his hips.\" To Bellas, \"Not you. Sit.\" Then she and the other apprentice healer half-drag, half-carry the body towards the

healer\'s tent.

[Bregedur(#22134)]

A brief flicker of satisfaction is the Ranger\'s only reaction to the downing of his prey--for as soon as the Southron falls, he is on his feet once more.

Another arrow is nocked to the string, though the bow is not yet raised as Bregedur searches for his wounded quarry.

Talan rides through the melee indescriminately slashing Gondorians with his cruel black scimitar. Snarling like an untamed beast as he seeks a worthy challenge.

[Boromir(#19834)]

Lines still hold, for the most part, assisted from behind by the archers, and even the Ranger lending his hand to the fray. \"TO ME!! GONDOR!! FOR THE TREE!!\" bellows the

Captain-General.

The blow of the scimitar is but barely enough to draw the attention and ire of the Son of Denethor full upon the Lady of the Tower, his already blood-soaked blade spraying all

who stand near as he seeks to answer the woman\'s blow with one of his own. It is not a pretty thing, but indeed a heavy blow aimed to end the woman\'s ability to wield her own

blade, for the ancient metal of Angring now whistles downward toward the sword-shoulder of Arali!

Boromir attacks Arali with his Large Longsword, but he misses by a handspan.

Talan continues his ride through the melee indescriminately slashing Gondorians with his cruel black scimitar. Angered by the lack of a worthy opponant he shouts,

\"Archers! Aim for the healers!\"

[Bregedur(#22134)]

His head snapping \'round sharply at the cry of the wounded man, Bregedur drops his bow and its deadly burden and rips out a longsword from the sheath at his side, dancing to

avoid the other\'s charge and standing at the ready.

[Fotud(#24579)] At last falling upon the enemy, Fotud grunts with effort as he attacks. Blued steel arcs forward, propelled by rage and terror in addition to hardy muscle. Down

the Gondorian goes, the Hassadite\'s blade biting deeply of his abdomen, slaking its thirst upon his warm blood.

Stepping past the fallen man, Fotud wrenches his weapon free, stalking forward without breaking stride. Baleful eyes, their centres two dark pits of terror, fall upon another

target, and unto him the Farside Captain brings his weapon to bear.

[Arali(#20995)] Twisting her hips, the Lady Arali just barely blocks the blow with her shield. Still, such is the strength of Boromir that the impact sends a shudder through her

slight form and her knees buckle. Yet even as she crumples to the ground, the determined Lady swings her scimitar in a deadly arc, aiming for Boromir\'s knees with all the

strength she has.

Arali attacks Boromir with her Scimitar and mildly wounds him!

[Rhiforath(#28737)] An officer riding the first line shouts orders, seeing a gap forming in the line behind as the Gondorian defenders get bunched up and pushed to the side.

Kicking his mount hard to press through the fighting, he points his blade and shouts, unheard in the battle din. But those he shouts at hear him and look up... and the small

group of Men-at-Arms, including Rhiforath, turn and break out of the line to fall back to defend against the onrushing Haradrim.

Grey eyes wide with excitement in his sun-browned face amid a webwork of Narakshi tattoos, he brings his shield around and his blade up, pushing forward...

[Bellas(#29722)] This time Bellas collapses against the rock and with tired eyes he look at his father being pulled away, then he look down at the arrow sitting in his side,

\"What a slave art thou to attack me as thou hast done, and then say it was in a fight.. I never lifted my sword.. Why my sword... Father!? Where are thou? .. \" Slowly Bellas

head falls back on the rock, and his eyes closes silently as he speak the words, \".. Dont leave me! .. No I dont want that horse.. I want the other one! .. Father?!.. \" Then he

keeps silent as his breath grows deep as his mind forget everything about his body.. Above him the stars keep shining and perhaps in amusement, they light up his sword, still

untouched by the enemis blood, instead it slowly gets covered by the blood flowing from his own wound...

Imbrahan dodges away, then with the speed of a viper, lunges again at the man, keeping low and balanced, heart pounding... startled to realize his hand is shaking some, and his

mouth is dry...

[Bregedur(#22134)]

Dancing still, the Ranger avoids this particular viper\'s fangs--but just barely, as the other\'s blade tears a rent in his cloak. Bregedur leaps a pace backward, attempting to

remove himself from the other\'s reach.

[Adunaphel(#29611)]

There is the sound of laughter, from behind the Haradrim forces. A hideous mockery of the sound, it is, but it cannot be mistaken. The sound of hooves then pound across the

already trampled ground, and a black steed charges past, black sword swinging. Golden inlaid script winks in the torchlight, and again the laughter sounds.

The Black Rider has joined the melee, charging straight at the Gondorian lines which hold so well.. too well for her liking.

Alanya deposits the unconscious Angiest at the Healer\'s tent, but avoids Aearwen\'s eyes. In a moment she\'s back out, by Bellas. \"You\'re next. Can you move?\" she asks, already

pulling his arm over her shoulder.

Imbrahan closes again, and thrusts his spear at the archer\'s chest

A steady stream of assistants make the trek from the healers tent and this -shelter- with bucket after bucket of water: some fresh and clear, others boiling and liberally laced

with deerberry to aid in the healing process. Calling out sharply Aearwen says, \"More bandages! I need more bandages.\" Dipping a white cloth into one of buckets laced with

deerberry, Aearwen squeezes out the excess and cleanses a wound. Assessing the situation quickly, she looks to her assistant, \"You can see to this one. Send him into the healers

tent when you are finished.\"

A dagger is drawn from a sheath upon her leg. Using the sharp blade Aearwen rips into the bloodsoaked pants leg of the soldier before her, taking no care with the material as

she hastens to attend to his wound. Hastily, a clean cloth is pressed against the gaping hole as her palms press down, the full weight of her slender body used as she tries to

stop the spurting of blood, but fails. Crying out as the man breathes his last breath, Aearwen rises slowly, her skirt and hands soaked in blood. Quietly she calls, \"Place him

with the dead\" A tightening of her jaw is the only emotion seen as the Master healer cleanses her hands, cold eyes boring out at the enemy.

[Boromir(#19834)]

As the Son of Denethor backs from the stroke of Arali, he is bumped from behind by a falling soldier, and not allowed the room he needs to fully dodge the blow. It bites a

little into his well muscled thighs, yet the Captain-General is undaunted. Again the blade called Angring is raised above his head and sings its way down in a fell arc aimed at

the Umbarian woman.

\"You should have surrendered when you had the chance,\" growls Boromir, his words adding feul to the heavy blow as it comes raining down.

Boromir attacks Arali with his Large Longsword and badly wounds her!

Talan pauses, though only briefly at the approaching Gondorian with tribal tattoos. Unsure what possible reason he is marked so, or appears to be one of them, he decides it

matters not as he leaps from his steed and attacks.

As he slashes at the Rhiorath\'s throat he shouts, \"I care not how you appear, you fight for the wrong army this day!\"

[Vrael(#21062)] As of yet the darkened blade of the Umbarian Harbour Master goes unused and clean, its edges having yet to bite into the flesh of the hated Northmen. Some twenty

yards forward does the battle now rage, the cold and unforgiving touch of steel caressing the forms of many a man, their shrill screams intermingling with the clang of metal

striking upon metal. And it is after a brief moment of consideration that Vrael does lunge forward to fully imerse himself in the melee.

Talan attacks Rhiforath with his Scimitar and badly wounds him!

[Herunumendil(#15552)] Down the road hastens Herunumendil, close upon the heels of Rhiforath. He wades into the tides of the battle, through waves of foe and fellows alike, his

greatsword a brilliant shard of diliverance to those who are hard pressed. Flashing out here, arcing out there, to cripple, impale, hamstring. he stops as he comes abreast of

one who does not part before him...

[Bellas(#29722)] Not a word is given in response to Alanya\'s question, Bellas only breathes slightly revealed by the weak movement of his lips. His hand hold his sword tight as

if something inside him doesnt want to let go..

[Bregedur(#22134)]

Pressed still further back, Bregedur again narrowly avoids the thrust. The sword he holds in his left hand is useless--for he will not press his attack, and again looks for

space, stepping backwards. Behind him rears the small shelter wrought by the Leech-woman, bristling with dozens of dark-fletched arrows limned against the torchlight.

But he does not appear to see it...

[Alanya(#17244)] With a nod to her fellow-healer, Alanya and the other apprentice lift Bellas and drape his arms over their shoulders. She presses a cloth futilely against the

arrow in his side, more to prevent it from twisting and doing more damage than in hopes of stopping the bleeding. \"Just move your feet if you can...\"

[<#28737>] Rhiforath is suddenly beset by a mounted man right up out of the river. The horse\'s hooves churn up sand into his face even as the Man-at-Arms raises his shield - and

the shield saves his very life! Talan\'s curved blade leaps out in the darkness to cut him across the shield at the level of his throat, but slides of fand bites heavily into his

upper chest and top of his right shoulder just at an angle below his throat. The man\'s blow causes the tattooed young man to stagger back, \"\" he barely

has time to shout, but the shock of the blow robs him of it\'s crippling pain.

Deftly, with grim determination and a resnapping of his focus to eliminate everything else,

Rhiforath keeps his shield up and plunges his blade forward to try and impale either this Haradrim besetting him, or his horse!

Rhiforath attacks Talan with his Longsword and moderately wounds him!

Imbrahan presses forward, feinting for the chest, then as the archer ducks, swinging the butt end towards the larger man\'s knee...

[Kayle(#2779)] As another gondorian Man-At-Arms slides off of his scimitar, Kayle turns suddenly and the struggling fighters seem to dodge aside before him and he watches for a

moment as Herunumendil kills his last man. The rogue of Umbar spies the mans Greatsword and a smile comes to his lips before he says, \"I remember that blade.\" He then strikes

out suddenly taking a few steps forward before sending an exploratory slash towards the Gondorian Man-at-Arms sword arm.

Kayle furiously attacks Herunumendil with his Scimitar and lightly wounds him!

[Malahir(#12521)] Riding a gray steed ahead of the lines of men-at-arms that hold the gap in the lines, Captain Malahir raises his sword and voice for his men to advance against

the onslaught. Buggle calls in a rapid series of blows signal the attack and a line of black and silver clad men break into the ragged attack lines of the Southrons. In the

chaos of the melee, the Gondorian officer slashes at the enemy below his horse, coming up with sinew and fountains of blood.

Talan is taken aback by the young man\'s hit. Though he steps back, obviously due to pain, he makes no grimace as the blade draws away from his side. Oddly he sneers and replies,

\"I am Talan, Lord of Black, bringer of your death imputdent whelp!\"

Talan slashes wildly in murderous rage, going for the man\'s throat!

Talan attacks Rhiforath with his Scimitar and badly wounds him!

[Herunumendil(#15552)] A line of fire and blood is drawn down his his forearm, incised by the streaking scimtar of the Haradrim before him. Herunumendil grunts, spinning with

the impetus of the glancing blow, his shining greatsword trilling as loud as the song in his blood... \"For Gondor!!\"

[Arali(#20995)] Kneeling on the ground, the Lady Arali again lifts her shield to take the brunt of Boromir\'s strike. Her shield breaks and with it her arm, the sickening crack

of bone somehow able to be heard despite the din around her. Pain shooting up her arm, tears line the Lady\'s eyes yet she does not retreat, setting an example for her men. Her

left arm now hanging loosely by her side, splintered remnants of the shield clinging to it, the Lady lashes out again at Boromir\'s legs, seeing that his movements are limited by

the fallen about him. Even as she does so, she is moving, stumbling backwards and to the side. She has no wish to lose her life today and knows the Son of Denethor is more than

a match for her.

Herunumendil attacks Kayle with his Greatsword, but he misses by a mile.

Arali attacks Boromir with her Scimitar, but she misses by a long shot.

[Bregedur(#22134)]

Again Bregedur manages to avoid the strike--or would have, save that the crates which blocked the arrows from the enemy\'s line now serve to block his own retreat. He crashes

into them and cries out, falling in a cacophony of crashing crates.

Imbrahan grunts with satisfaction as his spear crashes against his foe as he falls to the ground. Pressing his advantage, he rains blow after blow on the archer\'s legs and

knees, some striking some not...

[Alanya(#17244)] This time, Alanya does not avoid Aearwen\'s attention. \"Aear...Aearwen,\" she breathes heavily under the young man\'s weight. \"It\'s Bellas. Arrow. In his side.\"

She helps lay the man down, and holds up a bloody rag as proof of the man\'s injury.

[Boromir(#19834)]

The black rider comes forward now, and the men of Gondor falter before her terrible fury. Yet around their Captain-General, they still hold firm, but Boromir sees the threat and

issues forth his challenge, even as he swings down on the Tower Lady yet again, this time aiming the ancient steel of Angring for her head and a quick end to her before the

spawn of Sauron comes for him.

\"HOLD THE LINES!!!\" he bellows as his blow falls, but it is to no avail.

[Fotud(#24579)] Silently dispatching another foe with a powerful blow to the chest, Fotud continues to stalk forward, spurred on by the hideous mockery of laughter that pursues

the rushing Haradrim force across the river. The Farside Captain seeks naught but to kill, to lay open flesh and cleave bone, as though merciless violence might still the

Wraith-inspired terror that grips him as an icy fist.

Laying eyes upon one who is obviously an officer, he steps toward the man, damasked steel blade flashing upward in a fell arc.

Fotud attacks Malahir with his Scimitar, but Malahir parries the attack with his Longsword!

[Rhiforath(#28737)] Again Rhiforath must raise his shield as Talan yet again thrashes his blade out at him at a different angle than what he had prepared for. With a lack of

actual battle experience, and his recent time spent learning how to fight with a Narakshi long knife, Rhiforath finds the shield awkward and difficult to handle.

**BANG!** Talan\'s blade strikes him hard again, cutting off the very corner of his shield\'s edge and skipping! The blade is again deflected from his throat but kicks up and hits

the Man-at-Arms in the helm, knocking the tattoo faced Gondorian about on his heel! Rhiforath finds himself face first in the gravely dirt even as another fighting man\'s foot

comes down near to his face. With blood already quick to stream into his face, the young man tries to roll away from the Tower Lord!

Boromir attacks Arali with his Large Longsword, but he misses by a mile.

zh\'Kyrl straggles in, a corsair who tried to double as a scout, with minimal luck. Owl feather eyes scanning the battle scene looking for her Lord, and looking for a place where

she might be able to slip in and do some damage... not necissarily \'fairly\' either. That\'s a good way to get killed.

Kayle withdraws from his probing attack and brings his shield around to meet the spinning attack of Herunumendi\'s greatsword. He catches the brunt of the attack on his shield

and he grunts with the impact, while his sword arm is thrown backwards slightly in the rush. Kayle sways for a moment and kicks out with his right foot at the Man-at-Arm\'s

groin, trying to push the man away from him.

Kayle furiously attacks Herunumendil with his Bare Hands and lightly wounds him!

[Adunaphel(#29611)]

The steed, black as the night about the area, bucks and rises up, its hooves flashing out and trampling a foot-soldier beneath it. The Wraith\'s laughter shrieks higher, piercing

the minds of those within its reach, as blood is finally loosed by her own doing. There is a thirst for more, and those that still remain within reach of her sword are set upon

with yet more of the dark laughter, the sword rising and falling in vicious arcs. But her blade stills, and lowers, to point at the one calling for the lines to hold, and an

angry hiss rises from deep within the being. Slowly, the steed inches forward, towards the one crying out his defiance.

[Bregedur(#22134)]

Slithering out from under what might well be a wooden tomb, Bregedur leaps awkwardly to his feet on the other side of the now-tumbled wall his leather breeches torn in several

spots, he bleeds freely.

No more does he retreat, now, but instead beckons the other wordlessly forward with his blade, firelight flickering along it\'s length.

Talan tosses aside those in his way as he approaches the fleeing Rhiforath, be they friend or foe. He shouts at the crawling man who had the audacity to bite into his flesh.

Nominal wound or no, it demands satisfaction!

\"On your feet dog! Stand like a man and attack, do not crawl away a coward!!\"

Imbrahan accepts the challenge, feeling almost drunk with adrenaline and fear, and stalks forward... knowing his foe is not quite as quick as he was a moment before...

[Bregedur(#22134)]

Lashing forth, lightning quick, Bregedur aims a stroke at the other\'s midside--a broad-handed swing, meant for power and speed rather than finesse.

Turning at the sound of her young apprentice calling her name, Aearwen looks to the wild Rohirrim lass with a flicker of annoyance upon her brow. Amazingly enough, no censure is

in her voice as she explains, \'Have the male healers carry him into the tent. One of my assistants shall see to his wound there.\" Throwing a bucket of bloodied water out into

the sand, Aearwen says, \"I would highly advise you to keep down, the enemy cares not if you are unarmed and well behind the lines of battle.\" Pointing to her own leather vest

Aearwen inquires as she looks to the girl, \"Where is your vest? To be out here in this with no protection is madness Alanya.\"

\"I cannot be watching after you every single moment, our forces depend on my leechcraft and I must see to these injuries. Put your hands to use and bathe wounds, bind them..help

to save -our- men Alanya.\"

Imbrahan dodges away, hissing as the blade nicks him... and lashes back with his spear in a swinging stroke...

zh\'Kyrl slips through the hole that has been created in the lines along the right flank. Her scimitar slides clean of its sheath as she eyes the scene and meets an oncomming

opponent with a wicked grin, trying to locate her Lord, at least for now.

[Herunumendil(#15552)] Herunumendil\'s breath hurtles out in a whoosh... his vision blackening for but a moment, as that familiar pain rushes up and grips his side. With a forced

inhalation his vison clears only to be glazed with a fog of red. The Haradrim wheels back, reaching for another weapon and Herunumendil surges forward, powering with his legs

over fallen foes and fellows. He bends at the waist, and unwinds, Seregiluve cleaving the air in a downward arc meaning to split the foul Haradrim from breast to groin....

Herunumendil attacks Kayle with his Greatsword and moderately wounds him!

[Bregedur(#22134)]

The spear bites again as well, tearing a weal along the Ranger\'s leather-clad arm--undeterred, he steps forward again, and this time feints a thrust kneeward, probing...

Rhiforath manages to use the men and the confusion between himself and the Black Tower Lord to regain his feet and rid himself of the gravelly sand in his hands. His helm skewed

off at an angle, Rhiforath knocks it off to reveal a head wound amid the long thin black braids. He turns about to face the oncoming Tower Lord, trying to blink the blood from

his eyes and see clearly. Brushing his left eye with the back of a Narakshi tattooed hand, he somehow manages to do it without smacking himself with his shield. Seeing Talan

coming for him, the young man grits his teeth and lunges forward, point of his longsword reaching out for the Tower Lord\'s own face!

Rhiforath attacks Talan with his Longsword and moderately wounds him!

Imbrahan dodges well back, and lands in a crouch... twisting to test the wound... then slides sideways... moving around the wall of boxes... tense and coiled like a viper...

then he trusts forward again... this time rushing in... shield held high...

[Malahir(#12521)] Using his periphery vision, the agile Captain notices and reacts to a high arching attack from a foul Haradrim below. Using his horse to his advantage, Malahir

first blocks the sword\'s arch with his shield, then rears the horse toward Fotud, attempting to knock him back while a deft sword arm brings forth the ringing of a longsword

slashing low and broad.

Malahir attacks Fotud with his Longsword and moderately wounds him!

[Talan(#11051)] A furious roar can be heard as Rhiforath\'s blade bounces violently off the shield of Talan\'s Black Helm and digs into his shoulder. Nearly dropping his shield in

the white hot flash of pain. His immediate response, a blood curdling howl and a wild overhand swing intending to cleave the man\'s head in two!

[Bregedur(#22134)]

The shield catches the Ranger off guard--he parries the shaft of the spear, his blade\'s edge biting and catching for the briefest of moments, but the shield slams into his

frame. The Southron\'s stouter build carries him backward a pace. Rather than fight, Bregedur leaps back again.

Talan attacks Rhiforath with his Scimitar, but Rhiforath parries the attack with his shield!

Kayle attempts to catch Herunumendil\'s massive blade with his shield yet he over extends his arm and the man\'s blade slips underneath the shield digging into the chain links of

Kayle\'s vest near the stomach area. Kayle lets out a grunt of pain and on instict drives his shield down to push the foe\'s blade away attempting to push it to the side while he

slashes his scimitar forward, attempting to catch the man off guard. His right foot slides out from underneath him at the same moment and his attack is slightly re-directed with

the momentum, yet the force of the blow remains.

Kayle attacks Herunumendil with his Scimitar and badly wounds him!

[Arali(#20995)] The son of Denethor\'s sword sails to the Lady\'s left, perilously close to her mangled arm yet in the end, only the ground feels its sting. Rising to her full

height (which isn\'t terribly much), the adrenaline surging through her veins and numbing the pains, she makes one last concerted attack, lashing out with a number of arcs blows,

doggedly trying to push Boromir back.

Arali attacks Boromir with her Scimitar, but she misses by a long shot.

Imbrahan presses his advantage, rushing forward again, trying to press his shield and trap it against the others sword as he swings the shaft of his spear at the archer\'s head

like a club

[Alanya(#17244)] If Alanya hears her master\'s instructions over the din of battle, she gives no sign of it. Helping Bellas to a cot in the back, she hurries back to the front of

the tent, crouching by the crates while she looks over the battle. She spies another Gondorian with lying face down in the sand and dashes away from the tent, towards him.

[Bregedur(#22134)]

Anticipating this tactic, the Ranger ducks--the supple leather is an advantage here--and darts to the other\'s side, attempting a quick side-slash at the shield-arm as he darts

past.

[Boromir(#19834)]

The weapon of fear can be a powerful tool, and the enemy these men of Gondor face has had more than enough time to learn to use it. Yet still, fear can freeze a man in his

tracks, and a man without sense enough to get out of the way will be trampled or cut down by the fell blade of the Black Rider. Yet still even standing corpses, as good as dead

for their fear, slow the approach of the Black Rider and the Son of Denethor sees this and redoubles his efforts to finish the Lady of Umbar before the wraith is able to fully

answer his challenge.

The men around him stand firm, growing ever more fearful as the horse and rider blacker than the night make their long approach across the field of battle, yet they will stand

firm by their Captain-General, until the general retreat is sounded.

Grey eyes shine from the face of Boromir as again he raises the mighty blade of Angring in one final attempt to finish the Umbarian female before him, one last strike at her

head before he will be forced to turn and face one of the most dreadful and dangerous foes in all Arda. Then the woman stands, and has the audacity to launch herself into an

attack.

Yet there is no fear in the motions of the Son of Denethor, only cold efficiency, as he parries a scimitar coming at him from another angle and steps aside the last of the blows

of Arali, reaching across his body and swinging against her with his full weight and force, blade held level with the base of her ribcage.

Boromir attacks Arali with his Large Longsword and lightly wounds her!

[Imbrahan(#17945)] His arm already wounded, Imbrahan isn\'t quite able to block the slash, and grunts with pain, then sees a chance and trusts low, trying to trip the

surprisingly agile archer...

Rhiforath manages to find his footing in the blood and water slick river bank, the gravel loose and trodden by both men and horses. The noise around them is nigh deafening but

still steel can be heard clashing, men yelling, and horses screaming.

The strangely tattooed Man-at-Arms gets his shield into the correct position for a change and takes Talan\'s blow harmlessly. Already bloodied and hurting, he bares his teeth

again and presses the attack, \"I\'ve already been a slave in two of Umbar\'s Tower\'s -\" he breathes, then lunges forward again. This time he feits, bringing the blade up as though

to thrust forward, then drops it instead to thrust up from below towards Talan\'s groin, \"It would be a pleasure to kill a Lord!\"

Rhiforath attacks Talan with his Longsword and mildly wounds him!

[Fotud(#24579)] Falling back from the animal\'s hooves, Fotud is left open to Malahir\'s attack. The man\'s longsword catches him midway between collarbone and shoulder, severing

links of chain and scoring a line of angry red. But the pain of the wound goes unnoticed, so deeply has the Hassadite been affected by the fell presence of the Nazgul. Mortal

fear, not of what lies to the fore, but that which lies behind, drives him forth again.

His thirsty steel is raised again, cutting in toward his mounted foe\'s leg, the red Eye-stone set within the pommel flashing angrily in the light shed by the torches which

surround the field of battle.

Fotud attacks Malahir with his Scimitar, but Malahir parries the attack with his Longsword!

As the Ranger falls into the line of crates on the far end, the sound of them crashing to the ground startles those concentrating on healing. One of the falling crates slams

into the head of a healer, as the edge of the wooden crate catches his temple and then bounces off. The healers scurry to rebuild this tenuous shelter against the enemy, some

noting amongst themselves as they work, \"Some shelter is better than none.\" Pulling a shafted arrow from one of the crates a young apprentice seeing his first battle tucks the

-treasure- under the edge of the crates to be retrieved later.

Cerulean eyes watch the Ranger as he is the closest to the area of the healers. Almost mesmerized by the fluidity of his movements, Aearwen stands motionless as she continues to

watch him fight to keep the healers safe. Finally, she breaks from this reverie and shakes her head, moving to kneel beside another man brought from within the lines of battle

[Bregedur(#22134)]

Alas for the man of Gondor that the spear trips his fleet foot, for Bregedur again tumbles--but he rolls and regains his feet with but a small slowing of his speed. He glances

into the torchlit darkness, plainly seeking avenues of escape.

[Adunaphel(#29611)]

And those standing corpses are gleefully cut down, the black sword of the Black Rider on the black steed arcing gracefully, slowly, as she takes her time in getting to her

chosen foe, slowed instead by the delightful carnage before her. Laughter replaces the hiss once more. Work should always be this enjoyable.

Talan leaps back, receiving the barest nick upon his shimmering black chain mail. Bloody murder in his eyes over the shame of not being faster than this whelp. With a sneer he

growls, \"I\'ll not hear the end of this from Captain Fotud foolish whelp. For that shame you must die!\"

In a nearly berserker rage, Talan again swings overhandedly in an attempt to come down and cleave the man in two!

Talan attacks Rhiforath with his Scimitar and moderately wounds him!

[Arali(#20995)] Moving swiftly, determined to keep her life and her pride tonight, the Lady ducks to the side and Boromir\'s blade bites lightly into her side, cutting through

more chain than flash. Wheeling about, the Lady prepares for another attack when the icy dread of the wraith seizes her heart. Not needing to turn around to see what lurks

behind her, she stumbles to the side, fearful of getting in the wraith\'s way. Now there is only fear and pity in her eyes. Pity for the men of Gondor.

Imbrahan grins wolfishly... and thrusts up again at the larger man\'s chest... using the length of his spear to keep him at least a little out of harm\'s way

[Herunumendil(#15552)] A usefull trick, Herunumendil nearly found himself drawn off balance by the shield tactics of the tricksy Haradrim. Yet his training thus far wasn\'t for

naught. Being pulled forward, instead of fighting, he embraces it. He leaps forward in a dive, as the scimitar passes where he /was/, its single edge shallowly licking his back

after skimming along his studded leather armor. he rolls past the Hardrim and swings his greatsword in an upwards point first strike... attempting to push Seregiluve through the

mans lower back.

Herunumendil attacks Kayle with his Greatsword, but he misses by a mile.

[Alanya(#17244)] Now by the riverside, dangerously close to the battle but not in it, Alanya reaches the body which drew her attention. But by the time she gets there, it\'s fate

is all too clear. She turns it over, but even an apprentice healer can quickly tell that no life breathes in this body.

zh\'Kyrl does not find her leige lord, but she does locate a familiar face... one that looks like he could use a hand. She works her way through the crowd towards Imbrahan and

the ranger he\'s up against.

[Bregedur(#22134)]

Slamming his sword down in a parry, Bregedur snarls in anger--the spearpoint has drawn another deep score through his leathers. Fury flickers on his face for a fraction of a

second, and then he bolts into the darkness, in the direction of his discarded bow.

[Rhiforath(#28737)] This time, Rhiforath takes the hit but does not falter. Talan\'s blade smacks into his shield and it is the shield itself that cuts and bruises the

Man-at-Arms form the impact of the scimitar upon it! The mark is left in Rhiforath\'s own face, his left cheek bruised and cut, leaving a ragged gash. He keeps moving forward,

determined and driven by a silent and long standing hate for the evils done to him by men of Umbar. Again and again he thrusts with his blade, for Talan\'s face, for Talan\'s

belly, for his legs - and even as he does so the Man-at-Arms tattooed up like a Haradrim himself, swings his shield out brutally as though to take the Lord\'s head off with it!

Rhiforath attacks Talan with his Longsword, but Talan parries the attack with his Scimitar!

[Malahir(#12521)] With a successful parry and strike of the one they call Fotud, Malahir has cleared himself room to operated his sword from the height of his steed. His eyes

darting from within his winged steel cage of a helm, Captain Malahir cuts down a floundered Haradrim, whose head had been clocked by his horses hooves. The body of his horse

comes down and makes way for a silver streak that instantly parts the Haradrim\'s head from his neck. Malahir then moves his horse in a sidewards gait toward Fotud, knocking back

the strike to his horse\'s leg by leaning forward and parrying with his sword. By knocking the strike aside, Malahir gains momentum to strike clean in for the kill, and Fotud\'s

belly.

Malahir attacks Fotud with his Longsword, but he misses by an arm\'s length.

[Boromir(#19834)]

He knows his first foe lives on, yet it is the second foe, the one that lives not that has drawn the attention of the Son of Denethor, and before this terrible onslaught, even

Boromir must take pause. Men once rallied about him fall back now, and a circle appears on the battlefield, isolating the two opponents:

The Black Rider versus the Heir of Denethor.

Rocking back on his heels, Boromir crouches now, and brings his shield to the ready, tapping it with the blade called Angring for reassurance, and the black shadow that is no

longer flesh and blood loomes ever greater above him.

[Bregedur(#22134)]

Stopping to retrieve his bow from the ground, the Ranger lengthens his strides, slipping away from the torches into deeper darkness...

Talan laughs as he easily parries the man\'s attack. \"Perhaps that wound does more than improve your looks. I do believe your vision to be blurred. Worry not whelp, the end comes

soon, and I shall seek a more formidable foe!\"

The Lord of Black grunts as he slashes for Rhiforath\'s sword arm, swinging from his hips, putting all of his weight pehind it as if to cleave the man\'s sword arm off!

Talan attacks Rhiforath with his Scimitar and moderately wounds him!

Kayle follows through with his initial swing and turns his body with the swing as the Gondorian dives past him. The rogue of Umbar is in his element now for the closeness of

such fighting is not alien to him. He is therefor prepared when the tip of Heunumendil\'s GreatSword comes plunging towards his lower back. He turns to his left quickly and the

piercing blade slides off to the right. He then brings his shield arm down suddenly, slamming the tip of his metal shield down upon the helm of Herunumendil. The Gondorian

man-at-arms rests poised on one knee for a moment, his long sword fully extended and then he crumbles to the ground before Kayle.

Imbrahan loses site of the archer in the shadows, and hesitates, then spies zh\'Kyrl. \"Where did he go?\" he screams in frustration. \"Big archer in leather armour and a cloak.\"

[Adunaphel(#29611)]

The northern lines suddenly explode with shouts of panic and excitement. The dark skies are lit up orange on rising smokes. Great fires erupt and spread rapidly and the stench

of scorched earth and oils spread, tainting the sea breeze. The whole northern flank is doused in flames!

Heat rushes southwards in massive waves.

zh\'Kyrl\'s owl-feather eyes spy the ranger retrieving his bow and she points off towards the deeper darkness. \"He\'s fled.\" Is all she says, keeping her voice just loud enough for

him to hear over the din of battle.

[Fotud(#24579)] But the blade touches naught but empty air, the Farside Captain dancing away with speed borne of reflex and endless hours spent training. Pressed on by a fear

known only to himself, and the presence of the fell servant of the Eye, Fotud steps forth into the space he has only just abandoned. Up slashes his damasked blade, at the very

moment the northern flank erupts. The pommel-stone winks in likeness of the Eye it so resembles, the hungry edge spurred on toward the Gondorian officer upon his horse.

Fotud attacks Malahir with his Scimitar and moderately wounds him!

[Rhiforath(#28737)] Again Rhiforath is hit, this time in his upper sword arm with a blow that turns his shoulder and staggers him back! His high riding boots splash into water

as he staggers back - and there trips over a body! For the second time in this battle, the tattooed man falls down, but the body he stumbles over is not a dead man\'s, but a

womans!

Without even looking to see that it is Alanya, assuming that if it\'s in the water it must be dead, Rhiforath leans on his shield and regains his feet. Not taking his eyes off of

Talan for even an instant, he keeps his teeth bared and comes up from below, thrusting for the Tower Lord\'s right thigh!

Rhiforath attacks Talan with his Longsword, but Talan parries the attack with his shield!

[Adunaphel(#29611)] The Wraith\'s steed steps forward, hooves planted quite surely on the ground, each step thudding like a hammer. Hammering nails into a coffin? Perhaps. But

the blade twirls, tauntingly, and then the steed prances sideways, bringing his Rider closer to the Son of Denethor. Again, the blade spins an arc into the torch-lit darkness, a

hissing laugh slipping free, arcing towards the man\'s head.

But then, it switches, having sought to draw off his shield, and swipes across flatly at his midsection, the Rider leaning over far in her saddle to accomplish this opening

blow.

Adunaphel attacks Boromir with her Longsword, but she misses by a handspan.

[Arali(#20995)] Stepping away from the feared Wraith, the Lady Arali for a moment is seized by a senseless fear, her dark eyes riveted to the fell steed and its black rider. The

waves of heat emanating from the north do nothing to break her out of this. It is only when she is roughly shoved to the ground by one of her own bodyguards that she snaps out

of it, the devoted soldier of Farside cutting down a Gondorian scout intent on ridding the earth of one more Towerlord. Shaking her head, doing her best not to look towards the

feared form of Adunaphel, the Lady swivels her head about, assessing the state of the battle, seeing where she is most needed.

The battle between the wraith and the favored Son of Denethor garners the attention of the Lady of Ethring-Bragollach. A pause in the men being brought from the field allows her

to view this encounter. A chill again wracks her frame as Boromir crouches to attack. Drawing in her breath, Aearwen holds it in her lungs, awaiting the outcome of this brave

foray. The din of the battle seems to come from a distance now, as her entire being is focused on this Black Rider and Lord Boromir. Wide do her eyes grow as she watches the

creature rides forth in retaliation, hooves thundering like a hammer as -it- draws upon the Son of Denethor.

Looking north, Alanya sees Herun fall, and cries out. But her cry is stifled as a weight lands on her back, sending her sprawling and deeper into the water. She resurfaces ten

feet downstream, in water up to her hips, and, staying low so that the shadows might hide her, pushes her way upriver towards Herun\'s prone body.

[Boromir(#19834)]

With barely a glance at the fires in the North, Boromir remains where he has placed himself, between the Wraith and any of his men. As he holds this position of protection, he

bellows, \"CAPTAIN MALAHIR!! CAPTAIN ANGIEST!! REGROUP THE MEN!!!\" Whether either of the Captains beneath him hear the order remains to be seen.

Then does the Black Rider attack the son of Denethor, and a fancy attack at that. Even the Son of Denethor can not duplicate the cold efficiency with which his opponent launches

her blow at him, yet the nimbleness of one devoted to fighting keeps his body parts away from the deathly steel weilded by the Morgul Rider. Adjusting his grip slightly and with

a hiss of his own -- a sharp intake of breath as he steels himself for the inevitable outcome of this fight -- he swings not only at the rider, but at the steed as well, with a

blow that would take a living man\'s leg off at the knee.

Boromir attacks Adunaphel with his Large Longsword, but he misses by a long shot.

-----------------Continued in Part 3 ------------------