Now Who\'s Interfering?

[+TIME] Middle-earth time is:

Late Night on Hevensday, Day 17 of May.

Execute the +TIMEFRAME command for year information.

Real time is: 16:28:28 MDT on Mon Mar 08 2010.

Western Edge of Mirkwood

Under the renewing eaves of Mirkwood, the late night sky is shadowed a bit. The whole area is warm and muddy in the night cool air.

The edge of the foreboding forest continues on in a north-south orientation, and the wide open spaces of the Anduin Vale lie off to the west.

Contents:

Edwin

Haldir

Obvious exits:

SouthEast, NorthEast, North, and South

[Bagaglok(#24847)]

Spring is here, but in this area of Mirkwood the grass and foliage has been trampled dead by multitudes of iron-shot feet. The reason is clear, for nearby the edges of a large encampment of orcs can be seen, hidden farther off into the darkness of the forest. Even from this distance, the racket can be easily heard from the creatures that stalk amid the tents.

An enormous collection of tree trunks has been piled up in this spot away from the camp, and beneath the dead pines and oaks the grass has been turned brown and crushed. Many foresters are at work about them, and smaller orcs as well, all armed with axes and saws. Here and there, the goblins are underway chopping the huge trunks into smaller pieces. Sitting upon a thick stump is the Shaman Bagaglok, overseeing the progress as he has been of late.

[Edwin(#16248)] Most of the orcs are industriously working. A few, like Gornatz, have made an art of looking industrious while actually watching the surrounding woods cautiously.

[Haldir(#25231)]

And the forest expresses its disapproval of the orcs\' crafting and Gornatz\'s scrying: from the eastern pines comes a sharp whistling sound, like a bird\'s warning call. And then an arrow follows shortly after, to land willy-nilly among the logs as it may.

[Edwin(#16248)] Several orcs jump and yell, Gornatz peers at the arrow and pulls it from the ground, \"looks like we got company\" He then looks toward the edge of the wood, as if trying to figure out where the arrow came from.

[Bagaglok(#24847)]

The hacking of the axes and biting of the saws fills the air, almost like some sort of sick melody. And indeed, it could be considered thus by these foul beings -- the red robed orc has begun to nod off to sleep.

But at the yelling of the others and the whizzing of the arrow, Bagaglok jerks awake again, leaping to his feet though there is a slight limp in one leg. Following Gornatz\'s statement, he too glares at the outlying pines, and hisses. A few of the other orcs have taken shelter behind some of the logs.

[Edwin(#16248)]

Gornatz studies the arrow intently for a moment, then announces, \"looks like it\'s one of them tree-rats\" He remains where he stands, then looks back to the depths of the pine woods again and sniffs the air.

[Haldir(#25231)]

Then there is silence from the trees an owl hoots mockingly from far away, but nothing pale or annoying shows itself from the forest cover.

[Edwin(#16248)] The smaller orc sniffs the air again, \"thought I had somethng, but. . .not quite\"

[Bagaglok(#24847)]

For a while the Shaman continues to stare intently into the gloom of the yonder wood, but nothing can be seen. \"Birds do not fire arrows,\" he says, \"better string them bows, eh?\"

[Edwin(#16248)]

Considering the Shaman\'s words for a moment and scratching the top of his head with the arrow tip, Gornatz muses, \"tree-rats is good cooked with roots . .\" He then sticks the tip of the arrow into the ground and gets his bow ready, \"do you think they\'ll want it back, sir?\" He addresses the Shaman in what passes for orcly etiquette.

[Haldir(#25231)]

Bows. In response to the red-robed shaman\'s threat, and perhaps to keep the orcs on their toes, another arrow shoots from the foliage, white-fletched and angry. And this one is aimed, aptly, at Bagaglok\'s own feet.

Then a grey shape can be seen descending from a green-needled pine his hair is silvered by starlight.

Haldir launches an arrow...

Ow! You\'ve been injured by the bowshot.

Arrgh! The arrow is stuck fast, requiring treatment.

ARB: Please RP this injury accordingly.

[Edwin(#16248)]

Gornatz scents the fresh blood and glances briefly in the direction of the Shaman, checking for his condition briefly and perhaps looking for direction. He then turns his attention back toward the forest, quickly docking an arrow and letting it fly in the direction of a shadow perhaps . . or a shadowy figure partly seen?

[Bagaglok(#24847)]

At this the cloaked goblin grins nastily. \"Can\'t be selfish now, can we? Might as well return the favor and give it back to them,\" he answers. But the laughing soon stops however as a second arrow flies forth, and pierces his unclad feet. Bagaglok gives a half-hiss, half-snarl and stumbles to the ground, yellow eyes darting up to catch the gleam of Elf hair in the dark. The arrow in his foot throbs, and Bagaglok flings a claw down, pulling on the wretched thing.

\"There is something there.\" He says, pointing ahead. \"Go see what it is.\"

HEALING: You have one arrow injury which you now attempt to treat...

Success! You remove an arrow from yourself without causing further injury.

Ah! Lucky you: the arrow is still usable.

[Edwin(#16248)]

Nodding toward Bagalok, Gornatz crouches down and plucks up the elf arrow. He signals for a few other of the orcs to follow him and he cautiously moves in the direction of the woods - in the general direction of where the shadow was and where the arrow might have come from. He doesn\'t look behind him to see if he\'s being followed, but he is - not by as many as he may have liked, but probably by enough to do what needs to be done.

[Haldir(#25231)]

The arrow sent by Gornatz disappears in the dark and hits the grey shape, and from there is a bitter laugh, followed by the sound of cloth rending. \"Ah,\" says Haldir in unpleasantly soft Westron. \"You have torn the cloak. The tailor will be not be happy.\"

\"Now,\" says the Elf, stepping under the light of the sky, \"who shall I be entertaining tonight? The red filth? Or the small one?\"

[Bagaglok(#24847)]

\"Haven\'t you entertained enough, tree-monkey fool?\" scowls Bagaglok, roughly pushing himself back to his feet while black blood flows over one foot and onto the ground. From his side he draws a scimitar and the other arm is covered with a small rune-adorned shield. A few limping steps forward he takes, following a litte farther behind the other orcs who advance.

\"Why not both of us, albai?\" he spits, glaring. \"Unless you\'re afraid...\"

Behind, the other foresters crouch in the cover of their tree trunks, and a few that possess bows reach for them.

COMBAT - Wielded: Blackened Scimitar

[Combat(#13388)->Bagaglok] Wearing: Rune-Rimmed Shield

[Edwin(#16248)]

The elf\'s comments draw a grin from Gornatz and he calls out, \"So send Tailor over here and we\'ll kick his bum after we kick yers - ya smelly . .. \" The orc settles another arrow into the bow and glances first toward the Shaman before staring back into the forest depths.

[Haldir(#25231)]

Haldir tilts his head at the shaman\'s words. \"Would you like to, then? We were never meant to be civil ...\"

As the distance between them closes, the Elf draws a longsword from beneath his shifting grey cloak.

[Combat(#13388)] Haldir wields Longsword.

[Bagaglok(#24847)]

The Shaman snorts, eyeing the marchwarden disdainfully. \"I would very much like to cut you down once and for all,\" replies the robed orc. \"Maybe get a nice meal out of it in the end as well.\" Toward Gornatz he nods at last. \"Fire at will.\"

Stopping a few feet away from the Elf, Bagaglok lowers the point of the scimitar, aiming it for Haldir\'s side ere he pushes forward with the curved blade. If he is in the way of the foresters\' arrows, he seems to care not, paying heed for now only to the Firstborn with the shining hair.

You attack Haldir with your Scimitar...

[Combat(#13388)->Bagaglok]

Haldir parries your attack with his Longsword!

[Edwin(#16248)]

Gornatz holds his fire and signals for the others to do the same. They gather together in a loose group, watching the combat . . and waiting to jump in to turn the tide if needed. Some keep their bows at the ready, while others put them aside in favour of their swords.

[Haldir(#25231)]

Metal sounds against metal, ringing coldly in the spring air. \"No,\" he says to Bagaglok, soundly declining the meal offer.

\"Although it seems you have enough wood for a bonfire.\"

Haldir swings his blade free, sweeping it in an upward arc to slash at the shaman\'s chest.

Haldir attacks you with his Longsword!...

...and he hits! Ouch!

[Bagaglok(#24847)]

The blow rends cloth like butter, and a few broken rings of armor tumble down, already glazed in orcish blood. The dark glower deepens, contorted now even more with a grimance of pain. \"Should kindle some, and roast you over it!\" growls Bagaglok venomously, planting his uninjured foot forward and swinging anew with his own weapon.

To the watching orcs he yields, \"Set some wood aside, and we shall cook him after we stick him.\"

You half-blindly attack Haldir with your Scimitar...

[Combat(#13388)->Bagaglok]

Haldir dodges your attack.

[Edwin(#16248)]

Shifting from one foot to the other and snorting at the increasing scent of blood in the air, Gornatz lifts his bow and sights in on the elf, following his motions in the fight. He utters a low growl and snaps off an arrow in the elf\'s direction. Farther back, a group of orcs start to build a fire after hearing the shaman\'s words, perhaps with visions of a good dinner in their minds.

[Haldir(#25231)]

Haldir ducks his head, throwing forward his grey cloak like a blinding cape it covers his movements, allowing him to dodge both hungry scimitar and arrow. \"Are you sure -you- are not better suited for the menu?\" he asks Bagaglok with concern, raising an eyebrow. \"You seem to be letting out the more blood. Your beasts are hungry, you know...\"

The pestering Elf drives his longsword closer, aiming to aggravate the injured foot of the orc shaman.

Haldir attacks you with his Longsword!...

...and he hits! Ouch!

[Bagaglok(#24847)]

A new retort is cut off as that accursed elven blade slices at the wounded foot, and the crimson garbed creature attempts to move sideways and away but the leg isn\'t cooperating, and Bagaglok staggers backward to the muddy soil once more. But he seems to know that the Elf\'s words are true, and for a moment the orc glances over his shoulder to espy the fire-building foresters. They are given a wary, mistrusting snarl. The scimitar lays still, as the Shaman attempts to shuffle a little more away from the threatening longsword ahead.

Don\'t stop!\" he growls again to Gornatz and his group. \"Keep those arrows flying, fools.\"

[Combat(#13388)->Bagaglok]

You forego your chance to attack.

[Edwin(#16248)]

Gornatz signals to those around him and knocks another arrow, \"you heard him, boys. . make a pin cushion out of the aiglet . . .just don\'t hit our own ..\" He quickly sights his bow and lets off a shot . . while others around him do the same. A flight of arrows heads in the direction of the elf.

[Haldir(#25231)]

The Elf whirls, attempting to fend off the rain of shafts. Some hit: a pained grunt comes from below his upraised arm. Haldir steps a distance away, towards the pines once again.

\"You have been warned again,\" says the marchwarden, his voice and the glare of his eyes terrible. \"Should you continue to interfere, I shall return. Beware!\" And with another flutter of his cloak, Haldir makes for the trees.

[Bagaglok(#24847)]

\"Interfere?\" Bagaglok manages a final scowl. \"It is you, scum, that is doing the interference,\" but the words are spoken lowly clearly, the Shaman is not sad at Haldir\'s departure. The blackened scimitar is tossed angrily to the earth, where it clatters with a dull thud. A muttered rant follows in the Black Speech, and it is a while before the Malkog makes any attempt at forcing himself to stand. \"Put it out, tree-rats!\" he snaps toward the foresters who have been toiling to set a fire. But Gornatz and the archers receive a rare look of approval. \"Good eyes those black darts of yours made the filth leave.\"

[Edwin(#16248)]

Still watching the tree line cautiously, Gornatz makes his way toward Bagaglok, \"do you need any help, sir?\" He stands far enough away in case his offer isn\'t taken well, to avoid any ill-timed blows.

[Bagaglok(#24847)]

Bagaglok stoops stiffly to resnatch the scimitar from the dirt, and he fingers it in between black claws as he looks again to the treeline, to make certain that the Elf has indeed retreated for now. But the curved sword is stowed away.

\"Darn foot, skai...\" But the aid is waved off, and he moves slowly in the direction of the camp, leaving the others to their wood chopping businesses for now. \"The rafts had best be underway next I return...\" is all he calls over his shoulder. Then, he is gone.